Welcome to Muse of Books
Hello! Welcome to Muse of Books! I’m Fran, a reader, researcher, and occasional overthinker who finds her best thinking happens between the pages of a good book. My bookshelf is not only filled with tales of thrilling mysteries and epic adventures but also sprinkled with works of satire and dark humour.
By day I’m a PhD researcher, which means I spend a lot of time analysing, questioning, and digging beneath the surface of things. Naturally, I bring that same approach to my reading. When I pick up a book, I’m not just looking for entertainment, I’m looking for the craft behind the story, the ideas beneath the plot, and the characters that stay with me long after the last page.
At Muse of Books, you’ll find honest reviews across Fantasy, Mystery, and Thriller – the three genres I keep returning to no matter how many books I read. I have a particular soft spot for Japanese mystery fiction, epic fantasy that takes its characters seriously, and any story brave enough to explore trauma, heroism, or the quiet complexity of being human. If a book makes me think as hard as it makes me feel, it earns top marks.
Having written fiction myself, I read with both a reader’s heart and a writer’s eye. I know how difficult it is to build a world, sustain a character’s voice, and earn an ending. I try to be fair, specific, and honest, even when a beloved author disappoints.
My rating system uses Muse Points. You can find the full breakdown on the Rating System page.
Beyond the reviews, the Literary Muse section explores broader topics: genre history, book-to-screen adaptations, reading culture, and whatever literary rabbit hole I’ve fallen into lately.
If you’re an author or publisher and would like me to review your work, I’d be genuinely honoured to consider it. Pleas visit the Contact Page to get in touch.
I’m glad you’re here, happy reading!