June 2021 Reading Wrap-Up

From London to Ireland during the 1920s, this glorious, gripping, and richly textured story takes us to the heart of the remarkable real-life story of the Guinness Girls—perfect for fans of Downton Abbey and Julian Fellowes’ Belgravia.

Descendants of the founder of the Guinness beer empire, they were the toast of 1920s high society, darlings of the press, with not a care in the world. But Felicity knows better. Sent to live with them as a child because her mother could no longer care for her, she grows up as the sisters’ companion. Both an outsider and a part of the family, she witnesses the complex lives upstairs and downstairs, sees the compromises and sacrifices beneath the glamorous surface. Then, at a party one summer’s evening, something happens that sends shock waves through the entire household.

Inspired by a remarkable true story and fascinating real events, The Glorious Guinness Girls  is an unforgettable novel about the haves and have-nots, one that will make you ask if where you find yourself is where you truly belong.

Click here to read my full review

Return to Daevabad in the spellbinding sequel to THE CITY OF BRASS.

Nahri’s life changed forever the moment she accidentally summoned Dara, a formidable, mysterious djinn, during one of her schemes. Whisked from her home in Cairo, she was thrust into the dazzling royal court of Daevabad and quickly discovered she would need all her grifter instincts to survive there.

Now, with Daevabad entrenched in the dark aftermath of the battle that saw Dara slain at Prince Ali’s hand, Nahri must forge a new path for herself, without the protection of the guardian who stole her heart or the counsel of the prince she considered a friend. But even as she embraces her heritage and the power it holds, she knows she’s been trapped in a gilded cage, watched by a king who rules from the throne that once belonged to her familyand one misstep will doom her tribe.

Meanwhile, Ali has been exiled for daring to defy his father. Hunted by assassins, adrift on the unforgiving copper sands of his ancestral land, he is forced to rely on the frightening abilities the marid, the unpredictable water spirits, have gifted him. But in doing so, he threatens to unearth a terrible secret his family has long kept buried.

And as a new century approaches and the djinn gather within Daevabad’s towering brass walls for celebrations, a threat brews unseen in the desolate north. It’s a force that would bring a storm of fire straight to the city’s gates . . . and one that seeks the aid of a warrior trapped between worlds, torn between a violent duty he can never escape and a peace he fears he will never deserve.

[CW: Graphic: Cursing, Death, Murder, and Trafficking, Moderate: Addiction, Infidelity, and Toxic relationship]

I do this really terrible thing where I finish a book and then wait way too long to write the review, promptly forgetting most of what I read and how I felt about the book. I guess this is my toxic trait.

That being said, I listened to the audiobook for The Kingdom of Copper, despite stating in my review for The City of Brass that I should read the physical books for the remainder of the series. However, the narrator did an excellent job and it was much easier to get my hands on the book this way, so I should be grateful for the fact that I was able to digest the plot at all.

Like its predecessor, the sequel had a slower start with more world-building and politics, but a little more than halfway through, all the adventure began to happen, quickening the pace and honestly giving me a bit of a heart attack. I couldn’t believe all that transpired! In fact, I would’ve preferred this to be separated into two books. There was so much information that it became hard for me to follow at a certain point. 

The frustrating thing for audiobook listeners is how we know the correct pronunciation for every name, but have no clue where to begin with the spelling. Therefore, I had to search up the Daevabad Wiki in order to confirm (and wowza, I was misspelling so many of these names in my head).
Muntadhir had the craziest character arc in this book. I started off absolutely loathing the guy, went to kinda tolerating him, and wound up appreciating him more than nearly any other character by the end. What a rollercoaster! 

I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next in this trilogy. I really, really am. I’m totally hooked now.

“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”

It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

[CW: Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse, Moderate: Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence, *Anyone afraid of bees or other stinging creatures should beware because there’s an entire graphic description about this. I know it bothered me so it could bother others.*]

What the actual heck did I just read? No, really. What did I just read? I have no clue. I really don’t know what even happened in this book – but I’m invested? How did that happen?

My introduction to Maggie’s writing was with The Wolves of Mercy Falls. I read those as they came out, became totally obsessed (I was 100% a wolf-girl in middle and high school), and proceeded to read them a few more times over the years. I didn’t even know that she was popular for other books. Leave it to bookstagram to show me the error of my ways. Apparently, I’ve been missing out with The Raven Cycle, so I gave them a go.

I was hooked from the first line of this book. It was such a crazy intro to the story. But from there on out, I had no idea what was going on. Raising some Arthurian guy from the not-dead? Ley lines? Who even is Neeve? I’m baffled.

Basically, I’m going to continue the series for a couple of reasons: 1) I am curious to see what happens next, despite not really even knowing what happened already. 2) Bookstagram seems to be obsessed and apparently Ronan Lynch is #todiefor. 3) I loved The Wolves of Mercy Falls so I have high hopes for this series overall? Sort of?

Wish me luck.

Bea Schumacher is a devastatingly stylish plus-size fashion blogger who has amazing friends, a devoted family, legions of Insta followers–and a massively broken heart. Like the rest of America, Bea indulges in her weekly obsession: the hit reality show Main Squeeze. The fantasy dates! The kiss-off rejections! The surprising amount of guys named Chad! But Bea is sick and tired of the lack of body diversity on the show. Since when is being a size zero a prerequisite for getting engaged on television?

Just when Bea has sworn off dating altogether, she gets an intriguing call: Main Squeeze wants her to be its next star, surrounded by men vying for her affections. Bea agrees, on one condition–under no circumstances will she actually fall in love. She’s in this to supercharge her career, subvert harmful anti-fat beauty standards, inspire women across America, and get a free hot air balloon ride. That’s it.

But when the cameras start rolling, Bea realizes things are more complicated than she anticipated. She’s in a whirlwind of sumptuous couture, Internet culture wars, sexy suitors, and an opportunity (or two, or five) to find messy, real-life love in the midst of a made-for-TV fairy tale.

[CW: Graphic: Fatphobia, Infidelity, and Sexism, Minor: Eating disorder and Toxic relationship]

YES YES YES! A thousand times yes! This is the contemporary romance I needed in my life.

I borrowed the audiobook of One to Watch from Libby on a total whim. It was available, so I got it. I had no clue it would turn into one of my favorite books ever! It was cute, had depth, wasn’t enemies-to-lovers, and was filled with serious girl power!

From the very get-go, I was rooting for Bea. I wanted her to find herself more than I wanted her to find love, but of course, finding love wouldn’t be so bad either. I’m not at all a fan of the Bachelor/Bachelorette shows or anything like them, but for some reason, reading about a show like that was totally fascinating to me. There was something about knowing the behind-the-scenes perspectives that really took it to another level.

I enjoyed how a decent amount of the book was written about the different episodes of the show. It was such fun to find myself drawn to certain contestants and wanting to see them succeed just as much as Bea.

While there were certain parts about the ending that frustrated me (namely Roy showing up – though it was to be expected at some point), all in all, I was satisfied with how things wrapped up. This is absolutely a book I could find myself reading again! So cute!

A small book for anyone in search of hope, looking for a path to a more meaningful life, or in need of encouragement.

Happiness occurs when you forget who you’re expected to be. And what you’re expected to do. Happiness is an accident of self-acceptance. It’s the warm breeze you feel when you open the door to who you are.

Years ago, Matt Haig began writing notes to his future self. These notes were meant as gifts to his future self: offerings of hope to help himself through anything from the darkest periods of his life to a not-so-great day. As time went on, he added new thoughts and stories, and he turned them into The Comfort Book so that everyone could draw on this well of reassurance and encouragement. Each of its short meditations gives a new perspective on life and all of its highs and lows–small islands of hope for anyone looking for a more fulfilling, more uplifting way through life. Incorporating a diverse array of sources from across the world, history, science, and his own experiences, Haig offers warmth and reassurance, reminding us to slow down and appreciate the beauty and unpredictability of existence.

Click here to read my full review

Henri “Halti” Haltiwanger can charm just about anyone. He is a star debater and popular student at the prestigious FATE academy, the dutiful first-generation Haitian son, and the trusted dog walker for his wealthy New York City neighbors. But his easy smiles mask a burning ambition to attend his dream college, Columbia University.

There is only one person who seems immune to Henri’s charms: his “intense” classmate and neighbor Corinne Troy. When she uncovers Henri’s less-than-honest dog-walking scheme, she blackmails him into helping her change her image at school. Henri agrees, seeing a potential upside for himself.

Soon what started as a mutual hustle turns into something more surprising than either of them ever bargained for. . . .

This is a sharply funny and insightful novel about the countless hustles we have to keep from doing the hardest thing: being ourselves.

I didn’t have super high expectations when I picked up this audiobook, but it wound up being really cute. It definitely didn’t wow me, but it was an enjoyable story!

Really, the primary issue I had with it was the fact that the main character was really unlikeable. He drove me nuts from the very beginning: conceited, obnoxious, and selfish. He didn’t care about Corinne in the slightest until she was “cool” and that bothered me so much. Eventually, he came to appreciate her for how cool she was without trying, but it still annoyed me as I read it. Obviously, this is a YA novel, so I can’t be too nit-picky about the immature portions of it.

I would honestly love a book from Corinne’s perspective. She’s really cool and I bet her story would be really fascinating (and maybe a bit less obnoxious than Halti’s).

A girl full of heart
A thief touched by darkness
A boy with a fiery temper
An unwitting servant of evil

The era of magic was once thought to be a myth, but after the Reemergence ushered forces both dark and light into the mundane world, it has since become a harsh reality. Now those affected by this strange power—a specialized group of Empowered called Jokers, known collectively as Cardplay—must protect their world from the darkness that threatens to consume it, all the while fighting for equality in a society clinging to normalcy.

But the Reemergence was only the beginning.

When another influx occurs on the seventh anniversary of that fateful event, an unfortunate encounter at ground zero lands Iori Ryone, a teenage boy in possession of a corrupt and legendary magic, in the care of recent Joker graduate Ellen Amelia Jane. From him, she learns the Reemergence may not have been the inevitable natural disaster it first seemed.

Someone is trying to tear down the barrier that separates the magical realms from the mundane. The question is, can Cardplay stop them before it’s too late?

Click here to read my full review

Malibu: August 1983. It’s the day of Nina Riva’s annual end-of-summer party, and anticipation is at a fever pitch. Everyone wants to be around the famous Rivas: Nina, the talented surfer and supermodel; brothers Jay and Hud, one a championship surfer, the other a renowned photographer; and their adored baby sister, Kit. Together the siblings are a source of fascination in Malibu and the world over–especially as the offspring of the legendary singer Mick Riva.

The only person not looking forward to the party of the year is Nina herself, who never wanted to be the center of attention, and who has also just been very publicly abandoned by her pro tennis player husband. Oh, and maybe Hud–because it is long past time for him to confess something to the brother from whom he’s been inseparable since birth.

Jay, on the other hand, is counting the minutes until nightfall, when the girl he can’t stop thinking about promised she’ll be there.

And Kit has a couple secrets of her own–including a guest she invited without consulting anyone.

By midnight the party will be completely out of control. By morning, the Riva mansion will have gone up in flames. But before that first spark in the early hours before dawn, the alcohol will flow, the music will play, and the loves and secrets that shaped this family’s generations will all come bubbling to the surface.

Malibu Rising is a story about one unforgettable night in the life of a family: the night they each have to choose what they will keep from the people who made them . . . and what they will leave behind.

[CW: Graphic: Cursing and Infidelity, Moderate: Sexual content, Minor: Domestic abuse]

This is me, hating myself for taking so long to write this review because now I’m having a tough time remembering what I even read. However, I think that does say something about this book, because it’s been a year since I’ve read Daisy Jones & The Six and six months since I’ve read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and I still remember nearly every detail about both of those TJR books. This one fell short, especially with all the hype surrounding its release.

Here’s the thing: it was good. It was even really good. The story sucked me in immediately, just like the others. Julia Whalen as the narrator was spectacular as always. I enjoyed the quicker pace and definitely found myself wanting to know how everything would end. TJR does an excellent job of building up the plot so that you can’t possibly quit. It’s like her books have this addictive quality.

However, I didn’t resonate with the characters at all. None of them were particularly likable to me. While they were all around the same age as me (which makes them relatable, despite the events of the book taking place between the 50-80’s), none of their dramas seemed necessary. The only one who really caught my attention was Kit and she was barely mentioned aside from the “big reveal” in her story that wasn’t surprising at all (in fact, I guessed it within the first couple mentions of her character).

The ending felt incredibly rushed and oddly perfect, especially for a TJR book. I know that not everything worked out wonderfully, but it seemed like all the bows tied up quite nicely, considering the insane amount of drama leading up to the end. There were also several characters whose stories weren’t completed. I’m still wondering what happened to them.

I noticed a couple of references to characters in her other books, which was fun. I would love to see more “crossovers” in the future! She certainly knows how to write a story that will hook you, even if you don’t particularly adore the content 100% of the time.

TRAITOR
 
The last thing Eren remembers before blacking out, a Titan had bitten off his arm and leg and was getting ready to eat him alive. Much to his surprise he wakes up without a scratch on him, with a crowd of angry soldiers screaming for his blood. What strange new power has he awakened, and what will happen when the boy devoted to destroying the Titans becomes one himself?

Prepare for the jaw-dropping finale of Sabaa Tahir’s beloved New York Times bestselling An Ember in the Ashes fantasy series, and discover: Who will survive the storm?

Picking up just a few months after A Reaper at the Gates left off…

The long-imprisoned jinn are on the attack, wreaking bloody havoc in villages and cities alike. But for the Nightbringer, vengeance on his human foes is just the beginning.

At his side, Commandant Keris Veturia declares herself Empress, and calls for the heads of any and all who defy her rule. At the top of the list? The Blood Shrike and her remaining family.

Laia of Serra, now allied with the Blood Shrike, struggles to recover from the loss of the two people most important to her. Determined to stop the approaching apocalypse, she throws herself into the destruction of the Nightbringer. In the process, she awakens an ancient power that could lead her to victory–or to an unimaginable doom.

And deep in the Waiting Place, the Soul Catcher seeks only to forget the life–and love–he left behind. Yet doing so means ignoring the trail of murder left by the Nightbringer and his jinn. To uphold his oath and protect the human world from the supernatural, the Soul Catcher must look beyond the borders of his own land. He must take on a mission that could save–or destroy–all that he knows.

[CW: Graphic: Death, Gore, Murder, Slavery, and Torture, Moderate: Blood, Cursing, Domestic abuse, and Grief]

Well well well, this might be my favorite book of the series – and that’s saying something, considering I still didn’t really enjoy it all that much.

Just like the rest of the books, it was insanely slow with a ton of depressing sequences filled with torture and gore. I also got really confused while reading this one because of all the different kinds of mystical creatures: jinn, ghosts, fey, etc. – they all began to muddle together, especially as Elias went back and forth between “himself” and The Soul Catcher. That was another confusing bit: everyone seeming to have multiple names. Helene was also Blood Shrike, Nighbringer was formerly Keenan and also Meherya and The King-of-No-Name. I couldn’t keep up with all of the terms and characters as they changed forms or went back and forth in the storyline.

I think my favorite part (sarcasm) was the fact that after Helene lost her parents and one of her sisters, her other sister is killed before her eyes and then her lover is murdered as well.

Can this girl get a break?? It was the last book and while she’s definitely not my favorite character, I wanted some kind of happy ending for her.

In addition to that, I did NOT want Keris to have any kind of positive ending. The fact that she was able to go to The Waiting Place and pass on with her mother felt way too generous for someone as horrific as her.

Okay, so let’s be honest, I could actually pick apart this book in every way, which kind of breaks my heart. Towards the end, I was actually interested for the first time throughout the entire series – and I even cried once (GASP). I only wish it could have been like that earlier on. All-in-all, this series receives a 2-star rating from me. It just isn’t the best.

“I might be Cinderella today, but I dread who they’ll think I am tomorrow. I guess it depends on what I do next.”

American Rebecca Porter was never one for fairy tales. Her twin sister, Lacey, has always been the romantic who fantasized about glamour and royalty, fame and fortune. Yet it’s Bex who seeks adventure at Oxford and finds herself living down the hall from Prince Nicholas, Great Britain’s future king. And when Bex can’t resist falling for Nick, the person behind the prince, it propels her into a world she did not expect to inhabit, under a spotlight she is not prepared to face.

Dating Nick immerses Bex in ritzy society, dazzling ski trips, and dinners at Kensington Palace with him and his charming, troublesome brother, Freddie. But the relationship also comes with unimaginable baggage: hysterical tabloids, Nick’s sparkling and far more suitable ex-girlfriends, and a royal family whose private life is much thornier and more tragic than anyone on the outside knows. The pressures are almost too much to bear, as Bex struggles to reconcile the man she loves with the monarch he’s fated to become.

Which is how she gets into trouble.

Now, on the eve of the wedding of the century, Bex is faced with whether everything she’s sacrificed for love-her career, her home, her family, maybe even herself-will have been for nothing.

[CW: Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Infidelity, and Toxic friendship, Moderate: Death of parent, Minor: Sexual content]

If you love reading about the royal family, you’ll love this book. It’s as if the author combined Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle into one character and explained what their lives must have been like while dating a royal. There’s drama, intrigue, and so much cattiness it’s absolutely unreal.

Now, I don’t particularly care about the goings-on of the royal family. I never have. In fact, I’ve never really enjoyed reading royal-related fiction for that reason. I don’t know, it just doesn’t interest me. However, this book definitely had me wondering what would happen next. It had an almost Gossip Girl vibe to it with the level of drama and backstabbing, so naturally, it was weirdly addictive.

It was slow. Like molasses slow. I can’t for the life of me understand why the author didn’t break this book up into two books (or even three). There were plenty of “cliffhanger” moments that it could’ve ended on and I definitely would’ve picked up the next novel to find out what happens. I listened to the audiobook and it just dragged on. Yep, I wanted to know what would happen, but I also kept wishing it would end. So naturally, when it got to the end, I was a mixture of relieved and curious about The Heir Affair. 

I definitely plan to physically read the sequel because I think I’ll be able to get through it much quicker and hopefully that will help me really get into the story.

After battling the impossible, Zélie and Amari have finally succeeded in bringing magic back to the land of Orïsha. But the ritual was more powerful than they could’ve imagined, reigniting the powers of not only the maji, but of nobles with magic ancestry, too.

Now, Zélie struggles to unite the maji in an Orïsha where the enemy is just as powerful as they are. But when the monarchy and military unite to keep control of Orïsha, Zélie must fight to secure Amari’s right to the throne and protect the new maji from the monarchy’s wrath.

With civil war looming on the horizon, Zélie finds herself at a breaking point: she must discover a way to bring the kingdom together or watch as Orïsha tears itself apart.

[CW: Graphic: Death]

For everyone considering reading these books: READ THE BOOKS RATHER THAN LISTENING TO THE AUDIOBOOKS. I’m a huge audiobook lover. I really, really adore them and listen to more of them than I read physical books. For this series, it’s an absolute necessity to read rather than listen. There are a few reasons why.

1) The audiobook has one narrator for several character POVs which gets really confusing. A few people have similar names when spoken (Zélie and Tzain) and there’s very little indication of character changes in the audio. Reading this sequel in the physical format helped me understand the intricacies of the characters so much more. I actually enjoyed learning about them in this way.

2) There is so much information in the audiobook that it can be really hard to follow. Reading the sequel gave me the opportunity to skim incantations or breeze through political negotiations. I understood the gist without having to listen to a narrator slowly explain every minutia that didn’t really interest me.

I had a super tough time with the first book because I listened to it. I read the sequel in less than 24 hours (only 2 sittings) because I was actually interested in what was happening. Now, I can’t say I loved it, but I at least liked it. The characters are definitely all infuriating to me because they’re all so focused on their own pain and their own problems that they can’t see past them to what everyone around them is dealing with. That drives me nuts. I especially hate Inan for that. I would be shocked if he redeems himself at any point.

There was a particular death in this book that SHOOK ME. I actually cried. Like crocodile tears on my pages. That took me by surprise (not the death, but the tears). I actually anticipated the death, but I kept hoping it wouldn’t happen and when it did, I was wrecked. 

It’ll be really interesting to see what happens in the next book!

Fall in love, break the curse.

Cursed by a powerful enchantress to repeat the autumn of his eighteenth year, Prince Rhen, the heir of Emberfall, thought he could be saved easily if a girl fell for him. But that was before he turned into a vicious beast hell-bent on destruction. Before he destroyed his castle, his family, and every last shred of hope.

Nothing has ever been easy for Harper. With her father long gone, her mother dying, and her brother constantly underestimating her because of her cerebral palsy, Harper learned to be tough enough to survive. When she tries to save a stranger on the streets of Washington, DC, she’s pulled into a magical world.

Break the curse, save the kingdom.

Harper doesn’t know where she is or what to believe. A prince? A curse? A monster? As she spends time with Rhen in this enchanted land, she begins to understand what’s at stake. And as Rhen realizes Harper is not just another girl to charm, his hope comes flooding back. But powerful forces are standing against Emberfall . . . and it will take more than a broken curse to save Harper, Rhen, and his people from utter ruin.

[CW: Graphic: Blood and Death, Moderate: Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Torture, and Violence, Minor: Pedophilia and Terminal illness]

“My father once said we are all dealt a hand at birth. A good hand can ultimately lose — just as a poor hand can win — but we must all play the cards fate deals. The choices we face may not be the choices we want, but they are choices nonetheless.”

How am I supposed to move on after reading this book? I suppose by picking up the sequel, right? But my gosh, I haven’t had a true book hangover in ages and this one accomplished that in no time. I sat down with it and read about 25% at once. I wasn’t able to pick it up the following day because I was busy, so when I grabbed it the day after that, I devoured it. It was one of those walking, eating, bathing, and changing while reading kind of occurrences until I had completed it. When I set it down, I felt like I didn’t know what to do with myself. It was so incredible!

I’m all about a good retelling. I’ll admit that I haven’t read many of them, but it seems that when I do, it’s a Beauty and the Beast retelling. So I sometimes feel like I’ve read every version of that fairytale. However, this one takes the cake by a landslide. I wondered from the get-go how Harper would respond to Rhen, what might happen to Jake back home, if Grey was a good guy or a bad guy, and if the “creature” would show up at an inconvenient time.

It was so satisfying. Not because everything went according to plan, but because it all went exactly as I wanted it to (that sounds like it might be the same thing, but I’m actually a fan of chaos in books). It was creative and adventurous and I loved nearly every moment of it. I think the literal only thing I didn’t love was the endless inner dialogue that Rhen kept having about how terrible he was as a monster. Yes, we get it, you killed people because you are cursed, but like… move forward? Not that I expected him to just get over the fact that he literally murdered his entire family and then some, but I just wanted him to stop beating himself up and find a way to act. I love that Harper initiated that and brought about change in the village.

“I am always surprised to discover that when the world seems darkest, there exists the greatest opportunity for light.”

Grey’s character was certainly my favorite throughout the entire story and I found it 100% obvious that he was the missing heir that Karis Luren mentions. The ending didn’t feel like a giant plot twist to me, but it did leave me wanting to know what happens next. I already wanted to read the sequel before I was halfway through this book, but now I’m even more interested in what will go down.

In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child – not powerful, like her father, nor viciously alluring like her mother. Turning to the world of mortals for companionship, she discovers that she does possess power – the power of witchcraft, which can transform rivals into monsters and menace the gods themselves.

Threatened, Zeus banishes her to a deserted island, where she hones her occult craft, tames wild beasts and crosses paths with many of the most famous figures in all of mythology, including the Minotaur, Daedalus and his doomed son Icarus, the murderous Medea, and, of course, wily Odysseus.

But there is danger, too, for a woman who stands alone, and Circe unwittingly draws the wrath of both men and gods, ultimately finding herself pitted against one of the most terrifying and vengeful of the Olympians. To protect what she loves most, Circe must summon all her strength and choose, once and for all, whether she belongs with the gods she is born from, or the mortals she has come to love.

[CW: Graphic: Pregnancy, Gore, and Torture, Moderate: Infidelity, Violence, and Sexual assault]

I wanted to love this book. I really, really did. Instead, I was bored stiff. It read like a textbook. There was nothing that it was leading to – no resolution that it wanted to reach. No problem to solve. It felt more like a collection of short stories about Circe and her uncomfortable experiences with sisters and lovers. I wanted so much more.

Every seven years, the Agon begins. As punishment for a past rebellion, nine Greek gods are forced to walk the earth as mortals, hunted by the descendants of ancient bloodlines, all eager to kill a god and seize their divine power and immortality.
Long ago, Lore Perseous fled that brutal world in the wake of her family’s sadistic murder by a rival line, turning her back on the hunt’s promises of eternal glory. For years she’s pushed away any thought of revenge against the man–now a god–responsible for their deaths.

Yet as the next hunt dawns over New York City, two participants seek out her help: Castor, a childhood friend of Lore believed long dead, and a gravely wounded Athena, among the last of the original gods.

The goddess offers an alliance against their mutual enemy and, at last, a way for Lore to leave the Agon behind forever. But Lore’s decision to bind her fate to Athena’s and rejoin the hunt will come at a deadly cost–and still may not be enough to stop the rise of a new god with the power to bring humanity to its knees.

[CW: Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Vomit, Violence, Trafficking, Torture, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Grief, Gore, Death of parent, Death, and Blood]

I’m not sure why it has become a trend for authors to just shove a bunch of knowledge into a book and call it a story, but it has and I am not a fan.

Lore was insanely hyped and I was insanely excited to read it. I found it to be slow, with a ton of information that had very little actual explanation. There were so many “false gods” and “new gods” and “old gods” and titles that made no sense and everything got mixed up so easily.

It also seemed like I was reading a sequel. As if there had been another book with all the world-building and then this one was picking up where the other left off, making the assumption that the reader understood all of the characters and the world when, in reality, I did not.

The end felt rushed. I got to the point where there were only about 50 pages left and was baffled as to how they’d wrap up the story in such a short period of time. I’m still not sure whether the ending was the real ending or if there’s supposed to be a sequel. 

Needless to say, definitely not one that I enjoyed. I had potential but didn’t live up to it.

Sixteen-year-old Deka lives in fear and anticipation of the blood ceremony that will determine whether she will become a member of her village. Already different from everyone else because of her unnatural intuition, Deka prays for red blood so she can finally feel like she belongs.

But on the day of the ceremony, her blood runs gold, the color of impurity–and Deka knows she will face a consequence worse than death.

Then a mysterious woman comes to her with a choice: stay in the village and submit to her fate, or leave to fight for the emperor in an army of girls just like her. They are called alaki–near-immortals with rare gifts. And they are the only ones who can stop the empire’s greatest threat.

Knowing the dangers that lie ahead yet yearning for acceptance, Deka decides to leave the only life she’s ever known. But as she journeys to the capital to train for the biggest battle of her life, she will discover that the great walled city holds many surprises. Nothing and no one are quite what they seem to be–not even Deka herself.

[CW: Graphic: Blood, Death, Physical abuse, Self harm, Torture, Vomit, and Trafficking, Moderate: Body shaming, Murder, Racial slurs, and Sexual harassment]

Well, I’ve discovered something about myself while reading this book: I don’t care for war/warrior stories, especially when it comes to fantasy.

I realize a lot of my disinterest in this book stems from the audio because I wasn’t a huge fan of the narration style. However, I also just didn’t love the story itself. It felt like it dragged on, with an excess of description and lack of action. There was such a huge focus on what was so different about the MC that when the “big reveal” happened, it seemed like a letdown because it was nothing unusual.

If it had been a brand new creature of some sort, I would have been fascinated, but finding out that she was just the ruler/killer of the species was a bummer.

Usually, at the end of a slower book that I didn’t love, I still have an interest in reading the sequel. However, for this book, it didn’t keep me interested enough to pick up the next book. I’m just not enthralled with the characters or what happens to them. 

A love worth fighting for. A dream worth dying for. An ending worth waiting for.

It’s been two months since the Fates were freed from a deck of cards, two months since Legend claimed the throne for his own, and two months since Tella discovered the boy she fell in love with doesn’t really exist.

With lives, empires, and hearts hanging in the balance, Tella must decide if she’s going to trust Legend or a former enemy. After uncovering a secret that upends her life, Scarlett will need to do the impossible. And Legend has a choice to make that will forever change and define him.

Caraval is over, but perhaps the greatest game of all has begun. There are no spectators this time—only those who will win, and those who will lose everything.

Welcome, welcome to Finale. All games must come to an end…

[CW: Graphic: Toxic relationship, Minor: Torture, Death, and Death of parent]

“I want to feel love in its every form. I used to be scared of it, but now I think love is another type of magic. It makes everything brighter, it makes people who have it stronger, It breaks rules that aren’t supposed to exist, it’s infinitely valuable. I can’t imagine my life without it.”

I wondered a million times what reading this again would feel like and the best way I can describe it is: magical and emotional. The entire Caraval trilogy is pure escapism and magic in the best sense, but Finale really takes things to a whole new level. At this point, all the characters have been introduced, you’ve grown attached to some of them and you’re learning more about others. It follows both Scarlett and Tella’s journies and romances, which I love because it really does feel like the culmination of the previous two books. They’re both equally important in this story, as are their love interests.

One of the beautiful things about the Caraval trilogy is how it truly sucks you into the story. I can absorb an entire book in one sitting and barely recognize the time going by or the environment surrounding me. All I want is to know what will happen next. And one of the best parts about this reread was how, while I remembered some of the key elements, I didn’t remember everything. So, there were a few moments where I gasped in shock during some of the plot twists and reveals! Even though I had already read this book, it kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end.

I can confirm, without a shadow of a doubt, that Caraval is one of my favorite series of all time. Finale is one of the best series finales of all time. Overall, I give the trilogy five stars – EASY. And I’m already looking forward to the next time I reread it!

From the number-one New York Times best-selling author of the Gossip Girl series, a deliciously irresistible novel chronicling a year in the life of four families in an upscale Brooklyn neighborhood as they seek purpose, community, and meaningful relationships—until one unforgettable night at a raucous neighborhood party knocks them to their senses.

Welcome to Cobble Hill.

In this eclectic Brooklyn neighborhood, private storms brew amongst four married couples and their children. There’s ex-groupie Mandy, so underwhelmed by motherhood and her current physical state that she fakes a debilitating disease to get the attention of her skateboarding, ex-boyband member husband Stuart. There’s the unconventional new school nurse, Peaches, on whom Stuart has an unrequited crush, and her disappointing husband Greg, who wears noise-cancelling headphones—everywhere.

A few blocks away, Roy, a well-known, newly transplanted British novelist, has lost the thread of his next novel and his marriage to capable, indefatigable Wendy. Around the corner, Tupper, the nervous, introverted industrial designer with a warehouse full of prosthetic limbs struggles to pin down his elusive artist wife Elizabeth. She remains…elusive. Throw in two hormonal teenagers, a 10-year-old pyromaniac, a drug dealer pretending to be a doctor, and a lot of hidden cameras, and you’ve got a combustible mix of egos, desires, and secrets bubbling in brownstone Brooklyn.

Smart, sophisticated, yet surprisingly tender, Cobble Hill is highly entertaining portrait of contemporary family life and the colorful characters who call Brooklyn home.

[CW: Graphic: Drug use, Infidelity, Cursing, and Murder, Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Body shaming, Fire/Fire injury, and Medical content]

What did I just read? I’m not even sure. This book was beyond confusing to me. There didn’t seem to be any actual plot and instead, it just followed the lives of several Cobble Hill residents as their everyday occurrences overlapped. 

There wasn’t the usual ebb and flow of a story and no real point of view. It was a third-person narrative that just sort of felt like you were hovering above the entire group of characters as they went about their overly dramatic lives. Tons of plot holes (because there wasn’t really a plot), no climax or resolution, and there was even an entire newspaper storyline that started at the beginning and had no follow-through. I kept wondering if that was important for some reason or if it was just added for no reason whatsoever.

The only reason this got more than one star is because while I had no clue what was happening, I was still interested for some reason. The narrator of the audiobook was mostly great (aside from the fact that he doesn’t know what an English accent sounds like) and I really was curious to know what would happen to each of the characters. Frustratingly, I never really found out? It was bizarre.

I went into this hoping for some Gossip Girl-esque drama, but wound up just feeling like I read a really long newspaper article… sort of. I don’t even know.

Send the messengers for the Faery Courts. This is the end.

The Summer King is missing; the Dark Court is bleeding; and a stranger walks the streets of Huntsdale, his presence signifying the deaths of powerful fey.

Aislinn tends to the Summer Court, searching for her absent king and yearning for Seth. Torn between his new queen and his old love, Keenan works from afar to strengthen his court against the coming war. Donia longs for fiery passion even as she coolly readies the Winter Court for battle. And Seth, sworn brother of the Dark King and heir to the High Queen, is about to make a mistake that could cost his life.

Love, despair, and betrayal ignite the Faery Courts, and in the final conflict, some will win…and some will lose everything.

[CW: Graphic: Violence and Murder, Moderate: Toxic relationship, Death, and Torture, Minor: Self harm]

No matter how many times I reread this book, it never fails to make me emotional. I keep expecting that one day I’ll read it and not feel tears prick at my eyes, but so far that day has not come. It’s a fantastic ending to this dark, moody, fantastic series.

Throughout this reread of the series, I’ve gone back and forth a dozen times over which book is my favorite and now I can say, for sure, this is it. I read almost the entire book in one sitting, gobbling it up despite already knowing what was coming next. When it ended, I was genuinely sad to let it go.

Darkest Mercy is the perfect culmination of all the events that transpired in the previous four books. While there are just a couple of new characters introduced, there’s nothing completely off-putting with their addition. They make sense and they don’t throw off the storyline in any way.

Mostly, there are several moments where I just want to shake Keenan and say, “why didn’t you think of that sooner?” Or I want to slap Niall and say, “why are you being such an awful person?” But it all makes sense by the end and the many emotions you feel as you read make the journey even better.

Once again, I’m floored by Donia and her power and grace despite everything she’s experienced. She really is the definition of a badass female character in every way, shape, and form. In addition, Aislinn seriously comes into her own in this book as well, creating a truly phenomenal dynamic between Winter and Summer.

This has been one of my favorite series since the very first time I read it almost 10 years ago. It gets a 5-star rating overall and I don’t see that changing – no matter how many times I read it!