October 2024 Reads
Y’all. I had so much fun reading this month!
I honestly don’t remember the last time I’ve kicked my feet so many times while reading in such a consistent pattern! Mostly, I tried to read books that incorporated a theme related to spooky szn, and hot damn did I manage to pick up some bangers. (And a few stinkers that I ended up not finishing.)
Since this month’s review post is about to be much longer than usual, I’m just going to keep the intro short and sweet. You’re welcome. :)
*All summaries are taken or paraphrased from Goodreads.
Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan
BEFORE I LET GO by Kennedy Ryan (Skyland, #1)
Rating: 5/5 stars
Summary: Their love was supposed to last forever. But when life delivered blow after devastating blow, Yasmen and Josiah Wade found that love alone couldn’t solve or save everything. It couldn’t save their marriage. Yasmen wasn’t prepared for how her life fell apart, but she is finally starting to find joy again. She and Josiah have found a new rhythm, co-parenting their two kids and running a thriving business together. Yet like magnets, they’re always drawn back to each other, and now they’re beginning to wonder if they’re truly ready to let go of everything they once had. Soon, one stolen kiss leads to another…and then more. It's hot. It's illicit. It's all good—until old wounds reopen. Is it too late for them to find forever? Or could they even be better, the second time around?
My Thoughts: This was my first Kennedy Ryan book and it will not be my last. I loved her writing so much. This book deals with a few heavy topics (please see content warnings below), the main one being grief, and I just felt like she handled not only those topics but also these characters who are working through some deep trauma with so much care and grace. Although they’ve been divorced for two years after an unexpected death left their family in shambles, the connection between Yasmen and Josiah is clear as fucking day. Even from the start of the book when they’re still on the outs with each other and navigating being co-parents and business partners, there’s an undeniable energy coursing between them. The book alternates between the POVs of Yasmen and Josiah and I think experiencing this story through both of their eyes was so important. Especially as Josiah starts to realize what he had been suppressing for so long and understanding Yasmen’s previous behavior and why she has been championing therapy ever since. It was also incredible to watch Yasmen regain her confidence as a strong, beautiful woman and say what she wanted with her whole damn chest. This romance novel is not your typical feel-good story, but I think showing the uglier parts of relationships is just as important as the happy/swoony ones. If you haven’t picked up this book yet, I cannot recommend it enough! CW: depression, still birth, divorce, suicidal ideation.
Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare
CHAIN OF GOLD by Cassandra Clare (The Last Hours, #1)
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Summary: Cordelia Carstairs is a Shadowhunter, a warrior trained since childhood to battle demons. When her father is accused of a terrible crime, she and her brother travel to London in hopes of preventing the family’s ruin. Cordelia’s mother wants to marry her off, but Cordelia is determined to be a hero rather than a bride. Soon Cordelia encounters childhood friends James and Lucie Herondale and is drawn into their world of glittering ballrooms, secret assignations, and supernatural salons, where vampires and warlocks mingle with mermaids and magicians. All the while, she must hide her secret love for James, who is sworn to marry someone else. But Cordelia’s new life is blown apart when a shocking series of demon attacks devastate London. These monsters are nothing like those Shadowhunters have fought before—these demons walk in daylight, strike down the unwary with incurable poison, and seem impossible to kill. London is immediately quarantined. Trapped in the city, Cordelia's friends discover that a dark legacy has gifted them with incredible powers—and forced a brutal choice that will reveal the true cruel price of being a hero.
My Thoughts: God Cassandra Clare knows how to write an ADDICTING YA fantasy series. Like I am SUCH a SIMP for this Shadowhunters world and I’m not even mad about it. For context, this book follows the kids of the characters from The Infernal Devices trilogy, which are all related to the OG series the Mortal Instruments (which is followed by the Dark Artifices). Still with me? Lol. Anywho, so Cordelia Carstairs is in London with her mom and brother trying to redeem their family’s reputation before it goes south due to her father messing up a recent mission from the Clave. After demons start randomly attacking during the daytime, Cordelia and her Shadowhunter friends take it upon themselves to figure out which Prince of Hell is sending these demons and how to end it. I could not get enough of this audiobook. The pacing of it was spot-on with slower moments where characters like James and Cordelia are making deeper connections to fast-paced action scenes where they’re all fighting demons. I also fucking loved the one liners these characters manage to spit out whilst in the throes of chaos and danger. As I said before, I am WEAK for this particular fantasy world and cannot wait to keep getting into this trilogy.
The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James
THE BOOK OF COLD CASES by Simone St. James
Rating: 4/5 stars
Summary: In 1977, Claire Lake, Oregon, was shaken by the Lady Killer Murders: Two men, seemingly randomly, were murdered with the same gun, with strange notes left behind. Beth Greer was the perfect suspect--a rich, eccentric twenty-three-year-old woman, seen fleeing one of the crimes. But she was acquitted, and she retreated to the isolation of her mansion. Oregon, 2017. Shea Collins is a receptionist, but by night, she runs a true crime website, the Book of Cold Cases--a passion fueled by the attempted abduction she escaped as a child. When she meets Beth by chance, Shea asks her for an interview. To Shea's surprise, Beth says yes. They meet regularly at Beth's mansion, though Shea is never comfortable there. Items move when she's not looking, and she could swear she's seen a girl outside the window. The allure of learning the truth about the case from the smart, charming Beth is too much to resist, but even as they grow closer, Shea senses something isn't right. Is she making friends with a manipulative murderer, or are there other dangers lurking in the darkness of the Greer house?
My Thoughts: I feel like I’ve been in my mystery/thriller era this year and I have no intentions of stopping. This book was equally creepy as it was exciting. Shea Collins runs a true crime website where she basically does her own research on closed cold cases and publishes what she thinks really happened based on her findings. When she meets the woman who was accused and acquitted of a murder spree back in the 70s, she cannot resist asking for an interview. Beth Greer agrees to the interview, but Shea has to come to her for it. However, while Shea starts asking Beth questions, weird unexplainable things also start happening throughout the house. Y’all. I was holding my breath through multiple parts of this story. It switches between Shea’s and Beth’s POV which was absolutely KEY to connecting the dots on this mystery. There’s a little bit of a paranormal element to this book that I haven’t encountered before, but I didn’t hate it. Although there is a part towards the end where I was like “mmmm I’m not sure this is super realistic for someone who just went through that much physical distress.” However, it didn’t ruin my overall experience with this story either. If you’re looking for a quick, makes-you-shiver read, this is the perfect book.
Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead by Elle Cosimano
FINLAY DONOVAN KNOCKS ‘EM DEAD by Elle Cosimano (Finlay Donovan, #2)
Rating: 4/5 stars
Summary: Finlay Donovan is―once again―struggling to finish her next novel and keep her head above water as a single mother of two. On the bright side, she has her live-in nanny and confidant Vero to rely on, and the only dead body she's dealt with lately is that of her daughter's pet goldfish. On the not-so-bright side, someone out there wants her ex-husband, Steven, out of the picture. Permanently. Whatever else Steven may be, he's a good father, but saving him will send her down a rabbit hole of hit-women disguised as soccer moms, and a little bit more involvement with the Russian mob than she'd like. Meanwhile, Vero's keeping secrets, and Detective Nick Anthony seems determined to get back into her life. He may be a hot cop, but Finlay's first priority is preventing her family from sleeping with the fishes... and if that means bending a few laws then so be it. With her next book's deadline looming and an ex-husband to keep alive, Finlay is quickly coming to the end of her rope. She can only hope there isn't a noose at the end of it…
My Thoughts: Okay okay, so it’s been a while since I read the first book in this series Finlay Donovan is Killing It. Although I did enjoy that, I think I read a not-so-great review about this one that deterred me from starting it right away. So here I am. Two years later. Tucking my tail and saying that I thoroughly disagree with that review and wish I would’ve picked this up sooner! I listened to the audiobook (to no one’s surprise lol) and oh my god what a wild fucking ride. For starters, the narrator does suuuuuch a phenomenal job. It literally felt like I was watching a movie in my brain every time I popped my AirPods on. The plot of this book picks up right where the first one left off, and you hit the ground running from the start. Although there are some obvious similarities between what happened in book one, I think this one held its own ground with the absolute absurdity that played out. Finlay and Vero are trying to figure out who is trying to kill Finlay’s ex-husband and who posted the hit job on a women’s “mommy” online forum. Chaos ensues as they get deeper into the weeds with their investigation, all while staying clean and off the radar of both cops and a Russian mob. I am not exaggerating in the slightest when I say I was laughing out loud as much as I was grasping my pearls throughout this book. Also, why am I so invested in the love triangle Finlay currently finds herself in, and why am I rooting for the person most people probably are not?? Honestly, if you haven’t been introduced to this series yet, I highly recommend. It’s giving “your favorite cozy mystery but pump it full of quality comedic relief.” I cannot wait to start the next one!
The Taking of Jake Livingston by Ryan Douglass
THE TAKING OF JAKE LIVINGSTON by Ryan Douglass
Rating: 3/5 stars
Summary: Jake Livingston is one of the only Black kids at St. Clair Prep, one of the others being his infinitely more popular older brother. It’s hard enough fitting in but to make matters worse and definitely more complicated, Jake can see the dead. In fact he sees the dead around him all the time. Most are harmless. Stuck in their death loops as they relive their deaths over and over again, they don’t interact often with people. But then Jake meets Sawyer. A troubled teen who shot and killed six kids at a local high school last year before taking his own life. Now a powerful, vengeful ghost, he has plans for his afterlife–plans that include Jake. Suddenly, everything Jake knows about ghosts and the rules to life itself go out the window as Sawyer begins haunting him and bodies turn up in his neighborhood. High school soon becomes a survival game–one Jake is not sure he’s going to win.
My Thoughts: Okay I will say admittedly, I do not think I realized this was a YA horror book and not just a YA mystery/thriller. Yes, there is a difference. I would say horror usually involves more gore and this book definitely did not hold back on details during the gory scenes. It kind of had Get Out vibes to it that make your skin crawl while you’re reading it. I don’t really have a ton to say about this book if I’m being honest. It was kind of hard to connect with the main character because you don’t learn all that much about his past beyond what’s needed for this story until the very end. The format bounces between the POV of Jake (the MC) and diary entries from a school shooter who was alive within the last decade. I’ve seen some people saying they did not like getting the background story of the school shooter because you have the potential to empathize with the character - which leads to the discussion of being an apologist. However, that dude was a TERRIBLE person, so all I ever really felt is that he needed some serious help. There were some really great themes touched on such as found family, grief, queer identity, and more. I’m rating it three stars because I think the book did what it sought out to do, but I just don’t think I was in the mindset for something I wasn’t expecting. If that makes sense?
Bride by Ali Hazelwood
BRIDE by Ali Hazelwood
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Summary: Misery Lark, the only daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest, is an outcast—again. Her days of living in anonymity among the Humans are over: she has been called upon to uphold a historic peacekeeping alliance between the Vampyres and their mortal enemies, the Weres, and she sees little choice but to surrender herself in the exchange—again… Weres are ruthless and unpredictable, and their Alpha, Lowe Moreland, is no exception. He rules his pack with absolute authority, but not without justice. And, unlike the Vampyre Council, not without feeling. It’s clear from the way he tracks Misery’s every movement that he doesn’t trust her. If only he knew how right he was…. Because Misery has her own reasons to agree to this marriage of convenience, reasons that have nothing to do with politics or alliances, and everything to do with the only thing she's ever cared about. And she is willing to do whatever it takes to get back what’s hers, even if it means a life alone in Were territory…alone with the wolf.
My Thoughts: Y’all. I don’t know WHY it took me a year to pick up this book but holy hell was that a mistake on my part because I freaking loved this book. Misery has JOKES. Like I fucking loved her snarky comments and how easily she could knock someone down a peg with a dry-humored comment. This premise was really unique for a romance book, I will not lie. Honestly though? It worked. I was enthralled in this story and could not put it down. The tension between Lowe and Misery was INSANE. I also loved watching them slowly let their walls down for each other until they could see every vulnerability. The plot has a lot of politics to follow but they’re easy to understand and really helped push the pace of this book, so I thoroughly enjoyed them. Lowe is obviously super fucking hot. He’s an Alpha werewolf with a body that won’t quit so like duh, but what I liked most about his character is how grounding his energy was. He just had this very steady and consistent vibe to him and did everything with intention behind it, and my single self was SWOONING. This wasn’t like a groundbreaking romance novel by any means but got damn I hope she keeps writing books in this world because I am HOOKED.
The Wild Huntress by Emily Lloyd-Jones
THE WILD HUNTRESS by Emily Lloyd-Jones
Rating: 3.75/5 stars
Summary: Every five years, two kingdoms take part in a Wild Hunt. Joining is a bloody risk and even the most qualified hunters can suffer the deadliest fates. Still, hundreds gamble their lives to participate—all vying for the Hunt’s life-changing prize: a magical wish granted by the Otherking. BRANWEN possesses a gift no other human has: the ability to see and slay monsters. She’s desperate to cure her mother’s sickness, and the Wild Hunt is her only option. GWYDION is the least impressive of his magically-talented family, but with his ability to control plants and his sleight of hand, he’ll do whatever it takes to keep his cruel older brother from becoming a tyrant. PRYDERI is prince-born and monster-raised. Deep down, the royal crown doesn’t interest him—all he wants is to know is where he belongs. If they band together against the monstrous creatures within the woods, they have a chance to win. But, then again, nothing is guaranteed when all is fair in love and the Hunt.
My Thoughts: Okay, this was not a groundbreaking fantasy story by any means, but I did thoroughly enjoy my experience with it. To everyone’s surprise, I actually read the physical copy of this book lol. The story starts by following Branwen who was gifted with the ability to see magic after her mother accidentally wiped one of her eyes with an enchanted tincture when she was a baby. Now an adult, Branwen spends her day slaying magical monsters regular people cannot see and has earned somewhat of a name throughout the realm known as the Huntress. Gwydion is the nephew of a King who plans to pass on the throne to Gwydion’s ruthless brother. To prevent this from happening, he decides to enter the annual Wild Hunt which grants the winner anything they desire, but first he enlists Branwen to help him in this venture. She has her own motives for joining, and eventually, they also absorb Pryderi who is a prince with a dark past. The dynamics of this trio in the Wild Hunt was so fun - for the most part. They fall into an easy rhythm of looking out for one another and their friendship slowly grows. I loved all of the characters, especially Branwen’s cat who everyone seems to be afraid of lol, and thoroughly enjoyed venturing through the Wild Hunt with them. The plot kept me glued to the page and, admittedly, I did not see some of the twists coming. Although something VERY SAD happens towards the latter part of the book, I felt like the ending was tied up in a satisfying bow. If you’re looking for an easy fantasy to cuddle up with as the weather gets cold, I highly recommend adding this to your arsenal.
You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi
YOU MADE A FOOL OF DEATH WITH YOUR BEAUTY by Akwaeke Emezi
Rating: DNF @ 52%
Summary: Feyi Adekola wants to learn how to be alive again. It’s been five years since the accident that killed the love of her life and she’s almost a new person now—an artist with her own studio, and sharing a brownstone apartment with her ride-or-die best friend, Joy, who insists it’s time for Feyi to ease back into the dating scene. Feyi isn’t ready for anything serious, but a steamy encounter at a rooftop party cascades into a whirlwind summer she could have never imagined: a luxury trip to a tropical island, decadent meals in the glamorous home of a celebrity chef, and a major curator who wants to launch her art career. She’s even started dating the perfect guy, but their new relationship might be sabotaged before it has a chance by the dangerous thrill Feyi feels every time she locks eyes with the one person in the house who is most definitely off-limits. This new life she asked for just got a lot more complicated, and Feyi must begin her search for real answers. Who is she ready to become? Can she release her past and honor her grief while still embracing her future? And, of course, there’s the biggest question of all—how far is she willing to go for a second chance at love?
My Thoughts: I have a few feelings about this book and why I shelved it as “did not finish” after getting halfway through. For starters, I’m not a fan of age-gap tropes nor instant love and this book has both. If the age gap isn’t that dramatic then it usually doesn’t bother me, but this gap was about 18 years, so I immediately had some big ick towards it. Then because I had my ick-tinted glasses on, there was no hope for me to believe that the instant love was actually believable.It seemed like a very superficial connection driven by lust (because literally everyone in this book is described as insanely beautiful) rather than an actual genuine emotional connection. I also didn’t feel like the main characters were giving that much depth outside of the grief they carried with them after the loss of their previous partners. Besides the main character’s best friend, Joy, the only other character I genuinely liked was Nasir. However, even his character development felt like it was regressing as a second thought or to better fit the romantic narrative between the other two characters. Also, after reading Before I Let Go which handled the topic of grief so beautifully, it just felt like using it as a plot driver in this book wasn’t as thought out. I don’t know. A lot of people I’m friends with on Goodreads loved this book. I just wasn’t enjoying this nearly enough to keep listening to it. I will say though I’ve read one other book by this author, Pet, and thought that was more impactful.
Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun by Elle Cosimano
FINLAY DONOVAN JUMPS THE GUN by Elle Cosimano (Finlay Donovan, #3)
Rating: 4/5 stars
Summary: Author and single mom Finlay Donovan has been in messes before―after all, she's a pro at removing bloodstains for various unexpected reasons―but none quite like this. When Finlay and her nanny/partner-in-crime Vero accidentally destroyed a luxury car that they had "borrowed" in the process of saving the life of Finlay's ex-husband, the Russian mob did her a favor and bought the car for her. And now Finlay owes them. Mob boss Feliks is still running the show from behind bars, and he has a task for Finlay: find and identify a contract killer before the cops do. The problem is, the killer might be an officer themself. Luckily, hot cop Nick has just been tasked with starting up a citizen's police academy, and combined pressure from Finlay's looming book deadline and Feliks is enough to convince Finlay and Vero to get involved. Through firearm training and forensic classes (and some hands-on research with a tempting detective), Finlay and Vero use their time in police academy to sleuth out the real contract killer to free themselves from the mob's clutches―all the while dodging spies, confronting Vero's past, and juggling the daily trials of parenthood.
My Thoughts: Listen, Finlay and Vero get fuckin MESSY in this one lmao. Like my god. Half of the decisions they make in this book are so unhinged. My teeth were grinding soooo hard in a static cringe. This book picks up right where the last one left off and dives right into the action and scheming. Due to some money trouble Vero got into recently and Finlay’s current mission to find a dirty cop for a Russian mob boss, they decide signing up for the weeklong citizen police academy is the best decision. Throughout the week of various classes and workshops they have to attend, Finlay and Vero make some RISKY moves as they start collecting clues and making deeper connections in this criminal world. Like my anxiety was HIGH. I did love all of the newer characters that were introduced at the police academy and how I couldn’t really trust who I suspected was the dirty cop. The romance storyline was a very welcomed reprieve from the scheming madness and I’m kind of glad the love triangle from the last two books seems like it’s been laid to rest. True to this author’s writing and the audiobook narrator’s sheer talent, the comedic dialogue had me LAUGHIN’. Like y’all. This book is FUNNY. I thoroughly enjoyed it and am so glad I’ve started into this series again.
The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston
THE DEAD ROMANTICS by Ashley Poston
Rating: 5/5 stars
Summary: Florence Day is the ghostwriter for one of the most prolific romance authors in the industry, and she has a problem—after a terrible breakup, she no longer believes in love. It’s as good as dead. When her new editor, a too-handsome mountain of a man, won’t give her an extension on her book deadline, Florence prepares to kiss her career goodbye. But then she gets a phone call she never wanted to receive, and she must return home for the first time in a decade to help her family bury her beloved father. For ten years, she’s run from the town that never understood her, and even though she misses the sound of a warm Southern night and her eccentric, loving family and their funeral parlor, she can’t bring herself to stay. Even with her father gone, it feels like nothing in this town has changed. And she hates it. Until she finds a ghost standing at the funeral parlor’s front door, just as broad and infuriatingly handsome as ever, and he’s just as confused about why he’s there as she is. Romance is most certainly dead... but so is her new editor, and his unfinished business will have her second-guessing everything she’s ever known about love stories.
My Thoughts: I think Ashley Poston has officially become an auto-buy author for me. After reading The Seven Year Slip a few months ago and absolutely LOVING that one, I was excited to jump into The Dead Romantics. I’ve actually had this book downloaded on my Kindle for a while now and I’m so mad at myself for taking this long to read it because oh my god did I freaking love this story. Florence Day is a ghostwriter for a popular romance author, but after a terrible breakup, her faith in true love has been diminished. Her new editor, Benji, won’t give her an extension on the novel’s deadline, so she’s mildly screwed. Meanwhile, she has to return home unexpectedly for a funeral. She hasn’t been home in about 10 years after she helped solve a murder when she was a teen because she can see ghosts - just like her dad could. While making preparations for her dad’s funeral, a ghost appears in the foyer of her family’s funeral home, and to Florence’s surprise, it’s Benji. Now it’s up to Florence to figure out what unfinished business Benji has that’s preventing his ghost from passing on. Listen, never have I been so serious about finishing a book in one sitting. I HAD TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. I was obsessed with Florence and her somewhat awkwardly quirky personality. She’s dealing with so many emotions as she mourns her father, reconciles with her family, tries to meet the looming novel’s deadline, and solve what’s holding back ghost-Benji, and let me tell you. I was sucked into every scene. Especially as she and Benji start falling for each other. Their connection is so natural, it’s hard not to root for them even if he is a ghost. That said, the plot twist was SUUUPER easy to guess from the beginning, but I honestly wasn’t even mad about it. This was the perfect mix of emotional, funny, steamy, and everything I could’ve wanted out of this paranormal romance. I definitely recommend reading this as soon as you can! It’s perfect for the fall!
The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling
THE EX HEX by Erin Sterling (The Ex Hex, #1)
Rating: 4/5 stars
Summary: Nine years ago, Vivienne Jones nursed her broken heart like any young witch would: vodka, weepy music, bubble baths…and a curse on the horrible boyfriend. Sure, Vivi knows she shouldn’t use her magic this way, but with only an “orchard hayride” scented candle on hand, she isn’t worried it will cause him anything more than a bad hair day or two. That is until Rhys Penhallow, descendent of the town’s ancestors, breaker of hearts, and annoyingly just as gorgeous as he always was, returns to Graves Glen, Georgia. What should be a quick trip to recharge the town’s ley lines and make an appearance at the annual fall festival turns disastrously wrong. With one calamity after another striking Rhys, Vivi realizes her silly little Ex Hex may not have been so harmless after all. Suddenly, Graves Glen is under attack from murderous wind-up toys, a pissed off ghost, and a talking cat with some interesting things to say. Vivi and Rhys have to ignore their off the charts chemistry to work together to save the town and find a way to break the break-up curse before it’s too late.
My Thoughts: I was a little hesitant to read this book initially because I’ve heard the author is actually a pen name for a thriller author. So I think people weren’t buying into her romance writing, but I’m here to say, they’re full of shit because I absolutely adored this story. It’s got second-chance romance, enemies-to-lovers, a tight-knit group of witches, a little ghost hunt, an attractive Welsh man - what else do you need? I appreciated that the plot was well thought out and complimented the growing romance between Vivienne and Rhys instead of getting overshadowed by it. There is plenty of humor sprinkled throughout the dialogue that left me cackling like the wannabe Sanderson sister I am. Honestly, I couldn’t have asked for more in a witchy romance for spooky szn and definitely recommend putting this book on your TBR for next October.
The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo
THE FAMILIAR by Leigh Bardugo
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Summary: In a shabby house, on a shabby street, in the new capital of Madrid, Luzia Cotado uses scraps of magic to get through her days of endless toil as a scullion. But when her scheming mistress discovers the lump of a servant cowering in the kitchen is actually hiding a talent for little miracles, she demands Luzia use those gifts to better the family's social position. What begins as simple amusement for the bored nobility takes a perilous turn when Luzia garners the notice of Antonio Pérez, the disgraced secretary to Spain's king. Still reeling from the defeat of his armada, the king is desperate for any advantage in the war against England's heretic queen—and Pérez will stop at nothing to regain the king's favor. Determined to seize this one chance to better her fortunes, Luzia plunges into a world of seers and alchemists, holy men and hucksters, where the line between magic, science, and fraud is never certain. But as her notoriety grows, so does the danger that her Jewish blood will doom her to the Inquisition's wrath. She will have to use every bit of her wit and will to survive—even if that means enlisting the help of Guillén Santangel, an embittered immortal familiar whose own secrets could prove deadly for them both.
My Thoughts: Okay I’ve said this before when I reviewed the first Alex Stern book Ninth House, and I’m going to say it again: The Shadow and Bone Series is not the best representation of how good Leigh Bardugo’s writing can be, in my opinion. I honestly was not blown away by the Grisha Verse, but when she ventures out of the high fantasy world, that’s her bread and butter. This book takes place during the Spanish Inquisition and has that perfect shade of gothic to it that makes everything a little darker. It’s almost like if a historical fiction and fantasy had a baby, but the baby came out only wanting to wear black velvet and never smiled. There’s also a small Hunger Games vibe to it, but stick with me on this. Luzia is a scullery maid who gets by using a sprinkle of magic just to make life more tolerable but not enough to attract attention. Until one day her mistress susses out what Luzia has been doing and basically wants to exploit her magic and tricks to make their family look better in society. Putting Luzia on a more-public stage ends up attracting the attention of a very dangerous man who has been disgraced by Spain’s king and wants to regain the crown’s favor. To do this, he enters Luzia into a competition with other people with “gifts sent from the heavens” like clairvoyance, alchemy, etc. They are to compete in a series of trials and the one left standing will serve the king directly. Cue a winding road of chaos and backwards politics as Luzia tries to survive this new world she’s been thrusted into. I honestly had to keep double checking how long this audiobook was because SO MUCH HAPPENED. Like there was not a portion of this book that was wasted on non plot-driving material. You never knew who to trust or what Luzia’s next move should be, especially when it came to her closest confidante and trainer, Guillén Santangel. I was hooked from the start and although it was a little confusing for me to get my footing with who is who at first (hence the deducted rating), but for sure recommend it.
The Kiss Curse by Erin Sterling
THE KISS CURSE by Erin Sterling (The Ex Hex, #2)
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Summary: Gwyn Jones is perfectly happy with her life in Graves Glen. She, her mom, and her cousin have formed a new and powerful coven; she’s running a successful witchcraft shop, Something Wicked; and she’s started mentoring some of the younger witches in town. As Halloween approaches, there’s only one problem—Llewellyn “Wells” Penhallow. Wells has come to Graves Glen to re-establish his family’s connection to the town they founded as well as to make a new life for himself after years of being the dutiful son in Wales. When he opens up a shop of his own, Penhallow’s, just across the street from Something Wicked, he quickly learns he’s gotten more than he bargained for in going up against Gwyn. When their professional competition leads to a very personal—and very hot—kiss, both Wells and Gwyn are determined to stay away from each other, convinced the kiss was just a magical fluke. But when a mysterious new coven of witches comes to town and Gwyn’s powers begin fading, she and Wells must work together to figure out just what these new witches want and how to restore Gwyn’s magic before it’s too late.
My Thoughts: This is the second book in the The Ex Hex series and focuses on side characters we were introduced to in the first book. Gwyn is the sassiest witch and also the most free spirited. I loved her vibe and her “do not mess with me” demeanor. Wells is the grumpy brother from the first book and he’s sent to Graves Glen to keep an eye on his brother (Rhys) and the town as it’s now powered by Gwyn’s family of witches instead of the Penhallow’s. Listen, you combine sass and grump and this book was GIVING the snark. I freaking loved the quick quips between these two main characters as their shops compete in town. However, after things start to go awry in terms of Gywn’s magic, they’re forced to work together to figure out what’s happening. So all of that snarky tension turns into sexual tension and I was not mad lol. The plot of this book wasn’t as strong as the last one and I felt like the characters could’ve gotten a little deeper in their connection. That said though, I still really enjoyed it and would say it’s worth the read.
Fragments of the Lost by Megan Miranda
FRAGMENTS OF THE LOST by Megan Miranda
Rating: 3.75/5 stars
Summary: Jessa Whitworth knew she didn't belong in her ex-boyfriend Caleb's room. But she couldn't deny that she was everywhere: in his photos, his neatly folded T-shirts, even the butterfly necklace in his jeans pocket . . . the one she gave him for safe keeping on that day. His mother asked her to pack up his things, even though she blames Jessa for his accident. How could she say no? And maybe, just maybe, it will help her work through the guilt she feels about their final moments together. But as Jessa begins to box up the pieces of Caleb's life, they trigger memories that make Jessa realize their past relationship may not be exactly as she remembered. And she starts to question whether she really knew Caleb at all. Each fragment of his life reveals a new clue that propels Jessa to search for the truth about Caleb's accident. What really happened on the storm-swept bridge?
My Thoughts: This book got me MAD. For the main character that is, but dear Lort Caleb and his mom can GTFO. Basically, Jessa’s ex-boyfriend Caleb recently died and his mother has asked her to clean out his room. As she’s packing up his things, she starts uncovering some inconsistencies that make her question what she really knew about Caleb and how she remembers their relationship. Naturally, Jessa becomes invested in figuring out what really happened in the days leading up to Caleb’s accident. The pacing of this book started out a little slower, but it helped that it switched between the past as Jessa reflected on their relationship and the present where she’s packing up Caleb’s room. Although there is a large theme of dealing with grief, I don’t feel like that overshadowed the mystery part of the plot. Especially after Jessa starts connecting dots as to what Caleb was hiding from her. As a YA mystery/thriller, I appreciated how this story took a turn and how the ending wrapped up. However, I was so mad on behalf of Jessa lol. Caleb’s mom is fucking unhinged and had me questioning what kind of grown woman makes her son’s teenage ex-girlfriend clean out his room and then gets suspicious of her every time she’s trying to leave their house?? It all makes sense eventually, but I was chanting Justice for Jessa for a majority of this book. I wasn’t expecting to like this as much as I did and definitely recommend it if you’re looking for a mystery/thriller that doesn’t follow the usual formula.
Chain of Iron by Cassandra Clare
CHAIN OF IRON by Cassandra Clare (The Last Hours, #2)
Rating: 4/5 stars
Summary: Cordelia Carstairs seems to have everything she ever wanted. She’s engaged to marry James Herondale, the boy she has loved since childhood. She has a new life in London with her best friend Lucie Herondale and James’s charming companions, the Merry Thieves. She is about to be reunited with her beloved father. And she bears the sword Cortana, a legendary hero’s blade. But the truth is far grimmer. James and Cordelia’s marriage is a lie, arranged to save Cordelia’s reputation. James is in love with the mysterious Grace Blackthorn whose brother, Jesse, died years ago in a terrible accident. Cortana burns Cordelia’s hand when she touches it, while her father has grown bitter and angry. And a serial murderer is targeting the Shadowhunters of London, killing under cover of darkness, then vanishing without a trace. Together with the Merry Thieves, Cordelia, James, and Lucie must follow the trail of the knife-wielding killer through the city’s most dangerous streets. All the while, each is keeping a shocking secret: Lucie, that she plans to raise Jesse from the dead; Cordelia, that she has sworn a dangerous oath of loyalty to a mysterious power; and James, that he is being drawn further each night into the dark web of his grandfather, the arch-demon Belial. And that he himself may be the killer they seek.
My Thoughts: HOW DARE SHE? Cassie Clare really wanted me to feel some type of way with this book and I CANNOT. First of all, I am still utterly and unapologetically obsessed with this entire Shadowhunter world and the characters in this trilogy. Cordelia? A queen. I cannot get over how much I like her. There’s a wholesome, well-rounded essence to Cordelia that feels like sinking into your favorite comfy chair any time we’re in her head or interacting with her from a different character’s POV. She is such a smart, strong character and the resilience she showed throughout this book was wild. I would not have had as much chill. She does go through a deep phase of imposter syndrome (relatable lol), but this is all obviously a part of her character arc. A lot of the characters go through the downswing of their arcs in this book actually. Without giving spoilers, there were some foreshadowing events that felt a little inconsistent for those involved, but set up some support beams for the plot later in the book. Which is FINE, but I didn’t love it because I didn’t fully believe those specific characters would be that impulsive or easily fooled. The plot overall is an extension of the first book and definitely took a different angle on the demonic goings-on plaguing London. It was nice too that this book dealt with some deeper themes like identity, alcoholism, grief, family and platonic bonds, and more. I absolutely do not cosign on how this book ended and will absolutely be starting the next thicc girl in this series ASAP.
Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver
BUTCHER & BLACKBIRD by Brynne Weaver (The Ruinous Love Trilogy, #1)
Rating: 5/5 stars
Summary: When a chance encounter sparks an unlikely bond between rival murderers Sloane and Rowan, the two find something elusive—the friendship of a like-minded, pitch-black soul. From small town West Virginia to upscale California, from downtown Boston to rural Texas, the two hunters collide in an annual game of blood and suffering, one that pits them against the most dangerous monsters in the country. But as their friendship develops into something more, the restless ghosts left in their wake are only a few steps behind, ready to claim more than just their newfound love. Can Rowan and Sloane dig themselves out of a game of graves? Or have they finally met their match?
My Thoughts: Okay hear me out, this book was fantastic and it was about two serial killers falling in love lol. It’s definitely got some gore to it (so if you have a weak stomach, just beware), but the overall story reads more like a rom-com. The book starts with them crossing paths while Sloane has been locked in a cell in this other serial killer’s basement after she killed him and he kicked the door shut. Rowan finds her because he was there to kill the guy she already killed, lets her out, they grab food, and over some barbecue a competition is created and a bet is waged. Every year, they’ll each receive a text of the location for their target. They have a limited number of days to figure out who they’re supposed to kill and successfully complete the job in order to have bragging rights against the other person. As the competitions heat up, so does their connection. I was obsessed with their slow burn romance. It didn’t feel like your traditional slow burn because so much happens and you get both POVs, so you know who is PINING BAD for who. Obviously, as serial killers who kill serial killers, they both have some past demons they have to deal with in order to truly open their heart to the other person. I was obsessed with Sloane and Rowan as individual characters, so OBVIOUSLY I was screaming at the top of my lungs the entire time for them to work out. This is unlike any other romance I’ve read and I highly recommend it unless you’re squeamish with some gore. Then do not read it lol.
Leather & Lark by Brynne Weaver
LEATHER & LARK by Brynne Weaver (The Ruinous Love Trilogy, #2)
Rating: 3/5 stars
Summary: Contract killer Lachlan Kane wants a quiet life working in his leather studio and forgetting all about his traumatic past. But when he botches a job for his boss’s biggest client, Lachlan knows he’ll never claw his way out of the underworld. At least, not until songbird Lark Montague offers him a deal: use his skills to hunt down a killer and she’ll find a way to secure his freedom. The catch? He has to marry her first. And they can’t stand each other. Indie singer-songwriter Lark is the sunshine and glitter that burns through every cloud and clings to every crevice that Lachlan Kane tries to hide inside. The surly older brother of her best friend’s soulmate, Lachlan thinks she’s just a privileged princess, but Lark has plenty of secrets hiding in the shadows of her bright light. With her formidable family in a tailspin and her best friend’s happiness on the line, she’s willing to make a vow to the man she’s determined to hate, no matter how tempting the broody assassin might be. As Lachlan and Lark navigate the dark world that binds them together, it becomes impossible to discern their fake marriage from a real one. But it’s not just familiar dangers that haunt them. There’s another phantom lurking on their doorstep. And this one has come for blood.
My Thoughts: This is the second book within the serial killer rom-com series and it definitely had a touch darker tone to it. Lark comes from a super wealthy family who has connections within the underworld, but you would never guess based on her bubbly personality and the way she wins every room she walks into. However, there’s a darker side to her she’s hiding from everyone. Lachlan works for an unhinged guy that basically “cleans up” messes caused by his super wealthy clients - including Lark’s family who terminated their contract with them. When someone starts killing people off in Lark’s family’s circle, they assume it’s got to be Lachlan. However, if Lachlan is on their radar, then so is his brother, Rowan, and Lark’s best friend Sloane. To save Sloane (and Rowan), Sloane proposes a fake marriage to Lachlan, so that her parents don’t try to kill him. Cue the trifecta of tropes: enemies-to-lovers, grumpy-sunshine, and forced-proximity. I loved watching the connection between Lark and Lachlan grow as each one slowly let their walls down. I wouldn’t say the plot was as intriguing as the first book, but overall I enjoyed this one and would say it’s worth the read.
Chain of Thorns by Cassandra Clare
CHAIN OF THORNS by Cassandra Clare (The Last Hours, #3)
Rating: objectively - 3.5, subjectively 4
Summary: Cordelia Carstairs has lost everything that matters to her. In only a few short weeks, she has seen her father murdered, her plans to become parabatai with her best friend, Lucie, destroyed, and her marriage to James Herondale crumble before her eyes. Even worse, she is now bound to an ancient demon, Lilith, stripping her of her power as a Shadowhunter. After fleeing to Paris with Matthew Fairchild, Cordelia hopes to forget her sorrows in the city’s glittering nightlife. But reality intrudes when shocking news comes from home: Tatiana Blackthorn has escaped the Adamant Citadel, and London is under new threat by the Prince of Hell, Belial. Cordelia returns to a London riven by chaos and dissent. The long-kept secret that Belial is James and Lucie’s grandfather has been revealed by an unexpected enemy, and the Herondales find themselves under suspicion of dealings with demons. Cordelia longs to protect James but is torn between a love for James she has long believed hopeless, and the possibility of a new life with Matthew. Nor can her friends help—ripped apart by their own secrets, they seem destined to face what is coming alone. For time is short, and Belial’s plan is about to crash into the Shadowhunters of London like a deadly wave, one that will separate Cordelia, Lucie, and the Merry Thieves from help of any kind. Left alone in a shadowy London, they must face Belial’s deadly army. If Cordelia and her friends are going to save their city—and their families—they will have to muster their courage, swallow their pride, and trust one another again. For if they fail, they may lose everything—even their souls.
My Thoughts: LOL okay. So as I said above, this book was objectively a 3.5 if I was rating it honestly. HOWEVER, subjectively and solely because I was SO INVESTED in Thomas and Alastair’s storyline, it’s a 4 for me lol. This was a thicc book. Like the audiobook was 30 hours, so you gotta strap in and get ready for some Shadowhunter Shenanigans. I gotta say though, this is probably the least invested in a plot within this world that I’ve ever been. I just didn’t really care that Belial was still tryna torment James and take over London or that Lucie had the power to talk to the dead. After she uses her power to connect one of the side character’s souls back with his body, I just kind of didn’t care that she could control ghosts anymore lol. Cordelia was still being such a little shit and it was because she was too proud. Then James doubled down and wouldn’t tell her something that would literally resolve EVERYTHING between them, but he was also too proud. So it was just a freaking mess. Baby boi Matthew was going THROUGH it, but thankfully his friends circled the wagon and helped him get through the multiple heartbreaks that were driving him to drink. Something happens to a different character that literally had me screaming “THIS IS WHY WE CAN’T HAVE NICE THINGS, CASSIE,” but otherwise, I was more invested in where everyone’s relationships ended up vs. caring about whether they defeat the demons in London. Spoiler alert: they usually do lol. After finishing this trilogy, I’d say this is probably my least favorite series within the Shadowhunters world, but I appreciated my time with it nonetheless.
Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
GODS OF JADE AND SHADOW by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Rating: DNF @ 45%
Summary: The Jazz Age is in full swing, but Casiopea Tun is too busy cleaning the floors of her wealthy grandfather’s house to listen to any fast tunes. Nevertheless, she dreams of a life far from her dusty small town in southern Mexico. A life she can call her own. Yet this new life seems as distant as the stars, until the day she finds a curious wooden box in her grandfather’s room. She opens it—and accidentally frees the spirit of the Mayan god of death, who requests her help in recovering his throne from his treacherous brother. Failure will mean Casiopea’s demise, but success could make her dreams come true. In the company of the strangely alluring god and armed with her wits, Casiopea begins an adventure that will take her on a cross-country odyssey from the jungles of Yucatán to the bright lights of Mexico City—and deep into the darkness of the Mayan underworld.
My Thoughts: uuuuughhhhh. It absolutely killed me to DNF this book, especially when I am a SMG stan, but oh my god I could not get into this story. I listened to the audiobook and was, for lack of a better description, painfully bored. Basically, Casiopea is the black sheep cousin who nobody really likes, so she’s stuck doing all the bitch work around the house and is treated like dookie. When she finds the key to a mysterious trunk in her grandfather’s room, she opens it and ends up freeing the spirit of the Mayan god of death. This dude is missing an ear, a finger (?), and some other random body part. So he’s like oh sweet, thanks for letting me out of that box. Now you’re indebted to me and have to go on this crazy adventure while we go collect my missing extremities which will allow me to return to full power. I don’t know. At first, I was like okay maybe I’m missing some info to the backstory of this book? Maybe it’s a retelling of some other story, and essentially, it’s based on some Mexican folklore. So it’s not a full retelling, but having no previous knowledge of the folklore that’s being referred to here, it was hard to keep up. Also Casiopea sucked lol. As did the god of death. He was bland as hell. They were not likable characters. Which meant getting invested in them AND this plot was a feat. Idk. Maybe I just wasn’t in the right mood for this book or maybe it really was just the biggest miss I wasn’t expecting from this author. Either way, I’m not going to be recommending this one to anyone as a must-read from Slivia Moreno Garcia. :/ Maybe I’ll give it another try in the future, but I’m not holding my breath for that happening any time soon.
The Striker by Ana Huang
THE STRIKER by Ana Huang
Rating: 3.25/5 stars
Summary: Asher Donovan is a living legend—the darling of the Premier League, the (arguably) greatest footballer in the world. But his reckless antics and recent team transfer have caused much controversy, and when his feud with his rival-turned-teammate costs them a championship, they’re forced to “bond” during off-season cross-training. Surviving the summer shouldn’t be hard…until Asher meets their new trainer. She’s beautiful, talented, and no matter how hard he tries, he can’t take his mind off her. The only problem? She’s his rival’s sister—and completely off limits. | Scarlett DuBois is a former prima ballerina whose career was cut short by a tragic accident. Now a teacher at a prestigious dance academy but still haunted by the ghosts of her past, the last thing she wants is to spend the summer cross-training Asher Donovan, of all people . She swore she would never date a footballer, but when her brother leaves town for an emergency, she finds herself thrown into dangerously close proximity with the gorgeous, charming striker. Training, she can deal with. But falling in love? That’s out of the question—especially when he’s the only person with the power to break her heart.
My Thoughts: This rating kills me because I freaking LOVE Ana Huang and the other series she’s written. She definitely has a formula she follows with every book, but for whatever reason, it just didn’t work its full magic here. Everything was fine! It was the same type of “fine” that you feel after going on a first date where nothing egregious happened, but also you’re really indifferent towards going on a second date. It just felt like SOMETHING was missing and I still cannot put my finger on it. I enjoyed the book enough though. Asher was head over heels for Scarlett and it was sweet how thoughtful he was towards her needs. That said, there were a few instances that involved other people where he was just SOOOO selfish and reactive, and it hit a point where I felt like fixing that behavior DEFINITELY should have been part of his character arc much sooner. Scarlett was a great MFC for this book as well. She’s very resilient after facing some adversity five years prior, but HOT DANG, this ballerina is proud. Specifically, too proud to ask for help. Which got super old. I don’t know. As I said, I liked it overall. It was cute and had great spice, but it just felt like Ana Huang forgot to add her secret ingredient to the fail-proof recipe. You know what I mean? The next book in this specific series comes out next October, so I’ll probably still read that one, but idk. This was just fine lol.
Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young
SKY IN THE DEEP by Adrienne Young
Rating: 5/5
Summary: Raised to be a warrior, seventeen-year-old Eelyn fights alongside her Aska clansmen in an ancient rivalry against the Riki clan. Her life is brutal but simple: fight and survive. Until the day she sees the impossible on the battlefield—her brother, fighting with the enemy—the brother she watched die five years ago. Faced with her brother's betrayal, she must survive the winter in the mountains with the Riki, in a village where every neighbor is an enemy, every battle scar possibly one she delivered. But when the Riki village is raided by a ruthless clan thought to be a legend, Eelyn is even more desperate to get back to her beloved family. She is given no choice but to trust Fiske, her brother’s friend, who sees her as a threat. They must do the impossible: unite the clans to fight together, or risk being slaughtered one by one. Driven by a love for her clan and her growing love for Fiske, Eelyn must confront her own definition of loyalty and family while daring to put her faith in the people she’s spent her life hating.
My Thoughts: Listen, I literally picked this book up on a whim at an Ollie’s Bargain Outlet like three years ago and never cracked it open. Frankly, I kind of forgot about it lol. So when I saw this book sitting on my bookshelf, I decided to give its audiobook a try. I didn’t know a historical fiction/YA fantasy set in the Vikings era is exactly what I needed, but y’all. This book breathed life back into me after DNFing the last audiobook I tried (cough, cough, looking at you Gods of Jade and Shadow). This story hits the ground running right from the very beginning and the plot never really slows down. As hard-headed as Eelyn was initially after being kidnapped and “bought” by her brother’s new family from the rival Viking clan, I freaking loved her as the main character for this. She gets the literal shit kicked out of her and still somehow musters the energy to say “bet” to anyone who threatens her. I appreciated that although Eelyn feels THOROUGHLY betrayed by her brother, the author still made it possible to empathize with the reasoning behind his actions. The plot thickens at the exact right moment after the village is raided by a third, much more ruthless clan which forces the Aska (Eelyn’s clan) and the Riki (her brother’s new clan) to set aside their ancient rivalry to defeat the bloodthirsty Herja. To no one’s surprise, I was an absolute SIMP for Fiske. He had a strong, quiet-type of energy to him. Like he’s not going to tell you how good of a person he is, but everyone else will tell you unsolicited. It was impossible not to trust him and made it that much easier to believe the connection that slowly forms between him and Eelyn. Honestly, if you’re into historical fiction and YA fantasy, and don’t mind a little gore (vikings can get violent), I highly recommend picking up this book!
Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson
NOTHING TO SEE HERE by Kevin Wilson
Rating: 5/5 stars
Summary: Lillian and Madison were unlikely roommates and yet inseparable friends at their elite boarding school. But then Lillian had to leave the school unexpectedly in the wake of a scandal and they’ve barely spoken since. Until now, when Lillian gets a letter from Madison pleading for her help. Madison’s twin stepkids are moving in with her family and she wants Lillian to be their caretaker. However, there’s a catch: the twins spontaneously combust when they get agitated, flames igniting from their skin in a startling but beautiful way. Lillian is convinced Madison is pulling her leg, but it’s the truth. Thinking of her dead-end life at home, the life that has consistently disappointed her, Lillian figures she has nothing to lose. Over the course of one humid, demanding summer, Lillian and the twins learn to trust each other—and stay cool—while also staying out of the way of Madison’s buttoned-up politician husband. Surprised by her own ingenuity yet unused to the intense feelings of protectiveness she feels for them, Lillian ultimately begins to accept that she needs these strange children as much as they need her—urgently and fiercely. Couldn’t this be the start of the amazing life she’d always hoped for?
My Thoughts: Literally, one of my favorite books that I’ve read this year. No notes. This audiobook was fucking amazing. ALL THE AWARDS to Marin Ireland who put her WHOLE ass foot into this narration. I was invested from the START. Lillian is kind of a burnout living in her mom’s attic and works at two grocery stores. The only friend she’s really ever had from boarding school when she was younger, Madison, asks her out of the blue for some help. It turns out Madison’s step kids have to move in with her family and they need a caretaker. However, the caveat is they catch on fire anytime they’re upset or mad. Cue the funniest, most heartwarming summer of Lillian figuring out how to not only take care of kids, but kids who have a tendency to ignite when agitated. Their dynamics were so freaking endearing and after all of the trauma Roland and Bessie have been through, Lillian is determined to make sure they’re seen as kids instead of monsters. I was BARKING laughs throughout this entire book. There are so many one liners and just chaotic conversations that made me want to squeeze these three misfits into a giant hug and never let them go. I’m obsessed with Lillian’s character and found her pretty relatable in that she has no prior experience with kids and was basically winging everything. This book is a MUST read if you have not already. Even if you never take any of my other book recommendations, please take this one. You won’t regret it.
Okie! Congrats if you made it to the end and also THANK YOU lol. I know this month’s reading wrap-up post was a DOOZY, but I sincerely appreciate it if you made it this far.
I feel like as we’re headed into the holiday season, I’ll be gravitating more towards cozy reads, but alas. I am a mood reader, so we shall see!
2024 Book Count: 115
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YOUR TURN! What’s your favorite holiday-themed book?
