September 2022 Reads
Happy fall, y’all!! Sweater szn is here. :D
September is a complete blur for me. I feel like between my new job and everything else kicking into high gear at the end of summer, my schedule was jam packed and all of the days bled into each other lol. I did spend the last night of September at a silent disco and, let me tell you, if you have never dabbled in a silent disco, you need to ASAP. It was the most fun I’ve had in a while!
My reading was kind of all over the place this month. However, my therapist knows I’m a big reader and has been asking me for MONTHS if I’ve read the second book in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series. Which I had been putting off tbh. So I finally gave into the mild peer pressure lmao and dove head first back into the series, and holy hell I have zero regrets. You’ll see in my reviews later, but if it’s not on brand for me to inhale the next three books in the series within two weeks then I don’t know what is lol.
Okie! With that said, let’s get into everything I read in September!
*All summaries are taken or paraphrased from Goodreads.
Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater
BLUE LILY, LILY BLUE by Maggie Stiefvater
Rating: 5/5 stars
Summary: Blue Sargent has found things. For the first time in her life, she has friends she can trust, a group to which she can belong. The Raven Boys have taken her in as one of their own. Their problems have become hers, and her problems have become theirs. The trick with found things, though, is how easily they can be lost. Friends can betray. Mothers can disappear. Visions can mislead. Certainties can unravel.
My Thoughts: My name is Haley and I’m officially addicted to the Raven Cycle series and you cannot stop me. This book…sheesh. I adored it. Let’s get my first impulsive thought out of the way… Do I dare say Mr. Grey is a zaddy?? He’s definitely an antagonist turned protagonist and I am here for it. Now that we know what special powers Ronan and Adam have, we start to see them honing in on controlling what they do in relation to Cabe’s Water and the ley lines. I was obsessed with the mentor/mentee relationship between Adam and Persephone. Between her and Calla, I’ve grown extremely fond of their independent witchy spirits and contrasting personalities. You can tell they’re wise AF, but the whimsical and quiet Persephone always comes through with some comedic relief. We’re introduced to a few new characters and although some we’ve heard about in previous books, I was not prepared for the shit storm a couple of them caused. They made this plot THICKEN. It wouldn’t be in my heart to not mention how obsessed I’ve become with the Blue/Gansey dynamic. They’re such a cozy fit, I cannot help but swoon. Additionally, this book made me gasp and cry because it wanted to wreck me emotionally and I was NOT ready for it lol. Take that in stride while you pick up this book because I highly recommend it!
Truth or Beard by Penny Reid
TRUTH OR BEARD by Penny Reid
Rating: 3/5 stars
Summary: Beards, brothers, and bikers! Oh my! Identical twins Beau and Duane Winston might share the same devastatingly handsome face, but where Beau is outgoing and sociable, Duane is broody and reserved. This is why Jessica James, recent college graduate and perpetual level-headed good girl, has been in a naive and unhealthy infatuation with Beau Winston for most of her life. His friendly smiles make her tongue-tied and weak-kneed, and she’s never been able to move beyond her childhood crush. Whereas Duane and Jessica have always been adversaries. She can’t stand him, and she’s pretty sure he can’t stand the sight of her… But after a case of mistaken identity, Jessica finds herself in a massive confusion kerfuffle. Jessica James has spent her whole life paralyzed by the fantasy of Beau and her assumptions of Duane’s disdain, therefore, she’s unprepared for the reality that is Duane’s insatiable interest, as well as his hot hands and hot mouth and hotter looks. Not helping Jessica’s muddled mind and good girl sensibilities, Duane seems to have gotten himself in trouble with the local biker gang, the Iron Order. Certainly, Beau’s magic spell is broken. Yet when Jessica finds herself drawn to the man who was always her adversary, now more dangerous than ever, how much of her level-headed heart is she willing to risk?
My Thoughts: All right, y’all. This book was cute, but it was an incredibly inconsistent experience for me. I was hooked at the beginning of it and was completely sold on the sexual tension burning between Duane and Jessica. Plus, I love a good enemies-to-lovers/fake dating trope combo and this storyline had a little bit of both, so bonus points there. It was nice that we got a better understanding of who Jessica and Duane are as individual characters, what their relationship growing up looked like, and how much potential there is for them moving forward. So all of that was obviously enjoyable. Where I started to have a disconnect was later on in the story when disagreements and/or miscommunications were had. At some points, it felt like the author was spoon feeding me what I should be feeling during those scenes vs. letting the narrative play out naturally and allowing me to develop my own emotions about it. Some parts just seemed very calculated from a plot standpoint and that took away from the experience. Also, (I’m writing this review about a week or 2 after I read the book, so I don’t remember specifics) Duane said some really not nice things to Jessica at one point and I was like, “nope.” Absolutely not would I support any friend getting back together with a guy in real life if he said something like that to her. So yeah, I mean did I enjoy the book overall? Sure! Am I planning to continue the series? Probably not, honestly. If you like the whole “bearded mountain man” thing then this may be a better fit than it was for me lol.
Heartstopper Vol. 3 by Alice Oseman
HEARTSTOPPER: Vol 3 by Alice Oseman
Rating: 5/5 stars
Summary: In this volume, we’ll see the Heartstopper gang go on a school trip to Paris! Not only are Nick and Charlie navigating a new city, but also telling more people about their relationship AND learning more about the challenges each other are facing in private. Meanwhile, Tao and Elle will face their feelings for each other, Tara and Darcy share more about their relationship origin story, and the teachers supervising the trip seem… rather close…?
My Thoughts: EEK! This was so freaking cute. I love the comfortable rhythm Nick and Charlie have fallen into with their new relationship. Plus it was so sweet that Nick is tuned into Charlie’s behaviors and mannerisms enough to notice that he might be going through something and/or might have an eating disorder. It’s also a RELIEF that Tao and Darcy are finally starting to share their feelings because Tao has been a moody turd in the previous two books lol. So this is a good change of pace for his spirits. I don’t need to say it, but I might as well, READ THIS SERIES!
Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe
GENDER QUEER by Maia Kobabe
Rating: 5/5 stars
Summary: In 2014, Maia Kobabe, who uses e/em/eir pronouns, thought that a comic of reading statistics would be the last comic e would ever write. At the time, it was the only thing e felt comfortable with strangers knowing about em. Now, Gender Queer is here. Maia’s intensely cathartic autobiography charts eir journey to self-identity, which includes the mortification and confusion of adolescent crushes, grappling with how to come out to family and society, bonding with friends over erotic gay fanfiction, and facing the trauma of pap smears. Started as a way to explain to eir family what it means to be non-binary and asexual, Gender Queer is more than a personal story; it is a useful and touching guide on gender identity - what it means and how to think about it - for advocates, friends, and humans everywhere.
My Thoughts: I’ve been loving graphic novels lately and this memoir was no exception. It was a raw look into the author’s life as e discovers eir gender identity and sexual orientation through vivid illustrations. As a cis woman, I feel it is so important for me to read these types of books because it helps give me perspective of what people in the LGBTQIA experience as they navigate to understand themselves better and how gender doesn’t have to be so defining to a person. It’s also important to remember that literally everyone’s experiences are different and our world as a whole needs to work on changing the way our thinking works when we’re trying to put people into “categories.” This graphic novel was incredibly eye-opening and I think everyone should read it.
Act Your Age Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert
ACT YOUR AGE, EVE BROWN by Talia Hibbert
Rating: 4/5 stars
Summary: Eve Brown is a certified hot mess. No matter how hard she strives to do right, her life always goes horribly wrong - so she’s given up trying. But when her personal brand of chaos ruins an expensive wedding (someone had to liberate those poor doves), her parents draw the line. It’s time for Eve to grow up and prove herself - even though she’s not entirely sure how… Jacob Wayne is in control. Always. The bed and breakfast owner’s on a mission to dominate the hospitality industry - and he expects nothing less than perfection. So when a purple-haired tornado of a woman turns up out of the blue to interview for his open chef position, he tells her the brutal truth: not a chance in hell. Then she hits him with her car - supposedly by accident. Yeah, right. Now his arm is broken, his B&B is understaffed, and the dangerously unpredictable Eve is fluttering around, trying to help. Before long, she’s infiltrated his work, his kitchen - and his spare bedroom. Jacob hates everything about it. Or rather, he should. Sunny, chaotic Eve is his natural-born nemesis, but the longer these two enemies spend in close quarters, the more their animosity turns into something else. Like Eve, the heat between them is impossible to ignore - and it’s melting Jacob’s frosty exterior.
My Thoughts: This was super cute! It’s been a while since I’ve read the previous two Brown Sisters books, but I had to wait for my turn at the library for this one. I’m glad I did wait though instead of buying the ebook because although I really enjoyed the experience of this book, I don’t know that it’s necessarily one I feel the need to have a copy of my own, yanno? Eve is just straight up chaos in most of the best ways. I loved that she really just owned her aesthetic and personality and if other people didn’t vibe with it, so be it. There were some behaviors she had at the beginning of the book that needed to change, but her overall character development worked those out by the end. Jacob is the perfect grump for this grumpy-sunshine trope. Not to mention, he literally ends up calling Eve “Sunshine” by the end of it :’). He’s got a process and plan in place for absolutely everything at his bed and breakfast and does not like to veer away from those. After Eve accidentally hits him with her car (lol), he’s forced to rely on others in a way he’s never been comfortable with. I adored these two main characters because their communication style was so transparent and the way they worked together was effortless. Was this my favorite Brown Sisters book? Not necessarily. Did I thoroughly enjoy it? For sure! Overall, if you’ve read the other two books in this series, I definitely say continue onto Eve’s story.
My Killer Vacation by Tessa Bailey
MY KILLER VACATION by Tessa Bailey
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Summary: It was supposed to be a relaxing vacation in sweet, sunny Cape Cod - just me and my beloved brother - but discovering a corpse in our rental house really throws a wrench into our tanning schedule. Now a rude, crude bounty hunter has arrived on the back of his motorcycle to catch the killer and refuses to believe I can be helpful, despite countless hours of true crime podcast listening. Not to mention a fulfilling teaching career of wrangling second graders. A brash bounty hunter and an energetic elementary schoolteacher: the murder-solving team no one asked for, but thanks to these pesky attempts on my life, we’re stuck together, come hell or high tide. | I’m just here to do a job, not babysit an amateur sleuth. Although… it is becoming less and less of a hardship to have her around. Sure, she’s stubborn, distracting, and can’t stay out of harm’s way. She’s also brave and beautiful and reminds me of the home I left behind three years ago. In other words, the painful hunger and protectiveness she is waking up in me is a threat to my peace of mind. Before I sink any deeper into this dangerous attraction, I need to solve this murder and get back on the road. But will fate take her from me before I realize the road has been leading to her all along?
My Thoughts: A cute AND steamy rom-com with a little bit of murder mixed in? Sounds like a great way to kick off spooky season! :) Seriously though, Tessa Bailey has a talent for writing Grade A banter between her MCs and this book is no exception. Taylor is a quirky school teacher who doesn’t think she’s a very brave person. Myles is a brutish bounty hunter who is a little rough around the edges, which also means he’s a softy at heart. I loved how this grumpy-sunshine trope played out between the two because they balanced each other so well. Although I’m not usually a fan of instant-love tropes, this one is probably more along the lines of instant-lust, and I could dig it lol. There are definitely some SPICY scenes in this book and the sexual tension is thick. On the other side of things, the murder mystery added just enough twists to keep the plot interesting while still giving room to the developing romance between Taylor and Myles. I wouldn’t say this is my favorite rom-com ever, but I really liked it!
Heartstopper Volume 4 by Alice Oseman
HEARTSTOPPER: Vol 4 by Alice Osmen
Rating: 5/5 stars
Summary: Charlie didn’t think Nick could ever like him back, but now they’re officially boyfriends. Charlie’s beginning to feel ready to say those three little words: I love you. Nick’s been feeling the same, but he’s got a lot on his mind - not least coming out to his dad, and the fact that Charlie might have an eating disorder. As summer turns to autumn and a new school year begins, Charlie and Nick are about to learn a lot about what love means.
My Thoughts: Heartstopper just keeps getting more and more heartwarming with every volume and the fourth installment is no exception. This one had me getting a little more emotional than the other three because it touches on topics such as eating disorders and coming out for the first time to someone important to you. I still think it’s incredibly mature and self-aware for Nick to have noticed Charlie’s behaviors and moods related to food in social settings, at school, etc. He’s only 16, but he’s so in tune with Charlie (because love <3) and manages to approach it in a way that gives Charlie space to ask for help. So far, I’m absolutely obsessed with this graphic series and cannot wait for volume five to come out!
The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater
THE RAVEN KING by Maggie Stiefvater
Rating: 5/5 stars
Summary: All her life, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love’s death. She doesn’t believe in true love and never thought this would be a problem, but as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.
My Thoughts: Wow. For starters, I could have NEVER predicted how this series was going to end. Like this book kept me on my toes because nothing panned out the way I was assuming it would. We love multiple plot twists though, do we not? I was absolutely SWOONING over this new Ronan/Adam dynamic. Honestly, it makes sense to the overall storyline in general since they both have powers related to Cabe’s Water that they’d start gravitating towards each other. We saw a hint of those feelings starting to develop from Ronan’s point of view in the previous book, but I’m glad Adam went all in without hesitating. There was a new character introduced early on in this book, Henry Chen, who actually ends up playing a bigger role in the grand scheme of things than I was ever expecting. It turns out Ronan’s older brother has been elbow deep in some dangerous dealings which includes Henry’s mother and that whole situation is a giant plot twist in itself. Blue and Gansey are, of course, still the mf cutest couple to ever have paired. I will say, the climax of this book and basically the whole series happens pretty quickly, and not at all the way that I planned in my head, but I kind of appreciated that I didn’t get what was expected. Overall, I’m obsessed with the Raven Cycle series and the final book truly did the ending justice.
Mixed Signals by B.K. Borison
MIXED SIGNALS by B.K. Borison
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Summary: Layla Dupree has given up on love. She’s waded through all of the fish in the seas, each one more disappointing than the last. Apparently owning the bakery at Inglewild’s most romantic destination does not help one’s love life - despite her best efforts. All she wants is a partner who gives her butterflies, not someone who ghosts her at dinner and leaves her with the check. Good thing Caleb Alvarez has the perfect solution. After saving Layla from another date gone bad, he has a simple proposition: One month of no-strings dating. He’ll do his best to renew her faith in men while she rates his dating game. It’s a win-win situation. All the benefits of dating, without the added pressure of feelings and unmet expectations. But there’s one ingredient they haven’t considered. The chemistry between them is red hot and the urge to take things to the next level is more tempting than Layla’s double fudge mocha brownies. Will the heat between them boil over? Or will it be another case of mixed signals?
My Thoughts: The first thing absolutely everyone needs to know in regards to my feelings about this book is this: Caleb Alvarez has stolen my heart and for sure one of the top three spots on my book boyfriend list. Like wow. Leave me in a puddle of my own swoon because he is a gem that must be protected at all costs. Okay, now that that’s out of the way, this book is probably my favorite of the Lovelight series. It was the epitome of a sweet, steamy romance that makes you want to cherish every last page. The author’s writing really sucks you into the undeniable connection between Layla and Caleb in a way that feels like a slow burn, but really it’s just being present in the day to day nuances of learning someone else while unexpectedly falling in love. It truly got to the core of how a healthy relationship should feel and there were so many emotions radiating from this story. Especially through the simple things including the dates that didn’t go quite as planned, but ended up being even more memorable because of it, knowing immediately who they wanted to call when something was wrong, showing endless patience as they slowly opened up to one another, and learning to trust. This is one of those romance books that makes me realize I need to stop reading so much romance because it’s relationships like Layla and Caleb’s that give me unrealistic expectations of how things are going to be in real life lol. Needless to say, I highly recommend reading this if you’re looking for something swoony in the rom-com category.
Woman on Fire by Lisa Barr
WOMAN ON FIRE by Lisa Barr
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Summary: After talking her way into a job with Dan Mansfield, the leading investigative reporter in Chicago, rising young journalist Jules Roth is given an unusual - and very secret - assignment. Dan needs her to locate a painting stolen by the Nazis more than 75 years earlier; legendary Expressionist artist Ernst Engel’s most famous work, Woman on Fire. World-renowned shoe designer Ellis Baum wants this portrait of a beautiful, mysterious woman for deeply personal reasons, and has enlisted Dan’s help to find it. But Jules doesn’t have much time; the famous designer is dying. Meanwhile, in Europe, provocative and powerful Margaux de Laurent also searches for the painting. Heir to her art collector family’s millions, Margaux is a cunning gallerist who gets everything she wants. The only thing standing in her way is Jules. Yet the passionate and determined Jules has unexpected resources of her own, including Adam Baum, Ellis’s grandson. A recovering addict and brilliant artist in his own right, Adam was once in Margaux’s clutches. He knows how ruthless she is, and he’ll do anything to help Jules locate the painting before Margaux gets to it first.
My Thoughts: Ooo WEE. This book had me SUCKED in right from the start. This book was fast-paced, twisty, and balanced the perfect combination of mystery, historical fiction, and contemporary fiction. Every character is so unique and addictive in their own right. Jules is a powerhouse investigative journalist who knows no boundaries when it comes to unraveling a story. Though she had a tendency to go rogue with some of her decisions, her confidence and strong will made her the perfect main character. Margaux was a fuckin menace and high key psychopath, but even her character had dynamic layers that made her so much more than just the antagonist. The plot twists were phenomenal and came at all of the right times in a way that affected all of the characters in this twisty race to find the Woman on Fire painting. I admired the amount of research that had to have gone into creating this story. The number of art references, and facts relating to WW2 really made me buy into everything this author was spinning for me. The timeline definitely kept me on my toes, and although the climax of this novel happens very quickly, I think the outcome of the hunt was so satisfactory. If you’re looking for something that’s cross-genre, a little thrilling, and will suck you in from page 1, you should definitely pick up this book!
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
CRYING IN H MART by Michelle Zauner
Rating: 5/5 stars
Summary: In this exquisite story of family, food, grief, and endurance, Michelle, Zauner proves herself far more than a dazzling singer, songwriter, and guitarist. With humor and heart, she tells of growing up one of the few Asian American kids at her school in Eugene, Oregon; of struggling with her mother’s particular, high expectations of her; of a painful adolescence; of treasured months spent in her grandmother’s tiny apartment in Seoul, where she and her mother would bond, late at night, over heaping plates of food. As she grew up, moving to the East Coast for college, finding work in the restaurant industry, and performing gigs with her fledgling band - and meeting the man who would become her husband - her Koreanness began to feel ever more distant, even as she found the life she wanted to live. It was her mother’s diagnosis of terminal cancer, when Michelle was twenty-five, that forced a reckoning with her identity and brought her to reclaim the gifts of taste, language, and history her mother had given her. Vivacious and plainspoken, lyrical and honest, Zauner’s voice is as radiant alive on the page as it is on stage. Rich with intimate anecdotes that will resonate widely, and complete with family photos, Crying in H Mart is a book to cherish, share, and reread.
My Thoughts: I stand by my belief that memoirs are best read via audiobook if the author is the narrator. This was an incredible story about the relationship between a mother and daughter who don’t always understand the other, but continuously connect through their unconditional love. Michelle Zauner has a poetic way of writing that draws the rawest of emotions out of her readers. Specifically describing the grief she experienced throughout her mother’s diagnosis, chemotherapy, and life after her passing. The cultural references throughout this book truly put you in Zauner’s shoes as she walks you down the path of her life to the present. I am in awe at how much of her heart I felt through this audiobook and highly recommend it! Please check trigger warnings tho.
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas
A COURT OF MIST AND FURY by Sarah J. Maas
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Summary: Feyre has undergone more trials than one human woman can carry in her heart. Though she’s now been granted the powers and lifespan of the High Fae, she is haunted by her time Under the Mountain and the terrible deeds she performed to save the lives of Tamlin and his people. As her marriage to Tamlin approaches, Feyre’s hollowness and nightmares consume her. She finds herself split into two different people: one who upholds her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court, and one who lives out her life in the Spring Court with Tamlin. While Feyre navigates a dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms. She might just be the key to stopping it, but only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future - and the future of a world in turmoil.
My Thoughts: LOL. Y’ALL. Okay I read A Court of Thorns and Roses back in early 2021, and although I immediately purchased this second book in the series after finishing the first one, I somehow managed to fight off the urge to jump right into it. So, here we are about a year and some change later, and I absolutely INHALED A Court of Mist and Fury. I think one of my favorite things about this book is Feyre’s character development. If I remember correctly, I thought she was kind of annoying in ACOTAR because she was pretty needy with Tamlin and not as strong of a main protagonist as I would’ve liked for that story. I think with her new Fae body and lifespan, and especially after everything she went through Under the Mountain, she just has so much more backbone in this book. Specifically, when she gets out of the Spring Court to fulfill her bargain with Rhysand. Although we were originally under the impression that his court is super scary, we quickly learn how much he has the rest of the world fooled. I absolutely loved the Night Court, the Court of Dreamers, and just everything that came with it. Also obsessed with Rhysand in general. Their relationship takes some turns as well - all for the better - that involve some real character development. There are some spicy scenes sprinkled into this book (chapter 55 IYKYK), but they were perfectly placed. I also love how much the plot thickens and all the twists it takes. TAMLIN CAN GTFO. He is such a turd. Otherwise, I really enjoyed the second book of this series and definitely recommend continuing onto it if you’ve read ACOTAR.
A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J Maas
A COURT OF WINGS AND RUIN by Sarah J. Maas
Rating: 5/5 stars
Summary: Feyre has returned to Spring Court, determined to gather information on Tamlin’s actions and learn what she can about the invading king threatening to bring her land to its knees. But to do so, she must play a deadly game of deceit. One slip could bring doom not only for Feyre, but for everything and everyone she holds dear. As war bears down upon them all, Feyre endeavors to take her place amongst the High Fae of the land, balancing her struggle to master powers - both magical and political - and her love for her court and family. Amidst these struggles, Feyre and Rhysand must decide whom to trust amongst the cunning and lethal High Lords, and hunt for allies in unexpected places.
My Thoughts: Wow. Yes. This book is exactly what I needed in this series. The plot was phenomenal and the unexpected twists made me the perfect amount of antsy. We had incredible character development across the board - even F Boy Tamlin had some upswing in this one. The scene setting and vivid atmosphere descriptions made picturing Prythian effortless. This. This is what I wanted from SJM at the beginning of the series and she made me patiently wait until the third installment to unleash her storytelling beast. Especially during the war scenes?? Y’all. I felt like I was in the middle of that battlefield trudging through mud and blood. I was the one wielding swords and daggers next to my Illyrian kin as I trained for combat. I was the one navigating politics between the High Courts. She has a talent for drawing you into the narrative in a way that feels so natural and all encompassing. A few fleeting thoughts: I am getting love triangle vibes from the whole Lucien-Elain-Azriel situation and cannot wait until that is addressed, Nesta and Cassian are the grumpy-sunshine fae duo I didn’t know I needed in my life, and last but not least, RHYSAND CAN STILL GET IT. Okay. So there it is. That’s my review. I literally devoured this book in two days, so idk what else to tell you besides definitely read this book if you’ve jumped onto the ACOTAR train.
A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas
A COURT OF FROST AND STARLIGHT by Sarah J. Maas
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Summary: Feyre, Rhysand, and their friends are still busy rebuilding the Night Court and the vastly altered world beyond, recovering from the war that changed everything. But Winter Solstice is finally approaching, and with it, the joy of a hard-earned reprieve. Yet even the festive atmosphere can’t keep the shadows of the past from looming. As Feyre navigates her first Winter Solstice as High Lady, her concern for those dearest to her deepens. They have more wounds than she anticipated-scars that will have a far-reaching impact on the future of their court.
My Thoughts: Okay so I was torn on whether to read this one or not because it’s technically a novella to this series and some people say it’s not worth it. However, I will say this: do I regret reading it? Not at all. Will I ever read it again? Probably not lol. It was a nice change of pace looking at the first holiday following the big war that happened in ACOWAR. We also had some chapters from various characters’ POVs instead of just Feyre's, which was refreshing. It really gave perspective as to how each individual character was dealing with everything that happened in the previous book. Some were obviously doing better with the emotional and mental aftermath of being through a destructive, bloody war. Others, however, (specifically Nesta), are still trying to figure out how to process all of the trauma experienced. I think there were a few nods/details to character dynamics in the next book (A Court of Silver Flames), so I wouldn’t discount this book as not worth reading entirely. However, if you absolutely do not want to read it, I guess it’s not going to wholly impact the series experience. The best way to describe how I felt about this book is, if you’ve read the Throne of Glass series, the attitude towards Tower of Dawn is pretty comparable to the attitude about this book lol. Like you don’t want to read it, but end up enjoying it once you do. So yeah.
Alrighty, that’s September for ya!
I’m going to try to get a little spooky with the books I read in October, but I’m also one of the jumpiest people when it comes to mystery/thrillers/horror. So, no promises lol.
2022 Book Count: 160
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YOUR TURN! What’s the last series you dove head first into?