Like the Comet

Who else blinked and realized we’re already at the start of fall?

Don’t get me wrong. I love the changing of the leaves, sweater weather, football weekends, and all of the cozy vibes this season brings. What I don’t love is that it starts getting dark super early and the sun doesn’t rise until at least 8am. :(

Time to break out those sun lamps, people.

On the reading front this month, I definitely got through some books slower than I planned, per usual as of late. I was a little fickle with what genre I was in the mood for, so I ended up just kind of sticking to what was working which included a couple of murder mysteries and some YA fantasy.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again though: audiobooks ftw.

One thing I’m excited to announce is that I’m back on my Throne of Glass bullshit and have decided to reread the series lol. I don’t think I reviewed the series the first time I read through it, so get ready for some THOUGHTS in the coming months.

Okie, I think that’s it. Let’s get into everything I read in September.

*All summaries are taken or paraphrased from Goodreads.

LEGENDS & LATTES by Travis Baldree

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: After a lifetime of bounties and bloodshed, Viv is hanging up her sword for the last time. The battle weary orc aims to start fresh, opening the first ever coffee shop in the city of Thune. But old and new rivals stand in the way of success - not to mention the fact that no one has the faintest idea what coffee actually is. If Viv wants to put the blade behind her and make her plans a reality, she won’t be able to go it alone. But the true rewards of the uncharted path are the travelers you meet along the way. And whether drawn together by ancient magic, flake pastry, or a freshly brewed cup, they may become partners, family, and something deeper than she ever could have dreamed.

My Thoughts: Okay so I have been seeing Legends & Lattes all over Bookstagram lately and just had to see what the hype was about. This book knows exactly what it is and what purpose it serves. It says on the back of it that it’s a low stakes fantasy and I couldn’t agree more. This book is so cozy. It reminds me of putting on my most comfy pair of sweats, grabbing the fuzziest blanket available, and curling up on an extremely comfy sofa or chair next to a slightly opened window while a crisp autumn breeze blows through. Throw in a delicious cup of tea or a satisfying latte, and that’s the vibe of this fantasy. I loved the message of “found family” and creating a community for yourself. Viv makes such beautiful connections with a variety of characters as she works to create a gathering place for the people of Thune to enjoy a cup of joe. Those friendships ring true when everyone comes together to help Viv after a tragedy strikes the coffee shop. The storyline of Viv’s self reinvention was really heartwarming as she leaves her violent past behind and tries to create a life she’s proud of. There’s also a very subtle sapphic romance sprinkled into this cozy fantasy that was just the cherry on top of everything. That said, this book is a SLOW BURN. Like, the epitome of a slow burn. I enjoyed it a lot while I was reading it, but it just didn’t have its hooks in me deep enough to want to sit down and read it all the time. It’s almost like, as the reader, the book is taking your hand and walking you through the stages of what’s happening. I don’t know. This was my first cozy fantasy and I’m sure it won’t be my last. As long as the next cozy fantasy I read isn’t as much of a slow burn as this one was.

KAIKEYI by Vaishnavi Patel

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: “I was born on the full moon under an auspicious constellation, the holiest of positions—much good it did me.” So begins Kaikeyi’s story. The only daughter of the kingdom of Kekaya, she is raised on tales about the might and benevolence of the gods: how they churned the vast ocean to obtain the nectar of immortality, how they vanquish evil and ensure the land of Bharat prospers, and how they offer powerful boons to the worthy. Yet she watches as her father unceremoniously banishes her mother, listens as her own worth is reduced to the marriage alliance she can secure. And when she calls upon the gods for help, they never seem to hear. Desperate for independence, she turns to the texts she once read with her mother and discovers a magic that is hers alone. With it, Kaikeyi transforms herself from an overlooked princess into a warrior, diplomat, and most favored queen. But as the evil from her childhood stories threatens the cosmic order, the path she has forged clashes with the destiny the gods have chosen for her family. And Kaikeyi must decide if resistance is worth the destruction it will wreak—and what legacy she intends to leave behind.

My Thoughts: Although I own a hardcover copy of this book, I decided to listen to the audiobook via Libby. I want to start by saying, I did not really know what this book was about going into it. I don’t usually read the premise of everything I pick up and I think that hindered my experience here. For the first half of the book, I really didn’t have any strong feelings towards it one way or another. So, I did some digging and realized this is a retelling of Ramayana which is a story from Hindu mythology about a scorned queen. In the original Ramayana, Queen Kaikeyi is described as a jealous queen who wants her son Bharata to ascend the throne. However, this retelling follows Queen Kaikeyi from childhood through her adult life as she tries to create a better world for herself and other women. I loved the feminist reimagining of Queen Kaikeyi and the new light it shone on this complex character. The book really does have everything you could hope for: thorough character development across the board, a multifaceted plot that just keeps getting thicker, messy family dynamics, and just a touch of magic sprinkled in. The only reason I’m docking it a half star is because I feel like even though I didn’t know the background of the retelling until halfway through, the story should’ve sucked me in more to the point of having formed some opinions about it at that point. Otherwise, I think the writing is phenomenal and I definitely recommend it!

THE FALLEN by David Baldacci

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Amos Decker and his journalist friend Alex Jamison are visiting the home of Alex’s sister in Barronville, a small town in western Pennsylvania that has been hit hard economically. When Decker is out on the rear deck of the house talking with Alex’s niece, a precocious eight-year-old, he notices flickering lights then a spark of flame in the window of the house across the way. When he goes to investigate, he finds two dead bodies inside and it’s not clear how either man died. But this is only the tip of the iceberg. There’s something going on in Barronville that might be the canary in the coal mine for the rest of the country. Faced with a stonewalling local police force, and roadblocks put up by unseen forces, Decker and Jamison must pull out all the stops to solve the case. And even Decker’s infallible memory may not be enough to save them.

My Thoughts: Funny story. I actually got this book from a woman who I was sitting next to on a flight to Atlanta back in 2019. She was super sweet, but a little talkative and was like “omg take this book! I’ve already read it and loved it! You should have it.” Therefore, I’ve been sitting on it for about 4 years, but noticed the audiobook was available on Libby, so I decided to finally give it a try. I’m pleased to report the nice lady on the plane was right - this was a great book! I realized a little bit into it that it’s the fourth book in a series, but I still think you can read this as a standalone. The only thing you need to know is the main character, Amos Decker, suffered a head injury 20 years ago and as a side effect, he can’t forget anything. Now an FBI contract agent, Decker is the ultimate detective and just happens to stumble upon two dead bodies while he and his partner, Alex Jamison, are on vacation in a small town called Barronville. Cue a whirlwind of a murder case mixed with drug cartels and more. I absolutely loved the writing and Decker is such a great protagonist. He’s a little rough around the edges, but a teddy bear at his core. I will say, there are a LOT of characters to keep track of while Decker and Jamison follow any and every lead to solve this case. So I found myself trying to remember who someone was and how they related to the case on more than one occasion. The only other reason I docked this book a star is because in the description, it says Alex’s niece is 8-years-old, but in the book she’s only just turning six. I feel like someone at the publishing company should have caught that discrepancy before it went to print lol. Otherwise, this was a super enjoyable book and such an easy read. I think I’m going to start the series from the beginning and work my way through it because I haven’t had enough of Amos Decker yet!

MEMORY MAN by David Baldacci

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: Amos Decker's life changed forever--twice. The first time was on the gridiron. A big, towering athlete, he was the only person from his hometown of Burlington ever to go pro. But his career ended before it had a chance to begin. On his very first play, a violent helmet-to-helmet collision knocked him off the field for good, and left him with an improbable side effect--he can never forget anything. The second time was at home nearly two decades later. Now a police detective, Decker returned from a stakeout one evening and entered a nightmare--his wife, young daughter, and brother-in-law had been murdered. His family destroyed, their killer's identity as mysterious as the motive behind the crime, and unable to forget a single detail from that horrible night, Decker finds his world collapsing around him. He leaves the police force, loses his home, and winds up on the street, taking piecemeal jobs as a private investigator when he can. But over a year later, a man turns himself in to the police and confesses to the murders. At the same time a horrific event nearly brings Burlington to its knees, and Decker is called back in to help with this investigation. Decker also seizes his chance to learn what really happened to his family that night. To uncover the stunning truth, he must use his remarkable gifts and confront the burdens that go along with them. He must endure the memories he would much rather forget. And he may have to make the ultimate sacrifice.

My Thoughts: Okay this is the first book in the series that The Fallen is in and although I enjoyed it, I could clearly tell the writing has gotten better farther into the series. Getting to know Amos Decker’s background and where his character started was very interesting. Especially since they really emphasize in this book that after his brain injury, he’s showing more behaviors that are similar to people who are on the Autism spectrum which wasn’t made as clear in the fourth book. The connections made throughout this case were almost impossible to predict because you’re still learning the background of everything and everyone involved. Personally, I thought Amos’s detective partner was absolutely useless and rode his coattails throughout the entire investigation. Every time she spoke, I was like who gave you this job? She literally would just validate or ask Amos how he solved something. There are a lot of layers to this story and a few gruesome scenes that made my skin crawl. Overall, this was a good start to this series, but as I said, I think the writing definitely gets better the further into the series you go. Please check content and trigger warnings before going into this because it touches on pretty dark topics such as school shootings, sexual assault, sexual abuse, murder and more.

A SKY BEYOND THE STORM by Sabaa Tahir (An Ember in the Ashes #4) (REREAD)

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: 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.

My Thoughts: This was the last book in my journey rereading the An Ember in the Ashes series via audiobook and bleeding skies I forgot how much of an emotional punch this packed! Holding true to the thoughts I reported in my original review, this book is saturated in grief and struggle, but it’s not without love and joy to match. As this is the final book that wraps up the series, I cannot emphasize this enough: SO MUCH HAPPENS. Especially with Laia, Elias, and my girl Helene. I’m making a bold statement here, but Helene Aquilla is probably one of my all-time favorite characters in a fantasy series. She just endures so much and still comes out on the other side of it holding her head high. I just cannot say more good things about her resiliency and strength. The biggest aha moments in this book though are when we learn some of the origin stories about a few of the antagonists that are pivotal to the good guys winning this war against the djinn. Although homegirl made me WEEP multiple times, I still really admire that Sabaa Tahir did not cater to the wishes of her readers and ended this series the way she wanted to end it. Like, you guise, a couple of characters do not make it to the end and it absolutely wrecked me this second time around, but I can’t complain. This isn’t going to be everyone’s favorite ending, but I do think it was the perfect end to this series. If you haven’t given An Ember in the Ashes a chance yet, I highly recommend adding it to your TBR. You’ll never be the same.

BEHIND THE NET by Stephanie Archer

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: He’s the hot, grumpy goalie I had a crush on in high school… and now I’m his live-in assistant. After my ex crushed my dreams in the music industry, I’m done with getting my heart broken. Working as an assistant for an NHL player was supposed to be a breeze, but nothing about Jamie Streicher is easy. He’s an intimidatingly hot, grouchy jerk who can’t stand me. The guy has a massive ego. Keeping things professional will be no problem, even when he demands I move in with him. Beneath his surliness, though, Jamie’s surprisingly sweet and protective. When Jaime learns how bad my ex was in bed, his competitive nature flares, and he encourages and spoils me in every way. The creative spark I used to feel about songwriting? It’s back, and I’m writing music again. Between wearing his jersey at games, rowdy parties with the team, and being brave on stage again, I’m falling for him. He could break my heart, but it might be worth it.

My Thoughts: Okay, I won’t lie to y’all. I waited a bit too long to write this review after I finished the book lol, but I know I really enjoyed it. Almost immediately, it has two of my favorite tropes: forced proximity and grumpy/sunshine. Jamie is the brooding and famous hockey player who doesn’t know how to act when his high school crush, Pippa, walks through the door as his new assistant. It makes his teddy bear insides so much more endearing - especially as his sweet side starts showing specifically for her. Similarly, Pippa is trying to play it cool as the new assistant to her old high school crush. This is her way to make some money, gain some independence, and hopefully get a marketing job with the hockey team, even though her real dream is to become a singer-songwriter. I loved the banter between these two characters and the ease with which they melded into each other’s lives. The only thing I didn’t love, lol, is that he called her “songbird” and that gave me big cringe. Otherwise, y'all know I love a good hockey romance and this definitely scratches that itch.

THRONE OF GLASS by Sarah J. Maas (REREAD)

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: In a land without magic, where the king rules with an iron hand, an assassin is summoned to the castle. She comes not to kill the king, but to win her freedom. If she defeats twenty-three killers, thieves, and warriors in a competition, she is released from prison to serve as the king's champion. Her name is Celaena Sardothien. The Crown Prince will provoke her. The Captain of the Guard will protect her. But something evil dwells in the castle of glass—and it's there to kill. When her competitors start dying one by one, Celaena's fight for freedom becomes a fight for survival, and a desperate quest to root out the evil before it destroys her world.

My Thoughts: LOL. Heyy. So, if you know me, then you know that I am unhealthily obsessed with the Throne of Glass series. I first feasted my eyes upon this book back in November of 2020 - aka before I started writing my monthly book reviews. So up until this point, my friends have only experienced the verbal harassment of me trying to get them to read this. Folks, welcome to my first official review of Throne of Glass. Starting with one of the best characters that the fantasy genre has blessed us with: Celaena Sardothien. She’s clever, cunning, wholly entertaining, and a badass assassin who was plucked from the Endovier salt mines as a candidate in a competition to be the King’s champion. What does the champion do, you ask? The champion will basically be at the King’s beck and call for an agreed upon amount of years and when those years are up, the person is free to do as they please. Having survived a year enslaved in the salt mines is unheard of, but Celaena’s only chance at freedom is to compete in this contest - even if that means she could die while doing so. The competition isn’t the only thing happening in this storyline, oh no. There is so much more that lies within the castle. Which is why Celaena starts digging into the odd marks around the castle, figuring out who might be murdering the other competitors, and what hidden agenda the King has in store for her. Her background is a little unknown at this point, but you slowly gather pieces of where she came from with every new side character encountered. There are a lot of moving parts to keep track of in this book, but it’s all a part of the grander scheme that is this phenomenal series. The magic system is so important to pay attention to. As this was my second read, I noticed a few things mentioned that come into play much farther down the road that I didn’t pick up on during my first read through. I don’t know what else to say other than, if you haven’t read Throne of Glass yet then what are you doing with your life?

Okay that’s it for September. If you need me, I’ll be drinking prebiotic sodas and probably baking some bread that I found the recipe on Pinterest for.

2023 Book Count: 86

Add me on Goodreads if you haven’t already.

YOUR TURN! What’s your favorite spooky szn book?