December 2023 Reads

January 01, 2024 by Haley Burrill in Books

Writing the intro for December’s reading wrap-up is such a tricky task every year.

What do I highlight that will really round out 2023?

This year flew by and in the best way possible. Between a couple of really great trips, getting a new car, deleting Hinge because I found a nice lad, and spending a copious amount of time making memories with my family and friends, I really cannot complain.

On the reading front, I managed to exceed my Goodreads reading goal of 100 books again this year. Although I did not double my goal like last year (I honestly do not know how I managed 206 books in 2022 lol), I was able to surpass it by 14 books. So we’re finishing out 2023 with 114 under my belt.

And, oh the adventures those books took me on. *Dreamy sigh*

Audiobooks were my saving grace this year when it came to reading, so if you haven’t had luck sitting down with a physical book, I highly recommend giving the audio avenue a try. That’s in addition to making reading an intentional priority if you’re trying to read more in 2024.

Okay I think that’s it for my December intro this year.

Let’s get into everything I read this month.

**All summaries are taken or paraphrased from Goodreads.

GOLDEN SON by Pierce Brown (RED RISING SAGA #2)

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: As a Red, Darrow grew up working the mines deep beneath the surface of Mars, enduring backbreaking labor while dreaming of the better future he was building for his descendants. But the Society he faithfully served was built on lies. Darrow’s kind have been betrayed and denied by their elitist masters, the Golds—and their only path to liberation is revolution. And so Darrow sacrifices himself in the name of the greater good for which Eo, his true love and inspiration, laid down her own life. He becomes a Gold, infiltrating their privileged realm so that he can destroy it from within. A lamb among wolves in a cruel world, Darrow finds friendship, respect, and even love—but also the wrath of powerful rivals. To wage and win the war that will change humankind’s destiny, Darrow must confront the treachery arrayed against him, overcome his all-too-human desire for retribution—and strive not for violent revolt but a hopeful rebirth. Though the road ahead is fraught with danger and deceit, Darrow must choose to follow Eo’s principles of love and justice to free his people.

My Thoughts: OH MY LORT. Okay so much happens and I don’t even know where to begin. This book starts 3-4 years after Darrow graduated from the institute. He has been serving the ArchGovernor in House Augustus in an attempt to work his way up the ranks of the Golds. The Bellona are still after Darrow to avenge their brother that he was forced to kill at the institute in order to survive. Although the Sons of Ares tell him to bomb a large gathering of Golds that includes the Sovereign, Darrow decides to stir the pot instead and start a civil war between the leading Houses on Mars. This book was non-stop action and had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. You never know who Darrow can trust, especially since few still know that he was born a Red. So he’s in this constant apprehensive state of letting people in, not only because he doesn’t know if they’ll turn on him, but also because if he opens up to them then he’s convinced he’ll only end up disappointing them. We lost a few baddies throughout this new journey which was incredibly upsetting, but I was definitely NOT READY to be absolutely wrecked during the last 10 pages. So much happened so quickly that I didn't see coming and then the book just ended. Talk about emotional damage. As a fool-proof recovery method, I decided to immediately start the audiobook for its predecessor, Morning Star. If you haven’t started this series yet, you’re missing out. I highly recommend the audiobooks simply for the Scottish accents alone lol.

SNOWED IN by Catherine Walsh

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Megan is dreading going home for the holidays. She’s the village pariah, the she-devil who left local golden boy Isaac at the altar four years ago and ran away to the big city. She could really do without the drama. Particularly as he’s engaged again, and she’s just been dumped for the fourth time this year. Christian’s fed up with being on his own every Christmas. He doesn’t mind being alone , but he hates his family’s sad eyes and soft tones as they sit around coupled up. Because he’s actually, totally, fine. So when Megan literally bumps into Christian in a Dublin pub, they come up with a pact to see them through the holiday season. They’re going to be the very best fake dates for each other, ever. Rules are drawn up, a contract is signed on a wine-stained napkin. They will sit through each other’s family gatherings and be outrageously in love until freed from their annual obligations. After all, it’s only for a few weeks. But with everyone home for the holidays, two big families to deal with alongside old friends, old flames and old feelings, things are bound to get messy. And when a snowed-in cabin and a little Christmas magic are added to the mix, anything could happen…

My Thoughts: Y’ALL. This was everything I could’ve asked for in a holiday rom-com. Megan has become the mythical pariah of her hometown ever since she left the local golden boy at the alter five years ago. This is the first time she will be home for Christmas since she left and she is absolutely dreading the drama that’s bound to cast a shadow over her. Christian is tired of his family feeling sorry for his singledom - even if he doesn’t mind it. So when Christian and Megan bump into each other at a pub, they make a deal to help get each other through the holidays. Cue some of my favorite tropes: fake dating, forced proximity, and small town holiday romance. Don’t even get me started on how TOP NOTCH the banter in this story is. Like 15/10 quality banter that had me cackling like an idiot throughout multiple scenes. I absolutely loved the ease at which Christian and Megan fell into a friendship that quickly turned into something more. Not to mention there wasn’t a third act breakup!!! It was clear communication between these two characters which is honestly a Christmas miracle for a holiday rom-com, and I couldn’t be happier. This is also a great book for those of you who don’t really like smut all that much, but don’t mind a couple of intimate scenes. I wouldn’t say they fade to black necessarily, but they’re also not incredibly salacious either. If you haven’t found a holiday romance to sate your literary heart, definitely give this one a try!

THE ASSASSIN’S BLADE by Sarah J Maas (REREAD)

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: Celaena Sardothien is Adarlan's most feared assassin. As part of the Assassin's Guild, her allegiance is to her master, Arobynn Hamel, yet Celaena listens to no one and trusts only her fellow killer-for-hire, Sam. In these action-packed novellas - together in one edition for the first time - Celaena embarks on five daring missions. They take her from remote islands to hostile deserts, where she fights to liberate slaves and seeks to avenge the tyrannous. But she is acting against Arobynn's orders and could suffer an unimaginable punishment for such treachery. Will Celaena ever be truly free? Explore the dark underworld of this kick-ass heroine to find out.

My Thoughts: I originally read this prequel to the Throne of Glass series back in January of 2021 and gave it four stars. At that time, I had just finished reading ToG for the very first time and I felt like this was the perfect way to pacify my book hangover because it was still within that world, but wasn’t going to lead me down another road in the series. There is a debate on Bookstagram that you should read this prequel between Heir of Fire and Queen of Shadows (books 3 and 4 in the series). So I decided to give that order of operations a try this time around instead of reading it after the final book… Y’all. I still thoroughly love this series and appreciate what this book gave me the first time around. However, I was not as invested my second time through. I literally started this book over Thanksgiving break, read maybe 30% of it, and then did not have the motivation to pick it up again until Christmas break. I just kept it on my nightstand for a month with every intention to finish it, but never really grabbed it. I think that if this was my first time reading through Throne of Glass that this would be a really great book to read between Heir of Fire and Queen of Shadows because it gives some background into characters mentioned later in the series. However, since I already knew what was going to happen, I wasn’t itching to pick it up. That being said, I’m also a mood reader. So take this review with a grain of salt. I don’t think I had my blog yet at the time that I first read through it, so I don’t have a previous review to refer you back to. Overall though, I do think this book is necessary to the Throne of Glass experience. So if you’re reading through the series for the first time, reading The Assassin’s Blade between Heir of Fire and Queen of Shadows is the move. Otherwise, if I ever reread the series again, I don’t think I’m going to incorporate the prequel.

MORNING STAR by Pierce Brown (RED RISING SAGA #3)

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: Darrow would have lived in peace, but his enemies brought him war. The Gold overlords demanded his obedience, hanged his wife, and enslaved his people. But Darrow is determined to fight back. Risking everything to transform himself and breach Gold society, Darrow has battled to survive the cutthroat rivalries that breed Society’s mightiest warriors, climbed the ranks, and waited patiently to unleash the revolution that will tear the hierarchy apart from within. Finally, the time has come. But devotion to honor and hunger for vengeance run deep on both sides. Darrow and his comrades-in-arms face powerful enemies without scruple or mercy. Among them are some Darrow once considered friends. To win, Darrow will need to inspire those shackled in darkness to break their chains, unmake the world their cruel masters have built, and claim a destiny too long denied—and too glorious to surrender.

My Thoughts: This book is a seamless transition from where we ended with Golden Son and starts almost a year later with Darrow being held prisoner by the Jackal. Honestly, I wasn’t sure how this book was going to go because it felt like all odds were against Darrow and the uprising. However, what I should know by now is that I can never predict what’s going to happen in this series. Basically, all odds are against Darrow at this point since some key people who were helping him lead this rebellion are no longer around. After information is released that Darrow was born a Red and transformed into a Gold, more uprisings from the lower-ranked colors start occurring around Mars and on other planets. With so much riding on Darrow, he has to find some unexpected allies in dangerous places and blindly hope for the best. I was basically on the edge of my seat this entire audiobook and had to pause it multiple times because I was dreading what was about to happen lol. ESPECIALLY BECAUSE PIERCE BROWN LOVES TO KILL OFF MY FAVORITE CHARACTERS DAMMIT. The last portion of this book was more than I could handle emotionally and definitely not what I was predicting. If you cannot tell, I am loving this series so far. Apparently the next book takes place 10 years after this book though, and since the series was originally going to be a trilogy, I’m interested to see where the last three in the saga takes us.

HOLIDAY ROMANCE by Catherine Walsh

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Molly and Andrew are just trying to get home to Ireland for the holidays, when a freak snowstorm grounds their flight. Nothing romantic has ever happened between them: they’re friends and that’s all. But once a year, for the last ten years, Molly has spent seven hours and fifteen minutes sitting next to Andrew on the last flight before Christmas from Chicago to Dublin, drinking terrible airplane wine and catching up on each other’s lives. In spite of all the ways the two friends are different, it’s the holiday tradition neither of them has ever wanted to give up. Molly isn’t that bothered by Christmas, but—in yet another way they’re total opposites—Andrew is a full-on fanatic for the festive season and she knows how much getting back to Ireland means to him. So, instead of doing the sane thing and just celebrating the holidays together in America, she does the stupid thing. The irrational thing. She vows to get him home. And in time for his mam’s famous Christmas dinner. The clock is ticking. But Molly always has a plan. And—as long as the highly-specific combination of taxis, planes, boats, and trains all run on time—it can’t possibly go wrong. What she doesn’t know is that, as the snow falls over the city and over the heads of two friends who are sure they’re not meant to be together, the universe might just have a plan of its own…

My Thoughts: So this is the first book in the series that Snowed In takes place. Although this wasn’t dual POV, I still thoroughly enjoyed myself through the eyes of Molly. The storyline bounces between the present where Molly and Andrew are planning convoluted ways to get around a storm so that they can get back to Ireland, and the last ten years of this exact flight home for Christmas. It was so much fun watching the dynamics between Molly and Andrew shift throughout the years and how those past experiences bled into the now. Plus, this year’s trip home is an absolute DOOZY as they travel from Chicago to Ireland with Murphy’s Law painting every turn. (Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.) The banter was spot on and I loved seeing how each of these characters slowly realized how they felt about the other after a decade of friendship. This really was the perfect cozy holiday rom-com and although I didn’t love it as much as Snowed In, I do think it’s worth the read!

WEYWARD by Emilia Hart

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: I am a Weyward, and wild inside. 2019: Under cover of darkness, Kate flees London for ramshackle Weyward Cottage, inherited from a great aunt she barely remembers. With its tumbling ivy and overgrown garden, the cottage is worlds away from the abusive partner who tormented Kate. But she begins to suspect that her great aunt had a secret. One that lurks in the bones of the cottage, hidden ever since the witch-hunts of the 17th century. 1619: Altha is awaiting trial for the murder of a local farmer who was stampeded to death by his herd. As a girl, Altha’s mother taught her their magic, a kind not rooted in spell casting but in a deep knowledge of the natural world. But unusual women have always been deemed dangerous, and as the evidence for witchcraft is set out against Altha, she knows it will take all of her powers to maintain her freedom. 1942: As World War II rages, Violet is trapped in her family's grand, crumbling estate. Straitjacketed by societal convention, she longs for the robust education her brother receives––and for her mother, long deceased, who was rumored to have gone mad before her death. The only traces Violet has of her are a locket bearing the initial W and the word weyward scratched into the baseboard of her bedroom.

My Thoughts: Wowowow. I did not know what to expect with this book, but after I saw it win the fiction category for this year’s Goodreads Choice Awards, I knew I had to dive in. The story follows three different women (Kate, Violet, and Altha) over three different generations. Each one is facing their own form of adversity, but the common thread is abusive men. The format of this book flips between the POVs of each woman and their current predicament. As you learn more about the individual character, it starts becoming easier to piece together where their story is headed. The writing is beautiful, the character development was everything I could’ve hoped for, and the main message about female resilience in a world built for men was effortlessly depicted. There is a magical layer to the plot that’s related to how these women interact with various elements of nature, but it’s very easy to understand and adds a touch of whimsy to this already entrancing story. I loved my entire experience with this book and highly recommend giving it a read.

THE GREAT ALONE by Kristin Hannah

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Alaska, 1974. Unpredictable. Unforgiving. Untamed. For a family in crisis, the ultimate test of survival. Ernt Allbright, a former POW, comes home from the Vietnam war a changed and volatile man. When he loses yet another job, he makes an impulsive decision: he will move his family north, to Alaska, where they will live off the grid in America’s last true frontier. Thirteen-year-old Leni, a girl coming of age in a tumultuous time, caught in the riptide of her parents’ passionate, stormy relationship, dares to hope that a new land will lead to a better future for her family. She is desperate for a place to belong. Her mother, Cora, will do anything and go anywhere for the man she loves, even if it means following him into the unknown. At first, Alaska seems to be the answer to their prayers. In a wild, remote corner of the state, they find a fiercely independent community of strong men and even stronger women. The long, sunlit days and the generosity of the locals make up for the Allbrights’ lack of preparation and dwindling resources. But as winter approaches and darkness descends on Alaska, Ernt’s fragile mental state deteriorates and the family begins to fracture. Soon the perils outside pale in comparison to threats from within. In their small cabin, covered in snow, blanketed in eighteen hours of night, Leni and her mother learn the terrible truth: they are on their own. In the wild, there is no one to save them but themselves.

My Thoughts: Wow okay. So I read The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah last summer and fell in love with her writing. She has such a gift for historical fiction and I’ve only heard good things about her other books including The Great Alone. Although I have this book on Kindle, I mainly listened to the audiobook, and with Julia Whelan as the narrator, I was instantly invested. Leni’s parents have an absolutely tumultuous relationship as they move from place to place anytime her father gets restless in their current situation. Her mother, hopelessly in love, blindly follows him every time. Their latest move is to a cabin in rural Alaska where they quickly realize how under prepared they are for living off the grid. I loved watching Leni go from an awkward 13-year-old who is unsure of herself to a young, independent woman who is confident in her skills to survive. This book was so heartbreaking and yet so fulfilling all at the same time. It constantly felt like Leni couldn’t catch a break and for every sliver of hope or happiness she found, there was a storm of sorrow to follow. The writing is stunning and teleported me so effortlessly to the point where I felt like I was knee-deep in snow next to Leni as she navigated Alaska. I’m so glad I finally read this book and would definitely recommend it if you haven’t given it a try yet. However, please check trigger/content warnings first as there is a lot of domestic violence involved.

HOUSE OF EARTH AND BLOOD by Sarah J. Maas (CRESCENT CITY #1) (REREAD)

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Summary: Bryce Quinlan had the perfect life-working hard all day and partying all night-until a demon murdered her closest friends, leaving her bereft, wounded, and alone. When the accused is behind bars but the crimes start up again, Bryce finds herself at the heart of the investigation. She'll do whatever it takes to avenge their deaths. Hunt Athalar is a notorious Fallen angel, now enslaved to the Archangels he once attempted to overthrow. His brutal skills and incredible strength have been set to one purpose-to assassinate his boss's enemies, no questions asked. But with a demon wreaking havoc in the city, he's offered an irresistible deal: help Bryce find the murderer, and his freedom will be within reach. As Bryce and Hunt dig deep into Crescent City's underbelly, they discover a dark power that threatens everything and everyone they hold dear, and they find, in each other, a blazing passion-one that could set them both free, if they'd only let it.

My Thoughts: The third book of the Crescent City series comes out later in January, so although I read this book last May (you can read that review here), I didn’t remember much and wanted to give it another go before diving into the second book. My sentiments are essentially the same as my original review. This is a thicc fantasy which requires a lot of world building, plot planning, character introductions, societal structure explaining, etc. However, weaved into all of that information are a fair share of heart-racing scenes, action-packed moments, and more. A large part of this story follows Bryce (who is half human and fae) and Hunt (who is Malakh which is essentially an angel) as they work to solve who has been summoning the demons that are responsible for recent attacks and murders in Crescent City. There are so many twists and turns that they encounter as they get closer to figuring out who’s guilty. Outside of the complicated societal structures, I literally do not have anything bad to say about this book and I’m so freaking excited to finally start the second one. Don’t sleep on Crescent City if you’ve read ACOTAR or Throne of Glass!

Well that’s a wrap on 2023!

Thank you for following along with my book reviews each month. I hope some of my recommendations have led you to find some sort of enjoyable literary journey lol. 🙂

2023 Book Count: 114

Add me on Goodreads if you haven’t already.

YOUR TURN! What was your favorite book of 2023?

October 2023 Reads

November 06, 2023 by Haley Burrill in Books

October was an absolute JOKE.

It went by so fast, I honestly feel like I was holding my breath for most of it.
Besides the Michigan weather yo-yoing between summer temps and late fall temps, work was bonkers busy for me. It’s an exciting time, don’t get me wrong, but sometimes I feel like I’m just putting my head down to power through and forget to look up every once in a while.

On a positive note, the Detroit Lions are ranked 1st in the NFC North as of right now (IYKYK), and I actually read so much more than I was anticipating this month. Despite it being spooky szn, I did not read one mystery or thriller lol. So sue me.

And with that, let’s get into everything I read in October.

*All summaries are taken or paraphrased from Goodreads.

WE SET THE DARK ON FIRE by Tehlor Kay Mejia

Rating: 3.75/5 stars

Summary: At the Medio School for Girls, distinguished young women are trained for one of two roles in their polarized society. Depending on her specialization, a graduate will one day run a husband’s household or raise his children. Both paths promise a life of comfort and luxury, far from the frequent political uprisings of the lower class. Daniela Vargas is the school’s top student, but her pedigree is a lie. She must keep the truth hidden or be sent back to the fringes of society. And school couldn’t prepare her for the difficult choices she must make after graduation, especially when she is asked to spy for a resistance group desperately fighting to bring equality to Medio. Will Dani cling to the privilege her parents fought to win for her, or will she give up everything she’s strived for in pursuit of a free Medio—and a chance at a forbidden love?

My Thoughts: This was an audiobook I grabbed on Libby after realizing I hadn’t read anything for Latin American/Hispanic Heritage Month. Luckily, it was a pretty quick and enjoyable read! We follow two girls, Dani and Carmen, after they graduate from Medio School for girls which trains girls for one of two specialized roles in their society: either the wife who provides intellectual support to their husband or the wife who he will have children with. This book is entirely from the POV of Dani who has a secret she’s trying to hide: she’s on this side of the wall illegally. The wall separates two bloodlines: sun bloodlines are the ones who are thriving in society and have money, while the people of salt live in poverty under the oppression of the sun people. I loved Dani’s character arc as she transitioned into her new life after graduating from the top of her class at this school for obedience. Her husband is next in line to run the government and he’s just a piece of shit, honestly. So she breaks the mold she was formed into at the Medio School for Girls and starts rebelling in subtle ways. Although they were kind of enemies at school, I loved the budding romance between Dani and Carmen as the storyline progresses. I’m not sure if I’ll continue onto the sequel of this book which I believe is written from Carmen’s POV instead of Dani’s, but I enjoyed my time with this one overall.

CROWN OF MIDNIGHT by Sarah J Maas (REREAD)

Rating: 4.5/5

Summary: From the throne of glass rules a king with a fist of iron and a soul as black as pitch. Assassin Celaena Sardothien won a brutal contest to become his Champion. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown. She hides her secret vigilantly; she knows that the man she serves is bent on evil. Keeping up the deadly charade becomes increasingly difficult when Celaena realizes she is not the only one seeking justice. As she tries to untangle the mysteries buried deep within the glass castle, her closest relationships suffer. It seems no one is above questioning her allegiances—not the Crown Prince Dorian; not Chaol, the Captain of the Guard; not even her best friend, Nehemia, a foreign princess with a rebel heart. Then one terrible night, the secrets they have all been keeping lead to an unspeakable tragedy. As Celaena's world shatters, she will be forced to give up the very thing most precious to her and decide once and for all where her true loyalties lie... and whom she is ultimately willing to fight for.

My Thoughts: All righty. My reread of the Throne of Glass series continues! When I first read this back in 2020, I gave it 5 stars. My second time through, I’m giving it a 4.5. I still absolutely love how Celaena’s story progresses now that she’s officially the King’s champion and being sent on missions to take out rebels moving against him. This book’s main purpose is to start really setting up the plot for the rest of the series. Magic has been banished in Adarlan for the last decade and people whose kingdoms were ransacked by the King’s army 10 years ago are keeping a low profile while they plan their revenge. Celaena is rebelling in her own way by sneaking men out of the kingdom and faking their deaths instead of outright assassinating them on the King’s orders. She starts working with a rebel group to gather her own intel about what the King might be hiding and what he has in store for her. However, she’s still not too keen on getting too involved in the big rebellion because she just wants to be free and nameless once her contract is up. Her apathy rubs her BFF Nehemia the wrong way though and causes a rift in their friendship that ends up going very sideways. This is also the book where she starts discovering the mystery behind the Wyrd Keys, who has them, who wants them, and what they do. She knows the King is doing some shady shit, but to what extent is what she needs to figure out. There is a LOT of quick character development throughout this book that doesn’t even scratch the surface for everyone’s overall character arcs, but I love that it bridges the transition between the first book and the rest of the series. If it’s your first read through for Crown of Midnight, I recommend paying attention to the Wyrd Keys, any mentions of black metal, and my baby boi Dorian. <3 Oh also the last few pages where a huge reveal is confirmed, but do not skip to the back like a savage before reading the rest of the book. You’ll ruin the experience lol.

LOST IN THE NEVER WOODS by Aiden Thomas

Rating: DNF @ 23%

Summary: It's been five years since Wendy and her two brothers went missing in the woods, but when the town’s children start to disappear, the questions surrounding her brothers’ mysterious circumstances are brought back into light. Attempting to flee her past, Wendy almost runs over an unconscious boy lying in the middle of the road, and gets pulled into the mystery haunting the town. Peter, a boy she thought lived only in her stories, claims that if they don't do something, the missing children will meet the same fate as her brothers. In order to find them and rescue the missing kids, Wendy must confront what's waiting for her in the woods.

My Thoughts: I read Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas back in 2021 and really loved it. So, I decided to give this other book a try because the audiobook was available on Libby. Y’all. I don’t know. It’s a Peter Pan retelling obviously and although I wasn’t finding it hard to listen to necessarily, I definitely kept looking to see how far into it. I cannot say I was paying that great attention to it either lol. Therefore, when two other audiobooks I requested a while ago became available, I decided just to DNF (did not finish) this one, so that I could listen to something I was actually excited about. Will I go back to this one eventually? Maybe. If you like a storybook retelling or love Peter Pan then you may want to give this a try! I’m not counting it out as something I’d try again, but it just wasn’t what I needed right now.

THE NATURE OF WITCHES by Rachel Griffin

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: For centuries, witches have maintained the climate, their power from the sun peaking in the season of their birth. But now their control is faltering as the atmosphere becomes more erratic. All hope lies with Clara, an Everwitch whose rare magic is tied to every season. In Autumn, Clara wants nothing to do with her power. It's wild and volatile, and the price of her magic―losing the ones she loves―is too high, despite the need to control the increasingly dangerous weather. In Winter, the world is on the precipice of disaster. Fires burn, storms rage, and Clara accepts that she's the only one who can make a difference. In Spring, she falls for Sang, the witch training her. As her magic grows, so do her feelings, until she's terrified Sang will be the next one she loses. In Summer, Clara must choose between her power and her happiness, her duty and the people she loves... before she loses Sang, her magic, and thrusts the world into chaos.

My Thoughts: “Autumn is its own kind of magic; it reminds us of the beauty in letting go.” Wowow this was the perfect witchy read to incorporate into my fall TBR. Although I grabbed a physical copy from the library, I mainly listened to the audiobook and it was absolutely transportive. The writing is so beautiful and the narrator did an incredible job of melting your emotions with Clara’s. There is the perfect mix of love, loss, and hope in the storyline as Clara learns to not only control her powers, but accept her circumstances and responsibility to the world as an Everwitch. The premise is really unique in that the witches’ powers are derived from the seasons and embedded in nature, which I’ve never encountered before. Plus, the story is formatted with all four seasons, so you get to see each type of witch shine. This book takes place at a witch academy that’s nestled into the mountains of Virginia which made for stunning visual descriptors, but what I loved the most is how the author touched on climate change. She was able to fictionally depict the detriments of global warming on the world in an impactful way without it being imposing on my experience as a reader. On another note, I also collected a new book boyfriend here. His name is Sang. He’s a spring witch, a botanist, and the sweetest guy we could’ve asked for. :) My only complaint and the reason why I couldn’t give this book five stars is because Clara’s self doubt lasted much longer than I had the patience for. Although I understood why this was important to the overall storyline, I felt like it discounted all of the development her character goes through as the reluctant protagonist. Anyway, this book feels like putting on your coziest sweater while sipping a hot mug of mulled cider and I just really recommend it.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz

ARISTOTLE AND DANTE DISCOVER THE SECRETS OF THE UNIVERSE by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: Dante can swim. Ari can't. Dante is articulate and self-assured. Ari has a hard time with words and suffers from self-doubt. Dante gets lost in poetry and art. Ari gets lost in thoughts of his older brother who is in prison. Dante is fair skinned. Ari's features are much darker. It seems that a boy like Dante, with his open and unique perspective on life, would be the last person to break down the walls that Ari has built around himself.

My Thoughts: This book is rated very highly on Goodreads and I completely understand why. It’s a beautiful story threaded with themes of friendship, love, family, identity, loss and more. The writing is simplistic enough to make it an easy read and the storyline is both gentle yet taxing all at once. Ari and Dante click right away one summer when Ari is trying to learn to swim at the community pool. Their grumpy and sunshine personalities balanced each other out perfectly to form a strong and endearing friendship. Although I really enjoyed this book for the most part, there are a few hang-ups for me. The start of this book had me absolutely hooked, but the middle turned into an excruciating slow burn. I think that if Lin Manuel Miranda wasn’t the narrator for this audiobook, I may not have made it through the sticking point. Mostly because Ari is kind of a downer character who is honestly not the nicest person to those in his circle. He’s pretty rude to people who are just trying to help him and I get that he’s frustrated with the lack of control he has on his life, but he kind of turned into a Debbie Downer for a while. Dante’s character, though super sweet, felt a bit manic a majority of the time. The ending was pretty abrupt as well, but overall I liked this book and say it’s worth a read.

THE CHASE by Ellen Kennedy

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: Everyone says opposites attract. And they must be right, because there’s no logical reason why I’m so drawn to Colin Fitzgerald. I don’t usually go for tattoo-covered, video-gaming, hockey-playing nerd-jocks who think I’m flighty and superficial. His narrow view of me is the first strike against him. It doesn’t help that he’s buddy-buddy with my brother. And that his best friend has a crush on me. And that I just moved in with them. Oh, did I not mention we’re roommates? I suppose it doesn’t matter. Fitzy has made it clear he’s not interested in me, even though the sparks between us are liable to burn our house down. I’m not the kind of girl who chases after a man, though, and I’m not about to start. I’ve got my hands full dealing with a new school, a sleazy professor, and an uncertain future. So if my sexy brooding roomie wises up and realizes what he’s missing? He knows where to find me.

My Thoughts: Okay if you haven’t read Elle Kennedy’s Off-Campus series, you need to go read that asap. The Chase is the first book in the Briar U spin-off series and is also a hockey romance, so when I saw this on Kindle Unlimited, you know your girl had to dive in. I think because I loved the Off-Campus series so much, I was hoping to fall head over heels for this series as well, but instead it fell a little short. There was just something missing and I can’t put my finger on it. Fitz is a refreshing character because, yes, he’s a super hot hockey player, but he also has this nerdy gamer side which I feel is underrepresented in sports romances. Summer was super sweet, but a little obnoxious for my taste. Her inner dialogue provided comedic relief and there were some unexpected responses she had to various situations that I appreciated. However, some facets of their relationship felt a little toxic to me and I couldn’t buy into it. I just kept thinking to myself that if Summer was my friend describing her situation with Fitz to me, I’d be like ooo girl, get out of that ASAP. Which usually doesn’t happen when I’m sucked into a sports romance, but for some reason, I just kept checking the red flag boxes. For example, she kept saying he gave her anxious butterflies and, at one point, it said their relationship wasn’t perfect because they still yell at each other from time to time…??? Like what? That’s not healthy communication lol. Anyway, I still love Elle Kennedy’s writing and this book introduces some characters for the following books in this series, so I still say read it, but I know it’s not going to be my favorite.

THE DAUGHTER OF DOCTOR MOREAU by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: Carlota Moreau: a young woman, growing up in a distant and luxuriant estate, safe from the conflict and strife of the Yucatán peninsula. The only daughter of either a genius, or a madman. Montgomery Laughton: a melancholic overseer with a tragic past and a propensity for alcohol. An outcast who assists Dr. Moreau with his scientific experiments, which are financed by the Lizaldes, owners of magnificent haciendas and plentiful coffers. The hybrids: the fruits of the Doctor’s labor, destined to blindly obey their creator and remain in the shadows. A motley group of part human, part animal monstrosities. All of them living in a perfectly balanced and static world, which is jolted by the abrupt arrival of Eduardo Lizalde, the charming and careless son of Doctor Moreau’s patron, who will unwittingly begin a dangerous chain reaction. For Moreau keeps secrets, Carlota has questions, and in the sweltering heat of the jungle, passions may ignite.

My Thoughts: I read Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia last year and absolutely loved it. She’s a really unique author in that she never sticks to writing in one genre. So when I heard she was publishing another book, I needed to get my hands on it. Luckily, Libby also had the audiobook available so I took that route (to no one’s surprise.) To preface, this book is a retelling/adaptation based on the book The Island of Doctor Moreau by H.G. Wells. I highly recommend looking up a synopsis of that book or its Wikipedia page beforehand because it gives you much better context going into this one. I loved that the author was able to take a sci-fi storyline and make it gothic. I’m not super familiar with the politics that were happening in the late 1800s in the Yucatan Peninsula and Mexico, but she made it very easy to follow. The book is in a dual POV format, told from the perspectives of Carlota (Dr. Moreau’s daughter) and Montgomery Laughton (a guy Dr. M hired to hunt down jaguars for him). I had a love/hate relationship with both. Since she’s never left the little bubble that is Dr. Moreau’s laboratory and estate, Carlota felt very immature and impulsive to me. At one point, I missed that the storyline had fast-forwarded 6 years, and so I thought she was still the 14-year-old we met at the beginning of the book because her behavior was extremely naive. It wasn’t until later that I realized her character is actually 20 for most of what was happening and I was floored because it really didn’t seem like she was acting or thinking like a young woman. That said, I did like Carlota’s fierceness. She was a force to be reckoned with if someone told her she couldn’t do something - outside of her beloved father, that is. Laughton was a very melancholy character. He’s in his mid-thirties. The woman he fell in love with and married left him after finding out that his uncle didn’t leave him any money. He let his sister down and feels like her death is his fault. So needless to say, there’s a lot of self loathing going on with Laughton and he basically drowns his sorrows with whatever alcohol he can get his hands on. His only redeeming quality is that he really does everything he can to protect Carlota and the hybrids. There is a slow burn section towards the beginning of the book, but once the storyline got into Dr. Moreau’s experiments and the conflict with the man who is financing his research, the plot really took off. I think that if you like sci-fi, this would be a good book to try because it has that gothic twist.

THE RISK by Elle Kennedy

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Everyone says I’m a bad girl. They’re only partly right—I don’t let fear rule me, and I certainly don’t care what people think. But I draw the line at sleeping with the enemy. As the daughter of Briar’s head hockey coach, I’d be vilified if I hooked up with a player from a rival team. And that’s who Jake Connelly is. Harvard’s star forward is arrogant, annoying, and too attractive for his own good. But fate is cruel—I require his help to secure a much-coveted internship, and the sexy jerk isn’t making it easy for me. I need Connelly to be my fake boyfriend. For every fake date…he wants a real one. Which means this bad girl is in big trouble. Nothing good can come from sneaking around with Jake Connelly. My father would kill me, my friends will revolt, and my post-college career is on the line. But while it’s getting harder and harder to resist Jake’s oozing sex appeal and cocky grin, I refuse to fall for him. That’s the one risk I’m not willing to take.

My Thoughts: Yaaaas! We love two confident MC’s who have great chemistry and banter! I knew going into this one that I was going to like it more than the first book in the Briar U series because we met Brenna and Jake in that book, and I was already obsessed. Brenna is an absolute badass and daughter of Briar’s head hockey coach. She’s the type of girl who walks by and you just know she’s cooler than you because of the energy she gives off. There’s almost an unspoken understanding that you have to earn her attention and approval. She isn’t going to give that out to just anyone. Jake Connelly is the star hockey player at Harvard (Briar’s rival) and has a hot enigma vibe going for him. He’s the guy that everyone is drooling over but because he’s so mild tempered and almost stoic, you can’t gauge what he’s thinking or what his story really is, yanno? Toss in some enemies-to-lovers and a dash of fake-dating tropes, and I was absolutely hooked! I loved that the relationship they developed came so much easier than either of them expected and the care and support they showed each other was so natural. This wasn’t a groundbreaking hockey romance, but I didn’t need it to be. It gave me what I wanted with plenty of smut mixed in and I couldn’t ask for more! I thoroughly enjoyed it!

PAGEBOY by Elliot Page

Rating: 2.5/5 stars

Summary: Pageboy is a groundbreaking coming-of-age memoir from the Academy Award-nominated actor Elliot Page. A generation-defining actor and one of the most famous trans advocates of our time, Elliot will now be known as an uncommon literary talent, as he shares never-before-heard details and intimate interrogations on gender, love, mental health, relationships, and Hollywood.

My Thoughts: Let me clarify, I am not rating the actual content that Elliot Page vulnerably shared in this memoir. You cannot put a star value to someone’s life stories or experiences. What I am sharing my thoughts on is how they are told narratively. The structure of this book feels very incohesive. It was almost like he wasn’t sure what story he truly wanted to tell or what overall message he wanted to send by writing this memoir. I’ve read my fair share of celebrity memoirs and I can vibe with a non-linear timeline. The issue with the non-linear timeline in this memoir is that there wasn’t always a constant theme to denote how those stories connected. I feel like usually when authors jump to various experiences that happen throughout their lives, it’s because those moments all run along the same thread. That’s not what was happening here. The other thing missing for me is some introspection to summarize why the memories he just shared are important to his overall story. A lot of these anecdotes ended abruptly or felt unfinished because there wasn’t a reflection or conclusion afterwards. As I said, I’m not reviewing the actual content in this memoir. I think Page has played a vital part in the trans and queer community by vulnerably sharing his life experiences with the world. It just felt like the publishers didn’t do a thorough enough job before sending this manuscript to print. Just a side note: the audiobook is read by Elliot Page if that makes a difference for you one way or the other. I prefer memoirs to be read by the author, so I appreciated it.

HEIR OF FIRE by Sarah J Maas (REREAD)

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Celaena has survived deadly contests and shattering heartbreak-but at an unspeakable cost. Now, she must travel to a new land to confront her darkest truth . . . a truth about her heritage that could change her life-and her future-forever. Meanwhile, brutal and monstrous forces are gathering on the horizon, intent on enslaving her world. Will Celaena find the strength to not only fight her inner demons, but to take on the evil that is about to be unleashed?

My Thoughts: Okay I was really looking forward to this book because I remembered enjoying it a lot when I read it for the first time back in 2020. I’m pleased to report, it did not disappoint! So much happens in this book, but the biggest aspect I love is all of the character development. Specifically with Celaena. She’s made her way to Wendelyn where most of the Fae live now that magic has vanished from the rest of the world. She’s still grieving from the big losses she experienced in the last book and has essentially given up on seeing herself as anything special. To the King, her goal in Wendelyn is to assassinate the King and Prince there before returning to Adarlan. For Celaena, her goal is to confront her Fae Queen Aunt Maeve to get answers about the Wyrd Keys she learned about back in Adarlan. In order to get her questions answered though, Maeve says she has to display a control of her own fae powers before she will give Celaena any information. Cue training with Rowan, aka the hottest Fae Prince Celaena has ever set her eyes on. I really loved their dynamics because they start as complete enemies with nothing but animosity for each other. He thinks she’s incredibly immature, while she finds him to be unreasonable (but also super hot). All while she’s having an internal battle with herself about accepting her power. She hasn’t touched her abilities in ten years and was taught to suppress it when she was a kid to prevent anyone from getting hurt. They eventually fall into a rhythm with her training and after she starts gaining control of her power, he starts respecting her more and showing her who he really is. I was/am freaking OBSESSED with the big battle scene towards the end when Rowan’s entire Cadre of hot Fae baes shows up to help defend Mistward - home to thousands of demi-Fae. That’s also a HUGE pivotal point in Celaena’s understanding of the Wyrd Keys and what the King is doing with them. OH MY GOD ALSO you get to meet my girl Manon in this book and she is an absolute baddie. Like I would die for Manon. Her storyline gets thrown into this storyline a little randomly, BUT it also connects some dots with what’s going on back in Adarlan with Dorian, the King, etc. Honestly, Heir of Fire doesn’t get the hype it deserves. I know it comes right before the best book in this series, but do not sleep on this one. The character development is *chef’s kiss* and the world building is phenomenal.

WILDFIRE by Hannah Grace

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Maple Hills students Russ Callaghan and Aurora Roberts cross paths at a party celebrating the end of the academic year, where a drinking game results in them having a passionate one-night stand. Never one to overstay her welcome (or expect much from a man), Aurora slips away before Russ even has the chance to ask for her full name. Imagine their surprise when they bump into each other on the first day of the summer camp where they are both counselors, hoping to escape their complicated home lives by spending the summer working. Russ hopes if he gets far enough away from Maple Hills, he can avoid dealing with the repercussions of his father’s gambling addiction, while Aurora is tired of craving attention from everyone around her, and wants to go back to the last place she truly felt at home. Russ knows breaking the camp’s strict “no staff fraternizing” rule will have him heading back to Maple Hills before the summer is over, but unfortunately for him, Aurora has never been very good at caring about the rules. Will the two learn to peacefully coexist? Or did their one night together start a fire they can’t put out?

My Thoughts: Y’all know I am an absolute SIMP for hockey romances lol. I read Hannah Grace’s first book in the Maple Hills series, Icebreaker, last year and was OBSESSED with it. So when I saw she published the second one, I knew I had to drop every other smutty novel I was reading to prioritize this one. Listen, I really loved Aurora and Russ. They’re such great main characters for this storyline and their chemistry is undeniable. Aurora is a little bit of a wild child whereas Russ is the sweetest gentle giant. I loved their banter, the shenanigans everyone got into at the camp, and all of the side characters - specifically Xander and the three golden retrievers. They really brought this story to life. Both Russ and Aurora have some deeply rooted issues related to their fathers that they kind of bond over. (Trauma bonding at its finest lol). However, the way they supported each other through the highs and lows was absolutely believable and endearing. Although there is a third act break-up, I appreciated that it was quickly squashed by Aurora laying down the law that they will not be the couple who are terrible communicators. Was Wildfire as good as Icebreaker? I don’t think so, but only because I felt like it kind of slowed down in some areas and had me wondering when it was going to pick up again. However, the quality of the writing and characters and everything was up to par with Icebreaker. I definitely recommend you try this series if you want a good sports romance.

Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

DAISY JONES & THE SIX by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Daisy is a girl coming of age in L.A. in the late sixties, sneaking into clubs on the Sunset Strip, sleeping with rock stars, and dreaming of singing at the Whisky a Go Go. The sex and drugs are thrilling, but it’s the rock ’n’ roll she loves most. By the time she’s twenty, her voice is getting noticed, and she has the kind of heedless beauty that makes people do crazy things. Also getting noticed is The Six, a band led by the brooding Billy Dunne. On the eve of their first tour, his girlfriend Camila finds out she’s pregnant, and with the pressure of impending fatherhood and fame, Billy goes a little wild on the road. Daisy and Billy cross paths when a producer realizes that the key to supercharged success is to put the two together. What happens next will become the stuff of legend. The making of that legend is chronicled in this riveting and unforgettable novel, written as an oral history of one of the biggest bands of the seventies. Taylor Jenkins Reid is a talented writer who takes her work to a new level with Daisy Jones & The Six, brilliantly capturing a place and time in an utterly distinctive voice.

My Thoughts: The first time I read this book, I gave it 4 stars. This time, I listened to it on audiobook and it was hands-down a five star experience. I loved that there were multiple narrators for all of the different characters. The emotions they all injected into their characters’ perspectives was stunning. I could truly feel the struggle Billy and Daisy were having with addiction, the intense unlabeled connection between the two, the frustration radiating off of other bandmates, the attraction between Karen and Graham, the unconditional love Camila held onto for her husband, and the overall struggles this band went through during the peak of their fame. It’s such a beautifully layered storyline with complexities that make it ugly, yet vulnerable. I completely understand why this book was made into a mini-series and why people are so obsessed with it. If you’re going to read it, I recommend the audiobook, but the physical copy is just as awe-inspiring.

Okieee. That’s it for October.

Although I hate it when it starts getting dark at like 5pm, I will say I’m hoping to squeeze a lot more reading into November because it’s socially acceptable to nestle in early and read a book vs. having to do things because the sun is still out lol. :)

I already know my reading for the month is going to include a LOT of fantasy. Iron Flame (the second book in the Fourth Wing series) gets published on Nov. 7th, so I’m going to try to read Fourth Wing again before I receive my Iron Wing preorder. The movie for The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes comes out on Nov. 17th, so I’m going to try to read that before going to see it in theaters. And, of course, I also plan to continue with my Throne of Glass rereading journey.

So buckle up because November is about to be a fantasy fanfest for my reviews lol.

2023 Book Count: 97

Add me on Goodreads if you haven’t already.

YOUR TURN! What’s your favorite fantasy series?

September 2023 Reads

October 01, 2023 by Haley Burrill in Books

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?