I definitely did not get to all the books I planned to this month, but I’m okay with that. I signed up for soooo many Netgalley ARC’s that I feel buried underneath them, so I took some time off reading and read some things that I’ve just been meaning to for awhile. I still have plenty of time to get my ARC’s read before they’re released, so it will all be okay 🙂
PHYSICAL BOOKS
Sorcery of Thorns – Margaret Rogerson – 5/5 stars
The Kingdom – Jess Rothenberg – 4/5 stars
The Crowns of Croswald – D. E. Night – 4/5 stars
Sky in the Deep – Adrienne Young – 5/5 stars
Five Dark Fates – Kendare Blake – 3/5 stars
Merged – Jim and Stephanie Kroepfl – 4/5 stars
Fix Her Up – Tessa Bailey – 5/5 stars (reread)
Demon in the Whitelands – Nikki Z. Richard – 3.5/5 stars
The World is Ours – Abby Elise (ARC) – 4/5 stars
The Right Swipe – Alisha Rai – 4/5 stars
Spin the Dawn – Elizabeth Lim – 4.5/5 stars
EBOOKS
The Stone Rainbow – Liane Shaw – 3.5/5 stars
Gravemaidens – Kelly Coon – 4/5 stars
These Wicked Waters – Emily Layne – 3.5/5 stars
We Met in December – Rosie Curtis – 3/5 stars
Michigan vs. The Boys – Carrie S. Allen
The Memory Thief – Lauren Mansy – 4/5 stars
Marrow Charm – Kristin Jacques – 4/5 stars
Did anyone read any of the same books? Let’s chat about them in the comments!
‘In his pursuit of the occult, the Third Reich opened the Gate to a realm of magic and brought the world to ruin. The Gate was eventually closed, but They were already in our world and They were hungry.’
-The Lost History, Library of Avergard
Azure ‘Azzy’ Brimvine lives in a world decimated by magic, where humans have retreated underground from the overwhelming dangers of the surface. But Below is no safer than Above.
Magic borne plagues continue to eat away at the remaining human cities, a sickness that doesn’t merely kill, but creates aberrations from the stricken: people twisted by magic into something dark, dangerous, and powerful. It is an existence of fear and constant dread. When Azzy’s brother, Armin, is infected and cast out into the Above, she sets out after him, determined to be there for him no matter what he becomes.
The world Above is full of monsters, both wild and cunning, some more human than Azzy was led to believe. Armin is captured and bound for the Auction block of Avergard, a ruthless city of inhuman lords and twisted creatures. To reach him, Azzy must brave the perils of the Above and the chaotic life forms created by the Gate. To reach him, she must find allies and forge new bonds in this broken world.
And Azzy must reach him, before Armin’s new power is used to open the Gate once more.
Review
**Thank you to The Parliament House, Netgalley, and Kristin Jacques for providing me a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review**
Marrow Charm is set in a world where magic is not a desired gift, but a feared and malicious curse. Magic entered the world and twisted humans and animals into beasts that forget who they are and who are very dangerous. The world has moved underground, as the “Above” world is too dangerous to live in. When a human is “tainted” with magic, they are banished to the “Above”, as there is no stopping magic’s hold that dooms the human to either death or life as a monster.
Azzy is the daughter of a witch, living in one of the last human settlements below the surface. She is spending her life trying to protect her brother from the magic in his blood threatening to overtake him. A string of unfortunate events finds her brother cast out to Above, with her chasing after him to try and save him from herself. Her adventures take her across many miles, working with an eel lady, witch, and man/wolf. She has her own brand of magic, which isn’t really clearly explained throughout the book, just hinted at.
Marrow Charm is the first book in The Gate Cycle, a new series by Kristin Jacques. A high fantasy novel with monsters, magic, apocalyptic plagues, some light romance, and some slight cannibalism – Marrow Charm is exciting and well written for those who really enjoy fantasy. It has an interesting take on magic that you don’t generally see. Magic in books is something normally considered a gift or talent, something people should want to have. Marrow Charm creates a magical world where humans are begging to remain unaffected by magic. It creates an interesting dynamic.
I was a bit confused from time to time during some of the action scenes, and when Azzy’s specific powers were being discussed. It wasn’t very clear throughout the book what her powers are, as they don’t adhere to the normal rules. I’m assuming this will be more fleshed out and explained in a sequel.
Overall, a very good book and I would definitely check out a sequel.
In the city of Craewick, memories reign. The power-obsessed ruler of the city, Madame, has cultivated a society in which memories are currency, citizens are divided by ability, and Gifted individuals can take memories from others through touch as they please.
Seventeen-year-old Etta Lark is desperate to live outside of the corrupt culture, but grapples with the guilt of an accident that has left her mother bedridden in the city’s asylum. When Madame threatens to put her mother up for auction, a Craewick practice in which a “criminal’s” memories are sold to the highest bidder before being killed, Etta will do whatever it takes to save her. Even if it means rejoining the Shadows, the rebel group she swore off in the wake of the accident years earlier.
To prove her allegiance to the Shadows and rescue her mother, Etta must steal a memorized map of the Maze, a formidable prison created by the bloodthirsty ruler of a neighboring Realm. So she sets out on a journey in which she faces startling attacks, unexpected romance, and, above all, her own past in order to set things right in her world.
Review
**Thank you to Blink, Lauren Mansy, and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review**
Etta lives in Craewick, one of four territories where memories are the currency used, and the method of keeping people in line. Some individuals are Gifted, meaning they have the ability to take and share memories with others just by touching them. Ungifted folks are not able to do this. Within the Gifted population, there are variations and differing strengths of the gift, which is used as a status symbol. Sifters are the most powerful of the Gifted, they are able to take memories without needing to touch the person. Powerful Sifters rule each territory, but none are worse than the ruler of Craewick. Madame using her gift for torture, so a secret group called the Shadows work to oppose her. Etta was a Shadow, before she sold out the leader in order to save her mother from certain death. When Madame decides to break their bargain and begin the process of killing Etta’s mother, Etta must decide how far she is willing to go to save her mother, and the people of Craewick.
I loved this new take on powers. I think these days it’s hard to write about a “superpower” that hasn’t been used already, but memories is a new one for me and I LOVE The Memory Thief for that. Lauren Mansy did an excellent job building a world that is fueled by people’s memories, the good and the bad. The main character has a difficult go of life and is thrown into many tough spots. She has struggled so much. I loved the plot twists and I did not see them coming, which is always super fun.
The love story was not a true enemies to lovers, and frankly the love interest did not end up being the person I expected it to be. The writing style was great because it felt like you were getting enough information from the story, that you didn’t even realize certain aspects and facts were being withheld to be revealed later in the book.
I only wish that the story could have been longer, or at least a duology. I feel like this would have been well suited to being a two book series. Also, the ending sequences were a touch confusing and unclear with what was happening, so I feel like the writing could have been better at the end. Overall, I truly enjoyed this new story and would suggest it for fans of the Everless duology.
Ya’lllll, I still got way too many books this month, my TBR cart is practically bursting! I’ve had such a busy month and spent practically all of it on the go travel with my boyfriend/travel buddy. Some of these books were bought in Louisville during my first ever trip to a Half Price Books, which was an overwhelming yet still very awesome experience. This upcoming month, I PROMISE I will be better!! My bank account needs it!
HALF PRICE BOOKS
HPB had a Labor Day sale that I had to take part in, even if I was in a different state! SO lucky my boyfriend tolerates my obsession!
The Right Swipe (Modern Love #1) – Alisha Rai
Uprooted – Naomi Novik
Beyond a Darkened Shore – Jessica Leake
AMAZON
Preorders and general purchases!
Bid My Soul Farewell (Give The Dark My Love #2) – Beth Revis
Nevernight (The Nevernight Chronicle #1) – Jay Kristoff
Godsgrave (The Nevernight Chronicle #2) – Jay Kristoff
SUBSCRIPTION BOXES
My Shelflove Crate has yet to come yet because it is delayed (again, for like the 8th time this year) so that will have to be added to October’s post. This month I have my Owlcrate monthly box and a Fox & Wit Mini Box. Owlcrate included 2 books in this box in celebration of Halloween coming up.
The Bone Houses – Emily Lloyd-Jones (Owlcrate #1)
The Haunting of Hill House – Shirley Jackson (Owlcrate #2)
Darkdawn (The Nevernight Chronicle #3) – Jay Kristoff (Fox & Wit Special Edition with character art on the reverse of the dust jacket)
PUBLISHERS
I received one book this month from Month9 Books in exchange for an honest review!
Demon in the Whitelands – Nikki Z. Richard
Have you read any of these or purchased any this month as well? Tell me about how many books you acquired in the comments!
After the battle with Katharine, the rebellion lies in tatters. Jules’s legion curse has been unbound, leaving her out of her mind and unfit to rule. Arsinoe must find a cure, even as the responsibility of stopping the ravaging mist rests heavy on her shoulders, and her shoulders alone. Mirabella has disappeared.
Queen Katharine’s rule over Fennbirn remains intact—for now. But her attack on the rebellion exacted a high price: her beloved Pietyr. Without him, who can she rely upon when Mirabella arrives, seemingly under a banner of truce? As oldest and youngest circle each other, and Katharine begins to yearn for the closeness that Mirabella and Arsinoe share, the dead queens hiss caution—Mirabella is not to be trusted.
In this conclusion to the Three Dark Crowns series, three dark sisters will rise to fight as the secrets of Fennbirn’s history are laid bare. Allegiances will shift. Bonds will be tested, and some broken forever.
The fate of the island lies in the hands of its queens.
Review
The Three Dark Crowns series was one I was very interested in, it seemed like a newer, darker, Hunger Games-esque story. I love a book that pits people against each other to the death, what can I say? As I continued on in this series I became less and less enthused with how the story progressed. I didn’t agree with a lot of what Kendare Blake decided to do and where she decided to take the story. By the end, I just wanted to finish the story to give it a chance to change my mind with the ending. I’m going to keep this review as free of spoilers as I can, since it is the fourth book in a quartet.
I was disappointed, I’m not going to lie. I wish I had enjoyed Five Dark Fates more as I was so excited for it for so long. Queen Katharine is my fave of all time and all I wanted was a good storyline for her. I do feel like her arc got cleared up pretty well, but I didn’t feel that way about all the characters.
One serious issue with these books is the amount of information and set up required to keep it moving. I was legitimately bored for the first 200 pages and had to put it down and read something else for awhile before going back to it. There is just so much build up and set up where next to nothing is happening, until brief spurts of action come by.
Do I recommend this series? Heck yes. It is dark and mysterious and twisty, will religion, magical powers, politics, etc. I think everyone should try this series because even though I would have preferred a different ending, there are people out there that will love this. Kendare Blake is an amazing writer and I would gladly read more of her work.
Welcome to the Kingdom… where ‘Happily Ever After’ isn’t just a promise, but a rule.
Glimmering like a jewel behind its gateway, The Kingdom is an immersive fantasy theme park where guests soar on virtual dragons, castles loom like giants, and bioengineered species–formerly extinct–roam free.
Ana is one of seven Fantasists, beautiful “princesses” engineered to make dreams come true. When she meets park employee Owen, Ana begins to experience emotions beyond her programming including, for the first time… love.
But the fairytale becomes a nightmare when Ana is accused of murdering Owen, igniting the trial of the century. Through courtroom testimony, interviews, and Ana’s memories of Owen, emerges a tale of love, lies, and cruelty–and what it truly means to be human.
Review
In the end, it does not matter what a story is about. It only matters who gets to tell it.
Jess rothenberg, the kingdom
The Kingdom is a futuristic Disney World concept where there are robotic “Princesses” that are programmed to be perfect customer service employees, basically. They are forced every day to provide cheer and perfect experiences for their guests in the park, because the outside world is so bleak and the people deserve to have a perfect time at The Kingdom. Ana is a Fantasist that comes to recognize the faults of her pretty, perfect life and starts to fight back slowly, as much as she is capable of.
Owen is a park employee that Ana meets one day. Ana falls in love with him after several interactions where Owen shows her kindness. As the reader you know there is more to his interaction with her than Ana sees in the moment, which lends a deeper level of intrigue to this already interesting human/robot relationship.
Y’all this book is DARK. I put off reading The Kingdom for awhile because the synopsis made it feel somewhat fluffy for my tastes but I was SO WRONG. Immediately you are presented with Ana in the present and the past. The chapters switch between before she is accused of Owen’s murder, and during her trial for Owen’s murder. This provides you with SOME context, but really it doesn’t give anything away as you read the book. It somewhat like the Illuminae Files in how half the chapters are structured.
Also, when I say this book is dark, I mean it is SUPER FREAKING DARK. There are themes of memory tampering, sexual harassment/assault, violence, animal torture, etc. It seems The Kingdom is meant to be a Black Mirror-esque take on Disney World and how far our society could go to create amusement parks. It also brings up an interesting discussion about what rights robots have in society and what their moral compass is.
If you are looking for a light, fun, easy read; The Kingdom may not be for you. If you want a dark, serious, thought provoking take on society and our pitfalls; definitely pick up The Kingdom. And seriously, if you watch Black Mirror, read this.
Raised to be a warrior, seventeen-year-old Eelyn fights alongside her Aska clansmen in an ancient rivalry against the Riki clan. Her life is brutal but simple: fight and survive. Until the day she sees the impossible on the battlefield—her brother, fighting with the enemy—the brother she watched die five years ago.
Faced with her brother’s betrayal, she must survive the winter in the mountains with the Riki, in a village where every neighbor is an enemy, every battle scar possibly one she delivered. But when the Riki village is raided by a ruthless clan thought to be a legend, Eelyn is even more desperate to get back to her beloved family.
She is given no choice but to trust Fiske, her brother’s friend, who sees her as a threat. They must do the impossible: unite the clans to fight together, or risk being slaughtered one by one. Driven by a love for her clan and her growing love for Fiske, Eelyn must confront her own definition of loyalty and family while daring to put her faith in the people she’s spent her life hating.
Part Wonder Woman, part Vikings—and all heart.
Review
We find things, just as we lose things. If you’ve lost your honor, you’ll find it again.
Adrienne young, sky in the deep
Okay, friends. I ordered Sky in the Deep from Amazon because it was on a super sale and I’d heard great things about it on Bookstagram. What I didn’t know, was that it was going to jump up to one of my favorite reads of this years! I’ve never thought I would be into Viking style books, but I’ve read several this year and they were all amazing!
Two tribes, the Aska and the Riki have been at war for decades in order to curry favor with their gods. Eelyn is of the Aska tribe, and she recently became of age to participate as a warrior. During a battle with the Riki, she sees her brother, who was thought dead for several years – fighting for the Riki. When trying to find out how this happened, she was captured by the Riki and turned into a slave for them. Sky in the Deep explores love, friendship, and to what lengths those will go to for their family.
I think Sky in the Deep is a great example of how different factions of people are from each other, but more importantly how similar they are. When a common enemy forces the Aska and Riki to join forces, everything that was once concerned fact is thrown into question.
Eelyn goes through a real journey during this book. It was absolutely fascinating to read and see exactly how her worldview changes based on the events she is living through. Adrienne Young did an amazing job with the characters arcs in Sky in the Deep. It’s normally hard to do as much as she did in a standalone novel, because you just don’t have as much time to take your characters on their journey.
I am now a huge Adrienne Young fan, and she is a new auto-buy author. Definitely go check out Sky in the Deep. There is another book in this world (not sequel though) that just came out a few weeks ago, so I’m going to go get that book and read it too!
Seventeen-year-old Jack Pedersen is finding life complicated ever since he came out to his mom. Even though she’s been doing her best to be understanding, it’s obvious to Jack that his mom still wants to cry every time she says the word gay. Complications go into hyperdrive when a new student arrives at school, and Jack starts experiencing feelings he’s never allowed himself to feel before. When a near tragedy turns life upside down, Jack realizes it’s time to stop hiding from himself and everyone around him, and he decides to organize his small town’s first Pride Parade.
Review
**Thank you to Second Story Press, Netgalley, and Liane Shaw for providing me an ebook copy of The Stone Rainbow in exchange for an honest review**
Jack is a high school senior who is going through a lot. He lives in a very conservative, small town that doesn’t accept who he is as a homosexual male. He was saved by his friend Ryan after walking into a river without being able to swim. Unclear if he was trying to commit suicide, but he was very overwhelmed about not being himself. Now he’s known as the suicidal, gay kid, which isn’t the best in high school. He is just trying to keep his head down and make it to graduation.
That is, until Benjamin shows up as the new Vice Principal’s kid, and Benjamin is out and proud. Jack is instantly attracted to Benjamin but has no idea how to be attracted to someone, or even date someone. Benjamin also has these crazy ideas about bringing their small town out of the dark ages – like hosting a Pride Parade. Jack has to face his fears about homophobia and expressing himself. When the unimaginable happens, Jack is forced to make a choice…
The Stone Rainbow was a good representation of many areas of the United States. It’s a coming of age story that I’m sure many can relate to and find comfort in. It brings up a conversation around sexuality that has been growing over the last few decades in this country.
I did enjoy this book but it did not wow me. Worth a read, and those who really enjoy contemporaries will enjoy this. There is awesome LGBTQIA and disability representation here, with most of the main cast falling into either category.
What if you couldn’t get away from the one who got away?
This December, unlucky-in-love Jess is following her dream and moving to Notting Hill. On the first night in her new house-share she meets Alex, the guy in the room next door. They don’t kiss under the mistletoe, but there’s still a spark that leaves Jess imagining how they might spend the year together – never mind the house rule against dating…
But when Jess returns from her Christmas holiday, she finds Alex has started seeing Emma, who lives on the floor above them. Now Jess faces a year of bumping into the man of her dreams – and, apparently, the woman of his.
Jess is determined to move on and spend the year falling in love with London, not Alex – but what if her heart has other ideas?
Review
**Thank you to Avon Books UK, Netgalley, and Rosie Curtis for providing a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review**
I was excited to read this book because it was Christmas themed (and of course I’m looking forward to Christmas in the middle of September) and because it seemed like a lovely romance/love story. I ended up being disappointed with this one, and I’m pretty bummed about it.
Jess is 29, living in a small town in England, and just broke up with her boyfriend of several years. She is working a job she doesn’t love, and when she is offered a promotion she realizing this is NOT the job she wants to be in forever. She applies to a publishing house in London and gets it, to her surprise, and makes the move to pricey London. Miraculously, her college friend Becky inherited a multi-million dollar home in Notting Hill and is willing to rent a room to her for pennies. She moves in, and there is immediate romantic chemistry between her and another house mate, Alex. Problem is, Becky has a no relationships clause in the lease to cut down on drama. We Met in December follows Alex and Jess in their life for about a year in London.
Alex and Jess met about 3% into the book. And then proceed to have the. slowest. burn. romance. ever. A year of time goes by and they are still just friends – no flirty glances, no almost kisses, no anything. They both date other people, and most of the book is just random happenings of all the characters. I really didn’t feel like the plot was moving forward at all.
It was well written, I will say that. I never wanted to DNF the book, I kept holding out hope that something would happen. It wasn’t a bad story, just not at all what I was expecting and it was disappointing for me.
If you enjoy contemporary books with light romance, We Met in December will be right up your alley. Just because it wasn’t an insta fave of mine, doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be for you!
All sorcerers are evil. Elisabeth has known that as long as she has known anything. Raised as a foundling in one of Austermeer’s Great Libraries, Elisabeth has grown up among the tools of sorcery—magical grimoires that whisper on shelves and rattle beneath iron chains. If provoked, they transform into grotesque monsters of ink and leather. She hopes to become a warden, charged with protecting the kingdom from their power.
Then an act of sabotage releases the library’s most dangerous grimoire. Elisabeth’s desperate intervention implicates her in the crime, and she is torn from her home to face justice in the capital. With no one to turn to but her sworn enemy, the sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn, and his mysterious demonic servant, she finds herself entangled in a centuries-old conspiracy. Not only could the Great Libraries go up in flames, but the world along with them.
As her alliance with Nathaniel grows stronger, Elisabeth starts to question everything she’s been taught—about sorcerers, about the libraries she loves, even about herself. For Elisabeth has a power she has never guessed, and a future she could never have imagined.
Review
Knowledge always has the potential to be dangerous. It is a more powerful weapon than any sword or spell.
Margaret rogerson, sorcery of thorns
Good evening, friends! I’m here bringing you my thoughts on the June OwlCrate book of the month! Sorcery of Thorns was spectacular, and I was lucky enough to read it during a buddy read with Treat Yo Shelf Book Club on Instagram. I absolutely adored this book and would recommend it to any YA Fantasy lovers out there.
We start off with Elisabeth, an orphan who has grown up in a Great Library, the home of dangerous grimoires. She has learned that sorcerers are evil, but she’s an inquisitive young woman and isn’t afraid to question those in charge. When her favorite warden is killed in a suspicious grimoire attack, she falls under suspicion as the saboteur – so she must work to clear her name. She meets Nathaniel Thorn, a powerful sorcerer who makes her question the library’s teachings. Elisabeth must determine who the real saboteur is, clear her name, and stop a plot that threatens to tear the very fabric of the kingdom apart.
My absolute favorite part of Sorcery of Thorns is any scene where Silas is in attendance. Silas is Nathaniel’s demon, very powerful and old from the Otherworld. Much of the book brings into question the morality of demons, and whether they can experience human emotions and feelings. No spoilers here in my reviews, but Silas is my favorite non human character of the year.
Elisabeth and Nathaniel share a slow burn love connection, but it’s all very tame and fitting for YA readers. This is a standalone novel, but I would love to read more about Elisabeth, Nathaniel, and Silas. Especially after THAT ENDING. Y’ALL. The ending slayed me, and I was not okay. But it was amazing. I need more.
Outside of the fact that I love any book that is literally set in a LIBRARY, this book was amazing and please go check it out. This is my first book by Margaret Rogerson, but I definitely feel the need to pick up her backlist titles after reading Sorcery of Thorns. Her world-building and writing is just beautiful and so elegant.
Baltimore Bibliophile 