I feel just like I did back when I read The Hunger Games for the first time in middle school. I was gripped, and the last few chapters were a straight gut punch.

I only wish it brought in some new themes to explore the way Ballad did, or found new ways to explore the existing themes, but on the whole I really liked it.

Now if we can just get Kiefer Sutherland to play Snow in the movie, my life will be complete

#thehungergames #sunriseonthereaping #suzannecollins #yabooks #yadystopian #books #bookreview #catchingfire #mockingjay #theballadofsongbirdsandsnakes

Happy pub day to this one (featuring my new floating bookshelves — learned how to use a sander for this project 🪚👷‍♀️)

I love this Sherlock and Watson dynamic in a fully fleshed out fantasy world. The characters once again stood out.

In this sequel, we have a locked room murder mystery, with themes of imperialism and power and scientific hubris, led by the strange and eccentric Ana and her bemused assistant, Din.

Chefs kiss 🤌

I definitely recommend reading book 1 (The Tainted Cup) first, though the two stories stand on their own, just because so much of the world and characters requires setup.

Thanks to Netgalley and Del Rey for the ARC!

#book #bookreview #arc #fantasy #fantasybook #books

I am displeased with this self-insert SNL fanfiction. For being called “Romantic Comedy,” it really wasn’t very romantic or comedic. 🤪

I might have liked it if it was 30 pages instead of 300, but it had more filler than plot. Also, I have more chemistry with my bed than these two main characters.

I’m not really sure who the target audience for this book was. It’s too dry to appeal to most romance readers, but doesn’t have enough meat on its bones for the litfic crowd. Mostly, it was kinda…boring.

Also, so. much. telling.

(Also, it’s 300 pages and THREE CHAPTERS — why??? It was like being trapped)

#books #bookreview #bookreviewer #romancebook #romance #romcom #romanticcomedy #curtissittenfeld #romancereview #romancebookreview #librarybook #library #bookblog #bookblogger

I feel this should have been absolutely up my alley, but I found myself not reaching for it when I sat to read.

Don’t get me wrong, the prose is BEAUTIFUL. It’s a total masterclass in immersive and lyrical writing.

I think it was perhaps a bit slow for me. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, so maybe it just wasn’t what I was in the mood for.

I still recommend it, especially if you enjoy stories about complicated sister relationships and feminine rage.

#books #bookreview #witches #salem #witchcraft #fantasybooks #fantasy #bookblogger #theonceandfuturewitches #alixeharrow #historicalfiction #historicalfantasy #book #fantasybook

I didn’t feel like making a monthly wrap up, so here’s what you get instead.

#bookmemes #memes #reading #books #bookreviews #relatable

Wow. What a trilogy.

This series took me on a journey. It never let me get too comfortable, and for good reason. This kind of sci fi / fantasy mix about the end of the world, focusing on the traumas and prejudices and relationships at its center, doesn’t let up from beginning to end.

I highly recommend — BUT be prepared to not have all your questions answered right away. You’ll have to jump through some hoops (which I love). Also, great use of a 2nd person POV.

#books #bookreviews #fantasybook #fantasybookreview #fantasy #thefifthseason #thebrokenearth #nkjemisin #fantasyseries #seriesreview #bookreviewer #bookblogger #review #bookreview

I held it upside down to express my displeasure.

Violet had too much plot armor, Xaden lost all his personality, and the whole plot felt like a filler episode. Even Prince Halden, who should’ve been a fun wildcard, ended up about as threatening as a soggy cracker (and, honestly, his little flying basket gave me the ick).

I had too much to say for one caption, so my full spoiler review is in my bio.

#onyxstorm #bookreview #fourthwing #books #book #fantasy #fantasybooks #fantasybookreview #romantasy

The best way I can describe this read for me is nostalgic.

My personal love story started in the 8th grade, when I was fourteen and he was thirteen. That nerdy boy is now my husband, and we’ve been together 15 years now.

This book is told in two timelines, and the “then” timeline that told the story of Elliot and Macy meeting at about the same age and falling in love was so familiar to me, and brought back so many memories. I had so much affection for these flashbacks.

Perhaps that’s what really made me love this book. I do have my critiques, one that it’s a bit long and two that the end is a bit soapy, but overall I really enjoyed it. This story has many truly heartwarming moments, but it also explores some genuine pain and heartbreak.

#loveandotherwords #christinalauren #bookreview #bookrecommendation #fictionbooks #romancebooks #booklovers #readingtime #bookthoughts #bookaesthetic #bookcommunity #contemporaryromance #bookdiscussion #booksandmemories #bookishthoughts

Continuing my manga journey. Santa Claus devil? Hold the phone 😩👌

Swipe to see our cul-de-cats (aka strays that have claimed our cul-de-sac). We’ve been making improvements to the garden, and I think they approve.

#chainsawman #manga #straycats #cats #books

This was a fitting and cozy conclusion to a great trilogy. I didn’t love it as much as the first two, but I don’t begrudge it for that.

In this final installment, the fae world is finally front and center, rather than the somewhat menacing and hard-to-find subject of Emily’s research. We had higher stakes and more magic this time around.

I do think it was missing something on the pacing front. I found myself less engaged overall, especially in the second half.

But I love this trilogy, and will continue to recommend it.

Thanks to Del Rey and NetGalley for the ARC!

#emilywildescompendiumoflosttales #emilywildesencyclopaediaoffaeries #bookreview #fantasybooks #amreading #emilywildeseries #heatherfawcett #cozyfantasy #faemagic #bookishthoughts #arcreview #netgalley #fantasyreads #bookrecommendations #finalbookfeels