Tag: bookish

November 2020 New Releases I Want!

Lauren2 Comments

With each month brings new releases! Here is a list of the new releases I am excited for this month!

Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson

After forming a coalition of human resistance against the enemy invasion, Dalinar Kholin and his Knights Radiant have spent a year fighting a protracted, brutal war. Neither side has gained an advantage, and the threat of a betrayal by Dalinar’s crafty ally Taravangian looms over every strategic move.

Now, as new technological discoveries by Navani Kholin’s scholars begin to change the face of the war, the enemy prepares a bold and dangerous operation. The arms race that follows will challenge the very core of the Radiant ideals, and potentially reveal the secrets of the ancient tower that was once the heart of their strength.

At the same time that Kaladin Stormblessed must come to grips with his changing role within the Knights Radiant, his Windrunners face their own problem: As more and more deadly enemy Fused awaken to wage war, no more honorspren are willing to bond with humans to increase the number of Radiants. Adolin and Shallan must lead the coalition’s envoy to the honorspren stronghold of Lasting Integrity and either convince the spren to join the cause against the evil god Odium, or personally face the storm of failure.

Release Date: November 14, 2020

This is book four set in Branden Sanderson’s Stormlight Archive. I haven’t read a single book in this series. So why is it on this list, you may ask? Cause the Hubs is really looking forward to this. It’s already pre-ordered and plans to have nothing to do for two days have been made.

Ready Player Two by Earnest Cline

Days after winning OASIS founder James Halliday’s contest, Wade Watts makes a discovery that changes everything.

Hidden within Halliday’s vaults, waiting for his heir to find, lies a technological advancement that will once again change the world and make the OASIS a thousand times more wondrous—and addictive—than even Wade dreamed possible.

With it comes a new riddle, and a new quest—a last Easter egg from Halliday, hinting at a mysterious prize.

And an unexpected, impossibly powerful, and dangerous new rival awaits, one who’ll kill millions to get what he wants.

Wade’s life and the future of the OASIS are again at stake, but this time the fate of humanity also hangs in the balance.

Release Date: November 24, 2020

I’m not gonna lie, this is the one that I am that I am the most apprehensive about. Even the Hubs is like, really?

The Empire Strikes Back: From a Certain Point of View by Various Authors

On May 21, 1980, Star Wars became a true saga with the release of The Empire Strikes Back. In honor of the fortieth anniversary, forty storytellers re-create an iconic scene from The Empire Strikes Back through the eyes of a supporting character, from heroes and villains, to droids and creatures. From a Certain Point of View features contributions by bestselling authors and trendsetting artists:

• Austin Walker explores the unlikely partnership of bounty hunters Dengar and IG-88 as they pursue Han Solo.
• Hank Green chronicles the life of a naturalist caring for tauntauns on the frozen world of Hoth.
• Tracy Deonn delves into the dark heart of the Dagobah cave where Luke confronts a terrifying vision.
• Martha Wells reveals the world of the Ugnaught clans who dwell in the depths of Cloud City.
• Mark Oshiro recounts the wampa’s tragic tale of loss and survival.
• Seth Dickinson interrogates the cost of serving a ruthless empire aboard the bridge of a doomed Imperial starship.

Plus more hilarious, heartbreaking, and astonishing tales from:
Tom Angleberger, Sarwat Chadda, S.A. Chakraborty, Mike Chen, Adam Christopher, Katie Cook, Zoraida Córdova, Delilah S. Dawson, Alexander Freed, Jason Fry, Christie Golden, Rob Hart, Lydia Kang, Michael Kogge, R. F. Kuang, C. B. Lee, Mackenzi Lee, John Jackson Miller, Michael Moreci, Daniel José Older, Amy Ratcliffe, Beth Revis, Lilliam Rivera, Cavan Scott, Emily Skrutskie, Karen Strong, Anne Toole, Catherynne M. Valente, Django Wexler, Kiersten White, Gary Whitta, Brittany N. Williams, Charles Yu, Jim Zub

Release Date: November 10, 2020

I just heard about this series. I haven’t read the first one yet and I am already looking forward to the second one! Who does that? Well, me, apparently. I love the concept of having all these great authors write these short stories in this universe. I am so excited.

Can you tell I’m excited?

The Burning God by R.F. Kuang

After saving her nation of Nikan from foreign invaders and battling the evil Empress Su Daji in a brutal civil war, Fang Runin was betrayed by allies and left for dead. 

Despite her losses, Rin hasn’t given up on those for whom she has sacrificed so much—the people of the southern provinces and especially Tikany, the village that is her home. Returning to her roots, Rin meets difficult challenges—and unexpected opportunities. While her new allies in the Southern Coalition leadership are sly and untrustworthy, Rin quickly realizes that the real power in Nikan lies with the millions of common people who thirst for vengeance and revere her as a goddess of salvation. 

Backed by the masses and her Southern Army, Rin will use every weapon to defeat the Dragon Republic, the colonizing Hesperians, and all who threaten the shamanic arts and their practitioners. As her power and influence grows, though, will she be strong enough to resist the Phoenix’s intoxicating voice urging her to burn the world and everything in it? 

Release Date: November 17, 2020

I cannot wait for this book! Unfortunately, I’m gonna have to cause I’m not allowed to buy any books next month. I banned myself, cause my TBR pile is huge!

Spellbreaker by Charlie N. Holmberg

The orphaned Elsie Camden learned as a girl that there were two kinds of wizards in the world: those who pay for the power to cast spells and those, like her, born with the ability to break them. But as an unlicensed magic user, her gift is a crime. Commissioned by an underground group known as the Cowls, Elsie uses her spellbreaking to push back against the aristocrats and help the common man. She always did love the tale of Robin Hood.

Elite magic user Bacchus Kelsey is one elusive spell away from his mastership when he catches Elsie breaking an enchantment. To protect her secret, Elsie strikes a bargain. She’ll help Bacchus fix unruly spells around his estate if he doesn’t turn her in. Working together, Elsie’s trust in—and fondness for—the handsome stranger grows. So does her trepidation about the rise in the murders of wizards and the theft of the spellbooks their bodies leave behind.

For a rogue spellbreaker like Elsie, there’s so much to learn about her powers, her family, the intriguing Bacchus, and the untold dangers shadowing every step of a journey she’s destined to complete. But will she uncover the mystery before it’s too late to save everything she loves?

Release Date: November 1, 2020

I’ve already pre-ordered this, sort of. It was offered as a Kindle First so I got it for free! Those things are worth their weight in gold! All the free books, for all that they don’t have free fantasy/sci-fi books very often.

Planet Paradise by Jesse Lonergan

To survive after crash landing on an alien planet, a vacationer must battle against a hostile environment, killer lizards, corporate bureaucracy, and the pessimism of her sole companion, the drug-addled captain of the ship.

Release Date: November 17, 2020

I haven’t seen any of the art yet, but if the cover is any indication I might just love this graphic novel. Also, this sounds so funny.

And there you have it. All the new releases I am looking forward to in November of 2020.

What new releases are you eagerly anticipating?

What to Read-My November 2020 TBR

Lauren2 Comments

Well, it’s that time of the month again. The time when all good book bloggers sit down and decide what books they are going to read for the month of whatever.

This month I have chosen five contenders for the top spot. Or just five books I know I want to read over the course of the month.

What joy! What rapture! What a relief I stopped at five!

Our first two book are sequels to books I read last month.

Son of a Witch by Gregory Maguire.

This is the story of Liir. The mystery surrounding his life is still unanswered. Is he the Wicked Witches’ son? He sets out on a quest to answer this and other questions in an OZ that is under new and terrible management.

The Defiant Heir by Melissa Caruso

Amalia and her bound Falcon Zaria must go behind enemy lines and use every bit of wit and wisdom they have to prevent war, or both nations may burn.

Cursed by Thomas Wheeler and art by Frank Wheeler

A story about Nimue, who becomes the legendary Lady of the Lake. I’m down for anything King Arthur related.

The Postmortal by Drew Magary

John Farrell is about to get “The Cure.” Old age can never kill him now.
The only problem is, everything else still can . . .

The Road Not Taken by Susan Rubin

Suddenly widowed at 50, a woman is shown all of SpaceTime by the Lost, a species that has been on Earth since the cool down.

And that’s the list of books I am hoping to get through this month. I hope I can do it/remember to read them all!

Birthday or October 2020 Book Haul

Lauren1 Comment

Ya’ll, I turned 40 this year. So I celebrated by buying books. As a result, I’m pretty sure I can skip buying books for the rest of the year.

No really. I’m putting myself on a book buying ban.

Yeah, even I doubt that. But a girl can dream!

I went to Half Priced Books. I also shopped on Thriftbooks.com, and bought a few from Amazon.com.

Here are the books I bought this past month!

A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik

A story about a girl at a magic school that just might kill you before you graduate.

Cursed by Thomas Wheeler, art by Frank Miller

A new story about a mercenary named Arthur and Nimue, who holds the sword Excalibur.

Skyhunter by Marie Lu

The last free nation of Mara is fighting back against the might Federation. Is their newest prisoner a spy, or the savior of all?

Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim

A young girl has to pose as a boy to compete to sew three magic dresses and win the role of imperial tailor.

Scythe by Neil Shusterman

Humanity has conquered war and disease. Even death. Now the Scythes are the only one’s who can end life.

The Defiant Heir by Melissa Caruso

Amalia and her bound Falcon Zaria must go behind enemy lines and use every bit of wit and wisdom they have to prevent war, or both nations may burn.

The Unbound Empire by Melissa Caruso

In the sequel to The Defiant Heir, Amalia and her Falcon Zaria have new challenges to face in the court of Raverra. Can they survive?

Sixteen Ways to Defend a Walled City by K.J. Parker

To save the city under siege will take a miracle. What it has is Orhan.

A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher

14 year old Mona isn’t like other wizards. Her magic only works on bread. But what happens when an assassin stalks the city’s wizards and only Mona is left?

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

In 1714 a young woman makes a deal with the devil to live forever. The catch? No one will remember her. Until one day 300 years later, someone does.

Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened by Allie Brosh

Stories and comics about dogs, depression and the god of cake.

The Postmortal by Drew Magery

John Farrell is about to get “The Cure.” Old age can never kill him now.
The only problem is, everything else still can.

Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett

In a city that runs on industrialized magic, a secret war will be fought to overwrite reality itself.

The Four Profound Weaves by R.B. Lemberg

Two transgender elders must learn to weave from Death in order to defeat an evil ruler.

The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow

In the late 1800s, three sisters use witchcraft to change the course of history.

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

The Emperor needs necromancers. The Ninth Necromancer needs a swordswoman. Gideon has a sword, some dirty magazines, and no more time for undead nonsense.

From Blood and Ash by Jennifer Armentrout

Chosen from birth to usher in a new era, Poppy’s life has never been her own. The life of the Maiden is solitary. Never to be touched. Never to be looked upon. Never to be spoken to. Never to experience pleasure. Waiting for the day of her Ascension, she would rather be with the guards, fighting back the evil that took her family, than preparing to be found worthy by the gods. But the choice has never been hers.

The Wolf of Oren-Yaro by K.S. Villoso

A queen must unite her divided land, even if she’s hated by the very people she’s trying to protect.

The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter

The Omehi people have been fighting an unwinnable war for almost two hundred years. The lucky ones are born gifted. One in every two thousand women has the power to call down dragons. One in every hundred men is able to magically transform himself into a bigger, stronger, faster killing machine.

Everyone else is fodder, destined to fight and die in the endless war. Young, gift-less Tau knows all this, but he has a plan of escape. He’s going to get himself injured, get out early, and settle down to marriage, children, and land. Only, he doesn’t get the chance.

Star Daughter by Shveta Thakrar

The daughter of a star and a mortal, Sheetal is used to keeping secrets. Pretending to be “normal.” But when an accidental flare of her starfire puts her human father in the hospital, Sheetal needs a full star’s help to heal him.

Some of these were Kindle purchases, so I got a few of them for cheap! And I did buy a few more books that were repurchases due to the book having fallen apart and needing to be replaced.

Rest in Peace Exiles Vol 1 and the Dragon Prince (both by Melanie Rawn, and both are very, very good).

And maybe a Christmas present for the hubs that I might have already given to him because I couldn’t wait.

What book did you pick up this past month?

What I Read in October 2020

Lauren1 Comment

Well, here we are. Another month gone. Another list of books I read. Hopefully you’ll see one you like and go find out whether or not I rated it correctly!

The Tethered Mage by Melissa Caruso

Magic and politics combine when a Falconer meets her Falcon on the streets of Reverra. I loved this book from page one. The political aspects weren’t to dry or drawn out, which means I was able to enjoy them. 4 out of 5 stars.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

The story about a boy named Nobody raised in a graveyard, but can the graveyard protect him from who killed his family? It was cute. I gave this 3.5 out of 5 stars.

The Paper Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg

Ceony Twill is sent to apprentice under Emory Thane to learn the magical art of Paper Magic. But when Emory is attacked and his heart stolen, does she have the magic to take it back? I loved this book. I gave it 4 out of 5 stars.

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

Yadriel is a trans teenager. His only goals are to be accepted by his family and be a brujo. So imagine his surprise when he summons Julian while performing a ritual that was forbidden to him. I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars.

To Be Taught If Fortunate by Becky Chambers

This is the story of four astronauts who embark on an eighty year long journey to see planets light years away from our own. But what has happened to the world they left behind? I gave this 4 out of 5 stars.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

A woman makes a Faustian deal to live forever, the catch is that no one remembers her. Until one day, a man in a bookstore does. This book was great. I initially gave it 4 stars but the more I let it sit with me, the more I loved it. 5 out of 5 stars.

A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore

Charlie is a nice normal guy with a nice normal wife and a nice normal kid. That is, until people start dying around him. See Charlie has been chosen for a new career, as Death. I really didn’t like this book. I spent 3 days trying to read 50 pages and it just didn’t happen. This one got DNF’d. 1 out of 5 stars, cause you can’t give zero on Goodreads.

Wicked by Gregory Maguire

The life of the Wicked Witch of the West is laid out before us to read. What an interesting book, and it is nothing, I repeat, nothing, like the musical that is based on this book. I gave it 4 out of 5 stars.

Hyperbole and Half by Allie Brosh

It’s the author’s life as a child, her struggles with depression and her fights with her dogs. And a goose. This graphic novel of a webtoon made me laugh so much. 5 out of 5 stars.

The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert

Alice must journey to the Hazel Wood to rescue her kidnapped mother. I was skeptical about this at first. When I bought it, YA hadn’t really been on my radar for a while, but a friend recommended it to me and I was not disappointed. I gave this one 4 out of 5 stars.

The Four Profound Weaves by R.B. Lemberg

Two transgender elders journey out into the desert to seek out Death to defeat a tyrant. I really wanted to like this novella, but I didn’t. But here’s the thing, I didn’t hate it, I just didn’t like it enough to continue it. I may pick this up to try again in the future, but for now, it gets 1 star out of 5.

Anxiety and Book Reading

Lauren1 Comment

So I have generalized anxiety. Which means everything has the potential to make me anxious. And recently, I have noticed, that one of my favorite things sometimes, just sometimes, makes me anxious.

Reading.

Yes, reading.

Which is great cause I decided to have a book blog all of a sudden and now reading new books sometimes brings out my anxiety. Go me!

This is most evident when I am reading a book I really like. I have to put it down and walk away from it cause it gets to me. And then I have to do something to distance myself from the book for a little while, whether it’s for an hour or for a day.

This was most note-able to me while reading A Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires. That book made me anxious as all get out. It’s because I didn’t want it to end. I knew that if I finished it, it would be over and I wouldn’t be able to read it anymore. I kept having to put it down because it just made me so dang anxious!

I know I can’t be the only one out there that has this happen, am I?

Cemetery Boys- A Book Review

Lauren5 Comments

Yadriel has summoned a ghost, and now he can’t get rid of him.

When his traditional Latinx family has problems accepting his true gender, Yadriel becomes determined to prove himself a real brujo. With the help of his cousin and best friend Maritza, he performs the ritual himself, and then sets out to find the ghost of his murdered cousin and set it free.

However, the ghost he summons is actually Julian Diaz, the school’s resident bad boy, and Julian is not about to go quietly into death. He’s determined to find out what happened and tie off some loose ends before he leaves. Left with no choice, Yadriel agrees to help Julian, so that they can both get what they want. But the longer Yadriel spends with Julian, the less he wants to let him leave.

So I just finished up Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas and wow. I was not disappointed.

Which is great.

Because right as I started reading this my ADD started acting up and you would have thought I had never read a book before. I couldn’t sit still. I would read twenty pages then I would put the book down only to come back to the book two hours later and get yet another twenty pages read. I finally got past that hump when there about a hundred pages left in the book. Thank goodness!

And please don’t let my inability to sit still and read lead you to believe this book is anything other than good. Because it’s very great. I couldn’t play Animal Crossing for very long either, and I play that for at least an hour every day.

I have no life. Cause Covid.

Back to the book!

I enjoyed the world the author created. And given that it is our world, it was pretty easy. But the picture they painted of the graveyard and Yadriel’s place in it (and the world at large) was wonderful.

The characters were rich and colorful. And I really felt for Yadriel on his journey to gain his family’s acceptance as a trans man. And Julian and Maritza are wonderful characters. I liked how alive Julian felt, you know, for a dead guy.

The magic system in this book is great. I really loved how the author used generational magic. It was such a large part of Yadriel’s journey in his struggle to be accepted.

I loved the plot, but I did have some problem with how certain things progressed here and there. I feel the book had some plot progression issues and that they kind of rushed us to the end of the story once we got there.

There were a few things I would tweak here and there, mostly to do with the writing style and the plot progression issues. And that’s why this book gets 4 out of 5 stars.

What? It’s a great book! It also happens to be the authors debut novel and I’m really excited to see what they do next.

A Little Re-Organization Never Hurt Anybody

Lauren1 Comment

So the hubs and I have a small library. We have carefully cultivated our collection over the years and to be honest, we have neglected the bookshelves. Because we keep the books organized by authors, some of the books were starting to pile up, as there was no more room for new books.

I mean, there was a little room. But it wasn’t with the original authors!

I may have a thing.

This particular picture was taken after I had cleaned off this shelve to put the books downstairs. I wasn’t hauling all those books back upstairs. Clearly, I am a genius.

My project supervisor was sleeping on the job…until I went to take this photo. And then of course she wakes up.

The good news is this project only took a few hours. The bad news is I now know all the books I am missing from some series.

I want the pretties.

One has to have a shelf dedicated to Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series.

I can’t get the magazines to stand upright, so on their sides they go!

I still think there is some work to do. But I keep buying books, and my husband just informed me he has a bunch of books on the way soon, so its an ongoing struggle for us. As it is with any book lover.

it would help if I read them when I got them. Instead I am constantly reading old books. Because old books bring life!

The Priory of the Orange Tree – A Book Review

Lauren2 Comments

The Priory of the Orange Tree was written by Samantha Shannon

As I sat down to write this review, which was right after finishing the book, I realized that I wasn’t quite sure how I felt about it.

The premise: The kingdom of Inys has stood for a thousand years, and at it’s heart lies it’s queen, Sabran. Now it’s time for Sabran to do her duty and conceive an heir, but evil lurks in the shadows. A plot to undo her kingdom is at hand, and an ancient Dragon awakens in the deep.

This 800 page fantasy book is 3 parts political drama 1 part fantasy story. With a little queer romance thrown in just for good measure. And I’m not the biggest fan of pure political drama if I’m going to be honest. To much real political drama in the world, thank you very much!

The world building is the book was excellently done. Like, superbly done. The author paints a chaotic landscape in fear of the apocalypse to come.

The character building was well done. Sabran, Ead, Margret, Tané, Loth, Nicklays, and all the rest are very well fleshed out with strong backstories. They all have growth, if not all in the ways that you expect (here’s looking at you unexpected queer relationships!).

The plot, well that, that is where I have some problems. Overall, it’s good. The story is engaging and the world is thriving. But I had some problems with the little bits. Some things happened too slowly, some too quickly. There was an awful lot of “if it could go wrong, it will go wrong” happening here. But again, overall, it’s a good plot, with plenty of momentum to pull the story forward.

On the whole, the book was pretty good. I gave it 3.75 out of 5 stars.

What to Read? – My October 2020 TBR

Lauren14 Comments

It’s a week of lists. First you get what I bought last month. Then you get what I read last month. Now you get what I want to read this month!

That’s a lot of lists.

On to the TBR!

The Tethered Mage by Melissa Caruso

Magic is scarce in the Raverran Empire, and those born with such powers are strictly controlled — taken as children and conscripted into the Falcon army, to be used as weapons in times of war.

Zaira has lived her life on the streets to avoid this fate, hiding her mage mark and thieving to survive. But hers is a rare and dangerous magic, one that threatens the entire Empire.

Lady Amalia Cornaro was never meant to be a Falconer. Heiress and scholar, she was born into a treacherous world of political machinations.

But fate has bound the heir and the mage. And as war looms on the horizon, a single spark could turn their city into a pyre.

This book is also on my TBR for the year, so that makes me want to read it even more!

A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore

Charlie Asher is a pretty normal guy with a normal life, married to a bright and pretty woman who actually loves him for his normalcy. They’re even about to have their first child. Yes, Charlie’s doing okay until people start dropping dead around him, and everywhere he goes a dark presence whispers to him from under the streets. Charlie Asher, it seems, has been recruited for a new position: as Death.

It’s a dirty job. But, hey! Somebody’s gotta do it.

I’ve had Christopher Moore on my to read list for a while now, I just didn’t know where to start. Hopefully this is a good place!

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

Yadriel has summoned a ghost, and now he can’t get rid of him.

When his traditional Latinx family has problems accepting his true gender, Yadriel becomes determined to prove himself a real brujo. With the help of his cousin and best friend Maritza, he performs the ritual himself, and then sets out to find the ghost of his murdered cousin and set it free.

However, the ghost he summons is actually Julian Diaz, the school’s resident bad boy, and Julian is not about to go quietly into death. He’s determined to find out what happened and tie off some loose ends before he leaves. Left with no choice, Yadriel agrees to help Julian, so that they can both get what they want. But the longer Yadriel spends with Julian, the less he wants to let him leave.

I’m not gonna lie, I discovered this book because of booktok. The description reeled me in though. I mean, trans and Lantinx representation? I’m there.

Wicked by Gregory Maguire

When Dorothy triumphed over the Wicked Witch of the West in L. Frank Baum’s classic tale, we heard only her side of the story. But what about her arch-nemesis, the mysterious witch? Where did she come from? How did she become so wicked? And what is the true nature of evil?

Wicked is about a land where animals talk and strive to be treated like first-class citizens, Munchkinlanders seek the comfort of middle-class stability and the Tin Man becomes a victim of domestic violence. And then there is the little green-skinned girl named Elphaba, who will grow up to be the infamous Wicked Witch of the West, a smart, prickly and misunderstood creature who challenges all our preconceived notions about the nature of good and evil.

I’ve read this before, but it’s been years. I want to give all four books a good read through, so I have to start here!

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

IT TAKES A GRAVEYARD TO RAISE A CHILD.

Nobody Owens, known as Bod, is a normal boy. He would be completely normal if he didn’t live in a graveyard, being raised by ghosts, with a guardian who belongs to neither the world of the living nor the dead. There are adventures in the graveyard for a boy—an ancient Indigo Man, a gateway to the abandoned city of ghouls, the strange and terrible Sleer. But if Bod leaves the graveyard, he will be in danger from the man Jack—who has already killed Bod’s family.

I’ve wanted to read this book for a years and just never got around to it. Halloween is the perfect time!

Well, that’s all for my TBR. I’m more of a mood reader, so I don’t want to try and make a huge grandiose list of books that I know I won’t get to. That would be awkward.

So awkward.

Everything I Read in September 2020

Lauren3 Comments

So I thought I’d give this a try, sharing with you everything I read this past month.

Everyone likes a nice recap, right?

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

A story about Kingdoms with huge religious differences and dragons. Not to mention positive queer representation. I ended up giving this book 3.75 out of 5 stars.

The Vanishing Half by Britt Bennett

The story of two black sisters from a small southern town. I found myself liking this book a lot more than I anticipated, which was nice given all that I had heard about it. I gave it 4.5 of of 5 stars, You can read my review here.

Shadows in Death by J.D. Robb

A deadly assassin is after Roarke and all he holds dear. Eve will protect Roarke with everything she has, even the full might of the NYPSD. I have been reading the In Death books for years and they are suffering a little from series fatigue. I gave this one 3 out of 5 stars. I’m gonna read the next one too!

All Systems Red by Martha Wells

A short novella about a robot that would rather watch it’s shows than perform it’s duties. What’s not to love? I gave this 4 out of 5 stars.

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

A modern exspansion of the Authurian legend and female lead who also happens to be a person of color? I’m down for that. I gave this book 3.75 out of 5 stars. You can read my review here.

Recursion by Blake Crouch

A mysterious pandemic is leaving people with memories of lives they have never lived. This book took me through it! I gave it 5 out of 5 stars!

Nimona by Noelle Stevenson

All this villain wants to do is bring down his arch enemy, within the rules of course. Enter his new sidekick Nimona, who just wants to sow chaos. This graphic novel was so cute! I gave it 3.75 out of 5 stars.

The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart

A young girl looks to forbidden magics to save an Empire on the brink of revolution. I gave it 3 out of 5 stars. You can read my review here.

Kill the Farm Boy by Delilah S. Dawson and Kevin Hearne

In the kingdom of Pell you’ve never seen a Chosen One quite like this. I DNF’d this one. And I wanted so much to like it. Is no stars an option? No? I gave it 1 out of 5 stars on Goodreads.

The Refrigerator Monologues by Catherynne M. Valente, art by Annie Wu

A series of intertwined stories from hero/villain connected women who have been fridged (killed). If you love comic books this is for you! I gave this 4 out of 5 stars!

A Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix

Patricia finds a vampire lurking in her small town and and the ladies of her book club are the only people she can trust. I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars.

Space Opera by Catherynne M. Valente

A band has to perform in a singing competition for the fate of humanity. In space! I wanted to like this book, as I loved The Refrigerator Monologues by this author, but alas, it was not to be. I DNF’d this frantic, hyperactive book. Sorry book. 1 out of 5 stars on Goodreads because you can’t give zero stars!

Fangs by Sarah Andersen

The adorable graphic novel about the love story between a werewolf and a vampire. I gave it 4 out of 5 stars.

Of everything I read this past month, I’d have to say I loved Recursion and A Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires the most. Obviously, I gave them both 5 stars!

What did you read in September?