allbookedupblogstuff

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Glow of the Everflame by Penn Cole

TL;DR: Have you ever wanted to shake a main character so badly, but you can’t stop reading because what on earth is going to happen next? Yeah. It’s this book.Source: Thank you so much to the publisher via Netgalley and I have also been following and own these myself! Plot: Starting up right where book one left off we see Diem forced into a new place she never thought she’d be in, and how she…

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Blacklight Born by Alexander Darwin

TL;DR: A fantastic start and finish with a muddy middle. The ending was also… unexpected. Source: NetGalley, thank you so much to the publisher. I also purchased my own copy. Plot: This one wraps up the trilogy in a way that I didn’t see coming. I’m not entirely sure how to feel about it either. Characters: A bit all over the place for some and others were great. A mix bag here. Setting: Again,…

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The Twice-Sold Soul by Katie Hallahan

TL;DR: A very strong start that lost me a little at the end. I’ll probably continue the series as it shows a lot of promise. Source: NetGalley, thank you so much to the publisher! Plot: McKeena, who has been on the run for ten years, is hoodwinked by an ex to return home… and things get messier. Characters: I really liked the cast here, they were diverse and interesting. I did see the twist with…

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The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer

TL;DR: Another great look at reciprocity that was first introduced in Braiding Sweetgrass Source: NetGalley, thank you so much to the publisher! I also did purchase my own copy as well. Premise: I really liked this as a short little essay to read at this time of the year (Thanksgiving to Christmas) I thought it was relevant and well done. Readability: Robin Wall Kimmerer is a little bit denser…

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A Legend in the Baking by Jamie Wesley

TL;DR: Cute with some very good moments but overall nothing mind blowing. Source: NetGalley, thank you so much to the publisher! Plot: August ends up famous on Social Media for being a feminist and Sloane just so happens to need a job. It was very convenient. Characters: Interesting but nothing standout. I did like the brief appearance of August’s ex. She was interesting. Setting: We mainly…

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The Last Dragon of the East by Katrina Kwan

TL;DR: This one was a surprise in many ways, all lovely. Source: NetGalley and a physical copy via the publisher Plot: Sai ends up forced on a journey by the Emperor to find the last dragon and along the way he finds a lot more. Characters: I enjoyed all these characters and could see them vividly. I genuinely felt for them as well. Setting: A beautiful Asian inspired world, I will keep a lot of…

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Adventures in Volcanoland by Tamsin Mather

TL;DR: While this one wasn’t entirely for me, I do think there is a lot to be gained for people who are interested. Source: NetGalley via the publisher, thank you! Structure: This one is billed as part memoir, which I don’t think is accurate. It’s more a study of the different volcanic events. It does flow well though. Science: She made this fairly easy to read and visualize so it’s not too…

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The Road of Bones by Demi Winters

TL;DR: After a few days away from this I think this is a hard pass for me. Source: Netgalley, thank you so much to the publisher! Plot: Silla has to run to a far off town for safety after her father is killed and of course she makes all the mistakes you’d expect. And shocker – two hot dudes appear! Characters: Unfortunately… none of these characters worked for me, especially the main character.…

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What the Chicken Knows by Sy Montgomery

TL;DR: Sy Montgomery is a go-to nature writer for me. This was fantastic. Source: Netgalley, thank you so much to the publisher! Plot: Our author talks about chickens, facts and her life with them. It’s short and sweet, an easy one sitting read. Sources: For a short book Sy Montgomery had quite a few sources listed as well as plenty of personal stories. Readability: This is part of the appeal of…

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Feuds by Mercedes Lackey

TL;DR: I don’t know how this hit so good but I loved this one just like the last one. Source: NetGalley, thank you to the publisher – I also purchased my own copy so thanks to me too. Plot: Various plots but the theme of this collection was Feuds, fights between families or friends, small squabbles. Characters: Most of these featured Heralds, Bards, or Healers which are usually intelligent and…

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Blood of the Old Kings by Sung-Il Kim

TL;DR: This was a sleeper hit for me – I loved it. Source: eArc via Netgalley and a physical book via the publisher – THANK YOU! Plot: Three PoVs each fight and rebel against the Empire that has conquered them in their own ways. Characters: I found myself loving each and every PoV character and many of the side characters, I was very invested. Setting: The setting felt very real and alive for…

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Family of Three Under the Tree by Traci Douglass

TL;DR: A cute and interesting setup that managed to avoid being too stereotypical. Source: An eArc via the publisher, thank you! Plot: Two doctors come together after the children in their lives become friends. Characters: Everyone felt very well realized for the length, though I did have trouble telling the two kids apart at times. Setting: The small town was well realized, I could see the…

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The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook by Matt Dinniman

TL;DR: Another fantastic installment in the Carl series – I continue to love these. Source: NetGalley! Thank you for the eArc! I also bought a physical and audio edition. I love these y’all. Plot: Carl and Donut are now in the Iron Tangle, trains galore! Characters: I adore these guys, I can’t say that enough. Setting: This was my only issue with this book, I just got real confused by the trains…

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Lucy Undying by Kiersten White

TL;DR: A book for people who hate Dracula and love cringey instalove Source: NetGalley! Thank you for the eArc! Plot: A mess. Basically feels like the author writing some self-insert fanfiction in which she tells Lucy everyone was out to get her and they get to kill Dracula and have sex. Characters: No thank you. Setting: This is all over the place, they travel quite a bit and there is a maybe…

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Mistress of Lies by K.M. Enright

TL;DR: A big miss for me that’s neither dark or romantic (per the pitch line) Source: NetGalley! Thank you so, so much! Plot: Shan kills her father (the first chapter) and the book slowly slides into blushing in library corners. Characters: Honestly I didn’t really connect to anyone here. Setting: A dark city with a dingy port is what I remember and this book took me two weeks to read. Fantasy:…

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The Stone Witch of Florence by Anna Rasche

TL;DR: What a sleeper hit – This deserves so much more hype! Source: NetGalley! Thank you so, so much! Plot: Ginevra returns to the city that banished her to try and stop the Black Plague but instead ends up hunting a theif. Characters: We switched PoV’s a few times and consequently I loved so many of these characters. Anna Rasche did a great job connecting us to the character. Setting: I loved…

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The Bloodless Princes by Charlotte Bond

TL;DR: Not as good for me as book one, but I enjoyed seeing more of this world. Source: Netgalley! Thank you to the publisher! Plot: A somewhat familiar, go into the underworld and find something/save someone plot. Not super enthralling. Characters: A new character introduced was my favorite by far. I actually got tired of being in our other characters minds, large page long monologues were…