#September Monthly Reading Wrap-Up

[asexualbookbird]

SPOOKY SEASON IS UPON US!

I crafted a lot this month, but can't share it yet so there's not too much to report here. Been watching a lot of Dropout and having fun with that. My tv started smelling like burning plastic so I'm out a Large Screen for things. Days are getting shorter and I'm walking at night, but have to change that because it's not even the end of DST and I already miss the sun. Got halfway through Swordtember before dropping it for more exciting projects. Doodles a lot of clouds. I don't know! Days went by and here I am!

Network Effect by Martha Wells ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - A reread to prepare myself for System Collapse. Still an emotional banger. I am normal about our favorite SecUnit and Asshole Research Transport. So incredibly normal.

When the Angels Left the Old Country by Sascha Lamb ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - YOU ARE THE FRIEND TO MY SOUL!!!! I want to reread this again and again, it's an absolute DELIGHT. The narrator was great and I'm glad I did the audiobook because hearing all the yiddish healed my soul in some way. Gay in every sense of the word.

The Hourglass Throne by KD Edwards ⭐⭐⭐⭐- My big hangup on this is the integration of COVID. You're telling me you found a magical cure for a disease that has killed and disabled millions and you're leaving it up to the non Atlanteans to figure things out on their own? Other than that, it was fun and emotional as I've come to expect from this series. Excited to learn it's not a trilogy and there are way more books planned to come.

Painted Devils by Margaret Owen ⭐⭐⭐ - Fun, but ultimately a disappointment coming off of Little Thieves. Way more focused on Vanja and Emeric's relationship, which is Fine, but took away from the things I liked about LT (heists! Mischief! Mayhem!) Not thrilled that everything came back to Vanja in the end, and something rubbed me wrong about how Big Happy Family they were immediately. Not to mention the guy everyone hates is RIGHT. Stop and think WHY this creature wants your blood! Don't give it freely! Will still read Holy Terrors because of course I am.

When Among Crows by Veronica Roth ⭐⭐⭐ - I was lovingly bullied into reading this because Roth isn't my favorite author but it's been long enough since Allegiant that I gave it a chance anyway. I'd rather just replay The Witcher. Not to say All Polish Folklore Is The Same, but this was so. Empty feeling. Three stars for the monsters, but that's all from folklore. There's no original world building here. Also funny she still made it about Chicago. I'm not complaining, I really do think that's funny.

System Collapse by Martha Wells ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐- THE SYSTEM SURE HAS COLLAPSED! I want to tell SecUnit I'm proud of it, but I can't because it's not ready to hear it. The one downside is I'm once again out of new Murderbot to read. Emotional, as always. Sarcastic, as it knows no other way to be.

October, my love. I had plans to do Drawtober, but I'm not really feelings it so I'll do other things. I have crafts to work on, and a stack of books to read. I'm coming to terms with the fact I will not be completing my 24 books in 2024 list, which is mine own fault for not really focusing on it until uh. Now. But Whatever! I'm vibing! Happy fall! Let's get spooky!

[freckles-and-books]

September Wrap-up

[songsaboutgirls]

September Reading Wrap Up

[gcantread]

September 2024 reads

[loved liked ok nope dnf bookclub*]

Agnes Grey • The Empire Wars • Vita Nostra • 17776: What Football Will Look Like in the Future • Somewhere Beyond the Sea • A Sorceress Comes to Call • Tress of the Emerald Sea • Long Live Evil • Books Do Furnish a Room • A Sunny Place for Shady People • Mansfield Park* • The Butcher of the Forest

I read 12 books in September, though several were short (and one was a... multimedia experience? What are we calling 17776 anyway?) I've been feeling a little burnt out on ARCs and @bellasbookclub -screening reads, so after the first week I took a break from those. Just as well, because I was once again abruptly drowning in new releases! Luckily only four library holds were ready at once this month. Have I learned my lesson about hold requests? Not at all.

Agnes Grey ★★★☆☆ - I enjoyed the semi-autobiographical "being a governess SUCKS" parts of this book (that bird scene holy shit), but I think I would have liked it better with a less milquetoast love interest.

The Empire Wars ★☆☆☆☆ - Oooooof. I thought there was no way any of the books in my self-imposed Bombed Books Week Challenge could be worse/less enjoyable than Hurricane Wars and TGUWG, but this one took the cake. There's "I wrote this at age 15" (impressive) and then there's "I wrote this at age 15" (and it shows/and I can't believe multiple literate adults in the publishing industry greenlit it.) "Hazen Creed" is the new Xylen Rayder or whatever the 4th w!ng guy's name is

Vita Nostra ★★★★☆ - I was promised weird shit and this book delivered! You don't get it? Good news, nobody gets it, we're literally just vibing

17776: What Football Will Look Like in the Future ★★★★☆ - Some interesting themes and a lot of fun! (I liked when it started zooming in on Denver and I was like wait a fucking second is that Ball Arena??)

Somewhere Beyond the Sea ★☆☆☆☆ - Yeah, I can't lie, this was a hateread. No other series makes me feel more like the child in "The Emperor's New Clothes." Like, people enjoy this?? Adults?? Adults think this is good storytelling??? I'm not even trying to be mean (well, maybe a little), I'm genuinely baffled. Remember when I described Book 1 as "like driving behind a Coexist bumper sticker for several hours"? Book 2 is like driving behind a Coexist bumper sticker while also listening to someone read you the worst parts of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix but in Kindergarten Teacher Voice, and for even more hours. Lesson learned: I have got to stop picking these up imagining I'll somehow see the appeal this time.

A Sorceress Comes to Call ★★★★★ - My first ever T. Kingfisher! I've always been hesitant to believe the hype, but to my pleasant surprise, this one was fantastic. The stakes, the characters, the evil fucking horse had me on the edge of my seat. Pretty crazy when the interior of a book lives up to its gorgeous cover. Had to rush out and buy this one from my local bookstore!

Tress of the Emerald Sea ★★★★☆ - Fun and cute! The main draw is definitely the silly writing style.

Long Live Evil ★★★★☆ - Took its time to get going, but the second half really gained momentum. This book's main flaw is that it isn't In Other Lands, but it's nevertheless nice to see SRB cut loose and write a silly isekai/harem trope pastiche that is somehow also a thoughtful cancer survivor catharsis.

Books Do Furnish a Room ★★★☆☆ - When I picked up this coffee table book at the library on a whim, nothing could have prepared me for its Caricature Of British Aristocracy tone. Like at one point this author calls Africa "a country." Seriously, they do not edit the text of these things. Pretty pictures, though.

A Sunny Place for Shady People ★★★★☆ - I'll read Mariana Enriquez's grocery list. On the whole, Sunny Place wasn't as gripping as Our Share of Night, but some of its individual stories (it's an anthology) stood out—I loved the nuance of My Sad Dead and the nightmare fuel of Black Eyes! Some choice body horror in here.

Mansfield Park ★★★☆☆ - A reread for Bella's Book Club's September discussion! I think I liked it better this time around? I definitely noticed more of the character arcs. I like that this is lowkey the messiest Austen. [Community episode voice] now THIS is a man who KNOWS HOW TO MARRY HIS COUSIN

The Butcher of the Forest ★★★★☆ - I'm slowly working my way through Tordotcom novellas and so far they all slap. This one had such an interesting ending, ngl I'm having to quash the Fanfic Urge about it!

DNFs: None, but boy would I have dropped The Empire Wars like a hot potsticker on about page 2 if it wasn't the last (or second-to-last, if you count control group Crown of Starlight) book in my own challenge.

September superlatives

tbh a lot of these books could swap spots with each other. I'll definitely be rereading Sorceress, and probably LLE when the next book in its series comes out!

Next up:

I still haven't gotten around to Crown of Starlight, so it looks like I'll be finishing up my Bombed Books Week Challenge in October. Nor have I gotten to my ARCs of Ruin Road or Sundown in San Ojuela, so those are both on this month's agenda. My current read is A Dark and Drowning Tide (I seem to be the one reader on the planet who didn't much like A Far Wilder Magic, but I like to give authors a second chance, and that cover + the fact that they're lesbians, Harold got to me.) I'd love to squeeze in a King in Yellow reread if possible, and our Bella's Book Club pick this month is Murder on the Orient Express, so...perfect October rereads? I'm kinda stoked!

previous months:

july august

[franticvampirereads]

Is September really over already? It feels like it flew by so fast! Here’s what I read this month:

Alpha Dragon’s Jackal 4⭐️ {review}

The Summer Palace 4.5⭐️ {review}

Marriage To Kitsune-Sama 4⭐️ {review}

Two Who Live On 4⭐️ {review}

Pumpkin Patch Cutie 3.5⭐️ {review}

The Snake Who Loved A Sparrow 4⭐️ {review}

Savage Titan 3.25⭐️ {review}

A Taste Of Gold And Iron -currently reading

It’s been such a good reading month! My favorite book for September has to be A Taste Of Gold And Iron, it’s so good!! 😊

[kitabasis]

August 2025 Reading Wrap-Up

(feel free to ask me questions about my reviews or whatever for any of these!)

(Yes I did procrastinate on posting this. The books are all ones I read during August though!)

Dead Boy Detectives TPB by Toby Litt et al

The Wonder Engine by T. Kingfisher/Ursula Vernon

Carmilla: The First Vampire by Amy Chu and Soo Lee

Lion's Legacy by L.C. Rosen

Swordheart by T. Kingfisher/Ursula Vernon

Manliness in Britain, 1760-1900 by Joanne Begiato

Paladin's Grace by T. Kingfisher/Ursula Vernon

Paladin's Strength by T. Kingfisher/Ursula Vernon

Paladin's Hope by T. Kingfisher/Ursula Vernon

Paladin's Faith by T. Kingfisher/Ursula Vernon

Tristan & Lancelot: A Tale of Two Knights by James Persichetti and L.S. Biehler

Violet Ghosts by Leah Thomas

The Luis Ortega Survival Club by Sonora Reyes

...-32. Toilet-Bound Hanako-Kun Vols. 1-19 by Aidalro

33. Half A Soul by Olivia Atwater

34. The Latch Key by Olivia Atwater (short story)

[bigdreamsandwildthings]

September Wrap-Up

Better late than never 😇

Will They Or Won't They (Ava Wilder) ★★★★1/2

Fangirl, The Manga Vol. 3 (Rainbow Rowell and Gabi Nam) ★★★★★

House of Roots and Ruin (Erin A. Craig) ★★★★★

Zero Days (Ruth Ware) (audio) ★★★

You, Again (Kate Goldbeck) ★★★★★

Everyone Here is Lying (Shari Lapena) (audio) ★★★★★

Foxglove (Adalyn Grace) ★★★★

A Lady's Guide to Scandal (Sophie Irwin) (audio) ★★★★

Mister Magic (Kiersten White) ★★★★1/2

None Shall Sleep (Ellie Marney) (audio) ★★★★1/2

The Shadow Cabinet (Juno Dawson) ★★★★★

Find me over on Goodreads (linked) for more detailed reviews!

[brightbeautifulthings]

June - December

J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N

reviews Strange Grace by Tessa Gratton (4/5) Summer's Edge by Dana Mele (4/5) Katzenjammer by Francesca Zappia (4/5) The Infinite Miles by Hannah Fergesen (4/5) A Merry Little Meet Cute by Julie Murphy & Sierra Simone (4/5) All the Dead Lie Down by Kyrie McCauley (4/5) A Semi-Definitive List of Worst Nightmares by Krystal Sutherland (4/5) The Black Guy Dies First: Black Horror Cinema from Fodder to Oscar by Robin R. Means Coleman & Mark H. Harris (4/5) Captain America: Red Menace, Ultimate Collection by Ed Brubaker (4/5) Lore Olympus: Volume One by Rachel Smythe (4/5) Dark Waters by Katherine Arden (4/5) Empty Smiles by Katherine Arden (3/5) Captain America, Vol. 3: Loose Nuke by Rick Remender (3/5) Find Him Where You Left Him Dead by Kristen Simmons (3/5) A Touch of Darkness by Scarlett St. Clair (3/5) This Delicious Death by Kayla Cottingham (3/5) Into the Sublime by Kate A. Boorman (3/5) Lore Olympus: Volume Two by Rachel Smythe (3/5) Runaways, Vol. 3: That Was Yesterday by Rainbow Rowell (3/5) One of Us Is Back by Karen M. McManus (3/5) How to Survive Your Murder by Danielle Valentine (2/5) A Room Away From the Wolves by Nova Ren Suma (2/5) Looking Glass Sound by Catriona Ward (2/5) Those We Drown by Amy Goldsmith (2/5)

rereads Dreamcatcher by Stephen King (4/5) Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler (4/5)

[druggeddraccus]

September:

Favorite book this month:

Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor. She’s a must read. I loved Strange the Dreamer and i’m loving this series as well. i’m excited to see how this series ends with the 3rd

All books read:

Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor (5/5)

Shift by Hugh Howey (4/5)

Stats:

Books read: 2

Pages read: 722

Average rating: 4.0

Yearly goal: 29/40

didn’t read very much this month. had too much fun in ireland to read while i was there 😂

[starsandsteelandbrokenglass]

September 2024 Reading Wrap Up

Late again due to more travel, which is a little ridiculous but was (mostly) very lovely. Time to really put my nose to the grindstone though, especially for my dissertation. It's been a busy month but I read 5 books and about 2,100 pages. They were:

To Kill a Shadow (The Mistlands Duology #1) by Katherine Quinn- 3/5 stars; too romance heavy for my liking (with not-like-other-girls tones over the protagonist) but the world has a lot of really neat potential

Running Close to the Wind by Alexandra Rowland- 3/5 stars; this was fun but I did not realize how silly and...sex-heavy isn't quite the right term because there's not necessarily a ton of on-page sex, but they are talking about it all the time which is not really my vibe

The Six-Gun Tarot (Golgotha #1) by R.S. Belcher- 3.5/5 stars; very cool Western setting with a story that I quite liked, though some of its good-hearted (I think) attempts at representation felt a little dated for something that was written after 2010, but I still enjoyed it

Spitting Gold by Carmella Lowkis- 3.5/5 stars; mixed feelings on this--I really liked the first half, but the the backwards time jump from a new perspective didn't do a whole lot for me, but then I liked the ending so *shrug emoji*

The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye by Briony Cameron- 4/5 stars; this was a nice found family pirate story about the complications of revenge and making one's place in the world

The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder by C.L. Miller- 2/5 stars; the mystery didn't feel very well-constructed and the end wasn't very satisfying :(

My favorite book this month was The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye--would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a diverse pirate story!

Currently Reading: Hell Bent (Alex Stern #2) by Leigh Bardugo--we'll see if I finish it before it goes back to the library.

[seekerreads]

september wrap up!

business as usual this month!! read about my average amount and overall had a good time, though there were some standout likes and dislikes.

let's get into it!!

Books Read:

✵ title: Mister Magic

✵ author: Kierstan White

✵ rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕

✵ description:

Thirty years after a tragic accident shut down production of the classic children’s program Mister Magic, the five surviving cast members have done their best to move on. But just as generations of cultishly devoted fans still cling to the lessons they learned from the show, the cast, known as the Circle of Friends, have spent their lives searching for the happiness they felt while they were on it. The friendship. The feeling of belonging. And the protection of Mister Magic. 

But with no surviving video of the show, no evidence of who directed or produced it, and no records of who—or what—the beloved host actually was, memories are all the former Circle of Friends has.

Then a twist of fate brings the castmates back together at the remote desert filming compound that feels like it’s been waiting for them all this time. Even though they haven’t seen each other for years, they understand one another better than anyone has since.

After all, they’re the only ones who hold the secret of that circle, the mystery of the magic man in his infinitely black cape, and, maybe, the answers to what really happened on that deadly last day. But as the Circle of Friends reclaim parts of their past, they begin to wonder: Are they here by choice, or have they been lured into a trap?

Because magic never forgets the taste of your friendship. . .

✵ thoughts: this one was really spooky!! i love the idea of "kids show gone wrong" and while i don't really go out of my way to read 'reunion years after a tragedy' type books, this one was the exception because the summary and the cover (GORGEOUS) were really compelling. this was creepy enough to keep me on the edge of my seat, especially since i read most of it at night, but i wasn't too sure i liked the ending. still, a good ride!

✵ content warnings:

Graphic: Death of parent, Child abuse, Abandonment

Moderate: Child death, Homophobia, Religious bigotry

Minor: Alcoholism, Fire/Fire injury, Racism

✵ title: The Marble Queen

✵ author: Anna Kopp, Gabrielle Kari

✵ rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕

✵ description:

Princess Amelia’s kingdom, Marion, is in shambles after months of their trade routes being ravaged by pirates, and now the only seemingly option left is for her to save it through a marriage alliance. When she gets an exorbitant offer from the royalty of Iliad—a country shrouded in mystery—Amelia accepts without question and leaves her home to begin a new life. But she lands on Iliad’s shores to find that her betrothed isn't the country’s prince, but the recently coronated Queen Salira.

Shocked, Amelia tries to make sense of her situation and her confused heart: Salira has awakened strange new feelings inside her, but something dark hides behind the Queen's sorrowful eyes. Amelia must fight the demons of her own anxiety disorder before she can tackle her wife's, all while war looms on the horizon.

✵ thoughts: i loved this one so much i wrote a separate recommendation post for it! if you'd like to know my thoughts, click here!

✵ cws:

Graphic: Death, Blood, Violence

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, War, Murder

Minor: Death of parent, Homophobia, Lesbophobia

✵ title: I Ran Away to Evil

✵ author: Mystic Neptune

✵ rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌘

✵ description:

Henrietta Doryn has never enjoyed fighting. She’d rather be in the kitchen baking cookies. But it’s her duty as Warrior Princess to face off against the forces of evil. As such, she’s unceremoniously shooed from her kingdom to go eliminate the all-powerful Dark Lord next door.     Keith Monfort has never enjoyed ruling with an iron fist. He’d prefer to be in his workroom tinkering with practical magic. But it’s his duty to lead the Dark Enchanted Forest and the forces of evil. So when Henrietta shows up at his door, he’s only too happy to invite her in for tea to talk it out instead.    Can this unlikely pair prevent war between their two kingdoms? Where do their true loyalties lie? And when will they finally confess their growing feelings for each other?

✵ thoughts: this book was 100% just a silly goofy time. cozy fantasy and litrpg had a baby and it was indeed this book. absolutely NOTHING about this book is serious or plot-heavy and i absolutely love that. don't get me wrong, there IS a plot, and there are some tender and meaningful moments, some explorations of trauma and deep bonding between friends and lovers, but this book doesn't take itself too seriously and, as a consequence, did it exactly what i needed it to. this is for sure a pick-me-up, possibly able to receive comfort read status.

✵ cws:

Graphic: Child abuse

✵ title: Nothing Burns As Bright As You

✵ author: Ashley Woodfolk

✵ rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌖

✵ description:

Two girls. One wild and reckless day. Years of tumultuous history unspooling like a thin, fraying string in the hours after they set a fire.

They were best friends. Until they became more. Their affections grew. Until the blurry lines became dangerous.

Over the course of a single day, the depth of their past, the confusion of their present, and the unpredictability of their future is revealed. And the girls will learn that hearts, like flames, aren’t so easily tamed.

It starts with a fire.

How will it end?

✵ thoughts: this book was written in verse and it was very lyrical with some beautiful prose. the emotions were raw and i think the deep look it took into relationships between teenagers, especially queer teenagers of color, were brutally accurate from what i can remember from being that age. however, i am definitely out of the age range for this book at 24. it definitely would've hit harder if i was a bit closer to my teenage years.

✵ cws:

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship

Moderate: Alcohol, Racism, Drug use

Minor: Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, Biphobia

✵ title: Assassin's Quest

✵ author: Robin Hobb

✵ rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌘

✵ description:

With the king no longer living and the heir, Verity, missing and declared dead, Prince Regal has treacherously seized the throne.

Regal’s torture has left Fitz more dead than alive, and more closely than ever bonded with his wolf. All who once loved him believe him dead: even Molly, now pregnant with his child. But he cannot go to her without placing her in terrible danger.

With nothing to lose, Fitz sets out for Tradeford, where Regal has withdrawn, having heartlessly abandoned the north of the kingdom to the Red-Ship Raiders. His quest: to assassinate the man who has destroyed his world. 

✵ thoughts: Robin Hobb does it yet again!! truly a master at storytelling. this was another thick chonker: both long as in length and as in story-telling, taking the slow pace of her other books and continuing in the same vein. it's impossible to read one of her books and not feel fully immersed in the world and connected to the characters to the point that you not only sympathize with them but you feel what they feel. ftiz becomes even more near and dear to me with every bit i read about him.

✵ cws:

Graphic: Violence, Death, Blood

Moderate: Rape, Miscarriage, Torture

Minor: Pregnancy, Infertility, Sexual assault

✵ title: The Wolf at the Door

✵ author: Charlie Adhara

✵ rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕

✵ description:

Hunting for big bad wolves was never part of Agent Cooper Dayton’s plan, but a werewolf attack lands him in the carefully guarded Bureau of Special Investigations. A new case comes with a new partner: ruggedly sexy werewolf Oliver Park.

Park is an agent of The Trust, a werewolf oversight organization working to ease escalating tensions with the BSI. But as far as Cooper’s concerned, it’s failing. As they investigate a series of mysterious deaths unlike anything they’ve seen, every bone in Cooper’s body is suspicious of his new partner—even when Park proves himself as competent as he is utterly captivating.

When more people vanish, pressure to solve the case skyrockets. And though he’d resolved to keep things professional, Cooper’s friction with Park soon erupts…into a physical need that can’t be contained or controlled. But with a body count that’s rising by the day, werewolves and humans are in equal danger. If Cooper and Park don’t catch the killer soon, one—or both—of them could be the next to go.

✵ thoughts: this was a pretty good read!! i don't often go for mystery/detective-type books, i tend to lean more toward straight thrillers, but this was definitely a good time. it wasn't too hard to follow but it still surprised me when it got down to who really "dun it", especially since i was actually confident i had already figured it out, which isn't a usual thing for me. the relationship was cute and it was very NOT insta-love, which i very much appreciate.

✵ cws:

Graphic: Murder, Sexual content, Death

Moderate: Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Torture

Minor: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Cancer

✵ title: Never Saw Me Coming

✵ author: Vera Kurian

✵ rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌘

✵ description:

Meet Chloe Sevre. Freshman honor student. Average-seeming, legging-wearing, hot girl next door…and diagnosed psychopath with an IQ of 135. Her hobbies include yogalates, frat parties, and plotting to kill Will Bachman, a childhood friend who grievously wronged her.

Now Chloe and six other students at John Adams College are part of an unusual clinical study that includes smartwatches to track their moods and movements, in exchange for free tuition. The study, led by a renowned psychiatrist, has inadvertently brought together some of the most dangerous minds who feel no guilt or fear. When one of the participants is found murdered, it becomes obvious they’re all in danger. Chloe goes from hunter to prey, and joins forces with two other psychopaths in the program to discover why they’re being targeted – if they could only trust each other.

✵ thoughts: this book was WILD. it truly delivered on keeping me guessing until the very last moment, even when i was sure i knew who the 'big bad' was. i flip-flopped at least 4 times because as soon as i thought i had it figured out, the author threw in something new that had me guessing. seeing the events of the book from the pov of multiple psychopaths was definitely an interesting read, even though i can't make any comment on how accurate the depiction may be. a great thriller for spooky month!!

✵ cws:

Graphic: Murder, Death, Mental illness

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Suicide, Car accident

✵ title: The Black Tides of Heaven

✵ author: Neon Yang

✵ rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌖

✵ description:

Mokoya and Akeha, the twin children of the Protector, were sold to the Grand Monastery as infants. While Mokoya developed her strange prophetic gift, Akeha was always the one who could see the strings that moved adults to action. While Mokoya received visions of what would be, Akeha realized what could be. What's more, they saw the sickness at the heart of their mother's Protectorate.

A rebellion is growing. The Machinists discover new levers to move the world every day, while the Tensors fight to put them down and preserve the power of the state. Unwilling to continue as a pawn in their mother's twisted schemes, Akeha leaves the Tensorate behind and falls in with the rebels. But every step Akeha takes towards the Machinists is a step away from Mokoya. Can Akeha find peace without shattering the bond they share with their twin?

✵ thoughts: this world was so incredibly interesting. i absolutely love how this society approaches gender and the magic system seems very intriguing even though we don't get much detail in how it works. my issue with this book is that it employs timeskips to such a degree that it takes out almost all of the emotional impact of the story. it skips such broad swathes of time that you don't feel like you actually know the characters at all, so any of the plot points just end up falling flat. this definitely should've been a long-form book instead of a novella.

✵ cws:

Graphic: Death, Child death, Violence

Moderate: Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Animal death, War, Racism

✵ title: Floriography: An Illustrated Guide to the Victorian Language of Flowers

✵ author: Jessica Roux

✵ rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕

✵ description:

The Language of Flowers is a full-color guidebook to the historical uses and secret meanings behind an impressive array of flowers and herbs. The book explores the coded significances associated with various blooms, from flowers for a lover to flowers for an enemy. The language of flowers was historically used as a means of secret communication. It soared in popularity during the 19th century, especially in Victorian England and the U.S., when proper etiquette discouraged open displays of emotion. Mysterious and playful, the language of flowers has roots in everything from the characteristics of the plant to its presence in folklore and history. Researched and illustrated by popular artist Jessica Roux, this book makes a stunning display piece, conversation-starter, or thoughtful gift.

✵ thoughts: i really just picked this up because i was curious about the illustrations, and i thought it would be fun to look up my favorite flowers and their meanings. it's a good coffee table book!! the illustrations are very pretty.

✵cws: none

✵ title: Ship of Magic

✵ author: Robin Hobb

✵ rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌘

✵ description:

On the northernmost point of the Cursed Shores lies Bingtown, a bustling hub of exotic trade and home to a proud merchant nobility famed for its extraordinary vessels.

Only Bingtown liveships can negotiate the perilous waters of the Rain Wild River and plunder the riches found upstream, but such vessels are made from the most precious commodity in the world – a material with the ability to become sentient – and so are extremely rare.

The fortunes of one of Bingtown’s oldest families rest on the newly awakened liveship Vivacia. For Althea Vestrit, the ship is her rightful legacy. But the fate of Vivacia – and the Vestrits – may ultimately lie in the hands of the dark and charming pirate, Kennit, who lusts after such a ship and has plans of his own . . .

✵ thoughts: i did NOT enjoy this book compared to the Farseer Trilogy. there's only one main character i can say i actually like; the rest run the gambit of dislike to actively loathe. the new country/area we're in is interesting enough, but practically nothing happened in this book until pretty much the end. it was an absolute slog. i'm definitely not looking forward to the rest of the trilogy but i'm going to push through so i can get back to fitz and the others.

✵ cws:

Graphic: Slavery, Violence, Child abuse

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Drug use

Minor: Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Torture

✵ title: House of Hunger

✵ author: Alexis Henderson

✵ rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌘

✵ description:

Marion Shaw has been raised in the slums, where want and deprivation are all she knows. Despite longing to leave the city and its miseries, she has no real hope of escape until the day she spots a strange advertisement in the newspaper, seeking a 'bloodmaid'.

Though she knows little about the far north - where wealthy nobles live in luxury and drink the blood of those in their service - Marion applies to the position. In a matter of days, she finds herself at the notorious House of Hunger. There, Marion is swept into a world of dark debauchery - and there, at the centre of it all is her.

Her name is Countess Lisavet. Loved and feared in equal measure, she presides over this hedonistic court. And she takes a special interest in Marion. Lisavet is magnetic, charismatic, seductive - and Marion is eager to please her new mistress. But when her fellow bloodmaids begin to go missing in the night, Marion is thrust into a vicious game of cat and mouse. She'll need to learn the rules of her new home - and fast - or its halls will soon become her grave.

✵ thoughts: this book has the absolute BEST atmosphere for a halloween read. it's eerie and spooky and it's set in the 'cold, mysterious north'. really what more can you need? it has all the draws of a vampire story without there being any actual vampires: slight spoiler, but yeah there's no vampires, just regular humans who drink blood for their 'health'. it definitely has all the decadence of a good vampire story though, and the mc has just enough ambition and grit to be relatable without being like every other protagonist out there. everything developed quicker than i would've liked it to, but still a great read.

✵ cws:

Graphic: Blood, Gore, Violence

Moderate: Sexual content, Drug use, Toxic relationship

Minor: Death of parent, Incest, Animal death

✵ title: His Secret Illuminations

✵ author: Scarlett Gale

✵ rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕

✵ description:

A Sheltered Monk

By day, Lucían brews potions and illuminates manuscripts in service to the monastery that took him in as a child, wielding magic based in his faith and his purity. By night, he dreams of the world outside the cloister--a world he knows only in books and scrolls...

A Mysterious Warrior

A mercenary known as the She-Wolf hunts for a shipment of stolen manuscripts. When she needs a mage to track them down, she chooses Lucían for both his adorable blushes and his magic. She purchases his contract, hurling him headfirst into an adventure that will test both his skills and his self-control...

A Sacred Vow

Inexorably drawn to the She-Wolf's strength, surprising kindness, and heated touches, Lucían fights temptation at every turn. His holy magic is both vital to their mission and dependent upon his purity. How can he serve both her and the Lord if he gives in to his desire? As intrigue and danger forces them closer, how can he possibly resist?

✵ thoughts: this was my monthly recommendation for september, so if you'd like to hear my thoughts on it click here!

✵ cws:

Graphic: Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Violence

Moderate: Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, Blood

Minor: Vomit, Emotional abuse, Sexism

ending stats:

books read: 12

pages read: 5,019

average rating: 4.15

yearly goal: 135/150

(divider credit: @enchanthings)

[booksteacupandreviews]

September 2024 Wrap Up - stressful month of the year

[proceduralbob]

September wrap-up!

[libertyreads]

September Wrap Up--

September was a pretty good reading month for me. I read 2,881 pages across 8 books which is an average page total of 360 pages per book. I've been trying to bring that number up this year and it seems like that's going pretty well for the most part. I also had a lot of fun with my reads this month. (And YES I was surprised about my Emily Henry rating.)

Comics/Graphic Novels-

Novellas/Short Stories--

Novels-- 1. First Down by Grace Reilly-- 2.75 stars.

2. The Bitter End by Alexa Donne (NetGalley)-- 3 stars.

3. Blindsided by Victoria Denault (Kindle)-- 2.5 stars.

4. Happy Place by Emily Henry-- 4.25 stars.

5. The Hunting Moon by Susan Dennard-- 4.25 stars (original rating).

6. Christmas Sweater Weather by Jaqueline Snowe (NetGalley)-- 2.75 stars.

7. Five Broken Blades by Mai Corland-- 4 stars.

8. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins-- 4 stars (original rating).

Average star rating: 3.44 stars. I'm really hoping to continue this streak with my October reads. I'm definitely trying to settle in to the spooky season.

[minhosimthings]

Bewitched ft LHS

Two lovers and the adventure of dried lilac

Pairing: bf!heeseung × fem!reader

Warnings: fluff, mention of food and bacterial infection (don't question it), kinda cringy ig? hee being down BAD for reader

Song: Bewitched by Laufey

A/N: Hello everyone! This is my submission for @flwrstqr My World event. Congratulations to Danielle for 3k followers! Now sit back, relax, and read my cringey poetry.

I didn't know that much at all 'bout love before

But now, I think I'm learning

"Are you absolutely sure this will work?" Heeseung eyed you nervously.

You were trying to figure out how to stab open the extremely restrictive packaging of the box of dried lilac flowers, so without even looking up at him, you scoffed, as if you were offended that he was trying to undermine your amazing box-opening skills. 

 "Of course it will." You stated, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, "Plus, I did a lot of research for this."

"By research you mean the first three search results you got?" Heeseung chuckled, wrapping his arms around your waist and placing his chin on your shoulder. You shuddered at the cold touch of his skin on yours. 

"Be careful,Lee Heeseung, I have a weapon in my vicinity." You threatened him, waving around the dying scissors in your hands. The countertop was littered with scraps of cardboard and a crumpled up bill. The dried lilacs from Japan took three weeks to arrive and boy were you excited when it came. You almost hugged the poor delivery boy with how giddy you were. 

Your monthly tradition of doing something new with Heeseung was today and you were determined not to mess it up. Ever since the tradition started, something or the other has gone down the gutter. Like last August, when you had booked a seat for bungee jumping, which had to be cancelled due to heavy rains. Or the February of the year passed, when you wanted to make a bundt cake with him, which unfortunately never came out of the pan due to the absence of butter. 

But this time was different, you thought. This time, nothing could go wrong. After all, how can making lilac tea out of scratch ever go wrong in any possible way? There was no butter and no rain, except for the slight drizzle outside, which announced the end of the monsoon season and the start of September.

You bewitched me

From the first time that you kissed me

"Finally..." You muttered under your breath, as your hands reached for the flowers. They were tiny little buds packaged in an airtight ziplock packet. The colour was less lilac-y now, with hues of dark purple staring at you and Heeseung.

"Is it supposed to look rotten?" Heeseung asked, his eyes set on the packet that you were toying with possessively in your hands. You rolled your eyes at him playfully, and let out a dramatic sigh.

“How many times must I tell you-” You started dramatically, turning your body to face him, you could see the smirk tugging at the corner of his lips, “-that cooking is the art of turning a duck into a swan?”

“Calm down Shakespeare.” heeseung chuckled, his fingers teasing you by drawing shapes on your waist, “And ducks are really cute for your information!” He put his hand to his chest as if he were clutching his invisible string of pearls. A giggle erupted out of your mouth as you stood on your tiptoes to quickly leave a chaste kiss to the tip of his nose. Heeseung’s smile only widened as you did, a slight red mark lingering on the spot where your lips touched his skin. The calm scent of the evening, combined with the quiet of your kitchen sent a wave of absolute relaxation into Heeseung’s being.

“Hmm,” you hummed thoughtfully, your eyes rushing through the words on the lavender-hued instruction manual, “The recipe I saw on the internet said we can just boil them and the tea will just seep out.”

“But?” Heeseung’s chin returned to its rightful place on your shoulder. He was like an overactive cat, which would rub itself against its owner to show its affection.

“But-” you looked worried, much to Heeseung’s concern, “-this thing says we should wait for three goddamn months so there’s no-’ you cleared your throat and read from the manual, “‘threat of bacterial infection.’”

“Ominous.” Heeseung laughed, “I like it.” He smiled at the sight of a pout forming on your pretty lips, “Hey, what’s wrong?”

“I guess we have to wait then.” You sighed, a real one this time, “I mean, unless you want to get sick.” 

Great, you internally thought, another month gone wrong again. You wondered to yourself whether there will ever be a time when you actually get it right, when something that you and Heeseung do works out without any hiccups.

“Can I tell you something?” Heeseung smirked mischievously, garnering your attention. The pout on your lips melted his heart completely and his eyes visibly softened when he looked at you.

 “I actually like bacterial infection.”

 A moment of silence followed, before the both of you were convulsed with laughter. Your hands gripped the  edge of the counter to balance yourself, when Heeseung stuffed his nose into the nape of your neck, effectively putting half of his weight onto you.

“Hee, I’m gonna fall, get off me!” You laughed, but he only held you closer to him, as if you’d float away if he let go, “Ok, ok fine!” You giggled, raising your hands in mock defeat, “We can make the tea!”

“Yipee.” Heeseung cried in an adorably high pitched voice, that stretched your smile out even wider. If Heeseung were to die because of someone’s expression, then he knew it would be because of your smile. It was something that could make him forget all grief and suffering, no matter if he had the worst day ever, no matter if he had spilled hot coffee all over himself or accidentally snapped at someone, that smile of yours would be there to fix him.

Then we ran down the street in the late London light

The world froze around us, you kissed me good night

“Hee. Hee. Earth to Lee Heeseung.” Your words were half consumed by laughter, bringing him back to reality as he realised he had been staring at your face, “What are you looking at, idiot?”

Heeseung didn’t respond to your words, instead choosing to merely send you a lopsided smile. “Your idiot right?” he asked, to which you put your hands on top of his and squeezed it.

“My idiot.” You said, sacrificing your toes once more, to plant a kiss on his cheek, making Heeseung mentally kick his feet in the air for the fiftieth time that evening.

You set Heeseung about to do some kitchen duties, while you carefully extracted the dried flowers. Heeseung watched the surface of the water dance with the bubbles as it heated up. It reminded him of all the times you two had danced with each other. On particularly long nights, when the moon shone in all its majesty, bathing lovers all around the globe in her glamorous shine, both of you would find your hiding places in each other. Both of you would find your home, in each other, with arms wrapped not only around each other’s body, but around each other’s hearts.

“Is the water ready?” Heeseung heard you call out. He turned to see you, carefully sweeping the last of the petals into a bowl. 

“Yes, your highness.” He responded with a laugh. You tottled over to the pot of boiling water, slowly dropping your flowers in. You and Heeseung let out a collective gasp of wonder at the burst of colour that engulfed the colourless water. Hues of purple and lavender now coated each part of the pot, seeping out from the petals. 

“Woah…” You exhaled, not even knowing you had been keeping a breath in, “That’s the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen.” 

“It is.” Heeseung responded, to which you nodded, not taking your eyes away from the concoction. Unbeknownst to you, Heeseung was no longer even looking at the water. He was instead, gazing lovingly at you, with eyes so full of affection, you’d think he was looking at the last person on earth. In that moment of silence, he couldn’t help but trace his eyes over you, over every detail of yours that made you, you. The you that he loved so much. The you that he would go to the ends of the universe for, if you had asked him to.

Cursing at the moon and losing all control and crying

'Cause I think I'm falling

“This better be the most amazing thing that I’ve ever tasted or I’m never even touching a satchet of tea again.” You said, sinking down onto your sofa, with a mug of pinkish-tea in your hand. The sofa sank down further when Heeseung plopped down next to you, an identical mug in his hands.

“Shall we have a toast then?” Heeseung asked, raising his mug, “To hopefully not catching bacterial infection!” You chortled at his enthusiasm, before responding with a “Hear, hear!”

Clinking your mugs together in a ‘cheers’, you put your lips to the edge of the mug, wholly prepared to take a sip of your concoction and taste something that is equal to the nectar of the-

“We forgot the sugar, didn't we.”

You caught Heeseung’s eye and doubled over with laughter, almost spilling some of the tea onto your lap. In the midst of you admiring the pretty liquid, and Heeseung admiring the pretty you, you had forgotten the key ingredient which actually made the tea drinkable.

“Well, you kept distracting me with your beauty so much!” Heeseung defended himself, setting his mug down on the table, “How could I ever remember the sugar?”

“Do you really think flirting is gonna get you out of this?” You said, putting your mug down and glaring playfully at Heeseung.

“Depends.” He shrugged his shoulders, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips, “Is it working?” He didn’t have time to say anything else, before he was practically tackled onto his back by you. Heeseung wrapped his arms around your waist and you lay down on him, using him as your mattress, though there was plenty of space for the both of you on the sofa. 

“Welp,” You said, pressing your ear to his chest to listen to his heartbeat, “At least we won’t be getting a bacterial infection anytime soon.”

Heeseung chuckled, bringing his lips down to your forehead to leave a kiss. In the sanctuary of his safe arms, you forgot all about the fact that tonight’s attempt had turned out to be an utter fail. But you realised that it didn’t matter to you anymore. For in the warm cocoon that Heeseung had spun around you, all that mattered was the unnoticeable seconds that had drifted away in failed attempts of lilac tea, and successful attempts of love. In the pale cast of the full moon’s light, you and Heeseung drifted off to sleep, as the world came to a silent halt, waiting patiently for another tomorrow. 

You wrote me a note, cast a spell on my heart

And bewitched me

You bewitched me

Dividers by @strangergraphics