#i'll post my dnf list in a few mins

[ninelivesart]

2024 Reading List

Hi everyone! I'm still here. I just hit a pretty big block that has taken over every aspect of my life. 2024 ended up going in a different direction than 2023 in regards to my Books/Art things. I didn't have quite the same goals last year as I did the year before. Namely, I kept catching myself reading really short books just to make a certain number. And putting off larger books I wanted to read. So I made it my goal to just like not have a goal.

In which case, success!

Otherwise, I fell off the wagon with the Drawing My Reads. And I read like maybe half of what I read the year before. Once I hit that block later in the year, my numbers just tanked. So I decided not to include these in the Drawing My Reads post I have already up.

This post will just be the books I read and what I liked/didn't like about them. Mini-reviews, if you will. I'll probably also make a separate DNF list because I started keeping track of those as well. Yay, Storygraph!

So continue below if you care to know what I read this last year.

And Happy New Year!

January

1. When She Dances by Ruby Dixon

I already read all the IPB books, so I started dipping my toes into her other books. I don't care for this series as much but they're nice for when you just want a quick mindless read.

2. The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow

I absolutely loved this book.

3. Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree

I listened to the audiobook, read by the author. Also, fun fact, my fanart of the first book made him follow me on Tik-Tok, so we're mutuals now!

February

4. Unfamiliar, Vol. 1 by Haley Newsome

A cute graphic novel about a witch.

5. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

I'm gonna be real with you, I didn't enjoy this book. It felt very... young? Just felt like a kid's book and was really boring a lot of the time. I really just wanted to jump to Six of Crows but I felt like I was missing something when I started that one. Probably won't finish this series but I will read Six of Crows eventually. I do enjoy some of her other books. So I'm assuming it's because she wrote this when she was very young.

6. Horrorstor by Grady Hendrix

I loved this book! I picked it up because it has a very clever design. The entire book looks like an Ikea catalog. It's fun for being a relatively graphic horror novel. Nothing too intense, though.

7. Halfling by S.E. Wendel

I'm pretty sure I picked this up because I kept seeing it advertised and the cover was pretty. It was fine. I don't remember much about it.

8. A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab

I finally decided to finish this series. AND I LOVED IT. V.E. Schwab is an auto-buy author for me now.

9. Choosing Theo by Victoria Aveline

Needed another filler series. Trying not to overdo it like I did with the IPB series. So I'm pacing myself. But I do really enjoy these books. They're wholesome the way the IPB series is.

10. A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab

Miss Schwab just doesn't miss for me. Loved this series. So excited that it's kind of continuing.

11. In Nightfall by Suzanne Young

I listened to the audio at work. It was a YA retelling of The Lost Boys. Fun but not amazing.

March

12. Freeing Luka by Victoria Aveline

Fun.

13. Zatanna: The Jewel of Gravesend by Alys Arden

Jaqueline de Leon does the art for this graphic novel and I've been following her for years. She's a huge inspiration to me. So it was nice getting to see a big project like this from her. It was a cute story. Sad though.

14. The Night Hunt by Alexandra Christo

Another one that fell on the young side. I know it's YA already but it felt like it could have been something bigger/better. It felt like an early draft where the author just info dumps the story before fleshing it out. I loved the concept but the execution was a little lacking. Wish it had been more expanded on.

15. Court of the Vampire Queen by Katee Robert

These books were fucking stupid.

16. Miles Morales Suspended by Jason Reynolds

Cute! I didn't realize it's a semi-sequel to the first Miles book. I think it can be read standalone but it does take place after that one. I also listened to this but wish I'd read the physical book for the artwork.

17. Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

A TikTok recommendation that actually didn't disappoint me. I ended up really loving this book and I had to buy the second one immediately because I didn't want to wait for it to come back to the library.

18. Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross

I know there were mixed reviews on this duology, but I loved it.

19. Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher

Short! An interesting retelling of Sleeping Beauty that leans very heavily on faerie folklore. I listened to the audio and really liked it. It's a quick read.

20. Bride by Ali Hazelwood

The only Ali Hazelwood book I've ever read. It was fine. I liked the MC's sense of humor. She was refreshingly sarcastic. However, I cannot STAND her STEM romances. They give me the ick so bad. So this was surprisingly enjoyable.

21. Saving Verakko by Victoria Aveline

Fun again. I'm enjoying this series but trying not to zoom through it. Good for light, quick reads.

April

22. The Prince of Prohibition by Marilyn Marks

A really interesting fae romance that takes place during the 1920s. The fae are based on Welsh mythology and are disguised as idk mobsters or something. I actually enjoyed this but I don't remember much about it.

23. The Veil of Violence by Marilyn Marks

I can't remember the differences between each book since I read them back to back. I know I didn't enjoy the sequel as much as the first one. But they weren't bad. I'm pretty sure it left off open-ended, so possibly another one at some point?

24. All Systems Red by Martha Wells

I listened to the audio. It's another quick, short one but Murderbot is a really fun character to follow. I keep forgetting to read the rest of the series.

May

25. Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

I've really enjoyed Neil Gaiman's work so it's a shame he's a garbage human being. I'm a big fan of mythology but I can't bring myself to read any more of his work.

26. The Fragile Threads of Power by V.E. Schwab

Miss Schwab back at it again. Can't wait for the continuation of this series.

27. Ghost Station by S.A. Barnes

I really enjoyed Dead Silence, so I was hoping this one would be just as good. I listened to the audio and I think it fell short of my expectations. It wasn't bad but wasn't my favorite. Dead Silence was better.

June

28. A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal

Interesting take on vampires. I liked the worldbuilding and the characters. It was entertaining but not the "edge of your seat" kind.

29. The Last Bloodcarver by Vanessa Le

I picked this up because of the beautiful cover and really enjoyed it. I know I've complained about YA books sometimes feeling too young. I usually mean the writing style, which is no fault of the books. They are for younger audiences, I'm aware. But this one didn't feel overly young. I listened to the audio and liked it. I hope there's more in the series.

30. Restless Stars by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti

This series is also fucking stupid. But I've read every single one of them. So joke's on me, I guess. Anyway, dumb ending to a series I'm glad is over. I will be reading more by these authors, though. Because I clearly don't read these books for the good writing. I will never reread them.

31. The Never King by Nikki St. Crowe

I actually dislike these more than Zodiac Academy, tbh. I wasn't reading them for the plot, though. Fucking stupid. I've read all of them.

32. Maneater by Emily Antoinette

I read this because of the cover and also I was hoping she actually literally ate men. A little disappointed that she falls in love with one instead. Cute, short romance if you can overlook the lack of murdering. Pretty sure this is a prequel but I haven't read the others yet.

33. Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Torzs

I enjoyed this book. It wasn't amazing and I was listening to it while doing busy work. So it wasn't enthralling or anything but I didn't hate it. I can see why some people thought it was boring, though. I liked the magic system. There's a dog named Sir Kiwi, which is the most important thing to know. She lives.

July

34. The Dark One by Nikki St. Crowe

I remember the MC being agonizingly annoying throughout this series. And how they just like--all collectively fall in love with her even though she has the personality of styrofoam. She made me cringe a few times. And for some reason they like her more than all the other Darlings after knowing her for like 2 days and never really explain why she's special and different.

35. Their Vicious Darling by Nikki St. Crowe

I don't remember her being vicious a single time.

36. The Fae Princes by Nikki St. Crowe

I remember that most of my questions were still left unanswered. Every character is annoying except the Crocodile, I think. Idk. I can't remember. I'm pretty sure there's a spinoff or will be at some point but I don't care enough to read it. I don't know how I made it to the end beyond wanting those questions answered and then not getting that.

37. As Old as Time by Liz Braswell

I've been really enjoying these Disney books. They hit a lot harder than the movies and answer some questions. I liked that you learn more about Belle's mother in this book and it gives a bit more backstory into the Prince being cursed and everything. Fun.

38. Romancing Rem'eb by Ruby Dixon

Back at it again with the IPB spinoffs. Mushrooms? Dumb. Gimme fourteen of them.

August

39. Tempting Auzed by Victoria Aveline

This is why I stop myself from reading these books back to back. I can't remember the differences between them. Fuck if I know what happened in this book. I enjoyed it though.

40. Ocean Wolves by Theresa Beachman

I'm pretty sure I chose this because 1. it was free on Stuff Your Kindle Day and 2. I needed a book with an author with the same initials as me for the summer reading program. I actually really enjoyed this book? Very suspenseful as well as romantic. Will probably continue this series even though it isn't my usual cup of tea.

41. Fire in His Blood by Ruby Dixon

More Ruby Dixon for my IPB fix. I don't enjoy this series as much. More dystopian than sci-fi. They're fine, I guess. There are dragons. I'm pretty sure I read another one but it isn't logged anywhere.

42. The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young

I really liked this one! I listened to the audio and there were a few times I had to go back because I wasn't paying enough attention. I don't do that often, which is why I usually choose YA for my listens. Also because I don't want to be listening to smut at work. This one isn't YA, though. I liked it a lot.

43. Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

This... this is the edge of your seat book I've been looking for. I was hooked from the first page. Loved every second of it. I started to get anxious about the love triangle but then it turned into a throuple, which is the only valid solution. I started with the audio and my time ran out, so I checked out the physical book. Which doesn't happen often, but I needed to know more. FEMININE RAGE. QUEER CHARACTERS. CHINESE MYTHOLOGY. GIANT MECH SUITS. BE GAY. DO CRIMES. 10/10.

September

44. Cryptids, Creatures & Critters by Rachel Quinney

This is about the point that I started to lose momentum. This book didn't tell me anything new about cryptids but the artwork is STUNNING. I will be buying this book because I want to stare at it.

45. Wild Wolf by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti

The conclusion of the Darkmore books. Also stupid. But I wasn't here for the plot. I don't remember much of what happens in this book besides a lot of orgies, tbh.

46. Thrum by Meg Smitherman

Ok, I read this on a fucking airplane because I didn't expect there to be smut in it. But... this book was fucking... weird? Like, I think I didn't enjoy it. Idk. There were a lot of things left unanswered. And it wasn't as thrilling as I was led to believe. It's been months and I don't think I fully processed it yet. I don't recommend it.

47. The Widow and the Orcs by Finley Fenn

I downloaded this for my trip because I knew I wouldn't be able to download anything else, and I didn't realize it's #9 in the series. I did like that the MC is older and not a baby-faced 19yo. But it was also a lot. Not sure if I'll continue the series because her love interest is a villain in the other books and I'm going to have a hard time forgiving him.

48. The Orc and the Innkeeper by Cora Crane

I was on a trip. And clearly going through an Orc phase, okay? This was kinda dumb. More modern setting. Former high school bully. Suffered a bit from the miscommunication trope. I don't really want to read more.

I saw Hozier in concert after this so I had to take time off to process that as well. You can't have an out-of-body Hozier experience like that and then just jump right back into Orc smut, you know? Also, I got really sick after this so I was like zooted on fever temps and dayquil for the rest of September.

October

49. The Book of Bill by Alex Hirsch

The only book I read in October. Absolutely delightful for a Gravity Falls fan. 10/10.

November

50. ExtraOrdinary by V.E. Schwab

Mad that no one told me there's a comic series that takes place in the Vicious universe. Rude of them. Fun story.

51. Beware the Banshee's Cry by Steven J. Rolfes

In my folklore era now. I enjoyed this book. More background on Banshees. I used it to argue why Banshees belong in the folklore section and not metaphysical. And I stand by that choice.

December

52. Dark Folklore by Mark Norman

This book got me EXCITED. I love folklore. And I loved that this book went into the more cultural history behind these folk stories, rather than just telling the stories. There's a whole section on how sleep paralysis influenced folklore and I DID NOT SHUT UP ABOUT IT FOR WEEKS. I can write essays on sleep paralysis and folklore. So I was super excited to see it explained in depth. It also gave me new information I didn't consider. Ex. the incubus/succubus myths derived from people experiencing sleep paralysis. Amazing. 10/10.

53. When She's Bold by Ruby Dixon

Another cute, quick read. Very glad the miscommunication was cleared up quickly. By, you know, talking to each other. There's no real high stakes. No beating around the bush, so to speak. Once they realize they aren't communicating properly, they just like, talk about it. I appreciated that.

54. The Fright Before Christmas by Jeff Balanger

Christmas folklore, of the darker variety. This book claims it's more Krampus based, and does go into depth on that myth, but it also touched on the dark origins of a lot of Christmas traditions. Fascinating. I love having random folklore facts in my back pocket to ruin Christmas for everyone. 10/10.

55. Goldfinch by Raven Kennedy

I put off reading this book because the ending to the last one pissed me off. But I finally read it. It was fine. Overall, not the best series I've ever read but I enjoyed them. I mean, I read them all. Glad things got resolved and wrapped up.

56. The Visitor by Sergio Gomez

This book annoyed me. The premise was different from the execution. It felt flat and rushed. I know it's a short story but I felt like the suspense could have been built up better. Also, they just like figure out right away that they're being hunted by an alien and it's harvesting their organs. People aren't going to jump right into figuring it out like that. More of a telling not showing kind of book. The dog survives so that's important.

I also read a book called A Glitch in the Matrix but apparently I didn't log it anywhere. I did finish it but I didn't enjoy it because it ended up just being personal accounts of people's ghost stories. I didn't feel like there were enough Glitches and 9 times out of 10 they were obviously sleep paralysis or something that had an easy explanation.

2024 Total: 57