#september book reviews

[wearethekat]

August Book Reviews: The Scum Villain's Self Saving System by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

Finally gave into the collective peer pressure and picked this series up. Terminally online Shen Yuan gets so wound up about a particularly bad webnovel that he actually dies mad about it-- which unfortunately transports him into the world of that very same webnovel. And even worse, he's inhabiting the body of the scum villain Shen Qingqiu, who's written to be horribly murdered by his beautiful but vengeful protege, Luo Binghe. Can Shen Yuan manage to change the plot enough to avoid his second untimely demise?

As Robert Graves said about Shakespeare, unfortunately this IS as good as they say it is. I'm lying on the floor and wailing. I'm gnawing on the drywall, I'm clawing the bars of my enclosure. This actually isn't a book that's pandering to Me, Personally-- in fact, it has several tropes that I generally dislike. But it's so pinpoint perfectly executed that I don't care.

Bonus points for the writing of Shen Yuan as Shen Qingqiu. I would hesitate to call him oblivious or dense, as that doesn't really do him justice. Rather, Shen Qingqiu perfectly and athletically backflips over any possible correct conclusions, while simultaneously maintaining the unconscious airs of a born coquette. The little fan…. Meanwhile, the narrative is remorselessly maneuvering him into the Plot Situations that were previously inhabited by Luo Binghe's innumerable love interests. Further kudos for masterfully executing Chekov's Fuck or Die and operating solely through the POV of a character (Shen Qingqiu) who unreliably narrates every single emotion he's ever had, the filthy liar. Shoutout also to poor Luo Binghe, who is a very nice young man being tormented by the most horrific crush ever suffered.

A note on the translation: The text has been translated into English, but I didn't find it obtrusive at all. It's distinctly translated, but the only thing it trips up on a little is the very colloquial terminally online phrases, which can read a little clunky.

Scum Villain is very much its own thing, but I'd recommend this book to people who loved the high drama of CS Pacat's Dark Rise or the irreverence and hijinks of Rowland's Running Close to the Wind. An acquired taste, but I had an absolute blast. I love romances where the MCs not only both have something very wrong with them, but genuinely like each other.

[andreai04]

“Every life changes the universe. Whether or not that life is yours.”

[thereadingchallengechallenge]

Review: The September House by Carissa Orlando Rating: 5/5

This is the kind of horror book I love - the kind I've tried to write for myself. A beautiful haunted house, an array of fantastic ghosts, and a protagonist with a weary demeanour who becomes oddly comfortable with the strange things happening around them.

There's a grim whimsy to The September House that feels sort of cozy in a discomfiting sort of way that I couldn't get enough of and I just loved how Orlando managed to build and keep the tension for such a long, and incredibly satisfying, denouement.

I never quite knew where this book was going, even though I knew hints were being dropped for me to pick up and puzzle over. I delighted in it all coming together, and had to remind myself to be sad, before I actually felt sad. So many wonderful, unusual emotions came out of me while I read this book. 

I would recommend this to anyone who loves a good haunting story and I will 110% be keeping an eye out for whatever Carissa Orlando writes next!  

[its-tortle]

Neverwhere (1996) - Neil Gaiman

books i read in 2024. 2/?

[books-and-strawberry-tea]

Lucy Undying - Kiersten White.

If I was to describe this book in two words, it would be:

Utterly Insufferable!

I was so excited for this book. I rushed out to purchase. Spending $35AUD on this garbage just 3 days ago. Today I sat down to read it, and my cat decided to spill a whole 1L bottle of my hydrolyte drink on it. Absolutely soaking the back half of the book. I should have took this as a sign and thanked him for his service. Unfortunately, I had no clue what absurdity he was saving me from. If only I'd just thrown the book away.

The book follows Iris, but it also follows Lucy...and vampire Lucy. Iris' events is set in 2024 - 2025. Lucy, the vampire, is followed by tape recordings following her life as a vampire and how her past human life had impacted it. As well as human Lucy in the form of journal entries. At first I was intrigued at how this would play out. As I love different media in books. Unfortunately, the POV's were all over the place. The voice recordings would give away spoilers to the journal entries, completely taking away the element of surprise, holding no suspense what so ever. Making the proceeding chapters boring as you'd already know what was to happen.

Iris...Iris, Iris, Iris. Girl you are absolutely intolerable. 20% through the book, and she's mad at life, her mum, her dad, her past. But the reader has no idea as to why. Making her frustrating to read about as she is always angry. The author also repeats every chapter over and over and over that she needs to sell items in her mothers property in England. Every chapter with Iris' POV, these same words are repeated over and over again. Like yes, thank you, I've read the other chapters. I get it. Also why are all rich people in stories the same? So desperate to be away from the money and wealth of their family, but actively try to benefit at the same time from their families wealth.....but repeat over and over again they want nothing to do with it. I don't understand.

Other issues I had with the book involved the usage of the word queer, and the obvious declaration that the author has no clue to the history, original meaning, and modern usage of the word. It honestly felt like an insult. Two examples of the words usage, both used in a 1890's journal, frustrated me to no end. The first example, the author used the word queer as a quirky cool thing to be. Like how "wonderful" it is for me to be using the word queer in a 1890s view point (Obviously sarcasm on my behalf). I read the word in this usage and wanted to scream. This word historically was not something you wanted to be called. It had such a negative connotation and literally meant weird, strange, abnormal. But White used the modern day usage and connotation in this journal. Then, only a few chapters later, for example 2, in another 1890s journal, she used the old meaning of the word. Lucy describing herself as queer and strange, like something is wrong with her. Does White actually know much about this word? Cause it truly feels like they don't.

The book felt like a fanfiction. Written purely for self fulfilment, and not actually intending for a wider audience.

Also, was the modern day American politics necessary to mention?? Personal gripe, mentions like this in books automatically centres American audiences as the only intended audience. It's incredibly frustrating. Not everything has to involve American centralist mindsets. But apparently we non American's can't escape it. Even in fictional world's.

The 2024 references also made me cringe to my soul. 'The Last of Us' as a reference?? Really?? This is just a perfect way to age a book. Especially since the most recent editions of that game made audiences furious. Not a good look.

I'm seriously disappointed. The cover was gorgeous. It's a real shame the cover is the only good quality about this book.

Star rating. 1/5.

Wish I could label it 0. But good reads won't allow that.

DNF 20%.

[anelaxoxo]

September books review :

Ninth house ☆☆☆☆: Everything was great, from the characters to the plot.

The scarlett letter ☆☆: Not for me. The story is good but the writing style is terrible, it took me forever to finish.

Pride & prejudice ☆☆☆☆ : never thought I'd say this but i enjoyed the movie much better, it's still a great book though don't get me wrong, it's just i could've gone living without reading it. One of my least favorite jane austen books (controversial, i know)

A room of one's own ☆☆☆☆☆ : a book every woman should read in my opinion.

White nights ☆☆☆☆☆ : a short romantic novela. I think it's less of a love story and more of a depiction of lonliness. Finished it in a couple of hours.

An ideal husband ☆☆☆☆ : a comedic play by oscar wilde,short & easy to read, i enjoyed it.

[polycraftory]

A Whisper of Solace by Milena McKay

Reviewed by Meghan 💜

⭐⭐⭐ 3.5/5 | 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3/5

This edition is from the Thawing the Ice Rainbow After Dark book box from @rainbowcrate. As always, you can find more of my reviews @ edgybutfemme on Storygraph.

This book was an insightful exploration of healing from PTSD and trauma as well as a high drama contemporary sapphic romance set in Hollywood. Even though this book fell slightly lower on my rating scale because it wasn't necessarily the type of narrative I look for, I think it is an incredible book that achieves what it sets out to do. The vibes are very what if Miranda Priestly from The Devil Wears Prada ran a movie studio instead of a fashion magazine, with the addition that instead of trying to carve her plucky young employee into a version of herself, the two of them instead fell deeply in love and she instantly tries to push her employee away with cruelty to protect herself.

Full Review, Content Warnings, & Spice Level Info Under the Cut

What I Liked

They said they were delivering an ice queen with a slow burn and by god they delivered. Also, despite being an absolute witch and downright cruel at times, I appreciated that Neve Blackthorne did have good standards. She is actually passionate about making good movies, she cares about delivering good representation, and she champions union work and making movies the right way. 

I like that she actually gets to be cruel, but redeemable. Plus, scary competent older woman who will destroy you if you cross her is so many people's exact type.

That being said, my favorite character was Helena Moore, Neve's therapist. I thought the framing every chapter of starting with a therapy session was clever and well used. Helena is compassionate, funny, relatable, and, most importantly, doesn't take any of Neve's shit. Truly I don't know if I would have made through the whole book without these scenes slowly making Neve change and grow.  

This book is an excellent exploration of a person finally being forced to deal with their trauma and PTSD so they stop hurting themselves and everyone around them.

Audrey Avens is great! I love that she gets to go and make her own career after Neve pushes her away. I love that she goes and dates other people and still lives her life. 

What I Struggled With

Okay, so first and foremost this just turned out to not be as much my speed. If the above appeals to you, this book really achieves exactly what it set out to do. That being said, here's what didn't work as well for me in particular:

Listen, this is a midlife crisis novel. I think it's important for these books to exist, and historically this sort of book has been written only about heterosexual cisgendered white men. So, I think this is an important book that should exist, especially because it deals really well with mental health and trauma. That being said, I don't like coming of age novels, and a midlife crisis novel is the same sort of narrative but for adults.

I can tolerate a lot of mistreatment between love interests. I love enemies to lovers. However, this is very one sided cruelty with no extenuating circumstances. It's hard to watch how aggressively Neve drives Audrey away with needless cruelty. It's an important part of their arc, but I struggled with it.

This is a very messy and high drama sort of romance, which can be fun! However, I just wanted any sort of communication between them any amount earlier in the book. They finally get together very late in the game.

Anyway, if these things won't bother you, please go support this sapphic romance! The payoff at the end is absolutely worth it, and I did enjoy this book despite it being outside my normal taste! I think, for me, the best thing about getting book boxes is it helping me stretch outside my comfort zone and try new things.

The Spice Level

🌶️🌶️🌶️/ 5 - The smut in this novel uses explicit language and lots of detail. We have a good balance of plot and romance. There are several sex scenes throughout the book, at least 2 or 3 but likely more. (In this case, more. This book was right on that 3-4 spice border, but the book leans more plot heavy and isn't kinky so I left it at 3)

Audrey and Neve get to be SO HORNY and so messy and so passionate. So many sapphic romances are only allowed to be so chaste and sweet and I love getting to see a high smut passionate sapphic romance.

Content Warnings From Storygraph

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, and Abandonment

Content Warnings Directly From the Book

Child emotional abuse and neglect

Domestic violence (mentioned, off page)

Internalized homophobia

Cheating

Please feel free to ask me if you have any questions! I'm always happy to provide more context <3

[theinyshlobster]

a bánh mì for two by trinity nyugen [review]

read from september 1st - september 2nd

read for sapphic september !!!! <3

review:

spoiler-free!

I WANT TO VOMIT THAT WAS SO SWEET. also im on the verge of fucking bawling. i’m literally shaking trying to stop the tears thanks pristiq 🥹👍

i think this book really hit me hard for three main reasons;

i’m a fat fucking lesbian

i am fatherless and relate to a lot of the guilt lan feels about her parents & that familial need to look after the family

i very much relate to vivi’s yearning for home, and feeling split between two countries. my grandparents fled yugoslavia post-WW2 and have never told my mum or i anything about family stories. i’m so serious only a week ago i found out my great uncle’s name. like they say NOTHING about OUR history. only my grandparents migrated here, so they’re the only relatives i have, much like vivi. so i very much feel the yearning for knowledge and connection that vivi does. 

i had a beautiful time reading this. reading about lan and vivi’s blossoming romance was so sweet, mixed with their sight seeing UGH IT WAS SO CUTE. god this was such a lighthearted read which i needed!!!! the children yearn for soft sapphic romances!!!!

i think the only thing holding this book back from 5-stars for me is the pacing. this shit went by WAYYYY too fast. which yeah i mean that can be because their romance was fast but….. idk i felt like some plot points weren’t fleshed out enough, and for the length of this book either some plot points needed to be chopped or the book length extended or…. man idk i am not a writer. but like idk lan’s revelation surrounding her father’s death, or vivi’s feelings towards her mother all being fully fleshed out and resolved in one chapter meant it happened way too fast and was a bit jarring. the speed at which things happened emotionally for characters kind of threw me out of the book? like yes the fast-paced nature worked for sight-seeing, but for the character’s growth it felt too fast. i still fell in love with the characters, but i don’t know if i can get over just how… rushed this book felt at points.

anyways im really craving some banh mi rn catch me placing a cheeky ubereats order at 11:30pm 😋😋

[kbookblurbs]

Jade City - Fonda Lee

5/5 - Irresistible world-building, politics (national and gang), intrigue, family tension, everything you could want out of an urban fantasy. MAJOR spoilers below!

Jade City is the first novel in the Green Bone saga and it is deliciously well-written. Character voices are distinct, the mistakes they make are realistic, and even when I didn't like some of the main characters or the actions they were taking, I wanted them to succeed. I was emotionally invested in the outcome of every character's fate, from the secondary characters to the Pillar of the clan, Kaul Lan. Sometimes this did mean I was invested in watching them fail (Bero) but I was invested nevertheless!

The world-building within the novel was incredibly rich. The "magic" system of jade is a very hard magic system but I really enjoyed how effortlessly it was woven into everyday life. Lee takes the time to mention, in an offhand fashion, details about Kekon and the greater world that make it that much easier to fully sink into the world she's built. I read this entire book in one long sitting.

Kekon itself really reminded me of the Philippines. The Kekonese war for independence was with Espenia (Spain) and overall the positioning of Kekon on the global stage is really reminiscent of how formerly colonized nations have to act in our global geopolitics. That said, my interpretation did mean that I don't really jive with a lot of the fanart of Lan, Hilo, and Shae. In my mind, they all have darker skin and a lot of the fanart has them pretty pale (like k-pop idol pale).

I also loved that this book took place over a realistic timeline. Weeks would go by in a few sentences before we'd get a fleshed out scene because Lee understands we don't need to see the minutia of day-to-day life. It also means that the characters were aging, falling in love, graduating school, etc. at a normal rate. There was no instantaneous love, no "I'm better than everyone else and do this without schooling" and this was, for me, really refreshing (especially after reading the All Souls Trilogy, which suffers from this).

The twist with the death of Lan was truly something I never saw coming. Up until, and even after, the point where he falls into the harbor, I was convinced that he would make it. He was so confident, so level-headed, and everyone relied on him so much that, in my head, his death never entered the realm of possibility. And thus I fell into the same trap as the other characters. Scrumptious writing here.

By far my favorite characters are Shae and Anden. They both have internal struggles with their heritage that are realistic and heartbreaking at times. Even when they make mistakes and are rightfully called out for it in other perspectives, I still have such a soft spot for the position they're both put in. It makes sense that they're also close in the book. Plus, seeing Anden struggle with wanting to come out as gay but being nervous about it and ultimately being accepted without conditions, hesitations, or reservations was really heartwarming.

Overall, this book is the combination of urban fantasy, the Godfather, and the Shanghai/Hong Kong gangster movies from the 80s. I would recommend those who love fantasy and thrillers alike, it's a amazing entry into the trilogy.

[starplanes]

A review of Compound Fracture, by Andrew Joseph White (releasing 9/3/24)!

As a big fan of Andrew Joseph White's other books, I had high expectations for Compound Fracture. It lived up to all of them and more! This book is angry, raw, tough, and visceral. It's got a few things in common with Hell Followed With Us and The Spirit Bears Its Teeth, but also feels very different. Mind the content warnings though, because Compound Fracture goes a lot harder in a few significant ways.

On the night Miles Abernathy—sixteen-year-old socialist and proud West Virginian—comes out as trans to his parents, he sneaks off to a party, carrying evidence that may finally turn the tide of the blood feud plaguing Twist Creek: Photos that prove the county’s Sheriff Davies was responsible for the so-called “accident” that injured his dad, killed others, and crushed their grassroots efforts to unseat him. Miles becomes the feud’s latest victim as the sheriff’s son and his friends sniff out the evidence, follow him through the woods, and beat him nearly to death.

Miles recovers, but at what cost? He becomes torn between the need for his family's safety and his desire to fight the system. Everything gets more complicated when he starts seeing the ghost of his great-great-grandfather, killed by law enforcement after a miner's rebelli0n. It all spirals out of control from there.

Compound Fracture explores the relationship between power and safety, the strength of community, and the lengths one will go to get all three. It questions who is complicit in matters of injustice and how far you're allowed to go to protect what you love. It makes for a tense, thrilling read. I could hardly put the book down once I started. I thought I was going to end up with nightmares because it's all so scary and feels so real. The violence and gore is truly present, but not gratuitous.

The Trans rep was fantastic. I especially enjoyed the reactions of Miles' friends and family to his coming out - mixed and messy, but very realistic. Miles as a character was very fun to read. He makes stupid decisions, but you can understand why. I also adored the anger shining through in every page. As much as this story is a love letter to Appalachia, it's a hate letter to the corrupt systems thriving in America, and makes for a cathartic read.

ps. If you're worried about the dog on the cover and all the violence I talked about, I promise she doesn't die!

[andreai04]

Granny, meanwhile, was two streets away. She was also, by the standards of other people, lost. She would not see it like that. She knew where she was, it was just everywhere else didn’t.

[thereadingchallengechallenge]

Read in September 2024

I have never had a reading month this good before 🙈 36 books in 30 days, I really don't know how I managed to do that on top of being a) depressed and b) busy. but I'm having fun and I hope I can carry this energy into at least some of October

Series read: The Clown in a Cornfield trilogy by Adam Cesare

Clown in a Cornfield - reread

Clown in a Cornfield 2: Frendo Lives! - reread

Clown in a Cornfield 3: Church of Frendo - 3/5

The Betrayal Prophecies duology by Adrienne Tooley

The Third Daughter - 3/5

The Second Son - 2/5

Graves Glen trilogy by Erin Sterling

The Ex Hex - 4/5 (audio)

The Kiss Curse - 3/5 (audio)

Backlog books:

Starling by Isabel Strychacz - 1/5

Familiar authors:

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie - 5/5 (audio)

Drag King Dreams by Leslie Feinberg - 4/5

Beach Read by Emily Henry - 3/5 (audio)

How You Get the Girl by Anita Kelly - 5/5 (audio)

The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw - 3/5 (audio)

The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King - 3/5

Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune - 4/5

The Woods All Black by Lee Mandelo - 5/5

Flawless Girls by Anna-Marie McLemore - 4/5 (audio)

The Deep Dark by Molly Knox Ostertag - 4/5

The Death of Jane Lawrence by Caitlin Starling - 4/5 (audio)

Behind the Scenes by Karelia Stetz-Waters - 4/5 (audio)

Second Night Stand by Karelia & Fay Stetz-Waters - 4/5

Have You Seen This Girl by Nita Tyndall - 5/5 (audio)

Other reads:

You Won’t Believe Me by Cyn Balog - 3/5 (audio)

Lockjaw by Matteo L Cerilli - 3/5

Bones and All by Camille DeAngelis - 4/5

The Reformatory by Tananarive Due - 5/5 (audio)

If You’ll Have Me by Eunnie - 4/5

The Witch and the Vampire by Francesca Flores - 4/5 (audio)

The Pale House Devil by Richard Kadrey - 4/5 (audio)

This Spells Disaster by Tori Anne Martin - 4/5

Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy - 3/5 (audio)

The Meadows by Stephanie Oakes - 3/5 (audio)

Don’t Be A Drag by Skye Quinlan - 3/5

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens - 4/5 (audio)

The Help by Kathryn Stockett - 4/5 (audio)

Dear Wendy by Ann Zhao - 4/5 (audio)

[princessofmanyfaces]

September Wrap-Up

🗓️ I've read 15 books in September 2023

⭐ My reading experience was an average of 3.6 stars

📝Most prominent author was –

📚 Books read in 2023: 92/52 - 176%

[charlidrawz]

Hiya Pals, It's Mickey!

To put this short & quick: I'm starting a challenge!

Others are welcome to join in on this in their own ways if they'd like

Basically, I will be attempting to read every manga if not also every graphic novel my library has. Yes, the actual library. I will be using the tag #CharlizChallenge or #CharlizChallenge[enter year here] (You'll be able to keep track of posts easier that way.) "What on Earth does that mean?" ^I will also be attempting to say at least one thing about each manga/book I read. I may also do a (most likely short & quick or lengthy & ramble-y) review on different movies & shows I watch over time.

Ya'll are welcome to keep up with whatever I'm reading/watching at the time via LikeWise & MyAnimeList.

I'll try & review whatever the heck I've already done since first going to this specific library.

No, I'm not covering every media/content I've consumed, but if I mention something- even something I've already partially reviewed-that you want me to cover more of feel free to let me know in the comments!

I will leave warnings & those "Read More" border/page breakers if the content in whatever's being reviewed could be triggering/too explicit for younger/sensitive eyes.

Please take care of yourselves out there, & good luck if you try to do the same challenge!

Keep in mind: some might find this a lot easier than others as certain libraries- bigger or smaller- may have a shorter collection of manga & graphic novels. -The one I used to have nearby, for example, only had Tokyo Ghoul, Tokyo ESP, Deadman Wonderland, & Alice in the Country of Hearts while the one I initially grew up in I doubt had any manga (at the time, to my knowledge) at all.

[ofliterarynature]

DECEMBER 2023 WRAP UP

[loved liked ok no thanks (reread) book club*]

Mixed Magics • Chalice • To Shape a Dragon's Breath • The Haunting Season • Hither Page • The Henchmen of Zenda • System Collapse • The Phantom of the Opera • An Unexpected Peril • A Minor Chorus* • The September House • (The Dream Thieves) • The Fragile Threads of Power • The Pinhoe Egg • (Network Effect) • Some Desperate Glory

total: 16 (audiobook: 12 / ebook: 4)

Happy New Year booklr! Here's to actually getting my last monthly wrap-up post of 2023 out in decent time for once.

Some Desperate Glory - I'm getting myself off to a bad start here because I don't actually remember much from the book and I didn't write a review at the time. oops. But I do remember that once things got going I was hooked, and I couldn't wait to pick the audiobook back up. Definitely some content warnings to look out for, but an incredible read. I definitely need to go back and check out the author's other work.

Network Effect - the last book of my Murderbot reread, still great, glad to have finally read this in a text format! Also better suited to be read *after* Fugitive Telemetry, I wish I'd known to read them in chronological order the first time.

The Pinhoe Egg - a nice wrap up to the main Chrestomanci series! Though if anyone can tell me why on eARTH the 'recommended' reading order is like *that*, please explain it to me. I'd forgotten so many things by the time we got back to Cat, if I ever reread I'm going chronologically.

The Fragile Threads of Power - lord help me, I could do a whole rant. A quick summary of my relationship to this series: loved Shades of Magic when it first came out, did not love/was very annoyed by most of it when I reread them in 2023. Also have not really liked any of Schwab's other work. BUT. I was under the impression that this spinoff would have new main characters, and the old ones would be present but not in the center. If I didn't just make this up, it was LIES. The original MC's still dominate probably at least 60% of the book, and you'd think 7 years in-book and more experience on behalf of the writer would mature them, but a) no, and b) so many goddamn flashbacks. And Kel's assasin-sona was so cringe I wanted to cry. I did actually like the new main character which really is the biggest shame of all. If you see me contemplating the next book please stop me.

The Dream Thieves - I don't know that I have much to add yet to my thoughts about TRB in my Nov post, but I've been having a very strange experience where when I'm actively reading these, I'm having an incredibly good time; when I'm not I completely forget I was reading it. lol?

The September House - this is possibly the closest to my ideal horror book that I've ever found??!!? I have a weird relationship with horror, wherein I am not uninterested, but I almost never enjoy the ones I read (I think it has to do with my irl anxiety, idk). But THIS one. It's such an INCREDIBLE blend of like, mundane horrors and dark humor? I loved it. The "you can live with the horrors if you just follow the rules" is very much my vibe, and the way the author chose to have it integrate with the main character's experiences of domestic abuse was very smart. Deeply enjoyed, but probably won't be a favorite.

A Minor Chorus - this month's book club pick! I really really wish I'd liked this, and I'm torn between "thank god it was short," and "oh I wish this was longer." It's about a queer Indigenous doctoral student in Canada who's somewhat lost his way on his dissertation and is instead writing a novel (maybe), inspired by the stories of people in his community. On one hand, the writing was sometimes very beautiful and the different stories were interesting! On the other, my academic-speak abilities are limited, and the narrator did not hold back. He even explicitly states at one point, oh I can't describe my book this way to [character] because he won't understand my academic language. And...yeah. My brain got a little overwhelmed and I skimmed a lot of those parts. The hopeful part of me thinks if that if the book had been longer maybe I would have had time to "get it," but idk.

An Unexpected Peril - Veronica Speedwell is as Veronica Speedwell does. Had a good time with this even though it's proving to not be the most memorable. Mostly I remember intensely panicking over whether or not V had practiced forging the princess's signature, lol.

The Phantom of the Opera - this was a last minute sub for my classics challenge; I've never seen any of the adaptations, but I happened to see the book on tumblr when I was scrambling for a replacement and thought it might be fun. And it was! Quite ridiculous and dramatic, and I had a good time reading it. I was surprised by the outsider POV on the story, but it was good, just a shame that it didn't allow Christine to tell her own story. If anyone has a Christine-centered retelling I should read, let me know! And are there any adaptations I should watch?

System Collapse - new Murderbot! I was so excited for this, I'm irritated that my brain and work schedule didn't want to cooperate and let me read my nice pretty hardcover; I ended up getting the audiobook from the library instead. I had an incredible time, because it's Murderbot, how could I not? But it's also interesting, because Network Effect felt quite cohesive and contained on its own, but this feels very much like an in-between story (almost like Fugitive Telemetry), rather than a continuation of the same thread. I'll be interested to see where Martha takes us from here.

The Henchmen of Zenda - my last KJ Charles of the year! I did mean to get through all of her books, but things slipped by me these last few months so I still have a couple, but managed to fit this standalone in! It's not the only time she's pulled characters from works of classic fiction, and I admit, I'm now very curious and kind of want to read the original Prisoner of Zenda? Definitely this version had an exciting plot that was fun to read, though I don't think it'll be my favorite of her works (yay for a non-traditional relationship structure tho :)

Hither, Page - I don't think I've read Cat Sebastian before, but I've had this one recommended and it sounds right up my ally - historical/cozy myster/spy shenanigans/gay romance! And it was an incredibly pleasant read, would recommend, but I do think it could have been better as both a mystery and a romance.

The Haunting Season - I almost picked this up in October for spooky season, but put if off for Dec since it's meant to be wintery ghost stories - and only just remembered it in time! I almost wish I hadn't. The first two stories were so meh for me that I almost DNF'd it, I just didn't want the fuss of having to find a new audiobook for work the last day before Christmas break. Luckily Natasha Pulley showed up next with a good story (I really ought to read her books) and there was a good run of 4 stories with another 2 meh to round things out. It wasn't a total loss, but I wouldn't really recommend.

To Shape a Dragon's Breath - If you've seen people singing the praises of this book, they're not wrong! It's a very good if sometimes heavy read, and this is definitely the closest I've gotten to liking a boarding school story since Protector of the Small (I got burned out on them very quickly, lol). It does sometimes read like the debut it is, it's not perfect (lots of infodump speeches, lord save me from the technicalities of alchemy/chemistry, and I would have liked to see more done in her relationship with her dragon), but it's also doing some incredible and unique things that really make me want to see more books in this series and whatever else the author writes.

Chalice - I've read Robin Mckinley before and I've found her work ok, but this one has been repeatedly recommended in the HOTE discord server - I figured it would be a good one to wrap up the year with! And surprise surprise, the fealty-coded discord loves a book about... fealty XD and good stewardship, and magic bees, etc. It's incredibly on brand, and I had a lovely time with this fairy-tale of a book.

Mixed Magics - a collection of Chrestomanci short stories; I actually read one of the stories a few months ago due to the recommended reading order (bleh), and thought it would be fairly simple to finish it off before the end of the year, now that I'd finished the rest of the series. All fun, if not equally interesting, and a nice end to the year. Now I just need to find a new Diana Wynne Jones series to try (not on audiobook, alas, my library is all out of those).

(I did almost consider then binging the Hither, Page sequel on new year's eve, just so I wouldn't split the series, but decided against it :D)

[labyrinths-library]

Book 89 of 2024

The Games Gods Play by Abigail Owen

★★★★★

Find the author here. Get the book here.

Pages: 509

Genre: Romantasy

Spice (out of five):

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Review:

It's the Hunger Game meets Percy Jackson. It's got forbidden romance between god and mortal. It's got the drama of the gods. Essentially every 100 years there is a crucible in which the gods all pick one champion to fight for them in a deadly Olympic games where the winner determines which god or goddess will rule until the next crucible. Lyra, a thief in the order of Hermes, gets chosen by Hades as his champion, which throws the entire game into chaos because Hades never plays. Not to mention, no one wants him to win because he is the king of the Underworld and people don't know what would happen if he wins. That would be too much power. This book is so fast paced that I couldn't put it down. It is the first book in a series so I am chomping at the bit for book 2. If you enjoyed the song God Games from EPIC, you'd probably like this book, because it feels like that on crack.