en-US Mon, 21 Sep 2026 20:21:49 -0700 60 144 41 https://www.goodreads.com/images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg 50706646
Lin is the emperor's daughter and spends her days trapped in a palace of locked doors and dark secrets. When her father refuses to recognise her as heir to the throne, she vows to prove her worth by mastering the forbidden art of bone shard magic.

Yet such power carries a great cost, and when the revolution reaches the gates of the palace, Lin must decide how far she is willing to go to claim her birthright - and save her people.]]> 435 Andrea Stewart 0316541427 Jessica 0 to-read 3.95 2020
author: Andrea Stewart
name: Jessica
average rating: 3.95
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/09/21
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 242985724 The action-packed finale to Chloe Gong’s New York Times bestselling Flesh & False Gods trilogy—inspired by Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra—brings readers the ultimate showdown for power among gods and men.

War beckons in the kingdom of Talin. On one side sits Calla Tuoleimi and Anton Makusa, and on the other, the recently dethroned August Shenzhi and Calla's own predecessor Sinoa Tuoleimi. Neither will rest until the opposition is buried.

Calla assumed victory would be easy. She wears the divine crown after a violent coup, wielding the most powerful weapon in the kingdom. Then the provinces start to whisper of the old gods returning to earth, and suddenly the game board is flipped upside-down.

Anton thought he aligned himself with victory. When he swore to serve as Calla’s general, he understood the battle they were waging. But he fears Calla is no longer herself with the crown. Rather, he fears that Calla is returning to who she once was.

August would sacrifice anything for victory. He has waited his entire life for the throne, and surrender is not an option. In the face of age-old immortals challenging his terrain and the possibility of betrayal from his closest and most cherished guard, he must be careful who he trusts.

Because when the war ends, there can only be one king.]]> 400 Chloe Gong 1668000296 Jessica 0 3.91 2026
author: Chloe Gong
name: Jessica
average rating: 3.91
book published: 2026
rating: 0
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date added: 2026/09/21
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]]> 223641089
But what should have been a relaxing break takes a darker turn. Thanks to Anequs’s notoriety, there is an Anglish presence on Masquapaug for the first time ever: a presence which Anequs hates. Anequs will always fight for what she believes in, however, and what she believes in is her people’s right to self-govern and live as they have for generations, without the restrictive yoke of Anglish rules and social customs. And fight she will—even if it means lighting a spark which may flare into civil war.]]> 464 Moniquill Blackgoose 0593498305 Jessica 0 to-read 4.03 2026
author: Moniquill Blackgoose
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2026
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/09/21
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 51791252
Weaving together multiple strands and generations, from the Deep South to California, from the 1950s to the 1990s, The Vanishing Half is at once a riveting, emotional family story and a brilliant exploration of of race, gender, and identity, and the lasting influence of the past as it shapes a person's desires and expectations.]]> 343 Brit Bennett 0525536299 Jessica 0 to-read 4.10 2020
author: Brit Bennett
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/09/21
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 41728452
No one knows it yet, but there are just ten weeks to go until the Fall of Troy, the end of this long and bitter war. This is the start of The Iliad: the most famous war story ever told. The next ten weeks will be a story of male power, male ego, male violence. But what of the women? The thousands of female slaves in the soldiers' camp - in the laundry, at the loom, laying out the dead? Briseis is one of their number - and she will be our witness to history.]]> 325 Pat Barker 0241983207 Jessica 0 to-read 3.89 2018
author: Pat Barker
name: Jessica
average rating: 3.89
book published: 2018
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/09/21
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 34076952 Love speaks in flowers. Truth requires thorns.

Travel to a world of dark bargains struck by moonlight, of haunted towns and hungry woods, of talking beasts and gingerbread golems, where a young mermaid's voice can summon deadly storms and where a river might do a lovestruck boy's bidding but only for a terrible price.

Inspired by myth, fairy tale, and folklore, #1 New York Times—bestselling author Leigh Bardugo has crafted a deliciously atmospheric collection of short stories filled with betrayals, revenge, sacrifice, and love.

Perfect for new readers and dedicated fans, these tales will transport you to lands both familiar and strange—to a fully realized world of dangerous magic that millions have visited through the novels of the Grishaverse.

This collection of six stories includes three brand-new tales, all of them lavishly illustrated with art that changes with each turn of the page, culminating in six stunning full-spread illustrations as rich in detail as the stories themselves.

Zemeni Ayama and the Thorn Wood --
Ravkan The too-clever fox --
The witch of Duva --
Little knife --
Kerch The soldier prince --
Fjerdan When water sang fire]]> 281 Leigh Bardugo 125012252X Jessica 0 to-read 4.29 2017
author: Leigh Bardugo
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2017
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/09/21
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 246319916 From #1 New York Times bestselling author Victoria Aveyard comes an epic adventure of love and betrayal, amid a brutal war for the high seas.

May the sea always sing for you

Cat Rose knows what it is to live in two worlds, in two times. Before—as Lady Catrine Rose of the Meridian Empire, chained to a loathsome lord with a dwindling fortune. And after—as the Widow Rose, queen of a pirate tavern in the Lyrian Sea, determined to be the master of her own fate.

But tides turn and winds change. The Meridian Empire looms on the horizon, the full weight of her navy falling on the Lyrian, bent on reclaiming the wealthy colonies and crushing the pirate republic once and for all. Ship after ship is captured, save for one, captained by a pirate who continually evades both noose and blade: the legendary Valerian Kane.

With his fearsome ship and uncanny connection to the song of the sea, Valerian is the only man who might rally the pirates who remain. The only man who threatens the Empire. And the only man Cat has ever loved, blazing in and out of her life like a star.

Desperate for victory, the Empire offers Cat a devastating choice: bring them Valerian or hang. In truth, no choice at all.

But Cat Rose is nothing if not a survivor.

A storm is rising on the Lyrian Sea—the question is, what will it leave in its wake?]]> 464 Victoria Aveyard 0063451360 Jessica 0 4.07 2026
author: Victoria Aveyard
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2026
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/09/21
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review:

]]> 221188099 NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A bitingly funny novel about your late 20s as you stare down 30—when do you tire of morning hangovers, days of dead-end entry-level jobs, and late nights at bars? This friend group is about to find out.

“A little bit Dolly Alderton and a little bit Lena Dunham, with a wholly Irish soul.”—The New York Times

Sometimes friends hold you together.
Sometimes they’re why you’re falling apart.

Harley, Róise, and Maggie have been friends for ages. After meeting in primary school years ago, the women are still together, spending their nights on the sticky dancefloors of Belfast’s grungiest pubs. Each woman is navigating her own tangle of entry-level jobs, messy romantic entanglements, and late nights, but they always find their way back to each other, and to the ramshackle house they share. And amidst the familiar chaos, the three are still grieving their fourth housemate, whose room remains untouched, their last big fight hanging heavily over their heads.

The girls’ house has witnessed the highs and lows of their roaring twenties—raucous parties, surprising (and sometimes regrettable) hook-ups, and hellish hangovers. But as they approach thirty, their home begins to crumble around them and the fault lines in their group become harder to ignore. In the wreckage, they must decide if their friendship will survive into a new decade—or if growing up sometimes means letting go.

Brimming with heart and humor, Thirst Trap is an exuberant ode to friendship, to not having it all figured out, and to ordering just one more round before heading home.]]> 288 Gráinne O'Hare 1035046229 Jessica 0 currently-reading 3.61 2025
author: Gráinne O'Hare
name: Jessica
average rating: 3.61
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/09/21
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> 62679582 This Barnes & Noble Exclusive Edition has a unique cover, designed endpapers, and bonus annotated chapter from the author.

Wealth. Power. Murder. Magic. Alex Stern is back and the Ivy League is going straight to hell.

Find a gateway to the underworld. Steal a soul out of hell. A simple plan, except people who make this particular journey rarely come back. But Galaxy “Alex” Stern is determined to break Darlington out of purgatory—even if it costs her a future at Lethe and at Yale.

Forbidden from attempting a rescue, Alex and Dawes can’t call on the Ninth House for help, so they assemble a team of dubious allies to save the gentleman of Lethe. Together, they will have to navigate a maze of arcane texts and bizarre artifacts to uncover the societies’ most closely guarded secrets, and break every rule doing it. But when faculty members begin to die off, Alex knows these aren’t just accidents. Something deadly is at work in New Haven, and if she is going to survive, she’ll have to reckon with the monsters of her past and a darkness built into the university’s very walls.

Thick with history and packed with Bardugo’s signature twists, Hell Bent brings to life an intricate world full of magic, magic, violence, and all too real monsters.]]> 496 Leigh Bardugo 1250889251 Jessica 4
I don’t have much to say about this other than that it was good. I loved the little group they got together to go to hell. It did drag in some parts but it was solid.]]> 4.31 2023
author: Leigh Bardugo
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.31
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2026/09/15
date added: 2026/09/16
shelves:
review:
“Maybe they were just two killers, cursed to endure each other’s company, two doomed spirits trying to find their way home. Maybe they were monsters who liked the feeling of another monster looking back at them. But enough people had abandoned them both. She wasn't going to be the next.”

I don’t have much to say about this other than that it was good. I loved the little group they got together to go to hell. It did drag in some parts but it was solid.
]]> 247785403 The highly anticipated, explosive conclusion to the Ninth House trilogy from #1 New York Times bestselling author Leigh Bardugo.

Hell is empty and all the devils are here…

Alex Stern made it to hell and back more than once, but this time she left the door open behind her. Demons are creeping through the streets of New Haven and the Yale campus, feeding on the souls of the living, terrifying the dead. Alex and her allies can hunt them, but it’s only a matter of time before the gates to the underworld open and they face a war they cannot win. To stop it, they’ll have to reach deep into the secrets of Yale and its societies, and discover the truth hidden in Alex’s own blood.

While she struggles to hold onto the dream of a future Yale once offered, Alex must contend with the machinations of a corrupt Lethe Board and a deadly vampire with his own connection to the societies. But for the first time in her life, she won’t have to face the fight alone. Dawes, Turner, Mercy, and even Tripp will have a role to play, none more so than Alex’s mentor Darlington, the golden boy who lived so long in her head, now back in the flesh and cursed with dangerous powers of his own. Hell itself is stalking the delegates of Lethe House, and they’re all about to learn that demons don’t play by human rules.]]> 512 Leigh Bardugo 1250884314 Jessica 0 currently-reading 4.56 2026
author: Leigh Bardugo
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.56
book published: 2026
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/09/16
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> 244947249 From Alix E. Harrow, the New York Times bestselling author of Starling House, comes a moving and genre-defying quest about the lady-knight whose legend built a nation, and the cowardly historian sent back through time to make sure she plays her part–even if it breaks his heart.

Sir Una Everlasting was Dominion’s greatest the orphaned girl who became a knight, who died for queen and country. Her legend lives on in songs and stories, in children’s books and recruiting posters―but her life as it truly happened has been forgotten.

Centuries later, Owen Mallory―failed soldier, struggling scholar―falls in love with the tale of Una Everlasting. Her story takes him to war, to the archives―and then into the past itself. Una and Owen are tangled together in time, bound to retell the same story over and over again, no matter what it costs.

But that story always ends the same way. If they want to rewrite Una’s legend―if they want to tell a different story--they’ll have to rewrite history itself.]]> 320 Alix E. Harrow 1250799090 Jessica 0 to-read 4.53 2025
author: Alix E. Harrow
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.53
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/09/15
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 49247130 From #1 New York Times bestselling author Leigh Bardugo comes a mesmerizing tale of power, privilege, and dark magic set among the Ivy League elite.



Galaxy "Alex" Stern is the most unlikely member of Yale's freshman class. Raised in the Los Angeles hinterlands by a hippie mom, Alex dropped out of school early and into a world of shady drug-dealer boyfriends, dead-end jobs, and much, much worse. In fact, by age twenty, she is the sole survivor of a horrific, unsolved multiple homicide. Some might say she's thrown her life away. But at her hospital bed, Alex is offered a second chance: to attend one of the world's most prestigious universities on a full ride. What's the catch, and why her?

Still searching for answers, Alex arrives in New Haven tasked by her mysterious benefactors with monitoring the activities of Yale's secret societies. Their eight windowless "tombs" are the well-known haunts of the rich and powerful, from high-ranking politicos to Wall Street's biggest players. But their occult activities are more sinister and more extraordinary than any paranoid imagination might conceive. They tamper with forbidden magic. They raise the dead. And, sometimes, they prey on the living.

Ninth House is the long-awaited adult debut by the beloved author of Shadow and Bone and Six of Crows. Leigh Bardugo will take her place alongside Lev Grossman and Deborah Harkness as one of the finest practitioners of literary fantasy writing today.]]> 458 Leigh Bardugo 1250751365 Jessica 5
I loved this book. I loved the world-building and the magic system. I loved the mystery aspects. I loved the women characters especially. I loved Alex and Darlington of course and I would love to see their relationship more.]]> 4.07 2019
author: Leigh Bardugo
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2019
rating: 5
read at: 2026/09/11
date added: 2026/09/12
shelves:
review:
9/23/21

I loved this book. I loved the world-building and the magic system. I loved the mystery aspects. I loved the women characters especially. I loved Alex and Darlington of course and I would love to see their relationship more.
]]> 219603131
Heroes die, cowards live. Daughter of a conquered world, Ruying hates the invaders who descended from the heavens long before she was born and defeated the magic of her people with technologies unlike anything her world had ever seen.

Blessed by Death, born with the ability to pull the life right out of mortal bodies, Ruying shouldn’t have to fear these foreign invaders, but she does. Especially because she wants to keep herself and her family safe.

When Ruying’s Gift is discovered by an enemy prince, he offers her an impossible deal: If she becomes his private assassin and eliminates his political rivals—whose deaths he swears would be for the good of both their worlds and would protect her people from further brutalization—her family will never starve or suffer harm again. But to accept this bargain, she must use the powers she has always feared, powers that will shave years off her own existence.

Can Ruying trust this prince, whose promises of a better world make her heart ache and whose smiles make her pulse beat faster? Are the evils of this agreement really in the service of a much greater good? Or will she betray her entire nation by protecting those she loves the most?]]> 400 Molly X. Chang 0593722264 Jessica 0 to-read 2.50 2024
author: Molly X. Chang
name: Jessica
average rating: 2.50
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/09/08
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 246320332 From #1 New York Times bestselling author Victoria Aveyard comes an epic adventure of love and betrayal, amid a brutal war for the high seas.

May the sea always sing for you

Cat Rose knows what it is to live in two worlds, in two times. Before—as Lady Catrine Rose of the Meridian Empire, chained to a loathsome lord with a dwindling fortune. And after—as the Widow Rose, queen of a pirate tavern in the Lyrian Sea, determined to be the master of her own fate.

But tides turn and winds change. The Meridian Empire looms on the horizon, the full weight of her navy falling on the Lyrian, bent on reclaiming the wealthy colonies and crushing the pirate republic once and for all. Ship after ship is captured, save for one, captained by a pirate who continually evades both noose and blade: the legendary Valerian Kane.

With his fearsome ship and uncanny connection to the song of the sea, Valerian is the only man who might rally the pirates who remain. The only man who threatens the Empire. And the only man Cat has ever loved, blazing in and out of her life like a star.

Desperate for victory, the Empire offers Cat a devastating choice: bring them Valerian or hang. In truth, no choice at all.

But Cat Rose is nothing if not a survivor.

A storm is rising on the Lyrian Sea—the question is, what will it leave in its wake?]]> 464 Victoria Aveyard 0063566222 Jessica 4
“You’re playing by the rules of a different world. A world that does not exist here.”

Thank you to Harper Voyager for an ARC of this book.

Tempest follows Cat Rose in the past, as Lady Catrine Rose married to an awful Lord and in the present as the Widow Rose running a pirate tavern. Cat is arrested and the papers for her execution are drawn unless she can bring in the formidable pirate captain Valerian Kane, the man she once loved. Under the surveillance of Navy Captain Jasper Fell, Cat is forced to choose her past and her freedom.

I really loved this. It captures the vibe of a world battling pirates so well. I really like Cat as a character and I loved going back and forth between the before and after POVs. It really shows the development of Cat’s character from someone who stands idle in her life to someone who takes charge in her life. It also helped build the mystery of her relationship with Kane. The romance is a very slow burn but I really liked how they both just seemed so in awe of each other. I like that they’re both so fiery with each other and that half the time they’re arguing. The only complaint I have is that it was just so long. Specially that scenes tended to drag. The writing about the setting or physical features was so descriptive to the point that I forgot what was happening in the scene. But I still really loved it and couldn’t put it down.]]> 3.72 2026
author: Victoria Aveyard
name: Jessica
average rating: 3.72
book published: 2026
rating: 4
read at: 2026/09/06
date added: 2026/09/06
shelves:
review:
*4.5*

“You’re playing by the rules of a different world. A world that does not exist here.”

Thank you to Harper Voyager for an ARC of this book.

Tempest follows Cat Rose in the past, as Lady Catrine Rose married to an awful Lord and in the present as the Widow Rose running a pirate tavern. Cat is arrested and the papers for her execution are drawn unless she can bring in the formidable pirate captain Valerian Kane, the man she once loved. Under the surveillance of Navy Captain Jasper Fell, Cat is forced to choose her past and her freedom.

I really loved this. It captures the vibe of a world battling pirates so well. I really like Cat as a character and I loved going back and forth between the before and after POVs. It really shows the development of Cat’s character from someone who stands idle in her life to someone who takes charge in her life. It also helped build the mystery of her relationship with Kane. The romance is a very slow burn but I really liked how they both just seemed so in awe of each other. I like that they’re both so fiery with each other and that half the time they’re arguing. The only complaint I have is that it was just so long. Specially that scenes tended to drag. The writing about the setting or physical features was so descriptive to the point that I forgot what was happening in the scene. But I still really loved it and couldn’t put it down.
]]> 253015594 In this dark and lush romantic fantasy, two women raised as pawns in a corrupt world must join forces with unlikely allies to harness their fury and break the cycle of violence—the first in the debut adult series from New York Times bestselling author Roseanne A. Brown.

This first edition hardcover features designed sprayed edges and full-color illustrated endpapers—while supplies last!

Every generation has a Godsgift: a young woman possessing the blood of the goddess of spring. Raised as a ward of the Church and betrothed to their immortal prophet, she is destined to fend off a devastating eternal winter.

But when this generation’s chosen one, the naïve Eulia, realizes she’s been groomed as a sacrificial lamb, she flees with the help of a mysterious warlock.

Left behind is Cleio, Eulia’s passionate and furious handmaiden, who, with the support of a stoic soldier, must take Eulia’s place as a false Godsgift and root out corruption from within.

Society would wrest their agency away, but these two women with a sisterhood forged in fire will not sit idly by as their fates are decided for them. Power is their destiny. Freedom is their right. And by divine rage, they will claim what is theirs.]]> 496 Roseanne A. Brown Jessica 0 to-read 4.83 2027
author: Roseanne A. Brown
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.83
book published: 2027
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/09/01
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 240323765
The headlines are calling it the "summer of exsanguination" in LA—girls are being murdered, the Santa Ana winds are blowing a strange energy into the city, and all signs point to fire season.

More pressing for Anya Morris, though, is the drudgery of living at home, working part time at the family store, and contending with her mother's disdain for the acting career Anya knows she's destined for but that feels more impossible by the day.

It’s in this suffocating late summer heat that Anya receives a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, an invitation to work for the de Witt family, one of LA’s most influential film dynasties. Soon, she’s spending her days and nights at their strange villa high in the Hollywood hills, where she meets Jude, a recluse who is both the family’s heir apparent and its most closely guarded secret.

There’s a magnetism to Jude that Anya cannot resist, despite warning signs that scream like sirens in the night. Because the villa holds generations of bloodstained history, and an occult family curse may even live within its walls—or within Jude himself.

In this city, everyone cuts a deal with the devil. When Anya comes face to face with a devil of her own, she’ll learn just how far she’s willing to go to get everything she’s ever wanted.

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.]]> 368 Olivie Blake 1250368944 Jessica 0
Thank you NetGalley and Tor for an ARC of this book!

This was such a fever dream. I was confused most of the time but it was also an interesting read at times. Sometimes was hard to tell the line between dreams and reality, especially with Jude’s POV. I like the Hollywood film setting and I actually did enjoy how self destructive the main character was. Everything with the monster and the ritual was just confusing to me and I could’ve done without it. Overall, I didn’t love this and didn’t hate it.]]> 3.57 2026
author: Olivie Blake
name: Jessica
average rating: 3.57
book published: 2026
rating: 0
read at: 2026/08/08
date added: 2026/08/31
shelves:
review:
“If I loved a man capable of atrocity, then I was an atrocity myself.”

Thank you NetGalley and Tor for an ARC of this book!

This was such a fever dream. I was confused most of the time but it was also an interesting read at times. Sometimes was hard to tell the line between dreams and reality, especially with Jude’s POV. I like the Hollywood film setting and I actually did enjoy how self destructive the main character was. Everything with the monster and the ritual was just confusing to me and I could’ve done without it. Overall, I didn’t love this and didn’t hate it.
]]> 245303247 DELUXE EDITION—a gorgeous hardcover featuring gilded gold edges, illustrated endpapers, and 8 full-page interior illustrations

The Court of Venus is an ensnaring romantic fantasy in which a moon-blessed magician is summoned back to the deadly magical court she thought she had escaped; where power is determined by the stars—and the closer you are to the king, the more likely you are to die. Perfect for fans of The Knight and The Moth, The Familiar, and A Darker Shade of Magic.

In Alvion, magicians have always ruled beside kings. Blessed at birth by one of the seven planets, their abilities are miraculous and extremely rare. Magicians born under Jupiter influence luck. Saturnborn can speak to the dead. Venusborn read the desires of the living.

At the moment of Bianca Mortlake’s birth, the stars and planets aligned just so, making her the first Moonborn magician in over a thousand years. A sorcery so rare that even the history books cannot say what she is capable of.

After a childhood training under the realm’s most powerful magician—and alongside a most insufferable Venusborn named Roland—Bianca lives a quiet life far from court. Until a chilling missive arrives in the night, summoning her back.

A mad and deadly court awaits. Two queens have met the executioner’s blade, and one wrong move could see any of them next beneath its steel. As power is pulled between ruthless royals and courtiers like the tides by the moon, Bianca must rely on the last person she would ever want to—the infuriatingly alluring Roland.

Because something is terribly wrong in Alvion. And only this moon-blessed magician and her oldest rival can save the court—and each other—from the dark fate they see written in the stars.

The Court of Venus
*rivals to lovers
*courtly intrigue
*magic tournament
*slow burn
*murder mystery
*she falls first, he falls harder

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.]]> 354 Bel Banta 1250437148 Jessica 3
“‘You are not broken,’ he murmured softly. ‘Loving never breaks us. It only binds us. Makes us stronger.’”

Thank you to Tor and NetGalley for an ARC of this book!

The Court of Venus is set in a world where the astrological sign you are born under determines the kind of magic you have, if you have any at all. Bianca Mortlake, once an apprentice to the King’s magician is called back
to palace for a competition. She is faced with her childhood rival, Roland, and gets mixed up in court politics. Bianca and Roland work together to uncover the various mysteries and secrets of the palace.

I absolutely loved the magic system in this book. I wish we had gotten a classic in depth high fantasy explanation of all the details involved in it. I would’ve loved more world building and just more detail overall when it came to not only the magic, but also the court politics. I think this had a lot of great set up but I wish it had gone into
more depth in various places. I enjoyed Bianca and Roland’s relationship and how it developed over time, but again I wish there was more depth there. I was also really interested in Bianca’s relationship with Hal and how she handles her grief of losing him. There were times when certain plot points of character motivations didn’t make sense. Overall, this was enjoyable to read. It has a good foundation for a great fantasy novel and I wish it had expanded a little more on that.]]> 4.09 2026
author: Bel Banta
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2026
rating: 3
read at: 2026/08/30
date added: 2026/08/30
shelves:
review:
*3.5*

“‘You are not broken,’ he murmured softly. ‘Loving never breaks us. It only binds us. Makes us stronger.’”

Thank you to Tor and NetGalley for an ARC of this book!

The Court of Venus is set in a world where the astrological sign you are born under determines the kind of magic you have, if you have any at all. Bianca Mortlake, once an apprentice to the King’s magician is called back
to palace for a competition. She is faced with her childhood rival, Roland, and gets mixed up in court politics. Bianca and Roland work together to uncover the various mysteries and secrets of the palace.

I absolutely loved the magic system in this book. I wish we had gotten a classic in depth high fantasy explanation of all the details involved in it. I would’ve loved more world building and just more detail overall when it came to not only the magic, but also the court politics. I think this had a lot of great set up but I wish it had gone into
more depth in various places. I enjoyed Bianca and Roland’s relationship and how it developed over time, but again I wish there was more depth there. I was also really interested in Bianca’s relationship with Hal and how she handles her grief of losing him. There were times when certain plot points of character motivations didn’t make sense. Overall, this was enjoyable to read. It has a good foundation for a great fantasy novel and I wish it had expanded a little more on that.
]]> 245318009 Sparks fly in this Gilded Age novel of mystery, magic, and romance by the author of the New York Times–bestselling Beasts of Prey.

Nineteen-year-old Vesper Evans has always resented Basalton’s high society, and the sorcery that provides them with a luxurious life unimaginable to most. Orphaned as a child and rescued by the editor of The Basalton Globe, Vesper is now an ambitious reporter determined to keep her newspaper afloat.

While covering a lavish society gala, Vesper happens upon a shocking the murdered body of an inventor whose new machine promised to bring the benefits of sorcery to everyone. Several of the powerful magical elite may want the man dead, but the prime suspect is wealthy industrialist Maximilian Kite.

Max soon makes Vesper a tempting Find the culprit and restore his reputation in exchange for a substantial fee. Despite her distaste for Max’s world, Vesper agrees—the money would save the Globe, and the story would be the scoop of a lifetime. There’s only one In order for her to infiltrate society, the two must pose as a courting couple.

Their investigation takes them from the highest echelons of privilege to the seediest backstreets of Basalton. As they unearth the city’s secrets and scandals, Vesper finds herself in grave danger—while falling for one of the most infuriating, arrogant, handsome men she has ever met . . .]]> 341 Ayana Gray 1250411246 Jessica 2
“…no one was immune to the lure of power. Anyone could start a fire; all they needed was the right kindling.”

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan for an ARC of this book.

Hawk & Sparrow follows Vesper Evans, a young journalist working for the Globe during the Gilded Age. While attending a gala, the inventor of a machine that will allow anyone to practice sorcery is murdered. Vesper is hired by Maximilian Kite, a wealthy sorcerer who may be the prime suspect of the crime. Vesper must clear Max’s name in order to save the Globe and keep it afloat. In order to conduct the investigation, Vesper and Max must pretend to be a courting couple.

Unfortunately, I didn’t really enjoy this. The only thing that really kept me reading was the murder mystery aspect. Even then, sometimes the investigation felt
like it wasn’t going anywhere. Vesper and Max’s romance felt rushed and forced. There weren’t really any moments between them that built and yearning or tension. I would’ve liked to get to know them better as characters. Especially Vesper and her found family at the Globe. I also would’ve liked to know more about sorcery. It didn’t feel like there was a point to having magic in this world. Overall, this was okay and a quick read.]]> 4.02 2026
author: Ayana Gray
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.02
book published: 2026
rating: 2
read at: 2026/08/26
date added: 2026/08/26
shelves:
review:
*2.5*

“…no one was immune to the lure of power. Anyone could start a fire; all they needed was the right kindling.”

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan for an ARC of this book.

Hawk & Sparrow follows Vesper Evans, a young journalist working for the Globe during the Gilded Age. While attending a gala, the inventor of a machine that will allow anyone to practice sorcery is murdered. Vesper is hired by Maximilian Kite, a wealthy sorcerer who may be the prime suspect of the crime. Vesper must clear Max’s name in order to save the Globe and keep it afloat. In order to conduct the investigation, Vesper and Max must pretend to be a courting couple.

Unfortunately, I didn’t really enjoy this. The only thing that really kept me reading was the murder mystery aspect. Even then, sometimes the investigation felt
like it wasn’t going anywhere. Vesper and Max’s romance felt rushed and forced. There weren’t really any moments between them that built and yearning or tension. I would’ve liked to get to know them better as characters. Especially Vesper and her found family at the Globe. I also would’ve liked to know more about sorcery. It didn’t feel like there was a point to having magic in this world. Overall, this was okay and a quick read.
]]> 256694931 From New York Times bestselling author Olivie Blake comes NEWPHORIA!, a playful yet biting dystopian satire about what happens if we get the future we deserve.

It's 2075 and time once again for the annual Senecan Games, a fight-to-the-death tournament in which the sinful are contestants, as nominated online by their neighbors, mutuals, and IRL friends. But who has time to stream murder games in this economy?

Just as the Senecan begins, Wolfie Anderson-Spencer, an archival researcher of millennial culture at Oxford, discovers historical memes may have been erased from his carefully curated files. As his forebears would highly sus!

This seemingly individual IT issue leads Wolfie to the sinister discovery of outwardly unrelated secrets, including a survivalist cult’s mysterious massacre, a pop star’s cancellation and election to the first Senecan games, and a lonely young woman named Dolores who has managed to avoid the watchful eye of big tech—until now. She just may be the only hope of saving humanity from the dark web of exploitation that we unwittingly opted into.

Moving back and forth in time, from the makeshift swamps of London to the abandoned ruins of the Central California coast, NEWPHORIA! is an eccentric, character-driven novel that explores technofeudalism, the dopamine hit of clicking "buy," and what happens if we actually get the future we deserve.

“Blake proves herself witty, stylish and unafraid of big ideas.”—New York Times Book Review]]> 400 Olivie Blake 1250883490 Jessica 0 to-read 0.0 2027
author: Olivie Blake
name: Jessica
average rating: 0.0
book published: 2027
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/08/25
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 247476690 The breathtaking sequel to the New York Times bestselling Never Ever After, this epic fantasy finds Yining on the run and fighting to save her family and her kingdom.

After the explosive events of Never Ever After, Yining flees the Iron Mountains with her unlikely allies, seeking the truth about her newfound powers amid the secrets surrounding her ancestral home. But with a traitorous queen ruling the Three Kingdoms from a stolen throne, nowhere is truly safe, and Yining must decide whom to trust to keep her family—and her heart—from harm.]]> 368 Sue Lynn Tan 0316576239 Jessica 0 to-read 4.44 2026
author: Sue Lynn Tan
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.44
book published: 2026
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/08/21
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 243471862 She's a woman bound by fate, torn between two prophecies.

He's the Prince of the underworld, fated to either claim her or end her life.

Defying destiny is one thing…the heart, another.

Magic has always been at the periphery of Audra’s life. As a human, she knows that magic exists, but it's as distant as the legends she grew up with. Until one day, magic returns, bringing with it the all too real Fae and upending Audra’s life entirely.

Abducted by a cult of fae Priestesses, Audra finds herself conscripted into a magical war academy. The only hope of surviving this new world filled with guilds, magic, and danger is to band together with a group of her fellow prisoners. Though unlike the others, Audra's burgeoning magic is erratic and violent—just as the prophecy foretold. She must discover what it means to be the Heir, but time is running out. The Priestesses know the Heir moves among them, and they're determined to root them out, no matter what it takes.

As she struggles to mask her power, Audra’s plagued by visions of a dark, seductive being with a conflicting truth. He doesn’t want to save the world; he plans to reclaim it.

Now, Audra must choose: become the savior the cult demands or the catalyst the vision promises.]]> 448 Analeigh Sbrana 0063448327 Jessica 4
“Fight just to spite your fear.”

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for an ARC of this book!

Heir of Prophecy follows Audra Evers, a human taken from her home along with many other prisoners her age, to the fae realm. There she and her friends are trained ruthlessly at a magical academy as the priestesses search for their Heir of Prophecy who will end the eternal winter. As Audra navigates her powers and tries to learn what exactly being the potential Heir of Prophecy means, she is approached by a demon who tries to convince her to join him and his world.

I really enjoyed this! The pacing was a bit slow but I appreciated it because it went deep into the world building and allowed the audience to get attached to the characters. I loved the academic setting and I thought the magic system and all the classes at the academy were so interesting. I loved the found family aspect of the story and appreciate that Audra had time to develop close friendships with her fellow initiates. I really like that she doesn’t understand her powers and that they are quite opposite from what she’s learning at the academy. Zhaire’s character and POV was a great addition. Him and Audra are similar in that they both have a great amount of self-doubt and feel unworthy in the positions they were thrown into. I love the whole idea of the chosen one having to choose which world to save and which history to believe. It poses the question of who benefits from the chosen one and how do those in power manipulate someone in that position. Overall, I really liked this and I’m so ready for the sequel.]]> 3.79 2026
author: Analeigh Sbrana
name: Jessica
average rating: 3.79
book published: 2026
rating: 4
read at: 2026/08/20
date added: 2026/08/20
shelves:
review:
*4.5*

“Fight just to spite your fear.”

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for an ARC of this book!

Heir of Prophecy follows Audra Evers, a human taken from her home along with many other prisoners her age, to the fae realm. There she and her friends are trained ruthlessly at a magical academy as the priestesses search for their Heir of Prophecy who will end the eternal winter. As Audra navigates her powers and tries to learn what exactly being the potential Heir of Prophecy means, she is approached by a demon who tries to convince her to join him and his world.

I really enjoyed this! The pacing was a bit slow but I appreciated it because it went deep into the world building and allowed the audience to get attached to the characters. I loved the academic setting and I thought the magic system and all the classes at the academy were so interesting. I loved the found family aspect of the story and appreciate that Audra had time to develop close friendships with her fellow initiates. I really like that she doesn’t understand her powers and that they are quite opposite from what she’s learning at the academy. Zhaire’s character and POV was a great addition. Him and Audra are similar in that they both have a great amount of self-doubt and feel unworthy in the positions they were thrown into. I love the whole idea of the chosen one having to choose which world to save and which history to believe. It poses the question of who benefits from the chosen one and how do those in power manipulate someone in that position. Overall, I really liked this and I’m so ready for the sequel.
]]> 245886309 At last, the National Book Award finalist and NYT bestselling author of Pachinko returns with a breathtaking contemporary epic: Min Jin Lee has written a masterpiece by turns sweeping and intimate, one that reckons with ambition and moderation, lust and loyalty, personal dreams and familial duty.

In schools and churches, hotel rooms and nail salons, law firms and fried-fish shops; in cramped, dingy apartments and luxury, gated communities, the men, women, and children in American Hagwon struggle to find satisfaction and meaning in a world that seems to grow less forgiving with each passing year.

Once comfortably middle class in Korea, John and Helen Koh and their three children—Bo, DH, and Mido—find their lives upended, first by a shocking betrayal by John’s oldest friend, then by the 1997 Asian financial crisis. Desperately striving to regain their footing, they leave Seoul for Sydney and eventually settle in Southern California—where new vistas of opportunity open up for the children as their parents, strangers in a strange land, must adjust to a new life in which their experience and education mean little, and they set their sights on whatever it takes to provide for their children’s futures.

The Kohs, their friends, relatives, and even their foes move in and out of each other’s lives as they navigate new courses across the years, always nursing the almost all-consuming faith that education will lead the next generation to success and security. In American Hagwon, Min Jin Lee has crafted an unforgettable, panoramic novel where the smallest of gestures can have enormous repercussions, where the bonds of family and of memory twist and fray but rarely break, and where willful self-sacrifice—for the benefit of loved ones and even strangers—is a kind of prayer.]]> 656 Min Jin Lee 1538752034 Jessica 0 to-read 4.42 2026
author: Min Jin Lee
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.42
book published: 2026
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/08/19
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 240019877 From the New York Times bestselling author of Mexican Gothic comes a brand-new Bramble edition of this sweeping romance with a dash of magic.

They are the Beautiful Ones, Loisail’s most notable socialites, and this spring is Nina’s chance to join their ranks, courtesy of her well-connected cousin and his calculating wife. But the Grand Season has just begun, and already Nina’s debut has gone disastrously awry. She has always struggled to control her telekinesis―neighbors call her the Witch of Oldhouse―and the haphazard manifestations of her powers make her the subject of malicious gossip.

When entertainer Hector Auvray arrives to town, Nina is dazzled. A telekinetic like her, he has traveled the world performing his talents for admiring audiences. He sees Nina not as a witch, but ripe with potential to master her power under his tutelage. With Hector’s help, Nina’s talent blossoms, as does her love for him.

But great romances are for fairytales, and Hector is hiding a truth from Nina ― and himself―that threatens to end their courtship before it truly begins.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia's The Beautiful Ones is a charming tale of love and betrayal, and the struggle between conformity and passion, set in a world where scandal is a razor-sharp weapon.]]> 304 Silvia Moreno-Garcia 1250436419 Jessica 0 to-read 3.73 2017
author: Silvia Moreno-Garcia
name: Jessica
average rating: 3.73
book published: 2017
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/08/19
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 245670963 With the awakening of fire-breathing wyrms, Among the Burning Flowers sees the first sparks of danger that threaten to consume the world in The Priory of the Orange Tree.

Take your first steps into the epic.

Yscalin, land of sunshine and lavender, will soon be ablaze.

It has been centuries since the Draconic Army took wing, almost extinguishing humankind.

Marosa Vetalda is a prisoner in her own home, controlled by her cold father, King Sigoso. Over the mountains, her betrothed, Aubrecht Lievelyn, rules Mentendon in all but name. Together, they intend to usher in a better world.

A better world seems impossibly distant to Estina Melaugo, who hunts the Draconic beasts that have slept across the world for centuries.

And now the great wyrm Fýredel is stirring, and Yscalin will be the first to fall . . .

A story of human resilience in the face of dire circumstances, Among the Burning Flowers leads readers through the gripping and tragic events that pave the way for the opening of the million-copy bestseller The Priory of The Orange Tree.]]> 288 Samantha Shannon Jessica 0 to-read 4.25 2025
author: Samantha Shannon
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/08/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 244984012 From Alexandra Bracken, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Lore, comes a stunningly original adult fantasy. Set in a sumptuous world ruled by magical perfume, this achingly romantic, slow-burn love story will shatter your heart and leave you breathless.

Members of the ancient House Rosebourne have a strange gift born of a fairy the ability to infuse fragrance with magic capable of manipulating mind, body, and emotion.

When a shocking murder leaves the kingdom of Albion vulnerable to a coup, royal spymaster Hugh Thornton seeks the one person who can Viola Lockhart, the last living Rosebourne and secret heir to a fraught legacy.

Livid at the silver-eyed aristocrat who had her thrown in jail to force her compliance, Viola nevertheless comes to an agreement with him. In exchange for crafting Immortal Rose, the singular perfume capable of saving Albion, illegitimate Viola can seize the life—and fortune—that should have been hers.

As Hugh and Viola race to find the perfume’s lost fairy ingredient, hidden deep in Albion’s dark underbelly, neither can deny the scorching attraction building between them—especially as the attempts on Viola’s life grow increasingly brazen.

But a terrible truth lurks in the heart notes of their kingdom—and while every bargain has a cost, Immortal Rose may demand more than Hugh and Viola can ever pay.]]> 489 Alexandra Bracken 0063441675 Jessica 4
“This was no sunlit garden. This was two souls meeting again and again in the shadows of night and recognizing the other through darkness and disguise.”

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for an ARC of this book!

This was such a great mix of a unique magic system and a slow burn romance. I loved the perfume based magic. All the scent imagery and the way that smells reveal emotions is so interesting. I loved all the details of the perfume making process and what different perfumes can do for a person. I loved the characters. I love that Viola found herself a little family with all the people that work for Foxcourt. Obviously the romance between Viola and Hugh was great. They’re both so secretive and stubborn it was nice to see them slowly open up to each other and be vulnerable. The tension was SO good. Overall, this was great and I can’t wait for the sequel.]]> 4.24 2026
author: Alexandra Bracken
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.24
book published: 2026
rating: 4
read at: 2026/08/13
date added: 2026/08/13
shelves:
review:
*4.5*

“This was no sunlit garden. This was two souls meeting again and again in the shadows of night and recognizing the other through darkness and disguise.”

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for an ARC of this book!

This was such a great mix of a unique magic system and a slow burn romance. I loved the perfume based magic. All the scent imagery and the way that smells reveal emotions is so interesting. I loved all the details of the perfume making process and what different perfumes can do for a person. I loved the characters. I love that Viola found herself a little family with all the people that work for Foxcourt. Obviously the romance between Viola and Hugh was great. They’re both so secretive and stubborn it was nice to see them slowly open up to each other and be vulnerable. The tension was SO good. Overall, this was great and I can’t wait for the sequel.
]]> 243250300 When children go missing in the small coastal town of Astoria, people look to Wendy for answers.

It's been five years since Wendy and her two brothers went missing in the woods, but when the town’s children start to disappear, the questions surrounding her brothers’ mysterious circumstances are brought back into light. Attempting to flee her past, Wendy almost runs over an unconscious boy lying in the middle of the road, and gets pulled into the mystery haunting the town.

Peter, a boy she thought lived only in her stories, claims that if they don't do something, the missing children will meet the same fate as her brothers. In order to find them and rescue the missing kids, Wendy must confront what's waiting for her in the woods.]]> 384 Aiden Thomas 1250821215 Jessica 0 to-read 4.00 2021
author: Aiden Thomas
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/08/10
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 246416289
In this blockbuster epic pulsing with powerful magic and political tension, follow Eclipse and Wolf as they race to save a world on the verge of collapse.

Welcome to St Paradise: where clans' elites trade in secrets, sex and goods - a glittering world dripping with wealth and blood, old and new.

Eclipse Orinabe has not forgotten the blood. One of the few survivors of the Orinabe clan massacre, she has been raised to be a bigger terror than the one she lived through, a weapon of destruction disguised as a beautiful princess.

Yearning to escape, Eclipse sneaks out to a club on neutral territory, dangerous as running on a knife's edge. When she crosses paths with Wolf - Heir to the Goldshot clan - ancient blood magic humming in their veins forms a bond that will transform the future of St. Paradise forever.]]> 480 Akwaeke Emezi 0063477459 Jessica 0 to-read 4.23 2027
author: Akwaeke Emezi
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.23
book published: 2027
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/08/08
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 249119587 The riveting, darkly humorous, and deeply strange story of three roommates whose everyday struggle to survive in New York is complicated by the intestine-eating demon who haunts their apartment.

Leni was kidnapped and almost sacrificed to the devil as a child, but now she’s perfectly fine. Aside from the fact that she has four reflections in the mirror…and one of them wants her to poison people.

Emerson was a leading heart surgeon until The Incident that left his patient dead. Now he’s too sick to work, keeps finding severed fingers in his water bottles, and is followed around by a faceless Girl Scout with a creaky red wagon.

Jasper is a line cook with a criminal record, just trying to keep his chosen family together. Sure, he sees a man in the shadows who likes the taste of blood, but he’s very good at ignoring that. He would do anything for Leni and Emerson. Anything.

They’re fine. They’re normal. They’re roommates making it work in New York City.

That is, until a demon leaves his sigil on their wall.

Now, they have seven days to bring Sychar a sacrifice, or he’ll tear off their skin. Who knew demon-slaying wasn’t a valid excuse to miss work? Why are murder supplies so expensive? Just how is a low-income household supposed to afford a human sacrifice?

As their personal ghosts grow louder and Sychar’s deadline draws nearer, Leni, Emerson, and Jasper discover just how far they’ll go to protect each other.]]> Kylie Lee Baker Jessica 0 to-read 3.79 2027
author: Kylie Lee Baker
name: Jessica
average rating: 3.79
book published: 2027
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/08/08
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 242978171 The thrilling sequel to A Mastery of Monsters, following the fiercely determined eighteen-year-old August Black as she infiltrates a secret society hiding the frightening reality that monsters are real, while unraveling the mystery behind her brother’s disappearance.

August risked everything to find her brother, joining a deadly secret society protecting the chilling truth that monsters are very, very real. She thought when she found him that she would leave the society behind.

Instead, she fought and bled to bond herself to a Monster for life.

Now, despite her efforts to stay unattached, her connection to her Monster partner, Virgil, continues to grow. She can’t stop replaying the memory of their forbidden kiss that Virgil wants to pretend never happened.

Their strained bond is put to the test as they prepare for the Monster’s Ball, a brutal tournament where pairs battle for the coveted title of Master. But despite the danger of the contest, August is consumed with finding her mom’s killer and getting revenge. Her vendetta leads to her accidentally form a rare second bond with Nolan, a Wild Monster who wants nothing to do with her. And if the three of them can’t work together, they’ll be kicked out of the tournament before it even begins.

But August can’t pull her focus away from revenge—even if it means becoming the worst sort of monster herself. She believes that vengeance will cure her grief, but it may just be the thing that breaks her bonds for good.]]> 608 Liselle Sambury 1665957395 Jessica 0 to-read 4.19 2026
author: Liselle Sambury
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.19
book published: 2026
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/08/04
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 220195701 Two starred reviews!

Ninth House meets Legendborn in this “bold and bloody” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) first book in a dark academia fantasy series about a teen who’s willing to do anything to find her brother—even infiltrate a secret society full of monsters and magical creatures.

When August’s brother disappears before his sophomore semester, everyone thinks the stress of college got to him. But August knows her brother would never have left her voluntarily, especially not after their mother so recently went missing.

The only clue he left behind was a note telling her to stay safe and protect their remaining family. And after August is attacked by a ten-foot-tall monster with fur and claws, she realizes that her brother might be in more danger than she could have imagined.

Unfortunately for her, the only person with a connection to the mysterious creature is the bookish Virgil Hawthorne…and he knows about them because he is one. If he doesn’t find a partner to help control his true nature, he’ll lose his humanity and become a mindless beast—exactly what the secret society he’s grown up in would love to put down.

Virgil makes a August will join his society and partner with him, and in return, he’ll help her find her brother. And so August is plunged into a deadly competition to win one of the few coveted candidate spots, all while trying to accept a frightening that monsters are real, and she has to learn to master them if she’s to have any hope of saving her brother.]]> 592 Liselle Sambury 1665957387 Jessica 4
This was so good! I liked the politics of the society
including the different factions that have been created the different levels of prestige, the history of how it was founded, and the science behind the monsters and the serum. I loved watching August develop different friendships and relationships and slowly see her motives for joining change. Her friendship with Virgil, Corey, and Margot and how they all had a hand in helping her train was great. And who doesn’t love a forbidden romance? I especially loved the mechanics of the trials and all the different tests that occurred. Had me stressed. Overall, this was so fun to read and I’m excited to get into the sequel.]]> 3.98 2025
author: Liselle Sambury
name: Jessica
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2026/08/04
date added: 2026/08/04
shelves:
review:
“Because even after everything, even after having gone through the whole competition, it's still worth it. It was worth it to know him. Even if I ended up disappointing him somehow. Even knowing that I'll lose him. It's still worth it. He's worth it.”

This was so good! I liked the politics of the society
including the different factions that have been created the different levels of prestige, the history of how it was founded, and the science behind the monsters and the serum. I loved watching August develop different friendships and relationships and slowly see her motives for joining change. Her friendship with Virgil, Corey, and Margot and how they all had a hand in helping her train was great. And who doesn’t love a forbidden romance? I especially loved the mechanics of the trials and all the different tests that occurred. Had me stressed. Overall, this was so fun to read and I’m excited to get into the sequel.
]]> 241392662 A tender, witty, and sharp debut novel about the passions and peculiarities of modern love, by “an extraordinarily gifted writer” (Sally Rooney).

Chuck and Joey meet in a bar. He’s in his mid-thirties; she’s twelve years younger. He long ago abandoned his ambition of being a novelist and works as a copywriter at a big ad agency. "Lead copywriter," he corrects himself. Joey is living paycheck to paycheck on her barista wages and privately dreams of making it as a poet. They go back to Chuck’s luxury flat—a world away from Joey’s cramped house-share, the crumbs in her bed. Soon, Joey is imagining a future between them and Chuck is moving on from a major change in his recent past. Amazing, how meeting a new person can make you feel so new.

Funny, excruciating, and true, Jem Calder's I Want You to Be Happy is a sharp-eyed tale of two people searching for meaning and connection in modern times, missing the mark maybe, but still trying.]]> 272 Jem Calder 0374620555 Jessica 0 to-read 3.41 2026
author: Jem Calder
name: Jessica
average rating: 3.41
book published: 2026
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/08/04
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 60006278 The action-packed finale to Chloe Gong’s New York Times bestselling Flesh & False Gods trilogy—inspired by Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra—brings readers the ultimate showdown for power among gods and men.

War beckons in the kingdom of Talin. On one side sits Calla Tuoleimi and Anton Makusa, and on the other, the recently dethroned August Shenzhi and Calla's own predecessor Sinoa Tuoleimi. Neither will rest until the opposition is buried.

Calla assumed victory would be easy. She wears the divine crown after a violent coup, wielding the most powerful weapon in the kingdom. Then the provinces start to whisper of the old gods returning to earth, and suddenly the game board is flipped upside-down.

Anton thought he aligned himself with victory. When he swore to serve as Calla’s general, he understood the battle they were waging. But he fears Calla is no longer herself with the crown. Rather, he fears that Calla is returning to who she once was.

August would sacrifice anything for victory. He has waited his entire life for the throne, and surrender is not an option. In the face of age-old immortals challenging his terrain and the possibility of betrayal from his closest and most cherished guard, he must be careful who he trusts.

Because when the war ends, there can only be one king.]]> 384 Chloe Gong Jessica 4
*4.5*

“She loves him—in the way where it flips to resenting him every now and again, and she can’t control what stirs the difference. She loves him because she is known, and she hates him because she is known, and that has only proved dangerous when she does not know herself at all.”

First of all, Chloe HOW DARE YOU. I can’t believe this series is over. I love these characters so much and I am so sad right now. The ending felt a bit rushed and I didn’t have time to properly mourn. That being said, I liked everything that was happening with the gods and Qi and Calla discovering who she was. I loved the August + Galipei crumbs. Otta’s character pissed me off but she was a great villain. I just really loved Calla and Anton as characters in this book specifically it was interesting to see how Calla’s power hungry nature and Anton’s mistrust of her interested. Overall I love this series and I’m said it’s over.]]> 3.65 2026
author: Chloe Gong
name: Jessica
average rating: 3.65
book published: 2026
rating: 4
read at: 2026/07/31
date added: 2026/07/31
shelves:
review:
Thank you to NetGalley and SagaPress for an ARC of this book!

*4.5*

“She loves him—in the way where it flips to resenting him every now and again, and she can’t control what stirs the difference. She loves him because she is known, and she hates him because she is known, and that has only proved dangerous when she does not know herself at all.”

First of all, Chloe HOW DARE YOU. I can’t believe this series is over. I love these characters so much and I am so sad right now. The ending felt a bit rushed and I didn’t have time to properly mourn. That being said, I liked everything that was happening with the gods and Qi and Calla discovering who she was. I loved the August + Galipei crumbs. Otta’s character pissed me off but she was a great villain. I just really loved Calla and Anton as characters in this book specifically it was interesting to see how Calla’s power hungry nature and Anton’s mistrust of her interested. Overall I love this series and I’m said it’s over.
]]> 1431558 Smaller and Smaller Circles is unique in the Philippine literary scene - a Pinoy detective novel, both fast-paced and intelligent, with a Jesuit priest who also happens to be a forensic anthropologist as the sleuth. When it won the Carlos Palanca Grand Prize for the English Novel in 1999, it proved that fiction can be both popular and literary.

F.H. Batacan has a degree in Broadcast Communication and a master's degree in Art Studies, both from the University of the Philippines in Diliman. She has worked as a policy researcher, broadcast journalist, web designer, and musician, and is currently a journalist based in Singapore. She previously won a prize for her short story "Door 59" in the 1997 Palanca awards, and her work has appeared in local magazines, as well as in the online literary magazine Web del Sol.]]> 155 F.H. Batacan 9715423647 Jessica 0 to-read 4.14 2002
author: F.H. Batacan
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2002
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/07/29
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 2686630
Twelve-year-old Nenita is hungry for food, love, life. Growing up with five sisters and brothers, she searches for happiness in the magical smell of the deep-frying bananas of Nana Dora, who first tells Nenita the myth of the banana heart; in the tantalizing scent of Manolito, the heartthrob of Nenita and her friends; in the pungent aromas of the dishes she prepares for the most beautiful woman on Remedios Street. To Nenita, food is synonymous with love—the love she yearns to receive from her disappointed mother. But in this summer of broken hearts, new friendships, secrets, and discoveries, change will be as sudden and explosive as the monsoon that marks the end of the sweltering heat—and transforms Nenita’s young life in ways she could never imagine.]]> 257 Merlinda Bobis 0385341121 Jessica 0 to-read 4.02 2005
author: Merlinda Bobis
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.02
book published: 2005
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/07/29
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 245836132
A cursed father, a gifted daughter

Mestra, daughter of the King of Thessaly, is granted a unique gift by Poseidon: the ability to transform into any being she can imagine.

Her father, on the other hand, is cursed: As punishment for disrespecting the goddess Demeter, he is in possession of an unnatural, insatiable hunger.

Devoted Mestra suggests using her new gift to help her father. But if his hunger is bottomless, how much will he take from her? Soon she must decide: Will she keep helping her father survive, or finally break free?

A jewel-like tale of human fallibility, Mestra confirms Madeline Miller as our high priestess of mythology.]]> 80 Madeline Miller 0063566281 Jessica 0 to-read 4.05 2026
author: Madeline Miller
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2026
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/07/29
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 207298442 From #1 New York Times bestselling author Chloe Gong comes the thrilling sequel to Immortal Longings, inspired by Shakespeare’s Antony & Cleopatra.

Calla Tuoleimi has succeeded in the impossible. Despite the odds, she has won San-Er’s bloody games and eliminated King Kasa, her tyrant uncle and the former ruler of Talin. She serves now as royal advisor to Kasa’s adopted son, August Shenzhi, who has risen to the throne.

Only Calla knows it isn’t really August.

Anton Makusa is still furious about Calla’s betrayal in the final round of the games. In an impossible feat, he took over August’s body to survive, and has no intention of giving up this newfound power. But when his first love, the beautiful, explosive Otta Avia, awakens from a years-long coma and reveals a secret that threatens the monarchy’s authority over Talin, chaos erupts. As tensions come to a boiling point, Calla and Anton must set their conflicts aside and head to the kingdom’s far reaches to prevent anarchy… even if their empire might be better off burning.]]> 374 Chloe Gong 1668000261 Jessica 5 3.80 2024
author: Chloe Gong
name: Jessica
average rating: 3.80
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2026/07/28
date added: 2026/07/28
shelves:
review:
I love reading a Chloe Gong story of chaos and politics.
]]> 62919356
Every year, thousands in the kingdom of Talin flock to its capital twin cities, San-Er, where the palace hosts a set of games. For those confident enough in their ability to jump between bodies, competitors across San-Er fight to the death to win unimaginable riches.

Princess Calla Tuoleimi lurks in hiding. Five years ago, a massacre killed her parents and left the palace of Er empty…and she was the one who did it. Before King Kasa’s forces in San can catch her, she plans to finish the job and bring down the monarchy. Her reclusive uncle always greets the victor of the games, so if she wins, she finally gets her opportunity to kill him.

Enter Anton Makusa, an exiled aristocrat. His childhood love has lain in a coma since they were both ousted from the palace, and he’s deep in debt trying to keep her alive. Thankfully, he’s one of the best jumpers in the kingdom, flitting from body to body at will. His last chance at saving her is entering the games and winning.

Calla finds both an unexpected alliance with Anton and help from King Kasa’s adopted son, August, who wants to mend Talin’s ills. But the three of them have very different goals, even as Calla and Anton’s partnership spirals into something all-consuming. Before the games close, Calla must decide what she’s playing for—her lover or her kingdom.]]> 372 Chloe Gong 1668000229 Jessica 5
Chloe has done it again. Her adult debut has given me characters to fall in love with, unique world-building, and plot twists on every corner. Plus it has upped the stakes with the action and politics and intense fight scenes. I loved getting to know these characters and the twin cities of San-Er and I don’t think I can forgive the bomb dropped at the end. Needless to say, I cannot wait for the sequel!]]> 3.51 2023
author: Chloe Gong
name: Jessica
average rating: 3.51
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at: 2026/07/26
date added: 2026/07/26
shelves:
review:
“Calla can handle pain. She can handle blood. But this—this is somehow all and none of that at once, a wrenching in her very soul. This is tenderness. And she is more afraid of it than anything else in their forsaken kingdom.”

Chloe has done it again. Her adult debut has given me characters to fall in love with, unique world-building, and plot twists on every corner. Plus it has upped the stakes with the action and politics and intense fight scenes. I loved getting to know these characters and the twin cities of San-Er and I don’t think I can forgive the bomb dropped at the end. Needless to say, I cannot wait for the sequel!
]]> 247928235 Set in a corrupt surveillance state ruled by the masked elite, this true enemies-to-lovers dystopian romance that’s Conform meets V For Vendetta follows a mercenary who botches the assassination of the president’s son and ends up forced to marry him.

The first thing you’ll learn in New Found Haven is that mercy doesn’t exist. The second thing is that, from the highest glass atrium in the Heart to the windowless slums of the Boundary, the Veyra are always watching.

The last lesson is the hardest, but you must remember it: Love outside of your ring is a death sentence.

The city is carved into rings of privilege and poverty, ruled by the masked elite who will do whatever it takes to hold onto power. Obedience is demanded. Rebellion is crushed.

Greyson Serel has spent his life caught between two worlds. Publicly, he’s the flawless heir to the presidency. Privately, he’s entangled in secrets that could topple the regime. But when he’s forced into a political marriage meant to bind him tighter to the government’s brutal laws, he finds himself shackled to a bride as lethal as she is unwilling.

Shadera Kael is a mercenary raised to kill, not to wed. Yet when her bullet misses its mark, survival leaves her tied to the very man she was sent to eliminate. Trapped inside the corrupt heart of the city, she becomes both prisoner and wife, her every step watched, her every move tested.

Their union is no love story—it’s a battlefield. As secrets come to light and betrayals fester within the walls of power, Greyson and Shadera must decide between annihilating each other or burning the city to the ground together.

In a world where passion has consequences and loyalty is paid for in blood, their forced bond may be the spark that ignites a revolution. Or the fire that consumes them both.]]> 516 H.M. Wolfe Jessica 0 to-read 4.32 2025
author: H.M. Wolfe
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.32
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/07/24
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 51057191
The Kauls have been battered by war and tragedy. They are plagued by resentments and old wounds as their adversaries are on the ascent and their country is riven by dangerous factions and foreign interference that could destroy the Green Bone way of life altogether. As a new generation arises, the clan’s growing empire is in danger of coming apart.

The clan must discern allies from enemies, set aside bloody rivalries, and make terrible sacrifices… but even the unbreakable bonds of blood and loyalty may not be enough to ensure the survival of the Green Bone clans and the nation they are sworn to protect.]]> 713 Fonda Lee 035651059X Jessica 5
This was such an emotional rollercoaster. I’m so fragile right now like that’s family. I loved this series so much and this book just did an amazing job of cementing the legacy of the Kauls in Janloon. It was so fun to see literally every character grow up. These characters stick with you forever, no matter the size of their impact on the narrative. I love how everything always comes together, even the smallest details. I can’t even begin to describe the feelings of family, legacy, nostalgia, and pride that this series causes you to have. I loved it and I will miss reading about these characters.]]> 4.60 2021
author: Fonda Lee
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.60
book published: 2021
rating: 5
read at: 2026/07/22
date added: 2026/07/22
shelves:
review:
“It was strange, Shae thought -- Green Bones revered jade, but it was not the gems themselves that were worthy of reverence. Jade had meaning because of the type of person one had to become to wear it. Jade was the visible proof that a person had dedicated their life to the discipline of wielding power, to the dangers and costs of being a Green Bone.”

This was such an emotional rollercoaster. I’m so fragile right now like that’s family. I loved this series so much and this book just did an amazing job of cementing the legacy of the Kauls in Janloon. It was so fun to see literally every character grow up. These characters stick with you forever, no matter the size of their impact on the narrative. I love how everything always comes together, even the smallest details. I can’t even begin to describe the feelings of family, legacy, nostalgia, and pride that this series causes you to have. I loved it and I will miss reading about these characters.
]]> 248336943 One wrong move will end the world…

The nation can't stop talking about Eirale Ward. After a perilous mission with the enemy, she has been rescued and returned to NileCorp. Her gracious employer cleared her charges of treason and restored her status as an elite soldier.

Once, that would have been enough—but she is not that same Eirale anymore. She is a spy for the Coalition, tasked to take down NileCorp from the inside.

Meanwhile, everyone in Atahua is watching Nik Grant. Though he succeeded in his mission to retrieve Project Wit, he has put a target on his loved ones, and NileCorp will stop at nothing to bring him in. Working for the Coalition was supposed to help him destroy NileCorp, but the Coalition is pushing restraint while he wants action. He’s running out of time.

When Atahua's charismatic vice president joins the scene at NileCorp, the company grows untouchable. Kieren is unwavering in his belief in Lia and her ability to rupture the power in virtual reality—but NileCorp sees all, and it has long set its trap. Before total and absolute control can land in NileCorp’s hands, Lia must embrace what she was built to do…

Either change the world or burn it all down.]]> 480 Chloe Gong 1665960167 Jessica 0 to-read 4.40 2026
author: Chloe Gong
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.40
book published: 2026
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/07/20
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 242977779 The beautiful new novel that will make you laugh and cry, from the global bestselling author of Anxious People and A Man Called Ove. Fredrik Backman returns with an unforgettably funny, deeply moving tale of four teenagers whose friendship creates a bond so powerful that it changes a complete stranger’s life twenty-five years later…

You have to take life for granted, the artist thinks, the whole thing: sunrises and slow Sunday mornings and water balloons and another person’s breath against your neck. That’s the only courageous thing a person can do.

In the corner of one of the most famous paintings in the world three tiny figures sit at the end of a pier. Most people don’t even notice them. Most people think it’s just a depiction of the sea. But Louisa, an aspiring artist herself, knows otherwise.

Twenty-five years earlier, in a distant seaside town, a group of teenagers seek refuge from their bruising home lives by spending long summer days together. They tell jokes, they share secrets, and they commit small acts of rebellion. These lost souls find in each other a reason to get up each morning, a reason to dream, a reason to love.

Out of that summer emerges a transcendent work of art, a painting that will unexpectedly be placed into 18-year-old Louisa’s care. Determined to learn how it came to be and to decide what to do with it, Louisa embarks on a cross-country journey. But the closer she gets to the painting’s birthplace, the more nervous she becomes.

In this stunning testament to the transformative, timeless power of friendship and art, Louisa is proof that happy endings don’t always take the form we expect.]]> 448 Fredrik Backman 1982112832 Jessica 0 to-read 4.26 2025
author: Fredrik Backman
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.26
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/07/20
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 17645 Now that all the others have run out of air, it's my turn to do a little story-making.

In Homer's account in The Odyssey, Penelope—wife of Odysseus and cousin of the beautiful Helen of Troy—is portrayed as the quintessential faithful wife, her story a salutary lesson through the ages. Left alone for twenty years when Odysseus goes off to fight in the Trojan War after the abduction of Helen, Penelope manages, in the face of scandalous rumors, to maintain the kingdom of Ithaca, bring up her wayward son, and keep over a hundred suitors at bay, simultaneously. When Odysseus finally comes home after enduring hardships, overcoming monsters, and sleeping with goddesses, he kills her suitors and—curiously—twelve of her maids.

In a splendid contemporary twist to the ancient story, Margaret Atwood has chosen to give the telling of it to Penelope and to her twelve hanged maids, asking: "What led to the hanging of the maids, and what was Penelope really up to?" In Atwood's dazzling, playful retelling, the story becomes as wise and compassionate as it is haunting, and as wildly entertaining as it is disturbing. With wit and verve, drawing on the story-telling and poetic talent for which she herself is renowned, she gives Penelope new life and reality—and sets out to provide an answer to an ancient mystery.]]> 198 Margaret Atwood 1841957178 Jessica 0 to-read 3.70 2005
author: Margaret Atwood
name: Jessica
average rating: 3.70
book published: 2005
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/07/19
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 58672976
Set over the course of fifteen years, Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance is narrated by Sally as she addresses Kathy before, during, and after her death. We watch as Kathy’s absence creates a gaping hole that only Billy—now firmly off-limits to Sally—understands and might possibly begin to fill. Charting years of their shared history and missed connections, Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance is both a breathtaking love story between two broken people who are unexplainably, inconveniently drawn to each other, and a wry, sharply observant coming-of-age story that looks at the ways the people we love the most continue to shape our lives long after they’re gone.]]> 352 Alison Espach 1250823145 Jessica 0 to-read 3.73 2022
author: Alison Espach
name: Jessica
average rating: 3.73
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/07/17
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 42075898
Beyond Kekon's borders, war is brewing. Powerful foreign governments and mercenary criminal kingpins alike turn their eyes on the island nation. Jade, Kekon's most prized resource, could make them rich - or give them the edge they'd need to topple their rivals.

Faced with threats on all sides, the Kaul family is forced to form new and dangerous alliances, confront enemies in the darkest streets and the tallest office towers, and put honor aside in order to do whatever it takes to ensure their own survival - and that of all the Green Bones of Kekon.

Jade War is the second book of the Green Bone Saga, an epic trilogy about family, honour and those who live and die by the ancient laws of blood and jade.]]> 587 Fonda Lee 0356510530 Jessica 5
This was such a great sequel! I loved following all these characters and I loved getting deep into the politics of not only the Green Bone clans but also different foreign countries. I really liked Anden’s storyline in Espenia and seeing the immigrant community of Green Bones there. It was interesting to see how the Kekonese traditions and customs were upheld/forgotten. I loved seeing Shane’s development through her relationship with Maro and with the risky decisions she had to make as the Weather Man. I loved getting to Wen as a character and I loved seeing her and Hilo’s family grow. This book raised the stakes even more which I didn’t think was possible and had me so scared at the end. Can’t wait for the finale.]]> 4.46 2019
author: Fonda Lee
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.46
book published: 2019
rating: 5
read at: 2026/07/14
date added: 2026/07/14
shelves:
review:
“The clan can claim everything I have —my time, my blood and sweat, my life and jade—but it can’t have my wife.”

This was such a great sequel! I loved following all these characters and I loved getting deep into the politics of not only the Green Bone clans but also different foreign countries. I really liked Anden’s storyline in Espenia and seeing the immigrant community of Green Bones there. It was interesting to see how the Kekonese traditions and customs were upheld/forgotten. I loved seeing Shane’s development through her relationship with Maro and with the risky decisions she had to make as the Weather Man. I loved getting to Wen as a character and I loved seeing her and Hilo’s family grow. This book raised the stakes even more which I didn’t think was possible and had me so scared at the end. Can’t wait for the finale.
]]> 36590403 Librarian note: Older cover of 9780356510507.

JADE CITY is a gripping Godfather-esque saga of intergenerational blood feuds, vicious politics, magic, and kungfu.

The Kaul family is one of two crime syndicates that control the island of Kekon. It's the only place in the world that produces rare magical jade, which grants those with the right training and heritage superhuman abilities.

The Green Bone clans of honorable jade-wearing warriors once protected the island from foreign invasion--but nowadays, in a bustling post-war metropolis full of fast cars and foreign money, Green Bone families like the Kauls are primarily involved in commerce, construction, and the everyday upkeep of the districts under their protection.

When the simmering tension between the Kauls and their greatest rivals erupts into open violence in the streets, the outcome of this clan war will determine the fate of all Green Bones and the future of Kekon itself.]]> 495 Fonda Lee Jessica 4
“Was it possible, Lan wondered, to be both a strong leader and a compassionate person, or were those two things opposing forces, pushing each other away?”

This was such a high stakes mafia story. I loved the complexity of the relationships in the Kaul family. I loved the political hierarchy in the No Peak and Mountain clans. I loved all the details on jade use and the potential detrimental effects it can have on someone. Overall this was a deeply political and action filled book and I’m excited for the next book.]]> 4.22 2017
author: Fonda Lee
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.22
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2026/07/05
date added: 2026/07/05
shelves:
review:
*4.5*

“Was it possible, Lan wondered, to be both a strong leader and a compassionate person, or were those two things opposing forces, pushing each other away?”

This was such a high stakes mafia story. I loved the complexity of the relationships in the Kaul family. I loved the political hierarchy in the No Peak and Mountain clans. I loved all the details on jade use and the potential detrimental effects it can have on someone. Overall this was a deeply political and action filled book and I’m excited for the next book.
]]> 210721284 “Your land is not the one you take, it is the one you die for.”

Still reeling over her discovery of a staggering secret about her closest ally, Keera has no time to rest. She and her fellow rebels plan a desperate rescue mission after King Damien takes one of their own hostage. Opening the kingdom’s magical seals has transformed Keera in ways even the wisest Fae elders could not have anticipated. With the kingdom’s Halfling population suddenly posing a risk to the crown, the land is plunged into violence as the king begins a new blood purge.     Keera and her allies gather an army to meet Damien’s forces in a final confrontation of epic, and tragic, proportions.

The epic final installment in the Halfling Saga will thrill fans of Melissa Blair’s lush, action-packed, romantasy series.]]> 425 Melissa Blair 1454954949 Jessica 3
Maybe I would’ve liked this more if I had read it closer to when I read the rest of the serious but unfortunately I don’t remember a lot of things about these books. I still enjoyed it and really like these characters but I wasn’t fully invested. Still a great series though.]]> 3.91 2025
author: Melissa Blair
name: Jessica
average rating: 3.91
book published: 2025
rating: 3
read at: 2026/06/26
date added: 2026/06/26
shelves:
review:
*3.5*

Maybe I would’ve liked this more if I had read it closer to when I read the rest of the serious but unfortunately I don’t remember a lot of things about these books. I still enjoyed it and really like these characters but I wasn’t fully invested. Still a great series though.
]]> 253653785 A cursed manuscript. An old betrayal. A second chance at love. Magic, secrets, and longing collide in this sweeping, beautiful fantasy from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Divine Rivals.

Lorne St. Clair has spent years hiding from his shadowy past, content to curate magical antiques in his quiet shoppe. But when a mysterious note arrives demanding he transcribe an enchanted manuscript—written in an ink only rare mages can read—his carefully guarded secrets are threatened. Refuse, and the truth about his past will be exposed.

Lorne knows one mage capable of reading the manuscript... But Avalene Vale was declared dead ten years ago.

In truth, she’s been hiding on the kingdom’s outskirts, her once-brilliant academic future stolen the night Lorne put a knife to her throat and begged her to flee. When he finds her again, asking for her help, Avalene knows she shouldn’t trust him. But enchanted manuscripts are impossibly rare, and once she begins translating, she’s drawn into the manuscript’s haunting magic—and the beautiful, dangerous story woven into its spells.

As buried truths resurface and the past tightens its hold, Lorne and Avalene must reckon with what they once were—and what they might become. What unfolds is a multi-layered, enchanting tale of glittering magic, powerful books, passionate love—and the fragile hope of second chances.]]> 592 Rebecca Ross 0063392739 Jessica 0 to-read 4.84 2027
author: Rebecca Ross
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.84
book published: 2027
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/06/23
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 61190770 The Handmaid's Tale, Squid Game and Watchmen

Welcome to Chain-Gang All-Stars, the popular and highly controversial programme inside America's prison system. In packed arenas, watched by millions of live-stream viewers, prisoners compete as gladiators for the ultimate prize: their freedom.

Fan favourites Loretta Thurwar and Hamara 'Hurricane Staxxx' Stacker are teammates and lovers. Thurwar is nearing the end of her time on the circuit, free in just a few matches, a fact she carries as heavily as her lethal hammer. As she prepares for her final encounters, as protestors gather at the gates, and as the programme's corporate owners stack the odds against her - will the price be simply too high?]]> 367 Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah 0593317335 Jessica 0 to-read 4.11 2023
author: Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/06/17
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 232206245 A propulsive debut novel following a has-been reality TV star and a disgraced producer who get one last shot at redemption on a show set on a remote island, only to discover that the plot twists are beyond what they ever imagined.

Everyone gets the story arc they deserve.

Kent Duvall, a faded reality show winner, just wants another chance at glory—to find his way out of his depressing life and back to his highlight reel. When a scandal is captured on camera at a charity event, he gets his shot, on a new jungle survival show with seven other contestants. Each of them has been cast as a type—Ruddy the bully, Miriam the nerd, Ashley the love interest—but everyone is more than they appear.

The contestants’ goals seem simple—survive the wild, build a raft, win treasure. But Beck Bermann, a reality producer who suffered her own public shaming, sees them as characters in her redemption arc.

As the schemes and strategies spiral out, breakout camps sabotage each other and rival producers struggle to control the storyline. Soon the question becomes less about who will win than who will make it out in one piece.]]> 448 Stephen Fishbach Jessica 0 to-read 3.55 2026
author: Stephen Fishbach
name: Jessica
average rating: 3.55
book published: 2026
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/06/17
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 218460337 Nothing to lose. Everything to gain. Winner takes all.

Lily—a bored, beautiful twentysomething—wakes up on a remote desert compound alongside nineteen other contestants on a popular reality TV show. To win, she must outlast her housemates while competing in challenges for luxury rewards, such as champagne and lipstick, and communal necessities to outfit their new home, like food, appliances, and a front door.

The cameras are catching all her angles, good and bad, but Lily has no desire to leave: Why would she, when the world outside is falling apart? As the competition intensifies, intimacy between the players deepens, and it becomes increasingly difficult to distinguish between desire and desperation. When the producers raise the stakes, forcing contestants into upsetting, even dangerous situations, the line between playing the game and surviving it begins to blur. If Lily makes it to the end, she'll receive prizes beyond her wildest dreams—but what will she have to do to win?

Addictive and prescient, The Compound is an explosive debut from a major new voice in fiction and will linger in your mind long after the game ends.]]> 292 Aisling Rawle 0593977270 Jessica 0 to-read 3.51 2025
author: Aisling Rawle
name: Jessica
average rating: 3.51
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/06/17
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 247294908 TO KILL A MONSTER, SHE MUST BECOME ONE . . .

As the emperor lays dying, the once-great Azalea Dynasty plunges towards civil war. While its princes plot for power, a more hidden war - to become the next empress - occupies the imperial court.

Wei Yin - peasant girl turned concubine to the cruel Prince Terren - has already endured unimaginable suffering. Ripped from her family, she has no title, no allies, and no escape. But she does have a secret . . .

In the shadows of the palace, surrounded by enemies, she is learning a skill forbidden to women. Because when words are weapons and poetry holds an ancient magic, the fate of a girl - and a nation - can both be rewritten. All she has to do is compose the perfect poem - a tale so powerful, it can kill any man, even the next emperor.]]> 390 Shen Tao 1399629018 Jessica 4
“We hoped for the only thing left for us to hope: that those who came after us would fix the mess we had created. We hoped that the next generation would be a little less foolish, a little less wicked, and that it might be enough to save a nation.”

I loved this! Everything about it was so complex. From the characters to the magic system to the politics, there were so many layers to everything. It surprised me that there wasn’t a romantic plot line, which I also appreciated. I think the relationships still had so much depth without adding romantic feelings to them. I loved the exploration of Terren and Maro’s relationship between the past and present and I love how it was told to us too. I loved that Wei was almost investigating their relationship and trying to make sense of what went wrong between them, as well as why Terren has turned into the monster he is. I really liked the complexity of Terren being a victim but also not being absolved of all the terrible things he’s done. I liked Maro’s backstory and how his sense of duty to his nation was ultimately his downfall. I loved Wei’s thoughts about power and the temptation of it. I like that she was always motivated by doing what she could to protect her people. Overall, this story was so dark and complex and tragic and I loved every minute of it.]]> 4.51 2026
author: Shen Tao
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.51
book published: 2026
rating: 4
read at: 2026/06/14
date added: 2026/06/14
shelves:
review:
*4.5*

“We hoped for the only thing left for us to hope: that those who came after us would fix the mess we had created. We hoped that the next generation would be a little less foolish, a little less wicked, and that it might be enough to save a nation.”

I loved this! Everything about it was so complex. From the characters to the magic system to the politics, there were so many layers to everything. It surprised me that there wasn’t a romantic plot line, which I also appreciated. I think the relationships still had so much depth without adding romantic feelings to them. I loved the exploration of Terren and Maro’s relationship between the past and present and I love how it was told to us too. I loved that Wei was almost investigating their relationship and trying to make sense of what went wrong between them, as well as why Terren has turned into the monster he is. I really liked the complexity of Terren being a victim but also not being absolved of all the terrible things he’s done. I liked Maro’s backstory and how his sense of duty to his nation was ultimately his downfall. I loved Wei’s thoughts about power and the temptation of it. I like that she was always motivated by doing what she could to protect her people. Overall, this story was so dark and complex and tragic and I loved every minute of it.
]]> 230612594 A girl with a mission. A god with a deal. A story that could change everything.

When 17-year-old Akoma Addo stumbles into a world of ancient gods and modern magic, she’ll have to choose between saving her father… or staying true to everything she’s ever believed.

Akoma Addo has one rule: don’t get too close to the supernatural.

Ever since a blazing orb of light left her father in a coma, she’s buried herself in her secret job investigating magical crimes in San Francisco’s AfricaTown -- just enough to keep her grief at bay. But when a body turns up in a pool of molten gold and ash, Akoma’s pulled into something much bigger -- and far more dangerous. At the center of it all is Anansi, the trickster god of stories, who makes her an impossible offer: help him catch a killer and awaken the ancestral magic buried deep in her blood... and in return, he’ll give her a chance to bring her father back. To take the deal, Akoma will have to lie to everyone she loves and embrace the very power she’s spent years trying to deny. And as her connection grows with Xander, the new guy in town with secrets of his own, Akoma must decide who she can trust -- especially when she’s no longer sure she can even trust herself. Rooted in Ghanaian mythology and packed with mystery, danger, and slow-burning romance, Goldenborn is a gripping fantasy about legacy, lies, and what it really means to rewrite your story.]]> 416 Ama Ofosua Lieb 1546147462 Jessica 0 to-read 3.99 2026
author: Ama Ofosua Lieb
name: Jessica
average rating: 3.99
book published: 2026
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/06/02
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 231770983 From the #1 bestselling author comes an epic story of love and war as two opposing deities find themselves drawn to each other against all odds. Because when Aphrodite and Ares fall in love, sparks are bound to fly.

What would happen if the goddess of love fell for the god of war? Two opposites drawn together against all odds . . .

Aphrodite, Goddess of Love, wields unparalleled power over every divine and mortal heart. Mistaken to be all beauty, no brains, she is in fact the most dangerous of all, driven by passion regardless of the consequences.

While on the surface, Ares, God of War, is her opposite –disliked by everyone and devoted to stirring up conflict – the two are more alike than they realise, each causing havoc for gods and mortals as they rule their primal realms.

These gods are no more immune to the dizzying highs and lows of love and loss than anyone else and before long, they are irresistibly drawn to one another. But there’s only so much room for fire and passion in Zeus’ kingdom, and whilst the God of War may be capable of greater love than anyone else, so may the Goddess of Love be capable of the gravest mistakes.]]> 391 Jennifer Saint 1405973714 Jessica 4
This was so good! I love the way Jennifer Saint writes Greek mythology. She does an amazing job of weaving together different versions of the myths and her own creative liberties. I loved this deep dive into Aphrodite. I’ve never truly read from her POV before. I really enjoyed how much she cares for mortals and her attempts to answer their prayers. I also really like that she, unlike many of the other gods, had a conscience and was able to amend her thinking in certain situations. Her romance with Ares was so good! Ares is very mysterious and keeps to himself. I love how his feelings surprised Aphrodite even. They’re very opposite, but it’s hard not to see the similarities between them. I loved the juxtaposition of her being the goddess of love and him being the god of war, but still finding common ground.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for an ARC of this book.]]> 3.87 2026
author: Jennifer Saint
name: Jessica
average rating: 3.87
book published: 2026
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2026/06/01
shelves:
review:
“He’s the God of War. He stands for the ruin, death and destruction of everything I hold dear. However passionately this fire between us might rage, I can’t let it burn out of control.”

This was so good! I love the way Jennifer Saint writes Greek mythology. She does an amazing job of weaving together different versions of the myths and her own creative liberties. I loved this deep dive into Aphrodite. I’ve never truly read from her POV before. I really enjoyed how much she cares for mortals and her attempts to answer their prayers. I also really like that she, unlike many of the other gods, had a conscience and was able to amend her thinking in certain situations. Her romance with Ares was so good! Ares is very mysterious and keeps to himself. I love how his feelings surprised Aphrodite even. They’re very opposite, but it’s hard not to see the similarities between them. I loved the juxtaposition of her being the goddess of love and him being the god of war, but still finding common ground.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for an ARC of this book.
]]> 31147619
Homegoing follows the parallel paths of these sisters and their descendants through eight generations: from the Gold Coast to the plantations of Mississippi, from the American Civil War to Jazz Age Harlem. Yaa Gyasi’s extraordinary novel illuminates slavery’s troubled legacy both for those who were taken and those who stayed—and shows how the memory of captivity has been inscribed on the soul of our nation.]]> 305 Yaa Gyasi 1101971061 Jessica 0 to-read 4.52 2016
author: Yaa Gyasi
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.52
book published: 2016
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/06/01
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 239320028 From mega-bestselling author Tiffany D. Jackson comes this highly anticipated follow-up to her middle grade debut Blood in the Water.The Only Black Girl on the Ghost Tour is another spine-tingling, can't-put-it-down mystery, this time set in America's Most Haunted City.Savannah, Georgia is a city on edge when twelve-year-old Harmony arrives with her blues musician father for a summer gig. The recent disappearance of a local boy remains unsolved and the trail has gone cold, leaving the simmering community without answers or closure.Savannah, with its mossy trees and ornate old homes, is also a place rich in history...and ghosts. Ghosts are what pique Harmony's interest. Still reeling from her losses back home, Harmony wants to believe in ghost stories...but isn't sure what's real. When she goes on one of the many ghost tours around town, she takes a photo of what might be a ghost. Or is it a hoax?As Harmony and her new friends look into the truth behind the ghost picture, they stumble into a dangerously tangled web of ambition, lies...and murder.Can Harmony unravel the mystery in time...or will she have to give up the ghost?New York Times bestselling author Tiffany D. Jackson delivers thrills and chills once more with this layered, evocative mystery that is sure to give readers goosebumps.]]> 288 Tiffany D. Jackson Jessica 0 to-read 3.85 2026
author: Tiffany D. Jackson
name: Jessica
average rating: 3.85
book published: 2026
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/06/01
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 214152076 Mexican Gothic meets Everything I Never Told You in Christina Li’s haunting novel about the secrets that lie in wait in the crumbling mansion of a former Hollywood starlet, and the intertwined fates of the two Chinese American families fighting to inherit it.

They say what you don’t know can’t hurt you. But silence can be deadly.

Vivian Yin is dead. The first Chinese actress to win an Oscar, the trailblazing ingénue rose to fame in the eighties, only to disappear from the spotlight at the height of her career and live out the rest of her life as a recluse.

Now her remaining family members are gathered for the reading of her will and her daughters expect to inherit their childhood Vivian’s grand, sprawling Southern California garden estate. But due to a last-minute change to the will, the house is passed on to another family instead—one that has suddenly returned after decades of estrangement.

In hopes of staking their claim, both families move into the mansion. Amidst the grief and paranoia of the families’ unhappy reunion, Vivian’s daughters race to piece together what happened in the last weeks of their mother’s life, only to realize they are being haunted by something much more sinister and vengeful than their regrets. After so many years of silence, will the families finally confront the painful truth about the last fateful summer they spent in the house, or will they cling to their secrets until it’s too late?

Told in dual timelines, spanning three generations, and brimming with romance, betrayal, ambition and sacrifice, The Manor of Dreams is a thrilling family gothic that examines the true cost of the American dream—and what happens when the roots we set down in this country turn to rot.]]> 352 Christina Li 1668051729 Jessica 0 to-read 3.55 2025
author: Christina Li
name: Jessica
average rating: 3.55
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/05/29
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 237846888 PRINTING WITH SPECIAL STAINED EDGE

From the award-winning New York Times and Indie bestselling author of Ace of Spades comes a mystery about five teen geniuses, their billionaire father, and the aftermath of his murder—perfect for fans of The Inheritance Games, Umbrella Academy, and Knives Out!

Five prodigies, one dead father, a mansion full of suspects…

Octavius the Maestro.
Fola the Brain.
Bilal the Olympian.
Perdita the Artist.
Romeo the Failure.

These are the five heirs of the illustrious billionaire Leontes Button. Adopted and viciously trained with their father’s infamous “Button Method” to prove his hypothesis for creating prodigies—child geniuses—the Button siblings have had no choice but to be brilliant according to their father's impossibly high standards.

Until he is murdered at his annual Prodigy Ball.

Now, all who attended the ball are required to stay in the Button Manor while the police investigate. But the officers have their work cut out for them—each of the Button siblings has something to hide, but The Heirs aren't the only ones with secrets. After all, Leontes Button was especially good at making enemies. . .]]> 352 Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé 1250327008 Jessica 4
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan for an ARC of this book!]]> 3.53 2026
author: Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
name: Jessica
average rating: 3.53
book published: 2026
rating: 4
read at: 2026/05/24
date added: 2026/05/24
shelves:
review:
This was a very fun murder mystery. Lots of twists and turns and secrets. I loved all the sibling dynamics and getting to know each of the characters in their own POVs. I loved the writing and the different flashbacks to the past. Overall this was a very entertaining read and I really enjoyed every character.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan for an ARC of this book!
]]> 248945999 256 Olivie Blake 1250365392 Jessica 0 to-read 4.17
author: Olivie Blake
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.17
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/05/20
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 237615214 The devil has come to town. And he wants a library card. Star author Olivie Blake and artist Little Chmura kick off a deliciously dark graphic novel romance series with Clara & the Devil, Volume 1.

Clara has the rest of her life figured out. She’ll graduate college with the support of her best friend, Jonah; marry her adoring boyfriend; take a full-time job at her local library; and settle down in her small seaside hometown. But when an unusual tourist―tall, dark, and infernal―comes to town, Clara’s careful plans quickly start to unravel.

And even while the stranger, who openly calls himself the devil, strikes up a situationship with Jonah, he continues to tempt Clara with reckless talk of power, ambition, and lust. Over the course of one sultry summer, tensions between Clara, Jonah, and the devil mount to an intolerable degree, and Clara is forced to confront the desires she’s kept secret her whole life, even from herself.

This deliciously dark tale of Faustian bargains and seduction from New York Times–bestselling author Olivie Blake and fan-favorite artist Little Chmura kicks off a series that explores artistry and power through the temptation of the seven deadly sins.]]> 176 Olivie Blake 1250365368 Jessica 4 3.61 2026
author: Olivie Blake
name: Jessica
average rating: 3.61
book published: 2026
rating: 4
read at: 2026/05/14
date added: 2026/05/14
shelves:
review:
Love this little messy story and the art is absolutely gorgeous.
]]> 241096234
It's a hole the new kid, Anthony Brooks, seems to fit right into. So when he invites the Five to join him on a private island for a week at his dad's luxury resort, they agree with zero hesitation. No one's counting on a freak tropical storm swooping in and killing the vibe. And speaking of killing, they're also ill-prepared for the mounting collection of dead bodies... including (another) one of their own.

As their dream trip unravels, everything they tried to leave behind--secrets, lies, betrayals, dead best friends--seems to be washing up on the shore of their lives for everyone to see. Will any of them make it out alive?]]> 352 Dhonielle Clayton 0063217503 Jessica 0 to-read 3.27 2026
author: Dhonielle Clayton
name: Jessica
average rating: 3.27
book published: 2026
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/05/12
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 61287784
Whisked away to his crumbling manor, Liska soon discovers the sinister roots of their bargain. And if she wants to survive the year and return home, she must unravel her host’s spool of secrets and face the ghosts of his past.

Those who enter the wood do not always return…]]> 336 A.B. Poranek Jessica 0 to-read 4.00 2024
author: A.B. Poranek
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/05/11
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 224009620 The gods are dead. All that’s left are the Players…

The performers of the Playhouse are as worshipped as they are feared, their enchanting shows bending hearts, minds, and even reality itself. Vicious, godlike, lethal. Eighteen-year-old Riven Hesper knows the dangers better than anyone, after her own encounter with a Player resulted in a curse that is slowly killing her.

When the Playhouse announces the spectacle of a lifetime—a chance for one mortal to steal a Player’s immortality—Riven sees her last chance to live. Desperate for answers, she infiltrates the competition. There, she finds Jude, the Playhouse’s brilliant, merciless Lead Player, whose charm is as dangerous as his Craft, and strikes a deadly bargain to save her life.

But with time running out and the Playhouse’s secrets unraveling into a disturbing picture, Riven faces a grim possibility: she might not be the hero of her story after all. In fact, she may be the villain.

Because the Playhouse doesn’t just tell stories. It rewrites them.

And Riven’s might end in blood.

Caraval meets One Dark Window in this lush and dark fantasy.]]> 513 Shannon J. Spann 164937951X Jessica 0 to-read 4.06 2026
author: Shannon J. Spann
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2026
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/05/11
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 218185743
Before fleeing the scene, the murderer whispered two words: bat eater.

Months pass, the killer is never caught, and Cora can barely keep herself together. She pushes away all feelings, disregards the bite marks that appear on her coffee table, and won't take her aunt's advice to prepare for the Hungry Ghost Festival, when the gates of hell open.

Cora tries to ignore the rising dread in her stomach, even when she and her weird co-workers begin finding bat carcasses at their crime scene clean-ups. But Cora can't ignore the fact that all their recent clean-ups have been the bodies of East Asian women.

Soon Cora will learn: you can't just ignore hungry ghosts.]]> 304 Kylie Lee Baker 0778368459 Jessica 3
“Because a bat eater is the kind of person that white men want to hurt, the kind of person who tangles their fear and hate together and elicits their rage, the kind of person who scares them. And Cora knows all too well that you can't fear someone who has no power over you.”

I really liked the horror and mystery elements of this story. I liked the commentary it was making about discrimination against Asian people during the pandemic. I wasn’t super invested in the characters but I did really enjoy Cora’s friendship with Yifei and Harvey. Overall I enjoyed reading this and think it has important things to say about a very recent time period in our history.]]> 4.05 2025
author: Kylie Lee Baker
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2025
rating: 3
read at: 2026/05/10
date added: 2026/05/10
shelves:
review:
*3.5*

“Because a bat eater is the kind of person that white men want to hurt, the kind of person who tangles their fear and hate together and elicits their rage, the kind of person who scares them. And Cora knows all too well that you can't fear someone who has no power over you.”

I really liked the horror and mystery elements of this story. I liked the commentary it was making about discrimination against Asian people during the pandemic. I wasn’t super invested in the characters but I did really enjoy Cora’s friendship with Yifei and Harvey. Overall I enjoyed reading this and think it has important things to say about a very recent time period in our history.
]]> 60487390
After Yara responds to a colleague’s racist provocation, she is put on probation at work and must attend mandatory counselling. Her mother blames a family curse for Yara’s troubles, and while Yara doesn’t believe in superstitions, she still finds herself growing increasingly uneasy about falling victim to the same mistakes as her mother.

Yara’s carefully constructed world begins to implode and suddenly she must face up to the difficulties of her childhood, not fully realising how that will impact not just her own future, but that of her daughters too.]]> 352 Etaf Rum 0063227886 Jessica 4
“How much she wanted to be better, to do things differently. But change didn't happen with a single recognition, a single step in the right direction. It was messy, courage come and gone, steps taken forward, then back. It was bravery laced with fear.”

I feel like this story’s main focus was on mental health which, the author didn’t go super in depth with in her last novel. I really enjoyed being inside Yara’s mind and following her on this journey. I like that on the surface Yara’s life seems good. She has a decent job, she loves her kids, and her husband doesn’t treat her badly. I liked seeing her realize she wants more for her life and that just because things are good doesn’t mean your feelings of sadness and frustration are invalid. I loved the discussion around breaking generational trauma and seeing how it impacts you in your relationships as well as with your self image. The story could be a bit repetitive at times, but I feel like it was intentional in order to portray the non linear process of healing from childhood trauma. Overall I really enjoyed this and at a certain point I couldn’t put it down. ]]> 3.84 2023
author: Etaf Rum
name: Jessica
average rating: 3.84
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2026/05/06
date added: 2026/05/07
shelves:
review:
*4.5*

“How much she wanted to be better, to do things differently. But change didn't happen with a single recognition, a single step in the right direction. It was messy, courage come and gone, steps taken forward, then back. It was bravery laced with fear.”

I feel like this story’s main focus was on mental health which, the author didn’t go super in depth with in her last novel. I really enjoyed being inside Yara’s mind and following her on this journey. I like that on the surface Yara’s life seems good. She has a decent job, she loves her kids, and her husband doesn’t treat her badly. I liked seeing her realize she wants more for her life and that just because things are good doesn’t mean your feelings of sadness and frustration are invalid. I loved the discussion around breaking generational trauma and seeing how it impacts you in your relationships as well as with your self image. The story could be a bit repetitive at times, but I feel like it was intentional in order to portray the non linear process of healing from childhood trauma. Overall I really enjoyed this and at a certain point I couldn’t put it down.
]]> 240019870 DELUXE EDITION—a beautiful hardcover edition featuring sprayed edges.

A new epic romantic, dystopian fantasy begins in Seek the Traitor's Son, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth

Elegy Ahn did not ask for destiny to find her.

She is happy with her life as a soldier, defending her small country from the Talusar, a powerful nation who worships a deadly Fever. A fever that blesses half of its victims with mysterious gifts.

But then she’s summoned to hear a prophecy–her, and the most ruthless of Talusar generals, Rava Vidar. Brought face to face, they learn that one of them will lead their people to victory over the other…but they don’t know which. And at the center of both of their fates: a man. A man that, Elegy is told, she will fall in love with.

In just one day, Elegy’s old life–her job, her purpose, and her future–is over. She and Rava are destined to collide, with the fate of their nations hanging in the balance. And when they do, only one will be left standing.

Elegy intends to make sure it’s her.]]> 416 Veronica Roth 1250347904 Jessica 5
I absolutely loved this and wasn’t really expecting it. The highlight of this story for me is Theren’s character. He’s got a lot of trauma but he’s also so good at reading emotions and does literally anything Elegy asks of him. I loved seeing their relationship develop throughout the story. They both carry different kinds of grief and it was so interesting to see them navigate that together. I love the world building. It’s so sci fi and dystopian and I love the politics between Talsuar and Cedre. I love the role that fate plays in the plot of this book and how we don’t get a lot of Rava’s POV (yet?) I was pleasantly surprised that this was not going to be a typical love triangle. I like that Theren’s at the center of this prophecy but not in the ways you would expect. I also love how Elegy began to accept her role as the Hope of Cedre and started believing in, not only the prophecy, but in herself. Overall I really enjoyed this and I cannot wait for the rest of the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor for an ARC of this book!]]> 4.04 2026
author: Veronica Roth
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2026
rating: 5
read at: 2026/04/30
date added: 2026/04/30
shelves:
review:
“If she believed she was the Hope of Cedre, she had to also believe that she would love a man who wasn’t Shir. She would have to accept her own inconstant heart.”

I absolutely loved this and wasn’t really expecting it. The highlight of this story for me is Theren’s character. He’s got a lot of trauma but he’s also so good at reading emotions and does literally anything Elegy asks of him. I loved seeing their relationship develop throughout the story. They both carry different kinds of grief and it was so interesting to see them navigate that together. I love the world building. It’s so sci fi and dystopian and I love the politics between Talsuar and Cedre. I love the role that fate plays in the plot of this book and how we don’t get a lot of Rava’s POV (yet?) I was pleasantly surprised that this was not going to be a typical love triangle. I like that Theren’s at the center of this prophecy but not in the ways you would expect. I also love how Elegy began to accept her role as the Hope of Cedre and started believing in, not only the prophecy, but in herself. Overall I really enjoyed this and I cannot wait for the rest of the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor for an ARC of this book!
]]> 240357820 From the New York Times bestselling author of Kaikeyi, a galvanizing stand-alone contemporary fantasy following a burnt-out reproductive health care worker as she fights back against escalating attacks on her clinic and the malevolent forces in hot pursuit of her newly acquired power.

As a reproductive health care worker in Chicago, Nisha is barely staying afloat in the ocean of abortion bans, screaming protestors, and her own all-consuming depression.

When she escapes to the Indian art exhibit at her favorite museum for a brief respite, Nisha suddenly finds herself bleeding, disoriented, and collapsed on the ground. The last thing she remembers is the statue that beckoned her to touch it. In the days that follow, Nisha feels a strange power coursing within her, one that attracts a host of dangerous and enigmatic characters who covet it for themselves.

Facing threats both otherworldly and distinctly human, Nisha must navigate uncertain alliances to piece together the centuries-old mystery of her odd and terrifying abilities. And as danger closes in on her loved ones, community, and the clinic she’s determined to protect, Nisha must make a choice about the life she wants—and fight all the demons standing in her way to get it.]]> 304 Vaishnavi Patel 1668068591 Jessica 0 to-read 3.79 2026
author: Vaishnavi Patel
name: Jessica
average rating: 3.79
book published: 2026
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/04/30
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 36797830
Ten years later, Victor breaks out of prison, determined to catch up to his old friend (now foe), aided by a young girl whose reserved nature obscures a stunning ability. Meanwhile, Eli is on a mission to eradicate every other super-powered person that he can find--aside from his sidekick, an enigmatic woman with an unbreakable will. Armed with terrible power on both sides, driven by the memory of betrayal and loss, the archnemeses have set a course for revenge--but who will be left alive at the end?

In Vicious, V. E. Schwab brings to life a gritty comic-book-style world in vivid prose: a world where gaining superpowers doesn't automatically lead to heroism, and a time when allegiances are called into question.]]> 364 V.E. Schwab 1250183502 Jessica 0 to-read 4.29 2013
author: V.E. Schwab
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2013
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/04/27
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 243263467
Aurelie Chantelune was born to serve. Raised as a knight in a kingdom ravaged by demons, she's spent her life honing her blade, driven by the memory of the monsters who tore her family apart and by the knowledge that she's one of the few who can stop them.

If Aurelie can claim her first kill, she'll inherit a legacy passed down through the Chantelune bloodline: a soulbond with Yuriel, an angel whose power is vital to her kingdom's survival. But when those she loves begin turning into the very monsters she's sworn to destroy, Aurelie is forced to seek help from the last place she ever imagined. Desperate, she forges a second and far more dangerous bond with Severin, a demon she can hardly trust, but who claims to know how to end the war for good.

With their lives and fates entwined, Aurelie, Yuriel, and Severin must team up to hunt down a cure capable of turning demons back into humans. But the more they learn about one another and the deeper their relationships grow, the more Aurelie begins to question the war and her place in it. With both of her bonded on opposing sides, she'll have to make a choice: continue to stand with the angels, or risk everything by trusting a demon.]]> 512 Adalyn Grace 1250397758 Jessica 0 to-read 4.33 2026
author: Adalyn Grace
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.33
book published: 2026
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/04/24
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 244714079 A mysterious realm on the other side of our screens. A dark force that draws victims into its static. The unlikely hero called to save them and herself from this electric hell. Public Access Afterworld is the profound, binge-all-night, headrush of a novel by the celebrated filmmaker of I Saw the TV Glow.

Find the receiver. Make it real.

At 5:35pm on September 3rd, 1988, Dallas weatherman Ray “Can You Say Sunshine” Davino makes passing reference to Public Access Afterworld during a rambling monologue, right before he puts a gun to his head on live television and pulls the trigger.

On June 12th, 2009, David Sawyer and Erin Morrison, two lonely, TV-obsessed suburban teens who might be falling in love, gather in Erin’s basement to watch TV’s analog-to-digital transition. But in the static that follows, Erin witnesses surreal broadcasts from a pirate TV network called Public Access Afterworld and their lives are changed forever.

Seventeen years later, Bethany Peters toils through the night shift at megacorp GlobalVill’s bleak Austin campus. A trans content moderator, she spends her evenings reviewing an endless stream of horrific videos. But then a young streamer begins to crop up in her feed calling out to Public Access Afterworld.

But what is Public Access Afterworld?

Spanning decades and realities, with an unforgettable ensemble of outcasts and nerds, especially the messy but wholly relatable Bethany who must overcome paranoia and self-doubt to transform into a hero of our times, Public Access Afterworld will have you reading through the night and rooting for its characters to survive. A mesmerizing mashup of speculative fiction, horror, and conspiracy, it marks the arrival of a major new force in contemporary fiction by a groundbreaking filmmaker who’s been compared to David Lynch and Paul Thomas Anderson.]]> 608 Jane Schoenbrun 0593978382 Jessica 0 to-read 4.29 2026
author: Jane Schoenbrun
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2026
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/04/21
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 241039344 A battle-worn corporate samurai undertakes one last mission on a merciless planet where death is always a mere breath away, in this standalone dystopian epic from the author of the modern fantasy classic Jade City.

LIVE BY THE CODE. DIE BY THE KNIFE.

Isako is a legendary swordswoman, but every legend must come to an end. When her long-time client unexpectedly retires, she plans to follow—to walk out into the frozen wasteland of their planet with her head held high and her family enriched by her death. But when she’s offered a final mission, she can’t refuse, especially when she realizes who lies at the center of it all: Martim, her last—and worst—apprentice, who’s somehow made his way to the top. As she’s thrust into a world of corporate espionage and shadowy secrets, what she uncovers could forever change humanity’s existence among the stars.

The Last Contract of Isako is epic science fiction like only Fonda Lee can write it—set in a world where money trumps loyalty, the elite have the power to extend life or end it, and one woman in the twilight of her calling must decide what’s ultimately worth living—or dying—for.]]> 514 Fonda Lee 0316568651 Jessica 0 to-read 4.06 2026
author: Fonda Lee
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2026
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/04/20
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 34313931 339 Etaf Rum 0062699768 Jessica 4
“A man leaves the house a man and comes back a man. No one can take that away from him. But a woman was a fragile thing.”

There are many things I loved about this book despite it being so sad. I loved the exploration of generational trauma through the multiple POVs of Deya, Isra, and Fareeda. It was also so interesting to see something from one character’s perspective versus another’s. Particularly the difference between what Deya remembers of her mother compared to how Sarah knew her. Fareeda’s point of view is so interesting because it really gets into the mindset of a woman who is so stuck in her ways due to her trauma. You feel angry at her but also empathize with her experiences. I also like the conversation, or really the lack of conversation, around mental health and how that affected characters like Isra and Adam and what part their culture/religion plays in that. At times this book could be a bit too repetitive but I think it was purposeful in order to emphasize the strictness of their culture and how stuck some of these characters feel. Overall, this was such a tragic read but also very powerful.]]> 4.24 2019
author: Etaf Rum
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.24
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2026/04/18
date added: 2026/04/18
shelves:
review:
*4.5*

“A man leaves the house a man and comes back a man. No one can take that away from him. But a woman was a fragile thing.”

There are many things I loved about this book despite it being so sad. I loved the exploration of generational trauma through the multiple POVs of Deya, Isra, and Fareeda. It was also so interesting to see something from one character’s perspective versus another’s. Particularly the difference between what Deya remembers of her mother compared to how Sarah knew her. Fareeda’s point of view is so interesting because it really gets into the mindset of a woman who is so stuck in her ways due to her trauma. You feel angry at her but also empathize with her experiences. I also like the conversation, or really the lack of conversation, around mental health and how that affected characters like Isra and Adam and what part their culture/religion plays in that. At times this book could be a bit too repetitive but I think it was purposeful in order to emphasize the strictness of their culture and how stuck some of these characters feel. Overall, this was such a tragic read but also very powerful.
]]> 123847580 A surprising gift brings closure for an elderly widow in a poignant story about grief, memory, and the persistence of love by the acclaimed, award-winning author of Miracle Creek.

Korean immigrant Mina Pak Johnson is clearing out the last of her husband’s things when she finds a picnic basket in his closet—a long-forgotten wedding present from her mother. With it comes decades of memories—of her mother’s wishes for her to be happy and her own shattered hopes for her first child—and regret at never having used it. Pushing her husband’s ashes and a bottle of wine in a rusty old stroller, Mina is determined to re-create the picnic they never had. But with it comes something Mina never expected, illuminating a loving gesture her husband made years ago.]]> 27 Angie Kim 1662512872 Jessica 0 to-read 4.24 2023
author: Angie Kim
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.24
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/04/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 123852603
A daughter and mother: two women miles, years, and dreams apart. One defies traditions and expectations. The other conforms to them, even in a new land. Their emotional distance grows while the daughter, now a wife and mother herself, comes to better understand the woman she’s become and why, as she ruminates on inherited trauma, the need to forgive, and the lengths she’ll go to free herself from the past.

Etaf Rum’s Mother Country is part of Good Intentions, a riveting collection of stories about the instincts, fears, and fierce love inherent in motherhood from award-winning, bestselling authors. Read or listen to each in a single sitting.]]> 52 Etaf Rum 1662513747 Jessica 0 to-read 4.14
author: Etaf Rum
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.14
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/04/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 123852590 Black Cake.

One year after her mother’s death, a woman prepares to celebrate her fortieth birthday. Digging through a trunk in the attic, looking for keepsakes for the occasion, she discovers photographs that call into question everything she believed about her life. The truth is a different story—one of a little girl in danger, a lie, and a mother’s love so fierce it led her to do the unimaginable.

Charmaine Wilkerson’s Deluge is part of Good Intentions, a riveting collection of stories about the instincts, fears, and fierce love inherent in motherhood from award-winning, bestselling authors. Read or listen to each in a single sitting.]]> 37 Charmaine Wilkerson 1662515278 Jessica 0 to-read 3.81 2023
author: Charmaine Wilkerson
name: Jessica
average rating: 3.81
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/04/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 246242863 The finale of Lore Olympus has arrived! Witness Hades and Persephone’s modern, romantic reimagining in this gorgeously illustrated, Eisner Award–winning comic—now including a never-before-seen bonus short story!

“It’s time to set things right.”

The race is on to save the Mortal Realm, but tragedy strikes when Kronos hijacks Morpheus’s body and kidnaps Hades. Now alone and unsure of the right way forward, Persephone is called to a leadership meeting of the gods, only to find that Apollo can manipulate her powers. He claims the spectacle proves that in order to save humanity she must marry him.

Before Persephone can even consider this cursed deal, Hera steps forward with a different solution: She will offer herself to Kronos in order to gain access to old Tartarus, wherein they’ll be able to destroy the titan, save their captured friends, and restore Persephone’s control over spring. Though the plan is risky, the gods agree it is the only path, and watch as the two goddesses descend into the depths to confront Kronos.

Meanwhile, Hades awakens in his worst nightmare, transported back in time—and right into his father’s clutches. Tortured and made to feel small, Hades thinks there is no way to escape until he meets the prisoner Kronos has been using to control the other gods. With the young goddess’s help, Hades finally finds the strength to face the titan. Combined with Persephone and Hera’s efforts, they are able to end Kronos’s influence over Olympus once and for all.

But Kronos is not the only danger the gods face. Apollo is revealed to be receiving aid from Olympus’s original tyrant, Ouranos, and the Primordial God has come to collect on the debt that arrogant Apollo owes him. And if Ouranos is unleashed once more, it will be the end of everything . . .

Can Hades and Persephone find their way back to each other and stop Apollo before he destroys the realms in his dangerous quest for power?

This edition of Smythe’s original Eisner Award–winning webcomic Lore Olympus features a brand-new, exclusive short story from creator Rachel Smythe and brings the Greek pantheon into the modern age in a sharply perceptive and romantic graphic novel.

This final volume collects episodes 261–280 of the #1 WEBTOON comic Lore Olympus.]]> 448 Rachel Smythe Jessica 0 to-read 4.52 2026
author: Rachel Smythe
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.52
book published: 2026
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/04/12
shelves: to-read
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]]> 241125549 Hades and Persephone get a modern, romantic reimagining in Lore Olympus, a gorgeously illustrated, Eisner Award-winning comic—now including a never-before-seen bonus short story!

“The Mortal Realm—it’s dying.”

After years of yearning, the big day has finally arrived: Hades and Persephone are getting married! It’s the ceremony of the century, and practically all the gods are invited to celebrate the happy couple. The wedding, full of love and joy, provides a much-needed respite for the pantheon . . . but the newlyweds have no time for a honeymoon.

The king and queen of the Underworld begin unprecedented dives into the dream world to find the god that Kronos took hostage—and, hopefully, to get answers on defeating the furious titan once and for all. During their explorations, they begin to suspect that Persephone’s powers over spring may have been altered. Their theory is proven correct with deadly consequences: When Persephone returns to the Mortal Realm, she ushers in not the regular change of seasons, but a never-ending winter.

And while the gods worry about the total annihilation of the Mortal Realm, Apollo uses the chaos as cover for an attempt to kill Zeus. He claims his dying father’s throne and decrees that the only way to save the Mortal Realm is if Persephone—and her power—belong to him. The others reject his outrageous demand, proposing instead that whoever can fix the failing seasons will be named interim ruler of Olympus. Hope now rests with the struggling goddess to find a way to stop the treacherous Apollo and save humankind—or else be separated from Hades forever.

This edition of Smythe’s original Eisner Award–winning webcomic Lore Olympus features a brand-new, exclusive short story from creator Rachel Smythe and brings the Greek pantheon into the modern age in a sharply perceptive and romantic graphic novel.

This volume collects episodes 234–260 of the #1 WEBTOON comic Lore Olympus.]]> 448 Rachel Smythe 0593872029 Jessica 0 to-read 4.43 2026
author: Rachel Smythe
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.43
book published: 2026
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/04/12
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 123163998
LIVE BY THE CODE. DIE BY THE KNIFE.

Isako is a legendary swordswoman, but every legend must come to an end. When her long-time client unexpectedly retires, she plans to follow—to walk out into the frozen wasteland of their planet with her head held high and her family enriched by her death. But when she's offered a final mission, she can't refuse, especially when she realizes who lies at the center of it Martim, her last—and worst—apprentice, who's somehow made his way to the top. As she's thrust into a world of corporate espionage and shadowy secrets, what she uncovers could forever change humanity's existence among the stars.

The Last Contract of Isako is epic science fiction like only Fonda Lee can write it—set in a world where money trumps loyalty, the elite have the power to extend life or end it, and one woman in the twilight of her calling must decide what's ultimately worth living—or dying—for.]]> 528 Fonda Lee Jessica 0 to-read 3.96 2026
author: Fonda Lee
name: Jessica
average rating: 3.96
book published: 2026
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/04/07
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 123001903 The stunning sequel to A River Enchanted finds the human and faerie realms threatened by an immortal enemy whose defeat can only come through fire, song, and heartrending sacrifice.

East and west. Humans and spirits.

The tenuous balance of the Isle of Cadence is under threat from Bane, the spirit of the north wind.

In the west, Adaira struggles to find her place. And, though magic blooms there, the spirits suffer beneath Bane’s harsh power, felt in every gust of wind.

In the east, Jack Tamerlaine is adrift without Adaira, until he acquires a mission destined to lead him back to her. But among the Tamerlaines sickness is spreading and Torin desperately strikes a bargain with the spirits – a folly at any time.

With their very land at risk, all will need to join together to confront Bane. Yet none can challenge the north wind without paying a terrible price, and the sacrifice required may be more than they can bear…]]> 512 Rebecca Ross 0063056046 Jessica 5
This was so perfect. Rebecca Ross has beautiful writing that transports you to the Isle of Cadence. There was always so much going on and I loved how everything came together in the end. I loved the politics between the East and the West and how Adaira navigated them as well as her relationship with her parents. I loved getting to see more of the spirit world and how the hierarchy came to be. I loved Sidra and Torin’s storyline. They were both challenged in different ways and had to grow separately before they were reunited. Of course I loved Adaira and Jack. Seeing them stronger than ever while still having their own responsibilities. Overall I absolutely love this duology and these characters and I will definitely miss this story.]]> 4.37 2022
author: Rebecca Ross
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.37
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at: 2026/04/07
date added: 2026/04/07
shelves:
review:
“I want to write a ballad with you, not in notes but in our choices, in the simplicity and routine of our life together.”

This was so perfect. Rebecca Ross has beautiful writing that transports you to the Isle of Cadence. There was always so much going on and I loved how everything came together in the end. I loved the politics between the East and the West and how Adaira navigated them as well as her relationship with her parents. I loved getting to see more of the spirit world and how the hierarchy came to be. I loved Sidra and Torin’s storyline. They were both challenged in different ways and had to grow separately before they were reunited. Of course I loved Adaira and Jack. Seeing them stronger than ever while still having their own responsibilities. Overall I absolutely love this duology and these characters and I will definitely miss this story.
]]> 242513556 The stakes are high, the love is forbidden, and the slow burn turns steamy in this swoony, witty, and heart-stoppingly romantic sequel to instant New York Times bestseller The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy.

Osric is a member of the Fyren Order, a guild of assassins who gleefully murder for money. Aurienne is a Haelan, a scholar-healer whose Order’s motto is Harm to none. Clear-cut absolutes separate them: good and bad, right and wrong, light and dark . . .

Until they don’t.

When Osric first bribed Aurienne to heal him, he never imagined those lines would begin to blur. But every healing session draws them closer together. He finds himself developing unwanted feelings for Aurienne as her capable hands heal his body—and his heart.

Aurienne’s perfect life has been flung into chaos in the form of a devastatingly handsome assassin. She should be in her research lab, not illicitly healing a Fyren every full moon—nor wrestling an attraction to him that threatens to slip into something else.

Things go superbly sideways when Osric and Aurienne discover more about the deadly Pox deliberately unleashed through the Tīendoms. The plague may be the work of another Order—an Order far nastier than either of them can handle.

As the lines between Osric and Aurienne continue to blur, the balance between peace and war, and love and hate, trembles, shifts, and hinges on a heartbeat.]]> 416 Brigitte Knightley 0593819489 Jessica 0 to-read 4.56 2026
author: Brigitte Knightley
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.56
book published: 2026
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/04/07
shelves: to-read
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]]> 125120424
But Charlie's busy with his bid to become head boy. And while Nick is preparing to leave for uni, he's starting to wonder who he'll be . . . without Charlie.]]> Alice Oseman Jessica 0 to-read 4.54 2026
author: Alice Oseman
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.54
book published: 2026
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/04/03
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 239205900 The stakes are high, the love is forbidden, and the slow burn turns steamy in this swoony, witty, and heart-stoppingly romantic sequel to instant New York Times bestseller The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy.

Osric is a member of the Fyren Order, a guild of assassins who gleefully murder for money. Aurienne is a Haelan, a scholar-healer whose Order’s motto is Harm to none. Clear-cut absolutes separate them: good and bad, right and wrong, light and dark . . .

Until they don’t.

When Osric first bribed Aurienne to heal him, he never imagined those lines would begin to blur. But every healing session draws them closer together. He finds himself developing unwanted feelings for Aurienne as her capable hands heal his body—and his heart.

Aurienne’s perfect life has been flung into chaos in the form of a devastatingly handsome assassin. She should be in her research lab, not illicitly healing a Fyren every full moon—nor wrestling an attraction to him that threatens to slip into something else.

Things go superbly sideways when Osric and Aurienne discover more about the deadly Pox deliberately unleashed through the Tīendoms. The plague may be the work of another Order—an Order far nastier than either of them can handle.

As the lines between Osric and Aurienne continue to blur, the balance between peace and war, and love and hate, trembles, shifts, and hinges on a heartbeat.]]> 336 Brigitte Knightley 0356524779 Jessica 0 to-read 4.45 2026
author: Brigitte Knightley
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.45
book published: 2026
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/04/02
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 247546631 From R.F. Kuang, the acclaimed #1 New York Times bestselling author of Katabasis and Yellowface, comes a wryly humorous and profoundly moving coming-of-age novel that grapples with grief, language, and culture shock—all set against the backdrop of an unforgettable summer in Taipei.

College freshman Lily Chen is off to spend the summer in Taipei at an intensive language program like so many Chinese American students before her, hoping to connect with the culture she inherited but never fully understood. But a promising start quickly unravels. Her classes are grueling, her roommate is driving her insane, and a reckless trip to the hot springs with a guy she barely knows soon has her classmates viciously gossiping. She feels adrift, a foreigner in a country she thought would feel like home.

Then shocking news Lily’s grandfather has passed away. The loss forces her to grapple with now-unanswerable questions about her family history. As Lily grieves, she’s drawn into a journey of self-discovery—piecing together memories, stories, and silences over a series of hilarious and devastating attempts at connection.

Taipei Story What if the diaspora fantasy of homecoming never comes true? What if learning a language can’t bring you any closer to the people you’re trying to reach? What if you search for your family’s history, but your family doesn’t want to share? What if you wait too long to ask the right questions? As Lily struggles for answers, her summer becomes a poignant search for understanding—of herself, her family, and the meaning of home.]]> 288 R.F. Kuang 0063473747 Jessica 0 to-read 3.64 2026
author: R.F. Kuang
name: Jessica
average rating: 3.64
book published: 2026
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/04/02
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 242232422 From #1 New York Times bestselling author Leigh Bardugo comes a new Grishaverse short story: a mystery told through found documents and set after the events of Crooked Kingdom.

In the years since the violent upheaval caused by the auction of Kuwei Yul-Bo, the merchants of Ketterdam have been under attack. Secret businesses exposed. Ships sunk. Slavers hunted as they once hunted their victims. All the work of a mysterious sea captain and her ship, the Wraith.

Now, two investigators meet to uncover the truth behind the latest disaster: a massacre on an island off the shores of Ketterdam. Among the evidence collected is private correspondence between notorious crime boss Kaz Brekker and an anonymous sailor aboard the Wraith known only as “I.”

Follow along with the lead investigator as he tries to piece together how such a disaster transpired, and explore the Grishaverse like never before with new illustrations by E.K. Belsher and in-world collectible items.]]> 64 Leigh Bardugo Jessica 0 to-read 4.53 2026
author: Leigh Bardugo
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.53
book published: 2026
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/04/01
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 62132219
As Jack and Adaira reluctantly work together, they find they make better allies than rivals as their partnership turns into something more. But with each passing song, it becomes apparent the trouble with the spirits is far more sinister than they first expected, and an older, darker secret about Cadence lurks beneath the surface, threatening to undo them all.]]> 487 Rebecca Ross Jessica 5
I loved this so much. It was so cozy and comforting to read, but still managed to have high stakes and tense moments. This world is so magical and unpredictable and the world building was written so beautifully. I loved all the characters and how their relationships developed over time. It shows love that is very quiet and simple but still manages to reveal complexities in it’s characters. It’s full of love that sneaks up on you and takes your breath away.]]> 4.11 2022
author: Rebecca Ross
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at: 2026/03/28
date added: 2026/03/28
shelves:
review:
“Yes, but I once thought home was simply a place. Four walls to hold you at night while you slept. But I was wrong. It’s people. It’s being with the ones that you love, and maybe even the ones that you hate.”

I loved this so much. It was so cozy and comforting to read, but still managed to have high stakes and tense moments. This world is so magical and unpredictable and the world building was written so beautifully. I loved all the characters and how their relationships developed over time. It shows love that is very quiet and simple but still manages to reveal complexities in it’s characters. It’s full of love that sneaks up on you and takes your breath away.
]]> 222376600 From the acclaimed author of The Stardust Grail comes the epic tale of two sisters who sail across oceans to find their missing third sister―and Earth’s environmental salvation.

In Earth's not too distant future, seas consume coastal cities, highways disintegrate underwater, and mutant fish lurk in pirate-controlled depths. Skipper, a skilled sailor and the youngest of three sisters, earns money skimming and reselling plastic from the ocean to care for her ailing grandmother.

But then her eldest sister, Nora, goes missing. Nora left home a decade ago in pursuit of a cure for failing crops all over the world. When Skipper and her other sister, Carmen, receive a cryptic plea for help, they must put aside their differences and set out across the sea to find―and save―her. As they voyage through a dying world both beautiful and strange, encountering other travelers along the way, they learn more about their sister's work and the corporations that want what she discovered.

But the farther they go, the more uncertain their mission becomes: What dangerous attention did Nora attract, and how well do they really know their sister―or each other? Thus begins an epic journey spanning oceans and continents and a wistful rumination on sisterhood, friendship, and ecological disaster.

--

Content warnings available on the author's website (see author bio).]]> 384 Yume Kitasei 1250380960 Jessica 0 to-read 3.78 2025
author: Yume Kitasei
name: Jessica
average rating: 3.78
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/03/21
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 195791479 Save one world. Doom her own.

From the acclaimed author of The Deep Sky comes a thrilling anti-colonial space heist to save an alien civilization.

Maya Hoshimoto was once the best art thief in the galaxy. For ten years, she returned stolen artifacts to alien civilizations—until a disastrous job forced her into hiding. Now she just wants to enjoy a quiet life as a graduate student of anthropology, but she’s haunted by persistent and disturbing visions of the future.

Then an old friend comes to her with a job she can’t refuse: find a powerful object that could save an alien species from extinction. Except no one has seen it in living memory, and they aren’t the only ones hunting for it.

Maya sets out on a breakneck quest through a universe teeming with strange life and ancient ruins. But the farther she goes, the more her visions cast a dark shadow over her team of friends new and old. Someone will betray her along the way. Worse yet, in choosing to save one species, she may condemn humanity and Earth itself.

--

Content warnings are available at the author's website (see author bio).]]> 312 Yume Kitasei 1250875374 Jessica 0 to-read 3.63 2024
author: Yume Kitasei
name: Jessica
average rating: 3.63
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/03/21
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 61884842 Yume Kitasei's The Deep Sky is an enthralling sci fi thriller debut about a mission into deep space that begins with a lethal explosion that leaves the survivors questioning the loyalty of the crew.

They left Earth to save humanity. They’ll have to save themselves first.

It is the eve of Earth’s environmental collapse. A single ship carries humanity’s last hope: eighty elite graduates of a competitive program, who will give birth to a generation of children in deep space. But halfway to a distant but livable planet, a lethal bomb kills three of the crew and knocks The Phoenix off course. Asuka, the only surviving witness, is an immediate suspect.

Asuka already felt like an impostor before the explosion. She was the last picked for the mission, she struggled during training back on Earth, and she was chosen to represent Japan, a country she only partly knows as a half-Japanese girl raised in America. But estranged from her mother back home, The Phoenix is all she has left.

With the crew turning on each other, Asuka is determined to find the culprit before they all lose faith in the mission—or worse, the bomber strikes again.

---

Content warnings are available at the author's website (see author bio).]]> 399 Yume Kitasei 1250875331 Jessica 0 to-read 3.68 2023
author: Yume Kitasei
name: Jessica
average rating: 3.68
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/03/21
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 246856787
Two princes, born to a world at war.

Heir to a kingdom built on lies and stolen magic, Prince Reverie has one goal: avoid the crown. Raised by a cruel and violent king, Reverie’s real life begins after curfew―bottle service, masked revelries, top-shelf highs, and anonymous rooftop liaisons. But when his king plots to seize dwindling majikal resources from the Drakon King, Reverie hits his limit―he casts aside his royal obligations and gets the hell outta town. Better a free fugitive than a tortured captive.

Heir to a kingdom banished into the sky, Prince Xandreth has one goal: find a missing friend. His brother, the Drakon King, stubbornly refuses to acknowledge that their people keep going missing, so Xandreth takes it upon himself to hunt down answers.

A meeting that will change them both.

Having abandoned their kingdoms, both princes end up stranded in the dangerous and bewitching Wraithwood, and out of desperation, agree to help each other and then go their separate ways.

A love that will save their world.

But when a myth as old as the world―a bird on fire in the belly of a massive volcano―is whispered from Human lips to Drakon ears, Reverie and Xandreth are suddenly at the heart of a crisis so much bigger than a missing friend or even freedom.

If they can’t come together, the world itself may go up in flames.

Perfect for fans of Crescent City, When the Moon Hatched, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, Fourth Wing, and the world of Blade Runner.

The hardcover edition includes a gorgeous two-page world map.

Expect:
- Black mlm romance
- Dragons
- Forced proximity
- Rivals to lovers
- Cinnamon roll mmc
- Epic worldbuilding
- Powerful witches
- Mechs and magical tech]]> 560 Terry J. Benton-Walker 1250381770 Jessica 0 to-read 4.30 2026
author: Terry J. Benton-Walker
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.30
book published: 2026
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/03/21
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 220487230 Bestselling author Andrew Joseph White returns with another horrific YA thriller: a profound portrait of a struggling teen trying to convince the world—and himself—that he’s better than the serial killer who raised him.

Morgan Slaughter, a seventeen-year-old trans boy with autism, put his serial killer father in prison years ago. Despite that, everyone thinks Morgan will grow up to be just like his dad: including his volatile mother, the documentary crew following their family, and maybe himself.

Desperately, Morgan latches onto his father’s final victim—the only one who was never identified—hoping that if he unravels the mystery, he’ll finally prove he’s better than the man who hurt him. But this puts Morgan in the crosshairs of classmate Felicity Keating, who knows the truth about Morgan’s childhood—that he wasn’t just a witness to his father’s brutality, he was an accomplice. And if he doesn’t let them help with his investigation? They’ll tell everyone.

Forced to confront his past, Morgan’s ugly but carefully controlled world unravels. The film crew is manipulative. His mother’s temper spirals into malice, then violence. And Morgan and Felicity may be more tightly intertwined than either of them can stomach . . .

You're No Better is a gritty and unapologetic coming-of-age suspense about teens who grew up surrounded by cruelty and are clawing their way to adulthood the only way they know how.]]> 384 Andrew Joseph White 1682638227 Jessica 0 to-read 4.48 2026
author: Andrew Joseph White
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.48
book published: 2026
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/03/21
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 231560825 A PROPULSIVE DEBUT MYSTERY FROM EVELYN CLARKE, THE BRILLIANT AND DIABOLICAL CREATION OF CAT CLARKE AND V.E. SCHWAB

Six authors.

One private island.

Seventy-two hours to write the ending that will change their lives.

“Smart, original and completely addictive. . . . The Ending Writes Itself is both a great locked-room thriller and a brilliant satire on the publishing industry. An absolute must-read.”—Karin Slaughter

Arthur Fletch, one of the world’s bestselling novelists, is a reclusive genius known for his iconic protagonists and fiendish twists. When six struggling authors are invited to spend a weekend on his private Scottish island, they arrive to discover a shocking secret: Arthur Fletch is dead . . . and his last book is unfinished.

Desperate to publish the novel, Fletch’s agent and editor have summoned these writers in the hope that one of them will imagine a worthy ending for this final book. To sweeten the deal, they are offering an irresistible prize: in addition to ghost-writing the last chapter––for a mind-boggling sum––they will also help the lucky writer successfully re-launch their own career, guaranteeing future bestsellers. The catch: the writers have just seventy-two hours to finish Fletch’s magnum opus.

Starting is often the hardest part. But getting to the end could be murder.]]> 340 Evelyn Clarke 0008739285 Jessica 4
This was so fun! I loved the whole concept of mid-list authors from multiple genres competing to write the ending of an iconic book series. I think this cast of characters was very entertaining and I enjoyed getting to know them and experience their point of views. I enjoyed the mystery aspects of this story and the weird things that would happen around the manor. I will say I was a little bit disappointed by the ending. I think I was expecting more of a twist. I did enjoy the epilogue though. Overall this was an enjoyable thriller that also commented on the harshness of the publishing industry.

Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.]]> 3.57 2026
author: Evelyn Clarke
name: Jessica
average rating: 3.57
book published: 2026
rating: 4
read at: 2026/03/18
date added: 2026/03/19
shelves:
review:
“Everyone lies, of course, but writers lie well.”

This was so fun! I loved the whole concept of mid-list authors from multiple genres competing to write the ending of an iconic book series. I think this cast of characters was very entertaining and I enjoyed getting to know them and experience their point of views. I enjoyed the mystery aspects of this story and the weird things that would happen around the manor. I will say I was a little bit disappointed by the ending. I think I was expecting more of a twist. I did enjoy the epilogue though. Overall this was an enjoyable thriller that also commented on the harshness of the publishing industry.

Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.
]]> 201626991
She wakes in a castle on the edge of a hellish chasm, in a kingdom on the brink of war. Home to dangerous monsters, scheming courtiers and her favourite fictional character: the Once and Forever Emperor. He’s impossibly alluring, as only fiction can be. And in this fantasy world, she discovers she's not the heroine, but the villainess in the Emperor's tale.

So be it. The wicked are better dressed, with better one-liners, even if they're doomed to bad ends. She assembles the wildly disparate villains of the story under her evil leadership, plotting to change their fate. But as the body count rises and the Emperor's fury increases, it seems Rae and her allies may not survive to see the final page.

This adult epic fantasy debut from Sarah Rees Brennan puts the reader in the villain's shoes, for an adventure that is both 'brilliant' (Holly Black) and 'supremely satisfying' (Leigh Bardugo). Expect a rogue's gallery of villains including an axe wielding maid, a shining knight with dark moods, a homicidal bodyguard, and a playboy spymaster with a golden heart and a filthy reputation.]]> 431 Sarah Rees Brennan 0316568716 Jessica 0 to-read 3.81 2024
author: Sarah Rees Brennan
name: Jessica
average rating: 3.81
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/03/17
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 57926137 We can’t choose what we inherit. But can we choose who we become?

In present-day California, Eleanor Bennett’s death leaves behind a puzzling inheritance for her two children, Byron and Benny: a black cake, made from a family recipe with a long history, and a voice recording. In her message, Eleanor shares a tumultuous story about a headstrong young swimmer who escapes her island home under suspicion of murder. The heartbreaking tale Eleanor unfolds, the secrets she still holds back, and the mystery of a long-lost child challenge everything the siblings thought they knew about their lineage and themselves.

Can Byron and Benny reclaim their once-close relationship, piece together Eleanor’s true history, and fulfill her final request to “share the black cake when the time is right”? Will their mother’s revelations bring them back together or leave them feeling more lost than ever?

Charmaine Wilkerson’s debut novel is a story of how the inheritance of betrayals, secrets, memories, and even names can shape relationships and history. Deeply evocative and beautifully written, Black Cake is an extraordinary journey through the life of a family changed forever by the choices of its matriarch.]]> 385 Charmaine Wilkerson Jessica 0 to-read 4.05 2022
author: Charmaine Wilkerson
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/03/13
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 213736090 The daughter of an affluent Black family pieces together the connection between a childhood tragedy and a beloved heirloom in this moving novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Black Cake, a Read with Jenna Book Club Pick.

When ten-year-old Ebby Freeman heard the gunshot, time stopped. And when she saw her brother, Baz, lying on the floor surrounded by the shattered pieces of a centuries-old jar, life as Ebby knew it shattered as well.

The crime was never solved—and because the Freemans were one of the only Black families in a particularly well-to-do enclave of New England—the case has had an enduring, voyeuristic pull for the public. The last thing the Freemans want is another media frenzy splashing their family across the papers, but when Ebby's high profile romance falls apart without any explanation, that's exactly what they get.

So Ebby flees to France, only for her past to follow her there. And as she tries to process what's happened, she begins to think about the other loss her family suffered on that day eighteen years ago—the stoneware jar that had been in their family for generations, brought North by an enslaved ancestor. But little does she know that the handcrafted piece of pottery held more than just her family's history—it might also hold the key to unlocking her own future.

In this sweeping, evocative novel, Charmaine Wilkerson brings to life a multi-generational epic that examines how the past informs our present.]]> 346 Charmaine Wilkerson 0593358376 Jessica 4
“She and her child had been stolen from the place she called home, the people she called family, but on the morning that her son was born she decided that no, she would not allow them to be stolen from themselves.”

“If Baz is the great loss of Ed’s life, then Ebby is his great unfinished work. His hope for the future.”

I loved this. I loved the multiple POVs and the storytelling between the past and the present and how intertwined they were. I loved the exploration of grief throughout the story and how it impacts your identity. I liked Ebby’s part of the story as she deals with romantic turmoil while also still grieving the loss of her brother and processing her trauma. The prose and voice of the author really drew me in. It’s very well written and it’s easy to keep track of all the different point of views and timelines. Overall this was a very powerful story of a history of enslavement, trauma, and tragedy and how that shapes and impacts a family.]]> 4.13 2025
author: Charmaine Wilkerson
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.13
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2026/03/11
date added: 2026/03/11
shelves:
review:
*4.5*

“She and her child had been stolen from the place she called home, the people she called family, but on the morning that her son was born she decided that no, she would not allow them to be stolen from themselves.”

“If Baz is the great loss of Ed’s life, then Ebby is his great unfinished work. His hope for the future.”

I loved this. I loved the multiple POVs and the storytelling between the past and the present and how intertwined they were. I loved the exploration of grief throughout the story and how it impacts your identity. I liked Ebby’s part of the story as she deals with romantic turmoil while also still grieving the loss of her brother and processing her trauma. The prose and voice of the author really drew me in. It’s very well written and it’s easy to keep track of all the different point of views and timelines. Overall this was a very powerful story of a history of enslavement, trauma, and tragedy and how that shapes and impacts a family.
]]> 213659557 From the author of Lore of the Wilds comes the exciting and passionate conclusion, as Lore navigates Fae magic amid looming dangers that threaten to destroy her world.

Lore Alemeyu wakes up to discover she’s on a ship in the middle of the ocean. Held prisoner and with no way to escape, she’s faced with a dire set of circumstances…

A crew that’s distrustful of Lore’s magic capabilities…

Her betrayal by a Fae she thought she could trust…

A dangerous quest for the sun book, which, if placed in the wrong hands, will make the Alytherian Fae even more powerful.

Lore must navigate threats on the ship and beyond, into the ocean’s magical and mysterious depths, in order to find the sun book herself and help free the humans. All the while, Lore can’t help but feel the intense pull of one Fae male who has been helping her all along. But is she willing to risk her human heart for creatures that have burned her in the past, and jeopardize her people’s future?]]> 464 Analeigh Sbrana 0063380668 Jessica 3
“I am not free until we are all free.”

This felt like such an adventure to read. I loved seeing all these characters and I enjoyed the way this book was sort of split into 3 different parts. I did really enjoy when they were in the underwater kingdom on the Sirens, even though it felt a little displaced in the story. One thing I didn’t particularly enjoy was the magic. Sometimes it just didn’t make sense. Lore seems to have the power of light but then at other times she can pretty much do whatever she wants? She also doesn’t seem to need her grimoires to use her magic, so what is the actual point of them? I was hoping for the magic system to be developed a bit more. It also seemed unrealistic that her along with Finn and Isla were immediately powerful and good at wielding their magic in this book. With that being said, it felt like overthrowing the king should have taken a lot more time, planning, and power, but it ended very quickly. Regardless of those things, I still enjoyed reading this. I liked the characters, including Syrelle whose “betrayal” I never really fully bought into. Overall this was a fun duology to read.]]> 3.91 2025
author: Analeigh Sbrana
name: Jessica
average rating: 3.91
book published: 2025
rating: 3
read at: 2026/03/03
date added: 2026/03/03
shelves:
review:
*3.5*

“I am not free until we are all free.”

This felt like such an adventure to read. I loved seeing all these characters and I enjoyed the way this book was sort of split into 3 different parts. I did really enjoy when they were in the underwater kingdom on the Sirens, even though it felt a little displaced in the story. One thing I didn’t particularly enjoy was the magic. Sometimes it just didn’t make sense. Lore seems to have the power of light but then at other times she can pretty much do whatever she wants? She also doesn’t seem to need her grimoires to use her magic, so what is the actual point of them? I was hoping for the magic system to be developed a bit more. It also seemed unrealistic that her along with Finn and Isla were immediately powerful and good at wielding their magic in this book. With that being said, it felt like overthrowing the king should have taken a lot more time, planning, and power, but it ended very quickly. Regardless of those things, I still enjoyed reading this. I liked the characters, including Syrelle whose “betrayal” I never really fully bought into. Overall this was a fun duology to read.
]]> 210169321
The ultimate female rage fantasy, Aicha is a fierce and devastatingly powerful romantic epic fantasy perfect for fans of The Priory of the Orange Tree and She Who Became the Sun.

The Portuguese flag has been planted across Morocco, its empire ruling with an iron fist. But eventually, all empires must fall.

Aicha, the daughter of a Moroccan freedom-fighter, was born for battle. She has witnessed the death of her people, their starvation and torture at the hands of the occupiers, and it has awakened an anger within her. An anger that burns hot and bright, and speaks to Aicha's soul.

Only Aicha's secret lover Rachid, a rebellion leader, knows how to soothe her. But as the fight for Morocco's freedom reaches it violent climax, the creature that simmers beneath Aicha's skin begs to be unleashed. It hungers for the screams of those who have caused her pain, and it will not be ignored.]]> Soraya Bouazzaoui Jessica 0 to-read 3.63 2026
author: Soraya Bouazzaoui
name: Jessica
average rating: 3.63
book published: 2026
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/02/21
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 203578770 Author of sales sensation If We Were Villains returns with a story about a ragtag group of night shift workers who meet in the local cemetery to unearth the secrets lurking in an open grave.

Every night, in the college’s ancient cemetery, five people cross paths as they work the late shift: a bartender, a rideshare driver, a hotel receptionist, the steward of the derelict church that looms over them, and the editor-in-chief of the college paper, always in search of a story.

One dark October evening in the defunct churchyard, they find a hole that wasn’t there before. A fresh, open grave where no grave should be. But who dug it, and for whom?

Before they go their separate ways, the gravedigger returns. As they trail him through the night, they realize he may be the key to a string of strange happenings around town that have made headlines for the last few weeks—and that they may be closer to the mystery than they thought.

Atmospheric and eerie, with the ensemble cast her fans love and a delightfully familiar academic backdrop, Graveyard Shift is a modern Gothic tale in If We Were Villains author M. L. Rio’s inimitable style.]]> 128 M.L. Rio 1250356792 Jessica 0 to-read 3.09 2024
author: M.L. Rio
name: Jessica
average rating: 3.09
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/02/21
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 246483669
Jacks and Evangeline Fox have finally found their happily ever after.

Everything here in the Hollow is wonderful and perfect.

Nothing is going to go wrong.

No one is keeping a secret . . . except for maybe one.

But don’t worry, it’s not going to rewrite reality or alter history or change the ending of Jacks and Evangeline’s story.

Definitely not.

Featuring cameos from fan-favorite characters and twenty full-page illustrations by Lotusbubble, the newest installment in the Once Upon a Broken Heart universe will immerse readers once again in this beloved, #1 New York Times bestselling series. Because every story has the potential for infinite endings.

Also by Stephanie Garber:

The Caraval Series:
- Caraval
- Legendary
- Finale
- Spectacular

Alchemy of Secrets]]> 256 Stephanie Garber 1250462037 Jessica 0 to-read 4.82 2026
author: Stephanie Garber
name: Jessica
average rating: 4.82
book published: 2026
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/02/20
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 233333688 In this lyrical, wildly inventive horror novel interwoven with Japanese mythology, two people living centuries apart discover a door between their worlds.

October, 2026: Lee Turner doesn’t remember how or why he killed his college roommate. The details are blurred and bloody. All he knows is he has to flee New York and go to the one place that might offer refuge—his father’s new home in Japan, a house hidden by sword ferns and wild ginger. But something is terribly wrong with the house: no animals will come near it, the bedroom window isn't always a window, and a woman with a sword appears in the yard when night falls.

October, 1877: Sen is a young samurai in exile, hiding from the imperial soldiers in a house behind the sword ferns. A monster came home from war wearing her father’s face, but Sen would do anything to please him, even turn her sword on her own mother. She knows the soldiers will soon slaughter her whole family when she sees a terrible omen: a young foreign man who appears outside her window.

One of these people is a ghost, and one of these stories is a lie.

Something is hiding beneath the house of sword ferns, and Lee and Sen will soon wish they never unburied it.]]> 344 Kylie Lee Baker 1335001557 Jessica 0 to-read 3.88 2026
author: Kylie Lee Baker
name: Jessica
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2026
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/02/20
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 195853531
A Fae lord who wants in.

A human woman willing to risk it all for a taste of power.

In a land ruled by ruthless Fae, twenty-one-year-old Lore Alemeyu’s village is trapped in a forested prison. Lore knows that any escape attempt is futile—her scars are a testament to her past failures. But when her village is threatened, Lore makes a desperate deal with a Fae lord. She will leave her home to catalog/organize an enchanted library that hasn’t been touched in a thousand years. No Fae may enter the library, but there is a chance a human might be able to breach the cursed doors.

She convinces him that she will risk her life for wealth, but really she’s after the one thing the Fae covet above all: magic of her own.

As Lore navigates the hostile world outside, she’s forced to rely on two Fae males to survive. Two very different, very dangerous, very attractive Fae males. When undeniable chemistry ignites, she’s not just in danger of losing her life, but her heart to the very creatures she can never trust.]]> 339 Analeigh Sbrana 0063380595 Jessica 3
“Any sacrifice that I make will be worth it if we can become our ancestors’ wildest dreams.”

I really loved the characters in this story and I enjoyed the writing style. I think the romances were a little underdeveloped/cheesy and the way Lore develops her powers was a little confusing. But, overall I enjoyed this and I’m excited to read the sequel.]]> 3.34 2024
author: Analeigh Sbrana
name: Jessica
average rating: 3.34
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2026/02/18
date added: 2026/02/18
shelves:
review:
*3.5*

“Any sacrifice that I make will be worth it if we can become our ancestors’ wildest dreams.”

I really loved the characters in this story and I enjoyed the writing style. I think the romances were a little underdeveloped/cheesy and the way Lore develops her powers was a little confusing. But, overall I enjoyed this and I’m excited to read the sequel.
]]> 242765290 From the New York Times bestselling author of Mexican Gothic and Velvet Was the Night comes a sizzling noir about desire, danger, and greed, in which seduction is the ultimate con.

Handsome con artist Ulises has long charmed lonely women via letters to steal their money, but money is hard to come by in 1940s Mexico. Ulises knows his looks won't last forever, and he's desperate to get his hands on a real fortune.

He thinks he's found it when he captivates his newest correspondent, Perla, the owner of a small-town boardinghouse in picturesque Veracruz. But when he meets her, he finds something he didn't expect. The woman has a niece, Inés, who is as observant as she is desperate to escape her aunt’s household.

When Inés discovers Ulises' true intentions, she wants in on the scheme. They’ll convince her aunt that Ulises is a great catch, Perla will marry him, and her money will vanish. Easy, fast and clean.

But Perla is not the desperate, silly spinster Ulises imagines. She harbors secrets. And although Ulises does not believe in true romance, Inés is more alluring than he bargained on. Suddenly, a simple plan may become perilously complicated.

Venture into the streets of a small town where the patina of convention and good manners conceals a cauldron of avarice and lust.]]> 323 Silvia Moreno-Garcia 0593874358 Jessica 0 to-read 3.78 2026
author: Silvia Moreno-Garcia
name: Jessica
average rating: 3.78
book published: 2026
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/02/17
shelves: to-read
review:

]]>