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Currently Reading 💛

King of Envy by Ana Huang. Rating: 4 stars.

Read from October 27th to November 1st.

I can't believe I've finally caught up to this series. I gave myself a challenge in 2025 to read outside of my comfort zone in the Romance subgenre. I had a goal to read a bunch of different subgenres during the year, at least one book a month that fit this category. It was going pretty poorly (a 2.46 star average) but when I found I didn't hate the first book in this series I decided to use this series moving forward to fit this challenge--a success since the average star rating for this challenge after the switch was 3.8 stars. I'm just sad I'll have to find a different book to do for the month of December. (I already know what I'm reading for the challenge next month, I don't know why I think I'm being coy here.)

I really thought Vuk's book was going to be the one that took me out of this world and made me stop reading the series, but, surprisingly, this is my second favorite in the series (King of Greed is my favorite). Why am I surprised? We have a morally grey male main character who is violent when necessary and is willing to go there in the ways a lot of characters won't. That's my jam. Also, he sort of begrudgingly rescues a stray cat in the rain one day so I'm already so gone for this one. But I think what really sells me on this book is actually Vuk and Ayana's relationship. There's a level of understanding that can bypass the need for words at times. Also, the way she accepts all aspects of him, and even becomes a little morally grey herself, is so beautiful. I also thought the secret group of assassins and all of the plot line that came with it would lessen my enjoyment but I found that the action really added to this story. Otherwise, I think it would have been too slow for me.

There was a section around the 50 to 60 percent mark that did feel a little slow. I wish there had been a little of the later action pushed to earlier in the story. I don't know how the plot could have accommodated that, but it would have made it feel more cohesive. Also, the sex scenes. I just don't think Ana Huang and I are ever going to see eye to eye about these things, but I do think the ones in here are better than the ones at the beginning of the series. So, I will give her that.

Happy January! Wow, first new books of 2020 😲

Come Tumbling Down by Seanan McGuire is the latest book for the Wayward Children’s Series, a series of diverse, fun novellas about kids finding magic portals and then getting kicked out of them. So far it’s been following a pattern where every odd book is present and every even is backstory, and normally the “present” stories are my least favorite, but this one is about my FAVORITE. The second book of this series is my favorite by far and this book is about those characters, and God I really think this one might take the cake. I’m jazzed, folks.

Three Things I Know Are True by Betty Culley is a novel in verse, which tend to be hit or miss with me. However, the cover is fascinating and it seems like a genuinely interesting story. Definitely a tear jerker, which isn’t normally my thing, but I think it could be a good change of pace.

Woven in Moonlight by Isabel Ibañez is a stunning magical realism story in Bolivia and it has political intrigue, general gripping politics, and it looks like it’s gonna be a whole experience. Ignoring the beautiful cover and title, this is a book about a girl weaving thread from moonlight for revenge and for the resistance, while hunting for an Ancient. Relic. That’s really cool! 

Dark and Deepest Red by Anna-Marie McLemore is about the Dancing Plague, which is something I’m a tiny bit obsessed with. It goes between the past, the actual plague, and a modern story of magic shoes that links to it. It seems very fairytale-esque, and it’s tagged LGBT on goodreads, so sign me up!

Ashlords by Scott Reintgen seems like it’s The Scorpio Races but with phoenix horses, way higher stakes, and alchemy. This book follows three different riders and their stories into the dangerous, life threatening races.

The Hand on the Wall by Maureen Johnson is the latest Truly, Devious book and also the last (cue me crying). I have loved this series, I honestly can’t get enough of these characters and the creepy, someone’s watching you kind of tense feeling you get as you try to unravel the stories. There have been so many amazing twists and turns, and the last book ended with so much left to give, so I am bouncing with anticipation.

Not So Pure and Simple by Lamar Giles is about crushes, toxic masculinity, sex ed, and religion. Literally what else could you want? I feel like this book is going to be one of those experiences where I’m left blinking at the back cover, having lost a day of my life, and I’ll keep thinking about it way later. I’m buying this for my library, I already know its a must have.

January was a weird month for me. I've been trying to keep in control of my reading since my goal for the new year is to read fewer books. My goal is between 52 and 104 books for the year. Which would be such a drastic decrease over the past couple of years. I managed to stay within the two books per week maximum boundary that I set for myself. But only just. I'm still fighting the feeling I get when I'm doing some other hobby instead of reading that I'm doing the wrong thing. Hopefully this gets better as I continue to work on this goal.

Comics/Graphic Novels--

Short Stories/Novellas-- 1. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin--3 stars.

Novels-- 1. The Last Watch by J.S. Dewes--3.75 stars.

2. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros--5 stars (original rating).

3. Behind the Net by Stephanie Archer (kindle)--2.5 stars.

4. The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett (NetGalley)--4 stars.

5. Going Postal by Terry Prachett--4 stars.

6. Liar's Beach by Katie Cotugno (library)-- 3.5 stars.

Book Of The Week

Title: Shifting Fate #1 Spark of Fate

Author: Tessa Hale

Pages:264

Synopsis:

It was supposed to be a fresh start. A completely blank slate in a place where no one knew about the tragedy that ripped her family apart six months ago. A tragedy Rowan can’t help but blame herself for.

Now the only thing she wants is to blend in. To escape the house that has become more like a prison. Her new school is her only hope. Somewhere she can pretend she’s just like everyone else.

Only Rowan doesn’t realize how unique she is. Holden is the first to recognize it, but he’s not the last.

Rowan can’t explain the draw she feels to the guys who have found their way into her life. The way something seems to spark the first moment she touches each of them. How it almost hurts to walk away from them at the end of each day.

Things are changing, from the ripple of power humming just below her skin to this new family she’s finding herself a part of. But not all of the changes are good.