Tag: Lists

Highlights: January 2025

Welcome to 2025, for better or for worse! We never know what we’re going to get with a new year, but one things is always guaranteed: there are sure to be great books in the year ahead! We’ll be posting our regular monthly picks here, but look forward to our list of top picks for the entire year of 2025 coming in a few weeks!

Serena’s Picks

Book: “A Sea of Unspoken Things” by Adrienne Young

Publication Date: Jan. 7, 2025

Why I’m Interested: Adrienne Young is one of those awesome writers who not only produces incredible books, but also manages to pump that out practically on a yearly basis! Between her and Silvia Morena-Garcia, I’m always guaranteed a few great reads a year! This one sounds like another entry into her recent foray into contemporary romantic fantasy stories. Again, we follow a young woman with a mysterious past as she returns to a home town she fled from years before. Of course, there’s a second chance romance in there as well!

Book: “Water Moon” by Samantha Sotto Yambao

Publication Date: Jan. 14, 2025

Why I’m Interested: While I’m not a big fan girl of Studio Ghibli, I was also intrigued by the description of a highly whimsical contemporary fantasy story that follows the owner of a pawn shop that deals in regrets. The cover itself is also pretty great! Plus, it promises a nice romance at its heart, so there’s a lot of potential here! Can’t wait to check it out soon!

Book: “A Crown So Silver” by Lyra Selene

Publication Date: Jan. 21, 2025

Why I’m Interested: I really enjoyed “A Feather So Black” when I read it last year. Not only was it a unique version of “Swan Lake,” but it managed to tack in a love triangle that I didn’t end up hating. It didn’t end on a cliffhanger per se, but there was definitely a lot left to be handled in the sequels. As the middle book in a trilogy, this one faces an uphill battle, but I’m excited to see how this one manages it! Mostly, I hope that the main couple doesn’t fall into the trap of pointless drama in the pursuit of “tension.” We shall see!

Kate’s Picks

Book: “Wake Up and Open Your Eyes” by Clay McLeod Chapman

Publication Date: January 7, 2025

Why I’m Interested: Clay McLeod Chapman is one of my favorite horror authors writing today, and I am always excited and apprehensive to pick up one of his novels because I know that he doesn’t hold back. Enter “Wake Up and Open Your Eyes”, his newest horror novel where he satirizes far Right wing media and the way that it seems like it brainwashes its consumers, and poisons the rest of American society. In this case, Right Wing cable news viewers (as well as other Right Wing media consumers) turn into violent possessed automatons who attack anyone who doesn’t think like them. A bit on the nose for 2025, but that’s the point. Buckle up. It’s gonna be rough.

Book: “Witchcraft for Wayward Girls” by Grady Hendrix

Publication Date: January 14, 2025

Why I’m Interested: I also really enjoy Grady Hendrix and the quirky horror stories that he comes up with, usually with a bit of a tongue in cheek flair. But this time around he’s not only taking on witchcraft, but also the tragedies and injustices of young unwed mother homes and the traumas that came with such circumstances for many, many teenage girls in the years before Roe v Wade. As someone who is deeply disturbed by the way we’re movie backwards on reproductive rights in America AND who loves witchcraft stories, this is a book that has been on my radar for AWHILE. I’m sure it will be heartwrenching as well as quirky. Which it absolutely should be.

Book: “Mask of the Deer Woman” by Laurie L. Dove

Publication Date: January 21, 2025

Why I’m Interested: Procedurals continue to be a guilty pleasure of mine, and I’m always thrilled to see procedurals written from more diverse perspectives. Berkley was kind enough to send me access to “Mask of the Deer Woman” by Laurie L. Dove, which is not only a police procedural dealing with missing women themes, it is also starring an Indigenous female former cop now working on a reservation who want to look into the disappearances of multiple Indigenous women. Throw in some mythology involving Deer Woman and I am even more excited. I hope that this is a start to a new series I can follow!

What books are you looking forward to this month? Let us know in the comments!

Serena’s Favorite Reads of 2024: Picks 5-1

This post may contain affiliate links for books we recommend.  Read the full disclosure here.

Another a year, another almost impossible task trying to each choose our Top 10 Reads of the year! For me, the word “favorite” is an important part of this list. As I go through the last year’s worth of reading, I often found that some books would strike particular chords within me more deeply than others, even if, quality-wise, another book might be stronger. Of course, this just makes it all that much harder to put them in any order. But here it goes! Today I’m going to countdown my favorites reads, five through 1. And since it’s the end of the reading year, don’t forget to enter our “12 Days of Christmas Giveaway!”

5. “Asunder” by Kerstin Hall

“Asunder” Review

While this list often includes authors that I’ve read and loved for years, I’m always the happiest about entries from authors who are new to me! Such is the case with this one! I typically have a decent idea of what sort of book I’m getting when I first pick one up (not spoilery, but I’ve usually done some research into themes and tropes and such), but this one was almost a blank slate for me and I think this made it better than ever! I called this one “hard fantasy” in my review, and I stand by this definition. This is the ultimate case of a second world fantasy story where the reader is dropped into a completely strange world, full of magic, creatures, and even forms of transportation that are almost totally unrecognizable from anything we have in the real world. And the author doesn’t hand hold you; readers are left to piece it together for themselves! Some enjoy this more than others, but I, for one, love it! It also didn’t hurt that I loved the main character and the sub-sub-plot romance that was included.

4. “Dark Water Daughter”/”Black Tide Son” by H.M. Long

“Dark Water Daughter” Review & “Black Tide Son” Review

Every year there’s some sort of…well…”cheating” is an awfully strong word now isn’t it, on this list. But I read both of the books in this series this year and within a few months of one another and loved them both, so there’s no real way of picking one over the other. Instead, as a pair, they tell an excellent nautical fantasy story featuring two fantastic characters and a swoon-worthy romance to boot! I loved the magical elements included in this world and, while I thought this was just a duology when I read the second one, I’m incredibly excited to return to this world when the next book comes out this summer!

3. “Foul Days” by Genoveva Dimova

“Foul Days” Review

See, now I could have cheated on this one, too, as I read both books in this duology this year as well! But, while I loved them both, I did enjoy the first one more than the second, so I was good and am just including this one on the list. But this is also another example of a brand new to me author hitting it out of the park! I loved the folklore-style of this fantasy story and the team up between a grumpy witch and the more golden retriever-esque cop that she must work with. However, while that sounds rather fluffy, this book doesn’t shy away from getting into some dark topics about abusive relationships and the deep cuts they can leave on a person. The second book was an excellent conclusion, and I highly recommend the duology as a whole!

2. “The Wild Huntress” by Emily Lloyd-Jones

“The Wild Huntress” Review

I said this in my review but I’ll say it again: Emily Lloyd-Jones is one of the most underrated YA fantasy authors writing today! Honestly, it’s criminal that her books seem to get so little hype considering how vastly superior they are in every way to many of the other YA fantasy books that blow up! You’ve got complicated, believable characters, rich, immersive world-building, and sweet but complex romances! I’ve yet to read a book by her that wasn’t a banger, and this one was no exception. Instead, I was yet again impressed by Lloyd-Jones willingness to truly commit to the characters and story she is writing. People make truly morally grey decisions, and then others react to those decision in complicated ways. It’s so refreshing to see an author who isn’t just playing it safe with their storytelling. I highly recommend this one, especially if you enjoy fairytale-like fantasy stories!

1.) “The Familiar” by Leigh Bardugo

“The Familiar” Review

This was one of those books where I turned the last page and felt fairly confident that I’d just read my number 1 read for the year. And this was way back in the spring! But it’s just that good! I’ve enjoyed Bardugo’s books in the past, but this one felt like it reached a new level, somehow perfectly blending fantasy, historical fiction, and literary fiction all into one beautifully written tome. There wasn’t a misstep to be found. It was one of those books where I lost myself in the story, but at the same time, was aware of just how beautiful the writing itself was. I could honestly rave about this book for ages, but at this point you’ve read not only my original review but also the bookclub reviews that Kate and I posted, so I’ll just leave it with this: if ever a book deserved the top slot on my “Top Ten” list, this was it!

So, there we have it, my top reads for the year! Now it’s time to cheat and include some honorable mentions that didn’t make the list. Some of these I would have included but for the fact that I listed another book in the series last year, so I didn’t want the list to get repetitive. Others were just shy of making the cut on their own, but still well worth a shout out! Here they are:

“Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands” Review

“The Tainted Cup” Review

“A Letter to the Luminous Deep” Review

“Salt and Broom” Review

What were some of your favorite reads of 2024?

Kate’s Favorite Reads of 2024: Picks 5-1

Another a year, another almost impossible task trying to each choose our Top 10 Reads of the year! Like past years I won’t be including re-reads, sometimes my opinion of a book could change and evolve after I had read it, so some surprises may be up near the top, as well as perhaps a book or two that didn’t make my reviews on here initially due to genre limitations. But here they are, ready for a countdown! And since it’s the end of the reading year, don’t forget to enter our “Twelve Days of Christmas Giveaway”! Today I’m going to countdown my favorite reads, five to one.

5. “Against the Darkness” by Kendare Blake

“Against the Darkness” Review

I really loved Kendare Blake’s take on the “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” characters in her reboot series, and her final installment really lived up to all my expectations. “Against the Darkness” didn’t just do a satisfactory job of wrapping up all the loose ends of her original characters, specifically that of Willow’s Slayer-Witch daughter Frankie and her friends, but it also was a treat for this Elder Millennial “Buffy” fan who was absolutely in love with Spike, as her characterization of him was spot on, bringing out the humor and the sentimentality of this sarcastic dork of a vampire (and as a Spuffy fan, it was SO good). I was so thrilled it wrapped up the way it did.

4. “First Light” by Liz Kerin

“First Light” Review

Boy are there a lot of vampire stories on my list this year, but given that we are kind of in a vampire renaissance in horror fiction at the moment it isn’t really surprising. My favorite vampire tale of the year, however, is very clearly “First Light”, Liz Kerin’s sequel to “Night’s Edge” (which made my list last year). We follow Mia after the events of the first book, having lost her vampire mother and hoping to get her revenge against the vampire that ruined their lives, and man oh man is it an emotional rollercoaster about loss, grief, and ultimately healing. And the continued themes of mothers and daughters and the fraught complexities that can come with that really put me through the emotional ringer. Just fantastic.

3. “Holly” by Stephen King

“Holly” Review

I know that Holly Gibney is a bit of a polarizing figure for Stephen King fans, but I have always loved her, and his newest book about her REALLY blew me away. Not only did we get to see Holly having to maneuver through a particularly difficult case involving missing people and a malevolent elderly couple that does horrifying things with their murder victims, we also see her having to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic and the difficulties that came with the Delta Wave, especially for a coded neurodivergent woman such as herself. I found this story to be incredibly engaging and absolutely haunting, with one particular moment sure to stick with me for a long, long time.

2. “I Was A Teenage Slasher” by Stephen Graham Jones

“I Was A Teenage Slasher” Review

Since I love the slasher sub-genre of horror, as well as a glam metal soundtrack AND some serious pathos in basically any of my stories, “I Was A Teenage Slasher” was destined to make my top five reads of 2024. And it is also hands down my favorite of Stephen Graham Jones’s novels, with his usual deconstruction of the genre really working overtime here to create a scary and deeply emotional coming of age tale about a reluctant but burgeoning teenage slasher killer in 1980s Texas. It had moments of high suspense and well done horror beats, while also bringing tears to my eyes multiple times. Jones is such a treasure, and this is him at his best.

and 1. “The Reformatory” by Tananarive Due

“The Reformatory” Review

This was my first Tananarive Due novel, as I’d read a few short stories by her before this, and man oh man did it ever blow me away. It was one of the first books I read in 2024, and I knew from the jump that it was going to be hard to beat as my favorite for the year. Due is a master of not only conveying some really eerie supernatural horrors in this book, but also the very real horrors of American racism, specifically in Jim Crow Florida as a young Black teen is sent to a reformatory school as punishment for a minor crime that he didn’t deserve punishment for. I’ve been recommending this to basically anyone who will listen to me, and now I am happy to showcase it as my very favorite read of 2024. Absolutely astounding.

That’s it for my favorite reads of 2024! What were some of yours this year?

Serena’s Favorite Reads of 2024: Picks 10-6

This post may contain affiliate links for books we recommend.  Read the full disclosure here.

Another a year, another almost impossible task trying to each choose our Top 10 Reads of the year! For me, the word “favorite” is an important part of this list. As I go through the last year’s worth of reading, I often found that some books would strike particular chords within me more deeply than others, even if, quality-wise, another book might be stronger. Of course, this just makes it all that much harder to put them in any order. But here it goes! Today I’m going to countdown my favorites reads, ten to six. And since it’s the end of the reading year, don’t forget to enter our “12 Days of Christmas Giveaway!”

10. “Heavenbreaker” by Sara Wolf

“Heavenbreaker” Review

I don’t get around to science fiction nearly as often as I’d like to. And then I read books like this one that remind me what fun a good sci-fi books has to offer! Not only does this one tackle several of the most popular aspects of space adventures (strange alien creatures, struggles with survival and isolation, political maneuvering) it also included a tournament featuring massive mechs bashing each other. Which was just as cool as it sounded! Even more, I was impressed by how well Wolf managed to make each bout feel uniquely challenging with new ways the joust played out. The main character is new to this competition, and I appreciated that she was immediately just the bestest best ever. I also really enjoyed the political aspects of this story and the set-up of the romance and some of the larger mysteries at play. Can’t wait for the sequel!

9. “The Witchstone” by Henry H. Neff

“The Witchstone” Review

This was one of those fortuitous situations where a book that was completely off my radar blew me away! I’d seen this title in passing, but it wasn’t until the publicist reached out about coverage that I truly looked into it. And boy am I glad I did! This is one of those strange fantasy novels that’s very hard to place within a subgenre. It’s hilarious and follows a quirky cast of characters who are both found and blood family, so it’d seem like it might fit in as a cozy fantasy. But then it was also incredibly dark, so dark fantasy? It also had a distinct feeling of both urban fantasy mixed with folklore. Somehow, all of these things came together to form an incredible stand-alone tale. While all of these elements worked well (I really loved the two main characters!), I do distinctly remember reading this after quite a low point as far as humor in fantasy books go, and this one returned my faith that it is possible to write a good comedic fantasy story!

8. “A Sorceress Comes to Call” by T. Kingfisher

“A Sorceress Comes to Call” Review

Surprising no one, the new T. Kingfisher book is on my list! I swear, it’s like Kingfisher somehow got her hands on a list of my personal favorite tropes and themes of fantasy stories and then has proceeded to write those books for the last decade. I’ve had favorites, for sure, but we’re talking favorites out of a selection of other favorites! This one was particularly intriguing as it was a loose re-telling of “The Goose Girl” with a lot of added horror and spookiness to boot! How she managed to write a book that had such a slow build of dread throughout while also be laugh-out-loud funny is beyond me! I also particularly liked the second chance romance for the older woman protagonist. Not something you typically find, but so well done, especially as its only a side plot. Feel assured, the next time this author releases a book, it will probably end up on that year’s list as well!

Book: “The Songbird and the Heart of Stone” by Carissa Broadbent

“The Songbird and the Heart of Stone” Review

Here’s another one that will surprise nobody! After discovering Broadbent’s books last winter, I’ve been trying to slowly space out my reading of her back catalog. But there’s always something special about reading a brand new title! And this one was highly anticipated as it follows Mische, a character we met in the previous duology set in this world. There was a lot to like about this book (except perhaps the cliffhanger which is now killing me!), but one thing that stood out was the MMC romantic lead. I’ve liked all of Broadbent’s romantic heroes so far, but this one really stood out as checking off many of the boxes that I personally like to see! Give me the reserved, overly-obsessed-with-the-rules serious man every time! Mische was also great in the sunshine role of this grumpy/sunshine romance, being both a more light character, but also one who has some deep trauma that she must work through over the course of the story.

6. “Buried Deep and Other Stories” by Naomi Novik

“Buried Deep and Other Stories” Review

I typically don’t enjoy short story collections as much as novels, so it’s kind of a surprise to find one on this list! On the other hand, if there ever was going to be a collection like this here, it makes sense that it would come from Novik, an author who has written many different sorts of fantasy novels, all of which I have loved! And this collection was a perfect serving of all of these, rewarding readers of all of her biggest series with additional glances into these worlds. I believe I mentioned in last year’s “Top 10” list that I always seem to include some sort of Jane Austen re-telling on the list. Well, this year, that is covered by the fantastic re-imagining of “Pride and Prejudice” that is transferred into the world of Novik’s “Temerairre” world that is included in this collection. I enjoyed all of the stories here, but this one was probably my favorite! We also got a brief look into the world of her next series, so now I’m even more eager for that to come out.

So that’s ten through six. Next time I will give a countdown of my top five. What have been some of your favorite reads of 2024?

Kate’s Favorite Reads of 2024: Picks 10-6

Another a year, another almost impossible task trying to each choose our Top 10 Reads of the year! Like past years I won’t be including re-reads, sometimes my opinion of a book could change and evolve after I had read it, so some surprises may be up near the top, as well as perhaps a book or two that didn’t make my reviews on here initially due to genre limitations. But here they are, ready for a countdown! And since it’s the end of the reading year, don’t forget to enter our “Twelve Days of Christmas Giveaway”! Today I’m going to countdown my favorite reads, ten to six.

10. “So Thirsty” by Rachel Harrison

“So Thirsty” Review

I have loved Rachel Harrison’s books basically ever since I read her book “The Return”, and I was very excited to see what she did with a favorite sub-genre of mine: vampires! And I was very pleased with how she not only took on vampires as a mythos, but also how she portrayed some relatable themes like complicated female friendships, anxiety about aging, and the need to reinvent oneself. “So Thirsty” is creepy, funny, and heartfelt, and I think it may be one of my favorites of Harrison’s, if not THE favorite (“Cackle” is hard to top but this one is VERY close to doing so).

9. “Tunis to Sydney” by Meriam and Christian Carnouche

“Tunis to Sydney” Review

This was a surprise read for me this year, as I hadn’t heard of it until Christian Carnouche reached out to me asking if I’d be willing to review it. And then I ended up really loving it as I read this story about grief, homecoming, and perseverance through tragedy and loss. Not only is the story deeply touching and very emotional, the illustrations are gorgeous and match the tone very well. It was probably my biggest reading surprise of 2024 and it made my Favorite Reads of 2024 List handily.

8. “My Vampire Plus-One” by Jenna Levine

“My Vampire Plus-One” Review

I do occasionally dabble into romance novels (more now than I did when we started this blog), and I really enjoy finding romances that overlap with other interests. Like vampires!! And this sequel outdid its predecessor! I think that was due in part to the fact that we were following Reggie this time, who is a decidedly more Lestat-y vampire than the Louis vibes that Frederick was giving in the first one. I also really enjoyed the main female character Amelia, as her high strung-ness really balanced out with Reggie’s snark and mercurial nature. It really was a perfect romance that didn’t take itself super seriously.

7. “Horror Movie” by Paul Tremblay

“Horror Movie” Review

Paul Tremblay is almost guaranteed to make my end of year list if he has a novel out, and “Horror Movie” was no exception. In this book he takes on a couple of themes that lend themselves very well to a horror tale. The first is the overly concept of a cursed film and how lore around it can be built up through word of mouth and urban legendmaking. The next is how he explores the relationship between an artist, their art, and how it can be transformative for better or for worse (in thise case, absolutely worse). This one has some really scary and high tense bits, and I found it super freaky, and up there with some of my favorites of his.

6. “Worm: A Cuban American Odyssey” by Edel Rodriguez

“Worm: A Cuban American Odyssey” Review

This graphic memoir blew me away when I read it in the first few months of this past year. I’m sorry to say that we didn’t heed the warning that Rodriguez gave in regards to letting an authoritarian gain a position of utmost power in this country, but…. Anyway, I loved this frank, at times distressing, but ultimately hopeful memoir of Edel Rodriguez’s childhood in Cuba, and the way his family escaped Castro’s regime. It’s an emotional take for sure, but his tenacity, his candor, and his amazing artwork really bring the entire story together. If you like memoirs but haven’t read “Worm”, do yourself a favor and go pick it up.

So that’s ten through six. Next time I will give a countdown of my top five. What have been some of your favorite reads of 2024?

Another Take: Winter 2024

This post may contain affiliate links for books we recommend.  Read the full disclosure here.

Don’t just take it from us, other readers like these books, too! And we have decided that we would like to showcase other reviewers and bloggers that have their own thoughts and feelings about books that we have loved. Here are a few of the books we’ve enjoyed recently and what other bloggers have to say about them.

Book: “The Wild Huntress” by Emily Lloyd-Jones

Book Description: Every five years, two kingdoms take part in a Wild Hunt. Joining is a bloody risk and even the most qualified hunters can suffer the deadliest fates. Still, hundreds gamble their lives to participate—all vying for the Hunt’s life-changing prize: a magical wish granted by the Otherking.

BRANWEN possesses a gift no other human has: the ability to see and slay monsters. She’s desperate to cure her mother’s sickness, and the Wild Hunt is her only option.

GWYDION is the least impressive of his magically-talented family, but with his ability to control plants and his sleight of hand, he’ll do whatever it takes to keep his cruel older brother from becoming a tyrant.

PRYDERI is prince-born and monster-raised. Deep down, the royal crown doesn’t interest him—all he wants is to know is where he belongs.

If they band together against the monstrous creatures within the woods, they have a chance to win. But, then again, nothing is guaranteed when all is fair in love and the Hunt.

Serena’s Review (10 Rating)

The Story Sanctuary

The Naptime Writer (5 Stars)

Book: “Murder in Highbury” by Vanessa Kelly

Book Description: Less than one year into her marriage to respected magistrate George Knightley, Emma has grown unusually content in her newfound partnership and refreshed sense of independence. The height of summer sees the former Miss Woodhouse gracefully balancing the meticulous management of her elegant family estate and a flurry of social engagements, with few worries apart from her beloved father’s health . . .   

But cheery circumstances change in an instant when Emma and Harriet Martin, now the wife of one of Mr. Knightley’s tenant farmers, discover a hideous shock at the local church. The corpse of Mrs. Augusta Elton, the vicar’s wife, has been discarded on the altar steps—the ornate necklace she often wore stripped from her neck . . .   

As a chilling murder mystery blooms and chaos descends upon the tranquil village of Highbury, the question isn’t simply who committed the crime, but who wasn’t secretly wishing for the unpleasant woman’s demise. When suspicions suddenly fall on a harmless local, Emma—armed with wit, unwavering determination, and extensive social connections—realizes she must discreetly navigate an investigation of her own to protect the innocent and expose the ruthless culprit hiding in plain sight.

Serena’s Review (8 Rating)

Adventures in Literature (5 Stars)

Reading is My Super Power (4.5 Stars)

Amanda’s Book Corner (5 Stars)

Book: “The Scarlet Alchemist” by Kylie Lee Baker

Book Description: Zilan dreams of becoming a royal alchemist, of providing for her family by making alchemical gold and gems for the wealthy to eat in order to stay young forever. But for now, she’s trapped in her impoverished village in southern China, practicing an illegal form of alchemy to keep food on the table—resurrecting the dead, for a price.

When Zilan finally has the chance to complete her imperial exams, she ventures to the capital to compete against the best alchemists in the country in tasks she’ll be lucky to survive, let alone pass. On top of that, her reputation for raising the dead has followed her to the capital, and the Crown Prince himself seeks out her help, suspecting a coming assassination attempt.

The more Zilan succeeds in her alchemy, the more she gets caught in the dangerous political games of the royal family. There are monsters lurking within the palace walls, and it’s only a matter of time before they—and secrets of Zilan’s past—catch up with her.

Serena’s Review (9 Rating)

Smart Bitches, Trashy Books (A rating)

Meg’s Book Rack (5 Stars)

Armed with a Book

Book: “American Rapture” by C.J. Leede

Book Description: A virus is spreading across America, transforming the infected and making them feral with lust. Sophie, a good Catholic girl, must traverse the hellscape of the midwest to try to find her family while the world around her burns. Along the way she discovers there are far worse fates than dying a virgin.

Kate’s Review (9 Rating)

Books, Bones, & Buffy (5 Stars)

Smitten for Fiction

megsbookrack (4.5 Stars)

Book: “My Vampire Plus-One” by Jenna Levine

Book Description: Nothing sucks more than fake dating a vampire in this paranormal romantic comedy from the USA Today bestselling author of My Roommate Is a Vampire.

Amelia Collins is by definition successful. She would even go so far as to say successfully single. But not according to her family, and she’s tired of the constant questions about her nonexistent dating life. When an invitation to yet another family wedding arrives, she decides to get everyone off her back once and for all by finding someone–anyone–to pose as her date.

After a chance encounter with Reginald Cleaves, Amelia decides he’s perfect for her purposes. He’s a bit strange, but that’s fine; it’ll discourage tough questions from her family. (And it certainly doesn’t hurt that he’s very handsome.) For centuries-old vampire Reggie, posing as her plus-one sounds like the ultimate fun. And if it helps his ruse of pretending to be human, so much the better.

As Amelia and Reggie practice their fauxmance, it becomes clear that Reggie is as loyal to her as the day is long, and that Amelia’s first impressions could not have been more wrong. Suddenly, being in a real relationship with Reggie sounds pretty fang-tastic.

Kate’s Review (9 Rating)

Your Book Friend

The Geeky Waffle

Amandas Book Corner (5 Stars)

Book: “So Thirsty” by Rachel Harrison

Book Description: A woman must learn to take life by the throat after a night out leads to irrevocable changes in this juicy, thrilling novel from the USA Today bestselling author of Such Sharp Teeth and Black Sheep.

Sloane Parker is dreading her birthday. She doesn’t need a reminder she’s getting older, or that she’s feeling indifferent about her own life. Her husband surprises her with a birthday weekend getaway—not with him, but with Sloane’s longtime best friend, troublemaker extraordinaire Naomi.

Sloane anticipates a weekend of wine tastings and cozy robes and strategic avoidance of issues she’d rather not confront, like her husband’s repeated infidelity. But when they arrive at their rental cottage, it becomes clear Naomi has something else in mind. She wants Sloane to stop letting things happen to her, for Sloane to really live. So Naomi orchestrates a wild night out with a group of mysterious strangers, only for it to take a horrifying turn that changes Sloane’s and Naomi’s lives literally forever.

The friends are forced to come to terms with some pretty eternal consequences in this bloody, seductive novel about how it’s never too late to find satisfaction, even though it might taste different than expected.

Kate’s Review (8 Rating)

Under the Covers Book Blog (4.5 Stars)

Smexy Books (B+)

Bookshelf Fantasies (4 Stars)

Highlights: December 2024

It is so incredibly dark here in Minnesota. But at least we have Christmas and holiday lights to cheer us! The house across from Serena goes all out in this regard (seriously, there are tour buses that stop by this place every night!), and while Kate’s neighborhood can’t compete, she at least has the double whammy of Christmas tree AND Menorah lights in her own home to look forward to. However, when it gets dark so early, that just leaves more time to fully commit to the coziness of winter reading: book in hand, blanket on lap, warm drink within reach. Here are some titles we’re looking forward to this month!

Serena’s Picks

Book: “A Monsoon Rising” by Thea Guanzon

Publication Date: Dec. 10, 2024

Why I’m Interested: December is always a light month, so it’s been great having this book to look forward to this season! I really enjoyed the first book in this trilogy, “The Hurricane Wars,” and the general set up of both the world and the enemies-to-lovers romance. There were a lot of pieces in play in the first book, so I’m curious to see how it is all balanced in this sequel. Second books are notoriously difficult, especially when trying to navigate both a high fantasy plot line and a central romance. However, the first book was such a fun time to read that I have high hopes that Guanzon can pull it off again!

Book: “Upon a Frosted Star” by M. A. Kuzniar

Publication Date: Dec. 10, 2024

Why I’m Interested: For one thing, this simply looks like a wintery read, perfect for the vibes of December! For another, I’m always interested in fairytale retellings of “Swan Lake.” I have yet to find one that really blows me away, but I’m ever hopeful! Luckily, the publisher reached out offering a copy of this for review, so count on seeing my thoughts on this one in a few weeks!

Book: “How to Steal a Galaxy” by Beth Revis

Publication Date: Dec. 3, 2024

Why I’m Interested: I love science fiction, but I’m also incredibly picky with this genre I’ve found. But the first novella in this series checked every box (even more impressive for managing this in a shorter page count than your average novel!). It was action packed, had a fun lead character, had a good twist, and balanced the burgeoning romance in a believable way. That being the case, I was thrilled to discover the next book was coming out only a few months later. Even better, it would be the rare unicorn of a new title releasing in December! I can’t wait to check this one out and see what escapades Ada gets up to this time!

Kate’s Picks

Book: “What The Woods Took” by Courtney Gould

Publication Date: December 10, 2024

Why I’m Interested: I hear a plot that has to do with one of those horrific wilderness survival schools that also has some horror elements (beyond the obvious THESE PLACES ARE HORROR STORIES) and I am immediately going to want to read it. And I have enjoyed some of Courtney Gould’s books in the past. So this was a clear choice for a book to take on. Devin is a teenager in foster care who is kidnapped from her bedroom in the middle of the night. Well, not so much kidnapped, as her foster parents gave the full go ahead to send her to a wilderness retreat for misbehaving youth. The kids are told that they are to learn to change their ways, and that a fifty mile hike and camping trip will surely do the trick. But when the counselors disappear, and strange things start happening in the woods, Devin and the rest of the campers find themselves in a dire situation. Gracious this will no doubt be upsetting.

Book: “Alter Ego” by Alex Segura

Publication Date: December 3, 2024

Why I’m Interested: I enjoyed Segura’s previous novel in the duology, “Secret Identity”, and when I saw that not only was there a sequel but there were ARCs available at ALAAC24 I snagged it up pretty damn fast. Set in the present day, we follow Annie Bustamante, director, comics artist, and writer who has made a mark, even if she’s been shoved aside as of late. When she is approached by Triumph Comics to help reboot her longtime favorite superhero the Lethal Lynx, the offer seems… off. For one, the company is being cagey with some of the details. For another, they expect her to work with a notorious filmmaker who is part genius, part ticking time bomb. And then the strange messages start arriving. Annie starts to peel back some secrets about her favorite superheroine, and realizes that she may be in danger should she not tread carefully. I really enjoyed “Secret Identity”, and seeing what Segura does next is tantalizing.

Book: “Earthdivers (Vol. 3): 1776” by Stephen Graham Jones

Publication Date: December 3, 2024

Why I’m Interested: Well OF COURSE I’M INTERESTED! I’ve been loving Stephen Graham Jones’s historical/fantasy/Sci-Fi series about Indigenous people from a climate disastrous future being sent back in time to different points in American history in hopes of changing the fate of the world, going from Columbus’s time to the Ice Age. And now? THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, BABY! Now it’s Emily’s turn, the Two Spirit who went into the cave with no clue as to what awaited her, only to find herself in Philadelphia in 1776. Her plan is a different approach from the violence her compatriots thought could work; what if she can change history by working within the system? I have a feeling it’s not going to go AWESOMELY for her, but given that Emily was a favorite of mine from the first volume, I can’t wait to see what she does with the Founding Fathers.

What books are you looking forward to this month? Let us know in the comments!

Diving Into Sub-Genres: Post-Apocalyptic


This post may contain affiliate links for books we recommend.  Read the full disclosure here.

We each have our own preferred genres of choice. Kate loves horrors and thrillers, really anything that will keep her up at night! And Serena enjoys escaping through hidden doors into realms of magic and adventure. We also read mysteries, historical fiction, graphic novels, etc. etc. And that’s not even counting the multitude of sub-genres contained within each greater genre. In this series, one of us will present a list of our favorites from within a given sub-genre of one of our greater preferred genres.

Back at the height of the COVID pandemic I was having a hard time even THINKING about post-apocalyptic books because it kind of felt like we were teetering towards such a thing. Now I’m kind of whistling past the graveyard a bit, with the election behind us and all of my anxieties about what it all means in the coming months and years, as the sub-genre that REALLY stood out in my mind for this entry in our ongoing series was ‘end of the world’!!!!

I really enjoy a post-apocalyptic story, and as a sub-genre it can branch across multiple genres and still pack a punch. And it’s a theme that has been prevalent in literature for millennia, with stories like “The Epic of Gilgamesh”, “Dharmasastra”, “Völuspá”, and “The Book of Revelations” being of a more ancient time. The 1800s brought stories like “The War of the Worlds” by H.G. Wells, “Darkness” by Lord Byron, and “The Last Man” by Mary Shelley. The 20th Century really expanded on the sub-genre with lots of branches off within the sub-genre itself, be it due to disease, climate disaster, supernatural means, or manmade problems. It’s a dark sub-genre to be sure, but there is also an ever present theme of humanity finding pockets of banding together to find community and perseverance and connection during the darkest and most challenging of times. While my list is merely scratching the surface, these are the titles that sprung to mind when I was thinking about this sub-genre and how it still keeps going, even if it changes.

Book: “The Stand” by Stephen King

Probably considered one of the heaviest of hitters of the modern post-apocalyptic sub-genre, “The Stand” is one of my very favorite books, and there is a reason it has stuck around since it was published in the 1970s. This was my first Stephen King book and it set the stage for my entire reading journey from thirteen year old me up til now. “The Stand” is an apocalyptic tale about a manmade bioweapon called Captain Tripps, a superflu that has a 100% mortality rate, which is let loose in a lab accident and then set free by a fleeing soldier, ravaging the world population. Random survivors, who have immunity based on chance, soon find themselves being called to two different places. The first is in Colorado, with a kindly woman named Mother Abigail. The second is in Las Vegas, with the malevolent and mysterious Randall Flagg building an army to take control and wreak havoc. As the two bands of survivors rebuild their lives, and start to encroach on each other the groups will face off in a final stand of good versus evil. In true King fashion it’s not only the horror elements of this book, be they due to illness or terrible humans, but also the very well thought out characterizations of many characters, that make this story an absolute favorite of mine.

Book: “Moon of the Crusted Snow” by Waubgeshing Rice

Unlike “The Stand”, and many other apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic novels, “Moon of the Crusted Snow” is an end of the world tale that is a bit ambiguous about how society collapsed and the world as it was known ended. We approach it through the eyes of an isolated Anishinaabe community high up north, which has low communication with the outside world except in certain circumstances. So when they realize that something HAS happened, they aren’t wholly sure as to what ‘it’ was, and now have to figure out how to survive through the winter to rebuild their own community in the spring. But that’s less the point of this novel, as the focus is more on the fact that 1) Indigenous communities already experienced an apocalyptic event when white colonizers entered their lives, and 2) the end of something means the beginning of something else. We also see how cycles repeat as well, as the community lets a white survivor into their community as an act of good faith in hopes of helping him, and then he starts to throw his weight around and endangers everyone through his actions. This one is a slow burn thriller with a bit more of a quiet voice, but a strong and effective one as well. And a sequel came out last year!

Book: “Zone One” by Colson Whitehead

Zombie tales have kind of cycled out as of late, though for awhile they were VERY popular in the horror world. There are a whole plethora of zombie apocalypse stories to pick from, but I decided to highlight “Zone One” by Colson Whitehead, as it is a unique entry into the zombie apocalypse theme. We follow Mark Spitz, a man who is a survivor, or ‘sweeper’ in a post zombie apocalypse New York. He patrols and takes out zombies to try and make New York livable once more, and as we follow Mark over a few days of this job we learn about how the zombie apocalypse unfolded, how Mark survived it, and how people are trying to rebuild society and remove all of the straggling zombies who are still roaming about. Whitehead applies a very literary lens to the zombie sub-genre, and in it we see a slice of life character study as well as a post-apocalyptic tale of resilience and rebuilding.

Book: “Parable of the Sower” by Octavia Butler

This is, for me, perhaps the most disturbing book on this list, if only because it feels a little too real in how it approaches the end of the world through societal disparity and climate change. Doesn’t really help that it starts in 2024. OH WELL! Octavia Butler’s “Parable of the Sower” follows Lauren, a teenage girl living in an America that is at a boiling point, with the haves living in high gated communities and the have nots being locked out and subjected to a dying planet and violence, poverty, and death. When Lauren’s community is eventually overrun, she escapes into the wilds, and starts to not only band together with other survivors, but also starts to create and devise a belief system called Earthseed that will not only bring community back to its followers, but also will get them off a dying planet and to spread humanity across other planets. We read this in book club a couple years ago, and I remember loving it but also being absolutely terrified by how close it was to the reality we are living in at the moment. Butler is a force, and I highly recommend this book, even if it scares the living daylights out of me. Especially now.

Book: “The Fireman” by Joe Hill

And now for some lighter fare! And for Joe Hill, Stephen King’s son who also decided to dabble in an end of the world epic with “The Fireman”! A mysterious illness called Dragonscale has started manifesting in people, where a person develops weird skin lesions, then starts to smoke, burn up, and spontaneously combust. Harper is a nurse who is trying to remain positive throughout, though when she finds out she is pregnant AND develops Dragonscale, her husband Jakob rejects her, and she flees before he gets violent as society starts to crumble. Soon she meets a group of infected people who worship Dragonscale, and believe that they can use it as a blessing and have found a way to keep it under control. Within the group is referred to as The Fireman, as while he keeps his distance from the group for the most part, he has learned to control and manipulate his Dragonscale ‘powers’. But Harper soon realizes that this community may not be the safe haven for her and her baby. I really loved this book, finding it to be jarring as well as incredibly hopeful.

Book: “Station Eleven” by Emily St. John Mandel

I am ending this selection with a book that has really cemented itself not only as a modern end of the world classic, but also as one that focuses on the things that I am trying to focus on at the moment when things are so bleak and uncertain. “Station Eleven” by Emily St. John Mandel is, much like “The Stand”, and apocalypse story about an illness that sweeps the globe and kills millions of people, leading to the collapse of society. But while we do get flashbacks into how the world ended, and into the different characters who persevered, made a mark, or succumbed to it, the main crux of this story is humanity moving forward with community, hope, art, and love. We follow Kirsten and her troupe of fellow artists and performers as they travel the now ravaged U.S., performing for other survivors and keeping art and culture alive while providing hope and community for their audiences. But when they run afoul a maniacal self proclaimed prophet and his dangerous cult, they have to keep themselves and others safe from this group. What strikes me the most about this one, and why it’s my last pick for this list, is that while things are dark, and hard, and dangerous, Kirsten and her community are strong, supporting each other and finding joy even in the hardest times, while actively resisting against chaos, hate, and violence of those who wish to tear it all down. It’s truly a book for our times.

What post-apocalyptic books are your favorites? Let us know in the comments!

Highlights: November 2024

The candy high is passing (our kids’ candy highs, not ours…no…) and the madness of the holiday season is already setting in! What better time to escape from responsibility into the world of books?? Here are some titles that we’re most looking forward to this November!

Serena’s Picks

Book: “Wheel of the Infinite” by Martha Wells

Publication Date: November 19, 2024

Why I’m Interested: This is actually a re-release of a novel that Wells published way back in 2000, I believe. I was reading her books near that time, but somehow missed this one. I’m thrilled, however, that her back catalog is finally get the loving attention it deserves and was super excited to add this to my reading list for November when I saw that Tor was putting out a new edition this month! A few things can always be counted on from this author: wholly unique second-world settings and strong main characters. Can’t wait to see what she has in store this time!

Book: “Servant of Earth” by Sarah Hawley

Publication Date: November 19, 2024

Why I’m Interested: Yes, another Fae fantasy book. There’s definitely a bit of fatigue setting in as far as Fae romantasy stories go, at least for me. But I’ve also still read a few great ones over the last few years, so I never want to wholly give up on the subgenre. Plus, the cover on this one feels unique from the art we typically see on this sort of story. The story itself, however, sounds rather familiar: deadly trials, powerful Fae, multiple potential love interests…All of these can be great, as well, of course! We’ll just have to wait and see!

Book: “The Songbird and the Heart of Stone” by Carissa Broadbent

Publication Date: November 19, 2024

Why I’m Interested: This was probably one of my most highly anticipated titles for the year, so of course it was going to show up on this list! I loved the first duology in this world and was only too eager for any excuse to return to this story! Making it even better, this story follows Mische who was a fairly significant side character in the first two books! The story also seems to be a quest-like story that follows our characters as they travel into this world’s underworld, which sounds awesome as well! I’ve been waiting so long to read this one, and I’m so excited the time has finally come!

Kate’s Picks

Book: “Guilt and Ginataan” by Mia P. Manansala

Publication Date: November 12, 2024

Why I’m Interested: I’m so happy that the “Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery” series reliably has a new book every year, and given that I try to soak in the cozy in November this is going to be a perfect read to match the vibes. And this one even takes place in the Fall, which makes it all the more seasonally appropriate! There’s another murder afoot in Shady Palms, this time happening during the annual Corn Festival, and also involving amateur detective Lila Macapagal is on the case. Especially since her friend Adeena is found unconscious next to the body. I really enjoy this series, and can’t wait to see what recipes come with it this time around!

Book: “Sundown in San Ojuela” by M.M. Olivas

Publication Date: November 19, 2024

Why I’m Interested: I saw M.M. Olivas on a panel at ALAAC this past summer and was very intrigued by the book she was promoting. That book happened to be “Sundown in San Ojuela”, as she said she took inspiration from spaghetti westerns as well as the films “Near Dark” and “A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night”. I mean, COME ON. Of COURSE I wanted to read it. When Liz returns to San Ojuela after years of being away (and after enduring a trauma that left her clairvoyant), she has to not only face family strife, but also a monster that has been consolidating power for years. This has been on my radar for almost half a year at this point and it’s finally time to jump on in.

Book: “Heart Shaped Lies” by Elizabeth Agyemang

Publication Date: November 26, 2024

Why I’m Interested: I love a nice sudsy murder mystery, and given that this one is saying that it’s “John Tucker Must Die” meets “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” I was totally on board to give it a go. Tommy Harding is a popular online prankster, who just so happens to be stringing along three women as his star rises. But when his infidelities are exposed by a mystery person, Kiara, Priscilla, and Nevaeh leave him in the lurch. Problem is that the next day he winds up dead, and the three of them become the most obvious suspects. I have high hopes for this one!

What books are you looking forward to this month? Let us know in the comments!

Another Take: Fall 2024

This post may contain affiliate links for books we recommend.  Read the full disclosure here.

Don’t just take it from us, other readers like these books, too! And we have decided that we would like to showcase other reviewers and bloggers that have their own thoughts and feelings about books that we have loved. Here are a few of the books we’ve enjoyed recently and what other bloggers have to say about them.

Book: “Letters to the Purple Satin Killer” by Joshua Chaplinksy

Book Description: Jonas Williker is considered one of the most sadistic serial murderers of the modern era. This epistolary novel explores the aftermath of his arrest and the psychological trauma of those who lived through it. The Pennsylvania native brutalized his way into the zeitgeist during the early part of the new millennium, leaving a trail of corpses across five states before his eventual arrest. All told, Williker was responsible for the rape and murder of 23 women, and is suspected in the deaths of dozens more. His calling card—a torn piece of fabric found on or inside the bodies of his victims—helped popularize his now ubiquitous nickname. The Purple Satin Killer.  In the years following his arrest, Jonas Williker received hundreds of letters in prison. Collected here, these letters offer a unique glimpse into a depraved mind through a human lens, including contributions from family, the bereaved, and self-professed “fans.” They represent a chilling portrait of the American psyche, skewering a media obsessed culture where murderers are celebrities to revere. What you learn about the man from these letters will shock you, but not as much as what you learn about yourself.

Kate’s Review (9 Rating)

Fiendfully Reading

FanFiAddict

Heavy Feather Review

Book: “Tiny Threads” by Lilliam Rivera

Book Description: Fashion-obsessed Samara finally has the life she’s always dreamed of: a high-powered job with legendary designer Antonio Mota. A new home in sunny California, far away from those drab Jersey winters. And an intriguing love interest, Brandon, a wealthy investor in Mota’s fashion line.

But it’s not long before Samara’s dream life begins to turn into a living nightmare, as Mota’s big fashion show approaches and the pressure on Samara turns crushing. Perhaps that’s why Samara begins hearing voices in the dark in her room at night—and seeing strange things that can’t be explained away by stress and anxiety, or by the number of drinks she consumes every night.

And it may not only be Samara’s unraveling psyche, because she soon discovers hints that her new city—and the house of Mota—may have been built on a foundation of secrets and lies. Now Samara must uncover what hideous truths lurk in the shadows of this illusory world of glamor and beauty, before those shadows claim her…

Kate’s Review (8 Rating)

Books, Bones & Buffy (3.5/4 Stars)

The Wilderness Road

Just Read It Already! (3.5/5 Stars)

Book: “This Cursed House” by Del Sandeen

Book Description: In the fall of 1962, twenty-seven-year-old Jemma Barker is desperate to escape her life in Chicago—and the spirits she has always been able to see. When she receives an unexpected job offer from the Duchon family in New Orleans, she accepts, thinking it is her chance to start over. 

But Jemma discovers that the Duchon family isn’t what it seems. Light enough to pass as white, the Black family members look down on brown-skinned Jemma. Their tenuous hold on reality extends to all the members of their eccentric clan, from haughty grandmother Honorine to beautiful yet inscrutable cousin Fosette. And soon the shocking truth comes The Duchons are under a curse. And they think Jemma has the power to break it.

As Jemma wrestles with the gift she’s run from all her life, she unravels deeper and more disturbing secrets about the mysterious Duchons. Secrets that stretch back over a century. Secrets that bind her to their fate if she fails.

Kate’s Review (8 Rating)

Jessicamap Reviews (5/5 Stars)

Jen Med’s Book Reviews

DG Reads (4/5)

Book: “Black Tide Son” by H.M. Long

Book Description: A captured pirate reveals shocking news to Mary and Samuel that sends them in urgent pursuit of Samuel’s twin brother, Benedict, but their search uncovers much more than they bargained for. While evading a cunning new foe, Mary and Samuel must navigate the complexities of their own growing bond as they launch a rescue mission within one of the most secure fortresses on the Mereish Coast.

Serena’s Review (9 Rating)

Wicked Witch’s Blog (5 Stars)

One Book More (4 Stars)

One Reading Nurse (4 Stars)

Book: “A Sorceress Comes to Call” by T. Kingfisher

Book Description: Cordelia knows her mother is unusual. Their house doesn’t have any doors between rooms, and her mother doesn’t allow Cordelia to have a single friend—unless you count Falada, her mother’s beautiful white horse. The only time Cordelia feels truly free is on her daily rides with him. But more than simple eccentricity sets her mother apart. Other mothers don’t force their daughters to be silent and motionless for hours, sometimes days, on end. Other mothers aren’t sorcerers.

After a suspicious death in their small town, Cordelia’s mother insists they leave in the middle of the night, riding away on Falada’s sturdy back, leaving behind all Cordelia has ever known. They arrive at the remote country manor of a wealthy older man, the Squire, and his unwed sister, Hester. Cordelia’s mother intends to lure the Squire into marriage, and Cordelia knows this can only be bad news for the bumbling gentleman and his kind, intelligent sister.

Hester sees the way Cordelia shrinks away from her mother, how the young girl sits eerily still at dinner every night. Hester knows that to save her brother from bewitchment and to rescue the terrified Cordelia, she will have to face down a wicked witch of the worst kind.

Serena’s Review (9 Rating)

Blogging with Dragons (4 Stars)

Books, Bones, and Buffy (4 Stars)

The Novel Character

Book: “Tomb of the Sun King” by Jacquelyn Benson

Book Description: Archivist and suffragette Ellie Mallory always dreamed of putting her scholarly skills to work in the ancient sands of Egypt. She never imagined she would be doing so in order to save an object of legendary power from a batch of ruthless villains. Racing baddies to an arcanum of Biblical proportions is only one of Ellie’s problems. Her hopelessly academic and perpetually mortified step-brother, Dr. Neil Fairfax, is about to learn that she’s been gallivanting around the globe with his danger-magnet best friend, Adam Bates—the roguish surveyor for whom Ellie harbors increasingly complicated feelings. Add the petite and terrifyingly fearless Constance Tyrrell to the mix, and Ellie either has a crack team of artifact-saving experts to hand… or a recipe for disaster. Together, they’ll need to follow a trail of three-thousand-year-old clues from the necropolis of Saqqara to the temples of Luxor and beyond, where the ruined capital of a heretic pharaoh hides a secret with the potential to upend history. To keep an earth-shattering magic from falling into the wrong hands, Ellie will need to pull out all the stops—even if that means resorting to fisticuffs, ignoring proper archaeological processes… and facing a terrible choice between doing what she knows is right or breaking her own heart.

Serena’s Review (8 Rating)

Hidden in Pages (5 Stars)

Literature and Leaves (5 Stars)