It’s been a minute since I posted about the books I’ve been reading. I’ve had some deadlines to hit and I’ve been enjoying my summer…and subsequently neglecting my blog and updates. So without further ado, let’s just get into everything I’ve been reading:
- The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake – Compelling and exciting! Excellent worldbuilding and magic system within a story that kept me turning the pages. I will say though, the final act really felt like a bit of a letdown. I was super on board with everything being sold to me…until the reveal. So take that as you will. But overall, very cool concept and writing.
- The Sunbearer Trials (The Sunbearer Duology #1) by Aiden Thomas – A new fantasy series perfect for fans of Percy Jackson and The Hunger Games. Aiden Thomas writes another page-turning adventure filled with Mexican folklore and mythology. An exciting journey from start to finish with a diverse and delightful cast of characters. You won’t be able to put this book down – OUT SEPT. 6, 2022
- Year of the Dog by Irma Kniivila – Laugh out loud, pitch-perfect pet perfection! Relatable, delightful, and amazing. If you enjoy the works of Kate Beaton, you’ll absolutely enjoy these short dogventure comics.
- Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski – An absolutely incredible, must-read book!
- Stages of Rot by Linnea Sterte – Hands down one of the most beautiful comics that I have ever read. It kind of feels like Moebius doing Nausicaa all while feeling entirely original and breathtakingly fresh.
- Eniale & Dewiela Vol. 1 by Kamome Shirahama – Not bad but didn’t really grip me. It’s kind of like if Good Omens was about Aziraphale and Crowley looking after a baby.
- Cat’s Cradle: The Golden Twine (Cat’s Cradle #1) by Jo Rioux – Cat’s Cradle is a stunning and delightful story for readers of all ages. Beautiful illustrations and colours make everything pop off the page, and the world-building within the story—everything from the characters to the magic to the monsters—is so fun and captivating. It feels like an origin story for Tony Cliff’s Delilah Dirk series, if Delilah was a monster hunter. So with that, I think it’s also safe to say that if you’ve enjoyed those books, Cat’s Cradle will be up your alley. Similarly, if you enjoyed Tim Probert’s LightFall books, this is in a similar vein.
- The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller – “I am made of memories.” My HEART! What a beautiful book that expertly breathes new life into old myths and legends. I loved every moment of it, even the parts that made me tear up.
- Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley – A compelling and complex read. Started out a bit slow but after a few chapters, I was fully invested and couldn’t put it down. A book worthy of the hype surrounding it.
- The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels (Dangerous Damsels #1) by India Holton – Very, very fun. Kind of like if Bridgerton was written by Terry Pratchett. A light, delightful adventure with scoundrels aplenty!
- We Could Be Heroes by Mike Chen – A fun and exhilarating exploration into a world where people with superpowers exist and how being a hero or villain isn’t always black and white. Mike Chen has an exception gift for taking extraordinary story concepts and making them feel grounded in reality. His characters feel fully realized and you’re able to connect with them. In this case, getting two characters in a platonic friend relationship together was a breath of fresh air! I kept expecting a romance to pop up but the fact that it didn’t come and they just remained friends was a *chefs kiss* choice. Worth checking out!
- Verity by Colleen Hoover – I devoured this in one day, broken up into two long sittings during the hottest day of the summer so far and I…I don’t even know what to say or think yet. I just know I’ll be processing this story and thinking about it for a long time to come. Wow…just…wow. Creepy, edge-of-your-seat stuff that kept me turning the pages until I was done.
- The Girl from Everywhere (The Girl from Everywhere #1) by Heidi Heilig – A book with truly wonderful world-building and a unique magic system. It somehow feels part Night Circus and part Peter Pan in some way. There are some other comps on the tip of my tongue that I can’t quite reach but it’s got fantasy and mythology mixed with historical fiction that helps to ground the story in reality. A fantastic debut novel.
Other books that I read but don’t really have reviews for:
- A frog in the fall (and later on) by Linnea Sterte
- Space Trash Vol. 1 (Space Trash #1) by Jenn Woodall
- The Good Fight by Ted Staunton and Josh Rosen
- Coming Back by Jessi Zabarsky
What have you been reading and enjoying?