en-US Thu, 01 May 2025 21:34:24 -0700 60 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg 62617701 From the fun of the fair to the depths of hell, experience sixteen more curses in this sequel to the bestselling Cursed: An Anthology. A blend of traditional and reimagined curses from fairy-tales to Snow White, from some of the best names in fantasy.

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR

Take a trip to a terrifying carnival and uncover the secrets within, solve a mysterious puzzle box and await your reward, join a travelling circus and witness the strangest ventriloquist act you've ever seen.

In this follow-up to the bestselling Cursed: An Anthology, you'll unearth curses old and new. From a very different take on Snow White, to a new interpretation of The Red Shoes, the best in fantasy spin straw into gold, and invite you into the labyrinth.

Just don't forget to leave your trail of breadcrumbs�

Featuring stories from: Joanne Harris Neil Gaiman Joe Hill Sarah Pinborough Angela Slatter M. R. Carey Christina Henry A. C. Wise Laura Purcell Katherine Arden Adam L. G. Nevill Mark Chadbourn Helen Grant Kelley Armstrong A. K. Benedict L. L. McKinney]]> 316 Marie O'Regan C.L. 0 currently-reading 3.80 2023
author: Marie O'Regan
name: C.L.
average rating: 3.80
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/01
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> 133286777 From the New York Times bestselling author of Ninth House, Hell Bent, and creator of the Grishaverse series comes a highly anticipated historical fantasy set during the Spanish Golden Age

In a shabby house, on a shabby street, in the new capital of Madrid, Luzia Cotado uses scraps of magic to get through her days of endless toil as a scullion. But when her scheming mistress discovers the lump of a servant cowering in the kitchen is actually hiding a talent for little miracles, she demands Luzia use those gifts to better the family's social position.

What begins as simple amusement for the bored nobility takes a perilous turn when Luzia garners the notice of Antonio Pérez, the disgraced secretary to Spain's king. Still reeling from the defeat of his armada, the king is desperate for any advantage in the war against England's heretic queen—and Pérez will stop at nothing to regain the king's favor.

Determined to seize this one chance to better her fortunes, Luzia plunges into a world of seers and alchemists, holy men and hucksters, where the line between magic, science, and fraud is never certain. But as her notoriety grows, so does the danger that her Jewish blood will doom her to the Inquisition's wrath. She will have to use every bit of her wit and will to survive—even if that means enlisting the help of Guillén Santangel, an embittered immortal familiar whose own secrets could prove deadly for them both.]]> 387 Leigh Bardugo 125088425X C.L. 3 3.74 2024
author: Leigh Bardugo
name: C.L.
average rating: 3.74
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2025/05/01
date added: 2025/05/01
shelves:
review:
Bardugo always writes with sweeping descriptions and beautiful prose, yet unlike her other works, I just could not connect with the characters enough to truly care about their fates. The Familiar is just okay for me. A fine book, but not something I will reread or recommend though I've reread other books by the author more than 10 times.
]]> 699654 185 Louis L'Amour 0553276867 C.L. 0 currently-reading 4.12 1974
author: Louis L'Amour
name: C.L.
average rating: 4.12
book published: 1974
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/20
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> 40597810 Everyone knows DAISY JONES & THE SIX, but nobody knows the reason behind their split at the absolute height of their popularity . . . until now.

Daisy is a girl coming of age in L.A. in the late sixties, sneaking into clubs on the Sunset Strip, sleeping with rock stars, and dreaming of singing at the Whisky a Go Go. The sex and drugs are thrilling, but it’s the rock ’n� roll she loves most. By the time she’s twenty, her voice is getting noticed, and she has the kind of heedless beauty that makes people do crazy things.

Also getting noticed is The Six, a band led by the brooding Billy Dunne. On the eve of their first tour, his girlfriend Camila finds out she’s pregnant, and with the pressure of impending fatherhood and fame, Billy goes a little wild on the road.

Daisy and Billy cross paths when a producer realizes that the key to supercharged success is to put the two together. What happens next will become the stuff of legend.

The making of that legend is chronicled in this riveting and unforgettable novel, written as an oral history of one of the biggest bands of the seventies. Taylor Jenkins Reid is a talented writer who takes her work to a new level with Daisy Jones & The Six, brilliantly capturing a place and time in an utterly distinctive voice.]]> 368 Taylor Jenkins Reid 1524798622 C.L. 4 4.20 2019
author: Taylor Jenkins Reid
name: C.L.
average rating: 4.20
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/17
date added: 2025/04/17
shelves:
review:
I'll be honest, I watched the show first because of Sam Claflin, and had heard hype about the book for years. It was actually warranted. Daisy Jones and the Six is an excellent book. I enjoyed the interview format, and I actually appreciate the book a bit more than the movie because it made the Billy-Daisy aspect a lot more ambiguous. I hate cheating; it's an immediate ick factor for me, even in fiction. However, the book handled it well, and I really appreciate the way Billy and Camilla talked about each other with mutual respect and love. Camillia was a class act! I don't think I would have the maturity she had, knowing my husband was off emotionally cheating with a beautiful and talented woman. Daisy was also likable, despite her flaws. I think her flaws made her even more likable, to be honest. I also appreciated her candid attitude toward men who tried to exploit her for their own gain or who tried to dim her shine. She put them all in their place without apology. Most of the characters are incredibly complex and, dare I say, human. As a person with a personality type that loves to study people and behaviors, this was a goldmine. I'm also gonna be blasting the songs from the show for at least the next month!
]]> 75665914
What if one little wish changed everything?

When Gemma gets dumped by her long-term boyfriend, she reacts the way any reasonable twenty-eight-year-old would: by getting drunk with her sister, kooky aunt, and best friend, Dax. After one too many margaritas, they decide to perform a love- cleansing spell, which promises to erase Gemma’s ex from her memory. They follow all the instructions, including a platonic kiss from Dax to seal the deal.

When Gemma wakes up, she realizes that this silly spell has worked. Not only does it seem that she never dated her ex, but the rest of her life is completely unrecognizable. The worst part: Dax has no idea who she is.

To reverse the spell and get back to her old life, Gemma must convince her once-best-friend-now-near-stranger to kiss her. But as she carries out her plans, she finds herself falling for him—hard. Soon, Gemma begins to wonder whether she even wants to go back to the way things once were. What if Dax was The One all along?]]> 352 Kate Robb 0593596536 C.L. 0 to-read 3.78 2023
author: Kate Robb
name: C.L.
average rating: 3.78
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/12
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 75532088 For fans of Practical Magic and Gilmore Girls, The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic is a debut novel that explores the shields we build around our hearts to retain our own magic.

Sadie Revelare has always believed that the curse of four heartbreaks that accompanies her magic would be worth the price. But when her grandmother is diagnosed with cancer with only weeks to live, and her first heartbreak, Jake McNealy, returns to town after a decade, her carefully structured life begins to unravel.

With the news of their grandmother's impending death, Sadie's estranged twin brother Seth returns to town, bringing with him deeply buried family secrets that threaten to tear Sadie's world apart. Their grandmother has been the backbone of the family for generations, and with her death, Sadie isn't sure she'll have the strength to keep the family, and her magic, together.

As feelings for Jake begin to rekindle, and her grandmother growing sicker by the day, Sadie faces the last of her heartbreaks, and she has to decide: is love more important than magic?

Readers who love the magic of The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake and the sense of community found in The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches will enjoy this warm, witchy novel.]]> 322 Breanne Randall 1639105735 C.L. 0 to-read 3.16 2023
author: Breanne Randall
name: C.L.
average rating: 3.16
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/12
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 112972173
Tamsyn Bligh is not a witch, but she makes her living off of them. As a procurer and seller of magical items, Tamsyn’s business is not always above board, but she’s been trying to fix that (mostly.) Bowen is an occasional customer—as well as the star of several of Tamsyn’s dirtiest dreams—but she’s been around enough witches to know that, as a human, getting involved with one is not the smartest idea. She’s finagled an invite to the Witchy Wedding of the Century in the hopes of finally making a score big enough to retire. Just one priceless magical artifact from Tywyll House would set her up for life.

But Tamsyn isn’t the only one sneaking about in Tywyll House, and the mix of a very strong spell combined with a wedding mishap transports Bowen and Tamsyn into Tywyll House’s past, to the Yuletide Celebration of 1957. As Bowen and Tamsyn work together to get back to the present, they must also face off with the origins of Tywyll House’s haunting, the suspicions of their fellow witches…oh, and the fact that somewhere between the mistletoe and the bonfire, they might be falling in love.]]> 352 Erin Sterling 1035405342 C.L. 0 to-read 3.63 2024
author: Erin Sterling
name: C.L.
average rating: 3.63
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/09
shelves: to-read
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]]> 58064046 Everything casts a shadow. Even the world we live in. And as with every shadow, there is a place where it must touch. A seam, where the shadow meets its source.

Olivia Prior has grown up in Merilance School for girls, and all she has of her past is her mother’s journal—which seems to unravel into madness. Then, a letter invites Olivia to come home—to Gallant. Yet when Olivia arrives, no one is expecting her. But Olivia is not about to leave the first place that feels like home, it doesn’t matter if her cousin Matthew is hostile or if she sees half-formed ghouls haunting the hallways.

Olivia knows that Gallant is hiding secrets, and she is determined to uncover them. When she crosses a ruined wall at just the right moment, Olivia finds herself in a place that is Gallant—but not. The manor is crumbling, the ghouls are solid, and a mysterious figure rules over all. Now Olivia sees what has unraveled generations of her family, and where her father may have come from.

Olivia has always wanted to belong somewhere, but will she take her place as a Prior, protecting our world against the Master of the House? Or will she take her place beside him?]]> 338 Victoria E. Schwab 0062835777 C.L. 5 3.70 2022
author: Victoria E. Schwab
name: C.L.
average rating: 3.70
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at: 2025/04/05
date added: 2025/04/05
shelves:
review:
I enjoy almost everything by Schwab, so I was not surprised that this book was so good, but I think it is one of my favorites now! The atmosphere is so creepy and beautifully described. Olivia was such an interesting character and I loved trying to puzzle together her past and the mystery beyond the wall. The ending broke my heart, yet was fitting. The narrative is haunting and I think I'll be thinking of this book for years to come.
]]> 57693245 Some shadows protect you…others will kill you in this dazzling new fantasy series from award-winning author Abigail Owen.

Everything about my life is a lie. As a hidden twin princess, born second, I have only one purpose—to sacrifice my life for my sister if death comes for her. I’ve been living under the guise of a poor, obscure girl of no standing, slipping into the palace and into the role of the true princess when danger is present.

Now the queen is dead and the ageless King Eidolon has sent my sister a gift—an eerily familiar gift—and a proposal to wed. I don’t trust him, so I do what I was born to do and secretly take her place on the eve of the coronation. Which is why, when a figure made of shadow kidnaps the new queen, he gets me by mistake.

As I try to escape, all the lies start to unravel. And not just my lies. The Shadowraith who took me has secrets of his own. He struggles to contain the shadows he wields—other faces, identities that threaten my very life.

Winter is at the walls. Darkness is looming. And the only way to save my sister and our dominion is to kill Eidolon…and the Shadowraith who has stolen my heart.]]> 448 Abigail Owen 1649371527 C.L. 1 3.82 2022
author: Abigail Owen
name: C.L.
average rating: 3.82
book published: 2022
rating: 1
read at: 2025/04/03
date added: 2025/04/03
shelves:
review:
I tried. I really tried to read this and even started over a couple times, but I'm DNFing at 50 percent. The premise is so good, but the execution was just lackluster. Things seemed to happen out of the blue with no real driving reason,and I just could not get invested in the love story because it developed so quickly. I was honestly rooting for the mysterious friend at the beginning of the story, but that was soon forgotten on this long and pretty much aimless journey.
]]> 191755077 Ten women. A deadly contest. Only one can win the Sun King's heart.

Lor has endured twelve long years of torment under the Aurora King’s rule. Her only desire is to escape and pay him back for every moment of misery she's endured.

When a surprise release finds her in the hands of the rival Sun King, Lor is thrust into the spotlight as she competes against nine other Tributes for the role of queen. If she wins his heart, she'll earn her freedom and finally get her revenge.

But Lor doesn't belong in the Sun Queen Trials. Not only does she not understand why she was freed, she isn’t a citizen of the Sun King’s court. The other Tributes resent her presence and will stop at nothing to ensure Lor is removed from the competition, permanently.

Now Lor must win, because if she loses, she dies. Or worse, she'll be returned to the evil—and now vengeful—Aurora King.]]> 400 Nisha J. Tuli 1538767481 C.L. 0 to-read 3.81 2023
author: Nisha J. Tuli
name: C.L.
average rating: 3.81
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/31
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 41021501
Ruth hesitates before performing CPR and, as a result, is charged with a serious crime. Kennedy McQuarrie, a white public defender, takes her case but gives unexpected advice: Kennedy insists that mentioning race in the courtroom is not a winning strategy. Conflicted by Kennedy's counsel, Ruth tries to keep life as normal as possible for her family—especially her teenage son—as the case becomes a media sensation. As the trial moves forward, Ruth and Kennedy must gain each other's trust, and come to see that what they've been taught their whole lives about others—and themselves—might be wrong.

With incredible empathy, intelligence, and candor, Jodi Picoult tackles race, privilege, prejudice, justice, and compassion—and doesn't offer easy answers. Small Great Things is a remarkable achievement from a writer at the top of her game.]]> 510 Jodi Picoult 034554496X C.L. 3 4.38 2016
author: Jodi Picoult
name: C.L.
average rating: 4.38
book published: 2016
rating: 3
read at: 2025/03/31
date added: 2025/03/31
shelves:
review:
I think this was a 3.5 star book for me. It wasn't great, but it also wasn't bad. I feel like there were a lot of stereotypes used, and while I get the message of the book, it did become a bit preachy and oversimplified the relationship between race and how people of different backgrounds treat each other. There were definitely moments that made me cry, especially as Ruth talked about the babies and having to put them in the morgue, or having to assist with mothers who lost their babies. But, Kennedy got on my nerves through most of the book. I know that she meant well, but her not learning from her wrong assumptions after, like, the third time got old. Turk's chapters made me sick, and while I know there are people out there that extreme, I think the book would have been more poignant from the perspective of someone less radical. Turk feels more like a caricature than a real person. We all know that neo nazis and skinheads are bad (or at least we did), but the agressions of everyday white people can be just as detrimental and that would have been more interesting to me to explore.
]]> 60214444 Words:405,819]]> 1019 ellizablue C.L. 5 This fic tells the story of Annie's games and how she fell in love with Finnick, but it also spans all the way to the end of the Hunger Games Trilogy, and we all know where that leads. My life is just depression now, but in the most beautiful way. This fic shattered me. The characterization of Annie is done so well, as well as Finnick and Mags, even Johanna. Seeing how Finnick is able to get through to Annie after her games and how they are able to work through all their problems together, how they build a life despite the threats from the Capitol, despite what Snow makes Finnick do. The poetry, the desperation before the third quarter quell as the seconds tick by. There are just not enough words to describe what this story means to me. It's basically cannon in my mind. I cried so much that I was ill the next day, and I had raw red marks around my eyes.]]> 4.60
author: ellizablue
name: C.L.
average rating: 4.60
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/25
date added: 2025/03/25
shelves:
review:
Devestation. That is the only way to describe this one. I haven't ugly cried this hard in my life.
This fic tells the story of Annie's games and how she fell in love with Finnick, but it also spans all the way to the end of the Hunger Games Trilogy, and we all know where that leads. My life is just depression now, but in the most beautiful way. This fic shattered me. The characterization of Annie is done so well, as well as Finnick and Mags, even Johanna. Seeing how Finnick is able to get through to Annie after her games and how they are able to work through all their problems together, how they build a life despite the threats from the Capitol, despite what Snow makes Finnick do. The poetry, the desperation before the third quarter quell as the seconds tick by. There are just not enough words to describe what this story means to me. It's basically cannon in my mind. I cried so much that I was ill the next day, and I had raw red marks around my eyes.
]]> 214331246 When you’ve been set up to lose everything you love, what is there left to fight for?

As the day dawns on the fiftieth annual Hunger Games, fear grips the districts of Panem. This year, in honor of the Quarter Quell, twice as many tributes will be taken from their homes.

Back in District 12, Haymitch Abernathy is trying not to think too hard about his chances. All he cares about is making it through the day and being with the girl he loves.

When Haymitch’s name is called, he can feel all his dreams break. He’s torn from his family and his love, shuttled to the Capitol with the three other District 12 tributes: a young friend who’s nearly a sister to him, a compulsive oddsmaker, and the most stuck-up girl in town. As the Games begin, Haymitch understands he’s been set up to fail. But there’s something in him that wants to fight . . . and have that fight reverberate far beyond the deadly arena.]]> 387 Suzanne Collins 1546171460 C.L. 5 [spoilers removed]]]> 4.60 2025
author: Suzanne Collins
name: C.L.
average rating: 4.60
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/20
date added: 2025/03/25
shelves:
review:
I'm an OG Hunger Games fan, and I have wanted Haymitch's games since Catching Fire came out... Suzanne Collins did not disappoint. This is the most emotionally devastated I have been in years... maybe ever! I've done years of analysis, deep dives, and just straight-up fangirling, fanfic reading obsession, and never for one f*cking minute did I think that I could have fallen for the Capitol propaganda... when I say I was floored! The rest of this is going to have to have a spoiler tag because I need to talk about it all!
[spoilers removed]
]]> 7260188 My name is Katniss Everdeen.
Why am I not dead?
I should be dead.

Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.

It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans—except Katniss.

The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay—no matter what the personal cost.]]> 390 Suzanne Collins 0439023513 C.L. 5 4.10 2010
author: Suzanne Collins
name: C.L.
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2010
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/17
date added: 2025/03/17
shelves:
review:
I gave this book 4 stars when I first read it, and I think that's because I read it when I was much younger and understood people less. There's nothing wrong with this book; it is a beautifully written conclusion, but oh, it is so bittersweet. Because the world IS that cruel. Because people DON'T behave the way we want them to. Because there are no truly happy endings, just surviving the best you can through the trauma that life throws at you. I applaud Suzanne Collins for not taking the easy way out-- not sugarcoating war. I'm, of course, still bitter that some of my favs didn't make it, and I am a sobbing mess, but the series is satisfying in a way that younger me just couldn't appreciate yet.
]]> 6148028 Sparks are igniting.
Flames are spreading.
And the Capitol wants revenge.

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the Hunger Games. She and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even. After all, she has returned to her family and her longtime friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at an icy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol—a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create.

Much to her shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest that she's afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her even more is that she's not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can't prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying.

In Catching Fire, the second novel of the Hunger Games trilogy, Suzanne Collins continues the story of Katniss Everdeen, testing her more than ever before . . . and surprising readers at every turn.]]> 391 Suzanne Collins 0439023491 C.L. 5 4.34 2009
author: Suzanne Collins
name: C.L.
average rating: 4.34
book published: 2009
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/17
date added: 2025/03/17
shelves:
review:
Still in my Hunger Games renaissance and delighted to read my favorite book in the series. I've probably read this one the most, and I know I've watched this movie more than the others. There's something so hopeful and so much possibility in this book. There are so many ways the story could go, and even though I know it leads to Mockingjay and heartbreak, I always enjoy the way the victors come together as a team against the capital, even the ones who aren't a part of the grand plan because it shows that no matter what circumstances human beings are fighters, and they will protect themselves and others from oppression, undue cruelty, and unjust ends. There's so much humanity in Catching Fire, and it breaks my heart.
]]> 20764632 352 One Direction 0007577311 C.L. 5 4.45 2014
author: One Direction
name: C.L.
average rating: 4.45
book published: 2014
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/16
date added: 2025/03/16
shelves:
review:
I listened to the audiobook, which was kind of bittersweet, hearing the boys tell their stories and trying not to cry when I heard Liam's voice. I won't say this one went too in-depth, and it was definitely structured by management to make Simon and Co out to be more responsible and kind than we know they were, but I still enjoyed the book. Each member tells a bit about their experiences in the band, their X-Factor journey, tours, etc. I enjoyed Harry and Zayn's chapters the most, I think, as they felt more serious and genuine.
]]> 127305713
Spending her days pretending to be nothing more than a vapid young socialite, Rune spends her nights as the Crimson Moth, a witch vigilante who rescues her kind from being purged. When a rescue goes wrong, she decides to throw the witch hunters off her scent and gain the intel she desperately needs by courting the handsome Gideon Sharpe � a notorious and unforgiving witch hunter loyal to the revolution � who she can't help but find herself falling for.

Gideon loathes the decadence and superficiality Rune represents, but when he learns the Crimson Moth has been using Rune’s merchant ships to smuggle renegade witches out of the republic, he inserts himself into her social circles by pretending to court her right back. He soon realizes that beneath her beauty and shallow façade, is someone fiercely intelligent and tender who feels like his perfect match. Except, what if she’s the very villain he’s been hunting?

Kristen Ciccarelli’s The Crimson Moth is the thrilling start to a romantic fantasy duology where the only thing more treacherous than being a witch� is falling in love.]]> 406 Kristen Ciccarelli 1250866901 C.L. 0 to-read 4.16 2024
author: Kristen Ciccarelli
name: C.L.
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 63051209 A sharp-witted, high fantasy farce featuring killer moat squid, toxic masculinity, evil wizards and a garlic festival - all at once. Perfect for fans of T. Kingfisher, K. J. Parker and Travis Baldree.

It’s bad enough waking up in a half-destroyed evil wizard’s workshop with no eyebrows, no memories, and no idea how long you have before the Dread Lord Whomever shows up to murder you horribly and then turn your skull into a goblet or something.
It’s a lot worse when you realize that Dread Lord Whomever is� you.
Gav isn’t really sure how he ended up with a castle full of goblins, or why he has a princess locked in a cell. All he can do is play along with his own evil plan in hopes of getting his memories back before he gets himself killed.
But as he realizes that nothing � from the incredibly tasteless cloak adorned with flames to the aforementioned princess � is quite what it seems, Gav must face up to all the things the Dread Lord Gavrax has done. And he’ll have to answer the hardest question of all � who does he want to be?
Dread Lord Gavrax has had better weeks.]]> 344 Caitlin Rozakis 1803365471 C.L. 0 to-read 3.66 2024
author: Caitlin Rozakis
name: C.L.
average rating: 3.66
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 2767052
Winning means fame and fortune. Losing means certain death. The Hunger Games have begun. . . .

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before-and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.]]> 374 Suzanne Collins C.L. 5 4.34 2008
author: Suzanne Collins
name: C.L.
average rating: 4.34
book published: 2008
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/16
date added: 2025/03/16
shelves:
review:
I first read these books back in 2009 on recommendation from a good friend. The books were amazing, and got me interested in the Dystopian genre. Now, so many years later, I've read the books several times, watched all the movies, read the fanfic, and these books are more relevant than ever.
]]> 210959987 Why do I feel so overwhelmed? Is everyone else achieving more than me? Why did I say that embarrassing thing? What can I do to actually make a difference? Am I the only one who feels this way?

In the face of an uncertain future, technological co-dependence and increasing social disconnection, we are battling unprecedented levels of stress, loneliness, burnout and insecurity.

Gemma Styles captures the voice of her generation, giving words to those feelings Gen Z has been trying to explain for years. Featuring the insight of experts and the latest research, Gemma shows that by being curious and compassionate, we can start to feel more hopeful, connected and at peace with ourselves.

From how we communicate, to our ambitions and self-image, Gemma paints a picture of mental health in the digital age, including her own journey and ADHD diagnosis to highlight the ways in which women’s mental health in particular is often overlooked or trivialized.

Thought-provoking and heartening, this book is for anyone who feels overwhelmed, less than or that they don't belong.

Why Am I Like This? is a warm hug, insightful analysis and spirited call to action all in one.]]> 324 Gemma Styles 1529912377 C.L. 0 to-read 3.89
author: Gemma Styles
name: C.L.
average rating: 3.89
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 220077193
As whispers of witch hunters prowling the streets grow louder, Rose must navigate the treacherous world of the social elite, hiding her powers from those who seek to destroy her kind. She shouldn’t be pining for Philip, childhood friend left behind in the country, or spending so much time with Lord Alexander Crawford, the season’s most eligible bachelor.

Torn between love and loyalty, Rose’s attempts to prove herself within the Nightingales lead to a dangerous mistake. With her newfound sisterhood at risk and witch hunters closing in, she must decide who she can trust—and how far she’s willing to go to protect her magic before it’s too late.]]> 370 Cidney Mayes C.L. 0 to-read 4.23
author: Cidney Mayes
name: C.L.
average rating: 4.23
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/01
shelves: to-read
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]]> 59808071 Not every love is meant to be.

After Jacks, the Prince of Hearts, betrays her, Evangeline Fox swears she'll never trust him again. Now that she’s discovered her own magic, Evangeline believes she can use it to restore the chance at happily ever after that Jacks stole away.

But when a new terrifying curse is revealed, Evangeline finds herself entering into a tenuous partnership with the Prince of Hearts again. Only this time, the rules have changed. Jacks isn’t the only force Evangeline needs to be wary of. In fact, he might be the only one she can trust, despite her desire to despise him.

Instead of a love spell wreaking havoc on Evangeline’s life, a murderous spell has been cast. To break it, Evangeline and Jacks will have to do battle with old friends, new foes, and a magic that plays with heads and hearts. Evangeline has always trusted her heart, but this time she’s not sure she can...]]> 416 Stephanie Garber 1250268427 C.L. 5 4.49 2022
author: Stephanie Garber
name: C.L.
average rating: 4.49
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at: 2025/02/15
date added: 2025/02/26
shelves:
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I absolutely adored this book. The tension was palpable. The lore, the relationships, gah. I gasped out loud several times. I cried, I swooned. It was an emotional ride, for sure! I've loved Jacks since the Caraval series, and I am so happy to see him finally getting a sliver of happiness, even if it is covered in angst! I didn't think I would love the side characters in this so much, but Lala is so interesting, and I feel like Apollo and [spoilers removed] was a nice twist that brought lots of tension. However, I will never recover from Jacks holding Evangeline after [spoilers removed] I felt like my heart was ripped out. The scenes in The Hollow were also top-tier. I can feel myself being obsessed with this for ages. I read the first book when it first came out and somehow never got around to reading this book, but I went back and reread book one and started this one, then finished it within the same day! I need more! I am broken.
]]> 62816044 Two villains, one girl, and a deadly battle for happily ever after.

Evangeline Fox ventured to the Magnificent North in search of her happy ending, and it seems as if she has it. She’s married to a handsome prince and lives in a legendary castle. But Evangeline has no idea of the devastating price she’s paid for this fairytale. She doesn’t know what she has lost, and her husband is determined to make sure she never finds out . . . but first he must kill Jacks, the Prince of Hearts.

Blood will be shed, hearts will be stolen, and true love will be put to the test in A Curse for True Love, the breathlessly anticipated conclusion to the Once Upon A Broken Heart trilogy.]]> 386 Stephanie Garber 1250851203 C.L. 1 4.14 2023
author: Stephanie Garber
name: C.L.
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2023
rating: 1
read at: 2025/02/10
date added: 2025/02/13
shelves:
review:
I really don't know what to say. I had such high hopes. I went into this convinced it was going to be epic, and it just wasn't. This may be one of the most disappointing books I've ever read. It feels like someone else wrote this story. It can't be written by the same person who wrote the first two. I don't know if there were issues with the publisher rushing Garber or what. I remember not fully enjoying Finale, but it is a masterpiece compared to this story, so really, there had to have been some extenuating circumstance that made this book fall so flat. [spoilers removed] I'm sure there's a fanfiction I can read that will give me some sort of closure because this was not it. Also, I listened to the audiobook, and whoever they had doing the male POVs also made them cringey to get through. Rebecca Solar did an amazing job, as always, and I wish they would have stuck with her throughout. All in all, just terribly disappointed to the point of sickness when I think about this book and the wasted potential of these characters. I'm just going to bask in the perfection that was book 2 and live there when I think of these characters.
]]> 55987278 How far would you go for happily ever after?

For as long as she can remember, Evangeline Fox has believed in true love and happy endings... until she learns that the love of her life will marry another.

Desperate to stop the wedding and to heal her wounded heart, Evangeline strikes a deal with the charismatic but wicked Prince of Hearts. In exchange for his help, he asks for three kisses, to be given at the time and place of his choosing.

But after Evangeline’s first promised kiss, she learns that bargaining with an immortal is a dangerous game—and that the Prince of Hearts wants far more from her than she’d pledged. He has plans for Evangeline, plans that will either end in the greatest happily ever after or the most exquisite tragedy...]]> 408 Stephanie Garber 1250268397 C.L. 5 I was also pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed Evangeline! I did not expect to relate so well with her, but I found myself cheering her on and worrying about her.
I also love the change of scenery with the story taking place in the North with all its mysterious secrets and lore.
I've already preordered book two, but I wish I'd waited to read this one so I could devour them together! Stephanie Garber has a gift! Can't wait to read more!]]> 4.06 2021
author: Stephanie Garber
name: C.L.
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2021
rating: 5
read at: 2025/02/09
date added: 2025/02/09
shelves:
review:
Um, I need book 2, like, yesterday! I am so glad that Stephanie Garber decided to continue the story of Jacks, who I absolutely adored in the Caraval series. I love his snarkiness and his eventual vulnerability. I'm just a sucker for vampires, no pun intended ;)
I was also pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed Evangeline! I did not expect to relate so well with her, but I found myself cheering her on and worrying about her.
I also love the change of scenery with the story taking place in the North with all its mysterious secrets and lore.
I've already preordered book two, but I wish I'd waited to read this one so I could devour them together! Stephanie Garber has a gift! Can't wait to read more!
]]> 6219656
“The Lottery� stands out as one of the most famous short stories in American literary history. Originally published in The New Yorker, the author immediately began receiving letters from readers who demanded an explanation of the story’s meaning. “The Lottery� has been adapted for stage, television, radio and film.
]]> 30 Shirley Jackson 1563127873 C.L. 5 4.08 1948
author: Shirley Jackson
name: C.L.
average rating: 4.08
book published: 1948
rating: 5
read at: 2025/02/09
date added: 2025/02/09
shelves:
review:
I read this as a teenager and remember the horror as I got to the end of the story. Reading it as an adult and recognizing my fellow man and how quickly it can become a reality is sobering.
]]> 5048174
"2 B R 0 2 B," pronounced "to be or not to be," is an intentional reference to the famous line in William Shakespeare's Hamlet. The short story was originally published in the Worlds of IF Science Fiction magazine and is referenced by author Kurt Vonnegut in his later novel, God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater.

HarperPerennial Classics brings great works of literature to life in digital format, upholding the highest standards in ebook production and celebrating reading in all its forms. Look for more titles in the HarperPerennial Classics collection to build your digital library.]]> 15 Kurt Vonnegut Jr. C.L. 5 3.90 1968
author: Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
name: C.L.
average rating: 3.90
book published: 1968
rating: 5
read at: 2025/02/09
date added: 2025/02/09
shelves:
review:
I'm researching dystopian short stories for my Comp and Lit students to study and came across this one and was left in awe of the simplicity of the story yet the haunting aura it seems to leave afterward. What does one do when there's no natural death, and what would you give up to allow others a chance at life?
]]> 43885674
When sixteen-year-old submersible racer Leyla McQueen is chosen to participate in the prestigious annual marathon, she sees an opportunity to save her father, who has been arrested on false charges. The Prime Minister promises the champion whatever their heart desires. But the race takes an unexpected turn, forcing Leyla to make an impossible choice.

Now she must brave unfathomable waters and defy a corrupt government determined to keep its secrets, all the while dealing with a guarded, hotheaded companion she never asked for in the first place. If Leyla fails to discover the truths at the heart of her world, or falls prey to her own fears, she risks capture--or worse. And her father will be lost to her forever.]]> 320 London Shah 1368036880 C.L. 0 to-read 3.75 2019
author: London Shah
name: C.L.
average rating: 3.75
book published: 2019
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/01
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 61631229
Indigo Lewis had hoped her freshman year at Titus University would be a fresh start where she could put the ugliness of her past behind her.

Then she saw him.

Mr. Chestnut; an unassuming predator, is up to his old tricks. Someone has to stop his reign of terror, and the voices assure Indigo there's no one better fit for that grisly task than her. She must divide her focus between her social life, two men who are vying for her heart that are impossible to choose between, and keeping up with the rigor of college academics.

When a horrific event rocks her family to the core, Indigo questions what means the most to her and who she has allowed herself to become. Scrutinizing her sanity, secrets are spilled and new graves are dug. Can Indigo keep her loved ones safe? Or will she lose herself to dark whispers urging her to do unspeakable things?]]> 334 Janay Harden 1736541250 C.L. 0 to-read 5.00
author: Janay Harden
name: C.L.
average rating: 5.00
book published:
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/02/01
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]]> 211494315
"Forman is a master at making her readers fall in love—with a girl whose life is over, with a community of people in a small town who are barely surviving her loss, and with the incredible, surprising way everyone's stories knit together into a heartbreaking and hopeful whole." —E. Lockhart, author of We Were Liars and Genuine Fraud

One spring afternoon after school, Amber arrives home on her bike. It’s just another perfectly normal day. But when Amber’s mom sees her, she screams.

Because Amber died seven years ago, hit by a car while on the very same bicycle she’s inexplicably riding now.

This return doesn’t only impact Amber. Her sister, Melissa, now seven years older, must be a new kind of sibling to Amber. Amber’s estranged parents are battling over her. And the changes ripple farther and farther Amber’s friends, boyfriend, and even people she met only once have been deeply affected by her life and death. In the midst of everyone’s turmoil, Amber is struggling with herself. What kind of person was she? How and why was she given this second chance?

This magnificent tour de force by acclaimed author Gayle Forman brilliantly explores the porous veil between life and death, examines the impact that one person can have on the world, and celebrates life in all its beautiful complexity.]]> 272 Gayle Forman 0063346141 C.L. 0 to-read 3.61 2025
author: Gayle Forman
name: C.L.
average rating: 3.61
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/21
shelves: to-read
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]]> 12758717 545 Cornelia Funke C.L. 5 4.16 2008
author: Cornelia Funke
name: C.L.
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2008
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2025/01/17
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]]> 208840779 Inspired by an ominous Prague legend, What Wakes the Bells is a lavish gothic fantasy by debut author Elle Tesch.

Built by long-gone Saints, the city of Vaiwyn lives and breathes and bleeds. As a Keeper, Mina knows better than most what her care of Vaiwyn’s bells means for the sentient city. It’s the Strauss family’s thousand-year legacy―prevent the Vespers from ringing, or they will awake a slumbering evil.

One afternoon, to Mina's horror, her bell peals thirteen times, shattering the city’s tenuous peace. With so much of the city's history and lore lost in a long-ago disaster, no one knows the danger that has been unleashed―until the city begins to fight back. As the sun sets, stone gargoyles and bronze statues tear away from their buildings and plinths to hunt people through the streets. Trapped in Mina’s bell, the soul of a twisted and power-hungry Saint festered. Now free of his prison, he hides behind the face of one of Vaiwyn’s citizens, corrupting the city and turning it on itself.

Time is running out, and the only chance Mina has to stop the destruction and horrific killings is finding and destroying the Saint’s host. Everyone is a suspect, including Mina's closest loved ones. She will have to decide how far she’ll go to save her city―and who she’s willing to kill to do it.]]> 336 Elle Tesch 1250322804 C.L. 0 to-read 3.51 2025
author: Elle Tesch
name: C.L.
average rating: 3.51
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/04
shelves: to-read
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]]> 206009960
Like they did her mother.

Securing an undergraduate research role to study the collection, Nicole discovers her greatest enemy—one of The Wake’s Empyreals. Kyan McCarter is their best hunter, stationed at the manor to track and kill a deadly creature, but when they realise a painting’s been stolen by his prey, Nicole and Kyan are forced to work together to find it.

As the creature threatens to expose Nicole’s power, her tenuous alliance with Kyan threatens her heart. If Kyan finds out what she is, he’ll hunt her next—or risk execution. No one disobeys The Wake and survives. Especially not when the art they’re seeking holds the key to a conspiracy that could get them both killed, and change the lives of creatures, and humans, forever.

SERPENT AND DOVE meets A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES, in this luxurious, forbidden romance.]]> 384 Megan Scott 1335006958 C.L. 0 to-read 3.83 2024
author: Megan Scott
name: C.L.
average rating: 3.83
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/04
shelves: to-read
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]]> 207677131 A woman investigates her brother's mysterious death while coming to terms with her own haunting past in this atmospheric novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Unmaking of June Farrow

The only thing James and Johnny Golden have ever had is each other. For as long as she can remember, James’sĚýdeep connection with her twin brother,ĚýJohnny,Ěýhas gone beyond intuition—she can feel what he feels.ĚýSo, when Johnny is killed in a tragic accident, James knows before her phone even rings that her brother is gone and that she’s alone—truly alone—for the first time in her life.Ěý

When James arrives in the rural town of Hawthorne, California to settleĚýher brother’sĚýaffairs,Ěýshe’sĚýforced to rehash the ominous past she and Johnny shared and finally face Micah, the only person who knows about it. He’s also the only man she’s ever loved.Ěý

But James soon discovers that the strange connection she had with Johnny isn’t quite gone, and the more she immerses herself into his world, the more questions she has about the brother she thought she knew. Johnny was keeping secrets, and he’s not the only one. What she uncovers will push her to unravel what happened in the days before Johnny’s death, but in the end, she’ll have to decide which truths should come to light, and which should stay buried forever.]]> 288 Adrienne Young 0593598709 C.L. 0 to-read 3.69 2025
author: Adrienne Young
name: C.L.
average rating: 3.69
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/04
shelves: to-read
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]]> 211721797 The third installment in the heartwarming and enchanting Emily Wilde series, about a curmudgeonly scholar of folklore and the fae prince she loves.

Emily Wilde has spent her life studying faeries. A renowned dryadologist, she has documented hundreds of species of Folk in her Encyclopaedia of Faeries. Now she is about to embark on her most dangerous academic project studying the inner workings of a faerie realm—as its queen.

Along with her former academic rival—now fiancé—the dashing and mercurial Wendell Bambleby, Emily is immediately thrust into the deadly intrigues of Faerie as the two of them seize the throne of Wendell’s long-lost kingdom, which Emily finds a beautiful nightmare filled with scholarly treasures.

Emily has been obsessed with faerie stories her entire life, but at first she feels as ill-suited to Faerie as she did to the mortal How can an unassuming scholar such as herself pass for a queen? Yet there is little time to settle in, for Wendell’s murderous stepmother has placed a deadly curse upon the land before vanishing without a trace. It will take all of Wendell’s magic—and Emily’s knowledge of stories—to unravel the mystery before they lose everything they hold dear.]]> 358 Heather Fawcett 0593500229 C.L. 0 to-read 4.18 2025
author: Heather Fawcett
name: C.L.
average rating: 4.18
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/04
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 211003939 In this sapphic Snow White retelling, if Snow is to save her kingdom from being ravaged by the Blight, she’ll have to kill the Evil Queen’s daughter…if she doesn’t fall in love with her first.

When her glass coffin unexpectedly shatters, Snow White awakens to anything but a dream. The land is rotting. The animals have mutated. In the twenty years that have passed since Snow bit into the poisoned apple, the kingdom of Roanfrost has transformed from a luscious wild land to a blight-ravaged nightmare. In search of answers and a way to restore her kingdom to its former glory, Snow sets out on a dangerous journey that will test the strength she never knew she had.

Friends will become foes.

New alliances will form.

The Queen with the blood red lips will stop at nothing to seize her power as well as her heart.

If Snow has any chance to survive and restore not only her kingdom, but all of Garedenne, her only option is to become the Seasonkeeper and access the life-giving magic that will heal the plague. But the path to becoming the Seasonkeeper is more treacherous than she could ever imagine—because the wild things have awakened and Snow’s darker impulses yearn to set them free.]]> 320 Andrea Hannah 1250884497 C.L. 0 to-read 3.39 2025
author: Andrea Hannah
name: C.L.
average rating: 3.39
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/04
shelves: to-read
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]]> 215749025 In this high-stakes heist novel, an alchemologist and a con man team up to steal a rare necklace—but complicated feelings of attraction and deception threaten to destroy everything and everyone they love—for fans of Alexandra Bracken and Judy I. Lin.

Within the dazzling halls of London’s Crystal Palace, the event of the season has arrived: The Great Exhibition. An opportunity for the greatest minds of the century to come together under one roof in an unprecedented display of art and invention. And for two unlikely partners in crime, it’s about to become the score of a lifetime.

Charming conman Kane Durante works alone—or on occasion with his best friend, Fletcher. But when his boss, the infamous Kingpin of London’s magical dark market, gives him the impossible task of stealing a priceless artifact from the Great Exhibition, he knows it’s a job he can’t pull off alone. Enter Zaria Mendoza, daughter of one of London’s greatest alchemologists. Ever since her father’s death, Zaria’s been struggling to keep her underground business afloat, and impatient clients are becoming violent. When the infuriatingly handsome Kane offers her the promise of enough money to get out of debt and leave London entirely, she knows she can’t walk away from this dangerous partnership.

But robbing one of the most public, heavily-guarded buildings in London isn’t going to be easy, especially when love and betrayal threaten to ruin everything they've worked so hard for.]]> 400 M.K. Lobb 0316575488 C.L. 0 to-read 3.99 2025
author: M.K. Lobb
name: C.L.
average rating: 3.99
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/04
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 518848
With Sabriel, the first installment in the Abhorsen series, Garth Nix exploded onto the fantasy scene as a rising star, in a novel that takes readers to a world where the line between the living and the dead isn't always clear—and sometimes disappears altogether.]]> 491 Garth Nix 0064471837 C.L. 0 currently-reading 4.17 1995
author: Garth Nix
name: C.L.
average rating: 4.17
book published: 1995
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/01
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> 57693537 Welcome to the Whitethorn Institute. The first step is always admitting you need help, and you've already taken that step by requesting a transfer into our company.

There is another school for children who fall through doors and fall back out again.
It isn't as friendly as Eleanor West's Home for Wayward Children.
And it isn't as safe.

When Eleanor West decided to open her school, her sanctuary, her Home for Wayward Children, she knew from the beginning that there would be children she couldn't save; when Cora decides she needs a different direction, a different fate, a different prophecy, Miss West reluctantly agrees to transfer her to the other school, where things are run very differently by Whitethorn, the Headmaster.

She will soon discover that not all doors are welcoming...]]> 150 Seanan McGuire 1250213622 C.L. 5 4.02 2022
author: Seanan McGuire
name: C.L.
average rating: 4.02
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at: 2024/12/31
date added: 2024/12/31
shelves:
review:
A poignant and beautifully written story as I always expect from this series! McGuire never misses!
]]> 10429045 I have a curse
I have a gift

I am a monster
I'm more than human

My touch is lethal
My touch is power

I am their weapon
I will fight back

Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war—and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.]]> 338 Tahereh Mafi 0062085484 C.L. 1 3.86 2011
author: Tahereh Mafi
name: C.L.
average rating: 3.86
book published: 2011
rating: 1
read at: 2024/12/31
date added: 2024/12/31
shelves:
review:
I rarely rate books at 1 star, but this was pretty terrible. I've heard great things about this series over the years, but I just cannot understand why. There is so much repetition, purple prose, and meandering text that, for the most part, makes no sense. I love a good Dystopia, but this just did not work for me, unfortunately. The main character, Juliette, just got on my nerves, and I could not get invested in the love story or the world, which felt like it was very underdeveloped.
]]> 56267120
But the pirates have no say in who they kill on this island.

The council orders. The pirates obey.

This arrangement has kept Declan from setting foot on these shores for years... until a bit of bad luck forces him to return.

But it may prove a lucrative stop, if the rebel's information is true.

Find the dagger. Escape this life.

But only if this damn stowaway doesn't ruin everything first.

=======
This high seas tale of deceit, legends, and love delivers a deliciously gray hero, a relatable heroine, and a found family you'll root for. An enemies-to-lovers story with a slow-burn romance and one bed, this is book one of a trilogy and ends on a cliffhanger. But it's worth it.]]> 436 Vanessa Rasanen 1732765227 C.L. 0 to-read 3.63 2021
author: Vanessa Rasanen
name: C.L.
average rating: 3.63
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/31
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 43814 481 Anne Rice 0345476883 C.L. 5 His story is heartbreaking and vibrant and full of snark, which seems appropriate for the most fabulous fictitious vampire ever. ]]> 4.10 1985
author: Anne Rice
name: C.L.
average rating: 4.10
book published: 1985
rating: 5
read at: 2024/12/31
date added: 2024/12/31
shelves:
review:
Wow, Lestat's book is so much more enjoyable than the first, and I am here for it!
His story is heartbreaking and vibrant and full of snark, which seems appropriate for the most fabulous fictitious vampire ever.
]]> 202102084 From #1 New York Times bestselling author Ava Reid comes a reimagining of Lady Macbeth, Shakespeare’s most famous villainess, giving her a voice, a past, and a power that transforms the story men have written for her.

The Lady knows the stories: how her eyes induce madness in men.Ěý

The Lady knows she will be wed to the Scottish brute, who does not leave his warrior ways behind when he comes to the marriage bed.ĚýĚý

The Lady knows his hostile, suspicious court will be a game of strategy, requiring all of her wiles and hidden witchcraft to survive.Ěý

But the Lady does not know her husband has occult secrets of his own. She does not know that prophecy girds him like armor. She does not know that her magic is greater and more dangerous, and that it will threaten the order of the world.Ěý

She does not know this yet. But she will.]]> 295 Ava Reid 0593722566 C.L. 0 to-read 3.46 2024
author: Ava Reid
name: C.L.
average rating: 3.46
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/27
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 124982977
For seven years, a deadly plague has threatened the realm. Jayce has survived by using her plant magic to make and sell remedies, but most of her funds are sucked dry by a corrupt debt collector and the impossible debt she owes the realm.

When the debt collector threatens Jayce with prison unless she'll marry him, she flees into the woods. There, she runs into a nameless baron who agrees to pay her debt if she'll help him find the last of the seers who remembers the prophecy of the Plague King.

Together they’ll face warrior monks, carnivorous reindeer, and their own dark pasts as they journey to find a cure before the Plague King rises to wipe out the realm.

Jayce failed the world once. Can she prevent it from happening again?

THE QUILL AND THE VIAL is the first book in the Plague King Chronicles, a magical epic fantasy trilogy that is both cozy and dark. If you like warm drinks by the fire, vast lands, and fantastic adventures, you’ll love the Plague King Chronicles.

Travel the realm of Neldor with Jayce and Sav when you buy this book today!]]> 367 Bree Moore C.L. 4 4.33
author: Bree Moore
name: C.L.
average rating: 4.33
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/17
date added: 2024/12/17
shelves:
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]]> 57530200 Elkhana is the Mayfly Seer. Ripped from her family, drowned, and set into a magical cage, she lives only one day a year to tell fortunes for her former people.
When Vidar meets her, he sees a resource he can use to save himself from his enemies and the torturous demands of his own liege and court.
But the bond between Elkhana and Vidar is growing. She’s slipping into his dreams and changing how he sees the world and he doesn’t know if he can keep on using her now that he sees her as a person.
Without her visions, he’s powerless against his enemies, but if he has the chance to steal her away from her cage, shouldn’t he take it?
To succeed, he’ll need a plan, a lot of nerve, and all the bargains he can strike. Will it be enough?]]> 146 Sarah K.L. Wilson C.L. 5 4.01 2021
author: Sarah K.L. Wilson
name: C.L.
average rating: 4.01
book published: 2021
rating: 5
read at: 2024/12/11
date added: 2024/12/11
shelves:
review:
I had this on my Kindle for way too long, and I wish I had read it sooner! I really enjoyed the longing and the unique storyline. Vidar is an absolute delight despite the hard life he's led.
]]> 22299763
Kaz Brekker and his crew of deadly outcasts have just pulled off a heist so daring even they didn't think they'd survive. But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they're right back to fighting for their lives.

Double-crossed and badly weakened, the crew is low on resources, allies, and hope. As powerful forces from around the world descend on Ketterdam to root out the secrets of the dangerous drug known as jurda parem, old rivals and new enemies emerge to challenge Kaz's cunning and test the team's fragile loyalties.

A war will be waged on the city's dark and twisting streets - a battle for revenge and redemption that will decide the fate of the Grisha world.]]> 561 Leigh Bardugo C.L. 5

Original Review:
This book has broken me. This entire world is a beautiful masterpiece! I am so happy with the way Bardugo treated her characters. Every single action and reaction was carefully crafted and believable. I especially appreciate the care she took with Kaz and his phobia. She didn't magically heal him to satisfy fan shipping or add an epilogue to tidy it up; she let Kaz take small deliberate steps and allows us to infer that eventually, one day, he may recover, but trauma doesn't disappear overnight. This book made me laugh, made me gasp in surprise, and most of all, made me weep.]]> 4.58 2016
author: Leigh Bardugo
name: C.L.
average rating: 4.58
book published: 2016
rating: 5
read at: 2024/12/03
date added: 2024/12/03
shelves:
review:
It's been years since my first review and many re-reads since. I'm no less broken. Every single time I notice new things. I feel the camaraderie of the characters. I feel the betrayals, the grief, and the joy. Leigh Bardugo is a genius. She's made this world feel real. She's made these characters beloved.


Original Review:
This book has broken me. This entire world is a beautiful masterpiece! I am so happy with the way Bardugo treated her characters. Every single action and reaction was carefully crafted and believable. I especially appreciate the care she took with Kaz and his phobia. She didn't magically heal him to satisfy fan shipping or add an epilogue to tidy it up; she let Kaz take small deliberate steps and allows us to infer that eventually, one day, he may recover, but trauma doesn't disappear overnight. This book made me laugh, made me gasp in surprise, and most of all, made me weep.
]]> 62342514
Celebrating a new generation of bestselling and acclaimed Black writers, The Black Girl Survives in This One makes space for Black girls in horror. Fifteen chilling and thought-provoking stories place Black girls front and center as heroes and survivors who slay monsters, battle spirits, and face down death. Prepare to be terrified and left breathless by the pieces in this anthology.

The bestselling and acclaimed authors include Erin E. Adams, Monica Brashears, Charlotte Nicole Davis, Desiree S. Evans, Saraciea J. Fennell, Zakiya Dalila Harris, Daka Hermon, Justina Ireland, L. L. McKinney, Brittney Morris, Maritza & Maika Moulite, Eden Royce, and Vincent Tirado, with a foreword by Tananarive Due.]]> 368 Desiree S. Evans 1250871654 C.L. 0 to-read 4.04 2024
author: Desiree S. Evans
name: C.L.
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/03
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 45032 488 Jane Austen C.L. 5 3.86 1814
author: Jane Austen
name: C.L.
average rating: 3.86
book published: 1814
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2024/11/27
shelves:
review:

]]> 23437156 Alternate cover of ISBN 9781627792127

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can’t pull it off alone...

A convict with a thirst for revenge

A sharpshooter who can’t walk away from a wager

A runaway with a privileged past

A spy known as the Wraith

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes

Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz’s crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don’t kill each other first.]]> 480 Leigh Bardugo 1627792120 C.L. 5


--Original Review--
Wow, as usual, Leigh Bardugo does not disappoint. This book was filled with rich world-building, unforgettable characters, and a mythology that I have to know more about! Onward to Crooked Kingdom!]]> 4.47 2015
author: Leigh Bardugo
name: C.L.
average rating: 4.47
book published: 2015
rating: 5
read at: 2024/11/21
date added: 2024/11/25
shelves:
review:
I've read this book so many times now and it's still just as entertaining as the first time. There's always new things I find and the characters have become so dear to my heart over the years. Leigh's writing is so crisp here, every thread has a purpose and the study of these characters is just *chef's kiss* so good! I'm not even wording this correctly, I can't put into words how much this duology and this world means to me. All I can do is cry and read and cry and then read it again.



--Original Review--
Wow, as usual, Leigh Bardugo does not disappoint. This book was filled with rich world-building, unforgettable characters, and a mythology that I have to know more about! Onward to Crooked Kingdom!
]]> 41015038 337 Grady Hendrix C.L. 3 3.94 2016
author: Grady Hendrix
name: C.L.
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2016
rating: 3
read at: 2024/11/13
date added: 2024/11/13
shelves:
review:
This was just okay. It was a fun read, but it didn't knock my socks off. I did like the friendship very much, but this one just fell flat for me.
]]> 63121091
For sixteen years, Selestra has been trapped in her tower on the Floating Mountain, preparing to take her mother's place as the King's Witch, who foretells deaths in the Festival of Predictions. Outrunning your fate earns a wish and the chance to steal the King's immortality. But die and your soul is forfeit. And though thousands have tried, nobody has ever beaten death.

A soldier in the King's army, Nox is an unlikely candidate for the Festival, but, driven by revenge, he is determined to steal the King's immortality and kill the entirety of his court, starting with Selestra.

Yet when Selestra touches Nox in her very first prediction, their fates become entwined, and death seeks to take both their souls. Only by working together can they survive long enough to escape the dark fate and the immortal King that now hunts them.]]> 401 Alexandra Christo 1471412652 C.L. 0 to-read 3.67 2022
author: Alexandra Christo
name: C.L.
average rating: 3.67
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/13
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 208137662 Cursed by magic, bound by mistakes, Princess Aria finds her destiny hinges on the mysterious Baron Reeves. Will love be enough to break the curse, or will war bring her kingdom to ruin? A new cozy romantasy by Elizabeth Lowham.

When Crown Princess Aria sees her kingdom on the brink of war with the magic-wielding Casters, she takes it upon herself to speak with the Widow Morton, the most dangerous Caster in the realm. If successful, Aria will not only ensure peace but also prove to her father that she is a worthy heir. But when her negotiations fail, Aria is dealt a terrible curse: Over the course of one hundred days, she will be unable to sleep, her body and mind doomed to waste away. And then the curse will pass to her sister, until every member of the king’s line is dead.

Aria’s best hope for breaking her curse is to seek help from another Caster—the handsome and charming Baron Reeves. He may be entitled to a place at the court, but as a magic user, can he truly be trusted? She vows not be fooled by his dimpled smiles or his devotion to his brothers, but as she spends more time with him, she discovers that her heart has other ideas.

Baron has no desire to see the princess suffer—especially since she might be the key to changing the king’s opinion on Casters—but he has secrets to protect and ghosts of his own. The last person he tried to save using his magic died, and he’s not willing to risk harming someone he loves again.

As the curse continues its deadly countdown, both Aria and Baron must risk their lives and their hearts to save each other and unite a kingdom.]]> 384 Elizabeth Lowham 1639933204 C.L. 5 4.20 2024
author: Elizabeth Lowham
name: C.L.
average rating: 4.20
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/11/04
date added: 2024/11/04
shelves:
review:
I discovered this book via TikTok and knew it would be right up my alley! Finally a Romantasy that has a plot and a sweet love story rather than a bunch of spice! I feel like I found a diamond in the rough! I was really pleased with the magic system of Caster and Crowns. It was unique while also drawing inspiration from established tropes in the genre. I also appreciate the political system presented in the book and how it raised the stakes for both sides. Princess Aria and Baron are both such lovely characters. You can see them struggling to do the right thing and making difficult choices. I also loved the twins and thier ultimate love and devotion to each other and Baron. The love story is so well done with just the right amount of tension and I loved thier letters to each other. I'm excited to read more from this author and I would definitely love to read more about these characters and this world.
]]> 28187 Alternate cover for this ISBN can be found here

Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can't seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. And lately, being away at boarding school is only getting worse - Percy could have sworn his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him. When Percy's mom finds out, she knows it's time that he knew the truth about where he came from, and that he go to the one place he'll be safe. She sends Percy to Camp Half Blood, a summer camp for demigods (on Long Island), where he learns that the father he never knew is Poseidon, God of the Sea. Soon a mystery unfolds and together with his friends—one a satyr and the other the demigod daughter of Athena - Percy sets out on a quest across the United States to reach the gates of the Underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods.]]> 377 Rick Riordan 0786838655 C.L. 2 4.31 2005
author: Rick Riordan
name: C.L.
average rating: 4.31
book published: 2005
rating: 2
read at: 2024/10/29
date added: 2024/10/29
shelves:
review:
This was the chosen book for my student book club at co-op. To say it wasn't for me would be an understatement. I can see it being fun for them, and several of them have gotten through the entire series, but I just never could get into it, and I think the writing is just a bit too juvenile for my tastes, which makes sense, given it is a middle-grade book. However, I have enjoyed several middle-grade books by other authors, like V.E. Scwabb, Louis Sachar, Philip Pullman, Cornelia Funke, etc. that didn't speak down to their audiences the way Percy Jackson seems to do.
]]> 43763
Louis and Claudia travel Europe, eventually coming to Paris and the ragingly successful Theatre des Vampires--a theatre of vampires pretending to be mortals pretending to be vampires. Here they meet the magnetic and ethereal Armand, who brings them into a whole society of vampires. But Louis and Claudia find that finding others like themselves provides no easy answers and in fact presents dangers they scarcely imagined.

Originally begun as a short story, the book took off as Anne wrote it, spinning the tragic and triumphant life experiences of a soul. As well as the struggles of its characters, Interview captures the political and social changes of two continents. The novel also introduces Lestat, Anne's most enduring character, a heady mixture of attraction and revulsion. The book, full of lush description, centers on the themes of immortality, change, loss, sexuality, and power.
source: annerice.com]]> 346 Anne Rice 0345476875 C.L. 4 4.04 1976
author: Anne Rice
name: C.L.
average rating: 4.04
book published: 1976
rating: 4
read at: 2024/10/13
date added: 2024/10/15
shelves:
review:

]]> 213263148 ALL first edition copies will be signed by the author! Signed copies available while supplies last.

From V. E. Schwab, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue: a new genre-defying novel about immortality and hunger.

This is a story about hunger.
1532. Santo Domingo de la Calzada.
A young girl grows up wild and wily—her beauty is only outmatched by her dreams of escape. But María knows she can only ever be a prize, or a pawn, in the games played by men. When an alluring stranger offers an alternate path, María makes a desperate choice. She vows to have no regrets.

This is a story about love.
1827. London.
A young woman lives an idyllic but cloistered life on her family’s estate, until a moment of forbidden intimacy sees her shipped off to London. Charlotte’s tender heart and seemingly impossible wishes are swept away by an invitation from a beautiful widow—but the price of freedom is higher than she could have imagined.

This is a story about rage.
2019. Boston.
College was supposed to be her chance to be someone new. That’s why Alice moved halfway across the world, leaving her old life behind. But after an out-of-character one-night stand leaves her questioning her past, her present, and her future, Alice throws herself into the hunt for answers . . . and revenge.

This is a story about life�
how it ends, and how it starts.

USA Today, 15 Most Anticipated of 2025
BookBub, Most Anticipated of 2025 (and Reader’s Pick)
Readers Digest, 20 Most Anticipated Books This Year
Paste Magazine, Most Anticipated Fantasy Books of 2025
BookRiot, Most Anticipated Books of 2025
Men's Health, 25 Best & Most Anticipated Books of 2025
The Nerd Daily, SFF to Devour in 2025
Ĺ·±¦ÓéŔÖ, Readers' Most Anticipated Books of 2025]]> 544 Victoria E. Schwab 1250320526 C.L. 0 to-read 4.53 2025
author: Victoria E. Schwab
name: C.L.
average rating: 4.53
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/11
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 53554024 Dickens Meets Steampunk. Foundlings are disappearing from the workhouse where Oliver Twist once begged for a second bowl of gruel. He sets out to save them, with help from tinkerer, Nell Trent, and a slew of fantastical contraptions - including a mysterious pocket watch that allows its bearer to bend the rules of time. With Oliver's childhood nemesis, the Artful Dodger and her lethal bag of tricks dogging their steps, he discovers that there is more at stake than his own life and the missing orphans. Can he save London from the flames?]]> 237 Brent A. Harris C.L. 4 I look forward to reading more by this author!

Merged review:

A Twist in Time is the first book by Brent A. Harris that I've had the pleasure to read, but I guarantee it won't be the last! The premise of a time-traveling Dickens retelling is already intriguing, but I was so glad to find the characters were likable, the gadgets were clever, and the plot never slowed! The dialogue exchanges were witty, though there were a few modern word usages that kind of threw me, but not enough to take away from the wonderfully crafted story.
I look forward to reading more by this author!]]> 4.45
author: Brent A. Harris
name: C.L.
average rating: 4.45
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2020/05/21
date added: 2024/09/23
shelves:
review:
A Twist in Time is the first book by Brent A. Harris that I've had the pleasure to read, but I guarantee it won't be the last! The premise of a time-traveling Dickens retelling is already intriguing, but I was so glad to find the characters were likable, the gadgets were clever, and the plot never slowed! The dialogue exchanges were witty, though there were a few modern word usages that kind of threw me, but not enough to take away from the wonderfully crafted story.
I look forward to reading more by this author!

Merged review:

A Twist in Time is the first book by Brent A. Harris that I've had the pleasure to read, but I guarantee it won't be the last! The premise of a time-traveling Dickens retelling is already intriguing, but I was so glad to find the characters were likable, the gadgets were clever, and the plot never slowed! The dialogue exchanges were witty, though there were a few modern word usages that kind of threw me, but not enough to take away from the wonderfully crafted story.
I look forward to reading more by this author!
]]> 32055471
In a world where all seventeen-year-olds receive a memory from their future selves, Logan Russell's vision is exactly as he expects—and exactly not. He sees himself achieving his greatest wish of becoming a gold-star swimmer, but strangely enough, the vision also shows him locking eyes with a girl from his past, Callie Stone, and experiencing an overwhelming sense of love and belonging.

Logan’s not sure what the memory means, but soon enough, he learns that his old friend Callie is in trouble. She’s received an atypical memory, one where she commits a crime in the future. According to the law, she must be imprisoned, even though she's done nothing wrong. Now, Logan must decide if he'll give up his future as a gold-star swimmer and rescue the literal girl of his dreams. All he'll have to do is defy Fate.]]> 93 Pintip Dunn 1633757714 C.L. 0 to-read 3.96 2016
author: Pintip Dunn
name: C.L.
average rating: 3.96
book published: 2016
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/22
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 25614924
"I do hope you’re all ready to be terrified!"
Ěý
The Phaeron disappeared from the universe over a million years ago. They travelled among the stars using roads made from time and space, but left only relics behind. But what actually happened to the Phaeron? Some believe they were they eradicated by a superior force� Others claim they destroyed themselves.
Ěý
Or were they in fact the victims of an even more hideous fate?
Ěý
In the far future, humans discover the location of the last Phaeron road � and the Doctor and Clara join the mission to see where the road leads.
Ěý
Each member of the research team knows exactly what they’re looking for � but only the Doctor knows exactly what they’ll find.

Because only the Doctor knows the true secret of the a monstrous secret so terrible and powerful that it must be buried in the deepest grave imaginable…]]> 256 Trevor Baxendale 1101905794 C.L. 0 to-read 3.86 2015
author: Trevor Baxendale
name: C.L.
average rating: 3.86
book published: 2015
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/21
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 459460 105 Gareth Roberts 0563486481 C.L. 0 to-read 3.75 2006
author: Gareth Roberts
name: C.L.
average rating: 3.75
book published: 2006
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/21
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 15810910
Captain Marcus d’Ivoire, commander of one of the Vordanai empire’s colonial garrisons, was resigned to serving out his days in a sleepy, remote outpost. But that was before a rebellion upended his life. And once the powder smoke settled, he was left in charge of a demoralized force clinging tenuously to a small fortress at the edge of the desert.

To flee from her past, Winter Ihernglass masqueraded as a man and enlisted as a ranker in the Vordanai Colonials, hoping only to avoid notice. But when chance sees her promoted to command, she must win the hearts of her men and lead them into battle against impossible odds.

The fates of both these soldiers and all the men they lead depend on the newly arrived Colonel Janus bet Vhalnich, who has been sent by the ailing king to restore order. His military genius seems to know no bounds, and under his command, Marcus and Winter can feel the tide turning. But their allegiance will be tested as they begin to suspect that the enigmatic Janus’s ambitions extend beyond the battlefield and into the realm of the supernatural—a realm with the power to ignite a meteoric rise, reshape the known world, and change the lives of everyone in its path.]]> 513 Django Wexler 0451465105 C.L. 0 to-read 4.03 2013
author: Django Wexler
name: C.L.
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2013
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/17
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 55710822 In this rom-com about rom-coms, in the spirit of Kasie West and Jenn Bennett, a hopeless romantic teen attempts to secure a happily-ever-after moment with her forever crush, but finds herself reluctantly drawn to the boy next door.

Perpetual daydreamer Liz Buxbaum gave her heart to Michael a long time ago. But her cool, aloof forever crush never really saw her before he moved away. Now that he’s back in town, Liz will do whatever it takes to get on his radar - and maybe snag him as a prom date - even befriend Wes Bennet.

The annoyingly attractive next-door neighbor might seem like a prime candidate for romantic-comedy fantasies, but Wes has only been a pain in Liz’s butt since they were kids. Pranks involving frogs and decapitated lawn gnomes do not a potential boyfriend make. Yet, somehow, Wes and Michael are hitting it off, which means Wes is Liz’s in.

But as Liz and Wes scheme to get Liz noticed by Michael so she can have her magical prom moment, she’s shocked to discover that she likes being around Wes. And as they continue to grow closer, she must reexamine everything she thought she knew about love - and rethink her own ideas of what happily ever after should look like.]]> 356 Lynn Painter 1534467629 C.L. 0 to-read 4.28 2021
author: Lynn Painter
name: C.L.
average rating: 4.28
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/12
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 49259788
Unfortunately, Meredith's longtime boyfriend unexpectedly dumped her two weeks before the wedding, leaving her dateless. Luckily, she has the perfect distraction. Her family has a tradition of playing the ultimate game of Assassin every summer, and this year it will take place during the week of wedding festivities.

But her target just happens to be a very cute groomsman. She's determined to not let herself get distracted, not let herself be lost in another doomed relationship. But as the week progresses, she can't help falling for him, which may cost her not only the game, but also her heart.

Meredith's family's annual game of assassin at Martha's Vineyard during a summer wedding is the perfect chance to honor her sister's legacy, and finally join the world again. But when she forms an alliance with a cute groomsman, she's at risk of losing both the game� and her heart.]]> 359 K.L. Walther 1728210291 C.L. 0 to-read 3.89 2021
author: K.L. Walther
name: C.L.
average rating: 3.89
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/12
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 60197314
Now, Bailey and Charlie are still polar opposites, but instead of everything about him rubbing Bailey the wrong way, she starts to look forward to hanging out and gossiping about the waterpark guests and their coworkers—particularly two who keep flirting with each other. Bailey and Charlie make a bet on whether or not the cozy pair will actually get together. Charlie insists that members of the opposite sex can’t just be friends, and Bailey is determined to prove him wrong.

Bailey and Charlie keep close track of the romantic progress of others while Charlie works to deflect the growing feelings he’s developed for Bailey. Terrified to lose her if his crush becomes known, what doesn’t help his agenda is Bailey and Charlie “fake dating� in order to disrupt the annoying pleasantries between Bailey’s mom and her mom’s new boyfriend. Soon, what Charlie was hoping to avoid becomes a reality as Bailey starts to see him as not only a friend she can rely on in the midst of family drama—but someone who makes her hands shake and heart race. But Charlie has a secret—a secret that involves Bailey and another bet Charlie may have made. Can the two make a real go of things…or has Charlie’s secret doomed them before they could start?]]> 432 Lynn Painter 1665921234 C.L. 0 to-read 4.12 2023
author: Lynn Painter
name: C.L.
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/12
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 198688474
Ten years ago, Malik's life changed forever the night his mother mysteriously vanished and he discovered he had uncontrollable powers. Since then, he has kept his abilities hidden, looking out for himself and his younger foster brother, Taye. Now, at 17, Malik is finally ready to start a new life for both of them, far from the trauma of his past. However, a daring act to rescue Taye reveals an unexpected connection with his long-lost a legendary conjurer with ties to a hidden magical university that Malik’s mother attended.

At Caiman University, Malik’s eyes are opened to a future he never could have envisioned for himself� one that includes the reappearance of his first love, Alexis. His search for answers about his heritage, his powers, and what really happened to his mother exposes the cracks in their magical community as it faces a reawakened evil dating back to the Haitian Revolution. Together with Alexis, Malik discovers a lot beneath the surface at feuding covens and magical politics, forbidden knowledge and buried mysteries.

In a wholly unique saga of family, history and community, Malik must embrace his legacy to save what's left of his old family as well as his new one. Exploring the roots and secrets that connect us in an unforgettable contemporary setting, this heart-pounding fantasy series opener is a rich tapestry of atmosphere, intrigue, and emotion.]]> 432 LaDarrion Williams 0593711920 C.L. 0 to-read 4.04 2024
author: LaDarrion Williams
name: C.L.
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/12
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 201785804 A young woman chosen as the crown prince’s bride must travel to the royal palace to meet her new husband—but her world is shaken when she discovers the dark truth the royal family has been hiding for centuries—in this lush fantasy debut perfect for fans of Song of Silver, Flame Like Night and Violet Made of Thorns.

Princess Ying Yue believed in love...once upon a time.

Yet when she’s chosen to wed the crown prince, Ying’s dreams of a fairy tale marriage quickly fall apart. Her husband-to-be is cold and indifferent, confiningĚýYing to her roomĚýfor reasons he won’t explain.ĚýWorse still are the rumors that swirl around the imperial whispers of seven other royal brides who, after their own weddings, mysteriously disappeared.

Left alone with only her own reflection for company, Ying begins to see things. Strange things.ĚýMovements in the corners of her mirror. Colorful lights upon its surface. And when, on the eve of her wedding, she unwittingly tears openĚýa gateway, she is pulled into a mirror world.

This realm is full of sentient reflections, including the enigmatic Mirror Prince. Unlike his real-world counterpart, the Mirror Prince is kind and compassionate, and before long Ying falls in love—the kind of love she always dreamed of.

But there is darkness in this new world, too.

It turns out the two worlds have a long and blood-soaked history, and Ying has a part to play in the future of them both. And the brides who came before Ying? By the time they discovered what their role was, it was already too late.]]> 496 Keshe Chow 0593707524 C.L. 0 to-read 3.26 2024
author: Keshe Chow
name: C.L.
average rating: 3.26
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/10
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 203163900 Set in a magical zoo teeming with mythical beasts from dragons and unicorns to kelpies and krakens, The Phoenix Keeper is a fierce joy of a cozy fantasy novel with a soul-restoring queer romance at its heart, for fans of The House in the Cerulean Sea and Legends and Lattes.

As head phoenix keeper at a world-renowned zoo for magical creatures, Aila's childhood dream of conserving critically endangered firebirds seems closer than ever. There's just one glaring caveat: her zoo's breeding program hasn't functioned for a decade. When a tragic phoenix heist sabotages the flagship initiative at a neighboring zoo, Aila must prove her derelict facilities are fit to take the reins.

But saving an entire species from extinction requires more than stellar animal handling skills. Carnivorous water horses, tempestuous thunderhawks, mischievous dragons... Aila has no problem wrangling beasts. But mustering the courage to ask for help from the hotshot griffin keeper at the zoo's most popular exhibit? Virtually impossible.

Especially when that hotshot griffin keeper happens to be her arch-rival from college: Luciana, an annoyingly brooding and insufferable know-it-all with the face of a goddess who's convinced that Aila's beloved phoenix would serve their cause better as an active performer rather than as a passive conservation exhibit. With the world watching and the threat of poachers looming, Aila's success is no longer merely a matter of keeping her job...

She is the keeper of the phoenix, and the future of a species � and her love life � now rests on her shoulders.]]> 496 S.A. MacLean 0316573094 C.L. 0 to-read 3.80 2024
author: S.A. MacLean
name: C.L.
average rating: 3.80
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/10
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 63106097
The daughter of a powerful but disgraced Blood Worker, Shan LeClaire has spent her entire life perfecting her blood magic, building her network of spies, and gathering every scrap of power she could. Now, to protect her brother, she assassinates their father and takes her place at the head of the family. And that is only the start of her revenge.

Samuel Hutchinson is a bastard with a terrible gift. When he stumbles upon the first victim of a magical serial killer, he's drawn into the world of magic and intrigue he's worked so hard to avoid - and is pulled deeply into the ravenous and bloodthirsty court of the vampire king.

Tasked by the Eternal King to discover the identity of the killer cutting a bloody swath through the city, Samuel, Shan and mysterious Royal Bloodworker Isaac find themselves growing ever closer to each other. But Shan's plans are treacherous, and as she lures Samuel into her complicated web of desire, treason and vengeance, he must decide if the good of their nation is worth the cost of his soul.]]> 432 K.M. Enright 0356521133 C.L. 0 to-read 3.28 2024
author: K.M. Enright
name: C.L.
average rating: 3.28
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/10
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 65213935 A sparkling adversaries-to-lovers romcom set at a magazine publisher in Manhattan. When Casey and Alex are forced into proximity, they soon realize falling for each other is just as much of a risk and as it is a reward.

Casey Maitland has always preferred the reliability of numbers, despite growing up the daughter of two artistic souls. Now a twenty-four-year-old finance expert working in Manhattan, Casey wonders if the project manager opening at her company � magazine powerhouse LC Publications � is a sign from the universe to pursue a career with a little more sparkle. That is, until she’s passed over for the job in favor of the board chairman’s son.

Alex Harrison is handsome, Harvard-educated, and enigmatic. Everybody loves him � except for Casey. But when the two are thrown on the same project, they both have something to prove. For Casey, it’s getting tapped for a transfer to the London office and fulfilling her dreams of travelling. For Alex, it’s successfully launching a brand that will impress his distant father.

As work meetings turn into after hours, Casey and Alex are drawn to each other again and again, but neither can avoid the messy secrets and corporate intrigue threatening to tear them apart. What they discover about their workplace might change everything � including the dreams each of them is chasing.]]> 339 Clare Gilmore 1250880548 C.L. 0 to-read 3.70 2023
author: Clare Gilmore
name: C.L.
average rating: 3.70
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/08
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 91474
As Harry adjusts to his new role, another problem arrives in the form of the tattooed and pierced daughter of an old friend, all grown-up and already in trouble. Her boyfriend is the only suspect in what looks like a supernatural assault straight out of a horror film. Malevolent entities that feed on fear are loose in Chicago, but it's all in a day's work for a wizard, his faithful dog, and a talking skull named Bob....]]> 547 Jim Butcher 0451461037 C.L. 2 4.39 2006
author: Jim Butcher
name: C.L.
average rating: 4.39
book published: 2006
rating: 2
read at: 2024/09/08
date added: 2024/09/08
shelves:
review:
This was such a good book wrapped up in huge dissapointment. I was enjoying Proven Guilty as much if not more than the last installment; laughing, getting choked up over character development, getting excited for certain people to finally get together, etc...I had gotten used to the misogynistic way Harry is, as it has been described as a character flaw. I just started to accept to get the other stuff I like about this series, I have to read Harry's inner monolgue about how nice a woman's rack or legs are and how he really is a knight in shining armor to all women because he's just a great old fashioned guy. That's a given at this point. But early in there is a scene with Molly (a minor we have know through the books since she was like 10 or something) that really bothered me. It left me feeling icky...but I kept reading and the plot got good and I grew to love Molly even more... and everything was looking like it would end beautifuly...then the last few chapters happened and all I could see was rage and disgust.[spoilers removed] I don't want to hate Harry, but Jim makes it so easy. I think I'm going to have to take a break from these books, even though I really enjoy the world.
]]> 22084273 In the second book in the New York Times bestselling mystery series, Veronica Mars is back with a case that will expose the hidden workings of one of Neptune’s most murderous locations.

The Neptune Grand has always been the seaside town’s ritziest hotel, despite the shady dealings and high-profile scandals that seem to follow its elite guests. When a woman claims that she was brutally assaulted in one of its rooms and left for dead by a staff member, the owners know that they have a potential powder keg on their hands. They turn to Veronica to disprove—or prove—the woman's story.
Ěý
The case is a complicated mix of hard facts, mysterious occurrences, and uncooperative witnesses. The hotel refuses to turn over its reservation list and the victim won’t divulge who she was meeting that night. Add in the facts that the attack happened months ago, the victim’s memory is fuzzy, and there are holes in the hotel’s surveillance system, and Veronica has a convoluted mess on her hands. As she works to fill in the missing pieces, it becomes clear that someone is lying—but who? And why?]]> 336 Rob Thomas 0804170738 C.L. 5 4.10 2015
author: Rob Thomas
name: C.L.
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2015
rating: 5
read at: 2024/08/29
date added: 2024/09/05
shelves:
review:
Another great dive back into Neptune. More Mac, Wallace, and Logan in this one, thankfully! Don't get me wrong, I love Veronica, but it is the way she interacts with the people she loves, that makes the show and other media forms enjoyable. This is my second read of this book, but it was years ago, so it was nice to fill in the void in my soul with some of the humor and even the trauma of this book. I liked seeing Veronica's inner struggle, choosing Logan over Leo, choosing to do things by the book, choosing to forgive herself and even her mom for the past, and embracing a future that is uncertain and scary. This is where you truly see Veronica grow up. If only season 4 would have explored this in a better way, instead of making her bitter, resentful, and a dull reflection of her mother. With all that Keith charm in her DNA and the support of her friends, I think Veronica's story could have turned out differently.
]]> 40024121
But on the day of the ceremony, her blood runs gold, the color of impurity–and Deka knows she will face a consequence worse than death.

Then a mysterious woman comes to her with a choice: stay in the village and submit to her fate, or leave to fight for the emperor in an army of girls just like her. They are called alaki--near-immortals with rare gifts. And they are the only ones who can stop the empire's greatest threat.


Knowing the dangers that lie ahead yet yearning for acceptance, Deka decides to leave the only life she’s ever known. But as she journeys to the capital to train for the biggest battle of her life, she will discover that the great walled city holds many surprises. Nothing and no one are quite what they seem to be–not even Deka herself.]]> 432 Namina Forna 1984848704 C.L. 0 3.99 2020
author: Namina Forna
name: C.L.
average rating: 3.99
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at: 2024/08/29
date added: 2024/08/29
shelves:
review:
This was a DNF for me, which makes me so sad, as I had been so hyped for this book via friends, booktok, etc. The writing just had too many plotholes and the characters were flat with juvenile and often repetitive dialogue. There are so many things that just make no sense, and the continuity and rules of the world never really add up.
]]> 19245240 Veronica Mars: The Movie.

With the help of old friends � Logan Echolls, Mac Mackenzie, Wallace Fennel, and even Dick Casablancas � Veronica is ready to take on Neptune's darkest cases with her trademark sass and smarts.]]> 338 Rob Thomas 0804170711 C.L. 5 4.08 2014
author: Rob Thomas
name: C.L.
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2014
rating: 5
read at: 2024/08/27
date added: 2024/08/27
shelves:
review:
This is the second time I'm reading this book after binging the series for about the millionth time. The book is classic VMars. The mystery is well thought out, and the characters seem to have been plucked off the screen, all acting just as I imagine they would on the show. My one complaint is that there was not enough Logan, but after what they did in season 4, it's expected. I did love the brief moments with Wallace and the interactions with Mac as well.
]]> 208113718
In rural Caball Hollow, surrounded by the vast National Forest, the James women serve up more than fried green tomatoes at the Harvest Moon diner, where the family recipes are not the only secrets.

Like her sisters, Linden was born with an unusual ability. She can taste what others are feeling, but this so-called gift soured her relationship with the vexingly attractive Cole Spencer one fateful night a year ago . . . A night when Linden vanished into the depths of the Forest and returned with no memories of what happened, just a litany of questions—and a haze of nightmares that suggest there’s more to her story than simply getting lost.

Now, during the hottest summer on record,another girl in town is gone, and the similarities to last year’s events are striking. Except, this time the missing girl doesn’t make it home, and when her body is discovered, the scene unmistakably spells murder.

As tempers boil over, Linden enlists the help of her sisters to find what’s hiding in the forest . . . before it finds her. But as she starts digging for truth—about the Moth-Winged Man rumored to haunt the Hollow, about her bitter rift with Cole, and even about her family—she must question if some secrets are best left buried.]]> 400 Kate Pearsall 0593531043 C.L. 0 to-read 4.00 2023
author: Kate Pearsall
name: C.L.
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/08/24
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 181919782 Hell is empty and all the demons are at Ravenswood Academy . . .

Mourning the sudden death of her sister, Andy Emmerson knows she must come to terms with a life without Violet. But on the day of the funeral Andy is shocked to discover one thing: the person in that casket is not her sister.

Violet is alive.

Convinced her sister's elite boarding school is covering up the truth, Andy enrols at Ravenswood Academy to discover what really happened and find Violet.

The school is as beautiful and haunting as the students within it and Andy learns that it's not just good grades that drives these pupils. Something much darker is at play.

After discovering a cryptic note from her sister, Andy must follow a set of clues to unlock the truth. This will bring her into contact with secret societies, ancient magic, demons and monsters. And a charming senior named Jae Han who has his own reasons for finding out what happened to Violet . . .

Soon Andy realizes the price she must pay to bring her sister home is darker and more dangerous than she ever could have imagined.]]> 384 Catelyn Wilson 0241683947 C.L. 0 to-read 3.43 2024
author: Catelyn Wilson
name: C.L.
average rating: 3.43
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/08/24
shelves: to-read
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]]> 22265 Veronica Mars has won the hearts of a small but devoted fanbase drawn to Veronica’s class-torn hometown, where the high school landscape echoes adult patterns of power and privilege, and your best bet for justice is a teenage girl and her private detective father. The show is so snarky, so smart, and so savvy, that the detective show’s biggest mystery is why more people aren’t watching.

This collection of essays on the show’s first two seasons explores the noir roots of Veronica’s blond locks, and the sharp writing and killer plot twists that have catapulted Veronica Mars to the top of smart viewers� must-watch lists.]]> 224 Rob Thomas 1933771135 C.L. 0 to-read 3.65 2007
author: Rob Thomas
name: C.L.
average rating: 3.65
book published: 2007
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/08/24
shelves: to-read
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]]> 207889 living as simply existing.

But his herbal endeavors—and personal demons—have lead to a severe lack of motivation. Steve's flunking out, but if he writes a one-hundred-page paper, he can graduate.

Steve realizes he must write what he knows. And through telling the story of how he got to where he is, he discovers exactly where he wants to be. . . .]]> 202 Rob Thomas 1416938974 C.L. 0 to-read 3.79 1996
author: Rob Thomas
name: C.L.
average rating: 3.79
book published: 1996
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/08/24
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 18333581 40 Sarah J. Maas C.L. 0 to-read 4.21 2013
author: Sarah J. Maas
name: C.L.
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2013
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/08/18
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 209752701 The much-anticipated new fantasy series from Ransom Riggs, his first since introducing the #1 global phenomenon Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children series.

Seventeen-year-old Leopold Berry is seeing weird things around Los Angeles. A man who pops a tooth into a parking meter. A glowing trapdoor in a parking lot. A half-mechanical raccoon with its tail on fire that just won’t leave him alone. Every hallucinatory moment seems plucked from a cheesy 1990s fantasy TV show called Max's Adventures in Sunderworld—and that’s because they are.

Not a good sign.

In the blurry weeks after his mother’s death, a young Leopold discovered VHS tapes of its one and only season in a box headed for the trash—and soon became obsessed. Losing himself in Sunder was the best way to avoid two things: grieving his mother and being a chronic disappointment to his overbearing father. But when the strange visions return—at the worst possible time on the worst possible day—Leopold turns to his best friend Emmet for help. Together they discover that Sunder is much more than just an old TV show, and that Los Angeles is far stranger than they ever imagined. And soon, he’ll realize that not only is Sunderworld real, but it’s in grave danger.

Certain he’s finally been chosen for greatness, Leopold risks everything to claim his destiny, save the world of his childhood dreams, and prove once and for all that he’s not the disappointment his father believes him to be. But when everything goes terribly, horribly, excruciatingly wrong, Leopold’s disappointments prove to be more extraordinary than he ever could have imagined.

How do you battle darkness when no one believes in you—not even yourself?

Welcome to Sunderworld.]]> 336 Ransom Riggs 0593530934 C.L. 0 to-read 3.94 2024
author: Ransom Riggs
name: C.L.
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/08/14
shelves: to-read
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]]> 17683
Luckily, however, he's not alone. Although most people don't believe in magic, the Chicago P.D. has a Special Investigations department, headed by his good friend Karrin Murphy. They deal with the . . . stranger cases. It's down to Karrin that Harry sneaks into Graceland Cemetery to meet a vampire named Mavra. Mavra has evidence that would destroy Karrin's career, and her demands are simple. She wants the Word of Kemmler - and all the power that comes with it. But first, Harry's keen to know what he'd be handing over. Before long he's racing against time, and six necromancers, to get the Word. And to prevent a Halloween that would truly wake the dead.

Magic - it can get a guy killed.]]> 528 Jim Butcher 045146091X C.L. 5 4.41 2005
author: Jim Butcher
name: C.L.
average rating: 4.41
book published: 2005
rating: 5
read at: 2024/08/14
date added: 2024/08/14
shelves:
review:
Yes, now we're getting back on track! Almost every page of this book was chock full of what I love about Dresden. Plenty of wit, hilarious moments, a bit of heart, high stakes, and, of course, a necromanced dinosaur named Sue. I am here for it! Though I did miss Murphy, I adored Butters, and I so did not expect that. Harry is dealing with a lot in this book, and there is never a lull in the action. Here's to hoping the next book is just as good!
]]> 60320509
There, she meets Mason, a loner who’s always felt out of place and has been in and out of foster homes his entire life. He’s been classified as one of the runaways, constantly searching for ways to make it back to his mom; even if she can’t take care of him, it’s his job to try and take care of her. Isn’t it?

Naturally pulled to one another, Willow and Mason set out across Salem to discover the secret past of Willow’s mother, her aunt, and the ambiguous history of her family. During all of this, the two can’t help but act on their natural connection. But with the amount of baggage between them—and Willow’s growing conviction her family might be cursed—can they manage to hold onto each other?

From the New York Times bestselling author of Love & Gelato comes a poignant and romantic novel about two teens trying to find their place in the world after being unceremoniously dragged to Salem, Massachusetts, for the summer.]]> 368 Jenna Evans Welch 153444887X C.L. 0 to-read 4.02 2022
author: Jenna Evans Welch
name: C.L.
average rating: 4.02
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/07/31
shelves: to-read
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]]> 52765415 Santorini felt like an island holding its breath. As if it were keeping in a secret...

Liv Varanakis doesn’t like to think about her father much, which makes sense—he fled to Greece when she was only eight, leaving her with just a few painful memories of their shared love for the lost city of Atlantis. So when teenage Liv suddenly receives a postcard from her father, who explains that National Geographic is supporting a documentary about his theories on Atlantis—and asks if she will fly out to Greece and help—Liv is less than thrilled.

When she arrives in gorgeous Santorini, things are just as awkward as she'd imagined. There are so many questions, so many emotions that flood to the surface after seeing her father for the first time in years. Liv doesn’t want to get sucked back into her father's world. She also definitely doesn’t want Theo, her father’s charismatic so-called protégé, to witness her struggle.

Even so, she can't help but be charmed by everything Santorini has to offer—the beautiful sunsets, the turquoise water, the sun-drenched villages, and the delicious cuisine. But not everything on the Greek island is as perfect as it seems. Because as Liv slowly begins to discover, her father may not have invited her to Greece for Atlantis, but for something much more important.]]> 506 Jenna Evans Welch 1534448837 C.L. 0 to-read 3.97 2020
author: Jenna Evans Welch
name: C.L.
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/07/31
shelves: to-read
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]]> 25756328 “I made the wrong choice.�

Lina is spending the summer in Tuscany, but she isn’t in the mood for Italy’s famous sunshine and fairy-tale landscape. She’s only there because it was her mother’s dying wish that she get to know her father. But what kind of father isn’t around for sixteen years? All Lina wants to do is go back home.

But then she is given a journal that her mom had kept when she lived in Italy. Suddenly Lina’s uncovering a magical world of secret romances, art, and hidden bakeries. A world that inspires her, along with the ever-so-charming Ren, to follow in her mother’s footsteps and unearth a secret that has been kept for far too long. It’s a secret that will change everything she knew about her mother, her father—and even herself.

People come to Italy for love and gelato, someone tells her, but sometimes they discover much more.]]> 386 Jenna Evans Welch 1481432540 C.L. 4 4.03 2016
author: Jenna Evans Welch
name: C.L.
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2016
rating: 4
read at: 2024/07/31
date added: 2024/07/31
shelves:
review:
I have had this book for years but had never quite gotten around to it. I ended up watching the movie based on the book a few months ago and really enjoyed it, so I thought I would give the book a try. I was not disappointed! I love the pacing of this book and how things are revealed gradually as they pertain to the rest of the story. I also love how Lina's trip mirrors that of her mother. This was a fun, heartwarming, and easy read. I appreciate the author's writing style and have decided to read her other books.
]]> 2983489 A hilarious blast of scathing irreverence from the award-winning actor and comedian.

"A pissed off Leary is the best Leary," says one critic of the writer and comic. In Why We Suck, Dr. Denis Leary uses his common sense, and his biting and hilarious take on the world, to attack the politically correct, the hypocritical, the obese, the thin--basically everyone who takes themselves too seriously. He does so with the extra oomph of a doctorate bestowed upon him by his alma mater Emerson College. "Sure it's just a celebrity type of thing--they only gave it to me because I'm famous," Leary explains. "But it's legal and it means I get to say I'm a doctor--just like Dr. Phil."

In Why We Suck, Leary's famously smart style and sardonic wit have found their fullest and fiercest expression yet. Zeroing in on the ridiculous wherever he finds it, Leary unravels his Irish Catholic upbringing, the folly of celebrity, the pressures of family life, and the great hypocrisy of politics with the same bright, savage, and profane insight he brought to his critically acclaimed one-man shows No Cure for Cancer and Lock 'n Load, and his platinum-selling song, "Asshole."

Proudly Irish American, defiantly working class, with a reserve of compassion for the underdog and the overlooked, Leary delivers blistering diatribes that are penetrating social commentary with no holds barred. Leary's book will find wide appeal among people who want to laugh out loud or find a guide who matches their view of what's wrong in America and the world-at-large; and fans of his one-man shows, his many movies, and Rescue Me, Leary's Golden Globe and Emmy-nominated television show. Why We Suck is the latest salvo from one of America's most original and biting comic satirists.]]> 240 Denis Leary 0670031607 C.L. 2 3.67 2008
author: Denis Leary
name: C.L.
average rating: 3.67
book published: 2008
rating: 2
read at: 2024/07/27
date added: 2024/07/27
shelves:
review:
I read this for some laughs but got very few. That's okay; he told me I wouldn't like it as much as I thought in the first few paragraphs. His stand-up specials are better and I'll leave it at that.
]]> 8123162 Winner of the Edgar AwardThe #1 New York TimesĚýBestsellerPublishers Weekly and USA Today BestsellerMillions of Copies SoldQuentin Jacobsen has spent a lifetime loving the magnificent Margo Roth Spiegelman from afar. So when she cracks open a window and climbs back into his life—summoning him for an ingenious campaign of revenge—he follows. When their all-nighter ends and a new day breaks, Margo has disappeared. But Q soon learns that there are clues—and they’re for him. Embarking on an exhilarating adventure to find her, the closer Q gets, the less he sees the girl he thought he knew.#1 Bestselling author of The Fault in Our Stars John Green crafts a brilliantly funny and moving coming-of-age journey about true friendship and true love. Ěý]]> 321 John Green 1101010932 C.L. 4 ]]> 3.83 2008
author: John Green
name: C.L.
average rating: 3.83
book published: 2008
rating: 4
read at: 2024/07/27
date added: 2024/07/27
shelves:
review:
I watched the movie years ago and enjoyed it, but somehow never got around to reading the book until just now, despite my love for both John and Hank Green. I find Paper Towns to be a little bumpy at the start, but by the end, you're laughing, weeping, and waxing poetic about the meaning of life and our ability to really know someone. All in all, a solid read, that I'm glad I picked up.

]]> 40535559 Stranger Things.

It’s the summer of 1969, and the shock of conflict reverberates through the youth of America, both at home and abroad. As a student at a quiet college campus in the heartland of Indiana, Terry Ives couldn’t be further from the front lines of Vietnam or the incendiary protests in Washington.

But the world is changing, and Terry isn’t content to watch from the sidelines. When word gets around about an important government experiment in the small town of Hawkins, she signs on as a test subject for the project, codenamed MKUltra. Unmarked vans, a remote lab deep in the woods, mind-altering substances administered by tightlipped researchers . . . and a mystery the young and restless Terry is determined to uncover.

But behind the walls of Hawkins National Laboratory—and the piercing gaze of its director, Dr. Martin Brenner—lurks a conspiracy greater than she could have ever imagined. To face it, she’ll need the help of her fellow test subjects, including one so mysterious the world doesn’t know she exists—a young girl with unexplainable, superhuman powers and a number instead of a name: 008.

Amid the rising tensions of the new decade, Terry Ives and Martin Brenner have begun a different kind of war—one where the human mind is the battlefield.]]> 304 Gwenda Bond C.L. 0 to-read 3.62 2019
author: Gwenda Bond
name: C.L.
average rating: 3.62
book published: 2019
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/07/24
shelves: to-read
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]]> 13623848 Alternate cover edition of ISBN 9780062060624.

Achilles, "the best of all the Greeks," son of the cruel sea goddess Thetis and the legendary king Peleus, is strong, swift, and beautiful, irresistible to all who meet him. Patroclus is an awkward young prince, exiled from his homeland after an act of shocking violence. Brought together by chance, they forge an inseparable bond, despite risking the gods' wrath.

They are trained by the centaur Chiron in the arts of war and medicine, but when word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, all the heroes of Greece are called upon to lay siege to Troy in her name. Seduced by the promise of a glorious destiny, Achilles joins their cause, and torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus follows. Little do they know that the cruel Fates will test them both as never before and demand a terrible sacrifice.]]> 408 Madeline Miller C.L. 0 to-read 4.30 2011
author: Madeline Miller
name: C.L.
average rating: 4.30
book published: 2011
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/07/24
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 201102406 An epic survival-thriller about four teens who get lost in the Paris catacombs for days—a gripping and propulsive story of love, danger, betrayal, and hope� even when all seems lost.

Ruby is terrified to cave to her feelings for Sean and risk him crushing her heart.

Sean is pumped to spend a week with Ruby in Paris on their senior class trip, and he’ll wait however long until she’s ready to take things further.

But when Ruby’s best friend sneaks out the first night to meet a mysterious French boy, Ruby goes after her with two classmates, but caves to another temptation: attending mystery boy’s exclusive party in the Paris catacombs, the intricate web of tunnels beneath the city, home to six million long-dead Parisians. Only they never reach the party.

Underground, as something sinister chases them, they get lost in the endless maze of bones, uncovering dark secrets about the catacombs� and each other. And if they can’t find a way out, they’ll die in the dark beneath the City of Light.

Aboveground, Sean races to find the girl he loves as a media frenzy over the four missing teens begins.

From award-winning author and rising YA star Diana Urban comes a twisty tale of four teens lost in the dark beneath the City of Light and the race to find them.
]]> 354 Diana Urban 0593625080 C.L. 0 to-read 3.84 2024
author: Diana Urban
name: C.L.
average rating: 3.84
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/07/24
shelves: to-read
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]]> 203608430 In this epic and seductive gothic fantasy, a vampire escapes the thrall of Dracula and embarks on her own search for self-discovery and true love.

Her name was written in the pages of someone else's story: Lucy Westenra was one of Dracula's first victims.

But her death was only the beginning. Lucy rose from the grave a vampire, and has spent her immortal life trying to escape from Dracula's clutches--and trying to discover who she really is and what she truly wants.

Her undead life takes an unexpected turn when, in twenty-first-century London, she meets another woman who is also yearning to break free from her past. Iris’s family has built a health empire based on a sinister secret, and they’ll do anything to stay in power.

Lucy has long believed she would never love again. But she finds herself compelled by the charming Iris, while Iris is mesmerized by the confident and glamorous Lucy. But their intense connection and blossoming love is threatened by forces from without. Iris's mother won't let go of her without a fight, and Lucy's past still has fangs: Dracula is on the prowl again.

Lucy Westenra has been a tragically murdered teen, a lonesome adventurer, and a fearsome hunter, but happiness always eluded her. Can she find the strength to destroy Dracula once and for all, or will her heart once again be her undoing?]]> 464 Kiersten White 0593724402 C.L. 0 to-read 3.71 2024
author: Kiersten White
name: C.L.
average rating: 3.71
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/07/24
shelves: to-read
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]]> 180512746
The words have haunted Rashmi since she first heard them whispered the night before her mother died, when she was just 10 years old. Rashmi’s mother used to tell her stories of a magical garden lit only by the moon, whose blossoms grant wishes. For years, Rashmi believed the whisper somehow came from the mysterious moon garden of her mother’s stories and that her own failure to respond—to wish—may have cost her mother her life.

Now a scientist working for her grandfather’s biotech company on a treatment for Alzheimer disease, Rashmi tells herself the entreaty she heard as a child was an illusion, nothing more than a dream. She throws herself into her research, betting everything on its success, even her relationship with Darsh, her perfect Bollywood-star boyfriend. But when Darsh gifts her a rare chapbook by a vanished poet, entitled Into the Moon Garden, Rashmi can’t help but be lured back into the past.

The moon garden calls to her once more, and this time, Rashmi answers, crossing its threshold with her life’s wish in her heart: to right the wrong of all those years ago. But as she ventures deeper into the moon garden, and into her past, Darsh—her future—follows her, pulling her in another direction entirely....]]> 5 Shveta Thakrar C.L. 3 3.44 2023
author: Shveta Thakrar
name: C.L.
average rating: 3.44
book published: 2023
rating: 3
read at: 2024/07/24
date added: 2024/07/24
shelves:
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]]> 56269205 From holy cup comes holy light;
The faithful hand sets world aright.
And in the Seven Martyrs� sight,
Mere man shall end this endless night.

It has been twenty-seven long years since the last sunrise. For nearly three decades, vampires have waged war against humanity; building their eternal empire even as they tear down our own. Now, only a few tiny sparks of light endure in a sea of darkness.

Gabriel de LeĂłn is a silversaint: a member of a holy brotherhood dedicated to defending realm and church from the creatures of the night. But even the Silver Order could not stem the tide once daylight failed us, and now, only Gabriel remains.

Imprisoned by the very monsters he vowed to destroy, the last silversaint is forced to tell his story. A story of legendary battles and forbidden love, of faith lost and friendships won, of the Wars of the Blood and the Forever King and the quest for humanity’s last remaining hope:

The Holy Grail.

From author Jay Kristoff comes Empire of the Vampire, the first illustrated volume of an astonishing new dark fantasy saga.]]> 739 Jay Kristoff 1250245281 C.L. 1 I don't shy away from profanity or violence, but it was over the top in this book. The book could have been half as long and told the same story, which appears to be a sort of edgier Interview with the Vampire that fails stupendously. There is misogyny abound, voyeuristic LGBTQ rep thrown in to glorify the het male 'oh boy, lesbians' vibe, and did I mention the casual on-the-rag jokes? I'll be selling my copy and probably never reading anything from this author again. ]]> 4.29 2021
author: Jay Kristoff
name: C.L.
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2021
rating: 1
read at: 2024/07/24
date added: 2024/07/24
shelves:
review:
Honestly, I'm pretty surprised how much I hated this book after all the hype I heard about it.
I don't shy away from profanity or violence, but it was over the top in this book. The book could have been half as long and told the same story, which appears to be a sort of edgier Interview with the Vampire that fails stupendously. There is misogyny abound, voyeuristic LGBTQ rep thrown in to glorify the het male 'oh boy, lesbians' vibe, and did I mention the casual on-the-rag jokes? I'll be selling my copy and probably never reading anything from this author again.
]]> 99383
Harry is doubly frustrated because he got involved with this bizarre mystery only as a favor to Thomas, his flirtatious, self-absorbed vampire acquaintance of dubious integrity. Thomas has a personal stake in the case Harry can't quite figure out, until his investigation leads him straight to Thomas' oversexed vampire family. Harry is about to discover that Thomas' family tree has been hiding a shocking secret; a revelation that will change Harry's life forever.


Cover Art Lee MacLeod]]> 372 Jim Butcher 0451459873 C.L. 4
The only thing that annoyed me a bit, and which keeps annoying me as the series goes on, is Harry and his self-righteousness and treatment of women. Anytime anyone does something a little out of line, he seems to throw a fit when, let's face it, Harry's hands aren't clean either. Unfortunately, Butcher suffers a lot from man writing about women syndrome. If I have to hear about how some random girl's breasts are peaked, how short her skirt is, or how Harry just can't control his thoughts, I'm gonna go blind from rolling my eyes too hard. I realize these were written years ago, but the misogyny can be hard to get through sometimes. ]]> 4.29 2004
author: Jim Butcher
name: C.L.
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2004
rating: 4
read at: 2024/07/19
date added: 2024/07/22
shelves:
review:
Yes, I feel like the magic was back with this installment! There were some very big developments in this book, and I absolutely love the questions that were addressed and where this series is now going. It was interesting to get to know more about Murphy and her family and to see her and Harry work together closely again, which I feel had been a bit lacking in the last 2 books. Also, the revelations about Harry's family were *chef's kiss* good! I am here for traumatic past and angst, and this delivered just the right amount with the promise of more in the future. Also...Harry with a dog, yes, please, even though I love Mister, it's just too cute!

The only thing that annoyed me a bit, and which keeps annoying me as the series goes on, is Harry and his self-righteousness and treatment of women. Anytime anyone does something a little out of line, he seems to throw a fit when, let's face it, Harry's hands aren't clean either. Unfortunately, Butcher suffers a lot from man writing about women syndrome. If I have to hear about how some random girl's breasts are peaked, how short her skirt is, or how Harry just can't control his thoughts, I'm gonna go blind from rolling my eyes too hard. I realize these were written years ago, but the misogyny can be hard to get through sometimes.
]]> 53413806
The first book in Kalyn Josephson's "must-read" (Adrienne Young) Storm Crow duology, a YA fantasy series that follows a fallen princess who ignites a rebellion, perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Leigh Bardugo and And I Darken.


Princess Thia was born to be a crow rider—a warrior. In her kingdom of Rhodaire, magical elemental crows keep the city running. But when the Illucian empire invades, they kill all the crows in a horrible fire that also robs Thia of her mother and mentor.

Then Thia's sister, Caliza, becomes the new queen of Rhodaire, she is forced to agree to a marriage between Thia and the Illucian heir in an effort to save her people. Prince Ericen is rude and cruel and Thia can't imagine traveling into the heart of an enemy city after so much has been taken from her.
But before she leaves, she finds a crow egg in the rubble of the rookery. Deep in the heart of Ilucia she must hatch the last crow, hold her own against the crown prince, and ignite a rebellion to take back what is hers.


Perfect readers who want:YA mental health storiesLGBTQ charactersGifts for teen girls 12-18

Also in this series:
The Crow Rider (Book 2)
Praise for The Storm Crow:
"Clashing kingdoms, thrilling action, and an imperfect heroine make this a must-read."—ADRIENNE YOUNG, New York Times bestselling author of Sky in the Deep and The Girl the Sea Gave Back
"[A]mbitious worldbuilding and an engaging premise�; Anthia's battle with depression is portrayed with frank authenticity, and features well-developed LGBTQ in the Deep characters."—Publishers Weekly]]> 402 Kalyn Josephson 1728206979 C.L. 0 to-read 3.91 2019
author: Kalyn Josephson
name: C.L.
average rating: 3.91
book published: 2019
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/07/09
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 142296
Caught up in the intrigue between rival bands of beggars, pursued by Egyptian sorcerers, and befriended by Coleridge, Doyle somehow survives and learns more about the mysterious Ashbless than he could ever have imagined possible...]]> 387 Tim Powers 0441004016 C.L. 0 to-read 3.93 1983
author: Tim Powers
name: C.L.
average rating: 3.93
book published: 1983
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/07/08
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 59314703
On her return home, Sewanee discovers one of the world’s most beloved romance novelists wanted her to perform her last book—with Brock McNight, the industry’s hottest, most secretive voice. Sewanee doesn’t buy what romance novels are selling—not after her own dreams were tragically cut short—and she stopped narrating them years ago. But her admiration of the late author, and the opportunity to get her grandmother more help, makes her decision for her.

As Sewanee begins work on the book, resurrecting her old romance pseudonym, she and Brock forge a real connection, hidden behind the comfort of anonymity. Soon, she is dreaming again, but secrets are revealed, and the realities of life come crashing down around her once more.

If she can learn to risk everything for desires she has long buried, she will discover a world of intimacy and acceptance she never believed would be hers.

From the author of My Oxford Year, Julia Whelan’s uplifting novel tells the story of a former actress turned successful audiobook narrator—who has lost sight of her dreams after a tragic accident—and her journey of self-discovery, love, and acceptance when she agrees to narrate one last romance novel.]]> 432 Julia Whelan 0063095564 C.L. 0 to-read 3.99 2022
author: Julia Whelan
name: C.L.
average rating: 3.99
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/07/08
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 58885776 Alternate cover edition of ISBN 9780593336489.

Florence Day is the ghostwriter for one of the most prolific romance authors in the industry, and she has a problem—after a terrible breakup, she no longer believes in love. It’s as good as dead.

When her new editor, a too-handsome mountain of a man, won’t give her an extension on her book deadline, Florence prepares to kiss her career goodbye. But then she gets a phone call she never wanted to receive, and she must return home for the first time in a decade to help her family bury her beloved father.

For ten years, she’s run from the town that never understood her, and even though she misses the sound of a warm Southern night and her eccentric, loving family and their funeral parlor, she can’t bring herself to stay. Even with her father gone, it feels like nothing in this town has changed. And she hates it.

Until she finds a ghost standing at the funeral parlor’s front door, just as broad and infuriatingly handsome as ever, and he’s just as confused about why he’s there as she is.

Romance is most certainly dead... but so is her new editor, and his unfinished business will have her second-guessing everything she’s ever known about love stories.

A disillusioned millennial ghostwriter who, quite literally, has some ghosts of her own, has to find her way back home in this sparkling adult debut from national bestselling author Ashley Poston.]]> 368 Ashley Poston C.L. 0 to-read 3.90 2022
author: Ashley Poston
name: C.L.
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/07/08
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 18423 The Left Hand of Darkness tells the story of a lone human emissary to Winter, an alien world whose inhabitants spend most of their time without a gender. His goal is to facilitate Winter's inclusion in a growing intergalactic civilization. But to do so he must bridge the gulf between his own views and those of the completely dissimilar culture that he encounters.

Embracing the aspects of psychology, society, and human emotion on an alien world, The Left Hand of Darkness stands as a landmark achievement in the annals of intellectual science fiction.]]> 304 Ursula K. Le Guin C.L. 0 to-read 4.11 1969
author: Ursula K. Le Guin
name: C.L.
average rating: 4.11
book published: 1969
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/07/08
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 194020321
While going through their parents' belongings, the siblings stumble upon a collection of home videos and decide to revisit those happier memories. However, the nostalgia is cut short when one of the VHS tapes reveals a night back in 1999 that none of them have any recollection of. On screen, their father appears covered in blood. What follows is a dead body and a pact between their parents to get rid of it, before the video abruptly ends.

Beth, Nicole, and Michael must now decide whether to leave the past in the past or uncover the dark secret their mother took to her grave.]]> 256 Jeneva Rose C.L. 0 to-read 3.77 2024
author: Jeneva Rose
name: C.L.
average rating: 3.77
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/07/08
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 160047194
The house was supposed to be a fresh start. That's what Libby's mom said. And after Libby’sĚýrecentĚýbipolar III diagnosisĚýand the tragedy that preceded it,ĚýLibby knowsĚýshe and her familyĚýneedĚýto find a new normal.

But Libby’s new home turns out to be anything but normal.ĚýScores of bugs haunt its winding halls,Ěýtowering stained-glass windows feature strange, insectile designs,Ěýand the garden teems with impossibly blue roses. And then there are the rumors. The locals, including the mysterious boy next door, tell stories about disappearances tied to the house, stretching back over a century to its first owners. Owners who supposedly hosted legendary masked sĂ©ances on its grounds.

Libby’s mom refusesĚýto hearĚýanything that could derail their family’s perfect new beginning, but Libby knows better. The house is keeping secrets from her, and something tells her that the key to unlocking them lies in the eerie, bug-shaped masks hidden throughout the property.

We all wear masks—to hide our imperfections, to make us stronger and braver. But if Libby keeps hers on for too long, she might just lose herself—and everyone she loves.]]> 464 Ann Fraistat 0593382218 C.L. 0 to-read 3.95 2024
author: Ann Fraistat
name: C.L.
average rating: 3.95
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/07/08
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 65211848 In the morning, who’s alive?

In the course of a single winter’s night, four people vanish without a trace across a small town.

Nora’s estranged best friend, Becca, is one of the lost. As Nora tries to untangle the truth of Becca’s disappearance, she discovers a darkness in her town’s past, as well as a string of coded messages Becca left for her to unravel. These clues lead Nora to a piece of local folklore: a legendary goddess of forgotten origins who played a role in Nora and Becca’s own childhood games...

An arresting, crossover horror fantasy threaded with dark magic, THE BAD ONES is a poison-pen love letter to semi-toxic best friendship, the occult power of childhood play and artistic creation, and the razor-thin line between make-believe and belief.]]> 382 Melissa Albert 1250894891 C.L. 0 to-read 3.60 2024
author: Melissa Albert
name: C.L.
average rating: 3.60
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/07/08
shelves: to-read
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]]> 197522442
Up-and-coming screenwriter Beatrix Noel’s dream project is finally a reality—her 90s-era script is in production. Less dreamy is the A-list actor in the starring role—none other than Rocco Riziero, who jilted Beatrix on New Year’s Eve back in 1999. Without his celebrity status, the project would likely still be withering on her hard drive, but that doesn’t mean Beatrix won’t shame him at every opportunity
on-set—especially when it becomes painfully obvious he doesn’t even remember her . . .

Boxed-in as a Hollywood pretty-boy, Rocco is thrilled to tackle a genuinely dramatic role. But he’s perplexed about why the screenwriter treats him like a maggot. And awkward becomes irksome when their bickering results in a car crash right outside the famed Roxy Theatre on Sunset Boulevard—site of the New Year’s Eve party where everything went wrong . . .

Shockingly, Beatrix, Rocco, and the car, are uninjured. The twist? They’re clearly, truly, somehow, still in December, still on Sunset—but in 1999 . Their mission? They’ll have to work together to correct their old mistakes—which just might bring them closer than either expects . . .

But can they change the past without altering their future selves—and hold on to what they’ve found together? Only time-travel will tell . . .]]> 321 Kate Tamberelli 1496742869 C.L. 0 to-read 3.45
author: Kate Tamberelli
name: C.L.
average rating: 3.45
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/07/08
shelves: to-read
review:

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