I think this is going to be one of the best fantasy books that come out this year.
Vis is an orphan with a past that he keeps secret. Once a prince of Suus, the Hierarchy has taken control of the world, including slaughtering millions. When Vis is noticed by a Quintis, he is adopted and set on the path of greatness… at least according to Catenan standards. Inwardly Vis revolts at every turn, but outwardly he plays the political game he is now a part of. On one hand, searching for clues to a murder and, on the other hand, attending Catenan Academy to rise among its ranks .
This story instantly grabbed me. Vis is a relatable and likable character, and I felt like I was fighting along beside him through this whole story. James Islington is a masterful storyteller, and I can not recommend this more!
Out May 23, 2023! . Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!
A haunting story featuring the legend of La Llorona. This is a spirit that haunts women who are sad and suffering. Particularly those with children. La Llorona appears dripping wet and decayed to try and devour Alejandra and her emotions.
This was really good. I loved the characters. I think I liked the depictions of La Llorona the best, though. The real fear in this story were the inner demons of the main character, Alejandra, and how that attracted this spirit who wanted to take all the pain away…. however, in a very bad way.
Out April 18, 2023!
Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!!
This was such a fun read! A perfect post-apocalyptic dystopian that had me turning those pages as fast as I could!
I loved the idea of a generation that has grown up on board of a giant cruise ship that has been afloat for the 40 years since an epidemic ravaged Europe. I was a little confused and wished there was more information about where everyone was from. The ship set sail from London but often on Cruise ships there are people from all over the world so I was wanting some diversity? Maybe attention to different languages, accents?
The storyline kept me interested and I mostly liked the characters. I did love that all the characters were able to show different aspects of their personalities. The only one I didn’t enjoy was Hadley because he was just all bad. No redeeming qualities whatsoever.
If you love dystopian reads as much as I do, I’d definitely say check this one out!
There is so much to be said about this marvelous book but I just want to point out how I personally felt while reading. I’ll try to keep this quick!
Let’s talk about trauma for a second. This book does a great job handling the trauma Elizabeth has been through with men, family and also basic bad judgment by other people.
Here’s the thing about trauma… no two people can compare traumas, traumatic stories, and really judge who has had it worse and who has had it better than. This is something that took me a while to figure out for myself.
The author illustrates this beautifully when Calvin and Elizabeth are up having a midnight chat one evening. They finally broach the subject of families and relay their tales to each other. However, Calvin is a bit upset. It takes him a while to think this through. As an orphan, he came to believe that a person with living parents must have had it better. Not only that, but they should appreciate their parents. Now, obviously in Elizabeth’s case I definitely think her feelings are valid. Calvin came around to seeing that too in his own epiphany that even children with both parents can still have a traumatic childhood.
So, what does this have to do with how I relate to Elizabeth Zott? I feel such a connection because she, in this book, in many ways proved that women, no matter who we are, have walked in the same shoes at one point or another. She took other’s seriously even when so many were ready to see her go. And, such a huge part of change for myself, and others I believe, is simply having their lives and problems validated as real.
The other women in this book really said it best when one commented in the audience of Supper at Six that she just wanted to be taken seriously. And, I feel that very much today. I love this book and the idea of giving everyone, no matter our differences, a chance to be taken seriously.
I love friends to lovers, a one bed only trope and throw in a reality TV home remodeling show??? YES!!!
This was a hit for me. Shelby and Cam started something at age 17 when their tv/sitcom coming of age show went off the air 10 years ago and now, they are working together again!
This has a great build up to steamy romance and a lot of sweet nothings that left me sighing. What I especially loved was the attention to details about them as a couple but first and foremost as individuals.
Cam really had to make peace with his family, especially his father. He was also struggling with the idea of setting down roots somewhere more permanently than he has been. Shelby has spent the last 5 years sober and focusing on herself. My personal favorite thing about this book is that Shelby is a skilled woodworker and works with her dad on renovations.
If your a fan of romcoms then I definitely recommend this!
This thriller had everything I wanted; family secrets, a dangerous game and major twists!
Harry, or Harriet, has moved to NYC from London with her boyfriend. The holidays are just starting, and he proposes in the middle of the skating rink at Rockefeller Center. Harry thinks she’s in for a wild ride already this holiday season with the prospect of meeting the Holbeck family, but she has no idea.
When Harry meets the whole family at Thanksgiving she learns that she will have to prove herself if she wants to keep her secrets. And, this “old money” family’s idea of that comes in the way of games that some may say are a bit cruel.
This thriller had me the whole way through and I definitely recommend it! Also, it’s a great holiday thriller!
Fetish is a collection of Victorian romance stories. 10 stories, each with their own fetish. And, trust me, these are fetish’s that I, at least, have never imagined!
I definitely found out my comfort level with some of these, lmao. It’s seriously a very wild ride and if you are prepared or not, I can guarantee you will probably be stunned at least once!
Found family, lgbtqia+ in the 1950’s and a murder mystery! There is not much more that my soul could ask for.
A very popular soap maker dies and her wife wants someone to solve the case, but kinda secretly bc of her and her household’s lgbtq status at that time. In other words, just trying not to draw attention. That’s where the main character comes in. A disgraced cop who was just fired for being found in a compromised position during a police raid at a gay club.
He meets the lgbtqia family of Lavender house and gets a feel for what a real found family is. That he shouldn’t have to hide a part of himself to be accepted and loved. This story touches on homophobia during the 1950’s and can be quite triggering but I think it was done in a good way. I also really enjoyed the murder mystery, especially because it kept me on my toes till the end.
Out October 18, 2022!
Content Warnings for homophobia, violence and death
Pictured is the book Kaikeyi by Vaisnavi Patel. I loved this story. Gorgeous retelling and what really caught my attention was not only the look at the gods and goddesses but many mythical stories about them.
So, I joined BOTM in March because I felt like it was a really inexpensive and easy way to get books. However, the prices have risen in this short amount of time! It’s not that big of a deal but it’s getting closer to what I would pay for a nice new copy at the bookstore. And, while it’s great to buy new releases, I personally feel like I would rather spend the money on just the new releases that I’ve been looking forward to. Which, are not usually in BOTM. So, I canceled. And, that is my story of the short period I was a member.
Current Reads
These are my current reads. People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry, The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix and A Shadow In the Glass by Jia Harwood. I’m loving these and can’t wait to tell you more!
Wow! Riley Sager is my favorite thriller author, so I always have high expectations when reading one of this author’s books. But this story went so above and beyond my expectations that I simply can’t believe it!
Casey is a star of the screen and stage, but unfortunately her career has taken a dive which is why she finds herself secluded in her family lake house on Lake Greene. While boozing away her time there, Casey has a curious encounter with a neighbor and this is when things start getting really interesting!
I thought to myself so many times that I knew how this would end but from major twist to major twist I realized I needed just to sit back and enjoy the ride. I highly recommend this!
Book Oracle 