Oh my goodddddd, I LOVED this book. Legitimately made me happy to be driving so that I could listen to it. Definitely one of my favorite reads of the year so far, and I will be recommending it so hard. If you want a cozy paranormal, whimsical magic, SO MUCH FOUND FAMILY (like, maybe one of the best executions of found family I’ve read ever? I’ll have to think about it), a brilliantly sweet & swoony Sunshine/Grump couple, and a lovable ensemble cast, dude, read this book. And the audiobook narration was absolutely delightful. I will definitely be looking to read more by Mandanna!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
So good. Definitely going to be a top read of the year.
Whoa. I read this book in one sitting when I was exhausted and worn out with the world, and it was exactly the breath of fresh air I needed. Brimming with emotion, haunting in its symbolism, and unapologetically unique, this is the book I didn’t know I was looking for. Human Scars on Planet Skin meets you at the intersection of environmental devastation, overwhelming grief, and dogged restoration. It’s a story of the scars of both the world and those we carry with us. Of the things we cannot carry. Of our place in the balance of nature, life, death, and the other souls around us. Of the pain and process of healing, even in the face of unspeakable horror. Told through the eyes of a psychedelic mushroom and somehow comfortingly bizarre, this is a one-of-a-kind story for those looking for a visceral, heartfelt journey that takes you to the depths of despair while also highlighting the tenacity of hope in a lovable word that you can feel to your bones. Highly recommend.
Really enjoyed this one! I love Liane Moriarty’s writing style, and it’s always so awesome to see her weave so many different point-of-views from super different characters together. Super heartwarming with a mystical flare and poignant themes. I’ll definitely be recommending this one!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I always love a good Liane Moriarty book. what can I say? I’m a fan.
Okay, so I read this book at the insistence of a family member, and I entered with a quite a bit of skepticism, but I found it thought-provoking. Autobiographical-flavored nonfiction is NOT my favorite for lots of reasons, but some thoughts and takeaways from me:
– I know many people that I consider to be trustworthy and reliable who have seen or experienced things they cannot explain, which is actually why a lot of this wasn’t big news to me
– The author describes many accounts/videos of people seeing or experiencing things they cannot explain
– I think the author brings up lots of concepts that are interesting from a purely speculative point of view
– Personally, I have always accepted that the universe is full of lots of things we don’t understand yet, and this book didn’t really change my perspective in any way.
– In general, regardless of the veracity of the claims in this book, the saga makes for a good story, and definitely made me consider a lot of “what-ifs.”
– At the end of the day, my big takeaway is if you do see a UAP (unidentified aerial phenomenon), I would stay away from it.
Overall, I found this an interesting read and would recommend if you’re curious about the subject or if you want to discuss with your friends. Regardless of what you believe may or may not be true, this author truly believes that the UAPs are not of this world, and is passionate about bringing those truths to light. Personally, I’m thankful for the progress that’s been made on de-stigmatizing the topic and hope we can all learn more in the future.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Definitely thought-provoking, any way you look at it.
My favorite read of the year so far, and I can say without a doubt this will be on my top ten of 2025 list. This is now my go-to recommendation for any and all readers. The audiobook narration was also fabulous. This is a short review because I really don’t have anything to say but go read it. Six glowing stars, the highest rating I can give..
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
So unbelievably good you all. I can’t wait to see what this author writes next!
A smart, techy sci-fi adventure with big Star Trek & Battlestar Galactica vibes & side of slowburn romance. Skyla was definitely my favorite POV, and I loved the idea of the connection with the ships. (Also, I loved that she had Fenrir – think big, epic doggo!) Definitely recommend for sci-fi fans looking for a space opera with big military & science elements.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
We definitely need more sci-fi romance in the world!
This one absolutely blew me away, and it is a book I will be recommending to literally everyone. Smart magic, fun characters, & a mystery to solve. Also, the narration was amazing. 10/10 will be recommending. Seriously, this was such an amazing find!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This one definitely needs more attention! Loved it!
Unfortunately, to be honest, I don’t know if I would’ve finished this one if I hadn’t gotten it from NetGalley.
What I liked: – Persian & Indian-inspired mythology – The book starts off like The Selection with a Hunger Games twist. – While there’s obviously a book 2 planned, this book has a satisfying end that feels like a complete arc
What I didn’t like: – Honestly, the main characters just fell flat for me. I felt like their personalities & the chemistry between them didn’t quite pop, and the spice/lustiness felt like it didn’t quite fit somehow — almost like it was added just so it could fit under the romantasy label.
– The Selection/Hunger Games set-up resolves surprisingly quickly (maybe at like the 25% mark) and from there, although l liked the idea of some of the developments, in general, it just felt like the plot dragged. (However that could’ve been because I was connecting to the characters)
All that to say, while this book wasn’t really for me, if you’re a romantasy fan who loves a strong side of mythology, it might be for you!
I honestly didn’t think I would describe a story about a death metal bard as adorable, but here we are. Unexpectedly cozy, original, and metal in the best way. Cute characters, short and sweet, and definitely recommend if you’re looking for something different and fresh.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I love it when I find a book that’s such a fresh surprise!
Knee-jerk reaction on finishing: I feel like I just ate a rice cake. Don’t get me wrong— I like rice cakes, they’re just not super satisfying.
Ranking my enjoyment of this series: 1. Fourth Wing 2. Onyx Storm 3. Iron Flame
So I have a lot of thoughts, but to avoid all spoilers, I’ll try to be brief and vague
What I liked: 1. Violet, Xaden, and all the dragons
What I didn’t like: 1. Not enough meaningful plot progression.
I feel like if someone wanted to skip book 3 for some reason, I would sum up the plot in one sentence, have them read the last 1-2 chapters, and they would be all set for book 4. That said, if you love the characters (which I do), then you’ll be reasonably happy to go on this ride despite this. While the lack of plot progression left me feeling unsatisfied, I enjoyed the read, and anticipate reading book 4. Though I’m not like foaming at the mouth for it, and I don’t anticipate Onyx Storm being one of my favorite reads of the year.
In the end, if you’re a fan of the series, I think you’ll like this one too!
⭐⭐⭐⭐½
I mean, I’ll be reading the sequel, but I don’t think this one’s going to make my favorite series list. Kinda feel weird about it, no lie! The super hype is hard to deal with!
Hayley Reese Chow 