Let’s see what did I like?
Everything
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!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thanks for reading!
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!
⭐⭐⭐½
Thanks for reading!
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.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thanks for reading!
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
Thanks for reading!
This was another one that I picked up at random from Libby on a road trip. It was my first “Graphic Audio” audiobook and honestly the production quality FLOORED me. With a full cast and sound effects, it really was like watching a movie in my head.
But the story… um. It was like Harry Potter, but with brutal fae who only respond to power & taking what they want, with a really unhealthy frat culture, twisted bullying, and two girls who (knowingly) make very awful decisions about trusting the people who are legit torturing them because they’re super hot.
So this one wasn’t for me, but I’ll *definitely* be picking up more audiobooks by Graphic Audio.
Thanks for reading!
This book was such a fun surprise!
What I liked:
– Cozy Romantasy Vibes
– Likable protagonists
– Fabulous Audiobook Narration
– Magical forest hijinks
– In general, just a sweet fun story
– Nice tension throughout. I honestly found myself worrying (in a good way) if it would have a satisfying ending or if I’d have to wait for the sequel.
What I didn’t like
– The pacing of the last 25% or so didn’t quite fit for me. In some ways, it feels like they’re having the same communication for a little too long.
Recommended for those looking for a fun romantasy with likable protagonists and a pinch of spice. And I’m totally game for book 2!
⭐⭐⭐⭐½
Thanks for reading!
Okay, so this is the post I needed in my life as a budding author in 2019. I have always loved art since I was a kid, and now, as an author, I adore seeing books brought to life through character art, and use character art heavily when promoting my books. But when I first started out, I had no idea who to message about character art.
Over the years, as I admired other authors’ commissioned pieces, got recommendations from authors, and commissioned different artists myself, I began to gather quite a few art pieces of my books that I adored as well as a list of artists I enjoyed working with. I’m always on the look out for new artists and fresh styles, because I love to see how different people with different perspectives can bring to life characters in different ways.
And yes, I only work with human artists and likewise, human authors. In case you haven’t seen my thoughts on generative AI, you can find them in the graphic below.
So in part, this is an artist appreciation post for the artists who I’ve worked with over the years, and it’s also a resource for those other authors out there looking for (human) artists to commission. Without further ado, the guide is below! All handles are from Instagram unless otherwise noted.
So far in 2024, I read (and by read, I mean, mostly listened to, as I’m primarily an audiobook listener) 82 books! Like last year, I scrolled through my Goodreads reviews and tried to pick out the reads that were a cut above the rest, and tried to bin them in a genre.
For the record, I usually love fast-paced books with likable characters and satisfying endings. Throw a slowburn romance in there, and you’ve got me completely hooked. That said, sometimes the books I like the most are those I had no idea I was looking for. This year, I feel like my 8 favorites were all over the map.
Without further ado (and in no particular order):
So I read a lot of good middle grade this year, but this one was truly just a magical, cozy adventure. This book started me on T. Kingfisher reading binge, and I absolutely just adore the way her characters pop and her unique stories unfold. Can’t recommend this one enough. Full review here!
The show was amazing, and yet the graphic novel was somehow better. This series sucked me in so much I basically put everything else on hold so I could devour them. The characters are lovely, the art is fantastic, and the story just feels so poignantly YA, it’s really just jaw-droppingly good. I blew through the first five books, and you can find the full review here!
This one was so completely atmospheric and transportive. The writing was fantastic, the characters were delightful, and months later, I’m still thinking about this book. Quite frankly, this may have been one of the best fairy tale retellings I think I’ve ever read. And this was her debut!?! Seriously, I can’t wait for more from Poranek. Full review here.
I’d file this under: books I didn’t know I needed in my life. Apparently this a LitRPG, and six audiobooks later (each of which are about 20 hours long), I still can’t get enough. Action-packed, hilarious, and with incredible world-building, if this series could actually never end, that would be awesome. Impatiently waiting for the seventh audiobook in 2025. Full review of books 1-6 here!
I have a 6-year-old and an 8-year-old, so I have read *a lot* of picture books in the last five years, and it’s very rare that one sticks out. Really have to give it this one for being the full package with lovely illustrations, writing, and message. Full review here.
This was my first read of 2024, and I knew pretty much immediately that it would make this list. Hilarious, disturbing, and deep all at once, with turns that keep you guessing, I basically ran to recommend this to my friends. I definitely need more smart horror like this. Full review here.
This one legit jumped out of nowhere at me. Like seriously, I think I was aimlessly scrolling through the Libby app when I stumbled upon it. But it was just a such a sweet romance (with a little spice), I can’t even. I get a warm fuzzy feeling just thinking about it! Full review here!
I read a *lot* of books that didn’t live up to the hype this year. This was not one of them. Ali Hazelwood books have been hit or miss for me, but this was a big hit. A vampire, werewolf world with the feel of a romcom? Um, yes please. Fingers seriously crossed for a sequel. Full review here.
2024 was another fantastic year of reading! I’m still catching my blog up on my Goodreads reviews, but if I missed some of your favorites from this year, definitely drop them in the comments and I’ll check them out on Goodreads! Please remember to support your favorite authors with ratings and reviews to spread the word about their amazing books, and as always, thanks for reading! 😊
Duuuuddddeeee. This one is intense. Exactly what enemies to lovers fantasy is meant to be. I have been in a *serious* reading slump, and DNF’ed my last like 4 reads, but this one kept my attention from start to finish.
What I liked:
– The darkness and intensity of this book are pitch-perfect
– All the main characters are complex and interesting
– The set-up for book 2
– An ACTUAL enemies to lovers (I feel like so many books these days are like dislike or annoyance-to-love, this one is no-kidding justified hatred.
What I am still mulling over:
– So, I like Gideon and Rune as people, but for some reason their chemistry as a pair wasn’t quite right for me. Like, I don’t think I’m really rooting for them or against them, but I am *extremely* curious to see how it turns out. This could be the reading slump talking, or it could be that maybe, at the heart of it, I haven’t been converted yet from the “enemies” to “lovers” camp… Emphasis on the “yet.” Which also has me googling when book 2 is getting here, because I need it yesterday.
Also, a side note on the audiobook. This story has dual POVs (which I ADORE), but only one narrator. While the narration was amazing, I’m still hoping book 2 might have two narrators for the two POVs? Pretty please?
Which is all to say, you should definitely check out this read and then lemme know what you think, because it’s definitely one of my top reads this year so far.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thanks for reading!
I loved A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking as well as SwordHeart, so I think this officially marks me as a T. Kingfisher fan, and I’m pretty sure I have another three or four of her books downloaded at this moment.
What I liked:
– Quirky characters with a fun voice
– Interesting magic/horror elements
– Quick read
– The writing style is both fun and interesting, (and at times, revolting in a horror-y way) keeping me engaged from the first page
What I didn’t like:
– This was a short book, but I feel like I would’ve like a little more from all of the support characters (but mostly the handyman)
Totally recommend for anyone looking for a quick, fun read with a fun main character and little pops of horror and magic. And I’m looking forward to my next read from Kingfisher.
⭐⭐⭐⭐½
Thanks for reading!
Hayley Reese Chow 