Welcome to Litsy!

#Read2025 #SeriesLove2025 Dark Urban Fantasy? Yes, please! This is the first book in a new series and I look forward to the second book which is being released on September 23, 2026.

I‘m enjoying this book very much. I do have one gripe. The book describes The Hierophant in the Tarot deck as the card of the magician. There is actually a card called The Magician. The Hierophant would more likely be described as a high priest or in some decks the Pope.

This has got to be the weirdest book I‘ve read in a while. I wish there were real magic in the world, but this kind of magic creeped me the hell out. I haven‘t been able to look at my shadow without feeling a chill go up my spine. I love the back and forth between past and present, Charlie‘s and Vince‘s. And the truth will shock you. Such a good read! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Anyone read this one?! 📖 ❤️📚💚🦌

#Holly
#ChristmasCheer

The shadow magic is certainly different and interesting. I enjoyed the last part of the book far more than the first. And I liked Vince more than Charlie. Probably won't continue the series.

#HauntedShelf Team #SkeletonCrew

I've got this one on hold at the library. Fingers crossed it comes soon!
#LetsGo #HauntedShelf #SkeletonCrew

Charlie‘s story was interesting, reading about her failures & successes as they fit into the world of shadows & magic kept my interest piqued throughout the book. The supporting characters added some color and dimension to the story and everything ran smoothly. I was surprisingly disappointed in how one of the character relationships ended, but overall, it was a solid entertaining read. Didn‘t want to set it down until I was done.

Here's my #CasttheDie list. I'll select 5 as my lucky pick.

#PuddleJumper

This was such a super interesting concept and I really appreciate the setting. It was super relatable for a fantasy book, but I just didn‘t love it. It was a bit scattered for me. There was a lot going on and it took a lot for me to keep my interest. I did like the idea and the story and I may continue on to see where it goes.

I love the way Holly Black crafts a story and her characters❤️❤️ Charlie and Vince were just deliciously flawed for me and I enjoyed the world of shadows and magic. Can‘t wait for next book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

It took a while to get into the book. It began very slowly, and the magic system was confusing until the end. New characters also just came into view without explanation or introduction. The ending was nice though, and overall I did enjoy the story.
(audiobook)

Our belated Valentine‘s presents my books and my hubby‘s God of War swords 🙌🏽🥰 so excited to read these

I understand the issues some people have with this. It was definitely slow, and the world wasn't fully developed to see how much the magic actually affects it. I also don't understand the current fad of 'morally gray' where basically every character in the book is unlikeable. There was nothing about Charlie that made me want to root for her. The only saving grace for this one was Vince, and I didn't see the twist coming.

I‘m really into my Kindle right now because they have a lot of new releases. I‘m starting this one, #BookofNight, and I‘m not gonna lie, this cover is stunning 🥰. I‘ve always been a fan of magic and this is what caught my attention. If you haven‘t ever read at the beach, you must do it at least once!!! #hollyblack #beachreading #summerreading

I usually despise conartist characters, but Charlie was compelled to become one and then manipulated into also becoming a thief as a child, plus she is a very relatable badass, so she gets a pass. This fantasy envisions an Earth where magic exists and people's shadows can become sentient. Charlie is trying to live the straight life as a bartender, but gets sucked back into her past life when a job to bring home a miscreant to his GF goes bad.

Really enjoyed this one! Dark and mysterious with just enough action.

Another fantasy adventure this time with Charlie Hall a thief asked to many books by gloamists. They are magicians who manipulate shadows. She wants out of that business but it isn't easy. Her past catches up with her and mayhem ensures. It's a dark and strange read. Again the beginning of a series.

#currentlyreading past my bedtime 😉

Hope Santa brought you all lots of books!
Here‘s our family Xmas haul…books=best gifts , always!
🎅🏼📚🌲📚

Finally committed to a final tbr #bookspin list for 2022 / gave up on getting through my November list 😂😉

(I already started the tagged book! 🤫)

I guess the second half was more interesting than the first, but I still didn‘t really like this book. I didn‘t really like any of the characters and felt like I missed something when it came to the magic and the world.

Not sure if this is meant to be a series, the way it ended, but I‘ll pass.

Does this book get better? I know I‘ve seen some mixed reviews. I‘ve never read a Holly Black book before, so I have no opinions either way.

I‘m a little less than halfway and honestly can‘t imagine listening to this book for 6 more hours.

What do you think?

Started it 7 months ago, bailed, but giving it another go. Seems right for the spooky and weird!

How do I explain how disappointed I was with this novel. Holly Black is one of my favorite, but this just...a) not an adult novel b) a lot did not make any sense at all. The main character Charlie Hall is one dimensional and there really isn't any growth of character...meh. #bookofnight #hollyblack

On my TBR to read this month!

#Night #Scarathlon Daily Prompt Day 6 #TeamSlaughter

#Scarathalondailyprompt #TeamSlaughter

Playing catch up

6 - Night

@Clwojick

#ScarathlonDailyPrompt #Night
#@StayCurious @clwojick

#ScarathlonDailyPrompts (Day 1: Black)
#20in4 #31by31 #spookoween

Charlie Hall aka The Charlatan, is a semi-reformed con artist/bartender, with a boyfriend is not who he seems but pays half the rent& complex family life in an alternative Western Massachusetts where people use magic to manipulate shadows in aesthetic &/or murderous ways.
Interesting urban fantasy. Good. Even if no one was likable &the random MA things pulled me out of it a bit.

#20in4
Today, I‘m going to try to finish Book of Night, with maybe some #LosersClub audiobooking thrown in. And then kick off #Scarathlon2022 with Unmasked, The Honeys and Verity.
🔪🔪 let‘s kill it #TeamSlaughter

Quite a unique read! I was enthralled with how the author takes something as simple as a shadow and gives it a personality and a hunger.

I wouldn't recommend this book to children, as it does have some sex, drugs, and violence in it. But it was a mild thriller and a fantastic mystery!

📚📖Happy Reading!📖📚

Lucy has declared reading with a cat on you season is officially open 🐈‍⬛ #catsoflitsy

There‘s aspects of this world I find interesting - separating my shadow from myself has been a fun though while out walking :). Unfortunately, I just didn‘t connect with any of the characters.

Here‘s a preview of my #Scarathlon #TBR. I‘ve got a lot more planned, but waiting to post along with my October #BookspinBingo card.

These are a few of the spooky/fall reads I own that I am hoping to get off my TBR in October.

I am also planning on watching lots of Halloween-themed movies, including Scream and Hocus Pocus.

If you haven‘t signed up for #Scarathlon2022 yet, there‘s still time!

https://forms.gle/UdTQPJKzvsvHM8iW7

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was slow to get to the good stuff, which I now realize because it‘s the first of a series. Looking forward to seeing where this story heads. 3.5⭐️ #botm

Incoming of books I haven‘t rated yet. I‘ve been bad at jumping on Litsy (sad I was too late for #basicwitchswap this year)

Book 148🎧 3⭐️

I honestly couldn‘t get into the beginning much but then on my second time renting it, the end portion sucked me in. I‘m still not sure how I feel about the ending though☹️ tres sad 😞

Holly Black‘s first adult fantasy! And the first in a duology! I loved the intricacies of the shadow magic and all the creepy-cool magical characters. Can‘t wait for the sequel.

Did not take picture of Holly Black- too busy listening intensely. Added a bunch of books to my insane TBR, heard some exciting new to me authors speak, missed the talk on Anxiety I was very very interested in- AND for the first time in years have not needed Ibuprofin! No joint pain yet!!!! I can‘t believe how empty it is compared to past years but am so glad I‘m here. #nationslbookfestival

Book 45 of 2022. I love Holly Black‘s children‘s and YA books, but this one was just so-so for me. I liked the main character, but the magic system was kind of confusing and it was very slow to start. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

In the car, Charlie turned to the empty seat beside her where her own shadow fell. “Okay, kid,” she told it. “The universe belongs to the curious.”

Feeling very lukewarm at best about this one thus far. I‘ve been reading Holly Black‘s books since I was in middle school, but her first foray into adult lit@isn‘t really doing it for me. 😅

Gonna give it some more time though.

#fantasy #audio #darkfantasy #library #libby

Charlie Hall, a retired thief, is pulled back into an underground world of shadows and magic after an important book goes missing.

Secretive ✨ Cat and Mouse ✨ Heist

If you‘ve read Holly Black, you won‘t be surprised that this is one is a heck of a story. The sex and violence are more explicit, which I guess is the reason it‘s called her “adult debut.” Charlie Hall, the “Charlatan”, made her living running cons and stealing magical artifacts. She‘s trying to be legit, but her past won‘t let he go. The shadow magic is fascinating, and Vince‘s identity is a great twist. I‘ve enjoyed her earlier books more.

Charlie Hall is a con artist with a skewed sense of right and wrong, a sad and regrettable past, and a new determination to do right. But her curiosity, impatience, and buried want of revenge keep leading her astray. The shadow magic in this book is SO interesting. It took me a while to really get a handle on how it worked and some people might say it isn't really thoroughly explored in the book, but honestly, that didn't bother me. (Tbc)

HAAAA!!

Started this one last night. I love our MC already 😍

"He only went outside to dump the compost into a weird worm bin that none of them was sure was working. With all the coffee grounds they added, the only thing Charlie was certain of was that all those worms were WIRED. If a bird ate one, it was going to fly directly into the sun."

I don't know how many people would call this a "Beach Read", but, well, I read it at the beach so now it fits the bill.

I was excited for this, but then heard the bad buzz and sadly I have to agree this was very disappointing.
Positives: I do like our MC, she is a fun character. The mystery and thief portions of this book are fun.
Negatives: The magic system is a mess, it is just not explained well at all. Her love interest is meh, for reasons that make sense, but not fun to read. I almost DNF‘d but I stuck with it as the audio is well done. 2.5⭐️