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My 12 favorite reads of 2024. In no particular order:
Rise of the Red Blade - Delilah S Dawson
Bloom - Delilah S Dawson
Heartstopper - Alice Oseman
All the Names - Jose Saramago
A Prayer for the Crown-Shy - Becky Chambers
Killers of the Flower Moon - David Grann
The Talk - Darrin Bell
The Snow Child - Eowyn Ivey
All the Sinners Bleed - S.A. Cosby
The Turnaway Study - Diana Greene Foster
The Trees - Percival Everett
When Among Crows - Veronica Roth

Ooo I loved this novella. Based on polish folklore, it was just the right length, easy to get into, and kept mr guessing. I love this author! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is an entertaining story and a decent listen but it didn't set mt world on fire.

I didn‘t know both of the novellas I‘d chosen to pull me out of my slump would reference the same Slavic monster, but here we are. The Chicago Roth describes is one I‘d love to live in, and the vibes reminded me of my favorite book from last year (The Salt Grows Heavy). Would 100% recommend for fans of Olivie Blake‘s Master of Death and The Witcher series. Don‘t read any blurbs going in! They give away too much.

4.75 stars | #urbanfantasy ?

Read this one pretty quickly. Would have loved to see this as a longer novel, but it was good! Loved the characters, the atmosphere, everything. ☺️

This is a novella based on Slavic folklore (which I don‘t know anything about). And has Baba Jaga.

I am really enjoying Veronica Roth‘s newer books.

In a world where monsters exist, Dymitr is a knight tasked with killing them but he wants out.
Ala is one of those monsters, living with a family curse that will lead to her death.
Niko is unique in his clan, valued for doing what no one else can, until he betrays them.
Dymitr knows how to cure Ala and will trade it for an introduction with Baba Jaga, the one person who can save him.
Incredible world building for such a short book.

Fangirling over the amazing Veronica Roth at the #ALA conference. Loved this panel on morally gray characters, fascinating author perspectives. She is joined in the photo by Yume Kitasei and Mary E Pearson and O.O. Sangoyomi isn‘t pictured but I‘m so excited about her debut fantasy novel!

A 5 stars read from Veronica Roth? Who knew! In this urban fantasy novel full of supernatural creatures straight from Polish folklore a mysterious man on a quest to track down Baba Jaga teams up with a zmora and a strygzon. But what is he hiding? And what will they all sacrifice to find the peace they're searching for? This is one where you shouldn't read the synopsis first; just go straight into it. The reveals along the way are half the fun.

I went into this read blind, and I loved it! Roth packed so much world building and emotion and history into 160 pages! A mysterious human quests through an underworld of magic in Chicago hoping to end his suffering. Part of me is ready for many sequels, considering how much work had to go into figuring out the rules of the magic and the different creature classes, but it is a perfectly self-contained story that has a satisfying ending. 🏳️‍🌈

5/5

Ala, Dymitr, and Nico are taken on a journey through Chicago's supernatural underworld together to seek Baba Jaga and defeat the curse that is killing Ala.

I loved the strong Polish folklore elements of the novel. I found the magic and world fascinating, and I really hope this becomes a series because I want to read more about Dymitr, Ala, and Nico as well as the different factions of this world.

Usually, I'm always saying I want more from stories, especially when they are this short. However, I think the length was just right, and dragging it out further would have made the story too boring. A lot happened, but it never felt rushed. It was well balanced in a lot of different ways.

audiobook: When Among Crows by Veronica Roth
ebook: Cold-Hearted Rake by Lisa Kleypas

#weekendreads @rachelsbrittain

This new novella was a modern day fairytale. A story of redemption. It‘s about embracing fear with three mismatched characters working together to overcome Chicago‘s underworld. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2

May #bookspin list

#doublebookspin #bookspinbingo @TheAromaofBooks

#MotivationalMonday

1. I have a phone call to go over my volunteer hours/jobs for the Renaissance faire this summer. Later in the week my kid has a consult for getting a perm.
2. When Among Crows by V. Roth. It comes out in May.
3. I don't think I can choose. I love romance, fantasy, psychological thrillers and YA. and any combo of them too.

@Cupcake12