Another fantastic read from Thomas King! Love this series. It‘s fascinating to me how Thumps is such a careful and deliberate person, yet the mystery is fast-paced and moves in leaps and bounds. Dragged reluctantly into another murder, Thumps is faced with ghosts from his past. It‘s a great mystery, with plenty of questions in the air, and just enough going on to keep you guessing without being frustrating. I‘ll keep on with Thumps for sure.

This is a questing book, full of the search for answers of many kinds. The book centres around one search, for the owner of a lost ring, but both the MCs have their own inner search as well. Mira grows the most, I think, as she seeks to live outside the box she made for herself. It does all tie together in a rather unbelievable way — too neat — but it‘s also satisfying and a lovely HEA, too. A sweet romance, all in all.

This was surprisingly complex, with a relatively straightforward plot but a lot of character mystery and development. Alexis is an extremely empathetic MC, with a tragic history and a bewildering present. I would have liked to see her be a bit more active in her own life, but the reasons why she isn‘t are understandable. ⬇️

This is a mostly lighthearted romp through Greek mythology with a modern lens, but it doesn‘t shy away from the darker side of it, either. The politics of Olympus are still all at play here, and things are quite complicated by the end of volume 1. I thought it was fun, and sweet, and a great read. The art is darkly lovely, with a great use of colour to portray the emotions of the story.

I‘m enjoying spending time with Thumps DreadfulWater again — it‘s been a while, and I‘d forgotten the dry, sardonic humour. Just a little ways into it, but I foresee a lot of twists and turns…

Finally cracking this open on a cloudy Sunday afternoon. The house smells like cinnamon from my carrot cake baked oatmeal cooking, and the cat is curled up beside me. Perfect weekend day!

Fantasy/science fiction holds up a mirror to real life, and this one is SCATHING. A fascinating look at the dark side of humanity, ego and selfishness — but also the drive to do better. The choice of magic to power a city is an interesting one, with life‘s energy being used to run technology similar to our own. I wonder what we would do, given the choice, and am afraid I know. An absolutely outstanding read, if a difficult one.

Ah, what an evocative, haunting book. A fable, a horror, a true story? Maybe all three, in one way or another. A winding tale of dreams made real, and the nightmares that drive us through life. It‘s difficult to describe, tbh, as the story is unsettled and unsettling, defies genre, and navigates a tangled labyrinth of plot and emotion. Alix Harrow has a remarkable talent for weaving a world, and this is no exception. Stellar read.

Starting off the year, it seems, with books I REALLY wanted to read immediately upon purchasing, but still didn‘t for whatever reason…I‘ve loved Alix Harrow‘s other work, so am looking forward to this read. Pictured with bonus cat!

What an absolutely beautiful book. Couched very very lightly in the story of Pinnochio, this book ruminates deeply on what it means to be human. I loved all the characters, but especially Nurse Ratched, just because. Vic and Hap‘s blooming and deepening friendship is lovely to watch unfold, as is the exploration of found family and the love that binds us all together. The whole story is so poignant it hurts. Absolutely wonderful.

This is such a fun revisit of the Xmen animation from the 80s! All the favs are here, and the themes of inequality and injustice ring as true as ever. The art is a delight and the storytelling is strong. Loved this blast from the past!

This was a wistful sort of romance, with a strong focus on grief and the way it can hold us in stasis. Nora has a wealth of self-doubt and fears that keep her struggling to find a way free. My main issue was that the MMC, Garrett, mainly stood in as a sort of goal, despite his own back story. I felt like in the present, we could have gotten to know him a little better. Still, an enjoyable book and a quick read.

This was a lovely romance — lush and pretty, with just the right amount of conflict. I could see the issues coming, but predictability isn‘t necessarily a bad thing in a romance😊 The descriptions of music and composition are stunning, and the exploration of music and talent and what it can mean is striking and a little haunting. I feel like Julie Soto is quickly becoming a must read…

This was such a fun story — lots of classic mystery elements with two intrepid lead characters on the case. Maggie and Ethan each have their own baggage, but they work their way through it as they work their way through the mysterious circumstances that brought them together. Lots of entertaining side characters, and a sweet romance that made the story richer and more fulfilling. A great holiday read!

Two random picks off the tbr for a quiet Sunday at home — first day without social obligations since the 24! I may not move😂 looking forward to some cozy…

This was a pretty good mystery, right up until the end. I just didn‘t buy the way it wrapped up, with the guilty seeming to have little motive and some things never really explained. The “Scottish-isms” felt forced and awkward rather than charming. But the characters were somewhat engaging and the setting was beautiful. Probably won‘t read another in the series tho.

The husband picked this out for me by his own self, so I shall love it no matter what it‘s like. But it looks cute and cozy and just the thing for a chilly winter holiday🙂

This book is utterly unique. It reads almost like an epic poem of old, but at the same time, completely new. Medieval-Modern, knights for the new age. It examines the mythology of Camelot through the lens of today‘s world, with all its complexities and difficulties and joys, where even the setting feels queer and off-kilter. ⬇️

Tapping out of this book because I just don‘t want to spend any more time on it. Unpopular opinion, I guess, but I just couldn‘t get to liking this book. The characters are unlikeable, the plot drags, and tho I get that the premise is meant to be “Hallmark-movie-ish”, it just doesn‘t hit for me. At least it was free from KU. Gotta spend my very limited reading time another way.

This was a sweet little book, with a heap of snowy romance and just enough cuteness. It did fall on the wrong side of too many misunderstandings, but you can see why they happen. Both MCs have a lot of baggage, but they manage to battle through it—with help from each other, of course. The serious themes of homophobia, foster care, and the scars we grow up with all helped keep the book from being too twee, and were handled with delicacy and care.

Reading goal met!! I feel quite chuffed, AND there were a few real standouts that I still think about. I‘ve really liked having this record of everything — my first full year really tracking things.

This was really enjoyable — Sunny and Isaac had so much depth as characters, and their relationship developed really naturally. So much spice (🥵) but it didn‘t take over the plot or the development of the story. This was a study in grief and different ways of working through it, and how it affects the lives of the affected. It was actually quite thoughtful and insightful in a lot of ways. Also, MR TUMNUS.

This was a cute romance with a hearty side of spice, perfect for the holiday season. The affectionate send up of the “Hallmark” Christmas movie and all its trappings was pretty funny, and the characters were likeable and authentic. A quick and easy read, but not less fun for it. Soft pick.

I feel like these books are getting better and better as we go along! I loved the characters in this book, as well as the holiday setting and the DOGS. Maybe I‘m just a sucker for a Christmas story, but I just loved this book and the little romance that bloomed. The communication was solid, and the “crisis” was more believable than they often are. A fabulous holiday read😍

Possibly an odd take — I liked this better than the first book. I really felt like we got to know the characters better, and that they had more depth than in the first book. The book-led scavenger hunt is a cute premise, and was an interesting way to get the two mains interacting. Another cute read for the holidays!

This was a cute enough romance. I feel like I didn‘t get to know the characters well enough, especially the FMC Jeanie, to really but into their supposed back stories and root for them, though. I did like the town as the third main character, which was clever, and the supporting cast was strong and engaging. Good enough that I‘ll read the next one, anyway.

Possibly in keeping with the season…

Just a little short story, a wee fable for the time of snow. Still, it echoes with truth and also magic, with questions about the meaning of love and who we are and how we think. A beautifully illustrated book, whose pages sing the solitude of snowfall.

Oh, it‘s such a pretty little book😍

Picking this up to keep the vibe that this week‘s snow brought…

Was this a shameless Hallmark-style rom-com, with all the cheesiness and silliness that implies? Definitely. Did I love it? I certainly did — in spite of or because of that cheerful unashamed sugar sweetness, I‘m not sure. Doesn‘t matter lol. A great read to get you in the holiday spirit if, like me, you don‘t mind the cheese. ❤️

Going a little lighter for the holiday season…epic tales are wonderful, but I need a break!

What a fantastic conclusion to a truly epic trilogy. As a fantasy, the world building is top notch and immersive, with splendour and grittiness in equal measure. Each and every character is carefully and richly drawn, and you can‘t help but empathize, even with the villains. This story of feuding gods and warring clans is brutal and delightful and everything in between, and even the ending is a bittersweet dichotomy. I genuinely loved this story.

Finished after a slight delay in comfort reading due to a wicked cold, BUT not less good because of it! A satisfyingly complex plot, lots of action, intrigue, and just a smack of romance, all wrapped up in pleasing world building with forbidden magic and a stewing rebellion. Was a v good read and I‘ll definitely pick up the next book.

Next up, another fantasy — not sure how I ended up with so many Indigenous authored fantasies on my TBR, but it‘s quite delightful…

This was such a good read, raw and searching, solid and seeing, compelling and quiet. It is storytelling in the most real sense of that term, like a history being imparted rather than a novel being written. And I guess it is, for all that the characters are fictional, their stories have real cousins out there that also need to be heard. I was deeply affected by the characters and the journeys they each traveled in order to find home.

I feel like the tone of this will be markedly different than my previous couple of reads, but I expect it will be a good one…

Second up in my Nov Indigenous reads — what a truly unique story it presents. A mirror of world, if dragons were real and the Norse had remained the main power in the world. Anequs‘ experience in this world, so different from her home and family, and so ripe with both casual and directed racism, is a sharp reminder of how far we still have to go. That said, the writing is somehow both simple and direct, and also lovely. There‘s a current of… 👇🏻

This story is sweet and sugar and twice as nice—but irresistibly readable all the same. I‘ve never met a toddler as consistently charming and well-behaved as Bea, but I‘ll forgive it because she‘s cute. Saiorse is relentlessly cheerful to Miles‘ grump, and the Christmas backdrop is perfect for their burgeoning relationship. Does it all happen ridiculously quickly? Yes. Is it entirely inappropriate? Definitely. Is it an absolute delight? ENTIRELY.

This was a sweet rom-com, wrapped around the serious issues of traumatic brain injury and chronic illness. What it can mean to a relationship and how people deal with even the potential of a life-altering illness, along with anxiety and depression, are topics dealt with with sensitivity and a deft hand. I really enjoyed watching Ben and Ella becoming friends, and then finding something deeper with each other. Clumsy editing kept this a soft pick.

This is an absolutely excellent read — a penetrating look at the very real issue of MMIW, while at the same time a fantastically woven mystery. The frustration and desperation over the missing and murdered in the story felt very real, visceral, and the need for answers was entirely believable. The teens took on a bit more than I think they actually would, but I get that‘s for the purpose of storytelling… 👇🏻

This was a fantastic wrap up to the series, although it came a lot sooner than I thought it would! Cin learns so much, and grows a great deal as a character, and most of the minor characters are strongly drawn and as vibrant as she is. Ofc there‘s a HEA, but getting there is a TRIP, and there‘s enough action and derring do to satisfy just about anyone. And of course, there‘s Havoc…😏 A quick read, but a good one.

This was a cute romance, although I found Clem a little overly prickly. We find out more about the magic systems and the world of this series, with a couple of big surprises. Overall a satisfying read.

I wasn‘t really wowed by this book — I found it predictable and not particularly original. The characters seemed to have more going on than the reader knew about, which was too bad, since they could have used more dimension. It was a quick read, though, with nothing particularly objectionable about it. Just left me sort of meh.

This is a lovely cozy, all about finding the courage to be your true self, out loud. The MC is anxious to the point of reclusiveness, and watching her inch out of her shell is rewarding. I also loved that a number of the supporting characters are magical animals, with robust personalities of their own. Throw in a sweet, tentative, enemies to lovers, and I‘m sold.

This book is almost entirely a story within a story, with a nod and a wink as if the reader, along with the MC, is in on the plot. A very clever way to experience the “travel to another world” scenario, with a lot of secrets, surprises, and wtf moments. The world is lushly imagined and the characters, from MC to the most minor, are richly developed and well written. The end left me gasping, and def waiting for more…

Mini book haul from the sweetest bookshop, The Same Page, in Claremore, Oklahoma. Just a lovely place, and I could have bought many more if I didn‘t have to schlep the home on a plane😂

This was an intense read. A mix of classic fairy tale and modern darkness, with a stalwart hero to lead the way. While it had truly horrific moments, the story was more deeply rooted myth and magic, good and evil, and the battle we all fight within. Not a quick read, but one with beautiful imagery, strong themes, and a robust cast of characters of all stripes. King‘s prose is really compelling, and his characters boldly drawn. Plus, the dog lives!

This is about as close to horror as I‘m willing to get. Hoping it won‘t be too much for me…😬😨

I can‘t describe this book, so I won‘t even try. Sinister and creepy, yet lovely and enticingly-shaped, it wanders through all kinds of stories to get to its own heart. The language is compelling and vivid, creating a tapestry of images that you can‘t avoid and can‘t forget. The characters are Stories themselves, and the whole thing binds together with blood and bone and the wonder of a new tale. Gah, I loved it.