This is an absorbing book, a wild tangle of love lost and found, faith and belief, the wrongs we do each other as people. Ostensibly about a magical hunt, this story is really about finding what you need, reaching for dreams beyond safety and survival, the strong roots of family and how they shape us. The characters weren‘t strictly likeable but were hugely sympathetic, and I rooted for them every step of the way.

Up next on my quest for all the cozy reads…

This mystery was so cozy, it centred around a coffee shop! I love the woodland vibes in this series, and the small town coziness of the creatures that populate it. Vera the vixen does not disappoint, get her paws into the latest crime to hit Shady Hollow — but nothing about it is what it seems to be. Not a difficult puzzle to solve, although some of the details were interesting, but it was a fun little read.

Switching from cozy fantasy to cozy mystery…still in that mood but looking for a little more plot!

This was a pretty little story, with just enough magic and mystery to give it depth. The representation was so naturally part of the story, it was top notch. I thought it very interesting to approach depression and other mental illnesses from a magical perspective. The ending was…not entirely satisfying though, which moves this from a firm pick to a soft one. But a fun read overall.

Apparently I am in the mood for soft and quiet right now…gentle does seem to fit spring, too.

I thought this was a beautiful book — inside and out. Whimsical in some ways, terrifying in others, thoughtful and thought-provoking. The imagery was bright and real, the journey engrossing, and Kei and Hana‘s developing relationship was lovely. I didn‘t see the final twist in the tale coming, and the plot moved at a good pace to a satisfying conclusion. But I‘m a sucker for a happy ending. Also, I loved folding the cover into a wee boat😍

My next read — seems like a good premise for a quiet Sunday…

This was an interesting read. The narrator is not so much unreliable as hiding things even as he tells his life story — so what‘s real and what isn‘t? No one seems to know, and so we don‘t either, which is frustrating at times but an interesting conceit. The “twist” at the end is more of a final reveal that makes sense in line with everything that comes before it, although there were a few details I didn‘t predict. I enjoyed well enough.

Sweet, funny, fluffy. A cute read, but without much to it. Some elements of found family, of growth from grief, and finding a place in the world, but not a lot of depth to them? I enjoyed it, but it was very much just fluffy — not that that‘s a bad thing, especially these days. And I mean, I‘d take on a baby dragon any day, so. One big plus was the actual COMMUNICATION between the two MCs. A nice escapist read.

Another borrowed book, and it‘s got a good hook! The format is interesting, though I‘m not sure it will hold up for a whole book. We‘ll see…

I think this was a pick? It‘s a doubtful book, wavering between realities, until you aren‘t sure who‘s being honest and who‘s right or wrong. I‘m still not sure. But it‘s a beautifully written book — Pulley has a lovely way of expressing ideas and putting images in your head that‘s immensely appealing. I think this is a series and I don‘t know if I‘ll continue, but it was a very interesting read for how it made me think.

This book was a bit silly and a lot fun, just the right kind of palette cleanser for a tired brain. Not a lot actually happens, but the plot does more or less hang together, and there are hints at a much deeper story that may develop in further books in the series. An interesting look at the perils of climate change, and a very different take on the shifter world. Don‘t know if I‘ll seek out more in the series tho

This book is stunning, really — almost like an exploration of the flip side of the wonder of discovering that magical world. Filled with pain and loss and anger, and the horror of discovering the darkness behind the light. Bree learns a lot in this book, and I think she comes out stronger for it, and more prepared to take on what‘s waiting for her. Just as evocatively and deliberately written as the first book, so well done.

Another TBR deep dive — #shoppingmyshelf these days, as much as I can. I remember when I bought this book I was seeing it everywhere and it felt necessary…then I never read it🙄 It definitely starts off with a bang!

This was a good story, although it didn‘t bring anything new in particular, with some solid growth and enjoyable characters. I would, however, have liked some more depth in the world-building, particularly the magic system, so that objects and actions had a better root. I also found the pacing a little odd — the plot was slow, but the relationships between characters grew insanely fast. ⬇️⬇️

Finally picked this up last night in anticipation of book 3 — too late, of course, but I‘m pretty much always late to the party😂 And I guess I‘ll have to pick up the Kobo edition instead of the Kindle…

Excited to start this one I picked up from a friend. I‘ve heard such good things!!

Meh, idk about this one. The MC/narrator‘s voice was funny for a while, but the consistent self-deprecation and dislike got wearing after a while. This book is really just about Greg and what happens to him because of this girl who‘s dying, except not that much really happens? He doesn‘t seem to change that much, although he is clearly affected more than he pretends to be. Sort of coming of age without much self-actualization, I guess. Soft pick.

I almost forgot it‘s Freedom to Read week here in Canadia, but I managed to find this on my TBR. I‘m 100 pages in and not much has happened, but it‘s pretty funny and sharp. Don‘t forget to #readbannedbooks!

Have a draggy, sick week, so am comfort reading old favourites to give my brain a break and my soul some comfort. There‘s nothing like a comfort read to feel cozy — what are your comfort reads?

This just didn‘t fulfill its potential, in my opinion, and I feel like 40% through is a fair shake. The characters felt really surface-level, and the situations were more silly than entertaining. The book felt more like a series of loosely connected short stories that weren‘t that great — this may be a translation issue, or maybe this one just isn‘t for me. There are just a lot of books I‘d rather be reading.

#dnf #hailthebail

The Other Brother by Tierney Page
(not in catalogue)

This was a light read — a sweet story, but without much solidity. A lot of the situations felt contrived, and I didn‘t really get to know the main characters as well as I‘d like. That said, it was a fun read, emotional and with a healthy and positive attitude towards sex and relationships that I appreciated. I‘d probably read more from this author. A soft pick.

Deep deep dive into the Kindle for this one — just about (not quite tho) the oldest unread book on there. I hope it is as fun as it sounds!

I feel like I might have loved this more if I‘d read it as a stand-alone — it doesn‘t quite have the depth, the resonance of the first two books. That being said, it‘s an entertaining read, a sweet romance (possible overuse of the only-one-bed trope), and as always, Weaver makes you laugh at some appalling things. Raccoons don‘t make good pets, people. 😂 I enjoyed this for what it was, a fluffy good time. Soft pick.

This was a riotous book, chock full of action and mayhem and secrets unfolding. A heist, audacious and daring, that isn‘t at all what it seems, and an heiress who isn‘t, either. NO ONE is who they seem to be, not really, and truths unfolding alongside the plot in an astounding fashion. This was great fun to read, If not particularly taxing — not necessarily a bad thing.

But like…the relative accuracy? 😂 Not sure why two of them are vampires though🧛🏻‍♀️ Gotta love Pinterest lol. This was so funny.

Type “literally my character” into the Pinterest search bar, and the first six images are you (I skipped the ones that were collages or ads).

Not as good as the first book, but a good read nonetheless. It felt like there was a lot of waiting for something to happen — the story WAS waiting and I guess the author felt we should too😂 There was a good amount of character development in there, and the twist at the end I did NOT see coming at all, which left us in an enormous cliffhanger. Now the third book will be a must!

In the mood for a mystery this time around, and this one looks fun! #shoppingmyshelf #tbr

What a delight of a book! A delicate, twisting road through the world of the fae — some of it familiar, some not — with our heroine getting embroiled in her own study. The tale of a cruel winter court makes perfect winter reading, as long as you have a cozy blanket! Emily is grumpy and skeptical and set in her ways, but at the same time possesses a sense of wonder and a willingness to see magic in the world. Her counterpart, Bambleby… ⬇️⬇️

Although this book doesn‘t do as good a job pretending it wasn‘t originally a fanfiction as other adaptations I‘ve read, it‘s still a fantastic story. Rich world building, strong characterizations, and an interesting magic system as a backbone. The writing is engaging and the story moves fast for a long book — I rolled right into the second book without waiting, to see what was going to happen. Loved it.

Finally picking this one up! Dearly hoping it lives up to the hype even a little…

I enjoyed this story, with its elements of fable, of fantasy, and even a little romance. Especially enjoyed the role that music played, woven tightly into the world mythology. Underlying the main plot was that search for home, and what that really means, and how it can differ for different people. I found it quite poignant, and the writing lush and descriptive. My first Rebecca Ross book, but definitely not my last!

A delightful mystery, one that builds between the past and present to come to a rocking conclusion. I admit I saw the twists coming, but the way Prose tells a story is engaging enough that it didn‘t really matter. Molly continues to see things that others don‘t, and to capture the world in a unique way. Some of her insights are probably the best kernels in these books. A very enjoyable series, and one I‘ll continue on with.

I thought this was a cracking mystery — lots of twists and surprises, and lovely characters to keep things going. Molly is an appealing mix of naive and clever — I‘ve read some reviews that found her oblivious or foolish, but I didn‘t find that at all. She is a straightforward person who thinks others will also be straightforward — and I think she learns throughout the book that this isn‘t so. I‘m not sure about the ending… ⬇️

This is just a rip roarer of a book — it grabs you as you begin and doesn‘t really let go again until the end. I found the story really intense and engrossing, and the characters compelling, if not always entirely likeable. The world building was maybe a little lacking, but strong enough. And the cliffhanger was NOT what I thought it would be at all, which was a nice surprise. If you like epic fantasy with a handful of smut, highly recommend.

Tackling this chonker while I‘m on vacation — just glad I grabbed it on Kindle Unlimited and don‘t have to haul it around😅

I‘m not sure whether I liked this book or not, but it made a deep impression, regardless. The writing is really powerful, the imagery vivid, the characters strong. The story is a dark fable with a touch of horror, like all fairy tales really, that leans on Welsh traditions and sets the real world against the imagined. Or IS IT? Somehow slow winding and fast paced at once, with a great ending. I‘d recommend.

An imaginative tale of a world very different, told in letters. I wasn‘t sure how I‘d get along with the format, and I did find it rather slow going at first. But the mystery of what happened to E. and Henerey drew me in, as their siblings worked to solve their disappearance. The world building is charming and thorough, and the characters appealing and enjoyable to spend time with. I‘ll definitely read the sequel.

I know this series has its issues, but the storytelling is excellent. I SCRAMBLED through the last 100 pages, unable to read fast enough to satisfy myself. The action is breakneck, and Violet‘s progression is remarkable in such a comparatively short period of time. Did I see a few twists coming? Sure, but it didn‘t hurt my enjoyment any. For me, a great read and a fab story.

Finally getting to start this chonker! Hopefully worth the extra weight in the work bag😂

This was fun, a little bit silly, a little bit sad, but overall a pretty light read. The story explores the aftermath of the hero‘s quest, and how people can wound one another and themselves. It didn‘t really get too involved, though. I didn‘t feel very invested and I don‘t know if it was the book or just my mood. Just didn‘t have that spark for me.

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.