I was spoiled for this by watching the movie first. The book is slightly better, however the characters are incredibly stupid. The horror is well done though. 3⭐️

This book seems to have mixed reviews, but I really enjoyed the wild ride. I would describe this as Yellowface mixed with Bunny - but less literary and more mainstream. If you enjoyed those two books, you will probably enjoy this one. If you did not like those, this is probably not for you. 4.5⭐️

Here is my #augusttbr!
It‘s the end of summer beginning of the school year #litsyteacher so I will be trying to cram in reading to distract from the beginning of the year stress. 😜
I will be participating in #bookspin #doublespin #bookspinbingo & #roll100 as always.

Here are my #roll100 picks for my August TBR

Valor by John Gwynne
Like Real by Shelly Ryan
Dollmakers by Lynn Buchanan

I have finished this final book in the Legends of the First Empire series! It was overall a very satisfying conclusion, though very sad near the end. Also there are a few loose threads not wrapped up. This is a very traditional epic fantasy, but unlike many, the books aren‘t obscenely long. 4⭐️

This was a very funny, cute and steamy sports romance. The steamy scenes were a bit too drawn out (that may be your jam) and the book felt a little long. However, I really loved the protagonist‘s banter and the lovable cast of characters. I look forward to reading more in this new series. 4.25⭐️

I really enjoyed this humorous, grotesque horror-possession story. A mix of punk culture, Jewish folklore, roadtrip and personal growth - all with a lot of really creepy imagery (including some of Brom‘s gorgeous artwork). I am a big fan of Brom‘s unique horror voice. 4.5⭐️
Yay a #bookspinbingi

It has a cool premise and characters, but sometimes gets bogged down with the messaging (that is great, just clunky) and loses the plot. I don‘t think I‘ll continue the series. 3.5⭐️

This is a fantastic, immersive, epic fantasy. Our protagonist is a young girl that saves her family and discovers she has a gift to speak with spirits. This leads to an adventure that is part magical school, part training montage and a touch of romance (though this is not Romantasy). It is the chosen one trope, but with tough lessons and loss. I definitely look forward to continuing the series. 5⭐️

DNF at 20% The dialog is very cringy and the main character is…ugh. This was a #botm off my TBR and yay a #bookspinbingo! #hailthebail

Overall, I enjoyed this long epic fantasy. I liked our main characters, world building and magic system. There is something preventing me from calling this a top favorite, the middle of the book got a little confusing, but I do plan on continuing the series and would recommend to fans of epic fantasy. I picked this up because I really enjoyed The Will of the Many by this author. This is totally different-more traditional in characterization. 4⭐️

This was a new type of book for Marianna Zapata-a cozy fantasy romance. It has her trademark humor and lovable characters. She also does a nice job of building a unique contemporary fantasy world, with new takes of familiar fantasy characters. Where this struggles is the repetitive dialog and need for some major editing.⬇️

A creepy but ultimately predictable AI horror. 3.5⭐️

Another well crafted mystery by the romance queen Nora Roberts. Her trademark kickass female protagonist, a slow burn romance and a very twisted villain. The over described decor can get to be a bit tedious, to a point at times it becomes part home renovation show, but I still enjoyed this book. 3.5⭐️

A horrifying tale of a woman going through life changes and physical changes (perimenopause). The story unwraps a dark childhood and a town with many secrets. There are paranormal aspects to this book and some very gross imagery. Definitely check trigger warnings. This hit true as someone who is 49 and menopausal. 5⭐️

This started strong but at the 40% point it is feeling very repetitive, my mind is wandering and I‘m just bored. Also the love interest is just blah. DNF #hailthebail also a #roll100 off the TBR

This was ok, I like the characters, but this felt more like an epilogue than a fully fleshed short story. 3⭐️

A very sweet contemporary romance (no steam) about music and family. Some of the music ideas were a bit light in accurate detail, but the family moments were very sweet. It was just missing a little something to make it excellent for me, but it was fun read. Note it does talk about Alzheimer‘s with a parent, it is not as detailed as other dramas I‘ve read, but beware of that is a tough topic for you. 3.5⭐️

Bailing on this one, just very info-dumpy and the humor is not landing. #hailthebail #doublespin off the TBR

An overall solid mystery/thriller with a good twist ending. Well crafted, but with an unlikable main character. 4⭐️

I only had 3 5 star reads in June, and I may still add the others in Wild Card spots. This tagged book was the most fun read and helped me get out of a reading slump. It is a delight!

Here is my #Junereadingwrapup!
19 books read, 1 DNF
5⭐️ reads:
The Hollow Dead by Darcy Coates
The Ornithologist‘s Field Guide to Love
Can‘t Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan
King of Ashes by S. A. Cosby
16 Audiobooks
2 Ebooks
1 Manga

Here is my #bookspinbingo board for my #JulyTBR!

My #bookspin pick is The Vengeful Dead by Darcy Coates, which I actually finished yesterday.
My #doublespin pick is Cascade Failure by L. M. Saga

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley for an honest review.
What a fun book, and impressive debut novel! This takes inspiration from the classic locked room mystery and gives it a horror twist. I would call this Clue crossed with 13 Ghosts - two movies that I adore, and the concept worked well.⬇️

A very satisfying finale to this series. It has been great following these characters and gradually unwrapping the mystery of Keira and her abilities. If you are a fan of cozy mysteries and ghost stories, I highly recommend this series. Note you do want to read these in order! 5⭐️
#bookspin pick done!

I enjoyed this slow burn Romantasy overall. It has inspiration from Peaky Blinders but the magic systems is reminiscent of The Last Airbender and some other supernatural creatures. This is a very slow burn romance and the first half is quite info dumpy as this is the first book in a series. I really liked our protagonists and I look forward to continuing the series.

Bailing on this one.
I am a mix of bored from the repetitive story and super frustrated at various character‘s stupidity. #hailthebail

Here are my #roll100 picks for my #JulyTBR!

Down These Strange Streets - short story collection
The Road of Bones by Demi Winters
The Lightning Bottles by Marissa Stapley

S. A. Cosby does it again. Writing a timely devastating thriller, this time about a family that makes tough decisions and the consequences they must live with. The author does such a great job of making you care about morally grey characters, he is an auto-buy author for me now! 5⭐️
Another #bookspinbingo!

I‘m just not fully engaged, and I don‘t know why, all the elements are there. Also characters keep making stupid choices and it‘s annoying. So DNF.#hailthebail another #bookspinbingo & #roll100 done.

I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review. This was overall an entertaining vampire horror/thriller. This takes place in the 70‘s, post Vietnam War. The time is important as our main character Duane Minor is a veteran, working at his in-laws bar. He has some mistakes in his past, but is working to be a good husband and guardian to his wife‘s niece Julia.⬇️

This was a fantastic contemporary romance. As always Kennedy Ryan creates main characters that you absolutely love and root for as they go through difficult circumstances. This book also deals with contemporary issues without simplifying or sugar coating. I think this my favorite of the series, as I have loved Hendrix throughout the series, and her finding such an amazing love interest was wonderful.⬇️

Here‘s my July TBR. It‘s summer break so I‘m back in more concrete TBR mode. As always I‘m participating in #bookspin #doublespin #bookspinbingo & #roll100 to chip away at my never ending TBR. 😎

A solid installment, though it definitely feels like a middle book and a little long/repetitive at times. It is still great to be back with these characters, though I am very concerned about their well being at the end of this book. 4⭐️

I can see the appeal of this set of interconnected stories. Some say it‘s even cozy. I just found it sad and just ok. 3⭐️

An adorable and funny historical romance with a touch of fantasy. The banter between the love interests is great and I read this slow just to savor it. 5⭐️

This started with a exciting premise but ultimately fell flat and the twists were quite predictable. An easy fast read though. 3⭐️

A just ok follow up that had a lot of moments of repetition, some from book 1. Not terrible, and does answer questions left hanging in book 1, but I doubt I‘ll continue more if this has future books. 3⭐️

Another beautiful chapter in this manga series. 4.5⭐️

One of my favorite in the series, with a well realized world and characters you grow attached to in a short time. A sad ending as the portal books tend to be though. 4.5⭐️
#doublespin and another #roll100 pick done! I‘m now caught up with this series too.

Another great installment in this paranormal mystery series. We start to get answers to the overarching mystery and I‘m excited to read the next (and last I believe) book in the series. 5⭐️

A new, unique vampire story with multiple intertwining POV‘s. I was engaged and liked the overall story but there were a few elements that kept me from loving it. Some of the timelines felt long a bit boring. The repetition of the title throughout made start to think, ok we get it already! A little additional editing would make this a more consistently engaging story. I still recommend for fans of vampire stories & fans of the author.⬇️

This is not an easy book, that mixes real historical horrors and paranormal horror. The first half is quite slow, but very fascinating. The second half is more horror/thriller and action packed. This story is told mostly in journal entries and has three points of view. It is a wholly original vampire tale from an indigenous perspective. If you like historical fiction and/or are fan of this author I definitely recommend.⬇️

A cute cozy mystery, which begins a series with a town of delightful characters that also happen to be animals. I look forward to checking out more in this series. 4⭐️

A solid second half of this epic Viking Romantasy story. It had a slow first half, and I was frustrated with our heroine. However, the action kicked up the second half and wrapped up our story in a satisfying way. 4⭐️
#bookspin done as I got this from the library.

A unique suspense horror with inspiration from Little Shop of Horrors. This was a fun read, great audiobook.
The plant is the best character of the story, the humans don‘t quite compare. There are a few convenient moments and the ending didn‘t quite hit for me, but I would recommend this one. It is not too gory and something new. 4⭐️

This was a fascinating sci-fi that poses the question “what would we do if things in our world just start to disappear?” This has elements of mystery, horror and a bit of an unconventional love story (not a romance). There is also a book within the book which is a horrific story on its own. This is not a happy book, but I am glad I read it. 4⭐️
A #roll100 TBR book done!

Here is my #bookspinbingo board for my #JuneTBR!
My #bookspin pick will be a Library Book
My #doublespin pick will be Adrift in Currents Clean & Clear by Seanan McGuire.

I read this for my RL book club and it was my BOTM for May. Overall I liked this. It was a mashup of family drama, mystery and a little bit dystopian. The children and their personalities were the best part. I didn‘t love the two adults and never quite felt chemistry between besides forced proximity. Beautiful writing though! 3.5⭐️

Here are my #Mayreadingstats:

17 books read
3 DNF‘s
3 read on Kindle
14 via audiobook
1 ARC - Psychosis Diagnosis 4⭐️

5 Star reads:
Shield of Sparrows, Age of Legend, Victorian Psycho & The Lady Who Left.

Biggest disappointments: Great Big Beautiful Life-I think I‘m done with Emily Henry. The Love Haters by Katherine Center-DNF‘d twice due to eating disorder not written well.