The strenuous, high stakes world of professional ballet is the setting for this story of rage and revenge, centered on a young dancer who enters a Faustian bargain seeking to gain the recognition she deserves, but is never given.

The writing in this one is blunt at times, earning its YA designation by spelling things out a bit much, but it is still a wonderful, lavish, dark tale of those twisted by being constantly held back by others.

This book lured me in with its unusual premise and rather cryptic style, and then held me in its grip as the plot turned darker.

The prose has a dream-like quality, leaning into the uncanny and the macabre, and the reader is left with so many questions as the book's narrator becomes more entangled in the strangeness surrounding them.

Overall, this was a really unique, thought provoking book, and I think I still continue with the series.

This book goes so far beyond most other vampire stories, weaving together desire and rage, narrowing in on the interactions of three very different women who are all seeking the same thing: the power and freedom to love who they love.

Everything about this book, from the characters and setting to the prose itself, just blew me away. 100% recommend!

This book was so much more than I expected, framing issues of inequality and racism in an unconventional gothic paranormal mystery with a dark romance sub-plot.

I loved everything from the characters and the setting to the pace and the writing itself. This was just an all around good read, perfect for this time of year.

This wild sci fi adventure has a bit of everything, and then some: unique worlds, strange creatures, violence, romance, betrayal, found family, bounty hunters, a smart aleck talking cat, a ghost babysitter, and a war that has been going on so long and spread so far, people forget what it is even about.

I was completely drawn into this one from the first page, and I'm definitely looking forward to getting my hands on more of the series!

Rachel Harrison strikes again with another deeply unsettling tale!

This focuses on four young women on a weekend getaway gone wrong and has moments reminiscent of The Shining and Pet Sematary.

I will say this book won't be for everyone. It's got some fairly gruesome bits and leans more into the campy horror vibe, but for me, it 100% worked!

I hadn't picked up a Manga in a while, and this one certainly looked seasonally appropriate when I stumbled across it!

The combination of an eerie and uncanny character and setting with an oddly cozy story and absolutely gorgeous art made for a delightful first book.

Some questions are answered by the end, but many remain, and I definitely hope to continue reading the series!

This sequel has the same haunting atmosphere as the first book, and also finally gives so many of the answers I had been hoping for!

I did feel like the pacing could have used a bit of work in a few places, but it didn't detract from the story for me.

After this duology, I'm certainly game to check out more of Gillig's writing in the future!

I really enjoyed this one, though I do see why it gets some of the criticism it gets.

I liked that the world building is parceled out in small bits, but I can see how what I find intriguing others may find simply lacking. The magic system, while unique and creative, is also left a bit mysterious, but it makes sense in context.

Generally, I thought this was a really fun read that absolutely made me need the second book immediately.

I have to admit, after so long, I was a bit worried, but this book was worth the wait.

Morrigan's story continues and turns in a new direction when she discovers extended family in the posh Silver District, where she finds political games and social issues galore.

I feel like this is a case of a series growing with its readers, to some degree. The further into the series we get, the longer and more complex the books get, and I appreciate that!

I'm falling behind on reviews again. 🤦‍♀️

I've found myself lately bouncing between hard copy, digital, and audiobooks. (The above image is just a few of the things I'm reading in my phone at the moment)

I've been almost gorging myself on books, I think as an escape from the horrors of the real world right now. Probably not the healthiest way of coping, but certainly far from the worst. 🤷‍♀️

Hoping to get organized and review a few soon!

This book frankly blew me away.

I wasn't sure at first, because the pace was a little slow for me in places, but I came to realize that is entirely intentional, and for the best.

This is not a book to race through: this is a book to savor. I had to pause to share quotes with people. I had to take a moment, here and there, to reflect, to react, to regroup. I had to remember to breathe.

May be a new top pick!

Waiting until October to start this one has been a true test of my patience and self-control!

#sundayfunday @BookmarkTavern

It is that time of year again!

What are some of your favorite banned books?

#BannedBooksWeek

“Behold: Kali Tragus, the Russian thistle.“

#FirstLineFridays

@ShyBookOwl

I picked this up thinking it was a lighter, amusing story with some mild horror. That was a bit of a mistaken assumption on my part!

This book not only had serious emotional impact, it also touched on a lot of weighty issues like gaslighting, emotional manipulation, and abuse.

It also had a couple of scenes that are not for the faint of heart or squeamish!

I laughed, I cried, and I even yelled at the narrator. 100% recommend!

I picked this one up after hearing about it online just because the premise of the book intrigued me.

The story opens with the main character already in the physical process of killing a king, and the ride just gets wilder from there.

This book sucked me in and held me in its grip from start to finish, and the ending sent me reeling in the best way possible.

Definitely worth reading!

Such a lovely little tale!

#sundayfunday @BookmarkTavern

I just finished this and had to immediately come here to rave about it!

This book takes the unreliable narrator to a new level in the way Harrison weaves together a mother and daughter's stories, 20 years apart, in an allegedly possessed house.

I've read a lot of horror over the years, and in all that time, very few books have gotten to me the way this did, and I mean that in the best way possible!

100% recommend, and perfect for the season!

Well, as of yesterday, I finally caught up on posting reviews for all the things I read in the months I hadn't been posting!

Now, pictured above are all the books I read over the last two weeks or so while I've been playing catch up.

I'll be posting my reviews of them soon, just at a more sedate pace. 😆

This dystopian sci fi features a nonverbal autistic MC stuck in a strict patriarchal society where she isn't trusted or valued. So when she makes a huge discovery about the “demons“ her people have been battling for generations, things get interesting.

Solid world building, a great main character, and an exciting plot come together to make this one absolutely worth reading, and I'm looking forward to checking out more from this author, as well.

The deeper I get into this series, the more I love it.

The character development and backstory reveals ramp up more in this one, leading to several emotional moments, including one I never expected.

The action doesn't slow down, either, and the book manages a balance between the heavier emotions and the laugh out loud humor the series is known for.

I'm absolutely itching for the end of the month when I'll finally get my hands on book 7!

A human and and alien, each representing a rival multi-species consortium, court the ruler of a new alien species they are competing to bring in, and things get interesting.

I picked this up on a whim, and I'm glad I did. Unique, humorous, and full of heart, this book delivered more than I expected, from thoughtful questions about building relationships across cultures to AI translation software with a sarcastic streak. Definitely worth a read!

The silly, spicy romantasy fun continues, this time following the dragon shifter Dante as he attempts to find his mate. Of course, when he does, there are complications, and hijinks ensue.

Filled with the same delicious mix of humor and heart as the previous books, this was another fun little read!

This YA Snow White retelling was a bit odd. The premise intrigued me, but I found the execution a somewhat lacking.

The complicated family relationships and allusions to various myths were nice, but the romantic sub-plot felt awkward and forced, and I found the lack of explanation or backstory for the main antagonist a bit frustrating.

Overall, this book was just okay, not one I'm likely to recommend.

Somehow, this series just keeps getting better! Dinniman continues to expand on the lore and the politics as the action ramps up the deeper we get in the dungeon.

While the humor remains through much of this book, we also get more of the deeper emotional moments, including a few that left me absolutely reeling.

As always, I finished this one and had to dive straight into the next book!

I was pleasantly surprised a book written by four authors in parts read so seamless to me!

This sci fi tale follows a unique and rather morally grey MC through a mission complicated by lies and political machinations. It touches on everything from greed, xenophobia, and isolationism, to cultural erasure and the destruction of family, and comes together as a spectacular story of strength and perseverance, even in the face of overwhelming odds.

If The Spellshop was a fuzzy blanket for my spirit, this book was a gentle hearthfire, warming right down to the depths of me.

In this book, we get to meet Terlu Perna, who created the sentient talking spider plant, Kaz, and paid a steep price for it.

From forgiveness and redemption to self-discovery and healing, Durst covers a range of topics without straying from her characteristic cozy style and stunning imagery.

100% recommend!

This picks up where the first book left off and follows our protagonist as the world around her continues to devolve into further into violence and chaos. There are more events that feel uncomfortably prophetic, as well.

Dark, thoughtful, compelling, and haunting: this book and the prior one are two of the books I tend to think everyone should read.

When three strangers of different species are trapped at something like a small galactic motel, they find themselves getting to know each other while dealing with all the frustrations of their situation.

Chambers shines a light on learning to respect and embrace differences and how diversity can be a strength in this final entry to her Wayfarer series.

Beautiful, thoughtful, cozy, and uplifting: in my experience, Chambers never disappoints!

I picked this up based on a recommendation, and I'm so glad I gave it a chance.

This is a unique time travel story, published in the 90s, but set in a near future pandemic that feels eerily prophetic, while paralleling a story set in an outbreak of illness in the 14th century.

Part sci fi, part historical fiction, part tragedy, overall, this book examines how human circumstances change, but love, fear, hope, and mourning still remain.

The final book in the series, we finally get to see all of the secrets brought to light, and a resolution to the situation with the council.

I will admit, I still had issues with the pacing at times, and I got frustrated with our main characters quite often, but overall I still mostly enjoyed this series.

Scalzi seems to love to throw his characters into unique and unexpected circumstances and then venture even further into thought experiment territory from there!

While this one is absolutely still infused with his trademark humor, it also takes on a somewhat more introspective tone that I enjoyed, as well.

Overall, anther hit from an author who has become a personal favorite!

The wild ride continues in this book as we delve farther into the Dungeon Crawler world, both inside the dungeon and behind the scenes.

The unique mix of fast-paced action, dark humor, a plot layered with machinations, and deeply emotional moments continues to keep me absolutely captivated with this series.

This book continues to follow Alex Easton through the dark and atmospheric world Kingfisher has created, as another unsettling mystery comes to light.

While I didn't feel this quite reached the level of What Moves the Dead, it was still a very good book, weaving the character's internal and external struggles together into a truly eerie read.

Part coming-of-age story, part sweeping allegory, this book explores gender roles and expectations, oppression and marginalization, and how we deal with trauma and our own history, even when that history is hard to face.

While there were times I struggled a bit with the pacing, overall I found this to be a unique, fiercely feminist story that hits on some very pertinent and timely issues.

I'm going to say something that may be surprising, considering the acclaim this book has gotten, but I had a hard time getting into this one. The pacing just felt off and the flashbacks seemed intrusive at times.

However, this did have some great characters and world building, and the plot was unique and interesting. I'm calling it a pick overall, but I'm not sure if I'll be continuing the series or not.

This was a really hard questionfor me. I had a lot of favorites through childhood. Out of all of them, though, this was probably the one I was obsessed with the longest!

#SundayFunday

@BookMarkTavern

While I feel like this one didn't quite live up to the first book in the series, I still enjoyed it.

The pace is significantly slower in this book, and it definitely took me longer to read, but it also brought in more history and detail, creating something really beautiful.

Overall, this was absolutely still a pick that left me more than ready to pick up the third and final book.

Please excuse the peripheral clutter and poor lighting. I was just so excited to share my surprise belated birthday gift from my partner's mom.

I've always wanted a rotating book shelf! 😊

And I can absolutely always use more book storage! 😉

I'm having a hard time describing the way this book punched me in the gut and left me breathless.

Reading this in the present day, when it was published in the mid 90s, is downright eerie. Butler saw the writing on the wall and created a near future dystopia that feels far too close to reality at times.

Woven through with social commentary, this book is an incredibly powerful, haunting read that I 100% recommend.

This book was like a fuzzy blanket for my spirit right now.

This cozy fantasy follows an antisocial academic who is forced to leave everything she knows and start over with just some forbidden magic and her sentient talking spider plant assistant.

The characters and setting and creatures were so absolutely enchanting, I didn't want the story to ever end!

This dark and atmospheric retelling is unconventional and thought provoking, focusing on one young woman's experience trying to carve out a place for herself in a world firmly in the clutches of powerful men who distrust her.

I do understand the serious concerns with the use and portrayal of language and culture in this book, but I still think it is worth a read.

In this entry to the series, Chambers somehow manages to take an alien species's sociological study of a subset of humans in space and turn it into something both cozy and compelling, even with a narrative that is more introspective than plot driven.

Overall, I was not entirely surprised to find this another beautiful, heartwarming, thought-provoking exploration of possibility. I've come to expect no less from the Wayfarer series!

This is another delightfully silly, spicy romantasy that will just take you away for a bit.

This book had me laughing to the point I may or may not have snorted. 😳 And there's one particular moment, which I will not spoil by saying too much, that I actually cackled. I do not typically cackle! 😆

The books in this series are 100% pure fluff, but in a fabulous way, and honestly, I think most people can use a bit of fluff in their life right now!

I doubt I could say anything about this book that hasn't already been said, but I'll give my two cents anyway.

I was absolutely blown away by this book. It engaged both my brain and my heart to the fullest degree and left me absolutely reeling, in a good way.

The characters, the writing, the twists of the fantastic plot: it all comes together to create an absolutely stunning work of fiction!

This was a solid follow-up to the previous book, bringing in couple of new characters that challenge the protagonist both in the race and in other, less material ways. Unfortunately, there are also some more sinister elements involved, and things get complicated.

Overall, this was another fast-paced story that I read in a day and quite enjoyed. I'm looking forward to seeing the series continue.

A unique murder mystery set in a well-developed fantasy world, this book intrigued me right from the start.

While the characters are undeniably inspired by Sherlock Holmes, the author makes them his own in endearing ways. Then he drops them smack dab in the middle of a puzzle that sank it's claws into me and did not let go!

A good time all around!

Scalzi returns to the world of Hadens for another near future sci fi mystery masterpiece, this time turning his attention to corruption in sports, and further, just industries where people are commodities and the almighty dollar always comes first.

Great characters, quick pacing, and a unique storyline come together with Scalzi's signature humor to make for a stellar read!

Carl's adventure continues in this volume as we get to see more of how our characters are growing and changing, and how their relationships are evolving, as well. This one also hits the reader with some really, surprisingly emotional moments.

Overall, I'd say this book not only continued the momentum of the first two books, I think it actually accelerated the pace. I had to pick up the next book the moment I finished it!