Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: October 2024

November 1, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

I just want cooler weather.

Favorites this month:

Silver and Bone
Goodbye Again
Holiday Tides
Across the Ages
The Twisted Throne
A Tale Told by Traitors
Home Run Heart
A Queen of Ice

Least favorites

Kiss Me at Christmas
Blood of the Sands
All I Want Is You

[ARC] The Book of Witching by C.J. Cooke
[ARC/ALC] The Last Dragon of the East by Katrina Kwan
[ARC] Silver and Bone (Silver and Bone #1) by Claudia Cain
A Crane Among Wolves by June Hur
The House at Watch Hill (Watch Hill Trilogy #1) by Karen Marie Moning
Goodbye Again by Caitlin Moss
[ARC/Novella] Holiday Tides (A Wilks Beach Holiday Novella) by Laura Langa
[ARC] The Gentleman’s Confession (Matchmaking Mamas #3) by Anneka R. Walker
The Dagger and the Flame (The City of Fantome #1) by Catherine Doyle
Vilest Things (Flesh and False Gods #2) by Chloe Gong
Across the Ages (Timeless #4) by Gabrielle Meyer
One on One by Jamie Harrow
Tell Me You Love Me (The Boys of Riverside #4) by Gracie Graham
The Twisted Throne (The Bridge Kingdom #5) by Danielle L. Jensen
The Dividing Sky by Jill Tew
The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter
[Novella] Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood
[ARC] A Tale Told by Traitors (Tales of Wonder and Woe #2) by R. Dugan
[ARC] Home Run Heart (Kitt’s Harbor #2) by Hailey Gardiner
For She is Wrath by Emily Varga
We Three Kings by Kristen Bailey
Kiss Me at Christmas by Jenny Bayliss
Blood of the Sands (The Ballan Desert #1) by S.C. Grayson
The Secret of the Book Keeper (The Secret of the Book Keeper #1) by J.A. Hemingway
Miss Adeline’s Match by Joanna Barker
Wanted: A Roommate Who Isn’t Evil (High Court of the Coffee Bean #3) by Jennifer Kropf
All I Want Is You by Falon Ballard
Season’s Schemings (Cyclones Christmas #2) by Katie Bailey
Fighting for You (Veterans of Silver Ridge #4) by Claire Cain
[ARC] Spectacular (Caraval #3.5) by Stephanie Garber
Not Like Other Girls by Meredith Adamo
Not a Thing (Seddledown #2) by Susan Henshaw
The Slowest Burn by Sarah Chamberlain
[ARC] A Queen of Ice (A Trial of Sorcerers #5) by Elise Kova
Inheritance of Scars by Crystal Seitz

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Book Review: The Dagger and the Flame (The City of Fantome #1) by Catherine Doyle

October 29, 2024October 8, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★.75
Audience: NA Fantasy Romance
Length: 510 pages
Author: Catherine Doyle
Publisher: S&S
Release Date: September 26th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

From the number one bestselling author Catherine Doyle comes the most fiery enemies-to-lovers romantasy of the year. Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Leigh Bardugo and Stephanie Garber.

In the dark underbelly of a beautiful city, two rival assassins are pitted against each other in a deadly game of revenge, where the most dangerous mistake of all is falling in love…

In Fantome, a kingdom of cobbled streets, flickering lamplight, beautiful buildings, and secret catacombs, Shade-magic is a scarce and deadly commodity controlled by two enemy the Cloaks and the Daggers – the thieves and the assassins. On the night of her mother’s murder, 17-year-old Seraphine runs for her life. Seeking sanctuary with the Cloaks, Sera’s heart is set on revenge. But are her secret abilities a match for the dark-haired boy whose quicksilver eyes follow her around the city?

Nothing can prepare Sera for the moment she finally comes face-to-face with Ransom, heir to the Order of Daggers. And Ransom is shocked to discover that this unassuming farmgirl wields a strange and blazing magic he has never seen before… Among rumours of monsters stalking the streets and the rival guilds grappling for control of Fantome’s underworld, Sera and Ransom are drawn together by something more than just magic and must face a deadly choice – forgiveness or vengeance? Kiss or kill? Dagger or Flame?

Thank you to Simon Audio for the gifted audiobook.

I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THIS ONE.

Ooooo y’all. This review feels tricky. I enjoyed the story and characters in a vibe kind of way. I liked the audiobook and I was never upset at what I was reading, it just didn’t match.

For a “young adult” (it is definitely not YA) there was so much out of pocket language. I’m not generally bothered by language but with the way these characters were written it didn’t sync with the story. The writing felt young YA and the characters were trying to be new adult. I would categorize this as new adult too based off of the spice that felt very out of place and at the wrong times too.

The reveals are easy to guess from the beginning. I wasn’t surprised in any way. And while that’s not always a bad thing, since I wasn’t fully engaged by the time things were coming together I was ready to move on with a new book.

I do plan to read the next one, I’ll definitely keep going because I’m curious enough to see if book two shakes out these intro cobwebs. Once again begging for traditional pubs to make new adult an actual genre.

Overall audience notes:

NA Fantasy Romance
Language: high
Romance: 2 open door
Violence: high

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Book Review: The Curse of Saints (The Curse of Saints #1) by Kate Dramis

October 28, 2024September 18, 2023 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 480 pages
Author: Kate Dramis
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Release Date: July 11th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

As an elite spy and the Queen’s Third-in-Command, Aya has dedicated herself to a life of discipline and duty, using her gods-given abilities to keep dark magic from ever returning to the realm. Her oath ensures she will always act to protect those she fights alongside—including Will, the Queen’s Enforcer and Aya’s bitter rival.

Forced by circumstance to work together, Aya and Will struggle to come to an uneasy truce. But when tragedy strikes, Aya instinctively reacts, unleashing a power that hasn’t been seen in over 500 years. Shaken, she’s confronted with an impossible truth: one that threatens the precious grip she keeps on her control. One that forces her to work with Will to discover who—or what—she really is. And one that could turn her into a weapon in a war she doesn’t know how to win.

With Will at her side and untold power at her fingertips, Aya will have to decide: Has she been sent to save the realm she loves…or destroy it?

WELL, I LIKED IT.

This has a surprising (to me) low-ish rating on Goodreads and I was a bit hesitant to pick it up. But after listening to the audio, honestly I liked it! I want to read the second book.

Now I will say, this is an adult fantasy, but the writing style and character choices came off much more young adult. I noticed it, but it didn’t overall affect me that much (but I can see where that could be an issue).

There’s a love triangle, that I didn’t hate. I liked the tension and it’s pretty easy to see where things are going and that was fine and dandy for me. This had a true enemies to lovers trope and I loved the heated banter.

The plot is there, took a little bit to make sense and follow, I’m curious enough to keep going and see how things continue to progress.

Overall audience notes:

Fantasy Romance
Language: some strong
Romance: one open; some innuendo
Violence: high

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Book Review: A Multitude of Dreams by Mara Rutherford

October 25, 2024September 15, 2023 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 384 pages
Author: Mara Rutherford
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Release Date: August 29th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The bloody plague is finally past, but what fresh horror lies in its wake?

Princess Imogen of Goslind has lived a sheltered life for three years at the boarded-up castle—she and the rest of its inhabitants safe from the bloody mori roja plague that’s ravaged the kingdom. But Princess Imogen has a secret, and as King Stuart descends further into madness, it’s at great risk of being revealed. Rations dwindle each day, and unhappy murmurings threaten to crack the facade of the years-long charade being played within the castle walls.

Nico Mott once enjoyed a comfortable life of status, but the plague took everyone and everything from him. If not for the generosity of a nearby lord, Nico may not have survived the mori roja’s aftermath. But does owing Lord Crane his life mean he owes him his silence?

When Lord Crane sends Nico to search for more plague survivors in the castle, Nico collides with a princess who wants to break out. They will each have to navigate the web of lies they’ve woven if they’re going to survive the nightmares that lie ahead.

KIND OF FORGETTABLE.

I read this book two days ago and as I’m sitting here trying to write this review I am remembering very little. It just kind of happened and I’ve already moved on?

The gothic vibes were there and I did like those. There’s a hidden identity trope and that’s always a favorite of mine. Waiting for the two points of view to collide was good and some of the world development was there. Though I don’t think the intention of the story worked well in this pure fantasy vs. a historical fantasy.

Otherwise, I think a lot of execution was lacking. I don’t totally get the vampire/zombie thing. I wasn’t invested in the romance and with it being a shorter standalone I just needed more.

Overall audience notes: