Tag: fantasy

Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: March 2026

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Oh it’s so nice to be outside more before it gets way too hot to do so. I read many books, check them out!

  • The Sun and the Starmaker by Rachel Griffin
  • [ALC] In Time with You by Kristin Dwyer
  • The Mirror Game (The Blood and Water Saga #5) by Cassidy Clarke
  • An Accidental Marriage (The Gentlemen’s Gamble) by Deborah M. Hathaway
  • Dungeon Crawler Carl (Dungeon Crawler Carl #1) by Matt Dinniman
  • Her Hidden Fire (Her Hidden Fire #1) by Cliodhna O’Sullivan
  • In Her Own League by Liz Tomforde
  • The Determined by Rachel Rueckert
  • Meet Me Under the Lights by Cassie Miller
  • Heart of Mischief (Soul of Shadows #2) by Emma Noyes
  • We Danced Among Shadows (Meadowbrook Ranch #2) by Ashley Dill
  • First Down and Forever to Go (River Foxes #1) by Leah Dobrinska
  • [ARC/ALC] This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me (Maggie the Undying #1) by Ilona Andrews
  • [ARC] Change of Plans by Sarah Dessen
  • Carl’s Doomsday Scenario (Dungeon Crawler Carl #2) by Matt Dinniman
  • [Reread] Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass #1) by Sarah J. Maas
  • [ARC] Could’ve Fooled Me (Georgia Jaguars #1) by Jenny Proctor
  • Heir of Illusion (Verran Isles #1) by Madeline Taylor
  • [Novella] Everybody’s Favorite Guy by Katherine Center
  • The Housemaid (The Housemaid #1) by Freida McFadden
  • [Non-Fiction] Spark by John J. Ratey, MD
  • Dawn of the North (The Ashen #3) by Demi Winters
  • What Echoes in the Dark (What Bloom from Death #2) by S.M. Gaither
  • [ARC/ALC] The Faraway Inn by Sarah Beth Durst
  • [Reread] Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass #2) by Sarah J. Maas
  • [ARC] We Are Never Getting Together by Janette Rallison
  • Drive Me Crazy by Lizzy Dent
  • [Novella] When Fate is Cruel by LJ Andrews
  • The Night We Met (Say You’ll Remember Me #2) by Abby Jimenez
  • Drop Shot (The Off Court #1) by Vai Denton
  • Scars Beneath a Serpent’s Scales (The Fatesworn Saga #1) by Nicole Platania
  • How to Write a Love Story by Catherine Walsh
  • [ARC] Until Next Summer by Allison Ashley

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: February 2026

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The month of looooove.

I always love seeing all of the book covers together because the fluctuation of contemporary to fantasy to historicals is always cool to see. Reviews for these books are either out now or coming soon!

  • His & Hers by Alice Feeney
  • A Heart so Green (Fair Folk #3) by Lyra Selene
  • [ARC] The Cowboy’s Game (Pride and Pranks #3) by Cindy Steel
  • [Novella] Lonely Hearts Day by Kasie West
  • A Fortunate Miscalculation (The Gentlemen’s Gamble) by Karen Thornell
  • [ARC] Mail-Order Baroness (Lords of the Rockies #2) by Misty M. Beller
  • [ARC/ALC] The Trident and the Pearl (The Fisher King #1) by Sarah K.L. Wilson
  • Worth Fighting For (Meant to Be #5) by Jesse Q. Sutanto
  • A Fate so Dark and Delicate (Compelling Fates Saga #4) by Sophia St. Germain
  • [Reread] From Lukov with Love by Mariana Zapata
  • [ARC] A Love Most Daring (Bow Street #3) by Joanna Barker
  • The Poet Empress by Shen Tao
  • Here Lie All the Boys Who Broke My Heart by Emma Simmerman
  • [ARC] Bridge of Betrayal (Falcon Point Historical #3) by A.L. Sowards
  • Your Knife, My Heart (Dark Forces #1) by K.M. Moronova
  • Jane Stays Dreaming by Britnee Meiser
  • Pride and Prejudice Audible Original by Jane Austen
  • Sunk in Love by Heather McBreen
  • Savage Lands (Savage Lands #1) by Stacey Marie Brown
  • Invictus (Esperance Trilogy #2) by Heather Frost
  • The Silent Canary by Angela Bricker
  • The Darkest Gift by Nikki Welton
  • [ARC/ALC] Across the Vanishing Sky (Starlight Grove #1) by Catherine Cowles
  • A Vow in Vengeance (Immortal Desires #1) by Jaclyn Rodriguez
  • Racing Hearts by Ann Adams
  • A Stage Set for Villains by Shannon J. Spann
  • [ARC/ALC] The Dragon and the Sun Lotus (The Three Realms #2) by Amelie Wen Zhao
  • [ARC] To All the Guys I Loathed Before (Lucky in Love #3) by Gracie Ruth Mitchell
  • Half City (Harker Academy #3) by Kate Golden

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Book Review: The Strength of the Few (Hierarchy #2) by James Islington

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy
Length: 720 pages
Author: James Islington
Publisher: Saga Press
Release Date: November 11th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

OMNE TRIUM PERFECTUM.

The Hierarchy still call me Vis Telimus. Still hail me as Catenicus. They still, as one, believe they know who I am.

But with all that has happened—with what I fear is coming—I am not sure it matters anymore.

I am no longer one. I won the Iudicium, and lost everything—and now, impossibly, the ancient device beyond the Labyrinth has replicated me across three separate worlds. A different version of myself in each of Obiteum, Luceum, and Res. Three different bodies, three different lives. I have to hide; fight; play politics. I have to train; trust; lie. I have to kill; heal; prove myself again, and again, and again.

I am loved, and hated, and entirely alone.

Above all, though, I need to find answers before it’s too late. To understand the nature of what has happened to me, and why.

I need to find a way to stop the coming Cataclysm, because if all I have learned is true, I may be the only one who can.

GREAT SEQUEL.

I had a good time with this one. Like most, I have been waiting for this book after loving The Will of the Many.

The progression of this book felt like another first book? But not in a bad way, just more setting up for the third (conclusion??) installment. I loved that this crossed realms and seeing the expansion of the magic and background of the world. I love Vis as a main character and seeing him in different stretches of his story only endeared me to him more.

Islington is not afraid to hold punches and the ending ramped up the action and heart stopping moments. Maybe a few shouts too.

*An audiobook note: while the audiobook narrator is fantastic, no issues there, I do think there was a disconnect on which realm I was in and it confused me often. I noticed that the physical copy didn’t denote which realm Vis was in at the top of the chapter but maybe it would be easier to physically read and catch where you are???

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy
  • Language: mild+
  • Romance: none
  • Violence: high

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: January 2026

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Here we go again!

I read a lot of thick fantasy books then I got distracted by romance novellas and rounded out a great month of reading.

  • [Reread] A Court of Mist and Fury (ACOTAR #2) by Sarah J. Maas
  • [ARC] Dragon Cursed (Dragon Cursed #1) by Elise Kova
  • We Who Will Die (Empire of Blood #1) by Stacia Stark
  • [ALC] The Swan’s Daughter by Roshani Chokshi
  • Tidespeaker by Sadie Turner
  • Blood of the Lost Gods (Dusk and Dawn #1) by Jessica J. Ayala
  • [ALC] Graceless Hearts by Isabel Ibanez
  • Drawn Together by Juliana Smith
  • Seeing Other People by Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka
  • [Novella] Unwritten by the Gods (The Eternal Wars #0.5) by Caty Rogan
  • The Once and Future Queen (The Lives of Guinevere #1) by Paula Lafferty
  • Poisoned Ivy (Legacies #1) by Ava Rani
  • [ARC/ALC] Carnival Fantastico by Angelo Montoya
  • [ALC] Love Me Tomorrow by Emiko Jean
  • Kissed by the Gods (The Eternal Wars #1) by Caty Rogan
  • [ALC] Lights Out by Jenni Fletcher
  • Conform (Conform #1) by Ariel Sullivan
  • Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera
  • The War of Wings (Benevolence & Blood #3) by Lauren M. Leasure
  • [Novella] Accidentally Yours (Improbable Meet Cute: Second Chance) by Christina Lauren
  • [Novella] Death to Valentine’s Day (Improbable Meet Cute: Second Chance) by Catherine Cowles
  • [Novella] Valentine’s Slay (Improbable Meet Cute: Second Chance) by Navessa Allen
  • [Novella] A Play for Love (Improbable Meet Cute: Second Chance) by Trilina Pucci
  • [Novella] Second Act Romance (Improbable Meet Cute: Second Chance) by Julie Soto
  • [Novella] Time Will Tell (Improbable Meet Cute: Second Chance) by Hannah Bonam-Young
  • [Novella] It’s Only Love by Alexandra Grace
  • The Rules of Courtship (Hearts of Harewood #3) by Kasey Stockton
  • Night Meets the Elf Queen (Elf Queen #4) by J.M. Kearl
  • The Best Worst Thing by Lauren Okie
  • Finding Her Edge by Jennifer Iacopelli
  • A Secret Correspondence (Hearts of Harewood #4) by Kasey Stockton
  • Mail-Order Duchess (Lords of the Rockies #1) by Misty M. Beller
  • When Sisters Collide (The Gifts of the Gods #2) by S.E. Bouvier
  • [ARC/ALC] Stolen Midnights (Stolen Midnights #1) by Katherine Quinn
  • [ARC] Love Catch (The Love Playbook) by Lauran Langa
  • [ARC/ALC] Red Star Rebels by Amie Kaufman
  • Love on the Sidelines (The Boys of Ann Arbor U #3) by Gracie Graham

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