Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: October 2026

How are we at the last three months of the year??

  • [Short Story] Mestra by Madeline Miller
  • Princess Academy (Princess Academy #1) by Shannon Hale
  • Golden Flight (The Keeper’s Records of Revolution #2) by S.K. Ali
  • Second Down and Second Chances (River Foxes #2) by Leah Dobrinska
  • Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney
  • [Reread] House of Flame and Shadow (Crescent City #3) by Sarah J. Maas
  • [ARC] The Embers That Remain (Flint Hills #2) by Jordan Abitz
  • Autumn Kissed (Falling for Autumn) by Deborah M. Hathaway
  • [ALC] Unapologetic Love Story by Elle McNicoll
  • [ARC] The Land That Binds Us (Marien Vineyard #1) by K. Sinko
  • The False Vow (The Weaver Bride #2) by Lydia Gregovic
  • Hollywood, Ending by John Green
  • [Novella] The Mirror of Infinite Endings (Once Upon a Broken Heart #3.5) by Stephanie Garber
  • [ALC] It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Murder (Kiss, Merry, Kill #2) by Ally Carter
  • [Novella] Unbound (Bound & Unbound #2) by Ali Hazelwood
  • After We Fall (Shelter & Sky #2) by Deborah Clack
  • [ARC] For Ever More (Never Ever After #2) by Sue Lynn Tan
  • Blightfall (Riftwake #1) by Brandon Sanderson by Janci Patterson
  • Let’s Kiss and Tell by Joss Richard
  • Victorious (Villains #3) by V.E. Scwab
  • [Reread] Faking Christmas (Christmas Escape) by Cindy Steel
  • The Shadows That Listen (Angel Ruin #1) by Louisa Carmody
  • [ARC/Graphic Novel] The Blind Prince Volume 1 by Cozycroww
  • The Washwoman at the River’s End (The Curse of the Fates #1) by Megan Shade
  • By the Flames of Her Fury (The Veridian Empire #4) by V.B. Lacey
  • Heirs of Infamy by Kyla Zhao
  • The Slantwise Histories by Alix E. Harrow
  • One Moore Time by Mariana Zapata
  • If Not You by Ellen O’Clover
  • [ARC/ALC] Mortal Things (Mortal Things #1) by Marie Lu
  • Feels Like Home by Courtney Walsh
  • Reap & Sow (Reap & Sow #1) by Charlotte B. Plumb
  • [Non-fiction] How to Keep House While Drowning by KC Davis
  • A Court of Splintered Harmony (ACOTAR #6) by Sarah J. Maas
  • Free Falling (Sweetwater Peak #2) by Lyla Sage
  • Escape Me (Shatter Me: Series Two #3) by Tahereh Mafi
  • [ARC/ALC] Defy the Dusk (The Sundering Duet #1) by Danielle L. Jensen
  • Dracula by Bram Stoker
  • Bad in Bed by Ali Hazelwood
  • [ARC] Take Me Home (Honey Badger Creek #1) by Leah Brunner

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Book Review: Kissed by the Gods (The Eternal Wars #1) by Caty Rogan

Rating: ★★★★/5
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 556 pages
Author: Caty Rogan
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: September 24th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Leina has spent a lifetime submitting. Kneeling. Enduring.

Then soldiers come for her brother, and divine fury surges through her veins. She expects execution for the bodies she left in her wake. Her people have met bloody ends for far, far less.

Instead, Ryot, a godsworn warrior born to privilege and raised in order, drags her into a world that was never meant for her. One of divine armies and death demons, winged war horses and monsters, sacred power and royal secrets.

A kiss from a goddess changes everything.

No longer a criminal, Leina is a prize. The kingdom’s most powerful men want what the goddess touched. Leina wants only one thing, though: freedom for her people. And she’ll trade herself for the strength to destroy the kingdom that broke them.

Conscripted into a war she never asked for, fighting for gods she doesn’t believe in, Leina must decide how far she’s willing to go and what she’s willing to lose. Because her power is more than a threat to the kingdom’s buried secrets.

It’s a death sentence.

WELL OKAY THEN.

This was totally worth the hype. And I am often reluctant to pick up a book if the hype seems out of bounds but here we are!!

I loved this journey. I felt like I got everything at such a fantastic pace. From understanding the world and how the magic system bends to the intricacies of life as an Altor. I don’t know much about the antagonists yet but I look forward to that expansion in book two.

The romance grew on me. I think there was a little lacking in the swoon factor for me but by the end I was pretty attached to Leina and Ryot. I appreciate a good slow burn and moments together before the heat gets turned up.

And the found family?? Oh I adored them all. It’s a brutal world they are trying to survive and I liked the soft and loving banter that existed between everyone. And the war horses?? They were many nuanced pieces that made this an incredible read.

I’m a fan of a brutal cliffhanger so let me tell y’all I about threw my kindle on this one. WHICH IS A GOOD THING. Gosh dang it someone give me book two ASAP.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: 2-3ish open door
  • Violence: high
  • Content warnings: mass loss of life, near death experiences, weapons violence

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Book Review: Ice Shy (Ottawa Otters Legends #1) by K.M. Gillis

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Sports Romance
Length: 336 pages
Author: K.M. Gillis
Publisher: Literary Lupin Publishing
Release Date: April 29th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Once burned…

Arthur “Ace” Stetson is a living legend. Once destined for a record-breaking NHL career, a devastating injury put him behind the bench instead. Now the league’s youngest head coach, his only goal is to lead the Ottawa Otters to their first Stanley Cup. It’s going to take discipline, focus, and zero distractions—like the beautiful, chaotic new team physiotherapist.

Elliot Baker runs on caffeine and blind optimism. The single mom has three jobs, a mountain of debt, and absolutely no idea what day of the week it is. Her new job offers the stability she and her son, Sam, desperately need…if she can survive working with the gorgeous tyrant, Coach Stetson.

He needs a physiotherapist who will put up with him. She needs to keep her job.

He thrives on structure. She goes with the flow.

He demands results. She knows broken things need time to heal.

The more time they spend together, the more their attraction becomes impossible to ignore. And for two people who’ve been hurt before, falling for each other might be the riskiest play in the book.

OH I LOVED THIS.

I am a previous enjoyer of the two earlier Ottawa Otter books (they are holiday themed, highly recommend). And I didn’t even know Ice Shy was coming and I’m so glad I saw a friend’s review because I would have missed out on another amazing hockey romance!! My new favorite from K.M. Gillis.

My favorite part was the MMC, Arthur. He’s grumpy for everyone but her and so down bad I can’t even. I loved that you can see his gruff outward demeanor but with his inner dialogue, just how much he cares and wanted to communicate that as well. He found genuine ways to look after Elliot and Sam and it was incredibly endearing and smile inducing every time.

I really liked Elliot as the FMC too. Besides a few too many why would you want to date me remarks, I loved her single parent strength and her ability to handle business. Especially when that involved asking for help.

And I loved seeing the other Otters. I loved Sam. I love so many moments!! I seriously gobbled this up.

I will say that the last chapter through me for a loop because it was an abrupt jump to the epilogue. But that was a minor foible.

Overall audience notes:

  • Hockey romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 3ish open door; light innuendo
  • Violence: mild
  • Content warnings: abusive parent (recounted, emotional abuse on page), abusive ex (recounted and on page), loss of a loved one (recounted)

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Book Review: The Assassin’s Way by J.M. Kearl

Rating: ★★★★.25
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 442 pages
Author: J.M. Kearl
Publisher: Self published
Release Date: June 18th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Never go out at night. Lock the doors. Ignore the screams.Those are the rules Aesira lives by to survive the monsters that stalk her village. But everything changes when it’s revealed she’s been born with the power to fight the vampires she’s spent her life fearing.

Aesira is thrust into the elite and secretive League of Assassins, where mercy is weakness and fear is forbidden. Now her survival depends on her ruthless trainer, Vander – the most dangerous assassin of them all. And the only thing more lethal than his blade is the desire he awakens in her.

Because the greatest threat in Nighthaven might not be the monsters lurking in the dark…

It might be him.

VERY GOOD.

I had a good time with this one. It felt like a different vampire romance than I’ve read and I loved seeing the story unfold. I should have caught on more but I also liked that I kept myself in the dark. It made the big moments all the more intense.

The world building was solid and I’m intrigued to see how that, alongside the magic system expands in book two. It’s not overtly complicated and it’s even better when there’s not copious info dumping.

I liked Aesira as a main character. She’s a pretty typical fantasy FMC with no skills and no romantic experience, but it’s fine. Aesira learns well and I liked her relationship with her family a lot.

Aesira’s chemistry with Vander was good. I can’t tell you how much I appreciated that this was a genuine slow burn. I know that Kearl tends to do open door romances so BLESSSSS that this is actually dragged out and you can feel the tension slowly ramping up and building. I have missed plots like this!!!

Also, the audiobook is duet narration so highly recommend that too. It is great. I also eye ball read this one so you honestly can’t go wrong with either option. Can’t wait for book two!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: heated kisses
  • Violence: high
  • Content warnings: loss of loved ones, blood/gore depiction, physical and weapons altercation

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph