Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: October 2025

I had to amp up the reading to combat the fact that I had EIGHT arcs coming out on November 4th. But all is good, all has been read. Reviews will be out over the next few months!

  • Town of Shadows (Slanted London #1) by Jessica Scarlet
  • The Weaver Bride (The Weaver Bride #1) by Lydia Gregovic
  • [ARC] Marriage is Shore Thing (Wilks Beach #2) by Laura Langa
  • Throne in the Dark (Villains & Virtues #1) by A.K. Caggiano
  • Unending (The Unseelie Duology #2) by Ivelisse Housman
  • Our Beautiful Mess by B.K. Clark
  • The Mummy Snatcher Curse (The Wand Keepers #2) by Tiffany McDaniel
  • Grave Flowers by Autumn Krause
  • [ARC/ALC] Secret Haven (Sparrow Falls #6) by Catherine Cowles
  • Ghost Business (Boneyard Key #2) by Jen DeLuca
  • A Steeping of Blood (A Tempest of Tea Duology #2) by Hafsah Faizal
  • The Sound of Summer (The House on Harrison Blvd #1) by Meagan Williamson
  • [ALC] Red City (The New Alchemists #1) by Marie Lu
  • [ARC]The Demon and the Light (The Floating World #2) by Axie Oh
  • House of Dragons (Royal Houses #1) by K.A. Linde
  • [ARC/ALC] An Ocean Apart by Jill Tew
  • Summoned to the Wilds (Villains & Virtues #1) by A.K. Caggiano
  • Kill the Beast by Serra Swift
  • The Arrow and the Alder by Barbara Kloss
  • The Last Tiger by Julia Riew & Brad Riew
  • [ALC] The Heir (Crownhaven #1) by Sophia Travers
  • [ALC] Never Ever After (Never Ever After #1) by Sue Lynn Tan
  • Sonnets and Serpents (Casters & Crowns #2) by Elizabeth Lowham
  • [ARC] Against a Crescent Storm (The Balkan Legends #3) by A.L. Sowards
  • For No Mortal Creature by Kenshe Chow
  • [ALC] The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow
  • [ARC] The Prince of Mourning by Jenn Bennett
  • [ARC] The Maid of Sherwood Forest (A McQuivey’s Costume Shop Romance #2) by Sian Ann Bessey
  • Every Spiral of Fate (This Woven Kingdom #4) by Tahereh Mafi
  • [ALC] Fallen City (Fallen City Duology #1) by Adrienne Young
  • [ARC] Through Each Tomorrow (Timeless #6) by Gabrielle Meyer
  • A Land So Wide by Erin A. Craig
  • [Novella] A Very Merry Matchup by Becca Kinzer
  • [ARC/ALC] A Queen’s Match (A Queen’s Duet #2) by Katharine McGee
  • [ARC] Ship of Spells by H. Leighton Dickson
  • [Novella] Holly (Belladonna #3.5) by Adalyn Grace

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: September 2025

THE BER MONTHS.

I always love seeing these line ups because all of the covers together feel like a quilt of my reads. And I’m continually surprised at what I get through and all of the different genres and niches I fall into.

HAPPY READING!

  • Epics Etched in Echoes (Tales of Wonder and Woe #3.5) by Renee Dugan
  • If Not for My Baby by Kate Golden
  • Entreat Me by Grace Draven
  • Katabasis by R.F. Kuang
  • [ARC] An Echo of the Grave (Fallow Creek #4) by Claudia Cain
  • [ARC/ALC] We Met Like This by Kasie West
  • Last Night Was Fun by Holly Michelle
  • Mistress of Bones (Mistress of Bones #1) by Maria Z. Medina
  • House of Hearts by Skyla Arndt
  • The Silversmith (The Selvaren #1) by LJ Claren
  • Scorched Earth (Dark Shores #4) by Danielle L. Jensen
  • [ARC] It’s Different This Time by Joss Richard
  • [ARC] Fake Skating by Lynn Painter
  • Rose in Chains (The Evermore Trilogy #1) by Julie Soto
  • [Novella] Fearful (The Powerless Trilogy #3.5) by Lauren Roberts
  • [Novella] Pumpkin to Talk About by Allie Samberts
  • The Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk (Crowns of Nyaxia #4) by Carissa Broadbent
  • Rookie Season (The Boys of Loft 3B #1) by Katie Bailey and Leah Brunner
  • Better Luck Next Time by Cara Bastone
  • The Crownless Queen (The Blood and Water Saga #4) by Cassidy Clarke
  • An Embroidery of Souls by Ruby Martinez
  • Love at Second Down (Boys of Ann Arbor U #2) by Gracie Graham
  • [Novella] Hot for Slayer (Scared Sexy Collection #1) by Ali Hazelwood
  • [ARC] Winterset by Tiffany Odekirk
  • [ALC] Overdue by Stephanie Perkins
  • [Novella] Falling (Scared Sexy Collection #2) by Christina Lauren
  • Playing for Keeps by Ranee S. Clark
  • Silverborn: The Mystery of Morrigan Crow (Nevermoor #4) by Jessica Townsend
  • [ARC] Alchemy of Secrets by Stephanie Garber
  • Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson

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Book Review: Fearful (The Powerless Trilogy #3.5) by Lauren Roberts

Rating: ★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 224 pages
Author: Lauren Roberts
Publisher: Simon Teen
Release Date: September 2nd, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Set during the time of Fearless, a mysterious figure arrives in the kingdom of Ilya to witness the fight for the throne and the price it costs those sworn to defend the land in this beautiful and heart-wrenching story in the #1 New York Times bestselling Powerless trilogy.

Love too grand, it kills.

Mara never intended to set foot in Ilya again. But when the king makes a life-altering decision, her interest is piqued, and Death is determined to understand Kitt Azer’s mind if he is destined to join her in the Mors.

Spending time with the king while observing the castle’s inhabitants reminds Mara that there is more to life than just death. There is love. But even the purest of intentions spur revenge and the pursuit of power. And fate will have its way with all of them—to live, to rule, to love, and most certainly, to die…

Thank you Simon Teen for the gifted copy and Simon Audio for the gifted audiobook.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

I was going to give this three stars and move on with my life. I don’t think it added to the trilogy, it’s just sad, and honestly boring.

And then the ending??? Well that just made me rage like I haven’t at a book in a long time. I hate open ended moments that could lead to spin offs of series THAT DON’T NEED IT. Oh my gosh just let the MC’s be happy and move on.

Having this from the POV of death made little sense to me. Once again, not adding anything to the story and opening up more questions rather than giving me any answers.

This came off as a money grab with another unnecessary novella and has soured my feelings to the original trilogy (of which I love).

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy Novella
  • Language: low
  • Romance: flirting (?)
  • Violence: mild

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: August 2025

IT’S FOOTBALL SEASON. But also, here are all the books I read in August! I’m still on track to hit 400, just need to stay focused.

  • [ARC/ALC] For the Record by Emma Lord
  • [ARC] The Legacy of Ophelia (The Curse of Ophelia #5) by Nicole Platania
  • The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam (Hart and Mercy #3) by Megan Bannen
  • In the Veins of Drowning (The Siren Mage #1) by Kalie Cassidy
  • The Americana Playbook by Cathryn Carter
  • [Novella] Devotion of the Heart by Nichole Van
  • Problematic Summer Romance (Not in Love #2) by Ali Hazelwood
  • Deep End by Ali Hazelwood
  • [ARC] You & Me, For Real by Hayley Elliot
  • [ARC] A Sea View Christmas (On Devonshire Shores #3.5) by Julie Klassen
  • The Jasad Crown (The Scorched Throne #2) by Sara Hashem
  • Isles of the Emberdark (Cosmere) by Brandon Sanderson
  • A Promise So Bold and Broken (Compelling Fates Saga #2) by Sophia St. Germain
  • Glorious Rivals (The Grandest Game #2) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
  • A Summer Without You by Caitlin Moss
  • Accomplice to the Villain (Assistant to the Villain #3) by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
  • Between These Broken Hearts (These Hollow Vows #4) by Lexi Ryan
  • Anywhere With You by Ellie Palmer
  • Deadwood (Secrets of the Serpentine #1) by Karley Brenna
  • Wrath of the Dragons (Fear the Flames #2) by Olivia Rose Darling
  • A Beguiled Gentleman (The Bradley Brothers #1) by Audra Wells
  • Immortal Consequences (The Souls of Blackwood Academy #1) by I.V. Marie
  • One More Made Up Love Song (Midnight Rush #2) by Jenny Proctor
  • [ARC/ALC] Falling Like Leaves by Misty Wilson
  • [ARC/ALC] If Looks Could Kill by Julie Berry
  • The Blonde Who Came in From the Cold (Blonde Identity #2) by Ally Carter
  • [ARC] Darkness Births the Stars by Sarah Lee Wohn
  • [ARC/ALC] Wild Reverence (Letters of Enchantment #0) by Rebecca Ross
  • [ARC] Stuck With You (Cal’s Garage #1) by Stacy Williams
  • The Dragon Wakes with Thunder (The Night Ends with Fire #2) by K.X. Song
  • Love is a War Song by Danica Nava
  • A Love Most Fatal (Morelli Family #1) by Kath Richards
  • [Novella] A Churn in the Virtual Society (Into the Churn #3.5) by Hayley Reese Chow
  • [ARC] What Fury Brings by Tricia Levenseller