Tag: young adult fantasy

Monthly Reading Wrap-up: December 2025

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How is it the end of 2025 already? I love that I somehow wrapped up the book so *evenly* with 40 books read and a grand total of 420 for the year! There were a lot of Sanderson novellas this month and I’m looking forward to all of the awesome books coming in 2026.

  • Red Tempest Brother (The Winter Sea #3) by H.M. Long
  • [Novella] You Better Not Pout (Home for the Holidays) by Mia Sosa
  • Ruin the Friendship by K. Sinko
  • The Last Wish of Bristol Keats (The Courting of Bristol Keats #2) by Mary E. Pearson
  • [Novella] I Hate Dragons by Brandon Sanderson
  • [Novella] Dreamer by Brandon Sanderson
  • Falling in a Sea of Stars (Green Rider #8) by Kristen Britain
  • A Bond so Fierce and Fragile (Compelling Fates Saga #3) by Sophia St. Germain
  • [Novella] I’m Gonna Get You Back by Elena Armas
  • [Novella] Perfect State by Brandon Sanderson
  • The Rebel and the Rose (The City of Fantome #2) by Catherine Doyle
  • [Novella] Mitosis (The Reckoners #1.5) by Brandon Sanderson
  • [Novella] Firstborn by Brandon Sanderson
  • Gilded in Vengeance by Lyssa Mia Smith
  • Meet Me at the Christmas Cottage by Christen Krumm
  • [Novella] The Holiday Club by Ashley Manley
  • [ARC] Tailored Realities by Brandon Sanderson
  • The Strength of the Few (Hierarchy #2) by James Islington
  • [ARC/ALC] In Your Dreams (When in Rome #4) by Sarah Adams
  • The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes by Chane Cleeton
  • [ARC] To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before the Graphic Novel by Jenny Han
  • Love Arranged (Lakefront Billionaires #3) by Lauren Asher
  • The Sacred Space Between by Kalie Reid
  • Seven Deadly Thorns by Amber Hamilton
  • Pick Me by Victoria Schade
  • I’ll Be Home for Christmas by Jenny Bayliss
  • [ARC/ALC] Room to Breathe by Kasie West
  • Planes, Reins, and Automobiles (Catching Feelings #2) by Kate Watson
  • [ARC] House of Shadows (Royal Houses #2) by K.A. Linde
  • [ARC] Silver & Blood (Silver & Blood #1) by Jessie Mihalik
  • Anne of Avenue A (For the Love of Austen #3) by Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding
  • Lessons in Falling by Christy Schillig
  • Some Kind of Famous by Ava Wilder
  • Mourner for Hire by Caitlin Moss
  • The Tempest Blade (The Bridge Kingdom #6) by Danielle L. Jensen
  • Love’s Racing Line by Hope Snyder
  • Everything’s Coming Up Rosie by Courtney Walsh
  • Bound by Ali Hazelwood
  • Fallen Gods (Fallen Gods #1) by Rachel Van Dyken
  • The Governess and the Rogue (Somerset Stories #6) by Mimi Matthews

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Book Review: Thorn Season (Thorn Season #1) by Kiera Azar

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 464 pages
Author: Kiera Azar
Publisher: Storytide
Release Date: September 2nd, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Shadow and Bone meets The Selection in this first book in Kiera Azar’s sharp, sexy, and twisty debut YA romantasy trilogy!

In the Kingdom of Daradon, a persecuted few are Wielders, in possession of a magical Spectre–a shimmering thread that can extend beyond their visible body to give a loving caress, pick a lock . . . even kill. Feared for this ability, Wielders have always been Hunted.

Alissa Paine, heiress and daughter of a Hunter family . . . is also a Wielder. At eighteen, Alissa knows she’s escaped execution thus far only due to painful self-control and the efforts of her beloved father.

Summoned to the harsh and glittering royal court for the debutante season, Alissa finds herself caught in a web of intrigue and betrayal—and caught between two equally dangerous one a brutal ruler with the handsome face of a fairy-tale prince, who would destroy her if he knew the truth—and the other a beguiling foreign ambassador with secret agendas of his own.

With the threat of discovery lurking around every corner—and romance becoming an increasingly dangerous temptation—Alissa will find that she has more to lose than her secrets. It’s Rose Season at the palace, but to survive she’ll need to become the most vicious of thorns. . . .

Thank you to LibroFM for the gifted audiobook.

IT WAS GOOD.

Which honestly, could be the review. It wasn’t a book that STOOD OUT LOUDLY, but that I had an easy time picking up and liking the progression of the plot. I enjoyed the FMC, Alissa, and definitely want to see what happens to her in the next book.

The romance has some great turns though. It kept me on my toes and I love the crisscrossing paths. When it comes to a series, I don’t expect (nor really want) the end game to be in my face, give me some mystery, keep the build coming.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: November 2025

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Celebrating another turn around the sun! I hit it hard with holiday romances and found a couple new gems! Future reviews will be out soon or check my socials to see more breakdowns.

  • Princess of Blood (The Shards of Magic #2) by Sarah Hawley
  • [ARC] We Fell Apart (We Were Liars) by E. Lockhart
  • [ARC] Coldwire (Coldwire #1) by Chloe Gong
  • Check the Halls (The Ottawa Otters #2) by K.M. Gillis
  • The Things Gods Break (The Crucible #2) by Abigail Owen
  • [ARC] The Wild Card (Sheet Cake #4) by Emma St. Clair
  • Soul Searching (Sweetwater Peak #1) by Lyla Sage
  • How He Got the Girl (Sweeter Than Fiction #2) by Amanda Schimmoeller
  • Mate (Bride #2) by Ali Hazelwood
  • Moth Dark by Kika Hatzopoulou
  • My Merry Mistake (Holidays with Hart #3) by Courtney Walsh
  • Thorn Season (Thorn Season #1) by Kiera Azar
  • A Wraith Beneath the Tides (Beyond the Tides #1) by Emilia Jae
  • Smoke and Scar (Shattered Crown #1) by Gretchen Powell Fox
  • The Princess Knight by Cait Jacobs
  • About Last Christmas by Rachel Scott McDaniel
  • Never Over by Clare Gilmore
  • [ALC] Arrow of Fortune (The Raiders of the Arcana #3) by Jacquelyn Benson
  • Highland Holiday by Kasey Stockton
  • [ARC/ALC] The Marriage Method by Mimi Matthews
  • That’s A Great Question, I’d Love to Tell You by Elyse Myers
  • Big Nick Energy by Kristen Bailey
  • Sleigh Bells and Snowstorms by Claire Kingsley
  • [ALC] Moms of Mayhem (Mayhem Hockey Club #1) by Aimee Vance
  • Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend (Catching Feelings #1) by Kate Watson
  • Brimstone (Fae & Alchemy #2) by Callie Hart
  • Silent Heist by Jenessa Fayeth
  • [ARC/ALC] Better in Black (Shadowhunter Chronicles) by Cassandra Clare
  • [ARC] The Bodyguard Affair by Amy Lea
  • [Novella] The Holidate Switch by Torie Jean
  • [ARC/ALC] Dawn of the Firebird by Sarah Mughal Rana
  • [Novella] Mistletoe Fall Out by Larissa Hommes
  • A Little Holiday Fling by Farrah Heron
  • [Novella/ARC] How to Kiss on Christmas Morning by Jenny Proctor
  • [Novella] Merrily Ever After by Catherine Walsh
  • Eclipse of the Crown (Villains & Virtues #3) by A.K. Caggiano
  • Please Don’t Go (Midnight Strike #1) by E. Salvador
  • [Novella] Snow Place Like Home (Home Sweet Holidays) by Laura Pavlov
  • [Novella] Merry and Bright (Home Sweet Holidays) by Ali Rosen
  • [Novella] All Wrapped Up in You (Home Sweet Holidays) by Rosie Danan

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Book Review: For No Mortal Creature by Keshe Chow

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 480 pages
Author: Keshe Chow
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: October 7th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A teen girl with the power of resurrection must venture into the afterlife, but to survive the death realm, she’ll need the help of her two mortal enemies–both of whom she is inexplicably drawn to–in this romantic, gothic fantasy inspired by Wuthering Heights.

When Jia Yi suddenly finds herself alive again after being stabbed through the heart by an enemy’s sword, she realizes she possesses a rare power: the ability to move between the living realm and the shrouded world of ghosts. Ghosts including Lin, her ex-best friend and former love, whose betrayal she still hasn’t recovered from.

At first, Jia wants nothing to do with Lin, or any ghosts–metaphorical or otherwise. But when her beloved grandmother abruptly passes away, Jia is forced to travel into the afterlife to save her.

To survive the treacherous death realm, Jia will need to rely on both Lin and her longtime enemy, the cold and enigmatic Prince Essien Lancaster. Only, she isn’t sure whether she can trust either of them. With tensions high and new and old connections blooming, Jia must confront the ghosts of her past…or risk becoming one herself.

Thank you GetUnderlined for the gifted finished copy.

OH ALL THE THOUGHTS.

I will start with this though, I loved this much more than The Girl with No Reflection. If you’ve been interested in this author, start here instead!! I was way more engaged and wrapped up in the story telling. The plot was extremely interested with moving through different realms of the afterlife and how the power of resurrection was used to further move the story along.

I also really liked the complexity of the love triangle. It didn’t bug me, EXCEPT for the ending. Without spoiling I will say it ends well, there’s a HEA. But I think I ended up on the wrong side of the triangle??? And I don’t hate the other guy I just had a very specific idea about the ending. I don’t know.

Anyways, solidly good book. I’m so glad I gave this one a chance and I look forward to future books from Keshe Chow. I appreciate that they are standalones too so everything gets wrapped up in one story.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content warnings: many instances of death, loss of life, grief

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