Sunday, August 31, 2025

SeasonAthon Academy Fall 2025 Sign Up

So I'm signing up for SeasonAthon Academy, which is now in a school set up, and it's hosted by Melanie at Completely Melanie, Paige from PageswithPaige‬ and Amy from astarreads! Here's an announcement video and it takes place through the month of September.

1.

ENGL 2050 - The House of My Mother: A Daughter's Quest for Freedom by Shari Franke

2.

ENGL 2230 - A Ghastly Catastrophe by Deanna Raybourn

3.

FLNG 4120 - Ragna Crimson, Volume 1 by Daiki Kobayashi

4.

ENGL 3710 - Claimed By Her Monsters by Lexi Davis

ENGL 4720 - Feral Youth Anthology

5. 

ACC 2999 - In My Dreams I Hold a Knife by Ashley Winstead

AFST 2550 - A Spear of Summer Grass by Deanna Raybourn

ANTH 1600 - The Housemaid's Secret by Freida McFadden

ANTH 2000 - Sisters in the Wild by Angeline Boulley

ANTH 2600 - Six Feet Deep Dish by Mindy Quigley

ANTH 2800 - Out of Air by Rachel Reiss

ART 2070 - A Fate Forged in Fire by Hazel McBride

ART 2830 - Ragna Crimson, Volume 2 by Daiki Kobayashi

ASTR 1010 - Thirteen Rising by Romina Russell

BIOL 1050 - The Cherished by Patricia Ward

Magical Readathon: Orilium - Autumn Equinox 2025 Sign Up

So I'm signing up for the Semester Two Autumn Equinox 2025 round of Magical Readathon: Orilium! It's obviously hosted by G at Book Roast, and you can find the announcement video here! It takes place through the month of September. And I again copy and pasted this from Autumn of the previous year, just changing the details. 

Character 1:
Points: 
Alchemy O: Butterfly Effects by Seanan McGuire
Alchemy Q: The Cherished by Patricia Ward
Alchemy D: Spelunking Through Hell: A Visitor's Guide to the Underworld by Seanan McGuire
Inscription O: Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross
Inscription Q: Arclight by Josin L. McQuein
Bonus Inscription D: The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong
Artificery O: Matchmaking for Psychopaths by Tasha Coryell
Bonus Artificery Q: Love & Other Killers by Brynne Weaver
Bonus Artificery D: Dark Fae by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti
Spells & Incantations O: The Reckoning by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti
Spells & Incantations Q: Once a Villain by Vanessa Len
Bonus Spells & Incantations D: The Unruly Heart of Miss Darcy by Erin Edwards
Bonus Art of Illusion O: Claimed By Her Monsters by Lexi Davis
Bonus Lore O: Ragna Crimson, Volume 1 by Daiki Kobayashi
Bonus Astronomy O: This Is My Brain in Love by I.W. Gregorio
Bonus Astronomy Q: Vipers and Virtuosos by Sav R. Miller
Bonus Astronomy D: Origins of an Academy Bully by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti
Bonus Shapeshifting O: The Stars Are Dying by Chloe C. Peñaranda
Bonus Restoration O: Lore of the Wilds by Analeigh Sbran
Bonus Conjuration O: Shadow Princess by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti

Character 2:
Points:
Elemental Studies O: Out of Air by Rachel Reiss
Elemental Studies Q: Liars and Liaisons by Sav R. Miller
Elemental Studies D: A Fate So Cold by Amanda Foody and C.L. Herman
Shapeshifting O: The Night is Defying by Chloe C. Peñaranda
Bonus Shapeshifting O: The Dark is Defying by Chloe C. Peñaranda
Bonus Shapeshifting D: Seasons of Chaos by Elle Cosimano
Animal Studies O: Only a Monster by Vanessa Len
Bonus Animal Studies Q: Ruthless Fae by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti
Bonus Animal Studies D: The Mirror King by Jodi Meadows
Astronomy O: Unending by Ivelisse Housman
Bonus Astronomy Q: The Awakening by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti
Bonus Astronomy D: The Burning Hand by Jodi Meadows
Restoration O: Backpacking Through Bedlam by Seanan McGuire
Restoration Q: Canada-The Last Dragon of the East by Katrina Kwan 
Bonus Restoration D: Legendary by Stephanie Garber
Bonus Spells & Incantations O: Never a Hero by Vanessa Len
Bonus Alchemy O: Heavenly Bodies by Imani Erriu
Bonus Inscription O: Cursed Fates by by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti

Character 3: 
Points: -15 Scroll of Replacement
Inscription O: Oaths and Omissions by Sav R. Miller
Restoration O: Uprooted by Naomi Novik
Restoration Q: Scroll of Replacement - A Spear of Summer Grass by Deanna Raybourn
Bonus Restoration D: Finale by Stephanie Garber
Conjuration O: A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
Conjuration Q: The Housemaid by Freida McFadden 
Bonus Conjuration D: Six Feet Deep Dish by Mindy Quigley
Demonology O: Endless Anger by Sav R. Miller
Bonus Demonology Q: A Lie for a Lie by Ren DeStefano
Lore O: Ragna Crimson, Volume 2 by Daiki Kobayashi
Lore Q: The Golden Enclaves by Naomi Novik
Lore D: In My Dreams I Hold a Knife by Ashley Winstead

Character 4:
Points: -10 Scroll of Exchange
Animal Studies O: The House of My Mother: A Daughter's Quest for Freedom by Shari Franke
Animal Studies Q: Savage Fae by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti
Bonus Animal Studies D: Warrior Fae by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti
Demonology O: Mercy by Patricia Ward
Bonus Demonology Q: A Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim
Bonus Demonology D: Grim and Oro by Alex Aster
Restoration O: Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause
Restoration Q: Singapore-Brighter Than Nine by June CL Tan
Bonus Restoration D: Scroll of Exchange - Astronomy D: The Housemaid's Wedding by Freida McFadden
Spells & Incantations O: The Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows
Bonus Conjuration O: The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik
Bonus Conjuration Q: Caraval by Stephanie Garber

Character 5:
Points: -10 Scroll of Exchange
Alchemy O: Scroll of Exchange - Astronomy D: The Hidden Prince by Jodi Meadows
Bonus Alchemy Q: Souls and Sorrows by Sav R. Miller
Bonus Alchemy D: Imaginary Numbers by Seanan McGuire
Art of Illusion O: A Girl Walks Into the Forest by Madeleine Roux
Art of Illusion Q: I'm Looking for a Man in Finance by Sabrina Waldorf
Bonus Art of Illusion D: Feral Youth Anthology
Spells & Incantations O:  A Fate Forged in Fire by Hazel McBride
Bonus Spells & Incantations Q: Sisters in the Wild by Angeline Boulley
Psionics & Divination O: Mystery-The Housemaid is Watching 
Psionics & Divination Q: Ragna Crimson, Volume 4 by Daiki Kobayashi
Psionics & Divination D: Golden by Jessi Kirby
Lore O: Ragna Crimson, Volume 3 by Daiki Kobayashi

Character 6:
Points: -10 Scroll of Exchange -10 Scroll of Exchange
Alchemy O: Scroll of Exchange - Astronomy D: The Glowing Knight by Jodi Meadows
Alchemy Q: Scroll of Exchange - Alchemy D - A Ghastly Catastrophe by Deanna Raybourn
Bonus Alchemy D: Scorched Earth by Danielle L. Jensen
Restoration O: Bitten by Jordan Stephanie Gray
Restoration Q: Korea-The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh 

Character 7:
Points: -10 Scroll of Exchange
Shapeshifting O: The Glittering Edge by Alyssa Villaire
Bonus Shapeshifting Q: Arrows and Apologies by Sav R. Miller
Bonus Shapeshifting D: The Courting of Bristol Keats by Mary E. Pearson
Art of Illusion O: Stolen in Death by J.D. Robb
Art of Illusion Q: Scroll of Exchange - Astronomy D: The Black Knife by Jodi Meadows
Art of Illusion D: Calculated Risks by Seanan McGuire
Psionics & Divination O: Sci-Fi-Thirteen Rising by Romina Russell
Bonus Artificery O: A Killer Motive by Hannah Mary McKinnon
Bonus Artificery Q: The Housemaid's Secret by Freida McFadden
Bonus Artificery D: Sunny-Seasons of the Storm by Elle Cosimano
Bonus Spells & Incantations O: Quicksilver by Callie Hart

Book Battle September 2025 TBR

Well it's time to choose my September TBR for Book Battle. So here are the books that I've picked this month:
5pts-Book you predicted you'd enjoy-The Housemaid by Freida McFadden 
5pts-Set in a fictional place-Quicksilver by Callie Hart
5pts-Fall book-Claimed By Her Monsters by Lexi Davis
5pts-Magical main character-The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik
5pts-CRITERIA CHOICE 1-Fantasy book-Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross
5pts-CRITERIA CHOICE 2-Set at an academy-A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
10pts-CLUB READ 1-A Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim
10pts-CLUB READ 2-The Last Dragon of the East by Katrina Kwan
10pts-Book with astrology in it-Heavenly Bodies by Imani Erriu
15pts-Fortune teller main character-The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong
20pts-Book about your team**astrology/destiny-Written in the Stars-The Stars Are Dying by C.C. Peñaranda?

So this month, the theme is about destiny. So again, pretty specific to make a list.

How did I do last month?
5pts-Book with a lot of buzz (if you consider it popular it works)-The Fallen & the Kiss of Dusk by Carissa Broadbent
5pts-Sweet story-Brigands & Breadknives by Travis Baldree
5pts-Book that was on your "to bee read"-A Touch of Treachery by Jennifer Estep
5pts-By an author you share a name with-House of the Beast by Michelle Wong
5pts-Birthday in it-Rose in Chains by Julie Soto
5pts-"Book" or "Battle" in the title-Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree
5pts-CRITERIA CHOICE 1-Book you read while eating-The Inheritance by Ilona Andrews
5pts-CRITERIA CHOICE 2-Mermaid or dragon main character-Tomes Apprentice by Honor Raconteur
10pts-CLUB READ 1-Accomplice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
10pts-CLUB READ 2-Final Girls by Riley Sager
10pts-Baker main character-To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han
10pts-Set at a party-Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox
10pts-Book with a cake in it-First of Tomes by Honor Raconteur 
15pts-Book with a recipe in it-A Mouthful of Dust by Nghi Vo
20pts-Set in a bakery-Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree-Read!

Another month where I made the TBR right at the end, and almost didn't read all of these books, which wasn't a great feeling, so I hope to do better this month.

The Bookworm Revolution September 2025 TBR

Well it's time to choose my September TBR for The Bookworm Revolution. So here are the books that I've picked this month: 
5pts: 'Golden' - A book where a character finds themselves-The Glittering Edge by Alyssa Villaire
5pts: - 'Takedown' - A book with a Battle or Fight-Quicksilver by Callie Hart
5pts: 'Soda Pop' - A palette cleanser read-I'm Looking for a Man in Finance by Sabrina Waldorf
5pts: 'How It's Done' - Book about or with competition-The Courting of Bristol Keats by Mary E. Pearson
5pts: Bobby - Book with a loveable companion - Six Feet Deep Dish by Mindy Quigley
5pts: Pick and Choose-ARC-Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross
5pts: Pick and Choose-Audiobook-The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
10pts: Revolution Reads-Death of a Pop Star by Violet Karim, 1-10
10pts: Revolution Reads-Brighter Than Nine by June CL Tan
10pts: 'Free' - A book featuring a couple you believe are fated to be together-Imaginary Numbers by Seanan McGuire
10pts: Huntrix - A book with a moral dilemma-Butterfly Effects by Seanan McGuire 
15pts: 'Your Idol' - A book with a villain you're obsessed with-Tourist Season by Brynne Weaver
15pts: 'What It Sounds Like' - A book featuring a survivor-The House of My Mother: A Daughter's Quest for Freedom by Shari Franke
20pts: Saja Boys - A book with a character that has a tragic story-The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh 
30pts: Rec a book for your team's Huntrix member!-Zoey-The Unruly Heart of Miss Darcy by Erin Edwards

So this month, the theme is Book with a Celebrity, the Genre Bonus is Coming of Age and the Inclusivity Bonus is Asian character or Author. Which some are easy and some are hard, so I won't be making a list.

How did I do last month?
5pts - Contains a character that rages-The Dragon Wakes With Thunder by K.X. Song
5pts - Pockets! A book that contained something you didn't expect-You Belong Here by Megan Miranda
5pts - Book with a female-identifying character you admire-The Fallen & the Kiss of Dusk by Carissa Broadbent
5pts - Pick & Choose 1-ARC-House of the Beast by Michelle Wong
5pts - Pick & Choose 2-Ebook-A Mouthful of Dust by Nghi Vo
10pts - Revolution Read 1-Accomplice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
10pts - Revolution Read 2-Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang
10pts - A book that has been recommended by TBR (at any time)-Dark Shores by Danielle L. Jensen
15pts - FMC defies expectations-Thief of Night by Holly Black
20pts - Book written by a female-identifying author-All Fun and Games by Honor Raconteur-Read!

I read all my TBR, but I didn't finalize all the books until the month was almost done, so I hope I do better with this month! But I can't wait, this theme and bonuses are awesome, and I already have some really great books on the TBR! What about you guys? Happy reading!  

ARC August Update 33 and Wrap Up

So I read my final book for ARC August, and it was Night Watcher and I read some really great books, so I'm happy with this month, and I can't wait for the next ARC reading month! 

My Reading Journey:

All We Lost Was Everything by Sloan Harlow
Started On: August 1st
Finished On: August 1st, 6:38 PM
Pages Read: 352

You Belong Here by Megan Miranda
Started On: August 2nd
Finished On: August 2nd, 6:39 PM
Pages Read: 352

Grave Flowers by Autumn Krause 
Started On: August 3rd
Finished On: August 3rd, 11:03 PM
Pages Read: 400

Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox
Started On: August 4th
Finished On: August 4th, 7:34 PM
Pages Read: 336

House of the Beast by Michelle Wong
Started On: August 5th
Finished On: August 5th, 11:17 AM
Pages Read: 464

A Mouthful of Dust by Nghi Vo
Started On: August 7th
Finished On: August 7th, 2:29 PM
Pages Read: 128

A Touch of Treachery by Jennifer Estep
Started On: August 7th
Finished On: August 7th, 10:36 PM
Pages Read: 477

The Orc and the Innkeeper by Cora Crane
Started On: August 8th
Finished On: August 8th, 10:02 AM
Pages Read: 278

Only Rogue Actions by Jennifer Estep
Started On: August 9th
Finished On: August 9th, 1:03 PM
Pages Read: 220

Land of Shadow by Celia Aaron
Started On: August 11th
Finished On: August 11th, 11:37 AM
Pages Read: 410

Dream True Things by Marie Marquardt
Started On: August 11th
Finished On: August 11th, 7:38 PM
Pages Read: 353

To Clutch a Razor by Veronica Roth
Started On: August 12th
Finished On: August 12th, 9:47 AM
Pages Read: 240

We Can Never Leave by H.E. Edgmon
Started On: August 13th
Finished On: August 13th, 3:27 PM
Pages Read: 320

Thief of Night by Holly Black
Started On: August 14th
Finished On: August 14th, 1:16 PM
Pages Read: 288

Songlight by Moira Buffini
Started On: August 15th
Finished On: August 15th, 5:38 PM
Pages Read: 384

The Dragon Wakes With Thunder by K.X. Song
Started On: August 16th
Finished On: August 16th, 2:44 PM 
Pages Read: 448

The Revenge by Hannah Jayne
Started On: August 17th
Finished On: August 17th, 6:39 PM
Pages Read: 304

We're Not Safe Here by Rin Chupeco
Started On: August 18th
Finished On: August 18th, 4:48 PM
Pages Read: 352

The Serpent's Bride by Kathryn Ann Kingsley
Started On: August 19th
Finished On: August 19th, 10:27 AM
Pages Read: 332

How to Fake a Haunting by Christa Carmen
Started On: August 20th
Finished On: August 20th, 3:03 PM
Pages Read: 349

How to Read a Killer's Mind by Tam Barnett 
Started On: August 21st
Finished On: August 21st, 6:38 PM
Pages Read 0 of 346

Dream by the Shadows by Logan Karlie
Started On: August 22nd
Finished On: August 22nd, 11:08 AM
Pages Read: 368

Murder in the Dressing Room by Holly Stars
Started On: August 23rd
Finished On: August 23rd, 8:27 PM
Pages Read: 364

A Circle of Uncommon Witches by Paige Crutcher
Started On: August 24th
Finished On: August 24th, 2:09 PM
Pages Read: 320

Rose in Chains by Julie Soto
Started On: August 25th
Finished On: August 25th, 11:53 AM
Pages Read: 464

Brigands & Breadknives by Travis Baldree
Started On: August 26th
Finished On: August 26th, 10:06 PM
Pages Read: 336

Spellcaster by Jaymin Eve
Started On: August 27th
Finished On: August 27th, 2:47 PM
Pages Read: 336

We Are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson
Started On: August 27th
Finished On: August 27th, 7:57 PM
Pages Read: 465

Wanderers by Susan Kim and Laurence Klavan
Started On: August 28th
Finished On: August 28th, 10:30 PM
Pages Read: 384

Guardians by by Susan Kim and Laurence Klavan
Started On: August 29th
Finished On: August 29th, 1:26 PM
Pages Read: 432

The Sovereign by C.L. Clark
Started On: August 29th
Finished On: August 29th, 11:04 PM
Pages Read: 502

To Kill a Badger by Shelly Laurenston
Started On: August 30th
Finished On: August 30th, 4:13 PM
Pages Read: 558

Night Watcher by Daphne Woolsoncroft
Started On: August 30th
Finished On: August 30th, 6:47 PM
Pages Read: 336

Goals: 31
Read: 33
Pages Read: 11662

Wrote that Review Update #577, August 31st

Create your own banner at mybannermaker.com!
If you want to participate, set a certain amount of reviews to write, and once you make that goal, you can get a reward!

My reviews to reward is writing all of the reviews of the week, and I motivated myself to write my review for Murder in the Dressing Room, A Circle of Uncommon Witches, Blood Over Bright Haven, Rose in Chains, Bookshops & Bonedust, Pages to Fill, Legends & Lattes, Brigands & Breadknives, Final Girls, To All of the Boys I've Loved Before, Spellcaster, We Are the Ants and What We Pretend to Be, Lady Dragon, Wasteland, Wanderers, Guardians, The Virtue of Sin, The Sovereign, so I have 13 of 13 reviews written!

And as always, I want to review this week's reviews!

What about you guys? Happy reading!

How Well I Stuck to It #580, August 31st

So I decided that I should have accountability on sticking to what should be in a week, so I'm doing How Well I Stuck to It every Sunday, because my schedule should be fixed in by now!

Week 36:
Nothing Planned!

Just a free week, I have so much to read, that I want to read, I need to keep this open! 


Week 35:
Lady Dragon by A.M. Strickland 

vs.

Murder in the Dressing Room by Holly Stars, A Circle of Uncommon Witches by Paige Crutcher, Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wong, Rose in Chains by Julie Soto, Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree, Pages to Fill by Travis Baldree, Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree, Brigands & Breadknives by Travis Baldree, Final Girls by Riley Sager, To All of the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han, Spellcaster by Jaymin Eve, We Are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson, What We Pretend to Be by Shaun David Hutchinson, Lady Dragon by A.M. Strickland, Wasteland by Susan Kim and Laurence Klavan, Wanderers by Susan Kim and Laurence Klavan, Guardians by Susan Kim and Laurence Klavan, The Virtue of Sin by Shannon Schuren, The Sovereign by C.L. Clark

What about you guys? Happy reading!

Wheel of TBR #275, August 31st

I saw Codie's Book Corner doing the Wheel of TBR, and I thought that sounded like a great way to pick what to read from your TBR. So thanks to her! I'll only do 3 spins, because I'm doing this every week, and so it won't make up my total TBR of the week, but it'll be a start!

Rules:
1. For each week of the month, I'll do 3 spins each week to read each week though I do have the rest of the month to read them. Once a prompt is used, I'll randomly choose one from the list, keeping track of how often a colour comes up. If colour comes up 3 or more times in month, I'll do another spin once it comes up 3 times.
2. If I don't read a book that week or at least start it before the end of the month, then for my next week of spins, I have to add a punishment for each book unread. I'll roll for each unread book, and have to apply each and every punishment chosen to the week.
3. Each month I'll get a prompt from my Binge Read Wheel (either specifically picking the prompt, or spinning the wheel) and I have to read at least 9 books, though I can read more!

Of the books from the last week, I read Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree, Wasteland by Susan Kim and Laurence Klavan, and The Princess Will Save You by Sarah Henning.

Binge Read Wheel:
For this month, I chose ARC's. I read A Circle of Uncommon Witches by Paige Crutcher, Rose in Chains by Julie Soto, Brigands & Breadknives by Travis Baldree, Spellcaster by Jaymin Eve, We Are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson, Wanderers by Susan Kim and Laurence Klavan, Guardians by Susan Kim and Laurence Klavan, The Sovereign by C.L. Clark, To Kill a Badger by Shelly Laurenston, Night Watcher by Daphne Woolsoncroft, so I've read 33/9+.

For this coming week, the wheel picked Genre.

Prompts Used This Week:
More Than 1000 Reviews, Retelling.

More Than 1000 Reviews-Red-A Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim-This book has almost 1400 reviews, so that works! 

Retelling-Orange-Vipers and Virtuosos by Sav R. Miller-The synopsis mentions that it's inspired by the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, so I'll be reading that. 

Narrator-Green-Female-A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik-This is narrated by El, who is female, so I'll be reading that! 

Colour Totals:
Red: 1
Orange: 1
Yellow: 0
Chartreuse: 0
Green: 1
Spring Green: 0
Cyan: 0
Azure: 0
Blue: 0
Violet: 0
Magenta: 0 
Rose: 0

Prompts for Next Week:
Series Number-Red
My Initials-Orange
Genre As Last Read-Yellow
No Common Letter-Chartreuse
Series Started and Unfinished/Current 2021-Green
Mass Market Paperback-Spring Green
2024 Purchase-Cyan
Series I Read in 2020 But Not in 2021-Azure
Series Continued and Unfinished 2025-Blue
Page Range-Violet
Readers Also Enjoyed-Magenta
Highest Rated-Rose

So those are some of the books I'm going to try to read this week. What about you guys? Happy reading!

The Reward Challenge Update #728, August 31st

The Reward Challenge is almost the complete opposite to a book buying ban as you'll end up buying lots of new books throughout the challenge but only after you've completed a certain amount of reading. It was hosted by Good Golly Miss Holly, so thanks to her for starting it!

OK, so I read Murder in the Dressing Room which counts 4 times as a DAC Book, NetGalley Book and a Prequel & Sequel 2025 Book, A Circle of Uncommon Witches which counts 3 times as a NetGalley Book and a SAC 2025 Book, Blood Over Bright Haven which counts twice as a SAC 2025 Book, Rose in Chains which counts 3 times as a NetGalley Book and a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book, Bookshops & Bonedust which counts twice as a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book, Pages to Fill which counts twice as a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book, Legends & Lattes which counts twice as a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book, Brigands & Breadknives which counts 4 times as a NetGalley Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book and WoW Book, Final Girls which counts twice as a SAC 2025 Book, To All of the Boys I've Loved Before which counts twice as a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book, Spellcaster which counts 4 times as a Edelweiss Book, SAC 2025 Book and a WoW Book, We Are the Ants which counts twice as a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book, What We Pretend to Be which counts 3 times as a End of Series 2025 Book and a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book, Lady Dragon which counts 3 times as a SAC 2025 Book and a WoW Book,Wasteland which counts 3 times as a 2025 Dystopia Book and Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book, Wanderers which counts 4 times as a 2025 Dystopia Book, Edelweiss Book and Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book, Guardians which counts 5 times as a 2025 Dystopia Book, End of Series 2025 Book, Edelweiss Book and Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book, The Virtue of Sin which counts twice as a SAC 2025 Book, The Sovereign which counts 5 times as a End of Series 2025 Book, NetGalley Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book and a WoW Book.

So I have 57 counts which translates to $28.50 this week! I'll use it to buy books!

Saturday, August 30, 2025

ARC August Update 32

So I read my final book for ARC August, and it was To Kill a Badger and I'll be reading Night Watcher next! 

My Reading Journey:

All We Lost Was Everything by Sloan Harlow
Started On: August 1st
Finished On: August 1st, 6:38 PM
Pages Read: 352

You Belong Here by Megan Miranda
Started On: August 2nd
Finished On: August 2nd, 6:39 PM
Pages Read: 352

Grave Flowers by Autumn Krause 
Started On: August 3rd
Finished On: August 3rd, 11:03 PM
Pages Read: 400

Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox
Started On: August 4th
Finished On: August 4th, 7:34 PM
Pages Read: 336

House of the Beast by Michelle Wong
Started On: August 5th
Finished On: August 5th, 11:17 AM
Pages Read: 464

A Mouthful of Dust by Nghi Vo
Started On: August 7th
Finished On: August 7th, 2:29 PM
Pages Read: 128

A Touch of Treachery by Jennifer Estep
Started On: August 7th
Finished On: August 7th, 10:36 PM
Pages Read: 477

The Orc and the Innkeeper by Cora Crane
Started On: August 8th
Finished On: August 8th, 10:02 AM
Pages Read: 278

Only Rogue Actions by Jennifer Estep
Started On: August 9th
Finished On: August 9th, 1:03 PM
Pages Read: 220

Land of Shadow by Celia Aaron
Started On: August 11th
Finished On: August 11th, 11:37 AM
Pages Read: 410

Dream True Things by Marie Marquardt
Started On: August 11th
Finished On: August 11th, 7:38 PM
Pages Read: 353

To Clutch a Razor by Veronica Roth
Started On: August 12th
Finished On: August 12th, 9:47 AM
Pages Read: 240

We Can Never Leave by H.E. Edgmon
Started On: August 13th
Finished On: August 13th, 3:27 PM
Pages Read: 320

Thief of Night by Holly Black
Started On: August 14th
Finished On: August 14th, 1:16 PM
Pages Read: 288

Songlight by Moira Buffini
Started On: August 15th
Finished On: August 15th, 5:38 PM
Pages Read: 384

The Dragon Wakes With Thunder by K.X. Song
Started On: August 16th
Finished On: August 16th, 2:44 PM 
Pages Read: 448

The Revenge by Hannah Jayne
Started On: August 17th
Finished On: August 17th, 6:39 PM
Pages Read: 304

We're Not Safe Here by Rin Chupeco
Started On: August 18th
Finished On: August 18th, 4:48 PM
Pages Read: 352

The Serpent's Bride by Kathryn Ann Kingsley
Started On: August 19th
Finished On: August 19th, 10:27 AM
Pages Read: 332

How to Fake a Haunting by Christa Carmen
Started On: August 20th
Finished On: August 20th, 3:03 PM
Pages Read: 349

How to Read a Killer's Mind by Tam Barnett 
Started On: August 21st
Finished On: August 21st, 6:38 PM
Pages Read 0 of 346

Dream by the Shadows by Logan Karlie
Started On: August 22nd
Finished On: August 22nd, 11:08 AM
Pages Read: 368

Murder in the Dressing Room by Holly Stars
Started On: August 23rd
Finished On: August 23rd, 8:27 PM
Pages Read: 364

A Circle of Uncommon Witches by Paige Crutcher
Started On: August 24th
Finished On: August 24th, 2:09 PM
Pages Read: 320

Rose in Chains by Julie Soto
Started On: August 25th
Finished On: August 25th, 11:53 AM
Pages Read: 464

Brigands & Breadknives by Travis Baldree
Started On: August 26th
Finished On: August 26th, 10:06 PM
Pages Read: 336

Spellcaster by Jaymin Eve
Started On: August 27th
Finished On: August 27th, 2:47 PM
Pages Read: 336

We Are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson
Started On: August 27th
Finished On: August 27th, 7:57 PM
Pages Read: 465

Wanderers by Susan Kim and Laurence Klavan
Started On: August 28th
Finished On: August 28th, 10:30 PM
Pages Read: 384

Guardians by by Susan Kim and Laurence Klavan
Started On: August 29th
Finished On: August 29th, 1:26 PM
Pages Read: 432

The Sovereign by C.L. Clark
Started On: August 29th
Finished On: August 29th, 11:04 PM
Pages Read: 502

To Kill a Badger by Shelly Laurenston
Started On: August 30th
Finished On: August 30th, 4:13 PM
Pages Read: 558

Night Watcher by Daphne Woolsoncroft
Started On: August 30th
Currently On: Page 0 of 336

Goals: 31
Read: 32
Pages Read: 11326

Week 35 Review: The Sovereign

From Goodreads:
The Sovereign brings princess Luca and soldier Touraine together one last time in the thrilling conclusion to C. L. Clark's beloved queer political fantasy trilogy. 

Luca is the new queen of Balladaire. Her empire is already splintering in her hands. Her uncle wasn't the only traitor in the court, and the Withering plague will decimate her people if she can't unearth Balladaire's magic. The only person who can help her wants the only thing Luca won't give—the end of the monarchy. 

Touraine is Luca's general. She has everything she ever wanted. While Luca looks within Balladaire's borders, Touraine looks outward—the alliance with Qazal is brittle and Balladaire's neighbors are ready to pounce on its new weakness. When the army comes, led by none other than Touraine's old lover, Touraine must face the truth about herself—and the empire she once called home. 

A storm is coming. Touraine and Luca will stand against it together, or it will tear them apart once and for all.

My Review:


Author: C.L. Clark
Series: Magic of the Lost #3
Read: August 29th, 2025 
Source: NetGalley 
Reason Why: Love her writing and this series, and it's a End of Series 2025 Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book and a WoW Book! 
Publisher: Orbit
Expected Publication: September 30th 2025
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars

Week 35 Review: The Virtue of Sin

From Goodreads:
A compelling novel about speaking out, standing up, and breaking free -- perfect for fans of The Handmaid's Tale.

Miriam lives in New Jerusalem, a haven in the desert far away from the sins and depravity of the outside world. Within the gates of New Jerusalem, and under the eye of its founder and leader, Daniel, Miriam knows she is safe. Cared for. Even if she's forced, as a girl, to quiet her tongue when she has thoughts she wants to share, Miriam knows that New Jerusalem is a far better life than any alternative. So when God calls for a Matrimony, she's thrilled; she knows that Caleb, the boy she loves, will choose her to be his wife and they can finally start their life together.

But when the ceremony goes wrong and Miriam winds up with someone else, she can no longer keep quiet. For the first time, Miriam begins to question not only the rules that Daniel has set in place, but also what it is she believes in, and where she truly belongs.

Alongside unexpected allies, Miriam fights to learn--and challenge--the truth behind the only way of life she's ever known, even if it means straying from the path of Righteousness.

A compelling debut novel about speaking out, standing up, and breaking free.

My Review:


Author: Shannon Schuren
Read: August 29th, 2025
Source: Ebook.bike
Reason Why: Sounded really good, and it's a SAC 2025 Book!
Publisher: Philomel Books
Published: June 25th 2019
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars

Week 35 Review: Lady Dragon

From Goodreads:
Rachel Hartman's Seraphina meets The Priory of the Orange Tree in Lady Dragon, a sapphic YA romantasy from A.M. Strickland.

Since the last war between humans and dragons left the leaders of both species slain—the last human king of Andrath and the legendary dragon queen—both queendoms have been living under a tentative truce: only women will sit on the throne of Andrath, the dragons will have free passage through the human lands . . . and if men ever try to retake the throne, the draconic realm will retaliate.

Samansa and Kirek are two new leaders coming of age in war-scarred lands—Samansa a reluctant human princess and Kirek the favored contender for the draconic queenship. Per tradition, Kirek must undergo the distasteful task of using a mysterious gem called the Heartstone to shift into human form and maintain the strained ties between the species . . . and study human weaknesses, a new and secret task she's been given by her queen. As the princess and the dragon girl grow closer, they are sent to investigate a potential breach of the treaty and encounter a plot that could reignite an even bloodier war. While fighting to maintain the peace their ancestors fought for and uncovering centuries-old secrets, Samansa and Kirek must grapple with betraying their clashing nations . . . or their unexpected feelings for each other.

My Review:
This was so amazing to read! The concept sounded so interesting, and I had to know how the relaitonship between these very different girls was going to go! That they're both future rulers but from different cultures and species made things complicated, but I adored the pair of them! 

To be honest, this is not my favourite of A.M. Strickland's books. The idea and the world were really interesting, but it doesn't quite get to quite the epic levels as some of the other books. Which is understandable, stories are different, and this one was more about the characters journeys then a huge overarching plot. It did have one, but it was much smaller in comparison to some of the other books. I still enjoyed it and loved it, but it's not a new top favourite.

I'm really glad that we got both of their persepctives, espcially later on when the "curse" was going on. Samansa is human, and while she's not soft per se, she's not a strong stoic silent one like Kirek is. Because dragons aren't about messy emotions like what humans experience. That they found a romance was shocking but all the more fun for the forbidden nature of it.

How the past events of this book with the far history were affecting events of the present, with the girls, with the relgious, and the rulers, and how it all came together? That was pretty epic, and I had such a great time seeing how it all worked out! 

Loved reading this book and I can't wait to read more by A.M. Strickland! 

Author: A.M. Strickland 
Read: August 28th, 2025
Source: Bought 
Reason Why: Love her writing and it sounded really fantastic, and it's a SAC 2025 Book and a WoW Book! 
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Published: August 26th 2025 
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars

Week 35 Reviews: Wasteland, Wanderers, Guardians



From Goodreads:
Welcome to the Wasteland. Where all the adults are long gone, and now no one lives past the age of nineteen. Susan Kim and Laurence Klavan's post-apocalyptic debut is the first of a trilogy in which everyone is forced to live under the looming threat of rampant disease and brutal attacks by the Variants — hermaphroditic outcasts that live on the outskirts of Prin. Esther thinks there's more to life than toiling at harvesting, gleaning, and excavating, day after day under the relentless sun, just hoping to make it to the next day. But then Caleb, a mysterious stranger, arrives in town, and Esther begins to question who she can trust. As shady pasts unravel into the present and new romances develop, Caleb and Esther realize that they must team together to fight for their lives and for the freedom of Prin.

From Goodreads:
The Emmy Award-nominee and Edgar Award-winning duo bring readers back to the Wasteland in this thrilling sequel.

Karin Slaughter, bestselling author of Criminal, called Wasteland, "A Lord of the Flies for future generations. An irresistible page-turner."

The former citizens of Prin are running out of time. The Source has been destroyed, so food is scarcer than ever. Tensions are rising…and then an earthquake hits.

So Esther and Caleb hit the road, leading a ragtag caravan. Their destination? A mythical city where they hope to find food and shelter - not to mention a way to make it past age nineteen.

On the way, alliances and romances blossom and fracture. Esther must rally to take charge with the help of a blind guide, Aras. He seems unbelievably cruel, but not everything is as it seems in the Wasteland.…

In this sequel to Wasteland, the stakes are even higher for Esther, Caleb, and the rest of their clan. They're pinning all their hopes on the road...but what if it's the most dangerous place of all?

From Goodreads: 

The Emmy Award-nominated and Edgar Award-winning duo of Susan Kim and Laurence Klavan deliver a heart-pounding finale to the postapocalyptic teen world of the Wasteland, filled with dramatic twists and turns. Bestselling author of Criminal, Karin Slaughter, called Wasteland "a Lord of the Flies for future generations. An irresistible page-turner."

No one dares to leave the District—the towering structure of glass and steel that is their protection against the unruly bands of Outsiders that roam Mundreel and the deadly rain that carries the disease that kills all over the age of nineteen.

This skyscraper stands amid the urban devastation, the city rumored to have once been called "Montreal." Esther and her allies have created a haven on the rooftop, a garden that flourishes, and a home for her new baby, hidden from all but the very few who know her secret. But as Gideon's power grows and factions form, the ultimate darkness is born from greed, and Esther must find a way to save the citizens from themselves. 

My Review:


Authors: Susan Kim and Laurence Klavan
Series: Wasteland #1, 2, 3
Read: August 28th, 28th, 29th, 2025
Source: Ebook.bike, Edelweiss
Reason Why: Sounded really good, and they're 2025 Dystopia Books and Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Books, and Guardians is a End of Series 2025 Book!
Publisher: Harper Teen
Published: March 26th 2013, March 25th 2014, March 24th 2015

Wasteland:
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars








Wanderers:
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars








Guardians:
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars

Week 35 Reviews: We Are the Ants, What We Pretend to Be


From Goodreads:
From the "author to watch" (Kirkus Reviews) of The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley comes a brand-new novel about a teenage boy who must decide whether or not the world is worth saving.

Henry Denton has spent years being periodically abducted by aliens. Then the aliens give him an ultimatum: The world will end in 144 days, and all Henry has to do to stop it is push a big red button.

Only he isn't sure he wants to.

After all, life hasn't been great for Henry. His mom is a struggling waitress held together by a thin layer of cigarette smoke. His brother is a jobless dropout who just knocked someone up. His grandmother is slowly losing herself to Alzheimer's. And Henry is still dealing with the grief of his boyfriend's suicide last year.

Wiping the slate clean sounds like a pretty good choice to him.

But Henry is a scientist first, and facing the question thoroughly and logically, he begins to look for pros and cons: in the bully who is his perpetual one-night stand, in the best friend who betrayed him, in the brilliant and mysterious boy who walked into the wrong class. Weighing the pain and the joy that surrounds him, Henry is left with the ultimate choice: push the button and save the planet and everyone on it…or let the world—and his pain—be destroyed forever. 

From Goodreads:
To set the stage: in We are the Ants, Henry Denton has spent years being periodically abducted by aliens. Then the aliens give him an ultimatum: The world will end in 144 days, and all Henry has to do to stop it is push a big red button.

Now, in Shaun David Hutchinson's new short story, What We Pretend to Be, fans can glimpse some of the impossible decisions other characters have faced at the hands of the aliens, and even see Henry's very first abduction . . .

My Review
:


Author: Shaun David Hutchinson
Series: We Are the Ants #1, 1.5
Read: August 27th, 27th, 2025
Source: Edelweiss, Online
Reason Why: Sounded really fantastic, and they're Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Books! And What We Pretend to Be is a End of Series 2025 Book!
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Published: January 19th 2016, August 11th 2016

We Are the Ants:
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars








What We Pretend to Be:
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars

Week 35 Review: Spellcaster

From Goodreads:
From the bestselling author of the Shadow Beast Shifter series, Jaymin Eve, comes an all-new, intense enemies-to-lovers romantasy with steamy heat, magical creatures, fast pacing, and stakes that will keep you hooked. Dive into a world where love is as dangerous as power—and nothing is ever as it seems.

Welcome to Weatherstone College…

Don't walk the halls late at night.
Don't disturb the ancient magic.
And don't, under any circumstances, ever trust a spellcaster.

When my magic bloomed at twenty-two, the last thing I expected was to receive an acceptance letter to the most prestigious witch college in the world. It's not that I don't have magic. It's just…unpredictable. But with Weatherstone a part of my family legacy, I'm determined to live up to their expectations.

A task that's almost derailed on my very first day when I come face-to-face with Logan Kingston, the son of my father's enemy. I'm warned to avoid the powerful spellcaster at all costs, but apparently Logan did not receive the same memo. The more time I spend around him, the more I crave his unsettling attention, and as hate flirts with obsession, I'm left wondering if there's another side to the decades-old feud between our fathers.

On top of that, Weatherstone is not at all like I expected. Built on the ancient blood of necromancers and battle, the magic here is as unpredictable as mine, and I sense a dark energy stalking my footsteps. When a monster attacks me, I have no choice but to turn to the strongest warlock in our school: Logan.

After all, to fight a monster, I'll need a monster.

Perfect if you love:
• Who hurt you?
• Slowburn Enemies to Lovers
• Elemental Magic
• Dark Academia
• "F*ck it" Moments
• Consent is sexy

My Review:


Author: Jaymin Eve
Read: August 27th, 2025
Source: Edelweiss
Reason Why: Sounded really good, and it's a SAC 2025 Book and a WoW Book!
Publisher: MIRA
Expected Publication: September 23rd 2025
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars

Week 35 Review: To All the Boys I've Loved Before

From Goodreads:
Lara Jean's love life goes from imaginary to out of control in this heartfelt novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Summer I Turned Pretty series.

What if all the crushes you ever had found out how you felt about them…all at once?

Lara Jean Song keeps her love letters in a hatbox her mother gave her. They aren't love letters that anyone else wrote for her; these are ones she's written. One for every boy she's ever loved—five in all. When she writes, she pours out her heart and soul and says all the things she would never say in real life, because her letters are for her eyes only. Until the day her secret letters are mailed, and suddenly, Lara Jean's love life goes from imaginary to out of control. 

My first review of To All the Boys I've Loved Before
My Review:
 

Author: Jenny Han
Series: To All the Boys I've Loved Before #1
First Read: December 21st, 2021
Read: August 26th, 2025
Source: Own
Reason Why: Sounded really great, and it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book!
Publisher: Simon Schuster Children's Publishing
Published: April 15th 2014
5/5 Hearts
4/5 Books
4/5 Stars

Week 35 Review: Final Girls

From Goodreads:
Ten years ago, college student Quincy Carpenter went on vacation with five friends and came back alone, the only survivor of a horror movie-scale massacre. In an instant, she became a member of a club no one wants to belong to—a group of similar survivors known in the press as the Final Girls. Lisa, who lost nine sorority sisters to a college dropout's knife; Sam, who went up against the Sack Man during her shift at the Nightlight Inn; and now Quincy, who ran bleeding through the woods to escape Pine Cottage and the man she refers to only as Him. The three girls are all attempting to put their nightmares behind them, and, with that, one another. Despite the media's attempts, they never meet.

Now, Quincy is doing well—maybe even great, thanks to her Xanax prescription. She has a caring almost-fiancé, Jeff; a popular baking blog; a beautiful apartment; and a therapeutic presence in Coop, the police officer who saved her life all those years ago. Her memory won't even allow her to recall the events of that night; the past is in the past.

That is, until Lisa, the first Final Girl, is found dead in her bathtub, wrists slit, and Sam, the second, appears on Quincy's doorstep. Blowing through Quincy's life like a whirlwind, Sam seems intent on making Quincy relive the past, with increasingly dire consequences, all of which makes Quincy question why Sam is really seeking her out. And when new details about Lisa's death come to light, Quincy's life becomes a race against time as she tries to unravel Sam's truths from her lies, evade the police and hungry reporters, and, most crucially, remember what really happened at Pine Cottage, before what was started ten years ago is finished.

My Review:


Author: Riley Sager
Read: August 26th, 2025 
Source: Ebook.bike 
Reason Why: Sounded really good, and it's a SAC 2025 Book! 
Publisher: Dutton
Published: July 11th 2017 
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars

Week 35 Review: Rose in Chains

From Goodreads:
The war is over, the dark forces have won, and the hero who was supposed to save them is dead.

Captured as her castle is overrun by the enemy, the world as Briony Rosewood knows it is changed forever. Evil has won, and her people face imminent servitude, imprisonment, or death.

​Stripped of her Magic and her freedom, Briony and the other survivors are quickly sold off to the highest bidders in an auction—and as Evermore's princess, she fetches the highest price. After a fierce bidding war, she's sold to none other than Toven Hearst, scion of a family known for their cruelty.

Yet despite the horrors of her new world and the role she must learn to play within it, all is not lost. Help—and hope—may yet arise in the most unlikely of places…

My Review:
I had such a great time reading this book! I went in basically blind, with just the synopsis, and only later found out it was a fanfic Hermione/Draco, I think that followed the premise of what if the Dark Lord won. Which is what happens in this book, but it's it's own world and I think the characters are new and different, so it's grown from it's fanfiction roots.

I really enjoyed the back and forth, of her present and her past, with the horrible situation that she and her people were in, and the events that lead to this, of the growing tension between the two countries, and between her and Toven.

Getting to know this world, and these characters, as they dealt with the war, and how the magic worked, I had to know more! That she was sold as if she was something instead of someone...so infuriating. That she ended up with someone who she did have a crush on, even as they clashed was complicated. 

That he's a semi-decent guy, and doesn't want to be dealing with her like this, I really enjoyed that. Their dynamics were so interesting to read, what with their past, and feelings. With the events of this book, I'm excited to see how things are going to go from there for them, and for the world! 

Loved reading this book and I can't wait for book 2! 

Author: Julie Soto
Series: The Evermore Trilogy #1
Read: August 25th, 2025
Source: NetGalley/Bought 
Reason Why: Sounded really good, and it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book!
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Published: July 8th 2025
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars