Showing posts with label AdriAnne Strickland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label AdriAnne Strickland. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 4, 2026

Waiting on Wednesday #773, March 4th

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating!

This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews
Expected Publication: March 31st, 2026
From Goodreads:
Outlander meets Game of Thrones in this blockbuster new epic fantasy series from the #1 New York Times bestselling author duo Ilona Andrews.

When Maggie wakes up cold, filthy, and naked in a gutter, it doesn't take her long to recognize Kair Toren, a city she knows intimately from the pages of the famously unfinished dark fantasy series she's been obsessively reading and re-reading while waiting years for the final novel.

Her only tools for navigating this gritty world of rival warlords, magic, and mayhem? Her encyclopedic knowledge of the plot, the setting, and the characters' ambitions and fates. But while she quickly discovers she cannot be killed (though many will try!), the same cannot be said for the living, breathing characters she's coming to love—a motley band that includes a former lady’s maid, a deadly assassin, various outrageous magical creatures, and a dangerously appealing soldier. Soon, instead of trying to get home, she finds herself enmeshed in the schemes—and attentions—of dueling princes, dukes, and villains, all while trying to save them and the kingdom of Rellas from the way she knows their stories will end: in a cataclysmic war.

For fans of Samantha Shannon, Danielle L. Jensen, Sarah J. Maas, and isekai and portal fantasy, This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me is the beginning of the most epic adventure yet from genre powerhouse author duo Ilona Andrews.

We Are All Monsters Hereby Kelley Armstrong
Expected Publication: March 31st, 2026
From Goodreads:
From cabins in the woods to post-apocalyptic cities, monsters lurk everywhere. Discover the sinister secret of a traveling carnival, spend a holiday with masked mummers, and visit a small town with unusual traditions and a penchant for gargoyles.

We Are All Monsters Here collects nineteen of Kelley Armstrong’s eeriest short stories published over the past two decades. Each tale features a cast of colorful—if at times unsettling—characters, including a physics student haunted by their past, an elderly author plotting a murder mystery, a young boy troubled by the screams of dragons, a reluctant preacher challenged by a stranger who can resurrect the dead, and survivors of the apocalypse searching for a safe place to call home.

Ghosts, vampires, werewolves, zombies, and other classic creatures are portrayed in refreshingly unique ways. A master of paranormal mystery, Armstrong subverts reader expectations with clever twists and turns; for while a monster is at the heart of every story, not all have claws or fangs or a thirst for blood—the most terrifying are the seemingly average people driven to monstrous acts.

The Faraway Inn by Sarah Beth Durst
Expected Publication: March 31st, 2026
From Goodreads:
After a devastating heartbreak, a teen girl decides to spend her summer helping her eccentric great aunt manage her quaint Vermont inn--but this fixer-upper is hiding a magical secret--in this cozy and irresistable new fantasy from the New York Times bestselling author of The Spellshop.

Sixteen-year-old Calisa is desperate for a change of scenery after her lying ex ruins her perfect Brooklyn summer. When her parents suggest she head to rural Vermont to help her great-aunt run her cozy bed and breakfast for a few months, she jumps at the chance.

But when Calisa arrives at the B&B, she's shocked to find a rundown inn with only a handful of guests. And to make matters worse, upon meeting with her great-aunt it quickly becomes clear that Calisa was not invited. Auntie Zee is determined to keep anyone from messing with her beloved inn…even if it is clear she needs the help.

To earn her keep, Calisa sets to work fixing up the inn, enlisting extra help from the groundskeeper's (handsome) son. But the longer she stays, the more it becomes evident that there is something strange about the B&B—and its residents. Something almost…otherworldly.

The inn is keeping a magical secret—but to protect the place she's come to love, Calisa must unravel the truth of it, and her aunt, before it's too late.

The Barn Identity by Diane Kelly
Expected Publication: March 31st, 2026
From Goodreads:
The eighth in the House-Flipper mystery series set in Nashville, TN, where the real estate market is to die for.

In Nashville, carpenter Whitney Whitaker is ecstatic when she discovers an abandoned barn perfect for her next project. However, since the surrounding former farmland has now developed into a shiny new shopping center, it seems the decrepit antebellum barn that once served as a livery stable should be torn down to make way for something more modern. Even so, Whitney can’t help but think the barn should be preserved. While unproven, it’s rumored the building once served as a hiding place for escaped slaves as part of the Underground Railroad. She convinces her cousin to take a chance on the old property. After all, the barn would make a unique retail space or, with its high ceilings and wide walls, could be turned into an arthouse cinema.

When a local print journalist reporting on the renovation is found dead on the property, investigators suspect he might have been murdered for any one of several exposés he’d published about local politicians, movers, and shakers. Whitney suspects there’s more to the story, and that the journalist’s fate might be tied directly to the stable renovation. Can she solve the murder and bring a killer to justice? Or might this goal be too lofty?

Divine Descent by Adrianne May
Expected Publication: March 31st, 2026
From Goodreads:
In this thrilling sequel to Exquisite Ruin, AdriAnne May’s darkly romantic reimagining of the Minotaur myth, Sadaré and Daesra are torn apart in the underworld—and new relationships may complicate their way back to one another.

Sadaré and Daesra’s struggles go beyond the deadly labyrinth as Sadaré is trapped in the underworld after a new enemy emerges, and Daesra will risk everything to rescue her.

But the god of death can be tempting. With every passing day, Sadaré grows closer to her captor. As she’s drawn deeper into his world, the memories of her past—of Daesra—begin to slip away. And the closer Daesra comes to saving her, the less she remembers wanting to be saved.

If Daesra can reach her in time, will she still remember him? Or will their love be the next piece of her to die?

Where No Shadow Stays by Sara Hashem
Expected Publication: March 31st, 2026
From Goodreads:
A homecoming queen and a bad-boy loner team up to break a generational curse in this YA supernatural horror from a talented American Egyptian voice.

Seventeen-year-old Mina is always focused on what comes exams, school dances, opportunities for a picnic by the lake. Filling up the future keeps her from lingering over how little she knows about her history or where she comes from. Anytime she asks her father questions about Egypt--or about her mother's mysterious death--he struggles to open up.

When Mina receives an invitation from an aunt she’s never met to visit the Haikal mansion, her mother’s childhood home in El Agamy, Mina accepts. She can’t resist the chance to learn more about her roots or what happened to her mother, even if it means lying to her loves ones for the first time in her life.

But when Mina returns from El Agamy, she doesn’t come back alone.

A sinister entity follows Mina from the Haikal mansion to her tiny California town. Mina is forced to abandon her friends, her father, and everything she loves in order to prevent the entity from violently possessing them. Isolated and fighting for her life, Mina must seek help from an unlikely Jesse Talbot, the mortician’s hostile son and the only person who proves immune to possession. Jesse would rather floss with barbed wire than team up with social butterfly Mina, but he doesn’t exactly have a choice—after all, he’s running from family secrets of his own.

As Mina and Jesse dig deeper into Mina's family lore, they uncover a bloody debt that must be satisfied if Mina wants to finish senior year alive.

Starside by Alex Aster
Expected Publication: March 31st, 2026
From Goodreads:
From Alex Aster, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Lightlark series, comes her first adult romantasy. Enter the world of Starside , where swords wield magic and power is not inherited...but claimed.

Hundreds of years ago, a brutal war split a land in two. Starside is the realm of magic and immortals—the descendants of the gods, living in a power-rich paradise. Stormside is where mortals fight for scraps of that magic.

Every fifty years, the gates between them open, and fifty challengers are allowed to journey across Starside on a deadly quest to access a pool of magic that can heal, grant wealth, or extend life. Everyone has their reasons for entering, but Aris has only vengeance. As a child, a goddess set fire to her village, killing her family. Aris isn’t after the gods’ magic—she’s going to kill them.

First, she must survive the Culling, the king’s deadly competition to choose his fifty challengers. An orphaned blacksmith’s apprentice, Aris doesn’t have the superior weapons of the heirs from the Great Houses. But the greatest swords—ones that contain power—are not inherited or bought, they are claimed, by both sides. And when Aris claims a great sword, it makes her not just a real competitor—but a target.

Getting past the gates is only the beginning. Starside is deadlier than it seems. If the ancient creatures, magic-wielding beasts, and bloodthirsty immortals weren’t dangerous enough, a new peril has even immortals fearing what rises from the ground at night. With a blade most would kill to claim, Aris can’t trust anyone. Especially not Harlan Raker, the merciless and mysterious king’s guard who betrayed her years ago—and who may now be the key to her survival.

But Aris is hiding a secret tied to her family’s death. And when it’s revealed, not even the gods will be able to stop what’s coming…

Game On by Navessa Allen
Expected Publication: March 31st, 2026
From Goodreads:
Book three in the No.1 New York Times bestselling Into Darkness series, following the dark rom-com sensations Lights Out and Caught Up. The game is on for these enemies-to-lovers with laugh-out-loud banter and scorching-hot brat play.

I hate that woman.

Tyler Neumann has spent years looking for his father, and not because he wants to meet the man. No, he wants to destroy him. And he'll manipulate whoever he can to exact his revenge.

Including Stella McCormick. She's everything Tyler hates. Her wealth and privilege have protected her for her entire life, and Tyler thinks it's time she finally paid the price. Whether she's ready to or not.

I hate that man.

Stella might not believe in love at first sight, but loathing at first sight - no question. From the moment she sets eyes on Tyler in her tattoo parlor, she knows he's the devil planning to make her life hell.

Forced to play the part of his girlfriend and invite him into her family's glittering circles, Stella quickly clocks Tyler's ulterior motives. But love and hate are two sides of the same coin, and soon she doesn't know which is being blackmailed by a man who wants to ruin her, or that they can't seem to keep their hands off each other.

Game On is an enemies-to-lovers dark romance with morally grey characters. Some themes and scenes may be disturbing to readers. Please check the content warning at the beginning of the book.

Enemies-to-lovers
Forced proximity
Fake dating
Rom-com
Morally gray MMC
Black cat FMC
Blackmail
Kidnapping
Power imbalance
Age gap
Betrayal and redemption
Dark past
Revenge

Devious Prey by Scott Reintgen
Expected Publication: March 31st, 2026
From Goodreads:
A young woman must survive the deadly mythical creature she smuggled aboard an airship after a crash landing on a deserted island frees it to begin hunting the survivors in this thrilling fantasy adventure from New York Times bestselling author Scott Reintgen.

When an airship’s windmaster dies mid-flight, the crew and its passengers are swept out to sea by a violent storm. They crash on a desolate island, but they’re not alone. A dragoness had been stashed in the hold. After escaping a damaged cage, it begins preying on the surviving travelers in the hopes of remaining free.

The stranded group’s best chance of making it home alive is the young woman who smuggled the dragoness on board in the first place—and the mysterious teen boy who was led onto the ship in chains before takeoff. Both have secrets that could help them survive on the island…but those same secrets could deliver a death sentence if they ever make it home.

What We Did to Survive by Megan Lally
Expected Publication: March 31st, 2026
From Goodreads:
A vacation in paradise turns deadly when four teens' sailing charter hits stormy seas in this propulsive new thriller from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Megan Lally!

Hannah is having an incredible spring break. A week at a resort in Mexico with her best friend Emmy and her family is perfect for de-stressing from senior year, even if it’s awkward being around Emmy's older brother, Jackson, who she’s had a crush on for as long as she can remember.

Still, the beach is gorgeous. So is the guy they meet in the surf. Except Hannah is now the third wheel in Emmy’s vacation romance.

Eager to impress Emmy, her wealthy new boyfriend charters a private sailboat to make the most of their last day in paradise, and Hannah and Jackson are invited along. As the clouds roll in and the skies darken, their boat is the only one leaving the marina. And the further they get into open water, the more unsettled Hannah becomes. A storm is brewing onboard that’s as deadly as the one racing toward them. Forget surviving graduation. Who will make it back to land alive?

The Geomagician by Jennifer Mandula
Expected Publication: March 31st, 2026
From Goodreads:
When a Victorian fossil hunter discovers a baby pterodactyl, she vows to protect him, with the help of a fellow scholar—her former fiancé—in this enchanting and transporting historical fantasy.

“Scholarly and clever but still full of heart . . . Five baby pterodactyls out of five.”—Heather Fawcett, New York Times bestselling author of the Emily Wilde series

Mary Anning wants to be a geomagician—a paleontologist who uses fossils to wield magic—but since the Geomagical Society of London refuses to admit women, she’s stuck selling her discoveries to tourists instead. Then an ancient egg hatches in her hands, revealing a lovable baby pterodactyl that Mary names Ajax, and she knows that this is a scientific find that could make her career—if she’s strategic.

But when Mary contacts the Society about her discovery, they demand to take possession of Ajax. Their emissary is none other than Henry Stanton, a distinguished (and infuriatingly handsome) scholar . . . and the man who once broke Mary’s heart. She knows she can’t trust her fellow scholars, who want to discredit her and claim Ajax for their own, but Henry insists he believes in the brilliant Mary and only wants to help her obtain the respect she deserves.

Now Mary has a new mystery to solve that’s buried deeper than any dinosaur She must uncover the secrets behind the Society and the truth about Henry. As her conscience begins to chafe against her ambition, Mary must decide what lengths she’s willing to go to finally belong—and what her heart really wants.

“Mary Anning, magic, politics, and a pterodactyl—with this intriguing mix, this delightful and clever book provides definitive proof that Victorian England needed more dinosaurs!”—Sarah Beth Durst, New York Times bestselling author of The Spellshop

Book One of The Geomagician Duology

Oh man, the end of March is going to be epic for book releases! I love these authors, these series, and I can't wait for them all to be released! What about you guys? Happy reading! 

Monday, September 1, 2025

It's Monday! What Are You Reading #743, September 1st

It's Monday! What Are You Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Book Date where we share what we read this past week, what we hope to read this week...and anything in between! This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well...you never know where that next "must read" book will come from!
What happened in the past week:

Weekly Memes:
It's Monday! What Are You Reading #742
Teaser Tuesday #750
WWW Wednesday #750
WOW #746
Will the Time Come #743
Third Sentence Thursday #733
Random Reads #719
First Lines Friday #746
Book Blogger Hop #412
Monthly ARC's Update 129
The Reward Challenge Update #728
Wheel of TBR #275
How Well I Stuck to It #580
Wrote that Review Update #577

Magical Readathon: Orilium: 

ARC August:

Random:

OK, so I got 43 posts in 7 days, and it was an okay week, great books, but I'm still getting used to not having Jax now. We're getting close to a month, but we did only have him for 6 years, so a month is a lot.What about you guys? Happy reading!

So this week I want to read whatever I want! 

Saturday, August 30, 2025

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

Thursday, August 28, 2025

Third Sentence Thursday #733, August 28th

Create your own banner at mybannermaker.com!


Third Sentence Thursday is a weekly meme which likes to watch fireworks especially while eating a cookie!
1) Take the book you are currently reading and open it to a random page. Share the third full sentence on that page. (If there isn't a third one – like at the end of a chapter or a blank page – you can share the third sentence of the book or just choose another random page.) Feel free to share more than one sentence, if you feel the need to do so.
2) Review this sentence anyway you want (funny and silly reviews encouraged)
3) Post a link to your sentence at Words I Write Crazy (This Blog)
4) Visit one or two of the other blogs to check out their third sentences!

"Behind her, Dara coughed, obviously to disguise a laugh." -Lady Dragon by A.M. Strickland, page 6.

Aw, that sounds cute! Must read more now! What are your guy's 3rd lines? Link up below!

Wednesday, August 27, 2025

WWW Wednesday #750, August 27th

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you'll read next?

Thanks to MizB of Should Be Writing now A Daily Rhythm for starting this meme! And thanks now to Taking on a World of Words for reviving it! 

I'm currently reading Lady Dragon, and I'm really enjoying it so much!


I read To All of the Boys I've Loved Before, and it was a really good read again! 


I'm going to be reading We Are the Ants and I can't wait, it sounds really good! 

What about you guys? Happy reading!

Wednesday, August 13, 2025

Waiting on Wednesday #744, August 13th

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating!

Lady Dragon by A.M. Strickland 
Expected Publication: August 26th, 2025
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.

The Executioners Three by Susan Dennard 
Expected Publication: August 26th, 2025
From Goodreads:
From New York Times bestselling author Susan Dennard comes The Executioners Three, a mystery filled with rivalry, romance, best friends, and a gruesome curse that dates back centuries.

Freddie Gellar didn't mean to get half the rival high school arrested. She’d simply heard shrieks coming from the woods, so she’d called the cops like any good human would do. How was she supposed to know it was just kids partying?

Except the next day, a body is found. And while the local sheriff might call it suicide, Freddie's instincts tell her otherwise. So, like the aspiring sleuth (and true X-Files aficionado) she is, Freddie sets out to prove there's a murderer at large.

The Entanglement of Rival Wizards by Sara Raasch
Expected Publication: August 26th, 2025
Ali Hazelwood meets Dungeons & Dragons in this enemies-to-lovers fantasy academia romcom where rival grad student wizards are forced to work together without killing―or falling for―each other.

Will they conjure love, or evoke chaos? Two rival wizards are about to find out.

Sebastian Walsh: twenty-four. Grad student at Lesiara University in the Mageus of Evocation program. Human. The first of his family to go to college rather than the military (and it goes over at family get-togethers about as well as you’d think).

Elethior Tourael: also twenty-four. Also a grad student, but in the far more inferior Mageus of Conjuration program. Half-elf. The latest in a long line of Touraels to grace the hallowed halls of Lesiara U (what would the world do if the Touraels ran out of rich douches to lead their magical weapons manufacturing empire?).

―and the other finalist for the Mageus Research Grant.

Sebastian needs that grant to fund the last few months of research for his degree, after which he’ll get a job that actually helps people. He isn’t about to let anyone snatch this from him, least of all a snob who doesn’t even need the money because his family is loaded thanks to war profiteering.

But there’s something worse than having a conceited academic nemesis steal grant money from you: you could be forced to work with him. Thio is secretive, broody, and his stunning biceps take up far too much shared lab space―but even as volatile as their partnership is, Sebastian just might find himself falling for his rival―and it could blow up his whole future.

To Kill a Badger by Shelly Laurenston
Expected Publication: August 26th, 2025
From Goodreads:
Laugh-out-loud humor, a feminist outlook, and one-of-a-kind shape-shifting romance come together with the continuation of the fan-favorite Honey Badger Chronicles from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Shelly Laurenston.

Nelle Zhao is a social media maven who knows what matters. And the only thing that matters right now is survival. Not easy, though, when her honey badger teammates attract trouble the way she attracts attention. She didn’t know when it became her job to protect the ones she cares about from themselves, but even she has to admit…she’s really good at it. Too bad some people don’t appreciate when she’s being helpful. Especially Keane Malone, who doesn’t know how to accept a friendly paw. But Nelle excels at helping! And at ignoring other people’s irrational demands, such as doing it all alone. Keane, poor pretty kitty, doesn’t understand the kind of assistance a shit-starting honey badger like Nelle can truly offer . . .

Keane knows two things—he doesn’t like other people, and he is going to crush the de Medicis, an evil coalition of male lion shifters who are not only snatching innocent humans for fun and profit, but also killed his father. And for once, he may not be able to fight this fight alone, forcing him to let long-legged, jet-setting Nelle join the fight. And getting close to Nelle is suddenly bringing out his roar . . .

A Touch of Treachery by Jennifer Estep
Expected Publication: August 26th, 2025
From Goodreads:
New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Estep serves up a new, action-packed adventure in her Section 47 urban fantasy world. This series features secrets, lies, and superspies with amazing magical abilities, along with dangerous missions, double crosses, and a swoon-worthy romance. Perfect for fans of Alias, James Bond, Jason Bourne, Nikita, True Lies, and Netflix’s Bodyguard.

UNANSWERED QUESTIONS . . .
My name is Charlotte Locke, and I’m on a mission to capture my nemesis. As an analyst for Section 47, a secret spy organization, I use my magical form of synesthesia to track down paramortal criminals, but one villain keeps eluding me—Henrika Hyde.

Henrika claims to have answers about my father’s death on a Section 47 mission years ago, and she has also created a horrific new weapon capable of killing even the strongest paramortals, which makes her my number one target. Helping me is Desmond Percy, a powerful galvanist who is my partner both inside and outside Section 47.

Desmond wants to take Henrika down just as badly as I do, but our mission quickly goes sideways, and soon we’re surrounded by enemies on all sides with no idea whom we can truly trust.

A TROUBLING FUTURE . . .
The name Desmond Percy is well known inside Section 47, since I’m one of the organization’s top cleaners, aka assassins. Charlotte Locke and I have been tracking Henrika Hyde for months, and when we finally get a lead on her location, we jump at the chance to take down the weapons maker once and for all.

I’m determined to help Charlotte get the answers she is so desperately seeking, as well as taking my revenge on Henrika for killing my best friend.

But the deeper Charlotte and I dig into Henrika and her murky motives, the more dangerous our mission becomes. Henrika is playing her own spy game, and Charlotte and I are just the pawns she is using to achieve her own evil ends—caught up in a deadly legacy of treachery.

Sanctify by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Expected Publication: August 31st, 2025
From Goodreads:
The final installment in the Nick series. Don’t miss the explosive tale

There's some really great books coming out at the end of the month I love these author and series, and I've read some of them and they were so good, and I can't wait for them all to be out! What about you guys? Happy reading! 





Monday, April 28, 2025

It's Monday! What Are You Reading #725, April 28th

It's Monday! What Are You Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Book Date where we share what we read this past week, what we hope to read this week...and anything in between! This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well...you never know where that next "must read" book will come from!
What happened in the past week:

Weekly Memes:
It's Monday! What Are You Reading #724
Teaser Tuesday #732
WWW Wednesday #732
WOW #728
Will the Time Come #725
Third Sentence Thursday #715
Random Reads #701
First Lines Friday #728
Book Blogger Hop #394
Monthly ARC's Update 112
The Reward Challenge Update #710
Wheel of TBR #257
How Well I Stuck to It #562
Wrote that Review Update #559

Week 17 Reviews:
The Charlie Method 

Phase Out Your Seriesathon: 

Magical Readathon: Orilium: 

Phase Out Your TBR: 

Random:

OK, so I got 63 posts in 7 days, and it was another busy week, I read a lot, a lot of great books, and I'm looking forward to this coming week! What about you guys? Happy reading!

So this week I want to read The Floating World and Silver and Lead!

From Axie Oh, the New York Times-bestselling author of The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, Final Fantasy meets Shadow and Bone in this romantic fantasy reimagining the Korean legend of Celestial Maidens. Sunho lives in the Under World, a land of perpetual darkness. An ex-soldier, he can remember little of his life from before two years ago, when he woke up alone with only his name and his sword. Now he does odd-jobs to scrape by, until he comes across the score of a lifetime—a chest of coins for any mercenary who can hunt down a girl who wields silver light. Meanwhile, far to the east, Ren is a cheerful and spirited acrobat traveling with her adoptive family and performing at villages. But everything changes during one of their festival performances when the village is attacked by a horrific humanlike demon. In a moment of fear and rage, Ren releases a blast of silver light—a power she has kept hidden since childhood—and kills the monster. But her efforts are not in time to prevent her adoptive family from suffering a devastating loss, or to save her beloved uncle from being grievously wounded. Determined to save him from succumbing to the poisoned wound, Ren sets off over the mountains, where the creature came from—and from where Ren herself fled ten years ago. Her path sets her on a collision course with Sunho, but he doesn't realize she's the girl that he—and a hundred other swords-for-hire—is looking for. As the two grow closer through their travels, they come to realize that their pasts—and destinies—are far more entwined than either of them could have imagined...
Seanan McGuire's New York Times bestselling and Hugo Award-nominated October Daye series continues as Toby Daye is thrust once again into danger... and this time she has more than ever to protect. Something is rotten in Faerie. In the aftermath of Titania's reality-warping enchantment, things are returning to what passes for normal in the Kingdom in the Mists―until it's discovered that the royal vaults have been looted, and several powerful magical artifacts are missing. None are things that can be safely left unsecured, and some have the potential to do almost as much damage as Titania did, and having them in the wrong hands could prove just as disastrous At least the theft means that Sir October "Toby" Daye, Knight errant and Hero of the Realm, finally has an excuse to get out of the house. Sure, she's eight and a half months pregnant, but that doesn't mean she can't take care of herself. But with the sea witch offering to stand godmother to Toby's child, maybe there are greater dangers ahead for Toby and her family than it appears.... Old enemies will resurface, new enemies will disguise themselves as friends, and Queen Windermere must try to keep her Hero on the case without getting herself gutted by the increasingly irritated local King of Cats. Sometimes, what's been lost can be the most dangerous threat of all.

Saturday, April 26, 2025

Week 17 Review: Exquisite Ruin

From Goodreads:
In this darkly romantic reimagining of the Minotaur myth, a sorceress and a demon are entwined in sensual battle to escape a deadly maze and reclaim their freedom.

In this deadly maze, the most dangerous thing may be the passion between them.

Sadaré wakes in a labyrinth, remembering nothing except that she is a powerful sorceress. Her only companion is a hostile immortal named Daesra—beautiful, dangerous, and demonic—who bound his divine soul for power and revenge.

Despite their animosity, the two have no choice but to work together to reach the center and defeat the monster who prevents their escape. But the longer they wander, the more deadly and alive the maze becomes—and the more Sadaré finds herself drawn to Daesra in ways she can't explain.

As sorceress and demon develop a tenuous truce, the labyrinth gives Sadaré glimpses of their shared history of passion and pain that make her question everything she knows. Unlocking the secrets of her past may be the only way to survive and heal their entwined fates—but as she learns more about the betrayals that brought them to the labyrinth, Sadaré begins to fear that the monster at the center could be Daesra ... or even herself.

My Review:
I was so pumped to read this book! 

Author: Adrianne May 
Series: The Labyrinth #1
Read: April 21st, 2025 
Source: Bought 
Reason Why: Love her writing and it sounded really good, and it's a 2025 Retelling Reading Challenge Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book and a WoW Book! 
Publisher: Gallery Books 
Published:March 26th 2025
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars

Monday, April 21, 2025

Magical Readathon: Orilium Update 49

So I read my next book for Magical Readathon: Orilium, and it was Exquisite Ruin which was for the prompt Alchemy, and I'll be reading The Bane Witch next!

My Reading Journey:

The Summer I Ate the Rich by Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite
Prompt Fulfilled: Conjuration
Started On: April 1st
Finished On: April 1st, 10:28 AM
Pages Read: 400

The Dixon Rule by Elle Kennedy 
Prompt Fulfilled: Restoration
Started On: April 1st
Finished On: April 1st, 7:29 PM
Pages Read: 496

My Stolen Crown by Steffanie Holmes 
Prompt Fulfilled: Restoration
Started On: April 2nd
Finished On: April 2nd, 2:04 PM 
Pages Read: 384

My Secret Heart by Steffanie Holmes 
Prompt Fulfilled: Restoration
Started On: April 2nd
Finished On: April 2nd, 6:27 PM
Page Read: 386

My Broken Crown by Steffanie Holmes 
Prompt Fulfilled: Restoration
Started On: April 2nd
Finished On: April 2nd, 10:03 PM
Pages Read: 376

My Savage Empire by Steffanie Holmes
Prompt Fulfilled: Restoration
Started On: April 3rd
Finished On: April 3rd, 3:04 PM
Pages Read: 398

Mistress of Bones by Maria Z. Medina 
Prompt Fulfilled: Demonology
Started On: April 3rd
Finished On: April 3rd, 8:34 PM
Pages Read: 336

No Place Left to Hide by Megan Lally
Prompt Fulfilled: Apothecary Keeper 1
Started On: April 4th
Finished On: April 4th, 10:46 AM
Pages Read: 264

The Nightshade God by Hannah Whitten
Prompt Fulfilled: Psionics & Divination
Started On: April 4th
Finished On: April 4th, 8:39 PM
Pages Read: 480

Of Mice and Murder by Steffanie Holmes
Prompt Fulfilled: Art of Illusion
Started On: April 5th
Finished On: April 5th, 1:47 PM
Pages Read: 266

Pride and Premeditation by Steffanie Holmes
Prompt Fulfilled: Art of Illusion
Started On: April 5th
Finished On: April 5th, 7:17 PM
Pages Read: 308

Memoirs of a Garroter by Steffanie Holmes
Prompt Fulfilled: Art of Illusion
Started On: April 6th
Finished On: April 6th, 2:52 PM
Pages Read: 278

Prose and Cons by Steffanie Holmes
Prompt Fulfilled: Art of Illusion
Started On: April 6th
Finished On: April 6th, 6:19 PM
Pages Read: 288

A Novel Way to Die by Steffanie Holmes
Prompt Fulfilled: Art of Illusion
Started On: April 6th
Finished On: April 6th, 10:35 PM
Pages Read: 286

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green
Prompt Fulfilled: Inscription
Started On: April 7th
Finished On: April 7th, 10:48 AM
Pages Read: 351

XOXO by Axie Oh
Prompt Fulfilled: Lore
Started On: April 7th
Finished On: April 7th, 7:43 PM
Pages Read: 352

ASAP by Axie Oh
Prompt Fulfilled: Lore
Started On: April 8th
Finished On: April 8th, 8:25 PM
Pages Read: 352

Fearless by Lauren Roberts
Prompt Fulfilled: Apothecary Keeper 2
Started On: April 9th
Finished On: April 9th, 12:28 PM
Pages Read: 608

She Is Not Invisible by Marcus Sedgwick 
Prompt Fulfilled: Demonology
Started On: April 9th
Finished On: April 9th, 2:18 PM
Pages Read: 354

Dead River by Cyn Balog
Prompt Fulfilled: Inscription
Started On: April 9th
Finished On: April 9th, 8:38 PM
Pages Read: 256

Murder by Memory by Olivia Waite
Prompt Fulfilled: Animal Studies
Started On: April 10th
Finished On: April 10th, 8:03 AM
Pages Read: 112

The Stolen Bride by Gena Showalter and Jill Monroe 
Prompt Fulfilled: Alchemy
Started On: April 10th
Finished On: April 10th, 2:03 PM
Pages Read: 282

Nightingale by Amy Lukavics
Prompt Fulfilled: Lore
Started On: April 10th
Finished On: April 10th, 9:36 PM
Pages Read: 352

Alchemy and a Cup of Tea by Rebecca Thorne
Prompt Fulfilled: Shapeshifting
Started On: April 11th
Finished On: April 11th, 10:49 AM
Pages Read: 320

Pretty Girls Make Graves by Steffanie Holmes
Prompt Fulfilled: Alchemy
Started On: April 11th
Finished On: April 11th, 4:38 PM
Pages Read: 370

Brutal Boys Cry Blood by Steffanie Holmes
Prompt Fulfilled: Alchemy
Started On: April 11th
Finished On: April 11th, 11:47 PM
Pages Read: 424

Petals on the River by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss
Prompt Fulfilled: Bog Cataloger
Started On: April 12th
Finished On: April 12th, 3:03 PM
Pages Read: 560

What Happens in Amsterdam by Rachel Lynn Solomon
Prompt Fulfilled: Apothecary Keeper 1
Started On: April 12th
Finished On: April 12th, 11:08 PM
Pages Read: 384

The Scorpion and the Night Blossom by Amélie Wen Zhao
Prompt Fulfilled: Shapeshifting
Started On: April 13th
Finished On: April 13th, 12:04 PM
Pages Read: 400

Fireworks by Katie Cotugno 
Prompt Fulfilled: Inscription
Started On: April 13th
Finished On: April 13th, 10:11 PM
Pages Read: 336

Seoulmates by Susan Lee
Prompt Fulfilled: Conjuration
Started On: April 14th
Finished On: April 14th, 10:28 AM
Pages Read: 320

Arcana Academy by Elise Kova
Prompt Fulfilled: Psionics & Divination
Started On: April 14th
Finished On: April 14th, 3:48 PM
Pages Read: 576

The Shadow Bride by Shelby Mahurin
Prompt Fulfilled: Alchemy
Started On: April 14th
Finished On: April 14th, 11:03 PM
Pages Read: 624

My Best Friend's Honeymoon by Meryl Wilsner
Prompt Fulfilled: Bog Cataloger
Started On: April 15th
Finished On: April 15th, 10:39 AM
Pages Read: 304

The Coven Tendency by Zoe Hana Mikuta
Prompt Fulfilled: Psionics & Divination
Started On: April 15th
Finished On: April 15th, 2:39 PM
Pages Read: 384

Zomromcom by Olivia Dade
Prompt Fulfilled: Astronomy
Started On: April 15th
Finished On: April 15th, 9:54 PM
Pages R3ad: 416

A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor by Hank Green
Prompt Fulfilled: Restoration
Started On: April 16th
Finished On: April 16th, 11:04 AM
Pages Read: 464

Poison Flower by Steffanie Holmes
Prompt Fulfilled: Restoration
Started On: April 16th
Finished On: April 16th, 4:17 PM
Pages Read: 620

Poison Kiss by Steffanie Holmes
Prompt Fulfilled: Spells & Incantations
Started On: April 16th
Finished On: April 16th, 11:27 PM
Pages Read: 474

Daughter of No Worlds by Carissa Broadbent
Prompt Fulfilled: Astronomy
Started On: April 17th
Finished On: April 17th, 11:17 AM
Pages Read: 550

Express Male by Elizabeth Bevarly
Prompt Fulfilled: Alchemy
Started On: April 17th
Finished On: April 17th, 6:48 PM
Pages Read: 376

Overnight Male by Elizabeth Bevarly
Prompt Fulfilled: Spells & Incantations
Started On: April 17th
Finished On: April 17th, 10:53 PM
Pages Read: 340

Much Ado About Murder by Steffanie Holmes
Prompt Fulfilled: Art of Illusion
Started On: April 18th
Finished On: April 18th, 12:28 PM
Pages Read: 230

Crime and Publishing by Steffanie Holmes
Prompt Fulfilled: Art of Illusion
Started On: April 18th
Finished On: April 18th, 3:51 PM
Pages Read: 238

The Charlie Method by Elle Kennedy
Prompt Fulfilled: Animal Studies
Started On: April 19th
Finished On: April 19th, 5:58 PM
Pages Read: 528

The Seaside Library by Brenda Novak
Prompt Fulfilled: Bog Cataloger
Started On: April 20th
Finished On: April 20th, 1:17 PM
Pages Read: 400

Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit by Jaye Robin Brown
Prompt Fulfilled: Elemental Studies
Started On: April 20th
Finished On: April 20th, 6:07 PM
Pages Read: 437

Eliza, from Scratch by Sophia Lee
Prompt Fulfilled: Elemental Studies
Started On: April 20th
Finished On: April 20th, 10:21 PM
Pages Read: 320

Exquisite Ruin by AdriAnne May
Prompt Fulfilled: Alchemy
Started On: April 21st
Finished On: April 21st, 4:03 PM 
Pages Read: 384

The Bane Witch by Ava Morgyn
Prompt Fulfilled: Apothecary Keeper 2
Started On: April 21st
Currently On: Page 0 of 384

Prompts Left: Artificery, Astronomy, Conjuration, Elemental Studies, Animal Studies, Animal Studies, Demonology, Spells & Incantations, Conjuration, Elemental Studies, Spells & Incantation, Conjuration, Elemental Studies, Alchemy, Shapeshifting, Art of Illusion, Psionics & Divination
Read: 49
Pages Read: 17362

Sunday, April 20, 2025

Magical Readathon: Orilium Update 48

So I read my next book for Magical Readathon: Orilium, and it was Eliza, from Scratch which was for the prompt Elemental Studies, and I'll be reading Exquisite Ruin next!

My Reading Journey:

The Summer I Ate the Rich by Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite
Prompt Fulfilled: Conjuration
Started On: April 1st
Finished On: April 1st, 10:28 AM
Pages Read: 400

The Dixon Rule by Elle Kennedy 
Prompt Fulfilled: Restoration
Started On: April 1st
Finished On: April 1st, 7:29 PM
Pages Read: 496

My Stolen Crown by Steffanie Holmes 
Prompt Fulfilled: Restoration
Started On: April 2nd
Finished On: April 2nd, 2:04 PM 
Pages Read: 384

My Secret Heart by Steffanie Holmes 
Prompt Fulfilled: Restoration
Started On: April 2nd
Finished On: April 2nd, 6:27 PM
Page Read: 386

My Broken Crown by Steffanie Holmes 
Prompt Fulfilled: Restoration
Started On: April 2nd
Finished On: April 2nd, 10:03 PM
Pages Read: 376

My Savage Empire by Steffanie Holmes
Prompt Fulfilled: Restoration
Started On: April 3rd
Finished On: April 3rd, 3:04 PM
Pages Read: 398

Mistress of Bones by Maria Z. Medina 
Prompt Fulfilled: Demonology
Started On: April 3rd
Finished On: April 3rd, 8:34 PM
Pages Read: 336

No Place Left to Hide by Megan Lally
Prompt Fulfilled: Apothecary Keeper 1
Started On: April 4th
Finished On: April 4th, 10:46 AM
Pages Read: 264

The Nightshade God by Hannah Whitten
Prompt Fulfilled: Psionics & Divination
Started On: April 4th
Finished On: April 4th, 8:39 PM
Pages Read: 480

Of Mice and Murder by Steffanie Holmes
Prompt Fulfilled: Art of Illusion
Started On: April 5th
Finished On: April 5th, 1:47 PM
Pages Read: 266

Pride and Premeditation by Steffanie Holmes
Prompt Fulfilled: Art of Illusion
Started On: April 5th
Finished On: April 5th, 7:17 PM
Pages Read: 308

Memoirs of a Garroter by Steffanie Holmes
Prompt Fulfilled: Art of Illusion
Started On: April 6th
Finished On: April 6th, 2:52 PM
Pages Read: 278

Prose and Cons by Steffanie Holmes
Prompt Fulfilled: Art of Illusion
Started On: April 6th
Finished On: April 6th, 6:19 PM
Pages Read: 288

A Novel Way to Die by Steffanie Holmes
Prompt Fulfilled: Art of Illusion
Started On: April 6th
Finished On: April 6th, 10:35 PM
Pages Read: 286

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green
Prompt Fulfilled: Inscription
Started On: April 7th
Finished On: April 7th, 10:48 AM
Pages Read: 351

XOXO by Axie Oh
Prompt Fulfilled: Lore
Started On: April 7th
Finished On: April 7th, 7:43 PM
Pages Read: 352

ASAP by Axie Oh
Prompt Fulfilled: Lore
Started On: April 8th
Finished On: April 8th, 8:25 PM
Pages Read: 352

Fearless by Lauren Roberts
Prompt Fulfilled: Apothecary Keeper 2
Started On: April 9th
Finished On: April 9th, 12:28 PM
Pages Read: 608

She Is Not Invisible by Marcus Sedgwick 
Prompt Fulfilled: Demonology
Started On: April 9th
Finished On: April 9th, 2:18 PM
Pages Read: 354

Dead River by Cyn Balog
Prompt Fulfilled: Inscription
Started On: April 9th
Finished On: April 9th, 8:38 PM
Pages Read: 256

Murder by Memory by Olivia Waite
Prompt Fulfilled: Animal Studies
Started On: April 10th
Finished On: April 10th, 8:03 AM
Pages Read: 112

The Stolen Bride by Gena Showalter and Jill Monroe 
Prompt Fulfilled: Alchemy
Started On: April 10th
Finished On: April 10th, 2:03 PM
Pages Read: 282

Nightingale by Amy Lukavics
Prompt Fulfilled: Lore
Started On: April 10th
Finished On: April 10th, 9:36 PM
Pages Read: 352

Alchemy and a Cup of Tea by Rebecca Thorne
Prompt Fulfilled: Shapeshifting
Started On: April 11th
Finished On: April 11th, 10:49 AM
Pages Read: 320

Pretty Girls Make Graves by Steffanie Holmes
Prompt Fulfilled: Alchemy
Started On: April 11th
Finished On: April 11th, 4:38 PM
Pages Read: 370

Brutal Boys Cry Blood by Steffanie Holmes
Prompt Fulfilled: Alchemy
Started On: April 11th
Finished On: April 11th, 11:47 PM
Pages Read: 424

Petals on the River by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss
Prompt Fulfilled: Bog Cataloger
Started On: April 12th
Finished On: April 12th, 3:03 PM
Pages Read: 560

What Happens in Amsterdam by Rachel Lynn Solomon
Prompt Fulfilled: Apothecary Keeper 1
Started On: April 12th
Finished On: April 12th, 11:08 PM
Pages Read: 384

The Scorpion and the Night Blossom by Amélie Wen Zhao
Prompt Fulfilled: Shapeshifting
Started On: April 13th
Finished On: April 13th, 12:04 PM
Pages Read: 400

Fireworks by Katie Cotugno 
Prompt Fulfilled: Inscription
Started On: April 13th
Finished On: April 13th, 10:11 PM
Pages Read: 336

Seoulmates by Susan Lee
Prompt Fulfilled: Conjuration
Started On: April 14th
Finished On: April 14th, 10:28 AM
Pages Read: 320

Arcana Academy by Elise Kova
Prompt Fulfilled: Psionics & Divination
Started On: April 14th
Finished On: April 14th, 3:48 PM
Pages Read: 576

The Shadow Bride by Shelby Mahurin
Prompt Fulfilled: Alchemy
Started On: April 14th
Finished On: April 14th, 11:03 PM
Pages Read: 624

My Best Friend's Honeymoon by Meryl Wilsner
Prompt Fulfilled: Bog Cataloger
Started On: April 15th
Finished On: April 15th, 10:39 AM
Pages Read: 304

The Coven Tendency by Zoe Hana Mikuta
Prompt Fulfilled: Psionics & Divination
Started On: April 15th
Finished On: April 15th, 2:39 PM
Pages Read: 384

Zomromcom by Olivia Dade
Prompt Fulfilled: Astronomy
Started On: April 15th
Finished On: April 15th, 9:54 PM
Pages R3ad: 416

A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor by Hank Green
Prompt Fulfilled: Restoration
Started On: April 16th
Finished On: April 16th, 11:04 AM
Pages Read: 464

Poison Flower by Steffanie Holmes
Prompt Fulfilled: Restoration
Started On: April 16th
Finished On: April 16th, 4:17 PM
Pages Read: 620

Poison Kiss by Steffanie Holmes
Prompt Fulfilled: Spells & Incantations
Started On: April 16th
Finished On: April 16th, 11:27 PM
Pages Read: 474

Daughter of No Worlds by Carissa Broadbent
Prompt Fulfilled: Astronomy
Started On: April 17th
Finished On: April 17th, 11:17 AM
Pages Read: 550

Express Male by Elizabeth Bevarly
Prompt Fulfilled: Alchemy
Started On: April 17th
Finished On: April 17th, 6:48 PM
Pages Read: 376

Overnight Male by Elizabeth Bevarly
Prompt Fulfilled: Spells & Incantations
Started On: April 17th
Finished On: April 17th, 10:53 PM
Pages Read: 340

Much Ado About Murder by Steffanie Holmes
Prompt Fulfilled: Art of Illusion
Started On: April 18th
Finished On: April 18th, 12:28 PM
Pages Read: 230

Crime and Publishing by Steffanie Holmes
Prompt Fulfilled: Art of Illusion
Started On: April 18th
Finished On: April 18th, 3:51 PM
Pages Read: 238

The Charlie Method by Elle Kennedy
Prompt Fulfilled: Animal Studies
Started On: April 19th
Finished On: April 19th, 5:58 PM
Pages Read: 528

The Seaside Library by Brenda Novak
Prompt Fulfilled: Bog Cataloger
Started On: April 20th
Finished On: April 20th, 1:17 PM
Pages Read: 400

Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit by Jaye Robin Brown
Prompt Fulfilled: Elemental Studies
Started On: April 20th
Finished On: April 20th, 6:07 PM
Pages Read: 437

Eliza, from Scratch by Sophia Lee
Prompt Fulfilled: Elemental Studies
Started On: April 20th
Finished On: April 20th, 10:21 PM
Pages Read: 320

Exquisite Ruin by AdriAnne May
Prompt Fulfilled: Alchemy
Started On: April 21st
Currently On: Page 0 of 384

Prompts Left: Artificery, Astronomy, Conjuration, Elemental Studies, Animal Studies, Animal Studies, Demonology, Spells & Incantations, Conjuration, Elemental Studies, Spells & Incantation, Conjuration, Elemental Studies, Alchemy, Shapeshifting, Art of Illusion, Psionics & Divination
Read: 48
Pages Read: 16978