Words I Write Crazy: Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Showing posts with label Hannah Nicole Maehrer. Show all posts

Monday, August 11, 2025

It's Monday! What Are You Reading #740, August 11th

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 #739
Teaser Tuesday #747
WWW Wednesday #747
WOW #743
Will the Time Come #740
Third Sentence Thursday #730
Random Reads #716
First Lines Friday #743
Book Blogger Hop #409

Monthly ARC's Update 126
The Reward Challenge Update #725
Wheel of TBR #272
How Well I Stuck to It #577
Wrote that Review Update #574

Week 32 Reviews:
You Belong Here

Grave Flowers

Party of Liars

House of the Beast

Accomplice of the Villain

The Fallen & the Kiss of Dusk

A Mouthful of Dust

A Touch of Treachery

The Orc and the Innkeeper

All Fun and Games

Magical Readathon: Orilium:

ARC August:

Random:
Hannah Nicole Maehrer Author Page

R.I.P. Jax Paarsmarkt

OK, so I got 35 posts in 7 days, and that was about what I expected. It was hard, putting Jax down, and I miss him so much, but he's not in pain anymore. I have been reading a bit slower since then, but I needed that, and we'll see what this week brings. What about you guys? Happy reading!

So this week I want to read whatever I want!

Saturday, August 9, 2025

Week 32 Review: Accomplice to the Villain

From Goodreads:

Once Upon a Time meets The Office in Hannah Nicole Maehrer's laugh-out-loud viral TikTok series turned novel, about the sunshine assistant to an Evil Villain…and their unexpected romance.

REWARD OFFERED: Apprentice to The Villain wanted for treason (light), magical property damage (alleged), and one incident involving a weaponized scone (accurate). Frequently seen with a grumpy frog (crowned, judgmental). Answers to "Evie" or "Stop that."

Evie Sage didn't mean to become the right-hand woman to the kingdom's most terrifying villain. One minute, she was applying for an entry-level position that promised "light paperwork and occasional beheadings," and the next, she was knee-deep in magical mayhem, murder plots, and an entirely inappropriate crush on her brooding, sharp-jawed, walking disaster of a boss.

Now, with a magical prophecy unraveling, assassins showing up in the break room, and a suspicious amount of frogs wearing crowns, Evie has to figure out how to survive her job without setting the kingdom on fire—or her dignity, which is hanging by a very sarcastic thread.

Being evil-adjacent was never part of the five-year plan. But then again…neither was falling for The Villain.

A magical office comedy with grumpy bosses, snarky frogs, and definitely-not-feelings.

My Review:

Author: Hannah Niccole Maehrer
Series: Assistant to the Villain #3
Read: August 5th, 2025
Source: Ebook.bike
Reason Why: Love her writing and this series, and it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book and a WoW Book!
Publisher: Entangled: Red Tower Books
Published: August 5th 2025

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Wednesday, August 6, 2025

WWW Wednesday #747, August 6th

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 The Fallen & the Kiss of Dusk, and it's so good!

I read Accomplice to the Villain it was such a good sequel!

I'm going to be reading A Mouthful of Dust, and I can't wat, it sounds terrific! And I'm going to need it, because today, we're putting down Jax, so I'll definitely need the distraction.

What about you guys? Happy reading!

Monday, August 4, 2025

Hannah Nicole Maehrer Author Page

The Story: There was a bunch of buzz for Assistant to the Villain, from the publisher of Fourth Wing, and it sounded really good, and it was, and I've loved all the books in the series, and I can't wait to read more by Hannah Nicole Maehrer!

Website

Series: Assistant to the Villain.

Assistant to the Villain: Assistant to the Villain and her site, my review, Apprentice to the Villain and her site, my review, Accomplice to the Villain and her site, my review.

Wednesday, July 23, 2025

Waiting on Wednesday #741, July 23rd

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

Kingdom of Tomorrow by Gena Showalter

Expected Publication: August 5th, 2025
From Goodreads:
From New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter comes a fusion of modern and fantastical worlds, where a young woman must navigate a secret society, uncover a shocking enemy…and resist an undeniable attraction.

Twenty-year-old Arden Roosa knows only Ourland. Two worlds split and stitched together, with broken pieces from each, statues of fallen gods, and heavenly artifacts that are worshipped…or feared.

But nothing is more fearsome than the night.

A strange madness haunts the darkest hours, turning innocents into gleeful killers. Arden does her best to stay safe, until she reads a book written about her life―The Book of Arden―and everything changes.

Forced to join Fort Bala Royal Academy, Arden is paired with the ruthless High Prince Cyrus Dolion. But while he trains her for combat against a mystical adversary, she can’t deny the sparks burning between them.

If her panic attacks and war games aren’t enough, Arden is also tapped to join the Tome Society, rumored guardians of an invisible library with books that foretell the future. But the more she learns about the society, the less she understands about Ourland, the gods…and the person she’s destined to be.

Scorched Earth by Danielle L. Jensen

Expected Publication: August 5th, 2025
From Goodreads:
The thrilling finale in Danielle L. Jensen's Dark Shores series, which Sarah J. Maas calls "everything I look for in a fantasy novel."

Lydia and Killian escaped their enemy’s grasp, but not without consequences. While they race to destroy the blight, Lydia fights an internal war against the Corrupter’s influence knowing defeat means death for those she loves. Tormented by a battle that can’t be won with blades, Killian must find the queen they risked everything to rescue without falling prey to Corrupter’s weapons, both living and dead.

Teriana and Marcus thwarted assassination, but now must live with the dark truths that have been revealed. As Teriana hunts for allies, she must face the dire circumstances of her imprisoned people, driving her to strike a dangerous deal with the Empire. Consumed by guilt over his crimes, Marcus embarks on an ambitious campaign to save those he condemned, which risks him becoming the conqueror the Empire desires him to be.

With the blight consuming everything in its path and the Empire crushing everyone who stands before it, Reath is falling beneath the tide of evil. Secrets will be revealed that break hearts even as they forge new alliances, but only the greatest sacrifices of all will turn the tide in the battle for the liberty of every nation on Reath.

Accomplice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Expected Publication: August 5th, 2025
From Goodreads:
THE INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES

Once Upon a Time meets The Office in Hannah Nicole Maehrer’s laugh-out-loud viral TikTok series turned novel, about the sunshine assistant to an Evil Villain…and their unexpected romance.

REWARD OFFERED: Apprentice to The Villain wanted for treason (light), magical property damage (alleged), and one incident involving a weaponized scone (accurate). Frequently seen with a grumpy frog (crowned, judgmental). Answers to “Evie” or “Stop that.”

Evie Sage didn’t mean to become the right-hand woman to the kingdom’s most terrifying villain. One minute, she was applying for an entry-level position that promised “light paperwork and occasional beheadings,” and the next, she was knee-deep in magical mayhem, murder plots, and an entirely inappropriate crush on her brooding, sharp-jawed, walking disaster of a boss.

Now, with a magical prophecy unraveling, assassins showing up in the break room, and a suspicious amount of frogs wearing crowns, Evie has to figure out how to survive her job without setting the kingdom on fire—or her dignity, which is hanging by a very sarcastic thread.

Being evil-adjacent was never part of the five-year plan. But then again…neither was falling for The Villain.

A magical office comedy with grumpy bosses, snarky frogs, and definitely-not-feelings.

The Fallen & the Kiss of Dusk by Carissa Broadbent

Expected Publication: August 5th, 2025
From Goodreads:
New York Times bestselling author and BookTok sensation Carissa Broadbent returns with a brand new novel in the Crowns of Nyaxia series, The Fallen & the Kiss of Dusk.

Mische made the ultimate sacrifice to save those she loves – and plunged the world into an eternal night. Now, imprisoned by the gods and obsessed with revenge, Asar is desperate to find her again.

When a goddess offers them a final path to redemption – and back to each other – Asar and Mische embark on an extraordinary mission. Together, they must seize the power of the god of death so Asar may do the impossible: ascend to true divinity.

Their journey will take them through mortal and immortal realms, alongside both old friends and ruthless enemies. But as the underworld teeters on the brink of collapse and the gods prepare for a war, Asar and Mische must decide what they are willing to sacrifice for the power to defy death. In a game of vengeful gods and ancient betrayals, there are some debts that even love may not be able to repay.

The Blonde Who Came in From the Cold by Ally Carter

Expected Publication: August 5th, 2025
From Goodreads:
Ten years ago, they joined the CIA.

Six years ago, he left the game.

Five years ago, they fell in love.

One year ago, she ran out into the cold with absolutely no intention of ever coming back.

And two minutes ago, they woke up, bloody and bruised and handcuffed together in the dark.

They don’t know where they are. They don’t know how they got there. And they have absolutely no idea who is after them or what this nameless, faceless villain wants.

The only thing that’s clear is that, after ten years of covers and chemistry, secrets and lies, these two rival spies have been sucked into their greatest mission yet, and now they’re going to have to team up to stay alive. (If they don’t kill each other first.)

Zomromcom by Olivia Dade

Expected Publication: August 5th, 2025
From Goodreads:
Teaming up with your neighbor during a zombie outbreak is a no-brainer, but if it turns out he’s a vampire . . . the stakes couldn’t be higher, in this infectious new paranormal romance from the USA Today bestselling author of Spoiler Alert.

When Edie Brandstrup attempts to save her sweet, seemingly harmless human neighbor from the first major zombie breach in two decades, she’s stunned to be saved by him—and his ridiculously large sword—instead. As it turns out, he's actually a super-old, super-surly vampire. But for all her neighbor's newly revealed cynicism and lethality, Gaston "Max" Boucher (yes, Gaston) is unexpectedly protective. He wants her to stay in his safety bunker until the breach is resolved. Edie can’t risk more innocent people getting killed, though—and Max won’t let her save them alone.

As they unravel a sinister conspiracy to set zombies loose on the world (again), the duo meet a host of lovable allies and discover they're not the only ones willing to fight for the future of humanity. Despite the awful timing, Edie finds herself falling for the vampire who’s helping her save the world . . . but all their dangerous plans could end their future before it even begins. As she and Max battle side by side, Edie must decide whether having a love worth living for also means having a love you'd die for—and, in a world that grows deadlier by the minute, whether that’s a risk she’s willing to take.

Mistress of Bones by Maria Z. Medina

Expected Publication: August 5th, 2025
From Goodreads:
"Like stepping into one of my favorite RPGs." - Susan Dennard, New York Times bestselling author of the Witchlands series

An epic, multi-POV debut fantasy perfect for fans of The Bone Shard Daughter and Six of Crows, where a necromancer trying to resurrect her sister gets embroiled in bigger, world-ending plans instead.

Necromancer Azul del Arroyo only wants one thing: to steal her sister back from Death by reclaiming her sister’s bones. But the Emissary of the Lord Death will do anything to stop her, no matter how alluring he finds her . . .

As their paths collide, they’re drawn into a deadly game of pawns and power with a count who begrudgingly works for a child king, a faceless witch who transforms the bones of gods into dreams she can peddle, and a long-lost half-brother with a secret of his own—and soon realize the fate of the lands is hanging in the balance.

For long ago the gods raised the continents, binding them with their own bones to keep humanity alive. But in an era when the gods’ sacrifice has been forgotten, Death might not be the only resentful god Azul must defy.

Swashbuckling, grand, and tragically romantic, Mistress of Bones is a can't-miss start to a duology about love, loss, and, of course, death.

August is kicking things off with some pretty excellent books! I've read a few and they were so good, and I love these authors and series, and I can't wait for them all to be out in the world! What about you guys? Happy reading!

Saturday, August 24, 2024

Week 34 Review: Apprentice to the Villain

From Goodreads:

NOTICE TO STAFF: There has been a disturbing increase in cheeriness, sprightly behavior, and overall optimism of late. Please resume your former dark, ominous terrors at your earliest convenience. ―Mgmt

Evie Sage has never been happier to be the assistant to The Villain. Who would have thought that working for an outrageously handsome (shhh, bad for his brand) evil overlord would be so rewarding? Still, the business of being bad is demanding, the forces of good are annoyingly persistent, and said forbidding boss is somewhat…er, out-of-evil-office.

But Rennedawn is in grave trouble, and all signs―Kingsley's included―point to catastrophe. Something peculiar is happening with the kingdom's magic, and it's made The Villain's manor vulnerable to their enemies...including their nemesis, the king.

Now it's time for Evie to face her greatest challenge: protecting The Villain's lair, all of his nefarious works, and maybe (provided no one finds out) the entire kingdom. No pressure, Evie.

It's time to step out of her comfort zone and learn new skills. Like treason. Dagger work. Conspiring with the enemy. It's all so…so…delightfully fun.

But what happens when the assistant to The Villain is ready to become his apprentice?

My Review:
Man, this was a fantastic sequel! After the way things ended with the first book, I had to know what was going to happen next! The humor in these books has been fantastic, and just a bit darker, but it started off tongue in cheek, and it continued on!

Evie has always put on this cheerful mask because she doesn't want to dwell in the bad parts of life. But with the Villain being held captive by the King, she's gone down a darker path, and oh, I'm nervous for her! Given everything that happens in this book, I hope things end up along the lines of the Villain, not a true bad guy!

There was a lot of clever goings on in this book, from Evie's plan to free the Villain, to following along the clues left behind by her mom, including answering a riddle while intoxicated. Plus there was the same amount of humour, though maybe it was a tad darker. It all came together for a really entertaining read!

While that ending doesn't technically qualify as a cliffhanger, they're not in immediate danger, but their circumstances have taken a turn for the worse. Adding onto that was her brother's realization about the prophecy-that's a game-changer and I need to know what's going to come of it!

This was such a fun read, and I'm so glad that I read it, and I can't wait for book 3!

Author: Hannah Nicole Maehrer
Series: Assistant to the Villain #2
Read: August 23rd, 2024
Source: Ebook.bike
Reason Why: Loved the first book, and it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2024 Book and a WoW Book!
Publisher: Entangled: Red Tower Books
Published: August 6th 2024

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Friday, August 23, 2024

Bout of Books Update 13

So yeah, I've finished my next book for Bout of Books, and it was Apprentice to the Villain, and I'll be reading The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco next!

My Reading Journey:

The Lightness of Hands by Jeff Garvin

Started On: August 19th

Finished On: August 19th, 4:03 PM

Pages Read: 400

Most Ardently by Gabe Cole Novoa

Started On: August 19th

Finished On: August 19th, 11:01 PM

Pages Read: 320

The Will of the Many by James Islington

Started On: August 20th

Finished On: August 20th, 12:18 PM

Pages Read: 641

Bitter Is the Heart by Mina Hardy

Started On: August 20th

Finished On: August 20th, 2:04 PM

Pages Read: 304

A Court of Honey and Ash by Shannon Mayer and Kelly St. Clare

Started On: August 20th

Finished On: August 20th, 11:20 PM

Pages Read: 420

Meet Me Here by Bryan Bliss

Started On: August 21st

Finished On: August 21st, 4:03 PM

Pages Read: 272

Wisteria by Adalyn Grace

Started On: August 21st

Finished On: August 21st, 10:20 PM

Pages Read: 432

Legend of the Lakes by Clara O'Connor

Started On: August 22nd

Finished On: August 22nd, 2:36 PM

Pages Read: 272

This Book Kills by Ravena Kaur Guron

Started On: August 22nd

Finished On: August 22nd, 4:39 PM

Pages Read: 384

The Sight by Chloe Neill

Started On: August 22nd

Finished On: August 22nd, 10:35 PM

Pages Read: 340

Phantasm by Kaylie Smith

Started On: August 23rd

Finished On: August 23rd, 11:39 AM

Pages Read: 462

The Diminished by Kaitlyn Sage Patterson

Started On: August 23rd

Finished On: August 23rd, 3:18 PM

Pages Read: 464

Apprentice to the Villain bry Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Started On: August 23rd

Finished On: August 23d, 7:03 PM

Pages Read: 368

The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco by Michelle Chouinard

Started On: August 23rd

Currently On: Page 0 of 336

Goals: 10
Read: 13
Pages Read: 4979

Bout of Books Update 12

So yeah, I've finished my next book for Bout of Books, and it was The Diminished, and I'll be reading Apprentice to the Villain next!

My Reading Journey:

The Lightness of Hands by Jeff Garvin

Started On: August 19th

Finished On: August 19th, 4:03 PM

Pages Read: 400

Most Ardently by Gabe Cole Novoa

Started On: August 19th

Finished On: August 19th, 11:01 PM

Pages Read: 320

The Will of the Many by James Islington

Started On: August 20th

Finished On: August 20th, 12:18 PM

Pages Read: 641

Bitter Is the Heart by Mina Hardy

Started On: August 20th

Finished On: August 20th, 2:04 PM

Pages Read: 304

A Court of Honey and Ash by Shannon Mayer and Kelly St. Clare

Started On: August 20th

Finished On: August 20th, 11:20 PM

Pages Read: 420

Meet Me Here by Bryan Bliss

Started On: August 21st

Finished On: August 21st, 4:03 PM

Pages Read: 272

Wisteria by Adalyn Grace

Started On: August 21st

Finished On: August 21st, 10:20 PM

Pages Read: 432

Legend of the Lakes by Clara O'Connor

Started On: August 22nd

Finished On: August 22nd, 2:36 PM

Pages Read: 272

This Book Kills by Ravena Kaur Guron

Started On: August 22nd

Finished On: August 22nd, 4:39 PM

Pages Read: 384

The Sight by Chloe Neill

Started On: August 22nd

Finished On: August 22nd, 10:35 PM

Pages Read: 340

Phantasm by Kaylie Smith

Started On: August 23rd

Finished On: August 23rd, 11:39 AM

Pages Read: 462

The Diminished by Kaitlyn Sage Patterson

Started On: August 23rd

Finished On: August 23rd, 3:18 PM

Pages Read: 464

Apprentice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Started On: August 23rd

Currently On: Page 0 of 368

Goals: 10
Read: 12
Pages Read: 4611

Wednesday, July 10, 2024

Waiting on Wednesday #687, July 10th

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

Arkangel by James Rollins

Expected Publication: August 6th, 2024
From Goodreads:
From the #1 New York Times master of international thrillers comes the story of a global hunt across the top of world, pitting nation against nation, as ancient myths of a lost continent prove all too real. The execution of a Vatican archivist within the shadow of the Kremlin exposes a conspiracy going back three centuries—to the bloody era of the Russian Tsars. Before his murder, he manages to dispatch a coded message, a warning of a terrifying threat, one tied to a secret buried within the Golden Library of Tsars, a vast and treasured archive that had vanished into history. As combative forces race for the truth behind this death and alarming discovery, Sigma Force is summoned to aid in the search—not only for this missing trove of ancient books, but to follow a trail far into the Arctic, to search for the truth about a lost continent and a revelation that could ignite a global war. But Sigma Force has its own difficulties at home after an explosive attack on the National Mall—one aimed at the heart of their covert agency—has left them vulnerable and exposed. The growing conflict—both on Russian soil and deep in the Arctic—will reignite a centuries-old war between the newly resurgent Russian Orthodox Church and the Vatican, while sabers rattle across the nations of the Arctic Circle, threatening to turn those icy seas into a fiery conflagration. Facing enemies on all sides, it will be up to Commander Gray Pierce and Sigma Force to unravel a mystery going back millennia—and uncover the truth about a lost civilization and an arcane treasure that could save the planet…or destroy it.

Cast in Atonement by Michelle Sagara

Expected Publication: August 6th, 2024
From Goodreads:
In the City of Elantra, only one holds the key to peace—or eternal darkness.

At the end of three long wars, Bellusdeo is the last of her kind, the sole surviving female Dragon in the City of Elantra. When she appears one evening on the doorstep of her former roommate, Corporal Kaylin Neya, her demeanor is dreadful—more so than what’s expected of the Dragons’ notoriously tempestuous temperament. Kaylin’s new roommate, Mrs. Erickson, is quick to see the reason for Bellusdeo’s despair—the eight ghosts of the Dragon’s dead sisters, chained to her and unseen. Pleading for release, revenge and, above all, peace.

Now Kaylin and Mrs. Erickson must embark on a perilous journey, from the hallowed halls of the Academia to the depths of forbidden magic, to confront the very essence of mortality itself. Can Kaylin help release the untapped power within Mrs. Erickson to save Bellusdeo’s sisters…or will unlocking the past plunge the realm into an unfathomable darkness forever?

Dark Restraint by Katee Robert

Expected Publication: August 6th, 2024
From Goodreads:
Ariadne Vitalis is in trouble. She's betrayed her father―and his benefactor―and now she's left to rely on the questionable mercy of Olympus to keep her safe. As with everything in this city, mercy comes with a price. For Ariadne, that means a marriage to Dionysus. She has no choice but to agree, even if there's only one man she's ever wanted―a man she's feared just as much as she desires. The Minotaur never had any illusions about Minos's plans. He was willing to get his hands dirty as long as the old man kept his word―at the end of this, the Minotaur would be given Ariadne as a reward. Nowhere in that deal was her walking down the aisle to a different man. She's meant for him, and he means to have her. Ariadne knows better than to encourage the Minotaur. Her relationship with her new fiancé might be more friendship than burning passion, but she is all too aware of how much fiery passion can hurt. She and the Minotaur are no good for each other. She can never forgive him for what he's done, and he can never change. But when his hands are on her body and his wicked words are whispered in her ear, she might just be willing to let all of Olympus burn…

Fire and Bones by Kathy Reichs

Expected Publication: August 6th, 2024
From Goodreads:
It’s never easy working fire scenes, Tempe thinks. Called to Washington, DC, to analyze the victims of a building set ablaze amid mysterious circumstances, she sees all her misgivings justified. The building site is in Foggy Bottom, a neighborhood with a colorful past and present, and the property’s ownership becomes even more suspicious when Tempe delves into its past. The pieces start falling into place strangely and quickly, and, sensing a good story, Tempe teams with a new ally, telejournalist Ivy Doyle. Soon the duo learns that back in the thirties and forties the home was the hangout of a group of bootleggers and racketeers known as the Foggy Bottom Gang. Though interesting, this fact seems irrelevant—until the son of a Foggy Bottom gang member is shot dead at his farm in Fairfax County, Virginia. Coincidence? Targeted attacks? So many questions. As Tempe and Ivy dig deeper, an arrest is finally made. Then another Foggy Bottom Gang-linked property burns to the ground, claiming one more victim. Slowly, Tempe’s instincts begin pointing to the somehow, her moves since coming to Washington have been anticipated in advance, and every path forward seems to bring with it a lethal threat.

Full Speed to a Crash Landing by Beth Revis

Expected Publication: August 6th, 2024
From Goodreads:
Ada Lamarr may have gotten to the spaceship wreck first, but looter’s rights won’t get her far when she’s got a hole in the side of her ship and her spacesuit is almost out of air. Fortunately for her, help arrives in the form of a government salvage crew—and while they reluctantly rescue her from certain death, they are not pleased to have an unexpected passenger along on their classified mission.

But Ada doesn’t care—all that matters to her is enjoying their fine food and sweet, sweet oxygen—until Rian White, the government agent in charge, starts to suspect that there’s more to Ada than meets the eye. He’s not wrong—but he’s so pretty that Ada is perfectly happy to keep him paying attention to her—at least until she can complete the job she was sent to pull off. But as quick as Ada is, Rian might be quicker—and she may not be entirely sure who’s manipulating who until it’s too late…

A phenomenally fun novella that kicks off a trilogy of sexy space heists and romantic tension, Full Speed to a Crash Landing is packed with great characters and full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the end.

Death at Morning House by Maureen Johnson

Expected Publication: August 6th, 2024
From Goodreads:
From the bestselling author of the Truly Devious books, Maureen Johnson, comes a new stand-alone YA about a teen who uncovers a mystery while working as a tour guide on an island and must solve it before history repeats itself.

The fire wasn’t Marlowe Wexler’s fault. Dates should be hot, but not hot enough to warrant literal firefighters. Akilah, the girl Marlowe has been in love with for years, will never go out with her again. No one dates an accidental arsonist.

With her house-sitting career up in flames, it seems the universe owes Marlowe a new summer job, and that’s how she ends up at Morning House, a mansion built on an island in the 1920s and abandoned shortly thereafter. It’s easy enough, giving tours. Low risk of fire. High chance of getting bored talking about stained glass and nut cutlets and Prohibition.

Oh, and the deaths. Did anyone mention the deaths?

Maybe this job isn’t such a gift after all. Morning House has a horrific secret that’s been buried for decades, and now the person who brought her here is missing.

All it takes is one clue to set off a catastrophic chain of events. One small detail, just like a spark, could burn it all down—if someone doesn’t bury Marlowe first.

The Pairing by Casey McQuiston

Expected Publication: August 6th, 2024
From Goodreads:
Theo and Kit have been a lot of things: childhood best friends, crushes, in love, and now estranged exes. After a brutal breakup on the transatlantic flight to their dream European food and wine tour, they exited each other's lives once and for all.

Time apart has done them good. Theo has found confidence as a hustling bartender by night and aspiring sommelier by day, with a long roster of casual lovers. Kit, who never returned to America, graduated as the reigning sex god of his pastry school class and now bakes at one of the finest restaurants in Paris. Sure, nothing really compares to what they had, and life stretches out long and lonely ahead of them, but—yeah. It's in the past.

All that remains is the unused voucher for the European tour that never happened, good for 48 months after its original date and about to expire. Four years later, it seems like a great idea to finally take the trip. Solo. Separately.

It's not until they board the tour bus that they discover they've both accidentally had the exact same idea, and now they're trapped with each other for three weeks of stunning views, luscious flavors, and the most romantic cities of France, Spain, and Italy. It's fine. There's nothing left between them. So much nothing that, when Theo suggests a friendly wager to see who can sleep with their hot Italian tour guide first, Kit is totally game. And why stop there? Why not a full-on European hookup competition?

But sometimes a taste of everything only makes you crave what you can't have.

A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher

Expected Publication: August 6th, 2024
From Goodreads:
A dark retelling of the Brothers Grimm's Goose Girl, rife with secrets, murder, and forbidden magic

Cordelia knows her mother is unusual. Their house doesn’t have any doors between rooms, and her mother doesn't allow Cordelia to have a single friend—unless you count Falada, her mother's beautiful white horse. The only time Cordelia feels truly free is on her daily rides with him. But more than simple eccentricity sets her mother apart. Other mothers don’t force their daughters to be silent and motionless for hours, sometimes days, on end. Other mothers aren’t sorcerers.

After a suspicious death in their small town, Cordelia’s mother insists they leave in the middle of the night, riding away on Falada’s sturdy back, leaving behind all Cordelia has ever known. They arrive at the remote country manor of a wealthy older man, the Squire, and his unwed sister, Hester. Cordelia’s mother intends to lure the Squire into marriage, and Cordelia knows this can only be bad news for the bumbling gentleman and his kind, intelligent sister.

Hester sees the way Cordelia shrinks away from her mother, how the young girl sits eerily still at dinner every night. Hester knows that to save her brother from bewitchment and to rescue the terrified Cordelia, she will have to face down a wicked witch of the worst kind.

Apprentice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Expected Publication: August 6th, 2024
From Goodreads:
From the creator of the viral TikTok videos about the sunshine assistant to the evil villain and their unexpected romance comes the second book in the hotly-anticipated fantasy romance series.

Readers can't wait to get their hands on a

'I have never been so hyped for a book before '
'I will be buying this book so quickly even the dragon will be spooked!! '
'OMG finally!! I can't wait to have it in my hands!'
'As soon as it is out, I am going to run to buy it!! Cannot wait. '
' Giggling. Kicking my feet. I can't wait to read this! '
' I love this series so much , I've been hooked since the beginning. I'm so excited for the book .'
' I love Evie and the Villain so I NEED it .'

A Scandal in Mayfair by Katharine Schellman

Expected Publication: August 6th, 2024
From Goodreads:
Sometimes danger lurks in plain sight, and in the cutthroat London Season socialite Lily Adler must race against time to catch a killer.

Fans of Bridgerton will delight in this Regency-era mystery featuring an intrepid sleuth, plenty of intrigue, and a touch of romance.

London, 1817. The London Season is beginning once more, and Lily Adler’s return to her home on Half Moon Street feels different this year. No longer a recent widow, she has a life and friends waiting for her. Lily also has new responsibilities in the form of her protégée Amelia, the sister of her longtime friend Jack Hartley, who is escaping her own brush with scandal and murder.

It doesn’t take long for Lily’s growing reputation as a lady of quality who can discreetly find what is missing or solve what is puzzling to bring a desperate young woman to her doorstep. But helping her means unraveling a tangled web of family secrets. Soon, a missing will, a dead body and the threat of blackmail leave Lily facing danger every way she turns.

The glittering society of Mayfair conceals many secrets, and the back alleys of London hide even more. Lily Adler will need to find the connection between them quickly if she wants to stop a killer before it’s too late.

Queen of Dreams by Kit Rocha

Expected Publication: August 6th, 2024
From Goodreads:
Three lovers with unbridled hope, uncanny dreams, and ancient powers join forces against the greatest evil in the world in a scorching fantasy by the authors of Consort of Fire.

Ash waited three thousand years for a consort who could break the Betrayer’s chains. Instead of one lover, he found Sachi and Zanya—the primordial powers that embody creation and destruction, reborn as humans. Now, his ancient enemy has returned to threaten everything he loves.

In the wake of her dazzling manifestation, Zanya seethes with magic and restless energy. Her command of the Endless Void will be a potent weapon in the coming war. To harness it, she’ll need to embrace the darkness within—but the scars of the past are holding her back.

Sachi’s unprecedented connection to the Dream deepens, leading her beyond the veil of reality…and into the heart of the Betrayer’s stronghold. Torn from her lovers, Sachi must use all her wit and cunning to survive the Betrayer’s treacherous court. Because he doesn’t simply want her. He covets the slumbering power she possesses—and plans to take it for his own.

Even if it ends their world.

Ami by S. Jae-Jones

Expected Publication: August 6th, 2024
From Goodreads:
When the Pillar blooms, the end of the world is not far behind. Li Ami was always on the outside—outside of family, outside of friendships, outside of ordinary magic. The odd and eccentric daughter of a former imperial magician, she has devoted her life to books because she finds them easier to read than people. Exiled to the outermost west of the Morning Realms, Ami has become the sole caretaker of her mentally ill father, whose rantings and ravings may be more than mere ramblings; they may be part of a dire prophecy. When her father is arrested for trespassing and stealing a branch from the sacred tree of the local monastery, Ami offers herself to the mysterious Beast in the castle, who is in need of someone who can translate a forbidden magical text and find a cure for the mysterious blight that is affecting the harvest of the land. Meanwhile, as signs of magical corruption arise throughout the Morning Realms, Jin Zhara begins to realize that she might be out of her element. She may have defeated a demon lord and uncovered her identity as the Guardian of Fire, but she’ll be more than outmatched in the coming elemental battle against the Mother of Ten Thousand Demons… unless she can find the other Guardians of Dawn. Her magic is no match for the growing tide of undead, and she needs the Guardian of Wood with power over life and death in order to defeat the revenants razing the countryside. The threat of the Mother of Ten Thousand Demons looms larger by the day, and the tenuous peace holding the Morning Realms together is beginning to unravel. Ami and Zhara must journey to the Root of the World in order to seal the demon portal that may have opened there and restore balance to an increasingly chaotic world.

Lady MacBeth by Ava Reid

Expected Publication: August 6th, 2024
From Goodreads:
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Ava Reid comes a reimagining of Lady Macbeth, Shakespeare’s most famous villainess, giving her a voice, a past, and a power that transforms the story men have written for her.

The Lady knows the stories: how her eyes induce madness in men.

The Lady knows she will be wed to the Scottish brute, who does not leave his warrior ways behind when he comes to the marriage bed.

The Lady knows his hostile, suspicious court will be a game of strategy, requiring all of her wiles and hidden witchcraft to survive.

But the Lady does not know her husband has occult secrets of his own. She does not know that prophecy girds him like armor. She does not know that her magic is greater and more dangerous, and that it will threaten the order of the world.

She does not know this yet. But she will.

Wow, the start of the month is just stacked in books that I'm so hyped for! I love these authors and the series, and I can't wait for these new releases! What about you guys? Happy reading!

Monday, October 30, 2023

It's Monday! What Are You Reading #647, October 30th

What happened in the past week:

Weekly Memes:
It's Monday! What Are You Reading #646
Teaser Tuesday #654
WWW Wednesday #654
WOW #650
Will the Time Come #647
Third Sentence Thursday #637
Random Reads #623
First Lines Friday #650
Book Blogger Hop #316

22 Books to Read in 2022 Update 15
The Reward Challenge Update #632
Wheel of TBR #179
How Well I Stuck to It #484
Wrote that Review Update #481

Week 43 Reviews:

Assistant to the Villain

Good Girls Die First

Everyone on This Train is a Suspect

One Foot in the Grave

Two Feet Under

Three Heartbeats Away

The Stranger Upstairs

The Last of August

Dial A for Aunties

Four Aunties and a Wedding

The Spirtglass Charade

Magical Readathon: Orilium:

Becca's BookoplAthon:

OK, so I got 45 posts in 7 days, and it was an OK week, I'm getting back into the swing of things again, but reviews are still suffering. But I'll catch up, even if it takes years again, though I hope to catch up again this year. What about you guys? Happy reading!

So this week I want to read A Fire in the Flesh!

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout comes book three in her Flesh and Fire series…

The only thing that can save the realms now is the one thing more powerful than the Fates.

After a startling betrayal ends with both Sera and the dangerously seductive ruler of the Shadowlands she has fallen madly in love with being held captive by the false King of the Gods, there is only one thing that can free Nyktos and prevent the forces of the Shadowlands from invading Dalos and igniting a War of Primals.

Convincing Kolis won’t be easy, though – not even with a lifetime of training. While his most favored Revenant is insistent that she is nothing more than a lie, Kolis’s erratic nature and twisted sense of honor leave her shaken to the core, and nothing could’ve prepared her for the cruelty of his Court or the shocking truths revealed. The revelations not only upend what she has understood about her duty and the very creation of the realms but also draw into question exactly what the true threat is. However, surviving Kolis is only one part of the battle. The Ascension is upon her, and Sera is out of time.

But Nyktos will do anything to keep Sera alive and give her the life she deserves. He’ll even risk the utter destruction of the realms, and that’s exactly what will happen if he doesn’t Ascend as the Primal of Life. Yet despite his desperate determination, their destinies may be out of their hands.

But there is that foreseen unexpected thread—the unpredictable, unknown, and unwritten. The only thing more powerful than the Fates…Update 40

Saturday, October 28, 2023

Week 43 Review: Assistant to the Villain

From Goodreads:

Once Upon a Time meets The Office in Hannah Maehrer's laugh-out-loud viral TikTok series turned novel, about the sunshine assistant to an Evil Villain…and their unexpected romance.

ASSISTANT WANTED: Notorious, high-ranking villain seeks loyal, levelheaded assistant for unspecified office duties, supporting staff for random mayhem, terror, and other Dark Things In General. Discretion a must. Excellent benefits.

With ailing family to support, Evie Sage's employment status isn't just important, it's vital. So when a mishap with Rennedawn's most infamous Villain results in a job offer—naturally, she says yes. No job is perfect, of course, but even less so when you develop a teeny crush on your terrifying, temperamental, and undeniably hot boss. Don't find evil so attractive, Evie.

But just when she's getting used to severed heads suspended from the ceiling and the odd squish of an errant eyeball beneath her heel, Evie suspects this dungeon has a huge rat…and not just the literal kind. Because something rotten is growing in the kingdom of Rennedawn, and someone wants to take the Villain—and his entire nefarious empire—out.

Now Evie must not only resist drooling over her boss but also figure out exactly who is sabotaging his work…and ensure he makes them pay.

After all, a good job is hard to find.

My Review:
This was such a fun read! I saw it getting a lot of hype, and it's from the same imprint as Fourth Wing, so yeah, I was game to check it out. And I had such a great time reading it, the narration of these two, the Villain and his assistant, I just loved their voices! Plus there was Kingsley and his signs!

The main plot of this book is who is betraying them to the king, why things are going wrong, and there's a few additional attempts on their lives, from information that only a select few should have. So you'd think it'd be easy. But it wasn't. The reveal of who it was though? I wasn't expecting that!

Evie needs a job, she's the one that has to support her family since her mom is gone and her dad is sick. She left the last one because her boss got handsy, and left her scarred. A chance encounter with the villain, however, changes things. I loved watching the two of them together, who from the outside had feelings for one another, but they just couldn't figure it out!

That ending though! I really need to know where things will go from here! It was just evil where things were left, but I'm excited to see what Evie's going to do! I am worried about the villain, given where were last saw him!

Loved reading this book, and I can't wait for the sequel!

Author: Hannah Nicole Maehrer
Series: Assistant to the Villain #1
Read: October 21st, 2023
Source: Bought
Reason Why: Sounded really great, and it's a DAC Book and a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2023 Book!
Publisher: Red Tower Books
Published: September 5th 20 23

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Saturday, October 21, 2023

Magical Readathon: Orilium Update 53

So I read my next book for Magical Readathon: Orilium, and it was Assistant to the Villain which was for the prompt Adventure Together, and I'll be reading Wandering Star next!

My Reading Journey:

Blackhearts by Nicole Castroman

Prompt Fulfilled: Turn Left

Started On: January 2nd

Finished On: January 2nd, 2:35 PM

Pages Read: 384

Fox Forever by Mary E. Pearson

Prompt Fulfilled: Turn Right

Started On: January 3rd

Finished On: January 3rd, 3:40 PM

Pages Read: 320

King of Battle and Blood by Scarlett St. Clair

Prompt Fulfilled: Turn Left

Started On: January 3rd

Finished On: January 3rd, 10:12 PM

Pages Read: 402

Dragon Bones by Patricia Briggs

Prompt Fulfilled: Turn Left

Started On: January 5th

Finished On: January 5th, 12:44 AM

Pages Read: 308

Lovely Bad Things by Trisha Wolfe

Prompt Fulfilled: Turn Left

Started On: January 6th

Finished On: January 6th, 6:10 PM

Pages Read: 386

Wrath & Mercy by Jessica Rubinkowski

Prompt Fulfilled: Turn Right

Started On: January 7th

Finished On: January 7th, 6:49 PM

Pages Read: 416

All Of Our Demise by Amanda Foody and Christine Lynn Herman

Prompt Fulfilled: Turn Right

Started On: January 13th

Finished On: January 13th, 4:30 PM

Pages Read: 480

The Accidental Pinup by Danielle Jackson

Prompt Fulfilled: Go the the Castle
Started On: February 9th

Finished On: February 9th, 8:18 PM

Pages Read: 320

A Show for Two by Tashie Bhuiyan

Prompt Fulfilled: Go the the Castle
Started On: February 25th

Finished On: February 25th, 6:35 PM

Pages Read: 416

A Tempest at Sea by Sherry Thomas

Prompt Fulfilled: Go Towards a Lake
Started On: February 25th

Finished On: February 25th, 10:11 PM

Pages Read: 336

Keeper of Enchanted Rooms by Charlie N. Holmberg

Prompt Fulfilled: Go the the Castle
Started On: February 26th

Finished On: February 26th, 2:51 M

Pages Read: 348

The Drowned Woods by Emily Lloyd-Jones

Prompt Fulfilled: Go to the Forest
Started On: February 26th

Finished On: February 26th, 8:30 PM

Pages Read: 352

Bitter Falls by Rachel Caine

Prompt Fulfilled: Go Towards a Lake
Started On: February 27th

Finished On: February 27th, 5:50 PM

Pages Read: 336

Heartbreak Bay by Rachel Caine

Prompt Fulfilled: Go Towards a Lake
Started On: February 27th

Finished On: February 27th, 9:35 PM

Pages Read: 336

The Queen's Price by Anne Bishop

Prompt Fulfilled: Fight a Giant

Started On: March 7th

Finished On: March 7th, 7:15 PM

Pages Read: 544

A Crown of Ivy and Glass by Claire Legrand

Prompt Fulfilled: Fight a Giant
Started On: March 8th

Finished On: March 8th, 7:20 PM

Pages Read: 560

Bonesmith by Nicki Pau Preto

Prompt Fulfilled: Fight a Wizard

Started On: March 11th

Finished On: March 11th, 7:20 PM

Pages Read: 464

A Day of Fallen Night by Samantha Shannon

Prompt Fulfilled: Fight a Giant

Started On: March 13th

Finished On: March 13th, 8:45 PM

Pages Read: 880

A Fire Endless by Rebecca Ross

Prompt Fulfilled: Fight a Giant
Started On: March 15th

Finished On: March 15th, 9:14 PM

Pages Read: 512

Magic Word by A.S. Fenichel

Prompt Fulfilled: Fight a Wizard

Started On: March 15th

Finished On: March 15th, 6:17 PM

Pages Read: 322

More Than Meets the Eye by Iris Johansen and Roy Johansen

Prompt Fulfilled: Fight a Wizard

Started On: March 24th

Finished On: March 24th, 1:54 PM

Pages Read: 432

Ghostly Game by Christine Feehan

Prompt Fulfilled: Stay in Orilum

Started On: May 2nd

Finished On: May 2nd, 7:55 PM
Pages Read: 400

Capture the Sun by Jessie Mihalik

Prompt Fulfilled: Stay at Orilum

Started On: May 3rd

Finished On: May 3rd, 8:00 PM

Pages Read: 432

Painted Devils by Margaret Owen

Prompt Fulfilled: Stay at Orilum

Started On: May 5th

Finished On: May 5th, 11:28 AM

Pages Read: 512

Girls Save the World in This One by Ash Parsons

Prompt Fulfilled: Travel to Kerador

Started On: May 6th

Finished On: May 6th, 5:21 PM

Pages Read: 448

Geekerella by Ashley Poston

Prompt Fulfilled: Stay at Orilum

Started On: May 7th

Finished On: May 7th, 12:19 PM

Pages Read: 336

The Princess and the Fangirl by Ashley Poston

Prompt Fulfilled: Stay at Orilum

Started On: May 7th

Finished On: May 7th, 5:32 PM

Pages Read: 336

Bookish and the Beast by Ashley Poston

Prompt Fulfilled: Stay at Orilum

Started On: May 7th

Finished On: May 7th, 9:27 PM

Pages Read: 320

Court of the Undying Seasons by AM Strickland

Prompt Fulfilled: Break Into the Main Lab

Started On: June 3rd

Finished On: June 3rd, 3:46 PM

Pages Read: 400

The Girl of Widow Hill by Megan Miranda

Prompt Fulfilled: Visit a Wizard Tower

Started On: June 6th

Finished On: June 6th, 9:54 PM

Pages Read: 336

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Prompt Fulfilled: Break Into the Main Lab

Started On: June 12th

Finished On: June 12th, 10:28 PM

Pages Read: 662

Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood

Prompt Fulfilled: Break Into the Main Lab

Started On: June 13th

Finished On: June 13th, 7:32 PM

Pages Read: 336

The Brightest Fell by Seanan McGuire

Prompt Fulfilled: Visit the Locked Library

Started On: June 18th

Finished On: june 18th, 2:39 PM

Pages Read: 368

Night and Silence by Seanan McGuire

Prompt Fulfilled: Visit the Locked Library

Started On: June 18th

Finished On: June 18th, 10:52 PM

Pages Read: 368

The Unkindest Tide by Seanan McGuire

Prompt Fulfilled: Visit the Locked Library

Started On: June 19th

Finished On: June 19th, 9:40 PM

Pages Read: 403

Yumi and the Nightmare Painter by Brandon Sanderson

Prompt Fulfilled: Pocket a Scroll of Light Summons

Started On: July 1st

Finished On: July 1st, 4:01 PM

Pages Read: 479

Garden of the Cursed by Katy Rose Pool