It's Monday! What Are You Reading #735, July 7th

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 #734
Teaser Tuesday #742
WWW Wednesday #742
WOW #738
Will the Time Come #735
Third Sentence Thursday #725
Random Reads #711
First Lines Friday #738
Book Blogger Hop #404

Monthly ARC's Update 122

The Reward Challenge Update #720
Wheel of TBR #267

How Well I Stuck to It #572
Wrote that Review Update #569

Week 27 Reviews:

The Revenant Games

The Death Mask

The Savior's Champion

The Savior's Sister

Across the Green Grass Fields

Where the Drowned Girls Go

In Mercy, Rain

Skeleton Song

Lost in the Moment and Found

Mislaid in Parts Half-Known

Stillhouse Lake

The Pairing 

Mirage City

Swallowing Darkness

Divine Misdemeanours

A Shiver of Light 

Terrors at the Gate

Isles of the Emberdark

Tenderly, I Am Devoured 

Bitter Spirits

Magical Readathon: Orilium: 

Update 43

Update 44

Update 45

Camp SeasonAthon: 

Update 14 and Wrap Up

Phase Out Your TBR: 

Phase Ten July 2025 Sign Up

Update 1

Update 2

Update 3

Update 4

Update 5

Random:

Book Battle July 2025 TBR

Margie Fuston Author Page

OK, so I got 38 posts in 7 days, and it was a pretty good week, though I have been sucked into playing a mobile game, and having less time for reading, let alone blogging, since I'm about a week behind right now, but I'm catching up! What about you guys? Happy reading!

So this week I want to read Through Gates of Garnet and Gold! 

A fan-favorite character returns in this action-packed instalment of the Hugo Award-winning Wayward Children series.

After Nancy was cast out of the Halls of the Dead and forced to enroll at Eleanor West's School for Wayward Children, she never believed she'd find her door again, and when she did, she didn't look back. She disappeared from the school to resume her place in the Halls, never intending to return.

Years have passed. A darkness has descended on the Halls, and the living statues who populate them are dying at the hands of the already dead. The Lord and Lady who rule the land are helpless to stop the slaughter, forcing Nancy to leave the Halls again, this time on purpose, as she attempts to seek much-needed help from her former schoolmates.

But who would volunteer to quest in a world where the dead roam freely?

And why are the dead so intent on adding to their number?

Week 27 Reviews: Swallowing Darkness, Divine Misdemeanors, A Shiver of Light

From Goodreads:
I am Meredith, princess of faerie, wielder of the hands of Flesh and Blood, and at long last, I am with child–twins, fathered by my royal guard. Though my uncle, Taranis, King of Light and Illusion, claims that he is the true father since he abducted me from my home, betrayed, and defiled me. And now he has branded my guards as a threat to my unborn children.

Bearing an heir has placed me halfway to my aunt's throne, that much closer to my reign over the Unseelie Court–and well ahead of her son, my cousin Cel, in this race. Now I must stay alive to see my children born and claim my place as queen.

But not all in faerie are pleased with the news, and conspirators from every court in the realm plot against me and mine. They seek to strip my guards, my lovers, from me by poisoned word or cold steel. But I still have supporters, and even friends, among the goblins and the sluagh, who will stand by me.

I am Meredith Nic Essus, and those who would defy and destroy me are destined to pay a terrible price–for I am truly my father's daughter. To protect what is mine, I will sacrifice anything–even if it means waging a great battle against my darkest enemies and making the most momentous decision ever made as princess of faerie.

From Goodreads:

You may know me best as Meredith Nic Essus, princess of faerie. Or perhaps as Merry Gentry, Los Angeles private eye. To protect my unborn children, I have turned my back on the crown, choosing exile in the human world with my beloved Frost and Darkness. Yet I cannot abandon my people. Someone is killing the fey, which has left the LAPD baffled and my guardsmen and me deeply disturbed. I thought I'd left the blood and politics behind in my own turbulent realm. But now I realize that evil knows no borders, and that nobody lives forever—even if they're magical.

From Goodreads:

I am Princess Meredith NicEssus. Legal name Meredith Gentry, because "Princess" looks so pretentious on a driver's license. I was the first faerie princess born on American soil, but I wouldn't be the only one for much longer...

Merry Gentry, ex–private detective, now full-time princess, knew she was descended from fertility goddesses, but when she learned she was about to have triplets, she began to understand what that might mean. Infertility has plagued the high ranks of faerie for centuries. Now nobles of both courts of faerie are coming to court Merry and her men, at their home in exile in the Western Lands of Los Angeles, because they will do anything to have babies of their own.

Taranis, King of Light and Illusion, is a more dangerous problem. He tried to seduce Merry and, failing that, raped her. He's using the human courts to sue for visitation rights, claiming that one of the babies is his. And though Merry knows she was already pregnant when he took her, she can't prove it.

To save herself and her babies from Taranis she will use the most dangerous powers in all of faerie: a god of death, a warrior known as the Darkness, the Killing Frost, and a king of nightmares. They are her lovers, and her dearest loves, and they will face down the might of the high courts of faerie—while trying to keep the war from spreading to innocent humans in Los Angeles, who are in danger of becoming collateral damage.

My first review of Swallowing Darkness, Divine Misdemeanors, A Shiver of Light

My second review of A Shiver of Light
My Review:
I've really enjoyed my reread of this series! I remembered almost none of it, so I'm really glad that I did this reread. I'm so excited for the newest book! 

Author: Laurell K. Hamilton
Series: Merry Gentry #7, 8, 9
Read: April 30th, 30th, 30th, 2017

Second Read: April 12th, 2019

Read: June 30th, 30th, July 1st, 2025
Source: Own
Reason Why: Rereading, and they're Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Books!
Publisher: Ballantine Books, Berkley
Published: November 4th 2008, December 8th 2009, June 3rd 2014

Swallowing Darkness:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Divine Misdemeanors:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

A Shiver of Light:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

WWW Wednesday #742, July 2nd

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 Isles of the Emberdark, and I'm loving it!

I read A Shiver of Light, and I really enjoyed reading it again!

I'm going to be reading Tenderly, I Am Devoured, and I can't wait! 

What about you guys? Happy reading!

Teaser Tuesday #742, July 1st

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Ambrosia of The Purple Booker. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Today's teaser comes from A Shiver of Light by Laurell K. Hamilton, page 25.

"I was descended from a handful of fertility deities, but I guess I really hadn't understood what that meant. I mean, there was fertile and then there was being able to get pregnant while you were already pregnant."

Yeah, that's not really the norm, and is pretty shocking! Must reread more now! What about you guys? Happy reading!

WWW Wednesday #741, June 25th

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 No Body No Crime, and I'm loving it!

I read A Tarnished Canvas, and it was such a great read! 

I'm going to be continuing my reread with Swallowing Darkness, and I can't wait! 

What about you guys? Happy reading!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading #733, June 23rd

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 #732
Teaser Tuesday #740
WWW Wednesday #740
WOW #736
Will the Time Come #733
Third Sentence Thursday #723
Random Reads #709
First Lines Friday #736
Book Blogger Hop #402

Monthly ARC's Update 120
The Reward Challenge Update #718

Wheel of TBR #265

How Well I Stuck to It #570
Wrote that Review Update #567

Week 25 Reviews:
Reduce! Reuse! Recycle!

Turns of Fate

A Caress of Twilight

Seduced by Moonlight

A Stroke of Midnight

Mistral's Kiss

A Lick of Frost

Camp SeasonAthon: 

Update 6

Update 7

OK, so I got 19 posts in 7 days, and it was a quiet week, I took it easy, and rested, which I needed. NOw for the next week! What about you guys? Happy reading!

So this week I want to read whatever I want! 

Week 25 Reviews: A Caress of Twilight, Seduced by Moonlight, A Stroke of Midnight, Mistral's Kiss, A Lick of Frost

From Goodreads:
"I am Princess Meredith, heir to a throne—if I can stay alive long enough to claim it."

After eluding relentless assassination attempts by Prince Cel, her cousin and rival for the Faerie crown, Meredith Gentry, Los Angeles private eye, has a whole new set of problems. To become queen, she must bear a child before Cel can father one of his own. But havoc lies on the horizon: people are dying in mysterious, frightening ways, and suddenly the very existence of the place known as Faerie is at grave risk. So now, while she enjoys the greatest pleasures of her life attempting to conceive a baby with the warriors of her royal guard, she must fend off an ancient evil that could destroy the very fabric of reality. And that's just her day job. . . 

From Goodreads:
I am Meredith Gentry, P.I. and Princess Merry, heir to the throne of Fairie. Now there are those among me who whisper I am more. They fear me even as they protect me. And who can blame them? I've awakened the dazzling magic that's slumbered in them for thousands of years. But the thing is, I can't figure out why.

My aunt, the Queen of Air and Darkness, is no longer distracted by her usual sadistic hobbies. Her obsession has turned unwaveringly to me. The mission to get me pregnant and beat my cousin Prince Cel to the crown is taking longer than expected. Even though I spend each night with the Queen's Ravens, my immortal guards, no child has come of our decadent pleasures. But something else is happening. My magic courses through me uncontrollably. And as I lock my half-mortal body with their full-Sidhe blooded ones, the power surges like never before.

It all began with the chalice. I dreamed of it, and it appeared, cool and hard, beside me when I awoke. My guards know the ancient relic well—its disappearance ages ago stripped them of their vital powers. But it is here with us now. My touch resonates with its force, and they're consumed with it, their Sidhe essences lit up by it. But even as they cherish me for this unexpected gift, there are those who loathe me for it. Me, a mongrel, only half fey and part mortal. The Unseelie court has suffered for so long, and there are some who would not have it weakened further by an impure queen. My enemies grow in number every day. But they do not know what I am capable of. Nor, for that matter, do I. . . . 

From Goodreads:
I am Meredith Gentry, P.I. and Princess Merry, heir to the throne of Fairie. Now there are those among me who whisper I am more. They fear me even as they protect me. And who can blame them? I've awakened the dazzling magic that's slumbered in them for thousands of years. But the thing is, I can't figure out why.

I am Meredith Gentry, P.I., solving cases in Los Angeles, far from the peril and deception of my real home–because I am also Princess Meredith, heir to the darkest throne faerie has to offer. The Unseelie Court infuses me with its power. But at what price does such magic come? How much of my human side will I have to give up, and how much of the sinister side of faerie will I have to embrace? To sit on a throne that has ruled through bloodshed and violence for centuries, I might have to become that which I dread the most.

Enemies watch my every move. My cousin Cel strives to have me killed even now from his prison cell. But not all the assassination attempts are his. Some Unseelie nobles have waited centuries for my aunt Andais, Queen of Air and Darkness, to become weak enough that she might be toppled from her throne. Enemies unforeseen move against us–enemies who would murder the least among us.

The threat will drive us to allow human police into faerie for the first time in our history. I need my allies now more than ever, especially since fate will lead me into the arm of Mistral, Master of Storms, the queen's new captain of her guard. Our passion will reawaken powers long forgotten among the warriors of the sidhe. Pain and pleasure await me–and danger, as well, for some at that court seek only death.

I will find new joys with the butterfly-winged demi-fey. My guards and I will show all of faerie that violence and sex are as popular among the sidhe as they are among the lesser fey of our court. The Darkness will weep, and Frost will comfort him. The gentlest of my guards will find new strength and break my heart. Passions undreamed of await us–and my enemies gather, for the future of both courts of faerie begins to unravel.

From Goodreads:
I am Princess Meredith, heir to a throne of faerie. My day job, once upon a time, was as a private detective in Los Angeles. Unfortunately, princess has now become a full-time occupation.

My aunt, Queen Andais, will have it no other way. And so I am virtually a prisoner in faerie–trapped here with some of the realm's most beautiful men to serve as my bodyguards . . . and my lovers. For I am compelled to conceive a child: an heir to succeed me on the throne. Yet after months of amazing sex with my consorts, there is still no baby. And no baby means no throne. The only certainty is death at the hands of my cousin Cel, or his followers, if I fail to conceive.

Now Mistral, Queen Andais's new captain of the guard, has come to my bed–defying her and risking her terrible wrath in doing so. But even she will hesitate to punish him in jealous rage, because our joining has reawakened old magic, mystical power so ancient that no one stands against it and survives. Not even my strongest and most favored: my Darkness and my Killing Frost. Not even Mistral himself, my Storm Lord. But because Mistral has helped to bring this magic forth, he may live another day.

If I can reclaim control of the fey power that once was, there may be hope for me and my reign in faerie. I might yet quell the dark schemes and subterfuges surrounding me. Though shadows of obsession and conspiracy gather, I may survive.

From Goodreads:
I am Meredith Gentry, princess and heir apparent to the throne in the realm of faerie, onetime private investigator in the mortal world. To be crowned queen, I must first continue the royal bloodline and give birth to an heir of my own. If I fail, my aunt, Queen Andais, will be free to do what she most desires: install her twisted son, Cel, as monarch . . . and kill me. 

My royal guards surround me, and my best loved–my Darkness and my Killing Frost–are always beside me, sworn to protect and make love to me. But still the threat grows greater. For despite all my carnal efforts, I remain childless, while the machinations of my sinister, sadistic Queen and her confederates remain tireless. So my bodyguards and I have slipped back into Los Angeles, hoping to outrun the gathering shadows of court intrigue. But even exile isn't enough to escape the grasp of those with dark designs.

Now King Taranis, powerful and vainglorious ruler of faerie's Seelie Court, has leveled accusations against my noble guards of a heinous crime–and has gone so far as to ask the mortal authorities to prosecute. If he succeeds, my men face extradition to faerie and the hideous penalties that await them there. But I know that Taranis's charges are baseless, and I sense that his true target is me. He tried to kill me when I was a child. Now I fear his intentions are far more terrifying.

My first review of A Caress of Twilight, Seduced by Moonlight, A Stroke of Midnight, Mistral's Kiss, A Lick of Frost

My Review:
I loved reading these books again! I've only read them the one time, and it's been just 2 years shy of a decade since I first read them. I loved seeing Merry's journey again, as she gained in power and in love. They were just so good to read!

Merry goes through a lot in these books. She helps Maeve get pregnant, deals with a major faerie working, brings the godhead of a number of her guards, a murder investigation, and bringing a bunch of changes to the Unseelie sithen. Not to mention the politics, of the realm and of personal, and all the time spent with various forms of intercourse. 

Her awareness of who she is, and what she's willing to do becomes solidified and sharpened. She's under threat, and so are her loved ones, and in a race to see who can become pregnant first. Which is a lot of stress to be under.

The powers that Faery gets back through her, her men and from the Goddess, yeah, it's wild. So much can happen in not a lot of time. One of the books, I think A Stroke of Midnight because I did read these back to back, takes place in the space of a day, and a lot happens. Something would happen and happen and happen, and then it'd move onto the next thing, with a bunch of tangents about magic and history and their relationships. 

Loved reading these books again and I can't wait to continue with my reread! 

Author: Laurell K. Hamilton
Series: Merry Gentry #2, 3, 4, 5, 6
First Read: April 28th, 28th, 29th, 29th, 29th, 2017

Read: June 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 2025
Source: Own
Reason Why: Rereading and they're Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Books!
Publisher: Random House, Ballantine Books
Published: March 1st 2002, January 3rd 2004, January 1st 2005, December 12th 2006, October 23rd 2007

A Caress of Twilight:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Seduced by Moonlight:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

A Stroke of Midnight:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Mistral's Kiss:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

A Lick of Frost:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

First Lines Friday #736, June 20th

First Lines Friday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie of Precision Reviews. We encourage all of our fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.

-Grab your current read(s)
-Share the first line(s)
-Include the title and author so that other FLF participants can add the book to their TBR Lists!

 "I was sitting in an elegant conference room in the top of one of the gleaming towers that make up part of downtown Los Angeles. The room's far wall was almost entirely of glass, so that the view was nearly agoraphobic. They're predicting that if the big one-the big earthquake that is-hits, this section of L.A. will be eight to fifteen feet deep in glass. Anything ont e streets below will be cut to pieces, crushed, or trapped underneath an avalanche of glass."-A Lick of Frost by Laurell K. Hamilton

Oh, yeah, that's pretty descriptive! Must reread more now! What about you guys? Happy reading!

Third Sentence Thursday #723, June 19th

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!

"But it was a bright glow that just the three of us held." -Mistral's Kiss by Laurell K. Hamilton, page 29.

Well that's interesting! Must reread more now! What are your guy's 3rd lines? Link up below!

WWW Wednesday #740, June 18th

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 A Stroke of Midnight, and I'm loving it again! 

I read Seduced by Moonlight again, and I enjoyed it so much!

I'm going to be rereading Mistral's Kiss, and I can't wait to continue on with my reread! 

What about you guys? Happy reading!

Teaser Tuesday #740, June 17th

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Ambrosia of The Purple Booker. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Today's teaser comes from Seduced by Moonlight by Laurell K. Hamilton, page 20.

"He'd lost so much; he would no longer allow anyone to mention his old name Out of respect, and horror aht it might have been one of them, all the sidhe honored his wish."

Well that's too bad! Must reread more now! What about you guys? Happy reading!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading #732, June 16th

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 #731
Teaser Tuesday #739
WWW Wednesday #739
WOW #735
Will the Time Come #732
Third Sentence Thursday #722
Random Reads #708
First Lines Friday #735
Book Blogger Hop #401

Monthly ARC's Update 119

25 Books to Read in 2025 Update 4
The Reward Challenge Update #717

Wheel of TBR #264
How Well I Stuck to It #569
Wrote that Review Update #566

Week 24 Reviews:
The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet

A Psalm for the Wild-Built 

A Prayer for the Crown-Shy

When Devils Sing

If This Gets Out

Caught Up

The Curses 

Ship of Smoke and Steel

A Most Puzzling Murder

A Kiss of Shadows 

Magical Readathon: Orilium: 

Update 39

Update 40

Camp SeasonAthon: 

Update 5

OK, so I got 27 posts in 7 days, another quiet week, but I've been focused more on book buying then book reading, and when I get focused, I let things fall to the wayside, like blogging, but I should catch up today. But yeah, it was a pretty good week, and I can't wait for this coming one, since it's already gotten off to a pretty good start with an excellent book read, which you can see below! What about you guys? Happy reading!

So this week I want to read Turns of Fate!

A young detective investigating crimes of the uncanny will learn that bargains can change your fate—for good or ill—in this darkly enthralling fantasy from the New York Times bestselling author of the Others and the Black Jewels series.

Words have power. Intentions matter.

Most people come to Destiny Park for entertainment. They come to have their cards read to tell them a bit about their future. They come to walk through a beautiful park and to eat at the hotel's restaurant. They come in the hope of catching a glimpse of the Arcana, the paranormal beings who rule the Isle of Wyrd.

But some people come to make a bargain with the Arcana—to change their fate. And some people come for dark purposes.

When Detective Beth Fahey is sent to Destiny Park to inquire about a "ghost gun," she will begin a strange journey on which she must learn to navigate the Arcana's unforgiving laws and dangerous attractions. Her search will draw her into seemingly impossible cases and the secrets of her own past as tensions rise between the Arcana and their human neighbors across the river.

For the Isle of Wyrd is a place where the dead ride trains to their final destinations, predators literally become prey, and seekers' true natures are revealed in the ripples of destiny unknowingly stirred in their wakes.

Who will live? Who will die? And who will be lost in between?