Review: The Kingdom of Sweets by Erika Johansen

          

The Kingdom of Sweets by Erika Johansen

Dutton

Publication Date: November 28th, 2023

Hardcover. 368 pages.

About The Kingdom of Sweets:

"Bestselling author of the Queen of the Tearling series, Erika Johansen, journeys to a new kingdom in this brilliant stand-alone novel—a darkly magical take on The Nutcracker where two sisters, cursed from birth, are forever changed one memorable Christmas. . . .

Light and dark—this is the destiny placed upon Natasha and Clara, the birthright bestowed by their godfather, the mysterious sorcerer Drosselmeyer. Clara, the favorite, grows into beauty and ease, while Natasha is cursed to live in her sister’s shadow. But one fateful Christmas Eve, Natasha gets her chance at revenge. For Drosselmeyer has brought the Nutcracker, an enchanted present that offers entry into a deceptively beautiful world: the Kingdom of Sweets.

In this land of snow and sugar, Natasha is presented with a power far greater than Drosselmeyer: the Sugar Plum Fairy, who is also full of gifts . . . and dreadful bargains. As Natasha uncovers the dark destiny laid before her birth, she must reckon with powers both earthly and magical, and decide to which world she truly belongs."

I know people generally like to read warm and cozy holiday stories during December, but if you're like me and sometimes feel allergic to all of those, then you might enjoy Erika Johansen's dark Nutcracker-inspired book The Kingdom of Sweets. This is a very thoughtful story that explores some dark and complicated situations in a world that is touched by hints of magic and the unknown. 

I read Erika Johansen's The Queen of the Tearling years ago when it came out and unfortunately did not care for it, and as a result had not read any subsequent books from her. When I saw the premise for The Kingdom of Sweets and saw that it revolved around a dark re-inspired version of the Nutcracker, I knew it was time to give Johansen another read, and I was very pleasantly surprised by the result. 

The Kingdom of Sweets follow twins Clara and Natasha, cursed from birth by their devious godfather Drosselmeyer to embody light and dark, respectively. Clara lives a life that is blessed by beauty and charm and is generally loved by everyone around her. She lights up every room she walks into and lives a life of ease and comfort. Natasha, however, lives a life in the shadows, always avoided by those around her and seen to be a sign of bad luck and darkness. She lives a life of solitude, though she sometimes likes the fact that this allows her to spend more time reading and learning on her own. Despite this, Natasha harbors deep resentment towards her sister and those in their community who always disregard her, and this resentment drives her actions when both twins are swept away to the Kingdom of Sweets by a toy nutcracker one Christmas Eve.

The Kingdom of Sweets dives deep into the sisterly bond between Clara and Natasha and really digs into the many dark sentiments that reside in such an uneven relationship due to Drosselmeyer's curse. Natasha holds immense jealousy and rage towards Clara that is fully revealed after a betrayal that leaves Natasha at the end of her rope, and I think Johansen captured all of the hurt and anger that Natasha would feel from living such a life perfectly. While I didn't always agree with everything our characters did–especially Natasha–I found it easy to understand and empathize with where Natasha was coming from. It is an incredibly complex relationship that exists between the two sisters, and I really appreciated how much we truly got to explore this relationship throughout the story, from the good and the bad to the downright ugly. 

One of my favorite parts of this book was, of course, visiting the Kingdom of Sweets with Natasha. This is also why I'm disappointed to say that we don't spend nearly enough time in the Kingdom of Sweets to fully appreciate it, and I wish so badly that we had gotten to explore it a bit more. That being said, I loved it so much due to Johansen's evocative descriptions and how she made it feel both wonderfully magical and also deliciously dark at the same time. Johansen creates an atmosphere in both the setting Kingdom of Sweets and back in the real world that is full of darkness and foreboding, while also maintaining a sense of magic and curiosity that really kept me hooked. I was captivated by this world and all the possibilities that existed, and while we explored a lot of this, I do wish we had explored more. 

Johansen is an author who seems to really value precise, descriptive prose, and also seems to be fond of incorporating as many obscure vocabulary words as possible. I read a lot and often come across unfamiliar words, but I made great use of my Kindle's dictionary while reading this one, and while I love learning new words, I sometimes found the words used by Johansen a bit clunky and almost with a forced feeling. Her writing often wavered back and forth for me between really beautiful descriptions or observations and sentences or phrases that just felt overly clunky and awkward to the point that much of the book felt overwritten. This is actually one of the things that I recall disliking about The Queen of the Tearling, and so it was helpful to confirm that I don't think I mesh overly well with Johansen's natural writing style, but that I can still enjoy her work depending upon the story itself, and I think that is why I had a better time with The Kingdom of Sweets. I also found some issues with odd pacing and plotting that often times made it a bit more difficult for me to get through the book in a timely fashion, but not enough to where I ever felt like really putting the book down. 

Overall, I've given The Kingdom of Sweets 3.75 stars! I think The Kingdom of Sweets is a deliciously dark and beautiful Nutcracker-inspired story that will hit perfectly with the right reader. It's not without its faults due to some writing and plotting choices, but overall I enjoyed my experience reading this one and would certainly recommend it to anyone who enjoys dark retellings. 

*I received a copy of The Kingdom of Sweets courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org

Can't-Wait Wednesday: Here in Avalon by Tara Isabella Burton & Exordia by Seth Dickinson

 

 Can't-Wait is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights exciting upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released! This meme is based off of Jill @ Breaking the Spine's Waiting on Wednesday meme.

This week's upcoming book spotlights are:

Here in Avalon by Tara Isabella Burton
Publication: January 2nd, 2024
Simon & Schuster
Hardcover. 320 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:
"A New York City fairy tale about two sisters that fall under the spell of an underworld cabaret troupe that might be a dangerous cult—but one that makes the materialist world left in its wake feel like a sinister cult itself.

Rose has come a long way. Raised—and often neglected—by a wayward mother in New York City’s chaotic bohemia, Rose has finally built the life she’s always a good job at a self-help startup, a clean apartment, an engagement to a stable if self-satisfied tech CEO who shares her faith in human potential, hard work, and the sacrifice of childish dreams.

Rose’s sister Cecilia, on the other hand, never grew up. Irresponsible and impetuous, prone to jetting off to a European monastery one month and a falcon rescue the next, Cecilia has spent her life in pursuit of fairy-tale narratives of transcendence and true love—grand ideas Rose knows never work out in the real world. When Cecilia declares she’s come home to New York for good, following the ending of a whirlwind marriage, Rose hopes Cecilia might finally be ready to face compromises and all.

But then Cecilia gets involved with the a cultish-sounding cabaret troupe—one that appears only at night, on a mysterious red boat that travels New York’s waterways—and soon one of a growing number of suspicious disappearances among the city’s lost and loneliest souls. The only way Rose can find Cecilia is by tracking down the Avalon herself.

But as Rose gets closer to solving the mystery of what happened to her sister, the Avalon works its magic on her, too. And the deeper she goes into the Avalon’s underworld, she more she begins to question everything she knows about her own life, and whether she’s willing to leave the real world behind."

This sounds a little all over the place so I have no idea what to really expect, but I'm excited for it and can't wait to get started on it. I was kindly provided an ARC by Danielle Prielipp at Simon & Schuster, so huge thanks for that!

Exordia Seth Dickinson
Publication: January 23rd, 2024
Tordotcom
Hardcover. 544 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:

"'Anna, I came to Earth tracking a very old story, a story that goes back to the dawn of time. it’s very unlikely that you’ll die right now. It wouldn’t be narratively complete.'


Anna Sinjari―refugee, survivor of genocide, disaffected office worker―has a close encounter that reveals universe-threatening stakes. While humanity reels from disaster, she must join a small team of civilians, soldiers, and scientists to investigate a mysterious broadcast and unknowable horror. If they can manage to face their own demons, they just might save the world."

I did not care for The Traitor of Baru Cormorant, but I'm holding out hope that I can still love Seth Dickinson's work as much as everyone else and that maybe Exordia will be that book for me.

The Friday Face-Off: Current Read #19

            

 Welcome to The Friday Face-Off, a weekly meme at Books by Proxy. Join us every Friday as we pit cover against cover, and publisher against publisher, to find the best artwork in our literary universe.  You can find a list of upcoming topics at Lynn's Books.

This week's topic is:

Current Read #19

This week I'm working my way through Erika Johansen's The Kingdom of Sweets, a Nutcracker-inspired retelling that has been the perfect way to kick off December and the holiday season. I'm honestly not that much of a fan of holiday-themed movies and books, but I do enjoy something Nutcracker-related or that features some type of toymaker, so this sounded perfect. I've had an ARC for a little while, but I had to wait until it was the right season–reading this in summer just felt wrong, haha. There are only two different editions that I've seen out there so far, but I think they're different enough to make for a good comparison, so let's have a look. 

2023 Dutton US Edition

2023 Bantam UK Edition 

My choice(s):

I don't mind the US edition and think it has a really interesting design, but I have to say that the UK edition seems to embrace the Nutcracker theme so much more and I love all the detail. It's really beautiful and I love that it really pulls so many elements from the story. Which cover do you prefer?

Review: Palace of Shadows by Ray Celestin

Palace of Shadows by Ray Celestin

Mantle

Publication Date: October 12th, 2023 (UK)/January 9th, 2024 (US)

Hardcover. 340 pages.

About Palace of Shadows:

"'I’m not asking you to build something impossible. I’m asking you to build something that contains all the strangeness and confusion that you can muster.'

Samuel Etherstone, a penniless artist, is adrift in London. His disturbing art is shunned by patrons and critics alike, his friend Oscar Wilde is now an exile living in Paris, and a personal tragedy has taken its toll. So when he is contacted by a mysterious heiress, Mrs Chesterfield, and asked to work on a commission for the house she is building on the desolate Smugglers' Coast of North Yorkshire, he accepts the offer.

Staying overnight in the local village pub, Samuel is warned not to spend too much time there. He is told of the fate of the house's original architect, Francisco Varano, chilling tales of folk driven mad by the house, of it being built on haunted land where young girls have vanished, their ghosts now calling others to their deaths...

It is only on arrival at the Chesterfield house that he learns the sinister details of Varano's disappearance. And yet its owner keeps adding wing upon wing, and no one will tell him the reason behind her chilling obsession . . . But as Samuel delves deeper into the mysteries that swirl about the house, the nature of the project becomes terrifyingly clear."

Palace of Shadows follows out of work artist Samuel Etherstone as he accepts a job to work for the elusive, believed-to-be-mad heiress known as Mrs. Chesterfield at an isolated mansion in the grim, unforgiving Yorkshire moors. Mrs. Chesterfield has been building what is essentially a never-ending house, which many believe is due to her family relations to the Chesterfield gun company, which supplies weapons for wars. It is rumored that Mrs. Chesterfield is constructing this house filled with doors and staircases to nowhere and a maze-like interior in order to confuse any spirits of the dead who might be after her because they have been killed by her family's guns in the recent and ongoing wars.

If you know anything about the real life Winchester house and Winchester gun company, then you'll know this premise surrounding Mrs. Chesterfield is pretty much the same. Nowhere in descriptions or the author's note is there a mention of the Winchester House located in San Jose, California (which is a really neat place to visit, and you definitely should if you ever have the chance!), but Palace of Shadows is very much a Winchester House-inspired story. Once I realized this was the premise we were working with, I was excited to dive deeper into this story, as I don't think I've ever read a book that has used the Winchester House as inspiration. Samuel is hired on to construct a mausoleum for Mrs. Chesterfield due to his background as an artist known for creating optical illusions in his paintings, such as in the styles of M.C. Escher, and I think I was about as eager as Mrs. Chesterfield to see what Samuel would come up with for this task. 

I really enjoyed that this book had a somewhat substantial cast of characters to meet, as I initially expected this to be a more isolating Gothic novel. However, the construction and running of a house of this magnitude–as well as maintaining all the finances associated with the Chesterfield company and house–actually requires a lot of people to be involved, so there always seemed to be someone around the house for Samuel to interact with. 

This story is initially told from Samuel's POV, but there are two substantial sections within this book that deviate from this perspective and follow in epistolary formats. I was surprised at the length of these additional sections and how long it took to get back to Samuel's POV, but fortunately the interruptions were still compelling and provided some much needed insight into some characters and background. I also appreciated Samuel's narrative voice and found him to be a rather likable protagonist whose experiences made for a compelling reading experience. 

There are so many secrets and mysteries at play in this book for readers to uncover alongside Samuel, and these are also what helped make this book so compelling. Personally, I love a weird house, especially when the architecture of said house is a part of that, so any of the additional odd happenings related to the house only served to enhance my interest in what was happening. One of my favorite things was simply exploring this house alongside Samuel and observing the oddities and eccentricities, as well as some rather intense statues that the previous architect constructed seemingly with no pre-made plans–a feat that most other workers, as well as Samuel himself, found perplexing due to their complexity. 

Celestin captures the atmosphere of this Gothic setting and storyline perfectly. I felt as uneasy as Samuel at every turn, and found myself looking for both sanity and answers amidst the strange occurrences and behavior of some of the people living there, including Mrs. Chesterfield herself. I think this book really excelled in feeling initially dark and foreboding, but then sort of lures you into thinking you were just being silly and there's nothing that odd about it... only for you to slowly realize along with Samuel that things are far more complicated than they seem. This journey was a supremely fun one to be along the ride for.

I don't have any real complaints about this book other than that it can be a bit on the slow side at times, especially in the secondary POV segments, but there's a worthwhile conclusion that brought everything together in a way that I really appreciated. There isn't anything exceptionally shocking or crazy that happens in this book, so I can see where it might come across a bit mellow as well, but I think this is countered by the strong atmosphere, so readers' enjoyment may vary according to preferences. Also, although it didn't affect my reading experience, I'll admit that I was mildly annoyed that it isn't acknowledged anywhere within the book that this is actually based on a real person. Maybe it's to be obvious and not needing to be said, but I think some acknowledgement would be appropriate.  

Overall, I've given Palace of Shadows four stars! This is a very solid Gothic mystery that is very easy to sink into and stay hooked for every page. 

*I received a copy of Palace of Shadows courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

Buy the book: Amazon 

Can't-Wait Wednesday: The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years by Shubnum Khan & The House of Last Resort by Christopher Golden

 

 Can't-Wait is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights exciting upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released! This meme is based off of Jill @ Breaking the Spine's Waiting on Wednesday meme.

This week's upcoming book spotlights are:

The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years by Shubnum Khan
Publication: January 9th, 2024
Viking
Hardcover. 320 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:
"Rebecca and The House of Spirits meets Fatima Farheen Mirza in this sweeping, gorgeously atmospheric novel about a ruined mansion by the sea, the djinn that haunts it, and a curious girl who unearths the tragedy that happened there a hundred years previous.

Akbar Manzil was once a grand estate off the coast of South Africa. Now, nearly a century since it was built, it stands in ruins: an isolated boardinghouse for misfits, seeking to forget their pasts and disappear into the mansion's dark corridors. Until Sana. She and her father are the latest of Akbar Manzil’s long list of tenants, seeking a new home after suffering painful loss.

Unlike the others, who choose not to look too closely at the mansion’s unsettling qualities—the strange assortment of bones in the overgrown garden, the mysterious figure seen to move sometimes at night—she is curious and questioning and finds herself irresistibly drawn to the history of the mansion. To the eerie and forgotten East Wing, home to a clutter of broken and abandoned objects—and to the locked door at its end, unopened for decades.

Behind the door is a bedroom frozen in time, with faded photographs of a couple in love and a worn diary that whispers of a dark past: the long-forgotten story of a young woman named Meena, the original owner’s second wife, who died there tragically a hundred years ago. Watching Sana from the room’s shadows is a grieving djinn, an invisible spirit who once loved Meena and has haunted the mansion since her mysterious death. Obsessed with Meena’s story, and unaware of the creature that follows her, Sana digs into the past like fingers into a wound, awakening the memories of the house itself—and dredging up old and terrible secrets that will change the lives of everyone living and dead at Akbar Manzil."

Everything about this premise grabs me! I have an ARC of this one that I'm hoping to start soon and I can't wait.

The House of Last Resort by Christopher Golden
Publication: January 30th, 2024
St. Martin's Press
Hardcover. 304 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:

"Across Italy there are many half-empty towns, nearly abandoned by those who migrate to the coast or to cities. The beautiful, crumbling hilltop town of Becchina is among them, but its mayor has taken drastic measures to rebuild—selling abandoned homes to anyone in the world for a single Euro, as long as the buyer promises to live there for at least five years.

It’s a no-brainer for American couple Tommy and Kate Puglisi. Both work remotely, and Becchina is the home of Tommy’s grandparents, his closest living relatives. It feels like a romantic adventure, an opportunity the young couple would be crazy not to seize. But from the moment they move in, they both feel a shadow has fallen on them. Tommy’s grandmother is furious, even a little frightened, when she realizes which house they’ve bought.

There are rooms in an annex at the back of the house that they didn’t know were there. The place makes strange noises at night, locked doors are suddenly open, and when they go to a family gathering, they’re certain people are whispering about them, and about their house, which one neighbor refers to as The House of Last Resort. Soon, they learn that the home was owned for generations by the Church, but the real secret, and the true dread, is unlocked when they finally learn what the priests were doing in this house for all those long years…and how many people died in the strange chapel inside. While down in the catacombs beneath Becchina…something stirs."

I enjoyed Golden's Road of Bones and have been meaning to check out more of his work and this sounds like it'll be a really interesting one. 

Mini-Review: The Centre by Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi

The Centre by Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi
Zando/Gillian Flynn Books
Publication Date: July 11th, 2023

Hardcover. 288 pages.

About The Centre:

"Anisa Ellahi dreams of being a translator of ‘great works of literature’, but instead mostly spends her days subtitling Bollywood films in her flat in London while living off her parents’ generous allowance and discussing the ‘underside of life’ with her best friend, Naima. Then she meets Adam, who has successfully leveraged his savant-level aptitude for languages into an enviable career. At first, this only adds to her sense of inadequacy, but when Adam learns to speak Urdu with native fluency practically overnight, Anisa forces him to reveal his secret.

Adam tells Anisa about the Centre, an elite, invite-only program that guarantees absolute fluency in any language in just ten days. Sceptical but intrigued, Anisa enrols. Stripped of her belongings and all contact with the outside world, she undergoes the Centre's strange and rigorous processes. But as she enmeshes herself further within the organisation, seduced by all that it’s made possible, she soon realizes the disturbing, hidden cost of its services."

The Centre is fascinating story of language and identity that pulls readers in to a mysterious method of language learning. We follow translator Anisa Ellahi as she aspires to become a great translator, but currently feels stuck in her role translating Bollywood films... until she meets Adam, who seems to be able to pick up languages to the point of native fluency in shockingly short time. 

What I liked: I love languages and learning languages (though I don't spend nearly as much time studying as I'd like to), so this entire story and concept centered around language was something I found myself really drawn to and enjoying. I was also completely fascinated by the Centre itself and their secretive and unique methods of teaching people in their elite language intensives. This aspect of the story is what I liked the most, probably. I was also intrigued to learn about Anisa's background with languages and how she viewed translation, and I think the author did a great job of providing some complex commentary on language and translation in the modern age. There is also a bit of a dark twist at the end of this book that I thought actually fit the story really well, though it could be hit or miss for some people. 

What I didn't like: It felt as though there was a lot of extraneous... stuff (?) in this book. There were sections where I found my attention completely drifting away from the story, and then when it returned I realized I hadn't really missed anything. I also, unfortunately, really disliked Anisa for most of the story. I found her pretty annoying and her attitude towards a lot of people and things was really frustrating. I appreciated her general curiosity and I can understand where some of her reactions to things originate due to her background, but she was just not the greatest narrator and is probably what prevented this story from getting a higher rating from me. 

Overall, I've given The Centre 3 stars.

Amazon | Bookshop

Month in Review: November 2023

 

November was actually a pretty decent month (?) for once. It was surprisingly busy, but it was also the month that I finally feel like I started getting my life back on track. Since about February, my husband and I had been looking to potentially move, and long story short... for various reasons, we ended up not moving and we're both really happy about that decision! It's been a pretty stressful year full of uncertainty and I gotta say, when you're in limbo about where you're living for that long, it really takes its toll. All that being said, I've felt more relieved this past month than I have for a long time, haha. 

November is also Thanksgiving for those of us in the states, and I really hope all of you who celebrate had a wonderful time. My husband and I actually went to Disneyland with my family and it was such a fun time to spend the day with all of them. I also went to a concert last week for the first time in what feels like ages and it felt so good to be back, that will definitely be something I start prioritizing again. 

In reading news, it was also a great month! I read way more books than I expected and had such a great time with so many of them! Highlights include The Square of Sevens, Bunny, Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries, and Nestlings. I also started a new graphic novel series that seems very promising. All in all, I can't complain about my November reading for once–and that feels great, haha. 

So, most importantly: how was your November!?  Let me know how your month was and what you've been reading!

# books read: 16
   

Nestlings by Nat Cassidy
Source: NetGalley | Format: eARC

Thoughts: I have a review up for this one and I really liked it! It was really a pretty creepy horror story and well worth the read. 

Bunny by Mona Awad
Source: Owned | Format: Paperback

Thoughts: This was every bit as weird and f*cked up as I'd been led to believe, so I was extremely pleased about that. This really was a wild ride and I was definitely here for it. Can't wait to read more from Mona Awad!

Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries (Emily Wilde #1) by Heather Fawcett
Source: NetGalley/Owned | Format: eARC/Hardcover

Thoughts: This is just the best. I actually re-read this in preparation for the sequel and I still absolutely adore it. I cannot wait to get stared on a NetGalley eARC that has been sitting on my ebook shelf for so long.

The Square of Sevens by Laura Robinson-Shepherd
Source: Owned | Format: Hardcover

Thoughts: I was absolutely immersed in this historical fiction mystery! I loved the setting, the characters, and Robinson-Shepherd's writing style. I will be checking out more of her books as a result of how much I enjoyed this one. 

Godkiller by Hannah Kaner
Source: Library | Format: Audiobook

Thoughts: I am still not sure how I feel about this. I feel like it had everything I'd want it to have, but something about the execution didn't work for me as well as I'd hope it would. I'm still undecided on whether I want to continue the series and read the sequel, but I most likely will at some point. 

Gideon Falls, Vol. 1: The Barn by Jeff Lemire
Source: Library | Format: Ebook

Thoughts: I really enjoyed this! I've been in the mood for a new graphic novel for a while, so I was looking forward to checking this one out and it did not disappoint (and I ended up reading the next two volumes right after). 

Gideon Falls, Vol. 2: Original Sins by Jeff Lemire
Source: Library | Format: Ebook

Thoughts: This wasn't quite as good as the first book, but I still really liked it and look forward to seeing where this setup is all going. 

Gideon Falls, Vol. 3: Stations of the Cross by Jeff Lemire
Source: Library | Format: Ebook

Thoughts: I felt pretty lost through most of this installment. I'll probably still continue the series, but I have to say that this was a pretty steep drop in enjoyment compared to the previous two, especially the first one.

The Paleontologist by Luke Dumas
Source: Publisher | Format: Physical ARC

Thoughts: I have a review up for this one as well and I had a good time with the haunted museum setting. Luke Dumas is an author that I'll continue to look out for. 

Good Girls Don't Die by Christina Henry
Source: NetGalley/Publisher | Format: eARC

Thoughts: This was a fun take on horror tropes and stories while also delivering them in a fun way. It was a bit predictable at times, but overall a good time. 

The Centre by Ayesha Manazir Siddiqui
Source: Library | Format: Audiobook

Thoughts: I liked the language learning aspects of this book a lot, but other parts of it didn't click as well for me. I'll have a review up for this one next week.

Mary and the Birth of Frankenstein by Anne Eekhout
Source: Publisher | Format: Physical ARC

Thoughts: I've also just posted a review of this one and I thought it was a really beautifully written story from Mary Shelley's point of view. It's not overly plot heavy and is very much a character-driven story. 

Kagen the Damned (Kagen the Damned #1) by Jonathan Maberry
Source: NetGalley | Format: Ebook

Thoughts: I decided to reread this so I can hopefully get to the sequel finally! This is a pretty solid fantasy that leans on the grimdark side, I've really enjoyed it. 

Green Rider by Kristen Britain
Source: Library | Format: Paperback

Thoughts: This was pretty fun, sort of what I expected from a slightly older fantasy novel. I'll look forward to continuing the series, but I don't really think it'll become a favorite. 

Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister
Source: Library | Format: Audiobook

Thoughts: This was a fun little thriller that plays with time. I can't say it'll become a favorite, but worth a quick read. 

Riot Rules (Crooked Sinners #2) by Callie Hart
Source: Library | Format: Audiobook

Thoughts: I finally got around to reading this sequel (I think it's a standalone, but connected) and thought it was pretty fun as well. These are great for when I just need something to occupy my mind for a while. 

DNF/To-Be-Finished:

The Darkness Before Them by Matthew Ward

Source: Publisher | Format: Paperback

I definitely plan to come back and finish this sometime. It was one of those where I picked it up and started reading it and then realized that it seemed good, but wasn't something I was currently in the mood for. Hopefully I'll get to it soon!

 

Red River Seven by A.J. Ryan
Labyrinth's Heart (Rook & Rose #3) by M.A. Carrick
Nestlings by Nat Cassidy

 Posts:

Month in Review: October 2023
Blog Tour: Good Girls Don't Die by Christina Henry
Anticipated December 2023 Releases

Blog Memes:

Can't-Wait Wednesday:
11/1: All the Hidden Paths (The Tithenai Chronicles #2) by Foz Meadows & The End of the World is a Cul de Sac by Louise Kennedy
11/8: Into Siberia by Gregory J. Wallance & The Curse of Penryth Hall by Jess Armstrong
11/15: Yours for the Taking by Gabrielle Korn & Grievar's Blood by Alexander Darwin
11/22: The City of Stardust by Georgia Summers & No One Can Know by Kate Alice Marshall
11/29: 

The Friday Face-Off:

Current Read #17
Current Read #18