Monthly Wrap-Up: December 2022

Ah! I can't believe it's the end of the year already! This year really flew by!

Top 10 Favorite Books of 2022!

Today we are finally talking about my favorite books of the year! It was hard to narrow things down, but I did it! When you see my picks you will not be surprised because I'm that predictable 😆 I also didn't include re-reads, even though I read a ton of books in the Elemental Assassin series, which you know I love. Lol.

Top 5 Most Interesting/Unique Books of 2022

This Top 10 post is new for me. I decided I wanted to talk about some of the more, idk, unique books I read this year, I guess. A couple of these weren't my favorites of the year, but I wanted to talk about them anyway because I still did enjoy them and thought their premise was interesting.

Top 10 Favorite Characters of 2022

Today I am sharing some of my favorite characters of the year!

Top 5 Disappointing Books of 2022

Today we're talking about the books I didn't like. Yay! 🙃 Lol. This year though, I feel like I didn't read that many disappointing books because I couldn't even come up with 10! And most of these I didn't dislike—they're all 3-star reads (except for one).

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #296: In a Murder-y Mood (For Books, Obviously Lol)

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Book Date and Unleashing Reads.

Sunday Post #330: Merry Christmas!

Welcome to The Sunday Post hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where I talk about what is going on in life and the blog, and show you all the bookish things I got that week!

Top 10 Most Anticipated Books of 2023

Today I'm talking about the books I'm most looking forward to next year! You'll notice that a lot of these books are from series or authors I've read before 😅 I don't know what to say... I like what I like 😆

Review: Queen of Air and Darkness (The Dark Artifices #3) by Cassandra Clare

Title: Queen of Air and Darkness

Series: The Dark Artifices #3

Previous books in this series: Lady Midnight (#1) | Lord of Shadows (#2)

Other series in the Shadowhunter Chronicles: The Infernal Devices | The Mortal Instruments

Author: Cassandra Clare

Genre: YA, urban fantasy

Publication date: December 2018

Published by: Margaret K. McElderry

Source: Purchased hardcover

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Synopsis: What if damnation is the price of true love?

Innocent blood has been spilled on the steps of the Council Hall, the sacred stronghold of the Shadowhunters. In the wake of the tragic death of Livia Blackthorn, the Clave teeters on the brink of civil war. One fragment of the Blackthorn family flees to Los Angeles, seeking to discover the source of the disease that is destroying the race of warlocks.

Meanwhile, Julian and Emma take desperate measures to put their forbidden love aside and undertake a perilous mission to Faerie to retrieve the Black Volume of the Dead. What they find in the Courts is a secret that may tear the Shadow World asunder and open a dark path into a future they could never have imagined.

Caught in a race against time, Emma and Julian must save the world of Shadowhunters before the deadly power of the parabatai curse destroys them and everyone they love.

My rating: ★★★★★

This book was a rollercoaster ride. If I had to pick one gif to describe my experience reading this book, it would definitely be this one:

Top 10 Books I Wish I'd Read in 2022

It's the end of the year which means it's time for all the end of the year posts! These are always so much fun to do! First up are some books I wish I would've gotten to this year but didn't because my mood changes faster than my brain can keep up with 😆 Most of these are 2022 releases. There are two 2021 releases that I didn't get to this year or last. Why am I like this? 🤦‍♀️ Lol.

The 3 Books I DNFd in 2022

I always feel bad when I DNF a book, but I'm trying to get better at dropping books I'm not enjoying because if I don't, I've found that I always put myself in a reading slump, and no one wants that. When I do drop a book, I decide whether I want to pick it back up or not, and unfortunately, these three books are ones I don't think I'll be picking up again.

2022 End of Year Survey

I borrowed some of the images below from The Perpetual Page Turner, the creator of this fun survey 😊 I love doing this survey because not only does it include questions relating to books, but also blogging!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #295: So Many Murders

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Book Date and Unleashing Reads.

Sunday Post #329: Belated Birthday Gifts

Welcome to The Sunday Post hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where I talk about what is going on in life and the blog, and show you all the bookish things I got that week!

2023 Reading Challenges

I love reading challenges! I literally started looking for them in November this year 😆

Review: Lord of Shadows (The Dark Artifices #2) by Cassandra Clare

Title: Lord of Shadows

Series: The Dark Artifices #2

Previous books in this series: Lady Midnight (#1)

Other series in the Shadowhunter Chronicles: The Infernal Devices | The Mortal Instruments

Author: Cassandra Clare

Genre: YA, urban fantasy

Publication date: May 2017

Published by: Margaret K. McElderry

Source: Purchased hardcover

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Synopsis: Would you trade your soul mate for your soul?

A Shadowhunter’s life is bound by duty. Constrained by honor. The word of a Shadowhunter is a solemn pledge, and no vow is more sacred than the vow that binds parabatai, warrior partners—sworn to fight together, die together, but never to fall in love.

Emma Carstairs has learned that the love she shares with her parabatai, Julian Blackthorn, isn’t just forbidden—it could destroy them both. She knows she should run from Julian. But how can she when the Blackthorns are threatened by enemies on all sides?

Their only hope is the Black Volume of the Dead, a spell book of terrible power. Everyone wants it. Only the Blackthorns can find it. Spurred on by a dark bargain with the Seelie Queen, Emma; her best friend, Cristina; and Mark and Julian Blackthorn journey into the Courts of Faerie, where glittering revels hide bloody danger and no promise can be trusted. Meanwhile, rising tension between Shadowhunters and Downworlders has produced the Cohort, an extremist group of Shadowhunters dedicated to registering Downworlders and “unsuitable” Nephilim. They’ll do anything in their power to expose Julian’s secrets and take the Los Angeles Institute for their own.

When Downworlders turn against the Clave, a new threat rises in the form of the Lord of Shadows—the Unseelie King, who sends his greatest warriors to slaughter those with Blackthorn blood and seize the Black Volume. As dangers close in, Julian devises a risky scheme that depends on the cooperation of an unpredictable enemy. But success may come with a price he and Emma cannot even imagine, one that will bring with it a reckoning of blood that could have repercussions for everyone and everything they hold dear.

My rating: ★★★★★

Let me just say that the fact that this book started off with a Jace cameo made me extremely happy 🥰

2023 Author Catch-Up Reading Challenge: Rachel Vincent

I love reading challenges, and this unofficial reading challenge came about when I got a newsletter from Rachel Vincent earlier this month. In this newsletter, not only did she mention that she has a book coming out next week, but that she has planned another book in the Shifters series to be released next year! What?! That is very exciting! Unfortunately for me, I am behind on said series 🙈 In fact, I am behind on Rachel Vincent's work in general! And that makes me sad because I loved her books!

Review: An Unexpected Boyfriend for Christmas (Boyfriend For Christmas #3) by Janette Rallison

Title: An Unexpected Boyfriend for Christmas

Series: Boyfriend For Christmas #3 (Can be read as a standalone)

Previous Books in this series: An Improvised Boyfriend for Christmas (#1) | [Book 2 release date TBD]

Author: Janette Rallison

Genre: Adult, contemporary romance

Publication date: October 2021

Published by: Janette Rallison

Source: Purchased ebook

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Buy it: Amazon

Synopsis: One little lie can spin so wildly out of control... and yet turn out so well.

Scarlet’s grandmother wants her to bring her boyfriend home for what may be her grandmother’s last Christmas. Which wouldn’t be a problem…if Scarlet actually had a boyfriend. Scarlet’s sister came up with a bit of fiction to make Grandma happy in that regard.

We all have boyfriends, Grams. Really, we're not going to waste our lives and die alone in a trailer full of cats.

Scarlet would totally skip the fake boyfriend performance, but her cousin Jane is bringing her boyfriend to Grandma's too—and he’s Scarlet’s ex.

Yeah. Her rich, arrogant, all too sure of his own charms, ex-boyfriend. That guy. There’s no way she’s showing up solo to face him. Scarlet is stuck, last-minute, with Liam, a man she’s never met and knows nothing about.

Maybe it’s Liam’s extreme hotness that muddles Scarlet’s mind, but she has a hard time keeping certain facts straight—like his profession, and the fact that he’s not really her boyfriend…so she’s not supposed to kiss him.

She needs to stay on her toes because not keeping her story straight will land her and Liam in all sorts of trouble.

If you love a laugh-out-loud romantic comedy with all the warm fuzzy feelings of Christmas trees, gingerbread, and hot guys, snatch up this page-turner today!

My rating: ★★★★☆

This book was so much fun! Which is only a little surprising coming from me. Lol. I mean, I don't really read a lot of contemporary romances—they just aren't really for me—but in recent years I've started to read them more and more. And you know who was the author that got me into them? Janette Rallison. My first contemporary was one of her books! And I've read a couple more since then and really enjoyed them! And An Unexpected Boyfriend for Christmas was also quite enjoyable!

Holiday Books on my TBR

The Holidays are just around the corner, so I thought I'd share some Holiday reads that are on my TBR. Fair warning, these are probably not the Holiday books you're expecting (i.e. contemporaries 😅).

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #294: Cute Robots and ALL The Time Loops

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Book Date and Unleashing Reads.

Sunday Post #328: Happy Birthday To Me!

Welcome to The Sunday Post hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where I talk about what is going on in life and the blog, and show you all the bookish things I got that week!

2022 End of the Year Freak Out Tag

I'm a big fan of the Mid-Year Book Freak-Out Tag, and I was so happy when I found this tag last year!  I only used books that I read from July until now. This tag was modified by Books, Bones & Buffy.

Review: Lady Midnight (The Dark Artifices #1) by Cassandra Clare

Title: Lady Midnight

Series: The Dark Artifices #1)

Other series in the Shadowhunter Chronicles: The Infernal Devices | The Mortal Instruments

Author: Cassandra Clare

Genre: YA, urban fantasy

Publication date: March 2016

Published by: Margaret K. McElderry

Source: Purchased hardcover

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Synopsis: The Shadowhunters of Los Angeles star in the first novel in Cassandra Clare’s newest series, The Dark Artifices, a sequel to the internationally bestselling Mortal Instruments series.

It’s been five years since the events of City of Heavenly Fire that brought the Shadowhunters to the brink of oblivion. Emma Carstairs is no longer a child in mourning, but a young woman bent on discovering what killed her parents and avenging her losses.

Together with her parabatai Julian Blackthorn, Emma must learn to trust her head and her heart as she investigates a demonic plot that stretches across Los Angeles, from the Sunset Strip to the enchanted sea that pounds the beaches of Santa Monica. If only her heart didn’t lead her in treacherous directions…

Making things even more complicated, Julian’s brother Mark—who was captured by the faeries five years ago—has been returned as a bargaining chip. The faeries are desperate to find out who is murdering their kind—and they need the Shadowhunters’ help to do it. But time works differently in faerie, so Mark has barely aged and doesn’t recognize his family. Can he ever truly return to them? Will the faeries really allow it?

My rating: ★★★★★

Lady Midnight takes place 5 years after the end of The Mortal Instruments, and about 3 years after the end of Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy. In this series we follow the new characters we met in those last two books of TMI, the Blackthorn kids and Emma Carstairs, who is a distant relative of Jem! There are some sketchy murders going on in LA. that Emma thinks might be connected to the murder of her parents, who were killed all those years ago during Sebastian's attack on the institutes.

Holiday Book Recommendations

I don't read a lot of Holiday/Christmas-y books, but I thought I'd share the handful of books I have read that I really liked!

5 Books I want to Read Before the End of 2022

The end of the year is upon us, but there is still so much I want to read! Now, don't be expecting any lighthearted, fun holiday reads, cause that's not what this list is 😆 But I've got a little bit of everything else 😂

3 Bookish Things I Learned About Myself in 2022

So, today is my birthday and I thought it would be very appropriate to talk about some things I learned about myself this year. Bookish things, of course 😉 It was very interesting because as the year went on I kept coming upon all these little things that made me go, "Oh! I think I like this?" I thought it was kinda funny because these things I found I liked, were really specific, super niche genres 😆

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #293: Why Do I Do This???

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Book Date and Unleashing Reads.

Sunday Post #327: Snow Day

Welcome to The Sunday Post hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where I talk about what is going on in life and the blog, and show you all the bookish things I got that week!

2022 End of the Year Book Tag

It that time of year for all the End of the Year posts, which are some of favorite to do every year! Up first is the End the Year Book Tag! The original tag can be found here.

Review: The Do-Over by Lynn Painter

Title: The Do-Over

Author: Lynn Painter

Genre: YA, contemporary romance

Publication date: November 15th 2022

Published by: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Source: eARC from publishers via Netgalley

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Synopsis: After living through a dumpster fire of a Valentine’s Day, Emilie Hornby escapes to her grandmother’s house for some comfort and a consolation pint of Ben & Jerry’s. She passes out on the couch, but when she wakes up, she’s back home in her own bed—and it’s Valentine’s Day all over again. And the next day? Another nightmare V-Day.

Emilie is stuck in some sort of time loop nightmare that she can’t wake up from as she re-watches her boyfriend, Josh, cheat on her day after day. In addition to Josh’s recurring infidelity, Emilie can’t get away from the enigmatic Nick, who she keeps running into—sometimes literally—in unfortunate ways.

How many days can one girl passively watch her life go up in flames? And when something good starts to come out of these terrible days, what happens when the universe stops doling out do-overs?

My rating: ★★★★★

Oh my god, not me requesting an ARC of a contemporary romance, being excited after being approved, and then absolutely loving the book after reading it! Sometimes I don't even recognize myself 😆 But honestly, I'm enjoying diving into and exploring this genre that just years ago I would not touch. And this book is probably one of my favorite contemporary books I have ever read! (To be fair, I haven't read that many, but still 😆)

Decluttering My TBR... Again!

Another declutter! I went through my TBR at the beginning of the year, and then back in 2019, but idk. I think I kinda want to make this into a yearly thing because it's very satisfying and I just want to go into the new year with a TBR that I really want to read.

Monthly Wrap-Up: November 2022

I swear it was just Halloween like two days ago, and now we're at the end of November?? Who sped up time? Knock it off! 😆

This month I read 7 books, 2 of which were re-reads, for a total of 2506 pages. That's about 200 pages more than I read in October! 4 books were part of a series, and 3 standalones. 5 were 5-star reads, 1 book 4-stars, and 1 book 3-stars, so it was a really good reading month overall! All were from female authors, 5 books from authors I've read before, and 2 new-to-me authors. 5 were adult books and 2 YA, 3 sci-fi, 2 urban fantasy, and 2 contemporary romance. Contemporaries, shocking, I know. Lol. Another shocking stat: while 6 were ebooks, 1 was an audiobook! I don't tend to read audiobooks because my mind wanders and I miss things and it's just annoying. Lol. BUT I ended up listening to my audiobook of Spider's Trap, which was fine in this case because this was a re-read so if my mind wandered it was no big deal because I've read this book before. Lol.

Review: Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy by Cassandra Clare

Title: Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy

Stories in this collection: Welcome to Shadowhunter Academy (#1) | The Lost Herondale (#2) | The Whitechapel Fiend (#3) | Nothing but Shadows (#4) | The Evil We Love (#5) | Pale Kings and Princes (#6) | Bitter of Tongue (#7) | The Fiery Trial (#8) | Born to Endless Night (#9) | Angels Twice Descending (#10)

Previous series: The Mortal Instruments

Authors: Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan, Maureen Johnson, Robin Wasserman

Genre: YA, urban fantasy

Publication date: November 2016

Published by: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Source: Own hardcover

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Synopsis: Simon Lewis has been a human and a vampire, and now he is becoming a Shadowhunter. But the events of City of Heavenly Fire left him stripped of his memories, and Simon isn’t sure who he is anymore. He knows he was friends with Clary, and that he convinced the total goddess Isabelle Lightwood to go out with him…but he doesn’t know how. And when Clary and Isabelle look at him, expecting him to be a man he doesn’t remember…Simon can’t take it.

So when the Shadowhunter Academy reopens, Simon throws himself into this new world of demon-hunting, determined to find himself again. His new self. Whomever this new Simon might be.

But the Academy is a Shadowhunter institution, which means it has some problems. Like the fact that non-Shadowhunter students have to live in the basement. And that differences—like being a former vampire—are greatly looked down upon. At least Simon is trained in weaponry—even if it’s only from hours of playing D&D.

Join Simon on his journey to become a Shadowhunter, and learn about the Academy’s illustrious history along the way, through guest lecturers such as Jace Herondale, Tessa Gray, and Magnus Bane. These ten short stories give an epilogue to The Mortal Instruments series and provide glimpses of what’s in store in The Dark Artifices.

My rating: ★★★★★

When I first got this book I had still only read the first 3 books in The Mortal Instruments and probably The Infernal Devices, so I was not the biggest fan of Simon. But then I finally read the remaining of TMI and I fell in love with the guy! The way he sacrificed himself City of Heavenly Fire and lost his memory to save everyone from the demon realm... he’s such a stand up guy. How could I dislike someone like that? It made me so sad that this happened to him, but I am so happy we got more of his story here! It was such a great journey and I loved following him through his 2 years at the academy!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #292: I'm Shocked, Shocked I Tell You!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Book Date and Unleashing Reads.

Sunday Post #326: Happy Thanksgiving!

Welcome to The Sunday Post hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where I talk about what is going on in life and the blog, and show you all the bookish things I got that week!

Get to Know the Sci-Fi Reader Tag

I've been very into sci-fi lately, so I thought this tag would be very appropriate to do right now! I found it over at Monstrumology, and this tag was modified by BookswithEmilyFox from the ‘Get to Know the Romance Reader Tag’.

Review: Storm (Paper Gods #3) by Amanda Sun

Title: Storm

Series: Paper Gods #3

Previous books in this series: Shadow (#0.5) | Ink (#1) | Rain (#2) | Rise (#2.5)

Author: Amanda Sun

Genre: YA, paranormal romance, Japanese mythology

Publication date: June 2015

Published by: Harlequin Teen

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis: After almost a year in Japan, Katie Greene has finally unearthed the terrible secret behind her boyfriend Tomohiro's deadly ability to bring drawings to life—not only is he descended from Kami, the ancient Japanese gods, but he is the heir to a tragedy that occurred long ago, a tragedy that is about to repeat.

Even as the blood of a vengeful god rages inside Tomo, Katie is determined to put his dark powers to sleep. In order to do so, she and Tomo must journey to find the three Imperial Treasures of Japan. Gifts from the goddess Amaterasu herself, these treasures could unlock all of the secrets about Tomo's volatile ancestry and quell the ink's lust for destruction. But in order to complete their quest, Tomo and Katie must confront out-of-control Kami and former friend Jun, who has begun his own quest of revenge against those he believes have wronged him. To save the world, and themselves, Katie and Tomo will be up against one of the darkest Kami creations they've ever encountered—and they may not make it out alive.

My rating: ★★★★☆

With Tomohiro being unable to control his Kami powers, he and his friends are trying to find a way to put them to sleep... without getting him killed 😨

Review: Summer of the Mariposas by Guadalupe Garcia McCall

Title: Summer of the Mariposas

Author: Guadalupe Garcia McCall

Genre: YA, magical realism, Greek mythology retelling

Publication date: October 2012

Published by: Tu Books

Source: Purchased paperback

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Synopsis: When Odilia and her four sisters find a dead body in the swimming hole, they embark on a hero’s journey to return the dead man to his family in Mexico. But returning home to Texas turns into an odyssey that would rival Homer’s original tale.

With the supernatural aid of ghostly La Llorona via a magical earring, Odilia and her little sisters travel a road of tribulation to their long-lost grandmother’s house. Along the way, they must outsmart a witch and her Evil Trinity: a wily warlock, a coven of vicious half-human barn owls, and a bloodthirsty livestock-hunting chupacabras. Can these fantastic trials prepare Odilia and her sisters for what happens when they face their final test, returning home to the real world, where goddesses and ghosts can no longer help them?

My rating: ★★★★☆

I don’t tend to read a lot of books from my own culture. I love urban fantasy, it’s my favorite genre and I have found that there are not very many Hispanic books out there... none that have caught my attention, anyway. A lot of the ones I do see tend to be contemporary, which I am just not super into. But I loved reading this and seeing my culture reflected back at me. All these little things and phrases and omg food I’m familiar with. Not to mention how relatable the main character Odilia was. The unfair burden on the eldest to care for the younger siblings is something that is common in this culture, and something I resonate with.

Review: Angels Twice Descending (Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy #10) by Cassandra Clare

Title: Angels Twice Descending

Series: Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy #10

Previous novellas in this series: Welcome to Shadowhunter Academy (#1) | The Lost Herondale (#2) | The Whitechapel Fiend (#3) | Nothing but Shadows (#4) | The Evil We Love (#5) | Pale Kings and Princes (#6) | Bitter of Tongue (#7) | The Fiery Trial (#8) | Born to Endless Night (#9)

Previous series: The Mortal Instruments

Author: Cassandra Clare

Genre: YA, urban fantasy

Publication date: November 2015

Published by: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Source: Own hardcover

Add it on Goodreads

Buy it: Audible (novella only) | Amazon | Book Depository | Thrift Books

Synopsis: Simon’s journey to become a Shadowhunter nears its end as his Ascension ceremony draws closer. One of ten adventures in Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy.

Simon’s Ascension ceremony draws near in this brilliant conclusion to Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy.

My rating: ★★★★★

This is it. The end. After two years at the Academy, Simon is finally gonna go through the ceremony, drink from the Mortal Cup, and become a Shadowhunter.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #291: Space Exploration and Space Murders

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Book Date and Unleashing Reads.

Sunday Post #325: Half Days and Video Games

Welcome to The Sunday Post hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where I talk about what is going on in life and the blog, and show you all the bookish things I got that week!

Thanksgiving Book Tag

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, so I found this fun tag to do! I saw it over at a GREAT read!

Review: The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

Title: The Song of Achilles

Author: Madeline Miller

Genre: Adult, historical fantasy, Greek mythology

Publication date: September 2011

Published by: Ecco

Source: Borrowed from library

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Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

Synopsis: Achilles, "the best of all the Greeks," son of the cruel sea goddess Thetis and the legendary king Peleus, is strong, swift, and beautiful, irresistible to all who meet him. Patroclus is an awkward young prince, exiled from his homeland after an act of shocking violence. Brought together by chance, they forge an inseparable bond, despite risking the gods' wrath.

They are trained by the centaur Chiron in the arts of war and medicine, but when word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, all the heroes of Greece are called upon to lay siege to Troy in her name. Seduced by the promise of a glorious destiny, Achilles joins their cause, and torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus follows. Little do they know that the cruel Fates will test them both as never before and demand a terrible sacrifice.

My rating: ★★★★★

Warning: I'm not going to be censoring any spoilers because this book is a retelling of The Iliad, which has been around for a while. Lol.

This book was incredible! This is the type of book you think about even months after you finish reading. I read this back in 2020, and it was most definitely one of my favorite books of the year!

Review: Rise (Paper Gods #2.5) by Amanda Sun

Title: Rise

Series: Paper Gods #2.5

Previous books in this series: Shadow (#0.5) | Ink (#1) | Rain (#2)

Author: Amanda Sun

Genre: YA, paranormal romance, Japanese mythology

Publication date: May 2015

Published by: Harlequin Teen

Source: Purchased ebook

Add it on Goodreads

Buy it: Amazon

Synopsis: A long, long time ago, before the world was as we know it, Izanami and Izanagi came into being. Two of the first of the ancient gods of Japan, they crafted the world from ink and their own imaginations. Izanagi wants, more than anything, to be with Izanami—but one moment of pride could tear them apart forever.

Yuki and Tanaka have been friends for as long as they can remember, but lately deeper feelings have been bubbling beneath the surface. How do they navigate the transition from friendship to true love without destroying the powerful bond between them?

Set a millennia apart, can these two couples, living parallel love stories, find their happily-ever-afters?

My rating: ★★★★☆

This novella tells two intertwined stories, one of Yuki and Tanaka, Katie’s friends, and the other of the gods Izanagi and Izanami.

Review: Born to Endless Night (Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy #9) by Cassandra Clare & Sarah Rees Brennan

Title: Born to Endless Night

Series: Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy #9

Previous novellas in this series: Welcome to Shadowhunter Academy (#1) | The Lost Herondale (#2) | The Whitechapel Fiend (#3) | Nothing but Shadows (#4) | The Evil We Love (#5) | Pale Kings and Princes (#6) | Bitter of Tongue (#7) | The Fiery Trial (#8)

Previous series: The Mortal Instruments

Authors: Cassandra Clare & Sarah Rees Brennan

Genre: YA, urban fantasy

Publication date: October 2015

Published by: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Source: Own hardcover

Add it on Goodreads

Buy it: Audible (novella only) | Amazon | Book Depository | Thrift Books

Synopsis: What happens when Magnus Bane brings a baby home to his boyfriend Alec Lightwood? One of ten adventures in Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy.

After a warlock baby is abandoned on the steps of the Academy, Magnus Bane rescues the child—and brings him home to his boyfriend, Alec.

My rating: ★★★★★

Guess who’s a guest teacher in this story? Magnus freaking Bane! Yes please, and thank you! Lol. We actually got a lot of him and Alec in this one, which I always appreciate.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #290: I FINALLY FINISHED!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Book Date and Unleashing Reads.

Sunday Post #324: Worrying About Nothing

Welcome to The Sunday Post hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where I talk about what is going on in life and the blog, and show you all the bookish things I got that week!

End of the Year TBR: ALL the Series!

The end of the year is coming up fast and there is one reading challenge I'm worried about: the series challenge.

I challenged myself to finish 9+ series this year (a challenge I accomplished last year), but so far I have only finished THREE series!! I am SO behind! I honestly don't know if I'll be able to finish it, given my mood, but I sure am going to try! Here are some books I've complied to hopefully help me accomplish this goal. I only need 6 more series in order to complete the challenge!

Review: Rain (Paper Gods #2) by Amanda Sun

Title: Rain

Series: Paper Gods #2

Previous books in this series: Shadow (#0.5) | Ink (#1)

Author: Amanda Sun

Genre: YA, paranormal romance, Japanese mythology

Publication date: June 2014

Published by: Harlequin Teen

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis: American Katie Green has decided to stay in Japan. She's started to build a life in the city of Shizuoka, and she can't imagine leaving behind her friends, her aunt and especially Tomohiro, the guy she's fallen in love with. But her return is not as simple as she thought. She's flunking out of Japanese school and committing cultural faux pas wherever she goes. Tomohiro is also struggling—as a Kami, his connection to the ancient gods of Japan and his power to bring drawings to life have begun to spiral out of control.

When Tomo decides to stop drawing, the ink finds other ways to seep into his life—blackouts, threatening messages and the appearance of unexplained sketches. Unsure how to help Tomo, Katie turns to an unexpected source for help—Jun, her former friend and a Kami with an agenda of his own. But is Jun really the ally he claims to be? In order to save themselves, Katie and Tomohiro must unravel the truth about Tomo's dark ancestry, as well as Katie's, and confront one of the darkest gods in Japanese legend.

My rating: ★★★★☆

Tomohiro is stuck between two groups of people who want him for his abilities: The Yakuza who obviously want to use his powers for nefarious reasons, but there’s also the Kami, others like him. Kami are descendants of the Shinto goddess Amaterasu, and all they want to do is take the gangsters and crime out of the world. Not so bad, right? Wrong! They have this god complex and think they’re superior. Ugh. I understand their intentions, but they’re going about it all wrong. Katie is also trying to figure out how she’s connected with the Kami, because there IS a connection, even though she’s American and all. And then we find out and... whoa!