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

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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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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

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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

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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!

Review: The Fiery Trial (Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy #8) by Cassandra Clare & Maureen Johnson

Title: The Fiery Trial

Series: Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy #8

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)

Previous series: The Mortal Instruments

Authors: Cassandra Clare & Maureen Johnson

Genre: YA, urban fantasy

Publication date: September 2015

Published by: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Source: Own hardcover

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

Synopsis: Emma Carstairs and Julian Blackthorn become parabatai. Simon and Clary both act as their witnesses, so they can see what a parabatai bond forming looks like as they want to become parabatai as soon as Simon graduates — and because Emma asked Clary. The ritual goes unexpectedly...

My rating: ★★★★☆

The Fiery Trial... that is what the ceremony is called when two Shadowhunters become parabatai. And Emma and Julian are about to go through it with Clary and Simon as witnesses! How cool is that? But first, Clary and Simon have to go on a... trip. That’s the best way to describe it. Lol. It was very trippy, but there was a purpose to it all. Lol.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #289: I Don't Recognize Myself...

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

Sunday Post #323: Lemon Cake Addiction

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!

Spooky TBR Update

I am horrible at sticking with TBRs. I actually meant for this spooky TBR to last me through Fall, but by the end of October I was just done 😅 My mood demands other things! Lol. So let's do a little wrap up and see how I did reading spooky books off my spooky TBR, so I can move onto other things. Lol.

Review: Fallen Wishes (Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper #17) by J.L. Bryan

Title: Fallen Wishes

Series: Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper #17

Previous books in this series: Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper (#1) | Cold Shadows (#2) | The Crawling Darkness (#3) | Terminal (#4) | House of Whispers #5 | Maze of Souls #6 | Lullaby (#7) | The Keeper (#8) | The Tower (#9) | The Monster Museum (#10) | Fire Devil (#11) | The Necromancer's Library (#12) | The Trailwalker (#13) | Midnight Movie (#14) | The Lodge (#15) | Cabinet Jack (#16)

Author: J.L. Bryan

Genre: Adult, paranormal, horror

Publication date: October 21st 2022

Published by: J.L. Bryan

Source: eARC for review from author

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Synopsis: Canterbury Gardens is a centuries-old plantation outside Charleston, South Carolina. Its aristocratic founders once hosted lavish banquets and balls among fanciful pleasure gardens, canals, and large-scale follies resembling ancient and medieval ruins.

Over generations of neglect, the winding paths of the gardens have become overgrown, its marble statues and columned buildings abandoned to the wild.

Now a family recovering from tragedy have devoted themselves to restoring the estate, but the ghosts of the past remain strong. Shadowy figures walk the labyrinth of overgrown gardens. A strange wishing well steeped in local legend attracts trespassers who climb walls and gates in their eagerness to throw in a coin and make a wish.

Paranormal investigator Ellie Jordan travels there to study and confront the dark entities who stalk the house and grounds by night, terrifying the family who now live there. The secret history of the plantation proves as shadowy and labyrinthine as its maze of gardens. Enchanting on the surface, Canterbury Gardens was founded on the darkest of wishes, and every wish that comes true has its price.

My rating: ★★★★★

Seventeen books in and I'm still excited every time an Ellie Jordan book shows up in my inbox. I wasn't expecting another installment in the series so soon, but I'm glad it showed up when it did because it was the perfect read during spooky season!

Review: Sugar Plum Spies (Section 47 #2) by Jennifer Estep

Title: Sugar Plum Spies

Series: Section 47 #2

Previous book in this series: A Sense of Danger

Author: Jennifer Estep

Genre: Adult, urban fantasy

Publication date: November 8th, 2022

Published by: Jennifer Estep

Source: eARC for review from author

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Synopsis: VISIONS OF SUGAR PLUMS...

Most spies take a break for the holidays, but not me, Charlotte Locke. As an analyst for Section 47, a secret spy organization, I normally use my magical form of synesthesia to uncover lies and track paramortal bad guys from the comfort of my cubicle. But tonight I’m going out into the field, along with my partner, Desmond Percy, a powerful galvanist.

Instead of enjoying Christmastime in the city, I’m in a German castle, dressed like a toy soldier and masquerading as a waitress at a swanky Christmas Eve party. My mission? To gather information that will help Section 47 track down a dangerous enemy.

Despite the glitz and glamour, I can’t shake the sense that something is wrong—and that Desmond and I might not leave the party alive.

DANCES OF DEATH...

My name is Desmond Percy, although I’ve had many aliases during my years working as a cleaner for Section 47. But I’ve never had a real partner until Charlotte Locke.

My part of the mission is simple: pretend to be a guest and keep an eye on things at the party while Charlotte uses her synesthesia to track down the information we need. But what starts out as a sugar plum dream quickly turns into a holiday nightmare.

Forget the mission. All I want for Christmas is to keep Charlotte safe.

My rating: ★★★★★

I'm always excited to read a Jennifer Estep book, especially if it's in a new series where there is still so much of the world to explore. The Section 47 Series is full of spies, assassins, and magic—a combination I’m really enjoying!

Monthly Wrap-Up: October 2022

I hope you guys had a great Spooky Season! Mine was filled with moving out old furniture, building and moving in new furniture, and redecorating/reorganizing my room... and I'm still not done 🙃

Anyway, this month I read 6 novels, 2 novellas, and 1 comic book, for a total of 9 books and 2384 pages. That's about 700 pages less than last month! But last month I did A LOT of re-reading 😅 This month I only ended up re-reading 2 books. Of the 9 books, 6 were adult, 1 YA, and 2 MG. And 4 were horror, 4 urban fantasy, and 1 mystery thriller.