Monthly Wrap-Up: August 2023

I got a lot of reading done in August thanks to a readathon. I read 6 novels, 1 novella, and 4 graphic novels, for a total of 11 books (that's 2307 pages! It's about 500 pages less than last month, but it's my second-highest page count so far this year)!

• 1 book was a re-read
• 9 were part of a series and 2 were standalones
• 3 were ARCs and 8 were finished copies
• 4 were 5-star reads, 5 were 4-star reads, 1 was 3 stars, and 1 was 2 stars
• 1 was a new-to-me author, and 10 I've previously read
• 3 were adult and 8 YA
• 3 were urban fantasy, 1 high fantasy, 1 mystery thriller, 2 romantic suspense, and 4 mythology retellings

Review: Curse of the Evil Librarian (Evil Librarian #3) by Michelle Knudsen

Title: Curse of the Evil Librarian

Series: Evil Librarian #3

Previous books in this series: Evil Librarian (#1) | Revenge of the Evil Librarian (#2)

Author: Michelle Knudsen

Genre: YA, urban fantasy

Publication date: August 2019

Published by: Candlewick Press

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis: Will it finally be curtains for the demonic Mr. Gabriel in this climactic chapter of the Evil Librarian series?

After sending the evil librarian, Mr. Gabriel, back to the demon world once and for all at theater camp last summer, Cynthia is ready to enjoy a completely demon-free senior year of high school, especially once she learns the fall musical will be Les Misérables. She can’t wait to create the most incredible barricade set design in all of high-school theater. And her boyfriend, Ryan, is sure to land his dream role of Javert. But down in the demon realm, an epic mishandling of Mr. Gabriel’s essence leads to his escape — and soon he’s gathering strength, bent once again on revenge against Cyn and everyone she loves.

My rating: ★★★★★

If Cynthia thought she was through with Mr. Gabriel, boy was she wrong. It turns out the demon librarian is gathering his strength in the demon realm to come and exact his revenge on Cynthia. Oh, and on top of that, there's a curse abound! 😬

Review: Have You Seen My Sister? by Kirsty McKay

Title: Have You Seen My Sister?

Author: Kirsty McKay

Genre: YA, mystery

Publication date: September 5th 2023

Published by: Sourcebooks Fire

Source: eArc for review form publoisher via Netgalley

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Synopsis: Gaia Gill is the last person in the world anyone would expect to go missing. Beautiful, athletic, and recently accepted to a prestigious college, she has everything to look forward to—but the night of her going-away party at the Moon Mountain ski resort, she disappears.

Gaia's younger sister Esme is supposed to be flying back to England with her family after the party, but she can't leave with Gaia missing—especially because nobody remembers Gaia leaving the party. Or if they do, they're not saying. Everyone at the lodge has their own secrets: the little rich girl, the ex-boyfriend, the ski instructor, the failed reality star.

Esme's out of her depth searching the dark, dangerous forests and icy slopes of Moon Mountain, until she teams up with a local boy who promises to help her. The clock is ticking, and it's down to Esme to piece the clues together and work out who—if anybody—is telling the truth.

My rating: ★★★☆☆

I enjoyed this author’s Undead duology as well as her other YA thriller The Assassin Game, so I was excited to get something new from her! And overall, I thought this book was okay.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #331: I Read 9 Books in 5 Days!

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

Sunday Post #364: Started Off Great...

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!

Review: The Leveller by Julia Durango

Title: The Leveller

Author: Julia Durango

Genre: YA, sci-fi

Publication date: June 2015

Published by: HarperTeen

Source: Purchased hardcover

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Synopsis: Nixy Bauer is a self-made Leveller. Her job? Dragging kids out of virtual reality and back to their parents in the real world. It’s normally easy cash, but Nixy’s latest mission is fraught with real danger, intrigue, and romance.

Nixy Bauer is used to her classmates being very, very unhappy to see her. After all, she’s a bounty hunter in a virtual reality gaming world. Kids in the MEEP, as they call it, play entirely with their minds, while their bodies languish in a sleeplike state on the couch. Irritated parents, looking to wrench their kids back to reality, hire Nixy to jump into the game and retrieve them.

But when the game’s billionaire developer loses track of his own son in the MEEP, Nixy is in for the biggest challenge of her bounty-hunting career. Wyn Salvador isn’t some lazy kid looking to escape his homework: Wyn does not want to be found. And he’s left behind a suicide note. Nixy takes the job but quickly discovers that Wyn’s not hiding—he’s being held inside the game against his will. But who is holding him captive, and why?

Nixy and Wyn attempt to fight their way out of a mind game unlike any they’ve encountered, and the battle brings them closer than either could have imagined. But when the whole world is virtual, how can Nixy possibly know if her feelings are real?

My rating: ★★★★☆

This was a really cool world! So Nixy is basically a bounty hunter, dragging kids back to the real world when they've spent too much time inside the virtual reality game MEEP. I was really excited to read this, and overall, I really enjoyed it. It was just a really creative world where the game apparently goes straight to your brain. The world Nixy enters to get her latest bounty is basically a maze filled with death at the turn of every corner. Lol. And honestly, that sounds FUN 😆 I had a blast exploring this virtual world.

Review: Moonlight Secrets (Fear Street Nights #1) by R.L. Stine

Title: Moonlight Secrets

Series: Fear Street Nights #1

Author: R.L. Stine

Genre: YA, horror, mystery thriller

Publication date: January 2005

Published by: Simon Pulse

Source: Purchased paperback

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Synopsis: When you can't sleep, there's always NIGHTS.

It all started with Lewis and Jamie. They were sneaking out late at night to be together. Then their friends started joining in. First at the old burned-down Fear Mansion. Later at the local bar Nights.

They called themselves the Night People. And they carefully protected their secret world. No parents, no work, no stress. Just chilling with friends in their own private after-hours club.

But then the nights turned dark. Unexplainable accidents, evil pranks... and then, later, the killings. The Night People know they have to stop the horror all by themselves, or else they risk exposure -- not to mention their lives.

Things go bump in the Night...

My rating: ★★★☆☆

After a year of no Fear Street, I’m finally getting back into it this year! This is my second series of the year, and I went into it a little apprehensive just because these books can be hit or miss, but this one turned out to be pretty okay!

Review: Revenge of the Evil Librarian (Evil Librarian #2) by Michelle Knudsen

Title: Revenge of the Evil Librarian

Series: Evil Librarian #2

Previous book in this series: Evil Librarian

Author: Michelle Knudsen

Genre: YA, urban fantasy

Publication date: February 2017

Published by: Candlewick Press

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis: The stage is set for a fiendishly dramatic summer at theater camp for Cyn and Ryan. With NO DEMONS.

Last fall, Cynthia Rothschild saved her best friend, Annie, (and everyone else in her high school) from the demon librarian, Mr. Gabriel. But now all that demon stuff is over, and Cyn is ready to have the best summer ever -- at theater camp (!) with her former crush and now boyfriend (!!) Ryan Halsey.

Once she gets to camp, though, the Best Summer Ever does not seem to be following the script. For one thing, there is Ryan's very talented and very female lifelong camp best friend, whom he has somehow failed to mention before now. For another, it appears the demon stuff is not as entirely over as Cyn had hoped. Also, there are some secrets that perhaps she should not have kept from Ryan for quite this long.

At least any new demons that show up to ruin her summer can't possibly be as evil as Mr. Gabriel, who is, thankfully, very dead now. It's not like he could somehow come back to life to seek his terrible revenge or something. Right?

My rating: ★★★★★

She defeated the evil librarian at her school, and now there are demons at the summer camp. Poor Cynthia can't catch a break. Lol.

Review: There's No Way I'd Die First by Lisa Springer

Title: There's No Way I'd Die First

Author: Lisa Springer

Genre: YA, horror, mystery thriller

Publication date: September 5th 2023

Published by: Delacorte Press

Source: eARC for review from publisher via Netgalley

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Synopsis: Noelle Layne knows horror. Every trope, every warning sign, every survival tactic. She even leads a successful movie club dedicated to the genre. Thus, who better to throw the ultimate, most exclusive Halloween party on all of Long Island?

And with the guest list including the coolest kids in her senior class, her popularity is bound to spike. Hopefully, enough to warrant an expansion into podcasting. Plus, the fact that attractive, singer-songwriter Archer Mitchell is coming is honestly the candy corn on top. Nothing is going to kill her party vibes.

Except... maybe the low-budget It clown she hires to lead a classic round of tag. He’s supposed to be terrifying, though in a comforting, nostalgic way. Instead, the guy is giving major creeps. But maybe Noelle’s just that good at hosting?

Her confidence is immediately rocked when the night’s entertainment axes one of her guests. And he's not done yet. If an evil, murderous clown thinks life is a game, then Noelle is ready to play. She’s been waiting a long time to prove that she’s a Final Girl.

My rating: ★★★☆☆

I haven't had good luck with these sorts of books where the main character is a horror fan and is trying to outsmart and evade the killer. And my streak continues with this book 🙃 It wasn't a bad book, but I think this was not for me.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #330: Let the Readathon Begin!

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

Sunday Post #363: Preparing for a Readathon

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!

Bout of Books Readathon!

The Bout of Books readathon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly Rubidoux Apple. It’s a weeklong readathon that begins 12:01am Monday, August 21st and runs through Sunday, August 27th in YOUR time zone. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are reading sprints, daily Discord questions, and exclusive Instagram challenges, but they’re all completely optional. For all Bout of Books 38 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

Review: Gilded by Marissa Meyer

Title: Gilded

Series: Gilded #1

Author: Marissa Meyer

Genre: YA, fantasy, fairy tale reteling, German folklore

Publication date: November 2021

Published by: Feiwel & Friends

Source: Purchased hardcover

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Synopsis: Long ago cursed by the god of lies, a poor miller's daughter has developed a talent for spinning stories that are fantastical and spellbinding and entirely untrue.

Or so everyone believes.

When one of Serilda's outlandish tales draws the attention of the sinister Erlking and his undead hunters, she finds herself swept away into a grim world where ghouls and phantoms prowl the earth and hollow-eyed ravens track her every move. The king orders Serilda to complete the impossible task of spinning straw into gold, or be killed for telling falsehoods. In her desperation, Serilda unwittingly summons a mysterious boy to her aid. He agrees to help her... for a price.

Soon Serilda realizes that there is more than one secret hidden in the castle walls, including an ancient curse that must be broken if she hopes to end the tyranny of the king and his wild hunt forever.

Marissa Meyer, #1 New York Times-bestselling author, returns to the fairytale world with this haunting retelling of Rumpelstiltskin.

My rating: ★★★★★

I love a Marissa Meyer retelling, so I was very excited to find out that she was writing a Rumpelstiltskin retelling, and boy what a ride it was! I loved it!

Review: Galatea by Madeline Miller

Title: Galatea

Author: Madeline Miller

Genre: Adult, fantasy, historical, Greek mythology

Publication date: August 2013

Published by: Ecco

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis: In ancient Greece, a skilled marble sculptor has been blessed by a goddess who has given his masterpiece—the most beautiful woman the town has ever seen—the gift of life. After marrying her, he expects Galatea to please him, to be obedience and humility personified. But she has desires of her own and yearns for independence.

In a desperate bid by her obsessive husband to keep her under control, Galatea is locked away under the constant supervision of doctors and nurses. But with a daughter to rescue, she is determined to break free, whatever the cost...

My rating: ★★★★☆

I read The Song of Achilles a couple of years ago and I really loved it! So since then, I’ve been very excited to read Madeline Miller’s other books. And this novella was great!

Review: Loop by Karen Akins

Title: Loop

Series: Loop #1

Author: Karen Akins

Genre: YA, sci-fi, time travel

Publication date: October 2014

Published by: St. Martin's Griffin

Source: Purchased hardcover

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Synopsis: At a school where Quantum Paradox 101 is a required course and history field trips are literal, sixteen year-old time traveler Bree Bennis excels... at screwing up.

After Bree botches a solo midterm to the 21st century by accidentally taking a boy hostage (a teensy snafu), she stands to lose her scholarship. But when Bree sneaks back to talk the kid into keeping his yap shut, she doesn't go back far enough. The boy, Finn, now three years older and hot as a solar flare, is convinced he's in love with Bree, or rather, a future version of her that doesn't think he's a complete pain in the arse. To make matters worse, she inadvertently transports him back to the 23rd century with her.

Once home, Bree discovers that a recent rash of accidents at her school are anything but accidental. Someone is attacking time travelers. As Bree and her temporal tagalong uncover seemingly unconnected clues—a broken bracelet, a missing data file, the art heist of the millennium—that lead to the person responsible, she alone has the knowledge to piece the puzzle together. Knowledge only one other person has. Her future self.

But when those closest to her become the next victims, Bree realizes the attacker is willing to do anything to stop her. In the past, present, or future.

My rating: ★★★☆☆

A little time travel, a little romance... You would think this would’ve been something I loved, but not really. I mean, it was fine. But nothing I was crazy about.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #329: I Blame the Gaming...

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

Sunday Post #362: I Can't Stop Playing This Game, Send Help

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!

Sizzlin' Summer Book Tag

A new summer-y book tag created by Jesse the Reader! I saw his video and I thought it'd be a fun book tag to do! I tried to use mostly books I've read this year, but there were some questions that didn't really apply to any books I've read in 2023, so I just picked some I've read in previous years.

Review: The Keeper of Night by Kylie Lee Baker

Title: The Keeper of Night

Series: The Keeper of Night #1

Author: Kylie Lee Baker

Genre: YA, urban fantasy, historical, Japanese mythology

Publication date: October 2021

Published by: Inkyard Press

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis: Half British Reaper, half Japanese Shinigami, Ren Scarborough has been collecting souls in the London streets for centuries. Expected to obey the harsh hierarchy of the Reapers who despise her, Ren conceals her emotions and avoids her tormentors as best she can.

When her failure to control her Shinigami abilities drives Ren out of London, she flees to Japan to seek the acceptance she’s never gotten from her fellow Reapers. Accompanied by her younger brother, the only being on earth to care for her, Ren enters the Japanese underworld to serve the Goddess of Death… only to learn that here, too, she must prove herself worthy. Determined to earn respect, Ren accepts an impossible task—find and eliminate three dangerous Yokai demons—and learns how far she’ll go to claim her place at Death’s side.

My rating: ★★★★☆

I really enjoyed this book! One of my favorite things about it was the mythology. I liked how every region's reapers served different deaths: Ankou in Britain, Yanluo in China, Santa Muerte in Mexico, and so on. Our main character Ren is half reaper, half Shinigami, and she's never really fit in with the London reapers. In fact, she was always being bullied by a couple of mean-girl-type reapers, who also happened to be High Reapers, so she was never able to defend herself because that would mean trouble. However, after an incident with these girls and her controllable Shinigami powers, Ren is forced to run away from London. So she sets out to Japan with the support of her little brother Neven, not only in hopes of finding her mother and learning more about her Shinigami side but also to find herself.

Review: More Than Jamie Baker (Jamie Baker #2) by Kelly Oram

Title: More Than Jamie Baker

Series: Jamie Baker #2

Previous books in this series: Being Jamie Baker (#1) | Kissing Jamie Baker (#1.5)

Author: Kelly Oram

Genre: YA, paranormal romance

Publication date: October 2013

Published by: Bluefields

Source: Purchased ebook

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Synopsis: Jamie Baker, the only girl in the world with superpowers, has now accepted who she is and learned to control her power. Not to mention she has the best boyfriend on the planet. Life is finally looking good. But the day she witnesses an accident and decides not to save the guy out of fear of being exposed, she realizes that simply being Jamie Baker isn't enough.

After seeing Jamie so wrecked with guilt, the ever-helpful Ryan Miller decides it's time to make all of his fantasies about turning his girlfriend into an honest-to-goodness superhero become a reality.

Of course, coming up with a decent Super Name and fending off all of Ryan's attempts to get her into spandex aren't the only problems Jamie faces. The more her alter ego starts to make headlines, the harder it becomes for Jamie to hide her extracurricular activities from her best friend, the government, radical scientists, and the mysterious new guy who is determined to steal her from her boyfriend.

My rating: ★★☆☆☆

Being Jamie Baker was one of my favorite books of 2021. Meanwhile, More Than Jamie Baker was one of my least favorites of the same year 👀 Yeah, that’s how little I liked the sequel. It was just frustrating!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #328: Best Crossover in History!

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

Sunday Post #361: It's Been a Good Summer, But I'm Ready for Fall!

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!

Finish the Series #26: Finally!

I have officially (technically) completed my Series Enders reading challenge! My goal was to finish 5-10 series this year, and I have officially finished 5! Yay!

Review- Cinder’s Adventure: Get Me to the Wedding! by Marissa Meyer

Title: Cinder’s Adventure: Get Me to the Wedding!

Series: The Lunar Chronicles

Previous books in this series: Cinder (#1) | Scarlet (#2) | Cress (#3) | Fairest (#3.5) | Winter (#4) | Stars Above (#4.5)

Other series/books mentioned: Renegades | Fortuna Beach | Heartless | Gilded

Author: Marissa Meyer

Genre: YA, sci-fi, fairy tale retelling

Publication date: March 2022

Published by: Feiwel & Friends

Source: Purchased ebook

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Synopsis: Cinder, the star of the Lunar Chronicles, is getting married! She and Emperor Kai have made it to their big day – now all Cinder has to do is show up and say "I do." But it’s not so easy when there are twists and turns and obstacles along the way, and you, the reader, are in control of her fate, along with the many friends and strangers she meets on this adventure. Can you and Cinder make it to happily ever after?

For fans of the #1 New York Times-bestselling author Marissa Meyer, this is the ultimate interactive celebration of all things Lunar Chronicles. And, bonus: you’ll also discover characters and settings from Heartless, Renegades, Instant Karma, and Gilded, along with so many possible endings! This inventive and fun adventure is a must-have for fans, only available as an e-book exclusive.

My rating: ★★★★★

As soon as I knew of this book’s existence I bought it and read it immediately! It’s been a while since I last read a choose-your-own-adventure-type book, but this was so much fun! And the fact that it takes place in The Lunar Chronicles universe and is about getting Cinder to her wedding with KAI...

Review: Paradise-1 (Red Space #1) by David Wellington

Title: Paradise-1

Series: Red Space #1

Author: David Wellington

Genre: Adult, horror, sci-fi

Publication date: April 2023

Published by: Orbit

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis: Paradise-1. Earth’s first deep space colony. For thousands of people, it was an opportunity for a new life. Until it went dark.

No communication has been received from the colony for months. And it falls to Firewatch inspector Alexandra Petrova and the crew of the Artemis to investigate.

What they find is more horrifying than anything they could have imagined.

My rating: ★★★★☆

I’ve been on a sci-fi kick for a while now, but horror sci-fi is something I’ve really been craving, and this book really hit the spot. It was great!

Review: Kissing Jamie Baker (Jamie Baker #1.5) by Kelly Oram

Title: Kissing Jamie Baker

Series: Jamie Baker #1.5

Previous book in this series: Being Jamie Baker

Author: Kelly Oram

Genre: YA, paranormal romance

Publication date: March 2016

Published by: Kelly Oram

Source: Online freebie

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Read it for free HERE

Synopsis: A short story that retells Jamie and Ryan's first kiss from Ryan's point of view.

My rating: ★★★★★

In Being Jamie Baker, this scene, by far, was one of my favorites in the book! Learning that there was a Ryan POV of this scene out there made me ridiculously happy! And it was as amazing as the original in the book.

Monthly Wrap-Up: July 2023

It's August which means it's basically spooky season! 😆 Look, I hate summer so I've been ready for spooky season since June. Lol.

Anyway, in July I read 1 novella and 9 books, that's 10 books total (2814 pages) and the most I have read in a month so far this year! And it's due to the fact that I am terribly behind on my Goodreads challenge. Lol. I'm still trying to catch up 😆

• 4 were part of a series, 6 were standalones
• 7 were finished copies, 3 were ARCs
• 3 were 5-star reads, 3 were 4-star reads, and 4 were 3-star reads
• 4 were from new-to-me authors, and 6 from previously read authors
• 3 were adult books, 7 were YA
• 9 were fiction, 1 was nonfiction
• 1 was urban fantasy, 1 high fantasy, 1 medical science, 1 sci-fi, 4 horror, 1 mystery thriller, and 1 romantic suspense