Monthly Wrap-Up: September 2023

The best month of the year is almost here!! I am SO excited for October and all the spookiness it has to offer! September was good though. Lol. I read 6 novels and 3 novellas, for a total of 2356 pages, which is only like 50 more pages than last month. Lol.

• 3 books were a re-reads
• 8 were part of a series and 1 was a standalone
• 5 were ARCs and 4 were finished copies
• 2 were hardcovers and 7 were ebooks
• 4 were 5-star reads, 4 were 4-star reads, and 1 was 3 stars
• 1 book was by new-to-me authors/previously read, and 8 I've previously read
• 4 were indie published, and 5 traditionally published
• 4 were adult and 5 YA
• 3 were urban fantasy, 1 sci-fi, 4 mystery thrillers, 1 horror

Review: Dark Quasar Rising (Friends of a Former Space Janitor #1) by Julia Huni

Title: Dark Quasar Rising

Series: Friends of a Former Space Janitor #1

Other series in the Space Janitor Universe: Space Janitor | Tales of a Former Space Janitor

Author: Julia Huni

Genre: Adult, sci-fi, adventure

Publication date: October 8th 2023

Published by: IPH Media

Source: eARC for review from author

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Buy it: Amazon

Synopsis: In the heart of enemy territory, Vanti must save the day without blowing her cover... or her cool.

Security for a reality star cruising on a billionaire's space yacht should be excellent cover for secret agent Lindsay "Vanti" Fioravanti. Her boss, the famous Elodie-Oh, doesn't care where they go, as long as it's viral.

Then Arun, the ship's owner and pilot, grabs an opportunity to do business on Gagarin--a planet emerging into capitalism with enthusiasm. Getting in on the new market is a huge risk, but could offer enormous rewards. And visiting Gagarin gives Vanti the chance to recruit new informants.

But when a shipmate is kidnapped, Vanti and Arun must come to the rescue. Can they do it without exposing Vanti's secret identity? And if not, who will feed the cat?

My rating: ★★★★☆

I have been obsessed with the Space Janitor world ever since I discovered it two years ago, so to tell you that I was excited when I found out Vanti was going to get her own book is an understatement.

Review: Good Girl, Bad Blood (A Good Girl's Guide to Murder #2) by Holly Jackson

Title: Good Girl, Bad Blood

Series: A Good Girl's Guide to Murder #2

Previous book in this series: A Good Girl's Guide to Murder

Author: Holly Jackson

Genre: YA, mystery

Publication date: April 2020

Published by: Delacorte Press

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis: Pip is not a detective anymore.

With the help of Ravi Singh, she released a true-crime podcast about the murder case they solved together last year. The podcast has gone viral, yet Pip insists her investigating days are behind her.

But she will have to break that promise when someone she knows goes missing. Jamie Reynolds has disappeared, on the very same night the town hosted a memorial for the sixth-year anniversary of the deaths of Andie Bell and Sal Singh.

The police won't do anything about it. And if they won't look for Jamie then Pip will, uncovering more of her town's dark secrets along the way... and this time everyone is listening. But will she find him before it's too late?

My rating: ★★★★★

Another great mystery from Holly Jackson! I cannot get over how good her writing is! I really enjoyed this!

Review- Athena: Grey-Eyed Goddess (Olympians #2) by George O'Connor

Title: Athena: Grey-Eyed Goddess

Series: Olympians #2

Previous book in this series: Zeus: King of the Gods (#1)

Author: George O'Connor

Genre: Middle Grade, graphic novel, fantasy, Greek mythology

Publication date: April 2010

Published by: First Second

Source: Purchased paperback

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Synopsis: Step into a world of fearsome battle, cruel treachery, and fierce loyalty. Your guides are the three Fates, eerie figures who weave the tale of life. Their subject today is Athena, warrior goddess. Five astonishing tales of brave Athena's adventures lies ahead.

My rating: ★★★★☆

I really liked this series! I love that they’re retold myths in the form of graphic novels! (Also, the kids at the school I work at LOVE this series! Lol.)

Review: None Shall Sleep by Ellie Marney

Title: None Shall Sleep

Series: None Shall Sleep #1

Author: Ellie Marney

Genre: YA, mystery thriller

Publication date: September 2020

Published by: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Source: Purchased hardcover

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Synopsis: A psychological thriller about two teenagers teaming up with the FBI to track down juvenile serial killers.

In 1982, two teenagers—serial killer survivor Emma Lewis and US Marshal candidate Travis Bell—are recruited by the FBI to interview convicted juvenile killers and provide insight and advice on cold cases. From the start, Emma and Travis develop a quick friendship, gaining information from juvenile murderers that even the FBI can't crack. But when the team is called in to give advice on an active case—a serial killer who exclusively hunts teenagers—things begin to unravel. Working against the clock, they must turn to one of the country's most notorious incarcerated murderers for help: teenage sociopath Simon Gutmunsson.

Despite Travis's objections, Emma becomes the conduit between Simon and the FBI team. But while Simon seems to be giving them the information they need to save lives, he's an expert manipulator playing a very long game... and he has his sights set on Emma.

Captivating, harrowing, and chilling, None Shall Sleep is an all-too-timely exploration of not only the monsters that live among us but also the monsters that live inside us.

My rating: ★★★★☆

A girl created by a serial killer who hunts serial killers.

If you're a fan of Criminal Minds like I am, then this is the book for you! It gave me some serious Criminal Minds vibes and I loved it!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #335: A Little of Everything

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

Sunday Post #368: It's Finally 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!

Summer TBR Update

Summer has finally come to an end (yay!) which means I am wrapping up my Summer TBR so I can get ready for Spooky Season! Yay! Although, let's be honest... I read spooky books year-round 😆😂

Review: Spider and Frost (Elemental Assassin #19.6, Mythos Academy #6.5) by Jennifer Estep

Title: Spider and Frost

Series: Elemental Assassin #19.6 | Mythos Academy #6.5

Previous books in the Elemental Assassin series: Spider's Bite (#1) | Web of Lies (#2) | Venom (#3) | Tangled Threads (#4) | Spider's Revenge (#5) | By A Thread (#6) | Widow's Web (#7) | Deadly Sting (#8) | Heart of Venom (#9) | The Spider (#10) | Poison Promise (#11) | Black Widow (#12) | Spider's Trap (#13) | Bitter Bite (#14) | Unraveled (#15) | Snared (#16) | Venom in the Veins (#17) | Sharpest Sting (#18) | Last Strand (#19)

Short stories in the Elemental Assassin series: Poison (#0.1) | Web of Deceit (#0.2) | Spider's Bargain (#0.5) | Web of Death (#1.5) | Wasted (#2.7) | Tangled Dreams (#3.5) | Tangled Schemes (#3.7) | Spider’s Nemesis (#4.5) | Thread of Death (#5.5) | Carniepunk: Parlor Tricks (#8.1) | Kiss of Venom (#8.5) | Unwanted (#14.5) | Nice Guys Bite (#15.5) | Winter's Web (#17.5)

| Hearts Stings(#19.5)

Previous books in the Mythos Academy series: First Frost (#0.5) | Touch of Frost (#1) | Halloween Frost (#1.5) | Kiss of Frost (#2) | Dark Frost (#3) | Crimson Frost (#4) | Spartan Frost (#4.5) | Midnight Frost (#5)

Author: Jennifer Estep

Genre: YA, urban fantasy

Publication date: September 26th 2023

Published by: Jennifer Estep

Source: eARC for review from author

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Synopsis: New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Estep delivers an epic team-up featuring beloved characters from her Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series and her Mythos Academy young adult series. This crossover novella, Spider and Frost, mixes magic and mythology in an action-packed adventure. Perfect for fans of Ilona Andrews, Jennifer L. Armentrout, and Rick Riordan.

WHEN AN ASSASSIN . . .

My name is Gin Blanco, and I’m on vacation. Sort of. As the assassin the Spider, it’s hard for me to completely relax, but I’m determined to enjoy a scenic train ride and a nice, quiet lunch before heading back home to Ashland.

My plans change when Gwen Frost boards the train. The girl says she’s heading back to Mythos Academy, the fancy private boarding school, but I can’t shake the feeling that Gwen is hiding something—and is in far more trouble than she realizes.

. . . MEETS A CHAMPION

My name is Gwen Frost. I might have saved the world from Loki, the evil Norse god of chaos, but I’m still chasing down Reaper villains. It’s all part of being the Champion of Nike, the Greek goddess of victory.

I’ve been assigned to protect some mythological artifacts that are being transported via train to Mythos Academy, but some Reapers are hot on my trail, and they’ll do anything to recover the artifacts—and kill me.

Also on the train is Gin Blanco, who claims to be the owner of the Pork Pit barbecue restaurant. My psychometry magic keeps whispering that there’s more to her than meets the eye, although I can’t tell if Gin is a friend, an enemy, or something else entirely.

Note: Spider and Frost is a 28,000-word crossover novella between the Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series and the Mythos Academy young adult series. It is told from the points of view of Gin Blanco and Gwen Frost.

Spider and Frost takes place after the events of Last Strand, book 19 in the Elemental Assassin series.

My rating: ★★★★★

I didn't know what sort of trouble Gwen Frost was in, but I was going to help her get out of it.

I cannot express how excited I was for this novella. I love both the Elemental Assassin series and Mythos Academy, so having a story where Gin Blanco meets Gwen Frost is just-

Review: A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

Title: A Good Girl's Guide to Murder

Series: A Good Girl's Guide to Murder #1

Prequel novella in this series: Kill Joy (#0.5)

Author: Holly Jackson

Genre: YA, mystery

Publication date: May 2019

Published by: Delacorte Press

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis: Everyone in Fairview knows the story.

Pretty and popular high school senior Andie Bell was murdered by her boyfriend, Sal Singh, who then killed himself. It was all anyone could talk about. And five years later, Pip sees how the tragedy still haunts her town.

But she can't shake the feeling that there was more to what happened that day. She knew Sal when she was a child, and he was always so kind to her. How could he possibly have been a killer?

Now a senior herself, Pip decides to reexamine the closed case for her final project, at first just to cast doubt on the original investigation. But soon she discovers a trail of dark secrets that might actually prove Sal innocent... and the line between past and present begins to blur. Someone in Fairview doesn't want Pip digging around for answers, and now her own life might be in danger.

My rating: ★★★★★

When you ask people in town what happened to Andie Bell, they'll tell you without hesitation: "She was murdered by Salil Singh." No "allegedly," no "might have," no "probably," no "most likely."
He did it, they say. Sal Singh killed Andie.
But I'm just not so sure.

This book was amazing! The mystery was very intriguing and the way everything unraveled was so good! The mystery was definitely my favorite part of this book. There were so many shocking revelations, some I saw coming, some I didn't. And the more Pip dug into the mystery, the more she realized that Andie might not have been everything everyone thought her to be 👀

Review: Darkest Dawn (Fear Street Nights #3) by R.L. Stine

Title: Darkest Dawn

Series: Fear Street Nights #3

Previous books in this series: Moonlight Secrets (#1) | Midnight Games (#2)

Author: R.L. Stine

Genre: YA, horror, mystery thriller

Publication date: August 2005

Published by: Simon Pulse

Source: Purchased paperback

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

The Night People are safe at last. After all the ugly pranks and vicious murders, things have finally returned to normal. The friends who are left are trying to forget and move on, taking comfort by meeting up late-night at their old hang out, Nights.

It was the ancient spirit of Angelica Fear that caused all the trouble. And now she's been destroyed once and for all. Burned in a fire.

But if it's true that the horror is dead, what did Angelica mean when her voice cried out from the flames?

...The Evil Lives!

My rating: ★★★☆☆

Jamie and Dana thought they defeated Angelica Fear in the last book, but that may not be the case after all.

"Angelica, are you here?" I whispered. "Are you here?"

Review: Contagion by Erin Bowman

Title: Contagion

Series: Contagion #1

Author: Erin Bowman

Genre: YA, horror, sci-fi

Publication date: July 2018

Published by: HarperTeen

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis: It got in us.

After receiving an urgent SOS from a work detail on a distant planet, a skeleton crew is dispatched to perform a standard search-and-rescue mission.

Most are dead.

But when the crew arrives, they find an abandoned site, littered with rotten food, discarded weapons... and dead bodies.

Don't set foot here again.

As they try to piece together who—or what—could have decimated an entire operation, they discover that some things are best left buried—and some monsters are only too ready to awaken.

My rating: ★★★★☆

I’ve been on a sci-fi kick lately and this book really hit the spot. I mean, it wasn't amazing, but I liked it overall and I really enjoyed the splash of horror it included.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #334: A Disappointing Guide to Murder

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

Sunday Post #367: The Real Horror was the Isolation

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: A Midsummer Night #nofilter (OMG Shakespeare) by William Shakespeare & Brett Wright

Title: A Midsummer Night #nofilter

Series: OMG Shakespeare

Genre: YA, fantasy, retelling

Authors: William Shakespeare & Brett Wright

Publication date: January 2016

Published by: Random House Books for Young Readers

Source: Purchased hardcover

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Synopsis: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, one of the greatest stories ever told... in texts?!

What if the fairies and star-crossed lovers of the forest had smartphones? A classic is reborn in this fun and funny adaptation of one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays!

Four lovers who can’t decide who they have a crush on.
One mischievous fairy with a love potion.
Total chaos in the fairy world, the human world, and everywhere in between!

♥️ and h8. The classics just got a whole lot more interesting. ;)

tl;dr A Shakespeare play told through its characters texting with emojis, posting photos, checking in at locations, and updating their relationship statuses. The perfect gift for hip theater lovers and teens.

A glossary and cast of characters are included for those who need it. For tl;dr means too long; didn’t read.

My rating: ★★★☆☆

I’m not gonna lie, Shakespeare is not for me. And while I’m curious about his work, I’m not curious enough to read the OG material 😆 I did listen to a podcast though... And read this book. Lol.

Review: Midnight Games (Fear Street Nights #2) by R.L. Stine

Title: Midnight Games

Series: Fear Street Nights #2

Previous book in this series: Moonlight Secrets

Author: R.L. Stine

Genre: YA, horror, mystery thriller

Publication date: July 2005

Published by: Simon Pulse

Source: Purchased paperback

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

Dana Fear isn't thrilled about spending her senior year at Shadyside High. The Fear family history goes way back in this town, and she's not so into lugging around the baggage.

But then she gets in with the Night People. Shadyside's pretty cool when it's 3 A.M. and you're chilling at a bar called Nights with your new best friends.

Until the evil returns, and the Night People start mysteriously disappearing one by one. Dana swears she has nothing to do with it. But all fingers point in one direction. Because there is, after all, a new Fear in town....

Things go bump in the Night...

My rating: ★★★☆☆

My name is Fear, but I'm not evil.

Oh. My. God. My wish in my review for the last book for more Fear family stuff came true! We got an actual Fear in this book!

Review- Baking All Year Round: Holidays & Special Occasions by Rosanna Pansino

Title: Baking All Year Round: Holidays & Special Occasions

Author: Rosanna Pansino

Genre: Adult, nonfiction, cookbook

Publication date: October 2018

Published by: Atria Books

Source: Purchased hardcover

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Synopsis: Baking All Year Round is filled with creative and delicious recipes for celebrating with friends and family throughout the year. There are eighty-six recipes covering holidays and special occasions such as Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Halloween, Christmas, birthdays, weddings, and more. Recipes include sweet treats like Blackberry Cobbler, Donut Cake, Confetti Pancakes, and BBQ Grill Brownie Cupcakes to savory dishes such as Heart Shaped Ravioli, Baseball Pizza, and cheesy garlic Breadstick Bones. Included in this book are several vegan, gluten free, or dairy free options. It’s the perfect cookbook for families to make fun food together and create lasting memories. Whether you’re celebrating at home or going to a party, Rosanna’s innovative ideas are sure to delight and entertain.

My rating: ★★★★★

I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to review this book, I’ve had it for a while and I am constantly using it to bake stuff. Anyway, I love it! I’ve tried many of Ro’s recipes, be it from the book, her website, or YouTube channel, and not one has failed me yet! They’ve all been great!

Finish the Series #27: Mysteries and Gods

I finished another series! Yay! That's 6 series finished so far this year!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #333: Dark and Spooky

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

Sunday Post #366: Ugh, Here We Go...

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: Wildcard (Warcross #2) by Marie Lu

Title: Wildcard

Series: Warcross #2

Previous book in this series: Warcross

Author: Marie Lu

Genre: YA, sci-fi

Publication date: September 2018

Published by: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis: Emika Chen barely made it out of the Warcross Championships alive. Now that she knows the truth behind Hideo's new NeuroLink algorithm, she can no longer trust the one person she's always looked up to, who she once thought was on her side.

Determined to put a stop to Hideo's grim plans, Emika and the Phoenix Riders band together, only to find a new threat lurking on the neon-lit streets of Tokyo. Someone's put a bounty on Emika's head, and her sole chance for survival lies with Zero and the Blackcoats, his ruthless crew. But Emika soon learns that Zero isn't all that he seems--and his protection comes at a price.

Caught in a web of betrayal, with the future of free will at risk, just how far will Emika go to take down the man she loves?

My rating: ★★★☆☆

Warcross ended up being an okay read for me. I loved the world and the technology but everything else was underwhelming. But after that crazy ending, I was really looking forward to reading this one. However, I think I liked this book even less 😬

September Holiday Kickoff Giveaway Hop!

Spooky season is right around the corner, so today I thought I'd give away a spooky book! (There's also a National Ampersand Day in September, which is so random, but the title of the book has an ampersand, so it's appropriate in that way too lol). This is a YA horror anthology and I actually just finished reading it. It was spooky indeed. It's quite dark, so you may need to look up trigger warnings, because damn.

Review: Survive the Night by Riley Sager

Title: Survive the Night

Author: Riley Sager

Genre: Adult, mystery thriller

Publication date: June 2021

Published by: Dutton

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis: Charlie Jordan is being driven across the country by a serial killer. Maybe.

Behind the wheel is Josh Baxter, a stranger Charlie met by the college ride share board, who also has a good reason for leaving university in the middle of term. On the road they share their stories, carefully avoiding the subject dominating the news - the Campus Killer, who's tied up and stabbed three students in the span of a year, has just struck again.

Travelling the lengthy journey between university and their final destination, Charlie begins to notice discrepancies in Josh's story.

As she begins to plan her escape from the man she is becoming certain is the killer, she starts to suspect that Josh knows exactly what she's thinking.

Meaning that she could very well end up as his next victim.

My rating: ★★☆☆☆

I've enjoyed all of Riley Sager's books to one degree or another... until this book. It was just dumb and frustrating—I was honestly surprised at how little I liked this book. The main character, Charlie, just kept making one bad decision after another and I could not get over how dumb she was being!

Review- Write Your Own Cake: A Worldbuilding Essay by Jennifer Estep

Title: Write Your Own Cake: A Worldbuilding Essay

Author: Jennifer Estep

Genre: Adult, nonfiction, writing

Publication date: February 2022

Published by: Jennifer Estep

Source: Purchased ebook

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Synopsis: When it comes to writing, worldbuilding is like making a cake. Why a cake? Because every author starts with the same general ingredients of characters, plot, and setting, but it’s how each author combines and adds to those ingredients that makes a book an author’s own unique creation.

This essay offers a few tips and poses some questions for figuring out the things you enjoy and do best as an author, so that you can write your own cake, whether it’s a big, bold epic fantasy adventure, a subtle, nuanced mystery, an emotion-packed romance, or something else.

Note: Write Your Own Cake is a 2,000-word essay about writing and worldbuilding. It first appeared as part of the Scribbler subscription box in November 2018.

My rating: ★★★★★

When I say I'll read anything and everything by Jennifer Estep, I literally mean everything...

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #332: No Romance, Only Murders

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

Sunday Post #365: It's Basically Spooky Season and You Can't Tell Me Otherwise

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: Warcross by Marie Lu

Title: Warcross

Series: Warcross #1

Author: Marie Lu

Publication date: September 2017

Published by: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

Source: Borrowed from library

Add it on Goodreads

Buy it: Amazon | B&N | Thrift Books

Synopsis: For the millions who log in every day, Warcross isn’t just a game—it’s a way of life. The obsession started ten years ago and its fan base now spans the globe, some eager to escape from reality and others hoping to make a profit. Struggling to make ends meet, teenage hacker Emika Chen works as a bounty hunter, tracking down players who bet on the game illegally. But the bounty hunting world is a competitive one, and survival has not been easy. Needing to make some quick cash, Emika takes a risk and hacks into the opening game of the international Warcross Championships—only to accidentally glitch herself into the action and become an overnight sensation.

Convinced she’s going to be arrested, Emika is shocked when instead she gets a call from the game’s creator, the elusive young billionaire Hideo Tanaka, with an irresistible offer. He needs a spy on the inside of this year’s tournament in order to uncover a security problem . . . and he wants Emika for the job. With no time to lose, Emika’s whisked off to Tokyo and thrust into a world of fame and fortune that she’s only dreamed of. But soon her investigation uncovers a sinister plot, with major consequences for the entire Warcross empire.

My rating: ★★★★☆

The idea of going into a virtual reality game has always been intriguing to me, so I was very excited to read this book! And overall, I enjoyed it!