It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #414: Am I Back?

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

Sunday Post #448: What A Catch

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!

2025 Quarter Year Crisis Book Tag

I haven't had that great of a reading year so far, but I like this tag, so I thought I'd give it a whirl anyway this year and see what happens. Lol. This tag was created by Rosin’s Reading.

Monthly Wrap-Up: March 2025

I... don't even know where the month went 😅 I had a really rough time this month, but I think I'm finally getting out of my rut. In March, I only read 5 books (again), which was about 1274 pages. That's about 20 pages less than the previous month 😅

• 2 were full-length novels, and 3 manga
• 4 were part of a series and 1 was a standalone
• I finished 1 series this month!
• All 5 were finished copies
• 1 was a physical book and 4 were an ebooks
• 1 was a 5-star read, 3 were 4-star reads, and 1 was 3.5 stars
• All 5 were traditionally published
• 1 was by a new-to-me author and 4 were by authors I've previously read
• 1 was an adult book, and 4 YA
• All 5 were fiction books
• 1 was high fantasy, and 4 were action

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #413: Omg I Finished My First Novel of the Month

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

Sunday Post #447: Oh the Chaos...

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!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #412: I'm Trying

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

Sunday Post #446: Just Trying to Survive

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: Find Him Where You Left Him Dead (Death Games #1) by Kristen Simmons

Title: Find Him Where You Left Him Dead

Series: Death Games #1

Author: Kristen Simmons

Genre: YA, horror, Japanese mythology

Publication date: September 2023

Published by: Tor Teen

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis: Four years ago, five kids started a game. Only four survived.

Now, at the end of their senior year of high school, the survivors—Dax, Maddy, Emerson, and Owen—have reunited for one strange and terrible reason: they’ve been summoned by the ghost of Ian, the friend they left for dead.

Together they return to the tunnel where their friendship ended with one goal: find Ian and bring him home. So they restart the deadly game they never finished—an innocent card-matching challenge called Meido. A game without instructions.

As soon as they begin, they're dragged out of their reality and into an eerie hellscape of Japanese underworlds, more horrifying than even the darkest folktales that Owen's grandmother told him. There, they meet Shinigami, an old wise woman who explains the rules:

They have one night to complete seven challenges or all of them, Ian included, will be stuck in this world forever.

Once inseparable, the survivors now can’t stand each other, but the challenges demand they work together, think quickly, and make sacrifices—blood, clothes, secrets, memories, and worse.

And once again, not everyone will make it out of Meido alive.

My rating: ★★★★☆

I enjoyed this book more than I was anticipating! Listen, horror books can be hit or miss, but this one was definitely a hit!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #411: Five Broken Blades

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

Sunday Post #445: Trying to Relax

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!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #410: I Didn't Get To It Last Week

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

Sunday Post #444: I'm so Tired

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!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #409: I'll Get To It This Week

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

Sunday Post #443: Blind Date With a Book

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!

Monthly Wrap-Up: February 2025

Still not having a great time, but I technically did read more than last month. Lol. I ended up reading 5 books again, but this time it was around 1296 pages, which is about 200 pages more than last month!

• 2 were full-length novels, and 3 manga
• 4 were part of a series and 1 was a standalone
• I finished 1 series this month!
• All 5 were finished copies
• 1 was a physical book and 4 were an ebooks
• 3 were 4-star reads, 1 was 3.5 stars, and 1 was 3 stars
• All 5 were traditionally published
• 1 was by a new-to-me author and 4 were by authors I've previously read
• 1 was an adult book and 4 YA
• All 5 were fiction books
• 3 were adventure fantasy, and 2 high fantasy

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #408: A Little Bit of Horror, Perhaps?

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

Sunday Post #442: I Backed Up My Kindle Books Because Amazon is Being Sketchy

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!

2025 Bookish Prediction Tag

I've been doing this tag for the last couple of years and I just really like it. It's fun! It was created by Book Princess Reviews.

Review: Shadows of Truth (League of Liars #2) by Astrid Scholte

Title: Shadows of Truth

Series: League of Liars #2

Previous book in this series: League of Liars

Author: Astrid Scholte

Genre: YA, high fantasy

Publication date: February 2024

Published by: Allen & Unwin

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis: After their dramatic escape from Vardean prison, Cayder and his friends leap into the unknown, tumbling headlong out of Telene and into the strange and mysterious world beyond the veil.

Leta – who grew up believing a world of dark fairytales existed on the other side of the veil – finds that the truth is more magical, and terrifying, than she could ever have imagined. And it's the worst possible place to discover your boyfriend has been mortally wounded.

Meanwhile, Cayder and Elenora learn that both this world and their own are teetering on the brink of destruction. Still reeling from Elenora's betrayal, Cayder must overcome his feelings and work with her to prevent an apocalypse. They have to make it home, and to do so they will need the help of their old enemy, Dr Bueter – as well as old friends they thought were lost forever.

This page-turning sequel to League of Liars takes us beneath the surface of the familiar world of Telene, and into the shadowy realm that is the source of both its magic and its nightmares.

My rating: ★★★⯪☆

I was SO excited to finally read this book! I have been really looking forward to reading it since I read the first book in the series back in the Summer of 2023. Unfortunately, I didn’t end up loving it as much as I was hoping (I gave League of Liars 5 stars!), and I honestly don’t even know what it was about this book.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #407: Dreadful

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

Sunday Post #441: More Books, More 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!

Review: A Gentle Noble's Vacation Recommendation (Vol. 1) by Misaki, Momochi, & Sando

Title: A Gentle Noble's Vacation Recommendation: Volume 1

Series: A Gentle Noble's Vacation Recommendation #1

Author: Misaki

Artists: Momochi, Sando

Genre: YA, manga, fantasy, adventure

Publication date: August 2020

Published by: TOKYOPOP

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis: When Lizel mysteriously finds himself in a city that bears odd similarities to his own but clearly isn't, he quickly comes to terms with the unlikely truth: this is an entirely different world. Even so, laid-back Lizel isn't the type to panic. He immediately sets out to learn more about this strange place, and to help him do so, hires a seasoned adventurer named Gil as his tour guide and protector.

Until he's able to find a way home, Lizel figures this is a perfect opportunity to explore a new way of life adventuring as part of a guild. After all, he's sure he'll go home eventually... might as well enjoy the otherworldly vacation for now!

My rating: ★★★★☆

This was such a fun manga! I really liked the premise of it! Basically, a nobleman named unexpectedly finds himself in an alternate universe that closely resembles his own. In this new world, he recruits Gil, an adventurer, to be his tour guide/bodyguard of sorts, and with his help, he explores this new world.

Finish the Series #37: First Series of 2025 Finished!

I finished my first series of the year!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #406: Fun Fantasies

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

Sunday Post #440: Getting ALL the Books to Fill the Empty Void Inside

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: Full Speed to a Crash Landing (Chaotic Orbits, #1) by Beth Revis

Title: Full Speed to a Crash Landing

Series: Chaotic Orbits #1

Author: Beth Revis

Genre: Adult, sci-fi

Publication date: August 2024

Published by: DAW

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis: A high octane sexy space heist from New York Times-bestselling author Beth Revis, the first in a novella trilogy.

Ada Lamarr may have gotten to the spaceship wreck first, but looter’s rights won’t get her far when she’s got a hole in the side of her ship and her spacesuit is almost out of air. Fortunately for her, help arrives in the form of a government salvage crew—and while they reluctantly rescue her from certain death, they are not pleased to have an unexpected passenger along on their classified mission.

But Ada doesn’t care—all that matters to her is enjoying their fine food and sweet, sweet oxygen—until Rian White, the government agent in charge, starts to suspect that there’s more to Ada than meets the eye. He’s not wrong—but he’s so pretty that Ada is perfectly happy to keep him paying attention to her—at least until she can complete the job she was sent to pull off. But as quick as Ada is, Rian might be quicker—and she may not be entirely sure who’s manipulating who until it’s too late…

A phenomenally fun novella that kicks off a trilogy of sexy space heists and romantic tension, Full Speed to a Crash Landing is packed with great characters and full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the end.

My rating: ★★★★⯪

One goal. Full speed until you get it. It’s the only way.

Omg, this book was SO much fun! I loved it! I have been on such a sci-fi kick lately and I knew I had to read this book in particular when I found out that not only did the author basically write this series out of spite when some rando told her she couldn’t write (reader: she absolutely can write! 🙌), but that she basically also mocks Elongated Muskrat. That’s amazing! Especially in this political climate.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #405: Back with the Manga

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

Sunday Post #439: Worst Year Ever. And It's Only February

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!

Monthly Wrap-Up: January 2025

This month, I read 5 books, which totaled only about 1019 pages, almost 1500 pages LESS than the previous month 😬 To be fair, this was a terrible month for me in general. I have been SO stressed out that my brain cannot focus on reading (or blogging) right now. Anyway...

• 2 were full-length novels, 2 novellas, and 1 manga
• 3 were part of a series and 2 were standalone
• I started 2 series this month and caught up on 1
• 3 were finished copies and 2 ARCs
• 1 was a physical book and 4 were an ebooks
• 1 was a 5-star book, 3 were 4 stars, and 1 was 3 stars
• 1 was indie published and 4 were traditionally published
• 1 was by a new-to-me author and 4 were by authors I've previously read
• 4 were adult books and 1 YA
• 1 was nonfiction and 4 were fiction
• 3 were sci-fi, 1 adventure, and 1 about writing

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #404: Chaotic Orbits

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

Sunday Post #438: How Is It Still January?

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: Salvation Day by Kali Wallace

Title: Salvation Day

Author: Kali Wallace

Genre: Adult, sci-fi, thriller

Publication date: July 2019

Published by: Berkley

Source: Purchased hardcover

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Synopsis: They thought the ship would be their salvation.

Zahra knew every detail of the plan. House of Wisdom, a massive exploration vessel, had been abandoned by the government of Earth a decade earlier, when a deadly virus broke out and killed everyone on board in a matter of hours. But now it could belong to her people if they were bold enough to take it. All they needed to do was kidnap Jaswinder Bhattacharya—the sole survivor of the tragedy, and the last person whose genetic signature would allow entry to the spaceship.

But what Zahra and her crew could not know was what waited for them on the ship—a terrifying secret buried by the government. A threat to all of humanity that lay sleeping alongside the orbiting dead.

And then they woke it up.

My rating: ★★★☆☆

Last year I read Dead Space by this same author... well, I should say I tried to read it because it ended up being my one and only DNF of the year 😅 However, I already owned Salvation Day so I thought I would give this author another chance and, well, I didn’t DNF it! I didn’t love it, but I actually finished it this time! Lol.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #403: Full Speed to a Crash Landing

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

Sunday Post #437: Buying Things I Don't Need, But What Else is New

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: Revenant-X (Red Space #2) by David Wellington

Title: Revenant-X

Series: Red Space #2

Previous book in this series: Paradise-1

Author: David Wellington

Genre: Adult, sci-fi, horror

Publication date: November 5th 2024

Published by: Orbit

Source: eARC from publishers via Netgalley

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Buy it: Amazon | B&N

Synopsis: FEAR THE DARK.

The crew of the Artemis - led by Firewatch agent Alexandra Petrova - have survived the furious onslaught of the Basilisk and broken through the space blockade around Paradise-1. Now they can pursue their original mission and investigate why Earth's first deep space colony has fallen silent.

The answer seems the site is deserted.

Or so they think.

Some of the colonists remain. They're no longer human.

Petrova and her crew now face a desperate struggle to survive as they attempt to uncover the mystery of what has befallen the colony.

If they fail, the darkness that has fallen over Paradise-1 will consume them.

My rating: ★★★★☆

I have been waiting (im)patiently for this book ever since I finished reading Paradise-1 back in 2023. I really enjoyed that book! I loved the blend of horror and sci-fi, but that cliffhanger-ish ending was brutal! I was so excited to continue the story and Revenant-X did not disappoint!

Review: The Haunting by Natasha Preston

Title: The Haunting

Author: Natasha Preston

Genre: YA, mystery thriller

Publication date: September 2023

Published by: Delacorte Press

Source: eARC for review from publishers via Netgalley

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Synopsis: Haunted by the past...

Penny's trying to forget about her ex, Nash. His father was arrested for the brutal murder of four teenagers on Devil's Night last year. Penny's parents have forbidden her to have anything to do with Nash or his family. It's hard not to think of what happened as spooky season gets underway--but she's trying.

That stops when she goes to the Halloween store with her friends to find a costume. What she finds instead is ripped from a horror movie: a girl from school bleeding out on the floor of a dressing room. Stabbed.

Is a copycat killer on the loose? The adults are saying no. But Penny knows better.

My rating: ★★★☆☆

This book was not as great as I was hoping it would be. I really liked the premise of a copycat killer hunting these kids. A copycat killer that was imitating the kills done by the dad of the main character's boyfriend, no less! Well, ex-boyfriend at this point. But still! That was so interesting and exciting to me! And I actually started off really enjoying the book.

Review- Write Your Own Cake: Tips for Writing a Long Series (Write Your Own Series #2) by Jennifer Estep

Title: Write Your Own Cake: Tips for Writing a Long Series

Series: Write Your Own Series #2

Previous book in this series: Write Your Own Cake: A Worldbuilding Essay

Author: Jennifer Estep

Genre: Adult, nonfiction, writing

Publication date: January 14th, 2025

Published by: Jennifer Estep

Source: eARC for review from author

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Buy it: Amazon | B&N | Apple Books | Google Play | Kobo

Synopsis: New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Estep continues her Write Your Own Cake series with an essay about creating and authoring a long book series. Estep is the author of more than 50 fantasy and science-fiction books, including the long-running Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series.

Writing a book is hard. But writing book after book with the same characters and settings? Well, that is even harder.

Whether you are penning epic fantasy adventures, pulse-pounding thrillers, or swoon-worthy romances, writing a book series comes with its own unique challenges. This essay offers some tips and tricks for setting up your initial worldbuilding and magic system in anticipation of writing multiple books in the same series. It also offers suggestions on characters, tropes, and more that can help keep an ongoing book series fresh and interesting for both authors and readers.

Note: Write Your Own Cake: Tips for Writing a Long Series is a 2,100-word essay about writing and worldbuilding.

My rating: ★★★★☆

This is Jennifer Estep’s second book in this Write Your Own Series, which is nonfiction and all about how to write books and series and all that good writing/author stuff. I mentioned in my review of that previous book that I will literally read anything this woman writes, even this. Lol. And here we are again! 😆

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #402: Second Chance

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

Sunday Post #436: Back to Work

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!

Did I Read the Books I Bought in 2024?

The other day I was watching BookswithEmilyFox on YouTube where she was going over the books she bought in 2024 and whether she had read them within that year. She actually did great! So I wondered how well, I did at reading the books I bought in 2024. I didn't think I did that terribly because I thought I didn't buy that many books. Boy was I wrong on both accounts 🫠

Finish the Series #36: Series I finished in 2024

In 2024 I finished TEN series and today we're going to take a look at that. But before we do that, let's take a look at how many series total I need to finish now compared to one year ago...

January 2024

January 2025

I decluttered my TBR last month and a bunch of series were removed, so that was satisfying. BUT 32 is still A LOT 😭

Looking Back at Books I Wish I’d read in 2023 & Anticipated Books of 2024

Today I want to take a look at the books in my Top Books I Wish I’d Read in 2023 list and the Top Anticipated Books of 2024 and see if I actually read any of those books in the last year. I always do this because every year I tend to roll over those books from those two lits onto my TBR for the next year. Sometimes my mood cooperates, and sometimes it doesn't. Let's see what it did this year. Lol.