November Wrap-Up | 2022

Welcome to my November wrap-up! This month wasn't quite as successful as I hoped in terms of amount of books read, but I did also read a lot of chunky books, so I'm not too bothered that I read less. I'm just happy that I'm getting round to catching up to The Stormlight Archive - finally! So, without further ado, here are my reviews and ratings for the month!

1. Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo ★★★★

This book has been on my TBR since it first came out in 2019. Ninth House follows Galaxy “Alex” Stern, the most unlikely member of Yale’s freshman class. Raised in the Los Angeles hinterlands by a hippie mom, Alex dropped out of school early and into a world of shady drug dealer boyfriends, dead-end jobs, and much, much worse. By age twenty, in fact, she is the sole survivor of a horrific, unsolved multiple homicide. Some might say she’s thrown her life away. But at her hospital bed, Alex is offered a second chance: to attend one of the world’s most elite universities on a full ride. What’s the catch, and why her? Still searching for answers to this herself, Alex arrives in New Haven tasked by her mysterious benefactors with monitoring the activities of Yale’s secret societies. These eight windowless “tombs” are well-known to be haunts of the future rich and powerful, from high-ranking politicos to Wall Street and Hollywood’s biggest players. But their occult activities are revealed to be more sinister and more extraordinary than any paranoid imagination might conceive.

I have some mixed feelings on this book, but I did end up liking it a lot more than I thought I would initially. I struggled with the first 100 pages or so because I didn't feel particularly invested in Alex or the 'current' storyline. I was always itching to get back to Darlington's point of view. However, at around the 200 pages mark, I became a lot more interested in Alex and her past. Alex was a frustrating character to read from to begin with, but as soon as I found out her backstory I loved her so much more. I kind of wish the book had started in a different place, but it probably wouldn't have had the same impact if it had. 

I loved Turner and Dawes so much. And I even ended up finding some of the Grays incredibly interesting characters. I will say that I did figure out the 'who' behind it all quite early on, but I definitely didn't see the 'how' or the 'why' - I loved that reveal at the end and it was so well done. The atmosphere was also great throughout the book. My only issues with this book was the slow start, and the fact that other people have called this book 'dark academia', which isn't exactly true because the main character is barely involved in the academia at all, so it mostly just felt like a paranormal thriller set at Yale; it didn't really give me the same vibes as other dark academia for me. Overall though a brilliantly written book with a clever twist.

2. The Astonishing Colour of After by Emily X.R. Pan ★★★★

This is a YA contemporary with a hint of magical realism. If the magical realism puts you off, I would say to try and get past that because the story Pan tells is beautiful. When Leigh's mother dies by suicide she leaves only a scribbled note - I want you to remember. Leigh doesn't understand its meaning and wishes she could turn to her best friend, Axel - if only she hadn't kissed him and changed everything between them. Guided by a mysterious red bird, Leigh travels to Taiwan to meet her grandparents for the first time. There, Leigh retreats into art and memories, where colours collide, the rules of reality are broken and the ghosts of the past refuse to rest… But Leigh is determined to unlock her family's secrets. To remember. 

I was pretty hesitant about this book, despite hearing good things, mostly because the plot summary mentioning the romance between Leigh and Axel made the book sound like it was going to have a lot more YA drama than it actually does. Don't get me wrong, there are a few bits here and there, but the romance isn't the focus; the book encapsulates depictions of grief and depression, family trauma, navigating family and friendships, and cultural heritage. It was also beautifully written. I have never read a book that shows how both hidden and obvious depression can be, nor does Pan try to explain the depression, which I appreciated.

I did think the colours being described felt like Pan was trying to do something that a lot of YA contemporary books did around that time (main character has an interest and quirk to go alongside it), but with the colours were so vividly described that I did feel they worked well with the tone of the book, especially the magical realism aspects. I loved the twists towards the end and I absolutely didn't see them coming; it made me want to re-read the book immediately so I can look for the obvious clues. Leigh finding out more about her heritage and Asia was so interesting - I especially enjoyed reading about the language. The descriptions of food were mouth-watering and made me want to try so many of the foods mentioned. 

A couple of things did bother me about the book, which is why it only got four stars. Firstly, I loved her friendship with Axel, but the way he treated her relationship-wise was weird and never really explained - why did he keep getting with other people, other than Leigh? Did he not like her before? The other thing I really disliked throughout was Leigh's father. He was unbearable even before the grief. He was constantly leaving his wife and daughter, even when it was obvious they needed him, because it was easier for him? And then he constantly puts Leigh's art down, literally telling her she's not talented enough?? What? Who does that? (I mean, I know some parents do, but in this book he never really explains why he put her down so much, or why he suddenly changes his mind). And when he sent her away, without asking her or literally explaining anything? And abandoning her in a foreign country where she didn't know the language? Everything about him was so frustrating. I really found him to be insufferable until the last 20 pages.

Despite my mini rant there, I did enjoy this book. It was beautiful, poignant and will help so many people who have been through similar trauma. If you're looking for a meaningful YA book that doesn't focus on a relationship, then try this one.

3. This Wicked Fate by Kalynn Bayron ★★★.5

This Wicked Fate is the sequel to This Poison Heart and the final book in the duology. These books are incredibly quick to read and they are not the Snow White retelling that's implied by the first book. The first book follows Briseis who has a gift: she can grow plants from tiny seeds to rich blooms with a single touch. When Briseis's aunt dies and wills her a dilapidated estate in rural New York, Bri and her parents decide to leave Brooklyn behind for the summer. Hopefully there, surrounded by plants and flowers, Bri will finally learn to control her gift. But their new home is sinister in ways they could never have imagined--it comes with a specific set of instructions, an old-school apothecary, and a walled garden filled with the deadliest botanicals in the world that can only be entered by those who share Bri's unique family lineage.

The first book is extremely gothic (with the old house, apothecary, and hidden poison garden), but the second book focuses more on the Greek mythological retelling that's happening in the story; it follows more of a heroes quest rather than the small-town vibes of the first book. I loved the Greek myths used in this book, however, the pacing did feel a little bit off. There was a lot of waiting around in the first half of the book and all the action was packed into the final 100 pages. These books are very short though, and that definitely works in its favour because you can pretty much read them in one sitting. Bayron also writes beautifully and her descriptions of plants and flowers are vivid.

Bayron has also created a cast of incredibly diverse characters; there are so many Sapphic relationships in this book and people of colour, and it's so lovely to see the love between all the characters. I especially loved seeing all the familial relationships that Bri has, and how much the families care about each other. I do feel like the opposing family are very 'twirling-moustache villainous', with very little exploration of their characters other than 'they're bad and want power'. Overall, a very fun, quick to read duology that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys Greek myths.

4. Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco ★★

I had heard very polarising things about this book, with people either wholeheartedly loving it or hating it. Unfortunately, this book really wasn't for me. Emilia and her twin sister Vittoria are streghe - witches who live secretly among humans, avoiding notice and persecution. One night, Vittoria misses dinner service at the family's renowned Sicilian restaurant. Emilia soon finds the body of her beloved twin desecrated beyond belief. Devastated, Emilia sets out to find her sister's killer and to seek vengeance at any cost, even if it means using dark magic that's been long forbidden. Then Emilia meets Wrath, one of the Wicked—princes of Hell she has been warned against in tales since she was a child. Wrath claims to be on Emilia's side, tasked by his master with solving the series of women's murders on the island. But when it comes to the Wicked, nothing is as it seems...

Okay, lets start with the plot, which felt a bit all over the place to me. The beginning of the book felt like it was missing entire chapters and that didn't let up throughout the book. Emilia would just suddenly be doing something entirely different the next chapter, even when something big had happened the chapter before. When the sister dies, we just get a time skip, we don't see the grief of the parents, barely see the grief of the Nonna and Emilia. It's like we skip the grief and move straight to revenge, which feels weird. The plot felt so drawn out but it also felt like Emilia was finding and following clues very quickly and everything just seemed too easy.

The worldbuilding was, unfortunately, non-existent. I couldn't tell you what time period this was set in (in all honesty, I actually thought it was more modern day until something was brought up about a third of the way through). There were no descriptions of buildings or the city/town. However, we did get copious amounts of description of the food. While I did enjoy that to begin with, and I love food descriptions in books, it just felt over the top in this book when we received no descriptions of anything else.

Emilia was kind of boring as a main character, I felt like I knew nothing about her or her sister. There was a lot of telling and not a lot of showing. We never see Emilia really interacting with her family other than some serious conversations that showed little to no emotion between them. She also barely even thought about her family at all in any emotional way, even when they were in danger. When something happens to her Nonna, she doesn't even give her a second thought afterwards, nor does she seem to care about her parents at all.

Although I did love the idea of the seven deadly sins being the Princes, it just wasn't fleshed out enough for me, nor was the magic system. It felt like we learned everything through exposition and there was always a reason why someone couldn't just tell Emilia the information she needed, even when they knew it. Wrath was a bland 'love' interest - just a typical broody immortal. The 'twist' at the end was very obviously set up and I saw it coming a mile away. Overall, this book was not for me, although I can see why people who've read less fantasy might enjoy it more.

5. Assassin's Fate by Robin Hobb ★★★★★

And here we are at last, this is the 16th and final book Robin Hobb's Elderling series and The Fitz and the Fool trilogy. I can't say what the actual plot of this book was about, but just know that I loved this book. This was a culmination of all 15 books and I can't express how beautifully well-written it was to combine everything from previous series and seeing how far every single character has come through these books. Hobb has written Fitz in so many stages of his life, and every single one of them felt realistic for his age.

I will say that the beginning was very repetitive from one of the perspectives; it was very much a cycle of travel, escape, get caught, travel, escape, etc. However, the final half of the book really picked up the pace and that perspective ended up being so well done. Seeing so many characters get their revenge was incredibly satisfying. One thing that Hobb does very well is writing characters and not minimising the things that they went through and actually showing their trauma and their responses to it. No-one is just fine at the end and that makes sense after what they went through. The return of one character in this book was especially heart-wrenching and those final 100 pages were so hard to read, but it was such a good ending.

So many things were tied up and explained from both this trilogy and every other single book before then. Seeing all the characters finally meet one another was hilarious and heart-warming. There were a couple of things that I would've liked more answers about (the Farseer line and magic), and a couple of characters I wanted to talk more, but honestly, that barely detracted from the book. I would also love to re-read the first trilogy again, just so I could view it with more understanding now that I know all the reveals that happened in this book.

I highly recommend Hobb's books to any lover of high fantasy. Even if you struggle with the first trilogy initially (like I did), you'll be hooked once you get to The Liveship trilogy.

6. Girl Friends by Holly Bourne ★★★★★

Ahhhhhhh, Holly Bourne does it again with this adult contemporary novel. Although I don't read a ton of this genre, she is easily my favourite contemporary writer. How does she write in such a realistic way about what it's like to be a woman in this society? "Men see women in two separate categories. There are the women they sleep with, and the women they fall in love with. And they will treat you differently based on that." From the day they first meet as teenagers Fern and Jessica are best friends. Despite their differences, they are there for each other throughout everything, navigating the difficulties of growing up and fitting in. That is until Jessica crosses a line that Fern can't forgive. But now, more than ten years later, Jessica has unexpectedly reappeared in Fern's life. A lot has changed for them both - but can their relationship be different now they are older? Is it possible for either of them to rewrite the role that they have been cast in? Or will their shared history ultimately be doomed to repeat itself again?

Bourne, as always, is able to capture what it's like to be a girl/woman growing up in the UK, and the pitfalls that surround us. She explores the insecurities and anxiety women often have, strong female friendships, the female friendships fraught with jealousies, the struggle to be thought attractive, and the performances women put on in order to fit into relationships and how people view us. This is definitely more of a character-driven book, and I ended up reading this in one sitting because Bourne's writing is so compelling. The book alternates between the past (with Fern in school, college, and university), and the present (where Fern is in her early 30s). Both of these storylines were equally intriguing to me and I actually gasped at the moments towards the end where the two emotional storylines practically collided. Everything Fern feels -the insecurities, the feeling of never being enough, knowing you're being pitted against your best friend and not knowing what to do about it - is something that so many women will relate to. The friendships and relationships in this book really spoke to me, and even though I didn't have the exact same experiences, it still felt like I was understood.

Honestly, this was such a difficult read, but only because of how realistic it is. Moments of realising what society has trained us to be as women are very depressing, but equally, it also shows a glimmer of hope of what women can be to one another. If you enjoy a hard-hitting contemporary about female friendships then pick this up (I do recommend checking the trigger warnings list though). I will never recommend Holly Bourne enough.

7. Black Girl Unlimited by Echo Brown ★★★★

This is a heavily autobiographical book infused with magical realism. Echo Brown fearlessly explores the intersections of poverty, sexual violence, depression, racism, and sexism - all through the arc of a transcendent coming-of-age story. Echo Brown is a wizard from the East Side, where apartments are small and parents suffer addictions to the white rocks. Yet there is magic everywhere. New portals begin to open when Echo transfers to the rich school on the West Side, and an insightful teacher becomes a pivotal mentor. Each day, Echo travels between two worlds, leaving her brothers, her friends, and a piece of herself behind on the East Side. There are dangers to leaving behind the place that made you. Echo soon realises there is pain flowing through everyone around her, and a black veil of depression threatens to undo everything she’s worked for.

Knowing that this book is partly auto-biographical makes it incredibly powerful. It's both beautifully written and simultaneously so painful to read as it shows so many characters confronting childhood traumas. The struggles Echo Brown and her family go through are heartbreaking, even more so knowing that so many people still suffer from the struggles from racism, sexism, prejudice, sexual violence. All of the characters are so realistic and Brown shows what she learns with such raw and meaningful language. Echo is a powerful person; she goes through so much and still manages to get straight A's and go to college despite everything. I also love the way the author writes two scenes that happen at different times, but connects them; it made the impact of them hit so much harder. I usually struggle with fabulism too, but the magical realism in this book worked so well and really helped to show to community and support around Echo. It portrays the struggles of women of colour, but it's also incredibly uplifting and truly shows how powerful they are. I don't want to say too much more since this is such a short book, but I highly recommend picking this up; by the time I got to the Acknowledgements I was crying. 

8. The Way of Kings: Part One by Brandon Sanderson (re-read) ★★★★.5

As it says above, this is actually a re-read for me. I decided to re-read the first two books so I could finally continue and catch-up with the series so far. In The Stormlight Archives each book is split into two separate books because of their length. This first book follows several characters (but mostly Kaladin, Shallan, Dalinar, and Adolin) in the world of Roshar: a place of stone and storms. Uncanny tempests of incredible power sweep across the rocky terrain so frequently that they have shaped ecology and civilisation alike. Animals hide in shells, trees pull in branches, and grass retracts into the soil-less ground. Cities are built only where the topography offers shelter. It has been centuries since the fall of the ten consecrated orders known as the Knights Radiant, but their Shardblades and Shardplate remain: mystical swords and suits of armour that transform ordinary men into near-invincible warriors. Men trade kingdoms for Shardblades. Wars are fought for them, and won by them. One such war is about to swallow up a soldier (Kaladin), a brightlord (Dalinar) and a young woman scholar (Shallan).

I don't really want to say more about the plot other than that because Sanderson does a wonderful job slowly revealing the story and characters in this epic fantasy series. This world and magic system is one of the most unique that I've ever read about. I love the idea of most of the creatures being shelled creatures, and that all the plants can hide during a highstorm to protect themselves. Kaladin will forever remain my favourite character, although I do feel like he should probably be older than he actually is - it's hard to believe that he's only nineteen given the way he commands respect and with how he thinks - however, that doesn't hold me back from believing his chapters Shallan is one of Sanderson's many strong female characters. While I do respect her and love her yearning for knowledge, I will forever struggle with the sheet amount of comebacks she comes out with, it can get a little tedious after a time. Despite those things, I still love these characters, and Dalinar and Adolin are equally fascinating. This book leaves so many questions unanswered, while simultaneously explaining and exploring so much of this huge world. Sanderson's writing is incredibly clever yet very easy to read. I will always recommend Sanderson to new fantasy readers, and if you're looking for the next high fantasy series to sink your teeth into, then pick this up.

9. The Way of Kings: Part Two by Brandon Sanderson (re-read) ★★★★★

This is the second part to book one of Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson (in the UK each of these books is split and published in two halves because of how big they are). The first part, as mentioned above, got 4.5 stars, but the twists and turns this second half took easily bring the overall book up to a 5 star read. The synopsis for book one is mentioned above so I won't mention much more of that. I will say that I'm surprised by how much I remembered of this book, which just goes to show how much of an impact it made on me three years ago. I remembered every twist in this so vividly, but I still loved every moment. The reveals in Jasnah's and Shallan's storylines are particularly interesting, but of course, Kaladin always steals the spotlight; seeing more of his past be revealed while he simultaneously discovers more about himself and his present situation is incredibly well written. Seeing Dalinar and Adolin grow in this book is also incredible to see. I love how this book ends too - seeing multiple storylines finally coming together. Overall, a fantastic end to an amazing first book. I'm excited to re-read the sequel and then finally continue with the series. Sanderson, how did you get this good at writing?

10. Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng ★★★★

Lydia is dead. But they don’t know this yet. So begins this exquisite novel about a Chinese American family living in 1970's small-town Ohio. Lydia is the favourite child of Marilyn and James Lee, and her parents are determined that she will fulfil the dreams they were unable to pursue. But when Lydia’s body is found in the local lake, the delicate balancing act that has been keeping the Lee family together is destroyed, tumbling them into chaos.

I was very surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I thought it would be a typical literary fiction novel, but it really didn't feel like that; it was more of a contemporary drama. This felt like a Jonathan Franzen novel, but one that actually looked at an American family with a diverse background. This is a profoundly moving story of family, secrets, and longing, It portrays a sensitive family portrait, uncovering the ways in which mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, and husbands and wives struggle, all their lives, to understand one another. Both parents are struggling with their own issues, while assuming they're doing well as parents; a mother that dealt with sexism and missed opportunities and a father that has dealt with racism and oppression. Lydia is struggling to live up to expectations that her mother puts on her; willing her to take opportunities that she wasn't given. Meanwhile, the other siblings are ignored, yet both parents think they're doing a great job. Ng writes so beautifully and successfully paints a picture of each member of the family in only 300 pages with such subtle tension. This is a heartbreaking and truly realistic read piece of fiction that explores race and gender in America in the '70s.

11. Words of Radiance: Part One by Brandon Sanderson (re-read) ★★★★ 

This is the first part of Book Two in The Stormlight Archive, as such I can't say much about the plot so feel free to refer back to my review of book one above. The main reason this book gets 4 stars is because it definitely reads like half of a book; the second half of this book definitely brings it up to a 5 star, but the first half just feels so incomplete and doesn't show the whole story arc. As always, Kaladin is great and I love seeing how much he grows in this book, especially when it comes to how he views his friends. Shallan's quips were less frequent, and she becomes so much more interesting in her journey with the Ghostbloods. I love the political manoeuvrings that occur throughout with Dalinar, Adolin, and Navani. Overall, this epic fantasy series is brilliant, and this instalment was no different.

And those were all the books I read in November! Not as many as I hoped, but it was a busy month so I can't be too mad at myself. What did you read last month?

December TBR | 2022

I can't believe it's December and the last TBR of 2022. Welcome to the Festive Season! My November wrap-up will be coming soon, so look out for that blog post. In December, I have a pretty ambitious TBR; I would like catch-up with the Stormlight Archive and also read a few books that have been on my TBR for a long time. It's also only 10 books long because of the larger books, and also because December is always such a busy month.

So, without further ado, here are the books I plan on reading in December!

1. Edgedancer by Brandon Sanderson (re-read) 

2. Oathbringer Part One by Brandon Sanderson (re-read)

3. Oathbringer Part Two by Brandon Sanderson

4. Rhythm of War Part One by Brandon Sanderson

5. Rhythm of War Part Two by Brandon Sanderson

6. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews

7. It's Kind of a Funny Story by  Ned Vizzini

8. The Prenup by Lauren Layne

9. Wrapped up in You by Talia Hibbert

10. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid (re-read)

So that's my TBR for December! Let me know what you're reading and if you've read any of these books. Also, are you participating in any readathons this month? Let me know if you are!

October Wrap-Up | 2022

October was a very weird reading month for me. I managed to read a lot in the first half of the month, but in the last week/week-and-a-half I caught COVID from a friend and wasn't able to read for a pretty solid week while I was recovering. I'm still not 100% better - very tired and coughing a lot - but I'm managing to read more again, so fingers crossed I can get through my November TBR! I had a hit and miss reading month, with some books being amazing, and others very meh, as you'll see below. Without further ado though, here are my reviews for the month!

1. La Belle Sauvage by Philip Pullman ★★★★

His Dark Materials is easily one of my favourite childhood favourites. I read it at just the right time in my life and it holds so much nostalgia for me. I'd heard very mixed things about this new series, but I did enjoy this first book. This is actually a prequel to The Northern Lights, and it follows Malcolm Polstead and his daemon, Asta, who help their family run an inn. But during a winter of unceasing rain, Malcolm finds a mysterious object. Inside the object is a cryptic message about something called Dust; and it’s not long before Malcolm is approached by the spy for whom this message was actually intended. He soon finds himself in the centre of a storm and everyone wants to find out about the baby named Lyra.

As I said, I did enjoy this book. For the first 200 pages I thought this would end up being a 5 star, but a few things pulled it down for me. I loved how much Pullman's writing style brought me back into this world. It truly felt like I'd never left and he captured the feel of the original trilogy perfectly. I love the daemon's and how they reflect people's personalities - it's probably my favourite aspect of this world. It was interesting to see some of the backstory that led to Lyra being at Oxford and how the politics was building behind the scenes. I liked Malcolm as a character; he was so clever and his loyalty to people was amazing for an eleven-year-old boy. Pullman writes very realistic and great children characters that are simultaneously curious and brave. The other characters in this book were so interesting and it was great seeing cameos of people we see in the original trilogy. I didn't realise before I picked this up, but it's also illustrated and the drawings work so well alongside Pullman's writing. As always, Pullman doesn't shy away from difficult topics despite this being a YA book so I just wanted to add a trigger warning for sexual assault.

There were two main things that pulled this down from a 5 star rating for me. One, this was a very slow burn book, and while I didn't mind in the first 200 pages or so, the latter half of the book seemed to follow the same formula over and over again and ended up feeling very repetitive (paddle, island, bad thing happens, paddle, island, bad thing happens, etc.). The other was there were two things that occurred that felt out of place with the magic in this world. Maybe it's just been too long since I read the original trilogy, but the things they encounter on the river just felt really odd and I wish they'd been explained more. Overall, a great addition to this world and I'm looking forward to reading the sequel.

2. Forever, Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid ★★★.5

This book packed an emotional punch. This follows Elsie Porter, a woman in her mid-20s. On a rainy New Year’s Day, she heads out to pick up a pizza for one. She isn’t expecting to see anyone else in the shop, much less the adorable and charming Ben Ross. Their chemistry is instant and electric. Ben cannot even wait twenty-four hours before asking to see her again. Within weeks, the two are head over heels in love. By May, they’ve eloped. Only nine days later, Ben is out riding his bike when he is hit by a truck and killed on impact. Elsie hears the sirens outside her apartment, but by the time she gets downstairs, he has already been whisked off to the emergency room. At the hospital, she must face Susan, the mother-in-law she has never met and who doesn’t even know Elsie exists.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is one of my favourite contemporary writers. Although this book wasn't my favourite, I still enjoyed(?) reading this (can you say enjoyed if you spent at least 30% of the book with tears in your eyes?). As you can tell by the description alone, this was hard to read. The book alternates between the past where Elsie and Ben develop their relationship, and the present where both Elsie and Susan are dealing with their grief. The entire book deals with the different forms grief can take, and how people react to it. Everyone reacts so realistically and it can make you dislike the characters at times because of it. I struggled with Susan until further in the book and it was great seeing how different characters' relationships developed. I loved Mr Callahan throughout though; his story was so sweet and heartbreaking. I think I preferred the present day chapters, especially by the end when we knew where the relationship was already heading. Honestly though, this was just a very raw and moving novel even though not a whole lot of actual 'plot' happened. If you're looking for a contemporary novel with a hard-hitting topic then this is worth picking up, but be aware that you will probably cry reading this.

3. The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling ★★★★

This is an adult romance, but with witchy fantasy sprinkled throughout. It's set in the modern-day world where witches exist and hide in plain sight from the rest of the world. Nine years ago, Vivienne Jones nursed her broken heart like any young witch would: vodka, weepy music, bubble baths... and a curse on the horrible boyfriend. Sure, Vivi knows she shouldn’t use her magic this way, but with only an “orchard hayride” scented candle on hand, she isn’t worried it will cause him anything more than a bad hair day or two. That is until Rhys Penhallow, descendent of the town’s ancestors, breaker of hearts, and annoyingly just as gorgeous as he always was, returns to Graves Glen, Georgia. What should be a quick trip to recharge the town’s ley lines and make an appearance at the annual fall festival turns disastrously wrong. With one calamity after another striking Rhys, Vivi realizes her silly little Ex Hex may not have been so harmless after all.

This book was adorably funny and, simultaneously, had a very autumnal and witchy vibe. It's set in the week leading up to Halloween and in a small town in America (to be honest, I was picturing the Salem we see in Hocus Pocus), and everything about the descriptions screamed autumn - the fall colours, the witchy shop, the spooky houses. I loved everything about the vibe of this book. The romance was cute and not too over the top. It also didn't really have any of the miscommunication trope, which I really appreciated. I loved Viv and her relationship with her family. Rhys was witty and everything around him and Viv played out like a great romcom. I could picture every hilarious moment perfectly. And what would a witchy book be without a talking cat?

The only thing I wish we'd had more of in this book was the world and politics of how witches lives alongside the world and what it means. I even just wanted to see more of how the witches live their lives with their mundane spells (like reheating their tea). Obviously, this is first and foremost a romance so we were never going to get much more than that, but I would've appreciated it all the same. I will definitely be picking up more from this author, especially if she sets it in this world.

4. Fool's Assassin by Robin Hobb ★★★★★

This has been such a long journey. This is the fourteenth book overall, but the first book in The Fitz and the Fool trilogy. I won't write what this book is about here because it will spoil a lot of the books before this one. However, I will say some of my spoiler-free thoughts instead. It's clear the book wouldn't have been possible without all the books preceding it. Because of this, so many moments had huge impacts. I think I liked Fitz in this trilogy more than I've liked him in any of the previous books. I also even found myself liking Molly, which is something I never thought would happen. Assassin's Fate took a turn I absolutely did not expect, and it even introduced a new perspective. Honestly, I wasn't sure I would enjoy where the story was going at first, but I enjoyed the new perspective and really enjoyed seeing Bee throughout the book. Revel was probably my favourite character in the household though. I despised Shun and I even struggled with Nettle at parts of the book. They were so frustrating.

The book itself is quite a slow build up, but so much happens towards the end. I'm hoping the final two books will give us a lot of answers to questions we've had for such a long time. I need more of Fitz and the Fool, and I'm interested to see how Chade and some of the other Bastards fit into all of this.

5. The Secret Commonwealth by Philip Pullman ★★

I'm sad to say that this book disappointed me. This is a sequel to His Dark Materials series, set 7 years after those books. The second volume of Pullman's The Book of Dust sees Lyra, now twenty years old, and her daemon Pantalaimon, forced to navigate their relationship in a way they could never have imagined, and drawn into the complex and dangerous factions of a world that they had no idea existed. Pulled along on his own journey too is Malcolm; once a boy with a boat and a mission to save a baby from the flood, now a man with a strong sense of duty and a desire to do what is right.

While I love this world, this book just didn't have the same magic as Pullman's previous books. I don't know if it's the change to the main character being an adult rather than a child, but the entire atmosphere was different (and, to be fair, that may have been very intentional given the themes throughout the novel, but it wasn't what I was hoping for). Lyra's estrangement from Pan was disappointing and hard to read. Lyra also seemed to lack the same fire she had previously, which I understand because that's a big source of conflict in the book, but it was kind of dull to read. Another this is that people without daemons seemed to be everywhere in this book and, while some people were shocked, so many others weren't. It felt so odd compared to the first trilogy. I really disliked the romantic relationship that was hinted at as well; the age difference and power dynamic made me very uncomfortable. But not as uncomfortable as that scene; was it really necessary Pullman? What did it even add to the story?

I enjoyed seeing the world following His Dark Materials and I will forever love the world of daemons, but I didn't really enjoy this book and that makes me so sad.

6. Payback's a Witch by Lana Harper ★★★★

This is a Sapphic paranormal/fantasy romance following Emmy Harlow, a witch, but not a very powerful one - in part because she hasn't been home to the magical town of Thistle Grove in years. Her self-imposed exile has a lot to do with a complicated family history and a desire to forge her own way in the world, and only the very tiniest bit to do with Gareth Blackmoore, heir to the most powerful magical family in town and casual breaker of hearts and destroyer of dreams. But when a spellcasting tournament that her family serves as arbiters for approaches, it turns out the pull of tradition (or the truly impressive parental guilt trip that comes with it) is strong enough to bring Emmy back. She's determined to do her familial duty; spend some quality time with her best friend, Linden Thorn; and get back to her real life in Chicago.

I had low expectations for this book, but I ended up finding it a very enjoyable and quick read. The romance was sweet and nice, however, I wasn't that invested in it overall. I did really like the worldbuilding and fantasy aspect, even though it took a little time to get my head around the families and dynamics between everyone that wasn't a main character. I wish we'd seen more of the town and autumn atmosphere - I felt like we got moments, but they were often overshadowed the worldbuilding.

I loved the tournament idea and a magical competition is exactly my kind of thing. The only issue I had with that was each competition felt a little lacklustre and quick; it also felt like there were quite a few time skips that weren't explained (e.g. in one chapter, the next challenge would be a week away, then the next chapter would start and they would be starting the challenge). I really liked Talia, she was probably the most fleshed out and interesting character, but I don't feel like we saw enough of everyone else to get too attached. Overall, a sweet Halloween read and I recommend it if you want a quick, light, enjoyable read.

7. The Skeleton Key by Erin Kelly ★★★★

To be honest, I only picked up this book because it was the choice for my work's book club, but I'm really glad I read this. This is a thriller/mystery and the summary alone gave me a contemporary Ready Player One vibes, but with a darker twist. It's summer, 2021, and Nell has come home at her family's insistence to celebrate an anniversary. Fifty years ago, her father wrote The Golden Bones. Part picture book, part treasure hunt, Sir Frank Churcher created a fairy story about Elinore, a murdered woman whose skeleton was scattered all over England. Clues and puzzles in the pages of The Golden Bones led readers to seven sites where jewels were buried – gold and precious stones, each a different part of a skeleton. One by one, the tiny golden bones were dug up until only Elinore's pelvis remained hidden. The book was a sensation. A community of treasure hunters called the Bonehunters formed, in frenzied competition, obsessed to a dangerous degree. People sold their homes to travel to England and search for Elinore. Marriages broke down as the quest consumed people. A man died. The book made Frank a rich man. Stalked by fans who could not tell fantasy from reality, his daughter, Nell, became a recluse. But now the Churchers must be reunited. The book is being reissued along with a new treasure hunt and a documentary crew are charting everything that follows. Nell is appalled, and terrified. During the filming, Frank finally reveals the whereabouts of the missing golden bone. And then all hell breaks loose.

To begin with, I will say that I struggled with who each member of the families were because I had to listen to this on audiobook. I sometimes struggled to remember which characters were related to each other and I couldn't just flip back and refer to the book. It meant that one or two moments towards the start had less impact. However, I soon got to grasp with the complicated family dynamics and this book mostly focuses on that. Every member of Nell's family is so messed up in some way (including herself), and the competition aspect is soon overshadowed by a looming mystery. Erin Kelly's writing was also particularly beautiful and there were several lines that just hit me very hard. One was 'That's what coming home means. You're always going to be who you were then' to your family. 

I loved the moments where the book switched back to the past when people were explaining what happened. I was so immersed in these moments that I couldn't stop reading. I don't think I actually saw a single twist coming, which is not at all like me, and there was one reveal that I found particularly haunting. Honestly, once the reveals started to come to light I pretty much read the rest in one sitting because I had to know what happened next. I will say that I found Nell's decisions frustrating a lot of the time, particularly towards the end, but I also understand why she acted that way. Overall, I would say this is a brilliantly written thriller and the premise of the competition in the picture book was one I loved. The only things that brought it down for me was Nell herself, and the difficulty I had understanding the family dynamics in the first 30-40% of the book.

8. The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow ★★★★★

'I wonder sometimes where the first witch came from ... If behind every witch is a woman wronged.' 

I read The Ten Thousand Doors of January by this author several years ago and it immediately became a favourite. When I heard of this book - powerful witches, feminism, suffragists - I knew I had to pick it up. In 1893, there's no such thing as witches. There used to be, in the wild, dark days before the burnings began, but now witching is nothing but tidy charms and nursery rhymes. If the modern woman wants any measure of power, she must find it at the ballot box. But when the Eastwood sisters - James Juniper, Agnes Amaranth, and Beatrice Belladonna - join the suffragists of New Salem, they begin to pursue the forgotten words and ways that might turn the women's movement into the witch's movement. Stalked by shadows and sickness, hunted by forces who will not suffer a witch to vote-and perhaps not even to live-the sisters will need to delve into the oldest magics, draw new alliances, and heal the bond between them if they want to survive. There's no such thing as witches. But there will be...

As always, Harrow's writing is beautifully lyrical and incredibly poignant. So many lines stood out to me and so much of the feminist discussion spoke to me. Reading this book felt like being understood. The magic system in this book was unique and I loved that every spell came from the will, the words, and the way. It really felt like it could be true; that mothers were passing down the rhymes to hide. James Juniper is a new favourite character; she's so incredibly passionate, never backing down, and always fighting for what she believes in. While the other sisters occasionally bothered me with their decisions, they were ultimately understandable. I also loved the animal familiars, although I wish we'd seen a little more of them.

The atmosphere was so well done. Every time the tower appeared, I felt like I was there. It felt like a magical fairytale, but it also felt incredibly familiar, like I'd seen it before. Gideon Hill was a terrifying figure, but not as scary as the mob culture that grew as the book continued. Hearing about things like witch collars and burnings made me look up the witch trials and it's heartbreaking to see how many people were killed for being 'witches' in the past. Honestly, this book did everything for me that I wanted it to. The historical aspects were very well done, the characters were incredible, the writing was stunning. If you're looking for a feminist, witchy read to make you feel powerful, this is it.

9. I Left the House Today by Cassandra Calin ★★★

I picked this up as a light read. This is a collection of relatable comics that you may have seen around online. Cassandra Calin’s ability to document the hilarity of relatable everyday events in a series of webcomics has generated a huge following on social media. This was a beautifully illustrated compendium of first-person comics about the trials of the single life, school, stress, junk food, shaving, and maintaining a healthy self-image. This was a cute, fun read and it only took about half an hour to go through. Enjoyable, but I probably would've related to it more when I was younger. Definitely more targeted at women, but if you've seen Calin's drawings around on social media and liked them, then you should pick this up!

10. Fool's Quest by Robin Hobb ★★★★.5

This is the penultimate book in Robin Hobb's 16 book series. Obviously, I can't talk much about the plot because of spoilers, but I did really enjoy this book: Fitz is still as daft and obtuse as ever; the Fool is so different yet much the same as they ever were; Chade is still his fascinating self; and so many old characters are revisited in this book. Some wonderful and heartbreaking things happened in this book in equal measure, and we finally got to see some more characters from the previous Rainwild Chronicles. Lance was especially frustrating throughout the book though and his and Perseverance's decision towards the end frustrated me so much. I'm definitely intrigued to see where this will go in the next book, and I have absolutely no idea how this final trilogy will end, but I hope it doesn't break my heart. 

11. Dreamcatcher by Stephen King ★★

Sadly, this is one of the Stephen King books I've enjoyed the least. Twenty-five years after saving a Down's-syndrome child from bullies, Beav, Henry, Pete, and Jonesy - now men with separate lives and separate problems - reunite in the woods of Maine for their annual hunting trip. But when a stranger stumbles into their camp, disoriented and mumbling something about lights in the sky, chaos erupts. Soon, the four friends are plunged into a horrifying struggle with a creature from another world where their only chance of survival is locked in their shared past - and in the Dreamcatcher.

This is a sci-fi, horror, alien invasion book. I knew that going in and was really looking forward to seeing where King would take it. The first 200 pages or so were really intriguing - I loved seeing the four men's different lives and the hints at what had happened in the past and how it related to now. Unfortunately, it all went downhill from there for me. About 50% of this book is vivid descriptions body horror and the rest is just very slow pacing where not a lot happens. Even the last 50 pages of action could barely hold my attention because I'd become so bored. The animal thing was horrible too so I had to skip over that. I still didn't really get how all the telepathy fit together with Duddits and some of the deaths of characters felt incredibly underwhelming considering they were main characters. Kurtz was also very weird and I still can't get my head around what his motivations were. As always, there were some very problematic parts of King's book (use of the n-word for one thing, and a line that basically said men couldn't understand being raped - which was really strange and made me pretty uncomfortable that King could think that). I know King wrote this book while completely high on painkillers after his accident and he doesn't like the book now, but that doesn't really excuse it for those moments. Overall, a very meh book that seemed to rely on body horror for its impacts on the reader.

So, those were all the books I read in October. I'm disappointed I didn't read more, but considering I missed a week of reading because of COVID, I'm still quite happy with what I read. What did you read in October? Have you read any of these books before? Let me know!