☾ Moonwolfhowl

Dragon Cursed by Elise Kova Empire of the Damned by Jay Kristoff A Ruinous Fate by Kaylie Smith

Oh these three... The Holy Trinity of the “Ow. That’s okay, I didn’t need my heart anyway. Now, please excuse me as I sob to death,” review.

I don’t have much else to say.
I’m just gonna stare at a wall now.
Haha... 😭

5⭐ - for all of them
Alt text has the titles and authors
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The Second Death of Locke — V L Bovalino Empire of the Damned — Jay Kristoff Dragon Cursed — Elise Kova The Poet Empress — Shen Tao Wolf Worm — T. Kingfisher The Prisoner’s Throne — Holly Black The Murder at World’s End — Ross Montgomery A Ruinous Fate — Kaylie Smith

Best of January — I know it’s a long list but better this than hate reads and DNFs!

Alt text has the full list written out for readability

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god I've almost caught up on the reviews I can post. Some books are NetGalley so they're gonna go up around ~a month to their expected pub date
others I have to type up... ugh... *effoooort*

The Prisoner’s Throne by Holly Black I think this was almost as strong as the core FotA trilogy. It was a solid way to end the Duology and there was so much I liked in here. As much as I liked Suren/Wren's POV, I adored getting Oak's as he was one of my favorite supporting characters in FotA (Oak, The Bomb, The Roach and The Ghost) It was nice seeing Oak's vulnerability and his inner struggle with doing the right thing while not betraying anyone at the same time. It's something we saw Jude struggle a lot with which made the final fight scene so powerful. She knew, and she trusted him and ugh I teared up. I love their relationship so much, such good siblings. Family is such an important component of this book and it was equally touching to see how much Wren would and did for her sister Becks, it also really hit home how much Oak and Wren understand each other because while their sisters aren't their sisters by blood they ARE FAMILY. Sorry I'm rambling I just really enjoyed this.

The Prisoner’s Throne by Holly Black
4.75-5/5 ⭐
Full review can be found in the Alt text
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This was utterly enchanting. This was utterly enchanting. Pike is one of the silliest, sweetest protagonists I've had in my grasp in MONTHS. I adore him. And old lady Decima? I aspire to be her when I grow up. The humor, the dialogue, the plot, The ADVENTURE!!! This was such a fun time. Also, it's one of the rare books in the Cozy subgenre that doesn't suffer from a slow (sometimes punishing) pacing with the story. The pacing is perfect, the dialogue is natural and the prose is so easy to read without being basic or overly simplistic. If I HAD to compare this to other media I would say it has all the vibes of: Knives Out, Clue, Gosford Park, and The World's End without being derivative of any of them. That should speak volumes to the quality of the storytelling, because yes I clearly have seen this story before, but Ross Montgomery brings something new to the table. I loved this so much.

The Murder at World’s End
by Ross Montgomery
4.75-5/5 ⭐
Full review can be found in the Alt text
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Wow. So okay, I was not expecting this kind of a story and maybe that’s my bad for not reading the book blurb more carefully. I was expecting more of an eerie spooky horror vs a mystery revenge plot—which usually I don’t gravitate towards. I don’t know. BUT what I *do* know is that this book is proof that you should explore new genres every once in a while because hooooly, I really enjoyed this. Like okay sure the plot wasn’t anything that was breaking the wheel—but I’ll be damned if I say it wasn’t compelling. I was TUNED IN, and that has a large part to do with how good the characters were. I loved all of them. (Especially, the golden retriever puppy of a baby Mafia Don.) This was great. I cannot wait for the second book.

Nightshade by Autumn Woods
4.25/5 ⭐
Full review can be found in the Alt text
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Okay so... #1 I think this book was a little overhyped and that probably has a lot to do with those last two to three chapters. They bridal carried and the elevated the plot in a big way. #2 this was NOT a bad book by any means, but it was a little basic. The premise was good, the characters were compelling, but there was just something about it that didn’t really click with me. It was missing that special sauce. (I also don’t think the pacing helped.) Overall, it was enjoyable enough that I’ll probably continue the series. Though… look I just want to say this—I nearly gave this book four stars because of the twins. (I STG NOTHING BETTER HAPPEN TO THEM 🥲😭💙) However, I can’t. I’m giving this a 3.75 because the last three chapters shouldn’t have to be such a strong carry for the entire book.

We Who Will Die by Stacia Stark
3.75/5 ⭐
Full review can be found in the Alt text
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6-Star Book. Sorry in advance, I know this isn't exactly helpful or descriptive in the least, but this is one of the best books I read last year. (Due to getting an ARC from NetGalley) It's both humorously witty and emotionally devastating. I probably should write the review when I've processed it fully, but I have no notes. I loved it, and I LOVED that the 1766 plot and the 1785 plot had a different font. It was a nice touch and helped with the transition. II did get a chance to listen to the ALC too and I was excited to see how the audio book would hold up and oh my god. The narrators Imogen Church and especially Rory Barnett were fantastic. They brought out all of the humor from the prose and Rory especially gave the grave/emotional moments the weight they deserved. I also loved how they added the footnotes in. It made the story flow seamlessly. Ugh it was so good!!! 6-star book. 6-star audio book Thank you, NetGalley and Tor/Macmillan Audio, for the ARC and the ALC in exchange for my honest review, and thank you again, Cameron Sullivan, for writing. Pub Date: Fab 24 2026

The Red Winter
by Cameron Sullivan

6/5 ⭐s
Full review can be found in the Alt text
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Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC and the ALC in exchange for my honest review!

Yeah, no worries, again I like both I prefer romance as a subplot, but I get it people have their preferences—heads up Inamorata by Ava Reid is not really a fantasy either it’s a Grim dark horror, but I shouldn’t post that review until it’s closer to the pub date—also check TWs for TPE it’s DARK

Meanwhile, the target audience who ARE political fantasy enthusiasts won’t know that’s what this book is about!!! Buzzwords are destroying books before they even have a chance. It’s kind of heartbreaking. 2/2

I like some and not others, but I’m a fantasy girl at heart so I didn’t mind that! However, there are conventions to the romance genre and people who don’t enjoy dark political dramas will feel like they got a bait and switch and ultimately will probably leave a bad review. 1/2

Also, thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review

This was excellent. As much as I loved the Emily Wilde trilogy I think I actually like this more. There were several things a part of the story that stood out, like Agnes's grief and her pouring out her affection with her charity work with the cats. I think Havelock was a really interesting character and the two of them together reminded me of Howl and Sophie from Howl's Moving Castle. Although, I think I would liken them more to the book version rather than Studio Ghibli's adaptation. Both are amazing! But there's a slightly different vibe and Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter resembles the book version a bit more. t was a very touching story with slightly more high stakes than I've felt in other "cozy" fantasy novels which I actually really enjoyed!!! I'm really looking forward to purchasing a copy on its release. (Also, chapter 34 is what ultimately pushed this book ahead of Emile Wilde.) 4.75-5/5 Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for this wonderful ARC in exchange for my honest review! Expected Pub Date: Feb 17th 2026

Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter
by Heather Fawcett
4.75/5 ⭐
Full review can be found in the Alt text
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Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This was a really cool debut book. I loved that it's dystopic world has a harmonious marriage between both Fantasy and Light Scifi. The combo creates a unique social structure and magical system of which I haven't read in quite sometime. Each of the characters bring something to the table—even the ones who are monsters. No one feels superfluous or flat and the MCs (Ana & Wes/Nell) really stand out by being flawed, but likable. I also really appreciate the author not taking any cheap shots/kill of characters for the sake of shock value. Every death has a purpose and one in particular made me stare at a wall for an hour because I was DISTRAUGHT. (Though, I’ll admit there were maybe too many fakeouts.) 4.5/5 Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. Expected Pub Date: February 3rd 2026

Queen of Faces by Petra Lord
4.5/5 ⭐
Full review can be found in the Alt text
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Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This book was absolutely fantastic! However, as a note to the publisher, please stop marketing all Fantasies as "Romantasies" or some other phrase. This is book not a Romance. This is a revenge and self actualization story with a complex political system. One isn't better than the other, but mis-marketing is going to miss your target audience. Now that that's out of the way—what a magnificent story!!! It's DARK, gritty, and an interesting fantastical world. (Although I do wish there had been more development with the magical system and had more poetry woven throughout). Wei is such a sympathetic and strong protagonist, even when she has to be cruel she never loses herself and tries to be as fair as possible without endangering herself or any innocent bystander. She and all characters around her are flawed in a very human way that make what's at stake (fate of the empire) so real. I think I need to sit with it a bit more, but I really loved this. I have nitpicks, but this is a strong 4.75-5/5. But... by the end of the year though I think this might go up to a 5. Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. Pub Date: Out Now!

The Poet Empress by Shen Tao
4.75-5/5 ⭐
Full review can be found in the Alt text
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📚🌶️ — just want to let you guys know this really is not a romance.

Okay I did my most recent read, now I'm going to post some overdue NetGalley reviews!

💙📚 #booksky

Angie @charmwitch.bsky.social sent me the goods and I keep meaning to take photos but the lightning in my house is terrible. Ignore that. Look how good the keychains and standee are.

The Second Death of Locke by VL Bovalino 6⭐️ This book was a balm to my mind, body, and soul. The writing is gorgeous. The characters are well developed, loved their strengths and their flaws—it’s so nice when there is that beautiful marriage that makes them feel so human, and this book did that in spades. The world-building is effortless. It contributed to one of the most compelling plots I’ve had a chance to read in a while, without distracting the reader from what is happening around them. The real world is a nightmare right now, and I do what I can to help, but it’s a lot… and to have this story, this touching tale that highlights love is not a weakness. It is a strength. It’s used as a device to protect your loved ones and those who need it the most. And there is so much love in this book. It’s not just romantic love, it’s platonic love as well, and even more than that—love to someone just on a human level and to honor the ones you may have lost out of love, even if it breaks your heart. It’s dark and gritty at times, which made me sob my eyes out, but it also has so many moments where the characters could have been unfeeling—could have made the tactical beneficial decision, but chose kindness instead. I feel like I could go on forever, but I’m going to end it here. My heart is so full.

So I haven’t done a book review in a while and I want to change that and actually be on top of that this year. I’m going to start with my most recent read.

The Second Death of Locke by VL Bovalino
6⭐️

The descriptive text has the whole review for visibility issues.

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It’s been a while since I’ve done a book review which… I should get back to doing before I’m so behind there is no point, but the next one I post I feel is necessary so…

SURPRISE. We (myself, @lunaerune.bsky.social, and @sorenlover666.bsky.social) are running IkeSoren Week 2026 in April for the anniversary of Path of Radiance.

It means you got the Prince of Hearts. He’s a deity of sorts, a disaster, feels intensely, holds grudges, and loves deeply.

I love him so much

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Booksky I keep seeing Zodiac Book boyfriends and they're all usually SJM characters only so uh I've done my own. #zodiac #booksky #bookboyfriends

Tier List Maker for Everything TierMaker allows you to create a tier list for anything in seconds. Quickly use an existing tier list template or upload images to create your own template.

Thanks!!! Tiermaker.com deeeefinitely helped ^__^

Also, I'm aware this is an unhinged quantity of books being read in a single year but like... the need for escapism was real. Here's hoping I only hit less than 150 next year!

I fully hate how the image quality got mangled, but uh if you open the image in a new tab on its own, it's a lot clearer

ok so here is my 2025 books read tierlist!
I branched out a lot this year and I'm sorry if I didn't like your favs... please don't dox me
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Define your taste in books with 8 authors

🌙 V.E. Schwab
🌙 Adalyn Grace
🌙 Susan Dennard
🌙 T. Kingfisher
🌙 Ursula K. Le Guin
🌙 Marissa Meyer
🌙 Kelly Andrew
🌙 Holly Black

Bonus:
🐦‍⬛ Edgar Allan Poe

#BookSky 💙📚🪐