Mel the Reader

Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross. The cover features blue flowers with green leaves. The author’s name is in gold colored font, and the title is white. The words and images are set against a black background dotted with gold stars.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is one of my absolute favorite releases this year. The writing was gorgeous. I loved the characters and was absorbed in the slow-burn progression of their relationship. I plan to return to the Divine Rivals duology, but I would love to see more stories in this world!

#BlueSky💙📚
#Review

The cover of Never the Roses by Jennifer K. Lambert. It features a violet rose withering on the leftmost petals, and framed by golden thorns.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Reading this felt like stepping into a dream in the most beautiful and haunting ways, which was very appropriate for the theme and characters. Heavy topics were explored that made me think long after. I loved this so much and I desperately want another book in this world.

#BookSky💙📚
#Review

⭐️⭐️⭐️

I felt so mixed on this. Overall, I enjoyed it and found the story cute, but there were also moments where I was very frustrated. Bianca was ridiculously dumb at times, including once in the beginning that nearly caused me to DNF. The obligatory horse jokes were great.

#BookSky📚💙
#Review

‘Even If They Are My Favourite Human’: Murderbot Just Explained Boundaries | Countercurrents Murderbot might seem like another sci-fi show about robots and space missions. But it turned out to be one of the most emotionally resonant shows in recent memory. The Apple TV+ series is based on All...

Finally had a chance to watch the finale of Murderbot. ❤️ SO happy to hear there will be a Season 2! Meanwhile, of course, I'm going to re-read the #MurderBot books by @marthawells.com.

Also (after you've seen final ep), I recommend reading this thoughtful essay: countercurrents.org/2025/07/even...

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

I enjoyed the slow burn of the story and getting immersed into the fantasy setting and characters. With the reveal at the end, I find myself very curious on learning the truth of things, and on what will happen next. Here’s to the sequel!

#BookSky📚💙
#Review

Barnes & Noble Union Square - Tuesday, July 15th, at 6pm -- Book Launch for The Enchanted Greenhouse -- Sarah Beth Durst, in conversation with Jennifer K. Lambert

The Enchanted Greenhouse Book Tour Tickets and Event Information: www.sarahbethdurst.com/appearances.htm

I've always wanted to do an event at the gorgeous B&N flagship store in Union Square, NYC. And thanks to the love that you all have shown for THE SPELLSHOP, I get to launch THE ENCHANTED GREENHOUSE there!!! Such a dream come true! Please join me! Tickets: stores.barnesandnoble.com/event/978006...

Review by mels_reading_rook - Story Of My Life I enjoyed this a lot, but there were a couple of things that kept it from being an all-time fa...

I have full reviews posted on StoryGraph and Goodreads:

app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/44f4...

www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

I enjoyed this a lot! Cam was too much of a jerk for my taste, but Hazel was sympathetic and her feelings were relatable. There is so much potential here and I am excited to read future stories in this series!

Also, long live Bertha. 🦝

#BookSky💙📚
#Review

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

The first third of this book had me glued to its pages. I loved the yearning and the feeling of magic as Thea was discovering the far world. After that, the pacing slowed dramatically until the ending. I enjoyed it and will pick up the sequel eventually.

#BookSky💙📚
#Review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The more I read this book, the more it grew on me. The ending had me internally squealing for hours, and I am so excited to see these characters and this world again!

#BookSky💙📚
#Review

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

I had very similar thoughts on these two books, so I’m combining them together. I loved following the character interactions; they were genuine and engaging to read. I didn’t rate them higher because of the endings - they didn’t have the impact I was hoping for.

#BookSky📚💙
#Review

Mistborn

Enchanting the Fae Queen, by Stephanie Burgis, is surrounded by this text: She's a scandalous seductress; he's famously moral, virtuous and chaste. Dangerous fae tournaments - enemies to lovers - PREORDER25 April 23-25.

I just got my first look at the upcoming North American paperback cover for Enchanting the Fae Queen, it is GORGEOUS - and you can get 25% off your B&N preorder today or tomorrow with the code PREORDER25! www.barnesandnoble.com/w/enchanting...

#romancelandia

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was another fun installment in the series! I enjoy following the maneuverings Iris performs. Also, I live for the slow-burn relationship between her and Dean. Things keep moving towards a grander scale, and I look forward to seeing what happens next!

#BookSky📚💙
#Review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

I love rereading this! Knowing the ending helped me pick up on the clues easier. Above all, I love the characters and the world they live in. I was so invested in their every interaction and in every detail provided about the world. I can’t wait to read the sequel!

#BookSky📚💙
#Review

To celebrate the completion of The Library Trilogy with THE BOOK THAT HELD HER HEART, I'm giving away the full set of signed Locked Library special editions.

To enter just repost.

Contest held across my socials - enter elsewhere too to increase chances.

Winner chosen randomly from all entries.

Commission of Jaina Proudmoore for @laurabaileyvo.bsky.social ❄️✨

#myrmidiacommission

Someone in a t-rex costume falls down on their knees, arms outstretched, crying into the air as they see a t-rex skeleton at a museum. Among other museum visitors, a concerned little girl looks at the person in the t-rex costume

Panel 1: character crying at a desk Text: this IS hard Panel 2: character is now drawing determinedly Text: but I can do it

Little gentle reminder to all the human creatives out there 💪

You asked for it! THE MEMOIRS OF LADY TRENT is coming! @swantower.bsky.social's wonderful exploration of the study of dragonkind has deserved one for a long time, in our opinion!

Link in our bio and below!
.
.
.
Art by @sylvainsarrailh

100+ ebooks from award-nominated authors on sale for 99c each!

All authors in this sale made the finals in Mark Lawrence’s SPFBO (Self-Published Fantasy Blog-off) at some point in the last ten years!

Link in our bio!

I would also like to warn potential readers that sexual assault and torture are used for shock value. Also, some characters are highly sexist, but confronting it never results in lasting character growth - they simply return to baseline after the chapter ends.

⭐️⭐️

I wanted to enjoy this more. The pacing dragged, then the ending occurred in an instant. I didn’t vibe with the writing style - everything was told repeatedly, all the characters were immature, and ending each chapter with a cliffhanger got tiring fast.

I liked Sora.

#BookSky📚💙

BLOOD OVER BRIGHT HAVEN full cover reveal! Swipe to see the spoiler!

Pre-launch signup in bio! We go live April 1st at 9am EST!
.
.
.
Art by @vetyyr.bsky.social
Design by STK Kreations

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I am in love with The Apothecary Diaries. I recently binged the first 9 volumes of the manga - some were rereads - but it’s always a treat to come back to these characters. I love the intrigue developing in this book, and the ending reveal will only bring more trouble for Maomao!

#BookSky📚💙

Impeccable logic.

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

I really enjoyed this story! The writing was beautifully atmospheric with a dream-like quality, and it drew me in right from the start. There were points that the plot felt a bit choppy in its flow, and the ending was rushed, lessening the impact it had on me. I recommend this!

#BookSky💙📚

YouTube video by FOBBV CAM Big Bear Bald Eagle Live Nest - Cam 1

Eee! The third bald eagle chick has hatched in BigBear, and they are SO CUTE on the livecam right now: www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4-L...

Since it's international women's day - here are some young ladies you might know.

Made a quick mountain tutorial!