Grace (they/she)

Light yellow background with cover of Ollie Fitzgerald’s Heartbreak Anthems by Charlie Arrigo. Black text with title, author, and general information Published: June 2023 Genres: ya queer romance Setting: high school POV: first person he/him Review: 4 stars Tickets graphic in corner

Light yellow background with black text synopsis: Ollie Fitzgerald is finally ready to move on. After spending his entire life crafting the perfect plan for every situation, he wasn't expecting his best friend's brother, Nash, to kiss him on the first day of summer. Something else he wasn't expecting? Nash ghosting him a week later when he left for lacrosse camp. Now, hurting from his first real heartbreak, Ollie dives into his Heartbreak Anthems playlist to let go and follow the music wherever it leads him, and hopefully that's away from Nash. But when Nash comes back at the start of the school year, avoiding his feelings isn't as easy as it sounds. And when Dee, Ollie's best friend, confides in him after a school prank puts prom in jeopardy, the three of them decide to work together to save the dance. Even with a well-curated list of pop songs, moving on isn't easy, forcing him to face the idea that he might not even want to in the first place. And maybe moving on means something different than he originally thought. Tickets graphic in corner

Light yellow background with black text review: Second chance friends to lovers? Yes please! This was such a sweet romance. For starters, I loved Ollie so much. He felt so real and so high school, with his uncertainty about his future but certainty about his sexuality and what he wanted. I also loved his friends, especially Steve and Millie. They were so supportive of Ollie and helped him find happiness. Of course, I also loved Dee, but more because of how real and flawed she felt. Nash was the one character I struggled with a bit. Some things in his personality were alluded to that were never fully resolved. I think it would have helped to have his perspective incorporated more in some way. But I loved how happy he made Ollie in the end. And I liked that even though they often miscommunicated, they still tried so hard and put so much effort into their relationship over the course of the book. It felt realistic yet optimistic, the perfect balance for a young adult romance. Iloved how it all culminated at prom, the most high school event ever. So overall I enjoyed this book and highly recommend it! Tickets graphic in corner

Music is huge in this book, and while I didn’t quite get it, I still really enjoyed the vibe and how passionate Ollie was about it.
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Light gold background with cover of The Ivory City by Emily Bain Murphy. Dark red text with title, author, and general information Coming out soon: November 2025 Genres: Historical mystery romance Setting: 1904 St Louis World’s Fair POV: third person Review: 4 stars Ferris wheel graphic in corner

Light gold background with dark red text synopsis: Grace and Lillie are cousins and have been best friends since birth, despite Grace's inferior social status. When Lillie invites Grace to the biggest event of the century-the legendary World's Fair, also known as "The Ivory City"-Grace doesn't hesitate. Then: a murder. A young woman at the fair is brutally killed, and suspicion quickly falls on Grace's cousin Oliver. Grace has to help prove Oliver innocent before he is jailed and her beloved cousin's family is ruined forever. And along the way, discover whether the city's wealthy elite-not least of all Oliver's handsome, irritable friend Theodore-aren't quite who they first appeared to be. Because a killer is still on the loose, and all the glitz, glamor, and magic of the Ivory City is about to become a lot more dangerous to behold. From GoodReads Ferris wheel graphic in corner

Light gold background with dark red text review: This book was worth reading for me for the setting alone. I loved the World's Fair so much and how much attention to detail was given to it. It was such a complex setting, seeming like a beautiful, opulent dream at the start, but become more sinister as the book continues and secrets are slowly revealed. This is definitely a slower paced mystery, which I struggled with a bit at first, waiting for the murder to happen. But it picks up fast once it gets going, with lots of and twists and turns, and a very exciting, dramatic ending. Yet even though it took a while to get to the mystery, the book was far from boring, introducing the reader to the characters and their complicated dynamics. I loved Grace so much, and her love and loyalty for her cousins. They all care about each other so deeply, and its beautiful. It is also a romance, and they had such amazing chemistry. At first, I did think Theodore's character leaned a bit hard into the Mr. Darcy vibe, but the banter and how it progressed more than made up for it. So overall I loved this book and highly recommend it. Ferris wheel graphic in corner

I loved this book and the World’s Fair setting so much, and I loved the author’s note about the injustice and inhumanity at the fair even more.
Thank you Union Square and Netgalley for the free advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
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Blue background with cover of Cursed Daughters by Oyinkan Braithwaite. White text with title, author, and general information Coming out soon: November 2025 Genres: literary fiction Setting: 1994-present Lagos, Nigeria POV: third person Review: 4 stars Dog graphic in corner

Blue background with white text synopsis: When Ebun gives birth to her daughter, Eniiyi, on the day they bury her cousin Monife, there is no denying the startling resemblance between the child and the dead woman. So begins the belief, fostered and fanned by the entire family, that Eniiyi is the reincarnation of Monife, fated to follow in her footsteps in all ways, including that tragic end. There is also the matter of the family curse: "No man will call your house his home. And if they try, they will not have peace..." which has been handed down from generation to generation, breaking hearts and causing three generations of Falodun women to live under the same roof. When Eniiyi falls in love with the handsome boy she saves from drowning, she can no longer run from her family's history. Is she destined to live out the habitual story of love and heartbreak? Or can she break the pattern once and for all, liberating herself from all the family secrets and unspoken traumas that have dogged her steps since before she could remember? From GoodReads Dog graphic in corner

Blue background with white text review: This book was absolutely phenomenal. I was instantly hooked from the very first chapter, and my love of this story only grew from there. For starters, I loved how it alternated perspectives and time periods between Monife in the 1990s, Ebun in the early 2000s, and Eniiyi in the present day. showing so much of the family history and tying together with the main plot so cleverly, I also loved the family curse tales woven in, The way the sections layered together created created such a rich, captivating, beautiful story. I loved all three of the women so much, and they were incredibly nuanced and compelling. Lastly, this book demonstrated Braithwaite's total writing mastery. The prose was so stunning, and even the smallest details were important, creating such a vibrant story. However, I did find the plot a bit predictable towards the end. I also had mixed feelings about the ending, as while it was a very strong ending I actually wanted slightly less resolution. But overall this book was amazing and I highly recommend it! Dog graphic in corner

My Sister the Serial Killer is one of my all time favorite books, so I was screaming with joy when this book was announced. I was lucky enough to grab an arc at Thillerfest this year and I even got it signed.
Thank you Doubleday for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
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Gold background with cover of Hot Chocolate and Holiday Mishaps by Samantha Picaro. White text with title, author, and general information Coming out soon: November 2025 Genres: queer contemporary Setting: Madison Grove, New Jersey POV: first person she/her Review: 3 stars Hot chocolate graphic in corner

Gold background with white text synopsis: Ellie Conti finds comfort and joy in her movie and TV show review blog, especially after failed efforts to keep a job or join a club. She's happy to try new things based on the movies and shows she watches, even if she sometimes wishes she had a friend to do them with. She plans for a low-key holiday season until her older sister, Bianca, asks for help. Bianca works for a celebrity manager and requests Ellie's help in keeping an eye on a client named Robin Darcy, a teen actress. Ellie agrees to help so Bianca can gain her boss's approval and so Ellie can promote her blog. Robin participates in the town's holiday activities to fix her negative public image following a holiday-related incident. It doesn't help that Robin makes her displeasure known about having to improve her image and being chaperoned by someone close to her age. But through hot chocolate and honest talks, they form a bond that motivates them to leave their comfort zones and learn to let people in. From GoodReads Hot chocolate graphic in corner

Gold background with white text review: This book made me so ready to skip fall completely and go straight to the winter season. The holiday vibes were absolutely perfect! I loved how each chapter opened with a different tradition, from decorating cookies to snowball fights. I am also a huge fan of hot chocolate in winter and all seasons, just like our main character Ellie, so l loved her from that alone. But I also loved her passion for her blog and representation in media, her fearlessness determination trying new things based on what she watched, and her phenomenal development putting herself out there in the public eye and making new friends. But as much as I adored Ellie, I struggled the other characters a bit. I didn't love the way Bianca consistently put her job over Ellie, and I wanted more sibling bonding between them instead. I was also impatient with Robin's development. So often it felt like she was so close to realizing the problems with her behavior, and then didn't. Lastly, I did not like Jane at all. But overall this was an amazing holiday book that I recommend! Hot chocolate graphic in corner

This book, with its emphasis on the holiday spirit, traditions, and movies was so perfect for me and I loved the vibes in it so much.
Thank you to the author for the free advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
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Pink background with cover of Interstellar Megachef by Lavanya Lakshminarayan. Yellow text with title, author, and general information Published: November 2024 Genres: queer sci-fi Setting: Uru, Prima, Primus POV: first person she/her and third person Review: 3 stars Cooking graphic in corner

Pink background with yellow text synopsis: Stepping off a long-haul star freighter from Earth, Saras Kaveri has one bag of clothes, her little flying robot Kili... and an invitation to compete in the galaxy's most watched, most prestigious cooking show. Interstellar MegaChef is the showcase of the planet Primus's austere, carefully synthesised cuisine. No one from Earth--where they're so incredibly primitive they still cook with fire--has ever graced its flowmetal cookstations before, or smiled awkwardly for its buzzing drone-cams. Until now. Corporate prodigy Serenity Ko, inventor of the smash-hit sim SoundSpace, has just got messily drunk at a floating bar, narrowly escaped an angry mob and been put on two weeks' mandatory leave to rest and get her work-life balance back. Perfect time to start a new project! And she's got just the idea: a sim for food. Now she just needs someone to teach her how to cook. A chance meeting in the back of a flying cab has Saras and Serenity Ko working together on a new technology that could change the future of food--and both their lives--forever... From GoodReads Cooking graphic in corner

Pink background with yellow text review: I have very strong, mixed opinions on this book. On the one hand, this is probably one of the best sci-fi genre pieces I have ever read. The heart of sci-fi, in my mind, is criticism of society, and this book embodies that. It bashes racism and xenophobia, elitism and classism, reliance on technology, dissociation from reality, and disconnect from other people. It talks about propaganda and microaggressions and so much more. And it has a super strong villain to be in Optimism Mahd'vi. Unfortunately, Optimism Mahd'vi was the only character and plot I found compelling. I hated Serenity Ko, who was entitled and had painfully slow development to be a better person. And I found Saras naive. Her entire plot could have been eliminated if she got therapy instead of trying to gain approval from people that hated her. And therefore I did not approve of the romance blossoming between Saras and Serenity Ko. So overall this was a spectacular work of sci-fi, but with a plot and characters I did not love. But I still recommend and look forward to book 2. Cooking graphic in corner

This book has a lot of cooking in it and I loved that so much. Overall I enjoyed this book, but I definitely had strong thoughts about it. So did others, making for a very lively book club discussion on it.
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Yellow background with cover of Hammajang Luck by Makana Yamamoto. Black text with title, author, and general information Published: December 2024 Genres: queer sci-fi Setting: Kepler POV: first person they/them Review: 3 stars Poker chips graphic in corner

Yellow background with black text synopsis: Edie is done with crime. Eight years behind bars changes a person - costs them too much time with too many of the people who need them most. And it's all Angel's fault. She sold Edie out in what should have been the greatest moment of their lives. Instead, Edie was shipped off to the icy prison planet spinning far below the soaring skybridges and neon catacombs of Kepler space station - of home - to spend the best part of a decade alone. But then a chance for early parole appears out of nowhere and Edie steps into the pallid sunlight to find none other than Angel waiting - and she has an offer. One last job. One last deal. One last target. The trillionaire tech god they failed to bring down last time. There's just one thing Edie needs to do - trust Angel again - which also happens to be the last thing Edie wants to do. What could possibly go all hammajang about this plan? From GoodReads Poker chips graphic in corner

Yellow background with black text review: I think I went into this book with incorrect expectations. At the end of the day, this is a heist novel, plain and simple. It has all the cliches and plot points one would expect. Unfortunately, I expected more from it, and so l was a bit let down. But let's start with what I enjoyed. I loved Edie. I loved that they had such a tight family that they were so devoted to. I loved how quickly they adopted the junior members of the crew. And I loved how confident they were at their abilities to navigate Kepler and how much they cared about their home. I also loved the cliche elements of the heist, from the recruitment montage to the gala and casino scene. But what I struggled with was Angel. Her and Edie had so much history from the start, and every time they started to talk about they were interrupted, and it drove me mad. I also found her character predictable in how her lies and secrets were supposed to be twists. And once everything was over I thought Edie forgave her too fast. But overall this was certainly a fun read and I would recommend it. Poker chips graphic in corner

School is starting to pick up for me and as a result my captions are going to get shorter and shorter sorry. Not much to say about this book either except that I was lucky enough to meet the author and get my copy signed.
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Red background with cover of To Bargain with Mortals by RA Basu. Gold text with title, author, and general information Coming out soon: October 2025 Genres: fantasy Setting: Marnapur, Viryana POV: third person Review: 4 stars Wave graphic in corner

Red background with gold text synopsis: In the colonized nation of Viryana, Poppy Sutherland lives between cultures. As the brown-skinned adopted daughter of the Viceroy, she is both rejected by white high society and alienated from the people of her native island. When she discovers her opportunistic fiancé's plot to exile her, Poppy flees-straight into the clutches of the Jackal. Hasan Devar, the ruthless criminal known as the Jackal, has long been targeted for his family's divine magic, a gift the colonizers have tried to stamp out. When his brother is arrested, he seizes Poppy as leverage. But Poppy has powerful secrets-and political ambitions-of her own. As allies, they could do more than just free Hasan's brother and keep Poppy safe. They could topple the very power structures that hold them all back. From GoodReads Wave graphic in corner

Red background with gold text review: This book is so blatantly anti-colonial and did hold back in its criticisms, and I was really truly in love with that aspect of it. I also loved the magic system so much, with the gods and elemental powers. And Poppy was a very compelling main character. She was so nuanced with her upbringing and her ambitions. She was deeply flawed, but that just meant she had many opportunities to grow and develop. I also appreciated that she did not have a romance plot. As for the others, I liked Hasan and the Devar family, though personally I found Samina more of a compelling mirror to Poppy. As for the ending, it had enough resolution to satisfy me, but with enough loose threads left that I am looking forward to the next book. However, I still struggled with two things in this book. I did not fully understand what time period, aka historical or contemporary, this was set in. I also thought there were too many points of view throughout the book, and I wish it been kept to just a few. But overall I enjoyed and highly recommend this book! Wave graphic in corner

I loved how this book had a magic system involving the four elements. It reminded me so much of Alta, but this book definitely made the system unique as it went on.
Thank you Bindery Books and Netgalley for the free advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
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I would like everyone who engaged with this post and were rooting for me to know that I have now read 2 books from my planned tbr for the month

Gold background with cover of Her Name in the Sky by Kelly Quindlen. Green text with title, author, and general information Published: July 2014 Genres: queer ya romance Setting: Louisiana POV: third person Review: 5 stars Graduation cap graphic in corner

Gold background with green text synopsis: Hannah wants to spend her senior year of high school going to football games and Mardi Gras parties with her tight-knit group of friends. The last thing she wants is to fall in love with a girl--especially when that girl is her best friend, Baker. Hannah knows she should like Wally, the kind, earnest boy who asks her to prom. She should cheer on her friend Clay when he asks Baker to be his girlfriend. She should follow the rules of her conservative Louisiana community--the rules that have been ingrained in her since she was a child. But Hannah longs to be with Baker, who cooks macaroni and cheese with Hannah late at night, who believes in the magic of books as much as Hannah does, and who challenges Hannah to be the best version of herself. And Baker might want to be with Hannah, too--if both girls can embrace that world-shaking, yet wondrous, possibility. From GoodReads Graduation cap graphic in corner

Gold background with green text review: This book emotionally destroyed me, and proved yet again friends to lovers superiority. I was obsessed with Hannah and Baker from the very first page. They are truly the embodiment of to be loved is to be known. As a result, the yearning was off the charts and so amazing. The other thing I loved about Hannah and Baker, and all their friends, was just how much they behaved like high schoolers. They made so many dumb decisions and overreacted to things because at the end of the day they are teenagers, and that was so realistic and well done. That youth also allowed for a lot of character development. Hannah was questioning her sexuality, her faith, and her future. And she coped with this inner turmoil by hitting self destruct on pretty much all her relationships, which again was just so realistic for her age. It also caused a lot of angst, which I enjoyed and had me in tears towards the end. Thankfully, the ending was so optimistic and sweet, and made all the pain and suffering worth it. So overall I loved this book so much and I highly recommend. Graduation cap graphic in corner

I need to offer my roommate a formal apology. She gifted me a copy of this book forever ago, saying it was one of her favorites and an absolutely amazing read. I finally read earlier this year it, and she was right. This book is absolutely phenomenal, and I will never doubt her taste in books again.

Olive green background with cover of Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell. White text with title, author, and general information Published: April 2024 Genres: queer cozy horror Setting: Underlook POV: third person Review: 3 stars Rosemary oil graphic in corner

Olive green background with white text synopsis: Shesheshen is a shapeshifter, who happily resides as an amorphous lump at the bottom of a ruined manor. When her rest is interrupted by hunters intent on murdering her, the hunters chase Shesheshen out of her home and off a cliff. Badly hurt, she's found and nursed back to health by Homily, a warm-hearted human, who has mistaken Shesheshen as a fellow human. Homily would make an excellent co-parent: an ideal place to lay Shesheshen's eggs so their young could devour Homily from the inside out. But as they grow close, she realizes humans don't think about love that way. Shesheshen hates keeping her identity secret from Homily, but just as she's about to confess, Homily reveals she's hunting a shapeshifting monster that supposedly cursed her family. Shesheshen didn't curse anyone, but to give herself and Homily a chance at happiness, she has to figure out why Homily's family thinks she did. As the hunt for the monster becomes increasingly deadly, Shesheshen must unearth the truth quickly, or both of their lives will be at risk. From GoodReads Rosemary oil graphic in corner

Olive green background with white text review: This genre of horror was a bit out of my comfort zone, and for that reason I struggled with it a bit. Yes it was cozy, but it was a still a bit too heavy on the body horror for my taste. But once I was able to get through those elements, I did enjoy this book. I loved Shesheshen and Homily so much. I loved the dark humor we got through Shesheshen's narration. There were so many great one liners that made me laugh out loud. There was also amazing development as Shesheshen learns how to love and care for Homily. Homily got lots of great development as well she learned to accept love in a healthy way and heal from everything her family put her through. Of course, the plot was far more than their romance, and there was lots of great action that I really enjoyed. When I was able to look past the body horror, Shesheshen's species was fascinating and fun, though I wish there had been more lore about it. I also did find the plot predictable, though some twists took me by surprise. And I loved the ending. So in the end this was a fun read. Rosemary oil graphic in corner

This was my first foray into the cozy horror genre, and I definitely want to read more like it. Just hopefully with less body horror.
Also this book would fit the Sapphic September prompt for ace sapphics
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Ooh I do have that somewhere on my shelf! But I’m probably going to put all my energy into reading The Lost Story since it’s for a book club at the end of the month

How is it already the 20th?? I feel like the month has absolutely sped by. And somehow I’ve only managed to read one book from my planned tbr for the month. So many more books to read and so little time!
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Pink background with cover of Can We Skip to the Good Part? by Melissa Brayden. White text with title, author, and general information: Coming out soon: September 2025 Genres: queer romance Setting: Everly Springs, Virginia POV: third person Review: 3 stars Cereal graphic in corner

Pink background with white text synopsis: Ella Baker is tired of being an afterthought in her own life. First, her fiancé dumps her six days before the wedding. Then her family jets off on a world tour— without her. And just when she thinks it can't get worse, her longtime employer forgets to lay her off...That is, until now. It's time for a reinvention, starting with joining a book club. Thank God for her best friend, Rachel, who's always there with popcorn and wine. But when a kiss from a smart, gorgeous, and maddeningly irresistible book club member leaves Ella breathless, she's stunned to learn the woman is the very ex who broke Rachel's heart. Max Wyler doesn't believe in forever. As a divorce mediator, she's built a career on helping people walk away amicably. The book club is just an escape-until new member Ella Baker arrives, all sunshine and sass, making Max question everything she thought she knew about love. But Ella's best friend is Max's worst mistake. Which means those pretty blue eyes? Completely off-limits. Or at least, they should be. From GoodReads Cereal graphic in corner

Pink background with white text review: This book was so cute and perfect for book lovers! For starters, I loved the setting of the book club so much, and adored all the Weepers. They were such a wholesome and supportive friend group. Of course, I also adored Doug and his book store, supplying the book club's reads and Ella's coffee needs. I thought Ella had amazing character development learning to stand up for herself and be loved the way she deserves. I loved her friendship with Rachel so much, and Rachel also had strong development and was an incredibly nuanced character. As for Max, I admired her strength as she navigated her complicated relationship with her mother, and I loved their relationship in the end. I wish Ella had gotten more resolution with her family though. And like Ella, I prefer a slow burn, so I found the pacing of her and Max's romance a bit fast for my taste. Lastly, as much as I loved the book club and book store, I felt the rest of Everly Springs underdeveloped compared to what l've come to expect from Brayden. But overall this was a super fun read! Cereal graphic in corner

This book is perfect for anyone who loves book clubs and it’s also perfect for sapphic September, coming out September 23.
Thank you Luna Literary Management and the author for the free advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
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Purple background with cover of Beautiful Dreamer by Melissa Brayden. White text with title, author, and general information Published: July 2019 Genres: queer romance Setting: Dreamer’s Bay, South Carolina POV: third person Review: 4 stars Fridge graphic in corner

Purple background with white text synopsis: Philadelphia real estate broker Devyn Winters is at the peak of her career, closing multimillion-dollar deals and relishing it. She's pretty much blocked out her formative years in Dreamer's Bay, where the most exciting thing to happen was the twice a year bake sale. Unfortunately, a distress call hauls her back home and away from the life she's constructed. Now the question is just how long until she can leave again? And when did boring Elizabeth Draper get so beautiful? Elizabeth Draper loves people, free time, and a good cup of coffee in the warm sunlight. In the quaint town of Dreamer's Bay, she's the only employee of On the Spot, an odd jobs company. She remembers Devyn Winters as shallow in high school, but now everything about Devyn makes her lose focus. Though her brain knows Devyn is only home temporarily, her heart didn't seem to get the memo. From GoodReads Fridge graphic in corner

Purple background with white text review: This book had me crying by page 50. I was not prepared. But it was a phenomenal opening that made me instantly fall in love with both characters. Nothing like a huge crisis to show what your characters are truly made of. And as emotional as the beginning was, the romance was so adorable. I loved their flirting so much, and how Elizabeth announced it. Elizabeth was literally an angel, with her big heart and unending kindness to everyone she met. I would do anything for her. And for Scout! Devyn was a tougher nut, but I loved her devotion to her sister and I related to her complicated relationship with her hometown. I thought she had the best development, as she fell in love with Elizabeth and small town life, and wrested with what that meant for her career. I found her internal dilemma so realistic. As much as I liked their fun little fling, liked it even more when Devyn and Elizabeth had to put hard work into their relationship. There were a few steps along the way I didn't love, but they got an amazing, happy ending. So overall, I highly recommend! Fridge graphic in corner

I love a small town romance, and Melissa Brayden truly delivers amazing ones. I fell so in love with Dreamer’s Bay and all its residents.
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Hitting Sapphic September hard so far! I’m about to start my third sapphic read of the month: Hot Summer by Ellie Everhart. So far I’ve read two great arcs I highly recommend: When They Burned the Butterfly by Wen-Yi Lee and Can We Skip to the Good Part by Melissa Brayden.
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Reddish brown background with cover When They Burned the Butterfly by Wen-Yi Lee. Light green text with title, author, and general information Coming out soon: October 2025 Genres: queer historical fantasy Setting: 1972 Singapore POV: third person Review: 4 stars Butterfly graphic in corner

Reddish brown background with light green text synopsis: Singapore, 1972: Newly independent, a city of immigrants grappling for power. Here, gangsters are the last conduits of the gods. Adeline Siow has never needed more company than the flame she can summon at her fingertips. But when her mother dies in a house fire with a butterfly seared onto her skin and Adeline hunts down a girl she saw in a barfight, she discovers she's far from alone. Ang Tian is a Red Butterfly: one of a gang of girls who came from nothing and sworn to a fire goddess. Adeline's mother led a double life as their patron, Madam Butterfly. Now that she's dead, Adeline is the sole thing sustaining the goddess. Between her search for her mother's killer and the gang's succession crisis, Adeline becomes quickly entangled with the girls' dangerous world, and even more so with the charismatic Tian. But bodies are turning up in the red light district. suffused with a strange new magic. Adeline may have found her place, but it may take everything she is to keep it. From GoodReads Butterfly graphic in corner

Reddish brown background with light green text review: I loved everything in this book from the very first page. I immediately adored Adeline, with her cut throat nature and her loyalty to Tian and the Butterflies. She truly finds herself over the course of this book, for better or worse. And her relationship with Tian was fantastic and showed the best and worst sides of both of them. Of course, I also loved Christina and the importance of tattooing for the magic. The only relationship I thought was slightly underdeveloped was the one between Adeline and her mother, especially with their fire in the middle. I loved the fire and the overall magic system so much. It was fascinating and so well developed. I though the lore about the gods and the magic was really well dispersed, as we learned alongside Adeline. And it really added another level to the war between the gangs and made the action much more epic. The ending in particular was so cinematic, and while it emotionally destroyed me, it was so amazing. So overall this book was absolutely stunning and I cannot recommend it enough! Butterfly graphic in corner

I love fire powers, especially in books when it symbolizes feminine rage. This book does that so well it is phenomenal! I cannot recommend it enough.
Thank you Tor Books and NetGalley for the free advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
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Light blue background with cover of Most Valuable Player by A.M. Woody. Dark brown text with title, author, and general information Coming out soon: October 2025 Genres: Queer YA contemporary romance Setting: Elwood POV: first person he/him Review: 4 stars Rock with eyes and a mustache in corner

Light blue background with dark brown text synopsis: Cameron Morelli is hot sh*t. Worse, he knows it. With a godlike physique and a position as his varsity football team's star quarterback, there's nobody he can't charm. So one might imagine his mortification when he's rejected by Mason Gray, the team's snarky water boy. To make matters worse, this disgrace is followed by Cam's coach benching him until he can get his grades up. Luckily, a reliable tutor steps forward to help Cam reclaim his dignity-the boy who just humiliated him. For Mason, tutoring an airheaded jock is nothing but a distraction from a past he can't escape. What he doesn't expect is to find something worthwhile in their conversations-something softening in the ice between them. Nor does Cam expect that Mason's calm smile hides a harrowing story. As they slowly nudge through each other's steel gates, the dangerous realities beyond high school threaten their deepening bond. From Penguin Teen Rock with eyes and a mustache in corner

Light blue background with dark brown text review: Another amazing book by A.M. Woody! This book was the perfect balance of heartwarming and heartbreaking, and I absolutely devoured it. For starters, I loved that it was written in two first person points of view. Both Cam and Mason had such captivating, distinct voices. I really enjoyed reading from both of them, and how it gave clear insight into both of their thoughts. I also just loved both Cam and Mason so much as characters. They both had issues in their pasts that they were working to heal from, and they made so much progress over the course of the book. I loved that as they spent time with each other they learned to read each other and supported each other through everything. They had such amazing chemistry and it created such a wonderful relationship that I really enjoyed reading. My one thing was that I needed at least, but preferably both, of these characters to be in therapy by the end of the book. I also wanted to see more of Mason's interactions and friendships with the rest of the team. But overall this book was so amazing and I highly recommend it. Rock with eyes and a mustache in corner

This book was one of my most anticipated releases of the year and it did not disappoint. I truly adore everything AM Woody writes. They have mastered the balance between humor and deep emotion.
Thank you to the author for the free advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
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I just finished When They Burned the Butterfly and omg that was such an intense ending. I’m going to need a long minute to process this book but I can definitely already say I highly recommend it!
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Orange background with cover of Recipes for an Unexpected Afterlife by Deston J Munden. Brown text with title, author, and general information Coming out soon: October 2025 Genres: cozy fantasy Setting: necropolis POV: third person Review: 4 stars Stew graphic in corner

Orange background with brown text synopsis: Rottgor is worn out. Literally. Barely held together by dark magic, he has protected the necropolis for centuries. When he's forced into retirement, he's faced with a new to forge a future guided not by obligation, but by passion. Following his heart (and stomach), he decides to open a restaurant where the city's undead and living residents can share food and community. He's helped in his quest by an unlikely assortment of neighbors, including elves, skeletons, vampires-and a young orphan girl named Astra, whose ancestry, if discovered, could put her and the entire necropolis in danger. To protect Astra and the life he's building, Rottgor must face his past and form new alliances built on friendship, loyalty, and love. As comforting as warm pumpkin bread, this gentle fantasy traces how even a dark history can rise into a bright future. From GoodReads Stew graphic in corner

Orange background with brown text review: This book was so beautiful and sweet and heartwarming! For starters, Razgaif deserves the world. He has been through so much and he is finally getting to live his own life and he builds something so beautiful. I would give anything to eat at the Afterlife Crisis, with it's delicious descriptions of food and eclectic staff. They formed such a wholesome yet badass found family, and Astra in particular stole my heart. She is so hopeful and kindhearted, and her and Razgaif found family and love in each other. I loved Razgaif's development to fatherhood and how he took Astra in despite her ancestry. All this is to say that this was unbelievably close to being a five star read for me, expect that I felt it fell victim to my biggest pet peeve with cozy fantasy: incomplete world building. There was enough information to not feel completely lost, but I still wanted to better understand the magic system, especially the runes, and how the necropolis was founded. But overall this was a stunning read and I highly recommend it! Stew graphic in corner

This book y’all! If you like cozy fantasy or cooking or found family or all of the above you will love this book.
Thank you @binderybooks.bsky.social and NetGalley for the free advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
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Magenta background with cover of Time and Time Again by Chatham Greenfield. White text with title, author, and general information Published: July 2024 Genres: queer ya romance Setting: August 6 Lewiston Florida POV: first person she/her Review: 3 stars Mozzarella sticks graphic in corner

Magenta background with white text synopsis: Phoebe Mendel's day is never ending-literally. On August 6th, she woke up to find herself stuck in a time loop. And for nearly a month since, Phoebe has relived the same day: pancakes with Mom, Scrabble with Dad, and research how to reach tomorrow and make it to her appointment with a doctor who may actually take her IBS seriously. Everything is exactly the same, until the most mundane car crash ever sends Phoebe's childhood crush Jess into the time loop. Now also stuck, Jess convinces Phoebe to take advantage of their days to have fun. From concerts, to (mostly) harmless revenge, to road trips, Jess pulls Phoebe further out of her comfort zone-and deeper in love with them. But the more Phoebe falls for Jess, the more she worries about what's on the other side of the time loop. What if Jess is only giving her the time of day because they're trapped? What if Phoebe's new doctor dismisses her chronic pain? And perhaps worst of all: What if she never gets the chance to find out? From GoodReads Mozzarella sticks graphic in corner

Magenta background with white text review: This was an incredibly sweet story with some amazing rep! | loved the characters so much, and there was a great balance of humor and deep, emotional moments. related a lot to Phoebe with her anxiety, and I too would do the same thing every day if I got stuck in a time loop. However, as cute as I found this book, there were two pretty big things I struggled with. One was the time loop plot itself. I liked how the time loop allowed for a lot of character development and some really fun moments, and how this book poked some fun at conventional time loop cliches. However, as is the case in almost all alternate-time plots I have read, I did not like how they got out of the loop and back into normal time. The other thing I struggled with was I thought Phoebe and Jess needed to have a conversation about the Incident before they got together, rather than admittedly right) after. But I still loved their relationship so much, and how they both made each other better. So overall this was a wholesome, enjoyable read that I recommend. Mozzarella sticks graphic in corner

I’m hungry right now and seeing the mozzarella sticks on this post made me want to eat anything other than the salad I packed for lunch.
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Chartreuse background with cover of All of Us Murderers by KJ Charles. Dark green text with title, author, and general information Coming out soon: October 2025 Genres: queer historical thriller Setting: Lackaday House POV: third person Review: 4 stars Stonehenge graphic in corner

Chartreuse background with dark green text synopsis: When Zeb Wyckham is summoned to a wealthy relative's remote Gothic manor, he is horrified to find all the people he least wants to see in the world: his estranged brother, his sneering cousin, and his bitter ex-lover Gideon Grey. Things couldn't possibly get worse. Then the master of the house announces the true purpose of the gathering: he intends to leave the vast family fortune to whoever marries his young ward, setting off a violent scramble for her hand. Zeb wants no part of his greedy family-but when he tries to leave, the way is barred. The walls of Lackaday House are high, and the gates firmly locked. As the Dartmoor mists roll in, there's no way out. And something unnatural may be watching them from the house's shadowy depths... Fear and paranoia ramping ever-higher, Zeb has nowhere to turn but to the man who once held his heart. As the gaslight flickers and terror takes hold, can two warring lovers reunite, uncover the murderous mysteries of Lackaday House-and live to tell the tale? From Netgalley Stonehenge graphic in corner

Chartreuse background with dark green text review: This book was a brilliant, fun ode to Gothic literature. It had everything I could have expected, from a decaying mansion, creepy mist, estranged family fighting over an inheritance, ghostly monks, and mysterious writings on the walls. It was truly the perfect Gothic setting and elements. But what really made this book for me was Zeb. It was impossible not to love him, with his genuinely huge heart, always making the right choice even if it's not the 'smart' choice. He always thought the best of everyone, even when they did not deserve it. I do wish he had given up trying to see the best in most of family sooner though. It was also a bit repetitive watching him try to convince them all he was not as self serving as they were. But in the end he managed to convince and save the one person that mattered, Gideon. love a second chance romance so much, and it was so beautiful watching Zeb and Gideon learn to communicate and rebuild a stronger relationship even with everything else going on. So overall I loved this book and highly recommend! Stonehenge graphic in corner

Before this book, the only KJ Charles I read was the A Charm of Magpies trilogy. This book is different but I loved it! I love a good gothic, and this book delivered amazing vibes.
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for the free advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Yellow background with cover of Cover Story by Valerie Gomez. White text with title, author, and general information Published: September 2023 Genres: queer romance Setting: nyc POV: first person he/him Review: 3 stars Wallet graphic in corner

Yellow background with white text synopsis: "Don't panic, just breathe," Dax Ximénez tells himself after every gig. About to become a household name with the premiere of his own TV show, he should be flying high. But all of the pressure and attention make him want to retreat into the safe cocoon of his warm family home in Queens. The last thing he needs is a prickly art director judging him at his first magazine cover shoot. The shoot is a huge opportunity for AJ Bond to prove himself worthy of a promotion at The Modern Gentleman, but Dax showing up late is not a good look. The vibe is off, and AJ's original vision is going down in flames-until Dax lets his natural charisma and gorgeous smile shine. After the shoot wraps, AJ knows they're both on the verge of something big, not just professionally. Neither AJ nor Dax can stop thinking about the other, hoping their magic wasn't confined to the studio. As the magazine and show launches approach, they'll rely on each other for support through the highs and lows of success, fame, anxiety...and maybe even love. From GoodReads Wallet graphic in corner

Yellow background with white text review: This was such a cute book that was exactly what I needed at the time! | instantly fell in love with AJ, with his passion for his job and introverted nature. It took me slightly longer to warm up to Dax due to the opening misunderstanding between him and AJ, but I quickly found myself to relating to his struggles with anxiety. He had great character development learning to accept help. AJ also had strong development as he tried to figure out how to balance his professional life with his love life as the lines between them blurred. I found the conflicts that arose between AJ and Dax, due to these personality differences, really realistic and nuanced. Of course, I was happy they were able to overcome these disagreements and have a happy ending. I did struggle with parts of the romance, first and foremost I found it pretty fast paced, at least for my taste. Dax also said some things in one of their arguments that while he later apologized, I didn't think they were fully addressed. But overall this was a very sweet story and I recommend it. Wallet graphic in corner

I am very picky about wallets since I like them to be flat even with all my junk in it. I would love someone else to do all the work picking me out a new one like in this book.
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Red background with cover of Never Been Kissed by Timothy Janovsky. White text with title, author, and general information Published: May 2022 Genres: queer romance Setting: Willow Valley Pennsylvania POV: first person he/him Review: 4 stars Movie director clapboard graphic in corner

Red background with white text synopsis: Wren Roland has never been kissed, but he wants that movie-perfect ending more than anything. Feeling nostalgic on the eve of his birthday, he sends emails to all the boys he loved before he came out. Morning brings the inevitable Oh God What Did I Do?, but he brushes that panic aside. None of his could-have-beens are actually going to read the emails, much less respond. Enter Derick Haverford, Wren's #1 pre-coming-out-crush and his drive-in theater's new social media intern. Everyone claims he's coasting on his father's connections, but Wren has always known there's more to Derick than meets the eye. Too bad he doesn't feel the same way about the infamous almost-kiss that once rocked Wren's world. Whatever. Wren's no longer a closeted teenager; he can survive this. But as their hazy summer becomes consumed with a special project that may just save the struggling drive-in for good, Wren and Derick are drawn ever-closer...and maybe, finally, Wren's dream of a perfect-kiss-before-the-credits is within reach. From GoodReads Movie director clapboard graphic in corner

Red background with white text review: This book brought me so much joy to read! I have so much in common with Wren, as a freshly turned 22 year old aspec taurus, so I immediately loved him. Of course, even if we didn't have anything in common I still would have loved him because of his love for film history and Wiley's drive-in. He was so driven and passionate and earnest. I also loved his roommates, Avery and Mateo, and how wholesome their friendships were. Though of all the characters Alice really stole the show. She was so funny and had me laughing out loud. The one character I struggled with was Derick. I didn't really have anything against him, I just loved Wren too much and thought he could do better. I liked their romance because it made Wren happy, but I did struggle with how much miscommunication there was, especially as the book went on. I also struggled a bit with one of the side plots that felt too fast. But I loved the lost movie premiere plot, so it balanced out. And the ending was perfect! So overall, I loved this book and highly recommend it. Movie director clapboard graphic in corner

This is the second birthday I’ve celebrated with a Timothy Janovsky book! I celebrated my 21st with You Had Me at Happy Hour and this year I celebrated turning 22 with Wren. I’m looking forward to picking up New Adult for 23!
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Desperately trying to finish my current read by midnight because I cannot let my August end with a dnf I need to finish on a better note. I have 52 minutes and 63 pages pray for me
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Red background with cover of Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (on a dead man) by Jesse Q Sutanto. White text with title, author, and general information Published: April 2025 Genres: cozy mystery Setting: Chinatown, San Francisco POV: third person Review: 4 stars Like, comment, share graphic in corner

Red background with white text synopsis: Ever since a man was found dead in Vera's teahouse, life has been good. For Vera that is. She's surrounded by loved ones, her shop is bustling, and best of all, her son, Tilly, has a girlfriend! All thanks to Vera, because Tilly's girlfriend is none other than Officer Selena Gray. Still, Vera wishes more dead bodies would pop up in her shop. Then Vera comes across a distressed young woman who is looking for a missing friend. Fortunately, while cat-sitting at Tilly and Selena's, Vera finds a treasure Selena's briefcase. Inside is a file about the death of an enigmatic influencer-who also happens to be the friend that the young woman was looking for. Online, Xander had it a parade of private jets, fabulous parties with socialites, and a burgeoning career as a social media influencer. The only problem is, after his body is fished out of Mission Bay, the police can't seem to actually identify him. Vera is determined to solve Xander's murder. After all, doing so would surely be a big favor to Selena, and there is nothing she wouldn't do for her future daughter-in-law. From GoodReads Like, comment, share graphic in corner

Red background with white text review: This book was exactly what I needed! It brought me so much joy and cheer. I love Vera so much! She is the most wholesome and funny main character ever. I loved how she reflected on what she had done in the last book and applied what she had learned to this book. Which as far as I could tell mostly meant more dinner parties. I loved how she brought all the other characters together, quickly adopting everyone into her found family. Of course, I loved the new cast as well. Robin was probably my favorite, but I also loved Qiang Wen and how similar he and Vera realized they were. I did find the number of points of view a bit overwhelming at times, but it served well to add tension and hint at secrets. This mystery was full of secrets, and I loved how Vera got each character to reveal them to her. Though I wish Vera had worked more with Selena over the course of the book. It would have been nice bonding for them. And I found the ending a bit rushed. But overall, this book was absolutely adorable and I highly recommend it and this series as a whole! Like, comment, share graphic in corner

This book could alternately be title Vera Wong’s Guide to Social Media Fame. I was laughing out loud as she navigated the world of influencers and how shamelessly she used her platform to solve her murder mystery. I would definitely follow her.
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Yellow background with cover Much Ado About Nada by Uzma Jalaluddin. Dark green text with title, author, and general information Published: June 2023 Genres: Contemporary Romance Setting: Golden Crescent Toronto Canada POV: third person Review: 5 stars Search bar graphic in corner

Yellow background with dark green text synopsis: Nada Syed is stuck. On the cusp of thirty, she's still living at home with her brothers and parents in the Golden Crescent neighbourhood of Toronto, ignoring her mother's pleas to get married. While Nada has a good job as an engineer, it's a far cry from realizing her startup dreams for her tech baby, Ask Apa, the app that launched with a whimper instead of a bang because of a double-crossing business partner. Nothing in her life has turned out the way it was supposed to, and Nada feels like a failure. Nada's best friend Haleema is determined to pry her from her shell...and what better place than at the giant annual Muslim conference, where Nada can finally meet Haleema's fiancé, Zayn. And did Haleema mention Zayn's brother Baz will be there? What Haleema doesn't know is that Nada and Baz have a past. At the conference, that past all comes hurtling at Nada, bringing new complications and a moment of reckoning. Can Nada truly say goodbye to once was or should she hold tight to her dreams and find their new beginnings? From GoodReads Search bar graphic in corner

Yellow background with dark green text review: Is it really any surprise that my favorite Uzma Jalaluddin novel is a retelling on my favorite Austen novel? Cause it shouldn't be. I truly adored this book with every fiber of my being. Jalaluddin gives the beloved classic a new spin that somehow makes it even better. She gave Nada and Baz such deep, complicated history that made their relationship so beautiful nuanced and heartbreaking. It was absolutely amazing and devastating. Also, I loved how the story was told in the present with glimpses of the past, giving us the full story of Nada and Baz. Their romance was everything I could ever want, with slow burn and displays of devotion that had me swooning. As for the individual characters, the book was really about Nada, and she had fantastic development. I loved watching her take control of her life and future and happiness, and how she was able to acknowledge her mistakes and express her regret and be better for it. She was a bit messy but it felt so authentic. So overall I loved everything about this book and I highly recommend it. Search bar graphic in corner

Persuasion is my favorite Austen I have read so far, yet I have rarely encountered retellings of it. Pride and Prejudice seems to dominate. It was through Uzma Jalaluddin’s Pride and Prejudice retelling that I discovered this book. This is of course now my favorite Uzma Jalaluddin novel.
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I’ve had soju at many parties, but I did not know the official etiquette until I read this book. I loved how rich the setting of the Soju Club was and the characters that visited. Thank you Dundurn Press and Netgalley for the free advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
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Green background with cover of Ring of Salt by Betsy Cornwell. White text with title, author, and general information Coming out soon: September 2025 Genres: memoir nonfiction Setting: County Galway Ireland POV: first person she/they/he Review: 5 stars Strawberry graphic in corner

Green background with white text synopsis: At 24, Betsy Cornwell runs away to Ireland. Amid the beauty of the Irish countryside, her life takes on the glow of a fairy tale when she meets a charming horse trainer and elopes. Five years later, her happy ending has twisted into a nightmare and Betsy finds herself trapped in an abusive marriage, isolated and afraid with a baby. On her son's first birthday, she runs away, turning to the women around her for help. On sleepless nights, she scrolls through real estate listings and fosters an impossible dream: What if she could use her writing to buy a home of her own? One that might become a haven, not just for her family, but other single parent artists and writers, too? Then she discovers a historic knitting factory on the coastline. She spends the next two years working to crowdfund the purchase. But as the deadline nears, she will have to reckon with everything she believes about family, survival, and what happily-ever-after truly means for her dream to have any chance of coming true. From GoodReads Strawberry graphic in corner

Green background with white text review: This memoir was a masterpiece. I truly have no words for how beautiful this book was. Betsy Cornwell went through so much in her life, and she laid it all out in this memoir. My heart ached for her and everything that had happened to her. Yet at the same time she infused the entire story with so much hope and joy, and it warmed my heart. She reflected on her pain and came out happier for it some how, still so optimistic about the world. Just for that alone this deserves five stars. But Betsy Cornwell is also an amazing writer all around. Her prose was stunning, imbued with the essence of fairy tales and fables. She included so many references to her own work and other's books, and very helpfully attached a reading list to the end that I will definitely be making my way through. And I would love to visit the Old Knitting Factory some day; it sounds like a paradise. So all of this is to say that this memoir is moving and emotional and inspiring and hopeful, and I think everyone should read it. I truly cannot recommend it enough. Strawberry graphic in corner

I have only read two books by Betsy Cornwell, one fiction and one memoir, but both books were five star reads. She just writes so beautifully.
Thank you Avid Reader Press for the free advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
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Yellow background with cover of Foul Heart Huntsman by Chloe Gong. Black text with title, author, and general information Published: September 2023 Genres: Historical fantasy romance Setting: 1932 Shanghai POV: third person Review: 4 stars IV graphic in corner

Yellow background with black text synopsis: Rosalind Lang has suffered the worst possible fate for a spy: she's been exposed. With the media camped outside her apartment, she's barely left her bedroom in weeks, plotting her next course of action after Orion was taken. Though their marriage might have been a sham, his absence hurts her more than any physical wound. But with her identity in the open, getting him back is near impossible. The only way to leave the city and rescue Orion is under the guise of a national tour. It's easy to convince her superiors that the countryside needs unity more than ever, and who better than an immortal girl to stir pride and strength? When the tour goes wrong, however, everything Rosalind once knew is thrown up in the air. Old ghosts come into the open and adversaries turn to allies. To save Orion, they must find a cure to his mother's traitorous invention and take this dangerous chemical weapon away from the impending foreign invasion-but the clock is ticking, and if Rosalind fails, it's not only Orion she loses, but her nation itself. From GoodReads IV graphic in corner

Yellow background with black text review: My one sentence endorsement of this book is that it almost made me attracted to men. Specifically, attracted to the three men in this book, who gave some of the best love confessions I have ever read. But to back up. This book picked up not long after the first one ended, but with a much clearer plot that I appreciated. There was lots of action that made it a fast read, and lots of amazing characters, including some old faces that made me so happy to see. I finally grew to like Rosalind and Orion. Rosalind had amazing development learning to be a person, not just an operative, and coming to understand that she cannot save the entire world. I loved how much Orion loved Rosalind, despite everything he was going through. Of course, I also loved Celia and Oliver, and Silas and Phoebe, and Alisa. I think I found Phoebe the most interesting this book, with all her different faces revealed. But what made this book for me was definitely the love confessions. So overall, I really enjoyed this book and I recommend it! IV graphic in corner

Today I present the sequel to Foul Lady Fortune. This was one of those rare occasions where I liked the sequel more than the first book. Though I still prefer the original duology over this one.
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Pink background with cover of Foul Lady Fortune by Chloe Gong. Brown text with title, author, and general information Published: September 2022 Genres: Historical fantasy romance Setting: 1931 Shanghai POV: third person Review: 3 stars Syringe graphic in corner

Pink background with brown text synopsis: Four years ago, Rosalind Lang was brought back from the brink of death, but the strange experiment that saved her also stopped her from sleeping and aging— and allows her to heal from any wound. Now, desperate for redemption from her traitorous past, she uses her abilities as an assassin for her country. Code name: Fortune. But when the Japanese Imperial Army begins its invasion march, Rosalind's mission pivots. Rosalind's new orders are to infiltrate foreign society and identify the culprits behind the terror plot before more of her people are killed. To reduce suspicion, however, she must pose as the wife of another Nationalist spy, Orion Hong, and though Rosalind finds Orion's cavalier attitude and playboy demeanor infuriating, she is willing to work with him for the greater good. But Orion has an agenda of his own, and Rosalind has secrets that she wants to keep buried. As they both attempt to unravel the conspiracy, the two spies soon find that there are deeper and more horrifying layers to this mystery than they ever imagined. From GoodReads Syringe graphic in corner

Pink background with brown text review: There was one main reason I waited so long to read this book, and it is the same reason I did not love this book as much as I wanted to: I do not find Rosalind a compelling character. She did not interest me in the original Shanghai duology, and she did not really interest me in this book. Neither did her companion Orion, unfortunately. However, I loved the characters around them. Celia and Alisa are amazing returning characters, and I loved the new characters, especially Phoebe. I am also so invested in Celia and Oliver's relationship and whatever is going on there, and I am curious what happens between Phoebe and Silas, especially given the reveal at the end of the book. As for the plot, I can appreciate how it connects to history, but it is therefore very politically involved and takes a lot of set up. I also struggled to see the impact Rosalind and Orion were having on the greater scheme of things until the murder mystery plot picked up. However, the ending was very strong and I am looking forward to the next book. Syringe graphic in corner

I waited a long time to read this spin off series. I was apprehensive because the new main character wasn’t my favorite in the original duology. But I love the author’s writing so I finally decided to give it a try.
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