An ongoing list of my monthly book recommendations, collected and recorded here for reader's convenience.
December 2024
Goddess with A Blade by Lauren Dane

Rowan Summerwaite is no ordinary woman. Physical vessel to the Celtic Goddess Brigid and raised by the leader of the Vampire Nation, she's a supercharged hunter with the power to slay any vampire who violates the age-old treaty.
A recent string of murders has her at odds with Las Vegas's new Scion, the arrogant and powerful Clive Stewart. The killings have the mark of Vampire all over them, and Rowan warns Clive to keep his people in line—or she'll mete out her own brand of justice.
Though her dealings with Clive are adversarial to say the least, Rowan is intensely aware of her attraction to him. But she can't let it distract her from her duty—to find and battle the killer before more women die.
Rowan is my hero. I mean it. Her personality is rude, gruff, and downright bitchy, yet it's the first time I've seen a character pull it off. She's intelligent, compassionate, and has the abilities to back up her attitude. The way she works a case had me obsessed, and I've nearly finished binging the entire series. I'm so looking forward to more of this thrilling and sexy ride.
November 2024
The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake

Each decade, only the six most uniquely talented magicians are selected to earn a place in the Alexandrian Society, the foremost secret society in the world. The chosen will secure a life of power and prestige beyond their wildest dreams. But at what cost?
Each of the six newest recruits has their reasons for accepting the Society’s elusive invitation. Even if it means growing closer than they could have imagined to their most dangerous enemies― or risking unforgivable betrayal from their most trusted allies― they will fight tooth and nail for the right to join the ranks of the Alexandrians.
The perspective storytelling makes this book uniquely interesting, offering differing personalities, motivations, and actions working both with and against one another. The audiobook format enhances the multiple points of view by providing different voice actors/actresses per perspective. The mystery, the suspense, and the extra clues given to you as a reader makes this story both intriguing and nail-biting.
October 2024
Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson

For a thousand years the ash fell and no flowers bloomed. For a thousand years the Skaa slaved in misery and lived in fear. For a thousand years the Lord Ruler, the "Sliver of Infinity," reigned with absolute power and ultimate terror, divinely invincible. Then, when hope was so long lost that not even its memory remained, a terribly scarred, heart-broken half-Skaa rediscovered it in the depths of the Lord Ruler's most hellish prison. Kelsier "snapped" and found in himself the powers of a Mistborn. A brilliant thief and natural leader, he turned his talents to the ultimate caper, with the Lord Ruler himself as the mark.
Kelsier recruited the underworld's elite, the smartest and most trustworthy allomancers, each of whom shares one of his many powers, and all of whom relish a high-stakes challenge. Then Kelsier reveals his ultimate dream, not just the greatest heist in history, but the downfall of the divine despot.
But even with the best criminal crew ever assembled, Kel's plan looks more like the ultimate long shot, until luck brings a ragged girl named Vin into his life. Like him, she's a half-Skaa orphan, but she's lived a much harsher life. Vin has learned to expect betrayal from everyone she meets. She will have to learn trust if Kel is to help her master powers of which she never dreamed.
This series is completely brilliant. One of the strongest features I admire is how detailed and specific the magic system is, yet hard to fully grasp all at once. This book somehow perfectly intertwines fantasy with realism and discovery and makes it not only entertaining, but believable. Another major takeaway for me was the character growth. It was palpable and realistic, for some character's experience major breakthroughs, while others take two steps forward and on step back. They make mistakes, but not ones that frustrate you as a reader. These mistakes, at least in my experience, were ones that make the characters all the more believable. Overall it's been a very great experience, and I look forward to finishing this trilogy.
September 2024
Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim

Six Crimson Cranes is a romantic fantasy about a princess in exile, a shapeshifting dragon, six enchanted cranes, and an unspeakable curse...
Shiori'anma, the only princess of Kiata, has a secret. Forbidden magic runs through her veins. Normally she conceals it well, but on the morning of her betrothal ceremony, Shiori loses control. At first, her mistake seems like a stroke of luck, forestalling the wedding she never wanted. But it also catches the attention of Raikama, her stepmother. A sorceress in her own right, Raikama banishes the young princess, turning her brothers into cranes. She warns Shiori that she must speak of it to no one for with every word that escapes her lips, one of her brothers will die.
Penniless, voiceless, and alone, Shiori searches for her brothers, and uncovers a dark conspiracy to seize the throne. Only Shiori can set the kingdom to rights, but to do so she must place her trust in a paper bird, a mercurial dragon, and the very boy she fought so hard not to marry. And she must embrace the magic she's been taught all her life to forswear--no matter what the cost.
The creativity throughout this book was mesmerizing. The story, the characters, the fantastical setting, all of it was both beautiful and enthralling. The twists were perfect, and both books in this series are very satisfying. Even after finishing it, just thinking about it makes me want to relive its story again.
August 2024
Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

Strange the Dreamer is a romantic fantasy featuring Lazlo Strange, a war orphan and junior librarian. In this world, the dream chooses the dreamer, not the other way around. Ever since childhood, Lazlo has dreamed of one day visiting the mythic lost city of Weep. A chance presents itself through the shocking arrival of a hero called the Godslayer, accompanied by a band of legendary warriors. Lazlo has to seize his chance now or lose his dream forever.
What happened in Weep two hundred years ago to cut it off from the rest of the world? And who is the blue-skinned goddess who appears in Lazlo's dreams?
This book was both thought-provoking and lyrical. Thought-provoking in the way it introduces the story and characters, making it difficult to have the full picture and delighting in each revelation. I would describe this story as lyrical as well, full of both beautiful and tragic imagery, and every description made it feel as though I was no longer looking at words on a page, but rather a painting being made in front of me.
July 2024
Bride by Ali Hazelwood

Bride is a paranormal romance featuring werewolves and vampyres. Misery Lark is a Vampyre living among humans, content with her simple life as an outcast. This comes to a screeching halt when her father—the most powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest—calls on her to form a historical alliance between the Vampyres and Werewolves in the form of an arranged marriage.
Paired with Alpha Were Lowe Moreland, she soon discovers his absolute authority, his justice, and his... kindness? While Lowe may be suspicious of her, Misery knows it's for good reason. She has her own reasons for accepting this marriage, the alliance a convenient cover. She will stop at nothing to take back the only thing she's ever cared about.
This book was satisfying at every twist and turn. The characters, the romance, the betrayals, all of it was laid out in a way where you think you know the answer, only to have the picture be bigger than you could imagine. Looking back on it, the foreshadowing was golden, but you get so caught up in the discovery that you don't pay it as much heed. The romance itself is sweet and beautiful, and watching both the characters and the love grow made my heart squeeze.
June 2024
Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin

Serpent & Dove is the first of it's trilogy, a faced-paced romantic fantasy featuring an enemies-to-lovers romance that had me picking up the next book without missing a beat. It's set in a world where the church rules over all, persecuting and burning the witches that still linger in the land that was once their own.
Louise le Blanc is a witch on the run from her coven, lying low in the city of Cesarine and using thievery to survive. Reid Diggory is a Chasseur of the church, sworn to protect the people against the forces of evil. Namely, a witch hunter. Series of events force Louise and Reid into the unthinkable—holy matrimony.
This book had it's hooks in me since the beginning. Each character has depth, and allures you to learn more about them. The slow burn of passion between love interests had me pumping my fists in excitement as the progress continued. The humor made me laugh out loud constantly, earning more than a few glances of confusion from my husband.
May 2024
Daughter of No Worlds by Carissa Broadbent

Daughter of No Worlds by Carissa Broadbent is the first in a thrilling trilogy. It's a fantasy with compelling characters and an amazing story. The heroine in this tale is Tisaanah, a former slave fighting for justice.
Each chapter is more interesting than the last, with stakes piling up one after another. The way it's written illustrates a unique and beautiful description of this world and its characters. I found myself getting lost in the intense imagery. The descriptions in this book make me feel as though I'm living it, breathing it, integrating it with my very soul. Let's just say, it didn't take me long to order the rest of the series.
Comentários