The Good
Bitter Medicine by Mia Tsai
I had very few ideas as to what this book is about and as a result I really enjoyed it. It’s sort of cozy urban fantasy but it’s not without stakes. I really liked the world Mia Tsai created and the characters she populated the world with. The book is billed as fantasy romance but I liked the family relationships so much more.
Rating: 4/5
Leviathan Wakes b James S.A. Corey
I almost wish I’d read this before watching the TV show because the first season is such a loyal adaptation of the book that I knew everything that was going to happen. I also wish there were more POV characters than two white guys. That said, the book is a really fun space opera romp and I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
Rating: 4/5
Book of Night by Holly Black
I’d heard mixed reviews on this book so I went into it with no small amount of trepidation. I think having lower expectations really helped me enjoy it. There are a lot of Holly Black’s trademarks stamped all over this book such as dark magic, twisting plots, and elements of horror. I also really enjoyed how gritty and determined the heroine is. She’s not exactly likable but you find yourself rooting for her. I’m not sold on the romantic subplot but I definitely want to see where the series goes.
Rating: 4/5
There There by Tommy Orange
Literary Fiction at its finest and a damn good debut novel. I didn’t love the experience of reading this book but I did really like the book itself. The writing is so strong it demands notice. The characters are all real, flawed, and heartbreaking. It’s a bit difficult to track all of the different narratives and characters at the beginning of the story so I do suggest reading the book as quickly as possible. If you stretch this one out you might forget how everyone is related and the ending won’t be as rewarding when the story comes together.
Rating: 4/5
One for My Enemy by Olivie Blake
For whatever reason I really put off reading this book. When I opened it and realized it was Romeo and Juliet but with witches I was delighted. I have two major nits to pick. The first is the characters. There are too many. I’m a big epic fantasy reader so I’m used to large casts of characters but this cast is too large for the story. As a result, several of them are severely underdeveloped. The second issue I had was the ending. I wish Blake had veered a bit off plot for this one. If you know Shakespeare you know how this story ends and that’s a bit disappointing.
Rating: 4/5
The Future King by Robyn Schneider
I absolutely loved the first book in this series and the second installment continues to be delightful. All of your favorite characters are back and getting up to even more shenanigans. Reading this book feels like hanging out with a bunch of friends. I’ll always be a sucker for a King Arthur story so this series has me hooked.
Rating: 4/5
Infamous by Lex Crouch
I liked this book a lot more than Lex Croucher’s previous novel, Reputation. I found the characters to be ten times more likable and the writing to be hilarious. It’s really witty and clever and I found myself smiling at the words more than a few times. I’m really excited to see what Lex Croucher does next.
Rating: 4/5
Astrid Parker Doesn’t Fail by Ashley Herring Blake
This might be a perfect romance novel. It really has everything. Internal and external conflict, a great circle of friends, personal growth, romance, and it’s queer. I really loved it. I’m excited to go back and read the first book in the series and then of course for the final one to see everyone get their happy ending.
Rating: 5/5
The Not so Bad
Something Wild and Wonderful by Anita Kelly
I had high hopes for this book and I was left feeling somewhat unsatisfied. There are two narrators and we get way more depth from one of the characters than the other so it feels a bit one sided. The romance element didn’t work for me largely due to the lack of strength in the dual pov structure. That said, as a coming out story about finding yourself and your people it works really well.
Rating: 3.5/5
White Cat, Black Dog by Kelly Link
I’m pretty mixed on this collection of short stories. Some of them were really excellent and thought provoking and others I didn’t care about at all. There’s definitely a Brothers Grimm element to all of the stories that I liked but it also got a bit tiresome by the end. I think I would have preferred these stories on their own rather than in a collection.
Rating: 3.5/5
The Immortals After Dark
Kiss of a Demon King by Kresley Cole
My first and maybe only three star rating for Kresley Cole’s Immortals After Dark. I’m honestly not sure why I’m still reading this series except for the fact that I want to know what happens at the end. I know these books were written a while ago but damn it’s as if Kresley has never heard of consent and it makes the “romance” aspect of these books a tough sit.
Rating: 3/5
The Brothers Wroth by Kresley Cole
Fated Mates warned us not to start the Immortals After Dark series with the novella Warlord Wants Forever and now I know why. It’s not good. The consent issues made my head spin and my stomach turn. The other story, Untouchable, is actually quite decent. For once, our two main characters actually seem to like each other and want to be together. It was refreshing and a breath of fresh air in the troublesome IAD series.
Rating: 3/5
The Future
I’m really excited about summer reading. I love nothing more than to sit on the beach or by the pool and read a completely engrossing book. I’m saving The Comeback Summer by Ali Brady, Happy Place by Emily Henry, and The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren for this express purpose. I’m also looking forward to seeing Ali Hazelwood at Barnes and Noble in conversation with Sarah MacLean and Adriana Herrera. The event is sold out in person but might have some online tickets left.
There are also a lot of June new releases that I’m anticipating. The next installment of Lore comes out this month as well as Much Ado About Nada and Will They or Won’t They.
What are you reading?