Serpent & Dove by Shelby Manhurin

 

Summary: "Bound as one to love, honor, or burn.

Two years ago, Louise le Blanc fled her coven and took shelter in the city of Cesarine, forsaking all magic and living off whatever she could steal. There, witches like Lou are hunted. They are feared. And they are burned.

Sworn to the Church as a Chasseur, Reid Diggory has lived his life by one principle: thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. His path was never meant to cross with Lou's, but a wicked stunt forces them into an impossible union—holy matrimony.

And love makes fools of us all."

I FINALLY FINISHED A BOOK! YAY, ME!

This story checks almost all of my boxes - brave yet foul-mouthed heroine, golden boy hero, literal enemies-to-lovers, marriage of convenience, found family. It was so, so, so delicious.

513 pages

MOBIUS | goodreads

Week of October 30

 The Sinister Mystery of the Mesmerizing Girl by Theodora Goss 

This is the third volume in The Extraordinary Adventures of the Athena Club. I highly recommend the whole series. If you enjoy weird adventure stories this one has a lot to offer. In the pages of this book you will get to know Mary Jekyll, Diana Hyde, Justine Frankenstein, Katherine Moraeu, Lucinda Van Helsing, Sherlock Holmes and more.
464 pages-

 

The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix 

The name of this one says it all! I didn’t like this as much as I expected I would but it was still a fun Halloween read.
424 pages-

 

Real Murders by Charlaine Harris 

A small town librarian gets caught up in solving a real murder instead of just reading about them.  I really liked this book. Aurora “Roe” Teagarden may be familiar to some since several movies have been made from this series for the Hallmark channel.
304 pages-

Red Harvest by Joe Schreiber

 

Star Wars and... zombies?! 

Yep. It's that kind of book. But, the zombie theme surprisingly fits within the galaxy pretty well. I personally love any kind of ancient Sith biogenetic experiment lore anyway, so I enjoyed this one a lot! We also get to see the Jedi bio-experiments and communing with plants through the Force, which we don't really get to see in later periods. Towards the end of the Republic, the Jedi are mostly martial arts and peacekeeper focused, with a diminished Agricultural Corps. (Yes, I'm a huge Star Wars nerd, I know...) A Sith Lord trying to achieve mortality would reasonably end up unleashing a zombie plague which consumes every ounce of life on the planet. I mean really, what else would happen?

256 pages

My Hero Academia: Volume 28: The Thrill of Destruction by Kohei Horikoshi

My chicken boy
ok but my babies working together. Enemies to friends to rivals to friends. 

Aizawa sfdjklsfdjaklfsjdakljdfklas I LOVE YOU

All my chilren working together.

....Shigaraki.
(Chapters 268-276)
184 Pages

Night of Cake and Puppets by Laini Taylor

Little sister brain!!! Yes! Younger siblings unite!
I love Laini Taylor's writing style. fdsaklfjdaskljfkasjfl;j
My ship.
256 Pages

The Princess and the Fangirl by Ashley Poston

All the fandoms.
PUMPKIN CAMEOS
"She's a total monster" ....Come on....
LaDyBuG PaJaMa ShOrTs?!?! AS IN MIRACULOUS LADYBUG ONE OF MY FAVORITE FANDOMS.fdsjklfjsdaklfjS'L
THE BURNT HUFFLEPUFF AND THAT SORTING SYSTEM. YAAAAAS
PIZZA THE HUTT
fdjklsafja;fjasfjladjlf
I do love my ships
336 Pages

A Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

I will protect Monty with my life. He is stupid and I love him. 

Helena and the string. I'm dead. Send help. 
Ok but like......coming to terms with trauma and accepting yourself. A+
Percy is honestly my favorite. I would die for him.

Felicity is so fierce and wonderful. She's got female Sherlock vibes. (Or Molly Hooper?)
544 Pages

Silver Dragon Novels by Katie MacAlister

 

Gabriel Tauhou, wyvern of the silver dragons, has found the one woman who can withstand his fire. Too bad May Northcott is already bound to a demon lord. But when the demon orders May to steal one of Gabriel's treasures:An immensely important relic of all dragonkin - Gabriel has to decide which to protect: his love or his dragons.(I am not a fan of this new formatting. Practice makes perfect I guess!)Playing with Fire: 331 pagesUp in Smoke: 328 pagesMe and My Shadow: 352 pages

Turn of the Screw by Henry James

 

 I watched the show, so of course I had to read the book! It was alright.

pages: 121

All the Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace

This has the vibes of Three Dark Crowns, A House of Salt and Sorrows, and Bone Crier's Moon.
"I'm not looking to start a war" Alexa play Miley Cyrus's Wrecking Ball. 
Pirates, y'all. I love pirates. And Mermaids. 
Bastian is cool.
The magic system.
And now I'm stressed about the next book....Because....that happened. 
400 Pages

The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White

...I am so stressed out because there are so many ways that the King Arthur story can end (ALL OF THEM IN SADNESS, MIND YOU).
Oh my gosh the deception y'all.
The plot twists.
Lancelot.
Arthur is a cinnamon roll...
352 Pages

A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab

"We're all here for a reason. Some reasons are just bigger than others."
I love my Prince, Rhy. He is too good for this world. He needs a hug and a nap. He deserves so much better. I would die for him.
I love the competition and the pirates and I could go on and on. I just love the plot and the characters and the feels. 
Kell, honey....
Lila is so fierce. 
I am so stressed for the next book.
512 Pages

Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas

Chaol is my spirit animal....cause....therapy...
The kitty cats.
Alexa play the SING scene from Miss Congeniality
We stan all of the queens. Nesryn and Yrene are queens and you cannot convince me otherwise.
How did I miss this shipping....I'm smarter than this...
CHAOL HAS HIS AIRPODS IN! HE CAN'T SEE THE FEELS COMING.
THERE ARE BIRDIES. THEY FLOOF. 
.....a horse named Butterfly..
More iconic than the ice cream scene from The Princess Diaries.
Character development y'all.

I have so many feelings. Chaol is one of my favorite characters (because he is so stupid..so so stupid), so like.....Yrene is a queen. She is wonderful and I love her and I would die for her. I love my Hufflepuffs. 
I miss Aelin, but like....To be expected. I'm in pain. So much pain.
672 Pages

Geekerella by Ashley Poston

....So Darien's eyes just inherently twitch when he's surrounded by the snob fanboys, don't they....
....A wiener dog named Frank.....seriously.
On your left... fjkldsajfkla

The step-sister "ruining of the dress" scene in any Cinderella adaption always kills me....like...ow.

fjkldsajfkljsdakldfjsklajflakj

sfjkldsfdjkla;sjkld

Oh my gosh the Con....

Someone send help. I have the feels. I am dead. 
336 Pages

A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown

Ok but the way that this book shows anxiety and mental illness!!!! fdjklsajfdjklsajklfds;a
I love Malik. He is so strong and precious and beautiful.
I loved the world and the magic and everything.
Hyena is iconic.
I would die for Karina. She must be protected. 
496 Pages

Dream a Little Dream by Kerstin Gier

...Jumanji vibes
THERE'S A CHARACTER NAMED TOM HOLLAND.....COME ON
....So part of me wants to like....not touch this with a ten foot pole because...ummmm......let's not talk about doing those things....Let's not mess with demons....
My brain keeps thinking this is going to be a Clueless situation with Grayson.....and ummmm...kind of don't want that anymore..
Henry is a sweet treat. 
352 Pages

Dead Endless by Dave Galanter

 

Yassssssssss! Finally a novel about the Mycelial Network!! (It's my favorite part of Discovery, don't judge) At first, I thought this was an odd retelling of the episode where Paul finds and rescues Hugh from the network, and it kinda... is? That does happen, but it's a different Paul in a different universe (yay Star Trek tropes!), and it basically makes a time-space paradox, because now this Paul is falling for Hugh, and they're both trying to figure out how to make things work while another Hugh is flying around their universe. Oh, and there's a giant tardigrade that talks like the Cheshire Cat... Yeah, it's weird. And cheesy. But it's fun! Fun reads are what I need right now. (Again, don't judge)

342 pages

Teen Titans: Beast Boy by Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo (art.)

 I enjoyed the first book in this series, Raven, so I picked this one up. Beast Boy's origin story isn't a common one for retellings (compare with the likely hundreds of versions to Wonder Woman's origin story), but it's a really fun one! Garfield Logan just wants to bulk up and be a beast. Instead he becomes... beasts. This one was fun, and I enjoy Gabriel Picolo's art style. 

180 pages

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

I remember a lot of my classmates were assigned this book at some point in elementary school. Our class never read it, but I'm glad I picked it up now! This is a great fictional introduction to World War II for younger readers. While it avoids any sort of graphic images, it does still portray the fear and violence civilians faced during the conflict. I also learned a bit of history I didn't know about-the mass resistance of Danes by sneaking most Jews out of their country to Sweden. This book is really good, for any age!

137 pages

Read Harder Challenge Task #20

Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas

I've seen reactions on TikTok, and I'm afraid... Also my friend told me to not read the last...like 100 pages in public...sooooo I'm worried.

Elide is too precious and good for this world.
I see many a Disney's Tangled situation coming.
"Buzzard"..... Clown emoji.
.....Rowan is dadding and I love it. Just Rowan in general.#FriendshipIsMagic
All of the LOTR and FMA vibes.....
Aelin just casually being the best ruler ever.
Lorcan....

Manon deserves so much better. Abraxos is a national treasure and a gift to all. Abraxos is Nana from Peter Pan.

Lysandra. My Queen. We stan. 
Aedion coming into his own and getting the spotlight he deserves.

Everyone is so thirsty.....

Carry Madame Zeroni up the mountain, y'all. 

There were so many gifs....like "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" BATB Beast smiling, secret tunnel, Astrid (from HTTYD) on Stormfly..

I have many a crack theory.....I don't know how it will play out.....

And there's the Death Star and the elves from Lord of the Rings, and all the old friends. 

I have a lot of feelings about Elena....don't ask me. 

Aelin deserves the world....Too pure.... All of the crying emojis. I'm done. I quit. 

There were so many fights and so much drama and I loved it (plus relationship development)

I can't hear you I'm crying.... Like....I stayed up on a Sunday (Monday?) night to finish this and I can't anymore. 

720 Pages

Thick as Thieves by Megan Whalen Turner

 I really liked being able to see Costis again. I love my boy. 
Kamet's character growth.
Aaaaaaaaand Gen is scheming again.
384 Pages 

Conspiracy of Kings by Megan Whalen Turner

I missed seeing Gen, but Sounis is cool. I got a lot of Joseph from the Old Testament vibes. 
And I love watching people like each other...
Gen and Irene
Helen deserves more love, y'all.
Gen and his love of fashion and food.
368 Pages

Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade

 ...Ok but like...the two fanfic writers getting together AU (read a fanfic of it with Miraculous Ladybug)...love it. 
Guys just leave me alone to read.
Also....I love the cover.... Like 

Alexa play "This is Me" from Camp Rock...and "Perfect" by Simple Plan..... Also parts

dsfjklafjklasfja'lgjksla;

People who give good hugs and hug fiercely....Send help....Like....

Fan self gif

So I have a lot of feelings about this book, and I need to own it....for reasons....

Marcus... I love him.. I love him so much, and I'm blushing....send help. 

The whole museum date.... And after the museum...like....before the taxi....

And the donuts.... That whole date was great.....

Marcus needs a hug.... Like.....Hold him.... He deserves the world. He is too pure (in one sense, shhh no one say anything).....

IT HAS ALL OF MY FAVORITE FANFIC TROPES.... FDSJKALFJSDAKLFJASKDL;J. The hurt/comfort. The fluff

Alex is a national treasure. We stan. Alex truly takes everything for the team like the champ he is. 

Those panels.... Like.... Heart eyes.....

Ummmmm how dare that epilogue....How dare it skip the fluff.....ummmmm no I want all of the everything you jerk. 

I could go on for days about my thoughts...like...dkflja;lkdfjsa

416 Pages

The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner

Captain Holt VINDICATION gif
I love Gen and Irene.... like.... Heart eyes... all the heart eyes.
Gen and his scheming and his sass.... I love him.

I love watching people learn to trust each other and like....not hate each other....Good times
432 Pages

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

So I love this magic system and the different Londons. If I'm here for anything, it's for the world building and the sass. 

Kell is...amazing...just like..

THE MAGIC COAT Y'ALL.

I love Lila and her sass and her sense of adventure and the way that she holds herself in the world.
416 Pages

By the Book by Amanda Sellet

...So these children are kind of annoying me....Granted they're like...15....so they're naturally stupid....

ALL OF THE CLASSIC LITERATURE REFERENCES....like I was so proud of myself because I was like...read that one, read that one.

I now see what adults saw when they saw Zack flirting with Maddie in the Suite Life of Zack and Cody....
Alex. Alex is a gem.... He deserves the world. I love him. 

(Also Jasper coming in clutch--such a little brother move). 

384 Pages

Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas

So I live text my best friend about this series (cause she's read it) so this essentially consists of me digging through my texts...

...I have a lot of feelings about a certain person...because he's my trash boy, and now he's being stupid.... just digging holes...he could just stop talking....
Nesryn is a queen, and we stan.

SAAAAAAAAAAM

Alexa play "Two Black Cadillacs" by Carrie Underwood. 
Fleetfoot is my favorite character. Hands down. 

Abraxos. 

Vernon put bars on Harry's I mean....her window....

ROWAN BABY MY LOVE. STEP ON ME.  (guys the fanarts...heart eyes)

Hey look at all that toxic behavior.

So many Tangled vibes (when Rowan and Aelin are hanging out).

All of the crying gifs for Sam. 

Arobynn...vomit emoji. 

I'm loving the Lysandra development and all of the Aelin scheming. 

Alexa play "Hellfire" from the Hunchback of Notre Dame. 
Chaol just needs his boyfriend, I mean best friend, back....

The Harry Potter trio seeing Fluffy gif...

So much happened in this book! Like it was insane. All of my babies going on adventures. Also character growth. 
672 Pages

Morrighan by Mary E. Pearson

fsdhjkfshdajkfhsakjdfsajfkhafjd
Morrighan. I love her. I stan.
Ok but like....couples that read together stay together.
Also I was expecting that to end differently, so I'm really happy with how it ended.
121 Pages

Welcome to Night Vale by Joseph Fink

I love the humor of Night Vale, and its ridiculousness.

....Librarians....

416 Pages

Tulsa's Historic Greenwood District by Hannibal B. Johnson

 I had first heard of Greenwood about two years ago when I read the YA novel, Dreamland Burning (which was fantastic, btw), and I've ended up finding more and more reference to it lately. I've been watching Lovecraft Country (which is a really good show loosely based around a really good novel), and a lot of the characters' stories are related to the 1921 Greenwood massacre. However, I started to wonder what the actual Greenwood was like, not just the tragedy. This book was perfect for that. The character and resiliency of the community is clear in the photos showing Greenwood in its early days through the present. I enjoy the Images of America series because I feel like I can actually step back in time to get a feel for very specific communities and their histories.

 

213 pages

Close to Birds: An Intimate Look at Our Feathered Friends by Mats Ottosson, Asa Ottosson, and Roine Magnusson

 I love nature photography. I find it so calming. This book pairs gorgeous photos of birds with short collections of facts and personal experiences interacting with them. Although the book only highlights birds found in Sweden (it's translated into English), the stories are relatable just the same. I had such a big grin on my face while reading this. Some of the tiny birds are just too cute!

272 pages

Smoke in the Sun by Renee Ahdieh

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So I love it when one character is locked up and another isn't.....like...I love this trope.....although it's only really cool in fantasy....

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH Y'ALL.

Okami.... I love him. I love him. I love him. The way that he loves Mariko like....perfection...absolutely perfect. 

Mariko literally carrying all of the world on her back, solving all the problems. She has the brain cell.

I really liked how the magic and the setting developed. 

I love it when people realize that they're stupid and wrong. 

That epilogue... All the heart eyes. 
 448 Pages

The Memory Thief by Lauren Mansy

I feel like this could have been developed more....like....there's a lot of elements thrown really quickly, and the concepts were really cool, but like....there was a lot of telling instead of showing. 
320 Pages

Majesty by Katharine McGee

Can someone please just let my baby be happy.

Can we bring back beheadings....because there are some people that should totally lose them.

I loved watching everyone grow and see how relationships developed. 

jklfdsjafklsjaklfjsaflkjdsakljkld;fj All my boys. 

Can someone let ALL of my babies be happy....

So many Princess Diaries 2 vibes! (And some OG Princess Diaries--you saw me when I was invisible vibes)
WHAT DO YOU MEAN THERE'S NOT A THIRD BOOK... 

384 Pages

edit 7/21/22: haha there is a third book

Circe by Madeline Miller

 

"In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child—not powerful, like her father, nor viciously alluring like her mother. Turning to the world of mortals for companionship, she discovers that she does possess power—the power of witchcraft, which can transform rivals into monsters and menace the gods themselves."

This novel fleshes out the mythical character of Circe. We only see her very briefly in a couple of Greek myths so I really enjoyed seeing her interact with her fellow immortals and some of the more famous mortals and delve into her emotions and motivations. 

Pages: 393

The Beauty of Darkness by Mary E. Pearson

I love how fiercely that Rafe loves.....Like...jfdsklajfklasjfklaj. He's so thoughtful....
I love Lia. She is so fierce and strong. The way that she commands a room and demands respect. #HumanDignity
"I am not a horse" ....I see the beginnings of a beautiful beautiful.....I'm fine. 
KADEN. I love him so much....Like I just... I'm crying...He's such a sweetie pie. He is so protective and respectful and I'm fine. 
Pauline. My baby.
I love my boys. The sass in this room. They be drinking "Respect Women" juice
Now I need to go re-read The Dance of Thieves and The Vow of Thieves fjdlksajfkldsja;flajk;fl.
......That last chapter... AGH. SEND HELP.
688 Pages

A Question of Holmes by Brittany Cavallaro

 .sfjkdljklfgdjklfghdajklfg;d
Oxford. fdsjkalfjdsakl
I loved watching Jamie and Charlotte's relationship develop.

I love the way that Holmes describes Jamie....Also I just love the way that she's learning about herself and learning to see herself...and her fears...cause same.
That epilogue......I need more.... I don't care if open endings are supposed to make me feel this way. I want all the answers. Like someone give me some more fanfic.
320 Pages

The Case for Jamie by Brittany Cavallaro

Oh Watson...You stressed. Someone protec
...I feel personally victimized by the characterization of Mrs. Dunhan (NAME?)....because the knitting and the shows...I did not come here to be put in a book and called out. 
I have a desperate need to protect Charlotte. Like...no one will ever hurt you again. I'm signing the adoption papers. 
Also like.....the whole "You saved me" vibes....like...I have that with my best friend and like..... I cry every time I think about that....like how they both were lost and then they found each other. (Yeah I'm thinking about BBC Sherlock and the wedding speech ok....)
384 Pages