Charm by Tracy Wolff

The shenanigans. The pranks. The payback. Are they immature. Probably. Do I love. yes. 
The. Epilogue.

I love Hudson. So much. Y'all don't understand.
SMOKEYYYYY
The Target version had bonus Hudson chapters and like...best investment of my life.
600 Pages

The Dragon's Promise by Elizabeth Lim

 

Pages: 482

    "Princess Shiori made a deathbed promise to return a dragon's pearl to its rightful owner, but keeping that promise is more dangerous than she ever imagined. She must journey to the kingdom of dragons, navigate political intrigue among humans and dragons alike, fend off thieves who covet the pearl for themselves and will go to any lengths to get it, all while cultivating the appearance of a perfect princess to dissuade those who would see her burned at the stake for the magic that runs in her blood.
    The pearl itself is no ordinary cargo; it thrums with malevolent power, jumping to Shiori's aid one minute, and betraying her the next—threatening to shatter her family and sever the thread of fate that binds her to her true love, Takkan. It will take every ounce of strength Shiori can muster to defend the life and the love she's fought so hard to win."

I was a little disappointed in this sequel. There was a lot of repetition from the first book and an attempt? at a love triangle that made no sense. I still really enjoyed the storytelling and setting, but I felt like the book could have been split into two different ones. We start with the underwater dragon palace, which was amazing, but leave it too soon for a demon plot.

Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim

Pages: 454 

    "Shiori, 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 and catches the attention of Raikama, her stepmother.

    Raikama has dark magic of her own, and she banishes the young princess, turning her brothers into cranes, and warning 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, on her journey, uncovers a conspiracy to overtake the throne—a conspiracy more twisted and deceitful, more cunning and complex, than even Raikama's betrayal. Only Shiori can set the kingdom to rights, but to do so she must place her trust in the very boy she fought so hard not to marry. And she must embrace the magic she's been taught all her life to contain—no matter what it costs her."

I really enjoyed this book. I originally picked it up for the pretty cover but stayed for the characters. The relationship between the main character and her brothers is so sweet and I absolutely love Kiki and her snarky comments. The storytelling was phenomenal as well, “Find the light that makes your lantern shine.”

Queen of Air and Darkness by Cassandra Clare

 Pages: 870

"Innocent blood has been spilled on the steps of the Council Hall, the sacred stronghold of the Shadowhunters. In the wake of a tragic death, the Clave teeters on the brink of civil war. One fragment of the Blackthorn family flees to Los Angeles, seeking to discover the source of the disease that is destroying the race of warlocks. Meanwhile, Julian and Emma take desperate measures to put their forbidden love aside and undertake a perilous mission to Faerie to retrieve the Black Volume of the Dead. What they find in the Courts is a secret that may tear the Shadow World asunder and open a dark path into a future they could never have imagined."

This series is one of the best YA series I have ever read. The author has made me fall for so many of the characters, the representation is on point as is how she handles mental health. This is certainly the darkest of the three books but the ending was absolutely phenomenal. I truly hope we get to see the Blackthorn family more in future books. Though I think I may have to take a break from this universe to recover from the emotional damage.

Master of Iron by Tricia Levenseller

We love Kellyn. So much.
Hey look. It's people communicating with each other about their anxiety and like...helping the other person to love them and stuff. Like healthy relationships. Imagine that. Communication.
I felt like the conflict was resolved too quickly, but I don't care because look at Kellyn
385 Pages

A Very Merry Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams

Hey so Colton. You're a country star and you live in Nashville. Where's the Taylor Swift mention.
but also like....talking about artist contracts and advances and making money off of music versus making music for the sake of music.
jfkdsljfjkldsfjklda we gets to see Gavin my sweet one.
I just....love the shenanigans that the Bromance Club gets into.
I'm just....gonna be over here crying because like....sfjkld colton soft and loving and adorable.
It's the talking about how even if you're fed and taken care of physically, you can still have stuff that was wrong in your life for me.
also like....when you find a muse and the muse understands you just gotta do the writing and not be bothered....
368 Pages

Heart of the Sun Warrior by Sue Lynn

I don't think I even knew where this book was supposed to go, but I liked it. Because there wasn't a giant cliffhanger.
All the characters we get to see. Heart eyes
I have feelings...which I will not talk about....
Alexa play the Archer, but louder.
*needs to sit with the ending.
480 Pages

Cursed by Marissa Meyer

I was really afraid there was going to be a relationship change, or that there was going to be a different ending, and I would have had to throw hands.
Marissa are you referencing Marie Lu.....
We stan our trickster Gild.
Marissa how dare you make me cry.....
The way that the world was expanded, and like--the lore of the world.
496 Pages

Gilded by Marissa Meyer

It's the re-read before I read Cursed.
Also like.....all the Hocus Pocus vibes
Gild my baby. I'll protect you with my life. 
512 Pages

Shipwrecked by Olivia Dade

When it literally starts in the first chapter....
The slow burn. The pining. The long-term pining.
Can y'all just communicate everything directly. Like....you hinting and you should be listening.....but like....y'all just gotta say how your trauma affects you and your fears and your insecurities....

Alex in the background being the shenanigan Cupid that he is. 
Hey look. It's sexism and fatphobia in the tv/movie industry.
I keep mixing up Peter and Ian in the chat, even though I know Peter is the main character and he's not Ian....like....why brain...
*laughs uncomfortably at Peter's character arc about being secure vs being happy.
I really need to know how Maria manages to pull a jar of fish out of nowhere......
The dolphin. Iconic.
Did I keep thinking about Outlander because rainy island....yes....
Ok but like....you can't drop that ship and not make a book about it...but also...saw it coming....
416 Pages

The Rehearsals by Annette Christie

It's the emotionally immature parent for me.
I am uncomfortable and anxious, and it's like being with the family for the holidays all over again.
don't mind me over here....screaming about boundaries and therapy and stuff.

I mean....I know Missouri is meh...but I can say that cause I'm from here. 
sfjkldsfjkldsfjkldsfdjkl mostly because I love Tom. he's great. he's a boy which means he....you know is a guy, but he's cool. he's doing his best.
Can we just all hug Tom please.

They're so cute.
"blankets were grandad's love language" same.

Hi can I have an epilogue please.
336 Pages

Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree

Patron: I don't drink hot drinks.
Me: iced coffee. iced coffee. iced coffee.
I love the little baker.
Also everything is so soft....like it's basically a Coffee Shop AU fanfic, but with original characters.
The kitty cat. (It makes me think of the Seattle cat cafe)
304 Pages

Daughters of Eville Series by Chanda Hahn

The fact that the country's name is Baist....like....Beast
Xander being a beast is just jkldssfjklda
Also Rosalie using fear to her benefit so she can sneak around, and dying the veil black. Iconic.

We love a man who apologizes when he gets mad and is aware that he has a temper and is trying to control it....it's the soft for me. I can't
The goblin.
The moral of the story: don't listen to what other people tell you.
310 Pages

Aaaaand this country's name is Candor...like...honesty....
It's the house elves.
The way that cinders are tied into the story. fdsjklsfjkldasfjkld
It's the princess diaries + ella enchanted.
I want a nickname...someone call me sparrow.
310 Pages

Do I love it when a female character has to pretend to be a guy on a ship....yes....
It just means that there's shenanigans and it's my favorite.
310 Pages

Finally a soft boi....like...

Protective boi. We stan.
Me relating to not doing well in large groups of people and being able to feel other peoples emotions and stuff, and anxiety...and having a person that grounds you.
332 Pages

We get to see Aspen. fjkdsfjkldsfjkld
And we get to see more of Xander....which is like....my jam...I love him....
I feel like this is a.....I don't know....Swan Lake retelling?
Violet. Violet. Violet.
360 Pages

The three different blades that work for the king.
For some reason whenever Kash leaves for the day, my mind thinks about it being like Snow White...but this is obviously a Rumpelstiltskin retelling
350 Pages

Rumple being iconic.
I love Percy. don't act surprised.
WHAT DOES THE EPILOGUE MEAN?!
350 Pages

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

.....No one is 6'7"....
Me watching all this high school drama: 

So Rose is immature--but she's a teenager, so like....I have to cut her some slack.
*remembers how toxic I was in high school and college and cringes
Dimitri and Rose:

Me cringing at the 2007 book in 2022 cause eesh some of this did not age well.... mostly in terms of like....sensitivity to mental illness and stuff.....
So Lissa is Rapunzel but different.
Me knowing all of the tropes
352 Pages

Vow of Thieves by Mary E Pearson

fkldsgjkdlsfjklda
Me understanding the weird chapters now because I actually understood the lore, even though I've like...re-read parts of the book over and over.
the cameos.
I continue to love Jase and Kazi with literally everything I own. I would die for them. I would kill for them. They are literally goals. And I just....I love them.
Me (and Jase) to Kazy throughout this entire book:

496 Pages

Cruel Illusions by Margie Fuston

You can't have a character named Willow, and have her obsessively sing Cardigan in the car...
Yes my ship....... I knew it.
It's marketed as Carvaval + Buffy the Vampire Slayer....Accurate.
Also it's like....fantasy-esque, but it's in California and in modern times.... like...wut.
Minor commentary on the foster system!
512 Pages

Dance of Thieves by Mary E Pearson

Yes I'm re-reading one of my favorite books. I love it. Fantastic content.
Jase is such a soft boy, and I just want to protect him.
The. yearning. Just.... chef's kiss....I could survive on that and the cute scenes. The absolute fluff.

This refers both to their love sustaining me, and like....the actual ship and stuff.....
The cameo. sfdjklsfjkld;jklsfd (Goes and re-reads that series too)
528 Pages

Atlas Paradox by Olivie Blake

Seeing the two societies that want to make information available to everyone, versus protecting it cause the information is dangerous (and obviously there's other drama).

We have more perspectives, and I loved getting inside of Gideon's head.
So I hate half of the characters..... And I really hope the third book doesn't make me hate all of them....because like....the characters that I still like are like...cool.... Yes it's Callum, Nico, Gideon, and Tristan.
When a character is shocked that most people are actually selfish, like not even in a big way, but like....prioritizes themselves and their well-being.
Also characters doing bad things in the hopes of a good outcome....like...that's not how it works..... Do I want to start a soap box speech about morality....yes.
416 Pages

Sacred Hospitality by Olivie Blake (prequel novella)
The short story that was like... the pre-order incentive if you bought Atlas Six--but it came with the Atlas Paradox audiobook
I loved the entire game that was being played during the attempt to write a paper.
31 Pages

Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan

It's the re-read before the next book comes out next week.
sfjkldfjkldsfjkld
I stilll....like...my ship....
528 Pages

A Restless Truth by Freya Marske

I wanted more Edwin because he's precious and I love him
Do I keep thinking of Titanic. Yes. 
Is that a reference to Gaston Leroux Phantom of the Opera.
Cough. Ok so there are....three chapters that are NSFW.....
I really wanted more Edwin and Robin......
400 Pages