Hi fam! I’m back again to ramble, this time about some recent books I’ve read and loved! Haven’t done a reading update in a minute, so let’s get into it.
Let’s start with the indies today! Here’s what I’ve finished recently:
THE GODDESS OF NOTHING AT ALL by Cat Rector. 5 stars! I won an ARC of this book through a giveaway on Twitter and I was SO EXCITED because this was one of my most anticipated indie reads of the year. And yes, it lived up to the hype. I am simply blown away. THE GODDESS OF NOTHING AT ALL is an ambitious, epic, heart-wrenching tale of the under-appreciated wife of Loki, Sigyn Odinsdottir. This rich, myth-based novel has so much to love, from the emotional punches to the incredibly fleshed out world of the Norse gods. I’ll admit my knowledge of Norse mythology is rusty, but even so, reading this book felt like getting to know the gods personally. I’m absolutely impressed by Cat Rector’s ability to take these legendary ancient deities and humanize them — for better or worse!
Sigyn is a firecracker of a character, and I loved following her through this story. I found myself rooting for her even as I was like “oh no girl what are you DOING.” And Loki — freakin’ Loki. I loved him, I hated him, I wanted to smack him, but also someone please give this god a HUG.
I enjoyed every part of this book from start to finish, and I cannot wait to hold the physical copy in my hands (and have it look gorgeous on my shelf). Folks, this is a novel to treasure, and a truly excellent take on classic mythology.
BAKER THIEF by Claudie Arseneault. 4.5 stars! This is a simply delightful read that surprised me at many turns. I'm impressed at how many threads Claudie has woven together to craft the story. The character dynamics are undoubtedly my favorite aspect of this book. Their connections to each other are multi-faceted and complex, making for some amusing instances of dramatic irony. And can I just say, I love the casual queerness!! It's so refreshing to read a story with a wide variety of identities without the plot hinging on coming out. It's 100% normalized in this world and I'm so here for it.
All in all I enjoyed this twisty mystery, and I look forward to reading more of Claudie's work in the future!
METANOIA by Juniper Lake Fitzgerald. 5 stars! I LOVE THIS BOOK!!! METANOIA is a rich, atmospheric, utterly delightful piece of work. With characters who leap off the page, a twisty plot of intrigue, and all the best tropes bundled into one big found family, METANOIA is a striking start to what will surely be an unforgettable series. I'm completely obsessed.
OUR BLOODY PEARL by D.N. Bryn. 4.5 stars! I loved this! Emotional and atmospheric, OUR BLOODY PEARL is a unique take on the pirate x merfolk trope that brings an excellent voice and memorable cast to the swashbuckling genre. I always love to see what various authors do with merfolk/siren mythology, and I enjoyed how Bryn characterizes the sirens in this book. The characters are authentic and I easily connected to each of them, the budding romance between Perle and Dejean is super sweet, and the antagonist, Kian, is simply so vile that I wanted to punt her off the page. Also, Bryn writes some stellar supporting characters -- I would die for Murielle and Simone! All in all, this is an enjoyable read and I look forward to more stories in this universe.
And on the flipside in trad pub…
YOU SHOULD SEE ME IN A CROWN by Leah Johnson. I read this in one sitting on the beach, and it warmed my little heart. I loved the characters and voice in this book, as well as the wonderful queer rep. Sometimes, a soft, personal-stakes contemporary is just what I need.
BLACK SUN by Rebecca Roanhorse. No I won’t shut up about this book. I fricken LOVED this book. One of the best high fantasies I’ve ever read, tbh. Rich and exciting and so DIFFERENT, with a multi-POV cast I loved following all over the world.
Current reads!
THERE’S MAGIC BETWEEN US by Jillian Maria, which I’m only about 20% into but already loving! The main character, Lydia, is so fun to read, and I’m intrigued by the treasure-hunt plot that’s coming up. LOVE a magic forest. I can already tell this is going to be a fun read.
BLOODY SPADE by Brittany M. Willows, which I have been SO EXCITED FOR for MONTHS and admittedly I have not actually started reading yet but I will soon be lost in this book. And that’s a threat.
AMBER & CLAY by Laura Amy Schlitz, which yes I have been working through for a while at this point, but I have to be in the right mood for it. I love it, though! Beautiful writing and a rich glimpse into mythology-based ancient Greek life.
THE WOLF AND THE WOODSMAN by Ava Reid, which is already spooky, suspenseful, and very atmospheric! I’m intrigued to see where the story goes, and I’m certain there’ll be some surprising twists along the way.
I am once again reading way too many books at once, but it’s fine. It’s fine. It’s good. We’re having fun. At least I have ~options~ whenever I have a hankering to sit down and read.
And speaking of reading…
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