{Review} The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson

Page Count: 368

Publisher: Ace

Release Date:  July 21, 2020

Genre(s): Horror, Fantasy, Paranormal

Amazon // Indie Bound // Barnes & Noble // 

Better World Books

April 15 - April 21

Rating: 4 stars

Goodreads synopsis:

A young woman living in a rigid, puritanical society discovers dark powers within herself in this stunning, feminist fantasy debut.

In the lands of Bethel, where the Prophet’s word is law, Immanuelle Moore’s very existence is blasphemy. Her mother’s union with an outsider of a different race cast her once-proud family into disgrace, so Immanuelle does her best to worship the Father, follow Holy Protocol, and lead a life of submission, devotion, and absolute conformity, like all the other women in the settlement.

But a mishap lures her into the forbidden Darkwood surrounding Bethel, where the first prophet once chased and killed four powerful witches. Their spirits are still lurking there, and they bestow a gift on Immanuelle: the journal of her dead mother, who Immanuelle is shocked to learn once sought sanctuary in the wood.

Fascinated by the secrets in the diary, Immanuelle finds herself struggling to understand how her mother could have consorted with the witches. But when she begins to learn grim truths about the Church and its history, she realizes the true threat to Bethel is its own darkness. And she starts to understand that if Bethel is to change, it must begin with her.

~ ~ ~

TW/CW: rape, assault, sexual assault of a minor, racism, self-harm (used for magic and spiritual rituals), blood, gore, described violence, bigotry, racism, & classicism

If you guys know me, and my reading choices -- you've probably picked up that I hardly read horror, mystery, or thrillers. It's a rare occurrence and when I do read them, I like them to be primarily fantasy-based. That's my cup of tea. 

When I first saw this book promoted by some of my favorite bookish creators, I had to check it out for myself. 

The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson (Audiobook Excerpt)

Riley Marie's Reading Vlog

Neek's Review & Discussion

The Year of the Witching follows Immanuelle Moore in the lands of Bethel. A Puritan-like society where the people of Bethel worship a version of the Christian doctrine and god, follow a prophesying man called The Prophet -- all in the hopes of living according to the Holy Protocol and living in favor of their holy father. Immanuelle is born from a "blasphemous" relationship between her mother and an outsider of a different race. When her father is burned on the pyre, her mother seeks revenge through the dark arts and with the aid of the witches of the Darkforest. 

The Year of the Witching is a haunting, atmospheric story full of intense themes that can inspire so many influential conversations and discussions about misogyny, bigotry, love, religion, racism, spirituality, revenge and hatred, and what it means to be a woman in a misogynistic society. This book was so intense at moments. There were many moments that could be called predictable, but I'm honestly not mad about that. This book was set up and plotted incredibly well. The writing was impeccable and I didn't want to put this book down. I was completely hooked within the first moments of listening and reading. 

I've always loved stories that play with religion and the dynamics that come from warped and cult-like followings. You can usually find me researching cults and watching mini-documentaries from survivors that escaped from cults. If you're also one who is interested in those topics, I think you'd really like this book. 

I also really loved the witch elements and the magic that came from those aspects of the story. It really added another layer of creativity and intensity to the story

I fully expected gorier horror elements, but was so delighted to find this book to be more fantastical. Don't get me wrong, it was definitely gory and horrifying at times, but it had much more magic than I anticipated. The darkness that progressively came to the forefront of the story is always present in the novel. It was so enthralling and -- ahh! -- the writing was just so fantastic. I cannot gush about it nearly enough.  

This book was so excellent. I think that it was more of a fantasy novel than a horror novel, but that didn't stop me from completely devouring the story. I think this will be a new favorite for so many readers and I can't wait for this book and the author to gain more traction in the reading community. I can't wait to push this book into the hands of my friends. 

If you enjoyed:

• Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo (for the horror & darker elements)
• Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik (for the atmospheric vibes and magical elements)
• The Shades of Magic trilogy by VE Schwab (for the addicting, magical, and dark elements)
• The City of Brass by SA Chakraborty (for the magic & atmosphere!)
• Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin (for the religious aspects & witchy bits)
• The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood (for the feminism! and dark aspects)

(These are just my connections for the way I read the book and how I interpreted it. These recommendations do not encompass all connecting recommendations. I’m not as well versed in the horror genre or the sub-genres. I can count on my fingers how many horror novels I’ve read. I’m sure there are more recommendations out there too!)

If you enjoy ___ you will enjoy The Year of the Witching!

• Hella dark stories with intense themes and discussions
• Narratives about trauma
• Cults
• Stories based on radicalized religions & the discussions that can come from those settings
• Feminism!
• Witches — the spooky, dark kind
• The Salem Witch Trials

(Again, this doesn’t even fully begin to cover all the elements I loved or that you could possibly love.)

Let's discuss in the comments! If you decide to pick this story up, please let me know what you think of it in the comments as well!

Happy reading!

Olivia
~ Liv the Book Nerd ~

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April 2021 Reading Wrap Up

Hey, it's May!

April was a fairly good reading month for me. I enjoyed the majority of what I read and it really feels like I'm getting back to myself again. Expect more frequent posts and activity on my bookstagram! 

This month, I read 8 books and DNFd one book. I also discovered a new favorite author, bought way too many books, and I got closer with more people. I'm also so much closer to getting married in September! Time is flying!

What did you read this month?

 A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik

3.5 stars

I picked this book up on a whim when my audio hold became available through my library and Libby. I quite enjoyed this book, but there were a few issues that I had with it. My full review is officially live though, so please give it a read. 

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

5 stars

This has to be my favorite of the month and probably a new favorite book of all time. This book was absolutely charming and everything I could have hoped for. I'm so obsessed. Definitely check out my full review! 

Only When Its Us by Chloe Liese

3 stars

This romance novel was recommended to me by my friend Jill. She actually gifted me the ebook via Kindle. Once I got the book, she set me on a reading deadline so that I would finish it before we got together with some friends. This book was really fun, but it wasn't my favorite romance of all time. I really liked the idea of the characters, but the voices of the characters just didn't seem differentiated enough and it took me out of the story as I tried to read it. Overall, I really liked this book and I plan on continuing on with the series this year. I really like the premises of the next few books in the Bergman series. 

The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson

4.25 stars

Another new book that I adored! This book was the perfect amount of spooky, feminist, speculative, fantastical, and terrifying. The radical religious aspects combined with the witchy fantasy were just so much fun. I'm very excited to see what Alexis Henderson does next. My review will be going up very soon!

Seance Tea Party by Reimena Yee

5 stars

This middle-grade graphic novel made me absolutely bawl like a baby. It focuses on grief, closure, and moving on from hardships, and growing from the feelings it can cause. I am so glad that I bought this graphic novel this month because it was something I absolutely needed to read. Grief has been a big part of my life for the past two years and moving on from losing someone is such a hard thing to process. It can take the rest of your life to move past losing someone to death. Books like this one really help the process. I cannot recommend it enough. 

Pilu of the Woods by Mai K. Nguyen

4 stars

Another delightful read! The end of April and the beginning of May have been shaping into a marathon of graphic novels and manga volumes. I'm not mad about it either. 

Pilu of the Woods is a delightful story that centers on personal demons, negative emotions, and positive growth. With its focus on nature and the natural processes of growth in the natural world, this book is full of beautiful artwork that helps its readers learn more about personal demons and troubles that can cause them to act out or against those who are trying to help you through your trials of growth.  This graphic novel is shorter and is intended for middle-grade audiences, but I think anyone would enjoy the story it has to tell. It beautifully touches on themes that all children would benefit from learning about (grief, mental illness, anger management, friendship, family). It was absolutely precious. Please read it. 

The Black Bull of Norroway (Norroway #1) by Cat and Kit Seaton

3 stars & a reread

Back in 2018 I read this graphic novel and I fell in love with the art style, the story, and I was so interested in what would come from the story. However, upon rereading this month, I'm not sure what I thought I was reading because this story was a mess. The writing was messy, the plot was so strangely knitted together, and I really lost interest. I was really hopeful for book 2 too.

The Queen of the High Mountain (Norroway #2) by Cat and Kit Seaton

2 stars

This was a major letdown. It was just as messy and the plot just didn't make sense. I know that this book tends to delve into the psychological trauma that each character has faced because of the events of book 1, but I really felt like the actual story was all over the place. The plot lines weren't fully fleshed out and there was just so much missing for me. I think that there is going to be a book three, but I really wish the story had just been wrapped up and finished. Lots of people loved it online, though, so maybe I just wasn't the right audience. 

((DNF)) These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong

DNF'd at 33% -- I'll be posting my full review up on here soon, but if you're interested in reading my thoughts now, it's prematurely posted on Goodreads.

Reading Statistics: 

Pages read: 2,520

Average page length: 280

 My Average Rating: 3.3 stars

Favorite: The House in the Cerulean Sea

What did you read this month? Let's discuss in the comments! Happy reading!

Olivia

~ Liv the Book Nerd ~ 

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{Review} The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

 

Page Count: 394

Publisher: Tor Books

Release Date: March 17, 2020

Genre(s): Fantasy, Romance, LGBTQIA+

Amazon // Indie Bound // Barnes & Noble // 

Better World Books

April 10 - April 13

Rating: 5 stars

Goodreads synopsis:

A magical island. A dangerous task. A burning secret.

Linus Baker leads a quiet, solitary life. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. As a Case Worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth, he spends his days overseeing the well-being of children in government-sanctioned orphanages.

When Linus is unexpectedly summoned by Extremely Upper Management he's given a curious and highly classified assignment: travel to Marsyas Island Orphanage, where six dangerous children reside: a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a were-Pomeranian, and the Antichrist. Linus must set aside his fears and determine whether or not they’re likely to bring about the end of days.

But the children aren’t the only secret the island keeps. Their caretaker is the charming and enigmatic Arthur Parnassus, who will do anything to keep his wards safe. As Arthur and Linus grow closer, long-held secrets are exposed, and Linus must make a choice: destroy a home or watch the world burn.

An enchanting story, masterfully told, The House in the Cerulean Sea is about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place—and realizing that family is yours.

~ ~ ~

This book. 

Guys!

This book!!!!

If you've been amongst the book community since this book was released, you probably have either seen it or have witnessed the hype that has accumulated around the story. I'm here to tell you -- it's so worth the hype. 

This book was everything I could have hoped for. Maybe more? 

Yeah. It was even better than I could have imagined. 

When first reading the synopsis of this novel, my interest wasn't all that peaked. When I started listening to it through the Libby app (thank you library!), I was instantly hooked. This story was just so compelling to me from the get-go. 

The House of the Cerulean Sea follows Linus -- a forty-year-old caseworker that works for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth where he oversees the children that are housed in government-run orphanages and homes. One day, Linus is plucked from his ordinary life by Extremely Upper Management and sent to the Marsyas Island Orphanage. He doesn't know what his assignment is -- he isn't even allowed to read about the location until he arrived. He meets six children of extraordinary abilities and their caretaker, Arthur. Arthur isn't like other caretakers. To the children, he is their ultimate protector and Arthur will do anything to keep his kiddos safe. 

This book was whimsical, magical, charming, inspiring, and like a breath of fresh air. This book is technically adult, but I just want to push it off into my younger siblings hands, my mom's, all of my family members -- heck, I bought three copies to gift my friends and then pushed my copy into my fiance's hands to read after his finals are concluded. This is one of those books that I was everyone to read. 

This book was the warmest hug that my soul needed during these crazy times we live in. This book is probably one of my newest comfort reads. You bet your patooty that I'll be picking it up at least one more time this year. I can't stop thinking about it. This is the sort of book that needs to be adapted and promoted toward other modes of media. This book is incredibly hopeful, relevant, and uplifting and I hope it is received by more open-hearted readers. I hope it inspires change and love in the hearts of whoever reads it. 

I went into this book knowing it had queer representation, wonderful characters, heartwarming and loving vibes, and that it was incredibly beloved by all who've read it. Because of that, I don't want to reveal more about the book other than what's included in the synopsis. Trust me as I continue to just gush and gush about this book. Please read it. I don't think you will be disappointed at all.

Happy reading!

Olivia

~ Liv the Book Nerd ~

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{Review} A Deadly Education (The Scholomance #1) by Naomi Novik

Page Count: 336

Publisher: Del Rey Books

Release Date: September 29, 2020

Genres: YA fantasy

Format: audio

Rating: 3.75 stars

Goodreads synopsis

Lesson One of the Scholomance: Learning has never been this deadly.

A Deadly Education is set at Scholomance, a school for the magically gifted where failure means certain death (for real) — until one girl, El, begins to unlock its many secrets.

There are no teachers, no holidays, and no friendships, save strategic ones. Survival is more important than any letter grade, for the school won’t allow its students to leave until they graduate… or die! The rules are deceptively simple: Don’t walk the halls alone. And beware of the monsters who lurk everywhere.

El is uniquely prepared for the school’s dangers. She may be without allies, but she possesses a dark power strong enough to level mountains and wipe out millions. It would be easy enough for El to defeat the monsters that prowl the school. The problem? Her powerful dark magic might also kill all the other students.

~ ~ ~

Before I proceed with my review, if you've missed the discussions surrounding this book, please look into the reviews written by BIPOC readers when it comes to the accusations made against the author and this novel. I researched and searched for my own answers when deciding on reading this novel. My review will not discuss the accusations made or the discussions established as it isn't my place to say whether this novel is harmful to marginalized groups. The issues surrounding this book seem subjective when it comes to worldbuilding and some issues seem to be taken out of context. Please read reviews and decide whether you would like to read this book for yourself. 

A Deadly Education takes place in a magical school called The Scholomance. The Scholomance is a bananas hellscape where kids are magically sent for what is essentially a four-year independent study where monsters are constantly at their throats, the school is scheming to test and/or kill the kids as they learn. Throughout their stay, the kids are stuck in the school where they struggle to shower, study, and eat without monsters creeping out to kill them and eat them for their magical essences. 

Throughout the book, the reader is taken through the school from the perspective of Galadriel during her junior year. El's powers are so intriguing. The book is written as a sort of unreliable first-person stream of consciousness. Not only did it improve the overall ambiance of the novel, the lack of information that El provided just added to the mystery surrounding the prophecy surrounding her existence, the chaotic, magical void that is the school, and the overall culture within the school.

At first, it was a lot to take in, but wow was it fun. El is such an interesting narrator because she's already been in the school for just about three years. She knows the ins and outs, the secrets, and the culture of the students is already her whole life. Looking in from the perspective that she gives us -- it's hard to get behind her biases, her nepotism, her narcissism, and her trust issues. El, as an unreliable narrator doesn't really give the readers much leeway and sometimes makes observations that are clouded by the trauma she's faced in her past. There's a really wonderful discussion that could be had surrounding her dysphoria and the perpetuated dysphoria one can experience in the school.

The school, as a whole, does perpetuate a sense of dysphoria. It encourages students to think for only themselves and to think of only surviving the hellscape it invents and allows to breed in its walls. This then leads the reader to not exactly enjoy El, but also not to enjoy any of the other characters as much as they usually would if the book hadn't been written as it was. 

Overall, the novel was really well written. I really enjoyed the many layers that were masterfully written throughout the story. However, there were some aspects that just seemed so info-dumpy when one would think about how short the book was, how El would just stop and explain for a page or so, etc. There are definite moments that I would understand to be upsetting to BIPOC readers, but that isn't my tale to tell. 

If you're interested in reading more reviews from a more informational lens please, check out the reviews of BIPOC readers. Here are some really wonderful ones:

• "The Intersectionality of Magical Academia: A Review of Naomi Novik’s A Deadly Education" ~ A Naga of the Nusantara 
• Mary S. R. on Goodreads 

Have you read this one? What did you think?

Happy reading!

Olivia

~ Liv the Book Nerd ~

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Quarterly Reading Stats + Reading Wrap Up + Life Update

 Hey, all!

I know it's been a bit since I've updated you all, but I'm trying to make a better effort to update this blog this year. I'm sure so many of you are wondering where I've been -- or maybe you're new here and you're seeing the gap between posts -- or maybe you've forgotten about this blog and you're getting an email about my new post and you're surprised I'm still alive. 

Hello! Here I am! 

Here's a little update about me and where my life has been going. 

• I'm working full-time as a coffee slinger at a very large chain company. If you know you know. It's a challenging but fun job. I've learned so much and I love my coworkers. I originally started as a member of the afternoon crew, but I've swapped over to the morning crew. I'm still figuring out how to manage my time, so there are definitely aspects of my life that I'm trying to fit into my daily life.
• I've recently found out that I have some sort of issue with my thyroid. Lately, my thyroid has been swelling exponentially at weird rates. I've been getting it tasted, but my doctor is ghosting me so I'm not quite sure what's going on yet. I just know that my focus and mental health have suffered for it. Please be patient with me while I figure out my life. 
• I'm co-planning my wedding to Alex! I honestly can't remember if I've announced our engagement on here, but we've been engaged since August of 2019. We're getting married in September of this year and we're very excited! 
• I'm still writing my novel! Well, I have 3 partially drafted, but my main project is tentatively titled, "Freyja." It's a slow but exciting process and I'm eager to share more about it later. 

So far this year, I've read 21 books. It's not as far as I would have been if I wasn't working full time, but I've enjoyed what I've read so far. This year, I'm focusing on reading the books on my backlist and making a dent in my physical TBR.

Here are the books I've read so far!

January:

• Princess Princess Ever After by Katie O'Neill
• 3 stars
• How the Dukes Stole Christmas by Tessa Dare, Joanna Shupe, Sophie Jordan, and Sarah MacLean
• 3 stars
• Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade
• 3 stars
• Check Please Book 2: Sticks & Scones by Ngozi Ukazu
• 4 stars
• Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco
• 4 stars
• Mating the Huntress by Talia Hibbert
• 3 stars
• Aru Shah and the Song of Death by Roshani Chokshi
• 4 stars
• The Fairy Tale Detectives (Sisters Grimm #1) by Michael Buckley
• 5 stars
• The Unusual Suspects (Sisters Grimm #2) by Michael Buckley
• 5 stars
• The Problem Child (Sisters Grimm #3) by Michael Buckley
• 5 stars
• Once Upon a Crime (Sisters Grimm #4) by Michael Buckley
• 5 stars
• Desperate Measures (Wicked Villains #1) by Katee Robert
• 3 stars
• We Hunt the Flame (Sands of Arawiya #1) by Hafsah Faizal
• 3 stars
• Heartstopper Volume 2 by Alice Oseman
• 5 stars

My favorite read from January: Heartstopper Volume 2

{Instagram wrap up post}

February:

• Bookish and the Beast (Once Upon a Con #3) by Ashley Oseman
• 3 stars
• A Court of Mist & Fury (ACOTAR #1) by Sarah J. Maas
• 5 stars
• A Court of Wings and Ruin (ACOTAR #3) by Sarah J. Maas
• 5 stars

Favorite read from February: (surprisingly) A Court of Wings and Ruin

March:

• A Court of Frost & Starlight (ACOTAR #3.5) by Sarah J. Maas
• 5 stars
• A Court of Silver Flames (ACOTAR #4) by Sarah J. Maas
• 5 stars
• Into the Heartless Wood by Joanna Ruth Meyer
• 3 stars

Favorite from March: A Court of Silver Flames

April (so far):

• A Deadly Education (The Scholomance #1) by Naomi Novik
• 3.5 stars

Reading Statistics: 

Pages read: 7,579

Shortest book: Princess Princess Ever After (53 pages)

Longest book: A Court of Silver Flames (757 pages)

Average page length: 360 pages

Most popular: A Court of Mist and Fury

Least Popular: Mating the Huntress

My Average Rating: 4.2 stars

As you can see, my reading habits have kind of taken the L as we get closer toward the middle of the year, but I'm hoping it will pick up. Now, my stats are nothing to sneeze at, but according to Goodreads, I'm six books behind on my goal of reading 100 books in 2021. I'm not worried about it, but I'm surprised that I haven't read as much as I usually have. Granted, I have a lot going on so I'm not mad at myself or anything. 

How are your reading goals going so far?  Let's discuss in the comments!

Happy reading!

Olivia

~ Liv the Book Nerd ~

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My Favorite & Least Favorite Reads of 2020

Hey, guys!

This year was full of so many books that I enjoyed, but only 14 made it to my true favorites list from the year. If you've followed me for very long, you'll know that I usually would have done a "top 20 of 2020" sort of situation, but it just didn't fit this year. There are quite a few runner ups for 2020, so stay tuned for that toward the end of the post. 

If you've read my long blurb about 2020 from my 2020 Wrap Up post, you'll know that 2020 was my year for historical romance exploration, but I decided that I would only choose two total HR titles from the 30+ that I had managed to read. It was hard to pinpoint, so stay tuned.

Here is a glimpse of my favorite reads, but here we go!

When I make these lists, I have a hard time making them in any sort of order. I usually know my favorite of the year, but that's about it. Sometimes the favorites are so close that I just pick a top 1-3 books, but this year's pick was just so definite in my mind. 

While creating this graphic, I attempted to narrow down my favorites in a pyramid shape to see how they rank in my mind. Here we go!

✨The Top 3✨

House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City #1) by Sarah J. Maas

5 stars

{goodreads link}

Date read: March 13

cw/tw: suicidal ideation, grief, loss of a loved one, drug use, blood, gore, violence. There are also explicit discussions surrounding sex and sexual content.

My #1 -- my all-time favorite read from 2020 was House of Earth & Blood by Sarah J. Maas. Who's surprised? Sarah J. Maas is one of my top 3 favorite authors. That will never change. HoE&B was such a phenomenal read. I cannot wait to reread it this year (before CC#2, maybe? I doubt it'll come out this year, but a reread is going to happen). 2021 is the year for rereading SJM's work and annotating. It's going to be wonderful.

CC was everything I could have hoped for. It was my last read before I was officially quarantined, before I went online for my last semester of college, and before my official romance reading marathon began. It. Was. Perfect. (for me). I know that this book didn't work for a lot of people, but it really spoke to me and I adored it. It means so much to me. I really want to reread it before I fully review it though. Stay tuned!

A Conjuring of Light (Shades of Magic #3) by V.E. Schwab

5 stars

{goodreads link}

Date read: October 27

cw/tw: abuse, torture, abduction, slavery, captivity, talk of suicide, violence, gore, heavy blood descriptions, abandonment, grief, PTSD. There is also a sex scene.

This was everything. I absolutely adored revisiting A Darker Shade of Magic in 2020 and finally continuing on with the series and finishing it. I'm so obsessed with V.E. Schwab's writing skills, her style, and the characters she creates. Her attention to the line between good and evil is so genius and her morally grey characters are my absolute favorite. I cannot wait to continue reading more from V.E. Schwab/Victoria Schwab because she is just quickly becoming an all-time favorite.

A Reaper at the Gates (Ember in the Ashes #3) by Sabaa Tahir

5 stars

{goodreads link}

Date read: October 2

tw/cw: physical abuse, paranormal possession, violence and warfare, torture, captivity, PTSD

I'm so glad that I picked up An Ember in the Ashes again. I hadn't realized how little I had remembered from my first read when it first came out. I think I loved it even more than that first read-through. It still read like a debut (which isn't a bad thing at all), but it was so much fun to listen and read to these books, see Sabaa's writing style improve this book was full of so many twists and turns. I'm so freaking jazzed to finish the series in 2021. I had planned on marathoning the last book on the day of its release, but I had had to work and I had managed to start three books before the release. 

Sabaa Tahir is such a gem of a writer!

✨My Other Favorites!✨

(in no particular order)

A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi

5 stars

{goodreads link}

Date read: February 22

 

Trigger/Content warning: Islamophobia, xenophobia, racism, physical/verbal harassment, parental abandonment

This is a must-read. You won't regret picking this one up. It was everything I had hoped for when it comes to a hard-hitting YA contemporary. The characterization was spot on, the discussions that it inspired were phenomenally executed, and I think that this is one of those books that needs to be circulated through schools. I would love to teach kids about this book -- and I don't even want to be a teacher. 

Heartstopper Volume 1 by Alice Oseman

5 stars

{goodreads link}

Date read: October 11

Heartstopper is absolute perfection. I adore Alice Oseman's writing style, but her art style is just one of my favorites ever. Her soft characters give me the best feelings. I cannot wait to read more volumes of Hearstopper in 2021.

It was so delightful to get a glimpse into Charlie and Nick's love story and I cannot wait to see how it progresses. 

Take A Hint, Dani Brown (The Brown Sisters #2) by Talia Hibbert

5 stars

{goodreads link}

Date read: July 29

This book was my favorite of the Brown Sisters series so far! I adore Chloe Brown, but Dani took my heart. 

{Here is my full review!}

Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik

5 stars

{goodreads link}

Date read: August 15

This was such a phenomenal read. The audio experience was perfect and the care and detail that the audio narrator put into their performance were just flawless. Naomi Novik is a masterful writer and I cannot wait to read more from her backlisted works. I cannot stress enough that you should absolutely pick this book up.

Well Met (#1) by Jen DeLuca

5 stars

{goodreads link}

Date read: March 22

cw: this does contain sexual content, a pirate in leather, and a swoon-worthy man in a kilt

This book was so swoon-worthy and lovely. 

{Here is my full review!}

Bringing Down the Duke (#1) by Evie Dunmore

4.75 stars

{goodreads link}

Date read: March 27

The first historical romance novel that I actually adored! This was such a fun concept! I cannot wait to read more from Evie Dunmore! 

{Here is my full review}

Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall

4.75 stars

{goodreads link}
Date read: July 20

This was such a wonderful m/m romance! This made me feel all of the feels. 

Check out my review {here}!

The Tea Dragon Tapestry (Tea Dragons #3) by Katie O'Neill

5 stars

{goodreads link}

Date read: July 29

This was a beautiful conclusion to the Tea Dragon series. Katie O'Neill is such a masterful artist and writer! I cannot wait to buy my own copies of the entire series. 

My series review can be found {here}!

Beach Read by Emily Henry

4.5 stars

{goodreads link}

Date read: April 15

This book has some pretty polarizing opinions surrounding it, but I really loved it. It really kicked my butt into gear to get back to writing and to start drafting a risky literary fiction piece. I'm really glad that I read it and I really loved the characters and the romance. 

Ninth House (#1) by Leigh Bardugo

4.5 stars

{goodreads link}

Date read: April 8

cw/tw: drug use, overdosing, murder, death, loss of a loved one, rituals, gore, PTSD depiction, grief depiction, self-harm, bloodletting, rape, child (12) rape (it is only two pages, but it is very graphic), statutory rape (15), sexual assault, forced sexual assault on video, talk of suicide, blackmail, physical abuse, a magical date rape drug, forced eating of human waste (to a rapist), and racism (always in a negative light)

This book took me quite a long time to read, but wow oh wow did I enjoy it. While this read quite slow, it's only because horror/mystery novels aren't necessarily my usual cup of tea. However, there were so many elements to this story that didn't make it just a horror/mystery novel. I adored the fascinating characters, the paranormal elements, and the constant shifts in time throughout. This was an excellently crafted novel. I need book 2, please.

The Duchess Deal (Girl Meets Duke #1) by Tessa Dare

4.75 stars

{goodreads link}

Date read: April 25

cw/tw: for abandonment, emotional abuse, talk of past war themes, and just for the main character that has very low self-esteem, who is constantly belittling himself.

Last but not least! Tessa Dare's The Duchess Deal had to make it to this list. This was the book that fully pushed me into the historical romance genre. This book -- the entire series really -- is a work of art. Tessa Dare is a fabulous historical romance author and I'm patiently and impatiently waiting for the final(?) installment to the series. 

If you're interested in checking out some historical romance titles, start with Tessa Dare!

✨The Runner-Ups✨

There were so many books to sift through -- so many wonderful, excellent books that I can't stop thinking about, so here are my seven runner-ups! 

1. City of Brass (The Daevabad Chronicles #1) by S.A. Chakraborty
• 4.5 stars
• Beautiful mythology, intriguing characters, fabulous twists, and turns.
2. The Okay Witch (#1) by Emma Steinkellner
• 5 stars
• Witchy lore, family-focused story, focuses on bullying and feminist ideals, and a fantastic art style.
3. A Kiss at Midnight (Fairy Tales #1) by Eloisa James
• 4 stars
• Fantastic writing, hilarious moments, Cinderella-inspired historical romance
4. Work For It by Talia Hibbert
• 4.5 stars
• Grumpy softy searching for self-confidence x Cynical softy searching for self-love; m/m romance, powerful friendships, and love
5. Woven in Moonlight (#3) by Isabel Ibanez
• 4.5 stars
• Bolivian-based folklore and mythology, arranged marriage trope, masked vigilante
6. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
• 4.5 stars
• Parallelled story between an interviewer and a famous actress, Evelyn Hugo. Powerful, romantic, originally written.
7. Wayward Son (Carry On #2) by Rainbow Rowell
• 4.5 stars
• Full-on feels! This was so much fun to read! I love Simon and Baz's stories so much. I need to know how it ends!


✨Most Disappointing ✨





There were quite a few just-okay reads this year, but there were only 5 that were true disappointments. 


Find Me Their Bones (Bring Me Their Hearts #1) by Sara Wolf
2 stars
~ This was just so bland and boring. The characters weren't who they were developed as in Bring Me Their Hearts. There was so much telling rather than showing the reader. It was just wholly disappointing. 


A Heart of Blood & Ashes (A Gathering of Dragons #1) by Milla Vane
2.75 stars
~ I wanted to love this story, but I was just so bored. The pacing was all wrong and the romance seemed forced. It was steamy and electric, but it wasn't my favorite.
{full review}


The Betrothed (#1) by Kiera Cass
2 stars
~ This was one of the biggest letdowns. I was so underwhelmed and disappointed by this book. It definitely did not live up to the hype that was in my heart. I absolutely adored Kiera's previous novels. The Selection series is one of my all-time favorite series and I will love them forever, but The Betrothed was just a whole lot of nothing. 


Restore Me & Defy Me (Shatter Me #4 & #5) by Tahereh Mafi
RM: 3 stars
DM: 2.5 stars
~ Unfortunately, these were just not as good as the first three books. It just felt like the writing has just not lived up to my expectations. Shatter Me, Reveal Me, and Ignite Me were just so fantastic, but these were just a letdown. The writing just wasn't on par compared to the previous books. They didn't seem like complete drafts.




What were your favorite and least favorite reads of 2020? Let's discuss!


Happy reading!
Olivia
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