I read 15 books in April. Still behind in my reading…Of those 15 books, several were really excellent reads.
First Witches Club, by Maisey Yates. i enjoyed this from the very first page! This was relatable, cathartic, and made me laugh out loud several times (And root for happy endings, of course!).
Cast in Blood, by Michelle Sagara. I can’t believe there are as many books in this series as there are…and I’ve enjoyed all of them. Kaylin and the gang are always a lot of fun to read and I find myself so immersed in the different cultures that it’s hard to put the book down. Same for this one!
Kaylin has been warned to steer clear of the lords of the Barrani High Court. She’d be more than happy to oblige, but it’s a bit difficult considering she lives with ten of them, all sent to the green to gain power or die. With Kaylin’s help, they finally escaped their imprisonment. But their attempts at freedom had devastating consequences—and a price that has yet to be paid.
The first warning sign is the Consort’s invitation to visit the High Halls—a Barrani invitation, which means an immediate visit.
The second sign is less subtle: Kaylin finds Nightshade’s unresponsive body. He hovers on the edge of death, beyond saving through Kaylin’s healing power. No one can explain his state, nor why she’s powerless to save him. And if she and her Barrani friends can’t figure out a way to bring him back, he’ll be lost forever.
Yet even as Kaylin struggles to keep Nightshade from death, there is deeper magic at play, a growing threat with the potential to affect the entire Barrani race. Factions are shifting, new lines are being drawn—and Nightshade’s near assassination is only the beginning. Can Kaylin uncover the nebulous forces that threaten the balance of Barrani—and their entire world—before it’s too late?
I’ve been reading this series for years, and I’ve loved every book. I loved this book. Kaylin is so relatable to me: she’s impulsive, has a temper, and just doesn’t understand what’s going on half the time—she’s me 90% of the time—and I enjoy reading about her. I also enjoy this world and its different cultures immensely. The secondary characters are great (Okay, I do get the Cohort mixed up all the time), and I’m always fully invested in the story.
Michelle Sagara lives in Toronto. Cast in Blood is her newest novel.
(Galley courtesy of Harlequin Trade Publishing | Hanover Square Press in exchange for an honest review.)
In this standalone and companion novel to the The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek series, our heroine for the ages, legendary book woman, Cussy Lovett, returns home. A powerful testament of strength, survival, and the magic of the printed word, The Mountains We Call Home is wrapped into a vivid portrait of Kentucky life: examining incarceration and criminalization, exploring the effects on the poor and powerless, and tracing the societal consequences of fractured family bonds, along with nostalgic glimpses of a bustling, multifaceted Louisville, and heartwarming portraits of reading efforts in every facet of life.
I loved reading the continuation of Cussy’s story! She’s such a remarkable character, yet relatable in so many ways. The things she experiences are horrible, yet somehow, she keeps pushing forward and helping everyone around her. I love reading about her life and her experiences, and the sense of hope that fills every page of her story.
Kim Michele Richardson is from Kentucky. The Mountains We Call Home is her newest novel.
(Galley courtesy of Sourcebooks Landmark in exchange for an honest review.)
Even though she’s not one of them, Brynn has spent her life among the Alaha, training to be a guard and waiting for the chance to attend the annual market hosted by the Kenta–the very same people who exiled her adopted community to a life at sea. Going to the market is a rite of passage eagerly anticipated by all young guards, but Brynn does not anticipate breaking a century-long peace treaty while there. Nor does she plan for the intense encounter with an enemy soldier that now threatens to unwind the fragile coexistence between their people–and everything Brynn once believed about herself to be true.
Brynn’s loyalty to the Alaha is tested when the truth of her identity is brought to light by this soldier who’s taken an oath to bring her back to where she belongs. Narrowly escaping death on the violent high seas, Brynn’s connection to the Alaha is further tested when she learns about the world of magic she’s been denied. She was once certain of her fate and where she belonged, but the dark, knowing eyes of this stranger have her questioning everything, including her heart.
I was not expecting the twist at the end! I didn’t pick up any hint of betrayal, so that really threw me for a loop. Did I miss some breadcrumbs?
The political/cultural landscape was a bit fuzzy for me, but I found the different cultures interesting. Very different societies and beliefs to contend with. I liked Brynn and Acker quite a bit, and they both felt very believable. Even the minor characters were vivid and interesting, and I can’t wait to find out what happens next!
Rachel Schneider lives in South Louisiana. Metal Slinger is book one in Fire & Metal.
(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press | Saturday Books in exchange for an honest review.)
Rainy March is a proud third-generation book witch, sworn to defend works of fiction from all foes real and imaginary. With her magical umbrella and feline familiar, she jumps into and out of novels to fix malicious alterations and rogue heroes.
Book witches live by a strict Real people belong in the real word; fictional characters belong in works of fiction…. Do not eat, drink, or sleep inside a fictional world, lest you become part of the story. Falling in love with a fictional character? Don’t even think about it.
Which is why Rainy has been forbidden from seeing the Duke of Chicago, the dashing British detective who stars in her favorite mystery series. If she’s ever caught with him again, she’ll be expelled from her book coven—and forced to give up the magical gifts that are as much a part of her as her own name.
But when her beloved grandfather disappears and a priceless book is stolen, there’s only one person she trusts to help her solve the case: the Duke. Their quest takes them through the worlds of Alice in Wonderland, The Great Gatsby, and other classics that will reveal hidden enemies and long-buried family secrets.
This is the perfect book for anyone who has ever fallen in love with a character, for anyone who loves books and all the worlds they contain. Was it realistic? Absolutely not—and in the best possible way. This was run, engaging, and filled with all the literary references and Easter eggs imaginable. Highly recommended!
Meg Shaffer is a bestselling author. The Book Witch is her newest novel.
(Galley courtesy of Ballantine | Ballantine Books in exchange for an honest review.)
This was a good writing week, although I didn’t get any fiction in. My Muse is…mulling over some things currently. I did write one book review, The Book Witch, by Meg Shaffer, my March reading post, and the best books I read in March.
Roe Damarcus has never been afraid of the dead. Her power to summon spirits has awed the guests of her esteemed family’s galas for as long as she can remember. Her future is certain, and her gift will be another shining jewel in the Damarcus legacy.
But when she fails her realm’s trial to keep her magic and is deemed too dangerous for society, she faces a harrowing choice: give up her gift or serve a punishment sentence aboard the Celestial, a luxurious magical cruise ship where staff members compete for guest votes to earn a coveted retrial.
As a concierge, Roe juggles the demands of affluent guests, cruel bosses, and the suspicion that an infuriatingly handsome silks performer, Ivander, is determined to keep her from a retrial.
But the true dangers surface after her shift ends when the Celestial transforms into halls of nightmares that kill staff members after dark. Faced with the reality of serving aboard, Roe begins to question the ship, trials, and the system that put her there. But the moment Roe sinks into the ship’s dark history, she’s wrongly framed for a guest’s murder. Vowing to conjure her own second chance, Roe will use whatever power she has to uncover the secrets of the ship, her family, and their entwined bloody past… before she becomes the Celestial’s next victim.
I really enjoyed this! I was drawn in from the first page because of Roe’s voice. The world was fascinating—and the Celestial was terrifying. Roe was a character I could relate to because of her faults and her determination. I loved how she made friends on the ship and how resolutely she pursued her goals. The magic system is interesting , and I really liked this world and would be happy to read more.
Julia Alexandra lives in Florida. Midnight on the Celestial is her debut novel.
(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press | Wednesday Books in exchange for an honest review.)
I also DNFed nine books in February, bringing that total to 15 books. No wonder I’m so behind on my Goodreads goal.
Of the 10 books I read in February, several were really excellent reads.
Love Does, by Bob Goff. Not the first time I’ve read this. Goff’s voice is fantastic, so relatable and personable, that each chapter is a pleasure to read. And the lessons on how to love people can’t be beat.
The Lie You Don’t Know You Believe, by Jenni Allen. This really resonated with me. Again, very relatable. And this makes talking about some hard truths just a tiny bit easier. I believe we all have lies that we’ve believed about ourselves.
Dirty Work, by Devon Monk. I thoroughly enjoyed this final book in the Broken Magic series. It was good to see Allie and Zayvion (and their daughter) again, and I loved how the book was resolved with all of these familiar characters.
If there was a core lie sabotaging your life, wouldn’t you want to know what it is?
And wouldn’t you want to find the way to be free?
Most of us have been living inside a lie so long it feels like the truth. It has quietly shaped our identity, our relationships, and even how we see God. Until we see it, we’ll keep circling the same frustrations, the same shame, the same thoughts of I’ll never change. But freedom is possible. In The Lie You Don’t Know You Believe, Jennie Allen pulls back the curtain on the enemy’s oldest trick—and shows us how to dismantle it with the spiritual authority we already have in Christ. She guides us through how to:
-Spot the three core lies everyone believes—and name the one running your life. -Trace the moment your lie took root and how the enemy’s been using it to keep youstuck. -Cut ties with your old narratives so they stop shaping your choices. – Challenge lies in real time and replace them with God’s truth.
This isn’t about behavior modification. This is about transferring your life out of the enemy’s kingdom of lies and into the kingdom of light—where joy, peace, and strength aren’t fleeting feelings but your everyday reality. Freedom starts here. Take hold of it.
I felt like the author was talking directly to me. The topic really resonated, and I feel it will with most people (and all people, if they’re being honest). This is well-written, with a personal tone, like you’re chatting with a smart friend or an older sibling. It’s a powerful topic, and the author handles it well, with grace and love.
Jennie Allen is a Bible teacher, author, and visionary. The Lie You Don’t Know You Believe is her newest book.
(Galley courtesy of Nelson Books | Thomas Nelson in exchange for an honest review.)
One woman physician. A group of talented midwives. A deadly disease spreading.
1849. Dr. Nora Gibson is the only female surgeon in London. In all of England, even. After earning her medical degree and overcoming the prejudice of those who wished to see her fail, she’s finally earned her place at the Great Queen Street Hospital alongside her newlywed husband and her eccentric but ailing adoptive father, the great Dr. Horace Croft.
But peace is hard to come by as a physician, and for one like Nora, it’s almost impossible. When Nora takes up the fight to bring midwives into the medical field, her already fragile reputation comes under fire by colleagues and London society itself. And if the possibility of losing her rights to practice medicine wasn’t enough, a dangerous enemy has made itself known: the deadliest cholera epidemic in over a century. It’s a swift disease that wreaks havoc and tragedy across the city, especially amongst the working classes, and Nora will do anything she can to help. Soon, she finds herself on the frontlines of the disease, and as those around her begin to fall, she’ll have to find the strength to stand alone and maintain her greatest oath: to save lives. Whether she’ll make it through, though, is up to fate.
I read the first book in this series and somehow missed the second, so I was excited to read this. It did not disappoint. Parts of this were so hard to read—the extreme prejudice that Nora and the midwives were treated with by the doctors, society, and even her in-laws really infuriated me.
I love Nora herself, although her stubbornness bordered on self-harm in a couple of places. Her determination to help others and to bring respect to a group of women devoid of it was inspiring, and I really enjoyed this read.
Audrey Blake is the pen name for Jaima Fixsen and Regina Sirois. All in Her Hands is her newest novel.
(Galley courtesy of SOURCEBOOKS Landmark | Sourcebooks Landmark in exchange for an honest review.)
Tomorrow Is Another Day 