Sunbringer (Fallen Gods, 2) by Hannah Kaner (4/5 stars)

Thanks to a 9 hour plane ride after 5 hours of delays (3 of which were on the tarmac), I was finally able to read the sequel to one of my favorite fantasy books from last year (Godkiller by Hannah Kaner). I had been putting this one off for a bit, because I had heard it wasn't nearly as good as the first one and I was worried I would be disappointed. I absolutely love the world that Kaner has created in the Fallen Gods series and I adore every single character–I usually describe this book at the store as "The Witcher if Geralt was your grumpy older sister". While I still enjoyed this sequel–and will confirm that it is definitely worth reading–it fell into my least favorite sequel trope: "the separation".

You know that one plot trope where the characters spend the first part of a sequel trying to make their way back to one another and the author flip flops between each of their journeys? I don't know if it's my lack of patience or short attention span, but I HATE a second-book separation. I get that it's often necessary, so I'll suffer through, but I spent the entire time just waiting for my merry-little-band to get back together... and I waited a LONG time.

Still giving this one 4/5 stars because I officially cannot wait for the 3rd book.

An Academy for Liars by Alexis Henderson (4/5 stars)

I was once again blessed by the Libro.FM gods with an ALC of one of my most anticipated 2024 releases. I am a dark-academia girlie, but am frequently let down by publishers who use this term to describe anything slightly gothic in nature or anything involving a school. But let me assure you, this one is a dark academia MASTERPIECE.

Most importantly, for those of you with series-fatigue, this one is a standalone fantasy (and an excellent one at that) with "series-potential". So, while I wouldn't be too surprised if we get a sequel in the distant future, I was completely satisfied with this as a completed story.

The only thing that kept this from being a 5 star read is the fact that Lennon (the FMC) did annoy me just a little bit. She also went from being completely helpless–she constantly needed to be saved–to being the all-powerful-chosen-one at whiplash speed. I personally wanted a little bit more of a growth stage.

Besides that, this one goes up there with the likes of Naomi Novik and Olivie Blake, which you all know are two of my all-time favorites.

The Courting of Bristol by Mary E. Pearson (Still Reading)

I have a specific classification for books longer than 450-500 pages and that is... plane books. I am intimidated by long books, but there's something about being trapped on a plane that gives me the superhuman strength to overcome my fear and conquer a doorstopper. So while I didn't quite finish this one on the plane, I did get far enough into it (360 pages to be exact) to give myself the strength to finish it at home.

Pearson's Remnant Chronicles unlocked something feral in me circa 2014, so my interest was definitely peaked when I saw her adult debut in the catalogs. So far, this one is one of the better romantasy-epics of the last few years and it has everything my fae-loving-heart could ask for.

I'm telling you now, for better or worse, be prepared to see this one all over BookTok with the ACOTAR-girlies, and I'm not going to judge them for that.