Diavola (4/5)

I'm realizing I somehow left this out of my Italy Reading Wrap Up post (view here), which is an absolute crime, because this was the PERFECT Italy vacation read. This is a book about a family on an Italian vacation from hell and so reading this on a plane on the way to Florence/San Gimignano–where most of the book takes place–was an absolute vibe.

But, even if I wasn't going to Italy, I still would have LOVED this book. It is the perfect dark, gothic, possession-based horror novel to kick off my spooky season reading list. No one in this book is likeable, which is my favorite kind of character story. If you love literary fiction about people being absolutely horrible to one another, but want a good scary story for fall, this is your book. It's like Sally Rooney meets Mona Awad, but with a bit more of a horror focus. I loved it.

An Academy for Liars (4/5)

I've already talked about this book quite a bit, so I'll keep this one short.

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. It's bloody. It's dangerous. It's downright villainous in all the best ways.

Jump back to my Italy post to read my full write up!

The Courting of Bristol Keats (4.5/5)

We've had a lot of "the next best romantasy" promises this year and none of them have really turned out to be anything special. I was cautiously optomistic when I saw Mary E. Pearson's adult debut, mostly due to the nostalgia of my young adult years.

And to my pleasant surprise, this one was good!! It took the over-saturated genre of fae-romance and created something that had me hooked for the entire 500+ pages. The characters had depth. The romance was compelling. It didn't over-subscribe to tropes. It was truly a joy to read.

I really hope this one gets some of the attention the internet gives the other fae romances that we've all been beaten over the head with for years now. I know I'll be handselling the heck out of some copies when it gets to bookstores.

Rakesfall (?/5)

Oof, I have feelings about this one. I was so excited about this book. I had seen so many of my favorite authors talking about this one and the cover blurbs were amazing, but the marketing felt off, and I left feeling really confused about my feelings.

First off, this book is beautifully written. It's clear that Chandrasekera is an incredible writing talent. I loved the first 50 pages of this book, but then the prose and storytelling became unexpectedly expiremental and I did not know what to think. I felt like they marketed this one as a narrative, and really specifically like This Is How You Lose the Time War, and this book was not at all that. Had I anticipated the storytelling structure, I would have saved this for a time when I could apprecaite it better. As it stands, this book just kind of made me feel stupid.

FYI: Authors don't owe readers anything and have a right to tell their stories how they see fit. HOWEVER, marketing in publishing is a monster meant to drive sales regardless of readership fit. That was the problem I had with this book, not the book itself.

A Dark and Drowning Tide (4/5)

I love Allison Saft so freaking much. I've read all of her books and have loved each in their very own way and A Dark and Drowning Tide was no exception.

This is an sapphic rivals-to-lovers romance with non-binary representation full of folklore, fables, and a delightful cast of creatures. Like Saft’s previous works, it’s heavily inspired by Jewish history and specifically addresses the antisemitism in many popular fairytales. The main characters are a grumpy/sunshine pairing that goes below the surface to a truly tender story of grief, prejudice, and belonging.

This has been my go-to recommendation for autumn/winter fantasy in the shop since its release last week and that's not likely to stop anytime soon.

The Nightmare Before Kissmas (5/5)

I AM KICKING MY FEET AND GIGGLING!!! The Nightmare Before Christmas meets Red, White, and Royal Blue, but also takes place in a Hallmark movie with an actually compelling storyline beyond “will I give up my big city career and embrace the magic of Christmas?”

This book is perfection. It’s heartfelt. It’s adorable. It’s fun without being overly kitschy. They're also both such cinnamon rolls, which is just such a needed break from angsty bad-boys (though you know I love a good villain). Anyway, this is the queer holiday rom-com we deserve and my favorite book I read all month.

On shelves in just one short week (10.8)!

A Lullaby for Witches (3/5)

I picked this up in a bookstore on a whim after binging The Mayfair Witches, because I wanted something that fit that mood.

Did I love this book? No. Was the story lifechanging? No. Was it easy to fall into and quick to get through? Absolutely. And those kinds of books are so important. I don't want every book I read to be a masterpiece. Sometimes I just want something simple for my brain.

I have seen Hester Fox on instagram a lot recently, but had never read anything by her. If you like authors like Darcy Coates or Paula Brackston and want a darker witchy read for October, I really think you'd enjoy Hester Fox. I may pick up another one of her gothic novels in the future, when I'm wanting a quick read.