Chasm Stacey McEwan This is book two in the Glacian Trilogy and it picks up immediately where the first book ended. That ending was a blockbuster! I’m only a few chapters in but, admittedly, I’m struggling to remember some key plot points and characters from the first novel. There’s enough explanation that I’m not too lost, but I wish I could have read these back-to-back. Also, I totally called that something would happen. I can't share even a hint of details because it would be a complete spoiler to a big reveal. *Books shared here are affiliate links for Bookshop.org
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Cruel Seduction Katee Robert After I finished book five of the Dark Olympus series, I rolled right into book six. Once I finish this title, I will be caught up. I'm kind of sad about that. As formulaic as these titles are, they've been enjoyable to read. Also, at this point, I've finally admitted to myself that this series falls firmly in the erotica category of romance. This book in particular. It leans heavily into polyamory. *Books shared here may be affiliate links for Bookshop.org Radiant Sin Katee Robert I started reading book four in the Dark Olympus series a few days ago. By this point, I've learned that the series is fairly formulaic. The leads are forced to be together. Then each book has it's own spin on the kind of romance. Finally, all of that is set within a broader narrative of what is happening in the city of Olympus. It's entirely predictable but it works. I will read this series until the very last book. *Books shared here may be affiliate links for Bookshop.org Momfluenced: Inside the Maddening, Picture-Perfect World of Mommy Influencer Culture. Sara Petersen Petersen writes one of my favorite newsletters, In Pursuit of Clean Countertops, so I grabbed her book as soon as it was available at my local library. In this book, Petersen is putting the world of momfluencers in deeper cultural conversation with how we view motherhood. It’s fascinating. This is a work of academic non-fiction but Petersen’s friendly tone and sassy nature shine through making it less of a chore to read. *Books shared here are affiliate links for Bookshop.org Killer Kung Pao Vivien Chien This is another title in the Noodle Shop mystery series. I am about 50 pages from the end and I still have no idea who did it. The thing with this particular entry is that the author has lined up three plausible killers but only one of them has a clear motive. I doubt I'll figure it out before the reveal. Also, there was one scene where the author describes what are heroine is eating that almost had me calling for a midnight order of Chinese takeout. *Books shared here are affiliate links for Bookshop.org Wicked Beauty Katee Robert This is the third book in the Dark Olympus series. So far, it's the one I've enjoyed the least. I still like the world the author has created, but the characters feel a little flat. It's hard to explain completely, but there is a bit of depth missing. That said, I'm only a few chapters in so that perception may change as the plot develops. I do like the hints of Hunger Games this story has. *Books shared here are affiliate links for Bookshop.org Rivals: American Royals III Katharine McGee This is a YA book series set in a world where the US is run by a royal family. In this entry, we get to see a conference of royals from around the world along with a side story where two rivals team up to take on an interloper. Nothing about this is realistic except for the fact that teens are leading with their emotions. I'm loving it. *Books shared here may be affiliate links for Bookshop.org Neon Gods Katee Robert I flew through this title in just a few nights. It was an updated retelling of the Persephone myth. I very much enjoyed it and, as promised, it was spicy. My main quibble was the world building. The Olympus the author created is great. What's weird is that it seems to sit within the modern United States. Maybe? I'm not sure. They mention Ohio and random things like that. This wasn't enough to ruin the story, but it just felt odd. Tonight, I will be starting book two in this series - Electric Idol. Egg Drop Dead Vivien Chien I picked this up a few days ago. It is the fifth title in the Noodle Shop mystery series. As is common in these cozy mysteries, the murder has occurred "off-screen" and our heroine is now on the case. For me, these books are more about character and less about the mystery itself. I'm only a few chapters in but there has already been some narrative development to our usual cast. It will be fun to see how this all pans out. I must admit, however, that I do hate how the author has to do some info dumpy stuff at the beginning of every book. I get that this is for casual readers who are picking up books in the series at random but, as a regular reader, I hate have to wade through those paragraphs. For work, I'm still reading A Fool's Errand: Creating the National Museum of African American History and Culture in the Age of Bush, Obama, and Trump by Lonnie Bunch. The chapter on how the museum developed parts of its collection by diving into American's basements and attics was exciting. So much history is contained in family homes. Professionals tend to overlook it and that's a shame. That is where the real story of our history and culture resides. Call Us What We Carry Amanda Gorman I cracked this open last night. I can now officially state that I have read more poetry this year than I have in my entire life. I spied this book on a display at our local library branch and was intrigued enough to pick it up. So far, the poems are very reminiscent of Gorman's inaugural poem. They are full of history, power, and emotion. Yesterday, I wrapped up Well Traveled. It was probably the weakest book in the series but still an enjoyable read. |