Les In The Archives

Having fun isn’t hard, when you’ve got a library card!

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[lesinthearchives]

Morsel

Carter Keane

Rating: ⭐️⭐️

Book: 15

Favorite Quote:

I’m so tired of being eaten. I’m so tired of handing over pieces of myself so that someone else can fill their mouths in the vain hope of being satiated.

Firstly, thank you to Carter Keane, NetGalley, and Tor Nightfire for the opportunity to read this ARC of Morsel.

I wish I had better things to say about this book but if I am honest, I spent roughly 90% of it asking myself what the f was going on? I understand this is Keane’s debut novel but overall, the story felt incredibly disjointed. I think the characters have potential but it felt like the author was trying to do too many things for a novella. The story is set in Appalachia so there is this idea of mountain folklore. We are just riding along and then things go from 0 to 60 in no time at all and don’t really slow down for there. It all felt very whiplash heavy. There’s a cult and a hungry god or beast or something and then themes similar to The Most Dangerous Game. I wanted to like this book because I love gothic horror and authors like Silvia Moreno-Garcia and T. Kingfisher but this was so messy and the end felt very scapegoat. Unsure but I hope to see better out of Keane as they become more polished.

[lesinthearchives]

Parade of Horribles

Matt Dinniman

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book: 14

Favorite Quote:

"In the end, it doesn't even matter if they work or not. I mean, it does matter, 'cause, you know, we'll die if it doesn't. But we will die with hope in our hearts alongside our friends, and that's gotta mean something."

Thank you to NetGalley, Matt Dinniman, and Berkley Publishing Group for the opportunity to read the ARC of Parade of Horribles.

Oh, this was a big one. I devoured Parade of Horribles just as quickly as I did the previous seven. One of my greatest takeways is that Jeff Hays is absolutely going to nail this audiobook and I cannot wait. This whole book felt very Mad Max in the best way and I love the character development but even more so, I loved the AI's monologue at the end. The development of the history of the system, the Horribles, the rogue AI, even the dungeon and the crawl as a whole. This book was so good and I am eager to read about the Ascendancy Games in the next book.

[lesinthearchives]

Moss’d in Space

Rebecca Thorne

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book: 13

Favorite quote:

“I have been abandoned once before. By collecting humans, I can ensure I will not be abandoned again.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rebecca Thorne, and Tor Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this ARC of Moss’d in Space.

When I say that Rebecca Thorne is one of my favorite authors, I mean I have the ARCs and UK broken binding copies of Tomes and Tea to prove it. This book is exactly what I have been searching for in a book. Rebecca Thorne infuses her writing with whimsy and I will also jump at the chance to read anything by her. When I heard she announced Moss’d in Space, I was thrilled, I don’t know if I have ever requested an ARC quicker. I loved this book. I love the relationship Torian and Moss develop. I love the strays they pick up along the way.

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Out of the Loop

Katie Siegel

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Thank you NetGalley, Katie Siegel, and Spotify Audiobooks for the opportunity to read the ARC for Out of the Loop.

This book was cute! I really like the narrator and the story overall. I gave it three stars because I just liked it. It is fine. The story is good, the speed is okay, overall just good. I think I kept waiting to be wowed and it just never came. I could tell they were trying to push certain potential killers and then the reveal of the actual killer while sort of shocking just felt very "oh...okay". Also the relationship between Zia and Amy felt very forced in the end. They faced this issue that was big enough to be relationship ending and when addressed, Amy kind of just froze. There was no real discussion or compromise, they were just okay and then traveling. Overall, it was a cute book and I loved the concept and the chapter organization. I think I would definitely recommend this but maybe to a younger audience.

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Kinky History

Esme Louise James

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book: 11

Song:

House Tour - Sabrina Carpenter

As someone who prides herself on being a human bottle of Snapple, I love being able to just pull fun facts from the ether. As a Historian, those facts are almost also tinged with a little history lesson. I’ve said it before, but every now and then I love to listen or read a book that makes me learn something. The issue with this and with the fact that I am a WORKING historian, is that my fun fact knowledge is of the niche variety. Now, because of Kinky History, I can whip out the fact that giving someone bunny ears used to be to label them as a cuck or more specifically accuse their spouse of being unfaithful. Or perhaps, that the painter behind the famous painting “The Great Wave” also painted another, more infamous painting, titled “The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife” (NSFW). This was such a fun history adventure and I highly recommend if you are interested in history and about what makes the different facets of sex so taboo and if it has in fact always been that way (or not).

[lesinthearchives]

Thistlemarsh

Moorea Coorigan

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book: 10

Favorite quote:

“My question is, should I adapt to the modern world, should I run on steam, or gasoline, or electricity? Won’t I lose part of myself that is essential?” “I’m not sure.” “That’s the trouble! Will I lose the beehive of my heart? Will I lose the rain in my veins and the roots in my lungs? One day, will I wake up with no magic at all?” He paused, his eyes beseeching. Under his gaze, she felt like an animal with her tail caught in a trap ready to gnaw and rip to free herself. “Have you?”

Thank you to NetGalley, Moorea Corrigan, and Berkley Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this ARC of Thistlemarsh.

It has been almost an entire week since I finished this book and I have not stopped thinking about it. The story of Mouse and Thornwood, the layers of complicated that make up their relationship and Thistlemarsh, Micklewaithe! I loved this book and if I could give it six stars I would.

[lesinthearchives]

Hello there fellow Archivists.

I fear I have neglected you and for that I sincerely apologize. It is no excuse but Oklahoma did have a pretty severe snowstorm (8 inches of snow in our yard alone) and I of course have been buried (in books not snow). Thank you for your patience with me. As an apology, here are 7 books I have finished since we last spoke. You may notice a trend. I DID buy into the Heated Rivalry hype however, in my defense, as a lifelong hockey fan and as someone who is also very into the Jacksonville Rays series, it was bound to happen eventually. As I so eloquently explained to my lovely sister in law, we love the gay boy aquarium.

In this time I have also finished quite a few ARC (thank you NetGalley). I do have very separate opinions on each of those and would be happy to answer any questions you may have. That is what I have for now. I hope you accept my apologies. TTFN my lovely Archivists.

Love, LesinTheArchives 🥰

[lesinthearchives]

Dungeon Crawler Carl (Series)

Matt Dinniman

Books:

2025: 84-89

2026: 1

NEW ACHIEVEMENT!

I have officially finished the Dungeon Crawler Carl series (at least what is currently available). I can confidentially say I have drank the koolaid. Often when I read a good book or series, I wonder what took me so long to start. This one’s no wonder. I notoriously do not enjoy dystopian novels and did not think I would enjoy LitRPG. While I do not think this opinion has very much changed, this series was a revelation. I loved everything about and it would rate almost every book a four or a five. I cannot wait until June for book 8. Also I cannot say enough about the narrator Jeff Hays. Easily one of the best audiobook narrators I have heard.

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Boleyn Traitor

Phillipa Gregory

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book: 83

Song:

Brother by Madds Buckley

Thank you NetGalley, Phillipa Gregory, and HarperAudio Adult for the opportunity to read/listen to this ARC of Boleyn Traitor.

As someone who has literally received their masters on the basis of Tudor history, I have always loved Phillipa Gregory’s historical fiction version of the stories. I have read almost all over her Tudor books so I was thrilled to see another come across my NetGalley. I will say I was a bit confused when I saw the subject of this one because I could have sworn Boleyn inheritance told the whole of Jane Boleyn but I was definitely wrong. Jane would’ve had to be one hell of a courtier to survive through both Henry and five of his wives. Especially as a Boleyn and someone so close to Anne. This book was well detailed and thought out. I enjoyed the narration. I do always have to listen to these novels on 1.5-2x speed though.

[lesinthearchives]

Hi friends! It’s been a minute since w least spoke. I have still been reading just a bit busy with the holidays and professional development opportunities. Here are my last few reads and I would like to offer a very special thank you to NetGalley and Molly O’Sullivan, Hannah Lynn, and Alix E. Harrow (respectively) for the opportunity to read the ARCs for The Book of Autumn, The Women of Artemis, and The Everlasting. All fantastic reads but I truly think the Everlasting will be going down as an all time favorite for sure. For sure top 10 for me.

Happy holidays to all who celebrate!

#LesintheArchives #NetGalley #MollyOSullivan #BookofAutumn #HannahLynn #TheWomenofArtemis #AlixEHarrow #TheEverlasting #spindlesplintered #ARC #ARCreader

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Starling House

Alix E. Harrow

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book: 78

Favorite quote:

That’s how the history of Starling House feels to me now, like a story told so many times the truth is obscured, caught only in slantwise glimpses. Maybe that’s how every history is.

In high school, I was obsessed with retellings of Alice in Wonderland. As a broody and depressed teenager in a series of not so great relationships, the idea of escaping into Wonderland was a dream. Starling House is not your one in a million retelling of Alice in Wonderland. In fact, it is more of a gothic horror story with a sorry of Alice Madness Returns-esque vibe. The story follows Opal, an orphaned and mostly homeless 27 year old who is taking care of her 16 year old brother and just trying to survive in Eden, Kentucky. Opal is in love with a book written by an infamous local author named E. Starling called “The Underland”. After their mother drowns in a car accident, Opal becomes an expert in faking it until you make it. All while being morbidly interested in the infamous author’s estate, the titular Starling House. One day, Opal meets the current warden of Starling House, Arthur Starling and metaphorically begins her descent into the rabbit hole. This book is great for readers who like dark reimaginings and authors like Silvia Moreno-Garcia.

Starling house is my first taste of Alix E. Harrow’s work and I I’m enthralled. After completing Starling House, I have immediately jumped into A Spindle Splintered. Down another rabbit hole I go.

[lesinthearchives]

The Spiced Cocoa Cafe

Harper Graham

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book: 77

Favorite quote:

She was rebuilding something real, something hers. And anyone who couldn’t see her magic didn’t deserve a seat at her table.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Graham, and Bookouture for the opportunity to read the ARC for The Spiced Cocoa Cafe.

Not only was this book cute and cozy, it made me ready for hot cocoa season and what luck that it’s been so chilly in Oklahoma this week. I was a little worried as a self proclaimed hater of third act break ups but I thought how everything was worked out panned out nicely. I loved the characters and the growth. I can’t wait to see where the story goes and who is next.

[lesinthearchives]

The Charmed Library

Jennifer Moorman

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book: 76

Song:

Library Card

Janani K. Jha

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley, Jennifer Moorman, and HarperMuse for opportunity to read this ARC of The Charmed Library. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I loved this book and the way the words flowed from her. Who hasn’t wished to bring to life their favorite book characters to have a conversation with or fall in love with. This book was the epitome of magical escapism and it was perfect. A little romance, magic, and a library. Perfect.

[lesinthearchives]

Cathedral of Lost Souls

Paula Brackston

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book: 75 (!)

Favorite quote:

‘Do not make the mistake of weighting your own knowledge more heavily than that which you do not yet know.’

Thank you to Paula Brackston, NetGalley, and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this NetGalley of Cathedral of Lost Souls.

This is the second book in the Hecate Cavendish series. This book was a bit slow for me to start and a bit all to get through, I’ll be honest. However, once I was in the story, I was in the story. I would not say it was the kind of book I couldn’t put down or couldn’t stop thinking about but, the writing was great, the characters were great, and the ambiance was perfect. I felt the book was well paced though the ending felt a little weird. I will not spoil it but I feel like Hecate should’ve had a bigger part in the endgame of everything. I did enjoy that people actually believed her and didn’t write everything off as womanly hysteria or whatever and the she would’ve faced it alone. Her father believed her the whole time and even Inspector Winter had her back and that was incredibly refreshing.

[lesinthearchives]

Ether Witch 3

Delemhach

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book: 74

Favorite quote:

“However you leave this world, Lord Tam, I do wish that you leave it knowing you have always had a very important place here. And that it is possible to find a balance of answering a calling, and being happy.”

So…. I actually finished this in July via Patreon 🫣.

I did not add it to my finished reads or to here yet because I was not sure if it was done yet but now that it has been a few months, I can say it most likely is (famous last words). As this book is only finished on Patreon and not yet Royal Road, I won’t spoil anything but this book made me so happy for Tam and Eli.

[lesinthearchives]

House Witch 2

Delemhach

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book: 73

Favorite Quote:

“I want to sleep beside you in a warm soft bed and be fed delicious food without any worry. I want you to be happy, because you are annoyingly difficult to please. What I have discovered in my short time with you is that to help you, I must be the best I can be.”

Again, this is a reread as this is literally one of my favorite series’ and my first time listening to the audiobook of the series. Growing up I could never reread books because I knew how they ended. As I began listening to audiobooks, I feel like rereading is different now. Now it feels like being wrapped in a cozy blanket of familiarity.

Anyways! The House Witch 2! There are so many small details that I forgot about this book and series and ugh I love falling in love with a book and series all over again.