Read N Buried

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13 Moons Reading Challenge 2026 — Announcement

Time flies in a blink of an eye and I swear it feels like I just posted the 2025 Reading Challenge but it’s already time for the announcement of the 13 Moons reading challenge for 2026. A new year with a new list of prompts that will hopefully expand your reading list. This reading challenge is created by me for the entire book community. So if you love reading or are looking for a reading challenge to try for the upcoming year, then here is one for you.

Rules & Levels

The rules for this reading challenge are simple. First of all, this is just for fun so no need to feel pressured into doing anything or reading anything you don’t want to. You can also be flexible with the prompts if you choose to do so. The challenge will run from January 1st, 2026 till December 31st, 2o26.

There are a total of 104 reading prompts divided into 13 categories. There is a list of levels given and you can choose which level you wish to participate in based on your preference. The levels you can participate in are as follows:

Penumbral Lunar Eclipse: 13 books — fulfill one prompt from each category 

Partial Lunar Eclipse: 26 books — fulfill at least one prompt from each category

Central Lunar Eclipse: 52 books — fulfill at least one prompt from each category

Total Lunar Eclipse: 104 books — fulfill all the prompts

The reading challenge is given below. You can choose which level you want to go for and choose your prompts accordingly. So without further ado, here is the 13 Moons reading challenge 2026.

13 Moons Reading Challenge 2026

Wolf Moon

Book featuring an Asylum

The word ‘Vanilla’ in the title

Book with less than 90 pages

Read a book while eating a sandwich

Read a book in your Favorite place

Book by an author who is funny

Do Not read this book while sitting on the floor

Book about a Teacher 

Snow Moon

Book with a Mirror on the cover

Book with the word ‘Chocolate’ on the cover

Start this book in Winter

Book with a Playlist

Book with 3 Ss in the title

Read a book while sitting next to someone

Read a book while eating a treat

Read a book when you have Nothing else to read 

Worm Moon

Book about a Mental Disorder

Book with the word ‘Strawberry’ in the title

Book about Cheese

Book which has a Movie adaptation

Book featuring Snakes

Read a book on a blanket

Start a book after 5:00 PM or 17:00

Snail on the cover 

Pink Moon

Book about Mental Health

Book with the word ‘Mango’ in the title

A Friend recommendation 

 Choose a book Blindfolded

Book title is the same as a name of a Song

Book with a Whale on the cover

Book that you think will make you blush

Book about Breast Cancer

Flower Moon

Book featuring a Castle

Book with the word ‘Cookies’ in the title

Mask on the cover

Book featuring your favorite Flower

Book with more than 5 colors on the cover

Book featuring the Northern Lights

Book set in the South

 Book with the number 6 in the title 

Strawberry Moon

Book has a Gothic setting

Book with the word ‘Cheesecake’ in the title

Book which has a Series adaptation

Book with Eyebrows on the cover

Book with the word ‘Ember’ in the title

Read this book on a Desk

Book featuring Sushi

Polka Dots on the cover 

Buck Moon

Book with a Ghost character

Book with the word ‘Caramel’ in the title

A Book Club read

Read this book using your phone’s Flashlight

Start a book right after eating Lunch

Book featuring a Blue Collar job

Book you wish turned into a Movie

Book about Self Defense

Sturgeon Moon

Book in which a character Dies

Book with the word ‘Butter’ in the title

Read a book from somebody’s Anti-TBR

Book featuring Royalty

Book with Fangs on the cover

An AI recommendation

Book set in one of the countries of the United Kingdom

Read a Fable

Harvest Moon

A Horror book

Book with the word ‘Rainbow’ in the title 

Book with a Framed Painting on the cover

Book with only 7 Chapters

Book about a Fandom

Roll a Dice and read a book corresponding to the number

Read the First book you see on the Shelf

Book with a character with Tattoos 

Hunter’s Moon

 Start a book after Midnight

Book with the word ‘Road’ in the title

Glitter on the cover

Book about a Band which is no longer active

Listen to a Free Audiobook

Book with Different Endings

Book written by an Indie Author and then taken by Publishers

Star Crossed Lovers trope

Beaver Moon

Book set in the Victorian Era

Book with the word ‘Cake’ in the title

Book featuring a Circus

Book Similar to your favorite book

Book with British and American characters

Book about Ancient Technology

Book with a Rocking Chair on the cover

Religious symbol on the cover

Cold Moon

Read a Psychological Thriller

Book with the word ‘Marshmallow’ in the title

Book featuring a Game

Book with a Ferris Wheel on the cover 

Book with a Fantasy creature

Book featuring an Egg

Book with an Empty chapter

Book with Milkshake on the cover

Blue Moon

Book with a Knife on the cover 

Book with the word ‘Raspberry’ in the title

Book in your Reading Challenge TBR

Book featuring Inheritance

Book set in a School of any kind

Book with a Carousel on the cover

Book you think will surprise you

Book with a subject New to you 

And that’s it! This is the 13 Moons reading challenge 2026 for you all. Let me know if you like it. If you wish to participate I’d love it if you can comment below to tell me you’re participating in the challenge. If you don’t want to comment, that’s fine as well. As long as you enjoy doing the challenge, I’m happy. Until next year! 

Happy Reading!!

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13 Moons Reading Challenge 2025 - Announcement

The year passed by so quickly with so many ups and downs and now it’s time for the announcement of the 13 Moons reading challenge for 2025. A new year with a new list of prompts that will make your reading journey exciting…hopefully. This reading challenge is created by me for the entire reading community. So if you love reading or are looking for a reading challenge to try for the upcoming year, then here is one for you. 

Rules & Levels

The rules for this reading challenge are simple. First of all, this is just for fun so no need to feel pressured into doing anything or reading anything you don’t want to. You can also be flexible with the prompts if you choose to do so. The challenge will run from January 1st, 2025 till December 31st, 2025.

There are a total of 104 reading prompts divided into 13 categories. There is a list of levels given and you can choose which level you wish to participate in based on your preference. The levels you can participate in are as follows:

Penumbral Lunar Eclipse: 13 books — fulfill one prompt from each category 

Partial Lunar Eclipse: 26 books — fulfill at least one prompt from each category

Central Lunar Eclipse: 52 books — fulfill at least one prompt from each category

Total Lunar Eclipse: 104 books — fulfill all the prompts

The reading challenge is given below. You can choose which level you want to go for and choose your prompts accordingly. So without further ado, here is the 13 Moons reading challenge 2025.

13 Moons Reading Challenge 2025

Wolf Moon

Mythology retelling

The word ‘Dance’ in the title

Book with a character who journals

Reread a book you had to read in High School

Candle on the cover

The word ‘Bite’ in the title

Book featuring a Restaurant

Book featuring something Red

Snow Moon

Book about a Cyborg

Book set on an Island

Book about Puzzles

Book about your favorite trope

Borrow a book from the Library

Book featuring something Purple

Book about an ‘Ice Queen’

Book about Dreams

Worm Moon

Read a book that scares you

Read the Fifth book on your TBR

Book featuring something Light Blue

Start a book at 4PM or 16:00

Ladybug on the cover

A book you think helps you get out of a reading slump

Read a book by the Window

Book with the word ‘Salt’ in the title 

Pink Moon

Book featuring Religion

This is the Fourth book you read

Start a Middle Grade series

Book about Star-Crossed lovers 

Book featuring something White

Book with a Step-Parent

Boots on the cover

Book about a Writer

Flower Moon

Start a book before Sunrise

Book featuring something Green

Book that starts with your favorite letter

Book featuring the Moon

Book about Dragons

Book about your favorite hobby

Book by an indigenous author 

Butterfly on the cover

Strawberry Moon

Book featuring something Silver

Book about a natural phenomenon

Read or listen to a book while traveling

Book with a character with the same profession as yours

Read a Dark Academia

Book inspired by your favorite movie

Book with Eyes on the cover

Book about Lies 

Buck Moon

Handbag on the cover

Word ‘Fish’ in the title

Book with a character in their Thirties

Book about going back in time 

Book with a Spaceship

Book written by a Ghostwriter

Book featuring something Pink 

Wheels on the cover 

Sturgeon Moon

Start a book during a Full Moon

Number in the title

Book with a Metal in the title

Book with a Rainbow

Sandals on the cover 

Book that has been translated to a different language

Book featuring something Orange

Book with a Talking Mirror

Harvest Moon

Read or listen to a book while practicing a hobby

Start a book on the 15th of the month 

Book with an Albino character

Book about a Thief

Book featuring something Blue

A dark retelling

Read a FanFiction

Book with the main character over Forty 

Hunter’s Moon

Book with a made up language 

Read a book from an Online Platform

Book you’ll fight to read

Book featuring something Black

A Waste Basket on the cover 

Book you think Cures boredom

A Whimsical book

Book that is always on your TBR that you never get to read 

Beaver Moon

Read a Steamy Romance 

Title with the word generated from a random word generator

Book cover in the color of your favorite fruit

Swan on the cover

Bridge on the cover or in the title

Book featuring something Maroon

Book about a Dentist 

Book with the Golden Trio trope

Cold Moon

Read a book under a blanket

Book with a Peppermint Cane on the cover

A Holiday romance

Book featuring something Turquoise 

Ice Cubes on the cover

A mystery thriller set in a cold region

Book you think will make you shiver

Read a book while wearing socks

Blue Moon

Book by an author who has written no more than one book or series 

Book featuring something Golden

Book you consider a Rare find

Book with a character with a Rare ability

Book from a region which experiences the Blue Hour

A book gifted to you

Book featuring Triplets

Book from a versatile author

And that’s it! This is the 13 Moons reading challenge 2025 for you all. Let me know if you like it. If you wish to participate I’d love it if you can comment below to tell me you’re participating in the challenge. If you don’t want to comment, that’s fine as well. As long as you enjoy doing the challenge, I’m happy. Until next year! 

Happy Reading!!

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Book Review: Spellslinger by Sebastian de Castell

Date of Publishing: May 4th, 2017

Author: Sebastien de Castell

Publisher: Hot Key Books

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult

This is book 1 in the series of the same name and follows Kellen who is doing his best to become a spellcaster, a feat which seems impossible for him as he’s unable to conjure any type of magic. And with his sixteen birthday approaching, he better get some magic to pass the four trials or he’d be facing a fate worse than death. But when a stranger shows up to help him, Kellen must decide if he should trust her or face eternal damnation. However, trusting this stranger will come at a cost, just like everything else.

This is a series I’ve been meaning to get to for the longest time but I either kept forgetting about it or prioritizing other series over this one. However, I finally got the chance and I have to say this book did not disappoint at all. It actually took me by surprise and I was glad it did because it’s difficult for me to find books that surprise me now.

The main thing I loved about this book was the humor. The author has done an incredible job injecting humor in the most strategic places, which gave the entire narrative an unprecedented depth and made it difficult to put down.

The entertainment level of this book was top notch and combined with the intriguing and unique plot, I kept flipping page after page until I reached the end with a heavy feeling in my heart. And I’m eager to continue with the series and see what else does Kellen get up to.

Kellen was an interesting character and one of my favorites I’ve read about this year. He wasn’t the perfect know-it-all like so many other protagonists, rather he was scraping rock bottom in terms of talent and skill. And even when he found his powers eventually, they didn’t bring him the glory like one would expect. He suffered even after getting his powers and that’s why I found this book such a refreshing read.

The other characters were just as interesting and I especially loved the visitor who came to help Kellen. I’m always a fan of anti-heroes and this character seemed like one to me, but she was interesting and I loved the power she wielded and the fact that she didn’t care about what society thought of her truly made her a badass in my books. However, Kellen’s family really pissed me off and made me want to scream in frustration. They should’ve been accepting of their son rather than caring about their own reputation, but once again, the author did an excellent job of showing a glimpse of reality via fiction.

The magic system was unique and I found the various rules and regulations regarding it captivating. It was simple yet intricate and I wonder if there’d be more to it in the upcoming books. But the society as a whole was interesting, even though I didn’t like some of their rules, but it just shows there always be certain practices that would be deemed acceptable while others would result in immediate banishment. It happens in the present world, so one shouldn’t be surprised that this happens in fiction as well.

Moreover, the trials were an interesting aspect of the story. They really raised the stakes and I feel like they were a key component to the story as without them, I doubt the story would’ve been able to stand on its own. But considering how talented the author is, I’m sure he would’ve made it work had he decided not to put the trials into the story.

The climax came with the most unexpected plot twist. I really didn’t see it coming, but it made so much sense and I fully empathize with the antagonist. I know what they did was wrong but I understand why they were doing it. And I couldn’t help but think that sometimes your circumstances force you to do the things you don’t want to, and sometimes people take justice into their own hands because they think it’s the only way they’ll get it.

However, there’s much more to Kellen and his adventures and I really can’t wait to dive in to the next books to know exactly what that is. I recommend each and every one of you reading this to go and buy this book and read it if you haven’t already. You will enjoy it as much as I did if not more. I’m grateful to the author for writing this series and can’t wait to read more of his works.

Let me know if you’ve already read this book and what you think of it. And if you have more recommendations feel free to let me know.

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What I Read in April

Target: 9

Read: 6

I had a lot of fun reading the books I got to read and I feel so privileged that I had the chance to read such amazing books even though I wasn’t able to reach my monthly goal. So without any further ado, here’s my April wrap up. 

Spellslinger by Sebastien de Castell

This is book 1 of the series of the same name and follows Kellen who is having a hard time accessing his magic and if he doesn’t access his magic by his sixteenth birthday then his life would be over as it is. However, when an unexpected stranger comes to his town and takes a special interest in him, Kellen and the stranger embark on a path that is unacceptable in society. But following this stranger might be Kellen’s only hope. 

I’ve been wanting to read this book since I first got it but I’m grateful to finally got the chance to read it and it didn’t disappoint. It was witty and hilarious in all the right places. I loved the magic system, but most of all I loved Kellen and how imperfect he was. So many books have perfect main characters but Kellen was the exact opposite and I’m so eager to continue with the series. 

Thirteen Rising by Romina Russell

This is book 4 and the conclusion to the Zodiac series and continues with the story of Rhoma Grace as she sets about bringing the traitor to justice but first she needs to fight her own demons which has her suspecting everyone, including her family and the man she loves the most. The truth is finally revealed and Rhoma must figure out how to bring the zodiac together before it’s destroyed forever. 

The author really knows how to bring the story to a perfect finish and she did that in this series. Everything was beautifully executed and I especially loved the history and conclusion of the thirteenth zodiac. However, my heart broke for the thirteenth ruler and I wished the author didn’t kill all the people she did. I highly recommend everyone to read this series because it’s definitely worth a read. 

The House of Hades by Rick Riordan

This is book 4 of The Heroes of Olympus series and follows the gang of demigods as they brave the gates of Hell aka Hades to rescue Percy and Annabeth. The tide is closing in and Gaia is about to rise and if the demigods don’t come together, then it could be disastrous for the world. 

Everybody loves this book and I enjoyed it a lot as well. Each character’s journey was different even if they were taking the journey together, which really kept the story moving forward. I love the author’s writing style and despite having so many different POVs, the story didn’t become confusing or convoluted. 

Steal the Light by Lexi Blake

This is book 1 in the Thieves series and follows Zoey Wharton who after the tragic loss of her lover, takes on the job of being a thief for the supernatural world. But she’s good at what she does and when her reputation brings her face to face with a job she has no choice but to accept, Zoey realizes that she gotten the raw end of the deal and if she doesn’t do something about it soon, then she could kiss her life goodbye. 

I expected this book to be a lot more interesting than it was. But I still enjoyed it. I thought it would be something unique but it missed the mark by quite a lot. It read like a cozy mystery or a cozy fantasy rather than an action adventure as I thought. But I still recommend everyone to pick up this book if you’re in the mood for reading something easy. 

Every Gift a Curse by Caroline O’Donoghue

This is book 3 and the conclusion to The Gift series and continues the story of Maeve who wants to find everything she can about the Housekeeper card because she knows if she won’t then the card will keep coming back and disrupting her life. But magic has a way of coming back when and how you least expect it and when it comes for Maeve, she must do everything she can to defeat the Housekeeper or lose everything and everyone she loves, including her. 

I had a lot of fun reading this book because the ending was so unexpected. I never thought the author would take the book in such a unique direction but they did and I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. It was something that really inspired me and now I want to write something like this. 

Our Violent Ends by Chloe Gong 

This is book 2 and the conclusion of These Violent Delights series and focuses on Juliette and Roma once again as they’re thrown together to fight the enemy for the second time. And this time they better hurry if they have any hope of saving and ruling their precious city. Truth and lies will come to life and Juliette and Roma must decide if they’ll let their history tear them apart or will love conquer all? 

Just as I enjoyed the first book, I loved reading this book as well. I loved the world building and the way the gangs operated for the ultimate benefit. There were some frustrating bits because Roma and Juliette refused to see past their own prejudices, but in the end it was just perfect. 

So these are the books I read in the month of April. I loved each and every one and I can’t wait to see what May holds for me. Comment below if you’ve read any of the books mentioned above and what’s your opinion on them. I would love to know. 

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How I Read Book Tag

I wanted to do another book tag for this book tag and I found this book tag on Zeezee with Books blog. I don’t know who created this book tag but I found it interesting so decided to take a shot at it. And this is my take on How I Read book tag. 

Do you have a certain place at home for reading?

I don’t have a particular place at home for reading. I read wherever I get the chance to read. 

Can you just stop reading or do you have to stop after a chapter/ a certain amount of pages read? 

I need to stop at a new chapter or I’ll continue reading and reading. If I have to close the book without finishing the chapter, it really bothers me. 

Bookmark or random piece of paper? 

I prefer to use bookmarks because that’s what they’re for and I love how pretty they are. 

Multitasking: Music or TV while reading? 

I prefer to have TV in the background while I’m reading. Music is not something I prefer while I’m reading. 

Do you eat or drink while reading? 

I don’t eat or drink anything while I’m reading most of the time. But if I’m really hungry I can eat while I’m reading. 

Reading at home or everywhere? 

I carry my E-reader everywhere with me simply because I want to read as much as I can so I prefer to read wherever I get the chance to read. 

One book at a time or several at once? 

I’m a one book at a time person. I can try reading several books at once and I did that once but I’m more comfortable focusing on one book at one point. 

Reading out loud or silently in your head? 

I read silently in my head because the people in my house will be irritated if I’m not and I’m just able to understand the story more when reading silently. 

Do you read ahead or even skip pages?

Absolutely not! I would only skim through if I’m not enjoying the book and I just want it to end. 

Breaking the spine or keeping it like new? 

I love my books and I love to preserve them as much as I can. So I do my best to not break the spine and keep the book as good as new. 

Do you write in your books? 

Never! I want my books to be in the best condition and shape, so I never write in my books and I don’t even get the urge to. 

Who do you tag? 

I tag everyone who reads this post. 

And that’s it. This is my take on the How I Read book tag. I really enjoyed doing it and I hope you do, too, should you choose to do it. 

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Best Book(s) in the Zodiac series by Romina Russell

So I finished this series pretty recently and I took my time reflecting upon the series and I wanted to share with you all which book is the best in this series. And without any further ado, this is the best book(s) in the Zodiac series. 

Zodiac Series

1. Zodiac

2. Wandering Star

3. Black Moon

4. Thirteen Rising 

The best book(s) in the entire series: 

Zodiac

This is the first book and the start of this beautiful world and that’s exactly what I love about it; the world building. As a fan of astronomy and astrology, a universe with planets for the zodiac signs is something I needed in my life and I’m so glad this author gave it to me. This is also free off most of the complications that occur later on, which is a given, considering this book is the where the problem starts. 

Thirteen Rising

This is the conclusion to the series and this book was incredibly bittersweet for me. So many of my favorite people died and there was just so much pain and heartache even though the victory was incredibly sweet at the end. There was just a lot of emotion packed in this book and it made me realize just how invested I was in the characters and the storyline. The villain who is not so much as evil as misunderstood stole my heart. I mean he had my heart since the beginning of the series, oddly enough, but in this book I cried for him and he deserved better. He deserved so much better. 

And that’s it. These are the books I think are the best in the Zodiac series by Romina Russell. Though I loved the entire series, these two books definitely stood out. Have you read this series, and if not then are you planning to? Let me know if you agree with my opinion or not. I would love to know. 

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Book Review: The Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao

Date of Publishing: October 10th, 2017

Author: Julie C. Dao

Publisher: Philomei Books

Genre: Fantasy, Retelling 

This is book 1 in the Rise of the Empress series and it’s an Asian retelling of a legend about a poor girl who became the empress of a Kingdom. The story follows Xifeng who comes from the peasant class with a relative who is strict to the point of being abusive. Wanting a better life for herself, Xifeng finds out her destiny is written as the empress of a Kingdom, but in order to embrace said destiny she must accept the darkness that resides within her, to the point that she must forgo true love and the simple pleasures of life. But Xifeng knows what she wants and she’s not afraid to get it. 

I tried reading this book a few years ago but due to the lack of time I wasn’t able to continue past the first chapter and didn’t get the chance to pick up the book until now, and I have to say I kind of regret not picking this book earlier but I’m glad I got to read it in the present because this book was incredibly unique and very refreshing from everything I’ve read so far in terms of retellings and fantasy. This is the first time I read an Asian inspired retelling, and though I have no idea what legend it’s based on, as I’ve only consumed the western inspired fairytales, I actually want to read the actual legend. But this was a nice palette cleanser and I wish there were more Asian retellings. But with the passage of time I’m sure there are a lot of them now and I just need to look for them. 

The main character, Xifeng, is not like-able even if you want to like her. I think she defines the term antihero really well, because she’s not averse to killing and maiming to get what she wants. She’s so focused in her pursuits of power and glory, that she’s not afraid to trample over the people who are loyal to her. And it’s not just one time she does it, but as many times as is required. That’s another thing which I found different and unique in this story—the character is selfish and detached from the emotions to the point where she’s willing to ignore her love and happiness for glory. People might consider this shallow but this is something we see in today’s day and age. Everybody wants power and those who have it are not afraid to abuse it to keep it. And this book is a clear depiction of such a ubiquitous phenomenon. Xifeng shows the reader the ugly reality of this world and since it’s based on a an ancient legend it shows that humanity hasn’t changed much at its core even if we believe we have advanced. 

I loved the side characters in this book. The love interest was impeccable and I can easily say that Xifeng doesn’t deserve him even if she keeps telling herself that she was doing all this for him. The reader knows she’s only doing this for herself and that’s it. But by using his name, she’s able to justify her heinous actions. 

Initially, the reader does feel sympathy for Xifeng due to her difficult circumstances while dealing with poverty and her greedy aunt, but that sympathy is thrown out of the window as the story progresses as Xifeng takes charge. And one might not like her or approve of her actions but I’m sure anybody reading this book would understand why she’s doing what she’s doing. Everybody wants a better life for themselves and they’re not afraid to do what they think is necessary to make it happen and Xifeng does just that. So in a way, this story forces you to acknowledge the darker parts of ourselves; the parts we don’t think we possess until we’re forced into the circumstances; the parts that we’re ashamed of. So if you’re uncomfortable with reading about the human truth, then maybe stay away from this book. 

The fantasy element regarding the darkness that occupies Xifeng’s body and life is equal parts interesting as it is mysterious. I want to know more about it and I’m curious to know if there’s a way to destroy it. Because that darkness pushes her to do things she probably might not have done, but then she wouldn’t reach her destiny. But this caused her to hurt and punish innocent people, so I need to know if it can be destroyed. 

And because of that, I’m eager to read the rest of the books in the series and I wish the author writes more books. If it wasn’t obvious, I highly recommend everyone reading this post to pick this book and give it a read. This book deserves to be read and understood as there are so many layers to everything and everyone in this story. I love the strong, independent main character who has her flaws as well as every other character, because every character is fleshed out and you can believe that these people might’ve existed at one point in this world. 

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What I Read in March

Target: 12

Read: 7

I read more in the month of March than I have so far in the year, but still didn’t quite manage to reach my goal for the month. But no worries, since I read some really great books while others felt like a waste of time. So here are the books I read in the month of March.

Marina by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

This is a standalone novel and revolves around the life of Oscar Drai who meets Marina by chance when he’s on his way exploring the quarters of Barcelona. Their meeting leads them to a cemetery where they meet a strange woman who perform a strange set of practices, which make no sense. So they decide to follow her only to realize there were things happening that were not only beyond their comprehension but actually beyond their control. 

I went into this book with high expectations as it was tagged as a gothic book and it was, to an extent. But then the author decides to pull a Frankenstein on us with all the monsters and gore and that really put me off. Instead of feeling scared I was just grossed out, because I don’t like gore in horror novels. And when I read how the author wrote this book in the horror genre, I have to say I disagree. I didn’t find anything particular scary in this book. There was a lot of mystery and intrigue though, but nothing horror. It reminded me of American Horror Story with the gore and monsters. So I was pretty disappointed but I loved the gothic aspects and atmosphere of the story. 

Once You’re Mine by Morgan Bridges

This is book 1 in the Possessing Her series and follows Calista who goes from riches to rags upon the death of her father and is trying to find his killer, and Hayden Bennett,who happens to be a powerful lawyer and can’t help his feelings for Calista, even though he had a personal vendetta against her father. But when fate throws Calista in Hayden’s path, he can’t help his obsession and ends up doing things he didn’t thought he’d do but he also knows he wouldn’t stop. 

I only read this book as a palette cleanser and I have to admit I was incredibly bored. Everything was incredibly predictable, even though stories like this usually are. But I just wanted some darkness and intensity and that wasn’t exactly delivered… at least, not as much as I wanted. Calista can certainly be obtuse and oblivious at times and Hayden was just boring. I just didn’t enjoy this book and I’m not sure if any of you would either. 

Seeing Sound by Albany Walker

This is book 1 the Tasting Madness series and focuses on Waylynn who has secrets which are better left in the dark and Memphis and Oswald Gravlin who can’t help but be drawn to Waylynn, to the point where they’re willing to do anything to keep her safe and happy. 

I don’t want to be mean but this book was downright lame. Like I regret ending the month with this book. I don’t like RH and this is the reason why I don’t like it. But it wasn’t the RH factor which I didn’t like, it was the book as a whole. The characters are incredibly flat; like one dimensional. Each of the three characters have exactly one personality trait each. Everything happens so fast and so conveniently that it doesn’t make sense. Like even in RH, if there are multiple love interests, there is a strong factor of jealousy among them initially which wasn’t there in this book. 

I mainly chose this book because of the title. I thought Waylynn had synesthesia, which is something I love to read about. But boy, was I disappointed. She doesn’t have synesthesia. But her condition doesn’t make sense to me when the title is explained in the book. I just wasted my time with this and yes, I regret it. 

The ending was downright absurd and frankly had me rolling my eyes with how predictable and boring it was. I’m sorry for being mean, but I’m just so disappointed. 

Circe by Madeline Miller

This is a standalone novel and a Greek mythology retelling about the witch Circe who is famous for turning her guests into animals as she thinks everyone is her enemy. And in a way everybody is, with the gods turning against her and her own family failing to accept her. But she doesn’t give up despite being shunned and shows the world just how powerful she is. 

This book is crazy popular in the book community and because of all the raves and praise this book receives, I had high expectations. But after reading it, I didn’t understand what the hype is about. The book reads more like a diary or an autobiography of Circe as she goes about her days and life. Yes, the Greek mythology aspect is interesting but I didn’t find this story as anything more than a sob story. I enjoyed it, I really did. There were some really interesting one-liners and phrases that vouch for the author’s talent, but the overall story fell short. Maybe I missed something or my two brain cell couldn’t comprehend the magnitude of this book, whatever it was, this fell short for me as well. 

Hookah by Cameron Jace

This is book 4 in the Insanity series and focuses on Pillar who is on his way to the save the world with Alice because if they don’t then the people of the world would succumb to a virus which might just destroy them. And they better hurry because the clock’s ticking. 

I’ve loved every book in this series so far and this one did not disappoint. I was also surprised how incredibly fast-paced it was. The whole novel ends in a few hours and there’s so much happening with the characters that you just keep reading and don’t realize you’ve reached the end until you do. This book will keep you turning page after page from the edge of your seat, so be warned. 

Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao

This is book 1 in the Rise of the Empress series and is an Asian-inspired retelling which follows Xifeng who hails from the lower class but is destined for greatness according to the stars by becoming the Empress of Feng Lu. And when she finally decides to embrace her destiny by embracing the darkness within her, Xifeng has no choice but do things she didn’t want to but would do them to gain what she truly wants. 

I loved this book so much! Reading an Asian inspired retelling was a novelty I didn’t know I needed in my life. Everything was perfectly executed in this book and I’m so glad I finally got to read this book as I started reading it a couple of years ago but couldn’t get to it. But now that I’ve read it, I’m so incredibly happy and can’t wait to read the rest of the series. 

Red Sister by Mark Lawrence

This is book 1 in the Book of the Ancestor series and revolves around the life of Nona who is taken to the Covent of Sweet Mercy where girls are trained to be killers because of an incident that could’ve cost her, her future. Nona learns a lot and makes a lot of friends and some enemies at the Convent, but when her past inevitably finds her, she has no choice but to face it or die trying. 

The book started out great. I loved the setting and the whole academia aspect of this book, to the point, that I wanted to be in this world. But the story started to drag during part two, to the point that we’re just reading about Nona’s daily routine. I understand why the author did that, but I started to feel bored and I didn’t want to feel bored. But I found myself skimming through the second half until I reached the climax. The ending was kind of confusing for me, but I would be reading the other books in the series as I did enjoy it, overall. 

So these are the books I read in the month of March. I wish I would’ve read more but I’m glad I got to read so many books even if I regretted reading some of them. Let me know if you’ve read any of the books and what you thought of them. I would love to know. I just hope I make better reading choices in the month of April. 

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Book Tropes I Hate

I wanted to do something different for this post and after searching through Google I came across this idea and realized I haven’t done anything like this before on my blog. So here are some of the book tropes I despise with all my heart. 

Love Triangles

I just can’t stand this trope. I just don’t understand how or why you would fall for another when you’re in love with the person you’re with. Plus, I hate it even more when the main character ends up cheating in any way on their partner because of this trope. 

Reverse Harem

Though I try to avoid this trope as much as I can, I have read a few books and I just can’t wrap my head around this trope and for that reason I don’t like it. It also kind of gives me anxiety, imagining multiple people being in love with one person. I just think, logically it would be incredibly stressful for the main character to deal with all of them. 

The Mary Sue

This one is just unbelievable for me to the point that I feel bored or keep rolling my eyes every time I read about such a character, which is quite often as in a lot of stories, the main character often ends up being the Mary Sue. People are not perfect. Everybody has flaws and I think that’s what makes a character more three-dimensional. 

Best of the Best

This is similar to the Mary Sue trope but I find this more in fantasy novels, where the character is the best at everything they do. In my opinion it lowers the stakes because you know that the character will win without a scratch on them. It gets boring really quickly and as always, I have a particular dislike for flawless characters. 

Dystopia

This trope/genre is downright uncomfortable and often stressful for me, to be honest. There are so many elements to this trope that I don’t particularly enjoy. One of them is that this trope often rips at the humanity of people by forcing them in circumstances beyond their control. Also, this trope hits too close to home at times which makes it difficult to digest. 

Best Friend’s Sibling or Parent

This is another trope which makes me uncomfortable because of the relationship dynamics between the characters. It’s just something I’m not personally attracted to, so I avoid this trope as much as I can. 

So these are some of the book tropes I loathe with all my heart. Let me know if you also dislike any of the tropes mentioned above, and if not, then what are some tropes you tend to avoid? I’d love to know. 

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Pastry Book Tag

This post is another book tag. I found this book tag over on Zeezee with Books blog. I do not know who created this book tag even after looking at the blog of the person who tagged Zeezee with Books, who happens to be Trisha Ann at the Bookgasm Blog. I found this book tag interesting and decided to do it now. So here’s the Pastry Book Tag for you. 

Croissant: Name a popular book or series that everyone (including you) loves

I would choose the The Poppy War series by R. F. Kuang for this prompt. Everybody that I know loves this series and I’m in love with it as well. 

Macarons: Name a book that was hard to get through but was completely worth it in the end

Jade City by Fonda Lee is my pick for this prompt and it’s the reason why I haven’t picked the second book yet.  

Vol-Au-Vent: Name a book that you thought will be amazing but fell flat 

For this I’m going with The Shadow and Bone trilogy. I just didn’t find it compelling and I know people who have loved this series. 

Pain-Au-Chocolat: Name a book you thought would be one thing but turned out to be something else 

I’m going with Rouge by Mona Awad for this prompt. It really is as unique as it comes and I think everybody should read it. 

Profiterole: Name a book or series that doesn’t get enough attention

The Nevermore series by Kelly Creagh needs to be given more attention because it truly is amazing and so is every other book by the author. 

Croquembouche: Name a book or series that is completely complex

I needed a moment to think about this but ended up choosing Rotherweird by Andrew Caldecott for this prompt. 

Napoleon: Name a movie or TV show based off a book that you liked better than the book itself

The Vampire Diaries TV series far surpasses the books in my opinion so this one was really easy for me to think of. 

Empanada: Name a book that was bittersweet

 For this prompt I’m choosing Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke by Anne Blankman as it’s the conclusion of the duology and the ending itself was bittersweet. 

Kolompeh: Name a book or series that takes places somewhere other than your own country

This is a really easy prompt for me but for this I would go with Unbroken by Paula Morris and this book takes place in New Orleans, USA. 

Pate-A-Choux: Name a food from a book or series that you would like to try

This is a hard one as I’ve rarely read books with foods I want to try. It also doesn’t help that I’m not a foodie, but for this I’d go with the Treacle Spice Cake from Beauty by Robin McKinley. It sounds tempting and I love cake. 

And that’s it. This is my take on the Pastry Book Tag. I tag everyone who comes across this post and I hope you enjoy doing this tag as well. I certainly did. 

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Book Recommendations for the letter A

This is a new series I’m planning on doing for this blog, where I recommend books based on every alphabet. So if you’re looking for books based on the letters of your name or any of your favorite alphabets then make sure to follow this series. So here are some books which I think will be perfect for those whose name starts with the letter A or the first alphabet is their favorite letter. 

Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz

This is book 1 in the Alex rider series and follows Alex Rider—a teenage boy whose life takes a drastic turn upon his uncle’s untimely death. Unable to believe the cause of his death, Alex sets out to find the truth for himself, not realizing that he’d be forced to take on enemies much bigger and greater than him and if he doesn’t stop them in time, the world as he knows it could be in great peril. 

When I was looking up the personality traits for the letter A I got to know that they’re incredibly adventurous and that’s why this book is here. It’s packed with adventure and you’re sure to get an adrenaline rush after reading this book. 

Lotus Effect by Trisha Wolfe

This is a standalone novel and revolves around the life of Lakin Hale who is a true crime writer and works in the cold case division with her partner Agent Nolan Rhys. With her editor demanding a new book and Lakin having a hard time writing one, she decides to find out the identity of the person who tried to kill her many years ago but failed. And if she doesn’t find her killer now, she might just end up dead, for real this time. 

Another personality trait for the letter A is that they’re incredibly analytical, and this book is all about being analytical. So if you’re someone who enjoys analyzing things from various angles, then you’re sure to love this book. 

Catherine House by Elizabeth Thomas

This is a standalone novel and follows Ines who gets enrolled in the prestigious Catherine House; an academy for only the most special students with the most exclusive benefits. However, there’s a catch. The students must remove themselves from the outside world and dedicate their lives to the school. But Ines thinks there’s more going on than meets the eye and she’s going to find out what it is or die trying. 

Once again the curious, analytical nature of the letter A comes to play here and that’s why this book is on the list. The writer of this book has been incredibly creative and if you’re someone who loves a creative twist, then this book is for you.

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

This is book 1 in the series of the same name and follows Pip who, backing away from the norm, tries to find the truth about Sal’s killer with the help of the victim’s brother. Together they embark on a quest for the truth and Pip won’t stop until she has it. 

This book is about a teen detective and this book definitely has the creative, adventure and analytical part which is so dominant in the personality of the letter A, down to a T. So if you’re looking to read something that will feed your curiosity, be sure to give this book a chance. 

And these are some of the books which I think will be fitting for the people whose name starts with the letter A or they just really like this letter. Let me know if you have any more recommendations for this letter or if you agree with my recommendations, and I’ll try and search for recommendations for the other letters in the alphabet. 

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Book Review: Deadly Little Scandals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Date of Publishing: November 4th, 2019

Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Genre: Contemporary, Mystery

This is book 2 and the conclusion to the Debutantes series and continues with the story of Sawyer and her group of debutantes getting accepted to a secret society known as the White Gloves, giving Sawyer the perfect opportunity to try and figure out who her birth father is. But along the way she uncovers more than she bargained for. Secrets that should’ve remained buried. And the truth that could potentially kill her. 

This book was super enjoyable for me. I loved everything that went down in this book and believe me when I say, a lot went down. Every chapter was filled with some kind of drama which was part of a greater drama and the overall plot, so I found myself being on the edge of my seat and biting my nails as I flipped page after page until I reached the end. After which, I just sat there, stunned at what I read. 

First thing’s first. There’s so much drama in this book that it’ll make your head spin. And the best part is the drama is entertaining and somewhere one can relate to the situation taking place in the book, even though the overall plot might be a little far fetched. One will often find themselves experiencing a myriad of emotions as they read chapter after chapter. 

The story follows a dual timeline and I have to admit I needed a few more brain cells than I currently possess to understand it in time. It was my fault. I wasn’t paying attention and with so many characters—but not too many—I found it hard to keep up with the dual timeline and it wasn’t until much, much later did I realize what was going on. If you’re reading this, you can laugh at me because I’m laughing at myself for being so slow. 

I thought we’d established the parentage of every character involved but I was wrong. There was so much to uncover in this book and the author is so incredibly talented that they didn’t make it easy to figure out what was going on until much, much later, if the plot twist is anything to go by. I did have a hunch about who was the biological father of whom but I didn’t trust my intuition based on how the plot was unfolding. But at the end, I’m proud to say I was right, however, I was still caught off guard when the truth finally came out. 

I really enjoyed how the author weaved so many of my favorite elements within the story, to the point where I felt that two books aren’t enough for this series and the author should be writing more. Elements like, secret societies, murder and mystery are only some reasons why I couldn’t put this book down. 

Everything was executed perfectly. From the plot to the setting and the tone, there was nothing that I can say that needed improvement. In my opinion, the author gave Sawyer a very interesting life. There’s so much going on in her life with the adventures and the family issues, which definitely seem entertaining to the outside reader. However, I know that no one would want this to be their real life but it definitely leaves room for imagination and I think there’s no harm in visualizing yourself in Sawyer’s place and going about so much excitement that would make your head spin in reality. 

This book kind of gave me Pretty Little Liars vibe. So if that’s something you enjoyed, you might enjoy this book as well. Also, it’s interesting and slightly unrealistic how no adult keeps a check on these girls. I understand they know each other and how their parents are so busy dealing with their own issues and scandals, but still… If I were in this book I was sure my Mom would be asking me where I was coming and going from time to time. She’d check up on me despite the fact that I was living with family. But then again, this is a Young Adult novel and this is something that usually happens in Young Adult novels, so I’m not too bothered by it. 

So it should be obvious how much I truly loved and enjoyed this book. There’s so much drama and adventure in the story but the author’s writing style has made it a light-hearted, chick-lit book that doesn’t make one feel that they’re reading a book so dense with suspense and mystery. 

And I highly recommend this book to everyone and of course the entire series. So if you haven’t read this book, then you definitely need to read it right now and enjoy this series as much as I did. Meanwhile, I’m going to decide which series to read next by this author. 

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What I Read in February

Target: 7

Read: 5

I was so close to reaching my reading goal for this month but fell short of two books. However, I did read some really good books and managed to finish quite a few series on my list, so without further ado, here’s my reading wrap up for February. 

Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco 

This is book 1 in the series of the same name and follows Audrey Rose Wadworth in Victorian England as she tries to apprentice in her uncle’s forensic laboratory while trying to maintain her life as a respectable woman in society. However, expectations soon takes a back seat when unexpected murders begin taking place with the victims losing vital organs and it’s up to Audrey to figure out who is the person behind the killing, all the while being careful not to get herself killed in the process. 

I’d been wanting to read this book for so long and I’m so glad I finally did and this book did not disappoint. Everything was so perfectly written and orchestrated that I couldn’t help but turn page after page until I reached the end. The plot twist really caught me off guard  and that’s just another evidence of the author’s talent. I definitely intend to continue with this series and can’t wait to read everything else written by this author. 

A Portrait of Loyalty by Roseanna M. White

This is book 3 in The Codebreakers series which is also the conclusion to the series and revolves around the lives of Zivon Marin who was one of Russia’s most prominent personalities but was forced to flee his country and take shelter in England as a cryptographer, along with Lily Blackwell who’s an expert with a camera to the point of playing a vital role in terms of homeland security. When circumstances throw them together, Zivon and Lily have no choice but to work together to uncover the truth while not only protecting themselves but their countries as well. 

I’ve loved every book in this series and this one was just as amazing and downright adorable. I loved Zivon from the beginning and as the story progressed he just made me fall harder and harder for him. Lily didn’t disappoint either and I loved her job. Now that I’ve finished reading this series, I can’t wait to start the next series by this author. 

As Good as Dead by Holly Jackson

This is book 3 of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder series and is the conclusion to this series which follows Pip and Ravi as they take on one final case which is to help Pip more than anybody else. With trauma plaguing her, Pip needs something to save herself and this case seemed like the perfect thing to help her go back to normal. But as she tried to save herself, she doesn’t realize when she takes things too far and now she must pay the consequences. 

I have some serious thoughts about this book and I can’t believe whatever happened actually happened. I tried to deny and pretend that I didn’t just read what I read but I failed miserably. I never expected such a plot twist and such a pacing of the book but I did like the last line of the book and I’m glad I finally read this book and finished another series. 

Deadly Little Scandals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

This is book 2 in the Debutantes series and the conclusion of this series which continues with Swayer Taft and her three fellow debutantes as they try to uncover the million secrets their families are clearly buried in. Being forced into joining an exclusive debutantes society, Sawyer seizes the opportunity to find the answers she’s looking for, but she needs to make sure the secrets don’t kill her first. 

I have no words for the crazy in this book. And I really think I need to read this book again to truly make sense of everything that was in this book, because there was a lot. So many secrets and all twisting into one another with the past and present meshing into each other, this story is a salad of entertainment. I really want want some of the author’s talent into writing something so scandalous and deliciously messed up. And I can’t wait to target another series by this author. 

Evertrue by Brodi Ashton 

This is book 3 in the  Everneath series and the final book following the life of Nikki as she takes on the impossible task of destroying the Everneath with her boyfriend while searching for Cole who now owns her heart. With time against her and darkness gathering around her, Nikki has no choice but to see this to the end or die trying. 

I’m glad I finished this series because it was kind of starting to bore me, for the simple reason that I’ve outgrown it, at least that’s what I believe. The ending was sorrowful yet sweet but Nikki’s and Jack’s love seemed a little exaggerated and far-fetched considering how they’re in high school but it’s to be expected from YA romance. 

And this is my wrap up for February. I did read some pretty good books and I’m thinking which one to write a review on, and hopefully I’ll have it figured out before next week. Let me know if you’ve read any of these and what you thought of them or if you’re interested in reading any of the books mentioned above. 

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Books I Want to Finish

So the completionist in me has woken up and realized that there are some books that I started reading but never finished and that does not sit well with me. So in this post I’ll be listing the few books that I have yet to finish reading and hopefully publishing this post will motivate me to go back and finish them. So without saying anything more, here are the books I really want to finish. 

Die for Me by Amy Plum

This book 1 in the Revenants series and I remember reading the first few chapters before I stopped reading as I was reading other books at the same time. And since I started reading this book a few years ago, it’s safe to say I don’t remember much about it so I think I should start from the beginning whenever I get the chance to read this. 

City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

This is book 3 in the Mortal Instruments series and I don’t know why but I’m just not able to get through this book. I always try to read it but I’m just not able to get through it. It’s never-ending and I really don’t know if I’ll ever be able to get through this book but I surely want to try because I really want to finish this series. 

Red Sister by Mark Lawrence

This is book 1 in the Book of Ancestors series and I really enjoyed reading this book when I was reading it, but I think I wasn’t able to finish the book within the allotted time so I stopped and picked up some other book. But I really want to go back and read this book and the rest of the series. 

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood 

This is a standalone novel and the only reason I want to finish this book is because the completionist in me wants to finish it. I didn’t like this book and that’s why I stopped reading it but my crazy-self just wants to finish the book for the sake of finishing the book. 

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas

This is a standalone novel and it’s a brick of a book which takes a while to finish and that’s the only reason I haven’t been able to finish this book. I really enjoyed reading it while I was reading it and I really want to finish it and I hope I’m able to do it. 

And that’s it. These are the books that I haven’t finished but really want to complete. I really hope I get the time and the opportunity to finish these books because I don’t like the fact that they’re unfinished. Let me know if you’ve read any of these or want to read any of the books listed above. 

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5-4-3-2-1 Book Tag

I don’t know why it feels like it’s been forever since I’ve done a book tag, but it definitely feels like it to me. So now I’m here with the 5-4-3-2-1 book tag. I found this book tag on Zezee with Books blog who found it on the Corner of Laura and Aquavenatus . It’s a fairly short book tag so I thought to give it a try. 

5 Books you Love

I love this prompt but at the same time it’s a really tough one for me to respond to. However, some of the books I love are: 

Escape by Nenia Campbell. 

Babel by R. F. Kuang

Phantom Heart by Kelly Creagh

Rouge by Mona Awad

Shade Me by Jennifer Brown

4 Auto-buy Authors

This is also another difficult one to answer as I have plenty of auto-buy authors and it’s really hard for me to just pick four. However, here are the auto-buy authors for me:

Dan Brown

R. F. Kuang

Mona Awad

Kelly Creagh

3 Favorite Genres

This prompt is slightly easier than the others to answer so here are the genres I love the most: 

Fantasy

Gothic

Dark Academia

2 Places you Read

This tag is getting easier as I proceed. Normally I read wherever and whenever I get the chance as I keep my e-reader on me at all times. But the two places I read are:

My bed

The car

1 Book you Promise to Read

There are so many books I want to read and one of them is:

Hookah by Cameron Jace

And that’s it. This is my take on the 5-4-3-2-1 book tag. Let me know if you find this tag interesting. I tag anyone and everyone who comes across this post and I hope you enjoy doing this tag as much as I did. 

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Book Review: Rouge by Mona Awad

Date of Publishing: September 12th, 2023

Author: Mona Awad

Publisher: S&S/Marysue Rucci Books

Genre: Horror Literary Fiction, Gothic

This is a standalone novel and follows the story of Mirabelle (Belle) who sees beauty in every person except herself. Growing up as the daughter of a beautiful woman, Belle does whatever she can to make herself look beautiful, even sign up for a salon named Rouge which her Mother kept mentioning before she died. However, Rouge is not what it appears to be and Belle soon realizes that the price of beauty is sometimes to steep to pay. 

I’m obsessed with Mona Awad’s books and her writing style. I don’t know how she comes up with such unique concepts and able to weave such an intriguing narrative but this is one seriously talented author and I strive to be as good as her. I. AM. NOT. JOKING. 

The plot line that mixes the beauty standards of today’s day and age with fairytales was quick to suck me in and I really enjoyed reading about the vast number of beauty products that Belle uses in an attempt to appear beautiful to the world. 

Moreover, the mystery surrounding her Mother’s death was an entire roller-coaster and I have to say the lady in red who appears at her Mother’s funeral was one of my favorite characters in the book; the male counter part being the other, but this author really told the world that the beauty standards now are fairly dangerous and crippling. I could sense some kind of sub text in the form of criticism about how expensive beauty treatments are these days and not everyone can afford them despite having the right to be beautiful. I’m not sure if the author intended it but that’s what I got from reading the book. 

The characters were strange and mysterious as the rest of the story. Like they had a back story but as a reader I was left wondering exactly what the back story was. Belle’s mother clearly had a lot of relationships which were explored in the novel, but there were some characters I’m still wondering about; especially a dark and brooding detective who had a penchant for disguise. Though his story was explored as well, I would’ve liked to have gotten to know him a little deeper. 

Mona Awad has done a fantastic job by adding a touch of creepiness in the form of the mannequins. I never imagined mannequins to be as interesting as she portrayed them. But now every time I’d look at a mannequin I wouldn’t just think of it as a figure of plaster but something more. Something that could be more. 

The psychological aspect woven through the entire story was downright genius and that’s what gave the story the depth it possessed. From the obsession with mirrors and beauty to the mannequins that talked and breathed as if they were real, it was intense and it was thrilling. 

And the best part was the jellyfish. I am obsessed with jellyfish and the author putting the spotlight on such beautiful, mysterious creatures stole my heart. The jellyfish taking center stage really made me fall in love with the story and I really wish I could keep a jellyfish as a pet. Furthermore, the jellyfish being a symbol for one’s memories and soul just shows how malleable and fluid a person’s thoughts can be. I also think the author kind of hinted at a future where it’d be easy for people to get rid of unhappy or traumatic memories as that kind of technology is being invented as I write this. But then the question arises, what are we without our memories? Just a bunch of mannequins—wearing identical expressions and having no opinion of our own. So this story really does leave the reader with plenty of food for thought because one really ask themselves whether they really want to get rid of the painful memories. 

The entire tone of the story is dark and mysterious. Since the start of the story I was filled with questions and read the entire book just to seek the answers. The focus on mirrors was an intriguing aspect to the story just like the jellyfish. And the man in the mirror does seem like the negative voice inside everyone’s head which tells them they’re not good enough and need to work harder to look beautiful. 

Beauty, though makes the world more appealing can be incredibly lethal if it’s forced.

All in all, this book is a must read for everyone and I’m looking forward to Mona Awad’s upcoming books—whenever that maybe. I’m only left with one book by this author which I have yet to read and rest assured I’ll be doing that as soon as I get the chance. But I highly recommend this book to everyone and I urge you all to give this book a chance as soon as possible.  

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What I Read in January

Target: 11

Read: 3

This is probably the most embarrassing wrap up of my reading and blogging journey but there was a lot happening during the month which is made it difficult for me to sit down and read properly. I’m not an audiobook person so reading a book took longer than usual. But I still managed to read three really great books and here are their names. 

Rouge by Mona Awad

This book is a stand alone and is Mona Awad’s newest release which follows the life of Belle (Mirabelle) who is obsessed with being beautiful just like her mother. But after her mother’s sudden death, Belle has no choice but to go back to her mother’s place, a beautiful ocean-view property with neighbors that have more secrets than they’re aware of. Not to mention the secret salon that can make one beautiful in exchange for a small price, which Belle doesn’t know she’d agreed to pay. 

I love Mona Awad’s books. And this one blew my mind just like her previous books have done. Everything from the world of fashion and beauty to the weird horror that is her style, it was all perfection. I wouldn’t write too much about my feelings and opinions in this post as this book was my favorite of the month, so it’ll have more information in a separate book review. But if you haven’t read this book yet, you need to pick it up right now and binge read it. 

Unbroken by Paula Morris

This is book 2 and the conclusion to the Ruined series and follows up with the main character Rebecca Brown who is once again pulled into New Orleans due to circumstances out of her control. But this time, she has no intention of getting into ghost drama. She just wants to spend time with her family and Anton whom she hasn’t seen in so long. However, the ghosts of New Orleans have other plans and Rebecca would soon realize that when a ghost wants something it won’t stop until it had it. 

I loved the entire gothic setting and atmosphere of this book just like the first one. But unlike the first book, this one was more on the sweet and adorable side because of the ghosts starring in this volume. And there were a few things which seemed kind of far fetched but it’s a book about ghosts so I don’t mind that much. I had an incredible time reading this book and I’m kind of sad there aren’t more books in this series. 

Nightshade Revenge by Anthony Horowitz

This is book 14 and the final book in this riveting series that follows Alex Rider who is on a mission to destroy Nightshade—the biggest terrorist organization in the world—before they kill him. And when he finds friends in unlikely places and people show their true colors, Alex has no choice but to travel to the world of Wild West and take a chance on his own rodeo if he had any chance of living. 

I was actually sad reading this book as it’s the last in the series and the story that was always with me through my teenage finally comes to an end so reading this was bittersweet. But I’m glad I read it and as always the author did not disappoint. However, I would say the ending felt a little rushed to me and I think the book could’ve used two or three more chapters. But I’m definitely going to miss this series because it holds a lot of sentimental value for me and always will. 

So these are the books I read in the month of January. I know it’s not much but I’m glad what I read I enjoyed. Have you read any of the books listed above? Do you plan on reading any? Do let me know and I’ll try and focus on reading more books for the next month.