Jade City by Fonda Lee

I have danced around picking up Jade City by Fonda Lee since it was first released. I’ve heard the praise and it seemed interesting, but for whatever reason, I could not motivate myself to pick it up. I guess I was worried it would be some weird and boring fantasy with a stronger focus on martial arts over the intricacies I usually gravitate toward. Well, I can readily admit I was an idiot. This was absolutely amazing and mind-blowing. The politics involved rival A Song of Ice and Fire and the worldbuilding is astounding.

A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J Maas

I put this off for years but finally grew curious enough to pick up A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J Maas thinking surely it couldn’t be so bad. Well, as a fan of Nesta, it could be so bad. In fact, it could be worse.

Summer Knight by Jim Butcher

I think if you are starting to pick this series up in 2024 and have been on the fence, Summer Knight by Jim Butcher will likely put you off. If you’re willing to keep trudging through, I think it will pay off. Summer Knight definitely sets the stage for later books, so if you want to see this through to the end, you’ll definitely need to pick this one up.

Forbidden Skye by Alex Crane

Forbidden Skye by Alex Crane is a fast romance read with enjoyable characters. I think if you have tokens for Amazon Vella, or have Kindle Unlimited, you should definitely give this a read!

Seasonal Fears by Seanan McGuire

Seasonal Fears by Seanan McGuire is not Middlegame. It follows a different story and gets to that ending through different means. I need you to understand that when you pick this up because I see so many others disappointed that it isn’t Middlegame. This is a story where you have the pieces and have to put the puzzle together before anyone else does. There’s loyalty and devotion, and what spoke most importantly of all to me, discovering the reality of free will and choice.

Depraved by AJ Merlin

Depraved by AJ Merlin is a phenomenal dark/serial killer romance with intense spice and a fun story. This is absolutely recommended for folks that enjoy darker, kinkier romance with CNC, but also folks that understand this is fiction.

A Kiss From a Demon by Charlotte Swan

If you’re someone that is looking to get into monster romance, I definitely think A Kiss From a Demon by Charlotte Swan is a good introduction. Good spice, straight to the point, and doesn’t linger on unnecessary set dressing.

Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli

Pleasantly surprised by “Heartless Hunter” by Kristen Ciccarelli, I was drawn into a captivating fantasy romance. While light on world-building, the story’s strength lies in its compelling characters, notably Alex and Gideon, whose complex relationships with Rune adds delicious angst. The solid plot, with quick pacing and a slight twist, promises an intriguing series conclusion.

Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater

Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater is a very sweet and charming regency romance with just a bit of fantasy involved. The ending was satisfying, despite the small bumps it took to get there. I definitely think this would be a great read for young adult, and clean romance readers, especially those that love historical/regency period pieces.

Here and Only Here by Christelle Dabos

Reading Here and Only Here by Christelle Dabos was a struggle. Despite its short length, the abundance of different points-of-view made it challenging to engage until around 40%. The translated nature felt clunky. As the story darkened, it became more compelling, but the scattered perspectives hindered overall enjoyment. Recommended for mature middle graders or high schoolers with a knack for navigating disjointed narratives.

No One Has To Know by Carin Hart

Despite the BookTok allure, “No One Has to Know” by Carin Hart left me disappointed. Pacing issues and an unexpected twist at the end undermined the dark romance narrative. The characters lacked depth, and the romantic elements felt uninspiring. Recommend skipping this one and trying Hart’s other works.

Alex by Sawyer Bennett

Starting my hockey romance journey with “Alex” by Sawyer Bennett was a delight. Despite some dated elements, the story felt fresh with characters Alex and Sutton bonding over genuine issues. It transcended the typical lust-driven narrative, offering a promising introduction to Bennett’s expansive hockey romance universe. Excited to explore more in the series!

Brooklyn Cupid by Lexi Ray

Brooklyn Cupid by Lexi Ray was a major bait and switch from BookTok hype. Lacking tension and suffering pacing issues, it felt unnecessarily long. Jace and Lu’s romance struggled amid distracting Wattpad story segments. Lu’s influencer backstory and Jace’s bounty hunter role lacked coherence. The sudden action in the last quarter couldn’t salvage the overall disappointment. A struggle to get through, it fell short of expectations.

January 2024 Book Bracket

A new month, a new year, a new set of books to face off against each other to find the best read of January! There is a good collection of books reviewed this month, so it’s going to be super hard to find a favorite. Let’s get to the bracket!

The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones

I had seen the cover of The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones around for a while as friends and mutuals added the book to their TBRs. Each time I’d come across it, I’d think wow, I really should pick that up. It’s an absolute shame I didn’t pick it up until three years […]