That’s a wrap on the second-to-last reading month of the year! I managed to read 2 ARCs and 2 books in the 5-star range this month, as well as what I’m pretty sure will be the longest book I’ve read in 2023. Let’s get into it.

Stats

Total books read: 9

#readmyowndamnbooks: 6

ARCs: 2

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi (4.5 stars) – The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is the perfect book for fans of fairytale retellings, lyrical writing, and settings heavy with atmosphere. Dual POVs center around Indigo, a mysterious woman with familial wealth, a house filled with treasures, and a penchant for the fantastical. Through the perspectives of her new husband struggling with his promises not to investigate her secrets in the present timeline, and her best friend from childhood being drawn into Indigo’s world in the past, we delve into the intrigue surrounding this almost mythical figure. It has aspects of mystery, fabulism, and a coming-of-age story. I didn’t expect to love this one as much as I did, and I look forward to Roshani Chokshi’s next foray into adult lit.

La Petite Mort by Olivie Blake (4.5 stars) -I enjoyed the heck out of La Petite Mort, a short novel by Olivie Blake. It would have been difficult for someone with my reading taste to dislike it, since it features:
-The history and local mythology of a New Orleans setting
-A fish-out-of-water but nevertheless badass bi protagonist
-A variety of supernatural creatures, notably vampires
-A love triangle that’s really more of a manipulation triangle, and/or an enemies triangle
Anyways, if you enjoy Olivie Blake and/or if any of the above appeals to you, this is a great one-sitting read (which I did not read in one sitting, I just think that would be fun).

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros (4 stars) – I had a lot of fun reading this sequel to Fourth Wing (making so I did sure quickly to avoid spoilers), although I didn’t feel that the pacing was on par with its predecessor. I still really enjoyed the climactic ending and abundance of action.

10 Things That Never Happened by Alexis Hall (4 stars) (ALC) – I think the cover of this contemporary romance could be better served by adding even a few Christmas lights, as it’s very much a holiday romance and this wasn’t really depicted at all. It’s extremely grumpy/sunshine and features the manager of a Bed, Bath, & Beyond-esque store faking amnesia in an attempt to keep his boss from firing him and his entire store’s staff. The conceit is silly, but the emotional development that both the protagonist and his love interest go through is heartfelt, especially with regard to the boss’s strained relationships with his family and the protagonist’s loneliness. There’s also the great humor you expect from Alexis Hall, with absurd moments and witty dialogue. I received an advanced listener copy of the audiobook of 10 Things That Never Happened from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Starling House by Alix E. Harrow (3.5 stars) – I’ve had mixed results with Harrow’s books in the past; I was disappointed by The Ten Thousand Doors of January but enjoyed her fairytale retelling novellas. Starling House felt quite different than either of those, and I thought that many aspects of it were really strong. I loved the “unlikable” main character, off-the-beaten-path setting, and mysterious folklore aspects, although I really could have done without the romance.

Keeper of Enchanted Rooms by Charlie N. Holmberg (3.5 stars) – This historical fantasy was a bit of a spontaneous choice for me to pick up this month, and I found it to be an overall cozy and enjoyable audiobook experience. I could have done without the romance, which I didn’t realize would be such a large part of the novel, but I enjoyed the unconventionally haunted house and found family aspects.

The Long Game by Elena Armas (3.5 stars) (eARC) – I found Armas’s third contemporary romance to be my least favorite of hers so far, and also the least fun to read. It’s heavier in subject matter, which I don’t usually mind, but the two main characters were both pretty joyless people and that made reading about their romance less entertaining. It was pitched as grumpy/grumpy rather than grumpy/sunshine, but the two came across as more rude and immature than anything else, so much so that I wasn’t sure I was rooting for them to get together. There are moments of cuteness and levity; I liked the parts about the girls’ soccer team, and the small town’s mayor seems like she could be an interesting main character in a spinoff novel, but it was overall a bit too solemn for what I was looking for in a romance. I received an eARC of The Long Game from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I Want to Die But I Want to Eat Tteokbokki by Baek Se-Hee (3.5 stars) – I wished this nonfiction book, which features transcripts between the author and her therapist, had been longer and more fully realized; it had some really strong moments but in my opinion needed more development.

Number Go Up: Inside Crypto’s Wild Rise and Staggering Fall by Zeke Faux (3 stars) – Parts of this were interesting, but if you’re looking to read a great book about the scams inherent in the crypto world, I’d instead recommend Easy Money by Ben McKenzie and Jacob Silverman. I just didn’t find Number Go Up to be as compelling or interestingly written as that one.