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It’s Monday! What are you Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn from Book Date, a place to share and discuss what we’ve read in the past week and what we’re in the middle of or are planning to read this week.

What I read / listened to last week:

A Venom Dark and Sweet by Judy Lin- I love this duology’ s unusual magic system and how everything is tied in in the sequel.

From the blurb:

The enthralling conclusion to Judy I. Lin’s Book of Tea duology—A Magic Steeped in Poison and A Venom Dark and Sweet—is sure to enchant fans of Adrienne Young and Leigh Bardugo.

A great evil has come to the kingdom of Dàxi. The Banished Prince has returned to seize power, his rise to the dragon throne aided by the mass poisonings that have kept the people bound in fear and distrust.

Ning, a young but powerful shénnóng-shi—a wielder of magic using the ancient and delicate art of tea-making—has escorted Princess Zhen into exile. Joining them is the princess’ loyal bodyguard, Ruyi, and Ning’s newly healed sister, Shu. Together the four young women travel throughout the kingdom in search of allies to help oust the invaders and take back Zhen’s rightful throne.

But the golden serpent still haunts Ning’s nightmares with visions of war and bloodshed. An evil far more ancient than the petty conflicts of men has awoken, and all the magic in the land may not be enough to stop it from consuming the world…

The Witches of Bone Hill by Ava Morgyn – the witchy, spooky season is almost upon us, so if you’re looking for a story about family secrets, sister love, self-discovery, with some horror scenes and just a tiny bit of romance- perhaps you should try this one. A bit on a longish side with 416 pages…

From the blurb:

A story about family secrets and two young women who discover they’re Nordic witches.

Cordelia Bone’s meticulously crafted life and career in Dallas are crashing down around her thanks to a philandering husband with criminal debts.

When her older, carefree sister, Eustace – a cannabis grower in Boulder, calls to inform her the great aunt they never met has died and they must travel to a small town in Connecticut to deal with the estate, she sees an opportunity to unload the house and save herself.

But once there, the sisters learn they are getting much more than they bargained for. The Victorian mansion they stand to inherit is bound in a dynasty trust controlled by their late aunt’s aging attorney who insists they inhabit the house and retain it but keeps them in the dark about the peculiar rituals of their ancestors. Not to mention a sexy, tattooed groundskeeper with a shrouded past who refuses to leave the carriage house and a crypt full of dead relatives looming at the property line.

As both women grapple with their current predicament, they come face to face with a haunting family secret, the truth of what happened to their mother, and the enemy that’s been stalking them from the shadows for generations. In a twisting torrent of terror and blood, the sisters must uncover the power within them to heal their fractured relationship, reverse their mysteriously declining health, and claim the lineage they wanted to escape but now must embrace if they are to survive at Bone Hill.

What I am reading/listening to now:

What became of Magic by Paige Crutcher

From the blurb:

From the author of The Orphan Witch and The Lost Witch comes a new tale about a witch, a book of magic and a beguiling and powerful creature whom she must free, even if it puts her life and soul at stake.

Aline Weir, a witch who can talk to ghosts, has kept her talents hidden ever since a disastrous middle school slumber party, choosing to be invisible and use her powers in secret to help lost souls reunite with the keys to send them home. All the while, she finds solace in a bookstore and the three mysterious women who run it… until Aline discovers the book of Mischief, and her powers are enhanced.

Living a solitary life until the age of thirty, Aline’s life takes an unexpected turn when the wrong (or perhaps right) person witnesses her using her powers and she is invited to a town that doesn’t exist on any map. Arriving in Matchstick, Aline learns of a lost magic that desperately needs to be found and only her unique powers can do it. But what she’s not told is that Magic is a person. One that is dangerous and seductive and has been waiting for a witch with a power like hers for centuries.

What I’m reading /listening to next:

The Mask of Mirrors by M.A.Carrick

From the blurb:

“Lush, engrossing, and full of mystery and dark magic,” The Mask of Mirrors is the unmissable start to the Rook & Rose trilogy, a dazzling fantasy adventure by Marie Brennan and Alyc Helms, writing together as M. A. Carrick. (BookPage)

FORTUNE FAVORS THE BOLD. MAGIC FAVORS THE LIARS.

Ren is a liar and a thief, a pattern-reader and a daughter of no clan. Raised in the slums of Nadežra, she fled that world to save her sister. Now, she has returned with one goal: to trick her way into a noble house, securing her fortune and her sister’s future.

But in the city of dreams, her masquerade is just one of many. Enigmatic crime lord Derossi Vargo, stony captain of the guard Grey Serrado, dashing heir Leato Traementis, and the legendary vigilante known as the Rook all have secrets that could unravel her own.

And as corrupt nightmare magic begins to weave its way through the city of dreams, the poisonous feuds of its aristocrats and the shadowy dangers of its impoverished underbelly become tangled—with Ren at their heart.

A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid

From the blurb:

“Achingly atmospheric and beautifully sharp.”—Rory Power, New York Times bestselling author of Wilder Girls

Bestselling author Ava Reidmakes her YA debut in this haunting stand-alone dark academic fantasy, perfect for fans of Melissa Albert and Erin A. Craig.

Effy Sayre has always believed in fairy tales. She’s had no choice. Since childhood, she’s been haunted by visions of the Fairy King. She’s found solace only in the pages of Angharad—author Emrys Myrddin’s beloved epic about a mortal girl who falls in love with the Fairy King and then destroys him. Effy’s tattered, dog-eared copy is all that’s keeping her afloat at Llyr’s prestigious architecture college. So when Myrddin’s family announces a contest to redesign the late author’s estate, Effy feels certain this is her destiny.

But Hiraeth Manor is an impossible task: a musty, decrepit house on the brink of crumbling into a hungry sea. And when Effy arrives, someone else has already made a temporary home there. Preston Héloury, a stodgy young literature scholar, is studying Myrddin’s papers and is determined to prove her favorite author is a fraud. As the two rivals piece together clues about the reclusive author’s legacy, dark forces, both mortal and magical, conspire against them—and the truth may bring them both to ruin.

Part historical fantasy, part rivals-to-lovers romance, part Gothic mystery, and all haunting, dreamlike atmosphere, Ava Reid’s powerful YA debut is also an unflinching indictment of institutions that sacrifice young girls on the altar of men’s “genius” and a gripping read that will stay with you long after its final page.

..or something else?

How did your last week go and what are you reading this week?

It’s Monday! What are you Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn from Book Date, a place to share and discuss what we’ve read in the past week and what we’re in the middle of or are planning to read this week.

What I read / listened to last week:

A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy Lin – this YA fantasy book has one of the most delightful magic systems ever and it’s all based on various kinds of tea, so I just couldn’t help thinking about my friend Yesha and her book rating and tea for every mood system -check it out…I guess saffron tea for this one.

From the blurb:

For Ning, the only thing worse than losing her mother is knowing that it’s her own fault. She was the one who unknowingly brewed the poison tea that killed her—the poison tea that now threatens to also take her sister, Shu.

When Ning hears of a competition to find the kingdom’s greatest shennong-shi—masters of the ancient and magical art of tea-making—she travels to the imperial city to compete. The winner will receive a favor from the princess, which may be Ning’s only chance to save her sister’s life.

But between the backstabbing competitors, bloody court politics, and a mysterious (and handsome) boy with a shocking secret, Ning might actually be the one in more danger.

Every Duke Has His Day by Suzanne Enoch- a delightful regency romcom

What I am reading/listening to now:

A Venom Dark and Sweet by Judy Lin

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What I’m reading /listening to next:

My Sister’s Grave by Robert Dugoni (Tracy Crosswhite 1)

A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid

..or something else?

How did your last week go and what are you reading this week?

It’s Monday! What are you Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn from Book Date, a place to share and discuss what we’ve read in the past week and what we’re in the middle of or are planning to read this week.

What I read / listened to last week:

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

What I am reading/listening to now:

A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy Lin

From the blurb:

.

For Ning, the only thing worse than losing her mother is knowing that it’s her own fault. She was the one who unknowingly brewed the poison tea that killed her—the poison tea that now threatens to also take her sister, Shu.

When Ning hears of a competition to find the kingdom’s greatest shennong-shi—masters of the ancient and magical art of tea-making—she travels to the imperial city to compete. The winner will receive a favor from the princess, which may be Ning’s only chance to save her sister’s life.

But between the backstabbing competitors, bloody court politics, and a mysterious (and handsome) boy with a shocking secret, Ning might actually be the one in more danger.

What I’m reading /listening to next:

The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden

From the blurb:

In The Girl in the Tower, Vasilisa faces an impossible choice. Driven from her home by frightened villagers, she has only two options left: marriage or the convent. She cannot bring herself to accept either fate and instead chooses adventure, dressing herself as a boy and setting off astride her magnificent stallion Solovey.

But after she prevails in a skirmish with bandits, everything changes. The Grand Prince of Moscow anoints her a hero for her exploits, and she is reunited with her beloved sister and brother, who are now part of the Grand Prince’s inner circle. She dares not reveal to the court that she is a girl, for if her deception were discovered it would have terrible consequences for herself and her family. Before she can untangle herself from Moscow’s intrigues—and as Frost provides counsel that may or may not be trustworthy—she will also confront an even graver threat lying in wait for all of Moscow itself.

Every Duke Has His Day by Susan Enoch

From the blurb:

Michael Blumley, Duke of Loriton (age 28), is viewed as an eccentric by his peers in the ton. He does his duty, of course, but his interest—and talent—lies in the science of electricity. He has no interest in what the frivolities of Society. When his favorite aunt, Mary, Lady Harris, leaves her precious, well-behaved black poodle, Lancelot in his care while she travels his life takes an interesting turn.

Elizabeth “Bitsy” Dockering (age 19), third daughter of a viscount, is enjoying her second Season in London. She is a Diamond of the Season and is adored by all—and especially by her precious black poodle, Galahad. To everyone else, however, Galahad is a demon dog. So much so that Peter Cordray, one of Bitsy’s most insistent beaux and a particular victim of Galahad’s bad manners and sharp teeth, has hired a petty thief (Jimmy Bly) to steal the dog, clearing the way for his suit.

When the two dogs and their “people” meet in the park, chaos ensues and unknowingly results in a dog swap. Which means Lancelot is kidnapped instead of Galahad! But when both dogs go missing in an ever thickening dognapping plot, Michael and Elizabeth end up coming together to scour London, recover Lancelot and Galahad all while falling in love.

…or something else?

How did your last week go and what are you reading this week?

It’s Monday! What are you Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn from Book Date, a place to share and discuss what we’ve read in the past week and what we’re in the middle of or are planning to read this week.

What I read / listened to last week:

Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson- the magic system/ worldbuilding is quite unusual in this one-there are saints, relics, ghosts, zero romance (sorry, if this is a spoiler), but a lot of self-discovery and growing friendship. So far every single book by this author has been remarkable in its uniqueness. Felt slightly too long, but it’s a matter of personal opinion.

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From the blurb:

Artemisia is training to be a Gray Sister, a nun who cleanses the bodies of the deceased so that their souls can pass on; otherwise, they will rise as spirits with a ravenous hunger for the living. She would rather deal with the dead than the living, who trade whispers about her scarred hands and troubled past.

When her convent is attacked by possessed soldiers, Artemisia defends it by awakening an ancient spirit bound to a saint’s relic. It is a revenant, a malevolent being that threatens to possess her the moment she drops her guard. Wielding its extraordinary power almost consumes her—but death has come to Loraille, and only a vespertine, a priestess trained to wield a high relic, has any chance of stopping it. With all knowledge of vespertines lost to time, Artemisia turns to the last remaining expert for help: the revenant itself.

As she unravels a sinister mystery of saints, secrets, and dark magic, her bond with the revenant grows. And when a hidden evil begins to surface, she discovers that facing this enemy might require her to betray everything she has been taught to believe—if the revenant doesn’t betray her first.

The Space between worlds by Micaiah Johnson- I was so drawn into the story that I basically had to read it in one sitting… All multiverse books tend to focus on how our identity is shaped by the environment, but here we have more- the role of privelege, class, and colonialism. The title itself tells you that a huge part of it is going to be about belonging in all kinds of ways.

‘All human beings are unknowable’

From the blurb:

An outsider who can travel between worlds discovers a secret that threatens her new home and her fragile place in it, in a stunning sci-fi debut that’s both a cross-dimensional adventure and a powerful examination of identity, privilege, and belonging.

Multiverse travel is finally possible, but there’s just one catch: No one can visit a world where their counterpart is still alive. Enter Cara, whose parallel selves happen to be exceptionally good at dying—from disease, turf wars, or vendettas they couldn’t outrun. Cara’s life has been cut short on 372 worlds in total.

On this Earth, however, Cara has survived. Identified as an outlier and therefore a perfect candidate for multiverse travel, Cara is plucked from the dirt of the wastelands. Now she has a nice apartment on the lower levels of the wealthy and walled-off Wiley City. She works—and shamelessly flirts—with her enticing yet aloof handler, Dell, as the two women collect off-world data for the Eldridge Institute. She even occasionally leaves the city to visit her family in the wastes, though she struggles to feel at home in either place. So long as she can keep her head down and avoid trouble, Cara is on a sure path to citizenship and security.

But trouble finds Cara when one of her eight remaining doppelgängers dies under mysterious circumstances, plunging her into a new world with an old secret. What she discovers will connect her past and her future in ways she could have never imagined—and reveal her own role in a plot that endangers not just her world, but the entire multiverse.

What I am reading/listening to now:

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden- savouring this one…I can see why this trilogy has so many fans.

A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy Lin -although summer is over, I’m still on the quest to read as many fantasy books as possible 🙂

From the blurb:

For Ning, the only thing worse than losing her mother is knowing that it’s her own fault. She was the one who unknowingly brewed the poison tea that killed her—the poison tea that now threatens to also take her sister, Shu.

When Ning hears of a competition to find the kingdom’s greatest shennong-shi—masters of the ancient and magical art of tea-making—she travels to the imperial city to compete. The winner will receive a favor from the princess, which may be Ning’s only chance to save her sister’s life.

But between the backstabbing competitors, bloody court politics, and a mysterious (and handsome) boy with a shocking secret, Ning might actually be the one in more danger.

What I’m reading /listening to next:

Every Duke Has His Day by Susan Enoch- this is going to be the first romance book I’m going to read in months and months…Hope it is is as much fun as Susan Enoch’s previous ones.

From the blurb:

Michael Blumley, Duke of Loriton (age 28), is viewed as an eccentric by his peers in the ton. He does his duty, of course, but his interest—and talent—lies in the science of electricity. He has no interest in what the frivolities of Society. When his favorite aunt, Mary, Lady Harris, leaves her precious, well-behaved black poodle, Lancelot in his care while she travels his life takes an interesting turn.

Elizabeth “Bitsy” Dockering (age 19), third daughter of a viscount, is enjoying her second Season in London. She is a Diamond of the Season and is adored by all—and especially by her precious black poodle, Galahad. To everyone else, however, Galahad is a demon dog. So much so that Peter Cordray, one of Bitsy’s most insistent beaux and a particular victim of Galahad’s bad manners and sharp teeth, has hired a petty thief (Jimmy Bly) to steal the dog, clearing the way for his suit.

When the two dogs and their “people” meet in the park, chaos ensues and unknowingly results in a dog swap. Which means Lancelot is kidnapped instead of Galahad! But when both dogs go missing in an ever thickening dognapping plot, Michael and Elizabeth end up coming together to scour London, recover Lancelot and Galahad all while falling in love.

…or something else?

How did your last week go and what are you reading this week?

It’s Monday! What are you Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn from Book Date, a place to share and discuss what we’ve read in the past week and what we’re in the middle of or are planning to read this week.

What I read / listened to last week:

Strike the Zither by Joan He

This is a retelling of a Chinese classic Three kingdoms and, having not read it before I felt a bit apprehensive. I needn’t have worried- the narrative is absolutely spellbinding with memorable, well-differentiated characters, who are never black and white, conditioned by their life experiences, and yet remaining in control of their fate. I don’t know if it is correct to call it a feminist re-telling, given how we are in the world where there are warlords and warlordesses, male and female warriors, poets and strategists, a world where the gender doesn’t limit or define your career choices.

I absolutely adored our loyal strategist star- Zephyr- and couldn’t get enough of her adventures. The fantasy part was a bit distracting, but Joan He’s plots are always iron-clad (you’re in good hands!) and you usually only see the big picture later on.

The author herself said this duology is better read back to back. This is definitely going to be one of my most anticipated books coming out next spring.

The Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros- addictive is a pretty good description, not that it is always a sign of good writing.

What I am reading/listening to now:

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

What I’m reading /listening to next:

Every Duke Has His Day by Susan Enoch

A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy Lin

…or something else?

How did your last week go and what are you reading this week?

It’s Monday! What are you Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn from Book Date, a place to share and discuss what we’ve read in the past week and what we’re in the middle of or are planning to read this week.

What I read / listened to last week:

This Wicked Fate by Kalynn Bayron- Kalynn Bayron’s books are among most readable ones ever and the protagonist’s magic power is something I hadn’t seen in any other magic system. I loved every single scene where Briseis discovers and learns to control what she can do with plants. At times the pace felt a bit uneven- there was a lot of setting/relationship building leading to a few action scenes that go in a blink of an eye.

If you’re a fan of horror films with their particular narrative patterns and love Greek mythology retellings, don’t miss this duology.

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh- lyrical, dream-like, poetic, this is a feminist retelling of a Korean fairy-tale. The message is very clear-you can and you should choose your own fate and shape it with your own efforts.

What I am reading/listening to now:

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden- starting another buddy read with Yesha. Hope we are going to enjoy it as much as our previous ones.

What I’m reading /listening to next:

A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy Lin

The Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros- fantasy books with dragons are not my cup of tea ( Nayimathun from the Priory is an exception), but I’m curious why this book has such a high rating…

…or something else?

How did your last week go and what are you reading this week?

It’s Monday! What are you Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn from Book Date, a place to share and discuss what we’ve read in the past week and what we’re in the middle of or are planning to read this week.

What I read / listened to last week:

The Priory of the Orange Tree – yay! Although it took me an unusually long time to finish this epic adventure, now I feel reluctant to leave this fantasy world created by Samantha Shannon.

This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron

What I am reading/listening to now:

The invisible hour by Alice Hoffman

What I’m reading /listening to next:

This Wicked Fate by Kalynn Bayron

Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney

…or something else?

How did your last week go and what are you reading this week?