Josie

This book will not be one of my top reads of the year but I wasn't dissapointed in it. It kept my interest but didnt make me go WOW at any point. Certain scenes got me feeling a bit more than others, but nothing brought me to tears or anything. Over all I'd say this was a solidly average read.

Things I did enjoy though were the wordbuilding aspects, learning more about the magic and religions and other regions. These parts kept me interested and wanting to read more.

The relationships that developed and grew in this book were great. Ridoc is hands down one of my favorite characters now.

The relationship between Violet and Xaden remains feeling shallow for me. I get they are in love but their love only seems to be as deep as their physical connection. There are no moments of tenderness for them, even when opportunities rise, they use it to just be physical, which fine but it leaves the relationship feeling cheap.

I will definitely be reading the next book just to get answers for the plethora of questions Yarros left behind in the wake of this book. Though Onyx Storm will not be a book I'm running to tell people to read.

This will end up being one of the best books I will read all year, hands down no questions asked. This is such a warm and cozy read that I didn't know I was looking for. Legends and Lattes has been one of my favorite cozy reads since it came out and I've been chasing the feeling I got when I read it and I have finally found it.

Tao is such a wonderful character, relateable, vunerable, and quirky. The rest of the cast is equally entertaining and well thought out.

The adventure Tao goes on is equal parts funny and emotional. Watching her grow as a character alongside the others was such a heartwarming journey.

The Teller of Small Fortunes will definitely be one of my most recommended books of the year.

What a great quick read! It reminds me a lot of T. Kingfisher's Thronhedge but much darker. I enjoyed how quickly we moved along and how the relationship between the mermaid and plague doctor evolved. Looking forward to reading more by Khaw.

What an incredible read to start the new year off! The emotional roller coaster this book put me through was intense. It's so relatable and touching to watch each character devolope. Seeing what each brings to the table and how they grow with each other and become more confident is heartwarming.
The writing is fantastic and kept me wanting to just keep reading and not put the book down. 
I found that there is an animal movie based on this book as well and now that I'm done reading this I'm definitely going to check it out!

Last year I read The Unmaking of June Farrow and it was probably a top 5 best book of 2024 for me. I usually read fantasy and avoid anything set in the real world.This was the first book set in the real world that I truly enjoyed, loved even. When I saw Adrienne Young had published a new book I couldn't get my hands on it fast enough.

The suspense of figuring out what happens piece by piece is magical. She does such an amazing job keeping the reader engaged with the world in the book and the mystery unraveling before us.

James is such an interesting character and her twin equally so. The two and their group of friends have a past steeped in secrets that keep us on our toes. The quaint forest town holds twist and turns I would have never seen coming and felt so satisfied when the pieces fell into place.

This will be a book I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a bit of mystery and a touch of otherworldliness to their stories.