Lala

DNF at 41%. Just not the right fit for me right now. Too slow and heavily introspective.

•┈๑⋅⋯ Death Do Us by Ruthy Mason ⋯⋅๑┈•✦

➝ • 4/5 ☆ •

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This was a genuinely fun read. The story feels fresh and unpredictable in a way that kept me paying attention, and I enjoyed the writing style. It has that quality where you think about the book even when you aren't reading and you look forward to getting back to it. I NEEDED to see how everything would end.

I can't justify a full five stars, but not for any dramatic reason. It's more of a feeling than a flaw. I enjoyed the ride and I liked the characters, but it didn't quite reach that top tier for me. Still, it's entertaining, clever, and very easy to sink into.

A solid pick for readers who want something fun, a little chaotic, and full of surprises.

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If you like:

✔️ dark humor

✔️ relationship driven tension

✔️ fast paced reads

✔️ unpredictable twists

✔️ light horror elements

✔️ compulsive reading energy

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📅 Pub Day: June 30, 2026 📚

💌 ARC provided via NetGalley from Union Square & CO. All opinions are my own.

✦•┈๑⋅⋯ The Iliad by Homer (Translated by Bruce Heiden) ⋯⋅๑┈•✦

➝ • 2/5 ☆ •

DNF at 9%

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I made it to 9% and realized I still had no idea what was happening. Every scene slid right out of my brain the moment I read it. I picked this up multiple times hoping something would click, but it never did. I appreciate the Classics for what they are, but I just could not find the willpower to keep going. This one was not for me, so I am calling it here.

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If you like:

✔️ epic poetry

✔️ ancient literature

✔️ mythology focused stories

✔️ dense classical language

✔️ slow unfolding narratives

✔️ historical foundational texts

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📅 Pub Day: Out Now 📚

💌 ARC gifted via NetGalley from Bruce Heiden | Palmetto. All opinions are my own.