Morren Aconite

I randomly read so many books without realizing it that now I dread putting this post together. This month’s selection ended up being really good, though, with great new releases and timeless classics in the mix.

Bunnicula #1, Deborah and James Howe

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really don’t think I should explain anything about this little delight. It’s a children’s book about a vampire rabbit. It’s awesome. Go read it.

The Familiar, Leigh Bardugo

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A servant at a decaying aristocratic household gets drawn into her mistress’ scheming because of the little ‘miracles’ she can perform. Luzia’s magic abilities can open a whole new world of riches and status for her, but can just as well land her on the Inquisition’s bonfire.

I loved the detailed, vivid world of this book. The characters were also interesting, and the way the story was unfolding made me think it would end up a five-star read for me. However, the pacing, in my opinion, was off in the second part of the novel, and at some point I found myself bored, flipping pages just to know how the whole thing ends. The book was still good, though, beautifully written and all, so I would recommend to check it out.

The Reappearance of Rachel Price, Holly Jackson

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Bel has lived her whole life dealing with the mysterious disappearance of her mother, Rachel. The case hung over her family for 16 years, and Bel’s character was heavily shaped by it. Believing that her mother might have chosen to leave her as a baby, our MC grew up to be closed off and defensive, afraid to be rejected once more. Imagine her shock, then, when her mother reappears with an unbelievable story to tell.

I picked this up hoping to read something easy and twisty, and that’s exactly what I got. Nothing outstanding, but very much entertaining.

Myth Conceptions, Robert Asprin

(Myth Adventures #2)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

It was as fun as the first one, though with my horrible memory I’ve already forgotten most of what went down in there. Nevertheless, I’ll be continuing with the series because these books are perfect for the evenings when I just can’t be assed to concentrate on something complicated.

An Education in Malice, S.T. Gibson

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Typical dark academia. Exclusive college. Poetry students. Lesbian vampires.

I read this for the ✨vibes✨, and it was alright, so… If you ran out of dark academia picks and need something to fill the void – go ahead.

One of Us Is Lying, Karen M. McManus

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Five students walk into detention, one ends up dead. The remaining four are suspected of his murder, so now they have to find out what’s really going on to avoid ending up in prison.

Even though the resolution was underwhelming, I did like the book overall. The characters were rather stereotypical, the plot somewhat predictable, but it’s a good read for a rainy day.

Babel, R.F. Kuang

⭐️⭐️⭐️

In 1828, an orphan is brought from Canton to London by a Professor who, without giving any explanation, takes care of his upbringing and education. The boy then goes on to study at Babel, Oxford’s prestigious translation institute, where he finds out some disturbing things about the Professor’s motives, his own past, and the politics behind Babel.

Meh. That’s literally all I want to say.

Piglet, Lottie Hazell

⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’m not sure how to summarize the plot, since there isn’t much of it, and, to be fair, it’s not that important. It’s a novel about a woman who deals with her fiancé’s betrayal right before their wedding. It’s about wanting, and knowing what we truly want.

The writing was good, sure, but it’s not a book I personally would recommend. It’s one of those cases where, technically, it’s great but, practically, it left me absolutely indifferent. And that’s about the worst impression I can have of a book.

Behind Closed Doors, B.A. Paris

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Grace is a perfect wife in her perfect house with a perfect husband. Everyone always tells her how lucky she is to have Jack. Only she never leaves the house without him. Doesn’t have friends. Doesn’t have a mobile phone. The more you look, the weirder Grace’s life seems. I’m sure we all know where this is going.

Another thriller I read because I didn’t feel like thinking this month. I was sufficiently enraged by it, and the ending was satisfying, so this is good enough for a quick read. The villain was a bit too cartoonish for my taste, but, oh well.

I’m Thinking of Ending Things, Iain Reid

⭐️⭐️⭐️

A woman is on a long drive with her boyfriend to meet his parents. She’s thinking of ending things.

This was trippy. I picked this book up because of multiple reviews containing different versions of ‘what the fuck was that ending’. Can’t say I was that impressed by it, but the novel is short, has some absolutely sublime paragraphs, and is a curiously creepy read.

The Awakening, Caroline Peckham, Susanne Valenti

(Zodiac Academy #1)

⭐️⭐️

Twin sisters find out they’re ‘super powerful magical princesses from another dimension’, but to get their throne they first have to graduate from the Zodiac Academy, where everyone hates them and wants them dead.

This is literally 400 pages of MCs being brutally bullied and abused by a bunch of hot dudes. The world and the magic system are a mess. It’s like the authors took EVERYTHING magical that exists, mixed it up and dumped it at random in an attempt to make a Hogwarts-like academy but with 🌶️spice🌶️. Vampires are an Order, but Nymphs are a race; the academy is called ZODIAC, but astrology is the least relevant thing in the whole book; students are being insulted, beaten, and fed on by teachers while the principal doesn’t give a flying fuck. The whole thing is so ridiculous it’s not even funny.

Buttons & Lace, Penelope Sky

⭐️

Ugh. Just ugh.