Morren Aconite

This year started with several excellent books for me, but I also went through a pile of less-than-good reads.

I’ve decided to be even more selective in 2025 and just DNF books when I’m not really enjoying them (whereas previously I’d finish reading if it was a lukewarm three a.k.a. ‘good but not my thing’). I failed this month, still having trudged through a few novels I wasn’t enjoying.

Anyway, let’s get to the reviews already, shall we?

Tender Is the Flesh, Agustina Bazterrica

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book is thoroughly messed up in the best way.

I Might Be In Trouble, Daniel Aleman

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘There’s nothing quite like having someone tell you that you can’t have the things you want to make you work even harder to get them.’

An author struggling to publish another book goes out looking for a story but finds a LOT of trouble instead. It’s a funny, relatable, and cute novel.

Homeland, R.A. Salvatore

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

In an attempt to get back into epic fantasy, I started rereading this, and it was as fun as I remember.

Exile, R.A. Salvatore

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Continuation of the series, still fun. I hope to make it through at least 10 more.

Beautyland, Marie-Helene Bertino

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The prose is exquisite, but I found this novel a little underwhelming. However, it does provide a curious perspective on growing up and feeling alienated.

The Food at Midwinter, Susanna Clarke

⭐️⭐️⭐️

A magical short story that takes about 10 minutes to read. It’s full of winter fairytale vibes, and that’s just what I was looking for.

What It’s Like In Words, Eliza Moss

⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘I felt more and more like writing was something I’d stumbled into and couldn’t find my way out of, like those hikers who die in caves.’

A dissection of a toxic relationship and the character’s struggle to leave it. The book consistently made me mad, partly with its extremely accurate portrayal of abuse, partly with its main character. Seriously, the word ‘annoying’ was made for Enola.

Sister Snake, Amanda Lee Koe

⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘But even a beguiling paradise grows drier than dust when you can’t have what you want.’

I picked this novel up because it’s marketed as a literary retelling of one of my favorite Chinese myths. As usually happens when you have expectations, the reality doesn’t match them. The book was… fine. At most.

Also, I have no idea how it ended up categorized as ‘literary’ with writing as campy as this.

Murder’s A Witch, Danielle Garrett

⭐️⭐️⭐️

I listened to the audiobook solely because I wanted to try out the format and was drawn in by the talking cat. The cat did not disappoint, and the book in general was fun enough, though I doubt I’ll be continuing the series.

We Came to Welcome You, Vincent Tirado

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Ugh, this had so much potential. I was hoping for a creepy horror with a bunch of Karens, and that’s just not it. It was ok.

We Used to Live Here, Marcus Kliewer

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Once in, like, five years, I’ll let myself be fooled by the popularity of something, and this was it. What the reviews call one of ‘the most terrifying’ or ‘the creepiest’ books turned out to be a collection of tired horror tropes with a slightly cool ending. Meh.

By the way, the comparison to ‘Parasite’ pissed me off. It’s like comparing maguro nigiri with tuna sandwiches.

This Girl’s a Killer, Emma C. Wells

⭐️⭐️

I love books where girls kill bad men so I was impatient for this one to come out. I regret to report that love did not happen in this case. Would not recommend. Go read C.J. Skuse’s ‘Sweetpea’ instead.

Credence, Penelope Douglas

⭐️

This book is a crime against humanity.

BOOKS I DNF’ED

Swiped, L.M. Chilton

Dropped at: 74%

Projected rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Once again, this one has a fun premise: a girl goes on dates and these men keep ending up dead. However, I was not able to really get into the book, however hard I tried.

Definitely Better Now, Ava Robinson

Dropped at: 39%

Projected rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

A novel about a recovering alcoholic and her attempts to fix her life. I liked the writing and the subject matter, but I found the plot lacking in progression.

The Three Lives of Cate Kay, Kate Fagan

Dropped at: 53%

Projected rating: ⭐️⭐️

Also one of my attempts to get into audiobooks. It was fine but just not my thing.

Perfect Girl, Tracy Banghart

Dropped at: 41%

Projected rating: ⭐️⭐️

How can a book about a girls’ sleepover that turns into a nightmare with a storm, a creepy (possibly haunted) house, and a killer on the loose be boring? I don’t know, but this one managed to pull it off.