2022 Reading Stats/Wrap-Up

2022 has drawn to a close.

As a general overview, this is what I read over the year:

  • 190 books
  • 113 manga
  • 27 graphic novels

A grand total of 330 and 93,355 pages read. On my Storygraph I mainly kept track of the books and graphic novels I read (and a handful of manga) so the total I’ve actually read on there is lower. I just want to see what types of books I’ve read without it being crowded by the amount of manga I read. 

The average book length of books I’ve read is 342 pages. With the shortest being 94 pages–Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus: Cat Magic by Lydia Sherrer, a novella–and the longest being 706–Beautiful Nightmare by KJ Sutton.

Here are my stats.

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|–BOOKS–|

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A majority of my books were from the library and they were mostly audiobooks. Audiobooks are more convenient when I’m mindlessly doing some activities. Overall, I’ve read an average of 15 books per month with my lowest reading months being May and June at 8 books and September being my highest at 28 books. I discovered 83 new authors.

Of the 190 books I read:

  • 44 were standalones
  • 63 were the first books in a series
  • 83 were sequels

Of the 63 books first in a series:

  • 29 were new series I started
  • 26 are series I’m not continuing
  • The rest are either companion novels, novellas, or re-reads

I managed to finish 22 series this year. I’ll just point out the stand out series that have become favorites:

  • Pandava Quintet by Roshani Chokshi
  • The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi
  • The Extraordinaries by TJ Klune
  • Big Bad Wolf by Charlie Adhara
  • A Chorus of Dragons by Jenn Lyons
  • Edge of Collapse by Kyla Stone
  • The Executive Office by Tal Bauer

My Top 4 Most Read Authors are:

  1. Kyla Stone (8)
  2. Eden Finley & Lydia Sherrer (7)
  3. Charlie Adhara (6)
  4. Saxon James & Ilona Andrews (5)

I’ve found myself a new author to follow and it’s Tal Bauer. I enjoy his writing style and how he writes relationships as it’s just what I was looking for–slow romance that builds without any unnecessary drama.

My favorites of the year:

  • The Wolf at the Door by Charlie Adhara
  • The Wizard’s Butler by Nathan Lowell; the only standalone on the list
  • So This is Ever After by F.T. Lukens
  • Prince of the Sorrows by Kellen Graves

Honorable Mentions:

  • Scary Stories for Young Foxes: The City by Christian McKay Heidicker
    • I should have known what to expect after the first story; was so sad
  • Luck in the Shadows by Lynn Flewelling
    • One of the oldest book on my TBR

Overall thoughts:

I’ll probably create a post for my favorites and such on a separate post so it’s not too long. 

Before I thought of audiobooks as a last opportunity for a book if I couldn’t physically get through a book. Now I find them to be very useful. I get most of my audiobooks through Hoopla so most of the time I’m scrambling to find a title for the amount of books I can borrow which means most of the books I’ve been reading haven’t even been on my radar. 

However, through this method I’ve been able to explore different genres that I wouldn’t reach for as often and read more books published a few years back. This helped dwindle down my actual TBR (by a bit, not a lot, just a bit) as there are just some books where I know I wouldn’t have a rich experience without physically seeing the words. Very useful for getting through contemporaries though. There have been times where I’ve actually tried the audio but the narrator just wasn’t for me (or I’ve found myself just not paying attention). 

|–MANGA–|

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Of the 113 manga I read:

  • 11 were standalones
  • 13 were the first books in a series
  • 74 were sequels
  • 15 were re-reads

I’m only not continuing 1 of the series–Heavenly Delusion–I started and I finished 4 series.

Format:

  • 42 were physical copies
  • 71 were e-books

How I read my manga:

  • 30 volumes were what I owned
  • 46 volumes I borrowed from the library
  • 3 volumes were ARCs
  • 34 volumes I read from a subscription service

Of the 13 series that I started this year, these are one’s I’m looking forward to:

  • The Fox and Little Tanuki by Mi Tagawa
  • My Love Mix-Up! by Wataru Hinekure & illustrated by Aruko
  • Elegant Yokai Apartment Life by Hinowa Kouzuki & illustrated by Waka Miyama; watched the anime and want to continue the story with the manga
  • Mao by Rumiko Takahashi
  • Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End by Kanehito Yamada & illustrated by Tsukasa Abe

These are the 4 series that I finished this year:

  • Cagaster by Kachou Hashimoto
  • Mermaid Saga by Rumiko Takahashi
  • Dekoboko by Atsuko Yusen; not actually the series name and I’m not sure if another work will happen, but I figure I can catalog it here
  • Blue Flag by KAITO; I cried, didn’t expect the ending but loved it

Overall thoughts:

I’m on the fence on some series that I started like MASHLE, but I’ve been able to progress through a couple ongoing manga. I plan on taking advantage of my library resources to read more completed series (I have a list). I am glad that my library is able to keep up with a couple series. I’m particularly fond of Beastars as things are just getting interesting and I’ve only read up til volume 10.

For my graphic novels since I haven’t read a lot to really distinguish them or list them out I’ll probably just share the graphic novels that I’ve read on my tumblr.

June 2022 Releases I’m Looking Forward To

🟢​ : manga
🟣 : books
🟠 : graphic novels

7th
🟣 Hell Followed with Us by Andrew Joseph White

Sixteen-year-old trans boy Benji is on the run from the cult that raised him—the fundamentalist sect that unleashed Armageddon and decimated the world’s population. Desperately, he searches for a place where the cult can’t get their hands on him, or more importantly, on the bioweapon they infected him with.

But when cornered by monsters born from the destruction, Benji is rescued by a group of teens from the local Acheson LGBTQ+ Center, affectionately known as the ALC. The ALC’s leader, Nick, is gorgeous, autistic, and a deadly shot, and he knows Benji’s darkest secret: the cult’s bioweapon is mutating him into a monster deadly enough to wipe humanity from the earth once and for all.

Still, Nick offers Benji shelter among his ragtag group of queer teens, as long as Benji can control the monster and use its power to defend the ALC. Eager to belong, Benji accepts Nick’s terms…until he discovers the ALC’s mysterious leader has a hidden agenda, and more than a few secrets of his own.

🟣 Fairlane by Michael J. Sullivan (The Rise and Fall, Book 2)
🟢 What Did You Eat Yesterday? V18 by Fumi Yoshinaga
🟢 Yona of the Dawn V36 by Mizuho Kusanagi

14th
🟢 Caste Heaven V7 by Chise Ogawa

21st
🟢 Until I Meet My Husband by Ryousuke Nanasaki & illustrated by Yoshi Tsukizuki

This historic memoir by Japanese gay activist Ryousuke Nanasaki recounts his first experiences as a gay man while searching for his soulmate and eventual marriage–the first religiously recognized same-sex wedding in Japanese history. (Original novel of essays also available from Seven Seas.)

From school crushes to awkward dating sites to finding a community, this collection of stories recounts the author’s firsts as a young gay man searching for love. Dating isn’t ever easy, but that goes doubly so for Ryousuke, whose journey is full of unrequited love and many speed bumps. But perseverance and time heals all wounds, even those of the heart. This moving memoir by gay activist Ryousuke Nanasaki, following his historic life story, was originally released in Japan in a novel of collected essays and in a beautiful manga adaptation–now both will be available in English for the first time.

The memoir is 282 pages manga is around 200 pages. As it’s a collection of essays I’m wondering if the manga will be constructed that way too, or if the story will have a cohesive streamline? I’m curious to see how this adapted into manga format; especially since it’s a memoir, but I still can’t wait to see how it’ll be told. 

ending

Impressions on Five Manga Series Where I’ve Only Read the First Volume So Far

These are listed in no particular order. I think there are a few more that I’ve started, but these are the ones I’m more excited for.

My Love Mix-Up!

I was looking forward to this release because of the mangaka Aruko who worked on My Love Story!!, but honestly the plot drew me in too. I really did not know what to expect as I did not have a clear idea on what the plot revolved around (I also didn’t want any major spoilers going in so I refrained from researching). While I was hoping for the BL to happen, I was also rooting for Aoki as he comes to terms with Hashimoto liking another boy. There’s humor mixed with some serious moments in this school setting, and that fact that everything revolves around a huge misunderstanding makes it fun as emotions are explored. A cute story that brought on a smile.

Volume 4 is coming out July 5th!


Merman In My Tub

I’ve watched the 12 episode anime adaption before I added this series onto my very long TBR. I’m very curious on how the story of Tatsumi and Wakasa goes beyond the anime such as how did they meet, who else will they be meeting, and the eventual ending (or parting as I have no idea what to expect). As I’m adding it to my TBR, obviously I have become committed to the story and characters. I enjoy the humor and eccentric moments as Wakasa definitely brings color into Tatsumi’s life, and Tatsumi’s everyday life is something we all can relate to.


Dragon Goes House-Hunting

I read the first volume before I saw the anime adaptation, and I was a bit disappointed on the anime as scenes I wanted to see were not there. So I’ll just base my thoughts on the volume that I read. One thing I loved was the humor and dynamic between Letty and Dearia. I enjoyed the detail and time taken for Letty to decide on the type of house he wanted. I am curious to see what the anime did and did not add in, learn more about Dearia, and find the type of home that Letty wants.

 


For the Kid I Saw in My Dreams

I have high expectations for this series as it’s from Kei Sanbe. I loved erased and wanted to see what other works he had out in English. I’m thinking that I might need some time before I revisit this series as I keep looking for erased characters in this work even though the tone is very different. (I’m pretty sure the same is for Island in a Puddle). The plot is very fast from the start with an element of mystery introduced right off the bat. Right off the bat I don’t know how safe our characters will be but there will be some danger involved. I don’t know the direction this series is going but I can’t wait to find out more.


Handa-kun

I watched Barakamon and found this story about Sei as a teenager to be funny. I can definitely see him as a crybaby as he thinks his entire school hates him. While he has matured a bit in Barakamon it’s nice to see how much growth there was. Reading this made me wish we saw more of his classmates in Barakamon as they are all unique. Much more lighthearted and more humor in this as Sei goes through his high school life.

 

May 2022 Releases I’m Looking Forward To

There are not a lot of books that I find appealing this month, so the ones that I find I’m mostly looking forward to the plot.​

KEY:
🟢​ : manga
🟣 : books
🟠 : graphic novels

10th–
🟢 His Favorite V12 by Suzuki Tanaka

I’ve been patiently waiting for this volume. I can’t to read more Sanada and Yoshida as they navigate their relationship in a chaotic high school setting.

🟣 Yonder by Ali Standish

Set during World War II with a fantasy twist added in. I’m sure the fantasy element will play a small part of the story, but I’m curious enough to want to check it out.

17th–
🟢 Karneval V13 by Touya Mikanagi

Thankfully, through my library I’m able to get caught up to volume 12. I love the art, but as the story will be drawing to close I’m mostly worried about pacing along with how the story will conclude. 

🟢 BEASTARS V18 by Paru Itagaki
🟣 Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation (Novel) V2 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu & illustrated by Mariana Privalova 
🟣 The Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah 

Honestly, anything with a prince in a fantasy setting has my attention. I’m hoping for adventure and based on what I’m reading conspiracy.

24th–
🟢 Seaside Stranger: Harukaze no Étranger V3 by Kii Kanna

31st–
🟢 I’m the Catlords’ Manservant V3 by Rat Kitaguni

 

ending

 

April 2022 Manga (or Rather Illustrated) Releases I’m Looking Forward To

I didn’t think that I would create this post, but it turns out there are a few titles I’ve collected.

12th–

Links by Natsuki Kizu

I want to see more of Natsuki Kizu outside of given.

19th–

The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System (Novel) V2 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

I know this isn’t a manga but I typically look forward to the illustrations in light novels. I’m pretty sure this book will be a beauty to look at. I do have to say that while I haven’t read the first book, the story is something I’m curious by (I’ve watched the donghua).

20th–

Hana-chan and the Shape of the World by Ryotaro Ueda

26th–

Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard?! V4 by Yuu Toyota

Sasaki and Miyano V5 by Shou Harusono

I haven’t actually started this manga, but it’s on my radar.


I really need to update my manga list to reflect series that I’ve started and those that are still on my radar.

ending

March Manga/Graphic Novel Releases I’m Looking Forward To

8th–
Delicious in Dungeon V10 by Ryoko Kui

FINALLY~ I was waiting. I love this series as it takes cooking into the dungeons and has a fair amount of action and plot at the same time. 

New York, New York V1 by Marimo Ragawa

I love her illustrations for A Vampire and His Pleasant Companions, and how I want to see how she tells her stories. I do have Those Snow White Notes, but I want to read a BL story. 

15th–
Island in a Puddle V1 by Kei Sanbe

Definitely looking forward to all of his works especially after Erased.

Karate Survivor in Another World V3 by Yazin & illustrated by Takahito Koboyashi

Funny how I’m looking forward to a series I haven’t read yet. I am interested in the series. I’m find that I’m very picky when it comes to isekai so I’m hoping to be a bit surprised.

BEASTARS V17 by Paru Itagaki

I have definitely not read up to volume 16, but it’s just exciting seeing new releases. So far I’ve only read up to volume 6. So much more to uncover.

22nd–
Dekoboko Bittersweet Days by Yusen Atsuko

A standalone sequel to Dekoboko Sugar Days that I’m so glad was picked up to be translated. While the first one main focused on their budding romance it seems like this volume will focus on their school life and them as a couple. I can’t wait for more fluffiness. 

29th–
Poiko Quests & Stuff by Brian Middleton

The only graphic novel here. I don’t do a lot of research into graphic novels. I typically just like to be surprised by them.

Top Ten Tuesday: New-to-Me Authors I Discovered in 2021

Based on my spreadsheet seems like I read a lot of new authors so I decided to add in a mix of authors. I tried my best not to include any authors or books that I’ve mentioned before. The order is from when oldest to newest.

  1. Katherine Arden

So I started off with Small Spaces (SS) and tried out The Bear and the Nightingale. I liked SS but I just couldn’t get into The Bear and the Nightingale (BN). BN reminds me of Uprooted/Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik. I find that I’m not the greatest fan of fairy tale-esque stories.

  1. Julie Kagawa

I read the entire Shadow of the Fox trilogy. The first book focused on the basics—world building, character introduction, plot—which I found to be slow in pacing. I cared much more in the second and third books. Truthfully I didn’t care for the romance, but I enjoyed the historical Japanese setting along with the side characters as they both added a fun personality to the story.

  1. Sally Thorne

I finally got around to The Hating Game earlier this year. I was in a romance mood and finally decided to pick it up because I didn’t know what to read next. The start was promising but maybe I’m just not a fan of how the romance progressed? I expected a bit more lighthearted back and forth enemies moments but they only appeared a few times in the beginning of the book before disappearing altogether. 

  1. Tahereh Mafi

So I gave the Shatter Me series a try. Boy did this series frustrate me at times through the entire series. The first book wasn’t so bad but after that the angst dialed up. Very romance focused.

  1. Mariana Zapata

I’m not the greatest fan of romance, but there are times where I’m in the mood for a good romance. I don’t care for angsty or sexual tension so I decided to give this author by reading The Wall of Winnipeg and Me. I wasn’t as invested in the story or romance as much as I wanted to though. There was nothing new or surprising about the fake relationship trope that made it stand out for me. I wasn’t as invested in the characters either or their story. 

  1. Michelle Harrison

I read the first two picks of the Pinch of Magic series, a middle grade fantasy following three sisters as they navigate their magical powers as they get thrown into adventures way beyond their comfort. A journey of family, courage, danger, and finding our hidden strengths.

  1. J.A. White

I read Nightbooks first before starting the Thickety series. I’ve recently read Archimancy and I have to say that I’m more attached to Thickety. J.A. White has a way of writing spooky middle grade books with a unique twist, but I feel the characters, while very diverse in personality, are often hit-or-miss for me.

  1. Claudia Gray

I read the Firebird series because I owned A Thousand Pieces of You for the longest time. As a story the plot was entertaining. This is a light science fiction series dealing with parallel worlds. Surprisingly I found myself not minding the romance as much as I thought I would have. A very quick read that doesn’t require a lot of commitment or understanding to enjoy the book for what it is.

  1. Christian McKay Heidicker

A Scary Story for Young Foxes really surprised me. This is one of those middle grades that hit me on an emotional level through the storytelling as we follow the stories of two foxes. I want to read the sequel, or perhaps its the companion? I was a bit spooked at times (but I’m easy to spook) however this story can get heartwarming too. 

  1. Shelley Parker-Chan

I picked up She Who Became the Sun because it was the book for the fantasy part of the Tropeical Readathon.While I didn’t exactly read it during the readathon I eventually got around to it before I had to return the book. I enjoyed the action, the story was intriguing, the characters had many facets to be explored, but there just was no spark that made me want to pick up the sequel.

10 Anticipated Releases in 2022

These are upcoming releases that I’m keeping my eye on for the first half of 2022. I would usually do separate posts on new books and sequels, but I haven’t found many releases that caught my attention.

**Now The Hourglass Throne doesn’t have a cover reveal yet so I can’t share it’s beautiful cover with you.

FEBRUARY

1st – The Weeping Tide by Amanda Foody

This is the second book in the Wilderlore series with the first book being The Accidental Apprentice. I received an ARC ages ago so I have no excuse as to why I didn’t pick up this book. A mix of danger, adventure, friendship, and fantasy in this middle grade series.  With the new cover I can see that there is a new aspect of this fantastical world that is going to be explored. 

8th – Rise of the Mages by Scott Drakeford

Scott Drakeford’s highly commercial, epic fantasy debut, Rise of the Mages blends the arcane abilities of the Jedi Order with the return of vengeful gods.
Emrael Ire wants nothing more than to test to be a weapons master. His final exam will be a bloody insurrection, staged by corrupt nobles and priests, that enslaves his brother.

With the aid of his War Master tutor, herself an undercover mage, Emrael discovers his own latent and powerful talents.

To rescue his brother, Emrael must embrace not only his abilities as a warrior but also his place as last of the ancient Mage Kings—for the Fallen God has returned.

And he is hungry.

MARCH

22nd – The City of Dusk by Tara Sim

The Four Realms—Life, Death, Light, and Darkness—all converge on the city of dusk. For each realm there is a god, and for each god there is an heir.

But the gods have withdrawn their favor from the once vibrant and thriving city. And without it, all the realms are dying.

Unwilling to stand by and watch the destruction, the four heirs—Risha, a necromancer struggling to keep the peace; Angelica, an elementalist with her eyes set on the throne; Taesia, a shadow-wielding rogue with rebellion in her heart; and Nik, a soldier who struggles to see the light—will sacrifice everything to save the city.

But their defiance will cost them dearly.

I want to to read this book because it’s Tara Sim. I’m hoping to enjoy another of her works.

APRIL

5th – Aru Shah and the Nectar of Immortality by Roshani Chokshi

This is the fifth book to the Pandava series. At this point I’m reading to find out how the story ends and how all the events in the prior book will affect the characters. It took me a while (book wise) to like Aru Shah because I really didn’t like her at first. 

12th – God of Neverland: A Defenders of Lore by Gama Ray Martinez

Peter Pan is missing; Neverland is in trouble. For adults, that might not matter all that much, but for children—whose dreams and imagination draw strength from the wild god’s power—the magic we take for granted in the real world is in danger of being lost forever.

Such is the life of a now grown-up Michael Darling.

Michael returned from Neverland with the dream of continuing his adventuring ways by joining the Knights of the Round, an organization built to keep humanity safe from magical and mythological threats.. But after a mission gone terribly wrong, he vowed to leave behind the Knights and finally live as a “civilian,” finding order and simplicity as a train engineer, the tracks and schedule tables a far cry from the chaos of his youth.

He hasn’t entered the narrative in years. So what could they need from him now?

Maponos—or how he’s better known, Peter Pan—has gone missing, and Neverland is now on the edge of oblivion. Michael realizes he has no choice and agrees to one last mission. Alongside the young Knight Vanessa and some old friends, Michael embarks on the ultimate adventure: a journey to a fantasy world to save a god. Determined to stop evil, fight for Neverland, and find Maponos, will Michael be able to save the magical and physical world? Or will his biggest fear come true?

The clock is ticking, and in Neverland, that’s never a good sign.

It’s a Peter Pan retelling so I’m interested but I’m also a bit nervous. Peter Pan retellings (or the one’s I’ve read) often take out the whimsical out of it and take a brutally honest approach to the entire story. 

26th – Osmo Unknown and the Eightpenny Woods by Catherynne M. Valente

From New York Times bestselling author Catherynne M. Valente comes an inventive new fantasy following a boy journeying away from the only home he’s ever known and into the magical realm of the dead in order to fulfill a bargain for his people.

Osmo Unknown hungers for the world beyond his small town. With the life that Littlebridge society has planned for him, the only taste Osmo will ever get are his visits to the edge of the Fourpenny Woods where his mother hunts. Until the unthinkable happens: his mother accidentally kills a Quidnunk, a fearsome and intelligent creature that lives deep in the forest.

None of this should have anything to do with poor Osmo, except that a strange treaty was once formed between the Quidnunx and the people of Littlebridge to ensure that neither group would harm the other. Now that a Quidnunk is dead, as the firstborn child of the hunter who killed her, Osmo must embark on a quest to find the Eightpenny Woods—the mysterious kingdom where all wild forest creatures go when they die—and make amends.

Accompanied by a very rude half-badger, half-wombat named Bonk and an antisocial pangolin girl called Never, it will take all of Osmo’s bravery and cleverness to survive the magic of the Eightpenny Woods to save his town…and make it out alive.

MAY

10th – Kagen the Damned by Jonathan Maberry 

The first installment of an exciting new series of dark epic fantasy novels from bestselling author Jonathan Maberry.
Kagen Vale is the trusted and feared captain of the palace guard, specifically charged with protecting the royal children of Gessleyn, 89th queen of the unbroken line of the Silver Lands. But one night, while Kagen is drugged by a woman in a tavern, the Silver Lands are overrun, and the entire royal family is killed and burned as a sacrifice to the dark gods of the immortal Witch-King. The once-thriving kingdom is in ruins, and the people are enslaved.

Haunted and broken, Kagen becomes a wanderer, working odd jobs and trying to take down as many of his enemies as possible, when he hears a rumor that the royal twins are still alive, and possibly being raised for dark sacrificial purposes. Kagen makes it his mission to hunt for the royal children and fulfill his oath to protect them, and train them to begin a campaign to reclaim the throne. As he hunts for the children, Kagen’s quest takes him to strange lands where he encounters the supernatural in all its many bizarre and terrifying aspects.

17th – The Hourglass Throne by K.D. Edwards 

As Rune Saint John grapples with the challenges of assuming the Sun Throne, a powerful barrier appears around New Atlantis’s famed rejuvenation center. But who could have created such formidable magic . . . what do they want from the immortality clinic . . . and what remains of the dozens trapped inside?

Though Rune and his lifelong bodyguard Brand are tasked with investigating the mysterious barrier, Rune is also busy settling into his new life at court. Claiming his father’s throne has irrevocably thrown him into the precarious world of political deception, and he must secure relationships with newfound allies in time to keep his growing found family safe. His relationship with his lover, Addam Saint Nicholas, raises additional political complications they must navigate. But he and Brand soon discover that the power behind the barrier holds a much more insidious, far-reaching threat to his family, to his people, and to the world.

Now, the rulers of New Atlantis must confront an enemy both new and ancient as the flow of time itself is drawn into the conflict. And as Rune finds himself inexorably drawn back to the fall of his father’s court and his own torture at the hands of masked conspirators, the secrets that he has long guarded will be dragged into the light—changing the Sun Throne, and New Atlantis, forever.

The climax of the first trilogy in the nine-book Tarot Sequence, The Hourglass Throne delivers epic urban fantasy that blends humor, fast-paced action, and political intrigue.

I was surprised that this was the end to the series as there are many questions and intrigues that I want to know about. After some quick research on the author’s Goodreads page I found out that while it’s a nine-book series, they all follow the main characters I’ve grown to love and want to see more of. *phew* I have to say that I was a bit worried there for a while. Now I can’t wait to see how the cover will look like. 

17th – The Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah

Inspired by stories from One Thousand and One Nights, The Stardust Thief weaves the gripping tale of a legendary smuggler, a cowardly prince, and a dangerous quest across the desert to find a legendary, magical lamp.

Neither here nor there, but long ago…

Loulie al-Nazari is the Midnight Merchant: a criminal who, with the help of her jinn bodyguard, hunts and sells illegal magic. When she saves the life of a cowardly prince, she draws the attention of his powerful father, the sultan, who blackmails her into finding an ancient lamp that has the power to revive the barren land—at the cost of sacrificing all jinn.

With no choice but to obey or be executed, Loulie journeys with the sultan’s oldest son to find the artifact. Aided by her bodyguard, who has secrets of his own, they must survive ghoul attacks, outwit a vengeful jinn queen, and confront a malicious killer from Loulie’s past. And, in a world where story is reality and illusion is truth, Loulie will discover that everything—her enemy, her magic, even her own past—is not what it seems, and she must decide who she will become in this new reality.

JUNE

7th – Hell Followed with Us by Andrew Joseph White

A furious, queer debut novel about embracing the monster within and unleashing its power against your oppressors. Perfect for fans of Gideon the Ninth and Annihilation.

Sixteen-year-old trans boy Benji is on the run from the cult that raised him—the fundamentalist sect that unleashed Armageddon and decimated the world’s population. Desperately, he searches for a place where the cult can’t get their hands on him, or more importantly, on the bioweapon they infected him with.

But when cornered by monsters born from the destruction, Benji is rescued by a group of teens from the local Acheson LGBTQ+ Center, affectionately known as the ALC. The ALC’s leader, Nick, is gorgeous, autistic, and a deadly shot, and he knows Benji’s darkest secret: the cult’s bioweapon is mutating him into a monster deadly enough to wipe humanity from the earth once and for all.

Still, Nick offers Benji shelter among his ragtag group of queer teens, as long as Benji can control the monster and use its power to defend the ALC. Eager to belong, Benji accepts Nick’s terms…until he discovers the ALC’s mysterious leader has a hidden agenda, and more than a few secrets of his own.

Favorite Books of 2021

A bit belated but here we are. A few of these titles have appeared on my Mid-year Freakout post. Turns out I haven’t found enough books to make be deliberate my Top 10 reads.

Socially Orcward (Adventures in Aguillon Book 3) by [Lisa Henry, Sarah Honey]  

  1. Thick as Thieves by Megan Whalen Turner

Each book in this series can be read as a standalone although the first three can be read together. The pacing is slower than usual as there is more focus on character development and not to mention the reintroduction of one of my favorite characters from book two.

  1. Flash Fire by TJ Klune

This sequel was just as exciting as the first. Full of hilarious moments between characters mixed with more serious tones being discussed along with a new character element being explored. A fun superhero twist and I can’t wait for the final book. 

  1. Socially Orcward by Lisa Henry & Sarah Honey

I read the Adventures in Aguillon series. Each book is a companion to the other and can be read by themselves. Red Heir was fun, Elf Defence wasn’t as interesting as I wanted it to be, and I adored Socially Orcward. Dave is a likable character and I love his simplicity as it brings on funny moments throughout the book. A quick book to get through and definitely one that I want to revisit.

  1. The Accidental Apprentice by Amanda Foody

A fun middle grade fantasy that follows orphan Barclay as he discovers a world of magic and animal familiars. In this first book we get an introduction into this magical world as he undertakes the apprenticeship exam and I can’t wait to see where the next book takes us. 

  1. Perfect on Paper by Sophie Gonzales

A YA contemporary that I enjoyed. This was the second book I’ve read from Gonzales that I’ve enjoyed so I can’t wait to read more. I enjoyed this book

  1. Network Effect by Martha Wells

From what I’ve read of the series this book was very memorable. Murderbot meets an old acquaintance and his world is again turned upside down as he is thrown into a dangerous adventure. I’m curious to see how he goes on from here.

  1. Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

This book was fun and engaging. The book caught my attention from the start but I have to say that the wrap-up kind of waned for me. We get some insight into the brujo culture and a Latinx family dynamic. 

  1. Beneath the Citadel by Soria Destiny

I would have to say that this is a toned down version of Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo that I enjoyed more than I thought I would. If you’re looking for a quick adventure with some character-centric moments then I would recommend this book. The action is not as intense but for a YA standalone was more than enough to add to the story.

  1. Written in Red by Anne Bishop

The Others is the only series I’ve read or I found appealing. The first book really hit me on a different level and I was excited for the rest of the series, but there were certain parts of the series that I wasn’t a huge fan of. There is a very strong line of black and white in portraying good and evil and I wish there were more shades of gray in the series. I consumed them through audiobooks but next time I try out this series I’m going to read and perhaps spread the series out.

  1. Dungeon Born by Dakota Krout

In the later months of 2021 I was in the mood for a LitRPG book and in Hoopla I came across Dungeon Born. I’ve tried a few others but the characters were not as interesting as I wanted them to be (and often felt flat). With this book the personality of the characters are very contrasting which made the entire reading experience engaging. I’m currently on the fourth book and I can’t wait to read it.

Top Ten Tuesday: 2021 Releases I Was Excited to Read But Didn’t Get To

I had three posts for my anticipated releases in 2021 that I shared: first half of 2021 part 1, first half of 2021 part 2, and the second half of 2021.

  1. The Hedgehog of Oz by Cory Leonardo
  2. Any Way the Wind Blows by Rainbow Rowell
  3. The Bronzed Beasts by Roshani Chokshi
  4. Cytonic by Brandon Sanderson
  5. The Wolf’s Curse by Jessica Vitalis
  6. Lost in the Neverwoods by Aiden Thomas
  7. Ravage the Dark by Tara Sim
  8. The Summer of Broken Rules by K. L. Walther
  9. Arrow by Samantha M Clark
  10. The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer

A few of them are sequels that I put off but now I can’t wait to read since it’s a new year.