The Dark Days Club – Wonderfilled Reads

Wonderfilled Reads Favorites: Underrated Books

Today I just wanted to take a little time to highlight some of my favorite books that aren’t super popular in the bookish community. I feel like we all tend to focus, myself included, on the really popular books and forget to spread the word about the lesser known titles that we love as well. Am I the only one who feels this way? Possibly. Which is why I decided to share some of own little “underrated” favorites with all of you… Sharing is caring after all! 😉

Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal

Yes, this book was picked for Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club but I still never see anyone talking about it! You all know that I’m not much of a contemporary reader, but I listened to the audiobook of this one and immediately fell in love. It was funny, heartwarming, and really engaging. I also loved getting to learn a little more about the Indian community in London. I cannot recommend this book enough.

Nikki lives in cosmopolitan West London, where she tends bar at the local pub. The daughter of Indian immigrants, she’s spent most of her twenty-odd years distancing herself from the traditional Sikh community of her childhood, preferring a more independent (that is, Western) life. When her father’s death leaves the family financially strapped, Nikki, a law school dropout, impulsively takes a job teaching a “creative writing” course at the community center in the beating heart of London’s close-knit Punjabi community.

Because of a miscommunication, the proper Sikh widows who show up are expecting to learn basic English literacy, not the art of short-story writing. When one of the widows finds a book of sexy stories in English and shares it with the class, Nikki realizes that beneath their white dupattas, her students have a wealth of fantasies and memories. Eager to liberate these modest women, she teaches them how to express their untold stories, unleashing creativity of the most unexpected—and exciting—kind.

As more women are drawn to the class, Nikki warns her students to keep their work secret from the Brotherhood, a group of highly conservative young men who have appointed themselves the community’s “moral police.” But when the widows’ gossip offers shocking insights into the death of a young wife—a modern woman like Nikki—and some of the class erotica is shared among friends, it sparks a scandal that threatens them all.

Sanctuary by V.V. James

I had no idea what to expect when I first picked up this book, but oh man, it was a wild ride! This book little bit of everything – diverse characters, a murder mystery, deals with grief and hysteria. I mean, it REALLY has it all. Just note, that this is an adult book and does get dark in places.

The small Connecticut town of Sanctuary is rocked by the death of its star quarterback.

Daniel’s death looked like an accident, but everyone knows his ex-girlfriend Harper is the daughter of a witch – and she was there when he died.

Then the rumours start. When Harper insists Dan was guilty of a terrible act, the town turns on her. So was his death an accident, revenge – or something even darker?

As accusations fly and secrets are revealed, paranoia grips the town, culminating in a trial that the whole world is watching . . .

Honor Among Thieves (The Honors, #1) by Rachel Caine and Ann Aguirre

This series has really blown me away so far. The concept of a person basically connecting to an alien (that is also a living ship) is such an interesting and unique idea. I think the sequel kicked the action up even more than the first book.

Petty criminal Zara Cole has a painful past that’s made her stronger than most, which is why she chose life in New Detroit instead of moving with her family to Mars. In her eyes, living inside a dome isn’t much better than a prison cell.

Still, when Zara commits a crime that has her running scared, jail might be exactly where she’s headed. Instead Zara is recruited into the Honors, an elite team of humans selected by the Leviathan—a race of sentient alien ships—to explore the outer reaches of the universe as their passengers.

Zara seizes the chance to flee Earth’s dangers, but when she meets Nadim, the alien ship she’s assigned, Zara starts to feel at home for the first time. But nothing could have prepared her for the dark, ominous truths that lurk behind the alluring glitter of starlight.

A Million Junes by Emily Henry

Honestly, Emily Henry is the only author that writes magical realism that I love. Her stories are always so poignant and full of emotion. And man, this book… it will wreck you in the best ways possible.

For as long as Jack “June” O’Donnell has been alive, her parents have had only one rule: stay away from the Angert family. But when June collides—quite literally—with Saul Angert, sparks fly, and everything June has known is thrown into chaos.

Who exactly is this gruff, sarcastic, but seemingly harmless boy who has returned to their hometown of Five Fingers, Michigan, after three mysterious years away? And why has June—an O’Donnell to her core—never questioned her late father’s deep hatred of the Angert family? After all, the O’Donnells and the Angerts may have mythic legacies, but for all the tall tales they weave, both founding families are tight-lipped about what caused the century-old rift between them.

As Saul and June’s connection grows deeper, they find that the magic, ghosts, and coywolves of Five Fingers seem to be conspiring to reveal the truth about the harrowing curse that has plagued their bloodlines for generations. Now June must question everything she knows about her family and the father she adored, and she must decide whether it’s finally time for her—and all the O’Donnells before her—to let go.

Ink and Bone (The Great Library, #1) by Rachel Caine

I just want everyone to read this amazing series set in an alternate history where the Great Library of Alexandria never burned down, but instead now controls the world and all writing. Do you love books? Action? A quirky cast of characters? If you said yes to any of those, then you’ll love this fun series.

Ruthless and supremely powerful, the Great Library is now a presence in every major city, governing the flow of knowledge to the masses. Alchemy allows the Library to deliver the content of the greatest works of history instantly—but the personal ownership of books is expressly forbidden.

Jess Brightwell believes in the value of the Library, but the majority of his knowledge comes from illegal books obtained by his family, who are involved in the thriving black market. Jess has been sent to be his family’s spy, but his loyalties are tested in the final months of his training to enter the Library’s service.

When his friend inadvertently commits heresy by creating a device that could change the world, Jess discovers that those who control the Great Library believe that knowledge is more valuable than any human life—and soon both heretics and books will burn…

The Dark Days Club (Lady Helen, #1) by Alison Goodman

I could go on and on about meticulously researched the author did on Regency England because she truly transports you into that era. You feel as if you could be reading a fantastical Jane Austen novel at times but with a little added spice. Stubborn heroine, check. Hate-to-love trope, check. Paranormal activity, check.

London, April 1812.

On the eve of eighteen-year-old Lady Helen Wrexhall’s presentation to the queen, one of her family’s housemaids disappears-and Helen is drawn into the shadows of Regency London. There, she meets Lord Carlston, one of the few who can stop the perpetrators: a cabal of demons infiltrating every level of society. Dare she ask for his help, when his reputation is almost as black as his lingering eyes? And will her intelligence and headstrong curiosity wind up leading them into a death trap?

What are some of your favorite novels that you think are underrated? Have you read any of the ones on my list? If so, what did you think about it?

Backlist Books You Shouldn’t Forget About

With so many new and shiny books constantly being released and paraded all over bookstagram, I think the fall is a nice time to dive back into some of those backlisted books that have been sitting on our shelves for a while. I am really bad about buying stacks of books at a time and immediately grabbing the newest ones off of the pile and then forgetting about the others. However, I hope to focus mostly on some of those forgotten stories over the upcoming months. That plan gave me an idea to spotlight some really awesome backlist books for others to pick up soon!

Truthwitch (The Witchlands, #1) by Susan Dennard – Series Not Yet Finished

In a continent on the edge of war, two witches hold its fate in their hands.

Young witches Safiya and Iseult have a habit of finding trouble. After clashing with a powerful Guildmaster and his ruthless Bloodwitch bodyguard, the friends are forced to flee their home.

Safi must avoid capture at all costs as she’s a rare Truthwitch, able to discern truth from lies. Many would kill for her magic, so Safi must keep it hidden – lest she be used in the struggle between empires. And Iseult’s true powers are hidden even from herself.

In a chance encounter at Court, Safi meets Prince Merik and makes him a reluctant ally. However, his help may not slow down the Bloodwitch now hot on the girls’ heels. All Safi and Iseult want is their freedom, but danger lies ahead. With war coming, treaties breaking and a magical contagion sweeping the land, the friends will have to fight emperors and mercenaries alike. For some will stop at nothing to get their hands on a Truthwitch.

This book got a lot of hype when it was first released a few years ago, but has since been drowned out by more recently released hyped books. I actually put off reading it for a long time until I was reminded of it when the sequel was released. WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG?! This book became an instant favorite and I could not put it down. I loved the focus on the friendship between the two girls and found the plot to be super engaging.

Zodiac (Zodiac, #1) by Romina Russell – Completed Series

Rhoma Grace is a 16-year-old student from House Cancer with an unusual way of reading the stars. While her classmates use measurements to make accurate astrological predictions, Rho can’t solve for ‘x’ to save her life—so instead, she looks up at the night sky and makes up stories.

When a violent blast strikes the moons of Cancer, sending its ocean planet off-kilter and killing thousands of citizens—including its beloved Guardian—Rho is more surprised than anyone when she is named the House’s new leader. But, a true Cancerian who loves her home fiercely and will protect her people no matter what, Rho accepts.

Then, when more Houses fall victim to freak weather catastrophes, Rho starts seeing a pattern in the stars. She suspects Ophiuchus—the exiled 13th Guardian of Zodiac legend—has returned to exact his revenge across the Galaxy. Now Rho—along with Hysan Dax, a young envoy from House Libra, and Mathias, her guide and a member of her Royal Guard—must travel through the Zodiac to warn the other Guardians.

But who will believe anything this young novice says? Whom can Rho trust in a universe defined by differences? And how can she convince twelve worlds to unite as one Zodiac?

I never see anyone talking about this book series and that is really such a shame because I absolutely loved it. It was so unique and I like that the setting revolves around the astrological zodiac. All of the characters are fun and interesting and the story isn’t afraid to get dark at times. If you are looking for a science fiction series that has been completed, this might be one you should look into picking up.

Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys – Standalone

It’s 1950, and as the French Quarter of New Orleans simmers with secrets, seventeen-year-old Josie Moraine is silently stirring a pot of her own. Known among locals as the daughter of a brothel prostitute, Josie wants more out of life than the Big Easy has to offer. She devises a plan get out, but a mysterious death in the Quarter leaves Josie tangled in an investigation that will challenge her allegiance to her mother, her conscience, and Willie Woodley, the brusque madam on Conti Street.

Josie is caught between the dream of an elite college and a clandestine underworld. New Orleans lures her in her quest for truth, dangling temptation at every turn, and escalating to the ultimate test.

With characters as captivating as those in her internationally bestselling novel Between Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepetys skillfully creates a rich story of secrets, lies, and the haunting reminder that decisions can shape our destiny.

I feel like Ruta Sepetys’ WWII novels tend to get more universal praise and recognition than this hidden gem of a story. The 50’s New Orleans setting was a nice change of pace from the usual historical fiction time periods and I think the author did a great job bringing it to life.

Blood Red Road (Dust Lands, #1) by Moira Young – Completed Trilogy

Saba has spent her whole life in Silverlake, a dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms. The Wrecker civilization has long been destroyed, leaving only landfills for Saba and her family to scavenge from. That’s fine by her, as long as her beloved twin brother Lugh is around. But when four cloaked horsemen capture Lugh, Saba’s world is shattered, and she embarks on a quest to get him back.
Suddenly thrown into the lawless, ugly reality of the outside world, Saba discovers she is a fierce fighter, an unbeatable survivor, and a cunning opponent. Teamed up with a handsome daredevil named Jack and a gang of girl revolutionaries called the Free Hawks, Saba’s unrelenting search for Lugh stages a showdown that will change the course of her own civilization.

I actually have every book in this trilogy and I read them all a long time ago, but I plan to do a full reread soon. However, I do remember devouring this book. It was released during the dystopian craze a while back, but I would compare it more to Mad Max and other such post-apocalyptic stories. It’s fast-paced and follows a kickass heroine that everyone loves to read about. And if you can’t take my word for it, then just know that this book has been nominated and won a bunch of awards.

The Cutting Season by Attica Locke – Standalone

The American South in the twenty-first century. A plantation owned for generations by a rich family. So much history. And a dead body.

Just after dawn, Caren walks the grounds of Belle Vie, the historic plantation house in Louisiana that she has managed for four years. Today she sees nothing unusual, apart from some ground that has been dug up by the fence bordering the sugar cane fields. Assuming an animal has been out after dark, she asks the gardener to tidy it up. Not long afterwards, he calls her to say it’s something else. Something terrible. A dead body. At a distance, she missed her. The girl, the dirt and the blood. Now she has police on site, an investigation in progress, and a member of staff no one can track down. And Caren keeps uncovering things she will wish she didn’t know. As she’s drawn into the dead girl’s story, she makes shattering discoveries about the future of Belle Vie, the secrets of its past, and sees, more clearly than ever, that Belle Vie, its beauty, is not to be trusted.

A magnificent, sweeping story of the south, The Cutting Season brings history face-to-face with modern America, where Obama is president, but some things will never change. Attica Locke once again provides an unblinking commentary on politics, race, the law, family and love, all within a thriller every bit as gripping and tragic as her first novel, Black Water Rising.

A murder-mystery and old family secrets set on a plantation in Louisiana… How could this book not be perfect to pick up during October?! Simple: it couldn’t. The atmosphere is creepy and soulful, while also shedding light on today’s culture and racial politics. While this is the only book by Locke that I’ve read (so far), I know that I will enjoy anything she writes.

City of Saints & Thieves by Natalie C. Anderson – Standalone

In the shadows of Sangui City, there lives a girl who doesn’t exist. After fleeing the Congo as refugees, Tina and her mother arrived in Kenya looking for the chance to build a new life and home. Her mother quickly found work as a maid for a prominent family, headed by Roland Greyhill, one of the city’s most respected business leaders. But Tina soon learns that the Greyhill fortune was made from a life of corruption and crime. So when her mother is found shot to death in Mr. Greyhill’s personal study, she knows exactly who’s behind it.

With revenge always on her mind, Tina spends the next four years surviving on the streets alone, working as a master thief for the Goondas, Sangui City’s local gang. It’s a job for the Goondas that finally brings Tina back to the Greyhill estate, giving her the chance for vengeance she’s been waiting for. But as soon as she steps inside the lavish home, she’s overtaken by the pain of old wounds and the pull of past friendships, setting into motion a dangerous cascade of events that could, at any moment, cost Tina her life. But finally uncovering the incredible truth about who killed her mother—and why—keeps her holding on in this fast-paced nail-biting thriller.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I first picked up this book. However, it immediately captured my attention and never let go. I haven’t read many books set in modern day Africa, so it was nice to know that the author actually spent most of her career working with NGOs and the UN in Africa.

The Dark Days Club (Lady Helen, #1) by Alison Goodman – Completed Trilogy

London, April 1812.

On the eve of eighteen-year-old Lady Helen Wrexhall’s presentation to the queen, one of her family’s housemaids disappears-and Helen is drawn into the shadows of Regency London. There, she meets Lord Carlston, one of the few who can stop the perpetrators: a cabal of demons infiltrating every level of society. Dare she ask for his help, when his reputation is almost as black as his lingering eyes? And will her intelligence and headstrong curiosity wind up leading them into a death trap?

This trilogy has become one of my all-time favorite. It’s a super fun genre-bending novel mixing historical fiction and paranormal. It is one of the most well-researched novels that I’ve read and Goodman did a crazy good job of bringing Regency England to life. Also, two thumbs up for the broody hate-to-love romance, which I’m always a sucker for.

Do you tend to read more recent releases or backlist titles more? What are some of your favorite backlist novels? Have you read any of the books on my list? If so, what did you think of them?

Valentine’s Day Reading Recommendations

It’s that time of the year when love is in the air (supposedly) and the greeting card companies, florists, and candy corporations are all excited about the money they’re making off of us. And if you were looking for some books to add to all of the love stuff floating around right now, I decided to help you out with some recommendations. Don’t worry, I’m gonna help you out with a bunch of different genres so you don’t have to worry about getting stuck with only contemporary (which we all know isn’t my favorite…). Enjoy!

Contemporary

Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch

Lina is spending the summer in Tuscany, but she isn’t in the mood for Italy’s famous sunshine and fairy-tale landscape. She’s only there because it was her mother’s dying wish that she get to know her father. But what kind of father isn’t around for sixteen years? All Lina wants to do is get back home.

But then she is given a journal that her mom had kept when she lived in Italy. Suddenly Lina’s uncovering a magical world of secret romances, art, and hidden bakeries. A world that inspires Lina, along with the ever-so-charming Ren, to follow in her mother’s footsteps and unearth a secret that has been kept for far too long. It’s a secret that will change everything she knew about her mother, her father—and even herself.

People come to Italy for love and gelato, someone tells her, but sometimes they discover much more.

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Sixteen-year-old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight. Now Simon is actually being blackmailed: if he doesn’t play wingman for class clown Martin, his sexual identity will become everyone’s business. Worse, the privacy of Blue, the pen name of the boy he’s been emailing, will be compromised.

With some messy dynamics emerging in his once tight-knit group of friends, and his email correspondence with Blue growing more flirtatious every day, Simon’s junior year has suddenly gotten all kinds of complicated. Now, change-averse Simon has to find a way to step out of his comfort zone before he’s pushed out—without alienating his friends, compromising himself, or fumbling a shot at happiness with the most confusing, adorable guy he’s never met.

A Million Junes by Emily Henry

For as long as Jack “June” O’Donnell has been alive, her parents have had only one rule: stay away from the Angert family. But when June collides—quite literally—with Saul Angert, sparks fly, and everything June has known is thrown into chaos.

Who exactly is this gruff, sarcastic, but seemingly harmless boy who has returned to their hometown of Five Fingers, Michigan, after three mysterious years away? And why has June—an O’Donnell to her core—never questioned her late father’s deep hatred of the Angert family? After all, the O’Donnells and the Angerts may have mythic legacies, but for all the tall tales they weave, both founding families are tight-lipped about what caused the century-old rift between them.

As Saul and June’s connection grows deeper, they find that the magic, ghosts, and coywolves of Five Fingers seem to be conspiring to reveal the truth about the harrowing curse that has plagued their bloodlines for generations. Now June must question everything she knows about her family and the father she adored, and she must decide whether it’s finally time for her—and all the O’Donnells before her—to let go.

Me Before You (Me Before You, #1) by Jojo Moyes

Louisa Clark is an ordinary young woman living an exceedingly ordinary life—steady boyfriend, close family—who has never been farther afield than their tiny village. She takes a badly needed job working for ex-Master of the Universe Will Traynor, who is wheelchair-bound after an accident. Will has always lived a huge life—big deals, extreme sports, worldwide travel—and now he’s pretty sure he cannot live the way he is.

Will is acerbic, moody, bossy—but Lou refuses to treat him with kid gloves, and soon his happiness means more to her than she expected. When she learns that Will has shocking plans of his own, she sets out to show him that life is still worth living.

A love story for this generation, Me Before You brings to life two people who couldn’t have less in common—a heartbreakingly romantic novel that asks, What do you do when making the person you love happy also means breaking your own heart?

Science Fiction

Defy the Stars (Constellation, #1) by Claudia Gray

She’s a soldier – Noemi Vidal is willing to risk anything to protect her planet, Genesis, including her own life. To their enemies on Earth, she’s a rebel.

He’s a machine – Abandoned in space for years, utterly alone, Abel’s advanced programming has begun to evolve. He wants only to protect his creator, and to be free. To the people of Genesis, he’s an abomination.

Noemi and Abel are enemies in an interstellar war, forced by chance to work together as they embark on a daring journey through the stars. Their efforts would end the fighting for good, but they’re not without sacrifice. The stakes are even higher than either of them first realized, and the more time they spend together, the more they’re forced to question everything they’d been taught was true.

Across the Universe (Across the Universe, #1) by Beth Revis

A love out of time. A spaceship built of secrets and murder.

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone—one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship —tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn’t do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed’s hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there’s only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles, #1) by Marissa Meyer

A forbidden romance.

A deadly plague.

Earth’s fate hinges on one girl . . .

CINDER, a gifted mechanic in New Beijing, is also a cyborg. She’s reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s sudden illness. But when her life becomes entwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she finds herself at the centre of a violent struggle between the desires of an evil queen – and a dangerous temptation.

Cinder is caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal. Now she must uncover secrets about her mysterious past in order to protect Earth’s future.

This is not the fairytale you remember. But it’s one you won’t forget.

Illuminae (The Illuminae Files, #1) by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do. This afternoon, her planet was invaded.

The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to fight their way onto an evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.

But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet’s AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it’s clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she’d never speak to again.

BRIEFING NOTE: Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents—including emails, schematics, military files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more—Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping, high-octane trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes.

Fantasy

The Bone Season (The Bone Season, #1) by Samantha Shannon

The year is 2059. Nineteen-year-old Paige Mahoney is working in the criminal underworld of Scion London, based at Seven Dials, employed by a man named Jaxon Hall. Her job: to scout for information by breaking into people’s minds. For Paige is a dreamwalker, a clairvoyant and, in the world of Scion, she commits treason simply by breathing.

It is raining the day her life changes for ever. Attacked, drugged and kidnapped, Paige is transported to Oxford – a city kept secret for two hundred years, controlled by a powerful, otherworldly race. Paige is assigned to Warden, a Rephaite with mysterious motives. He is her master. Her trainer. Her natural enemy. But if Paige wants to regain her freedom she must allow herself to be nurtured in this prison where she is meant to die.

The Bone Season introduces a compelling heroine and also introduces an extraordinary young writer, with huge ambition and a teeming imagination. Samantha Shannon has created a bold new reality in this riveting debut.

Caraval (Caraval, #1) by Stephanie Garber

Remember, it’s only a game…

Scarlett Dragna has never left the tiny island where she and her sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval—the faraway, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show—are over.

But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt-of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.

Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. Nevertheless she becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic. And whether Caraval is real or not, Scarlett must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over or a dangerous domino effect of consequences will be set off, and her beloved sister will disappear forever.

Welcome, welcome to Caraval…beware of getting swept too far away.

Falling Kingdoms (Falling Kingdoms, #1) by Morgan Rhodes

In the three kingdoms of Mytica, magic has long been forgotten. And while hard-won peace has reigned for centuries, a deadly unrest now simmers below the surface.

As the rulers of each kingdom grapple for power, the lives of their subjects are brutally transformed… and four key players, royals and rebels alike, find their fates forever intertwined. Cleo, Jonas, Lucia, and Magnus are caught in a dizzying world of treacherous betrayals, shocking murders, secret alliances, and even unforeseen love.

The only outcome that’s certain is that kingdoms will fall. Who will emerge triumphant when all they know has collapsed?

It’s the eve of war…. Choose your side.

Princess: Raised in pampered luxury, Cleo must now embark on a rough and treacherous journey into enemy territory in search of magic long thought extinct.

Rebel: Jonas, enraged at injustice, lashes out against the forces of oppression that have kept his country cruelly impoverished. To his shock, he finds himself the leader of a people’s revolution centuries in the making.

Sorceress: Lucia, adopted at birth into the royal family, discovers the truth about her past—and the supernatural legacy she is destined to wield.

Heir: Bred for aggression and trained to conquer, firstborn son Magnus begins to realize that the heart can be more lethal than the sword….

The Kiss of Deception (The Remnant Chronicles, #1) by Mary E. Pearson

In a society steeped in tradition, Princess Lia’s life follows a preordained course. As First Daughter, she is expected to have the revered gift of sight—but she doesn’t—and she knows her parents are perpetrating a sham when they arrange her marriage to secure an alliance with a neighboring kingdom—to a prince she has never met.

On the morning of her wedding, Lia flees to a distant village. She settles into a new life, hopeful when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deception abounds, and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—even as she finds herself falling in love.

Historical Fiction

These Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly

Jo Montfort is beautiful and rich, and soon—like all the girls in her class—she’ll graduate from finishing school and be married off to a wealthy bachelor. Which is the last thing she wants. Jo secretly dreams of becoming a writer—a newspaper reporter like the trailblazing Nellie Bly.

Wild aspirations aside, Jo’s life seems perfect until tragedy strikes: her father is found dead. Charles Montfort accidentally shot himself while cleaning his revolver. One of New York City’s wealthiest men, he owned a newspaper and was partner in a massive shipping firm, and Jo knows he was far too smart to clean a loaded gun.

The more Jo uncovers about her father’s death, the more her suspicions grow. There are too many secrets. And they all seem to be buried in plain sight. Then she meets Eddie—a young, brash, infuriatingly handsome reporter at her father’s newspaper—and it becomes all too clear how much she stands to lose if she keeps searching for the truth. Only now it might be too late to stop.

The past never stays buried forever. Life is dirtier than Jo Montfort could ever have imagined, and the truth is the dirtiest part of all.

Stars Over Clear Lake by Loretta Ellsworth

For the first time in decades, Lorraine Kindred has returned to the ballroom where she was swept away by the big bands during the 1940s – and by a star-crossed romance. As she takes in the magnificent energy and brassy sounds of her youth, the past comes to life, along with the fateful decision all those years ago that forced her to choose between personal conviction and social expectations, between the two men who had captured her heart. It had been a time of great music and love, but also of war and sacrifice, and now, trying to make peace with her memories, Lorraine must find the courage to face buried secrets. In the process, she will rediscover herself, her passion, and her capacity for resilience.

Set during the 1940s and the present and inspired by a real-life ballroom, Stars Over Clear Lake is a moving story of forbidden love, lost love, everlasting love – and self love.

The Dark Days Club (Lady Helen, #1) by Alison Goodman

London, April 1812.

On the eve of eighteen-year-old Lady Helen Wrexhall’s presentation to the queen, one of her family’s housemaids disappears-and Helen is drawn into the shadows of Regency London. There, she meets Lord Carlston, one of the few who can stop the perpetrators: a cabal of demons infiltrating every level of society. Dare she ask for his help, when his reputation is almost as black as his lingering eyes? And will her intelligence and headstrong curiosity wind up leading them into a death trap?

Roses by Leila Meacham

Spanning the 20th century, the story of Roses takes place in a small East Texas town against the backdrop of the powerful timber and cotton industries, industries controlled by the scions of the town’s founding families. Cotton tycoon Mary Toliver and timber magnate Percy Warwick should have married but unwisely did not, and now must deal with the deceit, secrets, and tragedies of their choice and the loss of what might have been–not just for themselves but for their children, and children’s children. With expert, unabashed, big-canvas storytelling, Roses covers a hundred years, three generations of Texans and the explosive combination of passion for work and longing for love.

Do you like to books with romance around Valentine’s Day? Have you read any of the books on my list? What books would you recommend for Valentine’s Day?

First Impressions of Books That I Got Wrong

Let’s be honest – we all prejudge books before we ever read them. Whether we are judging them based on their covers (don’t lie, we know you do it…), the hype surrounding them, the author’s previous work, etc., we are constantly forming opinions as soon as we learn about a book. But hey, we’re all human and this is just normal behavior!

I will openly admit that I am AWFUL about judging books before I ever pick them up. I immediately rate a book, usually judging it by the synopsis or the surrounding hype. I’m not one to usually jump on the immediate bandwagons for most new releases, unless it’s for a series that I’m already invested in. Also, I’ve recently gotten really critical of synopses lately. I used to not be this way but I’ve noticed over the past year or so that if a book sounds a lot like something I’ve previously read, I pretty much just write it off as #notinterested. Unless it’s some sort of retelling, because I’m totally trash for those! And then there are the books that you think you will love and then they end up crashing all of your hopes against a rock. How rude!

However, I have to say that there have been a few books that bucked the trend for me and I wanted to highlight a few of those in this post. I mean, we’re all bound to get it wrong sometimes, right?!

Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi

I went into this book so excited because the synopsis sounded like such a whimsical middle grade novel full of adventure… But what I got was actually a really boring story with a lackluster ending.

Furyborn (Empirium, #1) by Claire Legrand

I got an ARC of this book in a FairyLoot box last fall and just was not sold on that synopsis. Then when everyone started giving it mixed reviews, I was really put off. However, I finally picked it up around its release date and WOW!!! This book was just sooo good and now I’m desperately awaiting for the sequel!

Scarlet (Scarlet, #1) by A.C. Gaughen

What I thought I was getting – a badass feminist version of Robin Hood, where the girl is the one taking care of business. What I actually got – the sappiest freaking love story I’ve ever read, that only got worse with each book.

Truthwitch (The Witchlands, #1) by Susan Dennard

When this book first came out, it was getting some very mixed reviews. The majority seemed to not really like it, saying that the world-building was confusing. So I ended up putting off reading it for over a year and I immediately regretted it. I loved this book so much!!!

The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis

This book seemed to be really groundbreaking for a lot of people. However, it just felt really jumbled to me. It was kind of all over the place and tried a little too hard to be edgy and different in regards to the writing style, which really detracted from the actual plot. I wasn’t the biggest fan.

Zodiac (Zodiac, #1) by Romina Russell

So no one ever talks about this series, EVER. So I was first attracted to the cover and synopsis (yes, I like astrology for fun!), but figured it would be just mediocre at best. Y’all, I was totally wrong. The world-building, plot, and characters are totally complex. I can’t recommend it enough!

Forest of a Thousand Lanterns (Rise of the Empress, #1) by Julie C. Dao

I love a good antihero story just as much as the next person, but that wasn’t what I got with this book. Xifeng has zero redeeming qualities and her reasoning for everything she does lacks any depth. I kept rooting for someone to just kill her.

The Dark Days Club (Lady Helen, #1) by Alison Goodman

Another series that no one ever mentions and so even though I was intrigued by the synopsis, I put it off. But oh my gosh, this story is everything I want and more!!! Regency England, paranormal creatures, and a secret society… Perfection.

The Disappearances by Emily Bain Murphy

I had seen so many people raving about this mysterious story… All I got was a total yawn fest. It was extremely slow and lacked any sort of conflict to grab my attention. My expectations were definitely shattered with this one.

Heartless by Marissa Meyer

This book got a lot of hate when it was first released, which put me off from picking it up for a long time. However, when I finally read it, I loved it! It was definitely a unique twist on the origins of the Queen of Hearts. I won’t lie, my mouth was constantly watering from all of the yummy food descriptions too. Ha!

What are some books that ended up shattering your first impressions? Do you share the same opinion as me on any of the books on my list? Do you usually prejudge books before you read them based on covers, synopsis, or the opinions of others?

10 Books To Help You Escape This Winter

Thanks to Mr. Groundhog, we are supposedly going to have six more weeks of winter. Usually about this time of year, the winter depression starts to kick in because we are past all of the joyfulness of the holidays and are finally looking forward to spring and summer coming up around the corner. With that being said, here are some recommendations for you to dive into and escape the bitter cold that’s whipping outside your window!

Defy the Stars (Constellation, #1) by Claudia Gray

Claudia Gray is the queen of YA science fiction and she definitely doesn’t disappoint in her latest series. This high powered space adventure is full of witty banter, nonstop action, and the world’s most adorable android. You’ll forget all about the winter doldrums once you dive into this thrill ride!

The Bone Season (The Bone Season, #1) by Samantha Shannon

If space isn’t your cup of tea, then take a walk into a dystopian future London where clairvoyants are outlawed and forced to form criminal gangs in order to survive. If you’re already intrigued by that premise, just add supernatural beings as the ones in true control of the world and you have yourself a really unique story. Also, SIZZLING SEXUAL TENSION.

The Cutting Season by Attica Locke

This own voices mystery thriller will have on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Set on an old plantation in southern Louisiana, the caretaker finds herself pulled into the history of Belle Vie and her family’s connection to the very fields that they have worked since before the Civil War. This book will keep you guessing until the very end.

A Discovery of Witches (All Souls Trilogy, #1) by Deborah Harkness

I wish I could describe to y’all just how much I love this series. If you’re into science, the supernatural, and have a thing for brooding medieval vampires, then this is one story that you’re really missing out on. Also, it’s currently in production for a television series in the UK.

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

A fictional satire based on a Harry Potter type series? Oh yes! It also comes complete with the cutest freaking m/m romance that I’ve ever read. Seriously, Simon and Baz are just the sweetest little muffins! This book will both make you laugh and cry, and you’ll love it for it. It’s also a fantasy standalone, which we could use more of!

Three Dark Crowns (Three Dark Crowns, #1) by Kendare Blake

I will admit that this one takes a bit before it really takes off but once it does..WOAH. It’s dark and twisty in all the best ways. Also, the sequel was one of my favorite reads of 2017 so it only gets better! I cannot wait to see where the story goes to in the next book.

Illuminae (The Illuminae Files, #1) by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

If you haven’t already read this book yet, then I’m not really sure what you’re waiting for. IT IS AWESOME! If way it’s written isn’t really something that you’re into, I’ve heard the audiobook versions are just amazing. And with the finale due to release next month, it’s the perfect time to dive in.

The Dark Days Club (Lady Helen, #1) by Alison Goodman

I’m sure y’all are tired of hearing me gushing over this series by now, but sorry, I refuse to stop! This series is so engrossing and Goodman does the most perfect job of recreating Regency England. Also, the romance is the kind of slow burner that we all love. Trust me, this one’s a winner.

Truthwitch (The Witchlands, #1) by Susan Dennard

This book got so much mixed reviews when it first came out, that I put off picking it up because I was worried that I wouldn’t enjoy it. However, this book turned out to be so much more fun than I thought! If you are someone who wants to see more female friendships in YA, then this book is for you. It’s all about powerful women!

The Kiss of Deception (The Remnant Chronicles, #1) by Mary E. Pearson

I didn’t really have the highest hopes for this book when I first picked it up and then I fell into a month long slump right in the middle of it. However, this series turned out to be one of my all-time favorites. The world is so richly described, that you are immediately transported into it. Also, the romance doesn’t hurt either!

What are some books that you’d recommend to help escape the winter doldrums? Have you read any of the ones on my list? If so, what did you think of them?

October Wrap-Up: Reviews, Reading Challenges, etc.

Welcome to yet another glorious month of reading and blogging. October was full of horror and mystery books, which if you have followed me for a while, probably realize isn’t my usual cup of tea. Luckily, it ended up being pretty good for me this time!

Books Read

Daughter of the Burning City by Amanda Foody – 5/5 stars
A Face Like Glass by Frances Hardinge – audiobook, 2/5 stars
The Dark Days Club (Lady Helen, #1) by Alison Goodman – 5/5 stars
The Cutting Season by Attica Locke – 4/5 stars
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli – audiobook, 3/5 stars
Stars Over Clear Lake by Loretta Ellsworth – audiobook, 4/5 stars
The Wonder by Emma Donoghue – 4/5 stars, review to come
One Dark Throne (Three Dark Crowns, #2) by Kendare Blake – 5/5 stars
The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter by Theodora Goss – 5/5 stars
One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus – 4/5 stars
Anna Dressed in Blood (Anna, #1) by Kendare Blake – 4/5 stars
Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero – 4/5 stars

Total Books Read: 12

Overall in 2017: 71

Reading Challenge Updates

POPSUGAR

A Book with a Red Spine – Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda
A Novel Set During Wartime – Stars Over Clear Lake
A Book with a Family Member Term in the Title – The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter
A Book About a Difficult Topic – The Cutting Season

Beat The Backlist

The Dark Days Club (Lady Helen, #1)
The Wonder
Anna Dressed in Blood (Anna, #1)
The Cutting Season

Goodreads Challenge

Total: 71/100
Previous Total: 59/100

Blog Posts

Book Reviews

WWW Wednesday

Hype or Like Friday

Discussions/Misc.

How did you do during the month of October? Did you have a good reading month? Did you participate in the Halloween Read-a-thon? Have you read any of the books that I read this month?

WWW Wednesday – November 1st, 2017

Welcome to WWW Wednesday which is currently being hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World of Words. It’s really just a place to do little update on what all you’ve been reading lately. Anyone is welcome to join, just leave a link to your post in the comments and be sure to give the appropriate credit to Sam!

The Three W’s are:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

What are you currently reading?

Behemoth (Leviathan, #2) by Scott Westerfeld – audiobook
Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles, #1) by Marissa Meyer – physical book

So I actually just posted last week about series that I need to finish and then lo and behold, the final two books of the Leviathan Trilogy were buy one, get one free on Audible. I mean, talk about fate! If you like steampunk, this series is about as steampunk as you can get. I’m also rereading Cinder so I can go ahead and finish this series as well. Y’all, I am just getting things done right now and it feels great!

What did you recently finish reading?

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli – audiobook, 3/5 stars
Anna Dressed in Blood (Anna, #1) by Kendare Blake – physical book, 4/5 stars
The Dark Days Club (Lady Helen, #1) by Alison Goodman – physical book, 5/5 stars, Review
The Wonder by Emma Donoghue – physical book, 4/5 stars

I’ve had a very good read week! I finally was able to check out the obsession with Simon, though I have to say that I wasn’t as impressed with the book as everyone else is. I didn’t really care for any of the characters other than Simon. Anna was a great book to end October on and I really enjoyed the creepiness, though I felt the ending wasn’t as bloody as I was hoping for. The Dark Days Club has become my new favorite and I cannot wait to dive into the sequel this month! The Wonder was also a pleasant surprise. Lib started out being a tad insufferable but I enjoyed seeing her character grow throughout the story. I should have a review coming soon for it!

What do you think you’ll read next?

An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

I’ve heard wonderful things about both of these books and I’m SOOOO excited to start them! I can’t believe I’m just now getting around to reading A Gentleman in Moscow since I’ve had it on my shelves since it was first released. For shame, Larkin!

What are you currently reading? Did you read any good (or bad) books this past week? What do you have next on your TBR? Have you read any of the books on my list? Leave a link to your WWW Wednesday in the comments below!

Halloween Read-A-Thon Wrap-Up

Hello everyone! Today marks the end of the wonderfully fun read-a-thon that was first created by Lauren @ Wonderless Reviews. I’ve never really been one to read spooky books for Halloween or anything, so I’m really glad that I decided to switch things up this year and join in. I have to say that it actually went really well too! I did end up mixing things around a bit, but it all worked out well in the end.

Can I just talk about how much I ended up loving this book? It was just so engaging and fun. I’ve already moved the sequel to my November TBR because I need to dive back into this world pronto.

This turned out to be just a little different than what I was expecting. I found it to end up being more of a character study rather than a creepy murder mystery but I still really enjoyed it.

I almost always read my books after sunset, because you know, I’ve got a full-time job and everything. So all of my books actually fit this requirement!

I originally planned on reading The Child Thief for this challenge but I just couldn’t get into it and rather than put myself in a reading slump, I picked up Anna Dressed in Blood instead. So glad I made that decision because I really enjoyed this one!

This was a really hyped book that I was both excited and nervous for. Luckily, it ended up being a really fun book even though the ending was a tad predictable.

I fell a tad short of this goal due to not finishing The Child Thief. I did finish The Wonder during the last couple of days of this challenge, however, I didn’t have it on my original TBR so I won’t count it. Still, I I feel pretty proud with finishing all of the books that I did during this read-a-thon!

Did you participate in the Halloween Read-A-Thon? How did you do in regards to completing the challenges? Have you read any of the books on my list?

Book Review: The Dark Days Club (Lady Helen, #1)

You know when you push off reading a book because you just know that it’s probably going to be really slow and boring? Yeah, well I did that with The Dark Days Club (Lady Helen, #1) by Alison Goodman, and then ended up falling in love with this story. So maybe I should stop doing that, right?

New York Times bestseller Alison Goodman’s eagerly awaited new project: a Regency adventure starring a stylish and intrepid demon-hunter!

London, April 1812. On the eve of eighteen-year-old Lady Helen Wrexhall’s presentation to the queen, one of her family’s housemaids disappears-and Helen is drawn into the shadows of Regency London. There, she meets Lord Carlston, one of the few who can stop the perpetrators: a cabal of demons infiltrating every level of society. Dare she ask for his help, when his reputation is almost as black as his lingering eyes? And will her intelligence and headstrong curiosity wind up leading them into a death trap?

I really enjoyed Goodman’s writing style. I thought it flowed very well and really fit with the setting of the story. She was able to use Regency language and descriptions but also make them easy to digest and understand. I never caught myself having to reread entire paragraphs to fully understand or picture what she was describing. Let’s be honest, that’s really important when it comes to reading a book that’s already almost 500 pages long.

Lady Helen will become your new favorite heroine for sure after this book. She’s strong, independent, a little headstrong, and definitely isn’t afraid to bend the rules of propriety. I loved that Goodman was able to create a character who tackles the misogynistic society of the Regency period. Helen artfully picks her battles and is constantly trying to take matters into her own hands. Yes, she still tries to stay within the boundaries of acceptance but I felt that it made sense with who she is and how she’s basically at the mercy of her aunt and uncle. Then you have Lord Carlston, who comes with a terrible reputation and has reached a point where he cares less what society thinks of him because he’s too busy trying to save the world. He’s basically the perfect asshole turned hero character. Like, I might be a little bit in love with him now… and no, I’m not even ashamed!

The pacing in this novel didn’t bother me at all. I saw on Goodreads that it was a problem for some readers but luckily that wasn’t the case for me. I thought the plot flowed fairly steady and I didn’t think it was particularly slow. This is the first book in a series so there was a lot of world-building and build up to the climax and action, which I feel is fairly typical for most fantasy novels. However, maybe the pacing didn’t bother me too much because I’m also a big fan of historical fiction and I know that it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. (Damn, now I want a cup of tea!)

Overall, this book was soooo much more than what I had originally pictured. It was engaging and left me constantly wanting to pick it up to see what mess Helen was going to get into next. Not to mention dying for more of the mysterious Lord Carlston (seriously, this crush is getting out of hand now…). If you enjoyed The Infernal Devices Trilogy and have been looking for a new series to fill that void, I think this is the one you’ve been looking for. I’m so glad that I already own the sequel because I’m dying to jump back into this world!

Final Verdict: 5/5 Stars

Do you enjoy historical fiction novels with a fantasy twist? Did you enjoy The Infernal Devices Trilogy? Have you read this series? If so, what did you think of it?