Megan

So do I know anyone who has ever done the Popsugar reading challenges? I heard about them this year and so I’m going to try to do the challenge for 2025. They give 50 prompts that you need to fill with 50 different books. We’ll see how it goes!!

Anyway…Akata Witch is the December read for the Sword and Laser podcast. I’m also using it to fill Popsugar prompt #14 “A book about a nontraditional education.” The book follows Sunny, a Nigerian girl born in America who is also albino. She and her family have returned to Nigeria to live and Sunny has a hard time fitting in. This both becomes better and worse when Sunny learns she is a Leopard person (a magical person). She finds her way to new friends and teachers and learns to take her place in this new world.

This has a lot in common with other magical coming-of-age stories (think Harry Potter, etc), but the setting and characters in this book are unique and fun to read. I especially enjoyed that the way to earn magic currency is to learn new things. In a few places some of the side characters seem a bit one-dimensional (maybe because the book is YA?), but generally a good read. I believe this is the first of a trilogy and I would like to read more!

This was my October read for the Sword and Laser podcast. This book is a fun read for the spooky season. As you can guess from the title, it takes place over the month of October, with a chapter for each day. (Apparently some people like to read it that way - one chapter for each day, so if that sounds good to you you'll have to put this on your calendar for next year??) Our protagonist for the book is a dog, which is also fun. Through his eyes we slowly learn about a “game” being played by a variety of humans and their animal companions.

If you are a fan of spooky season and/or other horror tropes, you should give this book a try. Spoiler alert - I am a spooky season Scrouge so I think a lot of this was lost on me. Clearly I am supposed to “get” who all the “players” are at some point (maybe? I think?), but alas I was lost on probably half of them (including the protagonist). I did figure out The Count, who sleeps in a coffin and has a bat companion, though! Despite this I did enjoy the story, so I'm not mad about it, just clearly a book that someone else would enjoy more than I did.

When the 3rd season of Bridgerton came out on Netflix a while ago, it reminded me that I hadn't yet finished reading the series. So I put in a hold for the book I was on, saw the waiting list was long, and then forgot about it for a bit. When it showed up (on Saturday), I contemplated waiting to download it as I had just started another book. Then I thought, “I mean, it's not going to take me THAT long to read, is it?” ......and I was finished before lunch on Sunday.

If you're not familiar with Bridgeton at all, it is a series of romance novels taking place in Regency England. (Think Jane Austen but much, much spicier.) Each book follows one of the 8 Bridgerton children, and in book 7 it is Hyacinth's turn. I enjoyed seeing Hyacinth in adulthood and there is no doubt Julia Quinn knows how to write. There was a fun added twist of mysterious lost jewels and otherwise it was good, but nothing really earth-shattering.

If you are only familiar with the show, the books are very worth reading - but be aware that the show adds A LOT of extra stuff. Extra characters, extra plots, extra everything. It is a rare series where I am able to enjoy both even though they are different from each other. They are fun, quick reads and I'm going to have to get #8 so I can be done!

Clever Girl is a nonfiction book, a feminist examination of the original Jurassic Park movie. This one is a little off the beaten path for me, it was mentioned on a podcast I like and reminded me of my undergrad days and getting my concentration in women’s studies. I’m glad I read it and got to exercise a different part of my brain……and now I’m heading back to the land of fiction!

Ok, ok, ok. Those of you who know me know that this is NOT my first time reading this book! Or the second or probably the third or maybe even the fourth??? (Honestly not sure how many times I've read P&P.) This read through was motivated by a podcast - Hot and Bothered. I haven't listened to the other seasons of the podcast (maybe I will at some point) but their most recent season is “Live from Pemberly” and each episode takes a close look at a few chapters of P&P. I really enjoyed learning some more of the history, both of the time and of Austen herself.

I'm really loving the podcast + book club format. Aside from Hot and Bothered, I'm also listening to podcasts reading through Dracula and the Percy Jackson series, along with Sword and Laser (which is a more traditional book club format picking one book a month to read). Does anyone else like these? Have any suggestions for ones I should try???

What else is there to say about Pride and Prejudice? If you haven't read it, you really should. It is always and forever 5 stars

Continuing my re-read of The Dark Tower series, which still stands as my favorite series of all time. I guess the re-read is partially to check and see if that is still the case. Anyway, The Drawing of the Three is the second book, in which Roland gathers his group for his adventure. Whereas the Gunslinger (book one) is slightly more poetic/mystical/meditative, this book is action from the very first chapter. (The first chapter of this book is one of the scenes that has stuck with me for years after reading this the first time.)

It's Stephen King, so it is dark, but it is not horror. It combines elements of fantasy with the feeling of a Western. And it has its funny moments as well. This book begins the sense of connectedness among/between the characters and the different worlds they come from.

If you tried The Gunslinger and just couldn't make it through, there is an argument that you can start the series with this book as well. So, if that is you, maybe give this one a try!

Last night I finished Iron Flame, sequel to The Fourth Wing (second and most recent in the Empyrean series, which the internet thinks will end up being a quintet). I loved The Fourth Wing, it was one of my top picks for 2023, and was super excited to finally read this one. For the uninitiated, I think this series is the standard-bearer for the new “romantasy” genre (romance + fantasy, get it?), and as such it focuses both on the relationship between our protagonist, Violet, and Xaden, who live in a world full of castles and magic and dragons.

What can I say about this book? The top line is, I objectively loved it. As in, hard time putting it down, spending most of my precious free time with my nose in this book, and finished all 623 pages in less than a week. It's good. The world building is cool, I love the dragons, I'm invested in the characters. Buuuuuutttt....I could pick some nits. As in Fourth Wing, the foreshadowing is a bit on the heavy side for my taste. I actually think it's better in this book, as I was surprised more than once this time - but many things feel so obvious to me as the reader that you almost have to think the characters are totally unobservant to not get it sooner. Also, I would love to see Violet and Xaden evolve so that they don't have to be constantly at odds with each other. Like, there are enough obstacles in the world around them? Their relationship could be interesting and full of drama without the constant question of if they'll stay together? (Which, duh, of course they will). Really, though, those are nits. The book is great. If you loved Fourth Wing...you've probably already read this book. If you haven't, and you are either a fantasy or a romance reader, it's worth giving a try.

If you have read both and are not sure what else to read that might be similar - may I suggest Hunt the Stars by Jessie Mihalik? To me very similar vibes to Fourth Wing but in a sci fi setting rather than a fantasy setting.

For those of you who follow along with my book reviews, you might remember that I've sort of been on a string of dark novels. So, when I was looking to pick my next book, I was hoping for something a bit lighter, and also something that wasn't part of a series. I LOVED Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next series, so I thought this book (Shades of Grey) might be just the ticket.

This book takes place in a dystopian future, after “Something” has happened. Essentially, take your typical sci-fi dystopia, now make it British. And slightly absurd. Everyone's worth and place in society is based on the colors you can see. There is a set of Rules that everyone must follow, even if they make no sense. This is one of those books where you just jump into the middle of the world with our protagonist, and have to piece things together as you go along.

I have to admit, it took me a bit to get into this book. In part, probably, because it was darker and less funny than I was hoping for initially. It is...witty? Clever? Amusing? But it didn't really make me laugh. And it took a while to gather all the breadcrumbs about what is happening in this world and put it together into a coherent story. But I did get there, and by the end I was interested and invested in the characters. If absurdist/witty dystopia sounds like your cup of tea, this is a great book for you. Otherwise, let me STRONGLY recommend the Thursday Next series (first book is The Eyre Affair).

3.5

System Collapse is the latest installment of the Murderbot Diaries. If you are a fan of Murderbot, this installment doesn't disappoint. The story seems to pick up pretty close to the end of the last book (on the same planet with the same general cast of characters). I think I lost a few beats because I didn't re-read or refresh myself on the series at all, but luckily there were enough reminders sprinkled through the text of what had happened before that I could keep up without too much trouble. Both of the plot lines (the action on the ground as well as the action in Murderbot's mind) were on point.

If you're not a fan of Murderbot - why not?!? Seriously, if you're not sure what to read next, give it a try. You do need to start at the beginning, but the first four books are novellas so not a huge time investment. Also, apparently Murderbot has been picked up as a series by Apple TV. I love Murderbot so much that the idea of a TV show gives me joy/dread - as in, I hope the TV adaptation is worthy of the books - but it will be hard.

The Wishing Game is my August book recommended by a friend. Although this may count as the most I have stretched to count a book as a recommendation?? Laura read this book a while ago, and if my memory serves, her review was not super glowing. BUT she compared it to The Westing Game, which is a book that holds a lot of affection in my heart, so I decided to count it as a recommendation and go from there. THEN, I was talking about books with the lovely Sarah, and she mentioned she owned this book, but could never really get into it and did I want her copy? So, despite a double lukewarm review, here I am, reading this book.

The premise of the book is fun - an eccentric, reclusive, author of an extremely popular series of children's books comes out of retirement and proposes a game to win the only copy of his latest book. Our protagonist is one of a lucky few invited to his private island to solve a series of puzzles/riddles to try to win the prize.

I saw a review of this book that called it “a middle grade book for grown ups,” and that is a really apt description. It reads young and whimsical but is clearly meant for adults? That style sat a bit oddly with me. Also, the lead-up/scene setting took way too long. Once everyone was on the island and the game was being played, I found the book pretty enjoyable and engaging. The ultimate outcome of the book was pretty clear about halfway through the book, but it was fun to read the twists and turns along the path to the ending.

I am on a reading spree, guys! This weekend I finished Chef's Choice, which is the sequel to Chef's Kiss, which I read a few weeks ago and really enjoyed. This book stars the roommate of the protagonist from the previous book, a trans woman who has just lost her job and is feeling down on her luck. She runs into a French trans man who has money spare and needs a pretend girlfriend for a few days. What could possibly go wrong??

I do really enjoy this author, with a combo of queer-friendly love stories (mildly spicy) and plenty of food/baking/cooking as part of the plot! I liked this one just a fraction less than the first, I think because it was so ridiculously too-good-to-be-true that it pulled me out of the plot a bit. But overall, great, I'm looking forward to reading more by this author!

This book is the third of the Starlight's Shadow trilogy - which means, yes, this is a whole series finished and so very satisfying. This series is best described as a science fiction romance? There are aliens and spaceships and battles and ...well....other action too. There is also a telepathic space cat who is hands down the best supporting character. I REALLY liked the first book of this trilogy (five stars!) but the second two (while following different couples) repeated the same (good!) formula without too much variation. By the third book I was more interested in/surprised by the intergalactic intrigue plot than the romance plot. Anyway, if you are the type of person who is intrigued by the idea of a sci-fi romance, definitely check out this series! If you like one of those genres and are maybe curious to dip a toe in the other, this series would also be a great read.

Cordelia's Honor was the April read for the Sword and Laser podcast. This sci-fi adventure follows our heroine from her time as a commander of a scientific vessel, a brief period as a soldier, and then her transition to life as a member of the aristocracy on a different planet. Along the way she falls in love, gets married and has a son.

I have to tell you, this book was a good reminder to not judge a book by its cover! The artwork lead me to not have super high hopes for this. (I was thinking it must have been published in the 80s...but the internet says 1996?? Which I guess is 30 years ago so that might have something to do with it.

Amina al-Sirafi is a retired pirate, living quietly at home with her mother and daughter when she is pulled back into her old life. While embarking on a new quest, pieces of her past keep cropping up and intertwining with her adventure. There are battles! There is romance! There is magic! Set in the 12th century in the Indian Ocean, this was a fun backdrop for a fantasy novel. It is extremely well-written and very fun to read. I thoroughly enjoyed it and am looking forward to planned future novels!

This was another great reminder of why I love getting recommendations from friends. Not sure I would have ever found this on my own, and I'm already considering this as a gift for K.

This book was my April read for the Sword and Laser podcast. The tagline is “a novel of high fantasy and low stakes,” and never was anything more true written. The story revolves around an orc who has decided to hang up her sword and open a coffee shop. And while that's not ALL of the plot, it is the bulk of it. I found this heart-warming and delightful. The characters were so sweetly imperfect I could have read about them all day. If you need adrenaline and fast-paced action to enjoy a book, this might not be for you. As for me, I pre-ordered the sequel halfway through.

This was my October book recommended by a friend. Thanks, Julia and Andy, for the many great book recommendations you guys give me! I wanted to pick something fitting the spooky season, and this title seemed promising on that front.

This was a really fun mystery novel! I thought the framing device (the narrator is an author who writes books on how to write mystery novels...) was really fun, and of course the idea that everyone has killed someone is also a great twist. This is a book full of classic mystery themes modernized and lightly satirized. I almost (but not quite) guessed the reveal at the end, which felt pretty satisfying. I did get slightly confused along the way about who was who and how everyone was connected, but outside of that a pretty solid read.

Imagine Sherlock and Watson. Now change them in to women. Now, imagine them in the far future....living on Jupiter. Oh, also, they are in love. Now you're pretty much in the right mindset for this book. And it's great! It is a short, fast read (I think probably more of a novella than a novel) but there is a lot of story packed into the pages. While trying to solve the mystery at the core of the book, the reader also gets to learn a lot about this future life on a faraway planet.There is a second book coming out soon and I'm looking forward to reading it.

4

This was my May read for the Sword and Laser podcast (yes, slightly behind the ball with this one). The title sets you up correctly for the vibes of this book - set in Victorian times, in a world extremely similar to our own except that fairies are real. Our protagonist is an academic who studies fairies and has traveled to a foreign country (that seems extremely similar to Iceland) to do field work. The fairies here are not of the Disney-princess variety, but rather the more meddlesome/sometimes scary fae or Folk of say...the Dresden files? Or the Invisible Library series. Which is to say, her field work involves some risk/adventure.

I very much enjoyed this book and its cottage/cozy sensibility. Our heroine definitely reads as neurodivergent, and while I appreciate the representation some of the social awkwardness is a bit difficult to read. It also makes her relationship with her friend/fellow researcher a bit confusing at times. Outside of that minor nit-pick I really have no complaints. This was a delightful and fun read and I will try to read more!

Mirrored Heavens is the third (and final!) book in the Between Earth and Sky trilogy. If you are not familiar, this is a fantasy series set in what feels like the Indigenous Americas. The book uses multiple points of view to follow the leaders of various clans who are fighting for power. By the time we get to the third book, the real battle is between a few of the gods and their human vessels.

This book (and series) is really, really wonderful. It has it all? Original world-building. A suspenseful plot. Delightful prose. But the strongest point are the complex characters. There are many characters, but not so many as to be confusing. And no one is one-dimensional. You might want to separate them into “good guys” and “bad guys,” but it's very hard to do. And yet, it all resolves at the end. Ending a series is a tough thing to do well, but this one managed it.

Strong recommend! I think the first book (Black Sun) is the best, but the other two are very very good as well. Totally worth reading, and now the trilogy is done so it's binge-able as well.

This is my July book recommended by a friend. Why yes, it is June. But when Kat started raving about this book, I decided I'd start giving it a listen every now and then on Spotify, hoping that by the time it got to July I'd have wandered my way through it. But then....I got a few chapters in....and then....I couldn't stop. Last weekend I had to just give up and declare myself obsessed and plow my way through. And what book has me so obsessed, you ask?

It's.....Harry Potter fanfic??!? In this dystopian re-imagining of the HP world, Voldemort wins, Harry Potter is dead, and there is a Handmaid's Tale-style “repopulation” program. It is pretty dark (all the trigger warnings!). It is difficult to talk about the plot too much because there are lots of twists and turns and I really don't want to spoil anyone on anything. It is really, really good. Like....I think it's my favorite read so far this year?? (I'm willing to explore the possibility that I had low expectations going in.) The darkness is handled so well, and the ending is so on point, it never felt like the answers were too easy but it also never felt as if there was no hope. If this sounds interesting at all to you you should really give it a read.

And about that - I'll link to an online copy of the book below, but as I understand it this will likely only be available until the end of this year? The author, SenLinYu has a book deal to write a similar (but non HP) story that will be available for sale (Alchemised) in the fall of 2025. I will likely read that one as well!

Anyway, this book is great, read it!

5

Under Fortunate Stars is a modern space opera that follows the crew of two ships who get lost in time together. I enjoyed this book, and liked learning their back stories. It seems that most sci-fi stories that involve time travel end up leaning on a few similar premises, and so parts of this story felt pretty predictable. Despite that, still a really enjoyable read!

Chef's Kiss is my September book (well, author, really) recommended by a friend. Thanks, Lexi, for the most excellent recommendation! This is an extremely sweet (and mildly spicy) queer love story. Simone is a perfectionistic pastry chef whose world gets a bit more chaotic when she meets her kitchen's new manager. Then, the kitchen is in trouble and they have to work together to save it. I mean, romance PLUS baking?!? How could I not like this?? I sped through this book in about two days and I have the sequel waiting for me at the library as we speak. Need I say more?

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow follows the lives of two friends, Sam and Sadie. They meet in the hospital as children and bond over playing video games. As college students, they reconnect and decide to start making video games together. The story follows their relationship and the ups and downs of the company they create over the next 30 years. Video games (both the ones they create and others that they play) provide a framework for the book.

There is a fine line that is being walked in this book. Both Sadie and Sam are deeply flawed characters, so much so that at times it is hard to root for them. However, it also makes them seem very real - they have trauma and illness and joy and all the things that make up life. They are at their very best when working creatively together, and their very worst when they have to confront anything of emotional importance. I ended up liking and appreciating the realness, especially since the prose and story-telling is just so pretty in this book!

While gaming is obviously a big part of the book, I don't think you need to be a big gamer to enjoy this. However if you, like me, remember playing The Oregon Trail on the Apple IIe in your school's computer lab then you are probably in the right age range to enjoy many of the nods to games that are in the book.