Okay August both felt like an insanely busy month where I was doing lots of things but also I still read some AAABSOLUTE bangers?! Like mostly bangers?! Like… a really good month overall so what a win!
Anyway, below is my breakdown as always, which includes my rating, what I liked, and where to read. I also will earn commissions if you make any purchases from links below, and I thank you earnestly for doing so. It allows me to keep putting together these recaps for you!
Let’s get into this August reading breakdown:
Immortal Rose
📖 Book 1 in an incomplete romantic fantasy duology
❤️🔥 Low spice
🎧 Dual-narrated audiobook
My Rating: 4.25 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (full review here)
My Thoughts: I will say this book took me a minute to get into (the 1st 30% of world/story establishment I thought was a lil wonky) BUT, LET ME SAY, that after that I was SAILING. There is so much longing and yearning, I really ended up liking our leads, and we had some fun reveals I didn’t expect. I also think book 2 will be even better!
This duology has: SUPER unique perfume-based magic, smart/cunning FMC, Bridgerton vibes, spymaster MMC, cool found family
Where to Read:
Daggerbound
📖 Book 2 in incomplete Swordheart romantic fantasy trilogy
🎧 Solo-narrated audiobook
🏳️🌈 Queer (MM) romance
❤️🔥 Has lower spice
My Rating: 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (full review here)
My Thoughts: I SIMPLY COULD NOT LOVE THIS TRILOGY MORE. This book specifically has one of my favorite all-time side characters, it is insane. Only T Kingfisher’s mind could come up with her and I’m genuinely obsessed. This trilogy is just such a blast, 2 5 star bangers right in a row. I fear it’s a new personality and I just love, love, love it.
This trilogy has: top 5 side character(s), top tier found family, funny giggles, more White Rat world adventures
Where to Read:
Seek the Traitor’s Son
📖 Book 1 of the incomplete The Burning Empire duology
🫑 Face to black spice
☑️ On Kindle Unlimited
🎧 Dual-narrated audiobook
My Rating: 4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (full review here)
My Thoughts: The premise of this book is SO FUCKING COOL. Like, SO unique, so fascinating, so great and I was so so sucked in basically immediately. I particularly liked the depth of exploration on the MMC because so often it feels they’re just doormats for the FMC to walk all over and I really enjoyed him being his own deeply flawed, deeply evolved person.
This book has: dystopian sci-fi world, traumatized characters, prophecies, religious weaponization/cult-like mindset
Where to Read:
Heir of Prophecy
📖 Book 1 of the incomplete Clash of Prophecies romantasy duology
❤️🔥 Has spice
☑️ On Kindle Unlimited
🎧 Dual-narrated audiobook
My Rating: 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (full review here)
My Thoughts: This follows a super easy-to-root-for FMC when her life gets turned upside down and she’s taken to a fae realm. The dark academia babes will be fed, but I will say the only reason this wasn’t higher was an outta nowhere, seemingly unnecessary spice scene that felt thrown in vs. narratively fit. But overall this story is really cool and I’m excited for more.
This book has: dark academia, fae/humans/demons, prophecies, Black FMC and author, chosen one trope
Where to Read:
The Dark Lord’s Guide to Honeymooning (and Other Acts of Tyranny)
📖 Book 2 in incomplete Guide to Villainy and Love dark romantasy trilogy
❤️🔥 Has spice
☑️ On Kindle Unlimited
🎧 Dual-narrated audiobook (and SO GOOD)
My Rating: 4.25 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (full review here)
My Thoughts: This was a SOLID follow-up to the campy riot that was book 1 and I genuinely just love this trilogy, it’s a blast. I think I rated it A TAD lower than book 1 only because I feel like the magic system feels a little convenient, BUT the emotional aspect/exploration of this book feels like it was even better than book 1. Can’t wait for book 3!
This book has: campy villainous MMC and his increasingly villainous FMC, enemies to lovers, dysfunctional found family, really fun banter and giggles galore
Where to Read:
The Once and Future Queen
📖 Book 1 in incomplete The Lives of Guinevere romantic fantasy trilogy
❤️🔥 Low spice
☑️ On Kindle Unlimited
🎧 Solo-narrated audiobook
My Rating: 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (full review here)
My Thoughts: OKAY I LOVED THIS. I found it randomly at a bookstore and was like “well that looks good” and I just adored this? Every second was so fun!? This is an Arthurian reimagining but done in a way I hadn’t experienced yet and it’s got this delicious little romantic subplot. I just cannot wait for where this is going to go, will be signing up for book 2’s release so fast.
This book has: King Arthur retelling, found familyyyyyy!, slow burn and excellent tension, portal fantasy
Where to Read:
The Sweetest Fiend
📖 Book 1 in incomplete Played by the Piper romantasy duology
❤️🔥 Has spice
🎧 Duet-narrated audiobook
🗓️ Out Sep 22
My Rating: 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (full review here)
My Thoughts: The ABSOLUTE highlight of this book was the really cool world/lore that it is built around. The plagues, the banes and fae, the Pied Piper retelling of it all. Like genuinely I know this is going to be a duology following 1 couple but there’s another character I’d be DOWN to follow and I think there’s enough world/lore for it. I’ll say the reason this wasn’t higher rated is there were just a couple things that didn’t quite click for me (full details in review above). BUT I do love me a filthy mouthed flirty MMC and the Pied Piper definitely delivered.
This book has: ENEMIESSSS to ?, fae, plagues, and banes, hella banter, Pied Piper retelling
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