I am genuinely impressed that I was able to crank out 11 books this month considering I was in Egypt for half of it?!? I will say I didn’t get to do AS MANY spooky books as I was hoping for (because they didn’t feel very Egyptian)
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 October reading breakdown:
Empire of the Vampire
📚 Book 1 in the complete Empire of the Vampire dark fantasy trilogy
❤️🔥 Medium spice (but this is not a romantic fantasy)
☑️ On Kindle+
🎧 Solo-narrated audiobook
My Rating: 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (full review here)
My Thoughts: OOOOKAY Y’ALL THIS IS FUCKING GOOD. The writing in this is immaculate, I LOVE the character exploration we’re getting, and I’m so fascinated by the plot. Just know it is FUCKING brutal. I’m currently reading book 2 but finding myself having to like, take a break because it’s so bleak sometimes.
But this is fully The Witcher x Blade as told in the style of Interview With a Vampire. It rules.
This trilogy has: hella vampires, other magical creatures, religious organizations and religious trauma, arc of the covenant lore, a complete disregard for horses
Where to Read:
Clocktaur Wars Duology
📚 Complete romantic fantasy duology in the White Rat world
❤️🔥 Low spice
🎧 Solo-narrated audiobook
My Rating: both 4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (book 1 review and book 2 review here)
My Thoughts: These were my final 2 books in the White Rat universe (at least of what’s out now) and they were just as delightful as the rest. For some reason I didn’t think I’d like them as much and I was wrong, they’re just grand. The characters were fun, the stakes were high, the GNOLES were WONDERFUL, and I just love this world so, so much.
This duology has: incredible character development, it starts chronologically the world of the White Rat, great found family, ragtag misfits trope
Where to Read:
Shadow & Son
📚 Book 3 of the complete Shattered Crown romantic fantasy trilogy
❤️🔥 Has spice
☑️ On Kindle+
🎧 Duet-narrated audiobook
My Rating: 4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (full review here)
My Thoughts: A satisfying conclusion to this trilogy that actually had me really worried for a minute. It also very clearly keeps a door open for a beloved side character and I personally, cannot wait for that. The shining character arc of this trilogy is Cedric, our MMC. I loved our FMC from the jump and I kept that going the whole trilogy. This is just a good time. There was also a certain storyline that could have gone a really annoying way that actually went the best possible way it could have gone and it was very girl power and I loved it.
This book has: yearn daddy hotboi MMC, FMC dealing with trauma, solid found family, queer normative world
Where to Read:
The Undertow of Evelyn Graymore
📚 Book 1 of the incomplete Hearts of the Drowned low romantic fantasy trilogy
❤️🔥 Has spice
☑️ On Kindle+
My Rating: 4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (full review here)
My Thoughts: I ate this up so fast. I needed a story about female rage and revenge (because the news is terrible) and this was exactly what I needed. It also had the benefit of having 2 men supporting our woman’s wrongs in different ways and I didn’t know I needed that. The ending was diabolical and I can’t wait for more.
This is giving Jennifer’s Body but for Sirens and I ate it up.
This book has: FEMALE RAGE AND REVENGE, a love triangle between a shadow daddy sea god and a green flag angel baby, based in Seattle so Seattle lore
Where to Read:
The Marked of the Covenant Series
📚 Books 1 and 2 in incomplete Marked of the Covenant series – book 1 is Lola Scott and the Curse of Ra and book 2 is Lola Scott and the Predator’s Game
❤️🔥 Has spice
☑️ On Kindle+
My Rating: 4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ for book 1 (full review here) and 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for book 2 (review here)
My Thoughts: THIS. SERIES. IS. SO. FUN. This is Tomb Raider x Doctor Who and book 1 is The Mummy-coded while book 2 is like, Tarzan-ish? Oh I had a blast with both of these; PLUS Lola Scott, the FMC, is a delight. I also had no idea we were going to be bouncing between timelines and also that our main girl’s ex lover was going to come in and try to ruin all her missions (or does he?). Oh man, this is just funnnn.
This series has: multiple timelines, a possessive and longing ex, lots of men interested in our girly, secret society, hidden backstories
Where to Read:
The Slantwise Histories
📙 Standalone of fantasy fairytale short stories
🎧 Dual-narrated audiobook
My Rating: 4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (full review here)
My Thoughts: I would read a novel written on Alix E. Harrow’s toilet paper. She is just such a phenomenal author and her writing is everything I want to read and I just, I just love. These short stories were so unique, so freaky and fun in some cases, so sweet in others, and I just adored it.
This book has: Brothers Grimm-style fairy tales, queer and straight romances in some, beautiful writing
Where to Read:
Kill to Love
📚 Book 1 in incomplete Hearts & Heathens romantic dystopian duology
❤️🔥 High Spice
☑️ On Kindle+
🎧 Duet-narrated audiobook
My Rating: 4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (full review here)
My Thoughts: This was just so fucking fun. This is Butcher & Blackbird but also Lights Out energy but also completely insane and I loved every crazy second. I was cackling the whole time. The banter is fucking tremendous, the FMC being a bit of a psychopath herself was a treat and a half, and the dystopian setting was a wonderful add. Loved, absolutely reading the sequel.
This book has: high spice, dystopian games, funny af banter and writing, a lil stalking, soulmates
Where to Read:
Untamed
📖 Book 1 in incomplete Primorian Crown romantic fantasy series
❤️🔥 Higher spice
☑️ On Kindle+
🎧 Duet-narrated audiobook COMING SOON
My Rating: 4.25 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (full review here)
My Thoughts: Okay this was a light-hearted gem that made me giggle and I literally inhaled it. The CLEAR upcoming love triangle actually stresses me so much in the best way because I very clearly have a favorite character and I straight up don’t know what’s going to happen with him. BUT there are so many entertaining characters and this was an emotional ride (we went from fun to horned up to so sad so fast). Book 2 is gonna be a ride!
This book has: inevitable love triangle, Slutty Flirty Prince and quiet commander, funny/light-hearted writing, assassin FMC, humans, fae, witches, and more
Where to Read:
X Marks the Stalker
📖 Book 1 in incomplete The Hemlock Society dark rom com series
❤️🔥 High spice
☑️ On Kindle+
🎧 Duet-narrated audiobook
My Rating: 3.75 ⭐️⭐️⭐️🌟 (full review here)
My Thoughts: There’s absolutely nothing WRONG with this book but when I’m looking for a dark rom com I do want something to make me laugh out loud, and this humor just wasn’t that for me. BUT I did enjoy it!
This book has: secret society, stalking, revenge, banter
Where to Read:
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