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mad-rdr · 29 days

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March Reads

10 books!

Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail by Ashley Herring Blake (★ ★ ★/5): I loved getting to see Astrid be a normal human being with wants and needs and I especially loved her getting with a woman!! And telling off her awful mother!! (mommy issues hit hard bro)

Blue Monday by Nicci French (★ ★ ★/5): this was such an interesting little mystery involving twins and I loved how Frida was like "I'm a criminal investigator now" and broke like 10 laws. I was also not expecting that ending holy shit (he killed his twins and took his place)

Lady Smoke by Laura Sebastian (★ ★ ★/5): honestly, I'm not sure anything actually happened in this book aside from a weird love triangle, this 16 yr old queen realizing she doesn't know shit and some half-assed revival from the dead “twist” at the end.

Ember Queen by Laura Sebastian (★ ★ ★/5): this series finale wasn’t too bad, I still feel like if it was written as an adult book it could’ve done so much more with the characters and plot, but I’ll accept it. People die, Theo learns to wield fire, and there’s a lot of unnecessary injures. Truly, where would they be without Heron. Don’t get me started on the dream walking.

The Power of Trees by Peter Wohlleben (★ ★ ★/5): this was a good book, if a little more scientific than I was expecting. Definitely made me think about the human relationship with trees and how we really do take them for granted.

By Any Other Name by Erin Cotter (★ ★ ★/5): I love historical tellings of gay people- factual correctness aside. I did not, however, enjoy the incessant use of the word “tis.” If you’re going to commit to 16th century England you gotta do it all the way and not just sprinkle it in here and there. I did loveeee our chaotic asf mc though- he doesn’t know anything except lust and money (and sometimes love)

From Blood and Ash by Jennifer Armentrout (★ ★ ★ ★ /5): finally got around to this book and let me just say… these new high fantasy authors need more editors. Has no one told them that repetition is the bane of my existence?? If I read the word “Maiden” one more time I’m gonna lose it. On that note though, this book wasn’t too bad overall. I found it highly predictable (like duh of course Hawke is the dark prince) but once I accepted I wouldn’t be surprised I was able to enjoy it. I love me a good vampire story and this delivered.

A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire by Jennifer Armentrout (★ ★ ★/5): someone please tell me why it took the entire book for the characters to move from one place to another. Seriously. There seemed to be little development character and plot-wise and while it was quite steamy... *something* should've happened in 600 pages.

A Crown of Gilded Bones by Jennifer Armentrout (★ ★ ★/5): this book was far better than the second one but I'm still chasing that high of book one. Book three is almost too much, Poppy goes from being crowned to kidnapped to rescued to dying to being revived and "Ascended" all within the first 80 ish pages... and then after that there's still 600 pages to go. In the course of the book her parentage gets "revealed" like 6 times and finally lands on her being a god? It was good, action-packed and smutty, but my god, someone needs to teach this author the skills of pacing.

Iris Kelly Doesn't Date by Ashley Herring Blake (★ ★ ★ ★ /5): this was such a good end to the little Bright Falls trilogy; I love me a good bisexual mess who doesn't know how much love she deserves. I just didn't like the breakup at the end, it felt like the author was trying to add a little angst in there and it didn't really work because we all knew they would get back together. But hey, I'm never gonna pass up a fake dating trope.

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mad-rdr · 2 months

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February 2024 Reviews

Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian (★ ★ ★ ★/5): a basic little YA fantasy that reads well but is surprisingly violent. There’s clearly a lot of heavy shit going on here and I’m looking forward to seeing how the author will write it out

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson (★ ★ ★ ★/5): had a bit of a slow start but definitely picked up from there. I love a good little suspense and mystery read

Beta by Jasinda Wilder (★/5): I’ve read some bad smut books but this one takes the cake. Absolutely full of inconsistencies and bad dialogue. Please stick to wattpad

Everfair by Nisi Shawl (★ ★/5): I loved the idea of this book more than the book itself. It was hard to get through and a bit boring

The Gilded Cage by Lynette Noni (★ ★ ★ ★/5): another great addition to this series, much more action and political drama with another insane ending. This series is keeping me on my toes

The Blood Traitor by Lynette Noni (★ ★ ★ ★/5): for the series finale it could’ve been better, the main characters didn’t even talk to each other for 75% of the book. Overall not too bad of a series though, I would read it again

Happy Place by Emily Henry (★ ★ ★/5): man I had expectations for this book and I definitely shouldn’t have. The same problem every 10 pages and honestly who knew what tf was going on ever

Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters (★ ★ ★ ★/5): a historical fiction piece about lesbians! A bit slow with no real plot but I enjoyed it nonetheless

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mad-rdr · 3 months

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January 2024 Reviews

10 whole books this month! Maybe this is a sign that my reading slump is over??

Abaddon's Gate by James S. A. Corey (★ ★ ★/5) - do I have any idea of what went on in this book? faintly. However, I love space and fucking shit up so I highly enjoyed this.

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros (★ ★ ★ ★/5) - why was this not split up into two books... and why do the two main characters have the same fucking argument every 15 pages, PLEASE rebecca (you need another editor)

Twisted Lies by Ana Huang (★ ★ ★ ★/5) - this was honestly the tamest of the whole series. Oh you’re upset he kept files on you? Girl he’s literally killed people you have bigger worries. Also was not a fan of the epilogue- none of these men should be fathers and I hate the pregnancy trope

Lilith's Brood by Octavia E. Butler (★ ★ ★ ★/5) - I'm not gonna lie this book made me incredibly uncomfortable but I know that was exactly the point. I'm so here for Ms. Butler continuing to shake up my ideas on the human experience.

This Delicious Death by Kayla Cottingham (★ ★ ★/3) - queer women that sometimes turn into man-eating monsters! amazing, loved it.

The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni (★ ★ ★ ★ ★/5) - one of the best ya fantasy novels I've read in a while! The ending definitely got me and I'm hoping the momentum carries throughout the rest of the series.

Monster, She Wrote by Lise Kroger (★ ★ ★/5) - a super cool collection of 18-20th century women who wrote horror and gothic books!

Alpha by Jasinda Wilder (★ ★/5) - the plot was so awful but hey, I'm here for the smutty pallet cleanser.

Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer (★ ★ ★ ★ ★/5) - are you even an environmental scientist if you don't read this book? The answer is no, and this book should be required reading for everyone anyways. So incredibly insightful and inspiring, my heart is lighter.

Delilah Green Doesn't Care by Ashley Herring Blake (★ ★ ★ ★/5) - This was sooo cute, I love wlw romances! In a small town! With a heavily tattooed woman!

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mad-rdr · 3 months

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My rating system

No stars: Usually for educational books that I don’t feel right rating

★: I didn’t like it

★ ★: It was okay

★ ★ ★: I liked it

★ ★ ★ ★: I really liked it

★ ★ ★ ★ ★: I loved it!

#important stuff #book ratings #mad-rdr

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mad-rdr · 4 months

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In case anyone was wondering;

I read 71 books (I lowkey hit a massive reading slump)

I didn’t visit as many used bookstores, but I also didn’t really buy books

In case you didn’t notice from me frantically posting reviews from books I read months ago… I did not in fact keep up with this blog

No quite 40, but 29!!

Hell yeah I did, I borrowed 34 books from my libraries this year!

Important Stuff

My rating system

No stars: Usually for educational books that I don’t feel right rating

★: I didn’t like it

★ ★: It was okay

★ ★ ★: I liked it

★ ★ ★ ★: I really liked it

★ ★ ★ ★ ★: I loved it!

My 2023 Reading Goals

Read 80 books

Buy half of books from local or used bookstores

Keep reading journal and Tumblr updated

Read 40 books written by authors of color

Utilize local libraries

My Immediate 2023 TBR

Latinas: An Anthology of Struggles & Protests

The New Jim Crow

Four Hundred Souls

Keeper’n Me

Girls of Paper and Fire Trilogy

A Song of Wraiths and Ruin Series (2 books)

All of Us Villains Duology

The Green Bone Saga (3 books)

The Nightingale

The Return of the Dancing Master

#booklr #reader #books #reading #book blog #book reviews #book recommendation #books and reading

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mad-rdr · 4 months

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December 2023 Reviews

Finally wrapping up on my 2023 reviews but I’m overwhelmed so I've decided to condense them all into one post;

On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous - Ocean Vuong (★ ★ ★ ★/5); absolutely devastating I had tears in my eyes the entire time

A Touch of Ruin (Persephone x Hades #2) - Scarlett St. Clair (★ ★/5); how can someone write a 400 page book where nothing happens???

Radiant Sin (Dark Olympus #4) - Katee Robert (★ ★/5); lowkey the weakest book yet, it was kind of boring and although I loved Cassandra, the other characters were eh

Cruel Seduction (Dark Olympus #5) - Katee Robert (★ ★ ★/5); enemies to lovers and polyamory? Fuck yeah sign me up

A Touch of Malice (Persephone x Hades #3) - Scarlett St. Clair (★ ★ ★/5); this just in/ the two characters argue in circles about the same thing for the entire book… except at some point there’s a wedding

The Light We Carry - Michelle Obama (★ ★ ★ ★ ★/5); mother!! Genuinely, Michelle Obamas words are so comforting I love this woman

Book Lovers - Emily Henry (★ ★ ★ ★ ★/5); why can’t I find someone like Charlie, all I’m asking for is a man that READS

Caliban’s War (The Expanse #2) - James S. A. Corey (★ ★ ★/5); do I have any idea what’s going on? No. Am I enjoying the ride? Yes. Strap me into the spaceship let’s shoot some bitches & destroy moons!

The Will to Change - bell hooks (★ ★ ★ ★/5); shook up my worldviews and really made me think about my relationship with men and my anger with them

Perfect on Paper - Sofia Gonzales (★ ★ ★ ★/5); actually really cute despite not being the lil wlw story I was envisioning (long live chaotic bisexuals)

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mad-rdr · 4 months

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A Touch of Darkness - Scarlett St. Clair

★ ★ ★/5

Idk if you’ve noticed but I’ve been on a little Greek mythology retelling kick this year (2023)… nevermind that it’s mostly erotica… I am a simple creature. After the fun that was the Dark Olympus series (specifically Neon Gods) I was craving another Persephone & Hades retelling and while this book & world wasn’t as good as the Neon Gods one, it was still enjoyable! I love when ancient gods are written into the modern world. I will say that I’m intrigued that the author has a Persephone & Hades series so I can’t wait to see what tricks she’s got up her sleeve.

#hella behind on my reviews don’t mind me #2023 reads #a touch of darkness #scarlett st clair #romance #adult romance #adult fiction #smut #greek mythology retelling #adult #booklr #reader #books #reading #book blog #book review #books and reading #fiction #fantasy

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mad-rdr · 4 months

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Black Sun (Between Earth & Sky #1) - Rebecca Roanhorse

★ ★ ★ ★/5

Xiala the pirate captain bisexual joy of my heart and love of my life!! You are one of three main protagonists but you are my favorite and this is your book. Anyways. This book was good! I don’t know where I got mixed up and assumed this was an adult book instead of YA so I was a little surprised the first chapter, but not too displeased because the story made up for it! If you know anything about me so far it should be that I love me some good world building and this world is so intricate- especially the religious aspects and I can’t wait to explore it further in the next one (while I emotionally recover from that ending of course)

#hella behind on my reviews don’t mind me #2023 reads #black sun #rebecca roanhorse #young adult fiction #young adult fantasy #fiction #fantasy #young adult #ya fantasy #ya fiction #booklr #reader #books #reading #book blog #book review #books and reading

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mad-rdr · 4 months

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Twisted Hate (Twisted #3) - Ana Huang

★ ★ ★ ★/5

Okay so I really, really liked the book. From the first half of it, it was on track to become my favorite book of the twisted series. I loved the banter, the tension, the enemies slow burn to lovers. AND THEN. Fuck ass Josh decides to actively harm Jules through sex knowing how she’s been used in the past and I can never go back from that. Genuinely, that scene disgusted me so much I had to take a break after reading it. And the fact that Huang wrote Jules to forgive him??? Absolutely not. I have highly debated keeping the four stars I originally gave this book when I first finished it but I try not to make a habit of changing my ratings till I reread so it’ll stay for now. Just know that this book is highly enjoyable until that one scene and if you can justify it, kudos to you.

#hella behind on my reviews don’t mind me #2023 reads #twisted hate #ana huang #twisted series #romance #adult romance #fiction #adult fiction #check tw #booklr #reader #books #reading #book blog #book review #books and reading

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mad-rdr · 4 months

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Yellowface - R.F. Kuang

★ ★ ★ ★/5

Once again, R. F. Kuang brilliantly giving us a scathing critique- this time on the publishing industry and audacity/privilege of white woman. I know some are saying this book is basically a retelling of her own experience with her publisher but I! Don’t! Care! I would read her grocery lists if it give me a new perspective on fruits. This book enraged me and that’s exactly how Kuang meant it to be. She made the main character so absolutely insufferable but in a way that points out characteristics of real life people. You’re telling me that June ruins a woman’s life because she suggests that she doesn’t like “her” book??? I’ve seen real life authors do that to people who leave goodreads reviews. Anyways, this book was insane and I enjoyed it immensely- my only real critique is I think the ending is too rushed but hey, I was tired of reading junes thoughts so idk if that’s really a con.

#hella behind on my reviews don’t mind me #2023 reads #yellowface #rf kuang #adult fiction #fiction #booklr #reader #books #reading #book blog #book review #books and reading

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mad-rdr · 4 months

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These Violent Delights (Secret Shanghai Universe #1) - Chloe Gong

★ ★ ★/5

This book had so much potential, a Romeo & Juliet retelling in gang controlled Shanghai?? The set up sounds awesome, and while there were aspects that I enjoyed, I was mostly disappointed by the random bug monster thing that lives in a river. That whole plot line made little sense and I don’t think it was written out very well. That, and I think my tolerance for young adult fantasy in general is declining. There was so much going on without anything actually happening, you could probably cut out the first 300 pages and understand it perfectly fine. Anyways, it wasn’t awful… but it wasn’t good either. I’m still debating if I want to give the second book a try.

#these violent delights #chloe gong #2023 reads #hella behind on my reviews don’t mind me #fantasy #ya fantasy #young adult fantasy #young adult fiction #fiction #booklr #reader #books #reading #book blog #book review #books and reading #romeo and juliet #retelling

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mad-rdr · 4 months

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What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding - Kristin Newman

★ ★/5

When I saw a review of this travel memoir saying that this book changed their life and perspective on travel I was like… hell yeah sign me up! What I did not sign up for was a roster of international hookups and a “not like other girls” mantra. The author is privileged to travel and explore the world and yet so ignorant on other cultures and places. Could’ve been inspiring but instead was just boring.

#hella behind on my reviews don’t mind me #2023 reads #what I was doing while you were breeding #Kristin newman #travel #travel memoir #memoir #nonfiction book #booklr #reader #books #reading #book blog #book review #books and reading

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mad-rdr · 4 months

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London Calling #1 & #2 - Alexis Hall

Boyfriend Material - ★ ★ ★/5

Husband Material - ★ ★ ★/5

I'm combining these two reviews because in my head they have overlapped so much I don't know what happened where or when. So. Overall, I have a soft spot for LGBTQ fiction and have a hard time criticizing it because the representation alone makes me so happy. This little duology was no different. Starting off as a fake-dating/kinda enemies to lovers trope I was catching similar vibes to RW&RB. Although I absolutely adore Luc (Lucien) and Oliver, Luc is such a god awful mess some of his scenes were absolutely painful to get through. Please, for the love of god, just talk to one another. The first book consisted of Luc & Oliver dancing around each other for what felt like absolute ages until they realized they actually do work well together and decide to keep dating even though they each have their host of problems (they're only human after all). The second book revolves around them being engaged and trying to decide if marriage is right for them after everyone around them gets married (spoiler alert, its not and they literally cancel their wedding AT the alter). I personally didn't think they should've gotten married so I wasn't all that upset. It's clear they have a lot to work out in their own lives and together so I'm happy they came to that decision. Anyways, I love the little gay people I read about and truly did enjoy these two books.

#boyfriend material #husband material #london calling #alexis hall #adult fiction #fiction #romance #queer romance #lgbtq fiction #lgbtq books #lgbtq #booklr #reader #books #reading #book blog #book review #books and reading #lgbtqia

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mad-rdr · 4 months

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The Nightingale - Kristin Hannah

★ ★ ★ ★/5

This book was absolutely devastating in the best way possible. A story about women in WW2, we follow along as a young girl named Isabelle becomes one of the most successful resistance leaders in nazi-occupied France. Meanwhile, Isabelle's sister, Vianne, fights with a different type of strength, protecting her children from the nazi living in their home. This book does not shy away from the horrors of being a woman during war time and I am not exaggerating when I say it made me cry more than once. While it is relatively slow-paced, I highly recommend this to anyone trying to read within the historical fiction genre.

#the nightingale #kristin hannah #historical fiction #ww2 novel #women in ww2 #adult fiction #fiction #adult #booklr #reader #books #reading #book blog #book review #books and reading

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mad-rdr · 4 months

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The Spanish Love Deception - Elena Armas

★ ★ ★/5

This book was a relatively lighthearted romance between an older woman and one one-night-stands-turned-client. I'm sure it violated some policies somewhere but hey, it's fiction. It's a bit cheesy and predictable and full of very common tropes but no one said I was looking for a masterpiece lol. I hold romance novels to wayyy lower standards than the fantasy novels I read so I'll cut this story some slack. The worst part of this book was the "I can't get pregnant and that's why my last relationship ended and oh no! I'm getting sick what's happening?? SUPRISE BITCH YOU'RE PREGNANT." I truly do hate pregnancy tropes and wish authors (especially females ones) would stop acting like the inability to have children is the end of the world.

#spanish love deception #elena armas #romance #adult romance #adult fiction #fiction #booklr #reader #books #reading #book blog #book review #books and reading

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mad-rdr · 4 months

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Masters of Death - Olivie Blake

★ ★ ★/5

I had really high hopes for this book, and while I still found it interesting, it was nothing like I expected (or wanted). The premise of the book sounded amazing; a vampire real estate agent trying to get rid of a ghost in a house she was to sell so she hires a medium who turns out to be not only a fraud, but the godson of Death himself. Doesn't that sound SO COOL?? I was expecting the miscommunication trope, maybe some romance, and generally... just a whole lot of chaos. What I got instead was some complicated and confusing game that I'm sure was an attempt at a metaphor for something. I got a barely thought-out world with a bunch of monsters that coexist in the world without any background information. I'm not a fan of this author's other works so I'm not sure why I thought this one would be any different. What made this book redeemable was the story between Fox and his love interest (whose name is alluding me), I thought it was really well done as a romance through time and betrayal. I also really enjoyed Death as a character and how he became a parent by accident by he will be The Best Role Model he could possibly be. Overall, not a bad book but not what it could've been. Probably best to read it without any expectations lol.

#masters of death #olivie blake #fiction #fantasy #booklr #reader #books #reading #book blog #book review #books and reading

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mad-rdr · 5 months

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Hell Bent (Alex Stern #2) - Leigh Bardugo

★ ★ ★ ★/5

Hm. Well. I did enjoy this book, but it wasn't quite what I was expecting. Darlington as a demon? Interesting. Also, mentions of his dick were one too many considering that this is nowhere near a romance book (but it's okay to admit you want it, Alex). Alex and others descend into Hell like three times, cheat death often, and generally just cause chaos to get Darlington, or some version of him, back. Leigh added some pretty good little twists in here that had me ripping through the pages. Overall, I could never dislike a Leigh Bardugo book even if it didn't quite meet my expectations.

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