As a writer, there’s the horrific balance of loving reading, and ironically not having the time to read. With my writing sabbatical, I’ve taken the chance to dive back into some longtime TBRs.
My Dystopian Binge. I discovered the Scythe trilogy by Neal Shusterman. What a concept. What a journey. The story of Rowan and Citra was incredible. Those first two books were––chef’s kiss––perfect. I just couldn’t catch my breath with it all, and the slow-burn romance was incredible. I was slightly disappointed with book three, mainly because it didn’t meet the expectations I set for the characters. But it’s still an amazing series.
I also read The Power by Naomi Alderman. I figured with its feminine power, dystopian vibe, it would match my Missing Girl’s trilogy vibe. I loved the energy; the writing was exceptional, but it didn’t hit the mark for me. Not sure if it was my personal mood, or that I just didn’t fall in love with any of the characters.
My new love - romantasy. Like I had mentioned before. I was a cynic when it comes to romance. Ashley Poston has inspired me to open up more for love stories, and after being hounded with recommendations, I have finally joined the bandwagon. It began with Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. I was embarrassed to admit I was reading it until I got into it. There’s a sloppiness to the arc, similar to the excessive drama of Grey's Anatomy (which I can't bring myself to watch), but the characters and their dynamics are something that pulls you in. After walking into Basgiath War College, it’s hard to walk away. The inevitable but slow-burn romance of Xaden and Violet is addictive. So addictive that I dove straight into Iron Flame to see what else happened with these characters.
But then I read Quicksilver. Callie Hart’s romantasy is one of my favourite reads of the month and is well within my top five books of the year. This was A TRUE slow burn, enemies to lover romance. It worked from front to back. The world building was immense, and there wasn’t a character I didn’t enjoy, or a villain I didn’t hate. If The Empyrean Series didn’t convert me to romantasy, then Kingfisher and Saeris hooked me. Book two is out in November, and I’ll be getting my pre-order in for this one.
Book of the month! Surprise, surprise. This book was not a contender on my TBR. My May book club read is The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. This historical WWII read was another genre I had no interest in diving into. But––oh my God––what a journey. Following two sisters in France during the German occupation had my heart dropping every other chapter. It’s safe to say I actively avoid war stories because of their depressing nature. It could be considered ignorant, but my heart just can’t cope. I haven’t cried at a book since Marley and Me, but this had me sobbing and grieving for the characters weeks after. That being said, I wholly recommend it. The different journeys these sisters took, the tragedy, the romance––it was beautiful and must be experienced. It’s one of those books I will force upon others, and I hope to read more Kristin Hannah novels in the future.
