A collection of books I’ve read, reviews I’ve written, and blog posts you might have missed from the past month.
Books I Read in July 2020
I finished 8 books this month. That is a little less than average for me because I usually have far more than one audiobook, but I work less in the summer months so my commute time is diminished. I also have two books I’m currently reading: Frost Like Night by Sara Raasch and Red Rising by Pierce Brown. I was hoping to finish Red Rising today for my book club, but I still have 150 pages, so I’m not sure I’ll make it.
4/5 stars: The First Five Pages is an informative read about the querying process and what it takes to make the first five pages of your manuscript stand out in a sea of submissions. This is one of my top 7 books for aspiring authors. To view the full list click here.
4/5 stars: Masters of the Broken Watches by Razi Imam is a thrilling, genre-bending novel that reveals the magic and adventure of scientific discovery. This action-packed work of science fiction will have you believing that space may not be the final frontier. A simple search for a theoretical species that could solve some of the universe’s greatest unanswered questions leads to a magical discovery and an international fight to protect it. Never would I think to pair the words “epic quest” and “science experiment” until now. There’s no mistaking the intelligence and research behind Imam’s writing. However, through all the mystery, danger, and thrills of the chase, this book doesn’t feel anything like a text book science lesson. To read my full review click here. Additionally, you can find my interview with the author here.
4.5/5 stars: The Midnight Bargain is a daring new fantasy that harkens back to the lush balls and proper courtships of the Regency Era. C.L. Polk’s refreshing take on body autonomy, women’s rights, and sexism propels this novel from mere fairytale romance to a scintillating work of art that is sure to become a favorite among feminists, romantics, and fantasy readers alike. To read my full review click here.
5/5 stars: Staff of Nightfall is a deliciously satisfying conclusion to The Mercenary and the Mage duology that picks up right where Prince of Shadow and Ash left off. The pacing of this novel is spot on. It isn’t non-stop action, but, even at calmer moments, there is a constant thread of tension that propels the story forward. To read my full review click here. WARNING: review contains spoilers for book 1.
3/5 stars: Ice Like Fire is the second book in the Snow Like Ashes trilogy. While I did not find this sequel as exciting as the first, it was engaging enough to keep me hooked for book 3. It does suffer a bit from Second Book Syndrome and this series could easily have been a duology, but it is very good for a debut series.
3/5 stars: Unveiled is an enchanting debut by author Jacklyn Daher. After surviving a tragic accident, Luxor Everstone’s life is turned upside down. As if moving to a new town and school wasn’t enough, her body has started to undergo a series of odd transformations. Prompted by a school project, Luxor begins a search for answers about her past that reveals more than she bargained for. To read my full review click here.
5/5 stars: Empire of Gold is the brilliant conclusion to the Daevabad Trilogy which begins with City of Brass. I haven’t been able to collect my thoughts enough to write a review for this stunning masterpiece, but I highly recommend it for fans of Ember in the Ashes, Fantasy, Historical Fantasy, Mythology, and Romance.
2/5 stars: The Lost Prince by Alonna Williams was a OUABC review read that unfortunately failed to hit the mark for me. It has a great synopsis, but the writing was amateur and the story fell flat. I was able to finish the entire book since it was mostly (about 80%) dialogue, but I don’t recommend it.
Additional July Reviews
3/5 stars: I read The Book of Sam in June, but didn’t get around to writing a review until July. If you’d like to read it click here. This book is set to release August 15, 2020 and is great for fans of Percy Jackson.
Top Blog Posts from July
- Top Ten Tuesday – Enemies to Lovers Books You (Probably) Haven’t Read Yet
- Book Blogger Hop – Overhyped Books
- Top Ten Tuesday – Book Events Bucket List
- Author Interview – Selina R. Gonzalez
- My Top 15 Must Read Completed Series – 2020 Edition
Thanks for stopping by! What did you read in July? Feel free to drop a link to your wrap-up in the comments!