Well book lovers, we made it to the end of September. This month turned out to be pretty average for me in terms of reading. I finished 11 books this month: 5 e-ARCs, 4 audiobooks, and 2 physical books. With those 11 books, I was able to surpass my Goodreads Reading Challenge for the year. I set my goal at 75 this year with the hope that I would be able to hit that number before baby arrives and I made it with days to spare. I was also able to host an interview series for Self-Published Fantasy Month, which I’ve linked below.
Here is my month at a glance:
Books I Read in September:
I absolutely adored A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire by Jennifer L. Armentrout. This is the sequel to From Blood and Ash and is part of a larger planned series. You can check out my review here.
Ever the Hunted by Erin Summerill was a surprise for me. I did not have any expectations going into the first book of the Clash of Kingdoms trilogy beyond that it was a YA fantasy. This book stands out in a sea of cliché series and reads as a standalone. If you’re looking for something different in this genre, this one is worth checking out.
I put off reading Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo for almost a year since I got the book at her tour stop in New York. I’m often reluctant to read books by authors who have recently transitioned from YA to adult. This one just missed the mark for me. I think there are a lot of people that will enjoy this book, maybe even love it, but it was not for me. The timeline was confusing and the plot, while full of shock value, failed to capture me until the last 20% of the book. I may read the next book, but I won’t be pre-ordering it.
Into the Heartless Wood by Joanna Ruth Meyer is set to release in February of 2021. My review will be published closer to that date, but I will tell you that I was blown away by this gender-bent retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Meyer seamlessly ties in a dark, atmospheric setting and folkloric influences that give the novel a timeless quality and create a tale more mature than our typical YA fantasy. If you liked Meyer’s Echo North, you will love this one!
Stealing Embers by Julie Hall is expected to release October 22, 2020. If you’ve been longing for a good YA angel, academy series, this is it. Check out my review here.
Geekerella by Ashley Poston is included free on Audible Plus and I highly recommend checking it out if you’re in the mood for a cute, modern retelling of Cinderella.
Subversive by Colleen Cowley was one of my favorite reads of the month. It just released on September 27 and it is included free on KU. I highly recommend this for fans of historical fantasy (even though it actually takes place in 2020). You can check out my review here and check below for my link to the Self-Published Fantasy author interviews for my exclusive with Colleen Cowley.
The Princess and the Fangirl by Ashley Poston is the second book in the Once Upon a Con series of standalone modern retellings. This one is also included in Audible Plus and is just as much fun as book 1.
Ever the Brave by Erin Summerill is book two in the Clash of Kingdoms trilogy. I did not like this book as much as the first. This one was far more trope-filled and had far less action. Again, this book ended as though it were a standalone, but, if you’re only going to pick up one book from this series, let it be the first.
Ladies of the House: A Modern Retelling of Sense and Sensibility by Lauren Edmondson is set to release in March of 2021. I highly recommend pre-ordering this one. My review is coming closer to publication date, but this was a lovely story about sisterhood and overcoming the patriarchy mixed with a bit of romance and a lot of inspiring women.
I did not love The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco. In fact, I would have DNF’d it if it wasn’t an audiobook. This is another that was included in Audible Plus, so I didn’t pay anything for it. I wish I could put into words what I didn’t like about this book. I think it is well written, although the storytelling seems like a failed attempt to recreate the magic of The Name of the Wind. I just didn’t connect with the characters or the plot. It wasn’t exciting. I didn’t need to know what happened next. It was just flat. I know a lot of people loved this book, so I still recommend checking it out if you’re considering it.
Top Blog Posts of September:
How to Make the Most of Your Bookstagram: Creating An Account
9 Great Books with Under 1000 Ratings on Goodreads
Self-Published Fantasy Month Spotlight Author Interviews
What books did you read in September? Any new favorites?
Wow, that was a good reading month! I’m all for fairytale retelling after The Lunar Chronicles so I’m going to check Geekerella out!
The Once Upon A Con books are super cute and quick to read. Hope you enjoy!