The Red Scrolls of Magic by Cassandra Clare

Ha, I don’t even remembering adding this book to my TBR. Seeming as I removed the one other Cassandra Clare book on my ‘Want to Read’ shelf, I see no reason why I should keep this one around. After all, I probably wouldn’t have much idea of what was going on, even if it’s the start of a new series in the same Shadowhunters world.

Verdict: Remove

The Paragon Hotel by Lyndsay Faye

Okay… on the surface, this book sounds like it could be interesting. A woman running from a shady past in the 1920s and ending up at Oregon hotel that has secrets of its own. But then I realized that the main character is white… in a hotel completely populated by Black people… and I get the feeling there’s gonna be a heavy dose of ‘white savor’ syndrome in this story. No thank you.

Verdict: Remove

Borne by Jeff VanderMeer

This science fiction about a creature found after the end of the world has always intrigued me. It seems like it’s going to be a dark tale with intrigue and lots of secrets. That’s the kind of sci-fi that is absolutely my kind of thing! I’ve only read a short story by this author before, but I enjoyed what I read. I’m certainly eager to read a full length novel with his writing. Also, I love this weird cover!

Verdict: Keep

Empress by Karen Miller

I went back and forth on this one. The premise certainly sounds interesting. This book features a woman who escapes slavery and forges her own way in the world. Then I started poking through the reviews and feel a bit more hesitant. I’m not a person who will hate a book just because the main character is unlikeable. The reviews seem to hint, though, that there’s nothing about the MC that makes you want to keep reading the story. But maybe I would like it? I’m intrigued enough to let it stay.

Verdict: Keep

The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick

This book gets an instant point for having on of my top-tier tropes: bookish themes! I love a book that is somehow centered around books and this certainly fits the bill. Our main character receives a book of fairytales from her long-thought dead grandma. Inside is a clue that she might not be as dead as previously believed. This sounds completely charming, so I think I’ll keep it!

Verdict: Keep

Nightingale by Amy Lukavics

This cover looks creepy as hell, which is probably why I added it to my TBR in the first place 😂 The synopsis has me even more interested. A young woman in the 1950s finds herself locked up in an asylum because she doesn’t wish to conform to society’s standards. This asylum is a terrible place filled with dark secrets and she must find a way to escape before it truly drives her mad. Dark, historical fiction with a feminist twist? Yes, please!

Verdict: Keep

The Outsider by Stephen King

Ahh, Mr. Stephen King. His books appear so many times on my TBR! I’ve loved some and was pretty meh about others, but I usually tend to enjoy what he writes. The thing is… he writes SO MUCH! I could spend a good chunk of my reading time dedicated solely to reading King novels and still never hope to catch up. So it’s time to start prioritizing which of his books stay on my TBR and, unfortunately, this one won’t be making the cut.

Verdict: Remove

The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick

Huh… I just realized that this is the same author as a previous book this round! And, if I’m being honest, I’m much more interested in that book than I am in this one. It sounds like it could be fun, contemporary romp, but the synopsis doesn’t make me want to pick it up as much as The Library of Lost and Found. Perhaps once I’ve read that, this one will make its way back on the TBR.

Verdict: Remove

Descendant of the Crane by Joan He

This book has been on my TBR since the day it was released and I feel kind of bad that I still haven’t read it. I’ve heard amazing things about this Chinese-inspired fantasy! Plus, the cover is just gorgeous. I know the author has has issues with the original publisher of this novel, which is what has made me hesitant to buy it. But I definitely still want to give this one a read eventually!

Verdict: Keep

The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters by Balli Kaur Jaswal

I keep going back and forth on this one. On one hand, it centers a Punjabi family who travel to India on their mother’s dying request. It sounds like it will be bursting with culture and familial drama. On the other hand, I’m not a huge fan of literary fiction and this definitely sounds like literary fiction… In the end, the chances of my picking this up are pretty low, so I suppose it must go.

Verdict: Remove