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Hello, reader!

Now that we’re firmly into October, I figured it was time to wrap up my reading from last month. After a particularly epic amount of books that I read in August, my September reading was noticeably less epic. I feel like my poor brain was recovering! It didn’t help that I contracted a head cold that put me into a fog for a good portion of the month. And that was before I contracted Covid 😅 It was a fun month with ups (I turned 40!) and downs (aforementioned head cold…) and it flew by way too fast.

Now, let’s wrap up what I managed to read in my favorite month of the year!

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• Spy x Family Vol 5 by Tatsuya Endo: I started the month continuing my Spy x Family obsession. This volume of the manga was a lot of fun, as always, though Yor’s brother creeps me out 😂 He is way too obsessed with his sister… Still, I loved seeing more of the Forger family and the art, as always, was a delight. This did just remind me that I need to catch up with the anime now that the second season is out! ★★★★
• Spy x Family Vol 6 by Tatsuya Endo: This was most definitely my favorite volume of the manga so far! We got to go along with Loid on one of his missions, there were so many cute moments between him and Yor, and Anya was, as ever, adorable. There was something about this volume that made me love the series even more. It was also the last one my library had so I’ve been in withdrawal ever since, haha. ★★★★★
• With Fire In Their Blood by Kat Delacorte: I read this book for a tour hosted by The Write Reads. This YA dark fantasy was a wild ride that was incredibly gripping, I loved the strange town of Castello and all the horrifying religious overtones that flow throughout the book were certainly eerie. The atmosphere and tone were expertly done and were probably my favorite part of the story. You can read my full review here. ★★★★

• Stillhouse Lake by Rachel Caine: Y’all. I’ve been a fan of Rachel Caine’s for a long time, ever since I picked up the Great Library series. So, when I picked up the first book in her thriller series, I was expecting to enjoy it. I was not, however, expecting to become so completely ensnared in the story that I wanted to abandon all my other reading goals for the month so I could binge the entire series! This book was so good! It was dark and tense and frightening, with several moments that had me on the edge of my seat. I want to fight the world for Gwen, our main character, and her kids. Rachel Caine has always been good at writing compelling characters and she definitely brought that skill into this book, as well. ★★★★★
• Chef’s Kiss by Jarrett Melendez: Ahhhhhh, this was so stinkin’ CUTE! I had heard Dini @ Dini Panda Reads talk about how much she enjoyed this graphic novel, which is what originally piqued my interest. Then, I spotted it at my local library and figured, why not? I borrowed it, sat down to read, and immediately became smitten. The art style! The characters! The FOOD! This story about a young college graduate just trying to find his true passion in this life (and maybe another kind of passion…) was so beautifully told and beautifully drawn that I was invested in his story from beginning to end. Add to that all the inclusiveness littered throughout this tale and I was hooked! ★★★★
• It Looks Like Us by Alison Ames: Talk about a perfect read for spooky season! Though a bit predictable, this novel was a thrill ride from beginning to end. If you enjoyed the movie The Thing and aren’t easily grossed out, I would definitely suggest giving this one a go! I read it for a TBR & Beyond Tours book tour and I’m so glad that I did. It was intense and messy and I enjoyed my time sunk within its pages. You can read my full review here. ★★★★

• Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card: This sci-fi classic is one I somehow avoided reading throughout my high school and college career. I’m glad I finally gave it a chance, though, because I ended up having a great time with it! I think what I enjoyed the most about this story is that it focuses more on the characters than the conflict. The conflict is an tense backdrop to what is happening, of course, but the real drama comes from Ender Wiggins and his incredibly interesting siblings. This is a great read and definitely has me interested in other books by this author. ★★★★
• This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone: Wow, what a wild ride this novella turned out to be! I will confess and say there were moments where the writing in this went over my head and I was absolutely lost in the imagery. But, for the most part, this was a beautifully written exploration of love across battle lines. I loved Blue and Red and how we got to know them through their letters to each other. I loved watching their relationship blossom, even as they pushed for their opposing governments to win. It was fascinating to watch them bounce around time and hide their missives in the most creative of ways. But the best part was definitely watching them fall in love. ★★★★
• Unravel the Dusk by Elizabeth Lim: This was a solid ending to a wonderful duology! The writing was just as rich and enticing as the first. Though I could have done with more Maia and Edan time, I enjoyed watching Maia really come into her own, as well. The magic in this one was bigger, the stakes higher, and I think it really shined in the way Elizabeth Lim crafted this story. I will say the ending left me feeling a little off-kilter, a little rushed, but it was still a great book and series. ★★★★

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Though I did have two five star reads (and a bunch that came close) in September, there was really only one that topped the stack. I’m still thinking about this book and I’m so eager to continue the series that it’s taking quite a bit of willpower to stick with my many buddy/tour reads 😅😂 In November, though, I’m giving myself leave to just binge the crap out of the books! The Book of the Month for September is…

Stillhouse Lake by Rachel Caine

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We’re not gonna talk about how poorly I’m doing with my year long TBRs… *cough* This is why I don’t typically make TBRs, though! I know myself and I am a reader that is very easily distracted. Still, I’m hoping to at least get a few more under my belt before the end of 2022. It just didn’t happen in September… heh.

Popsugar Reading Challenge:

• A duology (Unravel the Dusk) I’m choosing to interpret this as finishing a duology… even if I didn’t read the first book in 2022
• A book with a recipe in it (Chef’s Kiss)

Read Your Shelf Challenge:

• Book 2 of a duology (Unravel the Dusk)
• A novel set in the 22nd century (Ender’s Game)

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How was your reading in September? Did you find a new favorite? Make any progress on some challenges? Let me know in the comments!

And, as always, happy reading!