I’ve been meaning to read this one for a while now as it gets a lot of love on Bookstagram. I was even more excited because the synopsis included “For fans of Leigh Bardugo, V. E. Schwab, and Fullmetal Alchemist” – all of my favorites! Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood especially is one of my favorite anime of all time and I couldn’t wait to see the inspo. It’s safe to say this book does indeed live up to the hype.
BOBH introduces the most unique magic system I’ve ever read – coding magic. Mages use a spellograph which is essentially a magical typewriter, and must code spells in order to perform magic. This is where Fullmetal Alchemist comes in – if you’re familiar – the law of equivalent exchange: to gain something, one must lose something of equal value. In order to perform these spells, the mages must siphon an equal amount of energy required for it…from somewhere. That’s where it gets crazy.
Sciona becomes the first woman to become a highmage in a terribly sexist high magistry of elite mages. There, she begins to uncover the darkest secrets among the most powerful. Dark academia vibes, an intricate magic system, and a deeper dive into themes of sexism, racism, and colonialism. M.L. Wang is a phenomenal storyteller.
Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry
Great Big Beautiful Life leans more on women’s fiction than Henry’s usual romances and I thoroughly enjoyed it! I loved the premise of two writers competing to write a tragic heiress’; Margaret Ives, life story. The chapters alternate between present and Margaret’s past, unfolding a bigger mystery as to why they were all on that island. I ADORED the grumpy x sunshine dynamic between our two writers, and because of the nature of the story alternating between past and present, there’s a slow burn romance. At some point Margaret’s family tree got a little confusing as we went through her great grandfather, grandfather, parents etc, but I rather like the Taylor Jenkins Reid vibes it gave me. By the end, my heart was full. It was just the book I needed after going into book depression from Blood Over Bright Haven. Thank you so much to libro.fm for the audiobook! The narrator, Julia Whelan, was perfect!
If You Could See the Sun by Ann Liang
An unexpected favorite from Q2! I knew I’d enjoy the story but I didn’t expect to love it so much. It was fun, lighthearted (for the most part), and even relatable in many ways. Right off the bat the academic rivals tension between Alice and Henry was palpable. At an elite Beijing international boarding school where Alice, the only student there on a scholarship, can no longer afford to attend, she comes up with a creative plan to make money – an illegal business proposition, if you will, to use her invisibility to spy and get information/evidence for the rich students — all in partnership with her rival, Henry. It’s giving academic espionage. Of course, things never go as planned, and that’s where it gets fun!
Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao
I had high hopes for this one but it didn’t quite live up to what I was expecting. Is it whimsical, dreamlike, and Studio Ghibli-esque? Absolutely. You travel to alternate worlds and timelines by jumping through puddles, conjure daydreams and trade your regrets which becomes birds. Everything about this book feels magical. But that’s kind of all there was. Atmosphere, vibes, and a vibrant world of magical realism. The substance was…lacking? The romance also felt off for me. I wanted to love this, but I needed more from the story.
Gifted & Talented by Olivie Blake
This book was…something LOL. It is very much an Olivie Blake book. Succession with magic – three siblings vying for their father’s Wrenfare Magitech company worth billions. This inheritance game gets MESSY. Their family is almost as dysfunctional as my family, and that’s saying a lot. There’s drama, greed, ambition, and some incredibly unlikable main characters. The first half of the book was absorbing in the most WTF way, but things kind of fall off after that. I think it would make a great HBO show to watch, but the story itself reads pretty slow. It’s entirely a character-motivated story. I think I went through every emotion in this family saga – disgust, shock, excitement…get ready for a slow simmering chaos.
Villains are Destined to Die by Suol and Gwon Gyeoeul
When I started grad school I basically stopped reading everything I loved, including manhwa/webcomics. What better way to get back into it by rereading one of my favorite villainess isekais? Penelope gets transported into a game she was playing…except she isn’t the heroine of the game, she’s the villain. I hated everyone for treating her terribly, but Penelope really transforms the character in the best way. The art is stunning, the story makes it impossible to just stop after 1 volume – I ended up staying up until 3am continuing (goodbye sleep schedule). This will forever be one of my favorites!
All Systems Red by Martha Wells
This was another one that I wanted to love but it just didn’t work out for me. It definitely felt like a me problem not a book problem. I think it was because it was last in my string of science fiction reads and I was getting burnt out on the genre, so I had a hard time focusing on the story. It’s a somewhat comical novella about a murderbot that hacked its own system so it could be self-aware. It couldn’t really care less about it’s job to protect a team of scientist on some distant planet, preferring to spend time in isolation watching a TV show. But of course, there’s danger afoot on this planet – what will this murderbot do now with free will? I’m definitely going to give book 2 a try when I’m back in a sci-fi mood! I love the premise of this world, it was just the wrong time to read it.
That makes 7 books! I’m incredibly happy to be reading consistently again and picking up all the things I once loved now that I’m done with grad school. Thank you for reading and see you in the next blog! Expect to see more reads from me soon 🙂
I read science fiction every once in a while, but I didn’t know this was hard sci-fi and let’s just say I spent the first quarter of the book confused by the scientific information overload. Astrophysics? Energy transfer? Astrophage? I’m just a casual reader! Once it started clicking, I gained more interest in the story, but the pacing felt a little too slow in the middle for my liking. Despite my lukewarm feelings on the first half, I LOVED the last quarter of the book. I never thought I’d love an alien rock-spider thing so much? The buddy dynamic between Rocky and Ryland had my whole heart. Rocky really carried this entire book. If you like incredibly high stakes (the sun is infected and gradually leading earth into an ice age), space exploration, missions to save earth, and unexpected friendships across galaxies, then this book is for you!
Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan
This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year! I loved Sue Lynn Tan’s Daughter of the Moon Goddess so I was excited to dive back into her lush and magical world. It was marketed as enemies to lovers, one of my favorite tropes!! Except…it wasn’t quite what I was imagining. Right off the bat the romance felt like it was building really fast…too fast? And then a plot twist blindsided me! The rest of the book felt more like reluctant allies than enemies. Nonetheless, I enjoyed diving into the vibrant world of divine politics and mercurial immortals. I really grew to enjoy how cdrama-esque it felt. I used to watch cdramas growing up so it was nostalgic in a way.
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
This has got to be one of the most hyped book in recent years. Was I curious? A little — but I had no intentions of getting the book any time soon. Lo and behold, my cousin got me a copy so I felt obligated to read it since it’s her all time favorite series. Does it live up to the hype? In some ways, yes! The dragons, the war college setting, and exciting trials alone made it such an entertaining read. The overarching plot was also interesting and felt very weighty? The ending had me SHOOK. What I did not enjoy, and I know I’m going to get a lot of flack for this, was the romance. It just wasn’t for me!
Atomic Habits by James Clear
I seldom read self-help books I heard a lot of great things about this one and wanted to incorporated a little nonfiction into my repertoire. The beginning was incredibly boring. In fact, I was close to DNF’ing this many times. But I pushed on, and started to gain interest in the psychology behind habits. To save you the time, here were some of the key ideas that stuck with me from this book:
If you start with small and simple habits on a daily basis, over time there will be significant change
Cues can trigger good AND bad habits, i.e. if you pull out your phone and see Tiktok in front of you, you’re more likely to start scrolling. I actually used this to stop doomscrolling on Tiktok altogether by just moving it into a hidden folder and adding a 10 minute daily limit
Discipline & environment > motivation. Motivation is overrated and environment is more important. If your environment has a lot of good cues, then you will find yourself practicing good habits more often. The great thing is you can shape your own environment!
Consistency is key
4 books down! This is the most I’ve been able to read in a very long time and I’m on track for my reading goal so I’m quite happy!! As always, thank you for reading and see you in the next blog!
My vision board for 2025: goals, manifestations, and reminders for the new year!
There’s a screenshot on here that I love that keeps me mindful: “this is gonna take 3 years” / “the time will pass anyway”. The passage of time will always continue, and many things in life take time to achieve like personal growth/education/career goals. Time is the context for growth.
My ins and outs for the year
Ins:
Reading before bed
8 hours of sleep
Consistent with barre/pilates
Leaning into hobbies that bring me joy
Prioritizing health
Being mindful of the present
Outs:
Mindless scrolling
Ubereats
Unnecessary spending
Sleeping at 2am
I really need to fix my circadian rhythm. After averaging 5-6 hours of sleep last year I’ve set a be-in-bed time at 10pm for the weekdays. Luckily, my latest class this semester ends at 8:15pm instead of 9:30pm so I have more time to wind down! Since I’ll have more free time (I’m only taking 4.5 credits), I’ll be reading a lot more!! I’ve set some realistic reading goals for the year. I was reading through some of my old blogs and I can’t believe there was I time that I read over 100 books a year. Who was that girl?? Where is she???
Reading Goals for 2025
Read 24 books
Read my shelf: for every new book I buy, I have to read one I already own first
In case you missed it, I shared my 12 most anticipated books of 2025, so that makes up 12 of the 24 goal! The other 12 will be from books my shelf, books for sabc, books I’ve already started, and whatever else may pique my interest!
My biggest and recurring goal every year is to read my shelf. I own far too many books that I need to read but it’s hard when amazing books are coming out every year!! I had a severe impulse book buying habit but I’d like to think I’m doing a lot better now thanks to my limited free time haha. Nonetheless, I’m excited for all the new stories this year!
One of my favorite things about the start of a new year is looking ahead at all the exciting books on the horizon. My TBR continues to grow by the year with endless stories to get lost in. Here are my top 12 books that I’m looking forward to reading in 2025. There’s a Studio Ghibli-inspired magical journey with a pawnshop where you can sell your regrets, a dark academia fantasy where two rival students travel to hell to save their adviser, a fantastical story about two souls that love each other in every lifetime…but also kill each other in each one, and so much more! Cheers to a year full of bookish adventures~
Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan | January 7th
Romantic fantasy
Chinese mythology
Forbidden magic
Enemies to lovers
Ambitious ruler x God of War
Set in the world of Daughter of the Moon Goddess (which I adored)
As the heir to Tianxia, Liyen knows she must ascend the throne and renew her kingdom’s pledge to serve the immortals who once protected them from a vicious enemy. But when she is poisoned, Liyen’s grandfather steals an enchanted lotus to save her life. Enraged at his betrayal, the immortal queen commands the powerful God of War to attack Tianxia.
Upon her grandfather’s death, Liyen ascends a precarious throne, vowing to end her kingdom’s obligation to the immortals. When she is summoned to the Immortal Realm, she seizes the opportunity to learn their secrets and to form a tenuous alliance to safeguard her people, all with the one she should fear and mistrust the most: the ruthless God of War. As they are drawn together, a treacherous attraction ignites between them—one she has to resist, to not endanger all she is fighting for.
But with darker forces closing in around them, and her kingdom plunged into peril, Liyen must risk everything to save her people from an unspeakable fate, even if it means forging a dangerous bond with the immortal… even if it means losing her heart.
Gifted & Talented by Olivie Blake | April 1st
Contemporary fantasy with sci-fi elements
Think Succession with magic
Cast of morally gray characters
Long-festering sibling rivalry and ambition
Who will inherit the Wrenfare Magitech throne?
“The pipeline of gifted kid to clinically depressed adult“
Thayer Wren, the brilliant CEO of Wrenfare Magitech and so-called father of modern technology, is dead. Any one of his three telepathically and electrokinetically gifted children would be a plausible inheritor to the Wrenfare throne.
Or at least, so they like to think.
Meredith, textbook accomplished eldest daughter and the head of her own groundbreaking biotech company, has recently cured mental illness. You’re welcome! If only her father’s fortune wasn’t her last hope for keeping her journalist ex-boyfriend from exposing what she really is: a total fraud.
Arthur, second-youngest congressman in history, fights the good fight every day of his life. And yet, his wife might be leaving him, and he’s losing his re-election campaign. But his dead father’s approval in the form of a seat on the Wrenfare throne might just turn his sinking ship around.
Eilidh, once the world’s most famous ballerina, has spent the last five years as a run-of-the-mill marketing executive at her father’s company after a life-altering injury put an end to her prodigious career. She might be lacking in accolades compared to her siblings, but if her father left her everything, it would finally validate her worth—by confirming she’d been his favorite all along.
On the pipeline of gifted kid to clinically depressed adult, nobody wins—but which Wren will come out on top?
Katabasis R.F. Kuang | August 28th
Dark academia fantasy
Dante’s Inferno meets Susanna Clarke’s Piranesi
Academic rivals to lovers
Two graduate students travel to hell to rescue the soul of their dead adviser (it’s giving Orpheus and Eurydice)
Alice Law has only ever had one goal: to become one of the brightest minds in the field of Magick. She has sacrificed everything to make that a reality: her pride, her health, her love life, and most definitely her sanity. All to work with Professor Jacob Grimes at Cambridge, the greatest magician in the world.
That is, until he dies in a magical accident that could possibly be her fault.
Grimes is now in Hell, and she’s going in after him. Because his recommendation could hold her very future in his now incorporeal hands and even death is not going to stop the pursuit of her dreams….
Nor will the fact that her rival, Peter Murdoch, has come to the very same conclusion.
With nothing but the tales of Orpheus and Dante to guide them, enough chalk to draw the Pentagrams necessary for their spells, and the burning desire to make all the academic trauma mean anything, they set off across Hell to save a man they don’t even like.
But Hell is not like the storybooks say, Magick isn’t always the answer, and there’s something in Alice and Peter’s past that could forge them into the perfect allies…or lead to their doom.
Alice Scott is an eternal optimist still dreaming of her big writing break. Hayden Anderson is a Pulitzer-prize winning human thundercloud. And they’re both on balmy Little Crescent Island for the same reason: To write the biography of a woman no one has seen in years–or at least to meet with the octogenarian who claims to be the Margaret Ives. Tragic heiress, former tabloid princess, and daughter of one of the most storied (and scandalous) families of the 20th Century.
When Margaret invites them both for a one-month trial period, after which she’ll choose the person who’ll tell her story, there are three things keeping Alice’s head in the game.
One: Alice genuinely likes people, which means people usually like Alice—and she has a whole month to win the legendary woman over.
Two: She’s ready for this job and the chance to impress her perennially unimpressed family with a Serious Publication
Three: Hayden Anderson, who should have no reason to be concerned about losing this book, is glowering at her in a shaken-to-the core way that suggests he sees her as competition.
But the problem is, Margaret is only giving each of them pieces of her story. Pieces they can’t swap to put together because of an ironclad NDA and an inconvenient yearning pulsing between them every time they’re in the same room.
And it’s becoming abundantly clear that their story—just like the tale Margaret’s spinning—could be a mystery, tragedy, or love ballad…depending on who’s telling it.
Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao | January 14th
Fantasy/magical realism
A pawnshop where you can sell your regrets (that looks like a cozy ramen shop to the regular eye)
On a backstreet in Tokyo lies a pawnshop, but not everyone can find it. Most will see a cozy ramen restaurant. And only the chosen ones—those who are lost—will find a place to pawn their life choices and deepest regrets.
Hana Ishikawa wakes on her first morning as the pawnshop’s new owner to find it ransacked, the shop’s most precious acquisition stolen, and her father missing. And then into the shop stumbles a charming stranger, quite unlike its other customers, for he offers help instead of seeking it.
Together, they must journey through a mystical world to find Hana’s father and the stolen choice—by way of rain puddles, rides on paper cranes, the bridge between midnight and morning, and a night market in the clouds.
But as they get closer to the truth, Hana must reveal a secret of her own—and risk making a choice that she will never be able to take back.
Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven | March 4th
The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue meets This is How You Lose The Time War
They’ve loved each other in a thousand lifetimes. They’ve killed each other in every one.
Evelyn remembers all her past lives. She also remembers that in every single one, she’s been murdered before her eighteenth birthday by Arden, a supernatural being whose soul―and survival―is tethered to hers.
The problem is that she’s quite fond of the life she’s in now, and her little sister needs her for bone marrow transplants in order to stay alive. If Evelyn wants to save her sister, she’ll have to:
1. Find the centuries-old devil who hunts her through each life―before they find her first. 2. Figure out why she’s being hunted and finally break their curse. 3. Try not to fall in love.
A Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim | June 3rd
Romantic fantasy
Beauty and the Beast meets Six of Crows
A girl who paints the future and a cursed dragon lord
Truyan Saigas didn’t choose to become a con artist, but after her father is lost at sea, it’s up to her to support her mother and two younger sisters. A gifted art forger, Tru has the unique ability to paint the future, but even such magic is not enough to put her family back together again, or stave off the gangsters demanding payment in blood for her mother’s gambling debts.
Left with few options, Tru agrees to a marriage contract with a mysterious dragon lord. He offers a fresh start for her mother and sisters and elusive answers about her father’s disappearance, but in exchange, she must join him in his desolate undersea palace. And she must assist him in a plot to infiltrate the tyrannical Dragon King’s inner circle, painting a future so treasonous, it could upend both the mortal and immortal realms. . . .
The Floating World by Axie Oh | April 29th
Romantic fantasy
Final Fantasy (SCREAMING) meets Shadow and Bone
Reimagining the Korean legend of Celestial Maidens
Castle in the Sky vibes
“An amnesiac sword-for-hire and a theater troupe performer with mysterious powers”
Sunho lives in the Under World, a land of perpetual darkness. An ex-soldier, he can remember little of his life from before two years ago, when he woke up alone with only his name and his sword. Now he does odd-jobs to scrape by, until he comes across the score of a lifetime—a chest of coins for any mercenary who can hunt down a girl who wields silver light.
Meanwhile, far to the east, Ren is a cheerful and spirited acrobat traveling with her adoptive family and performing at villages. But everything changes during one of their festival performances when the village is attacked by a horrific humanlike demon. In a moment of fear and rage, Ren releases a blast of silver light—a power she has kept hidden since childhood—and kills the monster. But her efforts are not in time to prevent her adoptive family from suffering a devastating loss, or to save her beloved uncle from being grievously wounded.
Determined to save him from succumbing to the poisoned wound, Ren sets off over the mountains, where the creature came from—and from where Ren herself fled ten years ago. Her path sets her on a collision course with Sunho, but he doesn’t realize she’s the girl that he—and a hundred other swords-for-hire—is looking for. As the two grow closer through their travels, they come to realize that their pasts—and destinies—are far more entwined than either of them could have imagined…
Arcana Academy by Elise Kova | July 22nd
Romantasy
Heroine wields magical tarot cards
False engagement with the headmaster of a mysterious academy
Clara Graysword has survived the underworld of Eclipse City through thievery, luck, and a whole lot of illegal magic. After a job gone awry, Clara is sentenced to a lifetime in prison for inking tarot cards-a rare power reserved for practitioners at the elite Arcana Academy.
Just when it seems her luck has run dry, the academy’s enigmatic headmaster, Prince Kaelis, offers her an escape-for a price. Kaelis believes that Clara is the perfect tool to help him steal a tarot card from the king and use it to re-create an all-powerful card long lost to time.
In order to conceal her identity and keep her close, Kaelis brings Clara to Arcana Academy, introducing her as the newest first-year student and his bride-to-be.
Thrust into a world of arcane magic and royal intrigue, where one misstep will send her back to prison or worse, Clara finds that the prince she swore to hate may not be what he seems. But can she risk giving him power over the world-and her heart? Or will she take it for herself?
After getting rejected by every single Ivy League she applied to and falling short of all her Asian immigrant parents’ expectations, seventeen-year-old Jenna Chen makes a wish to become her smarter, infinitely more successful Harvard-bound cousin, Jessica Chen—only for her wish to come true. Literally.
Now trapped inside Jessica’s body, with access to Jessica’s most private journals and secrets, Jenna soon discovers that being the top student at the elite, highly competitive Havenwood Private Academy isn’t quite what she imagined. Worse, as everyone—including her own parents—start having trouble remembering who Jenna Chen is, or if she ever even existed, Jenna must decide if playing the role of the perfect daughter and student is worth losing her true self forever.
The Nightblood Prince by Molly X. Chang | July 1st
Two princes. One prophecy. A fate she cannot outrun.
The night Fei was born, a prophecy was made: she would one day become the Empress of All Empresses.
Torn from her family as a child and raised in the palace to one day marry the Crown Prince of the most powerful empire in the land, Fei has only ever known loneliness. When the opportunity arises to seize her own destiny for the first time in her life, Fei sets out to hunt a legendary tiger, knowing it might cost her everything. What she doesn’t expect is to fall under the mercy of Yexue, the beautiful runaway prince from a rival kingdom. Blessed by the night, harboring a dangerous magic, and capable of commanding an army of deadly vampires, Yexue could be the key to Fei gaining more than just her freedom.
But to outrun destiny, Fei must spark a wave of events that will change the world as she knows it. Torn between two princes and plagued by nightmares of bloodshed, she finds that the stars might be more inescapable—and more irresistible—than she ever considered before. . . .
Alchemised by SenLinYu | Fall 2024
We don’t have a lot of information about this one yet but I have a feeling it’s going to be amazing!!
A standalone dark fantasy set in a war-torn world of necromancy and alchemy, with an enemies-to-lovers romance that is by turn tender, toxic, and all-consuming.
Hi everyone! It’s been a while, hasn’t it? I finished my exams two weeks ago and with my graduation on the horizon next year, all I’ve been thinking about is how excited I am to delve back into reading everything and rambling in my little digital journal here. This update is long overdue! My last post was almost two years ago (where has the time gone??). The days are long but the years are short.
Where I’ve Been
As some of you may know, I’ve been on hiatus because I’ve been busy with graduate school. Between work, school, and life, I just didn’t have the time I needed to indulge in books like I used to. My never-ending readings came from textbooks, case studies, and assignments, which made me burn out of reading in general. If I’ve learned anything from my MBA program, it’s that the hardest part is the time commitment. After work I always either had class, team meetings, assigned readings, or papers to work on. Alas, I’m almost at the end of this chapter of my life!
The busyness of life did NOT stop me from visiting bookstores and buying books whenever I had the chance!! There is nothing more comforting than perusing Barnes & Nobles on a quiet day. Books I’ve bought/was gifted this year:
One For My Enemy by Olivie Blake (currently reading)
Masters of Death by Olivie Blake (started during the spooky season)
If You Could See the Sun by Ann Liang
A Crane Among Wolves by June Hur
A Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides (started)
Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint 1 (it’s finally getting officially translated for physical volumes!! I’ve already read the whole Korean manhwa)
All That’s Left in the World by Erik J. Brown (my cousin’s favorite book)
Time is a Mother by Ocean Vuong (second copy)
More volumes of Solo Leveling (my on-going collection)
Bride by Ali Hazelwood (finished 4/5!! was such a fun read)
The God and the Gumiho by Sophie Kim
There were so many new releases I wanted to read this year but didn’t get the chance to so I’m saving them for my 2025 tbr!! Aside from what I have above, I was looking forward to:
Song of the Six Realms by Judy I. Lin
Daughter of Calamity by Rosalie M. Lin
To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods by Molly X. Chang
I know I’ve missed SO many more books since I’ve been absent from the book community but do let me know what I need to add to my tbr! I want to know everyone’s favorites this year. Since I only have 1 semester left, I’ve been eager to read as much as I can. I’ve missed sharing all my latest reads and bookish thoughts and talking to friends in the community. It has always been a solace for me.
Travels
Aside from school and work, I’ve been traveling whenever I have the chance to get away! My favorite trip was definitely Seoul (again) earlier this year. Korea will always have such a big place in my heart. The food, the people, the places; I have the best time there. This time around I was able to visit the most stunning library in Gangnam; Starfield Library!!
I also made the cutest phone cases with my friend in Hongdae! Hongdae is probably my favorite area in Seoul – it has just about everything, from cute cat cafes, live music, anime pop-up shops, great food/drinks, unique malls, TONS of options for shopping, the list goes on.
Some more photos:
New Hobby
Runner up for my favorite trip this year was Vegas for the F1 race!! I got into F1 this year thanks to my cousin and it’s been a crazy ride waking up at odd hours to watch the races as a McLaren fan. Although Verstappen won the championship, I’m happy we won the Constructor’s! Next year will be exciting to say the least. Goooo Piastri!!!!
That’s all I have for today! This year was full of highs and lows, laughter and tears, love and contentment. Happy New Year and see you in 2025~
New year, new books to get excited about! I fell off the reading wagon in the latter half of 2022 because of life got overwhelming but there are so many books I can’t wait to read this year. As usual, my most-anticipated list features many books by Asian authors (some familiar and some new), some fantasy, some romance, and even an atmospheric horror! Looking for new books to add to your reading list? There’s a Sailor Moon-inspired fantasy, a romantic dark academia influenced by Welsh mythology, a historical fantasy set in jazz-age Shanghai, and so much more. Cheers!
Immortal Longings by Chloe Gong
July 25th, 2023
#1 New York Times bestselling YA author Chloe Gong’s adult epic fantasy debut, inspired by Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra, is a fiery collision of power plays, spilled blood, and romance amidst a set of deadly games.
Every year, thousands in the kingdom of Talin will flock to its capital twin cities, San-Er, where the palace hosts a set of games. For those confident enough in their ability to jump between bodies, competitors across San-Er fight to the death to win unimaginable riches.
Princess Calla Tuoleimi lurks in hiding. Five years ago, a massacre killed her parents and left the palace of Er empty…and she was the one who did it. Before King Kasa’s forces in San can catch her, she plans to finish the job and bring down the monarchy. Her reclusive uncle always greets the victor of the games, so if she wins, she gets her opportunity at last to kill him.
Enter Anton Makusa, an exiled aristocrat. His childhood love has lain in a coma since they were both ousted from the palace, and he’s deep in debt trying to keep her alive. Thankfully, he’s one of the best jumpers in the kingdom, flitting from body to body at will. His last chance at saving her is entering the games and winning.
Calla finds both an unexpected alliance with Anton and help from King Kasa’s adopted son, August, who wants to mend Talin’s ills. But the three of them have very different goals, even as Calla and Anton’s partnership spirals into something all-consuming. Before the games close, Calla must decide what she’s playing for—her lover or her kingdom.
Zhara by S. Jae-Jones
August 29th, 2023
Sailor Moon meets Cinder in Guardians of Dawn: Zhara, the start of a new, richly imagined fantasy series from S. Jae-Jones, the New York Times bestselling author of Wintersong.
Magic flickers. Love flames. Chaos reigns.
Magic is forbidden throughout the Morning Realms. Magicians are called abomination, and blamed for the plague of monsters that razed the land twenty years before.
Jin Zhara already had enough to worry about—appease her stepmother’s cruel whims, looking after her blind younger sister, and keeping her own magical gifts under control—without having to deal with rumors of monsters re-emerging in the marsh. But when a chance encounter with an easily flustered young man named Han brings her into contact with a secret magical liberation organization called the Guardians of Dawn, Zhara realizes there may be more to these rumors than she thought. A mysterious plague is corrupting the magicians of Zanhei and transforming them into monsters, and the Guardians of Dawn believe a demon is responsible.
In order to restore harmony and bring peace to the world, Zhara must discover the elemental warrior within, lest the balance between order and chaos is lost forever.
Shanghai Immortal by A.Y. Chao
June 1st, 2023
This richly told adult fantasy debut teems with Chinese deities and demons cavorting in jazz age Shanghai.
Pawned by her mother to the King of Hell as a child, Lady Jing is half-vampire, half-hulijing fox-spirit and all sasshole. As the King’s ward, she has spent the past ninety years running errands, dodging the taunts of the spiteful hulijing courtiers, and trying to control her explosive temper – with varying levels of success.
So when Jing overhears the courtiers plotting to steal a priceless dragon pearl from the King, she seizes her chance to expose them, once and for all.
With the help of a gentle mortal tasked with setting up the Central Bank of Hell, Jing embarks on a wild chase for intel, first through Hell and then mortal Shanghai. But when her hijinks put the mortal in danger, she must decide which is more important: avenging her loss of face, or letting go of her half-empty approach to life for a chance to experience tenderness – and maybe even love.
A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid
September 19th, 2023
Effy Sayre has always believed in fairy tales. She’s had no choice. Since childhood, she’s been haunted by visions of the Fairy King. She’s found solace only in the pages of Angharad – author Emrys Myrddin’s beloved epic about a mortal girl who falls in love with the Fairy King, and then destroys him.
Effy’s tattered, dog-eared copy is all that’s keeping her afloat through her stifling first term at Llyr’s prestigious architecture college. So when Myrddin’s family announces a contest to design the late author’s house, Effy fells certain this is her destiny.
But Hiraeth Manor is an impossible task: a musty, decrepit estate on the brink of crumbling into a hungry sea. And when Effy arrives, she finds she isn’t the only one who’s made a temporary home there. Preston Héloury, a stodgy young literature scholar, is studying Myrddin’s papers and is determined to prove her favorite author is a fraud.
As the two rival students investigate the reclusive author’s legacy, piecing together clues through his letters, books, and diaries, they discover that the house’s foundation isn’t the only thing that can’t be trusted. There are dark forces, both mortal and magical, conspiring against them – and the truth may bring them both to ruin.
The Stolen Heir by Holly Black
January 3rd, 2023
A runaway queen. A reluctant prince. And a quest that may destroy them both.
Eight years have passed since the Battle of the Serpent. But in the icy north, Lady Nore of the Court of Teeth has reclaimed the Ice Needle Citadel. There, she is using an ancient relic to create monsters of stick and snow who will do her bidding and exact her revenge.
Suren, child queen of the Court of Teeth, and the one person with power over her mother, fled to the human world. There, she lives feral in the woods. Lonely, and still haunted by the merciless torments she endured in the Court of Teeth, she bides her time by releasing mortals from foolish bargains. She believes herself forgotten until the storm hag, Bogdana chases her through the night streets. Suren is saved by none other than Prince Oak, heir to Elfhame, to whom she was once promised in marriage and who she has resented for years.
Now seventeen, Oak is charming, beautiful, and manipulative. He’s on a mission that will lead him into the north, and he wants Suren’s help. But if she agrees, it will mean guarding her heart against the boy she once knew and a prince she cannot trust, as well as confronting all the horrors she thought she left behind.
Bitter Medicine by Mia Tsai
March 14th, 2023
In this xianxia-inspired contemporary fantasy, a Chinese immortal and a French elf navigate romance, family loyalty, and workplace demands. In her debut novel, Mia Tsai has created a paranormal adventure that is full of humor, passion, and depth.
As a descendant of the Chinese god of medicine, ignored middle child Elle was destined to be a doctor. Instead, she is underemployed as a mediocre magical calligrapher at the fairy temp agency, paranoid that her murderous younger brother will find her and their elder brother.
Using her full abilities will expose Elle’s location. Nevertheless, she challenges herself by covertly outfitting Luc, her client and crush, with high-powered glyphs.
Half-elf Luc, the agency’s top security expert, has his own secret: he’s responsible for a curse laid on two children from an old assignment. To heal them, he’ll need to perform his job duties with unrelenting excellence and earn time off from his tyrannical boss.
When Elle saves Luc’s life on a mission, he brings her a gift and a request for stronger magic to ensure success on the next job—except the next job is hunting down Elle’s younger brother.
As Luc and Elle collaborate, their chemistry blooms. Happiness, for once, is an option for them both. But Elle is loyal to her family, and Luc is bound by his true name. To win freedom from duty, they must make unexpected sacrifices.
Good Fortune by C.K. Chau
January 11th, 2022
A whip-smart and charming debut novel that brilliantly reimagines Pride and Prejudice, set in contemporary Chinatown, exploring contemporary issues of class divides, family ties, cultural identity, and the pleasures and frustrations that come with falling in love.
When Elizabeth Chen’s ever-hustling realtor mother finally sells the beloved if derelict community center down the block, the new owners don’t look like typical New York City buyers. Brendan Lee and Darcy Wong are good Chinese boys with Hong Kong money. Clean-cut and charismatic, they say they are committed to cleaning up the neighborhood. To Elizabeth, that only means one thing: Darcy is looking to give the center an uptown makeover.
Elizabeth is determined to fight for community over profit, even if it means confronting the arrogant, uptight man every chance she gets. But where clever, cynical Elizabeth sees lemons, her mother sees lemonade. Eager to get Elizabeth and her other four daughters ahead in the world (and out of their crammed family apartment), Mrs. Chen takes every opportunity to keep her investors close. Closer than Elizabeth likes.
The more time they spend together, the more conflicted Elizabeth feels…until a shocking betrayal forces her to reconsider everything she thought she knew about love, trust, and the kind of person Darcy Wong really is.
She Is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran
February 28th, 2023
A house with a terrifying appetite haunts a broken family in this atmospheric horror, perfect for fans of Mexican Gothic.
When Jade Nguyen arrives in Vietnam for a visit with her estranged father, she has one goal: survive five weeks pretending to be a happy family in the French colonial house Ba is restoring. She’s always lied to fit in, so if she’s straight enough, Vietnamese enough, American enough, she can get out with the college money he promised.
But the house has other plans. Night after night, Jade wakes up paralyzed. The walls exude a thrumming sound, while bugs leave their legs and feelers in places they don’t belong. She finds curious traces of her ancestors in the gardens they once tended. And at night Jade can’t ignore the ghost of the beautiful bride who leaves her cryptic warnings: Don’t eat.
Neither Ba nor her sweet sister Lily believe that there is anything strange happening. With help from a delinquent girl, Jade will prove this house—the home her family has always wanted—will not rest until it destroys them. Maybe, this time, she can keep her family together. As she roots out the house’s rot, she must also face the truth of who she is and who she must become to save them all.
The Foxglove King by Hannah Whitten
In this lush, romantic new epic fantasy series from New York Times bestselling author Hannah Whitten, a young woman’s secret power to raise the dead plunges her into the dangerous and glamorous world of the Sainted King’s royal court.
When Lore was thirteen, she escaped a cult in the catacombs beneath the city of Dellaire. And in the ten years since, she’s lived by one rule: don’t let them find you. Easier said than done, when her death magic ties her to the city.
Mortem, the magic born from death, is a high-priced and illicit commodity in Dellaire, and Lore’s job running poisons keeps her in food, shelter, and relative security. But when a run goes wrong and Lore’s power is revealed, she’s taken by the Presque Mort, a group of warrior-monks sanctioned to use Mortem working for the Sainted King. Lore fully expects a pyre, but King August has a different plan. Entire villages on the outskirts of the country have been dying overnight, seemingly at random. Lore can either use her magic to find out what’s happening and who in the King’s court is responsible, or die.
Lore is thrust into the Sainted King’s glittering court, where no one can be believed and even fewer can be trusted. Guarded by Gabriel, a duke-turned-monk, and continually running up against Bastian, August’s ne’er-do-well heir, Lore tangles in politics, religion, and forbidden romance as she attempts to navigate a debauched and opulent society.
But the life she left behind in the catacombs is catching up with her. And even as Lore makes her way through the Sainted court above, they might be drawing closer than she thinks.
If I Have to Be Haunted by Miranda Sun
It's finally real. 👻
I'm delighted to announce that IF I HAVE TO BE HAUNTED, my YA contemporary fantasy and the book of my heart, will be published in 2023 by @HarperTeen!
If you like slow-burn hate-to-love romance, I have a good feeling you'll like this 🔥💕 pic.twitter.com/svI5jag6wp
— miranda ☀️ add IF I HAVE TO BE HAUNTED on GR! (@halcyonpen) February 11, 2022
The Scarlet Alchemist by Kylie Lee Baker
Get ready for THE SCARLET ALCHEMIST, my Tang Dynasty x Fullmetal Alchemist fantasy, feat. a chaotic Umbrella-Academy-style sibling gang running a necromancy business and eating the rich, fake CONCUBINES (like fake dating but with royalty), and of course, a kickass biracial girl🥰 pic.twitter.com/pWoTtUAO22
— Kylie Lee Baker (updates only) (@KylieYamashiro) October 26, 2021
After reading Allison Saft’s A Far Wilder Magic, I’ve developed a newfound hunger for stories steeped in magic and romance. From the world-building to the prose, I was swept away into an all-consuming atmospheric world of alchemy, mythical hunts, and high stakes. Here are five reasons why you should pick up this fantasy romance!
Thank you Wednesday Books for sending me an ARC!
1. The atmospheric setting. A village by the sea, an isolated manor on the edge of town, and a hunt through moonlit forests. When I think of atmospheric fantasy books, The Bear and the Nightingale and The Night Circus are the first ones that come to mind. A Far Wilder Magic now joins those ranks. Atmosphere makes a story compelling, and this 1920s-inspired fantasy world brimming with alchemy and magic swept me away within the first few chapters. There’s a sense of foreboding, of mystery steeped into the story. There’s just something about how the setting feels–and how easy it is to get lost in.
2. The romance. Fantasy romance is a sub-genre I haven’t delved into much, but if there are more books like this then I need them! The slow-burn, the pining, the mutual YEARNING. It was just so good. I didn’t even expect the romance to be so prominent so I was pleasantly surprised. The love story between Maggie and Wes was achingly tender and heartwarming. One of my favorite quotes from the book:
Love is not the sharp-edged thing she’s always believed it to be. It’s not like the sea, liable to slip through her fingers if she holds on too tight. It’s not a currency, something to be earned or denied or bartered for. Love can be steadfast. It can be certain and safe, or as wild as an open flame. It’s a slice of buttered bread at a dinner table. It’s a grudge born of worry. It’s broken skin pulled over swelling knuckles.
3. Grumpy x sunshine. The tried and true, evergreen trope/relationship dynamic. But instead of the heroine being the one with the sunny personality, it’s the hero in this book! Maggie is serious one while Wes is the incorrigible flirt with slight himbo energy (I love the dark, morally ambiguous anti-heroes but we seriously need more himbos in books). She’s a sharpshooter and he’s an aspiring alchemist–the unlikely pairing team up to compete in a hunt for the last mythical beast.
4. The character-driven story. If you’re looking for a fast-paced, action-packed fantasy, I have others recs for you, but what you’ll find in this book are introspective character studies, internal conflicts, individual struggles, and emotional journeys. The legendary foxhunt is just the bonus! The plot is used to develop Maggie and Wes into fully-fleshed out characters.
5. Full Metal Alchemist and Wuthering Heights vibes. A strange pairing perhaps, but it worked wonderfully. FMA was one of the first anime I watched and still one of my favorites. I loved seeing the alchemy parallels between A Far Wilder Magic and the classic anime. Alchemy in general is something I’d love to see explored more in fantasy books! And let’s not forget the haunting, gothic vibes of the story–a bit Brontë-esque.
When Margaret Welty spots the legendary hala, the last living mythical creature, she knows the Halfmoon Hunt will soon follow. Whoever is able to kill the hala will earn fame and riches, and unlock an ancient magical secret. If Margaret wins the hunt, it may finally bring her mother home. While Margaret is the best sharpshooter in town, only teams of two can register, and she needs an alchemist.
Weston Winters isn’t an alchemist–yet. Fired from every apprenticeship he’s landed, his last chance hinges on Master Welty taking him in. But when Wes arrives at Welty Manor, he finds only Margaret and her bloodhound Trouble. Margaret begrudgingly allows him to stay, but on one condition: he must join the hunt with her.
Although they make an unlikely team, Wes is in awe of the girl who has endured alone on the outskirts of a town that doesn’t want her, in this creaking house of ghosts and sorrow. And even though Wes disrupts every aspect of her life, Margaret is drawn to him. He, too, knows what it’s like to be an outsider. As the hunt looms closer and tensions rise, Margaret and Wes uncover dark magic that could be the key to winning the hunt – if they survive that long.
When I read the synopsis of A Thousand Steps into Night, the first thing I thought of was Nezuko from Demon Slayer. A girl embarking on a journey to reverse the curse turning her into a demon? Japanese-inspired fantasy with feral gods, curious monsters, and vengeful demons? I knew this book would be a pure delight even before I read the first page–and that feeling was right. Anime and manga lovers, you don’t want to miss this fairytale-esque fantasy brimming with magic, mischief, and whimsical adventures.
Thank you to Clairon Teen for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Miuko is an ordinary girl resigned to living an uneventful life, until one day, she’s kissed by a demon. Not just any demon, but Death woman; a malevolence demon that cursed her to slowly transform into a demon herself. Shunned from her village, she embarks on an epic quest across the Japanese-inspired realm of Awara where gods, monsters, and humans existed side by side, in hopes of finding a way to reverse the curse. Along the way, she befriends a thieving magpie-spirit companion who accompanies her thrilling adventures.
I couldn’t help but vividly imagine the story as anime while I read–a combination of Demon Slayer and Inuyasha. The endearing cast of characters and whimsical adventure also made it reminiscent of a Studio Ghibli film! I particularly enjoyed the feminist themes and discussion of power in a patriarchal society. Sure, becoming a demon had plenty of downsides, but it also came with power. Freedom from restrictions of gender and class. Miuko’s internal dilemma was thoughtfully explored, and even I pondered the choices myself.
It was a bit slow to start, but once Miuko set off on her quest, I was hooked. The coolest part? Footnotes! Explanations, translations, and pronunciations for terms, making the world feel even more immersive. If you’re looking for a fun, adventurous read, look no further.
“Over the wild blue countryside they flew, like a pair of heroes from some ancient tale or a constellation limned in stars, and not once did she look back, for she did not need to—she had the support of her loved ones behind her, and the big, beautiful world ahead.”
What are some books you’ve read with anime/manga vibes?
Taylor Jenkins Reid is one of the biggest authors in the book community. From bookstagram to booktok, her stories are often praised for the masterful storytelling and unforgettable characters. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (2017) and Daisy Jones & The Six (2019) were the ones I’ve been recommended the most, and the ones I’ve seen ceaseless love for.
So why did it take me so long to read them? I’ve always been a bit wary of books with overwhelming hype, especially from authors I’ve never read. Despite my friends assuring me I’d love Reid’s stories, I held off year after year until I made it a goal of reading my first TJR book in 2021. I started Evelyn Hugo in the last week of 2021 and finished on the fourth day of the new year. To say it lived up to the hype would be an understatement. I finally understood why so many people loved it with such fervor.
Soon after, I picked up the audiobook of Daisy Jones & The Six rather than the physical book as a recommendation from a friend. Verdict? It’s a one-of-a-kind experience.
Performance
This was the first audiobook I listened to that had a full cast of narrators and the performance was phenomenal. Daisy Jones & The Six was made for audiobook with its interview-style format. Every narrator performed so remarkably well that it truly felt as though I was listening to interviews from a real legendary 70s rock band. I can’t imagine a more perfect voice for Daisy, Billy, Camila, and the rest of the cast. They breathed such vivd life and emotion into these characters that I can close my eyes and hear their distinctive voices in my head, recounting their tumultuous years under the limelight. It felt so real. No one can convince that Daisy Jones & The Six wasn’t a real band from a bygone era.
Story
Sex, drugs, rock ‘n roll–you’ve heard of it, they lived it. The story chronicles the rise of the iconic band, Daisy Jones & The Six, from their humble beginnings to the peak of their existence. It’s startlingly authentic in its exploration of the darker side of the rock scene, which is still quite relevant in the music industry today. The crippling addiction to drugs and alcohol, the infidelity, the mind and body dissociation. It’s a heavy story. But it also explores the passion and heart of music, of songwriting, of the story behind the lyrics.
“All I will say is that you show up for your friends on their hardest days. And you hold their hand through the roughest parts. Life is about who is holding your hand and, I think, whose hand you commit to holding.”
The documentary/transcript format made it a very unique listen. The band members and close friends/family/associates recounted their past whirlwind of adventures; their brightest and darkest moments. I don’t normally read historical fiction (though it’s a genre I do want to read more of), let alone interview-style books, so I was unsure how I felt at the somewhat sluggish beginning. But the more I listened, the more I felt compelled to continue, and before I knew it I was entirely engrossed.
Characters
I absolutely hated Billy Dunne right out of the gate. Admittedly, I almost DNF’d because I really didn’t want to listen to an entire story about a man’s infidelity (but that wasn’t the case). I was so certain there was no way TJR could redeem him after his awful actions, but somehow, by the end of the book, I didn’t hate him. I wouldn’t go as far as saying I liked him, but TJR definitely worked hard to make him a more sympathetic character. I think it’s important to realize that these are very flawed and complex characters with real fears and motivations.
Daisy on the other hand, I loved right off the bat. There’s an empowering quality to her despite her devastating addiction to drugs. She was determined to chase her passion for music in a man’s world. Bold and impulsive, Daisy Jones did not give a fuck (excuse my language) about pleasing others. She was a hedonist with a love for music through and through. For all her little fractured pieces, she sure made the band feel whole.
“I had absolutely no interest in being somebody else’s muse. I am not a muse. I am the somebody. End of fucking story.”
Overall
Despite the shaky, uncertain start, I fell in love with Daisy Jones & The Six thanks to the exceptional performances from the narrators, as well as the emotional gravity of the story that pulled me in and refused to let go. I can’t recommend the audiobook enough–the only downside is that every other audiobook may pale in comparison after finishing this.
“I think you have to have faith in people before they earn it. Otherwise it’s not faith, right?”
South Korean webcomics, webtoons, or manhwa are digital comics that have gained popularity globally in the last decade. These full-colored comics are read from top to bottom as they’re published in one long vertical strip, meant for reading on a smartphone or computer. In the past year or two it’s become one of my most read mediums because I love the colorful art style and the ease of reading the format provides.
Many Korean dramas are adapted from popular webcomics, such as Cheese in the Trap and What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim, so if you’re a fan of K-dramas then there’s definitely crossover appeal! Romcom, thriller, action, fantasy–there’s something for everyone.
I’m absolutely elated to have Tiffany from @readbytiffany here today to share webcomic recs with me! She’s a fellow villainess isekai enthusiast and smutty romcom connoisseur who compulsively reads webcomics as much as I do. But first…
Where can you read them?
Webtoons – Officially translated Korean webcomics and original webcomics for free! Probably the most well-known English platform for the medium. This was where I discovered the vast realm of webcomics back in 2015!
Tapas – Webcomics AND web novels. Some are free and some are premium, which you can either pay for or earn points by watching ads and playing mini games.
Lezhin Comics – Webcomics with more variety in BL and mature content. The “Wait Until Free” selection gives you a free chapter every X hours.
These are the big three but there are many more places to read webcomics, like Tappytoon and Manta.
The very first one I read on Webtoons was Annarasumanara, a coming-of-age story about a poverty-stricken girl who’s life changes when she meets a mysterious magician. If you like magical realism and nostalgic, contemplative stories, I highly recommend it. It just so happens to be getting adapted into a K-drama by Netflix, titled The Sound of Magic.
On to the recommendations! Tiffany and I each have five of our favorite webcomics to share–there’s some romance, some action, some fantasy, and a whole lot to devour if you’re new! For those already familiar with the medium, you might also find something you haven’t read yet.
Nina’s recommendations:
Omniscient Reader
One day, our MC finds himself stuck in the world of his favorite webnovel. What should he do to survive? It’s a world struck by catastrophe and danger all around. His edge? He knows the plot of the story to end, because he was the sole reader that stuck with it.
Impressive cast of characters with their own distinctive personalities and struggles. Found family vibes but make it extremely dysfunctional. Clown-to-clown communications.
The ULTIMATE chaotic trio–basically gaslight (Kim Dojka), gatekeep (Yoo Joonhyuk), and girlboss (Han Sooyoung). Very questionable moral compasses.
Powerful female characters with agency that also play a vital role in the plot line!
So much more than your typical isekai. Immersive world building and crazy plot twists. Ultimately it’s a story about the love for stories; an ode to storytelling.
Emotional investment: 10/10. Every time I think about the end of the webnovel I feel like bursting into tears.
Positively Yours
To Hee-won’s dismay, the BFF she crushed on and her other BFF are now dating! Seriously bummed, Hee-won decides to go wild just one time, and find solace with a handsome stranger. A very satisfying one night affair has now turned into more — she’s pregnant! Fate brings them together again, and now the regimented Doo-joon is determined to do the right thing and marry her. But they’re basically strangers! Except… their bodies have been very intimately acquainted. What’s this mother-to-be to do?
My all-time favorite romcom webcomic!
I don’t even like the accidental pregnancy trope or any sort of pregnancy in my romance but this one was so sweet and wholesome.
Two strangers learning how to be in a relationship for their unborn child and falling in love in the process.
Billionaire CEO who is not just the president of his company, but also the president of the I Love My Wife And Will Do Anything For Her club.
A heartwarming and comedic romance that’ll definitely put a smile on your face.
Unholy Blood
When vampires destroy her chance to have the normal life she’s always wanted, Hayan is forced to draw on her darkest secret to rid the world of the merciless hunters that took it over 10 years ago. With the support of a rising star in the local police force, Hayan steps up to protect her loved ones, face her past, and get her revenge.
The perfect blend of action and romance in an urban fantasy setting.
Hayan is secretly a vampire who just wants live an ordinary life. Her life turns upside down when vampires rip away her semblance of normality and she has to embrace the power she was born with to take down the most powerful vampires in the world.
She teams up with a hot detective who has his own secrets and a slow burn romance ensues.
For once it’s the female lead that’s overpowered! She’s seriously badass.
Solo Leveling
In a world where awakened beings called “Hunters” must battle deadly monsters to protect humanity, Sung Jinwoo, nicknamed “the weakest hunter of all mankind,” finds himself in a constant struggle for survival. One day, after a brutal encounter in an overpowered dungeon wipes out his party and threatens to end his life, a mysterious System chooses him as its sole player: Jinwoo has been granted the rare opportunity to level up his abilities, possibly beyond any known limits.
I have an entire post dedicated to why you should read my latest favorite power fantasy here, but to sum it up:
Underdog story of the world’s weakest hunter fighting against impossible odds on his journey to become the strongest.
Video game-like features (RPG leveling system, abilities, guilds) set in the modern world.
Full of action and epic battles (perfect for shounen fans).
The art! Every page flows so seamlessly and the sleek style and purposeful use of color reflects the main character’s growth. There are stunning page-long panoramic scenes for high stakes battles that are a feast for the eyes.
I don’t want to be the “I read Solo Leveling for the plot” meme, but…THE PLOT:
Under the Oak Tree
Stuttering lady Maximilian is forced into a marriage with Sir Riftan, but he leaves on a campaign after their wedding night. 3 years later, he triumphantly returns, ready to cherish her. As life with her husband finally begins, she only has one question — does she deserve this love and happiness?
Historical/fantasy romance with a bit of ~spice~.
Timid heroine who grows into herself + grumpy/overbearing hero who is ONLY soft for her. Daughter of a Duke + the greatest Knight in the kingdom dynamic.
If you look up tall, dark, and devilishly handsome, Sir Riftan will appear in the results.
Misunderstandings and miscommunication adds to the angst factor which I love. While both are flawed characters, there’s a lot of character development!
Tiffany’s recommendations:
An Hour of Romance
Joo-Ahn and Do-Jin couldn’t be any more different at work. She’s a perpetually single career woman who takes everything too seriously and rules with an iron fist. He’s a modelesque klutz with a heart of gold who lucked into an entry-level marketing job.
But when a company trip to a mysterious temple starts an inexplicable soul swap, they end up switching bodies for an hour each day. To avoid utter embarrassment and keep up their reputations, the unlikely pair will have to cooperate and bide their time. Will Joo-Ahn learn to sympathize with the pretty boy who can’t do anything right? And will Do-Jin see the softer side of his boss’s spiky persona?
Grumpy female lead x sunshine himbo love interest(!!)
Two office workers with polar personalities that must learn to work together after a magical spell makes them switch bodies for an hour every day.
From the author of What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim…so you KNOW it’s going to be top tier.
What It Takes To Be a Villainess
With a broken heart, Hwayoung falls headfirst into the river by accident but wakes up as infamous villainess Satiana Altisee Kaylon. Coming to terms with her new life as sole daughter of House Kaylon, Satiana is soon chosen as a candidate for the next empress! In the palace full of schemers and liars, she must become a cold-blooded villainess to win her royal seat by the crown prince – or her new family will face grave danger! Will being perfectly evil really be enough? ‘Cause even villains need love!
It’s completed(!!) meaning you don’t have to painstakingly wait for updates.
The Bachelor meets The Selection in a competition to win the Crown Prince’s heart and become Empress.
Female lead who fully embraces her villainess role and manages to capture the ML’s heart in an Isekai story.
The Villainess is a Marionette
I woke up as Kayena Hill, the novel’s villainess, praised as the greatest beauty in the empire. Who knew that her story would catch my attention because I was her in my past life? Destined for terrible ends, I’ve died twice—but I refuse to die a third time as a pawn in someone else’s scheme. I’m no longer the vain and naïve princess. Now that I know how the story will unfold, I’ll turn the tables around and have everyone dancing to my tune. This time, I’ll be the one pulling the strings.
The most BEAUTIFUL…I repeat…BEAUTIFUL artwork you will ever lay your eyes on.
A badass female lead who takes her fate into her own hands.
Once again…everyone is so pretty 🥺😭
No Longer a Heroine
Lisa Cheon used to be the nation’s favorite on-screen idol, but swiftly falls from grace after being framed as a drug addict. She is offered the opportunity to turn it all around by starring on a new TV show, but it won’t be easy: her character’s love interest is her ex-boyfriend, and she’s too nervous to act without alcohol. Can Lisa regain what she has lost and face the demons of her past?
Thrilling, fun, exciting…could literally be a K-drama…and it SHOULD be.
Follows the famous Lisa Cheon, who made her name as an immensely talented child actress. After retiring due to a drug scandal, she’s headlining the nation’s most highly anticipated K-drama as the female lead.
Second chance romance?! But we also stan the second male lead because he’s a cinnamon roll.
Days of Hana
Friends since childhood, Haru and Hana do not have a typical relationship — Hana is human, and Haru is her werewolf who must protect her. Although werewolves are starting to have more rights, they are still seen as exotic beasts by society. As the two fall in love, what will be their fate?
Another A++ completed webtoon(!!)
Urban fantasy centering around werewolves, starring two childhood friends…who may or may not become lovers.
The entire story is a larger metaphor for institutionalized racism, racial oppression, animal cruelty, civil uprising, and more.
Did any of these pique your interest? Let us know your thoughts if you pick any of these webcomics up!
Daughter of the Moon Goddess is finally here! I was lucky enough to read it last year and I absolutely adored it. Whether it was flying on clouds, strolling through a mystical night market, or riding the claws of a venerable dragon, everything was so vividly painted. Sweeping adventures that took us through the Celestial Realm where gods and immortals resided, the Eastern Seas battling legendary creatures, and a shadowy realm of forbidden magic.
Biggest thank you to Harper Voyager for sending me an ARC of one of my most anticipated reads!
The story follows Xingyin, the daughter of the exiled moon goddess. She hides her identity and travels to the Celestial Kingdom where she learns magic and hones her archery skills alongside the crown prince; years of training and studying to find a way to free her mother. The only way is to win the Crimson Lion Talisman, the highest honor of the Celestial Army which grants the winner a favor from the emperor himself. The emperor who imprisoned her mother. That also means her romantic entanglement with the crown prince is forbidden.
So what does she do? Become a soldier of course! Not just any soldier, but the greatest archer in the kingdom, battling a monstrous serpent and a giant octopus, quelling a merfolk rebellion, and even saving the princess betrothed to the crown prince (it gets a little angsty).
The world building and fairytale-esque atmosphere made the tale feel even more immersive. It was reminiscent of the wuxia/c-dramas I used to watch when I was younger. I believe this book was pitched as Adult and older YA fantasy crossover but it solidly felt like YA to me in terms of tone and character voice. There’s even a love triangle of sorts and I normally abhor love triangles but I didn’t mind this one! Perhaps I rooted for the wrong person but…I’m excited to see how the story will continue to unfold in the sequel!
“In the darkness, the thousand lanterns flickered to life. The sky was clear. The stars infinite. The light of the moon was full and bright. On a night as this, my heart was content, awaiting the promise of tomorrow.”
This lush debut fantasy will sweep you away into a beautifully-crafted realm of immortals and magic, ancient myths and legendary creatures, and romance and adventure. Happy release day to Daughter of the Moon Goddess!
Hello 2022! New year, same Nina excited for all the books to come. Last year I set a reading goal of 75 books and found it to be a bit stressful, so this year I’m setting a more manageable goal of 50 books! The goal? Expand my reading horizons while also tackling the books I already own.
I have quite a few books on my 2022 TBR already–48 to be exact! Every year I make a list of books I want and hope to read. Many of them are the year’s new releases I’m anticipating, but I actually never manage to read all of them so there’s plenty of leeway for my mood reads and the books I already own but haven’t gotten around to reading.
There’s one particular book on my TBR that has made an appearance on every list since 2019: Deathless by Catherynne Valente. I’ve been meaning to read it for such a long time and I’m fairly certain it’ll be my next favorite (not sure why I put off books I know I’ll love for so long). This is finally the year!
Most of the books on my TBR are 2022 releases so if you want to see what I’m excited for most, check out my 10 Most Anticipated Books of 2022!
2022 Reading Goals
Read 50 books.
Read my shelf: every month read one book I already own.
Listen to one audiobook each month.
Read two nonfiction books.
Read more translated web novels.
New books are hard to resist, but this year I’m determined to make an effort to read the books I already own. I’m limiting myself to only buying six new physical books between now and December. The idea is for every two books I read from my own shelf, I get to buy one new book. I’ve always been a bit of an impulsive buyer; easily swayed by pretty covers, but I want to be more conscious and deliberate in the purchases that I make. One, because I don’t have any room, and two, to save money!
I also need to unhaul books because I have stacks and stacks everywhere–ARCs from publishers and my own impulsive buys that have been gathering dust. I plan on doing a giveaway as promised for the giant stack that reached my height, and also donating some to the Little Free Libraries in the area. As much as I’d love to keep all these books for my future personal library, they’re better off in other hands right now.
Last month I signed up for an Audible subscription to listen to Jade Legacy while working out, and I’m not sure if it was because of Andrew Kishino’s phenomenal narrating or some other reason but I developed a newfound love for audiobooks! I want to incorporate an audiobook into my monthly reading (it’ll also give me the motivation to go to the gym more consistently).
As an escapist reader, nonfiction is by far my least read genre, but I want to dip my toes into the water so I set a humble count of two: one memoir and one self-development. Maybe I’ll enjoy them enough to pick up more!
My final goal is to read more translated web novels. With the huge success of MXTX novels hitting the New York Time’s bestsellers, I’ve realized that it’s a largely untapped territory for me! I’ve watched the animated adaption of Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation but I’ve never read any novels from this renowned author. Heaven’s Official Blessing is first on my list of many web novels.
12 Months 12 Recommendations Challenge
This challenge has been making rounds on bookstagram and booktwt these past few weeks and I wanted to join in on the fun! I have 12 months to read 12 recommended books. I asked booksta for recs and here were the results:
Thank you everyone for the recommendations!
Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge – Tiffany @quilltreefox
The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams – Bea @beamasalunga
It’s looking like a promising year for reading! I can’t wait to discover new favorite authors, books, and series. Did you set any reading goals or challenges?
tender curiosity 