October has been a crazy month. It had a rough start, there have been a lot of ups and downs, and to be honest I was a little bummed that one of my favorite months was going so poorly, haha. I won't bore you all with the detail, but fortunately things have improved a bit in the last couple weeks so I'm hoping I can hold onto that. This has just been a weird year, so I'm always grateful to have books and the book community to keep me company and feeling better.
Despite a rough month, I actually read a pretty surprising and unexpected number of books! I didn't read a lot that I meant to, and I definitely didn't get to as many of the horror books I wanted to, but I'm absolutely not complaining. Some highlights from this past month include: Never Whistle at Night, Assassin's Quest, Labyrinth's Heart, and The Bell in the Fog!
How was everyone's October? Are you someone that enjoys all things spooky, or do you lay low during this month? Let me know how your month was and what you've been reading!
# books read: 15
Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology edited by Shane Hawk, Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.
Source: Owned | Format: Paperback
Thoughts: This was an amazing collection of dark fiction stories! I really loved that there were so many different cultures and I'm excited that I have a list of awesome indigenous authors to check out. I was glad to see some stories from Cherie Dimaline, Waubgeshig Rice, David Heska Wanbli Weiden, an introduction from Stephen Graham Jones, and so many more.
Anoka by Shane Hawk
Source: Owned | Format: Hardcover
Source: Owned | Format: Hardcover
Thoughts: This was a collection of dark fiction I'd been saving for October and it was great. I liked that there was a nice variety and length of stories, as well.
Assassin's Quest (Farseer Trilogy #3) by Robin Hobb
Source: Library | Format: Audiobook
Source: Library | Format: Audiobook
Thoughts: I still think the highlight of the trilogy is the second book, but this was a really strong conclusion and I am so eager to continue on with Hobb's work.
The King in Yellow by Robert W. Chambers
The King in Yellow by Robert W. Chambers
Source: | Format: Paperback
Thoughts: I'd had this on my TBR for what seems like years now and I'm glad I finally got to it because it was a fascinating collection of interconnected stories.
The Blade Itself (The First Law #1) by Joe Abercrombie
Source: Owned | Format: Paperback
Source: Owned | Format: Paperback
Thoughts: This is my second time reading The Blade Itself because I've been wanting to continue the trilogy, and honestly, I'm not sure it's for me? Everything about this book seems like something I should enjoy, but for some reason I can never really get into it?
Head Like a Hole: A Novel of Horror by Andrew Van Wey
Source: Library | Format: Audiobook
Source: Library | Format: Audiobook
Thoughts: This was a pretty trippy horror that I hadn't heard of until pretty much right before I started reading it. I'd recommend it if you like some weird horror!
Red River Seven by A.J. Ryan
Source: Publisher | Format: Paperback
Source: Publisher | Format: Paperback
Thoughts: This was very promising, but wasn't executed quite as well as I'd hoped it might be. I loved all the different ideas this played with and thought the concept was really fun.
These Burning Stars (The Kingdom Trilogy #1) by Bethany Jacobs
Source: Publisher | Format: Physical ARC
Source: Publisher | Format: Physical ARC
Thoughts: I didn't enjoy this nearly as much as I'd hoped, unfortunately, but I'd love to still give the series a shot once the next book is out.
Knock Knock, Open Wide by Neil Sharpson
Source: NetGalley | Format: eARC
Thoughts: This was such a complex and surprising horror read, I really had a great time with it.
Labyrinth's Heart (Rook & Ruin #3) by M.A. Carrick
Source: Publisher | Format: Paperback
Source: Publisher | Format: Paperback
Thoughts: This was a wonderful conclusion to a trilogy that I've really loved and that I think is very underrated!
You've Lost a Lot of Blood by Eric LaRocca
Source: Owner | Format: Paperback
Thoughts: I didn't care for this one as much as I've liked some of LaRocca's other work, but still enjoyed the general journey we went on with it.
The Bell in the Fog (Andy Mills #2) by Lev A.C. Rosen
Source: Publisher | Format: Physical ARC
Source: Publisher | Format: Physical ARC
Thoughts: I've been really loving this Andy Mills series and this was a fantastic sequel. I can't wait for more books in this series!
The Field Guide (The Spiderwick Chronicles #1) by Tony DiTerlizzi
Source: Owned | Format: Paperback
Source: Owned | Format: Paperback
Thoughts: I never read this series as a kid, but I feel like I would've loved it. My husband had told me how much he enjoyed this series as a kid, so I decided to try it out and it was so fun! It definitely skews a little younger middle grade than I tend to read, but I would read the rest for fun, and I think there's an adaptation coming out soon that could be fun to check out as well.
The Bellwoods Games by Celia Krampien
Source: Publisher | Format: Physical ARC
Source: Publisher | Format: Physical ARC
Thoughts: This was a pretty spooky middle grade that I had a really fun time with.
Falling Out of Time (Running Out of Time #2) by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Source: Publisher | Format: Hardcover
Source: Publisher | Format: Hardcover
Thoughts: I recently read the first book after it and this book were sent to me by the publisher and I have to say that this definitely didn't live up to the first. It was a fun concept, but pretty much ran way too close to the plot of the first book, so it just felt like a bit of a rehash.
DNF/To-Be-Finished:
None that I can recall!
Last to Leave the Room by Caitlin Starling
The Bell in the Fog (Andy Mills #2) by Lev AC Rosen
Death Valley by Melissa Broder
Two Twisted Crowns (The Shepherd King #2) by Rachel Gillig
These Burning Stars by Bethany Jacobs
Knock Knock, Open Wide by Neil Sharpson
Last Night at the Hollywood Canteen by Sarah James
The Bell in the Fog (Andy Mills #2) by Lev AC Rosen
Death Valley by Melissa Broder
Two Twisted Crowns (The Shepherd King #2) by Rachel Gillig
These Burning Stars by Bethany Jacobs
Knock Knock, Open Wide by Neil Sharpson
Last Night at the Hollywood Canteen by Sarah James
Posts:
(other than reviews)
Blog Memes:
Can't-Wait Wednesday:
10/4: The Temple of Fortuna by Elodie Harper & Same Bed Different Dreams by Ed Park
10/11: The Darkness Before Them by Matthew Ward & The Fiction Writer by Jillian Cantor
10/18: The Narrow Road Between Desires by Patrick Rothfuss & The Liberators by E.J. Koh
10/25: The Kingdom of Sweets by Erika Johansen & Swarm by Jennifer D. Lyle
10/4: The Temple of Fortuna by Elodie Harper & Same Bed Different Dreams by Ed Park
10/11: The Darkness Before Them by Matthew Ward & The Fiction Writer by Jillian Cantor
10/18: The Narrow Road Between Desires by Patrick Rothfuss & The Liberators by E.J. Koh
10/25: The Kingdom of Sweets by Erika Johansen & Swarm by Jennifer D. Lyle
I'm glad things perked up by the end of the month! I hope that continues into November. 2023 has been a weird year for me, too!
ReplyDeleteI liked the Blade Itself, but the more of Abercrombie’s books I read, the more I feel like that, as if I should like it but it doesn’t fully work for me. I’m now on The Heroes and am not vibing with it.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed those Spiderwick books. Such fun reads.
I'm impressed that you read so much, even when your month didn't go well. I hope November is a better one for you😁
ReplyDeleteI remember read The Spiderwick Chronical as a kid. It broaden my knowledge about fairies.
ReplyDeleteHave a great November reading month.