Anticipated Books

The Most Interesting Looking New Books of December 2025

Hey there everybody! Another month, another bunch of new books that are coming out! Yep, it’s The Most Intriguing New Books of December 2025. I know pretty late in the month this time – I generally like to get it out by the first Tuesday of the month – but there’s been a lot going on in the recent weeks, and I’m just now trying to get back into things.

This used to be a quarterly post, but I’ve recently decided to do it monthly instead. Also, even though this post is about new releases, it’s primarily focused on fantasy and science fiction, as those are the genres I tend to prefer to read. (Not to say other genres won’t ever appear on these lists – it just isn’t super likely; it’s likely to be a very rare occurrence if it happens at all.)

If you’ve seen this post by me before, you know the drill; I’m only interested in these books – there’s no guarantee that I’m gonna read all of them. There’s not even a guarantee that I’m gonna read even half of them. We shall see. Anyway, let’s get going! This month, four books have caught my eye! Yay! A decent number, this time around! No more threes!

RELEASING: December 2nd

When a boarding school opens in a once-condemned Victorian manor buried in the woods of New Hampshire, Austen-loving Lorena Navarro enrolls in hopes of finding her own Mr. Darcy. Instead, she stumbles across a coffin and accidentally awakens the world’s last vampire.

After hibernating for nearly three centuries, William Pride is desperate to find his family—and clueless about the modern world. Relying on Lorena for more than just blood, he enrolls at the school to catch up on all he’s missed.

Soon, William uncovers the chilling He is the last hope for his kind’s return to power. Torn between protecting the humans around him and joining a band of surviving vampires who have been waiting centuries for his leadership, William must make a choice. Will he sacrifice his species for love . . . or will he embrace his dark destiny at last?

RELEASING: December 2nd

Witness the epic conclusion to the webcomic phenomenon about star-crossed lovers and misunderstood monsters in this third and final graphic novel!

Last we saw Dr. Jekyll he was on stage about to welcome everyone to his grand exhibition—the event meant to save his Society for Arcane Sciences and his way of life—when he collapsed, pulled under by his devilish alter ego Mr. Hyde. When he wakes, Jekyll assumes everything is doomed, but in a surprise to just about everyone, he couldn’t be more wrong. The event was a success, his band of rogue scientists now all have patrons, and business is booming. What’s more, he even plucks up the courage to do the scariest, craziest thing of all: confess his feelings for Lanyon. Everything is finally coming up Jekyll!

Oh, if only the good scientist remembered his physics, because what goes up must inevitably come crashing down. Just when everything Jekyll has worked and hoped for is finally within his grasp, the barrier between his dueling personalities is shattered. Both Jekyll and Hyde are thrown into a constant wrestling for control of both their minds and bodies, which seem to switch without rhyme or reason. In the chaos, Jekyll’s secret has never been more at risk of being exposed, and he won’t get any help concealing it from his other half. Hyde has finally gotten a taste of life as a free man, and if Jekyll (or anyone else) dares to take it away, well, we should all brace for impact.

RELEASING: December 9th

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson―creator of The Stormlight Archive, the Mistborn saga, and countless bestselling works of science fiction and fantasy―comes Tailored Realities, a new short fiction collection including the never-before-published novella Moment Zero.

Spanning the genres of fantasy and science fiction, this collection features stories from beyond the bounds of Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere universe.

Along with the never-before-seen novella “Moment Zero,” Tailored Realities will include “Snapshot,” “Perfect State,” “Defending Elysium” (a novella set within the world of Skyward), and five other stories that were originally published individually elsewhere—never before collected into one volume, and many never before available in print. 

RELEASING: December 30th

A modern-day dark academia fantasy with a twist, perfect for fans of Babel and A Deadly Education.

Warren University has stood amongst the ivy elite for centuries, built on the bones―and forbidden magic―of its most prized BIPOC students…hiding the rot of a secret society that will do anything to keep their own powers burning bright. No matter who they must sacrifice along the way.

Ellory Morgan is determined to prove that she belongs at Warren University, an ivy league school whose history is deeply linked to occult rumors and dark secrets. But as she settles into her Freshman year, something about the ornate buildings and shadowy paths feels strangely…familiar. And, with every passing day, that sense of déjà vu grows increasingly sinister.

Despite all logic, despite all reason, despite all the rules of reality, Ellory knows one thing to be true: she has been here before. And if she can’t convince brooding legacy student Hudson Graves to help her remember a past that seems determined to slip through her fingers as if by some insidious magic…this time, she may lose herself for good.

So yeah, these are all of the books releasing in December 2025 that I’m at least a little interested in. What books are coming out soon that you’re looking forward to? Do we share some of the same ones?

As always, thank you all so much for reading, and I hope you have a great day/night!

See ya ~Mar

Weekly Wrap-Up: 11/3 – 11/16

Ughhh, late with this again. Gotta get my act together. Getting back into the swing of things has been harder than I thought it would be.

Still haven’t really read anything – well, regarding books at least – but hopefully this week I’ll finally start another one. My blogging could also be better, so hopefully I’ll get on that, as well.

Anyway, without further ado, let’s get on with the Weekly Wrap-Up!

Saturday 11/15: The Most Interesting Looking New Books of November 2025

Last Saturday, I posted a list of the books that I’m looking forward to this month. Or, at least the ones that I think look the most interesting. It was the Most Interesting Looking New Books of November 2025. As always, it’s basically only fantasy and science fiction, as those are the two genres I primarily read. This time there were only three books that looked interesting to me.

The Most Interesting Looking New Books of November 2025

Sunday 11/16: October Reading 2025

On Sunday, I posted my Monthly Reading Wrap-Up for October 2025. It was, unfortunately, posted a little bit later in the month than I’d have liked, though. For those who don’t know, monthly wrap-ups are when I go over the books I read over the past month, as well as my stats over on The StoryGraph.

Monthly Wrap-Up: October Reading 2025

Books I Read Last Week

Wrapping It All Up

So yeah, I didn’t blog much or read any novels in the past couple of weeks. Which sucks, but that’s just how it ended up being – can’t change it now. Hopefully, the remainder of November will be better.

As I mentioned in my last Weekly Wrap-Up, I have quite a few books on my TBR, and I wasn’t sure what I was gonna read next and how many of those books were gonna stay on my To Be Read List. I believe I have since chosen my next read, which I’m happy about. I acquired several books recently, and I’m kind of itching to read at least two or three of them right off the bat. I’m also still thinking of getting back into the Dresden Files in like December or something. We’ll see what happens with that, however.

Regarding stuff outside of books and blogging, a big reason why I didn’t get any reading done, is because a new Zelda game came out. We’ll, Zelda-adjacent is more accurate, I suppose. I guess I should say Hyrule Warriors came out, since that’s what it is. But this time it’s canon to Legend and Zelda lore, and it specifically tells the story of what happened in the past during The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

I haven’t played it, since I don’t have Switch 2, but I have watched the entire story campaign and cutscenes, so I know everything I need to know. Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is awesome though, with a fantastic story and characters, great visuals, a ton of aura farming, and even a little bit of innovation regarding the hack-and-slash gameplay that Warriors titles use. I was pretty impressed with it, and I’m so glad we have the full story of the Imprisoning War spoken of in Tears of the Kingdom. I’m a little miffed that it was in a whole other game, but that’s neither here nor there.

Concerning other stuff with life outside the blog, there’s really nothing else that went on the last couple of weeks. I guess that my spouse and I have still been kind of watching what we eat a little, and I took the Halloween decorations down, but nothing else.

Anyway, as always thank you for reading, and I hope you have a wonderful day/night! As well as a much better week than I’ve been having!

See ya ~Mar

The Most Interesting Looking New Books of November 2025

Hey there everybody! Another month, another bunch of new books that are coming out! Yep, it’s The Most Intriguing New Books of November 2025. I know pretty late in the month this time – I generally like to get it out by the first Tuesday of the month – but there’s been a lot going on in the recent weeks, and I’m just now trying to get back into things.

This used to be a quarterly post, but I’ve recently decided to do it monthly instead. Also, even though this post is about new releases, it’s primarily focused on fantasy and science fiction, as those are the genres I tend to prefer to read. (Not to say other genres won’t ever appear on these lists – it just isn’t super likely; it’s likely to be a very rare occurrence if it happens at all.)

If you’ve seen this post by me before, you know the drill; I’m only interested in these books – there’s no guarantee that I’m gonna read all of them. There’s not even a guarantee that I’m gonna read even half of them. We shall see. Anyway, let’s get going! Similar to last month, this month there are only three books that have caught my eye. (Mot to mention, they’ve all already come out, as they were new releases from the first half of the month. Shhh. Let’s pretend that didn’t happen.) Oh well, my To Be Read Stuff is kind ridiculous right now anyway, lol.

RELEASING: November 4th

The Cruel Prince meets Powerless in this dark academia romantasy that will tattoo itself onto your heart

In the cursed Kingdom of Aragoa, the punishment for magic is death.

Even the students at Vandenberghe Academy aren’t spared. When Viola Sinclair’s deadly shadow magic is discovered, the queen gives her assassin a new assignment and a new cursed tattoo: seven-thorned rose on his arm for the seven days he has to hunt Viola down and kill her. If he doesn’t, he will be the one to die.

The assassin is Roze Roquelart–entitled prince, arrogant fellow student, and the one person Viola hates more than anyone. Roze should revel in the chance to end her life, but he desperately needs something from Viola and her magic. And he’s willing to spare her life–and fake their engagement–to get it.

Forced to work together, Viola and Roze must contend with deadly threats, dangerous secrets, and an impossible attraction. Will they give in to their deepest desires, even if it means destroying Aragoa–and risking both their lives?

HER WORST ENEMY. HIS ONLY CHANCE.

Be swept away by the sizzling, irresistible enemies-to-lovers romantasy with magic more destructive than your darkest nightmares.

RELEASING: November 4th

A time-bending love story between a prickly young woman and a carefree stranger, who are tasked with saving the universe–after accidentally destroying it in the first place.

Genevieve Newhouse and Ash Hargreaves weren’t supposed to meet like this. Unless it was always meant to be…

Gen is a fastidious science prodigy with a chip on her shoulder, and she can turn herself invisible.

Happy-go-lucky Ash has just escaped a sheltered (read: cultish) childhood, and he can manipulate time.

The gifted eighteen-year-olds cross paths at the 1934 Chicago World’s Fair, where Genevieve’s experimental physics project causes an apocalyptic explosion. Ash tries to avert catastrophe by gallantly rewinding time a few minutes, but instead, he transports them back to 1893. The duo finds themselves trapped in an unfamiliar, unwelcoming era, with no idea how to return to their own time–or if their own time even exists. Their cataclysmic leap across decades might have destroyed the world as they know it…

Fate and free will intertwine in this page turning historical romance that sets two irresistible strangers down a chaotic, potentially apocalyptic path. “Will they or won’t they” takes on a whole new meaning as Gen and Ash fight for survival while falling in love.

Hand to fans of Immortal Longings and Anatomy: A Love Story, and don’t miss companion novels Murder for the Modern Girl and A Starlet’s Secret to a Sensational Afterlife.

RELEASING: November 11th

A young woman cursed with a fatal heartbreak-induced sickness must race against time to find a cure and protect her family legacy from the ancient finfolk that would destroy it, the fiancé that would kill her for it, and the boy who would love her if she forsook it.

The seafaring humans of Kirkrell have always been plagued by finfolk—bloodthirsty fae who haunt the seas, sinking ships and cursing bloodlines. Yet it’s only by hunting magical whales that Kirkrell can prosper. Nineteen-year-old Annie is heir to the Fairfax Whaling Company, but their family’s success came at a cost: a curse by which heartbreak turns Fairfaxes slowly into monsters. And six years ago, the shipwreck that killed Annie’s parents left her with scales spreading up her arms, claws sprouting from her fingertips.

The love of her fiancé, August, salved her heart for a while—but when she learns August is maneuvering to take over the company, the curse worsens. Fearing her time is running out, she strikes a bargain with a disreputable young captain, half-finfolk and half-human Silas Price: on a voyage to hunt whales in the far north, Silas will take Annie to the finfolk queen, who can lift the curse in return for a promise to end whaling forever.

As Annie, August and Silas sail north, she is determined to uphold her family’s legacy, but the threat of the finfolk tests her resolve. Lies corrupt her relationship with August; meanwhile a dangerous connection with Silas blooms—but he’s keeping secrets too, and his might be the most dangerous of all.

As heiress, it’s Annie’s responsibility to deliver whale magic to her city. But as heartbreak looms, she must choose between saving herself and her family’s legacy—and hope it doesn’t cost her everyone she loves.

So yeah, these are all of the books releasing in November 2025 that I’m at least a little interested in. What books are coming out soon that you’re looking forward to? Do we share some of the same ones?

As always, thank you all so much for reading, and I hope you have a great day/night!

See ya ~Mar

Can’t-Wait Wednesday: The Works of Vermin

Hey, it’s been a while. But Happy Wednesday!

Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Tressa @ Wishful Endings (and was previously hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine where it was known as Waiting on Wednesday) to spotlight and discuss the books we’re excited about that we have yet to read. They’re usually books that have not yet been released.

This week’s book is:

The Works of Vermin by Hiron Ennes! 🪱🏹

The Works of Vermin by Hiron Ennes

The Works of Vermin by Hiron Ennes

LENGTH: 430 pages

GENRES: Fantasy, Fiction

PUBLISHER: Tor Books

RELEASE DATE: 14 October 2025

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

He was sent to kill a pest. Instead, he found a monster.

Enter the decadent, deadly city of Tiliard, a metropolis carved into the stump of an ancient tree. In its canopy, the pampered elite warp minds with toxic perfume; in its roots, gangs of exterminators hunt a colossal worm with an appetite for beauty.

In this complex, chaotic city, Guy Moulène has a simple goal: keep his sister out of debt. For her sake, he’ll take on any job, no matter how vile.

As an exterminator, Guy hunts the uncanny pests that crawl up from the river. These vermin are all strange, and often dangerous. His latest quarry is different: a worm the size of a dragon with a deadly venom and a ravenous taste for artwork. As it digests Tiliard from the sewers to the opera houses, its toxin reshapes the future of the city. No sane person would hunt it, if they had the choice.

Guy doesn’t have a choice.

Are you looking forward to The Works of Vermin? What other books are coming out in the next few weeks that you’re looking forward to?

As always, thank you all so much for reading and have a fantastic day/night!

See ya ~Mar

Weekly Wrap-Up: 9/29 – 10/5

It’s the start of a new week, which means it’s time to wrap up the last one. And look – I’m on time this week!

Last week was still a bit rough for me, particularly during the first half. And it’s also why I didn’t post at all until Thursday. There’s just been some stuff going on outside the blogging part of my life that’s been hard on me, which is why updates aren’t what they could be. I’m hoping that will change coming up, but it’s more of a wait-and-see what happens kind of thing.

Anyway, without further ado, let’s get on with the Weekly Wrap-Up!

Friday 10/3: The Most Interesting Looking New Books of October 2025

Last Friday, I posted a list of the books that I’m looking forward to this month. Or, at least the ones that I think look the most interesting. It was the Most Interesting Looking New Books of October 2025. As always, it’s basically only fantasy and science fiction, as those are the two genres I primarily read. This time there were only three books that looked interesting to me, which isn’t what I had last month, but it was still something!

The Most Interesting Looking New Books of October 2025

Sunday 10/5: Bewitching Book Covers

Yesterday, I posted another Bewitching Book Covers for the first time in two months. Wow, and I thought last time’s gap with this post was big.

Anyway, Bewitching Book Covers (formerly known as Majestic Mondays and Tasteful Tuesdays), is when I gush over a book cover that I like as well as analyze it (sometimes). I also typically give the book covers funny rating systems – not the usual blank out of five stars kind of thing.

Bewitching Book Covers: Hemlock & Silver

Books I Read Last Week

Wrapping It All Up

So yeah, last week wasn’t the greatest in terms of blog activity, but it could’ve been worse. I’m also feeling better than I was early last week, and have finally started reading books again. So I’m very happy about that!

This week, I want to do a decent amount of posts. I want to do my monthly reading wrap-up for September 2025, participate in a couple of the usual posts that I usually engage in and definitely do at least one book review. I really want to get back in the groove of things in regards to books and blogging.

Concerning my reading of books, I finally started reading A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro. I’m not quite finished with it yet, but I’m hoping to do so by the end of tonight. Then, I’m planning on starting The Ashfire King by Chelsea Abdullah. It’s one of my most anticipated reads of 2025, and it’s almost a crime that I haven’t gotten around to reading it yet. So I want to rectify that as soon as I can. And then after that, I want to get back into the Dresden Files. And then after that, probably the next arc in One Piece. And maybe somewhere in between all that, I might possibly read a new release – like something that came out within the last few weeks to the last couple of months.

Regarding stuff outside of books and blogging, this past weekend I finally started switching and putting out our Halloween decorations. I don’t switch out the fall decor that much really – I just add to it and complement the autumn decorations with Halloween stuff for a month. Usually I’m a bit more on top of things, but the last month and a half has been a lot – I was late with getting the fall stuff out too, when I swapped out all of the summer stuff for autumn last month.

My spouse and I are still working on being healthy. It took a little bit of a dive for a few weeks with everything going on in real life beyond the blog, but we’re trying to get back into it.

Anyway, as always thank you for reading, and I hope you have a wonderful day/night! As well as a much better week than I’ve been having!

See ya ~Mar

The Most Interesting Looking New Books of October 2025

Hey there everybody! Another month, another bunch of new books that are coming out! Yep, it’s The Most Intriguing New Books of October 2025. I know this is about a week later than I usually do it – I like to get it out by the first Tuesday of the month – but there was a lot going on last week, so I’m doing it now.

This used to be a quarterly post, but I’ve recently decided to do it monthly instead. Also, even though this post is about new releases, it’s primarily focused on fantasy and science fiction, as those are the genres I tend to prefer to read. (Not to say other genres won’t ever appear on these lists – it just isn’t super likely; it’s likely to be a very rare occurrence if it happens at all.)

If you’ve seen this post by me before, you know the drill; I’m only interested in these books – there’s no guarantee that I’m gonna read all of them. There’s not even a guarantee that I’m gonna read even half of them. We shall see. Anyway, let’s get going! This month there are only three books that have caught my eye. A bit of a step down from last month, but most months aren’t like that anyway, haha.

RELEASING: October 7th

A teen girl with the power of resurrection must venture into the afterlife, but to survive the death realm, she’ll need the help of her two mortal enemies–both of whom she is inexplicably drawn to–in this romantic, gothic fantasy inspired by Wuthering Heights.

When Jia Yi finds herself alive again after being killed by an enemy’s sword, she realizes she possesses a rare power: the ability to move between life and death. With her new gift comes the discovery of a mysterious spirit realm teeming with ghosts like herself—and Lin, the boy she once loved before his betrayal tore them apart.

At first Jia wants nothing to do with any ghosts, metaphorical or otherwise. But when her beloved grandmother dies under suspicious circumstances, Jia is forced to follow in an attempt to save her. 

In the death realm, though, even ghosts have ghosts. The afterlife is more complex than Jia ever could have imagined—and no one knows what lies at its end. To survive, Jia must rely on both Lin and her longtime enemy, the cold and enigmatic Prince Essien. The problem? She can’t trust either of them.

With tensions high and new and old connections blossoming, Jia must confront the ghosts of her past . . . or risk remaining a ghost herself.

RELEASING: October 14th

A wannabe witch tries to break a curse on a clueless client in this laugh-out-loud debut for fans of queer fantasy like TJ Klune and Tamsyn Muir.

Mateo Borrero has ninety-nine problems, and all of them hinge on the fact that his terrifying and currently-missing bruja mother trapped a demon in his body when he was born. His mother forbade him from ever using magic, but now that she’s gone, magic’s his only marketable skill, and he’d really like an exorcism—which costs money he doesn’t have. What’s the harm in making a quick buck by calling himself an Occult Specialist and chanting a few half-remembered spells in his crappy Spanish?

Enter Topher, a naive nepo baby with a curse that keeps killing people around him. Most importantly, he’s rich, and too clueless to clock that Mateo–and his (absolutely-not-the-assistant) astral-projecting best friend Ophelia–have never actually had a client before. Lifting Topher’s bad luck curse should be simple, but as luck would have it, nothing is simple, and Topher–who Mateo sort of, kind of likes–might be at the center of a deadly magical conspiracy. 

To make matters worse, the more magic Mateo does, the stronger the demon inside him grows and the more he wants to eat people. But would caving to the urges of an ancient evil really be that bad if it helps him get a payday?

Legends and Lattes meets A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Catching a Killer in this hilarious and charming contemporary fantasy readers won’t want to miss.

RELEASING: October 28th

From Alix E. Harrow, the New York Times bestselling author of Starling House, comes a moving and genre-defying quest about the lady-knight whose legend built a nation, and the cowardly historian sent back through time to make sure she plays her part–even if it breaks his heart.

Sir Una Everlasting was Dominion’s greatest hero: the orphaned girl who became a knight, who died for queen and country. Her legend lives on in songs and stories, in children’s books and recruiting posters—but her life as it truly happened has been forgotten.

Centuries later, Owen Mallory—failed soldier, struggling scholar—falls in love with the tale of Una Everlasting. Her story takes him to war, to the archives—and then into the past itself. Una and Owen are tangled together in time, bound to retell the same story over and over again, no matter what it costs.

But that story always ends the same way. If they want to rewrite Una’s legend—if they want to tell a different story–they’ll have to rewrite history itself.

So yeah, these are all of the books releasing in October 2025 that I’m at least a little interested in. What books are coming out soon that you’re looking forward to? Do we share some of the same ones?

As always, thank you all so much for reading, and I hope you have a great day/night!

See ya ~Mar

The Most Interesting Looking New Books of September 2025

Hey there everybody! Another month, another bunch of new books that are coming out! Yep, it’s The Most Intriguing New Books of September 2025. I know this is about a week later than I usually do it – I like to get it out by the first Tuesday of the month – but there was a lot going on last week, so I’m doing it now.

This used to be a quarterly post, but I’ve recently decided to do it monthly instead. Also, even though this post is about new releases, it’s primarily focused on fantasy and science fiction, as those are the genres I tend to prefer to read. (Not to say other genres won’t ever appear on these lists – it just isn’t super likely; it’s likely to be a very rare occurrence if it happens at all.)

If you’ve seen this post by me before, you know the drill; I’m only interested in these books – there’s no guarantee that I’m gonna read all of them. There’s not even a guarantee that I’m gonna read even half of them. We shall see. Anyway, let’s get going! This month there are eight books that have caught my eye. Eight. What a step up from the last few months! Ah Autumn, how I love thee…

RELEASING: September 2nd

In a world where magical beings, fey, are mistrusted and often institutionalized, a human brother and fey sister must team up to solve a bizarre murder in this 1920s-inspired queer teen fantasy novel.

In the city of Puck’s Port, where motorized vehicles fill the streets and new technological marvels abound, something rotten is lurking under the surface. A violent murder at the docks seems to point to a fey killer, igniting a powder keg of distrust between the city’s humans and its fey inhabitants — folks who wield wonderful but often uncontrollable magical power.

Gristle Senan Maxim Junior finds himself caught in the middle. Forced into the reluctant role of private investigator, like his late father, he’s working to solve the mystery of this fiery murder . . . mainly because his sister, Hawthorne Stregoni, is a fey herself with an unfortunate penchant for setting things ablaze.

Hawthorne is part of an experimental study to control feyism but struggles to keep her powerful magic in check in a country that hates what she is. Can she and Gristle work together to find the true instigator of the murder before it’s too late?

RELEASING: September 2nd

Perfect for fans of romantic comedies with a supernatural twist, debut YA graphic novel by Violet Karim follows the unusual journey of up-and-coming singer Sophie Lim after she dies and makes a deal with the Grim Reaper for a second chance at life and pop stardom.

Number one on the pop charts and in the hearts of fans world-wide, Sophie Lim is at the top of her game–until she takes a tumble from the top of the stairs. Now she’s dead, and it turns out it’s harder to build a career from six feet under. But lucky for her, the Grim Reaper’s her number one fan!

After striking a deal with the Grim Reaper, Eli, to get her life back, Sophie must now embark on a journey of self-discovery as she takes on a new challenge: college. While she struggles to fit in with her classmates as a celebrity, bigger dangers lie in wait for her. The universe is out of equilibrium with Sophie’s soul unclaimed, and cosmic balance is just one unhappy accident away.

RELEASING: September 16th

In this atmospheric and bewitching novel, Louisa Morgan reimagines the story of Morgan Le Fay, one of the most enigmatic and powerful women in Arthurian legend. 

To the other priestesses of the Nine, a powerful council at the Lady’s Temple, Morgana is haughty and arrogant as she performs feats of magic no human should be capable of. Rumors start that she must be a fearsome fae.

To King Arthur, Morgana is a trusted and devoted advisor, but his court is wary of her and her prodigious talent at divination. But his wife sees Morgana as a rival and a malevolent witch.

To Braithe, Morgana’s faithful acolyte, she is simply the most powerful priestess Camelot has seen.

Morgana doesn’t know why she’s so different from everyone else, and she doesn’t much care. But when she aids Arthur to ascend the throne before his time, she sets off a series of events that will change everything Morgana believes about her power.

RELEASING: September 23rd

A vampire who can’t remember his past and a witch with secrets of her own hit the road in this zany, cross-country romantic comedy from beloved author Jenna Levine.

Reformed bad witch Grizelda “Zelda” Watson had hoped to never see another vampire again when she slipped away to sunny California for a fresh start. She’d grown tired of them and their nonsense ages ago. But when a vampire with amnesia unexpectedly shows up on her doorstep with a letter from her old friend Reggie, and asks for her help, she can’t say no. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that Peter Elliott is tall and gorgeous, looks great in yoga shorts, and has the kind of dark hair and surly expression Zelda’s been a sucker for for hundreds of years.

Peter isn’t completely harmless—he is fanged, after all—but he’s harmless enough, and soon becomes the only person in Zelda’s new life who knows the truth about what she is. If she can help him decipher the cryptic notes in his journal, the only clues to his lost memories, she might as well try before sending him on his way.

But when an alarming message from Peter’s past coincides with a clear sign that Zelda can’t keep running from her own, they embark on a cross-country road trip for answers—only to find what they’re looking for in each other.

RELEASING: September 23rd

18-year-old Briar Winters must untangle the horrifying eldritch secrets of her picture-perfect coastal town in order to save the boy she loves after he disappears from time itself in this YA dark fantasy for fans of Bly Manor.

Historic Loch Creek is a witchy New England tourist trap—but it’s just a trap for Briar, who’s convinced she’ll die there among the waves that devoured her twin brother thirteen years ago. But when her best friend who she’s loved since childhood, Finn, vanishes from the seaside carnival, there’s only one person who can help Briar find him: Morgan, the standoffish goth girl everyone calls the town witch.

But as Briar uncovers secrets as deep and dark as the water that haunts her, it quickly becomes clear that Finn has gone much further than an out-of-state college. He’s lost in time, and neither of them are safe. The seductive yet evil underwater entity that intended to claim Briar’s body in more ways than one still needs its sacrifice . . .

And it’s too hungry to go unsated.

Equal parts steamy epic romance and pulse-pounding horror, This Raging Sea is a dark fantasy as sweepingly powerful as the ocean that threatens to consume everything and everyone Briar has ever loved—prepare to be devoured.

RELEASING: September 30th

Godkiller meets Powerless in this epic gods-and-monsters romantic fantasy from British Fantasy Award-winning author Jen Williams.

Welcome to a world where gods and monsters roam the earth…

Elver is the guardian of the wild and dangerous monster forest. Saved from the brink of death by a god, her skin will poison anyone she touches.

Artair is on a mission – one that takes him face-to-face with Elver at her most ruthless. But her defenses are useless when she discovers he’s the only human impervious to her deadly gift. For Artair isn’t human: he’s one of the Sleepless, cursed to share his body with an evil spirit.

Lucian inhabits their body while Artair sleeps, and he is hell-bent on manipulating Elver for his dark purposes. But Elver is harbouring secrets too, and she has her own reasons for feigning an alliance with these two souls.

Caught in the crossfire of gods, monsters, and a dangerous magic they can barely understand, it is only a matter of time before the paths the three of them choose to take will set alight the very foundations of their world.

With a love triangle like you’ve never seen it, incredible world-building, brilliant writing, and high-stakes swoony romance, The Sleepless will have you spellbound.

RELEASING: September 30th

An utterly fantastical and undeniably queer melding of Pride and Prejudice and Frankenstein that recasts Mary Bennet as an insatiable scientist, one who creates a monster in an attempt to save herself from spinsterdom

Mary Bennet is the middlest middle child of all time. Awkward, plain, and overlooked, she’s long been out of favor not only with her own family but with generations of readers of Pride and Prejudice.

But what was Mary really doing while her sisters were falling in love? Well, what does any bright, intrepid girl do in an age when brains and hard work are only valued if they come with a pretty face? Take to the attic and teach herself to reanimate the dead of course. The world refuses to make a place for peculiar Mary, but no Bennet sister ever gives up on happiness that easily. If it won’t give this fierce, lonely girl a place, she’ll carve one out herself. And if finding acceptance requires a husband, she’ll get one. Even if she has to make him herself, too.

However, Mary’s genius and determination aren’t enough to control what she unwittingly unleashes. Her desperate attempts to rein in the destruction wreaked by her creations leads her to forge a perhaps unlikely friendship with another brilliant young woman unlike any she’s ever known. As that friendship blossoms into something passionate and all-consuming, Mary begins to realize that she may have to choose between the acceptance she’s always fought for and true happiness.

RELEASING: September 30th

True love knows no bounds. This premium, dual-sided volume includes two complete novellas bound together to create one can’t-miss collector’s item.

The first novella – told from Grim’s perspective – gives readers insight into his past: the motivations and events that cemented his fate as Isla’s eventual love interest.

The second is narrated by Oro and offers a window into his complex identity: that of a king torn between desire for justice and passion for the woman he loves more than anything. Grim and Oro: Dueling Crowns Edition includes key moments from the rulers’ love stories with Isla, expanded upon in their own voices.

Grim and Oro is certain to thrill readers and test allegiances, leaving new and longtime fans second-guessing who they’re rooting for in the breathtaking battle for Isla’s heart.

So yeah, these are all of the books releasing in September 2025 that I’m at least a little interested in. (One of them is almost certainly a hate read though, lol. I’m sure you can guess which one – hint: it’s Lightlark Saga adjacent.) What books are coming out soon that you’re looking forward to? Do we share some of the same ones?

As always, thank you all so much for reading, and I hope you have a great day/night!

See ya ~Mar

Weekly Wrap-Up: 8/4 – 8/10

It’s slightly late, but something came up later in the day yesterday, so I didn’t have time to finish this up. Oh well. At least last week went pretty well – I’m actually pretty satisfied with what I was able to do.

I did three blog posts this past week. Three in one week – that’s the first time in a while. Which is simultaneously both unfortunate that it’s been a few weeks since it last happened, but also fantastic that it happened again. I really hope that this is a sign of good posting to come for me. Oh, and I did read (part of) a book last week as well, so there’s progress on that front, too.

Anyway, without further ado, let’s get on with the weekly wrap-up!

Tuesday 8/5: The Most Interesting Looking New Books of August 2025

Last Tuesday, I posted a list of the books that I’m looking forward to this month. Or, at least the ones that I think look the most interesting. It was the Most Interesting Looking New Books of August 2025. As always, it’s basically only fantasy and science fiction, as those are the two genres I primarily read. This time I had four books on my list.

The Most Interesting Looking New Books of August 2025

Wednesday 8/6: Can’t-Wait Wednesday

This past Wednesday, I did another Can’t-Wait Wednesday for the first time in two weeks. I also made a new graphic for the featured image!

Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme currently hosted by Tressa @ Wishful Endings. It focuses on books you’re looking forward to reading, usually new releases.

Can’t-Wait Wednesday: Girls of Dark Divine

Sunday 8/10: July Reading 2025

On Sunday, I posted my Monthly Reading Wrap-Up for July 2025. And it was posted at a reasonable time of the month this time! For those who don’t know, monthly wrap-ups are when I go over the books I read over the past month, as well as my stats over on The StoryGraph.

Monthly Wrap-Up: July Reading 2025

Books I Read Last Week

Wrapping It All Up

So yeah, last week was a big improvement in regards to my blog activity, and I at the very least, read something. And with how the summer has been so far… I’m counting that as a win. I’m hoping that I can keep this up.

For blog posts this week, I’m planning on doing a couple of the usual ones that I participate in sometimes. In particular, one that I haven’t done at all for the last couple of months. I also might do another post that is one of my originals, though I’m not sure yet.

Regarding reading books, I ended up DNF-ing the one I tried to read last week. I just couldn’t get into it, though I did like the writing. For this week, I’m gonna finally get back into buddy-ret One Piece with my spouse. It’s been ten months since we left off at the time skip (which was the perfect spot to pause, honestly), but it’s definitely been too long I think, and we’re eager to get back into it. I don’t know if I’ll read anything else this week, so there probably won’t be a review since I dropped the novel I read this past week as well. We’ll see.

Concerning stuff outside of books and blogging… Nothing has really changed, honestly. We’re still trying to eat better and be more active, but that’s kind of all. I guess my spouse and I finally finished Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 last weekend, but other than that we haven’t done much besides hanging out and watching YouTube.

I guess we also both read/are currently reading Aurora: Volume #1, so I guess we’re technically buddy-reading that, but that’s involved with books. I’m gonna try to talk to them about figuring out something more specific to watch next, other than stuff on YouTube because we can’t just watch that all the time, so hopefully that’ll pan out.

Anyway, as always thank you for reading, and I hope you have a wonderful day/night!

See ya ~Mar

The Most Interesting Looking New Books of August 2025

Hey there everybody! Another month, another bunch of new books that are coming out! Yep, it’s The Most Intriguing New Books of August 2025.

This used to be a quarterly post, but I’ve recently decided to do it monthly instead. Also, even though this post is about new releases, it’s primarily focused on fantasy and science fiction, as those are the genres I tend to prefer to read. (Not to say other genres won’t ever appear on these lists – it just isn’t super likely; it’s likely to be a very rare occurrence if it happens at all.)

If you’ve seen this post by me before, you know the drill; I’m only interested in these books – there’s no guarantee that I’m gonna read all of them. There’s not even a guarantee that I’m gonna read even half of them. We shall see. Anyway, let’s get going! This month there are once again four books that have caught my eye.

RELEASING: August 5th

A group of hauntingly beautiful girls have been bound together by a cruel curse—and one of them will go to any lengths to save them from their violent dance. A breathtakingly gorgeous gothic fantasy about love and control that will never let you go. This spellbinding debut is perfect for fans of Stephanie Garber!

In the legendary ballet theatre of New Kora, the girls on stage enchant the audience each night with their grace and divine beauty. Before Emberlyn became the show’s star, it was her dream to become one of the ballerinas… until she learned the price of their living nightmare.

A curse has bound the girls to the show’s mastermind, Malcolm, so they must obey his every command. They are controlled by the magic’s invisible strings that has the power to wield their limbs like marionette dolls. Only the commands don’t stop when the curtain comes down, and the girls live a life of fear from Malcolm’s wickedness and the twisted truth that each dancer is destined to turn to dust when the curse finally consumes her. 

When the troupe is invited to perform in the glitzy city of Parlizia, Emberlyn knows this could be her best chance to save them all. She meets an elusive boy made of shadows with a magical connection to the girls. Together, they work to unravel the haunting truth about their creation and fight for their survival. But the cost of freedom might be too high, and as she dances closer to the edge of darkness she realizes she might break the curse… or break her own heart forever.

RELEASING: August 19th

From New York Times bestselling and Hugo Award-winning author T. Kingfisher comes Hemlock & Silver, a dark reimagining of “Snow White” steeped in poison, intrigue, and treason of the most magical kind

Healer Anja knows little of politics but much of poisons. When she is summoned to treat the mysterious illness afflicting the king’s daughter, she finds herself against the clock, desperate to track down the source of the poison killing Princess Snow. But the chance discovery of a strange alternate world inside a magic mirror leads Anja to darker discoveries, including what really happened to Snow’s dead sister, Rose, and why their mother seemingly went mad and cut out her heart.

Aided by a taciturn bodyguard, a narcissistic cat, and a late Renaissance understanding of the scientific method, Anja must navigate the mysteries of the mirror world before the dark queen that dwells within rises to threaten them all.

RELEASING: August 26th

Dante’s Inferno meets Susanna Clarke’s Piranesi in this all-new dark academia fantasy from R. F. Kuang, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Babel and Yellowface, in which two graduate students must put aside their rivalry and journey to Hell to save their professor’s soul—perhaps at the cost of their own.

Katabasis, noun, Ancient Greek:

The story of a hero’s descent to the underworld

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. 

RELEASING: August 26th

Heartstopper meets Buffy in this queer paranormal rom-com where a college sophomore must navigate suddenly becoming a vampire, the underground society he’s now part of, and the cute boy who discovers his secret.

It’s only natural nineteen-year-old Brennan’s life would be upended by something as ridiculous and unexpected as turning into a vampire. But if there’s one thing Brennan can do, it’s pretend everything’s fine when he’s close to losing his mind. Brennan has just clawed his way back to Sturbridge University after recovering from a suicide attempt, and this is not the new life he was hoping for.

Brennan’s newly bloodthirsty existence gets way more complicated when Cole, the super cute librarian and everyone’s campus crush, stumbles on Brennan drinking from a stolen blood bag. Luckily, adorable Cole is happy to keep Brennan’s secret, and even seems to maybe like him? Navigating a new relationship is hard enough without the added struggles of vampire puberty, an eclectic clan of self-proclaimed “good” vampires, and growing feelings for the one person who makes Brennan feel normal. With swirling rumors of a missing student and a rise in strange “animal attacks” near campus, Brennan must uncover the secrets of the clan and figure out how to balance vampirism and humanity, or risk losing the first real friends he’s ever had.

Filled with humor and heart, The Good Vampire’s Guide to Blood & Boyfriends has a gentle bite. 

So yeah, these are all of the books releasing in the in August 2025 that I’m at least a little interested in. What books are coming out soon that you’re looking forward to? Do we share some of the same ones?

As always, thank you all so much for reading, and I hope you have a great day/night!

See ya ~Mar

Can’t-Wait Wednesday: Aurora (Volume #1)

Hello and Happy Wednesday everybody! There’s a lot of books coming out lately that I’ve been interested in! Two weeks in a row!

Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Tressa @ Wishful Endings (and was previously hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine where it was known as Waiting on Wednesday) to spotlight and discuss the books we’re excited about that we have yet to read. They’re usually books that have not yet been released.

This week’s book is:

Aurora: Volume #1 by Red!

This is a fantastic webcomic by Red of Overly Sarcastic Productions from YouTube, and it’s finally getting an official release in print! I’ve actually been following the webcomic for a few years, and it’s amazing and I love it. I’m so excited for this – Aurora’s first physical version is definitely one of my most anticipated releases of the year!

Aurora: Volume #1 by Red

Aurora: Volume #1 by Red

COMIC: Aurora

LENGTH: 384 pages

GENRES: Fantasy, Graphic Novel, Fiction

PUBLISHER: Andrews McMeel Publishing

RELEASE DATE: 29 July 2025

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Fans of the hit webcomic Aurora, will delight in the first series installment in print, which follows a found family of heroes on a journey to save a god from an immortal witch. 

The shining city of Vash in the world of Aurora is protected by a great and powerful god of the same name, but even Vash’s incarnation cannot withstand the Collector, an immortal sorceress bent on unmaking the world. Vash’s city is destroyed and his soul abducted, leaving only ruins and the wounded, empty body of his incarnation. When newborn soul Kendal awakens in the body, he is driven to rescue the imprisoned Vash. Now Kendal must grapple with living as a mortal and defeating a force powerful enough to sunder the gods.

Kendal is aided by the friends he makes along the way: Alinua, a volatile elven hermit terrified of her uncontrollable life magic; Erin, the prideful Elemental Magus, master of all six elements, who is burdened with a world-shattering curse; and Falst, a surly beastman trying to find his way in a world that hates him. Together, they will journey through magic and mystery, explore perilous environments, and confront ancient forces. Stars dance beyond the shimmering curtains of Aurora; it is time to draw those curtains back…

With exclusive author commentary and bonus story content, Aurora (Volume 1) has plenty for both fans and new readers to enjoy. 

Have you heard of the Aurora webcomic? Are you looking forward to its physical release? What other books are coming out in the next few weeks that you’re looking forward to?

As always, thank you all so much for reading and have a fantastic day/night!

See ya ~Mar