Weekly Wrap-Up: 6/9 – 6/15

I’m on time this week! Yes! What a great way to start a new week!

So I didn’t really get any reading done, which I am disappointed about, but I do have a nice immediate TBR cued up and ready to roll. My blog activity last week was great though, especially considering it was right after a vacation, even if I did get a bit of a late start with it.

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

Thursday 6/12: The Most Interesting Looking New Books of June 2025

Last Thursday, 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 June 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 June 2025

Friday 6/13: First Line Fridays / Friday the 13th

On Friday, I participated in First Line Fridays for the first time in a while – like a month. First Line Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers (formerly) hosted by Wandering Words.

This past Friday was also 2025’s Friday the 13th. It doesn’t mean anything, I just always notice it for some reason and like to acknowledge it.

First Line Friday: 6/13

Sunday 6/15: Behooved Review / Father’s Day

Yesterday, I finally posted my book review for Behooved by M. Stevenson. It’s a new fairytale-esque romantasy novel with a beautiful cover. It took me longer than it should’ve to get this review out (in large part due to going on vacation the week before last), but it’s posted now and I’m happy. I gave it ★★★✫☆.

It was also a minor holiday yesterday – Father’s Day!! 🎣⛵ We didn’t do a ton, just did some breakfast with my mom’s side of the family and then went over to my spouse’s side to spend time with them. My dad was busy, so we’re gonna meet up some time this week instead.

Behooved Review

Books I Read Last Week

💖🎁 Wrapping It All Up 💖🎁

So yeah, my blog productivity last week was definitely up, which I’m very happy with. I didn’t really read any books though, which is something I’m less happy with. I hope to improve this coming week.

Regarding the stuff I want to do this week, I want to definitely read a book. I’m between A Spell for Change by Nicole Jarvis and The Ashfire King by Chelsea Abdullah (yes, I still haven’t gotten around to reading that one. I think I’m probably gonna go with the former, however, ’cause it’s a little shorter. I could honestly go either-or, though.

For the blog, I want to post my monthly reading wrap-up for May 2025. I’m late as hell with it – again, because I didn’t really do anything, especially with the blog, during my vacation the week before last. I also want to participate in my favorite monthly post, do at least one additional weekly post and hopefully finish another book and post a review about it.

As for life outside books and blogging, not much has changed. I’m still watching what I eat. I did finally take the Easter and spring decorations down though, and shifted everything to summer stuff. Not 4th of July stuff yet – it’s still too early for that!

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

See ya ~Mar

First Line Friday: 6/13

So it’s been like three weeks, but I’m back again participating in First Line Fridays!

First Line Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers (formerly) hosted by Wandering Words, but I saw it over at One Book More.

What if instead of judging a book by the cover, author or most everything else, we judged it by its content? Its first lines?

If you want to join in, all you gotta do is:

📚 Take a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open it to the first page
📝 Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
📙 Finally… reveal the book!

Here’s the first line:

Dawn crested cool and gray the day the witch from the mountains knocked on Nora Jo’s door.

Any guesses yet? If not, here’s another hint or two (or three)…

Still don’t know? Here’s some pretty pictures of books to admire while you consider it a little bit more…

Annnd the book is… 🥁🥁 A Spell for Change by Nicole Jarvis!!

(Did you guess it?)

A Spell for Change by Nicole Jarvis

LENGTH: 480 pages

GENRES: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Fiction

PUBLISHER: Titan Books

RELEASE DATE: 6 May 2025

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

In this sumptuous, atmospheric historical fantasy set in post-World War One Appalachia, three outcasts with misunderstood magical gifts search for their place in the world while battling the dark forces circling their community.

Perfect for fans of Katherine Arden and Susanna Clarke.

Kate has always been troubled by visions of the future. No matter what she does, her disturbing premonitions are always realized—often with terrible consequences. But Kate has a secret: swirling, romantic dreams of a strange boy, and a chance meeting in the woods.

Oliver returned from the Great War disabled, disillusioned, and able to see the dead. Haunted by the death of his best friend and his traumatic memories of the trenches, Oliver realizes that his ability to communicate with spirits may offer the chance of closure he desperately seeks.

Nora Jo’s mother and grandmother were witches, but she has never nurtured her own power. Always an outsider, she has made a place for herself in the town as Chatuga’s schoolteacher, clinging to the independence the job affords her. But when her unorthodox ideas lead to her dismissal, salvation comes in the form of a witch from the mountains who offers her a magical apprenticeship.

Rumours of a dark force stalking the town only push Kate, Oliver, and Nora Jo onwards in their quest to determine their own destinies. But there are powers in the world stronger and stranger than their own, and not all magic is used for good…

What books have you been reading lately? What’s on your TBR that you’re currently the most excited about?

As always, thank you for reading, and I hope you have an awesome day/night!

See ya ~Mar

First Line Friday: 5/23

Huh. It’s been like a month since the last time I participated in this post. Well, let’s get started!

First Line Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers (formerly) hosted by Wandering Words, but I saw it over at One Book More.

What if instead of judging a book by the cover, author or most everything else, we judged it by its content? Its first lines?

If you want to join in, all you gotta do is:

Here are the first lines:

I stood at the door to my parents’ chambers, staring at the metal sigil adorning the dark wood and willing my stomach to settle. The enameled insignia, crafted by a master Adept’s hand, depicted a riot of lilies with thorn-bearing vines woven between. Gilt paint coated the petals, shimmering in the pale light from the magically forged lanterns lining the walls.

Know the book yet? If you don’t, here’s another couple of hints…

Still have no idea? Here are some lovely photos of books to look at while you think about it a bit longer…

Annnd the book is… 🥁🥁 Behooved by M. Stevenson!

(Didja guess it?)

Behooved by M. Stevenson

LENGTH: 336 pages

GENRES: Fantasy, Romance, Fiction

PUBLISHER: Bramble

RELEASE DATE: 20 May 2025

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

A charming slow-burn romantasy featuring a duty-bound noblewoman with a chronic illness, a prince who would rather be in a library than on a throne, and a magical ride through a world of cozy enchantment.

Bianca knows her duty comes before her heart. So when the threat of war looms, she agrees to marry the neighboring kingdom’s heir. But not all royal weddings are a fairytale, and Prince Aric, Bianca’s betrothed, is cold, aloof, and seems to hate her on sight.

To make matters worse, on their wedding night, an assassination attempt goes awry—leaving Aric magically transformed into a horse. Bianca does what any bride in this situation would do: she mounts her new husband and rides away to safety.

Sunset returns Aric to human form, but they soon discover the assassination attempt is part of a larger plot against the throne. Worse, Bianca has been framed for Aric’s murder, and she’s now saddled with a husband who is a horse by day and a frustratingly attractive man by night.

As an unexpected romance begins galloping away with their hearts, Bianca and Aric must rely on each other to unravel the curse and save the throne.

What books have you been reading lately? What’s on your TBR that you’re currently the most excited about?

As always, thank you for reading, and I hope you have an awesome day/night!

See ya ~Mar

Weekly Wrap-Up: 4/21 – 4/27

Yes! I finally posted a Weekly Wrap-Up on time again! Woohoo!

Last week my blog activity wasn’t too bad. I’m pretty happy about it honestly, even though it was only three posts and I didn’t do a book review. I didn’t really read any books though, and I’d really like to post another book review (it’s been almost four weeks!), so those are my main goals for the coming week.

Anyway, I’ll shut up now. Without further ado, let’s get on with the weekly wrap-up!

Wednesday 4/23: Can’t-Wait Wednesday

Last Wednesday, I did another Can’t-Wait Wednesday for the first time in a couple of weeks. There’s been a lot of new books coming out lately that I’ve been interested in.

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: The Floating World

Friday 4/25: First Line Friday

Last Friday, I participated in First Line Fridays again – two weeks in a row for the first time in a while. First Line Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers (formerly) hosted by Wandering Words.

First Line Friday: 4/25

Sunday 4/27: Bewitching Book Covers

Yesterday, I posted another Bewitching Book Covers for the first time in a while – I think it’s been almost two months, haha. 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).

Bewitching Book Covers: Five Broken Blades