New Books

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

Weekly Wrap-Up: 6/30 – 7/6

Yeah, I know I’m a day late again with the Weekly Wrap-Up. But this time it actually wasn’t my fault! I actually managed my time and stuff properly yesterday, and was raring to go with this! It was the art program I use to make graphics and images – it was misbehaving and wasn’t saving any changes to anything you made and needed some fixing. But it’s all good now, which is why I’m posting this!

Last week, in comparison to yesterday, I didn’t really manage my time and stuff as well. I only really read like a part of a book – and a novella at that! – and I only managed to get two posts out. Suffice to say, I’m annoyed with myself. And I want to do better this week.

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

Thursday 7/3: The Most Interesting Looking New Books of July 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 July 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 July 2025

Friday 7/4: 4th of July – Independence Day

Friday was the 4th of July 🎆🎇🎆🎇 otherwise known as Independence Day 🇺🇸🎊🇺🇸🎊 for America. It was a lot of fun, part of my family always has a 4th of July party, and there was great food and great company. We unfortunately don’t really do fireworks anymore, because of the area the people hosting the party live, as well as the time of day that the party is at, but it was still a good time.

Afterwards, my spouse and I just kind of went home and chilled, and that was really nice. We also ended up watching a fireworks show streamed through YouTube on our TV, with fireworks sounding off in the background from the streets around our house to complement it. Anyway, it was a great day.

Sunday 7/6: How to Defeat a Demon King in Ten Easy Steps Review

On Sunday, I did another book review, this time for a novella I recently read. It was Bow to Defeat a Demon King in Ten Easy Steps by Andrew Rowe. It was a fun little book with lots of The Legend of Zelda references, and I definitely recommend it to fans of the video game series. It was also an entertaining little fantasy book without the Zelda stuff and I gave it ★★★★✯.

How to Defeat a Demon King in Ten Easy Steps Review

Books I Read Last Week

💖🎁 Wrapping It All Up 💖🎁

So yeah, last week wasn’t the most productive with either blog activity or reading books, but it could’ve been worse. It definitely also could have been better, but, yeah. I’m hoping to improve during this coming week.

This week I’m absolutely going to post my monthly reading wrap-up for June 2025. I’m also probably going to do a couple of the other weekly posts I usually do, and hopefully I’ll get another book review out as well. I’m also hoping to start a new book, too, though I’m not sure which one yet.

Nothing else really happened last week aside from the holiday, but I’m still doing my usual stuff like watching what I’m eating and more home cooking. My spouse and I did finish with our rewatch of Avatar: The Last Airbender though, and are figuring out stuff to watch next. We’ll definitely continue making our way through Frazier, which is something we’ve been doing on and off for the last couple of months, and I’m looking forward to that.

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 July 2025

Hey there everybody! Another month, another bunch of new books that are coming out! Yep, it’s The Most Intriguing New Books of July 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 four books that have caught my eye.

RELEASING: July 1st

A young thief attempting a daring casino heist during a high-stakes tournament is torn between two warring brothers in Den of Liars.
 
Lola St. James is the world’s best kept secret. When her father’s loss in the Liar’s Dice Tournament–a high-stakes competition where players are forced to gamble with their deepest secrets–made her a target, she was rescued by the Thief, the notorious leader of the Tentacles. But the Thief’s kindness came with a Lola’s heart. In the years that follow, she and the Thief form a bond like no other, able to feel each other’s emotions because of their shared heart.
 
Now, living under the pseudonym Astra, she is determined to prove herself and become a full-fledged Tentacle. But when a critical heist goes sideways, the only way forward is for Lola to compete in the Liar’s Dice Tournament herself. Lola is confident in her ability to pull off any heist, but the Thief’s mysterious brother, the Liar, runs the game and he turns out to be more than she bargained for. As her attraction for him grows and illusions run wild, she will be forced to confront the secrets of her past, the truth of the brothers’ shared history, and the lies she tells herself.

RELEASING: July 15th

New York Times bestselling author Sarah Beth Durst invites you to her new standalone novel nestled on a far-away island brimming with singing flowers, honey cakes, and honeyed love. The hardcover edition features beautiful sprayed edges.

Terlu Perna broke the law because she was lonely. She cast a spell and created a magically sentient spider plant. As punishment, she was turned into a wooden statue and tucked away into an alcove in the North Reading Room of the Great Library of Alyssium.

This should have been the end of her story . . . Yet one day, Terlu wakes in the cold of winter on a nearly-deserted island full of hundreds of magical greenhouses. She’s starving and freezing, and the only other human on the island is a grumpy gardener. To her surprise, he offers Terlu a place to sleep, clean clothes, and freshly baked honey cakes—at least until she’s ready to sail home.

But Terlu can’t return home and doesn’t want to—the greenhouses are a dream come true, each more wondrous than the next. When she learns that the magic that sustains them is failing—causing the death of everything within them—Terlu knows she must help. Even if that means breaking the law again.

This time, though, she isn’t alone. Assisted by the gardener and a sentient rose, Terlu must unravel the secrets of a long-dead sorcerer if she wants to save the island—and have a fresh chance at happiness and love.

Funny, kind, and forgiving, The Enchanted Greenhouse is a story about giving second chances—to others and to yourself.

RELEASING: July 29th

Ninth House meets Legendborn in this thrilling first book in a dark academia fantasy series about a teen who’s willing to do anything to find her brother—even infiltrate a secret society full of monsters.

When August’s brother disappears before his sophomore semester, everyone thinks the stress of college got to him. But August knows her brother would never have left her voluntarily, especially not after their mother so recently went missing. 

The only clue he left behind was a note telling her to stay safe and protect their remaining family. And after August is attacked by a ten-foot-tall creature with fur and claws, she realizes that her brother might be in more danger than she could have imagined. 

Unfortunately for her, the only person with a connection to the mysterious creature is the bookish Virgil Hawthorne…and he knows about them because he is one. If he doesn’t find a partner to help control his true nature, he’ll lose his humanity and become a mindless beast—exactly what the secret society he’s grown up in would love to put down. 

Virgil makes a proposition: August will join his society and partner with him, and in return, he’ll help her find her brother. And so August is plunged into a deadly competition to win one of the few coveted candidate spots, all while trying to accept a frightening reality: that monsters are real, and she has to learn to master them if she’s to have any hope of saving her brother. 

RELEASING: July 29th

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. 

So yeah, these are all of the books releasing in the in July 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: 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

The Most Interesting Looking New Books of June 2025

Hey there everybody! Another month, another bunch of new books that are coming out! Yep, it’s The Most Intriguing New Books of June 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 four books that have caught my eye.

RELEASING: June 3rd

Beauty and the Beast meets Six of Crows in this romantic fantasy about a girl who paints the future and a cursed dragon lord, bound by love and deception in a plot to bring down the gods.

From the New York Times bestselling author of Six Crimson Cranes!

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….

RELEASING: June 10th

Status is hereditary, class is bestowed, trust must be earned.

When an arrogant prince (and his equally arrogant entourage) gets stuck in Orledder Halt as part of brutal political intrigue, competent and sunny deputy courier Elen—once a child slave meant to shield noblemen from the poisonous Pall—is assigned to guide him through the hills to reach his destination.

When she warns him not to enter the haunted Spires, the prince doesn’t heed her advice, and the man who emerges from the towers isn’t the same man who entered.

The journey that follows is fraught with danger. Can a group taught to ignore and despise the lower classes survive with a mere deputy courier as their guide?

The Witch Roads is the latest epic novel by fan favorite, Kate Elliott. 

RELEASING: June 10th

A sweet and savory YA romance, this modern-day Japanese-Canadian twist on Emma is just the recipe for fans of Jenny Han, Jane Austen and Gilmore Girls. A busybody foodie avoids questions of her own future as she meddles in the love lives of those around her. Has this matcha-maker met her match?

Self-declared matchmaking GENIUS Emiko Kimori has already found success by helping her aunt find true love, so when the new girl in town becomes her new BFF, it’s only natural for Emiko to help set her up for social success with a suitable love match.

Emiko lives with her Ojiichan in a small town on BC’s West Coast surrounded by friends and neighbors, including her childhood friend Kenzo Sanada, who wishes she’d spend less time playing matchmaker. But Emiko can so clearly see who belongs together, even when her targets don’t know it themselves. She simply has to meddle — for the sake of true love! 

RELEASING: June 17th

I feared this was the best of times; I hoped it could not get any worse.

The faeries stole Sydney Carton as a child, and made him a mortal servant of the Faery Realm. Now, he has a rare opportunity for revenge against the fae and Charles Darnay, the changeling left in his stead.

It will take magic and cunning—cold iron and Realm silver—to hide his intentions from humans and fae and bring his plans to fruition.

Shuttling between London and Paris during the Reign of Terror, generations of violence-begetting-violence lead him to a heartbreaking choice in the shadow of the guillotine. 

So yeah, these are all of the books releasing in the in June 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: 5/5 – 5/11

It’s a day late, but the last couple days have either been busy or slightly rough. But doing a Weekly Wrap-Up on a Tuesday isn’t completely unreasonable, and I’ve already done it several times, so I’m not that annoyed.

Anyway, last week I got out the two posts that I was really angling for, so I’m very satisfied with my blog activity last week. The only thing I wish I was able to do was a book review, but I haven’t finished the book I’m reading yet, which is why I didn’t get one done last week.

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

Tuesday 5/6: The Most Interesting Looking New Books of May 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 May 2025. As always, it’s basically only fantasy and science fiction, as those are the two genres I primarily read. This time I had five books on my list.

The Most Interesting Looking New Books of May 2025

Wednesday 5/7: Can’t-Wait Wednesday

On Wednesday, I did another Can’t-Wait Wednesday for the first time in a couple of weeks. The new books coming out that I’m intrigued by are amping up again.

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 Devils

Friday 5/9: April Reading 2025

Last Friday, I posted my Monthly Reading Wrap-Up for April 2025. It was once again posted at a reasonable time in the month, and I actually posted it earlier than I did last month. 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: April Reading 2025

Sunday 5/11: Mother’s Day

Though I didn’t manage a post this past weekend, Sunday was Mother’s Day!! 🌸🌼 I hope that everyone who wanted to had the opportunity to spend time with their mom this weekend. We met for breakfast at one of my aunts’ houses mom’s side of the family, and spent the afternoon hanging out with my husband’s immediate family. It was a nice day.

Books I Read Last Week

💖🎁 Wrapping It All Up 💖🎁

So yeah, my productivity definitely improved last week, both with my reading and my blog posts. I’d still like to do better this week, however, and do another post during the weekend. I haven’t really posted on a Saturday or Sunday lately, and I’d like to rectify that.

Regarding the coming week, I want to finish Impossible Creatures and do a book review on it. Then I want to start reading a new book, though I’m a little undecided on whether it’ll be one of my anticipated books of May 2025 or The Ashfire King next. Regardless, I’m determined to read The Ashfire King sometime this month. I’d also like to do my favorite monthly post this week, too, as well as a couple of my usual weekly posts.

As for stuff outside the blog and books, I’ve been continuing my diet of course, and it’s been going really well. But my spouse and I have been pretty interested in Blue Prince lately, a roguelike puzzle adventure game that released about a month ago. I personally haven’t played it myself, as I’m pretty sure that I have the patience for roguelikes, but I have watched other people do so, and my spouse has really enjoyed what they’ve played of the game. My spouse has found the secret room, reached the credits and explored a great deal of the manor and it’s grounds before finding the room and a little after – so they’re probably at least 30% through the game.

I’ve definitely very much enjoyed what I’ve seen myself of the game, and especially love the story and how you discover it through your exploration. And I adore the ending when you find the secret 46th room (it’s not a spoiler because the game tells you this is your goal from the outset). I also really enjoyed and think the puzzles are super awesome and creative. It’s such a fantastic game and more than deserves all of the accolades it’s been getting.

Anyway, I’ve talked more than enough here. 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 May 2025

Hey there everybody! Another month, another bunch of new books that are coming out! Yep, it’s The Most Intriguing New Books of May 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 five books that have caught my eye.

RELEASING: May 6th

Who is Mary Darling? In this smartly subversive Victorian mash-up of the legendary literary novels Peter Pan and Sherlock Holmes, the intrepid mother of the Darling children is on the case―and always one step ahead of her inept husband and a famous detective.

Mary Darling is a pretty wife whose boring husband is befuddled by her independent ways. But one fateful night, Mary becomes the distraught mother whose three children have gone missing from their beds. After her well-meaning uncle John Watson contacts the greatest detective of his era (but not that great), Mary is Sherlock Holmes’s prime suspect in her children’s disappearance.

To save her family, Mary must escape an attempt to have her locked away as mad, and to travel halfway around the world. Along the way, her allies include a Solomon Islander whose village was destroyed by Western civilization; a Malagasy woman on an island that is run by women; Captain Hook and the crew of the Jolly Roger; and of course, Nana, the faithful dog and nursemaid.

This witty and adventurous new novel from Pat Murphy (The City Not Long After) will delight fans of classic Victorian tales, as well as those who are looking for a radical new take on the British Empire.

RELEASING: May 13th

A brand-new epic fantasy from New York Times bestselling author Joe Abercrombie, featuring a notorious band of anti-heroes on a delightfully bloody and raucous journey.

Holy work sometimes requires unholy deeds.

Brother Diaz has been summoned to the Sacred City, where he is certain a commendation and grand holy assignment awaits him. But his new flock is made up of unrepentant murderers, practitioners of ghastly magic, and outright monsters. The mission he is tasked with will require bloody measures from them all in order to achieve its righteous ends.

Elves lurk at our borders and hunger for our flesh, while greedy princes care for nothing but their own ambitions and comfort. With a hellish journey before him, it’s a good thing Brother Diaz has the devils on his side.

RELEASING: May 13th

Wielding a magic that allows him to pop off limbs, con-artist Phyllis ransoms body parts to make a living. At least until his cold heart is moved when a mark claims his sister, Adeline, was taken.

Adeline is not the only missing girl in their seedy city, and Phyllis’ best chance to unravel the mystery is to become Lord Phillip of Rabbiton and strike a deal with the ambitious madame, Adeline’s former employer, for info on his leads. As a duke, Phillip finds the girls who are not dead—but undead. And when the madame finds out, she twists Phillip into helping her with her plans to rule the city.

To cement his future as a duke, save his new family of mostly-dead girls, and earn Adeline’s affection, Phillip will have to stop the madame and discover the depths of his magic—before his own lies destroy him.

RELEASING: May 20th

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.

RELEASING: May 27th

From the NYT-bestselling author of Dreadful, Big Little Lies goes to magic school, cozy fantasy perfect for fans of T. Kingfisher, Olivia Atwater and Heather Fawcett. Featuring orange sprayed and stencilled edges, with magic symbols, unicorns and baked goods from the book.

Two parents and their recently-bitten-werewolf daughter try to fit into a privileged New England society of magic aristocracy. But deadly terrors await them – ancient prophecies, remorseless magical trials, hidden conspiracies and the PTA bake sale.

When Vivian’s kindergartner, Aria, gets bitten by a werewolf, she is rapidly inducted into the hidden community of magical schools. Reeling from their sudden move, Vivian finds herself having to pick the right sacrificial dagger for Aria, keep stocked up on chew toys, and play PTA politics with sirens and chthonic nymphs and people who literally can set her hair on fire.

As Vivian careens from hellhounds in the school corridors to demons at the talent show, she races to keep up with all the arcane secrets of her new society—shops only accessible by magic portal, the brutal Trials to enter high school, and the eternal inferno that is the parents’ WhatsApp group.

And looming over everything is a prophecy of doom that sounds suspiciously like it’s about Aria. Vivian might be facing the end of days, just as soon as she can get her daughter dressed and out of the door…

So yeah, these are all of the books releasing in the in May 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: 3/31 – 4/6

Well this is just the most abysmal thing ever. What am I doing posting a Weekly Wrap-Up on a Wednesday night?! Ugh! This week just started off a little rough, I guess…

Anyway – last week! I’m actually really happy with parts of last week. Not my blogging activity, really, but I read a lot compared to previous weeks. And I’m very happy about that. This year has just started with a really crappy reading slump.

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

Tuesday 4/1: The Most Interesting Looking New Books of April 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 April 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 April 2025

Friday 4/4: Dark Moon, Shallow Sea Review

On Friday, I finally posted another book review. This time, I read and reviewed Dark Moon, Shallow Sea by David R. Slayton. It’s a novel that’s been on my TBR for a while that I finally got around to reading. It was pretty decent. I gave it ★★★✯☆.

Dark Moon, Shallow Sea Review

Books I Read Last Week

💖🎁 Wrapping It All Up 💖🎁

So yeah. This past week wasn’t the best for the blog, activity-wise, but I did do more reading in a week than I have been doing for the past couple of months. So I’m counting that as a win. I’m hoping to do better with the blog this week however, even though I got a late start. 🤞🍀

Regarding this coming week, I’m definitely going to post my reading wrap-up for March 2025. It’s later than I wanted to, but oh well. I’m not totally sure what other posts I’ll do – probably just some of the normal weekly stuff. For reading; I’ll probably read the sequel to The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen, The Runaway King. Even though I don’t think I really liked the first one, I’m gonna give it one more shot, cuz it’s middle grade and I have to up my book count. My reading of books has been terrible so far this year.

Anyway, I’ve talked more than enough here. 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 April 2025

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

RELEASING: April 8th

Irish mythology collides with Gilded Age New York in this sweeping debut enemies-to-lovers historical romantasy, perfect for fans of Outlander and A Fate Inked in Blood.

Manhattan, 1870. Rua knows only two things: her name, and that she has no memories. So when the wealthy Harrington family mistakes Rua for their missing daughter, Emma, Rua goes along with the charade, hoping for answers about who she really is. As she tries to blend into a society she doesn’t remember, she’s drawn to a firmly off-limits man: the Lord of Donore, a newcomer to Manhattan society who is somehow familiar to Rua.

Finn is new to this side of the Atlantic and knows that the best way to fit in as Lord of Donore is to make friends in high places and play by the rules of society. He knows he shouldn’t become involved with a mysterious, recently missing debutante, but he’s intrigued by Emma Harrington, and Finn has an uncanny feeling that this isn’t the first time they’ve met. 

With societal pressures mounting on both sides, Rua is determined to discover the truth about the missing Harrington daughter and her own past. But when her memories begin to return, they’re of a world far stranger than New York and traced in dark magic.

As ancient secrets unfurl in Rua’s memory, Rua and Finn are forced to uncover the mystery of their past and try to save their future. In this gritty and glittering romantasy, nothing and no one is as they seem.

RELEASING: April 15th

A thief and a prince trapped in the crumbling, magical realm of the jinn must figure out how to save one world in order to return to their own in The Ashfire King, the second book in this epic series of myth and magic, perfect for fans of The City of Brass and The Bone Shard Daughter.

Neither here nor there, but long ago…

After fleeing a patricidal prince, legendary merchant Loulie al-Nazari and banished prince Mazen bin Malik find themselves in the realm of jinn. But instead of sanctuary, they find a world on the cusp of collapse.

The jinn cities, long sheltered beneath the Sandsea by the magic of its kings, are sinking. And amid the turmoil, political alliances are forming, and rebellion in the jinn’s capital city is on the rise. When Loulie saves the life of a dissenter—one of her bodyguard’s old comrades—she puts herself in the center of a centuries-old war.

Trapped in a world that isn’t her own and wielding magic that belongs to a fallen king, Loulie must decide: Will she carry on someone else’s legacy or carve out her own? 

RELEASING: April 29th

From Axie Oh, the New York Times-bestselling author of The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, Final Fantasy meets Shadow and Bone in this romantic fantasy reimagining the Korean legend of Celestial Maidens.

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…

RELEASING: April 29th

Benigno “Benny” Caldera knows an orphaned Boricua blacksmith in 1910s New York City can’t call himself an artist. But the ironwork tank he creates for famed Coney Island playground, Luna Park, astounds everyone, especially the eccentric side-show proprietor who commissioned it. Benny’s work earns him an invitation to join the show’s eclectic crew of performers—his first welcome in the city—and share in their astonishing secret: the tank Benny built is a cage for their newest exhibit, a living, breathing, in-the-flesh merman stolen from the banks of the East River under a gleaming full moon.

The merman is more than a mythic marvel, though. Benny comes to know Río as a clever philosopher, an observant traveler, and a kindred spirit more beautiful and compassionate than any human he’s ever met. Despite their different worlds, what begins as a friendship of necessity deepens to love, leading Benny’s heart into uncharted waters where he can no longer ignore the agonizing truth of Río’s captivity—and his own.

A cage is no place for a merman to survive. Though releasing Río means betraying his new family, bankrupting their home, and losing his soulmate forever, Benny must look within for the courage to do what’s right, and find a love strong enough to free them both.

When the Tides Held the Moon is a beautifully illustrated novel with artwork throughout by Venessa Vida Kelley, known for her stunning romance and fantasy art. This novel includes two different full-color endpapers for front and back, fully-designed chapter headers, and twenty-six pieces of detailed illustrations throughout. 

So yeah, these are all of the books releasing in the in April 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: 3/3 – 3/9

Here I am with another Weekly Wrap-Up! And it’s posted on time this week!

So, my posting was way better last week than it was the week before. I’m really happy with the amount of blog posts I was able to get done this past week, especially compared to the week before. Heck, it’s even better than two weeks before that!

I am a bit disappointed that I didn’t have the chance to read a novel, or even a novella or something. I’m definitely gonna do that this week – this is not gonna be a repeat of February. I do not want that to happen again.

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

Tuesday 3/4: The Most Interesting Looking New Books of March 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 March 2025. As always, it’s basically only fantasy and science fiction, as those are the two genres I primarily read. This time I had six books on my list.

The Most Interesting Looking New Books of March 2025

Wednesday 3/5: Can’t-Wait Wednesday

On Wednesday, I did another Can’t-Wait Wednesday for the first time in a couple of weeks. There’s a good chance it’s the first of some in a row. There are just a bunch of books coming out lately that look interesting.

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: Luminous

Thursday 3/6: Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales Review

Last Thursday, I finally, finally posted another book review on the blog. It was the first time in like literally a month. It was also stupid that this was the case.

The book was Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett, the third installment of the Emily Wilde fantasy series. I was really excited for this one – it’s one of my most anticipated new books of 2025 – and the novel did not disappoint. I gave it ★★★★☆.

Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales Review

Sunday 3/9: February Reading 2025

Yesterday, I posted my Monthly Reading Wrap-Up for February 2025. It was once again posted at a reasonable time in the month, though not as early as  I posted it last month. 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: February Reading 2025

Books I Read Last Week

💖🎁 Wrapping It All Up 💖🎁

So yeah, I’m very happy with the level of posting I was able to achieve last week. I’m really hoping I can keep it up this coming week, as well as read at least one book. Like I said earlier, I absolutely do not want a repeat performance of February for March.

Concerning the posts I want to do this week… I’ll probably just participate in some of my usual weekly stuff. I also want to post a book review though. That’s something I’m definitely hoping to do.

Regarding the books I’m considering reading next, well, I have a few at the forefront of my mind. Next,  I’m planning on reading a new release, something that’s come out in the last week or so. Then after that, I think I’m gonna start reading a series I hauled last summer – the third book is coming out this month anyway, I believe. And then, after this, I think I might read the sequel series I mentioned last week.

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

See ya ~Mar