The Witch Roads

Weekly Wrap-Up: 7/21 – 8/3

So yeah. I skimped out last week with the weekly wrap-up. I honestly don’t know why really; I was feeling really burnt out on pretty much everything though, so that was probably it. But I’m doing it this week, and hopefully I’ll keep it up more consistently – as in every week like I should be.

My blog posting for the last two weeks was… okay. It could have been better, but I’m not gonna moan about it. It is what it is. I am rather disappointed with my reading however, and not just for the past two weeks either.

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

Wednesday 7/23: Can’t-Wait Wednesday

On Wednesday July 23rd, I did another Can’t-Wait Wednesday again. It’s officially a streak!

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: Aurora (Volume #1)

Friday 7/25: First Line Friday

On Friday July 25th, I participated in First Line Fridays for the first time in a couple weeks. I’m glad I’m doing it a bit more often again – so far.

First Line Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers (formerly) hosted by Wandering Words. It’s where you guess what book the post is highlighting based on the book’s first words.

First Line Friday: 7/25

Saturday 8/2: Bewitching Book Covers

Last Saturday, 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: A Mastery of Monsters

Sunday 8/3: Aurora (Volume #1) Review

This past Sunday, I finally did another book review. It was the first time in like a month. Ugh, what am I doing?!

Anyway, it was one of my most anticipated releases of 2025, the first volume of the fantasy webcomic Aurora by Red of Overly Sarcastic Productions. I’ve thought it was fantastic for awhile, and this physical release only made me continue to love it just as much, if not more. I gave it ★★★★★.

Aurora: Volume #1 Review

Books I Read in the Last Two Weeks

💖🎁 Wrapping It All Up 💖🎁

So yeah, the past two weeks have been a little meh in terms of everything for me. I kind of took a week off, so I’m hoping that will help with my productivity and motivation. We’ll see though.

I’m not completely decided on the posts I’m gonna do this week, except for my Most Interesting Looking New Books of August 2025. I also am not fully committed to a specific book (or books) that I’m gonna read this week, but I’m thinking it has a good chance of being the next arc of One Piece. I’m hoping to get in a couple of the novels that I’ve had for a few months but haven’t gotten around to reading yet this month as well, though, as well.

Nothing has really changed outside of the reading and blogging part of my life. We’re still trying to watch what we eat and trying to be more productive.

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