September saw me finishing up the copyedit for an upcoming release (Addictive Contact!), reading a few more books of a historical romance series, and getting through half a dozen ARCs. My ratings were kind of all over the place this month, though there were a few standout novels I really loved!
Vilest Things by Chloe Gong is a brilliantly layered sequel that surpasses the first book in its complexity and depth. The political intrigue, high stakes, constant plot twists, and the intoxicatingly dysfunctional romance subplot make it such a good read. Gong’s ability to mix humor, tragedy, and romance within such a dark, twisty framework is impressive. A must-read for fans of retellings, star-crossed lovers, morally gray characters, and fantasy worlds where the price of power is steep.
August was all about ARCs and historical romances, with a spattering of other genres such as a variety of fantasies and retellings, true crime, and science fiction! Can you tell I’m a mood reader?
Do the ends justify the means? Book 1 of the Flesh & False Gods series, Immortal Longings, by Chloe Gong takes you on a gritty, high-stakes journey through the twin cities of San-Er, where body-jumping assassins and exiled aristocrats battle for power and survival. This Antony and Cleopatra retelling weaves themes of power, loyalty, and deception with a narrative that challenges conventional ideas about identity and consent.
