So, I am super behind on my blog post this month, sorry! November has already been a bit hectic...
Now, October is the first month this year that I actually managed to complete at least one book every day! Yay! I'm tired! Probably won't be doing that again intentionally...
I am currently sitting at 39 books for the month of October and a total of 339 for the year, breaking last year's record of 304! I had a lot of good reads this month so let's get to it!
My first recommendation is How Does it Feel by Jeneane O'Riley and it is book one of the Infatuated Fae Series. A human woman finds herself in the fae realm and accused of being an assassin, of all things. She then has to undergo three trials to prove her innocence and get back home. This ebook was a tad annoying with their formatting and scene changes but there is a great cliff hanger and the story is great. Book two is called What Did You Do and number three is Where Did You Go but it will not be released until January 2025.
My next recommendation comes with the caveat that I absolutely can't stand the FMC. She has some SERIOUS trust issues and is probably one of the most unnecessarily stubborn characters I have ever come across and the MMC is an absolute saint of a man. That being said, the series is phenomenal. Spark of the Everflame takes place in a world where there are humans and the decedents of gods trying, and failing, to live peacefully. Diem has been raised as a human her entire life and has an ingrained hatred for the descended but is mysteriously drawn to the descended prince. She also keeps doing all of these strange things that she keeps chalking up to hallucinations due to the intense gaslighting her mother put her through her entire life. Eventually she finds herself caring about many of the descended and torn between them and her human friends and trying to find a balance between her two worlds. I absolutely devoured these audiobooks and book four's release date is still to be announced. However, I did find several really pretty special editions on the zon while trying to find that release date... RIP my bank account...
Goldfinch! Finally, book six of the Plated Prisoner series is here! I love this series and book six definitely made me cry. Auren and Rip get their HEA and the mortal and fae realms find their equilibrium and those baddies get their comeuppance. What's not to like? Other than the crying bit, I hate when books make me cry.
The Culling Trials series is YA, easy to read, and full of action. I do not recommend the audiobooks because the narrator has a fun habit of trailing off at the end of her sentences and I couldn't hear a damn thing. I read the rest of the ebooks and very much enjoyed myself. Our FMC sneaks into an exclusive magic academy as her brother to protect him from danger and discovers that she has magic. Of all things! Of course she has magic! They always do... Wild goes through many trials, finds herself a family of other paranormals, discovers family secrets long kept hidden, and gets her HEA. Lots of twists and turns in this series but it is a fun ride. The titles of all of the books get confusing as they are all pretty much just called Shadowspell Academy, The Culling Trials so good luck with that.
Given, by Amy Pennza is part of the Bitten and Bound Series where our FMC is a half vampire who has always been shunned by her human kingdom. Her brother, much to her dismay, trades her as a blood slave with the vampire kingdom in exchange for the promise of peace. She finds herself at home in her new kingdom and unraveling parts of history she was always lead to believe were myth. This series is complete, however I have only read the first of the three books so I really can't give any insight to the rest of the series.
Three to Fall is the conclusion to Elle Thorpe's Saint View Slayers vs. Sinners series and ties everything up very nicely. It looks like the next series may feature one or more of Grey's friends (Elle always delivers a good RH) so I am super excited about that.
Good Intentions by Brenda K Davies is book one of the Road To Hell series and is about a girl who is living in the post apocalyptic remains of the US after some crazy scientists opened up a portal to hell (in Kansas of all places!) and then the government decides to just nuke everything, because that always solves problems! The affected part of the midwest is now closed off by a giant wall and humans and demons have banned together to try to keep Lucifer from escaping Hell. River finds herself on the wrong side of the wall and on a quest to save the world! I very much enjoyed this book but for some reason it appears that I never read book three so I will get on that...
OK so I have never been much into the "sentient object" romances and I don't think I really need to explain that. HOWEVER, I saw an IG reel that made me dip my toe in. Hallowpeen, is a novella about sentient jack-o-lanterns and a man literally made of candy. I was promised ALL OF THE PUNS and boy did this deliver. If you have an hour and a half and want a good giggle, give it a read. Just beware, finding this on KU is a pain because autocorrect would rather you search for children's Halloween books and not sentient pumpkin smut.
And with that, I am going to conclude October's must reads. Honestly, pretty much everything I read this month was enjoyable and you should give any of the books a go. Also, I WILL be completing Zodiac Academy in November so keep an eye out for next month's blog.
October Reading List - In Reading Order
A Cage of Crimson by KF Breene
How Does it Feel by Jeneane O'Riley
What Did You do by Jeneane O'Riley
Spark of the Everflame by Penn Cole
Goldfinch by Raven Kennedy
The Culling Trials Books 1-3 by Shannon Mayer
Year of the Chameleon Books 1-3 by Shannon Mayer (second part of The Culling Trials)
Glow of the Everflame by Penn Cole
Given by Amy Pennza
Pucking the Team by Alexis Barlowe
Pucking Amazing by Alexis Barlowe (most depressing freaking hockey romance I've ever read)
The Fae Queen's Warriors by Tara West
Noir Reformatory by Lexi C Ross and JR Thorn
Second Offense by Lexi C Ross and JR Thorn
Three to Fall by Elle Thorpe
Heat of the Everflame by Penn Cole
Third Offense by Lexi C Ross and JR Thorn
Good Intentions by Brenda K Davies
It's Just Business by Lauren Landish and Willow Winters
Carved by Brenda K Davies
HALLOWPEEN by Holly Wilde
Wicked Gods by Michelle Hercules
Ruthless Idols by Michelle Hercules
Hateful Heroes by Michelle Hercules
The Pucking Wrong Number by CR Jane
Broken Knights by Michelle Hercules
Just Drop Out by J Bree
A Witch's Guid to Fake Dating a Demon by Sarah Hawley
Make Your Move by J Bree
Play the Game by J Bree
To the End by J Bree
Crimson Shadows by Eve Newton
Undeniably Convenient by J Saman
Midnight Reign by Eve Newton
My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine
Do Your Worst by Rosie Danan