🎆 July Reviews 🏖️
July 1st-31st
In July, I read 24 books with 6726 pages. It was the most pages I have read in a month since back in July 2022 and the most books read since December 2022. I had a great month of reading and found many new favorites throughout. Though, I also found my least favorite book I have read since November 2024. So it has been quite the month.
Also, two of my favorite graphic novel series ended this month and I got to read both of them. They are both in my favorites list below.
My favorite books from the month were The Correspondent by Virginia Evans, The Adventure Zone Volume 7: Story and Song by Clint McElroy, Griffin McElroy, Justin McElroy, Travis McElroy, and illustrated by Carey Pietsch, Heartstopper Volume 6 by Alice Oseman, and Something Rotten (Thursday Next #4) by Jasper Fforde.
Hope everyone enjoyed what they read this month! Happy Reading.
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Book 89: Letters from the Last Apothecary
(Tressport Magic, #1)
By Bita Behzadi
Read June 30th-July 1st
Pages: 368
Release Year: 2026
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Letters from the Last Apothecary is a fantasy historical fiction novel which reminded me of a magical version of You've Got Mail. Josephine (Josie) Pinova and Aufidius Reid (known as Reid) have been falling in love through their anonymous letters for months. They meet in person at the apothecary Reid works in and immediately cannot stand each other, not knowing they have been corresponding. Josie gets a job at shop and tries to help get them more business so they can stay open. The book follows both their present day clash as they try to save the apothecary and their letters which are throughout the entire story.
One of my favorite aspects of this story was the different types of magic in this world. I enjoyed learning about different people's magic and how they used it, though I would have loved even more exploration into it. We mainly see Josie and Reid's magic since they are our main characters but we do get to see some other cases too such as Josie's sister, Juniper. I loved getting to know Juniper and I'm kind of hoping the next book might be about her.
I enjoyed getting the letters at the end of the chapters and seeing how Josie and Reid bonded through them. They go by aliases (Miss Davis and Mr. Clarke) because of the library books they had signed out that the other wanted. Epistolary novels are some of my favorites and this one stood out to me. The juxtaposition of their animosity to each other in person compared to their admiration and growing love for each other in the letters was an entertaining read. The enemies to lovers aspects of this story worked for me pretty well.
A cozy fantasy story I could not get enough of and I hope we get more adventures from Tressport soon. I highly recommend this book.
*Thank to NetGalley, Hay House, and Bita Behzadi for my eARC and Audiobook ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.*
One of my favorite aspects of this story was the different types of magic in this world. I enjoyed learning about different people's magic and how they used it, though I would have loved even more exploration into it. We mainly see Josie and Reid's magic since they are our main characters but we do get to see some other cases too such as Josie's sister, Juniper. I loved getting to know Juniper and I'm kind of hoping the next book might be about her.
I enjoyed getting the letters at the end of the chapters and seeing how Josie and Reid bonded through them. They go by aliases (Miss Davis and Mr. Clarke) because of the library books they had signed out that the other wanted. Epistolary novels are some of my favorites and this one stood out to me. The juxtaposition of their animosity to each other in person compared to their admiration and growing love for each other in the letters was an entertaining read. The enemies to lovers aspects of this story worked for me pretty well.
A cozy fantasy story I could not get enough of and I hope we get more adventures from Tressport soon. I highly recommend this book.
*Thank to NetGalley, Hay House, and Bita Behzadi for my eARC and Audiobook ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.*
Book 90: Most Ardently Yours
By Freya Sampson
Read July 2nd-3rd
Pages: 320
Release Year: 2026
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I have always loved the idea of characters coming out of books ever since watching The Pagemaster as a child and reading Inkheart as a young teenager. Most Ardently Yours is a romantic comedy version of this type of story with the character of Mr. Darcy being transported into modern day London from Pride and Prejudice. I enjoyed listening to the audiobook which was read by Florence Howard. She did a wonderful job narrating the story.
It made me happy when Darcy comes into the story, which made the book much better. His characterization wasn't perfect but I will say I enjoyed many of the scenes with him. The humor stands out throughout the book especially with Darcy having to get used to London of today. Many of the scenes with him had me chuckling to myself. I particularly enjoyed the relationship he formed with Zoe's landlady, Mrs. Atallah.
One of the aspects of the book which I wasn't too fond of for a good portion of the story was the main character, Zoe. From the very first page of this book, I did not enjoy her characterization though I will say she did grow on me a bit as the story progressed. I don't like many of her interactions with Nick, the main love interest of the story. She is quite rude to him at the beginning because of his distaste for romance books without knowing his reasons why. This did take me out of the story. So many of the decisions she makes do not make sense throughout, especially in the bookshop scene at the beginning. I don't like how she gets the book. There is so many scenes where she won't listen to what others have to tell her which causes problems for everyone.
I love the character of Nick and getting to know him better throughout. Makes me wish their relationship would have been focused on more than Zoe's scenes with Darcy.
The magic of the book also wasn't as fleshed out as I would have liked it to be. Book characters being read out of books is one story-line I will always be drawn to. I love seeing how authors take this type of story. I just wish Freya Sampson would have given a bit more of an explanation of how Zoe got her powers. Also, the magic itself feels quite undeveloped and ambiguous.
Most Ardently Yours is a humorous story which I enjoyed listening to the last two days. It had me wanting to know what would happen next and laughing to myself throughout. The side characters really stood out to me and I particularity loved Nick. I'm glad I picked this up even if I didn't enjoy it as much as I wanted to. It was fun read for the most part.
*Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks, and Freya Sampson for my eARC and audiobook ARC. All opinions are my own.*
It made me happy when Darcy comes into the story, which made the book much better. His characterization wasn't perfect but I will say I enjoyed many of the scenes with him. The humor stands out throughout the book especially with Darcy having to get used to London of today. Many of the scenes with him had me chuckling to myself. I particularly enjoyed the relationship he formed with Zoe's landlady, Mrs. Atallah.
One of the aspects of the book which I wasn't too fond of for a good portion of the story was the main character, Zoe. From the very first page of this book, I did not enjoy her characterization though I will say she did grow on me a bit as the story progressed. I don't like many of her interactions with Nick, the main love interest of the story. She is quite rude to him at the beginning because of his distaste for romance books without knowing his reasons why. This did take me out of the story. So many of the decisions she makes do not make sense throughout, especially in the bookshop scene at the beginning. I don't like how she gets the book. There is so many scenes where she won't listen to what others have to tell her which causes problems for everyone.
I love the character of Nick and getting to know him better throughout. Makes me wish their relationship would have been focused on more than Zoe's scenes with Darcy.
The magic of the book also wasn't as fleshed out as I would have liked it to be. Book characters being read out of books is one story-line I will always be drawn to. I love seeing how authors take this type of story. I just wish Freya Sampson would have given a bit more of an explanation of how Zoe got her powers. Also, the magic itself feels quite undeveloped and ambiguous.
Most Ardently Yours is a humorous story which I enjoyed listening to the last two days. It had me wanting to know what would happen next and laughing to myself throughout. The side characters really stood out to me and I particularity loved Nick. I'm glad I picked this up even if I didn't enjoy it as much as I wanted to. It was fun read for the most part.
*Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks, and Freya Sampson for my eARC and audiobook ARC. All opinions are my own.*
Book 91: Under Lock & Skeleton Key
(Secret Staircase Mystery, #1)
By Gigi Pandian
Read July 4th-5th
Pages: 368
Release Year: 2022
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I need to read more cozy mysteries because I almost always enjoy them when I do. The characters kept me invested in the mystery and also their lives. They were great to follow throughout. I will be reading the next book because I want to see what happens with this enduring family.
One of my favorite parts of the story was the whole idea of Secret Staircase Construction. I cannot wait to read more about the sites they create. Also, the focus on magic was so neat. I love that the main character Tempest comes from a family of magicians and seeing how important it was for all of them. There is so much to love here.
One of my favorite parts of the story was the whole idea of Secret Staircase Construction. I cannot wait to read more about the sites they create. Also, the focus on magic was so neat. I love that the main character Tempest comes from a family of magicians and seeing how important it was for all of them. There is so much to love here.
Book 92: The Face in the Frost
By John Bellairs
Read July 6th
Pages: 174
Release Year: 1969
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Such a strange little book, that I highly enjoyed. It has a mix of humor, creepy scenes, and a lot of fantasy fun. The Face in the Frost is my favorite of John Bellairs' books I have read so far. Such a wonderful story.
Book 93: The Last Delivery
By Evan Dahm
Read July 7th
Pages: 147
Release Year: 2024
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I was really looking forward to this book because I have heard it described as a world similar to Wonderland with quirky characters like that. Sadly this was not at all what I thought it was going to be. It was unsettling and quite disturbing with no real plot to it. The only reason I even finished it was because of how short it was. I did not enjoy this one in the slightest.
Book 94: Heartstopper: Volume Six
(Heartstopper #6)
By Alice Oseman
Read July 7th
Pages: 438
Release Year: 2026
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A beautiful conclusion to a series I have loved with all my heart for about 9 years now. I first began the Heartstopper webcomic in 2017 and instantly was hooked into Charlie and Nick's world. It has been wonderful watching them and all of the other characters grow over the years. This ending had me tearing up with happiness back when it finished off in April and now as I read it again in the full book. I look forward to seeing what Alice will write next and cannot wait to reread the entire series front to back in the years to come.
Book 95: In These Gilded, Ghostly Hearts
By Gwendolyn Kiste
Read July 9th
Pages: 176
Release Year: 2026
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In These Gilded, Ghostly Hearts is a queer continuation of The Great Gatsby, following Daisy Buchanan's daughter Pamela (Mel) over 30 years after the events of the original novel. Daisy is found dead in Gatsby's mansion, though Mel knows Daisy has been spiraling out of control for years. At Gatsby's estate, she fin's her mother's ghost and tries to figure out how to free her from the house.
The novella has stunning writing which drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked in like the house and its "visitors." Gatsby is one of my favorite novels and I loved seeing where Gwendolyn took this "sequel" of the story. There are many different eerie and creepy scenes which were so good.
Along with Mel, we get some new characters and then many of the characters from the classic including Jordan Baker and Nick Carraway. Nick is my favorite character from the original novel and the author does an incredible job with his characterization in this. The haunted house became a character itself and I loved reading about its hunger. I think it's interesting how grief and guilt are looked at in this novella.
Overall this was a very entertaining read, I highly enjoyed reading as a big fan of The Great Gatsby.
*Thank you to Edelweiss, Creature Publishing, and Gwendolyn Kiste for my ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.* 
Sea of Charms is the third book in The Spellshop series. It follows Marin who we met previously in the series. She is a sailor who does supply runs for people on many of the different islands in the Crescent Islands Empire. After the man she thought was the love of her life betrays her and her family, she is stuck trying to pay back the debt her parents got into because of it. Her crew consists of a sea serpent named Perri and Ree a sailor shrub. While on a routine trip to the capital, she rescues a group of musicians from the Conservatory in Alyssium. One of them is a friend she and Perri had made while delivering supplies. She lets the man, Drax join her crew temporarily. It is a story about finding your crew, family, and yourself.
Sarah Beth Durst has created a world in The Spellshop series that I cannot get enough of. This book was just as great as the others before it. I enjoyed following Marin on her adventures. She goes all over the Crescent Islands Empire meeting all sorts of people but her life is a lonely one. My favorite part of this story was the bond she forms with her crew: Perri, Ree, and Drax. Found family is my favorite trope in a story and I loved seeing the dynamic they formed while sailing.
The book was also full of the love of music. Drax is a prodigy musician who has lived his life being told what he was supposed to do in the Conservatory. Marin gives him a chance to live a different life on the sea with her crew. I love how she was so insistent on him being able to make the decisions he wanted to no matter what, even if it could go against what she wanted most. He has a deep passion for music but also for stories. It was so fun hearing some of the stories Marin would tell.
I enjoyed the connections to The Spellshop and The Enchanted Greenhouse throughout this book. You don't have to have read those books to read this one, but I believe it is more enjoyable if you have. Caitlin Davies did an incredible job again with this audiobook. She embodies the characters' voices very well and she creates a cozy atmosphere with her narration style.
Sea of Charms is a great little escape with a cozy world I love visiting with each subsequent novel. I look forward to the fourth book which comes out in January 2027 called The Magical Cheese Emporium. Sarah Beth Durst is one of the best at creating cozy fantasy stories in my opinion. I don't think I will ever get enough of her books and I cannot wait to add this to my collection.
*Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Sarah Beth Durst for my ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.* 
A wonderful collection of cozy academia short stories perfect for fans of fantasy, science fiction, mystery, and a little bit of horror. It is a heartwarming set of stories that I had a great time reading. Definitely everything I wanted it to be. Below, I have listed each of the stories with my star rating and some thoughts on them.
July 18th, 2026 reread: 
July 19th-20th, 2026 reread:
This series is so great. Oh my gosh the end of this one always gets me. Definitely the best volume from the first four.
February 19th, 2023 reread:
I had such a fun time this time around rereading this book and the rest of the series. Cannot wait for Volume 5. Not too long now!
July 14th, 2021 review:
This series keeps getting better and better. I love the pop culture references, humor, and storylines. These books are just so entertaining and fun. Can't wait for it to continue on. 
July 21st, 2026 reread:
I highly enjoyed revisiting this volume and I'm glad I did before picking up Volume 7. There is a lot of important story beats for Taako, Magnus, Merle, the Bureau, and the Director. So much is finally revealed here.
The Suffering Game has a good amount of the humor The Adventure Zone usually has but there are many more emotional scenes along with them. Volume 5 had a good amount of backstory for our main characters and this one continues on from there. I really love Merle, Magnus, and Taako's story so much. I'm looking forward to finally getting to their final adventure very soon.
May 27th, 2024 ARC review:
The Suffering Game was my most anticipated book of 2024. I was lucky enough to get to read it a couple of months early thanks to the publisher. I’ve been eagerly waiting for this volume ever since The Eleventh Hour came out last year and it was well worth the wait. This still has some of the humor of the other volumes but is getting much more heavy hitting. We found out a lot about the Bureau, the Director, and what is actually going on.
Taako, Magnus, and Merle travel into a game called Wonderland, which is a carnival of torments. They are trying to win the next of the Grand Relics, the Animus Bell. The Director has sent them there to retrieve it and has also warned them of the dangers of Wonderland. To get further in the games, they have to each give up something important to them or part of themselves.
This was a great volume in this series and I cannot wait to see what will occur in the next arc. Taako, Magnus, Merle, and the rest of the characters in this series are dynamic and I love learning more about them with each story. The McElroys have done an incredible job with this series. Every time I read another one of the graphic novels, I want to listen to the podcast. Also, these books are stunning to look at along with reading them. I highly recommend The Adventure Zone graphic novels.
*Thank you very much to the publisher and Netgalley for my ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. * 
The Way It Haunted Him is a dark romance with some horror elements. The story is full of grief and guilt. There are many creepy elements but I would not say it ever went full on horror. It for the most part feels more gothic with fantasy and some horror.
The major focus of the story is the growing relationship between Michael and Jacob. Michael is dealing with his grief after losing his boyfriend and guilt because he blames himself for what happened. He goes to the archive in hopes of finishing his boyfriend's research. When arriving there, he feels an instant attraction to the man now running it after the death of his grandfather, the previous owner. Michael gets involved with Jacob as he tries to research.
I would recommend going into this book knowing it is a dark fantasy romance with very morally grey characters. Also, look into the trigger warnings because they are extensive, (view spoiler) This is very much a story of obsession and instalust/love with dark elements.
Andrew Gibson did a great job narrating from Michael's perspective. I enjoy how he also helped create the atmosphere of the story. Definitely, a narrator I would pick up more audiobooks from.
This book was all over the place for me. I like the atmosphere of the Schechter Institute where the archive is. The entire eerie feeling surrounding it and the gothic aspects really drew me in. They were what kept me wanting to continue the story so I could find out everything going on in the Institute. Also, I enjoyed learning a bit about the Jewish folklore throughout, which was very interesting.
I was not a fan of the romance though, especially how it started it. There were many scenes involving the relationship that pulled me out of the story. Andrew Gibson's narration was what kept me wanting to continue on past it. Then, the ending really disappointed me. Overall, I'm not upset I listened to it, but it wasn't what I wanted.
*Thank you to RBmedia, Dreamscape Media, and Laura R. Samotin for my audio review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.* 
A wonderful conclusion to one of my favorite graphic novel series. I love how this wrapped up the entire series and learning even more about everybody's pasts. It has been great following along with Merle, Taako, and Magnus all these years and I look forward to revisiting this series in the future. I definitely will be listening to the podcast now.
The artwork was as stunning as ever. I cannot wait to get a copy of this for my collection sometime soon and to see it finally in person. It will look great along with the other six. 
One of the most beautiful books I have read in a long time. This one hit me hard many different times throughout.
It is told entirely through letters and emails, correspondences between Sybil and many different people. She writes letters to family, friends, authors whose books she has read, customer service people, etc. You learn so much about Sybil from her letters and her story is endearing. She is a stubborn woman mostly set in her ways trying to navigate life in her later (winter, as she would call them) years. Along with dealing with terrible grief and guilt.
I loved getting to know each of the characters through their writing in the letters. Their voices were each distinct. This was a tandem read for me where I listened with the audio book and read along with the physical book. I highly recommend both. The narrators were phenomenal, especially Sybil's.
Also, I enjoyed how important letter writing was to Sybil throughout her life and learning the reasons why. It had me thinking about my own life and family. Epistolary novels have always been favorites for me and this was one of the absolute best I have ever found. Virginia Evans is an incredibly talented writer and I look forward to picking up anything else she writes.
One of the only books which had me full on crying this year. It really touched my heart. I loved Sybil's story and look forward to revisiting it in years to come. I'm grateful to have picked this book up and cannot recommend it enough. If you read one book this year, pick this up. It is that great. 
The novella has stunning writing which drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked in like the house and its "visitors." Gatsby is one of my favorite novels and I loved seeing where Gwendolyn took this "sequel" of the story. There are many different eerie and creepy scenes which were so good.
Along with Mel, we get some new characters and then many of the characters from the classic including Jordan Baker and Nick Carraway. Nick is my favorite character from the original novel and the author does an incredible job with his characterization in this. The haunted house became a character itself and I loved reading about its hunger. I think it's interesting how grief and guilt are looked at in this novella.
Overall this was a very entertaining read, I highly enjoyed reading as a big fan of The Great Gatsby.
*Thank you to Edelweiss, Creature Publishing, and Gwendolyn Kiste for my ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.*
Book 96: Something Rotten
(Thursday Next, #4)
By Jasper Fforde
Read July 12th-13th
Pages: 393
Release Year: 2004
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If you haven't picked up The Thursday Next series, I highly recommend doing so.
Something Rotten is the best of the series by far. I enjoyed this hilarious adventure with Thursday. It had me laughing so much throughout the entire story and emotional in other parts. My goodness the ending of this book was absolute perfection.
The literary jokes were great as always especially the use of the footnotes, lorem ipsum, Old English, and Courier Bold. Jasper Fforde's writing is incredibly clever and perfect for book lovers. This is a brilliant book. I cannot wait to pick up the fifth book.
Something Rotten is the best of the series by far. I enjoyed this hilarious adventure with Thursday. It had me laughing so much throughout the entire story and emotional in other parts. My goodness the ending of this book was absolute perfection.
The literary jokes were great as always especially the use of the footnotes, lorem ipsum, Old English, and Courier Bold. Jasper Fforde's writing is incredibly clever and perfect for book lovers. This is a brilliant book. I cannot wait to pick up the fifth book.
One of my favorite quotes from the novel:
" 'Pleased to meet you. I'm Mrs. Next. Thursday's mother.''I have a mother,' replied Hamlet gloomily as he bowed politely and kissed my mother's hand. 'She shares my uncle's bed.''They should buy another one in that case,' my mother replied, practical as ever. 'They do a very good deal at IKEA, I'm told. Don't use it myself because I don't like all that self-assembly...' " - from Chapter 2: No Place Like HomeThis had me laughing so hard. I loved Hamlet in this book.
Book 97: Sea of Charms
(Spellshop, #3)
By Sarah Beth Durst
Read July 13th-15th
Pages: 369
Release Year: 2026
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Sarah Beth Durst has created a world in The Spellshop series that I cannot get enough of. This book was just as great as the others before it. I enjoyed following Marin on her adventures. She goes all over the Crescent Islands Empire meeting all sorts of people but her life is a lonely one. My favorite part of this story was the bond she forms with her crew: Perri, Ree, and Drax. Found family is my favorite trope in a story and I loved seeing the dynamic they formed while sailing.
The book was also full of the love of music. Drax is a prodigy musician who has lived his life being told what he was supposed to do in the Conservatory. Marin gives him a chance to live a different life on the sea with her crew. I love how she was so insistent on him being able to make the decisions he wanted to no matter what, even if it could go against what she wanted most. He has a deep passion for music but also for stories. It was so fun hearing some of the stories Marin would tell.
I enjoyed the connections to The Spellshop and The Enchanted Greenhouse throughout this book. You don't have to have read those books to read this one, but I believe it is more enjoyable if you have. Caitlin Davies did an incredible job again with this audiobook. She embodies the characters' voices very well and she creates a cozy atmosphere with her narration style.
Sea of Charms is a great little escape with a cozy world I love visiting with each subsequent novel. I look forward to the fourth book which comes out in January 2027 called The Magical Cheese Emporium. Sarah Beth Durst is one of the best at creating cozy fantasy stories in my opinion. I don't think I will ever get enough of her books and I cannot wait to add this to my collection.
*Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Sarah Beth Durst for my ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.*
Book 98: The Stranger in the Lifeboat
By Mitch Albom
Read July 16th
Pages: 271
Release Year: 2021
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Another beautiful book from Mitch Albom. I love how he chooses to tell his stories where you get various pieces of the narrative as the novel goes on. This novel had sections called The Sea, The Land, and then The News.
The Sea follows the journal entries of a one of the survivors of the explosion of a yacht called the Galaxy and them trying to survive on a lifeboat. The Land follows an investigator who about a year after the terrible events on the yacht is shown the washed up lifeboat and finds the journal of Benji. Then there are also News reports throughout the entire novel.
The Stranger in the Lifeboat tells a insightful story that touched my heart. It went in directions I was not expecting and I highly enjoyed my time with it. Mitch Albom has a one of a kind writing style that I have always loved.
The Sea follows the journal entries of a one of the survivors of the explosion of a yacht called the Galaxy and them trying to survive on a lifeboat. The Land follows an investigator who about a year after the terrible events on the yacht is shown the washed up lifeboat and finds the journal of Benji. Then there are also News reports throughout the entire novel.
The Stranger in the Lifeboat tells a insightful story that touched my heart. It went in directions I was not expecting and I highly enjoyed my time with it. Mitch Albom has a one of a kind writing style that I have always loved.
Book 99: Scholarly Pursuits: A Queer
Anthology of Cozy Academia Stories
Edited by Nina Waters
Read July 9th-17th
Pages: 350
Release Year: 2025
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~ "Courtship by Marginalia" by Eliza J. Fitzwilliam: 5 stars- Love the time travel aspects of this story.
~ "The Case Of The Lost Grimoire" by Robin S. Blackwood: 4 stars- Fun cozy fantasy mystery set in a library
~ "What We Call Ourselves" by Lyonel Loy: 3.5 stars- Interesting take on a ghost story
~ "Beautiful and True" by Mare Griffen: 4 stars- This one made me think of The Last Unicorn a bit.
~ "Living Legends" by Nicola Kapron: 5 stars- My favorite from the collection so far. I love this look at immorality with both the positive and negative aspects of it. Such a great story!
"It's comfortable and clearly intended as book storage first, home second."- A person after my own heart
"All these centuries, and the world has never been more beautiful than when we're together."- Aww
~ "Writ of Evocation" by D.E Towry: 4 stars- Another great story set mostly in a library. I liked getting to know Iovene and Dzemnayth.
~ "Belonging" by Sven: 4 stars- Cute story and a nice start to a friendship.
~ "Field Research" by Dei Walker: 3.5 stars
~ "Cat In The Library" by Bettina Juszak: 5 stars- Such a great story. I only wish there was more to it.
~ "Some Strange Alchemy" by Rhosyn Goodfellow: 4 stars- I enjoyed reading about Zinnia and Evren working together. Also, the use of misunderstanding worked well for this story.
~ "Fair Winds and Fortune" by Maggie Page: 4 stars- So sweet! Would love to see more of this world and the characters.
~ "C8H10N4O2" by Mina Kramek: 3 stars- I didn't love this one.
~ "Life Cycles of Leaf Sprites" by Zel Howland: 3.5 stars- I like how this was written in journal entries.
~ "Queenright" by Lee Pini: 4 stars- Loved this. A great use of mistaken identity.
~ "Partnered Up" by Cassia King: 4 stars- I highly enjoyed getting to know these two characters in this little story.
~ "Late or Never" by E.V Dean: 4 stars- Love how this focused on an older woman going back to school to get an education.
~ "Clockwork Warmth" by Jessica Mason: 5 stars- My favorite from the collection. I love this clockwork story so very much.
~ "A Curatorial Puzzle of the Heart" by Robin Huntington: 5 stars- Another favorite from the collection. Such a sweet story and I loved the puzzle solving aspects
~ "Family Meal" by Shannon Lippert: 3.5 stars- I like this little story
~ "Historians" by Indigo J.H.: 3 stars- A good story with ghosts.
~ "Escape the Stacks" by Vee Sloane: 3.5 stars- A fun story where the characters try to escape
~ "Caffeine and the Unsleeping" by Lucy K.R: 5 stars- I love this one so much! Such an interesting writing style. Great cozy take on a vampire story. I want to read more like it.
My favorites from the collection are: "A Clockwork Warmth," "Living Legends," "Caffeine and the Unsleeping," "Courtship by Marginalia," and "The Cat in the Library."
Book 100: The Adventure Zone Vol.1:
Here There Be Gerblins
By Clint McElroy, Griffin McElroy, Justin McElroy, Travis McElroy, and illustrated by Carey Pietsch
Read July 18th
Pages: 256
Release Year: 2018
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July 18th, 2026 reread:
I'm doing a final reread of the entire series before I read Volume 7. Had such a fun time again with this graphic novel, especially after knowing what happens later on. The McElroys' story is great and Carey Pietsch's illustrations are stunning. I still have to listen to the podcast.
February 17th, 2023 reread:
I had such a fun time this time around rereading this book and the rest of the series. Cannot wait for Volume 5.
May 6th, 2020 review:
So funny, love the pop culture references throughout, especially the music. This was a fun little adventure.
I'm doing a final reread of the entire series before I read Volume 7. Had such a fun time again with this graphic novel, especially after knowing what happens later on. The McElroys' story is great and Carey Pietsch's illustrations are stunning. I still have to listen to the podcast.
February 17th, 2023 reread:
I had such a fun time this time around rereading this book and the rest of the series. Cannot wait for Volume 5.
May 6th, 2020 review:
So funny, love the pop culture references throughout, especially the music. This was a fun little adventure.
Book 101: The Adventure Zone Vol. 2:
Murder on the Rockport Limited!
By Clint McElroy, Griffin McElroy, Justin McElroy, Travis McElroy, and illustrated by Carey Pietsch
Read July 18th
Pages: 219
Release Year: 2019
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I enjoy the mystery in this one and love the references throughout. Many of them had me chuckling especially the one for "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" by the Proclaimers.
February 18th, 2023 reread:
I had such a fun time this time around rereading this book and the rest of the series. Cannot wait for Volume 5. I definitely, have to check out the podcast sometime.
May 7th, 2020 review:
Loved this mystery and was not expecting some of the plot. These graphic novels are very enjoyable and make me really want to listen to the podcast. I can't wait to see where the next one takes our adventurers.
February 18th, 2023 reread:
I had such a fun time this time around rereading this book and the rest of the series. Cannot wait for Volume 5. I definitely, have to check out the podcast sometime.
May 7th, 2020 review:
Loved this mystery and was not expecting some of the plot. These graphic novels are very enjoyable and make me really want to listen to the podcast. I can't wait to see where the next one takes our adventurers.
Book 102: The Adventure Zone Vol. 3:
Petals to the Metal
By Clint McElroy, Griffin McElroy, Justin McElroy, Travis McElroy, and illustrated by Carey Pietsch
Read July 19th
Pages: 272
Release Year: 2020
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July 19th, 2026 reread:
Loved the racing aspects of this story and absolutely loved the romance in this one again. So sweet, especially that ending. I'm having such a wonderful time revisiting these again.
February 19th, 2023 reread:
I had such a fun time this time around rereading this book and the rest of the series. Cannot wait for Volume 5. Really, enjoyed the romance again in this one. It was so adorable.
July 15th, 2020 review:
Love the humor, the pop culture references (especially "Grease Lightning"), and the little recap of the last book at the beginning. These graphic novels are definitely some of the funniest. I also really loved the little bit of romance in this one.
Loved the racing aspects of this story and absolutely loved the romance in this one again. So sweet, especially that ending. I'm having such a wonderful time revisiting these again.
February 19th, 2023 reread:
I had such a fun time this time around rereading this book and the rest of the series. Cannot wait for Volume 5. Really, enjoyed the romance again in this one. It was so adorable.
July 15th, 2020 review:
Love the humor, the pop culture references (especially "Grease Lightning"), and the little recap of the last book at the beginning. These graphic novels are definitely some of the funniest. I also really loved the little bit of romance in this one.
Book 103: The Adventure Zone Vol. 4:
The Crystal Kingdom
By Clint McElroy, Griffin McElroy, Justin McElroy, Travis McElroy, and illustrated by Carey Pietsch
Read July 19th-20th
Pages: 272
Release Year: 2021
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This series is so great. Oh my gosh the end of this one always gets me. Definitely the best volume from the first four.
February 19th, 2023 reread:
I had such a fun time this time around rereading this book and the rest of the series. Cannot wait for Volume 5. Not too long now!
July 14th, 2021 review:
This series keeps getting better and better. I love the pop culture references, humor, and storylines. These books are just so entertaining and fun. Can't wait for it to continue on.
Book 104: The Adventure Zone, Vol. 5:
The Eleventh Hour
By Clint McElroy, Griffin McElroy, Justin McElroy, Travis McElroy, and illustrated by Carey Pietsch
Read July 20th
Pages: 352
Release Year: 2023
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July 20th, 2026 reread:
Volume 5 was even better the second time around. I really love the development for Taako, Magnus, and Merle during this adventure. So cleverly done. This does a great job of having the heartfelt moments along with the humor. Also, Carey Pietsch's illustrations are as beautiful as ever. I especially love her full page spreads throughout this one. Stunning!
February 24th, 2023 review:
This was by far the best book in the series. I loved the time loop aspects in the book and how they played with that for humor. Also, it was great seeing Magnus, Merle, and Taako's backstories and learning a bit more about them. The humor is always great but the heartfelt aspects were some of the best parts of this volume. Like always the artwork was stunning and I loved the Previously on section at the beginning.
Volume 5 was even better the second time around. I really love the development for Taako, Magnus, and Merle during this adventure. So cleverly done. This does a great job of having the heartfelt moments along with the humor. Also, Carey Pietsch's illustrations are as beautiful as ever. I especially love her full page spreads throughout this one. Stunning!
February 24th, 2023 review:
This was by far the best book in the series. I loved the time loop aspects in the book and how they played with that for humor. Also, it was great seeing Magnus, Merle, and Taako's backstories and learning a bit more about them. The humor is always great but the heartfelt aspects were some of the best parts of this volume. Like always the artwork was stunning and I loved the Previously on section at the beginning.
Book 105: The Adventure Zone, Vol. 6:
The Suffering Game
By Clint McElroy, Griffin McElroy, Justin McElroy, Travis McElroy, and illustrated by Carey Pietsch
Read July 21st
Pages: 272
Release Year: 2024
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I highly enjoyed revisiting this volume and I'm glad I did before picking up Volume 7. There is a lot of important story beats for Taako, Magnus, Merle, the Bureau, and the Director. So much is finally revealed here.
The Suffering Game has a good amount of the humor The Adventure Zone usually has but there are many more emotional scenes along with them. Volume 5 had a good amount of backstory for our main characters and this one continues on from there. I really love Merle, Magnus, and Taako's story so much. I'm looking forward to finally getting to their final adventure very soon.
May 27th, 2024 ARC review:
The Suffering Game was my most anticipated book of 2024. I was lucky enough to get to read it a couple of months early thanks to the publisher. I’ve been eagerly waiting for this volume ever since The Eleventh Hour came out last year and it was well worth the wait. This still has some of the humor of the other volumes but is getting much more heavy hitting. We found out a lot about the Bureau, the Director, and what is actually going on.
Taako, Magnus, and Merle travel into a game called Wonderland, which is a carnival of torments. They are trying to win the next of the Grand Relics, the Animus Bell. The Director has sent them there to retrieve it and has also warned them of the dangers of Wonderland. To get further in the games, they have to each give up something important to them or part of themselves.
This was a great volume in this series and I cannot wait to see what will occur in the next arc. Taako, Magnus, Merle, and the rest of the characters in this series are dynamic and I love learning more about them with each story. The McElroys have done an incredible job with this series. Every time I read another one of the graphic novels, I want to listen to the podcast. Also, these books are stunning to look at along with reading them. I highly recommend The Adventure Zone graphic novels.
*Thank you very much to the publisher and Netgalley for my ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. *
Book 106: D'ORC Volume 1:
The Book of Certain Doom
By Brett Bean
Read July 21st
Pages: 128
Release Year: 2026
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D'ORC has a humor similar to what I have found in the I Hate Fairyland comics, though the story is uniquely Brett Bean's own. I enjoyed the idea of the prophecy causing everyone to believe D'orc is the one meant to bring upon the end of the world and seeing what their blame causes.
The sentient/possessed shield and the ghost of the head of a chicken were clever ideas for companions who brought a lot of humorous scenes. I like how the shield is a play on the talking sword trope and how it is blood thirsty. The ghost chicken head was an interesting take on the animal sidekick. Some of it's scenes were so funny.
There are many powerful messages throughout this volume such as don't blindly judge someone you don't know just because you are told to. It was interesting to see how Brett Bean used these messages in this oftentimes absurd and funny fantasy story.
I have loved Brett Bean's artwork for years in the I Hate Fairyland series and I was looking forward to what he would bring in his own adventure. His illustrations are great as always. I loved the map. D'orc's story is a fun one that I look forward to getting more of it in future volumes.
*Thank you to Image Comics, NetGalley, and Brett Bean for my ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.*
The sentient/possessed shield and the ghost of the head of a chicken were clever ideas for companions who brought a lot of humorous scenes. I like how the shield is a play on the talking sword trope and how it is blood thirsty. The ghost chicken head was an interesting take on the animal sidekick. Some of it's scenes were so funny.
There are many powerful messages throughout this volume such as don't blindly judge someone you don't know just because you are told to. It was interesting to see how Brett Bean used these messages in this oftentimes absurd and funny fantasy story.
I have loved Brett Bean's artwork for years in the I Hate Fairyland series and I was looking forward to what he would bring in his own adventure. His illustrations are great as always. I loved the map. D'orc's story is a fun one that I look forward to getting more of it in future volumes.
*Thank you to Image Comics, NetGalley, and Brett Bean for my ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.*
Book 107: The Way It Haunted Him
By Laura R. Samotin
Read July 22nd
Pages: 320
Release Year: 2026
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The major focus of the story is the growing relationship between Michael and Jacob. Michael is dealing with his grief after losing his boyfriend and guilt because he blames himself for what happened. He goes to the archive in hopes of finishing his boyfriend's research. When arriving there, he feels an instant attraction to the man now running it after the death of his grandfather, the previous owner. Michael gets involved with Jacob as he tries to research.
I would recommend going into this book knowing it is a dark fantasy romance with very morally grey characters. Also, look into the trigger warnings because they are extensive, (view spoiler) This is very much a story of obsession and instalust/love with dark elements.
Andrew Gibson did a great job narrating from Michael's perspective. I enjoy how he also helped create the atmosphere of the story. Definitely, a narrator I would pick up more audiobooks from.
This book was all over the place for me. I like the atmosphere of the Schechter Institute where the archive is. The entire eerie feeling surrounding it and the gothic aspects really drew me in. They were what kept me wanting to continue the story so I could find out everything going on in the Institute. Also, I enjoyed learning a bit about the Jewish folklore throughout, which was very interesting.
I was not a fan of the romance though, especially how it started it. There were many scenes involving the relationship that pulled me out of the story. Andrew Gibson's narration was what kept me wanting to continue on past it. Then, the ending really disappointed me. Overall, I'm not upset I listened to it, but it wasn't what I wanted.
*Thank you to RBmedia, Dreamscape Media, and Laura R. Samotin for my audio review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.*
Book 108: This Is a Door
By Daniel Nayeri
Read July 23rd-25th
Pages: 400
Release Year: 2026
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This Is a Door by Daniel Nayeri was a great middle grade novel told in verse. I loved the author's note at the end of the book where he explains his process of writing the story. He created a story based on the writing structure of the hero's journey but changed it a bit to fit Nothing's journey. Each chapter goes along with a part of the structure.
Daniel Nayeri describes the book as an illustrated novel without pictures, which is the perfect description of this book. The shape of the verses change to fit what is being told on the page such as into different shapes, twisting around the pages, and even changing size. It was one of the most inventive ways I have ever seen a book written and I highly recommend this for younger readers and for the older readers who still enjoy these types of stories. If you do choose to pick it up, the print copy would probably be your best option. The formatting doesn't translate as well into an ebook.
*Thank you to Stonefruit Studio, Daniel Nayeri, and NetGalley for my ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.*
Daniel Nayeri describes the book as an illustrated novel without pictures, which is the perfect description of this book. The shape of the verses change to fit what is being told on the page such as into different shapes, twisting around the pages, and even changing size. It was one of the most inventive ways I have ever seen a book written and I highly recommend this for younger readers and for the older readers who still enjoy these types of stories. If you do choose to pick it up, the print copy would probably be your best option. The formatting doesn't translate as well into an ebook.
*Thank you to Stonefruit Studio, Daniel Nayeri, and NetGalley for my ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.*
Book 109: The Adventure Zone Vol. 7:
Story and Song
By Clint McElroy, Griffin McElroy, Justin McElroy, Travis McElroy, and illustrated by Carey Pietsch
Read July 26th-27th
Pages: 416
Release Year: 2026
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The artwork was as stunning as ever. I cannot wait to get a copy of this for my collection sometime soon and to see it finally in person. It will look great along with the other six.
Book 110: Walt Disney's Alice in Wonderland (The Making of a Masterpiece)
By Taschen
Read July 28th
Pages: 64
Release Year: 2021
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I decided to read this book today for the 75th Anniversary of Alice in Wonderland. It is a detailed look into the making of the movie and what Walt Disney went through to make it come about. I highly enjoyed the beautiful artwork and getting to see even more of the concept art.
Book 111: The Correspondent
By Virginia Evans
Read July 28th-29th
Pages: 285
Release Year: 2025
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It is told entirely through letters and emails, correspondences between Sybil and many different people. She writes letters to family, friends, authors whose books she has read, customer service people, etc. You learn so much about Sybil from her letters and her story is endearing. She is a stubborn woman mostly set in her ways trying to navigate life in her later (winter, as she would call them) years. Along with dealing with terrible grief and guilt.
I loved getting to know each of the characters through their writing in the letters. Their voices were each distinct. This was a tandem read for me where I listened with the audio book and read along with the physical book. I highly recommend both. The narrators were phenomenal, especially Sybil's.
Also, I enjoyed how important letter writing was to Sybil throughout her life and learning the reasons why. It had me thinking about my own life and family. Epistolary novels have always been favorites for me and this was one of the absolute best I have ever found. Virginia Evans is an incredibly talented writer and I look forward to picking up anything else she writes.
One of the only books which had me full on crying this year. It really touched my heart. I loved Sybil's story and look forward to revisiting it in years to come. I'm grateful to have picked this book up and cannot recommend it enough. If you read one book this year, pick this up. It is that great.
Book 112: Spider-Man: Mighty Mayhem!
(A Mighty Marvel Team-Up #4)
By Mike Maihack
Read July 30th
Pages: 96
Release Year: 2026
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Another fun adventure in the A Mighty Marvel Team-Up series, this time with Spidey teaming up with Thor who has been transformed into a tiny frog. Spider-Man and Thor travel through the nine realms to help the other Asgardians who have been transformed into animals and objects such as ice cream. I enjoyed seeing the different realms in Mike Maihack's illustration style. This book was silly, charming, and just as much fun as the others in the series.