dearrivarie

Hello there! It has been too long since I've typed the words "top ten tuesday" into a search engine but in light of trying to tap back into my blogging roots I'm setting up a fall tbr for this week's prompt. Keep in mind that we're almost done with September and at the moment of draft this post, I have not actually finished anything so this is a tbr in the absolute loosest definition of a tbr.

covers are affiliate links that, when used to purchase, gives me a small commission to support my blog at no extra cost to you!

one for my enemy by olivie blake
A retelling of Romeo and Juliet set in Manhattan and involving rival witch families, I've had One for My Enemy on my shelves for years at this point. There's just something so atmospheric about Olivie Blake's writing that reminds me of the crisp fall air as well. I'm about 100 pages through with this one and so far I'm definitely invested.

mistress of lies by k. m. enright
To be honest, I don't know too much about this other than it involves a vampire king, blood magic, or a string of murders that the main character has to solve. I can't remember the last time I read a vampire novel so this one will feel like a throwback to the 2010s paranormal books I used to binge read.

a sorceress comes to call by t. kingfisher
T. Kingfisher has become synonymous with fall in my mind because her books always contain an atmosphere that feels slightly haunted. A Sorceress Comes to Call is a retelling of The Goose Girl which I'm not super familiar with but I love a good spin on a classic fairytale.

covers are affiliate links that, when used to purchase, gives me a small commission to support my blog at no extra cost to you!

bunny by mona awad
Another novel I've had on my shelves for years, Bunny has been this enigma for me because of how polarizing its reviews are. All I know about the premise is that it follows a girl who finds herself entangled with a group calling themselves the Bunnies and madness ensues.

house of hollow by krystal sutherland
I am a huge sucker for eerily unsettling faerie stories and this has been on the top of my tbr for a while but I keep putting it off to wait for the "right time." Following a group of sisters who disappeared as children and reappeared slightly magical as years later one of them disappears again.

juniper and thorn by ava reid
As an Ava Reid stan, I'm a little ashamed to admit that I haven't read Juniper and Thorn but again, I was just waiting for the fall to arrive. A gothic horror retelling of the Juniper Tree, I've heard that this delves into some darker topics as the main character discovers her identity beyond the traumas that life has inflicted upon her.

she is a haunting by trang thanh tran
I picked this up from a bookstore in Boston last year because if there's one bookish concept I'll always love, it'll be a creepy house. This follows a girl who returns to Vietnam to spend the summer with her estranged father and finds out that the house seems to come alive, warping and blending reality with the supernatural.

covers are affiliate links that, when used to purchase, gives me a small commission to support my blog at no extra cost to you!

us against the likes by marie voinson
If you've been part of the blogging world, Marie from Drizzle and Hurricane Books is a name that might sound familiar. Probably one of the first book bloggers I remember following, I'm so excited for her debut. The story centers around a young girl on a journey to discover her identity amongst her social media presence as a travel influencer and the impact that social media has on one's mental health when chasing after the internet's validation.

a song to drown rivers by ann liang
This book may just win one of the prettiest designs of 2024 and is quite possibly one of my most anticipated releases of the year. The only reason I haven't dived into the e-arc is because I'm scared...everyone I know who has already read this has spoken of emotional trauma you'll feel and my sister, who has finished her arc, cried twice. Needless to say, I'm a little intimidated but also excited to read something that'll wreck me.

one dark window by rachel gillig
I've had this duology on my tbr for a while now especially after hearing Leonie from The Book Leo talk about it in a wrap up. All I can remember of the synopsis is that if follows a girl who has a monster inside of her and the magic system is based off a deck of cards. The writing is also supposed to be incredibly atmospheric which will be perfect for this time of year.

I'm going to do my best to be present and accountable at least on this platform and start to build a routine that is sustainable in the long run. It honestly makes me a little sad to see that I've written less than 10 posts this entire year so hopefully I can remedy that and close off 2024 strong. Let me know what books you're planning on reading this fall!

8:00 AM 16 Comments

Hello there! Like many others, the minute September rolled around I was ready to dive into the eerie atmospheric books that I've been saving on my shelves all year. I was a bit impatient and started a few reads back in August but that just means I can start off the spooky season with two recommendations that I thoroughly enjoyed and think fit the upcoming chilling temperatures perfectly!

pages: 384 | source: arc/gifted from publisher
publication date: August 27th, 2024
genre: young adult,
rating: 7/10

B O O K S H O P * | G O O D R E A D S | S T O R Y G R A P H
links with an (*) are affiliate where, when used to purchase gives me a small commission to support my blog at no extra cost to you!

If there's one plot element that will always pique my interest, it's a creepy house that's tied with layers and layers of family secrets. For someone who is quite a scaredy-cat and has too much anxiety over fictional characters, The Lies of Alma Blackwell had me holding my breath and looking over my shoulder while I binged-read this into the night.

Set in a small coastal town with a tragic history and vengeful ghosts, we're introduced to Nev who is preparing to take over the role as the town's anchor with her grandmother's health quickly declining. The role, which should have passed to her mother before her disappearance, allows Nev to protect the town from the malicious spirits with a thirst for blood and revenge after their untimely demise generations ago. However, the appearance of a newcomer reveals a series of memories that leave Nev questioning everything she knows about her family's legacy and the woman who sacrificed so much to protect the town.

Amanda Glaze creates a perfectly haunting seaside town where the morbid death of a train full of innocents is turned into a tourist attraction. The real secret underlying the idealistic vacation stop is that the spirits are still around and they are still very angry. As Nev unravels the different layers of secrets surrounding her family's roles in the tragedy, she finds a different story centering around jealousy, greed, and a desperate sacrifice to protect one's love. I was incredibly hooked from the moment we're introduced to Nev and loved her budding relationship with Cal as they begin to dig into her family's history.

Truly atmospheric and suitable for the upcoming spooky season, The Lies of Alma Blackwell is the right amount of eerie that'll keep you second guessing if the wind blowing through the trees is real or the anguished cry of a wronged spirit.

huge thanks to Union Square & Co. Publishing for sending me a physical ARC to review - all thoughts shared are my own honest opinion!

favorite line: It ends with you. It all ends with you.

pages: 295 | source: physical/own
publication date: August 13th, 2024
genre: adult, historical, retelling
rating: 8/10

B O O K S H O P * | G O O D R E A D S | S T O R Y G R A P H
links with an (*) are affiliate where, when used to purchase gives me a small commission to support my blog at no extra cost to you!

Lady Macbeth was one of my most anticipated releases of the year and at this point, I will read absolutely anything that Ava Reid writes. A retelling of Shakespeare's Macbeth, we follow his rise to power as king and the eventual downfall through the eyes of his witch-cursed wife. This was everything I absolutely wanted it to be with its gorgeous writing that made me feel the brutal winds of Scotland in the middle of summer.

Macbeth is a staple in any high school English curriculum and one that I read and found myself incredibly captivated by. The original play depicts the slow descent into madness as political greed and corruption drives the Macbeths insane. In Ava Reid's rendition, Lady Macbeth is a girl sold by her father into marriage. Her desperation to survive leads her to scheme and connive her way around Macbeth's inner circle as she tries to keep herself alive. When she's introduced to the witches that proclaim Macbeth's right to the throne and her husband begins his rampage for power, there's only so much she can do before she's pulled under with him.

Instead of being the object of a man with her name erased in the original play, Ava Reid introduces Roscille and gives her a voice that humanizes a once secondary character who was nothing more than an impatient wife spurring her husband towards his downfall with her greed. Amidst the bleak and chilling scenery of Glamis, Roscille finds strength in her femininity and learns to use her unnatural beauty as a weapon against the oppressive hand of men.

favorite line: A witch needs no invitation, only a way of slipping through the lock.

9:30 AM No Comments

In a silkpunk fantasy world where engineering guilds are created massive warships and an empire invasion lurks in the distance, Of Jade and Dragons is a YA debut that follows a young girl who disguises herself to join a competition in hopes of finding out the truth behind her father's murder.

pages: 466 | source: purchased/own
publication date: June 18th, 2024
genre: young adult, fantasy, steampunk, asian-inspired
rating: 6.1/10

B O O K S H O P * | G O O D R E A D S | S T O R Y G R A P H
links with an (*) are affiliate where, when used to purchase gives me a small commission to support my blog at no extra cost to you!

I've been highly anticipating Of Jade and Dragons ever since seeing the author's pitch on Twitter - I will take a Mulan-inspired fantasy story any day and one set against the backdrop of competition is a setup I've loved before (i.e. Spin the Dawn). Amber Chen creates an incredibly compelling world where the island nation of Antara finds itself on the brink of war as natural resource supplies dwindle and a larger more powerful Empire tests their borders. The hope of victory rests on the infamous Engineers Guild which has always been closed to female applicants.

Upon witnessing her father's murder by an intruder in his workshop, Aihui Ying decides to impersonate her younger brother and follow her father's footsteps to the capital to find some answers. Her journey is conveniently smoother than expected when running into one of the High Commander's sons, the fourth beile Yeyang. With his support, Ying finds herself as one of the applicants to the Guild's grueling trials for an apprenticeship, using this opportunity to further her own quest for revenge.

Despite such a strong premise that should have instantly hooked me, Of Jade and Dragons took me longer than expected to get through. The two main factors that I struggled with were the pacing and Ying herself. For a book that's over 450 pages, the plot meandered throughout the competition. We get glimpses of the stress other candidates experienced, but Ying seemed to flounder through her classes making it difficult to root for her. We were told of her struggles but her successes seemed like a mere stretch for her. It definitely took me a majority of the novel to warm up to her, hence why the plot seemed to drag.

The story does take an interesting twist once secrets about the guild and High Commander's ambitions are revealed. It's a classic tale of man's greed for power that seems to be the push Ying needs to become more proactive in her story which in turn allowed her character to grow and mature. The additional elements of "friendly" academic rivalry between Ying and her classmates, Yekan and Chang'an in particular, and the potential romance between Ying and Yeyang were placed more in the background but did add more depth to the story that kept me invested through it all.

While Of Jade and Dragons had a slower start for me, the ending leaves open questions of personal morality, the cost of war, and how forbidden love can survive amid political unrest. We haven't heard much about the sequel yet but I'm hoping the author will continue to expand this world and we'll get to see Ying's journey and character arc continue to flourish.

favorite line: Dreams and nightmares are but two sides of the same coin.

5:34 PM No Comments

Hello there! Today's the release day for Melissa De La Cruz's new rom-com The Five Stages of Courting Dalisay Ramos! A heartfelt and adorable story following an American editor who falls in love with his new Filipino co-worker and discovers there's more to dating than just asking a girl out and he'll have to prove his worthiness by completing the infamous five stages of courting.

I received a physical arc from the publisher in exchange for an honest review - I was not financially compensated for this post and all thoughts are my own .

pages: 304 | source: arc/gifted from publisher
publication date: July 9th, 2024
genre: adult, romance
rating: 5.3/10

B O O K S H O P * | G O O D R E A D S | S T O R Y G R A P H
links with an (*) are affiliate where, when used to purchase gives me a small commission to support my blog at no extra cost to you!

I received a physical arc from the publisher in exchange for an honest review - I was not financially compensated for this post and all thoughts are my own .

It's been a while since I've picked up a feel good rom-com and The Five Stages delivers it all from swoon-worthy displays of love to intimate conversations about exploring and understanding different generational and cultural traditions. Evan and Dalisay had an instant attraction catalyst to their relationship that quickly ends with Dalisay firmly turning Evan down. Not so easily deterred, Evan finds out that Dalisay wants to be woo'd through the traditional five stages: teasing of friends, gift exchanges, etc.

The premise itself is perfect for the summer time especially with all the grand gestures and different lengths that Evan goes in order to prove his dedication and devotion. As the five stages unfold, Evan and Dalisay's attraction easily blossoms into something more. My only gripe would be the pacing of the chemistry, for lack of a better way to describe it. The first 150 pages or so was focused on setting up the characters and their backgrounds which left me feeling a little disconnected from the romance that we as readers are meant to be rooting for. Everything felt surface-level which could be attributed to the characters themselves not knowing too much about each other and just going through the motions of the five stages.

As the characters began to become more developed on page to the reader and to each other, it was a lot easier to root for Dalisay and Evan. From navigating their newly confessed feelings to the challenges of reconciling cultural and generational differences, the latter half of the novel flowed a lot more smoothly. The Five Stages of Courting Dalisay Ramos offers a sweet glimpse of a beloved Filipino tradition that places a lot of value on properly expressing one's romantic intention. I appreciated the conversations surrounding interracial relationships, generational expectations, and exploring one's identity through love.

huge thanks to Union Square & Co. Publishing for sending me a physical ARC to review - all thoughts shared are my own honest opinion!

favorite line: Maps can tell you a lot, not just about the place charted, but the people who charted it.

8:00 AM No Comments

Hello there! I've been dreadfully MIA this year and now that we're officially in summer mode, I'm finally attempting to kick myself back into shape. My reading has been quite sporadic but in the spirit of rekindling my love for books, blogging, and reviews, here are a handful of recent favorites that I've picked up over the past few months.

pages: 378 | source: netgalley/e-arc
publication date: March 1st, 2023
genre: adult, fantasy, romance
rating: 8.5/10

B O O K S H O P * | G O O D R E A D S | S T O R Y G R A P H
links with an (*) are affiliate where, when used to purchase gives me a small commission to support my blog at no extra cost to you!

I received a digital arc from the publisher on Netgalley - I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts are my own honest opinion.

Pitched for fans of Uprooted and The Bear and the Nightingale, F.M. Aden's venture into adult fantasy is full of fairytale magic and underworldly charm. Zerryn is a girl touched by Death and when her betrothed is possessed by a demon, she offers to go into its mansion to try and free him through exorcism. What she doesn't expect is to become part of a trial against three mythical monstresses for the hand of Erlik Kahn, the king of Death himself.

I genuinely cannot tell you what it is about The Bride of Death but it has quickly become my new hyper fixation because I cannot stop thinking about these characters and rereading my favorite passages. F.M. Aden introduces a world inspired by Turkish mythology that follows Zerryn's descent to the Underworld. We get this traditional character arc of the slightly strange girl who is shunned by the village but who has a heart of gold. As Zerryn battles through the trials of the Underworld, her moral compass is constantly challenged and she struggles to decide which path to take - save her people or save herself.

The slow burn between Zerryn and Erlik had me in an absolute chokehold. They balanced the dynamic of "I hate you but..." so well and their characters mirror each other's journey so well as Zerryn get a bit more monster in her and Erlik gains a bit of humanity himself. While certain tropes and cliches are still present in the plot itself, I was absolutely won over by the characters. This checked all the boxes for me and encapsulates all the gruesome and vicious vibes of a macabre fairytale that I adore.

favorite line: I am immortal Zerryn. Remember that when you decide. He will suffer the loss of you for a lifetime, but I will suffer your loss for many centuries to come.

pages: 368 | source: netgalley/e-arc
publication date: May 14th, 2023
genre: ya, historical fiction
rating: 7.6/10

B O O K S H O P * | G O O D R E A D S | S T O R Y G R A P H
links with an (*) are affiliate where, when used to purchase gives me a small commission to support my blog at no extra cost to you!

I received a digital arc from the publisher on Netgalley - I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts are my own honest opinion.

June Hur has answered the pleas of her readers and delivered quite possibly the sweetest most tender romance I've read all year but set against the bloodiest and most stressful plot. A Crane Among Wolves draws inspiration from the tyrannical rule of King Yeonsangun and the coup that would put an end to his bloodshed. We follow a girl named Iseul whose sister was taken by the king to join his palace concubines. While their relationship had been strained for the past few years, it doesn't stop Iseul from jumping head first into any lead she can to find a way to save her sister which leads to her stumbling on a serial killer case and a coup to overthrow the king.

One of my favorite things about June Hur's novels is the unbelievably chilling atmosphere that really sinks into your bones as your read. The amount of times I actually forgot to breathe because I was so tense with fear and anticipation for what would happen next had me surprised I didn't pass out while reading. As Isuel finds herself wrapped up in conspiracies, she begins to discover that the king's younger brother might become her greatest ally and I truly adored watching their relationship develop. Even though it still left me wanting more, June Hur managed to deliver all the feels, perfect confession lines, and heartbreaking moments that had me wanting to throw something across the room.

With so much of the focus being on the plot and developing romance, some of the side relationships didn't get as much page time. I adored the mentor-mentee relationship between Wonshik and Iseul as well as the friendship that blossoms between Iseul and Yul. It simply highlights the wonderful found family aspect that offers a bit of light and hope into such a bleak and terrible situation. The coup itself also reveals the impossible greed of men and the exploitation of women in the scramble for power which left my heart absolutely aching.

favorite line: You must dance the heavens. So go, daegam,. Go and move the heavens for her.

pages: 166 | source: e-book/own
publication date: May 14th, 2024
genre: adult, novella, mythology
rating: 8.5/10

B O O K S H O P * | G O O D R E A D S | S T O R Y G R A P H
links with an (*) are affiliate where, when used to purchase gives me a small commission to support my blog at no extra cost to you!

I've been anticipating this novella ever since Rachel from A Model Who's Read talked about this in a wrap-up. With the premise surrounding a Holy Order pulling swords of bone from their spine this truly did not disappoint. When Among Crows is a macabre tale shrouded in Polish folklore with a touch of otherworldly that both unsettles you deeply and draws you into the story. We're introduced to matriarchies of monsters from strzygas, to banshees, and zmoras that roam across the world feeding on anger, sorrow, and fear.

Our main character is on a mission to find Baba Yaga because he needs help destroying a member of the Order. In order to to do so, he enlists the help of a zmora cursed with horrific visions in exchange for the promise of a cure. For such a short novella, these characters grew on me so quickly. Veronica Roth manages to flesh out the intricacies of an underground world of mythological creatures that blend themselves into society and each character we meet is given a proper backstory that creates a sense of familiarity, making them easily likable. From the atmospheric prose to the quest itself, When Among Crows has earned the title of my unexpected favorite for the first half of the year.

favorite line: Sacrifice creates a debt, and there's nothing magic likes better than the great hollow of a debt.

I've truly let this review corner sit for far too long in the drafts but I'm excited to finally share my thoughts on these books. Please let me know what books you've been reading and loving so far!