June was our best reading month of 2025 so far, with our first LitRPG landing at the top as our favorite read of the year, a reread that still holds strong as a six-star favorite, and a book that kicked off a 25-book binge-worthy journey, truly one of our best reading choices to date.
Read on to see everything we finished in June and take a peek at what’s on our July TBR!
Books We Finished in June📚
And here I thought May was a good month, when in reality, June ended up being our favorite reading month of 2025 so far. It was a month packed with romantasy and LitRPG reads, plus some much-needed progress on the pile of ARCs that have been begging for attention.
Oh, and let’s not forget the surprise impulse pick that completely set our TBR on fire for the rest of the year. See all the books we finished this month below.
If you keep up with our wrapped posts, you know we love linking to full reviews. However, since this was a 10-book reading month, we’re a bit behind on getting all the reviews written. Please bear with us while we catch up and deliver the summaries and hot takes you’ve come to expect from us.
Dungeon Crawler Carl
Description
The apocalypse will be televised! Welcome to the first book in the wildly popular and addictive Dungeon Crawler Carl series by Matt Dinniman—now with bonus material exclusive to this print edition.
You know what’s worse than breaking up with your girlfriend? Being stuck with her prize-winning show cat. And you know what’s worse than that? An alien invasion, the destruction of all man-made structures on Earth, and the systematic exploitation of all the survivors for a sadistic intergalactic game show. That’s what.
Join Coast Guard vet Carl and his ex-girlfriend’s cat, Princess Donut, as they try to survive the end of the world—or just get to the next level—in a video game–like, trap-filled fantasy dungeon. A dungeon that’s actually the set of a reality television show with countless viewers across the galaxy. Exploding goblins. Magical potions. Deadly, drug-dealing llamas. This ain’t your ordinary game show.
Welcome, Crawler. Welcome to the Dungeon. Survival is optional. Keeping the viewers entertained is not.
Includes part one of the exclusive bonus story “Backstage at the Pineapple Cabaret.”
Dungeon Crawler Carl is a book about what happens if Earth gets invaded by aliens for mineral mining, and all surviving members of the population have to enter a dungeon and crawl through 18 floors to survive.
Carl, who is a former coast guard, enters the dungeon with his ex-girlfriend Beatrice’s cat, Donut, and tries to work his way through a real life scenario as one of humanity’s last surviving members.
What an amazing book this was. An absolute 5-star read and our favorite book of the year so far. It’s funny. It’s heartfelt. It’s wonderfully weird. And it’s so accurate. Matt Dinniman put so much thought and energy into working out the logistics of what would happen if an actual human found himself in a LitRPG dungeon fighting for his life. What would happen to his clothes? How would inventory management work? Just so many nerdy, minuscule details that make complete sense.
This was a novel, refreshing, and fun as hell experience to watch Carl and Donut work their way through the dungeon. If you like Project Hail Mary-type scientific books full of humor, you’ll love this. Full review on this is coming soon, but until then, please go read Dungeon Crawler Carl.
Bride
Description
A dangerous alliance between a Vampyre bride and an Alpha Werewolf becomes a love deep enough to sink your teeth into in this new paranormal romance.
Misery Lark, the only daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest, is an outcast—again. Her days of living in anonymity among the Humans are over: she has been called upon to uphold a historic peacekeeping alliance between the Vampyres and their mortal enemies, the Weres, and she sees little choice but to surrender herself in the exchange—again…
Weres are ruthless and unpredictable, and their Alpha, Lowe Moreland, is no exception. He rules his pack with absolute authority, but not without justice. And, unlike the Vampyre Council, not without feeling. It’s clear from the way he tracks Misery’s every movement that he doesn’t trust her. If only he knew how right he was…
Because Misery has her own reasons to agree to this marriage of convenience, reasons that have nothing to do with politics or alliances, and everything to do with the only thing she’s ever cared about. And she is willing to do whatever it takes to get back what’s hers, even if it means a life alone in Were territory…alone with the wolf.
Finishing Problematic Summer Romance in May left me wanting more. I went back to my roots and to my first ever Ali Hazelwood, Bride. I was hesitant that maybe on a reread it wouldn’t hit just as well, considering that happened to me with ACOTAR, but I was wrong.
Bride is the story of Misery Lark, the only daughter of a Vampyre councilman, who enters a marriage of convenience with Alpha Werewolf Lowe Moreland. Entering enemy territory to search for her missing best friend, Misery is determined to find the only person she’s ever cared about. What she doesn’t expect is the instant attraction between her and Lowe, and soon she finds herself in an even more dangerous trap than she ever anticipated.
Bride continues to be one of my favorite paranormal romances ever, with a soft intro to Omegaverse for those who want to dabble, and Ali’s expert delivery of her central trope: “he falls first” and then “pines and yearns for an entire book.”
👉 You can read my full Bride Reread review here.
Only Between Us
Description
The highly anticipated sequel to the “achingly tender and deliciously sexy” (Jillian Meadows, author of Give Me Butterflies) Only in Your Dreams is a steamy, whip-smart sports romance about a former pro football star who agrees to fake date the fan-favorite ex of another high-profile NFL player so they can both save what’s most dear to them while fighting their growing feelings for each other.
After a death-defying injury sidelined him for two seasons, Brooks Attwood’s pro football comeback has hit a major snag. Naughty photos from a post-break-up bender have leaked, and they’re killing his chances with the Rebels—his old team, and the only one he wants to play on.
As he trains with the hope of being signed before the first kickoff of the season, Brooks’s plans to keep a low profile are suddenly upended when his selfie with a fiery fan goes viral, and tabloids mistake them as the football world’s newest It couple.
Turns out, Siena Pippen is the ex-girlfriend of the “face” of the League. And she wants nothing more to do with that world after being with her nightmare ex. While she and Brooks are busy blaming each other for the media circus surrounding them, NFL teams are suddenly scrambling to sign a housebroken Brooks. Meanwhile, Siena realizes that all this buzz could be the Hail Mary her family’s struggling business needs.
Together, Brooks and Siena hatch a ignore the will to kill each other and pretend to be madly in love—at least, until Brooks signs with a team. But the longer they pretend, the less fake their fauxmance begins to feel…and Brooks becomes as determined to convince Siena they’re truly meant to be as he is to land a spot on the Rebels’ roster.
I received an advance reader copy of Only Between Us by Ellie K. Wilde from NetGalley and Atria Books in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I received an advance reader copy of Only Between Us by Ellie K. Wilde from NetGalley and Atria Books in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I read an ARC of Only Between Us, a contemporary romance and my first ever football romance. The story follows Siena, a free-spirited woman who enters a fake dating arrangement with wide receiver Brooks Atwood. Brooks is trying to clean up his public image, while Siena is just trying to make ends meet. Neither of them, of course, expects their fake dating situation to get complicated by very real feelings.
I haven’t released my full review yet, but it’s written and ready to go live on July 8th. I cannot sing the praises of Only Between Us enough. The banter and chemistry were so good, the story was funny and heartfelt, and the spice was perfectly balanced. I’m a sucker for Golden Retriever boyfriends, and this book does it really well.
Keep an eye out for my full review in a few days, this one earned a spot on my very short list of 5-star reads this year.
Zodiac Academy
Description
But of course there’s a catch – all I have to do to claim my birth right is prove that I’m the most powerful supernatural in the whole of Solaria. And sure, technically that’s true as I’m the daughter of the Savage King. But the bit they didn’t put in the brochure was that every single Fae in this Kingdom would claim my throne if they could.
The school they’ve sent me to is both dangerous as sh*t and one helluva party. Vampires bite weaker students in the corridors, the Werewolf pack has orgies in the Wailing Wood at every full moon and don’t even get me started on the dark and twisted ways the Sirens use their powers on people’s emotions, or how my sinfully tempting Cardinal Magic teacher hosts detentions that leave people needing therapy.
Classes are totally interesting if you manage to live through them. And that Gemini star sign I mentioned? It now determines my elemental magic and affects my destiny, so learning astrology is essential if I’m going to beat down my classmates – which is actively encouraged by the way.
My biggest problem is the drool worthy Dragon shifter who has his eyes on my throne. He and his three psycho friends are determined to make my time here hell.
All I’ve got to do is survive. But fate might have other ideas.
Dammit, why couldn’t I have gotten a letter to Hogwarts?
***This is a dark, bully romance – don’t go expecting a sweet school for magic with friends around every corner. Fae fight for everything they own and Zodiac Academy is a cutthroat school for students aged 18+ where only the strongest prevail. There’s no Dumbledore here to save anyone’s ass and Lionel Acrux will give Voldemort a run for his money in the evil dictator category. So hold onto your stardust (broomsticks not required) and get ready for a bumpy ride***
I’ve finally taken the plunge and dove into Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti’s Hogwarts meets Gossip Girl dark academia bully romance series, Zodiac Academy.
Zodiac Academy follows Tory and Darcy Vega, the lost fae princesses of Solaria, as they find themselves at the prestigious Zodiac Academy. There, they must prove their skills, graduate, and earn not only their inheritance but also their place in a brutal fae world, and if they want it, their throne.
The Celestial Heirs, who have been ruling in the absence of the Vega twins, feel threatened by their return and will do whatever it takes to stop them from claiming what’s rightfully theirs. Meanwhile, Darcy and Tory try to navigate their tangled, confusing relationships and survive a magical system stacked against them.
Ahhhhhhhhhh. This is SUCH a guilty pleasure. It’s funny, scandalous, deeply problematic, and yet I cannot stop reading it. I love this series so much, it has fully become my personality and made me throw the rest of my carefully planned TBR right out the window.
You might already see the site littered with Zodiac Academy content like the Zodiac Academy Reading Order I’m using, the Zodiac Academy Character Breakdown, and eventually even my review of the first book, The Awakening, when I manage to stop reading long enough to actually write about it.
Zodiac Academy 2: Ruthless Fae (2)
Description
They tried to break us.
They almost did.
But we’re not going anywhere.
The Celestial Heirs think the stars are on their side. But they don’t know what’s coming. We have to be smart. Fighting them one on one isn’t an option so we have to be stealthy. Remaining under the radar won’t be easy, but if we pull it off, they’ll never suspect our involvement when their lives start falling apart.
Besides, they’ve already taken us to the brink of hell, what more can they really do?
If you read the blurb above, you won’t be surprised that I’ve made more progress in Zodiac Academy (I’m on book three in like two weeks… I have a problem).
Ruthless Fae picks up right after the events of The Awakening, as Darcy and Tory continue preparing for The Reckoning (also the title of book three) and try to navigate the fae world, now more determined than ever to earn their place. Powers, secrets, and a lot of messy situationships ensue.
The first book caught me off guard with its writing style, but once I adjusted to the casual narration alongside a surprisingly well-built high fantasy world, I was so ready for this. I had such a good time. This one did a great job deepening the side characters, planting Easter eggs for future twists, and giving us just enough anxiety-inducing plot threads and deliciously drawn-out romance to leave me wanting more.
I haven’t finished my full review yet, but keep an eye out for it once it’s live!
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil
Description
From V. E. Schwab, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue: a new genre-defying novel about immortality and hunger.
This is a story about hunger.
1532. Santo Domingo de la Calzada.
A young girl grows up wild and wily—her beauty is only outmatched by her dreams of escape. But María knows she can only ever be a prize, or a pawn, in the games played by men. When an alluring stranger offers an alternate path, María makes a desperate choice. She vows to have no regrets.
This is a story about love.
1827. London.
A young woman lives an idyllic but cloistered life on her family’s estate, until a moment of forbidden intimacy sees her shipped off to London. Charlotte’s tender heart and seemingly impossible wishes are swept away by an invitation from a beautiful widow—but the price of freedom is higher than she could have imagined.
This is a story about rage.
2019. Boston.
College was supposed to be her chance to be someone new. That’s why Alice moved halfway across the world, leaving her old life behind. But after an out-of-character one-night stand leaves her questioning her past, her present, and her future, Alice throws herself into the hunt for answers . . . and revenge.
This is a story about life—
how it ends, and how it starts.
I received an advance reader copy of Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab from NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I dipped my toes into some gothic fantasy romance and read my first ever V.E. Schwab last month with Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil.
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil is a fantasy romance with gothic elements, following three vampire women across three timelines as it explores what it means to be human when we’re stripped down to our studs. Maria, Charlotte, and Alice are all very different and driven by different desires, but are trapped by the same curse as they try to find their place in the world. It’s a story of love, greed, and hunger.
I adored this. It was thoughtful and deep, following its characters in slices of life across five centuries. I love time jumps and multiple POVs, and this book handled both beautifully, giving me glimpses of the story through different windows. The ethereal narration and gothic fever dream atmosphere left me wanting so much more of this world.
If you like toxic vampires who just can’t let go, I think you should give this a try.
👉 You can find my full review and linearized story summary in this post.
The Serpent & The Wings of the Night
Description
An Instant New York Times and USA Today Bestseller
This new hardcover edition of the bestselling The Serpent & the Wings of Night features new case art, and a detailed map!
The Hunger Games meets vampires in this heart-wrenching, epic fantasy romance of dark magic, and bloodthirsty intrigue from bestselling author Carissa Broadbent.
For humans and vampires, the rules of survival are the same: never trust, never yield, and always – always – guard your heart.
The adopted human daughter of the Nightborn vampire king, Oraya carved her place in a world designed to kill her. Her only chance to become something more than prey is entering the Kejari: a legendary tournament held by the goddess of death herself.
But winning won’t be easy amongst the most vicious warriors from all three vampire houses. To survive, Oraya is forced to make an alliance with a mysterious rival.
Everything about Raihn is dangerous. He is a ruthless vampire, an efficient killer, an enemy to her father’s crown… and her greatest competition. Yet, what terrifies Oraya most of all is that she finds herself oddly drawn to him.
But there’s no room for compassion in the Kejari. War brews, shattering everything that Oraya thought she knew about her home. And Raihn may understand her more than anyone – but their blossoming attraction could be her downfall, in a kingdom where nothing is more deadly than love.
The Serpent & the Wings of Night is the first book in the Crowns of Nyaxia series.
I finally read my first Carissa Broadbent novel with the Crowns of Nyaxia duology.
In The Serpent and the Wings of the Night, Oraya, the adopted daughter of the Hiaj Vampire King Vincent, joins the Kejari, a deadly tournament held in honor of Nyaxia, the goddess of death and mother of vampires. The last contestant standing is granted a wish from Nyaxia herself. Oraya enters the tournament to gain enough power to stop feeling like prey in a world that desperately wants her dead.
There, she finds herself reluctantly allied with Raihn, a Rishan warrior vampire who has motivations of his own. As they begin to bond, Oraya finds herself falling for someone who is supposed to be her enemy, while also fighting for her life and uncovering the layers of lies surrounding her.
I think I would’ve enjoyed this book much more if it had been one of my first romantasy reads instead of my hundredth. It had all the right ingredients: Hunger Games meets Underworld vibes, a stabby, sassy FMC, and a cinnamon roll MMC. But for me, it didn’t bring anything new to the table. The plot didn’t quite add up, and the romance didn’t feel high-stakes enough for me to get emotionally attached.
That said, it does exactly what it’s meant to do, and the last 100 pages were peak romantasy. It got me hooked and left me feeling like it was still a worthwhile read.
I listened to both books on audio, narrated by two of my favorite voices, Amanda Cobb and Aiden Snow, and the production was excellent. So if you prefer to read with your ears, this one delivers.
You can read my full summary and review of The Serpent and the Wings of the Night by Carissa Broadbent for more!
The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King
Description
From the New York Times bestselling author Carissa Broadbent, comes The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King, the gutting second installment of the Crowns of Nyaxia series, full of heartbreak, redemption, blood intrigue and heart-pounding action.
Love is a sacrifice at the altar of power.
In the wake of the Kejari, everything Oraya once thought to be true has been destroyed. A prisoner in her own kingdom, grieving the only family she ever had, and reeling from a gutting betrayal, she no longer even knows the truth of her own blood. She’s left only with one certainty: she cannot trust anyone, least of all Raihn.
Raihn’s own nobles are none too eager to accept a Turned king, especially one who was once a slave. And the House of Blood digs their claws into the kingdom, threatening to tear it apart from the inside.
When Raihn offers Oraya a secret alliance, taking the deal is her only chance at reclaiming her kingdom–and gaining her vengeance against the lover who betrayed her. But to do so, she’ll need to harness a devastating ancient power, intertwined with her father’s greatest secrets.
But with enemies closing in on all sides, nothing is as it seems. As she unravels her past and faces her future, Oraya finds herself forced to choose between the bloody reality of seizing power―and the devastating love that could be her downfall.
Reading Order:
The Serpent & the Wings of Night
The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King
I didn’t waste any time diving into book two of the Crowns of Nyaxia duology. After that ending I kinda had to!
Without spoilers, this book picks up right after the end of the Kejari, with Oraya and Raihn navigating the consequences of their actions in book one. The world expands, the stakes rise, and we get a deeper look at the vampire hierarchy and political landscape.
I actually enjoyed this book more than the first, but it kind of solidified my issue with romantasy as a genre. Authors often get so caught up in building scenes filled with tension and yearning that the plot takes a backseat.
There were some really interesting ideas in this book that I wanted to see explored, but they never went anywhere. A couple of what I’d call cheap literary devices wrapped up major plot threads, which left things feeling a little superficial.
We did get plenty of Oraya and Raihn, though. I just really want the romance with the plot in a fantasy book, and this didn’t quite deliver that balance for me.
I’m still working through my full review, so keep an eye out when it drops!
An Ancient Witch’s Guide to Modern Dating
Description
An ancient witch explores the thrills—and perils—of online dating with hilarity and heart in a charming rom-com perfect for fans of cozy fantasy and witchy romance.
Meet Thorn Scarhart, a thirty-nine-year-old witch who’s having trouble finding love in the 17th century. Despite the local matchmaker’s efforts and Thorn’s arsenal of powerful love potions, she has yet to fall in love. After the disappearance of her sister and the loss of her mother, Thorn was too caught up in…well, life, to focus on dating. Now, she fears she may have missed her chance.
But, when one of her potion brews backfires spectacularly, Thorn is hurled 350 years into the future, landing in a bustling city where her once-isolated cottage is now a historical museum. While this unexpected leap through time may seem daunting, modern life does have its indoor plumbing, electric kettles, and the world of online dating. At thirty-nine, the odds may not be perfect, but at least they’re not impossible.
With the help of the museum’s new curator—and her charming veterinarian brother—Thorn dives headfirst into the 21st-century dating scene. And as she searches for romance, she might also find herself along the way.
An Ancient Witch’s Guide to Modern Dating is a delightful mix of humor, heart, and a sprinkle of magic. Cozy fantasy lovers will adore this enchanting rom-com, which is a must-read for fans of Sangu Mandanna’s The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches and Erin Sterling’s The Ex Hex.
Disclaimer: Thank you to Saga Press and NetGalley for providing An Ancient Witch’s Guide to Modern Dating by Cecilia Edwards for review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I received an ARC of An Ancient Witch’s Guide to Modern Dating. If the whimsical cover is drawing you in, and you’re wondering if the cozy weirdness it promises matches the plot, you’re right to wonder.
This book follows a 39-year-old witch from the 18th century who finds herself suddenly in modern times as she searches for a husband. She meets a vet, talks to cats, and works as a witch performer at a historic society museum while navigating this unfamiliar world.
This was a lovely palette cleanser. The stakes make no sense, and they’re not supposed to. It’s a total fever dream in the best way. Perfect for a romcom. It gives Enchanted meets Alice in Wonderland vibes. It’s cozy, warm, and just a great time. It’s also short and sweet, and I really appreciated the different tone it brought to the table in a sea of romances that often feel the same.
The Reluctant Flirt
Description
Just one night…
After discovering her husband’s affair, Sierra Lourde flees to New York City for a little damage control—and a lot of wine. A tipsy night in a bar with a charming stranger seems like the perfect way to forget her troubles. No names, no promises, just one night to escape reality and regain her confidence. The next morning, mortified by her vulnerability, she flees without looking back. But who needs closure, right?
But one night changes everything…
Sierra has reinvented herself as the proud owner of Flirt, a trendy boutique in the Outer Banks. Life is good—until Kane Masterson, the man she left behind, walks back into town. And of course, he’s now the developer whose big new project threatens to bulldoze her beloved shop. Kane needs this deal to save his career (and his brother), but Sierra’s not about to let him demolish her hard-won success.
With sparks flying, sarcastic jabs turning into lingering looks, and a family wedding forcing them into close quarters, Sierra and Kane find themselves tangled in a battle of wills—and hearts. But now he has to choose: reclaim his career or risk everything for a second chance with the one woman he can’t forget.
Disclaimer: Thank you to Blue Box Press and BookFunnel for providing The Reluctant Flirt by Jennifer Probst for review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I made myself a promise to make progress on my ARC pile this month (still got eight to go, and I only managed four, but the list keeps growing), so the last book I picked up in June was The Reluctant Flirt by Jennifer Probst.
The Reluctant Flirt is a second chance, small town romance between Sierra and Kane, whose paths cross again after a heated one-night stand four years ago. Sierra is determined to stay single, while Kane is finally ready to chase the woman who has evaded him for years.
I truly wanted to love this book. It has all the ingredients I usually enjoy: second chance romance, a career-oriented FMC, a very determined MMC, and a charming small town setting. Unfortunately, and this was my first time reading this author, the writing style just didn’t mesh with my preferences.
This book felt like the early 2000s historical romances in a modern shell, and it didn’t quite match the high bar of witty banter I expect from today’s contemporary romance, especially with how saturated the genre is. The references felt a little dated, and the plot leaned heavily on some overused stereotypes that didn’t quite work for me.
👉 You can read my full review of The Reluctant Flirt for more.
Our Current Reads: The Ones Keeping Us Up at Night (Literally)
Now moving on to our current reads. This month is shaping up to be a mix of more LitRPG (as if we could possibly move on from Carl now), more Zodiac Academy (see the disclaimer in the first sentence of this post), a handful of ARCs for upcoming fall releases, and most exciting of all, getting ready for the month of Dramione.
Carl’s Doomsday Scenario
Description
“The training levels have concluded. Now the games may truly begin.”
The ratings and views are off the chart. The fans just can’t get enough. The dungeon gets more dangerous each day. But in a grinder designed to chew up and spit out crawlers by the millions, Carl and Princess Donut need to work harder than ever just to survive.
They call it the Over City. A sprawling, once-thriving metropolis devastated by a mysterious calamity. But these streets are far from abandoned. An undead circus trawls the ruins. Murdered prostitutes rain from the sky. An ancient spell is finally ready to reveal its dark purpose.
Carl still has no pants.
They call it Dungeon Crawler World. For Carl and Donut, it’s anything but a game.
This has become my partner and I’s current obsession. We simply must know what happens with Donut and Carl next. Every chance we get, this is blasting from the nearest speaker. Audiobook is 100% the superior way to experience this, and we just can’t stop.
Adventure awaits.
Book of Night
Description
#1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black makes her stunning adult debut with Book of Night, a modern dark fantasy of betrayals, secret societies, and a dissolute thief of shadows, in the vein of Neil Gaiman and Erin Morgenstern.
Charlie Hall has never found a lock she couldn’t pick, a book she couldn’t steal, or a bad decision she wouldn’t make.
She’s spent half her life working for gloamists, magicians who manipulate shadows to peer into locked rooms, strangle people in their beds, or worse. Gloamists guard their secrets greedily, creating an underground economy of grimoires. And to rob their fellow magicians, they need Charlie Hall.
Now, she’s trying to distance herself from past mistakes, but getting out isn’t easy. Bartending at a dive, she’s still entirely too close to the corrupt underbelly of the Berkshires. Not to mention that her sister Posey is desperate for magic, and that Charlie’s shadowless, and possibly soulless, boyfriend has been hiding things from her. When a terrible figure from her past returns, Charlie descends into a maelstrom of murder and lies.
Determined to survive, she’s up against a cast of doppelgangers, mercurial billionaires, gloamists, and the people she loves best in the world―all trying to steal a secret that will give them vast and terrible power.
Disclaimer: I received a free advance reader copy of Book of Night by Holly Black from Tor Publishing Group via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I received an ARC of Book of Night from NetGalley, and as a devoted Holly Black fan, I’m absolutely eating this up. This is much more adult than The Cruel Prince which is one of my favorite series of all time, but no complaints here.
It still has all those wonderful gothic, magical touches Holly Black does so well, and I cannot wait to dive deeper into this world of magic, shadows, and dark secrets.
Zodiac Academy 3: The Reckoning (3)
Description
The answer to your question will be revealed on the Lunar Eclipse.
But when finding the truth, don’t let the shadows take you.
The week of The Reckoning has begun.
And senior students have been tasked with making the freshmen’s lives pure hell as we prepare to take the assessment that will decide whether we stay at zodiac academy or lose our places here forever.
With the Lunar Eclipse on the horizon, my sister and I have more to worry about than just passing of our exams.
A dark plot is unfolding and the shadows are drawing closer.
It looks like our enemies could be closer than we ever realised.
Welp. We cannot stop this train now. Until further notice, this is a Zodiac Academy website. I physically cannot stop reading these books.
I need answers about the Nymphs, the Orders, what’s going to happen with the Throne of Solaria, and honestly so much more.
PS: Protect Xavier at all costs. IYKYK.
July TBR: Month of Dramione, More Zodiac Academy, More Dungeon Crawler Carl, More. More. More.
Below are what we’re hoping to pick up if schedules align and we don’t get distracted by some other shiny book!
Spectacular Things
Description
Mia and Cricket have always been close. The gifted daughters of a young single mother, the “Lowe girls” are well-known in their small Maine hometown. Each sister has a role to fill: The responsible and academically minded Mia assumes the position of caregiver far too young, while Cricket, a bouncing ball of energy and talent, seems born for soccer stardom. But the cost of achieving athletic greatness comes at a steep price.
As Mia and Cricket grow up, they must grapple with the legacy of their mother’s secret past while navigating their own precarious future. Can Mia allow herself to fall in love at the risk of repeating a terrible history? Will Cricket’s relentless chase of a lifelong goal drive away her sister? When does loyalty become self-sabotage?
Assistant to the Villain
Description
Once Upon a Time meets The Office in Hannah Maehrer’s laugh-out-loud viral TikTok series turned novel, about the sunshine assistant to an Evil Villain…and their unexpected romance.
ASSISTANT WANTED: Notorious, high-ranking villain seeks loyal, levelheaded assistant for unspecified office duties, supporting staff for random mayhem and terror, and other Dark Things In General. Discretion a must. Excellent benefits.
With ailing family to support, Evie Sage’s employment status isn’t just important, it’s vital. So when a mishap with Rennedawn’s most infamous Villain results in a job offer―naturally, she says yes. No job is perfect, of course, but even less so when you develop a teeny crush on your terrifying, temperamental, and undeniably hot boss. Don’t find evil so attractive, Evie.
But just when she’s getting used to severed heads suspended from the ceiling and the odd squish of an errant eyeball beneath her heel, Evie suspects this dungeon has a huge rat…and not just the literal kind. Because something rotten is growing in the kingdom of Rennedawn, and someone wants to take the Villain―and his entire nefarious empire―out.
Now Evie must not only resist drooling over her boss but also figure out exactly who is sabotaging his work…and ensure he makes them pay.
After all, a good job is hard to find.
The Assistant and the Villain series is best enjoyed in order.
Reading Order:
Book #1 Assistant to the Villain
Book #2 Apprentice to the Villain
Apprentice to the Villain
Description
NOTICE TO STAFF: There has been a disturbing increase in cheeriness, sprightly behavior, and overall optimism of late. Please resume your former dark, ominous terrors at your earliest convenience. ―Mgmt
Evie Sage has never been happier to be the assistant to The Villain. Who would have thought that working for an outrageously handsome (shhh, bad for his brand) evil overlord would be so rewarding? Still, the business of being bad is demanding, the forces of good are annoyingly persistent, and said forbidding boss is somewhat…er, out-of-evil-office.
But Rennedawn is in grave trouble, and all signs―Kingsley’s included―point to catastrophe. Something peculiar is happening with the kingdom’s magic, and it’s made The Villain’s manor vulnerable to their enemies…including their nemesis, the king.
Now it’s time for Evie to face her greatest challenge: protecting The Villain’s lair, all of his nefarious works, and maybe (provided no one finds out) the entire kingdom. No pressure, Evie.
It’s time to step out of her comfort zone and learn new skills. Like treason. Dagger work. Conspiring with the enemy. It’s all so…so…delightfully fun.
But what happens when the assistant to The Villain is ready to become his apprentice?
The Assistant and the Villain series is best enjoyed in order.
Reading Order:
Book #1 Assistant to the Villain
Book #2 Apprentice to the Villain
A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping
Description
Sera Swan used to be one of the most powerful witches in Britain. Then she resurrected her great-aunt Jasmine from the (very recently) dead, lost most of her magic, befriended a semi-villainous talking fox, and was exiled from her Guild. Now she (slightly reluctantly and just a bit grumpily) helps her aunt run an enchanted inn in Lancashire, where she deals with her quirky guests’ shenanigans, tries to keep said talking fox in check, and longs for the future that seems lost to her. But then she finds out about an old spell that could hold the key to restoring her power…
Enter Luke Larsen, handsome and icy magical historian, who arrives on a dark winter evening and might just know how to unlock the spell’s secrets. Luke has absolutely no interest in getting involved in the madcap goings-on of the inn and is definitely not about to let a certain bewitching innkeeper past his walls, so no one is more surprised than he is when he agrees to help Sera with her spell. Worse, he might actually be thawing.
Running an inn, reclaiming lost magic, and staying one step ahead of the watchful Guild is a lot for anyone, but Sera Swan is about to discover that she doesn’t have to do it alone…and that the weird, wonderful family she’s made might be the best magic of all.
Thief of Night
Description
The highly-anticipated sequel to the #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black’s stunning adult debut, Book of Night.
There’d always been something wrong with Charlie Hall. Crooked from the day she was born. Never met a bad decision she wasn’t willing to double down on. She may be good enough to steal a shadow from a tower, but will she be good enough to steal back a heart?
The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy
Description
The first in a slow burn, enemies-to-lovers romantasy duology featuring a scholarly healer and a gentleman assassin, set in an exquisite fantasy world, perfect for fans of The Love Hypothesis and Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries.
Osric Mordaunt, member of the Fyren Order of assassins, is in dire need of healing. Naturally – such is the grim comedy of fate – the only healer who can help is Aurienne Fairhrim, preeminent scientist, bastion of moral good, and member of an enemy Order.
Aurienne is desperate for funding to heal the sick – so desperate that, when Osric bribes her to help him, she accepts, even if she detests him and everything he stands for.
A forced collaboration ensues: the brilliant Woman in STEM is coerced into working with the PhD in Murders, much to Aurienne’s disgust. As Osric and Aurienne work together to heal his illness and investigate the mysterious reoccurrence of a deadly pox, they find themselves ardently denying their attraction, which only fuels the heat between them.
Romance tropes
Enemies to lovers
High interaction slow burn
Hypercompetent idiots
He falls first and harder
Evisceration as a love language
Rose in Chains
Description
The war is over, the dark forces have won, and the hero who was supposed to save them is dead.
Captured as her castle is overrun by the enemy, Briony Rosewood knows that the world as she knows it is changed forever. The dark forces of Bomard have won and her people, the Eversuns, face imminent servitude, imprisonment or death. Her brother, fated to be heir twice over and unite the warring kingdoms, is dead.
Stripped of her Mind Magic and her freedom, Briony and the other survivors are quickly auctioned off to the highest bidders in an auction – and as the heir-apparent’s sister, she fetches the highest price.
After a fierce bidding war, she’s sold to none other than Toven a high ranking Bomardsun – and her long-time and ill-fated infatuation. Scion of a family known for their cruel control of Heart Magic, the Hearsts are ruthlessly ambitious, and Briony knows they will use her however they can to further their own interests.
Yet despite the horrors of her new world and the role she must learn to play within it, all is not lost. Help – and hope – may yet arise in the most unlikely of places…
Zodiac Academy 4: Shadow Princess (4)
Description
The shadows are in my blood.
I can feel them crawling through me, slithering under my skin and taking me hostage.
But the darkness within me, isn’t nearly as bad as the darkness that lives around me.
The four heirs will stop at nothing to destroy the lives of me and my sister.
But they haven’t figured out yet, we’re the strongest creatures they’ve ever known…
Zodiac Academy 5: Cursed Fates (5)
Description
After the devastating events at Zodiac Academy, we have to deal with this darker world we’re faced with.
Lionel seeks to hurt us, the Nymphs seek to hurt the entire Fae race, and between all of it, we just have to try and survive each day as it comes.
I’m afraid of everything falling apart, but it looks like it already has.
That’s all we read in June and what we’d like to cover in July! What are you looking forward to this month? Let us know in the comments!
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