My Top 12 Books of 2023

Hello there friends and book-lovers! Happy New Years y'all! It is officially 2024 and I could not be more ready to leave 2023 in the dust. However, I did read some pretty fantastic books in 2023... and even if I am totally ready to leave the year behind, I am NOT ready to forget these books. So here I am, writing about my favorite book that I read each month of 2023. Most of these books have not been featured on my blog before, so get ready for some new recommendations that span multiple genres (I even have one non-fiction book on this list, isn't that exciting?? I never thought I would see the day). With all of that said and done, let's go! 

January

Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune

When Wallace finds himself at a funeral for a man who looks an awful lot like him with a girl who calls herself a "reaper", he thinks he might be dead. And when "reaper" takes him to an eclectic tea shop that serves as a bridge for souls from this world to the next he starts to think this may really be the end. So, with the help of tea shop owner Hugo, he decides to spend what little time he has left living the life he missed out on. 

I've read a couple of Klunes books before and I can honestly say that they go straight to my heart every single time. House in the Cerulean Sea is one of my favorite books of all time and was the first book that I annotated for fun. When I found Under the Whispering Door on Kindle I bought it and started reading it immediately. About 5 chapters in I had purchased a physical copy because I knew that I needed it in my library as well. It is beautifully written and haunting and heartbreaking in all of the very best ways. 10 out of 10 as far as I'm concerned. 

February

How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix

When Louise finds out that her parents have died she dreads going home to take care of their estate. Mostly because that estate is full to the rafters of her mothers greatest passion: puppets. Yeah, I said puppets. As soon as Louise shows up strange things start to happen... the tv turns on by itself, dolls move from room to room... you know, haunted house stuff. And it only escalates from there. 

If you have read my blog before you may remember that I am not fantastic with horror. It makes my stomach hurt and my head feel fuzzy and I end up watching cartoons or musicals to get my blood pressure back down. I bought this book because of the title, I love ghost stories, but it was way more terrifying than I thought it would be. First of all, puppets. PUPPETS?? Terrifying. Then, the puppets talk on their own. And move. And stab people with nails. I also made the mistake of finishing it at 3 am. And then I watched Phantom of the Opera until the sun came up. If you're a fan of horror, I highly recommend. 

March

Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen McManus

Echo Ridge is the definition of small-town America. Except for the fact that it has a history of murders involving high school homecoming queens. When Ellery has to move in with her grandmother in Echo Ridge right before she begins senior year she lands right in the middle of a mystery that is decades in the making. 

I'm a big fan of McManus and her mystery/thrillers. They are twisty and intense without being too graphic, which is great for *sensitive* readers like me. If you are looking for a mystery book that will keep you guessing and entertained this is definitely a good one. 

April

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas 

This one is a sequel, so I am not going to give you a summary since it would most definitely contain spoilers. This is book 2 of Maas' ACOTAR series and it's by far my favorite. It's one I go back to over and over when I'm in a reading slump or need a pick-me-up. The romance is wonderfully written and the characters are beautiful.  This one gets a little spicy *romance-wise* so keep that in mind if you're thinking about picking up this series. 

May

The Host by Stephanie Meyer

The world has been taken over by aliens. Crazy smart aliens that take over human bodies and create an idyllic utopian society that works flawlessly. Is this a bad thing? The few humans who remain think so. When Melanie is captured and has an alien inserted into her mind she fights with everything she has to not disappear, and in doing so she makes an unlikely friend... The alien inside her mind. Together they seek out the last remaining humans and do everything in their power to keep them safe. 

This book has been featured on my blog before, on my list of my top 5 books of all time. It's one of my favorite books that I have ever read and I go back to it often. Maybe it's the nostalgia talking, but I am a huge fan. I recommend this book to literally everybody. It has science-fiction, it has romance, it has suspense... it's amazing.

June

Dumplin by Julie Murphy

Willowdean Dickson may be the daughter of a beauty queen, but the annual Miss Clover City pageant is her own personal nightmare. Until she decides to fight the system and show her small town that you don't have to be thin to be beautiful. Along the way she makes some new friends and gains the confidence she needs to get on that pageant stage and show everyone what beautiful really means. 

Confession time: I totally watched the Netflix movie Dumplin before I ever picked up this book, which is usually a major no-no for me. I always want to read the source material before I witness whatever Hollywood decides to turn it into; but the movie is fantastic, and it actually stays pretty faithful to the heart of the story. It also features a soundtrack made up entirely of Dolly Parton songs, which is a major win in my book. This book is sweet and heartwarming and it really hit home with me as a *not skinny girl* who did at one time attempt a beauty pageant. I think it portrays the emotions of being in high school and not feeling great about your body really well. The romance between Willow and high school jock Bo is very sweet and the insecurities that she has to overcome to make that relationship work were relatable and realistic. All in all, I loved it. 

July 

Karmic Refreshments by Brittany Andreasen-Parkins

This one is a book of poetry, so I wont give you a summary because I want you to read it and experience it for yourself. Andreasen-Parkins does an incredible job of transcribing emotion onto paper and it really hit home for me. If you have ever struggled with family or depression or anger you will find your thoughts reflected on these pages. There is a pretty good range of poetry in this book as well, so I think anyone who picks up this book will find something they relate to. My favorite poem is "Consent Has Not Been Granted", so now you have to go buy the book to find out what it's about.

August

Percy Jackson: The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan

This one is another sequel so I won't be giving a summary here. I'm sure most of you have heard of the Percy Jackson series. If you haven't... welcome! It's an incredibly well-written young-adult series about the Greek Gods and their hero children. It is an expansive series and if you get started with it you will have reading material for A LONG time to come. Which I think is fantastic, I love finishing a book and knowing exactly what I'm going to read next. It's a good lighthearted series that is appropriate for everyone from early teenagers and up. 

September

Life With the Afterlife: 13 Truths I Learned About Ghosts by Amy Bruni

Amy Bruni, who has worked as a paranormal investigator on shows like Ghost Hunters and Kindred Spirits, shares some of her most incredible ghostly experiences while also spilling some secrets of the field. As I said earlier in this post, I love ghost stories. I remember watching the original Ghost Hunters with my parents as a child and I continue watching Kindred Spirits to this day. I am also a huge fan of Bruni and her take on spirits. She is always compassionate and eager to listen when she is investigating and never goes into a space ready to yell and fight a ghost (unlike SOME people on their ghostly adventure shows... you know who I'm talking about). I loved getting to read about spiritual experiences from a person who has basically dedicated their life to the field. 

October

Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J Maas

Yes, Maas made it onto this list twice. Don't question me, just read the series. Kingdom of Ash is the final book in the Throne of Glass series and it is beautiful. It brings all of the characters and stories from the previous 6 books together and it is amazing. It also made me cry. A lot. Despite that fact, I recommend this series to anyone that enjoys fantasy. The characters are beautifully written and have unique and diverse personalities. I can honestly say that this series is one of my favorites of all time, it's another one that I go back to when I'm having a bad day. 

November

The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager

Fifteen years ago, Emma Davis watched as her summer camp bunkmates left the cabin in the middle of the night, never to return. Emma is questioned and the woods are searched, but the girls are never found. Now, when the owner of Camp Nightingale decides to reopen the camp once again she seeks out Emma as a counselor. Emma agrees to return to the scene of her nightmares, if only to find answers. There are no answers waiting for her though, just more secrets and lies and danger. When Emma finds that three of her young campers have vanished into the night she must follow all of the clues she has collected and try to solve the mystery of Camp Nightingale before anyone else gets hurt. 

This is another part mystery/ part thriller that I really enjoyed reading. It is not gory or extensively violent, but it is suspenseful and draws you in very quickly. It also has some pretty great plot twists that keep you guessing right up until the very end. 

December

Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood

Bee is a genius neuroscientist who just landed the job of her dreams- building helmets for astronauts. Literally working at NASA. The only problem? Her co-lead on the project is engineering genius Levi, who happens to hate her and has since grad school... but Bee will not let that get her down! Even when Levi can't look her in the eyes, or talk to her without seeming uncomfortable, or stay in the same room as her for too long. As the project takes off and Bee and Levi are forced to work together, Bee starts to realize that maybe she doesn't have Levi all figured out quite yet. 

We are closing out the year with one of the cutest romance novels that I have ever read in my life. I read this book from start to finish in less than 6 hours and spent all of that time kicking my feet and giggling like I was a teenager again. The main character Bee is funny and sarcastic and her inner dialogue was a huge highlight of the book for me. And Levi? Such a good romantic interest. I love Hazelwood's books and this may be my favorite of them all. This book does have some spice (I'd consider it maybe a 6 out of 10), so keep that in mind if you decide to pick it up. 

All right my friends, here we are! This post was a LONG one, so if you're still here reading this, thanks for sticking around! I hope you enjoyed the recommendations and I hope to be writing here again real soon. Bye for now! 

Book Review: House of Roots and Ruin

    Hello friends and fellow book-devourers! I know, I know, it has been a LONG time since I posted, but I swear I have a good reason... I had a baby! Being pregnant was rough, and of course having a newborn is crazy time consuming, but I think things are finally settling down enough that I can return to my beloved blog while still having plenty of time to spend with my sweet little one. 

    Now that my absence has been explained, I can get down to the topic that brought me out of my semi-retirement... The House of Salt and Sorrows sequel that I have been impatiently waiting for! As soon as Craig announced this book I pre-ordered it on my kindle, but as the release got closer and she started posting pictures of the GORGEOUS first releases, I knew that I just had to have a hardback copy instead. So, while my husband's family was in town visiting I roped my sweet sister-in-law into an outing to our local bookstore. I managed to find a hardcover copy and devoured the entire story before 24 hours had even passed. And now, I get to share my thoughts with all of you! 

House of Roots and Ruin by Erin A. Craig

    If you have read this blog before or with any regularity, you may remember me posting about Erin A. Craig's dark take on the twelve dancing princesses: House of Salt and Sorrows. I've posted about it more than once and it frequently comes up when I list some of my favorite books. The book I am highlighting today is its sequel, taking place several years later and following a now grown Verity, the youngest of the Thaumas sisters. The story is INCREDIBLE. I am a devoted lover of everything Craig writes, but this novel blew my mind.

    The story is told from the point of view of Verity, now grown and looking to make her way into the world on her own. The estate she grew up on is now run by her eldest living sister, Camille, who seems reluctant to allow Verity to stray far from the island she grew up on. When Verity receives a letter from the duchess of Bloem asking her to come stay with them and paint a royal portrait of her son; Verity sees her chance to prove herself and takes off in the middle of the night. Unfortunately, not everything is as it seems at the beautiful estate of Chauntilalie where the duke and duchess of Bloem reside. The walls are filled with secret tunnels, the grounds harbor a million secrets, and even the flowers can kill you. Verity must piece together the secrets of Chauntilalie before she becomes victim to it. 

    I am not joking when I say that this book is TWISTY. Every time I would think I had it figured out another clue would be revealed and I would be lost again. And it never slows down. The last line of the book (literally, the last sentence) is yet ANOTHER plot twist. This book will drag you in and hold you hostage until you reach the very end. It takes place in the most gorgeous setting I think I've ever read: a sprawling estate absolutely covered in gorgeous and rare flowers and plants, while still maintaining an aura of absolute terror and unease. I think about this book every day, and I will continue to do so until Craig writes another one for me to obsess over. If you enjoy fantasy you'll love the setting and characters of this book. If you enjoy spooky stories that make you think you may be haunted, you'll love everything else. I cannot recommend this book enough. 

I hope that you enjoyed this review of A House of Roots and Ruin by Erin A. Craig and that you'll check out the book! If you do, let me know! I'd love to hear what you think. Thanks for reading, and I hope to be posting again soon! 

Five Books That Would Make Great Gifts

 Hello friends and bookworms! It's been a minute since I've been able to post, but I am so glad to be back! I hope everyone is having a lovely time and that your holiday season is exactly how you want it to be. And if you live somewhere that gets snow, I hope you stay warm! Today I wanted to tell you all about five books that would make amazing gifts for the book lovers in your lives. With all of that said, let's get started!

For the Romantic in your life: 

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

     If you have been anywhere near Facebook or Tiktok you have probably seen this cover before. It blew up real quick, and with good reason. This romance is funny and entertaining to read, while still having some incredible romantic tension that had me giggling and blushing. If you're looking for specific tropes, this one has grumpy/sunshine, fake dating, and ends happily ever after. It does have some spice, so be aware of that if it's something you or your gift receiver will be bothered by. I would give it a 4/10 on a spiciness scale. (For context, let's -say Twilight is a 1 and Fifty Shades is a 10). I enjoy this book so much that it has become a favorite that I reread when I am sad or feeling stuck in a book rut. If you're looking for a little something extra to go with the book, I would suggest some snuggly socks or a bath bomb, perfect for relaxing and reading a sweet heart-warming romance. 

For the Horror Fanatic in your life: 

We Need To Do Something by Max Booth III

    This is actually a short story, which is good because if it was any longer I would not have been able to finish it. This story takes place during a tornado that traps a family in their bathroom for days. It is bleak and terrifying and I can honestly say that one of the scenes made me so anxious that I forced my dog to snuggle me for comfort until I felt okay again. Now, I am a person who has to watch cartoons after horror movies or I won't be able to sleep at night, but if you know a true horror fan (you know, the ones who watch horror movies year round without even blinking and think haunted houses are a "fun Halloween activity") this is definitely right up their alley. If you're looking for a little something extra to go with the book, maybe add a book light, so they can read it in the dark like the adrenaline junkies they are. 

For the Fantasy Lover in your life: 

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas

     If you have not heard this title before, then you may have been living under a rock or just joined the internet for the first time ever today. This book has been EVERYWHERE and has been talked about by EVERYONE. I think even Netflix is doing a series on it now. That being said, I am here to tell you that it is indeed worth the hype. I adore fantasy as a genre and this book has a little of all my favorite things. Magic, romance, sword fights, sketchy curses that require true love's kiss to break them... I love them all. This is the first book in a series of five, so you could gift them this one to just give them a taste, or buy them the whole series and not see them for a month as they devour them one right after the other. This book is a fantasy romance, so there is some spice. I would give this book a 4/10 on the spice scale. (That rating only applies to the first book. Spice levels rise as the books go on. Book two and three are maybe a 6, and book five jumps to a 7). If you're looking for a little something extra to gift with the book, I would suggest a bookmark. Something gorgeous that makes you feel a little fancy when you use it. 

For the Amateur Detectives/ Ghost Hunters in your life: 

The Stroke of Winter by Wendy Webb

     This book just came out on November 1st and I have already read it twice. It takes place in a small, cozy town right on the Great Lakes. Our protagonist moves into her abandoned family home in the hopes that she will be able to renovate it and turn it into a bougie bed and breakfast. Things start to go sideways almost as soon as she moves in and are only heightened when she begins renovations. This book features a mysterious artist, several unsolved disappearances, ghosts, and a super cute dog. If you're looking for a little something extra to go with this book, I recommend a cozy blanket, so your gift receiver can snuggle up in a cozy burrito as they attempt to solve a decades old crime. 

For the Young Adult Readers in your life: 

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

    This book is perfect for young readers or young people you may be trying to entice into reading more. (It's also great for adults. I read it, and I loved it). It is mysterious and action packed and it's super fun to try to solve the puzzles alongside the characters as they go. The characters in the story are high schoolers, so keep that in mind if you're worried about finding something age appropriate. (If you are looking for a book better suited to middle/late elementary schoolers, comment and I'll give you some ideas for those age groups as well). If you're looking for a little something extra to go with your gift, maybe try a journal and some pens so they can try to figure out the puzzles and riddles as they read along. Also, this book is the first in a finished trilogy, so if they get hooked, there is two more books you can send their way! 

    Alright my friends, I hope you enjoyed this list of five books that would make great holiday gifts. If you're looking for something more specific or you know for a fact that the reader you're buying for has already read the book I recommended, comment or send me a message and I will give you some more options! Thank you for stopping by to read this and I will see you all real soon! Bye! 

Books Can Take You Anywhere- A Thousand Ships

 Hello friends and welcome to our FINAL installment in our Books Can Take You Anywhere series! This has been such a fun series to write, so thank you all for reading along! For our final post we are focusing on my favorite genre... any guesses? That's right! Greek Myths! I have posted some Greek myth retellings previously, but no worries! These are all new, never before featured on this blog! Let's get started! 

A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes

This book moves chapter by chapter focusing on several women from Greek Mythology. It includes stories from: the muse Calliope, Cassandra the seer, Queen Penelope, and so so many more. It is beautifully written and an amazing tribute to the power of women. 

If that sounds like something you would enjoy, I recommend these as well: 

* Athena's Child by Hannah Lynch

    A take on Medusa's myth told by the gorgon herself. It is angry and beautiful and haunting and it stuck with me for a long time. 

* Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

    This retelling of the Achilles myth focuses on Achilles best friend and soulmate, Patroclus. I really enjoyed seeing the story from his side, as he is often forgotten or sidelined by the might of Achilles. 

* Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker

    Okay, this book is incredible, but could be hard to read. It is the Trojan war told from the women's point of view. Women who were kidnapped and sold into slavery or handed out as prizes to the Greek generals. It really brings to light the suffering these women were forced to endure. 

Alright friends, thanks for reading! I've really loved this series and I'm so glad I did it! Let me know if you found anything you like, I'd love to hear from you! 

Books Can Take You Anywhere- Inkspell

 Hello again my bookish friends! I am back again with another installment of our series Books Can Take You Anywhere! Today we are talking about my favorite book series of ALL TIME. I know. It's a big deal. Let's dive right in! 

Inkspell by Cornelia Funke

Inkspell is the second book in the Inkheart series. This series follows Meggie as she harnesses her ability to read characters in and out of stories. It's my favorite series of all time and I don't want to say anymore about it because I want you to go read it. 

If this series sounds like something you would enjoy, check out these as well: 

* Fablehaven by Brandon Mull

    This is another series that immerses you in a world of fairy tale creatures and adventure. Great for readers of all ages! 

* Luminous by Mara Rutherford

    This book takes place in a kingdom where magic is forbidden, unless you work for the king of course. Liora spends her life hiding her abilities until the king's warlock, Darius, uncovers the truth. Liora ends up on a quest to save the kingdom with Darius, who may hold the answer to who she truly is. Will he be her salvation, or her doom? This is such a good book. I read it in one sitting. 

* Daughters of Eville Series by Chanda Hahn

    I couldn't choose one book out of this series, so here we are. Read the whole series. Each book follows an adopted daughter of a great sorceress as she attempts to find her power. They are all amazing. (My favorite is Aura...)

Thank you again for joining me for todays post! Let me know if you find a book you like! I'd love to hear your feedback! 

Books Can Take You Anywhere- A Curse so Dark and Lonely

 Hello fellow bookworms and welcome back to part 4 of our Books Can Take You Anywhere series! Today we will be talking about fantasy novels that feature hardcore female protagonists. These girls take matters into their own hands and are NOT damsels in distress. Let's gooo! 

A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer

This book follows Harper as she is literally dropped into the middle of a fairy tale. Harper must find her way back home all while dealing with a cursed prince, his captain of the guard, and an evil sorceress. Will Harper be the one to break the prince's curse? Or will she be trapped forever in a land far from home? 

This book is really great. It is a Beauty and the Beast retelling, but it twists the story into something completely new. If you think you'd enjoy this book, I recommend these as well: 

* Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

    This series follows Mare Barrow as she attempts to save her family and herself from required military inscription to will surely lead to death. While trying to find a way out she discovers that she is something else altogether, and more powerful than the people in charge who threaten her. This is a 4 book series. 

* To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo

    Princess Lira is siren royalty who tears out princes hearts for fun. Yeah. She's intense. Lira is very happy with her collection of hearts until another mermaid gets in her way and she is forced to kill her. To punish her, her mother transforms her into a human and demands that she deliver the heart of a prince who hunts mermaids for sport. A very bloody and intense take on the Little Mermaid story. 

* Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron

    It's 200 years after Cinderella found her prince, but now the fairy tale is over. Teenage girls in the kingdom are required to attend a ball, dressed to the nines, in hopes that a man will choose them as a bride. They only get three tries before they are deemed useless and taken as slaves by the king. Sophia doesn't want to be chosen by a man at the ball, In fact, she doesn't want a man at all. She's in love with her best friend Erin. When everything falls apart will Sophia stand tall, or will she fall victim to 200 years of tyranny? This book is an incredible take on an old fairy tale. Loved it! 

Thanks for joining me for this post! I hope you find something you like, if you do, let me know! See you all later! 

Books Can Take You Anywhere- Phantom of the Opera

 Hello again my friends! Welcome to part 3 of our Books Can Take You Anywhere series! Today we are talking about a few of my favorite classics. They may have been assigned reading in high school, but some classics are really incredible and merit a reread. Let's get started! 

The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux

I am sure that most of you know this story already, but in case you forgot, here is a summary: Christine Daae is an incredible opera singer, who was trained by her mysterious "angel of music" who seemingly haunts the opera house. Well, the angel of music is not an angel, it's a creepy man who watches  her through mirrors and lives in the walls. Will Christine be able to escape her stalker? Or will he take the entire opera house down with him? 

Such a good book and musical. I recommend both. If this book sounds like something you would enjoy, try these as well: 

* Les Miserables by Victor Hugo 

    Again, I'm sure most of you know the basis of this story. This book follows the life of felon Jean Valjean as he tries to get his life back after a decade in prison. Can he ever escape his past and become an honest man? Not if Inspector Javert has anything to say about it! Another amazing classic that became an equally incredible musical. 

* The Crucible by Arthur Miller

    This play takes place in Salem during the witch hunts. It takes a closer look at the possible motivations behind the girls insane claims. One of my favorites and a quick read. 

* Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbit

    This book follows young Winnie on her adventure as she meets the Tuck family, a family blessed (or cursed?) with eternal life after they drink from a magical spring. A good classic that will not make you want to cry for hours like some of the others on this list may. 

Thank you again for reading today's post! If you read any of these, let me know! I'd love to know what you thought! See y'all real soon! 

Books Can Take You Anywhere- House of Salt and Sorrows

 Hello again friends and welcome to part 2 of our Books Can Take You Anywhere series! Today we focus on one of my favorite books by one of my favorite authors. Let's dive right in! 

House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig

Annaleigh lives a privileged life in a gorgeous manor by the sea with her 11 sisters. (Yes, you read that right, 11 sisters). After their mother and 4 of the sisters pass away in quick succession the rest of the family is ostracized by the town and rumor of a curse begins to circulate. The sisters begin sneaking out using a magic door that can take them far from their troubles. All seems well, but Annaleigh is haunted by ghostly visions and a sense that her sisters deaths may not all be as they seemed. 

I adore this book. It is a perfect mix of fantasy and thriller. If that sounds like something you would enjoy I highly recommend these books as well: 

* Small Favors by Erin A. Craig

    Yes, the same author. I told you she was one of my favorites! This book follows Ellerie Downing as her quaint village seems to fall apart at the seams. People's possessions are going missing, buildings burn down, villagers begin seeing things that don't seem to be real... and in the midst of it all is a strange boy who seems to have eyes for Ellerie. Super spooky and intense. 

* Rolling in the Deep by Mira Grant

    When the Imagine Network sets out deep into the Mariana's Trench to film a "mockumentary" about mermaids, they never expected to find real mermaids. Or that those mermaids would have teeth. Or that they would EAT THEM. YES THE MERMAIDS EAT PEOPLE. I am a huge fan of mermaid stories, and this is one of my favorites. Of course I love romantic stories as well, with a mermaid and human falling in love and overcoming the distance to be together... but I have a guilty pleasure for stories about women going crazy and destroying things. This book fulfills that guilty pleasure nicely. It is also part of a duology! Yay! More mermaids eating people! 

Alright friends I hope you enjoyed these recommendations of some spooky fantasy books. Let me know what you think! See you all soon! 

    

Books Can Take You Anywhere- The Beholder

 Hello my bookish friends! I am super excited about today's post because it is the start of a SERIES OF POSTS that I have planned! This series will be titled "Books can take you anywhere" and each post will include a few short books recommendations. Each post will also contain a photo taken by ME of a reader who has been transported into their favorite story. (Shoutout to my family for being good sports and letting me photograph them in various crazy costumes!) The books featured in these posts will be ones that I feel truly fit the theme "Books can take you anywhere", they are immersive stories that will make you feel like you woke up in another world. With all that said, let's begin! 

The Beholder by Anna Bright

This book is a perfect mix of romance and nautical adventuring. Readers will sail with Selah on her voyages across the islands of her kingdom in search of true love. All while keeping an eye out for mischief caused by her evil step mother. This book feels like a new take on a classic fairy tale. 

If that sounds like something you would enjoy I also recommend: 

* Crown of Coral and Pearl by Mara Rutherford 

    Nor, a girl from a oceanic village is chosen to marry the king. We follow her as she travels inland for the first time in her life and is thrust into the arms of an evil ruler. Nor must gain her footing on land and figure out how to save the entire kingdom, all on her own. This book is part of a duology. 

* Sea Witch by Sarah Henning

    An Ursula backstory, readers follow Evie as she discovers that her best friend who drowned years ago, may not have died after all. Set in a gorgeous oceanic kingdom, expect to be completely immersed in the amazing scenery and detailed storyline. 

* All the Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace

    Welcome to Visidia, a beautiful kingdom made up of several islands. Each island has it's own traditions and magic. Readers will sail the kingdom with Amora as she attempts to stop a powerful villain from taking over. The magic system in this book is one of my favorites and is totally unique. This book is part of a duology and I highly recommend you read the set together. 

That's all for today friends! I hope one of these recommendations caught your eye, if it did let me know! I'd love to hear what you thought. See you real soon! 

Series Spotlight: Charlie N. Holmberg

 Hello friends! I hope that you are all having a beautiful spring and that life is amazing. I am so excited to be writing this post today. If you are a follower of this blog you may know that I am a longtime fan and follower of incredible fantasy author: Charlie N. Holmberg. I have posted about her before, but today I am here to talk about her newest series, Star Mother. If you are a fan of fantasy, romance, and immersive storytelling, Holmberg's writing is for you. 

I am a lover of mythology. Especially beautiful stories that attempt to explain something mundane and natural. For example: Echo and Narcissus, as the name tells you this myth explains the origin of echoes and the Narcissus flower. Another example: Persephone and Hades, this myth explains the creation of seasons, with Demeter grieving her daughter and refusing to allow plants to grow during her time in the underworld (Fall and Winter). The books I am talking about today do much of the same. They take place on Earth hundreds of years ago. (To be more specific, it's probably not our earth. The locations are purely fictional and Gods and Demigods are pretty prevalent, but it looks like our earth and has much of the same lifestyle that would have been seen here hundreds of years ago). The people worship the Sun, with temples and shrines built to him in most every town. With that very basic backstory, let's dive in to book one! 

Star Mother by Charlie N. Holmberg

Star Mother follows a young woman named Ceris, who is soon to be married. The marriage is arranged, but Ceris cares for the young man and hopes that he will learn to love her as well. One night she sneaks out of her home to go to him, but instead finds him hidden away in the woods with another woman. They whisper of their love to each other and their desires to be together. Ceris goes home broken-hearted, knowing that her betrothed will never love her back. Shortly after this discovery the Sun temple in town is lit by an other-worldly flame. The Sun God has chosen her town to provide the woman who will be the next Star Mother. Star Mothers are exactly what they sound like: they bear and birth new stars. When a star dies a mortal woman goes to the kingdom of the Sun God and they make a new star. The Star Mother bears the child for nine months before giving birth and dying. No woman has ever survived the birth of a star. Ceris decides to accept the task. If she becomes the next Star Mother she can break her engagement without any questions or rumors. Her betrothed will be free to marry the one he loves and Ceris will live on in fame and renown. Ceris meets the Sun God, spends her nine months in his kingdom, and gives birth to her star. Days later, she awakes. She has survived. I won't spoil the rest of the story for you, but I can honestly say that it is one of my favorite books I have ever read. The rest of the book is full of adventure and romance and everything you could wish for in a fantasy novel. It links the story to worldly things, like myths often do, which is my favorite part. It makes the story seem more real to me. I look out at the stars and I remember this story and it makes the real world seem a little more... romantic, I guess. 

Star Father by Charlie N. Holmberg

While Star Mother could easily have been a standalone novel, I will be forever grateful to Holmberg for not leaving it there. I had to know what came of the Sun God after the previous story ends. This book takes place years after the first, during a war between the Sun and Moon. This fight leads to the Sun being knocked out of the sky and landing on Earth. While the world is confused and frightened by the loss of the sun, Ai and her family are also attempting to care for a strange man that just showed up on their property one day. Hmm... who could that be? Anyways, his secret gets out, the Moon sends soldiers to try to take him out on Earth, they do not succeed, and the Sun is reinstated to his place of glory in the sky. Yay! All done, right? Nope! He managed to fall in love with Ai (a mortal) during his time on earth and she is not willing to give him up so easily. The rest of the book follows her and her eclectic group of friends at they traipse around the world attempting to reunite her with her lost love. It is beautiful and romantic and crazy immersive. We meet godlings and demons and the Moon and it's just really gorgeous. It definitely made me cry. In a good way though. 

That is my review of the Star Mother series by Charlie N. Holmberg! I highly suggest that you check it out and after you fall in love with it make sure you check out the rest of Holmberg's books as well. Thanks for stopping by to read this post, make sure you comment and let me know what you thought! Also feel free to comment or message me if you have ideas for future posts or are looking for recommendations. See you all soon!