#sunbear!reader

[quarterlifekitty]

Something something bear!hybrid!Price something something breeding you full of his cubs…please?

I’m gonna do some RECYCLING here

Imagine Grizzly!Price introducing himself on the day you move in. And he’s never seen a bear like you before. You’re a bear for certain— the fluffy ears and tail, the scent of fruit and honey, it pulls out instincts he’d long forgotten about.

But you’re so little. And you have that funny little ring of fur around your neck. And that long tongue. And you can’t stand the cold. No hibernation instincts whatsoever.

A sun bear.

And he feels this tremendous itch when winter comes. He always feels this sort of dull ache— sleep is calling him. But he’s the kind of man who can’t help but keep an eye on everything going on around him. And you’re not prepping at all. Where are your crates of groceries? Your house has a cellar for God’s sake and he hasn’t seen anything go in there. Each time he sees you through your window, just enjoying yourself and ambling around the house— it’s like dry kindling is being tossed onto the embers around his heart.

He always felt this hard drive to nurture, to provide, to nest— he can’t stand seeing you so vulnerable and unprepared. And you’re so small! What’s going to happen once you get snowed in and you barely have enough to last you a week and a half?

Which is why he keeps coming around. Bringing his own things, preserves, jerky, canned goods— all under the guise of having “made too much”. Proving he has what it takes to care for you. You don’t really get it, he can tell from the look on your face, but you appreciate the treats.

He can’t get the image of you licking into a nearly empty jar of blueberry compote with your too long tongue out of his head. Of course his girl wouldn’t be wasteful.

Price only gets broodier as the dead of winter approaches. A blizzard is forecasted— and he all but demands that you stay at his place. He has a generator, firewood, a full larder— you don’t. You follow easily, like a dog rolling over to have its belly rub. What’s to protest?

He insists you sleep in his bed. Why waste the body heat when you could share? He barely has to prompt you before you’re rolling around, playing in his sheets, rubbing your scent everywhere. Sun bears mate year round, so you always smell just a little ripe and juicy— and it drives him crazy.

Having you in his bed, keeping you warm, feeding you…. It pushes him into that state of mind. You’re not in a man’s house anymore, you’re in a bear’s den, and his body knows what comes in spring, even if yours doesn’t.

He grinds up against you in his half-asleep daze, his nose buried in your neck as he mutters about what you’ll look like all fat and happy from overwintering with his cubs inside you. You might be a bit too small to take his cock at first, and it might be a bit of struggle to carry his brood, but you’ll have him to get you ready. He’ll look after you every step of the way, so just don’t worry your pretty head about it, ok?

[ninsiana0]

Read CELESTIAL MONSTERS by Aiden Thomas if you love the aftermath, road trips, dysfunctional pantheons, delightful anarchists, dismantling systems of oppression, queer love, questioning authority, baking, cryptids, cenotes,vengeance, forgiveness, tiny birds & new beginnings.

ALSO: if you need a reminder that trans people are strong, joyful, brilliant, messy & beautiful, ALL of Aiden Thomas' books are a must read, but this duology in particular.

[lostinbooks2]

From a reader to a fellow reader if you didn't already read this book would this make you interested in trying it?

[torteen]

This advertisement is for Infinity Alchemist, a dark academia fantasy about a quest that leads three young alchemists toward dangerous truth, legendary love, and extraordinary power from the bestselling and award-winning author of Felix Ever After, Kacen Callender.

WHAT’S IT ABOUT

“A spellbinding, fast-paced and deeply romantic fantasy.” —Aiden Thomas, New York Times bestselling author of The Sunbearer Trials

For Ash Woods, practicing alchemy is a crime. Only an elite few are legally permitted to study the science of magic—so when Ash is rejected by Lancaster College of Alchemic Science, he takes a job as the school’s groundskeeper instead, forced to learn alchemy in secret. When he’s discovered by the condescending and brilliant apprentice Ramsay Thorne, Ash is sure he's about to be arrested—but instead of calling the reds, Ramsay surprises Ash by making him an offer: Ramsay will keep Ash's secret if he helps her find the legendary Book of Source, a sacred text that gives its reader extraordinary power. As Ash and Ramsay work together and their feelings for each other grow, Ash discovers their mission is more dangerous than he imagined, pitting them against influential and powerful alchemists—Ash’s estranged father included. Ash’s journey takes him through the cities and wilds across New Anglia, forcing him to discover his own definition of true power and how far he and other alchemists will go to seize it.

[bookwyrm-art-stuff]

Ok so I just got Celestial Monsters by Aiden Thomas (sequel to the Sunbearer Trials) And I NEED to comment on this stuff.

HEAVY spoiler warning below the cut (The book will not be the same if you read these beforehand)

-DEZI AND MARINO ARE DATING I KNEW IT I FUCKING KNEW IT

-Xio is the "Nightbearer" my gods the parallels

-I almost forgot Aurelio likes to cook he's so cute I love him

-Good on Xio for coming out! Horrible timing but I'm proud of them

-THEYKISSEDTHEYKISSEDTHEYKISSEDYESYESFUCKYES That scene was so cuteeeeeee!!!! I'm not sure it beats the wing scene but it's a near thing (mandatory why do all of their moments need to get interrupted note)

-NIYA AND AURISTELA KISSED???? DETAILS IMMEDIATELY

-*Intense heavy sobs*

-EEEEEE Aurelio in baking school I love him it's perfect now excuse me while I go imagine him as a househusband which he will be

(Btw is anyone else getting omgcp vibes? Between the baking and the relationship dynamic, like-)

@aidenschmaiden why do you make me suffer so. (Is this want you want? Do you want to see my pain? Well here you go you torturer of readers. You and uncle rick should make an I hate my fans club. /j obviously I love all your books sm)

[read-alert]

Another crosspost from my Instagram!

I won't be participating in the Trans Rights Readathon because I only heard about it the day before yesterday and as a library reader, I don't think I can get my hands on the books I would need that fast. But I figured it was a good time to post my favorite recent trans reads! Full titles and authors under the cut

Black Movie by Danez Smith

When the Angels Left the Old Country by Sacha Lamb

A Prayer for the Crown Shy (Monk and Robot #2) by Becky Chambers

The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas

A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall

Bad Girls by Camila Sosa Villada translated to English by Kit Maude

Femme in Public by Alok Vaid-Menon

From the Stars in the Sky to the Fish in the Sea by Kai Cheng Thom and Kai Yun Ching

The Fae Keeper (The Witch King #2) by HE Edgmon

[luna-mermaid]

DO NOT SUPPORT TJ KLUNE

I read a lot of LGBTQ 🏳️‍🌈 books and I remembering reading his “Under the Whispering Tree” and it was beautiful. So when he released the “House in the Cerulean Sea” and it was labeled like a Harry Potter -esque book, I bought it and read it. (No, I don’t support Jk Rowling at all and her transphobic ass, but I did read HP growing up and have been looking for a LGBTQ magical book without the shit Rowling stands for).

Was his book good? Yes, but i noticed some weird insinuations and stereotypes in his book. When I looked at his IG, I expected to see other queer authors I follow following him. Not a single one does. That should’ve been my red flag. I felt kinda curious so my gf and I went in book tok and thank gawd I did cuz holy shit this little duology he created is SO PROBLEMATIC!

RED FLAGS 🚩

“draws inspiration from the traumatic reality of Canadian residential schools for Indigenous children, portraying the experience as a lighthearted fantasy story.” BIG YIKES 🚩

Appropriation of Indigenous trauma

Glamorizing abuse for the “white savior” storyline

All white washed LGBTQ lead characters. No or very few black or brown LGBTQ diversity in his repertoire

When people called him out on his insensitivity to writing about indigenous trauma and a few indigenous people offered their help to share their experiences to make his story not so insensitive, HE REFUSED AND MADE ANOTHER SEQUEL!

Yet, so many yt readers LOVE his books despite all the red flags. Why? Racism and the need for a white savior storyline even in the queer community.

At the end of the day, there is still racism even in the queer community. They would rather support a clearly problematic author when there are TONS of other LGBTQIA authors of all different backgrounds and races that create amazing work that isn’t filled with harmful stereotypes (shoutout to Aidan Thomas’s Sunbearer Trials).

If you want recommendations, I’ll give them to you. But like JK Rowling, if you’re going to support an author who is full of red flags and purposefully creates stories that harms minority groups for profit, you just value white queer voices and don’t give a shit about black brown queer voices at all.

I said what I said.

[richincolor]

This month is starting off with a huge spread of books! There's something for just about everyone here. Which books are on your TBR list?

Celestial Monsters (The Sunbearer Duology #2) by Aiden Thomas Feiwel & Friends

Teo never thought he could be a Hero. Now, he doesn’t have a choice. The sun is gone, the Obsidian gods have been released from their prison, and now chaos and destruction are wreaking havoc on Reino del Sol. All because Teo refused to sacrifice a fellow semidiose during the Sunbearer Trials. With the world plunged into perpetual night, Teo, Aurelio and Niya must journey to the dark wilderness of Los Restos, battling vicious monsters while dealing with guilt, trauma, and a (very distracting) burgeoning romance between Teo and Aurelio. Once more racing against the clock, the trio are determined to rescue the captured semidioses and retrieve the Sol Stone. With it, Sol and their protective light can return and order can be restored. Now the future of the whole world is in their hands.

God Flare (The Reckoner Rises #3) written by David Alexander Robertson & illustrated by Scott B Henderson HighWater Press

Cole and Eva are reunited once more. A new terror looms as Mihko Laboratories latest human experiments are about to be unleashed. Cole is on the long road to recovery, but he’s still struggling with survivor’s guilt. He must stay focused as he, Eva, and their friends prepare for the final showdown with Mihko. After the events of Version Control, Brady’s mind is fractured, and he can’t distinguish between what really happened and what Mikho made him believe. Eva and Cole may have to face this terrifying threat without him. It’s a grim prospect, but a new discovery might just change everything: God Flare. Will Brady recover enough to join the fight? Can Cole come to terms with his abilities in spite of his PTSD? And will God Flare help even the odds against Mihko? God Flare is the latest volume in the Reckoner Rises series from best-selling author David A. Robertson.

Guava and Grudges by Alexis Castellanos Bloomsbury

Ana Maria Ybarra dreams of becoming a world-famous pastry chef, but dreams have a cost. Her family can barely keep the family business running, let alone pay for culinary school. Ana Maria helps out at the family bakery, Café Y Mas, whenever she can, but they are struggling while the rival Cuban bakery across the street, Morales Bakery, is doing better than ever with their Instagram famous desserts. Ana Maria's only hope is winning a recipe competition, which has a grand prize big enough to pay for culinary school. But then the ultimate distraction shows up in her small town: Miguel, a boy she spent one magical day with six months ago, and who she never thought she'd see again. Ana Maria thinks maybe fate has brought them together again for a reason-- until she learns the horrible truth that Miguel is a Morales. A Ybarra cannot be associated with a Morales-let alone fall for one. But when Miguel offers to help Ana Maria with the competition, she is so desperate to win she can't turn him down. All she needs to do is keep Miguel at arm's length and keep their deal a secret from their families. After all, teaming up with Miguel is just business, nothing more…right?

Immortal Dark (Immortal Dark Trilogy #1) by Tigest Girma Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

The Cruel Prince meets Ninth House in this dangerously romantic dark academia fantasy, where a lost heiress must infiltrate an arcane society and live with the vampire she suspects killed her family and kidnapped her sister. It began long before my time, but something has always hunted our family. Orphaned heiress Kidan Adane grew up far from the arcane society she was born into, where human bloodlines gain power through vampire companionship. When her sister, June, disappears, Kidan is convinced a vampire stole her—the very vampire bound to their family, the cruel yet captivating Susenyos Sagad. To find June, Kidan must infiltrate the elite Uxlay University—where students study to ensure peaceful coexistence between humans and vampires and inherit their family legacies. Kidan must survive living with Susenyos—even as he does everything he can to drive her away. It doesn’t matter that Susenyos’s wickedness speaks to Kidan’s own violent nature and tempts her to surrender to a life of darkness. She must find her sister and kill Susenyos at all costs. When a murder mirroring June’s disappearance shakes Uxlay, Kidan sinks further into the ruthless underworld of vampires, risking her very soul. There she discovers a centuries-old threat—and June could be at the center of it. To save her sister, Kidan must bring Uxlay to its knees and either break free from the horrors of her own actions or embrace the dark entanglements of love—and the blood it requires.

Little Moons written by Jen Storm & illustrated by Ryan Howe HighWater Press

In this moving graphic novel, thirteen-year-old Reanna grieves the loss of her older sister. Can she find comfort through her family’s Ojibwe traditions? It’s been a year since Reanna’s sister, Chelsea, went missing on her way home from school. Without any idea of what happened, Reanna and her family struggle to find closure. Driven from their home by memories, Reanna’s mom moves to the big city. Left behind on the reserve, Reanna and her little brother go to live with their dad. Reanna is hurt and angry that her mom has run away. She feels lonely, abandoned… but she is not alone. Lights turn on in empty rooms, and objects move without being touched. There are little moons everywhere.

One Last Chance to Live by Francisco X. Stork Scholastic Press

What would you do if you had one last summer to live? Nico has always believed in his dreams. Especially the dream he has of becoming a writer; it's the reason why he started taking a creative writing class his senior year of high school. But then Nico has a dream about his own funeral. A dream that feels too real to ignore. In it, Rosario is beckoning to him. Rosario was Nico's neighbor, his best friend's girlfriend, and his inspiration. She was also the girl that Nico was in love with. And Rosario died last year. Nico becomes obsessed with figuring out what Rosario was trying to say to him, and how she died. Surely if he can make sense of her death, he can find a way to prevent his own? But at the same time, Nico's mom is sick, and his brother is falling down a bad path with a local gang. Nico knows it's on him to step up and take care of his family -- but how can he keep it together when, like Rosario, he sees how easy it might be to just let go of it all. This searingly beautiful and hopeful novel is about the search for a life of meaning and creativity, while also accepting the flawed life that we're given. It's a love story between a teen boy and the girl who still haunts his dreams.

A Second Chance on Earth by Juan Vidal Holiday House

Have you ever encountered a book that KO’d you, Iron Mike Tyson style? One that hit you square in the face and heart like some abracadabra casting a hex from an unknown planet? For sixteen-year-old poet and b-baller Marcos Cadena, that book is the beat-up copy of One Hundred Years of Solitude he finds among his late father’s possessions after Papi is killed in an accident. Marcos’ papi has always loomed large in his eyes. So, when Marcos travels to his parents’ childhood home of Cartagena, Colombia to spread Papi’s ashes, he brings his father’s book with him, convinced that Gabriel García Márquez’s masterpiece holds the key to understanding Papi’s life and accepting his death. In Cartagena, Marcos befriends eighteen-year-old Camilo, a taxi driver and fellow García Márquez fan who appoints himself Marcos’ unofficial tour guide. Together, the two boys explore the landscape of Cartagena, from the picturesque streets of Old Town to the poor neighborhood where Camilo grew up. But when Camilo reveals a troubling secret from his past, Marcos must ask himself whether everyone deserves a second chance. Woven through with themes of friendship, family, and forgiveness, this poignant novel in verse is also a love letter to Colombia and to the books of Gabriel García Márquez.

Shadows of Perl (House of Marionne #2) by J. Elle Razorbill

Unleash the darkness. Claim your power. Quell Marionne’s explosive final Rite of Induction to House Marionne sent shockwaves through the magical world, unearthing long buried secrets and her own deadly power. But she paid a steep price: her family and her love. Fleeing Chateau Soleil for House of Perl, for once Quell is celebrated instead of shunned. She has finally found somewhere to belong. But secrets lurk in every House, and Quell’s quest to find her mom threatens to lead her deeper into the shadows. Assassin Jordan Wexton, second-in command of the Dragun brotherhood, must protect the source of all magic, the Sphere. Yet the biggest threat to the Sphere is Quell Marionne—the girl he loved, until she claimed the deadly, outlawed toushana. As the Sphere cracks and war brews among the Houses, can the only way to save the world be to kill his own heart? Now, these two lovers-turned enemies must confront their competing ambitions and conflicting loyalties. Or die. The future of magic hangs on their decision.

The Unfinished by Cheryl Isaacs Heartdrum

In this debut YA horror novel by Cheryl Isaacs (Mohawk), small-town athlete Avery is haunted by the black water and Unfinished beings of Kanyen’kehá:ka stories and must turn to the culture she hasn’t felt connected to in order to save her town. The black water has been waiting. Watching. Hungry for the souls it needs to survive. When small-town athlete Avery’s morning run leads her to a strange pond in the middle of the forest, she awakens a horror the townspeople of Crook’s Falls have long forgotten. Avery can smell the water, see it flooding everywhere; she thinks she’s losing her mind. And as the black water haunts Avery—taking a new form each time—people in town begin to go missing. Though Avery had heard whispers of monsters from her Kanyen’kehá:ka (Mohawk) relatives, she’s never really connected to her Indigenous culture or understood the stories. But the Elders she has distanced herself from now may have the answers she needs. When Key, her best friend and longtime crush, is the next to disappear, Avery is faced with a choice: listen to the Kanyen’kehá:ka and save the town but lose her friend forever…or listen to her heart and risk everything to get Key back. In her stunning debut, Cheryl Isaacs pulls the reader down into an unsettling tale of monsters, mystery, and secrets that refuse to stay submerged.

Wednesday: A Novelization of Season One by Tehlor Kay Mejia Random House Books for Young Readers

Return to the hallowed halls of Nevermore Academy with Wednesday Addams in this delightfully dark novelization of season one of the hit show, Wednesday! Wednesday is a sleuthing, supernaturally infused mystery charting Wednesday Addams’ time as a student at Nevermore Academy. Follow along with her as she attempts to master her emerging psychic ability, thwart a monstrous killing spree that has terrorized the local town and solve the supernatural mystery that embroiled her parents 25 years ago — all while navigating her new and very tangled relationships at Nevermore Academy. Relive the excitement and intrigue in this amazing novelization of the phenomenal first season. Based on the characters created by Charles Addams.

When Haru Was Here by Dustin Thao Wednesday Books

We Are Okay meets Wandavision in this novel about loss, and learning to let go. After the death of his best friend, Eric Ly creates imaginary scenarios in his head to deal with his grief. Until one of them becomes real when a boy he met last summer in Japan finds his way back into his life. When he least expects it, Haru Tanaka walks into the coffee shop and sits down next to him. The only thing is, nobody else can see him. In a magical turn of events, Eric suddenly has someone to connect with, making him feel less alone in the world. But as they spend more and more time together, he begins to question what is real. When he starts losing control of the very thing that is holding him together, Eric must finally confront his reality. Even if it means losing Haru forever.

[maddiesbookshelves]

USA Book haul 📚

I limited myself to 4 books because I didn't have a very big bag, and I only bought The Sunbearer Trials in hardback after a week of thinking about it because it was used and so half of its usual price. However, all of those are books I've been wanting to read for a while and have heard very good things about. Although, I did buy All These Sunken Souls mostly because of Joel Rochester, aka fictionalfates (go check out their yt channel/insta), who wrote one of the short stories in the anthology

If you're curious about these books, here are some summaries:

All These Sunken Souls: A Black Horror Anthology, edited by Circe Moskowitz

We are all familiar with tropes of the horror genre: slasher and victims, demon and the possessed. Bloody screams, haunted visions, and the peddler of wares we aren’t sure we can trust. In this young adult horror anthology, readers will get a little bit of everything they love—and a lot of what they fear—through a twisted blend of horror lenses, from the thoughtful to the terrifying.

Camp Damascus, by Chuck Tingle

Welcome to Neverton, Montana: home to a God-fearing community with a heart of gold.

Nestled high up in the mountains is Camp Damascus, the self-proclaimed “most effective” gay conversion camp in the country. Here, a life free from sin awaits. But the secret behind that success is anything but holy.

The Sunbearer Trials, by Aiden Thomas

As each new decade begins, ten semidioses are selected by the god Sol as the most worthy to compete in The Sunbearer Trials. The winner carries light and life to all the temples of Reino del Sol, but the loser will be sacrificed to Sol, their body used to fuel the Sun Stones that will protect the people of Reino del Sol for the next ten years.

Teo, a 17-year-old Jade semidiós and the trans son of Quetzal, has never worried about the Trials…or rather, he’s only worried for others.

But then, for the first time in over a century, Sol chooses a semidiós who isn’t a Gold. In fact, he chooses two. Now they must compete in five mysterious trials, against opponents who are both more powerful and better trained, for fame, glory, and their own survival.

A Dowry Of Blood, by S.T. Gibson

Saved from the brink of death by a mysterious stranger, Constanta is transformed from a medieval peasant into a bride fit for an undying king. But when Dracula draws a cunning aristocrat and a starving artist into his web of passion and deceit, Constanta realizes that her beloved is capable of terrible things.

Finding comfort in the arms of her rival consorts, she begins to unravel their husband's dark secrets. With the lives of everyone she loves on the line, Constanta will have to choose between her own freedom and her love for her husband. But bonds forged by blood can only be broken by death.

See below for bonus Ramsès content

[bookcub]

High Fantasy for Beginners

for @lexreadsdiversely

Disclaimer: I find adult fantasy a lot harder to access than YA and middle grade, so those are most of my selection. I also chose to include portal fantasies, as I consider them a subgenre of high fantasy, not separate.

Graceling by Kristin Cashore- Literally the easiest magic system ever, some people have Graces, which means they have super skills, ranging from swimming to weather prediction. Katsa's Grace is killing and she works for her uncle, one of the seven kings, but she also runs the Council, which intervenes with the kings' abuse of power. this is character driven, with an easy map to reference for the places mentioned. this can be read as a standalone or a series. Perfect entry into high fantasy imo.

In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan- Technically a portal fantasy, but portal fantasies are perfect for introducing new fantasy readers to higher fantasy worlds. Elliot goes to magic school and turns out, it sucks. This is a standalone YA book that follows him and his two closest friends throughout their 5 ish years at school. There are brief stretches in modern day England but the rest is set in a magical country. Again, this is more about the main character's journey and him exploring the world. the MC is also bisexual.

Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia- Another portal fantasy, this time middle grade, where Tristan ends up in the middle of a world where the stories his grandmother told him have come to life. The foundational stories to the text are explained within and we see the importance of them in Tristan's life. The world is really vivid and also grounded in African American history, which made it easier for me to follow the worldbuilding.

(ps Rick Riordan Presents is a really great line up of diverse middle grade fantasy that explore different mythologies from around the world. My second rec from this line up is Paola Santiago and the River of Tears by Tehlor Kay Mejia, which is slower paced but still a good intro to fantasy!)

Amari and the Night Brothers by BB Alston- I haven't read this book yet, but it's highly praised as a middle grade fantasy. From what I can tell, this is another portal fantasy with magical trials (possibly magic school?). At the core of the story is a girl trying to find her brother.

The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas- Another book I haven't read but it is a magic trials YA book, so there should be some good grounding of magic and world explanation without too much info dumping. It's based in Mexican mythology, following a group of young gods competing to help the sun and not a sacrifice (from what I understand). I really liked their urban fantasy, so I am confident in including this book! It is a completed duology as well.

Some older texts you can also consider is literally anything by Tamora Pierce or Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede

[bookaddict24-7]

REVIEWS OF THE WEEK!

Every week I will post various reviews I've written so far in 2024. You can check out my Goodreads for more up-to-date reviews HERE. You can friend me on Goodreads here.

Have you read any of these? What were your thoughts?

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321. The Sunbearer Trials by Aidan Thomas--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Re-Read September 2024!

My review below still stands. Will keep that as is! But I WILL say that I'm glad I re-read this before reading the sequel because it reminded me of why I loved it so much! (Original Review): If I were to simplify this, I would say that THE SUNBEARER TRIALS is like an LGBTQ+ HUNGER GAMES. If I weren't going to simplify it, I would say that this book is:

Incredible. This book is an adventure filled romp of a good ass time. There's tension, mystery, danger, and friendship so strong that it'll put hair on your chest. I'm kidding, but seriously, the MC's relationship with his best friend was so freaking pure. Even though they were put in a situation where one of them could die, they didn't even THINK about screwing the other over. It was such a pure thing that it was honestly one of my favourite things in this book.

Another thing was the tension between the MC and his ex-friend/obvious love interest. I love how Thomas handled their relationship and the slow build up of the trust that was broken years before. Watching them rebuild that connection was a joy, even if it was full of moments where I wanted to strangle one or the other for being so oblivious. I also appreciated the realistic idea of how one relationship is treated alongside this budding rebuild of an old and broken relationship.

Full of some pretty cool moments, a badass MC who is strong af in character, and a really neat world full of Spanish words that had my Latina heart giggling with joy, THE SUNBEARER TRIALS is a great adventure for those who already loved CEMETERY BOYS. Jump in and enjoy! I immediately need the sequel.....

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322. Celestial Monsters by Aidan Thomas--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If there is one piece of advice I can ever give to future readers of this book, it's this: Re-read the first book before this one if it's been a while. CELESTIAL MONSTERS takes place immediately after the events of the final chapter in the first book. Reading them together felt like a cinematic moment because this series is that magical and adventurous and fun.

CELESTIAL MONSTERS was truly a fantastic way to end this duology. There was the adventure of the sort-of road trip and also the monsters faced by the teens. But we also got to see the hypocrisy of this society. The gods were shown as flawed and we got to see how the different people of this world truly viewed them.

This one also had dual POVs, which was definitely needed because of the circumstances, and I loved it because it helped me get a clearer picture of what was happening, especially because the two POVs were in different places. I loved that touch. I think that the dual POVs were also a great way of getting to know different characters from unique perspectives.

The slow burn in book one is continued in here, but with it we have the opportunity to see a different side to one of the characters--we get to see how alone he can seem without his other half, which was something we kind of see in book one but it's easier to see the space they take up when that absence is made more obvious. But I did like this romance because it was one born from the gradual regrowth of trust and friendship.

Overall, CELESTIAL MONSTERS reminded me of how much I really love Thomas's writing. Everything I've read by him has been a hit with me. He even got me crying in this one, like sobbing. I can't recommend this series enough--especially if you love adventure, Queer stories, and a group of teenagers with the fate of the world in their anxious hands.

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323. Under All the Lights by Maya Ameyaw

I received a copy from the author and publisher

UNDER ALL THE LIGHTS is the anticipated sequel-ish to WHEN IT ALL SYNCS UP, except this time we're getting the story from a different character's perspective. I love companion novels because I get to learn more about the other characters through a wholly new perspective and Ameyaw doesn't disappoint in doing this.

I had an interesting experience with this one because I felt the anxiety the MC felt when he first meets the singer that will forever change his world. What follows is a wild ride and self-discoveries that can be very scary, especially when the MC is also faced with a homophobic father and a world that is following his every move.

Ameyaw is great at writing mental health into her stories and I think this will be something that younger readers will definitely relate to. I also loved her take on music, fame, and the complexities of juggling all of that while also figuring yourself out (the question of being bisexual and also the sometimes debilitating anxiety that haunts the MC in his every day life. )

If you like YA books that have a musical heart and a very realistic teenager trying to come to terms with his new reality, then you might enjoy this one!

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324. The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore by Laurie Gilmore--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Better than book one. And spicier.

^^ That was my main thought after I finished THE CINNAMON BUN BOOKSTORE and I still am thinking about it a week or two later. Gilmore just had more tension between the characters and I couldn't help but hope for these two to finally break and cross that line that had been set back in book one.

But the spiciness isn't the most important bit of this book--the relationship dynamic and growth was WAY BETTER. These two didn't have an insta-love type of situation, but I think this comes from being the obvious next couple by way of introduction in the first book. This also helped because we already knew they liked each other, but neither of them really knew if the other liked them. I liked this because while one of my big complaints of book one that it was a little too insta-love, this one made the reader (and characters) work for that relationship. Also, while sure they could use therapy (we all could, tbh), I didn't have that immediately side-eyed glance of "Wow, bud, therapy, yeah?"

I LOVED the need to be adventurous before turning thirty. It honestly brought back that feeling I had when I was in my twenties and I still didn't know what I wanted for my life. There're outside pressures that make you feel like you should be doing more with your life when you're actually actively already working towards making that life you want. But I loved the mystery and adventure before that pivotal birthday because it can be such a relatable experience. Turning thirty feels like a big step and that one goal-line most of us have that will mark whether we were successful so far in life, and if we have met the expected goals set by society. In this way, the FMC was heavily relatable. She was still a little bit of self-deprecating main character (oh, I'm a boring reader!), but she WAS very relatable.

The MMC was sweet in the most interesting ways. He was personable but also had a lot of his own hang-ups and insecurities. He was also younger than the FMC, which props to Gilmore, usually books with this age dynamic is fetishized and this one was just... a fact? Plus, the age gap wasn't THAT bad. LOL. But I liked that he also had his own journey for growth, like the FMC. I also liked him more than the guy in book one and not just because his character was just sexier and a wholly better package, but I also liked him because he worked for the love he wanted and he didn't profess that he falls too quickly with any girl he comes across.

As before, I did love the side characters and the antics they got into. I love the small town vibes and how everyone is in everyone else's business. This was definitely one of those books where things happen but they also don't? I don't know how else to explain it. This is literally just a cozy read for the Autumn season and if you skipped book one to read this, I won't tell anyone.

I'm actually excited for the next book. I'm hoping this is one of those series where the later books continue to get better.

___

325. Edge of Collapse by Kyla Stone--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

EDGE OF COLLAPSE is one of those books that immediately grabs you from the very beginning--not just because of the concepts, but because of how the characters are written and how they fill the pages.

I love a good apocalyptic novel because there's something oddly satisfying about a story where the characters are escaping a threat and are actively outsmarting whoever or whatever is trying to get them. The addition of survival in there is another bonus that makes books like this one immediately interesting to me. It's kind of like thrillers and how the concept of them is always appealing to me, but unlike thrillers, these apocalyptic books usually deliver (for me).

One of the best things about this book is definitely the way the author wrote the characters. The FMC, especially, was memorable and well written. I appreciated that her trauma didn't magically disappear when the end of the world starts--she's a human with real-life consequences to the abuse she lived through for years. I'm sure she will be processing these complex emotions throughout the whole series.

The MMC was interesting because he was flirting with the morally grey line. No human is simply good, so seeing characters like him in books--especially books like this one--gives the book a more rounded feel. The characters, whether it was the FMC or the MC, or the side characters that we get to meet, all gave this book so much life. They were all done so well and some were given so much care that we connect with them even if they weren't around for long.

Plus, there is an adorable addition in the form of a dog! He better make it through the whole series.

The villain was creepy and needs to fall into a vat of very hot oil. I'm curious to see his character and how he is throughout the rest of the book series.

I'd recommend this book if you like apocalyptic stories that deal with the death of technology, a road trip of sorts, and strangers who are forced to create a quasi-found family with a dog.

___

326. Chaos Rising by Kyla Stone--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I was lucky that the library audiobook I had borrowed for the first book in this series had this novella attached to it. I think it was a great addition and a wonderful way to fully empathize with the MMC and really understand why he was the way he was in book one. It was heartbreaking, but also had so much emotion. I actually liked this more than the first book in the series.

Stone also brings up the very real trauma of surviving the army and how that can bleed into your everyday life, even if you're starting a new family.

I got to see what broke the MMC's heart and what sacrifices he made before the EMP. I got to know him better as a character and what his life was like before he joined the FMC of book one and I really appreciate it. I think the first book would have benefitted from having this story included in it after we're introduced to the character.

Being in the heart of that devastation added a wholly new layer of reality to this series and how devastating it would be if it really happened. Plus, I find it fascinating because of what people end up doing in order to survive--which can range from devastating, to morally questionable.

I'm curious about the next books in the series and after this one, I'm even more excited.

___

327. A Soul to Keep by Opal Reyne--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A SOUL TO KEEP had been on my radar for over a year, ever since I came across it thanks to those often-times questionable TikTok recommendation videos. I wasn't feeling it the first time I tried to read it, but remained curious. Now having read the book via audiobook, I'm both glad I finally gave in and tried again and that it was through audiobook.

Y'all, this book is LONG. And I don't fully mean physically. The writing was interesting and the concept was truly very Beauty & the Beast but with more gore and demons, but the pacing was brutal. I took a whole star away because of it. Don't get me wrong--I ended up really enjoying this, but phew.

Despite the creepy cover, this was surprisingly tender and spicy. The connection between the two MCs was a slow building one, but worth the wait, especially since the payoff was so satisfying (but this doesn't negate that the book still felt too long). I liked that they had that communication that so many romance books seem to lack. I actually really liked these two together because they helped each other out in some pretty important ways.

And let's be honest, it's always heartwarming when these FMCs can look past the monstrous exteriors and find that prince shining within their beloveds. Although this is a monster romance, I think this was a great lesson in not judging people based on their physicalities.

While the pacing was questionable, this was definitely an interesting and strangely unique read! I will have to check out the second book!

___

328. The Tanglewood Wedding Shop by Lilac Mills--⭐️⭐️

LOL the overall rating of this book is a trip.

If you like quickly-paced romances, look no further. THE TANGLEWOOD WEDDING SHOP was so quick, in fact, that I'm still scratching my head over how these two characters got together. This was an instant romance that started with a scene where the FMC was being belittled by her boss.

I think the saving grace of this book was the adorable kid who fought against his mom about having a pet, even though her responses were pretty reasonable (I know he was just a kid, but he was of an age where he could understand that if they had a pet, they would be kicked out of their homes.) Another positive of the book was the older woman who helped her out and was a sort of fairy godmother.

The MMC was...kind of stalkerish LOL. This was a closed door romance, which I don't mind because I've read some really good books that are like this, but I think that choice was on par with the couple, especially since they were so boring. All I know is that I rolled my eyes a few times and side-eyed the FMC for being so judgmental and doing the same thing to the MMC that she was so worried others would do to her, all because she (falsely) assumed he had money.

Honestly, this book was a bit of a blur and I don't want to think more about it after writing this review. That rating is scary because I have no idea what earned this such a high rating.

___

Happy reading!

[shady-scripter]

🌙Masterpost🌙

Hi…again, I’m Shade from @birb-boyo I used to be skyward-shade and ootlink-is-love

Anyway, this is where I’ll be posting my writing

My AO3 is Shady-Scripter

I am also very happy to take requests for the following fandoms

Linked Universe

Percy Jackson and the Olympians

Hades game

The Sunbearer Trials

The Magnus Archives

I will be open to x readers but not to characters who are very obviously children who can’t say “dick” without giggling

Fluff- 🌕

Serious- 🌗

Suggestive- 🌙

Angst- 🌑

Asks to the Blood Moon

Stories of Heroes Lost to Time

Stories of United Assassins

Stories tied to ancient Myths

Stories recorded in the Archives

Stories of What Could Have Been

Stories of Scattered Universes

Stories for the Spooky Month 2023

Stay shady my friends

[ninsiana0]

One of the ways I trick my brain into getting out of a reading slump is to reread a book I loved, and then, if possible, read a new book by the same author (the new book in a duology, perhaps).

Also: this is the first BOOK (i.e. not fanfiction) I've read since October. Give me a cookie.

My "Read This If" review from 2022 still stands:

"Read THE SUNBEARER TRIALS by Aiden Thomas if you like mythology, tournaments, children bearing the brunt of their parents' sins, trans narratives, superpowers, birds, generational wounds, the power of friendship, obstacle courses, tender queer dynamics, candy, gods walking among us, and questioning power."

I'm already several chapters into CELESTIAL MONSTERS and really enjoying it.

[lostinbooks2]

Ok, sunbearer trials reader's you can't tell me that you can't help but grin,smile or giggle when all the other characters are cracking jokes over Teo having wings. It's small things like this that just make the characters more lovable. :)

[torteen]

This advertisement is for Infinity Alchemist, a dark academia fantasy about a quest that leads three young alchemists toward dangerous truth, legendary love, and extraordinary power from the bestselling and award-winning author of Felix Ever After, Kacen Callender.

WHAT’S IT ABOUT

“A spellbinding, fast-paced and deeply romantic fantasy.” —Aiden Thomas, New York Times bestselling author of The Sunbearer Trials

For Ash Woods, practicing alchemy is a crime. Only an elite few are legally permitted to study the science of magic—so when Ash is rejected by Lancaster College of Alchemic Science, he takes a job as the school’s groundskeeper instead, forced to learn alchemy in secret. When he’s discovered by the condescending and brilliant apprentice Ramsay Thorne, Ash is sure he's about to be arrested—but instead of calling the reds, Ramsay surprises Ash by making him an offer: Ramsay will keep Ash's secret if he helps her find the legendary Book of Source, a sacred text that gives its reader extraordinary power. As Ash and Ramsay work together and their feelings for each other grow, Ash discovers their mission is more dangerous than he imagined, pitting them against influential and powerful alchemists—Ash’s estranged father included. Ash’s journey takes him through the cities and wilds across New Anglia, forcing him to discover his own definition of true power and how far he and other alchemists will go to seize it.

[bloodandthunderrp]

Nashchadok, the Descendants

Perunov - Descendants of Perun, the Axebearers Children of the God of Gods, most often members of the Imperial Dynasty. In their most potent form, they are wielders of lightning. Lesser abilities include electricity manipulation and ion manipulation. Mokoshova - Descendants of Mokosh, the Healers Most often integral members of the medical community. Influencers of healing factors, manipulators of flesh and blood, killers--and sometimes creators--of disease. Moranova - Descendants of Morana, the Harvesters Pioneers of agriculture. The most prominent Moranova have been the Ministers of Science for generations. Capable of manipulating organic matter to varying degrees. Dazhbogov - Descendants of Dazhbog, the Sunbearers Ministers of War and historical allies of the Imperial family, Dazhbogov are notoriously robust, supernaturally skilled warriors of various kinds. Known for their discipline and, for ill or good, their obedience. Velesov - Descendants of Veles, the Dragonriders Reclusive but noble, more likely to keep to themselves and the mountainous east, where they protect the secrets of breeding, rearing, and commanding dragons. Zoyasova - Descendants of the Zoyas, the Star-readers Precognitive readers of the stars most commonly found in a settlement surrounding a convent to the south, where their potentially triggering environments and powerful abilities are easier to manage. Devanova - Descendants of Devana, the Forest-walkers Rejecters of modern life, most Devanova inhabit insular communities within the deep forests of Zinovia. Sometimes still referred to as "elves" or "fairies" by commonfolk, their abilities are tied closely to survival in the wild, and they are often confused with Elementals like Spriggans and Sylvans.