anwhitebooks

[anwhitebooks]

A Curse Carved in Bone: Meh?

June 12, 2025 Spoiler-Free Review I loved book 1, A Fate Inked in Blood, but I almost didn’t finish its sequel and finale, A Curse Carved in Bone. What’s A Curse Carved in Bone about? Freya contends with a bloody prophecy and a deep betrayal while war approaches. Aside from a twist or two, it felt formulaic. ⭐⭐ Rating: 2 out of 5. I was prepared to love this book as much as the first, but…

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The Bullet Swallower: For the Red Dead fans

June 5, 2025 Spoiler-Free Review If you, like me, really enjoy the Read Dead Redemption games, or if you enjoy old westerns set in Mexico and Texas at the turn of the 20th century and which analyze themes of identity and legacy, then you’ll love The Bullet Swallower. What’s The Bullet Swallower about? In 1895, Antonio Sonoro sets out to rob a train, but when things take a fatal turn, he…

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Book fairs, Rachel Gillig, & May memes

June 3, 2025 Hello, book nerds! May was a busy month around here. Not only did I attend a book fair and a concert (Empire of the Sun), but I also got to meet the Rachel Gillig! The book fair was a fun event — there were so many cute booths. I made off with a ��blind date with a book” which turned out to be Done & Dusted by Lyla Sage. I’m just here for the cowboy romance. I’ll keep you updated…

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Listen for the Lie: Surprisingly engaging

May 22, 2025 Spoiler-Free Review Listen, if you’ve been following me a while, you know that mysteries and thrillers are very occasional reads for me. But here’s a rare 5-star one – and if you like mysteries with unique formatting, you should read Listen for the Lie. What’s Listen for the Lie about? Everyone believes Lucy murdered her best friend years ago, but there was no proof, and Lucy…

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The Starving Saints: Excellent fantasy horror

May 15, 2025 Spoiler-Free Review If you’re looking for a totally unpredictable horror novel set in a medieval fantasy world, where unnatural forces tip the scales and nothing is as it seems, you’ll like The Starving Saints. Click here for content warnings. Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Voyager for the ARC. All opinions are my own. What’s The Starving Saints about? In a castle under siege…

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The Bog Wife: Finally, a 5-star read

May 8, 2025 Spoiler-Free Review While I’ve had some interesting reads, 2025 has so far been a relatively lackluster year as far as my ratings. But this weird little read is my first 5-star novel of the year. If you’re into atmospheric, slow-burn gothic horror with an Appalachian flare, you might like The Bog Wife. What’s The Bog Wife about? After their father dies, five isolated, codependent…

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April memes

May 6, 2025 Hello, book nerds! I don’t have much to say about April. The highlights are: I read slightly less, played Halo slightly more, improved on my fitness goals, and spent less time staring into the void. I acquired a new favorite show (Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End) and finally watched Princess Mononoke. All things considered, an interesting, if predictable, month. Alright, here are the…

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The Jasad Heir (Book 1): Fun, but not standout

April 17, 2025 Spoiler-Free Review If you liked the main character of Throne of Glass and would enjoy a setting based on Egyptian and Middle Eastern cultures, you might like The Jasad Heir. What’s The Jasad Heir about? Sylvia, the long-lost heir to a destroyed empire now living a small life in a faraway village, must train as her enemy’s Champion if she wants to keep her secret. It has…

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March memes and life more generally

April 15, 2025 Hello, book nerds! Is mid-April too late to post about March? Whatever. I’ve slowed down on reading quite a bit over the last month. This is a good and bad thing — good according to my goal for the year, bad according to my stacked TBR. But also, I’m doing other things. (What?!) Yes, it’s true. I’m collecting hobbies like infinity stones for my gauntlet. Watching more movies…

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Sunrise on the Reaping: Welcome back to Panem

April 3, 2025 Spoiler-Free Review Ah, The Hunger Games. One of my all-time favorite series. If Haymitch’s Games interest you, then you need to read Sunrise on the Reaping. I’ve previously done a deeper dive on the themes of The Hunger Games, which you can read here. Click here for content warnings for Sunrise on the Reaping. What’s Sunrise on the Reaping about? 24 years before Katniss…

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A Drop of Corruption (Book 2): A solid sequel

March 27, 2025 Spoiler-Free Review A Drop of Corruption is book 2 in the Shadow of the Leviathan series. For my review of book 1, see below: Book 1: The Tainted Cup Thanks to Netgalley and Del Rey for the ARC. All opinions are my own. What’s A Drop of Corruption about? When a Treasury officer disappears into thin air, the Empire sends the eccentric Ana and her bemused assistant Din to…

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Romantic Comedy: A hate read

March 20, 2025 Spoiler-Free Review Romantic Comedy wasn’t for me. And to be honest, I couldn’t escape the feeling that this is the kind of book a person might write when they don’t want to admit they’re writing self-insert SNL fanfiction in which Luke Bryan falls in love with them. What’s Romantic Comedy about? Sally is a high-performing sketch show writer who laments the fact that average…

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The Once and Future Witches: Incredible prose, slow plot

March 13, 2025 Spoiler-Free Review If you liked Weyward by Emilia Hart, then I think you’ll like The Once and Future Witches, too. Click here for content warnings. What’s The Once and Future Witches about? In 1893, three estranged sisters are inexplicably drawn together again in a fight for suffrage that becomes a hunt to bring back witchcraft. I liked it, but not as much as I thought I…

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My February in memes

March 3, 2025 Hello, book nerds! I haven’t done a monthly wrap-up in a while, and to be honest, I didn’t feel like it. So I decided to meme-ify my month for you instead. You’re welcome. Water Moon: it wasn’t living up to my expectations, and it never made me care, so I stopped halfway through. I wrote a DNF review here. Tom Lake: I think I’ll try again when I’m in the mood for this kind of…

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The Broken Earth: Full trilogy review

February 27, 2025 Spoiler-Free Review If you’re looking for a magic system based on a sophisticated form of Earth bending, a rich and intricately built world that suffers constant climate crisis, and well-developed themes of oppression and freedom – you have to read this trilogy. Click here for content warnings. What’s The Broken Earth about? When a cataclysmic Earthquake strikes, Essun’s…

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Onyx Storm: A filler episode

February 20, 2025 This Review Contains Mild Spoilers* Listen, I loved Fourth Wing. I gave it five stars (I even went to a midnight release for the sequel). I didn’t really like Iron Flame, but I was willing to work with it somewhat in the hopes it was just a sophomore slump. But I barely made it to the end of Onyx Storm, and now I’m not sure I even want to continue the series. *I usually do…

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Love and Other Words: A sweet, if soapy, romance

February 13, 2025 Spoiler-Free Review If you enjoy romance, dual timelines, and contemporary fiction exploring the personal journeys that bring two people together, you’ll probably like Love and Other Words. What’s Love and Other Words about? Macy and Elliot were each other’s first everything, until a falling out split them apart. Eleven years later, a chance encounter catapults Elliot back…