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July Wrap-up

Statistics-

Books Read: 11

Physical Books: 3

eBooks: 8

Avg Rating: 3.3

5⭐️: 1

4⭐️: 5

3⭐️: 2

2⭐️: 2

1⭐️: 1

Pages Read: 2,922

Daily Average: 94

Books-

Titles:

Light Me Up by Rebecca Rathe ● Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber ● Heart & Sole by Magnus Thorne & Achilles King ● Far From Neverland by River Hale ● Unleashing Mayhem by Grae Bryan ● An Unwitting Bargain by Grae Bryan ● The Ballad of Never After by Stephenie Garber ● Off-Ice Misconduct by S. Legend ● Right Pucking Daddy by Sara Hurst ● A Totally Platonic Thing by Eliot Grayson ● Teen Titans: Starfire by Kami Garcia & Gabriel Picolo

Reflection-

This month kicked my ass. I've not had a slump this bad in a really long time.

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🏹The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Garber🏹

Genre: YA Romantasy

Series Status: 2nd Book (OUABH)

This put me in a massive fucking reading slump, and also made me lower my rating of the first book to also be 2⭐️. Idk why Caraval worked for me so much and this just doesn't, but it doesn't. I think it's in part due to how slow-burn the romance is, given that Jacks being the true love interest is so fucking obvious. Like, Jacks getting a happy ending is the entire reason I wanted to read this series at all, and so far with how little romantic progression there's been, the plot is nowhere near interesting enough to keep me engaged, and that's just the truth. I don't care about the plot of the series at all.

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💔Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber💔

Genre: YA Romantasy

Series Status: 1st Book/Spin-off (Caraval)

I wish that I had liked this. I really loved Caraval by Stephanie Garber, and I mean this in the least disrespectful way possible, but I cannot believe this is the same author. I gave this 3 stars to be generous because it's YA and I'm 23, but for me, Caraval was really intriguing, had an interesting plot, engaging charcters – I also really liked the writing! This shares none of that, being honest.

The writings fine. It's fine, average YA Fantasy writing: easy to comprehend and just speed through, but the plot just wasn't interesting? For me, the book didn't pick up until part 3, but that's not until page 260. Which, I don't think I need to spell out is a long time to not be loving a book, when it's only 400 pages. That's only 140 pages of book that I found slightly interesting, and even then, it wasn't even the full 140 – maybe closed to 100-120 at a push. It was all just set-up!

Like, Evangeline's boyfriend is randomly marrying her step-sister so she prays to the Prince of Broken Hearts to stop the wedding. He does so by turning everyone to stoke 'cause it's Jacks and Evangeline regrets everything, so saves them by turning herself to Stone. She's awoken 6 weeks later and is famous for her selfless "heroism" and is randomly invited to tea with the Empress and her sister, who is obviously Scarlet and Tella from the OG series. They then ask Evangeline to be a representative for the kingdom at a celebration in the northern kingdom, which is so weird because they don't know this bitch (though is revealed that Jacks manipulated that but it's not explained how.) Then through Jacks scheming she bewitches the Price of the North, Apollo, into loving her and they get married, but because of that they have no chemistry. He's then "killed" and Evangeline is blamed and that's 260 pages of the book. So, she then goes off with Jacks, and it's revealed that her sister cursed Evangeline's OG love into marrying her, and that the Prince's brother is the one who killed "him" but Apollo also isn't dead. Also, Jacks is the reason why Apollo won't wake up becasue he's using him as a bargaining chip to get Evangeline to open this thing called the Valoury Arch.

It's 400 pages of set-up, but only like 100 of those pages are actually relevant to the next book. I just hope that with this entire book not really having a plot and being all set-up, that the 2nd book actually has an interesting story.

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🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈June Recap🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Statistics-

Books Read: 33

Physical Books: 20

Owned: 14

Library: 4

Borrowed: 2

eBooks: 13

Audiobooks Used: 2

Rereads: 11

Average Rating: 3.9

5⭐️: 10

4⭐️: 14

3⭐️: 7

2⭐️: 1

1⭐️: 1

Pages Read: 12,769

Daily Average: 426

Books-

Titles:

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins ● Not Catching Love by Saxon James ● The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon ● For Whom The Belle Tolls by Jaysea Lynn ● Cloudy with a Chance of Bad Decisions by Fae Quin ● The Scarlet Veil by Shelby Mahurin ● Cubs & Campfires by Dylan Drakes ● The Shadow Bride by Shelby Mahurin ● Love at Second Sight by F. T. Lukens ● Echo by Chani Lynn feener ● Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan ● Hexed by Emily McIntire ● City of Bones by Cassandra Clare ● City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare ● City of Glass by Cassandra Clare ● Less by Andrew Sean Greer ● The Red Scrolls of Magic by Cassandra Clare & Wesley Chu ● City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare ● Vile Heart by Lola Malone ● Distant Heart by Chani Lynn Feener ● Carnal Heart by Emmy LaRoux ● Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle ● The Rejected Wife by L. Steele ● City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare ● The Bane Chronicles by Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan & Maureen Johnson ● City of Heavnly Fire by Cassandra Clare ● Less is Lost by Andrew Sean Greer ● Choose Me by Beck Grey ● Boss Daddy by Jayda Marx ● Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy by Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan, Maureen Johnson & Robin Wasserman ● Under Your Care by E. Baileu ● Yours to Break by E. Baileu ● Bull's Boy by Kiki Clark

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🏹Tales From the Shadowhunter Academy by Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan, Maureen Johnson & Robin Wasserman🏹

Genre: YA Contemporary Fantasy

Series Status: Side Novel

This is the only book I'm not following the chronological order for, mainly because the sections that take place in the past are less than 50% of the story. This, in its entirety, is about Simon, and I don't want to disrupt the experience rereading it, since up until Queen of Air and Darkness and Chain of Gold, this was my favourite Shadowhunter book. It surprises me til no end since I'm such a sexist when it comes to my favourite characters, (they're always women,) but Simon was genuinely my favourite TMI character after originally reading the series.

Welcome to Shadowhunter Academy-

It's going to be interesting reviewing this because I've always viewed this as a novel, not a short story collection. So this is going to be like reviewing a book by chapter. I think this was a good introduction. Its main purpose was to set up the academy, the cast of characters – but also Simon. It makes it clear that this is not the Simon we knew, he's a different person, and even after he goes through all this and potentially gets his memories back, he's never going to be that person again. I think the fact he breaks up with Isabelle is really shocking, but also just drives that point home.

I think it also does well with subtly setting up Shadowhunter superiority. Shitting on Downworlders, shitting on mundies, cause if I remember correctly some of the characters in this become cohorts members in TDA and also Simon does deal with friction through the book from some of the students because he has morals and empathy.

I think this book is also where my LOVE of Catrina Loss comes from, so I'm looking forward to seeing more of her.

The Lost Herondale-

The OG story alluding to Kit's existence. The main meat and potatoes of this is that the law is hard but it sucks ass sometimes. Like in real life, sometimes what is morally right isn't what's legally right and Simon has that mundie logic that confuses shadowhunters who believe law is LAW.

The Whitechapel Fiend-

I feel robbed of Jace talking to Tessa!

Nothing But Shadows-

As I said in my "preface" for a lack of better words, I choose not to read this or the previous story in their chronological placement to reserve rereading this to its own experience. I don't regret that because the story being told about James and Matthew here is being directly related to what Simon is going through, but I also didn't remember it at all so that's missing context I didn't have reading Last Hours. Is what it is.

The Evil We Love-

Like Simon, I'm mad I didn't trust Isabelle cause I was low-key starting to hate her in this. Also, Robert and Micheal is such a sad cautionary tale, as much as Robert as a person, I find disgusting, he's a very interesting character and I'm glad he got a second chance with Alec.

Pale Kings and Princes-

God, this was so sad. First, the way Helen is treated is just disgusting. Then, you get the cuteness with Simon and Izzy. Then at the very end you learn that the story Helen knows of her mother isn't true, that her father did love her, but she loved him so much she let him go and made him believe that he hated her and Helen will just never know.

Bitter of Tongue-

Probably the biggest set-up for TDA, seeing Mark and him finding out the Clave isn't planning on rescuing him. So sad, so depressing. Just wait 4 more years, sis, your polycule is coming!

The Fiery Trial-

Cute story about Simon and Clary deciding to be Parabatai.

Born to Endless Night-

This is probably my favourite story. Actually hurts my heart so much to see how welcoming the Lightwoods are of a warlock baby, Maryse and Robert were in the circle for fuck sake and they seem more excited than Alec and Magnus were!

Angels Twice Descending-

R.I.P. George Lovelace, you weren't a quitter and deserved so much more.

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🔥City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare🔥

Genre: YA, Contemporary Fantasy

Series Status: 6th Book (Finale, Mortal Instruments)

I don't want to speak for other people, but now having fully reread this series as an adult I truly think this book is the reason the series is remembered so fondly, despite how "inappropriate" the majority of the plot was. I think this was a perfect end and a good example of a great YA finale. It had the best writing up until this point, being Cassandra's 9th book; It had great pacing and raised the stakes very high, very fast setting the tone for the rest of the book; It had a good mix of really tense and sweet moments; important character deaths, but also none of the main cast. However, with that, they don't get out unscathed with Simon losing his memories which I think was a good counter-balance.

I also know some people don't like the fact that a portion of this book is then spent setting up The Dark Artifices, but given that is my favourite series, I personally don't mind it. This lays the seeds for how political the next series gets, also showing how Shadowhunters despite everything can be cruel and bigoted with not only how they treat the faeries, but also Mark and Helen Blackthorn for being half-fae. It's not a surprise the Cohorts grow out of what they allowed.

I also liked Sebastian as an antagonist. He was straight-up evil and twisted but still had a flaw in the deep desire for the love and approval of his family, mainly Clary. Obviously, it was a sick and perverted love with him wanting her to be his queen, but it also made him real. He had a true weakness, and that's how he was brought down because otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to stop him – genuinely.

On another note, finishing this, I remember why I've always said Simon was my favourite character, and he still is. He's the best of them, and similar to the last time I read this – it's made me want to start Tales From the Shadowhunter Academy right away!

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🌀The Bane Chronicles by Cassandra Clare, Sarah Reese Brennan & Maureen Johnson🌀

Genre: YA Historical/Contemporary Fantasy

Series Status: Side Novel

I don't know why, but I wanted to read the entire Shadowhunter Chronicles again? Especially since I've never reread the original 2 series since I first read them? This time, I'm doing it in chronological order (mainly cause I've still not read the Last Hours trilogy, and I don't want to have to read through 17 books to get to them,) which means starting with this collection. By the time I post this review, I'll have already posted reviews for the entire Infernal Devices trilogy and almost finished Mortal Intruments, but since I'm going to write my thoughts as I read each story, I've not even started Clockwork Angel at the time of writing this.

I also make references to spoilers throughout the entire Shadowhunter Chronicles, so;

What Really Happened in Peru-

On the surface, this is just a goofy short story about all the hijinks that Magnus got up to that ultimately don't lead him getting banned in Peru: leading to a twist ending, adding to the comedy aspect. When I first read this collection, and specifically this story as an opener, I found it quite boring and pointless. I was like 16/17 and couldn't really appreciate it because this isn't about what happened in Peru. This is just my take, but the real meat and potatoes of this story is the 1890 section. It's a glimpse into what Magnus' life as a warlock has looked like up until he meets Alec. How lonely it can be? Also discussing how hard it can be as an immortal to allow yourself to love a mortal, the heartbreak you're opening yourself up to and whether they even deserve the chance given that most warlock children are born out of rape, which I didn't appreciate the first time round. I actually picked out some quotes, which I normally never do, but they spoke to me in a sense and they're all said in the same conversation, by the same character, Catarina Loss (who is one of my favourite Shadowhunter background characters.)

"I was born this color. I did not know how to wear a glamour as a newborn. There was no way to look like anything but what I was then, all the time, even though it was not safe. My mother saw me and knew what I was, but she hid me from the world. She raised me in secret. She did everything she could to keep me safe. A great wrong was done to her, and she gave back love. Every human I heal, I heal in her name. I do what I do to honor her, and to know that when she saved my life she saved countless lives through the centuries."

"We owe a great deal to human love. We live forever by the grace of human love, which rocked strange children in their cradles and did not despair and did not turn away. I know which side of my heritage my soul comes from."

"Our fathers were demons," said Catarina. "Our mothers were heroes."

And then this one from Magnus, which really just encapsulates the message:

"To them, as to Magnus, time was like rain, glittering as it fell, changing the world, but something that could also be taken for granted. Until you loved a mortal. Then time became gold in a miser's hands, every bright year counted out carefully, infinitely precious, and each one slipping through your fingers."

Obviously, reading the series, it's not hard to say Alec is and will be the love of Magnus' immortal life, but that doesn't mean they're any different from every other warlock × mortal relationship that Magnus experiences in this story. The epilogue of Clockwork Princess is infamously devastating because of what Tessa has to go through with Will, but this quote and story are a stark reminder that it's also what's waiting for Magnus and Alec at the end of their relationship. There's even a conversation about it in Red Scrolls of Magic between Magnus and Tessa where he asks her how she continued on after outliving not only her husband but also her own children? The obvious subtext being: how will I survive it?

The Runaway Queen-

Again! Being 100% honest, I didn't like this collection when I originally read it. It was probably my least favourite shadowhunter book despite me giving it a 4. However, now 2 for 2, we have what are silly stories that have deeper interpretations. The main moral of this story is that Magnus will do anything for a pretty face, lmao. There was a guy, black hair and blue eyes, just Magnus' type, who asked him to help Marie Antoinette & Louis XVI escape Paris during the height of the French Revolution — and he agrees because he wants to smash. The plan goes a bit awry, there's some vampires involved, but Magnus gets the Queen to where she was supposed to be, but then he himself needs to flee Paris because the vampires threaten the handsome mortal he has a crush on. He gets news weeks later that the monarchs were captured trying to escape France and were taken back to Paris, and he's asked for help again, this time by the handsome guy's sister because by trying to help, Axel's life could be at risk, but Magnus just burns the message.

The overview of this story is obviously quite camp, but it's the ending that just reiterates my thoughts from the first story. Magnus has been settled in Paris for 6 years but is then forced to leave a home behind again because by giving his attention, he's put this mortal's life in danger. A mortal who is then gungho to put his own life in danger by going back to France to try and save the Queen once again! Leading to Magnus choosing to forget about him, not wanting to get wrapped up in human politics when to him it's all so fleeting. He's genuinely seen it all before. Times change. Being a spectator is just a part of the curse of being an immortal, and sometimes you do just have to take a step back and let things play out how they will.

"Axel would return to Paris. Of that, Magnus was sure. Vampires, fey folk, werewolves, Shadowhunters, and demons — these things made sense to Magnus. But the mundane world — it seemed to have no pattern, no form. Their quicksilver politics. Their short lives... Magnus thought once again of the blue-eyed man standing in his parlor. Then he lit a match and burned the note."

Vampires, Scones, and Edmund Herondale-

This one I don't have as many thoughts on. Since I'm reading this in chronological order, it's the first instance of Shadowhunters being horrible bastards: so that fun. It was also cute getting to see Will's parents meet for the first time and how much Edmund was willing to give up to allow Linette to live her life but still be together. I also liked the fact there was a focus on Magnus pursuing a woman in this, even if it was Camille (🤮). As much as there's been refence of him dating women, it's nice to have his bisexuality so overt and in your face. Also, now we're getting more into genuine prequel territory that reveals things about the series, I have a feeling that going forward, I'm not going to find them as profound, lmao.

A note now I've actually reread Clockwork Angel & Prince: obviously read this story, but going into the novels, I genuinely forgot him and Camille do actually get romantically involved IN the text, and you have to read about it 🤮🤮. Also, Magnus stepping aside to allow Camille to be with that werewolf since he was mortal, and Magnus isn't, so is able to wait for her is so Jem × Tessa × Will coded. I kept thinking about it while I read Clockwork Angel, when you learned that the werewolf was then killed, which is why Magnus and Camille are now together. Not unlike Tessa and Jem being together in the present.

The Midnight Heir-

It's so interesting reading this again after having read Ghosts of the Shadow Market and Chain of Gold because James and Grace just appear so different. Which makes sense given that this was written YEARS before any of those stories, so these characters were more ideas than fleshed out people. Still, this was veryyy angsty. Very apt considering the Last Hours Trilogy is probably one of the messiest of Shadowhunter love stories, lmao.

Edit: now, having finished reading Last Hours, Grace being very different was on purpose, lol.

The Rise of the Hotel Dumort-

It's now been months since I read a story from this collection, so I'm very much not in a big reviewing mood the way I was when I started. I don't know what my takeaway from this was. Just another example of Magnus not really caring for the ongoings of the mundane world having seen it all before and it all happening no matter what you do to prevent it. This also is sort of clickbait in a sense because it's not really about the founding of the Hotel Dumort? More just the events that led up to it being abandoned so the vampires could eventually take it over, but that doesn't happen during this story.

Saving Raphael Santiago-

This was a really cute story of how Magnus met Raphael. I think the aim of this is purely just to make what happens in Heavenly Fire hurt that much more, lmao.

The Fall of the Hotel Dumort-

This was interesting. I don't know what I make of it. It's interesting to see how true Magnus' feelings for Camille were that after the events of this story, he had Catrina wipe his memory of what he'd seen. Reading these stories separate from the context I'm sure they're in reference to in the main books is interesting given I haven't read TMI in in like 7 years. I'll be looking to see if this stuff is referenced.

What to Buy the Shadowhunter Who Has Everything (and Who You're Not Officially Dating Anyway) & The Course of True Love (and First Dates)-

Decided to lump these together since they're similar vibes, just really cute stories about when Magnus and Alec first got together. It's also funny, but there was something that was said by Raphael which is a call back to a story in Ghosts of the Shadow Market, obviously in reference to this since it was written first. Just fun to notice.

The Last Stand of the New York Institute-

This might be my favorite story tbh. It's interesting to see Valentine's Circle and how they operate, not that different from the cohorts in TDA. I think it's also interesting to see the setting of the original uprising happening during the AIDS epidemic, just a time of intolerance all around. However, the reason I love this is the end where Jocelyn goes to Magnus and Tessa and asks for help. Tessa seeing her old friends in her face, taking on the name Fray.. rereading it in chronological order was for a moment like this.

The Voicemail of Magnus Bane-

This was such a nothing short story, lmao. Purely for comedy. It's funny to be done since I've been reading this since the beginning of February and now it's 4 days of July. Also how deep I was reading into the stories in the beginning. My reviews have just gotten shorter and shorter, but that's how it goes.

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🗡City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare🗡

Genre: YA, Contemporary Romantasy

Series Status: 5th Book (Mortal Instruments)

This was originally I think my favourite book in the series and I can kind of understand why. Since finding out they were fake siblings at the end of the first book Clary and Jace haven't really spent much time just together, they're always around other people or avoiding one another. It's nice to have such a large section of the book just be them together. Then you add Sebastian into the mix and it just makes everything more interesting. I also loved Simon's development in this book. His storyline here really reminds me why after finishing the series originally, I considered him my favourite character.

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🦋Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle🦋

Genre: Adult, Queer Horror

Series Status: Standalone

I can't believe with how much smut I read, the first Chuck Tingle book I've read is his serious Horror book and I actually liked it? It was really easy to read, and easy to understand. Tbh, I'd recommend it as an entry into horror fiction because it's not convoluted, or even that scary/gross. Quite an interesting commentary on Christianity and Conversion Therapy and how they don't actually ethically align with each other.

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🩸City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare🩸

Genre: YA, Contemporary Romantasy

Series Status: 4th Book (Mortal Instruments)

I was originally going to stick with my original rating since I felt that the plot of this wasn't so intriguing enough to warrant a 5⭐️. Then I remembered that I technically gave Red Scrolls of Magic 5 stars and I enjoyed this way more than that, so fuck it! I just really fall into the writing of Cassandra Clares's book, get so invested, and easily fly through them. Also, for me, this is where the series picks up since all the characters are established, and I love reading about this group and seeing all their dynamics. I think this used to be my second least favorite in the series just above City of Ashes, but now I'd say I liked this more than that and City of Bones. Simon has always been one of my favorite characters and I forgot that he's essentially a protagonist for the majority of this book, so it was just fun getting to spend so much time following him. I'm also looking forward to seeing more of his relationship with Isabelle forming cause I couldn't remember when they initially got together, so this is all fresh for me again.

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🇫🇷🗼The Red Scrolls of Magic by Cassandra Clare & Wesley Chu🚂🇮🇹

Genre: YA, MM Contemporary Romantasy

Series Status: 1st Book/Companion Novel (Eldest Curses/Shadowhunter Chronicles)

This is a 5⭐️ because I don't like to lower my original ratings unless I vehemently disagree with them. I still really enjoyed this book because I love Alec and Magnus, it's so cute to see their budding relationship and their being unsure around each other. It is also just fun to get extended time with these characters since in TMI they're both secondary, getting surprises like finding out how Helen and Aline meet, seeing more of Magnus' relationship with Tessa, learning more about Magnus' past. The book has a lot going for it! Just something about the writing didn't click with me the way regular Shadowhunter books do. I don't know if it's cause this is a fully co-authored novel and not just a short story but it did read noticeably different, which affected my enjoyment. I feel like this time around was more of a 4⭐️ experience. I still really enjoyed it, just not as obsessed!

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🇲🇽🇮🇹🇩🇪Less by Andrew Sean Greer🇫🇷🇮🇳🇯🇵

Genre: Adult, Literary Fiction

Series Status: 1st Book (Andrew Less)

I don't think I have much I can say about this. Me and books that win the Pulitzer Prize don't usually mesh. The fact that I even liked this is a massive shock to me. My friend got me this about 3 years ago as a random book she just found that she thought it sounded interesting. I started it in April of 2023 and am only just finishing it which tells you everything, I found it boring and hard to get through at first because I just wasn't interested, I'm not a big fan of just straight contemporary, it's for no reason I can name, I just struggle to get through them. The book didn't hook me until I spoiled the ending for myself, and that twist is what made me want to finish it and have been meaning to for the past 2 years.

I don't know why Freddy, the ex whose wedding Arthur is avoiding throughout the book, being the narrator changed how I viewed the story, but it did. So I bucked up, got access to an audiobook and forced myself through. It's funny because there are so many nods to the fact Freddy is the narrator even though he always refers to Freddy the character in the 3rd person.

I liked the fact that Arthur is 50 in the book. This obviously won a prestigious award because it's "thought-provoking" and his age plays a part in that. While running away from his current feelings and problems the book looks back on Less in the past and what he's been through; relationships, bad decisions, and funny moments. Showing that they're all worth something even if they didn't go the way he expected.

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⭕️City of Glass by Cassandra Clare⭕️

Genre: YA, Contemporary Romantasy

Series Status: 3rd Book (Mortal Instruments)

It will be nice to read Fallen Angels and be able to write a review that isn't centred around incest because wow, still a big part of this book. They don't find out they're not related until page 400, and even then Clary and Jace do not get to acknowledge it until right before the epilogue, so this was a lot of inappropriate pinning. Also, the fact that Clary kisses her actual brother as well. She didn't know, but thats always the case with her: Clary Fray the original brotherfucker.

I've not lowered my rating though because this is still a great book plot-wise. I think the twist about the mortal mirror being the lake was so genius. The stuff around Jace being a Herondale is set up well. Getting to see more of the shadowhunter world and the politics of it for the first time is really interesting. Overall it's just a fun book, but I am now more excited to get into the later half of the series, to get away from incest angst, and to the more respectable incest disgust with Jonathan's weird obsession with wanting to own his sister.

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🛥City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare🛥

Genre: YA, Contemporary Romantasy

Series Status: 2nd Book (Mortal Instruments)

So I was wrong about the fact that they find out they're not siblings in this book – they don't! So, that's fun. Now have to wait probably like 300 pages into City of Glass. I can't believe how long the incest ruse lasts? I also loved how down for it the book is. Clary and Jace separately at different points don't care that they're related and still want to be together, which I found funny. Standing on incest business #justsiblingthings™️. They even kiss while fully believing they're related.

One thing I'll say though, is it is heavily set up. If you know they're not related going in, there are so many little things here and there pointing to them not being siblings. I also raised my rating, because minus the incest stuff (which I stated in my last review, I can't judge,) I enjoyed this as much as the first book, so there's no reason for it to have a lower rating. That is also partly why I wanted to reread the series cause for a while now, I've felt that my hatred of City of Ashes was very biased and I was curious what I'd think. I've always considered it the worst Shadowhunter book but it's literally fine? Same quality as City of Bones. Going forward though is where it starts to hit for me because I loved City of Glass the first time I read it.

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🦴City of Bones by Cassandra Clare🦴

Genre: YA, MF Contemporary Romantasy

Series Status: 1st Book (Mortal Instruments)

I don't this is going to be that long of a review. It was interesting going back since I have never reread this since reading it originally in 2017. It's not a bad debut, I've read worse from more recent ones, and this has stood the test of time with the series still going now almost 20 years later. Not that it doesn't have its issues. There was a casual slur here and there that was "acceptable" in 2007, and obviously.. the whole incest stuff.

Now, if you're someone who could never get passed that and don't like the series because that – FAIR. I personally don't mind because I know they're not actually related. I do think it was a weird choice given that Clary and Jace are endgame and start dating after believing they were siblings, but like.. the drama? The angst. It's weird as fuck but I get what Cassie was going for, having read literal incest taboo romance. Falling for someone and finding out you're related doesn't negate those initial feelings you had, and if that's not angst, I don't know what is. If you're disgusted by it, though, totally fair. Maybe not the most appropriate for a YA story.

I also forgot how mean all the characters come off! All a bunch of assholes in the beginning.

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🧜‍♀️Hexed by Emily McIntire🧜‍♀️

Genre: Adult, MF Dark Romance

Series Status: 6th Book (Never After, Finale)

I enjoyed this more than I was expecting. I also flew through it, almost 600 pages in less than 3 hours! I've been putting it off for months, I partly think because of the cheating aspect and how angsty the book was gonna be because of it, but I loved it. All the yearning, and resentment. I also really enjoyed the plot and found it quite engaging. So I think this leaves my Never After ranking as such;

1. Scarred

2. Wretched

3. Hexed

4. Crossed

5. Twisted

6. Hooked

But in reality, I enjoyed them all for different reasons and at different severity. So with that, I'm looking forward to starting her Sugarlake series, even though it is completely different tonally.

[malimothreads64]

🪷Immortal Sue Lynn Tan🪷

Genre: Adult, MF Romantasy

Series Status: Standalone (Celestial Kingdom Series)

I loved the Celestial Kingdom Duology and didn't love the companion short story collections, so this was always gonna be interesting for me. Thankfully, I did like it! It just didn't hit enough for me to give it a higher rating. I liked the main character and how she did not give an inch! I thought the plot was interesting, I just wish the romance was handled better? I feel like I was more told these characters had feelings for each other than really feeling it myself. To be honest, I mean the main character specifically but things develop fast and just don't feel natural. It technically could coincide with the twist of the book, but it was also not insinuated at all that the romance was because of it.

I also wasn't a big fan of the end. I don't want this to be a spoiler review but I just feel like the characters we are taught to hate at the very beginning of the book get off a bit light, and their actions a bit too justified. I also felt a bit weird about where the romance leaves off. In this instance, I'm not a huge fan of the Mortal X Immortal romances concept, where they're just comfortable with the fact that one of them is gonna die in the future. I get that's real life, but considering what the plot of this was you'd think they would be against it.