September 2024 Wrap Up + October TBR List

     September 27, 2024

    Well, we've reached the end of the month, and I'd say that I've had quite a successful reading journey.

    In the beginning of the month I finished reading The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater and I rated it 4/5 stars as I thought it was an excellent first book in the series. I don't plan on picking up the following books in the series until November as I already have a list of books for October. It's my favorite month and Halloween is my favorite holiday and I've curated a list of books that evoke the spooky vibes that I so adore. I am very much looking forward to returning to these characters and plot.

    The second book I read was Bunny by Mona Awad and I gave it 1/5. What can I say about this book that I had not already said in my review. It was not my thing and I want to move away from it.

    The third book I read was The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri. Oh my god I love this book down. I'm so glad I read this book because I fell completely in love with the characters, the world, and the plot. Ms. Suri, you did your big one with this. Like the next books in The Raven Cycle, I plan on picking up the second book of this trilogy in November. This also works out perfectly for me because the third, and final book, is supposed to be released around the same time. So, when I finish The Oleander Sword I won't have to wait too long before picking up the last book.

    The fourth book I read was Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez and I gave it 5/5 stars. This has now become my most favorite romance book of all time and I was so sad when I finished it but also so relieved that I found a romance book that I liked, no, loved. I don't know if I will pick up any of Jimenez's other works simply because I'm not too intrigued with their synopses. But never say never, right?

    The fifth, and final book I read this month was The Secret History by Donna Tartt and I have it 5/5 stars. I fell absolutely in love with this book. Head over fucking heels. I love the way that Tartt writes and I loved to hate each and everyone of the characters in this story. Ms. Tartt please publish more books, I am desperate.

Now that I've finished up the month of September, I am so very looking forward to October and being able to bask in the spooky autumnal vibes which I will make my entire personality until the end of the season. On to the TBR list!

1. I plan to start the month by reading Assassin's Quest by Robin Hobb which is the final book in The Farseer Trilogy. I am so glad that I picked up these books and cannot wait to read the other works she's written about this world.

2. The next book on my list is Weyward by Emilia Hart. The story follows three different timelines that take place in 2019, 1619, and 1942. Kate, who flees London for a ramshackle inherited from her aunt. Here she uncovers a secret hidden in the cottage's bones. Altha, a witch, faces trial for murder, while Violet, trapped in her family's crumbling estate longs for her mother's education. A book about witches that follows three women in three separate timelines that are all somehow connected? Yes please.

3. I then want to read The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow. The story takes place in 1893 where witching is nothing but simple charms and nursery rhymes. Three sisters, suffragettes in the Women's Suffrage Movement, begin to search for lost magic in order to help their cause. Another book about witches but this time they want to use magic so that they can vote? Hell yeah.

4. The next book I plan to pick up is The Maidens by Alex Michaelides. This book follows Mariana Andros, a group therapist, who becomes obsessed with the murder of a student in The Maidens, a secret society. Mariana fervently believes that Edward Fosca, a Greek Tragedy professor, is responsible in someway for her murder, despite his alibi. Mariana suspects sinister motives and is determined to stop him, even at her own cost. Am I slowly getting into secret societies that involve professors that teach greek? Yes. Am I okay with that? Also yes.

5. Next up, the Atlas Six by Olivie Blake. The Alexandrian Society, a secret society of magical academicians, selects six talented magicians each decade for initiation. The six candidates, chosen by Atlas Blakely, have one year to qualify for initiation, with five being initiated and one of them eliminated. Okay, I see now that I am developing somewhat of an obsession with secret societies run by manipulative professors. Is that a problem?

6. The next book on my list is The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo. In Madrid, Luzia Cotado uses magic to survive her scullion days. Her mistress discovers her talents and uses them to bolster the reputation of her family which gains the attention of the Spanish King's disgraced secretary, Antonio Pérez. Luzia is then used in order to give Spain every advantage in their war against England and its queen. Now, I am a big Spain hater as a Mexican woman and I genuinely consider Spain during this time to be the worst years, fashion wise. Just look it up and you will absolutely know what I mean and agree with me. But, considering this is a fantasy version of Spain, I'll give myself a pass. Just this once.

7. Next on my list is All the Crooked Saints by Maggie Stiefvater. Bicho Raro, Colorado is a mysterious place with dark saints, forbidden love, and mysterious miracles. Three members of the Soria family: Beatriz, Daniel, and Joaquin go through the story seeking their own miracles. Okay, I'll be completely honest. I bought this book ages ago mainly because it had one of my last names. As far as hispanic last names go "Soria" is not ranked highly when it comes to how common it is. So, I was genuinely surprised when I read that the family's last name is Soria. I am a woman that is easily swayed, what do you want from me?

8. The next book I want to read in the month of October is Hotel Magnifique by Emily J. Taylor. This book is what would happen in The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern and The Grand Budapest Hotel directed by Wes Anderson had a love child. And I am so on board for this ride.

9. The final book that I have on my TBR list for October is Where the Dark Stands Still by A. B. Poranek. Liska Radost, raised in a village near the spirit-wood, unleashes her powers which cause devastating consequences. She is then forced into the servitude of the Leszy, the demon warden of the wood. If Liska wants to survive the year and return home, she must unravel her host's nest of secrets. This synopsis is lowkey giving Beauty and The Beast meets The Lorax. And I'm lowkey here for it.

    Now, you may be thinking: "Jasmine! This is a lot of books to read in one month." And you'd be right. The way I see it, this list is more like a suggestion for what I could read in October in order to really feel the spooky vibes. This list is also subject to change and I have no problem pushing some of these books to the month of November in order to not overwhelm myself. I've never read this many books in one month, but I'm determined to try. We'll see how it works out. Stay tuned! 

Till next time,

A Lazy Reader