2026 book 189

 Naomi Novik's The Golden Enclaves

What a great conclusion to this series! I think I've liked it more on each reread--not that I ever DIDN'T like it, but there is a LOT going on and parts of the end confused me the first time I read it. Also, I was so IMPATIENT to know what was going to happen the first time I read it! It's hard to just enjoy and experience when you're in that mindset. But yet, lots happens, and it ends up being awesome. Now I'm going to reread the Scholomance story in Novik's collection Buried Deep.

2026 book 188

 Naomi Novik’s The Last Graduate

With a lot of trilogies, the second book feels like a place-holder, just kind of setting the pieces for the grand finale. But Novik was clearly like FUCK THAT, I’m raising the stakes and showing the importance of friendship and community and working together (her shorter fiction also does this very well!). It’s my favorite of the series for sure, it just fills me up with good feelings. 

2026 book 187

 Naomi Novik’s A Deadly Education

I was in one of those moods where I had a ton of new books to read and yet wasn’t in the mood for any of them, which means it’s time to reread a best-beloved book like this one. I just really vibe with an angry and grumpy heroine with a secret soft side learning to make friends and allies and saving the day in her deeply unpleasant magic school. Also, it’s funny as hell. Satisfying every time. 

2026 book 170

 Maria Turtschaninoff’s Maresi

I first read this like ten years ago and liked it a lot, and realized recently that I never read the third in this series, so figured I could do with a reread! It’s the story of a young novice in a religion that worships the maiden/mother/crone goddess, her life there, her love of learning, plus a new novice fleeing an abusive father, and what happens when men come after her (nothing good). Really great heroine and worldbuilding here. I’m into fantasy religions lately!  

2026 book 137

 Suzanne Collins’ Mockingjay

I wasn’t actually planning on rereading this one after I reread the first two and was mildly annoyed by Katniss’ POV (and also the whole rebellion thing seen through her eyes makes very little sense), plus I wasn’t really up for the whole Peeta being tortured thing. But I couldn’t stop thinking about all of it! And this was amazingly even grimmer than I remembered! And also doesn’t really make a ton of sense if you think too hard. But it’s nice to read about authoritarian regimes being dismantled.

2026 book 133

 Suzanne Collins’ Catching Fire

Ok, this one does not really hold up that well! Knowing more backstory on these characters (and the great performers like Jeffrey Wright in the movie) helps, but this plot is all over the place. Having Katniss be so clueless is ok the first time you read it, as you’re caught up in all the twists as you discover them, but on this read I was just like, this is not working for me! I also hate the love triangle stuff but I’m pretty sure I hated that on previous reads too.

2026 book 132

 Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games

This was very interesting to reread in light of Sunrise on the Reaping—little things like Haymitch calling Katniss sweetheart are suddenly resonant. I will say this does feel more YA-y than Sunrise, not just because of the love triangle stuff, but the narrative voice. Not a complaint, this holds up very well! I’m looking forward to the sequel now that we’ve gotten backstories on some of those characters.

2026 book 131

 Suzanne Collin’s’ Sunrise on the Reaping

Finally getting around to reading the Hunger Games prequel about Haymitch! (A local teen has assured me I can skip the one about Snow, which I have very little interest in.) This turned out to be a perfect read for the Fourth of July, not just thematically, but because it turns out the reaping takes place on that very day. Super compelling and heartbreaking, I cried at least three times. And now I guess I will reread the original trilogy? Good vacation reading? A.

2026 book 111

 Ursula Vernon’s Castle Hangnail

Sometimes you just wanna reread a book where a twelve year old girl tries to con her way into becoming the Wicked Witch running a castle, in a castle that desperately needs a new master. I never see this one talked about when people talk about Ursula Vernon’s books—maybe because it’s not under the T.Kingfisher name? I think it’s just as good as her other middle grade books and super satisfying and funny. 

A short story!

 Rainbow Rowell's Julia at the Drive-In

Normally I don't blog about short stories, but a) it's Rainbow Rowell! and b) I got an ARC from Netgalley so like, there's an obligation there, lol. Anyway, this is a very cute story involving very cute teens at a drive-in! If you like Rainbow Rowell (and I clearly do), you will like this!! 

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A review copy was provided by the publisher. This book will be released on June 23.

2026 book 86

 Tamora Pierce’s The Realms of the Gods

This was fine. I love Daine as a character but, as expected, was not on board with the romance (he’s twice her age and has been her teacher since she was thirteen and she’s only sixteen now). I also don’t know if it was necessary to the plot—they could have just been together in the later series and it would have been fine!!! I also wasn’t super into the plot of this one, which didn’t help. Lots of cool gods and goddesses and creatures though. B/B+.

2026 book 85

 Tamora Pierce’s Emperor Mage

The third book in the Immortals series finds Daine et al in another country, trying to negotiate peace with the titular emperor mage who’s been causing problems the last couple books. Lots more awesome animal friends, and we get to see more of the gods in this one too—I am always partial to a pantheon meddling just a bit in human affairs. The ending set piece is a CORKER of an action scene, I want to a scream about it but spoilers. Not sure there has ever been a better fantasy action scene tbh. A/A-.

2026 book 84

 Tamora Pierce’s Wolf-Speaker

Ok, I’m officially into this series, I think! Events unfold here after a pack of wolves that Daine is friends with ask for help dealing with some local miners who are ruining their environment! But it ends up being much bigger than just miners. Sooo many good animal friends in this one, obviously I was partial to the squirrel and the cats but A+ animals and magical people (and regular people—I hope we see Maura again) all around. Very satisfying. A/A-.

2026 book 83

 Tamora Pierce’s Wild Magic

I’ve never read this Tamora Pierce series before, bc I accidentally read the next series (Protector of the Small) before it, and knew the little girl main character grows up to marry her teacher (gross). But I wanted to read a book with ANIMAL FRIENDS so tried to put that out of my mind. And it’s a good read! Lots of action and fun and friends of all kinds. It made me want to read all the Tortall books in chronological order, but also I want to keep going with this series so that’ll be a future project. A-.

2026 book 80

 Tamora Pierce’s Lady Knight

Very satisfying conclusion to the Protector of the Small series—battles and rescue missions and friends and hope galore! Just what I needed right now.

2026 book 79

 Tamora Pierce’s Squire

More of the delightful same in book three of the Protector of the Small series. So many good animal friends! So many good people friends! So many cool ladies! And some good dudes too. Really satisfying. 

2026 book 78

 Tamora Pierce's Page

The second book in the Protector of the Small series follows Kel through the next few years of her training, lots of learning and leading and beating up jerks. Just a really enjoyable and well-paced story, this series is totally suiting my current mood. 

2026 book 77

 Tamora Pierce’s First Test

Sometimes you just want to reread a series about a little girl who wants to train to be a knight and will try super hard and fight against bullies and befriend birds. Fight the power, Kel! 

2026 book 75

 Ursula LeGuin’s Gifts

I remembered really liking this the first time I read it, but found it a little stressful this time! I was planning on rereading the whole trilogy but think I’m not actually in the mood for YA right now. Click the link to read my original review! 

2026 book 3

 Moniquill Blackgoose’s To Ride a Rising Storm

Hooray for the second book in Blackgoose’s series about an alternate version of the US with dragons! (And founded by Vikings? Once again I found the different names for everything distracting.) I love all the characters here, humans and dragons alike, and there are some great new ones—I of course was partial to a girl who’s this world’s version of Jewish!!! But there are also some fun philosophical discussions and some progressions on the romance. Of course there is still all the COLONIALISM and racism going on, so there are some tense moments for sure, but I was totally along for the ride and the ending made me very eager for book three! A!

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A review copy was provided by the publisher. This book will be released on January 27th.