WWW Wednesday | 1/21/26

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Sam over on Taking on a World of Words.

The idea is pretty simple, every week you dedicate a post to the three W’s:

What are you currently reading?

What have you just finished reading?

What are you going to read next?


Tomorrow is the BTS pre-sale and I already know it will be impossible for me to get anything because why are the Chicago and LA sale times during when I have to drop my kids off to school or pick them up? 😅 Like…I’m still going to try but…I doubt I can get anything. I did sign up for Toronto also – so we’ll see what happens! Wish me luck!

I am trying to work on February arcs but I’m getting a few indie authors asking me to read their books, so it’s getting a little crowded on my list! 😅

What are you currently reading?

Dawn of the North by. Demi Winter – 10%

A Curse of Crimson Tears by. Julie J. Morris – 21%

Masquerade of Mirrors by. Samantha Hartwood – 4%

Goodbye and Everything After by. Mae Coyiuto – 20%

Keeper of Lost Children by. Sadeqa Johnson – 5%

I, Medusa by. Ayana Gray – chapter 2

Maybe This Once by. Sophie Sullivan – 30

Second Chance Romance by. Olivia Dade – 37%


What have you just finished reading?

Dragon Cursed by. Elise Kova – ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Wicked Onyx by. Debbie Cassidy – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Silk & Iron by. Alexis Calder – ⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Queen Crowned in Flames by. Hazel McBride – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


What are you going to read next?

A Winter of White Ash by. Lucia Damisa

A Whisper of Winds and Leaves by. M.B. Reese


What are YOU reading right now?

New Book Releases This Week | 1/20/26

Happy book birthday to these new releases this week!

Catch Her if You Can by. Tessa Bailey

Madden Donahue, the newest catcher for the Yankees, has been in love with Eve Mitchell since high school, but for some mysterious reason, the burlesque club owner always turns him down. That never stopped him from being her self-appointed protector. Case in point, now that Eve’s sister has left Eve with her two children indefinitely, Madden steps in with a proposition—marry him for the much needed health benefits.

Eve has secretly harbored feelings for Madden all along, but there’s one problem—her best friend Skylar called dibs on him when they were fourteen. Eve has always put their friendship above all else, and she’s not willing to risk losing Skylar over a man. Raised by the local strip club owner, Eve is woefully short on friends and treasures the ones she has. But with Skylar happily paired off, Eve finds herself accepting Madden’s proposal—on the condition that their marriage remains strictly private. She’s not about to let her unique profession and maligned reputation destroy Madden’s shiny new career.

Madden won’t let Eve get away that easily, though. What starts as a marriage of convenience soon ignites into something much hotter, and now it’s up to Madden to convince Eve that their connection is far more than a business arrangement. As the passion builds, can their fake marriage become the real deal?


The Poet Empress by. Shen Tao

In the waning years of the Azalea Dynasty, the emperor is dying, the land consumed by famine, and poetry magic lost to all except the powerful.

Wei Yin is desperate. After the fifth death of a sibling, with her family and village on the brink of starvation, she will do anything to save those she loves.

Even offer herself as concubine to the cruel heir of the beautiful and brutal Azalea House.

But in a twist of fate, the palace stands on the knife-edge of civil war with Wei trapped in its center…at the side of a violent prince.

To survive, Wei must harden her heart, rely on her wit, and become dangerous herself. Even if it means becoming a poet in a world where women are forbidden to read—and composing the most powerful spell of all. A ballad of death…and love.

The Poet Empress is an epic fantasy that explores darker themes, subjects, and scenes that may not be suitable for all readers. Please see the author’s content note at the beginning of the book.


Dead Fake by. Vincent Ralph

Would you Swipe to Die?

When the new craze takes over Bleak Haven High, Ava Wilson refuses to join in. As the niece of an infamous murderer, it’s the last thing she needs.

The mysterious website allows people to view their own ‘death’ – an AI generated version of their final slasher-movie-moments. But, when some of her classmates’ deepfakes are replicated in real life, Ava can either catch the killer…or be the next victim.


Night Terror by. Vincent Ralph

Who the hell holds up a bookstore? That’s what Noah asks when his favorite spot is suddenly targeted by masked attackers.

But these people don’t want a ransom. They are searching for Bleak Haven’s very own urban legend – The Burning Book.

When something with a thirst for flesh creeps from its pages, Noah must team up with the other hostages and try to escape the mall without turning their town into a bloodbath.


Silk & Iron by. Alexis Calder

The emperor. The prince. The enforcer.
I want them all dead. Until I fall for one of them.

After losing all my family to the rebellion, I lost hope. When my ex-boyfriend begs me to pose as the prince’s betrothed, I know it’s an opportunity the rebellion won’t ever get again.

I’m sent with the goal of finding out how to kill an immortal emperor, but I don’t want to wait on someone else to get my revenge. I want the emperor, the prince, and the enforcer all dead.

But the palace is full of secrets. And I’m not the only one playing a game of life and death; lies and betrayals. The closer I get to my goal, the closer I get to one of the men I vowed to kill.

And I’m not sure I can bring myself to harm him. But there’s nothing stopping him from killing me as soon as he finds out who I really am.

I’m playing with fire and I want this whole empire to burn.

But nothing is as it seems.

Just when I think I have nothing left to lose, I find out how much I have to live for.

And when faced with losing the only hope I have left, I must decide how far I’m willing to go to watch this empire burn.

Silk & Iron is a slow burn, spicy enemies-to-lovers romantasy full of court intrigue, betrayal, and deception. Mind the cliff.


Are you getting any new books this week?

Happy Reading!

Find me here: Instagram (bookstagram📚) | TikTok (TikTok)

Let’s Talk Bookish:  Book Blogging Slumps | 1/16/26

Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly bookish meme originally created by Rukky @ Eternity Books and hosted by Aria @ Book Nook Bits, where every Friday, bloggers write discussion posts based on a weekly prompt and Dini @ dinipandareads has cohosted since the beginning of 2025.


This week’s topic is:

January 16: Book Blogging Slumps (Danielle @ Poetry Books YA)

Prompts: People frequently talk about reading slumps, but what about blogging slumps? What gives you motivation for blogging? What makes you lose motivation? Have you ever gone through one before? How did you break out of it? What advice would you give to a book blogger who’s in one? 


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People frequently talk about reading slumps, but what about blogging slumps?

I don’t usually have a blogging slump but at the end of the year when I am so busy in the holiday rush, sometimes it’s easy for me to forget to post.

What makes you lose motivation?

I think sometimes when I wonder if people are even reading my blog, I question if I should keep it up. But honestly, this is helpful for me to keep track of books I read – so even if I had no one reading, I actually go back to my posts a lot to check something or re-read a review before reading a sequel and it kind of helps.

Have you ever gone through one before? How did you break out of it?

I think I went through one 2 years ago? But I just kept making post and scheduling them ahead of time – this helps me get ahead of any lost of motivation.

What advice would you give to a book blogger who’s in one? 

I see a bunch of bloggers take mini breaks during the year and I think it helps them!

January 2026 Topics:

January 2: Top Reads in Five Words/Sentences

Prompts: What were your top 5 (or top 10) reads in 2025? If you had five words or sentences (your choice!) to describe each book and convince other readers to pick it up, how would you describe your 2025 favourites?


January 9: Bookish Trends of 2025

Prompts: Looking back on the past year, what bookish trends have you noticed? Are certain tropes, types of blogging, or other book-related content becoming more popular? If you did this post last year (Bookish Trends of 2024), do you notice any trend changes from that post? What changes do you foresee in 2026? What bookish trend would you most want to see become popular, or come back?


January 16: Book Blogging Slumps (Danielle @ Poetry Books YA)

Prompts: People frequently talk about reading slumps, but what about blogging slumps? What gives you motivation for blogging? What makes you lose motivation? Have you ever gone through one before? How did you break out of it? What advice would you give to a book blogger who’s in one? 


January 23: Underrated Books (Leyre @ Read You Leyre)

Prompts: What makes a book “underrated”? Did you read any books in 2025 that you think are underrated? Did you read any books with underrated tropes (or micro tropes) or genres? What are some of your favourite “underrated” reads from 2025 and of all time? 


January 30: Freebie!

Prompts: You made it to the end of the month—congrats!  For the fifth Friday of the month, pick your own topic. You can check out our blogs for inspiration (Aria and Dini) or write about something else you’re interested in!

WWW Wednesday | 1/14/26

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Sam over on Taking on a World of Words.

The idea is pretty simple, every week you dedicate a post to the three W’s:

What are you currently reading?

What have you just finished reading?

What are you going to read next?


Today I am going to be in the Ticketmaster war for Bruno Mars tickets – hopefully for the Vegas show. 😩 I’ve seen him at every tour except for his first album – and he only has 3 albums and then the collab for Silk Sonic (I did see that show in Vegas). So may the ticket Gods be with me today! 😅 May the odds be in my favor!

And this is why I am back on a book buying ban again. It doesn’t help that BTS concert ticket presales are next week also and my sister really wants to go, so I’m trying to get tickets for her.

Any concerts you are dying to go to in 2026?

What are you currently reading?

A Promise of Lies by. Clare Sager – 20% – no progress

Dawn of the North by. Demi Winter – 2%

A Curse of Crimson Tears by. Julie J. Morris – 1%

Dragon Cursed by. Elise Kova – chapter 10

Wicked Onyx by. Debbie Cassidy – 5%

Silk & Iron by. Alexis Calder – 20%


What have you just finished reading?

Love and Other Brain Experiments by. Hannah Brohm – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Cure by. Pedro Urvi – ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Songbird of the Sorrows by. Braidee Otto – ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Crown of War and Shadow by. J.R. Ward – ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫


What are you going to read next?

A Winter of White Ash by. Lucia Damisa

I, Medusa by. Ayana Gray

A Whisper of Winds and Leaves by. M.B. Reese

Masquerade of Mirrors by. Samantha Hartwood


What are YOU reading right now?

New Book Releases This Week | 1/13/26

Happy book birthday to these new releases this week!

The Book of Blood & Roses by. Annie Summerlee

In book one of a seductive sapphic paranormal fantasy, a vampire hunter goes undercover at a mysterious university and falls in love with her roommate, an alluring vampire.

“Then her red eyes are on mine, gentle, deadly. She takes her time kissing my neck. I pull her closer and say: Bite me.”

In the mists of the Scottish Highlands is a university where vampire students study alongside humans.

Rebecca Charity is a vampire hunter undercover at the university, searching for the mysterious Book of Blood and Roses, a lost compendium of ways to kill vampires. If she finds it, she’ll be one step closer to avenging her parents, who were slain by those creatures of the night.

But when Rebecca arrives, she finds something unexpected: a coffin. Her new roommate is Aliz Astra, scion of one of the most powerful vampire families… and the most beautiful woman Rebecca has ever met.

The maddeningly gorgeous Aliz is everything that Rebecca has always hated, but also everything she ever wanted, and now Rebecca doesn’t know if she wants to kiss or kill her.

When Aliz rescues her from a vampire attack one moonlit night, she accidentally makes Rebecca her familiar. Now, they must work together to break the curse, but as they get closer to solving the mystery, Rebecca and Aliz get closer, too.

But can a vampire hunter ever fall in love with a vampire?


Graceless Heart by. Isabel Ibañez

A lush, atmospheric and achingly magical standalone adult fantasy romance set in Renaissance Italy from a #1 New York Times bestselling author.

In 15th-century Volterra, sculptress Ravenna Maffei enters a competition hosted by a secretive, immortal family who offer an invaluable boon to the victor. Desperate to win so she can save her brother, Ravenna reveals a rare magical talent–a dangerous act in a city where magic is forbidden. Her revelation makes her a target, and she is kidnapped by the Luni family and taken to Florence, a city of breathtaking beauty and cutthroat ambition.

There, Ravenna is forced into an impossible task where failure means certain death at the hands of Saturnino dei Luni, the family’s enigmatic and merciless heir. But under his cold reserve hides a vulnerability that draws her closer than she ever intended.

Meanwhile, Ravenna’s forbidden magic does not go unnoticed. The Pope, waging war against Florence, the Medici, and magic itself, has his own interest in her abilities, seeing her as a potential weapon in his ruthless campaign.

As alliances shift and war brews on the horizon, Ravenna must navigate the treacherous line between survival and betrayal, between love and duty. With time running out and her every move watched, the choices she makes will determine the fate of not just her own life, but the fragile balance of magic and power that could unravel Florence itself.


We’ve Hit Turbulence by. Jessica L. Cozzi

When a girl is stuck on a cross-country flight with her ex, things get bumpy—a swoony YA rom com perfect for fans of K.L. Walther!

As if flying couldn’t get any worse.

Olive Austin just wants to get on her flight to visit her long-distance boyfriend in peace—a spring break filled with white-sand beaches, cute date nights, and soaking up the sun in Hawaii. It’s exactly what the doctor ordered…especially since lately she can’t shake the feeling that her relationship is on the rocks.

Unfortunately, when she boards her cross-continental flight she discovers that her seatmate for her 13-hour journey is none other than Tyler Ferris, her ex…a.k.a the boy that her heart never really got over.

Even though Olive’s prepared to ignore him and survive the flight with her heart unscathed, Tyler has other plans, and before long, with nowhere else to go, the past begins to resurface. Now, Olive’s feeling more confused than ever about her heart, what went down that tore her and Tyler apart, and—most importantly—what she’s going to do once the turbulence passes and the flight finally lands.


Oxford Blood by. Rachael Davis Featherstone

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder meets Ace of Spades in this YA thriller where a girl has to navigate the cutthroat world of academia to uncover the truth behind her best friend’s death.

Love, Lies, Legacy…High-achieving state-school pupil Eva has one dream – reading English at Oxford. If she gets in, not only will she receive a world-class education at an elite university, but she will be fulfilling the dreams of her mother and gain some independence from her father, the overprotective Inspector Dawkins.

At the same school, Eva’s best-friend George is also hoping to go to Oxford. The attraction between him and Eva is undeniable, but they’ve agreed to put any romance on hold until their places at Oxford are secured. Eva cannot be distracted from her goal – although when they are both invited for interview week, their future together feels oh-so close.

Until George shows up dead.

The police rule his death an accident, but the behaviour of some of the other interview candidates has Eva suspecting foul play. When a shocking secret about George is revealed, Eva finds suspicion falling on her. What was meant to be one of the most important weeks of her life is fast turning into a nightmare.

All eyes are now on Eva, including the anonymous posters behind OxSlay, a gossipy social media forum exclusively for Oxford students. But amongst the conspiracy theories, lurk hidden clues. Could they help Eva clear her name – and catch the killer?


Scorched Wings by. Frost Kay

Dahlia Skysinger has made the ultimate mistake: she assassinated the one man who could have freed her from the cruel grasp of the human royals—her husband. Now branded a traitor by both realms and haunted by the ghost of a love she never meant to destroy, Dahlia must outrun her hunters and the truth that could unravel two kingdoms.

To protect her family, she’ll make one final, desperate bargain. Even if it means surrendering her freedom once more.

King Neve has every reason to hate the woman who nearly cost him his life and crown. With his kingdom on the verge of civil war and vengeance burning through his veins, he should want her dead. But when fate entwines their paths once again, desire clashes with duty, and revenge becomes something dangerously close to redemption, he must make a choice that could destroy everything.


A Vow in Vengeance by. Jaclyn Rodriguez

Deadly tarot, wicked schemes, dangerous alliances . . . can you survive the Forge?

Sexy, action-packed, and brimming with magic, A Vow in Vengeance is an unputdownable romantasy debut.

Rune Ryker has nothing left to lose. Everything’s been stolen by the Immortals—her family, her home, her freedom. But she’s done playing by their rules.

Each year, humans are forced to journey into the Immortal Realms, but twenty-year-old Rune orchestrates her own selection, determined to find her family and destroy anyone who stands in her way. Rune is used to doing whatever it takes to survive, and now she must endure the Forge, a cutthroat college for the Immortal druids’ elusive tarot magic. When Rune’s magic reveals itself to be the rarest and most powerful, she must live with its only other wielder—Prince Draven. As arrogant as he is ruthlessly ambitious, he’s the last person she can trust.

Rune’s abilities also draw the eyes of the most dangerous druids in the realms. Some want to use her. More want her dead. Draven offers to train her . . . for a price. As Rune becomes ensnared in Draven’s dangerous games, she learns there are secrets at the heart of the kingdom that some will kill to protect.

And Rune and Draven’s growing attraction may be the spark to ignite a brewing war.


The Magic of Untamed Hearts by. Raquel Vasquez Gilliland

After several years stuck as a ghost, Sky Flores learns to reconnect with the living again with the help of her handsome neighbor in this lush romance from the USA Today bestselling author of Witch of Wild Things.

Like her sisters, Sage and Teal, Sky Flores has a touch of magic, and it’s caused nothing but heartache. Not only did she disappear into the woods years ago and reappear with no rational explanation, she’s also more comfortable talking to animals than to people. Different and misunderstood, Sky is shunned in the small town of Cranberry.

Sky’s neighbor, Adam Noemi, has his own problems. After being laid off from a prestigious newspaper, Adam, ever the ambitious reporter, needs a big headline to redeem his career. Enter Sky, a girl with a story that news outlets have been chasing for years. Sky agrees to grant Adam an exclusive interview on one that he befriend Sky, in a very public way, to prove to everyone in Cranberry that she’s not an outcast.

As Sky shares her experiences with Adam, something much bigger than a simple agreement begins to grow between them. But for love to take root, Adam will have to take a leap towards a life that defies expectations, and Sky must open her heart – full of flora and fauna and mystical energies – to his curious mind.


Are you getting any new books this week?

Happy Reading!

Find me here: Instagram (bookstagram📚) | TikTok (TikTok)

Let’s Talk Bookish:  Bookish Trends of 2025 | 1/9/26

Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly bookish meme originally created by Rukky @ Eternity Books and hosted by Aria @ Book Nook Bits, where every Friday, bloggers write discussion posts based on a weekly prompt and Dini @ dinipandareads has cohosted since the beginning of 2025.


This week’s topic is:

January 9: Bookish Trends of 2025

Prompts: Looking back on the past year, what bookish trends have you noticed? Are certain tropes, types of blogging, or other book-related content becoming more popular? If you did this post last year (Bookish Trends of 2024), do you notice any trend changes from that post? What changes do you foresee in 2026? What bookish trend would you most want to see become popular, or come back?


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Looking back on the past year, what bookish trends have you noticed?

I think we’ve ALL noticed this one – but every book getting a sprayed edge, deluxe edition. I love it and hate it. 🤣

Are certain tropes, types of blogging, or other book-related content becoming more popular?

Tropes or categories of books I found repetitive and popular this year:

  1. Vampires – making a comeback or just never went away?
  2. Werewolves – definitely a comeback!
  3. Alchemy – so many books with alchemy!
  4. Dramione – this was a recurrent theme.
  5. Romantasy – the usual themes: enemies to lovers, slow burn, prophecy, special FMC with powers, secret identity, etc…
  6. Shadow daddies – still around but not as much I think.
  7. Dragons
  8. Fae – so popular!
  9. Dystopia – made such a comeback!
  10. Dark Academia – it was everywhere.

What changes do you foresee in 2026?

I think more indie authors will be picked up by trad publishing. It seems like it was picking up in the second half of 2025 already.

What bookish trend would you most want to see become popular, or come back?

I want to see more urban fantasy like Red City by. Marie Lu!

I feel like not a lot of contemporary romances have been hitting good lately, and I don’t know what can change to make me want to read more of it this year, but maybe that’s just a ME issue?

January 2026 Topics:

January 2: Top Reads in Five Words/Sentences

Prompts: What were your top 5 (or top 10) reads in 2025? If you had five words or sentences (your choice!) to describe each book and convince other readers to pick it up, how would you describe your 2025 favourites?


January 9: Bookish Trends of 2025

Prompts: Looking back on the past year, what bookish trends have you noticed? Are certain tropes, types of blogging, or other book-related content becoming more popular? If you did this post last year (Bookish Trends of 2024), do you notice any trend changes from that post? What changes do you foresee in 2026? What bookish trend would you most want to see become popular, or come back?


January 16: Book Blogging Slumps (Danielle @ Poetry Books YA)

Prompts: People frequently talk about reading slumps, but what about blogging slumps? What gives you motivation for blogging? What makes you lose motivation? Have you ever gone through one before? How did you break out of it? What advice would you give to a book blogger who’s in one? 


January 23: Underrated Books (Leyre @ Read You Leyre)

Prompts: What makes a book “underrated”? Did you read any books in 2025 that you think are underrated? Did you read any books with underrated tropes (or micro tropes) or genres? What are some of your favourite “underrated” reads from 2025 and of all time? 


January 30: Freebie!

Prompts: You made it to the end of the month—congrats!  For the fifth Friday of the month, pick your own topic. You can check out our blogs for inspiration (Aria and Dini) or write about something else you’re interested in!

WWW Wednesday | 1/7/26

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Sam over on Taking on a World of Words.

The idea is pretty simple, every week you dedicate a post to the three W’s:

What are you currently reading?

What have you just finished reading?

What are you going to read next?

I feel like I’m reading an interesting mix of books right now: romantasy, contemporary romance and dystopia. I’ve been loving the mystery thrillers I’ve been reading too – they have been really fun palate cleansers.

I am working on February arcs and I feel like I’m making good progress! I requested a lot for January and February but I don’t have much for March-June, which is on purpose. I do want to read more on the backlist, like books on my physical book shelf, or series that I’ve been meaning to read like Empire of the Vampire, and I would love to re-read a few books before their sequels come out this year! So I’m trying to read less arcs to make room for all of that!

What are you currently reading?

A Promise of Lies by. Clare Sager – 20%

Love and Other Brain Experiments by. Hannah Brohm – 1%

The Cure by. Pedro Urvi – 15%

Songbird of the Sorrows by. Braidee Otto – 33%

Dawn of the North by. Demi Winter – 2%

A Curse of Crimson Tears by. Julie J. Morris – 1%


What have you just finished reading?

A Language Dragons by. S.F. Williamson ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

A Touch of Poison by. Claire Sager – ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Wicked and the Damned by. Rebecca Robinson – ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (arc)

Here Lie All the Boys Who broke My Heart by. Emma Simmerman – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (arc)

Shadows and Secrets by. Arcadia Rayne – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (arc)

A War of Wyverns by. S.F. Williamson – ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫(arc)

Stolen Midnights by. Katherine Quinn – ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫(arc)

Fallen Stars by. Imani Erriu – ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫


What are you going to read next?

Fallen Gods by. Rachel Van Dyken

A Winter of White Ash by. Lucia Damisa

I, Medusa by. Ayana Gray

A Whisper of Winds and Leaves by. M.B. Reese

Dragon Cursed by. Elise Kova

What are YOU reading right now?

New Book Releases This Week | 1/6/26

Happy book birthday to these new releases this week!

Drive Me Crazy by. Lizzy Dent

Sparks fly when an up-and-coming team principle and her new hot-shot driver—and former childhood crush—are forced to work together to save their careers and team in this deliciously winning Formula 1 romance.

Can they navigate the twists and turns of love without crashing and burning?

As one of the first female team principles in Formula 1, Chloe Coleman is determined to prove herself and transform her failing team from underdogs to champions. Nothing can ruin her strategy—except maybe the surprising new addition of a cocky, top-tier driver who’s lost his edge. And he just so happens to be her estranged childhood crush who still sends her heart racing.

Matt Warner needs a comeback. A former champion, he hasn’t won a race since the disastrous crash that landed his best friend and teammate in the hospital. If there’s a silver lining to this scandalous demotion, it’s his fierce and familiar new boss, Chloe. But as the competition heats up, so does an unexpected spark that turns dangerously and passionately hot. With the world watching and pressures of the season mounting, will their chemistry lead them to victory, or spin them out of control?


The Swan’s Daughter by. Roshani Chokshi

In this lush and romantic novel from New York Times bestselling author Roshani Chokshi, a prince is only as good as his beating heart and a maiden is only as good as her honest word. But when love and the truth become impossibly tangled, the two must figure out how to survive together, or fall completely apart.

To find love is a curse …

Prince Arris knows that marriage means murder. Thanks to a poorly worded wish to a sea witch, all one needs to rule the Isle of Malys is the heart and hand of the kingdom’s heir. Historically, this has been construed quite literally.

Thus, Arris expects that the day after his marriage and murder he will wake up as a sentient tree alongside the rest of his predecessors. His only chance at a long life is finding true and lasting love. When Arris’s parents announce a tournament of brides to compete for his hand and heart, a slew of eligible, lovely and (possibly murderous) bachelorettes make their way to Rathe Castle. Amidst glittering balls in ozorald caves, strolls through menageries of daydream trees and pearl crocodiles, tea time on glass boats and kisses that leave his head spinning, Arris cannot tell who is here out of love for him…or lust for power.

Until he meets Demelza.

As a veritas swan, Demelza’s song wrings out the truth. Forced into hiding, Demelza strikes a deal. Arris will provide her with safekeeping in exchange for her truth-telling song to sort through his potential brides.

While Arris is used to dodging death threats and Demelza is accustomed to fighting for her voice to be heard, to survive the tournament of brides requires a different kind of bravery. And perhaps the bravest thing one can do is not merely protect one’s life, but find the courage to chase a life worth living.


A War of Wyverns by. S.F. Williamson

Who is Vivien Featherswallow?

Is she The Swallow, the most wanted rebel in all of Britannia? Is she a Brasstongue on the cusp of translating a new language? Or is she just Viv, the girl who lost the love of her life after playing spy?

Though this war might have begun with bombs and teeth, it will be fought with tongues. And Viv will soon learn that everything she thought she knew—even about herself—might be a lie.

The explosive sequel to the New York Times bestseller A Language of Dragons.


Room to Breathe by. Kasie West

From the critically acclaimed author of Sunkissed comes a new swoony YA romance. Indy and Beau’s friendship is shattered, but getting accidentally locked in a bathroom together just might be what’s needed to reconnect.

When the walls close in, the truth comes out.

When Indy’s life came crashing down, she made a no one could know. To the world, she’s still the same Indy—cool, calm, unshaken. But behind the scenes? It’s chaos.

Her tight-knit crew—Beau, Caroline, and Ava—were once her everything. Now they’re strangers she can’t seem to reach—especially Beau. And the only person she talks to these days is Cody, a skater-boy she used to think was so not her type. Funny how everything changes when your world flips upside down.

And then, as if things couldn’t get weirder, Indy finds herself literally stuck in a school bathroom with Beau. After months of silence, and there’s no escape. If they want out, they’ll have to face the messy truth about what happened between them and find a way back to what they once had. Or maybe even more . . .


Dragon Cursed by. Elise Kova

The moment you see a dragon is usually your last…

Since the dragons emerged–along with the scourge that ravaged our lands and people–there’s only one human city that remains Vinguard.

But the hellfire from above is nothing compared to he threat from within. For there is no worse fate than being dragon cursed. Slowly and excruciatingly, you’ll be transformed into a mindless beast who destroys everything–and everyone–you love.

Any of us could be tainted. Any of us could be lying. Any of us could be caught and killed by the authorities.

And I’m terrified that I might be next.

There’s only one other person who might suspect my secret. He’s like my shadow, following me wherever I go. Part protector, part tormentor, fully annoying. Sometimes I think I am just one of the million unfathomable secrets he keeps hidden.

Because Lucan definitely knows something.

And if I’m dragon cursed, death might be the only mercy I get.


Jealous Rage by. Sav R. Miller

Forbidden Fruit Never Tasted So Sweet

Professor Sutton Dupont’s tenure at Avernia College is as complicated as his family’s bloody history, but when the most irresistible temptation he’s ever faced slinks into his classroom, Sutton finds himself desperate enough to risk it all.

After years trying to make a name for herself in Hollywood, Elle Anderson winds up a college freshman at twenty-five, running from her past and lying to everyone she knows. Especially the green-eyed professor whose forbidden kiss has her starving for more.

Sutton knows he should stay away. But Elle stirs a hunger he can’t suppress, and the secrets haunting them both are too powerful to deny. After all, at Avernia, rules were meant to be broken…and some desires are too dangerous to resist.


Are you getting any new books this week?

Happy Reading!

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Let’s Talk Bookish:  Top Reads in Five Words/Sentences | 1/2/26

Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly bookish meme originally created by Rukky @ Eternity Books and hosted by Aria @ Book Nook Bits, where every Friday, bloggers write discussion posts based on a weekly prompt and Dini @ dinipandareads has cohosted since the beginning of 2025.


This week’s topic is:

January 2: Top Reads in Five Words/Sentences

Prompts: What were your top 5 (or top 10) reads in 2025? If you had five words or sentences (your choice!) to describe each book and convince other readers to pick it up, how would you describe your 2025 favourites?

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What were your top 5 (or top 10) reads in 2025? If you had five words or sentences (your choice!) to describe each book and convince other readers to pick it up, how would you describe your 2025 favourites?

This is so hard to pick! In no particularly order, these were some of my favorite books of 2025!

  1. Oathbound by. Tracy Deonn – Bree’s turning point!
  2. Atmosphere by. Taylor Jenkins Reid – Made me cry.
  3. Coffin Moon by. Keith Rosson – Horror but make it heartfelt.
  4. The Night Prince by. Lauren Palphreyman – I only gave it 4 stars? But I could not get Blake out of my mind. I re-read this one a couple of times!
  5. Nightshade by. Autumn Woods – addicting.
  6. We Who Will Die by. Stacia Stark – vampires and gladiators – yes!
  7. Tusk Love by. Thea Guanzon – adventurous and fun
  8. Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng by. Kylie Lee Baker – covid and a serial killer
  9. Sunrise on the Reaping by. Suzanne Collins – Haymitch’s story 😭
  10. Daggermouth by. H.M. Wolfe – blew my mind

January 2026 Topics:

January 2: Top Reads in Five Words/Sentences

Prompts: What were your top 5 (or top 10) reads in 2025? If you had five words or sentences (your choice!) to describe each book and convince other readers to pick it up, how would you describe your 2025 favourites?


January 9: Bookish Trends of 2025

Prompts: Looking back on the past year, what bookish trends have you noticed? Are certain tropes, types of blogging, or other book-related content becoming more popular? If you did this post last year (Bookish Trends of 2024), do you notice any trend changes from that post? What changes do you foresee in 2026? What bookish trend would you most want to see become popular, or come back?


January 16: Book Blogging Slumps (Danielle @ Poetry Books YA)

Prompts: People frequently talk about reading slumps, but what about blogging slumps? What gives you motivation for blogging? What makes you lose motivation? Have you ever gone through one before? How did you break out of it? What advice would you give to a book blogger who’s in one? 


January 23: Underrated Books (Leyre @ Read You Leyre)

Prompts: What makes a book “underrated”? Did you read any books in 2025 that you think are underrated? Did you read any books with underrated tropes (or micro tropes) or genres? What are some of your favourite “underrated” reads from 2025 and of all time? 


January 30: Freebie!

Prompts: You made it to the end of the month—congrats!  For the fifth Friday of the month, pick your own topic. You can check out our blogs for inspiration (Aria and Dini) or write about something else you’re interested in!

WWW Wednesday | 12/31/25

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Sam over on Taking on a World of Words.

The idea is pretty simple, every week you dedicate a post to the three W’s:

What are you currently reading?

What have you just finished reading?

What are you going to read next?

One week ago it was Christmas Eve and now it’s New Year’s Eve!! Well friends, what a year it’s been right? I’ve had ups and downs, but throughout it all, I had books. I hope all of you have a Happy New Year!!!

What are you currently reading?

Stolen Midnights by. Katherine Quinn – 8% no progress, but I will be getting to this once it hits 2026 lol

A Language Dragons by. S.F. Williamson – page 43/432 – I need to finish this so I can listen to book two on audiobook.

A Touch of Poison by. Claire Sager – 43%

Fallen Stars by. Imani Erriu – audiobook and ebook

The Wicked and the Damned by. Rebecca Robinson – 35% this one is moving slowly


What have you just finished reading?

The Night Ship by. Alex Woodroe – ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Heart’s Gambit by. J.D. Myall – (ALC- audio) – ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Bound to the Broken Crown by. Astoria Hope – ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (arc)

The Fall of Iris Henley by. Jennifer Graham – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (arc)

Heavenly Bodies by. Imani Erriu – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (arc)

A Kiss of Iron by. Clare Sager – ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫(arc)


What are you going to read next?

Fallen Gods by. Rachel Van Dyken

Songbird of the Sorrows by. Braidee Otto

Dawn of the North by. Demi Winter

A Winter of White Ash by. Lucia Damisa

I, Medusa by. Ayana Gray

A War of Wyverns by. S.F. Williamson

A Whisper of Winds and Leaves by. M.B. Reese

What are YOU reading right now?