WWW Wednesday | 2/4/26

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?


What are you currently reading?

Keeper of Lost Children by. Sadeqa Johnson – 30%

I, Medusa by. Ayana Gray – chapter 2 – no progress

Dawn in Ruins by. Magda Mizzi – Chapter 1 – no progress

Mate by. Ali Hazelwood – audiobook – 43%

She Drinks The Light by. Yasmin Angoe – audiobook – 1%


What have you just finished reading?

In Time With You by. Kristin Dwyer – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (arc)

Alchemy & Ashes by. Amy Yorke – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Summer of Lost Things by. Jenn Bennett – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (arc)

Lonely Hearts Day by. Kasie West – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (alc)

Dawn of the North by. Demi Winter – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (arc)


What are you going to read next?

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

The Poet Empress by. Shen Tao

A Vow in Vengeance by. Jaclyn Rodriguez


What are YOU reading right now?

New Book Releases This Week | 2/3/26

Happy book birthday to these new releases this week!

The Lies that Summon the Night by. Tessonja Odette

Lies, beauty, and seduction mingle in the first book of an enthralling romantasy series where making art is considered a sin, and the shadows born from it aren’t the only danger to the creators—from the bestselling author of Curse of the Wolf King .

From the art of liars, the monsters came…

Ever since art gave life to bloodthirsty shadows, creative works have been forbidden and the talented creators sacrificed to the Sinless—the immortal royals who feast on human blood in return for their protection.

Inana’s secret storytelling nearly got her killed once, and she’ll be damned if she’s ever caught again. With a bounty on her head, she keeps to the city’s dark underbelly where she earns a meager living from thrill-seeking patrons desperate to hear her illicit fiction. Until Dominic, a Shadowbane, catches one of her performances. . .

Dominic is a half-Sinless monster hunter as fearsome as his prey. But to complete his hunt, he needs an artist to summon the shadows . . . he needs Inana. Dominic delivers an ultimatum: serve him or he’ll claim her bounty. When survival is all Inana has left, the choice is clear. At least until she can betray him and leave him for dead.

As their tense alliance leads them into the heart of danger, dark secrets unravel—about each other, their world, and the threats they face. But the greatest risk of all is the desire growing between them. There’s something more sinful than lust at play, and it could bring the world to its knees.


A Stage Set For Villains by. Shannon J. Spann

The gods are dead. All that’s left are the Players…

The performers of the Playhouse are as worshipped as they are feared, their enchanting shows bending hearts, minds, and even reality itself. Vicious, godlike, lethal. Eighteen-year-old Riven Hesper knows the dangers better than anyone, after her own encounter with a Player resulted in a curse that is slowly killing her.

When the Playhouse announces the spectacle of a lifetime—a chance for one mortal to steal a Player’s immortality—Riven sees her last chance to live. Desperate for answers, she infiltrates the competition. There, she finds Jude, the Playhouse’s brilliant, merciless Lead Player, whose charm is as dangerous as his Craft, and strikes a deadly bargain to save her life.

But with time running out and the Playhouse’s secrets unraveling into a disturbing picture, Riven faces a grim possibility: she might not be the hero of her story after all. In fact, she may be the villain.

Because the Playhouse doesn’t just tell stories. It rewrites them.

And Riven’s might end in blood.


Queen of Faces by. Petra Lord

A desperate girl at a cutthroat magical academy faces a choice between life and death: become an assassin for the enchanted elite or watch her decaying body draw its last breath.

Anabelle Gage is trapped in a male body, and it’s rotting from the inside out. In Caimor, where the magical elite buy and swap designer bodies like clothes, Ana can’t afford to escape her tattered form. When she fails the entrance exam to the prestigious Paragon Academy, her last hope of earning a new body implodes. As the clock ticks down to her last breath, she’s forced to use her illusion magic to steal a healthy chassis—before her own kills her.

But Ana is caught by none other than the headmaster of Paragon Academy, who poses a brutal ultimatum: face execution for her crime or become a mercenary at his command. Revolt brews in Caimor’s smog-choked underworld, and the wealthy and powerful will stop at nothing to take down the rebels and the infamous dark witch at their helm, the Black Wraith.

With no choice but to accept, Ana will steal, fight, and kill her way to salvation. But her survival depends on a dangerous band of an impulsive assassin, a brooding bombmaker, and an alluring exile who might just spell her ruin. As Ana is drawn into a tangled web of secrets, the line between villain and hero shatters—and Ana must decide which side is worth dying for.


Dawn of the North by. Demi Winters


A new age begins in the Kingdom of Íseldur in this sizzling third installment of the Viking-inspired Ashen romantasy the series.

The lost Volsik heir has finally returned to the people of Íseldur, and even with the warrior who’s captured her heart standing by her side, Silla’s task is monumental. She must earn the loyalty of the northern jarls to drive Ivar Ironheart from the throne and restore peace in the kingdom. But the secret she vigilantly guards threatens to ruin all her plans: A shard of a god lives in her mind, twisting her thoughts and deeds to His will.

Meanwhile, held captive on the mysterious isle of Zagadka, Saga Volsik fights to return to her sister in Íseldur. But when King Ivar sets his sights on the Zagadkians, she’s forced to make an impossible choice: fight for the man who stole her—and is now hell-bent on marrying her—or let the innocent people of his kingdom die.

As a poisonous mist threatens the realm, the sisters will delve into the unknowns of their magic to battle against evil. Return to the land of ice and fire, where a god awakens, a queen finds her power, and sisters must unite against the darkness threatening their realm.


Stolen Midnights by. Katherine Quinn

This magical new YA romantasy from the New York Times bestselling author of To Kill a Shadow will steal your heart. Set in Andalay, a world where the ruling Fates bestow gifts among the favored, a thief must join forces with the palace darling after he unwittingly steals a necklace with the power to change everything.

When Damien, a cold and hardened thief, is hired to steal a gift from the powerful Fates meant for Andalay’s sweetheart, Wren Hayes, he finds himself entangled in a web of secrets.

The gift? A locket containing his own phototroph.

Once the locket is opened, hidden truths unravel, ones that shed light on the ruthless ways of the upper-class society. Yearning for the three Fates and the magical gifts they bestow, the lords of Andalay will go to any length to keep their power—including murder.

Brought together by destiny, and fighting a temptation that neither understand, Wren and Damien navigate a seedy world where the truth can destroy not only their lives, but the city itself.


Love and Other Brain Experiments by. Hannah Brohm


Perfect for fans of Ali Hazelwood and Christina Lauren, a STEM academic-rivals-to-lovers rom-com set at a New York conference about two neuroscientists who are forced to pretend they’re dating, leading to unexpected chemistry and a heartfelt journey of self-discovery.

Neuroscientist Dr. Frances Silberstein has success on the brain. As a grad student, she was offered a job by her brilliant boyfriend, but determined to make it on her own, she turned it—and him—down. Now, stuck in postdoc purgatory with no job security and no personal life to speak of, Frances is desperate to make a breakthrough. Her best shot is a summer conference packed with her field’s leading scientists. The only problem? It’s organized by her ex, who has found the success that’s eluded her. But backing out is not an option, because Frances desperately needs to network to save her career.

Enter Dr. Lewis North: her perceptive, meticulous, and inconveniently attractive rival. When their academic sniping gets mistaken for flirtatious chemistry, Frances doesn’t deny it—putting her integrity and career on the line. As soon as her prefrontal cortex is operational again, Frances realizes she needs to keep up the charade, or risk everything she’s worked for. Faking data is out of the question, but fake dating? That might just be the solution she needs.

But as Lewis starts to make her reward centers spark and a major setback has Frances questioning everything, she must confront what she’s willing to chase—for love, for science, and for the future she thought she wanted.


Heart’s Gambit by. J.D. Myall

A thrilling and romantic debut fantasy where competitors from two prominent, time-traveling Black families must fight in a deadly magical duel – and find themselves falling in love.

The Baldwins and the Davenports have been sworn enemies for centuries. Ever since Venus Davenport and Titus Baldwin, two enslaved kids, fell in love, tried to run away, and got caught by their mistress, Sabine, a powerful witch. Desperate for freedom, they struck a bargain, and she gifted their families the ability to exist outside of time, along with magic to survive and thrive.

Those gifts came at a price.

Once a generation, their families must put forth a competitor for a magical duel to the death to feed Sabine’s immortality. This time, Emma Baldwin – a wish spinner – and Malcolm Davenport – a maker of illusions – are chosen.

But when they meet to check out the competition, sparks fly. Soon, the two are exchanging letters, having secret meetings, and fighting off their cursed urges to hurt one another, all while trying not to fall in love. And if they are ever going to have a chance to be together, they only have one choice: to put an end to Sabine’s curse, once and for all.

J.D. Myall’s Heart’s Gambit is an irresistible journey of dazzling magic, unforgettable first love, and daring to dream of something more.


Here Lie All the Boys Who Broke My Heart by. Emma Simmerman

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder meets Tell Me Lies in this binge-worthy debut murder mystery about a college student whose senior year takes a deadly turn when her exes start turning up dead…

Every time a guy breaks my heart, I write him a eulogy in my journal. It’s kind of my thing—closure through creative mourning. They don’t actually die… or, at least, they didn’t.

Now? These guys aren’t just dead to me, they’re dead to everyone. And I’m the prime suspect.

With my senior year at Pembroke College—and my entire future—on the line, I’ve got no choice but to play detective. Unfortunately, that means teaming up with my long-standing frenemy, Asher, who is insufferable and somehow always there when I need him the least. We bicker, we banter, we occasionally almost hook up, but with the body count rising and my name all over the suspect board, there’s no time to get distracted.

Between college parties, messy exes, suspicious deaths, and a murder investigation I never asked to be a part of—one thing’s for this is not how I thought my last year would go.

Here’s to hoping I can find out who the real killer is… before someone ends up writing my eulogy.


Songbird of the Sorrows by. Braidee Otto

An outcast princess turned spy embarks on a mission to infiltrate a rival kingdom, but the secrets she uncovers force her to decide whether to follow orders or defy them.

Ask no questions. Obey your orders. Respect your masters. But most of all, love no one.

Spy. Thief. Princess. Songbird.

Princess Aella was ousted from the Palace of Sorrows as a child, shattering her world and forcing her to abandon the truth of her royal lineage. Instead, she was raised in The Aviary, which disguises itself as a school for orphaned children but is actually a secret order designed to train its students as spies for an intelligence network embedded throughout the Empyrieos.

Now twenty-three years old and having completed her final tests, Aella is summoned to join Alpha Flight, the Aviary’s elite team of assassins that’s led by none other than her former flame, Raven. Everything about him calls to her—he’s brave, loyal, and lethal. But is Raven worth breaking the rules and risking everything she’s worked so hard to achieve?

Before she can decide, the Alpha Flight team is sent on a dangerous mission that tests Aella’s resolve in every way. Her role is crucial and she must assume her former title of Princess of the Sorrows, the identity she once had to forsake, to compete in the bridal trials held by the Prince of Eretria. As old sparks reignite and the harsh realities of the realm reveal themselves, the mission begins to unravel, and Aella must decide if she is brave enough to disobey her superiors in order to do what she believes is right.

Songbird of the Sorrows is the first book in Myths of the Empyrieos, an epic romantic fantasy series that follows a feisty heroine through trials, a perilous heist, court intrigue, kingdom politics, and a journey of self-discovery, true love, and redemption.


All We Once Had by. Katy Upperman

An emotional and heartfelt contemporary YA romance from the author of Everything I Promised You, exploring the complicated nature of grief, family, growing up, and the beauty of second chances.

Piper and her older sister could not be more different. Tati assumed guardianship when their parents were killed by a drunk driver, and some days Piper feels more kinship with her best friend and her family. Except Gabi isn’t speaking to Piper, just when Piper could really use a friend. Which is not how she expected to start the summer before senior year.

Escaping to their apartment complex’s pool for some space, Piper is stunned to see Henry. Her Henry. The boy who, three years ago, sat next to her at this same pool and offered the kind, calming presence she needed while she was deep in her grief. Together, they walked the beach, talked about their passions, and ultimately, shared a kiss. It was a perfect night. Except Piper hasn’t seen him since.

Henry is back in Florida to spend time with his dad and escape the relationship drama he left at home. Fate has brought Piper and Henry back together when their lives are most complicated with devastating secrets. With no one to confide in but each other, Piper and Henry must confront their painful pasts and the tumultuous present. Is this the start of another goodbye or a second chance at love?


Are you getting any new books this week?

Happy Reading!

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

WWW Wednesday | 1/28/26

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 am working on arcs from NetGalley but also arcs from indie authors! Glad to be supporting the indie authors and I wish I can read everyone’s book, but I can’t. 😅. But I’m trying to fit them into my reading schedule by requesting less from NetGalley. Now if only I can fit my physical TBR into my schedule lol – reader problems!!

What are you currently reading?

Dawn of the North by. Demi Winter – 33% – this one has such heavy world-building, I had to try to remember this big cast of characters but it is finally flowing for me!

Keeper of Lost Children by. Sadeqa Johnson – 12%

I, Medusa by. Ayana Gray – chapter 2

The Summer of Lost Things by. Jenn Bennett – 31%

Dawn in Ruins by. Magda Mizzi – Chapter 1 – let’s try this one again, and see if I can finish it this time. I wasn’t in the mood for it during the holidays.


What have you just finished reading?

A Curse of Crimson Tears by. Julie J. Morris– ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Masquerade of Mirrors by. Samantha Hartwood – ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (arc)

Goodbye and Everything After by. Mae Coyiuto – ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (arc)

Maybe This Once by. Sophie Sullivan – ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (arc)

Second Chance Romance by. Olivia Dade – ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Still Fighting by. Syianne Horne – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (arc)

Fated Skates by. Victoria Schade – ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (alc – audiobook)


What are you going to read next?

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

The Poet Empress by. Shen Tao

A Vow in Vengeance by. Jaclyn Rodriguez

Mate by. Ali Hazelwood


What are YOU reading right now?

New Book Releases This Week | 1/27/26

Happy book birthday to these new releases this week!

We Who Have No Gods by. Liza Anderson

In a world of witches, a human woman must hunt or be hunted in this explosive gothic dark academia fantasy filled with war-bent rivals, guarded secrets, and simmering chemistry.

Vic Wood knows her priorities: scrape by on her restaurant wages, take care of her younger brother Henry, and forget their mother ever existed. But Vic’s careful life crumbles when Henry reveals that their long-missing mother belonged to the Acheron Order—a secret society of witches tasked with keeping the dead at bay. What’s worse, Henry inherited their mother’s magical abilities while Vic did not, and Henry has been chosen as the Order’s newest recruit.

Determined to keep him safe, Vic accompanies Henry to the isolated woods in upstate New York that play host to the sprawling and eerie Avalon Castle. When she joins the academy despite lacking powers of her own, she risks not only the Order’s wrath, but also her brother’s. And then there is Xan, the head Sentinel—imposing, ruthless, and frustrating—in charge of protecting Avalon. He makes no secret that he wants Vic to leave.

As she makes both enemies and allies in this mysterious realm, Vic becomes caught between the dark forces at play, with her mother at the heart of it all. What’s stranger is that Vic begins to be affected by the academy—and Xan—in ways she can’t quite understand. But with war between witches threatening the fabric of reality, Vic must decide whether to risk her heart and life for a world where power is everything.


King of Ravens by. Clare Sager

He’ll do anything to keep her. She’d do anything to escape.

Rhiannon is dying—of what, she doesn’t know. Kept protected by her family in their remote seaside cottage, she spends her days searching for a cure. Her world is torn apart, however, when a fae King of the Dead invades her home.

Cold and cruel, Drystan offers her a choice: descend to the underworld as his bride or watch her family die. Trapped in a twisted bargain, Rhiannon is thrust into a world of withered gods, scheming courtiers, and ancient magic, but she refuses to be a pawn in a game she never agreed to play. She attempts over and over to run away, until Drystan offers her a new bargain: escape his deadly labyrinth, and he will set her free. Fail, and become his bride.

But in a court where every promise has teeth, Annon must make an impossible choice: return to the home she’s always loved or claim her place in a world where she might finally belong.


The Re-Do List by. Denise Williams

Willow experienced all her big firsts with her high school sweetheart. Now, reeling from their very public breakup, she wants to get a re-do on those important moments. While dog-sitting for her brother during his deployment, she has a chance to start over and spending time with his best friend gives her the confidence to start checking items off her “Re-Do list.”

Deacon promised his best friend two things when Cruz left for a that he’d look out for Willow, and that he’d keep his hands off Cruz’s baby sister. “Operation Re-Do” is innocent enough at Deacon likes Willow and he’s willing to help her out any way he can. But when the list of firsts turns from a first dance to first kisses and more, Deacon can’t deny the connection he feels to Willow.

As Deacon’s and Willow’s firsts turn to seconds, thirds, and fourths, this pair can’t get enough of each other—and they support each other through new challenges. But they are both aware there’s an end date to Willow’s time in town… and even if she were to stay, Deacon doesn’t know how to choose between his loyalty to his closest friend and the woman he’s fallen in love with. With no more romantic moments on her list for them to re-do, can these two still find a way to stay together?


The Wolf and the Crown of Blood by. Elizabeth May

A thrilling and incredibly sexy new dark romantasy series from Sunday Times bestselling author Elizabeth May.

A princess and a war-weary god met in the ashes of a broken city, forging a pact in blood and sacrifice.

Now, centuries of fragile peace are on the brink of collapse…

Bryony Devaliant was born to die — again and again. In Vartena, royal blood is the currency of peace, with every monarch sacrificed and resurrected to appease the gods. But when rebellion stirs, the god-king sends his deadliest weapon to restore order: an immortal assassin known only as the Wolf.

Evander has perfected the art of killing over centuries — until his latest target becomes the one person he cannot destroy. When forbidden desire burns between the assassin and the sacrificial princess, their connection threatens the fragile boundary between gods and mortals. And when that boundary shatters, empires crumble. Because when gods fall in love with mortals, mortals are always the ones to break.

Inspired byBeauty and the BeastandEros and Psyche, this dark, seductive tale is perfect for fans of Raven Kennedy’sPlated Prisonerseries, with the wit and spice of Callie Hart’sQuicksilver. Packed with dark fairytale vibes, gothic romance, and tropes like enemies to lovers, forced proximity, death pacts, and villain-gets-the-girl, this is a story where love is as deadly as it is irresistible.


King of Beasts by. Catherone Doyle

King Alarik Felsing.

A lone wolf.

A frozen heart …

Deep in the mountains of a snow-swept kingdom, an ancient beast is stirring. When a beautiful young wrangler arrives to try and tame it, she is not expecting to tame the beast that lives inside the king too. But sometimes, all it takes is an unexpected spark to melt even the iciest of hearts …

A stunning new romantasy novel filled with magic, tantalizing romance and thrilling action.


Are you getting any new books this week?

Happy Reading!

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

Let’s Talk Bookish:  Underrated Books | 1/23/26

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 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? 

**********

What makes a book “underrated”?

I feel like underrated books are books without much promotion or hype. It might because it’s an indie book or just an author with a small publisher.

Did you read any books in 2025 that you think are underrated?

Definitely!

Did you read any books with underrated tropes (or micro tropes) or genres?

Underrated tropes are hard to fine – at least in the books I read! I read very overused tropes. 😅

What are some of your favourite “underrated” reads from 2025 and of all time? 

  • Daggermouth by. H.M. Wolfe – read this at the end of 2025 and I LOVED it. Violent, full of action and a crazy ending. I’m going to do a re-read sometime soon.
  • The Death-Made Prince by. Lisette Marshall – okay it’s rare we meet a MMC who isn’t good-looking but interesting looking. I feel like that’s more realistic, because not every guy is handsome lol. But this was a fun, action-filled, banter-filled story. Will re-read this soon also.
  • Starchaser by. R.M. Gray – this is book two in the Nightweaver series and it’s an enjoyable series! But I don’t see many people talking about it.
  • And the River Drags Her down by. Jihyun Yun – when I think about horror books that people don’t talk about but is hard to forget is this one.
  • Nightshade by. Autumn Woods – Alex was my newest book boyfriend of 2025. I loved the banter, the drama, so good, I’ll be re-reading before book two comes out this summer!

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 | 1/21/26

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)