June Reading Wrap Up

My June Wrap-Up is here, and not to toot my own horn… but I read a whopping 15 books this month! 🎉📚

I’m pretty proud of that—woohoo!

How about you? Did you crush any personal reading goals in June? Let’s celebrate those wins together—drop your wrap-up or favs in the comments!

The Iron Sword & The Iron Vow

As someone who has not read the previous Iron Fey series, the change in POVs caught me off guard. But I liked it. Don’t get me wrong, I loved Puck’s voice, so I was a little disappointed that I didn’t get his POV again. However, it was cool to get more backstory and history in a way that didn’t ruin the pacing of the story. I enjoyed getting to know some of the characters and learning more about the history of the fae realm.

Finishing this series has made me want to invest time and energy into reading the original series, and that’s saying a lot.

But I digress; this pacing was well done, and the characterization and character dynamics had the right amount of tension to lend to the plot development. I was engaged from beginning to end.

The Iron Sword

• Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

The Iron Vow

• Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Deadstream

Once again, huge thank you to the publisher for this arc. I must say, while I thought the formatting was unique for the storytelling, I struggled to connect with the main character. I did appreciate how the author dealt with mental illness, how Teresa, also known as Replay online, became agoraphobic after a car accident that took her friend’s life.

I wish I had been given more backstory at the beginning instead of all at the end, because it would have made more sense and helped me be more empathetic.

As for the horror aspect of the novel, it wasn’t anything new; I’ve seen that concept done before. However, I did appreciate the social commentary on how social media can be addictive and how, for some, it becomes so addictive that it consumes their lives. The likes, the comments, the subscribers – it’s addictive to get that sort of attention and recognition. But it’s also essential not to forget the real world. So, this novel was a mixed bag.

• Rating: 3 out of 5.

Shadowgate & Isle of the Dead

I loved these books. As always, I read these back when I was a kid, I still have the Waldenbooks receipts in them, and now I read a chapter a night to my son. He loves them; the first thing he loves to do is look at the map! I love it when a book has a map. The fact that I know how to put the book down once he’s asleep goes to show you how much I love this series. I love the characters, the tension, the adventure, and the plot.

If you can get your hands on this series, do it. It’s a great series for kids and will get them excited about reading.

• Rating: 5 out of 5.

Sunrise on the Reaping

Oh my god. This book was so heartbreaking. Collins is such a masterful storyteller. I loved the way Collins was able to tie things together from the previous novels because it adds more depth to Katniss’s story. There’s so much answered in this book, and it was a little traumatizing—half the time, my jaw just dropped. I mean, this book is emotional; it’s a story that will grip you from start to finish.

• Rating: 5 out of 5.

Hera

I absolutely loved this book. I’m a massive fan of Jennifer Saint, but I hadn’t quite found a novel of hers that I loved as much as Ariadne, until now.

Reading about the all-powerful queen of the gods and hearing her story was amazing. In all the myths and legends, the goddess of marriage has always been portrayed as a jealous wife. But there is so much more than that. She is not jealous; she is angry. Angry that this man took away her power, took away her agency, and then humiliated her again and again in a power play. You can empathize with her, and you root for her. You want to see her win and get one over on Zeus.

This was a fantastic novel; I loved it!

• Rating: 5 out of 5.

The Ballad of Never After & A Curse for True Love

I love Jacks and Evangeline. I loved these two books, but I loved Ballad a little more than Curse. Ballad delved into the core of Evangeline and Jacks relationship, and it also explored the history of the House of Valor, including the curses and magic of the land. I loved the tension of the storytelling and the build-up between Jacks and Evangeline. Jacks is just so dashing, gotta love him.

As for Curse, I liked it, don’t get me wrong, and I liked how Garber switched things up a bit by giving us multiple POVs, including Apollo. Now that was a nice twist in the storytelling. And I loved seeing Evangeline fall back in love with Jacks, and I loved seeing them get their happy ending.

The Ballad of Never After

• Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

The Curse for True Love

• Rating: 4 out of 5.

A Far Better Thing

So, this was not quite what I expected. This is more historical fantasy, set during the French Revolution. I wanted a little more fantasy involved in the storytelling. Don’t get me wrong, it was a pleasant story, but it was a slow story. This is a novel that you have to take your time with. Now, I’m not much of a mood reader, but when it comes to historical fantasy, this is a genre that I have to be in the mood for because I enjoy fast-paced stories a little more.

Don’t get me wrong, it was a well-written story, but the pacing was not precisely what I was looking for.

• Rating: 3 out of 5.

The Art of Exile

Once again, a huge thank you to the publisher for this novel! This was good, and I enjoyed the Renaissance feel in this novel, as well as the way art, history, and innovation are brought together here.

We’re following Ada, who discovers that her unique ability to revive nature makes her a sire, a descendant of some of the world’s greatest minds. I loved the way the story delved into history, as well as recreating classic artwork and innovations. It was simply brilliant. And there is even a love triangle going on here, and some espionage. Ada is a spy for the world outside…or is she? There are some complex dynamics, and I love the way they are explored. It was a tension-driven story that I thoroughly enjoyed, and I’m excited for the second novel.

• Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Lady or the Tiger

Talk about a suspenseful novel! Belle King is a serial killer called The Seamstress, but she kills awful men. Reminded me of a female Dexter a little bit. What was great was the flow of the story. It is not a linear story, but it is, in a way, a love story. Belle King turns herself in and is sentenced to hang when the man she first killed, her abusive husband, comes back from the dead to defend her. Taking place in the old Wild West, the story alternates between Belle’s relationship with her husband and the boy who saved her. However, it also becomes emotionally complex when it begins to discuss her need for freedom.

I also loved the way she broke the fourth wall and spoke ot the reader. And that ending! Was it the lady or the tiger?

• Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Sleep Like Death

This was amazing! I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to read this novel as part of my virtual book club, Read with Cyn’s Workshop. I think Bayron did a fantastic job in giving the Snow White fairytale a new and fresh edge, too. Bayron includes those elements – a mirror, an apple, seven dwarves (not dwarves here), and blood falling on snow – but the way they are implemented is unique. And I loved that. I loved how the novel followed the fairytale format while also offering readers something new. The Knight is a play not only on Rumplestiltskin but also the Black Knight from Arthurian legend.

Sleep Like Death is a novel worth reading.

• Rating: 4 out of 5.

Mistborn: The Final Empire

I’m so glad I finally got to read Mistborn. This novel has been on my TBR for ages! I just needed that extra push, and the Fantasy Fanatics book club I’m in was that push!

The first couple of chapters were a little rough. There were times when it felt more like info dumping rather than world-building, and it dragged out the pacing. However, when we met Vin, I was all in. The magic system was unique and unlike anything I have ever read before. The rising tension was well done, and the character growth was exceptional. Vin grew a lot, and I love her for that – for becoming the fighter she is today.

Additionally, I wasn’t expecting that plot twist, so that was a pleasant surprise.

Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Eternal Edition, Vol. 7

What can I say that I haven’t already said? I love Sailor Moon and appreciate how the story unfolds and how fast-paced it is. However, even though it is fast-paced, we’re not losing sight of characterization and growth. The dynamics remain strong, and the artwork is truly amazing.