Reading Recap: September

A bit late on this one.

I finished two books last month but I also started a monstrous 1000 page book (ending the month at page 350) and I'm almost done with my current audiobook. So all in all, a good month of reading.

Here's the line-up:

Honey Golden Son

Fantasy books tend to be long -- longer than books of other genres -- and sometimes that makes me feel less "productive" or less "accomplished" when I log my reading. It's one of the reasons I love that Storygraph lets you set a pages goal not just a books read goal.

Guess which one I'm on track for this year?

Read my reviews below. You may notice that I have stopped providing star ratings. I've always found star ratings to be deeply personal and, frankly, completely arbitrary. I typically rate based on a gut feel at the end of reading. Will I read it again? Probably a 4. Is it my new favorite book and will I make it my personality for the next five months? Probably a 5. Did I find it slow and not that engaging? Probably a 3. Honestly, I rarely rate 1 or 2 because it's unlikely I would have a) picked up a book so off the mark and b) finished it at all!

There have been a lot of discussions about authors providing ratings with their reviews since they are, essentially, colleagues in the same profession. While I'm not published yet, I appreciate this sentiment. My reviews here are written to help other readers know whether they can expect to enjoy a specific book. A star rating is really for me anyways, so I don't mind removing them.

As always -- there are no spoilers BUT if you have not read previous books in the series, I would read with caution.

And at the end I've listed a few of my favorite quotes from this month.

Hope you enjoy.

September Stats:

• 1,282 pages read

• 10.5 hours listened

September Reads:

Honey by Mariel Pomeroy

True, Honey is a smutty fantasy book with a shadow daddy and kinky sex. But Honey is also a beautiful, haunting, character-driven story about healing, found family, trauma, and more. Pomeroy does a fabulous job of expanding the world of the Nephilim as the reader follows additional POV characters and secrets of the past.

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I love Mariel's style. She breaks conventions to tell a story that is dear to her heart and soul. The book is slow, emotional, and raw. It is very much not the off-the-shelf fast-paced fantasy romances you tend to see. But that's what makes it special.

That said, I really did hope to get a little more information about Aheia and progress the plot a teensy bit more. But I'll be patient for book 3.

This does end on another cliffhanger. Reader, be warned.

Golden Son by Pierce Brown ⁠

After a shocking culmination to the war games, Darrow is thrown into the real world, which is perhaps even more dangerous. Darrow's mission is unchanged, even as he faces betrayal, treachery, and constant politics in the dangerous world of the Golds. But as he builds friendships, he must decide who he can trust with the truth; choosing wrong will mean the end of the revolution and, likely, his life.

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While the first book felt familiar and fast-paced (akin to many other dystopian type books of its time), the second book truly takes Darrow's story to another level. The world expands beyond the border of the war games to encompass an empire across space. Readers can expect complex characters, political machinations, and -- of course -- plot twists and jaw-dropping, explosive endings.

This book is undoubtedly slower paced than the first book, but that doesn't mean it isn't a page-turner. I am still destroyed by the ending to this book and taking a break before book 3. I just can't take this level of emotional turmoil!⁠

Quotes of the Month:

"Home isn't where you're from, it's where you find light when all grows dark." - Golden Son

This one made me laugh:

"There is no greater plague to an introvert than the extrovert." - Golden Son