The hold that Amanda Foody has on me, dear god. I'm convinced that the first book is Levi's, the second is Jac's, and the third is Enne's, but I'll have to wait to read Queen of Volts to see. The stakes are much higher in King of Fools and it gets much darker than Ace of Shades. We also get so many more fun characters like Grace, Poppy, and Tock and get to see Enne grow into herself as a lord of New Reynes. Political intrigue galore, getting more insight into the lore of the land, and exploring each character's morailty, my heart. My only complaint is that it was 600 pages... and that the ending totally made it worth it.

This is SUCH a good book for creators. This is a book about embracing your home and yourself, with topics like food, interior design, and how to embrace your creativity. It's chockfull of Elizabeth Gray's gorgeous art with some helpful tips and inspiration. I want her to be my best friend IRL. PLUS it comes with bonus gifts in the back pocket and it was an amazing surprise. I can't wait to go back through and work through all of the exercises to become a happier homebody.

I've melted into a puddle of goo. This book is PHENOMENAL as I'm sure everyone knows. It simultaneously massages your heart and then just squeeeezes it. It's quirky, crochety, almost meta at times, but so heartwarming. It's a book about life, friendship, and mortality. J.K. Simmons absolutely SLAYS the audiobook and had me tearing up at the end. I just want to hug Ove and tell him that he's a wonderful grump that should never change. And I may be considering buying a Saab.

*Thank you to Simon Audio for an ALC in exchange for my honest review*

SO FREAKING CUTE. Lynn Painter is it for me. The pacing, the plot, the partnership, my heart. I also loved how this kind of had 4 acts!? There was more than a third act break-up, there was a FOURTH. And I felt like it was so organic as well. Liv is a hot mess to the extreme, literally burning down her apartment complex during a funeral pyre for her relationship. And Colin is fiiiine as hell, uptight as he may seem. I could've done with a little more steam, but I was laughing and squealing throughout which is more than enough for me.

I freaking LOVED this book. It had so many perspectives, both from main and secondary characters, as we try to unravel the mystery at Urban Promise Prep. It serves up dark academia vibes, haunting mysteries, and just this feeling of general dread. Plus it has that lovely multimedia of texts, emails, and news articles throughout. I do feel like some of the mystery could've been foreshadowed better or maybe just upped the ante, but it's overall a really great YA mystery.

*Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

A treasure hunt in the red rock canyons of Utah? Yes please. From the get go, I was invested in Leo and Lily rekindling their romance. (Though I will say that I was more drawn to Nic and Walt, there's just something about a shy nerd for me.) What begins as a cutesy traipse across the canyon quickly turns dramatic and after that I was all in. I might be alone in this, but I wanted more of the scavenger hunt and less of the romance? All in all, it's a quick read full of adventure. I just wanted MORE.

Let me be clear - I loved it! An ensemble cast of demigods led by a trans son of Quetzal, set in the Mexico-inspired kingdom Reino del Sol, forced to compete for the right to be the Sunbearer and avoid being ritually sacrificed. That's a LOT to unpack. Throughout, we see Teo grow as a character and transform into a hero in his own right. Some of the plot elements were a bit predictable, but I really enjoyed the foreshadowing throughout. Does it end on a devastating cliffhanger? Of course. But I'm excited to see where the finale goes.

I thought Delilah Green was amazing and didn't expect it to get better. But god damn Ashley Herring Blake, you outdid yourself. A third act break-up that made perfect sense, the best damn group of bisexual besties, and a house renovation plot to end all others? Be still my heart. The narrator also NAILED the voices for Astrid and Jordan, giving each character a completely different feel as we listened to their chapters. And next comes Iris? The PLANNER QUEEN?? God I can't wait.

If you're waiting to start this series, don't. It's a queer delight with small town Oregon vibes and I just want to live in Bright Falls. BUY THIS BOOK!!

*Thank you to PRH Audio for a gifted ALC in exchange for my honest review*

Felt a little rushed at the end, but I enjoyed getting to see more of Lenore. Behind all of her regality is a girl who isn't sure what she wants to do with her life. And honestly? That feels so REAL. Factor in the Mediterranean setting, a whirlwind romance, and rediscovering a creative passion, and you've got a solid YA contemporary.

The longest book yet in The Grave of Empires, yet somehow also the most satisfying. All of the conflict from the previous 2 books comes to a head, told in Sam Sykes' distinctive style. While it feels like we're meandering through the story, it all comes together elegantly at the end. But with that ending comes loss, grief, and closure. And of course some BALLER fight scenes. Cinematic to the extreme, filled with sass and wit, and lightning fast action. In my eyes, this book is where Sal finally becomes a hero rather than an antihero and it was worth the wait. We get the backstory we've been waiting for (you know which one) - can't complain!

And I want to reread the entire series now, taking detailed notes on all of the vagrants and magic systems. Like if no one has turned this into a D&D setting yet, what are you even doing?

*Thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*