Our community writers are here to share a little about a book they enjoyed in September / October 2024. Have you read any of these or do you plan to add any to your TBR?
Kathy Palm
House of Frank by Kay Sinclaire
Vibes: Cozy, witches, magical creatures, found family
Content warnings: Death, Grief
In October, I read House of Frank by Kay Sinclaire and loved it! This is the best of cozy fantasy: grief edition. Featuring delightfully queer characters and found family, the story follows Saika, who is still reeling from the death of her sister Fiona. After finally gathering up the courage to fulfill her last wishes, Saika brings Fiona’s ashes to the Ash Gardens, a magical arboretum. Saika finds herself struggling with letting go and instead finds ways to put it off.
House of Frank is told from the perspective of Saika talking to Fiona, which brings you even closer to the story than usual. I fell in love with these characters and the Ash Gardens. Frank, the owner of the Ash Gardens, welcomes Saika in with open arms and does his best to help everyone find their way.
He also happens to be a mythical beast rocking a knit cardigan sweater. There are also some cherubs, a fairy, and a sailor, to mention a few others. The main themes of the story are grief and death, which are addressed in such a kind and hopeful manner.
This story is full of heart, hope, grief, growth, and, of course, magic. The main themes of the story, grief and death, are addressed in such a kind and hopeful manner.
House of Frank was released on October 15th and is one I know I will be rereading! Check out my blog for a longer review of House of Frank, and feel free to stick around for more reviews and bookish thoughts!
Larissa LaFrance
You Will Never Be Me by Jesse Q. Sutanto
This is a must-read for fans of Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, You by Caroline Kepnes, their subsequent adaptations, and suspenseful mystery thrillers in general!
Readers are treated to both the perspective of Meredith, a single mom and social media influencer whose hobbies include Stalking Lite, and Aspen, a popular Momfluencer exploiting (and mildly tormenting) her husband and three kids for likes and followers. Meredith discovered Aspen, and they became inseparable besties until a falling out seemingly pushes both of them toward the edge.
This was the best book I read in September, and I resented real life for coming between us. When I finally got to finish it, I was overwhelmed.
My brain was so saturated in happy chemicals that it short-circuited, and I couldn’t adequately explain to anyone how much I liked You Will Never Be Me. I just want to emphatically gesture at the book and plead with my eyes for someone to please read it so that they can maybe understand what I’m going through.
Raigan Mao
Valor Amidst Decay by AJ Somers
Valor Amidst Decay by AJ Somers is a debut book about a zombie apocalypse that had me in a chokehold while reading and continues to have me in a chokehold now that I have finished it. Something about the disturbing unhingedness and never knowing what would or could happen next just sucks the reader in and doesn't let them go. I DEVOURED this book in two days.
There was romance, banter, disturbing moments, kissing (?!), fight scenes, and emotional damage. The zombies in this book are very fascinating; some are ridiculously fast and enjoy screeching while others are wonderfully slow. Some of the zombies are even actually smart.
You would think that, because there’s a zombie apocalypse happening, the Mafia/Yakuza would take a break from being petty a-holes, but no… they're even worse than normal. Just because the world looks like it’s ending doesn't mean you get to do whatever the hell you want.
I loved this book and would highly recommend it to someone looking for a horror romance read. This novel ends on a cliffhanger that leaves wanting more.
Please check trigger warnings before reading.
Zoë Gregory
Reign Returned by Katie Keridan
Reign Returned is a delightful comfort read that skillfully blends traditional fantasy with subtle modern sci-fi elements. The use of multiple perspectives from well-rounded characters and a non-linear timeline enriches the narrative, creating an engaging experience. Reign Returned is character-driven, featuring a steadily rising plot.
The author uncovers secrets about the two main characters, Kyra and Sebastian, that they themselves are unaware of, leaving them purposefully oblivious to their hidden truths for much of the narrative. Meanwhile, the readers and a few of the other characters are already aware, creating a sense of drama and intrigue.
The world-building is impressively detailed, and because of this, some sections feel captivatingly dense with information that is woven organically into the narrative. There were some repetitions in the world-building details, but they effectively revealed more about different situations or added depth to character dialogue, reinforcing the richness of the fantasy lore and aiding information retention.
I would recommend Reign Returned to fantasy readers who enjoy stories featuring deities, fantastical creatures, a softer magic system (where the consequences of using magic are not always clear), and a love that transcends corporeal existence. It’s perfect for those who appreciate rich world-building and layered narratives.
I could see myself rereading Reign Returned.
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