Tag: Storygraph

Alexis’ April 2026 Wrap Up

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April reading wrap up graphic from Storygraph

Alexis:

I had a great reading month in April! Despite a busy month (I feel like I say this every month) I read 6 books and 2,530 pages.

  1. Deathly Fates by Tesia Tsae: This is a classic, Chinese-inspired quest YA fantasy that I read as an ARC, so thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s. You can read my review here!
  2. A Forest Darkly by A.G. Slatter: I’m always down to read more woodsy novels. This is a slow-moving, witchy book with a creepy forest. It’s weird, and half of the book is like a dark, horror fairytale, and the other half is closer to Stardew Valley. Slatter describes it as her “grumpy menopausal witch in the woods” novel. ⁣
  3. ⁣Honey in Her Veins by Ruth McKell: I actually preordered this one because it sounded right up my alley, and I was right. It’s a contemporary fantasy with bee/honey/plant magic, possession (think One Dark Window), lyrical writing, lush, Appalachian atmosphere, a creepy forest, and second chance romance. It’s 5 stars from me based off of this list alone!⁣
  4. The Red Winter by Cameron Sullivan: The Red Winter is a dark historical fantasy set in France. Sebastian Graves, an immortal with a demon living in his head, returns to the French countryside when there are rumors of the Beast returning—the Beast he narrowly defeated 20 years ago. ⁣While there were aspects I enjoyed, this was just too gross for my tastes, too slow moving, and it wasn’t my sense of humor. ⁣
  5. The Road of Bones by Demi Winters: I picked this one up on a whim after hearing about it, and I was pleasantly surprised by it. I love the beginning (a dangerous trek though a creepy forest with vampire deer is my jam) but wasn’t quite sure about some of the middle, especially because I hated one of the side characters. But the ending completely validated and surprised me. I’m currently reading the sequel!
  6. How to Write a Love Story by Catherine Walsh: An editor travels to Ireland to help a writer: the daughter of a famous, passed away author who is tasked with writing the final book of a fantasy series. This was a fun read, but I actually enjoyed everything else about this book more than the romance. 

Alexis’ Yearly Wrap-Up: Best Books of 2022

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Alexis:

It’s almost the new year, which means it’s time for my yearly wrap-up!

I read over 100 books in 2022, which is definitely the most books I’ve probably ever read in one year. I only say “probably” because I was that kid in middle school who just devoured books 😄

Here are my favorite books that I read in 2022.

  1. Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

If you’re looking for a YA/new adult historical fantasy, look no further. Divine Rivals doesn’t actually come out until 2023, so definitely add it to your tbr! It has magical and mysterious letter writing, WWII vibes, romance, and a war between gods. I adore the two main characters and the gorgeous, lyrical writing. 

  1. Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn

The sequel to the Arthurian fantasy Legendborn is action-packed, with great characters and worldbuilding. It tackles topics like privilege, racism, and identity. It definitely does not have middle book syndrome! 

  1. Wildbound by Elayne Audrey Becker

The sequel to the YA fantasy Forestborn follows a pair of shapeshifters. It has magical woods, a war with plenty of action scenes, and romance (including a LGBTQ romance). This is one of my favorite fantasy duologies! 

  1. Defend the Dawn by Brigid Kemmerer 

Another sequel! This one is the sequel to one of my favorite books: Defy the Night. I just love the mix of court politics, plague, romance, and adventure. 

  1. Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher 

This is an adult fantasy that’s part horror novel, part whimsical fairytale. It’s both dark and hilarious, with a unique feel and a great adventure storyline. 

  1. Only a Monster by Vanessa Len

Only a Monster has time travel, intriguing worldbuilding and characters, and a lot of deep and dark themes. It surprised me, but in the best way. 

  1. Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove by Rati Mehrotra

This Indian-inspired fantasy has monster hunting, a forbidden soul bond, and an adventurous feel. It also has a dark turn that really amps up the stakes. 

  1. Love & Other Words by Christina Lauren

This is the only non-fantasy on my list, but Love & Other Words has childhood friends to lovers and follows two different timelines. The two main characters are an absolute mess, but I love how raw and vulnerable they are. There’s an emphasis on books, too. The ending has a plot point that I was not a fan of, but I love the rest of this book enough that it made the list.

  1. The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

This book is heartwarming, charming, and a breath of fresh air. It has witches, including a loveable group of children witches. It has themes of belonging, family, and learning to love yourself.

  1. Unraveller by Frances Hardinge 

I’ve mentioned this before, but I will read anything Frances Hardinge writes. Unraveller has curses, a kid who can unravel them, and lots of quests. The writing is lyrical and atmospheric, the worldbuilding unique and interesting. 

Have you read any of these? If you want to check out my 2022 reading stats, check out my Storygraph or my Goodreads. (Disclaimer: They’re 1 book off from each other and I haven’t figured out why!)

I hope you all have a great new year! 🎉