wrap-ups

Wrap Up | August 2024

07/09/2024 kat @ bookish blades

Hoohoo, friends of the blade.

August was… interesting. Above all, it was hot. Most of the month I was sweating my skin off, head headaches, felt tired and generally suffered from this atrocious heatwave. I can’t remember the last time it actually rained. I also started a new job in August. I’m in a tea shop now and I really like it. I’ve learned a lot about tea already and I like talking about it to anyone who wants to listen. I simply love tea (which is why I recently matched my favourite teas & books in this post). I also celebrated my birthday and was so happy to have some of my family and flatmate with me to spend a weekend together by the lake, eating a lot and generally having some time together again, finally.
I saw Zebrahead live again and while I love Zebrahead shows, this might have been my least favourite concert experience so far. I did love Indecent Behavior who supported Zebrahead and I’m thinking about going to their headline tour this fall.
I didn’t really do anything else in August except read, I just didn’t have the energy for it.

BOOKS READ

A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft 🌟🌟🌟

Niamh Ó Conchobhair has never let herself long for more. The magic in her blood that lets her stitch emotions and memories into every dress she makes is the same one that will kill her—sooner rather than later—and she’s determined to spend the little time she has left guaranteeing a better life for her family. When she’s commissioned to design the wardrobe for a nearby kingdom’s royal wedding, she knows this is her one chance to make something of herself.
Niamh arrives in Avaland, where young nobles are making their debuts into society during the candlelit balls and elegant garden parties that fill the social Season. The only damper on the festivities is the groom himself: Kit Carmine, prickly, abrasive, and begrudgingly being dragged to the altar as a desperate political act. Beneath Avaland’s glittery façade, unrest is brewing, and an anonymous gossip columnist has been spreading rumors about corruption within the royal family. As Niamh grows closer to Kit, an unlikely friendship begins to blossom into something more…until the columnist starts buzzing about her chemistry with the prince, promising to leave her alone only if she helps uncover the royal family’s secrets. Niamh discovers that the rot at the heart of Avaland goes far deeper than she bargained for—but exposing it could risk a future she never let herself dream of, and a love she never thought possible.

I was really looking forward to this book and I don’t know why, but I had really high expectations but unfortunately I was a bit disappointed in the end. I did like Niamh but I didn’t really understand her deep interest in the princes and their conflict and why she gets involved in it. I also couldn’t really see the attraction between Niamh and Kit which felt forced to me. It also took me quite a while to get into the story and warm towards the characters. I loved the writing, though! It was atmospheric and really matched the vibe of the book!

A Crane Among Wolves by June Hur 🌟🌟🌟🌟

1506, Joseon. The people suffer under the cruel reign of the tyrant King Yeonsan, powerless to stop him from commandeering their land for his recreational use, banning and burning books, and kidnapping and horrifically abusing women and girls as his personal playthings.
Seventeen-year-old Iseul has lived a sheltered, privileged life despite the kingdom’s turmoil. When her older sister, Suyeon, becomes the king’s latest prey, Iseul leaves the relative safety of her village, traveling through forbidden territory to reach the capital in hopes of stealing her sister back. But she soon discovers the king’s power is absolute, and to challenge his rule is to court certain death.
Prince Daehyun has lived his whole life in the terrifying shadow of his despicable half-brother, the king. Forced to watch King Yeonsan flaunt his predation through executions and rampant abuse of the common folk, Daehyun aches to find a way to dethrone his half-brother once and for all. When staging a coup, failure is fatal, and he’ll need help to pull it off—but there’s no way to know who he can trust.
When Iseul’s and Daehyun’s fates collide, their contempt for each other is transcended only by their mutual hate for the king. Armed with Iseul’s family connections and Daehyun’s royal access, they reluctantly join forces to launch the riskiest gamble the kingdom has ever
Save her sister. Free the people. Destroy a tyrant.

I rarely read historical fiction. I rarely read crime and/or mystery. But when June Hur comes along with a new release that combines the two things, I will absolutely pick it up and I will love it. I simply love how June Hur weaves well researched history and attention to details with interesting main characters and a bit of murder into an amazing story that feels well wrapped up yet leaves you craving more. I adore the characters and their relationships. I liked Iseul and Daehyun together but I also loved the mentor/pupil relationships as well as the friendships and sisterly bond. I would like to befriend every woman in this story, please and thank you.

Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer 🌟🌟

With ailing family to support, Evie Sage’s employment status isn’t just important, it’s vital. So when a mishap with Rennedawn’s most infamous Villain results in a job offer—naturally, she says yes. No job is perfect, of course, but even less so when you develop a teeny crush on your terrifying, temperamental, and undeniably hot boss. Don’t find evil so attractive, Evie.
But just when she’s getting used to severed heads suspended from the ceiling and the odd squish of an errant eyeball beneath her heel, Evie suspects this dungeon has a huge rat…and not just the literal kind. Because something rotten is growing in the kingdom of Rennedawn, and someone wants to take the Villain—and his entire nefarious empire—out.
Now Evie must not only resist drooling over her boss but also figure out exactly who is sabotaging his work…and ensure he makes them pay.
After all, a good job is hard to find.

Another book I was disappointed with this month. The whole story felt a bit pointless? I couldn’t really get into the world and the characters couldn’t really hold my attention either. Evie didn’t grow on me the way I expected her to and it all felt rather ridiculous to me. I expected so much more from this but alas, not everything that’s hyped up is to my taste and unfortunately, this one wasn’t.

Der Verdacht by Friedrich Dürrenmatt 🌟🌟🌟🌟
engl. title: Suspicion

Kommissär Bärlach liegt im Krankenhaus. Todkrank liest er in der Zeitschrift ›Life‹ einen Artikel über den berüchtigten Nazi-Arzt Nehle, der im KZ Stutthof ohne Narkose operierte. Der Mann auf dem Foto kommt ihm unheimlich bekannt vor.

In der Schule habe ich bereits “Der Richter und sein Henker” des gleichen Autors gelesen und sehr gut gefunden. Irgendwie hatte ich daher jetzt richtig Lust auf mehr Dürrenmatt und habe mir prompt “Der Verdacht” zugelegt. Dank der NS-Thematik ist die Geschichte gruselig und beängstigend, sodass man sich beim Lesen absolut unwohl fühlt und mit dem Kommisär mitleidet, bangt, hofft, ermittelt. Eine gelungene Geschichte, die nicht so schnell loslässt.

Blood & Steel by Helen Scheuerer 🌟🌟🌟

With her death foretold, Althea Zoltaire only has three years to become what she’s always dreamed of being: a warrior legend.
Women are forbidden to wield blades, so she has trained in secret her entire life. Now racing against the clock, she fights to secure her place in the elite guild charged with the protection of the five kingdoms.
The sparring and hazing of the new trainees border on deadly, but even more dangerous is her growing attraction to Wilder Hawthorne, her unwilling warrior chaperone.
All around them, schemes are afoot and darkness looms.
Will Althea pass the perilous initiation test and take her place as a champion of Thezmarr – or will the invading evil snatch away her dream before it starts?

This isn’t my favourite Helen Scheuerer book but you can bet that I will continue the series with book 2 anyways. I absolutely love Helen Scheuerer’s writing and how she describes group dynamics. While I’m not a fan of the main romance (yet?), I absolutely adored the friendships in this book and the unconditional love that can be found there. I also think the world is very interesting and I’m curious to see where all of this is going!

Pretty Scandalous & Pretty Savage by Tami Fischer 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Sarahs Welt bricht zusammen, als ihre Zwillingsschwester nach einem Jahr Funkstille verängstigt und mit blauen Flecken übersäht wieder auftaucht. Payton wollte sich an der Columbia University in New York ihren Traum vom Architekturstudium erfüllen, doch ausgerechnet ihre elitären neuen Freunde haben sie zugrunde gerichtet. Wutentbrannt beschließt Sarah, sich als Payton auszugeben, um den verwöhnten High-Society-Zöglingen das Handwerk zu legen. Doch in New York angekommen, häufen sich die Skandale und Geheimnisse. Und dann stolpert Sarah auch noch dem attraktiven Monroe in die Arme – und dessen Lächeln könnte weitaus mehr gefährden als nur ihre Rachepläne.

ich kann nicht genau sagen, warum, aber Pretty Scandalous hat mich irgendwie angesprochen. Und ich bin so froh, dass ich gelesen habe, denn es war so, so gut. Die Intrigen, die Geheimnisse und die Dramatik sowie interessante Gruppendynamiken machen diese Reihe unglaublich spannend. Ich bin nur so durch die Seiten geflogen und wollte ständig wissen, wie es weitergeht. Band 2 habe ich dann auch sofort noch hinterher gelesen und fand ihn sogar noch besser! Und jetzt warte ich wohl mehr oder weniger geduldig auf Band 3. Hier gibt’s eine kleine Rezension zu den ersten beiden Bänden der Manhattan Elite Reihe, Pretty Scandalous und Pretty Savage.

BOOK HAUL

A Crane Among Wolves by June Hur

I’m just a sucker for June hur books, I had to have it.

Der Verdacht by Friedrich Dürrenmatt

I liked Dürrenmatt’s previous works and somehow he popped into my mind and I wanted to read more?

Pretty Savage: Süßer als Verrat by Tami Fischer
Manhattan Elite #2

Nach allem, was Sarah in New York erlebt hat, weiß sie nicht mehr, wem sie noch glauben kann. Selbst Monroe und ihre eigene Zwillingsschwester Payton misstraut sie. Zudem muss sich Sarah eingestehen, dass sie mehr als nur Freundschaft für ihren Nachbarn Holden zu empfinden beginnt. Um ihre Rachepläne nicht zu gefährden, beschließt sie, die skrupellosen Spielchen der High-Society-Clique weiter mitzuspielen. Was sie nicht weiß: Jemand hat sich an ihre Fersen geheftet und droht weit mehr, als nur ihre wahre Identität zu lüften.

The first book in the series was so good I went to the bookstore the next day and got this one. Can’t wait for book 3.

The Bergman Brothers by Chloe Liese (Illumicrate editions)

From the moment Willa sat next to Ryder in class, she’s made it clear she hates his guts. Her reason is a mystery, but its outcome suits him fine. Willa Sutter is the feisty, tempting chaos he doesn’t need in his quiet, tidy life. She’s the next generation of women’s soccer. Wild hair. Bee-stung lips. And a temper that makes the devil seem friendly. He’ll leverage her hate as long as possible to keep his distance.
When Willa asked Ryder to borrow his lecture notes, the silent, surly, mountain man ignored her. Ryder Bergman is an arrogant, infuriating flannel-wearing enigma. Mangy beard. Frayed ball cap that hides his eyes. And a stubborn refusal to acknowledge her existence. But Willa’s never backed down from a challenge.
Forced to work together on their final project, Willa and Ryder begin a game of pranks and practical jokes, each determined to come out the champion. But once they catch unexpected feelings, victory begins to mean something else—winning each other’s hearts.

The Bergman brothers series is my favourite romance series and this was my “congrats on your job” present to myself. Couldn’t be happier about it!

The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce

Georgia Woodward lives by her lists, none more so than the one about her ex, Eli Mora. It’s full of the ironclad dos and don’ts they’ve been following since she returned to the Bay Area after their cataclysmic breakup five years ago.
With the wedding of their mutual best friend, Adam, looming, and them about to step into their roles as best woman and man, Georgia’s never needed it more. She refuses to threaten their tight-knit friend group with her messy—and still very present—feelings. The rules on that list will keep her cool, calm, and compartmentalized.
What’s not on her list? Eli arriving from New York with a new rule-breaking attitude or the all-inclusive venue burning to the ground, leaving the bride and groom in dire straits. Nor does she anticipate Adam asking her and Eli to help him make a miracle happen. Together.
As Georgia and Eli rush up to Napa Valley to pull off the perfect wedding, their old chemistry comes back in technicolor. Somewhere between cake tastings gone wrong, disastrous DJ auditions, and Eli’s heated attention, Georgia starts recognizing the man she fell in love with before. And if she lets herself break her rules, she might find what they’re building isn’t the something old that ruined them—it’s a chance at something new.

Second chanceeeeeeeee!!

Mistress of Lies by K.M. Enright

The daughter of a powerful but disgraced Blood Worker, Shan LeClaire has spent her entire life perfecting her blood magic, building her network of spies, and gathering every scrap of power she could. Now, to protect her brother, she assassinates their father and takes her place at the head of the family. And that is only the start of her revenge.
Samuel Hutchinson is a bastard with a terrible gift. When he stumbles upon the first victim of a magical serial killer, he’s drawn into the world of magic and intrigue he’s worked so hard to avoid – and is pulled deeply into the ravenous and bloodthirsty court of the vampire king.
Tasked by the Eternal King to discover the identity of the killer cutting a bloody swath through the city, Samuel, Shan and mysterious Royal Bloodworker Isaac find themselves growing ever closer to each other. But Shan’s plans are treacherous, and as she lures Samuel into her complicated web of desire, treason and vengeance, he must decide if the good of their nation is worth the cost of his soul.

I’m still in my *vampire era*. And hellooo queer vampire book???

Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto

Gwen Jackson and Xander Thorne are both musical prodigies, but each has had very different paths to success. Xander was born into classical music royalty, while Gwen had a natural ear for music that was nurtured by a kind shop owner.
After Gwen performs at his friend’s wedding, she’s mortified when she realizes Xander has no clue who she is—despite having worked together for a year at the Pops Orchestra. But she’s more furious that he arrogantly critiques her performance.
When Gwen is offered the role of First Chair of the orchestra, something Xander had secretly coveted for years, their existing hostility goes up a notch. But their respect for each other’s music is undeniable, and their onstage chemistry off the scale. As they begin to explore their feelings for one another, suddenly they’re box office dynamite and the fragile romance that’s growing between them is in danger of being crushed beneath a publicity stunt…

Yeah, give me all those Reylo fanfics, I’m here for them, embracing them with open arms. Lovely.

Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage

For the first time in her life, Clementine “Emmy” Ryder has no idea what she’s doing. She’s accomplished everything on her to-do list. She left her small hometown of Meadowlark, Wyoming; went to college; and made a career for herself by doing her favorite thing: riding horses. But after an accident makes it impossible for her to get back into the saddle, she has no choice but to return to the hometown she always wanted to escape.
Luke Brooks is Meadowlark’s most notorious bad boy, bar owner, and bachelor. He’s also the unofficial fifth member of the Ryder family. As Emmy’s older brother’s best friend, Luke spent most of his childhood antagonizing her. It’s been years since he’s seen her, but when she walks into his bar and back into his life, he can’t take his eyes off her. Despite his better judgment, he wants to do a whole lot more than just look at her.
Emmy’s got too much on her mind to think about romance. And Luke knows he should stay away from his best friend’s younger sister. But what if Luke is just what Emmy needs to get her spark back? Or will they both go up in flames?

Came for the cover, stayed for the synopsis.

Late Bloomer by Mazey Eddings

Winning the lottery has ruined Opal Devlin’s’s life. After quitting her dead-end job where she’d earned minimum wage and even less respect, she’s bombarded by people knocking at her door for a handout the second they found out her bank account was overflowing with cash. And Opal can’t seem to stop saying yes.
With her tender heart thoroughly abused, Opal decides to protect herself by any means necessary, which to her translates to putting almost all her new money to buying a failing flower farm in Asheville, North Carolina to let the flowers live out their plant destiny while she uses the cabin on the property to start her painting business.
But her plans for isolation and self-preservation go hopelessly awry when an angry (albeit gorgeous) Pepper Smith is waiting for her at her new farm. Pepper states she’s the rightful owner of Thistle and Bloom Farms, and isn’t moving out. The unlikely pair strike up an agreement of co-habitation, and butt-heads at every turn. Can these opposites both live out their dreams and plant roots? Or will their combustible arguing (and growing attraction) burn the whole place down?

Flowers, my favourite thing right after books. Women who like women with a promise of conflict and banter? Sign me uppppp!

The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean

Out on the Yorkshire Moors lives a secret line of people for whom books are food, and who retain all of a book’s content after eating it. To them, spy novels are a peppery snack; romance novels are sweet and delicious. Eating a map can help them remember destinations, and children, when they misbehave, are forced to eat dry, musty pages from dictionaries.
Devon is part of The Family, an old and reclusive clan of book eaters. Her brothers grow up feasting on stories of valor and adventure, and Devon—like all other book eater women—is raised on a carefully curated diet of fairy tales and cautionary stories.
But real life doesn’t always come with happy endings, as Devon learns when her son is born with a rare and darker kind of hunger—not for books, but for human minds.

Interesting concept? Sounds like something for later in autumn.

The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love by India Holton

Beth Pickering is on the verge of finally capturing the rare deathwhistler bird when Professor Devon Lockley swoops in, capturing both her bird and her imagination like a villain. Albeit a handsome and charming villain, but that’s beside the point. As someone highly educated in the ruthless discipline of ornithology, Beth knows trouble when she sees it, and she is determined to keep her distance from Devon.
For his part, Devon has never been more smitten than when he first set eyes on Professor Beth Pickering. She’s so pretty, so polite, so capable of bringing down a fiery, deadly bird using only her wits. In other words, an angel. Devon understands he must not get close to her, however, since they’re professional rivals.
When a competition to become Birder of the Year by capturing an endangered caladrius bird is announced, Beth and Devon are forced to team up to have any chance of winning. Now keeping their distance becomes a question of one bed or two. But they must take the risk, because fowl play is afoot, and they can’t trust anyone else—for all may be fair in love and war, but this is ornithology.

This sounds fun, it has academia and rivals to lovers? Sweet.

The Sound of Stars by Alechia Dow

Two years ago, a misunderstanding between the leaders of Earth and the invading Ilori resulted in the deaths of one-third of the world’s population.
Seventeen-year-old Janelle “Ellie” Baker survives in an Ilori-controlled center in New York City. With humans deemed dangerously volatile because of their initial reaction to the invasion, emotional expression can be grounds for execution. Music, art and books are illegal, but Ellie breaks the rules by keeping a secret library. When a book goes missing, Ellie is terrified that the Ilori will track it back to her and kill her.
Born in a lab, M0Rr1S was raised to be emotionless. When he finds Ellie’s illegal library, he’s duty-bound to deliver her for execution. The trouble is, he finds himself drawn to human music and in desperate need of more. They’re both breaking the rules for the love of art—and Ellie inspires the same feelings in him that music does.
Ellie’s—and humanity’s—fate rests in the hands of an alien she should fear. M0Rr1S has a lot of secrets, but also a potential solution—thousands of miles away. The two embark on a wild and dangerous road trip with a bag of books and their favorite albums, all the while creating a story and a song of their own that just might save them both.

I have been eying this book for years now, it’s finally time.

Hot Summer by Elle Everhart

Cas Morgan has spent years of her life watching Hot Summer , the hit dating show that pairs together a bunch of sexy singles in an exotic island location. But she never quite thought she’d be a part of it, until her company secures a partnership with the show and Cas is handpicked as a contestant. If she does well and makes it to the finals, her long-awaited promotion will be secure.
Cas is ready to spend the summer trying to win over the voting public. But just as she steps into the villa, her entire plan goes off course. She’s instantly smitten with fellow contestant, Ada. Ada is gorgeous and charming. As Cas’s feelings for Ada become undeniable, she’s torn between listening to her heart or sticking to her strategy.

I wouldn’t have known about this but it came in the Afterlight box and I’m so glad it did?? It sounds so good!

ON THE BLOG

August Book Releases

Lieblingsbücher, die deutsche Übersetzungen bekommen haben

Rezension: Pretty Scandalous & Pretty Savage von Tami Fischer

BLOG VISITS
posts by other bloggers I’ve loved

Reviews

A Bánh Mì for Two by Trinity Nguyen by Michelle @ Magical Reads

Funny Story by Emily Henry by Noura @ The Perks of Being Noura

Discussions

Hot Take: I’m not Excited by the Sex Scenes in Your Book by The Orang Utan Librarian

How was your August? What were your favourite reads?

Until next time,