Once a month, I’ll be sharing an overview of my reading for the month. I read across a wide variety of genres (from fantasy to nonfiction) so there’s a little something for every type of reader.

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Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. This was my main audiobook listen in the month of August. This is a fast-paced roller coaster of a book! Ryland Grace is a former academic turned school science teacher who finds himself entangled in a mad dash to save Earth from a solar fading event. Through a series of unfortunate twists, he finds himself alone in space with the fate of humanity resting squarely on his brilliant but unprepared shoulders. I highly recommend this audiobook! It’s so entertaining. I was glued to my headphones for a few days. Even my little girl got into the story. She loved hearing the narrator’s voice for “Rocky.”

Black Bird Oracle by Deborah Harkness. The latest installment in Deborah Harkness’s All Souls series. It’s no secret that I adore the original trilogy. The first book in the series, A Discovery of Witches, is one of my favorite reads of all time. I also love the tv series (currently streaming on Netflix by the way) because who doesn’t love Matthew Goode? While I enjoyed this book, I didn’t love it. It didn’t strike the same notes as the original books did. For lack of a better way to put it, it felt a bit “woke” in a disingenuous, forced way. Without spoilers… there’s a scene involving Diana and Matthew in a labyrinth that felt so flippant and disrespectful of Matthew’s character. The reader can tell that it’s supposed to be a big moment…. but then nothing else ever comes of it. It’s never addressed again and never resolved? Had I been the wronged spouse in that scenario, I would have been hopping mad. Diana was so cavalier about Matthew’s past, particularly the loss of his first biological child. Since their relationship was the glue that held the original trilogy together, having it be treated so carelessly by the author felt strange for me. Honestly, I cannot imagine the Diana from the original trilogy doing something so dumb. All that being said, I loved being back in that world with those characters and am eager to see where the story goes.

Red Rising by Pierce Brown. Holy smokes, how did I ignore this stellar novel for so long? It’s a rip-roaring thrill ride that had me gritting my teeth one second and wanting to cry the next. If you haven’t read this trilogy yet, please please please (yes, I’m singing that) do yourself a favor and pick it up.

Golden Son by Pierce Brown. This is the second installment in the Red Rising trilogy. Technically, I finished this read on September 1st, but I’m counting it among my August reads! If possible, this was somehow even more of a roller coaster than the first book. I’m a bit gutted. Will I survive Morning Star? I’m not sure.

The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel. A token nonfiction read for the month. As a Christian, I’ve heard about this book for years but never took the time to read it. I decided to rectify that this month. This is a pretty fascinating book written by a man who journeys from atheism to belief. Lee approahes Jesus Christ the way a trial lawyer might, setting out the “case” and analyzing the “evidence.” I learned alot about the historicity of Christ, which was fascinating! I definitely recommend this as a must-read for Christians and any non-Christians who may have general questions about the religion. It delves into some big topics like “Was Christ a real person or fictional?” and “What really happened to the body of Jesus Christ?”

Off to the Races by Elsie Silver (DNF). My Instagram friends all know that I am not a romance reader. I want so badly to be a romance reader, but I’m not. As evidenced by my rabid love for testosterone-ridden adventures like Red Rising. I decided to try this “racehorse romance” based off its cute cover alone.

Middle of the Night by Riley Sager. I’m a huge fan of Sager’s thrillers (personal fav? Home Before Dark) and this one didn’t disappoint. A ten year old boy and his best friend have a backyard campout on a hot summer night; but in the morning, the tent is slashed, and one boy is missing. His friend’s disapperance haunts Ethan Marsh into adulthood. When he returns to help his elderly parents sell his childhood home, he discovers that "haunting” may be quite literal. This book was fast paced and bone-chillingly good.

My favorite read of the month: It’s a close tie for me between Project Hail Mary and Red Rising. Both have made it onto my mental bookshelf of “Favorite Books of All Time.”

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Currently reading: The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang. This thick tome is a Japanese-inspired military fantasy and indepently publlished. When I say this book is devastating, I am not exaggerating. But wow, what a gem of an indie! I’ll be back next month with my September reviews.

Currently listening to: I’ve been bouncing between the audiobook and physical book of The Sword of Kaigen because I truly cannot put this book down. Every chapter is a cliffhanger! But I’ve also been enjoying The BEMA Podcast, which is a Christian podcast that walks through the Bible, rooting the text in its cultural and historical contexts. Coming from a legalistic background, this podcast has been extremely thought-provoking and eye-opening.

Currently watching: Mark and I have been watching Rings of Power. Ya know…. I don’t love this show because as an author, it bothers me when source material is so changed. But at the same time, I really want to know what happens next so I guess I grudgingly like the show. The score, set design, costumes — they’re all so beautiful!

What are you currently reading and enjoying, friends?