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Jess
Jess is 45% done with The House of Broken Bricks
This is my local bookclub's pick for February. Set in England, I appreciate Williams rich description of nature. Told through 4 POVs, we see how the family dynamic has changed and its impact on the husband and wife and their twins. The narrative style changes depending on which POV we are reading from, which is an interesting style choice.
Jan 28, 2026 10:02AM Add a comment
The House of Broken Bricks

Jess
Jess is 76% done with Red Sister (Book of the Ancestor, #1)
I am loving this on a re-read. I am glad to know that 7 years later, I still care for Nona and her friends. I love how Lawrence shows us this world and how events that occur early in the book reconnect later on.
Jan 28, 2026 09:55AM Add a comment
Red Sister (Book of the Ancestor, #1)

Jess
Jess is on page 200 of 384 of Hekate - The Witch (Goddesses of the Underworld, #1)
This is such a quick read. I had no idea it was told in verses, which is a fun way to read a retelling. Also I am so engrossed in Hekate's life especially since I didn't no much about her when I started this novel.
Jan 19, 2026 05:37PM Add a comment
Hekate - The Witch (Goddesses of the Underworld, #1)

Jess
Jess is on page 585 of 896 of King Sorrow
Dec 09, 2025 06:37PM Add a comment
King Sorrow

Jess
Jess is 12% done with The Compound
I didn't really know what to expect, but so far this feels like watching reality TV.

One thing with the setting is I can't help but feel unsettled. The MC wakes up in a mansion, but it's disheveled. The female contestants are all unconscious throughout the compound, so it makes me wonder what happened to the previous residents. We also wonder what happened in the desert with the male contestants. So many mysteries!
Dec 04, 2025 07:37AM Add a comment
The Compound

Jess
Jess is on page 408 of 896 of King Sorrow
Dec 03, 2025 07:03PM Add a comment
King Sorrow

Jess
Jess is on page 370 of 896 of King Sorrow
The way Hill captures each characters' fears and motivations is beautiful done. Each POV feels unique and I like seeing how meeting King Sorrow has changed them. I would also argue without a mythological being, time changes us all and shapes us and thats what we are seeing as they get older.

Also this section has been so stressful and fast- paced. I kept turning the pages to see if Allie can beat the clock.
Dec 02, 2025 06:52PM Add a comment
King Sorrow

Jess
Jess is on page 279 of 896 of King Sorrow
I am really enjoying this chonker. Hill really makes you sit with each POV and understand their motivations, fears, and desires for the future.

Also, like the twist of the dragon who reminds me of a evil demon, but has a love of word play. There has been times it cracks me up. King Sorrow is obviously a villain but I find him funny at times and 100% a dick.
Dec 01, 2025 06:25PM Add a comment
King Sorrow

Jess
Jess is on page 89 of 428 of Blood Over Bright Haven
Wang is doing an incredible job with making the MC multifaceted. She is highly intelligent and accomplished yet based on her upbringing in this world she is incredibly ignorant to other cultures.

This is a hard magic system that is heavily intertwined with math and science. Despite its complexities I appreciate how Wang explains it to readers without making it feel like a textbook.
Oct 28, 2025 05:10PM 3 comments
Blood Over Bright Haven

Jess
Jess is on page 20 of 428 of Blood Over Bright Haven
The first chapter immediately grips you. The introduction to Blight in this world is horrifying! I am excited to continue on and follow our MC.
Oct 26, 2025 05:57PM Add a comment
Blood Over Bright Haven

Jess
Jess is on page 237 of 789 of Blackwater
Oct 04, 2025 07:23AM Add a comment
Blackwater

Jess
Jess is on page 136 of 789 of Blackwater
What a monster in law! I know one person isn't human but I swear her human mother in law is the true villain of this story.
Oct 03, 2025 06:13AM Add a comment
Blackwater

Jess
Jess is on page 76 of 789 of Blackwater
The first part of this is setting the groundwork of the story. I do love how we know pretty quickly that Elinor is not human. I also like how there are moments when side characters notice something strange about her but they always end up thinking it was trick of the light or some other rational reason. Monsters don't exist right?
Oct 02, 2025 12:05PM Add a comment
Blackwater

Jess
Jess is 72% done with A Song to Wake a Thousand Sorrows (The Song Duology, #1)
I am really enjoying this rich world Manus has created. Plus, the level of character development she has in Claire, along with the side characters and her love interest, is unmatched. It all makes me vested in Claire's journey as well as her slow-burning romance.
Aug 04, 2025 07:28AM Add a comment
A Song to Wake a Thousand Sorrows (The Song Duology, #1)

Jess
Jess is on page 250 of 592 of A Song to Wake a Thousand Sorrows (The Song Duology, #1)
The pages are flying by with this romantasy! Also, I think I might have a crush on the romantic love interest. Magic is also intertwined in this world, and the MC is a strong distrustful songweaver (think magical bard)
Jul 30, 2025 09:36AM Add a comment
A Song to Wake a Thousand Sorrows (The Song Duology, #1)

Jess
Jess is 29% done with Smoke and Rain (Reforged, #1)
I am enjoying the time we spend learning more about the MCs and seeing their familiarity with each other grow. Also, love how the author tricked me into thinking I was wrong about a character and then realized I was right from the beginning. I already see myself reading the sequel because even though its slower paced I like how authentic the characters feel especially with how they are recovering from their trauma.
Jun 26, 2025 07:24AM Add a comment
Smoke and Rain (Reforged, #1)

Jess
Jess is on page 648 of 873 of Eleventh Cycle (Mistland, #1)
Ardalan truly puts his characters through the ringer especially his female ones. I am still really invested and its a dark world yet I don't feel like hope is lost just yet.
Jun 04, 2025 04:08AM Add a comment
Eleventh Cycle (Mistland, #1)

Jess
Jess is on page 240 of 352 of House of Frank
Jun 03, 2025 10:09AM Add a comment
House of Frank

Jess
Jess is on page 160 of 352 of House of Frank
OMG, this book actually made me a little misty-eyed around this point. This isn't a romance, but I see the beginning of a potential romance and slow-burn is making me ship 2 of the characters.
Jun 02, 2025 10:46AM Add a comment
House of Frank

Jess
Jess is 8% done with Yellowface
My IRL bookclub picked this book for June. Since this is a re-read, I decided to try the audiobook, and the narrator is fantastic. She captures June and Athena perfectly. On a reread, I can be chronically online in regards to the book community, so I see this as a fictional memoir. R.F. Kuang is Athena. First chapter in you can't help but sympathize with Jun,e who is struggling even if she is questionable.
May 29, 2025 10:59AM Add a comment
Yellowface

Jess
Jess is on page 73 of 352 of House of Frank
I met this author randomly at my local indie bookstore and I am excited to finally check out her debut. This is a cozy contemporary fantasy which explores grief. So far the coziness is the right balance. We follow a grieving music witch who after 2 years is finally trying to plant her sister's ashes at a magical arboretum. The cast is zany, but feel authentic.
May 29, 2025 05:10AM Add a comment
House of Frank

Jess
Jess is on page 400 of 873 of Eleventh Cycle (Mistland, #1)
I have been so impressed with this book! I love the tidbits of lore at the start of each chapter and the diversity and uniqueness of races. I also enjoy each POV, Nora and Erefiel are my favorites but Dalila's intrigues me the most.
May 29, 2025 05:07AM Add a comment
Eleventh Cycle (Mistland, #1)

Jess
Jess is on page 24 of 208 of Guillotine
Started this on my morning train commute, and Dawson has me hooked. I love how self-aware Dez is with her circumstances. She is determined to use a man she met at the bar's connections so she can pursue her dreams in fashion. He happens to be filthy rich, and his mother runs a profitable fashion magazine. I can't wait to see what happens on the family island. I am already getting Ready or Not vibes.
May 16, 2025 08:58AM Add a comment
Guillotine

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