November Reading Wrap-up
It's the last day of November, and you know what that means! It's time to wrap up the books I read this month. Did I meet the ambitious goal I set at the beginning of the month? What did I think of what I read? Let's jump right in!
*This post contains some affiliate links. It won't cost you anything extra if you decide to buy any of these books. I will earn a small commission off it, which I thank you for 😊*
We Are Legion (We Are Bob),
Dennis E. Taylor
Goodreads
Amazon
From the back cover:
Bob Johansson has just sold his software company and is looking forward to a life of leisure. There are places to go, books to read, and movies to watch. So it's a little unfair when he gets himself killed crossing the street.
Bob wakes up a century later to find that corpsicles have been declared to be without rights, and he is now the property of the state. He has been uploaded into computer hardware and is slated to be the controlling AI in an interstellar probe looking for habitable planets. The stakes are high: no less than the first claim to entire worlds. If he declines the honor, he'll be switched off, and they'll try again with someone else. If he accepts, he becomes a prime target. There are at least three other countries trying to get their own probes launched first, and they play dirty.
The safest place for Bob is in space, heading away from Earth at top speed. Or so he thinks. Because the universe is full of nasties, and trespassers make them mad - very mad.
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I'm so happy I gave this one a try! It's not that I don't like science fiction books, but they haven't really been my favorite thing to read. Bob has won me over, though. I love everything about this story, from the pop culture references to the exploration and adventure aspect. It had me laughing out loud, gasping, and thoroughly enjoying myself. I'm not really one to just sit and listen to a book (you may have noticed I updated the cover from last month to the Audible one, which is the version I have), but I did exactly that with the Bobaverse. I fully intend to purchase and listen to the rest of the books currently available in the series. The narrator for the audio version was phenomenal as well. If you're looking for something science-y (that won't make you feel stupid, btw), filled with adventure, humor, and plain good storytelling, I recommend you give this one a try.
Dark Tempest,
Annette Marie
Goodreads
Amazon
From the back cover:
Emi has dedicated her life to becoming the perfect vessel for the goddess Amaterasu, but the insidious betrayal of another deity has changed everything. Now Amaterasu has charged Emi with an urgent mission: to find and free the earthly gods before mankind is brought to its knees beneath divine tyranny.
At her side is Shiro, the mysterious fox spirit. When she first saved his life, she could never have imagined that behind his cunning and confidence, he was lost—his power bound by a devastating curse and his memories obscured. His veiled history is somehow tied to the missing gods, but he can't remember how or why.
As their search leads them into the murky depths of the spirit realm, the shadows of Shiro's past begin to emerge. With each brief awakening of his true self, she loses a little more of him. The fate of the heavens and earth rest in her mortal hands, and she must find the missing gods before time runs out for her world—and for Shiro.
DARK TEMPEST includes 10 full-page illustrations by award-winning artist Brittany Jackson.
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was so excited to start this at the beginning of the month and it did not disappoint! The world built for this series is phenomenal. SInce I immediately went out and bought the last book and read it, I'm afraid that I'll give something away in my review for this one, so hop down to my review of Immortal Fire for my full thoughts on the story.
Immortal Fire,
Annette Marie
Goodreads
Amazon
From the back cover:
Once, Emi believed the heavenly gods were righteous and wise, while the earthly yokai spirits were bloodthirsty and evil. But with a traitorous deity poised to destroy her world, and the yokai standing as humanity's only defense, the lies of her upbringing have toppled to reveal a far more terrifying reality.
Despite the looming threat, Emi can't escape her greatest distraction: Shiro, the fox yokai who has so deftly claimed her heart for his own. Soon—too soon—she will have to break the curse that binds his magic and memories. And once the ancient power inside him awakens, the yokai she loves will be changed forever.
As the earthly gods gather to wage war against the heavens, Emi and Shiro must gamble everything to turn the tide against their immortal, all-powerful foes. Together, they will find a way to save her world—even if it means losing each other.
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This series ♥ I am so glad I took a chance on a Facebook ad and grabbed the first book because I LOVED it. I loved that it was a world I wasn't that familiar with (based off Japan), that it felt different from everything else I'd been reading, and I love my adorable little fox kitsune ♥♥♥ Shiro is just such a dear. I love his and Emi's relationship with each other. The ending was so gooood, too! I don't want to give anything away. Just know I was very satisfied with the entire series and I definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a fantasy adventure mixed with romance.
Time's Convert,
Deborah Harkness
Goodreads
Amazon
From the back cover:
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Discovery of Witches comes a novel about what it takes to become a vampire.
On the battlefields of the American Revolution, Matthew de Clermont meets Marcus MacNeil, a young surgeon from Massachusetts, during a moment of political awakening when it seems that the world is on the brink of a brighter future. When Matthew offers him a chance at immortality and a new life free from the restraints of his puritanical upbringing, Marcus seizes the opportunity to become a vampire. But his transformation is not an easy one and the ancient traditions and responsibilities of the de Clermont family clash with Marcus's deeply held beliefs in liberty, equality, and brotherhood.
Fast-forward to contemporary Paris, where Phoebe Taylor--the young employee at Sotheby's whom Marcus has fallen for--is about to embark on her own journey to immortality. Though the modernized version of the process at first seems uncomplicated, the couple discovers that the challenges facing a human who wishes to be a vampire are no less formidable than they were in the eighteenth century. The shadows that Marcus believed he'd escaped centuries ago may return to haunt them both--forever.
A passionate love story and a fascinating exploration of the power of tradition and the possibilities not just for change but for revolution, Time's Convert channels the supernatural world-building and slow-burning romance that made the All Souls Trilogy instant bestsellers to illuminate a new and vital moment in history, and a love affair that will bridge centuries.
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I still love the world of All Souls. This book surprised me in the best way possible, too. I thought it was going to be a "back in time" story, starting out with human Marcus and moving on from there. Instead, it took place at the same time as the other books, in the right order, and Marcus's memories were shared through a kind of flashback-type writing. The historical detail was fantastic! I also loved seeing what it was like to be a new vampire from Phoebe's point of view. Things I'd never thought of before were so excellently described. Of course, we got glimpses into Matthew and Diana's life as well. Seeing them as parents and how the world is working out was wonderful. I can't wait for another book from this series to come out!
Demons in the Bedroom,
Lidiya Foxglove
Goodreads
Amazon
From the back cover:
Have you inherited a creepy old house that needs updated bathroom tiles, a new kitchen, and an exorcism?
Call me: Helena Nicolescu, the best house flipper witch on the east coast.
But I have to admit, I might be in over my head this time. I bought “Lockwood House” at an auction, and the magical community definitely knew something was up, because my rivals were all in on it, including Jake and Jasper, the infuriating wolf shifter twins who think they’re so much better at renovations than me. I overpaid and now I’m stuck with a mess. Floors caving in, 70s carpeting, and…the ghost of an incubus who won’t stop flirting with me while I’m trying to demo.
That’s not the only problem. The former owner’s son seems to be drawn to the place against his own will. My witch radar is going off big time, telling me he has demon blood coursing through his own veins. And the wolves must smell trouble in the air, because they keep sniffing around too. I’ll definitely never tell them that I keep uncovering disconcerting artifacts throughout the house. And more than anything, I won’t admit that they both look pretty good in a tool belt. Why does this house seem like it’s calling trouble to the doorstep?
I have eight weeks to get this done and then I’m putting this mansion on the market and moving on.
This is a medium-burn reverse harem romance!
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was a cute story. It didn't really tie anything up at all in the end, as it's the first in a series. I was a little disappointed about that because it left me feeling like there were more questions than answers. The only thing that really resolved was the stuff that had to do with the house and whether Hel was able to flip it. I expected A LOT more sex (and for it to be happening with more than one person) since this was my first reverse harem read. Maybe I've misunderstood what the genre is because there was almost none and only with one person, though there was an obvious set up for who the other men were going to be. In the end, I didn't feel inclined to keep reading the series. I'm not disappointed that I gave it a try, though!
The Time of Contempt (The Witcher #2),
Andrzej Sapkowski,
David French (Translator)
Goodreads
Amazon
From the back cover:
The New York Times bestselling series that inspired the international hit video game: The Witcher
Geralt is a witcher: guardian of the innocent; protector of those in need; a defender, in dark times, against some of the most frightening creatures of myth and legend. His task, now, is to protect Ciri. A child of prophecy, she will have the power to change the world for good or for ill -- but only if she lives to use it.
A coup threatens the Wizard's Guild.
War breaks out across the lands.
A serious injury leaves Geralt fighting for his life...
... and Ciri, in whose hands the world's fate rests, has vanished...
The Witcher returns in this sequel to Blood of Elves.
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I love Netflix's adaptation of The Witcher and really enjoyed the prequel and first book in the series. This one just... made me feel dumb. I don't know if it was me not understanding, or if the writing was just as crazy as it all seemed to be. There were several scene hops that appeared to be out of order, some told as flash-backs, others hopping into the heads of characters we'd never met before to share what happened, and just a lot of confusion on everyone's part. Geralt doesn't even really take part in the story. He's just kind of... there. It took me FOREVER to read this, too. I started it early in the year and have been slogging through a few pages at a time. I'll admit, I skimmed the last 100ish pages because I was just getting tired of not understanding and wanted to be done. I bought the entire series at a used bookstore because I loved the show so much and I honestly don't know if I will continue reading it after this one. I'll be giving it some time and possibly trying again with book three in a few months.
