These books feature characters and content for adults.
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The Sky on Fire: Great worldbuilding, slower plot
Anahrod was cast out of the dragon-ruled sky cities as a teenager and has spent the last seventeen years surviving a harsh jungle. Now her past has caught up to her, and a gang of misfits seeking to steal from the dragons has dragged her home.
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Hell Bent (Book 2): More fantasy than horror
Alex and Dawes begin a perilous hunt for a way into Hell to retrieve their friend, Darlington, who has now taken on a demonic form.
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Lessons in Chemistry: Thoughtful and entertaining
Set in the 1960s, this story follows scientist Elizabeth Zott through the trials and tribulations that eventually push her – reluctantly – into a role as the host of a cooking show.
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Long Live Evil (Book 1): Fun and campy
Rae, who’s dying of cancer, is teleported into the world of her favorite fantasy series for a chance to find a cure. There’s just one problem: she’s woken up as the villain who’s supposed to get executed early on. Now she has to scheme her way into survival.
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The Poisonwood Bible: A confronting read
In the 1950s, the Price family moves to the Congo as Baptist missionaries, but they’re unprepared for the reality of life in the remote village of Kilanga. Told from the perspectives of the mother and four daughters, we follow the Prices through the year of their mission and the aftermath in the decades to come.
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Tress of the Emerald Sea: Fun and whimsical
When the boy she loves disappears, Tress sets sail to find him – except on her planet, the seas are made of deadly spores.
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The Familiar: Instant 5-stars
In Inquisition-era Spain, servant Luzia Cotado fights for a position at the King’s side for her ability to perform “small miracles” – but first she has to prove it’s not devil’s magic, all while hiding her Jewish lineage.
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Evocation (Book 1): A slow simmer
David, a hotshot lawyer and medium, finds himself psychically sick and potentially possessed by a demon of family folklore. Only two people can help him: 1) ex-boyfriend and rival, Rhys, and 2) Rhys’ wife, Moira, an astrologist and fellow medium.
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Bride: Perfect for the inner Twihard
Misery Lark, the daughter of the vampyre leader, is forced into an arranged marriage to the Alpha of the Werewolves as a show of peace between their people. But she has an ulterior motive.
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What Moves the Dead: An expert Poe retelling
Alex Easton arrives at the House of Usher to visit a pair of sickly friends, only to discover something sinister lurking on the property.
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The Hemlock Queen (Book 2): Tense and subtly gory
After the events of the eclipse, things begin changing very fast for Lore, Bastian, and Gabe. Now they’re wrapped up in politics and scheming Gods while war looms on the horizon.
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Dreadful: A delightful tale
Gav wakes up with no eyebrows and no memories, and soon realizes he is actually the Dark Wizard who owns this castle, complete with moat squid, goblin servants, and a kidnapped princess in the dungeon. Now he has to bluff his way through his supposed evil plans without anyone catching on…while he also experiments with…
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Ordinary Monsters (Book 1): For the adults who loved Miss Peregrine’s
In 1880s Scotland, there is an Institute for children with special magical talents. An evil entity wants to eat these children, and only a select few can stand in its way.
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House of Flame and Shadow: The finale
This is the conclusion to the Crescent City series (barring any spinoffs we’ll get in the future). Bryce and co. must face extreme odds in their battle to defeat the Asteri.
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The Book of Essie: Compelling and interesting
Essie, the youngest daughter in an evangelical family with a reality TV show called Six for Hicks, is pregnant. Now she must orchestrate her freedom.
These books target an audience in the 18-23 age range. New Adult tends to straddle the line, featuring tropes or plot points beloved in Young Adult, but with Adult characters and content.
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A Court of Wings and Ruin (Book 3): The worst of ACOTAR
Book 3 for the A Court of Thorns and Roses series.
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A Court of Mist and Fury (Book 2): The best of ACOTAR
Book 2 of the A Court of Thorns and Roses series.
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A Court of Thorns and Roses (Book 1): A good introduction
A human girl is whisked away to a magical High Lord’s court as retribution for killing one of the Fae.
These books have characters and content for teenagers.
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My Lady Jane: Funny and charming
In an alternate history where some humans can shift into animals, Lady Jane Grey’s history is completely rewritten. In this version of events, King Edward, her cousin and dearest friend, marries her off to Gifford – who’s a horse. Not only that, but in the process, she’s unwittingly swept up in a plot to steal…
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Tress of the Emerald Sea: Fun and whimsical
When the boy she loves disappears, Tress sets sail to find him – except on her planet, the seas are made of deadly spores.
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The Isles of the Gods (Book 1): Surprisingly enjoyable
In a world where slumbering gods are awakening, a young sailor, a prince, and a scholar must survive both the ocean and their enemies if they’re going to prevent a war.
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Lies We Sing to the Sea: A decent YA debut
Leto’s story begins with her death. After she is sacrificed to the sea god, she finds herself transformed – and saddled with a mission to kill the prince.
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The Book of Essie: Compelling and interesting
Essie, the youngest daughter in an evangelical family with a reality TV show called Six for Hicks, is pregnant. Now she must orchestrate her freedom.
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Ruthless Vows (Book 2): An okay sequel
Iris and Roman deal with the fallout as the war front heads toward Oath.
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Throne of Glass: Full series review
This series follows a young assassin with a mysterious past who was raised by an infamous Assassin’s Guild leader. Everyone wants to use her unique skills for themselves – or otherwise eradicate the threat she poses. As she struggles for freedom, she is also forced to confront her deepest secrets.
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A Study in Drowning: Entertaining but predictable
Effy, a freshman and the only girl in her college, is accepted to take on the daunting task of redesigning a mansion that pays homage to her favorite author – but things at Hiraeth Manor are stranger than she realized.
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Little Women: Sweet as a toothache
Little Women follows the four March sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy, as they grow up in the American Civil War era.
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Divine Rivals: Sweet and well-written
Two competing young journalists navigate life, love, and the front line in the midst of war between gods.
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August 2023 DNF Roundup
In lieu of a review this week, I’m covering a quick list of some recent DNFs (books I gave up on). Come sip the tea.
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A Deadly Education: Perfect for teen readers
At the Scholomance, half the students won’t survive to graduation. El is doing well enough – except her magic is powerful and inconveniently primed for evildoing, so she has to be careful not to raze the whole place down.
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The Ocean at the End of the Lane: Whimsical and creepy
A middle-aged man suddenly remembers the strange, magical happenings he experienced as a child when he returns to visit the house at the end of the lane from his childhood home.
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The Hawthorne Legacy (Book 2): Entertaining but not mind-blowing
The plot thickens as Avery tries to find the one man who may know why a stranger left his billions to her instead of his own family.
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Mary Jane: A delightful, cozy read
In 1975 Baltimore, 14-year-old sheltered Mary Jane takes a summer nannying job in a home where the psychologist father is treating a drug-addicted rock star and his movie star wife.
