Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: September 2024

Back again for another fun month of book suggestions? Here are the things Kristin and I have been reading since the last wrap-up. Be sure to tell us if you see any of your favorite reads, something on the never-ending To-Be-Read list, or if you know of a comparable title we might enjoy. Thanks again for reading! Write on.

Kamryn:

I’m not going to lie, I’ve not done a lot of reading this month. Things have been busy and I feel like I’ve been a little bit in a reading slump. What I can report this month is that I finished out a book I discussed somewhat in the last wrap-up.

As I mentioned last time, The World Between Blinks by Amie Kaufman and Ryan Graudin is a fun, Middle Grade adventure featuring historical figures and a world full of lost things. I gave more of an in depth description of it in last month’s Reading Wrap-Up, if you want to check that out here. But this is a very interesting read, especially if you might be looking for a younger reader that loves adventure stories. It’s got great description, and I really loved the way the two main characters, cousins named Marisol and Jake, were juxtaposed against each other in their overall themes. This is a story all about lost things, but one thing it deals with in particular is the theme of memory. Marisol, as a character, is determined to hang on to her memories and tends to focus on the good, while Jake finds himself wondering how easy things would be if you could specifically choose to lose the painful things you don’t really want to remember. There’s some very poignant messaging on how good and bad always come hand-in-hand, and how memories can be complex, bittersweet things.

So, I didn’t really read much beyond that- some of which was from being busy- but I’ve also been purposefully holding off on reading some as two books I’ve been anxiously anticipating are being released at the end of this month. I am so, so, so excited for the conclusion to Amie Kaufman’s The Isles of the Gods duology, The Heart of the World, which released last week. I haven’t had a chance to get it yet, but I’m definitely going to soon. Also, we’ve got a follow-up to Rick Riordan’s The Chalice of the Gods, with a new addition to the Percy Jackson and the Olympians universe coming out as well, Wrath of the Triple Goddess. I did not know that all the books I’d been waiting for were coming out basically in the same two-week period, but I’m here for it. Hopefully with all these exciting new releases, I’ll have more to report back on in October. See you then!

Kristin:  

This month I only read about half a book. To be fair, said book is 500 pages and I have been very short on reading time. That book is The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang. This is a fantasy novel that is one of the more darker themed novels I’ve read in a really long time. And the jury is still out, but I’ve already told Kamryn this may very well become my new favorite fantasy novel. The pacing is incredible, which for a 500 page novel, is very impressive. The writing style is so good and engaging. The more you learn about storytelling and plotting, the more you’re easily able to recognize it in reading and this novel definitely hits all the boxes necessary for a good story. There’s magic, history, world building, and the main character, Rin, is so intriguing. I love when stories aren’t afraid to have their female lead go darker and stray from typical feminine themes (this doesn’t have to be every story, it’s just a nice change from a lot of stories I’ve read). She does not want to get married, she does not want children, she does not want to live a life forced upon her. She is not afraid to go the extra mile, she’s not above anything that will help her achieve her goals. She’s crazy and I love that. In a way, she reminds me of Jude from The Cruel Prince. Honestly this book feels like three novels in one, so far. I’m only halfway through and so much has happened. I’ll share more details once I’ve completed  the novel but I’m very excited about it and can’t wait to finish the series. This is not a lighthearted or cozy read and one of the more intense and darkest I’ve ever read so far, so keep in mind that before buying. I will eventually go back to Throne of Jade which I talked about in the previous wrap up, but I am waiting for it to become available in my local library. 

That’s all for this month! Be sure to let us know what you’re reading and we’ll see you in October! As always, write-on!