August came and went and I wouldn’t say I did a fantastic job with my August 2025 TBR. I read one ARC and one “hopeful read” on my list. Instead of reaching for another of the ARCs there, I swapped one out for an ARC of poetry. That’s just how it goes sometimes. Anyway, September is a new month, which means I have my September 2025 TBR ready to go.
Priority Reads
A FAE IN FINANCE by Juliet Brooks: If all is going well, I should already be a good way into this ARC. I hope I enjoy this lighter read! “When investment banker Miri is purposely trapped in Faerie by her client, the Princeling of the Faerie realm, she does what any normal 20-something would do: cries, makes jokes in denial, and worries loudly about her cat, Doctor Kitten….”
THE FAERIE MORGANA by Luisa Morgan: I’m excited to read this retelling of Arthurian lore, this time about Morgana. The ARC is pretty thick and it looks like the finished version should clock in at 528 pages. I seem to be in my thick-book era between this, HEIR OF FIRE by SJM, and KATABASIS below. “In this atmospheric and bewitching novel, Louisa Morgan reimagines the story of Morgan Le Fay, one of the most enigmatic and powerful women in Arthurian legend.“
KATABASIS by R.F. Kuang: I decided on a whim to join Leslie’s group buddy read of this book (thanks to Chris for the poke). It wasn’t exactly my plan to read this book this month, but I figured it’s a good way to make me read something from my book subscription. The only book of Kuang’s I’ve read is YELLOWFACE, so now I’ll finally get to see how she does with dark academia. “Dante’s Inferno meets Susanna Clarke’s Piranesi in this all-new dark academia fantasy from R. F. Kuang […] in which two graduate students must put aside their rivalry and journey to Hell to save their professor’s soul—perhaps at the cost of their own.“
A RARE FIND by Joanna Lowell: This is a library book that has a bit of demand, so I’ll try to squeeze it in. However, it’s the lowest of my priority reads here. I’m hoping it’ll let me renew it. While I don’t often read historical romances, the premise that one of the main characters is an archaeologist is what caught my interest. “When an aspiring archaeologist teams up with her childhood enemy for a treasure hunt, they find it impossible to bury their growing feelings, in a charming queer historical romance from the author of A Shore Thing.“
If I can clear out more ARCs, I’ll try, but I’ll start with these two first!
Hopeful Reads
HEAVENLY BODIES by Imani Erriu: I’m keeping this book on my TBR. This is one I really want to read before its sequel comes out. I need to see how much I like it to help me decide whether to preorder the next book from Fairyloot (assuming they have a special edition of it). “…a dazzling new romantasy series that blends mythology and shadow magic with a tantalizing enemies-to-lovers romance…”
THE ASSASSIN’S BLADE by Sarah J. Maas: Fingers crossed I can keep moving through the Throne of Glass series this month. I’m still behind on ARCs, but I’m also trying to make time for my own purchased books. Anyway, this is a bunch of novellas assembled into one book. I’ve been told it gives some back stories about various characters.
And that’s my September 2025 TBR! Are any of these on your TBR this month?
We don’t have anything in common for our TBR this month. I’ll be interested to see what you think about Katabasis. The dark academia didn’t really appeal to me although I did really enjoy Babel.
I hope that you enjoy all of these
I haven’t read BABEL, so I’m not sure what to expect with Kuang and dark academia. I read one chapter earlier today and it reminds me a little bit of Olivie Blake’s THE ATLAS SIX.
That’s another reason for me not to read Katabasis then as I wasn’t impressed by Atlas Six. I hope that you enjoy it though
My TBR list for this month is stacked with some ARCs and some books waiting for quite some time now to be read.
As I read your post I felt a bit sorry, that you didn’t start the series with THE ASSASSIN’S BLADE. By now the first three books have already spoilered you, that’s why I always highly recommend reading the novellas first. Even though the author has a different recommendations. Nevertheless I hope you’ll keep enjoying the series.
Somehow I am not interested in reading KATABASIS and I can’t even say why. It might be the hype around the book that I don’t feel the urge to read it. But I wish you a couple nice reading hours with all your planned books.
Don’t feel sorry for me about THE ASSASSIN’S BLADE! Most people I talked to recommended reading it after book 2 or book 3 (Heir of Fire), so that’s just what I decided to do. I wanted to jump right into the full story I guess.
I’ll be reading The Faerie Morgana too, and I’m very curious about Katabasis. I probably won’t read it myself, but would love to hear your thoughts. Hope your month is a good one!
Yay! I finished it late last night and really enjoyed it. Probably one of my favorites for the year!
I’m so excited for the group buddy read! I went to R.F. Kuang’s author event over the weekend, and it hyped me up even more. 🙂
I hope you hate Heavenly Bodies so that I can poach the Fairyloot edition of the sequel off of you. Just kidding! Sort of… 😉
Lol!!! If you enjoyed Heavenly Bodies, then I probably will too, so no promises on allowing you to poach my FL edition! 😉
Looks like you have an awesome September ahead of you! Enjoy all your books! Oh, and I need to check out A Fae in Finance, it sounds so fun!
Thanks, Mehsi! 🙂 I hope you have a great September reading month.
Thank you! So far I am enjoying my books~
Hope you enjoy!
Good luck with your monthly TBR, it looks like a lovely mix of books. I thought about joining in with that Katabasis buddy read but I’m borrowing not buying the book and didn’t think it would arrive in time. Plus the early half of the month is pretty busy for me. I didn’t realise Ths Faerie Morgana was so long but that actually excites me. I can’t wait to dive into that one 😍 i hope the other reads go well too, it sounds like an interesting mix.
Ooh I hope you enjoy The Assassins Blade, i loves that collection and can’t wait to hear your thoughts on it. I also need to try and get to Heavenly Bodies before the sequel comes out.
I hope you enjoy all of your books and have a lovely month 🥰
Honestly, the only reason I randomly decided to join is because I knew it was coming in my Fairyloot sub. Otherwise I probably wouldn’t have run out and bought it since my TBR list is massive. It’s a good push to get me to read a book from my sub, lol.
The Faerie Morgana was excellent. I finished it late last night and it’s exactly how I like my Arthurian lore. I’ll try to write my review this weekend and get it posted on Monday.
I hope you have a great reading month, too!
That makes sense as sometimes it’s hard to get to books we own somehow. I guess its because they’re obligation free, unlike arcs, and unlikely to disappear in the future like library copies 🤔 I hope you enjoy it.
Yay I’m gladbyou enjoyed it. Ill go and check your review out now.
Thank you 🥰
I think that’s exactly why! I don’t feel “obligated” to get to the books I buy asap, but I do feel some obligation to read the free ARCs I’m given. 🙂
These books are up my alley. Definitely reading these! Thank you!