ARC Review: Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig

Today’s review is about TWO TWISTED CROWNS by Rachel Gillig. It’s the conclusion to The Shepherd King duology. Ravyn and the Shepherd King warily team up to embark on a singular mission: to unite the Providence card deck to free Blunder of the curse of magic.

Author: Rachel Gillig
Series: The Shepherd King Book 2
Age Category: Adult
Publisher: Orbit
Publish Date: October 17, 2023
Print Length: 480

Want to support local bookstores? Buy a copy of Two Twisted Crowns on Bookshop.org!*

*These are not affiliate links and I do not make a commission from any purchase made using these links.

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Sundays In Bed With…The Words of Kings and Prophets

I decided a few months ago to stick mostly to posting reviews on my blog for the sake of my free time. That doesn’t preclude me, however, from posting the occasional book meme when inspiration strikes! So allow me to join in today with a Sundays In Bed With… post.

The Sundays in Bed With… meme, hosted by Midnight Book Girl, dares to ask what book has been in your bed this morning. Come share what book you’ve spent time curled up reading in bed, or which book you wish you had time to read today!

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SFINCS Review: Dark Heart of Ilmoure by Cara Delaney

Today’s review is about DARK HEART OF ILMOURE by Cara Delaney. It’s a standalone novella in which a young woman returns home to pay respects to her recently-passed nephew. However, something isn’t quite right and when she starts to dig deeper, the townsfolk begin to notice.

SFINCS logoThis review is brought to you by my participation in the Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship (SFINCS). SFINCS, pronounced “sphinx”, is a yearly competition to recognize, honor, and celebrate the talent and creativity present in the indie community. It’s a sister competition to both SPFBO and SPSFC, and it highlights greatness in the novella format in all areas of speculative fiction (fantasy, science fiction, horror, etc.). I am part of Team Behind the Musings. You can find out more about us here.

Author: Cara Delaney
Series: None
Age Category: Adult
Publisher: Self-Published
Publish Date: December 26, 2022
Print Length: 151
Purchase: Amazon

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Making It So by Patrick Stewart

Today’s review is about MAKING IT SO by Patrick Stewart. Rather than review it in my usual more objective style, this time I decided to go casual and offer some reactive, conversational thoughts. Theatre buffs and fans of Star Trek will appreciate learning more about how Stewart became the icon we know today.

Author: Patrick Stewart
Series: None
Age Category: Adult
Publisher: Gallery Books
Publish Date: October 3, 2023
Print Length: 480

Want to support local bookstores? Buy a copy of Making It So on Bookshop.org!*

*These are not affiliate links and I do not make a commission from any purchase made using these links.

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2023 End of the Year Book Tag

Hello, December, my old friend. This is a busy time of the year no matter how you look at it. For blogging, this means electively taking time to do recaps and set up new goals. One type of recap is the 2023 End of the Year Book Tag. I first did this book tag last year, so it will be fun to see how my answers changed from 2022. It’s a short and sweet tag, which always appeals more to me than a longer tag. So, let’s go!

Are there any books you started this year that you need to finish?

Making It So by Patrick StewartTwo Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig

“Need” is a self-imposed construct in the bookish world, of course. But I’ll play along. I need to finish MAKING IT SO by Patrick Stewart because it’s a library book with a holds list. By the time this post goes live, though, hopefully I’ll have finished it. I would like to finish TWO TWISTED CROWNS by Rachel Gillig, which I think is very doable. I’m partially through A TOUCH OF DARKNESS by Scarlett St. Clair, but that’s not a “need to finish” book.

Do you have an autumnal book to transition into the end of the year?

Like I said last year, I don’t really read seasonally. Right now I’m trying to get through some backlogged ARCs.

Is there a new release you’re still waiting for?

Not particularly. This time of year seems to be relatively quiet with respect to new releases. August and October seem to be the big pushes for new releases before the holidays. Everything I’m currently looking forward to are releases for 2024.

What are three books you want to read before the end of the year?

The Words of Kings and Prophets by Shauna LawlessHouse of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas

My December TBR talks about all of the books I want to try to read before the end of the year. To recap, though, a couple of the books I hope to get to include are THE WORDS OF KINGS AND PROPHETS by Shauna Lawless and HOUSE OF SKY AND BREATH by Sarah J. Maas.

Is there a book you think that could still shock you and become your favorite book of the year?

Him by Geoff Ryan

I’m not sure. HIM by Geoff Ryman has some potential. But I don’t know if I’ll have time to get to it this month. It’s more of a hopeful than priority read on my mental December TBR list.

Have you already started making reading plans for 2024?

The Tusks of Extinction by Ray NaylerThat Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly LemmingThat Time I Got Drunk and Yeeted A Love Potion At A Werewolf by Kimberly LemmingImmortal Pleasures by V. CastroHouse of Flame and Shadows by Sarah J. Maas

Of course! I’m a book blogger who appreciates ARCs, so I definitely have some lined up already. They include THE TUSKS OF EXTINCTION by Ray Nayler, a couple of books by Kimberly Lemming, and IMMORTAL PLEASURES by V. Castro. I have a bunch of preorders, too. I also plan to try to finish up a bunch of series I started. Most importantly, though, I’m looking forward to HOUSE OF FLAME AND SHADOW by Sarah J. Maas!

And that’s a wrap on this 2023 End of the Year Book Tag! If this looks fun to you, then feel free to tag yourself!