> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://andilgregory.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Books Read in 2026’s Second Quarter - URL: https://andilgregory.com/adventuring-through-life/books-read-in-2026s-second-quarter/ - Published: 2026-06-30T18:00:54.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-10T21:41:59.000Z - Author: Andi Gregory - Tags: cosmere, Mistborn, Brandon sanderson, harry potter, Goblet of Fire, Order of the Phoenix, Half-Blood Prince, Deathly Hallows, Realms of Alumeria, Glass Across the Sea, The Numina Parables, The Hero of Ages, The Well of Ascension, A Daughter of the Trolls, The Lost Metal, Arcanum Unbounded, Mistborn shorts, April Reads, May Reads, June Reads, 2026 Reads, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, High Fantasy, fairytale, fairytale romance, Fairy Tale Retelling, Fairytale Retelling, Fairy Tale Romance, Cinderella, The Count of Monte Cristo, #Migrated-1787683573322, #sqs, #Import 2026-08-25 14:46, Adventuring Through Life, blog This year has gone so fast—but I’m pleased with my reading thus far. I’d love to pick up the pace through the final half of the year, but we’ll see how that goes. 😂 There are just so many amazing books out there to read! (I mean really, who has the time to read *all* the books they’d like to? Not me.) I’ll also be plenty busy in the next quarter editing for clients and writing and editing my own books. Regardless, I’ve read some great books during these last few months, and this year promises more to come. Click on the title of the book or cover image to learn more! --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/05/5005b841-a6a9-4902-ad65-ff17b958f53d/content/images/2026/09/4Harry-Potter-and-the-Goblet-of-Fire.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/05/5005b841-a6a9-4902-ad65-ff17b958f53d/content/images/2026/09/5Harry-Potter-and-the-Order-of-the-Phoenix.png) #### The Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter | Book 4) The Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter | Book 5) Another reread, because I always seem to need to listen through these at least once a year. 😂 I love this series a lot, and it’s extremely comforting for me to read or listen through it often. I always seem to learn something new, but even if I don’t I’m often reminded of the necessity for courage whatever we’re facing—even if things turn suddenly very dark. Although Harry’s very angsty in OotP and, in some cases, extremely unpleasant, I *love* the subtle way Rowling writes his character and reactions in this one—because not all of them stem from Harry’s own adolescence. I enjoy returning to these and studying something new with every reread or listen. [![Glass Across the Sea by Sara Ella](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/05/5005b841-a6a9-4902-ad65-ff17b958f53d/content/images/2026/09/Glass-Across-the-Sea-3.png)](https://www.enclavepublishing.com/books/glass-across-the-sea/?ref=andilgregory.com) #### Glass Across the Sea (Realms of Allumeria | Book 1) Guys, this *book*. I cannot begin to express how much I absolutely loved this one. It took me way too long to get to it in the first place 🙈 but I also believe I read this book exactly when I needed it most. The last couple of years have been rough writing-wise, but reading about Noelle’s & Dante’s journeys helped me realize my own is far from over, and sometimes we have to break in order to find the best gems—and it’s all by design. 💙 Read my full review [here](https://andilgregory.com/adventuring-through-life/bookish-thoughts-glass-across-the-sea-by-sara-ella). [![A Daughter of the Trolls by McKenzie Catron](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/05/5005b841-a6a9-4902-ad65-ff17b958f53d/content/images/2026/09/1A-Daughter-of-the-Trolls-1.png)](https://whimsicalpublishing.ca/shop/the-numina-parables/?ref=andilgregory.com) #### A Daughter of the Trolls (Numina Parables | Book 1) I did a lot of rereads this quarter, in this case to re-familiarize myself with the world of the Numina Parables in anticipation of my first read of book 3\. It’s gone slower than I’d like, but I absolutely love Catron’s storytelling style and how fairytale-esque it is! Read my full review [here](https://andilgregory.com/adventuring-through-life/bookish-thoughts-a-daughter-of-the-trolls-by-mckenzie-catron). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/05/5005b841-a6a9-4902-ad65-ff17b958f53d/content/images/2026/09/6Harry-Potter-and-the-Half-Blood-Prince.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/05/5005b841-a6a9-4902-ad65-ff17b958f53d/content/images/2026/09/7Harry-Potter-and-the-Deathly-Hallows.png) #### The Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter | Book 6) The Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter | Book 7) I listened through the last few books pretty quick, and I loved noticing some of the new nuance to this book and how the characters are written. Harry’s sass is also absolutely peak in this book, and I can’t get enough of it. 😂 Always an amazing and epic conclusion to the series, even if it comes off more bittersweet each time I read it. As I grow older, I consider what the characters went through, and how the events of this adventure especially might have affected them growing up. Overall, though, I love the simple themes woven and explored so deeply in the series. [![The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/05/5005b841-a6a9-4902-ad65-ff17b958f53d/content/images/2026/09/2The-Well-of-Ascension-1.png)](https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-well-of-ascension-brandon-sanderson/1100356277?ean=9781250868299&ref=andilgregory.com) #### The Well of Ascension (Mistborn Era 1 | Book 2) The rereads continue. 😂 I’ve made it my personal mission to listen through the entirety of Sanderson’s cosmere (as I’ve never done so), and there’s really no better place to start than with the original Mistborn trilogy. I love Vin’s story, and her budding relationship with Elend. (For those out there who say Sanderson can’t write romance, they’re *wrong*. He writes it excellently in my opinion.) Also Kelsier. 💙 Reading these for a second time has given me more insight into the world, the cosmere as a whole, and it just hit different on this second read, likely because it’s been many years and my experiences with life have changed. (As an aside, I’m kind of on a Hoid hunt, which has been *super* fun as I embark on the long, long journey before destination.) [![The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/05/5005b841-a6a9-4902-ad65-ff17b958f53d/content/images/2026/09/3The-Hero-of-Ages.png)](https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-hero-of-ages-brandon-sanderson/1100356888?ean=9781250868312&ref=andilgregory.com) #### The Hero of Ages (Mistborn Era 1 | Book 3) I always love a good conclusion to a series, and this one does *not* disappoint (maybe a little, but at least it makes sense). I caught far more references to other things happening in or related to the cosmere, which was *perfect* for my “I love complexity, let me figure it out” brain. 😂 All in all, though, I will *always* recommend this trilogy for those who want to get to know Sanderson and enjoy an interesting and complex yet easy to follow magic system. [![Arcanum Unbounded: The Cosmere Collection by Brandon Sanderson](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/05/5005b841-a6a9-4902-ad65-ff17b958f53d/content/images/2026/09/Arcanum-Unbounded.png)](https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/arcanum-unbounded-brandon-sanderson/1123274877?ean=9780765391162&ref=andilgregory.com) #### Arcanum Unbounded - "The Eleventh Metal" I didn’t listen to the whole of this one yet—I’m taking each story in the order it was meant to be read and within the part of the cosmere I’m currently mired within. For this one, I simply listened to Kelsier’s tale of how he first heard of “The Eleventh Metal,” the thing that set him on course to overthrow the Lord Ruler. It was a fascinating look into Kelsier’s mind (and to see how he was trained, at least in part). --- That’s a wrap for this quarter! I have a couple of books on the go, and a whole stack of new ones on my shelf thanks to the Realm Makers Writing Conference & Expo this month, and I sincerely hope I’ll be able to squeeze in some more amazing reading time for *published* books in the coming quarter (although my editing clients have some absolutely amazing books coming I can’t wait to tell you about). 💙 --- Looking for something new of your own to read? Check out my short stories—*Mired in Despair, Sands of Memory,* and *(Un)Ideal Partners.* Three stories set in different worlds. Characters battling unexplainable forces or unfair odds. Available via my newsletter! ![Mired in Despair & Other Short Stories by Andi L. Gregory](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/05/5005b841-a6a9-4902-ad65-ff17b958f53d/content/images/2026/09/COVER-Mired-In-Despair---Other-Short-Stories-Sm-3.jpg) #### Mired in Despair & Other Short Stories **Mired in Despair** A dangerous miasma. An enemy who’s an enigma. Two friends whose lives are turned upside down—twice. Through it all, Rikka and Genji must stand together to face the one threatening to tear them apart—all while battling their own demons. **Sands of Memory** In a world nearly consumed by the encroaching desert, Jack works for the infamous Sandman—self-proclaimed king of the “utopia” Jack doesn’t believe in. When lost memories return, he discovers a well-hidden secret that could collapse everything—but save the suffering people. **(Un)Ideal Partners** Willa stands on the cusp of becoming a professional ballerina. Though she doesn’t fit the “mold” of current ballerinas on the stage, she must ignore cutting remarks and work with an unusual partner in the final dance of the competition. Either they must win, or she will lose her one shot at helping a new friend—and her own long-held dreams. [Sign up Now!](#/portal/signup/free) This anthology was so fun to be a part of—52 amazing authors crafting stories around a singular theme, becoming a blend of voices, genres, and intrigue. *Kinship in Shambles* is a story of shattered peace, siblings growing apart, and bonds broken, set in the world of Project Pokemon*.* [![All the Promises We Cannot Keep: An R.H.S. Anthology](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/05/5005b841-a6a9-4902-ad65-ff17b958f53d/content/images/2026/09/ATPWCK-Book-Cover-1.png)](https://www.amazon.com/All-Promises-We-Cannot-Keep-ebook/dp/B0DLPCDLLR?ref=andilgregory.com) #### All the Promises We Cannot Keep: An R.H.S. Anthology In the quiet corners of forgotten attics and the echoing halls of ancestral homes, family secrets lie dormant, waiting to be unearthed. In distant realms beyond our own, intrigue weaves its web, ensnaring unsuspecting souls. And amidst the shards of shattered lives, beauty blooms unexpectedly, like wildflowers pushing through the cracks in old stone walls. In this enchanting anthology, discover stories that span generations and traverse worlds. From the crumbling manor where a hidden diary reveals long-buried truths to the starlit forest where a lost love reawakens, each tale invites you to explore the delicate balance between what is concealed and what yearns to be revealed. Whether you seek solace in secrets or find hope in brokenness, “All The Promises We Cannot Keep” invites you to explore the delicate dance between darkness and light, where beauty blooms even in the most unexpected places. [Read Now](https://www.amazon.com/All-Promises-We-Cannot-Keep-ebook/dp/B0DLPCDLLR?ref=andilgregory.com) Want to read more? Check out this anthology of amazing authors, including my story *Shifting Vapors*—a tale of unattainable dreams, taboo talents, and true friends. [![What Hides in the Shadows: An R.H.S. Anthology](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/05/5005b841-a6a9-4902-ad65-ff17b958f53d/content/images/2026/09/What-Hides-in-the-Shadows--Full--1.png)](https://www.amazon.com/What-Hides-Shadows-CJ-Redwine-ebook/dp/B0HDLXPD9X?ref=andilgregory.com) #### What Hides in the Shadows: An R.H.S. Anthology **Some secrets stay hidden because we're afraid to look. Others stay hidden because they're waiting.** In this collection from The Red Herrings Society, you'll find stories that reach into the dark corners we usually walk past. A teenage girl accepts a ride from a killer. A old woman can no longer hold back the ghosts that haunt her home. A property manager disappears, and the only one qualified to search for her is a vampire who doesn't want to get involved. These stories span genres and styles, from literary fiction to thriller, paranormal to fantasy, romance to mystery. But every one of them lives in the same territory: the space just beyond what we can see. The things we bury. The things we ignore. The things that wait quietly until we have no choice but to turn around and face them. Some of these shadows are supernatural. Some are deeply, unsettlingly human. All of them will follow you home. *What Hides in the Shadows* is a multi-genre anthology featuring voices from The Red Herrings Society, a community of writers who believe the best stories are the ones that refuse to let you look away. [Read Now](https://www.amazon.com/What-Hides-Shadows-CJ-Redwine-ebook/dp/B0HDLXPD9X?ref=andilgregory.com)