Well, I’m going to start off by saying I’m a little embarrassed how short this list is, considering it encompasses three months. 😅 However, I will add the caveat that I’ve edited five books during this time as well, so that’s technically included in the reading (even if I can’t list them), right?

Anyway, enough of that—let’s get to the books I’ve read so far this year!

The Great Awakening (Tales of the Unicorn Sea | Book 1)

This was a prep read for an edit I worked on recently, and honestly, these are such fun reads! I’ve always had a soft spot for middle grade books, likely because they’re so good at capturing the whimsy of the world and innocence of imagination within their worlds and pages. This book (and the second one 😉) is phenomenal and fun—if you’re a middle grade fantasy fan, check it out here!

Infernal Fall

This read was definitely outside of the usual genres I read, but it was the March pick for the Realm Makers Book Club in the RealmSphere and the winner of the 2023 Realm Award in the Horror/Paranormal/Supernatural category, so I figured I’d give it a try. I listened to this one via audiobook, and while it took me a bit to get into (because it’s not a genre I typically choose to read), I did enjoy it. For those who enjoyed Dante’s Inferno, this is a new take on the same concept, and you can check it out here.

Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow (Nevermoor | Book 1)

This one was an audiobook reread in anticipation of book 4, Silverborn, releasing in the U.S. in July. Hosted by the author, Jessica Townsend, the #ReadalongNevermoor2025 will encompass a read along of all three books, so you’ll likely see books 2 & 3 on the next edition of my quarterly reads. 😁 I love these books for many, many reasons, but I’ll cap it at three for this post. First, the main character’s voice is wonderfully snarky and realistic, but she must quickly get used to “nonsense” in the new world she’s inhabiting. Second, her patron is one of those adults who prefers the innocent youth of childhood and adventure, which keeps things super fun. And third, there’s a giant talking cat that I absolutely love. Bonus, the audiobook is read by Gemma Whelan, who is possibly my favorite audiobook narrator. Check out the first in a series of wonderful books here.

Current Reads

These are the books I’m still reading, and while I hope to finish them by the end of the month, that may not be possible for some of them (cough Sanderson) for various reasons.

Wind and Truth (The Stormlight Archive | Book 5)

I am thoroughly enjoying this book for a lot of reasons, one being the return of so many beloved characters and the chance to watch them change and come into their own. As usual for a cosmere book, there’s a lot happening all at once, but I personally like the challenge of keeping everything straight (plus, I learn from it as a writer of complex stories). I’ve most recently finished Day 3 of 10, so it’s likely I won’t be finishing this one this month. Still, I can’t wait to see how the different plot lines converge (because they always do) and how the characters make it through these few days before everything in their worlds change. If you’d like to check out Sanderson’s writing, you can find the first book here. (Be warned, though, they’re all “doorstoppers.”)

Ignite (The Phoenix Flame | Book 1)

I’ve finally gotten around to reading this one, and I decided to utilize audiobook for it (since I’m very, very slow on reading physical books at the moment). I’m not very far in, but I’m definitely enjoying it so far and am super intrigued by the world building and can’t wait to see what happens with Mara next. If you’re a fan of phoenix books and YA fantasy, check it out here.

King of Star-Cast Skies (Instanolde Chronicles | Book 2)

I haven’t quite started this one yet, but I feel honored to receive an early ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of this book! Ever since I read book 1, I’ve been dying to see where the story of El and Lystra leads, and it certainly sounds like we’re taking an adventure across the desert for this one. I absolutely loved book 1, Queen of Shifting Sands, and expect I’m going to fall deeper in love with the world and characters in this one. You can pre-order the book here.

You Are Fatally Invited

I haven’t started this one quite yet, as it took most of the month to get my hands on a copy, but it’s another one outside of my typical reads. I’m reading this one for another book club, through the Red Herrings Society, and I’ve heard good things from the others! Also, it’s about authors, so this should be super fun! I’ll be listening via audiobook, and I’ll likely post a review over on my Instagram when I’m finished. Interested in a fun mystery thriller about authors? Check it out here.

Dear Writer, Are You Intuitive? (Quitbooks for Writers | Book 6)

I’m still in the midst of this one, but I’ve given myself permission to take my time and really digest different bits I read. Overall, I’m very much loving this book—it’s given me quite a lot of insight into both the way I go through life, and in the way I craft stories. It’s allowed me to be at peace with my own process, and even my lack of “understanding” of plot (which isn’t so much a lack of understanding as a lack of ability to explain it). So I’m very much looking forward to learning some techniques I can add to my process to enhance my storytelling within my intuitive abilities.

Let’s talk about wonderful books! Share your most recent reads, what you’re reading now, or what you’re excited to dive into next!

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.