There was a big pickup in reading for me this quarter, for which I’m super grateful. I’ve been missing the immense grasp and escape of a book and losing myself for hours within the pages. The last few years have made reading difficult, so it’s really nice to find my stride in regular reading again. I read 14 books this month (my book snake is getting quite long, and I’m super pleased!), and that doesn’t include at least one current read I know I’ll finish by the end of the month. 😁

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

This was such an eye-opening read for me, and I definitely took the chance to savor it. I learned so much about my own writing process—and why I’ve always struggled to explain/understand specific plot constructs and fit my own stories into them. I write those things intuitively, so trying to fit them into a plot structure long before I’m ready to edit is never good for my process. It’s definitely a book I’ll be re-reading so I can soak in even more about how to hone and lean into my intuitive nature. If you’re a writer unsure if you work intuitively, I suggest checking out the book here.

Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow (Nevermoor | Book 2)

Another reread and another excellent narrative performance from Gemma Whelan. More amazing snark from Morrigan and Fenestra, and new challenges in trying to forge friendships and discover her calling. Find the series here.

Ignite (The Phoenix Flame | Book 1)

This was a really fun read, and I cannot wait for book 2! There’s so much still to unpack and learn about both Mara and her world, and I can’t wait to dive even deeper into that world. Mara’s story has been so compelling thus far, and I’m very intrigued by Eli as well. Honestly, the blurb is intriguing but doesn’t come close to doing this story justice. You can find the book here. Keep an eye on upcoming posts for the release date of book 2!

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

This is easily one of my favorite reads this year. It’s a story that’s stuck with me from the first time I read it, and having such an epic conclusion to Queen of Shifting Sands was a wonderfully wild ride. Everything came together in the best way, and there was so much tension and wonderful release of tension! This is definitely one I’ll reread often. You can check out the Instanolde Chronicles here.

A Tempest of Tea (Blood & Tea | Book 1)

This was such a wild ride of a story. I listened via audiobook, and it was so hard to be responsible and not listen through the entire book in one go. 😅 The imagery was beautiful and the romance is so perfectly slow-burn. And the secrets. And tea. It’s all deliciously wonderful, and I cannot wait until the next book releases! Check it out here.

Hollowpox: The Hunt for Morrigan Crow (Nevermoor | Book 3)

The final reread of the series before the newest book releases. There are so many things I love about this book—the deepening of the world, Morrigan’s growth, and the friendships strengthening throughout. Though my favorite part of this book will always be Frank’s dramatics necessitating a sheet (if you know, you know). The antics and the seriousness are well balanced, and I can’t wait to see where Morrigan’s journey takes her and her friends next. Find the series here.

The Little Girl and the Sea (Tales of the Unicorn Sea | Book 2)

This was a fun middle grade read, and a client’s book. As book 2 of the series, it built well upon book 1 but brought new adventures, friends, and secrets to light. It deepened the worldbuilding and made me excited for the next book and adventures of Maisy, Gertie, and their friends. Check it out here.

Inkbound Inheritance (Inkbound Chronicles | Book 1)

This is another client book, and it’s such a fun read. A wonderful YA portal fantasy full of adventure, self-discovery, and budding friendship, cover, blurb, & release coming soon! Check it out here.

The Mystwick School of Musicraft (Mystwick School | Book 1)

This has been a favorite middle grade read since I first listened to the audiobook many years ago, and it remains a favorite. Amelia is likable and understandable, and the worldbuilding around musicraft magic is intriguing and enchanting. One of the things I love most about the audiobook is the music layered behind the story. This is definitely one I’ll come back to time and again. Check it out here.

Camp Cacophony (Mystwick School | Prequel)

A prequel to the original Mystwick book, this is a fun adventure for Amelia. Though all she wants to do is practice for her upcoming Mystwick audition, she must instead find a camaraderie with her fellow sports campers—all who despise musicraft. A fun and short listen expanding Amelia’s world. Check it out here.

The Midnight Orchestra (Mystwick School | Book 2)

A wonderful sequel to the original Mystwick, Amelia must navigate changing friendships, new arrivals, and the pressures of being the school’s sole composer—all while wrestling with her own feelings and problems. Such a fun adventure for them, a deepening of the world, and secrets that made me long for the next book. I loved rereading this one before diving into book 3. Check it out here.

The Dark Refrain (Mystwick School | Book 3)

The most recent installment of the Mystwick series, this was such an intriguing read. I loved the time travel aspect, and the exploration of Salzburg in 1765. Familiar composers and family are all Amelia could rely on, and the development of each character and the relationships was so well done. I had a very, very hard time putting this one down! Check it out here.

Prophetess of Arden (The King and Prophet Chronicles | Book 1)

I read this one to prepare for an upcoming client edit, but I absolutely adored the story. Beckah’s journey is different but relatable, and Seth’s struggles even more so. Honestly, I cannot wait to see what more they must face together in book 2! This Christian portal fantasy is one I’ll definitely be recommending often! Check it out here.

Current Reads:

Wind and Truth (The Stormlight Archive | Book 5)

I’m so very close to finishing this book, and determined to finish it before the end of the month (very doable!). I’ve made it all the way to Day 9 (of 10), meaning I’ve reached the cusp of the Sanderlanch (aka where we learn allll the things). Though it’s been a slow read for a variety of reasons (mostly life and a desire to retain what I read), there’s so much going on with this book that’s made me want to take my time with it. To absorb and understand a section or point before moving on and learning something new. It’s definitely been intriguing with the expansion of lore and history, and I can’t wait to see what all happens in the end. Check out the series here.

The Hobbit (The Lord of the Rings | Prequel)

Another fun reread. I’ve been itching to reread The Lord of the Rings for a few months now, and I finally caved. I’m listening via audiobook this time, with Shadowfax playing in the background for the perfect mood music. Rob Inglis does a wonderful job with the voices, songs, and adds to the overall enjoyment of the books. I’m looking forward to continuing through the series over the rest of the year. Check it out here.

The Happy Writer

I’ve only just started this book, but I’m loving it so far. I don’t have much to say yet, except this is the next book on writing I definitely needed. Check it out here.

Silverborn: The Mystery of Morrigan Crow (Nevermoor | Book 4)

I’m absolutely dying to read this one! I have it on order and on hold at the library—so I can get hold of it as soon as it releases in the U.S. (next week!!). I’ve loved this series for so long, and I’ve waited to see what Morrigan’s next adventures will be. Find the series here.

The Unraveling of Emlyn DuLaine (The Rivenlea Sphere | Book 1)

This is my stretch goal for the month—if I finish Wind & Truth early enough, I’ll start in on this one. Regardless of whether I do or not, it’s at the very top of my reading list. I had the chance to read a couple of chapters a while ago, and although I wanted to sit down and finish the book in one sitting (yes, the first chapters were that compelling), adult responsibilities called and then my library hold was ready to read. So this has been patiently sitting on my shelf until I have time to read more physical books. Check it out here.

And that’s a wrap for this reading recap! I have several amazing books in mind for July, including a few series finales—check out my Instagram for my July TBR in a couple of months. Overall, though, I’m so pleased with how many books I’ve managed to read this quarter. It speaks to a more balanced lifestyle and, even more so, the energy to consume fiction again, for which I’m so very thankful. Since I discover myself in stories—whether my own or others’—it’s amazing to be finding pieces of myself and my world in so many places again. 💙

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.