2025 Reading Stats!

 

It's time for reading stats! 
This is always one of my favorite posts because I find it really fun to look at all of the fine details of the books I read in a year and see how things change from year to year and get a better understanding of my reading--and see if there are any changes I'd like to make. (Last year's post can be found here.)

For these posts, I usually grab a few of the graphics from the Goodreads 'Year in Books' page since they are so handy, and the rest are from my own spreadsheet where I've compiled various bits of information about each book I read in the year, such as publisher, year of publication, genre, page count, etc.--you get the idea. I then pick some of the most interesting ones to share here with you all! I also decided to try out Fable this year, so I might share a few of the graphics from their yearly wrap-ups as well, just to see how they compare. 

Without further ado, let's dive in my 2025 reading stats!

Yearly Totals:

This year was pretty crazy and stressful and altogether not a fabulous one for me, haha, so I'm incredibly surprised that I managed to still read 139 books. Audiobooks have definitely contributed to that and I'm so glad I've been enjoying them these past couple years, as it really is nice to take in stories and information in different formats and experiences. 

Slightly higher average than last year, but I don't tend to think too much on this one. I think around 300-400 pages is probably the general average of book pages (at least in the genres I read), so this seems about right. Although I do feel like page counts are still getting a bit shorter overall on average in the industry, lately.

I honestly am not sure why I include this one these days since I hate the start system and also use .25, .5, and .75 ratings, but you know, it's here. 

To all my body horror and Substance fans: go read Carapace! 
I'm not 100% sure how I feel about The Body Keeps the Score--it has some great things, it has some not as great things, but I'm glad I finally gave it a read.

Those Dungeon Crawler Carl books are certainly chunky, I'll give them that!


I'm pretty sure last year's highest rate read (per Goodreads users) was also a Dungeon Crawler Carl book, so I feel like that has to say something about this series and its fanbase.

And lastly, my "reader summary" from Fable:

I do read pretty much whatever sounds good to me, so this feels accurate enough to me 🤣!

Stats:
Okay, time for the details! In this section, I'll take a look at genres, page count, format, etc. I tend to compare it to my previous year's post to see how things change year to year. So, let's have a look:

Genre

To begin, let's look at what genres I read this year! I read more fantasy this year (48.2%) than last year, when it made up 38.3% of my reading. Nonfiction made up 9.4% of my reading, which fits what I'd expect, though I'd love to increase that a bit more this year. Sci-fi was apparently only 7.9%, which feels very surprising to me, and horror made up 23%, which also feels surprising. I think a lot of the books I read this year had a lot of genre overlap, so I tried to just list them as the genre that felt more dominant, but it's a little difficult to get a really clear boundary sometimes, so I take these numbers with a grain of salt. I also forgot to sort out graphic novels/comics from the rest, but I'd assume it's a fairly small percentage as well. I also sorted out thrillers (1.4%), historical fiction (4.3%)--the one I'd love to increase next year--classics (1.4%), and contemporary fiction (4.3%), which pretty much means literary fiction and I'm not sure why I accidentally renamed it this year. 

Target Audience

Once again, this one is not a huge surprise. I mainly read books written with an adult audience in mind (87.1%), but I do love some middle grade (7.2%) books as well. I very rarely read young adult (5.8%), as reflected here, but there are still a few here and there that usually pop up and intrigue me enough to pick up. I think I read a few more middle grade and young adult this year, but overall these tend to stay fairly stable.

Format

Okay, now let's take a look at the format of the books I read this year! Honestly, there are very few changes here from last year! eARCs (17.3%) and ALCs (2.9%) are about the same, just slightly increased from last year. Hardcovers (16.5%) and paperbacks (8.6%) are also very similar. I also read slightly less audiobooks (30.9%) and physical ARCs (18%) than last year, but that's still a fairly significant amount. I've really enjoyed having audiobooks, but I'll always prefer physical books when I have the chance.

Book Source

So, where have I been getting all the books I read? Fortunately,  >80% were free! This appears to be fairly consistent with previous years--the amount received directly from publishers (24.%), for instance, is almost exactly the same as last year. NetGalley (18%) is also fairly similar (and I realize NetGalley is also technically the publisher, but I like to see how much is coming from NetGalley vs. my communications with publishers). I read less books I already owned (18%) this year, but I did get about 5% more the library (36%) this year, so that makes me glad. I really love the library and it's one of those things that is crazy to think about--you can indulge in a hobby/entertainment for free! I also have been trying to accept more books directly from indie authors (2.2%) as well, but that number is still on the lower side. All in all, I'm not mad at these numbers, though I could probably stand to read more of the books I already own, haha, but it can be hard to balance new releases/ARCs from publishers with backlist titles on my shelves already.  

Page Count

And lastly, what length of books did I read this year? I find that the page count amounts are often fairly in line with what page counts are most common in the publishing industry, though fantasy often skews towards high page counts (although these days I think they are pushing shorter fantasy books). There's not too much difference compared to last year, but I did seem to get to a few more bigger books this year than last year. 

Tell me about your year in books! Do you keep track of information for stats like this? If you do and you made a post that I haven't seen–or any type end of year post–leave me a link below because I love checking them out!

Best Books of 2025!

It's finally time to share the best books I read in 2025, and I can't wait to share them all!

Because I read over a hundred books most years, I usually split my 'best books' lists up into two posts, one featuring new releases from that year and one featuring backlist titles. This year, however, I somehow didn't end up with as many as usual so I'm combining them all into one single list of my favorite books of the year plus a list of honorable mentions, which feels very weird for me, haha.
Let me know if you've read any of these books and what your thoughts are (it's okay if you don't like them!) and if you have your own list, please feel free to link it below so I can come check it out!

And just as a quick note, my annual yearly reading stats post where I take a look at what genres I read the most of, what format of book I read the most, where I got my books, etc. will be up within the next week, so stay tuned for that!

Now, since you're probably here for the books and not my rambling, let's just get into the list! (Please note that these are in no particular order because picking favorites is hard enough, I'm not about to try to rank them, also.) For those that I've reviewed, I've added a link to my review next to the title for you to check out if you want to know more than whatever I vaguely ramble about it.

       

The Wolf and His King by Finn Longman
The Wolf and His King genuinely stole my heart a little bit--and it may have also made me cry a little bit as well. It's beautifully written and emotionally devastating in a myriad of ways. It's a story about loyalty, love, identity, and so much more and hit me so much harder than I expected. And did I mention it's beautifully written? Every sentence flowed effortlessly and was that type of gorgeous prose that feels like a gift to read that I could just keep reading over and over. It's a gorgeous story and you must read this one!

The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson - Review
This was possible one of the more surprising favorites I read this year simply because I had absolutely no idea that I would end up as captivated by this book as I was. It's intelligent, witty, intricately plotted, and utterly compelling and cleverly written with so many twists and turns that truly took me for a spin--and I loved every minute of it. Not to mention how well-developed both main and secondary characters were, which made it even easier to fall into this world and become invested in it. It felt like a fresh new fantasy that draws on many familiar tropes and elements, but elevates them to new levels in some very surprising and engaging ways. I genuinely cannot wait for a sequel.

       

The Strength of the Few by James Islington 
As one of my most anticipated sequels of the year, this book had a lot of pressure on its back. Fortunately, Islington did not let me down and delivered a masterful work of fantasy that has me constantly amazed at the sheer complexity of his world-building and plotting. I had no idea what to expect from one page to the next, and the stakes have somehow escalated even more in this book. I am a huge fan of how Islington crafts his characters and found myself really fascinated by some of the directions he went in this book (I'm sorry this so vague, but I'm avoiding spoilers!), and I'm eager awaiting the next book already.

We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer - Review
This was one of those that I had ridiculously high hopes for because everything I'd heard about it made it sound like something I'd love, but that also made me that much more nervous to finally read it... and it ended up being just as amazing as I'd hoped it would be. This book is a deeply unsettling slow-burn horror that really thrives on the atmosphere of unease it creates and builds upon throughout the story. This is the type of book that really seeps under your skin and plays around with memory, space, and all sorts of uncanny ideas until you're no longer sure what's real. Highly recommended, but definitely for those who don't mind when things get a bit funky. (And if you've seen the movie The Endless from Moorhead and Benson, you might like this!)

       

Assassin of Reality by Marina & Sergey Dyachenko
Vita Nostra, the first book in this series, is one of my favorite books, and I finally got around to reading this one this year and continue to find myself blown away by the minds of Marina and Sergey Dyachenko. This book was utterly surreal, metafictional, unsettling, and so many other crazy things that just keep my mind spinning in the best way possible. This book bends genres, expectations, and even reality until nothing in life feel stable anymore, and I'm pretty sure that's exactly the point.

Grave Empire by Richard Swan - Review
I wasn't surprised to love this one as much as I did, but that didn't take away from how impressed I was, once again, by Swan's creative depth and ability to craft worlds and stories that grab you immediately and don't let go. Grave Empire easily merged fantasy with horror to create an ambitious and utterly compelling new world and story. There's heavy political intrigue, ethical questions and explorations of power, and characters that quickly pull you in.

       

Alice With a Why by Anna James
Despite my lukewarm feelings about Anna James' previous series, Alice With a Why was a genuine delight and took me completely by surprise with how much I loved it. It is completely overflowing with wit and whimsy and perfectly captured the heart and whimsy of Lewis Carroll's writing while still managing to make this story her own. I think any Alice in Wonderland fan (and even those who may not be fans) would appreciate this one!

The Blackfire Blade by James Logan - Review
This was another highly anticipated release of mine that did not let me down despite a rocky start at the beginning when I wasn't sure if this was going to hit the same way as the first book. The Blackfire Blade is an exceedingly excellent epic fantasy sequel and exactly the way I wanted it to be: twisty, fast-paced, great character growth and development, and kept me on the edge of my seat. Even parts that frustrated me a bit ended up feeling more intentional than bad writing or planning. I have loved what James Logan has done with this fantasy and appreciated how character-driven it is with some incredible emotional beats, while also maintaining a genuinely compelling plot with excellent pacing that leaves all of us readers dying for more.

       

The Loss of the Star's Tranquility by Travis M. Riddle & Tobias Begley - Review
The Loss of the Star's Tranquility is an incredibly successful collaboration between Travis M. Riddle and Tobias Begley and delivers a rich, character-driven fantasy with thoughtful pacing and a compelling survival story that kept me fully hooked. There's a fantastic mix of some adventure, some tension and fear at what lies in wait for our characters, lore of the world itself, and some truly great character work. The world-building is immersive and the magic system felt complex yet also accessible, which made this a fantastic read that was easy to pick up and hard to put down.

An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
I read a lot of incredible books by Indigenous authors this year, both fiction and nonfiction, but I feel like this one really encapsulated a lot of the themes and topics I read about and was incredibly well-written and researched. This book (and many others) should honestly be required reading (for US citizens, at least) for the sheer amount of incredibly needed information and perspective they provide about the history of Indigenous peoples in the United States.

       

The Uproar by Karim Dimechkie - Review
Okay, so this book was a ride. I felt so much anxiety while reading this book... and that's also exactly what kept me reading. It completely gripped me from page and was incredibly tense, immersive, and emotionally relentless in the best way. I was deeply invested in the protagonist's chaotic journey and the wonderfully nuanced explorations of themes around family, morality, power, what it means to be a "good person," and so much more. Life is messy, chaotic, and unpredictable, and The Uproar reflects all of this in a raw and authentic way--and it also highlights that there very often is no "right" answer and we are all always making mistakes. Definitely a book I'm still thinking about!

Dreambound by Dan Frey
I love a story with an LA setting, and even moreso when it's fantasy and plays with the boundaries of reality and fantasy in ways as compelling and intriguing as Dan Frey does in this one. I am so glad I finally got around to reading Dreambound this year and found Frey's storytelling to be so good that I struggled to put this book down and was truly hooked on the different ideas he played with in this story.

Honorable Mentions:

These are books that were also five star reads and that I loved and have stuck with me over the year, but perhaps not quite at the same level as the ones above. (Although, as a mood reader and generally indecisive person, my opinions may fluctuate at any time, so you can also just consider all of these books on this entire post my favorites. Don't you just love contradicting yourself?)

       

Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang
My overall excitement for this book has lessened slightly over time, which is why it's been placed in the honorable mentions, but I still had an incredible time reading this book and was absolutely captivated by every page. I actually agree with a lot criticisms of it for lacking subtlety and hitting hard with its themes, but I still found the character arcs, world-building, and magic system to all be incredibly well-developed and genuinely engaging. I highly recommend this one and think it deserves all the praise it has gotten!

Empire of Silence by Christopher Ruocchio
I wasn't sure if I wanted to include this one because I'm a little mixed, but overall I've found I still think about it a lot and I loved what it did with the idea of an epic sci-fi/space opera to the point that I really think it's one of the best books I read this year. Ruocchio's world-building has me salivating a bit to get to the rest of the series, and I cannot even begin to imagine where this narrative will end up, but I can't wait to find out. There are some seriously cool concepts going on in here and I think anyone who wants a big new story to fall into should give this one a read.

       

Bat Eater by Kylie Lee Baker - Review
This was an incredibly visceral and unflinching horror story that isn't satisfied with simply scaring its readers with paranormal horrors, but instead wants to confront readers with the horrors of what humans do to one another. There's rage, grief, and body horror that are all equally raw and unforgettable, and I was really blown away by how intense and well-written this story was.

Slip: Life in the Middle of Eating Disorder Recovery by Mallary Tenore Tarpley
This was an incredibly informative and educational book about eating disorders and the current research around them (which, spoiler: there's not nearly enough done on them!) and I think it's a must-read for anyone interested in knowing more about a disease that affects an incredibly large portion of the population. Mallary Tenore Tarpley does an incredible job of thoughtfully diving into this subject and sharing her own experiences as well as those of so many others, and it's an absorbing read. I would add a quick note that if you are or were currently struggling with an eating disorder, this could be a difficult read at times, so just keep that in mind going into it.)

Can't-Wait Wednesday: The Iron Garden Sutra by A.D. Sui, She Made Herself a Monster by Anna Kovatcheva, White River Crossing by Ian McGuire

  

 Can't-Wait is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights exciting upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released

The Iron Garden Sutra by A.D Sui
Publication: February 24th, 2026
Erewhon Books
Hardcover. 400 pages.
Pre-order: Bookshop.org | Amazon

From Goodreads:
"Klara and the Sun meets S. A. Barnes’s Dead Silence with a touch of Becky Chambers’ A Psalm for the Wild-Built in Nebula Award-winning author A.D. Sui’s darkly philosophical, locked room murder mystery, as a death monk and a team of researchers trapped onboard a spaceship of the dead encounter something beyond human understanding…

Vessel Iris has devoted himself to the Starlit Order, performing funeral rites for the dead across the galaxy, guiding souls back into the Infinite Light. Despite the meaning he finds in his work and the comfort of AI companionship, his relationships with the living leave him longing for deeper connection.

The spaceship Counsel of Nicaea has been lost for more than a thousand years, its passengers reduced to dust and bone. A relic of Earth’s dying past, its sudden appearance has attracted a team of academics eager to investigate its archeological history. And Iris has been assigned to bring peace to the crew’s long departed souls.

Carpeted in moss and intertwined with vines, Nicaea is more forest than ship. Iris’s religious rituals are met with bemusement by the scientists—and outright hostility by engineer Yan Fukui.

But the plant life isn’t the only sentience to have survived in the past millennia. Something onboard is stalking the explorers one by one. And Iris with his AI enhancement may be their only hope for survival. . .

IN OUTER SPACE NO ONE CAN HEAR YOUR PRAYERS"

This sounds like it's going to have a little bit of everything wrapped up in an awesome space/sci-fi package and I'm 100% here for it. 

She Made Herself a Monster by Anna Kovatcheva

Publication: February 10th, 2026

Mariner Books

Hardcover. 288 pages.

Pre-order: Bookshop.org | Amazon

From Goodreads:

"A heady, dark-hued Gothic gem of a debut novel: in nineteenth-century Bulgaria, a self-proclaimed vampire slayer—in truth, a traveling con artist—joins forces with a teenage girl to create a monster deadly enough to vanquish their own demons.

We make monsters in order to destroy them. For thousands of years, we’ve named witches and burned them, suspected demons and exorcised them. When crops die and children fall ill, who better to blame than a monster?

Yana rides from one desolate town to the next, staging grisly displays while the villagers sleep: animal corpses in the public square, eggs filled with blood in the chicken coop. She tells the stricken villagers stories of vampires that stalk the night. Then she eliminates the threat, and sows seeds of hope in her wake.

The village Koprivci is plagued by exceptional illness and misfortune, its children rarely surviving infancy. There, Yana meets Anka: a headstrong orphan who the villagers blame for their curse. As Anka approaches womanhood, the village Captain is grooming her for marriage against her will. Anka is powerless against him—that is, until Yana arrives. Together, the orphan and the vampire slayer hatch a plan: to conjure a monster so vile, it might provide cover for Anka to escape. But their plan quickly takes on a horrifying life of its own...

Inspired by Slavic folklore, She Made Herself a Monster concocts a clever mix of witchery, ghost stories, heresy, and deception to spin a feminist fable about agency and the power of collective action. It is a haunting and astoundingly cathartic tale of two women who will stop at nothing to take control of their fate."

Okay, what a premise! I'm also totally into this cover and I can't wait to check this one out.

White River Crossing by Ian McGuire
Publication: February 24th, 2026
Crown
Hardcover. 288 pages.
Pre-order: Bookshop.org | Amazon

From Goodreads:
"A breathtaking and cinematic novel about the lust for gold and its bloody consequences, set in the unforgiving landscape of the sub-Arctic Canadian wilderness, from the acclaimed author of The North Water

A ragged fur peddler arrives at a remote outpost of the Hudson Bay Company in the winter of 1766 with a lump of gold, claiming that there is plenty more like it further north at a place called Ox Lake. The outpost’s chief factor, Magnus Norton, dreams of instant riches and launches a secret and perilous expedition to find the treasure and bring it back.

Led by a family of native guides, the party of prospectors includes Norton’s brutish deputy, John Shaw, and Thomas Hearn, the insular and intellectual first mate from the factory’s whaling sloop. During their long journey north, Shaw’s callousness and arrogance lead him to commit an act of sexual violence whose disastrous consequences will only fully emerge once they reach their final destination. There, amidst the bleak beauty of the Barren Grounds, as Norton’s carefully crafted plans begin to fall apart and the brutal arctic winter starts to descend, Hearn is forced to make a choice that will define his character and determine his future forever.

Utterly captivating, White River Crossing transports us back to the furthest edges of the eighteenth-century British empire where two radically different worlds—indigenous and European—collide with calamitous and deadly results."

I also really like this cover, and I also think this sounds like it's going to be an incredible story.

Review: City of Others by Jared Poon

City of Others by Jared Poon

Orbit
Publication Date: January 13th, 2026
Paperback. 368 pages.

About City of Others:

"In the sunny city of Singapore, the government takes care of everything – even the weird stuff. Benjamin Toh is a middle manager in the Department for Engagement of Unusual Stakeholders (DEUS), tasked with taking care of the supernatural occurrences and people no one else wants to deal with, from restless ghosts to immortal gods to conniving jinn. Overworked and under-resourced, he has to juggle the demands of senior management, an elderly father, and a new boyfriend, all while trying to keep his team out of trouble.

When an entire block of flats goes missing in the town of Clementi, drowned in an otherworldly wave, the information he needs to prevent another catastrophe lies in the pasar bayang – the shadow markets. But the demigod protector of the markets has neither forgotten nor forgiven their humiliation by the Singapore authorities decades ago. Ben will need to wrestle with the legacy of his government and the whispers of his own insecurities, navigating landscapes both urban and fantastical, both inside the soul and outside the real world, all so he can just do his goddamn job."

I liked this one a lot more than I expected to! City of Others is an urban fantasy that is comforting, deeply layered with lore and world-building, and full of personality, though it still has plenty of darker corners to it that exist beneath its vibrant exterior.

The magical Singapore setting was incredible and I thought it ended up being such a fun and intriguing concept. I really loved how much background and cultural roots the author built into this world, and I especially loved how he managed to blend the banal reality of bureaucracy with some more supernatural and fantastical elements. It’s an urban fantasy that is so fun to explore, with supernatural beings like Jinn living alongside everyone else (although with a considerably mafia-like type of power) and other Asian mythological/folkloric figures slipping into every crack of this world.

Our protagonist, Ben, is an exhausted and overworked civil servant working at the DEUS--the Department for Engagement of Unusual Stakeholders, that is--and he is remarkably relatable. As a result of his experiences, he’s very cynical and verging on being fully burnt out, but somehow he is still a good, caring person and really does want what’s best for his team and the citizens he works for. He’d also like to keep upper management off his back, maintain his relationship with his father, and even possibly keep things going well with his new boyfriend (and his boyfriend is the best, I enjoyed him immensely as a character).

One of my favorite aspects of this book was Ben and his coworkers, a bit of an odd misfit team that has just about every skill needed for their very unique job. Each character brings such distinct strengths and quirks to the team and to every scene they are present for in this book, and I loved how much this felt like a little bit of a chaotic found-family office situation at times. I honestly hadn’t realized how invested I was in these characters until about halfway through the book when I found myself quietly rooting for everyone and looking forward to the roles of different characters. It’s just one of those books where I think you don’t realize how much you’re enjoying the world and its characters until you find yourself lamenting having to put the book down between reading opportunities.

I feel like this is one of those cozy-but-not-too-cozy fantasy stories where it feels easy to read and generally comforting and fun, but the stakes are still high and there are still some pretty emotionally (and otherwise) intense moments that happen. The author has really created a fantastic balance where there’s plenty of humor throughout the story, but it still goes deeper than you might expect. There are so many deeply important themes explored, such as those of grief, heritage and culture, and how the decisions a government makes even long ago can still affect people and groups for generations to come. And all of this is explored through the well-known frustrations of slow-moving bureaucracies, office politics, government politics, and tensions between various groups of magical beings.

The pacing of City of Others is surprisingly quick, and I think that really works to its benefit because it removes any potential to get bored while reading this story, and I also think it made for a quick read. I was shocked by what was happening before I had even hit 100 pages, but I was equally excited by what that meant might still happen throughout the rest of the book.

I don’t have many complaints about this book. The only thing I would remark on is that because the world feels so rich and vast and the plot moved so quickly, it felt like there wasn’t always a lot of time to fully wrap my head around certain aspects of the world or magic that were happening. There’s a feeling that we only ever really scratch the surface of things in this book, which could be a positive or negative, but it left me feeling just the slightest bit disconnected from things at times, though ultimately I think it just leaves me wanting more--in a good way!

Overall, I found this to be an incredibly charming urban fantasy that has an amazing amount of heart and an overflowing abundance of supernatural and mythological elements that make it an adventure you do not want to miss. I highly recommend this for any fantasy fans, but especially urban fantasy fans and those who want a story with characters you can really root for and have fun with.

*I received a copy of City of Others courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This has no effect on my rating.*

Buy the book: Bookshop.org | Amazon

Month in Review: December 2025

Happy New Year, everyone! I hope everyone's year is off to a great start (or honestly, just a neutral start is probably fine with most of us, right?). 

For some quick blog notes, my annual best books of the year posts and 2025 reading stats posts will be up probably mid-January in the next week or two (hopefully, at least), as usual. For anyone who doesn't know, I always wait to post my 'best ofs' and stats until January because I'm usually still reading up until the end of December, and you never know what may  become a favorite (and it needs to be included in the stats, of course!). I also usually post my most disappointing reads in December, but I haven't decided if I want to make that post this year, so stay tuned. I'm looking forward to taking a deeper look at everything I read in 2025 and sharing it all with you. I'm also even more excited to check out everyone else's end of year posts and will hopefully be catching up on everything! I also need to desperately update my blog... but I'm not sure if that'll happen...

December was a ridiculously crazy month, as I'm sure it is for most people, and I absolutely failed on the blogging front, haha. I'm pretty sure I only got about one review up and then my weekly Can't-Wait Wednesdays, and the rest was an impromptu blogging break. That being said, I have already prepped some reviews for January, February, and March (I'm in shock, too), so hopefully we will be getting back on track soon!

In personal news.. It's been busy! I actually had a job interview and will likely be starting that (part-time) job soon if it ends up being a good fit for me. Other than, same old busy things with family, mental health, etc., and I'm still very much enjoying my aerial journey. I actually got to see some of my incredible instructors and fellow students perform at a NYE show and it was absolutely incredible to see them all--I am just in awe of the beauty and talent I'm surrounded by!

In reading news, December ended up being a pretty productive reading month for me. I somehow just felt very motivated and energized to get some reading in and try out some graphic novels/comics I'd been hearing about as well, so I'm pretty happy with how things went overall. I've been using Libby for a long time now, but I do appreciate how much I've been reading from my library lately, and I'm hoping to make some time to actually physically get books from my library again this month, haha. 

How was your December and what books have you been reading?  Let me know how your month was below and what you've been reading!

   

# books read: 16

The Strength of the Few (Hierarchy #2) by James Islington ★★★★★

Source: Owned | Format: Hardcover
Thoughts: This was one of my most anticipated releases and sequels of 2025 and it was such a ride. Islington always keeps us readers on our toes and this was no exception. My mind is always blown and I'm going to need to do such a re-read or recap before the third one finally comes out, haha. 

The Red Winter by Cameron Sullivan ★★★★

Source: NetGalley | Format: eARC
Thoughts: This was an intense, gore-soaked dark fantasy that I was pretty compelled by. I didn't love it as much as I'd honestly thought I would, but it's still a very solid fantasy.

The Wolf and His King by Finn Longman ★★★★★

Source: Owned | Format: Hardcover
Thoughts: This book stole my heart and soul a little bit and absolutely made me cry. It was written so beautifully and I just really loved it. I need to write a review for this one, still.

The Scour by Richard Swan ★★★★★

Source: Owned | Format: Hardcover
Thoughts: I had no idea how much I needed this novella, but I really think I did. This was perfect and made me miss spending time with Vonvalt and Bressinger. I was really impressed with how well Swan crafted this novella and how fulfilling it really was.

Birth of a Dynasty by Chinaza Bado ★★★.75

Source: Owned | Format: Hardcover
Thoughts: This was not the most unique story or premise, but it was still an engaging story and I think Chinaza Bado has created a really intriguing world. 

Midnight Somewhere: A Short-Story Collection by Johnny Compton ★★★★

Source: NetGalley | Format: eARC
Thoughts: This was a fantastic collection of horror stories! Johnny Compton continues to really know his way around telling a creepy story.

House of the Beast by Michelle Wong ★★★★

Source: Owned | Format: Hardcover
Thoughts: This was a weird reading experience and something about this book felt different, even though the premise didn't sound all that unique. I really enjoyed everything the author did with this story and would definitely read more from her in the future.

A Curious Kind of Magic by Mara Rutherford ★★★★

Source: Owned | Format: Hardcover
Thoughts: This was such a cute little story. I don't read much YA these days, but I had a good time with this one and enjoyed the general premise.

Eden of Witches, Volume 1 by Yumeji ★★★★

Source: Library | Format: Ebook
Thoughts: I've seen this one around for a while and the cover and title always intrigued, so I finally thought to check if it was on Libby--and it was! I enjoyed this one and am currently reading the second volume.

The Long Walk by Stephen King ★★★

Source: Library | Format: Audiobook
Thoughts: This came up likely because of the recent movie adaptation, but I figured it was time to check it out. I'm going to continue my current thought that I'm not sure Stephen King for me. I get the appeal and his stories aren't bad, but the style just never really clicks for me. Still, I was fascinated by this premise (and still am)!

The Bones Beneath My Skin by TJ Klune ★★★.75

Source: Library | Format: Ebook
Thoughts: It's been a journey with TJ Klune. I loved the first book I read from him, then was quite disappointed with the next two, so I had sworn off him... but then I saw this on Libby and thought, why not? And this was pretty good! I actually had a good time with it and was honestly pretty surprised. 

Unseen: How I Lost My Vision but Found My Voice by Molly Burke 

Source: Library | Format: Audiobook
Thoughts: I see Molly Burke pop up on my social media feeds fairly often and I'm always curious about her story and everything she has to say about disabilities, so I figured I'd give this a read. It was incredibly enlightening and compelling, and a great read for those with disabilities and those without--you can relate, learn, or both!

The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead 

Source: Library | Format: Audiobook
Thoughts: I read this mainly because one time when I opened Libby it was on the front page and it had such a cute cover that I thought I'd give it a read. It's a really sweet middle grade story that read slightly younger than I'd usually read, but I'd absolutely still recommend it to young readers (or adults, it's still fun!).

My Happy Marriage, Vol. 1 by Rito Kohsaka ★★★

Source: Library | Format: Ebook
Thoughts: This one came up as a recommendation after I finished Eden of Witches and it sounded familiar to me, though quite different from what I usually read. I ended up being really pleasantly surprised by this story and I think this has set up for what could be a really interesting journey, so I'll be checking out the next one as well. 

The Cursed Moon by Angela Cervantes 

Source: Library | Format: Audiobook
Thoughts: This is another cute middle grade that popped up (probably because I read The Lost Library, haha) and is perfect for kids for the spooky season.

Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer 

Source: Library | Format: Audiobook
Thoughts: I read this one at the recommendation of my sister and thought it was really cute! 

To-Be-Finished:

Where the Axe is Buried by Ray Nayler
I actually plan to finish this one this month, but I did set it aside in December to read some other books that were grabbing my attention more, so I figured I'd include here in this section.

The Faithful Dark by Cate Baumer
This just was not grabbing me at the moment, so I'm setting it aside for now and will return to it in late January/early February to prepare for its February release. I just am not feeling the magical religious stuff going on right now, so hopefully I'll be in a different mood later because the premise is definitely intriguing.

 

Midnight Somewhere by Johnny Compton
(and... that's it. As mentioned, this was a shamefully slow review month, haha)

 Posts:

Blog Tour + Excerpt: No One Aboard by Emy McGuire
Month in Review: November 2025

Anticipated January 2026 Releases

Blog Memes:

Can't-Wait Wednesday:
12/3: Pedro the Vast by Simón López Trujillo, A Beast Slinks Toward Beijing by Alice Evelyn Yang, & Polar War by Kenneth R. Rosen
12/10: To Ride a Rising Storm by Moniquill Blackgoose, Kokun by Nahoko Uehashi, & The School of Night by Karl Ove Knausgård
12/17: A Spell for Drowning by Rebecca Ferrier & Escape! by Stephen Fishbach
12/24: Detour by Jeff Rake & Rob Hart, This is Where the Serpent Lives by Daniyal Mueenuddin, & Dragon Cursed by Elise Kova
12/31: On Sundays She Picked Flowers by Yah Yah Scholfield, The Last of Earth by Deepa Anappara, This House Will Feed by Maria Tureaud, & Just Watch Me by Lior Toreneberg