August and September reading wrap-up

August was an odd reading month for me, since I was traveling so much. I did not get the chance to read while traveling, but I was able to get some reading in before and after my trip to Greece. I was able to squeeze in five books for the month of August, and there were two I wanted to have here as notable mentions:

August

Orbital by Samantha Harvey

Orbital slid under the radar but quickly became one of my five star reads for the year. I would often pause, completely in awe, of what I just read. It is a profound slice of humanity that will leave you feeling like you've discovered something about yourself. It's short, coming in at only 207 pages, but each page is brimming with beautiful prose. It's the kind of book that you interact with on a more human level, like your mind is having a conversation with it that you are not a part of. You finish it and suddenly your interpersonal relationship with yourself and the world has shifted. It may be small, but it packs a punch.

Tusk Love by Thea Guanzon

The main word I would use to describe "Tusk Love" is fun. It's a quick read and lives in the cozy fantasy genre. I read Thea Guanzon's "Hurricane Wars" earlier in the year, so I was excited to find something else by her. It's about a merchant's daughter, who harbors a secret, and a broodingly handsome half Ork. They cross paths and chaos ensues, which is to be expected. Both characters are lovable, and the story is lighthearted. If you want a quick, easy, playful read, "Tuck Love" is exactly what you need.

My other August reads can be found on my StoryGraph account linked here.

September

Having been deprived of my escapist tendencies in August, I went full boar in September. I read eighteen books in September and have a few I wanted to highlight as my favorites.

The Incandescent by Emily Tesh

This fantasy book is firmly planted in reality in the best way possible. The author consistently built and maintained credibility in her knowledge of how a boarding school would realistically be run, with the imaginative creativity of throwing demons into the mix. The magic system is solid, laying out the rules and then abiding by them throughout the story. The main character, Dr. Walden, is a complex and extremely capable Director of Magic. She's just not that great with interpersonal relations, which makes for an engaging combination. This is a very well thought out book that I found satisfying.

Paradise Sands by Levi Pinfold

This is a children's picture book, but like none I've ever seen before. The cover caught my eye immediately; it did not boast the vibrant, jubilant colors of most children's books. It has a somber feel to it, with an eldritch, god-like grey lion next to a serious looking little girl. "Paradise sands" is mysterious; it reads like a fable, with little to no context for the story. You are left with questions that go unanswered. But I didn't mind, the artwork was breathtaking, and the dark mysterious story was wonderful.

Lore Olympus by Rachel Smythe

I've included the entire series of Lore Olympus under the umbrella of the first book. I first read this series in high school, while it was still being published for the first time on Webtoon, an online webcomic platform. But it was unfinished, and I soon forgot about it. Until something pulled at me to pick it up again. I then proceeded to devour the entire series over the course of three or four days. It is a reimagining of the story of Hades and Persephone, and is a must read. The artwork is gorgeous and so fun, the story itself a classic with an incredible creative spin, and the characters are deeply lovable. This series left me one of the worst book hangovers/ grieving periods since I finished Outlander last year. I would do it all over again if I could.

The Knight and The Moth by Rachel Gillig

This is the book that introduced me to Rachel Gillig. The world building was unique from the jump and kept me hooked the whole time. The main character, Sybil Delling, is one of six Diviners, dreamers who live in the great cathedral dedicated to the Omens or gods. She is thrust into the world beyond the cathedral in search of answers after her fellow Diviners begin to disappear. She is accompanied by the knight Rodrick, who has his own mission in mind. The characters' development and magic in this book were fresh and engaging. I read a lot of fantasy, and I loved how Gillig weaves her narratives. Sybil is unique as a fantasy heroine. She is a realistic character with distinct personhood and abilities of her own. Her job at the cathedral involved masonry, and she wields a pick and hammer in her thickly muscled grip. Gillig did not hesitate to give her real physical power, which would come from working with stone and hammer for nearly ten years. I deeply appreciated that in this story.

One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig

Just like with "The Knight and the Moth", Gillig did not disappoint with her "Sheperd King" Duology. I read both books over the course of three or four days, singularly focused on diving as deep into the story as possible. Once again, her world building and magic systems are unique and engaging. One dark window and two twisted crowns (the second book of the Shepherd King duology) are stories cloaked in an eldritch mist. Our heroine, Elspeth, is not the only one who lives in her head. In her mind is a dark, powerful monster that she has kept secret for eleven years, a spirit named Nightmare. The narrative is twisting and in depth, leaving you with only pieces of the puzzle until the very end. Gillig has a talent with female main characters and not making them a carbon copy of other fantasy heroines. She not only makes them real people with tangible personhood, but she also allows them to be brutish and powerful in awful ways. Her heroines have their own power, and they wield it without shying away.

Additional notable mentions:

These are other books I read in September. I enjoyed them but their average ratings hovered around 3.75 stars. Still great reads, but not something that kept me distracted for days on end.

For more information about my current reads and books I'm looking forward to, please follow me @spinesandstitches on Storygraph. I have more blog posts queued and ready to go, so look out for those coming your way :)

Thank you for reading!