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Ann-Kathrin

@ankicanread

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🌈 reading & writing
• reads mainly queer, fantasy & literary fiction
• thoughts on books in english & german
• cr: once upon a broken heart 💘

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Book recs based on photos in my camera roll 🎞️

I saw a lot of people doing this and wanted to join in! Matching some of my favorite books to photos from my camera roll based on the colors: London, Italy, museum visits or just random walks.

Q: Have you read any of these? 🤍

Love,
Ann-Kathrin 💌 by @ankicanread

27 books for my 27th birthday 💐

Hello friends, how are you doing?

Today, on my birthday (happy birthday to me!), I’m sharing 27 books with you that perfectly capture my reading taste.

I’ve loved reading for as long as I can remember. My mother was always an avid reader, and although our reading tastes couldn’t be more different, this is one thing in which I definitely take after her.

Over the years, my taste in books has evolved, and I’ve honed in on my favorite genres: (high) fantasy and literary fiction — preferably queer, with little to no romance.

Q: What books represent your reading taste? Do we have any favorites in common?

Love 💌 Ann-Kathrin by @ankicanread

If You Like This… Read That! | Stray Kids Version 🎧📚

Hearing This & That by Stray Kids, I just had to bring one of my favorite content series back! I present you part 3 of “If you liked this, read that” book recommendations, now with a fitting soundtrack.

Swipe through to see which books I paired with eachother and why I think they belong together.

Q: Have you read any of these books? Which books caught your eye?

#bookstagram #straykids #bookrecs #ifyoulikethisreadthat #reader

If you liked Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao, read Gearbreakers by Zoe Hana Mikuta

Both books feature fierce young women fighting against oppressive systems in worlds where giant machines are used as weapons of war. With rebellion, high-stakes battles and queer relationships at their core, both stories explore what happens when women refuse to play by the rules of a world designed to break them.

If you liked A Certain Hunger by Chelsea G. Summers, read The Lamb by Lucy Rose

Both books explore female hunger in its most unsettling forms, blending cannibalism, violence and dark explorations of femininity. While their stories take very different approaches, both feature women whose appetites challenge conventional ideas of what it means to be feminine.

If you liked Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross, read A Crane Among Wolves by June Hur

Both books feature young protagonists caught in dangerous political conflicts, where love, loyalty and the fight against powerful forces shape their journeys. While one unfolds in a fantasy world torn apart by warring gods, the other is set in historical Korea under a tyrannical ruler. Both books combine romantic tension with high-stakes political intrigue.

If you liked How to Kill Men and Get Away with It by Katy Brent, read The Best Way to Bury Your Husband by Alexia Casale

Both books feature women who find themselves dealing with rather inconvenient murder-related situations. Blending dark humour, crime and feminist themes, they explore female rage, violence and what happens when women take matters into their own hands. These books are for everyone who loves to read about murderous women.

If you liked Vicious by V. E. Schwab, read These Violent De by @ankicanread

The Ultimate Autumn Reading Guide 🍂🕯️☕️

Hello, friends! Today, I’m bringing you some of my favorite books to add to your autumn TBR, perfect for cozying up in bed with a cup of tea, a candle burning, and the rain pattering against the windows.

From devastating reads and deep emotions to wild adventures. From experiencing true friendship to discovering the darkest parts of human nature, and realizing that love and obsession are two sides of the same coin.

With this variety of stories and themes, I’m positive everyone will find their next favorite read. 🫶🏼

If you do read any of these books, please share your thoughts with me!

Q: What’s your ultimate autumn read?

Love 💌 Ann-Kathrin

#bookstagram #autumnreads #fortheloveofbooks #bookrecommendations #fallreads

Boy Parts by Eliza Clark

“Do I have to smash a glass over the head of every single man I come into contact with, just so I leave a fucking mark?”

Irina is a sociopathic photog-rapher obsessed with men and lacking moral boundaries. Boy Parts is a darkly funny satire as twisted as Irina herself is, and one of my all-time favourites.

These Violent Delights by Micah Nemerever

“He couldn’t stand to look at the truth, even now. All they were—all they had ever been—was a pair of sunflowers who each believed the other was the sun.”

Two lonely, obsessive college students spiral into a relationship fuelled by desire, jealousy and violence. A dark, disturbing portrait of obsession that will haunt you.

Vivious by V. E. Schwab

“If Eli really was a hero, and Victor meant to stop him, did that make him a villain? He took a long sip of his drink, tipped his head back against the couch, and decided he could live with that.”

Victor and Eli are former friends turned enemies who stop at nothing to get what they want. A dark, twisted story of revenge, ambition and the line between hero and villain.

If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio

“But that is how a tragedy like ours or King Lear breaks your heart—by making you believe that the ending might still be happy, until the very last minute.”

Seven actors become entangled in a tragedy that blurs the line between performance and reality. A story of obsession, betraya by @ankicanread

A Skinful of Shadows by Frances Hardinge 🦉

“Looking at the rich and powerful was dangerous, like peering into the sun.”

A Skinful of Shadows by Frances Hardinge follows twelve-year-old Makepeace, who is haunted by ghosts trying to possess her soul each night. After a tragic event, she lets down her guard, letting a spirit inside her. The spirit is wild, savage and strong, and it may be her only defence when she is sent to live with her father’s rich and powerful ancestors, who have a dark and horrifying secret of their own. Soon Makepeace must decide which is worse: possession or death.

How is it that not everyone is talking about this amazing book!? If you know me, you should be aware that Frances Hardinge is an all-time favourite author of mine; her mind is truly incredible. She comes up with the most unique fantasy settings and elements. Her stories are dark, gritty and explore the darkest bits of human nature. A Skinful of Shadows will draw you in, and you yourself might be possessed by the spirit of this book, making it impossible to put down this book 👀

Makepeace isn’t your typical heroine; she might not be one at all, but she has a strong desire to live, and with the spirit inside her, she will fight until the end to gain her freedom.

With its gloomy, heavy atmosphere, spine-chilling secrets and dark, unsettling vibes, this book is absolutely perfect for autumn! It’s the kind of story you want to curl up with on a cold, dark evening and lose yourself in. If you’re reading one book this autumn, it should be this one!

Q: What book do you think is perfect for autumn? 💌

#bookstagram #bookreview #fantasybooks #bookrecs #askinfulofshadows by @ankicanread

war auf der Frankfurter Buchmesse 2026 💌

25.000 Schritte, schmerzende Füße, 30 Minuten anstehen, nur um die Wasserflasche aufzufüllen, und bei den Menschenmassen am Samstag kaum vorwärtskommen … ABER mein Herz ist voll! Nach Jahren war ich endlich wieder auf der FBM und es hat sich genauso aufregend angefühlt wie bei meinem ersten Besuch 🙂‍↔️

Hauptziel war für mich die Signierstunde von Caroline Wahl. Damit sind nun all meine Bücher signiert und mit Widmung versehen 🥹 Sie war superlieb, auch wenn es ein bisschen seltsam war. Erst wusste ich gar nicht, was ich sagen soll (bei der Lesung in Stuttgart ist es mir irgendwie leichter gefallen), und dann spreche ich plötzlich über toxische Arbeitsverhältnisse und wie sehr mich „Die Assistentin“ getriggert hat 🫢 Caroline gehört jetzt zum Club der Menschen, die mir dazu gratuliert haben, dass ich gekündigt habe 👀

Ein kleiner Abstecher zum @riva_verlag durfte natürlich auch nicht fehlen! Meine Freundin @lena_1000_ und ich wollten uns dort Band 2 von Murdoku holen. Sobald wir mit Band 1 durch sind, können Detektivin A und Detektivin K mysteriöse Fälle im Verlauf der Jahrhunderte lösen 🕵🏼

Q: Warst du auf der FBM? 🫶🏼

#bookstagram #fbm26 #frankfurterbuchmesse #buchmesse #digitaldiary by @ankicanread

All the books I read in September 💘

How did I only read a single physical book in September??? Might be because I’ve been reading four books in parallel throughout the whole month. I hate it. Do not recommend 😩

In better news, I’ve listened to many amazing audiobooks that made me wish for a physical copy to annotate.

Books mentioned [in reading order]:
• Weyward by Emilia Hart
• 1999 Meter über dem Meer by Caroline Wahl
• Hooked by Asako Yuzuki
• How to Kill Men and Get Away with It by Katy Brent
• My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

I loved all the audiobooks, but I especially have to praise My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite and Hookey by Asako Yuzuki. Not only were these books phenomenal, but the narrators did such a fantastic job of bringing these stories and characters to life!!

And lastly, Weyward by Emilia Hart holds a special place in my heart. This story of women reclaiming their power and carving out their own path deserves all the hype it gets.

Q: What was your favorite read in September? What books are you planning to read in October?

#bookstagram #readingwrapup #bookrecs #reader #digitaldiary by @ankicanread

Books I Loved But Never Reviewed | Part 12 🖤

Hyo the Hellmaker by Mina Ikemoto Ghosh

„The law is a public vengeance. It spreads thin vengeance’s burden upon the conscience, deliberately depersonalized. We offer what the law does not.“

How haven’t I reviewed one of my absolute favorite books in recent years?? I discovered Hyo the Hellmaker at the bookstore in 2024 and bought it without ever having heard of it before. The synopsis and writing style were exactly my thing: complicated sibling dynamics, dark humor, and demons. And the illustrations supporting the narrative were breath taking.

Hyo is a Hellmaker in the literal sense – meaning she works as a professional curse-crafter, placing hexes on people for a fee – you just have to pay the price and people’s anger, grief, or resentment can be turned into something real… or so it seems.

We start off with Hyo and her brother making a deal with a demon responsible for the destruction of their village. In exchange for their survival, Hyo is bound to a dangerous mission tied to the island of Onogoro; a place where mortals and gods coexist, and where supernatural forces shape everything around them.

Quickly, Hyo and her brother find themselves in over their heads as their investigation pulls them deeper into a world of gods, curses, and consequences that can’t easily be undone.

Q: What’s a book that deserves more recognition?

#bookstagram #bookreview #favoritebook #hyothehellmaker #fantasybooks by @ankicanread

anki’s weekly reading vlog | 47 💌

How much I read in a week as a marketing manager

I finished the audiobook of How to Kill Men and Get Away With It by Katy Brent, and it’s so much fun! Following Kittys descent into violence was compelling.

Immediately afterward, I started the audiobook of My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite, which I finished the same week. And it was perfection, both the writing and audiobook narration were phenomenal. Korede and Ayoola are my new fave sister duo 🤭

Again, I made some progress in Nocturnes by Kazuo Ishiguro and The Pairing by Casey McQuiston, which I’m buddy reading with @hanlireads 💌

Mentioned books:
• How to Kill Men and Get Away With It by Katy Brent
• My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
• Nocturnes by Kazuo Ishiguro
• The Pairing by Casey McQuiston

Q: What book are you reading currently?

#whatireadinaweek #readingvlog #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #readerlife by @ankicanread

1999 Meter über dem Meer von Caroline Wahl 🏔️

„Ich glaube, an einem bestimmten Punkt im Leben checkt man einfach, dass sich nichts ändert, wenn man nicht selbst was ändert, man checkt, dass man sich die Dinge nehmen muss. Man bekommt nichts geschenkt.“

1999 Meter über dem Meer von Caroline Wahl folgt der Hochstaplerin Samara auf einem Roadtrip durch Deutschland bis nach St. Moritz in der Schweiz. Samara weiß, was sie nicht will, und sobald ihr dies klar wird, ist sie schneller mit ihrem schwarzen Cabrio auf der Autobahn unterwegs zum nächsten Ort, mit der nächsten Identität und Geschichte. Ob Sam, die Musikproduzentin, Lena, die Medizinstudentin, oder Resa, die Künstlerin: Mit der Annahme jeder Identität bemerkt Samara immer mehr, dass ihr etwas fehlt und noch deutlicher wird ihr dies bewusst, als sie Fritzi in St. Moritz wiedertrifft.

Mein zweitliebstes Buch von Caroline Wahl! Ihr Schreibstil unterstreicht die Irrwitzigkeit von Samaras Lügengeschichten und Verstrickungen und untermalt auch die Rastlosigkeit, die Samara umtreibt.

Mit Samara kann Leser:in sich in nichts sicher sein und so wartet 1999 Meter über dem Meer mit einer Vielzahl an Wendungen und Überraschungen auf, die mich fragen ließen, wie weit ein Mensch mit Lügen kommen kann. In Samaras Fall sind es Berge, die sie mit ihren Lügen erklimmt.

Ein wirklich fesselnder Roman, der mit Humor und Leichtigkeit über Selbstfindung und Ehrlichkeit erzählt und darüber, dass es gar nicht so schlimm ist, nicht zu wissen, was du möchtest.

Gelesen mit @linds.36

Q: Welches ist euer liebstes Caroline-Wahl-Buch?

🇬🇧 No English review today, as this book is only available in German.

But tell me: what’s an outrageous character you’ve read about recently, and what was their vice?

#bookstagram #buchrezension #1999meterüberdemmeer #carolinewahl #buchempfehlung by @ankicanread

The Devils von Joe Abercrombie 🕯️

🇬🇧⏩️

The Devils von Joe Abercrombie folgt einer Gruppe von Außenseitern: einem unsterblichen Ritter, einem Magier, einem Vampir, einer Elfe, der vielseitigen Abenteurerin Baptiste, einer Werwölfin und einem Priester als ihrem Hüter. Gemeinsam bilden sie den Orden der Zweckdienlichkeit, die geheime 13. Kapelle der Kirche, die von der Kindpäpstin beauftragt wird, die verschwundene Prinzessin Alexia nach Troja zu begleiten, damit sie zur Kaiserin des Ostens gekrönt werden und den Schlangenthron besteigen kann. Doch ihre streng geheime Mission wird verraten und schon bald sind der Gruppe die Söhne der verstorbenen Kaiserin auf den Fersen, die den Schlangenthron für sich beanspruchen wollen.

Die bunt zusammengewürfelte Gruppe des Ordens der Zweckdienlichkeit ist ein wilder Haufen, der genauso gut diskutieren wie kämpfen kann. In diesem Buch werden die irrwitzigsten Diskussionen geführt und obwohl sie einander nicht ausstehen können, sind die 7 Teufel mit ihren individuellen Fähigkeiten ein perfekt zusammengestelltes Team. Das Buch ist im Grunde eine Art Suicide Squad mit magischen Wesen und genau diese chaotische Gruppendynamik hat mir richtig gut gefallen.

Die Gespräche zwischen den Charakteren machen die Gruppe unglaublich lebendig und es gab immer wieder Momente, die mich zum Lachen gebracht haben.
Aber leider konnte mich das Buch nicht durchgehend überzeugen. Mein größtes Problem mit The Devils ist, dass es viel zu lang ist. Es hat sich angefühlt wie die Reise nach Mordor, nur mit weitaus mehr Streitgesprächen und Zwischenspielen. Im Verlauf des Romans wurde der Schreibstil immer beschreibender, wodurch die Geschichte teils sehr zäh voranschreitet und es sich anfühlt, als würden die Charaktere auf der Stelle treten. Die Darstellung von Vigga hat mir persönlich ebenfalls nicht zugesagt. Ich denke, hier hätte es noch deutlich mehr Potenzial gegeben.

Gelesen mit @linds.36 💌

Vielen Dank an @team.bloggerportal und @penguinbuecher für das Rezensionsexemplar!

Q: Welches Buch hat die außergewöhnlichste Gruppe an Charakteren?

#bookstagramgermany #buchrezension #fantasy #thedevils #fantasybücher

The Devils by Joe Abercrombie by @ankicanread

Books I Loved But Never Reviewed | Part 11 🌊

„It is still a new thing to dare to believe that what I truly am is this: both and neither.“

Saltblood by Francesca de Tores holds a special place in my heart. I first discovered it in a bookstore last summer but didn’t buy it. Shortly after, I saw @teabook.sisters raving about it and promptly bought it during my Paris trip with @hanlireads. I ended up reading it in the heat of August during vacation at the Baltic Sea in Germany, and I honestly couldn’t have picked a better book or a better time to read this masterpiece.

If you know me at all, you’ll know I absolutely adore Pirates of the Caribbean and anything taking place at sea or on a ship, so this book already felt like it was made for me. I was initially refraining from buying it because I thought the historical elements might feel boring or dry, but you will find no boring things in this book.

Saltblood is a fascinating historical fiction novel with beautifully lyrical writing. It follows Mary “Mark” Read, a girl born in the late 1600s whose life is shaped the moment her mother decides to raise her in the place of her dead brother. Forced into a male identity to secure survival and money, Mary grows up performing a role rather than living as herself, and that performance carries her through drastically different worlds. She moves through service, the navy, and war, constantly reshaped by necessity, always adapting in order to survive, yet always feeling the pull of the sea.

But survival comes at a cost. As Mary moves through life, she is repeatedly forced to reinvent herself, shedding identities as easily as she takes them on, until she becomes someone hardened by endurance and shaped by violence and longing in equal measure. Eventually, that path leads her toward piracy.

Mary’s story is beautiful and heartbreaking. I read it fully enthralled by her journey and the writing, my heart hurting for her as I went. I was rooting for her the entire time, even when the world kept pushing her into roles she never chose, always hoping she would somehow find something like freedom in the end.

Q: What book holds a special place in your heart? by @ankicanread