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🌥 literary fiction and sad books
⛅️ books | rambles | reviews
🌤 reading goal: 43/40

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ONE DARK WINDOW - RACHEL GILLIG

"Call me Elspeth," I said. "We're about to commit treason together, after all."

I went into One Dark Window with basically zero expectations, and honestly? I was positively surprised by how much I ended up enjoying it.

The first thing that really stood out to me was the magic system. It’s such a unique idea, and I loved learning more about how it works throughout the book. There’s something really creepy and mysterious about it, too, which fits the whole atmosphere of the story perfectly. The world is wonderfully dark and strange, and I really liked the feeling that there was always something going on beneath the surface. There are also quite a few twists and turns that kept me interested and made me want to keep reading to see where everything was going.

But obviously, I have to talk about Elspeth and Ravyn, because I loved them. Their relationship was probably one of my favorite parts of the book. They start out as enemies, then become reluctant partners, and eventually… well, lovers. And I really enjoyed watching that progression.

What I especially liked was that they didn't suddenly lose all common sense just because they fell in love. They still questioned each other, disagreed, and had their own goals and reasons for doing things. Their relationship felt like something that developed alongside the actual story instead of completely taking over the plot, which I really appreciated.

I also really liked Elspeth as a character. She’s complicated, and it was genuinely fun to watch her figure herself out throughout the story. I loved seeing her become more comfortable with who she is, with her magic, and eventually with what she wants, including what she wants from Ravyn. Her character development was one of the things that made me more invested in the story as it went on.

Overall, One Dark Window was such a pleasant surprise. I went in expecting very little and ended up getting a dark, atmospheric fantasy with a really interesting magic system, great characters, a romance I actually enjoyed, and plenty of twists.

And now I’m sitting here like: okay, I need book two.

#review #onedarkwindow #rachelgillig by @paperbackwithme

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11 days ago

VERY BAD KINGS - J.S. WONDA

Kings, games and absolutely no thanks, I'm good.

A friend convinced me to buy this book because apparently everyone loves it. Well. News flash: I'm not everyone.

Over the past few years, I've found myself reading more and more romance, and surprisingly, I've enjoyed most of it. But dark romance? It was never really my thing. I thought maybe I just hadn't found the right book yet. Turns out, no. It's still not my thing.

And listen, reading is reading. I stand by that. If you love dark romance, genuinely, good for you. I'm not here to judge anyone's taste or tell people what they should and shouldn't enjoy. But jeez, I just don't get it. And how this series somehow has, what, twelve books? Beyond me. Truly. I am both impressed and deeply confused.

What initially intrigued me about Very Bad Kings was the premise. I was getting just the tiniest hint of dark academia vibes, and you know what? I was interested. A mysterious elite university, powerful students, games, secrets. Sign me up.

Except apparently we took a turn. A very sharp turn. Very fast. And suddenly we were somewhere completely different from where I thought this book was going.

The frustrating part is that I actually think the Kings, and the game they're playing, are interesting. As characters, they're intriguing. There's definitely something there that could have pulled me in. But then... nothing really happens? This book is almost 500 pages long, and somehow it felt like all anyone did was each other. I kept waiting for the plot to properly kick in, for the game and the characters and all that potential to actually go somewhere, and by the end I was mostly just wondering how I was supposed to get through another eleven books of this.

Spoiler: I'm probably not going to find out.

So, yeah. Maybe this one is beloved for a reason. Maybe I'm simply not the target audience and honestly, that's completely fine. But as far as I'm concerned: the Kings can keep their game. I'm going home.

#review #verybadkings #jswonda #bookstagramgermanyِ #reado by @paperbackwithme

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7

a month ago

THE BUTCHERS MASQUERADE - MATT DINNIMAN

Carl has a plan, God help us all.

There is a very thin line between hysterical laughter and uncontrollable crying, and The Butcher’s Masquerade spent the entire book gleefully tap-dancing across it.

Book five of the Dungeon Crawler Carl series might genuinely be my favorite so far. Which is impressive, considering this series has already managed to convince me that emotional devastation, talking cats, increasingly unhinged dungeon mechanics, and the occasional horrific death are all perfectly reasonable ingredients for a good time.

We finally reach the Hunting Grounds on the sixth floor, and naturally, things go completely off the rails almost immediately. The book picks up with the same relentless momentum that the previous one ended with, and somehow never really lets go. There wasn't a single boring moment, not one chapter that felt unnecessary, not one scene where I found myself thinking, Okay, we could have skipped this.
Nope. Every chapter matters. Every ridiculous side quest, every horrifying encounter, every stupidly funny interaction, every tiny character moment. It all feeds into something.

And at the heart of it all are Carl, Donut, and Mongo, the most dysfunctional little family imaginable.

Their dynamic has become one of my favorite parts of the series. Somewhere along the way, they stopped being just a group of survivors thrown together by circumstance and became something much closer to a family. A deeply dysfunctional, frequently traumatized, occasionally murderous family, sure, but a family nonetheless. And watching that bond develop while the dungeon continues trying to kill them in increasingly creative ways is somehow both hilarious and genuinely heartbreaking.

We also get to reunite with some old friends, meet new ones, and spend more time with other Crawlers, which I absolutely loved. The world feels bigger with every book, but it never loses sight of the people trapped inside it. There are so many characters now, and somehow they all manage to feel distinct. Their interactions are often completely ridiculous, but underneath all the chaos, there is a surprising amount of heart.

Swipe --> by @paperbackwithme

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a month ago

Been going through my journals and realised two things: 1) I have too many journals 2) I have too many empty journals

#journaling #bookstagramgermanyِ #bookish #journal #reading by @paperbackwithme

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a month ago

Exam season still isn't over, so I won't be able to read a lot in August, but I'd love to finish two or three books! I'm prioritising The Butchers Masquerade and John of John, but with which should I start? 👀 by @paperbackwithme

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2 months ago

THE CRUEL PRINCE - HOLLY BLACK

Beautifully cruel, yet somehow distant.

I'll admit it: The Cruel Prince was a complete impulse buy. I went in with almost no expectations, although the premise immediately caught my attention.

One of the book's biggest strengths is Holly Black's writing style. It's engaging and easy to get lost in, and I appreciated that the story focused far more on politics, power, and world-building than on romance. Jude is also a refreshing female protagonist: determined, ambitious, and willing to make difficult choices.

That said, I'm still not entirely sure how I feel about this book.

For a large part of the novel, I struggled to understand where the story was going. The reader is thrown straight into the world of Faerie with relatively few explanations, and while there is some backstory, it wasn't enough for me to feel fully invested. I often felt like I was trying to catch up rather than becoming immersed in the story.

I also found Jude's characterization a little underwhelming. Considering everything she has experienced, I expected her to be more unhinged: more dangerous, more unpredictable. Instead, she often seemed a little too calm and composed for someone shaped by so much trauma. I kept waiting for her to become truly ruthless, but that moment never fully arrived.

Although the novel definitely has dark and twisted elements, I personally hoped it would lean even further into them. It felt like it held back just when I wanted it to push the boundaries.

The ending twist was probably my favorite part of the book and definitely left the story on a stronger note. Even so, I'm not convinced enough to continue the series. While I can understand why The Cruel Prince has such a devoted fanbase, it ultimately didn't leave the impact I was hoping for.

#review #thecruelprince #hollyblack #bookstagramgermanyِ #booksbooksbooks by @paperbackwithme

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2 months ago

ROYAL FAKE - LENA KIEFER

Lena Kiefer, we need to talk.

Royal Fake is the second book in the Royal Heist trilogy, and phew, what a wild ride! This sequel doubles down on everything the first book already excelled in. The action is bigger, the drama is even more intense, the romance continues to develop in such an engaging way, and the characters become even more compelling. I loved getting to spend more time with them, seeing their relationships evolve, and watching them deal with increasingly impossible situations.

One thing I especially enjoyed was the pacing. There was never a dull moment: every chapter seemed to reveal a new secret, raise the stakes, or send the story in a completely unexpected direction. Just when I thought I had figured things out, the plot threw another twist my way. It made the book incredibly hard to put down. The emotional moments hit just as well as the action scenes, which gave the story a nice balance. I found myself rooting for the characters throughout the entire book, celebrating their victories and worrying whenever things inevitably went wrong.

And then there's that ending... What a cliffhanger. My God. I actually stared at the last page in disbelief because there's no way Lena Kiefer expected us to just casually move on after that. Needless to say, I absolutely need the final book in my hands as soon as possible.

If you loved the first book, Royal Fake won't disappoint. It's an exciting, emotional, twist-filled sequel that raises the bar in every way and leaves you desperate to find out how the trilogy will end.

#review #royalfake #lenakiefer #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks by @paperbackwithme

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2 months ago

SADIE - COURTNEY SUMMERS

Now, that's a thriller.

Rereading Sadie somehow hurt even more than the first time. You know exactly where the story is heading, you know every devastating revelation that's waiting around the corner, and yet you're just as powerless as before. Every choice, every mile Sadie travels, every fleeting moment of hope feels heavier because you already know what it all leads to. There's a particular kind of heartbreak in watching someone race toward a future you desperately wish you could change.

Sadie has my whole heart. She's driven, relentless, fiercely protective, and so deeply selfless that she never stops to consider her own worth. She loves with everything she has, even though she's convinced she doesn't deserve that same love in return. Beneath her determination is a girl who's been failed over and over again, carrying unimaginable grief while refusing to let it define the one thing she can still control: her pursuit of justice. She's one of those characters who doesn't ask for your sympathy, but earns your admiration with every page.

Summers crafts a story that is as emotionally devastating as it is suspenseful. The alternating perspectives between Sadie's journey and the true-crime podcast create an almost unbearable tension, blurring the line between entertainment and exploitation in a way that feels incredibly intentional. The podcast format never feels like a gimmick: it constantly reminds you that behind every headline, every missing person's case, every sensational story, there's a real person whose life mattered.

This isn't a thriller built on shocking twists alone. Its greatest strength lies in the quiet, lingering dread that settles over every chapter and the anger simmering beneath the surface. It's a story about trauma, abuse, grief, and the ways society so often overlooks vulnerable girls until it's far too late. It asks difficult questions without offering easy answers.

Raw, haunting, utterly unforgettable, Sadie is the kind of book that leaves a permanent mark. Even knowing every beat of the story couldn't lessen its impact. If anything, it only made the tragedy feel sharper.

#review #sadie #courtneysummers by @paperbackwithme

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2 months ago

CARRIE SOTO IS BACK - TAYLOR JENKINS REID

A love letter to competitive spirits

Carrie Soto Is Back might be the most exciting and dramatic book I've read. Once I started, I genuinely couldn't put it down. Even though I don't play tennis and I've never even picked up a racket, Reid made me want to win a Grand Slam by the time I finished.

Carrie is a fascinating protagonist. She isn't written to be instantly likable, and that's exactly what makes her feel so real. She's fiercely competitive, relentlessly driven, and pours everything she has into becoming the best. As a former athlete myself, I connected deeply with her constant need to prove herself, improve, and measure her self-worth through wins and trophies. That mindset, while not always healthy, felt incredibly authentic.

One of my favorite aspects of the novel is its realistic portrayal of professional tennis. Carrie isn't there to charm the crowd or smile through every match, she's there to win. Every game feels like a battle, every point matters, and every victory carries the weight of everything that came before it. Reid captures both the physical intensity of the sport and the mental toughness required to compete at the highest level.

The book also doesn't shy away from the misogyny Carrie faces throughout her career. The way female athletes are judged differently, criticized more harshly, and expected to be both exceptional and likable is portrayed with honesty and nuance. It's frustrating to read because it's so believable and because many of those issues still exist today.

I also loved the ending. Part of me thought Carrie reclaiming her record would have been the obvious, satisfying conclusion. But the direction Reid chose was ultimately more meaningful. Instead of ending with a simple victory, the story highlights sportsmanship, personal growth, and the legacy Carrie leaves behind. It shows that greatness isn't only about records: it's about inspiring and paving the way for the next generation of female athletes.

Reid has written an unforgettable story about ambition, sacrifice, identity, and what it really means to be the best.

#review #carriesotoisback #taylorjenkinsreid by @paperbackwithme

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2 months ago

ONE TRUE LOVES - TAYLOR JENKINS REID

When love finds you twice.

There's just something about Taylor Jenkins Reid's books that pulls you in. From the very first page, she has this incredible ability to make you completely invested in her characters and their lives, to the point where putting the book down feels almost impossible.

Like all of her novels, One True Loves is built around a premise that feels completely unique. I don't think I've ever read anything quite like it, and what impressed me most was how brilliantly Reid executed such a complex idea. What could have easily felt unrealistic or overly dramatic instead came across as deeply emotional, authentic, and incredibly thought-provoking.

And despite what the synopsis might suggest, this is so much more than a simple love triangle. Every character's emotions, choices, and struggles make perfect sense, and that's what makes the story so compelling. I found myself empathizing with everyone involved because there isn't a clear villain or an easy answer. Reid explores love, grief, identity, and second chances with so much nuance that the story stays with you long after you've finished it.

Another unforgettable read from Taylor Jenkins Reid that reminded me why she's one of my favorite authors.

#review #onetrueloves #taylorjenkinsreid #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks by @paperbackwithme

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3 months ago

FEVER DREAM - ELSIE SILVER

Listen... I was ready to love this

I'm currently rewatching Yellowstone, so I'm deeply in my cowboy era right now, which made the timing of Elsie Silver's newest release feel like the perfect coincidence.

This is only my second book by Elsie Silver. While I enjoyed Wild Eyes, I went into Fever Dream with much higher expectations simply because I felt there was so much potential in the premise.

One thing the book definitely delivered on was the romance. I enjoyed the grumpy x sunshine dynamic as well as the enemies-to-lovers elements, and both tropes were executed well. The relationship between the main characters felt natural and developed in a way that never seemed forced. I also appreciated having a strong female lead and found the story genuinely funny at times.

That said, I found myself wishing there had been a little more focus on the bull-riding aspect of the story. Whether through Theo or Emmett, I would have loved to see more of that world explored, even though I understand it wasn't the primary focus of the book.

My biggest issue was with the characterization. The characters felt a little flat and predictable, and it was often very easy to distinguish the "good" characters from the "bad" ones. Because of that, some of the emotional moments didn't hit as hard as they could have.

I also felt the ending was rushed. After spending so much time building toward the conclusion, everything wrapped up a bit too quickly and suddenly for my taste.

Overall, though, I enjoyed Fever Dream. Despite a few missed opportunities and some predictable character work, the romance was engaging, the chemistry worked, and the story was entertaining from start to finish. It didn't completely live up to my expectations, but it was still a solid read that delivered on what I was hoping for.

#review #elsiesilver #feverdream #bookstagramgermanyِ #booksbooksbooks by @paperbackwithme

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3 months ago

SUNRISE ON THE REAPING - SUZANNE COLLINS

Haymitch Abernathy, the character you are.

I honestly didn't think Suzanne Collins could make me care about Haymitch more than I already did, but Sunrise on the Reaping completely proved me wrong.

Going into this book, I was excited to learn more about Haymitch's Games, but I wasn't prepared for how emotional his story would be. Seeing him as a teenager before everything was taken from him was heartbreaking. Collins does an amazing job showing the person he used to be and how the Capitol slowly destroys that version of him. It adds so much depth to the Haymitch we know from the original trilogy.

One of my favorite things about this book was the cast of characters. The tributes and people Haymitch meets along the way all felt unique and real. I found myself getting attached to so many of them, which made some moments absolutely devastating. Suzanne Collins has always been great at creating characters you care about in a short amount of time, and she does it again here.

As always, though, the book is about much more than the Games themselves. Collins weaves in a lot of political themes, especially around propaganda, media manipulation, and how those in power control the narrative. The Capitol doesn't just rule through fear: it controls what people see, hear, and believe. It felt incredibly relevant and gave the story a lot more weight beyond the action and survival aspects.

The arena was intense, the characters were memorable, and the emotional punches landed hard. But what really stood out to me was how this book reminds readers that The Hunger Games has always been a story about power, resistance, and the cost of living under a system designed to keep people powerless.

By the end, I was completely wrecked, and I think that's exactly what Suzanne Collins intended. This is easily one of the strongest books in the series and a story that will stay with me for a long time.

#review #sunriseonthereaping #suzannecollins #bookstagramgermanyِ #booksbooksbooks by @paperbackwithme

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3 months ago