We’re almost 25% way through 2024?! Sounds like it’s time for a reading wrap-up. More in-depth reviews will be linked if possible.
If there are any books here that interest you, please check the content warnings before reading.
The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels – Janice Hallett
A suspenseful and unpredictable read that explores the (fictional) crime case of the Alperton Angels through evidence files. I really enjoyed the formatting of this book because it immersed me in the story’s world, but it could also be confusing at points.
Rating: 4.5/5
A heart-wrenching tale that follows four generations of a Korean family through the 1900s, as they navigate World War II, Japan, and the life that comes with it. This book was hard to put down and educated me about a part of history that is often brushed under the carpet.
Rating: 4/5
White Nights – Fydor Dostoevsky (Translated by Olga Shartse)
A short story about two people who find solace in each other’s loneliness. This was a fairly easy read, with lots of wonderful quotes. Definitely helped me get out of a reading slump!
Rating: 3.5/5
Kill Joy (A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder #0.5) – Holly Jackson
The prequel to the popular series A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder follows Pip and her friends as they try to solve their friend’s murder mystery party. I really enjoyed this! It gave more context to Pip’s character and it was just fun to try to solve the mystery alongside her.
Rating: 4/5
I Hope This Doesn’t Find You – Ann Liang
Chaos follows Sadie Wen, when her hate email (that were never supposed to see the light of day) are mysteriously sent out to her classmates, with her co-captain Julius Gong, receiving the brunt of them. I love this book to bits. The academic rivals to lovers?? The banter?? The character development?? All of it was absolute perfection.
Rating: 5/5
Percy Jackson and the Chalice of the Gods (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #6) – Rick Riordan
Percy Jackson returns in this installment of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series to fight his way … through high school and get into a good college. He’s tasked with finding Zeus’ cupbearer’s golden goblet before anyone notices. But like every other quest he’s been on, it’s not as easy as it sounds. It was so fun to revisit the PJO world with a different storyline.
Rating: 3.5/5
Babel: An Arcane History – R.F. Kuang
Robin Swift, an orphan from Canton, is brought to London by Professor Lovell to eventually attend Babel: Oxford’s Royal Institute of Translation. However, the longer that Robin spends at Oxford, the more he is forced to face discrimination, colonization, and power. Babel was such a masterpiece to read! It felt a bit slow to start, but by the end, I was fully engrossed. From the plot and characters to the underlying messages, it was such a powerful and entrancing read.
Rating: 5/5
The Poppy War (The Poppy War #1) – R.F. Kuang
Rin, a peasant girl from the south, has to prove her worth at Sinegard, Nikan’s most prestigious military school, over and over again. As a war breaks out, she realizes that she has shamanic powers that could save her people. I found The Poppy War extremely immersive and the plot really compelling, and I’m interested to see how the story continues in the second book.
For anyone interested in picking this book up, please check the content warnings beforehand, since there is some graphic content.
Rating: 4/5
Wade in the Water – Tracy K. Smith
This poetry collection written by the former Poet Laureate, Tracy K. Smith, focuses on racism, corporate pollution. I’m not a regular reader of poetry but I found many of these poems really moving and emotionally powerful.
Rating: 3.5/5
The Inheritance Games (The Inheritance Games #1) – Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Tobias Hawthorne left his billion-dollar inheritance to Avery Grambs. The issue? Avery has never met the man before. Now, she must solve the clues left behind by the billionaire to figure out why she’s his heir and why he’s disinherited his own family. This book was a pretty fun read! I liked trying to solve the puzzles before Avery, and I’m hooked in by the brothers as well.
Rating: 3.25/5
The Hawthorne Legacy (The Inheritance Games #2) – Jennifer Lynn Barnes
In this sequel to the Inheritance Games, Avery and the Hawthorne brothers work together to solve the mystery of the dead (or not dead) Tobias Hawthorne II and how she’s connected to the Hawthorne legacy. Again, I like the mystery aspect of the book and trying to figure out the plot twists before they happened! I also like how we get to know the characters on a deeper basis.
Rating: 3.25/5
Now, for my current reads:
Powerless (Powerless Trilogy #1) – Lauren Roberts
In the kingdom of Ilya, Elites were empowered by the Plague. Those without powers, the Ordinaries, aren’t supposed to exist within the kingdom, yet in the slums, one Ordinary stands out. Paedyn was raised keep her head down and blend in with the Elites, yet she finds herself partaking in the Purging Trials, a competition to display the power of Elites, after (accidentally) saving Prince Kai – the future Enforcer tasked with exiling Ordinaries. She must fight to save the Ordinaries … and herself. This is the first romantasy I’ve picked up in a long time, and I must say that I’m really enjoying it! Filled with tension, it almost reminds me of The Selection series meets The Hunger Games.
Progress: 80% complete
The Final Gambit (The Inheritance Games #3) – Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Just as Avery starts to fully settle in Hawthorne House, an unexpected guest appears that could change everything. I’ve just started this book, so I can’t say much yet, but I am interested to see how Book 3 unravels!
Progress: 10% complete
