Charlie's BRAT SUMMER Round 2 Reads

"I want to thank all the evil gays." -Jennifer Coolidge, some awards ceremony
Hey everyone!
I'm Charlie (or nerdytheorist/some other name, seriously I don't care). I'm a band kid who plays Tenor Saxophone as well as Guitar and Drums, and a film student who makes films on Social Justice and other meaningful topics. I also do a little bit of witchcraft, cosplay, podcasting, gaming, and of course, reading. I mainly post my book reviews but sometimes I'll talk about other stuff. Feel free to talk about whatever on here!

Top 10 Books Read in 2024
1) Blue Lily, Lily Blue
2) Fourth Wing
3) The Serpent King
4) UnDivided
5) A Court of Silver Flames
6) Iron Flame
7) Warrior Girl Unearthed
8) The Dream Thieves
9) The Raven Boys
10) Unwind
Recent Reads
Looking for Smoke
You've Reached Sam
Heir of Fire
The Sapling Cage
Forget Me Not
Queen of Shadows
Me and Earl and The Dying Girl
You've Found Oliver
Fourth Wing (Reread)
Empire of Storms
Currently Reading
Heartless

The Eye of the World
Rating: 3.5/5
It began in Edmond's Field with the young shepherd, Rand al'Thor, when he was heading into town with his father and caught a glimpse of a strange, shadowy man following them. But the only other people to ever see this mysterious figure were his best friends, Mat and my dear sweet baby boy who I love very much, Perrin. That's when Moriaine the Aes Sedai and her Warder Lan come to town, looking for three boys that the Pattern weaves itself around. And then the creatures of the Dark One, Trollocs, invade and attack the once peaceful town of Edmond's field, causing the Rand, Mat, Perrin to set off on a grand journey with Moriaine and Lan to the city of Tar Valon, under heavy protection of the Aes Sedai. A woman aspiring to be an Aes Sedai like Moriaine named Egwene also joins them, as well as the Village Wisdom Nynaveve.
Not my best summary, but it's weird and difficult to write a summary for books like these. However, I actually really enjoyed this book; it was fun! I'm not entirely sure what it is about this one, but I've had a much better time reading it than other hardcore fantasy novels in the past. Pretty much my only complaint is how long it took me to get through, so I think I'll continue the series on audio.
Next Read: Don't Let the Forest In

Happy new thread, Charlie!

Happy 2nd thread, Charlie.

Happy new thread!

Thanks!

Don't Let the Forest In
Rating: 4.5/5
Andrew and Dove Perrault with Thomas Rye were an inseparable trio for all of their years together at Wickwood Academy. Andrew, a quiet poet escaping into his own twisted fairy tales. Thomas, a bad boy prince who brings Andrew's fairy tales to life through his grotesque and beautiful art. And Dove, a solider keeping the other two and their chaos in check. But all of it changed at the beginning of their senior year. It began with Dove giving Thomas (and eventually Andrew) the cold shoulder after their argument at the end of last school year. Then it was Thomas showing up late, with his parents mysteriously missing, and acting distant towards Andrew. And it all made sense, to an extent, when Andrew discovered that the horrific monsters Thomas created became real and lurked the forest surrounding the school. As the boys work together to vanquish these evil creatures, not only do they form a deeper connection with each other, but also with the wicked forest engulfing Wickwood Academy. Particularly Andrew, who's slowly decaying mentally and physically and becoming one with the forest itself.
The first word I said after finishing this book was 'Wow.' It was really easy to get attached to these characters, and seeing them really suffer was hard, but also strangely satisfying. I picked up this book knowing it was going to be a dark one, and I got what I wanted. This is a novel truly for the darkness within us, and there was a pretty great twist towards the end. I also adored the setting and atmosphere of this one, and there were some truly gorgeous illustrations of the monsters.
Next Read: The Listeners

>8 nerdytheorist: I love this review. And I'm going to double check to make sure the book is on my list.

>8 nerdytheorist: Now it's on the wishlist

The Listeners
Rating: 3.5/5
June Porter Hudson, a West Virginian woman from the mountains is truly the master of the Avallon Hotel and Spa. As the General Manager, she has brought the hotel and the hundreds of people serving as the staff through the Great Depression and the first years of World War II. Even through the darkest of times, she knows how to provide people with Luxury and Joy. And not only that, but over the years June has become a part of the hotel itself with her continued interactions of the mysterious sweet water running under the building. But now as the United States enters the war, the government is looking for hotels to keep Axis Diplomats in, and the Avallon is chosen to be one of them. Abruptly, all the current guests are kicked out as the FBI swoops in and prepares for the arrivals of the diplomats along with the hotel staff. They want this place to be act as detention for these diplomats, but June desires otherwise. Just because these are different people, she doesn't change how she does her job, serving the best luxury people could ever have.
Okay, I will admit that I didn't really enjoy this one as much as Stiefvater's other works. Mainly because I just don't really click with historical fiction at all, so the plot just didn't really work for me. But that doesn't make this a bad book! There are some amazing characters in this novel, particularly June who to me is like the child of Sebastian from Black Butler and Ms. Danvers from Rebecca who was raised by Maggie Stiefvater. There's also the woman referred to as 411, who is more so a permanent resident of the Avallon and doesn't show her face to anyone. And of course, the way the author writes is incredible and just... fantastic. I would love to see some of these characters in a more paranormal story, but I recognize that is not their purpose, as well as the purpose of this book, and totally respect that.
Next Read: Legends & Lattes

Legends & Lattes
Rating: 5/5
For years Viv has been on countless adventures, slaying beasts, taking down bounties, and going from job to job. But after obtaining the Scalvert's stone, rumored to bring good fortune, she decides it's time to hang up her sword for good. Upon leaving her party, she arrives in the city of Thune, where she pursues her one and only dream of running a Coffee Shop. Viv is lucky enough to have found a vacant building, help with renovations, general assistance, and a gradually growing popularity. But the bigger her business grows, the more interest old enemies have in her Scalvert's stone, which may be the sole reason any of this success is happening.
I'm pretty sure that there is not one book out there that is cozier than this one. This was just so cute and wholesome and makes me wish I could actually enjoy coffee. Every single character you encounter in this read is lovable in their own unique way. But above everything that is book already is, it is kind. There is such a strong sense of genuine community and kindness that makes this story the Dungeons and Dragons equivalent of Schitt's Creek. And whenever I decide to reread this one, you will most definitely catch me sitting in a nice little Coffee Shop doing so.
Next Read: The Foxhole Court

"...the Dungeons and Dragons equivalent of Schitt's Creek." Welp, if it weren't already on my wishlist, it would be now. What a great description.

>12 nerdytheorist: "This was just so cute and wholesome and makes me wish I could actually enjoy coffee." LOL, same!

>14 foggidawn: Unfortunately I can only have coffee beverages that barely have any coffee in them lmao.

The Song of Achilles
Rating: 2.5/5
Unfortunately, I think I have to set this one down too. This book is essentially a retelling of the Iliad from the perspective of Patroclus. And I actually really enjoyed the first half of this book when it was pretty much just him and Achilles having a romance (AND a couple of smut scenes). But then it started delving into the Trojan War, but it was spending over a hundred pages literally just talking about the preparations for it, and with that on top of the dozen names that I barely remember seeing before, this became a story that wasn't for me. If I made it to the end, I'm sure I would've been greatly impacted by it as I really enjoyed the romance between Achilles and Patroclus, but since the spotlight was taken completely of them halfway through, I just couldn't make it there. I can see how this is a good book that is enjoyable for others, but this one isn't for me.

>15 nerdytheorist: I just don't like the taste of coffee at. all. -- not even coffee flavored chocolates or ice cream.

The Foxhole Court
Rating: 3.5/5
Neil Josten never knows where he'll end up next in life. He has only one goal in life: survive his serial killer Dad. For the past eight years, he's been on the run, and right now, he's lying low in the small town of Millport finishing up his senior year of High School. It's here where he picks up Exy, a newly developed sport that's similar to Lacrosse. Not long after discovering he was born to play this game, he gets the attention of Class I school Palmetto State University, and when he begrudgingly signs to become the newest PSU Fox, he finds out one of his new team members is from his dangerous past. Everyone on the team has their secrets, each playing a fatal role in their lives, and even though running is what Neil knows best, he can't run from Exy, the game of life and death.
This was an interesting book, and it's honestly really difficult to form an opinion on it. I really enjoyed the overall vibe it had and how none of the characters are really that pure and are corrupted in some way. The plot was definitely a slow burn, but things really started happening towards the end and genuinely make me want to keep going with the series.
Next Book: All That's Left in the World

All That's Left in the World
Rating: 4/5
Andrew is on death's doorstep with an injured leg and nowhere to go after a deadly virus wiped out most of the population. But just as he loses hope, he meets Jamie, another guy his age with medical training and an almost perfectly functioning cabin. In the weeks Jamie nurses Andrew back to health, they grow really close until a nearby settlement forms and takes most of their food supply. That's when they decide to hit the road and try to make it to Washington DC in time for the alleged rescue crew sent in by the EU to save them. But the journey there is not anything close to being easy, and after several turns for the worst, Andrew and Jamie's blossoming love for each other might just be all that's left in the world.
Oddly enough, this was kind of a cozy read. Obviously, there were some stressful moments in here, but things just ended up being really cute. I love this couple and their dynamic, and how Andrew is basically just a modern-day Ridoc obsessed with pop-culture. And I would've been absolutely devastated if this had a bad ending but thankfully, everyone was happy in the end!
Next Read: The Raven King

happy new thread!
this winter/spring my partner and i buddy read the whole raven boys series! we had a fantastic time and are super hyped to get our hands on the graphic novels, lol!
they're a foxhole court fan too, and have been raving about the recently published additions. i'm sure they'll ask me to ask you your fav characters! (i'm a big ganseyhead but they're more attached to noah!)
i hope you enjoy the final book!! lemme know what you think!!

>20 yolklor: I am SOO excited for the graphic novel. My favorite character of the Raven Cycle probably has to be Noah as well, but Blue and Ronan make close seconds. However, my favorite character of both the Raven Cycle and Dreamer Trilogy has to be Hennessey without a doubt.

The Raven Boys
Rating: 4/5
The beloved Raven Cycle is back with a new illustrated retelling of the original story. Overall, I loved going back and reading this in a new way. The art style is really good and overall, this retelling is really true to the original books. Blue and Ronan's character designs were definitely by far the best, with Ronan being very fitting for a retelling of the Dreamer Trilogy as well. Though I will say Gansey kinda looks like the nerdy character from every 80s mecha anime and I didn't really care for how normal Cabeswater appeared. The only other issue I had with this book is that the Raven Boys just aren't the same without the famous Steifvater narration. However, I'd still highly recommend this to any fans of the Raven Cycle and I'm looking forward to the graphic novels to come!
Next Read: Number Call

>22 nerdytheorist: I feel like the words "normal" and "Cabeswater" should never have occasion to be put together. Strange. I would have thought that illustrating Cabeswater really well would have been one of the biggest draws of making a graphic novel out of that book!

>23 lycomayflower: Yeah, I always pictured Cabeswater to be like blue pastel trees and everything you'd imagine in like a fae forest.

Number Call
Rating: 3.5/5
The number eight has always followed Eito and Hachi their entire lives and eventually drives them together their senior year of high school. This short, standalone manga tells the story of two boys meeting by chance and follows their cute, blossoming romance as their high school careers wrap up.
Okay, this was a really cute one and wasn't as frustrating to read as other BL have been in the past *cough* Sasaki and Miyano *cough.* It's really short, but honestly, I think that's pretty fitting for this story. Apparently, the author has written a more famous series and with this, I'm totally sold on it!
Next Read: The Only Light Left Burning

The Only Light Left Burning
Rating: 2.5/5
Now that Andrew and Jamie have found Amy, the daughter of Henri, an older woman they met on their previous journey to the colonies in the Florida Keys, and her baby, they’re now planning an expedition to reunite Henri’s family. At least until a hurricane hits, destroying most of the Keys supplies, resulting in the settlement turning to the infamous Fort Carolina for help. So now Andrew and Jamie have to go on the run again before the Fort finds them.
I honestly don’t really know about this one. Like there is a really awesome trans guy who’s name is literally Rocky Horror, and I loved him. But there was SO much miscommunication between Jamie and Andrew and it’s literally like most of the plot. Of course there were still some pretty sweet moments in here, but I really don’t think that this was a story that needed a sequel, even though the ending was pretty awesome too. That’s why I’m not really too interested in writing a review.
Next Read: So Witches We Became

So Witches We Became
Rating: 4.5/5
High school seniors Nell, Dia, and Harper (accompanied by Harper's older brother, Harry) rent out a small island for their spring break. Everything was just supposed to be a nice, normal vacation until Harper's boyfriend Gavin sneaks onto the island, causing tension within the whole group along with his best friend Christopher. Just as Harry was about to save the day by kicking the two off the island (particularly Nell as Gavin raped her just a year ago), they get trapped by the island itself. Then all hell breaks loose one Christopher dies brutally trying to escape. The key for the girls to get to the mainland? To tap into their rage, deepest secrets, and the island's mysterious history.
Okay so this book started out alright, like it was a huge slow burn. But things just got really awesome for the last third when it came to themes of feminine rage and putting men in their place. I also think that while it was exaggerated a bit, the witchcraft presented in this book is actually decently accurate compared to other ways it's been presented. While I definitely wish the whole book could be like the later parts, this was still a pretty fun read!
Next Read: We Have Always Lived in the Castle

We Have Always Lived in the Castle
Rating: 3.5/5
Mary Katherine, Constance, and their Uncle Julian are the only surviving members of the Blackwood family. The Blackwoods were a very wealthy family that preferred to be isolated from the rest of the world and lived in a large, old house on a vast property. Everything was perfect for the Blackwoods until one tragic day several years ago, they were all poisoned. Now, it's only the Sisters and Uncle Blackwood living alone in the house, leading a strange life while hated by the nearby townspeople. Once again, everything was perfect until a man claiming to be their cousin shows up one day and changes everything for Mary Katherine and Constance.
Oh my god this book was so creepy. Everything about it was so unsettling from how the Blackwoods act to the really weird and confusing ending. It's really hard to describe what reading this book felt like, other than how it was such a surreal experience. If anything, this short read truly knows how to spook you.

>28 nerdytheorist: Nobody's better at spooky than Jackson, for sure.

Sisters in the Wind
Rating: 5/5
Lucy Smith's dad only mentioned her mother three times in fourteen years, and not once did he mention that she was Ojibwe. In 2009, several years after Lucy's dad died and she had gone through numerous foster homes, Lucy finds herself working at a diner as a mysterious, edgy girl with many tattoos. She doesn't know what her next step in life is, other than running from the enemies of her past, until the diner gets bombed. Next thing she knows, a powerful Ojibwe woman named Daunis Fontaine is looking after her, saying that she is the sister of her deceased best friend, Lily Smith. As Lucy recovers from the explosion, she works with Daunis and her partner in crime, Jamie, to find a new life in the place where she belongs as she does her best to escape the ghosts of her past.
This one had a bit of a different vibe from Firekeeper's Daughter and Warrior Girl Unearthed but was almost as amazing as them. Lucy of course was an awesome protagonist, though at times she does paint Daunis in a more antagonistic picture which is upsetting to see our ultimate heroine be thought of in such a way. I really liked how this book was structured too, where the events of the present alternate with the flashbacks of Lucy's foster life. Fair warning, the ending is definitely a bit traumatizing as not all the characters make it, but the epilogue ends up being a pretty happy resolution.

>30 nerdytheorist: I really ought to get to Boulley's books soon. Thanks for a great review, as always!

>30 nerdytheorist: I have this in my library book stack now, so glad to hear it was another excellent read!

>31 foggidawn: Firekeeper's Daughter is literally like one of my all-time favorites.

Crown of Midnight
Rating: 2.5/5
Celaena Sardothien has become the pawn Ardalan's tyrant, and her former captor, as she won the deadly competition for the position of King's Champion. A few months have passed since then, and so have a few assignments to assassinate those on the King's hit list. Little does the evil King know that Celaena, the land's deadliest assassin, has spared all of her targets so far. However, she can't keep this act up forever, as her next target is a man from her past who is helping her best friend Nehemia take back Ellwye. On top of that, tensions in the castle arise with the personal issues of Chaol and Dorian, as well as the mystery of magic remaining deep within a hidden tomb, just makes things more difficult for Celaena. After all, she has an identity to keep secret, and a reputation to maintain if she ever wants to be free.
Okay, honestly, there were probably some important elements that I totally forgot about while reading this because I had to put it down for a bit because LITERALLY NOTHING WAS HAPPENING. Like there were a couple of twists and turns (huge ones) at the end but I honestly found myself not really caring because all the characters are kinda just meh. I mean, Celaena is cool of course, but she isn't anything in comparison to Feyre or Violet. And the love interests are literal brick walls, like institutional beige bricks. So, this was a bit of a rough book to get through, but I stuck with it because the series gets a lot better from this point on apparently.
Next Read: Looking for Smoke First book club book of the school year!

>34 nerdytheorist: Well, you're not wrong. But I do think it's work sticking with the series. Things...take a turn.

Looking for Smoke
Rating: 1/5
I put this one down pretty fast, and I think one of the main reasons being for how much it was compared to Firekeeper's Daughter. Like I don't think these books could be any more different. For starters, it was way too much of a slow burn. I get that you're making a point of when Native American girls go missing or get murdered, no one official really does anything about it, but seeing that this is more of a murder mystery novel, the characters shouldn't spend like half the book grieving before cracking down on solving the mystery for themselves. Take a chapter or two, and get started, please and thank you. Also, there were literally like 15 dudes and they were all the EXACT SAME CHARACTER. Eli First Kill was so hot though, but really not that much different from the other guys. I probably would've enjoyed this book more if I hadn't just read Angeline Boulley's new book, but I'm glad others are able to enjoy it, as it does still carry a lot of good points.
Next Read: Heir of Fire

>36 nerdytheorist: Agreed. Boulley does this niche much better.

You've Reached Sam
Rating: 5/5
Julie Clarke has everything about her future figured out. She'll move to Portland with her boyfriend Sam Obayashi where she'll go to college for writing and he'll pursue a career in music. But just a couple of months before High School graduation, Sam dies in a car accident, and Julie's life suddenly changes. After completely isolating herself from everyone and doing her best to erase Sam from her memory, she's utterly lost in grief, eventually leading her to call Sam's phone one more time, just to hear his voice. However, Sam somehow picks up, and now Julie has a chance to say and do everything she didn't before, and she can say goodbye the right way this time.
This is one of those books that you just finish, and you just sit there asking yourself, "What do I do now?" As someone who's brain has been messed up by grief before, I can say that this book does an amazing job at illustrating the pain someone goes through and how much their brain can be affected in times of loss. And to make things better, this is a sad book, but also a happy one. Because as you see Julie move on progressively throughout the story, you can't help but feel so good for her. I absolutely loved this book, and like the last 40 pages made me cry tears of sadness, and joy. But in the end, the epilogue is what hits you the hardest.

Heir of Fire
Rating: 4/5
When the King of Adarlan thinks he sent his champion, Celaena Sardothien to the kingdom of Wendlyn for a special mission, he actually sent away the lost fae queen of Terrasen, Aelin Ashryver Galathynius, to gather information on the Wyrdkeys, the only objects in the world that can defeat him. Aelin knows that the King has at least one of the three keys, but for the other two, she begrudgingly turns to her aunt, fae queen Maeve, who she makes a bargain with. Before she gets her information, Aelin has to show off her power after months of training with a deadpan, fae warrior named Rowan. But while that's all happening, dark forces are gathering under the power of Adarlan. Manon Blackbeak and her coven of witches, as well as all the Blueblood and Yellowlegs witches are training to become Wyvern riders so in turn, they can get their kingdom back after having lost magic for a decade.
MAAS IS BACK! I'm so glad I stuck with this series because this really turned out to be awesome. Finally the main love interest shows up and he's not insufferably boring. I also appreciate how Aelin goes through a similar character arc that Nesta does in ACOTAR in this book. And speaking of her, oh my god the things she does and plans on doing towards the end. Note that this is all being said without even mentioning the entire Fourth Wing aspect of the story. As of right now, Manon is totally my favorite character, and I seriously can't wait to see her meet Aelin.
Next Read: The Sapling Cage

Ooh, I hope you enjoy reading The Sapling Cage. I did.

>39 nerdytheorist: O-HO, the meeting of Aelin and Manon is really, really good. Like, really good. I can't wait for you to read it.

The Sapling Cage
Rating: 4.5/5
Lorel has only ever wanted to be a witch, but the only thing stopping her is the fact that she was born in the wrong body. At sixteen, you're supposed to leave home and pursue your purpose in life. For Lorel, this is when her golden opportunity presents itself, when her childhood best friend Lane is witch-bound, but desperately wants to become a knight, decides to switch places with her. Before she knows it, Lorel enters a coven and is on her way to becoming a full-fledged witch as a whelp. But as her journey goes on, a blight infecting the land gets further blamed on the witches, and her coven must find the real culprits while avoiding the attacks from their accusers. And on top of all this, Lorel has to keep the secret of her body from everyone she meets.
This was a really interesting one. Above all else, the strongest part of this book are the vibes. It really feels like a whimsical fairy tale, and for the first half of it at least, I could really picture the characters in the art style of that one kid's book, Meg and Mog. And even though I originally picked up this book because I thought it would be more like real-world witchcraft, this story has the kind of witchcraft you learn about when you're a kid. But the magic system is really well-constructed which still made this book enjoyable for me. Also, I think the author did a really good job incorporating the queer parts of characters identities, because I honestly forgot that Lorel was trans for most of the story. Her identity wasn't the sole part of her personality, and it wasn't what the plot centered on, but it was still well-represented. Not to mention, the plot also had some total bomb drops, so overall, this was a really solid read.
Next read: Queen of Shadows

Forget Me Not
Rating: 4/5
Stevie Green and Nora Martin are deeply in love, with their only obstacle being their ultraconservative town and families. But they have a plan to escape it all and move to California at the end of summer, where Stevie will attend UCLA and Nora will work at a local farm, and they'll live happily ever after. At least that's the case until one day Stevie falls and hits her head, causing her to lose all memory of the past two years: the time she's been Nora, and known she's lesbian. As Stevie tries to regain her memory, Nora's desperate for them to find their way back to each other, as she begins questioning if their happily ever after is truly lost forever.
From the start, I can say that this does have a pretty happy ending, which it would be devastating if it weren't. But overall, this book does a really good job reflecting the lives of young queer people trapped in conservative areas. Like the author really knew how to illustrate the fear of what if the wrong people find out about your identity. I really liked Stevie and Nora's relationship throughout the whole thing, and as much as I don't care for where I live, I'm very thankful that I don't live in the town that's in this book.

Queen of Shadows
Rating: 5/5
Aelin Galathynius, Queen of Terrasen, has returned to Adarlan, more ready to fight than ever before. Many tasks await her within the corrupt city of Rifthold, including rescuing her cousin from execution and one of her closest friends from a twisted prison. She has to take back the Amulet of Orynth, the third and final Wyrdkey, from her former charming and lethal master. And most importantly, she has to kill the evil king and restore magic to the land while rebuilding her own court. But while the rebellion rages on in the city, Wingleader of the Wyvern-flying Witches, Manon, and her coven of thirteen are at the keep of Morath, all at the command of the horrifying Duke Perrington who only wishes to experiment with the witches by handing them over to the demonic Valg for breeding. Even though her coven is completely against this, Manon has no other choice but to follow the duke's orders as her grandmother has made her do so. When it seems all hope is lost for the covens, a young girl related to the duke secretly has blackbeak blood in her, and is the key to having Manon realize that she can no longer stand by the duke's orders.
This is definitely the best book in the series so far. There are so many intense scenes that are just absolutely crazy. Like, Twilight final battle insane. I'm so glad that I stuck with these books even if they took FOREVER to get this good.
Next Read: You've Found Oliver

Me and Earl and The Dying Girl
Rating: 3/5
From the cover of this book, you might think that this is a typical, YA, High-School Romance novel. But it really really isn't. Gregg Gaines is going into his senior year with the same mindset as he's had throughout all of high school: fly under the radar and don't become a part of any group. But when he comes home on the first day, his mom tells him that one of his old friends from Hebrew School has been diagnosed with leukemia, and she requests that he come back into this dying girl's life to support her. Throughout the book he tries his best to cheer her up, eventually involving his filmmaking career with his best friend (or co-worker as Gregg puts it) Earl Jackson. However, things aren't pretty and perfect like they're supposed to be in a book like this. In fact, many moments of this journey are awkward, insensitive, and just downright depressing. There's not a whole lot I can actually summarize about the plot without giving too much away.
I'm very conflicted with this book. There are definitely parts of it that I hate and am just like "ew david." A lot of the humor feels juvenile to me, and there are times that I just don't like Gregg that much. But then, there's a lot of things that I think I do like about it. There are some incredibly deep conversations about life presented throughout the story, there's almost no romance whatsoever, and the ending isn't really that happy. I think if I'm having this hard of a time finding my thoughts about this book though, I think it's clear that the author did a pretty good writing this book, even if there are parts that I don't like or even feel a little uncomfortable about. I don't know if I would recommend this book, but it definitely was a journey reading it.

You've Found Oliver
Rating: 4/5
It's been a year since Oliver's best friend Sam died, and it's been hard for him to move on. So, for a while, Oliver's been texting Sam's phone number personal messages and updates on his life as he attends his freshman year of college. Then one day, he accidently calls the number, and someone who isn't Sam picks up. After the initial confusion, Oliver learns that this boy on the other end of the phone is named Ben, an astronomy major in Seattle. As the two continue to get to know each other, they eventually decide to meet up. And it's only when they realize their love for one other that they're actually from different timelines, jeopardizing their relationship.
This was a really good sequel to You've Reached Sam! I don't think I like it as much as it isn't as devastating (like with this book I didn't cry at all and with the first one I was crying for literally the last 40 pages). But still, the characters are awesome, and the ending is pretty nice. I think my favorite part about this book is how there's a lot of themes based on philosophy and theories of alternate universes, while the last one clearly had a lot of inspiration from a Japanese legend (or legend from another culture).
Next Read: Empire of Storms

Today I finished listening to the dramatized version of Fourth Wing and it's really good! I'm not too sure how it feels to experience the books for the first time through these audiobooks, but as a veteran fan, it was amazing to listen to. All the voices are pretty good, particularly Xaden. The only one I was slightly disappointed in was Tairn, but in the second part he changed to a better voice actor. Definitely gonna keep going with these.

Empire of Storms
Rating: 4.5/5
The King is dead, and Dorian Havilliard has taken over the throne of Adarlan. But Aelin Galathynius' quest is far from over as she at last reaches her kingdom, Terrasen, only to be kicked out by a few bigoted lords. The queen and her court, trying their hardest to get their authority back, get tasked with more challenges in the meantime. In order to properly seal Erawan, the Dark King, the Wyrdkeys need a lock to fit in, which is found deep within the marshes of Elywe. Meanwhile, Lady of Perranth, Elide, has escaped the darkness of Morath and is fleeing to Terrasen, until she encounters the Fae Queen's, Maeve, dog, who's also is looking for the Wyrdkeys, and changes course. Then back at the ruins of Morath, Manon faces trouble with the Matrons of the witch clans after killing several Yellowleg witches and makes a life-shattering discovery of her true lineage.
I can't really say too much in this summary because so much immediately happens. Two really cool characters were introduced that I just need their own spinoff of (Captain Rolfe and Fenrys). And the ending just makes me so excited for the last book of the series, but I have to read Tower of Dawn and about Chaol annoyingly before I can even get there.
Next Read: Heartless

Well, it's the last day of the year. I like to keep track of how my books rank among each other throughout the year, and here's how they ended up. I think I might move over to the Category Challenge group for 2026 as I kinda treat my threads as a blog for book reviews.
1. The Handmaid’s Tale- Margaret Atwood
2. Somewhere Beyond the Sea- TJ Klune
3. Onyx Storm- Rebecca Yarros
4. The House in the Cerulean Sea- TJ Klune
5. Brothersong- TJ Klune
6. Greywaren- Maggie Stiefvater
7. Heartsong- TJ Klune
8. Legends & Lattes- Travis Baldree
9. You’ve Reached Sam- Dustin Thao
10. Don’t Let the Forest In- CG Drews
11. Wolfsong- TJ Klune
12. Mister Impossible- Maggie Stiefvater
13. Empire of Storms- Sarah J. Maas
14. Queen of Shadows- Sarah J. Maas
15. You’ve Found Oliver- Dustin Thao
16. Sisters in the Wind- Angeline Boulley
17. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes- Suzanne Collins
18. The Sapling Cage- Margaret Killjoy
19. Heir of Fire- Sarah J. Maas
20. If I’m Being Honest- Emily Wibberley
21. Forget Me Not- Alyson Derrick
22. So Witches We Became- Jill Baguchinsky
23. Sunrise on the Reaping- Suzanne Collins
24. The Flowers of Buffoonery- Osamu Dazai
25. Call Down The Hawk- Maggie Stiefvater
26. The Foxhole Court- Nora Sakavic
27. All That’s Left in the World- Erik J. Brown
28. The Raven Boys: The Graphic Novel- Maggie Stiefvater
29. This is Where it Ends- Marieke Nijkamp
30. Pantheon: The True Story of the Egyptian Deities- Hamish Steele
31. Me and Earl and The Dying Girl- Jesse Andrews
32. Number Call- Nagisa Furuya
33. We Have Always Lived in the Castle- Shirley Jackson
34. The Listeners- Maggie Stiefvater
35. The Eye of the World- Robert Jordan
36. Jujutsu Kaisen Volume 18- Gege Akutami
37. Jujutsu Kaisen Volume 17- Gege Akutami
38. Throne of Glass- Sarah J. Maas
39. Goodnight Punpun Volume 1- Inio Asano
40. The Beggar Student- Osamu Dazai
41. Ravensong- TJ Klune
42. Crown of Midnight- Sarah J. Maas
43. Jujutsu Kaisen Volume 19- Gege Akutami
44. Jujutsu Kaisen Volume 16- Gege Akutami
45. Jujutsu Kaisen Volume 20- Gege Akutami
46. List of Ten- Halli Gomez
47. The Way I Used to Be- Amber Smith
48. The Only Light Left Burning- Erik J. Brown
49. The Song of Achilles- Madeline Miller
50. Looking for Smoke- K.A. Cobell
51. Epithymy- T.D. Cloud
52. 1984- George Orwell
53. Beholder- Ryan La Sala

(I also reread Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros)

>49 nerdytheorist: You read some pretty great stuff this year!