Michelle's bookshelf: read en-US Fri, 20 Jun 2025 12:03:31 -0700 60 Michelle's bookshelf: read 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg <![CDATA[The Awakening (The Dragon Heart Legacy, #1)]]> 49127421 In the realm of Talamh, a teenage warrior named Keegan emerges from a lake holding a sword—representing both power and the terrifying responsibility to protect the Fey. In another realm known as Philadelphia, a young woman has just discovered she possesses a treasure of her own…

When Breen Kelly was a girl, her father would tell her stories of magical places. Now she’s an anxious twentysomething mired in student debt and working a job she hates. But one day she stumbles upon a shocking discovery: her mother has been hiding an investment account in her name. It has been funded by her long-lost father—and it’s worth nearly four million dollars.

This newfound fortune would be life-changing for anyone. But little does Breen know that when she uses some of the money to journey to Ireland, it will unlock mysteries she couldn’t have imagined. Here, she will begin to understand why she kept seeing that silver-haired, elusive man, why she imagined his voice in her head saying Come home, Breen Siobhan. It’s time you came home. Why she dreamed of dragons. And where her true destiny lies—through a portal in Galway that takes her to a land of faeries and mermaids, to a man named Keegan, and to the courage in her own heart that will guide her through a powerful, dangerous destiny…]]> 435 Nora Roberts 1250272610 Michelle 0 dnf 4.05 2020 The Awakening (The Dragon Heart Legacy, #1)
author: Nora Roberts
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/06/20
shelves: dnf
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Faultline (Drax Guard: Crew Six, #2)]]> 220149339 Communications Specialist Besim Antilles has always felt invincible. As a half-troll with protective stoneskin that activates in a fight, he’s never really taken a serious hit. Until a mission in the Allied American States Wastelands left scars all over his body, and a ragged faultline through his confidence.

When an elf sorcerer with ties to a terrorist organization Besim and his team have tussled with in the past shows up in his sister’s coffee shop…let’s just say he doesn’t believe in coincidence.

Coffee shop owner Nadire Antilles has two concerns—her fledgling business and her brother. He hasn’t been the same since discharging from the hospital, and now he and his spec ops Drax Guard team are acting weird about some elf who came into her café. She trusts her brother and his team, but she also needs to keep the lights on so she doesn’t lose her shot at the dream.

An open attack on the streets of Dunhare solidifies that the sorcerer is after the team. But as they race to find him and stop him for good, they discover he has a specific target in mind and won’t hesitate to draw Nadire right into the crossfire.

Book 2 in the action packed urban fantasy x spec ops series with fast paced action, magic in the open, brothers in arms, and plenty of snark/humor. Best read in series order. ]]> 200 C.M. Banschbach Michelle 4 4.68 2024 Faultline (Drax Guard: Crew Six, #2)
author: C.M. Banschbach
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.68
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/22
date added: 2025/04/22
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Songflight (Dragon Singer Chronicles #1)]]> 54262518
As the only child of a dragon slayer chief, Alísa's purpose should have been simple: lead the clan in ridding humankind of the dragon scourge. But while gaining respect from hardened warriors is difficult enough with a vocal stammer, when they learn her empathic powers connect uncontrollably to the dragon enemy, it becomes impossible.

Confidence shattered, Alísa resigns herself to silent service under her father's apprentice. But when her growing connection reveals one dragon's capacity for good, she realizes the war isn't as black and white as the slayers teach. Now Alísa faces an impossible choice: stay with her family in comfortable but condemning silence, or follow the dragon claiming to know her true purpose.]]> Michelle M. Bruhn 1734992514 Michelle 0 Songflight a look! If you want to try out my writing before giving the full novel a go,

A few things you can expect from Songflight:
- Introverted Main Character
- Dragons With Personality
- Unlikely Friendships
- Sweet Romantic Subplot
- Music As Magic
- Disability Representation
- Telepaths & Empaths
- Tiny Fairy Dragons (who might be scarier than the big ones)

You can learn more and purchase !]]> 0.0 Songflight (Dragon Singer Chronicles #1)
author: Michelle M. Bruhn
name: Michelle
average rating: 0.0
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2020/08/13
date added: 2025/04/21
shelves: celtic, bringing-together, disability, dragons, fantasy, mc-enneagram-4, mc-enneagram-2, music, psychic-powers, young-adult, read-multiple-times
review:
Thanks for giving Songflight a look! If you want to try out my writing before giving the full novel a go,

A few things you can expect from Songflight:
- Introverted Main Character
- Dragons With Personality
- Unlikely Friendships
- Sweet Romantic Subplot
- Music As Magic
- Disability Representation
- Telepaths & Empaths
- Tiny Fairy Dragons (who might be scarier than the big ones)

You can learn more and purchase !
]]> <![CDATA[Flashpoint (Drax Guard: Crew Six Book 1)]]> 219539351 He's human, she's a dragon shifter. But these two spec ops soldiers aren't letting an unexpected - and very unwanted - heartbond get in the way of their mission.

Sergeant Cieran O’Donnell has felt frozen in time since he lost his team fourteen months ago to a rogue sorcerer. And when tragedy strikes again, he has no choice but to move forward into a new mission, with a new team, in the same Allied American States Wastelands that claimed lives fourteen months ago.

After all that, the last thing he needs is a heartbond with one of the dragon shifter scouts they encounter in the perilous wastes…

Dragonwalker Scout Athina Spera and her fleet have one track down the escaped sorcerer who wreaked havoc on their Atlantican archipelago and bring him to justice. They’re technically foreign troops in a different country’s no-man’s-land, but her captain is willing to make any alliance if it means capturing their enemy.

Athina is also willing to do whatever is necessary, except keep this heartbond with a human sergeant…

At least they're agreed—suppress the heartbond, find the sorcerer, part ways. Except living ghosts stalk their steps, and nothing ever goes to plan in the Wastelands.

An explosive new series from C.M. Banschbach featuring magic races in the open, heartbonds, brothers in arms, and lots of humor/snark.]]> 196 C.M. Banschbach Michelle 5 4.58 Flashpoint (Drax Guard: Crew Six Book 1)
author: C.M. Banschbach
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.58
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/04/01
date added: 2025/04/14
shelves: adult, disability, dragons, fantasy, mental-health, shifters, urban-fantasy
review:
Banschbach has done it again! I’m not huge into military fiction, so while I knew I'd love the characters (duh, it's C.M. Banschbach!), I wasn’t sure how I’d like the plot of this one, but dang! Kept me on the edge of my seat as plot and character arcs collided! Great stakes and fascinating world. I so loved Cieran’s arc as he struggles with the PSTD and stuffing away his grief for his former teammates, and the heartbond had me alternately laughing and melting throughout. I’m so excited to continue this series and get to know the rest of this team better! On to Faultline!
]]> <![CDATA[King of Star–Cast Skies (Instanolde Chronicles Book 2)]]> 220605751
Elerek never intended to survive, only to save his kingdom for his queen to reign in glory. But after watching Instanolde fall into ruin and a host of secrets and lies swarm the shadows, his numbered days may be the key to ensuring they survive. His curse, once a personal death sentence, has become a source of incredible power, one he intends to unleash upon his enemies. But, still reeling from a bitter betrayal by those he trusted most, Elerek finds himself wondering who the true threats to his kingdom are.

Razhar's world has spiraled out of control. His comfortable life in the palace with a king had allowed him to keep his secrets deeply buried, but with Elerek's curse becoming more deadly, and the kingdom on its knees before the invaders, one calculated risk brought his dark truths into the light. Leveraging the power of his own abilities while fending off the demons of his past, Razhar is forced to walk a fine line between saving those he loves––or saving only himself.

It's a race against time to either save the kingdom or break the curse. When every choice carries a cost and each moment counts, the story that began in Queen of Shifting Sands meets its epic conclusion in King of Star-Cast Skies, where forgiveness, sacrifice, and a love to hold up the skies set the stage across this sweeping desert adventure.

]]> 462 Kaitlyn Carter Brown Michelle 5 4.53 King of Star–Cast Skies (Instanolde Chronicles Book 2)
author: Kaitlyn Carter Brown
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.53
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/04/11
date added: 2025/04/14
shelves: read-multiple-times, arranged-marriage, brothers, disability, fantasy, found-family, mental-health, new-adult, romance
review:
A stunning finish to this beautiful duology! Where do I start?!? I adore Razhar and so love that he is a POV character in this one. Finding out the secrets he’s been keeping had me feeling all the feels. So did El and Lystra and their finally (FINALLY) admitting and acting on their feelings. Each character’s arc is solid and so very satisfying, and I cried at least three times as the Jarkins, the curse, the secrets, and grandma’s plotting all came to a head. Do not miss this duology!
]]> <![CDATA[Her Fake Superhero Boyfriend (Superhero Romance Project Book 5)]]> 217341055 He's a villain pretending to be a hero. She's a disaster who needs to prove she's got it together. Can they fake date their way to success?

According to Mira Beckridge's wealthy and stuck up family, she's only ever done one thing land a superhero boyfriend. With a hero at her side, maybe she can finally convince them to invest in her fashion line. When her prize superhero catch breaks up with her the day before meeting her parents, she needs to find a replacement, STAT.

Wannabe actor KC can't land a role even with his super-ability to change his face at a whim. Broke and desperate, he's fallen back on pulling cons just to make rent. When a supervillain thief recruits him to case the Beckridge Estate, he jumps at it. After all, a guy's got to eat.

When Mira approaches KC with an offer of playing her boyfriend for the week, KC thinks he's hit the jackpot. Free food and lodging at a mansion and easier access to his target? He's got nothing to lose, right? Especially not his heart.]]> 274 H.L. Burke Michelle 5 4.83 Her Fake Superhero Boyfriend (Superhero Romance Project Book 5)
author: H.L. Burke
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.83
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/04/13
date added: 2025/04/13
shelves:
review:

]]> Damsel 61984840
Elodie never dreamed of a lavish palace or a handsome prince. Growing up in the famine-stricken realm of Inophe, her deepest wish was to help her people survive each winter. So when a representative from a rich, reclusive kingdom offers her family enough wealth to save Inophe in exchange for Elodie’s hand in marriage, she accepts without hesitation. Swept away to the glistening kingdom of Aurea, Elodie is quickly taken in by the beauty of the realm—and of her betrothed, Prince Henry.

But as Elodie undertakes the rituals to become an Aurean princess, doubts prick at her mind as cracks in the kingdom’s perfect veneer begin to show: A young woman who appears and vanishes from the castle tower. A parade of torches weaving through the mountains. Markings left behind in a mysterious “V.” Too late, she discovers that Aurea’s prosperity has been purchased at a heavy cost—each harvest season, the kingdom sacrifices its princesses to a hungry dragon. And Elodie is the next sacrifice.

This ancient arrangement has persisted for centuries, leading hundreds of women to their deaths. But the women who came before Elodie did not go quietly. Their blood pulses with power and memory, and their experiences hold the key to Elodie’s survival. Forced to fight for her life, this damsel must use her wits to defeat a dragon, uncover Aurea’s past, and save not only herself, but the future of her new kingdom as well.]]> 368 Evelyn Skye 0593599403 Michelle 4 dark, fantasy, dragons 3.79 2023 Damsel
author: Evelyn Skye
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.79
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2025/02/03
shelves: dark, fantasy, dragons
review:

]]> <![CDATA[A Stolen Heart (The Miraveld Chronicles, #4)]]> 199014759 She was given a second chance to live a peaceful life.
She should have guessed the world wouldn’t be so kind.

With her vengeance complete, enchantress Callista has settled into a quiet life. Her routine is shattered when a visitor arrives—the brother she left to die is alive.

Callista’s joy at being reunited with Royce is short-lived. A new king has been crowned, but not everyone is pleased, including the lord who has had Royce in his dungeon. To save Royce’s life, Callista switches places with the king’s prospective bride using the dark magic she swore to abandon.

But neither Callista nor her villainous master accounted for the king’s best friend, Vallyn Drake, seeing through her disguise. He can’t prove Callista isn’t who she claims to be, but the secretly half-fae general is determined to uncover who she is and what she’s plotting…

If only he weren’t so drawn to her.

As Callista and Vallyn dance around mutual suspicion and fascination, the true villains grow impatient. Vallyn swore to protect the king with his life. But if Callista doesn’t kill the king, she may lose her brother a second time.

An enemies-to-lovers loose reimagining of The Goose Girl. This book is a direct sequel to A Fated Quest (The Miraveld Chronicles book 3).

(Warning for possible triggers: threats/extortion/blackmail, mention of kidnapping, death in backstories, grief, very brief torture and mention of torture)]]> Selina R. Gonzalez Michelle 4 fantasy, romance 4.54 A Stolen Heart (The Miraveld Chronicles, #4)
author: Selina R. Gonzalez
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.54
book published:
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2025/02/03
shelves: fantasy, romance
review:

]]> <![CDATA[If Wishes Were Curses (The Steel City Genie #1)]]> 43502789 So I accidentally killed a shifter. On purpose.

With genie powers I shouldn’t be able to use, thanks to my curse-mark.

In my defense, the damn grizzly was threatening civilians and might have been a vampire as well. Pittsburgh is safer without him. Only the Fae court doesn’t believe my story, and the shifters are out for blood.

Now I’ve lost my job as a romantic investigator, and I’m on death row. My only hope is an oddly outgoing vegetarian vampire lawyer who seems strangely familiar. Too familiar.

Almost like we’ve met before, and this whole thing was a set-up to take us both down.

Wishing won’t get us out of this mess.
But my forbidden wish magic just might.

A snarky urban fantasy with humor, heart, some romance with heat (nothing graphic), and gleeful send ups of many romantic fantasy tropes, all wrapped up with an otter-shifter in the bargain.]]> 285 Janeen Ippolito Michelle 5
The world Ippolito has created is so fun and full of surprises. We’ve got our genie protagonist, a hot-but-not-broody vampire (❤❤❤ Cendric!), shifters of so many kinds (otter-shifters, anyone?), elves, sirens, and so many more. The plot is interesting, the romantic sub-plot sweet, the humor snarky, and the characters wonderful. Again, super-fun and I can’t wait for the sequel!

And, as far as the audio version goes, I quite enjoyed it! The voice actor was great, and I especially loved her mixed voices (when two characters were saying the same thing at the same time). Well done!

Merged review:

Oh so fun! I don’t typically read urban fantasy, especially ones with vampires (the only vampire I’ve ever liked is Dracula, and I liked him as a villain that needed to be killed), but I loved Ippolito’s steampunk, dragon-shifter series so I thought I’d give this a try. So very glad I did—can’t wait for the sequel!

The world Ippolito has created is so fun and full of surprises. We’ve got our genie protagonist, a hot-but-not-broody vampire (❤❤❤ Cendric!), shifters of so many kinds (otter-shifters, anyone?), elves, sirens, and so many more. The plot is interesting, the romantic sub-plot sweet, the humor snarky, and the characters wonderful.

My only complaint is that some of the ebook formatting is wonky, with a few paragraphs throughout the book being broken up into lines instead of a full paragraph.

Again, super-fun and I can’t wait for the sequel!

Updated from 4 stars to 4.5/5 upon reread (audible version, this second time around).

Merged review:

Oh so fun! I don’t typically read urban fantasy, especially ones with vampires (the only vampire I’ve ever liked is Dracula, and I liked him as a villain that needed to be killed), but I loved Ippolito’s steampunk, dragon-shifter series so I thought I’d give this a try. So very glad I did—I can’t wait for the sequel!

The world Ippolito has created is so fun and full of surprises. We’ve got our genie protagonist, a hot-but-not-broody vampire (❤❤❤ Cendric!), shifters of so many kinds (otter-shifters, anyone?), elves, sirens, and so many more. The plot is interesting, the romantic sub-plot sweet, the humor snarky, and the characters wonderful. Again, super-fun and I can’t wait for the sequel!

And, as far as the audio version goes, I quite enjoyed it! The voice actor was great, and I especially loved her mixed voices (when two characters were saying the same thing at the same time). Well done!]]> 4.07 If Wishes Were Curses (The Steel City Genie #1)
author: Janeen Ippolito
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.07
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2019/10/01
date added: 2025/01/21
shelves: humor, paranormal, romance, shifters, urban-fantasy
review:
Oh so fun! I don’t typically read urban fantasy, especially ones with vampires (the only vampire I’ve ever liked is Dracula, and I liked him as a villain that needed to be killed), but I loved Ippolito’s steampunk, dragon-shifter series so I thought I’d give this a try. So very glad I did—I can’t wait for the sequel!

The world Ippolito has created is so fun and full of surprises. We’ve got our genie protagonist, a hot-but-not-broody vampire (❤❤❤ Cendric!), shifters of so many kinds (otter-shifters, anyone?), elves, sirens, and so many more. The plot is interesting, the romantic sub-plot sweet, the humor snarky, and the characters wonderful. Again, super-fun and I can’t wait for the sequel!

And, as far as the audio version goes, I quite enjoyed it! The voice actor was great, and I especially loved her mixed voices (when two characters were saying the same thing at the same time). Well done!

Merged review:

Oh so fun! I don’t typically read urban fantasy, especially ones with vampires (the only vampire I’ve ever liked is Dracula, and I liked him as a villain that needed to be killed), but I loved Ippolito’s steampunk, dragon-shifter series so I thought I’d give this a try. So very glad I did—can’t wait for the sequel!

The world Ippolito has created is so fun and full of surprises. We’ve got our genie protagonist, a hot-but-not-broody vampire (❤❤❤ Cendric!), shifters of so many kinds (otter-shifters, anyone?), elves, sirens, and so many more. The plot is interesting, the romantic sub-plot sweet, the humor snarky, and the characters wonderful.

My only complaint is that some of the ebook formatting is wonky, with a few paragraphs throughout the book being broken up into lines instead of a full paragraph.

Again, super-fun and I can’t wait for the sequel!

Updated from 4 stars to 4.5/5 upon reread (audible version, this second time around).

Merged review:

Oh so fun! I don’t typically read urban fantasy, especially ones with vampires (the only vampire I’ve ever liked is Dracula, and I liked him as a villain that needed to be killed), but I loved Ippolito’s steampunk, dragon-shifter series so I thought I’d give this a try. So very glad I did—I can’t wait for the sequel!

The world Ippolito has created is so fun and full of surprises. We’ve got our genie protagonist, a hot-but-not-broody vampire (❤❤❤ Cendric!), shifters of so many kinds (otter-shifters, anyone?), elves, sirens, and so many more. The plot is interesting, the romantic sub-plot sweet, the humor snarky, and the characters wonderful. Again, super-fun and I can’t wait for the sequel!

And, as far as the audio version goes, I quite enjoyed it! The voice actor was great, and I especially loved her mixed voices (when two characters were saying the same thing at the same time). Well done!
]]> <![CDATA[Oath of the Outcast (The Dragon Keep Chronicles, #1)]]> 45891464 A lost brother.
An unwilling outlaw.
A rising enemy.
An unusual alliance.

Years ago, Rhys MacDuffy was brutally cut off from his clan, stripped of his name and inheritance, and banished to the remote Dragon Keep. Perched high above the Shang Pass in the land of Alsaya, he assumed the mantle of the Mountain Baron, serving out his sentence as the overseer of the worst outlaws and outcasts.

But one day he receives a desperate message from the clan who disowned him: MacDuffy’s Seer—his beloved brother—has been taken by their enemies.

With his band of Mountain Brigands and an unwelcome sidekick, Rhys leaves his mountain stronghold to find and rescue his brother. The tide of war is rising amongst the Clans of Alsaya, fueled by the magic-wielding sect of Druids who seek to unleash a dark force the world has long forgotten.

Can the bond of blood run deeper than banishment?]]> C.M. Banschbach Michelle 5 4.42 Oath of the Outcast (The Dragon Keep Chronicles, #1)
author: C.M. Banschbach
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.42
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2024/12/02
date added: 2024/12/02
shelves: fantasy, celtic, new-adult, no-romance
review:
I loved this book from the Scottish-inspired world-building, to the multi-layered characters, to the very real dangers said characters faced! I loved Sean's combination of strength and a soft heart, Alan's snark and divided loyalties, Jes' cool-headedness in the midst of the more hot-headed members of the Dragon Keep, and, of course, The Baron/Rhys himself with all his strength, determination, and badassery. And his well-deserved angst that made me want to give him a hug (I refrained, though—I'd rather not be stabbed).
]]> <![CDATA[Mindsong (The Dragon Singer Chronicles, #0.5)]]> 45046353
But when the happiness of the clan’s ceremonies is overcome in her mind by sorrow, rage, and fear, Alísa and her father discover there is more to her developing empathy than they’d initially thought—a mystery that may one day condemn her in the eyes of the clan.]]> Michelle M. Bruhn Michelle 0 3.88 Mindsong (The Dragon Singer Chronicles, #0.5)
author: Michelle M. Bruhn
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.88
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2019/01/01
date added: 2024/11/20
shelves: celtic, dragons, fantasy, mental-health, psychic-powers, short-story-prequel, young-adult
review:
Note from the author: This short story is a special freebie for readers either interested in checking out my writing style, or for those who have already read Songflight and want to know a bit of Alísa's backstory. Get for FREE here:
]]> Mansfield Park 16058947 346 Jane Austen Michelle 3 4.12 1814 Mansfield Park
author: Jane Austen
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.12
book published: 1814
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2024/10/23
shelves:
review:

]]> The Naiad's Trial 42733117 Teiran’s mother is dying.

When the ancient naiad offers a cure, Teiran jumps at the last chance to save the only family she has left. Even if it means risking her own life.

Once a year, the naiad opens the gates to her enchanted forest, welcoming in anyone who wishes to claim her magic water. Not only does it have the power to heal, but it grants all who drink one hundred years of youth and beauty. But only the first one to reach the naiad receives her gift, and there are plenty of others who want what Teiran’s after.

In the pre-dawn light of the summer solstice, the hopefuls gather, waiting for the gates of the mysterious oasis to open. They’ll have to be quick, for anyone still in the forest when the gates close is lost forever.

No one knows what trials lie before them, but one thing is certain. Nothing comes without a price.

"The Naiad's Trial" is a 10,000 word novelette, and was originally published under the title "Lifeblood."

Get your copy of The Naiad's Trial today.
]]> 43 A.K.R. Scott 0998508365 Michelle 4 fantasy
I enjoyed this short story. The protagonist was quite relatable, the setting interesting (esp. the Naiad’s forest), and the ending satisfying. I’m a sucker for stories with a hero who, though flawed, does what they know to be right despite the sacrifices along the way. Four stars for an enjoyable journey!

Merged review:

(I was given a free advanced ebook in exchange for an honest review)

I enjoyed this short story. The protagonist was quite relatable, the setting interesting (esp. the Naiad’s forest), and the ending satisfying. I’m a sucker for stories with a hero who, though flawed, does what they know to be right despite the sacrifices along the way. Four stars for an enjoyable journey!]]> 4.17 2017 The Naiad's Trial
author: A.K.R. Scott
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.17
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2018/11/08
date added: 2024/09/30
shelves: fantasy
review:
(I was given a free advanced ebook in exchange for an honest review)

I enjoyed this short story. The protagonist was quite relatable, the setting interesting (esp. the Naiad’s forest), and the ending satisfying. I’m a sucker for stories with a hero who, though flawed, does what they know to be right despite the sacrifices along the way. Four stars for an enjoyable journey!

Merged review:

(I was given a free advanced ebook in exchange for an honest review)

I enjoyed this short story. The protagonist was quite relatable, the setting interesting (esp. the Naiad’s forest), and the ending satisfying. I’m a sucker for stories with a hero who, though flawed, does what they know to be right despite the sacrifices along the way. Four stars for an enjoyable journey!
]]> By Blood & Blade (Taletha #1) 62207225 356 Anna Augustine 1957899204 Michelle 0 to-read 4.39 By Blood & Blade (Taletha #1)
author: Anna Augustine
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.39
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/26
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Song of the Summer King (The Summer King Chronicles #1)]]> 15751365
As the last of his kind in a gryfon pride ruled by the conquering Red Kings, Shard has always known his destiny is merely to survive. He must strive to keep up with larger, stronger, crueler gryfons in order to earn his place as a warrior, or face exile. While on the dangerous initiation hunt that will either make or ruin him, Shard desperately takes the unexpected advice of a strange she-wolf who seeks him out, and hints that Shard’s past is not all that it seems.

Drawn to learn more, Shard risks the future he wants by making allies of creatures most gryfons call enemies, and learning ancient skills forbidden by the conquering kings. Secrets of his family, the Conquering, and perhaps even his own destiny begin to reveal themselves.

When the gryfon king declares open war on the wolves Shard has befriended, it throws his past and uncertain future into the turmoil between. Now with battle lines drawn, Shard must decide whether to fight beside his own king . . . or against him.
]]> 276 Jess E. Owen 098580582X Michelle 0 to-read 4.39 2012 Song of the Summer King (The Summer King Chronicles #1)
author: Jess E. Owen
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.39
book published: 2012
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/22
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Wind and Truth (The Stormlight Archive, #5)]]> 203578847 The long-awaited explosive climax to the first arc of the #1 New York Times bestselling Stormlight Archive―the iconic epic fantasy masterpiece that has sold more than 10 million copies, from acclaimed bestselling author Brandon Sanderson.

Dalinar Kholin challenged the evil god Odium to a contest of champions with the future of Roshar on the line. The Knights Radiant have only ten days to prepare―and the sudden ascension of the crafty and ruthless Taravangian to take Odium’s place has thrown everything into disarray.

Desperate fighting continues simultaneously worldwide―Adolin in Azimir, Sigzil and Venli at the Shattered Plains, and Jasnah at Thaylen City. The former assassin, Szeth, must cleanse his homeland of Shinovar from the dark influence of the Unmade. He is accompanied by Kaladin, who faces a new battle helping Szeth fight his own demons . . . and who must do the same for the insane Herald of the Almighty, Ishar.

At the same time, Shallan, Renarin, and Rlain work to unravel the mystery behind the Unmade Ba-Ado-Mishram and her involvement in the enslavement of the singer race and in the ancient Knights Radiants killing their spren. And Dalinar and Navani seek an edge against Odium’s champion that can be found only in the Spiritual Realm, where memory and possibility combine in chaos. The fate of the entire Cosmere hangs in the balance.]]> 1344 Brandon Sanderson 1250319188 Michelle 0 to-read 4.34 2024 Wind and Truth (The Stormlight Archive, #5)
author: Brandon Sanderson
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.34
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/21
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Con Job 22461521
But Jacob has a secret of his own, and it looks like someone is bent on revealing him to the entire con. If Jacob’s history comes out, his police career will end before it begins, even if he can find the killer. And if he can’t, more fans will die.

Join the fans at Con Job!

For the Geeks, By the Geeks

This fun murder mystery is full of nerdy humor, with references to everything from hobbit genealogy to the Marvel cinematic universe, but it's certainly not exclusionary to other readers. Jacob and Samantha's race to discover the killer is set against a backdrop of con activity and complications. Written by a veteran con attendee, organizer, and competitive cosplayer, Con Job is both a glimpse into the inner workings of a fan convention and a fast-paced pursuit of a vicious murderer.]]> 269 Laura VanArendonk Baugh 0985934964 Michelle 4 4.44 2014 Con Job
author: Laura VanArendonk Baugh
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.44
book published: 2014
rating: 4
read at: 2022/10/16
date added: 2024/09/20
shelves:
review:

]]> Dream of Kings 217213292 The Future Never Sleeps

In the glacial nation of Norgard, Jolan the Dream Teller serves every seeker, whether peasant or high lord. Though she loves using her gift, she struggles to navigate the corrupt and dangerous court and the jealousies of the Guildagard.

When an old man’s nightmare imparts a dire warning, Jolan realizes her entire nation is in danger. But before she can sound the alarm, she is betrayed by the guilds and sold into slavery in a rival kingdom far to the south. As a slave in a foreign land, at first Jolan can’t see beyond her singular return home to warn Norgard of the coming calamity. After facing new dangers, making new friends, and forgiving old wrongs, she must fulfill the purposes the Provider has set before her.

Only then can she face a decision that could cost her the man she loves, her calling, and her freedom—all to save a people who abandoned her.]]> 408 Sharon Hinck Michelle 0 3.67 Dream of Kings
author: Sharon Hinck
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.67
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2024/09/17
date added: 2024/09/17
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Shadowcast (The Gateway Trilogy, #1)]]> 61917125 After witnessing the brutal death of his brother at the hands of the Steward Knights, Mason Grey turns to vengeance. Using his Gifts to read and control the minds of others, he climbs the ranks of the Dark Army, determined to earn the coveted Shadowstone—a powerful tool against the light-wielding Stewards. But when he is wounded in battle, he finds himself recovering in the home of a chatty peasant girl...without the use of his Gifts. Even worse, the girl mistakes him for one of the Stewards he despises.

Seria Gayle longs to be seen as more than the town washerwoman. When she finds an injured Steward in the woods, she welcomes the chance to use her healing skills and hopes it will earn her some respect. But as she nurses the sullen stranger back to health, she discovers he is nothing like the knights she has long admired.

When Mason's true identity is revealed, Seria is devastated and humiliated. But she is offered a chance at redemption by the very prince that Mason hates. Now Mason struggles between two choices: accept the Shadowstone to avenge his brother or pursue this newfound light in the form of a peasant girl. With time running out and war looming, will Mason and Seria defy their own convictions for a chance at love or stand against one another like they’ve sworn to do?]]> Crystal D. Grant Michelle 0 to-read 4.46 Shadowcast (The Gateway Trilogy, #1)
author: Crystal D. Grant
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.46
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/08/26
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Second Chance Superhero 196959641
Eleven years ago, Brayden Water's high school sweetheart slammed the door in his face. Floundering, he found purpose first in the military, then by volunteering for genetic enhancements and joining the Department of Super-Abled as a full-time hero. Just when everything's looking up, a family emergency summons him back to the hometown he gleefully put in his rearview. And guess who else is back in town?

Rachel Blum has had it with men in general. A single mom who managed to scratch her way through medical school, she's accepted that she can't depend on anyone ... especially not her sometimes criminal baby daddy, and definitely not her high school ex who has popped up out of nowhere after a decade of radio silence. Dang, though, Brayden's even hotter than she remembered, and there's ... something different about him now, though she can't quite put her finger on what. Could he really have finally gotten his act together? Can she take the risk?

Brayden's bitterness over Rachel's rejection slowly turns to admiration and begrudging affection. But even if he drops the fact that he can now fly and shoot lasers out of his eyes, will she ever see him as anything but a small-town loser? When her son's father starts causing trouble, though, Brayden realizes, she might just need a hero in her life after all.]]> 183 H.L. Burke Michelle 5 4.42 Second Chance Superhero
author: H.L. Burke
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.42
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2024/08/25
date added: 2024/08/25
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[A Superhero Ever After (Superhero Romance Project Book 2)]]> 181552454 135 H.L. Burke Michelle 5 4.51 A Superhero Ever After (Superhero Romance Project Book 2)
author: H.L. Burke
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.51
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2024/08/20
date added: 2024/08/20
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Accidentally a Supervillain (Supervillain Romance Project Book 5)]]> 126520137
The non-powered middle child of a superhero family, Abigail Park has always taken pride in being "the normal one." No flying and throwing power blasts for her, thank you. Just a safe, steady office job, evenings in with her cat, and weekly hot yoga when she's feeling adventurous. Genetics can be cruel.

When Abigail finds herself in the line of fire during a superhero and supervillain standoff, her latent abilities literally explode—blasting the HERO unconscious and catching the eye of sound-manipulating villain Thunderstruck. Threatening to send proof of her "aiding" him to the authorities, he blackmails her into helping him in his next big heist—against her own boss.

Abigail wants out, but as her antagonistic banter with Thunderstruck turns to something weirdly resembling flirting, the smirking villain hints that his intended target isn't as innocent as Abigail believes him to be. Can Abigail get Thunderstruck to trust her with his secrets or is it all a cover for a more malevolent plan?

If Abigail can't figure this out, she's never going to hear the end of it at family dinners ... if she even manages to make it out alive at all.]]> 216 H.L. Burke Michelle 4 4.38 Accidentally a Supervillain (Supervillain Romance Project Book 5)
author: H.L. Burke
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.38
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2024/08/18
date added: 2024/08/18
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[This Life of Mine (The Chronicles of Elira #2)]]> 107526084
With refugees streaming into Elira by the hundreds, the stories from the wall are horrific. Marcus joins a convoy to lend his medical skills to those in need at the Eliran border. What he finds there is about to change his life forever.

Dilara’s life as a slave in Rusalka was anything but idealistic. Consumed by a system that was designed to use, abuse, and discard the likes of her, she has been taken through the very depths. Carrying a traumatic secret and wounded in her frenzied escape, she finds herself with an unlikely protector and an even more confusing relationship. Can she traverse the waters of this new life and make it her own?

And can Marcus overcome his own deformities to find the one missing piece? Or will his life forever be marked by suffering and sacrifice?]]> 332 Victoria Lynn Michelle 0 to-read 4.46 2023 This Life of Mine (The Chronicles of Elira #2)
author: Victoria Lynn
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.46
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/06/30
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Always Peachy: Living Happy When Life Hurts]]> 212982259 Life never turns out the way we think it will, does it?Amy Williams shows how not to live in constant negativity or focus on what is wrong
but the answer is not to pretend everything is fine.

This book is an honest look at life and how it works (or doesn’t) coupled with the humor
of life stories.

There are horses involved. And flooding basements, tornadoes, riding lawnmowers,
buried pirate treasure, and much, much more.Life hurts but you can choose to be happy!


Amy C. Williams is a coffee-drinking, sushi-eating, story-telling nerd who loves cats, country
living, and all things Japanese. With more than a dozen books in both fiction and non-fiction, she
specializes in stories with themes of identity and found family, ensemble casts, and epic world-
building. Amy is a Selah Award finalist for devotions, as well as a popular monthly contributor
to two blogs ranked in Writer’s Digest’s Top 101 sites for authors. In 2022, she was named the
Arise Daily Devotional Writer of the Year. If that’s your cup of tea (or coffee), join the fun at
.]]> 198 Amy C. Williams 1962705218 Michelle 0 to-read 4.86 Always Peachy: Living Happy When Life Hurts
author: Amy C. Williams
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.86
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/06/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Agent 355 202016880 A novella

A fictional portrayal of a real-life Revolutionary spy and her daring deeds, from the New York Times–bestselling author of The Only Woman in the Room.

Agent 355 is a result of author Marie Benedict’s quest to bring history’s most fascinating and courageous women to life for contemporary readers. Known to history only by her alias, this mysterious female spy, able to move freely and unobtrusively in loyalist circles, became a member of George Washington’s New York–based Culper Ring. This thrilling novella depicts who Marie Benedict thinks Agent 355 could have been, though her true identity remains unknown. During the sweltering summer of 1779, eighteen-year-old Elizabeth Morris attends the social events of the British-occupied city, but the forced merriment holds no charm for her.

She finds herself in the company of enemy soldiers, who think nothing of discussing matters of government and war in front of mere women. This invisibility becomes Elizabeth’s greatest asset as she offers her services to Robert Townsend, a Continental sympathizer. Her bravery will bring down one of the most notorious traitors in American history and ultimately seal her fate as a woman willing to sacrifice everything for love and country.]]> 84 Marie Benedict 1504090942 Michelle 4 historical-fiction
Merged review:

Lovely short story! I'm not typically one for historical fiction, but the Revolutionary War setting, the fascinating spy work, and the subtle romance got me. Highly recommend!]]> 3.74 2020 Agent 355
author: Marie Benedict
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.74
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at: 2020/10/10
date added: 2024/06/11
shelves: historical-fiction
review:
Lovely short story! I'm not typically one for historical fiction, but the Revolutionary War setting, the fascinating spy work, and the subtle romance got me. Highly recommend!

Merged review:

Lovely short story! I'm not typically one for historical fiction, but the Revolutionary War setting, the fascinating spy work, and the subtle romance got me. Highly recommend!
]]> <![CDATA[Sufficiently Advanced Magic (Arcane Ascension, #1)]]> 35501180
He never returned.

Now it's Corin's turn. He's headed to the top floor, on a mission to meet the goddess.

If he can survive the trials, Corin will earn an attunement, but that won't be sufficient to survive the dangers on the upper levels. For that he's going to need training, allies, and a lot of ingenuity.

The journey won't be easy, but Corin won't stop until he gets his brother back.]]> 22 Andrew Rowe Michelle 5 But it's not just Corin that was great about this book. The friendships were great, the plot was a perfect medium-pace that allowed me to learn the world and magic system without drinking from a fire-hose, the magic system itself was fascinating with all its rules that still allowed room for surprises. Ah. I loved this book. On to book 2 of the Arcane Ascension!]]> 4.11 2017 Sufficiently Advanced Magic (Arcane Ascension, #1)
author: Andrew Rowe
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2017
rating: 5
read at: 2022/09/04
date added: 2024/06/10
shelves: academy, fantasy, found-family, humor, mc-enneagram-6, no-romance, unique-magic, fav-male-mc
review:
This book was perfect for me. (Well, almost-perfect—all the teases of Keras but not having him around for most of the book was sad.) Oh my goodness, Corin! Corin is one of my favorite male MCs. I love his morally-guided pragmatism, his curiosity, his need for safety yet willingness to do what's right even when it's not safe, his constant reminders to himself that 'oh yeah, I have friends and I don't have to do this alone anymore', his ingenuity as he works with his less-than-ideal magic...I could go on for a while.
But it's not just Corin that was great about this book. The friendships were great, the plot was a perfect medium-pace that allowed me to learn the world and magic system without drinking from a fire-hose, the magic system itself was fascinating with all its rules that still allowed room for surprises. Ah. I loved this book. On to book 2 of the Arcane Ascension!
]]> <![CDATA[Out of the Silent Planet: (Ransom Trilogy, Book #1)]]> 24843232 Out of the Silent Planet is the first volume, stands alongside such works as Albert Camus's The Plague and George Orwell's 1984 as a timely parable that has become timeless, beloved by succeeding generations as much for the sheer wonder of its storytelling as for the significance of the moral concerns. For the trilogy's central figure, C. S. Lewis created perhaps the most memorable character of his career, the brilliant, clear-eyed, and fiercely brave philologist Dr. Elwin Ransom. Appropriately, Lewis modeled Dr. Ransom after his dear friend J. R. R. Tolkien, for in the scope of its imaginative achievement and the totality of its vision of not one but two imaginary worlds, the Space Trilogy is rivaled in this century only by Tolkien's trilogy The Lord of the Rings. Readers who fall in love with Lewis's fantasy series The Chronicles of Namia as children unfailingly cherish his Space Trilogy as adults; it, too, brings to life strange and magical realms in which epic battles are fought between the forces of light and those of darkness. But in the many layers of its allegory, and the sophistication and piercing brilliance of its insights into the human condition, it occupies a place among the English language's most extraordinary works for any age, and for all time.
Out of the Silent Planet introduces Dr. Ransom and chronicles his abduction by a megalomaniacal physicist and his accomplice via space ship to the planet Malacandra. The two men are in need of a human sacrifice and Dr. Ransom would seem to fit the bill. Dr. Ransom escapes upon landing, though, and goes on the run, a stranger in a land that, like Jonathan Swift's Lilliput, is enchanting in its difference from Earth and instructive in its similarity.]]> C.S. Lewis Michelle 5 christian, sci-fi 3.80 1938 Out of the Silent Planet: (Ransom Trilogy, Book #1)
author: C.S. Lewis
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.80
book published: 1938
rating: 5
read at: 2019/03/15
date added: 2024/06/10
shelves: christian, sci-fi
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Two Towers (The Lord of the Rings, #2)]]> 17157903
The Fellowship has been forced to split up. Frodo and Sam must continue alone towards Mount Doom, where the One Ring must be destroyed. Meanwhile, at Helm’s Deep and Isengard, the first great battles of the War of the Ring take shape.

In this splendid, unabridged audio production of Tolkien’s great work, all the inhabitants of a magical universe - hobbits, elves, and wizards - spring to life. Rob Inglis’ narration has been praised as a masterpiece of audio.

Listening 16 hours and 40 minutes.]]> 17 J.R.R. Tolkien Michelle 4 classic, fantasy 4.47 1954 The Two Towers (The Lord of the Rings, #2)
author: J.R.R. Tolkien
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.47
book published: 1954
rating: 4
read at: 2021/05/12
date added: 2024/06/10
shelves: classic, fantasy
review:

]]> Ingrid, The Viking Maiden 36293695 246 Naomi Jane Kelly 1947695010 Michelle 0 to-read 4.09 Ingrid, The Viking Maiden
author: Naomi Jane Kelly
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.09
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/06/05
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Tahoe Blowup (Owen McKenna #2)]]> 459419 320 Todd Borg 193129612X Michelle 4 adult, contemporary, mystery 4.08 2001 Tahoe Blowup (Owen McKenna #2)
author: Todd Borg
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2001
rating: 4
read at: 2022/07/09
date added: 2024/04/24
shelves: adult, contemporary, mystery
review:
It's been a long time since I've read a contemporary mystery/PI novel. The last one I can think of is Nancy Drew when I was much younger (though there might have been something after that). I wasn't really excited, but this is what my book club picked so I "had" to read it—and I actually quite enjoyed it! The different sides of the fire argument (should we let forest fires burn or put them out) was well-explored, the search-and-rescue dogs were wonderful, the discussions of what makes art art were intriguing and woven into the story nicely, and though I didn't like all of the private investigator MC's choices he was written in a way that I understood why he made them. A couple of things about the ending twist left me unsatisfied (one revelation came out of nowhere and I had guessed who the real baddie was right when I met him/her but I couldn't figure out why it was him/her), but still a solid book. I might pick up another one in this series.
]]> <![CDATA[Queen of Shifting Sands: Epic desert fantasy with political intrigue and slow burn, closed door romance (Instanolde Chronicles Book 1)]]> 200394278
The stars have aligned in the kingdom of Instanolde, or so Lystra believes as she eagerly awaits her wedding day. Her beloved, the king, is everything her heart desires, but when a brutal attack leaves her betrothed dead and Instanolde on the cusp of collapse, she finds her future in ruins, and the throne beyond her reach. With invasion looming across the desert, Lystra refuses to let grief keep her from defending her kingdom—even if that means forging a marriage alliance with Elerek, the brother of her lost love, a prince shrouded in secrets.

Elerek, now heir to the throne, has spent his life waiting to die. An untouchable curse lurks beneath his skin, and though he aches to see its suffocating hold severed, he’s long given up hope. When his brother’s death drags him from the shadows, Elerek must find the strength to shoulder the crown’s burdens and secure a queen—a wife to protect his kingdom after the curse claims him. With the adoration of the people already in the palm of her hands, Lystra is the ideal candidate. But even if she doesn’t spurn him for his ruinous curse, he’ll need to protect her from its dangers—and his heart as he finds himself steadily drawn to the girl’s unbreakable spirit. With death on the horizon, Elerek must become the king he never planned to be and save Instanolde before his time runs out.

Lystra and Elerek only have one summer to prepare their kingdom for invasion, but more than one threat prowls their desert, and the cost of survival might just destroy them all.

Queen of Shifting Sands is a fantastical romance adventure where duty and endurance grapple amid the sands of chaos. Lovers of intrigue, high stakes, and slow-burn romance will fall in love with this adult (with YA crossover appeal) fantasy. Escape into the rich, immersive world of the Instanolde Chronicles.]]> 451 Kaitlyn Carter Brown Michelle 5
A few other things to convince you to read it:
- marriage of convenience
- disability representation (wheelchair-bound MMC)
- brothers in bond
- slow-burn romance
- cursed royalty
- cardants (desert dragons!)
- Razhar (I can't help it, he's my favorite)]]> 4.08 Queen of Shifting Sands: Epic desert fantasy with political intrigue and slow burn, closed door romance (Instanolde Chronicles Book 1)
author: Kaitlyn Carter Brown
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.08
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2024/03/10
date added: 2024/03/13
shelves: disability, fantasy, mental-health, new-adult, political-intrigue
review:
A magnificent story of choosing to live when it seems only death surrounds you. With complex heroes, despicable villains, and secrets around every corner, Queen Of Shifting Sands is a book you don’t want to miss!

A few other things to convince you to read it:
- marriage of convenience
- disability representation (wheelchair-bound MMC)
- brothers in bond
- slow-burn romance
- cursed royalty
- cardants (desert dragons!)
- Razhar (I can't help it, he's my favorite)
]]> <![CDATA[The Remarkable Retirement of Edna Fisher]]> 93897361 You're never too old for adventure.

When you’re a geriatric armed with nothing but gumption and knitting needles, stopping a sorcerer from wiping out an entire dragon-fighting organization is a tall order. No one understands why 83-year-old Edna Fisher is the Chosen One, destined to save the Knights from a dragon-riding sorcerer bent on their destruction. After all, Edna has never handled a magical weapon, faced down a dragon, or cast a spell. And everyone knows the Council of Wizards always chooses a teenager—like the vengeful girl ready to snatch Edna’s destiny from under her nose.

Still, Edna leaps at the chance to leave the nursing home. With her son long dead in the Knights’ service, she’s determined to save dragon-fighters like him and to ensure other mothers don’t suffer the same loss she did. But as Edna learns about the abuse in the ranks and the sorcerer’s history as a Knight, she questions if it’s really the sorcerer that needs stopping—or the Knights she’s trying to save.]]> 382 E.M. Anderson 1956037217 Michelle 0 to-read 3.47 2023 The Remarkable Retirement of Edna Fisher
author: E.M. Anderson
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.47
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/03/01
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Shield Band (Elven Alliance, #6)]]> 123024480 Julien always thought he knew his duty...until an arranged marriage upends his future.

Prince Julien of Escarland was the kingdom's spare. His duty is to quietly stand in the background at his brother's side, protecting him and his heirs.

When it becomes clear that one more marriage is needed to secure the three-way alliance between the kingdoms of Kostaria, Tarenhiel, and Escarland, Julien agrees to an arranged marriage with a troll. He doesn't know their language and he might not be strong enough to fit into their battle-focused culture, but other than that, how bad could it be?

As King Rharreth's shield sister, Vriska is duty-bound to protect him and his queen. But she never expected her duty to include a marriage with a human.

An empire-hungry kingdom is lurking, seeking any weakness in the alliance. Will this final bond keep the alliance from crumbling? Can Julien and Vriska find love in a union based on duty?]]> 486 Tara Grayce Michelle 5 4.37 2022 Shield Band (Elven Alliance, #6)
author: Tara Grayce
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.37
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at: 2023/12/25
date added: 2023/12/26
shelves: romance, new-adult, fantasy, arranged-marriage
review:

]]> Into the Churn 63918506
Seventeen-year-old Ezren Hart interns in her mother’s terraforming lab, studying Belethea’s deadly storms with the dream of giving her backwater planet open teal skies. But when budget cuts threaten to shut down her mother’s lab, Ezren enters Belethea’s Race Royale, the system’s deadliest and most lucrative race. To win, she’ll have to run, drive, and fight her way across Belethea’s barren landscape while navigating its savage and volatile storms. With her planet’s future, and her family’s, on the line, she can’t afford to lose. But first, she’ll have to convince her handsome royale partner that their planet is worth saving.

Foster Sterling is a jaded ex-prodigy royaler still reeling from his partner’s death in a training accident. When Ezren Hart comes charging into his life, her passion reminds him of what he once loved about racing and his dream of returning pride to their planet. Still, no matter how fast they go, they can’t outrun the mysterious string of deadly accidents following them like a curse. As Foster falls harder for Ezren, he races to piece the clues together. But with time running out and their survival on the line, he’ll have to decide if their dreams are worth their lives.

Perfect for fans of underdog heroes, slow-burn romance, and high-stakes sci-fi, INTO THE CHURN races across a new planet of savage storms and dazzling tech. Fall in love with Ezren and Foster as they battle side-by-side to save their scrappy world on a ruthless interplanetary stage where appearances are everything, speed means survival, and the only thing deadlier than the storms are the other racers.]]> 367 Hayley Reese Chow Michelle 0 to-read 4.34 Into the Churn
author: Hayley Reese Chow
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.34
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/12/24
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Monster 7198130 0 Frank E. Peretti 1589268954 Michelle 4 3.75 2005 Monster
author: Frank E. Peretti
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.75
book published: 2005
rating: 4
read at: 2023/12/24
date added: 2023/12/24
shelves: read-multiple-times, adult, christian, thriller
review:

]]> A Christmas Carol 4836076 Grammy Award Nominee for Best Spoken Word Album!

Tiny Tim, Bob Cratchit, and Ebenezer Scrooge come to marvelous life in Patrick Stewart's critically-acclaimed solo interpretation of A Christmas Carol.

The star of X-Men and The Royal Shakespeare Company, Stewart has performed his one-man stage production of this holiday classic to sell-out audiences. Now, in this Grammy-nominated studio recording of the dazzling achievement that has thrilled audiences in New York and Los Angeles, Stewart invites listeners to rediscover the timeless story at its source: Dickens' own words, presented in a soaring, virtuoso solo performance in which Stewart plays all parts.]]> 2 Charles Dickens 0743563808 Michelle 4 christmas, classic Okay, maybe not every book. But still!!!]]> 4.71 1843 A Christmas Carol
author: Charles Dickens
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.71
book published: 1843
rating: 4
read at: 2023/12/23
date added: 2023/12/23
shelves: christmas, classic
review:
Every audiobook should be read by Patrick Stewart.
Okay, maybe not every book. But still!!!
]]> <![CDATA[Last Dragon Standing (Heartstrikers, #5)]]> 38597728
There is no way to write a blurb for this final book without spoiling all of the others. Suffice it to say, mysteries resolve, dragons war, pigeons abound, and Julius must risk himself in ways he never dreamed possible as Bob’s grand plan finally comes to fruition.

But the Great Seer of the Heartstrikers isn’t the only one whose schemes are nearing completion. The Nameless End is coming, and even the machinations of the world’s most brilliant dragon seer might not be enough to stop it. As the world comes crashing down, it’s up Julius to prove what he’s always known: that seers can be wrong, and Nice Dragons don’t always finish last.]]> 13 Rachel Aaron Michelle 5 4.32 2018 Last Dragon Standing (Heartstrikers, #5)
author: Rachel Aaron
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.32
book published: 2018
rating: 5
read at: 2023/12/23
date added: 2023/12/23
shelves: bringing-together, dragons, fantasy, fav-male-mc, mc-enneagram-9, new-adult, urban-fantasy
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Mother of the Year (Heartstrikers, #1.5)]]> 40641845 24 Rachel Aaron Michelle 0 to-read 3.70 2016 Mother of the Year (Heartstrikers, #1.5)
author: Rachel Aaron
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.70
book published: 2016
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/12/18
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Shoeless Prince: A Puss in Boots Retelling]]> 141200147 *See all of the books in the Once Upon a Prince Series HERE.*

A shoeless son of a miller. A high-fashion tabby. An adventure far more than they bargained for.

Leo is not a normal cat.

Archie Miller might be a dreamer, but he’s seen the complex mousetraps the stray barn cat builds, and he knows he’s right. When his late father wills him the “magic cat” as his only inheritance, Archie is ready to prove it, making a deal with the supposed faerie to gain his fortune.

But the ornery brown tabby has plans of his own. And when Archie ends up entangled with a shapeshifting ogre and a reckless royal beauty, it seems he has unleashed more magical mayhem than he can handle.

Can the shoeless son of a miller romance a princess, become the hero his kingdom needs, and fit into a very fancy pair of hunting boots? Or will all his dreams become a toe-pinching nightmare?

The Shoeless Prince, a retelling of Puss in Boots, is part of Once Upon a Prince, a multi-author series of clean fairy tale retellings. Each standalone novel features a swoony prince and his flaws, growth, and happily ever after. ]]> 236 Jacque Stevens Michelle 0 to-read 4.40 The Shoeless Prince: A Puss in Boots Retelling
author: Jacque Stevens
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.40
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/12/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Silent Prince 144394057 *See all of the books in the Once Upon a Prince Series HERE.*

A voiceless prince. A desperate princess. A sham romance that turns heart-breakingly real.

When cocky Mer prince Kaerius impulsively saves the human princess from drowning, he doesn’t expect to fall in love with her. Yet her human fragility is so unexpectedly sweet that he is soon head over tails. So he bargains his voice to the lord of the deep for a chance to court her on land. He's confident that he can win her affection--he's irresistible, after all.

But he is a fish out of water in the human world. He didn’t expect it to be so difficult to make Marin appreciate his charms. Her father is ailing, her kingdom is threatened from multiple directions, and she must choose from among several foreign suitors to keep her people free. Thinking Kaerius no more than a mute stranger, she asks him to pose as her suitor to give her leverage with the foreign lords vying for her hand. But not all of them are so easily deterred, and they won't take no for an answer.

Kaerius will have to show the princess that his love is not just an act, but how can he win her, much less save her, without a word?

The Silent Prince , a gender-swapped retelling of The Little Mermaid , is part of Once Upon A Prince , a multi-author series of clean fairy tale retellings. Each standalone story features a swoony prince fighting for his happily ever after.]]> 272 C.J. Brightley Michelle 0 to-read 4.12 The Silent Prince
author: C.J. Brightley
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.12
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/12/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[A Dragon of a Different Color (Heartstrikers, #4)]]> 36247475
Turns out, things can get worse. Heartstriker hasn’t begun to pay for its secrets, and the dragons of China are here to collect. When the Golden Emperor demands his surrender, Julius will have to choose between loyalty to the sister who's always watched over him and preserving the clan he gave everything to protect.]]> Rachel Aaron Michelle 5 4.31 2017 A Dragon of a Different Color (Heartstrikers, #4)
author: Rachel Aaron
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.31
book published: 2017
rating: 5
read at: 2023/12/08
date added: 2023/12/15
shelves: bringing-together, dragons, fantasy, fav-male-mc, mc-enneagram-9, new-adult, urban-fantasy
review:

]]> The Shack 1812457
In a world where religion seems to grow increasingly irrelevant The Shack wrestles with the timeless question, "Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain?" The answers Mack gets will astound you and perhaps transform you as much as it did him. You'll want everyone you know to read this book!]]> 248 William Paul Young 0964729237 Michelle 4 christian 3.73 2007 The Shack
author: William Paul Young
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.73
book published: 2007
rating: 4
read at: 2023/12/14
date added: 2023/12/15
shelves: christian
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Thrawn (Star Wars: Thrawn, #1)]]> 31140332
After Thrawn is rescued from exile by Imperial soldiers, his deadly ingenuity and keen tactical abilities swiftly capture the attention of Emperor Palpatine. And just as quickly, Thrawn proves to be as indispensable to the Empire as he is ambitious; as devoted as its most loyal servant, Darth Vader; and a brilliant warrior never to be underestimated. On missions to rout smugglers, snare spies, and defeat pirates, he triumphs time and again—even as his renegade methods infuriate superiors while inspiring ever greater admiration from the Empire. As one promotion follows another in his rapid ascension to greater power, he schools his trusted aide, Ensign Eli Vanto, in the arts of combat and leadership, and the secrets of claiming victory. But even though Thrawn dominates the battlefield, he has much to learn in the arena of politics, where ruthless administrator Arihnda Pryce holds the power to be a potent ally or a brutal enemy.

All these lessons will be put to the ultimate test when Thrawn rises to admiral and must pit all the knowledge, instincts, and battle forces at his command against an insurgent uprising that threatens not only innocent lives but also the Empire’s grip on the galaxy—and his own carefully laid plans for future ascendancy.]]> 427 Timothy Zahn 1780894848 Michelle 3 adult, no-romance, sci-fi 4.30 2017 Thrawn (Star Wars: Thrawn, #1)
author: Timothy Zahn
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.30
book published: 2017
rating: 3
read at: 2023/11/30
date added: 2023/12/02
shelves: adult, no-romance, sci-fi
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Mermaid's Tale (Chronicles of the Undersea Realm #1)]]> 126817045
Locklyn Adair has never fit in. The legs she inherited as a result of her great-great-grandmother’s curse make it impossible for her to belong under the sea. When her niece is also born without a tail, Locklyn is determined to save her from similar rejection by sending her to the only place in the Undersea Realm where legs are acceptable—the Lost Island of Atlantis.

Darin Aalto would do anything to protect his family, even spearheading an impossible quest to find treasure that has been lost for over a hundred years. But when his best friend, Locklyn, joins his crew, his ability to keep her safe—and his shot at winning her heart—comes perilously close to being swept away.

A family curse, lost treasure, unrequited love, and a race against time intertwine as Locklyn and Darin seek to save their family, their kingdom, and eventually the entire Undersea Realm without losing each other.]]> 288 L.E. Richmond Michelle 0 to-read 4.05 2023 The Mermaid's Tale (Chronicles of the Undersea Realm #1)
author: L.E. Richmond
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/11/26
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Water's Break 184574141
Nica would do anything to avoid the hassles of her sister’s bonding ceremony—the wrap fittings, hairstyles, and braided fire coral—but she never imagined that the waters covering her planet would be broken. As the heavens rained fire and stone, mountains erupted from the sea and dry ground was birthed on the Deep, dividing the water—and the Olomi people—for the first time in their history.
 
In the wake of her world’s violent re-formation, Nica’s family is shattered. When the rookie Guardian leaves the safety of the Deep to find her sister, she is abducted by strange landwalkers who possess strength and technology beyond her imagination. Nica realizes that the disaster from above was by their design—a calculated plan to terraform the water planet and conquer her people. All Nica wants to do is find her sister and swim home to safety, but with the landwalkers closing in, escape may not be possible. And if Nica can’t save herself, how can she hope to save her sister—or her people?]]> 320 Sophia L. Hansen Michelle 0 to-read 4.02 Water's Break
author: Sophia L. Hansen
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.02
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/11/26
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Retribution (Starganauts, #2) 60695194
Kaity and her teammates enjoy life on Vexador, a futuristic world that welcomed them as heroes. Yet when an enemy threatens the planet, Kaity must return to Starganaut life—the last thing she wants. Meanwhile, Samantha is troubled after Vogul’s defeat. While the others enjoy peacetime, the prophetess remains vigilant. War looms on Vexador’s horizon, yet Samantha is unable to warn anyone of the coming storm.

Sharko is adjusting to being the Starganauts’ leader when Trylithia attacks. With intergalactic war brewing, he faces a personal crisis as well: his wife Kaity is poised to leave the team. He can barely hold his marriage together, let alone their planetary defense. Hope seems lost in the face of the Trylithian army, whose leader is bent on revenge against the Starganauts despite them never having met. Will this mysterious leader shatter their team, or will Samantha’s disaster prove their salvation?]]> 320 C.E. Stone 3090264676 Michelle 0 to-read 4.75 Retribution (Starganauts, #2)
author: C.E. Stone
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.75
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/11/24
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Starganauts 58415943 The end of Earth was their beginning.

Kaity Anderson was a new bride on her wedding day. Samantha Harris was an engineer who had given up all to follow God.

Kaity’s reception is ruined when an alien gunship incinerates the surface of Earth. Rescued from the apocalypse by a strange prophetess, Kaity, her husband, and five others are drawn across the galaxy. While the prophetess promises God has a plan, Kaity grows increasingly desperate as their chances of survival—and water supply—dwindle.

Samantha didn’t ask to be God’s prophetess. Yet once she answers the call, the Spirit leads her to an inhospitable world with Kaity and several of Earth’s survivors. Hounded by the master of the gunship, the Earthlings search for water as their alien pursuers and dehydration close in. Only God’s promise of a future in a distant city gives Samantha any hope of survival. But could the answer to all their problems lie in eight, mysterious orbs? The discovery of these crystals will change their lives—and the destiny of galaxies—forever.

Thus begins Starganauts, a clean, compelling Christian space opera adventure by C.E. Stone. Fans of Star Wars and Star Trek will enjoy this series that explores how God’s plan prevails, even against impossible odds.]]> 332 C.E. Stone Michelle 4 christian, sci-fi 4.29 Starganauts
author: C.E. Stone
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.29
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2023/11/24
date added: 2023/11/24
shelves: christian, sci-fi
review:

]]> Magnify (Storm & Spire #1) 61037036 The dragons have fled the skies.

A noble House is clinging to life.

The God of gods is rising.

As the Envoy of the Four Kingdoms, Wes has had his purpose decided since birth: sacrifice the treasures of the people to the dragon gods, and they will keep Kaveryth safe.

For five years, he’s been forced to watch his Kingdom fall into ruin while carrying an unbearable grief of his own. The Elders insist that they must continue to be faithful to the Dracodei, but Wes is beginning to doubt that their protectors are holding up their end of the bargain.

Despite his misgivings, he continues to fulfill his duty—until he meets a misunderstood dragon who offers him a choice for the first time in his life.

Will he have the courage to make the sacrifice that truly matters?

Storm & Spire is a young adult Christian fantasy series, perfect for readers who enjoy fast-paced storytelling, fantastical lands, and devious dragons.]]> 300 Stefanie Lozinski Michelle 4 4.16 2022 Magnify (Storm & Spire #1)
author: Stefanie Lozinski
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2023/10/31
date added: 2023/11/24
shelves: young-adult, fantasy, dragons, christian
review:
A fascinating world of humans, dwarves, elves, and dragons. This book focused on humans with a bit of dragons, but future books promise more of the dragons and probably the other races as well. I’m very interested to find out more about the dragons and whether or not they have souls and see how the answer affects their service to/relationship with the High One! I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was great!
]]> <![CDATA[Equal Rites (Discworld, #3; Witches, #1)]]> 6567830 277 Terry Pratchett 0061804835 Michelle 4 fantasy, humor 4.29 1987 Equal Rites (Discworld, #3; Witches, #1)
author: Terry Pratchett
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.29
book published: 1987
rating: 4
read at: 2023/11/21
date added: 2023/11/24
shelves: fantasy, humor
review:

]]> <![CDATA[No Good Dragon Goes Unpunished (Heartstrikers, #3)]]> 31368538
To keep his clan together and his skin intact, Julius is going to have to find a way to make his bloodthirsty siblings play fair. But there’s more going on in Heartstriker Mountain than politics. Every family has its secrets, but the skeletons in Bethesda’s closet are dragon sized, and with Algonquin’s war looming over them all, breaking his clan wide open might just be the only hope Julius has of saving it.]]> 19 Rachel Aaron Michelle 4 4.25 2016 No Good Dragon Goes Unpunished (Heartstrikers, #3)
author: Rachel Aaron
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2016
rating: 4
read at: 2023/11/06
date added: 2023/11/17
shelves: dragons, mc-enneagram-9, new-adult, urban-fantasy
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Once Upon Her Veins (The Iaomai Chronicles Book 1)]]> 150528410 Mzia is a lowly village healer in an empire crumbling from years of drug wars and unrelenting illnesses. But her blood harbors a dangerous secret, and with it, she fights to bring balance back to her broken world. When the government discovers her location and tries to silence her, Mzia must choose what she is willing to sacrifice to keep the truth alive.
Skycaptain Tariq is a loyal soldier who has served the empire faithfully all his life. As a Mark of the Emperor, he is sent on a mission to bring back dangerous fugitives. But when he discovers one of the fugitives has an ability deemed impossible, his world unravels.
The royal family will stop at nothing to extinguish those who challenge their authority. But the drug wars have taken their toll, and more than one rebellion is stirring in the kingdoms. The people are ready for change when whispers of a cure catch on the wind. Myth becomes reality as the truth of Mzia's blood threatens to bring the government to its knees.]]> 364 K Elliott, Rachael Michelle 0 to-read 4.00 Once Upon Her Veins (The Iaomai Chronicles Book 1)
author: K Elliott, Rachael
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/11/10
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Last of the Firedrakes (The Avalonia Chronicles #1)]]> 49673436
Sixteen-year-old Aurora wishes she were anyone else. Mistreated by her adopted family and bullied at school, she believes things can’t get any worse. But when she’s kidnapped and dragged through an ancient tapestry into the magical world of Avalonia, she soon discovers that some dreams can easily turn into nightmares.

Hunted by the evil tyrant Queen Morgana, who will stop at nothing to get rid of the last surviving heir to the powerful Firedrake dynasty, Aurora struggles to fit into her new life as a mage at the prestigious Academy of Evolon. Threatened by treachery at every turn and desperate to prove herself worthy, she uncovers a dark, complicated web of political intrigue that threatens the very existence of the seven kingdoms of Avalonia.

Aided by the powerful Duke of Silverthorne, a fae friend, and a handsome but mysterious outlaw called the Black Wolf, Aurora struggles to master her magic and get her rare powers under control before it’s too late.

If she fails, her new home and her family will be enslaved forever...

The Last of the Firedrakes is the first novel in The Avalonia Chronicles series of enchanting YA fantasies. If you like resilient heroines, plentiful magic, immortal fae warriors, and sizzling romance you’ll love Farah Oomerbhoy’s enthralling story.]]> 384 Farah Oomerbhoy Michelle 0 to-read 3.92 2015 The Last of the Firedrakes (The Avalonia Chronicles #1)
author: Farah Oomerbhoy
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.92
book published: 2015
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/11/10
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Leaves of Remedy (The Last Dragon Egg, #1)]]> 55818485
When Eilika, a girl from a small village, finds an Earth Dragon egg, new hope flourishes for Terram. Unfortunately, her find does not go unnoticed, and danger that is lurking begins closing in from all sides. With the help of Ylva; an ice sorcerer from Ísríki, Cieri; a banished night nox, Everard; the arrogant prince of Stormland, and her best friend, Harmen, she travels through Terram to hatch the egg whilst protecting it. But can she trust these strangers? The only one who is definitely on her side is Sanct Solix, and Eilika is determined to get the dragon egg to him. But when a girl named Aster, crosses their path with her earth dragon magic, confusion arises about who really should actually own the dragon egg.

Will they all work together for one goal, or are there traitors in their midst?]]> 368 Claudia Boon 9083053873 Michelle 0 to-read 3.53 Leaves of Remedy (The Last Dragon Egg, #1)
author: Claudia Boon
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.53
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/11/10
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Evidence for Jesus: Timeless Answers for Tough Questions about Christ]]> 61349346 256 Josh McDowell 0310124247 Michelle 0 to-read 4.33 Evidence for Jesus: Timeless Answers for Tough Questions about Christ
author: Josh McDowell
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.33
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/11/10
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Prince's Captive (Runes of Pain and Peace, #1)]]> 169065361
For lovers of epic magic, complex characters, and slow-burn, intense enemies-to-lovers romance full of tension with no spice, The Prince's Captive is an upper YA fantasy romance perfect for fans of Tara Grayce, Kenley Davidson, and Sarah K. L. Wilson!]]> 370 Celeste Baxendell Michelle 0 to-read 4.12 The Prince's Captive (Runes of Pain and Peace, #1)
author: Celeste Baxendell
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.12
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/11/10
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[By Light & Love (Taletha #0.5)]]> 62683138
Saif works a fruit stand in the lower city; his reward a budding friendship with the beautiful Ranya. He finds himself falling for her, but a secret bars his way, a deception that could destroy the relationship they're only beginning to form.

Ranya has accepted her lot as a lower citizen of Mordova. Trying her best to hold her family together, she finds solace in visiting Saif each day. He has something few people in Ranya's life have-her trust. But Saif isn't the only one with secrets between them; Ranya has some of her own.

When family is threatened, Ranya is forced to choose if she will trust Saif with her heart. Can their newfound love survive the pressure of deceit and differences of social status? Or will the world wedge its way between their hearts?]]> 109 Anna Augustine 1957899190 Michelle 0 to-read 4.67 By Light & Love (Taletha #0.5)
author: Anna Augustine
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.67
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/11/10
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Epic of Marindel: Chosen (The Epic of Marindel, #1)]]> 51243815 Every person has a story.
Every story is a part
Of something Greater.

Long ago, the elven Kingdom of Marindel governed the realm of Tyrizah from its place on the back of a giant sea turtle. But when a great evil was unleashed, the Era of Peace came to a tragic end. Thousands of years passed, and Marindel was all but forgotten.

Connor, a young farmer with a wild imagination, always longed for adventure. When bizarre events cause him to realize his role in the greatest story of all, Connor embarks on a quest to defend the Great King’s daughter from a wicked sorcerer, whose darkness grows with every passing day.

Tarento, a promising Samurai warrior, is disillusioned with the grandeur of his own kingdom. But when he hears the voice of a King he cannot see, he discovers his destiny to save the people of Felidae from impending disaster.

As their journeys entwine, Connor and Tarento will travel across the realm, uncover the mysteries of Marindel, and face unimaginable odds in their fight to survive. Tension broils in the city of Cloud Summit as diabolical factions vie for control of the Kingdom of Armavir. The adventurers must make a daring rescue attempt—but at what cost?

Embark on the journey of a lifetime in Book I of The Epic of Marindel!

“An impressive debut novel… I walked away with one word, WOW. I am convinced this is Holy Spirit inspired.” —Peter Younghusband, reviewer at Perspective by Peter]]> 848 Nathan Keys 1733116427 Michelle 0 to-read 4.72 The Epic of Marindel: Chosen (The Epic of Marindel, #1)
author: Nathan Keys
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.72
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/11/10
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Dragon Prince (The Last Free Dragon #1)]]> 194770863
An epic dragon riding adventure from international bestselling author Jada Fisher and USA Today Bestselling author Shannon VanBergen.

Kashir has lived his whole life in the shadow of his older brother who is now the king. When the young prince saves a dragon in distress, it appears he has finally done something to help his brother and his kingdom. He soon learns that the power of a dragon is something not to be trifled with. Or controlled. Will the dragon help Kashir become the prince he has always hoped to be, or will it destroy everything he sought to protect?

Dragon Prince is the first book in The Last Free Dragon fantasy adventure. If you enjoy magical worlds and unforgettable characters, you don't want to miss this epic adventure from bestselling authors Jada Fisher and Shannon VanBergen.

Download Dragon Prince and get started on your next epic adventure today.]]> 312 Jada Fisher Michelle 0 to-read 4.32 Dragon Prince (The Last Free Dragon #1)
author: Jada Fisher
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.32
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/11/10
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Dreams of a Dragon Girl (Dragon Descendants, #1)]]> 83473446
A girl’s curse.

A quest to save dragons from extinction.

Dragons disappeared long ago. Now they’ve returned, and magic pours back into a world that has buried its existence.

Becca is ridiculed for believing dragons are more than the plague-bringers of history. When a fever sweeps through her village, igniting fears that the dragon plague has returned, her belief becomes dangerous. To make matters worse, Becca can suddenly sense emotions. It’s a curse, exposing secrets she’d rather not know and making life almost unbearable.

The youngest dragon, Gregor, watched his family die because he didn’t know his power could’ve saved them. Defying the rules, he risks exposure to search for a human girl from his vision, certain she’s the key to dragon survival.

But when Gregor finds Becca, violence erupts. Now the fate of the world rests on these unlikely heroes finding the courage to save dragons without losing everyone they love.]]> 418 Bonnie Jacoby 1738797414 Michelle 0 to-read 4.65 Dreams of a Dragon Girl (Dragon Descendants, #1)
author: Bonnie Jacoby
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.65
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/11/10
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Unearth the Tides 184302399 Should the Crimson Death Take You

Huxley Krew Gannon III always knew he would be a royal guard; defending the Crown is in his blood. And coming from a long line of Gannons, that means the job is to be taken seriously at all costs.

When tragedy strikes, Huxley is framed for treason, and his only option is to flee to Braka’s most feared The Wasteful Tides.

It’s rumored a monstrous beast haunts those waters, but what Huxley encounters is even an elusive captain, magical herbs, a beautiful lady, and unearthed truths that could change the course of history.

Unearth the Tides is a fantasy retelling of Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea . Filled with mystery, found family, and themes of truth and forgiveness, Unearth the Tides is perfect for those who love the coziness of the classics and the thrill of adventure.]]> 286 Alissa J. Zavalianos Michelle 0 to-read 4.27 Unearth the Tides
author: Alissa J. Zavalianos
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.27
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/11/10
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Pemberley: Mr. Darcy's Dragon (Jane Austen's Dragons, #1)]]> 32575303 Alternate cover edition of ASIN B01MECLQTW


England is overrun by dragons of all shapes and sizes. Most people are blissfully unaware of them and the Pendragon Treaty that keeps the peace between human and dragon kind.  Only those born with preternatural hearing, like Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet are able to hear and converse with dragonkind.

When the first firedrake egg laid in a century is stolen from Pemberley, the fragile dragon peace teeters on collapse. Darcy has no choice but to chase down the thief, a journey that leads him to quaint market town of Meryton and fellow Dragon Keeper, Elizabeth Bennet. 

Elizabeth shares a unique bond with dragons, stronger than anything Darcy has ever experienced. More than that, her vast experience and knowledge of dragon lore may be the key to uncovering the lost egg. . But Elizabeth can’t stand Darcy’s arrogance and doesn’t trust him to care properly for a precious baby firedrake. After all, he already lost the egg once. What’s to prevent it from happening again?

Can he win her trust and recover the stolen egg before it hatches and sends England spiraling back into the Dark Ages of Dragon War?
]]> 340 Maria Grace Michelle 0 to-read 4.11 2016 Pemberley: Mr. Darcy's Dragon (Jane Austen's Dragons, #1)
author: Maria Grace
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2016
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/11/10
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Crowns: A Heartbooks Anthology (Heartbooks #0.5)]]> 201004994
Authors:
Brigitte Cromey, Ava Lauren Grayson, Hannah Carter, Amber Kirkpatrick, Robin Rakkeby, Hope Bolinger, Kristen Bazen, Annee Clark, Hailey Huntington, Cassandra Hamm, Abigail Falanga, J.M. Hackman, Yakira Goldsberry, Danielle Robertson, Liz Koetsier, Katie Fitzgerald, Abby Johansen, Megan Miles, Kaitlyn Carter Brown, S.M. Jake, AJ Skelly, C. Ash

Poets:
Sara Anderson, Anne J. Hill, Brittany Eden, Brooke J. Katz, Amelia E. Clawford

Photographers & Illustrators:
Marie Lynch, C. Ash, Ruth Lumpkin, Sarah Harmon, Benjamin Cromey, Shannon Alldredge


Featured novella:

Guardian's Oath by Brigitte Cromey

Guard the princess. Save the kingdom. Stay alive.

Princess Talianna has gotten used to being invisible. As the only child of the royal line, she swears to become the best possible ruler for her people-even if it means no one will ever see the girl behind the crown. When fate reunites her with the knight who was once her best friend, she must hold to her promise-and leave the dreams of childhood behind.

Sir Gavin of Andel has never forgotten the princess with a smile as brilliant as the sun. When he's assigned to guard her after being separated for ten years, he swears to protect her with his life against all enemies-an oath that may prove as deadly in success as it would in failure.

They're bound to their oaths, but fulfilling them may cause their own hearts to break.]]> 420 Brittany Eden Michelle 0 to-read 4.68 2023 Crowns: A Heartbooks Anthology (Heartbooks #0.5)
author: Brittany Eden
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.68
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/11/09
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Eleventh Metal (Mistborn, #0.5)]]> 22823333 Arcanum Unbounded: The Cosmere Collection.

"This story was written specifically for the Mistborn Adventure Game, a tabletop RPG. Please keep in mind that the story was intended to help a GM bring his players up to speed on the world if they haven’t read the books. There are a few goodies for those who want to know more about Kelsier, but this story is not meant to stand wholly on its own."
~ Brandon Sanderson.]]> 21 Brandon Sanderson Michelle 3 3.73 2012 The Eleventh Metal (Mistborn, #0.5)
author: Brandon Sanderson
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.73
book published: 2012
rating: 3
read at: 2023/10/23
date added: 2023/11/05
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[A Fated Quest (The Miraveld Chronicles, #3)]]> 181866382
When a prized firebird goes missing on Gareth’s watch, he eagerly volunteers to recover it. His hunt leads him into the neighboring kingdom of Aedyllan, where he falls into a witch’s trap and is forced into a deadly game of hidden motives and confusing prophecies. It may be up to a self-righteous prince, an intellectual fox, and an enchantress knight to stop the witch.

But in a world of multiplying injustices and the inexorable pull of fate, should the villainess’s quest to activate a fae curse even be stopped? Gareth will have to examine his pride and unforgiving nature if he’s to become the hero he’s always aspired to be.

Inspired by the fairy tales The Golden Bird and Tsarevitch Ivan, the Firebird, and the Gray Wolf.
A Fated Quest is book three in The Miraveld Chronicles. It can be read as a standalone, but is best enjoyed after A Thieving Curse (The Miraveld Chronicles book 1).

(Warning for possible triggers: strained familial relationships, violence/blood, grief, references to off-page characters abusing power & SA.)]]> 420 Selina R. Gonzalez Michelle 5 4.46 A Fated Quest (The Miraveld Chronicles, #3)
author: Selina R. Gonzalez
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.46
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2023/10/29
date added: 2023/11/05
shelves: fairytale, fantasy, young-adult
review:
Yet another great book in this series! I love the exploration of gray vs. black-and-white, whether bad things can be done for the right reasons and the consequences of that, and other hard questions. These books always make me think; they also always make me swoon. The romance is *chef's kiss*. And, of course, I have to mention the show-stealer Leo the philosophical fox. He is fantastic and I would like more of him, please!
]]> I Heard the Owl Call My Name 106931
Here amid the grandeur of British Columbia stands the village of Kingcome, a place of salmon runs and ancient totems - a village so steeped in time that, according to Kwakiutl legend, it was founded by two brothers left on earth after the great flood. Yet in this Eden of such natural beauty and richness, the old culture of totems and potlaches is under attack - slowly being replaced by a new culture of prefab houses and alcoholism. Into this world, where an entire generation of young people has become disenchanted and alienated from their heritage, Craven introduces Mark Brian, a young vicar sent to the small isolated parish by his church.

This is Mark's journey of discovery - a journey that will teach him about life, death, and the transforming power of love. It is a journey that will resonate in the mind of readers long after the book is done.
]]> 145 Margaret Craven 1550413392 Michelle 5 4.03 1967 I Heard the Owl Call My Name
author: Margaret Craven
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.03
book published: 1967
rating: 5
read at: 2023/10/27
date added: 2023/11/05
shelves: adult, classic, no-romance, read-multiple-times
review:
So good I read it twice within a week. I love how respectfully the book looked at the culture of this particular First Nation village, seeing both its beauty and its faults (because EVERY culture on the planet has faults). And I adored that this was all seen through the eyes of a man of the church who showed Christ's love to them without tamping down their culture, history, and stories (because EVERY culture on the planet has beauty). I will be reading this book again.
]]> <![CDATA[The Hero of Ages (Mistborn, #3)]]> 20748207 Who is the Hero of Ages?

To end the Final Empire and restore freedom, Vin killed the Lord Ruler. But as a result, the Deepness—the lethal form of the ubiquitous mists—is back, along with increasingly heavy ashfalls and ever more powerful earthquakes. Humanity appears to be doomed.

Having escaped death at the climax of The Well of Ascension only by becoming a Mistborn himself, Emperor Elend Venture hopes to find clues left behind by the Lord Ruler that will allow him to save the world. Vin is consumed with guilt at having been tricked into releasing the mystic force known as Ruin from the Well. Ruin wants to end the world, and its near omniscience and ability to warp reality make stopping it seem impossible. Vin can't even discuss it with Elend lest Ruin learn their plans!]]> 27 Brandon Sanderson Michelle 5 4.52 2008 The Hero of Ages (Mistborn, #3)
author: Brandon Sanderson
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.52
book published: 2008
rating: 5
read at: 2023/10/12
date added: 2023/10/13
shelves: adult, fantasy, mc-enneagram-6, unique-magic
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Well of Ascension (Mistborn, #2)]]> 68429
The impossible has been accomplished. The Lord Ruler—the man who claimed to be god incarnate and brutally ruled the world for a thousand years—has been vanquished. But Kelsier, the hero who masterminded that triumph, is dead too, and now the awesome task of building a new world has been left to his young protégé, Vin, the former street urchin who is now the most powerful Mistborn in the land, and to the idealistic young nobleman she loves.

As Kelsier's protégé and slayer of the Lord Ruler she is now venerated by a budding new religion, a distinction that makes her intensely uncomfortable. Even more worrying, the mists have begun behaving strangely since the Lord Ruler died, and seem to harbor a strange vaporous entity that haunts her.

Stopping assassins may keep Vin's Mistborn skills sharp, but it's the least of her problems. Luthadel, the largest city of the former empire, doesn't run itself, and Vin and the other members of Kelsier's crew, who lead the revolution, must learn a whole new set of practical and political skills to help. It certainly won't get easier with three armies - one of them composed of ferocious giants - now vying to conquer the city, and no sign of the Lord Ruler's hidden cache of atium, the rarest and most powerful allomantic metal.

As the siege of Luthadel tightens, an ancient legend seems to offer a glimmer of hope. But even if it really exists, no one knows where to find the Well of Ascension or what manner of power it bestows.]]> 590 Brandon Sanderson 0765316889 Michelle 4 4.38 2007 The Well of Ascension (Mistborn, #2)
author: Brandon Sanderson
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.38
book published: 2007
rating: 4
read at: 2023/09/21
date added: 2023/09/24
shelves: adult, fantasy, found-family, unique-magic
review:

]]> The Echo of Old Books 62060274
Rare-book dealer Ashlyn Greer’s affinity for books extends beyond the intoxicating scent of old paper, ink, and leather. She can feel the echoes of the books’ previous owners—an emotional fingerprint only she can read. When Ashlyn discovers a pair of beautifully bound volumes that appear to have never been published, her gift quickly becomes an obsession. Not only is each inscribed with a startling incrimination, but the authors, Hemi and Belle, tell conflicting sides of a tragic romance.

With no trace of how these mysterious books came into the world, Ashlyn is caught up in a decades-old literary mystery, beckoned by two hearts in ruins, whoever they were, wherever they are. Determined to learn the truth behind the doomed lovers’ tale, she reads on, following a trail of broken promises and seemingly unforgivable betrayals. The more Ashlyn learns about Hemi and Belle, the nearer she comes to bringing closure to their love story—and to the unfinished chapters of her own life.]]> 431 Barbara Davis 1542038154 Michelle 5
Content warning: mentions of suicide, sex out of wedlock (mostly emotions then fade-to-black), gaslighting and manipulation.]]> 4.27 2023 The Echo of Old Books
author: Barbara Davis
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.27
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at: 2023/09/16
date added: 2023/09/18
shelves:
review:
4.5 stars! A compelling mystery with themes of trust and forgiveness, especially how forgiveness sets the forgiver free from bitterness. I had a great time trying to figure out where the books came from and what truly happened to break apart the two lovers within their pages. I mostly listened to the audio version—all three actors were great, though sometimes the words were hard to hear as I drove and I had to adjust the volume up and back down a lot.

Content warning: mentions of suicide, sex out of wedlock (mostly emotions then fade-to-black), gaslighting and manipulation.
]]> <![CDATA[Song of the Sea (The Singer Tales #2)]]> 68049844
Princess Estelle has never been happy in her father’s underwater empire, although she’s ready to do her duty—marry at fifteen and pass her three hundred years in service to family and empire. But when she’s finally allowed to ascend to the surface and catches sight of a handsome human prince, a different—and altogether dangerous—dream starts to grow in her heart.

Demetrius is a merman with one ambition—to earn a place in the emperor’s royal guard. Emotion plays no role in his duty, and Princess Estelle is not strictly under his care. So why does it make him so uncomfortable to see her pain, and why does he allow himself to get caught up in her desperate bargain to win the human prince?

Only, once on land, Estelle finds that neither her plans nor her heart are as much in her control as she thought. Prince Farrin’s dramatic disappearance should shatter her world. Instead, it’s the beginning of a whole new life—one that’s both simpler and happier than the opulence of her underwater palace. But when the prince returns, it’s time to pay the price for her happiness. The bargain she made now threatens to consume both land and sea—and even with Demetrius’s help, the cost of saving her world may be too terrible to be paid.

Song of the Sea is the second installment in The Singer Tales, a series of interconnected standalone novels set on the continent of Providore, where magic is harnessed by singers. Each story follows a different heroine navigating everything from miniature elves to brutish giants as she chases her own happily ever after. If you enjoy strong heroines, clean romance, and fantasy worlds with a dash of intrigue, discover the world of The Singer Tales today.]]> 368 Deborah Grace White 1922636630 Michelle 0 to-read 4.45 Song of the Sea (The Singer Tales #2)
author: Deborah Grace White
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.45
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/09/06
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Pretense (Elven Alliance, #5) 57445221 Essie and Farrendel are living their happily ever after…until Farrendel’s greatest secret leaks to the Escarlish press.

With his reputation set to be forever ruined, they race to do damage control. Yet, an even greater danger lurks behind the leak, threatening more than just Farrendel’s reputation.

To save his brother-in-law and rescue the alliance, Prince Edmund of Escarland proposes a fake courtship to Jalissa, the elf princess who has broken his heart not once, but twice, even if she doesn’t know it.

Edmund and Jalissa struggle to unravel the conspiracy, save Farrendel, and attempt to keep their fake romance from becoming all too real. It might be more than this spy prince and elf princess can handle.]]> 484 Tara Grayce Michelle 3 fantasy, new-adult, romance 4.41 2021 Pretense (Elven Alliance, #5)
author: Tara Grayce
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.41
book published: 2021
rating: 3
read at: 2023/08/31
date added: 2023/09/01
shelves: fantasy, new-adult, romance
review:

]]> Breakwater (Broken Tides, #1) 34371907 Mermaids. Murder. Mayhem.

A red tide is rising.

As the daughter of one of the mer-king’s trusted advisors, seventeen-year-old Jade has great responsibilities. When her fiancé murders a naiad, plunging the underwater city of Thessalonike into uproar, tensions surge between the mer and the naiads. Jade learns too late that the choices she makes ripple further than she'd ever imagined. And as she fights against the tide of anger in a city that lives for scandal, she discovers danger lurking in every canal, imperiling her family and shattering the ocean's fragile peace.

Can the city's divisions be mended before the upwelling of hate rips apart everything Jade loves?]]> 240 Catherine Jones Payne 1946693006 Michelle 5 3.58 2017 Breakwater (Broken Tides, #1)
author: Catherine Jones Payne
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.58
book published: 2017
rating: 5
read at: 2023/08/26
date added: 2023/08/26
shelves: bringing-together, fantasy, mer, young-adult
review:
4.5 stars! A thoughtful and engaging story set in a gorgeous and enchanting underwater world. Jade is a great character to follow, with flaws and gaps in her ways of thinking yet with a good heart that always wants to do what is right. The themes explore racism (both personal and systemic) and privilege, as well as the consequences of doing the right thing when the rest of the world is against you. I went in expecting just a fun mermaid story and got far more—I will definitely be reading the rest of the series!
]]> Maelstrom (Broken Tides, #3) 41966587
Jade flees home to Thessalonike to find her brother kidnapped and the king assassinated. As the city awaits the arrival of a conquering foreign army, violence surges between the Royal Mer Guard and the revolutionaries, and everyone Jade loves is caught in the ensuing riptide. If the Neptunian army arrives before the city unites, nothing can stop Thessalonike from falling.

Floundering to navigate treacherous currents, Jade must rescue her brother before it's too late. And as the city descends into turmoil, she must resist the lure of violence and hatred that threatens to swallow her whole.

Can the city mend its divisions to face the Neptunian threat, or will its factions tear it apart? And can Jade protect her loved ones amid the swelling torrent?

Experience the stunning culmination of Jade's story in Maelstrom, the final novel in a spine-tingling series of YA mermaid fantasy books. If you like enigmatic mystery, stirring romance, and harrowing intrigue, you'll love Catherine Jones Payne's riveting underwater world.

Dive into a page-turning adventure perfect for fans of Alexandra Christo, Leigh Bardugo, and Kiera Cass.]]> 246 Catherine Jones Payne 1946693081 Michelle 0 to-read 4.28 2018 Maelstrom (Broken Tides, #3)
author: Catherine Jones Payne
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.28
book published: 2018
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/08/26
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Daughter of the Rivers (Broken Tides, #0.2)]]> 43206792
Sixteen-year-old Tryphaena Moss just wants to be left alone. In the Camford River, where the king and queen rule with exacting authority, the wisest naiads stay safe by avoiding the attention of the royals. But then Tryphaena’s best friend is condemned to die.

Tryphaena’s carefully planned life is upended when she steps forward to take her friend’s place in a trial by ordeal, provoking the anger of the king and queen and attracting the eye of the roguishly handsome crown prince. To survive, she must embark on a dangerous journey to travel to her father’s homewaters and seek an audience with a foreign queen.

Can Tryphaena survive the venture into unfamiliar rivers, or will the rapids take her life? And will the prince’s newfound infatuation with her prove to be her doom?

Encounter the magic of the naiad rivers in Daughter of the Rivers, a companion novella to Broken Tides, a spine-tingling series of YA mermaid fantasy books. If you like enigmatic mystery, stirring romance, and harrowing intrigue, you'll love Catherine Jones Payne's riveting underwater world.

Dive into a page-turning adventure perfect for fans of Alexandra Christo, Leigh Bardugo, and Kiera Cass.]]> 128 Catherine Jones Payne 1946693111 Michelle 0 to-read 4.25 2019 Daughter of the Rivers (Broken Tides, #0.2)
author: Catherine Jones Payne
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2019
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/08/26
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Crosscurrent (Broken Tides, #2)]]> 38657728 264 Catherine Jones Payne 1946693057 Michelle 0 to-read 4.19 Crosscurrent (Broken Tides, #2)
author: Catherine Jones Payne
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.19
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/08/26
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Sky of Seven Colors 88830905  
After the accident, Meg would do anything to wake her best friend from his deadly coma. At least, that’s what she whispered into the woodland shadows. She never imagined her wish would trap her in a gray other-earth, void of any color.
 
Meg's vibrant humanity is a priceless artifact in the gray kingdom, coveted by the royal court. All she wants to do is find a way back home. Until she discovers the other-earth contains healing powers that can save her friend. But only if Meg becomes what the gray people need—a human bride for Kalmus, the powerful king of the capital city.

With her heart torn between earths, Meg’s choices may cost more than she knows.]]> 368 Rachelle Nelson Michelle 0 to-read 3.99 Sky of Seven Colors
author: Rachelle Nelson
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.99
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/08/23
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Into the Wild 22635871
For generations, four Clans of wild cats have shared the forest according to the laws laid down by their ancestors. But the warrior code is threatened, and the ThunderClan cats are in grave danger. The sinister ShadowClan grows stronger every day. Noble warriors are dying--and some deaths are more mysterious than others.

In the midst of this turmoil appears an ordinary housecat named Rusty...who may turn out to be the bravest warrior of them all.

Supports the Common Core State Standards]]> 272 Erin Hunter 0062366963 Michelle 4 4.19 2003 Into the Wild
author: Erin Hunter
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.19
book published: 2003
rating: 4
read at: 2023/08/13
date added: 2023/08/18
shelves: cats, middle-grade, no-romance
review:

]]> The Magic of Ordinary Days 620580 304 Ann Howard Creel 0142000906 Michelle 3 adult, historical-fiction 3.84 2001 The Magic of Ordinary Days
author: Ann Howard Creel
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.84
book published: 2001
rating: 3
read at: 2023/08/18
date added: 2023/08/18
shelves: adult, historical-fiction
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Shattered Road (Of Cats And Dragons)]]> 193790076 When an old enemy attacks, Omen and his companions race to defend the people of the Chain.

But heroics have a cost.

And the fellowship is broken.

In an adventure for the ages, our young bard and his talking cat brave legendary champions, battle supernatural disasters, and cross the boundaries of time and space in hopes of reversing the unthinkable.

Join them on their shattered road, and mind-blowing revelations will be your reward.]]> 445 Carol E. Leever Michelle 4 4.88 Shattered Road (Of Cats And Dragons)
author: Carol E. Leever
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.88
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2023/08/13
date added: 2023/08/13
shelves: cats, brothers, fantasy, found-family, music, psychic-powers, time-travel, young-adult, wolves
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Fierce Heart (Elven Alliance, #1)]]> 48572201
When a diplomatic meeting goes horribly wrong, Essie, a human princess, finds herself married to the elf prince and warrior Laesornysh. Fitting in to the serene, quiet elf culture might be a little difficult for this talkative princess, but she’s determined to make it work.

With impending war and tenuous alliances, it will be up to Essie to unite her two peoples. And maybe get her hands on elven conditioner while she’s at it.]]> 219 Tara Grayce Michelle 5 4.08 2019 Fierce Heart (Elven Alliance, #1)
author: Tara Grayce
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2019
rating: 5
read at: 2023/08/07
date added: 2023/08/08
shelves: bringing-together, fantasy, new-adult, romance, read-multiple-times, mental-health
review:
A beautiful story about a chatty human princess who suddenly is married off to a reserved elf prince to establish an alliance between their peoples. One thing I adore about this series (besides the couple themselves) is the way Essie chooses to respond to less than great circumstances. Repeatedly, she chooses joy over sadness and fear, chooses to press forward despite the hatred directed at her by some of the elves, chooses to ensure her marriage is beneficial to her people even if love isn’t an option for her (spoiler alert, it is). And Farrendel is precious. The end.
]]> <![CDATA[On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness (The Wingfeather Saga #1)]]> 90588447
Andrew Peterson spins a quirky and riveting tale of the Igibys’ extraordinary journey from Glipwood’s Dragon Day Festival and a secret hidden in the Books and Crannies Bookstore, past the terrifying Black Carriage, clutches of the horned hounds and loathsome toothy cows surrounding AnkleJelly Manor, through the Glipwood Forest and mysterious treehouse of Peet the Sock Man (known for a little softshoe and wearing tattered socks on his hands and arms), to the very edge of the Ice Prairies.

Full of characters rich in heart, smarts, and courage, On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness presents a world of wonder and a tale children of all ages will cherish, families can read aloud, and readers’ groups are sure to discuss for its layers of meaning about life’s true treasure and tangle of the beautiful and horrible, temporal and eternal, and good and bad.]]> 304 Andrew Peterson 0593582470 Michelle 0 to-read 4.27 2008 On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness (The Wingfeather Saga #1)
author: Andrew Peterson
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.27
book published: 2008
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/08/01
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Making of Biblical Womanhood]]> 54884043
This book moves the conversation about biblical womanhood beyond Greek grammar and into the realm of church history--ancient, medieval, and modern--to show that this belief is not divinely ordained but a product of human civilization that continues to creep into the church. Barr's historical insights provide context for contemporary teachings about women's roles in the church and help move the conversation forward.

Interweaving her story as a Baptist pastor's wife, Barr sheds light on the #ChurchToo movement and abuse scandals in Southern Baptist circles and the broader evangelical world, helping readers understand why biblical womanhood is more about human power structures than the message of Christ.]]> 256 Beth Allison Barr 1587435349 Michelle 0 to-read 4.21 2021 The Making of Biblical Womanhood
author: Beth Allison Barr
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/07/30
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Single Isn't Second-Best 61958850
In a world that glorifies romance and sex, many of us have fallen for the lie that singleness is second-best . . . or that even we are second-best compared to our married friends.

So how can you learn to believe singleness is good and truly experience its blessings?

How do you handle the loneliness, the desire for kids, or the heartache of breakups? How do you embrace what you have instead of wishing for the things you don’t?

As impossible as it may seem, singleness truly is as good as marriage.

If you’re wrestling with being content in your singleness, this book will provide empathy and encouragement while offering biblical truths and practical steps to help you combat that “grass-is-greener” syndrome. You don’t need to be married to live the abundant life Christ offers to all believers.]]> 292 Philip Wilder Michelle 0 currently-reading 4.39 2022 Single Isn't Second-Best
author: Philip Wilder
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.39
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/07/21
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> <![CDATA[A Daughter of the Trolls (A Numina Parable, #1)]]> 59521243
Are you afraid of the bogeyman?

Eighteen-year-old Sparrow can’t remember a time when she wasn’t. And neither can her mother—or the trolls, imps, gnomes, and faeries who all live in the Glade and call it home. Though Sparrow’s weak heart keeps her wheelchair-bound, she and her mother have dedicated their lives to protecting the Glade, especially from the worst bogeyman of them all: the skin-stealing, poison-ingesting witch called Black Annis.

But one night, Sparrow makes a terrible mistake, and everything she once held dear is taken from her. The Glade is no longer a sanctuary, and the only way Sparrow can save her mother and her friends is to journey out into a monster-ridden world that wasn’t made for her or her wheelchair. Joined by her half-goblin friend, Rush, Sparrow will have to confront her fears before the ones they love are lost forever.

A Daughter of the Trolls will appeal to fans of European folklore and the darker Grimm Brother’s fairytales. This is a spine-tingling young adult fantasy adventure about evil witches, monsters, and the imperfect heroes who face them all. You’ll join Sparrow and her faerie friends on a life-changing journey where they face not only their outer demons, but their inner ones as well.]]> 242 McKenzie Catron-Pichan Michelle 0 to-read 4.19 2022 A Daughter of the Trolls (A Numina Parable, #1)
author: McKenzie Catron-Pichan
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.19
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/07/20
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Bard Tidings 175002435 The spirit of a warrior lies deep inside a bard. Deep down. Way, way down.

Jonas wakes up each day regretting his position as the king’s bard. He dreams of escaping the kingdom and returning to life as a traveling musician with his best friend Elrick. But when his love Bree is taken prisoner in the castle, he and Elrick must act. Their attempts at rescue go horribly wrong, and the king marks them for death. Now they must flee the kingdom with a hefty reward on their heads.

Meanwhile, the king’s soldiers march to war, placing Bree’s hometown in their path of destruction. Jonas must go from lute player to monster slayer as they travel through dangerous lands on a desperate quest to stop an army.

Their adventures throw them in league with fearsome lycans, stabby assassins, and a cursed warrior. With their help they must survive a pursuing dragon, slay a sorcerer, defeat an army, and of course, compose the perfect song along the way.

Can Jonas and his friends survive the journey and save an innocent town before it’s too late?]]> 246 Paul Regnier Michelle 0 to-read 4.47 Bard Tidings
author: Paul Regnier
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.47
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/07/19
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> O Pioneers! 140963 O Pioneers! (1913) was Willa Cather's first great novel, and to many it remains her unchallenged masterpiece. No other work of fiction so faithfully conveys both the sharp physical realities and the mythic sweep of the transformation of the American frontier—and the transformation of the people who settled it. Cather's heroine is Alexandra Bergson, who arrives on the wind-blasted prairie of Hanover, Nebraska, as a girl and grows up to make it a prosperous farm. But this archetypal success story is darkened by loss, and Alexandra's devotion to the land may come at the cost of love itself.

At once a sophisticated pastoral and a prototype for later feminist novels, O Pioneers! is a work in which triumph is inextricably enmeshed with tragedy, a story of people who do not claim a land so much as they submit to it and, in the process, become greater than they were.]]> 159 Willa Cather 0679743626 Michelle 3 3.89 1913 O Pioneers!
author: Willa Cather
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.89
book published: 1913
rating: 3
read at: 2023/07/18
date added: 2023/07/18
shelves:
review:

]]> Elf King (Elven Alliance, #9) 171934897
Iron Heart
It all started with an arranged marriage.

When Ellarin, heir to the King of Tarenhiel, finds out that he is dying, his father forces him into an arranged marriage with Lady Leyleira. Will the pressure of the king and the court draw them closer or pull them apart? Will they fall in love before it is too late?

Elf King
This elf king was not always so grumpy.

When Prince Weylind of the elves falls in love with a simple healer's daughter, life seems peaceful and perfect. But a troll attack and an unexpected younger brother change everything, placing more and more burdens on Weylind’s shoulders. Will Weylind find his way back to the person he used to be? Or will he be too late to fix the damage to his own family?

Follow four generations of kings as they shape Tarenhiel into the kingdom it is during the Elven Alliance series!]]> 354 Tara Grayce Michelle 0 to-read 4.61 2023 Elf King (Elven Alliance, #9)
author: Tara Grayce
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.61
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/07/17
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Inventor: Elven Alliance Collected Stories Volume Two (Elven Alliance)]]> 143956173
Fan favorites find their happy endings in this second collection of Elven Alliance short stories and novellas!

If you've been waiting for Iyrinder and Miss Merrick's story, Lance and Illyna to finally meet, and glimpses of Farrendel and Essie's growing family, then you won't want to miss this story collection!

King of Escarland – When King Averett is shot on his coronation day, sparks fly between him and the captain’s daughter Paige.
The Guard and the Maid – Iyrinder is the perfect elven guard, but will he find his happily ever after with the human maid Miss Merrick? Or will a near tragedy cut their love story short?
Inventor – Machines have always made more sense to Lance Marion than people. But when the elf Illyna walks into his life, his inventions might not be enough to build a happily ever after.

This collection also includes the stories Birthdays, The Wager, Weapons Collection, Failures and Forgiveness, and Nightmares and Monsters.]]> 305 Tara Grayce Michelle 0 to-read 4.55 2023 Inventor: Elven Alliance Collected Stories Volume Two (Elven Alliance)
author: Tara Grayce
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.55
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/07/17
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Peril: Elven Alliance Collected Stories Volume One (Elven Alliance)]]> 152179946
A dangerous mission to a foreign kingdom isn't the ideal honeymoon.

Jalissa, princess of the elves, thought she knew what she was getting into when she married Edmund, the spy prince of Escarland. But a week after their wedding, they must embark on a dangerous mission to an enemy nation, putting their wits, their skills, and their new marriage to the test in ways they never imagined.

Join Edmund and Jalissa for their adventures in this Elven Alliance story collection, featuring four short stories and a novella. Witness Edmund's marriage proposal, their courtship, and their work investigating the Escarlish nobility. Finally, follow their adventures on their spy mission in Mongavaria, which takes place during Shield Band.

This volume contains the below stories:
The Proposal - previously published for free for newsletter subscribers
Naming the Kitten - previously published for free for newsletter subscribers
Family Vacation - all new short story
Investigating - all new short story
Peril in Mongavaria - an all new novella

Due to spoilers, this story collection is best read after Shield Band (Elven Alliance Book Six).]]> 226 Tara Grayce Michelle 0 to-read 4.35 2022 Peril: Elven Alliance Collected Stories Volume One (Elven Alliance)
author: Tara Grayce
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.35
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/07/17
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Troll Queen (Elven Alliance, #4)]]> 97209573
The war is over. A peace treaty has been signed. But Farrendel and Essie still have a battle ahead of them. Will Farrendel be able to build a new life with Essie now that he no longer has a war to fight?

Melantha has ruined her life and the lives of all those around her. Now that she finds herself far from home and married to a troll who was once her enemy and captor, can she figure out what love and honor truly mean before it is too late for all of them?

Not everyone in Kostaria is happy with peace or with their new elven queen. If Rharreth and Melantha cannot find a way to bring peace to their troubled kingdom, war threatens not only their happily ever after, but Essie and Farrendel's as well.

The epic adventure and slowburn romances of the Elven Alliance series continue in this clean, romantic fantasy perfect for fans of K.M. Shea and Kenley Davidson.]]> 499 Tara Grayce Michelle 5 4.28 2021 Troll Queen (Elven Alliance, #4)
author: Tara Grayce
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.28
book published: 2021
rating: 5
read at: 2023/07/16
date added: 2023/07/17
shelves: bringing-together, fantasy, mental-health, new-adult, romance
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Death Wind (Elven Alliance, #3)]]> 97206385
Although they once were enemies, the humans of Escarland and the elves of Tarenhiel have allied to fight the trolls from the far north. But alliances are tricky things even in the best of times, and with Farrendel, the elves’ foremost warrior and Essie’s husband, captured by the trolls, the circumstances appear dire indeed.

But Essie won’t give up, and she will make her two peoples work together to fight this war if it’s the last thing she does. One way or another, she will get Farrendel back, no matter what it takes.]]> 378 Tara Grayce Michelle 4 4.30 2020 Death Wind (Elven Alliance, #3)
author: Tara Grayce
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.30
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at: 2023/07/11
date added: 2023/07/15
shelves: bringing-together, brothers, fantasy, new-adult, romance
review:

]]> <![CDATA[All My Knotted-Up Life: A Memoir]]> 61357133
An incredibly thoughtful, disarmingly funny, and intensely vulnerable glimpse into the life and ministry of a woman familiar to many but known by few.

“It’s a peculiar thing, this having lived long enough to take a good look back. We go from knowing each other better than we know ourselves to barely sure if we know each other at all, to precisely sure that we don’t. All my knotted-up life I’ve longed for the sanity and simplicity of knowing who’s good and who’s bad. I’ve wanted to know this about myself as much as anyone. This was not theological. It was strictly relational. God could do what he wanted with eternity. I was just trying to make it here in the meantime. As benevolent as he has been in a myriad of ways, God has remained aloof on this uncomplicated request .” – Beth Moore

New York Times best-selling author, speaker, visionary, and founder of Living Proof Ministries Beth Moore has devoted her whole life to helping women across the globe come to know the transforming power of Jesus. An established writer of many acclaimed books and Bible studies for women on spiritual growth and personal development, Beth now unveils her own story in a much-anticipated debut memoir.

All My Knotted-Up Life

All My Knotted-Up Life is told with surprising candor about some of the personal heartbreaks and behind-the-scenes challenges that have marked Beth’s life. But beyond that, it’s a beautifully crafted portrait of resilience and survival, a poignant reminder of God’s enduring faithfulness, and proof positive that if we ever truly took the time to hear people’s full stories . . . we’d all walk around slack-jawed.]]> 304 Beth Moore 1496472675 Michelle 5 4.43 2023 All My Knotted-Up Life: A Memoir
author: Beth Moore
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.43
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at: 2023/07/11
date added: 2023/07/15
shelves: auto-biography-memoir, christian
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Dragon Flight (The Dragon Slippers Series)]]> 62834674 Never one to sit around, Creel throws herself headlong into an adventure that will reunite her with her dragon friend Shardas, pit her against a vicious new enemy and perhaps rekindle a friendship with Prince Luka that seems to have gone cold.
Funny, heart-felt, and action packed, this is a sequel that will satisfy on every level.]]> Jessica Day George 1665052074 Michelle 4 4.00 2008 Dragon Flight (The Dragon Slippers Series)
author: Jessica Day George
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2008
rating: 4
read at: 2023/07/06
date added: 2023/07/06
shelves: dragons, fantasy, middle-grade
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Crownless Prince (Aedyllan Chronicles, #1)]]> 144696857
Four years ago, Prince Marcus was imprisoned in a tower with only his servant-bodyguard for company. His crime? Falling in love with the daughter of his father's rival.

After the spell keeping them trapped breaks, the prince and servant escape to discover that the war Marcus wished to avoid already came and claimed the lives of his family. Penniless, homeless, and the target of an assassin sent by the father of the woman he hoped to marry, the erstwhile prince sets out to reassure himself that his beloved is alive and well.

But Princess Adriana is about to wed a wealthy lord, and when a brokenhearted Marcus and his friend accept jobs as servants, they find themselves in the last place they should be-serving Adriana's betrothed in the castle of a king who wants Marcus dead.

Yet the princess may still have feelings for him and her betrothed is more cruel than charming. With his life and love at stake and only days until the wedding, Marcus will find his resolve to achieve his dreams tested.

The Crownless Prince is a gender-swapped retelling of Maid Maleen.

This standalone book is set in the same world as and has crossover with Selina R. Gonzalez's The Miraveld Chronicles series of fairy tale reimaginings, but is set 200 years before that series.

Content: Fade-to-black (married)
TW: Brief scenes of physical abuse

(This book was previously published as part of the Once Upon a Prince multi-author series. The story remains the same.)]]> 236 Selina R. Gonzalez Michelle 0 to-read 4.20 The Crownless Prince (Aedyllan Chronicles, #1)
author: Selina R. Gonzalez
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.20
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/07/06
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> War Bound (Elven Alliance #2) 49293567
Princess Elspeth of Escarland married the elf prince and achieved peace between the elves and her human people. But after a recent ambush by the trolls, it is clear the trolls are trying to start a war between the elves and humans once again. To keep their peoples at peace, Essie and Farrendel travel to meet Essie’s family and negotiate peace.

Yet in Escarland, not everyone is happy with peace. Traitors lurk in both Escarland and Tarenhiel, and it will be up to Essie and Farrendel to flush them out. The consequences of failure might be more personal and deadly than they fear.
]]> 326 Tara Grayce Michelle 5 4.23 2020 War Bound (Elven Alliance #2)
author: Tara Grayce
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.23
book published: 2020
rating: 5
read at: 2023/07/04
date added: 2023/07/04
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Saber's Pride (Spirits' Valley, #2)]]> 167927504
Raised amidst a vicious chief and treacherous half-brothers, Davor is focused only on trying to save those he loves from his older brother Kamil’s cruelty.

Then he is given the role of rokr, making him second to the battlelion in a war against the rival Greywolf tribe. For the first time, Davor has authority to make changes in the Saber tribe. Slowly, he overcomes his fears and begins to ally with the warriors under him.

When an unexpected blow leaves both the chief and Kamil dead, it is up to Davor to lead their people. Yet he can only become chief if he marries. Marta is as unsure of him as he is about her, but she is committed to turning their tribe from the bloody paths they’ve walked for too long.

Can a man who doesn’t believe in himself and a woman who doesn’t trust him heal a tribe beset by generations of violence?]]> 570 C.M. Banschbach 0999220365 Michelle 5 This book 4.71 Saber's Pride (Spirits' Valley, #2)
author: C.M. Banschbach
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.71
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2023/06/22
date added: 2023/07/04
shelves: romance, new-adult, found-family, fav-female-mc, fantasy, cats, brothers, read-multiple-times
review:
This book
]]> Jinxed (Jinxed, #1) 45007889
Then, one night, Lacey comes across the remains of an advanced baku. Once it might’ve been in the shape of a cat but it’s now mangled and broken, no sign of electronic life behind its eyes. Days of work later and the baku opens its eyes. Lacey calls him Jinx – and Jinx opens up a world for her that she never even knew existed, including entry to the hallowed halls of Profecus. Slowly but surely, Jinx becomes more than just a baku to Lacey – he becomes her perfect companion. But what is Jinx, really? His abilities far surpass anything written into his code or built into his motherboard. He seems to be more than just a robotic pet. He seems ... real.]]> 336 Amy McCulloch 1492683744 Michelle 0 to-read 4.19 2018 Jinxed (Jinxed, #1)
author: Amy McCulloch
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.19
book published: 2018
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/06/30
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[How to Defeat a Demon King in Ten Easy Steps]]> 53300479
And so, Yui Shaw sets out with an ambitious plan. A 10-step plan.

She'll find a way to obtain the Hero's legendary sword. She'll earn obscure classes, gain levels, and increase her skills. She'll travel to the meticulously-crafted dungeons that seem designed for one specific Hero to complete. And, if she's truly (un)fortunate, she might even find a fairy.

She might not be a Hero—but if she can fake it long enough, she might still be able to save the world.

***

This book is an affectionate parody of classic Japanese games like The Legend of Zelda, Final Fantasy, and Dragon Quest. It's also a work in the LitRPG/GameLit subgenres. Game mechanics exist in the world of the story and characters are aware of their existence.]]> 6 Andrew Rowe Michelle 5
Original Review: Fun parody based in a gaming world, where the "hero class" is earned by being a farmer or an orphan (or better yet, both!), and one young woman without those qualifications sets out to be a hero without actually being a Hero. Loved the cleverness of the protagonist, and though I'm not much into gaming I still found the nods to certain tropes funny, particularly those pointing to Legend of Zelda. Fun, funny, and short.]]> 3.98 2020 How to Defeat a Demon King in Ten Easy Steps
author: Andrew Rowe
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2020
rating: 5
read at: 2023/06/22
date added: 2023/06/26
shelves: fantasy, humor, mc-enneagram-5
review:
Update: Still love it the third time around!

Original Review: Fun parody based in a gaming world, where the "hero class" is earned by being a farmer or an orphan (or better yet, both!), and one young woman without those qualifications sets out to be a hero without actually being a Hero. Loved the cleverness of the protagonist, and though I'm not much into gaming I still found the nods to certain tropes funny, particularly those pointing to Legend of Zelda. Fun, funny, and short.
]]> <![CDATA[Elf Prince (Elven Alliance #7)]]> 97212283
Farrendel Laesornysh, the younger elf prince of Tarenhiel, has become the elves' foremost warrior, thanks to his deadly magic. He is no stranger to death. But when the humans propose a marriage alliance during a diplomatic meeting, he is desperate enough to avoid more killing to agree. Even if an elf should never trust a human bargain.

The human princess is probably a spy. Or an assassin sent to kill him on his wedding night. Yet if he can make this marriage work, as his grandmother seems to think, it might be the first breath of hope Farrendel has had in over a decade.

Elf Prince gives Farrendel's perspective on the events of Fierce Heart (Book 1).]]> 262 Tara Grayce Michelle 0 to-read 4.37 2020 Elf Prince (Elven Alliance #7)
author: Tara Grayce
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.37
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/06/26
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Eagle of the Ninth 149405
Rosemary Sutcliff spent most of her life in a wheelchair, suffering from the wasting Still's disease. She wrote her first book for children, The Queen's Story, in 1950 and went on to become a highly respected name in the field of children's literature. She received an OBE in 1975 and died at the
age of 72 in 1992.]]> 294 Rosemary Sutcliff 0192750453 Michelle 0 to-read 3.94 1954 The Eagle of the Ninth
author: Rosemary Sutcliff
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.94
book published: 1954
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/06/21
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Tress of the Emerald Sea 60531406 #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson expands his Cosmere universe shared by The Stormlight Archive and Mistborn with a new standalone novel for everyone who loved The Princess Bride.

The only life Tress has known on her island home in an emerald-green ocean has been a simple one, with the simple pleasures of collecting cups brought by sailors from faraway lands and listening to stories told by her friend Charlie. But when his father takes him on a voyage to find a bride and disaster strikes, Tress must stow away on a ship and seek the Sorceress of the deadly Midnight Sea. Amid the spore oceans where pirates abound, can Tress leave her simple life behind and make her own place sailing a sea where a single drop of water can mean instant death?]]> 443 Brandon Sanderson Michelle 0 to-read 4.34 2023 Tress of the Emerald Sea
author: Brandon Sanderson
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.34
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/06/20
shelves: to-read
review:

]]>