My Most Anticipated 2024 Sequels

There are A LOT of 2024 book releases I'm looking forward to, and my top 10 changes each day based on what genre I'm in the mood to read. But I also noticed a lot of my most anticipated books are sequels, so I'm making two separate posts for my most anticipated books (similar to what I did last year). This is the list of sequels. Later, I'll post my list of books by authors I haven't read before/new releases/start of series by authors I've read before. It's a working title. Ha ha.

For your reading pleasure, here are my ten most anticipated sequels of 2024. There are a few honorable mentions that I couldn't fit in the list. They include Father Material by Alexis Hall (disappointed with book two, so this didn't make it higher on the list), The Ashfire King by Chelsea Abdullah (just didn't fit in the list), Red God by Pierce Brown (skeptical this will release in 2024), and Court of Wanderers by Rin Chupeco (already read and reviewed).

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The Relentless Legion by J.S. Dewes

Honestly, I had to take The Ashfire King out of the Top 10 when The Relentless Legion was officially announced in December. Literally days after I'd just wrote my Most Anticipated list. Ugh. Why does that always happen? But yeah, I forgot this series is still ongoing. I loved book one, and book two, The Exiled Fleet, was good, but it's been so long, I just hope I remember everything for The Relentless Legion.

Serpent Sea by Maiya Ibrahim

This is the only YA book on my list. Wow. That's so weird to think about. But Serpent Sea is the sequel to Spice Road, which I loved back when I read it in 2022. It's taken forever to get the sequel, so I'm excited that it seems like it'll actually release in 2024.

Kingdom of the Forgotten & A Gods' War by Charissa Weeks

The fourth and fifth books in the Witch Walker series are both supposed to release in 2024. Will they? Who knows. Kingdom of the Forgotten comes out in April, though, so it should release then for sure. I've read books one and two, so I'm just waiting for the rest of the series to come out before re-reading and bingeing.

The Dawn Throne by Tara Sim

I'm honestly not sure if this book will release in 2024. Goodreads says it will, but I believe The Midnight Kingdom was also supposed to release within a year of the first book, and it got pushed back. I'm hoping this one won't, because I would like to reread book one and then binge the entire trilogy. No cover yet for The Dawn Throne, FYI.

Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune

Book one, The House in the Cerulean Sea, was one of my favorite reads a few years ago, so I'm excited TJ Klune wrote a sequel. I am super nervous, however, that it seems to follow Arthur's POV instead of Linus's. I don't like POV shifts in series unless they're companion stories.

Goldfinch by Raven Kennedy

This is the last book in the Plated Prisoner series. Have I read Gold, book five, yet? Nope. Do I know the wait for this one will be hard on my nerves? Yep. I'm fairly sure Raven Kennedy is going to write a spinoff book about some of the characters, from what she hinted at in a livestream once. But I'm not sure which characters that will follow. So yeah, Goldfinch will be bittersweet.

Honey Cut by Sierra Simone

I read the first book, Salt Kiss back in September, and it was absolutely addicting. I couldn't stop reading. I am worried, however, because the first book followed one character's POV, and the sequel switches POV. I hope the other character gets some chapters, though. I don't like the female main character as much as I like the narrator from book one. I'm also worried because I read another series by this author and things started getting wonky in book two, so I DNF'd the entire series after that. I hope that's not the case for this trilogy.

Hare Underneath by H.G. Birde

I read Crossing Acheron this past summer, and it was awesome! So addicting, with a dubious dark romance and wicked paranormal creatures. I'm very excited for book two which I think is supposed to release in June 2024. But, like all of my top three, it doesn't have a cover yet.

Zodiac Academy 9 by Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti

GAH! This series! It's so frustrating and addicting, and I just want more, but I don't want it to end, but I also do want it to end with happily ever afters for everyone. Ugh. This last book is supposed to release in April, so if I can't go to ApollyCon, at least I can read a book in one of my favorite series as consolation.

Visions of Flesh and Blood & Primal of Blood and Bone by Jennifer L. Armentrout

I'm cheating and putting two books because Visions isn't a full book. It's a compendium of series information. Also, it's my most anticipated book for the first half of 2024, while Primal (no cover yet) will likely be my most anticipated for the last half. If it releases this year. It's supposed to be the final book in the Blood and Ash world through Poppy's POV, but I don't think that'll be the case. JLA said that for the third book in the Flesh and Fire series too, and look how that turned out!

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Alright, there you have it. My most anticipated 2024 sequels. What 2024 books are you looking forward to? Let me know in the comments section.

Stacking the Shelves: The December FairyLoot Edition

 "Stacking the Shelves" is a weekly haul meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews and Reading Reality. It allows book buyers to share their accumulation of books with the online book-loving community.

I don't even know what to say anymore. I could say my week has been fine. That I've gone to work like normal. Gone to the gym. Gone out to eat with my family to celebrate my sister's birthday. But then I think about the people in Palestine, the people in Congo, and now the people in Yemen who are suffering because of evil people and evil corporations, and it's hard to feel like my week has been fine. Why is the solution to every problem violence? Governments should be above this. It's sick.

 

I'm going to share the books I got this month with you, because that's what this blog is for: books. But please know that books and reading are very low in my mental space right now. It's really hard to be excited about a hobby you used to love with war on the horizon. It's also awful to see people who have read books like The Hunger Games and The Poppy War just do/say nothing in the face of injustice. So yeah... Here are the books.

My FairyLoot edition of Faebound by Saara El-Arifi. This book sounds like it'll be great, and the edition is so pretty. I actually prefer this one over the Goldsboro purple edition, and I normally love purple. I just think Goldsboro went a little overboard with the purple. Also, I do have to mention that FairyLoot went under fire for their support of an author that supposedly writes pro-Isr@el messages. I have not read the book, so I do not know this for sure. I'm disappointed FairyLoot is continuing to sell the book with what is going on in Palestine right now, but I am choosing, in this instance, to believe that the author and publisher were contacted and expressed views that did not support Isr@el, either truthfully or lying so the book would continue to be sold by FairyLoot. I do hope FairyLoot was not lied to. I will be watching the situation closely to see if canceling my subscription is best.

I received another FairyLoot order. This is a series set from another author that is under fire for Isr@el views. I will not mention their name here. I purchased this before the news came out. I personally did not see the post/story on Instagram, so I don't know what the content was. Right now, I am being optimistic and hoping the author shared the Isr@el propaganda out of simple misinformation. It's sad to say, but there are a lot of lies out there right now, and sometimes we as American citizens don't take the time to look into things before posting. I am 100% guilty of this as well. Like with the FairyLoot situation, I will keep an eye on this situation. I, perhaps naively, want to believe that any author who writes about overcoming injustice would not side with an oppressor as large-scale as what we're seeing right now. I truly hope none of them do. 

 

Well, that's all for me. Sorry this post was a bit more depressing than normal. The world is on fire right now. Please cheer me up and let me know what books you have bought/received lately.

My Top 10 Books of 2023

Another year over, which means another barrage of Top 10 lists for January. This list is for my top 10 reads of 2022. I read 101 books in 2023. That's great! I'm hoping to do similar numbers in 2023, but as long as I get over 50, I think I'll be fine.

Enough of the future talk though, let's take a look at the past. In this top 10 you'll notice a theme of fantasy/paranormal books. Only one contemporary allowed. Ha ha. And unlike previous years, most of these books are solid where they are at, meaning their rank doesn't change based on my mood. It was a decent reading year for racking up some favorites, so let's get started.

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A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross

This book was so lyrical and surprising. I didn't think I'd enjoy it as much as I did. Jack is definitely my favorite of the four main characters, but the others all grew on me as well. And, while I didn't love the sequel as much, this duology will always be one I think fondly of.

Broken Bonds by J. Bree

Oh man, this series started off so strong with Broken Bonds and the first 2-3 sequels. Yes, it went downhill towards the end, but the worldbuilding is so fascinating. I loved the relationships between the characters and the powers were awesome! I just wish the books had slowed down a bit. The author was definitely rushing to complete the series towards the end.

Fall of Ruin and Wrath by Jennifer L. Armentrout

JLA's new book in her new adult fantasy series had its ups and downs for me. But I read it so fast that I couldn't not put it on this list. I devoured it in 24 hours, I believe. I loved the beginning of this book and the end of this book. The middle was a bit to slow-paced for me, but still, a great time overall.

A Soul of Ash and Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout

You might be asking why ASOAAB is so low on this list. Well, it's because JLA promised something with this one that I don't think she delivered on. She said that there would be important storylines for book five in ASOAAB. And while there were a few chapters that were present day, 90% of the story was set in the past in Cas's POV. I just think she got everyone too hyped up for new information when the story was really just FBAA retold. I still love the characters, though, and the new info we did get was amazing!

The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem

This Egyptian-based fantasy story is addicting. It reminded me a lot of The City of Brass, which I adore. I can't wait to read the sequel, whenever it comes out. I'm not even sure. But, my review for this one is up now, if you'd like to check it out.

Untainted by Lilian T. James

I didn't expect to love Untainted as much as I did. It was a book I read to prep for 2023's ApollyCon to see if I liked the author. Well, it's safe to say that I did. I met her and got my books signed. This series gave me major Heir of Fire vibes, if anyone is missing SJM right now.

Salt Kiss by Sierra Simone

The only contemporary title on this list. Wow. I went into Salt Kiss thinking I'd really enjoy it, and I'm happy to say it exceeded some of my expectations. I wouldn't think that a story about a mafia/political gangster type and his bodyguard would be a top 10 read for me, but I really liked it. I am worried the sequel won't quite hit the same, though, as it follows a different narrator. Ugh.

Mysteries of Thorn Manor by Margaret Rogerson

It's been a while since I read this one, so it's hard to discuss some of the details, but I know I laughed, I cried, and I just had the greatest time back in this world with the characters from Sorcery of Thorns. Do I wish this had simply been a full-length novel instead of a short novella? Absolutely. But I'm thankful for more, nonetheless.

Crossing Acheron by H.G. Birde

I downloaded Crossing Acheron on Kindle Unlimited on a whim, and boy do I not regret that one bit! This story had me sucked in immediately. I had a whole period of time this summer where dark, gritty vampire romance stories were consuming me, and this one just really hit the mark. Same with the next books on my list.

Silver Under Nightfall & Court of Wanderers by Rin Chupeco

I've already mentioned that this duology would be my favorite reads of 2023, so it shouldn't come as a shock to anyone. This series had action, adventure, vampires, weird zombie creatures, and a cinnamon roll protagonist stuck in the middle of everything. I loved it so much, and I'm sad to see it end.

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Alright, there you have it. My top 10 reads of 2023. What 2023 reads were your favorite? Let me know in the comments.

My 2023 Wrap-Up

Yeesh! 2023 is over! I, once again, moved and went to ApollyCon, just like I did in 2022. However, this time I also went to Iceland instead of Disneyland. Sadly, I don't have more fun stuff planned in 2024, but I'm also looking forward to having some time off to focus on organizing my house. I might do that in the spring. However, before I get into the future, I need to discuss the past. Specifically, all of the books and book-related stats associated with my 2023 reading year!

Books Read in 2023

This year, I read 101 books! That's more than last year's 90! I honestly can't believe I read that much, but I guess it has a lot to do with Kindle Unlimited. Being able to download books I'm in the mood for at the push of a button has made reading a lot easier. Unfortunately, I'm going to get rid of my KU sub soon, so I can focus on my physical TBR. I'm still hoping I can reach around the same number in 2024, but I'm not holding myself to that. I'm setting my 2024 reading goal at 30, like always.

I'm not going to list out every single book I read in 2023, but I do have some fun stats to share.

In 2023, I read:

📚 28 fantasy books
📚 38 paranormal/urban fantasy books
📚 4 sci-fi
📚 28 contemporary
📚 3 historical fantasy

📚 10 young adult
📚 91 new adult/adult

📚 21 physical copies bought/received
📚 9 ebooks bought/received
📚 4 library ebooks
📚 4 e-ARCs
📚 63 Kindle Unlimited ebooks

📚 10 books owned pre-2023
📚  24 books acquired in 2023 (not counting KU)
📚 2 rereads

📚 Finished reading 2 series that I started pre-2023.
📚 Started 38 new series in 2023 (some of which I don't plan on continuing).
📚 Started 12 series in 2023 and caught up with the series in 2023.
📚 Started and finished 7 series in 2023.
📚 Continuing 6 ongoing series.

📚 My highest rated books at 4.5 stars: Silver Under Nightfall and Court of Wanderers by Rin Chupeco, Mysteries of Thorn Manor by Margaret Rogerson, Crossing Acheron by H.G. Birde.
📚 My lowest rated books at 2 stars: To Bleed a Crystal Bloom by Sarah A. Parker, Enchanted to Meet You by Meg Cabot, A Court of Honey and Ash by Shannon Mayer, American Prince by Sierra Simone, Violent Secret by Ariana Nash, Calamity by Constance Fay.

Books Bought in 2023

In total, I bought 152 books in 2023. This came out to over $4,380. Yikes! That's $1,300 more than last year. Oof. ApollyCon probably contributed to the first few months of damage. Oh, and those special editions are killing me. I'm not even reading them, so I'm not sure why I have the subs. I guess I need to do some major soul searching this year to decide if its worth spending all this money on books. This table doesn't even include my monthly Kindle Unlimited subscription. That was $9-12 each month. I also didn't think my swag spending was that bad, either. As I had a few months with pretty low amounts, some were even $0. But it still added up to almost $1,800, and I don't even remember if I got anything that was worth it. I'll be attempting to cut back a lot in 2024. 

Because I bought 152 books but only read 101, I have to get rid of 51 books in early 2024. We'll see how that goes, as I don't have a local used bookstore anymore, just a library to donate to. Plus, books don't really sell well online. Just to note too, I only included books I bought. This doesn't include books I received for free (e.g., gifts, review copies, free ebooks, etc.), so I actually acquired much more, but I don't want to calculate all that. I'm sure it's around 225 books. Additionally, some of the books I bought are duplicate copies, like FORAW, FBAA, Lux, Dark Elements, Red Queen, and other special editions, so I don't necessarily have to read all 152. I think I only spent money on 59 that I need to actually read. That's just insane. The rest I've either already read since I bought them or are special edition sets.

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Okay, well, that’s the summary of 2023, all wrapped up into one post. Do you have a wrap-up post for last year? If so, share in the comments!

Stacking the Shelves: The Fangirl Edition

 "Stacking the Shelves" is a weekly haul meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews and Reading Reality. It allows book buyers to share their accumulation of books with the online book-loving community.

The first week of 2024 is over, and it was uneventful for me personally. I don't think I did anything of note the entire time. I was just scrolling through TikTok, reading a couple of chapters here and there, and doing adult things like sleeping, working out, and working. I need some excitement in my life, darn it. I really wish I was going to ApollyCon so I could have something to look forward to. Oh well...

Normally I would say "Now onto the books," but I actually didn't get any physical books this week. I have a couple of orders that are stuck at my parents' house, but other than that, all I got was a surprise envelope in the mail. It was my preorder incentive stickers from my Fangirl 10th anniversary edition purchase. I completely forgot this was even a thing. Also, that book released in November, so these stickers are very late.

 

I also only got one ebook this week. It was a download from Kindle Unlimited. And Then You by Briar Prescott is the second book in the Until companion duology. I read the first book in a single day and then decided to start this one and finish it up on New Year's Eve. It was my last read of 2023.

Well, that's all for me. What books have you bought/received lately?

December Wrap-Up & January TBR

Well, December and 2023 are over, and now I need to write up a bunch of top 10 posts and yearly wrap-ups. Ugh. My brain hurts just thinking about it. Monthly wrap-ups are bad enough. But otherwise, December wasn't too bad. I had a decent holiday and recovered from some various workout injuries. Getting older sucks. But...onto books.

In this wrap-up, I’ll list the books I read, the books I reviewed, the books I bought/received, and my TBR for next month. Now, let’s get this bookish party started!

Books Read in December

A Fire in the Flesh: 3.5 stars

Villain and the Geek: 3.5 stars

Violent Secret: 2 stars

Calamity: 2 stars (NetGalley e-ARC, review to come)

God of Fury: 4 stars

Riverbanks: 3 stars

Prince and Bodyguard: 3 stars

Prince and Betrothed: 3 stars

Knock Knock: 2.5 stars

Until You: 4 stars

And Then You: 3 stars

I read 11 books in December. Well, technically it was more like eight books and three novellas, but Goodreads doesn't count it like that, so neither do I. Ha ha. I only read one physical book, A Fire in the Flesh by Jennifer L. Armentrout. It took me like a month to read. I bought one ebook using Kindle credits. It was one of the novellas: Violent Secret by Ariana Nash. I also finished Calamity by Constance Fay which was another book that took me over a month to read. It's a NetGalley ARC, so I need to write my review soon. I just haven't had the motivation. Ugh. And Riverbanks by H.G. Birde is a 34-page novella I downloaded from the author's newsletter. I needed something quick to help get to my 100-books-read count on Goodreads. Other than those four, everything else was a Kindle Unlimited download. Those include Villain and the Geek by L.C. Davis, God of Fury by Rina Kent, Prince and Bodyguard and Prince and Betrothed by Tavia Lark, Knock Knock by Nordia Night, and Until You and And Then You by Briar Prescott.

Books Bought/Received in December

Okay, so this month's haul is kind of a mess. I paid for six books this month and received 21 books. A lot of them were free ebooks, though. The physical books I ordered in December include Obsession by JLA, Gold by Raven Kennedy, the LitHaven edition of The Witch Collector by Charissa Weaks, the adult FairyLoot book for December, and two books in the Arcane Society book sub. I've only received two of those, however: Obsession and Gold.

As for free ebooks, I got 12. One, Riverbanks, was downloaded via the author's newsletter, and Violent Secret was bought using Kindle credits. The other ten were all free Stuff Your Kindle books. Those include With Shield and Ink and Bone, Queen of Roses, A Pack of Storms and Stars, The Hollow Gods, Of Mist and Shadow, Blood of Desiderium, Shadow and Moonlight, Living Legend, Helfyre, and Heavenly Bodies.

I also received seven books this month that I either didn't pay for in December or were gifts. My Fire Study FairyLoot replacement arrived, along with The Midnight Kingdom and Fall of Ruin and Wrath FairyLoot editions. My A Shadow in the Ember French edition arrived too. As for Christmas gifts, my mom got me the newer editions of FBAA and TCOGB along with Insatiable by Meg Cabot. All in all, I got nine physical books in December and 12 ebooks.

Currently Obsessed With

Once again, I haven't been watching a lot of stuff lately. It's mostly been reading, holiday stuff, and TikTok. I am still watching The Office reruns though. Surprise, surprise.

I think I watched some holiday movies in December, like Elf, Home Alone 1 and 2, and Netflix's The Christmas Chronicles 1 and 2. That's about it. It's been a pretty blah month for shows and movies. I hope next month has some good stuff, but I doubt it. I guess this is part of the writer's strike coming into play. There's just not anything new to get into right now.

January TBR

I only have three books that I have to read in January. I need to read A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle Jensen, since it's a NetGalley ARC, and I'd like to finish Charm by Tracy Wolff. Yes, I still haven't finished it. I'm about halfway through, and it's ridiculously slow. I also have to read Gold by Raven Kennedy for my book club. I'm excited for that one.

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Okay, well, that's the month of December, plus some January 2024 sneak peeks, all wrapped up into one post. Do you have a wrap-up post for last month? If so, share in the comments!