Hello, hello! I hope you’re all having a wonderful October so far. My September was mostly quiet, I had a trip to the cinema to watch the new Practical Magic film, and then flew off to Bucharest for a few days with my sister. We spent a few days exploring the city, took a day trip to Transylvania and Brasov (even got to visit Dracula’s castle), and then had a spa day at a massive thermal spa they have there. It was a beautiful city and I would absolutely recommend for anyone looking for a cheap stay in Europe… here are a few of the pics I took.
Reading wise, it ended up being a quieter month than usual thanks to me falling into a reading slump in the last few weeks. It had absolutely nothing to do with the books I was/am reading, I was enjoying them when I forced myself to pick them up, but I really just struggled with the actual sitting down and reading part. I’m slowly working my way out of it, but I’m definitely grateful I have a smaller TBR this month.
Reading Update!
September saw me completing my goodreads reading goal for the year! I always set this a little lower because I really don’t like feeling pressured at the end of the year. I didn’t manage to pick up anything off my backlist challenge I set myself, in fact apart from one re-read everything I picked up last month was an ARC, so hopefully I can claw my way out of this reading slump and pick some more backlist reads up this month.
Monthly Reads!
Vengeful by V.E. Schwab – 4.5* (re-read)
Victorious by V.E. Schwab – 4.75*
Mothsblood by Lynn D. Jung – 3.75*
Wondrous by Heather Fawcett – 4.25*
What Feeds Below by Tatiana Schlote-Bonne – 3.75*
The Scarlet Ball by Nghi Vo – 4.5*
Favourite Quotes!
“I realised as I waited for my poached egg and melon that I finally believed it. He would miss her. He’d eat her. He’d savage her corpse, lick the memories out of the cracked eggshell of her skull, incinerate the work of her life so that it would always be a part of him, and in the end, when he realised it was the end, it would drive him mad.” – Nghi Vo, The Scarlet Ball.
“He’d never really had a temper – he couldn’t afford one, looking the way he did – but he did have an aunt who told him once that some people came out of the tap already bubbling, while others had to boil. But given time, all of them could get hot enough to burn.” – V.E. Schwab, Victorious.
“He smiles then, quick and sly. Her grandmother used to tell her stories about clever foxes and pipe-smoking tigers, and he reminds her of both. of a creature that has slipped into the skin of a man but is slightly too sharp-toothed to pass.” Lynn D. Jung, Mothsblood
Posts I’ve Enjoyed!
Dey’s 8 Fall Cozy Book recommendations
Jodie’s review of Fool by K.R. Lockhaven
Madeline’s Books for National Latine Heritage Month (2026 Edition)
Dina’s review of A Trade of Blood by Robert Jackson Bennett
Nicky’s review of Ode to the Half-Broken by Suzanne Palmer
Dey’s review of A Stage Set for Villains by Shannon J. Spann
Mayri’s review of The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean
Rebecca’s review of The Thief and the Traitor Bride by V.L. Bovalino
Kerri’s Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Indie Reads
Lisa’s review of Into the Blue by Emma Brodie
Dini’s review of The Unbroken by C. L. Clark
Ashlee’s Bookish Questions Book Tag
Yolanda’s review of Harbinger by Geneva Lee
Janette’s review The Court of Venus by Bel Banta
Julie’s 20 Romances with Fall Vibes To Read This Autumn
Olivia’s review of Dead Beat by Leigh Bardugo
Emily’s review of Kiss Slay Replay by Rachel Harrison
Lindsey’s 10 Cozy Fantasy Reads I Think Are Perfect Fall Reading
L.M. Durand’s review of Daggermouth by H.M. Wolfe
