Hey bookworm friends, October has come and gone and, sadly, I didn’t pick up a single scary book! I was planning to read lots of witchy books for Halloween but time got away from me! Oh well, witchy books can be read any time of year so I’m not too upset! Let’s get into the details of my October 2024 Wrap-Up!
I’ll be linking up with Marlene at Reading Reality for Stacking The Shelves
October Wrap-Up
I feel like I barely read this month but that’s because a few of them were carry-overs from September. Additionally, the last book I read was a complete dud and I’ll need to start November with a literary bang to make up for it 😅.
Reading Stats
Total Books Read: 7
| Format Breakdown |
|---|
| 📱E-Books: 3 |
| 📚 Physical: 2 |
| 🎧 Audiobooks: 2 |
| Genre Breakdown |
|---|
| ⏳🕵🏽♀️ Historical Mystery: 2 |
| 🧒🐲Middle Grade Fantasy: 2 |
| 🐲Fantasy: 2 |
| 🏘YA Contemporary: 1 |
What I Read
🧒🐲Tale of the Flying Forest by R.M. Romero │📱 (ARC)
This was an atmospheric & whimsical middle-grade read with a wholesome message. My review.
⏳🕵🏽♀️ A Murderous Relation by Deanna Raybourn │🎧
I was starting to feel a bit slumpy so I picked up Veronica Speedwell #5 because I know these books have not let me down yet! As expected, I loved being back with Veronica and Stoker.
⏳🕵🏽♀️ The Queen’s Man by Sharon Kay Penman │📚
I was browsing in the library for a goal and when I stumbled upon this medieval mystery set in the time of Eleanor of Aquitaine, I knew I had to read it. I enjoyed it a lot and want to read more of the Justin de Quincey mysteries.
Satisfies Reading Goal: Random Physical Library Borrows ✔
🏘 Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell│📱 (Graphic Novel)
I picked this one up on a whim because I wanted something cozy, autumnal, and Halloween-y and it hit the spot. It was adorable and cozy without being cringey or corny. Seasonal perfection!
🐲 Witch Hat Atelier, Vol. 12 by Kamome Shirahama│📚 (Manga)
I’m almost caught up with Witch Hat Atelier, hurray! I don’t think the 12th volume is among the strongest but it was still very enjoyable and I’m still invested in the story.
Satisfies Reading Goal: Series Books ✔
🧒🐲 Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George │🎧
I was looking for a book that would fit the prompt of ‘House or Setting as a Character’ and since the aforementioned castle is sentient, this works! I adored this fantastical tale, everything about it just enchanted me and it might even be my fav this month.
🐲 The Unlikely Story of Felix & Macabber by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou & Juni Ba │📱 (Graphic Novel)
Remember I mentioned my last read was a dud? Well, this is it. I don’t even know what I read, neither the art nor the story made any sense. It was disjointed, aimless, and messy. Alas, they can’t all be winners.
Stacking The Shelves
Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, whether it be physical or virtual. Reading Reality posts on Saturdays but you can post any day that works for you— don’t forget to visit the link-up on Saturday to join in on the fun!
This month I didn’t buy any books and I don’t currently have a library haul to speak of. What I do have is quite the line-up of ARCs and author requests so let’s stack what I’ll call my “I said yes so now it’s my problem” shelf😅. To be clear it’s a good problem to have. I’m grateful to sometimes have the opportunity to help authors by spreading the word of their stories and I view it as an absolute privilege. Plus I only say yes to books I truly think I might like. In terms of ARCs and request buttons, my fingers have a mind of their own and I’ve been trying not to go click-happy!
Author Requests
- Cazorra’s Curse: A Vevin Song Prequel Novella by Jonathan Neves Mayers
- Plea to A Frozen God by C. M. Skiera
- The Wanderings of Balthus by Aonghus Fallon
- Sunchaser by Emily Barlow
Let’s chat in the comments!
Have you read any of these books? Or, how many ARCs do you tend to request?
I’ll keep my fingers crossed that you manage to have the Halloween tbr you hope for next year 🤞 it’s a goal of mine too 😂 although I do agree that witchy reads are perfect year round. Ooh that’s high praise for the castle book. I actually have a book by the author on my may never exist TBR and really should check out some of her published works instead. I’m glad The Queens Man was such a hit too and that you’re still enjoying the Veronica Speedwell series. It’s just a shame the last book was such a dud. Those kind of reads can be so disheartening. Hopefully a five star read is round the corner to make up for it 🤞
Ooh I’ll be keeping an eye out for your thoughts on Kavithri I brought the ebook when it was on offer and really must check it out sometime. I hope the arcs go well. I have three I majorly want to request but I’m waiting until I’ve got reading again to do so. I try to limit myself to 5 or so at a time but it’s hard as some requests get responded to a lot slower than others and then the temptation to ask for more inevitably grows 😂
I hope you have a wonderful November
Ahaha thank you, I hope we both get to read more Halloween-y books next year, the issue for me is getting organized in advance! & Yes at least we have our witchy books, glad you agree ♥. OH haha that’s funny yeah you should try out the author because what if you don’t like her style? Then you don’t have to wait endlessly for something that may never be! But if you do then you can feel better about waiting lol 😛.
Luckily the book I disliked was short and I was just reading it on my phone so I didn’t waste too much time on it. I should have dnf’d lol. Yes here’s hoping for a five star next! 🥰
OH cool. okay I’ll make sure to give as thorough a review as I can then 🙂 I’m waiting to see when is my day I have to post. Yes that’s so true, like if I don’t hear back sometimes I just think it’s been denied but they’re just taking their sweet time 🤣.
Wishing you a wonderful month, Charlotte!
Yes fingers crossed. I kind of lucked into a couple timing wise then failed to carry on with the others I’d hoped for afterwards 🙈 I get the organisation thing though. Next year I’m sure we can both manage it though
Very true 😂 although I will admit that I doubt the one on my tbr will ever exist. I’m sure I saw it was on hold indefinitely. I’m sure I’ve heard good things about a few of her books though so I really should give her writing a try. I hope you enjoy the rest of the series just as much if you read it.
Ah right. At least that’s something. And I’m terrible at DNFing. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you.
I’ll keep an eye out for it. Write about it however you’re happiest too though 🥰 I think you can check if a request has been denied or not. Although if it hasn’t but it’s been weeks I tend to think they’re not going to accept anyone else.
Thank you, you too ❤️
haha thank goodness for lady luck then 😆! Yes, I like your spirit! I believe in us too!
oh yeah, ‘on hold indefinitely’ doesn’t bode well, eek. Thank you, i hope so too 🙂
I used to be terrible at DNF-ing but I find I’ve gotten better but sometimes I still push myself to finish.
OKay will do, thanks 🥰 Yeah you can check if it’s been denied that’s true, I just don’t do it as often as I should lol.
🖤
My TBR is already writing itself for next October so hopefully that’s a good sign 😂
Yeah it certainly doesn’t sound good.
It’s something I need to try and work on too. But if I own a book I’m stubborn and want to finish it 🙈 I’m glad you’ve gotten better at it. It’s kind of pointless reading unenjoyable books after all.
Tbh it took me ages to find where to check 😂🙈
heheh Yes, hopefully 🤞🏽. Oh definitely I totally understand not wanting to dnf a book that you spent money on.
haha aw that’s ok 😛
True. Although I suppose you could argue that you’ve already wasted money on it, so why waste time too 🤔 I think at first I kind of think ‘maybe it will get better’ then it changes to ‘well I’ve read this much I may as well finish ‘.
Oh, Pumpkinheads is so sweet. That’s a good read for fall. It made me want to visit a pumpkinpatch. I’m now curious about Tale of the Flying Forest and Tuesdays at the Castle.
Yess Pumpkinheads was autumn perfection, I’m so happy I finally picked it up! Aww I hope you can visit a pumpkin patch and I want to too, I don’t go often. Both Tale of the Flying Forest and Tuesdays at the Castle were good but Tuesdays at the Castle was my favourite, I was immediately invested in that one.
Tuesdays at the Castle is such a fun read! I had to read it for a college class, and enjoyed it so much I went back and reread and started in on the series (that reminds me: I should finish listening to that!) 🙂
Oh I love that you had to listen to it for a college class, was it a children’s lit course? I took one of those and it was so much fun haha. How were you liking the continuation of the series?
I need to get back to the Deanna Raybourn series — there was one in the series I didn’t super get on with, but I’ve been assured the next book does better, and they’re such quick reads (for me anyway). Soooon…
Oh do you remember which one you didn’t get on with? & they are pretty fast for me too because I’ve been listening to the audiobooks so they do fly by!
I’ve cut down the number of books I’m requesting from Netgalley and Edelweiss+ as I find that my library is such a great source of both ebooks and audiobooks – particularly from well-established authors . I do request books that I feel may not make it to my library or I want to read ahead of time. Have a great week!
That’s fair enough and I love that your library is super well stocked 🖤 I love my local library so much too, in fact so much that I completely ignored the books I already own in favour of borrowing all the time lol. Thanks and I hope you’re having a great week too 🙂