Happy October, everyone! I feel like I blinked and September disappeared and we were into Fall, and while I love Fall, I don't love time passing so quickly. But since it is, it's already time for me to talk about my September reading.
A Theory of Dreaming by Ava Reid (M/F fantasy romance): This is the sequel to A Study in Drowning, which I read earlier this year and loved—and then waited impatiently for this book to come out. I was absolutely not disappointed. It's a wonderful sequel, but it definitely doesn't stand on its own, so read the first book before diving into this one.
A Rare Find by Joanna Lowell (F/NB historical romance): In this historical romance, an archeologist finds a Viking amulet buried on her family's property, then loses it when she literally collides with her childhood nemesis, who has just returned from London. After Elfreda's father (an archeologist more concerned with acclaim than truth) doesn't believe she found anything, they end up teaming up to look for the Viking hoard Elfreda is certain is buried on the land. I found it a bit slow to start, but I ended up really enjoying both the search and the romance (though I could've wished Elf's father got a bit more of a comeuppance). The Author's Note provides interesting historical context too.
Katabasis by R.F. Kuang (Fantasy with M/F romance): After Alice's dissertation advisor dies in a magical accident that could be her fault, she and her academic rival Peter decide that all they can do is go into Hell to find and get him back—because their academic and career futures depend on him. What follows is a dangerous journey through a hell that is structured for the most part like a university, with each level embodying a different sin and the peril growing the farther in they travel. The magic system is interesting, based on mathematics and logic and the world building of hell is full of references to depictions in literature (here, called traveler's tales). The narrative flashes between past and present as secrets are revealed. It's an excellent, if dense, blend of dark academia fantasy and rivals to lovers romance.
Smokescreen by Sam Burns (M/M urban fantasy): Smokescreen was an utter delight. If you've read the Fantastic Fluke books, this is in the same world and has the same feel, which makes it wonderfully familiar, but it has an all new cast of characters and setting, so it's also new and fun and easy to jump into if you haven't read the original series. Flynn is the son of the leader of LA's vampires, a private investigator, and utterly scatterbrained. He so does not have his life together at the beginning of this book. Then his mother asks him to investigate a murder and manipulates him into taking a partner into his private investigation firm. And he acquires a cat, who is much more than just a cat, and might be my favorite. Seriously, the whole thing is so much fun, and I cannot wait for the next book in the series.
Immortal Consequences by I.V. Marie (M/F and M/M YA fantasy romance): Here's another book that has me eagerly awaiting the sequel! In a mysterious boarding school located on the edge of the afterlife, six students have been chosen to compete for a chance to change their fate and avoid being stuck in purgatory forever. The six are not all friends—they call themselves unfortunate acquaintances—though there are relationships among them, one a potential rivals to lovers romance and another a sweet friends to lovers romance. Secrets abound, and things are absolutely not right at this school or in this competition. I would've loved a little more detail/answers in the world building, but maybe that will come in the sequel.
What have you read and loved lately?
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