Ok, so obviously I have a little catching up to do here!
The Good News: The Airbnb is solidly booked this summer, and work is crazy busy! This is great for the pocket book and my goal in zeroing-out my consumer debt, although, this does mean that I’ve been absolutely slammed time-wise to try and keep track of my reading list. So here’s my latest attempt:
Apprentice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
Kindle Worthy- 3/5 Stars
Evie Sage settles into her role working for the kingdom’s feared (& not so evil) villain, Trystan. When a mysterious threat begins weakening magic across the land, enemies close in on their stronghold, forcing Evie to step up beyond her assistant role. Evie must help protect the lair, navigate political danger, and confront her growing feelings for Trystan, blurring the lines between hero and villain.
Just another humorous read from Hannah that added some much needed levity to my commutes. A fantastic option if you’re looking for fun/cute read with some slow burn romance. Really enjoying this audio series!
Amazon: US or CA
Accomplice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
Read Worthy- 2/5 Stars
Accomplice to the Villain continues the story of Evie Sage, the cheerful assistant who somehow ended up working for the kingdom’s most feared villain. As Evie becomes increasingly entangled in his schemes, with the growing realization that the so-called villain may be far more complicated, I mean… appealing? What happens when the villain’s right-hand woman starts questioning who the real heroes are?
This one wasn’t really for me, as I felt this third book in the series took a bit of a downward turn. Evie is reading a little too ‘Harley Quinn’, and the character development just didn’t quite line up for me. I’ll probably still read the next installment, but I’ll be bracing myself a bit.Amazon: US or CA
Children of Fallen Gods by Carissa Broadbent
Read Worthy- 4/5 Stars
Children of Fallen Gods continues the epic journey of Tisaanah and Max after the events of Daughter of No Worlds, throwing them into a brutal war where magic, politics, and ancient powers collide. As Tisaanah searches for answers about the mysterious Reshaye and the gods tied to her past, Max is pulled deeper into the brutal realities of rebellion and the trauma of his past.
It’s not often that I enjoy the second installment of a series even more than the first book, but Carissa delivered on this one and I loved how she continued to expand and deepen the plot, the world building and it’s history. Whether you borrow it from the library, listen on audio or snag a kindle sale, this one is definitely Read-Worthy and will most likely be making its way onto my shelf. Looking forward to reading the next one!
Amazon: US or CA
The Girl with a Thousand Faces by Sunyi Dean
Shelf Worthy- 4/5 Stars
Mercy Chan, a woman who wakes with no memories after washing ashore in wartime Hong Kong. She builds a life in the haunted Kowloon Walled City as a “ghost talker,” helping restless spirits move on—but when a powerful, vengeful entity begins drowning people in the city’s waterways, claiming to know her past, Mercy is forced to confront buried memories tied to ghosts, grief, and something far older and darker lurking beneath the water.
This book had such a refreshing plot & non-western take on ghosts & spirits. I absolutely loved the writing style and pacing for the first three-quarters of the book, it has totally shifted my perspective of plot and character development, the reveal shook me! The characters are ok but the ending really didn’t resonate with me, however, there were so many quotable moments!
Amazon: US or CA
It was a light month book-wise, but this summer I’m excited to refocus and get intentional with my reading!
What is your favorite read for the year so far?
-Anna R.
*As always if you purchase through any of the links in this post, or throughout this blog, a small commission comes back to help support the page & what I do here!
The Weekend Readers 
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