10. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

I adore this book. Brilliant piece of fantasy. I love (and hate) Kvothe. Best frame story I've ever read. Easily one of my top 10 books of all time.

Near perfect. Ending just felt a little lackluster, and some parts dragged on a bit.

4.5/5 stars

9. The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

Wow. Just wow. Amazing fantasy that forces you to reflect on your own philosophies and morals. Really shows the ugly side of war. Has so many strong memorable characters. No moment is wasted. Can get a bit predictable at times but well worth a read.

4.5/5 stars

8. Vilest Things by Chloe Gong

A chaotic mess. I'm invested in the characters, and the tension is maintained throughout the book. But the plot itself is messy, with some questionable decisions.

The worldbuilding isn't as solid, breaking too many preestablished rules.

Still fun tho.

3/5 stars

7. Immortal Longings by Chloe Gong

Very interesting setting. Fantastic world-building. Strong themes. Interesting characters and dynamics. Good tension build-up.

Pacing was a little wonky though. I liked one twist, but the rest were predictable. Characters feel a little overpowered.

4/5 stars

6. A Monsoon Rising by Thea Guanzon

The sequel is just like the first, in its strengths and flaws. Pacing could be better, some parts dragged on. Chemistry between the main leads has improved but romance still feels cliche. Ending felt like it came out of nowhere.

3/5 stars

The characters dynamics are interesting. But the main romance felt a little too trope-y, and I feel like the main character lacks a bit of agency, but that may be intentional.

If you're a fan of romantasy, enemies to lovers, and Ao3 it's pretty good. Otherwise, it could be a lot more.

3.5/5 stars

5. The Hurricane Wars by Thea Guanzon

The writing is beautiful, almost to a fault. I felt like I was getting overwhelmed by descriptions at every turn. The worldbuilding is solid, and my favorite part of the book. The pacing wasn't the best though, and there were some questionable plot choices...

4. Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune

I love everything it stands for and the celebration of queer joy. I liked seeing Arthur's pov. Has a lot of heart and a strong message. Just felt a little too straightforward and pacing was a bit wonky. Ending felt a little too happy.

3.5/5 stars

3. The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

Very charming book. Made me emotional several times. Great cast of characters. I loved the world-building and overall message. Worth reading, whether you are a child or an adult. Could use some more subtlety though. Ending was a little rushed.

4/5 stars

2. Sunrise on the Reaping by S. Collins

Haymitch is a much more engaging POV than Snow. Tugs at your heartstrings. Narrative kept me invested despite knowing what happens. Had a little too much fanservice though. Themes also felt a bit oversimplified.

3/5 stars (3.5 if you're a long-term THG fan)

1. Circe by Madeline Miller

Very well-written book. The language is beautiful, really making you feel Circe's magic and witchcraft. I really liked the innovations she made to the myths. It didn't quite grip me or had me as invested as The Song of Achilles, but it was still a fun read. 4/5 stars