We’ve reached July 7, and that means we’ve made it through the first week of a new month! Summer is always far busier than I expect it to be, but I’m still getting some good reading done. I finished off the book I’d started last week then dove directly into its sequel. The latter will be releasing tomorrow, and I know quite a few readers are anxious to get their hands on it. Here are my thoughts along with the full recap.

1. Lore of the Wilds – Analeigh Sbrana

CW: Classism, Loss of Parent, Large-Scale Natural Disaster, Captivity, Parentification, Kidnapping, Blood, Graphic Depictions of Violence and Injuries, Gaslighting, Drugging, Graphic Sexual Content, SA, Slavery, Forced Pregnancy, Eugenics, Genocide

A big thank you to Harper Collins / Harper Voyager, and The Nerd Fam for the gifted copy of the paperback!

Summary:

Though they work hard to make the most of it, Lore and the other people of her village are trapped there. The ruthless fae who control the area make sure of it. Lore has grown to despise them, and not without reason. Still, when her village finds itself in dire need of aid, she’s willing to make a deal with a fae lord.

The library of the fae has remained magically sealed for the last millennium. No fae can survive crossing the threshold, but this lord suspects that a human could. He’s willing to take that risk. He also suspects that he can make use of the texts inside. For the promise of helping her village (and the allure of the knowledge she might discover), Lore agrees. Always be careful when bargaining with fae. She uncovers more than she signed up for, starting with a mysterious and hypnotizingly beautiful book.

My Thoughts:

Last week I was a little less than halfway through the book when I wrote my update and I was having a lot of fun at that point. That continued all the way through. I loved the thoroughly believable character voice and this version of the fae. It’s a unique take on them that I haven’t seen previously in fiction, but feels true to stories from historical folklore. The villains of the narrative are easy to dislike, and yet are realistically nuanced when seen up close. On top of that, I really enjoyed exploring both the world and the magic system. This was a book I liked spending time with and reading slowly simply to hang out in the world longer.

One concern that I’ve heard from other readers is that this book hovered in an ambiguous space between Young Adult fiction and that written for full adults. Its voice is one usually seen in the YA space and it has a protagonist with an age to match. However, there is a spicy scene that is very detailed, though not prolonged. I would personally classify this as a “New Adult” novel.

I did notice some pacing issues. The narrative felt divided into three distinct sections that didn’t have a particularly smooth transition between them. While this can be done very well intentionally, this title felt too short for it, making it more jarring. Even more jarring was the twist at the end. (I promise no spoilers). It didn’t immediately make sense, and I would have been very upset if I couldn’t jump straight into the next book.

2. Lore of the Tides – Analeigh Sbrana

CW: Classism, Loss of Parent, Large-Scale Natural Disaster, Captivity, Parentification, Kidnapping, Blood, Graphic Depictions of Violence and Injuries, Gaslighting, Drugging, Graphic Sexual Content, SA, Slavery, Forced Pregnancy, Eugenics, Genocide, Drowning, Torture, Vomit (potentially more to come)

A big thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted copy of the eARC! This one is currently available for pre-order and will be officially releasing tomorrow, July 8th.

Summary

Lore thought that she was finally figuring things out. She was beginning to get a handle on her newfound powers. She thought she knew what her enemies wanted and who she could trust. It turned out that she was wrong about the last one and the rug has been torn out from under her.

Just when a better life for her people seemed within reach, she’s ripped even further away from them. This time, she finds herself captive on a ship already far out to sea and still sailing onward. She is parted from the book that started it all, and told it has a sister volume. Lore must use the abilities she’s gained to track down the second book, or else. After all, she’s not the only one they’re holding captive.

My Thoughts:

I have been tearing through this second installment of the duology even faster than the first. Its page count is notably longer, but I feel like I’m breezing through so much more quickly. I’m relieved to say that the cliffhanger from the last book does get clarified in a way that feels satisfying. This one is also divided into three sections, but since it is a longer work and the sections are designated at titled parts, it feels much more intentional so far. I have yet to see the transition between the second and third parts. I’m slightly shy of 40% of the way through now.

The character voice is still extremely engaging. Lore’s emotional response to having been betrayed is deeply layered, complex, and at times even self-conflicting: it’s realistic. It is achingly relatable to anyone who has experienced a similar breach in trust. I am already seeing it developing her character and excited to see her arc continue. There are already new twists coming in. Once again, I’m drawn in by the portrayals of magical beings. The fae still fascinate, and we’re now meeting the sirens of this world as well.

Once I’ve finished, I’ll be back with an update. That may even be before Monday as I’ll be making some adjustments to my reviewing format.

July 7 is Now in the Books

That’s my reading through July 7! While I will likely continue publishing these recap write-ups on a weekly basis, I’ll be adjusting my format for my video reviews. To help readers find books relevant to their interests more easily, I’ll instead review each book individually as I finish them. (I’m considering splicing these videos together each Monday for YouTube, but still undecided.)

Either way, there are a whole lot more reviews still to come. I’ve got a bunch more ARCs and a towering TBR pile that keeps on growing with all my visits to indie bookstores. I plan to visit every single one in the state. Since I’m in Massachusetts, I’m lucky enough to have a lot of them. You can join in along with my partner and I in our explorations – we have a whole playlist of bookstore videos for you to check out!

Keep an eye out on my YouTube channel or the main updates page here to follow along on all my bookish adventures. My reading recaps go out on Mondays and bookstore adventure videos go out on Thursdays. Plus, there are lots of little shorts in between. As always, I want to hear from you! What have you been reading lately? Are you having fun with it? Have you read any of these titles, and if so, what did you think of them? Tell me everything, and follow along for more!