There’s never enough time for reading

Reading has always been, and will always be, my obsession in life. Here’s a lot I’ve read so far. (All books were read with Kindle Unlimited.)

Books read in January after the 8th:

Threshold by Nicoli Gonnella, fifth in the Unbound series. Finished Jan. 11, 2023. 5 stars.
Absolutely astonishing.
I cannot express how exciting I feel to find myself continually surprised by Felix. Darius continually finding a new infuriating anything relating to Felix is hilarious. I’m extremely curious to find out in upcoming books how significant Pit’s cryptic statements will become. If you ever seethed to protect and defend those you care about, then this is an invigorating adventure of refusing the way things have “always been”. Defiance is beautiful.
Threshold: A LitRPG Adventure (Unbound Book 5)

Lotus Lake by Jay Boyce, first in the Rise of the Mystic Mage series. Finished January 13, 2023. 5 stars.
Came back to this book.
I picked this book up a while ago, but time travel makes me uncomfortable lol so I put it down. I have been craving a strong female/woman/girl character in books, and I’m a huge fun of the Touch of Power series. I decided to pick it back up and it was worth it. I love that Ash is an introvert, I relate to trauma causing a hermit mentality, and seeing her progress as a character is exciting. This is my first series where the characters are playing a game that doesn’t seem like another world (the ability to leave the game and go back basically). I absolutely loved this book and I’m excited for what could happen next.
Lotus Lake: Rise of the Mystic Mage Book 1

Shadow Trials by Isla Frost, first in the Firstborn Academy series. Finished January 14. 5 stars.
Exciting adventure.
The blurb sounded cool so I picked this up. It sat in my to be read pile for a while, but I should have read it sooner. The adventure is exciting, the looming questions and subservience are intriguing, and it has a bit of danger and stubbornness to make me obsessed. I’m excited to see where this can go next.
Firstborn Academy: Shadow Trials

Shadow Witch by Isla Frost, second in the Firstborn Academy series. Finished January 14. 4 stars.
Exciting but less momentum.
This book was a fun and interesting read. It didn’t have the save gobsmacking effect that the first did, but paved many necessary events that will stabilize many individuals in the series.
Firstborn Academy: Shadow Witch

Shadow Reaper by Isla Frost, third in the Firstborn Academy series. Finished January 15. 5 stars.
Changes
Nova and company have a huge amount of responsibility. I love the way Nova is able to help, even with losses. Reunions were probably the best part. There is a tiny amount of romance, basically kissing only.
Firstborn Academy: Shadow Reaper

Unnatural Laws by H.C. Mills, first in the Whispering Crystals series. Finished January 16, 2023. 5 stars.
A new style LitRPG for me.
I really like Emma. The attraction that is in this series so far seems blessedly not limited by gender. This starts out like a few other same genre series I’ve read. It is unique though in how it kicks off. The AI sidekicks do seem suspicious, but also motivated to help their charge progress. Now, if only I could travel, and survive, to a dimension or universe that changed my hair to stay the color I like that would be perfect. Fun series, well written with both mystery and challenge.
Unnatural Laws (The Whispering Crystals: A LitRPG Series Book 1)

Unusual Enemies by H.C. Mills, second in the Whispering Crystals series. Finished January 17, 2023. 3 stars.
Exciting read but…
Some stuff in this regarding Suri is mildly terrifying. The blooming attraction between Emma and Kat is funny and kinda concerning given the last revelation. The whole charm hiccup was hard to read, but I’m blaming Suri. I’m starting to come up with wild theories regarding the AIs.
Unusual Enemies (The Whispering Crystals: A LitRPG Series Book 2)

Rise of the Cheat Potion Maker by Alvin Atwater, first in the series Rise of the Cheat Potion Maker. Finished January 19, 2023. 5 stars.
Fun and stubborn.
This book is awesome with a “hero” who adamantly refuses the job, but then ends up being a hero to the common and powerless people he’s claimed. There are some misspellings and grammar errors, but only just enough for me to notice. They don’t detract from the book. I love the slow paced life Nate chooses, and it’s nice without being boring. That the system seems determined to force him into growth and action is amusing so far. The way this book started was new to me. Being abruptly somewhere else, a whole new world even, in the middle of a conversation would be jarring. I had fun reading this and hope to continue this series for a long while.
Rise of the Cheat Potion Maker #1: A Cultivation LitRPG Saga

Master and Apprentices by Alvin Atwater, second in the Rise of the Cheat Potion Maker series. Finished January 20, 2023. 5 stars.
Boom new devotees, boom new powerups.
Seriously, this book is hilarious in how it’s making positive enhancement happen to all the “good” characters. I honestly never know what to expect, which is exciting. I also love all the spirit characters. There’s some giant foreshadowing or foundation work being laid. This series is exciting.
Master and Apprentices: Rise of the Cheat Potion Maker #2

The Lord Ruler by Alvin Atwater, third in the Rise of the Cheat Potion Maker series. Finished January 24, 2023. 5 stars.
Progress on a chosen path.
The system in this series has tried to coerce Nate into becoming a politician or hero, but it seems to me that his choice and adamance to his potion maker class is a solution to most of the challenges he seems to be destined to face. I love the familial relationships developing. Even annoying characters are changing. The Ruler’s blindness to his daughter is confusing. I really hope to read more in this series for a long time.
The Lord Ruler: Rise of the Cheat Potion Maker #3

Defiance of the Fall 8 by TheFirstDefier/J.F. Brink, eighth in the series of the same name. Finished January 26, 2023. 5 stars.
A pleasing birthday read.
This came out the day before my birthday, so reading it felt like a birthday present.
I love how Zac defies being boxed in. It doesn’t matter who is pushing him—be they crazy and powerful parent, local powers, the system, or those who theoretically should be more powerful. He truly encapsulates defiance and I absolutely love it. One of his evolved skills seems really dark, but also intriguing. I can’t wait to see what chaos he inspires next.
Defiance of the Fall 8: A LitRPG Adventure

Outbound Healer by Selkie Myth, first in the Beneath the Dragoneye Moons series. Finished January 27, 2023. 4 stars.
From death to birth to living.
This is a new story type for me. Following Elaine as she grows up was fun, funny, with some sadness, and some clashing ideals. I like how even having kept many of her past life memories, she still is cognitively accurate to her current ages. It made the story more entertaining. Some of the aspects of the book wouldn’t be what I chose and Elaine feels shame for choosing some skills, and that was mildly questionable, but they go back to her being developmentally her current ages. Absolutely enjoyed this and I look forward to reading more.
Beneath the Dragoneye Moons: Oathbound Healer

Adventures in the Argo by Selkie Myth, second in the Beneath the Dragoneye Moons series. Finished January 28, 2023. 4 stars.
Fun and emotional read, confusing ending chapter.
I love how Elaine continues to grow. I’m interested to see how she can pair her Ranger career choice with her Vow going forward. It does seem limiting, but some of those limits and how to work with and around them are explored heavily in this book. I absolutely cried at some loss and growth. She’s becoming a powerhouse, but is still a bit of a glass cannon compared to others. The last chapter was extremely confusing. It seems to hold a place in the same world but also seems far into the future. I dislike the repeated theme for vow reasons. I’m not sure I’d continue reading if this continued just about Iona. The blurb for the next book gets rid of that concern.
Beneath the Dragoneye Moons: Adventures in the Argo

Misfit Alpha by Stephanie Foxe, fifth in the Cursed World series. Finished January 29, 2023. 4 stars.
Finality and struggling to victory.
Most of the characters are struggling towards their idea of victory. Amber solidifies relationships across species, and some horrid parents show how pathetic they are. I’m A bit sad about the lack of conclusion for Evangeline. Sure, she moves on, but she could probably inspire her own angsty series. I’m satisfied with the conclusion. Good read.
Misfit Alpha: An Urban Fantasy (Cursed World Book 5)

Welp, there you have it. Even when my mental state isn’t it’s best, and life becomes overwhelming, I can always experience freedom in books. I know this is a huge review list lol.