At the end of February, I fell into a really bad slump. I picked up a few fantasy books, but I couldn’t commit to any of them… Until I picked up Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood, a romance novella set in the video game world. It started as an audiobook on Spotify, but later got republished as a book.

This book was BUZZY. Although it had the usual Ali Hazelwood elements (e.g. work rivals, and a grumpy MMC who’s secretly obsessed with her), I was surprised. The romance was short and sweet, and I enjoyed the development of their relationship. It takes place in a short time (during a work retreat), but I enjoyed both the cosy and steamy moments.

Verdict: 4.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

2. The Elsewhere Express, Samantha Sotto Yambao

Water Moon was one of my favourite reads of 2025, so I was interested to read the author’s other works. The Elsewhere Express is about a magical train that only appears to people who are lost in life. I was intrigued because the premise reminded me of those uncanny dreamcore videos about a train leading you to nowhere.

Unfortunately, I ended up not liking it as much as I thought I would. While I found the world imaginative and the characters interesting, I didn’t feel invested in the story. It took me a while to finish the book, and I was left in a slump afterwards.

Verdict: 3.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

3. And Now Back To You, B.K. Borison

Okay, here’s the thing… I thought First Time Caller was alright. It wasn’t awful, but at the same time, it wasn’t amazing to me. Regardless of that, I decided to pick up the second book in the Heartstrings series by B.K. Borison. I saw everyone was reading it, so I thought, Why not?

Well, I didn’t like this book either. I thought Jackson and Delilah’s romance was kind of forced, and I didn’t feel any chemistry between them. Maybe they should’ve stayed friends.

Verdict: 3.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

4. In Her Own League, Liz Tomforde

In 2025, I mourned the end of the Windy City Series with Rewind it Back… Until Liz Tomforde announced she was writing In Her Own League, aka Reese and Monty’s book.

Now that I’ve read it, I just want to say one thing.

OHMYGOD.

I want him.

Verdict: 4.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

5. The Lotus Empire, Tasha Suri

In 2024, I read the first two books in The Burning Kingdoms by Tasha Suri. Right when I finished The Oleander Sword, The Lotus Empire was released shortly after. At the time, I told myself I was gonna pick it up later, but then two years passed, and I almost forgot about this series.

This book took me almost a month to finish. I thought about DNF-ing it halfway, because the pacing was slow, but eventually, I decided to push through. I thought it was a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy, and I was happy with Priya and Malini’s ending.

Verdict: 3.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

6. Blessings, Chukwuebuka Ibeh

Blessings by Chukwuebuka Ibeh is a queer coming-of-age novel set in post-military Nigeria. It follows Obiefuna, who gets banished to a Christian boarding school after being caught in an intimate act with the family apprentice.

The book was an emotional read. Blessings depicts Obiefuna’s challenges at his boarding school, particularly the violence, the strict routines, and hierarchies, all while being alienated from his family and figuring out his identity. Meanwhile, we also read about Uzoamaka’s struggles. Though her perspective is secondary to the plot, we read about her longing for Obiefuna as she lives with his absence back home. The writing is tender and honest, and your heart will break for these characters.

Verdict: 4.25/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

7. Piranesi, Susanna Clarke

This was the second book I read for my “book less than 300 pages” blog, so I thought, why not? In short, it’s about a vast, labyrinthine house with endless rooms, statues, and corridors, and the man who lives to explore it.

I thought this book was a Greek myth retelling (based on its cover) at first, but as it turns out, it’s not. As the reader, I was transported into an imaginative world filled with mystery. I liked how the House and the sea’s tides were described, and the journalistic format. We got to learn about him (Piranesi), the other characters he encounters during his research, and his perspectives on the House. Towards the end of the book, I was left staring at the wall because of the twist.

Verdict: 4.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

8. The Baby Dragon Cafe, Aamna Qureshi

The Baby Dragon Cafe is a cosy fantasy about a cafe owner who teams up with a gardener to train a baby dragon. I loved The Marghazar Trials, so I wanted to get into the author’s other works. Plus, it reminded me a little of ’s upcoming novella.

Unfortunately, this became my first DNF of the year. I don’t know the book’s official age rating, but it seemed to be written for younger audiences (13-15 years old). The writing was juvenile, and some of the dialogue felt cringey. I also didn’t like how baby dragons were called “draggos” and how immature the characters felt. They baby-talked a lot to these creatures, and I just wasn’t having it.

Verdict: DNF 🚫📚

9. The Story of the Lost Child, Elena Ferrante

The Story of the Lost Child is the last book in the Neapolitan Series by Elena Ferrante, and all I can say is that I’m relieved because it’s finally over.

Maybe if I were a different reader, I would’ve enjoyed Lila and Elena’s story, but personally, I found it messy with frustrating characters. It took me a few months to finish all four books, and I’m pretty sure I don’t want to do it again. I’m sorry if you loved this series.

Verdict: 3/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

10. Heavenly Bodies Series (#1-2), Imani Erriu

Heavenly Bodies is the first book in a romantasy series set in a world ruled by celestial beings called Stars. When the Star of Wrath, War and Chaos overthrows one of the kingdoms, Asteria, its princess, Elara, flees to a neighbouring kingdom, Helios. While training with the prince (Lorenzo) to hone her powers, Elara tries to find a way to save her kingdom and fight her attraction to him.

In a sea of mixed reviews, I liked Heavenly Bodies. I had no expectations going into it, and I found the book entertaining. The world-building was celestial and interesting, and I liked the elements of Greek mythology. However, I also thought the book read like a basic romantasy. It had everything you can find in one, like a badass female main character, a flirty male main character who’d kill for her, an enemies-to-lovers trope, a prophecy that threatens to ruin her life, and untapped powers. In fact, I thought a couple of scenes reminded me of a very popular romantasy series I despise—specifically, the one with the neon covers.

As for the second book, Fallen Stars… I thought it fell flat. I liked the introduction of new celestials, places, and mythical creatures, but the plot was clearly overshadowed by constant smut. It wasn’t just Enzo and Elara going at it again and again every few chapters, and it wasn’t just them. I also had to read about two other side characters being just as horny with other people. I was getting annoyed because I just wanted to focus on the plot.

Verdicts:

• Heavenly Bodies: 4.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

• Fallen Stars: 3.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

11. The Book of Azrael, Amber V. Nicole

I didn’t expect to finish another book before the month ended, but here we are. The Book of Azrael is another romantasy book featuring powerful gods like Heavenly Bodies, but this time, it also has monsters. It’s the first book in the Gods & Monsters Series by Amber V. Nicole, where the main character, Dianna, is tasked to find an ancient relic that belonged to an army of gods (her enemy). I’ve been meaning to read this book for the longest time (aka a few years), but I kept putting it off until recently.

This book grew on me. It was confusing at first, but I think I started to understand a few things around the 30% mark. The world-building was interesting, and it was the main reason why I kept reading. The main characters were great as well, and I genuinely enjoyed their interactions. The thought of a scary god like Liam doing pinky promises and trying cotton candy for the first time was hilarious, and I liked the slow-burning romance because it allowed me to focus more on the plot and action scenes.

While I don’t think it’s a life-changing book on its own, I think it’s a good start to the series. I heard the other books in the series are better, so I’ll be tuning in next month.

Verdict: 3.75/5 stars

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Books that are less than 300 pages

1. This Is How You Lose the Time War, Amal El-Mohtar & Max Gladstone (209 pages)

Genres: Sci-fi, fantasy, romance

What is a Nat’s Bookshelf blog post about short books without mentioning This Is How You Lose The Time War? It’s a devastating, beautifully-written epistolary novella about two rival agents who time-travel and exchange letters while sabotaging each other’s futures. In the process, they fall in love and risk treason with their correspondence.

2. On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, Ocean Vuong (256 pages)

Genre: Lit-fic

Another epistolary novel, but this time, it follows a series of letters from a son to his mother, who cannot write or read English. Through vivid and vulnerable writing, we learn about his family’s life in Vietnam, the immigrant experience, his identity and self-discovery, and his first love.

3. Notes of a Crocodile, Qiu Miaojin (242 pages)

Genre: Lit-fic

Notes of a Crocodile (translated by Bonnie Huie) is a poignant novel that depicts the coming-of-age of queer misfits in 80s Taiwan. Through private diaries, vignettes, and notes, an unnamed narrator, Lazi, explores identity, friendship, and love as a lesbian college student in this time period.

4. A Dowry of Blood, S.T. Gibson (292 pages)

Genre: Gothic fantasy

A Dowry of Blood is a dreamy and lyrical reimagining of Dracula’s brides. It’s another epistolary novel on the list, with Constanta (his first bride) addressing Dracula. The story follows a three-part format, with each part focusing on each bride. When he introduces Magdalena and Alexei into her life, she learns that he is capable of terrible things.

5. Sunburn, Chloe Michelle Howarth (288 pages)

Genre: Lit-fic

Sunburn is a queer, coming-of-age novel set in 1990s rural Ireland. It follows the main character, Lucy, as she falls in love with her friend Susannah while navigating the pressures of her conservative community.

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6. The South, Tash Aw (288 pages)

Genres: Lit-fic

The South is another queer coming-of-age story about Jay, a Malaysian teenager who travels from the city to the countryside (the south) to visit a farm after his grandfather’s death. In the course of a summer during the late 1990s, he meets Chuan, the farmer’s son, and grows drawn to him.

7. Crying in H Mart, Michelle Zauner (256 pages)

Genre: Non-fiction

Crying in H Mart is a poignant memoir about grief, cultural identity, and the complex relationship between mother and daughter. As Zauner experiences the loss of her mother, she turns to Korean cuisine for comfort and to reconnect with her roots.

8. Last Violent Call, Chloe Gong (225 pages)

Genre: Historical fiction, romance

When you’re left devastated after the ending of Our Violent Ends by Chloe Gong, Last Violent Call will hug you and pet your head in an attempt to comfort you. It includes two novellas set in the Secret Shanghai Universe. It has cute domestic moments, intriguing murder mysteries, and of course, the main characters from These Violent Delights: Roma and Juliette (A Foul Thing) and Benedikt and Marshall (This Foul Murder).

9. My December Darling, Lauren Asher (232 pages)

Genre: Holiday romance

I know it’s only March, but I just wanted to include it in this list anyway. My December Darling is a cute holiday small town romance novel set in the Lakefront Billionaires Series universe by Lauren Asher. The story follows Catalina, a grumpy maid of honour for her sister’s wedding, and Luke, a charming best man for the groom.

10. Window Shopping, Tessa Bailey (258 pages)

Genre: Holiday romance

Speaking of holiday romances… there’s also Window Shopping by Tessa Bailey. It’s a grumpy x sunshine story between Stella, a woman with a troubled past looking for a fresh start, and Aiden, a department store manager who hires her to design Christmas window displays.

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11. My Killer Vacation, Tessa Bailey (295 pages)

Genres: Contemporary romance, mystery

After finding a dead body in her rental house, an elementary teacher (who’s supposed to be on vacation, btw), teams up with a bounty hunter to catch the killer. At first he’s annoyed by her attempts to help (she listens to true crime podcasts), but then he starts catching feelings despite his plans to leave after the case is solved.

12. Happenstance, Tessa Bailey (269 pages)

Genres: Reverse harem, contemporary romance

A commitment-phobic woman meets three (hot) guys in a steamy encounter and gets with all of them. I started this book in 2022 because one of the guys was inspired by The Duke of Hastings from Bridgerton (Regé-Jean Page).

Short reads that are on my TBR

I haven’t read any of these books yet, but I’d like to someday!

That being said, please let me know if any of the summaries below are incorrect. I mostly referred to their official ones online

13. Blessings, Chukwuebuka Ibeh (288 pages)

Genre: Lit-fic

Blessings is a queer coming-of-age novel — third on my list too — set in post-military Nigeria, which is also culminating in the Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Act of 2014. It follows Obiefuna, a teenage boy who gets banished to a Christian boarding school after being caught in an intimate act with the family’s apprentice. As he navigates his new school’s strict hierarchy and unpredictable violence, Obiefuna begins a journey of self-discovery while his mother deals with his absence back home.

14. Piranesi, Susanna Clarke (245 pages)

Genre: Fantasy, mystery

Piranesi is about a man who lives in a surreal, vast, labyrinthine house with infinite rooms and corridors, and statue-lined walls. He lives to explore the house, learn the tides of a trapped ocean, and understand the house’s patterns. Every two weeks, he is visited by The Other (who also lives in the house, btw), who asks for research help on A Great and Secret Knowledge. But when a terrible truth is discovered, a new world beyond what he knows is revealed.

15. A Certain Hunger, Chelsea G. Summers

Genre: Horror, thriller, contemporary fiction

I don’t remember why I added this book to my TBR, but the premise is intriguing. It’s about a successful food writer who eats men. According to my research, the story alternates between her life behind bars and the life that led to her imprisonment.

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With short books.

Whether you’re in a slump or struggling to hit your reading goal at any point, I think reading novellas and short stories helps. They’re quick, easy to get through, and perfect for moments when you don’t want to commit to a series or a hefty standalone.

If you’re looking for book recs that are less than 300 pages, here’s my list of short reads under the fantasy, romance, lit-fics, and poetry genres.

Books that are less than 100 pages

1. The Six Deaths of the Saint, Alix E. Harrow (31 pages)

Genre: Fantasy

Okay, this is not a book, but I wanted to include it in this list anyway. It’s about how a young girl is spared by the Saint of War, only to be bound to a cycle of forced resurrections in a brutal, never-ending war. It’s the third short story of the Into Shadow collection, and the foundation of Alix E. Harrow’s novel, The Everlasting.

2. Hot For Slayer, Ali Hazelwood (94 pages)

Genre: Fantasy, contemporary romance

Besides The Six Deaths of the Saint, Hot For Slayer by Ali Hazelwood is another short story worth checking out. It’s about a vampire who loses his memories, and the vampire slayer (aka his sworn enemy) who helps him remember. As they spend time together in the process, their feelings start to change and turn into something more.

3. I Hope This Finds You, Ann Liang (73 pages)

Genre: Contemporary romance

If you adored I Hope This Doesn’t Find You, then you should read I Hope This Finds You. It’s the “sequel” that features Sadie and Julius as a couple on their trip to California.

In 2025, it was released as an exclusive novella (ebook or paperback) for Never Thought I’d End Up Here’s preorder campaign. As it turns out, it’s currently being sold as an e-book in the US only. (WHY?)

Anyway, if Ann Liang’s publisher sees this post, please republish it as a paperback with bonus content. I NEED IT.

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Books that are less than 200 pages

4. Ocean Vuong’s Poetry Books (40-114 pages)

Genre: Poetry

If you want to get into poetry, Ocean Vuong’s works are a great place to start. His published collections share the same vivid writing style as On Earth With Briefly Gorgeous, with themes of identity, queer love, war and violence, and memory.

Titles and page counts:

• Burnings (40 pages)

• Night Sky With Exit Wounds (89 pages)

• Time is a Mother (114 pages)

5. The Shatter Me Novellas, Tahereh Mafi (69-177 pages)

If you’ve read the Shatter Me Series by Tahereh Mafi, then you probably heard of the Shatter Me novellas. There are four of them, and each of them includes perspectives from the other characters during certain scenes in the main books. That’s why you have to read them in order (more info below).

Titles and page counts:

• Destroy Me (111 pages): After Book #1, with Warner’s POV

• Fracture Me (72 pages): After Book #2, with Adam’s POV

• Shadow Me (69 pages): After Book #4, with Kenji’s POV

• Reveal Me (112 pages): After Book #5, with Kenji’s POV

• Believe Me (177 pages): After Book #6, with Warner’s POV

But to make this simpler, you can read the first two novellas under one book in Unite Me, and the next two novellas in Find Me. They come included in one of the box sets at the bookstore, but I think you can buy the novellas individually if you already have the series.

6. The River Has Roots, Amal El-Mohtar (105 pages)

Genre: Fantasy

If you’re a This Is How You Lose the Time War fan, please check out The River Has Roots, which was written by one of the authors, Amal El-Mohtar. It’s a magical story about sisterhood, faeries, folklore, and the power of language. I loved the novella for the lyrical writing, vivid world, and the stunning interior illustrations.

7. STEMinist Novellas, Ali Hazelwood (112-127 pages)

Genre: Contemporary romance

The STEMinist novellas are about three scientists (they’re all friends, btw) and their individual romantic encounters with the person they claim to hate.

You can read them individually, or all in one book, Loathe to Love You.

Titles, situations, and page counts:

• Under One Roof (112 pages): Roommates

• Stuck With You (127 pages): Rivals getting stuck in an elevator together

• Below Zero (112): Rivals being stranded together during a rescue mission in the Arctic

8. Two Can Play, Ali Hazelwood (187 pages)

Genres: Contemporary romance

On the note of Ali Hazelwood’s novellas, you have to read Two Can Play — especially if you like video games. It’s about two rival video game designers (Viola and Jesse) who are forced to collaborate on a game. To make things worse, they have to go on a remote work retreat with their respective teams for team-building.

When the lodge gets snowed in, they start spending more time together and revisit their opinions of one another.

9. First, Ali Hazelwood (136 pages)

Genres: Fantasy, romance

However, if you’re not in the mood for romance, you can try First, which is an omegaverse romance. It’s about a general who takes a nobleman’s bride to teach him a lesson. Though after meeting her, he decides to keep her.

10. Minor Detail, Adania Shibli (112 pages)

Genre: Lit-fic

Minor Detail (translated by Elisabeth Jaquette) is a haunting story based on a true story of a young Palestinian woman who was gang raped and murdered by Israeli soldiers in 1949, and the Palestinian woman who investigates this years later. In simple and direct writing, the novel touches on war, memory, and violence, and shows us life under occupation across different timelines (the past and the present).

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11. Bane of Widuri, Nadiah Zakaria (128 pages)

Genres: YA fantasy, horror

Bane of Widuri is a chilling, atmospheric novella by Nadiah Zakaria about seven orphaned girls who live in a hidden manor in Kedah, Malaysia. They’re not allowed to leave until they turn sixteen, which is when they get adopted by foster parents. But when things go awry after one of them leaves, the remaining six girls work together to find out the truth behind this house and its owner, Madam Dahlia.

12. Nine of Hearts, Nadiah Zakaria (115 pages)

Genres: Adult horror, dark fantasy

Nine of Hearts (also by Nadiah Zakaria) reimagines the origins of the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland. In her version, we learn about a beautiful queen, the subjects of her royal court, and a vengeful jester who takes the lives of those she loves. It’s intense, suspenseful, gory, and honestly, full of heartache.

13. I Who Have Never Known Men (184 pages)

Genres: Dystopian sci-fi

I Who Have Never Known Men is a dystopian science fiction novel about 39 women and one young girl who live imprisoned in an underground cage. They don’t remember how they got here and have no notion of time. All they know are the guards that closely watch them, and the rules they have to follow. When there’s a chance to escape, the young girl leads them towards the world above ground, telling a story about female friendships, humanity, intimacy, and surviving the unknown.

14. Carmilla, J Sheridan Le Fanu (108 pages)

Genres: Gothic horror, fantasy

Before there was Dracula (Bram Stoker), there was Carmilla by J Sheridan Le Fanu. The main character, Lara, is a young girl who lives in isolation with her father and strict governess. When a carriage crashes nearby, she meets Carmilla who is brought into the family home to recuperate. As they become friends and spend more time together, Laura becomes more enchanted with Carmilla.

15. The Monk and Robot Series (151-152 pages)

Genres: Sci-fi, adventure

The Monk and Robot Series by Becky Chambers is a solarpunk, sci-fi duology about a tea monk seeking purpose and a robot who has questions about humanity. In this futuristic setting, robots have gained self-awareness. After retiring as human servants, they disappeared into the wilderness to be never seen again for centuries… Until the two protagonists meet.

For two books, they will explore the world together, seek answers, and make friends along the way. It’s a story that will make you laugh, think about life, and hope for a future.

Titles and page counts

• A Psalm for the Wild-Built: 151 pages

• A Prayer For the Crown-Shy: 152 pages

Okay, I wanted to include more books in this post, but obviously, it’s getting way too long, so I’m stopping here. The next part will be book recommendations under 300 pages. See ya then!

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Two months after reading Gideon the Ninth, I started the second book, Harrow the Ninth. This is what I think:

I’m confused, but at the same time, interested. Con-sterested. I admit reading The Locked Tomb Series is quite an “experience”, personally, but I can’t help but stay invested. The world-building hooks you in as its characters do, and I’m captivated by Tamsyn Muir’s writing style. It’s gory, visceral, and technical, and I really liked the use of first vs third-person POVs in this book.

The only problem is that I just wish I wasn’t in a weird mood while reading it. It’s definitely a me problem, because I didn’t immediately continue the series after the first book.

…But I will read the next book. Hopefully soon.

Verdict: 3.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

2. Local Heavens, K.M. Fajardo

Last October, I read Local Heavens for the first time. When my copy of the book arrived in January, I knew I wanted to reread it. I kept gravitating towards it on my shelf, so I picked it up after finishing One For My Enemy.

As I’m writing this review, I already want to reread it (for the third time). I still think it’s brilliant, with immersive world-building and compelling writing. I couldn’t put it down during my reread, and when I finished it, I stared at the book and let out a little scream. I can’t recommend this book enough. PLEASE READ IT.

Verdict: 4.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

3. If It Makes You Happy, Julie Olivia

If It Makes You Happy is a cosy, slow-burning romance set during the late 90s in a small town. It was hyped up on Twitter for some time, like the Bad Billionaire Bosses series, so my expectations were pretty high.

Unfortunately, I was disappointed with my read. I could see why people enjoyed the story and its characters, but I just didn’t care. I was bored, and I thought about DNF-ing the book a couple of times.

Regardless, I think you should give this book a try. I found it nostalgic, and Cliff is such a good Dad.

Verdict: 3/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

4. Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil, V.E. Schwab

In 2021, I read my first V.E. Schwab book, The Invisible Life of Addie Larue. Although I loved it, I didn’t think about checking her other works for some reason. Her books were on my TBR for the longest time, so I decided it’s time to do that in 2026.

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil is a sapphic fantasy novel that tells the story of three vampires from three different eras. If you liked Addie Larue, you should also pick up this book. They’re both standalones that share themes of immortality, use flashbacks to tell a story, and have characters learning the weight of their choices. The rich writing immediately pulls you in from the start, and the characters feel fleshed-out. The difference is that there are toxic lesbian vampires in this one.

Verdict: 4.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

5. This Ravenous Fate, Hayley Dennings

I’ve been meaning to read this book ever since I saw it on Twitter. It’s another sapphic vampire story, but set in Jazz Age Harlem. What initially drew me in was the official art, Black vampires, and the enemies-to-lovers trope between a hunter and a vampire.

Unfortunately, I found This Ravenous Fate underwhelming. There’s a Goodreads review that said this book probably needed more editing, and I honestly agree. While I liked the premise and thought it had potential, I didn’t feel invested in the story as the reader. There were a couple of moments between the main characters that made me go “👀”, but that’s it. I ended up taking a break in between to read a different book, and when I was done, I decided to finish it.

With that being said, I don’t think I’ll be reading the next book, Our Vicious Descent.

Verdict: 3/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

6. You Started It, Jackie Khalileh

You Started It is a YA fake dating romance about a girl who tries to get her boyfriend back after getting dumped. It’s the second Jackie Khalileh novel that I’ve read.

I found it a lighthearted and fun novel. It reminded me of an Olivia Rodrigo song at the beginning, and Axel and Jamie stole my heart. They were cute together, and I liked reading their scenes. Like Something More, I found the interactions, whether between teenagers or between parent and child, realistic. The conversations were natural and not too awkward.

The only problems I have with this book were the conflict and the mentions of dancing on TikTok. I know it’s a part of Axel’s character, but personally, I’m just not a fan of people singing and dancing in books and shows.

Verdict: 4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

7. The South, Tash Aw

The South is a queer coming-of-age story about Jay, a Malaysian teenager who travels from the city to the countryside (the south) to visit a farm after his grandfather’s death. In the course of a summer during the late 1990s, he meets Chuan, the farmer’s son, and grows drawn to him. I picked up this book after seeing Justin (@justintriestoread) recommend it a few times in his videos.

I found The South quiet and reflective, with a vivid prose that takes you through the farm landscapes and the lives of its people. In flashbacks (the past) and day-to-day routines (the present), we learn more about Jay and his family’s history. The book also touches on desire, the tensions between generations, identity, sexuality, belonging, and the impact of historical events (i.e. the financial crisis) on the economy. I recommend this book if you like Sunburn by Chloe Michelle Howarth or On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong.

Verdict: 4.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Nat’s Bookshelf is a free publication for all but it takes a few hours of steeping tea leaves to brew a post. If you’d like to fuel my brain juices and support future posts, buy me a cup of tea today :)

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If you’re already not aware, Olivie Blake is one of my favourite authors. She primarily writes adult SFF (sci-fi fantasy) novels, but she’s also dabbled in other genres, like adult speculative fiction, and contemporary romance (both adult and YA). I adore her books because of her brilliant characters, her distinct, witty writing style, and her memorable stories. Every book I’ve picked up from her has been so different from each other, and I always look forward to her upcoming releases.

Unfortunately, I haven’t read Twelfth Knight or My Mechanical Romance, but they’re on my 2026 TBR. I’ll probably update this post when I’ve read both of them. In the meantime, let’s focus on the books I already read.

My rankings of Olivie Blake’s books

9. The Atlas Complex

As a fan of The Atlas Trilogy, I was disappointed in the final book. I struggled to get through it, and I pushed through for the sake of completing the series. But at the 70% mark, I decided to DNF The Atlas Complex and have the ending spoiled for me. I didn’t want to deal with it anymore.

However, I got a physical copy to match my copies of the first and second books, so a reread might happen in the future.

8. Januaries

Januaries is a collection of poems and short stories from the author. It was one of the first few books I read in 2025, and I remember reading it on my e-reader during my flight.

I thought it was a whimsical and magical read. I enjoyed a few of the stories, and it was also my first time reading Olivie Blake’s poems.

7. Masters of Death

I hate to say this… but Masters of Death isn’t my favourite work. I think I was in a weird slump when I read it in 2024, so I didn’t enjoy it properly, but maybe a future reread will fix that. My review on Goodreads says it’s “Alone With You in the Ether’s macabre, cynical, and chaotic best friend”, so hopefully that will convince you to read it.

It also has vampires, ghosts, and death, BTW - perfect for those who want a spooky read for Fall or now.

6. Gifted & Talented

Gifted & Talented is another Olivie Blake book that became victim to my notorious slumps, but I think you should pick it up anyway. I thought it was different from the books I had read by her at the time, and it felt like a movie with sharp dialogue, a dramatic soundtrack, and intense cinematography. I should reread it, TBH.

5. Girl Dinner

Girl Dinner was weird. A little unsettling. It’s about cannibalism, feminine power, and desire. I found it hard to get into it at first, but when it all clicked, I couldn’t put it down. (quoting what I said in my Nov 2025 Reading Wrap Up). The story also includes commentary on what it’s like being a woman today, an alluring campus sorority, and the costs of achieving perfection.

I think you should read it.

4. The Atlas Six

The Atlas Six was one of the reasons why I got into Olivie Blake. I read the indie version for the first time in 2021 because it blew up all over BookTok, with people saying it was a “mindfuck”. Well, the story blew me away with its smart and sexy characters, its plot, and its writing. I also remember being fascinated with the scientific theories and the world of The Alexandrian Society.

I have the traditionally published version sitting on my shelf, and I think it has more content. Can’t wait to reread the series soon!

3. The Atlas Paradox

I don’t remember much (I’m sorry!), but I know The Atlas Paradox is my favourite book in the whole trilogy. I found it funny, and I think I had a great time reading it.

2. One For My Enemy

I reread this recently, and FUCK.

It’s tragic, yes, but it’s also so good. It’s poetic, dramatic, and intense. The characters were compelling, and I loved the romance.

1. Alone With You in the Ether

I read this book for the first time, and my life has never been the same since. It’s tender, reflective, honest, and beautifully written. I’ve read it three times, and I wish I could forget everything about it so I could read it for the first time. Aldo and Regan’s connection is profound, and I still haven’t gotten over them. Their scenes together were intimate and raw, and I could feel it through my pages. This book is not even tragic like One For My Enemy, but I still feel a hole in my chest every time I think about the artist and the mathematician.

Final ratings:

• The Atlas Complex - 🚫📚 DNF

• Januaries - 3/5 stars

• Masters of Death - 3.25/5 stars

• Gifted & Talented - 3.5/5 stars

• Girl Dinner - 4.25/5 stars

• The Atlas Six - 4/5 stars

• The Atlas Paradox - 4/5 stars

• One For My Enemy - 4.25/5 stars

• Alone With You in the Ether - 5/5 stars

  ---

If you wanna read the other episodes in this series…

• Ali Hazelwood

• Ann Liang

I wanted to read this book because I kept seeing it in a few local bookstores. The cover intrigued me, so here I am, writing this review for you. The Wedding People is simply about one unexpected wedding guest and the surprising people who help her start anew.

When I first started the book, I thought it was going to be a sad read. Instead, The Wedding People turned out to be a wise, authentic, and heartfelt read. In the midst of wedding chaos, the story explores themes of love, marriage, grief, letting go, and starting over. It shows us the impact of unexpected connections in our lives, like how Phoebe's friendship with the bride leads to the unveiling of emotional confessions and discoveries of the bride and groom, and the other wedding guests.

A thing about this book that stood out to me the most was how human it was. It showed us how messy and imperfect people can be, and the conversations easily reflected that.

Verdict: 4.25/5

2. The Celestial Kingdom Series, Sue Lynn Tan

Last September (in 2025), I DNF-ed Daughter of the Moon Goddess. At the time, I said that I didn’t like the main character, Xingyin. I found her unlikable and a little naive, and I didn’t plan on continuing the series until a couple of months later. I knew a lot of people adored this series, and I was somewhat interested in picking up the author’s other works, so I thought, why not?

Now that I’ve finished both books in the series, I just wanna say that this series isn’t for me. Although I liked Sue Lynn Tan’s writing style and the world she built in The Celestial Kingdom Series, I still found the protagonist annoying. Besides that, Daughter of the Moon Goddess was so slow, and I didn’t feel invested in the story anymore.

Regardless of what I think, I think you can consider giving the series a try. There are themes of family and loyalty, romance, mythical creatures, and powerful immortals. I might recommend this if you liked Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim.

Verdicts:

• Daughter of the Moon Goddess: 3.5/5 stars

• Heart of the Sun Warrior: 3/5 stars

3. Britt-Marie Was Here, Fredrik Backman

Whenever I visited Bookxcess in KL, I always saw this book — that’s one of the reasons why I wanted to read it. The other reason was that I wanted to read Fredrik Backman’s other books.

I think if you enjoyed A Man Called Ove, you might enjoy this too. It’s about a woman (Britt-Marie) who leaves her cheating husband and lands a job as a caretaker of a recreation centre in a small village called Borg. There, she meets the town’s citizens and is eventually tasked with leading the children’s soccer team to victory. Both Ove and Britt-Marie’s stories are character-driven, with emotional backstories, humorous side characters, and glimpses of day-to-day in a small town.

Britt-Marie Was Here was funny, sad, and hopeful. I just wish I enjoyed it more (or as much as I did with A Man Called Ove) because I fell into some kind of slump halfway through. But still give this book a try, anyway.

Verdict: 3.5/5 stars

4. Bad Billionaire Bosses Series, Kyra Parsi

If you’re on Book Twitter, then you’d probably know this series, or at least, heard of it. The Bad Billionaire Bosses Series by Kyra Parsi is a set of contemporary enemies-to-lovers romance novels that feature hot, extremely wealthy, and extremely insufferable (at first) men. I remember it blowing up all over my feed a few months ago, but I didn’t pick up the books at the time because I was sceptical.

But now that I finished it… I just wanna say one thing:

OHMYGOD.

I had a great time with the Bad Billionaire Bosses Series. All three books were fun, hilarious, and fast-paced enough to get me out of my slump. The first book, A Deal With the Bossy Devil, reminded me a bit of The Spanish Love Deception. I think it’s because Ria gave me Lina flashbacks, especially with their personalities and the way they hated the guy.

On the other hand, Failure to Match was cute. It was more chill, with a plot that centred around the matchmaking industry. I personally thought it was better than the movie, Materialists, which I found fucking depressing. Jackson and Jamie’s story was also tender, swoon-worthy; I can see why people would make this book their favourite.

As for the third book, Hate Me Like You Mean It, I enjoyed it, but not as much as the previous two books. I liked the bit of angst and the cute flashbacks of when they were kids, but at the same time, I thought it was a bit messy. The relationship progression was abrupt, with a sudden first kiss that didn’t make sense. A Goodreads review said that the chapters felt disjointed, which I kind of agree with. I wish the story had more structure, with the characters working through their pasts first before moving into a romantic relationship.

Regardless, I think if you’re a romance lover looking to get out of a slump, try Kyra Parsi’s books. My other critique about this series is that the main characters (particularly in Books #1 and #3) were immature in some of their earlier scenes.

Verdicts:

• A Deal With the Bossy Devil: 4.75/5 stars

• Failure to Match: 4.5/5 stars

• Hate Me Like You Mean It: 4.25/5 stars

5. One Dark Window, Rachel Gillig

A few months ago, in October 2025, I DNF-ed a very popular gothic fantasy book: One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig. In my initial review, I shared how the plot didn’t intrigue me and how confused I was with the magic system.

Now that I’ve completed the book, I just wanna say that I tried to like it. I found things I somewhat enjoyed, like the writing, the atmospheric setting, the unique magic system, and how intriguing Ravyn was. But as it turns out, I still didn’t care about the plot, and I just wanted to read it for the sake of completing it.

I know how much the book community loves The Shepherd King Series, so I might recommend it, but right now, I just know that I won’t be picking up the second book.

Verdict: 3/5 stars

6. Neapolitan Series (#2-3), Elena Ferrante

In November, I read the first book in the series, My Brilliant Friend, and decided to continue it later because I wasn’t in the mood. A month later, I read the second and third books. The series continues to narrate the main characters’ lives, highlighting love, friendship, family, freedom, jealousy, and commitment.

Overall, I think it’s a reflective and honest series. The Neapolitan Novels doesn’t sugarcoat “life”, showing us the ups and downs of adulthood and self-discovery. It teaches us the weight of the paths we take, the choices we make, and the people who come and go in our lives.

Unfortunately, after two books, I decided to pause the series again. As the reader, I was getting frustrated with the characters and their choices. It was bad idea after bad idea, and I’m surprised that Elena and Lila’s friendship still stands despite it all. I don’t know how their story will end in the next book, but I lowkey can’t wait to finish the series.

Verdicts:

• The Story of a New Name: 3.25/5 stars

• Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay: 3/5 stars

7. One For My Enemy, Olivie Blake

In 2022, I read the indie edition of One For My Enemy. It’s a Romeo and Juliet retelling set in modern-day NYC, but with witches. It was also the second book I read by the author.

Whether you’ve read Shakespeare’s original play or not, I think you’ll enjoy this book. It’s poetic, devastating, and so painfully underrated. You get to meet powerful witches (the Antonovas and the Feodorovs) and learn about their strong family dynamics. There’s also magic, drama, and two love stories that will make you laugh and stab you in the back at the same time.

Compared to the indie version, the trad-pub version has more content. There are a few more scenes between Masha and Dima, which I loved, and rereading this book solidified my love for Lev and Sasha. I also loved Olivie’s take on Romeo and Juliet’s story; One For My Enemy stands out on its own with its originality, compelling characters, and distinct writing style. Those are all the reasons why you should read this book.

Verdict: 4.25/5 stars

How it started…

In my writing journey post, I mentioned that I read a lot of books as a kid. I started with Enid Blyton, Geronimo Stilton, and A Series of Unfortunate Events. Then, as I grew into my adolescent years, I picked up the well-known fantasy and sci-fi dystopia books that you probably know: (Shadowhunter Chronicles, Vampire Academy, The Hunger Games, etc.)

At this time of my life,

I also didn’t read much. I didn’t know where to get book recs, and I just stuck to the books I saw at physical bookstores or in other less conventional sources, like an AirAsia in-flight magazine that mentioned the Three Dark Crowns series by Kendare Blake years ago.

In 2021, I picked up These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong. I fell in love with it, and it led me to actively read books. Within the same year, I joined the book community because I was sick of no one understanding my weird book-related references.

Joining the book community

Part 1: Saying hello on BookTwitter

I joined BookTwitter first because I was comfortable with the platform the most. I didn’t think about taking aesthetic photos of my books at the time (Instagram), and I didn’t like talking to a camera (TikTok/YouTube).

In my first year on BookTwitter, I made an introductory tweet with a small list of books I loved and found my first few mutuals. After that, I gradually learned more about the book community through stuff like *confusing* book acronyms, tropes, and certain terms, like reading slumps, DNF, and TBR. On Book Twitter, though, I had to figure out what tone tags were, how to create a Carrd or Strawpage site, and how to do a live update thread of your current read. Once you know all of this, all you need to do is focus on reading BookTwitter’s most loved books and series. This took me a few years, not gonna lie, and I read most of them by 2023.

Despite all that, I think BookTwitter does have its bad sides sometimes. It’s easier to get flak online, especially if you’re caught openly promoting problematic books and authors, or having really bad takes in general. Some people will send you death threats over their favourite characters, while some will recycle the same argument over how many books you’ve read each month. I’ve also seen people shit on others for reading e-books or listening to audiobooks (“they don’t count as reading”) and actively judge you for reading romance and fantasy books (“they’re not real books”).

Quick disclaimer: It’s not just BookTwitter, but the whole book community in general. I’m saying I personally see this happening on Twitter more often compared to my TikTok and Instagram feeds.

Part 2: Figuring out my Bookstagram aesthetic

In 2022, I joined Bookstagram because I wanted to try it out. At the beginning, I posted book memes and my best bookish pics, like annotation dumps or book stacks. I mostly experimented, but I let myself have a little fun figuring out what I wanted to post. Turns out, I really liked going to bookstores in KL/PJ, doing monthly wrap-up posts, filming bookish vlogs (if there are any), and taking cute pics of books. I also feel like I’ve picked up more book recs off Bookstagram because a) FOMO and b) I didn’t want to recommend the same books all the time.

If you’re reading this post and want to join Bookstagram, my advice is to just do it. I promise it’s fun if you figure out how to post content you enjoy making. For me, it also showed me what it’s like to be a book creator in Malaysia. I went to local bookstores, made more friends online, and attended events like book fests and book clubs in the city. In a way, it encouraged me to go out more.

But you know what I haven’t done? Joining one of Kuala Lumpur Reads’s sessions at Perdana Botanical Gardens. 🫠 I’ve been meaning to go sometime, but I haven’t decided, and if I did, it’s always poor timing on my end (i.e. I overslept, or was heading out that day).

The only bad thing about Bookstagram is the app algorithm. I genuinely hate it, and sometimes I don’t feel like posting because of it. It’s just bad, and I’ve given up on trying to fight the robot that determines whether my posts go viral or not. For this, I just wanna say that it’s not worth the creator burnout. Just post whatever you want and whenever you want.

Part 3: Trying out BookTok

With BookTwitter and Bookstagram up my sleeve, I decided to dip a toe in BookTok. I think I started my first account in 2021, but I deleted it because I didn’t like the vibes. But in 2022 or 2023, I came back anyway, under a different username.

I actually have a love-hate relationship with BookTok. I’m not a huge fan of how they impacted the whole book community the most, especially with the tropeification of books and turning the publishing industry into “fast fashion”. Like some parts of the book community, they also hype up “bad” books and give problematic authors a platform.

And let’s not talk about the infamous BookTok comments lol.

Despite all of that, I think BookTok does have its good moments. It’s just a matter of curating the right feed, developing your own opinion, and following the right people. Personally, I find the TikTok algorithm is slightly better than Instagram, and I’ve come across great creator accounts online.

I also think BookTok is more accessible, recs-wise. You will still get good books, discover small authors, and meet other readers. You also get to create videos and reach more people that way. Plus, it recommends content from accounts you don’t follow, which I wish Instagram would stop doing. I just wanna see my followers’ posts as soon as they post, ya know?

I’m not as active on BookTok as I am with the other two platforms, but maybe I should try to be.

The rebirth of blogger Nat

So here’s the deal. I’ve blogged before. I posted poems on Tumblr once, and there was a brief time in my life when I had a Blogger account, A Writer’s Block. I stopped blogging for a few years, but I decided to revive my blogging era with WordPress in 2023. Then I discovered Substack and made the switch because I didn’t want to pay a lot of money every year to maintain a WordPress site. It was expensive, complicated to use (for me anyway), and Substack had everything I needed.

And it’s free. 😛

I started Nat’s Bookshelf because I wanted to do comprehensive book reviews and occasionally share my writing. I didn’t want to just say “WHAT THE FUCK 😃” on every book review I make, even if it’s a little fun. My blog focuses on monthly reading wrap-ups, book recs (listicles), and poems, but I also try to do author updates (if there are any) and other reader-related stuff, like my bookstore hopping guides.

A little over a year later, my Substack blog is one of the best parts of my life. I look forward to planning post ideas, writing up my reviews each month, and talking about the books I love. It challenges me to be more articulate with my opinions and cohesively organise my thoughts. The only problem I have is that I get lazy sometimes, and I just ignore the blog ideas sitting in my Notes app. Blogging honestly takes a lot of time, and I just don’t feel like sitting down for hours, writing and editing my drafts. That’s why I do it in sessions throughout the month so I won’t go insane editing my posts.

Final thoughts

Honestly, the book community is a great space to be in if you follow the right people and read the right books. I’ve made a lot of friends over the years — some of whom I’m close with — and found books that changed my life.

The community also encouraged me to try new genres. Yes, I’m still a sci-fi fantasy and romance girlie at heart, but I started picking up more lit-fics in the past couple of years. In fact, I’ve been thinking about picking up classics sometime, because I haven’t read Jane Austen’s books before. Maybe 2026 will be the year to do that? We’ll see. (I have a giant 2026 TBR to go through, that’s why).

Besides reading different genres, parts of the book community encouraged me to read more diversely. I think it’s important to read and discover more books by BIPOC and LGBTQ authors because it helps you build empathy for people from different cultures and backgrounds. Reading about someone else’s experience can also broaden your perspective and break stereotypes. So far, I’ve read romance, fantasy and literary fiction written by diverse authors, but I’d like to read more translated fiction in the future. If you have recs, do let me know <3

* = Reread

Bolded titles and authors = Favourite read

January

1. Romancing Mr Bridgerton, Julia Quinn - DNF 🚫📚

2. Heavenly Tyrant, Xiran Jay Zhao - 3.75/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

3. The Sword of Kaigen, M.L. Wang - 4.25/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

4. I’ll Look For You, Everywhere, Cameron Capello - 3.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

5. Januaries, Olivie Blake - 3/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

6. Phantasma, Kaylie Smith - 3.75/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

— Read my January wrap up post here.

February

7. Immortal Dark, Tigest Girma - 4.25/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

8. I Am Not Jessica Chen, Ann Liang - 5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

9. Bingsu For Two, Sujin Witherspoon - 5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

10. Not Another Love Song, Julie Soto - 4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

11. Wrath of an Exile, Monty Jay - DNF 🚫📚

12. First-Time Caller, B.K. Borison - 4.25/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

13. Deep End, Ali Hazelwood - 3/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

14. This Time It’s Real*, Ann Liang - 4.2/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

15. The Lady or the Lion*, Aamna Qureshi - 4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

16. The Man or the Monster*, Aamna Qureshi - 3/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

— Read my February wrap up post here.

March

17. Lights Out, Nevessa Allen - 3/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

18. Oathbound, Tracy Deonn - 4.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

19. She Who Became The Sun, Shelley-Parker Chan - DNF 🚫📚

20. Gwen and Art Are Not in Love - Lex Croucher - DNF 🚫📚

21. As Long As The Lemon Trees Grow*, Zoulfa Katouh - 4.25/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

22. Praise*, Sara Cate - 3/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

23. Bunny*, Mona Awad - 3.25/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

— Read my March wrap up post here.

April

24. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Suzanne Collins - 3/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

25. Sunrise on the Reaping, Suzanne Collins - 4.25/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

26. Gifted & Talented, Olivie Blake - 3.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

27. The Six Deaths of the Saint, Alix E. Harrow - 3.75/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

28. Notes of a Crocodile, Qiu Miaojin - 4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

29. Minor Detail, Adania Shibli - 4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

30. Watch Me, Tahereh Mafi - 3/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

— Read my April wrap up post here.

May

31. King of Pride, Ana Huang - 3.25/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

32. King of Greed, Ana Huang - 3.75/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

33. King of Sloth, Ana Huang - 2.75/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

34. King of Envy, Ana Huang - 4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

35. Lie With Me, Philippe Besson - DNF 🚫📚

36. Eyes on Me, Sara Cate - DNF 🚫📚

37. Funny Story, Emily Henry - 2/5 stars ⭐️⭐️

38. Great Big Beautiful Life, Emily Henry - 2/5 stars ⭐️⭐️

39. Rewind it Back, Liz Tomforde - 4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

40. This Is How You Lose the Time War, Amal Eh-Mohtar & Max Gladstone - 5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

41. Love, Theoretically, Ali Hazelwood - 4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

42. Dance of Thieves, Mary E. Pearson - 4.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

43. Vow of Thieves, Mary E. Pearson - 4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

— Read my May wrap up post here.

June

44. Never Thought I’d End Up Here, Ann Liang - 4.25/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

45. I Hope This Finds You, Ann Liang - 5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

46. Problematic Summer Romance, Ali Hazelwood 4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

47. Love on the Brain, Ali Hazelwood - DNF 🚫📚

48. Bride, Ali Hazelwood - DNF 🚫📚

49. I Am Not Jessica Chen, Ann Liang - 4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

50. I Hope This Doesn’t Find You*, Ann Liang - 5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

51. Loathe to Love You, Ali Hazelwood - 4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

— Read my June wrap up post here.

July

52. Not in Love*, Ali Hazelwood - 5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

53. Check & Mate*, Ali Hazelwood - 5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

54. Sunburn, Chloe Michelle Howarth - 3.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

55. The Jasad Heir, Sara Hashem - 4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

56. The Jasad Crown, Sara Hashem - 4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

57. Anxious People, Fredrik Backman - 4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

58. Throne of Secrets, Kerri Maniscalco - DNF 🚫📚

— Read my July wrap up post here.

August

59. Something More, Jackie Khalileh - 4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

60. Heir, Sabaa Tahir - 3.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

61. A Man Called Ove, Fredrik Backman - 5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

62. Water Moon, Samantha Sotto Yambao - 4.25/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

63. My Friends, Fredrik Backman - 5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

64. Four Aunties and a Wedding, Jesse Q Sutanto - DNF 🚫📚

65. Six Crimson Cranes, Elizabeth Lim - 4.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

66. The Dragon’s Promise, Elizabeth Lim - 3.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

— Read my August wrap up post here.

September

67. Daughter of the Moon Goddess, Sue Lynn Tan - DNF 🚫📚

68. Revenge in Violent Hues, Nadiah Zakaria - 4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

69. A Love Most Fatal, Kath Richards - 3/5 stars

70. The Knight and the Moth, Rachel Gilig - 4.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

71. A Study in Drowning, Ava Reid - 4.25/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

72. A Theory in Dreaming, Ava Reid - 3.25/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

73. Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries, Heather Fawcett - 3.75/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

74. Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands, Heather Fawcett- 3.25/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

75. Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales, Heather Fawcett- 3/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

76. Vilest Things, Chloe Gong - 3/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

— Read my September wrap up post here.

October

77. Every Spiral of Fate, Tahereh Mafi - 4.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

78. Powerless, Elsie Silver - 3.25/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

79. Reckless, Elsie Silver - 4.25/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

80. Hopeless, Elsie Silver - DNF 🚫📚

81. One Dark Window, Rachel Gilig - DNF 🚫📚

82. The Red Palace, June Hur - 4.25/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

83. A Crane Among Wolves, June Hur - 4.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

84. The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, Axie Oh - 3.25/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

85. Local Heavens, K.M. Fajardo - 4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

84. When They Burned the Butterfly, Wen-yi Lee - 4.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

86. The Princess Knight, Cait Jacobs - 3.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

87. I Who Have Never Known Men, Jacqueline Harpman - 4.25/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

88. Nine of Hearts, Nadiah Zakaria - 5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

— Read my October wrap up post here.

November

89. My Brilliant Friend, Elena Ferrante - 3.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

90. Gideon the Ninth, Tamsyn Muir - 3.25/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

91. Hot For Slayer, Ali Hazelwood - 3.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

92. First, Ali Hazelwood - 3.75/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

93. Sinners Atone, Somme Sketcher - 3/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

94. Coldwire, Chloe Gong - 3/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

95. A Love Most Brutal, Kath Richards - 4.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

96. Girl Dinner, Olivie Blake - 4.25/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

97. Eternal Ruin, Tigest Girma - 4.25/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

98. A Psalm for the Wild-Built, Becky Chambers - 4.25/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

99. A Prayer for the Crown-Shy, Becky Chambers - 4.25/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

100. Babel, R.F. Kuang - 4.25/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

101. Katabasis, R.F. Kuang - 4.25/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

— Read my November wrap up post here.

December

102. My December Darling, Lauren Asher - 3.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

103. Bane of Widuri, Nadiah Zakaria - 4.25/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

104. On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous*, Ocean Vuong - 4.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

105. The Everlasting, Alix E. Harrow - 4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

106. Burnings, Ocean Vuong - 4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

107. The Isle in the Silver Sea, Tasha Suri - 3/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

108. Last Words from Montmartre, Qiu Miaojin - 3.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

109. Martyr!, Kaveh Akbar - 4.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

110. Beartown, Fredrik Backman - 4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

111. Us Against You, Fredrik Backman - 4.25/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

112. The Winners, Fredrik Backman - 3.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

113. Carmilla, J Sheridan Le Fanu - 4.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

114. Night Sky with Exit Wounds, Ocean Vuong - 4.25/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

115. Time is a Mother, Ocean Vuong - 4.25/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

116. The River Has Roots, Amal El-Mohtar - 4.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

— Read my December wrap up post here.

— For my 2024 reading wrap-up, click here.

When this book was released last year, I honestly didn’t plan on reading it. I don’t usually read holiday novellas, and I think the last one I read was back in 2022 or 2023. But this time, I decided to pick this book up on a whim because I wanted something short. My December Darling is a Christmas novella set in Lake Wisteria, the same small town the Lakefront Billionaires Series is set in.

Whether you’ve read Lauren Asher’s trilogy or not, you can read Luke and Catalina’s story on its own. I thought it was a cute, feel-good romance that gets you in the mood for the holidays. There’s easy banter, a few swoon-worthy moments (he buys a LEGO set and a coffee machine for her!), and a couple of spicy moments if you’re into that. I think it’s a great choice if you’re looking for a holiday romance to warm you up in winter.

However, among the short reads I read this year, Lauren Asher’s book is the longest (<250 pages). While the romance was enjoyable, I felt that it was probably 100 pages too long for me. I don’t know if My December Darling should be classified as a novel at this point.

Verdict: 3.25/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

2. Bane of Widuri, Nadiah Zakaria

Speaking of short reads, I picked up Bane of Widuri by Nadiah Zakaria. It’s a gothic, dark fantasy novella about seven orphaned girls who live in a hidden manor in Kedah, Malaysia.

Bane of Widuri was haunting, chilling, and atmospheric. It made me think of Rapunzel and The 12 Dancing Princesses, but with a dark twist. You’re introduced to the girls — Kemboja, Mawar, Wisteria, Azalea, Iris, Cempaka, and Melur — and their lives in this secluded manor. They’re not allowed to leave until they turn sixteen, when they’re “adopted” by foster parents. But when things go awry after Kemboja leaves, the other six girls work together to find out the truth about this house.

Bane of Widuri is a story of friendship, sisterhood, grief, black magic, and vengeance. While the novella is short, the author hooks you in with the heightened emotions of the girls. You feel their fear, despair, and determination through the pages as they fight to save each other from meeting their end at the hands of the headmistress. The ending left me hanging, but I got the same level of satisfaction as I did with Revenge in Violent Hues because the bad people got what they deserved.

Verdict: 4.25/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

3. On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, Ocean Vuong

In 2023, I read On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong for the first time. I decided to reread it this month because I finally got a copy from Bookxcess, and I wanted to annotate it. It’s an epistolary novel, which means the story is told in the format of letter(s). In this case, it is a son (Little Dog) writing to his mother, who cannot read English.

I thought the book was reflective, vulnerable, and raw. Through his letter, we learn about his family’s past in Vietnam, his identity, his first love, and his sexuality as a young man in his twenties. On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous also explores the immigrant experience, trauma from war and violence, and the complex role of language — especially in communicating emotions and thoughts between generations and cultures. The writing is vivid, honest, and raw, and it felt like I was looking through the character’s memories as I was reading the book.

I really want to get into Ocean Vuong’s other works, and I hope I can do that soon.

Verdict: 4.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4. The Everlasting, Alix E. Harrow

The Everlasting is a fantasy novel about Una Everlasting, a lady knight, and Owen Mallory, the scholar who falls in love with her legend hundreds of years later. Before you start this book, though, I highly recommend you read The Six Deaths of the Saint first. It’s because the book was born from that short story.

Anyway, let’s get into the review.

This book was magnificent. I came into this book with fairly high expectations (thanks to ), and every expectation was met. I thought it was just gonna be an ordinary fantasy story about a scholar/failed soldier who gets sent back in time to rewrite history. Instead, I got whacked with so much yearning and so much pain. Owen and Una’s story was devastating for the most part, and you might cry watching them try to find and save each other as history rewrites itself over and over again.

The prose, though, was my favourite thing about this book. Alix E. Harrow’s compelling writing carried the story and the characters’ emotions so beautifully. It’s both a tragic medieval legend and a tender love story, and you’ll like it if you enjoy knight-related stories (The Knight and the Moth) and time-travel with a bit of yearning like This Is How You Lose the Time War. Just… make sure you have some tissues on hand.

Verdict: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

5. Burnings, Ocean Vuong

How do you even rate and review poetry? Well, this is my first time doing that.

Since finishing On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, I added a few of his works to my TBR, including two of his poetry books. I read Burnings on a whim, a queer poetry collection that explores themes of the war in Vietnam, the refugee experience, memory, and identity. Fire is a recurring image throughout Ocean’s poems, hence the title of the book.

I don’t really read a lot of poetry in real life, but I thought Burnings was introspective. Through a lyrical writing style, Ocean shows how visceral remembering can be. He describes the aftermath of war and fire, the familiar sounds and sights of his hometown, and the curious heat of desire. Burnings is a book of detail, of noticing and hearing things. My favourite poem was “Gardening with the Son I’ll Never Have.”

Verdict: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

6. Good Spirits, B.K. Borison

Good Spirits by B.K. Borison was another Christmassy book I didn’t plan to read at first. But I decided to pick it up for the sake of the vibes this month. It’s a holiday romance novel about Nolan, a (handsome) Ghost of Christmas Past, who’s been tasked to haunt Harriet, an antique store owner.

This book surprised me, and I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. The main characters were lovable, and the story was magical. I was reminded of cosy Hallmark Christmas movies, The Christmas Carol, Last Christmas (2019), and a bit of The Good Place. It’s wholesome and sad, with both characters’ backstories being uncovered. In the present, Harriet is also grieving for her late aunt, and in the past, you learn about her “strained” relationship with her family.

In terms of the romance, Good Spirits was endearing and tender. You read about how Nolan, a literal ghost, sees and acknowledges Harriet, unlike her family. She makes him feel human and whole, hoping for a future with her in it. At the same time, the book packed some heat. There was a lot of tension, sure, but I didn’t expect the spice that came with it. Reading it on a crowded train and trying to stay calm was quite the struggle, but I managed to finish the book when I reached my destination.

Verdict: 4.25/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

7. The Isle in the Silver Sea, Tasha Suri

The Isle in the Silver Sea by Tasha Suri is a fantasy novel about a witch and a knight doomed to fall in love and destroy each other across lifetimes. I added it to my TBR after seeing the stunning art of the main characters in a special edition a couple of months ago.

Unfortunately, I struggled to get through this book. If you asked me what happened in the book, I don’t think I’d be able to tell you. I just know that there’s magical ink, a disappearing isle powered by stories and incarnates, and lesbians. The timeline was also kind of vague — London, but which era? — and the plot was a little confusing. I couldn’t connect to the story, and I wanted to DNF it a few times at first. But I pushed through anyway, because I wanted to finish the book.

All in all, I think this book isn’t for me. Regardless of my review, I think just give The Isle in the Silver Sea a chance if you’re looking for a fantasy knight story.

Verdict: 3/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

8. Last Words From Montmartre, Qiu Miaojin

After reading The Isle in the Silver Sea, I fell into a really bad slump. I picked up another book, but I didn’t feel like reading for a couple of days… Until I picked up Last Words From Montmarte by Qiu Miaojin. It’s a posthumous, semi-biographical epistolary novel about two women and their relationship.

I found this book melancholic and reflective. The story follows the format of letters that leap between Paris, Taipei, and Tokyo, recounting the narrator’s breakup and the devastating aftermath of it. Last Words From Montmarte also shows you what it’s like living with mental illness and living between different languages/cultures. It’s intense, confessional, and at times, difficult to read.

Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy this book as much as Notes of a Crocodile. Personally, it didn’t have much of an impact on me compared to the author’s other book.

Verdict: 3.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

9. Martyr!, Kaveh Akbar

Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar is a literary fiction novel about Cyrus Shams, an Iranian-American poet, who becomes obsessed with martyrdom. He wants to write a book about martyrs, and this leads him to New York City to meet Orkideh, a painter, who is living out her final days in an art exhibit.

I loved this book. It flew by so fast for me, and I didn’t expect to finish it in two days. Even as I’m writing this review, I think about reading it again. It was reflective and compelling. It explored various themes, including martyrdom, the pursuit of art, the American immigrant experience, parenthood, identity, and sobriety/addiction. Although Cyrus is the main protagonist, the book follows multiple POVs, flashbacks, and dream sequences. We learn about his family’s past this way, building the story to the twist I didn’t anticipate.

All in all, Martyr! was an incredible book written by a poet. Please read it.

Verdict: 4.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

10. Beartown Series, Fredrik Backman

(Spoilers for the book below!)

Before starting Beartown, I didn’t know much about the series. I only knew that it was about a small and rural hockey town in Sweden.

As it turns out, the Beartown Series is so much more than that. I thought My Friends and A Man Called Ove were sad, but this trilogy takes the cake. It was heavy and reflective, touching on topics like community, loneliness, social acceptance, parenthood, and friendships. At the same time, the series explores themes of vengeance, loyalty, social acceptance, sexism, and justice. It’s hopeful, heartbreaking, and emotional, with characters you can’t help but feel for.

Unfortunately, I think the Beartown Series isn’t my favourite work from the author. The first book, Beartown, was hard to get into. I wanted to give it a 3-star rating, but I gave it exactly four stars when I finished it. It was a book that made me sad and angry, because I wish Maya got the justice she deserved. I also hated how the hockey players treated her and how the town covered up the rape.

The second book, Us Against You, was a little better, but I struggled to get through book three, The Winners. I thought it was just too long for me, personally, but I admit, the ending was fucking devastating. It brought my rating up to a 3.5-star rating, and I can’t help but admire Fredrik Backman’s ability to destroy us with his stories.

Verdicts:

• Beartown: 4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

• Us Against You: 4.25/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

• The Winners: 3.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

11. Carmilla, J. Sheridan Le Fanu

Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu is a Gothic novella about a woman who falls in love with a vampire. It’s a “foundational work” of English vampire literature, predating Bram Stoker’s Dracula by two decades. In other words, it’s one of the first vampire stories out there. I decided to read it because of Sylus’s recent Gothic vampire-esque myth (yes, I’m bringing Love and Deepspace into this), and I think people were recommending this book for fans of the game.

I enjoyed it. If you liked A Dowry of Blood, you might also like Carmilla. Personally, I think the latter is better than the former, but you’ll have to read it and decide for yourself. It’s short, straightforward, and fast-paced. The writing was beautiful, and the romance was tender and sensual. But I think that’s it for my review. I can’t think of anything else that I could talk about. It’s a 108-page novel with a solid story, an atmospheric setting, and stunning writing. So please read it.

Verdict: 4.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

12. Night Sky With Exit Wounds, Ocean Vuong

Before the month ended, I decided to squeeze in a few more short reads. Night Sky With Exit Wounds is another poetry collection by Ocean Vuong. It follows similar themes to Burnings (war and trauma, the immigrant experience, queer love, family conflict) with the same vivid writing style of rich imagery.

I preferred this to Burnings, and my favourite pieces were On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, Aubade With Burning City, Immigrant Haibun, and Someday I’ll Love Ocean Vuong. Aubade With Burning City, in particular, was chilling.

Verdict: 4.25/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

13. Time Is A Mother, Ocean Vuong

Right after that, I finished another poetry collection by Ocean Vuong. My review is more or less the same, but obviously, the poems that stood out to me the most were different. I liked Tell Me Something Good and No One Knows The Way To Heaven. However, found Dear Rose moved me the most. I don’t know what it was, but that poem felt honest and vulnerable.

Verdict: 4.25/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

14. The River Has Roots, Amal El-Mohtar

If you’re weren’t aware, This Is How You Lose the Time War is one of my favourite books. I read it three times (so far), and it devastated me every single time. RedBlue’s story is one I’ll never forget, because of the emotions it evoked in me as a reader. That book was brutal, intense, and heartbreaking. I don’t think I’ve ever recovered since my first read.

In contrast, The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar was soft, dreamy, and ethereal. I was reminded of old Barbie movies while reading it, and it made it so easy to fall in love with the story. There’s faeries, a unique magic system based on the power of language, folklore, and the inseperable bond between sisters. I was also in constant awe of the writing, which was lyrical and beautiful.

I certainly will try to get a physical copy of this book after this, because of the stunning interior illustrations.

Verdict: 4.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

At precisely midnight on 11 December 2025, Bookxcess — Malaysia’s biggest online bookstore — launched The Library at Sunway Square Mall. It’s the largest 24-hour bookstore in Southeast Asia, spanning 38,000 square feet.

A couple of days after the launch, I decided to brave the weekend crowd and pay a visit. Here’s how it went:

How to get to The Library by Bookxcess

You can drive or take a cab to Sunway Square Mall, but you can also take the train. If you’re taking the LRT, get off at the USJ7 LRT station to switch to the BRT Sunway Line. Three stops later, get off at SunMed station, walk into Sunway Geo Avenue, and then find the walkway to Sunway Square Mall.

But if you’re taking the MRT, you can switch to the Kelana Jaya LRT line via the Pasar Seni MRT station or Muzium Negara MRT station. Another option is to get off at the Surian MRT station, get on the T807 feeder bus, and then get off at the Lembah Subang LRT station.

My first impressions of The Library by Bookxcess

Before this, I had only been to the Bookxcess outlets at MyTOWN and Lalaport, and I thought they were already pretty big. But nope.

The Library at Sunway Square Mall definitely takes the cake. I was in awe of everything I saw when I first stepped into the lovechild of a library and a bookstore. There were two entrances and two levels in front of me, and I didn’t know where to start.

So I followed where my heart led me: The fiction section!

Why you should visit The Library by Bookxcess

1. The never-ending books

The Library at Sunway Square Mall is one of those places you can get lost in. It has the maze-like aspect of REXKL’s outlet, the open layout of MyTOWN’s outlet, and the glowing shelves of IOI Mall Damansara’s outlet. No matter where I looked, I saw book after book. They greeted me at the front displays, lined the walls, and towered over me in their shelves. And if I looked up, they hung from the ceiling. (That was my fave part of my visit, BTW.)

2. The lifestyle layout

The Library at Sunway Square Mall is huge, but it doesn’t consist only of books and stationery. In fact, there are art displays, a busy Kenny Hills cafe with lakeside views, a fashion store (I forgot the name, sorry), and a smoothie bar (Good Mojo Smoothies).

There are also tons of study areas scattered throughout the bookstore — some with plug points— and several areas where you can sit down to read, or people watch. While families were milling around, shopping and looking at books, I saw students and working adults with their laptops in dedicated spaces.

2. The great selection

In recent years, Bookxcess has upped its game in including popular English books at its outlets, including this one.

During my visit, I found so many books I knew and loved:

• Belladonna, Adalyn Grace

• A Song to Drown Rivers, Ann Liang

• The Atlas Paradox, Olivie Blake

• The Spanish Love Deception, Elena Armas

• King of Wrath, Ana Huang

• Legendborn (#1) and Bloodmarked (#2), Tracy Deonn

• The Shatter Me books, Tahereh Mafi

• These Violent Delights Duology and Foul Lady Fortune, Chloe Gong

and so much more!

3. The prices

A Bookxcess outlet isn’t without its super-affordable prices. Some of the books I saw were priced under RM50, or RM30-RM40. You won’t believe how tempted I was to get a few books, but The Atlas Six and Red, White & Royal Blue (which I saw in others’ videos) were unavailable today. Plus, I didn’t want to deal with the super-long queue at the cashier.

Final thoughts

I might be seeing books in my dreams later tonight. Kidding. (Or maybe not).

But on a real note, I enjoyed my first visit. I spent 1-2 hours at the bookstore, but I think if I lived nearer or if it was less crowded, I would’ve stayed longer. The Library is such a fun place to explore at your own pace, but there were just too many people earlier. Kids were running around a lot, and you might be dodging people’s cameras while you’re there.

Regardless, I think I’ll be back, but only if I’m in the area. The commute by train takes over an hour for me, but I think it’ll be slightly better if you go there by car.

If you liked this post, check out my Kinokuniya Pavilion Damansara Heights bookstore review <3

1. My Brilliant Friend, Elena Ferrante

A few years ago, I was recommended this book by one of my close book besties. My Brilliant Friend is a story that follows the life and friendship of two girls: Elena (Lenù) Greco and Raffaella (Lila) Cerullo. It’s the first book in the Neapolitan Series that focuses on their lives from childhood to old age. Book 1 specifically focuses on their adolescence from the start of their friendship, when they were 10-year-olds.

When you look up this book on the Internet, you’ll find out that the Neapolitan Series is a must-read. I’ve seen a lot of people talk about how incredible and compelling the books are. Olivie Blake rated My Brilliant Friend five stars on Goodreads, and I guess that was the reason why I had high expectations.

Well… I struggled to get through this book. As a reader in a slump, I appreciated the short chapters, but I didn’t seem to resonate with the story. I ended up DNF-ing it to start Gideon the Ninth (more on this in a sec), only to impulsively get back into the book when I was also struggling to read the other book.

If I were a different kind of reader, I would’ve given My Brilliant Friend a higher rating and continued the series. But I’ll start the next book, The Story of a New Name, another time.

Verdict: 3.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

2. Gideon the Ninth, Tamsyn Muir

In my struggle to read My Brilliant Friend, I impulsively started Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir. It’s a unique sci-fi-fantasy novel about a swordsman (Gideon) who gets recruited as a cavalier for Harrow, a necromancer and heir to the Ninth House, for a series of trials set by the Emperor. I started this book because Camille — my online writertwt oomf and author of Love, Gods and Sinners coming out in 2026 — kept breaking down and talking about this book on her Twitter feed. I simply got curious, so here we are.

Unfortunately, I also struggled to get into this book. I was warned that it was hard to get into (but worth it at the end) prior, but this reading slump wasn’t making things easy. While I enjoyed Gideon’s character and found the story unique, I personally found it hard to focus on the book.

I’m not sure if I’m the right reader, but I think I’m just gonna continue the rest of The Locked Tomb Series another day.

Verdict: 3.25/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

3. Sinners Atone, Somme Sketcher

For a lot of people, the fourth book in the Sinners Anonymous Series by Somme Sketcher is a long time coming. Before the book’s release, there were no updates about Gabe and Wren’s book for a few years. I vaguely remember the author going on hiatus during this time, but I could be wrong.

Now that I’ve read the book, I think I can say it’s a nice introduction to Gabe Visconti’s character. In the previous books, we knew him as this scary, violent, mysterious, and heavily-tattooed man who didn’t talk much. In Sinners Atone, we got to see what went on in his head, and half the time, it’s mostly occupied with thoughts of Wren. We get to know more about her character, but at the same time, we don’t.

That’s the main issue I have with this book. Despite its 308-page count, I feel like nothing much happened. Sure, there were moments between Gabe and Wren, but I felt the plot was overshadowed by his brother’s wedding in the background. The content (or lack thereof) made Sinners Atone feel like a prelude to a potential sequel, and the ending left me with a lot of questions. Considering the wait for this book, I was underwhelmed as a reader, but I still hope the sequel is much better.

Verdict: 3/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

4. Hot for Slayer, Ali Hazelwood

At the beginning of the month, I got an idea to do a post/blog on short reads to help you complete your reading goal faster. This was one of the books I read for “research”.

Hot for Slayer is a short story about a vampire — Aethelthryth, or “Ethel” — who helps a vampire slayer, Lazlo (aka her sworn enemy who tried killing her multiple times over the years), regain his memories. It’s part of a Halloween-themed collection of stories from different authors called Scared Sexy.

I honestly wished I were not in a reading slump to enjoy this better. I liked that it was short (99 pages) with endearing characters. You get to see their relationship transform into something different in real time as they spend time together. If Ali Hazelwood decides to turn this into a full novel, or at least a novella, I’d be down.

Verdict: 3.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

5. First, Ali Hazelwood

Speaking of short reads, I also picked up First by Ali Hazelwood. It’s an omegaverse romance about a general who takes a nobleman’s bride to teach him a lesson, but after meeting her, he decides to keep her. The novella is also part of After The End, a dystopian romance story collection from various authors.

From what I’ve observed, First has a lot of mixed reviews online. I think I’ve seen people say they hated it or enjoyed it. Here’s what I think:

I liked it slightly more than Hot For Slayer. I DNF-ed Ali Hazelwood’s other omegaverse-ish book, Bride, but this one, I’m surprisingly okay with. It was easy to get into the book, and I found the plot interesting. The only thing I didn’t like was how Gabriel (the general) was talking about taking advantage of the bride (Sofia) before the ceremon

Verdict: 3.75/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

6. Coldwire, Chloe Gong

Other than Local Heavens by K.M. Fajardo, Coldwire is another cyberpunk novel that I picked up this year. It’s the first book in The StrangeLoom Trilogy, a new dystopian sci-fi series by the author.

Despite being a fan of Chloe Gong’s writing, I must admit that I haven’t been enjoying her works outside of the Secret Shanghai Series. I didn’t enjoy Immortal Longings and Vilest Things for several reasons, and Coldwire proved to be just as disappointing. As the reader, I found the plot messy and confusing; there was a huge focus on world-building in the beginning, and the story gradually became hard to follow because of the two separate plots in two different POVs. We do find out why it’s written this way, but I still didn’t like it.

I think I would’ve liked Coldwire if it had more time to be written (i.e. a longer timeline) and if it had one less plot. In the book, Chloe Gong introduces us to an intriguing world with virtual realities and subtle commentary that reflects our current world. There was a lot of potential lost to poor execution, and I don’t think I’ll be picking up the series after this.

Verdict: 3/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

7. A Love Most Brutal, Kath Richards

After not one but six three-star reads, I was begging for a chance to get out of my slump. Luckily, I found it.

A Love Most Brutal is the second book in the Morelli Family Series (mafia romances) by Kath Richards. I read the first book — A Love Most Fatal — in September, and thought it was an okay read. However, the second book exceeded my expectations because I loved it. Mary was so badass, and Maxim… He’s such an honourable character. He was patient and kind, and yearned deeply. NGL, he reminded me a little of Sylus from Love and Deepspace.

Verdict: 4.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

8. Girl Dinner, Olivie Blake

When I think about this book, I think of the “oh!” blonde lady meme/gif, because that’s exactly how I felt when I read Girl Dinner by Olivie Blake. It’s a women’s fiction novel that focuses on The House, an exclusive sorority, and two characters intrigued by its allure: Nina, a sophomore looking for a chance at a successful future, and Sloane, an adjunct professor and new mom who’s struggling to juggle work and her baby.

This book was witty, dark, and a little unsettling. It’s a book about “feminine power and wellness” (Olivie Blake’s Instagram), satiating your hunger, and cannibalism. Yes, cannibalism. It was hard to get into it at first, but once it clicked, I couldn’t put it down. Girl Dinner reminded me of the twisted sisterhood rituals of Scream Queens (2025) and Bunny (Mona Awad), with added commentary on motherhood, trad wives, and womanhood.

Verdict: 4.25/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

9. Eternal Ruin, Tigest Girma

Eternal Ruin is the sequel to Immortal Dark, a dark academia fantasy novel by Tigest Girma featuring Black vampires and arcane societies. I read the first book back in February and fell in love with it, so you can imagine the excitement for the second book.

Eternal Ruin was a rollercoaster of events and emotions, because there was so much happening in this book. As the reader, we watch Kidan navigate House politics, fight for control, master her House, and learn what happened to her sister, June. At the same time, we uncover the past through flashbacks and experience heated moments between Kidan and Susenyos. Reading this book reminded me of how insane they were, and why I wanted to read the series. I especially loved the yearning and the intensity of it all.

Overall, I think more people need to pick up this series as soon as possible. Eternal Ruin’s ending took me by surprise, and once again, I’m left with questions that will probably be answered in the next book.

Verdict: 4.25/5 stars

10. Monk and Robot Series, Becky Chambers

Earlier in the year, I saw someone talking about A Psalm for the Wild-Built on my Twitter feed. I don’t remember the exact Tweet, but I added the book to my TBR because it was a short read. It’s the first book in the Monk and Robot Series, a solarpunk sci-fi novella duology by Becky Chambers. It’s about a tea monk (Sibling Dex) who ventures out into the wild and encounters a robot (Mosscap) who has questions about humanity.

This series was hopeful, funny, and reflective. It made me think about the future, and the definition of purpose and happiness. The characters were also lovable, and I was invested in their adventures together. I liked how adorable Mosscap was, especially in his curiosity about the world. His dynamic with Dex was wholesome, and I felt like they both belonged in an episode of Love Death + Robots.

The only problem I have with the Monk and Robot Series is that I want more. I don’t know if there will be any in the future, but I would love more adventures from Sibling Dex and Mosscap.

Verdicts:

• A Psalm for the Wild-Built: 4.25/5

• A Prayer For the Crown-Shy: 4.25/5

11. Babel, R.F. Kuang

If you’re familiar with the author’s works or are active in the book community, you’d probably recognise this book. Babel (or Babel, or The Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators’ Revolution) is a historical fantasy, dark academia novel set during the 1830s in a fantastical Oxford, England. I wanted to reread it because I wanted to do a book ranking post with R.F. Kuang’s books and give all her titles a fair shot.

To be honest, I think Babel is a book with mixed reviews. While many readers praise the book for its brilliance, others found issues in the author’s writing and exploration of its themes. I do agree that it reads like an academic paper and can be challenging for some readers, but I think you should give it a try anyway.

Personally, I found it fascinating. In Babel, R.F. Kuang describes a life in academia and engages you with conversations and footnotes about languages, colonialism, privilege, race, class, and history. Through flawed characters, you get a story about friendship, grief, magic, and betrayal. The book also shows you how violence comes in various forms, and how it can impact its people or the systems set in place. It’s truly a complex novel and that’s why you should consider reading it.

Verdict: 4.25/5 stars

12. Katabasis, R.F. Kuang

I didn’t expect to finish one more book this month but here we are. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Katabasis is a dark academia fantasy novel about two graduate students’ descent into Hell to rescue their professor’s soul after a freak accident. Because if they don’t, they won’t be able to graduate and get a job.

I came into Katabasis with an open mind because I’ve seen people hate on it (and the author) so much. I was there when the ARC was being passed around like a blunt on Twitter, and then shit on with low reviews by the masses. I also remember the list of “recommended reads” on BookTok which might have also discouraged readers to pick up R.F. Kuang’s new book. But here’s what I think:

a) You don’t have to do the recommended reading…

…But if you can if you want to. I think if you’ll be able to catch the references in the book and understand the story a little better. Or, just look it up while you’re reading the book. Personally, I didn’t do any of the recommended reading and my reading experience wasn’t affected.

b) It *does not* read like an academic paper

As a non-academic person who used to work in marketing, I found Katabasis easier to get into compared to Babel.

Okay enough debunking from me. Let’s get into the actual review:

b) My thoughts on Katabasis by R.F. Kuang

Overall, I think Katabasis was good, but it wouldn’t be my favourite book from R.F. Kuang. Genre-wise, I think Babel is better, but I’d like to share my thoughts on this novel anyway.

I simply enjoyed it. I found it a trippy and oddly funny novel that reimagines Hell as a campus and exposes the realities of academia. We watch the main characters go from reluctant allies to working together to save their faculty advisor. Katabasis also explores the costs of academic culture (i.e. hierachies), ambition, and external validation for the pursuit of knowledge. Student or not, R.F. Kuang shows you the length academics can go to meet a desired goal.

At the same time, I have a couple of issues with Katabasis. While I do think Alice and Peter were solid characters, I thought Peter was a little underdeveloped. We only learn a little about his past in one chapter before that scene happened, and it nearly made me want to put the book down. The story dragged a little in the middle as well, but I just pushed through it because I needed to know how it ends. Luckily, everything turned out okay by then.

At the end of the day, I think you should ignore the haters with 1-2 star ratings and give this book a chance. Because I think the hate around R.F. Kuang and her books are unjustified.

Verdict: 4.25/5 stars

1. Every Spiral of Fate, Tahereh Mafi

Every Spiral of Fate is the fourth book in the This Woven Kingdom Series, and one of my highly anticipated reads in 2025. I was excited to read it because there was going to be a wedding between Alizeh and Cyrus, and honestly… Book 3 (All This Twisted Glory) was a mess. All I remembered from that book was everyone yelling, Kamran and Huda yapping nonstop, and Cyrus suffering.

I thought this book was chaotic. “Every Spiral of Fate” is the right title for the book because a lot was happening— both to the main characters and in the backgrounds of their lives. We get some plot development, more info on Alizeh’s magic, and see the consequences of the blood oath that happened in the previous book. And as it turns out, Cyrus is still suffering in this book. Tahereh decided to amp up his levels of yearning this time, so expect a lot of that too.

Overall, this book reminded me of how this was a very character-driven series and how entertaining it is.

Verdict: 4.25/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

2. Chestnut Springs (#3-5), Elsie Silver

If you’re active in the book community, then you’d probably have heard of the Chestnut Springs books by Elsie Silver. It’s a popular small-town romance series set in Canada, and it has five books: Flawless, Heartless, Powerless, Reckless, and Hopeless.

Now here’s the thing… I started the series in 2023 and didn’t like the first two books. I actually DNF-ed Flawless before randomly picking it up again later, and I was disappointed in Heartless. Needless to say, I didn’t have plans on continuing the series until now.

Powerless (Book 3)

Powerless turned out to be slightly better than Heartless, and I liked Jasper and Sloane’s story. When I started it, I thought it was going to be a 5-star read, but it ended up being 3 stars for me. I didn’t feel a buzz from this couple, and some parts felt a little predictable. The beginning felt rushed/sudden too, because wdym it be 2 days before her wedding, and he’s already having thoughts of licking her neckline (or something like that).

But one thing’s for sure, Jasper is a good man. A good, good man. 🙂‍↕️

Reckless (Book 4)

Reckless, however, surprised me. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would, and I really liked Theo. He reminded me a little of Isaiah from Play Along (Liz Tomforde), and I liked how funny/flirty he was. The book is also filled with cute family domestic moments, which I liked. It showed a more vulnerable side of the main characters, Theo and Winter, as they explored their feelings while co-parenting their daughter, Vivi.

The only problem I had was the author’s way of making otherwise cute moments horny. Like we can have a moment of Winter and Theo talking about their kid, and then it can turn into something more intimate with him telling her to take off her clothes or something.

Hopeless (Book #5)

Hopeless, on the other hand, didn’t hook me in from the start. When I read the first chapter, I just had a feeling I was not gonna like this book. Maybe it was me entering a slump, or maybe it was something else, but I wasn’t interested in Beau and Bailey’s story. Their first interactions together didn’t intrigue me, and I wasn’t feeling any spark from the get-go. Then, when Beau proposed that they get fake-engaged, I just thought it was weird(?) and sudden. I wasn’t excited for them to do that, even as a reader who enjoyed the fake relationship trope in the past.

I made it to the 21% mark before I decided to put it down.

Verdicts:

• Powerless: 3.25/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

• Reckless: 4.25 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

• Hopeless: DNF 🚫📚

3. One Dark Window, Rachel Gilig

In my previous monthly reading wrap-up post, I said I loved The Knight and the Moth and wanted to check out the author’s other works.

Like the Chestnut Springs series, One Dark Window blew up on BookTok at one point. It’s the first book in The Shepherd King series, a gothic fantasy duology that a lot of readers raved about online. At the same time, it was also a book I didn’t plan on reading (at first) because I wasn’t intrigued by its premise.

Unfortunately, I didn’t like it while I was reading it…. Although I was a little intrigued by the world, I didn’t feel the same for the story. I found it boring, personally, and I was kind of confused by the magic card system. I guess the book isn’t for me. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Verdict: DNF 🚫📚

4. The Red Palace, June Hur

At this point, I entered a reading slump. I desperately needed something different, or anything that could help me get out of it. I wasn’t gonna pick up another contemporary romance book, though I was still in the mood for more fantasy reads. Despite that, I ended up on a book that fit neither of those genres.

The Red Palace by June Hur is a historical fantasy novel set during the Joseon Dynasty in Korea. It follows a palace nurse (Hyeon) who investigates the murders of four women to prove her mentor’s innocence. In the process, she teams up with Eojin, a young police inspector, who also wants to find the killer.

Whether you’re a mystery reader or not, I recommend this book. The moment you read the first line, you feel like you’ve stepped into an intense historical K-drama. It was gripping, full of suspense, and hard to put down. I wanted to keep reading to know who was behind those murders.

On top of the mystery, this book was interesting. While Hyeon and Eojin uncover the truth and get justice for the women, you learn about court politics, social hierarchies, family secrets, and social duties. The world-building and plot weren’t too repetitive, and you’re taken on a rollercoaster of twists and turns as you move closer to the grand reveal. You also get to savour a romance subplot with a good amount of slow burn and a few tender moments.

Verdict: 4.25/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

5. A Crane Among Wolves, June Hur

Now this book. THIS BOOK. I think I might’ve found one of my favourite reads of 2025, and here’s why.

A Crane Among Wolves is another historical fiction novel that’s set in the same era as The Red Palace. This time, it follows the lives of two characters: Iseul, a sheltered girl who leaves her village to rescue her sister (who’s been taken by a tyrannical king) and Prince Daehyun, who plans to dethrone said king/half-brother.

Honestly, the book took me by surprise. It was darker than expected, and I pictured another historical K-drama while reading. There was complex politics, betrayal, mystery, and a romance subplot that gave me the buzz from just a drop. A Crane Among Wolves also reflects on history and touches on the horrific acts committed by the king towards his own people. It’s truly a story that’s both hopeful and tragic, with strong protagonists such as Iseul.

What impressed me the most, however, was the author’s dedication to historical accuracy. In the “Historical Note” section, June Hur reveals that the brutal acts of King Yeongsangun and several other events that happened in the book (e.g. the banning of the Korean alphabet) were taken from official historical records. Besides that, a couple of the characters were real historical figures, or loosely based on them. It makes the story more real, with characters that fit this time period.

I can’t recommend this book enough. I thought it was a really good book with incredible storytelling.

Verdict: 4.25/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

6. The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea, Axie Oh

I don’t know what prompted me to start this book. All I knew was that when I saw the cover for the first time on Goodreads, I wanted to read it. The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is a fantasy novel about Mina, who sacrifices herself and becomes the Sea God’s bride to save her storm-ravaged village and her brother. It’s a retelling of the Korean folktale, “The Tale of Shim Cheong”.

NGL, when I first started the book, I was immediately reminded of Rafayel from Love and Deepspace. I say this because in the game, Rafayel is a Sea God in his character myths. On top of that, we’re often referred to as “his bride” in-game. There’s more lore which I’m not gonna get into, but I think it’s a pretty funny coincidence considering the game was released two years after this book.

Okay, enough yapping from me. Let’s get into the bookish part of this review.

Besides Rafayel, the book also reminded me of Spirited Away and a little bit of Ponyo. In the story, Mina is transported into the Spirit Realm, where demons, gods, mythical creatures, and spirits lie. As the reader, I was constantly entranced by the author’s vivid descriptions of this underwater world and its characters.

Unfortunately, I wish I had read this book when I was in a different mood. While I liked the story, I found myself getting bored in some parts. Regardless, I’ll still recommend this book for fantasy readers.

Verdict: 3.25/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

7. Local Heavens, K.M. Fajardo

When I first saw the cover (or book announcement) on Twitter, I was blown away by how beautiful it was. That’s how I knew I had to read it. It’s a queer cyberpunk reimagining of the novel, The Great Gatsby, by F Scott Fitzgerald.

Before I get into my review, I have a confession to make: I have never read The Great Gatsby. I’ve only watched half of the 2013 film adaptation, and that’s it. I may be a little uncultured, I know.

TBH, I’m not sure if you need to read The Great Gatsby to read Local Heavens, but I think doing that might elevate your reading experience. You might recognise the references and understand the characters a little better.

Anyway, onto the review: I thought Local Heavens was brilliant. Although it’s my first cyberpunk novel as a reader, I was blown away by the futuristic world of 2075 NYC. Learning about the high tech that dominated this era (mods, ad-drones, holo-screens, memory diamonds, etc.) was fascinating. I wanted to know how the author created these concepts while drafting/outlining the novel.

Besides the complex world-building, K.M. Fajardo guides us through her story with impactful writing. Underneath the glitz and glamour of the city, she shows us a darker side to its corporations and the (corrupt) people who lead them. This includes Jay Gatsby, a billionaire who’s a bit of an enigma in society. It’s a book that makes you reflect on power, the class divide, the price of human desires, and capitalism. I highly recommend it if you like Black Mirror and Blade Runner 2049.

Verdict: 4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

8. When They Burned the Butterfly, Wen-yi Lee

When They Burned the Butterfly by Wen-yi Lee is a sapphic historical fantasy set in postcolonial Singapore during the 1970s. Like Local Heavens, I immediately added it to my TBR when I first saw the cover on Twitter. Since then, it joined my list of highly anticipated releases in 2025.

Although I had issues with the pacing at times, I devoured this book. It’s an action-filled story of jealous gods, feminine rage, powerful gangs, and magic. Through an imaginative setting, Wen-yi Lee pays homage to Singapore’s people and culture by merging history and fantasy. Her prose makes you feel as though you’ve been transported into the past, witnessing the glory and devastation of fire-wielding girls. It’s intense, passionate, and pretty badass. I honestly think you’ll enjoy this book if you like Jade City by Fonda Lee (heavy on this series) and These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong.

Verdict: 4.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

9. The Princess Knight, Cait Jacobs

Other than Local Heavens, The Princess Knight was a book I fell in love with at first sight on Twitter. I knew it when it had a different title (Medievally Blonde) because the book retells the iconic movie, Legally Blonde.

Now that I’ve read the book, I can say The Princess Knight is more “Legally Blonde-inspired”. Yes, there are a few nods to the movie and its characters, but the story stands on its own in terms of originality. It’s about a princess (Clía) who joins an elite military school to get back the prince that broke her heart.

Unfortunately, I think this book isn’t for me. I feel like I set my expectations too high, because I felt a little disappointed. In my head, I had pictured a fun and light-hearted medieval romantasy read with a likeable protagonist. Instead, I got a novel with political intrigue, a little bit of romance, tons of training/sparring scenes, and a few missions that barely moved the plot. I’m also a little surprised that the book is advertised as “adult fantasy” because the book reads like a YA for me.

Princess Clía was another reason why I didn’t like the book. While she had a few admirable traits, I thought she behaved like a nepo baby crying at her first job. I don’t think she changed a lot or grew as a character by the end of the book. She was still a little naïve and fighting back tears in the later chapters, and I didn’t see any huge improvements in her combat skills.

As for the romance, I felt like it was just there. It was cute with a couple of worthy quotes, but I wasn’t invested in Clía and Ronan’s relationship.

Regardless of my review, give the book a try. The reviews I’ve seen on Goodreads are pretty positive, and I think it’s an enough reason to read The Princess Knight anyway.

Verdict: 3/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

10. I Who Have Never Known Men, Jacqueline Harpman

Right after I finished The Princess Knight, I picked up another book on a whim. I Who Have Never Known Men, by Jacqueline Harpman, is a dystopian sci-fi novel that was written in 1995. It’s about 39 women and one young girl who live imprisoned in an underground cage, under the watch of guards. They have no memory of how they got here, nor do they have a notion of time. They’re also not allowed to do certain things, like cry, exercise, touch each other, fall sick, or inflict harm on themselves or others.

Even as I write this review after sleeping on it, I still feel confused. It’s honestly one of those books that will haunt you and make you think after. In less than 200 pages, I Who Have Never Known Men tells a story of female friendships, humanity, intimacy, and surviving the unknown in a post-apocalyptic setting. The narrator is a young girl who will never know men. It’s mysterious, unsettlingly peaceful, and heartbreaking. There are so many questions I wanna ask, but I think I’ll just do some research for an analysis.

Verdict: 4.25/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

11. Nine of Hearts, Nadiah Zakaria

After finishing the previous book, I decided to squeeze in one last short read before the month ended. Nine of Hearts by Nadiah Zakaria is an adult dark horror-fantasy story about a queen and a vengeful jester who takes the lives of those she loves. I managed to get a physical copy during the author’s book launch event last week.

Nine of Hearts is one of many stories that reinterpret the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland. In a way, it’s a villain origin story like the movies, Cruella (2021) and Maleficent (2014). You’re introduced to Rose and the cruel chain of events that lead to her heartbreak. It used to be a short story on Wattpad before turning into a full-fledged novella as part of her friend’s Master’s in Publishing project. (Read how that happened here.).

Now that I’ve read it, I just wanna say one thing about this book: This novella was so sick and twisted. It’s gory, suspenseful, and a little insane. With each chapter, Nadiah Zakaria hooks you in and keeps you on the edge of your seat as you wonder who the jester will kill next. Expect lyrical prose, gruesome descriptions, and a cliffhanger that leaves you wanting more. I finished it within an hour because it’s a super short read (102 pages!).

While it’s fast-paced and dark, Nine of Hearts is also sad. The book explores grief and loss as the Queen encounters so much bloodshed within a short time frame. You feel her panic, pain, fear, and despair as she tries to process the deaths of her loved ones and juggle her royal duties. As the reader, you can’t help but watch her lose her joy from one of the happiest days of the year to slowly accepting her fate by the end of the book.

Read this book if you like villain origin stories, Alice in Wonderland, and dark retellings of our favourite fairytales.

Verdict: 5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“You destroy me and then you kiss me. You give me a reason to hate you and then you give me a reason to love you. Is this a lie or the truth? Is this a ploy or your heart reaching for me?”

The OG. The reason I started actively reading in 2021.

2. Aldo and Regan: Alone With You in the Ether, Olivie Blake

“She turned to face Aldo, opening her mouth to say something, and stopped when his eyes fell on hers.

He wasn’t just unconventionally handsome, she realized.

He was uncommonly beautiful.

“What did you learn?” he asked neutrally.

That I could study you for a lifetime, carrying all of your peculiarities and discretions in the webs of my spidery palms, and still feel empty-handed.”

(Me being three rereads away from insanity) THE BEES REGAN. THE BEES.

3. Alice and Henry: If You Could See the Sun, Ann Liang

“You know,” I muse out loud, “if it weren’t for the fact that we hated each other’s guts, we’d probably make an impressive power duo.”

I expect Henry to raise his eyebrows at me as usual or make a cutting remark, but his footsteps suddenly slow beside me.

“Wait. We hate each other?”

2 years later, and I’m still feeling the buzz. Ann Liang, what did you do?

4. Zafira and Nasir: Sands of Arwaiya, Hafsah Faizal

“Your turn. What color do you like most?”

His eyes flared before he could mask his surprise. Did he not think she’d ask him in return? It was always a game, capturing the small displays of Nasir Ghameq’s emotions. A game she liked, she realized. One she could play forever and never tire of.

“You,” he said, so softly it was only sound.

The intensity of his gaze stole the air from her lungs. She shook her head. “That—”

“Every color that makes you.”

Nasir Ghameq, the man that you are.

5. Durre and Asfi: The Marghazar Trials, Aamna Qureshi

“I am cruel,” she whispered, turning away from him. The wind whipped through her hair. Asfandyar slipped into the space behind her, his arms wrapping around her torso. He kissed her neck so softly she thought she would melt.

“You aren’t,” he whispered back. “You are kind and quick and clever and genuine. You are the night sky full of infinite stars. You are wonder and beauty, and I am in eternal awe of you.”

You guys know how much I love The Lady or the Lion, right?

Right?

6. Kazi and Jase: Dance of Thieves, Mary E. Pearson

“I want to kiss you, Kazi,” he finally said, his voice a whisper. “And I want you to kiss me back. But this time I don’t want it to be because we’re only making the best of it. And I don’t want a kiss that’s for show or has any conditions. I want you to kiss me just because you want to. Because you deeply want to. No one’s watching now. You can walk away, and I won’t say a thing. I promise, I won’t ever bring it up again.”

[…]

“Yes, I want to kiss you, Jase Ballenger. Not for show or to make the best of it. I want to kiss you because I want you, every part of you, even the parts that infuriate me beyond telling, because you’ve infected me with a poison that I don’t want to flush out, because you’re a mad viper twisting around my middle, cutting off my breath, yet I want you more than I want to breathe. Yes, Jase, I want to kiss you, just because I do, but the one thing I cannot do is promise you any tomorrows.”

Kazi and Jase = pure insanity.

7. Cyrus and Alizeh, This Woven Kingdom series

“You have no idea what I could give you,” he said, his own eyes blazing. “You have no idea what I want. I have been in agony for eight months, Alizeh. Do you know how hard it’s been to pretend I don’t know you? To pretend I don’t want you? To act as if I haven’t known every inch of your body in my dreams? To learn that your heart has been entangled elsewhere? I look at you and I can’t breathe. In my mind, you are already mine.”

The bane of my existence and the object of my desires. Name a fictional man who has yearned and suffered more than or just as much as Cyrus of Nara did.

8. January and Gus, Beach Read

“When I watch you sleep,” he said shakily, “I feel overwhelmed that you exist.”

WHO THE HELL SAYS THAT?

The first time I saw this book in real life, I thought it was a beautiful book. I thought the cover was stunning, and that’s why I started it last month. I was still in the mood for Asian-inspired fantasy after reading Water Moon and Six Crimson Cranes, and Daughter of the Moon Goddess intrigued me. It’s a fantasy duology inspired by the legend of the Chinese moon goddess, Chang’e. Sue Lynn Tan’s story, however, focuses on her daughter, who embarks on a journey to free her mother from the Celestial Emperor.

Unfortunately, I didn’t end up liking it. While the writing was nice, I had issues with the story and its main character, Xingyin. She did a lot of telling instead of showing, and didn’t do much. All she did was go on and on about what she saw, her family, her old life, and whatever was on her mind. She was also a little naive, and she gave me nepo baby vibes.

I know a lot of people probably loved this book, and maybe there was character development for Xingyin later on, but I didn’t want to be there for it.

Verdict: DNF 🚫📚

2. Revenge in Violent Hues, Nadiah Zakaria

After reading Duet Me Not by Lilian Li, I wanted to read more books by local authors. I decided to pick up Revenge in Violent Hues because I was curious about the story after seeing it in multiple bookstores, and because I’m friends with the author. It’s a YA dark fantasy book set in Kedah, Malaysia, about a girl who can see the dead and a magical academy hidden in the forest.

For a book written in just three months — a fantasy one, at that — I thought it was impressive. The world-building was immersive, and I pictured a fantasy limited mini-series made in Malaysia the whole time I read it. It’s magical, mysterious, and a little haunting. The multiple POVs show you a different side to Citra Buana and the people who run it; I couldn’t put the book down because I wanted to know what happened to the people involved.

The only issue I have with the book is that it fell short in some aspects of the story. I would’ve liked to learn more about the school’s history, the events leading up to Adrian’s death, and maybe some scenes of Amalia settling into Citra Buana through lessons and combat scenes. Like with Chloe Gong’s Immortal Longings and Ann Liang’s A Song to Drown Rivers, I felt that this book was missing major plot points, which resulted in rushed writing.

Overall, I think that if the author had more time to write and develop the story better, it would reach its full potential to be something greater. I recommend this book if you like any of these things:

• Characters who can see spirits (e.g. Belladonna by Adalyn Grace, Phantasma by Kaylie Smith, and the 2013 K-drama Master’s Sun)

• Powerful and ruthless characters (e.g. Wu Zetian from Iron Widow and Fang Runin, The Poppy War)

• Stories set in a “magical/special” academy (e.g. Deadly Class, Wednesday)

Verdict: 4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

3. A Love Most Fatal, Kath Richards

In the sea of fantasy books that I read this month, I picked up A Love Most Fatal, a “mafia romcom”. I’d seen a handful of people talking about it on Twitter, and I wanted to see what the hype was.

To be honest, I found it an okay read. I think I set my expectations too high for this one after seeing my online friends rate it 4-5 stars. I liked how badass Vanessa was, and the unlikely dynamic of a math teacher getting with a CEO/girlboss who’s in the mafia. I think it’s an enjoyable read — especially if you’re into mafia romances — but for this book, I wished there were more interactions between Vanessa and Nate. There weren’t enough scenes to justify their relationship development with each other.

Verdict: 3/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

4. The Knight and the Moth, Rachel Gilig

After a disappointing read, I prayed The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gilig wouldn’t do the same to me.

Thankfully, it didn’t. In fact, it made me want to scream.

I loved it. It had everything I liked in a fantasy book. The Knight and the Moth was thrilling, action-packed, and intriguing. The plot is kind of hard to explain in a few sentences — I recommend reading the blurb online for this — but the world-building was easy to get into. Instead of relentless info dumps, Rachel Gilig sets the scenes for you and gently unfolds the world as you read the book.

Other than the world-building, I also loved the banter between Sybil and Rory. I couldn’t get enough of their interactions.

But you know what’s the best part about this book? Bartholomew. A gargoyle who flies, sings off-key, cries, calls everyone Bartholomew, and spews wise advice once in a while. He brought light and humour into the story, and I couldn’t stop laughing whenever he was around. I just love him so so much.

Verdict: 4.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

5. A Study in Drowning Duology, Ava Reid

A Study in Drowning was on my 2025 TBR for the longest time now, and I finally got into it. It’s a gothic fantasy novel about Effy, an architecture student who joins a contest to rebuild Hiraeth Manor, the home of a late author, Emrys Myrddin. At the manor she meets Preston, a literature student who wants to reveal the author as a fraud.

While I loved The Knight and the Moth for its storytelling, characters, and world-building, A Study in Drowning drew me in with its words. Ava Reid’s writing was lush and atmospheric. The use of vivid imagery made me feel like I was in Saltney, seeing and experiencing the haunting manor for the first time. I couldn’t put the book down as Effy and Preston uncovered the mystery because I simply wanted to know more. The book also talks about mental illness, institutional sexism (in academia), literature, folklore, and our love for the stories we read/study.

On the other hand, I didn’t enjoy A Theory in Dreaming as much as I did with the first book. I don’t know I was in a slump or not, but it took me slightly longer to finish the book. It felt like a wholly different story that felt separated from the first book, but we do get Preston’s POV. I’d say the second book is more of his story, with a focus on dreams, grief, and navigating the real life. A Theory in Dreaming also shows us his love for Effy, which is tender, strong, and so sure.

Verdicts:

• A Study in Drowning: 4.25/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

• A Theory in Dreaming: 3.25/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

6. Emily Wilde Series, Heather Fawcett

The Emily Wilde Series was recommended by the same person who introduced me to Water Moon, so of course I had to read it 🤓.

I thought the first book, Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries was a fun read. It was adventurous and magical. Personally, I was reminded of the Stalking Jack the Ripper Series by Kerri Maniscalco, and The Folk of the Air Series by Holly Black. It’s a cozy fantasy series about the fae so expect hidden worlds with occasionally twisted creatures.

Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy the series as much as I thought it would. I liked the first book, but I thought it was an “alright” read. I think Emily Wilde’s story isn’t for me, but I’ll still recommend it anyway. Here’s why.

It’s a cozy fantasy series about the fae. You’re taken to these immersive worlds through an academic’s perspective. We follow Emily, a dryadologist, as she travels to remote towns to conduct fieldwork. She investigates the local fae and folklore, and people’s experiences with them. In every chapter, there are a few references made here and there, and they’re usually explained in-depth at the end. I think it’s a great way to build a world and show how Emily’s mind worked.

I didn’t enjoy the other two books, but I stayed for Wendell and his relationship with Emily. I thought they were really cute together. I also stayed for the world-building and enjoyed how magical it was.

Verdicts:

• Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries: 3.75/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

• Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands: 3.25/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

• Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales: 3/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

7. Vilest Things, Chloe Gong

In 2023, I read Chloe Gong’s adult fantasy debut, Immortal Longings and rated it 3.5 stars. In my book review, I talked about why this book disappointed me with its poor execution and underdeveloped plot that focused too much on world-building and info dumping.

Despite that, I was still somewhat interested in reading Vilest Things. I wanted to know how the story continued, and I figured the first book was just a case of “first book syndrome”. For the non-readers reading this blog, it’s when the first book of a series is “allowed” to be bad because the second book tends to be better.

Unfortunately, I wish it was just first-book syndrome, because I didn’t like the second book either. Like Immortal Longings, the story had a slow build-up to finally picking up in the last 10 chapters of the book. It made the plot fall flat, and I started skimming by the 60% mark.

Besides that, I thought the plot was all over the place. Maybe it was me barely remembering what happened in Book #1, but I was really confused. I found it hard to keep track of the side characters and the “info dumping” about the politics. I wished we got more interactions between Anton and Calla, not gonna lie.

Oh, and I wasn’t a fan of Otta. I thought she was annoying. The only good thing about the book was MaoMao.

Verdict: 3/5

When they finally opened in September, I decided to visit the bookstore. Here’s how it went:

How to get to Kinokuniya, Pavilion Damansara Heights

Kinokuniya Pavilion Damansara Heights is directly accessible via the Pusat Bandar MRT station on the Sungai Buloh-Kajang MRT line. When you get off the train, you can walk straight into the mall and take the escalator up to the fourth floor.

If you’re located closer to the LRT, get off at Pasar Seni LRT station on the Kelana Jaya LRT line, and head downstairs to the MRT station. Totally optional, but you can also do the same at KL Sentral and walk to Muzium Negara’s MRT station.

If you don’t want to take the train, you can also take a cab or drive to Pavilion Damansara Heights.

My review of Kinokuniya, Pavilion Damansara Heights

Since the bookstore just opened, expect a huge crowd. I went on a Friday at 3pm, and the place was packed. You won’t get a long queue outside like the one on Opening Day, but you’ll see people milling around the sections inside. The cafe was also full, so I didn’t get a chance to properly check it out.

Side note: There was a long queue at the cashier (not pictured), so if you plan to buy something from this bookstore, expect a possibly long wait, or maybe try to come earlier.

Is Kinokuniya Pavilion Damansara Heights smaller than Kinokuniya KLCC?

Yes, but it’s not that small. The Pavilion Damansara outlet is still pretty big compared to normal bookstores, and there’s a lot to see. It’s like how Tsutaya Intermark Mall is smaller than Tsutaya Pavilion Bukit Jalil.

What can I find at Kinokuniya, Pavilion Damansara Heights?

It’s more or less the same concept as the KLCC outlet. You’ll still be able to find English books from both international and local authors in a myriad of genres. Some of the books I was able to find were Anxious People by Fredrick Backman, Katabasis by RF Kuang, Shatter Me special editions (Tahereh Mafi), Sally Rooney’s books, classic books, and more. There was also a dedicated Tintabudi shelf for a collab with Kinokuniya.

According to other videos I’ve seen online, you’ll also be able to find comics and graphic novels.

Although the English book collection was large, I couldn’t find any books in other languages, like Chinese and Malay. I heard they’re more available at the KLCC outlet.

Cute stationery and blind boxes

Other than books, you’ll be able to find a small stationery section, children’s toys, merch, and tons of blind boxes. I heard the section for blind boxes at the KLCC outlet isn’t that huge, so the one at Pavilion Damansara Heights is worth visiting. Plus, it’s close to the entrance, so you’ll be able to see the wall full of Smiskis, Sonny Angels, and Sanrio blind boxes when you come in.

A place to sit down and read

I don’t remember there being reading corners inside Kinokuniya KLCC, so the one in Pavilion Damansara Heights makes up for it. I found a few small reading corners in the bookstore where you can sit down and read.

But if you want a table where you can work or grab a drink/bite, the cafe’s the way to go.

Will I come back?

Of course! The Pavilion Damansara Heights outlet is closer to me, and I want to revisit the bookstore when the hype has died down. I’m not sure if it’ll be less visited by then, but I remember how peaceful it was visiting the second Tsutaya outlet in KL. I’d really like to sit at the cafe to admire the city view, and maybe explore the aisles in my own time.

If you wanna visit now, though, Kinokuniya Pavilion Damansara Heights is open from 11am to 9pm every day.

P.S. Check out my Kinokuniya Pavilion Damansara Heights vlog:

• TikTok / Instagram

Something More was recommended by one of my close reader friends, Bee. It’s a teen romance novel about a Palestinian-Canadian girl navigating her first year of high school while hiding her autism diagnosis. The summary on Goodreads says it’s “for fans of Jenny Han and Samira Ahmed”, and not gonna lie, I agree. I was reminded of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.

Movie or not, teen romances can get pretty cringey sometimes. Sometimes the writers overdo it and write unrealistic things (aka stuff actual teens would never say), but it’s not like that for Something More. I found the interactions and scenes natural and realistic, and this book helped me get out of the slump. It was lighthearted, easy to get into, and I enjoyed the cute moments between Griffin and Jessie. The book also doesn’t sugarcoat the messy sides of growing up, making friends in high school, and getting your heart broken.

Verdict: 4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

2. Heir, Sabaa Tahir

If you liked the An Ember in the Ashes series, consider starting Heir. It’s set twenty years after the last book (A Sky Beyond the Storm) and features three POVs — one of which you might be familiar with if you read the series.

For the most part, I liked returning to the AEITA universe. It was one of my top reads in 2022, and I wanted to know how the story continued. You’ll also love the cameos from Helene, Elias, and Laia.

The only problem I had was that Heir was confusing. There were two timelines in Quil and Aiz’s POVs (the past vs the present), and it took me a while to figure them out because of the lack of “indicators” like a date or period. It took me half of the book for it to click, and after that, I understood the story a little better.

Verdict: 3.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

3. A Man Called Ove, Fredrik Backman

After reading Anxious People last month, I was on a mission to read other Fredrik Backman’s works. I decided to pick up A Man Called Ove because it was the author’s first book and one of his most famous books. It’s about an old man called Ove and his unlikely friendships when a family moves into his neighbourhood.

I loved this book. True to Fredrick Backman’s writing style, A Man Called Ove was funny, real, and sad. The author introduces us to Ove, who is a grumpy old man who doesn’t get along with everyone around him. He’s a stickler for rules and a difficult neighbour to many. But as the story progresses, we learn that underneath that harsh exterior, he’s a man dealing with grief and loss. We grow to empathise with his character and learn more about his life through flashbacks.

It may seem like a simple story about an old man, but you won’t expect it to tug on your heartstrings. It will make you laugh and cry, and make you reflect on life once you finish it. Please read it.

And while you’re at it, watch the 2015 movie adaptation of the book. I rated it 4 stars on my Letterboxd.

Verdict: 5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4. Water Moon, Samantha Sotto Yambao

Like Something More, Water Moon was another book recommended by my online friends. It’s a magical realism story about a pawnshop hidden behind a ramen restaurant on a backstreet in Tokyo, and the woman who inherits it. When a physicist wanders into her shop, she embarks on a quest to find her missing father.

If you like Studio Ghibli movies like Howl’s Moving Castle or Spirited Away, read Water Moon. This book was so dreamy and magical, and it filled me with childlike wonder. You get an adventure through picturesque dreamscapes, a blossoming romance subplot, and interesting side-characters. The whole book is like experiencing a vivid dream you never want to wake up from, and I didn’t want it to end.

Verdict: 4.25/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

5. My Friends, Fredrik Backman

This book wasn’t planned on my August TBR, but I picked it up after seeing Fredrick Backman’s Instagram post. My Friends is a story about the friendship of three teenagers in a distant town, a painting of the sea, and an artist who uncovers the story behind the art twenty-five years later.

My Friends was just as incredible as A Man Called Ove— maybe even better. The story is mostly told through Ted’s — one of the artist’s friends— flashbacks, and his recollections of his childhood. He tells Louisa about his summers at the pier with them, how the painting came to be, and how his friends inspired the art that would change the world. The happier moments were nostalgic, but the sadder moments were heartbreaking. It’s a book that deals with grief, loss, friendship, and the challenges and joys of living.

“I could never have lived there without him. I would just have lain awake all night waiting for him to come home. I would have had to throw away all the eggs, because he was the only one who ate them, but I would have forgotten not to buy them. I would have forgotten that he didn’t exist, all the time. I would have gotten angry because the light in the bathroom was turned off, because I used to get so annoyed with him for always leaving it on. I would have saved all his shoes, all his shirts, and I would have been angry with the spring and hated flowers when they appeared because they drowned out the last smells of him. I would have always laid the table for two on the balcony. I would have had to eat all the popcorn myself. I would never have been able to pick a film.”

— Chapter 22

Although I haven’t been to an art gallery in years, the book also made me think about art. It shows you how it can inspire you, change your life, and represent the things you value the most. It teaches us that art can come in many forms in our lives, and that we need it to make us whole.

“You’re an artist if you create something! You’re an artist if you don’t see the world the way it is, if you hate white walls! No one else decides what art is, no one can stop you loving whatever you like, the cynics and critics can have control of all the other crap on the planet… but they can’t decide how hard your heart beats! Become whatever you want, but don’t become one of them. Art is a fragile enough light as it is. It can be blown out by a single sigh. Art needs friends, with our bodies against the wind and our hands cupped around the flame, until it’s strong enough to burn brightly with its own power. Until it’s an inferno. Unstoppable.”

— Chapter 27

If you ever plan to read this book, get ready to laugh and cry. Maybe reflect on your own life. Bring tissues. You’re gonna need it.

Verdict: 5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

6. Four Aunties and a Wedding, Jesse Q Sutanto

After finishing My Friends, I felt myself getting into a slump. I wasn’t in the mood for litfics or fantasy, so I wanted to try something different. I saw that Four Aunties and a Wedding was on my TBR, so I picked it up. I read Dial A For Aunties in 2021, and I thought it was pretty fun and chaotic. I also vaguely remember it being a fast-paced read.

Unfortunately, I didn’t like this book. I was reading it for 30 minutes before I DNF-ed it out of secondhand embarrassment. From the moment they boarded the plane to the UK, her aunts kept saying British slang phrases with a fake British accent to everyone within a mile radius. The writing was somewhat cringey, which was also the same reason why I lowered my rating for Dial A For Aunties to 4 stars. The books in the series are advertised as YA, but they read like a book for teenagers.

Verdict: DNF 🚫📚

7. Six Crimson Cranes Duology, Elizabeth Lim

**Spoilers for the series ahead**

Six Crimson Cranes was on my TBR for a couple of years before this, but I only picked it up after seeing some people talk about the author’s signing event last month.

When I announced that I was starting the book, I didn’t expect a lot of people to get excited for me. They loved the book, and honestly, so did I. It’s an East-Asian-fantasy retelling of the Grimm brothers' The Six Swans fairytale, but with six enchanted cranes. It’s also about the red strings of fate, dragons, magic, and a princess in exile.

I thought Six Crimson Cranes was as beautiful as its cover. The world was beautiful and vivid, and unlike most fantasy books I read, easy to get into. Shiori was a great protagonist, and I loved her heartwarming moments with her brothers and her bird, Kiki. I’d recommend this book for those who are looking for a great YA fantasy read.

Unfortunately, I wish I could say the same for the second book, The Dragon’s Promise. I was warned by a couple of people that the book wasn’t good, but I kept an open mind regardless. When I started it, it felt like it was a whole other book. I really thought Shiori was going to be betrothed to Seryu, but this story's plot ended abruptly in a few chapters, and we never really see him again. Then, the story kept dragging on, and by the 60% mark, I was getting bored. It was too far to DNF the book, so I just pushed through until the end.

Overall, I think Six Crimson Cranes would’ve been better as a fantasy standalone that focused on Shiori’s story and her magic. I did enjoy her relationship development with Takkan, but if the editors chose a romance subplot, I wouldn’t mind that as well. As for Seryu’s plot, I think it would’ve been nice to develop his character background a little more and learn more about the dragons in this world. Considering what happened in Book 2, we could’ve just given up on a potential love triangle and focused on Seryu’s friendship with Shiori instead. It would’ve been nice seeing their dynamic as he taught her how to wield magic.

Verdicts:

• Six Crimson Cranes: 4.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

• The Dragon’s Promise: 3.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This time around, I decided to check out a few more bookstores that are near the train.

More bookstores in KL and PJ that are near the train

1. Tintabudi, TTDI Plaza

Train stop: TTDI MRT station

When I asked for bookstore recs under my bookstore hopping guide on Instagram and TikTok, so many people commented Tintabudi. It’s a cosy indie bookstore in TTDI Plaza, which is close to TTDI MRT Pintu A. You can find poetry books, non-fiction books (religion, culture, art, history, etc), children’s books, and more. During my first visit, I came across books about Gaza and Palestine, and translated fiction like I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman.

Address: A-1-13, TTDI Plaza, Jalan Wan Kadir 3, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur

2. Riwayat Bookstore, Jalan Tun H S Lee

Train stop: Masjid Jamek LRT station

Another indie bookstore that’s worth visiting in KL is Riwayat Bookstore on Jalan Tun H S Lee. It’s a very short walk away from the Masjid Jamek LRT station, and a timeless gem of a spot. When I first entered the bookstore, the hustle and bustle of the city just quieted down. Old school music crooned from a corner as I explored the bookshelves and tables filled with books.

Similar to Tintabudi, their collection boasts a lot of non-fiction titles on (mostly) politics, history, and culture. I saw a handful of books about Indonesia too.

Address: 34, Jalan Tun H S Lee, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur

3. Popular Bookstores

Popular Bookstores is a famous bookstore chain in Malaysia. Compared to MPH, I feel like they offer more Chinese books. Popular also sells various tech and lifestyle items at its outlets, so expect a more versatile spot with more things to see while bookstore hopping.

And luckily for you, they have few outlets near the train:

• 1 Utama Shopping Centre: Bandar Utama MRT station

• Sunway Pyramid: USJ 7 LRT station + Sunway Lagoon BRT station

• IPC Shopping Centre: Mutiara Damansara MRT station

• Mid Valley: Abdullah Hukum LRT station

4. MPH Bookstores, Publika

Train stop: Semantan MRT station + T852 MRT feeder bus

MPH at Publika is one of my favourite spots, and every time I visit the mall, I never fail to stop by. It’s a small bookstore, yes, but the books they have are always great. I also think they always switch out books on the shelves and displays, so you won’t see the same book after a certain period.

But you know what’s bad about this bookstore? It’s the sheer temptation of buying more books.

Address: Lot 7B, 8B & 9B, Level G2, Publika, Jln Dutamas 1, Solaris Dutamas, 50480 Kuala Lumpur

5. LitBooks, Tropicana Avenue

Train stop: Surian MRT station + T807 MRT feeder bus

LitBooks is a pretty famous indie bookstore located on Tropicana Avenue, PJ. It’s fairly accessible via train. I wanted to come here because it was recommended in a couple of articles online, and safe to say, I was immediately in love. The open layout, the organised bookshelves, the large table where you can sit down and read… 🙂‍↕️.

Collection-wise, I think LitBooks has a mix between mainstream (popular) books and lesser-known books. I saw RF Kuang and Sally Rooney’s books, translated fiction, classics, a couple of special editions, and more.

I hope I’ll find time to be back soon, because it’s quite far from where I live :(

Address: P-1-11 Tropicana Avenue, 12, Persiaran Tropicana, 47410 Petaling Jaya, Selangor

6. [Permanently Closed] Dokusho Bookstore, Ara Damansara

Train stop: Surian MRT station / Lembah Subang LRT station + T807 MRT feeder bus

Dokusho Bookstore is another bookstore in Ara Damansara that you can access via Surian MRT station (or Lembah Subang LRT station) and the T807 MRT feeder bus. I planned to visit sometime, but after finding out they were closing down in mid-September, I decided to pay a visit.

This bookstore is special because it sells secondhand books of all kinds of genres (travel books, comic books, fiction, and non-fiction books, etc.), and because they have a “pay as you wish” system for certain books. The sight of bookshelves and towering bookstacks of old books feels like you’re stepping back in time, too. I can’t count how many books I read as a kid, like The Mortal Instruments, Artemis Fowl, and Vampire Academy.

Overall, I’m sad to see this place go. I have a feeling a lot of readers or local visitors have considered Dokusho Bookstore their third place where they can surround themselves with books.

Address: Ara Permata, 9, Jalan PJU 1a/42, Ara Damansara, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor

(P.S. They’re having a sale on their books right now. Check out their Instagram page for more info!)

7. Books For a Better World (BFBW)

Other than Dokusho Bookstore, Books for a Better World (BFBW) is another local bookstore where you can buy and donate preloved books. They have multiple outlets in KL and PJ, but I listed down the ones that are easily accessible via public transport:

• 1 Mont’ Kiara: Semantan MRT station + T852 MRT feeder bus

• IPC Shopping Centre: Mutiara Damansara MRT station

• KL Eco City: Abdullah Hukum LRT station

• POS Malaysia HQ: Pasar Seni MRT station

• Amcorp Mall: Taman Jaya LRT station

• Subang Parade: Subang Jaya LRT station

• Cheras Leisure Mall: Taman Mutiara MRT station

• Avenue K: KLCC LRT station

8. Bookxcess MyTOWN

Train stop: Cochrane MRT station

I visited Bookxcess at MyTOWN Shopping Centre recently, and let me tell you this: it was beautiful. I loved the open layout, the tall bookshelves, the Instagrammable corners, and of course, the wide book selection. There were so many books in so many dedicated sections, I simply had to treat myself. I got two books: Sunrise on the Reaping (Suzanne Collins) and ’s book, Revenge in Violent Hues 😛.

Other than books, there’s Ume Tei (a Japanese restaurant), Whisk Coffee (a small cafe), Claire Organics (skincare, body care, home/living), and Mossery (notebooks, planners, and stationery). I plan to check them out on my next visit.

Overall, Bookxcess MyTOWN is a great place to lepak and explore pretty bookshelves. Just come here.

Address: No. L1-012, Level 1, MyTOWN Shopping Centre, 6, Jalan Cochrane, Seksyen 90, 55100 Wilayah, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur

9. Bookxcess, Lalaport

Train stop: Hang Tuah LRT station / Merdeka MRT station

After Bookxcess MyTOWN, I decided to pop by Lalaport to check out their Bookxcess outlet. The front might not look like much, but when you go in, you’d be surprised by how large the bookstore is.

While MyTOWN’s outlet felt like a cross between a cozy library and a stunning bookstore, Lalaport’s outlet was an “industrial-themed” art gallery. It’s modern, bright, bold with a silver and yellow theme. There’s a lot to see here, from the art gallery in the heart of the bookstore, to the eye-catching aisles filled with books. You’ll also find more art pieces (head figurines) at some of the displays, and a piano.

For those who wanna sit down and chill, the bookstore has plenty of seating areas throughout the space, or you just can grab a drink at their cafe inside.

Address: L1-13A & B, Mitsui Shopping Park LaLaport, 2, Jln Hang Tuah, Pudu, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur

Side note about the transport:

If you know how to navigate the Ampang/Sri Petaling LRT line, or know how to walk to Lalaport from Merdeka MRT station, go with either of these options.

But if you’re like me and aren’t familiar with any of those train stations, just get off at Bukit Bintang MRT station, and then switch to monorail to get to the Hang Tuah station. I’m saying this because I got lost yesterday and went on the wrong train not once, but TWICE. It resulted in a detour to Sultan Ismail LRT station where I had to walk 10-minutes to the Medan Tuanku monorail station via the pedestrian bridge.

But this goes to show, the local train system in KL is pretty convenient for a solo traveller who can’t drive.

10. Bookxcess, Fahrenheit 88

Train stop: Bukit Bintang MRT station

Speaking of detours… I also stopped by Bookxcess at Fahrenheit 88. Unlike the previous two outlets, this one felt like a standard bookstore. I stopped by because I regretted not getting On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong back at MyTOWN and wanted to find it. (Spoiler alert: They were out of stock at this outlet).

Regardless, I think Fahrenheit 88’s outlet is a pretty decent stop to look around. I found boxsets, classic books, children’s books, a Shadow & Bone special edition, and popular books like Legendborn (Tracy Deonn), Foul Heart Huntsman (Chloe Gong), Beautiful World, Where Are You (Sally Rooney), and Twelfth Knight (Alexene Farol Follmuth).

11. BX+, Pavilion KL

Train stop: Bukit Bintang MRT station

Okay… Back onto our original bookstore hopping plan.

My last stop of the day was BX+ at Pavilion KL. I found it bigger than the Fahrenheit 88 outlet, but the layout is relatively the same. A pretty great book collection with two sections for Bookxcess’s blind dates with a book, friendly staff, and tons of shelves to check out.

And if you get tired from all that bookstore hopping, take a seat in any one of their chairs by their fiction shelves.

An end to my train-friendly bookstore guide?

While I enjoyed bookstore hopping and talking about them on Substack/Instagram, I think I’ve visited all of the places I thought of.

I’ll most likely be visiting Kinokuniya’s second outlet next at Pavilion Damansara Heights (Pusat Bandar Damansara MRT station) but I’ll just do a separate review/blog for that. After that, then it’ll be the official end to my bookstore hopping series.

Whether you’ve watched my reels (TikTok/Insta) or read my recommendations here on Substack, I just wanted to say thank you for all the love on my content. Doing this series was fun and if you ever plan to follow parts of my guide, I hope you have fun too!

In the meantime, check out my KL/PJ bookstore hopping videos on Instagram/TikTok ;)

• Part 1 : Instagram / TikTok

• Part 2: Instagram / TikTok

Cyrus’s quotes from These Infinite Threads

1. Chapter 2

“Try to weaponize those eyes against me again and I will have them permanently sewn shut.”

2. Chapter 4

“Enough,” he said sharply. “I don’t welcome your analysis. Cease studying me.”

Something bitter prompted her to say, “You are not my master.”

Cyrus turned at once to look at her, staring into her eyes with an intensity that bordered on alarming. “Do you aspire to be mine?”

3. Chapter 12

“God, you’re so beautiful,” he said, his smile vanishing. “Even when you lie to me.”

4. Chapter 14

“I hate you,” he whispered.

Alizeh blinked, her heart pounding too hard in her chest. “I know.”

He leaned in then, his throat working, his gaze fixed entirely on her mouth. “I hate everything about you. Your eyes. Your lips. Your smile.” His words grazed her skin when he said, softly, “I find your presence insufferable.”

5. Chapter 16

“You stunning little hypocrite,” he said.

6. Chapter 18

“You know,” he said attempting a laugh, “I realize you might not believe this, but I never dreamed I’d one day be forced to take a wife in this manner.” He shook his head, turned away again. “I’m trying to give you Tulan—a jewel among empires, a land that is my home. I stand here begging you to marry me—to kill me and take my nation, my crown, my legacy—and you won’t even say yes.” He closed his eyes and swore. “I really thought I’d already hit rock bottom, but this— This is a shade of wretchedness I’ve never known.”

7. Chapter 23

“I’m so tired, Alizeh,” he said, stumbling over the words. He sounded delirious. “Let’s go back to bed, Alizeh.”

“Cyrus—”

He laughed a little, like he was drunk. “I do say it a lot.”

“What?” she said, going briefly still.

“Your name,” he said, and closed his eyes. He nearly fell over, catching himself at the last second. “I didn’t know your name for so long, angel. I love the way it feels in my mouth.”

8. Chapter 23

“Alizeh,” he said, sounding drugged. “Can I taste you?”

9. Chapter 26

“She watched his chest expand as he breathed, his eyes closing even as he fought it. “I want you,” he said, weakening in that familiar, sudden manner. “Next to me.”

10. Chapter 28

“I won’t fight you.” He shook his head. “Forgive me. I never should’ve lifted my sword against you.”

“Why not?” She bristled. “You don’t think me a worthy opponent?”

“You,” he said ardently, “have always been too worthy. I will not hurt you.”

11. Chapter 29

“It’s one thing,” she said angrily, “to enter into a false arrangement in the pursuit of our own interests. But this— Cyrus, this wouldn’t be false, and it would complicate everything. What were you going to do? If I kissed you? What would come next?”

“I would marry you,” he said, stepping closer again, coming dangerously within reach. “I’d marry you tomorrow. And then I’d take you to bed. For weeks.”

12. Chapter 29

“I didn’t trust you,” Cyrus said quietly. “How could I trust you? You were a vision conjured by the devil, designed to ruin me. I hated you for being real, for coming to life only to personify torture, to be another trial to endure. In fact I wanted to hate you. I wanted to discover your faults, your flaws. I thought you’d never match up to the figment of my dreams, and I was wrong. You are far more enchanting in real life. Far more exquisite.” His voice shook just a little when he said, softly, “It is excruciating to be in your presence.”

13. Chapter 29

“Then be with me,” he said softly. “Let me worship you.”

[…]

“You have no idea what I could give you,” he said, his own eyes blazing. “You have no idea what I want. I have been in agony for eight months, Alizeh. Do you know how hard it’s been to pretend I don’t know you? To pretend I don’t want you? To act as if I haven’t known every inch of your body in my dreams? To learn that your heart has been entangled elsewhere? I look at you and I can’t breathe. In my mind, you are already mine.”

Cyrus’s quotes from All This Twisted Glory

14. Chapter 3

“God, he’d wanted her.

He’d wanted her with an all-consuming thirst, with the desperation of a man waiting to die. No doubt the devil had been delighted to see him so debased. This sobering thought drove the heat from his head at once, and in its absence Cyrus felt cold and stupid.”

15. Chapter 7

“Alizeh was the fulfillment of his most desperate, undisclosed desire. The constant, gnawing ache inside him – this pitiful need that grew only more fraught in the wake of every darkness that devoured him –

He longed for her warmth, for her radiance. She’d been, from the first moment she’d wandered into his dreams, an enduring flame in the endless night, his only haven in the madness that inhaled him.

This was his real weakness, and the devil had marked him easily.”

16. Chapter 7

“Cyrus had not slept since first laying eyes on Alizeh.

He hadn’t dared.

He’d never forget the first time he saw her on that calamitous night, the way she’d stepped out from behind the dressing screen. She’d appeared in the golden lamplight of Miss Huda’s bedroom like some impossible vision. Only when she’d lifted her eyes to his face and the sight of her had nearly killed him did Cyrus realize just how artfully he’d been outmaneuvered. He’d absorbed the blow with immaculate outward calm, letting the bomb explode inside him, liquefying his core. This inner destruction birthed a staggering, terrifying anger he’d been almost unable to conceal. He felt he’d gone mad, swinging wildly between desire and fury and disgust and fear, hardly able to manage himself or his reactions to her. He knew at once he’d been tricked; he knew at once she was an instrument of the devil, sent to ruin him. And yet, he weakened each time she looked in his direction. His need grew only more explosive as she solidified into someone real; always he desired another glance, another accidental graze of her skin–

He was terrified to ever dream of her again.”

17. Chapter 10

“As much as it tortured him to look at her, it tortured him more to look away. She was like no one he’d ever encountered. The fact of her beauty was unimpeachable, yes – but one had only to behold her in motion to truly understand her power. She was like an avenging angel come to life, tender and magnanimous, serene even as she slit your throat.

And he’d done nothing to deserve her mercy.”

18. Chapter 11

“He only closed his eyes against her hair and fought the desperate crush of his chest, the violence of his affection for her. How she managed to disarm him even now, on the brink of death, he could not understand. ”

19. Chapter 11

“Cyrus, feeling both weak and helpless, finally allowed himself to stare at her. He studied the exquisite planes of her face, the fullness of her lips, lashes soft and inky against her pallid skin. It was dangerous to allow himself to linger, memorizing details – for the more he grew to care for her, the more unbearable it became to look at her.”

20. Chapter 11

“Cyrus?”

He felt delirious. He was staring at her with the awe of an idiot perceiving the sun for the first time. He nearly drew his hand down her cheek. Nearly kissed the side of her neck. Nearly slumped against her and fell asleep. “Yes, angel?”

21. Chapter 14

“Angel,” he breathed. “My angel.”

22. Chapter 14

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“Nothing,” he said, even as he felt the rise of something fevered inside him, his heart threatening to beat through his chest. With great care he took her face in his hands and marveled at the feel of her, the glorious sight of her. He was enchanted by everything: not just her deep, limpid eyes, but the delicate arches of her brows, the fine shape of her nose, the soft pout of her lips. More extraordinary was that her beauty was but a vessel, physical majesty forged for a soul so tender it defied description.

“When you’re here,” he said, “nothing is wrong.”

23. Chapter 14

“Sad boy,” she said softly. “What am I supposed to do with you?”

He stared at her mouth, the soft line of her jaw, the swell of her breasts against his chest. Her very proximity inspired in him a feeling of exhilaration so profound it left him dizzy. He dragged his eyes upward, meeting her gaze with a need that scared him. “Anything.”

24. Chapter 16

“Somehow it didn’t matter that Alizeh had been but a conjuring of his imagination. It didn’t matter that they’d never known each other outside of the delusions of his mind. It didn’t matter that she owed him nothing.

He’d loved her.

It was a hallucination, a fantasy. He knew that, and yet he could not reason with his emotions. Fiction or not, she’d embedded inside him, replaced the air in his lungs.”

25. Chapter 19

“Every night for nearly four weeks he’d dreamed of Alizeh. Strong in body but fractured in spirit, Cyrus was so drunk on his dizzying, sensorial experiences of her that he could hardly see through the thick of his own mind to what was real. ”

26. Chapter 27

“You don’t know what you’re doing,” he said, his voice so rough it was unrecognizable. “You don’t know what I want from you, angel. You can’t even imagine.”

“What do you mean?” She stared up at him, her heart hammering in her chest. “What is it you want?”

His eyes seemed to glaze over at that, the blue of his irises blown out by black, and he dipped his head, nearly touching her lips as he exhaled, his body shaking. “Everything,” he whispered, releasing her suddenly, backing away as if she’d run him through with a blade. “I want everything.”

27. Chapter 30

“Here is my question,” she said. “If you cannot bear to be near me now, how will you survive what’s yet to come?”

Now he did look at her, his breath catching as he stared into her eyes, soft and gleaming in the reflected moonlight. He seemed to sink into the grass as he gazed at her, the world blurring beyond the space she occupied. There was something so gentle about her presence, something that reminded him of magic: all curves, no edges. He wanted to press his face against her neck, wanted to breathe in the fragrance of her skin, the perfume of the flowers he’d grown himself. He wanted to make her laugh. He wanted to hold her hand. He wanted to bring her tea and walk with her through the seasons. He wanted to watch her conquer the earth. He wanted to glide his hand down her naked back, wanted to taste the salt of her, wanted to bite her bottom lip and lose himself inside her.

God, the things he wanted.”

27. Chapter 31

“More than that, he wanted to fall to his knees.

This tremble inside him, this madness in his heart – it was all for her. All for her. He could hardly look at Alizeh without losing his mind; nearly four weeks he’d seen her only in his dreams, and he’d all but forgotten how finely wrought she was in real life, how delicate her features, how soft the curves of her cheeks. He came to life when she smiled, drew breath when her eyes brightened, died when she left a room.

She’d smelled like roses.

His roses.”

More quotes of Cyrus yearning for Alizeh (and crashing out) in Every Spiral of Fate

28. Chapter 5

“Cyrus heard her shock before he saw her face, the mere sight of her like a fatal strike, and he bore it badly. He could not look at her; he could not look away from her. Her beauty was its own violence, assailing his worn defenses even as chains of pain released him at her approach. She was like a panacea for all that ailed him, a braid of light and fury, the cause and the cure.”

39. Chapter 9

“The blood oath had left him ruined. In the aftermath of their bond, his volcanic feelings for Alizeh had heightened to a dangerous pitch; his nightmares had ceased only for daylight to deliver him fresh degradations. Now, joined to her like a tributary, he could all but feel the essence of her shifting in his veins. When she moved, he fought to remain still; when she breathed, he wanted to draw breath. Every aspect of him was now tuned precisely to her; and like a compass searching for true north, he felt frenzied when she was out of sight. In her absence he felt pushed to the very edge of lunacy; in her presence he felt unhinged. The mere sight of her sent his pulse pounding with a speed that scared him.

He nearly took her in his arms then; nearly drowned in the delusion; very nearly allowed himself, for the space of a breath, to believe she was his.

His bride.

His wife.

It would be simpler for him to lay down and die for her than to try to convey the enormity of all that he felt in her presence.

So, instead, he said nothing.”

30. Chapter 13

“How many times in his delusions had he kissed every hollow and curve of her body? How many nights in his life had he spent on his knees before her? He’d lost count. He didn’t know how he’d lived so long without holding her, or how he’d survived without looking into her eyes. He’d soon be forced to return to that cold existence, and yet he couldn’t remember why. Why would he ever wish for something other than this? How was he meant to give her up now that she was here, in his arms, where she ought to be, where he might protect her—”

31. Chapter 25

“How could he not feel unworthy? She was a luminous hope in the lives of millions—while he dragged his dead corpse through the blossoming valley of her life, staining everything with his blood.”

32. Chapter 26

“Now, his resolve weakening more by the minute, Cyrus returned his eyes to her. He still held the vision of her in his mind, the way she’d stood before the soldiers and spoken like so much more than a queen. He felt there were too many queens in this world; none of them her equal.”

33. Chapter 27

“Have you ever killed a moth?” Cyrus said faintly.

“Killed a moth?” The young man had frowned. “I beg your finest pardon?”

“A moth, yes,” said Cyrus. “Have you ever killed one?”

“Are you taking the piss?”

“They have actual bodies,” Cyrus went on. “Wings and legs and eyes and antennae. Yet you need hardly touch them to kill them. The lightest pressure and they turn to dust.”

The man regarded him then as if he were a lunatic. “Right. I’ll just be getting on, then—”

“That,” said Cyrus quietly, “is what it feels like. In her presence I am easily killed, returned over and over to dust.”

34. Chapter 33

“Would you ask me to debase myself?” he said wretchedly, his eyes flying open. “Would you have me touch you when your heart is not truly mine? When you are, in your head, quietly betrothed to another?”

[…]

“Would you ask me to pretend to be your husband now only to strip me of those rights in the morning, when I’m to shut my mouth and bind my own hands while another man touches you and laughs with you and makes plans to marry you right in front of me?” He fought for control, his voice rising desperately when he said, “Do you really think I could survive it?”

[…]

“Then pray do not complicate the situation further. Do not take from me what you cannot offer me in return. You need not ruin me utterly,” he said, nearly shaking. “You need not reduce me to ash simply because you can. I beg you to know your own power. Show me mercy even if I don’t deserve it. My life, my heart, my blood—they’re already yours. Heaven knows I have nothing left to give you that isn’t already in pieces.”

35. Chapter 33

“I will say this once, angel, for I feel you should be warned. No man alive has ever loved a woman the way that I love you, and I would rather die, damned as I am, than disgrace us both with the pitiful, unrequited performance of my heart.”

I reviewed this book last year, so just check out my review in my July 2024 reading wrap up :)

But one thing’s for sure: Eli Killgore is my favourite Ali Hazelwood man right now.

2. Check & Mate, Ali Hazelwood

I also reviewed this book last year, so just check out my August 2024 reading wrap-up for that.

But let’s just say Check & Mate is my favourite Ali Hazelwood book right now.

3. Sunburn, Chloe Michelle Howarth

Back in May, Sunburn was all over my Twitter feed. My close reader friends were praising it and recommending it to everyone, so I decided to hop on the bandwagon. It’s a queer coming-of-age novel about first love and heartbreak, growing up, and navigating sexuality.

Honestly, it was tough getting into this book. I originally started it in June, but I ended up temporarily DNF-ing it for three whole weeks. Then in July, I picked it back up because I was determined to push through and overcome my slump.

When I finally finished Sunburn, I was disappointed. Here’s why:

a) The unnecessary mentions of spit.

“And when you turned around to whisper to us, I saw a strand of spit going from your teeth to your lips, and it was like a perfect gossamer cobweb, and I wanted to be caught in it.”

For some reason, Lucy was hyperfixated on the concept of one’s saliva at multiple points in the book. The word spit was mentioned too many times (like the quote I just shared), and I wasn’t a fan of it. I didn’t need to know what Susannah’s saliva tasted like, no thank you.

b) The repetitive writing

I loved and hated the writing at the same time. While numerous quotes from the book stood out to me, Lucy’s constant comparisons of Susannah to the sun were starting to get repetitive.

• “And Susannah, beautiful sunbeam Susannah.”

• Sweet Susannah, where I am a burnt-out star, you are the sun.”

• “I am all wounds, Susannah, and you are the loveliest pus. Flooding in to heal me. Yellow as the sun.”

• “She is so bright, so colourful, I get sunstroke from looking at her.”

There are so many more quotes that mention the word “sun”, but how many more times do we need to emphasise Susannah’s "bright and beautiful self?

Regardless of my thoughts, I think you should give the book a try. I know so many people enjoyed this book, and it reminded me of two other books: Normal People by Sally Rooney and Notes of a Crocodile by Qiu Miaojin.

Verdict: 3.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

4. The Scorched Throne Series, Sara Hashem

(Or, famously known for its first book, The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem)

If you’re reading this blog, you’re probably waiting for the fourth book of the This Woven Kingdom series (Tahereh Mafi) to come out like me.

What if I told you that there’s a book out there that can help you scratch the itch in the meantime?

The Scorched Throne Series was that for me. It’s an Egyptian-inspired fantasy duology about a fugitive heir of a fallen kingdom who strikes a bargain with her enemy to save her life. You might want to pick up the series if you’re looking for REAL enemies to lovers, political intrigue, forbidden magic, and a slow burn between the main characters. I also liked the plot and world-building, and learning more about Sylvia’s powers.

And lowkey, the main guy (Arin) reminded me a little of Cyrus from This Woven Kingdom. Plus, he’s hot.

The only issue I had with the books was that I was in a funky mood while reading them. There were a few times throughout my reading experience when I didn’t pay enough attention to the plot. That’s on me, though.

Verdicts:

• The Jasad Heir - 4/5 stars

• The Jasad Crown - 4/5 stars

P.S. I also recommend this book if you like An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir because it will ultimately destroy you like that series did.

5. Throne of Secrets, Kerri Maniscalco

Throne of Secrets is the second book in the Prince of Sin series, which are adult romantasies set in the same universe as the Kingdom of the Wicked trilogy (Wrath and Emilia’s story). Each book follows Wrath’s brothers and their respective plots, which come with mystery, debauchery, interactions between the brothers, and ample passionate scenes.

I read the first book, Throne of the Fallen (Envy’s book), in 2023, and I admit it gave me major Bridgerton vibes. I rated it 4 stars at the time. If you’re a fan of the show and/or the books, why not give this one a try?

I started Throne of Secrets (Gluttony’s book) in June, but unfortunately, it didn’t live up to the hype of its predecessor. I DNF-ed it at the 44% mark almost a month later because the plot was non-existent. I was struggling to get through the book, and I just gave up.

Verdict: DNF 🚫📚

Side note: The third book, Throne of Nightmares (Sloth’s book) just did a cover reveal on the author’s Instagram account. Should I add it to my TBR?

6. Anxious People, Fredrick Backman

Anxious People is my first Fredrick Backman book. It was recommended to me by one of my online reader friends because I was curious about the author after seeing their books on my timeline.

I started this book a month ago (just like I did with Sunburn), but obviously, it took me a while to finish because of my slump. Regardless of that, I liked the book.

When I first started it, I was already intrigued. The writing was witty, and I appreciated the short chapters. It was also refreshing because I wasn’t enjoying the books I read before this.

Towards the end, I found Anxious People introspective, hopeful, and vulnerable. It’s both humorous and poignant, which is a weird combo, but it works in this Fredrick Backman book. The book talks about grief, secrets, friendships, forgiveness, empathy, fears, and what it’s like being human in uncertain times.

I’ll be checking out the author’s other works after this. Stay tuned!

But these days, I’ve been in the mood to go out and explore new places. I’ve been going to malls, cafes, and of course, bookstores.

Why bookstores?

It may sound a little weird to non-readers, but bookstores are some of the best places to kill time for me. There’s something peaceful about exploring the sections filled with books, admiring the colourful spines, and finding the books you loved. It’s even better if you’re with someone you can yap about books with.

Another reason why I like visiting bookstores is that the ones in KL, Malaysia, are an attraction in themselves. Places like Eslite Bookstore at Starhill or MPH at TRX are works of art with their diverse collection, large layout, and aesthetically pleasing interiors. Better yet, some of the bookstores, like Tsutaya Bookstore, have a cafe inside — perfect for those who want a spot to chill and read.

The last reason why bookstores are my go-to spots on solo dates is the fact that they’re conveniently located near public transport. As a person who can’t drive and cringes at cab prices, the train has been a budget-friendly lifesaver.

With that being said, here are 8 bookstores in KL, Malaysia that are public-transport friendly. They’re all on the Kelana Jaya Line (LRT) and/or the Sungai Buloh - Kajang Line (MRT).

Top bookstores accessible by train in KL

1. Tokosue, Wisma Central

Train stop: KLCC LRT station

Tokosue is a small but unique indie bookstore at Wisma Central, two blocks from Suria KLCC. You can find so many English and Malay books (fiction and non-fiction), preloved books, poetry books, zines, and general merch like tote bags and shirts. You’ll also find self-published books by local authors, like Lilian Li’s Duet Me Not, Everything In Life Is A Fire by Dano Chow, and my poetry book, Bedtime Stories for Adults in Love.

If you also get to meet the owner, Sue, do say hi! She’s really friendly and an advocate for the local arts.

Address: 3.40, Level 2, Wisma Central, Jln Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur

Side note: You can also walk to Wisma Central from the Persiaran KLCC MRT station, but I do not recommend it. It’s too damn hot for that.

2. Kinokuniya, KLCC

Train stop: KLCC LRT station

After you’ve visited Tokosue, why not stop by Kinokuniya at Suria KLCC? It’s huge, and I always fall in love with the sight of their shelves. I always come here when I’m in the area and want to look for books that I can find in other bookstores like Popular or MPH.

The only problem I have with this bookstore is that the prices are a major jumpscare.

Address: KLCC, 406-408 & 429-430, Level 4 Suria, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50088 Kuala Lumpur

P.S. I heard they’re opening a second outlet at Pavilion Damansara Heights, which is accessible via Pusat Bandar Damansara MRT station. Will definitely update this blog when they open!

3. Tsutaya Bookstore, The Intermark Mall

Train stop: Ampang Park LRT station

After falling in love with the Tsutaya Bookstore at Pavilion Bukit Jalil, I wanted to visit the second outlet at The Intermark Mall. It’s a stop away from KLCC’s train station, followed by a short walk out of the station to the mall.

Compared to the first outlet, Tsutaya Bookstore at The Intermark Mall is much smaller, but I’m not complaining. It’s quieter with fewer crowds (perfect for introverts), and their English book selection is pretty decent. They also have a wonderful stationery section with cute items.

Address: Lot L1-11-15, Level 1, Intermark Mall, 348, Jln Tun Razak, Kampung Datuk Keramat, 50400 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur

4. Eslite Bookstore, Starhill

Train stop: Bukit Bintang MRT station

If you’re ever in Bukit Bintang, stop by Eslite Bookstore at The Starhill. It’s a wonderful bookstore with a great selection of English and Chinese books of various genres.

I love the fiction section, but you can also find children’s books, stationery, magazines, non-fiction books on various topics, activity books, etc. As for those who want to sit and read, there are tables in a couple of sections, or you can check out any of the cafes surrounding the bookstore.

Outside of books and cafes, Eslite Bookstores hold events at their bookstore, like forum talks, art exhibitions, and more.

Address: L1 01-34, LEVEL 1(L145, Starhill Gallery, 181, Jln Bukit Bintang, Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur

5. MPH, Tun Razak Exchange

Train stop: Tun Razak Exchange MRT station

The TRX MRT station is just a stop away from the Bukit Bintang MRT station, which is the perfect excuse to visit MPH TRX. It’s KL’s largest MPH outlet, and I’m not exaggerating when I say it’s massive. Rows and rows of bookshelves, high ceilings, and fully-stocked sections of different genres (comics included). There’s so much to see, and that’s what makes it tricky because you’ll never want to leave.

Collection-wise, I think it’s almost on par with Kinokuniya’s, and I was surprised at how many books I was able to find the last time I was there.

Address: L2.28-29.A, Level 2, The Exchange TRX, Persiaran TRX, Tun Razak Exchange, 55188 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur

6. Bookxcess REXKL, Pasar Seni

Train stop: Pasar Seni LRT and MRT station

Now here’s another bookstore to get lost in. Bookxcess is no stranger to aesthetically pleasing bookstores, and the one in REXKL, Pasar Seni, is no joke. It’s literally a maze. Bookshelves upon bookshelves, corners you can hide in, and aisles you can get lost in. It also has that rugged warehouse aesthetic because REXKL used to be a theatre.

Unfortunately, while I do think it’s a great photo spot, I wouldn’t come back to explore again. It was loud from the REXPERIENCE next door; there was no air-conditioning when I went last year, and some of the stairs were hard to navigate. I actually have a clip of myself struggling to get up and down for the shot behind a shelf.

Address: REXKL, Jalan Sultan, City Centre, 50000 Wilayah Persekutuan, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur

7. Bookxcess, The Gardens Mall Rooftop

Train stop: Abdullah Hukum LRT station

Another Bookxcess outlet you should check out is the one at The Gardens Mall Rooftop. It’s a lovely bookstore with a restaurant attached, and I’ve seen a great selection of books (fiction and non-fiction) and stationery. Plus, the deals are really great, and you won’t believe how many popular books I saw that cost less than RM30.

Address: Lot No. RT-1, 6th Floor, Rooftop, The Gardens Mall, Mid Valley City, 59200 Wilayah Persekutuan, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur

8. SUN@MAG, KL Sentral

Train stop: KL Sentral LRT station

Another hidden gem of a bookstore in KL is SUN@MAG at KL Sentral. I passed by it a couple of times whenever I was at KL Sentral, and you won’t miss it if you’re at the Departure Hall. It houses a lot of preloved books at pretty cheap prices.

Address: DEPARTURE HALL, Kuala Lumpur Sentral, 50470 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur

Bonus: Bookxcess, IOI Damansara Mall

Train stop: Surian MRT station

Okay, I know this bookstore isn’t in KL, but I think it’s an honourable mention for book lovers. As with any Bookxcess outlet, the prices and deals are amazing, and the interiors, photograph-worthy. There’s also a cafe inside and a section where you can sit down and work.

Address: IOI Mall Damansara, Lot 1F - 26 & 26A, First Floor, West Walk, 2A, Persiaran Surian, Tropicana Indah, 47810 Petaling Jaya, Selangor

I’ve only been to these bookstores in KL and PJ, so if you have any recs, let me know in the comments or DM me on Instagram. I hope you also get the time to go bookstore hopping with my recs!

For more bookstore recs, read Part 2 of my (KL/PJ) bookstore hopping guide <3