1. Her Radiant Curse, Elizabeth Lim
In August of 2025, I read the Six Crimson Cranes Duology for the first time, and I loved it. After that, I wanted to check out more books by the author. Her Radiant Curse follows sisters Channi and Vanna, who fight to save each other when a betrothal contest goes wrong. It’s a story of courage, sacrifice, and sisterhood.
Her Radiant Curse was emotional. We learn more about Queen Raikama, Shiori’s stepmother, and the deep bond she had with her sister. You can feel it through the pages, in the way Channi wants to protect her younger sister from harm. Unlike their parents and the other villagers, who see her as a monster and treat her as such, Vanna is the only one who truly loves Channi. The ending completely broke me, but in a way, I also liked how it showed how Raikama came to be in Six Crimson Cranes.
Verdict: 4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
2. The Blood of Stars Duology, Elizabeth Lim
After Her Radiant Curse, I picked up The Blood of Stars Duology. The first book, Spin the Dawn, is advertised as a “Project Runway meets Mulan,” in which Maia, a young girl, poses as a boy to compete for the role of an imperial tailor.
I enjoyed this series! The first book, Spin the Dawn, was fun and magical. Maia was brave and creative, and I liked reading how these traits translated into the garments she made. She literally did the impossible and beat the odds against her competitors. I also enjoyed the romance and her interactions with Edan. They were cute together, and for a moment, he reminded me a little of Jinshi from The Apothecary Diaries when they first met. Just a little 🤏🏼.
On the other hand, the second book, Unravel the Dusk, was more intense and thrilling. It felt like a wholly different book in some parts, but I think that’s what a sequel is supposed to be. Maia has to save her kingdom and her humanity, protect her family, and find Edan. The stakes are high, and as the reader, you have to keep reading to find out whether she succumbs to her demonic side. I also loved the references to Shiori’s story in this book.
Verdicts:
Spin the Dawn: 4.25/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Unravel the Dusk: 3.75/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
3. The Last Tiger, Julia Riew and Brad Riew
The Last Tiger is a YA fantasy novel about two star-crossed teens from opposite worlds who find themselves on opposite sides of a battle over the last tiger, a symbol and key to their people’s freedom in a colonised land. I first heard about this book on TikTok, where a brother-sister duo wrote a book inspired by their grandparents’ forbidden romance during the Japanese occupation in Korea.
This book was intense and emotional. Not gonna lie, I came into this book expecting a full-on romantasy, especially with the TikTok I saw, but it’s not. The Last Tiger is more of a fantastical reimagining of the authors’ grandparents’ lives, with magic (‘ki’ in the book) being interwoven into excerpts of real history. It’s a story that talks about defying tradition, the struggles of cultural assimilation, and the fight for freedom. I recommend it if you’ve enjoyed June Hur’s books.
However, despite being a book inspired by a real forbidden love story, the romance isn’t a huge focus. Eunji and Seung were great characters on their own, but I thought their relationship was a bit underdeveloped.
Verdict: 4.25/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4. The Girl With A Thousand Faces, Sunyi Dean
The Girl With A Thousand Faces is a dark urban fantasy set in historical Hong Kong about ghosts, grief, generational trauma, and women who don’t forgive. It follows Mercy Chan, a ghost talker in Kowloon Walled City, who confronts a powerful spirit that claims to know her past. This book wasn’t originally part of my 2026 TBR, let alone my May TBR, but when I saw the cover for the first time on Instagram, I was blown away. I knew I had to pick it up eventually.
This book was haunting and intriguing. The world-building felt authentic, and the characters were interesting. I enjoyed how the book switched between the third and second POVs, which some people might have issues with, but I thought it added depth to the story. It certainly took me by surprise, and it was one of the reasons why I kept reading.
Unfortunately, I wish I were in the right mood to enjoy The Girl With A Thousand Faces properly. I fell into a slump while reading, and it affected my overall experience. However, please don’t let my review stop you from reading it. I think it’s a pretty solid story with a unique structure. Please read it.
Verdict: 3.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
5. She Who Became The Sun, Shelley-Parker Chan
I actually DNF-ed this book twice last year, and I honestly didn’t plan on continuing it this year… Until I picked it up again while reading The Girl With A Thousand Faces. I was at the 58% mark, so I thought, why not?
Anyway, I finally finished the book, and I think it’s just not for me. Even though the story was a little interesting, it didn’t fully capture my attention as the reader. That’s why I won’t be picking up the next book, He Who Drowned the World.
Verdict: 2.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️
6. A Treachery of Swans, A.B. Poranek
A Treachery of Swans is a sapphic retelling of the famous ballet, Swan Lake. I started this book because of the cover (look how gorgeous it is!), and because I was intrigued by the overall premise.
Well, this book was just as stunning as its cover. I heard this audio the whole time I was reading it, and I think it perfectly captures the vibes of this book. A Treachery of Swans was atmospheric, melodramatic, dark, and a little mysterious. The lush writing complemented the story well, and I was most intrigued by Odile and Marie. Their romance was tender and intimate in some of the scenes, and I really liked the yearning.
The only reason why I didn’t rate this book slightly higher was my mood. As much as I loved the story and world, I found it a little difficult to get into the book at first. I nearly gave it a three-star rating (3.5 or 3.75/5 stars), but towards the end, I decided on a 4-star rating. Please read it if you like Barbie of Swan Lake (2003), The Swan Princess (1994), or books like this.
Verdict: 4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
7. The Prison Healer, Lynette Noni
I honestly can’t remember why I added this book to my TBR, but I think it was because I saw some people talking about it online. In short, The Prison Healer is a YA fantasy novel about a young girl who is a prison healer in a death prison.
Unfortunately, this book turned out to be an unexpected DNF. While the premise intrigued me and seemed right up my alley, I felt bored while reading it. The plot was repetitive in the beginning, and I didn’t connect with the characters.
I managed to finish the first fourteen chapters before I decided to put it down around the 37% mark.
Verdict: DNF 🚫📚
8. XOXO Series, Axie Oh
If you like K-pop, K-dramas, K-pop Demon Hunters, and YA romcoms from authors like Ann Liang, Jenny Han, and Sujin Witherspoon… Please pick up this series! It’s a set of two companion novels set in the glamorous and high-stakes lives of K-pop idols.
The first book, XOXO, was an unexpected five-star read. I admit, it took me a while to get into the book at first, but once I did, I couldn’t stop reading it. I binged 90% of the book in one day, and it had everything I was looking for: A story that’s light-hearted, fun, fast-paced, and swoony. I caught myself grinning at Jenny and Jaewoo’s scenes together, and I loved their moments of sneaking around and going on cute dates.
On the other hand, ASAP was just as sweet, but a bit more emotional. It’s a second-chance romance between Sori and Nathaniel, who we meet in the first book. While XOXO teases their history, ASAP sets the stage for their reconnection. We watch Sori navigate her unresolved feelings for her ex and learn how to choose her own path away from her parents’ expectations.
Other than the romance, I enjoyed reading about what it’s like to be a trainee/idol. We get glimpses of the characters preparing to debut, starring on a variety show, acting in a K-drama, and hosting an awards show. Both XOXO and ASAP reminded me of Starstruck (the Disney movie), a few elements of the show, XO Kitty, and the companion novels by Ann Liang, If You Could See The Sun / I Could Give You The Moon.
Verdicts:
XOXO: 5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ASAP: 4.25/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
9. This Apothecary Diaries: Volume 1 & 2 (Light Novel)
If you’ve been following me on Instagram/Twitter, then you’d know that I LOVE The Apothecary Diaries. I started it back in April and binged it in less than two weeks. After that, I went a little crazy mass liking Jinshi and Maomao edits online, so my starting the light novels was obviously on the horizon.
Well, I loved it! This is obviously my first light novel, so I don’t know how to review(?) it properly, but honestly, I was really entertained. The story was funny and intriguing, and I enjoyed revisiting some of my favourite scenes from the anime. Compared to the series adaptation, the light novels have more of the characters’ perspectives and thoughts— that’s why I’ll be reading the other light novels in the series.
Verdicts:
Volume 1: 5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Volume 2: 4.25/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
10. The Romance Rivalry, Susan Lee
The Romance Rivalry by Susan Lee is a YA romcom about romance and the people who read it. It follows two rival online romance book reviewers who end up at the same college.
As a book blogger and a romance enthusiast, I adored this book. I finished it in a few hours, and I thought the story was funny, lighthearted, and sweet. I know I’ve said this for two out of the twelve books I read this month, but I mean it. I was giggling, blushing, and kicking my feet the whole time I was reading this book. I loved how The Romance Rivalry incorporated tropes into its chapter titles and the plot, and I related too hard to the parts about being a book content creator.
Besides romance, the book also talks about imposter syndrome, academic stress, and meeting family expectations, which I think some readers might relate to.
Verdict: 4.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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You read soo much in a month!