Kat's bookshelf: all en-US Mon, 28 Apr 2025 15:49:57 -0700 60 Kat's bookshelf: all 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg <![CDATA[Unexpected Healer (Earthen Contenders #1)]]> 207787860 Something went wrong. Something went very ·É°ů´Ç˛Ô˛µâ€�.

Against his will, Thaden was transported elsewhere in a big flash of light along with millions of other Humans from Earth, to a place where they would train to become Contenders in a whole new world. Unfortunately for him, something occurred during his transference into the “Training� program, and he was ejected from the whole training process and sent into the open mouth of an active volcano for bodily disposal.

Through a miraculous and horrifying series of events, Thaden managed to survive, only to find himself alone in the middle of a dungeon with no clothes, no weapons, and no way to defend himself. Worst of all, the strange new Assimilation System automatically assigned a Class to him without his knowledge, which ended up sticking him with a Support-based Class that has absolutely no offensive capabilities. As an Assistant Healer, none of his spells did any damage and he couldn’t even pick up a weapon to defend himself if he wanted to!

But all hope isn’t lost, as Thaden quickly learns something unique about himself that might just allow him to survive long enough to escape the dungeon. Sure, all his new magical spells might be focused on healing and protection, but what does it mean when he seemingly won’t ever run out of Mana�?

This story contains an overpowered MC with a normally non-combat Class, LitRPG progression mechanics and stats, and isekai/portal fantasy elements. Contains no sexual content or harems.]]> 381 Jonathan Brooks Kat 0 currently-reading 4.38 2024 Unexpected Healer (Earthen Contenders #1)
author: Jonathan Brooks
name: Kat
average rating: 4.38
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/28
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Demons and DNA (Amplifier, #1)]]> 44579974 We had adapted.
And when our magic came back, we changed course again. Hiding instead of running, knowing that we needed to remain hidden from the Collective. Knowing that our lives, our freedom, depended on it.
Then the sorcerer showed up, drained and disoriented. And when my past came quickly following him, I had to make another choice.
Fight or flight.
Continue to deny the power that resided in my blood, in my DNA. Remain perpetually caught between being Amp5 and Emma Johnson.
Or face my demons.
-----------------
Demons and DNA by Meghan Ciana Doidge is the first novel (75k) in the Amplifier series, which is set in the Adept Universe along with the Dowser, the Oracle, and the Reconstructionist series.

Reading order of the Amplifier
•The Amplifier Protocol (Amplifier 0)
•Close to Home (Amplifier 0.5)
•Demons and DNA (Amplifier 1)]]> 372 Meghan Ciana Doidge 1927850959 Kat 3 4.35 2019 Demons and DNA (Amplifier, #1)
author: Meghan Ciana Doidge
name: Kat
average rating: 4.35
book published: 2019
rating: 3
read at: 2025/04/28
date added: 2025/04/28
shelves:
review:
3.5 stars. Perhaps I would have liked this more if I had read any of the previous series by this author, but for a new reader, it was lacking. The MC was not particularly likable, and a lot of other characters were thrown in without any real need. Overall, everything felt rushed quickly to a whirlwind conclusion. I have no desire to read on.
]]> <![CDATA[The Redemption (The End of All Things #6)]]> 198192102
Tired of the usual post-apocalyptic tale? Welcome to your new addiction .

The #1 best-selling and most prolific post-apocalyptic author Mike Kraus brings a new gripping tale of destruction, survival and humanity like no one else can.

On a quiet evening like any other, virtually anything that uses fuel goes up in flames, killing billions in the first twenty-four hours alone. Remnants of governments reel as they try to deal with the destruction of their countries and decimation of their military infrastructure as their cities burn to the ground.

On a quiet beach in South Florida, Alice Burton and her two children have started the family vacation early - all that's left is for James to fly in from a conference in Colorado. When the small beach town they're staying in is consumed by fire, they're forced to seek help on foot - facing dangers both natural and manmade at every turn.

Meanwhile, at the Denver International Airport, James Burton hides beneath an overpass as cars and planes erupt in flame around him. His survival is not guaranteed, as a treacherous journey through the heart of Denver and beyond awaits him if he has any hope of reuniting with his family.

Back home, on their small farm outside East Lansing, Michigan, Alice's parents are house-sitting, and are about to experience the most intense test of their survival and homesteading skills that they could ever imagine.



Mike Kraus & Muonic Press are the #1 producing and selling indie press publishing post-apocalyptic tales, for good reason. Since capturing audience’s attention with Final Dawn in 2012, Kraus has captivated and delighted his readers, both with his solo projects like Surviving the Fall and No Sanctuary, and with his co-authored projects with authors like Justin Bell, JJ Pike, Tara Ellis, Kenny Soward and others on titles such as Epoch's End, Zero Hour, MELT, Flashpoint and Weathering the Storm.]]> Mike Kraus Kat 4 4.63 2024 The Redemption (The End of All Things #6)
author: Mike Kraus
name: Kat
average rating: 4.63
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/27
date added: 2025/04/27
shelves:
review:
4.25 stars. Smooth wrap up to this solid series.
]]> <![CDATA[The Devouring (The End of All Things #5)]]> 155053694
Tired of the usual post-apocalyptic tale? Welcome to your new addiction .

The #1 best-selling and most prolific post-apocalyptic author Mike Kraus brings a new gripping tale of destruction, survival and humanity like no one else can.

On a quiet evening like any other, virtually anything that uses fuel goes up in flames, killing billions in the first twenty-four hours alone. Remnants of governments reel as they try to deal with the destruction of their countries and decimation of their military infrastructure as their cities burn to the ground.

On a quiet beach in South Florida, Alice Burton and her two children have started the family vacation early - all that's left is for James to fly in from a conference in Colorado. When the small beach town they're staying in is consumed by fire, they're forced to seek help on foot - facing dangers both natural and manmade at every turn.

Meanwhile, at the Denver International Airport, James Burton hides beneath an overpass as cars and planes erupt in flame around him. His survival is not guaranteed, as a treacherous journey through the heart of Denver and beyond awaits him if he has any hope of reuniting with his family.

Back home, on their small farm outside East Lansing, Michigan, Alice's parents are house-sitting, and are about to experience the most intense test of their survival and homesteading skills that they could ever imagine.]]> 322 Mike Kraus Kat 4 4.67 2023 The Devouring (The End of All Things #5)
author: Mike Kraus
name: Kat
average rating: 4.67
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/27
date added: 2025/04/27
shelves:
review:
4.25 stars. This series has been consistently engaging, and events are starting to come together for a hopefully satisfying conclusion.
]]> <![CDATA[The Darkness (The End of All Things #4)]]> 143310192
Tired of the usual post-apocalyptic tale? Welcome to your new addiction .

The #1 best-selling and most prolific post-apocalyptic author Mike Kraus brings a new gripping tale of destruction, survival and humanity like no one else can.

On a quiet evening like any other, virtually anything that uses fuel goes up in flames, killing billions in the first twenty-four hours alone. Remnants of governments reel as they try to deal with the destruction of their countries and decimation of their military infrastructure as their cities burn to the ground.

On a quiet beach in South Florida, Alice Burton and her two children have started the family vacation early - all that's left is for James to fly in from a conference in Colorado. When the small beach town they're staying in is consumed by fire, they're forced to seek help on foot - facing dangers both natural and manmade at every turn.

Meanwhile, at the Denver International Airport, James Burton hides beneath an overpass as cars and planes erupt in flame around him. His survival is not guaranteed, as a treacherous journey through the heart of Denver and beyond awaits him if he has any hope of reuniting with his family.

Back home, on their small farm outside East Lansing, Michigan, Alice's parents are house-sitting, and are about to experience the most intense test of their survival and homesteading skills that they could ever imagine.



Mike Kraus & Muonic Press are the #1 producing and selling indie press publishing post-apocalyptic tales, for good reason. Since capturing audience’s attention with Final Dawn in 2012, Kraus has captivated and delighted his readers, both with his solo projects like Surviving the Fall and No Sanctuary, and with his co-authored projects with authors like Justin Bell, JJ Pike, Tara Ellis, Kenny Soward and others on titles such as Epoch's End, Zero Hour, MELT, Flashpoint and Weathering the Storm.]]> 350 Mike Kraus Kat 4 4.56 2023 The Darkness (The End of All Things #4)
author: Mike Kraus
name: Kat
average rating: 4.56
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/26
date added: 2025/04/27
shelves:
review:
4.25 stars An action-packed continuation to the series.
]]> <![CDATA[The Ruination (The End of All Things #3)]]> 122999152
Tired of the usual post-apocalyptic tale? Welcome to your new addiction .

The #1 best-selling and most prolific post-apocalyptic author Mike Kraus brings a new gripping tale of destruction, survival and humanity like no one else can.

On a quiet evening like any other, virtually anything that uses fuel goes up in flames, killing billions in the first twenty-four hours alone. Remnants of governments reel as they try to deal with the destruction of their countries and decimation of their military infrastructure as their cities burn to the ground.

On a quiet beach in South Florida, Alice Burton and her two children have started the family vacation early - all that's left is for James to fly in from a conference in Colorado. When the small beach town they're staying in is consumed by fire, they're forced to seek help on foot - facing dangers both natural and manmade at every turn.

Meanwhile, at the Denver International Airport, James Burton hides beneath an overpass as cars and planes erupt in flame around him. His survival is not guaranteed, as a treacherous journey through the heart of Denver and beyond awaits him if he has any hope of reuniting with his family.

Back home, on their small farm outside East Lansing, Michigan, Alice's parents are house-sitting, and are about to experience the most intense test of their survival and homesteading skills that they could ever imagine.



Mike Kraus & Muonic Press are the #1 producing and selling indie press publishing post-apocalyptic tales, for good reason. Since capturing audience’s attention with Final Dawn in 2012, Kraus has captivated and delighted his readers, both with his solo projects like Surviving the Fall and No Sanctuary, and with his co-authored projects with authors like Justin Bell, JJ Pike, Tara Ellis, Kenny Soward and others on titles such as Epoch's End, Zero Hour, MELT, Flashpoint and Weathering the Storm.]]> 328 Mike Kraus Kat 4 4.48 2023 The Ruination (The End of All Things #3)
author: Mike Kraus
name: Kat
average rating: 4.48
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/25
date added: 2025/04/25
shelves:
review:
Overall, I enjoyed this book, but would have preferred to skip the chapters based on characters in other countries as I didn't feel it added anything to the story.
]]> <![CDATA[The Desolation (The End of All Things #2)]]> 102890820 The Burton family has survived - barely, but are separated from their home and each other by a thousand miles. Safety is far from guaranteed and loss is a certainty in this new, desolated world.

Tired of the usual post-apocalyptic tale? Welcome to your new addiction.

The #1 best-selling and most prolific post-apocalyptic author Mike Kraus brings a new gripping tale of destruction, survival and humanity like no one else can.

On a quiet evening like any other, virtually anything that uses fuel goes up in flames, killing billions in the first twenty-four hours alone. Remnants of governments reel as they try to deal with the destruction of their countries and decimation of their military infrastructure as their cities burn to the ground.

On a quiet beach in South Florida, Alice Burton and her two children have started the family vacation early - all that's left is for James to fly in from a conference in Colorado. When the small beach town they're staying in is consumed by fire, they're forced to seek help on foot - facing dangers both natural and manmade at every turn.

Meanwhile, at the Denver International Airport, James Burton hides beneath an overpass as cars and planes erupt in flame around him. His survival is not guaranteed, as a treacherous journey through the heart of Denver and beyond awaits him if he has any hope of reuniting with his family.

Back home, on their small farm outside East Lansing, Michigan, Alice's parents are house-sitting, and are about to experience the most intense test of their survival and homesteading skills that they could ever imagine.



Mike Kraus & Muonic Press are the #1 producing and selling indie press publishing post-apocalyptic tales, for good reason. Since capturing audience’s attention with Final Dawn in 2012, Kraus has captivated and delighted his readers, both with his solo projects like Surviving the Fall and No Sanctuary, and with his co-authored projects with authors like Justin Bell, JJ Pike, Tara Ellis, Kenny Soward and others on titles such as Epoch's End, Zero Hour, MELT, Flashpoint and Weathering the Storm.]]> 278 Mike Kraus Kat 4 4.51 2023 The Desolation (The End of All Things #2)
author: Mike Kraus
name: Kat
average rating: 4.51
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/25
date added: 2025/04/25
shelves:
review:
4.25 stars. Book two continues the quality of its predecessor. The main characters are likable and a believable blend of altruism and practical mindfulness of personal safety.
]]> <![CDATA[The Collapse (The End of All Things #1)]]> 79171028
Tired of the usual post-apocalyptic tale? Welcome to your new addiction .

The #1 best-selling and most prolific post-apocalyptic author Mike Kraus brings a new gripping tale of destruction, survival and humanity like no one else can.

On a quiet evening like any other, virtually anything that uses fuel goes up in flames, killing billions in the first twenty-four hours alone. Remnants of governments reel as they try to deal with the destruction of their countries and decimation of their military infrastructure as their cities burn to the ground.

On a quiet beach in South Florida, Alice Burton and her two children have started the family vacation early - all that's left is for James to fly in from a conference in Colorado. When the small beach town they're staying in is consumed by fire, they're forced to seek help on foot - facing dangers both natural and manmade at every turn.

Meanwhile, at the Denver International Airport, James Burton hides beneath an overpass as cars and planes erupt in flame around him. His survival is not guaranteed, as a treacherous journey through the heart of Denver and beyond awaits him if he has any hope of reuniting with his family.

Back home, on their small farm outside East Lansing, Michigan, Alice's parents are house-sitting, and are about to experience the most intense test of their survival and homesteading skills that they could ever imagine.



Mike Kraus & Muonic Press are the #1 producing and selling indie press publishing post-apocalyptic tales, for good reason. Since capturing audience’s attention with Final Dawn in 2012, Kraus has captivated and delighted his readers, both with his solo projects like Surviving the Fall and No Sanctuary, and with his co-authored projects with authors like Justin Bell, JJ Pike, Tara Ellis, Kenny Soward and others on titles such as Epoch's End, Zero Hour, MELT, Flashpoint and Weathering the Storm.]]> 352 Mike Kraus Kat 4 4.28 2023 The Collapse (The End of All Things #1)
author: Mike Kraus
name: Kat
average rating: 4.28
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/24
date added: 2025/04/25
shelves:
review:
I have been reading a lot of post-apocalyptic series recently, and this one is a version of the terror attack crisis vs. the other worldly magic takeover genre.I am finding it a refreshing change from a talented author.
]]> <![CDATA[Apocalypse Online 2 (Apocalypse Online #2)]]> 215795004 The apocalypse is here!

After the world changed and aliens started hunting down humans, only a small group of survivors remain.

But the alien invasion is just getting started! Now our heroes must learn to work with the AI and nanotech provided by Lucy to grow stronger.

The seeders and other monsters they encountered so far were just the first wave.

Now the real aliens are going to arrive to claim parts of earth. With the monster surge on its way, the chances of survival is dismally bad.

Brad, Jake, and Sam must LEVEL UP if they are going to survive the second wave!

Perfect for fans of 'Defiance of the Fall', 'Life in Exile', and ' Generic System'.

Grab you copy today... Apocalypse Online is a LitRPG/GameLit post-apocalypse fantasy series filled with action, adventure, aliens and snarky AIs.]]> 653 Conor Malachi Kat 3 4.58 Apocalypse Online 2 (Apocalypse Online #2)
author: Conor Malachi
name: Kat
average rating: 4.58
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2025/04/23
date added: 2025/04/23
shelves:
review:
I found book 2 a bit of a disappointment. The author progressed from callous disregard of deaths of allies to a light discussion of not focusing on loss and instead moving forward. The series is absent of all emotional depth, and I haven't developed any great connection to the characters because of that lack. If further books are on sale, I might consider reading the next book, but as it stands, I will look for something else.
]]> <![CDATA[Apocalypse Online 1 (Apocalypse Online #1)]]> 215776754 At first everyone thought it was a game....

But aliens have arrived, and they are turning people into fertilizer.

Brad and Sam are gamers. And when they started playing the hot new game Apocalypse Online, they had no idea that the game was a preview of reality! With the help of a benevolent alien AI and nanotechnology, our heroes will have a chance to survive the apocalypse.

They just have to survive, level up, and find other survivors.

Jake is no gamer. But when he finds out aliens have arrived, he'll do anything to protect his little sister, Sam. Even if it means using a system he doesn't understand.

Will they be able to grow strong enough for the second wave, or will they become alien plant food?

Perfect for fans of 'Defiance of the Fall', 'Life in Exile', and ' Generic System'.

Apocalypse Online is a LitRPG/Progression, post-apocalypse fantasy series filled with action, adventure, aliens and snarky AIs.]]> 491 Conor Malachi Kat 4 4.49 Apocalypse Online 1 (Apocalypse Online #1)
author: Conor Malachi
name: Kat
average rating: 4.49
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/19
date added: 2025/04/19
shelves:
review:
This series has a lot of promise mixed with a lot of problems. I quickly engaged with the story and felt compelled to read onward, so I have already purchased book 2. However, it read like the author's first attempt at a novel, and I am hoping for improvements in the next books. Characters were extremely shallow at times about some serious losses of family or friends. The references to time passed were ridiculous a few times when characters spoke of back when the crisis started as if years ago instead of less than a week. Also, some events were described with a good bit of detail, while others like showdown with Colton's group were very rushed through.
]]> <![CDATA[The Golden Enclaves (The Scholomance #3)]]> 59743336 Saving the world is a test no school of magic can prepare you for in the triumphant conclusion to the New York Times bestselling trilogy that began with A Deadly Education and The Last Graduate.

The one thing you never talk about while you’re in the Scholomance is what you’ll do when you get out. Not even the richest enclaver would tempt fate that way. But it’s all we dream about: the hideously slim chance we’ll survive to make it out the gates and improbably find ourselves with a life ahead of us, a life outside the Scholomance halls.

And now the impossible dream has come true. I’m out, we’re all out—and I didn’t even have to turn into a monstrous dark witch to make it happen. So much for my great-grandmother’s prophecy of doom and destruction. I didn’t kill enclavers, I saved them. Me and Orion and our allies. Our graduation plan worked to perfection: We saved everyone and made the world safe for all wizards and brought peace and harmony to all the enclaves everywhere.

Ha, only joking! Actually, it’s gone all wrong. Someone else has picked up the project of destroying enclaves in my stead, and probably everyone we saved is about to get killed in the brewing enclave war. And the first thing I’ve got to do now, having miraculously gotten out of the Scholomance, is turn straight around and find a way back in.]]> 411 Naomi Novik Kat 5 Update from audible version, as with books one and two, I preferred reading it myself to the audible version.]]> 4.40 2022 The Golden Enclaves (The Scholomance #3)
author: Naomi Novik
name: Kat
average rating: 4.40
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at: 2025/04/19
date added: 2025/04/19
shelves:
review:
Loved it!!!
Update from audible version, as with books one and two, I preferred reading it myself to the audible version.
]]> The Eight 39970239
In the midst of the French Revolution, a young novice discovers that her abbey is the hiding place of a chess set, once owned by the great Charlemagne, which allows those who play it to tap into incredible powers beyond the imagination. She eventually comes into contact with the major historical figures of the day, from Robespierre to Napoleon, each of whom has an agenda.

The Eight is a non-stop ride that recalls the swashbuckling adventures of Indiana Jones as well as the historical puzzles of Umberto Eco which, since its first publication in 1988, has gone on to acquire a substantial cult following.]]> 738 Katherine Neville Kat 4 4.04 1988 The Eight
author: Katherine Neville
name: Kat
average rating: 4.04
book published: 1988
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/17
date added: 2025/04/17
shelves:
review:
This was my second read of this novel, which strangely I remembered as being excellent, while I couldn't recollect any details whatsoever. This is unusual for me as my brain easily discards the mediocre while obsessing about the novels that strike a cord. On this read, I found the historical sections to be overlong and could have appreciated my focus on the modern "game".
]]> <![CDATA[The Path of Ascension 8 (The Path of Ascension #8)]]> 217204062 Days and Tiers pass as Matt Liz and Aster leave Minkalla.

But no matter how much they just want to relax and recover they have the ever present time-crunch of the path of ascension nipping at their heels.

To compound issues, they are about to reach Tier 15. That means Aster needs to leave for the Bond Academy for at least 10 years.

Can they get far enough ahead of the curve to manage, or will this roadblock cause the trio to stumble?

Don't miss Book 8 of this action-packed fantasy adventure that blends everything you love about LitRPG with Xianxia.

About the This is a mix between LitRPG and Xianxia. It's like a car that looks like a LitRPG with dungeons and skills, but the interior and engine are all Xianxia. It features a magic system and progression system that are logically and internally consistent, as well as realistic fight scenes and a rational MC.]]> 801 C. Mantis Kat 4 4.52 2025 The Path of Ascension 8 (The Path of Ascension #8)
author: C. Mantis
name: Kat
average rating: 4.52
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/14
date added: 2025/04/14
shelves:
review:
I found this book to be quite slow to proceed through as it was predominantly a long summary of getting the main characters up to the start of the next story arc.
]]> <![CDATA[Hide and Seek (Apocalypse Parenting, #3)]]> 210725567 also means making sure they're ready to stand on their own when needed. That's always been part of her parenting philosophy, but applying it to letting a six-year-old get up close and personal with vicious monsters? Questionable! Certainly not easy.

Meghan doesn’t have a choice. She’s got to be an expert apocalypse parent while also stabilizing her area, finding a way to handle with the mysterious new Titans, and dealing with the other nasty twists her alien tormentors have planned.

>It's more than she bargained for, but she’s not giving up!]]> 623 Erin Ampersand Kat 5 4.64 2024 Hide and Seek (Apocalypse Parenting, #3)
author: Erin Ampersand
name: Kat
average rating: 4.64
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2025/04/05
date added: 2025/04/05
shelves:
review:
Another enjoyable addition to the series. I was unhappy to come to the end as I must wait for the next to come out. I was glad to hear that the author has started a story on Vince, her husband, as I have been wondering about him since book one.
]]> <![CDATA[Making Friends (Apocalypse Parenting, #2)]]> 123022662
She's gotten food and shelter for her family. Her oldest is turning into a wizard, her middle boy is some kind of self-healing monkey, and her youngest is accumulating a small army of pets. That's a bit much to roll with, but when monsters are appearing on the lawn, it's probably for the best.

What worries her is the mysterious - and dangerous - "Challenge" she knows is fast approaching, and she's got to get her kids and community ready to face it. Some neighbors are ready and willing to pitch in, but others? They might end up being a bigger problem than the alien monsters.

The second installment in a LitRPG apocalypse saga.]]> 0 Erin Ampersand Kat 5 4.53 2023 Making Friends (Apocalypse Parenting, #2)
author: Erin Ampersand
name: Kat
average rating: 4.53
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at: 2025/04/02
date added: 2025/04/02
shelves:
review:
Excellent continuation of the series.
]]> <![CDATA[Time to Play (Apocalypse Parenting, #1)]]> 61281477
Like any parent, Meghan's first instinct is to keep her young kids safely away from the monsters, but an odd stroke of luck has her coming into some advanced information about this dangerous game. She learns that her kids will have to fight too.

What's a mom to do?

---

The beginning of an apocalyptic LitRPG saga.]]> 474 Erin Ampersand Kat 5 4.55 Time to Play (Apocalypse Parenting, #1)
author: Erin Ampersand
name: Kat
average rating: 4.55
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/30
date added: 2025/03/30
shelves:
review:
Excellent entry to this genre. I was engaged from the very beginning.
]]> Daughter of Shadow 194111979 Three powerful men from the royal courts sworn to protect her.
And a pet dragon with a secret. The dragons are dead, the Ebon Queen has destroyed the elven realms, and the courts are at war. The queen's dark magic grows in strength, and the kingdom is losing the battle against her. Three men are sent from the Silvercrest Court stronghold to seek others to aid their cause. Leander, an eminent and domineering High Lord.
Rohan, a fierce and seductive Knight of the Realm.
Galen, a deceptively gentle and passionate High Elf. Their recruit the most potent magic users from the shire towns and train them to join the crusade against the Ebon Queen. They never expected to find a daughter of shadow. Calla's time working at the apothecary ends abruptly. On the day the town tests her magic skills, Calla's shadowmancy is revealed—a school of magic banned throughout the kingdom. A shocked Calla faces a death sentence, but a mysterious man smuggles her from town. With no other choice, Calla must journey to the stronghold with the three strange men. As they fight their way through enemy territory, the men discover that Calla's power is more dangerous than they realised—and so is the bond this creates between them all. Meanwhile, the Ebon Queen continues to ravage the human and elven lands as her shadow and decay move through the kingdom. And she's looking for Calla.
Daughter of Shadow is the first in a slow burn and slow build why choose romantic fantasy series. Perfect for lovers of unique fantasy worlds filled with elves, humans, and dragons. Featuring a strong magical heroine and fiercely protective men who will give everything to protect the woman they love. The COMPLETE four book series is also available as the box set. Please This book was originally titled Dragon Soul and has a new cover.

This book is written in British English.]]> 204 L.J. Swallow Kat 1 Could not finish. 2.96 Daughter of Shadow
author: L.J. Swallow
name: Kat
average rating: 2.96
book published:
rating: 1
read at: 2023/07/01
date added: 2025/03/28
shelves:
review:
Could not finish.
]]> <![CDATA[Soulhome (The Weirkey Chronicles, #1)]]> 59808829
But now, after a lifetime of struggle, he's found a way back to the Nine Worlds. An old man reborn in a new body, he has a second chance to rebuild what he lost and unravel a mystery that spans dimensions.

Book 1: Though Theo arrives in the safe world of Tatian, demons are crawling from the darkness between realms and he isn't the only inter-dimensional traveler. There's no time to carefully prepare himself: he needs to find allies among the lost just to survive long enough to make use of what he knows.]]> 294 Sarah Lin Kat 2 4.14 2020 Soulhome (The Weirkey Chronicles, #1)
author: Sarah Lin
name: Kat
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2020
rating: 2
read at: 2025/03/28
date added: 2025/03/28
shelves:
review:
DNF. I got to about 30%, but I just don't care to read on. I greatly disliked the MC, and the world building didn't interest me.
]]> <![CDATA[All The Skills 5 (All The Skills #5)]]> 223536115
Their quest for Brixaby’s next Legendary card takes them back to their home kingdom, deep into Blood Moon hive: A place riddled with whispers of assassins, death, and a shadowy leader whose power only grows while his people wither.

To root out the card's whereabouts, Arthur and Brixaby must infiltrate the hive under magical disguise, posing as the captain of a wing of Purple dragons and their riders. There, they find a broken leadership system. One that Arthur, with his unique skills, is uniquely suited to fix. It turns out Purple dragons have far more potential than anyone realized.

Arthur thought he had left his days as a hive leader behind. But when faced with a punitive hierarchy he can overhaul and people in crisis, walking away isn’t so simple. However, the hive's leadership will not simply step aside.

They have Legendary cards of their own.]]> 424 Honour Rae Kat 5 4.52 2025 All The Skills 5 (All The Skills #5)
author: Honour Rae
name: Kat
average rating: 4.52
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/27
date added: 2025/03/27
shelves:
review:
4.75 stars. The author spent much time setting up the retinue's entrance into the new hive, so the first 50% of this book was a slower read. Once this was completed, the remainder proceeded quickly to a satisfying stopping point until the next book.
]]> The Dream Hunter 21900283 In the heat of the desert, a scorching love rises between a restless viscount and a beauty in disguise in this novel by a New York Times–bestselling author.   Desperate to find safety in England, Zenia, the descendent of the Queen of the Desert, dresses herself as a Bedouin boy. For protection, she agrees to guide Arden, the Lord of Winter, through the wilds of her dangerous desert homeland as he searches for a legendary Arabian mare. Consigned by her mother to live disguised, Zenia hasn’t the courage to admit her sex to Arden. Yet, as they cross a merciless desert, she comes to yearn for this fearless, untamable man to know the feminine heart beating beneath her Bedouin rags.   Lord Winter’s loneliness and adventurous spirit have always driven him to the empty, brutal places of the Earth. With Zenia at his side, his loneliness recedes. One night of terror will bind their souls together, but when the princess escapes her homeland for the comfort and safety of England, his yearning will lead him to invade her sanctuary . . .  The Dream Hunter is a suspenseful, adventure-filled tale that establishes Laura Kinsale as “the gold standard in historical romance� (Lisa Kleypas).  ]]> 404 Laura Kinsale Kat 5 4.04 1994 The Dream Hunter
author: Laura Kinsale
name: Kat
average rating: 4.04
book published: 1994
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/24
date added: 2025/03/24
shelves:
review:
This continues to be one of my all-time favorite books. I am a huge Kinsale fan and have been since the books were originally published. Dream Hunter is the perfect blend of an adventure and a poignant romance between two people seeking somewhere they belong. I read very little romance any longer, but I always enjoy the rereading of this novel.
]]> <![CDATA[Sanctuary (Roman’s Chronicles, #1)]]> 211202747
Roman would like nothing more than to be left alone, but when a wounded boy stumbles into his yard and begs for sanctuary, Roman takes him in. Now elite mercenaries are camped out on his property, combat mages are dousing the house with fire, and strange priests are unleashing arcane magic. They thought Roman was easy pickings, just a hermit in the woods, but they chose the wrong dark priest to annoy. For while Roman might be patient, he is the Black Volhv, filled with the love of his terrible god. For his adversaries, it's a fight to the death, but for him, it's just another day in the neighborhood.]]> 152 Ilona Andrews 1641972866 Kat 4 4.34 2024 Sanctuary (Roman’s Chronicles, #1)
author: Ilona Andrews
name: Kat
average rating: 4.34
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/22
date added: 2025/03/22
shelves:
review:
Well written glimpse into the mind of Roman. Unfortunately, Roman wasn't my favorite character from the original series nor one that I really have any desire to see more of.
]]> <![CDATA[All the Skills 4 (All the Skills #4)]]> 209808880 Using a new Legendary treasure-seeking card, Arthur and Brixaby travel to an unknown kingdom in search of a way to defeat the scourglings.

They arrive in a land both familiar and strange. A continent where there have been no dragons for generations. One where human civilization now exists in shrinking cities which are increasingly squeezed in by dead lands. Here, the bold and desperate risk it all for the promise of cards.

Arthur, Brixaby, and their newly reunited retinue will need every trick they can pull from their decks. In the core of the city rests the dark heart of an ancient scourgling eruption. And it’s reawakening.

This once-in-a-decade opportunity offers new powers, secrets to the origins of scourglings, and high-level cards for the taking� for those brave enough to delve deep, and survive.

It may also be the key for Arthur to complete his Master card set.]]> 561 Honour Rae Kat 5 4.56 2024 All the Skills 4 (All the Skills #4)
author: Honour Rae
name: Kat
average rating: 4.56
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/21
date added: 2025/03/21
shelves:
review:
At this point, .I feel that this series has really hit its stride. I like the MC, and I am pleased to see his developing team. Thankfully, I have only a few days to wait for book 5 to be released.
]]> <![CDATA[All the Skills 3 (All the Skills #3)]]> 203150896
Or Brixaby will be, once he grows from the size of a parrot.

Before that can happen, a chance encounter whisks Arthur and Brixaby away to a place they never thought was possible: A new dragon hive outside of the kingdom. This Free Hive doesn't suffer from the scourge łŮłó˛ąłŮ’s infected the rest of the planet. It's a place where crafting using card powers is king.

But even here, an old enemy sings threats from the shadows. The Free Hive cannot defend itself: they need the strength of Legendary card wielders.

To protect the Free Hive, Arthur and Brixaby must become stronger. That means more skills and most importantly, more cards to add to their decks.]]> 566 Honour Rae Kat 5 4.38 2024 All the Skills 3 (All the Skills #3)
author: Honour Rae
name: Kat
average rating: 4.38
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/20
date added: 2025/03/20
shelves:
review:
Excellent continuation to the series.
]]> <![CDATA[All the Skills 2 (All the Skills, #2)]]> 125660368
Time is not on his side. A once-in-a-generation Legendary dragon egg has been laid. But the competition to bond with it will pit Arthur against the most powerful card wielders in his generation� including his own cousin.]]> 583 Honour Rae Kat 4 4.56 2023 All the Skills 2 (All the Skills, #2)
author: Honour Rae
name: Kat
average rating: 4.56
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/17
date added: 2025/03/17
shelves:
review:
4.5 stars. I much appreciated this second book in the series. It moved very quickly, and I had a difficult time putting it down.
]]> <![CDATA[All the Skills (All the Skills, #1)]]> 63645843
To survive and grow strong, Arthur must learn skills. All the skills.

This is an epic progression-fantasy with strong gamelit elements, featuring a unique card-based magic system.]]> 513 Honour Rae Kat 4 4.54 2022 All the Skills (All the Skills, #1)
author: Honour Rae
name: Kat
average rating: 4.54
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/16
date added: 2025/03/17
shelves:
review:
Having now read pretty widely in the litrpg genre, it is amazing to me how many sub-genres exist. This book reads more like a coming of age fantasy than a post apocalypse story, but luckily, fantasy is another of my preferred book types. The MC is young but relatable, and the plot moves quickly. I will continue on to book 2.
]]> <![CDATA[Three Ordinary Girls: The Remarkable Story of Three Dutch Teenagers Who Became Spies, Saboteurs, Nazi Assassins–and WWII Heroes]]> 53866227
May 10, 1940. The Netherlands was swarming with Third Reich troops. In seven days it’s entirely occupied by Nazi Germany. Joining a small resistance cell in the Dutch city of Haarlem were three teenage girls: Hannie Schaft, and sisters Truus and Freddie Oversteegen who would soon band together to form a singular female underground squad.

Smart, fiercely political, devoted solely to the cause, and “with nothing to lose but their own lives,� Hannie, Truus, and Freddie took terrifying direct action against Nazi targets. That included sheltering fleeing Jews, political dissidents, and Dutch resisters. They sabotaged bridges and railways, and donned disguises to lead children from probable internment in concentration camps to safehouses. They covertly transported weapons and set military facilities ablaze. And they carried out the assassinations of German soldiers and traitors–on public streets and in private traps–with the courage of veteran guerilla fighters and the cunning of seasoned spies.

In telling this true story through the lens of a fearlessly unique trio of freedom fighters, Tim Brady offers a never-before-seen perspective of the Dutch resistance during the war. Of lives under threat; of how these courageous young women became involved in the underground; and of how their dedication evolved into dangerous, life-threatening missions on behalf of Dutch patriots–regardless of the consequences.

Harrowing, emotional, and unforgettable, Three Ordinary Girls finally moves these three icons of resistance into the deserved forefront of world history.]]> 336 Tim Brady Kat 1 4.21 2021 Three Ordinary Girls: The Remarkable Story of Three Dutch Teenagers Who Became Spies, Saboteurs, Nazi Assassins–and WWII Heroes
author: Tim Brady
name: Kat
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2021
rating: 1
read at: 2025/03/14
date added: 2025/03/14
shelves:
review:
I was hopeful that this story would be compelling and difficult to put down. Instead, I found it to be so dry that I was unable to finish it.
]]> <![CDATA[Control: Welcome to the Multiverse]]> 221165912
Now it's down to control. Who will control the rich resources of a newly inducted world. Multiples systems, sects, guilds, and incursion parties are all aiming for that control.

But Silas believes there is more to control than just land and resources. He aims to win over the heart and soul of the people while making Earth the strongest it can be.]]> 685 Sean Oswald Kat 4 4.64 2025 Control: Welcome to the Multiverse
author: Sean Oswald
name: Kat
average rating: 4.64
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/14
date added: 2025/03/14
shelves:
review:
4.25 stars. I found this book to be somewhat less interesting in parts because of the references to other series that I haven't read. Overall, I felt that this was a filler novel, setting up books to come.
]]> <![CDATA[Contention: A Litrpg Apocalypse (Welcome to the Multiverse Book 5)]]> 217168494
Of course is one system wasn't bad enough, Earth has been declared a contested world and now it isn't just the Earth competing any longer but at least two systems trying to gain control of the Earth.
]]> 716 Sean Oswald Kat 4 4.60 Contention: A Litrpg Apocalypse (Welcome to the Multiverse Book 5)
author: Sean Oswald
name: Kat
average rating: 4.60
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/12
date added: 2025/03/12
shelves:
review:
4.5 stars. The author has created an interesting twist to the apocalypse genre by giving us five books before the full event. I look forward to seeing where he can go from here.
]]> <![CDATA[Resistance (Welcome to the Multiverse #4)]]> 212903188
Earth is struggling, but there is hope. The deals that Silas has made have brought resources and trainers to Earth. He's helped some leaders gain an understanding of what they will face.

His team has continued to grow but now he finds himself facing the greatest challenge to any Forerunner, the Wild Hunt. He'll be hunted but also have to hunt other Forerunners while forging a shaky alliance with those he can't trust.

Even more disturbing, it seems like there might be more than one system to choose from? Or is that just a temptation. When his back is to the wall will he choose the devil he knows or the one he has yet to learn about?

Resist the apocalypse. Resist the system. Resist the traitors.]]> 648 Sean Oswald Kat 4 4.5 stars. 4.55 2024 Resistance (Welcome to the Multiverse #4)
author: Sean Oswald
name: Kat
average rating: 4.55
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/09
date added: 2025/03/09
shelves:
review:
4.5 stars.
]]> <![CDATA[Collapse (Welcome to the Multiverse #3)]]> 208997666
Maybe it's not an entirely bad thing though, as mana-infected animals spreading over the world would definitely make everyone more open to the idea of the apocalypse. The question was what was Silas supposed to do about it though.

He still couldn't tell anyone who wasn't inducted about the system. It was time to get creative. If that wasn't enough though he still had the wild hunt hanging over his head. Seven days to go and then he'd be thrown into whatever twisted event the system had cooked up for him. The only good thing was that he had those seven days to train. He might not be the highest leveled of the Forerunners, but his mentor made sure he had the best foundation. He could only grow stronger from here.]]> 590 Sean Oswald Kat 4 4.57 Collapse (Welcome to the Multiverse #3)
author: Sean Oswald
name: Kat
average rating: 4.57
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/07
date added: 2025/03/07
shelves:
review:
I found book 3 a little slower in parts, especially the section training up skills, but still enjoyable overall.
]]> <![CDATA[Countdown (Welcome to the Multiverse #2)]]> 208932372
Silas has made great progress. His power is growing in leaps and bounds, but the enemies he faces are also growing in number.

Countdown continues the same story, adding in some significant growth both for the characters and for their powers. Silas finds a mentor, learns how to cheat the system, gets betrayed, and finds a fifth team member.
]]> 601 Sean Oswald Kat 4 4.48 Countdown (Welcome to the Multiverse #2)
author: Sean Oswald
name: Kat
average rating: 4.48
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/06
date added: 2025/03/06
shelves:
review:
4.5 stars. Compelling ending, which has me eager to start the next book. I do like the MC, who is focused on trying to do the right thing. The author's choice of separate chapters for stats is refreshing and should be considered by other authors.
]]> <![CDATA[Induction (Welcome to the Multiverse #1)]]> 199625904 552 Sean Oswald Kat 4 4.29 2023 Induction (Welcome to the Multiverse #1)
author: Sean Oswald
name: Kat
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/02
date added: 2025/03/02
shelves:
review:
Promising start to this series. As I have experienced with several series in this genre, the first 10% was awkward, but the storyline developed well from that point.
]]> Not What She Seems 203688844 She left home as the local pariah at twenty-two, but when a family tragedy brings her back, she must confront her tortured past—and a new danger in town that no one seems to understand but her.

After years of self-exile, Jacinda “Jac� Brodie is back in Brook Haven, South Carolina. But the small cliffside town no longer feels like home. Jac hasn’t been there since the beloved chief of police fell to his death—and all the whispers said she was to blame.

That chief was Jac’s father.

Racked with guilt, Jac left town with no plans to return. But when her granddad lands in the hospital, she rushes back to her family, bracing herself to confront the past.

Brook Haven feels different now. Wealthy newcomer Faye Arden has transformed the notorious Moor Manor into a quaint country inn. Jac’s convinced something sinister lurks beneath Faye’s perfect exterior, yet the whole town fawns over their charismatic new benefactor. And when Jac discovers one of her granddad’s prized possessions in Faye’s office, she knows she has to be right.

But as Jac continues to dig, she stumbles upon dangerous truths that hit too close to home. With not only her life but also her family’s safety on the line, Jac discovers that maybe some secrets are better left buried.]]> 390 Yasmin Angoe 1662508328 Kat 2 3.76 2024 Not What She Seems
author: Yasmin Angoe
name: Kat
average rating: 3.76
book published: 2024
rating: 2
read at: 2025/02/27
date added: 2025/02/27
shelves:
review:
I despised the mc and her endless ruminating, which dragged out the book. I found virtually no suspense to the book, and at about 75% decided it wasn't worth finishing.
]]> A Sorceress Comes to Call 196600323 A dark retelling of the Brothers Grimm's Goose Girl, rife with secrets, murder, and forbidden magic

Cordelia knows her mother is unusual. Their house doesn’t have any doors between rooms, and her mother doesn't allow Cordelia to have a single friend—unless you count Falada, her mother's beautiful white horse. The only time Cordelia feels truly free is on her daily rides with him. But more than simple eccentricity sets her mother apart. Other mothers don’t force their daughters to be silent and motionless for hours, sometimes days, on end. Other mothers aren’t sorcerers.

After a suspicious death in their small town, Cordelia’s mother insists they leave in the middle of the night, riding away on Falada’s sturdy back, leaving behind all Cordelia has ever known. They arrive at the remote country manor of a wealthy older man, the Squire, and his unwed sister, Hester. Cordelia’s mother intends to lure the Squire into marriage, and Cordelia knows this can only be bad news for the bumbling gentleman and his kind, intelligent sister.

Hester sees the way Cordelia shrinks away from her mother, how the young girl sits eerily still at dinner every night. Hester knows that to save her brother from bewitchment and to rescue the terrified Cordelia, she will have to face down a wicked witch of the worst kind.]]> 336 T. Kingfisher 1250244056 Kat 4 4.23 2024 A Sorceress Comes to Call
author: T. Kingfisher
name: Kat
average rating: 4.23
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/26
date added: 2025/02/26
shelves:
review:
Refreshing fairy tale retelling.
]]> <![CDATA[Halfling (Monstrous World, #1)]]> 192468283
Resigned to a thankless place in the shadows, Orek ekes out a living on the fringes of the clan, just waiting for an opportunity. But what he finds instead one cold autumn night could ruin everything he’s worked so hard to gain—a human woman, captured just as his mother was so many years ago. The choice to protect her from the clan isn’t a choice at all, but what will protect him and his lonely heart from her? A life about to begin, usurped by fate� Sorcha has spent her life helping raise her many siblings, but now finally has the chance to seek her own adventures. At least, she did, before she was snatched from her horse and peddled by slavers. Taken far from home, she’s brought to the worst place imaginable—the craggy western mountains infested with brutal, brutish orcs. All humans know to fear them and stay away, and now she’s been sold to the cruelest clan-chief of them all. But the first orc she meets is nothing like the stories. He’s gentle. He frees her.

Nothing is what it seems as they lose themselves in the forest, hunted by trackers and slavers. Out of her depth, Sorcha has no choice but to rely on the mysterious halfling who saved her—but she’s been betrayed already and cannot afford to trust him. Even if, little by little, the quiet male reveals himself to be everything she could ever want.

A human and a halfling, lives ripped apart, brought together by coincidence or fate. Running for their lives, they may find the most dangerous place is together�

Fans of Finnley Fenn, SJM, Grace Draven, and Ruby Dixon will love this fluffy, steamy monster romance fantasy road trip story! Mature content intended for readers 18+]]> 465 S.E. Wendel Kat 4 3.97 2023 Halfling (Monstrous World, #1)
author: S.E. Wendel
name: Kat
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/25
date added: 2025/02/25
shelves:
review:
3.8 stars. Nice romance, but a little over long.
]]> Into the Fall 210481961 From debut author Tamara L. Miller comes a suspenseful psychological thriller tracking the mysteries of a seemingly mundane life as they come to light in the vast, unforgiving Canadian wilderness.

For better or for worse, Sarah Anderson has it a thriving career, a nice home in Ottawa, two young kids…and a marriage coming apart at the seams.

Then her husband, Matthew, vanishes without a trace during a family vacation up north. Sarah and her children are nearly lost among the slumbering lakes, treacherous cliffs, and brooding forests of the Canadian Shield. A glacier-scraped realm of ancient beauty and terror, it’s a world away from the safety of the suburbs. And a big storm is brewing.

A kind rural lawman comes to their aid and takes an interest in the case. The trail goes cold, however, launching Sarah into a yearlong odyssey to find her husband. On the way, she must reconnect with her estranged sister and duck the suspicions of a slick city police officer. But łŮłó˛ąłŮ’s nothing compared to unearthing the dark secrets buried deep in the granite of her marriage—and in herself.]]> 253 Tamara L. Miller 1662524056 Kat 3 3.77 2025 Into the Fall
author: Tamara L. Miller
name: Kat
average rating: 3.77
book published: 2025
rating: 3
read at: 2025/02/22
date added: 2025/02/22
shelves:
review:
Interesting plot but not a thriller. I was somewhat underwhelmed by the ending.
]]> <![CDATA[The Six Deaths of the Saint (Into Shadow, #3)]]> 62991463
Always mindful of the debt she owes, the girl finds her worth as a weapon in the hand of the Prince. Her victories make him a king, then an emperor. The bards sing her name and her enemies fear it. But the war never ends and the cost keeps rising—how many times will she repeat her own story?]]> 31 Alix E. Harrow 166250957X Kat 4 4.32 2022 The Six Deaths of the Saint (Into Shadow, #3)
author: Alix E. Harrow
name: Kat
average rating: 4.32
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/21
date added: 2025/02/21
shelves:
review:
Thought provoking short story.
]]> Bride (Bride, #1) 181344829 A dangerous alliance between a Vampyre bride and an Alpha Werewolf becomes a love deep enough to sink your teeth into in this new paranormal romance.

Misery Lark, the only daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest, is an outcast—again. Her days of living in anonymity among the Humans are over: she has been called upon to uphold a historic peacekeeping alliance between the Vampyres and their mortal enemies, the Weres, and she sees little choice but to surrender herself in the exchange—again...

Weres are ruthless and unpredictable, and their Alpha, Lowe Moreland, is no exception. He rules his pack with absolute authority, but not without justice. And, unlike the Vampyre Council, not without feeling. It’s clear from the way he tracks Misery’s every movement that he doesn’t trust her. If only he knew how right he was�.

Because Misery has her own reasons to agree to this marriage of convenience, reasons that have nothing to do with politics or alliances, and everything to do with the only thing she's ever cared about. And she is willing to do whatever it takes to get back what’s hers, even if it means a life alone in Were territory…alone with the wolf.]]> 410 Ali Hazelwood Kat 4 3.98 2024 Bride (Bride, #1)
author: Ali Hazelwood
name: Kat
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/20
date added: 2025/02/20
shelves:
review:
I found this a surprisingly enjoyable read as I don't typically prefer vampire romances.
]]> <![CDATA[Bad to the Throne (The Good Guys #15)]]> 142152033
In the blockbuster crossover event of the year, two legendary heroes collide in Eric Ugland's most ambitious novel yet� Bad to the Throne.

Montana, the lovable lunk with a heart of gold, thought he'd seen it all. Monsters, magic, and more near-death (and actual death) experiences than he can count. But after taking down an entire army single-handedly in order to save his dukedom, Montana realizes might actually be in over his head this time.

Enter Clyde � snarky, savvy, and surprisingly principled. These two unlikely allies must join forces, combining Montana's brawn with Clyde's brains to outmaneuver a fanatical sect bent on world destruction.

From glittering high-society balls to grimy cavern crawls, our heroes navigate a treacherous landscape of political intrigue and occult rituals. Listen in as they compare notes on adjusting from average Joes to world-saving champions, all while racing to keep a lunatic from ascending the throne.

These two will need every skill they've honed in their new lives � and every lesson learned from their old ones—to prevent an apocalypse.

Two series. Two heroes. One earth-shattering tale. Bad to the Throne is the LitRPG event you can't afford to miss.]]> 580 Eric Ugland Kat 3 4.54 2024 Bad to the Throne (The Good Guys #15)
author: Eric Ugland
name: Kat
average rating: 4.54
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2025/02/18
date added: 2025/02/18
shelves:
review:
I found this book to be too much politics, too many secret societies, and generally just too much distance from Coggeshall. I am not clear if I will read onward when the next book comes out.
]]> <![CDATA[Of Slicing Men (The Good Guys, #14)]]> 60795511
Yeah. That might’ve been a little bit hasty.

Our hirsute hero really stepped in it. Like, is on the verge of losing his dukedom and everything he’s worked for stepped in it.

The only way out? A little-known technicality that stops Senate proceedings and sends Montana off on what’s most likely an insurmountable quest. One where odds are good that he’ll either die without a respawn or accidentally commit treason against the Empire.

Neat.

Can Montana stop the Dark Queen’s army on his own and hold the line for Glaton? Will he do enough to save Coggeshall from the aristocratic vultures circling? And will he finally find the sword of the gods he lost on his very first day in Vuldranni?

Of Slicing Men is The Good Guys at its finest: gory battles, surprise tactics, and unexpected heroes. Come for the long-term campaign play and rich character progression. Stay for the stupid banter and crazed, demonic inch worms.]]> 438 Eric Ugland Kat 4 4.54 2023 Of Slicing Men (The Good Guys, #14)
author: Eric Ugland
name: Kat
average rating: 4.54
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/14
date added: 2025/02/14
shelves:
review:
I am happy with the MC befriending all creatures, but the earworm is a little bit over the top for me. Overall, I did enjoy this book as the MC did accomplish his quest with only smaller side trips along the way.
]]> <![CDATA[Flex in the City (The Good Guys, #13)]]> 58668462
Well, a regular, overpowered, god-defeating guy who maybe just learned his hair is in all the wrong places.

But the big city is calling, and in order to succeed there, Montana must actually prove himself a deserving duke.

If Glaton finds him lacking, Coggeshall could be forced into even further isolation.

But if Glaton falls in love with him, the regular guy from Motor City could end up with limitless power, in charge of it all.

And just like that, the fate of the entire Empire is in Montana’s hands.]]> 407 Eric Ugland Kat 4 4.42 2022 Flex in the City (The Good Guys, #13)
author: Eric Ugland
name: Kat
average rating: 4.42
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/13
date added: 2025/02/13
shelves:
review:
4.25 stars. I found this book to be back on track with the storyline and, thankfully, worth continuing with the series. I would still like to see the MC smarten up a little and not do something as clueless as going out without a weapon in a strange city. I would also love to see him finally reset his spawn point as the people he reportedly cares so much for could be destroyed with him stuck on the other side of the world.
]]> <![CDATA[Wild Wild Quest (The Good Guys #12)]]> 57905103 Wild Wild Quest is rabble rousin' LitRPG like you've never read before. For fans of genre-twisting plots full of mind-bending battles.]]> 426 Eric Ugland Kat 2 4.39 2021 Wild Wild Quest (The Good Guys #12)
author: Eric Ugland
name: Kat
average rating: 4.39
book published: 2021
rating: 2
read at: 2025/02/12
date added: 2025/02/12
shelves:
review:
Totally worthless side quest that was tedious and did not advance the MC or the storyline in any way. I had already purchased the next book, or I might very well stop at this point.
]]> <![CDATA[Killing Them Awfully (The Good Guys, #11)]]> 57219218 He’s tried to ignore them for too long.

But the long-simmering conflict between Montana’s holding at Coggeshall and the Night Goblins who also occupy the valley is about to boil over.

Usually, goblins aren’t anything to write home about: an enemy without much size, intellect, or weaponry. But these goblins? Well, łŮłó˛ąłŮ’s just not the case.

These are goblins with limitless resources, never-before-seen tactics, and horrifying monsters at their disposal. Worst of all, they don’t fear death in the slightest.

They just might force a good guy to become what he has always struggled to defeat.

Killing Them Awfully is chaotic warfare, nonstop battles, and more monsters with digestive issues than totally necessary. Ready? Let’s go to war!]]> 388 Eric Ugland Kat 4 4.38 2021 Killing Them Awfully (The Good Guys, #11)
author: Eric Ugland
name: Kat
average rating: 4.38
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/11
date added: 2025/02/11
shelves:
review:
More long-winded battle scenes, which are not my favorite part of this genre. I also am somewhat frustrated with the MC's intelligence level as it seems that by this point, he should be more able to stay focused and remember something as important as moving spawn point.
]]> <![CDATA[Eat, Slay, Love (The Good Guys, #10)]]> 53847161 An endless night, full of hungry shadows.

The most dangerous night of the year is upon Coggeshall. Fiends� Night, when the boundary between Vuldranni and hell is the weakest.

And so hell comes out to play.

To survive the night, Montana must put his entire holding on lockdown, and turn hastily made cave apartments into an actual, inviting home for thousands of Coggeshall residents. Most of whom don’t really know or like each other. And all of whom have different ideas of what needs to be done on Fiends� Night.

So, intent on becoming the duke his people deserve, Montana spends the night flitting about Imperial balls, handing out gifts to children, squeezing through kobold tunnels, and building with the dwarves. It’s his hand-shaking, baby-kissing time to shine.

Oh, except that The Master he just took care of in Osterstadt? That was the wrong one.

The real Master is hiding in Coggeshall, and Montana has to catch him before the entire holding becomes his dinner.

Eat, Slay, Love is high-drama, fast-paced LitRPG at its finest. Pick up this page-turner today for palace intrigue, deals with the devil, and yes, even a little romance.]]> 428 Eric Ugland Kat 4 4.41 2021 Eat, Slay, Love (The Good Guys, #10)
author: Eric Ugland
name: Kat
average rating: 4.41
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/10
date added: 2025/02/10
shelves:
review:
4.25 stars. I found it difficult to be sad regarding the death of Nicolai as he was such an unlikable character. But I would really like to see Montana develop some ongoing meaningful relationships with more fully fleshed out characters. Currently, all relationships are very superficial.
]]> <![CDATA[Four Beheadings and a Funeral (The Good Guys, #9)]]> 53001251
Possible zombie sightings aside, he’s finally ready to take his job as Duke seriously. And just in time too -- not only are the politics of the capital rapidly closing in on Montana’s little valley holding but there are also goblins to negotiate with. Plus, that cult threatening to take the lives of his citizens. Montana will have to pull off the impossible -- walk amongst the highest levels of Vuldranni society to influence world politics, and slaughter a few goblins in the process.]]> 397 Eric Ugland Kat 4 4.46 2020 Four Beheadings and a Funeral (The Good Guys, #9)
author: Eric Ugland
name: Kat
average rating: 4.46
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/09
date added: 2025/02/09
shelves:
review:
Osterstadt is not my favorite story arc, so I was originally happy to think that quest was completed and disappointed to find that wasn't the case. Nevertheless, I am still enjoying the series.
]]> <![CDATA[Eastbound and Town (The Good Guys, #8)]]> 49208805
Far from home.

All alone.

Up until now, Montana’s journey really only went one direction: up. But now he’s back at square one, stuck on top of a mountain with only the most basic gear to help get him back to Coggeshall. It’s going to be a loooong walk.

But not a boring one.

In one of LitRPG’s most legendary medieval fantasy road trips (and also possibly the only one), Montana encounters a pack of just-this-side-of-feral wolf people; a town straight out of the Wild West - complete with heavy-handed sheriff; a lion desperately trying to take down a colossal fish monster; ancient cursed ruins; and a giant flying frog.

Eastbound & Town is an epic story full of combat, loot, and achievements. You better believe Montana is loaded up and truckin,� and gonna do what they say can’t be done.]]> 364 Eric Ugland Kat 4 4.41 2020 Eastbound and Town (The Good Guys, #8)
author: Eric Ugland
name: Kat
average rating: 4.41
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/08
date added: 2025/02/08
shelves:
review:
4.25 stars. Frustrated by the dropped storyline of the egg that he was supposed to be tending. But otherwise entertaining.
]]> <![CDATA[The Bare Hunt (The Good Guys, #7)]]> 48548796
Montana handelt aus reinem Instinkt und mit einer gesunden Portion Wut im Bauch. Er wird ausgeplündert und findet sich bald ohne Nahrung, Vorräte, einer wichtigen magischen Waffe und sogar ohne seine treuesten Freunde wieder. Trotzdem macht er weiter.

Montana Coggeshall ist auf der Jagd.]]> 386 Eric Ugland Kat 4 4.37 2019 The Bare Hunt (The Good Guys, #7)
author: Eric Ugland
name: Kat
average rating: 4.37
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/07
date added: 2025/02/07
shelves:
review:
I found this book much more rambling than the previous ones, but still good enough to continue on.
]]> <![CDATA[Home, Siege Home (The Good Guys, #6)]]> 44863370 370 Eric Ugland Kat 4 4.39 2019 Home, Siege Home (The Good Guys, #6)
author: Eric Ugland
name: Kat
average rating: 4.39
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/07
date added: 2025/02/07
shelves:
review:
4.25 stars. I found book 6 to drag more than previous entries, perhaps because of the seige. I was also disappointed to lose one of the council members. I would prefer to see the MC develop ongoing relationships, but other than Nicolai, that is mostly absent.
]]> <![CDATA[Dukes and Ladders (The Good Guys, #5)]]> 43892997 340 Eric Ugland Kat 4 4.40 2019 Dukes and Ladders (The Good Guys, #5)
author: Eric Ugland
name: Kat
average rating: 4.40
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/06
date added: 2025/02/06
shelves:
review:
4.5 stars. I continue to enjoy this series.
]]> <![CDATA[Four: The Loot (The Good Guys, #4)]]> 43237114
Well, and some lumber. And nails and whatnot. And enough food to get through the winter. And probably some more gold.

All Montana needs before he can leave Osterstadt are some friends, some building materials, food, and money.

But he did promise to retrieve some magic texts from a cemetery for Emmeline. And he really should try to help the lost little boy who keeps following him around. And all the undead in that basement crypt aren’t going to re-kill themselves.

Maybe Montana’s taken on a few too many side quests.]]> 276 Eric Ugland Kat 4 4.40 2019 Four: The Loot (The Good Guys, #4)
author: Eric Ugland
name: Kat
average rating: 4.40
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/05
date added: 2025/02/05
shelves:
review:
4.5 stars. My only real complaint for this series is that the books are perhaps too short, and I am constantly needing to buy the next book.
]]> <![CDATA[Dungeon Mauling (The Good Guys, #3)]]> 48548880
Montana hat nur eine Möglichkeit, sein Ziel, ein Herzogtum zu gründen, tatsächlich zu erreichen: Er muss Nikolai aus dem Gefängnis befreien.

Einem Gefängnis, aus dem noch nie jemand lebend entkommen ist.

Einem Gefängnis, dessen einziger Ausgang kaum mehr als ein Gerücht ist und wahrscheinlich nicht einmal existiert - durch einen empfindungsfähigen Dungeon, der darauf versessen ist, Schmerzen zu verursachen und den ultimativen Preis zu fordern: das Leben.

Montana und seine Hirðmänner sind auf ihre letzte Chance angewiesen. Also lassen sie sich verhaften und kommen ins Gefängnis von Osterstadt. Können die Guten Jungs Gutes tun, indem sie böse werden?]]> 309 Eric Ugland Kat 4 4.5 stars. Fast paced series. 4.54 2018 Dungeon Mauling (The Good Guys, #3)
author: Eric Ugland
name: Kat
average rating: 4.54
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/04
date added: 2025/02/04
shelves:
review:
4.5 stars. Fast paced series.
]]> <![CDATA[Heir Today, Pawn Tomorrow (The Good Guys, #2)]]> 48548870

Heir Today, Pawn Tomorrow is a heart-pounding adventure through uncharted territory. Montana and the party must cross WarWaters, a lake that offers everything but a pleasure cruise, and then race through a dense, forbidden forest full of hungry beasts, unfriendly races, and a few cocky nobles. If you’re ready for an epic quest full of hellbeasts, ghost royals, and wyrm guts, this is the book for you.


Dive into The Good Guys book 2 today!]]> 254 Eric Ugland Kat 4 4.54 2018 Heir Today, Pawn Tomorrow (The Good Guys, #2)
author: Eric Ugland
name: Kat
average rating: 4.54
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/04
date added: 2025/02/04
shelves:
review:
4.5 stars. Thus far, this series is a fast engaging read.
]]> <![CDATA[One More Last Time (The Good Guys, #1)]]> 48548779 Er dachte, es sei das Ende, und seine Waffe war bereit, um dies sicherzustellen.

Aber ein merkwürdiges Angebot seines einzigen Freundes kommt in buchstäblich letzter Sekunde. Die Neugier holt ihn ein, und er findet sich in iNcarn8 wieder, ein Spiel, das behauptet, ein ganz neues Leben zu sein. Als Montana, der überlebensgroße Krieger, hat er nun noch ein letztes Mal Gelegenheit, sein Leben in Ordnung zu bringen.]]> 300 Eric Ugland Kat 4 4.50 2018 One More Last Time (The Good Guys, #1)
author: Eric Ugland
name: Kat
average rating: 4.50
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/03
date added: 2025/02/03
shelves:
review:
4.5 stars. Encouraging start to this new to me series. Nice balance of some humor with action.
]]> <![CDATA[Judicator Jane 4 (Judicator Jane #4)]]> 221437320 The invasion of Arcadia begins now.On the brink of war, Jane returns with her allies to the wastelands, preparing her demonic legions for the inevitable clash with Arcadia.

But war is never simple. Every decision carries weight, and one wrong move could unleash unimaginable destruction upon the human realm. With each level she gains, Jane's powers grow more devastating—can she control them before it’s too late?

Arcadia’s political landscape is ready to ignite, and unrest in the lands of the Sons of Unity hints at a brewing storm. It's only a matter of time before this conflict consumes everyone Jane holds dear.

Can Jane’s pacifistic nature endure the harsh realities of war? As her sense of responsibility deepens, she faces a harsh to save them, she must lead them.



About the Judicator Jane is an isekai (portal fantasy) LitRPG set in an expansive universe rich with history. The forces of good and evil stand at the precipice of apocalypse. Will Jane find the answers she seeks? Or will the unforgiving world, harsh trials, and the burden of carrying a horrific power corrupt her innocent spirit?]]> 408 Brian Rouleau Kat 4 4.43 Judicator Jane 4 (Judicator Jane #4)
author: Brian Rouleau
name: Kat
average rating: 4.43
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/02
date added: 2025/02/03
shelves:
review:
I found this book less interesting than book 3. It didn't really advance the storyline substantially. Perhaps the goal was to move Jane and Pogg into the same area for a legendary confrontation, but if so, it could have happened much more expeditiously. Now, as with the cliffhanger ending and no next book in pre-order yet, I am left frustrated.
]]> <![CDATA[Judicator Jane 3 (Judicator Jane #3)]]> 209610986 No human has ever returned from the depths of the northern forests.

Jane and her allies flee the aftermath of the harrowing events in the capital. Seeking refuge amidst the Great Woods to the north, rumored to have once been inhabited by the elves, she embarks on a perilous journey.

Yet, terrors lie cloaked in darkness amongst the shadows of this forbidden realm. Jane must fight for survival, defending herself and her companions. Will she uncover the secrets of the System that plague her thoughts? Or will the dangers lurking within conquer her, echoing the fate of those who came before her?

Meanwhile, across the political landscape of Arcadia, the repercussions of Jane's actions begin to unfold. Amidst the storms of change, all that Jane holds dear teeters on the brink of destruction.

Can Jane survive the consequences of her choices? As her powers continue to increase, a foreboding destiny unfurls, casting an ominous shadow over her path.

About the Judicator Jane is an isekai (portal fantasy) LitRPG set in an expansive universe rich with history. The forces of good and evil stand at the precipice of apocalypse. Will Jane find the answers she seeks? Or will the unforgiving world, harsh trials, and the burden of carrying a horrific power corrupt her innocent spirit?]]> 454 Brian Rouleau Kat 4 4.61 2024 Judicator Jane 3 (Judicator Jane #3)
author: Brian Rouleau
name: Kat
average rating: 4.61
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/01
date added: 2025/02/01
shelves:
review:
4.25 stars. Focused and forward moving.Much less drag than book 2.
]]> <![CDATA[Judicator Jane 2 (Judicator Jane #2)]]> 198333883 As Jane uncovers Alur's secrets, she learns a terrible truth.


After the monumental events in the Wastelands Jane now leaves on a mission to discover who built the enigmatic System and why it brought her to Alur. On top of that, she needs to take care of the demonic horde she is now responsible for, along with helping any others she can along the way.


But there is an insidious evil here, festering in the most unexpected of places. Can she unravel the mystery in time? Or will the lure for power pull her down a path of darkness?


Ancient forces, deadly monsters, intricate politics, and awkward social situations. Jane must navigate them all in this new world while grappling with her ominously evolving Judicator class.


Can Jane make the right choices? But with unbridled power, does she even need to?


About the Judicator Jane is an isekai (portal fantasy) LitRPG set in an expansive universe rich with history. The forces of good and evil stand at the precipice of apocalypse. Will Jane find the answers she seeks? Or will the unforgiving world, harsh trials, and the burden of carrying a horrific power corrupt her innocent spirit?

]]> 390 Brian Rouleau Kat 4 4.56 2024 Judicator Jane 2 (Judicator Jane #2)
author: Brian Rouleau
name: Kat
average rating: 4.56
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/31
date added: 2025/01/31
shelves:
review:
I was not encouraged by the direction that the author took with the first 80% of book 2, but I did find the ending more interesting and will probably continue to book 3. I would love to see Jane's character filled out a little more with real interactions with other ongoing characters.
]]> <![CDATA[Judicator Jane (Judicator Jane #1)]]> 200515666 Could you survive waking up alone in a vast and deadly desert?

Moments ago, Jane's biggest worries were unpaid bills and finding a job. Now, she must use all her cunning, along with her new, mysterious powers, to survive the desolate and scorching sands.

No food. No water. No answers.

Jane's battle for survival in this unfamiliar land has just begun...

Hunted by the savage beasts of the desert, it's only a matter of time before Jane either adapts to the world around her or ends up as another skeleton rotting in the blistering sun. But what chance does a modern woman have in the endless dunes, dressed only in her pajamas?

About the series: Judicator Jane is an isekai (portal fantasy) LitRPG set in an expansive universe rich with history. The forces of good and evil stand at the precipice of apocalypse. Will Jane find the answers she seeks? Or will the unforgiving world, harsh trials, and the burden of carrying a horrific power corrupt her innocent spirit?]]> 396 Brian Rouleau Kat 4 4.29 2023 Judicator Jane (Judicator Jane #1)
author: Brian Rouleau
name: Kat
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/30
date added: 2025/01/30
shelves:
review:
Jane is a very different main character for a litrpg novel,as her focus is completely altruistic to all parties involved. I found this a refreshing change, although not what I might want for every series.
]]> <![CDATA[System Reborn Vol 1 (Apocalypse Reincarnation #1)]]> 175040829 System Reborn: A LitRPG Adventure
Ten years ago, deep within a rift, a choice was granted.
Defeat the Demon King and end the apocalypse.
Or take his power for themselves and keep the rifts open.
Sloan chose an ending.

His party turned against him. They killed him.
They split his legacy and belongings amongst themselves.
They hid the truth. They profited.
Those heroes who betrayed the world.

Now he’s back.
Reborn. Reincarnated in a world where the system is life.
Reborn in a world of rift breaks and monsters spawning while so called heroes control sectors like overlords.

Rank by rank he’ll climb�.
To take back what was stolen from him.
His life.

So, you want to know more? This is the story of a man out of time, appearing ten years after his death within a rift. Armed with a cheat skill, he’ll grow stronger and stronger as a Spellblade and summoner. Mixing post-apocalypse with magical realism and LitRPG flair, System Reborn is an easy LitRPG Adventure to pick up while waiting for the next big release]]> 338 Kaz Hunter Kat 3 4.24 2022 System Reborn Vol 1 (Apocalypse Reincarnation #1)
author: Kaz Hunter
name: Kat
average rating: 4.24
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2025/01/29
date added: 2025/01/29
shelves:
review:
I was hopeful about the premise for this series. Unfortunately, it was almost immediately clear that the MC was not really starting over. He was granted amazing stats from the beginning, leading him to overpower most of the locals without much effort. I will not be continuing the series.
]]> <![CDATA[Shareholder: A LitRPG Adventure (Tower of Somnus Book 4)]]> 210449413 Kat achieved what she wanted. It put a target on her back. She can only hope to dodge the bullet.

Kat paid for her position with blood. Hers, and from those who stood in her way. Now, she has finally climbed to a spot where she has real power; she can improve things the way she thinks is necessary. But power isn't as simple as she thought it would be. It comes with complications and obligations that stop her from taking action and enemies that don't like to share their authority.

While Kat may be one of the strongest humans alive, physical and magical strength hasn't prepared her to deal with the politics and backstabbing that can end her life just as quickly as a knife in a back alley. With the tables turned, she has to fend off the same tactics she used to get into her infiltrators and samurai are gunning for Kat on the orders of her political rivals.

In a race against time, Kat must unmask her enemies before her friends and family pay the blood price.]]> 440 Cale Plamann 163766253X Kat 4 4.40 Shareholder: A LitRPG Adventure (Tower of Somnus Book 4)
author: Cale Plamann
name: Kat
average rating: 4.40
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/29
date added: 2025/01/29
shelves:
review:
This series continues its ups and downs for me. I was quite focused on the Tower quest to mature Kat's companion, but less so in the endless machinations of the forces in her real life. I was also frustrated that this has turned into yet another litrpg series with a female lead romantically involved with another female. If this were one of the side characters, it would be fine, but I find it more difficult to relate to when it's the main character.
]]> Starfall (Tower of Somnus #3) 61929507 Conspiratorial conflicts boiling over. Allies pushed into the mix. The stars are spilling war onto Earth.

Kat revealed the Stallesp plot: the aliens never meant to abide by rules laid down by the Galactic Consensus, instead choosing to ask forgiveness rather than permission for interfering with Earth and its corporations. Now she is fighting a lonely war against the invasion as she tries to buy enough time for help to arrive.

Her allies are gone or preoccupied, forcing her and the few friends she’s made to try and root out the invaders without formal support. As her investigation heats up, revealing a situation worse than Kat ever could have expected, she needs to confront an unpleasant fact: not all of humanity's enemies are aliens.

Now Kat is racing against time, both in and out of the tower. Despite her skills, magic, and allies, her best may not be enough.]]> 478 Cale Plamann 1637661274 Kat 4 4.33 2022 Starfall (Tower of Somnus #3)
author: Cale Plamann
name: Kat
average rating: 4.33
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/28
date added: 2025/01/28
shelves:
review:
3.75 stars. Too much large-scale fighting for my preference. I am hoping that the next book will return to smaller Tower fights.
]]> <![CDATA[Chiwaukee Nights (Tower of Somnus #2)]]> 61623409 Success is more treacherous than failure, bringing dangerous attention, and potentially unbeatable foes.

Kat beat the bad guys and scored a pile of credits deep enough for her to fill a kiddy pool and go swimming in it. What she didn’t expect was for the mastermind of her plight to survive, as well as do her a favor: she removed her from the Arcology, and enrolled her in the GroCorp corporate college. She knows the Arcology, but this is a chance to earn enough credits to set her family up for life.

But people are disappearing, and betrayal lurks around every corner. Kat is out of her depth, and everyone is playing for keeps. Only by relying on every erg of power she’s managed to scavenge from the Tower of Somnus does Kat even begin to stand a chance.

What if the power she earns comes at a price that isn’t hers to pay?]]> 489 Cale Plamann 163766110X Kat 4 4.38 2022 Chiwaukee Nights (Tower of Somnus #2)
author: Cale Plamann
name: Kat
average rating: 4.38
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/26
date added: 2025/01/26
shelves:
review:
4.25 stars. I found the transition between the tower and time in the "real world "to be much smoother in this book.
]]> <![CDATA[Foundations (Tower of Somnus #1)]]> 61400806 First contact gone wrong. Humanity judged and found wanting. Unlimited power up for grab.

The Galactic Consensus arrived on ships as large as skyscrapers, crafted from glittering alloys that no human scientist could even begin to understand. They followed the trail of century old television transmissions to welcome us into the galactic community� only to recoil in horror at what they found.

They concluded that humans were unfit to be trusted with the advanced technologies that member-states of the Consensus freely traded with each other, installing a relay to warn other ships that we were under embargo, but more importantly, allowing humans entrance into the Tower of Somnus, a multiplayer game of sorts that could be played in one’s sleep. The hope was that humanity would learn proper behavior from playing the game with our more civilized neighbors.

Katherine â€Katâ€� Debs, a hereditary employee of one of the megacorporations that ruled the world, eked out a meager existence in a massive arcology of glittering glass and chrome. She dreamt of one day earning enough money to buy her freedom, and was more than willing to break a law here or there in the process. When she is offered an opportunity to enter the Tower of Somnus free of corporate control, she jumps at the chance. After all, the 'game' was more than just a status symbol, players retained the fantastic powers they earned in the game in the waking world as well.

A perfect opportunity to take control of her destiny, or die trying.]]> 463 Cale Plamann 1637661053 Kat 4 4.32 2022 Foundations (Tower of Somnus #1)
author: Cale Plamann
name: Kat
average rating: 4.32
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/25
date added: 2025/01/25
shelves:
review:
This series opener diverged from my recent experience of needing to get past the first 25% to be interesting. I was involved in the story almost from the beginning. Although I was less thrilled with the last 20%, mostly because much of it occurred in the "real world " not in the tower.
]]> <![CDATA[Home Sweet Home (Jake's Magical Market #3)]]> 204307233
No, I'm not putting any spoilers here yet. You need to finish book two first - I'll update the blurb after people have a chance to read that book first!

But it's gonna be epic!]]> 1166 J.R. Mathews Kat 4 4.52 2024 Home Sweet Home (Jake's Magical Market #3)
author: J.R. Mathews
name: Kat
average rating: 4.52
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/23
date added: 2025/01/23
shelves:
review:
This book returned to the MC being all over the place. At times throughout the series, I felt that the author got tired of a story arc and just powered through to the next part. With that being said, I enjoyed the series overall and was happy with the conclusion.
]]> <![CDATA[A Trek Through Time (Jake's Magical Market #2)]]> 203414856
Well, not quite yet. First, Jake has to survive a perilous trek through time if he ever hopes to return home to his friends, his market, and his former world.

The last time we saw our intrepid hero, Jake had barely managed to escape being trapped on a dead version of his own world. Using a combination of his new powers, he threw himself backward through time, back to when the god that trapped him first rose to power. There, Jake snatched divinity from the hands of the ascending god, consuming it for himself without any regard for the consequences of his actions.

In a surprise twist, such a poorly thought-out plan came with some serious downsides!

Now Jake has a big target painted on his back. The jealous gods of this world are hungry for divine power and not afraid to kill another god to get it. Stuck in the past, Jake must learn to navigate a world full of desperate gods, wild monsters, bizarre powers, and weird “cultivating� mortals who claim they can become just as powerful as the gods themselves—as long as they get to sit around contemplating the mysteries of the universe for a few hundred years first.

Join Jake on his next grand adventure as he learns what it means to be a newly ascended divinity, how to survive in such a strange new world, and how he might just have an unexpected edge on everyone and everything łŮłó˛ąłŮ’s out to get him—by learning how to craft his own magical cards!


**With 4.7-stars and over 11,000 reviews on Amazon/Audible, this sequel is a must-read for fans of Gamelit novels, wild adventures, and stories about regular people traveling to strange new worlds. Also, stay tuned for the third book in the series, which is gonna be even bigger, crazier, and full of even more magical cards. And it’s coming out in just a couple of months!**]]> 676 J.R. Mathews Kat 4 4.35 2024 A Trek Through Time (Jake's Magical Market #2)
author: J.R. Mathews
name: Kat
average rating: 4.35
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/20
date added: 2025/01/20
shelves:
review:
3.75 stars. This book was much more detailed than the first. Instead of flying through multiple ordeals, the MC was essentially dealing with one quest. Unfortunately for me, I found the focus a little less interesting than some of the quests from the first book. I will continue to book 3
]]> <![CDATA[Jake's Magical Market (Jake's Magical Market #1)]]> 221074791 Meddling gods. A magical card system. An apocalypse no one could have predicted.

Jake is working at the neighborhood market under his apartment when the world ends. He expected nuclear war, a computer virus, or even climate change burning everyone to a crisp to bring about the downfall of civilization. But cruel and arbitrary gods from another world? Who would have guessed that?

When these cruel gods shuffled Earth like a deck of cards, nothing was in the same place anymore. Monsters, dungeons, and magical items appear scattered across the globe. And suddenly, everyone has access to a new, strange magical card system that gives them magical powers.

Jake, wasting his day slacking off in the cooler, as he usually did, found himself alone in a completely new and very dangerous world. Can he learn to survive? Can he collect enough cards and create a good enough deck to fight back against the monsters that have overtaken his former home? And why are these strange people that look a lot like elves knocking on the door of the market he is hiding in and asking to buy some of his goods?

The gods may have stacked the deck against him, but Jake just might have a few cards up his sleeve that will help him survive.]]> 773 J.R. Mathews Kat 4 4.15 2021 Jake's Magical Market (Jake's Magical Market #1)
author: J.R. Mathews
name: Kat
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/19
date added: 2025/01/19
shelves:
review:
This book was incredibly filled with content and plot twists. Just when you thought the MC might attain his goal, another twist came about to divert him. Typically, that is what keeps novels from being boring and too predictable. However, in this case, the new problems were such that each could have been another book in the series. The MC advanced to way beyond the typical litrpg hero at the end of book 1. That being said, I was compelled to read through each new dilemma and will definitely go on to book 2 with hopes that he won't be so overpowered for it to be unenjoyable.
]]> <![CDATA[A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon (Glimmer Falls, #1)]]> 61601243 395 Sarah Hawley 0593547934 Kat 3 3.74 2023 A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon (Glimmer Falls, #1)
author: Sarah Hawley
name: Kat
average rating: 3.74
book published: 2023
rating: 3
read at: 2025/01/17
date added: 2025/01/17
shelves:
review:
Well written rom-com, but not the genre for me.
]]> <![CDATA[The War of the Noobs (Noobtown, #8)]]> 220710986 623 Ryan Rimmel Kat 3 4.20 2024 The War of the Noobs (Noobtown, #8)
author: Ryan Rimmel
name: Kat
average rating: 4.20
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2025/01/17
date added: 2025/01/17
shelves:
review:
I have reached the end of this series for me. In earlier books, I enjoyed the humor, but I found this book to be too over the top. I was excited for Jim to finally rescue Jarra, but then the reality was quite anticlimactic, and the author gave her little focus in the rest of the book. The ending was frustrating and disappointing, especially as it was clear the series would continue.
]]> <![CDATA[Nova Terra: Kingbreaker (The Titan, #3)]]> 49519266
Under the continent of Angoril an ancient race stirs. Courdum the Stone King has woken and desires to reforge his empire. The evil mage gathers his cursed brethren and the Stone Legion is on the march.]]> 404 Seth Ring Kat 4 4.46 2019 Nova Terra: Kingbreaker (The Titan, #3)
author: Seth Ring
name: Kat
average rating: 4.46
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/15
date added: 2025/01/15
shelves:
review:
The series continues to be interesting, but personally, I prefer when the MC is living in a real world or a game world that has become the only option due to some catastrophic world event.
]]> <![CDATA[Nova Terra: Greymane (The Titan, #2)]]> 44440063 348 Seth Ring Kat 4 4.44 2019 Nova Terra: Greymane (The Titan, #2)
author: Seth Ring
name: Kat
average rating: 4.44
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/12
date added: 2025/01/12
shelves:
review:
I am enjoying this series but was less than thrilled for the MC to reach out for assistance from his guardian. He stated a desire to succeed on his own merits but instead relied upon his real world inherited wealth and resources.
]]> <![CDATA[Nova Terra: Titan (The Titan, #1)]]> 43097346 A new world to explore.

Trapped in his own body by a debilitating medical condition, Thorn seeks reprieve from his giant-sized problems through full immersion into the game world of Nova Terra.

Adventure alongside Thorn as he discovers allies, enemies, ancient evil, and a forgotten god that sets him on a crash course with one of the most powerful guilds in the game. In order to adjust to a life of quests, skill mastery, and magic, Thorn will have to forget everything he knows and embrace this new world as he learns to deal with a new body, new friends, and a new world that is much more than it seems.

Explore the world of Nova Terra in the Titan Series, a GameLit/LitRPG series of epic adventure. If you like immersive storytelling, rich fantasy, and epic adventures with a slice of friendship thrown in, you’ll love Seth Ring’s page-turning series.Pick up your copy of Nova Titan today and escape to the grand world of epic adventure.

What are readers saying about Nova Titan?

“Truly a leader in the field of LitRPG. Enchanting and captivating, this is a book you can't put down.”â­â­â­â­â­

“Bravo! Excellent story that grabs the reader and doesn't let go.”â­â­â­â­â­

“When you find a book that you wish you found after the series was complete so you could read the whole thing from start to finish. That is this book.”â­â­â­â­â­]]> 242 Seth Ring Kat 4 4.40 2018 Nova Terra: Titan (The Titan, #1)
author: Seth Ring
name: Kat
average rating: 4.40
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/11
date added: 2025/01/11
shelves:
review:
By the halfway point in this book, I was encouraged and hopeful for the series. Immediately purchased book 2.
]]> <![CDATA[Boy of Chaotic Making (Whimbrel House, #3)]]> 125373512
Merritt Fernsby’s life has changed considerably since he inherited Whimbrel House. He’s engaged to Hulda Larkin, who opened his eyes to the uncanny. And he’s grown quite protective of his uncle Owein—several generations, and iterations, removed. Owein is presently inhabiting the body of a mixed-breed terrier when Merritt receives a missive from none other than Alexandrina Victoria, the Queen of England: I am interested in your dog.

It’s the queen’s duty to the peerage to keep British wizardry empowered. Her offer: England will find a human vessel for Owein, marry him into the royal family, and add this remarkable soul-shifter to its lineage. For Owein, a boy trapped in the body of a pup, it’s a dream come true. How can Merritt refuse? However, once they are in London and in consortium with a necromancer, the situation doesn’t feel right, both with their hosts and the house they inhabit. Owein is having nightmares. And Hulda’s premonitions warn of danger in Merritt’s future. Clearly, someone doesn’t want them in town.

But after two hundred years of being cursed to drift, Owein is determined to chart his own destiny. He’s ready to defy whatever chaos is coming. After all, Owein is the master of chaos, and with Merritt and Hulda’s love and magical support, he can overcome anything.]]> 299 Charlie N. Holmberg 1662508727 Kat 4 4.31 2024 Boy of Chaotic Making (Whimbrel House, #3)
author: Charlie N. Holmberg
name: Kat
average rating: 4.31
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/10
date added: 2025/01/10
shelves:
review:
This was probably my favorite of the series thus far. I found the mystery component of the novel the most suspenseful, and I didn't have the villain figured out from the onset, which is typically my problem with mysteries.
]]> <![CDATA[Heir of Uncertain Magic (Whimbrel House, #2)]]> 61252380
Thanks to house tamer Hulda Larkin, the mischief infesting Whimbrel House has calmed. But if Hulda’s job is done, what does that mean for Merritt Fernsby, inheritor of the remote Narragansett Bay estate, who’s only now coming to terms with his enchanted place in the world?]]> 300 Charlie N. Holmberg 1662508689 Kat 4 4.17 2023 Heir of Uncertain Magic (Whimbrel House, #2)
author: Charlie N. Holmberg
name: Kat
average rating: 4.17
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/08
date added: 2025/01/08
shelves:
review:
Pleasant continuation of the series.
]]> <![CDATA[Keeper of Enchanted Rooms (Whimbrel House, #1)]]> 60596112
Hulda Larkin of the Boston Institute for the Keeping of Enchanted Rooms has been trained in taming such structures in order to preserve their historical and magical significance. She understands the dangers of bespelled homes given to tantrums. She advises that it’s in Merritt’s best interest to make Whimbrel House their ally. To do that, she’ll need to move in, too.

Prepared as she is with augury, a set of magic tools, and a new staff trained in the uncanny, Hulda’s work still proves unexpectedly difficult. She and Merritt grow closer as the investigation progresses, but the house’s secrets run deeper than they anticipated. And the sentient walls aren’t their only concern—something outside is coming for the enchantments of Whimbrel House, and it could be more dangerous than what rattles within.]]> 347 Charlie N. Holmberg 1662500335 Kat 4 4.14 2022 Keeper of Enchanted Rooms (Whimbrel House, #1)
author: Charlie N. Holmberg
name: Kat
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/08
date added: 2025/01/08
shelves:
review:
This was another book with a slow beginning, which developed into an enjoyable read. Pleasant romance with a nice balance of fantasy.
]]> <![CDATA[Heretical Fishing (Heretical Fishing, #1)]]> 208099994 A world abandoned by the gods, mystifying cosmic forces, unimaginable power for those willing to ascend, and a hero who would rather . . . go fishing???

When summoned to a fantastical world and granted powers by a broken System, most freshly minted protagonists would strap on their big-boy boots and get ready for their stats to start climbing. But Fischer isn’t like most MCs. In fact, he doesn’t want to be a hero at all.

Fame? Fortune? Power? He had enough of all that in his old life. Discovering forbidden fishing techniques and petting every cute animal that comes within scritching distance? Now łŮłó˛ąłŮ’s a good time.

Unfortunately for Fischer, cosmic forces rarely care for mortal feelings. He’s hounded on all sides by inept cults, conspiring nobles, and more magical misunderstandings than those of a preteen relationship. Even his dutiful pet crab is firing energy blades like an anime antagonist.

So grab your fishing rod and a good snack, and pet your dog for me. The catch of a lifetime awaits!

The first volume of the laugh-out-loud LitRPG adventure series—a #1 Rising Star on Royal Road with over three million views—now available on Kindle, Kindle Unlimited, and Audible!]]> 533 Haylock Jobson 1039453112 Kat 4 4.32 2024 Heretical Fishing (Heretical Fishing, #1)
author: Haylock Jobson
name: Kat
average rating: 4.32
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/07
date added: 2025/01/07
shelves:
review:
3.75 stars. I have read several reviews that compare this series to HWFWM, but after completing book 1, I am not yet convinced. The action is slow and mostly low stress, which was not the case in the other series. I will probably continue on to book 2 with hopes of improvement.
]]> <![CDATA[Ruthless Vows (Letters of Enchantment, #2)]]> 150260787 Torn apart by war. Reunited by love?

Two weeks have passed since Iris returned home bruised and heartbroken from the front, but the war is far from over.

Roman is missing, lost behind enemy lines, with no memory of his past, or Iris. Hoping his memories return, he begins to write again � but this time for the enemy.

When a strange letter arrives through his wardrobe door, he strikes up a correspondence with a penpal who seems at once mysterious� and strangely familiar.

As their connection deepens, the two of them will risk their very hearts and futures to change the tides of the war.]]> 419 Rebecca Ross Kat 4 4.07 2023 Ruthless Vows (Letters of Enchantment, #2)
author: Rebecca Ross
name: Kat
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/05
date added: 2025/01/05
shelves:
review:
In two book series, I typically prefer the first, and this conclusion didn't change that pattern.
]]> <![CDATA[The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek]]> 43365035 The hardscrabble folks of Troublesome Creek have to scrap for everything—everything except books, that is.  Thanks to Roosevelt's Kentucky Pack Horse Library Project, Troublesome's got its very own  traveling librarian, Cussy Mary Carter. 

Cussy's not only a book woman, however,  she's also the last of her kind, her skin a shade of blue unlike most anyone else. Not everyone is keen on Cussy's family or the Library Project, and a Blue is often blamed for any whiff of trouble.  If Cussy wants to bring the joy of books to the hill folks, she's going to have to confront prejudice as old as the Appalachias and suspicion as deep as the holler. 

Inspired by the true blue-skinned people of Kentucky and the brave and dedicated Kentucky Pack Horse library service of the 1930s, The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek is a story of raw courage,  fierce strength, and one woman's belief that books can carry us anywhere � even back home.

]]> 336 Kim Michele Richardson 1492671533 Kat 4 4.41 2019 The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek
author: Kim Michele Richardson
name: Kat
average rating: 4.41
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/03
date added: 2025/01/03
shelves:
review:
Interesting and thought-provoking.
]]> <![CDATA[Divine Rivals (Letters of Enchantment, #1)]]> 62202008 When two young rival journalists find love through a magical connection, they must face the depths of hell, in a war among gods, to seal their fate forever.

After centuries of sleep, the gods are warring again. But eighteen-year-old Iris Winnow just wants to hold her family together. Her mother is suffering from addiction and her brother is missing from the front lines. Her best bet is to win the columnist promotion at the Oath Gazette.

To combat her worries, Iris writes letters to her brother and slips them beneath her wardrobe door, where they vanish—into the hands of Roman Kitt, her cold and handsome rival at the paper. When he anonymously writes Iris back, the two of them forge a connection that will follow Iris all the way to the front lines of battle: for her brother, the fate of mankind, and love.

Shadow and Bone meets Lore in Rebecca Ross's Divine Rivals, an epic enemies-to-lovers fantasy novel filled with hope and heartbreak, and the unparalleled power of love.]]> 356 Rebecca Ross Kat 4 4.23 2023 Divine Rivals (Letters of Enchantment, #1)
author: Rebecca Ross
name: Kat
average rating: 4.23
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/03
date added: 2025/01/03
shelves:
review:
I found the first half of this book to be engaging and poignant. It was predominantly a romance with a splash of magic from the letters. As the story progressed and the main characters arrived in an active war zone, the tone became more serious. I was dismayed to reach the cliffhanger ending.
]]> <![CDATA[Time's Tempest (The Chronicles of Xannia, #1)]]> 57593759
Embarking as a guide into the death zones that are the Deserts, Taya leads a group of civilians who blindly follow a prophet obsessed with preventing the planet Xannia from environmental self-destruction. Here, fate and destiny wage war propelling an epic search for truth amidst 2000 year old lies, in opposition to a government bent on burying ancient secrets and anyone who goes looking for them.

As Taya desperately attempts to keep the prophet and his followers alive, this journey forces her to grapple with the circumstances of her past which have aligned to hurdle her into her darkest memories; making choices she never wanted to consider; learning truths she was never meant to know.

Time's Tempest is an indieB.R.A.G.Medallion Honoree]]> 386 M.J. Moores Kat 3 3.00 2014 Time's Tempest (The Chronicles of Xannia, #1)
author: M.J. Moores
name: Kat
average rating: 3.00
book published: 2014
rating: 3
read at: 2025/01/02
date added: 2025/01/02
shelves:
review:
I found the first quarter of this book to be choppy, and I couldn't get engaged with the characters. I was close to giving it a DNF but persevered and was rewarded. The remainder of the novel was interesting, and I did want to reach the conclusion. I might be willing to read onward if I can find the next book at a bargain rate.
]]> <![CDATA[Chaos Reigning (Consortium Rebellion, #3)]]> 49490932
As the youngest member of her High House, Catarina von Hasenberg is used to being underestimated, but her youth and flighty, bubbly personality mask a clever mind and stubborn determination. Her enemies, blind to her true strength, do not suspect that Cat is a spy—which makes her the perfect candidate to go undercover at a rival House’s summer retreat to gather intelligence on their recent treachery.

Cat’s overprotective older sister reluctantly agrees, but on one condition: Cat cannot go alone. Alexander Sterling, a quiet, gorgeous bodyguard, will accompany her, posing as her lover. After Cat tries, and fails, to ditch Alex, she grudgingly agrees, confident in her ability to manage him. After all, she’s never found a person she can’t manipulate.

But Alex proves more difficult—and more desirable—than Cat anticipated. When she’s attacked and nearly killed, she and Alex are forced to work together to figure out how deep the treason goes. With rumors of widespread assaults on Serenity raging, communications down, and the rest of her family trapped off-planet, Catarina must persuade Alex to return to Earth to expose the truth and finish this deadly battle once and for all.

But Cat can’t explain why she’s the perfect person to infiltrate hostile territory without revealing secrets she’d rather keep buried. . . .]]> 408 Jessie Mihalik Kat 4 4.25 2020 Chaos Reigning (Consortium Rebellion, #3)
author: Jessie Mihalik
name: Kat
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/01
date added: 2025/01/01
shelves:
review:
3.75 stars. Well written conclusion to the series. Personally, I would have preferred to stick to the same FMC instead of switching sisters with each book.
]]> <![CDATA[Aurora Blazing (Consortium Rebellion, #2)]]> 43472908 To save her brother and protect her family’s future, a powerful princess must join forces with a dashing man from her past in this thrilling space adventure, the second novel in the Consortium Rebellion trilogy.

As the dutiful daughter of High House von Hasenberg, Bianca set aside her personal feelings and agreed to a political match arranged by her family, only to end up trapped in a loveless, miserable marriage. When her husband unexpectedly dies, Bianca vows never to wed again. Newly independent, she secretly uses her wealth and influence to save other women stuck in dire circumstances. Information is power and Bianca has a network of allies and spies that would be the envy of the ’verse—if anyone knew about it.

When her family’s House is mysteriously attacked, Bianca’s oldest brother, the heir to House von Hasenberg, disappears. Fearful for her brother’s life, the headstrong Bianca defies her father and leaves Earth to save him. Ian Bishop, the director of House von Hasenberg security—and Bianca’s first love—is ordered to find and retrieve the rebellious woman.

Ian is the last man Bianca wants to see. To evade capture, she leads him on a merry chase across the universe. But when their paths finally collide, she knows she must persuade him to help her. Bianca will do anything to save her sibling, even if it means spending time alone on a small ship with the handsome, infuriating man who once broke her heart.

As the search takes them deep into rival House Rockhurst territory, Bianca must decide if she can trust Ian with the one piece of information that could destroy her completely . . .]]> 403 Jessie Mihalik Kat 4 Next sister's romance. 4.22 2019 Aurora Blazing (Consortium Rebellion, #2)
author: Jessie Mihalik
name: Kat
average rating: 4.22
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/30
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves:
review:
Next sister's romance.
]]> <![CDATA[Polaris Rising (Consortium Rebellion, #1)]]> 40153213
In the far distant future, the universe is officially ruled by the Royal Consortium, but the High Councillors, the heads of the three High Houses, wield the true power. As the fifth of six children, Ada von Hasenberg has no authority; her only value to her High House is as a pawn in a political marriage. When her father arranges for her to wed a noble from House Rockhurst, a man she neither wants nor loves, Ada seizes control of her own destiny. The spirited princess flees before the betrothal ceremony and disappears among the stars.

Ada eluded her father’s forces for two years, but now her luck has run out. To ensure she cannot escape again, the fiery princess is thrown into a prison cell with Marcus Loch. Known as the Devil of Fornax Zero, Loch is rumored to have killed his entire chain of command during the Fornax Rebellion, and the Consortium wants his head.

When the ship returning them to Earth is attacked by a battle cruiser from rival House Rockhurst, Ada realizes that if her jilted fiancé captures her, she’ll become a political prisoner and a liability to her House. Her only hope is to strike a deal with the dangerous fugitive: a fortune if he helps her escape.

But when you make a deal with an irresistibly attractive Devil, you may lose more than you bargained for . . .]]> 451 Jessie Mihalik Kat 4 4.10 2019 Polaris Rising (Consortium Rebellion, #1)
author: Jessie Mihalik
name: Kat
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/27
date added: 2024/12/27
shelves:
review:
Enjoyable romance, which I found reminiscent of the Ilona Andrews Jewel series.
]]> <![CDATA[The Dawn Chorus: A Bone Season novella (The Bone Season)]]> 213819088
Paige Mahoney and Arcturus Mesarthim have arrived in the Scion Citadel of Paris. Exhausted by her efforts against Scion, Paige has no choice but to remain in hiding, away from the revolution she started, so she can heal and come to terms with her mental and physical scars.

In the confines of a safe house, Arcturus and Paige begin to reconnect after following separate paths for weeks. As they wait for contact from the mysterious Domino Programme � an espionage network operating in Scion � their present begins to mirror their past.]]> 0 Samantha Shannon 1639735852 Kat 4 4.32 2020 The Dawn Chorus: A Bone Season novella (The Bone Season)
author: Samantha Shannon
name: Kat
average rating: 4.32
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/24
date added: 2024/12/24
shelves:
review:
I found the scenes based in Paris to be interesting but was frustrated with the scenes set in earlier parts of the book, which I didn't feel added anything to the novella.
]]> <![CDATA[The Legend of Randidly Ghosthound 9 (The Legend of Randidly Ghosthound, #9)]]> 214376158 In the wake of Donnyton's Challenge, Randidly makes preparations for his planet’s future.

All his cunning and crafting ingenuity flow into Kharon, the mechanical city. All his knowledge of metallurgy, Engraving, and the System will shape this grand project. And if his theory proves true, the result will be much more alchemy than mechanism.

But while Randidly Ghosthound has plans, so does the Nexus. During his next Judgement, an extra consequence is applied; he is kidnapped from Earth and taken to the outer reaches of the Nexus proper. There he must fight against the endless horde of Nether Beasts that covet the resources of the Nexus.

Yet the powers of the Nexus did not spring this trap intending for him to survive it. Not only is he conscripted, but his body is held ransom; to avoid execution, he must send images, conjured of Aether, out onto the battlefield in his place.

Nether is the most dangerous substance Randidly Ghosthound has encountered. And now his aspect of the Grim Chimera must wade in it.

Book 9 of the hit LitRPG Fantasy series with over 50 Million views on Royal Road. Grab your copy today!

About the Series: Experience a particular flavor of LitRPG/GameLit, where Skill growth and the Path System allow individuals to tailor their growth toward infinite possibilities. There are Classes, Skills, Levels, and Rarities that will feel familiar to any connoisseur of role-playing games. Follow Randidly as he balances his growing power with the worrisome ripples of his existence. The System doesn’t discriminate; when he is ready for more dangerous threats, the rest of humanity better be ready, too. Those who have read the web-novel when it was available online can experience the saga the way it was always meant to be told, fully revised and re-edited, and with tons of new material!]]> 652 Noret Flood Kat 2 4.48 2024 The Legend of Randidly Ghosthound 9 (The Legend of Randidly Ghosthound, #9)
author: Noret Flood
name: Kat
average rating: 4.48
book published: 2024
rating: 2
read at: 2024/12/24
date added: 2024/12/24
shelves:
review:
I have reached my stopping point with this series. I found the entire book tiresome to get through. I prefer books in this genre to focus more on connections, while the author instead split the main character into multiple sub-personalities interacting with themselves. For me, it was too theoretical without enough substance.
]]> <![CDATA[The Last Graduate (The Scholomance, #2)]]> 55559887 A budding dark sorceress determined not to use her formidable powers uncovers yet more secrets about the workings of her world in the stunning sequel to A Deadly Education, the start of Naomi Novik’s groundbreaking crossover series.

At the Scholomance, El, Orion, and the other students are faced with their final year—and the looming specter of graduation, a deadly ritual that leaves few students alive in its wake. El is determined that her chosen group will survive, but it is a prospect that is looking harder by the day as the savagery of the school ramps up. Until El realizes that sometimes winning the game means throwing out all the rules . . .]]> 388 Naomi Novik 0593128869 Kat 5 Update- I just finished the audible version and continue to not be thrilled with the narrator,but still loved the book.]]> 4.20 2021 The Last Graduate (The Scholomance, #2)
author: Naomi Novik
name: Kat
average rating: 4.20
book published: 2021
rating: 5
read at: 2024/12/23
date added: 2024/12/23
shelves:
review:
Loved this series! This was the most excited about a book series that I have been in years.
Update- I just finished the audible version and continue to not be thrilled with the narrator,but still loved the book.
]]> <![CDATA[The Half-Orc's Maiden Bride (Aspect and Anchor, #3.5)]]> 60652463
But then her father returns with news that he has found a bridegroom for her - one that is impressively tall. One that is strong, and bold, and wealthy. And best of all? He wants Iolanthe. It seems too good to be true.

And when Iolanthe gets her first look at her husband-to-be, she realizes why.

No one mentioned the 'orc' part of things...]]> 190 Ruby Dixon Kat 4 4.04 2022 The Half-Orc's Maiden Bride (Aspect and Anchor, #3.5)
author: Ruby Dixon
name: Kat
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/21
date added: 2024/12/21
shelves:
review:
3.75 stars. Predictable satisfying read. It's just a little longer than I prefer in this light fun genre.
]]> <![CDATA[Quicksilver (Fae & Alchemy, #1)]]> 218014044 An instant #1 New York Times bestseller!
The global phenomenon by Callie Hart--a highly addicting enemies-to-lovers Romantasy with razor-sharp banter, heart-stopping action, and blistering hot romance. 

Do not touch the sword. Do not turn the key. Do not open the gate.

Twenty-four-year-old Saeris Fane is good at keeping secrets. No one knows about the strange powers she possesses, or the fact that she has been picking pockets and stealing from the Undying Queen’s reservoirs for as long as she can remember. In the land of the unforgiving desert, there isn’t much a girl wouldn’t do for a glass of water. But a secret is like a knot. Sooner or later, it is bound to come undone.

When Saeris comes face-to-face with Death himself, she inadvertently reopens a gateway between realms and is transported to a land of ice and snow. The Fae have always been the stuff of myth, of legend, of nightmares…but it turns out they’re real, and Saeris has landed right in the middle of a centuries-long conflict that might just get her killed.

The first of her kind to tread the frozen mountains of Yvelia in over a thousand years, Saeris mistakenly binds herself to Kingfisher, a handsome Fae warrior, who has secrets and nefarious agendas of his own. He will use her Alchemist’s magic to protect his people, no matter what it costs him… or her. Death has a name. It is Kingfisher of the Ajun Gate. His past is murky. His attitude stinks. And he’s the only way Saeris is going to make it home.

Be careful of the deals you make, dear child. The devil is in the details...

N.B. Quicksilver contains depictions of graphic violence/adult situations and is therefore recommended for readers 17+. For a full list of tropes and TWs, please visit the author's website.]]> 615 Callie Hart Kat 3 4.50 2024 Quicksilver (Fae & Alchemy, #1)
author: Callie Hart
name: Kat
average rating: 4.50
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2024/12/20
date added: 2024/12/20
shelves:
review:
I found the beginning of this novel quite promising, but the end was rushed and poorly detailed. I will not be reading onward in the series.
]]> Hell Bent (Alex Stern, #2) 34019110 Wealth. Power. Murder. Magic. Alex Stern is back and the Ivy League is going straight to hell.

Find a gateway to the underworld. Steal a soul out of hell. A simple plan, except people who make this particular journey rarely come back. But Galaxy “Alex� Stern is determined to break Darlington out of purgatory―even if it costs her a future at Lethe and at Yale.

Forbidden from attempting a rescue, Alex and Dawes can’t call on the Ninth House for help, so they assemble a team of dubious allies to save the gentleman of Lethe. Together, they will have to navigate a maze of arcane texts and bizarre artifacts to uncover the societies� most closely guarded secrets, and break every rule doing it. But when faculty members begin to die off, Alex knows these aren’t just accidents. Something deadly is at work in New Haven, and if she is going to survive, she’ll have to reckon with the monsters of her past and a darkness built into the university’s very walls.

Thick with history and packed with Bardugo’s signature twists, Hell Bent brings to life an intricate world full of magic, violence, and all too real monsters.]]> 484 Leigh Bardugo 1250313112 Kat 5 4.20 2023 Hell Bent (Alex Stern, #2)
author: Leigh Bardugo
name: Kat
average rating: 4.20
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at: 2024/12/19
date added: 2024/12/19
shelves:
review:
Excellent continuation of the series. My only disappointment was reaching the end to find that everything was not resolved and I would be left waiting indefinitely for another book.
]]> Ninth House (Alex Stern, #1) 43301737 The mesmerizing adult debut from #1 New York Times bestselling author Leigh Bardugo

Galaxy “Alex� Stern is the most unlikely member of Yale’s freshman class. Raised in the Los Angeles hinterlands by a hippie mom, Alex dropped out of school early and into a world of shady drug dealer boyfriends, dead-end jobs, and much, much worse. By age twenty, in fact, she is the sole survivor of a horrific, unsolved multiple homicide. Some might say she’s thrown her life away. But at her hospital bed, Alex is offered a second chance to attend one of the world’s most elite universities on a full ride. What’s the catch, and why her?

Still searching for answers to this herself, Alex arrives in New Haven tasked by her mysterious benefactors with monitoring the activities of Yale’s secret societies. These eight windowless “tombs� are well-known to be haunts of the future rich and powerful, from high-ranking politicos to Wall Street and Hollywood’s biggest players. But their occult activities are revealed to be more sinister and more extraordinary than any paranoid imagination might conceive.]]> 476 Leigh Bardugo 1250313082 Kat 5 4.13 2019 Ninth House (Alex Stern, #1)
author: Leigh Bardugo
name: Kat
average rating: 4.13
book published: 2019
rating: 5
read at: 2024/12/17
date added: 2024/12/17
shelves:
review:
I would advise anyone starting to read this book to continue on through the first 25 % because that is the point at which the story really engaged me. I can't wait to start book 2!
]]> Starling House 75256818 The Underland -- and disappeared.

Before she vanished, Starling House appeared. But everyone agrees that it’s best to let the uncanny house—and its last lonely heir, Arthur Starling—go to rot. Opal knows better than to mess with haunted houses or brooding men, but an unexpected job offer might be a chance to get her brother out of Eden. Too quickly, though, Starling House starts to feel dangerously like something she’s never a home.

As sinister forces converge on Starling House, Opal and Arthur are going to have to make a dire to dig up the buried secrets of the past and confront their own fears, or let Eden be taken over by literal nightmares.

If Opal wants a home, she’ll have to fight for it.

A grim and gothic new tale from New York Times bestselling author Alix E. Harrow about a small town haunted by secrets that can't stay buried and the sinister house that sits at the crossroads of it all.]]> 312 Alix E. Harrow 1250799074 Kat 4 3.95 2023 Starling House
author: Alix E. Harrow
name: Kat
average rating: 3.95
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/15
date added: 2024/12/15
shelves:
review:
Interesting, thought-provoking story of finding a home.
]]> <![CDATA[The King's Spinster Bride (Aspect and Anchor, #0.5)]]> 53426406
One person has not forgotten her. Mathior, now twenty-four, is the fierce warrior king of the Cyclopae. Yshrem is in turmoil and his advisors have a suggestion � kill the last remaining member of the royal line, and there will be no rivals for the throne.

Mathior has a different idea. He’s loved Halla for sixteen long years, and it’s time he claimed her as his wife. But a barbarian’s wedding customs are unlike any other…]]> 136 Ruby Dixon Kat 4 Sweet and enjoyable romance. 4.02 2018 The King's Spinster Bride (Aspect and Anchor, #0.5)
author: Ruby Dixon
name: Kat
average rating: 4.02
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/09
date added: 2024/12/09
shelves:
review:
Sweet and enjoyable romance.
]]> <![CDATA[This Inevitable Ruin (Dungeon Crawler Carl #7)]]> 220329192 The time has come! Book seven in the bestselling Dungeon Crawler Carl series is here!

They call it Faction Wars.The ninth floor.

Nine armies, each led by rich and powerful aliens from across the galaxy. Each team has one to capture and hold the castle at the very center of the battlefield. Strategy, alliances, pitched battles, and, of course, betrayal... It all makes for great fun and even greater television.

After all, none of these powerful aliens really die when they’re playing war.

Except this time. This time, winner takes all. Those who fall, stay in the ground.

As the AI continues its rapid decline, Carl and company take advantage of the chaos. For the first time ever, the crawlers are fighting back. They are now one of the nine teams. And this season, there’s a tenth army on the playing field. The NPCs, who are normally used as nothing but cannon fodder, have become fully self-aware and formed a team of their own.

For Donut and Katia, the stakes are even higher. Only one of them will be allowed to leave this level.

If they all want to survive, they’re going to need a little help from a veteran or two.

This is it.
This is what they’ve been fighting toward.
This is war.

This inevitable ruin.
]]> 724 Matt Dinniman Kat 5 4.77 2024 This Inevitable Ruin (Dungeon Crawler Carl #7)
author: Matt Dinniman
name: Kat
average rating: 4.77
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/12/08
date added: 2024/12/08
shelves:
review:
I had a more difficult time getting into this book, perhaps because of the tremendous setup needed to get to the actual war. But once past that, the pages flew by. I was sorry to see Katia separated from the team, but I hope that the author will give us some views of what is happening on the planet surface.
]]> <![CDATA[A Touch of Darkness (Hades & Persephone, #1)]]> 58736300 From bestselling author Scarlett St. Clair comes a dark and enthralling reimagining of the Hades and Persephone Greek myth.

"Let me worship you," he said.
She remembered the words she had whispered to him in the back of the limo after La Rose. "You will worship me, and I won't even have to order you." His request felt sinful and devious, and she reveled in it.
She answered, "Yes."

Persephone is the Goddess of Spring in title only. Since she was a little girl, flowers have only shriveled at her touch. After moving to New Athens, she hoped to lead an unassuming life disguised as a mortal journalist. All of that changes when she sits down in a forbidden nightclub to play a hand of cards with a hypnotic and mysterious stranger.

Hades, God of the Dead, has built a gambling empire in the mortal world and his favorite bets are rumored to be impossible. But nothing has ever intrigued him as much as the goddess offering him a bargain he can't resist.

After her encounter with Hades, Persephone finds herself in a contract with the God of the Dead, and his terms are impossible: Persephone must create life in the Underworld or lose her freedom forever. The bet does more than expose Persephone's failure as a goddess, however. As she struggles to sow the seeds of her freedom, love for the God of the Dead grows—a love that is both captivating and forbidden.]]> 397 Scarlett St. Clair 0991132378 Kat 3 4.07 2019 A Touch of Darkness (Hades & Persephone, #1)
author: Scarlett St. Clair
name: Kat
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2019
rating: 3
read at: 2024/12/02
date added: 2024/12/02
shelves:
review:
I was not overly taken with the premise of gods alive and active in modern society.
]]> Empire (Unbound #10) 208660042
Felix and his allies have saved Pax'Vrell and won the battle against the Pathless...but the war has only just begun. The Divine are stirring, and the Hierophant has her own deadly schemes.

The fates of the Unbound rest on the choices Felix makes to protect them all. But as the gods close in, he begins to realize the terrible truth:

If he fails, he risks more than their lives.

He risks Ruin itself.]]> 752 Nicoli Gonnella 1637662866 Kat 5 4.69 2024 Empire (Unbound #10)
author: Nicoli Gonnella
name: Kat
average rating: 4.69
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/12/01
date added: 2024/12/01
shelves:
review:
There are a lot of twists in this series entry as well as the cliffhanger ending. It is a rough way to leave these characters when the next book will not be released for many months!
]]> Crown (Unbound #9) 199274407
Felix and his friends have escaped the Undermount laden with spoils, a belly full of power, and most importantly: another Unbound at their side. Yet, their triumph is shadowed by the pursuit of the Dwarven Hinterlords, Hierocratic soldiers, and a sinister truth haunting Felix’s Mind.

Imara, Chosen Vessel of the Pathless, is his sister—and he failed to save her.

Encircled by two armies, uncaring mountains, and his newfound sister's oppressive power, the team is forced to face the long path� a crucible so demanding, they must transcend their limitations just to survive. As for Felix, the Unbound must evolve beyond what should be possible, grasping every scrap of power he can muster.

He's got a god to kill.]]> 949 Nicoli Gonnella 163766205X Kat 5 4.69 2024 Crown (Unbound #9)
author: Nicoli Gonnella
name: Kat
average rating: 4.69
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/11/29
date added: 2024/11/29
shelves:
review:
The author has done an excellent job of allowing the MC success in defeating powermad monstrous villains, unlike other writers who keep the seemingly hopeless fight going for far too long.
]]> Vault (Unbound #8) 146391760
Three months have passed since the battle against the High Guard, and Felix and his people have grown. He’s poised on the brink of ascension to Master Tier, and his Stronghold is a burgeoning city; echoing with commerce, affluence, and the influence that comes with it.]]> 768 Nicoli Gonnella 163766169X Kat 5 4.67 2023 Vault (Unbound #8)
author: Nicoli Gonnella
name: Kat
average rating: 4.67
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at: 2024/11/26
date added: 2024/11/26
shelves:
review:
Excellent series, which definitely does not get enough aclaim!
]]> Abyss (Unbound #7) 115714495 A desert reborn. An unwanted crown. Ancient terror surfacing.

Felix and his people foiled the Hierocracy’s dire plans, freeing the Territory of Ahkestria and unleashing an ocean upon its sands in the process. Now he must reckon with the newfound political power in his hands, meddlesome nobility, and the Boon of a Primordial that has enacted changes on his very being.

There’s one major difference this time: Felix is not the only one affected.

His friends must learn to handle their sudden, intense gains while creatures from the deep—moved by a malevolent force known only as the Fathom—assault the city. Danger rises as the depths make their not-so-shallow moves. Felix has to deal with the consequences of his actions, which might cost him dearly.

The only thing that would cost more? Doing nothing and hoping someone else would clean up his mess.]]> 774 Nicoli Gonnella 1637661673 Kat 5 4.66 2023 Abyss (Unbound #7)
author: Nicoli Gonnella
name: Kat
average rating: 4.66
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at: 2024/11/23
date added: 2024/11/23
shelves:
review:
This series has definitely developed into one of my favorites. The core team is bonded and has each other's backs, which is key for my series enjoyment.
]]> Expanse (Unbound, #6) 64486947
Felix has established a Stronghold within the Foglands, now called the Territory of Nagast. He has earned a new moniker as well: Autarch. It is a title he cannot help but claim as he sets about securing his new base of operations. Defenses must be managed, the benefits of success shared, and permission granted to allow his followers to explore their new land.

Finally, things are looking up.

Dreams of fire and sand, wind and undeath trouble Felix’s sleep. Crimson armor and golden blades that are marching across scorched deserts half a Continent away. Among it all, an insistent message: a familiar face—another Unbound—is fighting for his very life.

If this Unbound is to survive, he needs Felix’s help.]]> 1128 Nicoli Gonnella 1637661533 Kat 5 4.65 2023 Expanse (Unbound, #6)
author: Nicoli Gonnella
name: Kat
average rating: 4.65
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at: 2024/11/18
date added: 2024/11/18
shelves:
review:
Best book in the series thus far. Seemed to have a better balance between action scenes and internal advancement description. Both are necessary, but some of the previous books had more internal description than I prefer.
]]> Threshold (Unbound #5) 62839025 One city saved. A Territory to defend. The threshold beckons.

The war for Haarwatch has been won, granting Felix a small respite. His time is spent struggling to restore the city with his people, yet trouble brews on the horizon. The Archon has not sat idle while Felix consolidated his power, and the ancient seals upon his prison have been broken.

Guided by a Territorial Quest, Felix and his allies find themselves in the unenviable position of needing to split their forces as the drums of war resume. The Archon threatens all, but the Inquisition isn't ready to accept their failures in Haarwatch.

Felix must return to the Foglands, to the Waterfall Temple he once claimed as shelter. If he doesn't, and the Archon secures the power hidden behind the Door of the Lidless Eye... there's no telling what may happen. Divided yet undaunted, they move with purpose firming their Will as events threaten to outpace them all.

Battle looms while peace trembles...and once more fate balances upon the scales of the Fiend.]]> 754 Nicoli Gonnella 1637661290 Kat 4 Action packed. 4.62 2022 Threshold (Unbound #5)
author: Nicoli Gonnella
name: Kat
average rating: 4.62
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2024/11/11
date added: 2024/11/11
shelves:
review:
Action packed.
]]> <![CDATA[A Deadly Education (The Scholomance, #1)]]> 51080382 The first book of the Scholomance trilogy is the story of an unwilling dark sorceress who is destined to rewrite the rules of magic.

I decided that Orion Lake needed to die after the second time he saved my life.

Everyone loves Orion Lake. Everyone else, that is. Far as I’m concerned, he can keep his flashy combat magic to himself. I’m not joining his pack of adoring fans.

I don’t need help surviving the Scholomance, even if they do. Forget the hordes of monsters and cursed artifacts, I’m probably the most dangerous thing in the place. Just give me a chance and I’ll level mountains and kill untold millions, make myself the dark queen of the world.

At least, łŮłó˛ąłŮ’s what the world expects. Most of the other students in here would be delighted if Orion killed me like one more evil thing łŮłó˛ąłŮ’s crawled out of the drains. Sometimes I think they want me to turn into the evil witch they assume I am. The school certainly does.

But the Scholomance isn’t getting what it wants from me. And neither is Orion Lake. I may not be anyone’s idea of the shining hero, but I’m going to make it out of this place alive, and I’m not going to slaughter thousands to do it, either.

Although I’m giving serious consideration to just one.]]> 338 Naomi Novik Kat 5 I found the book slower to get engaged with as the main character was originally quite whiny. However, her character improved dramatically as she began to make friends, and by the end of the book, I was very happy to read onward.
I just finished the reread, but this time in audible. I was less than pleased with the narrator choice. She made very little differences between character voices, and my enthusiasm dimmed.]]> 4.28 2020 A Deadly Education (The Scholomance, #1)
author: Naomi Novik
name: Kat
average rating: 4.28
book published: 2020
rating: 5
read at: 2024/11/03
date added: 2024/11/05
shelves:
review:
Loved it!!!
I found the book slower to get engaged with as the main character was originally quite whiny. However, her character improved dramatically as she began to make friends, and by the end of the book, I was very happy to read onward.
I just finished the reread, but this time in audible. I was less than pleased with the narrator choice. She made very little differences between character voices, and my enthusiasm dimmed.
]]> Fury (Unbound #4) 61853195
Felix Nevarre, slayer of the Ravager King and destroyer of Domains, isn't going down without a fight. The Guild Tower has fallen, and Haarwatch has been split into factions vying for supremacy, and the people despair as monsters overrun the city.

Bloody battle is waged through the streets, but Felix’s power has grown—his core stuffed full with the spoils of his victory—and he's looking to put it to use. When the Inquisition advances its grip on the city and waves of monsters attack, he pushes back.

A new faction rises, gathering beneath Felix's banner those that are too weak for the Guilders, or too faithless for the Redcloaks. The goal of this faction isn’t domination, but survival. In their midst, a dangerous idea begins to brew. It sings in the Spirit and ignites the Mind, while the Body trembles with bated breath. A blue flame blazes away in the hearts of the fearful, leaving behind only hope�

And Fury.]]> 883 Nicoli Gonnella 1637661215 Kat 4 4.45 2022 Fury (Unbound #4)
author: Nicoli Gonnella
name: Kat
average rating: 4.45
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2024/10/27
date added: 2024/10/27
shelves:
review:
4.5 stars. The team is evolving along with Felix, and plenty of time was spent in their POVs. I am happy to be reading a series in this genre, which isn't just one dimensional.
]]>