I wasn’t planning on hauling many books in May.
Yet somehow, I hauled 14 of them.
I didn’t realize just how many books I’d hauled until right now. Oh boy.
A bunch of these are eBooks/eARCs so, not that much physical room is taken up – I’m happy about that. I’m really excited and curious about all of these and for the ones I haven’t read yet, I can’t wait to read them.
We’re one day in June, and I’ve already preordered 4 books, and I legit cannot wait for them to arrive. It’s a good thing that I have 14 new books to occupy my time until they do. But let’s jump into this post and see what books I hauled during May.
As the Shadow Rises (The Age of Darkness #2) – Katy Rose Pool
eARC / GR
In this sequel to the critically-acclaimed There Will Come a Darkness, kingdoms have begun to fall to a doomsday cult, the magical Graced are being persecuted, and an ancient power threatens to break free. But with the world hurtling toward its prophesized end, Anton’s haunting vision reveals the dangerous beginnings of a plan to stop the Age of Darkness.
I’m still screaming that I have an eARC of this book. Never in a million years did I expect to actually have my NetGalley wish for this book granted. Sure, I desperately hoped, but I never ever expected to have the chance to read this early. It’s 100% going on my next TBR as I can’t wait any longer to read it. I’d read it in June, but it’s already jammed packed with books.
Chosen Ones (The Chosen Ones #1) – Veronica Roth
eARC / GR
Ten years later, though the champions remain celebrities, the world has moved forward and a whole, younger generation doesn’t seem to recall the days of endless fear. But Sloane remembers. It’s impossible for her to forget when the paparazzi haunt her every step just as the Dark One still haunts her dreams. Unlike everyone else, she hasn’t moved on; she’s adrift—no direction, no goals, no purpose. On the eve of the Ten Year Celebration of Peace, a new trauma hits the Chosen: the death of one of their own. And when they gather for the funeral at the enshrined site of their triumph, they discover to their horror that the Dark One’s reign never really ended.
I guess I wished for this on NetGalley ages ago, and the wish was granted. I’m not sure if I ever actually read the synopsis for this book before making this post. I loved the Carve the Mark Duology, so I probably just wished for it because Veronica Roth wrote it. Having read the synopsis, I’m definitely curious to read it, and I think I’m going to put it on my next TBR.
The Bone Thief (The Bone Charmer #2) – Breeana Shields
US Hardcover / ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Review / GR
As she grows increasingly more suspicious, her thirst for revenge becomes all-consuming. Together with the friends she can trust and the boy she loved in another lifetime, Saskia traces clues from Latham’s past to determine what he’ll do next. Their search leads them across Kastelia and brings them to a workshop housing a vast collection of horrors, including the bones Latham stole from Gran, and the knowledge that the future isn’t all that’s in jeopardy—but the past as well.
I love this duology. It’s so good and so slept on. Everyone should read this book and the first one. I cannot express enough; how good they are. I’ve already read this, and it’s a pretty good ending! Go read these books!
House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City #1) – Sarah J. Maas
UK Tour Edition / ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Review / GR
As Bryce and Hunt race to untangle the mystery, they have no way of knowing the threads they tug ripple through the underbelly of the city, across warring continents, and down to the darkest levels of Hel, where things that have been sleeping for millennia are beginning to stir…
So, I wasn’t planning on getting multiple copies of this book. But then someone on Twitter was selling one for $15 due to some slight damage and I jumped without really thinking about it. I can easily overlook the slight damage – in my opinion it’s pretty minor – and now I have a UK Tour Edition. Definitely an edition I never thought I’d own. I’ve already read this, loved it, and I’m desperately waiting for the next one.
Wrath of the Gods (The Titan’s Saga #2) – Jaymin Eve & Leia Stone
US Paperback / GR
#NeverTrustATitan
Maisey thought the worst thing to happen to her was Insta shaming or a midnight shift at the Crab Shack. Until she got dragged into the world of the gods.
Or more specifically, the world of one very annoying, bad at sarcasm, sex on legs, Titan.
Cronus was everything she never knew she wanted, or needed, in her life. And then he just left.
Left her alone, with no idea what’s happening to the world, what’s happening with the sins.
Only someone miscalculated. Whether it was Cronus or the fates, there’s no way they can do this without Maisey.
Turns out, she’s the most important piece
I hate the use of hashtags in these books, but I was completely sucked in story wise from the first book, so I bought the second. This will definitely be a mindless enjoyment read, and I’m looking forward to getting back to Maisy and Cronus. Anything Greek Mythology, I’m down for.
King Maker (Kingdom of Runes #3) – Audrey Grey
US Paperback / GR
Trapped in a shifting landscape of dark politics, duplicitous immortals, and cruel sovereigns, Haven fights to keep Bell alive all without revealing their secret. But a terrible evil brews on the horizon. One that threatens the very fabric of the realm.
Haven might be their only hope of stopping the impending darkness. But first she must learn to accept her own darkness and follow her heart—no matter where it leads.
This is the final book in this trilogy, and I didn’t realize how big it was. I’m planning on reading it this month, so stay tuned. I’m excited to see how Haven’s story comes to a close.
Where Dreams Descend (Kingdom of Cards #1) – Janella Angeles
ARC / GR
In a city covered in ice and ruin, a group of magicians face off in a daring game of magical feats to find the next headliner of the Conquering Circus, only to find themselves under the threat of an unseen danger striking behind the scenes.
As each act becomes more and more risky and the number of missing magicians piles up, three are forced to reckon with their secrets before the darkness comes for them next.
The Star: Kallia, a powerful showgirl out to prove she’s the best no matter the cost
The Master: Jack, the enigmatic keeper of the club, and more than one lie told
The Magician: Demarco, the brooding judge with a dark past he can no longer hide.
I have an eARC of this book, but I was shocked to receive a physical ARC from the publisher. Outside of Goodreads, Cons and NetGalley, this is my second Pub Sent (directly to my house) ARC and I don’t know how I got one. But I’m really excited to read it!
Bone Crier’s Moon (Bone Grace #1) – Kathryn Purdie
US Hardcover / GR
Bastien’s father was slain by a Bone Crier and he’s been seeking revenge ever since. Yet when he finally captures one, his vengeance will have to wait. Ailesse’s ritual has begun and now their fates are entwined—in life and in death.
Sabine has never had the stomach for the Bone Criers’ work. But when her best friend Ailesse is taken captive, Sabine will do whatever it takes to save her, even if it means defying their traditions—and their matriarch—to break the bond between Ailesse and Bastien. Before they all die.
I’m currently reading this right now, so I don’t have many thoughts, but I’m really excited to finally be diving into this!
The Betrothed (The Betrothed #1) – Kiera Cass
US Hardcover / ⭐️⭐️⭐️ / GR
When King Jameson declares his love for Lady Hollis Brite, Hollis is shocked—and thrilled. After all, she’s grown up at Keresken Castle, vying for the king’s attention alongside other daughters of the nobility. Capturing his heart is a dream come true.
But Hollis soon realizes that falling in love with a king and being crowned queen may not be the happily ever after she thought it would be. And when she meets a commoner with the mysterious power to see right into her heart, she finds that the future she really wants is one that she never thought to imagine.
My review for this book is coming up later this week, but I really wasn’t a fan. I won’t go into too much detail, but the plot of this kinda made no sense and I wasn’t a fan of Hollis.
Lullaby (The Sand Maiden #1) – L. R. W. Lee
eBook / GR
Naive… Crazy Risktaker… or Fool in Love. Who is Alissandra?
Alissandra, crown prince Kovis Altairn’s sand maiden, flees Dream realm to protect him and Wake from her father’s nefarious schemes. She only prays he can’t track her down. But her problems are far from over.
The prince, the most powerful sorcerer in the Altairn Empire, knows nothing about Dream realm, let alone his sand maiden. So when Ali is discovered naked in his bedroom, she is accused of malicious motives and being a spy. How will she convince him of her intentions, as well as the danger?
This has been on my radar for a while now and it’s been sitting in my cart for months. I was placing an Amazon order and I clicked on the book. Surprise, surprise, it was on sale for .99 and at that price it would have been stupid for me not to get it.
Moment of Truth (Love, Life, and the List #3) – Kasie West
eBook / GR
As Hadley gets closer to uncovering the masked boy’s identity she also discovers some uncomfortable truths about herself—like she might resent the long shadow her late brother has cast over her family, that she isn’t as happy as she pretends to be with her life choices… and that she is falling for the last guy she ever thought she would like.
I’m a sucker for rom coms, and I’ve enjoyed the majority of Kasie West’s books. I saw this for $2.99 on Amazon and 1-Clicked it. Honestly, I’ve been scrolling through Amazon and Goodreads for books, and I’m on an eBook kick. I’m excited to read this.
The Tethered Mage (Swords and Fire #1) – Malissa Caruso
eBook / GR
In the Raverran Empire, magic is scarce and those born with power are strictly controlled — taken as children and conscripted into the Falcon Army.
Zaira has lived her life on the streets to avoid this fate, hiding her mage-mark and thieving to survive. But hers is a rare and dangerous magic, one that threatens the entire empire.
Lady Amalia Cornaro was never meant to be a Falconer. Heiress and scholar, she was born into a treacherous world of political machinations. But fate has bound the heir and the mage.
War looms on the horizon. A single spark could turn their city into a pyre.
I read The Obsidian Tower just recently, and I loved it. It’s a stellar book, so when I learned that there was a first trilogy set in the same world – I bought it. It’ll definitely be on my next TBR post, because I cannot wait to read it.
From Gods (Descendant Prophecies #1) – Mary Ting
eBook / GR
Skylar Rome can’t wait to spend her last summer before college with her cousin, Kayla. Everything changes when they meet the Grand brothers. Skylar is sure she should stay away from Mason Grand, but their attraction is undeniable. Then Skylar’s life erupts into turmoil. She steps into a world where descendants of ancient gods have super powers, evil beings chase her, and questions arise about her own identity. She is running out of time and running for her life, while trying to unravel the mystery of what they want from her.
Forced into a battle set into motion long before she was born, will Skylar find the answers she seeks, or will she die trying?
This was a freebie I picked up on Amazon by pure accident. I clicked on it because of the cover and was met with a 0-dollar cost. I’m all for Gods and descendants and this sounded good.l
Stolen Princess (Royal Conquest # 1) – Nikki Jefford
eBook / GR
She sacrificed herself to save her family from poverty…
It wasn’t enough to kill my mate, heir to the throne. My obsessive Fae brother-in-law wants the crown. And he wants me ruling by his side.
But this princess no longer has a master. I don’t want a crown. I want freedom, family, and the love of a lifetime. But love might be the one thing that destroys us all.
I bought this on a whim. I figured it would probably be a bit of a mindless, pure enjoyment read. Plus, it was marketed as a “supernatural Cinderella meets Mr. Darcy and The Cruel Prince” so I figured I’d give it a go.
What books did you haul in May?
Writing The Universe 