My To Be Read List

I have been taking some time away from writing. I haven't forgotten about Vocal, the truth is I just have been too busy pursuing other things to write online and honestly, my little family and I just had a really hard month between the flu and a weird eye infection/cold circulating our house. I'm currently sipping some warm peppermint tea because my throat is sore.

I even debated closing this account for a moment there because I don't resonate with my old self anymore. The woman who I was during a period of survival, isn't the woman writing this today. Obviously, that wasn't what I chose to do. I chose to move forward and keep writing.

So I decided to compile a list of books that I am currently looking forward to reading this next year. I'm not going to lie, I do judge a book by it's cover.

I had just finished the Kanin Chronicles series by Amanda Hocking and I'm now in a state of shock. I long to go back and read them all again for the first time. The series was that good guys. I know I have written about her before, but trust me when I say, I am so impressed by her world building skills, her character development, and her writing style. She outdid herself.

The Kanin Chronicles series is based in the world of trolls that she built with her first series called the Trylle Trilogy. If you have not heard of her before and love fantasy novels, please go check her out. I'll throw a link to one of my posts about her down below. I just want to live in a troll village, I feel like I'd fit right in. (The best part about this series is there is ANOTHER trilogy based in the same troll world with different sets of characters.)

Anyways, these are a few of the books on my TBR list that I am slowly working my way through. I did take advantage of Amazon Kindle's "Stuff my Kindle" promotion too so I have books coming out the wazo right now that I need to catch up on.

Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig

Matt Haig’s accessible and life-affirming memoir of his struggle with depression, and how his triumph over the illness taught him to live.

Like nearly one in five people, Matt Haig suffers from depression. Reasons to Stay Alive is Matt’s inspiring account of how, minute by minute and day by day, he overcame the disease with the help of reading, writing, and the love of his parents and his girlfriend (and now-wife), Andrea. And eventually, he learned to appreciate life all the more for it.

Everyone’s lives are touched by mental illness: if we do not suffer from it ourselves, then we have a friend or loved one who does. Matt’s frankness about his experiences is both inspiring to those who feel daunted by depression and illuminating to those who are mystified by it. Above all, his humor and encouragement never let us lose sight of hope. Speaking as his present self to his former self in the depths of depression, Matt is adamant that the oldest cliché is the truest—there is light at the end of the tunnel. He teaches us to celebrate the small joys and moments of peace that life brings, and reminds us that there are always reasons to stay alive.

Synopsis taken from Goodreads

I have loved this author since my oldest was a baby. I bought him The Truth Pixie for Christmas and read it to him countless times. I have been meaning to read this novel for quite some time as I have had my own ongoing battle with mental illness and I love the idea behind this memoir. It's been on my TBR list for a long time if I am being honest with you.

Caraval by Stephanie Garber

A legendary competition.

A mesmerizing romance.

An unbreakable bond

between two sisters.

Scarlett Dragna has never left the tiny island where she and her sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval—the faraway, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show—are over.

But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt-of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.

Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. Nevertheless she becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic. And whether Caraval is real or not, Scarlett must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over or a dangerous domino effect of consequences will be set off, and her beloved sister will disappear forever.

Welcome, welcome to Caraval . . . beware of getting swept too far away.

Synopsis taken from Goodreads

I snagged this book off of Indigo. It caught my eye and you guys all know how much I love fantasy. I don't know what to expect, the reviews are mixed. Have you read this one? Let me know in the comments.

The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Garber

Not every love is meant to be.

After Jacks, the Prince of Hearts, betrays her, Evangeline Fox swears she'll never trust him again. Now that she’s discovered her own magic, Evangeline believes she can use it to restore the chance at happily ever after that Jacks stole away.

But when a new terrifying curse is revealed, Evangeline finds herself entering into a tenuous partnership with the Prince of Hearts again. Only this time, the rules have changed. Jacks isn’t the only force Evangeline needs to be wary of. In fact, he might be the only one she can trust, despite her desire to despise him.

Instead of a love spell wreaking havoc on Evangeline’s life, a murderous spell has been cast. To break it, Evangeline and Jacks will have to do battle with old friends, new foes, and a magic that plays with heads and hearts. Evangeline has always trusted her heart, but this time she’s not sure she can...

Synopsis taken from Goodreads

Another Stephanie Garber novel. This novel has better reviews than the first one on my list by her. I feel like this is the one I'm going to read first because it was selected for a Goodreads award back in 2022.

Bestow The Darkness by Amanda Hocking

The New York Times Bestselling author of the Trylle Saga and Freeks returns with her first novel written for adults. BESTOW THE DARKNESS is a brooding gothic romance set in the rugged forest of 1890s Michigan.

Emiliath lives in a cloistered religious sect with her sisters and brothers, as she has for over twenty-one years. Her life is stable and quiet, but she has begun to feel a longing for something more. When tragedy hits close to home, she begins to connect with a handsome stranger from the city, Trent.

But her quiet life is far more sinister than it seems, and Trent has his own secrets. On top of that, a hungry beast is lurking in the forest, and it might be the end of everything Emiliath has ever known.

Synopsis taken from Goodreads

You guys KNOW I'm excited for this one. She's one of my favourite authors. I'm excited to see where her mind goes with this one honestly because it seems different than most of her other novels that I have read. Who knows? Maybe it will become my new favourite.

Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare

In the vibrant city-state of Castellane, the richest of nobles and the most debauched of criminals have one thing in common: the constant search for wealth, power, and the next hedonistic thrill.

Kel is an orphan, stolen from the life he knew to become the Sword Catcher—the body double of a royal heir, Prince Conor Aurelian. He has been raised alongside the prince, trained in every aspect of combat and statecraft. He and Conor are as close as brothers, but Kel knows that his destiny is to die for Conor. No other future is possible.

Lin Caster is one of the Ashkar, a small community whose members still possess magical abilities. By law, they must live behind walls within the city, but Lin, a physician, ventures out to tend to the sick and dying of Castellane. Despite her skills, she cannot heal her best friend without access to forbidden knowledge.

After a failed assassination attempt brings Lin and Kel together, they are drawn into the web of the mysterious Ragpicker King, the criminal ruler of Castellane’s underworld. He offers them each what they want most; but as they descend into his world of intrigue and shadow, they discover a conspiracy of corruption that reaches from the darkest gutters of Castellane to the highest tower of its palaces.

As long-kept secrets begin to unravel, they must ask themselves: Is knowledge worth the price of betrayal? Can forbidden love bring down a kingdom? And will their discoveries plunge their nation into war—and the world into chaos?

Snyopsis taken from Goodreads

Another amazing fantasy writer, Cassandra Clare sold me with this one. I have LOVED The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices for so many years that when I discovered this one, I decided it was time to read more of her work again.

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What do you think of some of the books on my TBR list? Any winners? Let me know in the comments.

Chloe Rose Violet 🌹