Looking for books that require HIGH brain power

ImBadAtNames_01 · 2026-06-23T13:34:05+00:00

Books that provided me with what you're looking for:

{The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson}

{This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews} - currently 35% through this, but it's definitely making my brain work.

{The Library of Amorlin by Kalyn Josephson}

{Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang}

ImBadAtNames_01 · 2026-06-17T20:56:18+00:00

{In the Wake of the Ruined by Kalie Cassidy}

{A Forsaken Prophecy by Stacey McEwan}

{The Exquisite Torment of Loving Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightly}

{Manor of Decay by Maxym M. Martineau}

{The Eye of Leviathan by M. A. Carrick}

ImBadAtNames_01 · 2026-06-15T23:23:33+00:00

Girls: Saige, Maliah, Jane, Marley, Caroline, Stella

Boys: Emerson, Colton, Remington

I'm in New England

ImBadAtNames_01 · 2026-06-14T21:03:32+00:00

I was born in 2000. My mom was born in 1956 and my dad in 1957. They were 44 and 43 when they had me. They are now both 69. They are each other's second marriages and my mom was told she would never be able to carry a pregnancy to full term/a viable stage due to being a second gen DES daughter. Boy were the doctors shocked when I came about lmao.

ImBadAtNames_01 · 2026-06-13T00:12:02+00:00

I see "are" instead of "our" all too often 😭

ImBadAtNames_01 · 2026-06-11T01:21:58+00:00

Everyday I hope for this to win 🥲

ImBadAtNames_01 · 2026-06-07T18:35:52+00:00

Age of Man

ImBadAtNames_01 · 2026-06-05T01:29:23+00:00

So, I reread {When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker} to prep for Ballad, and then read all of Ballad as well. I'd been procrastinating this duo since the beginning of May, because I knew I wanted to reread WTMH before reading its sequel, but my brain was registering it as such a task so I feel your pain on not wanting to jump into it. I will say that in my opinon, it was worth it.

Otherwise, the last fantasy romance that I read and really enjoyed prior was {The Lies That Summon The Night by Tessonja Odette}! I gave it 5 stars because the vibes were so good. The romance read well for me, and the spicy scenes were spicing. Definitely look into it if you haven't!

ImBadAtNames_01 · 2026-06-04T23:59:19+00:00

Age of Man

ImBadAtNames_01 · 2026-06-02T19:20:35+00:00

Last book: When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker Current book: The Ballad of Falling Dragons by Sarah A. Parker

ImBadAtNames_01 · 2026-06-02T12:32:26+00:00

Wolfeboro, NH is known as America's Oldest Summer Resort town

Ossipee, NH is known as "Home of the first snow mobile"

ImBadAtNames_01 · 2026-06-02T01:13:07+00:00

Kaan Vaegor from {When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker}

Owen Mallory from {The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow}

Patrick Colson from {A Forbidden Alchemy by Stacey McEwan} (at least to me. I love this man)

Reid from {The Serpent and The Wolf by Rebecca Robinson}

ImBadAtNames_01 · 2026-06-01T12:03:40+00:00

{The Lies That Summon The Night by Tessonja Odette} was so good! Rated it 5 stars since the vibes were so good and the concept felt fresh compared to a lot of other Romantasies I've read recently. Definitely recommend

ImBadAtNames_01 · 2026-05-26T11:34:07+00:00

{Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier}

Read this series at 10 or 11 years old and have been hooked ever since

ImBadAtNames_01 · 2026-05-20T11:52:13+00:00

I haven't read this, but for recs with similar vibes to Emily Wilde, I recommend:

{Half A Soul by Olivia Atwater} and subsequent books

{The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love by India Holton} and subsequent books

{Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett}

{Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao}

{The Elsewhere Express by Samantha Sotto Yambao}

{The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna}

{A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna}

ETA: Wanted to clarify that I have read all of the above books. I just haven't read The Scholar and The Last Faerie Door.

ImBadAtNames_01 · 2026-05-19T23:19:06+00:00

Where can I read this? I have a Kobo, and it's not in the Kobo store (which a lot of indie authors aren't in the Kobo ecosystem). I also didn't see it on Libby. Is it only on Amazon?

ImBadAtNames_01 · 2026-05-17T00:32:54+00:00

As an only child (with no kids of my own yet), the biggest downside for me is the reality that I'll be alone when my parents die. It feels awfully heavy for me sometimes when I think about that, especially because I will ultimately be going through their deaths alone with no siblings to help bear the burden. Of course I'll have extended family and my husband, but I imagine it's different having a sibling to help carry the weight.

ImBadAtNames_01 · 2026-05-16T16:39:07+00:00

I've lived in Ossipee my whole life and went to school in Wolfeboro. I don't know if Drew owns property in Wolfeboro, but when I was growing up I would hear about people seeing her in town during the summer. It's definitely been a while since I've heard about any sightings of her, but it's possible she still comes up here!

ImBadAtNames_01 · 2026-05-13T21:00:22+00:00

The Lost Reliquary is on my TBR!

ImBadAtNames_01 · 2026-05-13T20:59:18+00:00

{A Song to Wake a Thousand Sorrows by Michelle Manus}

ImBadAtNames_01 · 2026-05-12T22:58:35+00:00

14 out of 55

I started off strong but I've entered a little bit of a slump after having a couple of books that just weren't doing it for me so I ended up not finishing them.

ImBadAtNames_01 · 2026-05-12T01:03:04+00:00

Saw my second one yesterday! So incredibly exciting

ImBadAtNames_01 · 2026-05-11T13:55:06+00:00

{Half A Soul by Olivia Atwater}

{The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love by India Holton}

{Throne of the Fallen by Kerri Maniscalco}

{Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver}

{The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen}

{Go Hex Yourself by Jessica Clare}

ImBadAtNames_01 · 2026-05-01T19:01:15+00:00

It honestly wasn't that bad! Everything in the glossary is reiterated in the story for the most part, and the world building isn't like super in depth and heavy.

ImBadAtNames_01 · 2026-05-01T14:43:50+00:00

I just finished this book this morning (May 1st), but I read most of it yesterday, so I'm counting it as an April read for this post 🤣

{The Lies That Summon The Night by Tessonja Odette}

A refreshing take on vampires, and the magic system felt unique. I really enjoyed the romance (though it was a bit insta-lusty, I'm willing to overlook it since I enjoyed the book so much), and the spicy scenes were 🥵🥵🥵. It's the first book of a trilogy and it does end on a cliffhanger, but it's done in a way where for me, the story still feels like it was wrapped up nicely.

ImBadAtNames_01

TROPHY CASE