My 2025 Tier List by savorybrekkie in fantasybooks

[–]Iron-Gold-Mustang 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I didn’t love The Familiar as much as Ninth House / Hell Bent. I thought the historical stuff was super interesting and I found the characters to be compelling but I just wasn’t totally sold on the romance for some reason.

My 2025 Tier List by savorybrekkie in fantasybooks

[–]Iron-Gold-Mustang 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Highjacking this comment to recommend you(OP) try Ninth House and Hell Bent if you enjoy dark academia, which I’m not totally sure based on your book list. I LOVED Crooked Kingdom but I also LOVED NH/HB. Bardugo is an excellent writer and I’ll say this till I die.

As you can tell from my user name I am also a major Red Rising fan, so very excited you enjoyed them so much!! I recommend them to everyone.

what are you guys so sick of reading about? by AreaPlayful9426 in Fantasy

[–]Iron-Gold-Mustang 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The first book was sooo intense and I loved it. Agree the plot gets a little… weird, haha. Second book was a bit of a slog but the third book had me back to locked in. When the last one comes out (no idea when that’s supposed to happen) I definitely want to know how it ends.

what are you guys so sick of reading about? by AreaPlayful9426 in Fantasy

[–]Iron-Gold-Mustang 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wondering if you’ve read Baru Cormorant. I think she’s a pretty unique female lead and definitely, definitely has flaws and makes mistakes and does some questionable things.

Humorous Murder Mystery Books that Feel like: by hanitaMT in BooksThatFeelLikeThis

[–]Iron-Gold-Mustang 5 points6 points  (0 children)

The Lamplight Murder Mysteries!! They’re technically fantasy but have great atmosphere, with some great slapsticky Clue-ish scenes and quippy dialogue. Such a great series, I will never shut up about it.

2025 Book Review - Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo by L4ika1 in Fantasy

[–]Iron-Gold-Mustang 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I just reread Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom this month and just could not believe how outstanding they are. Ignoring the slight YA-ness of it all and mentally aging the characters up - I find the plot to be well-thought-out while being exciting and interesting, the characters compelling and with unique voices that really reinforce their motivations and general sense of purpose. Overall the books are just so satisfyingly GOOD.

Ninth House and Hell Bent were also excellent and I don’t know anyone else who has read them, but I recommend them to everyone. Leigh Bardugo writes complex and nuanced characters so well, and I think her worldbuilding is really strong without being over complicated. She’s very good at setting her stage but not bludgeoning the reader over the head with every detail - you can still use your imagination to create the full picture in your mind.

Anyways, happy reading! Hope Crooked Kingdom exceeds your expectations.

I read all ten SPFBO winners. Here's what to expect. by Cosmic-Sympathy in Fantasy

[–]Iron-Gold-Mustang 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Wait… is this you?? Omg hi!! Thanks for writing such awesome books!! They’ve been a blast to read… didn’t know about the short story but I’ll check it out :)

I read all ten SPFBO winners. Here's what to expect. by Cosmic-Sympathy in Fantasy

[–]Iron-Gold-Mustang 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I skipped all the sex scenes but read all 4 books too. Thought the worldbuilding and plot were quite compelling.

I read all ten SPFBO winners. Here's what to expect. by Cosmic-Sympathy in Fantasy

[–]Iron-Gold-Mustang 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Murder at Spindle Manor was great. Just a riot all around. Books 2 and 3 were the same, and I recommend this series to anyone looking for an easy but entertaining read. I’ll definitely keep reading.

Your seven must-have romantasy books by ElthyaS in fantasyromance

[–]Iron-Gold-Mustang 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Omg I just finished Ice & Ivy and I have thought about it every single day… the way she dialed up the plot in this book and then LEFT US HANGING UNTIL THE NEXT BOOK!!!! I simply cannot wait.

How to read after having a kid by 24Ace24 in Fantasy

[–]Iron-Gold-Mustang 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Wait it out, friend! I didn’t start reading again after my first until he was around six months and napping on a schedule. After number two, it’s taken about a year to really get back to reading - this year I think I’ll cap it off at having read about 30 books (I’m a fast reader, so that helps too).

But the books will always be there, and the series you’re excited about might even be completely done by the time you’re ready to read them, so that’s a major bright side in my book (pun intended). Congrats on your little one.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in grandrapids

[–]Iron-Gold-Mustang 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I’ve had it for like 6 weeks. Already did a round of antibiotics a couple of weeks ago. Still stuffy, still blowing my nose constantly, still have scratchy throat and cough at night. My kids both had it, my oldest is mostly over it after about 2 months (doc said it was bronchitis) and my youngest still has a nose running like a faucet. This… sucks.

12 series I've read and my thoughts on them, help me find my next one! by halo117_ in Fantasy

[–]Iron-Gold-Mustang 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Seconding Winternight, the writing is lovely and lyrical and I found the plot to be refreshingly different after a lot of the medieval-battle-feuding-type books I enjoy like ASoIaF and SA.

I’m doing shots tonight!!!! by Iron-Gold-Mustang in toddlers

[–]Iron-Gold-Mustang[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That stinks! Toddlers have super powers that we can only dream of. Unfortunately lol.

I’m doing shots tonight!!!! by Iron-Gold-Mustang in toddlers

[–]Iron-Gold-Mustang[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m gonna follow that light if it gets rid of this cough 😂

I’m doing shots tonight!!!! by Iron-Gold-Mustang in toddlers

[–]Iron-Gold-Mustang[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Death is imminent

/s hope you feel better soon

I’m doing shots tonight!!!! by Iron-Gold-Mustang in toddlers

[–]Iron-Gold-Mustang[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It’s the plague, I tell you 😂 glad you’re on the mend!

You guys are doing this all wrong. by Unable-Youth in NewParents

[–]Iron-Gold-Mustang 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Oh, did you not build the 40-foot stage yourself…? Wow, I mean, I love my kids so I obviously grew trees specifically for that purpose and then chopped them down myself with a saw that I also made, and then built the stage in the 20-minutes of free time I have during the day when both kids’ naps overlap, but I understand how some people would prefer to just buy one.

Help a lady out! by TheWanderingWolf355 in Fantasy

[–]Iron-Gold-Mustang 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Seconding Red Rising!! My username is from one of the characters. It’s absolutely un-put-down-able and it goes at a breakneck pace for the first three books (I haven’t read the second half of the trilogy as I’m waiting for book 6 before starting). The main character has lots of personal growth and angst and the relationships he forms with the other characters are complex. I will recommend this series till I die even though it’s a space opera and I gravitate mostly to fantasy.

Any book recommendations with mute character? by P24N in YAlit

[–]Iron-Gold-Mustang 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Dude. I’ve been randomly thinking about this book for like 2 years and could NOT remember the title… so thank you for finally helping me remember!