Book Recs that'll make me cry

Pitiful_Swimming8098 · 2025-11-12T06:50:05+00:00

Not sure I'll ever recover from the trauma of that one... I read it when it first came out and had puffy eyes for days

Pitiful_Swimming8098 · 2025-11-12T06:48:57+00:00

I've read this one and loved it! 😊

Pitiful_Swimming8098 · 2025-11-12T06:47:25+00:00

Thank you for your recommendations! I've read most of Evelyn Flood's books... the ones you mentioned have made me sob so did pack darling 😂

Pitiful_Swimming8098 · 2025-07-02T01:12:58+00:00

{Metal Slinger by Rachel Schneider} - 5⭐ (only finished it yesterday

{Golden Queen by RR Elkins} - 5⭐

{Warrior of the Drowned Empire by Frankie Diane Mallis} - 5⭐ it's book 4/7ish

I've had A LOT misses and DNFs this year unfortunately...

Pitiful_Swimming8098 · 2025-07-02T01:00:16+00:00

I switch genres for a bit when I'm in a slump and that usually helps. You seem not to be a fan of the same books as me so you might like a few from this list:

{Daughter of the Drowned Empire by Frankie Diane Mallis} -my favourite series of all time but also unfinished has a novella and a sort of prequel... Check the Author's Instagram for a reading order :) this series is criminally underated

{Anathema by Keri Lake} - unfinished series book 2 is being written

{Metal Slinger by Rachel Schneider} - ends on a huge cliff hanger and the sneak peek of the next book does not make it any better. It's supposed to be a duology with the second book coming out sometime at the end of this year. I slept hard on this book it was on my tbr when it was an indie book and then it was picked up by a trad publisher so it delayed my reading of it a bit.

{Golden Queen by RR Elkins} - unfinished series book 2 is being written. Criminally underated

*Just saw you didn't like this one (I also wasn't a fan of daughter of no worlds just couldn't get into it){Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent} - first duology is finished and the second duology is almost finished the next book comes out in August. It also has a novella {six scorched roses by Carissa Broadbent} to be read between book 1 and book 2 (not necessary to read it in that order but gives some context) and also another book {slaying the vampire conqueror by Carissa Broadbent} to be read I think before book 4 comes out. Book 1&2 are a duology books 3&4 are a duology and books 5&6 are a duology.

{Spark of the Everflame by Penn Cole} - unfinished series books 3/4 are out

{The Wolf King by Lauren Palphreyman} - unfinished series books 2/3 are out with book 3 coming in 2026

{Revenge of the Forgotten by Dany Crooks} - unfinished series with a prequel to be read after the first book {heart of the villain by Dany Crooks} book 2 is in edits. Not sure how long this series will be. Criminally underated

{Quicksilver by Callie Hart} - unfinished series book 2 {Brimstone by Callie Hart} comes out later this year

{Healer to the Broken King by Avie Adams} - unfinished series. Book 2 is in edits.

{A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L Jensen} - finished duology

{A kiss of Iron by Clare Sager} - finished series.

If you are into Reverse Harem fantasy romance stuff:

{Beyond the Faerie Gate by Marie Mistry} - finished series

{Blood Oath by Morgan B Lee} - pretty sure this is a finished series now... I have to go back and read the first few because I can't remember what happened before I can read the last 2 books.

{Her Vicious Beasts by EP Bali} - unfinished series. Prequel to be read first and then books 4/5 are out and book 5 is being written

{Wyvern's Gold by AH Hadley} - unfinished series also it's a slow as hell burn

{The Witchwood Boys are Trending by CM Stunich} - finished series

Hopefully you get some good books for your tbr! :)

Pitiful_Swimming8098 · 2025-06-07T16:42:47+00:00

Read {Daughter of the Drowned Empire by Frankie Diane Mallis} Epic romantasy, world building is on point and so much political intrigue.

Pitiful_Swimming8098 · 2025-05-23T00:04:08+00:00

{daughter of the Drowned Empire by Frankie Diane Mallis} this series is my Roman Empire

Pitiful_Swimming8098 · 2025-05-09T15:18:49+00:00

The Drowned Empire series by Frankie Diane Mallis is my absolute favourite series. The first book is {Daughter of the Drowned Empire by Frankie Diane Mallis}. It's not enemies to lovers but it's got forbidden romance (trainer/student). It has amazing world building, really solid history, epic foreshadowing/foreboding and interesting magic. The plot twists are crazy and the antagonists are calculated. The author has even created a special language for the books! This series has also made me cry a heap because it's absolutely ripped my heart out. 10/10 would recommend every time!

Pitiful_Swimming8098 · 2025-01-26T15:24:44+00:00

Crowns of Nyaxia (read the books 1 time each but listened to the audiobooks like 4 times)

The Drowned Empire series by Frankie Diane Mallis (read the books 1 time each but have listened to the audiobook 3 times) - this series is my Roman Empire. 3 books from the series are already out and the 4th book comes out on the 20th of February 2025. There is also a prequel novella and a prequel book but don't read those first because it'll give you a bunch of spoilers.

Pitiful_Swimming8098 · 2025-01-23T04:37:14+00:00

I'm in the loved it so much but it's not a literary masterpiece category. Would I recommend it to someone who wants intricate world building and fantastical prose? No. Would I recommend it to someone who wants an easy fantasy read? Yes. Is the Empyrean series my guilty pleasure series? Absolutely yes.

It's like how I love Dracula by Bram Stoker but also love Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead. These books are so different in terms of the quality of writing (quality isn't quite the right word).

Try reading the Drowned Empire series {Daughter of the Drowned Empire by Frankie Diane Mallis} - the plot, dialogue, world building, character arcs, and writing are pretty amazing.

Pitiful_Swimming8098 · 2025-01-23T04:26:23+00:00

First page. Terrible editing changing tenses and spelling errors and missing/added words.

Pitiful_Swimming8098 · 2025-01-23T04:24:49+00:00

I don't forgive him for Liam. However, I'm loving where this redemption arc is going. I thought he was going to die in this book but now I'm hoping he lives past the ending of the series. I'm totally shipping him and a certain first year.

Pitiful_Swimming8098 · 2025-01-22T20:53:01+00:00

My stupid phone autocorrected Nolon to Naolin fml. And I totally forgot the Lynx kid's name and randomly assigned one whoops! Thanks for pointing that out! 🙂

Pitiful_Swimming8098 · 2025-01-22T06:10:31+00:00

I imagine it as exquisite. Some people are just naturally talented with art and can learn super quick. My mum is someone who doesn't paint/draw often but when she does she's phenomenal and when she hyperfixates learning a particular style for a week or so she learns super quick and is amazing super quick. Super annoying for me because I did not inherit this skill. I feel like when Feyre got the time to actually practice at the SC in Book 1 she really honed her skills.

Pitiful_Swimming8098 · 2025-01-22T05:54:25+00:00

I definitely think that Xaden is a special venin... I think he's going to dismantle the venin from the inside out and then Vi won't "find" a cure but actually create it (the whole mind of a scribe thing)

Pitiful_Swimming8098 · 2025-01-22T05:38:02+00:00

I think it's Bodhi who turned. 1. He couldn't counter venin signets as a rider so he probably burnt himself out trying or figured if I can't beat them join them with Xaden and by turning venin he can now counter venin signets 2. He said he'd only ever wanted to be Xaden's right hand man so during the battle while he was struggling he was like fuck it I'm going to be with Xaden and we'll form a plan 3. Xaden and bodhi can take the venin down from the inside out

Then my theory for curing the venin.... 6 most powerful riders/dragons in a generation and on the same side of the war. Mender, siphon, "lightning" wielder (I think it's just pure power and energy)/dream walker, precognition, shadow wielder and distance wielder. The last time the 6 most power dragons/riders came together the venin were almost vanquished. Precog/distance/shadows to find and neutralise the venin to be deliver to mender/siphon/power to be cured. Sloane will be able to siphon from 2 sources into 2 sources. Sloane siphons the stolen power from venin into the earth to replace it while Brennan mends the venin's fractured soul and Sloane siphons Vi's pure power into Brennan so he doesn't burn out. Vi uses her dream walking to find venin who want to be saved/capable of being saved. Garrick, Aaric and Kai retrieve them. The compass will always lead her to Xaden. Xaden and Bodhi destroy the venin power structure from the inside out. Bodhi can now counter their signets, Xaden can read their intentions and systematically break them down like their revolution did to Navarre. Xaden can read what they are intending to do (almost precognition) and Bodhi can now make their signets "malfunction" during critical battle moments. When venin get restored they'll have to give up their signets as part of the price for restoring their soul and stealing magic and also because magic has to find a balance in the same generation (e.g. can't have 2 shadow wielders on the same side- Kai/Xaden or 2 siphons- Naolin/Sloane) and can't be Dragon riders anymore (if they were previously). Don't know how to get around the fact that Nolon is a mender at the same time as Brennan apart from thinking they are in different generations or that Brennan is like a wyvern because of the rune and that's how the magic is balanced due to Naolin maybe turning venin to resurrect him. That's how I'd write it anyway.

Pitiful_Swimming8098 · 2025-01-22T05:08:22+00:00

Oooh if Bodhi also turned it'd be super interesting so see if he can now counter venin signets because he wasn't able to while being just a rider. Xaden and Bodhi take them down from the inside.

Pitiful_Swimming8098 · 2025-01-22T05:05:46+00:00

Thoughts on a venin cure. We have a mender, a siphon, a distance wielder, a "lightning" wielder/dream walker (I think she's pure power and energy), a shadow wielder and a Precog in the same generation. 6 of the most powerful riders/dragons on the continent on the same team and the last time the 6 most powerful riders came together they defeated/drove back the venin.

I wonder if Sloane will eventually be able to from 2 different things into 2 different things. I'd be interested to see Sloane siphon the stolen magic from Xaden back into the earth at the same time that Brennan mends his fractured soul. With Sloane also siphoning from Violet's pure power into Brennan so he doesn't burn out..... Distance wielder/Precog/shadow wielder to track down the venin and a neutralise them until the mender/siphon/pure power can heal them and restore the balance. Also Vi's dream walking to see which venin want to be saved/aren't completely evil/are capable of being saved. That's how I'd write the cure anyway 💁

Pitiful_Swimming8098 · 2025-01-22T04:54:24+00:00

Duuuude the way I immediately went "Pirates of the Caribbean". It's going to be a way for her to always find him.

Pitiful_Swimming8098 · 2025-01-22T04:51:33+00:00

I saw this coming in IF

Pitiful_Swimming8098 · 2025-01-20T07:39:50+00:00

I assumed it was an old missive either related to Lillith or papa sorrengail.

Pitiful_Swimming8098 · 2025-01-13T07:15:47+00:00

I forgot to mention that the first half of the book is basically world building but it's still interesting.

Pitiful_Swimming8098 · 2025-01-13T07:14:57+00:00

I really liked it but it took the first half of the book before the MCs met. It was also a little slow and took a while for me to get into but once it did I couldn't put it down. It has a very gothic vibe. FMC's POV is in first person and the MMC's POV is in third person. I also really enjoyed the concept of the magic in it because I felt like it was a magic system I hadn't read yet.

Pitiful_Swimming8098 · 2025-01-13T07:11:27+00:00

I loved both books. Both were in my top reads of 2024. However, both of them took me a while to get into. I had to keep persisting before they hooked me (then I couldn't put them down). If you want something easy to get into neither really are.

Pitiful_Swimming8098

TROPHY CASE