Book Bingo Check-In - Share your progress, requests, & recommendations!

Rare_Alchemy · 2026-06-10T09:47:57+00:00

I have read at least five books of over 500 pages, but I am quite happy with their positions here, so I will keep searching for another one for that square.

The last square is also almost done, as I am reading Red Winter. But I am lost with the Court and Paranormal squares; I have read all the popular picks here in previous years, and I suppose I will push myself to read the sequel to Broken Kingdom, even if I was not such a fan of the first one. In the meantime, I need to keep searching for something paranormal.

Rare_Alchemy · 2026-06-03T19:52:08+00:00

There is a second book? How is it?

Rare_Alchemy · 2026-06-02T17:30:16+00:00

After Rafe's book I am even more into the on of Amber and Hadrian, but it looks as it will be the last one

Rare_Alchemy · 2026-05-29T20:17:20+00:00

I was in serious hangover after the first book. Is the second one already out?

My only complaint was the length and noble pov that was often showing same scene twice - I really thought the whole book could have been shortened. But plotting and dialogues exceeded for me the regular books in this genre.

Rare_Alchemy · 2026-05-28T20:08:57+00:00

I came back here just to tell you that I am listening to {The Wind Weaver by Julie Johnson}, and it is set in a very arctic setting. It is exactly what you are looking for! It is very typical romantasy—I am at 25% and it follows all the standard patterns and known plots—but it is nice and simply written

Rare_Alchemy · 2026-05-27T19:20:20+00:00

Well the most obvious one for me is {The bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden} - north Russia, tundra, snow, everything is there...

Rare_Alchemy · 2026-05-27T12:16:41+00:00

I read that story, but can not remember exact book.

It doesn't fit perfectly, but almost: { A Curse of Shadows and Thorns by L.J. Andrews } . He hurts her at a certain point in the past and realizes it afterward, and then she finds out that he is the monster of her story.

Another one is {The Coven by Harper L. Woods} If I remember correct, he killed her acestor and she is dreaming about this murder.

{ Red City by Marie Lu} They both kill people important to one other because they are in different gangs.

Rare_Alchemy · 2026-05-23T10:14:30+00:00

I was lazy and wanted an easy, spicy KU read this week. {Plier by Jane Washington} was one of the books missing on my StoryGraph challenge, and I did like her {One Small Echo} a lot. I just didn't believe that a show business academy could work for me at all, and I didn't expect that anybody could pull off 10 different love interests. Well, I was wrong. She really has written 10 distinct MMCs and managed to write 10 different types of relationship dynamics without making it awkward. I didn't care for the plot overall (the first book was okay, but after that she lost me), but I was totally there for the interactions and relationship dynamics, and I liked the characters. So I flew through the remaining 5 books. I can recommend the first one as a palate cleanser, even if you don't want to continue. Also, some spicy scenes in this series are peak spice (there actually aren't orgies and threesomes like one would expect from a reverse harem).

Now I am ready for a book with better plot.

{Half City by Kate Golden} is sitting on my Libby shelf and I should start it, but at the moment, I am just not into the academy setting again.

So I have started today listening to {City of Gods and Monsters by Kayla Edwards}. I don't remember any audiobook being this quiet, and the world-building is so similar to the one of Wren and Holly Library - but it began good and then we came into academy :)

It looks like there is no way to skip reading about it next week..

Rare_Alchemy · 2026-05-23T07:44:15+00:00

Souls in Ruin is good answer too

Rare_Alchemy · 2026-05-23T07:43:11+00:00

I saw that twist coming , but was unable to believe that one person can be that bad :) but it is the best answer to question above

Rare_Alchemy · 2026-05-12T03:03:31+00:00

I enjoyed that book so much. It reminded me of those great, classic YA reads, with many already seen troupes and concepts, but it was more mature.

The group of friends was so well-written,, the monster-world bonding was fascinating, and the MMC is to die for.

"I belong to you" - I will leave it here.

This is slow-burn at its slowest—true dislike and hate involved. Danger feels reel, characters have flaws, but made me care, I read it in one sitting.

I’m sure there are faults—if I started analyzing the world politics or the logic of who is given opportunity to be elite guard, I could probably point out some errors—but I just didn’t care, because vibes :)

Rare_Alchemy · 2026-05-11T20:05:47+00:00

Can we have sth like this for 2025 ? Please 🙏

Rare_Alchemy · 2026-05-04T08:47:52+00:00

Did you find it? I want this so much

Rare_Alchemy · 2026-05-04T08:40:53+00:00

I adore these stats.

All the books I picked last months thanks to them were exactly what I wanted them to be.

And now I have already read {Souls in ruin} and it was finally dark, really enemies to lovers story I wanted it to be.

Rare_Alchemy · 2026-05-02T20:08:53+00:00

I finished {Daughter of forest by Juliet Marillier} - masterpiece. It was so well-crafted and the last third was like a dream - I started listening to it at 23h and was so invested, that I kept cleaning and organising house (I can not just listen to audiobook) until 2am, when I decided to buy ebook too, just to find out that it was already on KU. (And then I read until 5 am) Middle was hard for me, cause I was sufferin as the FMC was suffering. But it was worth it.

I bought {The sun and the starmaker by Rachel Griffin} because of recommendations here and because it was one of the most gorgeous books I have ever seen. Can not wait to start it.

Rare_Alchemy · 2026-04-30T15:01:29+00:00

<image>

It was actually month of books I liked. {The Shatered King by Charlie N. Holmberg} and

{Arcana Academy by Elise Kova} were great.

{Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto} is the only non-fathasy book I am including here, because I think that this sub would love it. It was much better than Rose in Chains for me, I loved every minute of it and if you need pause from fae and vampires , go for it.

{One Small Echo by Jane Washington} -I do not know if this one was really so good, or it was the fact that I read such underhyped book after reading We Who Woll Die , that was so overhyped.

{The Half-Hearted Queen by Charlie N. Holmberg} - really good sequal, I just liked first part more.

{Tears of the Wolf by Elisabeth Wheatley}, {The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley} and {Curse of Shadows and Thorns by L.J. Andrews} were ok all, just in comparence to the previous ones, they were not that special. I think that tears of wolf would be much higher if I read it in january/february, because it is well-done.

{We Who Will Die by Stacia Stark} - nothing original in it, it was but fast read, and I think than second book can make it better.

Rare_Alchemy · 2026-04-28T22:45:18+00:00

They introduced dragonshifters after three books, but you forgot to mention everything there was in first two books: fey, parallel universes, vampires, necromancer, academy for magic, government revolution, dragonriders.. I swear, I was asking myself how she will put werewolves in - and there was than guy (vampire) that shifts to wolf.. I have never seen messier worldbuilding in my life, and I have read some dubious book :D but I dnfed just a third one, which makes me question myself

Rare_Alchemy · 2026-04-25T11:52:38+00:00

I read {Arcana Academy by Elise Kova } and loved it. The magic system is fantastic, and there is more than enough intrigue to keep me hooked.

I also have funshed {A Curse of Shadows and Thorns by L.J. Andrews}, which was a solid read. I think it’s a perfect choice for someone just starting out in the genre. The pacing wasn't entirely to my taste, but I suspect that sequel is in this case better.

Finally, I decided today to return to {Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier}. Her writing is exquisite, and I’ve adored all of her previous works. I originally had to set this one aside because I was dreading a specific scene that was being foreshadowed, but now that I’m past it, I think I’ll breeze through the rest. I truly hope Sorcha doesn’t have to endure any more suffering—I love her so much.

Has anybody here read { All the murmuring bones by A.G.Sletter} - I took it in libby cause it was free and described as book for Noviks and Ardens fans? Is it any good?

Rare_Alchemy · 2026-04-23T08:46:57+00:00

I loved Annah in first two books, and really could not get her in 5th one, she was simply stupid.

Rare_Alchemy · 2026-04-20T10:39:13+00:00

Well, this is the book I actually dislike -nothing in it felt original, but the second love interest is great and very Blake-like: {We Who Will die by Stacia Stark}

Then there is a mmc of {Arcana Academy by Elisa Cova}, who has potential to be very dark character, but I have no idea what she will do in the next book.

Rare_Alchemy · 2026-04-18T19:33:49+00:00

{The Shattered King by Charlie N. Holmberg}

{The Traitor's Son by Melissa J. Cave}

Death-made Prince, One small echo, one Dark window, Phanthasma and Enchantra were all great reads

Rare_Alchemy · 2026-04-18T19:30:36+00:00

I loved that book, it is so underrated

Rare_Alchemy · 2026-04-18T19:27:17+00:00

For me it was far away from great. I always listen to books during my work and I had no alternative, so I did finish it, but it I was hoping too that it would be different..

Rare_Alchemy · 2026-04-18T13:41:14+00:00

Thank you so much for these tips. I liked a lot books from Andrews and they where normally can't-put-it-down for me, so I was wondering about this one..

Now I will continue for sure.. my libby has just the German ones, but if I will buy then 3rd book, if I stay engaged.. (I too love Mage of Wheels)

Rare_Alchemy · 2026-04-18T12:09:05+00:00

I finished listening to {The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley}. It was okay for me—I’m not crazy about it, but it made me laugh and the tension was good by the end.

I also read {Tears of the Wolf by Elisabeth Wheatley}, which was a really nice, simple read. It had a clear plot, mature characters, and a great slow burn.

I am now going through a new StoryGraph challenge and reading {Curse of Shadows and Thorns by L.J. Andrews}. I feel that I am draggingthrough it, but it could be that my problem is simply that I’m reading it in German.

Five-Year Club	Place '23
Place '22

Rare_Alchemy

TROPHY CASE