Audiobooks are a newfound love of mine. Before last year, I was adamant that I couldn’t pay attention and understand what was happening. My listening skills were (are) subpar, making it a struggle anytime I tried listening to audiobooks. I couldn’t sit and stare at a wall for more than a few minutes without my mind wandering and starting to daydream.

Let me tell you all a story. When I was young, I was loud, headstrong, and an excellent self-proclaimed tomboy. This had its perks. I would play outside, get muddy, fight with the boys, and be as aggressive as my little heart desired.

Books have been the greatest part of my life. From third grade on, you couldn’t find me without a book in my hand. I read before school, at recess, during lunch (when I could sneak the book in), and after all the various sports my parents signed me up for. I was one of those kids who couldn’t help but devour story after story.

Alright, folks, I’ve got an odd rating system. The star emoji is my take on an unbiased review. This is for world-building, character development, writing, and more of the like. The cowboy emoji is for how fun the book was, regardless of how “technically good” it was. This is a couple of weeks late for April, but I hope everyone enjoys it!

I have a confession to make: I’m a mood reader of the worst kind. I pick up and drop books with reckless abandon. I regularly have 5-8 books I read at the same time. There’s books I’ve dropped and picked up a full year later, continuing on the page I left off.

Two Gods at war, three magical typewriters, and an unforgettable romance. Iris Willow hasn’t heard from her brother, Forest, for months. He left to fight for Enva and hasn’t written since. Her mother is falling into alcoholism, and Iris is fighting for a promotion that seems to be rapidly slipping through her fingers.

None of my roommates have the same fascination with Percy Jackson that I do. While they heard a rumor about the TV series, I was deep in the fandom’s claws, searching out every tidbit of information I could. I followed Rick Riordan’s updates as they slowly started working on production, announcing the script, casting, and finally, the release date.

The Poppy War series, by R.F. Kuang, has the book community in turmoil. Readers have recommended it as dark academia, enemies to lovers, young adult, new adult, high fantasy, or low fantasy. No one knows where to put it, but most agree it is a must-read. This electrifying trilogy brings the realities of war, courage, and sacrifice to life.

Flame in the Mist takes place in feudal Japan. Hattori Mariko, daughter of a prominent samurai, is sent to the imperial empire to marry the second-born prince. Never mind that she did not choose, nor want, to marry. While traveling through the Jukai forest to meet her betrothed, the Black clan, notorious for their cruel and vicious acts against the empire, attacked her convoy.

Don’t you ever just want to live in the pages of your book? Jump into the crazy adventures, talk with the awe-inspiring heroes, or fight against injustice for your honor or integrity. Or maybe just eat with the hobbits, go to summer camp at Camp Half-Blood,