HalcyonReads

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HalcyonReads TBR'd a book

76w

Fable for the End of the World

Ava Reid

The Last of Us meets The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes in this standalone dystopian romance about survival, sacrifice, and love that risks everything. By encouraging massive accumulations of debt from its underclass, a single corporation, Caerus, controls all aspects of society. Inesa lives with her brother in a half-sunken town where they scrape by running a taxidermy shop. Unbeknownst to Inesa, their cruel and indolent mother has accrued an enormous debt—enough to qualify one of her children for Caerus’s livestreamed assassination spectacle: the Lamb’s Gauntlet. Melinoë is a Caerus assassin, trained to track and kill the sacrificial Lambs. The product of neural reconditioning and physiological alteration, she is a living weapon, known for her cold brutality and deadly beauty. She has never failed to assassinate one of her marks. When Inesa learns that her mother has offered her as a sacrifice, at first she despairs—the Gauntlet is always a bloodbath for the impoverished debtors. But she’s had years of practice surviving in the apocalyptic wastes, and with the help of her hunter brother, she might stand a chance of staying alive. For Melinoë, this is a game she can’t afford to lose. Despite her reputation for mercilessness, she is haunted by painful flashbacks. After her last Gauntlet, where she broke down on livestream, she desperately needs redemption. As Mel pursues Inesa across the wasteland, both girls begin to question everything: Inesa wonders if there’s more to life than survival, while Mel wonders if she’s capable of more than killing. And both wonder if, against all odds, they might be falling in love.

HalcyonReads TBR'd a book

76w

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

Stuart Turton

Evelyn Hardcastle will be murdered at 11:00 p.m. There are eight days, and eight witnesses for you to inhabit. We will only let you escape once you tell us the name of the killer. Understood? Then let's begin... Evelyn Hardcastle will die. Every day until Aiden Bishop can identify her killer and break the cycle. But every time the day begins again, Aiden wakes up in the body of a different guest. And some of his hosts are more helpful than others...

HalcyonReads TBR'd a book

76w

As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride

Cary Elwes

Storm the castle once more Standing on the stage for the twenty-fifth anniversary of The Princess Bride, I felt an almost overwhelming sense of gratitude and nostalgia. It was a remarkable night and it brought back vivid memories of being part of what appears to have become a cult classic film about pirates and princesses, giants and jesters, cliffs of insanity, and of course rodents of unusual size. It truly was as fun to make the movie as it is to watch it, from getting to work on William Goldman's brilliant screenplay to being directed by the inimitable Rob Reiner. It is not an exaggeration to say that most days on set were exhilarating, from wrestling André the Giant, to the impossibility of playing mostly dead with Billy Crystal cracking jokes above me, to choreographing the Greatest Sword Fight in Modern Times with Mandy Patinkin, to being part of the Kiss That Left All the Others Behind with Robin Wright. In this book I've gathered many more behind-the-scenes stories and hopefully answers to many of the questions we've all received over the years from fans. Additionally, Robin, Billy, Rob, and Mandy, as well as Christopher Guest, Wallace Shawn, Fred Savage, Chris Sarandon, Carol Kane, Norman Lear, and William Goldman graciously share their own memories and stories from making this treasured film. If you'd like to know a little more about the making of The Princess Bride as seen through the eyes of a young actor who got much more than he bargained for, along with the rest of this brilliant cast, then all I can say is...as you wish.

HalcyonReads commented on a post

76w

HalcyonReads

Struggling to get in there

Hey y'all. I'm having a hard time starting this book. I absolutely annihilated the Mistborn trilogy and was extremely captivated with the story, the magic system, and just how Sanderson writes overall. But, as is fairly common, I finished a story with the same characters over three books and now I'm struggling to get into this new story. If anyone could help out with some reassuring and encouraging comments, I'd appreciate that SO very much! <3

Post from the Warbreaker forum

76w

HalcyonReads

Struggling to get in there

HalcyonReads started reading...

76w

Warbreaker

Brandon Sanderson

Enter the Cosmere in this stunning standalone adventure of Breath, light, and love strong enough to slay gods, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson–creator of the Stormlight Archive, the Mistborn saga, and countless bestselling works of science fiction and fantasy. T’Telir, capital of Hallandren, is a city by the sea where colorful crowds bustle through sunny streets and worship heroes who have been reborn as gods. Ruled by the silent, mysterious God King, the pantheon is nourished by offerings of Breath, the life force that keeps them youthful. To Vivenna and Siri, princesses of Idris, the abuse of Breath and the claim of the Returned to be gods are repugnant blasphemy. But with one princess reluctantly wed to the God King in a bid for peace, the other finds she must rely on Breath-using mercenaries to try to rescue her sister from her monstrous husband. One of their few allies is Lightsong, a lesser god who doubts his own religion and fears that violence between Hallandren and Idris is inevitable. While another new arrival in T’Telir–one who bears the sapient sword Nightblood–works behind the scenes against the declaration of war, it will fall to the new queen, unaware of her sister’s imminent rescue attempt, to get through to Lightsong and the aloof God King before her homeland is destroyed.

HalcyonReads joined a quest

76w

Universe Quest: The Cosmere + Cytoverse 🗡️⚡️🌌

🏆 // 4423 joined

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Step into the Cosmere... Listed in the order that Brandon Sanderson recommends to new readers of his work in 2024.

HalcyonReads commented on a post

76w

lucyPagebound

Reading Update from 94%

Did not expect this book to speak to me in this way! 😭

"Nothing has a purpose. The world simply is. It is enough to exist in the world and marvel in it. You don’t need to justify that or earn it. You’re allowed to just live."

thinking about lack of purpose as a "crowning mark of intellectual maturity" and non self-centeredness...groundbreaking 🤯

HalcyonReads commented on a post

76w

poopoohgoboom

The absolute best book I read this past year. I read this at a low point in my life and it was exactly what I needed. And made me a fan of Becky Chambers. I will never not recommend this book.

Remember YOU are enough.

HalcyonReads finished reading and left a rating...

76w

HalcyonReads

Mar 11, 2025

A Court of Wings and Ruin

4.0

Enjoyment: 4.5Quality: 4.0Characters: 4.5Plot: 4.5

HalcyonReads finished reading and left a rating...

76w

HalcyonReads

Mar 11, 2025

A Court of Mist and Fury

4.5

Enjoyment: 5.0Quality: 4.0Characters: 4.5Plot: 4.0

HalcyonReads finished reading and wrote a review...

76w

HalcyonReads

Mar 11, 2025

A Court of Thorns and Roses

4.0

Enjoyment: 4.0Quality: 4.0Characters: 3.0Plot: 3.0

(I have finished this series up to the latest release) A bit of a slow entrance into this series, but still a good book overall, imo. Thought the characters could have had a bit more depth to them, but I also know they do get that depth as the series progresses. Additionally, I'd say the spiciness level of this one is fairly mild, albeit there are spicy scenes.

HalcyonReads TBR'd a book

76w

The Priory of the Orange Tree

Samantha Shannon

A world divided. A queendom without an heir. An ancient enemy awakens. The million-copy selling start to the Roots of Chaos series. The House of Berethnet has ruled Inys for a thousand years. Still unwed, Queen Sabran the Ninth must conceive a daughter to protect her realm from destruction – but assassins are getting closer to her door. Ead Duryan is an outsider at court. Though she has risen to the position of lady-in-waiting, she is loyal to a hidden society of mages. Ead keeps a watchful eye on Sabran, secretly protecting her with forbidden magic. Across the dark sea, Tané has trained to be a dragonrider since she was a child, but is forced to make a choice that could see her life unravel. Meanwhile, the divided East and West refuse to parley, and forces of chaos are rising from their sleep.

HalcyonReads TBR'd a book

76w

When the Moon Hatched

Sarah A. Parker

The Creators did not expect their beloved dragons to sail skyward upon their end. To curl into balls just beyond gravity’s grip, littering the sky with tombstones. With moons. They certainly did not expect them to fall. As a valued Elding Blade of the rebellion group Fíur du Ath, Raeve’s job is to kill. To complete orders and never get caught. When a renowned bounty hunter is employed by The Crown to capture a member of the Ath, Raeve’s world is turned upside down. Blood spills, hearts break, and Raeve finds herself at the mercy of the Guild of Nobles—a group of dual-beaded elementals who intend to turn her into a political statement. Only death will set her free. Crushed beneath a mourning weight, Kaan Vaegor took the head of a king and donned his melted crown. Now on a tireless quest to assuage the never-ebbing ache in his chest, his hunt for a moonshard lures him into the belly of Gore’s notorious prison where he stumbles upon something that rips apart his perception of reality. A shackled miracle with eyes full of rage and blood on her hands. The echo of the past sings louder than the Creators themselves, and even Raeve can’t ignore the truths blaring at her from a warmer, happier time. However. There’s more to this song than meets the eye, and some truths … They’re too poisonous to swallow. When the Moon Hatched is a fast-paced fantasy romance for fans of witty banter and strong, sassy protagonists. Beneath the cover is an immersive, vibrant world with mysterious creatures, a unique magic system, and a love that blazes through the ages.

HalcyonReads TBR'd a book

76w

Babel

R.F. Kuang

From award-winning author R. F. Kuang comes Babel, a thematic response to The Secret History and a tonal retort to Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell in this unforgettable work of dark academia that grapples with student revolutions, colonial resistance, and the use of language and translation as the dominating tool of the British empire. Traduttore, traditore: An act of translation is always an act of betrayal. 1828. Robin Swift, orphaned by cholera in Canton, is brought to London by the mysterious Professor Lovell. There, he trains for years in Latin, Ancient Greek, and Chinese, all in preparation for the day he’ll enroll in Oxford University’s prestigious Royal Institute of Translation—also known as Babel. Babel is the world's center for translation and, more importantly, magic. The unique magic system of silver working—the art of manifesting the meaning lost in translation using enchanted silver bars—has made the British unparalleled in power, as its knowledge serves the Empire’s quest for colonization. For Robin, Oxford is a utopia dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge. But knowledge obeys power, and as a Chinese boy raised in Britain, Robin realizes serving Babel means betraying his motherland. As his studies progress, Robin finds himself caught between Babel and the shadowy Hermes Society, a secret society dedicated to stopping imperial expansion. When Britain pursues an unjust war with China over silver and opium, Robin must decide… Can powerful institutions be changed from within, or does revolution always require violence?

HalcyonReads TBR'd a book

76w

Quicksilver

Callie Hart

Experience the no-holds-barred first novel in the phenomenal Fae & Alchemy trilogy from #1 New York Times bestselling author Callie Hart, featuring razor-sharp banter, heart-stopping action, and blistering hot romance. Do not touch the sword. Do not turn the key. Do not open the gate. Saeris Fane is good at keeping secrets. No one knows about the strange alchemical powers she possesses, or the fact that she has been stealing from the Undying Queen for most of her twenty-four years. But a secret is like a knot. Sooner or later, it’s bound to come undone. When Saeris is caught stealing something she shouldn’t, she accidentally reopens a dormant gateway between realms and is whisked away to a land of ice and snow. There, she discovers that the Fae—creatures of legend and nightmare—are not only real, but they are caught up in a centuries-long conflict that might just get her killed. After inadvertently binding herself to a secretive and incredibly powerful Fae warrior named Kingfisher, Saeris quickly learns that he will use her secret magic to protect his people, no matter what it costs him… or her. Be careful of the deals you make, dear child. The devil is in the details… Trigger warning: Quicksilver describes graphic violence and adult situations, and is for readers 17+.

HalcyonReads TBR'd a book

76w

Legendborn

Tracy Deonn

After her mother dies in an accident, sixteen-year-old Bree Matthews wants nothing to do with her family memories or childhood home. A residential program for bright high schoolers at UNC–Chapel Hill seems like the perfect escape—until Bree witnesses a magical attack her very first night on campus. A flying demon feeding on human energies. A secret society of so called “Legendborn” students that hunt the creatures down. And a mysterious teenage mage who calls himself a “Merlin” and who attempts—and fails—to wipe Bree’s memory of everything she saw. The mage’s failure unlocks Bree’s own unique magic and a buried memory with a hidden connection: the night her mother died, another Merlin was at the hospital. Now that Bree knows there’s more to her mother’s death than what’s on the police report, she’ll do whatever it takes to find out the truth, even if that means infiltrating the Legendborn as one of their initiates. She recruits Nick, a self-exiled Legendborn with his own grudge against the group, and their reluctant partnership pulls them deeper into the society’s secrets—and closer to each other. But when the Legendborn reveal themselves as the descendants of King Arthur’s knights and explain that a magical war is coming, Bree has to decide how far she’ll go for the truth and whether she should use her magic to take the society down—or join the fight.

HalcyonReads commented on a post from the Founder Announcements forum

76w

jenniferPagebound

Edited

Welcome to Pagebound!

We’re so excited to have you in our cozy, bookish corner of the internet! As you poke around, you'll find the people here are very welcoming and always looking to make new connections. Don't be shy about jumping into convos; there's a whole community waiting for you to join in!

In the meantime, create your first post, join a Quest, create Lists, and find new friends to follow. Thank you for being here from the beginning as we make Pagebound the best online community for readers!

Happy reading 📖❤️ Jennifer & Lucy

PS! A little about us--we are a team of two and self funded (Jennifer is a software engineer and Lucy is a designer). We appreciate your patience as we get new features out! If you'd like to support us, click the crown in the nav bar to learn more about Pagebound Royalty.

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