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bookwyvern_carli

Reader. ARC goblin. Opinionated reviewer of fantasy, romantasy, horror & sci-fi. Angst welcome.

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Fall 2025 Readalong
Level 5
My Taste
Katabasis
The Library at Hellebore
A Resistance of Witches
The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air, #1)
Kingdom of Ash (Throne of Glass, #7)
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Songbird of the Sorrows
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  • Queen of the Night Sky: A Steamy Romantasy of Magic, Destiny, and Forbidden Love in a World Inspired by Indian and Persian Mythology (Starkeeper, 2)
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  • Queen of the Night Sky: A Steamy Romantasy of Magic, Destiny, and Forbidden Love in a World Inspired by Indian and Persian Mythology (Starkeeper, 2)
    bookwyvern_carli
    Apr 02, 2026
    4.0
    Enjoyment: 4.0Quality: 4.0Characters: 4.0Plot: 4.0

    Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Audio Adult for access to this ALC in exchange for an honest review. The narration was perfection. You could feel everything so vividly. The yearning, the confusion, the fear, the self-doubt. It all came through so well, and the narrators made every emotion feel immediate and real. I did feel the pacing was a little uneven at times, and there were a few lulls that I personally struggled with, but overall I still found the story engaging and thoughtful. Some of the twists genuinely caught me off guard, which was such a nice surprise. Also, I went into this completely blind, so when the why choose element hit me in the face? Whew. Very spicy.

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    Queen of the Night Sky: A Steamy Romantasy of Magic, Destiny, and Forbidden Love in a World Inspired by Indian and Persian Mythology (Starkeeper, 2)

    Queen of the Night Sky: A Steamy Romantasy of Magic, Destiny, and Forbidden Love in a World Inspired by Indian and Persian Mythology (Starkeeper, 2)

    Amalie Howard

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    Queen of the Night Sky: A Steamy Romantasy of Magic, Destiny, and Forbidden Love in a World Inspired by Indian and Persian Mythology (Starkeeper, 2)

    Queen of the Night Sky: A Steamy Romantasy of Magic, Destiny, and Forbidden Love in a World Inspired by Indian and Persian Mythology (Starkeeper, 2)

    Amalie Howard

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  • We Love You, Bunny (Bunny, #2)
    bookwyvern_carli
    Mar 29, 2026
    4.0
    Enjoyment: 4.0Quality: 4.0Characters: 4.0Plot: 4.0

    I genuinely don’t understand why We Love You, Bunny by Mona Awad is getting so much hate… I think a lot of people went in expecting a true sequel, and that’s not really what this is. Revisiting the world of Bunny... especially through a different lens, with the Bunnies and that warped, familiar chaos; was honestly so fun. It almost reads like a twisted Frankenstein-style retelling, piecing together what we thought we knew. And the audiobook?? Absolutely insane in the best way. The narration makes it such an immersive, almost surreal experience. Unhinged, weird, and fully committing to the bit—I had a great time.

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    We Love You, Bunny (Bunny, #2)

    We Love You, Bunny (Bunny, #2)

    Mona Awad

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    We Love You, Bunny (Bunny, #2)

    We Love You, Bunny (Bunny, #2)

    Mona Awad

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  • Ninth House (Alex Stern, #1)
    bookwyvern_carli
    Mar 25, 2026
    4.0
    Enjoyment: 4.0Quality: 4.0Characters: 4.0Plot: 4.0

    Let’s start with the positives because there are quite a few: the worldbuilding is incredibly rich, blending dark academia with urban fantasy and a layered murder mystery in a way that feels immersive and unique. And Darlington’s chapters? Easily my favorite—which is saying a lot because I’m usually not a fan of male POVs. I honestly just wanted more of him on the page. That said… I struggled with parts of this. While I typically enjoy darker themes and damaged FMCs, it often felt like Alex was being put through things just for the sake of giving the plot something to do, rather than it serving a deeper purpose. The SA scenes felt unnecessary, what they added to the characters and story could have been accomplished in any number of ways that's didn't include sexual assault. I also found it frustrating that the central "search" plotline is clearly being dragged into the second book, which made this one feel a bit incomplete. Overall, it’s a strong concept with standout elements, but not without its frustrations.

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  • Where No Shadow Stays
    bookwyvern_carli
    Mar 24, 2026
    5.0
    Enjoyment: 5.0Quality: 5.0Characters: 5.0Plot: 5.0

    Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for access to the ALC in exchange for an honest review. The narrator is absolutely phenomenal—her ability to move seamlessly between the voice of a teenage girl and multiple adult characters of different ages and genders is honestly astounding. She keeps you completely engaged every second of the audiobook and elevates the entire experience. This story is chilling. The tension builds so steadily that it leaves you feeling deeply unsettled in the best way. The mystery surrounding her mother, the way the narrative moves between past and present, and how everything slowly unravels kept me hooked from start to finish. And that ending? I already know it’s going to sit with me long after writing this review. I genuinely could not give this more stars even if I tried—thought-provoking, haunting, and unforgettable.

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    Where No Shadow Stays

    Where No Shadow Stays

    Sara Hashem

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    Where No Shadow Stays

    Where No Shadow Stays

    Sara Hashem

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  • Half City
    bookwyvern_carli
    Mar 22, 2026
    4.0
    Enjoyment: 4.0Quality: 4.0Characters: 4.0Plot: 4.0

    This is very much Buffy the Vampire Slayer vibes—but make it adult, spicy, and set in a big city full of demons, vampires, shifters, and witches. It’s just such a fun, entertaining read that I honestly didn’t even care that some of the twists were predictable. The FMC is both arrogant and endearing—like you want to tell her to just get it together, but at the same time you’re living for every quip she throws out. The MMC is very much your typical broody, yearning type, but it works. And the side characters? So fun—they really elevate the whole story. I also really appreciated the underlying themes around family expectations, grief, and moving forward after loss, especially through the lens of her relationship with her mother. Overall, I had such a great time with this and I’m really looking forward to the next book, especially after that ending.

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  • Half City
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  • The Wings That Bind: Bloodwing Academy, Book 3
    bookwyvern_carli
    Mar 18, 2026
    4.5
    Enjoyment: 4.5Quality: 4.5Characters: 4.5Plot: 4.5

    This third installment is undeniably the best in the series. If you made it through the first two books and hit that point where you were a little tired of Blake and Medra—just trust, this one switches things up in the best way. We get more POVs, the story expands in scope, and suddenly the world feels bigger, richer, and way more layered. The minor characters really shine, the stakes are infinitely higher, and the plot takes such a sharp left turn that you’re honestly just sitting there like… what just happened? I thoroughly enjoyed this one—highly recommend continuing the series. And the fact that we get a Neville POV?? That alone solidified my love for this book. I cannot wait to see how everything wraps up in the next installment.

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