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mandersreads

Gamer and reader, and sometimes also an artist/illustrator! I like fantasy and I go back and forth between wanting books that challenge me and wanting purely comforting escapism.

357 points

0% overlap
Level 3
Cozy Fantasy
My Taste
The Foxglove King (The Nightshade Crown, #1)
The Fifth Season
Paladin’s Grace
Half a Soul (Regency Faerie Tales, #1)
The Knight and the Moth
Reading...
The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings, #1)
0%
Gwen & Art Are Not in Love
11%
One Dark Window
48%

mandersreads commented on a post

1h
  • A Study in Drowning
    Thoughts from 14%
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    8h
    One Dark Window

    One Dark Window

    Rachel Gillig

    48%
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    Gwen & Art Are Not in Love

    Gwen & Art Are Not in Love

    Lex Croucher

    11%
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  • One Dark Window
    Thoughts from Chapter 14
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  • One Dark Window
    Thoughts from 30% (mid chapter 11)
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    One Dark Window

    One Dark Window

    Rachel Gillig

    38%
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    mandersreads commented on a post

    3d
  • Innamorata (The House of Teeth, #1)
    Thoughts from 4% (Chapter 3)
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  • mandersreads is interested in reading...

    3d
    Someone You Can Build a Nest In

    Someone You Can Build a Nest In

    John Wiswell

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  • One Dark Window
    Thoughts from Chapter 10
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    8
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  • mandersreads wrote a review...

    3d
  • The Knight and the Moth
    mandersreads
    Jul 11, 2026
    The Knight and the Moth
    4.5
    Enjoyment: 5.0Quality: 5.0Characters: 4.5Plot: 4.5
    ⚒️
    🌊
    🌌

    Appropriately hyped book!! I really loved this!

    The arc of this book is so incredibly compelling - the main character, raised literally cloistered in a cathedral by a dogmatically religious abbess, is suddenly torn apart from everything she loves and needs to go on an adventure to seek out the truth. And it’s so thoughtfully crafted. This is a fantasy religion with real political power, and the narrative explores these themes of devotion vs blind faith, autonomy vs control. The way the protagonist struggles with her faith and takes back her own agency, reclaims her own power, is genuinely beautiful. And all on a fantasy backdrop that almost feels like Elden Ring to me, until the humor and hope come through so strongly that it feels like something entirely unique.

    I also love that the main character embodies all these classic traits of a defiant, stubborn, and snarky female protagonist but that she’s not a loner. She has deep bonds with other characters, from beginning to end. The romance in this book is so tender too — the love interest is so considerate and devoted to our protagonist without his own character traits getting lost. In fact, a lot of the side characters feel very rich, even and especially the gargoyle (he’s hilarious and he also made me cry!!)

    There were points where I honestly felt like we were rushing through the plot, like this book could have been longer without getting at all boring, and to be honest, there was one character I felt was under-explored. Considering he’s the apparent villain of the next book though, I’m gonna hold out hope that we get that exploration soon. I’m sure the next installment will be just as gripping and emotional as this one!

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  • mandersreads made progress on...

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    One Dark Window

    One Dark Window

    Rachel Gillig

    28%
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    mandersreads made progress on...

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    One Dark Window

    One Dark Window

    Rachel Gillig

    2%
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