moonbeam commented on a post from the Pagebound Club forum
We're almost two thirds of the way through the fall readalong, which means we'll get to see the Winter Readalong picks soon, if I understand correctly.
So I'd love to pick your brains - I was wondering, both for the Fall Readalong and for the Dias de los Muertos readalong (or just one of them if you prefer, I don't make the rules)...
how did you like the selections overall?
which books, if any, turned out to be sleeper hits for you that you enjoyed better than you thought you would?
which books, if any, were perhaps sleeper "fails" for you, in that you enjoyed them less than expected?
if you didn't read all the book options: what made you choose the one(s) you ended up reading?
if you read all of them: how would you rank them and how did you enjoy the full package overall?
for those who have been here for a year and more: how did the Fall 2025 readalong compare to the Fall 2024 readalong in your opinion?
any other fun thoughts, questions, observations, tributes to my black cat, hopes, dreams, plans for world domination?
Let's chat 🥰
moonbeam finished reading and left a rating...
moonbeam started reading...

Tender Is the Flesh
Agustina Bazterrica
moonbeam finished a book

A Dowry of Blood (A Dowry of Blood, #1)
S.T. Gibson
moonbeam started reading...

A Dowry of Blood (A Dowry of Blood, #1)
S.T. Gibson
moonbeam commented on a post
Really interested in the setup so far, I can understand why people say they don't like the characters so far but I'm gonna give them the chance to grow and develop as the story goes on
moonbeam finished reading and wrote a review...
So, I did not like that very much. Everyone (aside from Gothel, ironically) felt flat. Gina was an interesting addition at first but as the story went, I think the book would've been fine even without her; Rapunzel and Flynn's relationship felt rushed and underdeveloped; And Bathory was created just for the sole purpose of being evil (no character development or reasoning at all). Even thhe scenes with the siblings on Memorial Sloan Kettering felt unnecessary.
But the moondrop twist and Maximus: that was good. The scenes of Rapunzel's life with Mother Gothel at the tower were the most interesting parts of the book, not even the final battle felt very climax-y.
moonbeam finished reading and wrote a review...
View spoiler
Post from the Gods of Jade and Shadow forum
"And would that make your life any happier if he did? Would it make your chores shorter and lighter?"
I don't mean to be rude but yeah, I think it probably kinda will 👁️👄👁️ It'd definitely make /me/ happier.
moonbeam started reading...

Gods of Jade and Shadow
Silvia Moreno-Garcia
moonbeam wrote a review...
Tied up the series very nicely. I, personally, liked how everything turned out. It was very unpredictable, whatever you thought was going to happen, you're wrong. Different characters were given the spotlight throughout the book, highlighting how they dealt with the changes around them, their backstories, their choices. Aside from that, I have been in love with the magic system and just basically the entire world of the Mistborn series and this book specifically goes into a even more detail (like a lot more) on it so I am very much satisfied.
Post from the The Golden Enclaves (The Scholomance #3) forum
moonbeam commented on moonbeam's update
moonbeam finished a book

The Hero of Ages (Mistborn, #3)
Brandon Sanderson