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the_wooden_book

Fantasy and Sci-Fi enthusiast who also dabbles in horror. Always looking for immersive worlds to escape to, the weirder the better.

3333 points

0% overlap
Operation Epic Scope
Epic Sci-Fi and Fantasy Series
British & Irish Classic Literature
My Taste
Age of Myth
A Deadly Education
The Will of the Many
Network Effect
The Eye of the Bedlam Bride
Reading...
The Gate of the Feral Gods
77%
Last Argument of Kings
66%
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the_wooden_book commented...

2h

I got you

Slewfoot - witch absolutely no romance, badass FMC

Butcher of the forest - fairytaleish, horrorish

Last murder at the end of the world - bit sci fi, murder mystery

The invocations - three girls as main characters, bonus for fall: its witchy

Bone orchard, watch trigger warnings

Strike the zither - political

Princess floralinda and the fourty flight towers - novella alone has no romance, cants speak for the full length book thats comming out

The depths - YA paranormal mystery

House of hollow - follows three sisters, spooky

Inkheart - a german fantasy, follows a younger girl and her father

Nettle and Bone by T. Kingfisher, MC is a nun, my absolute favorite of her work

  • Fantasy specific recommendations please!

    Hey y'all, I was hoping for some recommendations. I just tried a book that I quickly put down because it was fantasy with a romance. I am getting tired of fantasy books being always either male centered and if not there always has to have a romance. I want a fantasy that woman/nonbinary etc centered, without romance. If you have any recommendations, I would forever be grateful!

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    the_wooden_book is interested in reading...

    11h

    House of Splinters

    House of Splinters

    Laura Purcell

    'Laura Purcell really is a master of the unsettling ghost story' Jen WilliamsNot every house is a home...Belinda Bainbridge has spent her life in the shadow of her anxious mother, so when her father-in-law dies at The Bridge, his remote ancestral seat, she is secretly thrilled. His death means she, her husband Wilfred and their children can relocate and finally begin to create their own happy home born a merchant's daughter, she will now be lady of the manor.But their new home quickly proves far from ideal. The garden is a wilderness, the estate is struggling financially, there are whispers about the mysterious death of a servant many years before while their young son, Freddie, seems unusually fixated on the strange wooden figures – so-called 'silent companions' – that were once owned by his ancestors.When Wilfred's charismatic brother, Nathan, arrives unexpectedly from abroad, bringing a very different account of the family's past, Belinda begins to question what her husband has told her. What really lies behind the sad history of the house? And are Belinda's children truly safe here?The outstanding new haunted house story from Sunday Times bestseller and multi award winner, Laura Purcell. Adored by readers, The Silent Companions was picked for both the Radio 2 Book Club and the Zoe Ball ITV Book Clubs, and reignited readers' passion for classic gothic tales for a new audience. House of Splinters revisits her iconic setting of The Bridge for a fresh new tale to chill and thrill new readers and existing fans to their very depths.

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    the_wooden_book is interested in reading...

    11h

    Immortal Consequences

    Immortal Consequences

    I.V. Marie

    Six students at Blackwood Academy, an enigmatic boarding school located at the edge of the afterlife, must compete for the once-in-eternity chance to change their fate—or risk remaining stuck in purgatory forever. An unputdownable debut full of hairpin twists, shock betrayals and world-defying love, for fans of The Atlas Six. Welcome to Blackwood Academy: the legendary school located at the fringes of the afterlife, where students are fated to spend the rest of eternity shepherding lost souls. Once a pupil enters the school’s arched gates, there is no way out…except for the Decennial, a once-in-a-decade celebration that rewards nominees who pass its trials with a choice: formally graduate and join Blackwood’s magical elite, or venture into the unknown and cross over to the mysterious Other Side. Wren Loughty is certain that this Decennial, she has what it takes to earn the nomination—unless, that is, her academic archrival Augustine Hughes steals her spot. Irene Manette Bamford has never cared about playing by the rules. She’s willing to break whatever (and whoever) stands between her and getting the hell out of Blackwood, including her best and only friend, Masika Sallow. Olivier Dupont gave up on securing the nomination ages ago. But after he meets Blackwood’s newest student, Emilio Córdova, he’ll do anything to keep Emilio from leaving him and crossing over to the Other Side—even if it means claiming the victory for himself. All of them are determined to be Blackwood’s chosen candidate–and all of them would do anything to win. But none of them are prepared for what’s to come. Because this Decennial will be different. This time, the Decennial isn’t a celebration…it’s a competition. And there can only be one victor. Six nominees. Four trials. Untold danger. Wren, August, Irene, Masika, Olivier and Emilio are about to learn: there are some fates worse than death.

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    the_wooden_book commented...

    16h

  • Thoughts from 60%
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    the_wooden_book commented...

    20h

    I havent read this book but feel like I have to defend Flynn Rider. I just watched the movie yesterday and if the MMC is patronizing he is nothing like Eugene. 😂sorry had to jump in. Tangled is my favorite Disney movie and I got sucked in again last night.

  • Twig's Traveling Tomes
    Jun 30, 2026
    Twig's Traveling TomesGryffin Murphy
    DNF
    Enjoyment: Quality: Characters: Plot:
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    🌲

    I'm choosing to DNF at 37% (end of chapter 10).

    I can so clearly see the audience that this book is meant for, but I'm not a part of it. If you like the charming rogue/Flynn Rider archetype of MMC and enjoy insta-attraction/lust, the romance in this book will be right up your alley. The book is very genre-savvy, often winking at the reader, so it's also a good fit if you like self-aware fourth-wall breaks. The book magic is a cute concept and I enjoyed the brief interactions with the magical creatures, but overall I'm just not drawn to this story, mostly due to the romance.

    First, I found the romance pretty difficult to understand. I don't enjoy the instant draw the two have towards each other, with the sexual tension springing up almost immediately. I also find Everett pretty obnoxious - he's a presumptuous flirt, which could be fine except Louella is inexplicably into it. He insists on using a nickname for her even after corrected and acts like he knows best for her a day after meeting her. I was particularly frustrated when he had the gall to look disapprovingly at her when she was upset with her former mentor (who deeply hurt her feelings) - it just felt incredibly patronizing.

    Second, the story is clearly trying to work the angle of "this shut-in needs an adventure!", but this doesn't work for me because it never felt like Louella chose to go on this adventure. In my opinion, this book doesn't take Louella seriously. It seems to want me to think she just needs to loosen up, go have an adventure with a hot guy (who we are assured is A Good Guy), make some friends, and forgive her mentor. But really, the impression I was left with was that these two men showed up and harangued her into going on this adventure and that she mostly agreed out of guilt rather than a true desire to join them.

    Ultimately, just not a book for me. Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books for the ARC.

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    the_wooden_book commented...

    21h

  • The Hollow Places

    The Hollow Places

    T. Kingfisher

    19% in - Question about tone
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    the_wooden_book commented...

    1d

  • TAMSYN MUIR OH MY GOD
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    the_wooden_book commented...

    2d

  • Thoughts from 86% (page 293)
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    the_wooden_book commented...

    3d

    I dont know if it fully fits the criteria. I recently started reading Throne of the Fallen and it has the magical elements and the plot is game/clue based. And it was pretty mindless with some regency aspects, so balls and gowns.

  • Brain Rot Recommendations

    I was looking for recommendations of the kind guilty pleasure but contributes nothing towards your person. I’m thinking magic fantasy vibes. Xiaxia like Love Game in Eastern Fantasy or those brainless ai videos with wattpad vibes that everyone still watches.

    I have no idea if that makes sense but I’m hoping you can feel the aura and vibes at.

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    the_wooden_book commented...

    4d

    Yeay:). Although I chose the least spookiest of the four 😂