
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
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!

the_wooden_book is interested in reading...
11h

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.

the_wooden_book is interested in reading...
11h

The Exorcism of Faeries (Morbid Realities, #1)
J L Vampa
From the #1 bestselling author of Autumn of the Grimoire, J.L. Vampa, comes a brand new dark academia romance in the vein of Ninth House meets If We Were Villains and Nocticadia. She is the daughter of morticians, studying Botany at Trinity College, Dublin. He is her Morbid Anatomy professor. And the Fae are possessing the good people of Dublin. Only Atta and Professor Murdoch can exorcize the fae, but can they fight their forbidden feelings for one another in the process? It is said they are but lore. It is said they are but demons. It is said this is but a plague. Wayward spirits. Ghosts. Spectres. Ghouls. The truth beckons Tick flick tick The clock keeps time with the candle Until they all get sick Wax slides down the gilded stick And the Fae invade with bramble --------------------------------- Trinity College, Dublin 5th November, 1993 He always reads standing in front of the shelf, one hand shoved in his pocket until it’s time to flip the page. It’s the first thing I noticed about him, while I was supposed to be studying. Instead, I watched him move from shelf to shelf and book to book. I had no idea at the time that I would one day meet him and he would change everything. We would change everything. -Excerpt from the diary of Ariatne Morrow, found in the wreckage at Ground Zero

the_wooden_book is interested in reading...
11h

The Maiden and Her Monster
Maddie Martinez
The Maiden and Her Monster is a gorgeous, atmospheric debut fantasy rooted in history, folklore, and sapphic romance—perfect for fans of Katherine Arden, Ava Reid, Hannah Whitten, and Naomi Novik. The forest eats the girls who wander out after dark. As the healer’s daughter, Malka has seen how the wood’s curse has plagued her village, but the Ozmini Church only comes to collect its tithe, not to protect heretics with false stories of monsters in the trees. So when a clergy girl wanders too close to the forest and Malka’s mother is accused of her murder, Malka strikes an impossible bargain with a zealot Ozmini priest. If she brings the monster out, he will spare her mother from execution. When she ventures into the shadowed woods, Malka finds a monster, though not the one she expects: an inscrutable, disgraced golem who agrees to implicate herself, but only if Malka helps her fulfill a promise first and free the imprisoned rabbi who created her. But a deal easily made is not easily kept. And as their bargain begins to unravel a much more sinister threat, protecting her people may force Malka to endanger the one person she left home to save—and face her growing feelings for the very creature she was taught to fear.

the_wooden_book is interested in reading...
11h

The Executioners Three
Susan Dennard
From New York Times bestselling author Susan Dennard comes The Executioners Three, a mystery filled with rivalry, romance, best friends, and a gruesome curse that dates back centuries. Freddie Gellar didn't mean to get half the rival high school arrested. She’d simply heard shrieks coming from the woods, so she’d called the cops like any good human would do. How was she supposed to know it was just kids partying? Except the next day, a body is found. And while the local sheriff might call it suicide, Freddie's instincts tell her otherwise. So, like the aspiring sleuth (and true X-Files aficionado) she is, Freddie sets out to prove there's a murderer at large.

the_wooden_book is interested in reading...
11h

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.

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.


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.


The Hollow Places
T. Kingfisher

the_wooden_book is interested in reading...
1d

The Ruin of Kings
Jenn Lyons
Kihrin is a bastard orphan who grew up on storybook tales of long-lost princes and grand quests. When he is claimed against his will as the long-lost son of a treasonous prince, Kihrin finds that being a long-lost prince isn't what the storybooks promised. Far from living the dream, Kihrin finds himself practically a prisoner, at the mercy of his new family's power plays and ambitions. He also discovers that the storybooks have lied about a lot of other things too: dragons, demons, gods, prophecies, true love, and how the hero always wins. Then again, maybe he's not the hero, for Kihrin is not destined to save the empire. He's destined to destroy it.

the_wooden_book is interested in reading...
1d

Fortuna Sworn (Fortuna Sworn, #1)
K.J. Sutton
We were meant to be seductive. We were designed to lure humans in. Fortuna Sworn is the last of her kind. Her brother disappeared two years ago, leaving her with no family or species to speak of. She hides among humans, spending her days working at a bar and her nights searching for him. The bleak pattern goes on and on... until she catches the eye of a powerful faerie. He makes no attempt to hide that he desires Fortuna. And in exchange for her, he offers something irresistible. So Fortuna reluctantly leaves her safe existence behind to step back into a world of creatures and power. It soon becomes clear that she may not have bargained with her heart, but her very life. TRIGGER WARNING: This novel contains scenes or themes of sexual harassment, toxic relationships, and slavery.

the_wooden_book TBR'd a book
1d

Floralinda
Tamsyn Muir
New York Times bestselling author Tamsyn Muir returns to blend a subversive fairy tale adventure with a desperate dungeon crawl. THE TOWER BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER. TRUE LOVE MADE THEM WORSE. The princess in the tower is a classic for a reason. Witch kidnaps princess. Witch puts princess in tower guarded by monsters. Prince kills monsters, rescues princess: happily ever after, roll credits. Princess Floralinda's story goes a little differently. Her witch was an artiste, and she got carried away. After a dozen or so princes died on the very first floor, the rest decided there were easier paths to wedded bliss. So Floralinda sets out to rescue herself, armed only with a breadknife, a good upbringing, and a captive fairy named Cobweb. THE ONLY WAY OUT IS DOWN. Unfortunately for Floralinda, the trouble with the tower is only beginning. On the outside, succession looms. The Fairy Courts call. A princess would have no hope of surviving all that is to come… but maybe a monster could.

the_wooden_book is interested in reading...
2d

Under a Carnivore Sky
Brianna Jett
I’m the only one left hunting the monster, the only one left with a chance of saving us all.Raised in a town surrounded by a labyrinthian, man-eating swamp, Lili craves nothing more than to track down the monster lurking in its depths and kill it. The monster’s curse claims the flesh and bone of every adult in town, stealing them away, piece by piece. For generations, people have tried to kill it or escape the town altogether, but every path out of town leads them right back in.Caleb, a bookish boy with dreams of freedom, is hungry to escape. He thinks that with Lili’s help and knowledge of the swamp, he can make a map to freedom. And Lili hopes that with a better sense of its territory, she might finally find and kill the monster.Together, they chart the swamp’s shifting terrain. Sharing in the danger and the beautyof the landscape sparks a friendship between them—and then something more. However, what they discover disrupts everything Lili thought she knew about the town, her father, the monster—even herself. The truth at the root of the curse could devour them all. And Lili must decide if risking her life to be the town’s savior is worth sacrificing her own chance of escape.


the_wooden_book is interested in reading...
3d

Vow of Eternal Night
Lily Crozier
Clara Wagner has always known that monsters are real, and the worst of them is Prince Raleigh of Rostenburg. But when he decides it’s time to marry, Clara inadvertently finds herself at the center of his attention. Forced to accept Raleigh’s proposal, Clara would do anything to escape her fate. So when the prince provides an ultimatum—lift his vampiric curse before the end of the year, or become his bride for eternity—Clara knows what she must do. Heal the prince. Stay alive. Try not to fall in love. Vow of Eternal Night is a slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers, gothic romantasy about the lengths people will go to for love, and the many faces monsters can wear.

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.
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.

the_wooden_book paused reading...
3d

Rise of Empire (The Riyria Revelations, #3-4)
Michael J. Sullivan
The adventure continues as Royce and Hadrian aid the struggling kingdom of Melengar as it alone stands in defiance against the newly formed empire. War approaches and a desperate gamble behind enemy lines is their only chance at forming an alliance with the Nationalists to the south. But Royce has plans of his own as he uses this opportunity to discover if an ancient wizard is using Riyria as pawns in his own bid for power. To find the truth, Royce must unravel Hadrian’s hidden past. What he discovers will lead them to the end of the known world, on a journey rife with treachery and intrigue.