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BEHIND FIVE WILLOWS BY JUNE HUR // blog tour book feature: my body is ready for this Austen-inspired enemies to lovers historical romance!!!
Alas my short streak came to an end and I am entirely blaming it on moving. Which is the worst btw. I fully intended to present you with a review today because I AM SO EXCITED FOR THIS BOOK ITS UNREAL. But instead I was packing boxes. So please excuse me, let’s just marvel at the book together instead! Welcome to my stop on the Behind Five Willows blog tour <3<3 Title: Behind Five WillowsAuthor: June HurPage count: 352Date published: 26 May 2026Genre: Young adult historical fiction 📚 Synopsis: As the dutiful second-eldest daughter of a poor family, society would have Haewon believe that her only hope of a decent life is to marry well. But during a time of rampant government censorship and book banning, she instead works as an illegal book transcriber in order to make a little extra money. It’s dangerous work, but she loves it – especially when she gets to transcribe the work of her favourite author, known as Black Lotus. When her older sister becomes smitten with a wealthy young gentleman, Haewon is roped into chaperoning them during their courtship. Which wouldn’t be so terrible, if it weren’t for the young man’s uptight and…
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A SKY BEYOND THE STORM BY SABAA TAHIR // spoiler-free book review: this YA epic fantasy series has gutted me and I’m not okay,,,
The long wait is over, and so am I. This post is written by Ruby, who is completely done. Deceased. Let’s get into the suffering, shall we? Title: A Sky Beyond The StormSeries: Ember Quartet book #4Author: Sabaa TahirPage count: 516Date published: 1 December 2020Genre: Young adult epic fantasy 🖤 Synopsis: Picking up just a few months after A Reaper at the Gates left off… The long-imprisoned jinn are on the attack, wreaking bloody havoc in villages and cities alike. But for the Nightbringer, vengeance on his human foes is just the beginning. By his side, Commandant Keris Veturia declares herself Empress, and calls for the heads of any and all who defy her rule. At the top of the list? The Blood Shrike and her remaining family. Laia of Serra, now allied with the Blood Shrike, struggles to recover from the loss of the two people most important to her. Determined to stop the approaching apocalypse, she throws herself into the destruction of the Nightbringer. In the process, she awakens an ancient power that could lead her to victory–or to an unimaginable doom. And deep in the Waiting Place, the Soul Catcher seeks only to forget the life–and love–he…
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A REAPER AT THE GATES BY SABAA TAHIR // spoiler-free book review: my soul was reaped from my body and this book destroyed me… you should read it though <3
I said if I stopped after book 2, we’d be another 84 years, and I only have mild regrets *cue nervous laughter* Also, I feel like it’s a good time to mention I was also rewatching Game of Thrones during the time of this reread and thus living my best life! But enough rambling, into this book… Title: A Reaper at The GatesSeries: Ember Quartet book #3Author: Sabaa TahirPage count: 458Date published: 12 June 2018Genre: Young adult epic fantasy ⚔️ Synopsis: Beyond the Martial Empire and within it, the threat of war looms ever larger. Helene Aquilla, the Blood Shrike, is desperate to protect her sister’s life and the lives of everyone in the Empire. Yet danger lurks on all sides. Emperor Marcus, haunted by his past, grows increasingly unstable and violent, while Keris Veturia, the ruthless Commandant, capitalizes on the Emperor’s volatility to grow her own power—regardless of the carnage she leaves in her path. Far to the east, Laia of Serra knows that the fate of the world lies not in the machinations of the Martial court, but in stopping the Nightbringer. During the hunt to bring him down, Laia faces unexpected threats from those she hoped would…
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SAWADIKA AMERICAN GIRL BY DARIA SOMMERS // blog promotion book feature: happy pub day this YA coming-of-age historical fiction set in 1960s Bangkok you need to know about!!!
Experiencing a number of pinch-me moments lately. The first being my active posting schedule and then directly related to that is me being able to tell you about this book! Which I’m so very excited to read and I need you all to scream with me about it!!! Without further ado, let me tell you a bit more <3<3<3 Title: Sawadika American GirlAuthor: Daria SommersPage count: 304Date published: 5 May 2026Genre: YA historical fiction ❤️🔥 Synopsis: In 1968 Bangkok, Thailand, 17-year-old Piper Lewis’ world is changing in unsettling ways. The U.S. Military’s expansion into Thailand in support of the Vietnam War is reshaping the city she loves. Her USAID Official father’s mysterious absences fray their once-close relationship. Her stepmother’s obsession with appearances suffocates her. Worse, she can’t summon the passion to bring Beethoven’s Pathetique Sonata to life. Only her beloved piano teacher, a Thai Prince, senses the depth of her disconnect. One night, Piper ditches the American Teen Club to party with an older crowd. Sparks fly when she meets Jack, a 19-year-old GI on R&R from Vietnam. Defying the Army’s non-fraternization policy, they pledge to spend his leave together. As the hypocrisy of the war closes in on them,…
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THE BEST OF 2025: BOOKS, MOVIES & SHOWS // ranking my top 10 of last year ft. honourable mentions
Oop long time yet again. I’ll talk about my big goals and regrets in my recap post but I do think it’s pertinent to mention that Ruby is really trying to be more active,,, cross your fingers for me!!! In any case, I shall be spending my days churning out all the content for you guys, as I catch up with my favourite posts to put together every year. Still crying tears that I never got around to the mid-year tag last year, so I hope the next few posts make up for that tragedy. As is becoming my tradition, may I present you with my favourite books, films and shows of 2025, all told in journal spreads <3<3<3 best of 2025: shows In order: Stranger Things S5, True Detective S4; The Empress S1 & S2;The Summer I Turned Pretty S3; Adolesence; Heated Rivalry S1 best of 2025: movies honourable mentions: Sabrina (1955); Sabrina (1995); Jane Eyre (2010); Heat (1995); The Fugitive (1993); Se7en (1995); Primal Fear (1996); Inception (2010); Frankie and Johnny (1991) ; Groundhog Day (1993); Great Photo, Lovely Life (2023) In order: The Life List (2025); The Gorge (2025); Mom Jayne (2025); Mickey 17 (2025);A Real Pain…
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ARCANA: THE LOST HEIRS BY SAM PRENTICE-JONES // spoiler-free book review: say hello to your next fantasy graphic novel obsession!
The fact that I had this down in my calendar a month late tells you how my life has been lately but hey at I did realise the my error and feel bad about it so hopefully you can forgive me? Big thank you to Toppling Stacks Tours for having me <3<3<3 Title: Arcana: The Lost HeirsSeries: Arcana #1Author: Sam Prentice-JonesPage count: 384Date published: 24 June 2025Genre: Young Adult fantasy graphic novel 🃏 Synopsis: Debut author/illustrator Sam Prentice-Jones explores fighting against your destiny and reconciling the actions of your ancestors in Arcana: The Lost Heirs, a tarot-inspired fantasy graphic novel for young adults. James, Daphne, Koko, and Sonny have all grown up surrounded by magic in the Arcana, an organization of witches that protects the magical world, run by the mysterious and secretive Majors. Eli Jones, however, didn’t even know other witches existed . . . until he stumbled into James. As James introduces Eli to the world of the Arcana, he finds the family he never had, and a blossoming romance with James. The five new friends soon realize that sinister things are afoot and everything may not be what it seems at the Arcana. When the group delves…
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MISMATCHED BY ANNE CAMLIN & ILLUSTRATED BY ISADORA ZEFERINO // spoiler-free book review: gushing over this queer graphic novel retelling of emma for days!!!
Rare that you see a graphic novel review from me right? Well let me tell you SHE WAS WORTH IT AND I MUST SPILL MY GUTS!!! Let’s dive right in <3<3<3 Title: MismatchedAuthor: Anne CamlinIllustrator: Isadora ZeferinoPage count: 264Date published: 3 September 2024Genre: Young adult contemporary 💖 Synopsis: A teen social media star learns he can’t control everything in this delicious, queer graphic novel adaptation that relocates Jane Austen’s Emma to a modern-day high school in Queens, New York. Evan Horowitz has it beauty, brains, and a not-so-secret flair for matchmaking! An Insta influencer with a talent for makeup and a taste for romance, he’s no stranger to playing cupid for those hopelessly clueless in finding love. So when shy transfer student Natalia shuffles into school one day, Evan can’t help but get his hands messy! With so many matches to choose from, it’s not long before he sets a plan in motion for Natalia—much against the better judgement of his level-headed best friend, Davi. But he takes things too far, creating a web of drama that spirals out of his control. Can Evan learn to put the people closest to him before his misguided ambition? Or will he lose…
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RUTHLESS VOWS BY REBECCA ROSS // spoiler-free book review: this sequel took me out and i am still in recovery,,,
Not really ready to the write this review but I can’t keep avoiding it so here we go. Wish me luck. Imma need it,,, You can check my review of the first book if you’re feeling curious 👀 Title: Ruthless VowsSeries: Letters of Enchantment book #2Author: Rebecca RossPage count: 419Date published: 26 December 2023Genre: Young Adult fantasy 🗞️ Synopsis: Torn apart by war. Reunited by love? Two weeks have passed since Iris returned home bruised and heartbroken from the front, but the war is far from over. Roman is missing, lost behind enemy lines, with no memory of his past, or Iris. Hoping his memories return, he begins to write again – but this time for the enemy. When a strange letter arrives through his wardrobe door, he strikes up a correspondence with a penpal who seems at once mysterious… and strangely familiar. As their connection deepens, the two of them will risk their very hearts and futures to change the tides of the war. 🗞️ 🗞️ STAR RATING: (5 out of 5 stars) You know that meme from Family Guy where the dude goes “time to get some sleep,” rolls over and just cries? If you looked for my…
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AUTHOR INTERVIEW WITH DREAGEN // chatting to the author of the Born of Fire series about all things writing, fantasy & dragons!!!
Long time no post apparently,,, But I am absolutely thrilled and honoured and ecstatic about today’s post!!! Wanna know why? BECAUSE I GET TO TALK ABOUT DRAGONS!!!!! And who doesn’t want to talk about dragons all day every day? I have had the priviledge with speaking to the wonderful author of the Born of Fire series who so kindly has collaborated with me for my very first blog promotional post. So let’s just ‘ride’ right on in, why don’t we… Ha get my dragon pun? Click for more info on each of the series <3 🔥 Book 1 Title: The Dawn of LegendSeries: Born of FirePage count: 736Genre: YA high fantasy Synopsis: On a night tinged by a red sky, a mysterious figure, while being pursued by an armored conclave of dragons, whisks a baby away to the halls of a natural history museum. There, the baby is found by a museum guard who, after a violent explosion, finds himself the father of a strange boy with red eyes. Naming him Rex, their lives become intertwined for the next fifteen years. Shunned as a freak by humanity, Rex’s life is filled with cruelty and violence, with his father being the…
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I HOPE THIS DOESN’T FIND YOU BY ANN LIANG // blog tour book review: the fiercest academic rivals to lovers you’ll ever see!!
Gah I’m a day late with this post because I’ve been having it rough lately,,, anyways hopefully getting back into it now. Big thanks to Colored Pages for having me on the blog tour, let’s dive right into the review! Title: I Hope This Doesn’t Find YouAuthor: Ann LiangPage count: 320Date published: 6 February 2024Genre: YA contemporary romance 🎓 Synopsis: Sadie Wen is perfect on paper: school captain, valedictorian, and a “pleasure to have in class.” It’s not easy, but she has a trick to keep her model-student smile plastered on her face at all times: she channels all her frustrations into her email drafts. She’d never send them of course — she’d rather die than hurt anyone’s feelings — but it’s a relief to let loose on her power-hungry English teacher or a freeloading classmate taking credit for Sadie’s work. All her most vehemently worded emails are directed at her infuriating cocaptain, Julius Gong, whose arrogance and competitive streak have irked Sadie since they were kids. “You’re attention starved and self-obsessed and unbearably vain . . . I really hope your comb breaks and you run out of whatever expensive hair products you’ve been using to make your hair…
