The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd

It is tough to keep believing in magic as an adult but then I come across books like this and they make my heart do somersaults. I loved it – the characters were likable, the pacing was good, and the story was perfectly magical.

Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff

I feel like I waited a LONG time for this book – despite it being on my TBR shelf for six months (lol). The characters are dark, broody, and have awe-inspiring vocabularies – exactly what I expected from Mr. Kristoff. It is a hefty tome but packs a strong storyline.

Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan

I adored this book. Even though many reviewers had issues with the characters being flat, I didn’t feel that way – except for Kat who really was one-dimensional. The book brings together two of my favorite things; books and modern tech. And I love how there are solutions to all the characters’ problems – through tech.

A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark

This book was a masterclass in worldbuilding. The characters, the setting, the pacing – everything was on point. And the Islamic representation gave me life!

The Vine Witch by Luanne G. Smith

The book started off well but quickly got boring. The plot twist and conclusion were nothing to write home about.