[13] A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas
Fiction / Fantasy / Romance, part 3 after A Court of Mist and Fury, Graphic Audio

Synopsis: (SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!): Feyre is back in the Spring Court, working as a spy to collect information that will help the fae in their upcoming war with the king. It’s dangerous and risky, but Feyre is determined to do everything she can to protect her court, family, and the human realm.

Review: I switched to Graphic Audio (full cast, audio effects, and music) for this book since it was available immediately, and it was so good. After I got used to the extra noise I was super into it.  I totally buy into their cheesy tagline “A Movie in Your Mind.” I do wonder if I would have enjoyed this book the same if I’d been reading it on Kindle –  the audio added a lot and it may have felt slower on Kindle. All that to say, it was unputdownable. I just had to know what would happen! It is not earth-shattering writing (the author has some repetitive phrases) or super deep, but it’s a lot of fun.

Recommend? Yes

[14] In the Likely Event by Rebecca Yarros
Fiction / Romance / Military, saw on Kindle Unlimited, Kindle

Synopsis: When Izzy and Nate first meet on a plane in 2011 they have an instant connection. Then their plane crashes into a river. Nate saves Izzy’s life, only to be whisked off to start his career in the army before Izzy can say goodbye, and Izzy goes back to school and eventually gets into politics. They have chance encounters over the years, but the timing is never right. Now it’s ten years later, and Nate is stationed with Special Forces in Afghanistan, and is charged with protecting Izzy’s life while she’s there on a special mission.

Review: I have not read a book I have been this in to and not wanted to put down in a LONG time. The chapters alternate timelines until the two stories meet, and nearly every chapter ended with something that made you aching to get back to that timeline. I loved Izzy and Nate and their chemistry, and was 100% invested in their story and them getting together. So so good, definitely a new favorite of mine. I finished this in just over a day! (I do have to say, I struggled to keep Nate’s fellow soldiers straight but that made sense why in the end. Also, a warning that reviewers on Goodreads really hate the exploitation of war in this book – I didn’t read it that way.)

Recommend? Definitely!

[15] A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas
Fiction / Fantasy / Romance, part 3.5 after A Court of Wings and Ruin, Graphic Audio

Synopsis: (SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!): It’s post war and Feyre and family are getting used to their new lives and preparing for Winter Solstice.

Review: Yikes. This short (well, compared to the others in the series) book felt like a cheesy Christmas special. There’s more character building, and a little to expand the plotline, but there’s just not much there. It’s more of an opportunity to show Feyre and her family living their normal lives and celebrating Winter Solstice. It was boring.

Recommend? No