Best books I read in the 2nd quarter 2024

An Education in Malice by S.T. Gibson
Dark academia
Influenced by Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu. Carmilla is regarded as both the first vampire novel and first mainstream depiction of a lesbian relationship.

I'm 1960s Massachusetts, Laura Sheridan is a student at an all female university. Laura is brought into an odd relationship between her poetry seminar professor, Prof. De Ladontaine, and a rival peer, Carmilla.

Laura is thrust into a dark world of secrets by De Lafontaine, challenging everything that she thought she knew. This book features exploration of sexuality, uneven power dynamic between teacher and student, and of course, vampires.

I could not put this book down.

Vicious by V.E. Schwab (Book 1 in the Villains duology)
Dark academia/fantasy

What if you could give yourself superpowers? University students Eli and Victor theorize that extraordinary powers can be gained from a near death experience under the right conditions. When their experiments go terribly wrong, Victor finds himself in prison, and Eli determines that his powers are to be used to wipe EOs off the map.

This duology was phenomenal. V.E. Schwab has become one of my favorite authors. Vicious and Vengeful will have you struggling to determine who you want to root for and is having powers worth it if you just sacrifice a piece of your conscience get it.

When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker
Adult fantasy/romantasy

Raeve is an assassin for the rebellion group known as The Ath. A contract killer captures Raeve and tortures her. When Raeve is used to make an example of by The Crown, she finds herself learning that there is more to the power struggle between territories than she thought, and more to her mysterious past than she could remember.

The quick and sassy banter in this book is top tier. The dragon lore is unique. Parker created a beautiful world of elemental magic, gods, and dragons. A friend and I buddy read this book and I can't say enough about how much I enjoyed it and how much I loved Raeve.

Over a year until the next in the series. I don't know how I'll wait.

The Women by Kristin Hannah
Historical fiction
Listened on Audible

Francis "Frankie" McGrath is a registered nurse who enlists in the Army Nurse Corps to serve in Vietnam. Frankie believes she'll do her family proud as they have a long history of military service.

During and after the war, Frankie must face the unpopularity of the war and the hate Americans meet veterans with upon their arrival home. After serving two years in Vietnam, Frankie returns to the US to find that she's treated not as a hero, but a disappointment.

This story was beautiful. Frankie and her fellow nurses lean on one another to get through the PTSD and to try and find where their place is now that their service is through.

This book is important. It was emotional and highlights so many of the issues war veterans face.

Leather and Lark by Brynne Weaver Book 2 in the Ruinous Love Trilogy
Dark Rom-Com
Listened to on Audible (fantastic cast)

Lachlan Kane wants out. His life as a contract killer has taken a toll, but after a job goes wrong with a huge client, Lachlan is stuck. Lark Montague comes along and offers Lachlan a deal: hunt down a killer that's coming after her family and fake a marriage to keep him safe.

Lark and Lachlan have a rocky and hostile relationship, but will the dark and dangerous nature of their relationship bring them together? Will Lark's deepest secrets ruin their chances to secure Lachlan's freedom?

Lark is so vibrant and complex. The way she processes grief and trauma and how deeply she feels her emotions was incredibly relatable. Lachlan is a new morally gray book boyfriend (and seriously...THE AUDIO ACTOR ??). I loved getting to know more about the Kane brothers and why they live the lives that they do. Lachlan is everything you want. Loves fiercely. Protects those he cares about. Loyal to a fault.

The spice is *chef's kiss*.

Be mindful of the trigger warnings. I will say that the tone of these books makes the triggers tolerable. There is a specific way the book should be taken, and I'm glad I listened to the audio so that I got the full experience of the comedy aspect.

A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross Book 1 in the Elements of Cadence duology

The island of Cadence is imbued with enchantments and wild spirits. After 10 years on the mainland, Jack is summoned back to Cadence when young girls from his clan start to go missing. Spirits of earth, water, fire, and wind may be called upon by Jack's music to help solve this mystery and bring the girls home.

Jack and his old rival, Adaira, must work together to navigate the spirit realm and pending war with their rival clan to the west.

Rebecca Ross beautifully and eloquently weaves an emersive experience, bringing Cadence and its inhabitants to your doorstep. I could see, feel, and smell the island's terrain, flora, and sea.

The themes of love, loyalty, and family are brought to life through characters you can truly root for and love. Jack's journey from being a clan outcast and trying to find his place among his people and Adaira's rise to power compliment one another as they work to reunite the missing girls with their families.

Book 2, A Fire Endless, was just as good.

If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio
Dark academia

A group of Shakespearean theater students in the 1990s at an elite university for the arts is in their senior year. When the theater department shakes up the usual casting choices, drama ensues, and one student turns up dead.

The remaining students are hanging by a thread as the police investigate and the guilt and pressure mount. The students must convince the police and themselves that their friend's death was not their fault.

This book gave me such nostalgia for 1990s cinema like Reality Bites and Dead Poets Society (1989, but close enough). As a lover of Shakespeare, I was captivated by the strong role Shakespeare played in the plot and the parallels of Shakespearean tragedy and betrayal to the characters and their experiences.

I ugly cried at the end of this book. I loved it so much. I may have to read it again.

Paying my cat tax. Remy with my current read, Crooked Kingdom.