Monthly Wrap Up: December Reads!

Throne of the Fallen by Kerri Maniscalco

Throne of the Fallen is the adult debut of Kerri Maniscalco, that takes place in the same world as the Kingdom of the Wicked series.

Instead of focusing on the Prince of Wraith, this story focuses on Prince of Envy and his plan to win games held by the Fae.

While trying to win these games he meets Camilla Antonius, an artist who is currently endebted to the most notorious rake of Waverly Green. To avoid scandal, Envy and Camilla must pretend to be betrothed before heading into the dark Underworld to help both of them solve their mysteries.

Overall, a really fun story, with definite adult themes that falls well into the world created in the young adult series.

A Merry Little Meet Cute by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone

Bee Hobbes is a successful plus-sized actress is adult entertainment, where she is famously known as Bianca Von Honey. She is happy with her career and where it has brought her. When her producer asks her to star in a Christmas movie on the Hope Channel, which would mean keeping her normal career under wraps.

Nolan Shaw is the male lead of the movie, a former boyband member trying to fix his 'bad boy' persona. When he see's Bee for the first time he knows who she is, but now has to hide it as they tape their movie.

Now the two have to hide Bee's past, while also hiding their off screen romance from the people who could use it to ruin what they've worked for.

The Foxglove King by Hannah Whitten

Lore was thirteen when she escaped a cult housed in the catacombs and was taken in by two women who raised her. Now working as a spy on the docks for her mothers.

She has been hiding for 10 years, trying to control her powers at controlling Mortem, a magic born from death that is a high commodity drug. When Lore is caught by the Presque Mort, a group of warrior-monks who can control Mortem, she is brought to the castle.

Thinking she is headed to death, she is instead enlisted to spy on the Prince by the King, who thinks his son is working with the enemy. Now she must pretend to live in a world she was never apart of, while trying to keep her powers under control.

Wreck the Halls by Tessa Bailey

Melody and Beat (yes, his name is Beat) are the children of famous rockstars known as the Steel Birds, who had a fall out right before they were born and haven't preformed since.

Beat's mom has a charity, filling dreams for young musicians, while Melody's mom barely interacts with her and lives off in the woods somewhere.

When Beat is blackmailed and needs money, he decides to join in on a reality show with an impossible task, get the band to reunite 30 years later. With the help of a reluctant Melody, who he has only talked to once before, they have less than two weeks to get their mom's to talk and get the money Beat needs. It was a book that is for someone, but this book was not super for me.

Heartstopper Volume 5 by Alice Oseman

A continuation of the best-selling Heartstopper series.

Nick and Charlie are very much in love, and have told each other as many times are they can. Charlie is working on persuading his mum to let him spend the night at Nick's, all while trying to figure out what will happen when Nick goes off the university next year.

As Nick tries to figure out his plan for university, and how far away he is will to be from Charlie, Charlie tries to find his place in a band, and getting his mum to trust him again after going to get help for an eating disorder.

I love this series, I adore Nick and Charlie and all of their friends. I'm sad the next volume will be the last.

Three Holidays and a Wedding by Uzma Jalaluddin & Marissa Stapley

Anna Gibson and Maryam Aziz meet as seatmates on a plane to Toronto. When the plane hits turbulence, both girls end up sharing their deepest secrets with each other, knowing that if they survive they are unlikely to see each other again.

But when the plane is diverted to the small town of Snowfalls, hours away from where they need to be, they keep running into each other. Now Maryam has to avoid the boy she admitted to liking, and Anna has to figure out a way to get to her boyfriend in Toronto. All of this while Maryam is trying to keep her sister calm since her wedding is in a few days.

This was a really cute book that covered a lot of diverse characters and their experiences around the holiday season. I overall really enjoyed it.

House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J Maas

Bryce Quinlan had a balanced life being working hard and playing harder, that is until her roommate and best friend is brutally murdered by a demon and she is now alone.

Two years later, Bryce is approached by fallen angel Hunt to help find the murderer, after another person who has shown up dead.

Bryce is now thrust into a world of politics and secrets that bring her and Hunt closer and closer to danger. Bryce, with the help of Hunt and her half-brother tries to find who is doing this, and how it all ties back to her roommate. With a lot of magic and a diverse cast of paranormal characters, I'm

excited to continue reading this series.

Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross

This book is the sequel, and final of the duology, of Divine Rivals. (which notably has to be one of my favorite books of the year).

It has been two weeks since the events at the ending of Divine Rivals, and Iris Winnow has ruined bruised and heartbroken to the city of Oath. As Oath continues to dwell in a state of ignorance, Iris is looking for any sign that Roman Kitt, former enemy turned husband, is OK.

When given another chance to report on Dacre's movement, Iris and Attie return to the front lines, where Iris hopes to see her beloved again.

After waking up in Dacre's realm, Roman Kitt cannot remember his past. After being told his memories will return over time, he starts to write articles for Dacre, until a strange letter comes through the wardrobe door and things start to feel familiar again.