Enchanted Echoes | Behooved

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M. Stevenson

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A charming slow-burn romantasy featuring a duty-bound noblewoman with a chronic illness, a prince who would rather be in a library than on a throne, and a magical ride through a world of cozy enchantment.

Bianca knows her duty comes before her heart. So when the threat of war looms, she agrees to marry the neighboring kingdom’s heir. But not all royal weddings are a fairytale, and Prince Aric, Bianca’s betrothed, is cold, aloof, and seems to hate her on sight. To make matters worse, on their wedding night, an assassination attempt goes awry—leaving Aric magically transformed into a horse. Bianca does what any bride in this situation would do: she mounts her new husband and rides away to safety.

Sunset returns Aric to human form, but they soon discover the assassination attempt is part of a larger plot against the throne. Worse, Bianca has been framed for Aric’s murder, and she’s now saddled with a husband who is a horse by day and a frustratingly attractive man by night. As an unexpected romance begins galloping away with their hearts, Bianca and Aric must rely on each other to unravel the curse and save the throne.

“ Behooved is bewitchingly charming, a romantic fairy-tale adventure that will sweep you off your feet (or hooves)!”—Sarah Beth Durst, New York Times bestselling author of The Spellshop

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Posts about this title from Enchanted Echoes

Enchanted Echoes\ \ Deirdre\ \ • Aug 10 2025

Oh hello!! ehem well here goes nothing\ \ The last time I made a blog post was maybe mid pandemic?? I did have a blog once upon a time. It was called A Little Bit of Everything because that is the type of content that has always called to me. I wrote about fashion, my time working for Disney Cruise Line, what it was like working away from home with mildly managed anxiety 😅. And now here we are again, in a new space and working on being perfectly imperfect. \ \ I've been a Bindery tastemaker for...6 months?? is that real?? And for the last 6 months I have been telling myself to get back to the blog stuff and do some written posts, so. that's the background. Honestly since getting into video creation writing feels so foreign to me, but I do miss the blog days and I'm hoping to bring to back on this platform. \ \ Okay enough of an intro you are probably not reading this for all of that. I have been in a S.L.U.M.P. capitalized and underlined. I started a new job at the beginning of the summer and since then all my energy has been focused on quite literally starting over. I finished 0 books in June which felt soooo weird. And then suddenly 2 days ago I have finally been bit by that book worm again and I can't get enough (thank god because how is a girl gonna have a book platform when she can't finish any books). So I thought we could do a little summer reading update and I'd share the books I read in July and what I'm currently reading. Cool? Cool.\ \ July, I managed to read 4 books in July which made me want to throw a partyyyy 🎉\ \ I am back in my Winter Sea era, H.M. Long's 3rd book in the series came out in July so I wanted to re-read Dark Water Daughter and Black Tide Son\ \ \ \ H.M. Long is one of my favorite fantasy authors. She just gets it. The world building, the magic system, the sense of adventure and wonder, and a sprinkling of romance and tensions, her books have it all and I am totally immersed every time I open one of her books. This series follows Mary and Sam on a high seas chase of cat and mouse where pirates, and royalty appointed sea-man hunt for a long saught after treasure. Oh and Mary can control the weather and air with her songs and Sam can walk into the "other" a place where he can catch glimpses of what may come. I have read Dark Water Daughter 3 times now?? And I could read it 100 more. \ \ Staying the world of series I listened to the audiobook for Holy Terrors the final book in Margaret Owens Little Thieves series.\ \ \ \ I really don't gravitate towards YA as much anymore, I haven't stopped, I just find unless there is something really there to captivate me I am enjoying my adult centered novels more. There is something so special about this trilogy. It feels like a dark fairytale meets you get to actually see what happens along the way and Margaret had me from chapter 1 book 1. When we meet Vanya she is a little con artist, who also happens to be the goddaughter of Death and Fortune. She unfortunately cons the wrong person and ends up pissing of a Goddess who curses her. That structure along could have held me for 3 books, but the way Margaret brings us along 3 different mishaps of Vanya's all while expanding not just the world she built but Vanya's world, and don't even get me started on the romance. Giggling?? Gasping! Holding my breath all while managing to not feeling weird because I'm reading about teenagers??? It was so satisfying!!!! I am incredibly impressed by Margaret's ability to take very complex emotions, ones that we felt as teenagers and often continue to face into adulthood, and not make them feel contrived or over simplified. I could go on and on about how much I love these books. \ \ The last book I read in July was an arc of one of my most anticipated releases this year. The Princess Knight by Cait Jacobs\ \ \ \ I'm gonna try and not get too mushy because wow I'm so proud of Cait. Cait is one of the main reasons I started making book content, I was so inspired by their Tik Tok account and they have continued to inspire me as a creator for the last 5 years. And now I get to hold their book in my hand??? (and I'm hosting their NY book launch event 🥹) Pinch me or hand me a tissue. \ \ So the book. wow. Absolutely charming. This is Legally Blonde meets medieval fantasy and I was hooked the whole time. I actually love reading adaptations, it's one of my favorite sub-categories, especially when authors can take a story and find a new story to tell while maintaining beats and callbacks to the original material without regurgitating the story just in a different font. Clia is our main character, of course she is a Princess, and she has been primed for her duty, to marry a Prince. But when that Prince decides she is not worthy of the betrothal, she not only needs to try and win him back she has to prove him wrong. Throw in a military academy, secret plots, incredible fashion sense, and a grumpy warrior?? How was I supposed to not fall in love. \ \ And now we're in August. Where July was filled with books I can't stop gushing about unfortunately the two books I've finished so far this month are just...fine. \ \ I really have been in a fantasy romance mood so I jumped into Behooved which felt like it was going to be My Lady Jane/Shrek meets magic gone wrong how do we fix it!\ \ \ \ Off the bat, I did finish this book. I think I was just so determined to finish something that I didn't want to give up on it but...oof. I really was just bored for a good portion of the beginning, then I was intrigued and the banter was kind of engaging, and then the end totally fell apart for me. Like fully this is a SPOILER but there is noooo pay off for one of the villains. To the point that I was so confused. They essentially "had a reason" for doing the bad thing and the main character was like "well they really had no choice so I'll forgive them" WHAT ?? So this book will be leaving my collection expeditiously because I just don't want to think about it ever again \ \ And then unfortunately I followed that up with another mid romance. \ \ \ \ Give Me Butterflies, and Entomologist (someone who studies insects) and an Astrologist fall in love. Cute, they both work at a museum, she's up for a promotion at work, he's on the hiring committee, she crashes their cars. Fun. So where was the banter?? The book starts with Finn (the astrologist) being grump central, if the mayor of Grumpville wore a tie with planets on it. Millie, of course, is sunshine. So why does it take .2 seconds for the grump to un-grump. To the point that they don't actually address that maybe he was grumpy because his sister died 6 months before the book begins. It felt like all of the outlying factors for why these characters had their emotional motivations were constantly on display, but neither of them actually address it within themselves or with each other. And then there was a joke about wingspan and she totally lost me. Again, I did finish the book so I was entertained on some level, but I found myself constantly wishing something else was happening. \ \ And now you're caught up. I'm currently reading Orange Wine by Esperanza Hope Snyder and I'm loving the narrative difference between this and everything else I've been reading lately. It's really reminding me of Isabel Cañas without the gothic horror. \ \ \ \ I'm almost 100 pages in and I can't wait to pick it back up later today. \ \ In non book things, \ \ I'm loving Season 3 of the Gilded Age I can't believe the last episode of the season airs tonight. \ \ I've been putting all my creative energy into my podcast Books on the Brain so if you enjoy bookish podcasts give it a listen we only have 3 more episodes left of the season. \ \ And I am back in my superhero phase rewatching Justice League and Justice League Unlimited and I am so content with my cartoons. \ \ Leave me a comment and let me know what you've been reading or watching this summer\ \ xo

The Summer I Barely Read

7 books

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Posts about this book from across Bindery

ofpagesandprint\ \ Dahlia\ \ • Jul 15

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[Happy Disability Pride Month! To celebrate, I've gathered some stories I adore written by and/or featuring disabled authors and characters:\ \

Disability Pride Month Book Recs!

10 books

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chronicallybookish\ \ Kaley\ \ • Nov 3 2025

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4 stars\ \ Representation: chronic GI pain and nausea, undiagnosed celiac disease (own voices)\ \ I read this book to fill the hole that Amazon’s cancellation of My Lady Jane left in my heart. And you know what? It scratched that itch.\ \ If you are primarily a fantasy reader, this book may not be for you. Behooved is not very concerned with putting together high quality politics or a well-developed world, those serve only as the backdrop for the main event: a romantic romp of a storyline featuring a chronically ill noblewoman on the run with her new (political match) husband who was cursed on their wedding night and is now stuck in the form of a horse from sunrise to sunset. The political maneuvering and that aspect of the storyline was very transparent and weakly constructed, but because the book was mainly focused on Bianca and Aric’s emotional connection, the weaker elements didn’t bother me too much, as they were easy to gloss over.\ \ I actually think that, if the author had tried to flesh out those plotlines and worldbuilding elements, the book would have been weaker overall. Leaving those elements in the background and keeping the story’s focus on the romantic A-plot worked better with M. Stevenson’s specific skillset, and kept the weaker parts from bogging down the pacing and narrative.\ \ This book is fun. It’s swoony and fast-paced and not taking itself too seriously. It’s packed to the brim with classic romantasy tropes–with a horse-ified twist that kept me giggling. But there was also a throughline of emotional depth as Bianca and Aric both comes to terms with the way they are seen as “weak” in their respective societies (Bianca due to her chronic illness and Aric due to his more bookish, less knightly nature) and how they have internalized that messaging–and how they support each other and challenge those narratives. There was a sweetness to their connection that I really appreciated, and I wish more romantasy leaned into that emotional intimacy alongside the spice (because there was also spice!).\ \ My favorite part of the book, though, was the chronic illness representation. Bianca has chronic GI pain and nausea, and we see this affecting her constantly throughout the novel–from on-page depictions of symptoms to the way that it affects her self-image and the decisions that she makes throughout the story to manage and prevent symptoms. Even though I don’t have celiac disease, Bianca’s symptoms are very similar in presentation to my own GI symptoms (I have SIBO and suspected gastroparesis). This was my first time seeing those symptoms represented, and I really enjoyed seeing myself in the protagonist of a romantic fantasy adventure. The balance between fantasy badassery (Bianca is a softer protagonist, but she’s still on an adventure and up against high stakes!) with the reality of a chronically ill body was so well executed. My only complaint is that I would have loved to see the discovery that it was gluten, specifically, that was making Bianca sick and the reckoning of what a life without gluten looks like happen on page, instead of a vague “something you are eating is the cause”. Having the question of “why is Bianca sick” only partially answered left the representation feeling a bit unfinished to me, but I also understand that that would have been difficult to accomplish in such a narrow timeline and scope.\ \ Overall, I had a lot of fun, and I look forward to what M. Stevenson has coming next!

REVIEW: Behooved by M. Stevenson

1 book

chronicallybookish\ \ Kaley\ \ • Oct 13 2025

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september wrap up

I have read ONE book in the last 2 weeks lol classes started and the slump hit immediately #booktok #readingwrapup #bookreviews #yesnomaybe #books

15 books

chronicallybookish\ \ Kaley\ \ • Sep 1 2025

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Hey hi hello and welcome to a running list of every book with disability representation that I’ve read so far this year–and what I thought of them!\ \ As of right now, the list starts in July, but I’ll be slowly filling in the prior months as I get a chance.\ \ You Started It by Jackie Khaliliah IBS, anxiety, and undiagnosed autism representation (all own voices)\ \ 4.75 stars\ \ I started off the month with an audiobook of You Started It by Jackie Khalilieh which I absolutely adored! Khalilieh’s debut is a favorite and her sophomore novel lived up to my expectations and more. These characters were so messy in a way that so perfectly encapsulates teenagerhood, especially neurodivergent teenagerhood. Jamie was so easy to love and root for that I was watching through my fingers as she made the most terrible decisions–but they were decisions that made perfect sense for her character. I cannot wait to see what Khalilieh does next!\ \ Like a Charm by Elle McNicoll dyspraxia representation (own voices)\ \ 4 stars\ \ Like a Charm is a sweet middle grade fantasy about a neurodivergent girl who discovers the existence of magic when her grandfather wills her a magic book upon his passing. It was fast paced and reminiscent of many of my own favorite childhood books. There were some aspects of the magic system, and how it was tied to neurodivergence that I was unclear on. There were a few times when characters spoke of neurodivergence and magic being the same, and I could not tell if it was meant in the way that “they are similar because both cause you to be othered by society and see the world differently than everyone else” or if it was meant in a literal “neurodivergence is magic and neurodivergence is caused by being a witch” the latter of which falls under the mystical minority/mystical disabled character trope, of which I am not typically a fan. I’m hoping this will be clarified in the second book–and that it is more in line with the former.\ \ A Dance of Lies by Brittney Arena chronic pain, dizziness, and fatigue representation (inspired by the author’s experiences with EDS, POTS, and other disabilities)\ \ 2.5 stars\ \ This book was a highly anticipated release, but unfortunately it fell flat for me. It was an interesting premise with a lot going on, but the execution was shallow. I never connected to either romantic subplot, the pacing was rushed, and the writing was overly flowery without actually describing anything. So many abstract metaphors and almost no grounding details.\ \ I enjoyed the disability representation in the beginning, but as the book went on that aspect became almost nonexistent. While it was clear that while the author was writing from a place of lived experience, she lacked the skill to balance the disability representation with the plot and character arcs, and that left the representation feeling shallow and at times haphazard (please note I say this as somebody with many of the same disabilities).\ \ Full review HERE\ \ I’ll Pretend You’re Mine by Tashie Bhuiyan anxiety representation (own voices)\ \ 4 stars\ \ This was such a cute, fun, and easy to fly through YA romance! The anxiety representation was definitely more on the back burner here, but it was still a present part of the story. I loved that the book acknowledges that Summer’s anxiety is “high functioning” while still showing how it affects her on a day to day basis in her relationships and career.\ \ Brighter Than Scale, Swifter Than Flame by Neon Yang limb difference and chronic illness representation\ \ 2.75 stars\ \ This is another one with an interesting premise and lackluster execution. The scope of this story is far too much to accomplish in 150-odd pages. It felt more like the outline of a novel than a completed novella. The disability representation in this one is essentially non-existant. In the first chapter, our main character suffers an injury that permanently costs her the mobility in her dominant hand, only for it to pretty much never be mentioned again for the rest of the book.\ \ If We Survive This by Racquel Marie OCD representation (own voices)\ \ 4.25 stars\ \ Racquel Marie’s zombie apocalypse road trip novel starring a main character with contamination OCD was…hard to read. In the sense that it was so incredibly well written that Flora’s anxiety and OCD were visceral and far too similar to my own. I read this in one sitting, my skin crawling the entire time, because I could not put it down until I knew what happened. Racquel Marie is a master of character, which I had known from her YA contemporaries, but her world building, pacing, and plotting were flawless in an apocalyptic world as well.\ \ True Biz by Sara Nović Deaf representation (own voices)\ \ 4 stars\ \ True Biz is a contemporary, borderline literary, fiction novel set at a school for the Deaf that immerses the reader in Deaf culture. It’s a timely, politically driven story that is deeply character focused as well. I am not someone who is very familiar with Deaf culture, and I loved learning more about that throughout this book as well as connecting with the cast of characters.The anarchist elements did lose me at a few points, I wasn’t entirely sure what Nović was trying to say in those instances, but overall I enjoyed this one.\ \ For One Night Only by Jessica James(Glitter Bats #1) anxiety representation (own voices)\ \ 3.5 stars\ \ For someone who doesn’t tend to love celebrity romances, I did in fact read three of them this month (I’ll Pretend You’re Mine, this one, and Some Kind of Famous), though this was the weakest of the group. I enjoyed the anxiety representation here, though I found it a bit difficult to connect with at times, as I generally found the characters in this one a bit rote and difficult to connect with. I can’t quite put a finger on what fell flat for me here, I was simply left unsatisfied.\ \ Accidental Demons by Clare Edge(Accidental Demons #1) type one diabetes representation (own voices)\ \ 3.75 stars\ \ The premise of this book–a preteen blood witch who has just come into her powers and just been diagnosed with T1D keeps accidentally summoning demons every time she tests her blood sugar–was so clever and the execution was exactly what you would want in a middle grade novel, fast paced and engaging with a heartfelt focus on friendship, family, and coming-of-age.\ \ Fighting Spirit by Anna Harrison ADHD representation (own voices)\ \ 3 stars\ \ Have you ever been called out by the rep in a book? Because that was me when Ruth was talking about how she doesn’t use her ADHD accommodations because the paperwork overwhelms her (I really need to do that ASAP before the quarter starts…) This was a fast paced, fun, sports romance following a mascot and the QB of a rival college’s football team. I enjoyed the themes and premise of this story, but the connection between the characters was ultimately a little lacking. I wanted a bit less forward progression and more time spent really diving into the emotional interiority of our characters.\ \ A Smile in a Whisper by Jacqueline Middleton crohn’s disease representation\ \ 3.25 stars\ \ This was the second in a string of four underwhelming romances that I read for this challenge. This book felt like the literary equivalent of a Hallmark movie with spice, and I’m not a fan of Hallmark movies. It was overly cheesy and oftentimes felt shallow and the connection between our main characters felt like it never developed beyond a schoolgirl crush. The writing itself felt very young, which made the explicit scenes feel out of place and almost uncomfortable. I did enjoy the chronic illness representation in this one. I thought that was the strongest aspect–though the way the past storyline culminated (and the way that reveal was handled in the present) was ridiculous.\ \ A Love Like the Sun by Riss M. Neilson kidney disease representation (own voices)\ \ 3.5 stars\ \ I really enjoyed the chronic illness representation in this one–well, enjoyed may be the wrong word because it absolutely pissed me off how Laniah was treated by her doctors, but it portrayed that in such a realistic and far-too-relatable way. I enjoyed Laniah as a character and narrator as well, but as a romance, this book didn’t quite work for me. I found Issac’s character to be pretty one-dimensional, and never connected to his and Laniah’s relationship on either a platonic or romantic level. I felt like, for a romance novel, the two of them rarely shared page time. I think this story would have worked better as a contemporary/women’s fiction, because as a romance, it was lacking.\ \ Love Flushed by Evie Mitchell(All Access #1) crohn’s disease representation (own voices)\ \ 3 stars\ \ At a little over 200 pages, this book couldn’t decide if it wanted to be a novel or a novella, and thus the execution of plot, pacing, and character development was far too rushed. I really enjoyed Mitchell’s prose, and the crohn’s representation in this one was fantastic–I’ve read many books with crohn’s and colitis rep, but I have never read any that are so unafraid to get into the more “socially unacceptable” sides of IBD, and I think in order to have a truly realistic portrayal of the chronic illness, you need to be willing to go there. I wish that this book had another 100 pages fleshing out the plot and character work, because it had so much potential, but in the space allotted, there simply wasn’t time to adequately tackle everything that Mitchell tried to take on.\ \ Disability Visibility: First Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century edited by Alice Wong multiple disabilities (all own voices)\ \ I am not completely sure what I was expecting from this anthology. I’ve had it recommended to me more times than I can count, but the actual book itself was not quite what I expected. Some of the essays are personal stories, others are political calls-to-action. Some essays were easily accessible to the average reader, others were steeped in disability studies academic lingo. Overall I did enjoy the anthology, and I definitely recommend it, but I sometimes felt as if the essays didn’t quite feel cohesive as a collection.\ \ The Princess Knight by Cait Jacobs autism and chronic pain representation (both own voices)\ \ 3.75 stars\ \ This book started off so strong–the Legally Blonde references were fun easter eggs as I read, the world building was interesting, and I enjoyed the Gaelic inspiration and the fact that Jacobs actually used the Gaelic words and names instead of americanizing the fae mythos. I also appreciated how, from the beginning, we see Clía experiencing sensory overload in the crowded ball rooms she must navigate as princess. As the story went on, however, I found the pacing to be a bit too quick. This is a book that felt more like two 350-400 page novels edited down into one 500 page book, one plot beat after another, and much of the character depth and supporting storylines rushed or condensed in order to fit everything into one novel. That said, I did still enjoy my time reading it, and I am excited to see what Jacobs does in the future whether it is expanding this world, which was left open-ended, or creating a new one.\ \ A Theory in Dreaming by Ava Reid(A Study in Drowning #2) depression, PTSD, and psychosis representation (all own voices)\ \ 4.5 stars\ \ I was not the biggest fan of A Study in Drowning, so my expectations for A Theory in Dreaming were pretty low. However, I ended up loving this book. Ava Reid’s prose is lush and evocative, but unlike in the first book of the series, it does not overshadow the characterwork or story but adds a layer of depth that further drew me in. There isn’t much I can say about this book without spoiling book one in the series, but I highly recommend this book–even if you didn’t love Study–however, please check the trigger warnings before reading if you are sensitive to any potential mental health related triggers.\ \ Some Kind of Famous by Ava Wilder addiction and BPD/c-PTSD representation\ \ 4 stars\ \ The characters in this book, especially Merritt, are so wonderfully, realistically messy. This has led to mixed reviews, but I thought it added so much to the story. Merritt felt like such a real, well developed character, and I was invested in unraveling her backstory and what led to the dissolution of her music career, and also in her current journey to finding love. I did find Merritt and Niko’s connection to be a bit on the shallower side, especially at first, relying a bit too heavily on instalust. I was never quite convinced of their actual feelings for each other, and most of my enjoyment of the book was motivated by Merritt as a character as opposed to the romantic story arc.\ \ Full review HERE\ \ Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson polycystic kidney disease, traumatic brain injury representation\ \ 4.5 stars\ \ I love a Holly Jackson murder mystery, and the premise of this one is truly unique–our MC solves her own murder after the “failed” attempt leaves her with seven days to live. It was absolutely twisty and while I figured out some of those twists, others left me guessing. I was fully engrossed and along for the ride–I read the whole book in one sitting, and yes, I did shed a couple tears.\ \ The disability rep in this one was decent as far as I could tell (I do not have PKD or a TBI), though it felt mostly utilitarian for the plot to work, and less like an effort to genuinely represent chronic illness/the disabled experience.\ \ What Does It Feel Like by Sophie Kinsella brain cancer, memory loss, aphasia representation (own voices)\ \ 4 stars\ \ Sophie Kinsella describes this book as a fictionalized take on her own story with glioblastoma, and that shows in the level of intimacy with which this story is told. What Does It Feel Like is a novel told in almost disjointed flashes of our main character Eve’s life as she navigates a new diagnosis of terminal brain cancer, and the effects that it, and the surgery to remove the tumor, have had on her memory and cognitive function. It’s a quiet, slow story, but it is very effective.\ \ Fake Skating by Lynn Painter anxiety representation\ \ 3.5 stars\ \ This book is a classic YA romance–fast paced, saccharine sweet, and compulsively readable. I loved much of the dynamic, banter, and chemistry between Dani and Alec. I did appreciate the anxiety representation, especially how this is something that affects both Dani and her grandfather, though I wanted more from how she begins to learn to manage it other than “take deep breaths.” \ \ The story as a whole was cute and, for the most part, enjoyable. However, there were multiple plot points–including just about everything surrounding the third act conflict–that were so ridiculous that it made me not want to quit reading the book right then and there it was so underdeveloped and unrealistic.\ \ Behooved by M. Stevenson chronic GI pain & nausea/celiac disease representation (own voices)\ \ 4 stars\ \ Despite being a bit of a romantasy hater--I thoroughly enjoyed this quintessential romantasy book! Behooved really forefronts the romantic storyline, and makes it clear that the political element and worldbuilding are secondary, and so even though those elements were definitely on the weaker side, it wasn't an issue because they were not trying to be a driving force of the novel. I really enjoyed Bianca and Aric both individually and as a couple, and the focus on how neither of them are strong in the traditional sense that is valued in their world, but they are still strong nonetheless.\ \ The chronic illness representation in this one was definitely my favorite part--Bianca's symptoms are almost identical to my own, and the way they were woven into the narrative and her character was very well done. I wish we had seen her discover the "root cause" of her "poisoning" (aka celiac disease) on page and not just had it be explained in the author's note, but I do see how that wouldn't have worked within the pacing and timeframe of the novel.\ \ Yumi and Monster by Kam Redlask GNE myopathy (muscle wasting disease)and mobility aid user representation (own voices)\ \ not rated\ \ I don't have many young children in my life, so I almost never read picture books, which leaves me unsure of how to review this book. The artwork was gorgeous, the story didn't quite work for me--and I can't put a finger on why. I'm not sure how I feel about the framing of disability as a monster, even if it is a friendly one, and the narrative itself was odd--kind of amorphous and very metaphor-heavy with metaphors that didn't quite land for me, and that I think will go completely over a child's head. But again, I don't actually know much about children so I can't say that for certain.\ \ Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage(Rebel Blue Ranch #1) anxiety, ADHD representation (own voices)\ \ 4 stars\ \ This is a book about anxiety and burnout, and despite seeing this book talked about everywhere on TikTok, I've never seen anyone mention that before? Done and Dusted is a fast-paced, sweet, and sexy romance novel. The audiobook was under 7 hours. I think it suffers a bit for being so short, the pacing is a bit too fast to grapple with the themes that it has chosen quite as deeply as I wanted it to. A lot of Emmy's dealing with her anxiety and burnout seems to happen off page, or in split-second realizations, which left me feeling a bit rushed through her character development. However, I still really enjoyed her as a main character, and I thought she and Liam balanced well together. This was Lyla Sage's debut, and I think that shows, but I am looking forward to continuing this series and seeing how she grows as an author in her subsequent books.\ \ Unseelie by Ivelisse Housman(Unseelie #1) autism (own voices)\ \ 4.5 stars (reread)\ \ I read Unseelie for the first time when the book released a few years back, and I had a lot of fun with it! I love Seelie, and I really enjoyed the care and detail that Ivelisse Housman included when representing Seelie's autism. The final book in this duology came out this month, and I knew I needed a reread in order to fully engage with it. On my first read, I'd had a few issues with the acing of the novel, but reading on audio this time around really helped smooth out that experience. I had a lot of fun revisting Seelie and co. and I'm excited to dive into book two soon!\ \ Skalterra by Nightmare by M.T. Zimny(Skalterra #1) trichotillomania representation (own voices)\ \ 4.5 stars\ \ The premise of this book had me hooked from early on: a girl who is transported to an alternate world upon sleeping, and must embark on a dangerous journey in order to save that world and her own, while balancing her normal life during waking hours. The worldbuilding of Skalterra was fascinating, but Wren herself was the most compelling aspect of this book. I connected to her so deeply, and really enjoyed being in her head and watching her journey, both in Skalterra and the real world. I thought this was a standalone when I started it, and I must say I am slightly devastated to learn it is in fact a duology and I must now wait until the second book, but I'm excited to see what will happen.\ \ The Game is Afoot by Elise Bryant(Mavis Miller #2) anxiety representation\ \ 3.5 stars\ \ This book did not quite live up to my expectations, unfortunately. While I really enjoyed Mavis's character growth in this story, how far she has come since the beginning of the story, and the themes of mental health and seeking help, I found the mystery--which is, of course, the main plot of a mystery novel--not especially compelling. I think this boils down to the fact that I didn't find any of the tertiary characters compelling. I cared about Mavis, of course, and her father, Pearl, and Cory, but pretty much every other character in this book--from Jack, to the victim, to every suspect--were underdeveloped and shallow. Jack felt like a cardboard cutout, which was so disappointing when I'd loved him in the first book, and every other character Mavis investigated lacked any depth beyond a basic stereotype. From MLM pushers to mommy bloggers to Coach Cole himself, they lacked all depth, and thus I did not care about what Mavis uncovered about them, and when a killer was revealed, their motivations were equally shallow, which was especially disappointing given the complex, nuanced reveal in It's Elementary.\ \ Join for free or login

Mini Reviews: Every Book I’ve Read in 2025 With Disability Representation

26 books

Enchanted Echoes\ \ Deirdre\ \ • Aug 10 2025

The Summer I Barely Read

7 books

2

chronicallybookish\ \ Kaley\ \ • Aug 1 2025

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[Disability Pride Month has come to a close, and that brings us to the end of this Readathon as well. Thank you all so much for participating–it’s been such a wonderful experience and everyone’s excitement has meant so much to me. \ \ I want to do a little wrap up of everything I read for the readathon, but first a few reminders:\ \

Disability Pride Readathon Wrap Up!

19 books

1

1

Not So Well Read\ \ Courtney\ \ • Jun 18 2025

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My Vacation TBR

She’s taking 5 books, but the real question is, will she read any books?

Books on my vacation TBR:

- The Red Winter by Cameron Sullivan - So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole - Behooved by M. Stevenson - This Will Be Fun by E.B. Asher - A Gentleman’s Gentleman by T.J. Alexander

#tbrlist #tobereadpile #toberead #vacationreads #beachread #tobereadlist

5 books

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The Inkborne Society\ \ Azhangia\ \ • May 29 2025

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My Top 5 of the Month \ \ ⭐ 4.50 - The Grace of Kings (Ken Liu)\ \ I finally picked up The Grace of Kings this month after years of having it on my TBR and was NOT disappointed. The first book of the Dandelion Dynasty series, TGoK is a silkpunk fantasy tale of rebellion, treachery, sacrifice, and dynamic politics. One of my favorite things about this book was the minor characters - even though you don’t necessarily spend that much time with them, they all feel so three-dimensional, with rich lives of their own that piece together into the greater tapestry of the story. The book also featured exciting action sequences, fascinating biomimetic technology, and complex relationships that really brought the tale to life. I think this series will likely become one of my all-time favs, and I can’t wait to read the rest of the books!!!\ \ ⭐ 4.50 - House of the Beast (Michelle Wong)\ \ I’m always on the hunt for a good standalone fantasy, and House of the Beast is the latest gem I wanted to share. Full of morally complex characters and set in an Asian-inspired world with an anime vibe that I really enjoyed, this was a captivating dark fantasy tale of revenge, codependency, and obsession that I could not put it down. The book also features illustrations done by the author herself (she was the illustrator of The Legend of Korra graphic novels!), and they were such a delight to look at throughout the course of the story. \ \ ⭐ 4.50 - The Devils (Joe Abercrombie)\ \ The Devils by Joe Abercrombie is now what I would consider the best starting point for readers new to Abercrombie’s works, and is a delightful story of found family and adventure that somehow managed to be tragic, hilarious, and thought-provoking all at once. It’s grimdark fantasy, so yes, there is the violence, the brutality, the futility, but Abercrombie does a fantastic job amping up the humor and wit without losing the core of the story, which in The Devils, is about finding self, belonging, purpose in a cruel and chaotic world. Additionally, the book delves into the hypocrisy of the Church, the blurred lines of good and evil, and concepts of damnation and redemption. One chapter in particular, “A War in Miniature,” stood out to me as especially well-written, and it’s one of the most memorable chapters I’ve read in recent years. \ \ ⭐ 4.25 - Coldwire (Chloe Gong)\ \ I grew up during the peak era of YA dystopia (YA books in the early 2010’s just hit different), and Coldwire was a book that felt conceptually fresh, but also nostalgic of that time. Given the rise of AI, this book felt particularly fascinating and relevant, and my favorite thing about it was the premise of the world being separated into “upcountry” and “downcountry” - those with financial resources can escape the economic and environmental catastrophes of “downcountry” by living almost entirely in a virtual reality known as “upcountry”. I am eagerly awaiting book 2 of this series, because man, there were so many twists and turns in the last 30% of the book and I need to see how the full story plays out!!\ \ ⭐ 4.25 - Royal Assassin (Robin Hobb)\ \ Robin Hobb sure knows how to write a compelling character-driven story, and I enjoyed this second leg of Fitz’s journey. This series has such a classic fantasy feel to it, and while I’m slightly terrified to see where this story is going (must protect Fitz at all costs), I am excited to see how this trilogy concludes in the next book!\ \ Other May Reads & Ratings \ \ ⭐ 4.25 - A Treachery of Swans (A.B. Poranek) \ \ I grew up doing ballet and am a sucker for Swan Lake retellings, so I was super excited to pick up this book. The writing was so lyrical and lush, and the gothic atmosphere was perfect for the story. I loved this sapphic twist on the Swan Lake tale, and thought the writing was engaging throughout. I do wish this had been a duology rather than a standalone, because there was a lot of potential at the end to expand the story, rather than force a conclusion, but overall, I enjoyed my time with this one!\ \ ⭐ 4.00 - A Forgery of Fate (Elizabeth Lim) \ \ YA books are a hit or miss for me these days, but this was a hit! I loved how Asian folklore was woven into this undersea Beauty and the Beast retelling, and really enjoyed the enchanted, aquatic vibes. This is a super-digestible, action-packed book and is very suitable for those looking to get more into the fantasy genre.\ \ ⭐ 4.00 - The Incandescent (Emily Tesh)\ \ The Incandescent features an older FMC (late 30’s), a highly detailed and well-developed magic system, and sapphic relationships all tied together in a story of self-discovery, belonging, and power. I have never read a dark academia fantasy book told from the perspective of the faculty, rather than the students, and I really appreciated this fresh perspective - if you're a teacher, I think you will especially like this one! \ \ ⭐ 4.00 - My Friends (Fredrik Backman)\ \ This was a beautiful story about how special childhood friendships are, and the beauty and power of art. I particularly loved the dedication of the book, so I wanted to share it below:\ \ "To anyone who is young and wants to create something. Do it."\ \ ⭐ 3.75 - Behooved (M. Stevenson)\ \ I was devastated when My Lady Jane was canceled on Prime Video after one season, but this book slightly eased the pain (yes, there is somehow another fantasy in which the MMC turns into a horse after sunset). Wish there was a little more depth to the story, but overall, this was a delightful romp of a story, and I had a lot of fun reading it!\ \ ⭐ 3.75 - A Man Called Ove (Fredrik Backman)\ \ Stories about the elderly always wreck me, and this was no exception. That said, I didn’t find this one quite as moving as And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer, another one of Backman’s books about an elderly man, but thought it was still beautifully written overall.\ \ ⭐ 3.75 - The Summer Palace and Other Stories (C.S. Pacat)\ \ This was a collection of short stories set in the same universe as the Captive Prince series, and I enjoyed getting to learn more about some of the side characters from the original trilogy, as well as glimpse the lives of Laurent and Damen following Kings Rising.\ \ ⭐ 3.25 - A Song of Legends Lost (M.H. Ayinde)\ \ This book had a really intriguing magic system centered around ancestral summoning and featured a cool sci-fi element called techwork, but I had a difficult time getting emotionally invested in the story because of how flat the characters felt. That said, if you’re more of a plot-driven reader, you may still really enjoy this one!\ \ Join for free or login

May Reading Wrap-Up (Reviews & Favorites)

Reviews and ratings of the 13 books I read in May - quite a few that I enjoyed this month!

12 books

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