It's time for my first series of mini reviews in 2025! I've had a good start to the year when it comes to my reading goal - I'm ahead by three books. But I know how quickly it can go downhill when life gets in the way, so we'll just have to see how it goes. Here are my thoughts on some of the books I've been loving and...no so loving lately. 😬
The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater
It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.
Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.
His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.
But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.
For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.
It’s been almost a decade since I read The Raven Cycle for the first time and with the graphic novel coming out this summer, I’ve been missing the gangsey like crazy. So, I thought it was a perfect time for a reread! Up until a few years ago, I wasn’t big on rereads, especially when it comes to a beloved series. I think part of me is always a tiny bit worried that I won’t love something as much the second time around. But something shifted a while and since then I’ve done…um, too many rereads if I’m being honest.
Needless to say, I loved reading them again just as much this time around. If not more because I didn’t have to stress out about what would happen next. I’m so grateful to these four books because they definitely helped shaped me into the type of reader I am today.
Royal Rating:
Kamikaze Boys by Jay Bell
My name is Connor Williams and people say I’m crazy. But that’s not who I am. They also think I’m straight, and mean, and dangerous. But that’s not who I am. The stories people tell—all those legends they whisper at school—they don’t mean a thing. Only my mother and younger brother matter to me. Funny then that I find myself wanting to stand up for someone else. David Henry, the cute bookish guy who always keeps to himself, is about to get his ass beat by a bunch of dudes bigger than him. I could look away, let him be one more causality of this cruel world… But that’s not who I am.
Kamikaze Boys, a Lambda Literary award-winning novel, is a story of love triumphant as two young men walk a perilous path in the hopes of saving each other.
I’ve had this one on my TBR for a couple of years after it was recommended to me by a bookseller. I hate to admit it, but it wasn’t the right recommendation. I did not vibe with this book. It was originally published in 2012 I think? But this version was printed in 2019. It’s definitely a product of it’s time, so maybe I would have enjoyed it more in my John Green days?
2025 me was far too irritated by these characters, and the plot just fell completely flat. I also had some issues with the way the book depicted mental health facilities, too. One of the main characters ends up in one against his will after An Event, and I know some of these places can be awful and more detrimental to a person than helpful, but this just came across as harmful fearmongering.
Royal Rating:
Angels Before Man by Rafael Nicolas
A queer retelling of Satan's fall that's part cozy coming of age and part fast-paced tragedy, with a little love story in between –
In an eternal paradise, the most beautiful angel, Lucifer, struggles with shame, identity, and timidity, with little more than the desire to worship his creator.
It isn't until the strongest angel, Michael, comes into his life that Lucifer learns to love himself. Along the way, their friendship begins to bloom into something else. Maybe the first romance in the history of everything.
But this God is a jealous one, and maybe paradise is not paradise.
Oh BOY. I came across this series by accident, and it turned out to be the best kind of accident possible. THESE BOOKS ARE,,,,,, EVERYTHING. It took me a little while to get into the first one, but after a while it had me fully hooked.
Word of warning though, these books are extremely dark and feature an extensive list of trigger warnings. So definitely check those out before even considering delving into this world. It’s a rewarding process if you do, though.
Royal Rating:
The Golden Raven by Nora Sakavic
Jeremy Knox is no stranger to damage control, but his last season on an Exy court is off to a disastrous start. The relentless crusade against his newest teammate threatens the haven he and his friends have worked so hard to build. He promised Jean a fun senior year, but tragedy and ugly truths make every step forward an uphill fight.
Jean Moreau promised the USC Trojans a championship trophy, and he intends to deliver. Granted, it would be significantly easier if they’d slide off their high horses and throw a few elbows on the court. Their steadfast refusal to do things his way is nearly as aggravating as their unwanted affection, but maybe they’re not the ones that need to change.
With so many ready to drag him down, how can he learn to fly?
It’s not to early to pick your fave book of the year, is it? Because we all know nothing is going to come close to this for me. All For The Game is my series of all time and I still can’t quite believe we’re getting more stories after all these years.
Getting to see Jean’s healing process is so important to me.
This is the second book in the trilogy that revolves around Jean and Jeremy, and I loved it just as much as the first book. Again, I had no idea what to expect, but it still managed to deliver everything I wanted.
Royal Rating:
They’re just some of the books I’ve been reading so far this year! With rereads and books I expected to love before even picking them up, I’ve been rating most of them five stars and I regret nothing.
What books have you loved recently?
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