I know it’s not a good idea to join too many readathons in one month, especially some of them took only the first 14 days of the month. This is what happened to me on August. I joined 4 readathons as I mentioned on my August 2021 Reading Plans, with 3 additional prompts from my tarot deck. On the first 2 weeks, I have finished some books and 2 readathons. But then I got sick on third week, so I lost my reading mood.

Here the short reviews and thoughts about every book I finished reading during the month of August

1. My Cat Called Red by Jane Lightbourne

The first ARC I finished this month. This is about a grumpy boy who deals with family loss and he met his grandfather where he told him a story about the red cat that came to their house. It’s a cat adventure story that tells about friendship, courage and love. A nice short story which you can finish in one sitting.

2. AfterMath by Emily Barth Isler

I listened the audiobook version narrated by the author herself. One word to describe this book : BRILLIANT. This book follows Lucy who just moved to a new place after her brother death. Everyone in her new school suffered from the tragedy happened several years ago involved shooting and gun, death and wounds. Told in the first person point of view, we can know Lucy’s thoughts, fears, insecurities, as well as her love for Math. Every character in this book is written beautifully and in realistic way. This book shows the importance of communication between family member and taking medication or therapy for mental health issues. I love the narrator’s voice and how she brought the story to my head. It’s a heavy topic for middle grade age range, yet I feel this is not something unrealistic. This can be happening anywhere to anyone. I can deeply relate to everyone especially Lucy yet I didn’t expect her to do something here to avoid her own pain. I simply trust the author. It can be an eye-opening book that is told from the perspective of a 12-year-old Lucy. I believe this story can be a good read for young adults and adults to understand trauma better and for a reference in a discussion about mental health and family matter. I listened the ARC provided by Netgalley, however I’m going to buy the paperback once it’s released, as this book has been in my September 2021 Anticipated Book Releases.

3. Before The Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

The first chapter was confusing with so many new names mentioned there, you have to take notes of which names is who before continuing the story unless you have good memory of Japanese names. This book shows what it needs and someone has to sacrifice to obtain something they want that is considered as impossible. Consists of some touching one chapter-length stories revolved around Funiculi Funicula’s customers and the staff. One book that dug my emotions up when it came to a story of the siblings and mother-daughter. I love the vibe of the café and the people inside, all the characters are well built along with the backstory which made them going to the café.

4. Of Curses and Kisses by Sandhya Menon

Told in dual point of views which I actually am not really into. I like Grey and Isha, and can understand Jaya with all the weird things she does. Jaya is smart and has the confident and courage despite the situation her family is currently in. Typical plot that happened inside a romance book. I didn’t see anything surprising from the revelation and the solution. I wish it has some explanations about the curses and the missing ruby (not only those they acquired from the jewelry guy) and what really happened with the gem (is it really curse or only the mind doing its business to people who believes it).

5. Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney

I love the writing that builds the entire environment in the book and keeps the reader sticking in. The first half is interesting, however the second half I started to not care about anything happening in the story since some are repetitive and there some trigger warnings especially about pain, menstrual pain, illness and self-harm.

6. Aristotle and Dante Discover The Secrets of The Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz

I can deeply relate to the grumpy Ari. A realistic character with all his rage and kindness in one body. Communication and sharing thoughts with people we cared about (or close to) is important or else we can be forever in misunderstanding and living in our own assumptions.  I love the family, the jokes and the openness Dante offered.

7. A World without Princes by Soman Chainani

I like the first book better than the second. In this book, we can’t see the consistency of Agatha’s character and what she had to decide. What I didn’t like here is the miscommunication thing that stirred the difficult situation (it’s personal thing, so if you’re okay with miscommunication and lies and deception to add into the chaos, ignore this). The revelation is always unexpected and I always can sympathize Sophie for her life in the village.

8 – 17. Kitchen Princess Vol 1 – 10 by Natsumi Ando & Miyuki Kobayashi

I finished 10 volumes of one of my favorite manga during 8^th grade. This story is about Najika in her new luxurious school, in order to find her “prince” she met back in her childhood. She comes from an orphanage in Hokkaido and is very good at cooking. I love the drawing style and the delicious sweet fashionable chapter title. Every chapter has delicious foods or refreshing drinks. I love the sweet vibe from this manga and how food can connect people and recall memories. I love the friendship, love and support shown in this story. It has family loss, grief, trauma, and eating disorder, but it’s wrapped in a such warm and reassuring atmosphere. Also! There are the recipe pages in the end of each book.

18. Zodiac P. I Vol. 1 by Natsumi Ando

This is the first manga that made me learning about astrology. I always felt drawn to the star and space thing, but I haven’t had the chance to figure out what is the thing that made me curious about it. This manga just declared that one thing I was curious about is the constellations and astrology and mythology related to it. So, this manga is about a girl named Riri Hoshizawa who is an astrologer. She has a friend named Hiromi Oikawa. Together, the two works together to solve the mystery behind every criminal acts. If you are familiar with the drawing here, especially Oikawa, yes he does look like Daichi from Kitchen Princess because they have the same mangaka. I love the cute zodiac spirits summoned in every case and how it made me curious as an 8^th grader. The crime cases weren’t like those you can find from a mystery thriller manga like Kindaichi or Meitantei Conan, it has simpler and (some are impossible to do) less thrilling mystery. This manga also runs on the most basic astrology which reads through sun signs and doesn’t have certain magic system like you can find in Cardcaptor Sakura. It’s simple and sweet and cheerful and nice.

19. Saving Fable by Scott Reintgen

Mind blowing book! It’s for middle grade but I do love the idea behind the story which took the idea as the main plot. It took place in the Imaginary, the place where all ideas exist for the authors to pick for a story. It has certain system and rules for a character to be chosen by the author, one is through a school which Indira has been dreaming. I don’t know which things I should mention here without spoiling the story. Haha. The revelation is unexpected. And I love how it shows the most common plot happened in every story about hero, and how Indira tries to not follow the path.

20. Night Shift Witch by Cate Lawley

21. Witching Moon by K. E Bonner

It sets in the 1940s, so the there are some difficult words embedded in every conversation. The first quarter of the book is interesting since it introduces the reader to the world, characters and the problem arises. But, once the adventure begins, the characters just ran into one problem to the other and met people whose existence didn’t influence the story, only to add more chapters. I expected some magic development and learning through the long journey, but it focuses more on to the problems and the pursuers and the torturing and the pain. It becomes faster when reaches some last chapters of the book, and I wasn’t really interested at how the people come together there.

22. The Magic Ocean Slide by Emma Beswetherick

It’s a reading recommendation for children which introduces the environment awareness and provides some simple steps we can start from home.

23. Bear Wants to Sing by Cary Fagan

A cute graphic book with wonderful monochrome drawing in browns. A short and sweet story that delivers the message in a flowing way.

24. People Who Love to Eat Are Always the Best People: And Other Wisdom by Julia Child

25. The Gatekeeper of Pericael by Hayley Reese Chow

Current Reads

Books I'm going to finish on September, as I mentioned in my September 2021 Reading Plans where I participate on Magical Readathon The Novice Path to Orilium Academy :

1. Charting Stars by Micheline Ryckman

2. The Crowns of Croswald by D.E Night

3. Zodiac P. I Vol. 2 by Natsumi Ando

So, that's all for my August reading wrap up. Did you find some good books on August? Tell me down below!

Reading graphics by lailiving / shainalite

Photo by Lizzie on Unsplash

Hi friends! How are you? I know this might be unusual for me to post another entry for September, yet I want to post this one because I want to share some books that caught my eyes on which will be released someday this month (some of them might have been released by the time this post being published). There are some books I’m curious about by reading their blurbs, and some other are the ones I love because I received their ARCs before and I’m planning to buy them. The books I mentioned below will be sorted based on their released date (since there are some different released dates for different countries, I chose to use the amazon version of released dates for easier access). A disclaimer, it's not a sponsored post. I simply put the books I found here, and for the ARCs, I put them only when I love them. I believe there are way more books which have interesting premises and blurbs out there. So, let me know if there is an interesting book released on September that I haven't mentioned below!

September 2021 Anticipated Book Releases

1. Dark and Shallow Lies by Ginny Myers Sain

Genre / Keywords : Young Adult, Fantasy, Thriller, Mystery, Paranormal

Length : 433 pages

Release date : September 2, 2021

“A teen girl disappears from her small town deep in the bayou, where magic festers beneath the surface of the swamp like water rot, in this chilling debut supernatural thriller for fans of Natasha Preston, Karen McManus, and Rory Power.

La Cachette, Louisiana, is the worst place to be if you have something to hide.

This tiny town, where seventeen-year-old Grey spends her summers, is the self-proclaimed Psychic Capital of the World--and the place where Elora Pellerin, Grey's best friend, disappeared six months earlier.

Grey can't believe that Elora vanished into thin air any more than she can believe that nobody in a town full of psychics knows what happened. But as she digs into the night that Elora went missing, she begins to realize that everybody in town is hiding something - her grandmother Honey; her childhood crush Hart; and even her late mother, whose secrets continue to call to Grey from beyond the grave.

When a mysterious stranger emerges from the bayou - a stormy-eyed boy with links to Elora and the town's bloody history - Grey realizes that La Cachette's past is far more present and dangerous than she'd ever understood. Suddenly, she doesn't know who she can trust. In a town where secrets lurk just below the surface, and where a murderer is on the loose, nobody can be presumed innocent--and La Cachette's dark and shallow lies may just rip the town apart.”

Goodreads | Amazon 

2. After/Math by Emily Barth Isler

Genre/Keywords : Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Mental Health

Length : 217 pages

Release date : September 7, 2021

“After her brother's death from a congenital heart defect, twelve-year-old Lucy is not prepared to be the new kid at school--especially in a grade full of survivors of a shooting that happened four years ago. Without the shared past that both unites and divides her classmates, Lucy feels isolated and unable to share her family's own loss, which is profoundly different from the trauma of her peers.

Lucy clings to her love of math, which provides the absolute answers she craves. But through budding friendships and an after-school mime class, Lucy discovers that while grief can take many shapes and sadness may feel infinite, love is just as powerful.”

Goodreads | Amazon | Scribd

I read this book on August in audiobook format provided as an arc by Netgalley. I love this book and I’m planning to buy the paperback edition. You can read my short review about how brilliant this book in my August 2021 Reading Wrap Up.

3. Loteria by Karla Valenti

Genre/Keywords : Middle Grade, Fantasy, Magic

Length : 311 pages

Release date : September 7, 2021

“The turn of a card could change your destiny... The Phantom Tollbooth meets Coco in this captivating magical realist adventure based on the Lotería card game.

A perilous game of chance.

A journey among myths and monsters.

A girl whose fate hangs in the balance...

It is the hottest hour of the hottest day in Oaxaca City when Life and Death walk into town, ready to begin a new game of la Lotería. But first, they need a pawn, a child whose fate will be determined by the winner of the game: a long and prosperous life or an untimely death. Fate finds this child in a robin-egg blue house, tucked beneath a massive jacaranda tree. And so, the game begins.

Every card reveals a new twist in Clara's fate: a tree, a scorpion, a fateful arrow, a mermaid, a deer, a treacherous rose. But Clara knows none of this. All she knows is that her cousin Esteban has vanished, and she’ll do whatever it takes to save him, traveling to the mythical Kingdom of Las Pozas in her search. And although it seems her fate was sealed as soon as the cards were dealt, Clara just might have what it takes to shatter the game and choose a new path.”

Goodreads | Amazon

4. Never Saw You Coming by Erin Hahn

Genre/Keywords : Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary

Length : 310 pages

Release date : September 7, 2021

“Raised by conservative parents, 18-year-old Meg Hennessey just found out her entire childhood was a lie. Instead of taking a gap year before college to find herself, she ends up traveling north to meet what’s left of the family she never knew existed.

While there, she meets Micah Allen, a former pastor’s kid whose dad ended up in prison, leaving Micah with his own complicated relationship about the church. The clock is ticking on Pastor Allen’s probation hearing and Micah, now 19, feels the pressure to forgive - even when he can’t possibly forget.

As Meg and Micah grow closer, they are confronted with the heavy flutterings of first love and all the complications it brings. Together, they must navigate the sometimes-painful process of cutting ties with childhood beliefs as they build toward something truer and straight from the heart.”

Goodreads | Amazon

5. Pahua and The Soul Stealer by Lori M. Lee

Genre/Keywords : Middle Grade, Fantasy, Mythology, Adventure, Asian Literature

Length : 345 pages

Release date : September 7, 2021

“Pahua Moua has a bit of a reputation for being a weirdo. A lonely eleven-year-old Hmong girl with the unique ability to see spirits, she spends her summer days babysitting her little brother and playing with her best friend, a cat spirit no one else can see.

One day Pahua accidentally untethers an angry spirit from the haunted bridge in her neighborhood--whoops. When her brother suddenly falls sick and can't be awoken, Pahua fears that the bridge spirit has stolen his soul. She returns to the scene of the crime with her aunt's old shaman tools, hoping to confront the spirit and demand her brother's return. Instead, she summons a demon.

Thankfully, a warrior shaman with a bit of an attitude problem shows up at the last minute and saves her butt. With the help of this guide, Pahua will have to find her way through the spirit worlds and rescue her brother's soul before it's too late. Little does she know she'll have her own discoveries to make along the way. . . .”

Goodreads | Amazon

6. Snowflake by Louise Nealon

Genre/Keywords : Adult, Contemporary, Coming of Age, Irish Literature

Length : 262 pages

Release date : September 7, 2021

“Eighteen-year-old Debbie was raised on her family’s rural dairy farm, forty minutes and a world away from Dublin. She lives with her mother, Maeve, a skittish woman who takes to her bed for days on end, claims not to know who Debbie’s father is, and believes her dreams are prophecies. Rounding out their small family is Maeve’s brother Billy, who lives in a caravan behind their house, drinks too much, and likes to impersonate famous dead writers online. Though they may have their quirks, the Whites’ fierce love for one another is never in doubt.

But Debbie’s life is changing. Earning a place at Trinity College Dublin, she commutes to her classes a few days a week. Outside the sheltered bubble of her childhood for the first time, Debbie finds herself both overwhelmed and disappointed by her fellow students and the pace and anonymity of city life. While the familiarity of the farm offers comfort, Debbie still finds herself pulling away from it. Yet just as she begins to ponder the possibilities the future holds, a resurgence of strange dreams raises her fears that she may share Maeve’s fate. Then a tragic accident upends the family’s equilibrium, and Debbie discovers her next steps may no longer be hers to choose.”

Goodreads | Amazon

7. Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna by Alda P. Dobbs

Genre/Keywords : Middle Grade, Historical Fiction

Length : 288 pages

Release date : September 14, 2021

“It is 1913, and twelve-year-old Petra Luna's mama has died while the Revolution rages in Mexico. Before her papa is dragged away by soldiers, Petra vows to him that she will care for the family she has left―her abuelita, little sister Amelia, and baby brother Luisito―until they can be reunited. They flee north through the unforgiving desert as their town burns, searching for safe harbor in a world that offers none.

Each night when Petra closes her eyes, she holds her dreams close, especially her long-held desire to learn to read. Abuelita calls these barefoot dreams: "They're like us barefoot peasants and indios―they're not meant to go far." But Petra refuses to listen. Through battlefields and deserts, hunger and fear, Petra will stop at nothing to keep her family safe and lead them to a better life across the U.S. border―a life where her barefoot dreams could finally become reality.”

Goodreads | Amazon

8. Defy The Night (Defy The Night #1) by Brigid Kemmerer

Genre/Keywords : Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, High Fantasy

Length : 354 pages

Release date : September 14, 2021

“The kingdom of Kandala is on the brink of disaster. Rifts between sectors have only worsened since a sickness began ravaging the land, and within the Royal Palace, the king holds a tenuous peace with a ruthless hand.

King Harristan was thrust into power after his parents' shocking assassination, leaving the younger Prince Corrick to take on the brutal role of the King's Justice. The brothers have learned to react mercilessly to any sign of rebellion--it's the only way to maintain order when the sickness can strike anywhere, and the only known cure, an elixir made from delicate Moonflower petals, is severely limited.

Out in the Wilds, apothecary apprentice Tessa Cade is tired of seeing her neighbors die, their suffering ignored by the unyielding royals. Every night, she and her best friend Wes risk their lives to steal Moonflower petals and distribute the elixir to those who need it most--but it's still not enough.

As rumors spread that the cure no longer works and sparks of rebellion begin to flare, a particularly cruel act from the King's Justice makes Tessa desperate enough to try the impossible: sneaking into the palace. But what she finds upon her arrival makes her wonder if it's even possible to fix Kandala without destroying it first.”

Goodreads | Amazon

9. White Smoke by Tiffany D Jackson

Genre/Keywords : Young Adult, Horror, Mystery, Thriller, Paranormal, Ghost

Length : 384 pages

Release date : September 14, 2021

“Marigold is running from ghosts. The phantoms of her old life keep haunting her, but a move with her newly blended family from their small California beach town to the embattled Midwestern city of Cedarville might be the fresh start she needs. Her mom has accepted a new job with the Sterling Foundation that comes with a free house, one that Mari now has to share with her bratty ten-year-old stepsister, Piper.

The renovated picture-perfect home on Maple Street, sitting between dilapidated houses, surrounded by wary neighbors has its . . . secrets. That’s only half the problem: household items vanish, doors open on their own, lights turn off, shadows walk past rooms, voices can be heard in the walls, and there’s a foul smell seeping through the vents only Mari seems to notice. Worse: Piper keeps talking about a friend who wants Mari gone.

But “running from ghosts” is just a metaphor, right?

As the house closes in, Mari learns that the danger isn’t limited to Maple Street. Cedarville has its secrets, too. And secrets always find their way through the cracks.”

Goodreads | Amazon

10. Breaking Badlands (Talespinners #3) by Scott Reintgen

Genre/Keywords : Middle Grade, Fantasy, Book about Books, Magic, Adventure

Length : 344 pages

Release date : September 21, 2021

“Having saved Imagination twice now, Indira is on a well-earned vacation when she is kidnapped by the Anti-Heroes. The covert group has one goal: overthrow the tyrannical leader of Fester and Antagonist Academy. After they plead their case, Indira agrees to join their secret mission and go undercover as a student at the legendary school for villains-in-training--where she gets drawn into a virtual warfare competition known as the Badlands.

Facing monster teachers, plotting classmates, distracting love interests and combative old foes is all second nature to a hero like Indira. But what happens when that heroic nature is turned against her like a weapon? Can Indira get to the bottom of what's going on in Fester before this virtual battlescape spills over into a real war for ultimate control of Imagination?”

Goodreads | Amazon

I read Saving Fable which is the first book in Talespinners series and I love it. The idea behind this book is genius. I love Indira as main character here. I haven't read the second book and didn't know the third book is coming out this month yet I'm excited for this release. You can read my short review in my August 2021 Reading Wrap Up.

11. Under The Whispering Door by T.J Klune

Genre/Keywords : Adult, Contemporary, Fantasy, LGBT, Romance, Ghost, Paranormal

Length : 390 pages

Release date : September 21, 2021

“When a reaper comes to collect Wallace Price from his own funeral, Wallace suspects he really might be dead.

Instead of leading him directly to the afterlife, the reaper takes him to a small village. On the outskirts, off the path through the woods, tucked between mountains, is a particular tea shop, run by a man named Hugo. Hugo is the tea shop's owner to locals and the ferryman to souls who need to cross over.

But Wallace isn't ready to abandon the life he barely lived. With Hugo's help he finally starts to learn about all the things he missed in life.

When the Manager, a curious and powerful being, arrives at the tea shop and gives Wallace one week to cross over, Wallace sets about living a lifetime in seven days.”

Goodreads | Amazon

I read the arc of this book this month provided by Netgalley. I really like the story especially the jokes and the compassion shown in every chapter. I read it as part of Magical Readathon in the month of September. It's a slow read for me, since I read it through my mobile app. You can read my short review about this book on September 2021 Reading Wrap Up.

12. Beasts of Prey by Ayana Gray

Genre/Keywords : Young Adult, Fantasy, Mythology, High Fantasy, Magic

Length : 496 pages

Release date : September 28, 2021

“Magic doesn't exist in the broken city of Lkossa anymore, especially for girls like sixteen-year-old Koffi. Indentured to the notorious Night Zoo, she cares for its fearsome and magical creatures to pay off her family's debts and secure their eventual freedom. But the night her loved ones' own safety is threatened by the Zoo's cruel master, Koffi unleashes a power she doesn't fully understand--and the consequences are dire.

As the second son of a decorated hero, Ekon is all but destined to become a Son of the Six--an elite warrior--and uphold a family legacy. But on the night of his final rite of passage, a fire upends his plans. In its midst, Ekon not only encounters the Shetani--a vicious monster that has plagued the city and his nightmares for nearly a century--but a curious girl who seems to have the power to ward off the beast. Koffi's power ultimately saves Ekon's life, but his choice to let her flee dooms his hopes of becoming a warrior.

Desperate to redeem himself, Ekon vows to hunt the Shetani down and end its reign of terror, but he can't do it alone. Meanwhile, Koffi believes finding the Shetani and selling it for a profit could be the key to solving her own problems. Koffi and Ekon--each keeping their true motives secret from the other--form a tentative alliance and enter into the unknowns of the Greater Jungle, a world steeped in wild magic and untold dangers. The hunt begins. But it quickly becomes unclear whether they are the hunters or the hunted.”

Goodreads | Amazon

13. Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr

Genre/Keywords : Adult, Historical Fiction, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Book about Books

Length : 637 pages

Release date : September 28, 2021

“Thirteen-year-old Anna, an orphan, lives inside the formidable walls of Constantinople in a house of women who make their living embroidering the robes of priests. Restless, insatiably curious, Anna learns to read, and in this ancient city, famous for its libraries, she finds a book, the story of Aethon, who longs to be turned into a bird so that he can fly to a utopian paradise in the sky. This she reads to her ailing sister as the walls of the only place she has known are bombarded in the great siege of Constantinople. Outside the walls is Omeir, a village boy, miles from home, conscripted with his beloved oxen into the invading army. His path and Anna’s will cross.

Five hundred years later, in a library in Idaho, octogenarian Zeno, who learned Greek as a prisoner of war, rehearses five children in a play adaptation of Aethon’s story, preserved against all odds through centuries. Tucked among the library shelves is a bomb, planted by a troubled, idealistic teenager, Seymour. This is another siege. And in a not-so-distant future, on the interstellar ship Argos, Konstance is alone in a vault, copying on scraps of sacking the story of Aethon, told to her by her father. She has never set foot on our planet.”

Goodreads | Amazon

14. Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki

Genre/Keywords : Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy, LGBT

Length : 363 pages

Release date : September 28, 2021

“Shizuka Satomi made a deal with the devil: to escape damnation, she must entice seven other violin prodigies to trade their souls for success. She has already delivered six.

When Katrina Nguyen, a young transgender runaway, catches Shizuka's ear with her wild talent, Shizuka can almost feel the curse lifting. She's found her final candidate.

But in a donut shop off a bustling highway in the San Gabriel Valley, Shizuka meets Lan Tran, retired starship captain, interstellar refugee, and mother of four. Shizuka doesn't have time for crushes or coffee dates, what with her very soul on the line, but Lan's kind smile and eyes like stars might just redefine a soul's worth. And maybe something as small as a warm donut is powerful enough to break a curse as vast as the California coastline.

As the lives of these three women become entangled by chance and fate, a story of magic, identity, curses, and hope begins, and a family worth crossing the universe for is found.”

Goodreads | Amazon

15. The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling

Genre/Keywords : Adult, Romance, Witches, Fantasy, Contemporary

Length : 282 pages

Release date : September 28, 2021

“Nine years ago, Vivienne Jones nursed her broken heart like any young witch would: vodka, weepy music, bubble baths…and a curse on the horrible boyfriend. Sure, Vivi knows she shouldn’t use her magic this way, but with only an “orchard hayride” scented candle on hand, she isn’t worried it will cause him anything more than a bad hair day or two.

That is until Rhys Penhallow, descendent of the town’s ancestors, breaker of hearts, and annoyingly just as gorgeous as he always was, returns to Graves Glen, Georgia. What should be a quick trip to recharge the town’s ley lines and make an appearance at the annual fall festival turns disastrously wrong. With one calamity after another striking Rhys, Vivi realizes her silly little Ex Hex may not have been so harmless after all.

Suddenly, Graves Glen is under attack from murderous wind-up toys, a pissed off ghost, and a talking cat with some interesting things to say. Vivi and Rhys have to ignore their off the charts chemistry to work together to save the town and find a way to break the break-up curse before it’s too late.”

Goodreads | Amazon

Sooo, that’s all for today’s entry. This is the longest entry I made so far (I guess) haha. So, do you have anticipated books released on September? Tell me down below.

Note : I used the blurbs from Goodreads, and the page length is from Amazon Kindle (so it might be different if you buy the paperback version)

Title photo by lailiving

Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on Unsplash

Hi friends! On September, I’m planning to participate in a readathon by Book Roast titled Magical Readathon : Orilium - The Novice Path. It’s a fantasy-based readathon that allowed us to create our own character based on the books we choose (or vice versa). The most amazing thing here is she created the whole world here! This month, we’re going on a journey to Orilium before starting the education next year. Along the journey, we’ll get some prompts from each place we visit. Then there are also 3 other prompts which we can complete until April 2022 to create our character.

Because last month I was sick for several days, I lost my reading mood around the last third of August. So, I don’t plan to participate in too many readathons for September. Meaning, I only join this readathon and I’m not going to draw tarot cards for additional prompts. There are total 7 books for the main prompts and 3 books which I can finish before the academy starting.

Books I Want to Read September 2021

1. The Novice Path Entrance: read a book with a map

Book I chose : Charting Stars by Micheline Ryckman

This book is from August Reading Plans which I haven’t finished because I lost my reading mood after being sick for days. So I put this one on my first list for September which fulfills the first prompt of the readathon.

2. Ashtorn Tree: a book that keeps tempting you (or top of your TBR)

Book I chose : Tunnel of Bones by Victoria Schwab

3. The Mist of Solitude: read a standalone

Book I chose : Birds of Paradise by Oliver K. Langmead

4. Ruin of the Skye: read a book featuring ghosts/haunted house, or other supernatural elements

Book I chose : Under The Whispering Door by T.J. Klune

I received an advance reader copy from Netgalley, and I realized that this will be shelved on its released date on September 21, so I need to finish this book soon. Already started reading it on the last few days of August.

5. Obsidian Falls: read a thriller or a mystery book

Book I chose : Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley

6. Tower of Rumination: read a five star prediction

Book I chose : Hollowpox by Jessica Townsend

7. Orilium Academy Arc: book with a school setting

Book I chose : Crowns of Croswald by D. E. Night

This one is also from my August Reading Plans which is also from my Netgalley shelf. It’s a long book for me (when I read it through my phone it's around 570 pages, but then I discovered that it's around 280-ish pages when I read it on computer), and I read it super slowly somehow (maybe the font type?). I hope to finish it on September. Even though the shelved date hasn’t been set yet.

Character Creation Prompts

1. Urban: book set in a city or town

Book I chose : Kiki’s Delivery Service  by Eiko Kadono

2. Darkmeadow: read a dark academia

Book I chose : A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee

3. Elf: moon or stars on the cover or title

Book I chose : The Forest of Stars

I also want to read some other books :

1. Fruits Basket by Natsuki Takaya

I found this manga on a book recommendation list which has elven/fae in it. I haven’t watched the anime nor read the manga, so I want to try reading this manga on September. Even though the manga was pretty popular during my high school days, I never read it, because I always thought that it's about basketball or other sport genre (which I wasn't really interested in back then).

2. Zodiac P.I  by Natsumi Ando

I read the first volume on August, and I want to finish the whole series this month. This manga was my favorite during 7th grade because it has zodiac theme and I learned horoscope and zodiac related things because of this manga. I remembered one day after school I went to the city library to just read more books about zodiac, and I was amazed of how vast the topic was. So, I want to re-read this manga to just find those memories inside. 

My priority is to read all 7 books from the path prompts especially the ARCs I have received, the character creation prompts can be fulfilled anytime before April 2022. So, which book do you want to read on September?

If you are interested to know my reading journey, I post my updates for books I’m currently reading on my twitter account @shainalite and I also post some short review in an easy graphic there (that’s why some the book infographics I posted here has @shainalite as watermark on it.

If you are interested to participate in this wondrous readathon, you can go to the announcement video and you can find all the instructions and all documents you need there. 

Thank you for reading this entry, see you on August Reading wrap up! Have a nice reading month! Bye!

It’s been so long since I wrote an entry about favorite songs of mine. Today, I’m going to show you some songs that (for me) have magical vibes inside and can bring something unexplainable whenever I listen to them. There are only 3 songs here, and all of them are released on the beginning of 2021. This will be a short entry, so I believe you won’t be bored of too much explanations and words here. Haha.

Since magical vibes are things that I’m difficult to put onto words, so I only provided you some links and informations about the songs I considered magical. I arranged the songs based on their release dates.

1. Tsukiiro Chainon by Momoiro Clover Z

Album : Tsukiiro Chainon (Momoiro Clover Z ver.)

Released : January 13, 2021

Spotify

Youtube : Tsukiiro Chainon Animation Music Video  || Live Performance

Beside stars, I love the moon too. This song has something magical inside this song. Beside it always reminds you of the cosmic power (since it’s also Sailormoon Eternal Movie theme song), it brings limitless probability that you can choose – a hope that you will always be okay and you have all the power you need. This song gives the bright full moon and pureness to the playlist. When you browse for the song translation, you might find it a bit sad. Without knowing anything about what the lyrics talk about, you can see the pure and untouchable veil that blankets the morning (I don't even know what I'm going to say here, haha). 

2. New Days by DREAMCATCHER

Album : Dystopia [Road to Utopia]

Released : January 26, 2021

Spotify

Youtube Music

From the very beginning of the song, you will feel that this song sounds like an anime song. New Days brings freedom and push to help you get though the confusion of being nowhere. This contributes the fresh air and cold wind to the playlist. I don't know anything about Korean language, so I don't know what the lyrics are about (I quote the lyric translation below from colorcodedlyrics.com), yet I feel this song has something unknown and new which have never been seen before. I don't even know how to put it into the proper sentences. Haha.

"Even when I grow tired, if your voice reaches me, a new day will come to me again"

3. Big Dipper by Johnny’s WEST

Album : rainboW

Released : March 17, 2021

Youtube : Big Dipper Music Video

Everything about this song is magical. The title is an asterism name inside Ursa Major constellation, consist of 7 brightest star of the contellation. The choreography has some constellations in every move they made. even though I don’t exactly know the song lyrics translation in English, I feel like it’s about a journey and universal love. The love you can feel when you look up at both blue sky and starry sky. Endless and unlimited love for every being in the world. There’s something mysterious, unknown, unpredictable and eternal inside this song, yet it’s not scary or threatening. This song brings the unlimited choices and love to the playlist.

“Always, I’m your satellite. Shine, you’re my sign of light”

The way they sing “sign of light” sounds like shainalite, hahaha, my ears. 

All the three songs above have the same pure morning vibe which is for me a magical time where anything impossible can happen. Together, they bring the unlimited choices and universal love along with a fresh cold morning and a bright full moon in the sky. Based on the titles, we have moon, stars and days here, what a perfect playlist (for me).

So, what is you magical song that can bring you hope and at least reassurance that you will be okay along with the reminder that you have everything you need and you are not along? Tell me down below in the comment section. I love hearing new sounds from everyone else.

Photo by Freestocks on Unsplash

Hi friends! As I promised, I come back with another reading blog post. This time, I’m going to show you all the books I read on July. This month, I participated on Olympic Readathon and Tarot Readathon. I picked some books that I wanted to read during the month to my TBR list. I finished 15 books, and continue reading the other 3 books on August. I found some five-star reads and some not too enjoyable ones, however I really enjoyed my July reading journey. 

All Books I Read on July

1. The School For Good and Evil #1 by Soman Chainani

It’s the first book in The School for Good and Evil series by Soman Chainani. I read the Indonesian translation version which is longer than the original one, but I’m glad that it has normal size font (not too small) so it wasn’t too intimidating to read. This book is about 2 girls named Sophie and Agatha who live in a village surrounded by forest. Sophie is bored living in the same place because she hates everything about it. While Agatha is avoided by everyone, because villagers see her and her mom as witches. Every year there are always some kids being kidnapped by someone from a school beyond the forest. One is for Good School, the other is for Evil School. The Good School is for princes, princesses, fairies and all the good stuff in fairy tales. While the Evil School is for witches, monsters, and everything bad in fairy tales. Sophie wants to be selected for Good School, so she does everything considered good for the village – including befriended Agatha. When the kidnapping happened, something went the opposite, Sophie was being thrown into Evil School, while Agatha to Good School.

I enjoyed the first half of the story, until they competed for a prince in Good School. There’s inconsistency in Sophie and Tedros characters (but I convinced myself that they’re just teenagers, so they couldn’t be consistent), they switched their minds so quickly. Beside, I don’t really get into Sophie’s head in the middle of the story. I like how Agatha keeps her character here while slowly improved in order to solve the problem. This story stressed much on the black and white characters of people in the fairy tales. The Good has good looking, wealth, and a handsome prince. Then the Evil has scary appearances and bad habits and don't deserve a happy life. Also the princess should have a prince to live happily ever after. Interesting reflection on typical fairy tales even some other cultures that have black and white as their inputs to be processed by conditional if to get another black and white result. Unexpectedly I like the ending of this book which provided some unexpected answers for all my questions. Another thing I like from this book is how the author keeps me reading the next chapters even though I found some stuff to be annoying. I read the Indonesian translation of the book, and I really like the translations that it made me laugh.

2. Twinchantment #1 by Alise Ellen

The next book I read for the readathon is Twinchantment by Alise Ellen which is also the first book in a series. This book took place years later after the magic and everything related to it being removed from a kingdom named Kaloon. At first it showed a princess called Flissara which came a little too late to an important event in the palace, falling down, broke her dress, and met a boy with a black cat. After that, we got that Flissara is actually 2 identical twins named Flissa and Sara. Their identity is being hidden because twins are also related to magic, so they don't deserve a life inside the kingdom. We follow the adventure of the 2 princesses and some friends they found during the journey to find a cure for the curse.

It's an interesting book that made me thinking that Flissa and Sara weren’t blood related at first. Each chapter has either Flissa or Sara point of view. I can differ between the two princesses most of the time, although there’s some time where I came back to the chapter title to see whose the current I read. This also ran straight into the point of the story which is the adventure of the two princesses. The author has successfully made me guessing wrong. It turned out to be something unexpected. Although there’s something I want to happen which ended up not happening and something else happened, I enjoyed this book as my second read of the month.

3. A Pinch of Magic #1 by Michelle Harrison

Another first book in a series which I took because of the title. This book is about the 3 Widdershins sisters going on adventure to break the curse which has been running in their family for years.

I was mildly impatient to wait for the “thing” that made the family can’t go anywhere outside the land. The first half of the book was about Betty confusing, complaining, thinking and making strategy to figure out what’s happening. Then they went to the jail, and met this one person who promised the key to break the curse. But then I feel that without meeting this person in the jail, they can figure out what to do to break the curse (because Charlie had tried it before without us knowing). Also, I was disappointed with the family drama such as the mistakes Charlie made which slowing their progress and made them being kidnapped. I’m more interested in the one who casts the curse. I can relate to her personality and her journey. Maybe I have to read it again in the future when I have different view about troubles caused by kids and being involved with prison stuff.

4. Love & Luck (Love & Gelato #2) by Jenna Evans Welch

The second book from Love & Gelato series which now focuses on Addie. If you read Love & Gelato, you will find Addie as Lina’s best friend. This book is only about Addie and her problems with her brother.

It's similar to the third book I read this month which make me quite impatient with what really happened to them and why the “conflict” existed and why Addie was sad and heartbroken all the time. Because it's only me who didn't know what the actual problem was (Addie and her brother knew it ofc), I was worried that I missed something when I read this book. It took so long to answer what happened between them and who the dude she used to be with. The guidebook is interesting and the author describe Ireland so well that I can picture it in my mind. I like the Ireland’s vibes and places they visited. I also love the consistency of Lina’s character. She’s still funny in this book too, even though I didn’t really understand with something they do in the last part of the story before the concert. I love Addie too, she could do cool things and is easily being friends with strangers.

5. City of Ghosts (Cassidy Blake #1) by Victoria Schwab

I didn’t put this book on my July TBR at first. It’s so difficult for me to pick a book with grey cover that is not too scary, too intimidating, or didn’t catch my eyes (I know I was being difficult with myself). This book is categorized as horror middle grade, so I can read it without being too scared. This book is about Cass whose parents working related to ghost. The parents ended up getting their own TV show about ghosts, and they have to fly to Scotland. Cass can see the ghosts while her parents not. She has a ghost friend who is funny and supportive.

I like it! I like Cass’ character who didn’t do careless things and make some drama involved her ability. This book has perfect pace, which explains everything at the right time. It didn’t make me questioning stuff alone nor for too long, because Cass also questioned everything. I love Jacob and Lara even though they’re quite the opposite. I already highlighted some sentences in the early chapters which is a rare thing for me. I can relate to Cass’ personality and actions because she's careful enough to deal with something from another realm. Finally, I can read the remaining 15 chapters in one sitting, because I was too excited with what’s going to happen next.

6. The Beauty of Being A Beast by Jennifer Estep

A short story that follows Lady Griselle that turned into a beast because of a family curse. I had this low expectation on this book, but this book broke it. It’s short, simple, straight into the message and the ending is beautiful. The blurb said : “Some curses aren’t meant to be broken . . .”. And that is something I found interesting.

7. Strange The Dreamer #1 by Laini Taylor

Another favorite book of the month yet it took the longest time for me to finish it. It took one month to finish the whole book because I ended up falling asleep whenever I read it in the night. This story is about Lazlo Strange with his curiosity and innocence. For the first part of the book I really can relate to Lazlo because he came as ordinary people without power, influence nor wealth. He is a librarian and super patient with everything happened. And it took longer time to understand what he’s doing, relating to the Unseen City. Then the next part of the book, we switched to a stranger point of view which confused me at first, but then we finally know who she is. Then the later parts we have multiple point of views that made me realize that everyone is likeable here (at least I can understand the meanest one). It’s really an adventure wrapped in beautiful descriptions. The last part of the book was unexpected, which made me speechless because Lazlo is not ordinary person anymore. I didn’t expect anything to this story to be something I want. There’s nothing I demand to happen in this book. I simply enjoyed the journey. This book also inspired me to do my August Bullet Journal setup.

8. A Wizard of Earthsea (Earthsea Cycle #1) by Ursula K Le Guin

I tried to read a classic so I picked this book to match the prompt. This is also a book in a series, yet I don’t plan to read the next book. This book is about a wizard named Ged who had a journey to face shadowy creature that followed him everywhere and scared him.

I don’t really enjoy the second half of the book because it’s only about a long journey, Ged did this and that, Ged met people and other creatures which in the end of the book didn’t really hold significant effect to Ged. I was tired already with him going back and forth to fight the unknown scary shadow. Overall, I like how this book showed me someone’s anger, ambition and greed affecting his life.

9. The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin

This book is about Clara who is an Everwitch. In this book, every witch has one season assigned to their power, like Summer, Autumn, Spring and Winter. An Everwitch has all 4 seasons power and stable power all the year long. She is the only Everwitch after hundreds years, so it’s a struggle for her to fulfill her role as someone powerful without any information and proper education about Everwitch.

At first, I was excited with what’s happening in the world and to Clara. I love the magic system and how it concerns about nature. The teachers had no idea what to do with Clara to be a powerful Everwitch, because nobody knew it, except this one teacher who believed in her. Clara had problems with her past too, because everyone she loved would end up dying. So, she would restrict her own power and suppress her feelings towards other. It's an interesting starting point of a story, but then I was bored with the next part of the book, especially the romance part between Clara and Sang which for me was too much and I don't really connect to them. I expected this book to give some spotlight on the nature, the real cause of the strange phenomenon and about the Everwitch books she received from her teacher. And I think, the second book about Everwitch she received had no significant role in helping her progress, because she already got it all by training with Sang. I expected some communication with the witches who are responsible in keeping the nature balance and give some magical touch to the academy. One thing that bothers is : if witches are responsible for the nature balance all over the world, then they should have the schedule to migrate when the season changes to keep their power. And how about places with only 2 seasons - like this place I'm living in? Don't they have any witches there?

10. Magic Words : From The Ancient Oral Tradition of The Inuit

I’m dying for the beautiful illustrations until the end of the book!

11. River of Lights (The Magic Portal #1) by Melanie Dobson

A middle grade book about Katie who didn’t feel belong here in Paris boarding school. In the middle of a school tour, she found a portal to another magical world that currently facing a problem.

I enjoyed this story because each chapter is not too long and everything is easy to understand. I had this prediction about Katie and Lily, but it’s wrong. So this book is unexpected. But I found the decision of the queen to stay was not that strong. Overall, I like the bravery and friendship shown in this story. Even though I found the teacher and her friends were quite annoying, I could be happy for Katie to find a beautiful place and a new adventure there.

12. Watering The Soul by Courtney Peppernell

Without reading the blurb or anything that summarized what this book about, I went straight into reading this one. It’s a poetry collection about healing journey. I cried and highlighted the first couple pages because I could relate, they’re like speaking for me. The words are easy to understand, and I can follow the journey inside this book. There were some repetitions about loss, heartbreak and pain after some encouraging pages. I think this one reflected the human nature, sometimes we can feel the past sadness even though we feel that we’re way stronger than before. The past painful memories will be repeated over and over again even we have forgotten the details. Beautiful book!

13. Adventures of Calypso by Monty C. Floyd

We follow Calypso, a dog who got lost somehow, and his journey to go home. I enjoyed this short story about animals and the friendship between them. It’s easy to understand, and the author pictured all the characters (especially the animals) so well. I love how Calypso developed his character along his journey. My favorite character is the rat. I don’t know, he was just so funny and brave.

14. Pawsitively Cursed (Witch of Edgehill #2) by Melissa Erin Jackson

The second book in the series that I enjoyed as audiobook. I really love how talented Victoria Villarreal as narrator in this series because she can bring different characters by her own voice. I can really understand the story even though listening to a story in foreign language is not my best ability. The second book follows Amber, the witch who opens a toy shop in Edgehill. Everything isn’t okay from the first part because Chief Brown saw her doing magic. Then her aunt came and said she’s not feeling okay. The questions about her parents’ death finally being answered here. I always like the cozy vibes of this book combined with how easy it is to understand what’s going on. I love how Amber reacted to the chaotic situation when Jack going mad, Edgar being stubborn and Willow texting her. I always love the punny words in this series and how the ending turned out.

15. True Loaf by L. Austen Johnson

A very short story inspired by Balkan folklore. I listened to the audiobook version, super short, and the narrator has storytelling vibe in her voice. An interesting story about a café which accepted one weird customer’s request for certain bread. We followed the café owner’s journey to find the ingredient until making the bread. I’m not into the ending. Maybe because it’s too short, so there’s not much explanation.

The Remaining Books I Hope to Finish on August

1. After/Math by Emily Barth Isler

2. Of Curses and Kisses (St. Rosetta’s Academy #1) by Sandhya Menon

3. Before the Coffee Gets Cold #1 by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

You can expect these three books in my August wrap-up! They're already in my August 2021 Reading Plans.

Things I Learned from July Books

I always see books as reflection of life and myself. So, through the books, I find some likes and dislikes which point to the unconscious parts of myself.

1. I found some books have similar thing that made me upset because they let me question what really happened to the main character on top of other things happening. From this, I might learn that I’m impatient for knowledge of something that was kept from me while other things happening (whether it’s good or bad, I can’t really get into it before my questions answered). However I enjoyed some previous books I read which have a lot of questions, like The School for Good and Evil.

2. I also didn’t enjoy a too long repetitive journey which involved a main character going here and there and meeting some people who didn’t contribute to the character development, or to just be there to add some people to the frame.

3. The last thing I dislike was the unbalanced story. Like, Nature of Witches has an interesting premise and first season of the book, it has great magic system and I admire the environmental problems inside the story. But the character’s ability and learning process was as not long and detailed as the romance part. Love is also part of nature, but the main character needed to improve her witch power to save the Earth. So, both of aspect should get proper and balanced portion inside the story.

4. Then move on to things I like from this month reading. seeing from the books I really enjoyed and even I gave it 5 stars, I love the unexpected and the twist which are still logical (even if it’s a fantasy genre). In The School for Good and Evil, there were so many things happening once they stepped their feet in the school. But it didn’t make me confused or forgetting the storyline. Every question I have was answered in perfect way – not in a rush. It felt natural and not overwhelming.

5. I also like the story when I can go inside the main character’s head (it doesn’t have to be first person POV) and can totally understand (and sometimes relate) them. Like, Strange The Dreamer, I can understand everyone inside the story, even the meanest one. The humans and the godspawn have this quality to be understood and liked. The next is The City of Ghosts, I can relate to Cass’ character along the story yet I have no expectations for her to act as I wanted to.

6. The third is something uncommon. When it comes to retelling, you can expect the ending to be a happy ending with a beautiful princess and prince being together. But, in this era, that happy ending is not always seen as happy by every single person. So, a story with a different and uncommon ending which reflects our society (not always the majority) is a favorite, like The Beauty of Being A Beast.

7. Then the last is beautiful and balanced writing. Strange The Dreamer has the beauty of it, yet it didn’t confuse me even though there were so many difficult words I found there. It’s not overloaded with only beautiful vocabularies, but the way the author put the words together is beautiful.

Thank for stopping by and reading this entry. If you have some book recommendations, don’t hesitate to leave them below. So, how about your reading on July? Did you find a great book too? Or did you read the same books I mentioned above? Tell me in the comment box. Okay, that's all for my July wrap up. See you on the next entry about my August reading planning. Bye bye.