Halloween Creatures Book Tag

Happy spooky season everyone! September to December is my favorite time of year, thanks to autumn, spooky season, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas all happening in quick succession. Today, I have a Halloween-themed book tag I'm pretty excited to do. This tag was originally created by Paperbacks and Planners so make sure to check out the original after this one!

---

1. WITCH - a magical character or book

There are so many magical books, mainly because I primarily read fantasy book with magic in them. Of course, I can only choose one. I'm going to go with Rookesbane from The Crown of Oaths and Curses by J. Bree. Rooke is a witch, so of course she fits this prompt perfectly. This whole book is phenomenal and I can't wait to read more about Rooke's adventures as a witch. 

---

2. WEREWOLF - the perfect book to read at night

For this, I'm going with The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling. I am not a scary book type of girl and I much prefer spooky, magical reads to scary reads, especially in autumn. This is a perfect night-time autumn read. It's set around Halloween in a witchy town with lots of shenanigans. It's fun, it's spooky, it's witchy, it's romantic, it's just perfect for Halloween reading. 

---

3. FRANKENSTEIN - a book that truly shocked you

There are many books that could fit this one but I think I'm going to go with Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross. There were a couple of twists but mainly the ending is the one that shocked me the most. It was shocking for sure and painful. I desperately need the next book in my hands after that one. Only a few more months to go...

---

4. THE DEVIL - a dark, evil character

There is no one more qualified for this prompt than Maeve from the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas. I'm not going to get super into it for spoiler reasons but she is just a vile character. Sarah has crafted such a monster and I have to applaud her writing because she is definitely one of my most-hated characters. 

---

5. GRIM REAPER - a character that never should have died

There are a lot of deaths in Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros, there's no denying that. However, there's one death in particular that I'm sure anyone who has read this will immediately understand. I'm not going to say who, just that this particular character wormed their way into my heart and their death was so unexpected and heartbreaking for a myriad of reasons. 

---

6. ZOMBIE - a book that made you “hungry” for more

I'm going with Plier by Jane Washington. This is the first book in the Ironside Academy series and I absolutely blew through it when I read it. It was addicting and the slow burn is hella slow burn and the ending left me hungering for more. With multiple books in the series still to come out, I have a lot of waiting ahead of me. 

---

7. GARGOYLE - a character that you would protect at all cost

I'm going with Charlie Spring from Heartstopper by Alice Oseman. Charlie is just one of those cinnamon roll characters you want to wrap in a blanket and protect from the world. Of course, I think Nick is probably first in line to do so. If you've read the graphic novels or seen the TV adaptation, I'm sure you know exactly what I mean when I say that Charlie deserves to be protected at all costs. 

---

8. VAMPIRE - a book that sucked the life out of you

There's lot of books I've disliked over the years. I'm going to go with Stealing Their Harley for this one, though. It's not a particularly bad book per se. However, it's so short and quick that trying to fit the entire story of it into this one did not work. I was really excited for this one but it ended up just being incredibly disappointing. 

---

9. GHOST - a book that still haunts you

The Mindf*ck series by S.T. Abby will forever be a series that haunts me and has a place in my heart. The things the main character goes through in her life and in this series is traumatizing and heartbreaking to say the least. Even though I love this series and it does have lighter moments in it, it's also a haunting story for sure. 

---

10. DEMON - a book that really scared you

I'm going with Capturing the Devil by Kerri Maniscalco. I've said it before but this book absolutely scared the shit out of me when I read it at certain parts. This is the fourth book in the Stalking Jack the Ripper series which is definitely one of my favorites. It's a historical mystery series and I loved them so. This final book had moments so well-written that I could feel myself getting terrified just imagining the setting. 

---

11. SKELETON - a character you have a bone to pick with

I'm going with The Jackal from the Hannaford Prep series by J. Bree. He's a crazy psychotic man and a great antagonist for the series. The things he's did prior to the series and during put him near the top of my shit list of characters. He definitely deserved what he got and then some.  

---

12. MUMMY - a book you would preserve throughout time

There are many books I would preserve through time. One that feels like a modern, timeless classic though is The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. This is a retelling of Achilles and Patroclus from Homer's Illiad. It is so beautifully written and I loved every minute of it, which a lot of people must agree with seeing as it's one of the most popular books of our time. 

---

13. CREEPY DOLL - a cover too scary to look at

I don't read scary books so there's not a lot of scary book covers for me to chose from out of the ones I've read. However, I do think some of them are a little creepier than others. One that is creepy but still hautningly beautiful is Illusionary by Zoraida Córdova. 

---

Thanks for reading!

xoxo

Lauren

---

You can follow my bookstagram here for more bookish content!

To get more awesome posts like this post, click the follow button to the right!

---

Spooky Season Readathon TBR

It's now September and that means it's spooky season! It doesn't matter if it's still hot outside or that I'm still in dresses and sitting with a million fans around me. September means spooky season and spooky season means spooky books! This is my favorite time of year (September-December) and I can't wait to dive into all the witchy and spooky books I've been saving for this time. I doubt I'm going to get through all of these books this season but here are a bunch that I'm interested in reading during this spooky season...

---

Up first is The Kiss Curse by Erin Sterling. This is the sequel/spin-off/companion book to The Ex Hex which was one of my favorite reads of 2021. This sequel came out last year but I was so stressed during last autumn that I didn't get around to it despite my excitement for it. The first book was like a spooky romcom with such great setting and vibes. I loved it so much and I'm just excited to be back in this town and with a rivals-to-lovers storyline. 

Then I want to pickup Payback's A Witch by Lana Harper. This is a sapphic(?) witchy romcom that has been on my tbr since 2021 and I'm determined that this is going to be the year that I finally get to it. I don't know too much about it, all I know is there's queer-ness and I think a competition or something? I'm all for that. Plus, one of my family read it and loved it so I'm even more eager to get to this one. 

Up next is The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna. I have been wanting to read this since it came out last year but didn't get to it during the spooky season. I've been eagerly waiting for spooky season to come back around so that I could get to this. All I really know is there's romance but it's also apparently the perfect cozy fantasy vibes. 

Then we have One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig. I know hardly anything about the actual plot but it's been getting pretty popular on tiktok and bookstagram so I've been thinking about it quite a bit lately. There's a girl with a monster in her head? And a potential romance? I'm in. Plus, the sequel comes out in October so if I love it then I can immediately dive into that one! 

Then I want to get to Belladonna by Adalyn Grace. I've been excited for this since it came out and I've had a copy for a year now. The sequel just came out and I think it's about time for me to finally read it as it's been on the top of my TBR for a while. All I really know is there's a mystery, a girl who can't die, and Death as an actual character. If that doesn't sound like the perfect book for spooky season then I don't know what is. 

Up next is A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon by Sarah Hawley. All I know about this is it's a witchy romcom between a witch and a legendary demon. Sounds like the perfect spooky recipe to me. I'm not a big horror fan so spooky but comedic movies and books are perfect for me and this sounds right in that category. 

---

Thanks for reading!

xoxo

Lauren

---

You can follow my bookstagram here for more bookish content!

To get more awesome posts like this post, click the follow button to the right!

---

Spooky Season Book Recommendations

It's spooky season, aka the start of my favorite few months of the year. September through December are my favorite months, for many reasons. The cooler weather, the changing leaves into snow, the holidays...it's all amazing. While this year is a bit stressful, I'm still hoping to get into the spooky season vibes soon. This, of course, starts with some spooky book recs. I'm not a big scary book/movie person, but I do love books with witchy and autumn vibes. Here are some I've read and loved or ones I'm looking forward to this year! 

---

Up first I have City of Gods and Monsters by Kayla Edwards. I read this during the summer, but the vibes are the perfect mix of fantasy and magic that's perfect for autumn. It's also my favorite read of this year so far. Read on for the synopsis...

Welcome to the city of Angelthene. We hope you survive.

Loren Calla has only ever been ordinary. As a human struggling to survive in a city that caters to the needs of vampires, werewolves, witches, and other supernatural creatures, she always assumed her life would remain simple, predictable, and as safe as her world would allow.

Until she barely escapes abduction at the hands of Darkslayers—supernatural bounty hunters that possess the Sight, a magical tracking ability that allows them to see a person’s aura—and one of her friends is taken in her place. The abductors are demanding a ransom: Loren's life in exchange for her friend's safe return. Loren will do whatever it takes to get her friend back—even if it means accepting help from Darien Cassel, the leader of the Seven Devils, the most feared Darkslaying circle in the city.

Darien specializes in tracking down demons and criminals that are better off dead than alive, so when he takes a job to track down Loren and finds out she is human—and couldn't hurt a fly if her life depended on it—he decides to protect her instead of turn her in for a reward. As much as Loren doesn't want to admit it, Darien is her best and only chance at finding her friend alive, if she can somehow manage to get along with him—and not fall head-over-heels in love with him in the process, which is far easier said than done.

When more women start disappearing, and some of them slowly turn up dead, Loren and Darien's search for answers takes them deep into Angelthene's corrupt underbelly, where they discover a dark secret that threatens to unravel their world. And when tragedy strikes, Loren learns that love can make an ordinary person do extraordinary things.

---

Up next is The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling. This is the first in a witchy romance series set during autumn and I loved it so much. What I loved the most is that there's a balance between romance, magic, and plot. It was a lot of fun and I can't wait to revisit it in the future and read the next ones. Synopsis incoming...

New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hawkins, writing as Erin Sterling, casts a spell with a spine-tingling romance full of wishes, witches, and hexes gone wrong.

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.

---

These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong is the first in a historical fantasy duology set in 1920s Shanghai. It's a Romeo & Juliet retelling with a murder mystery and warring gangs. The book was so spooky and mysterious which gave me such great fall-read vibes. I loved this duology so much and can see myself rereading during many fall seasons to come. 

The year is 1926, and Shanghai hums to the tune of debauchery.

A blood feud between two gangs runs the streets red, leaving the city helpless in the grip of chaos. At the heart of it all is eighteen-year-old Juliette Cai, a former flapper who has returned to assume her role as the proud heir of the Scarlet Gang—a network of criminals far above the law. Their only rivals in power are the White Flowers, who have fought the Scarlets for generations. And behind every move is their heir, Roma Montagov, Juliette’s first love…and first betrayal.

But when gangsters on both sides show signs of instability culminating in clawing their own throats out, the people start to whisper. Of a contagion, a madness. Of a monster in the shadows. As the deaths stack up, Juliette and Roma must set their guns—and grudges—aside and work together, for if they can’t stop this mayhem, then there will be no city left for either to rule.

Perfect for fans of The Last Magician and Descendant of the Crane, this heart-stopping debut is an imaginative Romeo and Juliet retelling set in 1920s Shanghai, with rival gangs and a monster in the depths of the Huangpu River.

---

Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker and Wendy Xu is the perfect spooky queer graphic novel. The artwork is gorgeous and the story is just as great. It's spooky, heartwarming, and all around a light fun read in the lead up to Halloween. 

A story of love and demons, family and witchcraft.

Nova Huang knows more about magic than your average teen witch. She works at her grandmothers' bookshop, where she helps them loan out spell books and investigate any supernatural occurrences in their New England town.

One fateful night, she follows reports of a white wolf into the woods, and she comes across the unexpected: her childhood crush, Tam Lang, battling a horse demon in the woods. As a werewolf, Tam has been wandering from place to place for years, unable to call any town home.

Pursued by dark forces eager to claim the magic of wolves and out of options, Tam turns to Nova for help. Their latent feelings are rekindled against the backdrop of witchcraft, untested magic, occult rituals, and family ties both new and old in this enchanting tale of self-discovery.

---

Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin is the first book in a witchy fantasy trilogy and just so wonderful. While I haven't finished the trilogy, I adore this first book so much and truly think that it can be read as a standalone if you want it to be. It's one of my favorites and I love reading it in the fall season. 

Bound as one to love, honor, or burn.

Two years ago, Louise le Blanc fled her coven and took shelter in the city of Cesarine, forsaking all magic and living off whatever she could steal. There, witches like Lou are hunted. They are feared. And they are burned.

Sworn to the Church as a Chasseur, Reid Diggory has lived his life by one principle: thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. His path was never meant to cross with Lou's, but a wicked stunt forces them into an impossible union—holy matrimony.

The war between witches and Church is an ancient one, and Lou's most dangerous enemies bring a fate worse than fire. Unable to ignore her growing feelings, yet powerless to change what she is, a choice must be made.

And love makes fools of us all.

---

Now getting into the books I'm looking forward to reading during spooky season, let's start with Payback's A Witch by Lana Harper. This is a sapphic witchy romcom that was on my tbr last year but I didn't get around to it for a variety of reasons. However, I have a copy this year and I'm incredibly excited to finally get to it (and buddy read it with a friend!). 

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina meets The L Word in this fresh, sizzling rom-com by Lana Harper.

Emmy Harlow is a witch but not a very powerful one—in part because she hasn't been home to the magical town of Thistle Grove in years. Her self-imposed exile has a lot to do with a complicated family history and a desire to forge her own way in the world, and only the very tiniest bit to do with Gareth Blackmoore, heir to the most powerful magical family in town and casual breaker of hearts and destroyer of dreams.

But when a spellcasting tournament that her family serves as arbiters for approaches, it turns out the pull of tradition (or the truly impressive parental guilt trip that comes with it) is strong enough to bring Emmy back. She's determined to do her familial duty; spend some quality time with her best friend, Linden Thorn; and get back to her real life in Chicago.

On her first night home, Emmy runs into Talia Avramov—an all-around badass adept in the darker magical arts—who is fresh off a bad breakup . . . with Gareth Blackmoore. Talia had let herself be charmed, only to discover that Gareth was also seeing Linden—unbeknownst to either of them. And now she and Linden want revenge. Only one question stands: Is Emmy in?

But most concerning of all: Why can't she stop thinking about the terrifyingly competent, devastatingly gorgeous, wickedly charming Talia Avramov?

---

Up next I'm excited to read The Kiss Curse by Erin Sterling, the sequel to The Ex Hex that I mentioned earlier. I loved the main character when she was a side character in the first book so I'm quite excited to get around to her story this time around! 

Welcome to Spooky Season!! The follow-up to Erin Sterling’s New York Times bestselling hit The Ex Hex features fan favorite Gwyn and the spine-tinglingly handsome Wells Penhallow as they battle a new band of witches and their own magical chemistry.

Gwyn Jones is perfectly happy with her life in Graves Glen. She, her mom, and her cousin have formed a new and powerful coven; she’s running a successful witchcraft shop, Something Wicked; and she’s started mentoring some of the younger witches in town. As Halloween approaches, there’s only one problem—Llewellyn “Wells” Penhallow.

Wells has come to Graves Glen to re-establish his family’s connection to the town they founded as well as to make a new life for himself after years of being the dutiful son in Wales. When he opens up a shop of his own, Penhallow’s, just across the street from Something Wicked, he quickly learns he’s gotten more than he bargained for in going up against Gwyn.

When their professional competition leads to a very personal—and very hot—kiss, both Wells and Gwyn are determined to stay away from each other, convinced the kiss was just a magical fluke. But when a mysterious new coven of witches come to town and Gwyn’s powers begin fading, she and Wells must work together to figure out just what these new witches want and how to restore Gwyn’s magic before it’s too late.

---

I'm incredibly excited to get to The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna. This is a new release with witches, found family, romance, etc that I've heard nothing but good things about. I already have my copy and it'll be my next read after I finish my current one. Plus, the cover is so cute!

A warm and uplifting novel about an isolated witch whose opportunity to embrace a quirky new family—and a new love—changes the course of her life.

As one of the few witches in Britain, Mika Moon knows she has to hide her magic, keep her head down, and stay away from other witches so their powers don’t mingle and draw attention. And as an orphan who lost her parents at a young age and was raised by strangers, she’s used to being alone and she follows the rules...with one exception: an online account, where she posts videos "pretending" to be a witch. She thinks no one will take it seriously.

But someone does. An unexpected message arrives, begging her to travel to the remote and mysterious Nowhere House to teach three young witches how to control their magic. It breaks all of the rules, but Mika goes anyway, and is immediately tangled up in the lives and secrets of not only her three charges, but also an absent archaeologist, a retired actor, two long-suffering caretakers, and…Jamie. The handsome and prickly librarian of Nowhere House would do anything to protect the children, and as far as he’s concerned, a stranger like Mika is a threat. An irritatingly appealing threat.

As Mika begins to find her place at Nowhere House, the thought of belonging somewhere begins to feel like a real possibility. But magic isn't the only danger in the world, and when a threat comes knocking at their door, Mika will need to decide whether to risk everything to protect a found family she didn’t know she was looking for....

---

Then I have The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen. I got this in my Fairyloot box this summer and I'm incredibly intrigued. I've heard it described as a cozy contemporary fantasy and that just sounds awesome. Plus, the reviews have been stellar for it, so I'm incredibly invested in getting to it soon.

Hart is a marshal, tasked with patrolling the strange and magical wilds of Tanria. It’s an unforgiving job, and Hart’s got nothing but time to ponder his loneliness.

Mercy never has a moment to herself. She’s been single-handedly keeping Birdsall & Son Undertakers afloat in defiance of sullen jerks like Hart, who seems to have a gift for showing up right when her patience is thinnest.

After yet another exasperating run-in with Mercy, Hart finds himself penning a letter addressed simply to “A Friend”. Much to his surprise, an anonymous letter comes back in return, and a tentative friendship is born.

If only Hart knew he’s been baring his soul to the person who infuriates him most – Mercy. As the dangers from Tanria grow closer, so do the unlikely correspondents. But can their blossoming romance survive the fated discovery that their pen pals are their worst nightmares – each other?

---

And, lastly, I am looking forward to These Witches Don't Burn by Isabel Sterling. This is the first in a YA sapphic witchy duology that's been on my radar for a few years now. I hope this will be the year that I finally get around to reading it as it sounds so cute and fun. 

Hannah's a witch, but not the kind you're thinking of. She's the real deal, an Elemental with the power to control fire, earth, water, and air. But even though she lives in Salem, Massachusetts, her magic is a secret she has to keep to herself. If she's ever caught using it in front of a Reg (read: non-witch), she could lose it. For good. So, Hannah spends most of her time avoiding her ex-girlfriend (and fellow Elemental Witch) Veronica, hanging out with her best friend, and working at the Fly by Night Cauldron selling candles and crystals to tourists, goths, and local Wiccans.

But dealing with her ex is the least of Hannah's concerns when a terrifying blood ritual interrupts the end-of-school-year bonfire. Evidence of dark magic begins to appear all over Salem, and Hannah's sure it's the work of a deadly Blood Witch. The issue is, her coven is less than convinced, forcing Hannah to team up with the last person she wants to see: Veronica.

While the pair attempt to smoke out the Blood Witch at a house party, Hannah meets Morgan, a cute new ballerina in town. But trying to date amid a supernatural crisis is easier said than done, and Hannah will have to test the limits of her power if she's going to save her coven and get the girl, especially when the attacks on Salem's witches become deadlier by the day.

---

Thanks for reading!

xoxo

Lauren

---

You can follow my bookstagram here for more bookish content!

To get more awesome posts like this post, click the follow button to the right!

Get free worldwide shipping with Book Depository using my affiliate link

---