9 of the Best Books I’ve Recently Read

Aside from watching an excessive amount of Netflix (Pretty Little Liars and The Haunting of Hill House has been my top choices lately) I’ve read so many great books over July and August. A lot of these books are new series or new to me authors that I discovered this year. I’m so excited to share these books and maybe some of you will give them a chance!

📚 Triptych, Fracture and Genesis (Will Trent Series #1-3) by Karin Slaughter

If I’ve been consumed by anything over the past few months, it’s Will Trent. He’s the stoic and reluctant hero of this series, with a relentless nature to catch sadists and criminals with sick minds to save his victims. Although, he’s seriously adorable and has the social skills of an awkward toddler. It’s what makes him so endearing to me, and ahem sexy.

I was sceptical about starting this series because Triptych was published over 10 years ago. Despite that, this series hold up really well – as if it was published recently. With every instalment there’s a new sick sadist Will has to catch and Karin Slaughter has me guessing until the climax. These books are also a little bit sexy too (only every now and again) but enough to keep me, a serious romance reader, excited. From now on this blog is the “Certified Trash for Will Trent” blog and that’s that.

📚 House of Blood and Earth by Sarah J. Maas

I always go into Sarah J. Maas books not expecting to enjoy them. Her tropes work for me sometimes and other times they flat out don’t. HoBaD definitely worked for me. I actually took a lot of comfort in the tropes and really enjoyed not only Bryce’s wounded characterisation, but most of the side characters too.

📚 A Storm of Swords Part 2 by George R.R. Martin

This has been one of my favourite books so far in the series. I think because so many BIG moments happen in this book. Oberyn and The Mountain, The Red Wedding, The Purple Wedding… This book was a lot to handle, emotionally.

My favourite parts of this book were anything that took place in King’s Landing. Sansa, Tyrion and even Jamie. Also Daenary’s and Arya’s chapters. Most chapters of this book were really enjoyable actually in this audio experience. I wish I was smarter and saw the foreshadowing but I’ll leave that to the podcasters I listen to after I finished these books to help me digest what happens 😂

Although I could have done without Jon “I should have stayed in that cave with Ygritte” Snow’s chapters.

ALSO 👏  GIVE 👏  ME 👏  LADY 👏  STONEHEART 👏  I’m so ready.

📚 Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse

This was a solid start to a series, enough to convince me to pick up book two. I enjoyed the Native American mythology that was woven in a unique magic system, it is unlike anything I’ve read in a fantasy before. I definitely want more from the romance though, which I’m hoping will be super angsty in book two based on what happened in this book.

📚 The Good Daughter by Karin Slaughter

Karin Slaughter has officially become my favourite thriller author. I only discovered this author in 2020, but I’ve officially read 5 books from her this year already. The Good Daughter was so unexpectedly good, with its subtly brutal and heart-wrenching story line.

I think this author loves writing about flawed femme fatale-esque women, and not going to lie, I love that characterisation. I loved the focus on the sisters fractured relationship too and how the author explored their shared trauma – how it ripped them apart, but also bought them back together. This is a book that gives you what you want, but not exactly in the ways you expect it will.

📚 The Passengers by John Marrs

This book is like an episode of Black Mirror. Which is what I love about John Marrs! This book has a really readable quality that kept me turning the pages which I loved too. It wasn;t super scary or thrilling, but I like how it had me guessing about what would happen to all the characters.

📚 The Hitman by Katrina Jackson

Katrina Jackson is still too underrated. Hear me out romance/erotica readers and ignore that atrocious cover for a second. If you like Katee Roberts or Sierra Simone, you need to check out Katrina Jackson. The Hitman isn’t my favourite type of romance, because the plot is basically smut and I’m not PWP kind of gal, but this book is somewhat of an exception. The mafia stuff wasn’t super fleshed out enough for me to understand but if you like smutty stories where smut is the plot, seriously pick up The Hitman. 

What type of reader are you? I think I included a little something for everyone, but regardless let me know if you’ve read or heard of any of the books I mentioned!