Read in May 2025
May was again a rather lean month in terms of reading. In terms of numbers, I certainly read the fewest amounts of books so far, but thanks to the two huge tomes I managed to finish, it was not the lowest month in terms of number of pages.
In May, I read a total of 5 books, which is good for 2572 pages. The average May book has therefore 324 pages/book.
In terms of ratings, it was a month in which I collected all possible star ratings. As a result, the average May book is exactly 3.0 stars.
For the target group, I varied between 2 Young Adult books and 3 adult books.
As always, I also varied in reading method, with 2 audiobooks and 3 books from my shelves.
For the genres, I only switched between 2 genres, with one sci-fi and four fantasy.
Below is the list of books I read in May and my star rating.
Click on the link to jump to the blurb and my review! As always, be aware that both blurb and review may contain spoilers, especially if it’s about sequels in a series! Sometimes I’ll hide spoilers behind a fold-out or blacked-out text!
- Schaeffer, Rebecca – City of Nightmares (City of Nightmares #1) ★★
- Schaeffer, Rebecca – Cage of Dreams (City of Nightmares #2) 🎧 ★
- Gwynne, John – Ruin (The Faithful and the Fallen #3) ★★★★★
- Kim, Sophie – The God and the Gumiho (Fate’s Thread #1) ★★★★
- Ruocchio, Christopher – Howling Dark (The Sun Eater #2) 🎧 ★★★
Schaeffer, Rebecca – City of Nightmares (City of Nightmares #1) ★★
Genre: Fantasy
Ever since her sister became a man-eating spider and slaughtered her way through town, nineteen-year-old Ness has been terrified—terrified of some other Nightmare murdering her, and terrified of ending up like her sister. Because in Newham, the city that never sleeps and the only other home Ness has known, dreaming means waking up as your worst fear.
Whether that means becoming a Nightmare that is only monstrous in appearance but is otherwise able to live a semi-normal existence, to transforming into a twisted, unrecognizable creature that terrorizes the citizens of Newham, no one is safe. Ness will do anything to avoid becoming another victim, even if that means lying low among the Friends of the Restful Soul, a seedy organization that may or may not be a cult.
But being a member of the Friends of the Restful Soul has a price. In order to prove herself, Ness cons her way into what’s supposed to be a simple job for the organization—only for it to blow up in her face. Literally. Tangled up in the aftermath of an explosive assassination, Ness and the only other survivor—a Nightmare boy who Ness suspects is planning to eat her—must find their way back to Newham and uncover the sinister truth behind the attack.
City of Nightmares by Rebecca Schaeffer had a premise brimming with eerie potential—nightmares becoming real, a sister turning into a spider, and a city drenched in fear—but the execution fell flat. While the concept was undeniably cool, the story itself felt clunky and overloaded, bogged down by repetitive writing, constant inner monologues, and a protagonist who grated more than endeared. The world-building that initially intrigued me never fully materialized, and despite a few moments of light, funny prose that made for a quick read, the plot was too chaotic to land. Emotionally, I felt detached from the characters, and the story was further derailed by jarring tangents—like oddly placed commentary on romance novels. Ultimately, this was a book full of promise, but dragged down by its own heavy-handed delivery.
🎧 Schaeffer, Rebecca – Cage of Dreams (City of Nightmares #2) ★
Genre: Fantasy
Nineteen-year-old Ness used to have a vehement terror of Nightmares—people who’d been turned into their worst fears while they slept. Through two assassination attempts, an explosion, and a faustian bargain with a dream demon, she’s finally working through those fears.
Unfortunately, Nightmares aren’t the only dangerous thing in Newham. Working at a speakeasy where gunfights are common and death is a regular occurrence, Ness is forced to reckon with all her other fears—including her fear of mortality. It’s easy to die in Newham, but it’s hard to live.
So when the Nightmare Phantom—the monster that turns people into Nightmares—shows up, asking her another favor, she agrees, but only if he turns her into a Nightmare. One of her own choosing, something bullet proof and strong and able to live without fear.
But when Ness’s attempt to fulfill the bargain goes wrong, things start to spiral out of control. Now, Ness is in the crosshairs of enemies old and new, and this time, she can’t run from her problems. If she wants to survive, she’s going to have to conquer the most difficult enemy of all: herself
The only reason I decided to read this sequel was because I had the audiobook and I wanted something light I didn’t have to pay too much attention to while crocheting. I hadn’t been a big fan of the first book—aside from the cool concept—so I hoped this second one might improve things. Unfortunately, it didn’t. The main character, Ness, who was already unlikeable in the first book, somehow became even worse here. Any growth she showed previously was completely undone. The story was insufferable, with endless internal monologues repeating the same thoughts over and over again—realistic, maybe, but incredibly frustrating to sit through. On top of that, the forced romance felt totally out of place, especially considering how overtly negative the author seems to be about the romance genre throughout the entire duology. In the end, it was a quick listen, but not one I want to remember.
Gwynne, John – Ruin (The Faithful and the Fallen #3) ★★★★★
Genre: Fantasy
The cunning Queen Rhin has conquered the west and High King Nathair has the cauldron, most powerful of the seven treasures. At his back stands the scheming Calidus and a warband of the Kadoshim, dread demons of the Otherworld. They plan to bring Asroth and his host of the Fallen into the world of flesh, but to do so they need the seven treasures. Nathair has been deceived but now he knows the truth. He has choices to make, choices that will determine the fate of the Banished Lands.
Elsewhere the flame of resistance is growing – Queen Edana finds allies in the swamps of Ardan. Maquin is loose in Tenebral, hunted by Lykos and his corsairs. Here he will witness the birth of a rebellion in Nathair’s own realm. Corban has been swept along by the tide of war. He has suffered, lost loved ones, sought only safety from the darkness. But he will run no more. He has seen the face of evil and he has set his will to fight it. The question is, how? With a disparate band gathered about him – his family, friends, giants, fanatical warriors, an angel and a talking crow he begins the journey to Drassil, the fabled fortress hidden deep in the heart of Forn Forest. For in Drassil lies the spear of Skald, one of the seven treasures, and here it is prophesied that the Bright Star will stand against the Black Sun.
You could already read my review of this book here.
Kim, Sophie – The God and the Gumiho (Fate’s Thread #1) ★★★★
Genre: Fantasy
Seokga, a trickster god thrown from the heavens for his attempt at a coup, spends his days hunting demons and irking a particular gumiho.
When a demon of darkness escapes the underworld, and the Scarlet Fox emerges from hiding before quickly vanishing, Seokga is offered a chance at redemption: kill them both, and his sins will be forgiven.
But Hani is prepared to do anything to prevent Seokga from bringing her to justice, even trick her way into his investigation.
An entertaining, imaginative blend of Korean mythology and K-drama energy, The God and the Gumiho is both ridiculous and surprisingly gripping. Though not without its flaws, the novel delivers a fun and addictive reading experience that left me curious to explore both K-dramas and Korean mythology more deeply.
At its heart, this is a story that leans heavily into the tropes and stylings of classic K-dramas, which I found both amusing and endearing. My own exposure to K-dramas is a bit outdated—nearly two decades old—but this book made me want to dive back into the genre. It captures that heightened, sometimes over-the-top emotional atmosphere perfectly, using it to great effect in a story that mixes light-hearted banter with a surprisingly dark and gruesome murder mystery.
The two leads, Hani (a gumiho) and Seokga (a god), are supposedly ancient beings with centuries of experience… who mostly behave like emotionally stunted teenagers. This mismatch between their mythological gravitas and juvenile antics was at times frustrating, but also oddly charming, especially because the book seems fully aware of its own ridiculousness —and the characters’ self-awareness helps soften the blow. That said, their romance felt underdeveloped and rushed. Given their ages and long histories, I expected the romance to feel more grounded or layered. Instead, the relationship unfolded with a speed and lack of depth that felt more YA than Adult.
I adored the creative use of Korean mythology. Beyond the titular gumiho, the book introduces a host of unfamiliar mythical beings, all integrated naturally into the story without info-dumping. The worldbuilding feels seamless and accessible, and I appreciated how the fantasy elements were grounded in the real-world setting.
The murder mystery aspect was sufficiently complex and well-crafted. There were multiple threads to follow, plenty of twists, and a satisfying sense of momentum as Hani and Seokga chased down leads. The gruesome nature of the crimes offered a sharp contrast to the often-silly dynamic between the leads, and that tension between tone and content kept things interesting throughout.
While the book didn’t completely blow me away, it certainly entertained me. It knows its audience and leans confidently into its tone—silly, trope-filled, and a little chaotic. That self-awareness is its greatest strength. I had fun with this novel, and despite its flaws I’m genuinely curious to see where the story goes next, especially after that ending.
🎧 Ruocchio, Christopher – Howling Dark (The Sun Eater #2) ★★★
Genre: Sci-Fi
Hadrian Marlowe is lost.
For half a century, he has searched the farther suns for the lost planet of Vorgossos, hoping to find a way to contact the elusive alien Cielcin. He has not succeeded, and for years has wandered among the barbarian Normans as captain of a band of mercenaries.
Determined to make peace and bring an end to nearly four hundred years of war, Hadrian must venture beyond the security of the Sollan Empire and among the Extrasolarians who dwell between the stars. There, he will face not only the aliens he has come to offer peace, but contend with creatures that once were human, with traitors in his midst, and with a meeting that will bring him face to face with no less than the oldest enemy of mankind.
If he succeeds, he will usher in a peace unlike any in recorded history. If he fails…the galaxy will burn.
You could already read my review of this book here.
