Read in September 2025
In September, I decided to focus primarily on finishing and catching up on series. I’d received several sequels in the preceding weeks, and instead of putting them off until I’d have to reread the entire series, as so often happens, I prioritised them this time. And with success: I finished not one, not two, but three series, caught up on two others, and continued reading in a sixth. Checking off the series: accomplished!
In the end, I read 8 books in September, totaling 2977 pages. The average September book thus comes to 372 pages/book.
I actually finished all the books I started in September, with varying degrees of success. My ratings ranged from 2 to 4 stars, which equates to a relatively low average score of 2.9 stars.
In terms of target audience, I only read one Young Adult book and 7 adult books, although that’s debatable in some cases.
My reading style varied well: 2 audiobooks, 2 e-books, and 4 bookshelf books.
In terms of genres, I stuck to 3 main genres: sci-fi (2), romance (3), and fantasy (3).
Below is the list of the books I read in September, with my star rating for each.
Click the link to jump to the blurb and my review! As always: be aware that both the blurb and the review may contain spoilers, especially for sequels in a series. Sometimes I also hide spoilers behind a fold-out or blacked-out text.
- Chen, Amber – The Blood Phoenix (Fall of the Dragon #2) ★★
- Bannen, Megan – The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam (The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy #3) ★★★
- Kim, Sophie – The God and the Gwisin (Fate’s Thread #2) ★★★★
- Coldbreath, Alice – A Most Forgettable Girl (Brides of Karadok #7) ★★★★
- Samatar, Sofia – The Practice, the Horizon and the Chain ★★
- El-Arifi, Saara – Cursebound (Faebound #2) 🎧 ★★★
- Liu, Cixin – The Dark Forest (Remembrance of Earth’s Past #2) ★★
- Hazelwood, Ali – Two Can Play 🎧 ★★★
Chen, Amber – The Blood Phoenix (Fall of the Dragon #2) ★★
Genre: YA Fantasy
Two years after Ying leaves the Engineer’s Guild and the ghost of her father’s unjust death behind, life seems to regain a semblance of normalcy. But the winds of unrest continue to stir within the Nine Isles, and the aftermath of a horrific pirate attack by the mysterious Blood Phoenix fleet forces Ying back into the tense political world of the new High Commander, Ye-yang. And soon, Ying, Ye-yang and her former friends from the guild must work together to find a way to outsmart the cunning pirates who terrorise the straits—and the elusive mastermind who’s controlling them.
Meanwhile, Ying’s sister, Nian, now lives in the capital, awaiting the day she will finally marry the High Commander. While her relationship with Ye-yang remains distant, she finds company in her friendship with the fourteenth prince, Ye-kan, and discovers her unexpected affinity for governance and strategy. But the capital is more dangerous than she expects, and when a dark conspiracy arises, Nian and Ye-kan must unravel the mystery in time to prevent the High Command from collapsing from within.
New dangers arise at every moment, threatening to tear the Nine Isles apart. In order to sail through this storm, Ying and her loved ones must make difficult choices amidst terrible betrayals. With the world on the brink of destruction, will they find a way to defeat their enemies and survive? And will it be worth the cost?
I went into The Blood Phoenix hoping for the same kind of fun, fast-paced engagement I found in Of Jade and Dragons. That first book was undeniably flawed, but it kept me hooked. This sequel, however, was the opposite: long, boring, and ultimately unsatisfying.
What frustrated me most was the complete shift in focus. Where the first book set up a looming threat from the empire, this one suddenly pivots to pirates, barely acknowledging the empire at all. The plot felt scattered, with much of the action happening off-page while we had to slog through the duller bits. For a story so tied to geography, it also feels like a real oversight not to include a map.
The characters didn’t help either. I never felt emotionally invested, despite everything they went through. The romance between Ye-Yang and Ying, in particular, made no sense to me. It was a cycle of him ignoring her wishes, her being angry, and them suddenly falling back into each other’s arms. It’s hard to root for a relationship built on that dynamic.
And then there’s the ending. For a duology, it felt oddly open, like the real conclusion was missing. The author insists this story is finished, but it didn’t feel that way at all.
Looking back, I honestly wonder why I decided to continue. I had plenty of gripes with Of Jade and Dragons, but it was at least entertaining. The Blood Phoenix was not. Instead of closure, it left me feeling like I’d wasted my time.
Bannen, Megan – The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam (The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy #3) ★★★
Genre: (Fantasy) Romantiek
Immortal demigod Rosie Fox has been patrolling Tanria for decades, but lately, the job has been losing its lustre. After one hundred and fifty-seven years of being alive, everything is beginning to lose its lustre. When Rosie dies (again) by electrocution (again) after poking around inside a portal choked with shadowy thorns only she can see, she feels stuck in the rut that is her unending life.
Thanks to Rosie’s meddling, the portal inventor, Dr. Adam Lee, must come in person to repair the damage. When all the portals begin to break down, he declares an emergency evacuation of Tanria. In the mad rush to get out, Rosie and Adam end up trapped inside the Mist. Together.
And uptight Adam Lee in his bespoke menswear seems to know a lot more about what’s happening than he lets on. . .
After mixed feelings about the first two books in this series, I went into The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam with tempered expectations. These stories are always marketed as romances, but while there’s certainly a romantic relationship at the heart of it, their love story itself is often relegated to the background to focus more on the fantasy narrative. As a result, both aspects often feel somwhat underdeveloped. This final installment is no different.
What surprised me in this book was the big time jump. It definitely cements this as the end of the trilogy, with characters and couples from the previous books haphazardly popping in to show how their lives have progressed. While I did find this a little jarring at first, I appreciated the sense of closure it brought for this series.
As for this particular story, I thought it fun and creative, with a nice lore-heavy angle that almost made me wish the whole series had leaned harder into its worldbuilding from the start.
That said, the romance felt more like an afterthought, even edging into insta-love territory without much build. While I loved the briar thief elements, they were also fairly predictable, and the overarching plot sometimes felt scattered, trying to cram too much into too little space. Still, the writing remained engaging, and the world continues to feel fresh, silly and imaginative.
In the end, this was a sweet enough conclusion to the trilogy, even if it didn’t sweep me off my feet. The first book remains my favorite of the three in terms of romance, but The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam wrapped things up with charm and creativity. A solid if uneven finish.
Kim, Sophie – The God and the Gwisin (Fate’s Thread #2) ★★★★
Genre: Fantasy (Romantiek)
But when the red thread of fate leads Seokga to a cruise down the river of the dead, the woman he finds isn’t Hani . . . she’s Yoo Kisa, and she has no memory of him whatsoever – with seemingly no interest in regaining it either.
But when the Heavenly Emperor of Okhwang is murdered, Seokga and Kisa must solve the crime before the cruise ends. And as the mystery draws them closer, they will have to decide what they truly mean to each other.
There’s something bigger at play aboard the ship, something that holds the key to their fated connection – and the very fate of the world.
If The God and the Gumiho was a fun, trope-filled introduction to Sophie Kim’s world, then The God and the Gwisin takes everything I enjoyed there and elevates it. This sequel is still cute and full of K-drama energy, but it also manages to weave in a thoughtful murder mystery, richer character arcs, and some truly moving questions about love and identity. Honestly, I might have loved it even more than book one.
The boldest choice here is the introduction of Yoo Kisa as the new love interest for Seokga. She’s a reincarnation of Hani, but also unaware of that fact and very much her own person. The author creates quite a delicate balance, one that could easily have gone wrong, but ultimately really works beautifully. I really loved how different Kisa is from her past self, and how this is tied together with the “Ship of Theseus” question to frame her budding relationship with Seokga.
Seokga himself gets fantastic character development here. We see more of his insecurities, his complicated bond with his parents, and especially his relationship with his brother Hwanin. Their dynamic is equal parts grumpy affection and protective teasing, and I loved every moment of it. Seokga has grown much since the first book, yet hasn’t lost the charm and mischief that made him so entertaining.
Beyond the romance, the mystery plot is engaging, with plenty of twists and satisfying reveals (even if the final gods-related resolution was a little rushed). The mythology and setting remain highlights, adding texture and uniqueness to the story. The side characters shine too, carrying strong subplots that tie neatly into the book’s themes.
Despite moments of sadness, the story is sprinkled with humor and warmth that kept me smiling. It’s still tropey, still leaning hard into its K-drama inspirations, but that’s exactly what makes it so fun. This was an incredibly enjoyable read from start to finish, and a worthy continuation (an sadly end) of the series.
Coldbreath, Alice – A Most Forgettable Girl (Brides of Karadok #7) ★★★★
Genre: Romantiek (Historisch)
All is going well, until Gunnilde overhears herself rudely dismissed by two knights, as ‘nice, plain and utterly forgettable’. Poor Gunnilde is mortified but as soon as the thoughtless words left his lips, someone starts to notice she has plenty of charm after all.
I didn’t even know this was out yet! Last I checked, it wasn’t due until spring 2026. But I was craving a story like this, so finding it ready to read was such a happy surprise.
Like all of Alice Coldbreath’s books, I devoured it. And like always, I can’t quite explain why. So much of her writing is just ordinary life, realistic conversations where not much happens, yet I find it completely addictive and comforting. This one was no different.
I really liked both main characters. The prologue sets up a defining moment for the heroine, and when we meet her again months later at court, she’s trying to find her place. She’s pragmatic, genuine, and upfront, though often a little naïve and far too hard on herself. The queen’s scheming (and general meanness) gave her a big role in this book, which I didn’t love, but I adored how the heroine handled it with honesty and quiet strength.
The forced marriage to the hero could easily have been a disaster, but it turned into a blessing. They’re opposites in many ways, but they just fit. Their communication, their growth, the sweetness between them, it all made their relationship a joy to read. Add in the group of squires and James’ brother, and there were even more heartwarming, chaotic and funny moments.
The ending was toothachingly sweet, but left me smiling, as Coldbreath always manages to do.
Samatar, Sofia – The Practice, the Horizon and the Chain ★★
Genre: Sci-Fi (novelle)
The boy was raised as one of the Chained, condemned to toil in the bowels of a mining ship out amongst the stars.
His whole world changes―literally―when he is yanked “upstairs” to meet the woman he will come to call “professor”. The boy is no longer one of the Chained, she tells him, and he has been gifted an opportunity to be educated at the ship’s university alongside the elite.
The woman has spent her career striving for acceptance and validation from her colleagues in the hopes of reaching a brighter future, only to fall short at every turn.
Together, the boy and the woman will learn from each other to grasp the design of the chains designed to fetter them both, and are the key to breaking free. They will embark on a transformation―and redesign the entire world.
I picked up The Practice, the Horizon and the Chain as a quick palate cleanser. I’ve heard a lot of extrememly good things about it from many different people I follow online, so naturally, I was curious and hopeful.
In its essence, this novella explores how oppression and hierarchical systems continue to bind people, how well-intentioned efforts at liberation can backfire, and how even those who escape remain connected to the oppressed group, a connection that can be both a burden and a strength.
Unfortunately, the story didn’t quite hit the right note for me. I actually found it a bit boring. Perhaps there’s a deeper meaning in the story that completely went over my head, and if that’s the case, that’s entirely on me. But if there isn’t, the narrative felt rather obvious, heavy-handed, and preachy. Yes, it’s clearly an important message, but it simply wasn’t conveyed in a way that resonated with me.
The one thing I can say without hesitation is that the writing itself was beautiful, very fluid and vivid.
🎧 El-Arifi, Saara – Cursebound (Faebound #2) ★★★
Genre: Fantasy
Bound by hope.
Yeeran and Lettle are no longer prisoners to the fae court, but now they’re bound by the shackles of their hearts …
Yeeran was born for war but is unprepared for love. She has left her new lover, the Queen of the fae, to return to her homeland, only to find that her former lover now threatens war against the fae.
Left behind, her sister Lettle is determined to break the curse that binds the fae to their realm. When a stranger appears in the city, Lettle is convinced he’s the key. But the Fates that once spoke to her have fallen silent.
Can Lettle and Yeeran discover the secret behind the curse – and unite these two worlds before they destroy each other?
The most captivating part of Cursebound, much like in Faebound, is the worldbuilding. Saraa El-Arifi has crafted an imaginative and accessible fantasy setting, rich with mythology and lore, that’s still easy to follow, something that would work beautifully for a YA audience venturing into the fantasy genre for the first time. The magic system and cultural details and overall diversity remain the strongest aspects of the story.
Unfortunately, where the world shone, the plot fell flat. The twists were painfully obvious. I guessed every single one long before they were revealed, including the final “shocking” moment, which felt more like a shrug to me than a surprise. Character relationships were equally unconvincing. People fell in love far too quickly, big events in their lives were glossed over, and the dialogue often felt wooden. I never felt connected to anyone, and the story’s emotional impact was minimal.
Representation continues to be a strong point, but the characters themselves remain flat and largely unengaging. However, even when I actively disliked some of them, I still found myself following along out of curiosity, which says something about the pull of the setting at least.
All in all, Cursebound delivers another journey through a beautiful and intriguing world, but the predictable plot and two-dimensional characters hold it back. At this point, I’m unsure if I’ll pick up the final volume when it comes out. Part of me is curious how it will end, but a part of me is also not all that bothered. I guess we’ll see what time will tell.
Liu, Cixin – The Dark Forest (Remembrance of Earth’s Past #2) ★★
Genre: Sci-Fi
Earth has. Now the predators are coming.
Crossing light years, the Trisolarians will reach Earth in four centuries’ time. But the sophons, their extra-dimensional agents and saboteurs, are already here. Only the individual human mind remains immune to their influence.
This is the motivation for the Wallfacer Project, a last-ditch defence that grants four individuals almost absolute power to design secret strategies, hidden through deceit and misdirection from human and alien alike. Three of the Wallfacers are influential statesmen and scientists, but the fourth is a total unknown.
Luo Ji, an unambitious Chinese astronomer, is baffled by his new status. All he knows is that he’s the one Wallfacer that Trisolaris wants dead.
The Dark Forest is, very much like its predecessor, a book I appreciate more for its exploration of ideas than for the actual reading experience. Much like The Three Body Problem, it’s fascinating, ambitious, and full of clever concepts, but trudging through the prose is a slog. I ended up switching to the audiobook just to get through the dense sections. The philosophical and sociological focus is impressive, but the writing itself is tedious, cold, and lifeless, and the characters remain flat and unreal.
The sexism present in Luo Ji’s “dream woman” is hard to overlook. She is continually described as innocent, passive, and childlike, and is idealized to the point of erasing agency and individuality. Even if this is somewhat reflective of its time and culture, it still felt creepy and frustrating, and I couldn’t look past it.
The Wallfacers plotline is one of the most compelling elements of this installment. I liked seeing ordinary humans suddenly thrust into positions of immense strategic responsibility, having to manipulate perceptions, secrecy, and power on a global scale. The concept is brilliant, and Liu explores it in interesting, high-stakes ways, showing the tension between morality, deception, and the burden of knowledge. Unfortunately, the Wallfacers’ journeys are often bogged down by overly technical or long-winded passages, which dulls the impact.
Despite the book’s length and density, the ideas remain genuinely exciting. I appreciated the exploration of human indifference, the cosmic stakes, and the consequences of strategic thinking under pressure. That said, a lot of the “hard science” is balanced oddly against near-magical concepts, like the sophons, which feel like convenient plot devices. The title itself hints quite directly at the book’s central theory, which made the slow march through 500+ pages of dense prose feel even more trying at times.
All in all, The Dark Forest is a fascinating continuation of Liu’s trilogy for those drawn to philosophical speculation and sociological thought experiments. As a leisurely read, however, it is frustrating, long, and emotionally detached. I still plan to finish the trilogy, but I have tempered my high expectations, anticipating another dense, idea-driven, and not particularly enjoyable reading experience.
🎧 Hazelwood, Ali – Two Can Play ★★★
Genre: Romantiek (hedendaags)
Viola Bowen has the chance of a lifetime: to design a video game based on her all-time favorite book series. The only problem? Her co-lead is Jesse F-ing Andrews, a.k.a. her arch-nemesis. Jesse has made it abundantly clear over the years that he wants nothing to do with her–and Viola has no idea why.
When their bosses insist a wintery retreat is the perfect team-building exercise, Viola can’t think of anything worse. Being freezing cold in a remote mountain lodge knowing Jesse is right next door? No, thank you.
But as the snow piles on, Viola discovers there’s more to Jesse than she knew, and heat builds in more ways than one.
Two Can Play is a classic Ali Hazelwood: tiny heroine, huge hero, and a misunderstanding where she thinks he isn’t interested, while he’s actually been pining for her for years. It’s charming, funny, and exactly what you expect from her contemporary romances. Only note: this one is audiobook-only, which can feel a bit awkward during the more explicit scenes. Still, I loved it, lol.
