Read in November 2025
November was shaped by an unexpected trip and being busy making Christmas gifts. As a result, I reached for audiobooks more often this month — the perfect companions while crocheting or knitting.
I didn’t really have a set TBR for November. Instead, I let myself be guided by my unfinished reading goals (continuing series, books from subscription boxes), atmospheric picks, my mood, and whatever was available in my audiobook apps.
In total, I read 10 books in November, amounting to 3767 pages. That brings the average November book to 377 pages/book.
There were no DNFs this month, but my ratings leaned heavily towards 3-star reads, with the occasional 4-star and a single 2-star book mixed in. This brings the average November read to 3.2 stars.
As for target audience, I read just 1 Young Adult book and 9 adult books.
As mentioned, I relied quite heavily on audiobooks this month, while still doing plenty of reading with my eyes. Most books were actually consumed in a mix of formats, which makes my statistics here a little less clear-cut. Officially, I logged 3 e-books, 4 audiobooks, and 3 physical books, but in reality I read 6 of the 10 finished books using a combination of formats. One definite win, though: I managed to remove 7 physical books from my TBR.
Genre-wise, I dipped into 5 genres: horror (1), thriller (1), science fiction (2), mystery (3), and fantasy (3).
Below you’ll find the list of books I read in November, along with my star ratings.
Click on the link to jump to the blurb and my review! As always, please be mindful that both blurbs and reviews may contain spoilers, especially for sequels in a series. Sometimes I also hide spoilers behind collapsible or blacked-out text.
- Heuvelt, Thomas Olde – Orakel ★★★
- Young, Adrienne – A Sea of Unspoken Things ★★★
- Hallett, Janice – The Examiner ★★★
- Kingfisher, T. – Paladin’s Strength (The Saint of Steel #2) ★★★★
- Guin, Urusula K. – The One’s Who Walk Away from Omelas ★★★★
- Schwab, V.E. – Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil ★★★
- Miranda, Megan – Daughter of Mine 🎧 ★★★
- Yamamoto, Makana – Hammajang Luck 🎧 ★★
- Lim, Elizabeth – Her Radiant Curse (Six Crimson Cranes #0) 🎧 ★★★★
- McFadden, Freida – The Tenant 🎧 ★★★
Heuvelt, Thomas Olde – Orakel ★★★
Genre: Horror
On a foggy winter morning Luca Wolf and Emma Reich discover an eighteenth-century sailing ship stranded on a barren flower field, its name written on its side: Oracle.
Emma, unable to resist, enters the hatch on the tilted deck. The ship’s bell begins to toll and no one sees her again.
Not much later, eleven people have disappeared, Luca and his mother have been absconded by a clandestine government agency which has questions, no answers, and are determined to uncover the ship’s secrets before a media storm erupts.
But as they force Robert Grim, a retired specialist of the occult with a strange history and a healthy dislike of authority, to unravel the mystery, the Oracle is revealed to be a harbinger of an ancient doom awakened underneath the sea.
What follows is a maelstrom of international intrigue, history, young love, humanity’s relationship with climate and disease, and pure terror as they come face to face with an open doorway to apocalypse.
It had been a long time since I’d read a book in Dutch, so I thought it would take some getting used to, but I was almost immediately drawn into this story. The mystery and suspense were built up strongly, and my curiosity was constantly piqued.
As the story progressed, however, the pace slowed somewhat. As a result, elements that I had previously easily overlooked became more noticeable and even disturbing. For example, the language sometimes felt a bit unnatural, and the behavior of certain characters wasn’t always age-appropriate.
The ending left me with mixed feelings. This was my first encounter with this author, and I thought it would be a standalone book. For the most part, that’s true, but the epilogue unexpectedly refers to events from a previous work. That felt strange and, for me, sapped the power from the ending, making the conclusion less satisfying.
Nevertheless, I mostly enjoyed the story. It was captivating, atmospheric, and often surprising.
Young, Adrienne – A Sea of Unspoken Things ★★★
Genre: Mysterie
When James arrives in the rural town of Hawthorne, California to settle her brother’s affairs, she’s forced to rehash the ominous past she and Johnny shared and finally face Micah, the only person who knows about it. He’s also the only man she’s ever loved.
But James soon discovers that the strange connection she had with Johnny isn’t quite gone, and the more she immerses herself into his world, the more questions she has about the brother she thought she knew. Johnny was keeping secrets, and he’s not the only one.
What she uncovers will push her to unravel what happened in the days before Johnny’s death, but in the end, she’ll have to decide which truths should come to light, and which should stay buried forever.
Adrienne Young has a remarkable talent for atmosphere. From the very first pages, I felt transported to that remote forest town wrapped in mist. Isolated, claustrophobic, yet strangely comforting. The setting is both aloof and inviting, and for me it remains the most memorable part of the book.
The premise is undeniably sad, but beyond that initial emotional pull the story keeps its distance. There’s a strong reliance on telling rather than showing, and although the prose is beautiful, it holds the characters at arm’s length. I never felt as though I truly knew them, and the slow unveiling of the past, while intriguing, didn’t land with much emotional weight.
The mystery itself is serviceable, partly predictable, partly not, but ultimately easy to forget. It kept me reading, but never truly surprised me.
This is very much a slow-burn, quiet, reflective sort of story, pleasant enough in the moment, with a haunting tone that lingers only briefly. In the end, it’s the atmosphere that endures, not the plot or the characters.
Hallett, Janice – The Examiner ★★★
Genre: Mysterie
Gela Nathaniel, head of Royal Hastings University’s new Multimedia Art course, must find six students from all walks of life across the United Kingdom for her new master’s program before the university cuts her funding. The students are nothing but trouble from day one.
There’s Jem, a talented sculptor recently graduated from her university program and eager to make her mark as an artist at any cost. Jonathan, who has little experience in art practice aside from running his family’s gallery. Patrick runs an art supply store, but can barely operate his phone, much less design software. Ludya is a single mother and graphic designer more interested in a paycheck than homework. Cameron is a marketing executive in search of a hobby or a career change. And Alyson, already a successful artist, seems to be overqualified. Finally, there is the examiner, the man hired to grade students’ final works—an art installation for a local cloud-based solutions company that may have an ulterior agenda—and who, in sifting through final essays, texts, and message boards, warns that someone is in danger…or already dead. And nothing about this course has been left up to chance.
The Examiner has Hallett’s signature addictive format, the kind that immediately pulls you in and makes you want to keep turning pages. The plot is absolutely wild, and once again it’s impressive how vividly the characters’ personalities come through purely via their texts, chats, and emails. You do need to suspend disbelief a little regarding the sheer amount of messaging, but within the context of this story, it mostly works.
That said, this ended up being one of my least favourite books by Hallett. As a reader, there’s simply no way to participate in the mystery. You can sense that something is off, but there are no clues to follow, no breadcrumbs to pick up, and no real opportunity to try solving the puzzle yourself. Combined with a length that feels unnecessarily stretched and an ending that doesn’t make much sense, the reveal lands without much satisfaction.
It’s entertaining in the moment thanks to the format, but ultimately not one of Hallett’s stronger works.
Kingfisher, T. – Paladin’s Strength (The Saint of Steel #2) ★★★★
Genre: Fantasy
He’s a paladin of a dead god, tracking a supernatural killer across a continent. She’s a nun from a secretive order, on the trail of the raiders who burned her convent and kidnapped her sisters.
When their paths cross at the point of a sword, Istvhan and Clara will be pitched headlong into each other’s quests, facing off against enemies both living and dead. But Clara has a secret that could jeopardize the growing trust between them, a secret that will lead them to the gladiatorial pits of a corrupt city, and beyond…
This second book in the delightful The Saint of Steel fantasy romance series once again delivered on everything I love about T. Kingfisher’s writing. The world is fascinating, the prose flows effortlessly, and the characters feel so wonderfully real that it’s impossible not to root for them. Clara is an absolute badass, and I adored how Ishtvan never feels threatened by her strength. He’s supportive, steady, and completely smitten in the most heartwarming way.
Kingfisher’s romances always shine because they’re respectful, loving, and deeply healthy, full of slow-burn yearning that feels both tender and satisfying. This story is no exception. It’s funny, insightful, gently paced with sparks of excitement, and just gruesome enough in places to remind you you’re reading Kingfisher.
A wholly enjoyable adventurous tale about two middle-aged heroes who are far more than they appear, and who find something true and beautiful in each other along the way.
Guin, Urusula K. – The One’s Who Walk Away from Omelas ★★★★
Genre: Sci-Fi
The story “Omelas” was first published in New Dimensions 3, a hard-cover science fiction anthology edited by Robert Silverberg, in October 1973, and the following year it won Le Guin the prestigious Hugo Award for best short story.
It was subsequently printed in her short story collection The Wind’s Twelve Quarters in 1975.
This short story is undeniably profound. Ursula K. Le Guin presents a moral dilemma so stark and unsettling that it lingers long after you finish reading.
That said, the writing style itself didn’t fully work for me. This was my first encounter with Le Guin’s work, and while I remain curious about several of her stories, the prose here didn’t immediately compel me to pick up more.
Schwab, V.E. – Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil ★★★
Genre: Fantasy
1532. Santo Domingo de la Calzada.
A young girl grows up wild and wily—her beauty is only outmatched by her dreams of escape. But María knows she can only ever be a prize, or a pawn, in the games played by men. When an alluring stranger offers an alternate path, María makes a desperate choice. She vows to have no regrets.
This is a story about love.
1827. London.
A young woman lives an idyllic but cloistered life on her family’s estate, until a moment of forbidden intimacy sees her shipped off to London. Charlotte’s tender heart and seemingly impossible wishes are swept away by an invitation from a beautiful widow—but the price of freedom is higher than she could have imagined.
This is a story about rage.
2019. Boston.
College was supposed to be her chance to be someone new. That’s why Alice moved halfway across the world, leaving her old life behind. But after an out-of-character one-night stand leaves her questioning her past, her present, and her future, Alice throws herself into the hunt for answers . . . and revenge.
This is a story about life—
how it ends, and how it starts.
I went into Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil with high hopes, but sadly it didn’t resonate with me. The atmosphere and writing are undeniably stunning — eerie, haunting, and beautifully crafted — but beyond that, the story felt incredibly slow and surprisingly aimless.
It’s all vibes and very little coherent plot. While that can sometimes work for me, here there was nothing to pull me in. I didn’t connect with any of the characters and found myself bored more often than not, drifting through pages of gorgeous prose without anything grounding it emotionally. For all its beauty, the story lacks the cohesion and heart needed to make me care about where it was heading.
In the end, it was a disappointment, capped off with an ending that didn’t feel worth the meandering, lackluster journey that led to it.
🎧 Miranda, Megan – Daughter of Mine ★★★
Genre: Mysterie
Daughter of Mine is a wonderfully atmospheric slow-burn mystery, steeped in small-town tension, family secrets, and a gradual build that kept me fully immersed. I especially loved the slow unfolding of the story — the background, the history, the quiet reveals. And the audiobook narration was excellent, making the experience even more engaging.
That said, the ending wrapped up a bit too quickly for my taste and veered into slightly silly territory. It didn’t quite match the careful build-up that came before it. It’s also the kind of story I’ll likely forget in a few weeks.
Still, I thoroughly enjoyed my time with it. Megan Miranda’s mysteries always manage to pull me in and keep me listening straight through, and this one was no exception. Not perfect, but definitely engrossing in the moment.
🎧 Yamamoto, Makana – Hammajang Luck ★★
Genre: Sci-Fi
Eight years in prison changes a person. Particularly when you’re only there because your partner, your best friend, your all-but-sister, sold you down the river.
Even getting Edie out on early parole doesn’t earn Angel any forgiveness. That’s why Edie knows they’ll turn down Angel’s offer of a job. One last, big score. A chance to take down the man who put them away: Joyce Atlas.
But Edie’s lost too much time with their family. A heavily pregnant sister, a seriously ill niece, and a nephew who wasn’t born before they went to prison. There’s not a question. Edie’s going straight. Or trying to – but Atlas has had them blacklisted from every employer on the station.
Edie really doesn’t want to work with Angel. It’s far too complicated, they’re far too angry, and Angel is bringing up a lot of confusing feelings. But they don’t have any other choice . . .
And if they pull it off, the 1.25 billion payout might just soothe some old wounds.
“Betray me, and I’ll ruin your life.”
“You’ve done it once already.”
“And I won’t hesitate to do it again.”
Hammajang Luck had an interesting premise, but unfortunately very little of it worked for me. The introduction to the characters was so minimal that I never felt invested in any of them, and the repetitive inner monologues quickly became frustrating. Especially Edie’s constant cycle of worrying about getting caught, only to immediately resume risky behavior, was extremely tiresome.
For a heist story, there’s almost no tension. Everything goes far too smoothly, leaving the plot without stakes or urgency. I appreciated the diverse cast and the cultural representation, but it often felt like the book leaned on that alone, and forgot to properly craft the plot or work on character depth.
The worldbuilding is also practically nonexistent. Despite being set in space, nothing about the environment felt futuristic or distinct. It could just as easily have taken place in a regular suburb. The mix of spaceships, trains, flying cars, and generic buildings never formed a cohesive world.
The writing is very simplistic, and while the inclusion of Hawaiian words and Pidgin adds flavor, the lack of any explanation made it increasingly tedious.
In the end, this was a disappointing read with too little substance to hold my interest.
🎧 Lim, Elizabeth – Her Radiant Curse (Six Crimson Cranes #0) ★★★★
Genre: Fantasy
Channi was not born a monster. But when her own father offers her in sacrifice to the Demon Witch, she is forever changed. Cursed with a serpent’s face, Channi is the exact opposite of her beautiful sister, Vanna-the only person in the village who looks at Channi and doesn’t see a monster. The only person she loves and trusts.
Now seventeen, Vanna is to be married off in a vulgar contest that will enrich the coffers of the village leaders. Only Channi, who’s had to rely on her strength and cunning all these years, can defend her sister against the cruelest of the suitors. But in doing so, she becomes the target of his wrath – launching a grisly battle royale, a quest over land and sea, a romance between sworn enemies, and a choice that will strain Channi’s heart to its breaking point.
Elizabeth Lim is at the absolute top of her game in this thrilling yet heart-wrenching tale of courage, loyalty and the deep bonds of sisterhood.
Elizabeth Lim’s fairytales are always a delight, and Her Radiant Curse is no exception. If you’ve read the Six Crimson Cranes duology, you’ll know to expect a bittersweet story – or at least a bittersweet ending – and this novel delivers exactly that. Yet even with that foreknowledge, I found the journey gripping from start to finish.
Lim’s writing is lush and captivating, drawing you into a world that feels vivid and alive. I loved returning to the realm she continues to expand with such care and beauty. The sisterly bond and friendships at the heart of the story are gripping, and even though the characters sometimes fall into familiar YA patterns, Lim’s storytelling is strong enough that I rather found it charming than annoying, something I rarely manage with YA these days.
The story does lose a bit of its momentum halfway through, and the pacing wavers here and there. The ending may also feel slightly underdeveloped if you aren’t familiar with the events of Six Crimson Cranes. But overall, I really enjoyed my time with these characters and and found Her Radiant Curse a rich, heartfelt addition to Lim’s universe.
🎧 McFadden, Freida – The Tenant ★★★
Genre: Thriller
Blake Porter is riding high, until he’s not. Fired abruptly from his job as a VP of marketing and unable to make the mortgage payments on the new brownstone that he shares with his fiancee, he’s desperate to make ends meet.
Enter Whitney. Beautiful, charming, down-to-earth, and looking for a room to rent. She’s exactly what Blake’s looking for. Or is she?
Because something isn’t quite right. The neighbors start treating Blake differently. The smell of decay permeates his home, no matter how hard he scrubs. Strange noises jar him awake in the middle of the night. And soon Blake fears someone knows his darkest secrets…
Danger lives right at home, and by the time Blake realizes it, it’ll be far too late. The trap is already set.
#1 New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden knocks at your door with a gripping story of revenge, privilege, and secrets turned sour…
I’ve been binging audiobooks lately while doing my Christmas crafting, and mysteries are always the easiest to follow while my hands are busy. I’d never read anything by Freida McFadden before, but seeing The Tenant on the final Goodreads Choice Awards list felt like the perfect excuse to finally try one of her books, especially since she seems to be very hit-or-miss for readers.
As an audiobook, this was incredibly addictive. The story is completely unhinged, full of wildly dysfunctional characters, and I found myself listening longer than intended simply because I needed to know what would happen next. None of the characters are remotely likeable, but once I suspended my disbelief and just let the chaos play out, it became the perfect background companion for crafting.
That said, it’s also the kind of thriller that burns fast and bright but won’t linger long in my memory. Fun, twisty, and compulsively listenable, just not especially lasting.
