Pride Month 2025 - Wrap Up & Mini Reviews

Happy Saturday everyone!  Today, I'm sharing my wrap up and mini reviews for my Pride Month 2025 reads.  Of the 14 books on my original tbr, I managed to read 11 of them.  For the most part, I had a pretty good reading month.  If you'd like, you can check out my original tbr post here.  Without further ado, keep reading to see my thoughts on the books I read for my challenge:

Books I Own:

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Honestly, A Dark and Drowning Tide by Allison Saft wasn't what I thought it was going to be - and not really in a good way either.  The premise sounded like it could be quite promising, but it the story itself doesn't quite mesh with that.  I wouldn't quite call this a dark academic rivals to lovers story either.  The situation with the villain and the resolution to the story, even the whole reason for the quest in the first place, was off putting to me.  It definitely has a WWI and WWII political undertone to it and I wasn't expecting fantasy religion to draw such direct comparisons to real world either (Jewish).  Normally, the real world religion to fantasy religion doesn't bother me that much, but  like I said with the way the story wrapped up that's where it bugged me.  At least I can say that the antisemitism was presented in a negative light.

My review is also on Goodreads and The StoryGraph.

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Evocation (The Summoner's Circle #1) by S.T. Gibson was a solid read for me, but it's one of those books I wished I liked more. I love the premise and the overall style of it. In regards to the characters, the only one I was particularly interested in following was David. Rhys and Moira weren't bad at all, but I realized that I mostly felt just indifferent to them overall. Finally, I don't think I will be back for the sequel, but I am looking forward to reading more from the author in the future.

My review is also on Goodreads and The StoryGraph.

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Malice of Crows (The Shadow #3) by Lila Bowen  is a fantastic installment in what has become a favorite series.  Honestly, it should be a crime that this series isn't more well known because this was brilliant - and brutal. If you're looking for a fantasy western, you can't miss with this series.  I need book four, Treason of Hawks, asap.  

My review is also on Goodreads and The StoryGraph.

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The Tainted Cup (Shadow of the Leviathan #1) by Robert Jackson Bennett is a new favorite.  I love his world building style and all of the details.  Plus, the characters are all fascinating in their own right.  I will need to read the sequel asap.  I need more fantasy mystery in my life.

My review is also on Goodreads, The StoryGraph, and my 12 Challenge 2025 - June Update.

Library Books:

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Bianca Torre is Afraid of Everything by Justine Pucella Winans turned out to be a pleasant surprise of a YA mystery.  I didn't quite know what expect from it, but I really ended up enjoying it. I'll have to read more from this author soon because I really liked their style.  My favorite aspect of this book are the characters and Bianca's own nerdiness and internal narration.  The darker sense of humor also really worked for me as well as.  I'll have to try One Killer Problem asap.

My review is also on Goodreads, The StoryGraph and my Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge 2025 - June Update.

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Celestial Monsters (The Sunbearer Duology #2) by Aiden Thomas is a pretty great finale. I didn't quite love it as much as the first half of the duology, but it was still good to be back with the diverse group of characters. I'm glad we got the dual perspective here with both Xio and Two, but their doesn't seem to be as much character development this time and it's a little too long overall. Finally, I can't wait to see what this author has in the works for the future.

My review is also on Goodreads and The StoryGraph.

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A Darker Mischief by Derek Milman is a solid YA dark academia mystery, but I'd say that it's my least favorite from this author. I didn't feel strongly about any of the characters, but I wouldn't say I was interested in finding out what would happen to anyone throughout the story. I also felt a little like I was missing something. I don't know if that is something that came across in the audiobook production, or otherwise. Maybe it was just me. Anyway, this one was underwhelming for me considering how much I loved Milman's previous releases.

My review is also on Goodreads and The StoryGraph.

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It's not often that I read body horror, but Don't Let the Forest In by C.G. Drews was a good one. It's quite atmospheric and the illustrations that go with it all really suit it.  I love how much it comes across as a dark fairytale.  By the way, I also appreciated seeing the asexual representation as well.  I don't often get to see that and it was handled well here.

My review is also on Goodreads and The StoryGraph.

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Floating Hotel by Grace Curtis is a nice slice-of-life cozy sci-fi mystery.  I wasn't quite as hooked by it as I was hoping to be.  I think I liked the idea of the hotel itself a little more than anything.  As much as appreciated getting to know the characters and how they got there, I think it could have benefited from fewer POV characters to rotate around.  In a way, it reminded me of a Doctor Who story which is probably the best compliment I can give it.  I think I will be trying more from the author in the future.

My review is also on Goodreads, The StoryGraph, and my 2025 Popsugar Reading Challenge - Update #6.

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I really enjoyed In Deeper Waters by F.T. Lukens, a YA fantasy adventure romance. It's fun and I wouldn't mind seeing the characters again even if I did think the story was just a little bit too long overall. It's the characters that kept me coming back.  The cover made me think this was going to be more of a pirate, or sailing story, than it was though I was pleased the sea does still play a major part of this story. It's been compared to Pirates of the Caribbean and The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue, and I'd say that comparison mostly works out especially with the comparison to Mackenzi Lee's story.  I'm really looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.

My review is also on Goodreads, The StoryGraph, and my Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge 2025 - June Update.

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Rainbow Road (Rainbow Trilogy #3) by Alex Sanchez was a disappointing finale to a trilogy that I otherwise really enjoyed and appreciated. I like that we get t o see our main characters in a whole new type of setting and having different experiences compared to what they have before this point. I also had to keep in mind that this is around 20 years old because that are times when it's definitely dated, but my main issue with this installment is by far Nelson. I mean, I appreciate that he's young and always unapologetically himself, and his short time with that young kid Esau. But, holy crap I wouldn't be able to stand driving across country with him. At all. I have no idea how the other two stayed sane that whole time. Then again maybe I'm just old.

My review is also on Goodreads and The StoryGraph.

Have you read any of these books?  What did you read for Pride Month?  As always, thanks for visiting my blog and perhaps even commenting down below!