Happy Saturday everyone! Today, I'm featuring my wrap up and mini reviews of my Spell It Out Reading Challenge 2024. I started this challenge at the beginning of last July (you can see my original tbr here) and now that I've completed it, I figured I'd better share my results since I somehow neglected to do so for my 2023 challenge. As a reminder, the rules for this challenge are pretty easy because you just have to read books to spell out your name by using book titles. So I read 14 to spell books beginning with the letters that make up my first name and blog name, LAUREN ALWAYS ME. Without further ado, keep reading to see what I thought of the books I read for this challenge:
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The Library of the Dead (Edinburgh Nights #1) by T.L. Huchu is an enjoyable atmospheric fantasy novel. I was hoping that the library element would have played a larger part in this story, but I still liked getting into this Edinburgh and meeting the characters. I'm haven't decided whether or not I want to continue the series or not though.
My review is also on Goodreads and The StoryGraph.
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Among the Living by Jonathan Rabb had fine characters but just not for me. Looking back on it, it wasn't particularly memorable for me either.
My review is also on Goodreads and The StoryGraph.
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Unholy Ghosts (Downside Ghosts #1) by Stacia Kane sounded like an urban fantasy series opener that would be right up my alley, but it just wasn't what I was hoping for. I was hoping for more from the ghosts but they're more flat than anything. I also wasn't terribly impressed by out main character either. I don't think I'll be back for the rest of the series at all.
My review is also on Goodreads, The StoryGraph, and my Wyrd & Wonder 2025 - Sunday Funday: Week 1 Update.
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Rhinegold by Stephen Grundy sounded like it was going to be right up my alley, but I barely made it past the prologue. I wasn't ready to drag myself through 800 more pages. His style isn't for me.
My review is also on Goodreads and The StoryGraph.
My review is also on Goodreads, The StoryGraph, and my 2025 Popsugar Reading Challenge - Update #4.
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The Nobleman's Guide to Scandal and Shipwrecks (Montague Siblings #3) by Mackenzi Lee is a good finale to a favorite series. That said, it's probably my least favorite of the group. It was great to see Monty, Percy, and Felicity again give or take 19 years on from where we left them. Of the siblings, Adrian is easily the one I'm least interested in of the group. I hate to say it, but he really grated on my nerves for a chunk of the story, but then again we know he needs help. I wouldn't have minded if with this story, we got a couple of POV chapters from Monty and Felicity just to mix things up with this finale. I also wish we got to see more of Louisa, who I thought was much more interesting than Adrian himself. It's also a little too long, but that said, I was also absolutely hooked on it. Mainly, I just wish the series wasn't over. I wish we could see these characters more in the future.
My review is also on Goodreads and The StoryGraph.
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Ember is one of the most braindead characters I've read in quite awhile. I was so annoyed with her throughout the whole of Article 5 (Article 5 #1) by Kristen Simmons. Sure, she grew a miniscule amount in the last 10%, but that wasn't enough to make up for her behavior in the other 90%. On that note, the romance which I wasn't expecting there to be nearly as much of absolutely set my teeth on edge. As for the dystopian aspect of the story, it left me wanting in terms of the world building. The concept is an intriguing one (and a bit unsettling to read about now of all times), but the world building to back it up just isn't there.
My review is also on Goodreads and The StoryGraph.
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The Last Adventure of Constance Verity (Constance Verity #1) by A. Lee Martinez is a lot of fun even if it's a little bit too much. The sense of humor is probably my favorite aspect of it. I almost wish it didn't have quite as much going on consistently throughout it. That said, I will definitely be back to check out the rest of the series.
My review is also on Goodreads and The StoryGraph.
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Witch Way to the Mall edited by Esther Friesner sounded like it had a lot of potential with all of the short stories included in the collection. For the most part, though, this was just plain underwhelming. I was originally considering trying more from Friesner, but I think I'll skip them now.
My review is also on Goodreads and The StoryGraph.
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The Ancient Near East, Vol. 1: An Anthology of Texts and Pictures by James B. Pritchard is fascinating but I wish it was laid out differently. I would have also preferred more context as well for the texts included. I don't know if I was supposed to know it already going in?
My review is also on Goodreads and The StoryGraph.
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You Truly Assumed by Laila Sabreen is a YA contemporary that does a good job of tackling hate online and how that can bleed over into real life. My only complaint: a few times it was tough to keep track of which pov chapter we were on. I might have to try more from this author in the future.
My review is also on Goodreads and The StoryGraph.
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The Scapegoat by Daphne Du Maurier is another fascinating read from a favorite author. Somehow I'd managed to totally miss it before now. It really sucked me in straight away. I'm not sure how I feel about that ending though. Anyway, I'll have to watch the movie adaptation with Alec Guinness soon and see just how it brings the story to the big screen.
My review is also on Goodreads and The StoryGraph.
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I had no idea what to expect from Murder in the Hearse Degree (Hitchcock Sewell #4) by Tim Cockey given it's the fourth book in the series, but that was pretty good and had a good sense of humor. Maybe I will try more of the series in the future.
My review is also on Goodreads and The StoryGraph.
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Every Bone a Prayer by Ashley Blooms just wasn't quite for me. Maybe I was expecting something else than what I got but it didn't work for me overall. I did like the descriptiveness of the writing though.
My review is also on Goodreads and The StoryGraph.
Have you read any of these books? Have you ever done a challenge like this? As always, thanks for visiting and perhaps even commenting down below!
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