October wrap-up

So long, October...

Autumn is absolutely my favourite time of year and the October-to-December run is, in my opinion, the most festive time of year (Halloween, my birthday, Christmas). You may have already seen my autumn tbr which I posted on my Instagram, and therefore would know that I attempted to be as seasonal as possible in my reads last month. The theme was thrillers, cosy vibes, and absolutely anything spooky or supernatural. And as luck (and my willpower) would have it, I managed to cross four books off this list, plus an additional two not on my tbr. We had some bad, but mostly good, so take a virtual walk with me as we discuss what I read in October...

---

This Lie Will Kill You

Chelsea Pitcher

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"One year ago, there was a party. At the party, someone died. Five teens all played a part and up until now, no one has told the truth. But tonight, the five survivors arrive at an isolated mansion in the hills, expecting to compete in a contest with a $50,000 grand prize. But of course... some things are too good to be true."

This book had so much promise! We started off with a really exciting set up: mystery death, multiple secrets, deadly contest. It's literally the perfect formula for a thriller! I really enjoyed the first 60% of the book, and I felt the author delivered the set up of the mystery and the events very well: it was tense and fast paced and I couldn't put it down. I also loved getting to know the five main characters.

But the end of the book really disappointed me. All the big plot twists were predictable (coming from someone who is never able to correctly guess the killer in a murder mystery) which I felt was due to too many flashbacks in the second half of the book (this also messed with the pace and broke the moments of tension). So although it had a promising start, it was ultimately a let down, and not a book I would recommend to others. Having said that, I'll give credit where credit's due, and the first part of the book was truly fantastic, so this one gets a respectable 4-stars.

Masters of Death

Olivie Blake

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"When Viola Marek hires Fox D’Mora to deal with a ghost-infested mansion, she expects a competent medium. But unbeknownst to Viola, Fox is not a medium at all. He’s a fraud – and the godson of Death. As the mystery of the mansion unfolds, Viola and Fox are drawn into an unlikely quest that neither wants nor expects. They’ll need the help of a demonic personal trainer, a steadfast reaper, and an angel with her own secrets."

From one extreme to the other, it's time to talk about my favourite book of the month! If you know me, you will know how much I adore Olivie Blake. The Atlas Series is one of my favourite book series of all time, she literally has one of the best writing styles ever, and I also had the honour of meeting her earlier this year and she is so lovely and so funny. Of all her books, Masters of Death was always one that sounded appealing to me, and to say I was right is an understatement.

I won't go on too much, because I plan to publish a full review soon, but this book was truly perfection. As always, Olivie's prose is gorgeously descriptive, and she's incredibly good at tearing your heart out with a single line. Her character work is also as fantastic as ever - I especially loved the variety of characters in this book, in personality but also in literal species (is that the right word?) We've got an angel, a reaper, a vampire, a ghost, a demigod, a demon, and a human who also happens to be Death's adopted son. And that's not even mentioning all the background characters! A truly unique and colourful cast of characters that helped to tell a story just as unique and colourful. And to finish up, I have to talk about the plot. Olivie Blake doesn't always have the heaviest focus on plot, often choosing instead for character-focused stories, but oh my god can she deliver on an exceptional plot-led book! It was funny and interesting and odd. I especially loved how she started with a silly "let's-exterminate-the-ghost-from-this-house-so-the-vampire-estate-agent-can-sell-it" plot, which then led to something much bigger with higher stakes. The middle sections where this larger plot was slowly being introduced were reminiscent of Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, which I really loved. And a quick final point: the romances were tragic, angsty and iconic as hell.

Lore Olympus: Volume Seven

Rachel Smythe

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

"The rifts between realms grow ever wider as the temporary shelter Persephone had found in the Underworld is destroyed. Persephone and her mother must now stand trial for concealing Persephone’s unsanctioned act of wrath – though the goddess of spring feels secure with Hades on her side."

October brought the release of the newest volume of my favourite graphic novel series: Lore Olympus. I truly adore every volume of this series. It has incredible storytelling and plot development, a massive cast of characters who each get their own subplots, an adorable romance, witty banter, and of course, beautiful artwork. And this volume was no different.

This was actually the first volume where I was experiencing new chapters for the first time (I used to read the webcomic version), which was really exciting. And the development of Persephone's trial is certainly a tense yet exciting plot point. As always, it ended on a cliffhanger, making me even more excited for the next volume!

Legends & Lattes

Travis Baldree

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"After decades of adventuring, Viv the orc barbarian is finally hanging up her sword for good. Now she sets her sights on a new dream - for she plans to open the first coffee shop in the city of Thune. Even though no one there knows what coffee actually is."

Another 5-star-read, Legends & Lattes was defintely the cosiest and most heartwarming book I have ever read. I adored the high fantasy setting, with its sprawling towns, cobblestone streets, taverns, and an array of mythical creatures and characters. And yet the low-stakes plot just feels like the warm hug you need this time of year. The characters and their relationships were so cute (Thimble is my fave) and the descriptions of coffee and pastries were mouthwatering. So much love is crammed into this little story and you can really feel it. Truly one of the best books I've read all year - please give it a shot!

Daisy Jones & The Six

Taylor Jenkins Reid

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75 (reread)

"For a while, Daisy Jones & The Six were everywhere. Their albums were on every turntable, they sold out arenas from coast to coast, their sound defined an era. And then, on 12 July 1979, they split. Nobody ever knew why. Until now."

An unplanned reread that did not match the month's theme, I picked up Daisy Jones & The Six amidst a rewatch of the Amazon Prime TV adaptation. In case you didn't know, Taylor Jenkins Reid is probably my favourite author ever, and I truly adore everything she writes (author's note: she recently announced a new book coming out next year and I CAN'T WAIT!!) Daisy Jones & The Six is no different: she tells a compelling story with characters who feel so real, you almost believe they really were a famous rock band. Her writing style is just perfectly descriptive, immersing you in the worlds and times she writes in, and her focus on female-led stories is always so powerful and raw. And because the plots are about the secret lives of made-up famous people, they're alluring af. If you haven't already, just give one of her books a shot. My favourite is The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, but they're all fantastic!

Payback's A Witch

Lana Harper

⭐️⭐️.25

"Emmy Harlow is a witch in exile. She hasn't been home to the magical town of Thistle Grove in years, since her devastating breakup with Gareth Blackmoore. But when a spellcasting tournament approaches, it turns out the pull of tradition is strong enough to bring Emmy back. When she discovers two other witches have been scorned by the same player, they decide to get some good, old-fashioned revenge."

I actually started this book a couple of years ago and DNF'd it at 40%. This time, I was determined to pull through, and I did... but at what cost? This was certainly the worst book of the month and probably one of my worst books of 2024. The book dragged and was boring, I wasn't particularly invested in any of the characters, and even the central romance felt lacking. The idea is cute and simple, but I found the execution disappointing.

---

And that's October! Apologies this wrap-up is late, life has been so hectic lately. I'll see you again in a few weeks for my November wrap-up (November is my birthday month, so I'm hoping to get at least one 5-star-read) but in the meantime, let me know what you read in October, and if you've read any of the books discussed above. I'd love to hear your thoughts. <3