September 2020 Reading Wrap-Up

Hey hi hello friends, and welcome back to my blog!

I was hoping to finish my last read of the month before October turned over, but that didn't happen so I decided to just do my wrap-up now. In the month of September I read a total of seven novels and fifteen manga volumes. 

And before you ask, yes, I am still working on The Queens of Innis Lear by Tessa Gratton. I just have to be in the right mood to pick it up, and I only get through about ten pages before I wear myself out on it. I only have 100 pages left however and I am determined to finish it in October. You have full reign to yell at me if I don't. 

Alrighty, let's get into the books!

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Novels

1. Neverseen by Shannon Messenger (Keeper of the Lost Cities #4)
Star rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Page count: 672 pages
Read: 8.30 to 9.06
Goodreads thoughts: Beautiful! I loved the new places we explored, and my heart was wailing from all of the revelations and explanations and the ill-intentions! As always, I can’t wait to start reading the next book!

2. Paola Santiago and the River of Tears by Tehlor Kay Mejia (Paola Santiago #1)
Star rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Page count: 368 pages
Read: 9.06 to 9.07
Goodreads thoughts: This was incredible! I loved reading about all the ghost stories I grew up hearing from my friends at sleepovers. La Llorona was present in a lot of them, as well as the chupacabras and the demon hands crawling up out of the earth. I can’t imagine what this book means to Latinx people, and I for sure will be recommending it to everyone I can find!

3. Blood Water Paint by Joy McCullough (ONE DAY READ)
Star rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Page count: 298 pages
Read: 9.09
Goodreads thoughts: Content warnings for sexual assault, suicidal thoughts, and men thinking they have rights to a woman.

I’ve always been drawn to Artemisia Gentilaschi’s artwork, long before I knew her life story. Her paintings are, of course, masterful, and obviously something new to the Roman art scene. And then I learned about her, and what inspired her to paint those scenes with such brutality and honesty. It came from more than just being a woman, but being a woman who survived a man, and persevered through the arrogance and vulgarity and so-called righteousness that these men possess.

McCullough’s retelling of Artemisia’s tale certainly highlights all the dirty and revolting parts while still keeping her that strong and beautiful painter she always remained. I thank her for breathing life back into this girl.

4. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor (REREAD) (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #1)
Star rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Page count: 418 pages
Read: 9.08 to 9.09 
Goodreads thoughts: Previous thoughts

OKAY THAT ENDING RIPPED MY HEART OUT AND TRAMPLED ON IT WITH SPIKED SHOES

5. Lodestar by Shannon Messenger (Keeper of the Lost Cities #5)
Star rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Page count: 688 pages
Read: 9.09 to 9.15
Goodreads thoughts: God dammit with these stupid cliffhangers! Shannon, you’re killing me here!!

Also, my 200th book of 2020!

6. The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo (REREAD) (ONE DAY READ)
Star rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Page count: 272 pages
Read: 9.21
Goodreads thoughts: Beautiful and nostalgic, as always. My childhood comfort story (though I’m really surprised it came out in 2008? I feel like I read it much earlier in my life than that)

Edit: yes, it was originally published in 2003, I’m not going crazy.

7. Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor (REREAD) (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #2)
Star rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Page count: 517 pages
Read: 9.26 to 9.28
Goodreads thoughts: Previous thoughts

Trigger warning for rape and sexual assault. 

So many twists and turns, I’m so excited to see what the final book has in store for Karou and Akiva.

Manga

1. Tokyo Ghoul by Sui Ishida (vol. 2-14)
Star rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Total page count: 2,680 pages
Read: 9.19 to 9.24
Goodreads thoughts: vol 3: I forgot how fast this manga moves, I’m used to manga that have 30+ volumes so reading a 14 volume series is throwing me off a little, ha.

vol 4: This whole volume had me shaking my head lol. You’re too trusting, Kaneki!

vol 5: YaaaaaaaAAAAAASSSS WE GOT MY BABY JUZO I LOVE HIM SO MUCH!!

vol 6: oh boy the beginning of bad things

vol 7: My poor baby Kaneki

vol 8: Oh how the turntables

vol 14: And so part one ends...(Wow the anime really made a mess of things didn’t it? I like the manga better)

2. Tokyo Ghoul: re by Sui Ishida (vol. 1-2)
Star rating: N/A
Total page count: 452 pages
Read: 9.28
Goodreads thoughts: N/A

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Total pages read: 6,365 pages

Favorite book of September: Blood Water Paint by Joy McCullough

Least favorite book of September: I don't have one because I loved them all this month!

September DNFs: In the Vanisher's Palace by Aliette de Bodard

Unfinished books: Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor
                                The Queens of Innis Lear by Tessa Gratton
                                Shorefall by Robert Jackson Bennett

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Okay, that's all for this wrap-up! What was your favorite read of the month? Chat with me in the comments or over on Twitter @AllyEmReads

Until next time!