Stacking the Shelves--The Really BIG One with Double Vision Edition

 

Stacking the Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts, and of course ebooks! The meme is now hosted by Reading Reality.

What a week! This week was crazy, both with good things and not so good things! Work continues to be busy which is both a blessing and a curse I suppose. Then Thursday Adalyn Grace and Kaylie Smith came to St. Louis for a visit and I LOVED it! I finally got to see Adalyn in a conversation styled signing and it was awesome! I love Kaylie's books too and while I've read both of her adult ones, I still need to read her YA, but naturally, all my copies were already signed, but I got to get the rest of my books by Adalyn signed which is always nice! Lol. And then I started getting copies of Stephanie's book FINALLY! And ohh, I am LOVING what she is doing with this one!

And then FINALLY, the BIG ONE...I am officially a homeowner!! I closed on my townhouse and I officially have a home...that I can't quite live in just yet! Lol. My parents want to help me fix it up. There was some carpeting upstairs that was kind of smelly, so yesterday we spent most of the day tearing it up and basically trying to get it ready for when we install new flooring. We're going to make a few other updates and such throughout the place, including the basement which will be my LIBRARY room! The room I have been DREAMING about throughout my search for a house! And I am SOOO excited to get going on that! But we're basically taking this one level at a time, a piece at a time. We're hoping I can possibly get moved in officially next month. Luckily, I still have a place to live until we can make my new home livable! I will definitely share some pictures soon. Right now I just barely remembered to get all my "before" pics in, one was right after we already ripped up one section of carpet and I was like ahh, I forgot my BEFORE pic! So it's a halfy on that one, but you'll get the idea of it at least! Lol.

But now onto the goodies that I did get because oh my! This was a very special week! As you know it was the release of Stephanie Garber's book! My #1 MOST ANTICIPATED read for 2026! Sadly, I could not attend any of Stephanie's tour stops for it. I REALLY wanted to. Like before I was even putting an offer in on my new home I was researching flights but they were all too expensive and the closest stops were still like a 10 hour drive and we're still busy at work and I am just one of those terrible people who doesn't want to leave the team one woman down for two days, even though apparently everyone else is fine with it. Go figure. I know. I'm weird. I took maybe two half days for October and still felt a wee bit guilty, but I told myself, I'm still coming in for a few hours each day, so it's not as bad as needing to be gone for 2-3 whole days depending on what would've been my traveling situations. Hopefully I can see Stephanie next year. I mean, yes, I did get to see her in July, but I didn't have any TMOIE on me obviously and I really would like at least one or two signed TMOIE by her...

But back on track...onto the goods...

The Emperor's Enemy by Jasmine Mas--Target Ed. I couldn't resist and I have no willpower!
Kiss of the Black Flame by Helen Scheuerer--Target Ed. I think it has exclusive content? I wasn't real clear on its exclusivity feature when I ordered during one of their B2G1 sales.
Kissed by the Gods by Caty Rogan--my mom signed up for a month of prime, so I snagged it while it was half off!
Harbinger by Geneva Lee
Dead Beat by Leigh Bardugo--SIGNED! Leigh actually came here on tour, but since there was no meet and greet, no photo line and no signing line, I opted to just order a signed copy.
Dead Beat by Leigh Bardugo--B&N Ed. SIGNED! Because I have a problem where if I start the series off by getting the B&N edition then I have to have them both...and since I really wanted it to be signed too, I ordered it from one of the stores she toured at! Lol.
The Wretched Divine by Adalyn Grace--SIGNED! B&N ed! See above reasoning for needing this edition as well as...
The Wretched Divine by Adalyn Grace--SIGNED! Adalyn came here on tour as well! And since there was a conversation, a signing and photo line I definitely went to this one and had a blast! I was tired the next day, but oh well. Lol.
The Mirror of Infinite Endings by Stephanie Garber--SIGNED! Past me preordered this one at Stephanie's Indie store. Present me was very happy about this! Lol.
The Mirror of Infinite Endings by Stephanie Garber--B&N edition! Yes, this was why we get the "Double Vision" in this week's StS haul title! Lol.
The Mirror of Infinite Endings by Stephanie Garber--an unsigned edition...but look at the back endpages! It was printed upside down! This was the first copy I received and I wasn't 100% certain it was a blooper copy at first because the book was very...twisty. Lol.
The Mirror of Infinite Endings by Stephanie Garber--Waterstones ed! THE PIE! Yes, I have more copies incoming in hopes of getting all 4 within the 6-7 copies that I ordered! A friend has helped me secure the Tesco edition and that has a different hidden cover, so I am halfway there! Lol.

THEN I received this book from the publisher for review! I remember getting some kind of email about this awhile ago, but guess I forgot about it as I think the book released awhile ago as I think I picked up a copy then too! Lol.

Deathbringer by Sonia Tagliareni

BUT this one came with character cards and House cards!

THANK YOU SO MUCH Atria Books!

Then there was also some SWAG this week! From preorders and signings!

a page overlay of Aurelie from The Wretched Divine
Tarot style character cards from Dead Beat

Then for preordering Monstera by Delilah S. Dawson I got:

a SIGNED bookplate
bookmarks
stickers
postcard

THANK YOU Delilah!!

Then for preordering The Emperor's Enemy I received:

a double sided print
a lenticular bookmark

THANK YOU Mira Books!

And finally, here is me turning the key into my new home! Pictures of that will be incoming...eventually. I've got some before ones taken and the start of the renovations ones too! But I feel like this post has been pretty big already with pics! Lol.

And that was it for me this week! A pretty major and amazing haul! What did you get this week?

Book Blogger Hop #430

 

This meme is hosted by Billy at Ramblings of a Coffee Addict!

This week's question is: What’s the best investment you’ve made for your blog?

MY ANSWER: Huh. I honestly don't think I made any investments over the years. So very long ago I can't remember when it happened, I won a total blog design and I've been using that ever since! I have zero tech skills and prior to my win, I was using the free templates Blogger offered. I don't think I would even remember how to redesign things if I tried! Lol. This blog was always meant to be just for fun, so I didn't want to pour too much into it, I save that for the books!

Review--The Mirror of Infinite Endings by Stephanie Garber

 

The #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING Once Upon a Broken Heart series continues… Return to the Magnificent North and the BREATHTAKING LOVE STORY that has captivated readers all over the world!

Jacks and Evangeline Fox have finally found their happily ever after.

Everything here in the Hollow is wonderful and perfect.

Nothing is going to go wrong.

No one is keeping a secret . . . except for maybe one.

But don’t worry, it’s not going to rewrite reality or alter history or change the ending of Jacks and Evangeline’s story.

Definitely not.

Featuring cameos from fan-favorite characters and twenty full-page illustrations by Lotusbubble, the newest installment in the Once Upon a Broken Heart universe will immerse readers once again in this beloved, #1 New York Times bestselling series. Because every story has the potential for infinite endings.

As you will know by now, The Mirror of Infinite Endings by Stephanie Garber was my #1 most anticipated read for 2026 and after a long, long, looooong delay the book was finally in my hands and I read it the first chance I got, which granted was yesterday! Lol. This novella was so magical, so filled with wonder and enchantment that I seriously wanted to just slip away into the pages and leave reality behind! Stephanie Garber will do that to you...or maybe just me!

Our story starts long after the events of A Curse for True Love and we see Jacks and Evangeline having a happy ending in their favorite place, The Hollow. Evangeline is trying to start a new festival/holiday for the grand reopening of the little inn she and Jacks plan to run...or mostly that she plans to run with Jacks reluctantly helping her. Then she and LaLa venture out to a newly opened curiosity shop and since Evangeline was trying to open one just like her father's, decide that they will "take a look" in seeing if her shop might have steep competition or if it's something else entirely.

Upon finding the shop, Evangeline finds a mirror called the Mirror of Infinite Endings, a mirror that will allow you to see all the possible happy endings your life could have if you made one choice differently. With Evangeline's love of all things magical and her own curiosity, she steps through the mirror and is transported into another world where things ended quite differently for her.

This novella was just filled with so much magic. Perhaps it's because I was already so in love with Stephanie's worlds that making yet another return trip to this magical land felt like coming home! It was perfection! I loved returning to the Hollow and the Magnificent North!

Lotusbubble's illustrations before each chapter were amazing! I loved seeing Jacks and Evangeline and the Hollow and pretty much everything that was drawn! It was its own kind of magic! I was only sadden that the illustrations were just by the chapter start and not scattered throughout the story. There were intricate borders along the tops of the pages to indicate whose point of view you were in...because yes, there are two!

This story was truly created for the fans, as Stephanie has also mentioned. True, reading the trilogy prior to this one will mean more to the reader, but one could read it without that knowledge and get along well enough. There were will be references to things and events that you won't grasp as well without having read the previous books, but if you need just a taste of Stephanie's writing style, this would definitely give you an idea.

My most anticipated read of the year did not disappoint! It was just as magical as I ever could have hoped for and it was just perfect. The only complaint I'd have is that it ended too soon! I could easily have read double the length, if not more! I was so happy Stephanie decided to return to this world once more and I would not complain if she wanted to visit again and focus on that ending she gave us! That was something else! Needless to say, it was no surprise that The Mirror of Infinite Endings was a most spectacular and magical read from beginning to end...or one of its endings, right?

Overall Rating 5/5 stars

Books from the Backlog #204

 

Books from the Backlog is a fun way to feature some of those neglected books sitting on your bookshelf unread.  If you are anything like me, you might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in your stacks. This is a fun meme hosted by Carole's Random Life in Books!

In MIDNIGHT JEWEL, Richelle Mead goes beyond the glitz and glamour of the Glittering Court, delving into the dark, political underbelly of Cape Triumph through the eyes of one girl who dares to fight for her freedom.

A refugee of war, Mira was cast out of her home country and thrust into another, where the conditions were inhospitable at best. In a life-altering twist of fate, she is given the chance to escape once more, and she takes it, joining the Glittering Court.

Both a school and a business venture, the Glittering Court is designed to transform impoverished girls into upper-class ladies who appear destined for powerful and wealthy marriages in the New World. There, Mira finds herself subjected to persecution, not only from her fellow Glittering Court jewels, but from her suitors, as well—men she would potentially be expected to give her life to.

By day, she goes through the motions, learning the etiquette and customs that will help to earn her anonymity, even making a couple true friends in the process, the forthright ladies’ maid Adelaide and the ambitious laundress Tamsin. But by night, Mira hatches a different plan entirely—one that, if exposed, could get her hanged in the highest court of Adoria.

MIDNIGHT JEWEL is the extraordinary story of a girl with few options who courageously forges a new path, finding love, passion, lifelong friendships, and maybe even a way to freedom.

I added Midnight Jewel by Richelle Mead to my TBR pile in June of 2018 and I feel like this time adding it to my pile a year after its release is likely accurate as I remember explicitly that Richelle toured by me for the final book of the series so I bought this one ahead of time! I know this series all takes place in the same world and follows these three girls and I only read the first book. It was definitely a different kind of series than her vampire ones but since I loved those I knew I wanted to give these a try. I liked the first one enough to get the rest of the series so hopefully one day I can finish them!

Graphic Novel Review--Rebel by Marie Lu, Kyla Vanderklugt & Ill. by Kaari

 

Respect the Legend. Idolize the Prodigy. Celebrate the Champion. But never underestimate the Rebel in this electrifying graphic novel adaptation of the Legend series's grand finale.

Eden Wing is a brilliant student. He’s about to graduate a year early from Ross University of the Sciences. But most people don’t introduce Eden this way. Instead, they say, “This is Eden, Daniel Wing’s younger brother.”

Ten years ago, Daniel was known as Day, the boy who led a revolution that saved the Republic of America. Day has since spent the past decade piecing together his memory of his time in the Republic, quietly hiding from the world―even if it’s meant giving up June, the love of his life.

When June suddenly steps back into Day’s life, rekindling the flames of their romance, the pair team up to rescue Eden who’s been drawn into Ross City’s dark side. But like the rest of the world, they may have underestimated Eden―what he’s capable of, where his loyalties lie, and how hard he’s willing to fight for what he believes.

Return to the world of Legend in this epic graphic novel adaptation of the pulse-pounding finale to the series, which brings to life the bestselling Rebel with full-color illustrations.

I didn't think I'd have time to read the next novella of the last series, so I hopped over to Rebel: The Graphic Novel by Marie Lu, adapted by Kyla Vanderklugt and illustrated by Kaari and it was such a fun and quick read! I loved the Legend novels and I remember Rebel coming out as a surprise, so I was equally surprised and delighted when it got the graphic novel treatment too!

Since it's been a few years since I read Rebel, I couldn't quite remember the story all that well. I just remembered it had some more focus on Eden, Daniel's brother. We do still get that vibe and we still get to keep up with Daniel (Day) and June too! The switching of point of views feels different in a graphic novel as there's no chapter header, you just suddenly see a different character in the panels. Whether you want to say it's easier or harder is up to you. I felt like it was pretty easy, but I am not a savvy graphic novel or comic reader.

I did enjoy coming back to this dystopic world again! It was a finely crafted world and Marie's talents truly shine! Of course, we have to thank Kaari for these gorgeous illustrations as well because they are beautiful. I love the style of the characters, how it's not too sharp or too soft, but that right kind of blend! And then Vanderklugt's adaptation is amazing. I mean, you take a 300+ page novel and turn it into a 200 page graphic novel and never lose the feeling of the story itself. That's wicked talented!

I love reading graphic novels of novels I previously read. One might call it "redundant" but I don't see it that way. You're reading it in a new form and seeing the story in a new light, quite literally too!

Rebel was a fast paced read that kept me turning the pages and roving over the panels as fast as I could as I really didn't remember the story from the first time around, so I was eager to see how things would turn out. I love that we got to see more of Eden and let his story shine through, while also offering us longtime fans more time with Day and June! This was a phenomenal read and I just loved it!

Overall Rating 5/5 stars

Can't Wait Wednesday #267

 

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Lush romance and chill-inducing shivers combine in this YA tale of folk horror inspired by the legend of the Wild Hunt! Months after a harrowing performance, a teen girl reunites with her acting troupe for a camping weekend in the woods - only to find something they awakened has followed them there.

There's something on those moors that likes to hunt young maidens for sport....

When high school senior Hazel joins her school's elite theatre group, the Edgemoor Players, all she's looking for is one more extracurricular to add to her packed college resume. This year, the Players are putting on their most ambitious production a tragic romance inspired by local legends of a ghostly huntsman who is said to have once stalked the nearby moors.

That was then. Now, no one talks about the play, its disastrous final performance, or the strange, eerie happenings which preceded it. But when Hazel signs up for an extra credit camping trip months later, she finds herself suddenly reunited with her former castmates for a weekend.

Trapped together in the woods, Hazel will have to confront her old friends - including Roman, the Players' enigmatic leading man. And they will all have to reckon with a far deadlier truth: that what they started last year isn't over.

Months ago, the Edgemoor Players woke something up - and now it won't rest until it catches its prey.

A BEWITCHING FOLK HORROR FROM AMY GOLDSMITH, AUTHOR OF PREDATORY NATURES AND THOSE WE DROWN.

This one sounds so good! I still have a few of Amy's books on my TBR pile to read but it doesn't stop me from adding more to it! Lol.

TITLE: A Darker Act
AUTHOR: Amy Goldsmith
PUBLISHER: Delacorte Press
GENRE: YA Horror
RELEASE DATE: October 13, 2026

They say love makes you foolish. At Bloodwing, it makes you dangerous.

I thought surviving a vampire academy was the hardest thing I’d ever have to do.

Then I fell in love with a boy who can turn into a dragon.

After the events in Veilmar, my only concern is for Blake. Will he survive the monster who possesses him? But as I fight a battle for the soul of the man I love, my dearest friend is up against the greatest danger a dragon rider can ever face.

Meanwhile, as Bloodwing reels from loss and betrayal, an ancient prophecy tightens its grip, and an unexpected triad is rising—one powerful enough to change the balance of power in Sangratha forever.

As the Veil cracks and the dead come back to haunt us, love becomes a weapon—sharp enough to destroy the world or strong enough to forge a new one.

This dark fantasy series tackles mature themes. Readers are advised to consult the trigger warnings before embarking on this intense, morally gray/black journey through the realm of Sangratha!

I still need to read the third book but I have enjoyed this series thus far and I can't wait find out what will happen in this one too!

TITLE: With Hearts of Flame
AUTHOR: Briar Boleyn
PUBLISHER: MIRA
GENRE: Dark Fantasy
RELEASE DATE: October 20, 2026

What was broken will be remade.

Deep in the heart of the continent, Koschei the Deathless is stirring. Though he's been bound to a mountain lake for millennia, the insidious threat of his return now spreads across the Fae territories, attracting powerful allies hell-bent on reclaiming what was once theirs: the human lands.

The Night Court will not stand idly by while innocents are attacked. But with Prythian still piecing itself together in the wake of the devastating Hybern War, the task of uniting is proving more difficult by the day.

To make matters worse, those who rule and protect the Night Court are reeling from recent betrayals and revealed truths. The rifts dividing them seem insurmountable.

But to defeat Koschei's creeping shadow, they must find a way back to each other and resurrect their former alliances. To survive, they must find a way to repair the splintered harmony all around them.

I have mixed feelings over Maas' books these days. Am I still going to read this one? Of course. But ah, the mixed feelings are very, very strong.

TITLE: A Court of Splintered Harmony
AUTHOR: Sarah J. Maas
PUBLISHER: Bloomsbury Publishing
GENRE: Fantasy
RELEASE DATE: October 27, 2026

Mini Review--Meridian Six by Jaye Wells

 

A brand new novella from USA Today Bestselling author Jaye Wells ... Meridian Six remembers the days before the Troika enslaved humans. She also remembers her mother, a freedom fighter murdered in the final battle between humans and vampires. But it is her mother's final words that have haunted her: Red means life. In the years since her mother's death, she has been used as both a propaganda tool and a blood slave by the Troika. She's withstood their indignities because the alternative meant bleeding out in a blood camp. But their abuses finally go too far, and she decides to run towards freedom and her mother's red light. On the other side of the light, she meets a band of human rebels who want to take their world back from the Troika. The vampires used her famous name to keep human slaves biddable, but now the rebels will use it inspire a revolution. For Meridian Six, freedom is a luxury paid for with blood.

Whenever I am waiting on the mail for a particular book to arrive I bide my time with novellas and other short reads. This means I FINALLY picked up Meridian Six by Jaye Wells, a short novella regarding vampires taking over the world and the humans who are fighting back!

Meridian Six is a very short read at just over 100 pages and was very fast paced! Not so fast that you can't keep up, but a story that just hits the ground running and doesn't give the reader much time to catch their breath! It was an interesting read that I am sad to know is over after the next novella, but thankfully that one has an extra 50+ pages to it from the peek I gave it! Lol.

Meridian Six is a human who was taken in by vampires as a child. Not out of ultraism or anything like that. Her mother was fighting against them and when she was killed they essentially grabbed her to use as a blood bag and slave for their dastardly deeds. She is basically used and abused by the vampires, so she has no love for them. Especially not after they learn she has a rare blood type and decide to use her for other means. When she gets a chance to escape, she runs and soon has them on her tail.

She manages to find a resistance group her mother once talked about when she was growing up before her death. Meridian Six has no real desire to join them, she just wants to escape being the vampires' plaything and have her own life, which is considerably hard to do in a world ruled by vampires. She just wants her freedom, but soon gets caught up in the movement and is ready and willing to do what it takes to take down the vampires who ruined her life.

It's always so hard to review a novella because time is so short and yet, I feel the need to touch on details like I would with a novel review. Despite the challenge of that, I will leave you with this...this was ultimately a fun read! It was dark and had an air of danger. Yes, it was short, so things felt a bit rushed and a lot was left unsaid, but I am hoping the sequel will change that and give a more rounded conclusion to this little story.

All in all, if you like a good action packed read about rebels fighting against the bad guys, who happen to be bloodsucking vampires, then this will be a quick and enjoyable read for you!

Overall Rating 4/5 stars

Top Ten Tuesday #696

 

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and The Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

This week's topic is: Top Ten Books on My Fall 2026 To-Read List

*in no particular order
**subject to change on a whim or new event announcement! Lol.

10. THE LAST WISH OF BRISTOL KEATS by Mary E. Pearson--I read the first one not realizing it was a duology. I am hoping to see Mary in November at a signing with Marie Lu!

9. THE WINGS THAT BIND by Briar Boleyn--ROAD TRIP! Yup, I'm making a long overhaul roundtrip to see Briar next month so I am hoping to read this one beforehand!
8. RED CITY by Marie Lu--still need to read this one and one of her YA books, so hoping to read either this or the YA one beforehand, but we'll see!

7. RITES OF THE STARLING by Devney Perry--I managed to get a ticket to Deveny's tour stop here in St. Louis in November! So I need to read this one beforehand...just in case of spoiler talk! Somewhat doubtful as usually the author does try to avoid spoilers of recent books and this one did just release this year, but I rather be safe than sorry. Lol.
6. HARBINGER by Geneva Lee--this one sounded interesting and she will also be at ANOTHER signing I plan to road trip to in November! 
5. VOW OF ETERNAL NIGHT by Lily Crozier--I received this one in the mail randomly last month and still need to read it! I might try sneaking it in between these heavier fantasy reads!

4. SECONDHAND LUCK by Kim Harrison--I've been trying to read this one since it released in February but other event books kept getting between us!
3. TETHERED by Elayna R. Gallea--this one just sounds soooo good!
2. SLAYER by Leia Stone--do I even really need to explain my need to read this one? Lol.

AND THE OBVIOUS CHOICE FOR #1...

1. THE MIRROR OF INFINITE ENDINGS by Stephanie Garber--I know. I KNOW! Why am I not reading this now?! Sadly, I was not blessed by any publishing gods to receive an early copy, I KNOW!! And I sadly could not visit Stephanie on tour...I KNOW! All too far for me this year and this is our busy season at work and with losing two team members, I couldn't bring it in me to take a day off to go to the store and buy a copy and read it right away. So, alas...I must WAIT for my numerous preorders to arrive. I know. I KNOW! It's terrible and dreadful and AWFUL that I have to wait this long. I KNOW I should have just requested off, but I apparently feel more guilt than the rest of my teammates as I just couldn't bring myself to do that this time around since we're a smaller group and we're still in our busy times. I miss Stephanie's releases at the beginning of the year. Fall is too busy for me to take off heedlessly. I mean I should just take off, but it makes me feel guilty and I know I shouldn't feel that way because no one else ever does. Sigh...hopefully my copy can arrive today but also feeling doubtful of that as of Friday night when I write this post, I have not received shipment notification of ANY preorder and nearly all my other 9/22 B&N preorders have shipped so this is Fate being really mean to me because I did not take today off. So by thinking of others first, Fate is slapping me in the face as this book probably won't arrive until Thursday. So I'll be over here crying while everyone else has their copies.