Reading Wrap-up: October 2025
Summarizing my monthly reading, reviews, favorites, DNFs, etc.
READING WRAP UPS
My post content
October 2025 - Monthly Reading Wrap Up
October was my best month of the year so far!
2025 was my first serious gardening year so that took up most of my time over the spring and summer. I didn't read ANY books from May until September.
I was also going through a transition of taste and found myself disinterested in many of the books that I had planned to read. Looking at you Romantasy...
HOWEVER, October has completely revived my reading journey. I am being verrrrrrrrry picky and intentional with what I select, who I follow on social media, and books I request on NetGalley.
DNF - Books I didn't finish:
Every Spiral of Fate by Tahereh Mafi
I read books 1-3 in this series and thought I had enjoyed them at the time. Of course, this was when I was in my romantasy era and not yet sick of the rinse and repeat tropes or romance in general. I DNF'd this book (#4) pretty early on. I'm tired of the "man is so tortured he acts like an ass, then woman takes care of him" - also it's a fake marriage but she's thinking of dundundunnnn "the marriage night" - and what is this plot lol
It's embarassing and juvenile and I'm over it.
Skyhunter by Marie Lu
Stopped halfway through the audiobook. The writing became incredibly repetetive and extra. It felt like the first part of the book had perhaps been better edited than the middle. It was grating and I couldn't listen to anymore, not being invested enough in the story and characters. It was promising.
Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal
I had to stop listening to the audiobook because it was too much juvenile horniness in the writing. Made it about halfway through. Then I skimmed the rest and read a summary of the end. It was an interesting story and one of my most anticipated reads. And I enjoyed reading the summary! But the author's writing style was not for me sadly.
Paused:
Immortal Dark by Tigest Girma
I love the main character and will continue this book!
Favorites:
The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Dawn of the Firebird by Sarah Mughal Rana
The City of Brass series (ALL OF THEM)
To Shape A Dragon's Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose
MURDERBOT series by Martha Wells
The Near Witch by V.E. Schwab.