faintingviolet

“I made promises to you that I’m not sure I can keep.”

Forever... by Judy Blume

November 28, 2025 by faintingviolet Leave a Comment

Most years I try to read a banned or challenged book as part of Banned Books week (which I’m VERY late for this year). There are many reasons I do it, but one of the most important is that I want there to be library requests in my system for these books as its one way to help keep challenged books on shelves (there are lots more suggestions for actions in this Book Riot article). This year I was having a tough time deciding what book to choose as I’ve been struggling in the past few years […]

“It came to something when you found yourself hoping that the footsteps you heard were ghosts.”

All of Us Murderers by KJ Charles

November 28, 2025 by faintingviolet 1 Comment

I am ever so pleased with my first Aardvark book! Only my third 5-star rating of the year (although a couple have been close). I chose this one on vibes – I was partway through Band Sinister and enjoying myself, loved the cover, and was in the mood to say yes to some gothic mystery goodness. All of Us Murderers is KJ Charles playing with all the gothic novel tropes and putting her own spin on making the queer textual in a genre where it was subtext for most of its history. The book starts with […]

“The case does look very black against you. Nevertheless, I accept your assurance.”

The Witness for the Prosecution by Agatha Christie

November 24, 2025 by faintingviolet 2 Comments

Last year I read my first ever Agatha Christie novel and enjoyed the experience so much that I put another on this year’s list. Without a better idea of where to start I hunted up works published by Christie in 1925 and the short story now known as The Witness for the Prosecution fit the bill. I didn’t know much going in about what the story contained and decided that was probably for the best. This 50-minute audio (read by the incomparable Christopher Lee) is an excellent example of how Christie honed in on the mechanics of writing to tell her […]

“I can change. I can find myself a thousand different times, and I’m not done yet.”

What Happens in Amsterdam by Rachel Lynn Solomon

November 21, 2025 by faintingviolet Leave a Comment

I have been on a run this year with marriage of convenience romance novels. By my count, Rachel Lynn Solomon’s What Happens in Amsterdam is my fourth of the year, following Two Friends in Marriage, In a Jam, and In a Rush. I read In a Jam on vacation in Amsterdam which is part of the reason why I decided to read What Happens in Amsterdam, the other being two very enthusiastic reviews of it from people I trust on Goodreads – one of which shouted out the quality of the audiobook (she was right – its great). It was nice to read this […]

“He was an overeager puppy and she was an aloof cat, and he was bound to get his nose swiped at least once or twice.”

Let's Give 'Em Pumpkin to Talk About by Isabelle Popp

November 19, 2025 by faintingviolet 3 Comments

I was reading another book and it hit a highly dramatic bit, and I was not in the mood for it. So, I pivoted to the next book on the physical pile on my end table and thus, Let’s Give ‘Em Pumpkin to Talk About became my Sunday read (and my Cannonball book). I’m glad it was because this romance featuring the human equivalents of an over-eager golden retriever and a reticent to trust black cat was exactly the wavelength I was on. Sadie Fox agreed to come home to Pea Blossom, Indiana, to care for her father’s beloved pumpkin farm while he tends […]

“He flopped sideways, mute testament to the greatest fighting technique of all: a friend behind your enemy.”

The Devils by Joe Abercrombie

November 9, 2025 by faintingviolet 7 Comments

The Devils is my first Abercrombie book. I’ve had Half a King on my TBR for over a decade, but it hadn’t made its way onto an annual list yet. But as is often the case over the past many years narfna reviewed something ecstatically which had me checking to see if it fit a reading challenge (I’m counting this as weird horror for Read Harder and Black for CBR Bingo) and then it made its way to this year’s list. My brain is tired having finished the nearly 550 pages of this book. But the good kind of tired. The “I just […]

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