Ronit J

September 2024 Reading Wrap Up! Honestly, I almost forgot to write this post because I’ve been busy editing Island of the Dying Goddess. I’ll cover that in my Writing Updates post. As for this post, I read more books than the last two months, including some non-SFF reads. Plus, I finally finished a book that I was struggling with since June, so I’d say September was pretty rewarding.

Without further ado, here’s my September 2024 Reading Wrap-Up!

September 2024 Reading Wrap-Up!

An Exile of Water & Gold by Joshua Walker – ★★★★

I did a buddy read for this one on the SFF Insiders Discord server. Reading this along with a bunch of SFF fans, while the author gave his insights about his writing journey, characters, and world definitely elevated my reading experience.

While the world was a fascinating place to venture through, it was the characters that really gripped me. In addition to the fully realised characters, the way Walker uses their motivations to push the plot forward organically is something that really made the book gripping.

Read my full review on SFF Insiders!

Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson – ★★★1/2

I’ll admit, I really struggled with this one. It took me almost three months to get through this, and most of it was because of the first half. Despite that, I cannot deny the epicness of the ending. As expected, Sanderson tied everything neatly, resolved all the character arcs and set the stage for what I’m sure will be an epic finale.

Check out my full review on SFF Insiders!

The Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai – ★★★1/2

My first non-SFF read in a while, and it was such a comforting read! In fact, I read this one with my wife, and we were drooling for the many delicious dishes that are mentioned throughout this tiny book. Seriously, I loved how the author has created magic with simple ingredients and people’s connection with food.

Check out my full review!

Poonachi or The Story of a Black Goat by Perumal Murugan – ★★★★★

Another non-SFF read, one that has been on my TBR for years. Although it does include some elements of magical realism, I wouldn’t put Poonachi under the SFF umbrella because it is much more relevant to contemporary literature. That being said, I can say without a doubt that this is the latest addition to my top 10 reads of 2024.

Check out my full review!

Return of the Griffin by J.C.M. Berne – ★★★★

Whoever says the superhero genre is dying really needs to read the Hybrid Helix. Berne perfectly balances badass action scenes with cozy character moments. Seriously, I just can’t get enough of Rohan!

You can read my full review on SFF Insiders.

September 2024 Current Read:

For the first time after three months, I’m ending my reading wrap-up with a different book as my CR! I’m about 7% into the book, and am absolutely loving it! Been a while since I read Guards! Guards! so getting back with the City Guard has been quite delightful.

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Finally,

If you’ve made it this far, thank you for reading! I hope my reviews and thoughts help you decide on your next read. Writing these reviews (both the short versions as well as the longer posts) has been a very rewarding experience, especially since I’m working on my own.

Speaking of, have you read Abandoned by the Gods? It’s an Indian Grimdark Fantasy Anthology set in the godless world of Adeva. The ebook is FREE to all my mailing list, so if you’d like to read it, subscribe to my newsletter! (I only send out one a month, unless I have any other major announcements to make.)