Ronit J

November 2024 Reading Wrap-Up! This was quite a fun month reading-wise, and you’ll find out in a bit why!

November is the month where I completed my Goodreads Reading Challenge! Also, I made a lot of progress on my r/Fantasy’s Fantasy Bingo card!

So, without further ado—

November 2024 Reading Wrap-Up!

Interstellar Megachef by Lavanya Lakshminarayan – ★★★★

I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What really blew my mind when reading this one was how beautifully the author has used food to build an interstellar world! I must say, the blurb barely even scratches the surface of how deeply food influences these interstellar societies.

Read my full review on SFF Insiders!

Blood Brothers Beyond by Rob J Hayes – ★★★★1/2

The Mortal Techniques is one of the most fun series I’ve read. And Blood Brothers Beyond does not disappoint! I was lucky enough to get an eARC, and I pretty much devoured it in two sittings. Of all the Mortal Technique stories, this one was the most character-driven, as well as the most emotionally gratifying.

At the time of writing this post, Hayes hasn’t announced this one publicly, so I won’t leak the cover or blurb for this. But I will say this: You will LOVE reading this one.

My full review will be posted on SFF Insiders.

Murder at Spindle Manor by Morgan Stang- ★★★★

This SPFBO Winner was on my TBR even before I knew it was an SPFBO participant! And why wouldn’t it? This one seamlessly blends a fantasy world with a compelling murder mystery. Imaging Agatha Christie with supernatural elements!

A great example of both genres, Murder of Spindle Manor not only tells a brilliant story, but also kickstarts what I’m sure is going to be an iconic series in the author’s bibliography.

You can read my full review on SFF Insiders.

The Lost Metal by Brandon Sanderson – ★★★★★

Making my way through the Cosmere in preparation for Wind & Truth, and I finally caught up this month. And what do I say about The Lost Metal? Not only does it satisfyingly conclude Era 2, it also gives the perfect goodbye to Wax, Wayne, Marasi, and all the lovely characters that we’ve come to love. Mistborn Era 2 has concluded in a very satisfying way, and I can’t wait to return to Scadrial for Era 3!

Another Top 10 Read of 2024 for me! The Lost Metal is the perfect closing chapter for Era 2 of Mistborn, as well as the perfect passage from the ‘loosely connected’ Cosmere books to the ‘highly Cosmere-aware’ ones.

You can read my full review on SFF Insiders.

Performances of a Death Metal Bard by Rob Leigh – ★★★★

As a metalhead and a fantasy nerd, this book was a perfect blend of two of my favourite genres. Imagine a very fun and exciting DnD campaign, and that’s what you get with this Death Metal Bard! Classic fantasy tropes, combined with a crazy fun adventure, and you know you’re in for a treat!

The story is episodic, but each episode tells a complete story with a satisfying ending, while also building up a larger overarching tale that concludes the story pretty neatly. If you love Death Metal, you just have to grab this one!

Check out my full review on SFF Insiders.

The Sunlit Man by Brandon Sanderson – ★★★3/4

This was the last Cosmere novel I needed to finish. Also, the last of Sanderson’s Secret Projects that I am finally all caught up with. Imagine a Sci-Fi Western set in the Space Age of the Cosmere!

I did find a few issues with The Sunlit Man that somewhat dampened my enjoyment. But, in the end, this is a Sanderson novel and even the weaker ones are significantly better than a lot of good books out there!

Check out my full review on SFF Insiders.

November 2024 Reading Wrap-Up | Current Read:

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Finally,

If you’ve made it this far, thank you for reading! I hope my November 2024 Reading Wrap-Up along with my mini reviews 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 stories.

Speaking of, have you read Abandoned by the Gods? This Indian Grimdark Fantasy Anthology set in the godless world of Adeva collects four short stories featuring complex characters living lives parallel to important historical events. The ebook is FREE to 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.)