Fangs with Benefits by Kath Richards

Fangs with Benefits by Kath Richards -- 362 pages

Molly Mason is not a team player. She does more work than the rest of her team, but when a promotion becomes available, they bring in an outside hire over her. To add insult to injury, she's tasked with training him. This is easier said than done, though, when he has the digital literacy of a toddler and is, infuriatingly, the hottest man she's ever laid eyes on.

Elijah Thorne's reintegration into human society is going swimmingly. He scammed his way into a job, got new clothes, and successfully convinced a myriad of New Yorkers that he is human, not a vampire. The one person he can't win over, though, is his intimidating colleague Molly.

When Molly discovers Elijah's secret, he realizes that being human isn't as easy as he thought. She'll help him act the part if he'll help her get promoted, but when they fall into a colleagues-with-benefits arrangement-no feelings involved-can they keep things professional?

Meet Cute Magic by Morgan Elizabeth

Meet Cute Magic by Morgan Elizabeth -- 400 pages

She's a witch who can’t fall in love without getting her heart broken. He holds a grudge like no other.

Bookstore owner Rosie Mayfield wants a love of her own, but it’s not meant to be––because of her family's curse. To break it, she conjures a ghost who will break her curse, but for a cost––she has to brew a potion to help him transition to the other side. The problem? There’s only one person who hates Rosie in all of Heartwood Hollow, and she needs his help to complete the required task.

Jack Haggerty, the ghost’s grandson, has lamented about Rosie for years––she’s a disaster and she’s forbidden from visiting his gaming shop. He doesn’t believe in ghosts, so he’s stunned when his beloved grandfather makes an appearance. While he loves his family and will do anything to help his grandpa, he fights against the chemistry brewing between him and Rosie until he can’t anymore. But he doesn’t know how to tell her he no longer wants to go through with the plan, and she won’t admit that she’s falling for him because they’re doomed from the start. 

My Hero Academia, Volumes 38-40

My Hero Academia, Volume 38 - 208 pages

My Hero Academia, Volume 39 - 184 pages

My Hero Academia, Volume 40 - 200 pages

Kohei Horikoshi, Caleb D. Cook (Translator)

Series Summary (From Volume 1 on Goodreads)

What would the world be like if 80 percent of the population manifested superpowers called “Quirks” at age four? Heroes and villains would be battling it out everywhere! Being a hero would mean learning to use your power, but where would you go to study? The Hero Academy of course! But what would you do if you were one of the 20 percent who were born Quirkless?

Middle school student Izuku Midoriya wants to be a hero more than anything, but he hasn’t got an ounce of power in him. With no chance of ever getting into the prestigious U.A. High School for budding heroes, his life is looking more and more like a dead end. Then an encounter with All Might, the greatest hero of them all, gives him a chance to change his destiny…

Review

This series has a lot of allegories for how society treats people deemed "different," particularly those who are disabled, mentally ill, or otherwise physically different.  I do think the chapters following Shoji and Koda might've had a bit more of an impact if we'd seen more earlier - both of these two characters, but also of the apparent prejudice against people with "heteromorphic" Quirks.  Only 2 volumes left!  

Loving a Witch Is Totally Foolish by Aura Hayes

Loving a Witch Is Totally Foolish by Aura Hayes -- 418 pages

Ava McGuire should be dealing with moving on after her devastating breakup. Instead, she’s been thrust into the world of paranormal. As if learning that your best friend is mated to a serial killer vampire wasn’t bad enough, she learns she has her own vampire mate.

Valen has been held prisoner for longer than he can fathom. The human world is vastly different than the one he was taken from centuries ago. For starters, there are tall buildings and places that claim to make your lunch in under five minutes. He’s having to relearn the world around him while navigating the complicated urge to claim his mate while also being wary of touch after being held captive.

Ava and Valen, with the help of their friends, are trying to get to the bottom of what’s really going on in Chicago. All the rain, all the paranormals showing up, and what was the true reason Valen was taken all those years ago? Ava herself just might be the key to it all. Turns out, she’s not some simple human, she’s the last of the line of one of the most powerful witch families to ever exist.

Witch of the Wolves by Kaylee Archer

Witch of the Wolves by Kaylee Archer -- 352 pages

Cordelia Levine comes from a long line of powerful witches. She's been flying under the radar in the human world, focused on strengthening her magic. She loves working at her aunt's apothecary in London, secretly serving supernaturals. Until the truth about her family is revealed.

She always assumed her enhanced sense of smell came from her French perfumer father. But when Bishop Daniels abducts Cordelia at the request of her father, the Alpha, Cordelia learns she's a lycan--sharing both witch and werewolf traits. She's brought to Trevelyan, the pack estate, under the guise of protection from foreign threats who want to use her to continue their bloodline. She quickly learns that to keep her from being sold off to another pack, her father intends to give Cordelia as a mate to Bishop. His second in command and the future Alpha.

Cordelia refuses to accept this as her fate. She can't rely on her magic alone to escape and when she learns Bishop plans to challenge her father's power, she reluctantly begins to trust him. The cracks within the Pack become evident and something is bound to break. And Cordelia and her growing desire for the man who shouldn't set her on fire are right at the center of it all.

Lilith, Vol. 1 by Corin Howell

Lilith, Vol. 1 by Corin Howell

Lilith #1-5, 128 pages

⭐⭐⭐.5/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

So hot, she sizzles!

Lilith is an immortal who's been banished from her home, a dimensional plane suspiciously similar to mankind's idea of Hell. She's been posing as a model on Earth while secretly preying on humans... that is, until she runs into Penelope, a sweet bookstore owner with a tome that might hold the secret to returning Lilith to her dimension. If the mismatched pair doesn't end up falling in love first!

Along with her oversized, 3-eyed monster cat Gordy — who also possesses a huge appetite, eating up all of mommy’s leftovers — Lilith has a hell of a time trying to figure out fashion, friendship, family, and feelings on the long road to get back home. But home may not be the same as it used to be.

Loving a Vampire Is Total Chaos by Aura Hayes

Loving a Vampire Is Total Chaos by Aura Hayes -- 376 pages

Celine Brennan should be riding the high of her recent promotion to detective, but instead she’s been saddled with a case no one can seem to solve with murders so gruesome others before her have quit. Not to mention, there’s something suspicious with a new club in town and her focus keeps being pulled from the case she should be devoting her attention to.

Zavier Lockwood is old. Three-hundred-years old to be precise and he’s bored because of it. Killing the scum of Chicago and cleaning up the streets since the cops can’t seem to do it is his favorite pastime. Until he lays eyes on Celine. Soon, he finds his obsession with her far more tempting than murder. After all, no vampire can resist the allure of their mate.

As their paths cross thanks to Zavier’s uncanny ability to be wherever Celine is they both come to realize there’s something far more nefarious going on in the city they both love. They’ll have to work together to get to the bottom of it, but what happens when Celine realizes the man she’s falling for isn’t only not human, but he’s the same one committing the crimes she’s supposed to solve?

Hot Hex Boyfriend by Carly Bloom

Hot Hex Boyfriend by Carly Bloom -- 368 pages

Delia Merriweather does not believe in magic. But she does believe in family, and her family happens to identify as witches. Their lack of magic doesn’t dampen this heartfelt belief, because according to lore and legend, they’re hexed. Convenient? Yes. True? Probably not.

Thanks to a weird birthmark, the eccentric circle of Merriweather women believe that Delia is their blue witch. In other words, she’s supposedly the person capable of restoring magic to the Coven Merriweather. However, A) magic isn’t real and B) the spell is truly horrific and illegal in all fifty states. Who’s going to boil a baby, for crying out loud? So, they’re all completely blown away when Delia accidentally breaks the hex (sans baby-boiling obviously). Chaos and mayhem ensue, drawing the attention of the invisible witching world. And that includes the sexy, brooding, and excessively irritable Max Halifax who has recently moved in next door to settle his uncle’s estate.

Just when Max thinks he’s done with his endless tour of duty—keeping an eye on the bumbling Merriweather women—he discovers Delia Merriweather has somehow broken the hex placed by his great-great grandfather. He worries that beneath the Merriweathers’ seemingly harmless antics, lies the very real possibility that this gaggle of clueless witches will somehow stumble into their power and, like their ancestors, threaten to rule the witching world by controlling the hearts of men. Maybe it’s even starting already. Because Max’s heart beats erratically whenever Delia Merriweather is around.

The Fang Arrangement by Sarah Blue

The Fang Arrangement by Sarah Blue -- 328 pages

It was a stupid mix up. A string of bad decisions tethering me to one of the most powerful vampires in Louisiana. When I agreed to go out on a date with a wolf shifter, I didn’t think the night would end with me covered in vampire blood and accused of murder. My options were simple: make a deal to be Warin Auclair’s on call witch, or face the vampire council. Warin might be manipulative, scheming, and rude, but he promises me his protection.
Vampires and witches don’t mix. There’s no way any of this can end well.
Danger keeps lurking around every corner, from deadly vampire slayers to precarious secrets. Yet, he shockingly keeps his promise, ensuring my safety, and amid all the threats, showing me who he truly is. I shouldn’t be falling for the attractive vampire. He’s immortal and I’ll never abandon my coven. So why do I want him to sink his teeth into me and never let go?

The Marriage Hex by Sarah Blue

The Marriage Hex by Sarah Blue -- 305 pages

It was a stupid wish. One that’s come to haunt my doorstep fourteen years later. When I made a pact with my best friend to marry each other if we were both still single at thirty, I had no idea it would be magically bound… by me. Time and circumstance have separated us, and we’re no longer the naïve teenagers we once were. I’m thriving with my coven and Silas is the newly appointed Alpha of the local shifter pack. Which is why this marriage will never work.

The Celestial Coven and the Moon Walker Pack have had an ongoing feud that spans generations. My former best friend has now become my sworn enemy. Unfortunately, my magic hasn’t gotten that memo and my nemesis/husband is now living under my roof and walking around my house topless in gray sweatpants. I don’t want him. I shouldn’t want him. But why do I find myself stalling at figuring out a counter curse?

Wolf Blood by Lola Glass

Wolf Blood by Lola Glass -- 399 pages

The werewolf who's been keeping me alive with his blood for the last few months just declared me his. He also says he isn't mine, so that's fantastic. At least we're not soulmates. Yet. Being a turned vampire has been rough for me, but I'm determined to survive long enough to make sure that my best friend has a support system of some kind when I'm gone. It doesn't help that my mother is somehow behind the murders that nearly took her out, though. Or that the wolf who's claimed me isn't willing to let me go. Somehow, I have to keep myself sane just long enough for everything to fall into place… and I have to do it without falling for a werewolf.

Bleach, Vol. 3 by Tite Kubo

Bleach, Vol. 3 by Tite Kubo

Bleach, 192 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Ichigo Kurosaki was a little boy when his mother passed away. One rainy day, Ichigo, whose ability top see the undead is a blessing and curse, tried to stop young girl from drowning in a nearby river. His mother, Masaki, ran after them, frantically trying to rescue her only son. Then everything went black, and Ichigo awoke only to discover his mother dead and the little girl gone.

It's the anniversary of Masaki's death, and the entire Kurosaki clan, along with former Soul Reaper Rukia Kuchiki, head to the cemetary to pay their respects. Sleeping demons rarely ever stay still and pretty soon Ichigo confronts the Grand Fisher, the Hollow that may be responsible for his mother's demise.

Sweet Blood by Lola Glass

Sweet Blood by Lola Glass -- 522 pages

A werewolf showed up to investigate a murder in my office building—then bit me, and accused me of being the killer. When I'm proven innocent, he admits the truth: We’re soulmates. Unfortunately for both of us, I’m a vampire. Our people are mortal enemies, so we have no choice but to ignore the connection we share until it eventually fades. The only problem? His instincts won’t let him walk away, and he isn't trying to fight them. When I’m nearly offed by the murderer myself, all bets are off. My werewolf will take out the killer and make me his… or we’ll both die trying.

A Rebel Without Claws by Juliette Cross

A Rebel Without Claws by Juliette Cross -- 320 pages

After yet another bar fight and arrest, bad boy Ronan Reed leaves Texas to live with his uncle Shane, alpha of the Blood Moon pack. Since werewolf cage fighting isn’t illegal in Louisiana, Ronan makes big plans to lead his own team in the ring. But when he sets eyes on sweet Celine Cruz, his whole world stops and she becomes a tantalizing distraction he doesn’t need.

As an Aura witch, Celine always wants to help heal the broken. She knows all too well what it’s like to battle anxiety, and so she’s dedicated her life to helping those in need. But the second she meets Ronan, she knows she’s in trouble. He’s everything her close-knit family would hate: a werewolf with a hot temper and a sinful grin to match, who runs with a dangerous crowd. So why can’t she stay away?

Ronan thinks she’s a good girl. Little does he know, all Celine wants is to do wicked things with the bad boy werewolf, who revels in breaking all her rules. But as their forbidden romance becomes too tempting to resist, Ronan notices that the wolves are circling . . . and they’re coming after his mate.

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna -- 336 pages

As one of the few witches in Britain, Mika Moon knows she has to hide her magic, keep her head down, and stay away from other witches so their powers don't mingle and draw attention. And as an orphan who lost her parents at a young age and was raised by strangers, she's used to being alone and she follows the rules...with one exception: an online account, where she posts videos pretending to be a witch. She thinks no one will take it seriously.

But someone does. An unexpected message arrives, begging her to travel to the remote and mysterious Nowhere House to teach three young witches how to control their magic. It breaks all of the rules, but Mika goes anyway, and is immediately tangled up in the lives and secrets of not only her three charges, but also an absent archaeologist, a retired actor, two long-suffering caretakers, and...Jamie. The handsome and prickly librarian of Nowhere House would do anything to protect the children, and as far as he's concerned, a stranger like Mika is a threat. An irritatingly appealing threat.

As Mika begins to find her place at Nowhere House, the thought of belonging somewhere begins to feel like a real possibility. But magic isn't the only danger in the world, and when a threat comes knocking at their door, Mika will need to decide whether to risk everything to protect a found family she didn't know she was looking for....

Nimona by N. D. Stevenson

Nimona by N. D. Stevenson

272 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Nimona is an impulsive young shapeshifter with a knack for villainy. Lord Ballister Blackheart is a villain with a vendetta. As sidekick and supervillain, Nimona and Lord Blackheart are about to wreak some serious havoc. Their mission: prove to the kingdom that Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin and his buddies at the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics aren't the heroes everyone thinks they are.

But as small acts of mischief escalate into a vicious battle, Lord Blackheart realizes that Nimona's powers are as murky and mysterious as her past. And her unpredictable wild side might be more dangerous than he is willing to admit.

Plain Jane and the Mermaid by Vera Brosgol

Plain Jane and the Mermaid by Vera Brosgol

368 pages

⭐⭐⭐.5/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Jane is incredibly plain. Everyone says so: her parents, the villagers, and her horrible cousin who kicks her out of her own house. Determined to get some semblance of independence, Jane prepares to propose to the princely Peter, who might just say yes to get away from his father. It’s a good plan!

Or it would’ve been, if he wasn’t kidnapped by a mermaid.

With her last shot at happiness lost in the deep blue sea, Jane must venture to the underwater world to rescue her maybe-fiancé. But the depths of the ocean hold beautiful mysteries and dangerous creatures. What good can a plain Jane do?

My Hero Academia, Volumes 35 - 37

My Hero Academia, Volume 35 - 192 pages

My Hero Academia, Volume 36 - 200 pages

My Hero Academia, Volume 37 - 200 pages

Kohei Horikoshi, Caleb D. Cook (Translator)

Series Summary (From Volume 1 on Goodreads)

What would the world be like if 80 percent of the population manifested superpowers called “Quirks” at age four? Heroes and villains would be battling it out everywhere! Being a hero would mean learning to use your power, but where would you go to study? The Hero Academy of course! But what would you do if you were one of the 20 percent who were born Quirkless?

Middle school student Izuku Midoriya wants to be a hero more than anything, but he hasn’t got an ounce of power in him. With no chance of ever getting into the prestigious U.A. High School for budding heroes, his life is looking more and more like a dead end. Then an encounter with All Might, the greatest hero of them all, gives him a chance to change his destiny…

Review

Hard to believe we're already moving into the final arc!  The battle's only just beginning and things are already ramping up in a hurry.  I'm excited to see how things turn out!  

My Hero Academia, Volume 34

My Hero Academia, Volume 34 - 192 pages

Kohei Horikoshi, Caleb D. Cook (Translator)

Series Summary (From Volume 1 on Goodreads)

What would the world be like if 80 percent of the population manifested superpowers called “Quirks” at age four? Heroes and villains would be battling it out everywhere! Being a hero would mean learning to use your power, but where would you go to study? The Hero Academy of course! But what would you do if you were one of the 20 percent who were born Quirkless?

Middle school student Izuku Midoriya wants to be a hero more than anything, but he hasn’t got an ounce of power in him. With no chance of ever getting into the prestigious U.A. High School for budding heroes, his life is looking more and more like a dead end. Then an encounter with All Might, the greatest hero of them all, gives him a chance to change his destiny…

Review

Something about this one irked me a bit.  We're introduced to what could have been an amazing character with connections to All Might, and a unique and powerful Quirk, too.  She's made all but irrelevant barely halfway through this volume.  On a narrative level, I can understand the circumstances that might have led to these events, but I'm of the opinion that this wasn't very well-executed.  The lack of significant reaction from the main characters - especially All Might - along with the actual events and the "consequences" thereof, make her actions feel next to meaningless at this point.  Introducing her earlier might have done her better justice.  

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

An Ember in the Ashes #1, 480 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Laia is a slave. Elias is a soldier. Neither is free.

Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear.

It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen what happens to those who do.

But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy.

There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.