I’m a slow reader these days, but I’m still trying to get at least a few books read this year. My total goal for 2025 is 10, and by the end of May I’ve finished two. So we keep plugging along! Here’s what I’ve been checking out this year—both the completed books as well as everything I’ve started. I’ll give my thoughts on the ones I’ve finished (or officially DNF’d), as well as my final ratings.
You can follow along with me on my Storygraph as well, if you’re so inclined!
complete
The Sun and the Void
by Gabriela Romero Lacruz
Started: January 4, 2025
Finished: March 16, 2025
This came to a satisfying end, though that was helped greatly by the knowledge of an upcoming sequel. The end felt very fast compared to the start, and I get the feeling this was intended as one novel, but it spiraled out of control a bit. Still, it worked out in the end, and I find myself looking forward to the next installment. (It’s called a duology, so that should be the end.)
Overall I quite enjoyed this tale. I appreciated seeing fantasy from an anti-colonizer POV, and getting into some new cultural ideas of magic and adventure.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Circe
by Madeline Miller
Started: April 22, 2025
Finished: May 30, 2025
I finished this book on the plane last week, took roughly a month to read, but honestly it could have been faster if I hadn’t taken a few weeks’ “break” at some point around 60% through.
This was a good read! Having EPIC in mind made some parts fun, even while I knew it wasn’t approaching it the same way. I enjoyed it enough to want to get into Song of Achilles next.
The scars themselves I offered to wipe away. He shook his head. “How would I know myself?”
— A great nod to Homer’s story and the made recognizing Ody by the scar!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
in progress
1984
by George Orwell
Started: June 7, 2025
Finished:
I’ve never read this book, and in today’s political climate, I really think I should. So I will!
Elder Race
by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Started: March 22, 2025
Finished:
Update 6/10:
I got distracted from this by Circe, but I absolutely plan to come back to it. Adrian Tchaikovsky is one of my favorite authors, so I just need to reset my brain and get back into it.
Made For You
by Jenna Satterthwaite
Started: December 3, 2024
Finished:
Update 3/8:
It’s been a while since I picked up this book. I stalled out at 39% on January 11, picked up another book and haven’t been interested in returning. I really want to like this, but I feel like it’s try to be too many things, and the author didn’t really know how to balance them well. I’m not officially calling this a DNF yet, but it’s coming off my current reads.