Happy Thanksgiving month, my lovelies! As we settle into November, I’m still digesting all the writerly goodness that happened in October (a.k.a. I attended the Writing with the Soul Storyteller’s Retreat in Scotland—more on that in my previous post). I also tore through some new books, and I binged some Netflix treasures!

I Read…

HEIR by the fantastic Sabaa Tahir! Tahir is one of my all-time favorite authors, and I was so excited for this book to come out! It’s finally heeeeeere and it’s AMAZING! Gah!

I mean, the blurb says it all, right?

Growing up in the Kegari slums, Aiz has seen her share of suffering. An old tragedy fuels her need for vengeance, but it is love of her people that propels her. Until one hotheaded mistake lands her in an inescapable prison, where the embers of her wrath ignite.

Banished from her people for an unforgivable crime, Sirsha is a down-on-her-luck tracker who uses magic to trace her marks. Destitute, she agrees to hunt down a killer who has murdered children across the Martial Empire. All she must do is carry out the job and get paid. But when a chance encounter leads to an unexpected attraction, Sirsha learns her mission might cost her far more than she’s willing to give up.

Quil is the crown prince of the Empire and nephew of a venerated empress, but he’s loath to take the throne when his aunt steps down. As the son of a reviled emperor, he, better than anyone, understands that power corrupts. When a vicious new enemy threatens the survival of the Empire, Quil must ask himself if he can rise above his tragic lineage and be the heir his people need.

Beloved storyteller Sabaa Tahir interweaves the lives of three young people as they grapple with power, treachery, love, and the devastating consequences of unchecked greed, on a journey that may cost them their lives―and their hearts. Literally.

The story explores the blurred line between good and evil, the hefty price of justice, and the lengths one will go to for a better life. There are big battles, exciting magical powers, excruciating plot twists, awesome sidekicks, a love triangle or two, and tons of nostalgia for those of us who’ve red the EMBER books—so gooood 🙂

And the best part? THERE’S GOING TO BE A SEQUEL!

I Watched…

The third season of HEARTSTOPPER on Netflix!

While this season is still all the sweet things I loved about the previous two seasons of the show, the gang is growing up and the drama takes a more serious turn: Charlie braves a journey against OCD and an eating disorder, while Nick and friends try to find a way to be there for him.

Visually, the series remains bright, attractive, and bubblegummy (with the signature animated illustrations from creator Alice Oseman), but the emotional depth and gentle exploration of identity, mental health, and teenage relationship experiences really stand out this season.

I Listened to…

Still stuck on THE RINGS OF POWER season two score! Someone put the extended version of the score on Spotify (episode by episode) and I’m absolutely loving it! Nothing more to add, just go and check it out 😉