Here we are! The BOOKS of OCTOBER! (How it is already November I truly don’t know.) I read a lot of books this month, what with all the rain. I have now read more books so far this year, than I did in any year previous. And the year isn’t done yet. (I’m averaging 20 books a month, which is a lot of reading, even for me.)

I read some very good books, but also some bad books, including one that was so terribly edited I ended up disliking it even though the story was decent.

But let’s talk about the good!

Skipping the re-reads, I very much liked A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent by Marie Brennan. It’s actually a YA, and I think if I’d known that I would have not put off reading it for so long. Shadowhouse Fall by Daniel José Older came out this year, and although I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as the first, it is still good and highly recommended. Romance-wise, there were two books I particularly liked: Nearly a Lady by Alissa Johnson and Delicious by Sherry Thomas. Those were both fun historicals. And you should check out The Apple Lover’s Cookbook by Amy Traverso, since it is the time of year for apples. It’s part cookbook, part reference, part history of apple orchards and breeding.

Fantasy

River of Stars (2013) Guy Gavriel Kay (9/10)
A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent (2013) Marie Brennan (8.5/10)

Urban Fantasy

Child of a Rainless Year (2005) Jane Lindskold (9/10)
Shadowhouse Fall (2017) Daniel José Older  (8/10)
A Long Day in Lychford (2017) Paul Cornell (7.5/10)
Volatile Bonds (2017) Jaye Wells (5/10)

Historical Mystery

To Kingdom Come (2005) Will Thomas (7.5/10)
Shinju (1984) Laura Joh Rowland (5/10)

Historical Romance

Nearly a Lady (2011) Alissa Johnson (9/10)
Delicious (2008) Sherry Thomas (8.5/10)
You’re the Earl That I Want (2015) Kelly Bowen (7.5/10)
The Admiral’s Penniless Bride (2011) Carla Kelly (6/10)
The Cryptographer (2015) Alice Wallis-Eton (4.5/10)

 Cookbooks

The Apple Lover’s Cookbook (2011) Amy Traverso (9/10)

Audio Books

Spenser
A Catskill Eagle (1985/1986) Robert B Parker narrated by Michael Prichard
Taming a Sea-Horse, Audio Edition (986/1987) Robert B Parker narrated by Michael Prichard
Pale Kings and Princes, Audio Version (1987/1988) Robert B Parker narrated by Michael Prichard
Crimson Joy, Audio Version (1988/1999) Robert B Parker narrated by Michael Prichard
Playmates, Audio Version (1989/1990) Robert B Parker narrated by Michael Prichard

So here is the breakdown.

Genre-wise I read a pretty wide variety this month.

Fantasy: 7
Mystery: 8
Romance: 4
YA: 1
Non-Fiction: 1
Cookbook: 1

Technically, no paper books, although I did break down and buy a hardback copy of The Apple Lover’s Cookbook, because like comics, I prefer paper for reading/using cookbooks. Five audio books (I’m not counting listening to the Shadow Police series in the car with Michael, because I just finished listening to those on my own. But I was tired of trying to get Michael to read them.) There were a lot of re-reads, because after a really good book, sometimes I like to fall back on an old favorite when I don’t know what else to read. Also, creating those best of/favorites lists made me want to go back and read a LOT of books.

eBook: 14
Audio: 5

Multiple Formats: 4
Re-read: 9

Gender breakdown was pretty even, 9 male authors and 10 female authors, so things are still running pretty evenly for the year.

And that’s what I read in October!