TechieScrapper: Simply Reading & Reviewing

Kingdom of the Cursed by Kerri Maniscalco My rating: 4 of 5 stars View all my reviews

I recently treated myself to a little Barnes & Noble book haul, and this stack feels like such a cozy mix of everything I love to read. It has fantasy, romance, beautiful editions, and a full series I’ve been meaning to start for the longest time. There’s something so lovely about coming home with a bag of new books and already imagining the quiet reading evenings ahead. What I Picked Up This haul feels especially fun because it has a little bit of everything: a few newer titles I’ve been curious about, some gorgeous Barnes & Noble exclusive editions, and four books from Cinda Williams Chima’s Seven Realms series. Altogether, it’s the kind of stack that makes me want to make a cup of hot tea and spend the rest of the day reading. Between the romance, the magic, and all the fantasy drama, I already know this is going to be such a comforting and exciting group of books to work through. The Primal of Blood and Bone by Jennifer L. Armentrout — I was so happy to pick this one up bec...

  A Kingdom of Flesh and Blood Book started: 23 April 2026 / Book completed: 09 May 2026 Total pages: 637 / Total listening time on Chirp Audiobooks: 18 hours:25min (Iwas a GraphicAudio audiobook / Star Rating: 4.5 stars. I gave A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire by Jennifer L. Armentrout 4.5 out of 5 stars, and honestly, I was completely pulled into it. For me, this sequel delivered everything I wanted from a follow-up and then some. The emotional stakes felt higher, the world got bigger, and the connection between Penelope (Poppy) and Prince Casteel (Hawk) felt even more intense than the first book. Right from the start, I felt how conflicted Poppy was about why she was the Maiden and her feelings for Casteel. One of the biggest reasons this book worked so well for me was Poppy. I loved seeing how much she grew throughout the story, not just in terms of strength but in how she started to understand herself. Once she was stripped of the role of Maiden that had defined her for so long, I...

  WRETCHED By Emily McIntire Series: Book 3 in the Never After series Book Started: 09 April 26 Book completed: 22 April 26 Listening time: 8 hours & 25 minutes Total pages: 282 pages Own the whole series in harcopy and audio on Chirp. I finally finished Wretched. Emily McIntire is one of my favorite authors, and I’m trying really hard this year to actually finish the series I’ve started (instead of starting five more… which is my usual). So, yes—check that box.  Wretched is a dark, adult reimagining of The Wizard of Oz—but it’s not a straight retelling. Think: familiar pieces and vibes, just twisted into something grittier. Key characters: • Evelina (Evie) Westerly: Evie is the one I kept coming back to—she’s smart, guarded, and grieving, and you can tell she’s been in survival mode for a long time. • Vanessa (Nessa) Westerly: The oldest sister. She’s gone before the story really starts, but she’s the reason everyone is spiraling in their own way. • Dorothy Westerly...

Unbroken Bonds by J. Bree My rating: 4 of 5 stars View all my reviews