JULY READS

After not being able to fully finish all that much in June, July ended up having a landslide effect in that I finished up the four carry-overs and also completed two additional reads. Far more exciting than the quantity of books on this list though is the quality of my reading experiences. This was a very highly rated month with nothing falling below a solid four stars. 

1. The Sword of Kaigen 


For me, this was a gripping, and deeply impactful 5/5!

After finishing up the last 100-200 pages of this at the start of the month, I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. The world and the characters were just so vivid and everything was lovingly crafted. Wang had me hanging on her every word and while this is a pretty big book, I found myself flying through it much faster than I normally would. It's a truly exceptional piece of art that every fan of fantasy needs to read.  
 

2. Transformed



A 5/5 reading experience with lots of important food for thought

Good professional development books can be really hard to come by, but this one checked all the right boxes for me from a detailed structure to frequent case studies that illustrated the core concepts of each section. It also felt quite relevant to the current state of many industries that leverage technology (so, almost every industry, basically). I highly recommend this one and will likely check out other books by this author in the future. 
 

3. The Lost Metal



4/5 for a page-turning conclusion to Mistborn's second era

Although I felt like there were some missed opportunities here, this was ultimately such a fun conclusion to a series of books I have very much enjoyed despite the reputation that this sequence gets from the general Sanderson fanbase. This book in particular was pretty contentious, though I still don't really understand the ire some have for it. It's bittersweet, but I ultimately had a great time with this bombastic sendoff for Wax, Wayne, Sterris, Marasi, and all the friends they've made during their adventures together. 
 

4) Rhythm of War


A rich 4/5 fantasy that is fully deserving of being called "epic" in all respects 

I am so happy to finally be all caught up on this series before the fifth book drops at the end of this year. I enjoyed this one just a little bit less than the second and third books, but there was still a ton to love here and I think it sets things up quite nicely for the next book to knock it out of the park. 

Full review here

5. 33 Days of Eucharistic Glory



A meaningful 4/5 source for daily reflection that builds up to a final consecreation

While I wish that this book went just a little bit deeper in certain ways, it fills an important gap in Catholic consecration literature and offered me a wonderful experience all around. I think it's essential for Catholics at all levels of devotion and is extremely accessible even for those who are not avid readers. 
 

6. The Crimes of Rooker Flynn 



A wonderful 4/5 return to the land of Keymark

The fact that this book is at the bottom of my list is a crime unto itself as this was a really delightful time. It serves partly as a follow up adventure to The Legend of Black Jack, but is really more so the start to a brand new story altogether. I highly recommend it both to existing fans and newcomers to Keymark.
 

In August, I am taking part in a readathon hosted in the Keymark Discord where I hope to be able to finish five books (two audio and three physical if I can swing it). On top of that, I've also wrapped up the final 45 minutes of Vermillion Flames, so I'll be reviewing and counting that as an August read.

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