all the books i read and DNFed in october | acosh, NEW FAV FANTASY, top tier romance
For October picks, prioritize Bad Words for a thoughtful critic–author romance and Black Sun for richly plotted fantasy; skip books that aren’t holding your interest.
- Read Bad Words for its exploration of being known, book criticism, and an author’s need for approval.
- Pick up Black Sun for multiple compelling viewpoints, political intrigue, and a fantasy world inspired by Mesoamerican cultures.
- The creator DNFed Court of Venus at 40% and Reap and Sow at 25%; she recommends putting down books that aren’t engaging you.
The video is a personal, title-by-title reading wrap-up; the notes cover its recommendations and caveats. · Best for: Readers choosing fantasy, romance, horror, and mystery books.
The creator discusses roughly 15 October reads, including favorites, mixed reactions, and DNFs. Her strongest recommendations are Bad Words and Black Sun; several other titles disappointed her or were set aside despite their appeal.
American Hagwon and Ghost Wall3:46
- American Hagwon follows a family through financial hardship and sacrifices for education in Korea; the creator found it readable and moving but felt its characters and hagwons were idealized.
- Ghost Wall is a short, unsettling story about a family taking part in a Bronze Age reenactment. The creator liked its atmosphere but wished it were shorter or longer.
DNFs and mixed horror reads11:15
- The creator DNFed The Court of Venus at 40%, citing weak chemistry, slow flashbacks, and a magic system that did not work for her.
- Maisie Wood was creepy and thematically interesting, but some horror elements unsettled the creator and parts felt too long.
- On rereading What Moves the Dead, the creator appreciated its close retelling of The Fall of the House of Usher and its dark humor.
Bodies of Magic and Bad Words19:44
- Bodies of Magic had promising ideas about magical medical training and health-worker burnout, but the creator felt the world-building and mystery were underdeveloped.
- Bad Words follows a literary critic and an author whose work she reviews. The creator praised its focus on being known, artistic integrity, and book criticism.
Fantasy retellings and Black Sun27:03
- The Forgotten Beasts of Eld impressed the creator with Patricia A. McKillip’s folktale-like fantasy style.
- Lady Tremaine offers a Cinderella retelling from the stepmother’s perspective; the creator found it readable but objected to a dark twist.
- Black Sun was a standout fantasy for its distinct cultures, multiple engaging viewpoints, political intrigue, and pacing.
More DNFs and mysteries36:49
- The creator DNFed Reap and Sow at about 25% because she did not connect with the protagonist or setup, and was not interested in its romance.
- Dissection of a Murder follows a defense lawyer facing her prosecutor husband. The creator found it messy but enjoyable to solve.
Cozy fantasy and the October wrap-up40:06
- The creator gently stopped reading the dungeon-themed cozy fantasy at about 30%, after enjoying its humor and atmosphere but losing interest during a busy week.
- A Court of Splintered Harmony felt to her more like setup or bonus content than a complete book; she points viewers to a separate discussion.
- She closes by again recommending Bad Words and Black Sun.
Tools & resources mentioned
- Libby — used to borrow ebooks and track library holds.
- Discord — used for book-club discussion, including spoiler-separated chat rooms.
- Bindery — the creator’s book-club community and publishing-imprint platform.
- Squarespace — website and domain service mentioned in the sponsor read; omitted from the review discussion.
Notes are AI-generated from the video's transcript and may miss nuance.