Author: Andge @ Down the Rabbit Hole

A lifelong reader of all things YA and books with heartfelt moments that punch you with all the feels. Currently expanding my reading interests to encompass anything that makes me feel deep and resonate with the characters
recommendations

Books on Vampires and Witches

Andge @ Down the Rabbit Hole

It’s nearing the end of October! I can’t believe time flies. But as spooky season (which oddly enough seems to be all month long) comes to a close, I thought I’d use this time to highlight some books about witches and vampires I’ve come across over the years.

Witchy reads

Serpent & Dove series by Shelby Mahurin

By no means an unfamiliar series, Shelby Mahurin’s books have taken YA by storm since the first book’s release. Following a forbidden romance between a witch and a witch hunter, there’s magic, mayhem and a dose of emotional tears in this one.

The Witchlands series by Susan Dennard

Not your typical witch book, but it has “witch” in the title and plenty of intriguing witchery skills among the broad cast of characters in this high fantasy series.

Secret Circle series by L.J. Smith

Probably the lesser known series by author L.J. Smith (which ALSO became a TV show that was unfortunately cancelled after 1 season), these books follow a young girl as she moves to a new place across the country, falling into a crowd of popular teens who may just be a coven of witches themselves.

Night World series by L.J. Smith

One of my favourite series on all creatures paranormal, in this collection of 9 stories features plenty of witches including two I loved, Spellbinder and Witchlight. When witches try to blend in with humans, things can go so horribly awry, especially when one falls in love with a human.

Kingdom of the Wicked series by Kerri Maniscalco

Witches in historical Sicily face off with some less than savory characters slinking out of – well – literal hell. With plenty of forbidden romance vibes and a mystery surrounding a beloved twin’s death, this series only seems to get better and better.

The Witch Haven by Sasha Peyton Smith

The only one on this list I have yet to read, I have heard great things about this final witchy book and cannot wait to get to it on my TBR. Witch school AND set in early 1900s Manhattan? Sounds like everything I absolutely adore.

Vampire reads

Have to start off with an OG vampire series, regardless of what you think of it. Having taken the world by storm in the late 2000s, most people have heard of this name before and particularly changed the world of YA, especially in paranormal fiction.

The Beautiful series by Renee Ahdieh

Set in romantic New Orleans in the 1800s at a time where evil could literally lurk around any corner, this story is about a girl finding her way into the glitzy underworld where the attractive and mysterious guy who caught her eye may be more than meets the eye.

Blood and Ash series by Jennifer L. Armentrout

While they technically go by different names in this series, let’s be honest, there’re vampires in this one, and they are just as attractive as the sparkly ones. Probably can’t say much more than that, but yeah, VAMPIRES exist in this world (somewhere).

Blood of Eden series by Julia Kagawa

Technically I didn’t quite manage to get through this series but in all honesty, it was too soon after the Twilight era to think more about vampires. But from what I’ve heard, this series follows a girl who turns into a vampire only to fight against something that can harm both human and vampire.

Night World series by L.J. Smith (again)

Okay, I had to put it in this list too since there’re some GREAT stories in the collection focusing more on the vampire protagonists. Some of my favourites include Daughters of Darkness and Huntress where one learns the cost of this immortal life, whether born or made into it.

The Vampire Diaries series by L.J. Smith

Expected this on the list too, right? Of course, can’t forget the series made popular by its TV show! With a love triangle at the heart of it, Elena finds herself mixed up with vampire brothers Stefan and Damon as some of their past catches up with them all.

Vampire Academy series / Bloodline series by Richelle Mead

Vampire families, boarding schools, royalty and all the drama that ensues when mixing these elements together, these 2 companion series dives into the world of full blooded vampires and their half vampire protectors as they navigate various threats against their way of living.

Winterhaven series by Kristi Cook

Wherein the beginnings sound a lot like Twilight, a new girl moves into a new city and starts school there where the hottest guy seems to make an instant connection with her. But this school is hiding more secrets than at first glance, and our protagonist may just have some secrets of her own too.

Drake Chronicles by Alyxandra Harvey

When a line of a vampire-born family has a girl born into it, new and old enemies come out against this tight knit family, while unexpected allies come to their rescue. Particularly interesting are the forbidden/enemies-to-lovers romances between the vampires and vampire slayers as we follow a different vampire sibling in each book.

There are of course loads more out there, but these were the ones that made an impression on me.

Do you have any witch or vampire reads you’d recommend not on this list? If so, please fire away in the comments below!

2.5 star, YA

Review: Gods & Monsters by Shelby Mahurin

Andge @ Down the Rabbit Hole

Series: Serpent & Dove #3

The spellbinding conclusion to the New York Times and IndieBound bestselling trilogy Serpent & Dove. This stunning fantasy take on French witches and forbidden love is perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas.

Evil always seeks a foothold. We must not give it one.

After a heartbreaking loss, Lou, Reid, Beau, and Coco are bent on vengeance more than ever before—and none more so than Lou.

But this is no longer the Lou they thought they knew. No longer the Lou that captured a chasseur’s heart. A darkness has settled over her, and this time it will take more than love to drive it out.

“I am capable of great evil.” The words hung in the air between us, as sentient as the mist. They waited, coiled, for my response. For my clarification. For my own truth.

I looked directly in her eyes. “We all are.”

I may not have been the most vocal about it, but I am not the biggest fan of this series. I just chugged my way through it since I got the ARC for Serpent & Dove. I thought maybe I could come to like it since it’s so well loved but it’s good to know I guess that that’s not the case at all.

Set in the aftermath of the crazy conclusion of book 2, I’m still a little quite salty about the death of a main character. Thankfully, they make a cameo appearance in some capacity in this one so there’s some closure to their story, but I’m still upset because they’re my favourite of all of them.

Lou upsets me most of the time. I just can’t stand her. I’m sorry if you loved her character, but she seems so over the top and unnecessarily trying to rile people. I understand she hasn’t had it easy in life with, you know, her mother trying to kill her and all that, but I lose my patience with her often.

Reid isn’t all that much better, but at least I enjoy him more. Together, their relationship is fun entertainment but I didn’t understand this enemies to lovers romance because they seem like such fundamentally different people. I suppose I’m not one of those people who think opposites attract (and last).

So why isn’t this rated lower? Great question, friend.

First, 1 full extra star rating was given because I listened to this as an audiobook. I very rarely listen to audiobooks but this was a great book selection to do so. The actors voicing Reid and Lou had very entertaining voices they gave each other and it just made the drier sections of the book pass by quicker. I have to applaud them for that in some way.

Second, I don’t love Reid and Lou’s relationship in any way – I stand by my opinion that there are better enemies to lovers stories out there and I don’t love the trope enough to love any couple that comes to be because of it – but the romantic angst in this one was on point. There was a reason why there was drama between them that was relevant to the plot and played a major role for what needed to happen in their final battle against Lou’s mother.

Third, Shelby made one good messaging point in this book and the series that no one is righteous. Reid the holy chasseur seeking out witches and the witch who saved another from their suffering on the stake are equally capable of great evil and good. It’s a choice to make, over and over again. That was something Lou and Reid had to learn about themselves, beyond the upbringing and world they grew up in. I think that’s something that resonates deeply with me and I do appreciate that.

The ending wrapped up in a way I think gave proper closure to these characters if you loved them throughout the journey they took. The climax felt like it went by too quickly (we were all waiting on this since the BEGINNING of book 1), but others may be satisfied with the big battle with Morgane.

All I can say is, Gods & Monsters wasn’t for me, but at the same time, I will be fair in saying it wasn’t the worst out there. I can see why people love it, but these were the reasons why I couldn’t.

Overall Recommendation:

Gods & Monsters is a conclusion to a beloved series I just still cannot fully fathom. Listening to the audiobook version made the slower middle parts more bearable but the climax, the penultimate battle against Lou’s mother and her band of witches, fell a little flat after all the set up that went into it. I’m still not on board with Reid and Lou’s relationship, but I will admit at least the romantic angst in this last book was relevant to the plot and entertaining in that way. But most of all, the most positive thing I have to say about the book, is the message that we are all capable of great evil. It’s the choices we make that matter. If that’s the one thing I can hold onto from this series that didn’t hit it for me, I will take it.

top ten tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday: Recent Spooky Reads

Andge @ Down the Rabbit Hole

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

Good morning! I want to say “Happy Tuesday”, but do we like Tuesdays more than Mondays or are they both equally days people don’t look forward to?

Anyhow, today’s TTT is a Halloween freebie. I know I’m not being super original here, but I’ve been flitting around Instagram this whole month and saw a number of recommended reads for this spooky season. I thought I would collate the ones that seemed interesting and/or popular to discuss with you all!

Continue reading “Top Ten Tuesday: Recent Spooky Reads” →