Starsight by Brandon Sanderson
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Read these books in order! They will make no sense otherwise.

In this second Skyward adventure, Spensa takes us off planet! We get to learn a lot more about the other races that inhabit the universe and how they all interact, both historically and in the present day. There's only a tiny bit of interaction with the characters from book one, as Spensa almost immediately sets off on a covert mission that takes her to a space colony deep behind enemy lines where she goes undercover with the help of M-bot's holograms and meets an entirely new cast.

Skyward by Brandon Sanderson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A stellar sci-fi romp by one of my favorite authors. Sanderson delivers a new, brilliantly realized world where the last of humanity fights for survival on a hostile, alien world. The descendants of the humans who crashed on this planet three generations ago use scavenged technology to fight back against the Krell--an alien race about which little is known except that they attack and bomb human settlements. Foremost among the humans' defenses are starfighters, giving the pilots who fly them for humanity's sake a special honor and social status. And the best human pilot was call-sign Chaser... until the day he supposedly fled a battle and was branded a coward.

Silence Fallen by Patricia Briggs
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Patricia Briggs' writing never disappoints. This installment in the Mercy Thompson series is a wild ride through Europe full of detailed descriptions, new characters, and more excitement that Mercy can shake a razor-sharp scythe at. Mercy has been kidnapped by a powerful new foe and carted off to foreign lands where she has no assets and no allies. Meanwhile, back home, Mercy's mate Adam tries to hold his temper long enough to find a diplomatic solution to this highly personal attack. If you're a fan of the series, I'm sure you'll enjoy this story.

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The Hero's Guide to Being an Outlaw by Christopher Healy
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars for this series conclusion.

Some familiar faces from the first two books are the main antagonists this time around. There are also plenty of old friends who make appearances. The plot was fun, clever, and quick, culminating in an epic, if somewhat disjointed, multi-kingdom battle. The banter was amusing, especially where Duncan was concerned, and the heroes all made some progress along their paths of personal growth.

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This conclusion to the Six of Crows duology did not disappoint!
The story picks up right where the first book left off, with Inej in trouble and Kaz and his crew planning a daring rescue. Of course, being Kaz and his crew, nothing is straightforward, and there's always more than one game being played. This book is sure to keep you guessing all the way to the end.

Bordugo does a masterful job of developing the characters in this book. Every one of the narrative protagonists showed depth and growth. So while this was a very fun story full of fast-paced action, twists and turns, and a rich world, what will really stick with me are the characters.

Heroic Hearts by Jim Butcher
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Overall, this was a wonderful anthology full of action, adventure, and heart that I would absolutely recommend to fans of urban fantasy who enjoy short stories. Below I've given my brief opinion of each of the individual stories.

Little Things-5 stars
I loved this story! Action. Humor. Light and fast.

Dark Ship-5 stars
This was on the longish side. I loved the writing, descriptions, and world. Believable characters. Heavier themes. I was happy to spend more time in the Others' world.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely loved this story!
A fast-paced, heart-wrenching heist story with a smattering of magic for flavor. There's nothing I love more than a complex plot that comes together seamlessly, except when that plot is brought to life by characters who could walk off the page. Six of Crows delivered both.

Six of Crows takes place in the Grishaverse after the events of the Shadow and Bone trilogy. While reading the original series would provide some general background to the world, I don't think you'd be lost if you just picked up Six of Crows.

City of Day by October K. Santerelli
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a fun adventure that grabbed me from the first page. The world Santerelli created is rich and vibrant, conveyed in delicious details that managed not to detract from the pacing of the story. The island country of Astera suffers from a corrupt ruling class and an ancient curse that causes deadly specters to walk the streets at night. The book's protagonists will have to face both.