Stress Reader > Recent Status Updates

"We all bear the weight of what we should have done and what might have been.”

“Power begets power, my dear, but first it consumes."

Oh this book! Diversity, inclusivity, fight the system, take down the man, AND dragons. Beautiful, in-depth world building, well written, layered plot, multi-POV... It's one of those I have to keep reading and learn more right now, but I also want to draw it out, to savor it because I know I'm gonna be sad when it's over.

This book!!

"Someone must really have hated us, [redacted], to reduce us to this. No stories? No history? Even most of our language is lost. What culture have they left our people? We have nothing.”

"I wish for nothing. Nothing but freedom for all of my people."

--

“Accept your sentencing with dignity.”

"As if you would be fair to us? As if you and your kind have ever been fair to us?”

"The things they say… as if I’m useless now or that I’m doomed to spend my life sitting at home forever. Or that I should have—what? Laid down my life because I lost one limb?”

"To be fair,” Loren said in a dry voice, “it was an important one.”

---

"It is enough."

"It shouldn't have to be."

--

If you aren’t going to use the dragons to their fullest potential, what is the point of this war?"

I'm still early in this epic fantasy novel, but I think it's going to be a phenomenal read. World building is excellent, richly written, loving that we get a diverse cast, the dragons/humans, a MC with a limb difference/disability (so far the rep is excellent), and what seems to be gearing up for a war for equality. 🐲 There was a small portion of what I consider to be body horror (freaking ouch!!)

“Forget the other people. You guys are golden.”

Sometimes we all need a reminder to forget what other people think.

Teared up already - if you're a parent or experienced childhood abandonment, this is gonna hit you right in the feels.

"And I’ll be damned if it doesn’t get me every time when she comes upon me unaware. The way my breath hitches, the way my pulse races. Like some lovesick moron from a Shakespeare comedy.
No, a Shakespeare tragedy."

"This is what happens when you confide in people. They want to understand you, help you, and support you.
It’s terrible."

"That question. How much does one colossal mistake count against an otherwise incredible human?"

Such a great question. For me, there's not a blanket answer. There are just too many potential variables to apply the same answer to every situation.

“Everything might be falling apart. I mean, its fine. But it might be a catastrophe.”

Yeah, girl, same. 😅

“It was a real kindness, your ma reaching out to me and inviting me to come. I really, really want to be here.” His accent is so thick, I know he’s feeling stressed. “But if my being here makes any of this harder on you guys, I’ll go. Right now. No explanation needed. No questions asked. It’s totally up to you.”

Love a man who can communicate effectively and empathetically. 💜

"There’s an electric energy zipping between us, crunchy and sharp but also thick with something soft and heavy.
Yearning."

I'm loving the yearning that's building, and the mystery surrounding a past event.

Well this is starting off wildly interesting.

"I’m not going to brunch, Mom. I’m picking up my estranged husband. Then I’m coming right back here.”

(Going back to catch up)

"Enjoy, heathens. Things are about to get... interesting." Lol I love that line. Finally getting a second to read some more and things are getting... Interesting. 😅

Today (July 11, 2025) and tomorrow this ebook is free on the zon. I'm only 2% in but thoroughly enjoying it so far.

🪽 Greek Mythology
🩸 High Stakes
✨ Descendants of the Gods (Heirs of Olympus)
💜 Romantasy
💭 Multi-POV
⚔️ Deadly Trials
🏆 Winner Rules the Mortal Realm

Adult version of Percy Jackson? 🤔 I hope so!

"It was unclear whether affinity was influenced by personality or vice versa."

What an interesting take on magic. This book had me invested immediately and I wish I had the time to read it in one go.

"Everyone insists it is her *purpose*, and it drives her mad, the idea that the shape of her body determines the shape her life must take."

V.E. Schwab's writing is just gorgeous.

"But Maria has known, all her life, that she is not meant for common paths, for humble houses and modest men. If she must walk a woman's road, then it will take her somewhere new."

"The kind of looks their gran always said she'd ✨grow into✨, as if her skin is just an outfit that needs to be tailored, styled, worn right -she feels like there should be a manual for that."

🦋 I have no idea what's going on, but in the best way. Enjoying this so much! Wish I didn't have to quit reading to make dinner, but alas, tis my job. 😆 "Are we not all a little mad, Lizzie mine?"

I'm so wildly excited for this book. The art is phenomenal, the lore the author has been dropping... my expectations are high. 😍

If you're a fan of emotional damage in romance books, read this. I'm not 100% sure I'm right in what's going on, but it's gonna tear my heart right out if I am.

"Hate looks just like everybody else until it smiles. Until it spins around lies with lips and teeth carved into the semblance of something too passive to punch."

Lol the fact that I decided to update and happen to be at 69%. Really enjoying this read. The spice is SO good - best I've read in awhile.

Oh damn, this book is SO freaking good! The perfect (for me) blend of fantasy and romance, slightly leaning more on the fantasy side. 😍 unique magic, expansive, rich world, great, well developed characters, emotions, mystery, action... enemies to lovers, slow burn and tension. If you're a romantacy fan, you're gonna eat this up.

I gotta finish 2-3 arcs before I can actually start reading this, but I'm so freaking excited (and very scared) to dive in. Well, maybe I can just read a few chapters, just a little taste... then back to arcs.

Can't wait to start this as my before bed read ☺️

Loving this so far, aside from one character that I loathe with a fiery passion. 😂 but I guess that means he's a well written and developed character. And it did turn out there's a reason for his words/actions (doesn't make either ok, of course).

Ohhh damn, this is a great read! If you like Brandon Sanderson, Terry Pratchett, Martha Wells, etc - you should check this book out asap.