This was more unexpected than usual. Even when Erin asked me ahead of time if I wanted to go book shopping, I said that I really didn’t need to, and I definitely can’t go when I see her in a few weeks, or my bookshelves will literally explode. She wanted to swing into her bookstore to look for something, and though I said we could just skip going upstairs, she wanted to, and well. The second you let me near the YA, that’s just the end of it. Not to mention, there were a ton of new witch books that came out that I hadn’t heard about, so ya girl ran into a bit of a dilemma and ended up buying way more than she should have.

Witches of Ash & Ruin by E. Latimer caught my attention pretty much immediately. It’s one of those books that I’ve forgotten what it’s about, but I know it was something I wanted to pick up, so it was the first one I pulled off the shelf. Even if I hadn’t known that I wanted it, too, I mean–look at it. That title + crow/raven + a bright red cover? Yeah, I was going to buy this no matter what. I’m also just so damn excited about all the witch books? I know I already said this, but damn, there’s so many!

I’ve looked at The Devouring Gray by Christine Lynn Herman so many times now that it was one of those book shopping moments where I was like, you’re getting this or else. I know that I want to read it, and I’ve seen enough positive reviews from people I trust to know that I’m going to like it, and damn, those opening three sentences, I mean COME ON. Because I did hesitate for a second (why do I always do this with books I know I want??), so I decided to just read the first page and see what was what, and yeah, I didn’t make it past the first three sentences before it was in my basket.

Did I know what Horrid by Katrina Leno was about before I picked it up? Absolutely not. All I knew was that I loved Summer of Salt so much that I’m still thinking about it, and I was going to read anything else by Leno. I recognize that she has a ton of other books that I could also pick up, but look, I’m bad at this, I saw creepy roses on a creepy girl, and I decided that was my next Leno read. Oh, and I finally read the summary, and it sounds fantastic, though at the time of writing this post, I truly cannot remember what I read literally only a few days ago!

The Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd-Jones was another buy it or else because I’ve been staring at that title, cover, and promise of necromancy for way too long, and I really don’t understand what my aversion to buying books I know I want is. Is it because I get distracted by all the new shiny releases, and I keep telling myself that I’ll get this one I absolutely know I’ll enjoy at a later date? Sim, let’s blame it on new releases, but I finally have this in my possession, and though I’m mad I didn’t have it for October, I can’t wait to read it! (now just don’t let me save it until next October jfc)

Um? B*Witch by Paige McKenzie & Nancy Ohlin looks and sounds so fricking adorable? Look at it?! Like, truly, no matter what this book actually ended up being about, I was going to buy it. I barely even read the summary. Just confirmed there were witches, and went on my way because that cover is everything. Particularly after just watching the new Craft, I am here for teenage witch covens.

And one more witch book! I picked up The Ravens by Kass Morgan & Danielle Paige initially because of the title and the cover, but then that tagline, these sorority girls are real witches, and Erin & I did a fast dive into the book to see what it was about, and pretty much the same as above happened. Confirmed it was witches, and went on our merry way. It’s kind of sad that that’s all it takes. It’s witches? Great, I’ll take three!

I totally forgot that I wanted Girls of Storm and Shadow by Natasha Ngan until I saw it, and then nothing could have pried it out of my hands, and I am so damn excited to read this! I loved the first one so damn much, UGH, and I can’t wait to see where the story goes. This honestly might be the first of this new haul that I read because I just love the characters, the story, and the world more than I ever could have possibly expected, and I’m so curious.

Have you read any of these?