literary gluttony

If my current reads say anything about me, it’s that I have zero genre loyalty and a deep appreciation for chaos. I’m bouncing between atmospheric fantasy, dystopian sci-fi, and a dungeon crawl from hell—each wildly different, and all completely absorbing in their own ways.

Here’s what I’m currently reading and loving:

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🐴 The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

I finally picked this one up after years of people whispering (shouting?) about it being one of Stiefvater’s best. And honestly? They were right.
This book is slow and moody in a way that works so well—it’s all wind-swept cliffs, deadly water horses, and characters who feel like they’ve lived through a dozen storms. Sean and Puck are beautifully restrained, emotionally guarded, and so compelling to watch as their lives begin to tangle.

Also, the writing. It’s lush. The kind of lyrical prose that feels like it’s been soaked in sea salt and silence. I get the hype now.

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⚡ Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman

This is my follow-up to Scythe, which I tore through earlier this year. Shusterman’s take on a post-death society continues to be terrifyingly smart, and Thunderhead somehow takes the stakes and moral murkiness to a whole new level.
We’re diving deeper into the psyche of the Thunderhead itself—a sentient AI who’s basically omnipotent and increasingly frustrated by its own boundaries. It’s fascinating (and kind of unnerving) to watch a supposedly benevolent entity wrestle with powerlessness.

Also, the political tension in this book is chef’s kiss. The scythes are more corrupt, the lines blurrier, and the sense of dread? Palpable.

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🧟‍♂️ Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman

Okay, this one is pure chaos, and I mean that as the highest compliment. This is a LitRPG series with brutal alien games, foul-mouthed commentary, and a talking cat named Princess Donut who may be the best thing to happen to me this year.
Carl is a completely ordinary guy thrust into a live-streamed intergalactic death trap, and somehow, it manages to be hilarious and emotionally resonant in between the gore and snark. If The Hunger Games, Gladiator, and a cursed D&D campaign had a lovechild, it would probably look like this.

I laughed out loud. I cringed. I immediately downloaded book two.

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Final Thoughts

There’s no rhyme or reason to this week’s reading list, but maybe that’s the fun of it—being pulled in three completely different directions and loving each one for what it is. Whether I’m braving the deadly waves of Thisby, navigating the philosophical pitfalls of a godlike AI, or trying not to die in a dungeon with Carl and a diva cat, one thing’s for sure: I’m in great company.

Let me know what you’re reading this week—bonus points if it’s equally unhinged.

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