Title: The Ashfire King Author: Chelsea Abdullah Series: Sandsea Trilogy #2 Genre: Fantasy Format: Audio Pages: 529 Length: 19h 36m Narrator: Nikki Massoud, and more Source: Library Reason: Just Because Rating:
My Thoughts
THE ASHFIRE KING was just as good, if not better, than THE STARDUST THIEF. I loved seeing the djinn kingdom and cities, and all the different djinn and their magic. I loved getting to know Riju and the Resurrectionist more in this one. The slow-burn romance is driving me insane only because I’m just as unsure as Loulie is. I don’t think there’s any romantic love between her and Qadir, but I’m not sure. I think Mazen is a great love interest, but if there is romantic love with Qadir, then I don’t know who I want Loulie to be with in the end. I’m distressed that I have to wait almost a year for the third installment, especially with how this one ended. I hope this series ends well!
Additional Narrators: Rasha Zamamiri, Sean Rohani
https://jennielyse.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/new_logo_main_small.png00Jenni Elysehttps://jennielyse.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/new_logo_main_small.pngJenni Elyse2026-07-07 00:00:002026-07-06 23:27:21The Ashfire King
Title: ASAP Author: Axie Oh Series: XOXO #2 Genre: Romance Format: Audio Pages: 340 Length: 9h 21m Narrator: Joy Osmanski Source: Library Reason: Just Because Rating:
My Thoughts
Since I really enjoyed XOXO, I was super excited to see a follow up with Sori and Nathaniel as the main characters had been written as well. I love second-chance romances and ASAP was no exception. This was such a cute, heart-felt, and fun story. I loved Sori and Nathaniel. They had amazing chemistry and a lot of fun banter. Their longing for each other was palpable and made for some delicious sexual tension.
My goal for the year is to read 60 books and I’ve read 51. I’m crushing this goal so far!
So far, my favorite books are:
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
The Road of Bones by Demi Winters
Kingdom of Claw by Demi Winters
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
Funny Story by Emily Henry
The Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah
Half City by Kate Golden
This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews
If Not For My Baby by Kate Golden
Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross
Dawn of the North by Demi Winters
I’ve read a lot of amazing books so far this year!
Book Club
I made a goal to read 8 of my book club books this year. I’ve read 5 as of the end of June. So far so good!
Book of the Month
I made a goal to read all of my 2026 Book of the Month picks. I’ve only read 5 out of 18. It looks like I need to step this goal up a bit if I want to meet it by the end of the year.
Book of the Month Backlist
I made a goal to read 15 of the books on my Book of the Month backlist. I’ve read 10 so far. If I keep up the same pace, I should meet this goal, no problem.
Reading Every Day
I made a goal this year to read every day by reading at least one chapter per day and I have. I’m really proud of this goal because I’ve never been able to read every single day for a full six months, let alone a year. If I keep this up, then I’ll meet my goal to read every day this year!
The chart below illustrates how many pages I read each day for the past 6 months. So far, March 3 was my best reading day as I read the most pages that day.
Conclusion
I’ve had an awesome reading year so far. Even though I need to focus on reading books that accomplish my other goals a little more, I’m actually quite happy with my progress. Hopefully the last half of 2026 will be just as awesome in terms of reading!
Title: Dawn of the North Author: Demi Winters Series: The Ashen #3 Genre: Romantasy Format: Audio Pages: 588 Length: 22h 10m Narrator: Islay Jacobs Source: Owned Reason: Book of the Month Rating:
My Thoughts
DAWN OF THE NORTH was everything I wanted in this third story and more. I loved that we got POVs from more characters. I loved seeing Kass’ country, learning more about his people and their magic, and learning more about him as well. I loved seeing Saga become more confident in herself. I loved seeing the bloodline gift through Silla and see how that affected Myrkur and his scheming. I’m so excited to see where the next installment will take us in this journey. I’m especially curious to see how Silla and Saga’s relationship may change now that they’re together.
https://jennielyse.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/new_logo_main_small.png00Jenni Elysehttps://jennielyse.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/new_logo_main_small.pngJenni Elyse2026-06-25 00:00:002026-06-24 22:32:48Dawn of the North
The Ashfire King
Author: Chelsea Abdullah
Series: Sandsea Trilogy #2
Genre: Fantasy
Format: Audio
Pages: 529
Length: 19h 36m
Narrator: Nikki Massoud, and more
Source: Library
Reason: Just Because
Rating:
My Thoughts
THE ASHFIRE KING was just as good, if not better, than THE STARDUST THIEF. I loved seeing the djinn kingdom and cities, and all the different djinn and their magic. I loved getting to know Riju and the Resurrectionist more in this one. The slow-burn romance is driving me insane only because I’m just as unsure as Loulie is. I don’t think there’s any romantic love between her and Qadir, but I’m not sure. I think Mazen is a great love interest, but if there is romantic love with Qadir, then I don’t know who I want Loulie to be with in the end. I’m distressed that I have to wait almost a year for the third installment, especially with how this one ended. I hope this series ends well!
Additional Narrators: Rasha Zamamiri, Sean Rohani
ASAP
Author: Axie Oh
Series: XOXO #2
Genre: Romance
Format: Audio
Pages: 340
Length: 9h 21m
Narrator: Joy Osmanski
Source: Library
Reason: Just Because
Rating:
My Thoughts
Since I really enjoyed XOXO, I was super excited to see a follow up with Sori and Nathaniel as the main characters had been written as well. I love second-chance romances and ASAP was no exception. This was such a cute, heart-felt, and fun story. I loved Sori and Nathaniel. They had amazing chemistry and a lot of fun banter. Their longing for each other was palpable and made for some delicious sexual tension.
2026 Reading Goals Check-In
Now that the year is halfway over, I thought I’d check-in on my progress with my 2026 reading goals. My goals for 2026 are to:
I’ve been keeping track of my progress on my 2026 Goals & Tracking page.
Yearly Goal
My goal for the year is to read 60 books and I’ve read 51. I’m crushing this goal so far!
So far, my favorite books are:
I’ve read a lot of amazing books so far this year!
Book Club
I made a goal to read 8 of my book club books this year. I’ve read 5 as of the end of June. So far so good!
Book of the Month
I made a goal to read all of my 2026 Book of the Month picks. I’ve only read 5 out of 18. It looks like I need to step this goal up a bit if I want to meet it by the end of the year.
Book of the Month Backlist
I made a goal to read 15 of the books on my Book of the Month backlist. I’ve read 10 so far. If I keep up the same pace, I should meet this goal, no problem.
Reading Every Day
I made a goal this year to read every day by reading at least one chapter per day and I have. I’m really proud of this goal because I’ve never been able to read every single day for a full six months, let alone a year. If I keep this up, then I’ll meet my goal to read every day this year!
The chart below illustrates how many pages I read each day for the past 6 months. So far, March 3 was my best reading day as I read the most pages that day.
Conclusion
I’ve had an awesome reading year so far. Even though I need to focus on reading books that accomplish my other goals a little more, I’m actually quite happy with my progress. Hopefully the last half of 2026 will be just as awesome in terms of reading!
June 2026 Wrap-Up
Books Read
Favorite: This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me and Wild Reverence
Least Favorite: Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil
Stats
June
Books Read: 10
Rereads: 1
Pages Read: 4,275
Hours Listened: 137h 29m
Average Rating: 4.6
Average Pages Read Per Day: 143
Year-to-Date
Books Read: 51
Rereads: 12
Pages Read: 21,209
Hours Listened: 665h 20m
Average Rating: 4.4
Average Pages Read Per Day: 117
Dawn of the North
Author: Demi Winters
Series: The Ashen #3
Genre: Romantasy
Format: Audio
Pages: 588
Length: 22h 10m
Narrator: Islay Jacobs
Source: Owned
Reason: Book of the Month
Rating:
My Thoughts
DAWN OF THE NORTH was everything I wanted in this third story and more. I loved that we got POVs from more characters. I loved seeing Kass’ country, learning more about his people and their magic, and learning more about him as well. I loved seeing Saga become more confident in herself. I loved seeing the bloodline gift through Silla and see how that affected Myrkur and his scheming. I’m so excited to see where the next installment will take us in this journey. I’m especially curious to see how Silla and Saga’s relationship may change now that they’re together.