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Final Fiction #ReadingBracket2024
This was such a tough decision, I read so many amazing books this year!

Completed by 2024 reading bracket, and Running Close to the Wind by Alexandra Rowland was my top read of 2024.

Friends, RUNNING CLOSE TO THE WIND is an absolute delight! Such manic energy! Such entertaining characters! Such a preponderance of genuinely funny sex jokes (and non-sex jokes besides)! I‘m having the time of my frickin life over here.

I shall drink this Pink Boots Pilsner while I read on. It‘s made with a malt that helps support a scholarship for women and nonbinary folks who want to start out as brewers.

Wow, y‘all. I keep reading books with SUPER RELEVANT dedications. (Minus my last read, which was “for my mother.” Touching and all, but… yeah.)

I chose RUNNING CLOSE TO THE WIND for tonight because I‘m determined to enjoy as many things as possible for as long as possible, and because I‘m very, very angry with the people who want me not to do that.

This book is a riot! I laughed so much, it's such a joyful silly story. At the same time, there is a lot of heart and it was really a comforting read. The characters were delightful and their growth individually and as a unit was satisfying to witness. I loved that while this is a novel about pirates, the main concluding event wasn't a cannon battle or treasure hunt, but a community cake competition. Utterly surprising in the best way 💖

August Fiction #ReadingBracket2024 Update
This month created the battle of the Rowlands, with Running Close to the Wind ultimately moving on in the ranks. Both were delicious but the way Running had me cackling from all the hijinks 🤣
Also, The Pairing obviously had to make a wild card appearance, I loved it sm 💖

Check out Book Riot's Best Books of 2024 (so far), especially my personal pick: Running Close to the Wind

https://bookriot.com/best-books-of-2024-so-far/

Read this publisher‘s summary!

I read it & then bought this very pretty special edition from The Broken Binding. It looks like great fun!

♥️🏴‍☠️

I loved both When Among Crows by Veronica Roth and Running Close to the Wind by Alexandra Rowland, so my bracket ended up coming down to those two.

#readingbracket2024 #bookbracket2024 @CSeydel

5/5

Avra stole the most heavily guarded secret in the world when he's unexpectedly reunited with his ex. Now they have to figure out how to make sense of this secret and not get killed for the knowledge they now possess.

I loved Avra. He's the worst, in the best possible way. It was my first introduction to this fantasy world, and I can't wait to read more. I honestly wish this book had been longer, I happily would have continued to read more of

Another Alexandra Rowland books takes the top spot this month March. How hilarious would it be if they went head to head? 😂 @CSeydel #BookBracket2024

June #bookspin list

#doubebookspin #bookspinbingo

Alexandra Rowland has become a new favorite author between A Taste of Gold and Iron and this one. Set in the same world, Running Close to the Wind follows a ridiculous and supernaturally lucky former intelligence agent / poet on a pirate ship , the captain he has an on again-off again relationship with, and the monk they're both crushing on. It's a lot less serious than her first book, but I loved that about it. Big Our Flag Means Death vibes.