AUGUST 2025: Best and Worst Books of the Month

Hi everyone. Welcome back to my Best and Worst Reads of the month posts.  In August, I read 3 books and DNF’d 1; I talk about that DNF here. I did finish, however, a series this month. Unfortunately, I didn’t like how it ended much. Also, I have already talked about these books in my monthly wrap up so I won’t go into too much detail here. Let’s start:

1. WORST BOOK OF THE MONTH:  A Reaper At The Gates by Sabaa Tahir

A Reaper At The Gates is the third book of The Ember Quartet by this author. Each title of the series refers to one of the story’s main characters: Laia, Elias, and Helene. The first referred to Laia, the second to Helene, and this third installment to Elias. He is stuck in a non-ending Hamlet-esque dilemma of to be or not to be the Soul Catcher, and, in my opinion, that is detrimental to his character development. I get that the Waiting Place is important for the overall plot of the series, but I don’t understand why the author chose to keep Elias in this predicament for so long. To extend the angst between him and Laia? To keep the Waiting Place and the dead in the story? I’m guessing the first, but and a little bit of the second? Whatever the reason, it went on for too long. The author didn’t know what to do with Elias after he becomes the Soul Catcher and the telling of his inner battles and turmoil was poorly executed.

Ultimately, the book was forgettable and boring.

2. BEST BOOK OF THE MONTH: The Women of Troy by Pat Barker

After the events of The Silence of the Girls and the fall of Troy, in this book we are introduced to Hecuba, Cassandra, Andromache, Helen and the other women of the King Priam’s palace and court. The story is well-crafted and told, but it is still centered on the men around those women. More specifically, on Pyrrhus and his refusal to bury Priam. The series, let us not forget, is supposed to give a voice to the women of Troy. Hence, the name of the book and the series as a whole. But I think that this is a little misleading and it makes the reader expect something that this book (and the others in the series) can’t deliver. The story, however, is a good and entertaining read.  

3. HISTORICAL FICTION AND MYSTERY (DNF): The German Client by Bruno Morchio

I tried to read this book several times in the last two months and I just couldn’t get into it. My main issue: the translation. I didn’t like it, and because I didn’t like the translation, I didn’t get too far into the book either so I don’t have much to say about it.

Unfortunately, I don’t think that I will ever pick one of this author’s books again.  

I was kindly sent a copy of this book by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.