Bookish Playlist Roundup
Hello everyone! It's time for another roundup of all the playlists I've made recently. If you're new here, my playlist roundups are where I put all the playlists I've made for the books I read into an easily digestible blog post. I'm always making playlists when I'm reading and I enjoy sharing them with others who may be diving into the same books I am. I usually do this for the most popular/hyped books I read but also the ones I simply loved.
I can say that while I've been putting together music for the books I've read, I will readily admit that I've mainly been listening to the newest Taylor Swift albums. I have definitely added quite a few of her songs to these playlists, at least more than usual. I had some in mind immediately as I was reading like my inclusion of peace on Blood & Honey. There was a particular scene that stuck out to me where Lou and Reid discuss if there will ever be peace for them and the song fit perfectly.
With all of that said, let's dive into the playlists.
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Blood & Honey by Shelby Mahurin
Rating: 5/5 ★★★★★
Description: After narrowly escaping death at the hands of the Dames Blanches, Lou, Reid, Coco, and Ansel are on the run from coven, kingdom, and church—fugitives with nowhere to hide.
To elude the scores of witches and throngs of chasseurs at their heels, Lou and Reid need allies. Strong ones. But protection comes at a price, and the group is forced to embark on separate quests to build their forces. As Lou and Reid try to close the widening rift between them, the dastardly Morgane baits them in a lethal game of cat and mouse that threatens to destroy something worth more than any coven.
About The Playlist: Let me tell you, I was super anxious to read Blood & Honey by Shelby Mahurin. I was slightly terrified it wouldn't live up to the first book which was one of my favorite books when I read it. I had high hopes going into it and plenty of apprehension. Needless to say, I shouldn't have worried because it ended up being JUST as good as the first book, if not a little different style-wise.
When I was creating a playlist for Blood & Honey I wanted a similar sound to the playlist I originally made for the first book. I did take the initiative to include two songs by the same artist, Taylor Swift, which I rarely ever do. The author had been posting about her music a lot on instagram so I wanted to include a song from both of her most recent albums. Aside from that, the rest was just about suiting the fragility of Reid and Lou's relationship as they fight for their love.
Favorite Songs: willow by Taylor Swift, Mean It by Gracie Abrams, Settle Down by Gentle Bones
A Curse of Roses by Diana Pinguicha
Rating: 5/5 ★★★★★
Description: With just one touch, bread turns into roses. With just one bite, cheese turns into lilies.
There’s a famine plaguing the land, and Princess Yzabel is wasting food simply by trying to eat. Before she can even swallow, her magic—her curse—has turned her meal into a bouquet. She’s on the verge of starving, which only reminds her that the people of Portugal have been enduring the same pain.
If only it were possible to reverse her magic. Then she could turn flowers…into food.
Fatyan, a beautiful Enchanted Moura, is the only one who can help. But she is trapped by magical binds. She can teach Yzabel how to control her curse—if Yzabel sets her free with a kiss.
As the King of Portugal’s betrothed, Yzabel would be committing treason, but what good is a king if his country has starved to death?
With just one kiss, Fatyan is set free. And with just one kiss, Yzabel is yearning for more.
She’d sought out Fatyan to help her save the people. Now, loving her could mean Yzabel’s destruction.
About The Playlist: With the playlist for A Curse of Roses, I wanted to include a good amount of wlw music. To me, it's always so important to feature music from people speaking about what the characters are going through. In the case of A Curse of Roses, it was longing, love, and confusion at the feelings that arose between Yzabel and Fatyan.
There's a fair amount of struggle to be had in the book with conflicting emotions which made me pick some songs to suit that internal battle. While the story can be dark at times with many trigger warnings, I found the relationship between Yzabel and Fatyan to be abundantly pure. I decided to include songs that focused on the good aspects of their relationship because it is a bright light in the story.
Favorite Songs: Radiant Warmth by Miki Ratsula, Honey by Khelani, Cassiopeia by Anju
Follow Me Darkly by Helen Hardt
Rating: 4/5 ★★★★
Description: She’s a take-charge woman. But he’s a master of control.
Skye Manning knows what she wants. Her job as assistant and photographer for a major social media influencer isn’t perfect, but it’s a rung on the ladder to bigger and better things. She’s confident she’ll one day take feature photos for National Geographic.
Self-made billionaire Braden Black didn’t get where he is by taking no for an answer. When a chance encounter with the refreshingly innocent and beautiful Skye piques his interest in more ways than one, he’s determined to make her submit.
Dating a billionaire soon has Skye in the middle of a Cinderella story…until the clock strikes midnight and Braden reveals his dark side. Heat sizzles between them, and Skye finds herself falling hard.
But Braden Black is no Prince Charming, and his dark desires are far from his only secret.
About The Playlist: Follow Me Darkly is much like many contemporary romances I've read. It is a book about a billionaire demanding control from the heroine. I really appreciated the give and take dynamics of the main characters', Skye and Braden's, intimacy. I can actually find romance books to be the hardest to stitch a playlist together for. They rely solely on the relationship between the two love interests which limits the scope of choice.
I decided to use fairly modern songs to keep with the contemporary setting. A few of the songs are about wanting someone even when you know it's not good for you. Then you have the songs about regretting certain parts of your relationship while still yearning for the other person. I feel like this playlist can match with a lot of different books in the genre which I was happy to see.
Favorite Songs: Boys Like You by Anna Clendening, Champagne Lia Marie Johnson, I Think I'm In Love by Kat Dahlia
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