Currently Reading #9 [01 to 04 May 2024]

 Currently Reading

- Ink, Iron, & Glass by Gwendolyn Clare (15%)

- The 1619 Project by Nikole Hannah-Jones (37%)

- Moon Rise by D.D. Line (02%)

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Yearly Goal

24/100

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I apparently skipped all of April. Not that it matters. I pretty much just read my books for the Orilium Spring Equinox Semesters. Aurin passed all his 'mid-terms' for the year and is now getting ready to head into the full exams in autumn. He's a Third Year Godseer and a Second Year Star Whisperer. I can't wait to see what happens with him. 

Nothing else particularly exciting has happened. I've decided to put myself solidly back on the restriction. I cannot acquire (by any means) new books without having read a few from my ungodly TBR first. Currently the restriction is at 1 for 3. I can only get 1 new book for every 3 books I finish. I'm not counting my Book of the Month box in that since it's montly and I hold myself to the one book usually unless there is something I find out they have that I absolutely need. So far, um, it's going? I have neither finished nor purchased anything. 

I started two new notebooks for my reading. The first one is a log of all of the books I've finished. I'm starting it in 2024 and will just keep going until I am no longer reading at all. I've decided to just continue the numbering from where I left off. I'm curious. On the right hand margin, when the year changes, I'll just put the year and maybe (or not, undecided) change the pen color to something else. Pink, teal, or purple. Something to help differentiate it from the previous year? 

I've also started up a wish-list book. I have this terrible habit of having my wish-list spread across several different sources. There's one on Amazon, one in a journal, one on the wall, one on Barnes and Noble...just...everywhere. I'm going to consolidate my lists into one "master" list and just refer back to it every time I buy or add a book. Try to keep myself more accountable that way. 

I guess, that's all then. I'll see you all in the next one.

Happy Reading!

April 2024 Wrap Up

Apparently I just forgot last month to hit publish. Ah well, here's hoping I remember to hit publish this time round. 

April has the Orilium Spring Equinox Semester (henceforth called OSES) and I read pretty much just for that. I got through seven books, completing his required coursework for the semester!! Let's get on with the wrap up!

1: This Body's Not Big Enough for Both of Us by Edgar Cantero - I loved this book. Not nearly as much as the previous novel of his that I read, but this one was definitely up there in scope. I loved following Adrian and Zooey and what they get up to sharing the single body as they do. I'm not sure that the whole gang plot line worked, but it did give it a somewhat Holmes & Watson vibes as they tried to solve this ridiculous mystery. I'd definitely recommend it (but also would highly recommend reading Meddling Kids first). 

2: The Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon by Sarah Hawley - This was wonderful. I picked it for my prompt "read a book you think could break a slump" and boy was I right. We follow Mariel, a witch who is really bad at being a witch, as she learns exactly how to access her power properly. I liked watching as Mariel finally learned that maybe her family did not have her best interest at heart and that she was a good and powerful witch in her own right. I liked as she learns who she is and what she wants and how to go about getting it. 

3: Jackaby by William Ritter - This reminded me a lot of Lockwood & Co. And I'm not sure if that's good or bad? I had just watched that series (which I think is based on a graphic novel series? Don't quote me), and Jackaby himself made me think a lot of Anthony Lockwood. The 'detective' who is confident in his skills to the point of nearly being an incompetent imbecile. Who has a new female partner who is actually the brains. I liked it well enough. 

4: The Last Heir to the Blackwood Library by Hester Fox - Beautifully written. I loved the way the new lady of the house was just so confused as to why or how she was even the heir. I did pick up immediately on the things are not as they appear thing. Something was very wrong. I knew it had something to do with the Library itself and I was surprised to find out what it actually was. I liked it. It was well written and I am looking forward to reading more books by her.

5: Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes - This was funny. It was a retelling of the story of Medusa and Perseus, but it wasn't anything like any other retelling or even the originals. We have a handful of the various perspectives from around Olympus, Ethiopia, Greece, and probably other places I'm not remembering. I loved how this was basically told through Medusa's side making her not the villain, but definitely a victim. She did not ask for any of it and was punished for things that she had no control over.

6: The Cloisters by Katy Hays - The lowest rated book on my list so far. I didn't really like it. It's felt like the book itself was just the filler sections from another much longer book. Surprisingly boring for all it was worth. There was no intrigue of any nature. We literally only followed a girl as she just went to work and went home and got a prospective boyfriend. It wasn't captivating at all. I accidentally figured out the mystery before there even was a mystery to figure out. One of the characters was obviously skeevy right from the start. Would constantly ask really invasive questions and needle until they were told what they wanted to know, but would then deflect completely and shut down if they were asked the same questions. I knew they had done something terrible when they were first introduced. They just...hadn't done it yet. I'm unlikely to ever reread this one. 

7: The Traitor's Game by Jennifer A. Nielsen - I did enjoy this one mostly. It was a good break up from the things I'd been reading. I liked the predictability of it. Its your standard first novel in a fantasy series. I liked how the main character is not the damsel in distress type and instead helped herself out of trouble in very unique ways. I thought it was well written and I'm looking forward to possibly getting the next book in the series.

Currently Reading #8 [17 - 30 March 2024]

Currently Reading

- Godkiller by Hannah Kaner (23%)

- Ink, Iron, & Glass by Gwendolyn Clare (00%)

- The 1619 Project by Nikole Hannah-Jones (32%)

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Yearly Goal

16/100

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So this last two weeks involved me finishing several books, including two eARCs that I've since posted the reviews of. I've been approved for another eARC, and put in requests for two. There's one I really really want. It's a sapphic, tarot-themed book coming out on my birthday whose title is literally my life-path card. How could I not want this? Was there any real chance for me?

I'm proud of myself for finally knocking It off my damn list. I have been reading that book since November. NOVEMBER. I cannot believe it took me so long. Normally I can knock out books of that size in a month or less. I was even reading it across all three formats just to make it go faster and it still took me forever and a half. Ugh. I did like it, and I've put up my review for it on StoryGraph and the blog to be seen tonight or tomorrow. I refuse to be bested again. 

The Orilium Spring Equinox readathon starts on Monday, so be ready to see the three books I'm currently reading paused for now. Just til I can get through the prompt list. My PC is a second-year Star Whisperer and a third-year Godseer. I'm so proud of him for actually making it each year. I think...after he finishes up his Star Whisperer training, I'm going to bring back my other character. He was going to be Spellsword. Or I will stick in my comfort area and build an all new character (still Iltirian because I love their lore) and have him be a Storyweaver. I'm undecided....We'll see as the time draws nearer. 

I have selected my books for the OSE, and all but one of them is available through the CloudLibrary system my local uses for their ebooks and audiobooks. I think I'll try to aim for print as much as I can, and suppliment with the digital copies when I'm out and about. I wonder if I can borrow all six of them at once or if there's some kind of limit? Who knows. I'll work on it other ways until then!!

I will close this for now, because I'm about to head out for the day, but....HAPPY READING.

First Quarter Review [March 2024]

As is the standard these days, I plan to do a full quarter review at the end of each quarter in 2024 [March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31] to hold myself slightly more accountable for what I'm doing. With that said, let us get on with the review~

January was a good reading month. I got through nine books total and was on track with my 2024 goal. I enjoyed most of the books that I read and it wasn't actually all that terrible of a month to get through them. I think I had a bit of a start that would make me over-proud of myself and kind of fall into failure. I was reading and writing at an unusually high pace for me. It couldn't last. 

And it didn't. By the time February rolled around, I found myself in an sort of soft slump? That's the best way I could think of it. I wasn't necessarily in a slump. Yet I also wasn't reading as voraciously as I normally do. It was odd. I read precisely one book in February. Absolutely destroying the lead I had on my goal. I ended up just starting tons and not reading much. 

Then March hit and I finished six books over the course of like two weeks. I am still nine books behind on my goal. I knocked two ARCs and one huge tome from the list of Currently Reading books, which made me so happy. I also started another budy read with FenrirArcher on StoryGraph, which I am like a third of her percentage. I have to get to it. Found a copy through the library that I am now reading on my phone while I'm out. 

Hopefully the next quarter goes better than the last! Happy reading, y'all!

April 2024 To Be Read

It is that time of year again. The Orilium Magical Readathon: Spring Equinox! I can't believe how long it's been. My sweet 'spooky bog witch' is now an apprentice Godseer and novice Star Whisperer. Hopefully by the end of August, he will be an adept Godseer and an apprentice Star Whisperer. 

I am half considering, once he fully matriculates as a Master Star Whisperer (2025), bringing my old Spellsword back. I will need a new character no matter what. 

Anyway! This is a TBR, not a blog post! Let's get on with it!!

1: Art of Illusion - Read a book with "play" or "game" in the title: The Traitor's Game by Jennifer A. Nielsen

2: Astronomy - Read a book chosen from recommendations for your zodiac: The Cloisters by Katy Hayes

3: Conjuration - Spin a color wheel and read a book based on the color [cyan]: Jackaby by William Ritter.

4: Demonology - Read a book you didn't pay for: Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes

5: Inscription - Write three titles on pieces of paper and select one: This Body's Not Big Enough for the Both of Us by Edgar Cantero

6: Lore - [INTERRUPTED: SEE FILE]

7: Psionics & Divination - Make a book predictions bingo board: The Last Heir to the Blackwood Library by Hester Fox

8: Restoration - Read a book you think could break a slump: The Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon by Sarah Hawley

I have been looking for these available digitally via Amazon, which all were expensive. So far though, I have found every single one through my library's app. I'll work my way through that way! Granted,  one of them is only available via audio, but that's okay. It's short enough that I should be able to fly right through it while doing other things. Now I'll just have to decide if I want to read in order, or if I want to be random about it.....

March 2024 Wrap Up

I've read 6 books in March. It's definitely better than February with its lowly 1 book.

1: A Botanical Daughter by Noah Medlock - It was interesting. I loved the way the plot was written. All I could think the entire time I read it, was "If Victor had a thing for botany." I don't feel bad at all for what happened to Mallory or to Connie's dad. They both deserved what they got. Worth the read for sure!!

2: IT by Stephen King - Four months! I think that's the quickest I've ever read a 1000+ page book. I have forgotten most of it now, and I have no idea why I highlighted a passage. The whole idea of what It actually was was really impressive. I think there's only one other book of his that has a similar idea of something coming from "outside" of our reality. I liked it. Now I can watch the movies.

3: The Myth of June by A.B. Daniels-Annachi - An eARC I got of a book being re-released in March. I don't know how to feel about this one. On the one hand, I did like it's portrayal of the various Greek gods as perfectly fallible individuals, which was true, but on the other I didn't like how almost oblivious June sometimes was. The whole thing could have been avoided if she just asked questions. I am trying to decide if it's meant to be YA or Adult, and I don't know. 

4: The Black Crow Flies by L.B. Perdan - One of the KU books I grabbed. I saw an ad on BookTok about the sequel to it, Rise of the White Owl, and I wanted to read that one. So I figured I should start with the first book in the series. It's rather good. I liked the way it was written and all the tension between Blaze and Catrice. She is a 'hero' to her people simply by being alive and he is falling for the enemy.

5: Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver - I'm entirely sure I wasn't supposed to be amused by this book, but I definitely was. As I reached each of the various trigger warning locations within the book, and guessing if they were the right thing and seeing how close I am (I must say, I did like the "questionable use of a mummified corpse"). I could have done without the gratuitous sex scenes, but that's just a me thing. Overall, it was pretty good. 

6: Crown of Feathers by Nikki Pau Preto - This was an interesting read. I liked the take on magic and how it worked in the world. The connection people have to animals and how they used their magic really could tell you a lot about them. I liked getting the story from different perspectives, though I did keep thinking poor Sev was actually in his mid-late twenties instead of being eighteen. He kind of came off as much older than he was. I think I saw the hint of a romance to happen with him and another character in Heart of Flames that I cannot wait to see about. 

7: Godkiller by Hannah Kaner - I adored this one. Easily the only 5/5 I've read in March. I loved how absolutely cynical Kissen was. She'd been let down by people and gods too many times and had trust in no one but herself, Yatho, and Telle. She didn't take anyone at face value and formed her own opinions. I liked how we watch her grow attached to people and learn what's really going on in the background. I loved her relationship with the noble heir and the god that is attached to them. I'm really curious to see if in the next book, he does get a shrine and we find out his memories. It's going to bother me until I know. I like men like Elogast, owning up to their mistakes and trying to rectify it, even at great cost. 

March 2024 Book Haul

I have acquired 7 books this month through various means, be it Amazon, BN, Pango, FLFs or whatever other thing I may have done. 

1: A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen - I saw this one on the list and I knew I had to have it. It looked absolutely beautiful and while it doesn't have the metallic sky blue sprayed edges like the BN edition has (easily fixable, I know how to do that myself), I am still so looking forward to reading this. It's about a shield maiden who ends up having to fight for her life to keep herself and her land safe. Sounds good!

2: Kokoro by Natsume Sōseki - I have no clue what this is about other than its translated Japanese fiction that has been praised as one of the better novels of its time and it cost me an incredible...fifty cents. That's literally all I know and I'm fine with that. I don't want to know more. I can tell you that from my limited knowledge of Japanese, "kokoro" means "heart"....? 

3: Godkiller by Hannah Kaner - I saw it while we were at Target picking up stuff for dinner and couldn't pass it up. I know very little about this. Gods are outlawed and people kill them as a profession? I think. Someone is tasked with killing a god and kind of can't because that would mean killing the human attached to the god. So they go to the gods for help? I have no idea. I'm gonna buddy read it with my friend and we'll see what I think about it. 

4: Stone Blind by Natalie Hayes - A Medusa retelling. I love reading the stories of Medusa. I believe this one follows her after she is cursed/blessed by Athena and is struggling. She ends up meeting someone who cannot see her? I don't actually remember.

5: Letters to Half Moon Street by Sarah Wallace - I don't know anything else other than it's a historical queer romance between two men. That's all I wanna know. I'm down for the surprise of it all. It has a stunning cover and was cheap/free. Why not give it a try and see if I like it?

6: The Myth of June by A.B. Daniels-Annachi - I received an eARC of this from the author in return for a fair and honest review. I have no memory of joining the ARC team, but that's not a current me problem. You can see my review here. 

7: Don't Let the Forest In by C.G. Drews - I don't even remember what this is about. It's a YA Horror novel about a forest and that's literally all I know. I will likely not be getting to it until October. It's a spooky book, and I'm gonna save it. 

8: Beloved by Toni Morrison - Found it at the FLF in my local chuch. I've been into tales relating to the struggles of slavery recently and when I saw this in perfect condition, I had to get it. It looks good and I have never read anything by this author. I am greatly looking forward to it. 

9: Heart of Flames by Nikki Pau Preto - I bought this one after finishing the first book (Crown of Feathers). I adored the first book, and I found this one (and the finale, Wings of Shadow) available for $5 each from PangoBooks which means naturally I have to buy them. Somewhere in the synopsis or possibly tags, I saw the phrase LGBT+ and while I have half an idea, I want to know. I love it and I cannot wait to get into it. 

10: Wings of Shadow by Nikki Pau Preto - It is the final volume and it was on PangoBooks for only $5. Naturally I was not about to pass it up. Who would? Turns out it's also a first edition (as is Heart of Flames) which makes me even happier. This is the conclusion to Veronyka's story and I am very much looking forward to reading it. I cannot wait.