Erica’s Comments (group member since Apr 05, 2019)

Erica’s comments from the Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge group.

Happy check-in! I didn't read much this past week but I did make a chocolate amaretto cheesecake in the microwave that was easy and tasted nearly the same as a regular oven one. The microwave cookbooks have some interesting things for hot summer days.
I too have been glued to the Olympics on tv.

Finished Reading:

A Fate Inked in Blood ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Re-read. My fancy copy has been looking at me. Fun with Norse Mythology.

A Dawn of Onyx ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (ATY second matching cover)
Comfort read from the fantasy genre.

PS 40/50
ATY 49/52
ATY Summer 33/36
Diverse Baseline 28/36
Goodreads 182/250

Currently Reading:

The Grandest Game
The Door of No Return

QOTW:
I'm a bit stalled on popsugar lately. The majority of my final 10 prompts are prompts where you have to research the author.

Happy check-in!

Finished Reading:

Tainna: The Unseen Ones, Short Stories ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Both narrators were great but there was one story, fortunately it was short, that kept this from being a five star read.

Tangled Up in You ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (ATY in education)
If you like the Disney movie Tangled you'll probably enjoy this book.

Frank Herbert's Dune: The Graphic Novel, Book 3: The Prophet ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This goes past book one in the original books.

PS 40/50
ATY 48/52
ATY Summer 31/36
Diverse Baseline 28/36
Goodreads 177/250

DNF:
A Daughter of Fair Verona
I read one more chapter before letting myself quit. I just couldn't keep reading it. It's a mishmash of current vernacular and Shakespearian language. It's just too ridiculous for me that I don't find it funny.

Currently Reading:
A Fate Inked in Blood
The Grandest Game
The Door of No Return

QOTW:
I do pick books based on the cover but landscapes rarely call to me. I still have that prompt open in the ATY summer challenge.

Happy check-in! I was looking forward to the Olympic soccer... Now it's an embarrassing mess. I guess I'll just have to read. ;)

Finished Reading:

The Many Deaths of Laila Starr ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This graphic novel was a great surprise. Set in India, we follow Death as she is fired from godhood and sent to Earth as a human.

The Darkness Within Us ⭐⭐⭐
Mindless ya fantasy sequel.

So This is Love ⭐⭐⭐
Thanks to the QOTW last check-in I went through my Cinderella shelf and picked one to read. It was cute, but a retelling of the movie without Gus Gus was not quite right.

The Cull Volume 1 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Gorgeous gorgeous artwork in this sci-fi graphic novel. A bunch of teenagers go out late at night to film a movie and discover something. :)

Nothing But Blackened Teeth ⭐⭐ (ATY chilling)
I listened to the audio and it was well narrated. It was fairly creepy but it was a confusing and quick ending.

PS 40/50
ATY 47/52
ATY Summer 29/36
Diverse Baseline 27/36
Goodreads 176/250

Currently Reading:
Tangled Up in You

QOTW:
Out of my 176 books reads 55 were 5 star reads. Though there are two that really jump out at me: Homegoing and A Fate Inked in Blood.

Ron wrote: "Whew, things have been crazy since last week. Last week we went and saw New Kids On The Block in concert which was super awesome, however there was a downside to our trip. My mom came back with Cov..."

Glad to hear you're on the mend and it's less severe than last time. I hope your mom is doing better/is out of hospital?

Happy check-in! I didn't read much this past week, I'm just not feeling the book options lately for whatever reason.
Also just discovered my OneNote is suddenly not allowing me to use it, so hopefully when I turn the computer off it will return to normal the next time. I use OneNote to write out my challenges.

Finished Reading:

Mistlefoe ⭐⭐
I felt the need to complete this series but the audiobook was the only option from the library. Fortunately it was very short.

Battle for the Blood ⭐⭐⭐
The author managed to add in many different mythologies (minorly) for the end of the world/zombie plague.

The Brides of High Hill ⭐⭐⭐
This is a solid series. It's comparable to Seanan McGuire's Wayward Children series in the way that each novella is a different story that ties all together.

PS 40/50
ATY 46/52
ATY Summer 28/36
Goodreads 171/200

QOTW:
All the retellings of my favourite things please. So too many to recommend. I have a Cinderella shelf, Austenland, Buffyverse, Greek Mythology plus a retellings shelf for all the things that I don't have enough to form a new shelf.
I really should get around to reading the originals instead of just the retellings. ;)

Ron wrote: "Well, things have gotten a bit crazy. My mom got Covid so she's in the hospital. She's doing slightly better, but don't know when she'll be discharged. My sister and her two boys were gonna stay ov..."

I hope your family gets well soon.

There deleted the first post.

@Nadina I was not familiar with Blechdel’s work going in I just knew it was a lauded book and the author coined the movie test. I like graphic novels because you get two stories in one, through art and words.
So the artwork needs to be enjoyable which it was not. I remember the panels were more filled with text than art and that was annoying. I don’t remember details on it very well because I read so much. That’s why I corrected my post I can’t back up my opinion so much anymore and I don’t want to reread to remind myself. I remember how I felt easy enough though. Sorry about that.

My wifi signal went away right when I clicked post. So take 2.

Happy check-in it's been a hot week. I think I'm finally over my cold that I should have checked to see if it was covid. 🤦‍♀️ I didn't go anywhere so it doesn't matter in the end.

NYT 100 books
I've read three. Persepolis - sad and depressing but the artwork and artistic choices work for me so I gave it 4 or 5 stars.
Fifth Season - Very depressing and no plot, and I just have no interest to read the rest of the series.
Fun Home - Hated It! So depressing and the artwork had nothing to save the book.

There are only 3 things that I actually want to read on the list and a bunch of things I've added because they would work for prompts. Now I'm wondering if I should remove them because they'll be depressing and I'll regret the time to read them.
NPR does a much better job of cultivating best of lists. They are diverse in medium, authors, genres, intended audiences, and mood.

Finished Reading:

Mammoths at the Gates ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Best on of the series yet. I liked the look at grief in this one.

Rise of the Blood ⭐⭐⭐
This was almost a two star read but I love Greek Mythology. The main character has some problems.

Wicked is the Reaper ⭐⭐
I added this to the tbr because I wanted to try a new Candian author. Hoopla had it so I sped through it. Not my thing.

Ghost Roast ⭐⭐ (ATY purple cover)
I know better, I don't like Ghostbusters so why did I read this? The artwork was fantastic though. I wanted to like it.

PS 40/50 (These last ten are going to take effort I think)
ATY 46/52
ATY Summer 26/36
Diversity Baseline Challenge 24/36
Goodreads 167/200

QOTW:
I'm likely to add them to the tbr but not read them then and there.

Happy check-in. Had an uneventful Canada Day which was fine with me because I was coming down with a cold. Hopefully I'll be over it soon.

Finished Reading:

We Have Always Lived in the Castle ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (ATY Five books)
Read the audiobook and it left me with an earworm. Good mystery/thriller.

Winter Lost ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Book 14 finally was published. I still love the world and characters.

Things You May Find Hidden in My Ear: Poems from Gaza ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (PS 24 poems)
A long wait from the library for a copy but worth it. There was an interesting interview with the author at the end.

Medea ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Greek mythology done in a more historical fiction sense graphic novel.

Assistant to the Villain ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (ATY best of ATY)
This was craptacular fun. I listened to the audiobook and the reading was obnoxious, speeding it up helped.

The Fox Maidens ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Korean mythology about gumiho. Same author who did Cook Korean!: A Comic Book with Recipes. The artwork is gorgeous.

Never Flirt with Puppy Killers: And Other Better Book Titles ⭐⭐ (ATY weird title)
The title was funnier than the other alternate titles in the book.

PS 40/50
ATY 45/52
ATY Summer 22/36
Goodreads 164/200

QOTW:
Libby/Overdrive, Hoopla and every now and then Guttenburg. NetGalley would never work because I don't review books. Ilona Andrews just had in their newsletter that they are giving away a hundred copies of their newest book Sanctuary on NetGalley if anyone is interested in trying for it.

Happy check-in!

I Work at a Public Library: A Collection of Crazy Stories from the Stacks ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This had me giggling out loud. I'm pretty sure everyone who does check-ins would enjoy this book.

Magic for Nothing ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (PS travel bucket list)
Annie might be my favourite character POV. I'm confused how I enjoyed a book set at the circus though, it's not the norm.

Crazy in the Blood ⭐⭐⭐
The main character has more than nine lives but oh well the Greek mythology take is fun.

Chicken in the Kitchen ⭐⭐⭐
Cute kids book.

PS 39/50
ATY 43/52
ATY Summer 16/36

QOTW:
I remember the text and where I saw it on the page instead of envisioning what the text describes while reading. If I get an image it's a blurry blob.

Happy check-in! I've been enjoying the Euro Cup and reading things off Hoopla. I've managed to finish off some series so that's been nice.

Finished Reading:

A Symphony of Starlight ⭐⭐⭐
Book three ended with some loose ends so I was glad that the author returned to the series in 2019. I got into this urban fantasy series somehow but kept disliking the main characters choices.

Phantom Kiss ⭐⭐⭐
A little novella from a fave urban fantasy series.

The Summer Escape ⭐⭐⭐ (ATY x connection)
New Jill Shalvis nothing special rom com.

Firefly: Watch How I Soar ⭐⭐
A bunch of short stories about Wash, but only a couple were to my liking.

Volatile Bonds ⭐⭐⭐
Well this urban fantasy series seems left open for more sequels but it doesn't look like the author is going back to it.

Proposal ⭐⭐⭐
I loved this series when I was a kid. Cabot went back to the characters as adults for this novella.

Bad Blood ⭐⭐⭐
Urban fantasy series that has the Greek gods in Hollywood with diminished powers. The mc is a gorgon descendant and works as a pi. I'll be continuing this one.

PS 38/50
ATY 42/52
ATY Summer 11/36
Goodreads 153/200

QOTW:
I use the New Releases tab in Goodreads all the time. I also look through what's new on overdrive/libby. My next book I actually learned about from this check-in a few weeks ago. I Work at a Public Library: A Collection of Crazy Stories from the Stacks

Happy check-in! I finished my library book that is due in a few hours so now I can post. I discovered my library subscribes to Hoopla, giving each library card 10 things per month, so I joined to read the things my library has not bought. So hopefully I will get some things off the tbr that have been there a while.

Finished Reading:

A Business Proposal, Vol. 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A fun Kdrama. I realized that I read volume four this year two and I should use it for the kpop prompt to just be done.

The Endless War ⭐⭐⭐ (ATY Canadian author)
It might have just been my mood but this book felt endless. ;)

Not in Love ⭐⭐⭐
Not her best and not her worst.

Lost Ark Dreaming ⭐⭐ (ATY African author)
I was so excited to read this and it started well. There were weird philosphy things at the end of chapters but the plot was good until half-way for me. Then it was just too much philosphy.

Firefly: Return to Earth That Was Vol. 3 ⭐⭐⭐
It was really annoying for my library to not purchase the final volume of this story arc, so thankfully Hoopla had it.

PS 38/50
ATY 41/52
ATY Summer 7/36
Goodreads 145/200

QOTW:
I only need to complete two prompts a month until the end of the year so that's great, but they will take more effort to accomplish. Mostly I'm focused on the prompts for the ATY Summer challenge right now so hopefully I'll knock off PS prompts at the same time.

Reading is good self care so hopefully they don’t need to change the reading challenge.

PS = Playstation

Anyone else?

The Tea Dragon Society sequel has a character that uses ASL in the graphic novel which was cool to see.

Happy check-in!

Finished Reading:

When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain (ATY indangered animal) Into the Riverlands ⭐⭐⭐
Got through these two quickly as audiobooks. I'd recommend this series as audio because the main character goes around collecting stories told to them.

Dragons Love Tacos ⭐⭐⭐
Funny Story made me read it.

Lore Olympus: Volume Six ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (ATY book in a series)
Every volume becomes my favourite right after I read it.

Gideon the Ninth ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (PS set in space)
I tried the audio and managed to get far enough into the book to be hooked. A cool concept to have necromancy but in space. Gideon is an awesome character that got me to avoid dnfing at the beginning.

Dear Girls: Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets, & Advice for Living Your Best Life ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I wanted to read this so I could donate it to an upcoming book sale.

PS 36/50
ATY 40/52
ATY Summer 3/36
Goodreads 141/200

Currently Reading:

The Endless War

QOTW:
Hate spoilers. I often avoid reviews and back covers until after I've read something.

Dubhease wrote: "Happy Thursday.

The bad news is that I've been sick the last week (and don't want to dwell on it). I was off work and the good news is that I managed to finished one fantasy book and read 300 page..."

I was also surprised how dies in the first chapter prompt turned out to be difficult. I've read many books this year where someone dies in chapter two.

Britany wrote: "Two week check-in for me, and 1 week post surgery. My mom ended up coming and staying with me and just left yesterday. I'm glad she was here but I'm very happy to move into week 2 of my recovery an..."

Glad your surgery went well and you're on the mend.

Happy check-in!

Finished Reading:

The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I've been waiting for this library book since December. It didn't disappoint. Now for book 3 to be published in November.

The Empress of Salt and Fortune ⭐⭐⭐ (ATY 6+ word title)
This was very similar to Becky Chambers A Psalm for the Wild-Built except it was fantasy and not sci-fi. I definitely liked this better. I will be continuing the series.

This Winter ⭐⭐⭐
Cute one day story with 3 povs from Oseman's Heartstopper characters.

Spice & Wolf, Vol. 1 ⭐
First one star read of the year. A reviewer I follow let me down! There wasn't much of a plot just an excuse to draw a naked girl with a tail and wolf ears.

A Rogue of One's Own ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Suffragettes in Victorian England. The author's notes about her research are interesting to read at the end.

The Hero of Hamblett ⭐⭐⭐
A kid's comic with many swine jokes due to all the characters being pigs. A random book from the house that puts my goal at 12/30.

Slaying the Vampire Conqueror ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Naturally I wait months for book two of the series, and the side book comes in right away.

PS 35/50
ATY 38/52
Goodreads 135/200

Currently Reading:

Dear Girls: Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets, & Advice for Living Your Best Life

QOTW:
I don't really have an answer to the question, because if a book keeps popping back into my head I end up rereading it.

Happy check-in!

Finished Reading:

Battle Angel Alita Deluxe Edition, Vol. 1 ⭐⭐⭐
I saw the movie first so I thought I should give the original a shot. The action sequences and plot were good but the artwork wasn't worth the 'classic' label to me. I liked it unlike Sandman and The Watchmen.

The Paradise Problem ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (ATY botanical)
New Christina Lauren came in so other books had to be paused. This was quite samey to The Unhoneymooners but that's okay. There was a clever Barbie movie scene.

Before the Coffee Gets Cold ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (ATY Benny & Jerry's)
I really enjoyed the idea but because this was a couple of short stories put together there was a bit of repetition in explaining the time travel.

Five Broken Blades ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (PS 24 year old character)
Rebecca Roanhorse's review put this on my radar. One of the characters says she's 24 right at the beginning so good enough. Antiheros unite to for an assassination, a lot of lying ensues.

PS 35/50
ATY 37/52
Goodreads 128/200

Currently Reading:

The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King


QOTW:
None of these reading types fit, who would just read about summer camp? Does anyone else miss the summer article they did with their staff three picks for summer reading? Did Goodreads fire all the humans and the summer reading articles are all a.i.? I liked knowing what people were actually wanting to read not what Goodreads wants to sell.