Vagabond Treehouse (2023) [Beware of Chicken 3 - December 4th] Showing 5,001-5,050 of 5,829

[Julian]

Hey everyone! I miss everyone here! Recently I've been on a manga reading binge.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

We're still around... for the most part... Soo popped in, assuring us she's alive and watching Asian TV shows...

The rest of us have just signed up for so many Buddy Reads this year, that we spend most of our time commenting in those threads, instead...

Also, Yanique and some others made good points about how Book Club threads with 5000 comments can be intimidating to randomly join :D ... so we try not to do as many Book Club Buddy Reads... and series threads... and thread necros...

[Narilka]

Good to see you again Julian! Don't be a stranger :) Some day your tastes will shift back and hopefully you'll join a BR again.

[Brian]

Great to see you Julian! Ive been lurking too. Malazan has consumed me

[Tonari no Emily]

Hey Julian! What Manga have you been reading?

[Tonari no Emily]

After 5 straight months of almost all BRs I've added a lot of individual books the past two months which has honestly been a little freeing and I think helped with the burnout...
But now I need to squeeze in the BRs I still want to get to :D

[Nirkatze]

Julian! Welcome back and dittoing Emily's question!

I'm definitely one of those signing up for more BRs than there are days in the month... somehow...

[Julian]

This past summer I've slowed down a lot on my reading. A little over a month ago I got Lasik done and for a while it was uncomfortable to read since my eyes hadn't fully readjusted but now it feels amazing!

Currently I'm reading some Gundam mangas (with the current being Char's Deleted Affairs). I've tried finding them on goodreads but so far it seems as though outside of the biggest name mangas there aren't many in the goodreads database. I'm probably going to join a couple BRs once I finish up my current backlog of books/mangas.

[Nirkatze]

Ooh, grats on the Lasik! That sounds annoying, the manga not showing up on GR. I wonder if the Japanese version exists? I know we have some librarians in this group too....

There's a LOT of BRs going on and coming up right now. I'm sure you'll find something fun to join!

[Narilka]

I'm debating joining the Skyward reread to prep for Defiant's release.

[Nirkatze]

Narilka wrote: "I'm debating joining the Skyward reread to prep for Defiant's release."

Join us... the dark side has cookies...

Though, if you're pressed for time reading wise, you can always just haunt the comments for a refresher.

[Narilka]

I decided to start Beware of Chicken on audio while waiting for Starter Villain to release. Fingers crossed I end up enjoying the humor.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I think I have that... might tag along if I find time...

[Narilka]

I'm through Ch 4 (view spoiler)[I was surprised that the chicken is a POV character! I don't know why given the title but I was lol I hope it continues. (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Dammit I have that too. You are all evil.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Of course you have it... we buy alot of our random books on Audible Sales, as a group :D

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I dunno what I did, but youtube is recommending Baldurs Gate 3 Sex% 2 minute world record speedrun videos to me, all of a sudden:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpY7N...

That's the world record for the fastest consummated relationship, in Baldur's Gate 3, from New Game Start, for the uninitiated on gaming speedruns...

[Nirkatze]

Timelord Iain wrote: "I dunno what I did, but youtube is recommending Baldurs Gate 3 Sex% 2 minute world record speedrun videos to me, all of a sudden:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpY7N...

That's the world reco..."

OMG that sounds horrible....

[Nirkatze]

And is it just me, or did the "I'm out of credits so I'll buy some more" price on audible go up by a dollar each? It used to be $27 something, I think, now it's $30 something... I though the price was supposed to go down when you go up a tier... at the very least it means Kobo audiobooks are now cheaper and better for authors...

[Nirkatze]

Narilka wrote: "I decided to start Beware of Chicken on audio while waiting for Starter Villain to release. Fingers crossed I end up enjoying the humor."

If I finish my current read before the next starts, I might join you...

@Iain, your logic is infallible. Dammit.

[Narilka]

Beware of Chicken through Ch 15 (view spoiler)[I wasn't expecting a romance. At least it's sweet and not annoying so far. I think the chicken's POV is hilarious, though not sure it was good he let the rats on to the farm. Seems to me that Jin's way of farming is building his cultivation skills pretty well even if he doesn't realize it.

Something I'm not entirely sure about though... is this a game world? Jin talks about his other life a lot. He doesn't need to log in/out so perhaps it's just an alternate dimension and he's there permanently? I'm not sure how it works. Hope it gets explained. (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Audible 2 for 1 sale... I'd recommend Fred the Vampire, to anyone interested (#6 & 7 on sale)... also see Kingfisher's Defensive Baking book... and Mexican Gothic...

Personally, I picked up mostly LitRPGs and other things in my recommended list at the top:

Oh Great! I was Reincarnated as a Farmer
The Mayor of Noobtown
Dungeon Crawler Carl
Cinnamon Bun
Scatter (2nd one is coming out on audio in a few weeks)
Between (this one looks interesting, but it apparently currently ends on a cliffhanger... twice, since it's actually the same story twice, from female and male POVs... there's a recommended reading order for re-readers, to alternate POVs if you want... but on a first read, doing that would spoil some of the reveals apparently... this is another cozy book/series, that sounds like it was released as a web serial... isekai)

I'm most interested in Scatter... Sapphic Superheroes, Time Travel, quirky characters that remind me of Orlando People & Dragon Heist... from the blurb(s)...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

In fact, I'm downloading Scatter right now... even tho I should probably be doing Beware of Chicken, if I'm going off-script/schedule :D

[Narilka]

I opted to start Spellslinger as my regular reading book. So far, it's an interesting set up. It's fairly light in comparison to Greatcoats and seems like it will be a quick read. Through Ch 6 (view spoiler)[Does Kellen's sister even feel bad about nearly killing him? It's kind of hard to tell. She seems more upset that dad might lock down her magic for her being so irresponsible than the harm she caused. So far this society is a huge bunch of jerks lol I hope my initial impressions are proved untrue or it's just Kellen's current odd circumstances. (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I was planning a spellslinger re-read in the near future… came up in the Way of the Argosi thread a few months ago…

(view spoiler)[Kellen isn’t treated great by his family… similar to Linden in Cradle… Ferius Parfax helps change that… (hide spoiler)]

[Brian]

I be loved the Greatcoats series

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Narilka undersold Beware of Chicken… started this morning and loving it…

The human MC is a slice of life LitRPG/Cultivation story about an Earthling flung into a Cultivation world, where most cultivators seem to be assholes…

And then there’s the chicken POV… a Spirit Beast that kinda views the human as a god/master, and is living out a karate kid movie with training montages and progression like you see in Cradle… with som hiccups…

So the story is awesome, hilarious, cozy, great :D

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Scatter was good, but romance was definitely the focus…

[Narilka]

Timelord Iain wrote: "Narilka undersold Beware of Chicken… started this morning and loving it…

The human MC is a slice of life LitRPG/Cultivation story about an Earthling flung into a Cultivation world, where most cult..."

I think you've already passed me lol

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I’m up to chapter 24 now… Chicken made some mistakes and is recovering… pigs are getting bigger/smarter… rat was recruited from enemy ranks… and Jin got a cat, who has had her own POV as well…

The hardest part to keep track of are the human villains in the background…

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I’ll definitely be picking up the 2nd book, and eying the 3rd one when it releases in November…

Sounds like the human MC builds a nice home base/farm for a whole menagerie of sentient Spirit Animals… fighting bandits in the 2nd book… going on quests and participating in martial arts tournaments in the 3rd…

On the human side, I get the feeling the MC accidentally builds his own sect of nicer cultivators… and that being nice results in stronger Xi/Chi… a real Mr. Miyagi story, ala The Karate Kid…

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Animal Farm 2/3: with Superpowers (I think there already is an animal farm 2 floating around, actually, but it isn't seen the same as the original)...

[Nirkatze]

Starting Beware of Chicken... actually found a little breathing space for a Vagabond read, yay! Huh, I think this is the first Travis Baldree narration I've listened to except for Legends & Lattes.

A lot of the 2-for-1 buys are also on Chirp. I've been trying not to give Amazon more money when I can avoid it...

I ended up getting (on Chirp):
Spinning Silver (BR in November)
The Righteous
These Infinite Threads

On Audible:
How to Be Eaten (Local book club next month)
The Dragon's Promise (Sequel to Oct BR)

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I finished Beware of Chicken #1, and immediately used a credit on #2... loved it so much... 2nd time this has happened this year... 1st was House Witch...

Also... it took me half the book to notice... the series acronym is BOC... BOC BOC BOC... Beware of Chicken :D

[Narilka]

BOC BOC lol OMG I didn't notice that either!

[Tonari no Emily]

yay! was able to fit in BOC before the end of the month :D
very cute so far

[Narilka]

Listening to this on audio, I have no idea how any of the names are spelled. However... through Ch 20 (view spoiler)[That he named one of the pigs Chunkee (chunky) had me giggling. I like that he kept the little rat too and named her Rizzo. He's also explained that Jin was from Canada which I'm guessing is where the author is from. Initially the references to our world hit me as off but now I think I'm in the flow. (hide spoiler)]

[Narilka]

Spellslinger though Ch 16. This is turning into a decent YA adventure. (view spoiler)[I still don't like the Jan'Tep society. They are mostly a bunch of jerks.

Since the masks knew Kellen's name, I'm not sure if I think they're villagers disguised or if they really are Madhek with a spy on the inside.

I am curious as to what Kellen is unknowingly doing to the mages around him. Seems they're feeling sick. I thought it might have been from Ferius at first but I don't think so. Is this a sign Kellen may have some power after all but it's that undesirable 7th kind? (hide spoiler)]

What is interesting is reading these two together. They are an accidental mirror and contrast. Jin has rejected a society very similar to Kellen's because of what I put in my spoiler but Kellen (view spoiler)[feels stuck due to his age and family influence (hide spoiler)]. Witnessing both at he same time, I'm much preferring Jin's choices to Kellen's. Time will tell if Kellen can turn things around.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

The names are pronounced nothing like they’re spelled… I’ve deciphered alot from the sparse wiki…

Shallan is actually Xiu Lan, for example…
Also, natives are restructuring the animal names into more asian structures, so Babe become Ba Be and Chunky becomes Chun Ki… when the MC is just using pop culture/American/Canadian names from
home…

[Narilka]

I hadn't put together yet that the other pig was supposed to be named Babe lol I do think it's funny that Jin calls the rooster Big D and the rooster calls himself B'dee in his head. Or it sounds like that.

[Nirkatze]

Narilka wrote: "I'm through Ch 4 [spoilers removed]"

Up to Chapter 4 on Beware of Chicken as well... laughing so much on the chicken chapters...

Aaand I didn't post this before I went shopping, and finished before I got home. The whole book I was wondering about the power structure... (view spoiler)[why the MC was so out of everyone's league when the first chapter established he was actually the weakest of his sect... was it the weird soul-inhabiting thing going on (and I'm still not entirely clear how a dude from Canada ended up in Jin's body--and might there be other folks like him wandering around? Did I just zone out when this got properly explained).

The ending? Epilogue? Seemed to explain pretty well where all the extra chi was coming from though--some sort of sentient land spirit, maybe? By cultivating the land, he started kind of an increasing feedback effect and massively upped his chi, and that of the others who live/visit there... (hide spoiler)]

Definitely interested in continuing...

[Nirkatze]

Narilka wrote: "I hadn't put together yet that the other pig was supposed to be named Babe lol I do think it's funny that Jin calls the rooster Big D and the rooster calls himself B'dee in his head. Or it sounds l..."

Oh, I also loved how all the Our World references got turned into Story World pronunciations. Fa'ram the Farm! Ko wa bun ga! Everything made me smile tons...

Loved all the Canadian references too... I didn't get them all, but I can definitely identify with the love of winter activities...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Nirkatze wrote: "Narilka wrote: "I'm through Ch 4 [spoilers removed]"

Up to Chapter 4 on Beware of Chicken as well... laughing so much on the chicken chapters...

Aaand I didn't post this before I went shopping, a..."

the book glosses over where the original soul in Jin came from (Canada) in that first chapter, really... and doesn't focus on it too much... unclear if he died on Earth... he seems to settle into Story World like a LitRPG, pretty quick...

(view spoiler)[and yea... I get the feeling most people in this world are "doing it wrong" becoming power mad, and being more wholesome and feeding the Earth would yield better results... the MC was OP in a few short months, and only seems to get more so as he continues his practices and trains diciples in his holistic principles... (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Nirkatze wrote: "Narilka wrote: "I hadn't put together yet that the other pig was supposed to be named Babe lol I do think it's funny that Jin calls the rooster Big D and the rooster calls himself B'dee in his head..."

It definitely feels like an element of wish-fulfillment, within the story...

He wants a camera, and gets a recorder stone... he (view spoiler)[misses home and attracts Maple trees with syrup...

etc etc etc, into the 2nd book (hide spoiler)]

I love it all, tho... I couldn't believe, halfway through book 2, (view spoiler)[when Washi the Carp became a Strongbad style water dragon with muscley arms... Washinating the Dishes :D (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Ah, thanks for confirmation on Jin's origins. We don't ever even really discover his true name, do we? He just takes on Jin's.

I like the idea of wish-fulfillment... I wonder if that could be the land? Or the connectedness of Chi... (view spoiler)[makes me think of the "advice" he gives to Xia Lan--everything is connected. Make one part better, make the whole better. Give, and you will receive. (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Narilka wrote: "I hadn't put together yet that the other pig was supposed to be named Babe lol I do think it's funny that Jin calls the rooster Big D and the rooster calls himself B'dee in his head. Or it sounds l..."

Babe is actually an Ox that Jin Rou gets later on...

Chun Ki's wife / the girl pig, seems to be named after Peppa Pig, altho it gets pronounced Pee Pa, after it gets Asianized...

It definitely seems to be influencing the fan art, too:

[Narilka]

I love that art. I'm through ch 31 and am loving this book and characters. This is the series I didn't know I needed right now :)

Yeah Pe Pa (Peppa) sounds more like what Travis is saying. I haven't met the ox yet. Where I'm at. (view spoiler)[They just saved that cultivator who was trying to hunt down the evil sword bastards and was in bad shape herself. I'm waiting for her surprise upon waking up to the situation she finds herself in hehe (hide spoiler)]

I'm finding myself making excuses to listen I'm enjoying the story so much. I was hoping this would get me to the release of Starter Villain but I think I'm going to finish faster lol

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

It's a great book... only reason the 2nd book took me longer, is I was doing things non-conducive to listening, so I was paused alot...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Just started Cave 13, the new Joe Ledger book that came out today... Rogue Team International #3...

Probably gonna need another fluffy read after this... might read Oh Great! I was Reincarnated as a Farmer...

Anyway, starts off strong/harsh, with a dedication to 2 family members that passed away, then a prologue that reads like "what if a fictional Mr. Rogers analog was secretly evil"... like that British guy that was revealed to be a predator after he died, Jimmy Savile... more accurately, I guess I should have gone with Steve Irwin, since National Geographic was mentioned, but my mind went to Mr. Rogers...

This is the Bible Magic book, if the blurb is anything to go by... referencing Dead Sea Scrolls...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I was just shown this, and have to share it with the world: