Vagabond Treehouse (2023) [Beware of Chicken 3 - December 4th] Showing 2,351-2,400 of 5,829

[Tonari no Emily]

Timelord Iain wrote: "Emily wrote: "Finished Blacksmith Queen. I rather loved it. Crass, irreverent, and hilarious to me..."

Told ya... and some narrators REALLY get into the moaning, too...

Speaking of weird word cho..."

Yeah those are awful! xD
I don't read too much stuff with sex scenes in them so nothing that weird comes to mind hahaha

[Nirkatze]

TT Ned Summers #9

Well, I blew through this yesterday during a long workday. Usually I'd take the time to type up my thoughts as they came, but I was so tired I just listened and plodded through work. I really need to start getting more than four hours of sleep a night. >.<

Was anyone else surprised at (view spoiler)[how much of the story was spent on Ned's first life? I'm not sure if I was just tired or what, but it seemed like a good third of the story was through before we got our first rest. I think it worked really well, since this book focuses more on unraveling a specific event rather than finding self-actualization through exploring multiple paths, but I felt like I spent a decent part of the book waiting for the reset point. Part of that is due to the expectations that have been set up by the previous books, I think.

Also, Ned's reset point is the most active by far. Most folks were reset to a point when sleeping, sitting, or lying down. Ned gets punched in the face.

Overall, I thought it was an interesting different take on the paradigm. (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Choko wrote: "TTNS#9 ... Up to Ch. 13... [spoilers removed]"

I really like Ned's Dad. There've been a lot of good family relationships in this series as a whole.

whole town (view spoiler)[It really is amazing how the power of rumor can socially exile. And interesting to think about how 1950s small town, more conservative and superstitious attitudes compare to modern day. Nothing spreads so fast as a rumor in a small town, nothing is harder to uproot and kill. With social media, this has been both exacerbated and watered down. A small town is still a small town, but the internet is a vast world... with its own small towns. You can't erase something once it's on the net, but you can potentially change your community more easily.

Modern-day folks may be less conservative in general, but the bull-headed "believe what I want to because so-and-so told me so it must be true no matter what the newspaper says" attitude is just as strong today. (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Choko wrote: "Blacksmith Queen... You guys are hilarious! Emily, so glad you enjoyed it! I think Beatrice had been in communication with the King's mother for a while and since she is very smart and manipulative..."

I had a LOT of laugh out loud moments during the book--really enjoyed it! I started Princess Knight today. Sadly, Keeley is mostly coming across as an annoying prick. Gemma sort of started out like that for me in book 1, but when her (view spoiler)[War Monk (hide spoiler)] status was revealed, she started developing more character and I began to like her. I feel like Keeley's character is degrading instead of developing and it really annoys me.

Also, I between this world and reading the first Inkeeper Chronicles book, I feel like I'm drowning in Alpha Male testosterone. Why? Why are folks attracted to assholes? Why do people want to read about folks being attracted to assholes? I just want to PUNCH them and break their noses. Maybe that makes me an asshole.

Hm...going to put this thought in the other forum too. And go to sleep. Actually ready for work tomorrow so gonna get more than 4 hours tonight yay me!

[Choko]

Haha! As I said, alpha males are fine, as long as they are only in my fantasy books, not in reality:)) But at least in GA's world, the women are just as alpha as the men:))) Actually, even more so at times...

I think this is why the TT series, despite not being spectacular, is kind of a breath of fresh air, because as a whole, it is more slice of life with very normal humans... The time travel is more like a "what if" scenarios for everyday choices we make... It is restful reading those, but I will be OK when the series ends and I know I will not be re-reading them. When the GA books I know I will re-read every time I want something over the top and kind of outlandish, because it is restful in "this has absolutely nothing to do with reality" way... And I think both have their place in our reading world:))

As you see, most everyone who has been reading the big, grim Fantasies, is absolutely overwhelmed by the content at this point, particularly when piling them up on top of each other in such a short time... I have gone through this many times, so this is the reason I encourage everyone to read fundamentally different things in between, because otherwise you get that hangover, and you stop enjoying even books you might love otherwise...

I just finished Constance Verity#03, and I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had spaces it out a bit from the previous two and the Andrea Vernon books... It wasn't bad, it wasn't as good as the previous book, but I was definitely underwhelmed... I liked the way it ended, maybe we can get some more books in the future, and I liked the concept of the guardian mantle and the end of the Universe, but I thought it could have used a bit smarter humor... That is just me though...

I think I am more in the Grim mood right now, because those books are working better for me at the moment. We will see:)))

[Nirkatze]

Choko wrote: "Haha! As I said, alpha males are fine, as long as they are only in my fantasy books, not in reality:)) But at least in GA's world, the women are just as alpha as the men:))) Actually, even more so ..."

I totally agree with everything you just said. All the big BR series I'm in right now are pretty dark--I'm even having trouble making myself read The Faithful and the Fallen even though it's so good. I keep thinking I want to take breaks and read something else. Thankfully, the super short chapters help. And books like these we're talking about here.

I'm actually really glad that the April monthly challenge is like "the books you've been saving for a rainy day"--I think I've kind of interpreted that as "the books I need when I need a break from all the grimdark in the world right now."

And wait--were we starting Constance Verity 03 already? I'd been holding on to that until we were starting. Did I miss it? I'll jump in when I'm done with Princess Knight.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Nirkatze wrote: "Choko wrote: "Blacksmith Queen... You guys are hilarious! Emily, so glad you enjoyed it! I think Beatrice had been in communication with the King's mother for a while and since she is very smart an..."

Ever heard the term Alphahole?... basically Alpha (Male) asshole portmanteau... it's pretty prevalent in Paranormal Romance with wolf packs and the like...

Ilona Andrews' male leads tend to toe that line, hard... read a book in the right/wrong mood, and you could easily say they cross that line, whether it's Curran, Mad Rogan, or Sean Evans...

The worst offenders, which tend to be fated mates books where the female has little choice, are the ones I was most likely to abandon, back in the day... my favorites are the ones that break from the norm...

Latent shifters that can't shift, weird hybrids, Omega wolves, genderswapped dynamics like the super alpha female and her truly beta/nonaggressive husband in the Mercy Thompson series, etc...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I finally finished Misfit Soldier, 2 weeks late...

I liked the overall story, felt like the hint of romance came out of nowhere basically (but also didn't impact the story much, except the epilogue)... liked/loved all the characters, and lost the thread of how they made all that money, from the long break...

Definitely loved the MC's criminal problem-solving skills :D

[Nirkatze]

Princess Knight Chapter ??? 2:50 mins in.

This made me laugh:

(view spoiler)[Quinn: "Turns out centaurs are favorites of all gods."
Gemma: "Why is that?"
Quinn: "Well look at us. We're gorgeous."

LOL. Quinn is supposed to be another Alpha, but the deadpan delivery of all lines by the narrator makes him more of a straight-man comic. (hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

Iain, glad you enjoyed MS! I would like more in that universe:)

Nirkatze, haha! I like that type of dude:) He is totally self-involved and it is kind of funny when he starts falling for someone:)

[Nirkatze]

Timelord Iain wrote: "Ever heard the term Alphahole?... basically Alpha (Male) asshole portmanteau... it's pretty prevalent in Paranormal Romance with wolf packs and the like..."

Thought I had already replied to this. >.< I first came across that term when I read House of Earth and Blood! Which, coincidentally, I am reading again right now before picking up book 2.

Came across this scene in the book that talks about it. Made me laugh--putting in spoiler tags just in case, but not spoilery:
(view spoiler)[She bit into the croissant. “Isn’t it exhausting to be an alphahole all the time? Do you guys have a handbook for it? Maybe secret support groups?”

“An alpha-what?”

“Alphahole. Possessive and aggressive.” She waved a hand at his bare torso. “You know—you males who rip your shirt off at the slightest provocation, who know how to kill people in twenty different ways, who have females falling over themselves to be with you; and when you finally bang one, you go full-on mating-frenzy with her, refusing to let another male look at or talk to her, deciding what and when she needs to eat, what she should wear, when she sees her friends—”

“What the f--- are you talking about?”

“Your favorite hobbies are brooding, fighting, and roaring; you’ve perfected about thirty different types of snarls and growls; you’ve got a cabal of hot friends, and the moment one of you mates, the others fall like dominoes, too, and gods help you when you all start having babies—” (hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

Hahaha! What an awesome description of the type!!!! This is so true!!!! Haha!

[Nirkatze]

Further into the Princess Knight... it's a bit annoying that Libby doesn't show chapters. I think this is Libby. It might be Hoopla. One of them doesn't show chapters.

I'm loving how Ainsley is invisible. G.A. Aiken does running jokes really well. Also enjoying another running joke of Quinn threatening to go centaur and poo on people when they're being annoying.

[Choko]

Haha!!! I totally agree. Also, I think the next book is going to be about Ainsley:))) Can't wait to see what she does with her. I was really weary about another really quiet female character, whom they called "the babysitter", because their mother was a badass warrior and she ended up taking care of her siblings, in the other series, and it turned out to be one of my favorite. She has a really good grasp on the characters of this world. ...

[Nirkatze]

I just saw the same thing literally a second ago! I was hoping it would be about her--total ditto there.

These books are making me laugh out loud a lot. :)

In the Epilogue (view spoiler)[the dragons who show up--are they from the other series? I remember there being a mention of Beatrix planning a campaign against a land with dragons too. Queen Anwyl? (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Yup, that’s Dragon Kin

[Choko]

Anwyl is the Mad Queen!!! And we love her in all her glorious madness!!!! From Dragon Kin series. The first book of those is about her, and her dragon love of her life:))) He only wanted to stay in his cave away from people and relatives, especially his father, but Anwyl stumbled upon him and madness in both human and dragon kingdoms ensues:))))

[Katie]

Nirkatze wrote: "Timelord Iain wrote: "Ever heard the term Alphahole?... basically Alpha (Male) asshole portmanteau... it's pretty prevalent in Paranormal Romance with wolf packs and the like..."

Thought I had alr..."

had to chime in here. One thing I hated in House of Earth and BLood was the term of Alpha Assholes. lol. That summary you posted said it perfectly XD

[Choko]

TTRW#10... Up to Ch. 8... (view spoiler)[ RW doesn't seem to lack empathy, she is just completely selfish and self-centered... I am not sure if she has feelings about anything or anyone really... So far, she is really unlikable... You can't blame only the way she was raised, it has to be something internal... (hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

TTRW#10... Up to Ch. 20... (view spoiler)[ This first life, like the book before, took a long time... And now that she is back, she is once again more interested in the financial side, than the emotional state of her child and even brother... (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Need to finish the required ebook stories and continue with the main Marla Mason audiobooks... kinda lost focus on that...

[Choko]

Iain, me too... I will get back to it tomorrow...

TTRW#10... Up to Ch. 27... (view spoiler)[ At least she did right by her brother... (hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

TTRW#10 ... Up to Ch. 40... (view spoiler)[ So many lives, and she is not even trying to create emotional connection with anyone else but her brother. She seems to have given up on the kid all together... I am starting to wander what will actually make her life complete... (hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

TTRW#10... Just finished. I actually ended up enjoying this one, despite the character taking quite a while to get to her equilibrium... I think there are only 4 more books to go...

[Nirkatze]

Katie wrote: "had to chime in here. One thing I hated in House of Earth and BLood was the term of Alpha Assholes. lol. That summary you posted said it perfectly XD"

LOL--that was one of the things I loved. >.< The term, not necessarily the characters.

[Nirkatze]

Choko wrote: "Anwyl is the Mad Queen!!! And we love her in all her glorious madness!!!! From Dragon Kin series. The first book of those is about her, and her dragon love of her life:))) He only wanted to stay in..."

LOL Thank you Choko & Iain for that information! I may look into those next I need a laugh then. :)

Right now I joined the Joust BR and got it on audio, but then I'm jumping in to the TT this week. Probably would've done that first but I couldn't remember which one was next... >.<

[Katie]

Nirkatze wrote: "Katie wrote: "had to chime in here. One thing I hated in House of Earth and BLood was the term of Alpha Assholes. lol. That summary you posted said it perfectly XD"

LOL--that was one of the things..."

OH my gosh. You liked the term? lol. Maybe I just didn't like it coming out of Bryce's mouth 24/7. Moderation girlie, lol

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I like the term... but I'm not sure I'd want to hear it said over and over... it doesn't roll off the tongue the same way asshole does :D

There's like a full pause in the middle, like it still wants to be 2 words...

[Brian]

@Iain. Have you ever read any of the Warhammer books??? I’ve never played the game nor read the books but keep getting recommendations on Audible. First, are they good?

Second? Where to begin?

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Can't say I have... sry... sure you could find more educated responses with a google search...

I've barely touched D&D books with that Drizzt trilogy and Dragonlance trilogy...

[Brian]

Thx! I’m not into D and D and have never really explored Warhammer. Keep getting recommendations on Audible so thought I’d check one out to try and end my reading slump.

Thx

[Katie]

Funnily enough I just had a day where I couldn't fall asleep and I asked my boyfriend to tell me a story. And he started yammering off Warhammer lore. lol. I didn't know it until the next day. So while I have not read the books or played the actual game (I'm more of a D&D player myself) I can say that there is a deep set lore for Warhammer and the backstories XD

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

From the recommended/best list I found, the advice I almost gave (to aim for Space Marines stories) seems pretty on point... I'm pretty sure my Warhammer/D&D friend said Space Marines are the most popular units, and common protagonists in games/media based on Warhammer (and humanoid races in general are, too)...

[Nirkatze]

Katie wrote: "OH my gosh. You liked the term? lol. Maybe I just didn't like it coming out of Bryce's mouth 24/7. Moderation girlie, lol"

LOL overuse can kill anything, very true. I think I enjoyed the word because it was the first time I'd ever come across it, and it seemed very appropriate in that book, so it rather tickled my fancy. :)

regarding Warhammer--Space Marines sound fun. :) I've never read any Warhammer though--I didn't even realize it was space. I thought it was like general D&D fantasy world.

[Nirkatze]

Choko wrote: "TTRW#10... Up to Ch. 8... [spoilers removed]"

Just started TT Rebecca Wright! Interesting observation Choko... I actually would have thought that someone who "is just completely selfish and self-centered... [who might not have] feelings about anything or anyone really..." would be the very definition of lacking empathy. Though that does bring up a question--is it only lacking empathy if you are aware of others situations and simply reject caring about them, or does it count if you don't even give them the time of day too?

Maybe it's that in the case of the latter--not thinking of others at all--the individual still has the chance to learn to become empathetic, if they can learn to think of others and "put themselves in others' shoes" as it were.

So far, it's interesting getting our first unlikeable character. Though I guess Michael Hollister should count, but after he (view spoiler)[killed his dad 80 times in the first chapter (hide spoiler)] I was already rooting for him, so he really doesn't for me. Rebecca's the first character where I'm looking forward to seeing her be dragged through crap, and maybe come out the other side a better person. We'll see. Only up to Chapter 8 so far.

[Choko]

Julian, did you read the Starflight novellas? If not, when would you like to chat about them?

[Choko]

Nirkatze, I think that lack of empathy doesn't mean unawareness of other's problems. To me it is the awareness, but lack of ability to connect to other people's emotions or experiences, no matter negative or positive. Selfishness and complete self-centeredness doesn't exclude inability to empathize, but is not limited to it. In most cases it is a choice. Empathy can be taught in those cases, while when lacking the ability, no matter the amount of teaching and social cues, empathy will not be there. Only a taught response, kind of like when you train animals to respond to cues...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I don't think I lack empathy... but I definitely think a screw's loose or something... made me wonder if I could become a sociopath, if I didn't care about following the law/repercussions, sometimes...

I think some of that stemmed from feeling like I didn't cry when I was supposed to, growing up... when my great grandfather died as a kid around 8-10 (was close with him, before moving to the US again at 5)... and it took years for me to cry about my mom's passing when I was 22...

Sometimes I feel like my responses are self-taught, like Choko said... but I still manage to have real emotional responses... books and some TV/movies definitely help me draw parallels and draw out that bottled up emotion, I think...

Big one for me was Making Faces, and the poem, and how I felt as a kid...

[Choko]

You know, this sounds a lot like you might be somewhere on the autism spectrum, which I wish people would stop equating with lack of intelligence... It has to do with exactly how the Self relates with its environment and the people and other things and beings within it... My guy has Asperger's, and I have grown to really appreciate and even love the direct, very self-centered, but not selfish ( I hate that people don't understand the humongous difference between those two terms) way he deals with the world. There is nothing wrong with you, you just relate to things in your own way, Iain:) And we sure love you for it:)))

[Julian]

@Choko I just started the first one today actually! I plan on reading the first two the following days

[Choko]

I am reading the first one right now too!!! Where are you? I am on Ch. 11... Jerkface's mom was so wrong during that interpretation!!! She obviously is not made to be a diplomat. And also obviously, is so used to people around her doing what she wants them to do...

FM is awesome and Rig is terrible around her, hahaha!!!

My friend Robin says that we should read all three novellas before reading Cytonic, what do you think?

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Choko wrote: "You know, this sounds a lot like you might be somewhere on the autism spectrum, which I wish people would stop equating with lack of intelligence... It has to do with exactly how the Self relates w..."

The American Healthcare system at it's finest... too expensive to bother with, if it's not life threatening...

I wouldn't be surprised if I had undiagnosed stuff like that... it's very easy to start self-diagnosing social disorders... I looked into that a bit, years ago...

[Nirkatze]

Finished TTRW. Some thoughts

Suicide. (view spoiler)[the cavalier attitude towards suicide is starting to bug me again. Rebecca just assumes that the con artist is like her, and that committing suicide isn't a horrible act, but just a reset. True, this world is set up in such a way that it's entirely possible, but... considering how enticing the idea of being able to restart one's life is even to someone not considering suicide, the casual way this series treats it really worries me. I was glad that Duncan addressed that with Rebecca--something along the lines of "you just killed yourself and left me??" and that we had the scene of him running after her and dying himself so we could see a little of the consequences--but I don't think it went deep enough there. (hide spoiler)]

Activism (view spoiler)[I like the path the final life took, especially the bit on SSSL. The extra detail of being a "point of light" was a cool bit--I really like the little historical details in these books. I'd love to see that program revived. And I'm glad that Duncan survived this time around, and that there was a little LGBT representation. Duncan was a really fun character. (hide spoiler)]

Real Estate & Author's note (view spoiler)[I always enjoy the insight the author shares at the end of each book. The little peeks into the creative process are fascinating to me. I would not have guessed that Shawn Inmon was a Real Estate agent! The little tidbits of the business were pretty interesting throughout. Like the history tidbits--I mean, any information about things I don't know about is fun! (hide spoiler)]

Connections--I'm starting to want to keep a spreadsheet of all the characters and how they interact.

@Choko, re: Chapter 20 (view spoiler)[I was really amazed that when she focused on finances, she never thought of stocks! That's been everyone else's go-to. (hide spoiler)]

re: Chapter 27 (view spoiler)[Duncan was really her only saving grace through her first several lives. But it still makes me think about empathy--deep philosophical thoughts.

Is it ever possible for a person to be truly selfless? If we love others, and we do things to make them happy, are we doing it truly for their happiness or because making them happy makes us happy? Is the fact that our actions make others happy enough to qualify as a good person? Is it the fact that Rebecca's pursuit of happiness was completely disconnected from others that makes her a unempathetic person?

Like I said, sorry for philosophical thoughts! (hide spoiler)]

re: Chapter 40 (view spoiler)[I was surprised she totally just dumped her kid too! (hide spoiler)]

re: Ending--I also enjoyed! I felt a little like the final life was a bit too much of a panacea, but that didn't keep me from enjoying it. I'm glad (view spoiler)[that she turned down the proposal. It's nice to have a story that doesn't include a romance as primary--instead at its heart is the friendships that form a family--between her brother, and Maria as well. I really loved how their sistership evolved. Plus, that proposal pissed me off. Quite rude of him to spring both a marriage AND a move on someone in one question. (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

I'm going to be starting The Golden Compass this week if anyone is interested in joining me...

[Nirkatze]

Choko wrote: "I am reading the first one right now too!!! Where are you? I am on Ch. 11... Jerkface's mom was so wrong during that interpretation!!! She obviously is not made to be a diplomat. And also obviously..."

I read the first two, Cytonic, then the last one--it's a little foggy in my memory now, but I'm pretty sure that's how the timeline works out, and I know that's how it was published and that Sanderson mentioned they were intended. I don't think there's many spoilers either way--though I *think* Evershore might extend past the end of Cytonic. I can't remember.

[Choko]

I might join you for The Golden Compass. Have to see what folder I have it in. Pretty sure I have it though...

The first of the Starflight novellas .... I just finished it. (view spoiler)[ I am very happy for FM and Rig hooking up:) They are a great couple! I love all the slugs - they are such friendly creatures, and it's great that Sanderson gave them leathery skin, instead of slimy one, because otherwise it wouldn't be as pleasant to constantly cuddle with them:)

I am glad we are discovering more about the crew and the slugs' abilities, but I am not sure we really advanced the plot. Maybe it was more so we know what is happening on with our humans, while Spin is in the Nowhere... (hide spoiler)]

I really enjoyed it and I am jumping straight into the next novella:)))

Iain, I know what you mean about the self-diagnosis thing. It is tempting, but most people are not self aware enough to measure the severity of lack of any abnormalities... It is always easier to look from the outside in.

Nirkatze, about a person being truly selfless - not only not possible, but ill advised as well. We are biological and psychological creatures, and we can't exist unless we work for our well-being. It doesn't make us selfish, just perpetuates our existence in a healthy way. The saying that in order to care for others you first have to take care of yourself is a cliche, but a very true one. So no, nothing and no one is truly selfless, thank goodness!!!:)

[Nirkatze]

Timelord Iain wrote: "I don't think I lack empathy... but I definitely think a screw's loose or something... made me wonder if I could become a sociopath, if I didn't care about following the law/repercussions, sometime..."

Choko wrote: "You know, this sounds a lot like you might be somewhere on the autism spectrum, which I wish people would stop equating with lack of intelligence... It has to do with exactly how the Self relates w..."

You're not the only one to have such thoughts about themselves Iain! Your words echo too close to ones I have had of my own. I often feel like I am acting out emotions which are expected of me, while on the inside I am calculating. But I do it because I do care about the people around me, and I can see their reaction to an emotional response and see that it moves them. So maybe that makes me manipulating, or maybe it makes me something Autistic, or maybe it means I have sociopathic tendencies... sometimes I have thought of investigating more thoroughly, but why? I have assuaged my wonders by imagining that all things are a spectrum, and that each individual relates to emotion differently. If I were to investigate further--I feel different, but not broken. And doesn't everyone feel different? Any labels I might find would only be a label, and while it might be interesting for self-awareness purposes, I don't know. As long as I use my powers for good, does it matter?

Some days, even here in book club, when other folks mention how specific scenes or tragedies were hard to read, I wonder again. I don't have the same empathetic reactions others do. I see the story points intellectually but not emotionally--or at least not surface emotion. Reading too much darkness can make me depressed (usually because I cannot see the story lines that might bring about a satisfactory ending), but I rarely feel for specific characters in my heart, just intellectually.

Hah! Deep thoughts!

I really enjoyed y'all's exploration of psyche, and I like your analysis of being "selfless" too Choko! "perpetuates our existence in a healthy way"--ooh! It's true, we don't exist in vacuums.

[Julian]

@Choko I'm exactly at the same place as you so far! Jorgen's mom is setting herself up to be a minor antagonist so far.

As for the reading order I've read that the last novella was published after Cytonic came out and contains a few spoilers for it.

[Nirkatze]

Choko wrote: "I might join you for The Golden Compass. Have to see what folder I have it in. Pretty sure I have it though...

The first of the Starflight novellas .... I just finished it...."

Yay! I'd love to read Golden Compass with you Choko! I've been wanting to do a reread for a long long time, and now my local book club is reading it by Friday so I need to get started. I've been thinking of doing a whole series reread and trying out the new materials--I haven't read any of the new things in the world since the Amber Spyglass finished up the trilogy. :)

re: Starflight Novella 1 (view spoiler)[I loved FM & Rig too! I love how chill they are too--quite the contrast to Spensa.

And the slugs! Such snugglies! I really want a doomslug plushie of my own some day. Didn't someone on FBR share that they'd picked one up for their child? Lucky child! (hide spoiler)]

After finishing TTRW I'm in a fuzzy spot trying to figure out what to pick up for my next audio as I wait for Monday to bring #11. Maybe I should jump back into the Wandering Inn? Or try out the catalogue I collected due to Soo & Iain's recommendations? But it's more fun to read with people so I'm feeling spoiled... I feel less inclined to pick up a book on my own anymore.

Regarding the Middle Falls Time Travel series--I think we only have two more free ones in the Audible Library. There're 15.5 books total, and book 15 is set to come out in May. There's a short .5 story that features Max Hartfield from Michael Hollister's story.

[Tonari no Emily]

Been in a bit of a reading slump for a week because I was sick. Somehow it wasn't COVID even though someone I live with tested positive... Lots of people getting sick around me right now. But I'm feeling much better yesterday and today. Got around to TTRW yesterday, missed the Monday read

@Choko, I definitely agree she is not a very likeable character (view spoiler)[ her first life was pretty selfish and she spent ALOT of lives just vacationing with her brother and basically abandoning her kid... I'm glad she figured things out and tried to make connections with people other than her brother! But it looks like she was maybe planning on doing that eventually after she had her fill of traveling.. But such a harsh way to do it.. just "start over" after she runs out of money leaving her brother that way... I kind of want a book from the perspective of those that are left behind by someone starting over like that.. but that would probably be too depressing and that's not really what this series is about.

I think she did have a good redemption arc in her last life though, and I really like she developed the relationship with Maria. Seemed like a loving platonic partnership. And for once it didn't end with a romantic love of the MC's life, but a platonic love of her life which was sweet.

From the Author's note.. again this guy seems to be writing his autobiography through the series in small ways throughout each book. Idk why but that kinda makes me laugh (hide spoiler)]