YA Addicted Book Club discussion
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What are you reading in 2023?
Mod
Brittany wrote: "I've been almost done it for a few days. When I finish I'll rant at my issues with it. Might be partly a wrong mood for me reading it but I think what has bothered me would have no matter what. And..."I totally get it, and it's totally fine not to like something lots of other people loved.
Mod
Time for that weekly update. Yes, I'm a day late but it's a long weekend here in Canada land. 
The Best of Edgar Allan Poe -3 StarsI have been meaning to read some Poe as an adult pretty much since I got back into reading but for one reason or another I just never did. When I was finally faced with not one but two challenges that need a book of poetry I finally did it. I have some mixed feelings about this book overall. There are of course the ones I remember from when I was much, much younger like The Tell-Tale Heart and The Cask of Amontillado which are still good. I then discovered some new ones that were also good. Ones like The Pit and the Pendulum and The Black Cat. Then there were the ones that I just couldn't get into. That just felt like an endless barrage of words bouncing of my brain. Looking at you The Premature Burial. Overall it was an interesting listen and a nice start to the spooky season.
Fallen -4 StarsThis was yet another tense roller coaster ride where we get a lot of background on not just Faith but her mother and Amanda. This book was really interesting and I didn't see the twist coming. Maybe it was just week I was having where I feel like I wasn't 100% focused on reading but it was a good twist. We of course have more movement on the relationship side of things which continues to feel good. Overall just another great book in this series.
Now for the manga and comics
Perfect World, Vol. 3 -3 Stars
Perfect World, Vol. 4 -3 StarsI am done with this series. I'm not going to say that the series is bad but I will say that the series is just not for me. Instead of a sweet romance I find myself lost in the endless swamp of what I think daytime soaps sound like. Everyone has a crush on everyone, confessions are handed out like candy at Halloween, diseases drop at the most convenient of times. It's just to much for me. I'm sure there will be plenty of people who will like this sort of stuff and power to you. I'll be over here with sweet simple romances and action stuff.
The Muscle Girl Next Door -4 StarsRomances like this one. This is a one shot manga (for non manga fans that means it's a single volume story) about a guy who has a crush on his ripped next door neighbor but not the confidence to confess to her. It's simple, it's sweet, and I grinned my entire time reading this thing. If you are looking for a sweet one shot then give this a shot.
Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou: Deluxe Edition, Vol. 2 -4 StarsI don't know if it was just the mood I was in when I was reading this or if it was the book but this one just didn't feel the same as the first. The cozy vibes were still there but the story just didn't quite connect like the first one. I'm still in for more of course but I'm at the point where I just want a bit more from the story.
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Part 2—Battle Tendency, Vol. 1 -5 StarsOh man, now this was a treat to read. This settles into the true weirdness of the series. The main male characters are all ripped giants who strike a super model pose at every chance they get. The body horror, oh man, there was so much body horror in this and I wasn't expecting that. This story has some characters from the first series but the MC is not the same. He is the grandson of the first Joestar character and as a character he is fundamentally different. He is loud, brash, and unconventional. He is not afraid to run away from a fight if he thinks he is loosing. Yet there is a part of him that will fight for what he believes in. This series is set in 1938 and has, lets say, certain WWII standard villains but they are not the true antagonist of the series. For the most part they are there to be ripped apart by the true antagonists of the series. I really can't wait for the next one in this series.
Bea Wolf -5 StarsI was feeling that JoJo was the stand out book of the week until I opened this book. It only took the first couple pages of this comic to have me fully on board. This is a take on the classic Beowulf but with kids battling parents. I know it sounds weird but man the author really made this work and it is glorious. Here is a sample of the first couple pages.
Listen to the lives of the long-ago kids, the world fighters, the parent-unminding kids, the improper, the politeness-proof, the unbowed bully-crushers, the bedtime-breakers, the raspberry-blowers, fighters of fun-killers, fearing nothing, fated for fame.
There was Tanya, treat-taker, terror of Halloween, her costume-cache vast, sieging kin and neighbor, draining full candy-bins, fearing not the fate of her teeth. Ten thousand treats she took. That was a fine Tuesday.
This book had my brain create a separate narrator voice in my head just for the sheer epicness of what I was reading. This book is just amazing and if you find yourself even slightly curious then I encourage you to give it a shot.
Now what is coming up next.
Frankenstein: The 1818 TextI can't find my audiobook cover through this menu as I think that there are just to many different copies of this book. Back to the book itself. I'm currently a little over 60% into this book and rather enjoying things. The story is slow moving but I'm oddly engaged. I'll get into things in the next weekly wrap up but I'm really surprised by this one.
For non audiobooks I have a stack of manga and a stack of novels to get through still. I think today I want to tackle Monstress Book One when I have a day to just focus on reading.
Mod
This is my kind of ranting review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Alright, time for an update. 
Snatched -5 StarsThis was a super intense novella and I was kind of shocked by that. I have some mixed feelings when it comes down to novellas and a lot of it comes down to length. I just feel that it's harder to build a good story with such a page restriction. Now .5 books in a series has a bit of an advantage as they already have the characters and worlds built so it's just a matter of telling a story. Regardless, this story was a super fast paced story. Will is being punished and is sent to work at the Atlanta International Airport working surveillance to catch people having sex in the bathrooms. During one of his shifts he notices a man and a young girl that trips his "cop senses" but he looses them in the crowd. What ensues is a whirlwind chase as the man is captured but the girl is still lost. There is this looming ticking clock over everything that relentlessly pushes the plot forward and it just makes for this intense thriller that I devoured.
Frankenstein: The 1818 Text -4 StarsIf you have been following me over the years you know I have a mixed history with "Classics". The older they are the harder of a time I seem to have them. Knowing that it's not a big surprise to find out I was filled with a lot of trepidation heading into this book. In my mind this was not just another classic this was one of The Classics. This was the start of both the sci-fi and the horror genre which are both genres I enjoy. The fact that the book was over 200 years old also added to the trepidation. Was this going to be another verbose and boring book? Now if I was actually reading this book there is a good chance I would have been bored but I was listening to this on audiobook and it was pretty good.
The story was rather slow moving but it was oddly engaging at the same time. It slowly took it's time exploring both characters and what lead them to where things were at the beginning of the book. That's why I feel that both characters are equally the protagonist and the antagonist. I know that is not a hot take on things but I feel that both were wrong in some way and their actions led to this cycle of self destruction. I was also really surprised by just how wrong pop cultures image of Frankenstein and his monster really are. That image is shaped by many, many different re-imaginings of the source material over the year. No big lightening storm, no Igor, no bolts in the neck, none of that.
The Voodoo Killings -3 StarsNot sure what lead me to this book but I picked it up at some point. This was not a bad book but it just never wowed me either. It's an urban fantasy book. Takes place in a big city (Seattle), has a female MC, and a unique "take" on the supernatural (focusing more on ghost and zombies). This was one that leaned more towards the UF side of the pool then to the PNR side of the pool but when you are dealing with zombies that's probably for the best. Not a lot to really say about this one honestly.
Artemis Fowl Movie Tie-In Edition Artemis Fowl Movie Tie-In Edition -3 Stars
I've got this ongoing monthly genre challenge I'm participating in and I never would have thought that this months genre would have been such a problem. This months genre is humor/comedy and apparently I don't actively read a lot of books in this genre. One of the challenges was to pick a book off of a Listopia list and after many pages I decided on giving this a reread. It was either that or more Stephanie Plum and I just didn't have that in me. I forgot how much of a villain Artemis was in the first book. He is the antagonist of the story really and a very clever one at that. Overall a fun reread, I don't think I'll be rereading the entire series but it was fun to revisit the first book.
W.I.T.C.H. Part I: The Twelve Portals, Vol. 3 -3 StarsI snagged this up from the library in the midst of a bunch of other comics I was requesting. I kind of forgot to request this one months ago when I first started the series. To be fair to this book I don't think I was in the mood to read this book yesterday but library due dates and other people waiting. This book was alright but I just wasn't feeling the whole "we can overcome everything with the power of love and friendship" shtick that books of this nature rely heavily on. This was the last book in the initial trilogy and it relied heavily on that theme throughout the book. I got through it, got it back to the library, not sure if I want to read on in the series though.
Now, what is next...
The CaptureI think this will be my next audiobook. I need to get a particular challenge moving again as I've been stuck on it for a while now.
Monstress Book One
Golden in DeathThese are the two big books I want to finish this week. I started Monstress yesterday and it's a lot. The art is beautiful, the world is deep, and there is just a lot going on. After that it's back to In Death which I think is something I need right now.
Mod
Time for that weekly update. I'm a little late but I as wrapping up some stuff.
The Capture -2 StarsOh man where do I even start with this book. I'll admit that I might not have been in the right mindset heading into this book. I had just finished Monstress, more on that below, and was still kind of lost in that world and what I had read when I started this one. Normally I would have taken some more time but I always listen to an audiobook on my walk so I fired this up. My next issue that doesn't really relate to the book was the narrator. I wasn't the biggest fan of this narrator honestly but her voice for Gylfie was like nails on a chalkboard for me. It was this forced high pitch I'm trying to be a super cute tiny female character and it was grating. This would have been alright if Gylfie was a minor character with only a couple lines but she she was a major character with a ton of lines.
Now we get into the book itself. It's hard to explain but this book just bounced off me. The world building was weak. I'm not sure if this was a world that used to have humans at some point or a completely separate world that never had humans. If it never had humans then how did the owls know of things like libraries, barns, and churches? The MC, Soren, just kind of seemed to whine his way through the story. I don't mind a pessimistic character from time to time but Soren just bugged me. It just felt like his default answer to things was either not knowing or thinking it's not possible. Then we have Gylfie who had some supernatural sense and knew exactly what to look for and where to look for it even if it made so sense. Then we get to the ending. Up to this point I wasn't feeling it but it wasn't the worst thing ever. There are two characters who we are introduced to at the end that we basically get a chapter to build up their characters, explain what they are doing there, and then they are dead. As you find out they were basically there to only introduce a story element or to help the two MC's get something. It just feels cheap and manipulative. After that the two characters escape their prison. At this point I was wondering what the book intended to do. It decides to introduce two more MC's in the last half of the book. One of these characters didn't even get introduced until the 90% mark shortly before the "last battle". The last part of this book was essentially a giant setup for things to come. It just felt disconnected from the rest of the book. Like I had the introduction to the second book tacked onto the end of this one. There was a last battle that was never really setup at any point and just kind of happened only to be settled with a quick McGuffin making the entire battle utterly pointless. I just did not enjoy this book and have no intention of reading on.
Golden in Death -5 StarsA slower paced In Death this time. Less action thriller and more investigating and digging into things in the past. Not a lot to really say about this one. I love this series and that is not exactly a secret at this point.
Monstress Book One-5 StarsThis has been like an elephant in the room every since it came out a few years back. I'd see this recommended to be on Goodreads lists, on popular lists, on lists at the library, etc. I had some curiosity about it but I felt that it was something I wanted to wait for an omnibus for so I could get the story in one sitting. My library got the first omnibus volume in and I took it as a sign. I'm so glad that I waited on this one because I don't think I could have waited doing single volumes. This was an amazing read full of amazing art that was just a treat to read. This was a complex world full of a deep history with factions and other groups all vying for power in their own way. At the center of everything is a young and and angry MC who just wants answers. Well that and revenge, sweet, sweet, revenge. This book is a dark fantasy as it dives into a lot of heavy subjects but it all just adds to this world. A world where the powerful will do absolutely anything for even more power. I cannot wait to get caught up on my library pile so I can get to the second omnibus.
Spy x Family, Vol. 1 -4 Stars
Spy x Family, Vol. 2 -4 StarsI've been wanting to read this for a while but the wait list at the library has been scary long. It has finally calmed down a bit and I was able to get around to it and I'm glad that I did. This series is hilarious. The concept feels tried but unique at the same time. The father is secretly a spy trying to infiltrate a school. To do that he needs a family to get in. Enter the "wife" who is secretly an assassin who is looking for a cover story. Both the wife and the husband are from opposite sides of the conflict. Then we have the child, Anya, who is secretly telepathic who knows everyone's secret and is looking for her own protection. She thinks all of this is cool and helps nudge various things along. Great setup, great characters, just a fun read and I can't wait for more.
Now, what is next.
Duel at Araluen This is the audiobook I'm currently working on and yeah, I've still got some mixed feelings about where things are going and just the general vibe of this new series.
You're Not Supposed to Die TonightI've only got a few days left to get this done and back to the library. Hopefully it's good.
Mod
Good luck with You're not supposed to die tonight... the beginning was decent, the second half didn't really work for me. Or for Lili either she has said.
I'm super curious about You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight. I devoured the first half of the book and loved it. There was this ominous sense of something off the entire time. I'm not sure if it's the book or just in my head. What I am super curious about is the ending. I know that there is a twist coming and it seems to have split the readers on this. Some seem to have loved it and some seem to imply that it ruined the book. What is the twist? What is my reaction going to be? Please don't actually answer these but I can't wait to get there.
Mod
Alright massive spoilers for You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight ahead. No joke I am going to be talking about the ending of things. (view spoiler)
Time for that weekly update again. On a side note I'm happy to say that I've finished my 300th book this year over the weekend. Now for my usual ramblings.
You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight -3 StarsDon't take that three star rating the wrong way. This book was incredibly close to getting a solid 4 star and it was only the last couple chapters that made it waver. I don't even dislike the ending, I was more puzzled and maybe a bit frustrated. Let me take this back a second and start at the beginning shall we. I loved the start of this book. There is the stereotypical "summer camp" used in so many 80's horror movies that was actually used in an 80's slasher flick. At this camp they recreate the slasher movie experience with the guest playing the victims. I loved this idea and seeing all the planning that went into this was fascinating. We join the cast at the end of the season when they are suddenly forced to shut down early. We start learning more about the camp and local events. Again, big old thumbs up from. Now from here we are starting to getting into spoiler territory so I'm going to get really vague. From here we get introduced to the "antagonistic force" and while not the twist I was expecting I was still on board for things. Then we get to the ending. I'm not going to spoil anything but it just felt like the author started flailing and was throwing out twist after twist after twist. Most of these twist weren't really that surprising and I was just left kind of feeling puzzled why they felt the need to do so. The twists aren't even bad either. If the author had just paused, took a step back, and fleshed out some of these ideas, maybe tied them together a bit more, maybe cut some of them, then I think the ending could have really knocked it out of the park. Then we have the epilogue that just left me with a boat load of unanswered questions. Overall I'd say if you're curious of the book I'd still give it a chance. It's a pretty solid book overall and you might just like the ending.
Duel at Araluen -4 StarsI have some pretty mixed feelings about this one. On one hand it's more Rangers Apprentice and it scratches the itch I have for this series. On the other hand there is just something vague missing from this series. I'm going to have a bit of a hard time explaining this one but here it goes. It feels like the author knew what we the fans wanted and made sure that those elements were included in the book. At the same time it just never felt inspired either. It feels like the author is writing these more for the fans and his publisher then for himself. There is a spark that feels like it is missing from these books that the earlier ones had. I also wish there was more focus on Maddie with new support characters for her. Instead we get a giant roster of characters from the original series and the Brotherhood series. This aren't guest appearances either but full sections dedicated to just these characters. It feels like Maddie isn't given a chance to really grow or become her own character when all these other characters take up so much page space. Overall this book was still a fun adventure book but I'm concerned with the direction this series is taking.
PTSD Radio Omnibus 3 (Vol. 5-6) -4 StarsThis book continues with the spooks and the weird story telling style but it just didn't have the impact of the second one. The second one legit spooked me in a way that I haven't had happen in a long time. This one just kind of felt like more of the first one. Not a bad read but it wasn't the second volume.
How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift? Vol. 3 -3 Stars
How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift? Vol. 4 -3 StarsMore of the same. The same jokes, the same pages showing you how to properly work out, just more of the same. I was honestly going to drop this one but then it hinted at a punching competition in the next one and I'm curious considering Hibiki's hidden talents. I guess I'm reading a couple more for now but I don't see it last a lot longer.
Now what is next.
The Darkest ThreadI'm finally getting to the last book I need for challenge I have been stalled on for a while. I'm about an hour into this so far and it seems fine. I wasn't expecting the introduction of actual paranormal elements into what seemed like a pretty grounded mystery. Not sure how I feel about this but I'll see where it goes.
Vampire Hunter DAbout three quarters of the way through this and enjoying my reread of it.
After that I've got:
Confessions and
Kiss of Frost
Finished
and was kind of disappointed, I liked the characters but it was a bit too slow going for my liking, it took me a while to fully get into it and be invested in what was happening to the characters.Next read will be
which should be fun, it's Bake-Off Season at the moment, so it felt like the perfect time.
Mod
Mod
Mod
I read 4 books
I really enjoyed this one. It's very different to my usual reads but I found it really enjoyable. I rated it 4.5 stars.
this was such a fun book. It's like the little mermaid but with sirens. Such a fun book. I gave it 5 stars.
gave this one 4 stars. I really enjoyed it but man the characters drove me nuts. So much miscommunication I wanted to bang their heads together.
this one was a 4.5 stars. Very good but quite a bit darker than Jen's previous books. It took me a while to get through but it's still better than the fbaa main series.I'm currently reading
and listening to
Mod
If Hurricane Wars made you want to bang their heads together because of miscommunication, it's probably one I should avoid...
Was a slower month for you but was all good books!
Mod
Yeah for an adult fantasy the characters definitely read like YA characters... the stupid kind. haha.
Brittany wrote: "Elena wrote: "Brittany wrote: "I've been almost done it for a few days. When I finish I'll rant at my issues with it. Might be partly a wrong mood for me reading it but I think what has bothered me..."Finally I got the time to read all the threads and your review. Totally understandable. Usually I also have issues with those beauty-related things, but here it didn't bother me at all. But probably because I consider other things beautiful and could relate to what MC was feeling about herself (I have a friend with the same issues, she looks gorgeous from the point of beauty standards, but for some reason she doesn't realise it and always complains that she's ugly).
Mod
Yeah for an adult fantasy the characters definitely read like YA charact..."
Oh no!! That is so annoying at 30 min from the end.
Good to know, Ill avoid for sure then!
Alright, lets get into what I read this week. While there are a couple of three star books in this line up this was a pretty solid week of reading.
Vampire Hunter D -3 StarsThis franchise holds a special place in my memories. Back when I was first started getting into anime way back in the early 2000's the 1985 movie was one of those things that hooked me in and I'll explain why here in a bit. I was strong armed (I had noodle arms so it wasn't hard) into a reread of this book and my opinion really hasn't changed in the years since I last read this. I'm going to get my criticism out of the way early so that I can properly gush about what I love. The pacing in this book can be a bit rough. Now I can't really say if this was a problem with the original or if it was a translation issue. Maybe something got lost in the localization/translation process but there were times where things felt clunky or just straight up dragged. Now for all the good. I love, love, love the world building for this series. On the surface you have what looks like a medieval fantasy/horror type of setting. Werewolves, vampires, men on horseback dealing with the scary things in the night with swords. Before long though you realize that the MC is riding a cyborg horse, that some characters have laser rifles, that there are force fields, the vampires have created monsters through gene manipulation, and more. That's right this is technically a sci-fi novel as it's set some 10,000 years in the future. I love the way this series blends all these various genres together into something new and ahead of its time for when it came out. Then there is the main character who is simply known as D. He is a Dhampir which is someone who is half vampire and half human. As someone who grew up on the action stars of the 80's D was so incredibly different. He wasn't a hulking behemoth spitting out one liners left and right. D is tall, beautiful, with long flowing hair and very little to say at all. For a much younger me this series was just so different and it just clicked with me. Some 20+ years later and I still enjoy things and I see myself departing on a journey of trying to read all the books that are available in English.
Confessions -4 StarsI was not prepared for the journey that this book took me on. I can't remember how this popped up on my list but it was something horror related. After reading this book I don't think that this is a horror but it is definitely a dark psychological thriller and a master class in the art of revenge. This book centers around the tragic death of a four year old girl who is the daughter of one of the teachers in the school. Each chapter is from a different POV as it explores each of the characters and their motivations behind the tragic event. Now I will echo a criticism I saw a lot of for this book which is it gets a bit slow in the middle. There are about four chapters in a row focusing on one student, from different POV's, and it gets a little tedious. Since this is all about one event it feels like there is a lot of retreading of the same material. Now the author does try to gloss over stuff we already know but because we are getting the inner thoughts of different people there is a lot of going over the same material. It's not a deal breaker but it does drag a little. Once you get past that though you head into the explosive ending that left me flabbergasted and with my jaw on the floor. I haven't experienced an ending that left me just that messed up. I'm really glad I picked up this book and gave it a try.
The Darkest Thread -3 StarsThis book left me feeling pretty conflicted by the end. On one hand there is a real sold mystery here involving sniffer dogs that kept me guessing up until the very end. The author was really good about dropping red herrings and leading the reader astray. There are some issues with the book though. For whatever reason there is a paranormal element in the book. The MC and her son can see and hear ghosts. It was used effectively a few times but it still just felt kind of out of place. Then there was a romance subplot. Nothing against romance in books but this really did not belong in this book at all. They are searching for a missing girl who's sister has been brutally murdered. The MC's son has been kidnapped and his release is hinging upon that missing girl being found in a certain time. Trying to pry a romantic subplot into the book just felt... icky. For instance there is a scene where the FMC is trapped underground with the MMC. It's about 12 hours until the deadline and they still haven't found the missing girl. Both characters are fatigued and injured. So lets have them flirt and try to create this romantic tension between the two. It just felt weird. Then there is my biggest criticism. Now I know I am reading a fictional book and things are not going to be 100% accurate to real life but the actions of the FBI in this book was just immersion breaking. Police officers in a Scooby Doo movie would probably be more effective then these characters. Why seal a crime scene when you can everyone just wander through doing what they want. Lets give our gun to the MC so that the brave agent can wander off into the dark looking for killer completely unarmed. In the start it wasn't that bad but the closer we got the end the worse it got and more often it happened. I was thinking about continuing this series but the whole FBI thing was just to much by the end and I'm done with things.
Shock Shop -3 Stars*ssssssssssssssssssssssiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh*
There is a much younger version of me that would have loved this comic but current me was just bored. This was one of that horror comics that relied really heavily on the classic tropes. It had a horror host who introduced each chapter, the story was just the same old horror cliches. If you have ever seen an episode of Crypt Keeper or read the comics then you know exactly what you are getting here and that's what my issue is with this. I've read so many comics and short story collections that follow this exact same formula to the letter that it just doesn't have an impact on me anymore. It just feels like something that has been recycled and I want something new.
Beauty and the Feast 08 -3 StarsSpeaking of more of the same. There is still a part of me that enjoys this series but it's a lot of the same. Tons of food related stuff, sports stuff, and that weird tension. That tension where the story tries to be super wholesome but then it has super sexy splash pages. That weird tension where the author really wants there to be something between these two characters but backs off at the last minute.
Isabellae Volume 1 -4 StarsThis is a Spanish comic that takes place in medieval Japan and is a combination of Irish and Japanese mythology. Confused yet? This was such a random comic but it was entertaining. A lot of action scenes and a lot of set up for the big finale. I feel like this comic has a ton of potential and it will either succeed in the second book or completely fall flat on its face. I don't see there being much middle ground for this one.
Another Kind -5 StarsThis was a random snag from the library and I didn't have a lot of expectations for this one. I figured I'd get some middle grade horror novel that was just alright. I was not prepared for all the emotions this book made me feel. This was a found family book about six monster children who are in government protection. Things happen and they find themselves on their own and out in the real world. They have to learn how to trust each other while overcoming hurdles and finding their way in the world. It was just a wonderful read and one I highly recommend.
Now for what is next.
DomesticationI had a choice this week between a challenge audiobook or a "just because" audiobook and the "just because" book won out. I'm about 25% of the way into this book and I'm having fun so far.
Kiss of FrostFinally getting around to me reread of this book and enjoying it so far. It's a bit frustrating early on as the MC is displaying some hard TSTL traits.
After that I have yet more manga I need to get done and back to the library.
Mod
Alright, I'm a bit late but here is my weekly update. Consider this your early warning, this week ended with a fair bit of emotional damage and I'll be talking about some of that. For now let's start with the lighter side of my reading.
Kiss of Frost -4 StarsThis book started out a little rocky with the main character dancing on that TSTL line as she tries to ignore all these threats against her life. Once things got rolling though this book was very entertaining. I did bump my rating up and that might be me just getting soft in my old age but I enjoy this series and the ending of this was good.
Domestication -4 StarsThis was a book that I got on a whim and it was better then it had any right to be. The name of this series is Battle Mage Farmer and as you can guess from that title it's about this super powerful person retiring to this quiet life out in the country to become a farmer. He has limitations though with these things called "Doom Points". If he cuts loose and uses his power to hurt others he gains doom points which hurries the arrival of the apocalypse. If he does good things he looses doom points. That is a super simplified explanation of this system. Now he knows nothing about farming and is gifted a run down old farm. This first book is about him getting his farm up and running with two people living on his farm while dealing with bandits, adventurers, and the looming apocalypse. There was a shocking amount of world building in this book and a pleasant blend of slice of life elements, action elements, and adventure elements. Combine all of that with a narrator who had a nice voice to listen to and this book was just a blast.
Days of Love at Seagull Villa, Vol. 1 -4 Stars
Days of Love at Seagull Villa, Vol. 2 -4 Stars
Days of Love at Seagull Villa Vol. 3 -4 StarsI read this a couple years back as a fan translation and was stoked to see that my library had the official English version. This was a feel good read with a super sweet romance. I'm still not the biggest fan of the ending and the redemption it brought but I can live with it.
Yu-Gi-Oh! (3-in-1 Edition), Vol. 12: Includes Vols. 34, 35 & 36 -4 StarsMy journey with this series is nearly complete and we are learning more and more about the Egyptian magic aspect of this series.
The Great Cleric (Manga) Vol. 3 -4 Stars More training, more world building, more fun.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The IDW Collection, Volume 10 -4 StarsMore TMNT shenanigans. A lot of this book takes place in Dimension X rounding up/protecting witnesses to finally put Krang in prison for the rest of his life. There was a pleasant twist at the end of this story line and an interesting set up for what is coming next.
Now for the emotional damage stuff
Berserk Deluxe Edition Volume 13 -5 StarsThe short version of this is that I loved it. It's Berserk, that should come as no surprise at all. This volume was all new material for me and it just kicked off all these memories and emotions. There were actions in this book that are working towards resolving some real long standing story lines. This is also the second last collection of the author's work before he passed. This of course brought up memories of finding out about his passing, how I found this series some 20 years ago in Japan, what this series has meant to me over the years and my journey with this story. The whole Japan thing also brought up memories of my ex-wife who passed earlier this year. The whole reason I was in Japan to start with was because of her. This just led to a whole lot of emotions and memories getting stirred up. Combine that with everything that was happening in the book and my emotional ties to that and I was a wee bit of a hot mess by the end of all of this.
The Complete Maus: A Survivor's Tale -5 StarsYup, after Berserk I followed it up with this comic. For those that might not have heard of this before this is a comic about the Holocaust. The author is the son of two Polish Jews who survived the whole horrifying experience and it's attempt at documenting what his parents experienced. Needless to say this book was incredibly heavy. I've been aware of this comic for a while but due to the heavy subject matter I've just kind of avoided it. This month it lined up perfectly for some challenges and I decided to rip the band-aid off. I knew it was going to be getting into some pretty serious subject matter but man there were sections in this book that just destroyed me. This book didn't just document the experiences of the Holocaust but what life was like for the author growing up with two parents who survived what they had. Being compared to brother he never knew, having his mother commit suicide, and this sense of guilt for never being able to understand what his parents had lived through.
What am I reading next? No clue, I have another day of this week and a stack from the library. What I can tell you is right now I want something light and fluffy to read. Something to just reset my emotional scales and make me feel a bit better.
Mod
Hugs about the hot mess feelings with Berserk
Survivors Tale sounds like the toughest of reads. I dont think I could do that in comic form.
Hope you pick the perfect fluff read to balance the scales
I was overwhelmed with different things recently and felt no joy writing reviews, so I just consumed books without any updates, tracking and anything else. And finally I'm out of this strange mood and want to talk about books again. So here's the small update:
- 5 stars. I don’t know when the next book is going to be released, but recently I missed that amazing narration, academia setting and a very captivating and picturesque world.
- 4 stars. I know Brittany wanted to read my thoughts on this one :) And I finally made some time to wrap it up properly. The book is good, but it didn’t click. Generally I loved the characters, yep, I’m talking about strong female leads again. The narration is very emotional, I mean it captures emotions very well. The topics the book touches are very relevant: defiance, empowerment, courage, quest for identity, and of cause the oppression of women’s magic. There is also a lot about issues of control and freedom. So the book makes you think a lot, which I loved. On the other hand, of no particular reason I felt very detached from the characters and the plot. I can’t explain what exactly didn’t work for me, probably it’s a little bit of everything combined together.
- 4 stars. I’ve read the first 2 books a while ago. I loved the idea, the first book was new and great, but unfortunately, the plot like that can’t keep you interested for too long. One book is good, two is fine, 3… I don’t know. Though it’s still good and, compared to many other mysteries, it’s one of the best.
- 4 stars. I didn’t like the first book and this is the rare case, when you push yourself into reading the second book and don’t regret it! The narration is stunning, the characters are exciting, the plot is twisty. And, well, as creepy as it gets, but in a good way, cosy spooky Halloween vibes :D
- 4 stars. I think this book is underrated. Such a funny, dorky, nerdy, satisfying romantic comedy. The cheesiness is not overwhelming, there are neither nasty scenes, nor major drama. It just gives you that constant good feeling, that everything’s going to be alright.
- 4 stars. Recently I was in a mood for some good old fantasy books and started a bunch of them. This particular one was written in 1995 and has the charm, typical for the period. It’s a high fantasy, solid, with lots of magic. Pretty interesting.
Brittany wrote: "Domestication sounds fun GordHugs about the hot mess feelings with Berserk
Survivors Tale sounds like the toughest of reads. I dont think I could do that in comic form.
Hope you pick the perfect f..."
Maus was definitely up there as one of the hardest things I've read. Not so much for how complex the story was but for the subject matter itself. There was a comic in the story that the author wrote after his mother committed suicide that destroyed me. It went into his owns feelings, his grief, the feelings of crushing expectations and guilt. It's a very short comic but it's incredibly powerful and emotional.
Mod
For Nightbirds I feel the same. I enjoyed it while I was reading it but never had an urge to pick it back up. Loved the atmosphere but wanted more magic explanation. I too felt kind of detached from the story even though it had some good ideas. I'll read book 2 though, I'm hoping the detached feeling goes away as this was the author's debut book. I'm glad you read it though I so wanted someone else's thoughts :)
I'm happy you liked the second Wayward Children so much more! Each book in the series has a different vibe so you may find some work better for you than others.
Brittany wrote: "Sorry that you've been overwhelmed with things Elena. Glad you're back in a book discussing mood.For Nightbirds I feel the same. I enjoyed it while I was reading it but never had an urge to pick i..."
I'm also going to read the second book of the Nightbirds. I didn't know that it was author's debut book, that gives me hope that the next one might be even 5-star :) So much potential there!
Time for another update and it's not a nice one. This was not the greatest week of reading.
Halloween Frost -3 StarsNot a lot to really say about this novella. It's a short, 30ish pages, story about Gwen going out on Halloween and running into a monster. There is not a lot here really. It was a quick, entertaining read.
The Outsiders -3 StarsHot spicy take of the day, this book was alright. Now I feel like I need to put a whole lot of context on that statement. This was an impressive book when you consider that it was written by someone who was 15-16 years old. The big emotional scenes did indeed hit like a truck and I found myself near to tears a few times in this book. It was all the stuff between those big emotional scenes. Don't get me wrong they weren't bad but they weren't all that that and a bag of chips either. Some of the messages are still relevant but I feel that this book is a tad dated at this time. I also never read the book or watched the movie when I was younger so I don't have that emotional attachment that others did. It was an interesting read that I don't regret reading.
The Deep End -3 Stars (more like 2.5)Here is where things start to go off the rails for me. I needed a book set in Kansas City and I figured I can't really go wrong with a murder mystery and I was partially right. The murder mystery part of the book was alright, it was just everything around the mystery that just didn't click with me. The MC was a Kansas City socialite who's life revolved around gossip and the country club. Right out that gate this is not exactly my cup of tea. Old white ladies sitting around looking down their noses at everyone who also isn't an old white lady and in their small circle of socially acceptable friends. When appearances are more important that any shred of basic human decency. It just grates against me worse than nails on a chalkboard. There was a scene where our MC saves a man who the killer had tried to murder. Her mother saw her as a disappointment because she was seen by the neighbors in the house of a man early in the morning that wasn't her husband. She saved a man but none of that matters because you made the family look bad. That kind of mindset is just disgusting. Any way, enough ranting about the country club weirdos. This book was also trying to crowbar in this weird love triangle between the MC, her lawyer (that mother hired), and the lead police investigator. For the most part the MC was focused on her daughter, what was happening in her life, etc. Then there were these weird scenes where it felt like the entire book just jumped genres because why not. The MC and her lawyer would be alone in the kitchen, the lawyer would get up, come around behind her, put his hands on her shoulders. I swear I could hear cheesy romance music playing somewhere as she would suddenly become fixated on his muscles, his lips, etc, etc. It was just so weird and out of place. That and the fact that the main love interests are basically the last people she should be showing any interest in at all during the investigation of her husbands death. A fair bit of the book involved kinks and a sex club and the views of these sort of things was rather negative, shocking considering the crowd I know. It just got tiring to hear this constant string of negativity because someone wanted to use a blindfold or what not. This last point is a weird nitpick but once I noticed it I couldn't avoid it. This book loved to end its chapters in a certain way. A lot of chapters loved to end with a line like "today was the worst day of my life but tomorrow decided to prove me wrong" or "I decide to ignore the letter as surely it wasn't important but I was very wrong". Maybe it was because I already wasn't vibing with this book and this was just one more thing but this got on my nerves every time it happened. Needless to say I will not be continuing with this series.
The Infinite and the Divine -DNFI picked this up for a book club and I was rather stoked for this one. This book is set in the Warhammer 40K universe and it's one of those fandoms that intrigue me. The problem is that it's not an easy thing to get into as the lore is vast and deep. That is basically my problem with this book. Nothing was explained, you were tossed into this book with the expectation that you already knew the characters, their race, and their history. I got through four chapters or about 17-18% before I threw in the towel. I was lost and bored. After all that book I still couldn't tell you which character on the cover was which as no one was described. It was just this is so and so the archivist or this is so and so the farseer. Obviously this book is popular amongst those that know the lore but for a newbie like me I was just bored.
Gunsmith Cats Revised Edition Volume 2 -4 StarsThe one shining star this week. After the first one I was a bit hesitant to continue on with this series but after reading this volume I'm glad that I did. There is still some uncomfortable elements with Minnie but a lot of this book was focused on a new villain for Rally and that character was Goldie. She was an enforcer for the Mob and had arrived from Italy to sort out the mess that was the local scene. Goldie just felt like that perfectly evil foil for our MC. Rally might bend the rules but she is that essentially good character doing the right thing. Goldie on the other hand is just a bad person with no limits to the depth of her depravity. Watching these two clash was just fun as Goldie wasn't just some dumb gun toting brute. She was smart and twisted and had our hero on the ropes for most of the book. I'm really looking forward to the next book in this series.
Now, what is next...
The Maltese Falcon
The Laughing CorpseThe Maltese Falcon is the last one I need to finish up the Classics genre for the month. Since it's a short book I'll be starting The Laughing Corpse right afterwards.
A Half-Baked Murder
Shadows in DeathI always joked that you can find a cozy mystery setting for anything you can thing of. A Half-Baked Murder is a cozy mystery where the MC bakes cannabis treats. For premise alone I had to snag this one. After is more In Death which I feel like I need right now.
@Gord Didn't know you're currently reading Hamiltons books. Loved the older Anita Blake books so much!
Here's my update for the past few days. I've read a lot of different books, though didn't enjoy them all, some were extremely good.
- 5 stars. The first book was a little bit overwhelming with all the events and lots of characters. With all the introductory work done in the previous book, the second one went so smooth. It concentrates more on events, politics, lots of plot lines. Loved it so much! Indeed the series is just brilliant.
- 5 stars. I love how unique it is, well blended espionage, assassins, the empowerment of older women. The narrative is engaging, vivid, lively, which gives the characters that extra spiciness. The story reminded me of Dial A for Aunties. Though they are completely different (amateurs vs professionals), there are some similarities in a writing manner, also the vibe. The author made basically negative characters very likeable and ordinary in a very interesting way.
- 4 stars. Strange, whimsical and very sweet adventure. The series becomes more and more interesting. As Brittany mentioned, the stories are not tightly connected, but there is definitely a subtle link. I love the writing style, it’s so engaging, magical and seamlessly transfers between fantasy and mundane, so that you forget where ordinary ends and magic begins. And that fantastic creepiness is still there! How do some authors make it creepy but not creepy? I’m being illogical now :D
- 4 stars. While reading, it reminded me of something, but I couldn’t tell, what exactly. Now I finally got it! The Little Women. That’s definitely not my usual genre, not even close to what I look for in romance (regency romance? No way! Yet here I am, enjoying this witty and sassy one). Somehow it clicked and turned out to be a very captivating and interesting book. It describes a very ordinary society with all those ridiculous rules, etiquette, balls and wallflowers. There are flaws like that annoying description of a very beautiful woman thinking she’s not attractive at all, that annoying man, who is not capable of love… you know the drill. Yet if you’re not concentrating on the annoying little things, it actually becomes a nice cute romance, very cozy and well-written.
- 2 or 3 stars. I loved the first book in the series, but unfortunately, those two are very different. The first one was spicy, sparkling and interesting. And… well, I almost DNFed the second one. The idea is literally the same, though handled in a very boring way. Even the supposed-to-be-spicy parts were extremely boring. And hurricanes were so random and out of place!
- 3 stars. My expectations were pretty high (LGBTQ space opera? Yes please!). And that’s why I was so disappointed! The description, the reviews by the people I usually pick some good books from were divine, yet I didn’t enjoy it. I felt really detached from the romantic part, unconvinced. The political topic was weak compared to other heavy-political books I’ve read. And, well, the whole story is mediocre. The only thing I liked was the narration.
Elena wrote: "@Gord Didn't know you're currently reading Hamiltons books. Loved the older Anita Blake books so much!"Ehhhhh I kind of am. The early Anita Blake stuff was what got me into UF in general. Then the series went downhill, as so many have stated. I think I gave it up about book 20 or so.
Gord wrote: "Ehhhhh I kind of am. The early Anita Blake stuff was what got me into UF in general. Then the series went downhill, as so many have stated. I think I gave it up about book 20 or so."Yeah, same here, though for me it was not UF (as I've already read a lot of UF at the time), but vampires. After her earlier books I've started to read a lot vampire-themed books. Though it's really annoying and sad how the good series turned into some kind of weird porn :(
Mod
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Halloween Frost -3 StarsNot a lot to really say ab..."
Too bad it wasnt a very good reading week. Also wow you actually DNF'd a book! That is such a hard world to get into. I have friends that read some of them.
Looks like you have some potentially good books coming up though! I also agree everything can become a cozy setting, cannabis baker is a new one.
Mod
- 5 stars. The first book ..."Great update! Glad you enjoyed the next Wayward Children. As for the creepy not creepy, some authors are just that talented I guess! I still think Killers of a certain age sounds interesting
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You know I'm reading it! Ill probably finish today. Currently in chapter 45. I'd be done already but haven't had a ton of listening time. Which part has you stressed??
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You know I'm reading it! Ill probably finish today. Curr..."
(view spoiler)
Mod
Time for that weekly update again. I know I'm a bit late but life and getting caught up in a book does that to you.
The Maltese Falcon -3 StarsThe last book I needed for my classics month and I have some conflicted feelings about this book. There is a small part of me that likes this book. There is a part of me that can appreciate what this book is and it's influence on the genre and on things that I like. That being said this is definitely a book that hasn't aged well in my opinion. Now I am aware that I am judging this book through modern eyes. The MC, the hero, the private dick, of this book is one Sam Spade and he is a POS. There is just no way to sugar coat this at all. The man trashes talks his partner the entire book. The partner that was just murdered. The partner who's wife the MC is sleeping with and stringing along with promises of love and marriage that he has no intention of fulfilling. This is the MC who treats women like crap. Well lets be honest he kind of treats everyone like crap really. The other big issue I had with this book is the mystery. I have read some basic mysteries, I've read some complex mysteries, I've read some real head scratcheres. Our MC in this book basically solves the mystery by standing in a room and yelling at people until they tell him what he wants to hear. I don't feel like there was a whole lot of real sleuthing in this book. Overall it was just alright. The full cast, while having its odd moments, really helped me get through this book.
A Half-Baked Murder -4 StarsThis book has a tag line stating that this cozy mystery is "groundbreaking" and "unlike anything out there" and not really. Don't get me wrong there is one big selling point about this book and it was intriguing enough to draw me in. Now depending on you personal views this will either be a nothing burger or scandalous. The book is about baking treats laced with cannabis. That is the big deal with this book and it's no secret either. I mean look at the cover, read the synopsis, it's all there. I think the topic is handled well. It's not glorified and it's not really downplayed to the point where it's barely even in the book. Outside of this point I'd say in many ways this is another cozy mystery with a lot of the tropes one would expect from a cozy mystery novel. A murder in a small town, MC inserts herself into the case for reasons, a love interest, people in town with secrets not related to the case, etc. Now don't get me wrong here, I think this book did a great job setting things up and there is a solid bedrock here to start a series. One early thing that really sold me on the book was that the MC went to the police immediately after something bad happened to her. There was none of the multitude of reasons that usually abound in cozies for not going to the police. A bad thing happened and immediately a police report was filed. I rather liked that. I also liked that the MC didn't have a personal connection to the police. No budding love interest, no personal connections on the force. She found something out, took it to the police for them to process. Overall I'd say this is a good start for the series and one I'll be back for more of when it's released.
-4 StarsI was a bit shocked how good this second book was. I've reread the first one a couple of times and it's not a great start to a series. We also know where this series ends up at as well. That is why when I reread this one it was a bit shocking just how good it was. It was a solid UF and a solid mystery with little romance or sexual tension in the book. If you look at it from a larger picture knowing where things go you can kind of see some of those later pesky elements kind of lurking here. In particular that Anita is the biggest and baddest badass around but what UF doesn't have this story element to some degree. I'm feeling this tempest call to reread this series and I'm not sure I want to get sucked down this black hole.
Shadows in Death -5 StarsThis is becoming my favorite style of In Death book. The faster paced thriller kind where they already know the bad guy and it's a race to catch them. It's more In Death and I'm here for it. I also want to comment on the end of the book. Without getting into to many spoilers seeing most of the homicide team jump in a shuttle and race across the ocean to another country to nab the villain felt like it was kind of jumping the shark a wee bit. Don't get me wrong I was all onboard for it but I could hear the whole suspension of disbelief starting to crack a wee bit around the edges.
Now what is up next...
The UnleashingI need a lot and I mean A LOT of U's for some spelling challenges and this trilogy will give me three. Plus I liked it the first time I read it and I never did finish the trilogy. Now to see if I'm alright with listening to sex scenes being read to me in public. Still very unsure how I feel about that one in general.
Outside of that I am caught up on my novels so this week I am focusing on cleaning up a bunch of manga and comics that have been building up from the library.
Mod
Im intrigued how you will do with sex scenes in public. I dont have any issue with it but some people do
@Gord, reading your updates made me think of re-reading Anita Blake series. Also that cozy mystery sounds interesting.
Time for that weekly update and there is not a lot to talk about. There were a lot of distractions this week with a new computer, my sleep schedule going out the window (not related to the computer), etc that I just didn't get much reading done.
The Unleashing -4 StarsSo as I mentioned last week I am on the hunt for some more U's which led me back to this trilogy. This book was just as fun as the first time I read it. The whole mixing of Norse mythology with basically LA culture makes for an interesting read. I can't wait for the next book and actually finishing this trilogy this time.
Now for a couple points that are about the book but not the story itself. First, I really am not a fan of romance covers. They really seem to do a horrible job of matching the character description in the book. For either this cover or the one with the guy in the hoodie it's these pretty boys on the cover but the description of Vig in the books is hard stereotypical viking who terrifies most people with just his presence. I'm picture this man mountain with a long bushy beard and even longer hair. Instead the cover has this guy with styled haired and a neatly trimmed beard. Who is that? It doesn't match the description of anyone in the book. The second thing is the narrator choice for this novel. I don't think she is a bad narrator and in the right book she is perfectly fine. I'm just not sure about having her as a narrator for this book. I recognized her from another book I read and she has this kind of nasally Southern accent which just doesn't work when trying to pronounce Norse names. It just sounds... weird... wrong... just not right. For the most part it isn't to bad as the Crows are this hodge podge of everyone. It's scenes with people like Vig. Again, Vig, he is a massive burly Swedish viking who I picture still having his accent because that would be important to him. I swear there are times where she is trying to pull off an accent but it's this "Norse" accent filtered through this Southern filter and it's just... weird. It's not enough to put me off the book or anything but it's definitely strange.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The IDW Collection, Volume 11 -4 StarsI'm still very much enjoying this series but there is a part of me that is a bit puzzled with the overall direction of things. In the beginning of this collection it was easily recognizable as the Turtles that I remember from when I was a kid. Now a lot of those story elements are resolved and we are moving on to new story lines and the story feels a bit odd. Right now a good chunk is firmly buried in sci-fi elements. Aliens, other dimensions, invasions of earth, etc. Then in the middle of the earth invasion story line it hard pivots back into the story line about immortal beings and magic and it just feels out of place. Like the stories weren't blended well together. Part of the problem could be that these collections are pulling from 2-3 different series to make one story and instead of one writer with their own ideas it's a collection of writers all with there own inputs. Again it's not bad and I'm still enjoying the story line but I'm kind of wondering where things are going.
Are You Lost?, Vol. 1 -3 StarsI was bored at work and browsing the new releases on Hoopla and saw that they had acquired the official translation of this series which was a favorite of mine from a few years back. It's one of those books that falls into the Cute Girls Doing Cute Things genre mixed with elements of ecchi and comedy. It's about four girls who were are involved with a plane crash and wash up on a deserted island. Three of those girls are your normal average school girls. Then there is Homare. She has been trained by her father to survive in any environment is a walking SAS Survival Guide. Without this one character the other three girls would have been dead a long time ago. This series is just a popcorn read and I love it for that.
The Nightmare Brigade #1: The Case of The Girl from Deja Vu -4 StarsThis was a random snag from the library and it's an odd one. You have a father who is running some sort of experiments on dreams and sleep. He has discovered that people can enter others dreams but only children. Adults seem to be detected as soon as they enter the dreams of others. As a result he uses his son and his adopted son to enter the nightmares of others to try to help them find resolution. There is a lot more involved with the story and there are hints of much, much darker elements at play. I'm really curious about what this story is doing and I want the second volume.
Now, what is next
The Curse of the PharaohsMy next audiobook and one I need for a few different challenges.
For things that are not audiobook related I'm just going to keep working on this stack of comics and manga from the library.
Mod
I loved this book! I actually didn't even know that there was going to be a sequel to None Shall Sleep, but I'm glad there was because I liked this book even more than I did the first one!
I picked this one up because I really liked this author's other book, Paradise-1. I didn't love it as much as I did Paradise-1, but it was fine. It's a sci-fi horror set in space, and there may or may not be aliens 👀
A space horror novella set in a suddenly desolate amusement park on the MOON... This was GOOD! I really enjoyed it! I liked the premise, and I especially liked the setting! It was very cool!
And then just a bunch of Julia Huni books. Lol. I finally read The Darenti Paradox which means that I'm all caught up on the Colonial Explorer Corps series! I really like this series. It's a bit more laid back than her other series, but there's still some action, which I always enjoy.
And then in November I read the entirety of this series. This one had more of a spy element than I was expecting, but I liked it! It was very exciting!
And then last week I read some contemporaries, which is a rare thing for me. But last year I discovered that I really liked Lynn Painter and Betting on You was as fun and cute as I was expecting!
Yesterday I read this one... at this point in the year I'm just reading as many novellas and graphic novels as I can to catch up on my reading challenge 😂And two days ago I finally started
. I'm only like 60 pages in, so I don't really have many thoughts at this point.
Mod
How behind are you on your challenge?
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Wow, even hating? Actually I loved her romances :)