YA Addicted Book Club discussion
Books!
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What are you reading 2025
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Finished:
- 3 stars - It was okay. There ended up being 2 mysteries involved so I feel like it lost it's impact in the suspense element. 
- 4 stars - Cute and fun. I really like this series. Not the best think you'll read but the audios are a fun listen.
- 5 stars - Loved this. It gave me early Throne of Glass vibes and made me nostalgic for like old school 2010s fantasy
- 3.5 stars - Had a great premise but so many pacing issues. I got bored a lot.
- 5 stars - Despite the character being a bit stupid and me being annoyed by how stupid she was being; the plot is strong and the cliffhanger had me shocked.
- 5 stars - Absolutely loved it. It's like Harry Potter meets criminal minds and the mafia. So good.
- 4 stars - Really cute time travel type romcom. It gave me The Lake House and Just Like Heaven vibes if anyone is a fan of those movies. There was a significant subplot of tackling grief following the death of a close family member that I wasn't prepared for and struggled with reading at this moment in time but it was a gorgeous heartwarming message. 
- 2.5 stars - First half was fantastic; great premise and I was hooked. The resolution was disappointing. I don't even recall reading about the culprit so I was just a bit like... who?Currently Listening:
Currently Reading:
Finished
, I liked it, it was a fun enough read, I did find Ernest's narration a little grating to start off but it grew on me. The mystery itself was a little bit overly complex and there was a lot of the resolution where I was like: I didn't get that at all?! The whole revelation section was a bit overlong as well. The narrator was really fun and probably made me enjoy the book more than I otherwise might have. Overall, fine, but I've definitely read crime fiction I've enjoyed more. I just started
the other day, continuing on in the crime-y vein as I was feeling that way inclined after finishing my previous book and I just went to Holly Jackson's London tour stop for it last week so it was fresh in my mind.
Time for that weekly wrap up and again, not a lot to report on this week. 
City of the Lost ⭐⭐⭐⭐This was a buddy read for me and one I'm rather glad I picked up. While it had its flaws it was pretty interesting and did a great job setting up the location and future story lines to pursue. This is all set up in a small town deep in the Yukon wilderness that is set up as a refuge for those that are escaping something. Domestic abuse, scandal, etc. Our MC and her "friend" (nope, not touching this one) are in a situation and they have to escape. Our MC, Casey, is a detective and it just so happens that this town is in need of a detective because shenanigans are afoot. That's how they get into the town and the start of this story. Honestly, my biggest grumble with this one is a lot of the setup that happens. I know why it needs to happen, I appreciate that it's there, but it really feels like the mystery gets put on the back burner at times. The greatest example of this is the opening of the book itself. It takes a while to even get into the town and to the mystery itself. I get why it's there, I get what it's doing, but man does it go on for a while. There were other moments like that in the story as well. Where it felt like the story was hitting story beats more to establish things in the world or for characters then anything else. That aside, there is some really interesting stuff here. The town is interesting and ripe with story possibilities, there are some really interesting characters (looking at you Dalton), and I'm really curious to see where this is going to go next. I'm hoping that the second book will get to the mystery a lot sooner now that a lot of the ground work is set up already. I have a feeling that I'll be reading on with this series after our buddy read is done with the first three books.
Raven of the Inner Palace (Light Novel) Vol. 3 ⭐⭐⭐I got around to the next book in this series and I am struggling a bit with this series. I picked this up because of the comparisons to The Apothecary Diaries and initially I was getting that vibe. It had this supernatural mystery vibe to it that I really appreciated. As the series has gone along that has started to slide to the side lines more and more and is being replaced with political intrigue and maneuvering. For instance, there was a section in this book where a character had a ghost had clutching at his sleeve. In record time the back story was revealed, the Raven Consort sees it, acknowledges that she can fix it, but if the character wants the spirit to move on to paradise they have to resolve it themselves. The rest of this section was just political intrigue and kingdom stuff. It's not that I hate political intrigue in my stories but I like it more as a side flavoring then as the main dish. When the main dish is basically "I knew that you knew that I knew that you knew my spy was working for your cousins brothers mother-in-law and I was deliberately feeding them false information so I could implicate your cat as being the evil mastermind trying to overthrow the kingdom" I just get bored. I'm really, really worried that the rest of this series is just going to slide into more and more of this kind of stuff and I just don't know if I want to read more of that. On the other side of things, there are only four more books in this series and a small part of me is curious where this will end up.
Now for the comics
Muted, Vol. 1 ⭐⭐⭐⭐Another Webtoon comic but not one that is published by Webtoon. I've been on a roll with these Webtoon comic books this year. Some of them I have read before, some are new to me and this is one of the new to me comics. It has witches, Louisiana, family drama, demons, and of course magic. I have some pretty early, and I think obvious, predictions about where things are heading but I'm going to read on to see what is going to happen.
As for what is next
Deliverance My current audiobook
The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook I'm back to DCC and I am stoked!!!
After that I have some manga I also need to get through as well.
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- 4.5 stars. Loved it. Fast paced and fantastic wrap up to the series. My one gripe was that I didn't like how it ended for my fave character. It was a fitting end for them but I was still hoping for a better ending for them. I personally just adore how hilariously british this series is. I do think some of the references and language used may be confusing or weird in places to people who are not from Britain. But I love it. It made it hilarious for me.
- 4.5 stars. Restored my faith in YA thrillers. This one is more of a slow burn psychological thriller than a fast paced one where there's lots of murders. It has 'Gossip Girl' vibes where it's looking at the darker side of the rich and famous. I found it so interesting and intriguing to see how easy it is for people to be caught up in 'cult' like behaviours and just accept it because the people doing them are rich. I really recommend.
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Too bad about Circle of Liars!
Ooo!! A good YA thriller?! That has me excited! Damn no audio yet at library for this one either.
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Hope you enjoy the Holly Jackson book!
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Alright, enough procrastinating, time to type this up. I'm on vacation and really in the mood to read right now so I've been putting this off since yesterday morning. 
The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Is there any shock at all that I enjoyed this book? Between my personal pile and waiting for the queue at the library it has been a few months since I was able to get back to this series. It just felt good to be back to this world. To witness the madness of the dungeon, Carl's antics, Donut being Donut, and everything else. I will admit that this level of the dungeon was more then a bit confusing with all the colors of trains, the stations, portals, etc but at the same time the author is very forward that you, as the reader, don't need to understand it. To basically strap in and just enjoy the ride which is what I did. I have a lot of broader questions for the series as a whole. What is going to happen on the next floor? What is going to happen with certain characters? Where are certain characters? What is going on outside of the game? Stuff like that.
Deliverance ⭐⭐⭐⭐It has been more then a few months since I last got to this series. I was just in a mood, scrolling through my TBR looking for an audiobook, and this jumped out at me. This book just delivered for me on several story points that the previous book set up. Jordan's eventual downfall, the reunion with X, etc, while also setting up future story lines which I am very interested in.
Before We Say Goodbye 😢😢😢😢The next installment of emotional damage in this series. Yes, the series is repetitive. Yes, the lore is not really expanded upon much, Yes, there are faults with this series in general. It's so good at delivering these emotional short stories that just tug at the old heart strings though. There is something in that simplicity that just keeps me coming back for more, when I am emotionally prepared for it.
Manga/Comics
String ⭐⭐⭐This is one I found at my library and the concept intrigued me. Our MC can see strings between people. Blue strings connect intimate partners. Black strings connect a murderer and their victims. Our MC does work with all sorts of people from cops to gang bangers. The set up for this book is that she wakes up one days and sees a black string attached to her and she has to find out if she is the killer or the victim. It's an interesting set up for a series and I think there is a lot of potential here but it just left me wanting more by the end. That's the frustrating part as there is no indication that there will be more. It's just the open ending with a tease of maybe there being more.
SAKAMOTO DAYS 17 ⭐⭐⭐⭐More Sakamoto Days, not a lot to really say here
Girl Crush, Vol. 1 ⭐⭐⭐Funny story about this one here. I was in the mood for another cozy yuri manga series. I saw this one, more specifically, I saw the title, and didn't bother looking any deeper and just requested it. This is not a yuri, not even a hint at any yuri at all. This is a story about Kpop idols or young girls wanting to become idols. The whole talent versus passion trope. This is going to be on that I am going to drop. Not that it's bad or anything but this is just not something that I am interested in. I don't like the MC and her personality. I get why she is the way she is but that doesn't make it fun to read her. I'm also not overly interested in the idol stuff. The idols themselves are fine and are talented folks. The business behind them and some of the fans that support them are concerning shall we say.
Hirayasumi, Vol. 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐There is not a whole lot I can really say about this one. It's more of what I expect from this slice of life series.
Nakamura-san, the Uninvited Gyaru Vol. 1 ⭐⭐⭐Another random snag from the library and another one I am feeling conflicted about. This is an odd couples type of romantic comedy. On one side you have the introverted otaku guy who keeps to himself. On the other side we have the extroverted gyaru girl who is extroverted and loud. She needs a new place to stay after getting kicked out of her last place due to construction and forces herself into this guys life basically. We soon discover that she has a crush on him and they start to learn how to live together. There are definitely moments where this series is cute and funny. There are also moments that I'm just not a big fan of. Tropes that are old as hell and haven't aged well at all. Things like the guy walking in on the girl naked out of concern and she hits him for no reason. The gyaru in this series also feels dangerously oblivious at times which gives it some very weird vibes. I kind of want to keep reading though just to see where this goes and if it gets better.
The Dire Days of Willowweep Manor ⭐⭐⭐⭐This was a book that I was violently strong armed into reading (someone posted about how good it was and I had to read it as a result) and it was definitely a fun read. This was another one where I didn't read the synopsis for so the whole sci-fi elements were a big surprise to say the least. I think my favorite thing about his comic has to be Cuthbert. Characters that are intentionally written to be stupid can be real hit or miss for me. It's so easy for these type of characters to be just down right annoying. Cuthbert on the other hand is just a mood and I love him for it.
What is next?
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix This is my next audiobook and the one that is going to carry me through my convention this weekend
Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear (Light Novel) Vol. 9 my current physical book
Payback in Death I am finally getting back to this series.
Outside of that I am have nothing but vacation time and a stack of things from the library. I'll see where things take me.
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Too bad about C..."
Sorry! Hopefully they get the audios soon. The Goldens was much more psychological than murder thriller but I adored that. Really got you thinking.
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I like psychological thrillers
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3 stars I liked it but struggled to stay engaged. I expected more rivals in the rivals to lovers trope. But still, decent cozy and I'll read the next one soonish.
4 stars. I liked this more than book 1, wish the rest of the series was on audible plus but I will get to them sooner rather than later I hope. I appreciate the slow building of a relationship in this series. Good UF.
4.5 stars. This was a strong sequel in the duology and I enjoyed it more than book 1. I wish I had written a review...
3.5 stars. Read this for review and enjoyed it. It is a prequel novella so there's a lot of world building missing but what we get was good. I'll try to read book 1 in the series at some point. 
2.5 stars. This disappointed me. If I had read it when it came out I likely would have enjoyed it more, its very typical of the time it was written in 2013. It was an easy listen but didn't do a lot for me. 
4 stars More Cherry Magic! Still love the series.
1.5 frustrated stars. I wish I wrote the review for this right after I read it. I should have dnf'd this one but I remember enjoying the first one all those years ago when I read it. Almost nothing about this worked for me and I will be dropping the series from here. Ugh.
3.5ish stars. Not a favourite of the series. J-psy just aren't my preference in a character. 
3.5 stars. This was never going to be a favourite for me as I'm not a fan of the amnesia trope at the best of times. There are some really neat moments in the book but it took longer than I wanted to get going. 
4.5 stars. This was so good and I cannot wait for the next book. I loved the idea about dragon languages. The class system is done well and fought against. I just really liked this book.
3.5 stars. Solid book with a different take on the titanic. What if after the sinking you wanted to start over with a new name? What would that look like?
2.5 stars. This was fine. I don't have much to say about it.
4 stars. Good book. What if after near death you could enter lives you could have lived if you had made different choices. 
2.5 stars. Disappointed by this one. Not enough horror for a Mira Grant book. The start is so good but it changes style after that. Also not enough of the invading plants. Least favourite book by the author, under this name or her real one.
3.5 stars. Don't know what I expected when I started this but it wasn't this. That being said I quite enjoyed it and plan on listening book 2 soonish. Its a political, military, cultivation, epic fantasy. With dragons and other beasts that can form soulbounds with humans.
Lets get this posts back on track and back to their regular schedule. Since I was on vacation the last week there will be a few things here.
Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear (Light Novel) Vol. 9 ⭐⭐⭐⭐More bear related awesomeness as I slowly reread through this series again. Just a fun cozy read for me.
Payback in Death ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐I have been wanting to get back to this series now for some time but my other things have kept me busy. This week I just broke down and snagged the next book. It has been a few months and man does it feel good to come back to this series. The mystery, the characters, especially the characters, it's all just fun to read.
Isekai Walking: Volume 1 Elesia Kingdom Arc ⭐⭐⭐This was a random Hoopla snag as the title caught my eye. The set up for this book is as bog standard as they get. The MC is summoned to another world with several other people to save a kingdom from the demon king. Of those that are summoned he has no noticeable immediately busted stats and skills so he is kicked out of the castle and left to essentially survive on his own. It turns out that the kingdom who summoned these "heroes" might not be on the up and up. Like I said, all pretty standard. Also, as one would expect in a novel of this sort, our MC does indeed have a busted skill. For every step he takes he gains one experience point and when he is walking he does not get tired. His initial step count is pretty low. For level one he needs to take 1,000 steps. Up to level ten that amount goes up by 1,000 steps. After that it starts to get a bit more difficult. After level 10 it starts to go up by 10k and after that I think it starts to go up by 100k. This is far from ground breaking and while it has a unique twist to I don't feel that the twist is fully explored. That being said this is a a cozy popcorn kind of isekai so I will be back for more.
Now for the manga
Wash It All Away 02 ⭐⭐⭐⭐Much like Hirayasumi this is another slice of life manga and I have a real hard time explaining why I like it so much. It's simply about a girl with amnesia who runs her own laundry service. It's the characters, the location, the vibes, it all just clicks with me and I am here for it.
Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 22 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐More FMA and yes, it's awesome
Don't Call it Mystery (Omnibus) Vol. 13-14 ⭐⭐⭐⭐I'm not sure if it was the break between books or this volume in particular but this book felt a bit flat for me. The first part of the book was the conclusion to the mystery at the end of the last omnibus. Once I got back into the vibe of things this was satisfying and the start of a larger mystery of who "Ant" is. The second was a smaller self contained mystery who had our MC there but he wasn't actually there. Basically one of the cops he has been dealing with found themselves in a situation where they had to solve a mystery before help arrived. To do this he channeled his inner Totonou and that is how we have our MC appear in this arc. He was basically a ghost for these section. The last section is the set up for the next mystery and this is a 20 year old case. Overall this was alright but it really felt like it lacked any of the big surprises and twists that previous volumes had. The wait for the next volume is going to be a real long one I think. These are omnibus editions collecting two volumes of manga in one. This volume covered issues 13 and 14. Volume 15 was just released in March of this year in Japan and I don't see anything about volume 16. We have to wait for that to be published, then it needs to be translated, released, etc, etc, etc. It's going to be a long wait.
As for what is next.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Still working through this on my walks. I'm about 40% of the way into this and it's a fun read.
After that I am just going to keep working through my stack of library things. I'm reading some Yowamushi Pedal today followed by some more JoJo. After that, we'll see what I want to read next.
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I really enjoyed
, was a very fun, pacey read. Holly Jackson sure knows how to write a good murder mystery! My only minor issue was the end: (view spoiler)
My next audiobook is going to be
, I was talking about it with my friend at dinner a couple of weeks ago and she reminded me that I'd been meaning to read it and I feel like something totally different so I thought a non-fic would be good for that.
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Im also reading a non fic that is something different and I'm loving it
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A little bit ago I was at Barnes and Noble and the bright cover of
caught my attention. The book seemed familiar to me, until I was finally like, "Wait! Gord has been raving about this series!" Lol. I immediately bought that first book. Lol. It sounds so fun! I'm going on vacation soon and I think this will be one of the books I read.And I have also been really enjoying Sakamoto Days! I just got volumes 15 and 16 from the library and will definitely have to read them before I leave for vacation.
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3 stars I liked it but struggled to stay engaged. I expected more rivals in the rivals to lovers trope. But still, d..."Okay, so it wasn't just me who didn't love Overgrowth 😭 I think it's also my least favorite book by her. I have not read any of her Seanan McGuire books yet, so I can't comment there. Lol.
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, I was talking about it with my friend at dinner a couple of weeks ago and she reminded me that I'd been meaning to read i..."This was such a good read! Heartbreaking, but good.
Liliana wrote: "Jo wrote: "My next audiobook is going to be , I was talking about it with my friend at dinner a couple of weeks ago and she reminded me that I'd been meanin..."Yeah the amount of abuse she had from her mum for years is just horrible.
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Where are you going for vacation?
Yeah Overgrowth just wasn't a good book...
Dungeon Crawler Carl is just a fun read
I’m back! Kinda… Lately I’ve been struggling with almost everything in my life. It was so overwhelming for no reason. So I mostly picked random books and tried to enjoy them. Thus many re-reads this time.
- 5 stars. It’s been a while since I’ve read it and now, when the second book is available, I decided to re-read The Tainted Cup before diving into the second book. Nothing changed. This book is an absolute gem and my all-time favorite read! I love everything about it, from its gloomy, bloody setting to the witty and eccentric characters. I’ve never been a huge fan of Holmes-and-Watson-style stories, but this book completely reinvented the concept for me and made me fall in love with it. Probably will re-read once more when the 3rd book is out.
- 5 stars. One more quality re-read. Indeed this book was insanely good, I've never thought I could be so into the book with such a simple plot. But the writing style and the connection to the real person make it so good! Atmospheric, descriptive, very imaginative, I literally felt the chill of winter and the relief when the spring came. And I really enjoyed the feeling, when in Europe it was 36+ C.
- 5 stars. A random re-read pick turned out to become again one of the most interesting books I've read this year. It's so good and unexpected, even for the second time. I don't want to spoil it and advise you not to read the description before picking the book (if you decide to read it). When I first read it, I dived into the book not knowing anything about the ratings/plot/reviews and it was my best decision so far.
- 5 stars. I wanted to learn more about Lady Jessica from the very beginning and finally got to the book, which is 100% dedicated to her story. She is a very complex and fascinating character, one of my favorites in the Dune universe. Here, the authors fully explore her complexity, her torn state between the love for Duke Leto, being the mother of Paul, and dealing with the expectations of the Bene Gesserit. So many layers, presented masterfully! I was a bit worried when I first started reading this spin-off, that the authors wouldn’t keep up with the unique essence of the Dune universe. Turns out there was no need to worry; all the Dune vastness, court intrigues, power struggles, and the Great Houses were fully present.
- 5 stars. And the cherry on top of re-reads... last year it was one of the best books I’ve read and ended up somewhere close to the top of my all-time favorites list. I missed this bitter-sweet story. It’s as dark and cold as the north mythology itself, there are gods, giants, monsters and witches. And it’s a perfect mix for a great book. Perfect for a hot summer, when you need to cool down a little bit.
- 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 likable and ordinary in a very interesting way.
- 5 stars. Well, one more re-read. And… It’s stunning! Italian culture is so unique and distinctive. The book is full of sights, sounds, taste and emotions of Naples. Perfect representation of Italy in all its colors. Again, the range of feelings I had during reading and after finishing the book was insane. The writing style is so rich, detailed and atmospheric, I lost myself completely in the plot. I already miss Elena Greco and Lila Cerullo. Will probably jump into re-reading the second book soon.
- 4 stars. I want to start the second book soon and again decided to skim through the first one. This time I knew all the twists, obviously, but nevertheless got caught up in the story, couldn’t put the books aside till the very end. And… oh that freaking ending! By no means the book is not perfect, but the ending is so satisfying.
- 5 stars. I desperately needed something heartfelt and soft. Indeed, this is such a funny, warm, witty, and a shimmering book. Enjoyed the almost magical and so loveable story of Daphne and Miles one more time.
- 5 stars. Why did I even pick this one to re-read, when I usually don’t read WWII books (as they make me really depressed)? Well, this book is not too harsh and heavy on the WWII topic, so it’s a gentle introduction to broaden my horizons and try more books with this very ‘uneasy’ topic. Strangely enough, but the more I gradually expose myself to the topic, the more manageable it becomes.
Liliana wrote: "A little bit ago I was at Barnes and Noble and the bright cover of Dungeon Crawler Carl (Dungeon Crawler Carl, #1) by Matt Dinniman caught my attention. The book ..."I also got the Dungeon Crawler Carl finally! And will read it soon. So many people tell very great things about the book, I just couldn't not to get it :D Also Sakamoto Days... 100% agreed! It's so good.
Btw, where are you going for vacation?
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Just a short one this week. Getting back to work after vacation, trying to get into a walking routine, working on chonky books, it's all a recipe for less things to talk about.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐I forgot how long this book was. This was a twenty six and a half hour long audiobook which is a lot of listening when you are only playing it at normal speed. Great for the walks though. There was a lot that happened in this book and a lot of emotions. I know that there is a lot of criticism of this series and some of it is warranted but it is an interesting world with a lot of interesting characters. Umbridge in this book is a great example. She is up there there as one of my favorite villains of all time. She is just so despicable and yet so very real feeling. She is just a bigoted, power hunger, little troll who will do what ever she has to do to maintain power. This slower paced reread of this series has been very fun.
Reincarnated as a Sword (Light Novel) Vol. 3 ⭐⭐⭐⭐Another reread this week and another series I'm glad that I returned to. This one had a tonal shift from the first couple novels. The first couple novels were much more "traditional" adventuring stories. This one feels more political as Fran helps to overthrow a corrupt king. The next one sounds like it will be very food based. I'm looking forward to getting to some new, for me, material in this series and see where it goes.
Now for the manga
Tsumiki Ogami's Not-So-Ordinary Life, Vol. 1 ⭐⭐⭐This was a random snag from the library. I found it while browsing through the new manga that had come in. This is a slice of life story about a young boy who is constantly worried about what others think about him. He wants a fresh start and transfers to a new school when he enters high school. This high school has a high population of "Mythfolks" which are basically supernatural folks. Vampires, oni, ogres, werewolves, etc. There he meets Tsumiki, you popular young girl who is a werewolf. He is drawn to her confidence and he hopes to learn from her. This is basically the classic extrovert adopting an introvert story line. I'm also getting some very strong Komi vibes from this. I'm not saying that it's a copy or a clone but it feels like it is hitting some of the same story beats. In this first volume we get the two MC's becoming friends and the introduction of the next couple friends that will be coming into this group. I wasn't exactly blown away by this volume but I don't hate it either. I'll be back for more to see where is going to go but I'm not expecting a whole lot.
As for what is next
A Darkness Absolute My next audiobook and my return to Rockton. It has been a fun read so far
Lady’s Knight The big physical book I am tackling this week. It was a random snag from the library that I hope is good.
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Where are you going for vacation?
Yeah Overgrowth just wasn't a good book..."
I'm going to Mexico for 10 days! Really looking forward to it!
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I'm sorry you're having a rough time lately, Elena. I totally feel you. This year has just not been great for me either. I feel like it's been stress nonstop since the beginning of the year, which is why I'm looking forward to my vacation. Lol. I'm leaving for Mexico tomorrow! Very excited! Lol. I hope things turn around for you soon 🖤
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- 5 Stars. Loved this even more than Gareth's debut. It was SO GOOD!
- 5 Stars. This is the biggest surprise of the year for me. Super creepy YA fantasy that was SO GOOD! It's inspired by The Phantom of the Opera and as a big theatre lover this was a definite plus for me.
- 4 Stars. This was a really quick read. Super cute with a mystery and a hint of time travel.
- 5 stars. Absolutely gorgeous! I adore Rebecca Ross' writing. It's just so beautiful. Not my fave of hers but such a gorgeous read.
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I've honestly loved everything I've read this month so far.
Finished
yesterday, I liked it, I didn't love it, I think a lot of that was the writing style, I just found it a little hard to connect to even though the topics that were covered were quite harrowing and I felt a great deal of empathy for what Jennette went through. It was decent but not favourite memoir I've ever read.Switching it up again with some fantasy, my next audiobook is
. I've been waiting for this one for a long time so I really hope it's good!
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Liliana wrote: "I'm sorry you're having a rough time lately, Elena. I totally feel you. This year has just not been great for me either. I feel like it's been stress nonstop since the beginning of the year, which is why I'm looking forward to my vacation. Lol. I'm leaving for Mexico tomorrow! Very excited! Lol. I hope things turn around for you soon 🖤"I've never been to Mexico, but want to visit someday too. Hope you're having a wonderful vacation there. Looking forward to hear about your time there :)
Kayleigh {K-Books} wrote: "Since my last update: - 5 Stars. Loved this even more than Gareth's debut. It was SO GOOD! - 5 S..."The selection looks so great! It's a rare case, when you love every book you read. I'm glad you enjoyed all of them. The Society of Unknowable Objects sounds interesting.
Hey everyone, what are your plans for fall? This fall I'm looking for something cosy and warm, also for a chunky classical epic fantasy. I'm also considering re-reading The Stormlight Archive, miss this world enormously.
Just keeping chunking through the things that I have on the go. Now that I am walking more once again I need to reassess my audiobook situation a bit. I'm walking about two hours a day so that really helps chew through normal length audiobooks.
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Have you read Traitor's Blade I'm working on book 2 right now
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Gord wrote: "Just keeping chunking through the things that I have on the go. Now that I am walking more once again I need to reassess my audiobook situation a bit. I'm walking about two hours a day so that real..."Wow, that's amazing, I hardly walk 1h or so a day, but also trying not to listen to anything, just enjoy the city and the nature :)
Brittany wrote: "Have you read Traitor's Blade I'm working on book 2 right now"Not yet, but it was on my TBR for some time, is it good?
Brittany wrote: "Aside from that, fall wise I'll find something on the spookier side for a read at some point in October. But no real special fall reading plans. Just catching up on books!"Oh yeah, spooky also, closer to October :D
Time for my weekly update and I have a few things to talk about this week. Who would have thought that walking two plus hours a day would chew through normal length audiobooks like nothing. 
A Darkness Absolute ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐This was a great read that kept me guessing for a good chunk of the book. Now that a lot of the world building and basic character set up was done this book was able to jump straight into things a whole lot quicker. That made this book a whole lot more engaging and a really quick read. It also did a great job exploring and setting up even more of the overarching mystery with the council and other locals in the area. I am looking forward to the next one for sure.
The Lake House ⭐⭐⭐After A Darkness Absolute I was looking for a bit of a palate cleanser before diving into my next thriller. I ended up with a thriller novel so this might not have been the most well thought out plan. This was a recommendation and a book that I just jumped blindly into. Overall it was an entertaining read but there were some issues. I liked the characters and their interactions well enough. For me it was just the pacing. This book felt like it took a really long time to set up what the threat actually was. It hinted at what it might be but it was to vague to actually be credible. Then there was a twist in this book that just didn't land well for me. It wasn't a bad twist or anything, it just took the book in a direction that I wasn't a big fan of. Overall, it was a spooky summer time read that I'm sure many might like.
Lady’s Knight ⭐⭐⭐⭐On the completely other end of the serious scale is this book here. I snagged this one from the library because it looked like a silly sapphic romance and it delivered on that. Basically there is a tournament for knights from across the land to come an participate in. The prize, the land of a lovely Lady. Then there is Gwen, the daughter of the local blacksmith, who just wants to know if she can even fight at all. She sneaks into the tournament and wins her first bout. This is where it was supposed to end until the lovely Lady got involved. From there it's a lot of familiar tropes with our two young ladies helping each other out by winning the tournament and finding some love along the way. It's some comedic, girl power, fluffy romance that I just had a blast reading. I was really surprised that there was a second book announced for this one but I will definitely be back for more.
Now for the manga side of things
Stars in Their Eyes: A Graphic Novel ⭐⭐⭐⭐I was seeing some chatter about this one and I am a sucker for wholesome romance so I decided to give it a shot. This is definitely a comic that was from the younger side of the YA genre but I don't think that should dismiss the message that this book brings to the table. It's about two young teens who meet at a con and fall in love. It's only about the one day at the con but it is really sweet in a first love kind of way. This book also deals with some heavier subjects such as disabilities, sexuality, and gender identity in a way that feels really positive. I think this would be a great book for younger readers looking to find themselves in a comic. Also, I have to say that the mother of the MC in this book is an amazing person. The relationship she has with her daughter is just amazing. Now, I have a bit of a gripe, and its kind of silly. This book takes place around a comic convention and the author references tons of real life series and fandoms but in a legally distinct way. Sci-Fi Wars instead of Star Wars for example. I understand perfectly well why this is done but for something so heavily focused on references it was a bit frustrating. Far from a deal breaker, more of a nuisance.
Dandadan, Vol. 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐I love this series, I love these characters. Not a lot else to really say except that I am really surprised how fast I am catching up to the anime. I'm nearly caught up to the end of the first season already.
Tomb Raider King, Vol. 11 ⭐⭐⭐⭐More of what I expected from this series and a fun popcorn read
My Kitten is a Picky Eater Vol. 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐For a wholesome feel good series about owners loving their kitties I was not expecting this one to be so emotional. Our MC finds and rescues a three week old kitten and with help from the vet takes it in and raises it. The book touched on early kitty life as well as the the whole adoption process (for Japan. I don't want to give to much away for anyone who is reading this and hasn't got to this one yet. I was just kind of surprised to find myself reading this and having a tear or two in the corner of my eye.
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, Vol. 13 ⭐⭐⭐⭐More Frieren and it's still just as fun. This wrapped up the story arc from the last volume and starting setting up the next one which is looking to be rather exciting.
What is next
These are the two audiobooks I have on deck for this week. I'm starting with My Lovely Wife which I'm struggling with a bit. It's nothing about the book, it's just not what I'm in the mood for but my loan is running out and I need it for a challenge that I have to finish this week. I'm hoping that I warm up to book quickly and it brings me around.
My short list of other things I am working on this week
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Not yet, but it was on my TBR for some time, is it good?"
I've really enjoyed them so far! If you're looking for epic fantasy...
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YA Addicted Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
I Got Abducted by Aliens and Now I'm Trapped in a Rom-Com (other topics)Dog Days (other topics)
The Dragon Factory (other topics)
Deepwater Creek: A Graphic Novel (other topics)
Skinwalker (other topics)
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This was the first of the large audiobooks that I had to finish and it was a book that I've had on my list now for some time. After finishing this book I have two trains of thought going on. One, this is the type of novel that falls into one of my many wheelhouses. That male action adventure novel that is military and a thriller all at the same time. It's a top secret group of elite military members who operate outside of the system to crush threats against the United States. This is basically my version of the big dumb summer blockbuster movie. I turn my brain off, watch as the good guys shoot up an army of bad guys with a few shiny explosions mixed in for good measure.
The other train of thought is kind of a self reflective kind. This novel feels so incredibly dated but not in a bad way necessarily. This book was released in 2009 and it so perfectly captures that early to mid 2000's mindset. There was tons of references to Bin Laden, 9/11, the Patriot Act, Homeland security, there was even a White Stripes reference in there. It was more then just the references though. This book really caught that hyper patriotic, military great, Middle East bad, kind of mindset that existed at the time. As someone who was in the military in the early 2000's this was like opening a portal back in time and catching a glimpse of a younger version of yourself. It felt really weird in some ways.
As for the book itself, it was an action thriller about a terrorist created plague that basically created zombies. There was a plot to unleash the plague on the Western world and destroy humanity, blah, blah, blah. Like I said before, this is not my first time visiting a book of this nature and it an alright job. It had to find this balance between setting up all these characters, the bad guys plot, the good guys, their top secret department, and the thriller as well. It did this by dedicating a chapter to each major character so we could see the various POV's. Like I said, it did its job well and I do plan to continue on at some point.
I've returned to this light novel series and I don't really have a lot to say about this one. It's more of what I expected from this series. Our MC is an overpowered character with a harem of young women and they are traveling around exploring this fantasy world. Our MC is supposed to be a guy in his late 20's reincarnated in a 15 year old boy. If you never mentioned the 15 year old part you would never know. That story element feels like it was just kind of tacked on and has no bearing on anything. Like many light novel series this is just a popcorn read for me and I will be continuing.
Now for the single volume of manga I got to
I just got this manga but I had to fast track it to the top of the pile. This was easily my highlight of the week. I was grinning from beginning to end and I'm just so glad that I read this series. It's that perfect feel good yuri romance slice of life. I'm not really going to talk about what happened in this one since it is the final book in the series but it was the perfect way for this series to end. Now I need to find another cozy yuri romance to read or reread.
As for what I am working on/next
City of the Lost My other chonky audiobook that I am reading. Now that I am past the slower start things are starting to get interesting.
Raven of the Inner Palace (Light Novel) Vol. 3 I just love the covers for these books. They're just so beautiful.
After that I have some manga and comics I need to work on before my next big read.