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A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking
A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking | T. Kingfisher
Fourteen-year-old Mona isn't like the wizards charged with defending the city. She can't control lightning or speak to water. Her familiar is a sourdough starter and her magic only works on bread. She has a comfortable life in her aunt's bakery making gingerbread men dance.
But Mona's life is turned upside down when she finds a dead body on the bakery floor. An assassin is stalking the streets of Mona's city, preying on magic folk, and it appears that Mona is his next target. And in an embattled city suddenly bereft of wizards, the assassin may be the least of Mona's worries…
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
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WildAlaskaBibliophile
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1. The setting of the tagged book is the city-state of Riverbraid
2. Wouldn't it be amazing to visit Diagon Alley of the HP books?!

#WondrousWednesday @Eggs

Eggs Yes!! Thanks for joining in🙏🏻🥰 1mo
23 likes1 comment
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WildAlaskaBibliophile
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“There was a dead girl in my aunt's bakery.“ #FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

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WildAlaskaBibliophile
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1. Favorite female character: Fanny Price of “Mansfield Park“; Anne of “Anne of Green Gables“
2. Favorite male character: IDK?
I have a difficult time picking favorite people because I remember and appreciate stories better/more than people.
3. Current read: “A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking“ by T. Kingfisher
@Eggs #WondrousWednesday

Eggs Thanks for joining in❣️ 2mo
19 likes1 comment
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WildAlaskaBibliophile
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Spending the Presidents' Day holiday afternoon reading, with a London Fog in hand and a dog sleeping by my legs.

Aimeesue 🐾💜🐾 2mo
Ruthiella 🐶❤️🐶❤️🐶 2mo
dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 2mo
Cupcake12 🐾💕🐶 I‘ve heard lots of things about this book. Looking forward to your review 2mo
31 likes4 comments
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TheSpineView
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Eggs Love it 🥰 4mo
48 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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JuliaTheBookNerd
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#Baking 🍪🍞🥖 #HumbleHarvest 🍂☕️🧣🍁🥧🕯🍎

#BookNerd 🤓📚💙

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Great cover! 🧡 5mo
Bette ❤️ Kingfisher 5mo
Eggs Perfect 🫚🙌🏻 ⚔️ 5mo
44 likes3 comments
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Kenyazero
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Mehso-so

This is a delightful middle grade adventure. I love Mona's baking magic and the creative ways she puts it to use in a pinch. A lot about this book is fairly average otherwise, and there are a few awkward spots where something important is repeated almost word-for-word. I also lost it a bit when the baker threw flour on a fire to put it out. #Magic #Baking

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underground_bks
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Pickpick

I love T. Kingfisher‘s comically dark, oddly cozy fantasies, and this one gets the recipe just right. Mona is a young bread witch with a sourdough starter familiar—and she‘d be fine making gingerbread men dance at the bakery if she hadn‘t found a dead body and gotten mixed up in a wizard-killing plot endangering the whole city. A delightful tale about how powerful your gifts are, no matter their shape or size, especially when you break the mold!

31 likes5 stack adds
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Nessavamusic
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#Two4Tuesday

1. Maleficent - I love villains

2. I think tagged would be an adorable Disney movie!

TheSpineView Great choice for a movie! Thanks for playing 13mo
31 likes1 comment
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Bette
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Pickpick

Funny and dark and thoughtful.
Funny: weaponizing Bob, the rogue sourdough starter amused me to no end. Dark: a select group of people (wizards) were alienated, ostracized, and preyed on. Thoughtful: 🎶 War, huh. What is it good for? Absolutely nothing 🎶 This was such a surprise, so enjoyable, continually funny while making its points.
I think i might have to buy it now. 🥐🍞🥖

27 likes1 stack add
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TracyReadsBooks
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Pickpick

Fourteen-year-old Mona is a baker with the rare ability to make her dough do whatever she wants—she‘s got some magic in her, you see. And that magic is going to come in handy when she walks into the bakery & finds a body. On the surface, this is a story about a girl who has a murder to solve & a city to save. On another, it‘s a story about
taking responsibility, growing up, doing the right thing even when it‘s hard, & lost innocence. A good read.

29 likes1 stack add
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Robotswithpersonality
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Pickpick

A new favourite. A fun, funny rollicking good time, but more than that too, definitely some tears with the laughter.
Some sharp truths among the fluff:
Ugliness of war and politics, what it tends to do to the soldiers as well as the regular populace, the nature, making and tragedy of heroes.
Beautifully paced, hilarious, moving writing. 1/?

Robotswithpersonality 2/? There are moments of inspiration for young people at the cusp of discovering their abilities while weltering in teenage insecurity, and yet somehow the narrative manages to be completely free of that contemporary young adult fussing about peer pressure/aesthetic or social group expectations or hormones/budding romantic relationships for which I, as an adult reader, am profoundly grateful. 1y
Robotswithpersonality 3/4 Got a smidgen of Tiffany Aching vibes, especially with the sentient sourdough starter, reminding me of Aching's sentient cheese. I LOVE Bob. Not sure what it says that the animate gingerbread seems to be less personable (in fact kind of bitchy) while the sourdough starter seems to have such endearing, if occasionally raging and ravenous, character.
Spindle is a rascally TREASURE.
1y
Robotswithpersonality 4/4 I would happily read another book set in this world, and will definitely be looking up other works by this author.
⚠️ Death; There's a fair amount of reference to human waste disposal facilities of yore and their contents, just in general more mention of bodily fluids than I expected, emitophobics beware.
1y
6 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Robotswithpersonality
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"If you give them a medal, then you don't ever have to ask why the terrible thing happened in the first place. Or try to fix it."
?

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Robotswithpersonality
This post contains spoilers
show me
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Suddenly I feel better about MY awkward conversational gambits. 😆

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Robotswithpersonality
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The visual ! 🤣

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Robotswithpersonality
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Well that's a perfect allusion to a lot of the most grim chapters of human history, isn't it?!

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Robotswithpersonality
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Debating the merits of being a target of murderers vs have your period as the two options for initiating adulthood ...honestly after 20-odd years of monthly menstrual cramps, it's a toss up! 🤷🏼‍♂️

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Robotswithpersonality
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A wonderful word you don't see often enough, complete with definition!

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TracyReadsBooks
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So true!

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TracyReadsBooks
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Starting a new Kingfisher book is the perfect way to start my reading day. Baking, magic and murder…what‘s not to love?

#OutAndAbout #ReadingOnTheTrain

23 likes1 stack add
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Robotswithpersonality
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Oh yes, this is very much my vibe. Off to a good start.
Having such good luck with wacky fantasy!

6 likes1 stack add
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Nessavamusic
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Pickpick

This a very cute young adult fantasy featuring a 14 yo baker who also happens to be a wizard. She discovers a dead body in her bakery and a evil plot in the kingdom is discovered. If you like the cozy fantasy trend, if you like cute companions, you will enjoy this book! This is on the younger side of YA, would probably work for a more mature middle grade reader. T. Kingfisher is officially a must read for me! 4.25⭐️

52 likes1 stack add
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willaful
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Or The Gingerbread Man's revenge. ;-)

#PromptMaze: title begins with 'A' Also my #DoubleSpin book

Just delightful. This reminded me of the fantasies I loved when I was a kid, in which children discover they're so much more than they thought they were. But it also has a few choice words for the idea that children should be responsible for saving the day.

@TheAromaofBooks

Faranae I loved this, and I still can't believe traditional publishers took a pass on it as too dark and scary for the target age (have they read Darren Shan?!). 1y
TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! 1y
8 likes2 comments
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JuliaTheBookNerd
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this was such a fun, cute book! I loved Mona and her army of #gingerbread men 🤎 🧩

#DivineDecember 🎄❄️🎁

#BookNerd 🤓📚💙

Eggs Gorgeous puzzle! Did you do it? 1y
JuliaTheBookNerd @Eggs Yup 😊 One of my favorite things to do is work on a puzzle in my library while listening to an audiobook 🎧 🧩 📖 1y
Eggs Oh I love doing that! It‘s hard to stop though - I‘ve been known to stay up half the night working on it …😆 @JuliaTheBookNerd 1y
JuliaTheBookNerd @Eggs Me too! 🤪😴 1y
53 likes4 comments
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rachelsbrittain
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Pickpick

This cute fantasy novel follows a girl who's magical abilities only extend to baking and specifically bread. She has a sentient sourdough starter named Bob and can make gingerbread men dance but when she realizes someone is stalking and assisinating the minor magicians of her city, she teams up with a young street urchin to stop them.

IamIamIam This looks adorable!!!! 1y
GondorGirl I was not expecting to be as emotionally involved in this book as I was. It was a delightful story that had me in tears once or twice. 1y
iread2much I loved this book so much! It was such a fun concept and well written too 1y
47 likes5 stack adds3 comments
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DebinHawaii
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#OminousOctober

This #Wizard titled YA book has been on my kindle #TBR for a while now. It sounds magical, cute and fun. ✨🪄 ✨

#TeamMonsterMash

Eggs Great choice! 2y
46 likes2 comments
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rabbitprincess
Pickpick

This was utterly delightful and made me crave gingerbread, although I might not eat highly decorated gingerbread people again in case they are somebody‘s familiar 🤣

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mdemanatee
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That day of book club binge

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sebrittainclark
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Pickpick

4/5

Mona is a 14 yeag old wizard whose medium is dough, so she's perfectly content to work in her aunt's bakery and leave the defense of her city to more powerful wizards. Until she's caught up in a plot to kill wizards, and her whole world is turned upside down.

Super fun read with strong Pratchett vibes. It also has an incredible quote about heroes and medals I'll post next.

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HeyT
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Considering my job went absolutely crazy this month I‘m happy with my totals for the month. I didn‘t read anywhere near as much as I wanted but I wouldn‘t call it slump worthy. Highlights were the tagged and City of Bones.
3 physical
3 eBook
1 audio

#MarchWrapUp

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JuliaTheBookNerd
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This was a fun, cute, unique little read. Not sure if I loved Bob, the sourdough starter or the gingerbread men best ❤️

#Bakery 🥖🥐🍪🥧 #SavvySettings 🍀💚

#BookNerd 🤓💙📚

Eggs Well done 🥐🧡🥧 2y
61 likes1 comment
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HeyT
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Pickpick

I loved this. A fantasy world with a story that explores the trauma of heroism and the ways that the system can fail. I loved that Mona is thrust into a situation she never should have to deal with and yet shoulders the burden despite her resentment at having been placed into it in the first place.

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Jari-chan
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Here's my list for #BookSpin and #DoubleSpin - Four new books added for those that went off the list 😁

@TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 2y
26 likes1 comment
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JuliaTheBookNerd
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This is my niece, Ivy 💕 I watched her for Valentine‘s Day so her parents could have a night out 💕

I‘m currently reading the tagged book but I‘m not far enough in yet to say whether it‘s a pick or pan 😬

I‘m grateful for all my nieces and nephews! I get to love, spoil and get my baby fix but give them back when I get tired🤪

#WonderousWednesday 🥰 @Eggs

#BookNerd 🤓💙📚

Eggs So sweet 🧒🏼 2y
41 likes1 stack add1 comment
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LeticiaToraci
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Pickpick

This was cute, funny and entertaining! I will read more books by this author soon.

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Jari-chan
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My #BookSpinBingo list for February. Only going for #BookSpin and #DoubleSpin this month... It feels weird not doing the Bingo, but if I want to keep up with my New Year's resolution I need to reduce stress 😔

@TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks I totally understand!! You can jump back into bingo any time you like!! 2y
Jari-chan @TheAromaofBooks That's great, thank you ❤️ 2y
34 likes2 comments
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Cathy_J
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Pickpick

This was a fun read with a great sense of humour. A murder mystery featuring Mona, a wizard with a talent for baking. Her sidekicks are wonderful 😊🍞🥖🍪🔪😯😆⭐⭐⭐⭐

SRWCF Sounds cute! 2y
rabbitprincess I‘ve requested this from the library! 2y
Lunakay It's bake off gone magical😂🥖🥨🥯 2y
79 likes5 stack adds3 comments
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Lauredhel
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The Hugo Awards (sponsored by Raytheon, WTAF??!) reminded me that I still haven't read this book.

On my hook : Illusion Mandala by Lilla Bjorn Crochet. #litsycrafters

thegirlwiththelibrarybag I loved this one! It‘s also when I realised this author also writes as Ursula Vernon. 2y
BookishMadHatter Your mandala looks amazing! Those stitches look perfect 👏 👌 2y
Lauredhel @BooksAndYarn thanks! I'm not thrilled with Round 2 but the silver was a tricksy yarn to work with, and I doubt anyone else will notice 2y
See All 6 Comments
Prairiegirl_reading Your crochet is gorgeous!!! 2y
Catsandbooks Your work is absolutely stunning! 2y
63 likes6 comments
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DebinHawaii
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#Haunted

I forgot this one is loaded on my Kindle #TBR & there seems to be plenty of #wizardry both baking & otherwise in it. 🪄🧙‍♀️

It looks cute & fun so I might need to add it to to my October #readathon stacks! 📚📚📚🧡🖤

BethM That sounds fun! 3y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Cool cover!! 3y
Eggs Brilliant 🧡🤗🍪🎃❤️ 3y
58 likes4 stack adds3 comments
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effani
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Pickpick

I've been in a pretty bad reading slump for the past few months, and I haven't felt excited to talk about what little I have read, but this book is an exception. It's my #BookSpin pick for this month, and I read it in one day. What a delightful book! It's absolutely hilarious and just what I needed right now. Highly recommended if you could use something lighthearted but still thoughtful.

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charl08
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There was something really unsettling about a talking gingerbread man.

TrishB 😂😂 3y
charl08 @TrishB this book is a lot of fun. I should read more YA. 3y
33 likes1 stack add2 comments
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ErikaB
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Totally forgot to post my #bookspinbingo card. I‘ve started several, so hopefully I‘ll get a few finished before next weekend. At least I‘ve gotten a few free spaces done!

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Looks great!! 3y
6 likes1 comment
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majkia

What a fun read. 14 year old Mona is a wizard. With baking. Her familiar is a sourdough starter named Bob. When the 'real' wizards in town start disappearing. Mona finds herself having to defend her city against an invasion.

#bookspin #TheAromaofBooks

BookishMarginalia A sourdough starter? Stacked! 3y
8 likes1 stack add1 comment
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majkia

My #bookspin selection for June. Just the title makes me laugh.

#TheAromaofBooks

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asterese
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Pickpick

This is baking like you've never seen it before, and it is glorious. I love T. Kingfisher's writing, and Mona may just be one of her best protagonists yet. This is a book for all ages. 😊

⭐: 5

(Photo in the background belongs to Miti)

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asterese
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Had my first shot today, and felt the need to get a new book afterwards. 😂 glad to see this one was on sale!

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llwheeler
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April #BookSpin wrap up: 8 done, no bingos, #BookSpin started but not finished. Let's see what May brings!

#axethestacks wrap up: 1 new book acquired, 8 knocked off the tbr. The tbr overall is sitting at -5 for the year so far... More like chipping the stacks, but hey, at least it's going in the right direction.

@TheAromaofBooks @howjessicareads

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Fantastic month!! 3y
22 likes1 comment
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llwheeler
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Pickpick

April #doublespin done! @TheAromaofBooks

I really enjoyed this one! It made me laugh out loud a couple of times, and I love the gingerbread man familiar.

(this post also featuring my new kobo cover, which I made a few weeks ago. It's super simple but I love it)

TheAromaofBooks Yay!!! 3y
Texreader Love that cover you made!! 3y
33 likes3 comments
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Grrlbrarian
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17 books read and three #BookSpinBingo rows achieved. Knocked out my #BookSpin and #DoubleSpin too. Not bad!

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Fabulous month!! 3y
27 likes1 comment
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kwmg40
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Pickpick

A 14-year-old wizard defends her city with her magical baking, featuring gingerbread warriors and violently aggressive sourdough starter. This novel by T. Kingfisher (a.k.a. Ursula Vernon) is such a fun read!

#ShutdownReadathon @Squidget

DieAReader 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 3y
29 likes2 stack adds1 comment