Welcome to Litsy!

#HaikuADay

I awoke to this view of May‘s flower moon out my backyard screen door & it inspired today‘s haiku:

Before Sunrise:

The full flower moon
Bathes the world in twilight hues
Beckons through the screen

#HaikuHive

I was all set to start a February purchase next, but I‘ve been craving more Anne Bishop for a while now so I decided to put that plan on hold. So far, I regret nothing. I remembered this book as a smidge less engaging, but it‘s full of the characters just being themselves at each other while they clarify and strengthen their relationships. Love it.

I also love this tiny Atrociraptor I bought on my way home yesterday. Hurray for dinosaurs!

Yesterday‘s outdoor reading session, with Casey assisting. I tore through the first half of DREAMS MADE FLESH and still loved Lucivar and Marian‘s story very much, with all the usual caveats. The big one: I forgot Karla‘s canonically queer, and I‘m disgusted that Bishop‘s worldbuilding still forces her to bed a man to preserve her jewelled power. Gender essentialist magic is crap. Let her ditch her virginity with a nice lady instead.

Throwback to yesterday, when I didn‘t want to put QUEEN OF THE DARKNESS down long enough to take a proper picture with Casey, let alone post about it. This series is far from flawless, but I love the characters and the vibe so much that I can work past the bits that stick in my teeth (like all the gender essentialism and the alpha male bullshit). This reread has especially confirmed Surreal as my Black Jewels MVP.

I‘m babysitting sweet Wesley and his brothers tonight, and I‘ve reread a big chunk of HEIR TO THE SHADOWS in between play sessions. It‘s clicked for me that the reason these books are so readable and compelling, despite the dodgy bits, is how well Anne Bishop nails that all-important balance between the mythic and the personal. These characters are PEOPLE first, no matter what dark magics or ancient social orders govern their lives.

The latest stop on my very slow early 2000s rereads tour. DAUGHTER OF THE BLOOD and its sequels completely entranced me back in 2009, but I didn‘t expect I‘d feel the same here in 2024 because of Bishop‘s squickier worldbuilding choices. Wrong. There‘s some questionable stuff, yeah (like the virginity thing; ICK), but the world‘s fascinating even if it‘s not always admirable, and I still love the characters. I‘m annoyed I can‘t just read all day.

I love to revisit a favorite series. Even though the stories may not be amazing, I enjoy spending more time with the characters and in the world the author created.

#12DaysofChristmas @Andrew65 This one was the last book of this series.

Number 12 in the series. It seems to carry on from the last book. All my favorite characters are here with the new generation coming into play. Not an dramatic book with no fights or wars, just teens coming into their own with famous parents.#SeriesLove23 @Andrew65 @TheSpineView Almost a chunkster #ChunskterChallenge2023 @Amiable #RushAthonReadingChallenge @DieAReader @Andrew65 @GHABI4ROSES #ISpyBingo @Clwojick @TheAromaofBooks

I have not been liking these latest three books. I want to go back and reread the original trilogy now, forget this exists. 🤨