Princess Ozma has been kidnapped, & all the magical artifacts of Oz have vanished. Dorothy puts together a team to rescue the lost princess.

I remember loving this one as a kid, because it‘s a dramatic search & rescue, all the girls are together, & my favorite animals. And I adored the bears. I also appreciated the resolution with Ugu. But I hadn‘t remembered the Lion or Scraps being quite so condescending to every one around them. 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

We have had more rain in the last few days than I got in my two weeks in England. I‘m a little miffed. 😂

But at least that means it‘s chocolate chip cookie weather. #AudioBaking

#WeirdWordWednesday #WeirdWords

I had this word in mind so many times while I was in England on my vacation. So many people, so many different lives going on around me. ❤️

Murder comes to Shady Hollow when Bradley Marvel flees the big city, claiming he‘s being framed for the murder of his editor. When Vera realizes she has a past with the victim, she‘s going to have to clear her own name before another victim drops.

Loved this! Returning characters, lovely cozy setting. And while I did predict the culprit, I felt like it was set up well, & I had half convinced myself I was wrong w/ every red herring.🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

#WeeklyForecast

I am so ready for Jingo by Terry Pratchett! I haven‘t read this one in years!

#BookReport

I think Tangleweed is going to be up in my list for top books for the year. ❤️

You think the Grimm fairy tales are dark and twisted. Just wait until the women of the story decide that they‘ve had enough.

13 beautiful, lyrical, and dark retellings of 13 different fairy tales. I desperately need to listen to these on audio during a dark autumn evening. All about the patriarchy‘s control of our bodies and voices, and the feminine rage unleashed to control our stories. 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗

Jules, Carlos, & Andy are off on an adventure visiting a coffee bean farm in Costa Rica. The timing couldn‘t be worse as they arrive in the middle of family drama selling the farm, a possible corporate buyout, and murder.

My favorite so far! New location, new characters, but also continuing Jules‘s relationships back home, a twisty mystery w/ a thoroughly satisfying solve, & all the delicious food descriptions you could ask for.🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

These ones! 👇🏻

The 2020 paperback editions of six of the Dune books. I‘d buy prints of these and put them on my wall.

And it makes me so mad because I really, really don‘t like Dune. But they‘re so pretty! 😫

#SundayFunday Hope you all have an amazing day, and don‘t forget to tag me.

In 2024, Tildy discovers a secret room in the library she works at containing 2 elaborate, mysterious doll houses. In 1914, a young woman named Cora arrives in Paris intent on forging a new life.

What fun! I loved the characters, especially Cora, & the mystery of the doll houses was fascinating. Cora‘s story got a little Forrest Gump through history, but I really loved it, a tale of the importance of highlighting women‘s stories. 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

A fascinating collection of myths and legends spanning centuries and countries. From the classic Greek myths through King Arthur, Norse myths, and legends of Charlemagne, this would be a great starting point for anyone wanting to get into mythologies of Europe.

I considered myself well studied in Greek myths and Arthurian legends, but this collection had several I had never seen before! Also enjoyed the occasional insert of other texts.🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

Such interesting picks for September‘s #Roll100 !

The Woman Who Would be King by Kara Cooney

A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle

Final Harvest by Emily Dickinson

I‘m so excited for my #ThematicCozies read for September. Books about books are a weakness I feel no shame for. 😆

The fight to destroy the demonic infestation becomes even more fraught as Yuli must balance her powers as the Guardian of Wind w/ trying to take the mantle of the leader of her people.

I liked this 1 better than the first 2. The fairy tale influence actually subverted my expectations, & I really enjoyed the subplot of Yuli‘s trials. But this is starting to get a little bogged down w/ so many POVs. I will say I‘m very excited for book 4.🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑

Guess who finally figured out how to add books to her Favorites shelf on #Storygraph !

#WeeklyForecast

I can‘t wait to get to the next Bakeshop Mystery book! 😁

#BookReport

Back into the groove of things!

Pendt‘s abilities to change genetics make her a valuable resource. When she decides she‘s had enough of her family‘s hatred, she escapes to a space station where she meets a pair of twins who will change her life.

There is a lot I like here, sci-fi/fantasy fusion, Arthurian references, expansive world building, interesting characters. But also weird pacing issues, repetitive info dumps, & a rushed ending. Would like to read the sequel.🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑

Who, really, is the woman behind the man Macbeth who would be king?

A lovely retelling of one of my favorite Shakespearean that really gets into who Queen Macbeth was. Unfortunately for it, it also didn‘t do what I wanted. I had gone in expecting a tale of an ambitious, manipulative queen, & instead got a story of really good, beloved King Macbeth who united Scotland, accepted all. I might like this better on a reread.🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑

First is the book nook I created with my favorite blankets and next to most of my books.

On warmer days (not too hot!) I also love sitting out on the lounge chair in the backyard.

#SundayFunday Have a fantastic day and don‘t forget to tag me!

Charlie makes an unexpected new friend with one of the rugby players, only to find that this new friendship becomes complicated when he starts falling for Nick.

A very sweet graphic novel! A coming of age story about boys falling in love while the dramas of high school play out around them. I loved the art style & all of the secondary characters. I was not a fan of the abrupt ending. So I immediately put the next couple volumes on hold.🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

Found a new Locked Tomb podcast while I am waiting for Alecto!

https://nunpod.com/ #BookPodcasts #BookAdjacent

Quinn‘s pelt is stolen & she is forced to become a human‘s wife. When she finally can escape, an injury makes her retreat to a nearby island w/ a lighthouse full of secrets & humans that Quinn doesn‘t know if she can trust.

God I loved this. Wonderful mythology of selkies, fantastic depiction of the horror of the story w/out being graphic, & great description of a cold & isolated island. I do wish the romance was developed a bit more. 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗

The Watch is baffled by a pair of mysterious murders & the poisoning of the Patrician. It will take all of them working together along w/ a new hire to solve everything.

This is 1 of my favorites. The two separate mysteries are fascinating, I love all the characters (Angua my beloved), Dorfl & the golems & the power of choosing, & Vimes always satisfies my deeply buried vengeful side @ the end. I forgot how much that last scene hits me.🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗

#WeeklyForecast

Got some great reads lined up, and I‘m feeling so much better! 😁

#WeeklyForecast

Got some great reads lined up, and I‘m feeling so much better! 😁

#BookReport

I spent the first part of the week recovering from a nasty cold I picked up on vacation, and then dealt with the worst migraine I‘ve had in a long time, so this week was a bad week for finishing anything! Hopeful that next week is better!

Recommending outside of Litsy, it‘s usually because I can‘t stop thinking about a book. It needs to have soaked into my subconscious. 😁

#SundayFunday Have a great day, and don‘t forget to tag me!

I don‘t bounce back from jet lag as quickly anymore. 😂 It‘s taken me a couple days to put together my August #BingoBoard ! #BookSpinBingo

#BookSpin and #DoubleSpin NetGalley ARCs

#Roll100 The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, I Am Spock, Firebird

#OokBOokClub Jingo

#BobWhiteBuddies Mystery of the Missing Heiress

#BeyondTheYellowBrickRoad The Lost Princess of Oz

#QueerBC Heartstopper

#ThematicCozies Mockingbird Court

I accidentally read Travel for July, so I‘m reading a festival for August! And luckily this ARC fits the bill perfectly! #ThematicCozies @julieclair

I took this picture in the Wigan North Western railway station when I was visiting last week! There was a whole alphabet of phrases, and I wish I had had the time to take pictures of all of them!

#WeirdWordWednesday #WeirdWords @CBee

W/ the entire family on vacation in Scotland, Peter was just hoping for some relaxing time on the beach. Then a maybe selkie is found dead, a mysterious panther is stalking sheep, & Abigail gets a crush. So business as usual.

Lots of fun, great humor, & fascinating world building, it feel like we skipped a book w/ the time jump. & there were just too many characters that felt incidental. & I did not get invested in Abigail‘s romance. 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

#WeeklyForecast

I‘m so excited for all my upcoming reads!

#BookReport

So many books finished! So many new books bought to read! What a great week! 😆

The sweet and sour story of the life of a sad chicken nuggie and their new life in the big city.

I‘ve been a big fan of the TikTok account behind the Sad Nuggie stuffed animals. So this story grabbed me immediately. I loved the artwork, & the relatability of someone just trying their best while dealing with/ a whole variety of problems was great. & it‘s definitely making me think about buying my own. 😂 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗

This one‘s probably in my top three favorite Agatha Christie books! It‘s got everything! Locked room murder, suspects everywhere, and Poirot being his usual genius.

#SundayFunday Have a wonderful day, and don‘t forget to tag me!

I am so stoked for these picks for #Roll100 ! Can‘t wait to dive in!

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
I Am Spock
Firebird

July #MonthlyRoundUp

Not as many audiobooks this month, but I‘m hoping to bounce back in August!

#StoryGraphWrapUp for July! A good month for physical and digital books, bad for audio! 😂

The royal kingdom of Pingaree is invaded & decimated. It‘s up to young Prince Inga, visiting King Rinkitink, & an irascible talking goat named Bilbil to rescue the people & restore the kingdom.

A fun, solid plot w/ interesting characters. I loved Prince Inga & how determined he was to rescue his people. But I disliked how Rinkitink was entirely useless, & I feel like I would have liked this better if it was just Inga & Bilbil together.🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑

Last one! Stuck on the tarmac, flight delayed, and I just want my own bed. Have fun! #BookEmojis

Allowing extra time for finding the right terminal, getting through security, and finding the right gate in an airport you‘ve never been in results in much down time!

So I made another #BookEmojis game! Let‘s see if all can get guessed before I land for my layover!

And finally last #BookHaul of my wonderful time spent in England! And there goes the rest of my book buying budget for the year. And I couldn‘t be more thrilled. 😁

Last #LocalBookstore of the trip. This was a really beautiful and welcoming bookstore in Manchester. I loved visiting here and I wish I could have spent hours just relaxing here. ❤️

Trot & Cap‘n Bill have fallen through a great whirlpool, & escaped into a magical land they don‘t know. Their travels will bring them new friends & old, & of course a love story & a political coup.

I love Trot getting to know as much as we do about Oz. The friendship between her & Bill is genuinely delightful. & I loved seeing a new corner of Oz. But there are recurring issues of beauty = goodness & ugly/disfigurement = evil. 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

Jenny Greenteeth was just minding her business when the local town preacher decided a witch needed to be drowned in her lake. Suddenly, she‘s swept up in a great quest, a battle against unimaginable evil, & playing nice w/ the High Fae Court.

Probably my favorite book of the year so far. A rag tag group on an epic quest, the power of friendship, a real fairy tale feeling, & enough twists that I absolutely did not predict the ending.🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕

And I was very bored on the train ride back to the hotel, so have a #BookZodiac that I could not stop thinking about.

Today was spent visiting the Lake District and visiting Beatrix Potter‘s house!

I‘m really going to need bookstores to stop making beautiful displays, featuring Shakespearean retellings signed by the author. Because it works. 😂