John Perry joins the army when he turns 75. His desire to move on from the memories of his wife result in him joining the long, bloody fight to expand & protect humanity‘s place in space.

I can see why people like this. John is fun, the humor is on point, & the world building is amazing. But 300 pages of stop/go action, w/ everything going down in the last 50 pages + a last minute romance makes this more of a miss for me.🌕🌕🌗🌑🌑

This was such a fun one! Thanks @dabbe for the tag! Although it did make me super hungry!

My favorites are mashed potatoes, spinach artichoke dip (I add fresh dill and garlic to mine!), and ham!

#TLT #ThreeListThursday

The constantly changing tapestry of human knowledge is one of the coolest things about us as a species.

#WeirdWordWednesday #WeirdWords @CBee

YAAAAAAYYY!

#BookAnnouncement

It‘s Christmastime! Molly is excited to spend it w/ her mother & her aunt in their historic bookshop. The holidays become much more dire when someone attempts to murder her friend.

The relationships in these stories continue to be my favorite thing! Seeing these women supporting each other, inter generational friendships is lovely. The pacing was a little off, but the mystery kept me guessing, & I loved the subplot of the treasure hunt.🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑

This was a charming little fantasy I read a couple months ago!

@Karisimo #MiddleGradeMonday

#WeeklyForecast

I am so excited to start the new Percy Jackson book!

#BookReport

I‘m only a couple hours into The Bear and the Nightingale and already I can tell this is a perfect read for the season. 💙

Freya, born with the blood of a protection goddess in her veins, is pulled into a fight for a kingship beyond her understanding. & her only ally is her new husband‘s very attractive & charming son.

This had a lot I liked. Fantastic scene setting, absolutely fascinating magic systems & interpretation of children of gods. However, I could not care less about this romance, which made everything else w/ these characters feel flat. So, YMMV.🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑

I don‘t really have a preference, it kind of depends on my mood.

But what I don‘t want is a book series where the books end in the middle of the story as a “cliffhanger”. There‘s a difference between a teasing cliffhanger for another story and ending with the book‘s main conflict unresolved.

#SundayFunday Have a marvelous day, and don‘t forget to tag me in your posts!

Almost as long as there has been a Batman and a Robin, there has been a Batgirl.

I haven't been into comics since my college years, but I remember loving Batgirl & her various stories. This in depth look at all the iterations of such a powerful icon makes me want to return to the comics I loved. Yes, there were some bad runs. There were writers & artists who only saw her as a prop to Batman and Robin's stories, but she perseveres. 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

Did some retail therapy the day after the election. 😅 #BookHaul

It‘s time for one of my absolute favorite swaps of this season! #JolabokaflodSwap is here!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScy3JBCkSnmHCLSABUtcIjYuAX36Fk7srbnllGo...

Thanks @MaleficentBookDragon for hosting again this year!

First snow of the season! And I‘m so glad today is the start of my weekend so I can stay inside, make chocolate chip cookies, and read my books. 💖

#WeirdWordWednesday #WeirdWords @CBee

Thanks for the tag @Ddzmini !

1. Probably stripes.
2. A Fate Inked in Blood! I‘m listening to it on Libby.

#Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView

Oh! 🥰 I so rarely get Tor books on NetGalley. It feels so comforting to get the next Wayward Children book. #NetGalley #ARC

#WeeklyForecast

I am so excited to get to The Bear and the Nightingale! I‘ve had it on my TBR for years! 😅

#BookReport

So many great books this week!

A new kid in town means a new mystery for the Bob Whites! In addition to figuring out an ice carnival to raise donations, Trixie needs to find out just what is going on with tough city boy Dan.

A lower stakes mystery for the kids, but just as much heart. Love how the kids all take on an activist role for their friends, & seeing most of them jump to conclusions about Dan, then apologize when they‘re wrong is heartening.🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

Midwife Jean helps her neighbor‘s new wife deliver a child, only to learn that all may not be well in the house. There are too many secrets, & Jean only wants to help. But she may end up losing more than her heart.

This was absolutely gorgeous! The scene setting was lush, the reimagining of the selkie myth was heartbreaking, all the characters were so interesting, the queer love was so lovely. In my top 5 reads of the year, no question.🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr said “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice."

& it is books like the tagged one that remind me that when it does bend towards justice, it bends because WE move it. Every activist, every protest, pushes that arc along.

It may look flat sometimes, it may look like it‘s curved back, but it is still moving forward.

#SundayFunday I hope you all are having the day you need, & remember to tag me.

Orpheus created the machines his best friend used to take over the world. When that gets him exiled, & he sees the damage he‘s wrought, he chooses to do what he can to repair the world.

This was a fascinating mix of post apocalyptic, science fiction, & fantasy! There‘s some really great world building & some interesting characters, but everything ended up feeling rushed, especially the romance, & the ending was too abrupt.🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑

Thanks for such a wonderful idea @dabbe !

Hogfather by Terry Pratchett
Wintersmith by Terry Pratchett
Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik

Bonus round: A Christmas Carol, because who doesn‘t want to read about a miserly cruel millionaire getting scared into becoming a decent human being right now?

#TLT #ThreeListThursday

I really enjoyed doing Dracula Daily this year! So I decided to download #SerialReader and make my way through some more classics!

The story of a rising evil, and the group of friends who through love, communication, working together, and a whole lot of research bring down something more powerful and cruel than themselves.

This ended up being unexpectedly and upsettingly timely. There will be heartbreaks there will be setbacks, but we will survive. 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗 #DraculaDaily

Magical artifacts are going missing, & the bodies start dropping. Velma‘s detective work for the Muses is put to the rest when she has to chase down a mysterious organization w/ plans for destruction.

A return to the world of The Conductors & I couldn‘t be happier! Glover‘s historical work is wonderful. It‘s fascinating to see the evolution of the magic, bad ass lady pilots, a mystery, a road (plane) trip, & a surprise little romance! 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

Percy Jackson just wants to go to college with his girlfriend Annabeth. Unfortunately, the gods have decreed that he needs 3 godly recommendation letters. & all his previous world saving doesn‘t count.

Loved returning to the world, loved Percy‘s voice! & the quest was so interesting, Percy being the only 1 trusted to find the chalice that grants immortality, the side characters! & the ending! Finding strength in a dream of the future!🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

Let‘s get festive! 🎁

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfZ1BBIJnndjHIhyka1lw5DW5YV89Lne-w36CTc...

#StuffedStockingSwap @Avanders

Taking some time to sign up for some holiday swaps! Because it‘s important to do the things that bring you joy.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScTFo37sHUJQgMkuj81O8J_HuWrnu7dRrakoaip...

#LittleChristmasSwap @bookish_wookish

I am angry and devastated. And I am going to take today to just be angry and sad.

But tomorrow, I will dust myself off and put in the work. Because this is my country too goddamnit, and I refuse to let it be sacrificed on the altar of fascism to a racist, misogynistic, cowardly, traitorous demagogue.

#WeirdWordWednesday #WeirdWords @CBee

“In the morning there are mouths to feed.”

As the title says, the world keeps ending, and we keep going on. Poems about the atrocities of humanity, the apocalypses marginalized communities face regularly, but the hope that still exists. Whatever may come, we will fight and work together and care for our communities and be here for each other. 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗

Hosting a communal Thanksgiving for Mae‘s campground becomes a lot more complicated when old grudges pop up, & the bodies start dropping.

This was cute. Fun characters (especially Dottie), lovely descriptions of food, a mystery that kept me guessing, although the final reveal of “psychosis made them do it” is really starting to irritate me in cozy mysteries. It‘s 2024, we can do better. 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑

“The only culture that woman will ever have is a yeast infection.”

Dottie, I have just met you and I love you. 😂😂 #ComfortReadathon

For the first time since her mother died, Lana & her father return to her island home to rebuild after a devastating storm. Only, Lana also discovers there‘s something magical out in the reefs, & they‘re in trouble.

I expected a cozy fantasy for my 1st #ComfortReadathon . Instead I got a beautifully illustrated meditation on grief, protecting your community, & doing the little you can to protect the world, even if you can‘t save it all.🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗

💚❤️💚It‘s the most wonderful time of the year! ❤️💚❤️

@StayCurious and @LiseWorks are hosting the #Wintergames2024 this year! It‘s always a great time for games and community and new books!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeH2hFupCfNZflq-7nLDPmDeboWHY2X-Eoo7jPV...

In an effort to break free from her parents, Saraswati joins the galaxy wide show Interstellar Megachef. Things get complicated when she gets swept up in a programmer‘s dream of simulated food.

This really shouldn‘t have been marketed as Masterchef in space. The show takes place over less than 10%. There are some interesting discussions of simulation & manipulating the brain, & what food really means, but this tried to do too much.🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑

#WeeklyForecast

I‘m going to take a break from A Sweet Sting of Salt tomorrow to dip into my #SeasonalCozies read for @BookwormAHN ‘s #ComfortReadathon . 😅

#BookReport

This week increased exponentially in quality on the books I finished. 😆

I had never heard of this show before, but boy this chicken was delicious! #DinnerByTheBook

Discworld discovers the unique magic of the silver screen & moving pictures. It goes about as well as you could expect. & will make you cry.

While this story is humorous, it‘s also an examination of the creation & destruction of dreams, the fine balance of solace/oblivion one can find in media. & how the real heroes are the ones that aren‘t recognized. 1 of the more bittersweet Discworld novels. & goddamn but it made me cry. 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

This has been in my TBR forever.

And if you live in the United States and haven‘t voted yet, please make sure to do so on Tuesday! Vote for your neighbors, vote for your friends, vote for your community.

#SundayFunday I hope you all are having a great weekend, and don‘t forget to tag me in your posts.

#BingoBoard of November ready and raring to go! While I am not actually ready.🤣 #BookSpinBingo

#BookSpin The Bear and the Nightingale, #DoubleSpin book club pick

#Roll100 Dragonquest, Old Man‘s War, The War of the Flowers

#OokBOokClub The Truth

#BobwhiteBuddies The Black Jacket Mystery

#LitsySciFiBookClub The Family Experiement

#QueerBC Watch Over Me

#SeasonalCozies Trappings, Turkey, and Thanksgiving

#WhimsicalReads A Fate Inked in Blood

Spooky month‘s #MonthlyRoundup ! And I am so pleased with myself!

I finished SEVEN ARCS! Plus two old ones. *happy dance* here‘s hoping I can keep that energy going through the end of the year! 🤞🏻🤞🏻

All witches are orphans. & the rules state it is better for witches to be raised alone. So imagine Maya‘s surprise when she gets contacted out of the blue to help tutor three young witches.

This was the perfect cozy fantasy to end the month on. Warm & soft, w/ so many absolutely lovely characters, this was a joy to read. I loved how the magic worked. The romance felt a bit quick, but overall this was so sweet.🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

I am sooo not ready for November. 😅😅😅 #BookSpinBingo

Thanks so much to @OutsmartYourShelf for hosting such a fun reading challenge for October! #SupernaturalBookBingo

@ShananigansReads posted about doing #NetGalleyNovember this year, and I just knew I needed to jump in! I‘m not anticipating being able to get to the free space, but who knows!

3 authors join forces to write a novel to defy all expectations. When they arrive at their Scottish castle retreat, the American in charge mysteriously drops dead. W/ everybody hiding something, it‘s up to the 3 of them to clear their names.

Was this a little ridiculous? Yes. Did it still make me laugh? Also yes. The characters are pretty flat & a slow start, until the body drops. Then everything became a lot more interesting. 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

Maya, a graduate student & former thief, promises to help her dearest friend steal the object xyr species needs to repopulate. Only w/ Earth‘s military after them, & something destroying the pathways between space, everything is much more complicated.

Gorgeous. Heists in space, a wildly diverse & interesting cast, & a twisty turny plot that kept me hooked. A slow start, & a little info dump heavy sometimes, but well worth the read.🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

Love this new cookbook! Easy and healthy one pot (or skillet or casserole dish) dinners!

This is the asparagus, turkey sausage, and Gouda strata and it was delicious!

#DinnerByTheBook