This book was full of twists and turns and just when I thought I had it, I got a new piece that confused and befuddled me which I love when an author does that. The world building I loved is still present & this time more expansive as we are taken to a new canton for a puzzling disappearance that is actually a murder mystery full of political intrigue, blood, and power that falls to Ana and Din to solve.
#popsugarreadingchallenge

This was full of grit, woe, and exploitation as the book depicts the rigged politics that keep corporations in power at the moment expense of the low working class, in this case, immigrants who came to the US for the American dream just find themselves covered in dirt and coal dust like much of their dreams.

It's crazy how although this book was originally written in 1917, a lot of it still pertains today.
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Not much reading is going to happen this weekend as I'll be watching lots of wrestling 😁 lots and lots of wrestling

This book took me by surprise in a fantastic way.

This was fun, charming, whimsical, and once I got into it, this was full of sharp and smart characters with some representation of LGBTQ and chronic pain.

I'm really glad I decided to bump this up and read way faster than I expected due to the quick pacing, the marriage of convenience, the MCs catching actual feelings, and saving a kingdom.

#pantone2025 @Lauredhel
#popsugarreadingchallenge

I really liked how the author tackled this epic movie, reimagining it, Like I said in Luke's POV, so there's opening chapters where Luke walks the reader through Jedi Tutorials, or glosses over the mushy romance stuff, well mostly, so that the reader feels like he's learning from Luke but also experiencing the whole book in his shoes, which is different from the first book in the series.

#25in2025 #popsugarreadingchallenge

A solid 3.5 star for me!
I've been eyeballing this one for a while and was so glad to have gotten a copy at a recent comic con.
I was intrigued by the story and the cover. Not sure how many queer werewolf coming of age stories are out there but this was solid for the perspective of a moody teenager who is still grieving and trying to figure out her romantic life while hiding the fact that she's a werewolf.

I was hooked from the opening chapter and the great dialogue and next thing I know, I'm sighing and giggling as the book progresses and around the last idk 20-25%, this book had me crying. Granted by then it had gotten to a particular moment of grief, and it triggered my own which was cathartic.

I have too many feels from this one.
#popsugarreadingchallenge

This was an ok holiday read. There were a few of my favorite tropes included like small town romance, a little forced proximity, with a dash of sunshine x grumpy sprinkled throughout the book.

I actually ended up liking the whole story a little more once I stopped thinking of the romantic aspect as I ended up liking the background characters a lot more, even Blair Bloody Beckett 😁

#popsugarreadingchallenge

I still stand by more 4 star rating from the first time I read this one.
This book is chock-full of history, probably more than what was needed for the story but the author is a history professor so it makes a lot of sense to me that she's going to showcase her skills.

This volume was action packed from start to finish. Lots of great larger illustrations across the panels creating some great fighting scenes and highlighting the different characters. And I'm not going to lie, the fight between Nagumo and Gaku was pretty lit.

This was a solid read.
It's my first time reading anything by this author so as usual I wasn't sure what to expect other than the book blurb, which was enough to get me to pick this up.

It's fun, and quirky with fantasy and body horror elements mixed with a sapphic romance between a human and shapeshifter.

All in all though, I had a fun time reading this one and would definitely consider another from the author.
#popsugarreadingchallenge

The premise sounded interesting and that's why I picked this one up but after sleeping on it, this was lackluster and I probably should have stopped reading it earlier.

Overall, I am saddened that this one played out how it did and my feelings towards it. The whole thing was lackluster, clunky, and had no direction. Shame because again the premise sounded promising.

This was such a fun read.
Told from the three perspectives of the main cast, Leia (princess), Han (scoundrel) and Luke (farm boy), the movie is adapted with additional character insight, background, and emotional depth to the scenes I know and love from the characters themselves.

The audiobook was amazing. Marc Thompson, a solid narrator within the Star Wars books in my opinion, and Rebecca Soler did a fantastic job with the characters.
#25in2025

I felt that this volume was had a slower pace, and I mean SLOW, that I couldn't really get into this one as much as the last two volumes until I saw the Nightmare Knight towards the end.

I like the brief moment between him and Princess Parfait. I felt like they have a funny relationship and I'm hoping for more an unexpected friendship.

#popsugarreadingchallenge

This was such a well done volume, picking up right after the last one as they were battling Tenroku and his story was just sooo devastating and heartbreaking to read and witness. What a backstory to give him and it explains a lot of his character from the previous volume.

Because this one was mostly Tenroku's backstory, when it comes back to present day, we get more surprises from Ryudo and Tsuki literally on the last few pages.

This was so many different things.

A mix of gothic horror, family bonds, an illicit affair, socialism, misogyny, toxic codependency blended together and have me a creepy but exceptional read from an author I've never read before.

For me, this read as atmospheric due to the author's rich details, her world building, and the relationships but wow these characters are different shades of morally grey.

@Lauredhel #pantone2025

Another book down from my TBR list!
Lawson packed a lot in this book and it's clearly something that she probably does often from the sounds of it because while listening to this book, it's easy to hear that she is a talker.

I did find though that this wasn't a book I could listen to all the way through. I had to pause at different times because it was too much, the whiplash was a lot and she came across as trying too hard.

#25in2025

EEEEEEEE ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
I absolutely am loving this manga!!! OMG Atlas - I just want hug the stuffing out of him, he's too adorable for words and so supportive and understanding and I am gushing over him. His little smiles all through out this volume.... Like all the feels right now every time I think about it.

I can't wait for the next volume, whenever that is, since I can't find anything on it.

Just when I thought Atlas couldn't get more OMG he does and I'm loving it.
There's so many very adorable blushes and bashful moments from this formidable and gigantic lion-man-beast that I'm in love with him.

This volume had way more office drama and some new faces but it showcased the differences even more between beastfolk and humans as a lot of the drama was trying to force Saki's hand to quit on multiple levels.

#pantone2025 @Lauredhel

Ok this was a very welcomed surprise!!
I found it while browsing the Comics Plus app and I loved it.

I'm usually not a fan of the office/workplace romance trope but I do love the other stuff here like the beast x human dynamic, the height difference, the touch her and die vibes, , the soft hearted male lead that is a cinnamon roll that could kill. Love that.😍

#pantone2025 @Lauredhel

I know a book has my attention where I am so busy reading I'm not thinking of any quotes to highlight.

Dusty .... I just love him. He has this steadfast kindness about him that even during some more emotional moments, he never loses whereas Cam. There were moments where I wanted to throttle her and while I couldn't get behind her motivations or reasons for her character, all in all I really enjoyed this book and loved their story.

Can't believe after so many volumes this particular arc is at an end!

I'm so proud that Philomela was able to not just ask for help, but voice it in a way that gave her the strength she needed to confront her demons.
Her backstory is just heart wrenching still but what a way for that arc to end especially with the unseen and totally unexpected curse.

#pantone2025 @Lauredhel

Just when I thought my heart couldn't break more for Philomela this volume proved me wrong!
😭😭😭😭😭😭

And then there's Alcycone... Oh my girl doing her best to protect her charge, even to the very end and I couldn't not have guessed at the rest of this volume happening the way it did.

This was such a fast paced read that for me read more like a movie.

It was entertaining and despite it being horror, it was fun to read since it was more action then blood and guts like a slasher could be and honestly it was what I was hoping for when I picked it from my TBR.

It had small town vibes, a bit of thrills and suspense, eerie clown mascot, and good for nothing teenagers vs know it all adults.
#25in2025

This one was tense and devastating.
I knew Philomela didn't have a great childhood from the past volumes, but I couldn't have imagined all this, and for her story to be laid out this way was heart wrenching.

But OMG.... Chise!! Just when you think you know her, she does something so surprising that I could never have imagined it ever!! Just shooketh!!!!

Another one off the TBR list and this was such a good surprise!!

This one had me within the first chapter and as I kept reading I was enthralled by its rich world building, full with great historical fiction, notes of myth and medieval blended to create its own lore. Not to mention the well developed characters , their dynamics between being a found family and a rag tag crew.

@Lauredhel #pantone2025
#popsugarreadingchallenge

This was a beautiful, heartbreaking, intense, and emotional read.
At different parts I want to shake Ciara, make her see her situation but that's easy for me to say as a person outside looking in.

The truth is that this book showcases a woman who for years has been belittled, worn down, isolated, and gaslight to believe the lies, take them for truth while trying to hold on to pieces of herself.

Absolutely would read another book by this author.

I wasn't sure if I was going to like the idea of Gus and Teddy considering their interactions in the previous two books but with the way that Sage has set up the groundwork in the previous two and into this story, and actually getting to read the books from both of their alternating perspectives, she changed my mind.

I found this book to be fantastically camp but also filled with a lot of depth and moments of truth and reflection that gave me moments where I paused and started to reflect and think of my own experiences.

I definitely enjoyed the audiobook but I do wish there was either different narrators or that the author would switch up their voice/ tone to give each character a different voice because it's all one note so everyone sounds the same 😅🤣

Finally got this off my TBR!!!
Never having read anything by Blake, all I had going for me was the book blurb which sounded interesting then and still now but I wasn't expecting for the book to be about 80% slow build up with the last 20% being fast paced and attention grabbing plus between 3 perspectives from the queens, jumping back n forth vying for attention

I'm intrigued enough to read the next installment thanks to the last 20%.
#25in2025

Heisuke and Kamihate were a great highlight in this volume. The fact that we never see Kamihate's face, and just the barrel of the gun was pretty hilarious, especially as the sniper has their daydreaming moments.

Plus seeing Heisuke go through survivor's guilt was not just well done but gave the character a chance to go through the motions his own way and still be there for his friends.

This was so much fun!
I loved this set of characters. Sweet little ol' people back to their old ways and honestly Joyce is quite adorable whereas Elizabeth is mysterious and a delight. I do like the ruff on Ron, he sounds like a cinnamon roll that could kill where as Ib, a bit mysterious as well but he didn't get a lot of screen time compared to the others but so far I do like this group.

#pantone2025 @Lauredhel

Well this just got very complicated and interesting.
Lots more questions than answers in this volume and honestly I'm not surprised to see that Philomena is at the center of this arc-unfortunately I feel it just takes away from Chise but I'm intrigued to see how these arcs are all connected.

Also that's such an illegal cliffhanger!

OOH well this is getting more and more interesting especially whatever is surrounding that one character. There's something about her that's similar to earlier Chise but also not.

A lot more moving of pieces in this volume but it's leading to something big as more of these students have history together than what I originally thought in the previous volumes so I can't wait for the big reveal.

I just spotted this from IG so sharing with all of you.
More info and a list of participating bookshops can be found at https://gretchenrubin.com/read25day/

What a great surprise this book was!

I picked it up on a whim after falling in love with the cover and I am so glad I did!
Story, characters, world building and the back and forth between the two main characters were really well done. I loved that Bakewell gave us a few chapters of each perspective before switching which worked well with the flow of the story.
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

This was my first Briscoe book and it was a solid read.
I found I liked the Mason POV chapters more overall and his character was well rounded and more interesting to me than Karina's.

I liked the overall pacing of the story, but not having read the other books in the series, the subplot of the Moonshine case was a bit meh for me but I'm sure it works in the larger sense .

#25in2025 #fromthetbr

I love how in the opener, Anya has low key been helping them out so much without saying anything or giving anything away so I'm wondering if at any point the adults will figure it out.

Yor is amazing and the fact that we see her in action, continuing from last volume, is fantastic as she gets her continued moment to showcase her skills, when most of the volumes have all been Twilight.

I liked the idea of the premise but I don't know about the chemistry between the MCs. Something felt off about them and it came across as a bit forced for the story.

I'll visit the author's other titles but I might stop reading this Monsters Ball series overall based on the two books I have read so far.

#25in2025

This was an absolute gem to read.
I've never read any Winnie the Pooh books so it was just a fun and relaxing read.
I read a chapter at a time as each one was a short story and I never really knew how sarcastic Owl actually is but this has cemented my love of these characters. Not to mention that Pooh is more than just a rumbly tumbly bear.

Milne gave them such characteristics that it's easy to see why they're so beloved.

I'm kicking myself for how long this was on my TBR and I just got to reading it!
I was able to read this fairly uninterrupted at work and I was hooked within the first chapter and just enjoyed the brisk pacing, characters and world building that pulled me and was a great read as I turned page after page.

I just placed a hold for the next book at the library! 😁

#25in2025 #pantone2025 @Lauredhel

The plot was well done and while it was mostly character driven, Aiden and Maggie's meet cute was a memorable one and one that had me laughing because I was in Maggie's position myself not that long ago 🤣 but throughout the book, I was laughing and nodding along because of some similarities. It was definitely a nice change to read of a grumpy women dating a nice man. And I mean it.

#pantone2025 @Lauredhel #25in2025

Lots more movement is happening and a lot with the kids at the college but I think we're starting to see something interesting here as it feels like this volume might be opening up to the next story arc, and maybe, a connection between the original Chise and Co. and her new friends at the college.

#25in2025 #fromthetbr

The multiple POVs was a nice change of pace and the fact that they were all from the first person perspective really let the reader in on everything in that character's head at that moment and it worked well for two of the three characters.
I really could have done without a lot of the Kaitlin chapters just because she was very much living in a rose-colored version of her younger years which honestly made me not look forward to those chapters.

I've had this one on my TBR for a while and I'm glad to have read it. It's a different take on the apocalyptic trope.

All in all, not a bad read but something about this one makes me wish for a few more pages of both scientists, not necessarily interacting with each other but something to make the overall book less of an open question mark about so many things but that could be the author's wish in the end.
#25in2025

I've lost count of how many times I've read this book.

The magic and suspense of the story that captivated me so many years ago still does and now I'm ready to find out how this story ends so I'm off to read the next one so I can finally read the last book in the trilogy.

This volume feels like a lot of filler to lead into a new arc, having to do with the Webster siblings.

Not bad setup considering that the last few volumes of Chise being at the college was leading up to this as well as all the new characters but it's starting to feel as a bit distracting from Chise and Elias' and their initial story which honestly I can't remember now.

Hopefully this all ties back in somehow to Chise.

#25in2025

I liked the interaction between Chise and Alice since they got to the college and to see a known face again was a good thing considering that there are so many new characters and not all of them are properly introduced so trying to figure out who's who is becoming a mission but to see Alice again and have her confide in Chise about something as personal as her history shows how much Alice has come to rely and trust in her.

#25in2025

This volume picks up from the last one as we were introduced to a new set and more characters.
The beginning was a bit of a rough start for me with the setup of being introduced to yet another character but the second half got my interest as the story goes back to the alchemy college and Chise with her new friends so I'm definitely going to pick up the next volume.

#25in2025 #pantone2025 @Lauredhel

The author tries to tackle more than 400 years worth of history in about 300 pages, so some of a lot of details are left as a brief sentence or passage but for what is here, I can see that a lot of work and care went into this but a larger piece of me was really interested in learning about about the history of the different indigenous tribes and the meso American groups prior to European colonization a lot more but all in all a good read.