Idk how to describe this one.
It's an odd premise of a cook running a food truck in the middle of nowhere, meets a naked girl in a sleeping bag in the middle of the road, who turns out is wanted by an armed militia. It's too early for an actual storyline in this volume but I'm sure something is going to happen just based on how this volume ended.

I don't think I'm going to continue the rest of this series since I'm not in like with it.

I've had this on my TBR for so long I had almost given up hope that I would get to read it, but the library had a copy!!!!

I liked the range of folk tales from around the world, although a lot are from Great Britain, overall it was a good mix of different countries which is nice to read but I only ended up enjoying a handful of tales.

@Lauredhel #pantone2025
#popsugarreadingchallenge #25in2025

Omg what an illegal cliffhanger!!!!!
Idk when the next volume is happening but I am psyched for it.

Liu has a great way of writing tension and that fact that it's been every volume highlighting different arcs but all tying together is intensive but I am here for it.

@Lauredhel #pantone2025
#25in2025 #fromthetbr

Wow..... This book was heavily detailed, rich and colorful like the paintings Kahlo was known for.

Hours worth of journal entries from herself as well Diego, letters written by her and to her, articles, and interviews highlight Kahlo and show her as this majestic, larger than life, exotic and fiery individual who captivated so many.

@Lauredhel #pantone2025 #hibiscus
#popsugarreadingchallenge #25in2025

This was a fun volume highlighting Yor, as she takes on a bodyguard role from the last volume.

It was great to see Yor in action, as it's been a while so I enjoyed that but that didn't happen till later in the volume as more than half of this felt like filler as it gave details of the backstory, a bit of Twilight and Anya, and even Yor's boss got a highlight, which wow because dude still has it.

I am enjoying that this volume is picking up from the last one, amidst a flashback story and in mid action as Young Sakamoto and Co. are in mid mission.

I'm surprised by the reveal, even though I knew it would come, beca se I didn't think Kindaka's involvement with the Order was quite this way and while I don't want to spoil it, the specifics of it is what surprised me.

As personal as this was, Shraya is not telling me something that I, like many women already are aware. I respect the author for writing this, I do, but there are certain moments that I had issues with.

I feel like there is a lot missing context at different points that could have helped explain and add reflection to different moments of the book l because there's moments where it feels that Shraya is misogynistic herself towards all genders.

This was cute, a bit messy for me but cute. And I say messy because a lot happened but there was no sense of time so I didn't and couldn't figure out how much time had passed from one chapter to the next to try have time or a plot.

Not sure if I want to continue the rest of the series but this was cute and fun.
#fromthetbr #25in2025

I love Godzilla and this was such an adorable picture book showcasing himself, Mothra, King Ghidorah, Mecha Godzilla and more showing the different ways that loves make a person or monster feel.

The illustrations are wholesome and make some of the monsters look so cute. Seeing them drawn in this style, it would be hard to think they're Godzilla's foes in the movies.

@Lauredhel #pantone2025 #popsugarreadingchallenge

Not sure what was missing but I found the pacing to be very slow, adding on to the feeling of introspection and meditation that I wasn't expecting every chapter, every page but there it was time and time again, slow and methodical but it's beautifully written nonetheless just not for me.

@Lauredhel #pantone2025 #popsugarreadingchallenge #25in2025

This is my year of slower reading.
I read a lot of books that I just didn't post about at the same time I finished them because I was juggling a lot of reads and felt bogged down by trying to capture them and my thoughts to post that I fell behind and then I was left scrambling to post them all soooo....

Yeah.... I've decided on a slower reading pace this year to allow me to not just just enjoy my reading but the overall experience of reviewing.

It's been some years since I read Shakespeare and I honestly couldn't remember reading this one so I gave it a shot and for a short play, I found it to be slightly boring.
Maybe it's the pacing at the beginning but I found it to be messy and in some areas dull where in others slightly racist and pompous.

Thanks @SerialReader for helping me knock a book of my TBR 💕

#popsugarreadingchallenge

I absolutely enjoyed this book! I am so glad I decided to read this even after disliking the author's other book 'L.A Weather' that I read in 2024.

I found this story to be enticing right from the opening and in between the different timelines, Escandon kept my interest with both the story and the characterizations of not just Libertad but all of the characters.

@Lauredhel #pantone2025
#25in2025

Absolutely kicking myself for waiting this long to listen to the details, story, love, and attention to detail that I was hoping to hear about one of my favorite movies!

This audiobook was fantastic! Full of interviews from cast and crew, and boy do I mean crew, from producers, set designers, riggers, makeup, what a range of people all having to do in and around Mad Max: Fury Road.

#pantone2025 @Lauredhel #25in2025

I absolutely loved Nam's take and illustration of this manga.
She drew a lot of the characters in such a way that mirrored how I imagined them during the original read of Rowell's book.

Just like when I read the book, I'm saddened to end the manga. I've enjoyed every variation of this whether it's in manga, like here, the audiobook or the actual book, I enjoy it every time 😍
#pantone2025 @Lauredhel

Finished my first TBR read of the year!

Families are complex and this audiobook of the Broadway recording showcases the complexion of the Younger family, an African American family with dreams of more.

I borrowed the audiobook which was performed by the original Broadway Cast and to hear the different emotions and the tension filled pauses during the different peaks of the play was fantastic. I would definitely want to see this play for myself.

This isn't about the selected book.

I got a good amount of the #pantone2024 colors that only 3 were missing this year!
Woohoo 🎉🙌🏻 so I'm very pumped for this year's go around 😀

@BarbaraBB @Lauredhel

My first 2025 finished read!
It gave me some of the backstory into Sakamoto's early days, and his friendships with Akao and Nagumo, and their meeting with X!

I didn't realize how much I needed these flashbacks because now a lot is making sense!

I honestly thought this was going to be a story of the house told by the POV of Mericat but was I wrong.

It's a haunting read of two sisters and their uncle, the remnants of a family, living through the ordeal of a very public murder of their family, a very suspicious and nosy town, and the greed of a cousin calling to prey.

So glad to have read this and be able to knock another book off my TBR and the final book of 2024!

What a great way to continue Maggie's story!

Told within weeks of the the aftermath at what happened in Black Mesa, Maggie is left reeling and with little to no friends or a clue as to her next steps, she takes on a bounty with Hestin that leads her to an unforseen adventure starting with a bounty hunt gone wrong, a meeting of new and old friends, the introduction of a man who sees himself as a Savior and the chance to find Kai again.

This one isn't listed but counting down my last three 2024 reads!

A quick read which was light and just fluffy enough with the grumpy x sunshine trope mixed in with an office romance.

All in all there was just enough slow burn between Ronan and Becca that made the otherwise quick romance work and me believe in them as a pairing and the dual pov helped push the romance factor reading both characters inner thoughts
#pantone2024

This was way cuter than I expected and I ended up reading this way faster than I thought because the dialogue was great— fantastically witty, smart, and just real enough for the characters and within the narrative that I ate this up.

This was just the entertaining, sarcastic, fun and steamy read that I needed and didn't know. I had read other romances this year but again, I read this much faster than I thought.

I wasn't sure what to expect out of this but i had so much fun listening to this!

It's classically the good vs. evil story in which our assistant pig keeper Taran finds himself on yet another quest beset from the first one, as he and his group consisting of Flam, Princess Eilonwy, Doli & Gurgi are looking for the cauldron before Death Lord Arawn can create more cauldron-born and have his own dastardly plans come true.
#pantone2024

Absolutely enjoyed this this one!
This feels like a classic folk tale, what with Agatha having to take on missions/adventures to win favors from the Fae, intertwined into Agatha's every day life in her sleepy little village.

I truly loved the water colors and character designs. Everything was just a treat to look at. I really enjoyed Hyacinth the most and wouldn't have minded more of them.

Oh Sy-on boy... Kid just can't catch a break and he's trying so hard to get some recognition and some time and love from his dad, which from earlier volumes hinted that he hadn't had in some time so it was nice how much of this volume was Damian.

I love that the comedy is still there even with the other chapters focusing on Bond, Yuri, and Yor even , as we get to see some behind the scenes of his work filled days.

I normally don't read self help books.
I find a lot of times that they can either be preachy or full of things I already know and not useful to me but this one was interesting to me.

I have a base idea of burnout and what that looks like for me but this book gave me some research and science that helped me know why I was feeling how I am and the wording and tools to help me understand how it happens.

I'm going to use this weekend to wrap on my 2024 reads because I want to get better about posting my reads as I finish them 😂

I'm pretty bad about posting my current reads here... So very bad at that but I'm going to try to get better 🤞🏼

Got a few more '24 reads to post and here's another that fit into all my reading challenges last year!
An absolutely beautifully illustrated story of Greta, the people and dragons she meets, friendship, and community.

I love the diverse looks of all the characters in body shape, height, and type as there's humans and dragons plus the coloring is just enchanting. I could look through this a few times and not get bored 😍
#pantone2024

More 2024 reads!
I'm continuing to enjoy this series.

There's a gradual build up from volume to volume as the story unfolds, the world building becomes grander in detail and scale, and the characterizations of both existing and new characters are either deepened or being introduced in a way that is helping explain the store while providing some background.
#pantone2024

Continuing my 2024 reads since I'm kicking myself for not reading this one sooner!!

It's a fun read, great world building, character dialogue was witty and felt grounded within the characters, and not knowing much of the Diné culture and history, Roanhorse explored and provided that information throughout the book that propelled the story and characters in a way that didn't feel dry or stalling to the story.

#pantone2024

I wasn't sure this one could be cuter than the first book but I was proven wrong!

I loved that it had a similar theme to the first book, in regards to discovery of self worth and friendship. A great read and the images are just as beautiful, detailed, and rich in color. Easy to read and follow along for young readers, or any age readers since I'm definitely older than the demographic for this one 😂

Continuing my 2024 posts real quick

Picking up from the last one, there's more history between Shishiba and Yotsumura as they're fighting keeps taking place across the streets of Kyoto while at the same time, over at the JCC, Sakamoto faces off another of Slur's dudes that I can't stand as he monologues a lot. As in too much for my taste, so I was looking forward to this fight.

Story is about Fuchi-san, who we never see clearly, has a facial disfigurement that has brought her nothing but heartache, isolation, and bullying from her classmates. Ironically her mother, recently deceased, was a beautiful actress and left her a mysterious message and lipstick, which she learns the hard, when applied, she can take on a person's face once kissed.

The volume ends a repetitive note for me so I might not keep going but so-so.

There's something about reading people's inner thoughts that make me feel a bit of a voyeur but this was a good book with lots of thought towards the selection process.

I do feel that it ended without closure though, as it ended with a submission, and not any final words from Anderson, which although she writes the prefaces to every chapter, which I felt could have rounded this out nicely to get some final thoughts.

This wasn't for me but I see a lot of people who loved it but this took me way too long to finish because I didn't feel like any of these characters jelled together and I couldn't get into the rhythm of the book because just when I would, or get close to it, O'Leary would change the timeline so it kept throwing me off.

Plus I couldn't like a single character, especially Marcus, oh especially him. So much toxicity 😡

Absolutely loving where the current story arc is going.
Really appreciating that with the group separated again looking for the database in the JCC, that each group has their moments to highlight the characters and show some character growth.

This was an adorable picture book!
A great story of our little owl with a big dream and with the support of his parents and his own ambition makes it happen.

Not a lot of text, but lots of illustrations that helped the story along and for me that makes it a great picture book to share with kids.

It's been a while since I read Monstress so it took me a while to remember where this one picked up from.

Volume eight opens up to the whole gang being on the prison planet, Monstra, which brings about Zinn's past and present to throw another interesting loop to this complexity and one I never could have seen coming.

#pantone2024

I found this to be a fun and whimsical read in large part due to the narration of James Langton that gave each character their unique sound and voice.

I loved that there was a lot of details that created a great sense of world building and characterization that was just enhanced by the narrator's acting. And now I know that this is in part the basis of Disney's 'The Black Cauldron'.
#pantone2024

I've read other of Clamp's work and now know that there's going to be a slow build up, lots of characters thrown at me from the start and beautiful art, which this one has but there's also within it's pages the looks of an intricate story, one steeped in blood and death so I am definitely intrigued to see how the rest plays out.

Reading this with an online community is honestly a fun ride. Closest thing I have gotten to a book club read.

Having read this one a few times over, reading it daily per the dates, is a different experience and really drives how long some of these moments can be. It creates tension and suspense in a way that reading the book through fails at whereas the community aspect, really lets me rethink moments or to share how comedic some parts are.

I went in thinking this might be a straight memoir and was pleasantly surprised that it started that way before getting travel stories, reflection, smart introspection, and a lot of honesty of himself interwoven in a way that feels inherently his. I'm tempted to go and read some of his travel pieces but even I know I will find them to be rich in detail, colorful, and atmospheric in nature.

Another volume and more progression of the JCC storyline took center stage in this volume which I enjoyed.
Sakamoto is still in disguise trying to locate the database at the same time that Shin, Akira and Natsuki (of the invisible suit from so volumes ago) band together against a senior teacher who might have the info they're looking for.

#pantone2024

Highly recommend this one!
Weaving folklore and historical facts along with the story, I enjoyed the overall effect and the first person perspective from both Snow and Bao, which played nicely into the overall story for me as I saw the characters from their eyes and in some case their past experiences.

#popsugarreadingchallenge

I continue to love the comedy in this series as it's not just a good way to break up all the action scenes but allows the characters to have some fun and in Sakamoto's case, shows how amazing his skill set really is as he uses the most random things for weapons and that's pretty awesome to see especially as he's undercover since he didn't pass the JCC testing 😂.

Lol the inner monologue from Nightfall was a total delight for me. She is just soooo fun to read considering the one sided love she's carrying for Twilight.

And is Sy-on boy catching feelings? I saw some blushing happening

Just when I think we've been introduced to a new and different character, I am proven wrong because this volume has lots of new faces, new settings, and in true Sakamoto fashion, new problems 😂

#pantone2024

This series continues to be so much fun!!

I do love the comedy aspect in between all the action since it gives the whole series a great segue way into another part of the arc and in this volume it's with Sakamoto and Shin having to enroll into the JCC to get some details on X but it's not like they can just walk in, so they enroll and unexpectedly in a way that only these two can do, find themselves in trouble again.

All in all, the book and it's characters are so different from their movie counterparts, especially the relationships all the women have towards each other, Sally's daughters included, that I find I can enjoy them as separate pieces.
So glad to have read it and knocked it off my TBR list this year!!

I love that this was a slow burn because it highlighted both Maribel and Wesley's anxiety's, their dreams, wants, and they were able to communicate them and to each other which added to the overall cuteness of this book for me.

Plus the dialogue was really good between them, even the arguments, were not just valid but helped push the storyline and had them opening up and figuring out a lot together.
#pantone2024