Welcome to Litsy!

After a violation, Vel is bundled off into an arranged marriage in shame. But things in his new home are complicated, & his new husband is 1 of the few people he can trust.

Marvelous! Romantasy is usually a hit/miss for me because it takes a lot for me to care about the romance, but this did it in spades. Amazing character work, expansive world building, a satisfying conclusion, diversity. POV switching between 1st & 3rd was a bit odd.🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

Sometimes, you just need to make some brownies. #AudioBaking

Casey got a haircut. I miss his wild scruffiness, but now he looks like a puppy and that‘s also adorable.

I hope to finish rereading A STRANGE AND STUBBORN ENDURANCE today, possibly while I snuggle a dog. It definitely hit me harder the first time through, but it‘s still been good to revisit it before I dive into the sequel.

#weirdwords #weirdwordwednesday @CBee

I enjoyed this quite a bit. I loved our MC‘s (as well as Markel - the best side kick) and liked the world building. I was caught up in wanting to see what would happen. I do think the mystery was solved a little quickly/conveniently, but that‘s a little quibble.

TW: There is a rape depicted in the second chapter and how the character deals with that trauma is a major plot point. Also, violent animal death, suicidal ideation/self-harm.

#SaturdayChatterday @AllDebooks
It‘s pretty grey and drab outside and while this does promise to be an entirely nondescript weekend I‘ll have to think on what I can do to make it feel a bit brighter indoors. The past few days saw me reading the tagged book to the complete exclusion of everything I was actually supposed to be doing in my life 🙊 so this weekend I‘m attempting to balance adulting & housework & all that jazz with reading the sequel.

#Bookspin Did I read a 500+ page book in 2 days? Yes I did! Am I going to splurge on the kindle sequel because I can‘t wait 5 weeks for a library copy? Yes I am! I‘m super picky and both fantasy and romance and not overly inclined to reach for either these days, but when I find books in those genres I like they make me especially happy and the friend who lent me this knows me well. This struck me as guileless, charming, and supremely entertaining.

“We‘d scarcely entered father‘s new lands when I realized how little I cared that I‘d never inherit them.”

#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii

1. First time in recent memory I‘ve been so captivated by a story I stayed up waaaay past my bedtime reading

2. A friend being a little extra solicitous

3. Music that made me think, music that made me nostalgic

4. Mindful moments… rain, tea, the perfect Rumi poem…

5. Kitten head butts

“‘Father,‘ said Caethari, gulping. ‘I think we should speak in private.‘”

“‘Oh,‘ said Velasin. And then, a beat later, ‘Would you object to an audience?‘”

A quieter day here - just some time with my book, a latte, and a bagel 🥯 📖 and then a couple errands.

A little reading before work

Taking a brief break from grad school to get back to this book while have a latte and an egg and cheese on a cheddar chive biscuit. This cafe has long communal tables and the other woman at the table asked me how the book was, told me about what she‘s been reading (The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama), and then invited me to check out the local library‘s book club! So fun meeting a bookworm in the wild!

“Velasin smiled-a little sadly, but understandably so, given what he was about to do-stood, and proceeded to follow Raeki out of Tar Katvi‘s office. Car lingered just long enough that they wouldn‘t have to walk awkwardly down the same hallway after they‘d already farewelled each other, then rose in turn, thanked Tar Katvi for her time and headed off to take care of his own emotionally laborious tasks . . .”

An americano and a cinnamon roll as I return to this book - needed some fiction this weekend

“‘You go ahead,‘ said Caethari, sounding equally rough. ‘If you‘re - if you don‘t mind, I have duties to see to, and other things, but I wouldn‘t keep you from him-‘
‘I won‘t stay all day, I know I need to learn the place-‘
‘You can find me at any time, the servants will know where I am-‘
‘I don‘t want to get in your way-‘
‘You‘re not in the way, Velasin, saints!-‘“

“‘No,‘ said Velasin, rising to his feet. He bit his lip, face pale. ‘The problem is that the one who did it claimed to be acting in your name. They said it was a message, tiern. The will of the Wild Knife.‘”

Another day, another stop for coffee (hot mocha with an extra shot), food (egg and cheddar biscuit sandwich), and time with my book.

“I didn‘t look back.”

Running errands today, but there‘s no rush on anything, so taking a break to enjoy an iced latte and pumpkin cream cheese muffin and start a new book.

I'm doing the #transrightsreadathon this week after hearing about it over on bookstagram. The tagged book is my current read and I'm LOVING it so far!

My friend and I did a 24hr read-a-thon and these are the results. By far my favorite of them was A Strange and Stubborn Endurance. I absolutely cannot wait for the next one to come out! There was something about it that I found so charming and irresistible. I love how Vel and Cae's relationship transforms and grows over the course of the story.

So many great books this year! It was very hard to choose from the top 3 here - they were all so good 😍
I loved keeping up with this bracket all year as a way to track my favorites #readingbracket2022

#12BooksOf2022
Favorite book of the year for me. Fantasy with political intrigue, slow burn romance, and queer rep - yes please
@Andrew65

I took a break from beer today to use up a little of the big bottle of Irish Mist I inherited from an old lady who went into assisted living. It‘s decent in coffee.

And this book is SO MUCH MORE than decent! It‘s packed with emotions, intrigue, and toothsome worldbuilding. I‘ve got some plans tonight, but after that‘s done I‘m gonna tuck up in bed and read until I pass out.

Tonight‘s book & beer pairing. I‘m bummed this hot pink lemonade sour isn‘t actually hot pink. It‘s decently sour, at least, but it shifts to sickly sweet right at the end so I won‘t get it again.

The book, though! This feels like a book I could adore with all my soul! I hope it keeps up.

What a peaceful Sunday morning! 😄💕📚

My August favorite was A Strange and Stubborn Endurance - so so good! It's taken over my bracket but I'll wait to make a decision between it and the Charm Offensive, I need some space to get over my book hangover first and make an unbiased decision 😅
#readingbracket2022

I loved this queer fantasy romance! The characters were wonderfully believable, I want to visit the Jade Market in this world.

Political intrigue, a mystery, lots of sexual tension, and a little magic made for an engrossing story.

Content warning for sexual assault, it‘s how the whole story starts.

Book 2 finished for #20in4 🙂📚

This book was so good that I knew I had to buy myself a copy before I even returned my library loan. I love a good fantasy queer romance and this one was the perfect slow burn with political intrigue. I loved the two main characters - Velasin and Caethari are both vulnerable, compassionate men who must learn to trust each other in order to stop an assassination plot threatening their new relationship. The world building was fantastic as well.

Finally starting this one! I've been trying to get to it for the past couple of days, but other things kept getting in the way! 💕📚💕

AHHHHH this arrived today and it's so so beautiful! ❤️❤️❤️ I keep hearing really great things about it so I'm considering putting a pause on some current reads to get it started! 📚

It's late and I have to be up in the morning for work, but I started this ARC earlier this evening and didn't want to put it down. I finally made myself stop at 36%. Gay fantasy with an arranged marriage and political intrigue. I'm hooked.