I am so sad to finish this one after all this time to be left feeling disappointed.

There's a lot.of things that bother me like Gallowglass' character arc, the introduction and small arc of Benjamin which always was weird, the inclusion and almost dismissal of the DNA info dump and it going nowhere here, the haphazard pacing and Harkness' cute wrap of the arcs without doing them proper justice.

I'm glad to put this in the rearview.

I was intrigued by the cover and found a very good sapphic retellingof Swan Lake.
I had a bit of a slow start reading this. I found the use of flowery prose to be a bit much but it works within the setting of the story which has a bourgeoisie feel and as the book went on, I didn't notice it as much as the the story started to roll out and be one the main focus for me.

@Lauredhel #pantone2015

For a novella there was a lot of characters, details, world building, and intricate moments which is all King. There were one too many moments that were just slow and King felt the need to take up pages rather than paragraphs to describe the waiting in between the moments of action and character dialogue.

All in all, not my favorite but I finally got this off my TBR.

#popsugarreadingchallenge

Again I am kicking myself for being late to this series!!

It was quite a buildup all throughout, alternating between Lila and Rhys primarily and then once they meet again, it was such a rush and that last 25ish percent was everything and I was just enthralled and waiting with Bates breath. Also that was such an illegal cliffhanger. Ugh 😩 😫

I'm on hold at the library for the last one and I can't wait!!
#25in2025

Aside from a small diversion about Loid, this was mostly about Anya and her classmates on a fieldtrip gone wrong and boy does it go WRONG!

All in all some good character growth and back to the general story but what is up with that ending... the difference is literally a night and day difference and I'm very interested to know more.

I'm really glad to have read this one to finish off the series became this was a fun read.

Each retelling was different but this one brought back the love, excitement, and action that the film had especially with Marc Thompson back as the narrator.

I really do love how many Star Wars books he's narrated because it's like a homecoming back to the universe every time I hear him narrate a book.
Absolutely a fantastic end to this series.
#25in2025

I don't read scripts so the setting up of it took some getting used to but then after that it reads smooth, the scenes flow right into each other in a seamless way with notes here and there of characters and settings and even some camera direction that it was easy to imagine or in my case relive as I've seen this one plenty of times.
I really loved being able to read this 🫶🏻

It's hard to admit considering how quickly I read this one, but I don't know how to feel about the characters, in general, especially the two leads because sometimes it felt like there was some idea of a slow burn with a dash of yearning and then other times, I felt nothing from either character aside from awkwardness. Or maybe it's the overall dialogue which at times felt stilted.
I like the representation more than the romance part.
#pantone2025

There are pages full of resources like tenent laws by state, federal laws and regulations as well as some great info like house hunting and what to look for and I wish this was something I had when I looked at my first apt.

After reading the first few chapters, the "Emotional Resetting" started to feel idk odd? I couldn't understand why Mercury is apologizing for different things so it read odd for me but all in all, a solid book.

I absolutely love how Rowell writes as she manages to create fun characters that have depth and layers. She gets me every time with the slow burn romance but more than that her male characters are just fantastic. She gives them a lot of lead time to express their thoughts and opinions which I love more than her female characters and this book was no exception.

Not to mention Rebecca Lowman is amazing as ever. I can listen to her for hours.

I really liked reading Twilight's backstory.
Even with his name redacted, it was interesting to see him from childhood, how care free and friendly he used to be and then to read the actual origins of who we now know as Twilight is heartbreaking but it's this event that is his driving force.

Oddly enough, after that, the rest of the volume just felt lackluster but it's also going back into the larger storyline so let's see.

I forget how big Clamp goes.

From larger than life illustrations with so much detailing on every panel, to their intricate lore, and story this edition is starting to pick up steam as the other angels and seals are gathering and are showing off their different skills not to mention that Kamui was told of his dual destinies and the implications of either.

This is one of those books that I had on my TBR for a while and so I was hyped to read it but now I'm left with "What did I just read?", and not in the good way.

No character was likeable and I was left with that odd ending which is feeling like the norm which I'm not a fan of. Not my cup of tea and not something I would recommend but oddly enough I've been told by people that they liked this one, so to each their own.

To finish a book in two days... You know I wasn't doing much of anything but reading this one.

I loved Lucie right from the beginning —she feels very grounded, and down to earth. She is aware of herself on something's like work and being a mom but other things like herself and her love life, like many of us, a bit unsure and unaware of her wants and needs but when she voices her musings aloud.. well things get good and I couldn't stop!!

The more I think about this the more I think that I liked the start for sure but idk, it's like once Bliss got Crow and Birdie into their first kiss, the book just loses steam as there were a a few conversations or characters that weren't explored and ends up being rushed. Rushed character relationship, rushed explanation for Birdie's ailments, rushed exploration of daddy issues on both sides and with minimal plot.

I love what Alexander did with this book, as there was more depth and growth to Taran and Co. in this book, as most of the book is their journey to rescue Eilonwy, he takes the chance to showcase them in a way that offers growth through conversation, highlighting that titles and status is unimportant as it's the heart of the person that matters.

@Lauredhel #pantone2025

This might be my favorite of the series!
All because I got more Nightmare Knight and a bit of his backstory which actually helps the overall story arc.
Overall D.G went deeper with the characters showing some growth and I'm going it continues into the next. I read what my library had so we'll see.

@Lauredhel #pantone2025

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.
#popsugarreadingchallenge

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!