Not the tagged book.

Happy holidays to everyone!! I'm wishing you all safe travels, a great time with friends and family, good food, and even a moment to yourselves for a some reading!
🤣🎄❄️⛄🎁🎉

Barou is such a weird one and selfish to boot but I wasn't expecting to see Naruhaya though and with Barou of all peeps.

Now that was a fun match to watch and to see how everyone has grown in such a short time.

I did think that Reo was going to go after Nagi just to prove a weak point and he's proven me right! Lol 🤣

A very cute read.

I really wouldn't call this a Beauty and the Beast retelling because 1) There's no actual beast elements in either appearance or attitude and 2) any magic was very restricted as noted in the story that magic was banished.

That being said the wizard and all the talk about him was anticlimactic. There was a lot of mystic and power described to him, just to show up at the end and then poof. 😂

It always takes me a bit to remember where I was when I get a Monstress volume because a lot happens from volume to volume.

This was a lot of dialogue that is moving the story along at a lot slower rate than I'm used to but that's probably because of the Old Gods being a larger part of the volume. We finally are getting hints of what they're planning and doing vs Maika who is a consistently moving problem for everyone.

I absolutely am a sucker for anything with dragons.
Thanks to a few Tumblr posts that brought this to my attention because it was too adorable 🥰

I loved the illustrations and the simple and heartwarming message. Plus baked goods are truly amazing!

This is my first Riley Sager book so I wasn't sure what to expect but this was a solid read.

I felt that the place was slow to start but steady with lots of plot twists before it rushes to the end with even more twists and turns.
While I wasn't expecting that ending, the overall story was fun and dramatic, unfolding similar to a soap opera with that wild ending 😂

This was a solid book, a bit slower then book one in my opinion, but once I cleared the first 20%, I was in.

There's a lot more dialogue here, moving the characters along and creating new arcs allowing us back to the main plot which kept me intrigued. Some twists I saw coming, like Hestra's double crossing, and others I didn't and I loved that. There's a bit of foreshadowing here and there throughout which was fun so a solid second book.

This was a cute and short read about Luis Soriana and his burros that are known as the Bibloburros in Columbia. The images are beautiful and tie into the simple wording which makes it great for young readers to follow along and hopefully get into the spirit of reading.

Thanks to a reader on Litsy, this was brought to my attention!!!

Rin Itoshi is an animal and just wow. He's unlike any other character that's been introduced and there's been a few but he's beyond a powerhouse.

The ego on him to want to conquer everyone to beat his brother via Blue Lock is crazy but admirable. I hope there's more to his story and his drive because it can't be just to beat his brother. Isagi and Co. have their work cut out for them that's for sure.

This was a cute read and I'm here for an awkward leading man.

The ending does feel weirdly rushed but so did the romance between Frederick and Cassie as it was odd but I overlooked it to see the potential of their friendship first but I really did love that I got "old vamp meets modern day challenges" vibe.

This game between Team Z and Team V was a nail biter! I am way too invested in these characters!!

Not only was the game itself fantastic to read and see through the different angles across the panels but OMG what a twist this volume ended on?!?

I honestly forgot how slow this book is, not to mention a lot of Paul's internal monologue which at times confusing and other times unnecessary but considering he's delirious for at least half of the book creating a back n forth between delusions and reality, I'm like meh.

Annie is an iconic character- sometimes the monster is closer than we think but as iconic as she is, the book just didn't work for me even in the reread.

This one isn't listed in Litsy yet so ignore the untitled 😄

Alright I'm invested in this ragtag bunch of strikers.
Didn't think I would end up loving this series but after four volumes, and seeing these intense panels, the passion in a few different players, I am so here to see team Z move forward!
Let's goooooooo!

This hit so many good notes for me, haha, it's cosy and full of some great characters that feel real and homey.

I loved the family connection, it feels like what I know within my own family and even the sibling ribbing is on point and real.

The whole book in itself was rooted in reality with its quiet moments, serious conversations, worry, confusion, trepidation, growth, love, and open understanding.

Ooooooh man I didn't expect Kuon, of all characters to do what he did.

And honestly so early in the series because the way that egomaniac has rigged this whole thing, people were going to eventually turn on each other, it was a given, but not this early. I was proven wrong!

This was so much fun!
I loved coming back to see what the four septuagenarians were up to and I wasn't disappointed in the least.

I was hooked from chapter one thanks to them again as they are a lovely set of characters but then lol and behold we meet Elizabeth's ex husband who has gotten himself into some trouble and has oddly enough decided that Elizabeth will be able to help. Which he's not wrong and from there we go 😂

I've had this on my TBR for a while , so I was really stoked to find it at my library the other day that I picked it up.

This is definitely not what I was expecting and for that I'm in awe. It's not every day that a book surprises me and this did with it's tale of dark magic, murder, mayhem, and tense familial relationships.

This was such a fantastic book and I had no idea it was part of a series until now.

This had some good twists and turns and I loved the setup of the book between two perspectives as well as some letters through out that relied on its current arc and no so much on the series which was great for me as a first time reader.
#popsugarreadingchallenge

Picked up right after the first volume and it was amazing to see.

Nomura has drawn a lot of action panels, which just drives the excitement of this whole thing in my opinion. Especially as the round robin tournament continues with Isagii's team still clashing with themselves.

Hopefully they figure out their problems before moving forward 😔

Just action packed from beginning to end and it's amazing to see so much action in larger panels.

I'm too invested in the current battles happening in this manga for my own good 😊

I'm a little sad. It was odd and yet nice to see some familiar faces and names and while I enjoyed the book overall don't get me wrong, it starts on his birthday no less, to read about him getting reaped and then the ride to the Capitol and you know the general story because it's just like Katniss' in the sense that it's the same formula.

But I'm saddened because a lot more could have been explored and in a different way.

Wow... That was a fast paced first volume and I think I'm going to read the rest of the series!

I had this one on my TBR for a while and I'm in love with the art style! Some of these panels are just amazing to look at, the artist, Yuseke Nomura, does some amazing things with different perspectives and use of line thickness to really draw the eye to specific panels.

I almost dnf'd this but it grew on me after further reading once I got into the pacing of the book.

I ended up loving that it felt like a love letter more than a retelling of Dracula in it's use of epistolary as well as it's prose and use of storytelling.

Gibson did a great showing of how monsters can be complex and multi layered but also store that even they can have something to fear.

Not the tagged book 🤣
I was away from all socials for a bit of a digital detox and to see my bestie but I managed to go to the library earlier in the week and so I'm excited 😆

I came into this one right after Caraval as I was intrigued by the setup into this new arc but IDK, i found this one to be less magical, full of similes that made me laugh and predicted the book as I read along.

All in all, while I found some wording to be funny, thanks to the similes, the overall story was fun and I enjoyed it even if I didn't believe in it all but I'm intrigued to read the last book.
#25in2025

This was a different book compared to the other three and a lost has to do with Taran.
This is his book.

Taran leaves on a journey to find who he is and where he came from which leaves him on journey of lots of self-discovery and growth because I have to admit that Taran not only learned a lot from a good amount of people but emotionally, I feel like Taran learns to love himself as he is and for who he is.
#25in2025

Overall the book is a bit of a mixed bag. It's a bit autobiography, a bit helpful advise, and a bit of medical information, with some slice of life moments from a mom with kids.

I went into this not knowing much and came out with some good information to ask on my next Dr. visit and an interest to learn more on menopause. I'm at an age where I want to know and need to so I can better prepare.
#popsugarreadingchallenge

I read this one way too fast for my liking considering how long I was waiting for the EN translation and it was soooooo good.

Picks up right from the last volume and Konosuke finally gets to see Tsuki with his own eyes and that's the opening page and then it's right into the action and these panels are gorgeous looking.

And I really can't wait for the next volume (っ °Д °;)っ

This was such a fun volume and an expected one too!
Even though not much happened in the larger "Operation Strix" storyline, I loved how the volume was centered around the gala and the competition for Sy-on boy's hand at a dance.

I loved that from there it was a great setup for Mr. Henderson's backstory. It was heartfelt and I'm in feels over here to know more.

Absolutely a fantastic end to this series and I still am kicking myself for waiting so long to finally get to it!

There was so much action and I was too wrapped up in it - I was invested in the story but the characters themselves, the writing and the emotions that Schwab created here that when I got to a very pivotal scene, I was just all FEELS.

A yuri manga I didn't realize I needed to read till I started it!!

I loved the story and that the volume bounces between Aya and Mitsuki as we read from both of their point of views especially considering the huge misconception that starts this while thing!

I loved the diversity representation of Latin and LGBTQ. Also I need to give credit to Ana Osorio for her narration of this book.

That being said, the pacing was okay and then it wavers to slow with pages and pages of a single moment that unfortunately said a lot but also nothing. I found as I kept reading that this book did a lot telling and less doing which is a shame because again the concept sounds interesting.

Considering that by the author's own note, she had little to go on, this was a well fleshed out book on Marguerite de la Rocque de Roberval and her survival.

I almost dnf'd this but Marguerite's dynamic with Damienne was probably the most interesting because even though Damienne is her maid, there's more of a mother/daughter dynamic and this is the one that got me.
I really liked the second half of the book.
#popsugarreadingchallenge

I found it hard to get why these two MC's are together other than end of world scenario - I'm expected to believe that they fall instantly in love but the chemistry is all wrong. I was missing the comedy and romance of the "romcom" part of the title.

Also the sex scene felt weird to me that I did indeed skim it. Yup I did, and had no problem with it. I just felt it was graphically uneccesary. Just not for me.

#popsugarreadingchallenge

I am so saddened that I finished this because it was so much fun.

I loved Helen right from the opening chapter. There's so much realness to her. She's smart, opinionated, fierce, passionate and full of try. She's just trying her best. She's a year divorced & is trying to pull herself together & is ready to start with a wilderness survival course that ends up being nothing like she expected but an opening to somethings that she needed.
#25in2025

The book itself is under 200 pages but I struggled early on as the author has decided to start this book in the middle of everything and we slowly learn that it's a dystopian setting, with little context as to how it happened, set in a convent full of women of varying ages.

I might have to pause reading another from this author since I've read two back to back and each one has left me reeling in disgust and horrified.

I can't wait for Saturday as I'm going to see a friend I haven't seen in a while and go to Bingo Loco and dinner!

#majicmonday @Eggs

I absolutely devoured this the other night as I was in the first one hundred pages and then I was done and couldn't believe it!

Once I got into it, I found it to be quiet enchanting as I come into books with little to no expectations especially when it's a new to me author, like this one, but this was quite a fun read.

#25in2025 #fromthetbr

I've had this one on my TBR for a while but I never felt in the mood but once I saw that Curry narrated the audio, I needed to give it a listen!

The whole book just takes me back to the way fantasy books used to be written with heavy world building and so much detailing!

Plus I loved Sabriel's portrayal in the book. She's young and unsure at the beginning. It's been a while since I've read a character like her.

#25in2025 #fromthetbr

What a dreamlike quality novella.

I was a bit unsure at the beginning because of the very flowery prose but for the way the magic or "Grammer" is set up it works here. I'm not one for flowery prose in general but I've encountered more and more of it as of late.

This was the perfect length for the story. Absolutely an ethereal read.

@Lauredhel #pantone2025

Nightfall really has little worry for herself and her sole focus is Loid, which is certainly odd but pales to Yuri's almost borderline infatuation with his sister. Just when I thought he could be ok, he does something a little unhinged like in this volume's case he was able to pinpoint Yor from a scent and sound of her footprint... From her accent and sound of her footfall.
Like I know he's fictional but creeper.

All in all a fun, fast read full of fanfic tropes and smut. I just never thought I would have read a published A/B/O book ever but another one from the TBR read!

It's very weird when a well known fanfiction trope is published and weirder still when I can still read the which fandom this used to be. Funny enough idk but I read a lot of A/B/O fics in this particular fandom so yeah 😁 changing the names did little to hide it.

This was a hard book to read. For me it was similar to Upton Sinclair's The Jungle, which was also a difficult, brutal, and haunting read. I have to appreciate both the author and the translator for taking the means they did with the book and being specific about their wording and terms.

This is haunting, bleak, tense, disgusting, and disquieting but it's also well written, and an odd page turner. One more book off the TBR!

I'm a bit disappointed and it has more to do with the publisher's book blurb of "presents a raw, intimiate glimpse into her creative process." when it's 90% song lyrics of Welch's first 4 albums.

I love Welch and her music but there's very little of this glimpse into her process.

I wouldn't have picked this up to read now knowing what I know but this makes a nice coffee table kind of book.
#25in2025

This volume is back with the action adventure I was hoping for.

Nothing against Anya but sometimes she takes away from the original plot but anyways this volume was more of Loid being his operative self and hunting down a mole in their midst.

All in all this was a good volume and thanks to that illegal cliffhanger, I'm off to find the next volume at the library.

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.