It started off okay but quickly became disappointing. Uneven pacing & writing, poor character development & world building. I won't even go into the plot holes. Gigantic ones that make me wonder what the actual idea was supposed to be because it really came across as a bunch of fantasy scenarios and tropes thrown into a pot and stirred but none developed.

It‘s a duology, but it didn‘t interest me enough to pick up book 2.

Book 3 #AwesomeApril

Christine! Thank you for the goodies AND for keeping me on track. Without receiving your package, I‘d forget to mail Stacy! 🤦🏼‍♀️

Stacey, I‘m mailing yours tomorrow priority mail. 🙃

Ashley, I‘m looking forward to digging into your pick!

#travelingstars24

#sundayfunday

I have several books that I own more than one copy. But I think Good Omens is the most with 5 physical copies and 2 audiobooks (one full cast version & the original version read by Martin Jarvis). Plus, I have the DVDs of Good Omens season 1 along with the Script Book.

Part Adams, part Monty Python, & an all around ridiculously absurd fun space adventure.

Book 2 for #AwesomeApril

Book 1, or maybe book 0.5 since it‘s a novella, for #AwesomeApril

I absolutely adore monk & robot. I will definitely revisit these stories.

My #IndependentBookstoreDay book haul!

5 bookshops in 5.6 hrs, 7 books, & 11k+ steps = 1 fantastic day!

I‘ve posted links to all 5 bookstores on my blog, wanderinglynn.com

5th stop on my DC #IndependentBookstoreDay tour was Second Story Books in Dupont, which is DC‘s oldest used bookstore, founded in 1973.

Since this was bookshop no. 5 for me, I got a gift—a Second Story pin & notebook.

I‘m at 10k+ steps and it‘s only 1:30. That‘s 5 hours of glorious bookshop browsing.

There‘s 1 more bookshop I want to hit, but first a stop at home to eat & rest for a minute.

4th bookstore visited for my DC #IndependentBookstoreDay tour!

Solid State Books is a cute little bookshop in the Adam‘s Morgan district. I‘m more than halfway through my list of 6. I left my house at 8:30 this morning, it‘s currently 12:30, & I‘ve walked 4 miles already!

Next up is Second Street Books in Dupont!

Third stop on my DC‘s #IndependentBookstoreDay your was Loyalty Books in the Petworth neighborhood.

My first time at Loyalty—super cute bookshop with awesome booksellers!

Now back down the street to hit Solid State Books.

Second stop for #IndependentBookstoreDay was @eastcitybookshop also near Eastern Market.

East City is also celebrating their 8th anniversary 🎉

Now back to the metro to head to the northwest part of the city to visit Loyalty Books.

First stop on #IndependentBookstoreDay : Capitol Hill Books in Eastern Market.

I love used books. I could have spent the whole day here just browsing. But the day is short & I have a list of bookshops to get to! Next stop, just down the street, East City Bookshop!

#bookhaul

Independent Bookstore Day Checklist
Bookstore plan/list - ✅
Read to Live tote bag - ✅
An extra bag just in case (not shown) - ✅
Umbrella & rain coat (not shown) because the weather decided not to cooperate - ✅
Good walking shoes - ✅

Now just waiting for the metro so I can get started celebrating #IndependentBookstoreDay24 🎉

Absolutely loved this little book. I really want to start the next one, but I need to get to bed so I‘m ready for #IBD tomorrow!

“If you ask six different monks the question of which godly domain robot consciousness belongs to, you‘ll get seven different answers.”

#firstlinefridays

#5JoysFriday

1. Got my TBR for #wyrdandwonder24 that also doubles as my TBR for #awesomeapril readathon!
2. I‘ve written 6 new blog posts in the last week. 3 are live and 3 are scheduled for May for Wyrd & Wonder
3. I‘ve prepared for Independent Bookstore Day tomorrow!
4. I took a walk & saw these beautiful blooming trees.
5. I completed this gorgeous puzzle from Puzzles of Color.

#AwesomeApril readathon rolls into May, which is Wyrd & Wonder month!!! Perfect timing!

I have a huge fantasy TBR stack ready to go. And since IBD is Saturday, I‘ll probably end up with an even bigger stack. 😆

Everyone is welcome to celebrate the fantastical during Wyrd & Wonder month. More info on my blog:
http://wanderinglynn.com/2024/04/25/wyrd-wonder-2024-tbr/

Pre-gaming Independent Bookstore Day. This is the route if I try to hit all 19 participating DC bookstores. Letter A is where I live.

#IndependentBookstoreDay #indiebookstores

🎉 Libro.fm is doing their Golden Ticket giveaway this Saturday for Independent Bookstore Day! 🎉

Find golden ticket & get 12 feee audiobooks. The list of participating bookstores:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DlGzupjQbOnkYEtpO2v21DsrvYImC4xY

#two4tuesday

1. A country girl at heart currently living a very urban life.

2. 🤞🏻 I get the job to move out of urbanlandia to live in the burbs & at least rural-adjacent.

#motivationalmonday

1. Just trying to get through the work week to make it to Independent Bookstore Day! And then on Sunday, my library is hosting a puzzle swap 🧩
2. One day, I will adopt a new fur-baby.
3. Probably a bird, one of the raptors so I could soar in the sky.

Thanks for the tag @Eggs ❤️

#sundayfunday

I‘ve met Jimmy Carter, John Scalzi, T.J. Klune, Darynda Jones, David Lipsky, Joy Harlow, Shelby Van Pelt, Ed Yong, Todd Lockwood, & several more I‘m blanking on right now.

I‘d love to meet the wife-husband team Ilona Andrews, Patricia Briggs, Robin Hobb, & Martha Wells.

The great spring declutter/book purge continues. I‘ve pulled another 10 or so books off my shelves. And I listed quite a few on PangoBooks. Stop by & check it out (same user name):
https://pangobooks.com/bookstore/wanderinglynn

#5JoysFriday on Saturday

1. It‘s now light at 6:15 am when I walk to the metro! ☀️
2. I had a second interview for a job in Denver (photo from the interwebs).
3. I finished the Ocean Liner, a Blue Kazoo puzzle
4 & 5. Spring cleaning/decluttering! I have a donation pile (not shown); I‘ll be taking the puzzles to a puzzle swap on Saturday; & I listed the books on PangoBooks (same user name). Decluttering definitely brings me joy.

I‘ve been feeling weighed down & cluttered. So I decided to clear off some shelves to get them under control. I pulled nearly 60 puzzles and 50 books off my shelves. Some of the books went to my building‘s free library & the rest I put on PangoBooks. The puzzles are going to the DC Puzzle Swap next weekend.

#springcleaning

Same here, Jonathan. Same here. 😆

#wondrouswednesday

1. Travel, books, free time to explore all the things
2. Work, negativity, politics
3. Basically that I have done this thing called life on my own terms, despite others‘ “expectations” & no matter if some decisions weren‘t necessarily the best decisions. I‘ve learned a lot, had some amazing experiences, and met some awesome people along the way.

#two4tuesday

1. I have 3 possible options: (a) Diagonally Parked in a Parallel Universe; (b) Well That Didn‘t Go As Planned; or (c) Traveling Purposefully in a Vague Direction

2. I‘m not sure how I‘d define a life “well-lived” but Madeline Albright has certainly had an interesting life.

#motivationalmonday

1. Work, interview, read, finish the puzzle I started this weekend
2. My building‘s courtyard & some of Connecticut Ave
3. Washington D.C. – warm with a chance of thunderstorms this afternoon

Christine! Thank you so much for this lovely Ostara package. 🩷🌷🪻🌻

So sorry I‘m late in posting. I opened it, took a photo, have been reading through the book, & forgot to post this.

#travelingstars #travelingstars2024

#5JoysFriday

💛 I got the call about a second interview
🌻 I found a book I‘ve been wanting at a free library
⭐️ I started spring cleaning & have a nice stack of things to giveaway & more room/better organization
🔆 I reorganized my puzzle closet & updated my puzzle spreadsheet
💛 after weeks of being in a reading slump & only listening to audiobooks, I‘ve actually finished a couple of physical books.

Happy Friday! 🌻

🎉 Congrats @BkClubCare 🎉

Send your mailing to: lynn@wanderinglynn.com
and I‘ll get this in the mail to you!

Thank you to everyone who entered my #RuGiveaway

#wondrouswednesday

1. 🍞🪄🤺
2. Strike the Zither by Joan He. I‘ve been waiting to read it until the sequel, Sound the Gong, comes out next month.
3. Oh so many! But Martha Wells is one. Love her Murderbot series!

There‘s still time to enter my #RuGiveaway! Enter by 8 pm EDT Thursday!

#motivationalmonday

1. As few as possible 😆
2. Depends on the day—coffee (in the mornings), sparkling water, tea, or sometimes an adult beverage.
3. Magnetic bookmark
4. 🤷🏼‍♀️ I‘m currently between reads & rather indecisive as I stare at my TBR bookcase

I listened to the audio version & I‘m totally in love with Vaughn. And I‘m not even a hockey fan! 😆

@mcctrish @Sargar114 I haven‘t done the wildflowers yet, but I did the mini succulents! 🌵

All.the.feels! 5⭐️

If you can‘t tell, I‘m a huge AJ fan. And Abby Jimenez will always be a pre-order, auto-buy author for me.

When it arrived on Thursday, I started reading it immediately & didn't get up again until I hit the last word on the last page. Emma and Justin might have edged out Sloan and Jason as my favorite.

On top of the amazing story, all the cameos! It's like a beautiful synergy of Abby-world, a place I wish I could live.

#RuGiveaway 🎉

I have 2 copies! I got one for going to his book tour & the second from his book club. So I‘m giving away the second brand new hardback!

To enter, simply comment below.

For a second entry, share this post & tag me!

Open internationally.

Giveaway closes at 8pm EDT on Thursday, April 11.

If RuPaul‘s book tour comes near you, I highly recommend going. What an amazing, fabulous, & inspiring evening.

Christine, thank you for the hot chocolate! I love raspberry 😋

Jill - I‘ll try to get the tagged to you by early next week.

#lmpbc

#wondrouswednesday

1. I have an entire dance playlist because I always dance like no one‘s watching. 💃🏼🕺🏼

2. Excellent question. I‘m thinking a sailboat because I have a top 5 list places to live but it changes sometimes when I visit somewhere new.

3. Depends on the day and the need. But anything from buying myself a little something (like a new book) to main/pedis and massages.

#sundayfunday

I have a few tattoos but I just got my bookish one last summer and I plan to add to it.

Thank you Chrissy 😘 This was a lovely surprise! I especially love the Capricorn Bowl. ♑️💜

Litsy Friends, how are you? 💜

#letscheckin

#motivationalmonday

1. My main plan is to just try to survive it.

2. Tagged

3. Curious & wandering

Thanks for the tag @Texreader 😀
Who else wants to play? Consider yourself tagged!

@Bookwormjillk this will be on its way to you tomorrow!

#LMPBC

#two4tuesday

1. What don‘t I daydream about?! 😂 travel, conversations, jobs, fictional worlds, places I‘d rather be at that moment, places to live, dream house, romance, forests, oceans, adventures, story ideas, memories, song lyrics — my brain is strange & mysterious and usually always somewhere else.

2. All of them.

#unpopularopinion

I tried, I really tried. I thought listening to the audiobook would be lovely since Patrick Stewart has a great speaking voice. However, I just found it tedious and cringy. I felt that it's read without any insight, without reflection, and without emotion. Needless to say, I was disappointed and couldn't push myself to finish it. Since it was due back at the library, I decided to just call it quits.

Grazie mille! Thank you so much Christine for this unexpected gift! I love the journal & bookmark. And the Capricorn cards are so neat! 😘❤️♑️

#naturalitsy #midwintersolace

Such a tough choice! I have so many I‘d recommend but one of my more recent reads is the tagged. I absolutely loved this story. I listened to the audiobook & Michael Urie does a marvelous job narrating for Marcellus, the octopus. 🐙💜

#JoyousJanuary

How is it almost mid-January already? Luckily, this is a holiday weekend, so I have 3 days to read non-stop.

My goals include:
📖 finish this month‘s #LMPBC
📚 read my 2 current library books, one of which is an #AuldLangSpine read
📚 start Divine Rivals & maybe Starling House, both of which are #AuldLangSpine reads