Short and Sweet

 Struggling to focus. Reading short books. Under 200 pages. Why don't magazines count? 😭😭😭

Drowned Country by Emily Tesh

Mopey wild man. Mopey vampire. Mopey fairies. 

Wibbly wobbly timey wimey stuff.

Heartbreakingly beautiful. 

Excited for her next book.

157 pages

The Hundred Penny Box by Sharon Bell Mathis

Reread, still sad. 

Family history is so important. 

Seniors deserve respect and dignity. 

47 pages

Rage by Stephen King

Controversial, out of print.

Teenage angst, trauma.

Teens also deserve respect and dignity.

Hard to put down, not really scary. 

130 pages

Somebody Give This Heart a Pen by Sophia Thakur

Real, raw writing. 

Love her spoken word poetry.

Give, grieve, grow. 

99 pages 

The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo

Beautiful Asian fantasy world. 

Fierce queer women. 

I want to try black salt. 

NEED the next book. 

(No, I don't want to wait a month)

Read Harder Task #11

121 pages

Missouri's Mad Doctor McDowell by Victoria Cosner

Why rob graves? For science!

Who doesn't want to preserve their family members? 

He could view his wife across the river, how sweet.

Now I have to visit Hannibal.

142 pages

Scourged (The Iron Druid Chronicles #9)

 Scourged (The Iron Druid Chronicles #9)
by Kevin Hearne

In this finale to the Iron Druid Chronicles, Atticus and his friends and some foes, must team up for a battle royale against the Norse gods of Asgard. 

Decisions that Atticus made in the past have caught up with him and the rest of the world. Loki and Hel are ready for Ragnarok. There is now a global battle to see if the world can be saved or if it will literally be Hel on Earth.

Granuaile joins the fight in Taiwan and learns a lot about herself in the process including what she wants from her life if she survives. Archdruid Owen is traveling the world literally putting out fires and healing the Earth.

I've enjoyed this series a lot and I like the way Owen's story was wrapped up and some of the other details too, but I did not like the way things ended for Atticus and Granuaile and their canine companions.

Staked (The Iron Druid Chronicles #8)

 Staked (The Iron Druid Chronicles #8)
by Kevin Hearne
Pages: 310
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Atticus has made some enemies in his over two thousand years of life, including some vampires. Now he has made an agreement with a coven in Poland to rid all of Poland of all vampires and vampires from around the world are taking revenge, especially one powerful, old vamp, Theophilus. 

Atticus ends up with backup from some unexpected places.  This is good since new druid Granuaile is trying to free herself from Loki and deal with some personal issues from her own past and his arch-druid is trying to start a school for new druids and doesn't need trouble with vampires too.

Besieged (The Iron Druid Chronicles #4.1-4.2, 4.6-4.7, 8.1-8.2, 8.6-8)

 Besieged (The Iron Druid Chronicles #4.1-4.2, 4.6-4.7, 8.1-8.2, 8.6-8)
by Kevin Hearne
Pages: 256
Rating: 5 out of 5

I always love short story collections of a fun series. The shorter snapshots can give you insight to a character's past and personality. Sometimes the shorter story just allows you to have a great visit with a favorite fictional character. If you enjoy the Iron Druid Series don't miss this short story collection. Though there were a couple minor spoilers for me in since I am on book 7.

Shattered (The Iron Druid Chronicles, #7)

Shattered (The Iron Druid Chronicles, #7) 
by Kevin Hearne
Pages: 352
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Atticus O'Sullivan the last surviving Druid now has company. His apprentice Granuaile is now a full-fledged Druid and his mentor has been rescued from an island frozen in time. But Owen has been there For nearly two thousand years and basics of every day modern life are shocking too him.

While Atticus is trying to help Owen acclimate, Granuaile is called to India to face an evil spirit that his possessing her archaeologist father. Assisted by the witch Laska Granuaile may be able to vanquish the spirit but will her father survive the process?

And we get to meet Yeti. They love Bacon!

Hunted (The Iron Druid Chronicles #6)

 Hunted (The Iron Druid Chronicles #6)
by Kevin Hearne
Pages: 384
Stars: 4 out of 5

Atticus O’Sullivan, his apprentice Granuaile and wolfhound Oberon are racing across modern-day Europe to seek the help of a friend, Tuatha De Danann. They are being chased by two goddesses of the hunt, Artemis and Diana. The goddesses are seeking revenge and other gods and powerful beings are getting in on the action. Some to aid Atticus and some to aid the goddesses. Still others just for their own amusement. Atticus's usual magical druid option of shifting to another plane is blocked so now all they can do is run and hope to reach safety. Then Loki decides to get in on the fun. Killing Atticus is the only loose end he needs to tie up before unleashing Ragnarok and the end of the world. This series is full of Celtic, Norse, Greek and other ancient mythology as well as plenty of adventure, but my favorite part is Oberon who Atticus can communicate with magically. Seeing all of the adventure and chaos happen through the eyes of a loyal dog companion just adds to the fun.

Two Ravens and One Crow (The Iron Druid Chronicles #4.5)

 Two Ravens and One Crow (The Iron Druid Chronicles #4.5)
by Kevin Hearne
Pages:
Stars: 4 out of 5

In this novella Atticus's training of Granuaile is interupted by the Morrigan, the Celtic Chooser of the Slain. She insists he leave with her at once if he wants to save his and Granuaile's lives. What choice does he have but to follow her.

Originally released as an ebook, this story if now available in print.