Where Darkness Blooms by Andrea Hannah

The switching narrators.
I liked how the magic of the sunflowers was brought in.
lol, we're not in Kansas anymore.
So it was dark, but I was expecting it to be more descriptive in that since, but I'm glad I was wrong, because it didn't take me out of the story.
320 Pages

Jade Legacy by Fonda Lee

Y'all...this book has me so freaking stressed. 
I don't know how to put into words how I feel about this book because like...so much happened and it was fantastic...like...the book spanned like....ages...
At one point I was gonna be like "the women are carrying the book" but nope....all the characters pull their weight, and I love all of them...
The character growth. The fricking character growth. Like. And like...the relationship growth. Like...
I want to do the thing that they did at the Lord of the Rings: Return of the King credits and just show the characters so I can be like: 

Because Hilo is just... like...I love him. And I love Anden. And Niko and Ru. And Shae and Wen. Like...the choices that they make and how and why they make their choices. 
And the world-building, and the politics, and like... bringing in pieces of the world that are really obvious when you're in a world, but that like...take work to build, like media....
Me: ...this feels like a certain scene from Hamilton....
oh and this also feels like a scene from Hamilton.
I have been on a journey....like more of a journey than when I listened to 10 min. All Too Well for the first time.... and like....I don't know how any expects me to be ok after finishing this book. Like...

Finishes book: now what?

It's a fricking masterpiece and I'm going to go stare off into space now because reasons.
736 Pages

The Bronzed Beasts by Roshani Chokshi

I'm so nervous that I'm going to be hurt again...like I won't be surprised at all..but I don't want it.
"you are an overpriced chicken" iconic. 
I'm going to go sit in a corner and just...like...sit with the characters and not stop thinking about them for like three days.
I just love the characters so much. 
It's the found family and the heists and the puzzle solving and the being snarky for me. 
400 Pages

The Silvered Serpents by Roshani Chokshi

Gaaaaaaaaah I love it when friends like...know about each other and like...accommodate
fdskahfjkhsdafjkh
I'm just like... 
Laila is the mom friend and I love her and I would marry her. I love her. I love all of them. Except what's-her-name. She can go drown for all I care. 
There's so much angst and I love it and it hurts me.
Me getting ready to read the third book:

432 Pages

The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi

(It's a re-read so that I can appreciate the last book shhhhhh)
"secrets keep my hair lustrous"

I'm just like...crying all of the time because I've read the second book.
The trail of cookies. Still iconic. And I love it.
Hexagons are the bestagons 
416 Pages

Soul of Stars by Ashley Poston

"In a crowd of thousands" Really Ashley? did you seriously...
I love Anastasia retellings.
I wish I had re-read the first book (because it's been like 9 months) because I'm confused, but I don't care. And I think I could have enjoyed the relationships more
I need more content. Short stories or something. Pleaaaaase.
464 Pages

Winter's Orbit by Everina Maxwell

Ok so apparently this was originally posted on AO3, so like...
Ohhhhhh my gosh are we getting this trope... the one where one is a partier and the other isn't.... The extrovert with anxiety and the introvert with anxiety. Yaaas
I am having so much embarrassment, and I can't.
Nooooo babies. I want to hug them. My anxious babies.
I love Jainan and I love Kiem. I love them. I love them. I love them.
Ok so if this was on AO3, 100% would binge read again. It's got all of my favorite things: arranged marriage, miscommunication, angst (in the form of characters not thinking they're good enough), the pining, and requited unrequited love. It reads like fanfiction, and I'm here for it. It is so soft. Chefs kiss.
To quote an iconic TikTok, "It's gay, and it slaps."
Did I go through and find all the fanart and fanfiction that there was for this? Yes. Yes I did.
432 Pages

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

So I hear this duology slaps. And I'm here for it. 
Yeah it slaps. The sass and snark. The found family. The backstories. The heists. Squad goals. The quotable-ness
I would die for all of these characters and any one of them could step on me.
496 Pages

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

Am I keeping track of the sock colors....yes... Aaaaaaaaand it didn't do the pattern I wanted.

sjkdlafjklsjfkljdklajkflj The concept, y'all. 
Luci is cool. 
400 Pages

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

A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab

I love Rhy. Like. I love him. So much. He deserves the world. He is too pure. Cinnamon roll
And Kell. He cool. 
Aaaaaand my pirate son Alucard Emery. 
Lila is such a queen and honestly. We stan. I would die for her. 

When you read a lot of V.E. Schwab and then realize that she emotionally wrecks you and the endings are....like that.. and now you concerned. 
I still love the magic system; I love the new characters, and I love character growth...frick.
So that gave me some FMA Brotherhood vibes....
640 Pages

The Silvered Serpents by Roshani Chokshi

I love the representation in this series! The lgbts, the mental illness, the marginalized. I live for the outcasts and for the people who see the world differently. 
Also like. HISTORY.. like Poland and Russia and religion and drama.  fd;jklsajfgdsaklfjskl;ja
I would die for Zofia. I would kill for her. She is precious and she deserves the world and she so strong. 

I would also kill for Enrique and Laila. My sweeties. I would kill people that Laila is too nice to kill. Because she (we all know who I'm talking about) needs to go. Like...I get it, she envious and feels inferior and just needs to learn to accept herself, but we don't....we don't do Laila dirty like that. Laila loves so well and like...she is the glue of the fricking team. 
I love the treasure hunting and the adventures and the angst, and I can't anymore. The found family. 

WHAT DO YOU MEAN WE DON'T KNOW THE RELEASE DATE FOR THE NEXT BOOK. 2020 WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS TO ME. HAVEN'T YOU TORTURED ME ENOUGH?
416 Pages

The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by V.E. Schwab

(I'VE MET MY READING GOAL FOR THE YEAR).
I honestly checked this book out because V.E. Schwab plus long line. for a digital copy (yes I jump on bandwagons)...And now I'm an emotional wreck. My history nerd is geeking out, and my English major with my love of the arts is geeking out. 
This writing style is really pretty. I really liked how the timelines were weaved together. 
Also I'm sad now. How dare they make me feel things. 
The bi-cons.
I feel personally attacked by this book. How dare there be characters that I relate to on a spiritual level. 
MY BIRTHDAY GOT A DATE. AND I WAS ALIVE THEN. ahhhh I was 18.
And my sister's birthday! Oh my gosh... (June 13)
....why are there always cute boys...
Ok but Henry... I love him...like....I relate to him so much...All of his struggles and feelings, and I can't. He is me, but older (and you know, a guy). Send help.. Can I keep him? 
Like.... struggling with the idea of being known and loved and seen, and being remembered, and being free. 
And the idea of stories and words and I can't.
I do not have words to describe all of my feelings about this book. I am wrecked and I don't know how I will recover from this... Guys...I need someone to scream about this with.....Guys?
V.E. Schwab has murdered me.
448 Pages

A Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

I will protect Monty with my life. He is stupid and I love him. 

Helena and the string. I'm dead. Send help. 
Ok but like......coming to terms with trauma and accepting yourself. A+
Percy is honestly my favorite. I would die for him.

Felicity is so fierce and wonderful. She's got female Sherlock vibes. (Or Molly Hooper?)
544 Pages

Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell

 British people learning the concept of how big America is. Beautiful. And I'm cackling. Cause each state is the size of a European country. 
And Baz hates America almost as much as Americans do....Perfection. If he thinks it's bright in Illinois, he gonna hate California. 
Simon is a puppy. I love him.
....Does Baz have the style sense of Harry Styles?jgkdfsjklgfjdskljfgdsa;fjla;sfjdl;asjflajsfl
416 Pages

Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

....His name is Alex....yes my brain went there.... (edit: 3/4/2021: I think my brain went to Hamilton and the fact that he might have been bi, but I have no idea)

Alex being like "I hate Henry. I don't like him":

THE TURKEY.

Alex. The man. The myth. The bi-con. (Is he also a simp?...kind of). (Malfoy level obsessed)

I love Henry. Baby. Precious. Good boy. THE STAR WARS. Must protect. 

....The Han Solo
Writing letters. fkalsfjdkljgslkfjdglsjgf;sldg. I'm crying. 

This happened, right? (kind of):
I can't find it right now, but the gif of all of the characters in VEEP running through the halls.....

Someone let Zahara sleep.....
Alexa play "There! Right There!" from Legally Blonde the Musical. IT FITS SO MUCH

.....We're in this 2020, right? ...RiGhT?!

432 Pages

Last Minute Additions

A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor by Hank Green

I loved his first book, An Absolutely Remarkable Thing,  in which metal alien statues-affectionately named Carl-land all over the planet and people go nuts. This sequel is even better! Carl is back, and saves a primary character through alien prosthetics, leaving her with an android-like appearance. The group of friends then have to face off against a hyper-realistic virtual reality gaming company with much more nefarious intentions.I think what I like most about these books is that the author is not afraid to comment on tough current issues-income inequality, social media conspiracies, information privacy, the list goes on and on. This was a very fun science fiction duology!

452 pages

Binti by Nnedi Okorafor

Binti is the first of her people to attend Oomza University, even though it means she will be ostracized by her community. However, trying to maintain her traditions in a high-tech society also does not help her fit in with her peers. Then the Meduse attack.. I was amazed at how much world building Okorafor was able to put into 90 pages. This was a really good novella, and I will probably pick up the others in the short series.

90 pages

Read Harder Task #17


Boy, Snow, Bird by Helen Oyeyemi

A loose retelling of Snow White set in a Massachusetts small town during the 1950's/60's. Boy escapes her abusive father, eventually falling in love with a carpenter. Their daughter, Bird, is dark skinned, and exposes them as African Americans passing for white. Honestly, I thought the plot dragged a bit, but that final plot twist at the end makes the story worth it.

308 pages

Read Harder Task #2



Fashion Jewelry: A beginner's guide to jewelry making by Courtney Legenhausen

I've been dabbling with some jewelry making for a while, and I thought I'd finally pick up a book to learn the actual techniques, instead of my current stumbling along with Pinterest and Youtube videos. Apparently I was opening jump rings wrong. I also know the correct way to finish a piece. And crimp beads are lifesavers. With lots of step by step pictures, I thought it was useful for a beginner.

175 pages




Florence Adler Swims Forever by Rachel Beanland

I wish they would have told me this was based on a true story up front, because I thought the premise was ridiculous-if this was fiction, why would someone write such a dismal novel? Florence, while training to prepare for her English Channel swim, accidentally drowns. Her family decides not to tell her sister, because they are afraid she will get upset and miscarry as she did before. So, we get six months of family members frantically trying to keep a secret. Meanwhile, there's a weird subplot about Florida real estate? I was not impressed.

309 pages




The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

Xiomara feels unheard by her family, her church, and to some extent, her friends. Secretly dating Aman, and forced into confirmation classes by her mother, she channels her frustrations into her notebook. She finally finds her voice through an invitation to join her school's poetry slam club-allowing her to blossom. The audiobook of this is sooo good, and hearing the poetry spoken by the actual author is quite effective.

361 pages

Read Harder Task #8


The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue

This intense story follows the lives of three women in an Irish quarantined maternity ward over three days during the flu of 1918. The story is brutal, refusing to shy away from the reality of medical interventions, nauseating symptoms, and the brutality of poverty and the Irish orphanage system of the time. This book was very detailed, emotional and shocking. Definitely not for everyone, but I enjoyed it.

295 pages




Silver in the Wood by Emily Tesh 

When Henry Silver arrives as a new resident of Greenhollow, his interest in folklore leads him to investigate the Wild Man of the wood. Dryads, old curses, a mysterious past, teen abductions, and a gentle romance compose this creative fantasy retelling of the Green Man myth. I thought it was a great debut, and I plan to look out for Tesh's next book.

109 pages




The Tea Dragon Festival by Katie O'Neill

A companion novel to The Tea Dragon Society, this graphic novel provides some backstory for two society members of the first book. They return to Silverleaf village, where everyone lives alongside tea dragons. we meet a young dragon who has just awoken from an unintended 80 year nap. Once again the artwork is beautiful, the characters are diverse, and the tea dragons are adorable. I never thought I would see sign language in a graphic novel-it was very well done!

131 pages



Too Much and Never Enough by Mary L. Trump

I've been trying to stay away from reading political stuff right now (easier said than done), but the premise for this family narrative and memoir was too tempting. Mary's personal experiences, familial knowledge and clinical Ph.D psychologist's expertise give us a unique character study that certainly explains... a lot. Toxic families create toxic people. A very interesting read.

225 pages





The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion

The reviews for this book were so positive, but I thought it was so bad. I get it, it's a memoir about grief, but using obscure references to celebrities and writers just left me lost and confused. Way too much name dropping, and not really much emotion, considering her situation. If I wasn't listening to the audiobook, I probably would not have finished this one.

227 pages




You Brought Me the Ocean by Alex Sanchez, Julie Maroh (ill.)

A coming of age story about friends drifting apart, college applications, and discovering your truth. Of course, the main character lives in a desert and has magical powers that react to water-you know, just to make it interesting. I don't think I've ever seen a comic focused entirely on Aqualad. I love how DC has been embracing such diverse characters lately. This was fun!

186 pages



And now I am FINALLY caught up so I don't have to do these crazy long posts.

Bright We Burn by Kiersten White

Radu honey.. Precious cinnamon roll who deserves the world and the world treats him like garbage. My beautiful baby.
....sooo that's the sin of presumption, but imma let it slide
I love Cyprian. He's wonderful.
Everyone deserves to have friends, y'all. It's not fair.
I hate these stupid summer allergies.
I can't believe Kiersten made me feel these feelings. I am betrayed, and yet I am not angry.... what is going on.
THEODORA
432 Pages

Dear Evan Hansen by Val Emmich, with Steven Levenson, Benj Pasek, and Justin Paul

Soooooo Evan's anxiety..... I feel seen.
Also all the self-loathing and feeling like a burden.....
I loved the musical (I haven't actually seen it, but I love the music!) so getting to be in Evan's head and see Connor's perspective....
I love that the audiobook was read by the actors that play Evan and Connor (and we get to hear Zoey singing).
368 Pages

Now I Rise by Kiersten White

When you hear the name Cyprian and you're like...is it THAT Cyprian...from Eucharistic Prayer I...and it's not... cause that Cyprian was in the 200s not the 1400s.... we good...My Catholic is showing...
It doesn't help that the story is set in Constantinople, so I just have "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" essentially on repeat in my head.
You know when there's a cinnamon roll who is too pure this world and he's being used...yeah I'm adopting him.
Also I don't know how to feel about NAME because my baby Radu
...All of the Les Mis vibes... And LOTR vibes...
...Babe....just....be selfish for once; everyone else is.
aaaaand now there's an Anakin moment...oof
512 Pages