December Hodge Podge

The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson

This book was SO. AMAZINGLY. AWESOME. I could not put it down! Feminist dystopia, a suffocating religion, vengeful witches in the wood, curses and escapes and dungeons-- Okay, I have to stop. Just go read it, especially if you like the Handmaid's Tale or fantasy horror. 

368 pages

We Sold Our Souls by Grady Hendrix

Dude. The writing. I could feel myself being crushed by the walls of a cave. And such creative settings! Heavy metal bands fit so well into horror, but Hendrix also highlights the horror of materialism and the distractions of the modern world. I need to read more of his books!

336 pages

Read Harder Challenge #22

Chapel of Ease by Alex Bledsoe

The fourth Tufa novel, and still going strong. It's nice that for once we get a non-straight Tufa-human couple. I want to watch a hillbilly fairy musical. They never tell us what's in the box! Gaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!

320 pages

The Dollhouse Family by M.R. Carey, Peter Gross

Creepy dolls are one of my favorite horror tropes because I find them genuinely scary. But the dolls here aren't the really creepy part. A demonic dollhouse is overly possessive of its family, chasing them across generations. A fun read, good for a rainy afternoon.

160 pages

Daphne Byrne by Laura Marks, Kelley Jones

The Spiritualist movement of the 19th century has long interested me. Yes, lets manipulate people's grief so we can be parasites on society. This story just throws some actual demons in.

160 pages

The Cold Millions by Jess Walter

It's long, but the payoff was worth it! I really didn't know much about turn of the century labor movements, and this got me interested in looking up and reading more. Elizabeth Gurley Flynn deserves more recognition, and I'm tempted to track down some of her writings. The parallels in this novel to inequalities to today make the setting feel even more real. Very well written historical fiction!

352 pages

Come Back to Me by Amanda Conner, Jimmy Palmiotti

Not the best Wonder Woman comic, but enjoyable. Starts off as standard Wonder Woman fun, ends up in some weird dinosaur time travel space stadium mess. Definitely better WW comics out there. 

160 pages

Educated by Tara Westover

This one stuck with me. I still think about it, and I read it weeks ago. An amazing memoir about a girl who never went to school, then entered college and went on to get her PhD. Her childhood memories are disturbing and tragic. The conflicts with her family in the fallout are relateable.  Reminded me of a lot of my dreams, and it has definitely got me thinking. 

352 pages    

Read Harder Challenge #12

Attack on Titan Volumes 4/5 by Hajime Isayama

 

This series. So good. More Titan lore, More epic 3D battles, more chaotic fights. The story is too good, a blend of mystery, thriller, fantasy, and of course, horror. 

388 pages (194+194)

In Mad Love and War by Joy Harjo

This is one of her earlier collections, and I had a bit of trouble getting into it. Certainly quality, it makes you slow down and savor each line. Sometimes you have to reread the stanzas again and again for them to sink in.

79 pages

No One is Too Small to Make a Difference by Greta Thunberg

A collection of her speeches, so definitely a bit repetitive. The message is clear though, and I hope we are not too late to act. We only have a few years left, but we seem to be making the problem worse, not better. Tragedy of the Commons combined with Toxic Individualism just leads to ecological destruction. And really, it's not a money problem. It's an accountability problem.

80 pages

Read Harder Challenge #15

Solutions and Other Problems by Allie Brosh

I love how Brosh is so funny even when talking about horrible things. I was getting weird looks from Matt because I was just sitting on the couch laughing my head off. That poor grocery clerk. That creepy neighbor kid needs some friends. I too identify with the balloon. Definitely check out her comics if you haven't. They will brighten your day!

528 pages

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

I have heard so much hype around this book, and I finally got around to it. Very much a thriller where you have to slowly piece the puzzle together. Still didn't expect that ending, love the added psychological dimensions. I was racing through this one.

336 pages

The Jedi Mind by Amy Ratcliffe

Little tidbits of wisdom, tied into the different characters of the Star Wars universe. The illustrations are just too cute!

80 pages

Steve Trevor DC Comics

This was a really cool collection of Wonder Woman comics featuring Steve Trevor. It includes the very first issues, the strange "New" look where she loses her powers from the 60's, and the great Perez issues from the 90's, as well as a handful of recent ones. Fun to see how her character has evolved over the years.

232 pages

The Factory Witches of Lowell by C.S. Malerich

This was a very fun historical fantasy novella, wherein a mill girl strike is aided by just a bit of magic. I thought it was an amazing setting, and I loved the sapphic side-romance. I was so enthralled I read this in one sitting. I never knew about brown lung and the stuffy fibrous airways which lead to untimely death for many women. Using the breath and blood you've poured into your looms to stop all work? Talk about seizing the means of production! I only wish this book was a bit longer to flesh out all the characters. 

128 pages

The Cowboy Meets His Match by Jessica Clare

I have never read a cowboy romance. I don't feel like I was missing much. I know a lot of readers love them, but they are just not for me.

301 pages

Read Harder Challenge #14

Basketful of Heads by Joe Hill, Leomacs

This comic is so good. Norse mythology, zombie heads, corrupt small town government, and a brave female protagonist totally dominating. The drawings are emotive, the colors dark yet colorful. A must read horror comic! 

184 pages

I Will Judge You by Your Bookshelf by Grant Snider

I'm a librarian. I can't resist book humor! Snider's comics are always clever.

128 pages

Red Harvest by Joe Schreiber

 

Star Wars and... zombies?! 

Yep. It's that kind of book. But, the zombie theme surprisingly fits within the galaxy pretty well. I personally love any kind of ancient Sith biogenetic experiment lore anyway, so I enjoyed this one a lot! We also get to see the Jedi bio-experiments and communing with plants through the Force, which we don't really get to see in later periods. Towards the end of the Republic, the Jedi are mostly martial arts and peacekeeper focused, with a diminished Agricultural Corps. (Yes, I'm a huge Star Wars nerd, I know...) A Sith Lord trying to achieve mortality would reasonably end up unleashing a zombie plague which consumes every ounce of life on the planet. I mean really, what else would happen?

256 pages

Books to Get Lost In

The Enterprise War by John Jackson Miller

This was definitely not the best Star Trek novel (and I know, they are notorious for being kind of bad...), and it really dragged on. It was nice to read about the chaos of the Pergamum Nebula, but the distance it placed itself from the main plot of Discovery made the story feel a bit inconsequential. I liked the old tech space pirates, and we do get to see Spock go mad-a direct tie in to the series-but other than that, I wasn't impressed.

432 pages




The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman

I'm so glad I am rereading these. I remember how much I loved this series growing up, and it's nice to return to them. I forgot about the creepy spectres, and how much the witches played a role in the plot. I think I also just love multiverse stories and playing with portals and magic.

326 pages






Long Black Curl by Alex Bledsoe

The third in the Tufa series, in which two star crossed lovers, Bo-Kate Wisby and Jefferson Powell, both banished from Needsville, find that the curse has been lifted, and return to reak havoc on their homes once more. Meanwhile, Byron Harley (a twist on 1950's rock star Bill Haley) escapes from being locked in fae time for 60 years, and Mandalay begins to come into her own power. I have loved this series! The idea of hillbilly fairies in the Smoky Mountains is such a magical combination.

382 pages




Queen's Peril by E.K. Johnston

I absolutely loved Ahsoka and Queen's Shadow, and this one did not disappoint! We get more backstory of each of Queen Amidala's handmaidens, and I love how Johnston was willing to fully flesh out each one. I really enjoy Star Wars novels that focuses on galactic politics instead of just swoopy starship battles. Padme is amazing and one of the most underrated star wars heroines. It was also so cool to see how the handmaidens pulled off the wardrobe switches between the queen and Sabe.

288 pages

Ahsoka by E. K. Johnston

I've been meaning to get to this one for months. It bridges Ahsoka's story between the Clone Wars and Rebels series, showing how she went into hiding to avoid being caught by the Empire. We see how she gets her white light sabers-yay new kyber crystal lore!- and learn how she becomes the mysterious agent, Fulcrum. I loved Johnston's Padme novel, and I've already pre-ordered her new one coming out this spring.

Ahsoka is such an underrated Star Wars character. I love her!

353 pages

The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher

I love Carrie Fisher. I love her sense of humor. She's so sassy.
I love the stream of consciousness style, and how she literally says what she's thinking, no matter how anxiety-ish it is.
Gosh her diary reads like a Bronte novel sometimes... I just love her writing style, ok? She's hilarious.
Gosh she's a Slytherin, and I love her.

267 Pages

Kindred Spirits by Rainbow Rowell

Kindred Spirits by Rainbow Rowell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is an adorable novella with the perfect combination of Star Wars nerdery, line culture, and unlikely friendships.

Everything by Rainbow Rowell is brilliant. My only complaint is that I wish it was longer.

Pages: 96

Star Wars: Survivor's Quest by Timothy Zahn

Mara and Luke Skywalker are back! They've been asked to view the recently discovered remains of Outbound Flight.  There's lots of intrigue, plots, and counter-plots involving the Chiss, the Rebel Alliance, and a mysterious alien race liberated by Outbound Flight fifty years earlier.  An enjoyable adventure! 416 pages.

Star Wars: Outbound Flight by Timothy Zahn

I wish Timothy Zahn would write the screenplay for the next Star Wars movie!  He develops his characters and  uses technology to advance the story line not replace it.  Outbound Flight is the story of a mission to colonize the unknown regions at the edge of galaxy.  The mission is the brainchild of Jedi Master Jorus C'Baoth, whose arrogance and impatience do not endear him to the civilians on Outbound Flight.  He plans to use the mission to recruit and train a new generation of Jedi, by force if necessary. But even Master C'Baoth is not aware that the mission is doomed.  Agents of the Sith Lord Darth Sidious are waiting to destroy Outbound Flight before it crosses into unknown territory.  Will they succeed?  Or will their plot be foiled by the Chiss Commander Thrawn?  I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the early adventures of Thrawn, the smuggler Jorg Car'das, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and a very young Annakin Skywalker. 420 pages.

Star Wars: Specter of the Past by Timothy Zahn

Specter of the Past is the first book of the two book series, The Hand of Thrawn. It's been a few years since the Rebel forces destroyed the Death Star. Now former allies are starting to compete for power and to seek punishment for those who collaborated with the Empire.  Sound familiar? (Post WWII anyone?) Luke Skywalker has begun to realize that he doesn't know enough about using the force to help keep the Alliance together.  Han and Leia Solo are trying to balance their official responsibilities with their private family life.  Will they manage to keep the Alliance together? 400 pages.

Star Wars: Vision of the Future by Timothy Zahn

Has Admiral Thrawn returned ten years after his death?  Will the New Republic survive the in-fighting, sabotage, and revelations of collaboration with the Empire? Han Solo, Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, and Lando Calrissian are back in play as they race to find out just who is causing all the trouble. 520 pages.

The Last Command by Timothy Zahn

This is the last book of the Thrawn trilogy.  On the whole, the Thrawn trilogy is a welcome antidote to the later  underwritten, overly CGI'd Star Wars films.  If George Lucas had spent more on a professional screenwriter than on special effects we might have experienced an engrossing story like this one.  Does Admiral Thrawn succeed in overthrowing the new Republic?  Does Mara Jade, formerly a secret agent of the evil emperor Palpatine, kill Luke Skywalker?  Will Leia Solo successfully use her Jedi training to breeze through the birth of her twins?  You'll find satisfying answers to these questions and more between the covers of The Last Command. 467 pages.