Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko

I don't know who to ship.
Is that an ace I spot?
Hey look at that trauma.
Aha. I know who NOT to ship.
Gaslighting is still gaslighting
We stan Sanjeet. Like. I will give you a soapbox, boo. 
I'm sorry. Library ribbons...no. As a library person. No.
The concept, the magic, the world, the relationships. 
Also, do I want to go off about pelican's and imagery. yes. will I. I will resist.  
Me @ Dayo: 

400 Pages 

The Golem's Eye by Jonathan Stroud

All these adults being awful to my children. 
Go off Bartimaeus about the Brits stealing stuff for their museums.
Alexa play Empty Chairs at Empty Tables
I love Bartimaeus giving Nathanael tons of crap about his sense of style. 
Nathanael whenever Kitty outsmarts him:

I just want all of the children to stop doing stupid things. Like...Stop making bad choices that back in the day you hated other people for making. Babe.
Kitty at the end of the book: 

592 Pages

Trejo: My Life of Crime, Redemption, and Hollywood by Danny Trejo

Trejo: My Life of Crime, Redemption, and Hollywood by Danny Trejo

The by products of an abusive household are the heroin addiction and crime sprees a young Danny Trejo finds himself dealing with. These lead to time in some of the United States’ most notorious prisons, including Folsom and San Quentin. After a gut-wrenching reality check, Danny begins to rebuild himself, finding sobriety and spirituality along the way.

 

His checkered past comes in handy, though. Danny uses it as inspiration for acting roles in everything from The Muppets to Machete, which make him a household name across the globe. His personal life remains far from rosy, however. While Danny speaks at prisons and rehabilitation centers, helping others to know they’re not alone in their struggles, he can’t seem to break through to his children, who have inherited his battles.

  

288 pages

Raven: Teen Titans #1 by Kami Garcia, Illustrated by Gabriel Picolo

Summary: "When a tragic accident takes the life of seventeen-year-old Raven Roth’s foster mom—and Raven’s memory—she moves to New Orleans to live with her foster mother’s family and finish her senior year of high school.

Starting over isn’t easy. Raven remembers how to solve math equations and make pasta, but she can’t remember her favorite song or who she was before the accident. When strange things start happening—things most people would consider impossible—Raven starts to think it might be better not to know who she was in her previous life. Raven has to decide if she’s ready to face what’s buried in the past...and the darkness building inside her."

The illustrations - BEAUTIFUL! I loved the way he drew Raven - just perfect. HER HAIR! I need more.

192 pages

goodreads | MOBIUS

The Arctic Incident by Eoin Colfer

I apparently don't know how to spell Arctic, because I thought it was Artic
I love all of the characters. Butler, Mulch, Artemis, Holly, Butler, Mulch, 
My little grinch child, heart growing and all that
352 Pages

Dune by Frank Herbert

Paul:

I just like... I can't take any science fiction character seriously when their names are Paul and Jessica... like.... Modern sci-fi has ruined me, I guess.
I'm really glad that the book had a cast performing, because like....
It was good, and I can see why it was a classic, and I see all the ways that it influenced science fiction and Star Wars, but like.. 
I'm here for Chani mostly..because... like...yeah. 
896 Pages

Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake by Alexis Hall

... the baking show vibes. I live for this. I. Live. For. This.
I loved how the chapters were set up and I just. Chef's Baker's kiss. 
Harry. That's all I'm saying. That's all I need to say. 
Harry is so anxious and I love him.
You know when a character is being stupid and you just. you wanna give them a motivational speech and tell them that they deserve better but they have to learn themselves.
Character talks about being 27. Me: remembers I'm 25. Laughs uncomfortably. 
448 Pages

Opposite of Always by Justin A. Reynolds

 Groundhog day as a teen love story. 

Jack meets the girl of his dreams at a college party. They spend time together. They fall in love. Kate dies. Jack meets the girl ....

Poor Jack. Will it ever end? Will he save Kate? 

480 pages 

The Dragon and the Queen by Kaitlyn Davis

This book took way longer to finish than it should have. But like. fjdksla
My ships. All of my ships. I'll go down with all of them.
I loved the addition of the diary and the new characters and I'm just like...dying. the tension. I can't. 
We stan Rafe. And Xander. And Lyanna. And Cassi. Basically everyone.
I know I already said it, but Xander and Rafe. 
Hey look at that character growth.
That cliffhanger
548 Pages 

Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim

She's giving me so many Ariel from the Little Mermaid vibes.
inserts gif of American Dragon Jake Long
Gaaaaaaaaaaaah who do I ship.
gfjdkslgjskdlfjkldsfgjkldfgjkld names names names


oh crud crackers
Can all these books I'm reading please stop making me cry.
All of the fairy tale vibes. I'm here for it. fdsjaklfjal
Shiori is so fierce and I love her. I just. dsklfjaksljf
It is so fluffy and I'm going to die. 
464 Pages

Gods and Monsters by Shelby Mahurin

...Did anyone else think of the witch from Brave...just me...cool
Reid being grumpy is all I need in life. I love him.  I just. gah. 
I'm sorry.

This book has the audacity to make me cry at 8 in the morning.

Reid. I LOVE THIS TROPE. Gaaaaaaaah.
Pants. We do love pants.
I. am. snickering. 
I'm just gonna..snort at these chapter titles. 



The last two chapters are just... I can't. I need more content. and I bet there's no fanfiction because the book is new. ugh. 
I am overwhelmed. I love these characters and I'm just.... Reid. Reid. Reid. I can't. Don't talk to me. I'm dying alone. 
624 Pages

She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan

Hecka brief over-simplified summary because the book is really new and I don't know how much y'all know (Reimagining of the founding of the Ming dynasty--Girl takes her brother's place and pretends to be a man because she wants to be great (there's more but that's where the book summary stops))

There's the Mulan and Poppy War vibes
The writing was really pretty, and like...there were just..quotes. They're iconic and fjkdlasjfkdlsaj. The wisdom
I love stories that are driven by character motivation, and we see so much of that.
I will personally pay for Ouyang's therapy..because he need it and he deserves to take care of himself. He is so angry and honestly, he should not have all of that inside of him. 
I'm here for Ma...and for Xu Da..
the yearning
Inserts Poetic Cinema meme
so there's that scene which is not safe for work... ok cool..
And...ok...yeah...ambition is a thing
Alexa play Olivia Rodrigo's "Brutal"
416 Pages

The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas

Summary: Office romance, "hate" to love, fake wedding date tropes. 

I liked this book a lot! I just wish there wasn't so much of it - the author is wonderful, but she needed another round of editing to trim down some scenes. 

I don't even think they get to the wedding until halfway through the book. 

I look forward to her growth as an author and to see what she comes up with next!

473 - read that again 473 pages!!!

goodreads | MOBIUS

Red Wolf by Rachel Vincent

It slapped. I feel like I don't need to say more, but I will. 
I love all the Little Red Riding Hood references (yes I know that's the point, shhh)
Grandma is great. Mom is great. The dad is great. The boyfriend is grrre--
You know when something bad happens, and everything starts snowballing, and you just...laugh....at the completely inappropriate time, but also like... use your brain, child. 
I'm here for the women who can be BA and also caring at the same time. 

I love Max. He's great. We stan. 10 out of 10. 
I just want more after. Give me like 20 epilogues. We all know why. I like what I like. 
368 Pages

The Flat Share by Beth O'Leary

....The one bed trope, but it's different.
Ok so can I fall in love with a guy by using sticky notes please, so that way by the time I meet him, my anxiety will be less. 
That first meeting, tho.
Hey look at the toxic relationship and the gas-lighting. Also I love how we're talking about trauma and PTSD and flashbacks. Because let's talk about it, instead of assuming that people just get over it.
Leon is just.. the best. I love him.
They had the audacity to talk about yarn and book publishing...and baking.... I feel attacked.
We stan friends who understand trauma and are supportive of other friends. Snaps for everyone. 
352 Pages

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

Yeah I'm re-reading this series (because I don't think I ever finished it)
I love Butler.
The mystery. The coding. Children's literature. 
320 Pages

An Offer from a Gentleman by Julia Quinn

 

It's Benedict's turn to find his love and I'm here for it. Sophie is a great character and I loved that she stood up for herself and took care of herself. And anytime I get to see Violet Bridgerton is a treat. 

Pages: 390

The Guest List by Lucy Foley

 

A dreary, bog-filled island with a beautiful castle is the setting for this murder mystery. And what brings everyone to the island, a wedding! Every guest has a motive so I had a lot of fun trying to figure it out. 

To be honest, I had a few problems with the format of the book. It jumps from the night of the murder to the day before over and over so I lost a lot of the thrill and suspense while reading. It also just kinda ends and leaves you hanging there thinking that there should be a little more to wrap everything up. 

Pages: 330

The True Flag: Theodore Roosevelt, Mark Twain, and the Birth of American Empire by Stephen Kinzer

This is a great book talking about those in favor and those opposed to American expansion in the 20th century. Mark Twain vs. Teddy Roosevelt battling it out over the idea that America should expand around the globe to take Cuba and the Philippines and the ebb and flow of their movement.


320 pages

- Tim

All the Shah's Men: An American Coup and the Roots of Middle East Terror by Stephen Kinzer

A gripping tale about the American led overthrow of Iran’s president and the return of its unpopular shah. From Teddy Roosevelt’s grandson to the founding of the C.I.A. the cast of characters involved in or coming out of this event is simply breathtaking.



299 pages



-Tim

Killing the Mob: The Fight Against Organized Crime in America by Bill O'Reilly

Another in the long line of “Killing” books this one shows two major powers on their ultimate collision course, the Mafia and the F.B.I. From showing how the mob(s) was founded to its highly public downfall this book does a good job of keeping a rouges gallery of villains and heroes entertaining and understandable.



286 pages



- Tim

The Verge: Reformation, Renaissance, and Forty Years that Shook the World by Patrick Wyman

Host of the Fall of Rome and Tides of History podcast tells a gripping tale of the people (both high and low) who made the modern era. From Hapsburg princes and kings to English wool merchants this book does a great job of showing how everyone worked to change Europe (and with Columbus the world) during this tumultuous timeframe.

325 pages

- Tim