October is a true struggle for me apparently. I was able to finish Blood Rites for 15p for the inclusion of wizards and vampires.

After that my reading has been all over the place. As you can see, I‘ve started 4 books and can‘t stick to one. I did manage to read a bit for 100p.

Hopefully this week comes with a lot of reading!

#teamhendrix @StayCurious

Though some personal stuff has been keeping me off of Litsy lately, I still wanted to make sure my team gets all its points! Currently reading Blood Rites!

25p for reading Truth or Beard since it opens with the main character going to a Halloween party

30p for reading The Beautiful which featured vampires and Weep, Woman, Weep featuring a witch for #TeamHendrix

10p for reading another volume of Animosity

24 hours read for 240p

@StayCurious

5⭐️

This is my 3rd Stephen King book and second hard cases book by him. Other than his uncomfortable need to include sexual thoughts and situations at times in his stories, I‘m truly coming to really loving his writing style. I never thought I‘d say King wrote one of the most wholesome scenes I‘ve read in a long time!

Check out my goodreads review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4112400607

Since yesterday was Monday, we got another round of prompts from our local library to try and fill. I decided to go with find a book that is in a language other than English. This ended up being pretty easy for me since my manga is pretty much all translated to English. I went with the first volume of Fairy Tail since it‘s one of my favorite series!

5⭐️

Hurricane Katrina brought devastation to the Gulf Coast that took years recover from. A.D. tells the story of 7 people in New Orleans and the experiences they had while living through this historic storm.

I absolutely loved this. Check out my Goodreads review for more: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4207875530

2.5⭐️

Dating can be hard no matter who you are but when you‘re a werewolf or a vampire, that gets even trickier. When these two get together, they realize they finally have the chance to be themselves around each other and a budding romance forms.

I‘m really disappointed in not liking this. I think what bothered me the most was how much the author just laid into the stereotypes of vampires and werewolves.

One of our local libraries is having a competition this month where you get entered into a raffle when you find books that follow their prompts. The first one I went with was a book with a first sentence that has 5 or less words in it. The sentence for this book is “Hoisin sauce is not paint.”

4.25⭐️

Lumi has been following her dreams of owning her own restaurant and cooking her Dominican fusion food the way she wants. When finances get the better of her though, she is forced to close the doors on her place and take up a sous chef position at a very unoriginal French restaurant. What's worse is that her new boss is the same man that made fun of her cooking at a recent catering event. This can‘t possibly go well…

3.75⭐️

Happy I‘m making progress in my reread and continuation of the series. Didn‘t love this as much as the first time around but still enjoying the ride.

Check out my Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2618986445

3⭐️

A hard sci-fi focused on building the infrastructure needed for long distance space travel where we see what living on a ship for one‘s entire life can do to you. I‘m happy I read it because it‘s a different type of sub genre that I haven‘t experienced before and even though it wasn‘t my favorite I‘m happy I‘m starting to understand what sci-fi I like.

Check out my Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4182619002

This is a graphic novel about the suffragettes‘ movement in England. I absolutely loved the art style and the small pops of color through out. Sadly I couldn‘t finish this because the actually set up was extremely hard to follow and the constant jumping around in timeline without any indication made me have to continuously flip back and forth to figure out what was happening. Made it about half way through before giving up.

3.75⭐️

We all know the basics about vampires. They drink blood, they‘re creatures of the night, and they have fangs. This is all true until evolution plays its role in nature and creatures the American vampire.

I wasn‘t sure how I would feel about this going into the first volume but then I became extremely intrigued by the concepts in this volume and had to quickly grab the next one from the library. Hoping to pick it up soon!

Slowly making my way through this tome. Not loving every one of the POVs but overall still enjoying where this story is going.

4⭐️

I‘m still having such an amazing time with my read of the Dresden Files. It‘s definitely turned in a comfort read series and I can‘t get enough. Already dived into the short story I need to read before moving on to book 6!

Check out my Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4070210314

3.5⭐️

Shadow has been on the road for two years since he left behind everything that happened with Wednesday. Now, while visiting Scotland, he accepts an offer that seems too good to be true but he needs the money. As the “bodyguard” to help keep out the locals, Shadow quickly realizes there‘s a lot more to this job than first meets the eye. Quick thinking and his past experiences are going to help get him out of this situation.

Man, this was a let down. I was really hoping this book would be in the same light as the Feather Thief but I reached 100 pages and could not care for the life of me. Idk about you, but the story of a man who was a famous map sealer turned thief sounds so interesting to me. I will say that I did enjoy the little bits of history behind the maps but when we talked about his life, I really wasn‘t enjoying myself. Sad, this wasn‘t a win.

4⭐️

Finding and purchasing long forgotten items from society‘s past is a job that Katya loves. While trying to get back in time for her train, she finds herself stuck waiting for a herd of deer. This moment though costs her dearly and forces her off the grid, out of connection with society, and in the path of someone she desperately wishes she didn‘t encounter. Now she‘s typing up her story but she doesn‘t know how to get anyone to believe her.

This was a reread for me. I remember I really enjoyed it the first time I read it and I did enjoy this time around too. Though I wouldn‘t rate it as highly as I would have the first time, this was still a solid 3.75⭐️

Check out my Goodreads review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2618986293

4⭐️

Science makes advancements everyday for good or bad at times. When one day, a doctor announces he has a new treatment to turn black men and women white, and people from all across the the country come to his doors. Some are there to seek treatment while others protest in support or against what‘s happening. Either way, people enter their doors black and come out white to completely reshape how society runs.

#blackclassic

4.5⭐️

A world of two warring futuristic companies send their agents through history and over multiple timelines to try and come out on top. The encounter of each company‘s leading agent causes the beginning of a rivalry and interesting line of unique letters.

This is something I read earlier this year and absolutely loved. It‘s stuck with me for such a long time and I find myself constantly coming back to it.

5⭐️

Skaa are not human. They‘re below the nobleman and are only valued as slaves to work the plantations, keep the refineries churning, and sweep away the never ending ash that falls from the sky. At least that‘s what has always been taught. This could change. But, the Lord Ruler is god, the mists rule the night, and he controls everything across the Final Empire.

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2669093376

3⭐️

Elaina has always wanted to be a witch and her hard work has paid off. She has her witch‘s brooch and she travels across the world to experience what‘s out there. Set up more as a travel journal, this volume follows along with Elaina as she moves from city to city and encounters a variety of different characters and interesting magic.

4⭐️

Similarly to Charles Darwin and Jane Goodall, Lady Trent change the field of natural sciences with her research into dragons. Now that she‘s reached the later years of her life, she has decided to write a series of memories describing her life and the adventures that accompanies her field work over the years. Filled with sketches, maps, and all sorts of details from her research, Lady Trent finally opens up about everything she experienced.

3.25⭐️

Not one of my favorites by Gaiman but I‘m happy that I read it. Slowly making my way through all his books and really enjoying what I‘m reading.

Check out my Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3031831653

4⭐️

I guess you could say this is my first “true” Stephen King that I‘ve read since my first was the Colorado Kid. I really enjoyed this a lot even though there were some parts that dragged. I‘m definitely looking forward to reading more from the author before I dive into the Dark Tower series.

Check out my Goodreads review for more: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3407147404

3⭐️

Amani has been working towards reaching a life outside of arranged marriages and a lower status as a girl. When she finally thinks she gets the chance to get out by disguising herself as a man in a shooting contest, she finds herself on a journey that‘ll take her all across the desert right outside her door. Filled with ghoul encounters, middle eastern myths, and more, Amani realizes that there‘s truth behind many of the stories.

This was my first real introduction to sci-fi romance and I had a blast reading this trilogy. My only complaint would be that I think I would have preferred following the romance in the original book throughout the whole trilogy but I enjoyed the others none the less.

Polaris Rising 4⭐️: goodreads.com/review/show/3968083594

Aurora Blazing 3.75⭐️: goodreads.com/review/show/3971780627

Chaos Reigning 4⭐️: goodreads.com/review/show/3974735179

3.5⭐️

Before modern technology, building infrastructure to get cities clean water could be a very dangerous job. The story of Fire on the Water explores one of these infrastructure projects and a fatal gas explosion that comes with its history. But, if it wasn‘t for the invention of one black man, the death toll would have been so much hire.

4⭐️

Research focused on space and now finally in space has taken off again thanks to funding of individuals across the world. With their support, four lucky astronauts are part of the 6th expedition to travel through space and study the biology, weather, and geology of new planets. Taking you through the travel report of their 4 planets they visited, Ariadne and the crew of Lawki 6 share their worries, joys, and adventure is this amazing novella.

3.75⭐️

Handry has spent his entire life part of the community of Aro. He‘s helped with hunting, gathering food, building, and anything else the village ghosts say is important. But one day when a childhood antic leads to an accident that forces him to be exiled, Handry learns that the world he once knew and loved is not what it seems and that the history of their society is a bit more interesting than what the ghosts have told mankind. #novella

2⭐️

It‘s said that one of the ways to love is through a person‘s stomach. That thought stuck with Giulia and she has used her skills in the kitchen and her love of cooking to try and help her find love. This memoir follows her through her dating life and the different recipes that‘s have played such a crucial role in her life.

I really enjoyed the beginning of this with all the incorporated recipes but it became so repetitive and became boring

This past week and a half, I was able to visit some of the local libraries that have finally opened back up for browsing. It was so amazing to just be able to walk around and pick up whatever I felt like reading. Needless to say, I might have gotten a little over zealous with my #libraryhaul but I‘m not complaining!

One of my goals for the year is finishing up some of the series I‘ve been keeping around for too long. Earlier this year, I finished the last two books of the Chronicles of The One series by Nora Roberts. I absolutely enjoyed the hell out of myself reading these. I had put off continuing it because of the whole pandemic elements for the first one but I just sped through these two and couldn‘t get enough. The second was my favorite out of them all.

4⭐️

Honestly best $5 I‘ve spent in a long time.

Really fun book where a group of women spent their lives reading whatever they want in their book club. They used it explore themselves, their sexuality, and life as a whole. Now that they‘re all retired, they pasted the book club on to the next general and it couldn‘t have been a more chaotic transition!

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2916972528

4⭐️

I‘m so happy that I finally finished this book. It‘s definitely been on my “classics in the environmental field” list for way too long.

Had way too many thoughts on it so check out my goodreads review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3654422202

We‘re visiting my boyfriend‘s family this weekend but that‘s not going to stop me from trying to make progress before the DoTheThingAThon is over today. I‘m not close to finishing this whole bind up but I only have 40 more pages of the Voyage of the Beagle and I can‘t wait to be able to say I read it completely! Using the sprints to keep me motivated 💪📚

On booktube, it‘s currently the DoTheThingAThon which is a week long readathon to catch on all your goals and what not. So far I‘ve been able to finally finish Anya and the Dragon which is on the list of books my boyfriend picked for me to read this year. I‘m really hoping to catch up on some of my #LitsyLove and then maybe work on some series this week. Also hoping to finish reading The Voyage of the Beagle by Charles Darwin!

5⭐️

Tobias has been watching over his woods for 400 years now and he‘s been pretty good at it. One day he sees a young man trudging through a rainstorm and invites him to get out of the cold. He doesn‘t get many visitors, let alone ones who flirt with him, but he‘ll do his best to be welcoming. Little did he know this encounter would bring up memories of old and possibly set him down a new path.

⬇️⬇️⬇️

2.75⭐️

World War II was a time when women stepped up and kept society running when the men left for the battlefield. What isn‘t usually mentioned though it just how much of a role women played in the war. In this first volume of Bombshells, we see just how impactful our heroines from across the world were in helping to fight off the Nazis.

I had such high hopes for this series but it ended up being so boring for me.

4⭐️

So like everyone else, I read the new SJM book right when it came out. I really enjoyed the hell out of the book but some parts were just not believable for me at times due to how things played out in the previous books. Because of that, it really prevented it from being a 5 star for me. But don‘t get my wrong, I still had a blast reading it.

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3841197785

3.25⭐️

Having to file for bankruptcy, losing your business, and realizing your relationship hasn‘t really been there for months is not where Polly thought she‘d find herself. When a chance at a remote flat seems to be in her budget and doesn‘t look like the roof will fall in on her, she jumps at the chance to start building her life back up. Now revisiting her love of baking and meeting new people seems like the perfect opportunity to rebuild.

I started the Dresden Files this year and it has quickly become one of my favorite series I‘m currently reading. So far I‘ve read the first 3 books, 2 graphic novels, and a short story. I love the sarcasm and the way the characters act but that might be because I‘m from Chicago and it seems kind of nostalgic.

Check out my review of book 1: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3314427089

So I haven‘t been the best with getting back into Litsy but this past week has been painful rough in so many ways. On a positive though, I bought a new car last weekend! It‘s a 2018 Nissan Rogue and it‘s a huge upgrade from my 2000 Honda CRV. One of the biggest things I‘m excited about is the ability to play all my audiobooks on it. Before I would use a Bluetooth speaker but this is so much better! I promise to try and keep on Litsy better 🙈

So today I finished the main series for Fairy Tail. It was a good ending but I could definitely tell the author favors happy endings. Overall I truly loved going on this journey with so many crazy characters.

Fairy Tail was one of the first mangas I ever picked up so it‘s crazy to think that I‘ve finally finished and have read a few hundred volumes of manga since then.

Not for everyone but I highly recommend 👆✨

Funny story: I went to go sell back this book at one bookstore and they said they couldn‘t buy it because it was going online for like $250. Go to a more specialized store and they say sorry, those are regular hardbacks, you have the library edition. I‘ll give you $10. Needless to say, I was disappointed but not surprised. I liked the book but it was too hard to keep my attention so I‘m not shocked it led me on this goose chase 🙃

I was able to go hit up on of the local bookstores here and I‘m super happy with my haul. Wide variety of things and also ones I wasn‘t fully planning on getting but I‘m not mad.

#bookhaul

Hi everyone!
2021 has been pretty chaotic to say the least. We moved at the beginning of the year and then the rental home we are living in had 2 major leaks back to back. We‘ve had to have our kitchen wall ripped out and so many pipes in our basement replaced. Then when I finally thought things calmed down, my boyfriend and I caught covid ☠️ I‘m finally starting to feel better. (Continued ⬇️⬇️⬇️)

3.5⭐️

The children across the regions of Kerch, Ravka, and many more countries grew up collections of fairy tales just like you and me. The only difference is that there isn‘t also a happy end. Set in the world of the Grishaverse, the Language of Thorns takes the readers through a series of tales that make you think back on what you believe a fairy tale should be and see what lessons can be learned from a world of magic.

Just casually doing crafts on top of crafts 😂 Working on a new diamond painting while catching up on some Booktube videos. Hopefully I‘ll be able to get a decent amount of reading done today. I‘m trying really hard to finish off a few more before the end of the month to unhaul them before we move on the 31st.

4⭐️

Funny, sassy, and a lot of sarcasm, the Devil Wears Prada follows a young optimistic college grad who is dying for a start in New York journalism career but finds herself the personal assistant to the editor in chief of Runway Magazine. Hopefully from what everyone has told her, if she makes it through one year working for Miranda Priestly, she'll be able to snag one of the jobs she really wants thanks to the name and reputation of her boss.