I like choosing weird monthly themes when I can, and while February is the month of love (and I‘ll throw in some 80‘s Sandra Brown books, as also pictured), I‘m focusing on my collection of Black Donnelly books. The anniversary is tomorrow.

I might throw in a re-read of Attack on Titan.

#currentlyreading

I got lost in this epic conclusion. The pain, the tragedy, it all cumulated into an epic ending that made me gasp. I felt this novel. A well-rounded story with a concept so fitting it‘s scary.

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Seen on bookstagram, I‘ve been eagerly browsing the shelves looking for it. Such a simple, yet emotionally riveting story. The power of nostalgia and love, in a beautifully drawn world. The imagery alone tells a story, and the characters are well-rounded but just silly enough to make you snort in hilarity. Just happiness. On to Volume 2!

Side note: from the end notes, excuse my ignorance, but Kowloon was a real place (pictured)?!

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I haven‘t reviewed much of this series, but I‘m doing a check-in of sorts before the last Omnibus comes out in May. Generally speaking: gratuitous violence, nudity and sex. But it has (or had) a storyline up until this last arc. It‘s pure chaos at this point, and I have no idea where this is going. Sometimes I‘m not even sure what I‘m looking at but bodies and death. In my mind, a nuclear explosion is the only logical ending.

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Out of all the random manga series I started last year, this one has to be my favourite. The drawings are simple but gorgeous, and the storyline has really been weaved brilliantly to keep you going. Dark tales about family, community, kingdoms, and twins, I‘m already beyond excited for volume 3.

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I was drawn in by the covers, because they are gorgeous! I want to do a painting inspired by these! Then the synopsis: Murder mystery and vampires? Yes please! But… that‘s as far as the excitement went. It‘s good. Dark with some Anne Rice-esque inspiration. But it doesn‘t wow. I‘m not sure if I should continue or give it one more volume.

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I don‘t think I‘ve ever been so happy or connected reading a romance novel. I laughed, I cried, I shook the book. Most importantly, I‘ve never seen a character portrayed that is truly me: relationship exhausted, true crime obsessed. When online dating first started, I told my friend across the country to tell me where she was going, and she responded with ‘not everyone is a serial killer, Ash‘ I responded with ‘yes, but… one could be!‘
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This was a random find but I did a Chris Evans laugh when I read the synopsis. This is so me. I hope it matches the hype that I‘ve already built up in my head. 🤣❤️

The ending of the main storyline, it‘s great but has serious flaws. Consisting of 3 timelines, its a slog most of the time. Heavy in the Arthurian legend, this might be your jam, but not knowing it really well, I probably missed a lot. The clash we‘ve been waiting for occurs, but it‘s only 120ish (albeit great) pages of 530+ total. A reveal already spoiled in the show, is lacklustre here. The ending? Corny. I was hoping for more. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Might as well jump right in and get one of my series finished!!

As I finish the second in the trilogy, a little more is revealed in the overall nature of this series. An interesting eco fantasy, this novel has so many layers that I‘ve probably not even grasped them all. Worlds, nations, neighbours, family; for all of these concepts, I feel like there is going to be the difficult choice between good and evil.

Luckily my next audible credit is here so I can dive right in to see the ending!

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In order to make a successful Friday the 13th, I bought 9 books. 🤣🤷‍♀️ The two pictured, plus 7 others ordered:

Homecoming King by Penny Reid
Drama King by Penny Reid
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
Gantz Omnibus Vol 11
Cryptid Club by Sarah Andersen
Tales of the Kingdom Vol 2
Murder Book

I‘ve read Given 7 and I am continuing to love the sweet and heartfelt manga series. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Probably not a smart move to be doing two fantasy books at the same time… but it‘s time for the next audiobook!

On its surface, this is a pretty fantastic upgrade to the traditional ‘vampire story.‘ Going deeper it‘s also a fantastic discussion on breaking the mould and finding your own way, whether it‘s your family, sexuality or sense of self. A complex read, with a fantastic fantasy adventure.

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I tend to start series and never finish them (or forget to). 🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️So my current, immediate TBR are the series I‘ve yet to finish. Photo doesn‘t include the Bring Down Heaven (Sam Sykes) trilogy, and The Broken Earth (N.K. Jemisin) trilogy on audible! I‘ll be working on those as the credits come in!

Tagged book is what I‘m starting with!

The trip back home, and back to the real world, begins with the next audiobook!

Locked in! A lot of good books this year! Really dove into manga. Next year, I‘ll be focusing on a few goals (finishing series started, nonfiction).

A series of interconnected stories set in a futuristic world, where Dirty Computers are ‘erased‘ to become clean. A commentary on capitalism, segregation, racism, and the struggles of minority populations and LGBTQIA individuals, this was a book that packed a punch. The first story had me struggling to get into the world and concept, but then it really took off.

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Cheers to being a dirty computer! 🏳️‍🌈

A quiet mid-week chill session with the current read and a hot chocolate with Amaretto 😊

Never take me out on Boxing Day sales to a bookstore, no matter how small. If ever there were two books that were basically, me, it‘s these two.

Once again, another ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️read from Reid! As she states, she likes to write real people with flaws and issues, and she is spectacular at it. Hank was never my favourite character in the Winston Brothers series, but this was such a fun book! His redemption was worth the read. Antics and hilarity abound!

Exchanging books and chocolate on Christmas Eve!

I guess I can take 10 days to read a book…. 🤷‍♀️

McLean has the power to make you appreciate the little things in life, all while making you laugh, cry, and grin ear to ear, while reading/listening. Some stories, he had recorded performances, so I put those on to hear his cadence and style. He is always a joy to me.

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I love Crouch for his ability to take an idea that we see in our current society (in this case, genetic modification), and pushes it to the darkest boundaries that humans can go. Logan Ramsey is a police officer in the genetics bureau, policing humans from modifying themselves, when an accident leads him to being ‘upgraded‘. Crouch asks an important question: if we can fix humans to recognize what we are doing to the planet… should we?

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And with that, we have reached the last book in my audiobook backlog!! 🙌 I‘ll be listening to this one tomorrow. I have a bit of a drive ahead of me. ❤️

Jordan was a sweet soul, and his goodness will he missed. A short read with some cute, light-hearted stories. It certainly wasn‘t a deep dive into his life, but it gave us a glimpse of how he looked at the world.

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The next Christmas read! I love and miss McLean so much. His stories bring unending joy. Also my weird desk decor. Yes, I have a brick named Brickard. It‘s a thing. 🤣

I think Colton pulled ahead as my fave of the series! I wasn‘t expecting much with this one but it blew me out of the water! A perfect, sexy Christmas read. Can‘t wait for the next one! ❤️

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Listening to this one with a heavy heart, but Leslie Jordan continues to make ppl smile. #currentlylistening

For any that are in a Scott Lynch, Gentlemen Bastard‘s, withdrawal, I‘d say that this is a good replacement. I‘m not a huge fantasy reader but I do love the bumbling hero, full of sarcastic wit, and Lenk is good contender. A cast of amazing anti-heroes, simply trying to live where they can be accepted, sadly walk into a town, overrun by a civil war, and demons.

Thoroughly enjoyed and will continue the trilogy.

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Let‘s get these Christmas reads started!! #currentlyreading

I‘m getting drawn into Batman mashups lately. This one I could connect with more because I was more involved in my brother‘s obsession with Spawn. I enjoyed some nostalgia because of that. That being said: collection? No. It‘s two short stories from Moench and Miller… and Miller‘s was my fave of the two. I ordered it thinking an omnibus was coming… and it was a two issue merge.

Fun, but way too short

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I‘m honestly not sure how I feel about this book. It is tragic and difficult to read, which makes it an important story to share. But it‘s hard to love or even like, because it is all forms of trauma in one short novel. The author‘s bravery is paramount. But I can‘t love it because of it‘s very nature.

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Fantasy readers/lovers: why there gotta be gigantic spiders!? Finally a character reacted the way I would… running screaming in terror. 🤣😳

I‘m a sucker for a good cover but Willow Winters has hit me in the collectors feel. Spicy romances, in discreet covers? And colour coded by spiciness and darkness?! I didn‘t know where to start so I got KB (Charlie & Grace) and one a little … darker.

KB was sweet and spicy. Small town love with a hot bartender?! Yep. Great characters, slow burn, and HEA like everyone wants. A good first start. I‘ll enjoy building this shelf.

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You really move through a TBR when you DNF a few. Second last one! I‘ve been wanting to read Sam Sykes for a while! #currentlylistening

I am cutting it close on finishing my audiobooks backlog, but it might be possible. Tagged book is up next! #currentlylistening

I think I got this audiobook because it was a ‘bookish girl turned renowned sniper‘. That‘s bada**. What I didn‘t realize is that I‘d be drawn in by an amazing historical account that I had zero clue about! These are the stories that need to be told, and Quinn does an amazing job of staying true to fact where she can, and as close as possible everywhere else.

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I‘m not sure I‘ll reach my goal of finishing my backlog of audiobooks this year, but I have got the TBL down to so very few! Up next! #currentlylistening

I feel like I‘m on a winning streak with Goodreads! Two books in two years. LOL Excited to read this one next!

Rebus is on trial, and the aging, ill, retired detective may not be able to get out of trouble this time. The latest Rankin was a tad slower than previous additions to the long running series, but still enjoyable. In fact, what I loved about this book, was Rankin‘s skill in giving the reader only what the characters have, and leading you on what turns into a shocking ending.

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This one is a mixed bag for ppl, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. This one really shows that Reid can write real people, with real trauma and anxieties and disorders. And that‘s important, because ppl need to see themselves represented in books, and HEAs. It‘s not all about the wham-bam. The slow burn build up to the MCs discovering themselves is just as important.

Plus, Stardew Valley.

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Not that I really need to be sold on a Reid book, but when the MC mentions a Stardew Valley and chill day with her friends?? I squeed, because guess what my fave thing to do while listening to an audiobook is?? 🤣

It‘s been a hot minute since my last Reid… read. Next up for #currentlylistening!

A mix of paranormal and mystery (little more mystery though), The Sun Down Motel is a place where a lot of people have gone missing from, died at, or just generally met misfortune. In 2017, Carly is trying to discover what happened to her Aunt Viv in 1982, who mysteriously disappeared during one of her night shifts. Split POV between Carly and Viv unveils the mystery slowly but intensely. A great listen!

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A bit of a delay but the reading challenge is done and dusted!! Tagged the official 180th book (an adorable manga series I‘m currently reading!). So far the totals are:

79 GNs/Manga
41 audiobooks
65 novels

Happy Reading!! 😊

I think my brother will enjoy this more because it is mostly The Maxx. Batman is clearly a secondary character used as a sounding board for The Maxx‘s crazy rambling. Sometimes it works and it got a few snorts out of me, because it is ridiculous, and that‘s what I expected. The art is beautiful and it is like a trippy dream world.

Overall, expect crazy… and you‘ll love it.

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The next audiobook! #currentlylistening

My brother loves The Maxx. I‘m a diehard Batman fan. Usually we don‘t share likes or interests but this? This might be our moment. One of his Christmas presents… and yes, I‘m reading it before giving it to him. LOL