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jessjess

jessjess

Joined December 2017

🇨🇦 🐈 ☕ 🎮 🏔️ 📚 ✝️ Goal: 14/104 books for 2021
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A Study In Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas
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Charlotte Bronte by Jane Eyre
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jessjess
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This week's book stack from the library sale

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Tacos: Recipes and Provocations | Alex Stupak, Jordana Rothman
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I'm trying to record more life things -

My friend Eva started a taco truck and it has taken *off*. I helped her with her IG and FB pages, then did a basic menu for her. Her tacos de carnitas are amazing and this salsa is divine, not too spicy.

There's also a new owner at the Menno/Mexican store in town and she's bringing in all manner of deliciousness like Jarritos, masa harina and corn leaves, Tia Larin bars.... 🤤

jessjess Despite all this delicious food - my SIL keeps trying me to test her mini cheesecakes - I'm still getting out and walking. My Fitbit died when I fell, so I don't have a step count, but I can report an energy increase, a lift in mood, and a decrease in lbs which are all making me feel pretty happy. 2y
12 likes1 comment
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jessjess
Cobweb Bride | Vera Nazarian
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Pickpick

So I just finished this book. It was, not gonna lie, a bit of a slog in some places. The basic premise is that Death is up in arms because he can't locate his Cobweb Bride, so in the world's biggest hissy fit he's decided nobody can die. Enter a peasant girl/misfit who is convinced she's the Bride, and a band of other characters setting out to locate Death's Castle.

It's dark and kind of a weird book but I still couldn't toss it.

10 likes1 stack add
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Bailedbailed

Whelp do I feel silly...

On the job on Monday of last week I trip over a sandbag.

First I landed on my knees (they're black and blue) then my face hit the ground. It is scraped to all hell but I very narrowly missed a sizeable and sharp rock that hit my cheek, but thankfully not my eyeball. I was assessed and am okay, no concussion, and just rest and take it easy. I have noticed my left eye has been twitching sporadically since then.

jessjess This was taken after we got home from the hospital that evening. Today I'm still sore and scabby, and I'll likely scar under my eye there but I'm so so grateful it wasn't worse. 3y
TheSpineView You poor thing! Hope you heal quickly! 3y
merelybookish Glad you're ok! Lots of scrapes but sounds like it could have been worse. 3y
LeahBergen Oh my goodness! I‘m glad you‘re okay. 3y
TheLudicReader Oh dear! 3y
7 likes5 comments
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jessjess
Behind the Throne | K. B. Wagers
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Pickpick

It's been busy with my seasonal job kicking off this month so I didn't do a bookspin. I'm good at reading while Rick drives, though and a late night here and there meant I could rent and finish The Indranan War series by K.B. Wagers. It's a space opera, with a reluctant gunrunner-turned-Empress fighting to take back her throne and get revenge on the man who destroyed her family. It was really good and am now on series 2, The Farian War trilogy.

julesG It's a great series. Read it a few weeks ago. 3y
jessjess Yes, I'm loving it! 3y
17 likes1 stack add2 comments
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I'm truly interested in books, Ma, and the fact that there's a jar of cat treats two shelves above is mere coincidence 😄

LeahBergen 😆😆 3y
BookBabe 😸 3y
kspenmoll Smart kitty! 3y
Nute lol 3y
18 likes4 comments
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jessjess
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Pickpick

This practically read itself in a day. It really grabbed me right away with the mystery then kept me engrossed with the fame/social media/puzzles/political aspects of it all. Nice ending, can't wait for the next one! A good choice for sci-fi/alien fans that are looking for a quick, easy read.

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New #bookhaul from the thrift store today 😍 I can't wait to start going through these although it's been kindly pointed out that I'm running out of space on my bookshelves

hannah-leeloo Great finds. Happy reading 3y
jessjess Thank you!! 3y
14 likes2 comments
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jessjess
The Book of Life | Deborah Harkness
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Mehso-so

This is the 3rd of the All Souls Trilogy which honestly I struggled to complete. The whole thing is boggy. Descriptions can run on and on. The vampires aren't very scary and the main character is way overpowered. And the entire premise of the story conflict - keeping creatures secret from humans - gets blown up in an unbelievable way where all the humans are totally fine with all the creatures in their midst.

jessjess The book before this one, Shadow of Night, was my #bookspin for April. 3y
11 likes1 comment
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When your husband goes to Staples for printer ink and brings you home a new notebook ? in his words "It was really pretty and I thought you'd like a new one". It IS pretty!

LeahBergen How nice! 🥰 3y
BookBabe So sweet of him! ☺️ 3y
16 likes2 comments
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Been sick with omnicron and/or a kind of end-of-winter depression. You'd think spring would be better but for me this is a time where I miss a lot of people and start unfortunately looking at the past and focusing on the losses vs the wins. So to snap out of it I've started going on walks again and generally making healthier choices, but it's definitely gonna be a long haul here. (Literally, I can barely walk a block feeling like i can't breathe)

LeahBergen Oh, poor you! Sending ❤️❤️❤️. 3y
tenar Glad to see you posting, and wishing you the best ❤️ I live with post-viral chronic illness, and I always want to tell everyone to take it slow and be gentle and caring towards yourself. 3y
MemoirsForMe Sending healing hugs and ❤️ 3y
Nutmegnc I‘m so sorry to hear that. I deal with other chronic illness and it sucks. We are rooting for you!! 3y
tokorowilliamwallace Yay for walks! I love going on strolls. Glad it's helping you feel better, too. 3y
15 likes5 comments
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I haven't posted in forever but here's my April #bookspin list

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My book haul. There were SO MANY books to wade through. Shelves full of them and boxes and boxes just stacked on top of each other in the back. Hardcovers 2.00/softcover 1.00/antiques individually priced. I'll have to go back in the summer!

Ncostell Wow, great haul! 3y
jessjess Yes I'm thrilled! 3y
CuriousG The Stone Angel! I read that 25 years ago. I feel like I would appreciate it so much more now. I think I should do a reread 🤔 3y
26 likes3 comments
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My Valentine's Day present ❤❤

Linear It took me longer than I'd have liked, but I finally get this sign. 😆 3y
18 likes1 comment
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I've been thinking a lot about the concepts of strength, resilience and fortitude lately and how to improve those. So today's #thinkpositivebepositive quote is along those lines 💚

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks thanks for the reminder to be positive today!

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks ❤️❤️❤️ 3y
20 likes1 comment
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A Fire Story | Brian Fies
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I got some holds that arrived all at the same time on Libby, but I'm especially excited for this graphic novel about the 2017 California wildfires.

SRWCF Cool 🎨! 3y
Leftcoastzen This was good! 3y
18 likes1 stack add2 comments
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jessjess
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How my February is going so far 😂

Slipped in the snowbank on my way to the bathroom. After my husband fished me out (I was arse over teakettle and he was LAUGHING, instant divorce!) I made it all the way to the outhouse only to find it WAS LOCKED. 😮‍💨 who locks an outhouse? I ended up doing my business in the bush like a real Canadian fisherwoman but ew, gross, thank God I have sanitizer everywhere.

Doctor said it was badly sprained.

jessjess Also I feel like I gotta find the tagged book and read it now. 3y
jessjess And in all seriousness shoutout to my husband who helped lift me out of the snow - not an easy feat for a man with a bad back - and then helped shield me/watch for potential lookers. 😅 3y
SRWCF OMG, you poor dear! My husband would have laughed, too. 😊 3y
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TheLudicReader I kinda love this story...except not the sprained wrist 3y
LeahBergen Oh no! But… I still laughed a little. 😆 3y
jessjess @SRWCF yeah I forgave him after I was done since he did help me out. And as a consolation prize after the doctor we got ice caps which was almost worth it lol 😄 3y
AmyG I laughed a little too about the outhouse. All I could think of is “where the hell are you?”. I hope you are better soon. 3y
jessjess @TheLudicReader definitely one of those "it could only have happened to me" scenarios! 3y
jessjess @LeahBergen yes I can laugh about it now but I was definitely exacerbated during it 3y
jessjess @AmyG I think when I pulled the door and realized it was locked I actually yelled "what the hell?" because Rick was all "sssh". It's a provincial park lake known for ice fishing and used by loads of folks every weekend and... no... bathrooms? I should've brought the luggable loo but I was all "nah it's a weekend and a fishing derby OF COURSE THERE'S A BATHROOM" ? 3y
AmyG 🤣 I just hope you had a tissue on you. 3y
jessjess @AmyG I always carry baby wipes in the truck. Mostly cause I have like 5 nieces/nephews/brothers in law under the age of 12 and they all like to play hard 😅 so I was ok there 3y
SRWCF @jessjess OK, what are ice caps??? I Googled it and there was a reference to Marijuana thanks to the Urban Dictionary's website! 🤣 I mean, hey, you were feeling pretty poorly after your spill, so there'd be no judgment from me.😉 🚬 3y
jessjess @SRWCF haha oh thank you for the laugh! Iced cappuccinos from Tim Hortons are commonly referred to as "ice caps" out here. Basically sugary and cream with a pale hint of coffee, they're amazing but definitely a treat. 3y
SRWCF @jessjess Oh, I'm so happy you found the humor in my comment! As soon as I posted it, I instantly regretted it (but not enough to hit delete). Those do sound delicious and likely a better mood lifter than the Urban Dictionary's definition of ice caps! 😋 3y
jessjess @SRWCF haha they definitely are tasty and much preferred over the other one! 3y
SRWCF @jessjess I am sure! I crack a lot of jokes and talk a big game, but the other option I've never even tried, although I am surrounded by states here in the US 🇺🇸 that have legalized it. At the ripe old age of 50, I think that ship for me has passed. 😇😇😇 3y
robinb Round one: Outhouse; Round Two: Ice Caps. 😆😆 3y
jessjess @SRWCF I actually can't smoke, my lungs are way too weak for that - even campfire smoke can be hard to tolerate for me but my sister swears it helps her and when Dad was in palliative care it seemed to he the only thing that really helped the pain. It's still not for me though. 3y
jessjess @robinb right? Ugh what even is my life 😂 3y
18 likes20 comments
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TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 3y
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Dune | Frank Herbert
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Christmas book haul! (In addition to Xmen: Dofp)

I've read Dune before as an ebook but somehow Rick found a used SET of books. They're all from the 60s-80s and all appear to be in good shape. I can't stress enough how excited I was for those. Actually I'm excited for all these books! 😄 here's to a great next year of reading!

SRWCF Dang, those Dune books are epic! 3y
27 likes1 comment
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Days of Future Past | John Byrne, Chris Claremont
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Currently reading this (Christmas present from my husband) in bed. We are both sick from what the doctor figured was covid, but somehow we don't have to test for it, just isolate for 10 days (we're on day 4). Between this and the constant snow and freezing rain I haven't gone grocery shopping in a week and a half and we're holding on thx to my pantry stocking abilities ☺. Soup and stews are in the foreseeable future!

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Frozen | Mary Casanova
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I took this yesterday. It's my back deck. It's about 2 ft snow overall (I haven't shoveled the deck since November and I'm kind of nervous to now lol) and yes that is frost on the window. Frost on the front door too, I had to yank it hard to open it.

Tomorrow's forecast shows a beautiful 0 degrees which will be time to shovel out the drive and walkway and clear off my car finally

Elizabeth2 😳🥶 3y
19 likes1 comment
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So it's been like -40 for most of the week and snowing... which is not weather that I like to walk to the mailbox in. But tonight we went out because it's warming up and I got to check the mailbox and it was FULL of awesome mail. Thank you all so much! I'll be doing replies here throughout the week but just wanted to post my blessing here and say thank you all so much!

Smrloomis 🥶🥶🥶 Glad you were rewarded for going outside! Don‘t know if I could handle being out in weather like that, even for a little bit! 3y
jessjess @Smrloomis it's definitely not my favourite thing that's for sure! 3y
19 likes2 comments
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Thank you @melissajayne for this wonderful #littlechristmasswap gift!! I LOVE red licorice and opening this was heaven sent 🥰

jessjess And a big thank you goes to @bookish_wookish for organizing the #lcs swap for us all! It was really nice to participate in ☺ 3y
melissajayne I am glad you like the package; hope you enjoy it all. 3y
jessjess @melissajayne definitely am muching on licorice right now 😊 3y
30 likes3 comments
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#thinkpositivebepostive quote for the week is from the lovely introvertdoodles over on IG. I'm a big time introvert and make no bones about it!

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Grave War | Kalayna Price
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Book 19 on my #bookspin bingo is Grave War, the last of the Alex Craft novels by Kalayna Price. If you like urban fantasy crossed with detectives then I recommend this series about a death-magic reality-shifting private detective. Lots of interesting characters and plot threads, the romance is good, and I'm sorry it's all over and I read them so fast 😭 thanks library for getting the entire collection in over the holidays! 😊

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It's crazy to think that "all" I've read is 56 books yet that is a lot for me! It's also 4 books past my goal of 52 ?

jessjess This year I'm going for 104 🤯 3y
18 likes1 comment
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That is IT I'm staying inside huddled up with the cats 😭

Smrloomis 😨 whoa, that‘s seriously cold! Stay warm 🥶🥶🥶 3y
Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick Yikes! I hope you're keeping warm up there. Sending warm, cozy thoughts your way. 3y
14 likes2 comments
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What I'm doing with the stickers (so far) is decorating the inside front cover.

I got a present over Christmas from Granny Lowey (my dad's mom) who has been having what we hope is a lovely alternate heavenly vacation with Grandpa since 2018. It was a pair of scarves that belonged to her, and because they were vacuumed sealed they smelled very strongly of her. Instant tears and memories of watching Judge Judy and TWD with her 💕

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And also new happy mail today is this adorable Christmas card featuring a holiday doggo and some beautiful vellum stickers from @BookwormAHN

Thank you so much 💖💖💖

I'll be sending out letters next week as I want to take time to read and visit with my inlaws, we're doing a Christmas-New Years Eve combo tomorrow 😊

BookwormAHN 😺😺 3y
11 likes1 comment
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Happy Birthday mail I got today from @Lovesbooks87

Thank you so much Jessica!! It's greatly appreciated 😊

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Best gift my husband gave me this year was a new #bulletjournal 💖 to help me write out my goals and thoughts and stuff.

I've never really done it before - it's hard to stick with it - but I'm going to try really hard to set aside time every day to keep up with it.

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My January #bookspin card (are we using #bookspin or #bookspin22 as the hastag?)

Weather: -24 C and snowing
Mood: feeling productive
Drinking: iced coffee
Working On: my 2022 bujo planner

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Untitled | Anonymous
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And here is my lineup for the #newyearspecial #20in4 #treasurehunt challenge:

🌺 Goal: 20 chapters in days
🌿 Ultimate Challenge: finish all 4 books
🍁 Additional Bonus Points: find all the words for the treasure hunt

Here's to a great rest of 2021!

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1) My greatest achievement this year was crossing my bucket list item of "suspension bridge walk" which I did back in July during our 2nd anniversary. My greatest challenges this year have been trying to improve my A1C, dealing with IBS and also dealing with my mom's cancer diagnosis and and family drama fallout from that.

2) Left-handed Booksellers of London was my favourite book for 2021

3) I hope that 2022 brings better health for me.

Eggs I hope everyone feels better next year❤️❤️ 3y
12 likes2 comments
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This month being cold (whitecourt is #14 on the coldest places in the world today at a balmy -37 C but easily feels like -45 with the wind) I've managed to get some reading in. Reviews in comments but I'm pretty pleased with my progress this month 🥰

jessjess Namesake by Adrienne Young is the sequel to Fable, and honestly I am loving this duo of pirates, gem sages and intrigues. Definitely in my top 10 for 2021 list! 3y
jessjess The Folk of the Air Trilogy by Holly Black (Cruel Prince, Wicked King and Queen of Nothing) was a series I'd had on hold for what felt like FOREVER at the library and was it worth it? Meh. There was *so much* while reading that made me go wtf?!? during various plot points. Like Madoc. Redcap kills your family and leads a rebellion against you and you LET HIM LIVE URGH 😫 3y
jessjess Finally after watching the first season on Amazon Prime I read A Discovery of Witches and I really liked it, it is better than the TV (they usually are) and I look forward to the next in this trilogy. 3y
10 likes3 comments
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#20in4 Reading Challenge for the end of the year!

I was tagged by @kspenmoll but anyone can join in, comment and let me know what y'all are reading 📚 💚

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If you like some piano music give this album a try, it's all dreamy tones and wistfulness.

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Christmas Miracle | Violette Dubrinsky
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Everyone who sent me a birthday or Christmas card - know that they have been received and I am replying - but I put them all up here and they made me really happy. I definitely have been struggling lately with family drama and medical stuff but these have helped me a lot. All is not grimdark all the time. 😭

jessjess I should clarify some of these are family/friends 3y
15 likes1 comment
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Snowscape | Patrick Ness
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Lord if we could stop with the snow that would be great 😭 it's up to my mid shins and still coming down like rain

kspenmoll Meanwhile, we have rain. 3y
jessjess @kspenmoll I don't mind a LITTLE BIT of snow but this is... it's a lot. It's probably normal for our area but we didn't get hardly any snow in November so it's making up for it in spades 😅 3y
16 likes2 comments
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This month I was involved in a big (for me) Christmas Baking Exchange! I made the chocolate peppermint crinkles in the bottom left corner. I've never baked such a large batch in my life 😅 I loved the rectangular cookies which had a peanut-coconut filling, reminiscent of Amish Church Spread.

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Midnight in Everwood | M.A. Kuzniar
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Just in time for Christmas 🎄 ☺

BookwormM Brilliant book for this time of year 👍 3y
15 likes1 comment
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My bingo card for December #bookspin and #bookspinbingo 🌸🌺

bookish_wookish Hi! Have you sent out your Little Christmas swap yet? Im being told there is an issue with Canada Post and packages not making it to their destinations. 3y
jessjess @bookish_wookish no, I was planning to ship Monday though 3y
bookish_wookish Ok! Thanks for the update! 3y
11 likes3 comments
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The new floors are almost all done, they need to cure then tomorrow they'll get finished. But this is how it looks. That hexagonal vinyl in the kitchen is so beautiful and I love the grey tones overall. That's me dishwasher in the living room, the stove and fridge are behind it but I could only plug in one appliance so obviously I chose the perishables 😆 I can't wait to be DONE done and start decorating

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December's #bookspinbingo list. This time I'm writing the books right on the grid and I'll write the numbers over top and I'll pin it to the wall so I don't lost it in the moving like I did with November's list.

jessjess @TheAromaofBooks Thank you for hosting these every month! 3y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3y
12 likes2 comments
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jessjess
The Hallowed Ones | Laura Bickle
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Panpan

A horror story about vampires and the Amish sounded interesting to me, and while it delivered on gore and spookiness I was left really annoyed with some character's choices and the way the tale unfolded. There's no resolution to some of the conflicts (perhaps in the sequel, but this one I probably will pass on).

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This one was interesting and a good contrast to The Hallowed Ones. Both are books with a horror bent and both have religious-as-oppression overtones. This one though I enjoyed slightly more, the characters are a little more likeable in their search for hope and redemption and in the end Agnes's leadership is actually inspiring and what I would hope would happen in a worldwide apocalypse.

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West | Edith Pattou
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Pickpick

West is the sequel to East, both were really good. It is YA fantasy, set in a pretty well thought out world with various mythologies influencing the story. I really like the wind-magic system, and I also enjoy the "hero in need of rescuing" flip, usually it's the damsel in distress but not with these books! I would love to see these be made into a movie ?

14 likes1 stack add
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jessjess
The Night Weaver | Monique Snyman
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Mehso-so

The Night Weaver by Monique Syman was an interesting YA novel. Good for people wanting a different take on faeries with a little creepiness and romance mixed in. WHAT I DID NOT LIKE WAS THE CONSTANT USE OF PRESENT TENSE.

There, I said it. It's all in present tense which was jarring occasionally, but I got over it enough to read the next in this series and I'll likely read the third (if there is one) to finish the story, so to speak.

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🥳🥳🥳

tenar Congratulations! 🎈 I‘m at 52 books, too! 3y
jessjess @tenar thank you, it's my biggest challenge yet and I'm so glad I was able to complete it! 3y
tenar @jessjess That‘s so awesome! 👏🏻 3y
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AmyG 🎉🎉🎉 3y
TheSpineView Awesome! 🥳🥳🥳 3y
Reggie Great job! 3y
17 likes6 comments
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jessjess
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On the good note I woke up and had 2 holds come in:

🌸 Agnes At The End of the World by Kelly McWilliams
🌸 West by Edith Pattou (this is a sequel to East)

13 likes1 stack add