atlasreading

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From February 9 to 10, 1913 Letters to Felice by Franz Kafka First published : 1973

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E Pluribus Unum.

(out of many, one)

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Book #2: Throttled

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I finished "Throttled" by Lauren Asher!

This book contains 44 chapters + an epilogue + extended epilogue and took me around 6 days for me to finish.

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Rating: ★★★★☆

The ending was really cute. The book didn't bore me, and it kept me entertained, even as someone who doesn't know a lot about F1 racing.

I had a small slump near the beginning of the middle, but it quickly picked up again. I also think that this book could have potentially benefited from being longer. I would have really liked it if we were given more detail.

One note, this book does contain cliche couple tropes, but I love those. I decided to point this out just in case you don't like such tropes.

All in all, this book is a really good pallet cleanser. It's a cute, refreshing romance, with enough stakes for me to care and love the characters as they develop. I will be continuing the series!

My extended thoughts + review including spoilers will be posted later!

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“Throttled” by Lauren Asher

Description:

Noah

Maya Alatorre is the sister of my teammate... and my new obsession. Keeping my distance during the Formula 1 season should be easy, except I always find ways to see her: press tours, pre-race rituals, sponsor events and black-tie galas. The more time we spend together, the stronger my desire grows.

Sneaking around with her is one thing, but wanting more? Never going to happen. She might be a distraction dressed like a daydream, but no woman is worth risking the championship title over. Or so I thought.

Maya

Noah Slade is Formula 1 royalty and my brother's biggest rival. When I'm invited to join my sibling while he competes for the World Championship, I promise to avoid Noah at all costs. Twenty-one races, two drivers who hate each other, and one forbidden attraction I can't ignore.

Developing feelings for Noah wasn't part of my plan. But then again, neither was anyone finding out. Turns out the man I was warned about happens to be the one I can't stay away from - even if he breaks my heart once the season comes to an end.

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[atlasreading]

𝑇𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑒𝑜𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑤ℎ𝑜 𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑘 𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑤𝑖𝑠ℎ ⋆.˚

[atlasreading]

Book #2: Throttled

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The second book I have chosen to read for this blog is a book that has been on my physical TBR for a while!

I have read “The Fine Print” written by the same author, so I am looking forward to this. Hopefully I finish the series by the end of this year! I will also post a review and my thoughts when I finish this book.

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“Throttled” by Lauren Asher

Description:

Noah

Maya Alatorre is the sister of my teammate... and my new obsession. Keeping my distance during the Formula 1 season should be easy, except I always find ways to see her: press tours, pre-race rituals, sponsor events and black-tie galas. The more time we spend together, the stronger my desire grows.

Sneaking around with her is one thing, but wanting more? Never going to happen. She might be a distraction dressed like a daydream, but no woman is worth risking the championship title over. Or so I thought.

Maya

Noah Slade is Formula 1 royalty and my brother's biggest rival. When I'm invited to join my sibling while he competes for the World Championship, I promise to avoid Noah at all costs. Twenty-one races, two drivers who hate each other, and one forbidden attraction I can't ignore.

Developing feelings for Noah wasn't part of my plan. But then again, neither was anyone finding out. Turns out the man I was warned about happens to be the one I can't stay away from - even if he breaks my heart once the season comes to an end.

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[atlasreading]

Book #1: I Really Am a Slag Shou! Book Review

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"I Really Am a Slag Shou!" by 你的荣光

Rating: ★★★★☆

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Spoiler-Free Review:

I was satisfied by the ending, the main couple, and even the side couple, but it didn’t give me as much excitement as I wished it did. There are some features and moments that are weird, and the book didn’t make me feel hollow when I finished it—like how my 5 star-rated books do.

If you are looking for more romance than serious world-buildt fantasy and love having many different couple tropes, than I recommend it!

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Full Review + My Extended Thoughts:

This part of the review is NOT spoiler free.

"I Really Am a Slag Shou" is about a 20-year-old boy named Chi Zhao, who was killed by a falling flower pot (when I found that out, I admit I did laugh). He was then given a chance to resurrect himself by the Slag Shou System, who told him that if he filled in the role as a "slag shou" (the "bottom" in a gay relationship that is a "slag" or someone who is not a good partner/person) and successfully earned 100 points from a collection of fictional worlds, Chi Zhao would be revived and sent home. Chi Zhao agrees, but he realizes that every protagonist seems to be quite odd.

After reading this, I have to say that Chi Zhao and the ML, Fu Yihe are made for each other. They are both equally crazy for one another, so much so that they would rather hurt themselves or others in order to save the other. Also, they've been together for hundreds of years and have even raised a kid. Truly a cute couple.

I loved the system. He was annoying but also so cute. In one of the extras, we are given a hint of a love triangle between him, the main system, and a rice cooker (No, I am not joking). I kind of wish the system had his own book!

There were some parts that were weird/taboo, which irked me a bit. I'd prefer not to get into it, but it includes weird power dynamics in a few of the fictional worlds.

There was no smut. I personally don't care about that fact, but some of you might do so I included it here.

I liked the end, and I believe it tied off the book quite well. In all of the fictional worlds, Chi Zhao and Fu Fihe end up together, and they all have happy endings. The first world's ending could be debated since Chi Zhao committed suicide when Fu Fihe died of old age.

All in all, it's not a completely serious novel, so if you enjoy more romance than intense lore and world-building in a quick transmigration novel, than I would recommend this novel to you!

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Remember that this review is my personal opinion, and if you would rate this book higher or lower than I did, it is valid!

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[atlasreading]

Book #1: I Really Am a Slag Shou!

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I finished “I Really Am a Slag Shou!” by 你的荣光!

This book contains 181 chapters + 2 extras split into 8 arcs, taking a total of 3 days for me to finish.

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Rating: ★★★★☆

I was satisfied by the ending, the main couple, and even the side couple, but it didn’t give me as much excitement as I wished it did. There are some features and moments that are weird, and the book didn’t make me feel hollow when I finished it—like how my 5 star-rated books do.

If you are looking for more romance than serious world-buildt fantasy and love having many different couple tropes, than I recommend it!

My extended thoughts + review including spoilers will be posted later today!

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”I Really Am a Slag Shou!” by 你的荣光!

Description:

Chi Zhao binds with the slag shou system, and if he succeeds in his missions, he will be rewarded.

But who said life is easy!

A rich old man who was slagged by him: “I know you love me. Your past pains, I’ve already investigated them.”

The star admiral who had been slagged by him: “Don’t be reluctant anymore! I’ve always known that you didn’t betray me.”

The entertainment mogul who was slagged by him: “Don’t make any noise. Honey, will you come home with me?”

The prince regent who was slagged by him said, “The mountains and rivers are yours, but you are mine.”

The dark sentinel who was slagged by him: “Now, do you still want to say that it is not my child?”

…

Chi Zhao burst into tears: “Boss, believe me just this once. Let me get the reward, okay?”

Thinking that the acting is very good, in fact, every day he’s spreading meng.

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[atlasreading]

[atlasreading]

During the Covid pandemic I decided I wanted to take more action to make a difference. One thing I resolved to do was donate platelets. I’m not afraid of needles and reportedly have “tricky” but “pumping” veins. So I was a good candidate, and I’d found out platelets were twice as needed and required more time, but were less hard on your body than giving blood normally.

It ended up having a health benefit. I had never been low on iron in my life, but I started struggling to make the count I needed to give. I flagged this to my doctor and we were able to discover I wasn’t storing iron properly. But most importantly, last year my best friend had a difficult preterm labor and both she and baby ended up needing platelets. It gave me new determination for donating, which honestly is just a few hours of uncomfortable reading and a day of fatigue for me. I’m hoping to give 10 times next year. If you aren’t scared of needles, think about joining me!

[atlasreading]

Book #1: I Really Am a Slag Shou!

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My first read on this blog will be something in my comfort zone, a.k.a., danmei!

This one has higher ratings, yet is long (by my standards). I will post a review and an extended version of my thoughts when I eventually finish.

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“I Really Am a Slag Shou!” by 你的荣光

Description:

Chi Zhao binds with the slag shou system, and if he succeeds in his missions, he will be rewarded.

But who said life is easy!

A rich old man who was slagged by him: “I know you love me. Your past pains, I’ve already investigated them.”

The star admiral who had been slagged by him: “Don’t be reluctant anymore! I’ve always known that you didn’t betray me.”

The entertainment mogul who was slagged by him: “Don’t make any noise. Honey, will you come home with me?”

The prince regent who was slagged by him said, “The mountains and rivers are yours, but you are mine.”

The dark sentinel who was slagged by him: “Now, do you still want to say that it is not my child?”

…

Chi Zhao burst into tears: “Boss, believe me just this once. Let me get the reward, okay?”

Thinking that the acting is very good, in fact, every day he’s spreading meng.

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[atlasreading]

I think you can only separate the artist from the book when it comes to books if you read the books before finding out about the artist. That being said you shouldn’t continue to consume new media from that author after the fact. I read the entirety of harry potter before finding out the author who shall not be named was transphobic and generally a horrible person, that being said I’m not going to continue to support any of her other works. And I’m not gonna discredit anyone who talks poorly of her. Like I can still say I think the Prisoner of Azkaban is a good book, and that it’s a very good middle grade fantasy series. That said I’m not gonna recommend it to anyone who hasn’t already read it. This applies to all authors who have information come out about them being xenophobic, racist, homophobic, Zionist, rapist, etc. And if I recommend any books by an author that is any of these things know that I probably don’t know that they’re a bad person.

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Introduction

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Hello, everyone! My name is Atlas, and this here is my introduction for my reading blog.

I mostly read fantasy and LGBTQ+ romance, but I read from other genres too! Although I post recommendations here as well, feel free to send me books you'd like me to read and/or review.

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More About Me:

I go by he/him pronouns, and if you couldn't tell already, I love danmei! I am most certainly gay. I have three cats. I love all forms of media (some of you might realize I have other blogs for anime, games, etc.). I roleplay from time to time, and I am probably the dictionary definition of cringe. I'm glad to be here!

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Finished Books List

Book Review List

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