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Now Reading: Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman

This is my latest shot at completing the Arc of a Scythe trilogy. I reread Scythe a while back, and will now make an attempt at Thunderhead.

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Overall

Gilbert. What the fuck?

Honestly, I may give this series another try.

Rating: Gibbous Moon (🌑🌒🌓🌔)

Now Reading: Queens of Fennbirn by Kendare Blake

If I had a dollar for every time I attempted to read this series and dropped it mid-way through, I would have several dollars.

I do remember enjoying this particular novella, though. Who knows? I might even give the main series another shot.

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“May wine,” says Katherine. “Is it called that because of the month? Are we only to drink it in May?” “May wine is a poisoner tradition.” Natalia takes hold of the clear pitcher, full with bright, golden liquid. “We drink it always, but it is especially for the children. Let me show you.” She pours the wine into a silver cup and holds it out for Katherine to sniff. The scent is acidic and sweet, slightly grassy. Katherine wrinkles her nose. “The toxin is from the woodruff plant,” Natalia explains. “But it is not too much. That is why even those early in their gift are safe to drink it. Like children. And also because it is best served like so.” She takes up a set of tongs and drops three lumps of sugar into the cup. She pauses, raises an eyebrow at the queen, and then drops in a fourth, making her giggle. “Almost done,” Natalia says, but first she takes a large strawberry and makes fast slices into the tip, then uses her fingers to spread the fruit like a fan. She dips the berry into a bowl of honey and then drips the whole sticky mess into the cup of wine. p. 47–48

I now want to make a non-alcoholic, non-poisonous version of May Wine.

Now Reading: Queens of Fennbirn by Kendare Blake

If I had a dollar for every time I attempted to read this series and dropped it mid-way through, I would have several dollars.

I do remember enjoying this particular novella, though. Who knows? I might even give the main series another shot.

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Now Reading: Queens of Fennbirn by Kendare Blake

If I had a dollar for every time I attempted to read this series and dropped it mid-way through, I would have several dollars.

I do remember enjoying this particular novella, though. Who knows? I might even give the main series another shot.

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Overall

Like previous books in the series, I enjoyed this one greatly. However, the style of narration (third-person omniscient) was a bit too jarring, as there were more narrators than in the other two books. Also, I must admit…well, a door to Confection would never be opening for me. This is just a personal preference, but it was not my type of world.

The Halls of the Dead or the Moors, on the other hand—

In summary, though, this book was very good. And its cover was very pretty.

Rating: Gibbous Moon (🌑🌒🌓🌔)

Now Reading: Beneath the Sugar Sky by Seanan McGuire

It took me months to get my hands on this book!

According to the online catalogue, my university library was supposed to have a copy. However, when I put in a hold request, I received an email saying the book was lost.

Finally, though, I can continue this series. Tied with Hell’s Library, I think it might be my favorite.

Also, the cover is gorgeous.

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“What are they going to do to us, Rini?” asked Kade in a low voice. “Mom said the first time she faced the Queen of Cakes, the Queen forced her to eat a whole plate of broccoli,” said Rini. Kade relaxed a little. “Oh, that’s not so bad—” “And then she tried to cut Mom open so she could read the future in her entrails. You can’t read the future in candy entrails. They’re too sticky.” Rini said this in a matter-of-fact tone, like she was embarrassed to need to remind them of such a basic fact of life. Kade paled. “See, that’s bad. That’s very bad.” p. 97

Who else hates it when an evil queen tries to cut you open and read the future in your entrails?

Now Reading: Beneath the Sugar Sky by Seanan McGuire

It took me months to get my hands on this book!

According to the online catalogue, my university library was supposed to have a copy. However, when I put in a hold request, I received an email saying the book was lost.

Finally, though, I can continue this series. Tied with Hell’s Library, I think it might be my favorite.

Also, the cover is gorgeous.

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Kade stared at him. “Christopher, are you honestly telling me you’ve been sharing a bedroom with Sami’s severed hands this whole time? Because boy, that ain’t normal.” His Oklahoma accent, always stronger when he was upset, was thick as honey. p. 43

That sounds about right.

Now Reading: Beneath the Sugar Sky by Seanan McGuire

It took me months to get my hands on this book!

According to the online catalogue, my university library was supposed to have a copy. However, when I put in a hold request, I received an email saying the book was lost.

Finally, though, I can continue this series. Tied with Hell’s Library, I think it might be my favorite.

Also, the cover is gorgeous.

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“What is this, then?” Jinshi asked. “It was supposed to be my bedtime snack.” Everyone seemed to recoil a little at that. Had she said something wrong? Gaoshun and Hongniang both looked like they could hardly believe their eyes. “I’m very accustomed to spirits and stimulants, so I don’t feel them much.” p. 40

The mental image of this conversation—

Now Reading: The Apothecary Diaries (Light Novel): Volume 1 by Natsu Hyuuga

Due to my love for poison, some friends have convinced me to watch The Apothecary Diaries on Netflix.

This series will now be consuming my life.

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Now Reading: Beneath the Sugar Sky by Seanan McGuire

It took me months to get my hands on this book!

According to the online catalogue, my university library was supposed to have a copy. However, when I put in a hold request, I received an email saying the book was lost.

Finally, though, I can continue this series. Tied with Hell’s Library, I think it might be my favorite.

Also, the cover is gorgeous.

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Overall

Holy shit, I loved this book. It was everything.

Also, everyone needs therapy. Now.

Rating: Full Moon (🌑🌒🌓🌔🌕)

Now Reading: The Archive of the Forgotten by A. J. Hackwith

Finally, I have the chance to continue my favorite series!

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Help had been a foreign concept between them once. They’d started out hunter and hunted, librarian and book, but even after she and Hero had come to some kind of accord, what they’d done for each other had never been help. It’d been a simple alignment of priorities, happening to point their shared rage in the same direction, instead of at each other. It’d taken the deaths of hundreds, damsels and books, to cement their places at each other’s side. She couldn’t be to Hero what Rami was, but that didn’t make what they were any less important. What Hero was to her required a harder word than “friendship,” a word with teeth. Family. Hers. p. 233–234

This.

They really are family.

Now Reading: The Archive of the Forgotten by A. J. Hackwith

Finally, I have the chance to continue my favorite series!

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A groan like a rusted hinge forced Claire’s attention from Hero’s foot to his face. He’d regained some color but restrained his glare to the thinnest of squints between closed eyes. “Do I get a say in this?” he croaked. “No.” Claire finished trimming the stitches and flicked his big toe gently. “You should really learn not to eavesdrop on private conversations.” Hero grunted and groggily rubbed at his temple. “You should learn not to conduct private conversations over my unconscious body.” “You should learn to stop swooning like a silly—” “You should both learn to stop taking such self-sacrificing risks!” Rami threw up his hands, looking between Claire and Hero as if they were some horrifying new form of torture Hell had devised just for him. His gaze flicked between Claire’s gloved hand and Hero’s foot before he appeared to settle his ire on Hero. “You don’t anger another realm’s gods while you are in the realm!” “I learned it from watching her,” Hero mumbled. Claire sniffed. “Oh no, you did this one yourself.” “He jumped with me,” Hero insisted. “I fell with you, fool. You didn’t even know where you would be sent! You had no way of knowing whether falling in that abyss would send you to our Hell or that realm’s equivalent.” “I smell anise! It was a reasonable wager!” “Wager! Don’t take that kind of risk on a smell—” p. 211–212

These idiots will be the death of me.

Seriously, though—I love the way their relationship is written. There is something beautiful about how these characters have developed since their first meeting, eventually evolving into a family.

Also, Rami has the right idea. Do not anger the gods of a realm while in said realm.

Now Reading: The Archive of the Forgotten by A. J. Hackwith

Finally, I have the chance to continue my favorite series!

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Sraosha was unflustered. “To ask what ‘good’ is. Yes. Perhaps you are right: you don’t belong here.” With that, they bid them farewell and slid back into the crowd toward their tearoom. “Have you never heard of the trolley problem?” Hero hollered at their back. Granted, he himself had never heard of the trolley problem until one particularly boring night inventorying the unwritten morality narratives section of the Library, but he was a book; a god of moral conscience really had no such excuse. “It’s all right,” Rami said. He wasn’t bothered by Sraosha’s words. His attention was focused again on the bridge. “You’ll pass through just fine.” Hero stopped short. He scrutinized Rami’s profile but couldn’t detect a hint of sarcasm. “You’ve got to be kidding me. I’m a villain! Worse, I’m not even human.” “See, you didn’t mention good or evil a single time in that statement.” Rami focused on Hero with a hesitant smile that did terrible things to the outrage in Hero’s chest. “You are a good person, Hero. You fought for your fellow books; you’ve risked much to make it this far and help your friends. Even Sraosha had to grant those were good works.” “Oh, I’ve done my fair share of wrongs.” “A minority. Your words have more sting in them then real malice most of the time, and good thoughts…” “Aha,” Hero said when Rami paused. “Let’s not lie to ourselves; we both know my mind is filled with rotten schemes.” Rami’s smile persisted, even as it softened at the edges. “I never cared for the puritan notion of policing a man’s thoughts. I think the weight of a man’s life lies in what he does with it. Reasons and heart are important, but it’s your actions that have long-reaching effects.” Hero blinked. He leaned forward and pinched Rami’s cheek until he grimaced. “Are you sure you’re our Watcher? Or maybe you’ve seen him around? Tall, dark, and endlessly broody?” “You are taller than me,” Rami muttered, rubbing his cheek. p. 197–198

I love everything about this scene. There is so much more than I can describe in words, and it is incredible.

Now Reading: The Archive of the Forgotten by A. J. Hackwith

Finally, I have the chance to continue my favorite series!

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“What judgmental nonsense is it this time?” Hero lifted his shoulders when Rami frowned at him. “What? I’m an atheist.” “Atheist?” Rami was aghast. “You literally live in Hell. You have met literal gods.” Hero sniffed. “Yes, and I didn’t find myself that impressed.” p. 194

I love how Hero says this while they are in an afterlife, awaiting judgement. This man is shaping up to be my favorite character.

Now Reading: The Archive of the Forgotten by A. J. Hackwith

Finally, I have the chance to continue my favorite series!

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Seriously, what month is it?

Time is not real.

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Librarian Poppaea, You are an imbecile. You are a knacker-eared, fecund-brained bastard of ill-cast winds. You are a fool’s fool, a dunce among the blighted. I hate the day I ever learned your name. “Well,” Hero said as he read, “this could be good.” And I miss you. “Oh, never mind.” But he didn’t stop reading. p. 140

He just keeps reading—

Now Reading: The Archive of the Forgotten by A. J. Hackwith

Finally, I have the chance to continue my favorite series!

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Overall

Finally. Finally, finally, finally—it took almost a year, but at last, I have finished reading this book. Also, what the fuck did I just read.

I look forward to watching the movie.

Rating: Half Moon (🌑🌒🌓)

Now Reading: John Dies at the End by David Wong and Jason Pargin

I have already read What the Hell Did I Just Read, which is technically the third book in this series. Nonetheless, I look forward to reading this one as well.