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New post up about some more of my favorite books. Check it out, if you feel so inclined. 🙂

https://www.patreon.com/posts/100108116?utm_campaign=postshare_creator

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I have a new free post up on my Patreon about how I first discovered Tolkien. Give it a read, if you like!

https://www.patreon.com/posts/my-tolkien-story-100919229?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link&fbclid=IwAR3BR0CZe25ZpOzkp6QHB1fI3MU5ZY-EhksRv9LjmRznkTs4i6lXV1QrvDA

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I'm excited to announce my book, Jack of Crows, will be promoted as part of a special sale on @Smashwords to celebrate 2024 Read an Ebook Week from March 3 - March 9. Be sure to follow me for more updates and links to the promotion for my books and many more!

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I started using a new platform for my newsletter! If you'd like to keep up with what I'm working on, give it a look! It's free, and subscribers get access to a previously published, out-of-print short story.

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New Patreon video up today where you can hear me sing *and* play ukulele at the same time. 🙈 (Don't judge me; I'm still a beginner. 😅)

https://www.patreon.com/posts/music-sneak-peek-96672097?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link&fbclid=IwAR1EjFnfVeGN8zc05pU7e9WvgWyAOFYqpLZBKHXDTXK5-qHmeWGzu5KJHGA

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About to watch my first movie completely in Irish. Wish me luck! 🍀

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I'm covering a whole series this time rather than a single book. That's because this time I want to talk about Hakumei & Mikochi, a manga series about two tiny friends and their day-to-day lives. Cozy books have been gaining in popularity lately, and to me, there's nothing more cozy than picking up a volume of Hakumei & Mikochi.

It was first published in Japanese in 2013, with an English edition following in 2018 (and I'm so glad it did!) Since then, a volume a year has been published pretty steadily. Volume 12 just released in Japanese in January 2024, while Volume 11 just released in English the same month.

I don't read a lot of manga. Every now and then a story might catch my eye and I'll give it a try, but I still prefer novels overall. The first volume of this series was one such time where I liked the premise and decided to give it a chance.

By the time I finished the first volume, I knew I needed to get the second one, and the third...

Now, about the series itself. It is exactly what it presents itself to be: a cozy, slice-of-life series about the two title characters (and some of their friends). Each chapter can be read as its own short story, though sometimes a single story may run for two chapters. (I'll add the caveat that the stories are in chronological order, so you won't want to skip around as previous stories are sometimes referenced.)

For those unfamiliar with slice-of-life stories, a chapter can follow a character on a typical work day, or helping out a friend with a task, or taking a trip into the city.

Some major defining story elements: Hakumei and Mikochi are part of a race of tiny people—think "Thumbelina" or The Borrowers. There are also several animal characters. The series has a lot of funny moments, some touching moments, and even a few moments that moved me to tears on this latest read-through.

At this point, it is a tradition for me to begin my yearly re-read some time in January, leading up to the release of the newest volume. I consider this series among my favorite books, and always look forward to spending a weekend or two immersed in Hakumei and Mikochi's world.

One final note: for those unfamiliar with manga, the series follows the traditional Japanese format, meaning you read the books from right to left.

Links:

Bookshop.org: Volume 1

Amazon: Volume 2

Amazon: Volume 3

Amazon: Volume 4

Amazon: Volume 5

Amazon: Volume 6

Amazon: Volume 7

Amazon: Volume 8

Bookshop.org: Volume 9

Bookshop.org: Volume 10

Bookshop.org: Volume 11

And for those who read Japanese: Volume 12 (The English edition should release early next year.)

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New post up on my Patreon all about the movie Wolfwalkers! Spoiler: if you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it!

https://www.patreon.com/posts/94427445?utm_campaign=postshare_creator

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Phillip Drayer Duncan got me this book for Jolabokaflod this year, knowing that I'm a fan of Morgan le Fay.

Let me start by saying that I was not disappointed.

The story begins with her birth, really, progressing through childhood, then her teen years, followed by early adulthood. The writing was very good and kept the story moving quickly, even with so much time passing. It never felt rushed or that things were glossed over.

I've read a few Arthurian retellings, including The Story of King Arthur and His Knights by Howard Pyle and The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley. I've even put Morgan in my Call of the Fae series (though she is quite different as I fit her into my own world, filled with Fae and fae creatures.)

Anyway, if you're looking for a good Arthurian retelling focused on one of my favorite witch/sorceresses from fiction, give this one a try.

My Affiliate Link: Bookshop.org

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I'll be honest, it was the artwork that initially drew me to this book and others like it. It's difficult to tell in this picture because it's the ebook version, but the cover (and most of the other hygge books I've seen) all feature similar artwork with pleasing colors. That combined with the topic—cozy living—were enough for me to give this book a try.

It's difficult for me to rate nonfiction. Fiction is easy—it's all a matter of how well the author tells the story and how interesting the story is to begin with. With nonfiction, it's more a matter of if the author got their information across, and perhaps points for doing it in a creative or interesting manner.

With that in mind, I would say the author mostly hit their target. I did learn some things about hygge, as well as confirmed some things I already knew about how to make my living space cozier.

My biggest issue with the book had to do with the idea that what works for one will work for everyone. The author did acknowledge that everyone will have their own unique preferences for things, but that was mostly in the style area. For example, what you collect or maybe what colors you prefer. Apart from that, they seem to think everyone should do x, y, and z, such as being friendlier with their neighbors (and that they will be happier for it). I use that as an example because that one definitely doesn't work for me.

Not that I'm against having friends; I just believe my friendships are based on more important things than whether I live next to someone or not. In today's world, most of my best friends live hours away, and sometimes many states away. On top of that, I live along a highway where the houses are widely spaced apart, with several acres between them. That's intentional: none of us want to live next to each other, and we prefer not to interact if we can help it.

My point is that people are not a one-size-fits-all. You can do as many surveys as you like to see what makes people happiest, but at the end of the day, just because a hundred people in my small town say one specific thing makes them happy doesn't mean that same thing will make me happy, and I can guarantee the things that do make me happy won't show up on the lists of anyone else in this town.

My other small complaint had to do with what appeared to be a misunderstanding of what introverts are. I guess I can't complain too much about this one; a lot of people misunderstand what it means to be an introvert. The author gave an example of a kid interacting with other kids and said something along the lines of "a kid who would normally be considered an introvert..." They then went on to describe them interacting with the other kids.

Here's the thing: introversion does not equal shyness. What they described was someone who was shy. An extrovert can be shy when meeting new people and an introvert can be completely fine in the same situation. It's just more likely that the introvert will be shy. But the introvert is still an introvert and the extrovert is still an extrovert.

That's because those words have nothing to do with shyness. It's about where your mental energy comes from and how it's used/drained. Extroverts are energized when around other people and tend to get drained when they're alone. Introverts are the opposite: being around people drains them, while alone time energizes them.

That's it. Shyness can sometimes be a factor, but it's not an integral part of what it means to be one or the other. An introvert is still an introvert even if they make a couple friends when they're forced into a crowded situation. They'll still get drained after a while and need to be alone.

Anyway, those are my main nitpicks. They're important topics to me, which is probably why they stuck out while I was reading this book. Apart from those things getting under my skin, I did enjoy this book, and I would pick up other books about hygge.

If you're interested in the subject, give it a try. It's not a bad place to start as far as introductions to the topic go.

My Affiliate Link: Bookshop.org

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I first came across this book on Amazon. I was probably looking up Studio Ghibli or Hayao Miyazaki stuff—DVDs, graphic novels, merch—and this popped up. I wasn't sure what it was, but I recognized Miyazaki's name and art style, so I added it to my wishlist. (Also, that elk looks just like Yakul from Princess Mononoke).

Fast forward to this past weekend when my boyfriend and I were visiting our local bookstore to pick books for each other in preparation for Jolabokaflod (that's a whole other story; if you're interested in learning more, follow the link).

As we were wandering through the store, I stumbled across the physcial version of the book, so I picked it up to show my boyfriend. He had found a shopping basket at that point, and suggested I put it in the basket.

I finished another book I was reading that evening and thought it was the perfect time to crack this one open. After all, it's a graphic novel, which I can finish much more quickly than a prose novel.

A brief explanation for those who have never seen this book before: it was originally published in 1983—two years before Studio Ghibli was founded—and is based on a Tibetan folktale. The English translation was published in 2022.

What I loved about this story was how there were clear seeds sprinkled throughout that would later come to fruition in some of Miyazaki's other tales. In Shuna's Journey, the elk on the cover is part of a species called yakul, and Shuna himself is a prince in the east who leaves his village to travel to the west in search of a golden grain and the land of the god-folk. (If that doesn't make you think of Princess Mononoke, I don't know what will). There were also early glimpses of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, and even a bit of Castle in the Sky.

As expected, I finished the story quickly—maybe in an hour? Two? I had intended to simply start it, maybe read one chapter and then do something else. But once I'd started, I didn't want to stop, and before I knew it I'd reached the last page.

As with all of Miyazaki's tales, it's easy to sink into the world of the story, and once there, it's difficult to make yourself leave.

Every now and then I get an itch to re-watch all of his movies. I'll sometimes re-watch one or two throughout the year, maybe re-visit one I've only seen once or twice. I love the idea of a marathon weekend, watching one movie after another. I can easily picture myself adding this book to the lineup, moving from the screen to the page.

If you're a Studio Ghibli fan or simply like graphic novels, I recommend giving it a try. I was not disappointed.

My Affiliate Link: Bookshop.org

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by Valdemaras D.

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To end my spooky reading for the year (yes, I know it's December; it went a little long), I chose Coraline by Neil Gaiman.

I first read this book years ago, and absolutely loved it. It's every bit as creepy as the cover makes it out to be.

By this point, many people know the story because of the animated film, which sticks pretty close to the original. One big difference for me is while the film is creepy in its own way, it doesn't quite reach the nightmare-inducing level that the book does. That's probably because it was aimed more at kids, and according to Gaiman himself, many kids have read the book as more of an adventure.

It's the adults who end up with nightmares.

I don't read or watch a lot of horror, but many scenes in this book definitely fit into that category for me. Imagining myself in Coraline's place, I don't think I would've survived the way she did.

If you're only familiar with the movie, I highly recommend picking up the book and giving it a try. Maybe keep the lights on.

My Affiliate Link: Bookshop.org

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The Tim Burton adaptation of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," starring Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci, is not only my favorite Sleepy Hollow adaptation, but also one of my favorite movies. Because of that, I have pretty high expectations of Sleepy Hollow retellings.

I started this one with great enthusiasm. How could I not? Just look at that cover.

But unfortunately, for me, this one didn't live up to its potential.

Part of it was the writing itself. There were too many grammar issues, clunky sentences, and awkward dialogue, and they continually pulled me out of the story. That's not entirely the author's fault. It should've been fixed in the editing stage.

The story itself didn't quite do it for me, either. It focused way more on romance than I was expecting, and ended up being the central plot of the book.

As I've said before, I have nothing against romance novels. I just like to know that's what I'm getting into when I start a book. For this one, I expected a ghost story, and that part of it turned out to be fairly light, not fully manifesting until the climax.

Overall, this book was just okay. It wasn't the worst thing I've ever read, but it wasn't the greatest, and had a lot of room for improvement.

If you're looking for a Sleepy Hollow retelling and don't mind a heavy romance plot, maybe give it a try. If you're looking for something much creepier, try Horseman by Christina Henry.

My Affiliate Link: Bookshop.org

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I'm so glad I started listening to the Chronicles of St. Mary's series a few years ago. I was initially drawn in by the title of the first book, which is Just One Damned Thing After Another. I'd decided to go the audiobook route (probably because I had a credit, there wasn't anything else I desperately wanted at the time, and the title was intriguing).

I enjoyed the book enough to go on to the next, and the next. Without giving away any spoilers, the third book in the series ended with a "holy crap!" moment, and I absolutely devoured book four. I've been completely hooked ever since.

The newest title in the series is the fourteenth novel, but trust me, fourteen books is not nearly enough. If you're like me, you'll never want the series to end.

That said, I will say that a part of me longs for the earlier books, even as I listen to the new one. Why? Because after fourteen books and several short stories, a lot of things have changed. Some people have died or moved on, the people and situations around the main character have changed, and while what's happening in the present book is exciting, I sort of long for "the good old days."

Even so, this installment of the series has been absolutely excellent, and as always, Jodi Taylor has the ability to put her characters in the absolute worst situations and then somehow get them out again. Sprinkled throughout is her wonderful humor, as well as surreal and tender moments. One scene in particular near the end of this book gave me chills. (I've gotten chills several times just thinking about it).

As always, by the time I got to the end of the book, it felt much too short. Based on how she ended it, I'm not sure if there will be a next one (I really hope there is!) At the very least, there will be one more Christmas short story, so I have that to look forward to.

Now to catch up on her Time Police novels...

My Affiliate Link: Bookshop.org

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I started this book knowing very little about it—just the book description, really. It sounded interesting enough, and the cover was intriguing, so I decided to give it a go for my spooky reading month. It's not fantasy, and thus isn't my usual read, but I make exceptions sometimes if the premise is interesting enough.

First off, let me say that if you pick up this copy of this book, don't read the Introduction unless you want spoilers. Past experience saved me from such things and I left it until the end, and was glad I did. I get it, the book's been out for eighty years. That still doesn't mean I want someone to ruin the story for me.

As for the story itself, I'll start by saying that if you're into strange, somewhat unsettling stories, you may like this one. It's set in our own world and is told from the point of view of a young woman named Mary Katherine. She lives with her sister, Constance, and their uncle, Julian, in their house, being the only surviving members of their family.

The story gets progressively more unsettling the further you go. I won't say more than that because I'm not the sort who likes to give spoilers. I'll leave it at: the story is strange and the characters are strange. It's a short read, though, and as a fantasy author, it left me thinking about the nature of heroes and villains. Mary Katherine (Merricat) also performs her own sort of homemade witchcraft, which was interesting (though it's never called that).

Overall, it was an interesting read, though not a favorite.

My Affiliate Link: Bookshop.org