Cover of All Fours by Miranda July

Unique prose helps drive this book about a woman going through a sort of self-discovery crisis as she hits perimenopause. It was a little weird and I didn’t like the story much, but I stuck with it for the writing. All Fours by Miranda July #booksky

This was life changing for me after having my son, I totally agree! I also listened through almost the Stormlight archive while breastfeeding late at night and it helped me stay calm and awake

Oh I enjoyed the story and the characters, it was lovely. The space program aspect I felt was just a bit weak.

Cover of Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Don’t read this if you want a book about NASA or the space program, in those areas I found it thoroughly underwhelming. But if you want a character-driven novel with some great relationships between women, this book definitely shines in that aspect. Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid #booksky

Cover of Severance by Ling Ma

As a millennial who experienced the COVID-19 pandemic, this book was disturbingly real. The messages about consumerism and capitalism also hit home. I am very glad I read it but I do not plan on reading it again. Still thinking about it. Severance by Ling Ma #booksky (not related to the TV show)

The cover of The Rose Field by Philip Pullman

I was very disappointed in this conclusion to the series. It felt like a lot of build up for no payoff, both in plot and some random last minute character changes. I don’t regret revisiting Lyra’s world overall, but this one fell flat. The Rose Field by Philip Pullman. #booksky

Cover of She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan

She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan definitely has fantasy elements but it feels very much like historical fiction as well with strong world building based on the Yuan (Mongolian) Empire of ancient China. Very character driven and has explorations of gender and body image. #booksjy

Cover of Empire of the Dawn by Jay Kristoff

Wow, what a fantastic end to a truly masterful series. Like the other books it’s bloody, dark, action packed, and in many ways depressing. Some aspects of the ending did not surprise me while others definitely came as a shock. Excellent! Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff #booksky

I enjoyed Dracula much more, this one definitely drags at times

Cover of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Hadn’t read this since high school AP English and with the Guillermo Del Toro movie coming out I needed a refresher. It’s definitely a classic but not particularly engaging, imo the best part was the monster’s testimony. A lot of it was Frankenstein whining. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley #booksky

Cover of Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh

The first half of Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh felt a little formulaic (YA sci fi storyline) & I almost stopped but the second half was a wild adventure and I’m very glad I kept going. Satisfying ending & some great LGBTQ+ character representation. #booksky

Cover of Empire of the Damned by Jay Kristoff

Bloody, intense, and action packed just like the first book! This one felt like it had more interactions with vampires and maybe even more brutal violence. I’m excited to read the conclusion to the series that just came out recently. Empire of the Damned by Jay Kristoff #bluesky

Cover of The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig

I think this book is overrated. It had decent characters and the romance was ok but the world building felt very thin and the plot was a little too “gotta catch em all” with a predictable twist at the end. All around mediocre imo and not very gothic. The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig #booksky

Cover of Red Rabbit by Alex Grecian

What if you took a traditional Western and added in horror elements like ghouls, witches, demons, ghosts, and plenty of gore? This book has all of this and more! It’s very different but I really liked it. The audiobook performance is also quite good. Red Rabbit by Alex Grecian #booksky

Cover of Nevernight by Jay Kristoff

This book is melodramatic and has a lot of dark fantasy academia cliches. But it’s just so well done, I did not want to stop reading. The world building is based on Italy, if it had 3 suns that rarely set. Interesting magic system too. Strongly recommend! Nevernight by Jay Kristoff #booksky

Donald Trump deleted this from the government website.

Let's be clear: there's funding available to cover SNAP benefits next month. Trump is stopping SNAP benefits because he wants to. He is forcing mommas and babies to go hungry.

Cover of Starling House by Alix E. Harrow

I couldn’t put this book down. It’s a nice gothic fantasy with an anthropomorphic house who happens to be the best character. Some romance, horror, and gender and class struggle elements as well. I thought the Underland aspect a little vague though. Starling House by Alix E. Harrow #booksky

Cover of the Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward

This book is difficult to describe without spoilers so I’ll just say it’s definitely horror but also not, and you can’t trust anyone, especially not the narrators. It’s bizarre and creepy but also heartbreaking. A good October read. The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward #booksky

Cover of Mort by Terry Pratchett

The only Terry Pratchett I’d read before this was Good Omens, and this was just as funny. Excited to finally start some Discworld; it’s clever, fun, and somehow cozy while remaining imaginative. Death in this one was my favorite character. Mort by Pratchett #booksky

Cover of Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher

This book was action packed from beginning to end. The magic system is cool, characters are interesting (including villains), & story was driven. It follows in the footsteps of traditional epic fantasy. I’ll definitely be picking up the next in the series. Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher #booksky

Cover of Butter by Asako Yuzuki

This book is odd but satisfying. It explores gender roles & beauty standards in modern Japan through the lens of cooking and murder. Lots of extensive food descriptions & reflections on life. It was kind of like eating plain butter, simultaneously gross and delicious. Butter by Asako Yuzuki #booksky

Cover of Songbirds by Christy Lefteri

If you want to read about the situation of foreign domestic workers in Cyprus & how they are often treated with prejudice, sexism, and violence, read this book. It was incredibly sad, beautifully written, & while fiction, is unfortunately based on a true story. Songbirds by Christy Lefteri #booksky

Audiobook cover of The Great Divide by Cristina Henríquez

A good read for Hispanic Heritage Month, this one explores the lives of different fictional characters in Panama during the building of the canal. I enjoyed the various perspectives and learned some history, although it was a little dull overall. The Great Divide by Cristina Henríquez #booksky

Cover of The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie

Based on the title & the first part of this book I expected it to be full of violence but it was mostly character development and intrigue. Other than Logan everyone is kind of terrible but I can see growth coming. An interesting world, excited for more. The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie #booksky

Playing Hollow Knight and I’m proud of myself; I defeated the Soul Master on the second try!
Makes up for the about 10,000x it took for me to defeat the Mantis Lords…

Cover of The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

A decent thriller, it has one major twist which was somewhat predictable but it wrapped up fairly well. The writing is ok, as are the characters (the most interesting being Nina). A good audiobook performance helped. The Housemaid by Freida McFadden #booksky

Cover of Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor

This book is the experiences of a disabled Nigerian-American author who writes the story of a post apocalyptic world populated by robots. It dragged a bit at times but a lot was fascinating and the end hurt my brain in a good way. Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor #booksky

Cover of Perdido Street Station by China Miéville

This story and its world building were incredibly unique but also somewhat disturbing at times. A bizarre city and its varied fantastical inhabitants have to face a terrible enemy. It’s intense and engaging. Perdido Street Station by China Miéville #booksky

Flowering succulent with reddish pink flowers

I’ve never had one of these flower before! ❤️

Icona @iconawrites Mary Shelley did try to warn us about hubristic STEM bros who make strange, impulsive experiments and then watch helplessly as their creation destroys itself at the expense of ordinary people. @northavecandles and tarawinequeenwrites

From: @iconawrites.bsky.social Instagram account.

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