It's been busy so I've neglected to update you on what I've been reading. Since I last wrote, I've read 8 things.
The first book I finished was
The Big Ship at the Edge of the Universe by Alex White. This was a fun sci-fi adventure with pirates questing to find a long lost war ship and fighting off a secret society who tries to stop them. This was very action packed and an overall fun romp. I'll definitely be reading the next book in the series. I gave this book 4 stars.
Then I picked up
I Hate Fairyland by Skottie Young. This was a violent graphic novel in which a little girl in transported to fairyland and must find the key to get back to her home world. Unfortunately, she doesn't find it and has been stuck in Fairyland for 27 years. She is a cynical and jaded 40 year old in the body of a small girl and takes out her frustrations by killing lots of creatures. I didn't really like this. I was hoping it was funnier but it was just dark. I won't be continuing on with the series. I gave it 2 stars.
Next I listened to
The Princess Saves Herself in This One by Amanda Lovelace. This is a poetry collection covering a wide variety of topics including abuse, eating disorders, and grief. I only like a couple of the poems. The rest seemed short, sporadic, and carelessly thrown together. I feel for the author for the traumatic experiences she has had but I didn't really enjoy most of her poems. I gave this collection 2 stars.
Afterwards, I picked up
Sabriel by Garth Nix. This is a YA fantasy in which Sabriel is trying to save her father from the underworld. They are both necromancers and can flit in and out of Death. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the magic system. I will definitely continue on with the series. I gave this 4 stars.
I then picked up
In an Absent Dream by Seanan McGuire which is her fourth book in the Wayward Children series. We follow Lundy as she discovers a door into a magical world called the Goblin Market. This is a logic based world with many rules and restrictions. I loved the idea of fair balance- so no one is taking more than giving. However, many of the exciting scenes that could've happened were only referenced later instead of actually focusing on the action. I gave the book 3 stars and will continue to follow the series.
I downloaded
Fox 8 by George Saunders which is a short story from the perspective of a fox. The fox is writing a letter to humans to better understand their motivations. It's super short so I won't mention more but it did make me cry. I gave it 5 stars.
Then I finished
Circe by Madeline Miller. This is a retelling of
The Odyssey but from Circe the witch's perspective. This was incredibly character-driven and at times, quite slow. Circe is immortal so we follow her for hundreds of years. I was enjoying it whilst reading it, but every time I put it down, I didn't feel compelled to pick it back up. I gave it 3.5 stars.
Lastly, I read
Evidence of the Affair by Taylor Jenkins Reid. This is an epistolary novella of a woman who finds out her husband is cheating on her so she reaches out to the cuckolded husband to let him know of his wife's involvement. They form a friendship and help one another get through this difficult time. It was enjoyable and plausible but I felt it should've been longer so the author could better develop the characters. I gave it 3 stars.
If you have been paying attention to my TBR and to what I'm reading, you'll see I've been choosing many things that are not on my TBR. I've been very much a mood reader lately and not especially feeling like reading off my list. I'm debating whether or not I should even make a TBR for February. I think I probably will but I may only somewhat stick to it.
