Category: Wrap Up

August 2023 Wrap Up

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In August I read seven books, including three comics, and went to the Barbie movie.

Books:

Grimm Rose by Kasi Blake is the start young adult fantasy fairytale retelling series with some interesting twists. The story follows Shayne a half-ling servant of the Ivory Queen who inadvertently and by force is going to marry the Ivory Queen’s son unless she steals Cinderella’s glass slipper. Overall, an interesting take on a fairytale retelling and I have a full review posted as well.

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden is the first book in the Winternight trilogy. We follow Vasillisa who can see spirits but as evil creatures from the forest threaten the village she must use her gifts to protect her family. Beautifully written and I loved the inclusion of Russian folk tales. I do plan to continue with this series.

The Tea Dragon Society, The Tea Dragon Festival, and The Tea Dragon Tapestry all by Kay O’Neill is a cute comic book series about dragons that grow tea leaves on their horns. Society follows Greta as she meets people involved in the world of Tea Dragons and learns more about them. Festival follows Rinn who has grown up around Tea Dragons but finds a young real dragon asleep in the forest and she helps him find out why he has bee asleep for so long. Finally, Tapestry follows Greta as she struggles to create something to impress a blacksmith for an apprenticeship while Minette starts to deal with her past. This is a very cute comic series that is great for those wanting something lighthearted.

Heiresses: The Lives of the Million Dollar Babies by Laura Thompson is a nonfiction book about the lives of heiresses throughout history and their struggles finding love and trying to trust those in their lives. Great for those interested in this topic and reads in a way that non historians would enjoy.

Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire is the second book in the Wayward Children series. In this book we follow Jack and Jill as they go through their door into the world of the Moors and we find out what happens to them while they are there. I love this series and I’m making my way though all the books to catch up with the series.

Movies:

I also went to the movie theater and saw Barbie with my mom. Since there are so many reactions and reviews out now all I’ll say is that I loved it and if you haven’t seen it you should.

July 2023 Wrap Up

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In July I read eight book most of them graphic novels and watched two movies.

Books:

First book I read in July was Secrets of the Vampire: A Supernatural Sourcebook of Our Legend and Lore by Julie Legere. This is a nonfiction book about vampires throughout history that I received as a review copy from Netgalley. This book focuses on historical and pop culture ideas about vampires and where these ideas come from while being “narrated” by a vampire. This is a great book from fan of vampires especially teenagers.

Witch King by Martha Wells is an adult fantasy novel following Kai who after being murdered and trapped finds a lesser mage trying to gain control of his powers. Kai, along with his friend Ziede, must figure out why they were imprisoned though they might not like the answers. I also have a full in-depth review already posted.

The last books that I read was all seven of the Monstress graphic novels that are currently out. I reread the was that I’ve read before and caught up to where the series is currently. I love this graphic novel series about Maika Halfwolf and her quest to find out more about her connection to this monster that also inhabits her body. I artwork is amazing and I can’t wait for the next volume.

Movies:

I watched two movies this month the first being Titanic 666. I sometimes see trailers for what is obviously going to be a bad Titanic movie but I want to see how bad it really is. This movie follows the voyage of the Titanic III, as this is a sequel to Titanic II, as they travel on the historical route of the original Titanic. A descendent of one of the Titanic’s passengers sneaks aboard to summon the spirits of the dead and kill everyone on board. I knew that this was a bad movie going in so I wasn’t expecting much but I do feel that the idea the the spirits of the captain and crew being the ones vengeful enough to kill these passengers and a deep mischaracterization of these real people who died while trying to save as many as they could no the Titanic.

The other movie I watched in July was 65 and was much better. 65 follows Mills a pilot on a two year journey from his home planet when the ship gets hit by an asteroid. Mills believes that he is the only survivor until he find a young girl name Koa but they don’t speak the same language. It turns out that they have crash landed on Earth 65 million years ago and together must try to get to the escape pod. Though their journey they are attacked by different dinosaurs and realize that another large asteroid is headed to earth. While I enjoyed this movie I feel like the marking focused more on the dinosaurs and because of that I wanted more action with them.

June 2023 Wrap Up

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In June I read four books and watched two movies. My reading is starting to pick up again but some months are just better than others and that’s okay.

Books:

The first book I finished in June was Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas which is the fourth book in the Throne of Glass series. Though I haven’t read a Throne of Glass book in a while they are very easy to get back into and I love how fast paced they can be. I won’t give a full summary to avoid spoilers and due to the fact these books are so popular but I did enjoy how this one dealt with some plot points that the series started with while also paving the way for where the series is going.

The next book was It’s Jeff #1 by Kelly Thompson which is the collection of the Marvel Infinity comics about Jeff the Land Shark. There is very little to no text in these comics as they are short stories/panels of Jeff being cute and interacting with other Marvel characters. Though I don’t have much to say about it, it was very cute.

The Marionettes by Katie Wismer is the start of a New Adult urban fantasy series focusing on vampires and witches. Valerie is going to the academy to join the Marionettes, the group of witches that serve the vampires. During her final trials she get pair with the local Vampire Prince, Reid and many secrets start to come out. I loved Valerie and her friends but I did find her relationship with her current boy friend Connor and what ends up happening to him a little predictable. I would have liked to have seen a little more world building as it becomes clear that everyone knows that vampires and other creatures exist but I don’t know if this is how the world always been. Overall I greatly enjoyed this book and the ending has me wanting to continue.

The last book I read this month was Breach of Peace by Daniel B. Greene which is his first novella. In this dark world an imperial family has been murdered and the police know as Officers of God are called to investigate. When Inspector Khild starts finding evidence of a larger conspiracy she become involved in something that may destroy everything she knows. Well written for a first novella and I was pulled into this world. As this is a novella I would have liked a little more world building to better understand what Khild is truly up against but I enjoyed it overall. However, I was not expecting how brutal the ending was going to be and I need to see where the story goes next.

Movies:

I also watched two movies this month the first being Titanic 2. I had heard bout this movie existing but I figured that it would be a pretty bad Titanic movie distributed by The Asylum. This movie follows a fictional replica of the Titanic sailing on the 100th year anniversary but global warming and the forces of nature cause history to repeat itself. As this movie came out in 2010 it was rideing the wave of Titanic media leading up to the 100th year anniversary but its not good and copies some of the same story beets as the James Cameron movie.

The only other movie I watched in June was Resident Evil: Welcome to Racoon City. Which is the newest live action Resident Evil movie that claims to be more accurate to the video games. I wasn’t expecting this to be good but I find the other Resident Evil movies to be guilty pleasure action movies that are mildly fun so that’s all I wanted out of this. However, this movie is not only fairly boring (I ended up doing laundry while watching it) but it also takes the names of characters from the games and completely changes them so it is in no way accurate to the games. If you are a fan of any other Resident Evil property be that the games or other movies my recommendation is not to watch this.

May 2023 Wrap Up

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May was a bit of a hectic month so I only read two books, both which were early copies from Netgalley. I did also finish playing Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII Reunion.

Books:

The first book I finished was Mister Magic by Kiersten White, which I also have a full review posted for. Mister Magic is a horror book were 30 years after an accident on the children’s TV show Mister Magic the cast is coming back together. However, Val doesn’t remember the show or what happened but weird things are going on and to save those she cares about she must remember. A little confusing at times but overall a very good horror. I you want to know my full thoughts please read the full review.

The only other book I read this month was The Exorcist Legacy: 50 Years of Fear by Nat Segaloff which is a nonfiction book about the creation of the Exorcist movie and the sequels that came after it. While I enjoyed this deep dive into the history of the Exorcist with a title like Exorcist Legacy I was expecting more discussion on the impact the Exorcist has had on the horror genre as a whole. I feel like this book is best for super fans of the movie but over might enjoy it as well.

Video Games:

The only game I finished was Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII Reunion which I also have a full review posted for. This game is the remastered edition of the 2007 PSP game Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII with updated graphics, voice acting, and controls. This is a prequal to the original Final Fantasy VII focusing on Zack Fair and the events leading up to the Nibelheim incident. I loved this game and anyone who has an interest in the Final Fantasy VII Remake Project I fell should play this.

April 2023 Wrap Up

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In April I read three books which is less than I read in most months but I was very busy throughout the month so I was expecting it to be a slower reading month.

Books:

The first book I read was A Dance with the Fae Prince by Elisa Kova which is a fantasy romance inspired by the tale of Psyche and Eros with hints of Cinderella. Katria is married off to Lord Fenwood but is not allowed to see him. However, the power to save both herself and the Fae World is in her hands and she might just fall in love as well. An enjoyable read but very slow to start. If you enjoy other books by Elisa Kova you probably like this one.

Next I reread Every Heart A Doorway by Seanan McGuire which is the first book in the Wayward Children series. We are introduced to Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children where all the students have gone to portal worlds and have ended up back “home.” Nancy is the newest student but when others end up dead they must find out who is responsible. I love Seanan McGuire’s works and reread this book because I plan to reread and catch up with this series in the next several months.

The final book I read this month was The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo which is a collection of short stories/fairy tales that would have been told in the Grishaverse world. Beautifully written and illustrated and one can see how these tales are supposed to be from a different world but have similarities with fairytales many of us have grown up with and how they inspired these new tales. Personally, I would read these even without them being connected to the Grishaverse.

March 2023 Wrap Up

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In March I read four book and finished playing Octopath Traveler.

Books:

The first book I finished was Side Jobs by Jim Butcher. This is a collection of short stories set in the Dresden Files world that mostly happen between the main events of the books, including several stories not told from Harry’s perspective. I liked the focus of other characters and expanding on some things that have happened throughout the series but I didn’t love all the stories. The most important story to the Dresden Files series overall is the last one which is an novella told Murphy’s point of view in the imitate aftermath of the ending of Changes. I’m looking forward to see where the series goes next.

Next I finished Nona the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir which I also have a full review already posted. This is the third book in the Locked Tomb series which is a hard series to discuss. We follow Nona as she lives her life but she might be someone else and she has no memories. Personally I feel like this book was a lot of set up for events that will take place in the final book. If you enjoyed Gideon the Ninth and Harrow the Ninth I would recommend reading this but know that none of these books have similar reading experiences.

The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw is a short horror novella that is very loosely inspired by the original little mermaid tale. We follow a Mermaid who’s daughters devoured the kingdom and a Plague Doctor who stumble upon a village of children and their “Saints”. These “Saints” both kill and bring these children back to life and the Doctor wants to destroy them because he know what is really going on. Beautifully written while also being gruesome.

The last book I finished in Mach was The Magic of MinaLima: Celebrating the Graphic Design Studio Behind the Harry Potter & Fantastic Beasts Films. This is a coffee table book that looks at the team behind the graphic design of the Harry Potter films. Great for Harry Potter fans, especially of the movies, and those interested in the behind the scenes of graphic design for movies.

Games:

The only video game that I finished this month was Octopath Traveler which I also have a full review posted. This is a role playing game following eight different heroes as they travel to find their own path, get revenge, and help save people. If the games sounds interesting I would recommend trying it out as I didn’t think I would love this game as much as I did.

February 2023 Wrap Up

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In February I read three books and to short stories and also watch Glass Onion.

Books:

Women of Myth: From Deer Woman and Mami Wata to Amaterasu and Athena, Your Guide to the Amazing and Diverse Women from World Mythology by Jenny Williamson and Genn McMenemy is a nonfiction book about different women from myth and folklore through multiple cultures. I received advanced copy from the publisher through Netgalley. I loved seeing myths that I’ve never learned about before and all the art work depicting these women.

Abhorsen by Garth Nix is the third book in the Abhorsen trilogy and follows Lirael and Sam as they try to save Sam’s friend Nick and stop the necromancer Hedge from awakening the destroyer. I also have a full review posted for this book. This book is very action/plot heavy and I think I would have enjoyed this series more if the second and third books had been combined. While I like the series overall to me I feel like the first book Sabriel works better as a stand alone then a series.

As Yet Unsent by Tamsyn Muir is a short story in the Locked Tomb series that follows the events of Harrow the Ninth. The shot story is Judith’s report on the Blood of Eden and their activities. I read to to be ready to read Nona the Ninth but I feel like I will need to either reread it and read an explanation of it to really understand this story.

A Dowry of Blood by S.T Gibson is a reimaging/retelling of Dracula through the perspective of one of the brides. I read this initially when it was self published and wanted to see if anything has changed which it hasn’t but I still enjoyed it and I have a full review published. The one thing that I’m still a little disappointed in is the fact that there is nothing but a quick mention of the events that happened in Dracula as I would have loved to read that from the brides perspectives.

An Encore of Roses by S.T. Gibson is a short story from Alexi’s point of view years after the ending of A Dowry of Blood. This story gives us a glimpse into the lives of Alexi, Constanta, and Magdalena and how they are still in love though living separate lives all these years later.

Movies:

I only movie I watched this month was Glass Onion which I loved but don’t feel like I have much to say. However, if you liked Knives Out or murder mysteries you should give it a try.

January 2023 Wrap Up

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In January I read seven books/short stories, including multiple non fiction books. I also watched Gudetama: An Eggcellent Adventure which I enjoyed but don’t have really anything to say about it. Also as a heads up I’m in the process of changing the blog name from reviewsbyallies to NightOwlReviews so if you see that, that’s what’s happening.

Books:

The Legacy of the Crystal: An Unofficial Guide to Final Fantasy by Darryl James is a non fiction book about the history of the Final Fantasy franchise that I helped kickstart. As a fan of the Final Fantasy franchise I loved this book and reading about the history of the franchise.

Changes by Jim Butcher is the twelfth book in the Dresden Files series. We find out that Susan Rodriguez had a child with Harry and never informed him that they had a child. She has been kidnapped by Arianna Ortega, Duchess of the Red Court to hurt Harry and those connected to him. This one was not one of my favorite in the series but the ending definitely will change things in the coming books. I also have a full review for this book.

The Nazi Titanic: The Incredible Untold Story of a Doomed Ship in World War II by Robert P. Watson is a nonfiction book about the history of the German ocean liner that was used in a German propaganda movie filmed in World War II about the sinking of the Titanic. I had heard mention of the Nazi Titanic movie that portrayed Bruce Ismay and others on the ship as “evil and money hungry Jews that let people die on the Titanic” and wanted to know the reason behind using the Titanic in this very unhistorical way. The history of the ocean liner is more interesting and tragic than the movie that it was in but I also will not watch the movie if it is still out there. The ship was used as floating barracks and troop transport. In the final days of the war the ship was packed with concentration camp prisoners and was mistakenly bombed by the British Royal Air Force and most of the prisoners were killed. I feel like this book uses the fact that this ship portrayed the Titanic as the main selling point even though that is not the main focus of the book.

The Titanic Disaster Omens, Mysteries, and Misfortunes of the Doomed Liner by James W. Bancroft is a nonfiction book about all the omens and mysteries reportedly connected to the Titanic and how people “knew” something was going to happen. I liked this book overall but felt like the author sensationalized/made things sound true when there is now evidence that the information was false or exaggerated. I received an early review copy from the publisher through Netgalley.

Spare by Prince Harry is Prince Harry’s memoir about his life starting shortly before Princess Diana’s death through his military career, his romance and marriage to Meghan and finally their decision to leave royal life. This is really an account of someone with a dysfunctional family who has been traumatized and is working through that trauma. While readers will never know 100% what is true, I do feel like the media the royal life is more toxic then we like to believe. I feel like this memoir gives Harry’s perspective of events that other have other perspectives on but at the same time I feel like this is his truth.

A Deal with the Elf King by Elise Kova is a fantasy romance without too much spice inspired by Hades/Persephone and Beauty and the Beast. For years the elf’s have taken a woman to be their human queen but the next chosen one is missing. When it comes out that Luella is meant to the next human queen she goes with the elf king to save both of their worlds and maybe fall in love. I enjoyed this and is good for fans of other Romanic fantasies.

The Mysterious Study of Doctor Sex by Tamsyn Muir is a short story set in the Locked Tomb series. It follows Palamedes Sextus and Camilla Hect at age 13 when the academics of the Sixth are about to open the study of Donald Sex. I liked seeing more of this world and some events with other character even though I often don’t understand everything in this series.

December 2022 Wrap Up

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In December I read five books most which were physical. I also work retail during the holidays so I’m surprised that I read that much.

Books:

The first book I read was Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir which was a reread for me and I have a full review posted. I liked this one much more on a second read as I understood so much more. Based on the format of this book it leans itself to multiple rereads as you will pick up on the hints that are sprinkled throughout the book. I plan to continue on with the series soon.

Final Fantasy VII Remake: Material Ultimania is a nonfiction book that contains art and other reference materials used during the devolvement of Final Fantasy VII Remake. I really like this book but its definitely a book for fans.

The Band that Played On: The Extraordinary Story of the 8 Musicians Who Went Down with the Titanic by Steve Turner is a nonfiction book about the Titanic. This book focuses on the band and the story that they continued playing until the ship sank. Provides great detail on who the band members were, how they ended up on the Titanic, and the memory of how they are remembered.

The Mistletoe Paradox is a short story collections that each story takes ideas about mistletoe and the traditions around it to write stories. As with most short story collections I liked some of the stories more than others but I want to see where these authors go next and the types of stories they will tell in the future.

The last book I read in December was Tales from the Hinterland by Melissa Albert. This is the collection of dark fairytales that are referenced throughout the Hazel Wood series. While I didn’t love The Night Country which was the second book in the series I was still interested in reading the fairytales mention in the books. Overall, I think that these dark fairytales are one of the best things in this series and I loved seeing where Melissa Albert took these types of fairytales.

October and November 2022 Wrap Up

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Since I only read one book in October I decided to combine the October and November wrap ups. For both months I read five books. In terms of watching tv and movies the only thing I remember watching was some documentaries and YouTube videos.

Books:

In October I decided to start a reread of the Locked Tomb series so that I remember more when I got to Nona the Ninth which I still haven’t read but I did finish rereading Gideon the Ninth in October. Gideon is the first book in the Locked Tomb series that focuses on space necromancers who are trying to become more powerful to help the emperor. I still loved this book and I have a full review already posted.

The first book that I read in November was Lirael by Garth Nix. This is the squeal to Sabriel and technically a reread for me but the last time I read it was years ago. Lirael focuses on Lirael who is a daughter of the Clayr but she has never gained to sight which allows the Clayr to see some aspects of the future. She ends up taking up a mission to stop the return of an ancient evil along with Sabriel’s son Sam, who is believed to be the next Abhorsen. While I enjoyed the book overall I don’t love it in comparison to Sabriel and I would have preferred that the book didn’t switch perspectives between Lirael and Sam.

Campfire Stories: Tales from America’s National Parks by Dave and Ilyssa Kyu is what it say it is. This is a book that features short stories and experts of Tales from different National Parks that could be told around a campfire. I liked the concept of this book but was not a big fan of most of the stories.

Paperback Crush by Gabrielle Moss is a nonfiction book about the paperback teen and preteen books from the 80s and 90s. As someone who grew up on some of these books I liked reading about how these stories came to be and the history of the genre.

Queen’s Peril by EK Johnston is a Star Wars novel focuses on Padme as she becomes Queen of Naboo and the events of The Phantom Menace movie. I loved the introduction of the Handmaidens and how that system works but I wish we got more of Padme’s thoughts and emotions.