April 2025 Wrap Up

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In April I read four books, all of them fantasy and science fiction. I should have posted this sooner as I feel like I write better reviews closer to the time I finish a book but I will post what I have from some hand written reviews.

Books:

The first book I read was The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson the last book in Mistborn Era one. We follow from the events of the Well of Ascension where Ruin has escaped and Vin and the crew must try to stop it. While not my favorite of the Mistborn books I did love all the answers to lingering questions and what to Lord Ruler did and why. Also I wasn’t expecting who the Hero of Ages ended up being. I look forward to reading other books in the Cosmere.

A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers is the second book in the Monk and Robot series. Dex and Mosscap travel to different cities and learn from each other along the way. This focuses on the idea that if you have enough and are comfortable in your life do you really need or want more. I love the relationship between Dex and Mosscap and how they learn from each other.

Saiyuki Reload volume seven by Kazuya Mirekura continues from the cliffhanger at the end of volume six. This volume starts to show where the series is going to go as Goku is injured and Sanzo wanting more answers ends up leaving the group. While I love this series I do find that I have trouble explain it to those who haven’t read or watched it before.

The last book I read this month was Rogue Protocol by Marth Wells which is the third book in the Murderbot series. In this one we follow Murderbot who has noticed that the case against GrayCris (the evil corporation from the first book) is slowly falling apart. He decides to travel to different locations posing as a security officer to try to find more information about GrayCris that could help the case. I love that in the end he decides to he needs to meet back up with the group from the first book.

March 2025 Wrap Up

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In March I read three books and watched a movie. All the books I read this month also have full reviews already posted.

Books:

Artificial Condition by Martha Wells is the second book in the Murderbot Diaries. We follow Murderbot after he has left the group from book one to try and find out why and how he was involved in a massacre at a mining facility before the start of the series. I loved seeing how Murderbot is trying to blend in and the relationship with the ship ART.

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers is the first book in the Monk and Robot series. We follow Dex a tea monk that travels and helps people by listing to problems kind of like a therapist. While stuck in a rut Dex decides to travel into the wilderness and ends up meeting the robot Mosscap. Mosscap has been sent on a journey by other robots to try and find out what humans need. They end up helping and learning from each other on their travels.

The last book I read this month was Overgrowth by Mira Grant. We follow Stasia who has always said that she is an alien disguised as a human and that the alien armada is coming. When a alien signal is broadcast people start realizing that maybe she wasn’t lying and it may be too late to change anything. This is a creepy and thought provoking read.

Movies:

The only movie I watched this month was the 2022 Hellraiser movie. This horror movie I felt was okay but I don’t think it compares to the original Hellraiser movie. However, if you are looking for a movie to watch with friends I think you would have a good time.

Book Review: A Pslam for the Wild-Built and A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers (Monk and Robot #1&2)

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A Psalm for the Wild-Built follows Dex, a tea monk that travels and helps people by bring there and listing. He has started to feel like that they are stuck and decides to travel into the wilderness to try and find purpose again. While there he meets the Robot named Mosscap. Mosscap has been sent on a journey from the other robots to find out what do humans need since humans and robots haven’t been around each other for centuries. They travel together and this allows them to help each other out and Dex is starting to understand what he wants to do in the future.

A Prayer for the Crown-Shy is set immediately after the events of A Psalm for the Wild-Built. We follow Dex and Mosscap as they travel to different cities so that Mosscap can learn about humanity and what humans need. This story focuses on the idea that if you have enough or are content do you really need or want more. I love Dex and Mosscap’s relationship and how they are learning from each other. Becky Chambers writes very hopeful books and while I can see where this series could go it also works by ending here.

Book Review: Overgrowth by Mira Grant

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Overgrowth is Mira Grant’s (the penname of Seanan McGuire) newest science fiction novel. We follow Stasia who has always said that she was an alien disguised as a human and the armada is coming. When an alien signal is broadcast people start to realize that she wasn’t lying and it may be too late.

As the story is told from Stasia’s point of view and she is one of the aliens she is a bit of an unreliable narrator. While this is a science fiction/horror novel it does focus on found family and caring for those who love you and you love but that can hurt you as well. Stasia wants her friends and family to be protected from the invasion but knows there is nothing that can stop it and nothing she can do. The invasion starts more as a back drop since Stasia cares more about how she and those she cares about are impacted vs humanity and the world as a whole. However, when the armada arrives we get an alien invasion that can’t be controlled or stopped by humanity.

I was not expecting how the alien invasion would go or be shown as mush more Invasion of the Body Snatchers than something like War of the Worlds. Many are killed but some are given the option to be assimilated and become a “plant” person so you are still you but also changed.

While I did love this it’s not my favorite Mira Grant work which is Into the Drowning Deep. However, with the attention that Overgrowth has gotten from the book box companies I hope more people will read and enjoy her other works. I would also recommend looking up trigger warnings as there are some scenes that I feel could be triggering to some including body horror and the death of a child.

February 2025 Wrap Up

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In February I read seven books including manga and some nonfiction. Overall, I had a good reading month in February but I should have posted this sooner.

Books:

The Witches: Salem, 1692 by Stacy Schiff is a nonfiction book about the Salem Witch trials. This is a reread for me and I listened to the audio book this time. I started listing to this after I had a surgery and want something to listen to that I knew a lot about and my library had and audio book available because of this I was using it more background noise but it is a good book about the Salem Witch Trials. I would recommend this for anyone wanting to know more about this topic.

The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson is the second book in the Mistborn trilogy. We follow Vin and the rest of the crew in the aftermath of overthrowing the Lord Ruler and trying to keep the city and people safe. While I loved it overall I didn’t like how Vin was so unsure of herself. However, the ending is amazing and left me wondering if they have ended up letting out something that is much worse than the Lord Ruler. I hope to finish the series soon.

Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey is the first Dragonriders of Pern book. We follow Lessa who bonds with a Queen dragon and must work on saving the world. This was just okay to me. I wanted more details for everything and I wasn’t a fan of the romance. However, I did love seeing how the dragons are used in different fantasy/sci-fi stories and how that has changed over time.

Next I read volumes five and six of Saiyuki Reload by Kazuya Minekura. This continues the story of Sanzo, Goku, Gojyo, and Hakkai as they travel to stop the resurrection of Gyumao. Volume five starts the Hazel Arc as they meet Bishop Hazel who can used the death of yokai to resurrect humans. Which cause conflict with the Sanzo party as not all yokai are evil and are not the same a demons in the same manner as western/biblical ideas. Volume six continues this story arc and ends on a major cliffhanger.

Last I read Compulsory and All Systems Red by Martha Wells. Compulsory is a very short story in the Murderbot universe that takes place before the events of the first novella. While I love seeing more of Murderbot this is just a very short scene. In All Systems Red we truly meet Murderbot and learn how this security bot has hacked it’s govern module so that it can watch TV shows. I loved Murderbot and I have a full review posted for the first two novellas.

Book Review: All Systems Red and Artifical Condition by Martha Wells (The Murderbot Diaries #1&2)

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All Systems Red By Martha Wells is the first book in the Murderbot Diaries and a reread for me. I love Murderbot and how they truly just want to be left alone to watch shows but also feels like they have to do their job. We follow Murderbot a company supplied Sec Unit who has hacked his own governor module so that he can do what he wants. Murderbot would really like to be left alone to watch shows and decide who he is but when a group of scientists end up murdered he and the group he is protecting need to figure out the truth.

Artifical Condition is the second book in the series. We follow Murderbot after they have left the group from book one to try to find out why and he was involved in a massacre at a mining facility before the start of the series. We see how they try to blend in and I loved the relationship with ART.

I definitely recommend the series and plan to continue reading it and also the Apple TV plus show.

January 2025 Wrap Up

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In January I read six books including several nonfiction books.

Books:

Christmas at Hogwarts by J.K. Rowling is a picture book version of Harry’s first Christmas at Hogwarts with beautiful art by Ziyi Gao. The text used is from the 12th chapter of the Sorcerer’s Stone. This is great for Harry Potter fans and kids just getting into the Wizarding World.

The Vampire Knitting Club by Nancy Warren is the first book in the start of a cozy paranormal mystery series. We follow Lucy who travels to Oxford to visit her grandmother but her knitting shop is closed and she is supposedly dead. It turns out that Gram was murdered but turned into a vampire to save her and Lucy is trying to figure everything out. A fun story but I don’t think that I will continue with the series.

Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania by Erik Larson is a book about the last crossing and the sinking of the Lusitania and how this helped bring the United States into World War I. Like all of Erik Larson’s books this is a very easy read and could be a good introduction to the topic.

The House of My Mother: A Daughter’s Quest for Freedom by Shari Fanke is Shari memoir about the true story behind the 8 Passengers YouTube channel and vlogs and what happened. Given the topic it’s hard to say that I enjoyed this but I’m glad Shari got to tell her story and this is a cautionary tale for all family vloggers.

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros is the first book in the Empyrean series and I have a full review posted. We follow Violet Sorrengail as her mother has ordered her to join the Dragon Riders at the Basgiath War College instead of joining the scribes. I loved this even though I didn’t think I would and I would recommend trying it.

The Rebel Romanov: Julie of Saxe-Coburg, The Empress Russia Never Had by Helen Rappaport is Rappaport’s newest nonfiction about Romanov history. This follows Julie of Saxe-Coburg who marries Constantine, the grandson of Catherine the Great and who Julie ends up leaving everything for her own freedom. Julie is not a historical figure that I’ve ever heard of but Rappaport makes Romanov history very interesting and readable.

Book Review: Fourth Wing (The Empyrean #1) by Rebecca Yarros

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Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros is the first book in the Empyrean series. We follow Violet Sorrengail as her mother has ordered her to join the Dragon Riders at Basgiath War College. Violet has a condition which makes her more fragile and she mush contend with others who are trying to kill her. I didn’t think that I would enjoy this series based on what I had heard but I ended up loving it.

I loved Violet’s relationships with the other cadets and how she used her knowledge to beat others. I also enjoyed how her and Xaden’s relationship went from not liking each other to a somewhat grudging respect then to liking each other and having romantic feelings. Based on tropes and reading a lot of fantasy I’m not surprised that she ended up with two dragons.

I found Dain annoying throughout the whole book but I heated his part in the ending. I’ve never been a fan of the childhood friend who is in love with the main character but who wants her to stay sweet, innocent, and out of the conflict.

While I ended up loving this book I can see why others wouldn’t. However, I would still recommend giving it a shot.

December 2024 Wrap Up

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In December 2024 I read three books, mostly manga and didn’t finish one. I should have posted this wrap up much sooner but that’s life.

Books:

Across the Green Grass Fields by Seanan McGuire was the first book I read in December. This is the sixth book in the Wayward Children series. We follow Regan who shortly after finding out that she is intersex ends up in the Hooflands, a world filled with centaurs and unicorns. Here she grows into herself and learns that even those who are different are people. Loved this one and felt like the series is coming back to its roots.

Next I read Saiyuki Reload volumes three and four which is a continuation of the Saiyuki series following Sanzo, Goku, Gojyo, and Hakkai traveling to stop the daemons that are trying to resurrect Gyumaoh. I still love this series but there is a lot of nostalgia tied to it for me.

The one book I Didn’t finish and don’t plan to was The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. I’ve tried to read this book before and couldn’t finish it and tried again for book club but still didn’t like it. Personally I feel like the book is too long and a large chunk on the first 200 pages or so could be cut but the biggest reason I stopped reading was that I just didn’t care about any of the characters.

November 2024 Wrap Up

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In November I finished four books and a podcast series.

Books:

The first book I finished was the physical edition of Dracula Daily by Matt Kirkland. Dracula Daily started out as an email list where a section of Dracula is sent to you chronological instead of how the book was originally written. This physical book also includes some of the internet commentary and art created for Dracula Daily. I loved Dracula and reading it in a different way. I have participated in the email list before but enjoyed reading it as a physical book as well.

Next I read Doctor Who: How to be a Time Lord. This is an in universe book that is supposed to be a manual on how to be a Time Lord with the Doctor having replaced part of it. Written in 2014 so not up to the current Doctor who. Cute idea but designed for kids that are fans of the show.

Hounded by Kevin Hearne is the first in the Iron Druid Chronicles an Urban Fantasy series following Atticus O’Sullivan the last of the Druids. When he is attacked by the followers of a Celtic god who wants his sword Atticus must do everything in his power to survive. This is a fun urban fantasy where the hero is a master of his power and unlike others in the genre it doesn’t seem like he is in much true danger.

Rebel’s Creed by Daniel B. Greene is the second book in The Lawful Times series. The book starts out giving us some of the first book from Chapman’s point of view which made me understand him as a character when I didn’t like him before. Then we follow Holden in the aftermath of book one as he is trying to find the truth of what happened. While I enjoyed it and want to see where Greene takes the series from here you can tell that he is still finding his footing as an author.

Podcast:

The podcast that I finished was The Edge of Sleep featuring the YouTuber Markiplier and is what the TV show of the same name is based on. The basic premise is that something has happened where if you fall asleep you die and a small group is trying to find out what is going on. I enjoyed the podcast but I personally liked the TV show more and I hope there will be a second season at some point.