Stuff I read kinda recently

It’s been mostly wizard books lately and I know you’re shocked to hear it, dear reader. It’s a treat and I love escaping to this gigantic realistic but alternate reality that is so different from this one. It’s a delight and I don’t intend to stop reading them anytime soon.

Since I last updated this most riveting section back at the beginning of October, here’s what I’ve been reading:

Finished:

My Calamity Jane, by Cynthia Hand, Brody Ashton, and Jodi Meadows - this is the third in a loosely connected series (The Lady Janies) and it is tremendous fun. I don’t get how the three authors are able to write so seamlessly but they do a good job. The’ve been retelling adventures of fictional and real ladies named Jane and giving them a supernatural twist. It’s a lot of fun and this one retells the story of Calamity Jane, but with 200% more werewolves. My kids (11, 10, and 7) and I listened to this on audiobook during some driving over the past couple months and everyone loved it.

Blood of the Fold, by Terry Goodkind - Incredible, continues to be the best, I don’t know what other good words to use, just go read these they’re insanely good! This one has wars and fighting and great stuff.

Temple of the Winds, by Terry Goodkind - I keep saying each one of these is better than the last, but THAT’S THE TRUTH. This specific one is a story unlike any I’ve read before. I know they obviously have to succeed in these quests and trials or there wouldn’t be a million more books in the series AND YET I still wondered and held my breath for their efforts. It’s so good.

Battle Ground (re-listen), by Jim Butcher - I had to listen to this again to see what I missed the first time through. It was just as good, but also just as tremendous in the stuff that happens that I don’t want to spoil. I love spending time with Dresden and just want to see what happens next and how the events of this book are going to impact his future.

Barely Functional Adult: It’ll All Make Sense Eventually, by Meichi Ng - this is a really fun comic memoir sort of a book with delightful illustrations to go with some charming life stories that discuss growth, lessons learned through obscure pet care, and how to find your way in the world when it doesn’t seem to make any sense for you. It is a quick read and would be a great gift for someone in the midst of a life change or on the brink of a new adventure (and this year, that’s kind of everyone you know isn’t it?).

Currently Reading:

Soul of the Fire, by Terry Goodkind - Yes, this is my priority book and my favorite place to go with my brain. In this adventure it seems that the heroes are again in some trouble and the peril is once more a big deal to solve. Also in this volume is even more of the world. I don’t get how Goodkind managed this. He write so much and it doesn’t feel like too much. He gives just enough exposition at just the right times so it never feels overwhelming. It just feels so absolutely real that you don’t ever doubt it. It’s fun. I’m into it and hoping to finish it this week.

A Rogue of One’s Own, by Evie Dunmore - The second in a historical romance I read the first of last year. I just started listening to this last week while doing chores and stuff and it’s been a fine low stress background story.

Harrow the Ninth, by Tamsyn Muir - I ADORED Gideon the Ninth (the one that comes before this one) and listened to it twice before picking up Harrow the Ninth. It’s a great book so far, but again, I got distracted and busy so I have been slow to get through this one. ALSO maybe because Gideon ends on such a stab to the heart that I’m nervous for my feels. It’s still tremendous though - all the necromancy one could hope for and then some *wink

The Happily Ever After Playlist, by Abby Jimenez - I started this earlier this year and then just couldn’t with romance for a while. The premise is cute, but I needed a break from people falling in love for a while and put this one on hold. I’ll probably finish it before the year is over. Oh, I should mention - this book brings the heat, so make sure you bring your fan.

Call Me Zebra, by Azareen Van der Vliet Oloomi - I know, I’ve been reading this one for over a year now. It reminds me of Don Quixote and I’ve been intentionally taking my time with it. I’m enjoying it. It’s provocative and sometimes dense, but makes me think a lot.