Thrifty Geek's Library- Courageous Women

 Hey Reading Friends, 

 

So it's time for this year's first Library post. This month we'll be focused on books that feature courageous women. I always love a book that features strong female leads. January was full of books with such characters. 

 

Tiger Burning Brightly by Marion Zimmer Bradley, Andre Norton, Mercedes Lackey- 

The city/state of Merina is fixing to be besieged by Emperor Balthasar who has been taking over the world worse he has powerful dark magic on his side. The ruling family the House of the Tiger composed of the former Queen, the Ruling Queen, and the Designated Daughter are forced to do a tactical retreat to spare the city till they come up with something else. So the three of them under disguises hid in plain site. Soon the city is under the choke hold of the dark wizards in human men. Can these women bring down this dark empire? Or will it be lost to the dark?

We already know I love stories with strong women, and this delivers. This world has a good Mythos and an interesting magic system. Men get magic early and if they remain virgins can stay powerful, but women's powers show up in menopause. Despite being written by three different women, dynamites in fantasy, the story was weaved together so well you couldn't tell three people had their hands in it. I was riveted and really interested in the story. I love a story were oppressed people try to take down a dark government. The ending was good, but a little condensed feeling. I'm going back and forth weather to keep this in my permanent library, but I gave this 4 stars on Goodreads.

 

Elvenblood by Andre Norton and Mercedes Lackey-

Shana, the prophesied Elvenbane, a half elf believed to be sent to take out the oppressive Elven Lords. Sadly her last battle ended with her and her friends escaping by the skins of their teeth. The group finds a place to build a new home outside of the Elven ruled lands, but there is some discord among the group, on top of all that Shana and a scouting party get captured by a group of people known as the Iron People who may hold the key to defeating the Elven Lords. In the Elven lands oppressed households are becoming more oppressed as the lords are now looking for any half elves in their midst to punish, feeling this strain is Lorryn an Treves who is a half elf disguised as the legitimate son of an Elven Lord. He has to stay one step ahead if he wants his secret to remain so.

This was an okay read. It was interesting enough to keep me reading, but not enough to probably encourage a reread. Norton and Lackey capture the horrors of a society where even family members are oppressed very well. I was concerned for especially Lorryn's sister, Sheyrena, that she was going to be trapped in a marriage, or else altered magically to be an obedient wife. I thought the party at the beginning had a beautiful setting as a magically created forest, sadly the company would have been off putting.

I felt some scene were dragged out, and others too quick. Book was defiantly middle ground with me and for that reason I gave this a three on Goodreads.

 

Afterlife by JK Ishaya and Kenneth Mader-

The first book in the Arcadia Chronicles, this follows the story of Elaine Ways, a martial artist, who loses her husband tragically. She soon begins having vivid dreams of being a hero in another world. At some point strange and seemingly mystical people kidnap her daughter. Elaine soon finds herself in an extraordinary dark world where she learns there maybe more to her dreams than meets the eye.

Now this book was recommended to me by my sister, who works with one of the authors, so I was intrigued to see it, but I didn't get to it a few months, because I had a major anxiety issue that involved death. But finally I felt ready to read it. This was a book with a good mythos. It gave an interesting look at the afterlife. The science in this was well written, I don't know if it had any basis in real science, but it sounded convincing. I also loved it was based in the city of Asheville. I was so nice to read a book and know the places their talking about, and the fact they added the fantastical to it. 

This book was a little of a slow start for me. Another thing that made it a hard read was that it was so dark, there was a little  humor, but I wished it'd been beefed up a little more to balance the dark, but this is my personal preference. Despite the issues I gave this a four on Goodreads.

My reading year so far has had a strong start, and I've managed to fill all prompts so far for the Year in Aledia so still going strong. I hope to start making post about my character and my journey so far. So be on the look out for that.

Well this page is finished. Hope you all I a good day, read lots, and God bless.

*Thrifty Geek* and Vampire VV Kitty

Thrifty Geek's Library- New Year's Eve 2022 Book Reviews.

 Happy New Year's Eve Book Friends,

 Well we have arrived at the last day of the year and I thought what better way to end it than to make a Library post for my remaining books. If you look on my Goodreads it says I've read 24 of the 20 book goal, I've actually read 28 books, most of these books are ones I read for my job, and four of them apparently haven't been published yet or made it onto Goodreads. You'll find my job books I only give stars and no written reviews, because that's what I do for my job is write reviews, and I don't want to take away from that, so I just give the stars that correlate to my rating. Upside reading for work is forcing me to get back into reading despite my attention span issues, but it does take up the majority of my reading, and I figured I'm reading them, so they should count toward my Goodreads goal if their on there. 

So these last five books are my personal readings I hadn't wrote about yet this year. I do hope up my personal readings this next year so the majority of my books aren't work related, but we'll see!

Haunted on Bourbon Street (Jade Cahoun #1) by Deanna Chase

This was a fun book. It's always a fun time when I read books in this universe, I've read a couple of the Pyper stories before this. I love a lot of things with this world, the first being the location, New Orleans. I have always been interested in visiting the area, and this book lets me do that. I love the romance scenes  are very satisfying to read. I hate when I've gone for a romances, or novels that include a romance, and the romantic scenes fall short, but this delivers. There's also a variety of supernaturally empowered people. Witches, ghosts, angels, and empaths are some of the beings you will find here.

My only issue with the book is it was too short, and because it was short, things had to move at a faster pace. This led to things like explanations of powers, or beings, feel on occasion like a drive by info dump, before rushing on with the story. I gave this four stars on Goodreads.

So, if you are looking for a quick read fun little magical read to lift your spirits, or wet your romantic appetite, I highly recommend this book.

If On A Winter's Night A Traveler by Italo Calvino
 

This book is the story of readers, writers and books, as best as I can glean from it. You take on the role of the Reader, who seeks out the book: If On A Winter's Night A Traveler, a mess up in printing leaves it unfinished and sends you to find it only to begin a journey that takes you through other unfinished reads. Along the way you intercept another reader who becomes part of your complex story. I first heard of this on I believe Keri Smith's blog and it's been on my library request list a while, and they finally got it. 

I going to be honest I'm not sure how to review this. It's an amazing concept, you are a character, and I found myself wanting to know where this story went. It's also a frustrating read.  You're having to stop reading pieces of other stories many which didn't retain my interest for long. I mean I'm pretty sure that was the idea was for you to feel how your story character is feeling, but I'm not feeling frustrated cause I can't finish the snippets of books, I'm frustrated cause I'm having to read them. There was also times parts of it seemed to ramble, just ramble, and I was internally screaming just get to the point! I almost DNF'ed it cause it just agitated me. The last couple chapters in the main story line your in started to make no sense, your wondering how'd we get to where we were to here, then bam the last tiny chapter is just thrown at you. I will say I liked how the end ties all the books you've endured together, but I'll be honest I breathed a inner sigh of relief I was finished. I had a hard time deciding if I liked or disliked it, also it's hard to say if it did or didn't live up to what I hoped. I'm also torn as to whether to attempt to add a copy it to my permanent collection or not. I mean it's unique and would be a nice addition, but the fact I had to force myself to read it most the time, makes me worry I would never pick it up again. It's just a book I don't know what to do with.

I'm not sure how to rate this on Goodreads, I'd say maybe 3 and 3/4 stars, but they don't do halves, cause it is worth more that middle ground three, but not a solid four. I definitely recommend you read this once. If they gave test to readers to test their reading ability, this book would be the final exam. 

50 Ways To Hex Your Lover by Linda Wisdom
 

This romance involves the witch Jasmine (Jazz) and Nikolai a vampire, who have been lovers and adversaries throughout their long lives. Fate has brought them once again together as they try to figure out who's been taking vampires and possibly killing them. The path leads them back to an old foe with a score to settle. Will they survive? Read to find out.
This was a fun read I came across at the thrift store and bought on a whim. I enjoyed the characters in this book, populated with interesting people and creatures. I love the fantastical places within the normal world. I found Irma the ghost that haunts Jazz's car particularly annoying, she really grated on my nerves, which might have been done on purpose by the writer. The romance scenes where unique, but didn't do nothing for me. I find this to be a frequent problem lately when I read romance books, so it may not be the work's fault just my pickiness. So disregard that last bit of review. 
This is a fun little read that I recommend if you like your romances with a fantastical elements, strange creatures, and some sass.

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor                                                                                                          

This was a YA that came up a lot with booktubers in the past few years so this year I finally checked it out from my library and read it. It's the story of Lazlo Strange an orphan who has a life long fascination with a city everybody calls Weep. He remembers the day the original name was erased from everyone's mind. He eventually become a librarian at a large library, where he's been writing books of research about the city. One day a group from Weep arrives looking for people to help them with an issue the city has. Lazlo sees this as his opportunity to achieve his dream.

I enjoyed this, it was a fun read. Janine over at This Story Ain't Over listed this on her Cozy Read Guide and I'm opt to agree with her on that. It was a cozy little read. You just felt no need to hurry just follow where the story took you. It was a book were there was no clear villains, except maybe the girl looking woman with the ability to control spirits, yeah she started out punishing those who hurt her family, but she's kind of towing that edge, and she really gives me the creeps. This was beautifully written, and the mystery of Weep kept you intrigued wanting to figure it out. The ending was a little heart breaking, but it made me want to continue the series.

This was actually a five star read for me, because it was so well written. If you love a fun romp into the world of dreams and dreamers then this is a book for you.

Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde

This is the geeky YA about three friends attending SupaCon, one of the world's biggest conventions. Charlie a vlogger who's found fame in the movies is excited to be a VIP, but is dealing with the break up with her costar, but will a fellow vlogger help her heal from that hurt. Then there's Taylor who's trying to step out of her comfort zone for the sake of her fandom, and wondering where she stands with her friend and crush Jamie. Can thesy over come their obstacles, find love, and have an epic con? Read and see...

This was a book I found at Goodwill, and when I saw the word geek I honed in on it. Being a geek and attempting to be a writer of geeky stories myself I was very interested in reading this book. I have to say the writer you can tell is a fellow geek, because they capture the fandom life so well the good and the bad, I'm just reading this like yep they know what their talking about. I love we have a love interest who is full bodied. I actually can see myself in a book. I have often bemoaned the lack of larger people in romance novels and they gave us one. She also has anxiety issues which I have as well. I wish this book had come out when I was a young adult, it may have been nice to see someone like me in a book. I devoured this book and it was another five star reading on Goodreads.

If your a geek like me who wants to see a geek laced YA Romance this story is for you.

Best Books of the Year

The Story Ain't Over recently did their Top 10 Favorite Books of 2022. This got me thinking about my own top list. I don't have ten since most of mine have been work books, which  I don't discuss here, and I really haven't read enough books for pleasure that I can craft a top ten, but I do have three that stood out: The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling, Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor, and Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde. These three managed to get five stars of of me on Goodreads and are the over achievers for 2022.

Goals For Next Year

I'm wanting to take time to read through my collection of Mercedes Lackey's Velgarth universe. I have almost if not 30 books in this world, and I've been inspired to read through it and make Thrifty Geek's Library posts about the read through. I also have seen the latest book in the Ex Hex series is out which I had forgot about coming out, so I totally have to squeeze that in. I'm hoping that my library will get the other books in the Once Upon A Con series by Ashley Poston, which she's also released a Rom-Com called The Dead Romantics, that I want to check out. As I mentioned I wanna beef up my personal reads, and I feel like I'm going to be getting off to a good start.

I hope 2022 has been good for you guys, and may 2023 be even better. Please be smart tonight in your celebrating, don't drink and drive, and God bless you in the new year.

*Thrifty Geek*

*Update*

I finished my latest book before midnight so it's 29 books for this year!

Thrifty Geek's Library- When We're in Tough Situations

Hello Friends,

How's the weekend going? I hope all is well for you guys. So today I decided to hit you with a long overdue Library post. Of course I've not had many books to write on lately, but I've finally managed to read enough to warrant a post. I'll go in more depth about that later. Today's post is themed around people in the tough situations. 

 

Getting Lost in a Good Book (Thursday Next Book Two) by Jasper Fforde

So I'm continuing the Thursday Next series now that my digital library provider got book two! We once more go into the alternate 1985 universe of Thursday Next, where extinct things have been brought back to life, airships are common, and time travel and going into your favorite books are possible. Well you can go into your favorite books if you have the skill, or your uncle makes a device to do so. Well Thursday finds herself dealing with old foes and relatives of foes from the first book. It's a mess and their all out to kill her, or at least make her life a living nightmare. You know usual day in the life of a heroine. Well Thursday has had her husband taken from her for ransom, and her father warning that the world is going to end, all of which she's gotta solve.
I love how we get to see the world of books, basically how our favorite classic characters live when their not being read. We have a whole group in charge of keeping the literary world running smoothly. I love how the author breaths life into the written word. There's actually a funny battle between two characters in the real world that takes place in like a black Friday of book sales. I love this world has people who are fanatics of books and/or authors. I mean peoples lifestyle and looks surround their favorites.\Now I know this is a series and you leave some things open to keep the series going, you can do that with a series, but in my mind there was two main problems our character faced that I figured would be solved this book, well one was, but the other wasn't. Plus the end of the book ended with the main character still kinda in the middle of the adventure we've been on this book. I mean like in the first book we had illusions to more minor mysteries that you feel would play bigger parts in future books, but all the main issues for that book were tidied up and given a proper book ending. With this one I felt like this book was just part one of the story we were on.
Another thing we have a minor event that gets brought up off and on in the book, then suddenly during the last fifty pages or so we find out that event is actually a major problem, then next chapter we're fixing it. I just felt like it all just happened too quick. Seems like that background event and the true problem it involved should have been introduced earlier then made part of the mysteries needed to be solved in the book, not tossed at us toward the end of the book after we're getting to were we should be solving the problems that have been in the books already, I mean it's okay to do if it is part of surprise twist and it turns out it's part of one your stories problems all along and didn't know it, but this twist didn't really have anything to do with the problems we've been trying to solve in this book. I mean awesome twist, but I felt like it didn't really do anything to the big events that'd we'd been working on in the story, just  this atmospheric event, is that a thing?
But if you love book based literature check this book out. I'll definitely be continuing the series, because I gotta see it she fixes things, and mainly cause it's a great series.
 

A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher

I'm not sure how this one ended up on my radar, and I didn't know it was a children's book, well older children's book until I started reading it. It's the story of Mona a 14 year wizard baker who's powers only work with bread products. The story opens with Mona discovering a dead body in the kitchen of her aunt's bakery when she comes in to work one morning. Soon Mona finds herself in a plot to rid her city of all magic people and to overthrow the ruler.

As I mentioned earlier no clue this was a children's book, but it actually proved a good book to get me back into reading. In the latter half of 2020, my attention span due to my anxiety, or we are thinking could be ADD/ADHD, started falling off. I missed my Goodreads goal that year. I started with a goal of thirty then I lowered it to twenty went I saw I was struggling and missed completing by one. Then last year I tried 20 again and only managed five books. So this was a good book to ease me back in to the swing of things and remind me of why I love reading.
This was a really good book. It was Funny, thought provoking.  I was making notes of so many great quotes. I definitely recommend this for an older child, or the young at heart. My only thing was the fourteen year old protagonist kept referring to herself as a a child... I could see her saying she's a teenager, but not a kid, I mean what parent hasn't had the being called a kid argument? But that's just me. Though this could be cause they want to keep this aimed at kids. I definitely had some Shrek 2 vibes with the wizard being able to animate bread.
But it was a short sweet read, definitely gave me confidence and hopefully the willpower to try to focus my attention to reading again.

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling

You know how they say the first line should grab your readers? It's very true, especially this book. When I read the first line "Never mix vodka and witchcraft", I knew I was in for a good time with this book. It is the story of Vivi,  one of the magical women of the Jones family of Graves Glen, Georgia. Vivi is going through a break up with Rhys Penhallow, a magically gifted man from Wales who's ancestor founded the town and made it a haven for witches, apparently all magical people, men and women, refer to themselves as witches, the term warlock for men is only used by older generations, specifically Rhys's father who refuses to let go of the old ways.
Well, Vivi and her cousin Gwyn the night Vivi breaks up with Rhys, decide to make a vodka induced decision to "hex" the guy. It was never meant to be an actually curse, no real magic, as Gwyn would say, was involved, more like just a bunch of mumbo jumbo to help Vivi feel better. Of course, they'll learn why their matriarch's advice of never mixing magic and vodka is very true, especially when Rhys returns to their town nine years later and they learn how fake drunken spells can lead to magically drunken consequences.
I'm happy to report this book was a good time. It hit all my marks magic, romance, and saving the world, well town. I love the characters, they made me smile as I read it. I couldn't put the book down. I now see why there was a waiting list at the library to get this book. I love magical families who have a long history, like Charmed, Practical Magic, or The Good Witch, this book fulfills that nicely. It also fulfills my love of strong magical women families.
There were great memorable quotes in this book that made me laugh. I always love a good book you want to remember the words from. I'm totally adding this to books to add to my permanent library, because I'll definitely want to revisit it in the future.

I'm So (Not) Over You by Kokoso Jackson

This is the first contemporary romance by the author. The book book follows the escapades of Kian who is approached by his ex of three months Hudson to go to his cousin's wedding. Seem he's neglected to tell his family they'd broken up.  Hudson sweetens the deal by offering him a glowing recommendation to a job he recently had been looked over for. What could possibly go wrong.
I had to give this a three on Goodreads. It wasn't like Robin Sloan's Sourdough that was just average and kinda forgettable. It was more of mixed bag of feelings about it. I liked the main character was a fellow North Carolinian, and suffers from similar mental health issues I do. I also loved when his geeky side came out. There was parts of this book that made me laugh so hard I had to tell my mother about it.  It also had very humorous and humorously quotable moments.
That being said I don't know why but it was hard to warm up to the characters. I sometimes found that they grated on my nerves for some reason. It was hard to love them, even the ones we're suppose to like, such as the main character. I get having an irritating secondary character, or a villain, but when a good portion of the characters, including the main character has me cringing in annoyance most of the time, yeah hard to really enjoy. Keep in mind though this is just me and how those personality types came of to me when I read. It could be you read them and will find them delightful, so don't pass the book up just because I'm not crazy about the character types.
If you love a gay Romantic Comedy I totally recommend it. It's funny, has a gay leading couple, and a hint of the geeky, we love the geeky here. If that sounds like your thing then give this book a read.

So we came through those tough situations to reach the end. I hope the rest of you weekend is good, read a good book, and God bless.

*Thrifty Geek*

Thrifty Geek's Library: All About Austen

 Hello book loving friends, 

Happy Book Lovers Day! I thought what better way to celebrate than with another Library post. Dang when was the last time I did one of these posts? Well I've been sitting on the idea of this one since last year, so today I'm finally going to do this. This whole post will be Jane Austen related. I'll be doing book reviews of Austen related books and share some Austen related links. So let's jump into it!

Books

The books I'll be reviewing today are the from the Jane Fairfax series by Michael Thomas Ford. Now over the years I've seen Jane Austen's work done in various interesting ways, but this series puts a spin on the author herself. The Jane Austen in this series died way before her actual death, she was actually turned into a vampire a year before her "death". Well it's now modern times and Jane is now a simple book shop owner in New York state going by the name Jane Fairfax. Sound good so far? Well let's dive into this series, keep in mind I read these last year, and made the mistake of not writing my reviews close to the time of my reading it, so bare with me. 

Jane Bites Back- 

So as I said Jane is a book store owner in a small town, where she is getting to experience the Austen fandom at work. Her classics are popular as ever, there's weird Austen related books and items that she's now forced to sell in her store, and because she's "dead" she gets none of the royalties. On top of all of this she's been trying to get her next masterpiece publish for centuries, and it has been rejected over a hundred times. Just when it seems like she will never reclaim her former glory, she's given a chance. Of course old and new troubles find a way into her life.

I love this unique take on Jane Austen, she's a vampire first of all.  I mean yeah I seen her works get monstrous makeovers , but I don't think I've seen the author herself get one. I like seeing how Ford depicts Austen's opinions on what her work has brought to life. I can't tell you how many times I wonder what creators of the classics would think of what their works become and give birth to. I love also seeing Ford's portrayal of other classic writers who aren't so dead. It's interesting to see what immortality and the modern world does to our favorites. Also the whole Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte rivalry is touched upon in this book. Is their actually like some rivalry between fans of the two? Cause I feel like a lot of book themed works has their fans or the authors in some sort of rivalry. *ok found this article on seems Charlotte had some opinions on Austen's work. From what I can tell by this other article I found it could be cause two of the Bronte sister's works kept getting compared and over shadowed by Austen's work. At least that's what I take from it. Well explains so much in this book.* Any who great start to a series it had me from the description I read on the library's website. 

Jane Goes Batty-

 Jane's life is going good she's got a boyfriend, she's found literary success once again, one who's delights she can enjoy. Of course in every life some rain must fall. One being her new book is being made into a movie that's being filmed in her new hometown, and if that wasn't disrupting her life enough, her new beau is going to introduce her to his Mother. Which is just fun for Jane cause she's having to pass off as a normal modern day human! You all thought you had bad meet the Mom stories, Jane has it worse.

Also, poor Jane having to deal with the joys of modern fandom: excited fanatics, cosplayers, and people trying to milk off all it. I'm not 100 percent sure people back in the Regency Era took to dressing like book characters, of course I could be wrong, I mean I've never really looked into such this so I could be wrong. If I am let me know in the comments. But I mean if we see it from Jane's point of view, fame and how her work is marketed in her era compared to the modern era has to be vastly different. I mean one movies didn't exist so having your book propelled by having movie made of it was not an option, the first steps to movie making wouldn't happen till after real world Jane's death. So book's Jane had to feel bit overwhelmed. Back in the first book she had to attend a convention and do a panel, that must been different, was there an equivalent to these things back in Jane's day?

Jane Vows Vengeance-

Well Jane and her Beau are getting hitched. Due to the drama that is Jane's life they decided to do it in Europe. While their Jane learns some shocking secrets about her future husbands family, and a possibility to reclaim humanity. 

This was a good ending to the trilogy, awesome surprises, all good and tidied up at the end. But the ending also made me sad, which is weird, cause Jane is on the path to a potentially happy ending life, but I felt sad about it. I, maybe cause the possibility that she might be giving up the things that made her story up to this point a strange delightful journey, it could also just be the story ending I don't know. 

So that's our journey into the Jane Fairfax trilogy. I've totally added this books to the list of books I wanna add to my permanent library collection. If your an Austenite and a vampire fan then you really need to check out this series. I really hope Ford does more in this verse. Maybe do some books focusing on some of the other characters. I'd love to see from some of the other vampire Authors.

 

Pretty Things

Okay now I'll share some of my favorite Austen items I've come across for your digital window shopping pleasure, or your actual shopping pleasure if you have the monies. 

First of all is this lovely edition of Pride and Prejudice by Juniper books. I fell in love with this edition when I saw it at Michael's and after some hunting I found it again, It's my favorite book by her, but I've yet to obtain a physical copy, and this is the one I want for my library.

Next is this lovely leather journal by Soothi that bares an Austen quote. I love a journal, ask my family and friends. Gotta thank Facebook ads for leading me to this gem.

Lastly, you gotta have an Jane Austen action figure. Archie McPhee thankfully offers this among their zany action figures, apparently they have temporary Jane inspired tattoos too. 

Things to Watch

While watching an episode of Felicia Day's Flog a while back (I just linked to the playlist cause I have no clue which ep it is), she mentioned a show called The Lizzie Bennet Diaries. I eventually checked it out and fell in love. It's basically a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice where Lizzie is a college girl making a vlog, but the story isn't just vlogs, it was a multimedia event. Chracters had tumblr and twitter accounts that helped move the story along as if these characters really existed in our time, thankfully Pemberly Digital has gathered all the story across the platforms in order they appeared so you can follow it. I also encourage you to watch Emma Approved and Welcome to Sandition, which are retellings of Emma and Sandition, and take place in the same universe as The Lizzie Bennet Diaries. I highly recommend checking this out. 

Well after for many hours I have successfully completed an actual post! Yay me! To close this post all I can say if if you haven't read any of Austen's works give them a try, you maybe surprise. I mean back in high school if you told me I was going to be a fan of her books and actually have them in my library, I probably wouldn't have believed you. Glad I gave it a try, they are good, and I can see why they are classics.

I hope you have a good week, read lots, God bless, and I love you Geek Tribe.

*Thrifty Geek*

Thrifty Geek's Library- Rogue Agent series

Hello book loving friends,
In today's Library post we'll be covering the first three books in K.E. Mills' the Rogue Agent series.
This series is set in a world that screams steampunked 1920's I guess. There's talks of Women's Suffrage, cars sharing the road with carriages, and a language that screams the time period. I think it's a unique fantasy world.

The Accidental Sorcerer
 

Third Class Wizard Gerald Dunwoody, has always wanted to advance in his career, but his limited power has made it impossible. Well a magical accident while on the job may change that.
I ended up reading book two, before book one, so these characters were already familiar to me, but it was nice to see their origins and stuff that was talked about in the past.  It is a great line up of characters. Reg, the bird who is more than she seems, Monk a bit of a magical mad scientist, Melissande, a princess who doesn't like to play by society's rules. They all have to band together to deal with a power hungry king, who is a great villain, and dark deep down to the roots. We see people who have to draw lines when it comes to how much love they can offer to family, and characters who have to ultimately decide what type of person they want to be.
This is a great start of a series that I will definitely continue.

Witches Incorporated
 

We are brought back to Ottosland where Melissande has moved to and along with Reg and Monk's sister have opened Witches Incorporated, who help people with their magical problems. Gerald is also back now with a new position that places him in great danger.
I love seeing female characters rallying against social norms. I just hate that in this book's society there are still men who believe women can't own property nor can they do what men do. What am I saying there's men like that in our society today.
This is another good read in the series, if you love strong women I definitely think you should check this out.

Wizard Squared
 

Our gang is faced with a crazy new adventure when people from parallel universe start meddling with theirs. We see what would have happened if Gerald had made a different decision when facing King Lionel, and it ain't pretty. We see an evil version of Gerald, who puts Lionel to shame. When I finished reading this I read this article, and some of Trump's actions reminded me of the way evil Gerald acted and the article gave me chills. 

The first part of the book was a bit tedious cause I was just fresh off of reading book one, and the first of this book mirrors latter end of the first book except we see this world's Monk's side of things and where this world's Gerald makes a decision that warps him.
I also feel that despite being 580 pages it was too fast pace. I felt it was over before we got good in the story. I felt the action was just getting started then bam over. Granted I'm also a speed reader so it could be cause I breeze through books.
Despite the sadness I felt with this book I still want to continue with this series. I've seen there's another book in this world out, so hopefully me library will get it.

Well guys I hope you have a good week, read lots, and God bless.

Thrifty Geek's Library: The Unusual Suspects

Hey Book Friends,
Well, since I was crappy at blogging this year, I have a couple library posts I need to do before the year ends. So here's the first. This post is going to be unusual books or books with
unusual things in it that I read this year.

The Lightning-Struck Heart by T.J. Klune
 

This is the first book in the Tales from Verania series. It follows a wizard in training, Sam, who has to help his knight crush, Ryan, save the kingdom's Prince, who Ryan is dating.This was the weirdest and funniest book I read this year. I was literally laughing out loud. If this book could bleed it'd bleed sparkly rainbows. There are so may gay characters, which I'm happy to see even though I'm straight. My favorite character has to be Gary, the hornless unicorn. He has no filter when it comes to talking about sex, and also spews glitter when he's angry. That being said it does have sexual themes so avoid if you don't like.
I was telling Fangirl about this book, and she started reading it like when she'd be waiting for her food or in line at places and she couldn't read it in public, because she'd be laughing at it.
Overall this was an awesome book, I hope the library gets more of this series. It was a perfect read in this pandemic, it really takes your mind off the dumpster fire that was this year. I totally recommend you guys read this. I definitely want to add this to my books to add to my library permanently list. Which I really actually need to start making.

The House at the End of Hope Street by Menna van Praag
 

This is the tale of Alba who is dealing with problems in her life and finds herself on Hope Street at a beautiful house, where she is welcomed to live 99 days and in that time turn her life around. The house apparently has had many famous tenants and is very helpful in many ways. There are also the house's keeper, Peggy, and other tenants who are on their own journeys.
This was an interesting book. I love we had so many characters with their own stories playing out along with the main character. I was surprised at some of the reveals at the end. I love the house itself. It sounded so beautiful, and there's plenty of pictures of famous people around who've stayed there. If you are down in life, this house will totally kick your butt in gear to turn it around. I also have to say "dang" to the family drama, I thought my family had some drama going, I think Alba's family might surpass us, maybe.
If you love writing and books I think you might like this book. Books and writers do get mentioned if I'm not badly mistaken. Been a little bit since I read it. So check it out.
This was another pretty good read this year and I'm probably going to add this to my permanent book collection at some point.

Well that's all for this post of Thrifty Geek's Library. I know for sure there's going to be one more before the new year. I'll probably post that Monday. In the next post I'll be revealing my annual Christmas tradition that I do that involves me making a gift for Jesus.
Wishing Happy Yule a Merry Christmas to those who celebrate those holidays, and a belated Hanukkah! Have a good holiday whoever you are, hope it's good, and God bless you!
*Thrifty Geek*

Thrifty Geek's Library- The Dark Side of Fantasy

Hey booklovers,
 

First up I decided to point out the changes here on the blog. I decided to change my persona to the Thrifty Geek instead of just having it as a section on the blog. I also changed the blog name to Once Upon a Backwoods day cause I live in the backwoods, and years of eating bologna sandwiches cause that's the cheap option we have to get us through the month has made me sick of them, but alas their still necessary. Now that that bit is done let's move on to the blog.
 

I know it's been a while, but It's time to talk books I've read this year, which hasn't been a lot, I'm only about halfway through my yearly challenge according to Goodreads which I set at 30 books which has been my average since I started on that site. It took me some months to read one book and I DNF'd a couple, current one I've got checked out I might DNF I haven't decided, and one I keep checking out and am interested in reading, but I seem to keep not finishing. But I have read this year, I won't write about all of them cause a. it's been so long I can't remember, and b. many were romances cause I had a hankering for romances. But toy can check out everything I've read on my Goodreads page, which you can get to by clicking the widget on the right side of the page here.
 

The theme for this post is the dark side of fantasy. It's books that deal with the dark places and beings of the fantasy realm. So let's head into the darkness.
 

In Eden's Shadow: Twisted Trilogy Book Three by Amanda Churi
 

This is the final book in the trilogy I started three years ago? Each book I've bought from the author herself at this con I go to AARC. Well I started this one in December of 2019, cause I tend to read these books in December, I do it as a way to offset the Christmas season, we watch a lot of Christmas movies, usually, and it's Christmas everywhere so these books give me a break. Well I started this with the intent to finish it for the 2019 year to round me off at 30 books, but when I realized it wasn't going to happen I decided to take a break and read a new to me Buffy the Vampire Slayer book I had yet to read to get in my average thirty books in for the year on Goodreads.
I did start again after I finished Buffy, but I had a hard time reading this one. I think my anxiety played some part in it cause I took it with me too the laundromat and I'd read a little then put it back down, then pick it up again, read a bit, and put it back down. Another thing that hurt me is how dark and gory it was. I mean this is a dark fantasy and all the books in this trilogy have been dark, but this one was the most dark and gory. I can handle such things to a degree, but I prefer some comic or uplifting relief to the darkness, but this book offers not a lot if any of that.
I thought things were tied up nicely in the end. Though I'm also like they and we went through all of that just to have what happens at the end to happen. I seriously put the death toll up there with a Game of Thrones novel, maybe more. I like that Churi added a section at the end that had inside tidbits and art for all three novels. I'd say it frightens me she started writing this in high school, but me and my friends could be morbid too so I can't say much.
I wanna give thanks to Amanda Churi cause her book actually helped me in my writing. I have a Non Binary character and wasn't 100% sure of pronouns at that time. I'd looked in one of my fantasy novels that I remember had a gender neutral character, but they'd still went with male pronouns. So imagine my excitement to find a gender neutral character in this cook, actually my favorite in this book, so now I know how the pronouns are done. Actually because I've included a gender neutral character in my stories I've had to do research for gender neutral terms for them and I have to say it's been eye opening.

Dating the Undead and Drop Dead Gorgeous (Bite Nites 1 and 2) by Juliet Lyons
 

As I've said I've read a lot of romance novels lately, but I've also read a lot of books with vampires, vampires are my favorite monsters (not so much the sparkly ones though I did like Alice). But I won't be filling the Library posts with those but I will do these books.
In this world an actress has outed the vampire world, and now everyone is kinda cool with them. There's even now a dating service featuring vampires called V-Date which plays a part in both of the books I've read in this series. But for each book's main character the site changes their lives, and love lives.
Both books deal with the London vampire community. Some characters are mentioned or in both books. I like there's a mix of decent and dark vampires like people in the world. I find it interesting only certain Vampires can turn people, actually that's probably a good thing, only downside is if a human wants to become a vampire to be with their vampire love it'd take and act of congress to do it probably. Not that's really been the case so far with these books.
I like a world where people exist with Vampires, downside you have to deal with the evil ones, but hey be kinda cool to date a good vampire once.

Unrelated to the topic's book news
 

So I found myself in Walmart's book section as I was wandering around. Despite loving books I'm not in that section of the store a lot, mostly they don't have a big selection, but I was in there and I found something surprising seems they are re-releasing a book series I read the crap out of as a kid The Baby-Sitter's Club. Apparently they are putting two books into one volume at a time. This might make shopping for them hard for me. See I still have a few in my library, cause it was a special series to me, but due to either the fact some got damaged or lost over the years, or the fact some of my favorites I'd only read because I'd check them out from my school library, I don't have them, but want to get them. Now here's where we have trouble. There's a couple books I want to get the versions of the cover I had, but when I was probably in middle school they changed the format of the covers for all the new ones and went back and re-released the old books with the new format. I think there was graphic novel versions released as well and now these, but given I did an Amazon search for one of my ruined books and found the original version easily I don't think it's gonna be a a big problem, though the version I found of this particular volume isn't exactly like the version I had, yes my version had the original cover, but there was a special thing on the cover announcing something special in the book, but as long as I can get the original cover, I can live with that. I don't know if it was something special related to the fact I got it out of the Scholastic catalogue or just those editions released. You know they have Kindle editions of them now, but I want the physical copy for my library.

Well that's this post of the Library. I may be back with some more Library post I know at least two to catch up on what I've read. I hope you have a good weekend. Fangirl and I are gonna venture out into the world, safely with masks, hand sanitizer, and social distancing. Have a good weekend, read lots, and God bless you!

*Thrifty Geek*

The Ninja Writer's Library: It's a Mystery

Hello my book loving Friends,

This is the final post of 2019 and the final one of the decade! The theme surrounding these books is one of mystery. I really got on a mystery kick for the last part of the year. So sit back and enjoy the ride through mysteries.

Some Enchanted Eclair (A Magical Bakery Mystery) by Bailey Cates

Here we have a woman named Katie Lightfoot who is a witch who along with her witch Aunt own a bakery where they work their magic on the peeps of Savannah. She's also part of a coven who call themselves the Spellbook Club. The bakery is hired to cater a movie that's being filmed nearby, but while on set the man who hired them ends up dead. Katie, who has been involved in other murders. and her coven are trying to solve it.
This book reminds me of the Witch City Mystery series in some ways, except in the south. The main character is close with her aunt, there's mystical pets, and a boyfriend trying to cope with their girlfriend's abilities. There's some magic, seances, and twist you don't see coming. I defiantly would add this to my books to get list.

Dead and Breakfast (A Merry Ghost Inn Mystery) by Kate Kingsbury

Melanie West has decided to go into the Bed and Breakfast business with her Grandmother Liza Harris. While renovating they come across a skeleton in their walls, which throws a monkey wrench in their plans. Soon they find themselves knee deep into a cold case mystery, new troubles, and a possible ghost.

This was a difficult read in the beginning, so it made for a slow read. I eventually got into it more as I was reading it during a battle heavy Critical Role episode. For some reason the Grandmother got on my nerves at times when she was pushing her granddaughter to do stuff surrounding the mystery. It's an ok story, even though one part of the story rehashed a fear I have, it was still ok. I also thought the romance blossomed out of nowhere.

So if you like mysteries or stories that take place in the Pacific Northwest that have nothing to do with sparkly vampires then check it out.

Perilous Poetry (A Book Barn Mystery) by Kym Roberts

Charlie Warren's cousin makes an app that is going to bring sales, and a big time mystery author to her store. Unfortunately a string of murders is linked to the app and author which could jeopardize everything.

This was a good mystery. It had me guessing till the end. I liked the bookstore setting and the pet pink armadillo, Princess. As with a lot of books lately took a while to get into it, but I'm starting to believe it's just me and not the works.

We have another story with a woman trying to figure out who to be with between two guys. It's just something I've come across in a lot of books I've seen over the years, and I'm not crazy about. Plus I really think her choice should be obvious and let the other guy go despite the history. Another thing that grinded my gears was the pushy people pushing Charlie to do things and people sticking their nose into her business. It's like maybe she doesn't feel like going to the bar on football night or doesn't feel right going to a funeral of a guy she hardly knew. I mean for story's sake she had to be at these places, but it felt like people were forcing her to go and she just gave in. Of course given it was family and friends I see how that can happen.

Charms and Chocolate Chips (A Magical Bakery Mystery) by Bailey Cates

Once more we have Katie Lightfoot and her magical bakery. In this novel she has been volunteering at a place that tries to help endangered wildlife, when she ends up finding the head of the group dead in her office. Unfortunately Katie also appears to be a target of the killer.

This book takes place before the previous one I mentioned, I didn't realize the library had more. The beginning of the book we have an Imbolic celebration which like the rest of the book seemed cozy as is said of the world on the website. Despite the murder and the danger our friends find themselves in, it is becoming a cozy world.

Now in this one there's also two guys competing for Katie's affections, but Katie done made her choice, so it doesn't bug me as much in this book, the other guy is just stubborn.
This was another good mystery that had me guessing till the end. If you love a little magic with your mystery check this out.

Antiques Maul (A Trash 'n' Treasure Mystery) by Barbara Allan

Brandy  Borne  has decided to open an antiques booth with her mother, the over dramatic Vivian. Sadly things go wrong when the building's owner is found dead seemingly killed by a pit bull. Soon Mom is trying to prove the dog's innocence while Brandy's son is visiting.

I decided to check this book cause it said it was funny, which it did have some funny. We have a cast of quirky characters which made for an interesting read once I got into it. There's "Trash 'n' Treasure" Tips for getting into Antiques. The main character is also found giving tips on other facts of life.
The murder is hinted at in the beginning of chapter one, then it's 97 pages of back story to get back to the murder. Then it seemed to move too quick to the reveal.

Death Overdue (A Haunted Library Mystery) by Allison Brook
Carrie Singleton who works at the local library gets a promotion and at the first event has the speaker die mysteriously. So she makes it her mission to find his killer.
Yeah I eventually DNF'd this book. I just felt myself forcing myself to read it. The first meeting with the library ghost was too abrupt. Then there was things that just grinded my gears. People assuming you hit thirty you have to settle down. Then the Character just giving in to her boss' demands to change her look just cause she got a promotion.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Deep Water by Laura Anne Gilman and Josepha Sherman

This isn't a mystery novel exactly, but the gang is having to figure out a mystery so it counts here. Plus I want to get all my reviews for the 2019 books in this last post. There's an oil spill on a beach near Sunnydale and Willow Rosenberg goes to help save the animals and finds a selkie in human form who is unable to change back. So Willow takes her to the Scooby Gang to see if they can help. The spill also forces to the surface a group of Merrows who want to get revenge and eat on the former prey of their people.

I'm biased but I love reading a Buffy tale I haven't seen or read before. I was reading the final book in Amanda Churi's The Twisted Trilogy for my thirtieth read this year, but it's lengthy so I knew I wouldn't finish it, so I decided to take a break from it and make this quick Buffy read my final finished book of 2019 and the decade.

Ok this section may contain spoilers, you are warned. I love we get an epic beach battle Merrows vs Vampires for the fate of the Sunnydale food supply of humans with the Scooby Gang in the middle trying to take them all out while trying to send a selkie girl home. I also like Buffy utilizing a sharpened peace of drift wood for a stake.

Whew that's a lot of books. Well I reach thirty books this year, that seems to be my average. I also DNF'd a bunch of books this year. I think next year I'll shoot for thirty and may start keeping a log of how many pages I read next year. Thogh it'll be tricky since I'll be finishing one I started in 2019 in 2020.

I hope you all have a good New Year, stay safe, and God bless you!

Ninja <[0000]---------------[0000]> Writer

The Ninja Writer's Library- Ghostbusters Comics

Happy Wednesday Book Nerds,

At the end of last month I read three Ghostbuster comics, which is good considering it was that spooky time of year. So let's get to my reviews.

Ghostbusters (2011-2012) by Erik Burnman

In this comic series we return to the familiar world of the Ghostbusters. We find Ray is being haunted in his dreams by his decision of the traveler's form in the first movie, and Gozer trying to return. We see old familiar specters and new ones. It blends well to the established universe thus far.
We also learn the creepy museum creator from the second movie has a sister and nephew. I mean obviously he would have family, but you don't think about these things.

I was kinda amused with one panel with the ghost of Ellen Gold the spirit of a orphanage headmistress who lobbed the spirits of her children at the guys. Yes grim, but just amused my macabre side.

I devoured this book in one night, I mean it's a comic book, but I was interested in the story too.

Ghostbusters (2011-2012) Vol. 2 by Erik Burnman

In this edition of the Ghostbusters Walter Peck being over the Ghostbusters now has imposed physical health regulations on the boys forcing Peter to actually go to the gym, he's also imposed other limitations on the boys limiting their work. Basically Peck being the jerk he's always been. But the gang with orders from the governor are sent to Schenectady, NY to deal with a major event in a theme park, where Peter proves to have the perfect mind to take on the entity. Egon is also faced with a face from the past that helped him get into paranormal research.

Didn't eat this one up as quickly, but still good. There was a creep factor in this one, I mean creepy possessed kid, always creepy. I felt sorry for the ghost of the elderly woman at the rest home. She just wanted her son to visit. *sad face*

It was also cool seeing a story about Tobin who wrote the spirit guide. There's a face to the name now.

Ghostbusters (2011-2012) Haunted America Vol. 3 by Erik Burnman

In this book the Ghostbusters take America. Detroit, New Orleans, Roswell and Seattle all get help from the boys. The guys deal with and army, a Voodoo priestess, alien ghosts, and a musician that's on fire. Their rolling round in an RV that resembles the Ecto 1 with a travel containment unit, yeah that doesn't have potential disaster written on it.

We see Ray have a deep moment with a solider which makes me wonder if he or a family member was in the military. There's also a moment a women who's not quite alive tells Egon he's not alive, that's gotta sting a bit, but given Egon it probably rolled of his back. I am curious what the voodoo priestess gave Egon and how it's gonna be helpful later. Ray pulls something out of the Winchester playbook against some zombies, which is actually something I've read before as a way to get rid of zombies, though my theory it'd only be the mystically resurrected kind, not a viral type zombie outbreak.

We also see Egon argue with a alien believer over if the things in Roswell are alien in nature or ghostly, it was amusing. Something I didn't bring up with the other two books yet is that Ray's Occult Book Store is still open run by a Goth girl named Kylie, who has become another source of info for the guys, which I think is cool.

What are you guys reading this week? Anything good? Let me know in the comments.
Well I hope you guys are having a good week, read lots of books, and God bless you!

Ninja <[0000]---------------[0000]> Writer 

The Ninja Writer's Library- They Have Unique Powers

Happy Tuesday book friends,
In this edition of the library we'll be covering books that have people with unique powers.

The Book Jumper by Mechthild Gläser

This book was apparently translated I assume from German. It's also Germany where we start the tale where Amy and her Mother are heading to Scotland to get away from issues they are facing. Once there Amy learns some impressive things about her family, and herself.

I loved the setting, granted I'm biased cause Scotland is on my list of places to visit. I also loved reading the description of Lady Mairead's book themed home, where even the murals have books.

This was a beautiful view into the world of books, filled with familiar characters. I think it's cool the idea of a book world and that there's people who can go there and befriend characters. It was like a book form of the Fiction Fixers games. I almost wish I had Amy's power... almost.

The book did hold some bitter sweet moments more on the bitter side, but it was still a good read. If you love books about books you should defiantly check it out.

A Map of Days by Ransom Riggs

I finally got to read the fourth book in the Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children series. In this book we see peculiardom on this side of the pond. It's a bit of the wild west over here in the States. Jacob is trying to blend his normal and peculiar life, and trying to live up to his grandfather's legacy.

I'm glad to see another book in this series. Although it does mean the happy ending of the third book did kinda get undone, but it wasn't too bad. Emma and Jacob are both dealing with issues related to Jacob's grandfather Abe, Emma is for the first time really dealing with the loss of the man she loved, and Jacob wanting to do more for peculiardom is trying to take up Abe's mantel.

I've noticed I love books or movies with a road trip in it, like the first Percy Jackson movie I love friends traveling on an adventure on the open road.

I'm impressed how Riggs can take a picture and create a story or characters from it. I do wonder what would happen if someone read's the books and recognizes it as an old family picture.
So if you love this series check out it's latest offering, and with the ending I'm sure there will be another one.

It Takes a Coven by Carol J Perry

Here we have another Witch City Mystery, the first 3 books I believe I read about this time last year. We once again join Lee Barrett as she tries to help solve another mystery in Salem while being the new investigative reporter for WICH-TV and the Maid of Honor at a wedding. We also have witches dying or almost dying, crows in mass everywhere, and the same O'Ryan  being the unusually brilliant orange cat he always has been.

This was another good read of the series, it felt like a visit with old friends. It was nice to go back to the home on Winter Street and visit with the wise Aunt Ibby again. But for some reason whether it was a slow beginning, or I just found myself easily distracted. I actually read some of this while at Wal-mart with my Granny. If you love a story set in Salem with a bit of the mystical you should defiantly check it out.

What have you guys been reading let me know in the comments. I hope you all have a good week, read lots of books, and may God bless you.
Ninja <[0000]---------------[0000]> Writer

The Ninja Writer's Library- Magical Regency

Happy Monday Friends,

It's another segment of The Ninja Writer's Library and this time we're diving into the Cecelia and Kate Series by Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer. So came along as we dive into these magical reads.

Sorcery & Cecelia or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot
Here we find two regency women, cousins Kate and Cecilia, the former in London the latter stuck in Essex. We follow their adventures as they try to deal with magic and aggravating men done in the form of correspondences the two have with each other during the Season.

Reading this defiantly reminded me of Jane Austin. Older women constantly reminding the younger of proper behavior, or trying to get their daughters or nieces to marry well. Yep definitely a Austin like atmosphere, if Austin had magic. I thought it was fun the story was told through letters. I did find myself getting mixed up on who was who on occasion, trying to recall who was where, but it wasn't often.

I also liked learning at the end that this book was a game of letters between the two authors that they did with each other. That I thought was cool and fun.

The Grand Tour or The Purloined Coronation Regalia

In book two of this series we find the cousins and their new spouses going on their honeymoon travel and finding themselves in a magical mystery.

This book was Austin meets magic meets murder mystery. We learn magicians don't do well near water, which I think this is folklore I might have heard before. We visit a post Napoleon France and Italy in this book where our characters deal with a mystical mystery that fell in their laps not long after stepping on the French shores. It was a great whodunit tale.

I seriously would not want to be a well to do person in this time period. Society protocol having you call on people or have them call on you and you'd have oblige them so you didn't step on people's toes. Was this just a thing with the wealthy people of the time, or did lower class do this too? I'd just want alone time once in a while. I'm in a new place, just married, not that I know what that's like, I think I'd want some time for us and to check out the city you know.

The Mislaid Magician or Ten Years After

It's been ten years since the last book. Now our friends are dealing with parenthood, the railroad, and a missing magician.

Now in these correspondences we are seeing the husbands point of view of things as well as the wives. So it's good to hear from the husbands. There are children now with their parents knack for mischief. Plus some of them have magical talents so that adds to the fun. There is also alot of talk of ley lines lots of ley lines

As with any book that takes place so far after the other books it's bitter sweet for me. I don't know why I guess seeing time pass for me triggers the depression and anxiety in me.

Again I shudder at things that was expected of well bred woman of the time. We got aunts who still descend upon on nieces who are grown and married to set them straight if they were to screw up the family name... Glad I have aunts who I'm sure love me, but aren't all sticking their nose in my business.

What have you guys been reading? Let me know in the comments!

I hope you guys have a good week, read lots, and God bless you!

Ninja <[0000]---------------[0000]> Writer

The Ninja Writer's Library- The Wood Cutter Sisters Series

Happy Friday Book Lovers,

In today's segment of the Ninja Writer's Library we are looking at some of Althea Kontis'
The Wood Cutter Sisters series. A realm where  fairytales collide.

Enchanted: The Woodcutter Sisters Book 1 

Continuing from the last book I reviewed: Spelled (The Storymakers) by Betsy Schow, we have another retelling of fairy tales. Though unlike in the last book where there the fairy tales were mashed together in that world, it felt like they were a subtle blend in this world.

I like the use of the Monday's Child in the story, the link actually mentions this book series. I guess that's why I like Sunday cause I was born on a Sunday, though I do not fit the poem at all. Sunday also collects stories which I think is cool, and gets lost in her own world, I'm guilty of that too.

The book held enough mystery to keep me interested to wanting to know what was going to happen. If you love fairy tale retellings this the series for you.


Hero: The Woodcutter Sisters Book 2 

This book's focus is on Saturday, the tomboy of the sisters, and the one who is perceived the normal one amongst all the magical siblings. The other main character is Peregrine a prince trapped at the top of the world. These two characters cross paths after Saturday accidentally breaks the world and is eventually captured and taken to the top of the world.

The first book in the series I knew what fairy tales were used, but I'm not familiar with most of the ones in this one except Snow White that briefly pops in. I like the character of Betwixt, I think I got that name right. He's a chimera I think and always transforming between beings that is a mix of two animals. My other favorite thing in this book is Saturday's ever-changing name day gift it was a axe, then a sword. It'd be cool to have something like that!

Dearest: The Woodcutter Sisters Book 3

This is the story of Friday Woodcutter, the sister with mystic sewing skills and full of kindness. We get to see the events of the previous book from the people in the kingdom, and how they endured during the upheaval of their world.

This was another beautiful blend of fairy tales we saw, I can't remember the name, but it involved swan princes, the swan princess, even the Darlings from Peter Pan appeared in some form in this fairy tale clash.  I love how the author puts her own unique spin on them. I especially she did with the one swan brother who was particularly cursed, much cooler than the version I read in this fairy tale book as a kid.

Sadly this is the only three my library has at the moment, maybe I'll be able to continue the series at some point.


Are you guys reading any good books? If so let me know in the comments. I hope you all have a good weekend, read lots, and God bless you!

Ninja <[0000]---------------[0000]> Writer

The Ninja Writer's Library- Mystic Women

Hello you awesome bookworms,

In this installation of the library the theme is mystical women. We travel to the treets of New Oreleans to a story book inspired world. So follow me as we dive back into the pages.

Spirits, Hurricanes, and the Krewe of Ghoul by Deanna Chase

I was intrigued by the description of this story when I was trying desperately to find something new to read from the library. A tale set at Halloween with vampires, count me in. This was a short story set in the world of Pyper Rayne, which is set in New Orleans. She gets invited to a Vampire themed float and gets more than she bargained for.
This was a quick read given it was a few chapter long short story. I loved it was set in New Orleans, it's on my list of places I want to visit. I also enjoyed the antics of the ghost Ida May, who is lively for a dead chick.
There is a bit of adult content, but it's a parade on Bourbon Street what do you expect. I've watched live cams there during Mardi Gras so I know what I'm talking about. As I usually do I just breezed past these parts.
It was a nice intro to this character and her world, and a nice little read to pass the time.

Spirits, Stilettos, and a Silver Bustier (Pyper Rayne #1) by Deanna Chase

Reading the short story above made me interested in reading the first book, which luckily the library had. In this book we have Pyper trying to find a murderer without becoming a victim herself.
A very interesting cast of characters. Pyper a medium, who owns a coffee shop and does body painting, Jade a witch who works at the coffee shop and is high up in her coven, Ida May the shop's ghost who causes mischief and flirts with the cute guys, well as much as you can when your a ghost who can't be seen by normal people.

I found this book to be the right amount of strange and amusing , especially where Ida May was involved. I may go back and read the Jade books that came before.

Magic Lost, Trouble Found by Lisa Shearin

This is the first book in the Raine Benares Series. This might be my first fantasy novel in a while, as in the old school medieval setting. *Checks book journal* Yeah if you count Howl's Moving Castle and Stardust it's been since last year. I use to eat fantasy novels up, luckily Captain was my enabler.
I have to say I like the main character. Raine is one spunky chick. She can take care of herself, she's loyal to those she loves, and has a cat that likes her neighbor more. Sadly it's her caring for her friends that gets her into the trouble she finds... see what I did there. *points to the title of book*
This I think is the first time I've seen goblins be sexy. They are described as an alluring race. I never thought I would see this. All this time thier the annoying blame things you start out fighting in a game, now their hot, gotta love fantasy...

Spelled (The Storymakers) by Betsy Schow

Continuing on the path of mystical females and first books in a series we come to Dorthea a princess of Emerald who in wanting her circumstances to change breaks her world. Defiantly a be careful what you wish for moment.

Dorthea lives in a fairytale world that puts me in the mind of the Shrek and Ella Enchanted movies. All the famous fairytales and stories coexist here where they apparently believe in the great Storymakers who write the rules and happily ever afters of this world. Dorthea like her mother and female ancestors before are forced to forever remain inside the castle away from flame for fear of some curse put on them by a witch. I'd go crazy. I mean I can be a homebody, but forever trapped inside. I mean at least there are credit cards in this realm so she could order things if she wished.
This was a nice reworking of the fairy tales we know, I loved language this world had very fairytale themed. This is another series I may if I get the chance continue to read.

I hope you enjoyed that romp through literature. I hope you find something fun to read this weekend, and may God bless you!

Ninja <[0000]---------------[0000]> Writer

Ninja Writer's Library- A Classic, Some Magic and the Failed Readathon

Hello Fellow Readers,

This post of the Library was suppose to be of my readings from the O.W.L's readathon, but I ran into complications. One book gave me trouble, and I didn't have one of the books I needed to fulfill the Writer's Career reading requirements, and I wouldn't get any of those from the library till after the readathon was over. It was a mess, oh well there's always next year... Lord willing. 
So let's get to our reads. This month we have another read in my Jane Austen reading journey, a trip to a magical land, and I believe the final books in my Sarah Addison Allen reads.

Mansfield Park- by Jane Austen

This was my first read for the readathon and the only one of my reading list I actually managed to complete. I had a little trouble getting into it at the beginning, but once I did I couldn't put it down, though I did loose focus frequently and found myself rereading parts.

Reading this made me think of how blessed we are to have our music anytime we want, back then you had to hope that someone not only knew how to play it, but could play it good.
This may be my 3rd or 4th favorite Austen work I'd have to reread Emma to make it a sure decision.

The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There by Catherynne M. Valente

This was my second read for the readathon and this is the one that killed me. This one was a tough one to get through, though I don't really know why for sure. It was intriguing enough that I wanted to see where the story went, but I kept putting it down and loosing interest. I actually took a break from it to read Lost Lake.

One thing I did love about the book was this necklace that September gets that allows her to remember all her memories of her life to that point, I could use that!
I probably won't keep this in my permanent book collection, I don't look to be giving it a reread since it was so hard to get through the first time.

Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen

 I had this one I think in my holds and I'd hoped it would be ready to read for the readathon for my contemporary, but no. It did come in May and provided a respite from the previously mentioned book I struggled through.

This was a beautiful, but haunting book. Allen really wove a magical tale, as she usually does. This I believe was her first book after her battle with cancer, it's also the first book of hers set outside of North Carolina.

I say the book's haunting, because they speak a lot of passed people, the main character is actually been dealing with grieving the last year.
The book takes place in the summer and her descriptions of the summer time, make you ready for the season, so I'd totally add this to a summer reading list.

First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen

This was the latest book Allen had written and the final one I needed to have read all her books. This is another tale with Allen's first characters from Garden Spells the Waverlys. We had a couple of them make a cameo in her book The Peach Keeper. We find that 10 years has passed for the characters since the first book and all dealing with growing pains be it being a teen, a successfully business woman, or a woman wanting a second chance at motherhood.

This was a bittersweet read, which is what I usually say with books were we see a dramatic time shift. Seeing established characters age always makes me a bit sad, but it's an anxiety trigger for me. so it's just me.

Another thing in this book, as happens with many of Allen's is the food she mentions makes you hungry.  I'm actually quite curious to try that Fig and Pepper bread.

Well that's another visit to the Library. I hope you guys have a good weekend, get lost in a book, and God bless you!

Ninja <[0000]---------------[0000]> Writer

Ninja Writer's Library: Gods, Sweets, and Mad Women plus a Readathon

Happy Friday Book Nerds,

It's that time again when I give you a peek at what I've been reading lately! So sit back and get ready for a bit of a read. I decided to do 5 books this time so I can devote the next Library post to next month's ready event.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians #2: Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
Here we have the continuing adventures of Percy and his friends.  I managed to read this in a day. I love seeing the modern spin on the Greek tales we grew up with. I also love meeting Chiron's cousins they were so hilarious. A lot of the characters I still see them in my head as their movie versions, which if you love the movies I defiantly recommend the book.

The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen
This book is a reread, but it's  my favorite and first book I ever read by this author.  Again we're in a small North Carolina town and we have a  woman who finds herself in a bizarre situation involving her closet that leads to new friendships and revelations about her family. In Allen's usual style she spins a modern tale with a hint of magic.
My favorite character is Chloe, I want her car and "problem" with books, just don't know where I'd put them all... Read for it all to become clear. My favorite quote in this book involves iguanas and bikers gangs. Tempting you to read it yet? Yes I urge you to read it.

The Appalachian Trail Hiker by Victoria and Frank Logue
I mentioned this book earlier in my Appalachian Tail post. I didn't finish it, mostly cause it is a guide book for prepping for hiking, if I going to do a hike then this would be a perfect, just not good for a pleasure read, but if you plan any long hiking trip this is the book to read.

The Madwoman Upstairs by Catherine Lowell
If you love the Brontës you might love this. We find the last Brontë descendant, Samantha,  who's dealing with her past, the family legacy both recent and ancestral, and trying to solve the mysteries behind each one.
I couldn't put this down. I kept wanting to find out the truth. I did find myself being surprised a few times by the twists in this tale. One thing I'm just wondering is if the writer was writing it as if Samantha was a reincarnation of Anne Brontë, or just being haunted in her dreams by Anne.
To be honest I haven't read any of these ladies works, maybe one of the poems, but now I have to say I became familiar with their names and a little of their background. I may at least give some of the poems a read, I don't know if I could get interested in some of the other mentioned titles, granted I use to say the same thing about Jane Austen.

Hikers' Stories From the Appalachian Trail by Kathryn Fulton
This is another that I couldn't finish, but I would like to pick up again later. These are collected stories from blogs of hikers of the aforementioned trail. It wasn't a bad read, just wasn't holding my interest  and it was due back at the library, plus I have some planned reading in April, which I delve into more in the next section. I did love reading the accounts of the hikers it did give some good insight to the trail. I really don't know how people manage to hike this.

O.W.L's Magical Readathon 2019

Lastly in April Book Roast is having the O.W.L's Magical Readathon. I've never done it before, but I'm gonna try it. This year she made a careers booklet  you can choose to guide your reading. I decided to do the Journalist or Writer career. The subjects I have to do is History of Magic, Muggle Studies, and 1 other subject I get to choose.  History of Magic requires you to read a book published at least 10 years ago for this I'm going to read Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. In Muggle Studies I have to read something contemporary I've got a couple books on hold that could fit into this First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen or A Map of Days by Ransom Riggs, the fourth book in the Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children, I think that one take's place in the here and now, if neither of these get freed up I might have to find something else. For my last one which is up to me I chose potions in which I am to read a sequel, so I'm going with The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There by Catherine M. Valente, yeah this is a children's book, but I like the song "Wonders" by S.J. Tucker, which comes from the album of the same name, which is about the first book in the series. Fangirl handed the book to me in a store saying I should like it and I recognized  the title and decided to give it a read.

Whew there's a post. Any of you guys going to participate in the readathon? If so what career are you doing and what are you reading? Let me know. I hope you all have a good week end, read lots, and God Bless You!

Ninja <[0000]---------------[0000]> Writer and Vampire >vv< Kitty

The Ninja Writer's Library: Strange Happenings

Happy Friday friends and lovers of books,

Well it's 2019, and I got more books to read! I've set my Good Reads reading goal to 20, I know I read 30 last year, but I don't wanna put pressure on myself. But according to my progress I'm two books ahead of schedule, gotta love that speed reading ability. So let's tackle my first four books of the year!

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

I've seen the movies and as what has become habit I've now read the book. It was a good read, a good little romp into modern Geek mythology. I loved learning that some historical figures were children of the gods. I also learned how to say "Eat my pants" in Latin. If your a fan of stories involving Greek gods give it a read!

Tales of the Peculiar by Ransom Riggs

If you recall last year I did write ups for a couple of his Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children books, well this is the book they used in that series to help them on their journey. You'll find some familiar tales and even the origin of the children's  bird protectors.
It was a good light read, nice to learn of more types of peculiars and the history. I like that Millard, one of Miss Peregrine's children, was given his own author page for compiling these tales.  If your a fan of this realm you should add this to your read list.

The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen

My third read for the year. I enjoy Allen's books  they have this sleepy magical vibe. Yeah that's a strange description, but I can't describe it better. Here we have a small town mystery and people trying to find their true selves. I was happy to have a character from I believe Garden Spells making a little cameo in this book.
On the book's segment of her site she says she was inspired by the towns in Transylvania County NC, which I can attest to given I spent many summers there as I was growing up, and attended it's Halloweenfest for a few years after college. If you love your mystery to have a little hint of the mystical then read this book.

The House With a Clock In Its Walls (Lewis Barnavelt, #1) by John Bellairs

Back in November Fangirl and I went and saw the movie to this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it. So later I decided to check the book out, one wait list wait later, which doesn't surprise me in light of the movie, I got it. The first half of the book follows the movie mostly then it veers off, but that's not a bad thing. This is one of the cases where I enjoy the book as I do the movie.
I always find it interesting to see how tiny things in books get magnified in the movie. Like Lewis' Magic 8 ball which was featured throughout the movie, only is mentioned toward the end. The clock in this one isn't on the scale the movie's is, but for movies you gotta make things more epic for the screen.
My favorite part of this book is Lewis' first night in the house, and he decides to read. This kid knows how to read. A comfy bed, a quiet time where he won't be disturbed, and chocolate, what more could you ask for? If you loved the movie give the book a try.

Well that's does it for my first reads of the year. I definitely have a couple series here I'd like to continue reading. Gotta a lot on my wait list, so hopefully we'll have another visit to my library very soon. Have a good weekend, read lots of books, and may God bless you!

Ninja <[0000]---------------[0000]> Writer

The Ninja Writer's Library- The Final Pages of 2018

Hello Friends and Readers of Books,

I'm happy to announce that in 2018 I read get this: A TOTAL OF 30 BOOKS! There's probably those of you who've read more in a year, but for me given the fact for a few years now my reading has been short by mental illness, mostly fearing something would trigger me this is a milestone. According to Goodreads I read around 9,664 pages, it's nice to actually see that tallied up. I told Goodreads I'm shooting for 20 this year, yeah I know I should shoot for more than I read last year, but If I aim low and go more, I'll feel accomplished. So before I get to far into my first book of the year I figure better finish up my write ups for 2018's reads. So get comfy, this may take a bit.

Dear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay
First up is the first book by author Katherine Reay. It was the title that caught my attention, given it's the name of the character from Jane Austen's Emma. I thought it was a good read filled with bookiness and smut-less romance. It's also a book about finding your own voice and accepting all you are. It also deals with orphans young and adult and what they have to deal with being in this situation.
At first I was annoyed with everyone trying to get the main character Sam to let go of her literary habits, to me it was like forcing her to give up what she loved, but I see it wasn't they wanted her to completely let go of the words she loved, but let Sam shine more instead of the characters she hid behind.

This was a good heartfelt book, and I recommend it to lovers of books. It's a book I'm defiantly gonna put in my keep pile.

The Erye Affair by Jasper Fforde
 
Hanging onto the books with a literature theme we fall into the pages of The Erye Affair. It's the first in the Thursday Next series. We find ourselves in 1985 in an Alternate Universe were literature is so big it can start riots and movements, there's even a special crime unit that deals with Literature based crimes, which is the unit Thursday Next works in. Soon a villain steps in who finds a way to enter the pages of books risking altering their tales forever. It kinda reminds me of the Fiction Fixers video games, which I totally recommend you guys play.

It's a strange tale, as all trips to parallel worlds are, complete with airships, isn't that like required in parallel universe stories. I also got like some serious Doctor Who vibes when Thursday's time traveling Dad shows up, I think he defiantly took a page from the mad person in the blue box.
Our digital library has more of the series, but like a few books on into the series, so I've put in a request for them, hopefully they'll purchase them so I can continue the series in order. Must make a note to do so for the Aunt Dimity series too.

Like my previous read definitely for lovers of books, and parallel universes. When you read this book you should check out the website for the book, there's a lot of strange things there.

House of Many Ways by Diana Wynne Jones

Back in August I posted about the first two books in the Howl's Moving Castle Series, well our library got in the Third book House of Many Ways. We are once more back in the kingdom from the 1st book, thought the main character is a woman named Charmain who has been tasked to look after her great uncle's crazy magical house. We meet with some familiar characters from the two previous books including wizard Howl and his beloved Sophie, actually we find the wizard finding new ways to annoy his wife if that's possible.

Like the previous two it's a fun short read, though for my speed reading skills too quick. But if you like the world of Howl I totally invite you guys to read. I kinda wish they'd made anime for the other books two, a little curious how they'd translate.

Sourdough by Robin Sloan

When I first heard about this book, I want to say from Austin Kleon, I was intrigued, but after reading Mr Penumbra's 24 Hour Book Store I was wary, see link to that post in above paragraph. Well I dove in anyway. We have a you techie named Lois who finds herself left to care for a Sourdough starter from her favorite restaurant when they owners are forced to leave. This leads her into a strange new world.  Like the author's other book it was interesting enough to keep me reading, I didn't get any strange vibes with this one, but I do have to say while it wasn't bad, it really wasn't mind blowing either.

Stardust by Neil Gaiman

I loved the movie Stardust, so I was glad to finally read the original book. Much like the previous book I liked it, devoured it quickly, but it really wasn't earth shattering for me which is a little sad given how much I enjoyed the movie. It joins the list of the rare times I prefer the movie to the book. This tends to happen sometimes. *ducks to avoid pitch forks*

I will say as I tend to do in books with movies, I'm glad I read this realm's origin story, and am grateful that this isn't one of those times reading the book of a movie I love hasn't spoiled the movie for me. I still haven't watched The Jane Austen Book Club since I read the book. Reading the full story behind a incident that was briefly mentioned in the movie kinda scarred me.

The Dark Materials: The Twisted Trilogy- Book Two by Amanda Churi

I've mentioned the author a couple times given I've ran into her at conventions I've attended the last three years. This year I purchased the second book in her first trilogy, I purchased the first one the year before. I just finished reading this during the Christmas holiday, I needed a break from my current mental health, and computer issues.

I think this book may have topped the first one. I have to say I'm really being further drawn into this story, and will probably have to shell out the money for the last one due out anytime, hopefully she'll be at the Asheville Anime Regional Convention again so I can.  I have to say unlike the first which had very minor spelling and grammar errors, keep in mind she published it as part of her Senior Research project and as I recall that's a crazy deadline to make, the second book didn't seem to have any. This story which was strange to begin with is getting even more dark and twisted. Our main characters find themselves dealing with the aftermath of their actions from the first book, which has lead to changes that effects the past and future.

I will warn you it is a dark book, as the whole trilogy has been, but it's a compelling read from an author who hails from my part of the state. This story has magic, time travel, a nod to current politics, a different view of heaven and h*ll, actually Supernatural fans might enjoy this now that I think of it

Hocus Pocus & The All New Sequel by A.W. Jantha

This is a favorite movie of mine, so when I heard about this sequel, I think it may have been Wotso Videos' post, I was ecstatic. I loved the idea that there was a continuation.
Now the first part of the book is of course a novelization of the books, but there is still some new here, we see into the characters heads and find a new view to what we've seen, we also see some new moments that will help tie this tale to the sequel.

Speaking of the sequel I loved it. I sometimes find reading a book of a character that has been a youth in another tale bitter sweet, example Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. I actually found some of the destines of the original movies characters humorous, and why did hey name the child Poppy. I don't think it was addressed in the book. It was great to catch up with the old characters and see how they got along after Halloween 1993.

I can't help feeling when we have the cellphone zombies it's a commentary on how people becoming zombies with their devices. I really hope the open ended way the end of the book was left is a sign for more story to come.
If those Sanderson Sisters "put a spell on you" then get the book and enjoy a trip back to that Salem we love.

Whew that was a list. I have checked out the first book of the new year Percy Jackson and the Olympian-The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. I think I'll read as much as I can in this series whatever the library has, hope it's not like Stardust. I'm holding for a couple books in the Miss Peregrine world, which includes the newly released one, but I'm like so far down the list.
Well I hope you guys are having a good new year, may you consume many burritos, and God bless you.

Ninja <[0000]---------------[0000]> Writer
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