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*

Where have I been? What have I bought? What do I want? What have I been watching?

Hello friends,

Been a bit so let's take a page from Running in a Skirt's Currently segments and see what's up with me now.

Where have I been?

Well not much anywhere due to this pandemic. Haven't really had much to write about. I've been dealing with a raging mental health hydra for months probably cause I couldn't get out. Intrusive thoughts are so fun. I've only read a few books so far this year so I'll probably post a couple book posts on that at some point. I've just started daring to venture out of the backwoods, with a mask of course. Been working a little on some stories. May have had a mild manic episode that I maybe dealing with low side now so that's fun. But enough of my mental health issues and quarantine let's talk fun things.

What have I bought?

Got the Munchkin® Deluxe. I've wanted a one of their games for a long time, lucky for this thrifty geek I came across this version at a Goodwill. I haven't played it yet cause not something I think my folks will get into, but I'm thinking about making that a new thing doing thrifty geek stuff segments what ya think?

Other fun buys that hasn't been music or gift related is something I came across recently at Walmart that was a TMNT™   Anniversary edition 5 movie set. It has the first three turtle movie from the 90's. The animated movie that came out in 2007, and a new animated movie that come out this year, and that I actually saw like a few weeks ago: Batman VS Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles™ . Yeah that's a mash up I never thought I'd see. So yay!

What Do I Want?

Well I saw in the Halloween section at Walmart a Neegan bat. I don't watch The Walking Dead I know shocking and don't beat me with your flails. But I do watch Supernatural I know the Jeffery Dean Morgan has been in booth and they had his bat in an episode. I feel like as a geek I should have one. I'm seriously thinking of going back and purchasing it. Next time I'm there. Also it was weird seeing the Halloween section still in a orderly state.

I really want a blue light saber, I was drooling over some over at UltraSabers®, I mean a custom light saber that's some geek cred, but I'm a thrifty geek so I was just as happy fining this Luke Skywalker one at Party City®

Like most people I want a Nintendo Switch. I'd love The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Animal Crossings: New Horizons (was watching a lot of Youtubers' game play of this), Mario Kart, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. But that's never gonna happen any time soon thrifty geek here. 

What Have I Been Watching?

Supernatural, I saw that TNT's reruns of it was in season one and there's a lot of the early seasons except for the first few eps of season one I watched when it came out the first time. So I've been binging it every day. The rest of the final season premieres this month so can't really say yay, cause the show is ending and given it's darkness I don't see it ending well for our characters, especially Cas, as much as I love that Angel. Sorry had these kind of shows where ending breaks your heart.

Well that's all for this one now that I'm getting out again, maybe I can post some more stuff. Hope your weekend is good, stay safe, and God bless you.

A Little Update and Shopping

Happy Friday friends,

Well last weekend Fangirl and I traveled out to Asheville. It was a day just to chill out after my doctors appointments. We partook of our usual Chinese food. After filling our bellies Fangirl decided to "get lost" being bored with our usual routine. We wound up in the River Arts District. I love seeing the art on the buildings, even the abandoned have an artistic vibe even if it's just graffiti

.
After our wandering and a wrong turn we ended up at the mall. We only visit generally two stores. Hot Topic and Boxlunch. That day we found a surprise at the Hot Topic, a lot of there Funko POPs were on sale for three dollars. Fangirl and I jumped at the chance to get at least one. I've purchased some as gifts for family and friends, but I never got one for me. I was hoping to find a Doctor Who one, no luck, but I did locate a Xander from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. That was my show back in high school just ask my friends. He's now guarding the nightstand.

We ended our day with some fun at some Goodwills and Dollar Tree.

So that's a little update not much but a little one. I hope your weekend's good, may you find adventure, and God bless you.

Doctor Who Episode "Spyfall"

Good Evening my friends,

Well the new series of Doctor Who has begun with the two part episode "Spyfall", so I thought I'd share my thoughts.

Spyfall Part One

A great series opener. A very Bondish spy vibe especially when she gives her name at the party. Isn't that like a throwback to the third Doctor. I seem to recall from the Doctors Revisted special back in 2013 that Doctor had gadgets and stuff or am I remembering wrong?

I love how the Doctor keeps her quirky style even when going black tie. She can rock a bow tie as well as Matt Smith. Check out this video for more on all of Team Tardis' black tie attire.

Nice to see the Doctor still has bike riding skills. I love when there's elements of the Doctor's that transpires across the regenerations.

Ok the part one twist really threw me. This makes twice this character has surprised me with a return. I though it be a while before we saw them again.

Spyfall Part Two

Doctor talking to the group via prerecorded message makes me think of "Blink" with hints of Doctor talking to River in that one ep through the screen and anticipating her what she was saying. I also get hints of "The Big Bang" episode.

This is a episode of computer girl power all across time. You know there is Ada Lovelace day? When the Doctor said she was the daughter of Lord Byron didn't realize it was the poet.

I can't believe what the Doctor has to go through now. After all the heartsache and thinking things were squared away with that certain problem, then this happens. I can't say more otherwise I'd spoil it, but when you see it you'll know what I mean.

Hope the rest of the series is just as great as these first eps. I hope you guys have a good week, have fun adventures, and God bless you.

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

What I'm Doing in 2020

Happy wet night my friends,

Well this week I'm just gonna take a page from Running in a Skirt and just mention what I've been up to lately.

Tube Tales

From Christmas to New Year's actually this morning too I was watching Doctor Who. New Years day I watched the Rose Parade for a bit and some Firefly and the new Doctor Who! I'll talk more new Who Monday after part two of the first episode airs.

Online I've been watching  Travis Willingham's Yeehaw Game Ranch. I needed a break from Critical Role and decided to try this show. It's hilarious I have to admit. Puppets bashing on Travis' sidekick Brian and also games it's a fun time.
I've also watched some of the cooking episode Christy Carson Ramano does on her channel. I love getting to see old favorites on the show.

Book Journeys

I've been working through the last book of Amanda Churi's The Twisted Trilogy. I'm interested in how this series ends. I usually don't like the epic fantasy format, but this is not been a bad one. The past two books I seem to start around Christmas time.

Video Games

I was playing some Neverwinter last month. So excited to see Minsc from Baulder's Gate in this game.  I had to start playing this cause D & D online won't work in my new PC for some reason.
Lately since Fangirl got me the Showtime expansion I've been playing Sims 3. I've mostly been playing an acrobat. I love doing the live gigs. I also love performing for tips, the juggling acts you can do. The particular Sim I did was made with a B*Witched vibe I guess you could say.

Jamming To

My sister Econut has started a new podcast called Trout's Skool of Life where she is gonna post a new positive lesson she learns each day. So go check her out, there's already some good stuff there.

Been listening to songs of my past on Spotify. They lift the spirit. Also been jamming to the mp3 player. Right now checking out Taylor Swift's Lover.

Munching
Still eating on the goodies from Christmas. I dread to see the scale at the Doctor's office. Momma cooks a lot for the holidays.

Holiday Haul
Some of the things I got included a couple seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Nail polish, a cute plush penguin, drawing pads and holo notebooks to fill with my scribblings.

So hope the weekend treats you good, live it too the most, and God bless.
Ninja <[0000]---------------[0000]> Writer

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

Artsy Fartsy Time: Gift for Jesus 2019

Happy Friday my friends,

It's the final Friday post of 2019 and the decade. Sorry for the radio silence. This holiday days ran together, there really wasn't anything to write about, and the Mental Health Hydra reared it's heads. But I am back with a couple posts to close out the new year.
Today we are gonna talk about my yearly Christmas tradition of making a gift for Jesus. I had thought of writing another poem, but inspiration was lacking. Well while diving in my craft drawer I found some CD art I never finished and was inspired to make an art piece:

I took a CD and traced around it on a piece of black construction paper. After cutting out the circle I hole punched various holes in it then glued it on the CD's rainbow side. Then I cut a circle of yellow paper and pasted it in the middle. I was gonna use the baby party favors I've been using for a while now for Christmas themed gifts, but I couldn't find them. so I had to make my own. I wadded up a couple balls of paper for the body and the head, and glued strips of paper around it till I got a babyish shape and let it dry. Then I painted it with brown with a water color set I have, the with a blue marker colored a "blanket" on. Then drew an ink face on him. After it dried I glued the baby in the center. With a blue marker I wrote Merry Christmas. That's how you make this years gift.

I had a good Christmas, visited, and was visited by, family. We had good food and had some good gifts. If you celebrate I hope yours was good.
Are you guys having a good holiday? What have you guys been up to? Let me know in the comments.
I hope you have a good week, make art, and God bless you!
Ninja <[0000]---------------[0000]> Writer