scaifea's 2025 Challenge

Hey, everybody!

I'm Amber, a one-time Classics professor, turned stay-at-home parent/lady of leisure, turned part-time library assistant, turned back into Classics professor, turned back to librarian. When I'm not at the library, I spend my time sewing, writing, knitting, baking, and, of course, reading.

I'm 49 going on 12 and live in Ohio with my husband, Tomm; our son, Charlie; and our two dogs: Mario the Golden Retriever and Agent Fitzsimmons the Border Collie.

This is my seventh year in the Category Challenge. I won't set any particular goals for my categories again this year, but instead just list the books I read in each one and see how many I get through. My categories are pretty much the same as last year, with a couple of small changes.

Right now I'm just listing my categories without a theme. I may come back and add one, but at the moment, I just don't have the mental energy.



Currently Reading:
-Murray Out of Water (CAT#1: YALSA Award Winners)
-Little, Big (CAT#2: 1001 Fantasy Books You Must Read Before You Turn Into a Newt)
-Black Butler 17 (CAT#3: Manga)
-My Hero Academia 31 (CAT#3: Manga)
-The Little Death (CAT#4: Mysteries)
-The Hating Game (CAT#5: Romance + CAT#14: Books from My Stack of Book Riot Book Lists)
-A Stir of Echoes (CAT#6: Books from My Wishlist)
-The Only One Left (CAT#6: Books from My Wishlist + CAT#9: Audiobooks)
-Undivided (CAT#7: Books from My Read Soon! Shelves)
-Cimarron (CAT#11: National Endowment for the Humanities Timeless Classics)

Books Read

JANUARY
1. Hot Head (82%)
2. Ruthless Vows (88%)
3. A Very Large Expanse of Sea (75%)
4. The Beautiful Ones (60%)
5. The Librarian Always Rings Twice (83%)
6. The Baker's Secret (82%)
7. Happyhead (93%)
8. My Hero Academia vol 22 (93%)
9. Wash Day Diaries (87%)
10. Catherine House (88%)
11. Lothaire (80%)
12. Pantheon: The True Story of the Egyptian Deities (95%)
13. Black Butler vol 9 (97%)
14. Smile Beach Murder (82%)
15. Black Butler vol 10 (95%)
16. Sorcery of Thorns (94%)

FEBRUARY
17. The Turn of the Key (93%)
18. Mysteries of Thorn Manor (92%)
19. Heir of Fire (95%)
20. My Hero Academia vol 23 (94%)
21. Black Butler vol 11 (93%)
22. Lunar Boy (78%)
23. Canto Contigo (97%)
24. Onyx Storm (98%)
25. My Hero Academia 24 (95%)
26. People Like Us (80%)
27. Elf Dog & Owl Head (92%)
28. Ordinary Grace (78%)
29. The Pelican Brief (84%)
30. My Hero Academia 25 (95%)
31. Black Butler 12 (98%)
32. How to Solve Your Own Murder (81%)
33. Mythago Wood (84%)
34. My Hero Academia 26 (98%)
35. I Was a Teenage Slasher (99%)
36. The Lotus Palace (93%)
37. My Hero Academia 27 (97%)
38. Black Butler 13 (98%)

MARCH
39. The First State of Being (85%)
40. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (87%)
41. The Witchstone (98%)
42. Westmark (80%)
43. My Hero Academia 28 (97%)
44. Black Butler 14 (97%)
45. Fire Island: A Century in the Life of an American Paradise (88%)
46. One of Us Is Lying (85%)
47. Jane of Austin (82%)
48. My Hero Academia 29 (95%)
49. Black Butler 15 (97%)
50. Jackaby (85%)
51. Eight Perfect Murders (94%)
52. Everything for You (70%)
53. Somewhere Beyond the Sea (98%)
54. Black Butler 15 (93%)
55. My Hero Academia 31 (98%)
56. The Eighth Detective (83%)
57. Dead Happy (95%)
58. The Witch's Kind (97%)
59. Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All (96%)

BingoDOG



1. Features winged creatures: Heir of Fire
2. Features fire: Hot Head
3. Travel: Lunar Boy
4. Newly in public domain
5. Child main character: Black Butler vol 10
6. Long title (5+ words)
7. Non-traditional family: My Hero Academia 24
8. Totally random
9. Author has your first/last name: Wash Day Diaries
10. Holiday in title
11. Nonhuman narrator: Lothaire
12. Published in language not your own" My Hero Academia vol 22
13. Read a CAT
14. Furniture on the cover: Black Butler vol 9
15. Medical topic: How to Solve Your Own Murder
16. Features a birth: The Baker's Secret
17. Hollywood: The Witch's Kind
18. Place you've never been: Happyhead
19. Profession in title: The Librarian Always Rings Twice
20. Sun on cover/in title: Pantheon: The True Story of the Egyptian Deities
21. Oldest book on your TBR: Mythago Wood
22. Set in your favorite season
23. Recommended by a friend
24. "Library" or "thing" in title: Everything for You
25. Writing about writers: Ruthless Vows

AlphaKIT
January (SO): A Very Large Expanse of Sea & The Beautiful Ones
February (LG): People Like Us & Ordinary Grace
March (UA): One of Us Is Lying & Fire Island: A Century in the Life of an American Paradise
April (KE):
May (ID):
June (CQ):
July (WT):
August (NJ):
September (BM):
October (FP):
November (YH):
December (VR):
Year-Long (XZ):

RandomKIT
January: Eat, Drink, and Be Merry: The Baker's Secret
February: Playing with Time: Ordinary Grace
March: Wishes: One of Us Is Lying
April:
May:
June:
July:
August:
September:
October:
November:
December:

CAT#1: YALSA Award Winners

1. Wash Day Diaries (Alex Award)
2. Lunar Boy (Stonewall Award)
3. Canto Contigo (Stonewall Award)
4. Elf Dog & Owl Head (Newbery Honor Book)
5. How to Solve Your Own Murder (Alex Award)
6. I Was a Teenage Slasher (Alex Award)
7. The First State of Being (Newbery Medal)
8. Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All (Newbery Honor Book)

CAT#2: 1001 Fantasy Books You Must Read Before You Turn Into a Newt

1. Westmark

CAT#3: Manga

1. My Hero Academia vol 22
2. Black Butler vol 9
3. Black Butler vol 10
4. My Hero Academia vol 23
5. Black Butler vol 11
6. My Hero Academia 24
7. My Hero Academia 25
8. Black Butler 12
9. My Hero Academia 26
10. My Hero Academia 27
11. Black Butler 13
12. My Hero Academia 28
13. Black Butler 14
14. My Hero Academia 29
15. Black Butler 15
16. Black Butler 16
17. My Hero Academia 30

CAT#4: Mysteries

1. The Pelican Brief

CAT#5: Romance

1. Hot Head
2. Lothaire
3. The Lotus Palace

CAT#6: Books from my Wishlist

1. A Very Large Expanse of Sea
2. The Beautiful Ones
3. Catherine House
4. Sorcery of Thorns
5. The Turn of the Key
6. People Like Us
7. Ordinary Grace
8. Mythago Wood
9. One of Us Is Lying
10. Jackaby
11. The Eighth Detective
12. The Witch's Kind

CAT#7: Books from My Read Soon! Shelves

1. Happyhead
2. Heir of Fire
3. Onyx Storm
4. Dead Happy

CAT#8: Library Display Books

1. The Librarian Always Rings Twice
2. Smile Beach Murder
3. Jane of Austin

CAT#9: Audiobooks

1. Ruthless Vows
2. A Very Large Expanse of Sea
3. The Beautiful Ones
4. Catherine House
5. Sorcery of Thorns
6. The Turn of the Key
7. Mysteries of Thorn Manor
8. Canto Contigo
9. People Like Us
10. Ordinary Grace
11. How to Solve Your Own Murder
12. I Was a Teenage Slasher
13. The Witchstone
14. Fire Island
15. One of Us Is Lying
16. Jackaby
17. Everything for You
18. The Eighth Detective
19. The Witch's Kind
20. Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All

CAT#10: Favorite Author Bibliographies

1. Somewhere Beyond the Sea

CAT#14: Books from My Stack of Book Riot Book Lists

1. Hot Head (24 Best Romance Novels of All Time)
2. Lothaire (24 Best Romance Novels of All Time)
3. The Lotus Palace (24 Best Romance Novels of All Time)

Good luck with your 2025 reading. I think I've mentioned before that I'm a fellow buckeye living between Columbus and Lancaster.

>19 Tess_W: Thanks! In a couple of years, we'll be traveling through your area pretty frequently I think: my son, Charlie, wants to go to Ohio University.

>20 scaifea: For sure, I live about 5 miles from Route 33. I got my Master's from OU. OU is about 70 minutes from my house.

>21 Tess_W: Excellent! Such a beautiful campus and area in general. He's a sophomore, so he of course could still change his mind, but right now he's very excited about the idea and wants to be in the Marching 110.

Looks like lots of interesting categories, Amber. Looking forward to seeing what you read.

>23 dudes22: Thanks, Betty!

Good reading in 2025.

>25 mnleona: Thanks, Leona!

Happy reading in 2025! I am looking forward to seeing which books you choose, I always find interesting ones in your thread.

Dropping a star to follow along in 2025.

>27 MissBrangwen: Thanks! Here's hoping I find more interesting reads again this year!

>28 Helenliz: Hi, Helen!

Enjoy your 2025 reading! I’ll be especially interested in your audiobook reading.

Hi Amber, wishing you a 2025 filled with great reads!

>30 Charon07: >31 DeltaQueen50: Thanks, folks!

I have to look up that National Endowment list. Good luck with your challenge and have a wonderful new year.

Hi Amber, looking forward to many BBs from you in 2025!

Just popping in to get your thread on my radar for the coming year!

I thought you might enjoy this post from Athens today!

>36 Tess_W: I saw that today on Facebook! So cool. We saw several deer on our last campus visit, too. Such a gorgeous campus.

Happy new year of reading, Amber!

I hope 2025 is kinder to you and yours.

>38 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie - me too!

Hello, Amber! I'll just echo what Katie said, here's hoping for a much kinder New Year.

>40 Crazymamie: Thanks, Mamie.

Wishing you a year full of good reads, Amber!

Happy New Year Amber!

Looking forward to your reading and crafting this year, Amber.

Thanks, all!

Happy New Thread, Amber. Happy New Year. Hoping for a much better year for you and the family. 🙏

>46 msf59: Thanks, Mark. Here's hoping we all have a better year this time around!

Happy New Year, Amber, and looking forward to following your 2025 reads.

Happy New Year and good luck with your reading. I am looking forward to the bullets I will pick up from you this year.

Hope you have a happy new year and a great year of reading!

Happy New Year Amber. I hope 2025 is a good year for you.

Wishing you a happy reading year that is restful and restorative. I'll be following along here and will pop into your needlework thread as well. I haven't been there for a while, but I remember your beautiful work.
You can find me here
https://www.librarything.com/topic/367017#8712413

Hello Amber :)
Followed here from the 75er's. I hope 2025 sees better times for you overall. I'm always excited to see what you pick up so I'll be poking my head in every once and awhile.

Best wishes to you and the boys!

Hi, Amber. Sorry you migrated but happy to find you over here. Here's to a better New Year!

Happy New Year! I look forward to following your reading again this year.

Thanks, everyone!

>53 Ravenwoodwitch: Hi, Angela! I love seeing what you read and what's going on in your world, too, so I'll be following along with you as well.

CAT#5: Romance
CAT#14: Books from My Stack of Book Riot Book Lists
BingoDOG #2: Features Fire

1. Hot Head by Damon Suede 82%
A m/m romance with NY firefighters as the love interests. Not a lot of plot here; mostly just spicy scenes, but still a fun and in places surprisingly sweet read.

>57 scaifea: The 8.2/10 made me laugh - so specific!

>58 Crazymamie: Ha! I'm going to try to be more specific this year in my ratings. I've always been so in my head, but stuck to whole numbers in type. I rate books like I grade papers, so this one gets an 82% (low B). Maybe I should break down and give percentage grades...

"I rate books like I grade papers" - I love this about you! 82% makes perfect sense, so now I get it.

>60 Crazymamie: Welp, that clinches it - I'm changing to percentages!

Happy New Year, Amber!

Happy 2025, Amber! I hope 2025 brings you great things and awesome books!

>63 ChelleBearss: Hi, Chelle! Good to see you!

Hello Amber! All the best for your 2025 reading!

>65 susanj67: Thanks, Susan!

>57 scaifea: Bit late on this but if this were made into a movie, what would the quality be?

>67 nerdytheorist: Ha! Um, well, I suspect you'd have to wait until September when you turn 17 to be allowed in...

2. Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross (88%)

CAT#9: Audiobooks
BingoDOG #25: Writing about Writers

(Warning: spoilers for the first book in the series ahead.)

The second in a fantasy duology in which two gods are at war and have drafted mortals to fight their battles for them. In the first book, Iris and Roman fell in love while writing magical letters to each other (heavy Shop Around the Corner vibes here) only to get separated at the cliffhanger when Dacre (the Bad God) saved Roman from the brink of death, wiped his memory, and made him his slave while Iris’ brother force-rescued her from a similar fate. This second book sees Iris working to find Roman and Roman struggling to regain his memories, and then the both of them working together to secretly bring Dacre down.
The second book is just as well written as the first. The narration switches back and forth between Iris and Roman, and Ross makes the transitions smooth, which isn’t always the case. I also loved that the epistolary element continued in the sequel, and it’s cleverly used as an interesting plot mover. Iris and Roman are a great couple and I liked how their relationship grows and matures in this volume, and I’m particularly impressed that although they’re apart for most of the book, Ross does a great job balancing that tension and not making it angsty or frustrating. The Bad Guys are also nicely drawn and complex; yeah, the gods are a-holes, but their motives are believable and believable.

Happy reading in 2025, Amber!

>69 scaifea: Very well-constructed and satisfying ending as well

Happy new year, Amber! Hope you don't mind that I followed you over here :) Looking forward to seeing what you read in 2025!

>69 scaifea: This one is on my list to read this year -- glad to see you enjoyed it!

>72 curioussquared: It's good to see you, Natalie!! I'm following along with your 75er thread, but I don't think I've thought of anything worth saying yet over there.

I hope you enjoy Ruthless Vows! It's definitely a nice continuation of the first book. (Weirdly, I noticed yesterday while doing some shelving at work that my library has the first book in the general fiction section and this one in the teen section. Silly. I may make a case for switching one over but I just didn't have the energy yesterday.)

CAT#6: Wishlist
CAT#9: Audiobooks
BingoDOG #6: Long Title
January AlphaKIT: S

3. A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi (75%)
Shirin is a Muslim teen just trying to make it through each day in her high school, where her race and her hijab cause her to stand out in ways she really doesn’t want. This is made worse by the fact that it’s only been a year since 9/11. She does her best to be as invisible as possible, but Ocean, a handsome boy in her biology class, seems determined to talk to her. Meanwhile, her older brother, who never has trouble fitting in at their new schools, is putting together a breakdancing group with his new friends, and Shirin joins because it’s the one thing that makes her sort-of happy. When she finally realizes that Ocean may actually really like her, she thinks something else just may add to that happiness, but then she discovers that he is, in fact, one of the most popular guys in school and she fears the backlash if they make their relationship public.

It's an okayish YA romance. I understand what the author was going for with Shirin’s character: she’s been burned so many times by idiots being racist that it’s hard for her to believe a Popular White Boy would be interested in her or even, for that matter, kind without malice behind it. But the pacing was too slow and her reluctance to trust tipped over into frustrating. The plot was also fairly predictable, and generally that’s just fine in a romance, but it felt as if the author was leading up to some of the plot points as if they would be twists, and they weren’t. The ending, then, after the too-slow pacing and the predictable plot, was weirdly abrupt and felt out of place for all that had come before it. So, overall, maybe not as polished as it could have been.



CAT#6: Wishlist
CAT#9: Audiobooks
January AlphaKIT: O

4. The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (60%)
I DNF’d this one, but I listened to about half of it so I’m still counting it. I just couldn’t continue because the characters were all awful (both not very well drawn and completely unlikeable, each in their own way), and the plot wasn’t interesting enough for me to try to get past that, plus it felt like it was going to a frustrating place. So, I’ve bailed.

I listened to the Maji a couple of years ago and gave it 4 stars but remember almost nothing about it. Of course, that's pretty par for the course with my terrible memory!

>75 katiekrug: Hi, Katie!

It's always a strong possibility that my mood is to blame when I don't love a book. Maybe I'm more impatient with pacing this week than usual. And my memory is the same!

>76 scaifea: Sometimes a re-read of a book changes your mind.

>77 mnleona: I suspect that's true, but if I didn't like it the first time, there's not likely that I'll reread it!

5. The Librarian Always Rings Twice by Marty Wingate (83%)

CAT#8: Library Display Books
BingoDOG#19: Profession in the Title

Hayley works as the curator at the Middlebank library, which houses the late Lady Georgiana Fowling’s impressive collection of works by female golden age mystery writers. They’ve decided to open up the library to the public for a few hours every week, and in the midst of Hayley’s hustle and stress at getting things ready for such a change, a man shows up claiming to be the long-lost nephew of Lady Fowling. This throws a wrench into all sorts of works, and things only get worse when his associate gets murdered just down the street from Middlebank.

A decent cozy with interesting characters and a fun plot. There were enough twists to keep things interesting without seeming to turn into too many red herrings, and the writing was decent. This is, apparently the third in the series (I didn’t realize until I was mostly finished), but I didn’t have any trouble following along.

>79 scaifea: Love the title of that one!

>80 Crazymamie: Right? The only thing wrong with it is that I don't think I'm clever enough to figure out how the title fits the story and that irritates me. I never did suss it out.

Maybe it doesn't? I think sometimes those cozy mysteries just love a clever title that is an homage to a classic title.

>82 Crazymamie: Ha! Maybe you're right about this one, and I know you're right about those titles in general.

CAT#6: Wishlist
CAT#9: Audiobooks
BingoDOG#16: Features a Birth
January RandomKIT: Eat, Drink, & Be Merry

6. The Baker's Secret by Stephen Kiernan (82%)
Emma spends the years of the German occupation of her French countryside town making bread for the officers all while running an elaborate system of deceiving the enemy and favors traded amongst her neighbors, all in an effort to keep as many people safe and fed as she can manage. And she does this all while not having any hope of allied forces ever coming to save them.

Another Strong Woman doing Brave Things during WWII story. And it’s fine. The writing is pretty good and the plot and pacing are good. I think I’m just at my saturation point with this sort of thing. And this one is too dark. I usually immediately stop reading a book when animal cruelty is involved and I’m not sure why I kept going this time, and the ending takes an upturn in tone, but it felt like too little too late, or maybe instead that it was too abrupt a change at the very end. Why pull up at the last minute when the entire novel has been so bleak? Anyway, this may very well be right up your street, but bleak generally isn’t my thing.

CAT#7: Books from My Read Soon! Shelves
BingoDOG#18: Place You've Never Been (Scotland)

7. Happyhead by Josh Silver (93%)
Seb gets. Invited to participate in an exclusive new program called Happyhead, in which 100 teens are selected to spend 13 days at a state-of-the-art facility where they will undergo a radical new therapy designed to help young people learn how to be happy again. It sounds great, but there’s no contact with the outside world and the last sentence of his acceptance letter is, “Attendance is mandatory.” Sounds ominous, no? Seb is suspicious but game to give it a go. But when he gets there he befriends a boy who has no illusions about the motives of this place, and together they try to figure out what’s really going on.

The Hunger Games meets Unwind meets therapy-is-hell. Great story, cool characters and an excellent voice for the POV main character. The tension and pacing are great, too; Silver does a good job building up the reader’s suspicion that things aren’t exactly right and also keeping you unsure just whom Seb should trust. Also, the cliffhanger was fabulous. I can’t wait for the next book.

>85 scaifea: You got me with that one. Unto The List it goes!

>86 Crazymamie: Woot! And the good news is we don't have to wait too long for the second book: it comes out Feb 4th!

Nice! And what is Unraveled?

>88 Crazymamie: Ope, I mistyped/misremembered: it's Unwind. Another dystopian series, and it's really, really good. Charlie recommended it to me and he has excellent tastes.

Thanks for that - taking it as a second bullet since you and Charlie both recommend it.

Happy Monday, Amber. I had been meaning to read The Baker's Secret. I like this author. I met him at one of the Booktopia events. Back on the TBR it goes.

HappyHead sounds intriguing. I'll have to check the library...

>90 Crazymamie: Excellent! I'm still working my way through that series, but so far every volume has been amazing.

>91 msf59: Hi, Mark! Check your records, because I think you've already read that one (I think I added it to my wishlist yonks about based on your review)...

>92 katiekrug: You may need to check the New Books section. That's where it currently lives at my library.

>93 scaifea: - I checked online and the catalogue will indicate if it's in the New Books section, but thanks for thinking of that! I actually ended up adding the audio to my WL on Overdrive.

>94 katiekrug: Woot! I hope you love it!

>85 scaifea: Sounds like a great criticism of all those wellness trends some of which are so suspicious!

>85 scaifea: Okay, I know I said more pleasant genes this year....but maybe down the road.
Yoink to the list it goes.

I smell a critique here on wellness culture that I will likely be snapping my fingers in agreement with.

>96 Cecilturtle: Oh, yep, exactly!

>97 Ravenwoodwitch: *snork!* Go on, you know you'll love it.

CAT#3: Manga
BingoDOG#12: Originally Published in a Language Other Than Your Own

8. My Hero Academia vol 22 by Kohei Horikoshi (93%)
We’re getting to know other characters a bit better in this volume, which is good, but I’d like to get back to the villains… Still, I love this series.



CAT#1: YALSA Award Winners
BingoDOG#9: Author Has Your (or a Relative's) Last Name

9. Wash Day Diaries by Jamila Rowser (87%)
This graphic novel gives us a snapshot of the lives of a group of black girl friends, all with their own struggles and joys, and it’s focused around the time and love and bonding that goes along with their hair care regimes.
Roswer and Smith do a good job creating interesting and deep characters and fleshing out their lives and stories in a short amount of time and pages. A good story and artwork to match.

You are reminding me that I really need to get back to My Hero Academia.

>100 Crazymamie: Are you also watching the anime? We love it.

I have not watched the anime - I need to check that out.

>102 Crazymamie: You do! It's excellent. Charlie and I are also watching Black Butler and loving it.

OKay - I need to find that one, too. I started reading those last year, and I love them.

>104 Crazymamie: Yes! I'm reading the manga as well, but unlike with MHA, I'm ahead of our watching in the manga for that one. Sebastian is *dreamy.*

>105 scaifea: Agreed about Sebastian.

>106 Crazymamie: Right?! Absolute hottie. And I do love a bad boy.

CAT#6: Wishlist
CAT#9: Audiobooks

10. Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas (88%)
After a troubling time during her high school years and feeling abandoned by her mother, Ines takes the advice of her favorite teacher and applies to The Catherine School, a sort of in-between-HS-and-college 3-year program for special, gifted students. From her first day in the Catherine House, she realizes that there is indeed something very different about this program. Students are committed to all three years and can have no contact at all with the outside world for the duration. And she quickly starts to wonder is this is a cult or a mad scientist lair for a secret and select group of students and faculty, who are working with a miracle substance that can alter mind and body. Ines feels a strong urge to discover just what’s happening, but her curiosity may get her into all sorts of danger here.

Overall, I thought this one a pretty darn good read. I love a good dark academia story, and the story here is interesting and different. The writing matches the plot nicely – it’s atmospheric and just the right amount of creepy. I’m not entirely sure what Thomas is doing with food as a theme, but whatever it is, I think it works: Ines and her friends are constantly eating interesting and fairly non-traditional foods for dorm kids, which, I think, adds to the otherworldly and archaic feel to the House. Ines feels real, too, and nicely drawn for the age she’s meant to be, as are her friends. Silly and immature in the ways that college-aged kids can be, but also a little quirky and precocious and misfit-like, which fits for the school’s criteria. The bad guys are a little stock-like, but that’s okay, since the story is more about Ines and her path. My only quibble, really, is the ending, which felt abrupt and unfinished.

>105 scaifea: What kind of a butler would he be if he weren't dreamy?

>109 nerdytheorist:

CAT#5: Romance
CAT#14: Books from My Stack of Book Riot Book Lists
BingoDOG#11: Nonhuman Narrator

11. Lothaire by Kresley Cole (80%)
A very old and powerful vampire thinks he’s found his Capital B Bride (read: soulmate) in an equally old death goddess who has lost her powers and is hiding out in the body of a 20-something Appalachian gal. But as Elizabeth fights both vampire and goddess tooth and nail, Lothaire begins to realize it’s the human who holds his destiny in her hands.
Vampire smut that does pretty much what it says on the tin. The story wasn’t too bad, and some of the characters were pretty great (although Lothaire himself was drawn a little heavy-handedly), but the writing was downright bad in places and the pacing was uneven and sometimes sloggish.

>111 scaifea: You started with book 11? I love vampire smut as a descriptor! I read a bunch of those back in the day but stopped before she stopped writing the series, so have not read them all. I completely agree with your review - nicely done.

>109 nerdytheorist: So true!

>112 Crazymamie: Ha! I didn't know it was #11 until I looked Cole up after finishing the book! At least I didn't feel at all lost in the story, but I don't think I liked it well enough to read the rest of them.

BingoDOG#20: Sun on the Cover

12. Pantheon: The True Story of the Egyptian Deities by Hamish Steele (95%)
A fun and hilarious, but also faithful, retelling of the origin stories of the Egyptian gods. I read this one because Charlie just finished it and recommended it (you can read his excellent review
here ).



CAT#3: Manga
BingoDOG#14: Piece of Furniture on Cover

13. Black Butler vol 9 by Yana Toboso (97%)
Another fantastic volume in the manga series, and this one ends on a huge cliffhanger. *sigh*

>114 scaifea: I think I'm gonna have to read the Black Butler manga eventually.

>115 nerdytheorist: You definitely should.

Hello, Amber!

>113 scaifea: Not books I would read again, but I liked them at the time.

>114 scaifea: I did read Charlie's excellent review, and I am thinking that might be one for Birdy.

>115 nerdytheorist: Yes, you should read them.

Putting it on the manga/graphic novel list!

>117 Crazymamie: For Birdy *and* for you - you'll both love it!

>118 nerdytheorist: Yes, listen to Mamie, she knows what she's talking about.

>119 scaifea: Noted. Adding it to the List.

Hooray, thanks for the link. A Belated Happy New Year. It wouldn’t be LT without your thread.

Like you, I enjoyed Wash Day Diaries. I’m not much of a manga guy; i can’t even remember the last one I read. Ditto re anime. Our son more than makes up for me.

Do you read jennifer Lynn Barnes’ Inheritance Games? I just borrowed your BFF’s copy of her Games Untold, a collection of shorter pieces, and found it really helpful for background on developments treated very briefly in the main books. I did a short review over on my 75er thread.

I’ve starred this, so you’ll be seeing my mug again. I hope all is going well on the homefront.

>122 jnwelch: Hi, Joe! It's good to see you! I don't remember if I've posted on your thread yet or not, but I'm at least lurking over there.

Believe it or not, I've not yet read any Barnes, but that Inheritance Games series has been on my list for a long time. I'll get there eventually.

>114 scaifea: I loved Charlie's review of Pantheon! It sounds like a good read.

>124 susanj67: Right? He's excellent at reviews.

Sweet Thursday, Amber. You are correct- I did read The Baker's secret. I guess you know better than me. LOL. I also have The Curiosity on shelf, that I have been meaning to get to.

I hope all is well at the Scaife Manor.

>126 msf59: *snork!* Well, to be fair, I do think it's one of those books that is enjoyable in the moment but maybe not completely memorable? I'll look for your review of The Curiosity when you get to it.

>125 scaifea: I remember him as the tiny tot whose photos you used to post on the first day of school every year. It always amazes me when they grow up and start writing in full sentences, with proper spelling :-) I used to work with a guy who had a photo of his twins as newborns on the wall in his office. For years there they were in their blankets and little hats. We were talking about TV programmes and I recommended one but said "Don't let the boys watch it." He said "They turned 16 yesterday." I hope Charlie enjoyed Onyx Storm and you can finally read it!

>128 susanj67: Yes! He's practically grown up here on LT with all of you watching! (And he's 16 now, too.)

>130 scaifea: That's about the size of it, ayup. (And... I had not seen a shot that included the flowers before. Boy, are those gorgeous.)

>131 lycomayflower: Right? Lovely. And she seems so brave to have done such a thing. I both admire her and hate that we live in a time in which bravery is needed to speak such a simple truth.

OMG - how did Charley get to be 16! I remember when he was born. Sigh, they really do grow up too fast.

>133 DeltaQueen50: Yep, 16. It goes pretty fast.

>130 scaifea: I listened to the homily on YouTube after having seen snippets on social media. That was impressive.

>135 Helenliz: Agreed.

CAT#8: Library Display Books

14. Smile Beach Murder by Alicia Bessette (82%)
An aspiring big city reporter loses her job and moves back to her quirky, small hometown, starts working in the quirky local bookstore for the quirky local bookseller, and then someone gets murdered and she finds herself playing the role of half reporter/half amateur sleuth. And there’s a handsome single dude, too, of course.

Hallmark movie meets cozy mystery novel. And it’s pretty much what that sounds like, although the writing is a step up from the usual cozy fare. The characters, though, just didn’t really strike any chords with me, so I probably won’t continue with the series.



CAT#3: Manga
BingoDOG#5: Child as a Main Character

15. Black Butler vol 10 by Yana Toboso (95%)
A nice resolution to the cliffhanger in the previous volume, although the story arc isn’t over yet and I’m eager to see what happens next.

CAT#6: Wishlist
CAT#9: Audiobooks

16. Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson (94%)
After being abandoned on its steps as a baby, Elizabeth has grown up in one of the Great Libraries, training eventually to become a warden of the grimoires housed there. Until one day someone sets free one of the deadliest grimoires in the collection, Elizabeth is blamed as a culprit, and she is turned over to a dreaded sorcerer until time for her trial. But she soon realizes that the sorcerer isn’t nearly as scary or evil as she had been led to believe, nor is his demon servant, and in fact the Good Guys are the ones acting shifty. She teams up with Nathaniel (sorcerer) and Silas (demon) to set things straight.

I really enjoyed this one. The world building is fun and interesting, and the characters are equally well drawn – especially Silas, who is particularly complex, and I love that even by the end of this first book it still isn’t possible to pin him down as wholly good or wholly villain. The love story is sweet and nicely paced; it’s a slow-ish burn, but there’s little torment here, and Nathaniel’s resistance is well played (when he calls Elizabeth a “menace” I guarantee you’ll just melt). I’ve already requested the next in the series, so you know it’s good!

>138 scaifea: I really liked that one too! Great characters and flashes of humor even in the most serious situations.

>138 scaifea: I really liked that one, too, Amber. I'll look forward to your thoughts on the sequel.

>138 scaifea: I loved this one too! Rogerson's other books are delightful, too. I'm eagerly awaiting whatever she does next -- I don't think she has anything announced right now.

>138 scaifea: LOVE the cover. I'm sold on this one.

>139 christina_reads: >140 bell7: >141 curioussquared: I'm so glad Rogerson has so many fans here! I'll definitely be reading more of her stuff.

>141 curioussquared: You are going to *love* it. And it is a good cover, isn't it?

>138 scaifea: I also really liked this one and hadn't realized there were sequels. I look forward to seeing your thoughts on them.

>144 MickyFine: There's just the one so far, but here's hoping she gives us more.

>138 scaifea: For a moment I thought this one was available on KU, but it's just the Italian version... :-O It does sound good!

>146 susanj67: Oh no! Ha! Maybe eventually they'll have it? I admit I have no idea how Kindle works.

>147 scaifea: It's a mystery to me too! But at least I didn't reserve it from the elibrary and find it was German when it showed up, as happened with another book :-) Apparently German publishers use the English titles and covers for some YA books now, so the Young People can easily find the books they see on BookTube and TikTok. But then inside they're in German.

Morning, Amber! You and Charlie will be happy to know I have finally started Iron Flame.

>138 scaifea: Natalie already got me with that one previously or your review would have me adding it to The List. Apparently everyone likes it, so why haven't I read it yet? A mystery.

>148 susanj67: "But then inside they're in German" HAHAHA, that sounds like the tagline to a horror movie!

>149 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie! WOOHOO!! You're in for a wild ride (pun 100% intended)! Charlie's still working on Onyx Storm, but I'm hoping to get it in my hands next week.

>150 scaifea: Our copy of Onyx Storm finally arrived last night - I had pre-ordered it, and it was supposed to be same day delivery for the release, but then we got all that snow. Craig is going to read it soonish - he and Kaitlyn read Iron Flame as soon as it came out. SO now I have to make sure he doesn't talk to me about either book because he is notorious for dropping spoilers that he doesn't think are spoilers.

>151 Crazymamie: *tsk* Men, am I right? Charlie's really good about keeping book secrets, thankfully.

>152 scaifea: Yeppers.

I haven't shared a library story in a good little while, but this happened earlier in the week and it absolutely made my day:

A middle school aged kiddo came in with his parents and younger sibling, and while the rest of his family browsed, he sauntered up to the circ desk and asked me if I wanted to see a magic trick. And, well, how do you say no to such a proposition? "Absolutely I do!" And then he proceeds to do some in-actual-fact impressive sleight of hand stuff, making a coin disappear and such. The kid clearly has been putting some solid time into practicing. Then he pulls out a deck of cards and offers to do more tricks. I told him that I had all day and couldn't think of anything I'd rather be doing than watching his really impressive impromptu magic show, to which he grinned big and started shuffling the cards. He did several tricks and performed them all so smoothly and with such a good, charismatic stage presence that when a mom and her elementary-aged daughter walked up to check out their books, I introduced our now-resident magician and gently encouraged the little girl to help me see if we could figure out how he pulled off his next trick. And within the next 5 minutes, he had her smiling and whispering to me, "how did he do that?!" When he had worked through his repertoire, we chatted about his sources (he learned his tricks from a book), so of course we browsed the online catalog for more books and I requested a few for him. Before he and his family left the library, his mom told me that he's never showed so much interest in anything before and she was happy that he had found an encouraging audience. I am a huge believer that libraries should always be a safe space for people to explore their interests and find acceptance and encouragement, so I'm really happy that the library became that for him this week, but honestly, I wasn't humoring him at all - I was genuinely impressed and amazed and entertained. He asked if he could come back and show us more tricks when he learned new ones, and I absolutely hope he does!

That's an amazing story, Amber. I'm sure you made his day (and his mom's), but I can tell the kiddo made your day, too!

>154 scaifea: I love this! I absolutely share your philosophy and I'm so glad that our public libraries in Ottawa (Ontario) foster that same approach. What a great story!

>154 scaifea: That story is so full of fabulous, Amber! Thanks so much for sharing.

>155 lauralkeet: >156 Cecilturtle: >157 Crazymamie: He's such a cool kid and I really do hope he comes back soon with new card tricks! I will encourage that kind of stuff all day long. Maybe I need to pick my manager's brain about putting together a talent show type program, where our younger patrons, like this little dude, can come in an show off what they're learning and what talents they're honing...

>154 scaifea: Not only did you make his day, and his mom’s day, but you made my day by sharing this story!

>154 scaifea: YOU'RE the BEST! I'll bet that kid remembers you when he's your age. Thanks for giving my day a lift!

>154 scaifea: what a great story. I love that he's found his thing and an appreciative audience as well as new tricks all in one place.

>159 Charon07: He certainly made *my* day better, coming in after one of our regular, MAGA hat-wearing patrons had visited earlier and spouted their usual nonsense. It's good to be reminded that there are patrons out there whom I really do enjoy seeing come through the door...

>160 laytonwoman3rd: That's like saying a member of the audience at a Penn & Teller show is sweet for being supportive! I'm telling you, that kid is going places, and if he remembers me when he's my age, hopefully he'll send me front row tickets to his Vegas show!

>161 Helenliz: The library is a magical place, after all...

>154 scaifea: I bet he's still talking about the cool lady at the library, Amber!

>163 susanj67: *snork!* Well, if so, let's hope he holds onto that feeling when he's famous!

>162 scaifea: But....but...a MAGA-hat-wearing person is USING the library...a tiny fragment of hope there?

>165 laytonwoman3rd: If only, but alas.

(Sometimes it's *really* tempting to point out that by using their local public library they're participating in some pretty hippy-dippy socialist stuff...)

Love that story, Amber 😊

>166 scaifea: Now I am picturing you handing out demerits. *grin*

>168 Crazymamie: Oooh....I like that idea, if Amber is in charge.

>168 Crazymamie: >169 laytonwoman3rd: *SNORK!* It happens everyday in my brain, at least.

That library story warmed the cockles of my heart. And has reminded me to see if I need to order some magic trick books for work on Monday, lol.

>169 laytonwoman3rd: I mean, of course it has to be Amber.

>170 scaifea: *grin*

>171 MickyFine: Ha! Let me know which ones you order if you find anything particularly good!

>172 Crazymamie: Remember Charles in Charge? I used to sing that theme some to Charlie when he was a baby because, well, yeah.

CAT#6: Books from my Wishlist
CAT#9: Audiobooks

17. The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware (93%)
Rowan stumbles onto an ad for a live-in nanny that sounds too good to be true. It seems even more unbelievable that she’s offered the job so quickly, but when she moves in and is plunged head-first into the job as the parents immediately leave for a weeks-long business trip, she begins to see why they go through nannies so quickly. Rowan tells her story through letters sent to a solicitor from prison, where she’s awaiting trial for the murder of one of her young charges. She makes her plea that, although she did do some lying to get the job and that she wasn’t always the perfect Mary Poppins with the children, she did not kill the little girl. Between the manor’s dark past, strange and unexplained events occurring at night, and the suspicious nature of the other members of the house staff – not to mention the creepy, high-tech security system and the sleezy husband – Rowan is convinced something very wrong was happening in that house.

A fun mystery/thriller from Ware that kept me guessing throughout. The creepy factor was great and the tension and pacing were really satisfying. Rowan is a nicely drawn MC, who isn’t perfect and certainly isn’t 100% likeable, but in a way that makes her believable and not annoying or frustrating. And the twists are excellent. Definitely recommended.



CAT#9: Audiobooks

18. Mysteries of Thorn Manor by Margaret Rogerson (92%)
A fun and cute novella follow-up to Sorcery of Thorns. Not much plot here, but more of a quick what-happens-next with the relationships between the characters, and I loved it.



CAT#7: Books from My Read Soon! Shelves

19. Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas (95%)
The third in the Throne of Glass series, so I won’t really talk about the plot because it would be impossible not to give stuff away from the previous two books. This series is a very slow burn in a lot of ways, but things are starting to cook in this volume, and in some very cool ways. Lots of new characters here and some fascinating reveals. I can’t wait to get to the next book.

CAT#3: Manga

20. My Hero Academia vol 23 by Kohei Horikoshi (94%)
In this volume we’re getting back to one of my favorite characters and his story, Tomura Shigaraki, so of course I loved it.



CAT#3: Manga

21. Black Butler vol 11 by Yana Toboso (93%)
This volume wraps up (I assume) the Holmes-like, locked-room mystery arc, which was weird but also excellent.



CAT#1: YALSA Award Winners
BingoDOG#3: Travel

22. Lunar Boy by Jes and Cin Wibowo (78%)
Middle grade graphic novel about a trans boy found alone on a moon, who is trying to figure out how to fit in at his new school on an actual planet. The metaphors are a bit too heavy handed for me in this one.

CAT#1: YALSA Award Winners (Stonewall Award)
CAT#9: Audiobooks

23. Canto Contigo by Jonny Garza Villa (97%)
Rafie is a high school Mariachi band super star, who has led his team to three straight first place wins as lead vocalist, but then his beloved abuelo dies on the night of that third win and a few months later his family moves him to another town and another school, where he is shocked to discover he won’t be made lead vocalist in their Mariachi band. And his competition? The boy he met and made out with last year at the final competition, and about whom he’s been dreaming of ever since.

This lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers story is excellent on so many levels and absolutely deserved the Stonewall YA win. I mean, who doesn’t want to read about characters in a high school competitive Mariachi band?! And the gay and trans characters are so well done – they’re the MCs of the story but the story isn’t *about* them being gay or trans; it’s just about two teens trying to figure out how to fall in love when it seems like they’re supposed to be enemies. The plot line about Rafie’s grief over his abuelo is nicely handled as well. An overall wonderful read and I highly recommend it.

CAT#7: Books from My Read Soon! Shelves

24. Onyx Storm (98%)
This is a non-stop, intense, rollercoaster read, and I was nervous to turn every page, worried for my favorite characters. Yarros has built a fantastic world in this series, and she’s populated it with characters who feel wonderfully real. And she’s ended things on another cliffhanger, so we’ll have to wait to see what happens next.



CAT#3: Manga
BingoDOG#7: Features a Non-Traditional Family

25. My Hero Academia 24 (95%)
This is the volume in which we start to get the villain backstory for my favorite character, so of course I loved it.

CAT#6: Books from my Wishlist
CAT#9: Audiobooks
February AlphaKIT: L

26. People Like Us by Dana Mele (80%)
A dark academia mystery in which a teen girl away at boarding school gets caught up in the suspicious death of a fellow student. She finds herself being blackmailed into doing bad things to her frenemies in order to keep her past secrets safe, all the while trying to figure out who actually killed the victim.

This one was a little ho-hum for me. None of the characters were at all likeable, which is possibly part of the point, but it still just didn’t work for me – I need to either love or love to hate them, and these inspired nothing more mild annoyance for me, which means that the tension the author tries to build just didn’t happen. And that may be why the pacing felt slow to me, too: maybe it’s just because I…didn’t care what happened? The twists were hit and miss as well; I had the killer figured out fairly quickly, and the twist that I didn’t see coming wasn’t all that shocking when it was revealed. But, again, that could just be my lack of enthusiasm for the characters themselves.

CAT#1: YALSA Award Winners (Newbery Honor Book)

27. Elf Dog & Owl Head by M. T. Anderson (92%)
Clay is stuck in his house with his two sisters and his parents because of the stupid world-wide pandemic. He and his siblings are constantly fighting over use of the computer, and he never gets to see his friends anymore. But thankfully their house is next to a wooded mountain where Clay can escape for some alone time. Then one day he finds a strange-looking dog in the woods, and she follows him home. Little does he know at the time that Elphinore was a magic dog from the People Under the Mountain, who could walk between worlds, and so begins his adventures within those worlds and the magical friendship that can happen between and boy and his dog.

Adorable and fun and imaginative and nicely written. I would have adored this book as a kid.

>154 scaifea:
Hello Amber :)

This - this right here - is one of so many reasons why I wanna enter this field. I was always so terrified as a kid to share whatever my latest interest or hyperfixation was (because I'd convinced myself it was silly or I'd be made fun of) but always felt safe to explore it in spaces like this, thanks to glorious people like you.

Guarantee you this kid is going to be more likely to perform his tricks for more people now. Or he may drop it you never know. But it makes me happy to think he felt safe enough to do what he enjoyed in front of a stranger (especially for a middle schooler.)

>180 Ravenwoodwitch: Aw, thanks for that, Angela. I'm so glad he felt comfortable, too.

CAT#6: Books from my Wishlist
CAT#9: Audiobooks
February AlphaKIT: G

28. Ordinary Grace by William Kent Kreuger (78%)
A grown man recounts his 13th summer in 1960s Minnesota, when several people died in his small hometown, including his older sister, and the circumstances around solving her murder.

This felt heavily, *heavily* reliant on To Kill a Mockingbird. But…not as good. Krueger fell into the sand trap of trying to narrate through the eyes of a kid and not quite pulling it off – the kid was a little too observant and introspective, which I would happily excuse as the narrator being older and looking back on his memories, except that can’t excuse all the instances of over-precociousness. And the plot, which, again, feels like a sort of fanfic AU retelling of TKaM, gets…weird by the end. The resolution goes a little off the rails but at the same time is too…predictable? I dunno, but it just didn’t end up working for me, even though the writing is nice.



CAT#4: Mysteries

29. The Pelican Brief by John Grisham (84%)
I thought it was just about time I tried some Grisham since he’s really popular with a lot of our regular patrons. This one was a hoot. The characters were pretty flat and the pacing drags a bit in the middle, but overall it was a fun story with lots of slim escapes and political intrigue. I can see the appeal.



CAT#3: Manga

30. My Hero Academia 25 by Kohei Horikoshi (95%)
More focus on Tomura Shigaraki (my favorite character) in this one, so I’m happy.



CAT#3: Manga

31. Black Butler 12 by Yana Toboso (98%)
Zombies on the Titanic, essentially, plus a new Grim Reaper. Plus a soaking wet Sebastian. Again, I’m happy.

>182 scaifea: It's been ages since I've read Pelican Brief. I love the film adaptation with Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington. I think I might be due for a rewatch now that I think about it.

>183 MickyFine: I know of the movie, of course, but I've never watched it. I'm tempted now, after reading the book!

CAT#1: YALSA Award Winners (Alex Award)
CAT#9: Audiobooks
BingoDOG#15: Medical Topic

32. How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin (81%)
Annie has never met her great-aunt Frances, but she’s grown up living with her mother in the London townhouse owned by the old woman. Then one day she gets a letter saying Frances wants to meet her because she’s changed her will, leaving everything to Annie instead of to Annie’s mother. But when she arrives at the small English village to meet with Frances, the lawyer, and an unexpected group of other people with interests in the will, Frances turns up dead before any such meeting can happen. It’s common knowledge that the old woman had been trying to figure out who would murder her since she was a teenager, having become obsessed with a fortune teller’s reading, and part of the will stipulates that, in the event she *is* murdered, Annie will compete against two others, and in addition the police, to be the first to solve the crime and hence win the estate.

I think I needed to read this one on paper instead of listen to it, maybe. I found my mind wandering too much. Too many characters, too many various motives, and too many threads to keep track of as easily as I’d like for a book whose characters I just couldn’t be arsed to care about enough. That sounds overly harsh, because I didn’t actively dislike the story at all. I just wasn’t…excited about it at all either, I guess.

>185 scaifea: I had the same reaction to that one, reading it on paper -- so maybe it's not just you!

>186 foggidawn: Good to know!

CAT#6: Books from my Wishlist
BingoDOG#21: Oldest Book in TBR

33. Mythago Wood by Robert Holdstock (84%)
When a young man comes home to his British estate from WWII, he finds that his older brother has taken up their recently dead father’s obsession with the mysterious wood next to their home. And then the brother disappears into the wood, seeking one of the mythagos (mythological archetypes) that haunt the forest, this one a particularly beautiful young woman (because of course). The younger brother now finds himself the sole inhabitant of the manor, and he tries to figure out what his father discovered about the wood that made him so fascinated with it and that has now captured his brother. It turns out that in particularly old forests of the world there is still primeval magic left that can trigger the recreation of figures from the stories of our collective conscious. But not all of those figures are harmless, and the wood will take its price from those who encroach on it as well.

An interesting take on mythological archetypes. I enjoyed the overall plot and how Holdstock repurposed folklore in interesting ways, but his main characters were pretty flat and uninteresting, which is kind of a shame. Still, the wood itself is a great character that makes the book worth reading.



CAT#3: Manga

34. My Hero Academia 26 by Kohie Horikoshi (98%)
This volume has more back story for another of my favorite characters, and things are getting serious in the overall story arc.

>188 scaifea: Mythago Wood is sounding vaguely familiar but I'm not 100% sure if I've read it or not.

>189 SandDune: It's possible; you would have had plenty of time to forget it because it's an 80s publication, I think.

CAT#1: YALSA Award Winners (Alex Award)
CAT#9: Audiobooks

35. I Was a Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones (99%)
Tolly Driver is a 17-year-old high school outsider just trying to make it through another summer with his best friend, Amber. But at a party they’ve crashed at the house of one of the Popular Kids, Tolly gets bullied in the worst way: tied to a pool chair with belts from some of the high school band uniforms and force-fed rum-and-coke spiked with peanuts, and Tolly has a deadly peanut allergy. But as Amber is frantically trying to undo the belts after Tolly’s been injected with his EpiPen, a dead classmate – someone else who was fatally bullied a few years ago – comes lumbering into the party seeking his revenge. Tolly and Amber get away, mostly because they weren’t part of the bullying that got the kid killed and so they aren’t really on his radar, but not before some of the dead kid’s blood splatters on Tolly and right onto a cut on his forehead from earlier that night. And that’s how Tolly and Amber, who is a horror film aficionado, discover that being a slasher is contagious.

One of the best books I’ve read this year so far. Completely fabulous take on slasher films and the idea that High School is Hell: this one is told through the POV of the slasher, and you’ll immediately find yourself rooting for him. All the tropes are followed and respected and lovingly twisted to fit this unique version of a classic horror story. And Jones also manages to make it into a solid love story as well. Highly recommended.

>191 scaifea: Sold! Great review. I loved his My Heart is a Chainsaw.

>192 Crazymamie: Woot! Jones is excellent, isn't he?

>193 scaifea: Yeppers.

CAT#5: Romance
CAT#14: Books from My Stack of Book Riot Book Lists

36. The Lotus Palace by Jeannie Lin (93%)
Yue-ying is the maidservant for a famous courtesan, Mingyu. One day they are awakened by an earthquake that brings a sunken boat – and its murdered corpse cargo - to the surface at the nearby harbor. And then a few days later, one of Mingyu’s fellow courtesans, and friend, is found strangled to death in her quarters. And so Yue-ying and her mistress are tangled up in the investigation, along with an aristocratic scholar-hopeful playboy, who on the surface is heavily courting Mingyu, but who has secret plans and wishes of his own.

Set in China during the Tang Dynasty, this is a historical romance and a murder mystery, and it does an excellent job at both genres. The mystery is interesting and just complicated enough to keep the reader guessing and interested, and the romance that slowly grows between Yue-ying and the aristocrat is excellently paced and gently sweet. I really enjoyed this one and definitely recommend it.



CAT#3: Manga

37. My Hero Academia 27 by Kohei Horikoshi (97%)
The villains in this manga are so well drawn (both literally and literarily); they’re flawed but also absolutely relatable and lovable in their own ways. This volume highlights that quality really well.



CAT#3: Manga

38. Black Butler 13 by Yana Toboso (98%)
Oh-ho, a bit twist reveal in this volume, and I *loved* it!

CAT#1: YALSA Award Winners (Newbery Medal)

39. The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly (85%)
It’s the summer of 1999 and 12-year-old Michael is worried about how he and his mom will survive the impending Y2K disaster. But while he worries about that and a myriad other things (whether his 16yo babysitter likes him, if he’s going to get caught stealing end-of-the-world supplies from the grocery store, if he’ll fit in at his new school), a strange new kid just appears in his apartment complex, claiming to be from the future…

I generally really enjoy Kelly’s middle grade books, and this one is another one that I think its target audience should enjoy. It didn’t work as well for me as an adult reader, though, and Kelly’s books usually do seem to span the age category gaps better. I sort of suspect it’s because the time travel part seemed overly simplistic, which is just fine for a middle grade reader but probably not as acceptable for older readers. Also, there are two separate elements to the novel: the bit in which Michael is living his life in 1999 and stumbles onto the time traveler, and the bit that is about the time traveler and his family in the future. And those two parts didn’t feel like they meshed as well as they should have. There’s a lovely twist at the end that is meant to tie them nice and neatly together, and it does, sort of, but in the meat of the book, they seem awkwardly disjointed. But anyway, despite all that, it was a fun little read.

>195 scaifea: The Lotus Palace sounds interesting. The fourth and fifth Lotus Palace books are available in KoboPlus, so I'll start in the middle of the series.

>197 pamelad: I hope you enjoy them!

>195 scaifea: Glad to see the positive review of Jeannie Lin! I have her My Fair Concubine on my TBR shelf -- will have to bump it up the list.

>199 christina_reads: I was surprised at how sweet and lovely the story was, and alongside a solid mystery, too. I hope you enjoy the Lin you've got waiting for you!

CAT#7: Books from My Read Soon! Shelves

40. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C. S. Lewis (87%)
This was, if I’m remembering rightly, my favorite of the series when I was a kid. I loved the let’s-see-what’s-at-the-end-of-the-world adventure vibe, and it’s still fun after all these years. Good enough that I can still fairly successfully ignore the blatant Jesus stuff.

CAT#1: YALSA Award Winners (Alex Award)
CAT#9: Audiobooks

41. The Witchstone by Henry H. Neff (98%)
19-year-old Maggie Drakeford lives in the Catskills and with a generations-old curse that turns members of her family into monsters as they do the job of sin-eater for their small backwoods town. Lazlo is a centuries-old demon (barely) working a desk job as a curse keeper, and he happens to be the keeper of the Drakeford curse. But he’s not very interested in his job and spends his time traveling, drinking, and swindling and/or bedding everything that walks. When his office comes under new management, Lazlo finds himself with only 6 days to shape up or he’ll be…terminated. And so the curse keeper and the cursed Maggie meet. And all hell breaks loose.

I loved it. The relationship (purely platonic) between Maggie and Lazlo is adorable and hilarious and wonderful, and Lazlo is one of my very favorite kinds of characters: no-good, lay-about, wise-cracking idiot on the outside, but a trickster genius extraordinaire when it counts. Highly, highly recommended.

>202 scaifea: Ooh, your description of Lazlo puts him right up my alley, as well!

CAT#2: 1001 Fantasy Books You Must Read Before You Turn Into a Newt

42. Westmark by Lloyd Alexander (80%)
A young printer’s apprentice suddenly finds himself on the run when the press is shut down by the authorities and his boss is killed for resisting. He stumbles into comradeship with a traveling charlatan, his assistant, and an orphan girl, then stumbles out of the group, then back in, and meanwhile meeting some members of the revolution.

Well, I adored his Prydain books, but this one didn’t measure up. It was hard to keep my attention on it, and it felt like it was completely formulaic. Meh.



CAT#3: Manga

43. My Hero Academia 28 by Kohei Horikoshi (97%)
Shigaraki is awake and all hell is breaking loose in this one, and I LOVE IT.



CAT#3: Manga

44. Black Butler 14 by Yana Toboso (97%)
We get a flashback to the beginning of Sebastian in his role as butler here, and it’s pretty fantastic. I love a good backstory break.



CAT#9: Audiobooks
March AlphaKIT: A

45. Fire Island: A Century in the Life of an American Paradise by Jack Parlett (88%)
A history of Fire Island. The writing is a little dry, but the content is really interesting. I didn’t know much about the topic, to be honest, and I had no idea how many writers and artists found refuge there in their time and it was fascinating to learn the cultural background of the place along with the class and race issues throughout the years as well. Recommended if you’re interested.

>202 scaifea: Love your review - adding this one to The List!

>195 scaifea: The Lin series looks interesting. Putting aside the fact that I need another series like I need a hole in the head!.

>201 scaifea: When I read these as a child I managed to miss the religion. I still have my set from childhood, but have steered clear. Is it there if you want to see it, rather than being un ignorable?

Lots of good reading here. I may not always want to read them, but I do like seeing your range of books.

>205 Crazymamie: Woot! I think you'll love it when you get to it, Mamie!

>206 Helenliz: I think the Lin series isn't one long story, so you wouldn't have to feel committed if you didn't want to.

Oh, the religion stuff is pretty heavy-handed, so you may want to stay clear. My nostalgia is strong enough that I can just roll my eyes and move on at those points, but yeah, it's pretty obvious.

>204 scaifea: Hmm, I have the whole Westmark series unread on my shelf. I'll probably still give them a try at some point, but sorry to hear it wasn't a hit with you. I've enjoyed some of his standalones, too.

>208 curioussquared: Here's hoping they work better for you!

Looks like you've been doing lots of YA reading. Is that the section you work in at the library?

>210 thornton37814: We're not a large library, so we all do all the jobs; I read a lot of YA because I enjoy it!

CAT#6: Books from My Wishlist
CAT#9: Audiobooks
March AlphaKIT: U
March RandomKIT: Wishes

46. One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus (85%)
A handful of high school students get detention for something they all claim they didn’t do, and while the teacher leaves the room, one of them dies. It seems likely that one of them killed him, but who, and how will the truth be discovered when they all had their own motives?

Breakfast Club, but make it Agatha Christie. Fun, but the whodunnit reveal isn’t all that shocking. I did enjoy the side love story, though.



CAT#8: Library Display Books

47. Jane of Austin by Hillary Manton Lodge (82%)
Jane and Celia are grown sisters raising their teen sibling on their own, and when they lose the lease on their San Francisco tea shop, they move to Austin to try to open up another one. In the meantime, Jane falls for one pretty boy while an injured veteran falls for *her* in the background.

Meh. S’okay, I guess. I didn’t see the retelling aspect at all; it’s just a story with an occasional token reference to Jane Austen. And the ways in which the author ties her characters’ stories together seems overly convoluted and stretches the boundaries of believability.



CAT#3: Manga

48. My Hero Academia 29 by Kohei Horikoshi (95%)
More battle stuff in this volume. Things are getting intense and I love it.

CAT#3: Manga

49. Black Butler 15 by Yana Toboso (97%)
Ciel is learning how to survive as a student at an elite British public school and has help from Sebastian, who is also posing as a teacher. They’re both also trying to figure out where the missing students have gone.

Cool new characters in this arc, plus I’m enjoying the change in setting. Ciel’s annoyance at needing to submit to the indignity of being a Form 1 student is pretty fun, as is Sebastian’s annoyance at Ciel’s annoyance.

CAT#6: Books from My Wishlist
CAT#9: Audiobooks

50. Jackaby by William Ritter (85%)
A young woman runs away from her English parents to seek out adventure and finds it in the states in the form of a job as assistant to a paranormal detective.

Sherlock Holmes in an AU in which, 1) mythical creatures of all kinds are real, but only the Holmes character can see them, and 2) he’s American. The mystery was pretty good and not easy to predict, and I always love a good use of mythology in a story. I also appreciate that the MCs form a strong bond that is not romantic in nature – not that I don’t like that sort of thing (you all know I do), but it’s a nice change when the relationship between the two main characters is strong in other ways.

>214 scaifea: I own this book, bumping it up the TBR

>214 scaifea: I had a grand time with this one when I read it a while back. The cover remains so gorgeous.

>215 lowelibrary: Woot! I hope you love it!

>216 MickyFine: Isn't it pretty? That teal is lovely.

CAT#6: Books from My Wishlist
CAT#9: Audiobooks

51. Eight Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson (94%)
The owner of a mystery bookshop find himself in the middle of an FBI investigation into a series of murders that seem to be based on a blog he wrote years ago for his store, in which he lists what he considers eight perfect murders in literature. He’s immediately uneasy with the association with a possible serial killer, and as his narrative continues, he slowly reveals that he may have more to be unsettled about than we at first suspect.

One of the better mysteries I’ve read in a long time. The nods to classics in the genre are fun, and the multiple twists are excellent.

>218 scaifea: Taking a BB for this one

>219 lowelibrary: Oooh, another one! Yay!

>218 scaifea: Hello Amber, this book sounds right up my street. Could you explain to me what the percentages in brackets mean? My little grey brain cells can't figure it out.
I wish you a pleasant week.

>218 scaifea: Put a reserve on an audio book of this one. Under a different title in the Uk, which confused me a smidge.

ION I've got a ticket to see Elektra in London next month, just before it closes. Brie Larson stars. Hoping having read it will make it all make perfect sense...

>221 Ameise1: The percentages are my ratings. I give books grades. I hope you enjoy the book - I suspect you will.

>222 Helenliz: Those alternate titles can be confusing, for sure. I hope you like it, too!

And WOOT to Elektra!! And Brie Larson! I'm jealous.

>212 scaifea: Per #47,

It always annoys me when books try to make references to other stories that isn't more than "omg this is just like THIS story, remember?! *wink wink*"
It's like "...yeah. And?"

>224 Ravenwoodwitch: Exactly. You're not actually being clever if you feel you have to nudgenudgewinkwink your readers. Yoicks.

>223 scaifea: Thank you for the explanation, you can actually adjust the rating very precisely.

>226 Ameise1: Yes! I even have a grading rubric I've created to help me get to a precise number. It's been really helpful.

>227 scaifea: 😀

CAT#9: Audiobooks
BingoDOG#24: "Library" or "Thing" in the Title

52. Everything for You by Chloe Liese (70%)
A grumpy near-the-end-of-his-career British footballer who crossed the pond to place for a US team resists falling for one of his sunshine top-of-his game teammates, even though they don’t get along at all on the surface.

An undisguised AU m/m Roy Kent fanfic that didn’t work for me.



CAT#10: Favorite Author Bibliographies

53. Somewhere Beyond the Sea by T. J. Klune (98%)
The sequel to The House in the Cerulean Sea is every bit as wonderful as the first book. It’s like getting a big warm hug. Klune shines at character writing, and I just want to move to Marsyas Island and be friends with everyone there.



CAT#3: Manga

54. Black Butler 16 by Yana Toboso (93%)
I’m still loving this manga, although this particular volume dragged a little for me, only because it was all about cricket and I have zero clue about the game.

CAT#3: Manga

55. My Hero Academia 31 by Kohei Horikoshi (98%)
*Huge* plot twist reveal in this one, which I already knew from watching the anime, but it’s still such a shocker and so well done.



CAT#6: Books from My Wishlist
CAT#9: Audiobooks

56. The Eighth Detective by Alex Pavesi (83%)
An editor tracks down a reclusive author to convince him to let her edit and republish his sole book, a collection of murder mystery stories. As they read through the stories, it becomes clear that the author is guarding a mystery of his own, which may tie him to an actual unsolved murder case from years ago.

The premise is great, as is the writing, and I enjoyed the twisty reveals at the end. What I didn’t love is that every other chapter is one of the seven stories published in the book within the book, not because they weren’t good stories themselves – they were – but because, in general, I dislike reading short story collections, which is essentially what this book is. I didn’t know that going into it and I felt a little tricked. Wholly my own fault for not knowing that going into it, and of course it’s not the book’s (or the author’s) fault that I don’t like short stories. If you do, in fact, like short stories and mysteries, I suspect that you’d love this novel.



CAT#7: Books from My Read Soon! Shelves

57. Dead Happy by Josh Silver (95%)
The sequel to Happy Head, this concludes the story and does so fantastically. Think boy love genre via Hunger Games. Imaginative dystopia building, excellent characters, and well-managed tension levels to keep the pages turning. Definitely recommended.



CAT#6: Books from My Wishlist
CAT#9: Audiobooks
BingoDOG#17: Hollywood

58. The Witch's Kind by Louisa Morgan (97%)
Set during and just after WWII on the West Coast of the States, this novel tells the story of a young woman, Barry, and her Aunt Charlotte trying to make a go of a small farm on their own. When Barry’s dog pulls an abandoned baby out of the nearby canal, the two women decide to raise it on their own. It seems the baby was sent to fill the void left when Barry’s own infant died last year just hours after birth, and so they take this new baby’s…differences…in stride. But when a couple of CIA men continue to sniff around for information about strange happenings in the area, they begin to worry about keeping those differences secret. And things only get more complicated when Barry’s no-good husband returns.

Gorgeous storytelling with vivid characters and perfect pacing in both the current timeline and the flashbacks that slowly reveal the history between Barry and her husband. This one’s an absolute gem and would work wonderfully for a book club pick.



CAT#1: YALSA Award Winners - Newbery Honor Book
CAT#9: Audiobooks

59. Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All by Chanel Miller (96%)
Magnolia’s parents run a laundromat in NYC and, in Magnolia’s estimation, are too busy to spare her any real notice. She’s embarrassed that she lives and works in such a business and thinks her classmates look down on her and her life. But then Iris moves to the neighborhood from California and they strike up an instant friendship, deciding to turn Magnolia’s Lost Sock display into a detective business to track down the missing owners, and so begins to learn more about the people in her life and how lucky she really is.

This one won a Newbery Honor this year and it fully deserves the accolade. I very much think that middle grade fiction must be one of the most difficult genres to write in; capturing the right tone to make a narrative feel like it actually comes from a middle grade mindset is rarely done well, but Miller nails it here. The characters are believable for their age group, and the story depicts Magnolia’s and Iris’s insecurities and joys without getting too angsty or flippant, and their character growth comes without preachiness or saccharine. It also hits that rare sweet spot of being a book that’s perfectly pitched for its intended demographic while also being 100% readable for adults as well. Definitely recommended.

>230 scaifea: #56. mmm, I can see that come as a surprise. I'm tempted enough to put a reserve on the audio, so will see how I get on. I quite like a short story collection, and am fond of the odd murder, so I should be more the target audience.
Dangerous round here, that's the second murder you've caught me with in fairly quick succession.

>231 Helenliz: If you like short stories then yes, I think you'll really like this one.

The new thread is up:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/369588#