Charlie's Book Rant

I just hate it when it seems everything in life prevents you from reading.
Hey there!
I'm Charlie (nerdytheorist/whatever honestly). I am a HUGE band nerd who plays tenor saxophone (as well as drum set and a little bit of guitar on my own) and I create small-scale films and documentaries. I absolutely love to discuss all things involving film, music, anime, video games, and of course, books. Feel free to talk about whatever here!

Top 10 Books Read in 2024
1) Blue Lily, Lily Blue
2) Fourth Wing
3) The Serpent King
4) UnDivided
5) A Court of Silver Flames
6) Iron Flame
7) Warrior Girl Unearthed
8) The Dream Thieves
9) The Raven Boys
10) Unwind
Recent Reads
List of Ten
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
The Beggar Student
Goodnight Punpun Volume 1
Jujutsu Kaisen Volume 19
If I'm Being Honest
Sunrise on the Reaping
Jujutsu Kaisen Volume 20
Epithymy
The Eye of the World
Currently Reading
Don't Let the Forest In

That's a pretty good looking Top 10 List there.

Happy 2025, Charlie.

Nice to see you here.

Welcome back, Charlie! Glad you've joined us again.

>4 PaulCranswick: Happy New Year!

>5 drneutron: Thanks!

This is Where it Ends has been getting really rough to get through. Normally I like books that make me traumatized, but this one is too bleak even for me. It's good, but I'm ready to be done with it.

Welcome back, Charlie. I just read the description of This is Where it Ends and totally understand your comments. There's no law that says you have to finish it you know!

Wow, that one sounds rough. Not sure I could finish it either. Nothing wrong with letting it go.

This is Where it Ends
Rating: 4.5/5
The first day of the new semester at Opportunity High starts out as it usually does. But at the conclusion of the first day-assembly, everyone is strangely trapped. That's when Tyler Browne appears and starts firing his gun. This story, taking place over less than an hour, is told from the perspectives of Autumn, Sylv, Claire, and Tomas, all having some sort of past relationship with Tyler. As this horrific event unfolds, the students show their true colors and become more united than they ever have for the same reason: survival.
This is a beautifully written book that totally destroyed a part of me. Likely the detail I hated the most (but made the writing quality so much better) is how at the end of every chapter, social media posts about the school shooting are displayed, just making everything feel even more real. It makes you feel sympathetic for side characters that don't even show up in the actual story. This book is super heavy and just a lot to take in, but it does an incredible job conveying messages about the world we live in that really just make you think.
Next Read: Call Down the Hawk

>1 nerdytheorist: If you go to Douglas Ewart's website, you will find a ton of New Music and Art ideas!

Also, a Search for Roscoe Mitchell brings up some amazing Creative New Music...

>11 nerdytheorist: Excellent review! Almost makes me want to read it. Almost.

Next Read: Call Down the Hawk I'm excited about this a totally normal amount.

>13 scaifea: I missed the world of the Raven Boys, looking forward to reading about Ronan's shenanigans again.

>12 m.belljackson: Definitely have to look into these. Thanks for the recommendations! (As I'm writing this I'm listening to the band Good Kid, they make a lot of good upbeat music)

Happy New Year and happy new thread! Looking forward to your rants!

>11 nerdytheorist: Oh wow, I see why you weren't sure about finishing that one!

Glad to see you around again!

Have a great year of reading!

Thanks! Happy reading everyone!

Only about a hundred pages into Call Down the Hawk and I barely know her, but I can say for a fact that Hennessy is my favorite character in the entirety of the Raven Cycle and the Dreamer Trilogy. She's just that cool.

>20 nerdytheorist: Hoohoo, just you wait. You think she's cool now...

>8 nerdytheorist: I completely understand that sentiment: It's good, but I'm ready to be done with it.

I hope your next read is more to your liking!

>20 nerdytheorist: You remind me that I need to get back to the Raven Boys. I am glad to hear that you are enjoying Call Down the Hawk so much!

Have a fantastic Friday, Charlie!

Happy New Year, Charlie! Really great review of This is Where it Ends. I added my thumb to it on the book page. Of your top ten from last year, I have only read Fourth Wing, but I loved it. And it sounds like I need to get to The Raven Boys.

>23 Crazymamie: Fourth Wing was so good. I am both incredibly excited and terrified for the next book to release this month.

>24 nerdytheorist: I still need to get to Iron Flame, but I do have my copy ready to go, so definitely this year.

>25 Crazymamie: Iron Flame is also really good. But knowing the series so far, best of luck.

Thanks, Charlie!

Anyone have any favorite bookmarks?
My favorite bookmarks are probably my ACOTAR themed bookmarks or this wooden one with a D&D pattern carved into it.

>28 nerdytheorist: Oooh, excellent question! Here are some of my favorites:

>28 nerdytheorist: One of the benefits of Book Depository was when you ordered a book from them they always enclosed a bookmark. Some of them were really cool as well.

I got a very cool bookmark for Christmas this year - it's metal.

>29 scaifea: I totally forgot about the Loki one. You should get one with his new outfit.

>30 PaulCranswick: Those are awesome!

>31 Crazymamie: I love this one. One of my ACOTAR bookmarks is metal as well.

Call Down the Hawk
Rating: 5/5
Dreamers were born to dream. Ronan Lynch inherited the dreamer quality, the ability to pull objects out of dreams, from his deceased father. Now that he's dropped out of High School and the hunt for Glendower from The Raven Cycle is over, he spends his days alone tending to what his father left behind. Until another mysterious dreamer by the name of Bryde reaches out to him in his dreams, causing him to meet Jordan Hennessy in the real world, who is yet another dreamer cursed with the same nightmare every time she dreams. Meanwhile, an organization known as the Moderators has been formed to hunt and kill dreamers (also referred to as Zeds) after discovering from the Visionaries that a dreamer will be the cause of the world's end. As Ronan embarks on a new journey with stakes higher than ever before, he must use everything he's learned about being a dreamer over the years to play a so-called game with the faceless Bryde, survive the monster haunting Jordan's dreams, and run from the Moderators hunting him down.
This was of course an amazing start to the sequel series of The Raven Cycle, but it definitely had a totally different vibe to it than the first series. The overall tone and mood to this first book was much darker than Raven Cycle, which is not at all a bad thing. In fact, I loved this difference. I can't wait to keep reading the series, as I really feel the stage has been set with this one for the famous Stiefvater plot twists to start coming in.
Next Read: Mister Impossible (Second book of the series)

Just started watching the anime Bungo Stray Dogs. From the episode and a half I've seen, it seems to be your typical supernatural hunting anime like Jujutsu Kaisen, but my favorite part about it so far is that the characters seemed to be based off real Japanese authors. The humor is a bit dark but I'm looking forward to watching more of it.

>28 nerdytheorist: I have a whole basket of bookmarks because I'm so careless with them that it's impractical for me to have a favorite!

>37 foggidawn: I used to have a TON of bookmarks, but I barely used most of them and it got to the point where it was stressing me out. If it weren't for that, I would have a mountain of bookmarks today for sure.

>35 nerdytheorist: Such a good review! And oho, the twists are coming...

>38 nerdytheorist: You gotta have a system. I rotate through my drawer full of bookmarks. But I also get the stress release of purging, too.

Mister Impossible
Rating: 5/5
(Spoilers for The Raven Cycle and Dreamer Trilogy)
Ronan and Hennessy are on the run from the Moderators with Bryde, an experienced dreamer who is mentoring them as they travel along the ley lines of the States. The ley lines are the main sources of power for all dreamers, and it is ultimately Bryde's mission to save the lines. Meanwhile, Ronan's brothers Declan and Matthew head to Boston after hiding out at the barns and Jordan, the only surviving dreamt copy of Hennessy, had contacted the brothers from there. Declan just wants to a live a normal life, but that becomes harder than ever as Ronan is running off to God knows where and Matthew is dealing with the fact that he is just a dream of Ronan's. As this unique cast of characters keep going on their separate journeys, their paths cross and intertwine at multiple points, each time the fate of dreamers, their dreams, the ley lines, and the world itself becomes more at stake.
This was a fantastic second installment of the Dreamer Trilogy! I will admit, for a while in the middle I had no idea where anything was going and got a little lost within all that, but everything came right back to me as the end approached and was hit with an INSANE plot twist. And to top it all off, the last chapter was one of the most beautifully constructed in the entire series so far and leaves you on quite the cliff hanger.
Next Read: Greywaren (Third book of the series)

Okay so there's one part of the Dreamer Trilogy I haven't really highlighted in my reviews so far: Adam and his story arc. Like, he's literally an entirely different character in this series in comparison to the Raven Cycle. As soon as he skips town and Ronan and goes off to Harvard to get the most annoying friends that need to learn to butt out of Adam supernatural abilities and Ronan's dreaming. On top of all that, he just puts Ronan through so much pain for literally no reason. Seriously what happened to Adam!? (Disclaimer: this doesn't make me dislike the series at all)

Greywaren
Rating: 5/5
(Spoilers for The Raven Cycle and The Dreamer Trilogy)
The ley lines are no more, and times have never been darker for our cast of characters. Declan is under the stress of having an already sleeping brother and keeping the other dreamt one awake now that the ley lines can't support him. Henessy is living her life more chaotically than ever with ex-moderator Carmen Farooq-Lane and her visionary partner, Liliana, after shutting down the ley lines. Now that the Moderators have all fallen asleep due to being dreamt, these three have to face what comes after all the work of the Moderators. And there's Ronan, stuck in a sort of dream-purgatory after the concluding events of Mister Impossible, only being able to see events in reality from an outsider's perspective. While he's fast asleep, learning what it really means to be the Greywaren, the world faces the apocalypse the Moderators knew was doomed to happen in the first place.
Truly, this was a beautiful conclusion to the Dreamer Trilogy. There was so much emotion put into the writing of this final book as the last events of the Lynches and all the characters in this wonderful universe unfurl. I will say I was so scared that the ending of this story would be dark or upsetting but was relieved to reach the Happily Ever After we all wanted. I am very much looking forward to when I go back and re-read the Raven Cycle and the Dreamer Trilogy in the future.
Next Read: The House in the Cerulean Sea

>42 nerdytheorist: *does happy dance* Yay!! I'm so glad you loved it!

So, this year I want to try and get back into reading more graphic novels and manga. I'm starting off the year with Pantheon: The True Story of the Egyptian Deities. I heard about this one several years ago looking at books about Egyptian mythology, and after being fully immersed in the mythology while playing Assassin's Creed Origins the tail end of last year, I decided I'll give this one a shot! Really looking forward to it!

>44 nerdytheorist: I must admit to have never having managed to read a manga book, Charlie. Two of my three kids Kyran and Belle both love manga and Kyran has quite a collection.

Have a good weekend.

Pantheon: The True Story of the Egyptian Deities
Rating: 3.5/5
If you're a fan of mythology, complicated family trees, and gods that love to party, then this graphic novel is certainly for you. This book illustrates quite the chaotic retelling of the Egyptian myth about Horus and Set battling it out for rule over all of Egypt. Long before Horus was born, his father Osiris ruled alongside Isis. Then Osiris' brother Set came along and took Egypt for himself. To seek revenge, Isis works hard to resurrect him for one night and create Horus to eventually take down Set.
Overall, this was a really fun read! While I can't say for sure as I'm not an expert on the matter, the retelling seemed to be pretty accurate as well. And saying that this novel has it all is not an understatement. At times it was outrageously hilarious, and others it got pretty spicy. Really glad I read this one!
Next Read: Jujutsu Kaisen Volume 16 (I'm tired of waiting for season 3 to release)

The House in the Cerulean Sea
Rating: 5/5
For 17 years, Linus Baker has been a caseworker for DICOMY, the organization that manages the orphanages for children with magical abilities. His life may be dull, but at least it's his. That is until, Extremely Upper Management appoints him to spend one month at an isolated orphanage in order to investigate if said orphanage should remain open. This investigation is deemed highly important as this is no ordinary orphanage. Between the quirky master with a mysterious past and one of the children being Lucifer himself (nicknamed Lucy), Linus is playing a definitive part in DICOMY history. He starts off this assignment being as objective as possible, as per usual, but as time goes on, he begins to see just how beautiful life is at this orphanage is.
I honestly don't even know where to begin with this book. Words evade me on describing how amazing this story, these characters are. This is probably one of the most wholesome books I've ever read, and I got so attached to the characters. Like I literally want to have Theodore the wyvern sit on my desk as I work and steal things for his horde. I want to write in a coffee shop with Sal. I want to sit and read in Talia's garden as she works. On top of that, this book is such a perfect metaphor for how the queer community faces hate that I found myself crying at times. The House in the Cerulean Sea is truly a must-read.
Next Read: *sighs out of excitement and fear* Onyx Storm

Happy Onyx Storm Day to Empyrean fans!

You write most excellent reviews! I have already read The House in the Cerulean Sea, so I can dodge that book bullet. I did skip your reviews that warned of spoilers for The Raven Cycle, because I still want/need to read those books.

>48 nerdytheorist: *squee* I pre-ordered this, so it will arrive later today. Of course, I still need to read Iron Flame - must prioritize this.

>49 Crazymamie: Thanks! The Raven Cycle is definitely one of my favorite series now, it's a total blast reading those books. Onyx Storm came this morning, and before I even started getting into the story, I loved it. Yarros wrote a killer dedication.

>50 nerdytheorist: I can't wait!

>49 Crazymamie: Oh boy, you've got *such* a good time ahead of you! The Yarros books are so good!

>50 nerdytheorist: Where you do get all these great book recommendations? Oh, that's right...

>52 scaifea: I loved the first book in the series, so I am excited to get back to it.

*edited because apparently I can't spell

So... I'm only a little over 100 pages into Onyx Storm. And like a million things have already happened. And my heart has been stopped at least once. So, that's funnnnnn.

>54 nerdytheorist: I haven't read any of this series yet, but I'm so glad you're having a good time with it. Nothing quite like getting really into a series and that anticipation when a new volume comes out to see What Is Going to Happen?!

>55 lycomayflower: I'd totally recommend these books since they're amazing! And there really is nothing like the feeling of book anxiety. This book in particular is like an actual rollercoaster, it's insane.

"We could be only days away from having everything we need..." A nice sentence if it there weren't 400 pages left in the book.

>57 nerdytheorist: That's almost as bad as a favorite character happily talking about their future plans...

>57 nerdytheorist: Made me laugh!

>58 scaifea: Oh, dear!

>58 scaifea: That's the worst trick authors have.

Things are very upsetting in Onyx Storm. And I know for a fact that they're going to get more upsetting, which upsets me very much.

>61 nerdytheorist:

Do you know about book goblin? I feel like this one in particular may amuse you: Book Goblin video

>61 nerdytheorist:

>62 scaifea: How I am internally while reading this book.

>64 Crazymamie: My exact facial expressions while reading.

>63 lycomayflower: It hurts how relatable that video is.

Onyx Storm
Rating: 5/5
(I tried to my best to keep spoilers for this book out, but there are spoilers from the previous books here)
Basgiath, The Continent, Violet, Xaden, and Second Squad of Flame Section in Fourth Wing have come to the tipping point. With the sudden alliance between the formerly warring kingdoms of Navarre and Poromiel as the threat of Dark Wielders becomes even more widespread, tensions have never been higher at Basgiath War College. Violet finishes her second year living a life full of secrets once more as Xaden has been turned into a venin, who is quickly losing himself by the day. Whenever she can, Violet looks for a cure to this sudden curse. She must also deal with the recent discovery of the sixth dragon breed, irids, and the expedition to the isles to find Andarna's family. None of this is made any easier with the constant meddling of the Continent's politicians, request to seek alliances while searching for the irids, and the looming threat of when and where the venin will strike next. This war for human and dragonkind is far from over, just as the war for saving Xaden is.
Oh my gods, was this the most intense book in the series yet. Like, stuff literally starts going down in the SECOND CHAPTER. From page 1 to 527, it is a nonstop thrilling ride. I felt so many things while reading this. I was tense, depressed, scared, excited, and shamelessly crying in public. This book could not have been written any better, and it is definitely my favorite in The Empyrean so far. To anyone about to read this: buckle up and brace yourselves, because there will be tears.
Next Read: Somewhere Beyond the Sea

Here's an easy way to figure out if a book is a must-read!
Just take a peek in the Acknowledgements and if the author addresses themselves as the Anti-J.K. Rowling, then that book is definitely a must-read.

(I saw that TJ Klune did this in Somewhere Beyond the Sea)

>67 nerdytheorist: Ha! I love it!

Somewhere Beyond the Sea
Rating: 5/5
They have lived through the hate, now they must stand up and defy it. Arthur Parnassus and Linus Baker are living their happily ever after with the six wonderful kids at Marsyas Island Orphanage (which is really just a home), who are soon to be their adopted children. But the time has come for two things to happen. One: it is time for them to bring home another magical child, a yeti named David who is proud to be called a monster. And two: the day where Arthur testifies the horrible things that happened to him when he was a child at a DICOMY orphanage has come. This testimony is pivotal in changing the way society accepts magical humans. However, a very persistent judge decides that the 'orphanage' must be investigated further before Arthur is allowed to adopt any of those children. So, once again, an investigator (much more cold than Linus ever was) is sent to the island for two weeks. The family's patience will be tested, their views of the world will be challenged, but never will they be torn apart or struck down by the opinions of others.
To anyone and everyone who is living in fear thanks to the events happening in our world, read this book. The metaphors and messages about hate from the previous book are carried over and strengthened in this one. This novel shows us all the different things that receiving hate can make us feel. Sometimes, we just want what seems like the easiest answer even if it's immoral. Sometimes we want to destroy our entire homes because what is the point in maintaining one? This book teaches us that sometimes we have to keep doing the same thing over and over again in order to bring about change. It can feel like we're going nowhere, but change does happen. Nothing bad lasts forever. If there is a book that is incredibly relevant that you MUST read, this is the one.
Next Read: The Way I Used to Be

>69 nerdytheorist: Another excellent review - I can't wait to get to this one.

Wow Charlie you are on a roll of 5 star reads - good for you!

>71 PaulCranswick: Yeah, I've been pretty lucky so far this year.

The Way I Used to Be
Rating: 3/5
It began the winter break of freshman year when Eden McCrorey is raped by her brother's best friend, Kevin. This is the story of how Eden's life changed in one night, following all four years of her high school career, beginning with the remainder of freshman year where she's angry, confused, and is fed up with being mistreated just for being a nerd. Then sophomore year, when she does a complete makeover for her identity and gets involved in a complicated relationship with Joshua Miller. Junior year, where Eden enters her BRAT phase and only lives to party. And finally, senior year, when she becomes all but burnt-out on her crappy high school life and the time comes to finally speak up about what happened all those years ago.
Overall, this was an okay read. The topic it presents is very significant, but I felt like for a large portion of the book, the characters were pretty dull and there wasn't a whole lot going on with the story. But then everything gets pretty good towards the end where the writing really does a great job capturing how Eden is still struggling with this event in her life years after it happened.
Next Read: Wolfsong

Jujutsu Kaisen Volume 16 FINALLY came into the library, so I'll be reading it this weekend!

Jujutsu Kaisen Volume 16
Rating: 3/5
(Spoilers for previous seasons and volumes)
The infamous Shibuya Incident has left our beloved cast of sorcerers in shambles. Kenjaku is wreaking havoc all over Japan after unleashing thousands of curses upon the land while still having Gojo trapped in the prison realm. And now, Itadori is on the run with his newfound ally, Choso, after Sukuna took countless lives and his execution is no longer on hold.
I'm really glad to be back in the world of Jujutsu Kaisen, but with that said, not a whole lot happened in this volume after the conclusion of the Shibuya Incident. One new character was introduced, but he's actually pretty annoying. I am excited for what this volume has set up however, with Itadori and Choso now being a duo and Okkotsu (Itadori's executioner) being thrown into the mix of things.
Next Read: Jujutsu Kaisen Volume 17

Wolfsong
Rating: 4/5
Oxnard Matheson's father left when he was 12, and since that day, he has lost his sense of belonging. But then one day, when he was 16 and walking home from his job at Gordo's garage, a ten-year-old Joe Bennett is standing just by his house. Instantly, there was some sort of connection between the two. Rather abruptly, Ox gets sucked into the lives of the Bennetts next door, and he soon discovers that not only are they a quirky family, but they are a pack of werewolves. And over time, Ox has become one with them. But as the years go on, tragedy strikes, and Joe leaves the town of Green Creek for several years, resulting in the changing pack left in Ox's hands. And when Joe finally returns at age 20, Ox realizes how he's been replaced by a very attractive man, and it is time for their complicated relationship to finally blossom into something more.
I almost instantly fell in love with this book. I've gotten so attached to these characters, that I know for a fact it's going to be hard to say goodbye to when I come to the end of the series. Also, this is probably one of the spiciest books I've read yet even if nothing really happens until towards the end, and I loved it even more. The only issue I had with it was how the slice-of-life pert of the story broke when the plot started coming into play, because more than anything, these characters are meant to live their lives happily. But obviously the plot had to happen, and it was still pretty good too.
Next Read: Ravensong

>76 nerdytheorist: I'm so happy that you liked this one! I would move to Green Creek in a second.

>77 scaifea: YES same here.

I have made the recent discovery that planning and thinking about a romantasy you want to write is much more fun than actually sitting down and getting the motivation to write it.

>79 nerdytheorist: Haaaahahaha! This makes you a true writer, I feel.

>79 nerdytheorist: Words of wisdom.

>79 nerdytheorist: Ha ha that's great. My husband Chris has started several detective novels in his head, and refers to said detectives by name. He has yet to put pen to paper (or hands to keyboard). Plot development seems to be at least part of the problem ...

>79 nerdytheorist: Amen, sister friend.

>82 lauralkeet: Laura: I would think mysteries would be *so* difficult to write. I generally can't manage to figure out the ending when I'm reading one, so how could I come up with a clever murder on my own?!

>83 scaifea: You are so right Amber.

>83 scaifea: I'm guessing the folks in your household are pretty happy you struggle to come up with clever murder plots... 😀

>80 lycomayflower: Oh definitely, sadly.

>83 scaifea: I don't even know how people write mysteries, or plot twists for that matter. Like am I being too obvious or too subtle with it?

>85 drneutron: *SNORK!*

>86 nerdytheorist: Right?

Ravensong
Rating: 3/5
(Spoilers for the Green Creek series)
Werewolves are real, and so are witches. And when Gordo Livingstone was 12, he became the witch for the one and only Bennett pack. Until one day, the Bennetts had to leave Green Creek for Maine, leaving him behind, also killing his love for his mate, Mark Bennett. Now years later, right before he enters his 40s, he has once again found himself with this new and certainly unique Bennet pack. It's a pack involving both humans and wolves from far and wide as well as blood relatives to the Bennetts, and one of the first packs to be led by two Alphas, mates Joe and Ox. All is well, and the long-lost love between Gordo and Mark is finally starts to rekindle, but not without struggle. A mysterious infection transferred by bite that turns werewolves feral has come to town, and Mark has become victim to it. As Gordo overcomes his trauma of being left behind, he must work to find a cure for this cursed infection while protecting his pack from the deadly hunters sent in to exterminate the infection.
I still enjoyed the story and of course characters to this book in the series, but I did end up having some issues with it. I really like Gordo as a character, but not enough to want an entire book told from his perspective, and the story was becoming a little frustrating as him and Mark would not just shut up and get together. So, this book definitely dragged on, but I still adore the world of Green Creek and I'm actually particularly excited about the next book as it's told from the perspective from my absolute favorite character: Robbie.
Next Read: The Flowers of Buffoonery

The Flowers of Buffoonery
Rating: 3.5/4
According to the author, Osamu Dazai, this is sadness. Population one. Following the days after his failed suicide attempt, Yozo Oba recovers in a quiet sanitarium by the sea. His friends, nurses, and family give him great company during his time there, while the logistics of legal action are being determined since he tried dying along with a woman named Sono, who actually ended up dying. And while very good times are made out of some warm camaraderie in a dark period, Dazai is telling a story about himself as well. Throughout this short novel, we get much insight on how much he hates the story he's writing and follow the process of the creative decisions he makes given his feelings.
This was a fascinating read. I admit, it was a lot more lighthearted than I expected. The actual story itself is kind of like a slice-of-life anime, but my absolute favorite part of this book was Dazai's perspective on the story. I loved reading his thoughts, even if they were self-critical. It's just a really clever idea to put such an informal twist on a book, which in that matter, is a classic! Overall, this is an incredibly interesting read, that even with all the informalities, still manages to spread really good words of wisdom.
Next Read: Heartsong

>89 nerdytheorist: Okay, sold. Can I borrow it?

>90 scaifea: Yep!

Okay TJ Klune has no right to start off a chapter saying that Kelly is dying only for us to later find out that he just has a cold, and the wolves are overreacting because they don't get sick. COME ON Heartsong is already emotionally devastating, I don't need my heart literally stopping too.

Heartsong
Rating: 4/5
(Spoilers for the Green Creek series)
Robbie Fontaine remembers nothing of the Bennett Pack, and his mate, Kelly. For the past year, he has been serving Michelle, alpha of all, as her second as the old witch Ezra (who's really Robert Livingstone) searches for what's been 'taken' from him: his second son who has been in his wolf form for years. But then, the Bennetts finally come and take Robbie back home, except he has no idea who they are and believe from Michelle and Ezra that they are an evil pack. And he only has a soft spot for Kelly, who eventually helps him start over with the pack. However, Robbie isn't the only one recovering from incident, as months ago he apparently did something to seriously harm former humans Chris and Tanner, making himself Rico as an enemy when he finally returns to Green Creek.
I love Robbie so much; he's just one of those protect at all cost characters. And by far, this was the best book in the series so far. I honestly just want an entire book of Kelly and Robbie sharing the little moments, but the story of healing and finding a home is definitely heart wrenching, and really well told. The firefly chapter was the one that really made me tear up. This is a really great read and makes up for the past "idiots to lovers" incidents in the past of this series.
Next Read: Beholder

>93 nerdytheorist: idiots to lovers HAHAHAHA! I love it.

Jujutsu Kaisen Volume 17
Rating: 3.5/5
(Spoilers for previous volumes and seasons)
Okkotsu has faked his execution of Itadori, and now they are united with Megumi and Maki to meet 500-year-old Jujutsu master Tengen to discuss plans as to what to do next. In order to defeat Kenjaku, they have to try their best to free Gojo. But it might not be so easy to do so with the looming threat of the infamous Culling game taking place. Meanwhile, Maki heads back to the Zen'in clan's vault and ends up falling into a trap set by her own father who is trying his hardest to be rid of his children.
I'm not gonna lie, at first, I had no idea what was going on and I don't quite understand the Culling game. But I've learned to just roll with it because being confused all the time is just part of being a Jujutsu Kaisen fan. I really did like the second part of this volume though with Maki because her comeback against her good-for-nothing dad is pretty awesome.
Next Read: I have two manga requested from the library, so whichever one of those that comes first.

Beholder
Rating: 2/5
I'm putting this book down, and I don't think it's exactly horrible, but I just can't really click with it. I've had a really hard time focusing on really anything while reading this book and I don't think it's quite worth reading it to the end. My main issue with it is that the characters aren't designed to be in this kind of story, a sort of paranormal mystery. Throughout the book, there are like these little cute moments that the main couple share and that's where they truly shine. These characters were made to be in more of a YA slice-of-life romance, and not with whatever is going on with spiders and mirror-powers. I think some other people could really enjoy this book, but this one just isn't for me.
Next Read: Brothersong

>96 nerdytheorist: These characters were made to be in more of a YA slice-of-life romance, and not with whatever is going on with spiders and mirror-powers. That made me laugh out loud--and it's a pretty perceptive understanding of what was wrong with the book!

>97 lycomayflower: It's definitely an odd criticism of mine, but it is true. Certain characters only fit into certain stories, and you gotta have good characters that have chemistry with the story in order for it to be a good one. They can't be super dull and just rely on the story for its quality *cough*The Outsiders*cough*.

Brothersong
Rating: 4.5/5
(Spoilers for the Green Creek series)
The impossible has become reality, as the most dangerous witch, Robert Livingstone, has been bitten and survived becoming a wolf. And not only that, but he is now an Alpha. Worst of all, Carter has left Green Creek to search for his mate: Gavin, the wolf who constantly followed him around as a Timberwolf and sacrificed himself for the Bennett pack. After a year of searching, Carter and Gavin were reunited and returned to Green Creek, where they try to build onto this whole new part of their relationship has Gavin continues to become more comfortable in his human form and pulls further away from Livingstone. As the pack grows more and more anxious for the final battle drawing near, they ready themselves alongside the whole town as Ox, Alpha of the Bennetts and Omegas, begins to realize his purpose in all of this.
While I love Robbie and Kelly, I think Carter and Gavin are my favorite couple. This was definitely my favorite book in the series because it did the most of what it does best: slice of life. The actual conflict wasn't hugely present as it was in all the other books, so I really just got to enjoy Carter and Gavin's relationship blossoming in a hilarious and wholesome way. Overall, I'm very glad I read Green Creek. I think if the series just focused on the plot, I actually wouldn't really have cared for it. But I easily fell in love with these books because of how the characters developed with all the slice of life moments. And in the end, it all ends pretty happily, where everybody does in fact live.
Next Read: The Handmaid's Tale

The Handmaid's Tale
Rating: 6/5
I decided to read this book because of how much it's been getting banned these days. Going into it, I didn't really know much about it other than it was about women living in a United States without any rights. While it is in fact just that, it's so much more as well. No review I write for this book will be able to summarize everything it is, so please, feel free to listen to my praise, but more importantly, read this book ASAP. This is a book that everyone should read, especially while they still can.
Normally, I begin my summaries by making a statement that somehow involves the protagonist's name. However, our heroine does not have a work in this novel, only her assigned name Offred (pronounced Of Fred). A name that does not coincidentally look like the word 'offered.' Offred has the position of a Handmaid in this version of the United States (which in many cases is not too different from our own) where the Constitution has been suspended, and society has experienced a major downfall due to the drastically decreasing birth rate. Offred's only purpose in life as a handmaid is to give birth to children. She and many other handmaids and other women are seen as objects and tools, no longer as human beings. But before the fall, Offred of course had a whole life of her own. She had a family, great friends, a job at a library, and so much more. Now as the world turns into a much darker place, all she can do is reflect on her past with these wonderful people, hoping they're okay somewhere out there, and record all these events so that someone may see this experience one day. These events are recorded only within her head, as it is illegal for women to read and write. It all makes you reader wonder, if hope for this world is truly fading away for good.
For starters, Margaret Atwood is an absolute genius. The worldbuilding in this novel is incredibly done and also way too realistic for comfort. At one point there's mention of football stadiums and how the government kept football which just gave me chills. I think the most disturbing part of this book is how things fell. How everything just went down in like a day and it was just so, subtle. This is a haunting dystopia but done in such a way where now that I've read it, I must shove it in everyone else's faces demanding that they read it too. This novel is painfully beautiful, and fast readers (like me) are slowed down and entranced by the writing. There is no happy ending to this story, no resolution. We are only left with questions, much like the real world today. Simply put, I love this book, for it is probably one of the greatest works in history.
Next Read: 1984

I admire your fortitude in reading these dystopian works, Charlie. I hated 1984 when I read it high school, partly because I thought it was preposterous, as in "it can't happen here". Sadly, we can no longer dismiss the predictive "fantasies" of authors like Orwell and Atwood. I'm sorry we're handing off such a mess to you and your generation, but you give me hope that maybe you can handle it.

>100 nerdytheorist: absolutely superb review, Charlie. Keep ‘em coming!

>100 nerdytheorist: Another excellent review!

Also, that's it. I'm ordering the MaddAddam Trilogy for you soon...

>101 laytonwoman3rd: Yeah several of the people I've talked to about this one have said how they didn't really think something like the themes of these books would ever happen...but here we are (I also find it upsetting that we no longer read 1984 in school). And while things aren't great right now, I do my best to keep my head high! There are always good people out there who are fighting back, and in my own ways, I'm trying to do the same.

>102 lauralkeet: Thanks!

>101 laytonwoman3rd: Looking forward to it!

Jujutsu Kaisen Volume 18
Rating: 3.5/4
(Spoilers for past volumes and seasons)
Itadori, Megumi, and Panda have gone out searching for a year-three sorcerer for help in the culling game, which has begun, and our cast of characters have limited time to declare their participation within the game. Meanwhile, we are introduced to the other various players who have already started playing and see just how deadly they can be. This arc is really beginning now that the main characters are engaged in the game.
I'm really looking forward to seeing just how crazy this arc goes, considering how insane Shibuya ended up being. There were some really cool panels in this volume (Kenjaku/Geto made an appearance!), and I really enjoy the dedicated chapters to introduce the other players of the game that give us a taste of just what they can do.
Next Read: Goodnight Punpun

1984
Rating: 2.5/5
To be living in the year 1984 is to be completely powerless. Winston Smith is a citizen of the nation Oceania and an Outer Party member of Big Brother, the figurehead of the government that is reason why everyone is being watched constantly through telescreens. His job is within the Ministry of Truth, where he helps to change media based on the constant rewrites of history. While not particularly fond of this life, he doesn't dare voice his feelings as it is illegal to even have thoughts against Big Brother and the nation of Oceania. But things suddenly change when he meets Julia, also an Outer Party member working in the Department of Fiction. After this unlikely meeting, Winston begins to risk his life by living on his own terms and not the ones enforced by Big Brother.
This book was honestly disappointing for me. While I recognize and see the reasons why it is so important to today, I honestly don't think it was written too well. Like at certain points things just got so redundant that I was barely even paying attention to the words anymore. Also, the characters were just super dull, especially Winston. But at least I can say now that I've kind of read it and got the gist of things.
Next Read: Throne of Glass FINALLY I'm getting to my next SJM series a year after I finished ACOTAR

"I honestly don't think it was written too well" I thought that too, but it was so long ago (when I was in high school) that I wasn't trusting my judgment on that point. I think maybe reading Atwood in the 21st century makes more sense anyway.

I probably would've enjoyed it more if I saved Atwood after since not many people could probably reach her level, but at least I got to experience her work sooner.

I thought the names in ACOTAR were hard to pronounce but then came Throne of Glass where there are like, two characters that have pronounceable names.

Throne of Glass
Rating: 3.5/5
Calaena Sardothien is the kingdom's most feared assassin, and for the past year she has been stuck in the death camp of Endovier. It isn't until the Crown Prince Dorian journeys all the way out to the camp with the Captain of the Guard, Chaol, when she regains hope at the small promise of freedom. The King is searching for a champion to do all his dirty work, and he has arranged for a competition where the winner will become his champion at his Glass Castle in Rifthold. Twenty-three other competitors to beat, four years to serve, and Calaena will be guaranteed a life of freedom.
This was a fun read, definitely not my favorite, but still pretty good. The plot was fairly simple but still enjoyable, and I didn't really have super high expectations in the first place as it's only the beginning of the series. My biggest problem is probably how the two love interests aren't really that satisfactory, but knowing SJM, that's probably going to change in the future.
Next Read: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

List of Ten
Rating: 3/5
When Troy Hayes was 6 years old, he was diagnosed with Tourette syndrome. Growing up he has also had to deal with OCD and anxiety, resulting in his entire life being dictated by the number ten. Now, ten years later, with the tenth anniversary of his diagnosis approaching, he has made a bucket list of ten things to do before the last item: committing suicide on April 6th. When he starts with number one (getting his first kiss), he meets Khory Price, a girl who sees past all of his tics. As number ten approaches within the two months this story is told, Troy meets new friends and experiences things that cause him to rethink his original plan.
I'm glad I read this book. It wasn't the best, most beautiful, heartstopping thing I ever read, but it was still pretty good. And I'm very thankful that the ending was happy, it would've been devastating if it weren't. I'm really happy that this kind of story is out there, because it certainly isn't one you read every day.

>112 nerdytheorist: Huh. Now you've got me rethinking my decision to skip this one...

>113 scaifea: Writing reviews that convince people to read books is what I do!

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
Rating: 4.5/5
Eighteen-year-old Coriolanus Snow has hit rock bottom. His family has barely any money, barely enough food, and suffer through the imposing taxes of their penthouse. But he can't let anyone know this as a student of the prestigious Academy in the Capitol. When things for him don't look to change any time soon, he suddenly becomes a mentor for one of tributes of the 10th annual Hunger Games as a part of a new program the Capitol is putting on. That's how he meets District 12 tribute Lucy Gray Baird, an eccentric girl who loves to perform. As the Games grow into what we knew in the original trilogy as they approach, Coriolanus and Lucy Gray begin to form a connection that none of the other tributes have with their mentors. Watch before, during, and after the 10th Hunger Games how Coriolanus Snow evolves from a lower-class teen boy in the Capitol to the future president of Panem as he becomes a snake after meeting a songbird.
At first, I was a little hesitant to read this one since I didn't hear too many good things about it. But then I heard the movie was good, so I decided to read it anyways, and it was so worth it! I feel like the Hunger Games were a lot more realistic in this book and it was really cool to see how everything in the later games developed in this novel. There were also just so many nods to the previous books in the series (my personal favorite being to the making of The Hanging Tree). Also, Snow's character is fascinatingly complex, like I felt pretty sympathetic for him throughout this book even knowing he becomes a tyrant. Overall, this book is really well put together and I'm so glad I read it.

The Beggar Student
Rating: 3/5
A fictional author writing under the pen name Osamu Dazai has just mailed his next work to his editor, and he hates it. But as he walks home, dreading this new novel, he has an unlikely encounter with a student skinny-dipping in a river. Then what could've just been a strange five-minute conversation turns into an intellectual debate between a man in his thirties and a schoolboy and his friend. As this turns into a whole day, Dazai then starts to look at life from a much happier perspective as his bond with these peculiar individuals deepens.
This wasn't my favorite work of Dazai's, but I still really found it interesting! The ending is pretty cool as it is one of those open-ended ones, and it is a pretty big contrast to this author's usual sad vibes.

Goodnight Punpun Volume 1
Rating: 3.5/5
Punpun Punyama is just an ordinary kid living an ordinary life. But then an incident occurs one night resulting with his mom in the hospital and his dad in jail. While his uncle moves in to take care of him for the time being, he tries to go on about his life as usual until he meets the new kid: Aiko, and realizes he has a crush on her. Then, when his group of friends stumble across porn with a hidden message taking them to an abandoned factory, he winds up spending a weekend searching for the bodies of a murdered family with Aiko. I will admit that I was not at all expecting this strange of a story (and also sexual) out of this manga. But it still ended up being pretty good! The art style is super unique and interesting and makes me want to see this adapted into an anime already! And of course, there were heart wrenching moments in this, so I'm bracing myself to be traumatized as the series progresses.

Jujutsu Kaisen Volume 19
Rating: 3/5
(Spoilers for previous volumes and seasons)
Upon entry of the Tokyo Number 1 colony in the culling game, Itadori and Megumi have been separated. It's up to Yuji to find Higuruma, the player with 100 points, and request that he adds a rule while Megumi winds up fighting another powerful player named Reggie. But in these fights, both begin to learn Kenjaku's true intentions with calling the game.
Not too much happened in this one, but I thought the cursed techniques presented were pretty cool.
Next Read: Crown of Midnight

I think I'll put down Crown of Midnight and the Throne of Glass series down for now. It's not quite what I'm in the mood for and I don't really care for how the second book is going. I will return to it one day though, as I hear it gets pretty good as the series goes on!

If I'm Being Honest
Rating: 4/5
Cameron Bright is the dictionary definition of a mean girl. She speaks her mind with no filter, rooted for success in her father's company, and has rejected every boy that has asked her out for the past two years. But when she gets rejected by her crush for being rude and calling Paige Rosenfield pathetic, Cameron decides it's time to change her ways in order to win her crush back. This starts with an apology tour beginning with Paige and her nerd brother, Brendan. What originally was intended to be a plan of getting her crush to like her, soon transforms into a journey of self-discovery and expression where Cameron sees life from new perspectives and befriends actually decent people.
At first, I thought that this book was dumb. I was annoyed by the tropes, and not really a fan of any of the characters. But then the entire thing does a 180 and has me loving the main romance between a nerdy social outcast and the popular girl in a situation not far from Elenor Shellstrop's in The Good Place. It was all really sweet in the end and just sends a positive message of how it's fun to be weird and quirky and it's okay to be your honest self. We definitely need more books like this one.
Next Read: Sunrise on the Reaping REALLY excited about this one!

>120 nerdytheorist: Oh, I love the comparison to The Good Place. I'm sold.

Sunrise on the Reaping
Rating: 4/5
Haymitch Abernathy was never supposed to be a tribute in the fiftieth annual Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell. He was meant to just get the reaping over with and spend his sixteenth birthday with his love, Lenore Dove. But that all changed when one of the boy tributes of District 12 tried making a break for it and was shot dead. By the end of this July 4th, Haymitch was on a one-way train to the Capitol as one of the 48 tributes in the Hunger Games. Before all hope can be lost however, he meets the twelve-year-old Ampert from District 3 and his father Beetee during the training days leading up to the games. Ampert works to form an alliance of all the non-Careers so that for once, a Career doesn’t become a victor. Like son, like father, Beetee works with Haymitch to formulate a plan to destroy the arena. Things may be different because of the doubled amount of tributes, but they also become different because this time, a rebellion is just beginning.
Once again, this installment of the series further proves that Suzanne Collins only writes when she has something to say. The issue of censorship was very prevalent and every time someone tried to speak out against the government, it was completely erased. There were even a bunch of propaganda posters all over the place saying that there was no peace without the games and President Snow was the #1 Peacekeeper. This book also did a really good job connecting The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes to the original trilogy, with subtle details planted all over the place. Though, the best part of reading this was knowing about a bunch of details beforehand and knowing how certain things were going to happen. Like how the rebellion doesn’t work out very well, how Haymitch loses everything, how the arena is a volcano. This was a really fun read, and I absolutely cannot wait for the movie next year!
Next Read: Epithymy

Epithymy
Rating: 2.5/5
Sorin is your average human bounty hunter, that is, until he is hired to be an escort (but really partner) of a Drow named Khouli. But even then, Sorin is still just an average bounty hunter and what I read of this book, nothing else really happened. Pretty much the only redeeming quality of this book is the smut. To me the characters just felt pretty flat and Khouli could not shut up about how he has a lover back at home while in the middle of doing business with Sorin. I got about halfway through the book before putting it down and there was like zero plot other than them just walking from place to place and Sorin scolding Khouli that he couldn't go into any of the towns because he was a Drow and get them both in trouble. This just wasn't the book for me.
Next Read: The Eye of the World

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