Author: DeAnne

Review | Gamer Girls: Gnat vs. Spyder by Andrea Towers

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Thirteen-year-old Natalie lives a double life. By day, she’s an average eighth grader at Golden Trails Middle. At night, she’s Gnat112, a streamer for her favorite video game, Alienlord. But when the new girl moves in next door, will Natalie’s double life be revealed?Natalie has a secret. She’s a gamer.By day, Natalie is an average eighth grade student. At night, she’s Gnat112! Living a double life is hard . . . and keeping a secret from your friends is even harder.In this illustrated middle grade book (the first of an all-new series, Gamer Girls), Natalie and her three BFFs learn to navigate the gamer world together, one girl at a time. This series is a great read for gamers and gamer enthusiasts of all kinds. Plus, there’s the occasional middle school drama . . . if only Natalie could battle math teachers like video game aliens!

Rating: 4 out of 5.

This was an adorable read! I loved how it touched on being yourself and being ok with being yourself at a young-ish age. It’s a great example of being tempted to hide your interests, but learning not to. Plus I always enjoy some gamer rep, whether it be people getting into gaming or people who already love it. This is a great book for younger readers who are gamers themselves, or any that might be struggling with navigating friendships and such. All in all a fun read!

Happy reading!

Can’t Wait Wednesday | 1/3

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Can’t Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings based on the meme Waiting on Wednesday by Breaking the Spine. In this weekly post people share a book that they’re excited about being released.

I only recently heard about this one but as soon as I saw the cover I was interested! This is definitely going on my preorder list.

Judy I. Lin, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Magic Steeped in Poison, weaves a dreamy gothic romance worthy of the heavens in Song of the Six Realms.

Xue, a talented young musician, has no past and probably no future. Orphaned at a young age, her kindly poet uncle took her in and arranged for an apprenticeship at one of the most esteemed entertainment houses in the kingdom. She doesn’t remember much from before entering the House of Flowing Water, and when her uncle is suddenly killed in a bandit attack, she is devastated to lose her last connection to a life outside of her indenture contract.

With no family and no patron, Xue is facing the possibility of a lifetime of servitude playing the qin for nobles that praise her talent with one breath and sneer at her lowly social status with the next. Then one night she is unexpectedly called to the garden to put on a private performance for the enigmatic Duke Meng. The young man is strangely kind and awkward for nobility, and surprises Xue further with an irresistible offer: serve as a musician in residence at his manor for one year, and he’ll set her free of her indenture.

But the Duke’s motives become increasingly more suspect when he and Xue barely survive an attack by a nightmarish monster, and when he whisks her away to his estate, she discovers he’s not just some country noble: He’s the Duke of Dreams, one of the divine rulers of the Celestial Realm. There she learns the Six Realms are on the brink of disaster, and incursions by demonic beasts are growing more frequent.

The Duke needs Xue’s help to unlock memories from her past that could hold the answers to how to stop the impending war… but first Xue will need to survive being the target of every monster and deity in the Six Realms.

Goodreads | Amazon | Author’s Website

Happy reading!

Review | A House at the Bottom of a Lake by Josh Malerman

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Both seventeen. Both afraid. But both saying yes.

It sounded like the perfect first date: canoeing across a chain of lakes, sandwiches and beer in the cooler. But teenagers Amelia and James discover something below the water’s surface that changes their lives forever.

It’s got two stories.

It’s got a garden.

And the front door is open.

It’s a house at the bottom of a lake.

For the teens, there is only one rule: no questions. And yet, how could a place so spectacular come with no price tag? While the duo plays house beneath the waves, one reality remains:

Just because a house is empty, doesn’t mean nobody’s home.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

I was really excited to finally get to this one, but ended up somewhat disappointed. If I had to sum it up I would say I just found myself wanting more. I wanted it to be a bit creepier and have more explanation. The writing itself and the descriptions were very atmospheric, which I really enjoyed – but again, I was left wanting more in a lot of cases. My other issue is the ending. I’m not even sure what was being said or what it was supposed to mean at that point. I’m usually all for a book playing some mind games and having deeper meanings, but this one just fell a little flat for me and left me wanting.

Happy reading!

2024 – Goals, Plans and Wishful Thinking?

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Since it’s a new year and I’m trying to get back on track, why not start the year off with some goals or plans? I’m not going to be super strict on myself, but as mentioned in a previous post I do want to get back to posting daily if I can. That’s the major goal for the blog.

In regards to reading, I would definitely like to finish more series (I finally finished Kamisama Kiss in 2023, I don’t know why I dragged my feet on it so much, but it’s done!). The major ones I have on the agenda right now are finishing Fruits Basket and Fables, since they have been in progress for so long. I also want to get caught up on the TBR Card Challenge books I have held over from previous months. I made myself a spreadsheet so I can keep track, so fingers crossed.

Another big goal is that I’m still working on my Nancy Drew reread, I’m about halfway through the original 56, so I’d like to finish those at least, but we shall see how far I make it. 

Beyond that the only goal I’ve really set is my Goodreads goal of 200, which really is just because I hope to be back where I was. With my mental and physical health in a better place I hope that it can happen. Again, not going to be super upset if it doesn’t, but it’s something I’d like to reach for.

All in all I’m hoping for a lot of reading and staying on track with the blog. Not much to ask for, right?

Happy reading!

Review | Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six by Lisa Unger

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Three couples rent a luxury cabin in the woods for a weekend getaway to die for in this chilling locked-room thriller.

What could be more restful than a weekend getaway with family and friends? An isolated luxury cabin in the woods, spectacular views, a hot tub and a personal chef. Hannah’s generous brother found the listing online. The reviews are stellar. It’ll be three couples on this trip with good food, good company and lots of R & R.

But the dreamy weekend is about to turn into a nightmare.

A deadly storm is brewing. The rental host seems just a little too present. The personal chef reveals that their beautiful house has a spine-tingling history. And the friends have their own complicated past, with secrets that run blood deep.

How well does Hannah know her brother, her own husband? Can she trust her best friend? Meanwhile, someone is determined to ruin the weekend, looking to exact a payback for deeds long buried. Who is the stranger among them?

Rating: 3 out of 5.

As much as I was intrigued by the concept of this one, it didn’t quite get there for me. I felt like the differing perspectives didn’t really fit together for most of the story. Things like that can cause me to not be able to really get into the story and that’s what I found happening here. By the end everything did come together, but the pacing was off since I kept being thrown off by the disjointed perspectives. Also, there weren’t really any characters that were reliable or likeable, so that’s another thing that was pulling me out of the story. Once completed I can definitely see how the story can be enjoyed, it is certainly twisty and does come together in the end – but this one just wasn’t entirely for me.

Happy reading!

End of the Year Update | Reflecting on 2023+2024 Plans

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Hey all – as it is the end of the year I figured it would be a good time to talk about 2023 as well as talk about some of my plans for 2024. 

As some of you may have noticed, 2023 was not as consistent as the last couple years when it came to me posting on the blog. It wasn’t planned to be that way and I certainly didn’t like that I wasn’t posting as frequently, but things happen. I received a new medical diagnosis at the end of 2022 that is very life impacting and I thought I was doing ok coming to grips with it but in the last month or so I realized it really messed with my mental health more than I realized. I’m not going to go into details because for the most part I try to keep talk of my conditions off of my blog but be assured that I am ok, I’ve got some great doctors and after some trial and error with medications am in a far better place than I was when it was diagnosed.

The blog wasn’t the only thing impacted unfortunately, my reading also took a hit. For the most part I made sure my obligations were covered, but beyond that it was a struggle. Safe to say I had some of my lowest reading months in history, but as I said…I was having a really hard time adjusting/coming to terms with the new diagnosis.

So where are we for 2024? I’m happy to say that once I figured out what was really impacting me, I did a much better job of processing it/coming to terms with it. No guarantees it won’t rear its head again, but in the last month I definitely feel more like myself. December has been my best reading month this year and I actually already have my 2024 journal pages and January pages done (there were some months this year I didn’t get done until 1.5 months after they were done, it was sad). I’m feeling like my enjoyment/passion is back and feel like getting back on my schedule of posting every day. Who am I right now? Haha.

Though I don’t talk a lot about challenges or readathons I do, I have a plan to do more of them in 2024. Rich helped me revamp my TBR game, and we also added some more challenges that he helped with. I may talk about them in a future post, but right now I’m fine with them just living in my journal and being something purely for fun.

What else is on deck for 2024 that is not blog related? Our wedding! We are currently in the middle of planning, but thankfully the big things are locked in, so we took a little break from planning for the holiday season. I both can’t wait for it and am terrified it’s going to come entirely too soon, I imagine that’s pretty normal.

I can’t guarantee I will always post every single day, but I’m hoping to get back to a place where I’m doing that. What would you all like to see in 2024?

Happy reading!

Review | Dear Rebel

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More than 125 extraordinary teens and women share their advice, experiences, and the secrets of their success—in their own words. Through letters, poems, essays, self-portraits, and more, the authors tackle topics like overcoming obstacles, discovering your passion, and dreaming big.

Learn how Ms. Marvel actor Iman Vellani connected with her roots through her character. Read about how March for our Lives co-founder Jaclyn Corin found her voice as an activist. Follow mountaineer Carla Pérez on the final 100 meters to the top of Mount Everest. This rich collection of first-person stories has something for everyone, inspiring young readers to try new things, face their fears, and be themselves.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

If you’re expecting the typical format that most Rebel Girls books follow, this one will surprise you. This installment would be a great coffee table book, or something to read a letter from each night or something like that. It is very personal, as it is told in each individual’s voice and from their hearts. Whether it be them simply telling their stories, or sharing hard learned advice. There’s definitely something that will resonate with everyone as the included individuals vary greatly in accomplishments, career, diversity, etc – so I’m sure there’s something for everyone. Though it’s a different format than we are used to, it’s definitely a great addition.

Happy reading!

Review | Rebel Girls Level Up: 25 Tales of Gaming and the Metaverse

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Meet 25 inspiring women in the world of gaming and the metaverse. Read about how they’ve created innovative technology, designed the video games you play, and broken barriers whenever their industry put up walls.

Dive into gamer communities with popular streamers like Imane Anys, better known as Pokimane. Learn to lead with Aya Kyogoku, who directed several Animal Crossing games. Design digital clothing with Roblox creators like cSapphire. And compete in the wild world of esports with pro gamers Sasha Hostyn and Sylvia Gathoni.

This book pairs inspiring, easy-to-read text with colorful full-page portraits created by female and nonbinary artists from all around the world. Plus, scannable codes let you listen to longer stories on the Rebel Girls app!

Rating: 4 out of 5.

I was super excited to see that one of the newer installments in this series was about gaming as it does feel like a space that the series hasn’t explored before. The format is very similar to other installments in the series and is easily consumable with a great mix of different personalities and motivations in the gaming/metaverse community.

The only thing I didn’t love about this installment is that a couple of the images were generating using AI illustration. One of the things I love about these books is the fact that for each person represented, they are also highlighting the work and style of different artists. There’s a lot of controversy surrounding AI art as everyone knows. I’m not going to really get into it in a review, but that did knock me back a bit. I did appreciate the note at the end of the book where this is actually talked about and I appreciate the shared perspective as to the why, but that did upset me a little.

That being said it is still a wonderful addition to the series that I thoroughly enjoyed and I’m excited to see what they add next.

Happy reading!

anOther Mythology by Maxwell I. Gold

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A Queer Poetic Retelling of Classic Myths.

From Thanatos to Hades, Maxwell Gold’s book of horror prose poetry reimagines myths from a queer perspective. Gold’s poetry merges camp sensibility and cosmic horror in poems that are beautiful, bloody, and barbed. A poetic soap opera of gods and monsters.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

I’m always up for anything that tackles lore, fairytales or mythology, so a look at mythology through a queer lens utilizing prose poetry sounded interesting to me. The writing itself is very lyrical, but it is something that you need to sit with and examine. It’s not light, and it’s not meant to be. I thought it was a really good exploration of both well known myths and those that may not be well known to a lot of people, through a unique perspective.

Happy reading!

Review | Everyone’s Thinking It by Aleema Omotoni

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Mean Girls meets Dear White People in this big-hearted, sharp-witted UK boarding school story about family, friendship, and belonging—with a propulsive mystery at its heart. Within the walls of Wodebury Hall, an elite boarding school in the English countryside, reputation is everything. But aspiring photographer Iyanu is more comfortable observing things safely from behind her camera. For Iyanu’s estranged cousin, Kitan, life seems perfect. She has money, beauty, and friends like queen bee Heather. But as a Nigerian girl in a school as white and insular as Wodebury, Kitan struggles with the personal sacrifices needed to keep her place—and the protection she gets—within the exclusive popular crowd. Then photos from Iyanu’s camera are stolen and splashed across the school the week before the Valentine’s Day Ball—each with a juicy secret written on it. With everyone’s dirty laundry suddenly out in the open, the school explodes in chaos, and the whispers accusing Iyanu of being the one behind it all start to feel like déjà vu. Each girl is desperate to unravel the mystery of who stole the photos and why. But exposing the truth will change them all forever.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

As soon as I heard that this was a Shakespeare retelling, I was hooked as I have a soft spot for Shakespeare, especially certain plays – A Midsummer Night’s Dream being one of them. I definitely felt that the buzz words of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Mean Girls was appropriate. It definitely wasn’t just a light, funny story though, there were very real issues that were tackled and woven into the story, such as bullying, racism and other issues that teens face on a regular basis. It was a fast paced read for me that was hard to put down once the secrets started being revealed. I wasn’t expecting to go through a lot of twists and turns, so was happily surprised when there were points where I was left guessing what was going on. All in all a fantastic debut and I look forward to what this author comes up with next.

Happy reading!