#that makes her an arrow ace and an aro/ace lmao

[blo0pkin]

My OC, Elyva Opalstrike

[readingoals]

Mid Year Book Freakout (2023)

I wasn't tagged to do it but I did this last year so thot I might as well do it again this year lmao.

It's a little bit of a cop out maybe, but I think the best book I've read this year is Pride and Prejudice. It's about the hundredth time I've read it and it was my top book from last year, so it feels like cheating to say it. But it's also an edition that Lauren annotated for me so reading it was an entirely new experience too because of all her notes!

This one's easy because it's the only sequel I've read this year, and that is A Clash Of Kings by George R.R. Martin! I really love the ASOIAF series and I'm so enjoying this re-read.

This is tough because I've re-read a few books this year but I think I have to say Sylvester by Georgette Heyer. It's been years since I first read it but I'm so glad I revisited it. I had the best time reading it again and annotating it.

Just like last year, mystery is my most read genre so far. I've been continuing to make my way through all of Agatha Christie's books - one per month - as well as some extra mysteries on the side, so it's really not a surprise.

Aside from mystery, my next most read genres are historical and, much more surprisingly, romance, with three books each.

Oh, so many. But the ones at the top of my list are The Villa by Rachel Hawkins, The Cloisters by Katy Hays, Our Hideous Progeny by C.E. McGill, and The Adventure Zone: Eleventh Hour graphic novel by The McElroys.

For the first time in a long time I actually do know about and am looking forward to a couple of releases. I have Hopeless Aromantic: An Affirmative Guide to Aromanticism by Samantha Rendle on pre-order. It'll be released at the end of this month. And then I think Everyone On This Train Is A Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson is due to be released later this year too.

The Maidens by Alex Michaelides was a huge disappointment. I'd heard so many good things but I just hated it so much.

I think the biggest surprise so far has been Sparkling Cyanide by Agatha Christie. Mostly because it started off a little slow and I thought it'd be one of her more ~okay~ mysteries, but it ended up being quite exciting and interesting and fun.

Either that or Victoria Frankenstein's Monster Cock by Broken Arrow because reading Frankenstein inspired erotica was not on my personal 2023 bingo card and it ended up being actually not bad.

I think I have to say my fave new (to me) author is Tirzah Price who wrote Pride and Premeditation (and the other Jane Austen Murder Mystery books). Partly because Pride and Premed was such a fun read and really well done. But also partly just because process of elimination leaves her as the only real option.

I've only read from 6 authors I'd previously not read from so far, and of those I hated 1, I disliked 2, and enjoyed 2 but not enough.

I think I have to go with Sylvester, Phoebe and Tom from Sylvester by Georgette Heyer. I just really loved their dynamic and they were so frickin fun to read about.

Runners up would be Jon and Rick from Bachelor Kisses by Nick Earls purely because they were such dumbass dickheads.

At first I was going to say nothing I'd read so far this year had made me cry but then I remembered that I re-read Daisy Jones and the Six. Even though I knew what was coming the ending still got me.

Bachelor Kisses by Nick Earls. It's set close to where I live, I find the characters and story so funny, and I love Earls' writing style. Re-reading it was an absolute joy.

But also Ace and Aro Journeys just cause it was nice to read something that related so directly to me.

There's a couple of books that stand out I think. Number 1 has to be the illustrated edition of A Clash Of Kings. I already owned AGOT and I'm excited to eventually have the whole series in a matching set.

I guess The Villa would also be up there - I love the colours, how bright it is. And then also the hardcover Penguin Classics edition of Frankenstein which was one I'd wanted for ages.

There are only a couple that I absolutely have to read. The copy of Frankenstein that Lauren annotated for me is top of the list. And then also Pride and Prometheus by John Kessel - I said I was going to read it all the way back in March and then didn't, so I'd love to actually pick it up.

I also want to prioritize reading my backlog books. I'm trying to read 5 of them this year and so far I've only read one (although I'm also currently reading one now), so I definitely want to pick up a few more in the second half of the year.

[greatshell-rider]

final thoughts for red seas: hmmm okay i liked it less than first book. i was not expecting a pirate adventure and was. hm. kinda displeased the plot in the city got the sidelines for the majority of the book like yeah i get that that’s lynch’s thing sure but. i was not expecting pirate adventures!! not to that extent i think!! it’s fine whatever.

specifically regarding ezri yeahhhh by the time she and jean and locke were making plans i knew she was gonna kick it yeah. duh. but DAMN her death was Much more brutal than i’d thought it’d be like,,,,,,,,,,,,,,oh yes that fire will do her in for sure. oh an arrow to the stomach okay yeah that’s a little overkill but yes will do the job--HOLY FUCK jean has to slit her throat himself???? okay???????? f in the fucking group chat jeez

i am not affected by her death otherwise cuz. i didn’t. give a shit? sorry that’s one thing in these books that just give me a blank stare like. sorry i just don’t. care? about these characters?? enough. when they kick it. it was the same with bug caldo and shit forgot the last one! gado! something! bug was sad sure but,,,,,,,,,,,,we didn’t get enough time with the characters yknow. not enough for a full emotional gut punch. and same with ezri. her character was,,,,,,,alright but definitely better before she and jean started throwing down. am i just incredibly fuckin aro and ace? maybe so. and yet. BOTH her and jean’s characters took a downturn when they were fucking. that’s all im saying. it’s true. they were boring as hell and i feel hashtag nothing.

what the fuck was merrain up to. good for her i guess

lmao the paintings being fakes was funny but moreso i think cuz requin DID have them up in his fancy office all those damn years like. what a guy. what a fucking guy. what kind of person does that that’s so funny. also i didn’t pick up that he and selestro i dunno how to spell her name i already returned the book were like. romantic and sexual partners and not just really good pals and i was Shocked and Repelled when they kissed outta nowhere. lynch honey you either gotta learn how to write a good romance or keep the fucking relationships as friendships cuz i can assure you they are much better that way. so much better

i wanted those wasps to show up again the guy who had to punch them was neat

damarksha i also forgot how to spell her name was wayyyyy to fucking nice to locke and jean at the end too sldkfjsldfjsdlsjfl man. also why the fuck did fucking locke give the prayer over ezri. zamira would’ve done it. you know the captain would have said the prayer over her own fucking first mate dear god. locke acting all cut up and broken over del’s death is cute too. nice try sweetie i know you didn’t form any real emotional bond with her </3

anyway book three