Tag Archives: Book

Thoughts on “Jade City” by Fonda Lee

I have a limited experience when it comes to the mob genre. My main touchstone is about 2 Yakuza Games. Games I wanted to enjoy because of the wacky side quest that can be found the series. Though the slow serious pace of the main story always gave me a whiplash to between the two experiences. I did enjoy the slow build up with all these small moments that build up to the climax of the games, though sometimes it just felt it drag on for too long. I did not have that with Jade City.

The story was well pace with tense moments of the main family having to deal with the politics of their city and the clan warfare. They stood out in their own ways, and I came to care about them for when they get into dangerous situations. The action had me having clear pictures of martial arts enhance by the magical Jade they wore.

The book does end in a way that concludes this chapter of the family’s life, and in way to show that there more challenges they have to face. I am curious to see what happens next. Any issues I had was with me and how I find it political intrigue books a bit difficult.

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Thoughts on “Off the Beaten Path: A Stone’s Throw Mystery” by Eloise Corvo

‘”Off the Beaten Path: A Stone’s Throw Mystery” by Eloise Corvo is a mystery novel that I wish I liked more. It gives a simple mystery: who killed a tourist and dropped his body in the state park? Our hero is the local park ranger, Maudy Lorso, who’s asked to assist as a consultant with police to solve the case. She accepts as the sooner it’s solved the sooner the park can be open for their busy season or she might be out of a job.  I liked Maudy and found her an interesting character who’s dealing with relationship trauma and workplace stress. The overall reading was okay, I found Eloise Corvo’s prose simple and easy, it just never fully hooked me. My biggest problem were some of the actions of the side character making them feel like they were in a cheesy Hallmark movie or just idiot. There was also a contrivance to why the main character confronted the killer alone that made me scratch my head at the incompetence and irresponsibility to a specific character. The epilogue felt, a bit excessive? it sets up for a larger narrative and a sequel in a way that didn’t feel satisfying. it was an fine bumpy journey that missed it’s landing.

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Thoughts on “Shady Hollow” by Juneau Black

November of 2025 accidentally became my mystery novel month and I found one my favorite new cozy mystery series.

175 words or less, thoughts and feelings that I had after reading the book

I heard about this book series from the Reading Glass podcast. Cozy town with anthromopic animals? Each book can be read as a standalone? Sign me up. I love when a mystery is tied up with a bow, and this was a great first book to the series. It follow the a dedicated reporter, Vera Vixen, trying to get all the facts for the story when a body turns up in the quiet town of Shady Hollow. It’s a charming town brought to life, with a few too many characters. I loved the mystery presented and was trying to solve it throughout the whole book. My guesses were incorrect, but it does feel like I could have solved it. My only qualm on the story, is the final confrontation, as it comes a little too exaggerated for a certain character. I still think it’s an excellent read that I do not want to spoil who-dun-it in anyway.

Any other mystery book to recommend?

Leave a comment below!

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Thoughts on “Broken Homes” by Ben Aaronovitch

175 words or less, thoughts and feelings that I had after reading the book

My last note in my commonplace book for this book read  “probably my least favorite, What happens next?”

Broken Homes is the fourth in the series written by Ben Aaronovitch. Following Peter Grant’s magic adventures in the London,it’s fae inhabitants, and his investigations into a series antagonist, the Faceless Man. I still enjoy the writing and characters that I came to love through previous books. The problems came from the slow burn pace, the lack of a single case to follow direction, and my difficulty in understanding the architecture that becomes a main focal point for this book. I had trouble fully understanding the villain’s plan until the end. It took me several reads for me to understand what was going on. Despite my issues with the book, I want to see more. I’m not letting one book that is difficult to parse stop me.

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Thoughts on “Mall of Cthulhu” by Seamus Cooper

175 words or less, thoughts and feelings that I had after reading the book

An ok delve into a Lovecraftian modern day pulp story held back by it’s characters. It starts strong, though falters throughout, with dialogue that feels unnatural at times unassisted by one of the characters being borderline unlikeable. Not to the point where I wanted him to be remove, though I never found myself rooting for his success. When there’s high action, the writing brings the scenes to life, it’s the slow moments that need to be reworked. I did enjoy the adventure that was told, though despite the title, it felt as if the mall wasn’t as important as it could have been. I also loved the main character of Laura. there is some interesting relationship dynamic between Ted and Laura that I wish was better explored.

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Thoughts on “Day of Ascension” by Adrian Tchaikovsky

175 words or less, thoughts and feelings that I had after reading the book

After reading his wonderful Children of Time book, I wanted to see Adrian Tchaikovsky’s other books picking this one up. It did not disappoint. A novel taking place in the world of Warhammer 40k and my introduction to the Black Library’s immense libray of fiction. I was wisk away to a grim dark sci-fi world with a bit of political intrigue, characters that I love to hate, and ones that I had mixed feelings about. I wasn’t sure what outcome I wanted, but happy with what they got. The book tells you upfront that there is little to no hope or compassion. This is a story about the journey of the characters, and what compassion there is, is severly misguided. The story was told at such a well tempo pace that I could not believe how far I made in such little time. It held onto my attention and teared at it until it was done.  Adrian Tchaikovsky is becoming author i’ve slowly come to keep an eye out for.

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Thoughts on “I Got Abducted by Aliens And Now I’m Trapped in a Rom-Com” by Kimberly Lemming

175 words or less on my thoughts of the book I just read.

Content warning on this one: it’s an NSFW  Sci-fi Romance Comedy book. it’s in the title.

This was not only my first read for a bookclub, it was also my first romance novel. This was a fun time, though It’s not for everyone.  I enjoyed the humor and the writing. as it’s similar to what friends and I have when it comes to our RPG games. . The sex scenes were so descriptive that I got blushed hard when I got to them. I’ve read adult fantasy novels where character have sex, though this was to another level. Loved the characters, the setting of strange planet of Waffles, the weakest thing about the whole book was the plot, it felt like there was quite a bit of deus ex machina moments. There were several times were I said “Oh we introducing that now?” with how far into the book we got. I wanted to see the story of Sol, Lox, and Dory and where it went. I’m not sure if I was rushing to finish to see how it was going to end, or what was going to be introduced next,

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Thoughts On – Sir Hereward and Mister Fitz: Stories of the Witch Knight and the Puppet Sorcerer by Garth Nix

175 words or less, thoughts and feelings regarding the book

This anthology of short stories telling the adventures of two heroes in a vein similar to Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser by Franz Lieber. As with such short stories, the primary appeal of the two heroes must be strong with little time to focus on character development, relying more on the world building, plot and the action to keep the readers intention. Garth Nix has accomplished that goal, however there were times I would have to double back to understand the description of the world. There was also the issue that plague older fantasy stories, the oddity with female characters. While they were portray as well-versed in sword play and strength, they tend to fall more into a traitorous role or a type of foe for our heroes to overcome. The stories I found to be akin to a streaming show that I while I enjoyed, I may not actively keeping up with it. However, If I saw a new season has been released, I would binge watch through the night.

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