<–The State of the Reader: 4/6/22         The State of the Reader: 5/4/22–>

A biweekly post updated every other Wednesday detailing my current reading projects and what new titles I’ve added to my to-read list.  Title links go to Goodreads, and if you have an account there feel free to friend me!  I’d love to see what you’re reading and/or planning to read.

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Purchased: 4

• Shattersteel by Benjanun Sriduangkaew (Her Pitiless Command) – $4.99 @ Amazon Kindle
• The Complete Short Stories by Ambrose Bierce – $0.99 @ Amazon Kindle
• From a Distant Star by Karen McQuestion – $4.49 @ Amazon Kindle
• Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor (Daughter of Smoke and Bone) $2.99 @ Amazon Kindle

Total: $13.46

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Books Finished: 1

Title: The Comedy of Errors
Author: William Shakespeare
Date Added: March 6, 2018
Date Started: February 6, 2022

Media: eBook/Kindle

The end went exactly as I thought with the exception of one thing.  I thought two people were going to get together but that was never confirmed.  They’re still my OTP though, so if I write my own retelling it’s happening.

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Books DNF: 1

Title: The Savage and the Swan
Author: Ella Fields
Date Added: July 17, 2021
Date Started: April 4, 2021

Media: eBook/Kindle

This story has way too much going on in such a messy fashion.  It’s like the author threw too many different beliefs together without providing a sturdy foundation for them.  It was a similar issue I had with Dolor and Shadows.  After reading a few reviews I knew I was making the right choice.

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Currently Reading: 6

Title: The King in Yellow
Author: Robert W. Chambers
Date Added: August 4, 2019
Date Restarted: April 17, 2022

Media: eBook/Kindle
Progress: 1%

I’m back at it, looking at this more as a research reference, though that’s what it was supposed to be before.  Between watching HBO’s True Detective (which I may actually revisit, at least the first season), watching a let’s play of The Sinking City, and seeing the name Hastur thrown around elsewhere (The LOST Child), I think I’m better prepped to dive into this.  I’m also taking better notes, at least I’m trying to.   There are also things about Carcosa that remind me of a scene I wrote.  Nothing like some ego-stroking to get TSN interested I suppose.

Title: Parasite Eve
Author: Hideaki Sena
Translator: Tyran Grillo
Date Added: June 8, 2017
Date Started: April 14, 2022

Media: eBook/Kindle
Progress: 5%

This book is compelling AF.  I usually read around three chapters per day at lunch, though today I had to bow out after one since it was pretty graphic with some of the organ removal descriptions.  I, of course, know about this because of the video game, which I’ll need to finish watching at some point.  The more I delve into Japanese horror and apocalyptic narratives, the more patterns I’m starting to see…and that’s another video I need to watch.

Title: The Ladies of the Secret Circus
Author: Constance Sayers
Date Added: September 4, 2021
Date Started: April 12, 2022

Media: eBook/Kindle
Progress: 7%

I almost gave up on this one, too.  The author includes random exposition that throws off the pacing.  Well, it’s not so much random as it goes on for a bit too long.  I’m interested in the disappearances though so I’m going to keep going.

Title: The Death of Jane Lawrence
Author: Caitlin Starling
Date Added: July 25, 2021
Date Started: April 7, 2022

Media: eBook/Kindle
Progress: 15%

I wasn’t planning on reading three Kindles at a time, nor was this on my “to-read-next” list, but I received a notification from the library that they’d bought the eBook on my recommendation, and, well, I couldn’t very well say no to that.  I’m curious why it has such a low rating below 3.50.  The writing is sound and the story is interesting, so I’m wondering if the author doesn’t stick the landing at the end.

My theories so far is the doctor is either a werewolf, a vampire, or there’s some Jekyll/Hyde shenanigans going on.  I’m also getting Cupid & Psyche vibes insofar as the bride isn’t allowed to go someplace and/or see something.  I guess I’ll see.

Title: House of Sky and Breath
Series: Crescent City
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Date Added: March 7, 2021
Date Started: February 23, 2022

Media: Physical/Hardback
Progress: 15%

I really hope either Ruhn or Bryce kill their dickhead dad at some point or do it together.  Either way that asshole needs to die.

Title: Ireland’s Immortals: A History of the Gods of Irish Myth
Author: Mark Williams
Date Added: October 5, 2017
Date Started: December 15, 2021

Media: Hardback
Progress: 31%

Finally getting to something I’m very interested in and have used: Danann.  There’s a ton of information on just a few pages, so I’ve only made minimal progress in terms of pages.  It took the author almost 200 to even get to her, but he has his reasons.

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And now I’m two books behind ugh.  I should read the next Black Hammer graphic novel this week so I’m only one again.  It doesn’t look like I’ll be finishing anything any time soon since I’ve just started most of these and a lot of them are for research so they’re no light reading.  Maybe I can knock out those three Kindles fairly quickly, but they’re not really short novels either.

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<–The State of the Reader: 4/6/22         The State of the Reader: 5/4/22–>