Mirrorstrike

The Books of 2020

/ The Shameful Narcissist / 4 Comments

So 2020, am I right?  What else can be said about the year that hasn’t already been spoken?

Let’s talk books!

I’m going to do it a bit differently than I did it last year.  I found a template that I created but never used so this year I decided to remedy that.

Favorite Book

Cover of Pestilence by Laura Thalassa

Pestilence by Laura Thalassa

I haven’t reviewed this yet, so I don’t want to say too much, but I knew this had the highest chance of being my GOAT for 2020.  A bold claim, I know, since I finished reading it in February, and indeed, there was another book that almost edged it out, but I’m a sucker for fantasy/sci-fi with realistic emotional impact, and the female MC is so 2020 it hurts.  We all know the 2020 attitude of *shrug* “Yeah that might as well happen” regardless of what batshit crazy thing occurs, and after surviving literal pestilence, Sarah would react just like that to our own.

Favorite Series

Set of Guild Hunter books by Nalini Singh

Guild Hunter Series by Nalini Singh

I have so far completed the second book of this series, but it’s still my favorite for 2020.  I mean it’s a paranormal romance series about ANGELS ffs, so easy sell.  Anyway, per the the third book’s blurb, the main angel’s evil mom shows back up to drive him into wrathful insanity so that’ll be a totally new thing for me to read about *nods* EXCITING.

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The State of the Reader: 1/29/20

/ The Shameful Narcissist / 2 Comments

<–The State of the Reader: 1/15/20         The State of the Reader: 2/12/20–>

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.

Books Purchased

Books Finished: 1

Title: Mirrorstrike
Series Title: Her Pitiless Command
Author: Benjanun Sriduangkaew
Date Added: December 5, 2019
Date Started: December 27, 2019
Date Finished: January 16, 2020

Mirrorstrike by Benjanun SriduangkaewMedia: eBook/Kindle

This is one of the best series I’ve ever read, and it absolutely captures Faulkner’s quote about the human heart in conflict with itself.  While I’m completely satisfied with the ending, I heard from the author herself that she’s working on a third, which I most certainly will read.

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The State of the Reader: 1/15/20

/ The Shameful Narcissist / 9 Comments

<–The State of the Reader: 1/1/20         The State of the Reader: 1/29/20–>

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.

Books Purchased

Books Finished: 2

Title: Star Trek: Picard – Countdown #1
Series Title: Star Trek: Picard – Countdown
Author: Kirsten Beyer
Artists: Mike Johnson & Ángel Hernández
Date Added: January 5, 2020
Date Started: January 5, 2020
Date Finished: January 8, 2020

Star Trek: Picard - Countdown #1 coverMedia: eBook/Kindle

I don’t know if this is common knowledge, but I try to live my life in a way that Captain Picard would be proud.  He is best captain (don’t even @ me), my favorite one (sorry Steve Rogers, you’re second though), and only the most English man to ever English playing a French man.  I’m so stoked for the Picard series and this comic is a precursor to that.  If you’re into Star Trek and are planning to watch the Picard series, I highly recommend.

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The State of the Reader: 12/18/19

/ The Shameful Narcissist / 12 Comments

<–The State of the Reader: 12/4/19         The State of the Reader: 1/1/20–>

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.

Books Obtained: 5

  • Air Awakens by Elisa Kova (Air Awakens) – $0.00 @ Amazon
  • The First Girl Child by Amy Harmon – $1.99 @ Amazon
  • Extracted by R. R. Haywood (Extracted Trilogy) – $0.99 @ Amazon
  • The Collected Stories of Arthur C. Clarke by Arthur C. Clarke – $0.00 @ Amazon
  • Mirrorstrike by Benjanun Sriduangkaew  (Her Pitiless Command) – $4.99 @ Amazon

Books Finished: 3

Title: Winterglass
Series: Her Pitiless Command
Author: Benjanun Sriduangkaew
Date Added: March 3, 2019
Date Started: November 21, 2019
Date Finished: December 5, 2019

Winterglass coverMedia: eBook/Kindle

The second book came out merely days after I finished this, and not only is that awesome because I can complete the duology, but it also proved me kind of right.  Let me explain…as mentioned in the last update, one of the main characters, the general Lussadh, uses she/her pronouns, but her titles are stereotypically masculine e.g. prince, lord, etc.  Later in the novel, Nuawa, the other MC mentions that she’s neither a man nor a woman (which means she’s non-binary or genderfluid I suppose), and in my head I’m seeing her as sort of a cross between my two favorite generals: Celes from FFVI and Sephiroth from FFVII who are female and male respectively but also super beautiful.  Lussadh is on the cover of the second book, and I WAS KINDA RIGHT.

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