Nalini Singh

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.

Continue reading →

The State of the Reader: 4/22/20

/ The Shameful Narcissist / 7 Comments

<–The State of the Reader: 4/8/20         The State of the Reader: 5/6/20–>

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.

Purchased

Books Finished: 1

Title: Archangel’s Kiss
Series Title: Guild Hunter
Author: Nalini Singh
Date Added: December 27, 2018
Date Started: January 15, 2020

Cover of Archangel's Kiss by Nalini Singh (Guild Hunter #2)Media: Physical

I didn’t get the foreshadowing exactly right, but I was kind of close.  I’m also glad it wasn’t what I feared, because I probably would’ve thrown the book against the wall.  The end seemed a little rushed especially with how much the event that happened there was hyped, and everything was wrapped up pretty quickly, but honestly?  It didn’t remotely detract from my enjoyment.  I’m not sure if the next book in the series will be my next read, but I will be reading it sooner rather than later.

Continue reading →

The State of the Reader: 4/8/20

/ The Shameful Narcissist / 4 Comments

<–The State of the Reader: 3/26/20         The State of the Reader: 4/22/20–>

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.

Purchased

Books On Hold: 1

Title: Man and His Symbols
Author: C. G. Jung et al
Date Added: August 4, 2017
Date Started: January 7, 2020

Man and His Symbols coverMedia: Paperback

Apparently I even forgot to include this last time.  Oh well.  I put it on hold because only the first essay is written by Jung himself.  Not that I doubt the other psychologists aren’t worth my time, but I really liked Jung’s style.  I think I’m going to splurge and pick up his Psychology and Alchemy, because I’ve been pretty immersed in the latter.  It’s…EVERYWHERE, and I want to be able to pinpoint its symbols and usages in FFVII et al.

Continue reading →

The State of the Reader: 3/25/20

/ The Shameful Narcissist / 5 Comments

<–The State of the Reader: 3/11/20         The State of the Reader: 4/8/20–>

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 Finished: 1

Title: Desdemona and the Deep
Series Title: Dark Breakers
Author: C. S. E. Cooney
Date Added: July 24, 2019
Date Started: March 5, 2020

Cover of Desdemona and the Deep by C. S. E. CooneyMedia: eBook/Kindle

This has the lowest rating out of all of the books in the trilogy, but I enjoyed it.  I think I might know why people didn’t, but I thought the overriding message paired well with the delectable writing style is enough for four stars.  What amuses me is I saw a video about Phossy Jaw the other day.  It’s an actual thing, and it’s just as horrible as Cooney describes in her book.  So yeah, this novel was a really good castigation of shitty capitalists/capitalism as well as portraying a spoiled rich girl who isn’t to the core.  Also queer and trans representation, though I’d want an actual trans person to decide on if the latter is decent.  Not my lane, loves.

Continue reading →

The State of the Reader: 3/11/20

/ The Shameful Narcissist / 8 Comments

<–The State of the Reader: 2/26/20         The State of the Reader: 3/25/20–>

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

  • 777 and Other Qabalistic Writings of Aleister Crowley: Including Gematria and Sepher Sephiroth by Aleister Crowley – $17.77 @ Amazon

Books Finished: 1

Title: Pestilence
Series Title: The Four Horsemen
Author: Laura Thalassa
Date Added: January 26, 2018
Date Started: February 24, 2020
Date Finished: Marcy 4, 2020

Cover of PestilenceMedia: eBook/Kindle

It seems somewhat irresponsible if not downright cruel to praise a book called “Pestilence” during an epidemic, but current events aren’t the author’s fault.  This book has a very good chance of being my best of 2020…which again is almost brutally ironic for present events.  It could be both hilarious and heartbreaking in the same sentence.  It made sense psychologically, and the main character is a total bad ass.

William Faulkner is quoted as saying, “The only thing worth writing about is the human heart in conflict,” and I think Thalassa would’ve made him proud.  I need to hold off on reading the next book War only because I need some time to emotionally process this.

Continue reading →

The State of the Reader: 2/26/20

/ The Shameful Narcissist / 5 Comments

<–The State of the Reader: 2/12/20         The State of the Reader: 3/11/20–>

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: 3

Title: The First Girl Child
Author: Amy Harmon
Date Added: September 17, 2019
Date Started: January 17, 2020

Cover of The First Girl Child by Amy HarmonMedia: eBook/Kindle

The ending was a little bit confusing/cluttered, but the overall experience was excellent.

Continue reading →

The State of the Reader: 2/12/20

/ The Shameful Narcissist / 13 Comments

<–The State of the Reader: 1/29/20         The State of the Reader: 2/26/20–>

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: Metzengerstein
Author: Edgar Allan Poe
Date Added: April 27, 2019
Date Started: January 26, 2020
Date Finished: February 6, 2020

Cover of Mezengerstein by Edgar Allan PoeMedia: eBook/Kindle

I’m not sure if I’m going to review this.  Oh, it was fine.  Definitely gives you a taste of Poe, and I think I know what he’s trying to say.  I may need to marinate on it more and look it up.

Continue reading →

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.

Continue reading →

The State of the Reader: 6/5/19

/ The Shameful Narcissist / 6 Comments

<–The State of the Reader: 5/22/19         The State of the Reader: 6/19/19–>

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: 25

  • They Don’t Make Plus Size Spacesuits by Ali Thompson – $2.99 @ Amazon
  • The Republic by Plato – $0.60 @ Amazon
  • A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett – $0.00 @ Amazon
  • Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie – $2.99 @ Amazon
  • The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton – $0.00 @ Amazon
  • The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexendre Dumas – $0.00 @ Amazon
  • The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde – $0.60 @ Amazon
  • The Last Stitch Goes Through the Nose by Moses Norton – $2.99 @ Amazon (Kindle)
  • Archangel’s Legion by Nalini Singh (Guild Hunter) – Gift from Barnes and Noble
  • Archangel’s Prophecy by Nalini Singh (Guild Hunter) – Gift from Barnes and Noble
  • Archangel’s Storm by Nalini Singh (Guild Hunter) – Gift from Barnes and Noble
  • Archangel’s Consort by Nalini Singh (Guild Hunter) – Gift from Barnes and Noble
  • Archangel’s Enigma by Nalini Singh (Guild Hunter) – Gift from Barnes and Noble
  • Archangel’s Heart by Nalini Singh (Guild Hunter) – Gift from Barnes and Noble
  • Archangel’s Shadow by Nalini Singh (Guild Hunter) – Gift from Barnes and Noble
  • Archangel’s Viper by Nalini Singh (Guild Hunter) – Gift from Barnes and Noble
  • Archangel’s Blade by Nalini Singh (Guild Hunter) – Gift from Barnes and Noble
  • Angels’ Blood by Nalini Singh (Guild Hunter) – Gift from Barnes and Noble
  • The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë – $3.79 @ Amazon
  • Captivating Melody by Katherine McIntyre (Discord’s Desire) – $0.99 @ Amazon
  • Forged Alliances by Katherine McIntyre (Tribal Spirits) – $3.03 @ Amazon
  • The Last Stitch Goes Through the Nose by Moses Norton – $6.99 @ Amazon (Physical)
  • Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney by Kenji Kuroda (Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney) – $10.99 @ Amazon
  • Miles Edgeworth: Ace Attorney Investigations by Kenji Kuroda (Ace Attorney Investigations) – $10.99 @ Amazon
  • A Wilderness of Glass by Grace Draven – $2.99 @ Amazon

Lots and lots of books this time.  My husband got me the entire Guild Hunter series by Nalini Singh for my birthday, and I was overjoyed to be able to purchase Moses Norton’s  (aka The Well-Red Mage) novel The Last Stitch Goes Through the Nose on both Kindle and physical!  I also picked up a few more of Katherine McIntyre’s novels and made an Indie Author Shopping List on Amazon. The author of They  Don’t Make Plus Size Spacesuits is by one of my favorite people on Twitter (Mean Fat Girl).  She’s a fat activist whose done a shit ton of research on dieting/diet culture and how toxic it is.  Due to the number of books, I’m not going to put links to all of them, which is why I focused on the most important (aka indie) ones.

Continue reading →

Top Books of 2018

/ The Shameful Narcissist / 8 Comments

Goodreads Challenge: 50
Books Finished: 51
Books DNF: 19

Last year I was ambitious and wrote out all the books I read.  This year I’m just going to talk about my top picks and biggest disappointments.

Top 10 Books/Series

10. Blister by Jeff Strand

Blister coverSurprisingly much more insightful than what it’s billed to be.

9. Two Hearts by Peter S. Beagle

Two Hearts coverYou can read this for free through the link.  It’s honestly the best I could hope for from a sequel to such an epic work.  It continues the themes without being trite and the resolution is beautiful if bittersweet.

Continue reading →