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aconitecafe's reviews
554 reviews
Who Shot the Serif? by Daisy Robyns
5.0
This was a fantastic book one to a cozy series.
Great bunch of characters introduced, small town rivalry drama. I'm excited to see what this cast gets itself into. The mystery spread the whole town, so it gave us a change to get to know a little bit about everyone.
I loved that Jamie communicated with the police and her friends. No once did I find myself yelling "Just tell someone!" lol Which was a great change of pace compared to the normal cozy trope of the sleuth keeping everything to herself.
The coffee obsession has me from the first page, and I loved the way the small businesses worked together. The author did her research or lives in a small town. It was hard not to get sucked into the story, and I read the whole story in one sitting. The romantic elements were fluttered throughout the cast and the drama, not just focused on the MC, making the world more realistic to the typical circle of acquaintances.
Can't wait to read the next book.
You'll love this story if you love murder mysteries, with no paranormal elements, and a MC with common sense.
Great bunch of characters introduced, small town rivalry drama. I'm excited to see what this cast gets itself into. The mystery spread the whole town, so it gave us a change to get to know a little bit about everyone.
I loved that Jamie communicated with the police and her friends. No once did I find myself yelling "Just tell someone!" lol Which was a great change of pace compared to the normal cozy trope of the sleuth keeping everything to herself.
The coffee obsession has me from the first page, and I loved the way the small businesses worked together. The author did her research or lives in a small town. It was hard not to get sucked into the story, and I read the whole story in one sitting. The romantic elements were fluttered throughout the cast and the drama, not just focused on the MC, making the world more realistic to the typical circle of acquaintances.
Can't wait to read the next book.
You'll love this story if you love murder mysteries, with no paranormal elements, and a MC with common sense.
In the Nib of Time by Jessa Archer, Daisy Robyns
5.0
Another great classic cozy mystery.
I love that these to the traditional plot of the sleuth figuring it out but not telling the audience right away. Gives me time to go back over what i know and try and make a guess at it. This time I was soo wrong. But it was a fun ride trying to figure it out.
Jamie is logical, and communicates with the people in her life like an adult. I adore how there is never any 'if they would have just talked to each other' eye roll moments in these books.
This time we get more information on Jamie's professional friends, and a bit more about the town / town folk gossip. There are low to no romantic aspects of the book, but plenty of realistic adult feelings fluttering around. One of the many things I am so grateful about with this series.
Can't wait to read the next book! If you love non-paranormal, murder in every book cozies you're going to adore this one.
I love that these to the traditional plot of the sleuth figuring it out but not telling the audience right away. Gives me time to go back over what i know and try and make a guess at it. This time I was soo wrong. But it was a fun ride trying to figure it out.
Jamie is logical, and communicates with the people in her life like an adult. I adore how there is never any 'if they would have just talked to each other' eye roll moments in these books.
This time we get more information on Jamie's professional friends, and a bit more about the town / town folk gossip. There are low to no romantic aspects of the book, but plenty of realistic adult feelings fluttering around. One of the many things I am so grateful about with this series.
Can't wait to read the next book! If you love non-paranormal, murder in every book cozies you're going to adore this one.
The Dark Lord Bert by Chris Fox
5.0
These books are so hilariously adorable.
I LOVE Bert, so glad this book ended the way it did. Bert deserves adventure.
With this installment we get a bigger peak into the 'real world', which leave so many questions on the table as it's not your average group of kids playing a role playing game.
Plus we get to check back in with Bert and the gang, exploring more of the game world and meeting a many new friends. It's very apparent that Chris Fox has a love for games, and media. His personal love for nerdy things, shines through every page.
There are so many Easter eggs in this book, I can't even imagine how many I missed since I am not a gamer. Hilarious read, you'll love it if you play DnD or WoW with a group of friends.
Can't wait for the next book!
I LOVE Bert, so glad this book ended the way it did. Bert deserves adventure.
With this installment we get a bigger peak into the 'real world', which leave so many questions on the table as it's not your average group of kids playing a role playing game.
Plus we get to check back in with Bert and the gang, exploring more of the game world and meeting a many new friends. It's very apparent that Chris Fox has a love for games, and media. His personal love for nerdy things, shines through every page.
There are so many Easter eggs in this book, I can't even imagine how many I missed since I am not a gamer. Hilarious read, you'll love it if you play DnD or WoW with a group of friends.
Can't wait for the next book!
The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman
5.0
I thought Magic Lessons was heartbreaking, but it had nothing on this book.
Throughout the story we learn of what happened to the descendants of Maria Owens. With the story focusing on the two Aunts that Sally and Gillian come to live with in Practical Magic.
Though they are the main characters, it is cool to see other witches, and discussions of other family members throughout the story. How they each handle the witchcraft that runs in their blood and such.
Frances and Bridget live sheltered lives, and try and hide from the curse, and who they are from time to time. But what's in their blood will always bring them back to where they belong.
The lessons of love and life that are within these pages are magical yet gut-wrenching. These back stories give so much depth to the Aunts we meet in Practical Magic. Not to mention the town's history with the Owens women. It's insightful to see how deep seeded the feuds, and rumors run.
As with Magic Lessons, this book is filled with witchcraft mementos that make you feel fully immersed, and wondering if they are true. I adore the writing style of Alice Hoffman. These books feel like you are reading family history, not fiction.
You'll love this series if you enjoy reading about love, family bonds, and witches.
"The only remedy for love is to love more."
Throughout the story we learn of what happened to the descendants of Maria Owens. With the story focusing on the two Aunts that Sally and Gillian come to live with in Practical Magic.
Though they are the main characters, it is cool to see other witches, and discussions of other family members throughout the story. How they each handle the witchcraft that runs in their blood and such.
Frances and Bridget live sheltered lives, and try and hide from the curse, and who they are from time to time. But what's in their blood will always bring them back to where they belong.
The lessons of love and life that are within these pages are magical yet gut-wrenching. These back stories give so much depth to the Aunts we meet in Practical Magic. Not to mention the town's history with the Owens women. It's insightful to see how deep seeded the feuds, and rumors run.
As with Magic Lessons, this book is filled with witchcraft mementos that make you feel fully immersed, and wondering if they are true. I adore the writing style of Alice Hoffman. These books feel like you are reading family history, not fiction.
You'll love this series if you enjoy reading about love, family bonds, and witches.
"The only remedy for love is to love more."
Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman
5.0
If you're scrolling through reviews debating on if you should read this one or start with Magic Lessons. I'm going to tell you, start there, not here. It will make this more interesting, and less mundane? I don't know what word I am looking for.
Next, if you're here for "should I read this, since I watched the movie". For me, having seen the movie before reading this, these two pieces might share the same name, but the stories are completely different. Comparing them would be like comparing apples and oranges. Character names may be the same, but each tells a vastly different tale with some similar plot points. I don't want to give spoils but here are light examples, this book starts when Sally & Gillian move into the Aunts house, and tells their entire life story before diving into the events of the movie. While some key points are similar, the story plays out differently so it's worth the read to then ponder over which of the girls choices did you prefer. Aside from that everyone is aged up, Sally's girls are in their teens, and the Aunts are in their nineties. So these factors alone, make for a very different story. TL;DR - Just because you watched the movie doesn't mean you will be able to predict the book.
Having read the two prequels, it is very obvious that when this book was written, the full Owens family history hadn't been flushed out yet. There are minor details that are changed / different compared to the lore that those two books build for us.
One of my favorite parts about this book is to see just how much Alice Hoffman improved her writing craft from the 90s to today. I'm in awe at the growth she had as a writer and a world builder. I would love to see her remaster this story to fit the current lore, and her current writing capabilities. I'm a huge nerd for watching writers learn the craft through reading their books, and this is one of the biggest glow ups I've had the pleasure of reading through.
So with that in mind, this book does not read like the prequels at all. It is much more narrative, and less whimsical history book. Which knowing this was written two decades ago, that doesn't disappoint me at all. It's a product of it's time, and where the writer was when she wrote it.
I am seriously curious how the newest in the series will be handled, since so much that was in The Rules of Magic wasn't mentioned in here at all. (obviously/spoilers-but was mentioned in the movie so it makes it weird.) But I am still in love with this world, and excited to see where the Owens will lead us next.
Next, if you're here for "should I read this, since I watched the movie". For me, having seen the movie before reading this, these two pieces might share the same name, but the stories are completely different. Comparing them would be like comparing apples and oranges. Character names may be the same, but each tells a vastly different tale with some similar plot points. I don't want to give spoils but here are light examples, this book starts when Sally & Gillian move into the Aunts house, and tells their entire life story before diving into the events of the movie. While some key points are similar, the story plays out differently so it's worth the read to then ponder over which of the girls choices did you prefer. Aside from that everyone is aged up, Sally's girls are in their teens, and the Aunts are in their nineties. So these factors alone, make for a very different story. TL;DR - Just because you watched the movie doesn't mean you will be able to predict the book.
Having read the two prequels, it is very obvious that when this book was written, the full Owens family history hadn't been flushed out yet. There are minor details that are changed / different compared to the lore that those two books build for us.
One of my favorite parts about this book is to see just how much Alice Hoffman improved her writing craft from the 90s to today. I'm in awe at the growth she had as a writer and a world builder. I would love to see her remaster this story to fit the current lore, and her current writing capabilities. I'm a huge nerd for watching writers learn the craft through reading their books, and this is one of the biggest glow ups I've had the pleasure of reading through.
So with that in mind, this book does not read like the prequels at all. It is much more narrative, and less whimsical history book. Which knowing this was written two decades ago, that doesn't disappoint me at all. It's a product of it's time, and where the writer was when she wrote it.
I am seriously curious how the newest in the series will be handled, since so much that was in The Rules of Magic wasn't mentioned in here at all. (obviously/spoilers-but was mentioned in the movie so it makes it weird.) But I am still in love with this world, and excited to see where the Owens will lead us next.
Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things by Jenny Lawson
5.0
You guys. This book was exactly what I needed to hear.
“Pretend you’re good at it.” is my new mantra.
I needed to take a minute to sleep on how to review this one, because I was a ball of emotions after reading it. If you are following my reviews, yes, I am reading this backwards. Reading publications backwards is so great because you know where they are, and get to see where they grew from as a person and a writing.
Anyway. Last night while I was pondering over what to write as a review we were watching tv, and it was like 2:30 in the morning. Nicholi wanted to switch from Frasier and we couldn't decide what to switch to, and I was like we need a show that puts you to sleep. And he was unamused. But I was like we could put it in the corner, take it out when it's time for bed. Which just confused him more. So I added, it needs to be scared. Which caused me to laugh uncontrollably as I tried to tell him, that it needed to be scared because when we pull it out of the corner it knows you're going to fall asleep in it, so it needs to try it's best to keep you away because no show wants to be someone's fall asleep while watching it. But I don't think he understood because I was laughing so hard and he gave me the annoyed sigh, and said something about wasting five minutes. In that moment I realized that I am furiously happy.
Even when my depression and anxiety have taken over my mind completely and I am doing my best to not show everyone that I am falling apart, I have figured out the few random things that make me laugh hysterically. And I can be in that moment in spite of my demons trying to tell me that I'm not worthy of that single moment of happiness.
Us: 2, demons: -1. Because they should get points taken away when they try and "wreak havoc in our minds", not given to them.
This book hit me harder than Broken, and I think it's because this one is more focused on her struggles with depression and anxiety. For the first time, it really felt like someone understood what living with anxiety is like. I cried so much more while reading this once, just for the fact of being validated in my struggles. The way she can put mental illness into words that others can understand is awe-inspiring.
You will love this book if you love her blog. If you are a weirdo. If you suffer from depression or/and anxiety. If you need to escape into someone else's life for a bit? Whatever sinks, your submarine, I'm not hear to judge.
Quotes I want to remember:
"I wish someone had told me this simple but confusing truth: Even when everything’s going your way you can still be sad. Or anxious. Or uncomfortably numb. Because you can’t always control your brain or your emotions even when things are perfect. The really scary thing is that sometimes that makes it worse. You’re supposed to be sad when things are shitty, but if you’re sad when you have everything you’re ever supposed to want? That’s utterly terrifying."
"It is an amazing gift to be able to recognize that the things that make you the happiest are so much easier to grasp than you thought. There is such freedom in being able to celebrate and appreciate the unique moments that recharge you and give you peace and joy. Sure, some people want red carpets and paparazzi. Turns out I just want banana Popsicles dipped in Malibu rum. It doesn’t mean I’m a failure at appreciating the good things in life. It means I’m successful in recognizing what the good things in life are for me.”
“To all who walk the dark path, and to those who walk in the sunshine but hold out a hand in the darkness to travel beside us: Brighter days are coming. Clearer sight will arrive. And you will arrive too. No, it might not be forever. The bright moments might be for a few days at a time, but hold on for those days. Those days are worth the dark. In the dark you find yourself, all bones and exhaustion and helplessness. In the dark you find your basest self. In the dark you find the bottom of watery trenches the rest of the world only sees the surface of. You will see things that no normal person will ever see. Terrible things. Mysterious things. Things that try to burrow into your mind like a bad seed. Things that whisper dark and horrid secrets that you want to forget. Things that scream lies. Things that want you dead. Things that will stop at nothing to pull you down further and kill you in the most terrible way of all … by your own trembling hand. These things are fearsome monsters … the kind you always knew would sink in their needle-sharp teeth and pull you under the bed if you left a dangling limb out. You know they aren’t real, but when you’re in that black, watery hole with them they are the realest thing there is. And they want us dead. And sometimes they succeed. But not always. And not with you. You are alive. You have fought and battled them. You are scarred and worn and sometimes exhausted and were perhaps even close to giving up, but you did not. You have won many battles. There are no medals given out for these fights, but you wear your armor and your scars like an invisible skin, and each time you learn a little more. You learn how to fight. You learn which weapons work. You learn who your allies are. You learn that those monsters are exquisite liars who will stop at nothing to get you to surrender. Sometimes you fight valiantly with fists and words and fury. Sometimes you fight by pulling yourself into a tiny ball, blotting out the monsters along with the rest of the world. Sometimes you fight by giving up and turning it over to someone else who can fight for you. Sometimes you just fall deeper. And in the deepest, night-blind fathoms you’re certain that you’re alone. You aren’t. I’m there with you. And I’m not alone. Some of the best people are here too … feeling blindly. Waiting. Crying. Surviving. Painfully stretching their souls so that they can learn to breathe underwater … so that they can do what the monsters say is impossible. So that they can live. And so that they can find their way back to the surface with the knowledge of things that go bump in the night. So that they can dry themselves in the warm light that shines so brightly and easily for those above the surface. So that they can walk with others in the sunlight but with different eyes … eyes that still see the people underwater, allowing them to reach out into the darkness to pull up fellow fighters, or to simply hold their cold hands and sit beside the water to wait patiently for them to come up for air. Ground zero is where the normal people live their lives, but not us. We live in the negatives so often that we begin to understand that life when the sun shines should be lived full throttle, soaring. The invisible tether that binds the normal people on their steady course doesn’t hold us in the same way. Sometimes we walk in sunlight with everyone else. Sometimes we live underwater and fight and grow. And sometimes … … sometimes we fly.”
Notes: HP mentions.
“Pretend you’re good at it.” is my new mantra.
I needed to take a minute to sleep on how to review this one, because I was a ball of emotions after reading it. If you are following my reviews, yes, I am reading this backwards. Reading publications backwards is so great because you know where they are, and get to see where they grew from as a person and a writing.
Anyway. Last night while I was pondering over what to write as a review we were watching tv, and it was like 2:30 in the morning. Nicholi wanted to switch from Frasier and we couldn't decide what to switch to, and I was like we need a show that puts you to sleep. And he was unamused. But I was like we could put it in the corner, take it out when it's time for bed. Which just confused him more. So I added, it needs to be scared. Which caused me to laugh uncontrollably as I tried to tell him, that it needed to be scared because when we pull it out of the corner it knows you're going to fall asleep in it, so it needs to try it's best to keep you away because no show wants to be someone's fall asleep while watching it. But I don't think he understood because I was laughing so hard and he gave me the annoyed sigh, and said something about wasting five minutes. In that moment I realized that I am furiously happy.
Even when my depression and anxiety have taken over my mind completely and I am doing my best to not show everyone that I am falling apart, I have figured out the few random things that make me laugh hysterically. And I can be in that moment in spite of my demons trying to tell me that I'm not worthy of that single moment of happiness.
Us: 2, demons: -1. Because they should get points taken away when they try and "wreak havoc in our minds", not given to them.
This book hit me harder than Broken, and I think it's because this one is more focused on her struggles with depression and anxiety. For the first time, it really felt like someone understood what living with anxiety is like. I cried so much more while reading this once, just for the fact of being validated in my struggles. The way she can put mental illness into words that others can understand is awe-inspiring.
You will love this book if you love her blog. If you are a weirdo. If you suffer from depression or/and anxiety. If you need to escape into someone else's life for a bit? Whatever sinks, your submarine, I'm not hear to judge.
Quotes I want to remember:
"I wish someone had told me this simple but confusing truth: Even when everything’s going your way you can still be sad. Or anxious. Or uncomfortably numb. Because you can’t always control your brain or your emotions even when things are perfect. The really scary thing is that sometimes that makes it worse. You’re supposed to be sad when things are shitty, but if you’re sad when you have everything you’re ever supposed to want? That’s utterly terrifying."
"It is an amazing gift to be able to recognize that the things that make you the happiest are so much easier to grasp than you thought. There is such freedom in being able to celebrate and appreciate the unique moments that recharge you and give you peace and joy. Sure, some people want red carpets and paparazzi. Turns out I just want banana Popsicles dipped in Malibu rum. It doesn’t mean I’m a failure at appreciating the good things in life. It means I’m successful in recognizing what the good things in life are for me.”
“To all who walk the dark path, and to those who walk in the sunshine but hold out a hand in the darkness to travel beside us: Brighter days are coming. Clearer sight will arrive. And you will arrive too. No, it might not be forever. The bright moments might be for a few days at a time, but hold on for those days. Those days are worth the dark. In the dark you find yourself, all bones and exhaustion and helplessness. In the dark you find your basest self. In the dark you find the bottom of watery trenches the rest of the world only sees the surface of. You will see things that no normal person will ever see. Terrible things. Mysterious things. Things that try to burrow into your mind like a bad seed. Things that whisper dark and horrid secrets that you want to forget. Things that scream lies. Things that want you dead. Things that will stop at nothing to pull you down further and kill you in the most terrible way of all … by your own trembling hand. These things are fearsome monsters … the kind you always knew would sink in their needle-sharp teeth and pull you under the bed if you left a dangling limb out. You know they aren’t real, but when you’re in that black, watery hole with them they are the realest thing there is. And they want us dead. And sometimes they succeed. But not always. And not with you. You are alive. You have fought and battled them. You are scarred and worn and sometimes exhausted and were perhaps even close to giving up, but you did not. You have won many battles. There are no medals given out for these fights, but you wear your armor and your scars like an invisible skin, and each time you learn a little more. You learn how to fight. You learn which weapons work. You learn who your allies are. You learn that those monsters are exquisite liars who will stop at nothing to get you to surrender. Sometimes you fight valiantly with fists and words and fury. Sometimes you fight by pulling yourself into a tiny ball, blotting out the monsters along with the rest of the world. Sometimes you fight by giving up and turning it over to someone else who can fight for you. Sometimes you just fall deeper. And in the deepest, night-blind fathoms you’re certain that you’re alone. You aren’t. I’m there with you. And I’m not alone. Some of the best people are here too … feeling blindly. Waiting. Crying. Surviving. Painfully stretching their souls so that they can learn to breathe underwater … so that they can do what the monsters say is impossible. So that they can live. And so that they can find their way back to the surface with the knowledge of things that go bump in the night. So that they can dry themselves in the warm light that shines so brightly and easily for those above the surface. So that they can walk with others in the sunlight but with different eyes … eyes that still see the people underwater, allowing them to reach out into the darkness to pull up fellow fighters, or to simply hold their cold hands and sit beside the water to wait patiently for them to come up for air. Ground zero is where the normal people live their lives, but not us. We live in the negatives so often that we begin to understand that life when the sun shines should be lived full throttle, soaring. The invisible tether that binds the normal people on their steady course doesn’t hold us in the same way. Sometimes we walk in sunlight with everyone else. Sometimes we live underwater and fight and grow. And sometimes … … sometimes we fly.”
Notes: HP mentions.
Louisiana Longshot by Jana DeLeon
5.0
Overall great introduction to the world and the characters.
The small town cast was hilarious and quirky, so many great side characters to work with, I can tell this is going to be a fun series.
The CIA bits were at times under researched but didn't pull me out of the story.
The mystery was well crafted and I loved the twist at the end. Make for a deeper dive into the back stories of the cast.
You'll love this book if you love cozies that are hilarious, and sleuths that have military training.
The small town cast was hilarious and quirky, so many great side characters to work with, I can tell this is going to be a fun series.
The CIA bits were at times under researched but didn't pull me out of the story.
The mystery was well crafted and I loved the twist at the end. Make for a deeper dive into the back stories of the cast.
You'll love this book if you love cozies that are hilarious, and sleuths that have military training.
The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
5.0
I adored this story.
It is a multi-POV that jumps back and forth in time as a present day woman muddles through her ruined marriage stumbling on a mystery of the past women's secret apothecary.
The two stories are woven together so well that they climax together, and lean in to each other lesson / message wise. I loved the mystery of the past mixed with the hope for the future. It left me with a feeling adventure and hope for my own future.
Caroline's woes are so relatable, from letting her younger passions fade, to her personal life woes, her character was well written and read like a friend that we all know, not just a person in passing. Her search for the apothecary had me excited with anticipation, and I loved how everything turned out for her.
Nella’s and Eliza’s story had an equally real life feeling, the past felt well researched and placed in the right time with all of the descriptions and the change in voice. I loved the messages of karma woven into how their stories played out. The twists at the end were some that I didn't see coming.
(view spoiler)
You will love this story if you enjoy books that mix past and present storylines, and/or books that leave you with a desire to take the plunge and chase your goals.
It is a multi-POV that jumps back and forth in time as a present day woman muddles through her ruined marriage stumbling on a mystery of the past women's secret apothecary.
The two stories are woven together so well that they climax together, and lean in to each other lesson / message wise. I loved the mystery of the past mixed with the hope for the future. It left me with a feeling adventure and hope for my own future.
Caroline's woes are so relatable, from letting her younger passions fade, to her personal life woes, her character was well written and read like a friend that we all know, not just a person in passing. Her search for the apothecary had me excited with anticipation, and I loved how everything turned out for her.
Nella’s and Eliza’s story had an equally real life feeling, the past felt well researched and placed in the right time with all of the descriptions and the change in voice. I loved the messages of karma woven into how their stories played out. The twists at the end were some that I didn't see coming.
(view spoiler)
You will love this story if you enjoy books that mix past and present storylines, and/or books that leave you with a desire to take the plunge and chase your goals.
Paper & Blood by Kevin Hearne
5.0
Book 1 in this series was one of my top 10 reads from 2020, so when I received an email that book 2 was available to ARC, I squealed! This installment did not disappoint.
From Gladys Who Has Seen Some Shite to Buck Foi, the ragtag band of hilarious characters is back to take out another problem that landed at their doorstep uninvited. It's one wizard van ride you aren't going to want to miss, unless you don't want to see some shite. Probably don't read this book, as it's full of shite to be seen.
Kevin does a fantastic job at name dropping covid to keep the book solidly in current society, without wasting words to describe the situation. I mean we've been living it right? He also, yet again, painted a picture of the setting so perfectly I felt like I was in the bush with the characters. I love his attention to detail without info dumping.
The development of Gladys Who Has Seen Some Shite as a character was unexpected but exactly what the world building needed. Her hilarious appearances made my anticipation for book 3 unbearable! So many questions, not enough answers with this one. I need to know, do Canadians really put maple syrup in their tea?!
This mystery takes us deeper into the world of sigil agents, meeting & exploring the work space of an Australian apprentice, gave so much more depth to the life of an agent, and what Al is missing out on by his apprentices continually dying. It also gives a lot more information on the other worldly creatures/people/beings that Al & gang know of. This really gives weight to how expansive the world building is, and leaves me pondering over all the potential for future books.
Many of the questions from book 1 are answered, but there are a few series long questions that will still linger after finishing book 2. I don't feel cheated by this, but glad that they will hopefully get their own book, and the attention they deserved, instead of being answered as a side quest.
Every character in the book is well crafted, and has multiple layers to their being. I love that there aren't clear evil and good lines, but a lot gray and switching of sides potential. It gives more realistic traits to those of a different plane. He does a great job of showing that no two people are the same, and the world is full of variety without beating you over the head with it.
The sigil magic system is masterful, this book builds on book 1 and gives more rules, and short comings of its uses. I love the way it is described during battles, and pretty much everything about how it operates. The thought of parts of it being able to die out with an agents death was terrifying! (great nod to the death of a language.)
This series is riddled with life lessons, and deeper meanings. It shines light on the fact that we are all going through something, and have choices with potential to grow or wallow. I love the introspective nature of the characters, and the open communication. It is always refreshing when books don't use "if only they spoke to each other" as a way to create intense drama.
Overall, you'll love this series if you love humorous fantasy with a wide range of fantastical characters. And good dugs, they were very good dugs, and I feel it would be a disservice if I didn't mention them in the review.
Favorite Quotes without Spoilers:
"It's like the Spanish Inquisition, nobody expects a turtle dragon spider."
"Oi, there's a metaphor for evil, eh, MacBharrais? Industrial polluters are shitting demons in the creek. Clearcutting forests? Also shitting demons in the creek. And if ye put almond milk in ma coffee, ye're definitely shitting demons in the creek."
From Gladys Who Has Seen Some Shite to Buck Foi, the ragtag band of hilarious characters is back to take out another problem that landed at their doorstep uninvited. It's one wizard van ride you aren't going to want to miss, unless you don't want to see some shite. Probably don't read this book, as it's full of shite to be seen.
Kevin does a fantastic job at name dropping covid to keep the book solidly in current society, without wasting words to describe the situation. I mean we've been living it right? He also, yet again, painted a picture of the setting so perfectly I felt like I was in the bush with the characters. I love his attention to detail without info dumping.
The development of Gladys Who Has Seen Some Shite as a character was unexpected but exactly what the world building needed. Her hilarious appearances made my anticipation for book 3 unbearable! So many questions, not enough answers with this one. I need to know, do Canadians really put maple syrup in their tea?!
This mystery takes us deeper into the world of sigil agents, meeting & exploring the work space of an Australian apprentice, gave so much more depth to the life of an agent, and what Al is missing out on by his apprentices continually dying. It also gives a lot more information on the other worldly creatures/people/beings that Al & gang know of. This really gives weight to how expansive the world building is, and leaves me pondering over all the potential for future books.
Many of the questions from book 1 are answered, but there are a few series long questions that will still linger after finishing book 2. I don't feel cheated by this, but glad that they will hopefully get their own book, and the attention they deserved, instead of being answered as a side quest.
Every character in the book is well crafted, and has multiple layers to their being. I love that there aren't clear evil and good lines, but a lot gray and switching of sides potential. It gives more realistic traits to those of a different plane. He does a great job of showing that no two people are the same, and the world is full of variety without beating you over the head with it.
The sigil magic system is masterful, this book builds on book 1 and gives more rules, and short comings of its uses. I love the way it is described during battles, and pretty much everything about how it operates. The thought of parts of it being able to die out with an agents death was terrifying! (great nod to the death of a language.)
This series is riddled with life lessons, and deeper meanings. It shines light on the fact that we are all going through something, and have choices with potential to grow or wallow. I love the introspective nature of the characters, and the open communication. It is always refreshing when books don't use "if only they spoke to each other" as a way to create intense drama.
Overall, you'll love this series if you love humorous fantasy with a wide range of fantastical characters. And good dugs, they were very good dugs, and I feel it would be a disservice if I didn't mention them in the review.
Favorite Quotes without Spoilers:
"It's like the Spanish Inquisition, nobody expects a turtle dragon spider."
"Oi, there's a metaphor for evil, eh, MacBharrais? Industrial polluters are shitting demons in the creek. Clearcutting forests? Also shitting demons in the creek. And if ye put almond milk in ma coffee, ye're definitely shitting demons in the creek."
Broken (in the best possible way) by Jenny Lawson
5.0
I own Jenny's books but I haven't read them. The anxiety of knowing they were going to be so relatable and emotionally hard for me to make my way through was keeping me from reading them. BUT I knew they were going to be my favorite if I ever got the courage to read them so I kept buying them because support your people, all right?
Somehow I logged into Libby at the exact right time for this book to be available via audiobook on release day and it was fate. So I spend four hours crying but also laughing so hard it looked like I was crying. Because Jenny knows how to tell a story. (If you follow her blog, you already know this.)
The book is structured in a memoir/diary. She spills her guts on everything from day to day happenings to her childhood, and medical complications. For us to wad in and discover that we aren't so alone. Our broken existence is normal to other people too.
I recommend the audiobook times a million because she narrates it *in the best possible way.*
It's hard to put this book into words. If you suffer from depression or anxiety, or any debilitating condition really, I can assure you that there is something in this book for you. Even if it's just to see how someone deals with the cards they were dealt. Heck even if you're one of those people that has literally none of those things going on in your life, you'll probably also laugh at many of the chapters in this one.
Jenny is my people. She understands parts of me that I don't even understand. I would say I could totally see having coffee with her but that would be a lie. Because it would be awkward, as neither of us get coffee with people, or enjoy public, or people. So not literal coffee. I just mean that she is raw, and open about her struggles, and it is refreshing.
Normalizing the conversations around mental health build up those suffering from mental health things.
We all have battles for facing, we can't compare the battle, but we can take note as to how other deal with the fight. Laughter is always a weapon I want to keep in my arsenal. While we only see the curated parts of her life, they are crafted in a way that screams it's okay to be broken.
Note: HP mention.
Somehow I logged into Libby at the exact right time for this book to be available via audiobook on release day and it was fate. So I spend four hours crying but also laughing so hard it looked like I was crying. Because Jenny knows how to tell a story. (If you follow her blog, you already know this.)
The book is structured in a memoir/diary. She spills her guts on everything from day to day happenings to her childhood, and medical complications. For us to wad in and discover that we aren't so alone. Our broken existence is normal to other people too.
I recommend the audiobook times a million because she narrates it *in the best possible way.*
It's hard to put this book into words. If you suffer from depression or anxiety, or any debilitating condition really, I can assure you that there is something in this book for you. Even if it's just to see how someone deals with the cards they were dealt. Heck even if you're one of those people that has literally none of those things going on in your life, you'll probably also laugh at many of the chapters in this one.
Jenny is my people. She understands parts of me that I don't even understand. I would say I could totally see having coffee with her but that would be a lie. Because it would be awkward, as neither of us get coffee with people, or enjoy public, or people. So not literal coffee. I just mean that she is raw, and open about her struggles, and it is refreshing.
Normalizing the conversations around mental health build up those suffering from mental health things.
We all have battles for facing, we can't compare the battle, but we can take note as to how other deal with the fight. Laughter is always a weapon I want to keep in my arsenal. While we only see the curated parts of her life, they are crafted in a way that screams it's okay to be broken.
Note: HP mention.