Weekly Wrap-Up: 5/26 – 6/8

Whew! It’s been a bit, hasn’t it? We were on vacation last week, though, so I decided to take a full break with the blog. And I think it was a good thing – I definitely feel refreshed!

Unfortunately, I didn’t get much reading done last week, though I did do a fair amount of it the week before last. Still, productivity-wise, I didn’t really get much of anything done last week.

Anyway, without further ado, let’s get on with the weekly wrap-up!

Wednesday 5/28: Can’t-Wait Wednesday

On Wednesday May 28th, I did another Can’t-Wait Wednesday. Four weeks in a row! That’s like a straight month!

Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme currently hosted by Tressa @ Wishful Endings. It focuses on books you’re looking forward to reading, usually new releases.

Can’t-Wait Wednesday: A Forgery of Fate

Saturday 5/31: Bewitching Book Covers

On Saturday May 31st, I posted another Bewitching Book Covers for the first time in a month and a half. Wow, that’s a while. I definitely didn’t intend to do that!

Anyway, Bewitching Book Covers (formerly known as Majestic Mondays and Tasteful Tuesdays), is when I gush over a book cover that I like as well as analyze it (sometimes). I also typically give the book covers funny rating systems – not the usual blank out of five stars kind of thing.

Bewitching Book Covers: The Stardust Thief

Sunday 6/1 to Sunday 6/8: Vacation!!

As I mentioned above, my spouse and I took a vacation last week. We’d been planning it for several weeks and had been looking forward to it. And yeah, it was originally planned to be a staycation. We just wanted to stay home and relax, as well as go to a few places around the city-county we live in there we hadn’t been to before. And it was all really nice.

We actually started off the vacation helping one of my close family members move into a new house though. It ended up being kind of fun actually, and we got a bunch of exercise! We didn’t have a lot of time to chat though, cuz of the whole moving stuff thing, but it was nice to see the other family members that helped out.

The places that we visited were an aquarium we hadn’t been to before, as well as a state park that we’d been meaning to visit for years, but hadn’t been able to get around to until now. The aquarium was cool, and walking around the state park was really fun.

My spouse and I also spent a great deal of time playing Clair Obscure: Expedition 33, a new RPG developed by Sandfall Interactive, a French indie developer. It’s absolutely fantastic in pretty much every way – it’s part of the reason we spent so much of our staycation playing it. We’re still enjoying it, in fact, as we didn’t actually finish the whole game last week, haha.

But yeah, the story is incredible; we actually experienced the story through watching another playthrough first, but the story was no less exceptional the second time, and the characters are also awesome. The game itself is also completely gorgeous, and the gameplay is fun and unique. My favorite thing about the game, however, is definitely Clair Obscur’s absolutely phenomenal soundtrack. The OST is some of the most incredible music I’ve ever heard, and it’s one of the best soundtracks ever created, period. If anything, I encourage everyone to find the OST and give it a listen. You won’t regret it.

Books I Read in the Last Two Weeks

💖🎁 Wrapping It All Up 💖🎁

So yeah, because of taking a vacation last week – or staycation as it were – I didn’t really get anything done at all. I didn’t get much done the week before, either, and I don’t have an excuse for that one, haha. I also got quite a late start this week, which I’m kind of annoyed at myself about, but it is what it is. I’m planning on getting at least a couple of other posts out this week besides this one, though.

Regarding specific blog stuff I want to do this week… Well, I definitely want to get my Most Interesting Looking New Books of June 2025 out, even though it’s already a decent way into the month. I also want to do an additional post or two aside from Most Interesting Looking Books, though I’m still debating over what one(s). I also definitely want to read a book this week, though again, I’m still deciding which one I wanna do.

Concerning other things, even though I didn’t get anything else done for the blog last week, I did redo a few thumbnails/featured images. It bothered me that January didn’t really match the rest of the year, so I decided to change up the featured images of my weekly wrap-ups for the first month of the year. I’m pretty happy with it, and am very glad I finally got around to it (I’ve been considering doing this for a while, actually).

Anyway, I’ve gone on for more than long enough here. This weekly wrap-up covered two weeks though – one of which was a vacation – so I guess it makes sense that I’d have a lot to say.

But yeah, as always thank you for reading, and I hope you have a wonderful day/night!

See ya ~Mar

Weekly Wrap-Up: 5/19 – 5/25

Hey everyone! I’m a bit late with this again, but yesterday was Memorial Day, so this weekend was a bit busy. But it’s still early in the week, so here’s another Weekly Wrap-Up!

I’m simultaneously happy and annoyed with my productivity last week. On the one hand, I posted three times on the blog and finally got another book review out. On the other hand though… I didn’t get to reading a new book. But I just started another, and I have other book reading plans, so that won’t be a problem this week.

Anyway, without further ado, let’s get on with the weekly wrap-up!

Wednesday 5/21: Can’t-Wait Wednesday

Last Wednesday, I did another Can’t-Wait Wednesday. Three weeks in a row! Yay! May was just a good month in regards to new books that looked interesting to me.

Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme currently hosted by Tressa @ Wishful Endings. It focuses on books you’re looking forward to reading, usually new releases.

Can’t-Wait Wednesday: The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association

Friday 5/23: First Line Friday

On Friday, I participated in First Line Fridays for the first time in a while – like a month. First Line Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers (formerly) hosted by Wandering Words.

First Line Friday: 5/23

Sunday 5/25: Impossible Creatures Review

On Sunday, I finally posted my book review for Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell. It’s a generally well-written, middle grade fantasy-adventure book with gorgeous artwork; which includes the cover as well as pictures in the interior of the novel.

It took me a bit to get this review out, which annoyed me, but I’m happy to have finally written and posted it. I enjoyed this book and gave it ★★★✬☆.

Impossible Creatures Review

Books I Read Last Week

💖🎁 Wrapping It All Up 💖🎁

So yeah, I’m generally happy with my blog actually last week, but I wish I would have read and finished a book. This week, my goal for the blog is to do at least as many posts as last week, and to read at least one book.

Regarding specific blog stuff, I want to do a couple of my usual weekly posts, and in particular want to do another Bewitching Book Covers, as it’s been awhile. I also want to do another book review. In relation to what I’m currently reading and planning on reading next… Well, I’ve finally started reading Behooved by M. Stevenson and am planning on finishing it in the next day or so. Then, I’m gonna read the Fishman Island Arc from One Piece.

That’s right, it’s been a while, but I’m finally continuing on with my buddy read of One Piece with my spouse. We’ve actually been meaning to get back to it for some time now, but it just hasn’t worked out. We have still been buddy reading stuff though – we both recently read Impossible Creatures together and liked it.

After that, I think I’ll finally read The Ashfire King by Chelsea Abdullah. It’s been my immediate To Be Read Pile since it came out last month, and I’m a little annoyed I haven’t gotten around to reading it yet, but I’ve been busy with other things, and Impossible Creatures had a time limit to it since we were borrowing it from my spouse’s family. But I think I’ll definitely be able to read it next week.

Concerning stuff outside of the blog and books, last week has our big cleaning day of the month. So our house is now freshly cleaned. I’m also continuing with my diet, as well, and have been eating better and doing more physical activity.

I wanted to note real quick that next week will probably see a decrease in blog activity here. My spouse and I are doing a staycation, and I think I’m just gonna take it easy mostly. I might do a post or two, but if I do I’ll have probably prepared them and scheduled them ahead of time. I just… want to relax. I want to take a break. I’ve been feeling a little burnt out with the blog on and off for the past couple of months (hence the weeks where I only did like two posts), and I think taking a break during our vacation is what I need. So yeah, you probably won’t see much from me next week.

Anyway, as always thank you for reading, and I hope you have a wonderful day/night!

See ya ~Mar

Weekly Wrap-Up: 5/5 – 5/11

It’s a day late, but the last couple days have either been busy or slightly rough. But doing a Weekly Wrap-Up on a Tuesday isn’t completely unreasonable, and I’ve already done it several times, so I’m not that annoyed.

Anyway, last week I got out the two posts that I was really angling for, so I’m very satisfied with my blog activity last week. The only thing I wish I was able to do was a book review, but I haven’t finished the book I’m reading yet, which is why I didn’t get one done last week.

But yeah, I’ll shut up now. Without further ado, let’s get on with the weekly wrap-up!

Tuesday 5/6: The Most Interesting Looking New Books of May 2025

Last Tuesday, I posted a list of the books that I’m looking forward to this month. Or, at least the ones that I think look the most interesting. It was the Most Interesting Looking New Books of May 2025. As always, it’s basically only fantasy and science fiction, as those are the two genres I primarily read. This time I had five books on my list.

The Most Interesting Looking New Books of May 2025

Wednesday 5/7: Can’t-Wait Wednesday

On Wednesday, I did another Can’t-Wait Wednesday for the first time in a couple of weeks. The new books coming out that I’m intrigued by are amping up again.

Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme currently hosted by Tressa @ Wishful Endings. It focuses on books you’re looking forward to reading, usually new releases.

Can’t-Wait Wednesday: The Devils

Friday 5/9: April Reading 2025

Last Friday, I posted my Monthly Reading Wrap-Up for April 2025. It was once again posted at a reasonable time in the month, and I actually posted it earlier than I did last month. For those who don’t know, monthly wrap-ups are when I go over the books I read over the past month, as well as my stats over on The StoryGraph.

Monthly Wrap-Up: April Reading 2025

Sunday 5/11: Mother’s Day

Though I didn’t manage a post this past weekend, Sunday was Mother’s Day!! 🌸🌼 I hope that everyone who wanted to had the opportunity to spend time with their mom this weekend. We met for breakfast at one of my aunts’ houses mom’s side of the family, and spent the afternoon hanging out with my husband’s immediate family. It was a nice day.

Books I Read Last Week

💖🎁 Wrapping It All Up 💖🎁

So yeah, my productivity definitely improved last week, both with my reading and my blog posts. I’d still like to do better this week, however, and do another post during the weekend. I haven’t really posted on a Saturday or Sunday lately, and I’d like to rectify that.

Regarding the coming week, I want to finish Impossible Creatures and do a book review on it. Then I want to start reading a new book, though I’m a little undecided on whether it’ll be one of my anticipated books of May 2025 or The Ashfire King next. Regardless, I’m determined to read The Ashfire King sometime this month. I’d also like to do my favorite monthly post this week, too, as well as a couple of my usual weekly posts.

As for stuff outside the blog and books, I’ve been continuing my diet of course, and it’s been going really well. But my spouse and I have been pretty interested in Blue Prince lately, a roguelike puzzle adventure game that released about a month ago. I personally haven’t played it myself, as I’m pretty sure that I have the patience for roguelikes, but I have watched other people do so, and my spouse has really enjoyed what they’ve played of the game. My spouse has found the secret room, reached the credits and explored a great deal of the manor and it’s grounds before finding the room and a little after – so they’re probably at least 30% through the game.

I’ve definitely very much enjoyed what I’ve seen myself of the game, and especially love the story and how you discover it through your exploration. And I adore the ending when you find the secret 46th room (it’s not a spoiler because the game tells you this is your goal from the outset). I also really enjoyed and think the puzzles are super awesome and creative. It’s such a fantastic game and more than deserves all of the accolades it’s been getting.

Anyway, I’ve talked more than enough here. As always thank you for reading, and I hope you have a wonderful day/night!

See ya ~Mar

Weekly Wrap-Up: 1/13 – 1/19

Ugh. I’m late again. But at least I’m actually posting this on Monday this week, like I should. Last week’s Weekly Wrap-Up posting was abysmal.

Actually, the posting was abysmal in general this past week. I only got two posts out, which sucked. But at least I actually started reading a book. Finally, the first book of January 2025. It only took almost three weeks to start reading it.

Anyway, let’s start the wrap-up.

Friday 1/17: First Line Friday

Last Friday, I participated in First Line Fridays for the first time in several weeks. First Line Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers (formerly) hosted by Wandering Words.

First Line Friday; 1/17

Sunday 1/19: Birthstone Book Covers

Yesterday, I participated in my favorite monthly post, Birthstone Book Covers. Birthstone Book Covers is a fun little post created and hosted by Leslie @ Books Are the New Black.

Each month, for the post, you feature book covers that are either the same color of the month’s birthstone or include the color in the title. This month was January, and its birthstone is garnet. So the colors are all different shades of red.

Birthstone Book Covers: January 2025

Books I Read Last Week

💖🎁 Wrapping It All Up 💖🎁

So yeah, last week was pretty pathetic regarding my blog posting. But at least I started reading another book finally (I didn’t finish it before the week was over – but still). My main goal for this coming week is to just straight up do better in general. Here’s hoping I do it. 🍀🤞

Concerning what I’m thinking of reading next, after Liar’s Kingdom, I’m not fully decided yet. I still have to read The Raven Tower which I got a couple months ago, but I’m also very drawn to A Crown of Ivy and Glass, which I acquired about a week ago.

There are also a couple of books I got for Christmas that I’m interested in – namely A Study in Charlotte, This is How You Lose the Time War and The Wren in the Holly Library. But who knows when I’ll get to them all and in which order. I’d also like to finally get to the Crescent City novels sooner rather than later. Which book will I end up reading? We’ll just all have to see what happens together, I guess.

Regarding stuff outside of books and the blog… not too much is going on at the moment, honestly. It’s snowed a couple of times in the last couple of weeks, which was annoying at first, but other than that there isn’t really anything else that’s gone on. I do want to start cooking more at home, though. So I guess that’s kind of new?

Anyway, as always, thank you to everyone for reading, and I hope you all have a wonderful day/night!

See ya ~Mar

WWW Wednesday: 10/23

It’s been a couple of weeks, but I’m finally currently reading something on a Wednesday again, so here I am.

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme that used to be hosted at A Daily Rhythm, but has been taken over by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words. Now, without further ado, let’s get into the 3 Ws!

The 3 Ws of WWW Wednesday:

What are you currently reading?

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you’ll read next?

The Thing I’m Currently Reading

Bloodguard by Cecy Robson

CURRENT STATUS: 76%

CURRENT FEELS: 😡 (irritated)

The Thing I Most Recently Finished Reading

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

☆★ my review ★☆

The Thing(s) I Might Read Next

One Piece: Volumes 52 – 53 – 54 (Sabaody Arc) by Eiichiro Oda

One Piece: Volumes 52 – 53 – 54 (Sabaody Arc) by Eiichiro Oda: So, uh, I might have lied a bit when I said that I was definitely reading this next the last time that I participated in WWW Wednesday. But I’m serious this time, reading the rest of the pre-time skip stuff is next. (Though, admittedly, I am considering reading a little graphic novel first. But this is definitely next after that!!)

Sheets by Brenna Thummler: I’m also considering reading this one next. It – by which I mean the three volumes Sheets consists of – seems like a nice, quick little read. This is also the little graphic novel I just mentioned. In case it wasn’t obvious, lol.

What books has everyone been reading lately? What have you thought of them? What are you thinking of reading next?

Anyway, thank you to everyone for reading, and I hope that you have a great day/night!

See ya ~Mar

WWW Wednesday: 10/2

Whoa, it’s been a month since the last time I did this! Whoops! Happy Wednesday everyone!

The 3 Ws of WWW Wednesday:

What are you currently reading?

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you’ll read next?

The Thing I’m Currently Reading

A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers

CURRENT STATUS: 2%

CURRENT FEELS: 😁😥 (very excited but a little nervous – I’ve been looking forward to reading it for a while, but I’m a bit afraid about whether it’ll live up to my expectations)

The Thing I Most Recently Finished Reading

Wrath of the Triple Goddess by Rick Riordan

☆★ my review ★☆

The Thing(s) I Might Read Next

One Piece: Volumes 52 – 53 – 54 (Sabaody Arc) by Eiichiro Oda: There’s no might about this one – I’m definitely reading this one next! Then I’m gonna read the Impel Down and Marineford arcs immediately after. (I’m buddy reading this with my spouse and we’re loving it.) Then it’ll finally be the end of the pre-time skip stuff.

Prince of Fortune by Lisa Tirreno: Regarding stuff I’ll be reading next that’s not One Piece, this book might be a contender. I try to read one new release every month, and this novel might be it.

What books has everyone been reading lately? What have you thought of them? What are you thinking of reading next?

Anyway, thank you to everyone for reading, and I hope that you have a great day/night!

See ya ~Mar

WWW Wednesday: 9/4

Happy Wednesday everybody!

The 3 Ws of WWW Wednesday:

What are you currently reading?

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you’ll read next?

The Thing I’m Currently Reading

Darker by Four by June C.L. Tan

CURRENT STATUS: 4%

CURRENT FEELS: 😁 (optimistic or positive – I’ve got my hopes up!)

The Thing I Most Recently Finished Reading

Lake of Souls: The Collected Short Fiction by Ann Leckie

☆★ my review ★☆

The Thing(s) I Might Read Next

The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang: This has been on my radar for some time, and I’ve been considering it for a while. We’ll see.

The Librarian of the Haunted Library by Brian Yansky

The Librarian of the Haunted Library by Brian Yansky: I discovered this a week or two ago, and even though the title makes my brain burn in agony, it seems interesting enough.

Unsouled by Will Wight: This has been on my radar for a year and a half maybe? Not sure. I’ve heard good things about the author’s writing, though. So maybe I’ll read it.

What books has everyone been reading lately? What have you thought of them? What are you thinking of reading next?

Anyway, thank you to everyone for reading, and I hope that you have a fantastic day/night!

See ya ~Mar

WWW Wednesday: 8/28

Happy Wednesday everyone! What’s everybody been reading lately?

The 3 Ws of WWW Wednesday:

What are you currently reading?

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you’ll read next?

The Thing I’m Currently Reading

Ordinary Monsters by J.M. Miro

CURRENT STATUS: 20%

CURRENT FEELS: 🥱😒 (bored and annoyed – there’s something about the way this story is told (and how slow it’s being told) that’s getting to me; I’m probably going to DNF it)

The Thing I Most Recently Finished Reading

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

☆★ my review ★☆

The Thing(s) I’ll Probably Read Next

Lake of Souls by Ann Leckie: This has been on my radar since it came out this April. It’s kind of been floating in the back of my mind, but it’s also been a bit forgotten about. It’s also gotten a little lost in the shuffle of new releases that have been on my TBR lately. Nonetheless, I’m still interested in reading it!

Darker by Four by June C.L. Tan: This has also been on my radar since April – no, since March (it was actually on my second list of anticipated new books of 2024 that I posted this year). Actually, basically the same reasons for not reading it yet as Lake of Souls apply. I’m thinking I’ll read this after that one though.

Noragami: Stray Stories by Adachitoka: I’m gonna read this this week definitely, though I’m not sure if it’ll be before or after the other two books. Depends when I get ahold of it, I guess. I’ve followed and loved this series for like seven years, and I’m looking forward to the final volume at the end of the year, though I’ll be sad to see it finally end. (Yes, I know the ending has already been out for months. But I’ve managed to stay unspoiled and I want to keep it that way until I have the physical copy in my hands in December!)

What books has everyone been reading lately? What have you thought of them? What are you thinking of reading next?

Anyway, thank you to everyone for reading, and I hope that you have a fantastic day/night!

See ya ~Mar

WWW Wednesday: 8/21

I’m so happy to be reading more books again. Sort of. Summer is weird for me – for some reason, I have trouble getting into and reading books. I dunno why. But it feels like it’s picking up again for me?

The 3 Ws of WWW Wednesday:

What are you currently reading?

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you’ll read next?

The Thing I’m Currently Reading

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

CURRENT STATUS: 25%

CURRENT FEELS: 🤔 (unsure…)

The Thing I Most Recently Finished Reading

The Girl With No Reflection by Keshe Chow

☆★ my review ★☆

The Thing I Might Read Next

Ordinary Monsters by J.M. Miro

This has been on my TBR since last year. It was even on my Christmas list, so I received a copy then. I just haven’t gotten around to reading it, unfortunately. But with the sequel, Bringer of Dust releasing next month, I’ve decided that I gotta get on this.

What books are you guys currently reading? Have you read any of the ones on my list this week? What did you think of them, if you had? How do you feel about the book(s) you’re reading now?

Anyway, thank you to everyone for reading, and I hope that you have a fantastic day/night!

See ya ~Mar

WWW Wednesday: 8/7

It’s been… forever since I’ve participated in this post. Like, it’s been over half a year. Geez. I dunno why I dropped it for so long, though part of it was ’cause I was still doing Weekly Wrap-Ups at the time, so doing WWW Wednesday felt redundant when I was already recapping which books I read recently and planning on reading next for my wrap-ups.

But then I got burned out on that too, so I wasn’t doing either. Basically, what I’m trying to say, is that I’m gonna be doing this post pretty regularly again.

So yeah.

Anyway.

The 3 Ws of WWW Wednesday:

What are you currently reading?

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you’ll read next?

The Thing I’m Currently Reading

The Girl With No Reflection by Keshe Chow

CURRENT STATUS: 2%

CURRENT FEELS: 😁 (excited – this is one of my anticipated books from my July, Aug, Sept list)

The Thing I Most Recently Finished Reading

The Ghostkeeper by Johanna Taylor

☆★ my review ★☆

The Thing(s) I Might Read Next

A Prayer for the Crown Shy by Becky Chambers: This has been on my TBR for a few months, ever since I read its predecessor, but has been pushed around for a while. I think I might be in the mood for a smaller read next, though, so it’s here as a potential.

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke: This is another that’s been on my radar for awhile – years in fact. But with the announcement of a movie produced by Laika, I’ve been reminded that it’s been buried in my TBR. It’s also shorter, so it’s also here for similar reasons as to A Prayer for the Crown Shy.

Ordinary Monsters by J.M. Miro: This has been on my TBR since last year. It was even on my Christmas list, so I received a copy then. I just haven’t gotten around to reading it, unfortunately. But with the sequel, Bringer of Dust releasing next month, I’ve decided that I gotta get on this.

What books are you guys currently reading? Have you read any of the ones on my list this week? What did you think of them, if you had? How do you feel about the book(s) you’re reading now?

Anyway, thank you to everyone for reading, and I hope that you have a fantastic day/night!

See ya ~Mar