Weekly Wrap-Up: 2/9 – 2/15

It’s Monday again, which means it’s time to wrap up last week!

Last week was… eh. I wasn’t really at my best, unfortunately, with either the blog or reading books. Oh well. Part of that was due to a rough last few days of the week, but a lot of it was just me getting busier or distracted with other stuff. This week I definitely want to do better.

Anyway, without further ado, let’s get on with the Weekly Wrap-Up!

Wednesday 2/11: Can’t-Wait Wednesday

Last Wednesday, I participated in Can’t-Wait Wednesday for the first time in a couple of weeks. 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: Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter

Thursday 2/12: The Bones Beneath My Skin Review

On Thursday, I finally posted my review of The Bones Beneath My Skin by TJ Klune. It took a little longer than I wanted (for reasons), but I’m happy to have finally reviewed it!

The book was a weird and wild ride throughout, and I enjoyed it. There were a few things that I didn’t care for about the novel, but it was an overall great reading experience. I recommend it to fans of TJ Klune’s other stuff. I gave it ★★★★☆.

The Bones Beneath My Skin Review

Friday 2/13: Friday the 13th

This past Friday was Friday the 13th. It’s not a holiday or even close to anything like that. I just like acknowledging it for some reason. And since it’s in February this year and it’s not a leap year, we’ll have two Friday the 13th’s this year. So that’s kind of cool.

Saturday 2/14: Valentine’s Day

Last Saturday was Valentine’s Day!! 💝🌹💌🌷🍫💐 I hope anyone who does anything for it had a good one. We usually do ours on a different day, as most places are usually pretty busy (especially with it being on a Saturday this year). So on the day of, we didn’t do much. It’s still Heart Day, though, so I always like to point it out.

Books I Read Last Week

Wrapping It All Up

So yeah, last week wasn’t the greatest, but it could’ve been worse. I’m hoping to do better this coming week, though. So we’ll see how it goes.

This week I’m absolutely posting my monthly reading wrap-up for January 2026. I was angling to do it last week, but I don’t know what happened there. I’d also like to participate in a couple of my favorite weekly posts, as well as my favorite monthly one. And hopefully a book review if I get around to reading and finishing one. I actually know what I’m reading next for once, as well as the book I want to read after it.

Outside of books and blogging this past week, Valentine’s Day happened, as I highlighted above. Other than that though, there wasn’t a lot that went on. My spouse and I are still working on being healthy, but that’s about it.

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

See ya ~Mar

Weekly Wrap-Up: 2/2 – 2/8

Right on time this week! I know I’ve been saying this for the past few weeks, but man did last week fly by.

Last week wasn’t too bad, regarding my blog activity, though I didn’t do everything that I’d wanted to. I didn’t get to reading any books either. Oh well. I’ll aim to do better this week.

Anyway, without further ado, let’s get on with the Weekly Wrap-Up!

Tuesday 2/3: The Most Interesting Looking New Books of February 2026

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 The Most Interesting Looking New Books of February 2026. As always, it’s basically only fantasy and science fiction, as those are the two genres I primarily read. This time there were six books on my list.

The Most Interesting Looking New Books of February 2026

Wednesday 2/4: Can’t-Wait Wednesday

On Wednesday, I participated in Can’t-Wait Wednesday for the first time in a couple of weeks. 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: Strange Animals

Friday 2/6: Bewitching Book Covers

This past Friday, I posted a Bewitching Book Covers for the first time in over a month. 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: Stolen Midnights

Books I Read Last Week

Wrapping It All Up

So yeah, last week was okay. It wasn’t great, but it was fine enough. I’m hoping that this week I’ll be a little bit better with my blog stuff, and that I’ll at least read one book. We’ll see.

For my posts, I’m at the very least planning on (finally) posting my review for The Bones Beneath My Skin by TJ Klune, as well as my monthly reading wrap-up for January 2026. I’d also like to participate in at least a couple of the usual weekly posts that I try to join in during most weeks.

Regarding books and reading, I think I’m going to read a February new release. After that, it’s a little bit up in the air at the moment. I’ll see what I’m feeling after I finish the next book I decide to go for.

Concerning stuff outside of books and blogging, I did a little more than my usual last week. I mean, yeah, my spouse and I are still trying to be healthier, but I also finally got around to changing the decor. So the Christmas and Winter decorations have at last been taken down, and now the Valentine’s Day stuff is up. Yay! I’m very happy to finally be switched over. So is my spouse, haha.

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

See ya ~Mar

Weekly Wrap-Up: 1/26 – 2/1

Another week has gone by, so it’s time for another Weekly Wrap-Up! This is kind of a quick start to the year, huh?

Last week was pretty good. I’m generally satisfied with both my reading and blogging. I didn’t get a book review out, but oh well – it’s not that big of a deal.

Anyway, without further ado, let’s get on with the Weekly Wrap-Up!

Tuesday 1/27: Top Ten Tuesday

Last Tuesday, I participated in Top Ten Tuesday for the first time in a couple of weeks. Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly post currently hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. It celebrates lovely lists, wonderful books and the bookish community. The prompt for last week was Bookish Discoveries I Made in 2025.

Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish Discoveries I Made in 2025

Wednesday 1/28: Can’t-Wait Wednesday

Can’t-Wait Wednesday: Queen of Faces

Friday 1/30: First Line Friday

Last Friday, I participated in First Line Friday again. Two weeks in a row! First Line Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers (formerly) hosted by Wandering Words. It’s where you guess what book the post is highlighting based on the book’s first words.

First Line Friday: 1/30

Books I Read Last Week

Wrapping It All Up

So yeah, last week wasn’t bad at all. I want this coming week to be just as good or better. I hope that ends up happening.

Concerning blogging and blogging adjacent stuff for this week, I want to do a couple of things. First, I want to participate in at least one of the usual posts that I jump into most weeks. I’d also want to post a book review. Most importantly, though, I want to do my Most Interesting Looking Books of February 2026 post, as well as my monthly reading wrap-up for January 2026. Gotta get those posts out. And for what book I’m reading next, I’m honestly not sure. I have a few ideas, though.

Outside of books and blogging, nothing much is going on. We’ve finally moved from January to February, which I think I like, as I think I might prefer the second month of the year to the first. I’m not sure, though. But yeah, the only thing really going on right now is that my spouse and I are trying to be healthier, and are eating more home-cooked meals and stuff.

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

See ya ~Mar

Weekly Wrap-Up: 1/19 – 1/25

Jeez, I can’t believe it’s been another week already. Oh well, time flies when you’re being relatively productive, I guess.

Last week wasn’t too bad, in regards to both my reading and my blog activity. I finished a book and reviewed it – and it was my first of both for the year too! I also managed to post a few times, and am happy with the amount of blog posts I was able to do. So yeah, a pretty good week overall.

Anyway, without further ado, let’s get on with the Weekly Wrap-Up!

Wednesday 1/21: The Ashfire King Review

Last Wednesday, I finally posted my review for The Ashfire King by Chelsea Abdullah. It’s the sequel to The Stardust Thief, as well as the second book in the Sandsea Trilogy. This one was a long time coming – but I finally read and reviewed it!

The book ended up being slower than I expected for a good portion of it, but I liked it overall. The plot and characters are still great, and the writing is as engaging as ever. I gave it ★★★★☆.

The Ashfire King Review

Thursday 1/22: Birthstone Book Covers

On Thursday, I participated in Birthstone Book Covers at a more reasonable time for the first time in months. 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 to pick from are shades of red.

Birthstone Book Covers: January 2026

Friday 1/23: First Line Friday

Last Friday, I participated in First Line Friday for the first time in a few weeks. First Line Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers (formerly) hosted by Wandering Words. It’s where you guess what book the post is highlighting based on the book’s first words.

First Line Friday: 1/23

The Books I Read Last Week

Wrapping It All Up

So yeah, my reading and blogging this past week was pretty good. I’m pretty happy with all that I did. I hope this week is just as good.

Concerning the blog this coming week, I want to participate in at least a couple of the usual weekly posts that I participate in as well as do a book review. So hopefully I’ll finish the book I’m about to start reading before the end of the week so that I can review it.

Speaking of what I’m planning to read next, I’m pretty sure it’s going to be The Bones Beneath My Skin by TJ Klune. I already have it checked out from the library. I haven’t read any of his works in a couple of years, so I’m looking forward to it. This has actually been nebulously on my TBR for about a year, lol. I was going to read Water Moon and The Elsewhere Express by Samantha Sotto Yambao, but I ended up not feeling either of them at the last second.

Being in late January, we’re now in the midst of winter, and it really displayed that in my area late last week. It snowed quite a bit, and said snow is still piled on the ground even now. It’s also been freezing cold and will continue to be for at least the next several days. Brrr. In other news, my spouse and I are still trying to be healthier.

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

See ya ~Mar

Weekly Wrap-Up: 1/12 – 1/18

Right on time this week! Whew! Last week went by pretty quickly! I can’t believe it!

The blog activity was not as strong last week, especially compared to the week prior. But because of how many posts I got in the week before last, (Six!) I’m actually okay with my more lackluster posting from last week. For once. My reading on the other hand was much better.

Anyway, without further ado, let’s get on with the Weekly Wrap-Up!

Tuesday 1/13: Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday: Most Anticipated Books Releasing in the First Half of 2026

Wednesday 1/14: Can’t-Wait Wednesday

On Wednesday, I participated in Can’t-Wait Wednesday for the second week in a row. 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 Elsewhere Express

Books I Read Last Week

Wrapping It All Up

So yeah, not the greatest week in terms of blogging, but my novel reading was good. I wish both could’ve been good, but alas. Hopefully both books and blogging end up being up to par this coming week. 🍀🤞

In regards to blog posts this week, I want to do a book review (or two), participate in a couple of my weekly posts, and also join in on my favorite monthly post. For reading, I just finished up with The Ashfire King by Chelsea Abdullah finally (you’ll hear my thoughts about it soon when I do a review), and I’m pretty sure I want to read the first volume of Love Me to Death by Toonimated next. After that, I want to read Water Moon and The Elsewhere Express by Samantha Sotto Yambao, though I might not get to those two until this weekend or early next week. We’ll see.

Outside of books and blogging, my spouse and I started the new season of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End. It’s a high fantasy anime that focuses on an elf with a long lifespan who seeks to learn to understand humans and connect with others, decades after defeating the Demon King with the group she journeyed with at the time. It’s a great story so far, if a bit of a slow-burn, and season two just started releasing weekly this past Saturday.

We also started watching The Invisible Man and His Soon-to-Be Wife. It’s really cute and we’re really enjoying it. The world and characters are vibrant and interesting. It’s more episodic, but it’s still a lot of fun.

My spouse and I are also still trying to be healthier. I think it’s going okay so far, but I hope for us to improve even further with it.

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

See ya ~Mar

Weekly Wrap-Up: 1/5 – 1/11

Annnd another week has passed already. Wow. I’m slightly later than I usually try to be, but I’m not too late with this.

The blog activity was very strong last week. I can’t remember the last time I did six posts in a week (technically seven actually, if you count last week’s Weekly Wrap-Up). Six. And here I was last week saying that I might be slowing down here. What a way to immediately contradict myself. (I might still drop off, though. This was an unusually strong start to the new year.)

Anyway, without further ado, let’s get on with the Weekly Wrap-Up!

Tuesday 1/6: The Most Interesting Looking New Books of January 2026

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 The Most Interesting Looking New Books of January 2026. As always, it’s basically only fantasy and science fiction, as those are the two genres I primarily read. This time there were five books on my list.

The Most Interesting Looking New Books of January 2026

Wednesday 1/7: The Cat Who Saved Books Review / Can’t-Wait Wednesday

On Wednesday, I finally got around to posting my review for the last book I read in 2025. It was The Cat Who Saved Books by Sosuke Natsukawa. I generally liked it and it wasn’t what I expected it to be. I gave it ★★★★☆.

The Cat Who Saved Books Review

I also participated in another Can’t-Wait Wednesday for the first time in a few weeks. 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: Love Me to Death (Volume #1)

Saturday 1/10: December Reading 2025

Last Saturday, I posted my Monthly Reading Wrap-Up for December 2025. Compared to the last couple of months, it was posted at a reasonable time of the month this time around. 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: December Reading 2025

Sunday 1/11: Yearly Reading 2025 / All the Books I Read in 2025

On Sunday, I posted my Yearly Reading Wrap-Up for 2025. (At least the first part.) It was basically a list of my statistics and analytics from The StoryGraph from this past year. There was just as much of it as last year, so I had to split it into two posts again.

Another Year of Books: Reading 2025

I also managed to post the second part of my Yearly Reading Wrap-Up for 2025. The part of the post mostly focused on all the books I read last year, in 2025.

All the Books I Read Last Year: Reading 2025

The Books I Read Last Week

Wrapping It All Up

So yeah, there was a lot of blog activity from me last week. I probably won’t keep up that pace, as the reason all of those posts happened like that was because I wanted to get the rest of my end of the last year/beginning of the next year posts out. Hopefully I’ll still be able to put out a decent amount of posts this week, though.

I’m about to start reading The Ashfire King by Chelsea Abdullah. I’m right months late, but I’m finally gonna read it, and I’m pretty excited about it. It was one of my most anticipated new books from last year, after all.

After I’m done with that, I think I’m probably going to read the first volume of Love Me to Death by Toonimated, and then maybe Water Moon and The Elsewhere Express by Samantha Sotto Yambao. Who really knows, though.

For blog posts, I want to participate in at least one or two of the weekly posts that I usually do, and hopefully post a book review. I’m not sure what else I’ll post if anything.

Outside of the blog, my spouse and I have been trying to be healthier again. I’m not quite sure how it’s going so far, but I hope we can find a rhythm with it. I do know that we haven’t started off the year as strong as we’d wanted to.

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

See ya ~Mar

Weekly Wrap-Up: 12/29 – 1/4

Another week, another wrap-up. Here we are, enduring the first full week of 2026. I can’t believe another year is over.

Last week, my blog activity was okay. I did like three posts, which is never a bad amount, but it’s especially good on a holiday week where I’m not able to get a lot of stuff done. My reading was fine too – I managed to get a book in. Yay!

Anyway, without further ado, let’s get on with the Weekly Wrap-Up!

Tuesday 12/30: Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday: Most Recent Additions to My Bookshelf

Wednesday 12/31: New Year’s Eve / End of the Year Book Tag 2026

Wednesday was the last day of 2025. So here’s a late Happy New Year’s Eve!! 🎆🎇 I can’t believe that 2025 is actually over – what a crazy bad year it was. Hopefully 2026 is waayyy better!

I also did a Book Tag for the first time in… a year! The last time I did was was New Year’s Eve 2024. Wow! It was the same Book Tag too – the End of the Year Book Tag. It was created by Ariel Bissett over at YouTube. There are six questions, and the tag focuses on reflecting on the past year’s reading, as well as looking forward to future reading.

End of the Year Book Tag 2025

Thursday 1/1: New Year’s Day

Last Thursday was the first day of 2026. Happy New Year’s Day!! 🥂🍻🕛🎉 I hope that everyone has had a good start to the year so far! So far mine has been okay. I hope that it gets better and that the year ends up being better than last year was.

Sunday 1/4: To 2026 Post

On Sunday, I did my first post of 2026. It’s the same kind of puar that I usually do – in it, I reflect a little bit on the past year and I talk about my goals for the coming year. It was my To 2026 post.

To 2026: Happy New Year

Books I Read Last Week

Wrapping It All Up

So yeah, I was decently active last week. The end of 2025 was alright, though it could’ve been better. It wasn’t as bad as the last few months have been, though, so it could’ve been worse. My start of 2026 has been okay so far, but I’m hoping that it gets even better.

Once again, I’m not sure what book I’m gonna go for next – I’ve just got so many options that I’m interested in. We’ll see what happens, I guess.

Regarding my blogging for this week… I want to get out my list for the Most Interesting Looking Books of January 2026, a book review, my reading wrap-up for December 2025, and my yearly reading wrap-up for 2025 as a whole.

Concerning stuff outside of books and blogging, it was kind of another relaxing week. Which, I expected, because that’s what we usually do the week of New Year’s. We also watched the fifth and final season of Stranger Things. And it was… okay. The first half of the season was definitely stronger than the second half, and the finale was very meh. It wasn’t the worst season finale I’ve ever seen or heard about, but it was nowhere close to being one of the best finales. And as someone who followed the show for almost ten years – ever since season one came out in 2016 – I wish it was better. It’s also hard to believe it’s finally over.

This coming week we’re going to try to start being healthier. Eating better… being more active… the works. So hopefully it works out and we start the year off strong.

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

See ya ~Mar

Weekly Wrap-Up: 12/22 – 12/28

I’m a little later than usual with this, but not too late. These last few weeks have just been flying by, as they usually do, and I’ve been a little busier since it’s the holiday season. But I still want to wrap up the past week.

Last week, I managed to post more than I usually do during the week of Christmas. I’m not quite sure how, though. These two weeks around Christmas and New Year’s are always a little rough like that. But I did it somehow, and I’d at least like to match the number of posts from last week during this week. I also didn’t really read last week, but I’m not surprised or annoyed about that. I can’t remember the last time I was reading a book over the week of Christmas – it’s just not something I really do because it’s busy.

Anyway, without further ado, let’s get on with the Weekly Wrap-Up!

Wednesday 12/24: Christmas Eve

Last Wednesday was the day before Christmas. So, to everyone who celebrates, here’s a belated Merry Christmas Eve!! 🦌🎅🔔🕯️ I didn’t really bake any cookies on this day this year like a normally do, but I still had a wonderful time with my spouse and dinner with my family. (I did do some baking this year, it was just on the Saturday before Christmas and one batch of Christmas Day itself. Christmas Eve just wasn’t the day this year.)

Thursday 12/25: Christmas Day / Birthstone Book Covers

On Thursday, I managed to squeeze a post out, so I got to wish everyone well on Christmas. But since I’m wrapping up the week, I’ll say it again: Merry Christmas!! 🎄🎁❄️🌟 I hope that everyone who celebrates had a great holiday. I spent more time with my family and some time with my husband’s family and it was really nice.

I was also able to post something before the day was out last Thursday. I participated in Birthstone Book Covers at a more reasonable time for the first time in months. 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 December, and its birthstones are tanzanite, zircon and turquoise. So the colors are all different shades of blue and cyan.

Birthstone Book Covers: December 2025

Friday 12/26: First Line Friday

Last Friday, I participated in First Line Fridays again. Two weeks in a row – almost a streak! First Line Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers (formerly) hosted by Wandering Words. It’s where you guess what book the post is highlighting based on the book’s first words.

First Line Friday: 12/26

Sunday 12/28: The Glass Scientists: Volume Three Review

On Sunday, I finally got my review out for the final volume of The Glass Scientists by S.H. Cotugno. And now I’m all caught up on my reviews! But yeah, I really enjoyed this story, both in its original form of a webcomic (that’s still finishing up) and the three graphic novels that came out of it, with their extra stuff. This was such a great reimagining of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Like the first two volumes, I gave it ★★★★★.

The Glass Scientists: Volume Three Review

Books I Read Last Week

Wrapping It All Up

So yeah, I ended up being more active on the blog than I thought I would, but my novel reading was pretty much the same as it usually is around Christmas – nearly non-existent. Oh well, maybe next year I’ll actually read around the holiday for once. We’ll see, I guess.

I’ve actually managed to pick a book to read next and I’m almost done with it. You’ll see what it is when I review it, hopefully later this week. After I’m done with it, though, I’m not sure which novel I’ll go with next. It’s still between most of the same books as it’s been, however.

For blogging this week, I want to get my end of the year post out, as well as either my December 2025 reading wrap-up or my list for the Most Interesting Looking Books of January 2026. And at least one more post to match last week’s amount of posting.

Regarding stuff outside books and blogging, it was pretty much just relaxing and Christmas stuff last week. Basically, what I expected, because it is the usual for that week. My spouse and I will focus on being healthier after the New Year. For now, it’s just holidays and relaxing.

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

See ya ~Mar

Weekly Wrap-Up: 12/15 – 12/21

Another week has gone by already. And it’s nearly Christmas and the end of the year to boot! Wow. In any case, time for a wrap-up.

Last week was okay. I feel like I’m getting back in the swing of things, even though I still really haven’t been reading, which is somehow I hope to fix before the new year comes around. But my blog activity was good – I did a Weekly Wrap-Up and additional three posts – so I’m satisfied with that.

Anyway, without further ado, let’s get on with the Weekly Wrap-Up!

Wednesday 12/17: Can’t-Wait Wednesday

Last Wednesday, I participated in another Can’t-Wait Wednesday for the first time in a couple of weeks. 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: An Arcane Inheritance

Thursday 12/18: November Reading 2025

On Thursday, I posted my Monthly Reading Wrap-Up for November 2025. It was once again posted little bit later in the month than I’d have liked, but eh, I wanted to get my book reviews from that month out first. 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: November Reading 2025

Friday 12/19: First Line Friday

Last Friday, I participated in First Line Fridays for the first time in a month or so. First Line Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers (formerly) hosted by Wandering Words. It’s where you guess what book the post is highlighting based on the book’s first words.

First Line Friday: 12/19

Books I Read Last Week

Wrapping It All Up

So yeah, that was all the stuff I did last week. As I said, I kind of wish I’d gotten around to reading something, but with how December usually ends up being in regards to that, I’m not that upset about it. I do want to at least read one more book before the year ends though, so hopefully this week and next week are different.

Considering what week it is, I’m probably not gonna get out more than three posts. One of those is definitely gonna be my review for the last volume of The Glass Scientists by S.H. Cotugno. Honestly, that one should’ve been out last weekend but, oh well. I also want to participate in one or two of my usual weekly posts, as well as my favorite monthly post – doing the latter being the most important to me out of the two. I can’t keep posting that one during the last couple of minutes on the last day of the month! That’s got to stop!

Regarding books, I’m kind of at a crossroads, which is keeping me from reading, which I hate. But sometimes this happens, unfortunately, and it’s the cause of half of my reading slumps: I can’t decide what to read so I end up not reading anything. Ugh. How annoying – I find the way my brain works to be a pain in the ass at times. I’m thinking maybe The Ashfire King by Chelsea Abdullah, though. I kind of feel obligated to read that one before the year is out, since I’ve been stringing it along for about eight months now.

Outside of books and blogging, last week we cleaned the house. Yep, that’s right, it was Cleaning Week. Woohoo. My spouse and I are also generally trying to be healthier, but it being the holiday season and all, it’s kind of hard. So we’re going to wait until the new year starts before getting back into it. There’s just way too much going on this time of year for that kind of thing.

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

See ya ~Mar

Weekly Wrap-Up: 12/8 – 12/14

It’s a new week, and before we can move on to the next one, we gotta wrap up the last one! I’m a little later than I usually am, but… eh, it’s not that bad.

Last week wasn’t bad at all. My novel reading wasn’t the best, but my blogging was pretty good, even if it was constrained to a couple of days. I wish my posting could have been more spread out, but considering I did four posts and am nearly caught up to my book reviews, I can’t complain.

Anyway, without further ado, let’s get on with the Weekly Wrap-Up!

Tuesday 12/9: What Stalks the Deep Review / Top Ten Tuesday

Last Tuesday, I finally posted my review for What Stalks the Deep. It’s really been a long time coming, honestly. And with the posting of it, I’m officially caught up on my October book reviews! Yay!

Anyway, What Stalks the Deep is the third installment of T. Kingfisher’s Sworn Solider series of novellas. And I thought it was pretty good. I’m not sure if I liked What Stalks the Deep as much as the first book, but I definitely prefer it to book two. I gave it ★★★★☆.

What Stalks the Deep Review

I also did another post last Tuesday. It’s been quite a while since I double posted, but I also wanted to participate in Top Ten Tuesday this past week.

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly post currently hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. It celebrates lovely lists, wonderful books and the bookish community. The prompt for last week was Books Set in Snowy Places.

Top Ten Tuesday: Books Set in Snowy Places

Sunday 12/14: Penric’s Demon & Penric and the Shaman Reviews / Bewitching Book Covers

On Sunday, I posted another book review. Well, I suppose I should say “reviews” instead as I actually evaluated two books. Or novellas, technically. Whatever, semantics.

So yeah, the two books I reviewed were the first two novellas in the Penric and Desdemona series by Lois McMaster Bujold: Penric’s Demon and Penric and the Shaman. I enjoyed both of them, though I preferred the first book over the second a little. I gave Penric’s Demon ★★★★☆ and Penric and the Shaman ★★★✯☆.

Penric’s Demon & Penric and the Shaman Reviews

I also double posted a second time last week on Sunday. It’s been a few since the last time I did a Bewitching Book Covers, so I thought another one was in order.

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: For Whom the Belle Tolls

Books I Read Last Week

Wrapping It All Up

So yeah, that was this past week, at least in regards to books and blogging. I would’ve liked to have read more, but I’m mostly satisfied with how everything ended up going. I hope that this coming week is a little better, though.

Concerning posts for next week, I definitely want to get out my reading wrap-up for November 2025. It’s halfway through the month now, and getting increasingly more ridiculous the longer I go without posting it. (I just wanted to get out my reviews for the books I read first, though, okay?) I also want to participate in a couple of my usual weekly posts, as well as my favorite monthly post. And last, but certainly not least, I’d like to do another book review. I’ve got one last one in the tank and it needs to go out!

For books, I want to read at least one new book, and I’d also like it to be from my To Be Read Stuff, as that’s been languishing for a while. Right now I’m thinking Water Moon by Samantha Sotti Yambao, but that could absolutely change. Then… I’m not sure. I’d like to start up the Dresden Files again and do Dresden December like I talked about last month, but I’m not sure if I’m feeling it anymore. Maybe the time has already passed? I dunno – I sure hope not!

The problem is I also recently acquired A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik, and now I’m kind of really interested in that and possibly it’s sequels, depending on how I like it. It’s also a much shorter series, both in book and page length per book. So yeah, what I’m basically saying is: Who knows what’s next for my reading?

Regarding stuff outside of books and blogging, I’m just kind of hanging out – mostly with my spouse. We’ve mostly been watching YouTube in our spare time lately, though sometimes other stuff around the house as well. We’ve also been eating more at home, which I’m happy about. Things in our lives are finally starting to go back to as close as normal as they can get.

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

See ya ~Mar