bluesalamanders

I was going to title the thread "bluesalamanders still exists" but then I realized that that wouldn't actually be funny. I was having a rough year even before everything happened, so I never got my 2020 thread started, and while it feels silly to start the post in December, it also feels weird to not have had one at all.

I had no goals for reading this year, which is good because I read significantly fewer books than usual (...possibly as much or more fanfic, though. Hit me up if you want - or have - recs for Old Guard fanfic, turns out that is My Jam).

Finished Book 1: To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Becky Chambers
New read, adult, science fiction, audiobook, 44 30m

I liked this, for the most part, but I found the ending somewhat disappointing. Not unexpected, just unsatisfying.

Finished Book 2: A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers
Wayfarers, book 2
Reread, adult, science fiction, audiobook, 11h 29m

I love this book so much.

Finished Book 3: Come Tumbling Down by Seanan McGuire
Wayward Children, book 5
New read, young adult, fantasy, dead tree, 208p

While this isn’t my favorite of the Wayward Children books, it is a solid next step in the story Seanan is telling.

Finished Book 4: Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Graceling, book 1
Reread, young adult, fantasy, audiobook, 12h 31m

Pearl’d: The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

I really liked The Night Circus, so when I heard that Erin Morgenstern had a new book out, I was excited. Unfortuantely, the second book did not live up to the first. Between myself and two good friends, we all had different reasons that we gave up on reading Starless Sea. My friend W was turned off by weird and unnecessary violence in the early chapters, specifically the cult that removed new members’ tongues as though this was a perfectly reasonable cost of membership. My sister the former reference librarian spent a chapter yelling at the book for all the inaccuracies in how reference librarians were depicted before deciding it was not worth continuing.

And me? I was bored. I didn’t connect with any part of the book, not the characters or the plots or even the setting enough to want to keep going. Honestly? I just kept falling asleep, which I rarely do when reading new books.

Apparently a lot of people really like it, so don’t take my word on it, unless you also get angry about inaccurately depicted librarians or unnecessary mutilation.

Finished Book 5: The City in the Middle of the Night by Charlie Jane Anders
New read, adult, science fiction, ebook, 368p

I...guess I liked this, but it was weird. And I may have spent a large chunk of the book yelling “that person is not your friend!” at one of the main characters, which was kinda frustrating.

Finished Book 6: Call Down the Hawk by Maggie Stiefvater
The Dreamer Trilogy, book 1
New read, young adult, fantasy, audiobook, 13h 45m

I liked this. I was amused that my friend W read this before he read the Raven Boys books, and then he was glad he had because one of the characters who is in both is a much more unpleasant person in the Raven Boys books, and W might not have wanted to read a whole book about that guy if he'd read them in the other order.

Finished Book 7: Terrier by Tamora Pierce
Beka Cooper, book 1
Reread, Young Adult, Fantasy, Audiobook, 15h 3m

Finished Book 8: The Fifth Season By N. K. Jemisin, read by Robin Miles
The Broken Earth, book 1
Reread, adult, fantasy, audiobook, 15h 31m

Content warnings: physical and emotional child abuse, descriptions of sexual abuse, bullying, slavery, medical abuse, discussions of abuse of a coma patient, unwilling sex (both parties are unwilling), major character death, child death

Finished Book 9: The Obelisk Gate by NK Jemisin, read by Robin Miles
The Broken Earth, book 2
Reread, adult, fantasy, audiobook, 13h 19m

Finished Book 10: Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Old Man’s War, book 1
Reread, adult, science fiction, audiobook, 9h 58m

Finished Book 11: Imaginary Numbers by Seanan McGuire
Incryptid, book 9
New read, adult, fantasy, dead tree, 437p

Finished Book 12: The Ghost Brigades by John Scalzi
Old Man’s War, book 2
Reread, adult, science fiction, audiobook, 10h 28m

Finished Book 13: The Last Colony By John Scalzi
Old Man’s War, book 3
Reread, adult, science fiction, audiobook, 9h 51m

Finished Book 14: The Human Division By John Scalzi
Old Man’s War, book 5
Reread, adult, science fiction, audiobook, 14h 53m

Finished Book 15: The End Of All Things By John Scalzi
Old Man’s War, book 6
Reread, adult, science fiction, audiobook, 11h 24m

Happy to see you still exist, blue!

norabelle414 Thanks :)

Finished Book 16: An absolutely remarkable thing by Hank Green
Reread, adult, science fiction, audiobook, 9h 25m

Finished Book 17: Lock In by John Scalzi
Lock in, book 1
Reread, adult, science fiction, audiobook, 10h 56m

Finished Book 18: Head On by John Scalzi
Lock In, book 2
Reread, adult, science fiction, audible, 7h 36m

Finished Book 19: Beneath the Sugar Sky By Seanan McGuire
Wayward Children, book 3
Reread, young adult, fantasy, audiobook, 4h 11m

Finished Book 20: In an absent dream by Seanan McGuire read by Cynthia Hopkins
Wayward children, book 4
reread, Young Adult, Fantasy, Audiobook, 4h 57m

Finished Book 21: Come Tumbling Down by Seanan McGuire
Wayward Children, book 5
Reread, young adult, fantasy, audiobook, 3h 52m

Finished Book 22: Magic For Nothing by Seanan McGuire
Incryptid, book 6
reread, adult, fantasy, audiobook, 12h 41m

Finished Book 23: Tricks for Free by Seanan McGuire
Incryptid, book 7
Reread, adult, fantasy, audiobook, 11h 49m

Finished Book 24: That Ain't Witchcraft by Seanan McGuire
Incryptid, book 8
reread, adult, fantasy, audiobook, 12h 23m

Finished Book 25: A natural history of dragons by Marie Brennan
Lady Trent series, book 1
reread, adult, fantasy, audiobook: 10h 16m

Finished Book 26: Tropic of Serpents by Marie Brennan
Memoirs of Lady Trent, book 2
Reread, adult, fantasy, audiobook, 10 hrs and 39 mins

Finished Book 27: Voyage of the Basilisk by Marie Brennan
Memoirs of Lady Trent, book 3
Reread, adult, fantasy, audiobook, 11 hrs and 52 mins

Finished Book 28: In the Labyrinth of Drakes by Marie Brennan
Memoirs of Lady Trent, book 4
Reread, adult, fantasy, audiobook, 10h 31m

Finished Book 29: Within the Sanctuary of Wings by Marie Brennan
Memoirs of Lady Trent, book 5
Reread, adult, fantasy, audiobook, 10h59m

These are some of my favorite, most relaxing rereads.

Finished Book 30: The Last Emperox by John Scalzi
The Interdependency, book 3
New read, adult, science fiction, ebook, 320p

Finished Book 31: Turning Darkness Into Light by Marie Brennan
Memoirs of Lady Trent, related
New read, adult, fantasy, audiobook, 11h 35m

I like it, though the original series was hard to live up to.

Finished Book 32: All Systems Red by Martha Wells
The Murderbot Diaries, book 1
Reread, adult, science fiction, ebook, 160p

Finished Book 33: Artificial Condition by Martha Wells
Murderbot Diaries, book 2
Reread, adult, science fiction, ebook, 160p

Finished Book 34: Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells
Murderbot, book 3
Reread, adult, science fiction, ebook, 160p

Finished Book 35: Exit Strategy by Martha Wells
Murderbot Diaries, book 4
Reread, adult, science fiction, Ebook, 133p

Finished Book 36: The Pinhoe Egg by Diana Wynne Jones
Reread, young adult fantasy, Audiobook, 9h 59m

Finished Book 37: Network Effect by Martha Wells
Murderbot Diaries, book 5
New read, adult, science fiction, dead tree, 352p

Fantastic, absolutely love it. I was slightly concerned that a whole novel of Murderbot's perspective would be a bit much, but it was wonderful and I'm looking forward to the next book.

Finished Book 38: Marine Biology: A San Andreas Shifters Short Story Prequel by Gail Carriger
San Andreas Shifters
New read, adult, fantasy, ebook, 70p

Finished Book 39: Spindle’s End by Robin McKinley
Reread, young adult, fantasy, audiobook, 12h 29m

Finished Book 40: Outlaws of Sherwood by Robin McKinley
Reread, young adult, historical fiction, audiobook, 10h 56m

Finished Book 41: Every Tool a Hammer by Adam Savage
New read, adult, non-fiction, audiobook, 7h 45m

I was a big fan of Mythbusters and I've been watching a lot of Adam's Tested youtube videos since the pandemic started. I really enjoyed his book, too.

Finished Book 42: Bloodshot by Cherie Priest
Reread, adult, fantasy, audiobook, 11h 12m

Finished Book 43: The Tea Dragon Society by Katie O’Neill
New read, children’s, fantasy, graphic novel, 72p

Finished Book 44: The Cloud Roads by Martha Wells
Raksura, book 1
Reread, adult, fantasy, ebook, 300p

Finished Book 45: The Serpent Sea by Martha Wells
Raksura, book 2
Reread, adult, fantasy, audiobook 14h 8m

Finished Book 46: The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow
New read, young adult, fantasy, audiobook, 12h 20m

Really fantastic, thoroughly enjoyed this one. I'm actually surprised that it's just this year that I read it for the first time, it really feels like I've known it much longer. I mean, on the one hand, time isn't real, this year has lasted a decade, etc etc, but on the other hand, something about this book that felt like picking up an old favorite, even though I'd never read it before. Definitely recommended, especially if you like portal fantasies.

Content warnings (though it's been months since I read thisr): animal harm, racism, child neglect/abuse/endangerment, probably some other stuff i can't remember, the dog does not die

Finished Book 47: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Reread, young adult, fiction, audiobook, 11h 35m

Finished Book 48: Soulless by Gail Carriger
Parasol Protectorate, book 1
Reread, Adult, Fantasy, audiobook: 10h 48m

Finished Book 49: Changeless by Gail Carriger
Parasol Protectorate, book 2
Reread, adult, fantasy, audiobook, 10h 33m

Finished Book 50: Blameless by Gail Carriger
Parasol Protectorate, book 3
Reread, fantasy: steampunk, audiobook: 11h 59m

Nice to see you posting, Blue, irrespective of the date. It is never too late - welcome back.

>14 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul!

Finished Book 51: Heartless by Gail Carriger
Parasol Protectorate, book 4
Reread, adult, fantasy, audiobook, 11h 19m

Finished Book 52: Timeless by Gail Carriger
Parasol Protectorate, book 5
Reread, adult, fantasy, audiobook, 11h 29m

Finished Book 53: A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor by Hank Green
Book 2
New read, young adult, science fiction, audiobook 15h 46m

Content warnings: body horror, mind control, nonconsentual medical procedures, kidnapping, imprisonment, addiction, attempted murder, racism, sexism, mass surveillance, major character death

I like Hank's books a lot.

Finished Book 54: The Angel of the Crows by Katherine Addison
New read, adult, fantasy, audiobook, 16h 2m

A friend gave this to me. I wasn’t blown away, but I thought it was pretty good.

Finished Book 55: The Siren Depths by Martha Wells
Raksura, book 3
Reread, adult, fantasy, audiobook, 15h 47m

Finished Book 56: A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking by T Kingfisher
New read, children’s, fantasy, ebook, 289p

Finished Book 57: Minor Mage by T Kingfisher
New read, children’s, fantasy, ebook, 176p

I’ve been meaning to read more T Kingfisher (Ursula Vernon) and I finally did! These were both charming and whimsical and entertaining, especially the first one.

Finished Book 58: Axiom’s End by Lindsay Ellis
Noumena, Book 1
New read, adult, science fiction, Audiobook, 16h

I liked this and I’m looking forward to the next book, but it is kind of A Lot so I doubt it’s going to go on my list of frequent rereads. I’ll probably read it next when the sequel is coming out, so I remember what happened.

Finished Book 59: The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water by Zen Cho
New read, adult, fantasy, Ebook, 160

I liked it, I think, but I don’t really remember much about it.

Finished Book 60: Catfishing on Catnet by Naomi Kritzer
CatNet, Book 1
New read, science fiction, young adult, ebook 296p

Really not at all what I was expecting, but still great!

Finished Book 61: The Edge of Worlds by Martha Wells
Raksura, book 4
Reread, adult, fantasy, audiobook 17h

Finished Book 62: Harbors of the Sun by Martha Wells
Raksura, book 5
Reread, adult, fantasy, Audiobook 15h 46m

Finished Book 63: Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire
October Daye, book 1
Reread, Adult, Fantasy, 346p

Finished Book 64: A Local Habitation by Seanan McGuire
October Daye, book 2
Reread, Adult, Fantasy, 377p

Finished Book 65: An Artificial Night by Seanan McGuire
October Daye, Book 3
Reread, Adult, Fantasy, 354p

Finished Book 66: Late Eclipses by Seanan McGuire
October Daye, Book 4
Reread, Adult, Fantasy, 372p

Finished Book 67: One Salt Sea by Seanan McGuire
October Daye, Book 5
Reread, Adult, Fantasy, 354p

Finished Book 68: Ashes of Honor by Seanan McGuire
October Daye, book 6
Reread, Adult, Fantasy, 368p

Finished Book 69: Chimes at Midnight by Seanan McGuire
October Daye, book 7
Reread, Adult, Fantasy, Dead Tree: 357p

Finished Book 70: The Winter Long by Seanan McGuire
October Daye, book 8
Reread, Adult, Fantasy, dead tree: 358p

Finished Book 71: A Red-Rose Chain by Seanan McGuire
October Daye, book 9
Reread, adult, fantasy, dead tree: 368p

Finished Book 72: Once Broke Faith by Seanan McGuire
October Daye, book 10
Reread, adult, fantasy, dead tree, 420p

Finished Book 73: The Brightest Fell by Seanan McGuire
October Daye, book 11
Reread, adult, urban fantasy, dead tree, 368p

Finished Book 74: Night and Silence by Seanan McGuire
October Daye, book 12
Reread, adult, fantasy, dead tree, 368p

Finished Book 75: The Unkindest Tide by Seanan McGuire
October Daye, book 13
Reread, adult, fantasy, dead tree, 368p

Finished Book 76: A Killing Frost by Seanan McGuire
October Daye, book 14
New read, adult, fantasy, dead tree, 368p

Fantastic latest entry in the series. The story went some surprising (but not, all things considered, truly unexpected) places and I loved it.

Finished Book 77: The Dispatcher by John Scalzi
Dispatcher, book 1
Reread, adult, fantasy, audiobook 2h 18m

Finished Book 78: Murder by Other Means by John Scalzi
Dispatcher, book 2
New read, adult, fantasy, audiobook 3h 33m

This one is equal parts creepy and heartbreaking, so that’s a thing. It is good, though.

Finished Book 79: Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire
Wayward Children, book 1
Reread, young adult, fantasy, audiobook, 4h 44m

Finished Book 80: Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire
Wayward Children, book 2
Reread, young adult, fantasy, audiobook, 4h 4m

Finished Book 81: Beneath the Sugar Sky by Seanan McGuire
Wayward Children, book 3
Reread, young adult, fantasy, audiobook, 4h 11m

Finished Book 82: Come Tumbling Down by Seanan McGuire
Wayward Children, book 5
Reread, young adult, fantasy, audiobook, 3h 52m

Finished Book 83: Driftwood by Marie Brennan
New read, adult, fantasy, audiobook, 5h 34m

I really wanted to like this, but it was...boring. The worldbuilding was neat, a couple fragments of stories were interesting, but overall I could not figure out what the point was.

Finished Book 84: A Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
Wayfarers, book 1
Reread, adult, science fiction, audiobook, 14h 23m

Finished Book 85: Network Effect by Martha Wells
Murderbot, book 5
Reread, adult, science fiction, dead tree, 346

You know, most books I can read in any format, but Murderbot I can only read in ebook or paper. The audio format doesn’t work for me. It's not even the quality of the reader, I’m sure he’s good, but I couldn’t stand to listen to him read a single page of it, because he just sounded so completely wrong for the character. For me; I know other people who like it fine.

Finished Book 86: Over the Woodward Wall by A Deborah Baker (Seanan McGuire)
New read, middle grade, fantasy, Audiobook, 5h 31m

Finished Book 87: Catherine Called Birdy by Karen Cushman
Reread, young adult, fiction, Dead tree 192p

I was having trouble reading anything at all and so I pulled a very old favorite from the shelf and got through it in an evening. It was as good as ever, and inspiring as well.

Finished Book 88: A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers
Wayfarers, book 2
Reread, adult, science fiction, audiobook, 11h 29m

Finished Book 89: Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire
Wayward Children, book 1
Reread, young adult, fantasy, audiobook, 4h 44m

I was having a very stressful week and literally just reread a book I’d recently finished, because nothing else was appealing.

And there we go! I'm caught up. I finished EHaD today. I'm also listening to 99% Invisible City, which is fantastic. The podcast is great, too.

Welcome back, Blue!

>19 bluesalamanders: And you got to 75 in October :-)

I must also add my congratulations on your reaching 75, Blue.

Hey, Blue! Welcome back!

Thanks, FAM, Paul, newt!

Finished Book 90: All Systems Red by Martha Wells
The Murderbot Diaries, book 1
Reread, adult, science fiction, ebook, 160p

Finished Book 91: Down Among the Sticks and Bones By Seanan McGuire
Wayward Children, book 2
Reread, young adult, fantasy, audiobook, 4h 4m

Finished Book 92: The End of All Things By John Scalzi
Old Man’s War, book 6
Reread, adult, science fiction, audiobook, 11h 24m

Finished Book 93: Owl Be Home for Christmas by Diane Duane
Young Wizards novella
New read, young adult, science fiction, ebook

Finished Book 94: the witch doesn't burn in this one by Amanda Lovelace
New read, adult, poetry, dead tree, 191p

Finished Book 95: The Human Division By John Scalzi
Old Man’s War, book 5
Reread, adult, science fiction, audiobook, 14h 53m

I also read a lot of fanfic, so here are few notable favorites:

These Lines Across My Face by ReaperWriter (The Old Guard)
This is an involved series where there is another immortal not involved in the events of the movie.

The Immortality Support Group Chat by anon_carrots (The Old Guard)
Nile teaches her new family to use group chat. This one is short and very funny.

The One Where They're Stars on HGTV by earlgreytea68 (Inception)
This is a very long series of stories where Arthur and Eames are stars on (you guessed it) HGTV, starting with the tv show Love It Or List It. You don’t have to be familiar with that show to appreciate this series; I’ve never seen it.

The Accidental Warlord and His Pack by inexplicifics (The Witcher)
Geralt realized that some humans are monsters, too, and the rest of the Witchers come around to his way of thinking. Nobody else really knows how to deal with them, so neighboring kings make some poor choices. (I haven’t finished this one yet, but it’s been fantastic so far.)

Checkmate ‘Verse by Bead (Stargate Atlantis)
Col Sheppard agrees to participate in a ceremony on a trading expedition and gets turned into a cat.

5 Times the Raptors Tried to Kill Miriam, and 1 Time They Didn’t by JulisCaesar (Jurassic Park)
Jurassic Park, only with proper care and enrichment for the dinosaurs.

Happy New Year! Here’s hoping next year is better than this one was.

Happy New Year, Blue!