Sunday, July 31, 2016

Brand New 52 - July Edition



I packed my bags for San Francisco and all I took were books....
Okay, that's not totally true.
I have been away for most of this month, due to a Road Trip with my bestest friend to San Francisco, but I did take more than books with me.
In fact, I hardly had any time to read while I was away. There was just too much to see and do and by the time we would settle in for the night, I was so tired I could hardly read more than a few pages, if any.
That being said, I did mange to reach book 52 this month, thus completing the challenge.  


Of course this just means I need to set a new goal for myself. Can I reach 100 books this year? Or at least beat my 76 books from last year? I think I can do it. I still have my TBR pile to get through too.

This is what I managed to read this month:



by Brandon Sanderson


2:04 Hours

From the author of Legion and the #1 New York Times bestselling Stormlight Archive comes an action-filled novella about privilege, culture clash, and expectations.
God-Emperor Kairominas is lord of all he surveys. He has defeated all foes, has united the entire world beneath his rule, and has mastered the arcane arts. He spends his time sparring with his nemesis, who keeps trying to invade Kai's world.
Except for today. Today, Kai has to go on a date.
Forces have conspired to require him to meet with his equal—a woman from another world who has achieved just as much as he has. What happens when the most important man in the world is forced to have dinner with the most important woman in the world?

What if Neo, in the Matrix, being the ONE was just the dream of  Neo while still in his pod? That is sort of what this short story was about. Kairominas is the God-Emperor and the most important person in his World. But the thing is, his World isn't real. It's created to house an individual and make them special in a way no one else can be. The thing is, they are aware that it's not real, that they are just a consciousness somewhere and that everything and everyone around them is created by the program. What is real is the need for these consciousnesses to breed. Kairominas must enter and joint World where any of the other consciousnesses can go at any time and meet a women who's the ruler  of her own World () for a date. I was hoping that this would be a philosophical story about the differences of Worlds and who runs the program and why. Sadly a giant robot crashes the party and there is no time for interesting chitchat. 




by Kristen Britain


672 Pages

Once a simple student, Karigan G'ladheon finds herself in a world of deadly danger and complex magic, compelled by forces she cannot understand when she becomes a legendary Green Rider - one of the magical messengers of the king. Forced by magic to accept a dangerous fate she would never have chosen, headstrong Karigan has become completely devoted to the king and her fellow Riders.
But now, an insurrection led by dark magicians threatens to break the boundaries of ancient, evil Blackveil Forest releasing powerful dark magics that have been shut away for a millennium.

Karigan is at it once again, with the fate of the World in her hands. It has been prophesized that only she can help set the sleeper deep in Blackveil Forest free (). Her and her Elitian companions set off into the evil forest, leaving their friends and faithful steeds (^..^) behind. Not all those who go in will come out the same (#)
It's actually a really good book. This series keeps getting better (despite one annoying character that I could do without entirely) I can't wait to read what happens next! For those of you who might want to read this series, don't get discouraged by the first book. The rest are worth your time. (!




by J. Sheridan Le Fanu


112 Pages

Predating Bram Stoker' Dracula, Carmilla is the ultimate gothic vampire tale—stylish, menacing, sensual, and spellbinding
You are mine, you shall be mine, you and I are one for ever. 
When a mysterious carriage crashes outside their castle home in Styria, Austria, Laura and her father agree to take in its injured passenger, a young woman named Carmilla. Delighted to have some company of her own age, Laura is instantly drawn to Carmilla. But as their friendship grows, Carmilla's countenance changes and she becomes increasingly secretive and volatile. As Carmilla's moods shift and change, Laura starts to become ill, experiencing fiendish nightmares, her health deteriorating night after night. It is not until she and her father, increasingly concerned for Laura's well-being, set out on a trip to discover more about the mysterious Carmilla that the terrifying truth reveals itself.

Ever heard of Serial Reader?

download from iTunes
Read classic books in bite-sized bits delivered every day. 
Subscribe to any of dozens of classic books and receive a new installment every day. Each issue can be easily read in under 20 minutes. With Serial Reader you can finish even the most daunting book in days, right on your iPhone or iPad. It's an easy and fun way to reread your favorite works or discover new treasures.

I discovered this app while in San Fran and fell in love with it. Everyone is always telling me that I should read the classics, but I never think to go out and buy them and the thought of just reading them straight through seems daunting. But I can totally read something for 10 minutes everyday.
The first book I chose to read was Carmilla. I had heard people talking about the original lesbian () vampire book (that came out before Dracula) and I was intrigued to see what it was all about.
The text itself is very innocent, yet the subtext is where Carmilla's sexual nature lies. I'll admit that I totally missed the subtext while reading this, but it has since been pointed out to me. It is very much a vampire story and I can see where other books and stories have been inspired by this. ()




by Esther M. Friesner


308 Pages

She is beautiful, she is a princess, and Aphrodite is her favorite goddess, but something in Helen of Sparta just itches for more out of life. Unlike her prissy sister, Clytemnestra, she takes no pleasure in weaving and embroidery. And despite what her mother says, she's not even close to being interested in getting married. Instead, she wants to do combat training with her older brothers, go on heroic adventures, and be free to do what she wants and find out who she is.
Not one to count on the gods—or her looks—to take care of her, Helen sets out to get what she wants with steely determination and an attitude. And while it's the attitude that makes Helen a few enemies (such as the self-proclaimed "son of Poseidon" Theseus), it's what also intrigues, charms, and amuses those who become her friends, from the famed huntress Atalanta to the young priestess who is the Oracle of Delphi.
In Nobody's Princess, author Esther Friesner deftly weaves together history and myth as she takes a new look at the girl who will become Helen of Troy. The resulting story offers up humor, action, and a fresh and engaging heroine you cannot help but root for.

Helen is special... () blah blah blah...
When I found this book at a free little library, I was excited to read the story of Helen of Troy from her own point of view. When I picked it up and realized that it was YA, I still had high hopes for it. I really shouldn't have. Other than Helen being the Princess of Sparta, none of it has anything to do with the Greek mythology. In fact, it's just Helen inserting herself into other myths. It was bad enough having to read about her as a child, but taking off to fight the Calydonian Boar and then chasing after Jason and the Argonaughts was too much for me.
I think I might have enjoyed this book had the author made up a new character to insert in these myths, but she lost me when she didn't even get to be in her own story. 





Books that I am currently reading

by Dakota Cassidy
84 of 323 Pages

by Cassandra Clare
266 of 485 Pages

A Memory of Light (The Wheel of Time #14)
by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
396 of 909 Pages (18:03 of 41:48 Hours)

Frankenstein
by Mary Shelley
68 of 273 Pages

The King's Bastard (King Rolen's Kin #1)
by Rowena Cory Daniells
52 of 640 Pages

Friday, July 1, 2016

Happy Canada Day And PRIDE! (Said With Pokemon)

I'm (still) on a Pokemon kick, so when I came across these amazing pieces of art celebrating both Canada Day and PRIDE, I couldn't resist

I'm a proud Canadian, so these Pokemon made me hope that they would do Canadian style pokeworld and include these hilarious types. I would totally catch them all.



art by dmac
The Bobndug and the dubbledubble ones just kill me


Not only am I a proud Canadian, but I'm also a proud ally. So to all my LGBTQA+ friends out there, these are for you

art by FaMagikal


I know it's been a tough year and I keep hearing that the horrible shooting in Orlando has set gay rights back 10 years. I'm here to say, don't let it! Go out and celebrate and show the world that love does concur all.

art by 8bit Dance Party
Be who you are, 
love who you love 
and don't let anyone stop you






I'm Proud of you all