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Dark Shelf of Wonders

Delighting in my love of books one review at a time.

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    Game Night│Book Tag

    September 16, 2024 - By Veronica

    Hey bookworm friends, it’s time for another book tag! I love playing board games, I come from a family of gamers and my husband and I have a pretty solid collection at home. One of my favourite places in my city is the Snakes and Lattes board game cafe; there’s…

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  • Even Though I Knew The End
    Book Reviews - Fantasy - Historical Fiction - Mystery

    Even Though I Knew the End: If You Read Only One Noir, Make It This One

    May 3, 2024 - By Veronica

    As I read through my 12 friend recommendations, I'm continuously grateful for online friends who give great book recommendations. Today's entry is the sapphic noir mystery novella "Even Though I Knew the End".

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Reading Goals

  • My 2024 Reading Goals
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2024 Reading Challenge

2024 Reading Challenge
Veros has read 17 books toward their goal of 80 books.
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17 of 80 (21%)
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Veros's bookshelf: currently-reading

The Bane Chronicles
The Bane Chronicles
by Cassandra Clare
tagged: favorites, ya-fiction, short-story-collection, fantasy, and current...
Assassin's Apprentice
Assassin's Apprentice
by Robin Hobb
tagged: currently-reading
World of Warcraft Chronicle: Volume 1
World of Warcraft Chronicle: Volume 1
by Blizzard Entertainment
tagged: currently-reading
A Brief History of the Druids
A Brief History of the Druids
by Peter Berresford Ellis
tagged: currently-reading

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The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer Ambrose The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer Ambrose Cusk wakes up on the Coordinated Endeavor, with no memory of the ship’s launch. The operating system tells him his mission: to rescue his sister, the first settler on Titan. Ambrose quickly finds out he’s not alone—one rival spacefarer from Earth’s other remaining country is on the other side of the ship. Neither country could afford to mount the rescue alone so Ambrose will have to work with Kodiak, who has isolated himself on his half of the ship. But when they stumble across evidence of strangers on board, the two boys must learn to trust each other if they want to survive. I picked it up because I wanted a Sci-fi audiobook that was ‘Available Now’ from the library. All I had heard about it before was that it was “a YA gay romance in space” but, aside from that, I had no expectations which I think worked out for the best. Trust me, if you read the reviews for this book people are mad with the way this book was marketed and I agree—that description barely scratches the surface of what this book is! It is a mind-bending science-fiction story in its own right; it just happens to have teenage characters who are queer but that is not the crux of the plot. To me, the real meat of this story is all in the thematic explorations on reality, destiny, time, and human nature. I’ll be honest, at first I was too immersed in the shocking twists and sci-fi mysteries to give a fig about the romantic aspect. Pausing for lovey-dovey breaks during high-stakes moments is one of my pet peeves (truly, who has time for that? Run!) However, a reveal about halfway through the book changed my mind about their romance and I love when books do that!! It's a bit repetitive in parts due to the nature of the plot but that's small potatoes. I enjoyed the journey a lot and the ending took me from “I don’t know if this book needs a sequel” to a tearful “I need to know everything, give me more” real quick! I just think more people need to read this one. 🌌
Book Tour Review: Kavithri by Aman J. Bedi Welcom Book Tour Review: Kavithri by Aman J. Bedi Welcome to my tour stop for Kavithri hosted by @thewritereads! Kavi is a Taemu, and her people were once feared berserkers. Now, as the dregs of Raayan society and scapegoats of the elite, their spirits are broken. But Kavi has a plan. She’ll do whatever it takes to join the Vagola, a secretive mage academy. The key to finding her lost family and dragging her people out of oppression lies in facing the Jinn within the academy’s walls. Except it won’t be easy: Power and Knowledge are fiercely guarded by the ruling classes and the world no longer wants a Taemu who can fight. So they’ll beat her and break her. But if it’s blood they want, Kavi will show them a berserker's fury. If I were to describe this book in one word ‘unrelenting’ comes top of mind. For Kavi, it’s always setback after indignity after tragedy; the poor girl can’t catch a breath. This is my first time reading what I would classify as grimdark and to my surprise, I liked it! That’s not to say it was an easy read, because it’s truly not for the faint of heart. If you like body parts where they belong, then be warned. If you’re sensitive to violence related to animals, also be warned. I was tested and yet the story caught me in its clutches and never let go! The Jinn-based magic system was unlike anything I’d read before, the subtly steampunk world was engrossing, and Kavi’s tenacity won me over. If you’re tired of books where the characters are instantly talented at everything, Kavithri might be for you! We get to see Kavi slowly develop her physical strength and magical skills. Her progression had me glued to the pages because it’s not linear—every inch she gains comes at a cost. Following the twists of her journey was fun because she gets to each step in such a roundabout way. The world-building was an interesting mix of fantasy and sci-fi and I was surprised to learn this book is a debut because the pacing was so satisfying! 📚Read if you like: Grimdark & Gore Fantasy with a Female Lead and No Romance Commentary on Colonialism, Class, Racism, Power, and Oppression. Progression Fantasy Necromancy! South Asian Folklore The Mentor X Student Trope
The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera "I kno The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera "I know stories can’t always have happy endings. But if there are chances for us to do better, we have to say out loud the parts that hurt the most." Once upon a time, a young girl called Petra Peña wanted to be a great storyteller like her abuelita. But her planet was dying—only a select few, like Petra and her family, were selected to join the journey to a new planet. The long journey means the travellers will be in stasis for 300 years but when Petra next awakens, she discovers that The Collective has taken over the ship, bent on starting a new history from scratch. She’s the only one left with any memories of Earth and all she has left are her stories but can she find any hope for humanity’s future within them? I want to shout out the audiobook's narrator, Frankie Corzo, for making me feel an immediate emotional connection with Petra. I was sniffling by chapter 2, not a common occurrence! Granted, that was also partly due to the harrowing nature of the plot. I almost felt like there was a slight almost horror-esque tone at the start! The world dying is a lot to deal with for an adult, let alone a child. And I was fully immersed in that mindset, so I just want to make sure the narrator also gets their virtual applause! Star Trek fans of any age might find something to like here. Not only are there landing parties to new and strange planets but it deftly tackles a lot of the same themes that Star Trek explores. The Borg-like adversary of ‘The Collective’ and the value of diversity might be a familiar theme, as well as the importance of community and learning from humanity’s mistakes. They might not be brand-new themes but in my opinion, they are evergreen! Not to mention that the excellent representation adds intersectionality to the discussion. Petra is a Mexican-American girl with retinitis pigmentosa, a progressive eye disorder. Higuera put a lot of care into the ways she interacts with the world around her due to having poor vision. Especially in the context of this sci-fi world. I loved being in Petra's mind: she’s not meant to be perfect or a hero, just a kid trying to keep humanity alive.
October Wrap-Up I didn't manage to read many autu October Wrap-Up I didn't manage to read many autumnal or Halloween reads but considering how busy my month was, I'm glad I even got to read this much! I did continue two series which is nice :) The Physical Books: 📚The Queen's Man, Sharon Kay Penman - 4⭐ 📚Witch Hat Atelier, Vol. 12, Kamome Shirahama, 3⭐ (Manga) The E-Books: 📱Tale of the Flying Forest, R. M. Romero - 4⭐ 📱Pumpkinheads, Rainbow Rowell - 5⭐(Graphic Novel) 📱The Unlikely Story of Felix and Macabber, Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou & Juni Ba - 1⭐ (Graphic Novel) The Audiobooks: 🎧Tuesdays At the Castle, Jessica Day George & narrated by Suzy Jackson -5⭐ 🎧A Murderous Relation, Deanna Raybourn & narrated by Angele Masters - 5⭐ ❓Tell me something you like about November 🖤 Or, what are you currently reading?
The Mushroom Knight, Vol 2 by Oliver Bly Thanks The Mushroom Knight, Vol 2 by Oliver Bly Thanks to #Netgalley and #MadCaveStudios for the ARC, I leave my review voluntarily. A teenage girl called Lem is searching the woods near her home for her missing dog. A mushroom faerie named Gowlitrot is on a mystical quest to protect the biome from catastrophic ruin. Now that they've met, their friendship develops and Gowli uses his tracking skills to help uncover the fate of the missing dog. However, he can’t stay long—he’s needed in the Fae Kingdom of Glöd for an important and sombre duty. I read the first volume of The Mushroom Knight at the start of 2024 and, while I enjoyed it, I was also left a bit confused and hoping for clarity with the next installment. Fast forward to November 2024: volume two is now out! I’m happy to say it delivered the clarity I’ve been waiting for, along with a dash of whimsy, and a dark mystery, all wrapped together with a running thread of environmentalism. The story is set in Philadelphia in the ’90s and the sense of time is embedded in every detail of Lem’s bedroom, toys, and clothing and as a ‘90s kid, I was eating it up! This second vol is where both protagonists begin to interact with each other in the way I was hoping for in vol. 1. I’m a big fan of ‘fish out of water’ stories and watching Gowli get his bearings in the human world was deeply charming and adorable. While Gowli’s misadventures are funny and integral to the plot, they also provide an outside perspective on how the fae creatures see the human world: a wasteland. This leads into the other POV of this story. While Gowli is away, the citizens of the Fae Kingdom of Glöd are forced to bear the burden of humans' carelessness toward their shared environment. The bulk of the drama in that POV centers around a caravan of trash. But this is also where parts of the conspiracy from the first volume are being cleared up and new questions are arising. The mystery element keeps me engaged, and I'm eager for the next installment, where I hope Hoppalong, Gowli’s frog steed can be part of the adventure once more; I did miss the ‘lil guy! That being said, I suggest you read the volumes back to back for best results.
My 5 Top Fives starring my Halloween costume as Ev My 5 Top Fives starring my Halloween costume as Evie (From 1999's The Mummy) but if she had somehow unearthed a lightsaber 😂. I'm pretty pleased that I was able to pull a semi-recognizable costume last minute and I have always wanted to dress like Evie🥹. I've seen this fun meme going around and thought now is my time to join in! I've already done a similar meme in the past 'the comfort challenge' so won't list the same things again (if you're wondering, The Mummy is included in that one). Instead these are my current favs in these categories. 📚Book Series, Fav Installment to represent the whole series -Penric and Desdemona by Lois McMaster Bujold -Wayward Children by Seanan McGuire -Innkeeper Chronicles by Ilona Andrews -Veronica Speedwell by Deanna Raybourn -Monk & Robot by Becky Chambers 🎶Albums: -This Heathen Land by Green Lung -God Is Dead by Twin Temple -Thornstar by Lord of the Lost -Impera by Ghost -Vaxis Act II: A Window of the Waking Mind by Coheed and Cambria 🎲Board Games: -Wavelength -Wingspan -Bargain Quest -Stonespine Architects -Just One 🎞️Movies: -Nimona -D&D Honor Among Thieves -Wolfwalkers -The Wild Robot -Emma 📺TV shows: -Star Trek TNG -Hazbin Hotel -The Owl House -The Great Canadian Baking Show -Taskmaster What are any of your recent favs in these categories? I'm especially curious about what board games are your favs!
🌹Tale of the Flying Forest by R. M. Romero🎶 🌹Tale of the Flying Forest by R. M. Romero🎶 Thanks to @tbrbeyondtours & @rmromeroauthor for including me in this tour! (Swipe for mini mood boards) After her mother’s death, Anne Applebaum finds solace in the pages of the book of fairy tales her mom gifted her. ‘The World to Come’ tells fantastical stories of the flying forest of Bei Ilai and magic exists. So when a raven tells her she has a missing twin brother called Rainer, she doesn’t doubt him for long. After all, Anne has always felt that something in her life has been missing. As she sets off to find her twin brother, she discovers that Bei Ilai is a real place and that’s where Rainer is— only it’s way more dangerous than in the stories! This was a fun and delightfully whimsical story structured like a classic quest! Our brave protagonist is called into adventure, encounters a series of dangers, and meets magical friends along the way. The first half of the story serves to explore Bei Ilai’s atmosphere and magical creatures as Anne hunts for clues of Rainer’s whereabouts. The story is divided into 7 parts (you see, there is power in the number 7) and while I enjoyed parts 1-3, it wasn’t until the 4th one that I felt the story was truly coming together. Once it did, I was invested and found that Anne and Rainer’s sibling bond was the main strength of this book for me. Both siblings had lost trust in adults in different ways and the devotion, care and support they showed each other was genuinely heartwarming. We also get to meet a lot of creatively delightful side characters along the way such as a fox in a waistcoat, and the Librarian of Songs! I think any reader would find the concept of a Librarian of Songs captivating but I especially appreciated the way music and songs played a huge role in the magic system of this world. Read if you like: •Jewish Folklore • Fairy Tale Retellings • Portal Fantasy & Quest Stories •Less well-known magical creatures (such as the Tatzelwurm & Lindwurms) •Stories About Siblings •Found Family ❓Would you rather meet a talking crow or a fox wearing a waistcoat?
🍃September Wrap-Up🍂 I haven't been very acti 🍃September Wrap-Up🍂 I haven't been very active on here lately so excuse the lateness of my wrap-up. Last month I participated in @book_roast 's Magical Readathon and had so much fun. I read all 8 books from my readathon TBR (plus 2 extra unrelated books) so I am exceedingly happy about how well I did!! The E-Books: 📱The Curse of The Dead Man's Diamond - Christyne Morrell, 4⭐ 📱Crying in H Mart - Michelle Zauner, 4⭐ 📱Descender, Vol. 1:Tin Stars - Jeff Lemire, Dustin Nguyen (Graphic Novel), 5⭐ The Physical Books: 📚Poyums - Len Pennie, unrated but liked it a lot (Poetry Collection) 📚Masquerade - O. O. Sangoyomi, 4⭐ The Audiobooks: 🎧Secrets to Reveal - Tilly Wallace, narrated by Marian Hussey, 2⭐ 🎧Thornhedge - T. Kingfisher, narrated by Jennifer Blom, 3⭐ 🎧The Art Thief - Michael Finkel, narrated by Edoardo Ballerini, 4⭐ 🎧The Pumpkin Spice Café - Laurie Gilmore, narrated by Regina Reagan, 4⭐ 🎧Phoenix Heart, Season 1 Omnibus - Sarah K. L. Wilson, narrated by Elise Hoffman, 4⭐ ❓ What are you currently reading? Or, what's your favorite type of book to read in the fall?
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