Desperate Measures by Katee Robert

Title: Desperate Measures (Wicked Villains #1)

Author: Katee Robert

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca 2024

Genre: Romance

Pages: 320

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fairytale Retellings; She Reads Romance - Guardian

Where I Got It: Library

Spice Rating: 6

Once upon a time, I was a sheltered princess. Now he owns me, body and soul.

One night, and my entire life went up in flames. All because of him. Jafar. As my world burned around me, he offered me a choice: walk away with nothing but my freedom…or rise to his challenge and win my fortune back.

I bargained.

I lost.

Now Jafar owns me, and even as my mind rails against him, my body loves the delicious punishments he deals out. It's almost enough to believe he cares. But a gilded cage is still a prison, and I'll do anything to obtain my freedom.

Even betray the man who captured my heart.

Another romance novel that explores the idea of consent. I was warned off of this book years ago by a friend. I understand her hesitations over this book. The opening chapters are brutal. We are not eased into this story. We have to immediately confront the brutality that Jafar brings to the situation. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to read this one, but noticed that this version includes Robert’s footnotes and commentary. I was intrigued, so I dove in. I actually ended up enjoying this novel. We get a progression on a relationship that I wouldn’t want to be in, but plays itself out on the pages for the reader. I enjoyed seeing the communication and boundary lines solidified as the pages pass. Yasmina is such a sheltered character that it hurt to read her reactions in many of the chapters. Once she started to grow, I started to really root for her as a character. The ending was absolutely perfect for these two characters. And Robert’s footnotes add great commentary to the story and her writing process and growth. I hope that the rest of the series will be released in the same way.

Wicked Villains

#1 Desperate Measures
#2 Learn My Lesson
#3 A Worthy Opponent
#4 The Beast
#5 The Sea Witch
#6 Queen Takes Rose

star-rating-remains-the-most-important-part-of-a-review-cad0047.cad0047.png

Next up on the TBR pile:

Alice in Borderland Vol. 1

Title: Alice in Borderland Vol. 1

Author: Haro Aso

Publisher: VIZ Media LLC 2021

Genre: Comics

Pages: 344

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fairytale Retellings (replacing Rumplestitlskin)

Where I Got It: Library

Eighteen-year-old Ryohei Arisu is sick of his life. School sucks, his love life is a joke, and his future feels like impending doom. As he struggles to exist in a world that can’t be bothered with him, Ryohei feels like everything would be better if he were anywhere else. When a strange fireworks show transports him and his friends to a parallel world, Ryohei thinks all his wishes have come true. But this new world isn’t an empty paradise, it’s a vicious game. And the only way to survive is to play.

The first game starts with a bang, but Ryohei manages to beat the clock and save his friends. It’s a short-lived victory, however, as they discover that winning only earns them a few days’ grace period. If they want to get home, they’re going to have to start playing a lot harder.

I’ve had this series on my TBR for years now. Funnily enough, it was watching Katee Robert’s instagram stories that brought it back to the top of the pile. Very quickly, we are dumped into Borderland and attempt to start understanding the rules of the game. I was concerned that Ryohei was going to be super annoying throughout, but very quickly attempts to focus on his new reality and the games. Volume 1 includes the introduction plus two games. We get to see some of Borderland’s other players and begin to understand the implications of the games. Plus there are some tantalizing clues as to the ultimate strategies. Cannot wait to read Volume 2.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Haunting Adeline by H.D. Carlton

Title: Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse #1)

Author: H.D. Carlton

Publisher: HD Carlton 2021

Genre: Romance

Pages: 585

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges:

Where I Got It: Library

Spice Rating: 8

The Manipulator
I can manipulate the emotions of anyone who lets me.
I will make you hurt, make you cry, make you laugh and sigh.
But my words don't affect him. Especially not when I plead for him to leave.
He's always there, watching and waiting.
And I can never look away.
Not when I want him to come closer.

The Shadow
I didn't mean to fall in love.
But now that I have, I can't stay away.
I'm mesmerized by her smile, by her eyes, and the way she moves.
The way she undresses...
I'll keep watching and waiting. Until I can make her mine.
And once she is, I'll never let her go.
Not even when she begs me to.

So Many Content Warnings on This One!!!!! Please look these up before reading.

I knew going into this book that this might be amazing or absolutely terrible. It ended up being something I really enjoyed exploring, but it’s definitely not the book for most people. I want to make it clear that I view this book as fantasy (and it’s not because of the ghost element). Combining the MMC’s crusade and his treatment of Adeline, this is squarely a fantasy novel. I didn’t read this as a realistic romance. I read this as a fantasy novel revolving around a romance. A distinction that made my reading of this book much more enjoyable. In here, Carlton is exploring the theme of consent. While our characters don’t have a clear conversation, there are many instances where they talk about consent. Adeline, whether she is admitting it or not, has a lot of power in their dynamic. It is in her continued baiting and comments that give the MMC consent. I am not saying that this book doesn’t have some problematic areas, but that I really enjoyed this exploration.

Cat and Mouse

#1 Haunting Adeline
#2 Hunting Adeline

Next up on the TBR pile:

Tangled Up in You by Christina Lauren

Title: Tangled Up in You (Meant to Be #4)

Author: Christina Lauren

Publisher: Hyperion Avenue 2024

Genre: Romance

Pages: 320

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fairytale Retellings

Spice Rating: 3

She has a dream. He has a plan. Together they’ll take a leap of faith.

Ren has never held an iPhone, googled the answer to a question, or followed a crush on social media. What she has done: Read a book or two, or three (okay, hundreds). Taught herself to paint. Built a working wind power system from scratch. But for all the books she’s read, Ren has never found one that’s taught a woman raised on a homestead and off the grid for most of her twenty-two years how to live in the real world. So when she finally achieves her lifelong dream of attending Corona College, it feels like her life is finally beginning.

Fitz has the rest of his life mapped out: Graduate from Corona at the top of his class, get his criminal record wiped clean, and pass himself off as the rich, handsome player everyone thinks he is. He’s a few short months from checking off step one of his plans when Ren Gylden, with her cascading blonde hair and encyclopedic brain, crashes into his life, and for the first time Fitz’s plan is in jeopardy.

But a simple assignment in their immunology seminar changes the course of both their lives, and suddenly they’re thrown out of the frying pan and into the fireon a road trip that will lead them in the most unexpected directions. Out on the open road, the world somehow shifts, and the unlikely pair realize that, maybe, the key to the dreams they've both been chasing have been sitting next to them the whole time.

For most of this book, I was fully engaged in the story. I do love the forced proximity trope and the sunshine/grump trope, and this one was a great example of those. The beginning was a bit slow, but once we got on the road, the story really got moving. I loved seeing Ren and Fitz begin to trust each other and find themselves on the road trip. The scene in the biker bar was hilarious and just perfect for their story. I was interested to see how their relationship progressed. But then we get to the last fourth of the book. Everything was way too rushed for my tastes. I wanted to sit with the characters a bit more. I wanted to see the characters interact with others (like Mary!) and let those other characters see how they have changed. I wanted to see the main characters in their next place. The epilogue was a complete throwaway. I just really wanted more with this book.

Meant to Be:

#1 If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy
#2 By the Book by Jasmine Guillory
#3 Kiss the Girl by Zoraida Córdova
#4 Tangled Up in You by Christina Lauren
#5 Worth Fighting For by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #19

Reading: I finally started reading the November book club selection, To Shape a Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose. I’m really intrigued by the story.

Watching: I finally started No One Wants This and am absolutely loving it!

Listening: I’ll admit that I’m listening to all politics podcasts. This is going to consume my entire week.

Making: The weather turned, so it’s soup time. I’m pulling out all he cold wether recipes to put on our meal plan. This week, I made ham and potato soup.

Feeling: It’s time to snuggle up with a blanket and be cozy.

Planning: Christmas is getting close and it’s time to make definitely holiday travel plans. We will be traveling to Indiana like usual, but the specific days shift around.

Loving: I finally managed to make flu shot appointments and get them taken care of. I also got my COVID booster. (None of the local places have COVID boosters for kids.) I love being able to cross essential tasks off my list.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Homeschool W11: Celebrating the Last Autumn Fun

What We Studied

We celebrated the last fun bits of autumn before the weather turned. Two last visits to Vala’s, a fun Halloween night, and more outdoor activities. We even managed to cover a ton of schoolwork in between the events.

Literature and Poetry

Arthur is primarily using Hearth and Story G5 for his language arts this year. We finished our Edgar Allan Poe collection. We also covered more grammar and extra language arts assignments.

The Complete Stories of Edgar Allan Poe
Poetry for Young People: Edgar Allan Poe
Poetry for Young People: Carl Sandburg

Quentin is primarily using Blossom & Root G1 for his language arts this year. We will pull some elements from Build Your Library Level 2 and random books that we have around the house. We continued reading spooky stories and one-off Halloween themed books we have laying around the house.

Poetry: Spectacular Science
Poetry: The Alligator's Smile and Other Poems by Jane Yolen
The Littlest Witch by Brandi Dougherty
The Littlest Mummy by Brandi Dougherty
Bonaparte Falls Apart by Margery Cuyler
Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds
A World Full of Spooky Stories by Angela McAllister
The Little Old Lady Who was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams
Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson
In a Dark, Dark Room retold by Alvin Schwartz
Write Shop B

Math

Arthur is using Singapore’s Math in Focus Course 1. Effectively this is Singapore’s 6th grade math text. Arthur focused on a chapter continuing his review of ratios. I do love how the chapter tied ratios to real-life situations. It wasn’t just random problems.

Math in Focus Court 1 Book A
EM Financial Literacy G5

Quentin is using Singapore’s Primary Mathematics Common Core edition 2B and 3A. He started with the lessons in 2B. I imagine that we will be slowing working through that this semester. Q continued sped through the chapter on data, getting close to finishing the entire textbook.

Primarily Logic
Singapore Primary Common Core 2B
EM Financial Literacy G2

Social Studies

Arthur is using Curiosity Chronicles Early Modern History Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 this year. We covered the section on East Africa covering Ethiopia and Mutapa and N’dongo.

Curiosity Chronicles Early Modern History Vol. 1
DK History
DK Timelines of Everything
DK Timelines of Everyone
DK A Child Through Time
Kings and Queens by Fiona Macdonald

Quentin is using History Quest Middle Times with Build Your Library Level 2 supporting. We moved onto a chapter covering Japan.

History Quest Middle Times
DK When on Earth?
DK History
DK Timelines of Everything
DK Timelines of Everyone
DK A Child Through Time
Kingfisher Atlas of the Medieval World

Science

Arthur is using RSO Biology 1 this year has the main science text. Our academic coop will also be using RSO Biology 1 as a basis for the fall semester course, so we will be just supplementing at home. We will also be doing some of Blossom & Root’s Book Seeds and various other small units in between. Arthur covered inheritance during co-op. We supplemented with some extra materials at home. We continued watching the documentary series One Strange Rock. We will continue watching sporadically throughout the fall. I’m counting this as science for kids.

RSO Biology 1
Genetics by Chrstine Petersen
DNA and Heredity by Casey Rand
The Secret Code Inside You: All About Your DNA by Rajani LaRocca
The Code of Life: All About Genes, DNA, Genetic Engineering, and Why You are the Way You Are by Carla Hafner
Story of Science Vol. 3 by Joy Hakim

Quentin is using RSO Earth & Environment and RSO Astronomy 1 as a base. Of course, we have a ton of extra science resources laying around the house. And I will be hosting some one-off science exploration days that align with the units. Q covered plate tectonics and changing earth. We watched an episode of One Strange Rock.

RSO Earth and Environment
DK First Earth Encyclopedia
Earth by Quinn M. Arnold
How Mountains are Made by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld
Fault Lines and Tectonic Plates by Kathleen M. Reilly

Academic Co-op

For math, Arthur did a Halloween project. Really math is all a review of him, but it’s good practice. In biology, they covered inheritance. In civics, we covered voting. And the kids started their election project.

Art and Music

Art will be very sporadic this year, but we do have some fun excursions planned. And I will incorporate art projects into a lot of other subjects and unit studies. We didn’t have a Harbor + Sprout module this week.

For music, we are using Music Lab: We Rock! as our spine. Each week we will be learning about a different rock musician and focus on a particular song. I have also created Spotify playlists so we can listen on the go. We got back to music covering Led Zeppelin. The boys really loved them.

Music Lab: We Rock!
DK Music and How it Works
DK The Arts

Field Trip/Activities

I hosted a rock and fossil exploration day at Schramm. I taught a little lesson about rocks and fossils. The kids then got to uncover gems, sort fossils, and explored at the Geologic Site. I think it was a big success! It is a lot to plan, but thankfully I don’t have another until January.

High

We got two more Vala’s visits in before the month ended. The last one was supposed to be our big campfire night. Unfortunately, the burn ban was still in effect so the campfire had to be canceled. We still met up with a group of homeschool friends and spent many hours having fun. It was tiring, but oh so much fun.

Low

Um… Halloween is over?

Next Week

Slowing down to regroup
Starting our new read alouds
Finishing our next math chapters
Completing our homework (A) from co-op
Learning about North America (A) and Khmer Empire (Q) - history
Listening to Jimi Hendrix, and more for music

Next up on the TBR pile:

Music Monday - Snow Patrol "All"

How did I miss that Snow Patrol has new music out? I really used to love them.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Life Right Now #26

On my bedside table: The last spooky season reads and the beginnings of the holiday romances.

On my tv this week: We’re close to catching up on all the Dropout shows (well, not all, but many of them). That’s about it.

Listening to: Mostly just all of the random music on my Apple Music

On the menu for this week:

Monday - Ham and Potato Soup
Tuesday - Buffalo Chicken Nachos
Wednesday -Tacos and Black Bean Soup
Thursday - Apple Bacon Sweet Potatoes
Friday - Leftovers
Saturday - Peanut Sauce Chicken
Sunday - BLT Grilled Cheese

On my to do list: I have a list of random little things that I need to do, but my big projects are done for the season.

Happening this week:

Monday - Home Day
Tuesday - Zoo Day
Wednesday - Park Day
Thursday - Academic Co-op
Friday - Field Trip to Morrill Hall
Saturday - Home Day
Sunday - Home Day

What I am creating: Nothing much. I need to make a list of creative projects to tackle.

My simple pleasures: Iced tea, checking off to-dos, a quiet moment

Looking around the house: After a whirlwind clean for book club yesterday, things are looking decent around here. I do need to take my Halloween decor down and leave the autumn decor up.

From the camera: Loving our Halloween season!

The Nighthouse Keeper by Lora Senf

Title: The Nighthouse Keeper (Blight Harbor #2)

Author: Lora Senf

Publisher: Atheneum Books 2023

Genre: MG Horror

Pages: 320

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Spooky Season RC

Where I Got It: Library

Evie Von Rathe has been home for only a few weeks from her adventure in the strange world of seven houses when Blight Harbor’s beloved ghosts begin to disappear. Did they leave without saying goodbye, or has something gone horribly wrong? Soon Evie is invited to a mysterious council meeting, where she learns about the Dark Sun Side and a terrible secret.

Yes, the ghosts have gone missing. And that means serious trouble.

Another fun and creepy adventure story featuring the other side and the dead and living residents of Blight Harbor. I loved seeing the addition of a new companion for Evie with Lark. But, the overall adventure wasn’t as creepy as I would have liked. The bit on the train with the ghouls was delicious, but otherwise, I wanted more creepy. Hopefully, The Clackity actually makes an appearance in the third book. I need to have more dealings with an actually interesting villain.

Blight Harbor

#1 The Clackity
#2 The Nighthouse Keeper
#3 The Loneliest Place

Next up on the TBR pile:

November 2024 Life Goals

Let’s check in on October’s goals and my progress.

Read 18 Books ✓
Launch the Academic Co-op ✓
Wrap-up Enrichment Co-op (finalize all forms) ✓
Plan and Execute the Boys’ Birthday Party ✓
Enjoy Vala’s throughout the Month! ✓

November Goals:

Read 18 Books
Take It Easy! The last few months have been a lot. November is going to be about slowing down a bit and focusing on school and house stuff.

Next up o the TBR pile:

October 2024 Wrap-up

October TBR Pile (26/27):

Bookworms BC: Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maeherer ✓
Friend BC: The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young ✓
Nerdy Bookish Friends BC: Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
Kid Book Club: No One Leaves the Castle by Christopher Healy ✓
Kid Read Aloud: Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Olympics by Chris Grabenstein ✓
Kid Read Aloud: The Wild Robot by Peter Brown ✓
Kid Read Aloud: The Peculiar Incident on Shady Street by Lindsay Currie ✓
Kid Read Aloud: Coraline by Neil Gaiman ✓
Kid Read Aloud: The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Graeme ✓
Romance: That Time I Got Drunk and Yeeted a Love Potion at a Werewolf by Kimberly Lemming ✓
Romance: A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon by Sarah Hawley ✓
Romance: By the Book by Jasmine Guillory ✓
Romance: The Kiss Curse by Erin Sterling ✓
Romance: That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Human by Kimberly Lemming ✓
Romance: Haunted Ever After by Jen DeLuca ✓
Fantasy: Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Törzs ✓
Fantasy: Paladin’s Grace by T. Kingfisher ✓
Fantasy: The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry ✓
Horror: Ghost Camera by Darcy Coates ✓
Horror: The Clackity by Lora Senf ✓
Horror: We Kept Her in the Cellar by W.R. Gorman ✓
Mystery: The Hitchcock Hotel by Stephanie Wrobel ✓
Comics: Year Zero Vol. 0 ✓
Comics: Year Zero Vol. 1 ✓
Comics: Year Zero Vol. 2 ✓
Comics: Lore Olympus Vol. 7 ✓
Nonfiction: Behind the Horror by Lee Mellors ✓

1,000,000 Page Goal:

Monthly Total: 7871 pages
Pages Remaining: 202,963 pages

Current Read - The Nighthouse Keeper by Lora Senf

Books I Gave Up On (0)

Books Bought/Received (2) - I restrained myself and only bought two books from Book of the Month even thought I wanted all five.

The Wild Huntress Emily Lloyd-Jones
The Dagger and the Flame by Catherine Doyle

UnRead Shelf Progress

Starting Number: 308
Books Read: 4
Books Acquired: 2
Books Unshelved: 0
Finishing Number: 306

November TBR Pile:

Bookworms BC: To Shape a Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose
Friend BC: Mistress of Rome by Kate Quinn
Nerdy Bookish Friends BC: Dark Eden by Chris Beckett
Kid Book Club: A Rover’s Story by Jasmine Warga
Kid Read Aloud: The Wizard of Oz by Frank Baum
Kid Read Aloud: The Goblin’s Puzzle by Andrew Chilton
Romance: Haunting Adeline by H.D. Carlton
Horror: The Nighthouse Keeper by Lora Senf
Horror: The Loneliest Place by Lora Senf

Movies Watched

Deadpool vs. Wolverine
Evolution
Beetlegeuse Beetlegeuse
Wolfs

TV Shows Watched

Cafe Minamdang
Slow Horses S4
Star Trek: Discovery
All the Dropout shows
Dimension 20 S1
The Great British Bake-off S15
Below Deck: Sailing Yacht S5
What We Do in the Shadows S6
Lower Decks S5

Comments - A huge reading month for me! I absolutely adore Spooky Reading season, and I definitely leaned into that in October. We also got back into some our television shows and even watched a few movies.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Haunted Ever After by Jen DeLuca

Title: Haunted Ever After (Boneyard Key #1)

Author: Jen DeLuca

Publisher: Berkley 2024

Genre: Romance

Pages: 326

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Spooky Season

Where I Got It: Library

Spice Rating: 5 (although not really until the end)

Small Florida coastal towns often find themselves scrambling for the tourism dollars that the Orlando theme parks leave behind. And within the town limits of Boneyard Key, the residents decided long ago to lean into its ghostliness. Nick Royer, owner of the Hallowed Grounds coffee shop, embraces the ghost tourism that keeps the local economy afloat, as well as his spectral roommate. At least he doesn’t have to run air-conditioning.

Cassie Rutherford possibly overreacted to all her friends getting married and having kids by leaving Orlando and buying a flipped historic cottage in Boneyard Key. Though there’s something unusual with her new home (her laptop won’t charge in any outlets, and the poetry magnets on her fridge definitely didn’t read “WRONG” and “MY HOUSE” when she put them up), she’s charmed by the colorful history surrounding her. And she's catching a certain vibe from the grumpy coffee shop owner whenever he slips her a free slice of banana bread along with her coffee order.

As Nick takes her on a ghost tour, sharing town gossip that tourists don't get to hear, and they spend nights side-by-side looking into the former owners of her haunted cottage, their connection solidifies into something very real and enticing. But Cassie's worried she’s in too deep with this whole (haunted) home ownership thing…and Nick's afraid to get too close in case Cassie gets scared away for good.

I was excited to see a new book from Jen DeLuca. I mostly loved her Well Met series and was hoping for some more swoony romance. This series is a bit different. We get a spooky setting of the haunted Florida town of Boneyard Key and the mystery of a potentially harmful ghost. Intertwined we get the story of Cassie’s attempt to find a home and Nick’s attempt to find happiness. I enjoyed their story, but at times, it felt like not enough. I wanted more emotion, more spookiness, more mystery, and definitely more steamy scenes. I will read the next book (maybe about Theo and Sophie?), but won’t be holding my breath for this one.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry

Title: The Essex Serpent

Author: Sarah Perry

Publisher: Mariner Books 2016

Genre: Magical Realism

Pages: 422

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Unread Shelf Project; Spooky Season

Where I Got It: ????

An exquisitely talented young British author makes her American debut with this rapturously acclaimed historical novel, set in late nineteenth-century England, about an intellectually minded young widow, a pious vicar, and a rumored mythical serpent that explores questions about science and religion, skepticism, and faith, independence and love.

When Cora Seaborne’s brilliant, domineering husband dies, she steps into her new life as a widow with as much relief as sadness: her marriage was not a happy one. Wed at nineteen, this woman of exceptional intelligence and curiosity was ill-suited for the role of society wife. Seeking refuge in fresh air and open space in the wake of the funeral, Cora leaves London for a visit to coastal Essex, accompanied by her inquisitive and obsessive eleven-year old son, Francis, and the boy’s nanny, Martha, her fiercely protective friend.

While admiring the sites, Cora learns of an intriguing rumor that has arisen further up the estuary, of a fearsome creature said to roam the marshes claiming human lives. After nearly 300 years, the mythical Essex Serpent is said to have returned, taking the life of a young man on New Year’s Eve. A keen amateur naturalist with no patience for religion or superstition, Cora is immediately enthralled, and certain that what the local people think is a magical sea beast may be a previously undiscovered species. Eager to investigate, she is introduced to local vicar William Ransome. Will, too, is suspicious of the rumors. But unlike Cora, this man of faith is convinced the rumors are caused by moral panic, a flight from true belief.

These seeming opposites who agree on nothing soon find themselves inexorably drawn together and torn apart—an intense relationship that will change both of their lives in ways entirely unexpected.

I finished the book and spent a lot of time thinking about how the summary of the story doesn’t really track with the story inside. I was expecting a tense story full of magical doings and some romantic tension. Instead, I got a very quiet character study of a cast of Victorian characters. Everyone acts in line with the time and place they live in giving this a much more melancholy feel instead of suspense or tension. Cora is at times a strong heroine to root for and a privileged oblivious woman bumbling around in other people’s lives. She could be very frustrating at times. On the other side, William Ransome is also extremely frustrating and yet, very much how I think a vicar in England at the time would think and act. For a page or two, I wanted them to find happiness in each other, but also realized that they were terrible for each other. The book quietly moves along with multiple subplots and character storylines. Coming to the abrupt ending, I was a bit frustrated. But in the end, I really enjoyed this quiet meandering story.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Lore Olympus Vol. 7 by Rachel Smythe

Title: Lore Olympus Volume 7

Author: Rachel Smythe

Publisher: Inklore 2024

Genre: Fantasy Comic

Pages: 416

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges:

Where I Got It: Library

“Blood of mine or not, if you proceed with this trial, I hope you are prepared to live with the consequences.”

The rifts between realms grow ever wider as the temporary shelter Persephone had found in the Underworld is destroyed. Apollo has captured Demeter, turning the fugitive goddess over to Zeus in an attempt to win the king’s favor. Persephone and her mother must now stand trial for concealing Persephone’s unsanctioned act of wrath—though the goddess of spring feels secure with Hades on her side.

But safety is not guaranteed in the world of the gods.

As the trial brings to light truths and betrayals that threaten to upset everything—even Hades and Persephone’s relationship—the other gods face perils of their own.

Eros uncovers Ampelus’s secret during a fight in the Mortal Realm. Thanatos and Daphne’s budding relationship is threatened by a vengeful Apollo. Minthe is trapped in her cursed form until Persephone gains full control over her powers. And Hera is haunted by the specter of Kronos, whose influence in Olympus seems to be growing . . .

This edition of Smythe’s original Eisner Award–winning webcomic Lore Olympus features a brand-new, exclusive short story from creator Rachel Smythe and brings the Greek pantheon into the modern age in a sharply perceptive and romantic graphic novel.

This volume collects episodes 153-179 of the #1 WEBTOON comic Lore Olympus.

I got my hands on this volume pretty quickly after its release date. And we finally get some movement in the story. It’s less about the will they, won’t they, and more about the how. I loved seeing Persephone become more confident and seek help when needed. I loved seeing some of the secrets start to be revealed. I feel like we need to coming towards the end of this series. I really want to see Persephone become Queen of the Dead!

Next up on the TBR pile:

Homeschool W9-10: Too Busy to Make a Weekly Post!

What We Studied

I had to combine two homeschooling weeks into one post. We were just too busy for me to get around to documenting. Fairly last minute, I actually planned the boys’ joint birthday party and that took up a lot of time. In between tasks and now after, we did get some school done. But this month has really been all about the activities and enjoying the fall season.

Literature and Poetry

Arthur is primarily using Hearth and Story G5 for his language arts this year. We finished Coraline last week. In fact, we are attended a stage production of the story on Friday at our local children’s theater. Love that we can get discounted student tickets as a homeschool group. We then moved onto one of my favorite authors, Edgar Allan Poe. We’re sitting with his stories through this week. We also covered more grammar and extra language arts assignments.

Coraline by Neil Gaiman
The Complete Stories of Edgar Allan Poe
Poetry for Young People: Edgar Allan Poe
Poetry for Young People: Carl Sandburg

Quentin is primarily using Blossom & Root G1 for his language arts this year. We will pull some elements from Build Your Library Level 2 and random books that we have around the house. We finished our current read aloud and changed gears slightly. Instead of a big novel, we’ve been reading spooky stories and one-off Halloween themed books we have laying around the house.

The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Graeme
Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds
Flat Stanley and the Haunted House
Ten Timid Ghosts by Jennifer O’Connell
Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola
Monster School: First Day Frights by Dave Keane
A World Full of Spooky Stories by Angela McAllister
Poetry: Spectacular Science
Write Shop B

Math

Math in Focus Court 1 Book A
EM Financial Literacy G5

Quentin is using Singapore’s Primary Mathematics Common Core edition 2B and 3A. He started with the lessons in 2B. I imagine that we will be slowing working through that this semester. Q continued the chapter on Money and moved onto Fractions and Time.

Primarily Logic
Singapore Primary Common Core 2B
EM Financial Literacy G2

Social Studies

Arthur is using Curiosity Chronicles Early Modern History Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 this year. We covered a section on the Rise and Fall of Empires featuring the Thirty Years’ War and the Manchi Empire in China. We also moved onto the Question of Kings featuring the English Civil Wars and France’s Sun King. It was a jam packed two weeks of history.

Curiosity Chronicles Early Modern History Vol. 1
DK History
DK Timelines of Everything
DK Timelines of Everyone
DK A Child Through Time
Kings and Queens by Fiona Macdonald

Quentin is using History Quest Middle Times with Build Your Library Level 2 supporting. We moved onto a chapter covering Ancestral Puebloans and Cahokia and one covering the Mongol Empire. Somehow we’re fitting in history every week still. I call that I huge win!

History Quest Middle Times
DK When on Earth?
DK History
DK Timelines of Everything
DK Timelines of Everyone
DK A Child Through Time
Kingfisher Atlas of the Medieval World
Genghis Khan by Demi

Science

Arthur is using RSO Biology 1 this year has the main science text. Our academic coop will also be using RSO Biology 1 as a basis for the fall semester course, so we will be just supplementing at home. He covered two weeks of biology focusing on animals cells and DNA. We will also be doing some of Blossom & Root’s Book Seeds and various other small units in between. We continued watching the documentary series One Strange Rock. We will continue watching sporadically throughout the fall. I’m counting this as science for kids.

RSO Biology 1
Story of Science Vol. 3 by Joy Hakim

Quentin is using RSO Earth & Environment and RSO Astronomy 1 as a base. Of course, we have a ton of extra science resources laying around the house. And I will be hosting some one-off science exploration days that align with the units. We skipped book science these two weeks as we adjusted to our new schedules. We watched an episode of One Strange Rock.

RSO Earth and Environment
DK First Earth Encyclopedia

Academic Co-op

Two more weeks of academic co-op completed! We have really begun to work out the kinks and settle into a routine. For math, Arthur did a road trip project and reviewed grocery store math. Really math is all a review of him, but it’s good practice. In biology, they covered animal cells and structure and moved onto DNA and chromosomes. In civics, we covered the responsibilities of citizens one wee and the rights of citizens the other week. The kids really responded to the rights week with lots of good questions and answers.

Art and Music

For music, we are using Music Lab: We Rock! as our spine. Each week we will be learning about a different rock musician and focus on a particular song. I have also created Spotify playlists so we can listen on the go. Music just didn’t happen these two weeks. I’m sure that we’re catch up soon. Time just got away from us.

Music Lab: We Rock!
DK Music and How it Works
DK The Arts

Field Trip/Activities

We had our monthly Joslyn Art Explorers trip. This month, we talked about light and shadow and focused on Baroque art in the European galleries. We then compared the Baroque art to Renaissance art from before and Neo-classical art from after. Arthur decided to take one of his characters and create a tableau featuring elements from other paintings we saw.

Last week, we finally made it to a sketchbook hang. Arthur had been wanting to go, but the timing just wasn’t right for us. We made it work and spent a few hours at the coffee shop with friends drawing and socializing.

And this past Friday we traveled downtown to see a production of Coraline and then went south to the Co-op Halloween party. Such a busy day! So busy in fact that I didn’t take a single picture all day.

High

It was time for our bi-annual Arbor Day Farm excursion. We love exploring all the nature play areas and treehouses, but hate doing it with 90 degrees temperatures. Planning a trip in early spring and late fall is the perfect plan. Ourselves and many many homeschool friends all met up for an entire day of play. It was such a lovely visit.

Low

We haven’t managed to get a ton of book work done these two weeks. I knew we go through cycles, but this one is wearing on me. Thankfully November is looking much slower and less full of activities. I’m going to try and keep it that way.

Next Week

Continuing our read alouds
Finishing our next math chapters
Completing our homework (A) from co-op
Learning about East Africa (A) and Japan (Q) - history
Listening to Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, and more for music
Heading to Vala’s two more times for the season!
Exploring rocks, minerals, and fossils

Next up on the TBR pile:

Music Monday - Wage War "Magnetic"

I keep coming back to this song lately…

Next up on the TBR pile:

Life Right Now #25

As I look outside my window: It’s bright and sunny but chilly. Perfect fall day!

Right now I am: Relaxing before brunch. My body decided to absolutely breakdown this week. After the birthday party last weekend, I could hardly move. And it struck again on Friday. All day yesterday I could hardly move and the room was spinning. It was terrible. I feel better now, but still very weak and unstable feeling. I definitely need to take it easy.

Thinking and pondering: Do I want to go to Vala’s tomorrow morning? We are going on Tuesday, but I also had us scheduled for tomorrow. That may be too much for me to handle…

On my bedside table: All the leftover spooky season books… I’m keeping it going in November before I switch to all the holiday romances.

On my tv this week: Not a ton. We did start the new seasons of What We Do in the Shadows and Lower Decks. But then the past few nights, I’ve gone to bed fairly early and just read.

Listening to: I finally downloaded the new Dead Poet Society album. Not sure how I missed that one, but have been enjoying the tracks this week.

On the menu for this week: Frankly, I have no idea. This week is going to be very weird. I do know that we are doing dinner at Vala’s on Tuesday, I have dinner out for book club on Wednesday, and Friday is pizza night. But we also have Halloween in there which usually means snack dinner. So no real cooking this week?

On my to do list: So much. My most pressing tasks are to print pages for Thursday’s co-op, go over my lesson notes, and print/create lessons for Friday’s Rock and Fossil Exploration.

Happening this week:

Monday - Vala’s (maybe)
Tuesday -Vala’s Campfire Night
Wednesday - Book Club
Thursday - Co-op; Halloween!
Friday - Rock and Fossil Exploration
Saturday - Co-op Kid Book Club
Sunday - Home Day

What I am creating: Mostly just lesson plans.

My simple pleasures: Sleep…. that’s it

Looking around the house: Most of the birthday party stuff has been taken down and put away. I have a few random things to get taken care of today.

From the camera: Creepy rabbit at Vala’s. Clearly they redid part of the display, but somehow decided that the rabbit could stay. We always have to go say hi.

The Hitchcock Hotel by Stephanie Wrobel

Title: The Hitchcock Hotel

Author: Stephanie Wrobel

Publisher: Berkley 2024

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Pages: 352

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library Love

Where I Got It: Library

Alfred Smettle is not your average Hitchcock fan. He is the founder, owner, and manager of The Hitchcock Hotel, a sprawling Victorian house in the White Mountains dedicated to the Master of Suspense. There, Alfred offers his guests round-the-clock film screenings, movie props and memorabilia in every room, plus an aviary with fifty crows.

To celebrate the hotel’s first anniversary, he invites his former best friends from his college Film Club for a reunion. He hasn’t spoken to any of them in sixteen years, not after what happened.

But who better than them to appreciate Alfred’s creation? And to help him finish it.

After all, no Hitchcock set is complete without a body.

This book is a bit of a slow burn. The murder doesn’t actually happen until very far into the story. Before that, we get a great atmospheric set-up complete with unreliable narrators. We have reason to suspect that every single character is keeping a big secret that could harm another. Slowly the secrets start coming to the light and the tension increases. At a certain point in the story, I was on the edge of my seat just waiting for something terrible to happen. Thankfully it did. And then we get the big unraveling of all the mysteries, at least for the reader. While I liked how this one ended, I felt it was a bit too coincidental. I cannot believe that none of the other characters figured it out. Oh well. I guess people want to see what they want to see. Still, it was a very enjoyable mystery/thriller.

Next up on the TBR pile:

That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Human by Kimberly Lemming

Title: That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Human (Mead Mishaps #3)

Author: Kimberly Lemming

Publisher: Orbit 2024

Genre: Romance

Pages: 352

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges:

Where I Got It: Library

Spice Rating: 5

All children are told fairytales. Some are epic adventures with high stakes and exciting twists, while others are tales of pitiful princesses trapped in boring towers pining for their Prince Charmings to come and rescue them. Growing up, Cherry always hated those stories. Why didn’t the princesses just get up and rescue themselves? Little did she know that her own fate would take an ironically similar turn. Because now, here she is. Stuck. In a tower. Turns out, when a dragon holds you hostage, he doesn’t just let you get up and leave.

Who knew?

And just when Cherry thinks she sees hope on the horizon, that hope is smashed to bits by—you guessed it—another damn dragon.

And so we conclude the Mead Mishaps trilogy. I was hoping to see more of Dante and thankfully we get an entire book focused on him. I must say that I wasn’t quite as enamored with Cherry as I was with Cinnamon and Brie. She was just a little more of a one-note character. I would have liked to see more of the interactions between the characters after Cherry returns to Boohail. Instead, the book ends pretty abruptly. I did enjoy the adventure until then. My favorite parts were the conversations between Dante, Fallon, and Felix.

Mead Mishaps

#1 That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon
#1.5 Mistlefoe
#2 That Time I Got Drunk and Yeeted a Love Potion at a Werewolf
#2.5 A Bump in Boohail
#3 That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Human

Next up on the TBR pile:

We Kept Her in the Cellar by W.R. Gorman

Title: We Kept Her in the Cellar

Author: W.R. Gorman

Publisher: Crooked Lane Books 2024

Genre: Horror

Pages: 304

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fairy Tale Retellings

Where I Got It: Library

Eunice lives her life by three simple rules: One, always refer to Cinderella as family. Two, never let Cinderella gain access to rats or mice. Three, never look upon Cinderella between the hours of twelve and three a.m.

Cinderella has dark and terrifying powers. As her stepsister, Eunice is expected to care for her and keep the family’s secret. For years, Eunice has faithfully done so. Her childhood flew by in a blur of nightmares, tears, and near-misses with the monster living in the cellar. But when she befriends the handsome Prince Credence and secures an invitation to the ball, Eunice is determined to break free.

When her younger sister, Hortense, steps up to care for Cinderella, Eunice grabs her chance to dance the night away—until Cinderella escapes. With her eldritch powers, Cinderella attends the ball and sweeps Prince Credence off his feet, leaving behind a trail of carnage and destruction as well as a single green glass slipper.

With Cinderella unleashed, Eunice must determine how much of herself she is willing to sacrifice in order to stop Cinderella. Unsettling and macabre at every turn, this page-turning horror will bewitch horror fans and leave its readers anxiously checking the locks on their cellar doors.

Oh yes! This was exactly the kind of horror I was hoping to read this season. We get a fairy tale turned on its Lovecraftian head. Everything starts normal, but then as soon as Cinderella arrives. we now that things are just a little off. Very quickly things go from bad to worst. I absolutely reveled in Cinderella’s creepy nature and the ways in which she tried to mess with Eunice. And then the second half of the book really kicked into high gear. I was dreading where the story was going, but in for the ride. This boo is not for those that get squeamish easily. There are some horrifying scenes throughout. I was in it until the very last page.

Next up on the TBR pile: