Currently #12

Reading: I finally started a dark romance, Feathers So Vicious by Liv Zander, that a friend recommended to me months ago. There are definitely multiple content warnings attached to this book. I am enjoying the world building. Not sure about the romance part yet. But I’m only about 30% of the way through the book.

Watching: I fell back into watching Stray Kids content from the past. I’m up to March 2022 in the big watch. And I’ve made a ton of progress in just a few days.

Listening: I’ve put ATEEZ’s new album Golden Hour: Part 3 In Your Fantasy on repeat. So good! I think my current favorites are “Legacy” and “Slide to Me.”

Making: Working on multiple dinner plans for this week.

Feeling: Between home tasks, social acitities, school, and my own mental health, I am feeling very stretched right now. I really need to find a better balance.

Planning: I’m deep into planning homeschool lessons. I’m equally excited and stressed out in starting our new school year this week.

Loving: We are into the height of summer and I am loving fruit. Seriously, I cannot get enough.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Music Monday - ATEEZ "Halazia"

It’s a K-Pop summer! After doing my Top 10 Stray Kids songs, I decided to focus on some other K-Pop groups and people that I enjoy. Let’s embark on my Top 5 ATEEZ songs.

For whatever reason, this song doesn’t show up on favorites lists from ATINYs. I think that’s a tragedy. This is an amazing song!

Next up on the TBR pile:

Life Right Now #21

On my bedside table: I have a stack of library books that I need figure out which one to read first. And I have a few more manhwa volumes for my current series. But… I also have a few fan fiction stories lined up to read.

On my tv this week: All of our usual shows. Television viewing was down this week as I had a few days out and other days of being super tired.

Listening to: Stray Kids of course! But I also downloaded some aespa and ITZY to add to my K-Pop playlist.

On the menu for this week:

Monday - Balsamic Caprese Chicken
Tuesday - Grilled Cheese
Wednesday - Spicy Thai Noodles
Thursday - Lemon Sauce Fish
Friday - Green Chile Enchilada Soup
Saturday - Reuben Quesadillas
Sunday - Leftovers

On my to do list: We are starting school this week, so I’ve purposely shortened by to do list to accomodate. Mostly I just need to double check admin tasks for co-op.

Happening this week:

Monday - First Day of School!
Tuesday - Pool Afternoon (last one!)
Wednesday - Zoo Day
Thursday - Enrichment Co-op
Friday - Home Day
Saturday - Book Club Pool Party; Potential Kid Birthday Party
Sunday - Academic Co-op Informational Meeting

What I am creating: Nothing this week. Focused on prepping for the school year.

My simple pleasures: Satisfying fan fiction, Stray Kids videos, iced coffee

Looking around the house: I picked up most of the crap and feel like the house is in a decent place right now.

From the camera: From last week’s after Bingo visit to the Christmas Bar. It’s not actually called that, but it’s decorated like some grandma’s Christmas decorations threw up. I love it!

Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint Vol. 1

Title: Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint Vol. 1

Author: singNsong

Publisher: Ize Press 2020

Genre: Manga

Pages: 248

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Books to Movies

Where I Got It: Library

AT THAT MOMENT, MY LIFE TOOK ON A DIFFERENT GENRE. As a struggling office worker, Dokja Kim’s sole joy in life is an online novel so obscure that he’s its only reader. Then one day the story comes to an end…and so does the world. People all around the globe suddenly find themselves being massacred by horrific monsters or pitted against each other in sadistic scenarios straight out of the novel. However, only Dokja is aware that this is merely the first chapter of what is to come. Knowing that devastating plot twists are on the horizon, he can no longer afford to sit back as a reader―it’s time for Dokja to step up and write his own destiny!

After chatting with one of my sons during our travel back to Nebraska, he mentioned this series as one that I should read. I finally slotted it into my short list TBR and read the first volume. I immediately fell into the story and found myself hanging on each page. I loved falling Dokja’s growing realization of his new reality. And we get to have some fun cultural moments embedded into the story. I am definitely hooked on the series and will continue reading.

Next up on the TBR pile:

July 2025 Wrap-up

July TBR Pile (24/26):

Bookworms BC: Already read
Friend BC: The Mayor of Maxwell Street by Avery Cunningham
Nerdy Bookish Friends: Already read
Kid Book Club: The Mechanical Mind of John Coggin by Elinor Teele
Kid Read Aloud: TBD
Fantasy: The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo ✓
Fantasy: A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett ✓
Fantasy: Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune ✓
Scifi: A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor by Hank Green ✓
Romance: Wicked Pursuit by Katee Robert ✓
Romance: Divine Intervention by R.M. Virtues ✓
Romance: Seoulamtes by Susan Lee ✓
Romance: The Geographer’s Map to Romance by India Holton ✓
Nonfiction: The Darcy Myth by Rachel Feder ✓
Comics: Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion Vol. 1 ✓
Comics: Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion Vol. 2 ✓
Comics: Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion Vol. 3 ✓
Comics: Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion Vol. 4 ✓
Comics: Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion Vol. 5 ✓
Comics: Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion Vol. 6 ✓
Comics: Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion Vol. 7 ✓
Comics: Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion Vol. 8 ✓
Comics: Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 19 ✓
Comics: Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 20 ✓
Comics: Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 21 ✓
Comics: Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 22 ✓
Comics: Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 23 ✓
Comics: Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 24 ✓
Comics: Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 25 ✓

1,000,000 Page Goal

Monthly Total: 6758 pages
Pages Remaining: 140,314 pages

Current Read - Cold Eternity by SA Barnes

Books I Gave Up On (0)

Books Bought/Received (0)

UnRead Shelf Progress

Starting Number: 308
Books Read: 3
Books Acquired: 0
Books Unshelved: 0
Finishing Number: 305

August TBR Pile:

Bookworms BC: Is She Really Going Out with Him by Sophie Cousens
Friend BC: (already read)
Nerdy Bookish Friends: Un Lun Dun by China Mieville
Kid Book Club: Two Roads by Joseph Bruchac
Kid Read Aloud: Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Kid Read Aloud: When the Sea Turned to Silver by Grace Lin
Thriller: Cold Eternity by SA Barnes
Comics: Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint Vol. 1
Comics: Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint Vol. 2
Comics: Black Butler Vol. 1

Movies Watched

Heads of State - Better than we expected.
Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - We restarted our Nic Cage quarterly.
Adaptation - Just as weird but good movie that I remembered.
Wild Wild West - Introducing the kids to terrible movies from the 1990s.
The Losers - Random movie that we never saw and wanted something stupid for a night.
How to Train Your Dragon (live action) - Such a fun movie!
Windtalkers - Not the best Nic Cage movie, but we made it through.
Matchstick Men - Still really enjoy this Nic Cage / Same Rockwell movie.

TV Shows Watched

Alice in Borderland S2
Murderbot S1
Hometown Cha-cha-cha S1
The Sandman S2
Foundation S3
Game Changer
Um, Actually
SKZ-Talker
SKZ-Talker Go
SKZ Code

Comments - Fan fiction took over my reading time this month. I must have read at least 2 million words of fan fiction. I still somehow managed to read 24 books. And we restarted Nic Cage quarterly watching multiple movies.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Odds and Ends

Here's my randomness for the week:

Thank goodness the weather has turned! It has been absolutely terrible for the last week. I feel so much better.
I really need to put myself on a library ban. I really want to get to some of my Unread Shelf.
Craving gazpacho this week for lunch.
Fan Fiction has really interrupted my regular reading, but I have loved it so much.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Geographer's Map to Romance by India Holton

Title: The Geographer’s Map to Romance (Love’s Academic #2)

Author: India Holton

Publisher: Berkley 2025

Genre: Romance

Pages: 368

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Romanceopoly - New Year, New Love (Second Chance)

Where I Got It: Library

Spice Rating: 5

Professor Elodie Tarrant is an expert in magic disasters. Nothing fazes her—except her own personal disaster, that is: Professor Gabriel Tarrant, the grumpy, unfriendly man she married for convenience a year ago, whom she secretly loves.

Gabriel is also an expert in magic disasters. And nothing fazes him either—except the walking, talking tornado that is his wife. They’ve been estranged since shortly after their wedding day, but that hasn’t stopped him from stoically pining for her.

When magic erupts in a small Welsh village, threatening catastrophe for the rest of England, Elodie and Gabriel are accidentally both assigned to the case. With the fate of the country in their hands, they must come together as a team in the face of perilous conditions like explosions, domesticated goats, and only one bed. But this is easier said than done. After all, there's no navigational guide for the geography of the heart.

I just really enjoy India Holton’s writing style. She weaves together the stuffiness of characters and language from the 19th century with madcap adventures and witty banter of today. I enjoyed the first book in this series, but I think I might just have enjoyed the second book even more. Ellie and Gabe and the best odd pairing. Their romance is somehow far-fetched but believable. I love that they both are so invested in their field of study and true scholars. And then there’s the fun and silly magic thrown in. It made all the adventures seems like a great time. I cannot wait to see what Holton writes next.

Love’s Academic

#1 The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love
#2 The Geographer’s Map to Romance

Romanceopoly 2025 Board Light Skin Brown Hair.jpg

Next up on the TBR pile:

Music Monday - ATEEZ "Take Me Home"

It’s a K-Pop summer! After doing my Top 10 Stray Kids songs, I decided to focus on some other K-Pop groups and people that I enjoy. Let’s embark on my Top 5 ATEEZ songs.

I always sing along to this song. It worms it’s way into my brain every time.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 25

Title: Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 25

Author: Junji Ito

Publisher: VIZ Media 2024

Genre: Manga Horror

Pages: 208

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series

Where I Got It: Library

In a world where cursed spirits feed on unsuspecting humans, fragments of the legendary and feared demon Ryomen Sukuna have been lost and scattered about. Should any demon consume Sukuna’s body parts, the power they gain could destroy the world as we know it. Fortunately, there exists a mysterious school of jujutsu sorcerers who exist to protect the precarious existence of the living from the supernatural!

In order to assume complete control over Fushiguro’s body, Sukuna schemes to kill Tsumiki, whose flesh Yorozu has possessed. Meanwhile, Itadori and the others attempt to use the power of Kurusu and the Angel, who have barely escaped death, to bring back Satoru Gojo! Sukuna is the strongest sorcerer in history, and Gojo is the strongest sorcerer of the present day… These two heavy hitters will finally clash!

Everything really feels like it’s coming to a head in this volume. Gojo has been released. Sukuna has taken over Fushiguro’s body. They are locked in combat. Kenjaku is still lurking around. And the rest of our crew is on the sidelines watching everything go down. I was on pins and needles the entire volume.

Jujutsu Kaisen

Next up on the TBR pile:

Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 24

Title: Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 24

Author: Junji Ito

Publisher: VIZ Media 2023

Genre: Manga Horror

Pages: 192

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series

Where I Got It: Library

In a world where cursed spirits feed on unsuspecting humans, fragments of the legendary and feared demon Ryomen Sukuna have been lost and scattered about. Should any demon consume Sukuna’s body parts, the power they gain could destroy the world as we know it. Fortunately, there exists a mysterious school of jujutsu sorcerers who exist to protect the precarious existence of the living from the supernatural!

Military forces from foreign countries invade the culling game, seeking to harness the unlimited potential of cursed energy. However, the soldiers soon find themselves facing off against a horde of cursed spirits! While the merger with Tengen forges on, Fushiguro tries to help his sister leave the culling game and its endless cycle of killing…

Bringing the military into the story was a bit of a strange choice, but I understand that we needed to acknowledge the rest of the world at least. Japan does not exist in the world by itself. I was much more interested in the storyline featuring Fushiguro. And goodness! What an ending! I did not see that coming at all.

Jujutsu Kaisen

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #11

Reading: I have officially fallen down the fan fiction rabbit hole. A friend and I have been sharing our favorite stories, series, and authors. It has wrecked my regular reading stack, but I am okay with it. Just excited to read the next story every day.

Watching: We dove back into our Nic Cage quarterly. In the last week, we’ve watching four of his movies.

Listening: ATEEZ’s new album In Your Fantasy is on repeat this week. I am loving all the solo songs but especially Mingi’s and Yeosang’s songs. So good!

Making: For brunch yesterday, I made apricot and coconut and ham and cheese scones. I do love baking scones.

Feeling: The temperatures have skyrocketed and I am hot and uncomfortable. It’s going to be a terrible week.

Planning: I’m putting the finishing touches on our Homeschool plans for this coming year. I need to do one last run through and then put library books on hold.

Loving: Yesterday on the way back from the park, my Stray Kids shuffle had a string of five absolute bangers! God’s Menu, Topline, Wolfgang, Domino, and S-Class!

Next up on the TBR pile:

Music Monday - ATEEZ "Cyberpunk"

It’s a K-Pop summer! After doing my Top 10 Stray Kids songs, I decided to focus on some other K-Pop groups and people that I enjoy. Let’s embark on my Top 5 ATEEZ songs.

I really enjoy the electronic rock sound of this entire EP, but love “Cyberpunk” the most.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 23

Title: Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 23

Author: Junji Ito

Publisher: VIZ Media 2023

Genre: Manga Horror

Pages: 192

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series

Where I Got It: Library

In a world where cursed spirits feed on unsuspecting humans, fragments of the legendary and feared demon Ryomen Sukuna have been lost and scattered about. Should any demon consume Sukuna’s body parts, the power they gain could destroy the world as we know it. Fortunately, there exists a mysterious school of jujutsu sorcerers who exist to protect the precarious existence of the living from the supernatural!

Sukuna reveals that he is the Disgraced One whom the Angel wants to kill. While Itadori grapples with this terrible news, Kenjaku has set in motion plans involving various nations, throwing the culling game into further confusion! To make matters worse, Kenjaku then shows up at the Tombs of the Star Corridor where Master Tengen exists in seclusion!

Our larger plot moves forward a ton in this volume. We do a big check in with our major players and see what happens when Itadori realizes who is inhabiting his body. I enjoyed learning more even if Gojo is still missing from the story.

Jujutsu Kaisen

Next up on the TBR pile:

Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 22

Title: Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 22

Author: Junji Ito

Publisher: VIZ Media 2023

Genre: Manga Horror

Pages: 192

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series

Where I Got It: Library

In a world where cursed spirits feed on unsuspecting humans, fragments of the legendary and feared demon Ryomen Sukuna have been lost and scattered about. Should any demon consume Sukuna’s body parts, the power they gain could destroy the world as we know it. Fortunately, there exists a mysterious school of jujutsu sorcerers who exist to protect the precarious existence of the living from the supernatural!

A mysterious cursed spirit with a grudge against Maki flies into Sakurajima Colony. It evolves with incredible speed from cursed womb to adult form and threatens to overwhelm Maki and Noritoshi. Just then, two more combatants join the battle…

Very excited to see a volume focused more on Maki. She’s become one of my favorite characters in this entire series. And after the development with her sister, I am more and more intrigued. We get a great extended action sequence showing off her revelations and new skills. I cannot wait to see how see fits back into our motley crew of heroes.

Jujutsu Kaisen

Next up on the TBR pile:

Seoulmates by Susan Lee

Title: Seoulmates

Author: Susan Lee

Publisher: Inkyard Press 2022

Genre: YA Romance

Pages: 314

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Romanceopoly - Lotus and Lei (AAPI Author); Cover Lover - POC

Where I Got It: Library

Hannah Cho had the next year all planned out—the perfect summer with her boyfriend, Nate, and then a fun senior year with their friends.

But then Nate does what everyone else in Hannah’s life seems to do—he leaves her, claiming they have nothing in common. He and all her friends are newly obsessed with K-pop and K-dramas, and Hannah is not. After years of trying to embrace the American part and shunning the Korean side of her Korean American identity to fit in, Hannah finds that’s exactly what now has her on the outs.

But someone who does know K-dramas—so well that he’s actually starring in one—is Jacob Kim, Hannah’s former best friend, whom she hasn’t seen in years. He’s desperate for a break from the fame, so a family trip back to San Diego might be just what he needs…that is, if he and Hannah can figure out what went wrong when they last parted and navigate the new feelings developing between them.

Two friends recommended this book because of my love of K-Pop and K-Dramas. I went into it knowing very little. One of those things is that I didn’t realize that it was YA until I got the physical book. Not my usual cup of romance tea, but I thought I would try it. And overall, it was good. Not great, but good. There is some teenage angst sprinkled, but not too much. Mostly I was annoyed by the whole “let’s pretend to be dating to make my (IMO worthless) ex-boyfriend jealous so he takes me back.” UM, girl. Step away from the bland boy who clearly does not see you at all. I did want to see more adventures between Hannah and Jacob around San Diego. There was a lack of fun! I wanted to really buy them as a couple. So ultimately, I ended up giving this one 3 stars. Good, but nothing to get super excited about.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Odds and Ends

Here's my randomness for the week:

How can we have so much food in this house and yet I have no idea what to make for dinner?
Looking forward to my fall plans for homeschool and our social group. So many great ideas on tap these next few months.
Multiple pool days this week are great but also tiring.
I’m still reading, but will admit that I’ve been reading a ton of fan fiction instead of traditionally published books. I’m okay with that; I’ve found so many good ones. But it does mess with my reading wrap numbers.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 21

Title: Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 21

Author: Junji Ito

Publisher: VIZ Media 2022

Genre: Manga Horror

Pages: 216

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series

Where I Got It: Library

In a world where cursed spirits feed on unsuspecting humans, fragments of the legendary and feared demon Ryomen Sukuna have been lost and scattered about. Should any demon consume Sukuna’s body parts, the power they gain could destroy the world as we know it. Fortunately, there exists a mysterious school of jujutsu sorcerers who exist to protect the precarious existence of the living from the supernatural!

Hakari and Panda head for Tokyo No. 2 Colony in search of Kashimo. When they enter, they get separated, and Hakari faces Charles, a culling game player and wannabe manga creator! Meanwhile, Panda encounters Kashimo and finds himself overwhelmed by their difference in strength!

Meh! I was not really excited by this volume at all. We focus on some other characters and fill the pages with confusing action panels. Seriously, this volume felt more chaotic than usual. It just wasn’t holding my attention very well. I ended up skimming more pages than usual. Oh well. Guess I will just move on to the next volume.

Jujutsu Kaisen

Next up on the TBR pile:

Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 20

Title: Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 20

Author: Junji Ito

Publisher: VIZ Media 2022

Genre: Manga Horror

Pages: 192

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series

Where I Got It: Library

In a world where cursed spirits feed on unsuspecting humans, fragments of the legendary and feared demon Ryomen Sukuna have been lost and scattered about. Should any demon consume Sukuna’s body parts, the power they gain could destroy the world as we know it. Fortunately, there exists a mysterious school of jujutsu sorcerers who exist to protect the precarious existence of the living from the supernatural!

Fushiguro and Reggie have nearly crushed each other to death. Reggie makes a move to break the stalemate and bring their battle to its climax! Meanwhile, Okkotsu disrupts the four-way standoff between jujutsu fighters in the Sendai colony, leading to a fierce battle involving reincarnated sorcerers and a special grade cursed spirit!

More chaos within the culling game. We finally get to see Okkotsu and Rika again amid all the chaos. I loved the sections of this volume focused on them. We get to see a bit more of the larger plot and plan to help end the game. But mostly, we focus on a ton of action.

Jujutsu Kaisen

Next up on the TBR pile:

A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett

Title: A Drop of Corruption (Shadow of the Leviathan #2)

Author: Robert Jackson Bennett

Publisher: Del Rey 2025

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 465

Rating: /5 stars

Reading Challenges:

Where I Got It: Library

In the canton of Yarrowdale, at the very edge of the Empire’s reach, a Treasury officer has disappeared into thin air—vanishing from a room within a heavily guarded tower, its door and windows locked from the inside.

To solve the case, the Empire calls on its most brilliant and mercurial detective, the great Ana Dolabra. At her side, as always, is her bemused assistant Dinios Kol.

Ana soon discovers that they are investigating not a disappearance but a murder—and one of surpassing cunning, carried out by an opponent who can pass through warded doors like a ghost.

Worse still, the killer may be targeting the high-security compound known as the Shroud, where the Empire harvests fallen titans for the volatile magic found in their blood. Should it fall, the Empire itself will grind to a halt, robbed of the magic that allows its wheels of power to turn.

Din has seen his superior solve impossible cases before. But as the death toll grows and their quarry predicts each of Ana’s moves with uncanny foresight, he fears that she has at last met an enemy she can’t defeat.

Another fascinating mystery involving Din and Ana! I thoroughly enjoyed this intricately plotted murder mystery set in a fascinating world. We get to learn more about Ana and Din as well as explore a new-to-us part of the Empire. We get more info on the Leviathans and how all of these alterations come to be. I loved unraveling the murder mystery with our main characters. I loved seeing Din make a new friend and feel more secure in his place in the world. I loved the weird trippy nature to the murder and the lingering threat of the leviathans. This was exactly the type of mystery I have been craving. I cannot wait to see if Bennett writes another in this series. I really really really hope he does!

Shadow of the Leviathan

#1 The Tainted Cup
#2 A Drop of Corruption

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Next up on the TBR pile:

Music Monday - ATEEZ "Bouncy"

It’s a K-Pop summer! After doing my Top 10 Stray Kids songs, I decided to focus on some other K-Pop groups and people that I enjoy. Let’s embark on my Top 5 ATEEZ songs.

First up, the absolute banger “Bouncy.” If you don’t want to dance to this one, I don’t know what’s wrong with you.

Next up on the TBR pile: