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READING LOG No. 36: ALL THE YOUNG DUDES by MsKingBean89

I feel as if I have loved and lost. I feel as if I personally witnessed the deaths of my friends in war. Truthfully, I have not read the HP books since I was in 4th grade and, so, all of my marauder knowledge consisted of whatever crumbs we get in the films. I have spoiled myself. This was peak Marauders and now I'm going to have to find other things to fill the void.

One of my favorite aspects is that this is told almost entirely through Remus' perspective. I cannot wait to make my own bindings of this, and the bonus chapters. I started reading Sirius' perspective to double the feels I guess lmao. Nothing is going to compare to this, but I cannot wait to read more about them. I love fan fiction.

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READING LOG No. 35: LOVE IN THE TIME OF THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE by Rizzle

One of my favorite aspects of this was the strength of friendship between Harry and Hermione, and that at no point does the author even hint at the possibility of it ever going romantic. I also really liked that Ron was not villainized and instead was given a different role in helping Dramione happen that still honored his character.

I think the most fascinating aspects, and what had initially drawn me to this fic, was how the world building would work. I think the author did a great job in creating a plausible situation in which a world of magic could have had a zombie apocalypse without excluding that aspect of the original source material. I am not a science person, so I cannot say how realistic any of the explanation for the creation of the virus and its subsequent cure could have actually logically happened. However, the delivery of the writing had me convinced of it all, which is all one can really ask for from a work of fantasy fiction.

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THE PAST MONTH IN BOOKS:

Reading logs for these will be posted in the coming weeks. Honestly, All the Young Dudes by MsKingBean89 took up most of my time. I was absolutely enthralled by the story. Prior to reading it, I had very little knowledge of the Marauders. I am currently reading Sirius' POV for ATYD and it is hitting almost as much as the original story.

PRESENTLY:

I am currently on a self-imposed book buying ban. I went through all my books and I currently have: 110 unready e-books, 45 unread physical books, and 12 un-listened to audiobooks. Thus, later in the month of June, I will be using a wheel to pick my next read.

Currently, I am finishing up the Cinder by Marissa Meyer audiobook and will be continuing the series; and I am reading The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang in my book club. And as soon as I finished ATYD - Sirius ' Perspective, then I'll be moving on to finishing Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan.

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READING LOG No. 34: QUEENS OF THEMISCYRA by Hannah Lynn

Rating: ☆☆☆ ; 6 of 10 scale | Recommend: Nah | Genre: Historical Fantasy, Fantasy Fiction, Greek Mythology retelling | Format Read In: Audiobook | Status: First-Time Read | Favorite Aspect: i got my sister to rant with me | Content Warning: SA, Violence (warfare), Manipulation

If the goal for this novel was to hate men, then it succeeded HARD. I have not felt such fury toward men in so long. Theseus had my blood boiling. The audacity of men is insane. This was my least favorite of Hannah Lynn's writing that I have explored so far, and it was not because of the characters. What bothered me the most was the structure of the story. I also disliked that we get no closure with Thesues. Like, she couldn't have added one line at the end about his well-deserved death?? We got a lil recap on the end of the Amazons.

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I started reading my first Marauders fic today... I am a changed person. Please give me all the recs! (I prefer multi-chapter, 100k+ words, but i will accept anything rn; preferably from ao3)

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"I love myself. I know my value. Maybe I'll find what I'm looking for, maybe I won't, but I'll wait the rest of my life before I settle for anything less than what I deserve. And I deserve to be loved correctly… or not at all."

— Measure of a Man

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READING LOG No. 33: AMOR VINCIT OMNIA by Twin_Flame_Blues

I read most of this on my 17+ hour flights to and from Japan. Truthfully, I don't remember most of it. I do know that I devoured it, so much so, that I sacrificed my sleep and comfort on the plane to read this instead. I was hooked from the get-go.

I found the premise fascinating; to try and figure out how the canon divergence would play out for H and D's secret relationship during their Hogwarts days, while keeping true to the canon plot points up until Voldy's death. It sucks to need Ron to be a villain in this kind of scenario. He truly was such a vile character here. This is definitely not a fic for Ron stans.

I am so used to Daphne being part of the gang in Dramione fics, and especially with reading this directly after finishing Secrets & Masks where Daph and Theo stole the show for me. It was so odd to have her be an antagonist and to have such a vastly different characterization.

George being a part of the main supporting characters was a nice change of pace. I really loved the way the author wove together everyone's stories.

Oddly enough, for this fic being a Draco and Hermione fic, I can't seem to remember much about Draco's character development. Also, the subplot with Greyhound was played out like an afterthought throughout much of the story until it was suddenly necessary to bring another obstacle between D and H. But it was also resolved way too quickly.

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READING LOG No. 32: SECRETS & MASKS by Emerald_Slytherin

•︵‿︵‿••୨♡୧••‿︵‿︵•

This fic started off with so much promise. I understand why it would become one that is so highly recommended. However, I felt like the author lost the plot on many occasions, and it would take me out every single time.

The middle dragged too much. I lost interest multiple times about different plot points. Theo and Daphne steal the show and their subplot becomes the most fascinating aspect of the story. Honestly, for a Dramione fic, their romances becomes stale and it is not until the finale and their epilogue that I finally started feeling for them again. I will not lie, I cried at the deaths and the epilogue. Narcissa (dragon) is best girl and I love her so much. I really enjoyed how this was wrapped up.

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"Killing someone isn't the only way to destroy them... there are infinite ways to demolish someone without ending their life."

—Fourth Wing, Rebecca Yarros

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This past month in books:

I had posted and pinned that I would be entering a semi-hiatus for the month of April due to my scheduling and international traveling. I did not expect to be so busy that I did not post at all for the entire month. However, I was reading (somewhat)! Most of my reading happened on the plane, so I was only able to finish two fanfictions and the audiobook was listened to during my commutes to and from work. I have been trying to get into any Leigh Bardugo novel, but I just can't seem to be intrigued by any of them. None have hooked me and so, I believe their writing is just not for me.

After being so immersed in Star Wars celebrations all month long, my love for the franchise was reinvigorated and my drive to re-read the novels I already own. With Lost Stars by Claudia Gray (a book I will ALWAYS recommend), I will be reading the manga for the first time, but I have read the novel already. Dark Disciple by Christie Golden is on my slate for reread due to its connection to Tales of the Underworld. My current Dramione fic read is Love at a Time of the Zombie Apocalypse by Rizzle. Reading logs for the ones I finished in April are being worked on in the mean time.

Also, I did lose my job. So, as a currently unemployed person, I probably will be more active!

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READING LOG No. 31: THE BOOK OF AZRAEL by Amber V. Nicole

In retrospect, this would be more of a 5 or 5.5, but I'll keep it as a rounded up 6/10 because I dont feel like editing the graphic. I was entertained by parts of this book, specifically whenever we would get moments before the God's War and the closure of the realms. I found the world of the Gods to be intriguing. I have quite a visual imagination and I was picturing some incredibly beautiful sceneries for it. However, everything else about this book was unnecessary, underdeveloped, or unintriguing. It was way too long and could have benefited greatly from more editing.

Samkiel/Liam's PTSD and journey to recovery/healing are really the only intrigue to any of this (the plot, the romance, the motivation to read the sequel(s)). I will only be reading the next book because I already own it as I had thought that I would greatly enjoy this one.

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I will be in a semi-hiatus this month (April, 2025). My schedule will be incredibly busy. I don't know how much time I'll have to read, let alone make posts. I think, at most, I'll do only weekly recaps and include short reviews in them.

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My past week in books:

This month has been so unexpectedly busy for me that I have not made as much time for reading as I did at the start of the year. My April schedule is also already ridiculously packed and, so, I will be posting very little next month. That being said, this will be a short recap.

First things first, I finally finished The Book of Azrael by Amber V. Nicole! I will only be continuing this series because I had bought the second book before I even started reading this one. Reading log will be posted tomorrow.

Secondly, I already made two posts ranting about my frustrations with Scarlett St. Clair's Hades x Persephone series. Needless to say, I will not be continuing this series. Although I will be making a reading log post for A Game of Retribution, I did not finish the book because I ran out of audiobook hours on Spotify (which I'm taking as a blessing as I was so close to yelling at the book while at work).

Thirdly, since I had ran out of audiobook hours and used my last borrow credit on Hoopla, I started listening to Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo on Audible (which I had bought before I quit all Amazon owned services). I've seen only praises about Bardugo's writing. I'm hoping to enjoy their books as well. I DNF'd Six of Crows after 5 attempts at reading it two years ago. But I have The Familiar on my TBR. A bit worried that her books will just not be for me.

Secrets & Masks by Emerald_Slytherin is my current Dramione fic read. It's been slow getting into it, but it's starting to pick up.

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Ok this is the last time I post my frustration at this but, FUCK, DO I HATE PERSEPHONE. The fucking audacity to confront Hades and be like "if you don't want this anymore, tell me. If you can't bring yourself to forgive me then we shouldn't be in a relationship" BITCH SHUT THE FUCK UP. YOU ARE THE ONE THAT NEVER LETS HIM SPEAK. YOU NEVER LET HIM EXPLAIN ANYTHING. YOU ARE THE ONE THAT GETS JEALOUS DESPITE HIM CONSTANTLY REASSURING YOU THAT HE ONLY WANTS YOU. OMFG!!

She refuses to marry him because she's not ready and yet expects him to tell her absolutely everything and do shit that she wants that is completely selfish (like keeping her friend from dying, WHICH HE HAS NO CONTROL OVER). She's so fucking entitled and selfish and stupid. I'm so over this series. I'm going to DNF it. I haven't been so aggravated and infuriated by a FMC in quite some time.

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I am so. fucking. over. Persephone. She is so aggravating and infuriating and insufferable. I'm DNF-ing Scarlett St. Clair's Hades x Persephone series, and I'm currently debating DNF-ing her Hades Saga as well. I could not stand Persephone's pov anymore (for multiple reasons), and since Hades saga is basically a tandem read, I figured I'd only read Hades' pov since it would have less Persephone. But fuck is she so goddamn annoying ‼️‼️‼️

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READING LOG No. 29 & 30:

I took my niece to the library, and these were her picks. She's only three years old, so I read them to her. Arthur's Jelly Beans by Marc Brown was a nice story about taking your time, and can be considered a retelling of the tortoise and the hare. The Bumpy Little Pumpkin by Margery Cuyler is about a youngest child trying to be confident in how she defines herself by the selection of pumpkin in a pumpkin patch, despite the criticisms placed by her big sisters.

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"Death leaves imprints on your mind; stranger or friend, witnessing it scars memories, and while some scars are smaller than others, none really heal."

— Isolation, Bexchan