Napkin Scribbles

Mostly a place to post whatever tickles my fancy. Lots of book posts with a healthy sprinkling of the various fandoms I’m in.

[myhikari21things]

Title-Julie Chan Is Dead

Author-Liann Zhang

Year of Publication-2025

Previously Read-5/10/25

Summary-Julie Chan is working a dead end job as a grocery store clerk while her twin sister Chloe Van Huusen is living a stylish excessive influencer life style. After the sister’s parents were killed in a car accident Julie was taken in by their aunt and Chloe by the affluent Van Huusens and here we are. Until three years ago when Chloe used Julie in a video where she bought her a house the sisters hadn’t even seen each other. And Julie has grown to hate Chloe. Still when Julie gets a very strange call from Chloe she can’t help but wonder what’s going on. After days of being unable to reach her sister Julie travels to Chloe’s New York apartment where she’s immediately mistaken for Chloe. Here is where Julie finds Chloe dead on the floor apparently of an overdose. But when Julie calls for an ambulance she doesn’t correct the operator on her identity. With Chloe dead Julie decides to take over her sister’s life and get the opportunities she never had. Which starts with meeting mega influencer Bella Marie and being brought into her group the Belladonnas. Julie thinks she’s got it made as long as she can continue to take being Chloe. But when Bella Marie brings Julie, new Belladonna Isla, and the rest of the group to her private island Julie realizes she’s bitten off more then she can do and the Belladonnas have sold their souls for fame. Julie isn’t going to give her soul up for something small. She wants it all and is willing to pay the price.

Pros-Leaves room for a possible sequel. Isla says what we were all thinking on the island. Julie is definitely the type to go big or go home. The cult of Eto was an interesting idea even if it wasn’t fully explained. Things start out normal if over the top with the Belladonnas before becoming more disturbing.

Cons-Content Warning: loss of pregnancy. I was really disappointed with the turn Isla’s character took. I would have liked to see more explanation on Chloe’s childhood.

Overall Rating-4.5/5

[fanofspooky]

Favorite horror movie characters 666/♾️

Angela - Sleepaway Camp

[myhikari21things]

Title-Devil

Author-Sierra Simone

Year of Publication-2026

Series Title-Priest

Series Status-Ongoing (2015-)

Book In Series-4

Total In Series-4

Next Book Expected-???

Previously Read-N/A

Summary-Sequel to Saint. Seven years ago Birdie Cooper lost everything. She was the artist in resident at a religious college struggling with crippling social anxiety and depression while taking care of her twin sister Mary ‘Busy’ who was constantly in trouble. One her students is Ryan Bell who is nearly a decade younger then her and not that Birdie knows it has been leaving pomegranates on her desk. And it’s with Ryan in a compromising situation started by him that Birdie is found by the dean and a group of alumni. Automatically Birdie is fired without being heard and her friend Kaitlyn kicks her out the house thinking Birdie’s taint will keep her away from a lucrative job opportunity. Now Birdie is working nights at a gas station will still doing art commissions to pay for Busy’s facilitated care when Ryan comes back into her life. He found a statue she made of the Devil with his face and tracked her down. Ryan had never let go of his obsession with Birdie and has been planning for the past seven years how he would handle finding her. In exchange for him paying for Busy’s care for the rest of her life Ryan wants Birdie to belong to him for one year. She’ll have access to a state of the art studio, all the food she wants, any kind of clothes she wants, reliable insurance, doesn’t have to work unless she wants to. And all she has to do is bend to every whim that Ryan can think of. As Birdie’s new existence with Ryan begins she notices that under the charming smiles and unceasing lust that he is as lonely as she is. And through Ryan’s worship of her body and eventual interest in her as a person Birdie begins to blossom with a new confidence. Ryan has found an angel and Birdie has found a demon and all is right in the world.

Pros-Splitting the point of view between Birdie and Ryan. Birdie’s situation at the beginning is painfully realistic. The pomegranate being a reoccurring theme and Birdie’s eventual wedding ring. Birdie got a little payback on Ryan at the end.

Cons-Content Warning: dubious consent, graphic sexual content, and depictions of mental illness. Wow Kaitlyn what a pal. Sean/Zenny and Aiden/Elijah all made small appearances, but at this point Tyler/Poppy almost don’t exist.

Overall Rating-4.5/5

[myhikari21things]

Title-Saint

Author-Sierra Simone

Year of Publication-2021

Series Title-Priest

Series Status-Ongoing (2015-)

Book In Series-3

Total In Series-4

Next Book Expected-???

Previously Read-12/30/23

Summary-Sequel to Sinner. Aiden Bell the third Bell brother has never had any direction in life and has been something of a flake. Until a little over 4 years ago when he left his lover Elijah in the middle of the night with no note and drove to Mount Sergius an isolated monastery to take instruction on being a monk. Now Aiden is Brother Patrick and feels fulfilled in this very different life. Until Elijah arrives at Mount Sergius to write an article on monk produced beer sending Aiden into a tail spin. Elijah also comes with the news of his upcoming nuptials. Even though Aiden has friends among the monks he immediately feels the pull to go back to Elijah despite his self induced chastity device. And as fate would have it just as Aiden plans to leave for Europe to possibly join a different monastery Elijah joins him to write more for his article. Aiden is both pleased and horrified and he can’t even hate Elijah’s fiancée. As they travel through Belgium, France, and Ireland old feelings flare up again as Aiden and Elijah reevaluate how things ended between them and what drove Aiden to begin a new life to radically different from the old. By the time they return home Aiden is faced by the same question that Tyler and Sean were. Is he willing to change his relationship with his faith to have the man he loves?

Pros-The imagery of the ruined abbeys in Europe. Probably the most mature of the series so far. Now I’m really curious about Father Jordon. Aiden’s character development compared to how he was in the previous books. Elijah and Aiden as opposites attract.

Cons-Content Warning: graphic consensual sex and mental illness. The timeline compared to the events of book 2 felt a little weird.

Overall Rating-4.8/5

[bixebite]

esper i hardly know er

[say0ranarts]

💌

[myhikari21things]

Title-Sinner

Author-Sierra Simone

Year of Publication-2018

Series Title-Priest

Series Status-Ongoing (2015-)

Book In Series-2

Total In Series-4

Next Book Expected-???

Previously Read-12/29/23

Summary-Sequel to Priest. Sean Bell is a self proclaimed playboy, womanizer, chaser of skirt. And up until his mother's cancer diagnosis everything was right in the world. With Sean's brother Tyler now living on the east coast with his wife, another brother Aiden too flaky, and Ryan too young it's up to Sean to carry the weight. And at a fundraiser where he thinks he can catch his breath he meets a beautiful stranger. The same beautiful stranger he'll see again soon after. But she isn't a stranger. She's Zenny Iverson his best friend Elijah's little sister and a nun in training. Now Sean's job is to find a new shelter that Zenny has been volunteering at so his company can take over the building. And Zenny has certain other requests. In a month she will take her vows and be a nun proper, but before that she wants to see just exactly what she's leaving behind and wants to enlist Sean to help her. Never mind she's barely 21 and he's 36. Never mind Elijah would kill him. Sean wants Zenny, but for once in his life thinks he needs to turn a woman away. Not that it's hard for Zenny to convince him otherwise. It's Zenny who takes Sean away from the impending pain of his mother's death. Even if it is only for a month. But before Sean knows what's happening he's in love with Zenny which wasn't supposed to happen. And that love might drive her away.

Pros-The pacing was much better than in book 1. Sean does have scruples despite being a huge playboy. Sean finding Zenny in the monastery in her wedding dress hints at the ending. Sean and Zenny having some rules for their situation helped add to the tension.

Cons-Content Warning: graphic consensual sex and racism. Zenny’s response to Sean’s confession felt a bit out of character.

Overall Rating-4.5/5

[myhikari21things]

Title-Priest

Author-Sierra Simone

Year of Publication-2015

Series Title-Priest

Series Status-Ongoing (2015-)

Book In Series-1

Total In Series-4

Next Book Expected-???

Previously Read-12/28/23

Summary-Tyler Bell has been a priest for the past 3 years even though the rest of his family has shunned the Catholic faith since his sister Lizzie took her own life following years of sexual abuse in the church. Still to Tyler this is his way of trying to make things right and maybe have a little revenge. And things are fine until one day while performing confessions a woman enters Tyler’s life. Poppy Danforth should be all means little miss perfect since she was born with a silver spoon in her mouth and graduated from a prestigious college. But she’s incredibly lonely after realizing the man in her life (the married man in her life) has been using her and doesn’t even think she’s worth leaving his wife for. Things start out apparently innocent as Poppy wants to start fresh and Tyler is a willing ear. Until they start to realize their mutual attraction for each other and things heat up very quickly. Tyler isn’t just allowing himself to be seduced, but is doing a fair bit of the seducing as well. And as for Poppy there’s a part of her that feels guilty for putting Tyler’s reputation in jeopardy, but the other part wants him too much to care. For months they keep their affair secret and fall more and more in love until finally Sterling Havorford III aka Poppy’s ex arrives with blackmail. By now Tyler is willing to give up his collar for Poppy and commit to her fully, but Poppy disappears after he catches her and Sterling in a compromising position. Tyler has given up everything for Poppy, but now he will have to figure out life without her. Until months later when he finds her again.

Pros-Sometimes it can be delicate to write something taboo and not have it be completely disgusting. The poppies on the cover were a nice touch. Having Poppy enjoy sex and not be shamed for it. Sterling was less of a threat than the more obvious problem of Tyler and Poppy being together in the first place.

Cons-Content Warning: graphic consensual sexual content and mentions of sex abuse. I was surprised there wasn’t more hesitation on Tyler’s part in the beginning. THE BIG MISUNDERSTANDING.

Overall Rating-4.2/5

[myhikari21things]

Title-The Graveyard Apartment

Author-Mariko Koike

Year of Publication-1993 (translated from Japanese 2016)

Previously Read-11/20/23

Summary-Teppei and Misao Kanno think they have found their dream apartment in central Tokyo and are ready to move in along with their daughter Tamao and dog Cookie. Almost immediately things start to get weird. First the family’s pet bird Pyoko dies for no reason and then they begin to realize how empty the building is. Only 5 other units besides the caretakers are occupied and a few of them are already talking about moving. Still Misao and Tamao make friends with their neighbors the Inoues leading to the next strange thing. While playing in the basement with Kaori and her brother Tamao is injured even there was nothing she could have herself on. Cookie also acts aggressive while in the basement and soon after the children are forbidden from returning. While Teppei plays off the strange occurrences as coincidence Misao is less convinced. She’s heard from Eiko Inoue and the caretakers Mr. and Mrs. Tabata that around 20 years before an underground shopping mall was set the built where the 1920s era graveyard now stands. When the temple refused to move the remains from the graveyard the project fell through, but there still remained a hole and part of a road where the mall would have been. After another harrowing episode in the basement involving Teppei and the Tabatas the Inoue family decides they’ve had enough. They are lucky enough to escape even as something to tries to prevent them. The Tabatas soon follow leaving Teppei, Misao, Tamao, and Cookie alone. Soon now knowing the scope what has been happening Teppei’s brother Tatsuji and his wife Naomi arrive to help the family move. Soon the Central Plaza Mansion will be open again awaiting it’s next tenants.

Pros-Once Teppei and Misao realize something is wrong they don’t dawdle about trying to leave. It almost sounds like the death of Reiko Teppei’s first wife is part of what happens the family. The Inoue family and the Tabatas escape showing it isn’t impossible. The ads at the beginning and end of the book make me wonder if the owners of the building don’t know what’s happening or are complacent.

Cons-The word choice in the translation is kinda weird and is often over the top. The haunting isn’t fully explained.

Overall Rating-4.5/5

[hollizho]

Aerith from Final Fantasy VII 🌼

[myhikari21things]

Title-Getting Away With Murder

Author-Shari Lapena

Year of Publication-2026

Previously Read-N/A

Summary-Ted and Jill have been married for several years and have been enjoying a bougie lifestyle thanks to Ted’s inheritance. But when they find out the bulk of Ted’s money has been lost to bad investments they’re scrambling. At first they ask Ted’s older brother Greg for a loan and are promptly denied. Then they decide to get Greg out on his boat, ply him with champaign, and push him overboard. And everything goes according to plan. Until special agent Ramirez from the Coast Guard starts to sticking his nose in. Until Jill’s friend Lara starts to think the couple doesn’t look particularly grief stricken. Until a hidden camera is found in their living room catching the entire confession. Now Ted and Jill are scrambling again, but this time they don’t know who is after them. It could be the cameras were planted by Nadya the housekeeper, or Lara who waters the plants or her husband Ben, or John who Ted worked with briefly. Or Minerva who divorced Greg before his death. There’s too many options and Ted and Jill are ready to point the finger at anyone which leads to more death. In the end they might escape prison, but someone is still watching them.

Pros-Ted and Jill aren’t convicted, but won’t be able to live peacefully. Honestly all the other characters had some kind of motive and together brought down the main couple. The punchline that Greg was dying anyway and if Ted and Jill would have been patient they’d have gotten the money anyway.

Cons-Ted and Jill aren’t just incredibly greedy they’re incredibly stupid. So many side characters who had small roles. Things got a little too complicated.

Overall Rating-4/5

[myhikari21things]

Title-Grotesque

Author-Natsuo Kirino

Year of Publication-2003 (translated from Japanese 2007)

Previously Read-4/13/21

Summary-The unnamed older Hirata sister has always thought her younger sister Yuriko was a monster. Beautiful yes, but with something twisted underneath. She saw it when they were children living in Switzerland when Yuriko cozied up to their adult neighbor Johnson right under his wife’s nose. So disgusted is the older sister she convinces her parents to let her return to Japan for high school where she’ll live with her bonsai obsessed ex-convict grandfather. And so for a while she attends Q High School For Young Women life is good. Even though she has to deal with Kazue Sato who tries too hard to fit in with the popular girls like Mitsuru and has a love hate relationship with Hirata. As Hirata watches Kazue make a fool of herself she learns Yuriko is coming to Japan. And Hirata isn’t about to let her sister foil things. Did Hirata push Yuriko into her eventual life style of prostitution that led to her early death? Was Yuriko too twisted to save? Hirata tells one side of the story while Yuriko tells another of seducing her uncle at age 15 and later becoming friends with her classmate Kijima who essentially becomes her pimp and leads to their expulsion from school. Still Kazue tells another side about her own experiences on the streets where she meets Yuriko again while moonlighting as a prostitute despite having a good job. And there is one final player in the game. An illegal Chinese immigrant named Zhang who murdered Yuriko and is accused of murdering Kazue as well has his own tale of struggle in rural China and how he and his little sister got out only to be taken advantage of his sister’s eventual drowning. And as for Hirata who thinks she’s above Yuriko and Kazue will eventually be on the same level to please someone she loves and who she thinks loves her.

Pros-We get the perspective of Hirata, Yuriko, Kazue, and Zhang but there’s the on going question of who is telling the truth. None of these characters are really likable, but they’re sure are interesting. This was a dark disturbing book, but didn’t slip into being ridiculous with the situations. Of course Yuriko’s son would be Yurio which only different by one character. The ambiguous ending.

Cons-Content Warning: graphic sexual content some of which involves a minor, eating disorders, bullying, and prostitution. We never learn big sister Hirata’s name.

Overall Rating-5/5

[myhikari21things]

Title-Fishbone Cinderella

Author-Elizabeth Lim

Year of Publication-2026

Previously Read-N/A

Summary-When Yut Ying is only 7 years old the Japanese have invaded her village in rural China forcing her family to flee into the mountains. But when she has to return to find medicine for her brother Yut Ying's curse saves her life. Instead of the raiding Japanese soldiers finding and killing her (or worse) she vanishes into nothing. Knowing things aren't going to get easier her mother sends Yut Ying and one of her brothers to Hong Kong to live with their father and his second wife in their aunt's house. For the next eight years Yut Ying is treated as little more than a servant with her opium addled father doing nothing to protect her from her stepmother and aunt's tyranny. She has few comforts. One being a special bracelet from her mother, her younger half sister Lily, and Tommy whose grandfather runs a soy milk business. Yut Ying even models for the company to earn money to run away becoming Helen of Soy. But of course Yut Ying isn't living a fairy tale. Tommy claims to love her, but marries someone else so he can inherit the company and Lily dies of pneumonia. And when Yut Ying now calling herself Helen escapes the house she accidentally leaves her shadow behind. Decades later now living in San Francisco with her family Marigold the second daughter of Helen and Philip begins to wonder if she hallucinated seeing her mother disappear on more than one occasion. With the help of Kenji a one time enemy and now friend Marigold begins to dig into her mother's past and maybe she can undo the family curse.

Pros-Has plenty of Cinderella references, but isn't a retelling. Lots of back and forth in the timeline, but it's hard to get lost. The endpapers are very pretty. It's nice to see this author tackle historical fiction and I hope she does another story like this. Everything comes together at the end with the identity of the bracelet.

Cons-Content Warning: racism and abuse.

Overall Rating-5/5

[myhikari21things]

Title-The Midwich Cuckoos

Author-John Wyndham

Year of Publication-1957

Previously Read-1/23/25

Summary-In the tiny English village of Midwich a silver craft is seen in the sky and then disappears. At the same time all the inhabitants of Midwich fall into a 24 hour long sleep. When they awaken all the women regardless of age are pregnant. The pregnancies aren’t connected to the ship or the 24 hours of unconsciousness right away, but nine months later the Children are born. Both boys and girls have uniform blond hair and golden eyes and something uncanny about them. At first they are accepted as part of Midwich, but as the decade mark for Midwich’s Day Out begins to approach one of the husbands of a woman who got pregnant begins to suspect something diabolical. If one of the Children is injured even on accident the whole group will seek revenge. If one Child learns to swim they can all swim. And after some digging Zellaby discovers this didn’t just happen in Midwich. And the Children are getting stronger.

Pros-The title may not be exciting, but has a great reference in it. The Children definitely feel like a group and not individuals. When it’s discovered that Midwich wasn’t an isolated incident.

Cons-A lot of dialogue and very little anything else. Still not a fan of nameless narrators and this one doesn’t even contribute much.

Overall Rating-4.2/5

[myhikari21things]

Title-The Unknown

Author-Riley Sager

Year of Publication-2026

Previously Read-N/A

Summary-It’s 2026 and Marin who wants to be a movie star is going to an island off the coast of Vermont called New Avalon to be a movie about the mysterious disappearances of 5 women a century ago. In 1926 Daisy believes in ghosts and is on New Avalon to help her gift of communicating with the dead flourish. But in short order 3 of the other women with Daisy and an older woman Ruth Semple vanish leaving their clothes hanging in a thunderstruck tree. Back in the current day Marin isn’t getting along with all her costars and like a century before they begin to disappear leaving only their clothes in the tree. Marin is sure Daisy’s diary holds the answers to the disappearances and the identity of the mysterious Azra who Daisy claims was an evil spirit. Soon Marin will learn about evil when she’s left alone with Violet the only actress left and Ronan their director. Marin will learn the truth of what happened a century ago and what happened more recently to a woman named Eileen who Ronan claims is haunting him. Marin wants to be seen. And she’s going to get her wish.

Pros-Starts out as a fairly basic ghost story before taking a turn for more realistic terror. When Marin starts to put things together. Having the part with Daisy be a hundred years ago basically guarantees none of those characters would still be alive. The plot between Susie, Heather, Julianne, Loretta, Brad, and Violet was simple and effective.

Cons-Isolated on an island stories are a dime a dozen.

Overall Rating-4.5/5

[ilovemesomevincentprice]

Vincent Price, Peter Lorre, and Joyce Jameson playing with black cats during black cat auditions for the movie Tales of Terror - November 1961

[v0odo00]

First love / Late spring