welcome to my apparently sixteen year old blog. i'm bells. I love music and books, and I pretty much reblog things that make me happy, mostly pretty pictures. I am the unfortunate age between 30 and 40 that no one likes to fess up to. at this point i'm about 98% gay.
my 2026 reads are under the cut. I update this as I finish books.
Mistborn - finished 1/3. technically read the bulk of this in 2025. a fantastic book. I do feel like he tends to go on for a while with less action, building towards a very dramatic end. that seems to be the sanderson way. (finished 1/3)
a psalm for the wild-built - absolutely stunning little book. I want to live in the pages. it gives stray, it gives outer wilds. (finished 1/4)
the butcher of the forest - surreal, brutal and gorgeous. (finished 1/10)
the prayer for the crown shy - I love the moment in each book when the reader discovers what the title means. still beautiful. (finished 1/12)
the well of ascension - finally finished this one. it felt a little meandery in the way second books in trilogies often do, because the characters themselves are kind of like, what now? I liked the twist with whatever the evil force Vin released literally changing the text to fit the narrative best suited to free it. (finished 1/26)
the mammoths at the gate - fourth in the singing hills cycle by nghi vo. this one was heartbreaking in the best way. it was so nice to be reacquainted with Almost Brilliant, as well as to meet her new young one, Chiep (finished 1/27)
brides of high hall - fifth in the singing hills cycle. this one had a great twist, and was properly spooky. (finished 1/28)
stardust - kind of regretting picking up a gaiman novel, but at least it was just through the library. it was a sweet little book. (finished 1/30)
the princess diaries - i was watching the film recently and decided to read the book. it was cute but I do like the movie better. (finished 2/4)
mary poppins - my eldest nieces were in a jr production of the musical through their school and I was curious how the original story lined up with the musical vs the movie. I adore the movie. it was a cute read. I don't have any great desire to read the rest. (finished 2/5)
the hero of ages - holy shit what a way to finish the trilogy. the way everything ties together is nothing short of masterful. (finished 2/11)
six crimson cranes - MAN this book was gorgeous. I feel like I've already read some of my favorite books of all time just in the last month and a half. STUNNING. no notes, except I wish the final villain was introduced a little earlier to add to the overall impact. I had to hug this book to my chest when I finished. (finished 2/15)
to be taught, if fortunate - a very interesting little novella. in turns beautiful, hopeful, cozy, distressing. (finished 2/16)
her radiant curse - a beautiful prequel that expands upon the backstory of the mysterious raikama and makes me excited for the sequel. (finished 2/20)
the alloy of law - i actually really liked this one. sanderson didn't pussyfoot around like he does sometimes, and it was action packed from the drop. I really like the characters of Wax and Wayne. I love how the characters from the OG mistborn trilogy are intertwined. The Lord Mistborn is Spook? Wax is a descendant of Breeze? Ranette named the gun Vindication? chef's kiss. (finished 2/23)
priory of the orange tree - holy shit. HOLY SHIT. I have tears in my eyes. what an incredible tale. so epic and huge in scope and scale. and it's done so well. i'm glad that niclays got his redemption. i'm glad that tané got to be a dragonrider again (not that she ever wasn't). it was kind of confusing at the start, with the sheer number of names and places thrown at you. I consulted the maps at the beginning of the book SO many times. easily one of the best books I've ever read. (finished 3/12)
fable for the end of the world - this was fine. I liked it. it was a nice little story set in a somewhat post apocalyptic world about two girls falling in love despite massive obstacles (one is supposed to kill the other. (finished 3/14)
the city in glass - this was dreamy and beautiful. nghi vo never misses. (finished 3/16)
project hail mary - what a great book. it was a little too scientific for me, but the core story was great. I love the friendship that formed between Grace and Rocky, and he got to be a teacher again, despite everything. (finished 3/24)
a mouthful of dust - the final (for now) book in the singing hills cycle. this one was spooky and sad. (finished 3/26)
shadows of self - i liked the lore from the first trilogy in this book, and it was nice to see tensoon again! excited for the next one (finished 3/31)
the chosen and the beautiful - an interesting take on a book i have no memory of reading. it makes me want to reread the great gatsby. (finished 4/3)
don't sleep with the dead - eh, it was fine. (finished 4/3)
the dragon's promise - wow. wow wow wow. I had to hug this book to my chest when I finished. I still have tears in my eyes. what an incredible tale of love, bravery, family, and following your heart. (finished 4/7)
hamnet - ooh I cried. I knew I would cry and still i read it. what a gorgeous book. (finished 4/11)
the bands of mourning - very compelling work. I want to immediately read mistborn: secret history. one more in this series. (finished 4/19)
dungeon crawler carl - I am now shocked at the seemingly large number of people who are so passionate about these books. it was good, sure. laugh out loud funny at times. but it was also so unbelievably, genuinely fucked up in a way that makes me want to stay as far away from the rest of the series as physically possible. (finished 4/25)
mistborn secret history - this was a fascinating little book that made me want to reread mistborn. (finished 5/1)
the lost metal - this one was GOOD. I very much enjoyed this one. I laughed out loud quite a bit at Wayne's antics, and I love how much all of the characters have grown into themselves, especially Marasi and Steris. (finished 5/20)
29 books finished
currently reading: all systems red
up next: probably the sword of kaigen
