I’m throwing some tendrils to the wind to do a quick interest check.
Who wants to see the blog active again?
Who would be interested in an actuallygt discord server (complete with pronoun roles and potentially - roles for additional bits of info for users who want to share it - want to share that you’re actuallyadhd too? ask for a role!)? I happen to have one I got halfway through setting up, sitting in limbo on my discord, ready to be put into use should it be something others find useful.
Alternatively, and perhaps the idea I like more, is if the discord were a general discord for neurodivergent folks of all walks, not just GT folks. What do you all think of it? actually___ roles available for members, for whichever of the communities you wish to have them for.
Thoughts? Suggestions? Info I should really look into getting posted up on that blog? Toss them my way!
Admin Shan Cade
(P.S., I’ve changed my sign-off, but it’s still me! I just have changed the nickname I go by, and also have changed to they pronouns - but if you slip or use she pronouns once in a while I won’t hold it against you.)
Admin Cade is baaack. Still kind of odd to refer to myself like that, but eh that’s neither here nor there. Anyway, I ordered five books from Thriftbooks.com, and four of the five are here (they send the books separately, based on where they have them). Since the tracking info for the last one hasn’t really updated, I decided to go ahead and to a review on the conditions of the books I do have.
I placed an order through the website on July 16th, and received an email the next day saying that my order has shipped. Tbh my slow self didn’t quiiite understand how mail works but hey I got that cleared up. The website says shipping takes 4-8 business days, and I recieved 4 of 5 books five days after placing my order (the fifth says it’s been received by the shipping partner, but still not much of an update.) Also, I got this random hardcover book I definitely didn’t order?? Yeah, I’ll be sending them an email within the next few days.
Anyway, let’s get into the books!
The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
This book has been on my TBR list since sometime last year, and I’m so fucking excited that it’s here.
Back cover synopsis:
Meghan Chase has secret destiny she could never have imagined…
Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan’s life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school...or at home.
When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she’s known is about to change.
But she could never have guessed the truth- that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she’ll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face...and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.
Y’all I can’t even say how hyped I am for this book, I love fae and faeries sooo much.
The book is bent in the middle, as I hope you can see from the last image. There’s also a bit of dirt here and there, but all in all nothing too bad. Plus, no strange odors so that’s great. There’s a couple of stickers on the spine but they seem easy enough to get off. I can also tell where there was adhesive left over from a sticker on the cover- there’s a bit of dirt stuck to it that doesn’t seem like it’ll be coming off as easy as the stickers.
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
Back cover synopsis:
Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.
In a dark and dusty shop, a devil’s supply of human teeth grows dangerously low.
And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherworldly war.
Out of all the books, I think Daughter of Smoke and Bone is in the best shape. There are a couple of stickers, as well as a small bit of wear on the inside cover (third photo). A couple of the pages have been dog-eared, but they’re not starting to wear thin or anything like that.
The Cure for Dreaming by Cat Winters
Back cover synopsis (well, inside cover):
Olivia Mead’s father wants to eliminate her rebellious thoughts. But the hypnotist he hires to stamp out her independence ends up giving her a gift: the ability to see people as they really are.
Monsters. Victims. Madmen. Friends.
Terrifying and enlightening , Olivia’s visions tell her who is trustworthy and who is dangerous. But only she can find a way to make her mind her own again.
This was another one I was excited for- I read In the Shadow of Blackbirds a few years ago and I absolutely loved it. If I’m being honest it made me cry a little, but I’m a crier anyway.
The dust jacket for this book looks like it’s been cut (along with a few of the pages inside, but nothing of importance as far as I can tell). The jacket doesn’t bother me all that much because the spine and lettering of the hardcover are absolutely beautiful. However, in the process of removing the dust jacket, my dumb self also managed to tear the parts of the inside it was attached to. Totally crying on the inside, not going to lie.
Cleopatra’s Daughter by Michelle Moran
Back cover synopsis:
The marriage of Marc Antony and Cleopatra is one of the greatest love stories of all time. Feared and hunted by the powers in Rome, the lovers choose to die by their own hands as the triumphant armies of Antony’s rival, Octavian, sweep into Rome. When their orphaned children are taken in chains to Rome, only two- the ten-year-old twins Selene and Alexander- survive the journey. As they come of age, they are buffeted by the personal ambitions of Octavian’s family and court, by the ever-present threat of slave rebellion, and by the longings deep within their own hearts.
Y’all. I fucking loved her work The Heretic Queen. I swear this woman is a Goddess when describing shit.
I’m not sure how well you’ll be able to see it, but on more than a few pages it looks like something’s been spilt? Or rubbed onto the pages, I have absolutely no clue. Aside from that and a few dog eared pages though, everything looks good.
The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
I was so confused?? This is definitely not one of the books I ordered. I don’t even know wtf this is other than a translation of a Russian book.
I think I’ll be using Thriftbooks more in the future. For how cheap most of the books are, I don’t really mind stains and things. Whatever it takes to read and not be broke lmaoo.
I’ll post either a small update or include the missing book in a future Thriftbooks haul, depending on when I plan on buying from them again.
Lately Admin Inky and I have been a little out of sorts (Admin Inky has been vacationing until recently and had some teeth pulled, and I started a new job after a year of unemployment).
We both have a love of reading, though, so we'll definitely be back shortly ✌
What you can look forward to from me (I'm not sure as to what Admin Inky plans to do and what we'll be collaborating on):
Admin Cade's Top Fic Recs
The top 5 fics (in my opinion) of the fandoms I'm currently in.
Thriftbooks book haul
I recently ordered six books from Thriftbooks.com, which will be arriving within the next week.
City of Bones book review
I've finally started reading this and shoould be done within the next couple of days (in between binge watching The Originals).
It's also my first time book tabbing, and I plan on including a post with pictures and a description of my system.
Creepy it cool 😎 (is that cringy? Maybe a little).
My goal for this month is to read 8 books (I’m a little behind in my Goodreads challenge + if I don’t try to challenge myself, I’ll probably fall into another book slump tbh. Feel free to message us with your TBRs or if you see a book on this list that you yourself have read! Admin Inky is still on vacay, but I’d love to talk about these books once I’ve finished them (I’ll be posting updates to check off the ones I’ve read throughout the month, just to make it a bit easier).
1. City of Bones- Cassandra Clare (The Mortal Instruments #1)
I’ve had the first two books of this series for years (a friend of mine gave them to me in middle school). I know there are a lot of fans of it, so I’ll be starting there this month.
2. City of Ashes- Cassandra Clare (The Mortal Instruments #2)
This one has been added for the same reason as the first lmao.
3. The Night Circus- Erin Morgenstern
The cover art is absolutely beautiful, and I’ve heard nothing but good things for The Night Circus.
4. Imaginary Girls- Nova Ren Suma
I think half of this TBR is just me trying to get through some of the paperbacks in my collection that I’ve yet to read/complete. Hopefully I’ll enjoy all of them, I’m not particularly picky, I don’t think?
5. A Kingdom of Exiles- S.B. Nova (Outcast #1)
Admin Inky and I are currently sharing a free trial for Kindle Unlimited, so the last few ones on my TBR with be me shamelessly taking advantage of that.
6. Daughters of the Dragon- William Andrews
7. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone- J.K. Rowling
And Admin Cade thought to them self- as a Harry Potter fan, what could go wrong?
8. The Roses of May- Dot Hutchinson (The Collector #2)
The first was a solid 3-4 out of 5 (I can’t remember exactly at the moment, but yeah), so why not try the next one?
