Happy Monday, Boozie Book Nerds!

Friendly reminder that not all lives can matter until black lives do.

Ginny’s Update

What Ginny is Currently Reading:

• Anathem by Neal Stephenson: This book reminded me of Moby Dick in the sometimes endless descriptions of things. That being said, this book has some fabulous nuggets of what this book is going to be. Our main character is in a vaguely religious organization based around math. Still not sure what the main plot is going to be, and I’m 100 pages in, so take that as you will.
• Gearbreakers by Zoe Hana Mikuta: This is an interesting book about giant robots being used to protect a city, except this book is talking about the downside of any city having basically god-like abilities to smite their enemies. Our book follows Eris a “gearbreaker” who professionally cuts into and wrecks the robots and Sona who is a pilot that wants to take down the system from the inside. I’m looking forward to seeing where it’s going.

What Ginny Finished:

• Winter People by Jennifer McMahon: there’s a journal from 1908 that talks tangentially about necromancy, and then the other part of the book is the modern day trying to figure out what weird thing is happening in their small town. This book was delightfully eerie, and I’ve written a review already!
• The King of Attolia by Megan Wahlen Turner: This is the third book in the Queens Thief series, and it covers the beginning of Gen’s kingship of Attolia. I’m going to be honest, parts of it were hard to read because Gen was not easily accepted by his new people. It was just hard to see him in pain. But it was so much fun to get an outside view of how he acts. Man, I’m still loving this series.
• Home Again by Kristin Hannah: Basic idea is that the main character got pregnant at 16, baby daddy took a bribe from her dad and ran and became a movie star. Years later, he’s a famous actor in need of a heart transplant and she ends up being his cardiologist, meanwhile their daughter wants to know more about her father. I love Kristin Hannah but this is not the book I’d start with.
• Trail of Crumbs by Kim Sunee: Kim Sunee was abandoned in a market in Seoul, adopted by a couple in New Orleans, moved to stockholm, moved to France, and never felt like she belonged. This book is a fascinating look at how where we’ve come from shaped us, even when you don’t know where you’re from. It was beautifully written, but oof, parts of this book were hard to read (emotionally).

Minda’s Update

Visiting my parents and catching up with old friends in Ohio this week. Hoping to get some reading done before heading to Ohio’s party island this weekend!

What Minda Finished:

• Fireworks by Alice Lin (audio) – Lulu Li is excited about her last summer before college. But her plans go awry when her old friend and current K-pop boy band superstar Kite Xu arrives back in town in an air of mystery. This was super cute! Definitely read as fan fic, but sometimes that’s what you need.
• Misrule (Malice Duology #2) by Heather Walter – The second in the sapphic retelling of Sleeping Beauty, we pick up where we left off with Aurora under the sleeping curse and Alyce embracing her dark side and brainstorming how to wake her true love. Then quickly jump a century into the future where Alyce rules a dark court and Aurora continues her slumber. But Alyce is still determined to break the curse by whatever means necessary. This was a strong #2! Look forward to giving this one a review.

What Minda is Reading Now:

• Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett – “A curmudgeonly professor journeys to a small town in the far north to study faerie folklore and discovers dark fae magic, friendship, and love in the start of a heartwarming and enchanting new fantasy series.“ Excited to read this ARC! Thank you, Netgalley and Del Rey.

Sam’s Update

What Sam is Finished:

• The Other Merlin by Robin Schneider: This is the first in a series about what it would be like if Merlin had twins, a boy and a girl. The boy gets summoned to serve in Camelot and for whatever reason, he can’t go so she goes in his place. Obviously our faves are there, Uther, Arthur, Lancelot, Gawain, etc. and some of our not-so-recognizable characters like Ambrosius are there too. I liked this a lot, we’ll see what book 2 brings us!

What Sam is Currently Reading:

• Oculta by Maya Motayne: this is the sequel to Nocturnal. It’s a Spanish inspired fantasy story. Alfie is tryna make up for all the people who died from the Sombra attacks while also trying to prepare and host the scary white people for a peace summit. Then there’s Finn, who is tryna just live her life and forget about Alfie. I’m liking this a lot. Very sad it took me this long.
• The Bronzed Beasts by Roshani Chokshi: this is the last book in this series and I am listening on audio. Also sad I waited this long to read it.

Until next time, we remain forever drunkenly yours,

— Sam, Ginny, and Minda