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H.J.’s Year In Books

H.J.’s 2025 Year in Books

Take a look at H.J.’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.

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H.J. Swinford’s Followers (70)

H.J.’s Bookshelves

to-read (1006)
currently-reading (3)
read (1744)
did-not-finish (12)
on-pause (9)
1001-lifetime-must-reads (175)
a-bit-of-cringe (13)
aliens (58)
alternate-history (33)
american-girl (20)
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H.J.’s Friends (307)

Nico

1,626 books | 126 friends

Samwise Gamgee

131 books | 176 friends

Reverie

270 books | 70 friends

RavenNoir

1,703 books | 31 friends

Snezana

1,433 books | 215 friends

Minti

918 books | 56 friends

Crouton

164 books | 88 friends

Reiemye (inactive)

5,077 books | 31 friends

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2026 Reading Challenge

2026

READING

CHALLENGE

H.J. Swinford has read 90 of 225 books.

40%

H.J. Swinford

Goodreads Author

Born

in The United States

Website

http://www.hjswinford.com

Twitter

hayleejalyn

Genre

Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction

Influences

Ray Bradbury
T. Kingfisher
Becky Chambers
John Steinbeck
Robert Jordan
Bran ...more

Member Since

January 2008

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/hayleejalyn

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I am a writer, dreamer, reader, runner, knitter, mom, a cancer survivor, and a coffee addict. I collect extra children as both a hobby and a career, and have anywhere from three to eleven attempting to take over my house at any given moment. My husband and I live near the mountains of Colorado with our horde of children and our two dogs.

19 posts
H.J. Swinford's Blog

Chapter Eight is Up!

The eighth chapter of my current Web Comic, Chosen Ones Anonymous, was just posted. You can read it, or binge the series so-far here.

I intend to give each “episode” ten chapters, this current episode is “Amid the Roar.” This is, of course, my structure plan going in and might be tweaked here and there as the story requires.

Come join alone on the adventure! Things are just starting to amp up.

Combine Editions
H.J. Swinford’s books

Average rating: 4.78 · 9 ratings · 3 reviews · 3 distinct works

	The One Who Lives it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 6 ratings — published 2013 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Thirteenth 4.33 avg rating — 3 ratings — published 2013	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Part 2: Breaking Hope 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — published 2013	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

* Note: these are all the books on Goodreads for this author. To add more, click here.

Series by H.J. Swinford

The Acaethian Chronicles (2 books)
by

H.J. Swinford (Goodreads Author)

4.78 avg rating — 9 ratings

H.J. is Currently Reading

H.J. Swinford is currently reading

The Strange Bird: A Borne Story (Borne, #1.5)

by Jeff Vandermeer (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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8 hours, 9 min ago

H.J. Swinford is currently reading

Nightmare Alley

by William Lindsay Gresham

bookshelves: currently-reading

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21 hours, 7 min ago

H.J. Swinford is currently reading

Ice

by Jacek Dukaj

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Apr 07, 2026 08:38PM

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H.J.’s Recent Updates

H.J. Swinford is currently reading The Strange Bird: A Borne Story (Borne, #1.5) by Jeff Vandermeer (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8 hours, 9 min ago · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Strange Bird by Jeff Vandermeer. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Strange Bird by Jeff Vandermeer <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
H.J. Swinford liked Nico’s status update Nico started reading The Raven Scholar (Eternal Path Trilogy, #1)
14 hours, 15 min ago
H.J. Swinford and 1 other person liked Samwise’s status update Samwise Gamgee is currently reading Slow Gods
15 hours, 41 min ago · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Slow Gods by Claire North. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Slow Gods by Claire North <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
H.J. Swinford and 1 other person liked Mina’s status update Mina is currently reading I Gave You Eyes and You Looked Toward Darkness
15 hours, 42 min ago · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of I Gave You Eyes and You Looked Toward Darkness by Irene Solà. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — I Gave You Eyes and You Looked Toward Darkness by Irene Solà <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
H.J. Swinford wants to read Fire from Heaven (Alexander the Great, #1) by Mary Renault	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
20 hours, 6 min ago · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Fire from Heaven by Mary Renault. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Fire from Heaven by Mary Renault <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
H.J. Swinford is currently reading Nightmare Alley by William Lindsay Gresham	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
21 hours, 7 min ago · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Nightmare Alley by William Lindsay Gresham. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Nightmare Alley by William Lindsay Gresham <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
H.J. Swinford rated a book it was ok Artemis by Andy Weir (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
1.5 stars The Martian: 5 stars Project Hail Mary: 5 stars Artemis: WTF I've always heard negative to lukewarm reviews of this one. But in general, if a genre/concept seems promising, I really want to give a book my own chance. Well, the consensus is pre ...more
21 hours, 32 min ago · 2 likes · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Artemis by Andy Weir. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Artemis by Andy Weir <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
H.J. Swinford rated a book really liked it Six-Gun Snow White by Catherynne M. Valente (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4.25 stars I'm not sure why this very silly concept works so well....except that I am and it's because Catherynne Valente did it. At this point, I'd trust this woman with any concept. ...more
May 02, 2026 06:56AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Six-Gun Snow White by Catherynne M. Valente. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Six-Gun Snow White by Catherynne M. Valente <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
H.J. Swinford is now following Jeff Vandermeer Author of Annihilation (Southern Reach, #1)
May 01, 2026 11:05AM · like
H.J. Swinford is currently reading Artemis by Andy Weir (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 01, 2026 09:28AM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Artemis by Andy Weir. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Artemis by Andy Weir <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

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H.J.’s Quotes

“You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you.”
― Ray Bradbury, Zen in the Art of Writing: Releasing the Creative Genius Within You

tags: writing

6448 likes

“We are cups, constantly and quietly being filled. The trick is, knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out.”
― Ray Bradbury

3674 likes

“I do not want people to be very agreeable, as it saves me the trouble of liking them a great deal.”
― Jane Austen, Jane Austen's Letters

tags: friends, humor, people

9003 likes

“I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book! -- When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.”
― Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

tags: books, library, reading

20751 likes

“Silly things do cease to be silly if they are done by sensible people in an impudent way.”
― Jane Austen, Emma

2475 likes

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