Jess > Recent Status Updates

Just finished the intro and preface and I’m already inspired and crying. So that’s nice 🥲

Now why did Ahmed Aldoori’s intro make me emotional 🥺

Okay.. starting this again for real :)

I like this “habit stacking” idea. It seems to fit the flexibility I need, rather than having to commit to specific times and locations for each habit I want to introduce.

Mind blown. It’s been one chapter. I already have started changing the way I think about productivity. The dots are connecting. The planets are aligning. Good shit.

What an opening hook 😳

Great book! Beautiful prose. I wasn’t sure where the story would end with an immortal goddess and it caught me by surprise a bit. I liked the feminist angle! Looking forward to more by Madeline Miller!

117/698 - it suddenly dawned on me when Aaetus showed up that I actually do remember something about Circe. She’s the goddess of witchcraft!
Neat that all of Perse’s children have this gift. Can’t wait to see what happens next.
Oh and Glaucos just lived his best life all loosey goosey with partners and babies. The irony!

95/698 - NOOOOOO I knew Glaucos was going to be bad news 😩 I’m not familiar with Circe’s story so this is neat! But yeah.. Glaucos. Come on man.. how vain. I feel bad for Circe. It’s not her fault she’s so naive 🥺 I wonder if she’ll have a happy ending.. but Greek myths don’t have a lot of happy endings (from what I remember..)

Wait okay that was a really short book?! I started it around the ON trip and just finished. It felt more like a Christmas Special than a full novel?? Maybe that was the idea. I dunno. There’s some hooks keeping me going! Wasn’t expecting the new dynamic between the sisters. What will happen with the Ilyrian dissenters? The human lands? Whatever shadow Mor saw in the woods? Hmmm..

I STILL can’t decide if I love or hate this series. It’s both. I guess now I’m invested in Lucien x Elain and Cassian x Nesta. But where does the conflict come from next? The queens? Other… people? The ending was kind of wrapped up quickly and neatly without a hook like the previous two books. Not sure. Gonna take a break and read Song of Achilles though!

Unmmmmk WOW! What a great rollercoaster of an ending! Again! Maas is very good at that! Some slight internalized misogyny slipped out and spoiled the mood a bit.. “couldn’t let you females have all the glory…” Bleh. But once again, exciting plot! Was not expecting the twist with Amren and Rhys. Also things I forgot about coming back into play. Lucien, firebird queen, Feyre’s father, etc. Love that.

Look. The slow burn between Feyre and Rhysand was so good but now that they’re together it just feels like the internalized misogyny?? And toxic masculinity maybe??? Are really coming out???!?!?! Whyyyyyy

I mean what has Twilight done to romance in fiction? Damn. This gets so Twilighty! Is there post-Twilight fantasy with romance written from woman’s perspective that doesn’t feel cliche or reinforce gender roles and stereotypes??! Help??!?! I just want to know if they defeat the evil king 😩

There’s some.. interesting descriptive choices in these books that I feel weird about. “Purely male gleam”. What is that?? There’s gotta be a better way to describe that mood? Why gender? I think this whole breeding/mating bond scheme puts me off. Not the action but the choice of language, maybe? Please stop saying “mate, male, female”. Plot is still interesting enough for me to overcome the cringe.

That said.. there is certainly still some cringe but.. I don’t know. I’m overall entertained. Much like the first book, I’m hooked enough to want to keep going and find out what happens. I hope I’m not disappointed.. we shall see!

Dammit. I messed up and lost my notes on the last book. I’ll try to remember here:
It was a very fun read! Much better than the first one. Rhysand is my fave. I did not see the ending coming but now I recognize the clues leading up to it. Can’t wait to keep going! I’m hooked.

Before I begin I just want to mention that the first book was perhaps the most mediocre book I’ve ever read that I couldn’t put down. I hated it and loved it. It’s bizarre. And I am compelled to continue on.

Sigh.

Am I attempting to read three books at once? Yes.

Ahhh!! Was worried Strife had died 😩 but they’re okay for now. Forest guardians sound neat.
/ [Three Trees to Midnight]

[Three Trees to Midnight]
Silver-haired elf huh 👀

Okay well now I’m worried about Aron.. and Cal is seeming like a much more well-adjusted human? Hmmmmm..

Abra had some fantastic insight on Aron — he has some serious mommy issues 😬

OK SO! Cal got rounded up and jailed for hanging out at a gambling parlour but it turned out to be a huge blessing!

He connected with Adam, who finally had an epiphany that he didn’t know his sons at all.

Cal encountered Kate, which I was super worried about.. but he realized some important things about himself and that he is not doomed to the same fate as his mother!

I feel more hopeful about the ending.

The twins are getting older and Cal has learned the truth about Kate. His reaction was much more pure than I was expecting.

These Trasks have me worried about all of them 😩 I still feel like the ending will be tragic.

Oh mannn I was not looking forward to saying goodbye to Lee! Pleasantly surprised he is back!

Ohh this book is sad as heck! The Hamiltons.. Dessie and Tom. How heartbreaking.

We finally got to know Cal and Aron better and just like the book was foreshadowing, they are very much like their father and uncle. Or Cain and Abel.

The twist with Charles passing away right before Adam finally decided to write him.. so sad! What a sad book.

Wanted to add:
- Adam did go confront Cathy/Kate in Salinas and the spell was finally broken for him. She doesn’t hold power over him anymore. Really happy to see that! But he seems like such a tragic character, I can’t help but feel like he doesn’t have a happy ending?
- Samuel passed away and I’m going to miss him! Curious if his family will stay intwined with the Trasks.

Been a long time since I last read but here’s where I’m jumping in today.
In the aftermath of Samuel’s funeral, Lee told Adam he wants to leave and give his dream of owning a bookshop a real shot.

Adam finally knows about “Kate” in Salinas... I’m worried about him but excited to see what happens if he goes to see her.