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say what now!?

I'm so happy I'm liking this. I was super worried about the average rating (currently a 3.38), but I think it just hasn't found its audience yet.

This . . . is not historical fiction. For several reasons. King Arthur was real. And dragons???? I mean I know there's one on the cover but I didn't think about it much.

This is a thriller wearing horror clothing!!!!

I love listening to Ray Porter do his thing. Which reminds me, I need to re-read Project Hail Mary very soon.

I am finding this dull so far. Maybe it will turn around?

I'm also guessing most fantasy readers who have hated this didn't read the blurb altogether, or skipped that part (in the first sentence) that said it was "literary fiction."

This is interesting. I'm not sure I *like* it, but it's more than holding my attention. None of the reviews noting how miserable this character is and citing it as a reason for a low rating have talked about how that's the point. He knows he's miserable, and he's figuring out why.

That's a lady goblin on the front! If you look real close you can see her longer eyelashes.

Forgot my current book at work so starting a new one!

Farscape mention!

A 32GB iPhone 4 😂😂 cute

I can understand the Middle English (pretty sure it's Middle not Old English, which is too different even for me)! Good to know if I got sucked back in time I'd at least be able to understand the locals.

Oh, wow, this has terrible reviews. I've really been looking forward to this so I'm going in with an open mind. But WOW.

"The Long Way Round" — A story set in a world that Novik is exploring bc she's writing her next epic fantasy series in it. This story and these characters won't have much bearing on whatever she publishes but it was a really interesting time! It's cool that she worldbuilds by telling stories. 4/5 stars

"Castle Coeurlieu" — This one was freaky. I'm not sure how I feel about it, but I do wish it had been a little less ambiguous. 4/5 stars

"Dragons & Decorum" — Naomi Novik fanfics the entirety of Pride and Prejudice into the world of Temeraire. The emotional whammy of Darcy and Elizabeth's relationship suffered a bit, but everything else was SO FUN. She did the dragons + P&P concept much better than a full novel (and two sequels!) I read a few years back, and in only 50 pages. 4.5/5 stars

But Angharad is an awesome name! Or maybe I've seen Fury Road too many times.

Why must I be at work?? Gabriel is about to find out why the church is locked, and I want to know who invented the mouse.

A guy named Bob (Bob Peterson!) in a secondary world fantasy novel???

Tonally, this feels like a cross between the Lioness books by Tamora Pierce, and the Vorkosigan saga (particularly the ones following Cordelia).

I may love this already: historical mystery in a new and interesting setting, a neurodivergent protagonist, an unlikely friendship dynamic, clever writing, and a murder to solve. What is NOT to love??

"'Crikey, sir!' said Wright. 'The books!'

'Do you feel there are too many?' [Gabriel] said. 'They accumulate, you see, and I like to revisit them.'

'I like them,' said Constable Wright unexpectedly. 'They give me a funny feeling. All those people who have learned things over hundreds of years and written them down.'

This audiobook is rough. It's from 1982 and was barely edited (mouth sounds and pauses left in). Also fairly certain it's not songwriter Diane Warren, although there is zero info on who this narrator actually is. I DID learn that songwriter Diane Warren is autistic and aromantic!

Switching over to audio bc I can't make myself pick up the physical book. Found it on Libby, narrated by Diane Warren? like, *the* Diane Warren, of "Because You Loved Me" and "If I Could Turn Back Time" fame? I will report back if it is her. It's probably not.