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Jess
Jess is on page 240 of 451 of Lucy Undying
-Iris is still my least fav POV, although we did learn a lot about her weird family history/company. Was her mom a vampire? ig that’d explain why it was tough for her to conceive (she’s undead) & wanted Iris’s eggs. Iris used silver in her heart to keep her dead. I’m not sure how the “weak to cold” works out supernaturally. Goldaming Life could be keeping people “youthful” by slowly vampirizing them?
17 hours, 16 min ago Add a comment
Lucy Undying

Jess
Jess is on page 240 of 451 of Lucy Undying
-I got a little bored bc there was not much tension. But where I stopped today, I feel satisfied! I keep thinking we’re getting to the end of Lucy’s diary POV, but not yet. Her mother’s still alive, Mina is cold & married, Dracula’s been feeding on/gradually turning Lucy. I like transcript Lucy’s side quests; it reminds me of the small storylines sprinkled throughout South of Midnight, which I just played-
17 hours, 18 min ago Add a comment
Lucy Undying

Jess
Jess is on page 240 of 451 of Lucy Undying
I like Lucy’s transcript sections, where we get to spend little eras in different settings with different vampires. Thankfully, the corny humor in Iris’s section has toned down a bit. I suppose the 3 different POVs/plot lines compensate for the lack of defined plot structure. There’s not much of an outline, we’re just witnessing a series of events. I read a lot today, & towards the start of my reading today-
17 hours, 20 min ago Add a comment
Lucy Undying

Jess
Jess is 10% done with The Iliad: A New Translation by Caroline Alexander
This is my current progression… I just figured out how to see percentages in the audiobook. 🧑🏻‍🦲
23 hours, 55 min ago Add a comment
The Iliad: A New Translation by Caroline Alexander

Jess
Jess is 20% done with The Iliad: A New Translation by Caroline Alexander
—the civilians, women, & children who are massacred as collateral damage or forced into labor or sex slavery. But I digress! I suppose this was a philosophical revelation for the time, lol.
Jun 04, 2026 07:42PM Add a comment
The Iliad: A New Translation by Caroline Alexander

Jess
Jess is 20% done with The Iliad: A New Translation by Caroline Alexander
—contextualizes Hera, is intriguing. It’s similar to how Athena is often referred to as gray eyed, but a little more odd to understand. Are they just calling her pale? 😭 I’m enjoying hearing Achilles’s sassy, melodramatic behavior & Agamemnon’s temper tantrums. As mentioned in the intro, this text is certainly anti-war. Of course, it seems to give more sympathy to the men who “have to fight” than—
Jun 04, 2026 07:41PM Add a comment
The Iliad: A New Translation by Caroline Alexander

Jess
Jess is 20% done with The Iliad: A New Translation by Caroline Alexander
It was important to me to read a translation by a woman, as history & its texts are often interpreted with such bias. It’s cool how editors/translators most feel such a kinship with other editors/translators across history as they review their work to create an updated edition. I appreciate her dedication to accessibility; a passion & value we share! Moreover, I think the term “white-armed,” which often—
Jun 04, 2026 07:39PM Add a comment
The Iliad: A New Translation by Caroline Alexander

Jess
Jess is starting The Iliad: A New Translation by Caroline Alexander
[about halfway through chapter 3] I’m listening to the audiobook, though I don’t see that edition as a selection in Goodreads. The introduction had a lot of good information, though ofc it was a lot to digest! It was interesting to learn about how Homer influenced poetry & literature as a whole, whether he intended to or not. I didn’t realize the Iliad had almost 16,000 lines! I’m enjoying the narrator so far
Jun 04, 2026 07:36PM Add a comment
The Iliad: A New Translation by Caroline Alexander

Jess
Jess is on page 114 of 451 of Lucy Undying
—Iris’s character seems straight from a Life Is Strange game. She listens to boygenius 🤓 I’m reading a vampire novel! This stuff completely takes me out of the immersion/world-building from Lucy’s POV. It also particularly bugs me bc I go out of my way to avoid YA novels bc the character’s dilemmas & dialogue are sooo corny to me as a grown ass woman (something Iris is supposed to be). But here we are!
Jun 04, 2026 06:43PM Add a comment
Lucy Undying

Jess
Jess is on page 114 of 451 of Lucy Undying
—Lucy’s transcript POV. In summary, I’m enjoying both of Lucy’s POVs greatly, but dread Iris’s a bit. Not only bc it’s cringe inducing, but also bc I hate to see people my age depicted as bumbling buffoons. We’re capable of being mature, intelligent, well-spoken with extensive vocabulary.—
Jun 04, 2026 06:41PM Add a comment
Lucy Undying

Jess
Jess is on page 114 of 451 of Lucy Undying
—are still in May, before she’s turned. Maybe 8/8 is the date of her turning into a vampire? But this brings back up the question of how Iris’s is connected to Lucy; the house, the date. Iris’s family is obviously connected to the supernatural somehow, she knows about shapeshifting animals & murdered her mother, plus there was the story about the man/vampire she invited in. We just met a vampire doctor in—
Jun 04, 2026 06:38PM Add a comment
Lucy Undying

Jess
Jess is on page 114 of 451 of Lucy Undying
—As an alt woman, absolutely no one even close to being goth would say that. She’s also incredibly head over heels for Elle (Lucy), who she just met, & it’s giving immature schoolgirl crush. The other two Lucy POVs I’m totally fine with, & find interesting. But Iris? Not so much. Also, the safe code: 8-8-1890. Most certainly a special date, given that one of Lucy’s POVs takes place in 1890. rn her POVs—
Jun 04, 2026 06:35PM Add a comment
Lucy Undying

Jess
Jess is on page 114 of 451 of Lucy Undying
Since this is a coming of age story, I’d imagine Iris is meant to be around my age (early-mid twenties). But this novel is obviously written by someone much older than that, because Iris’s sections are so cheesy to me. Her humor & inner narration are especially corny. I like the humor from Lucy’s sections. But the jokes & puns from Iris… Foxated? Really? She’d describe her makeup as casual goth?—
Jun 04, 2026 06:33PM Add a comment
Lucy Undying

Jess
Jess is on page 46 of 451 of Lucy Undying
We’ve discovered that Iris’s inherited house is connected to Lucy… it was her old house 🕵🏻‍♀️ didn’t get much time to read today lol but thankfully these chapters are short! I like that, but it also means switching between POVs very often, which I imagine may be jarring for some other readers
Jun 03, 2026 12:02PM Add a comment
Lucy Undying

Jess
Jess is on page 37 of 451 of Lucy Undying
Interesting so far! There are 3 consistent POVs; Lucy in the past (diaries), Lucy in the present (-ish, in a convo with a therapist), & Iris in the present. There’s a surprising amount of humor (which I’ve liked). I suppose the 2 Lucy POVs help give us more insight into her character/personality/motives/background. It’s a good bit to keep up with, but I don’t think it’s lost me yet.
Jun 02, 2026 08:15PM Add a comment
Lucy Undying

Jess
Jess is on page 167 of 180 of The Oblivion Bride
—to it. I think this book executed themes of grief well; how the emotions can feel like too much, depressive episodes, not wanting to burden/stress others with your hurting, etc. I believe some of Lorelei’s curse can be viewed as a metaphor for grief & one’s responses for it. All in all, wonderful wlw & drama 💌
Jun 01, 2026 12:33PM Add a comment
The Oblivion Bride

Jess
Jess is on page 167 of 180 of The Oblivion Bride
—The ending was a tad confusing at first, but from what I gathered, Nephele & Lorelei discovered magic could be harnessed from the fetus/future child echo? & they destroyed magic altogether, making the wastelands in between city states not dangerous anymore & also depleting Nephele’s magic abilities. Additionally, I think grief was portrayed well in Lorelei’s character & I liked how Nephele grew to respond—
Jun 01, 2026 12:31PM Add a comment
The Oblivion Bride

Jess
Jess is on page 167 of 180 of The Oblivion Bride
I really liked this one, the romance worked for me bc of how willing the two characters were to accommodate one another, despite having different personalities & experiences. It’s a novella, so the world building isn’t terribly complex, but I think it made sense for what it was & was also engaging. I loved the dramatic lesbians! Both Lorelei & Nephele were characters I could understand & connect with—
Jun 01, 2026 12:29PM Add a comment
The Oblivion Bride

Jess
Jess is on page 67 of 180 of The Oblivion Bride
Caitlin Starling has perfected writing lesbian yearning, emotional battles, & listening in order to meet each others needs 🧘🏻‍♀️ No notes 🦭
May 31, 2026 08:51PM Add a comment
The Oblivion Bride

Jess
Jess is on page 33 of 180 of The Oblivion Bride
—her character if we didn’t have that insight. This is my first Starling book with multiple POVs; they seem distinct so far. Lorelei is definitely a character one can sympathize with, considering her grief & lack of agency, something nobody wants to experience. The mystery behind the magic curse is also intriguing, though we don’t know much about it yet.
May 30, 2026 09:31PM Add a comment
The Oblivion Bride

Jess
Jess is on page 33 of 180 of The Oblivion Bride
Interesting so far; I always appreciate how Starling jumps straight into the story, allowing the reader to piece together the exposition/context for themselves rather than info dumping. We learn the characters personalities & behaviors through some narration, but also directly through witnessing their actions. Very refreshing. I’m glad we see that Nephele does empathize with Lorelei, it’d be easy to dislike—
May 30, 2026 09:30PM Add a comment
The Oblivion Bride

Jess
Jess is on page 330 of 335 of This Gilded Abyss (The Titan's Wrath Trilogy, #1)
The romance wasn’t convincing imo. Enemies to lovers AND second chance romance w hardly any transition or a mature conversation addressing how they’ve hurt each other & how they’ll repair/grow through it. Admittedly, they have emergencies going on, but still. Sex isn’t a magical solution to make their dynamic work! I wasn’t fond of it. All in all, I didn’t hate this book, but it didn’t amaze me either
May 29, 2026 09:50AM Add a comment
This Gilded Abyss (The Titan's Wrath Trilogy, #1)

Jess
Jess is on page 330 of 335 of This Gilded Abyss (The Titan's Wrath Trilogy, #1)
Overall, this was ok. A bleak ending in preparation for book 2, which I don’t think I’ll pick up. I was more interested in the progression of the story towards the end, but not invested in the characters enough to continue the series. Not to mention, all the characters are dead except the main 2 love interests, although I wouldn’t be surprised if somehow, Leon returned (à la Palpatine).
May 29, 2026 09:48AM Add a comment
This Gilded Abyss (The Titan's Wrath Trilogy, #1)

Jess
Jess is on page 274 of 335 of This Gilded Abyss (The Titan's Wrath Trilogy, #1)
—with how to stop the zombie-esque infected & finding the cause! The romance is lacking in investment for me. I also feel like this is Bioshock fanfiction with the focus on the impacts of wealth/greed/expansion, futuristic tech that people can get addicted to, underwater city stuff. That’s ok with me though. Just feel like the tension, intrigue, & suspense could’ve been better. not bored reading it though 👍
May 28, 2026 08:28PM Add a comment
This Gilded Abyss (The Titan's Wrath Trilogy, #1)

Jess
Jess is on page 274 of 335 of This Gilded Abyss (The Titan's Wrath Trilogy, #1)
—each other & Kess is often times just cruel? Then they hook up? While injured? I don’t feel invested in their relationship, although I like Nix’s character. Kess is ok. I didn’t expect the Leon plot twist. I think the writing style as far as language is good. The pacing could’ve been faster/with more of the dramatic stuff towards the beginning imo. The interesting stuff is the freaky possession disease—
May 28, 2026 08:26PM Add a comment
This Gilded Abyss (The Titan's Wrath Trilogy, #1)

Jess
Jess is on page 274 of 335 of This Gilded Abyss (The Titan's Wrath Trilogy, #1)
—the outbreak. The outbreak & mystery behind that, as well as the horror/action elements, are interesting. I wish there was more of that earlier in the story. The romantic tension between Nix & Kess wasn’t enough to captivate me before the plot took off. I don’t think they have much chemistry, honestly; I’ll admit I’m a bit biased bc I don’t prefer enemies to lovers, but still. They’re just rude to—
May 28, 2026 08:23PM Add a comment
This Gilded Abyss (The Titan's Wrath Trilogy, #1)

Jess
Jess is on page 274 of 335 of This Gilded Abyss (The Titan's Wrath Trilogy, #1)
The last third of this book has interested me significantly more than the first 2/3. The action ramped up rather suddenly. I understand that the author planned this to be the first in a series; to my knowledge, 3 years will have passed between the publication of books 1 & 2. That’s a long time, & I feel like the payoff isn’t worth it as of now; there wasn’t much intrigue for the first 2/3 of the book before—
May 28, 2026 08:21PM Add a comment
This Gilded Abyss (The Titan's Wrath Trilogy, #1)

Jess
Jess is on page 172 of 335 of This Gilded Abyss (The Titan's Wrath Trilogy, #1)
I feel like the buildup could’ve been paced a little faster :P just personal preference
May 27, 2026 11:59AM Add a comment
This Gilded Abyss (The Titan's Wrath Trilogy, #1)

Jess
Jess is on page 142 of 335 of This Gilded Abyss (The Titan's Wrath Trilogy, #1)
Yuri is definitely still in the toxic stage bc why didn’t Kess immediately help Nix when she showed up stabbed??? She just wanted to finish her shower rq. Girl… 🧑🏻‍🦲
May 26, 2026 08:02PM Add a comment
This Gilded Abyss (The Titan's Wrath Trilogy, #1)

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