Carissa with a C =⁠^⁠･⁠ｪ⁠･⁠^⁠= > Recent Status Updates

Sarah Beth Durst, forgive me for not knowing firsthand how impeccable of a writer you are. I am reading through this book, blinded with eagerness and anticipation.

"Contentment is a lie invented by capitalism."
Okay then. I don't know how to grapple with that, to be honest. To be fair, there are a lot of our foundational truths that are built on the bones of capitalism, so it's not inherently wrong. And now I'm uncomfortable. But when I first read that, I can't say I didn't roll my eyes. At first.

I can't believe I am going to say this...but there are too many references to Taylor Swift in this book. Once was cringe-inducing, but several references is downright appalling. And I am an admitted Taylor Swift fan.

This book is set in 1889, and a character just said, "Mine! Huzzah! I win!"
I feel like the characterization of that declaration just reeks of modern, elder Millennial humor, and it really doesn't fit the era of the story at all.
I am stopping the book here, and I really don't know if I will pick it up again. I genuinely don't care how it ends at this point. I have stopped and started this book thrice now.

This reminds me so much of the anime Claymore, and I love that. Claymore is one of my all-time favorites.

"In times of strife, it was always the helpless who suffered more than anyone else."

Thank you, Libby (and by extension, the Ohio Digital Library), for always coming in to the rescue.
Now let me start from the beginning. Properly.

I got to the 33% mark when I realized that this book is actually a part of a trilogy, and is the last book. Oops.

This is like Divine Rivals. But more adult. Low stakes. And kinda boring.

I bought this book from a used book store in DC a few months ago, and had never heard of it. It sounds like a pretty solid read, so I am glad to finally be getting into it. When I have time. But, let's be real here. I'll never have a lot of time.

'"Of course I would pray to you." He frowned, eyeing lips he couldn't have. Because the last time we kissed, I lost it. "I'd worship you any way you please. I'd melt Palais Garnier down and build an altar in your name, if you so wished." It was a reverent whisper, the kind uttered in the wings of a stage, before an audition, with desperation.'

The way I just had to stop to just squeak at this moment.

Tandem reading this on audio and physical has been difficult. The narrator is great...except for the voice for Kiki. My gosh, does it grate on my nerves. It makes me feel negativity towards Kiki like how Genshin Impact players feel towards Paimon. I just know if I was not listening to the audio while I work alongside reading the physical when I can, I would not even care. But sheesh on a leash. Shut up, Kiki.

I had to take a pause on this one before because my library hold had expired before I could really get into it. But I am so back, baby.

"Something about terrible things happening to women is comforting to her."

I think I hate this book.