Houds > Recent Status Updates

Kinda unimpressed so far :/

Had me awake at 2am, on a WORK week 😮‍💨
I can’t yet tell if the ending will break my heart (I mean, it’s already gutted me), but I 👌 stop

The way Shirley writes is so delicious, I wanna sink my teeth into it

Clutching my pearls and falling to my knees. WHAT

PleASE don’t make me DNF this late

I already can tell this is gonna break my heart

Ok, so, THIS is what I needed.

I cyclically have this realisation that I’m sabotaging my own reading experience, chasing a feeling I’m craving, but in the wrong place, assuming I’m too exhausted from life to engage with books that are higher on my tbr. And I kinda lost sight of the reader that I am.
Sure, I wish it worked to find books by tropes, but I missed reading stories. If that makes sense.

Unfortunately, I AM bound to be disappointed when this is advertised as a “dark fantasy romance”, and yet it’s very YA and not at all Dark.
So far, Caraval for sure had me both stressed and kicking my feet way more

Hope this delivers some spooky gothic romance vibes 🤞😮‍💨
Though, it did already commit a minor sin (if you spend 3 chapters explaining the fmc’s rules in life, you gotta do better to explain why she chose to break them this ONE time, and no, it cannot be “for the plot”. That’s actually the worst answer)
Anyway, place your bets, will this be a better or a worse Caraval.

I missED Marsters' narration, OK? 😮‍💨

Oooh that twist with Daniel!
Appreciating the creepy, horror-ish vibes in this one

Been slowly reading this one on my phone. Hoping that updating my progress here would motivate me to keep going 🤞

I've been saving this book bc I knew it'd get to me sO fast

Chap 13: where there is sorrow
A death so unexpected and heartbreaking I had to google it. Bro how am I suppposed to move on from it

I feel like I just lived through a rite of passage

Chapter 6:
“I’m glad you want to get to know me. But I just don’t have the energy to get to know you. Sorry”
Big Fat Mood

I finally bit the bullet and picked up this 700-page giant book, knowing it's a 50-50 risk, all because I was lured in by the idea of reading something that feels like Everything is Romantic (Alina Kay's version).

So, WHY am I still reading when batshit things are happening and nOT being adressed? And some gory murders might be attributed to the love interest? I think?
The answer is: I'm hooked, I fear.

phew

Chapter 4:
“Your are are the same” [..] “the same blue.”
Is this about that one character haunting the narrative for like +100 years? Bc this kinda felt ouchy
(You can’t blame me for accidental spoilers on the internet, I’m the one who’s late to reading 😮‍💨)

Chapter 9:
This book demands live spoilery updates bc WHAT DO YOU MEAAAAAAAAAAAAN they're discussing opTIONS
Like, I geT the bigger picture, and honestly I've been taking it all quite well, if I may say so? I'm just 😐 curious as to why

Chap 4-5:
"My girlfriend"
OOoooh this would've gone triple platinum for me, back in the day.

Would I be able to finish this before 2025 ends? let's hope

ooooh Mr Marsters, the narrator that you are

Look at it, officer! This cover bewitched me once again and yeah maybe it'd be smart to slow down on how fast I'm going through this series but I CANT

Continuing this bc I need a comfort audiobook to easily get into, and this world is already familiar to me. fingers crossed

The chapter ending had me so gagged at midnight, I needed emotional support

As someone who usually enjoys hurt/comfort tropes (fanfic girlies know what's up), I would rather gouge my eyes out with a spoon before I read it written by a man.
No amount of amnesia could undo the damage

The switch from Chancy to Chaunzaggoroth uses one of my favourite stylistic writing choices.
Also a rant/spoiler (?) Murphy's being a dick and I think a formal apology should be due before all's well ffs

Foul. Ignored, thanks

Me at the beginning: I reaaally think Horror as a genre might be a sweet spot for me!
Me, reading through the second half nonstop, shaking: 🫥 I'm fine
I'm only stopping now bc: 1) it's midnight, 2) I do NOT wanna finish this after midnight :D