Weekly Mews: Back to School & Bookish Mewsings on Saffron Everleigh Mysteries (#1 & 2)

I am linking up to the Sunday Post hosted by Kim of Caffeinated Book Reviewer and The Sunday Salon (TSS) hosted by Deb Nance of Readerbuzz  where participants recap our week, talk about what we are reading, share any new books that have come our way, and whatever else we want to talk about. I am also linking It's Monday! What Are you Reading? hosted by Kathryn of Book Date where readers talk about what they have been, are and will be reading.

This past week was a full one as we finished getting prepped for the start of school for Mouse. Mouse had a dentist appointment, she and I both got our hair cut, we saw The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem movie, we picked up Mouse's class schedule and her P.E. (physical education) clothes, and Mouse had her first day on Friday.   It was a shortened day, one just for incoming 7th graders as a sort of ice breaker. Tomorrow is the first full day of school for the new year. Mouse has P.E, for first period, which she's not at all happy about. At least she will not have to be out there in the heat of the day. Mouse has a friend over today. I can hear them laughing and talking as I type this. 

My (much shorter than Mouse's) vacation also is at its end, and I return to work tomorrow. I enjoyed the much needed time off. And while I may not have accomplished everything I wanted to, I do feel more rested. We shall see how I really feel tomorrow though! I am already starting to run through my mental to do list . . . 

The news coming out of Maui is so awful. It's so heartbreaking to read the news coming out about the deaths and damage caused. My heart goes out to everyone impacted by the fires.   

How was your week? What have you been up to? 

I am currently reading the second book in Naomi Novik's Scholomance trilogy, The Last Graduate. School has never been more dangerous . . . It's a hard book to put down! 

Up next will be the winner of my August TBR List poll. Welcome to the School by the Sea (Maggie Adair #1) by Jenny Colgan won with 14 votes!  Coming in at a distant second was Murder at a London Finishing School (Beryl and Edwina Mystery #7) by Jessica Ellicott with 8 votes, and trailing behind that was The Lost Girls of Willowbrook by Ellen Marie Wiseman which got 4 votes.

Welcome to the School by the Sea sounds like the perfect segue from summer into the start of the new school year. Thank you to everyone who voted!

My TBR List is hosted by the awesome Michelle  at Because Reading. It’s a fun way to choose a book from your TBR pile to read. The 1st Saturday of every month, I will list 3 books I am considering reading and let you vote for my next read during that month. My review will follow (unfortunately, not likely in the same month, but eventually--that's all I can promise). 

Last year I read the first book in Kate Khavari's Saffron Everleigh Mystery series, A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons, but being the mixed up year it was, I never got around to posting my thoughts on it. Having now finished the second book, A Botanist's Guide to Flowers and Fatality recently, I thought why not share my thoughts on both!

A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons by Kate Khavari (Crooked Lane, 2022; 304 pgs)

Light poured from the windows of the grand house, illuminating the front steps and graveled drive. ~ opening 

Saffron Everleigh, a research assistant at the University College of London, believes she's the only hope at proving her mentor, Dr. Maxwell, is not behind the murder by poisoning of a fellow professor's wife. Time is of the essence with a research expedition to the Amazon on the horizon. She enlists the help of fellow researcher, Alexander Ashton, as the evidence mounts against the suspected professor. Set in 1923, this cozy mystery was a delight to read. Saffron comes from a well to do family, but despite their disapproval, has decided to follow in her late father's footsteps, the and research of botany. Her skills and knowledge come in quite handy as she and Alexander search for answers to solve the crime--just what was the unknown poison used and who is behind it?

Saffron is an intelligent and capable woman, although, admittedly, she takes risks with her own life that had me seriously questioning her judgement a couple of times. I liked her flat mate, Elizabeth. The two women have a strong friendship and look out for each other. Alexander is an interesting character with a complex backstory--a veteran who was injured in the first world war. I liked that the author doesn't shy away from the effects war had on the returning soldiers. The mystery itself was entertaining, the possible budding romance between Alexander and Saffron well played, and I couldn't wait to find out how everything would turn out. This novel was well researched, both in science for the sake of the crime and history to bring the setting to life. A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons was a great start to a new series.  

A Botanist's Guide to Flowers and Fatality by Kate Khavari (Crooked Lane Books, 2023; 352 pgs) 

"Everleigh." ~ opening 

With Alexander off on the expedition to the Amazon, Saffron has spent her summer working at the university on a project with the annoyingly charming, Dr. Lee, a medical doctor, dealing with reports of poisonings across the city and in the neighboring countryside. Saffron can hardly believe it when Detective Inspector Green walks through her office door, requesting her assistance on an active murder investigation. Still coming off her high of solving the university related murder from the last book, she is sure she can get to the bottom of these new murders. 

Bouquet of flowers, most of which are poisonous, were found at the crime scenes of three different murders. They seem unconnected otherwise. When her own knowledge of flowers falls short in coming up with answers, Saffron delves into the old Victorian practice of floriography, in which each flower holds a special meaning. Dr. Lee is eager to help despite Saffron's initial misgivings. The two of them go undercover, befriending the high society group of suspects, taking them into a dark jazz club and exclusive parties. Dr. Lee definitely seems to have the gift of fitting in and drawing people out, where as Saffron is more awkward at it. Perhaps it is the rules of society for women during that time period, or just her trying too hard to be accepted so she can get the answers she's seeking. This only makes her more relatable as a character for me. 

Like in the first book, the reader gets a glimpse of how difficult it is for a woman in the world of male academia, especially one in Saffron's position. One of the reasons I especially liked this second book was the amount of growth Saffron does over the course of the book in finding her own voice and standing up for what she wants. Not only with her work, but in her love life too. There definitely was a darker overall plot line in this installment. I found the mystery fascinating, from the historical aspect as well as the complexity of the characters and their possible motives. 

Challenges Met: Cruisin' Thru the Cozies / Historical Fiction Reading Challenge / COYER

I hope you have a great week! Let me know what you have been reading!

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© 2023, Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Weekly Mews: My Bookish Mewsings on The Moon Within by Aida Salazar & Other Updates

I am linking up to the Sunday Post hosted by Kim of Caffeinated Book Reviewer and The Sunday Salon (TSS) hosted by Deb Nance of Readerbuzz  where participants recap our week, talk about what we are reading, share any new books that have come our way, and whatever else we want to talk about. I am also linking It's Monday! What Are you Reading? hosted by Kathryn of Book Date where readers talk about what they have been, are and will be reading.

 

May is going by so fast! We had painters at the house today, giving our shutters a fresh coat of paint. That should make the homeowner's association happy.  My husband considered doing it himself, but my mom and I talked him out of it. He's got a bad shoulder and we worried about his safety. 

This week was relatively calm as far as it goes. Work continues to be busy. My husband and I had to get creative with our work schedules this week in order to make sure Mouse was picked up from school. My mom often helps out with pick up (thank you, Mom!), but my mom's aunt fractured her pelvic bone and my mom has been helping her and her partner out this week and possibly for the foreseeable future. Unfortunately, the after school program Mouse sometimes goes to was full  for the week and unable to take her. My great-aunt seems to be doing well. Hopefully that continues to be the case. 

At the moment, I am reading Deanna Raybourn's Killers of a Certain Age, this month's TBR poll winner. It is good so far! These four retired assassins are a force to be reckoned with!  

Earlier this week, I finished reading Well Played (Well Met #2) by Jen DeLuca. You can check out my review here.

I am considering one of these next. I wonder which one it will be . . . . 

Marion Lane and the Raven's Revenge (#3) by T.A. Willberg

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Homicide and Halo-Halo (Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery #2) by Mia P. Manansala

Playing It Safe (Electra McDonell #3) by Ashley Weaver

What are you reading right now? What do you plan to read next? 

I wish I had read this book with my daughter two or three years ago, when I first added it to my TBR shelf. But I am glad I read it now. Aida Salazar's novel in verse, The Moon Within (Arthur A. Levine Books, 2019, 240 pgs), is a beautiful and inspiring book about not just a Mexican-Puerto Rican girl, Celi, entering a new phase in her life, but also that of her friend, Marco, who is also coming into his own.  This is a story about growing up: first periods, first love, friendship, family bonds and conflict, bullying, and transitioning. It is steeped in culture, traditions, and heart. This review includes some spoilers--so stop reading and skip to the next section if you plan to read this novel. 

Though I've never seen it

I know my locket is there. 

It keeps my questions

            my secrets

warm

unanswered

and safe. [excerpt from  pg 5 of The Moon Within]

Celi doesn't want the fanfare her mother has planned for her first menstrual cycle. She's embarrassed by her mother's wish to celebrate something Celi would rather keep private and hidden. But her mother does not want her daughter's experience to be the same as hers. She does not want her to feel shame or fear. As a mother and as someone who was once a young girl going through puberty, I understand both points of view.  

Celi, your moon will not be like mine.

You will not begin womanhood in doubt

in shame

but surrounded by the strength

of women in your community.

    No it isn't. It is a way you've made up!

It is a way that we have to reclaim 

so that we are not erased. [excerpt from page 182 of The Moon Within]

In the author's note, the author talks about how something once so celebrated and honored in some cultures has been made to feel dirty in modern-day western cultures. This is something I have observed too, although I like to think the tide is changing.  

As Celi navigates her changing body and puberty, her friend Marco is going through his own changes. Born a girl, Marco has long felt more like a boy. I loved how Salazar celebrates him in his and his family's acceptance of who he is. The author draws from precolonial indigenous, Mesoamerican ideas and beliefs, referencing the Aztec god Xochiquetzal, who was both male and female. Xochihuah, people with dual genders or who are gender fluid, are believed to have been considered sacred and well respected. 

While Celi loves Marco and their friendship, conflict arises when the boy she is crushing on is rude to Marco, deadnaming him and making fun of him. Celi struggles with her feelings--her attraction to Iván and her loyalty to her best friend. 

My locket lies open on

            a shore of a sea

                        of confusion

steady sand grounds my feet

like Marco--my best amifriend forever

            but the waves of Iván

                        crash into me

            a foam that wraps around my legs

                        sends a tingle through my body

                                    and swarms my heart

                        with a feeling of

            first love? [excerpt from pg 141 of The Moon Within]

Celi's relationship with dance, music and the moon (Luna), play a big part in this book. Celi is most herself when she is dancing, often to the sound of drums played by her father or Marco. It is a part of who she is. The title itself suggest the importance of the moon to the story, as it can be tied to the moon cycle as it relates to the female body. And here the author brings dance and the moon together: 

I watch her light up a sliver of dust

in my room.

Like a performance

small specks dance

twirl,

                bounce,

                                        float,

                glide,

                        somersault. 

They dance like I do. [excerpt from pg. 7 of The Moon Within]

I love the idea of a moon ceremony; and while it is not a tradition I carried out, it is one I admire and see the beauty in. The picture painted by Salazar as she wrote about Celi's moon ceremony was very moving and heartfelt. 

As my last offering to my moon altar

I lay my first doll, Alma, inside an open gourd

then I add a flint, for protection

and a spool of thread to mend

her bird-print dress

I say goodbye beneath my breath

while Mima sprinkles her

with

 crystal dust

that feels like love. [excerpt from pg 197 of The Moon Within]

I also really liked that she included Marco in the experience, incorporating his transition in such a way that honored both him and Celi.

The Moon Within carries such a positive message and the characters are very relatable. It was everything I hoped it would be and more.

Have you read The Moon Within? Have you read any poetry or a novel in verse recently? 

School is winding down for Mouse, and this week of school has been spent doing mostly non-academic activities (Mouse said she would rather work on her play than play board games). Just three more days of school to go and then it's on to middle school in August. Mouse isn't sure she's ready--and I am not sure I am either. Reading wise, Mouse is reading V.E. Schwab's Gallant. 

I recently watched the movie The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry, based on the book with the same title by Gabrielle Zevin. I really liked the book and remember how much the characters came to mean to me as I read it. I wasn't quite as enamored with the movie, although I did enjoy it. Today I made my family watch A Man Called Otto, an Americanized movie version of Fredrick Backman's book, A Man Called Ove. I thought it was very well done. I really like Tom Hanks and Mariana Treviño was great as Marisol. Let's face it though. The cat stole the entire movie. (It goes without saying though that the book was still better.)

My daughter has been begging me to watch more anime with her and we most recently started the first season of Welcome to Demon School, Iruma-Kun! It is about a human boy who is sold by his parents to a demon, and the demon enrolls the human boy in demon school, trying to pass him off as his demon grandson. It's a cute show--a good mix of action and heart. We also started the second season of By the Grace of the Gods, an isekai slice of life anime. 

What have you watched recently?

I hope you have a great week! Let me know what you have been reading!

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© 2023, Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Weekly Mews: Catching Up and Checking In

I am linking up to the Sunday Post hosted by Kim of Caffeinated Book Reviewer and The Sunday Salon (TSS) hosted by Deb Nance of Readerbuzz  where participants recap our week, talk about what we are reading, share any new books that have come our way, and whatever else we want to talk about. I am also linking It's Monday! What Are you Reading? hosted by Kathryn of Book Date where readers talk about what they have been, are and will be reading.

I am linking up Stacking the Shelves hosted by Marlene of Reading Reality a meme in which participants share what new books came their way recently.  

It has been over a month since I last blogged, much less set eyes on my blog. I had not intended to be away so long but here we are. I have not been in the best of places mentally and my knee has been giving me more trouble again. It probably didn't help that I decided to move the couch from one room to the other all by myself. Enough of the depressing stuff . . . 

Last we visited, my daughter was headed to science camp with her sixth grade class. It did in fact rain, but she had a great time and was still able to go horseback riding, canoeing, rock climbing, hike, and learn archery. 

While Mouse was away, the cat played.

A few days after Mouse got home, we celebrated a late birthday with a couple of her good friends and then were off for a Spring Break trip to Universal Studios Hollywood. Our first day there was rainy and cold but we had a blast at the park, taking the studio tour and riding some of the rides. While most of the day the rain was light, it began pouring in the late afternoon, and so we took that as a our cue to leave to check into the hotel.  The second day of our trip, we had a more laid back day, visiting the shops at Universal Studio Walk and had lunch at the Toothsome Chocolate Emporium and Savory Feast Kitchen (Steampunk chocolate heaven!). In the evening we enjoyed the Lion King musical at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre. It was just as good the as the first time I saw it! The sun was out the following day for our second day at Universal Studios. We were able to explore Super Nintendo World a little bit more and went on a few rides that we skipped the first day of our visit. After that, we headed home to finish out our spring break at home. It'd been a while since we had a chance to get away, so it was nice to be able to do so--even if we didn't travel too far.

Dessert at the Toothsome Chocolate Emporium and Savory Feast Kitchen

The beginning of April, we visited the observatory in Rancho Mirage with Mouse's Girl Scout troop. We tracked the space station as it travelled across Utah and New Mexico before it disappeared from our sight. We saw stars and the moon up close, as well as Venus. Towards the end of April, we went on another troop fieldtrip, visiting the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert for their Glow in the Park event that they hold in the spring. They go all out with the lights and lanterns. It really is lovely.

Giraffes after Dark 

Dragon after Dark

Mouse had her spring band concert a couple weeks ago. Her school along with another local elementary school and the middle school jazz band performed together. My mom, husband and I were lucky to find seats--so many families and friends had to stand on the sidelines of the auditorium because there were so many people there. 

We are on the final countdown now for the end of the school year. State testing is out of the way and these last two and a half weeks will be less academic and more fun stuff from the looks of the school schedule. Mouse is feeling a little sad to see the school year come to an end. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that she's leaving the elementary school she's attended since kindergarten--the comfort of the familiar and heading into the unknown. 

My work has been as busy as ever. We continue to be short staffed and with everyone having to make up for it; is it any wonder people have been calling off a lot? 

We have plans tonight to go see the movie Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. with my mom this evening. I have heard mixed reviews, but it's one we've been wanting to see since we first heard about it.

What have you been up to?

A tired cat

It seems to be feast or famine when it comes to my reading as of late. I suffered a brief reading slump during the second half of March and the first half of April, with only a scattering of reading in between--mainly Manga and the occasional short story. The second half of April through now has me deep into Leigh Bardugo's Grishaverse, however. I missed seeing Leigh Bardugo at the Los Angeles Festival of Books because we were meeting Victoria Schwab and Peng Shepherd at the same time as Bardugo's signing, unfortunately. But I wouldn't have wanted to miss the authors we did see!

Recent Reads: 

Shadow in Bone (#1) by Leigh Bardugo

Siege and Storm (Shadow and Bone Trilogy #2) by Leigh Bardugo

Ruin and Rising (Shadow and Bone Trilogy #3) by Leigh Bardugo

Six of Crows (#1) by Leigh Bardugo

Currently Reading: 

Crooked Kingdom (Six of Crows #2) by Leigh Bardugo

My TBR List is hosted by the awesome Michelle  at Because Reading. It’s a fun way to choose a book from your TBR pile to read. The 1st Saturday of every month, I will list 3 books I am considering reading and let you vote for my next read during that month. My review will follow (unfortunately, not likely in the same month, but eventually--that's all I can promise). 

I could use your help deciding which book to read next! I have been reading a lot of fantasy lately and think it's time to switch things up a bit. Which of these three books do you think I should read next? Have you read any of them? If so, what did you think? 

Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide by Rupert Holmes

A devilish thriller with a killer concept: The McMasters Conservatory for the Applied Arts, a luxurious, clandestine college dedicated to the fine art of murder where earnest students study how best to “delete” their most deserving victim.

Who hasn’t wondered for a split second what the world would be like if a person who is the object of your affliction ceased to exist? But then you’ve probably never heard of The McMasters Conservatory, dedicated to the consummate execution of the homicidal arts. To gain admission, a student must have an ethical reason for erasing someone who deeply deserves a fate no worse (nor better) than death. The campus of this “Poison Ivy League” college—its location unknown to even those who study there—is where you might find yourself the practice target of a classmate…and where one’s mandatory graduation thesis is getting away with the perfect murder of someone whose death will make the world a much better place to live.

Prepare for an education you’ll never forget. A delightful mix of witty wordplay, breathtaking twists and genuine intrigue, Murder Your Employer will gain you admission into a wholly original world, cocooned within the most entertaining book about well-intentioned would-be murderers you’ll ever read. [Goodreads Summary]

Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson

Turns out that reading nothing but true crime isn’t exactly conducive to modern dating—and one woman is going to have to learn how to give love a chance when she’s used to suspecting the worst.

PhD candidate Phoebe Walsh has always been obsessed with true crime. She’s even analyzing the genre in her dissertation—if she can manage to finish writing it. It’s hard to find the time while she spends the summer in Florida, cleaning out her childhood home, dealing with her obnoxiously good-natured younger brother, and grappling with the complicated feelings of mourning a father she hadn’t had a relationship with for years.

It doesn’t help that she’s low-key convinced that her new neighbor, Sam Dennings, is a serial killer (he may dress business casual by day, but at night he’s clearly up to something). It’s not long before Phoebe realizes that Sam might be something much scarier—a genuinely nice guy who can pierce her armor to reach her vulnerable heart. [Goodreads Summary]

Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn

Older women often feel invisible, but sometimes that's their secret weapon.

They've spent their lives as the deadliest assassins in a clandestine international organization, but now that they're sixty years old, four women friends can't just retire - it's kill or be killed in this action-packed thriller.

Billie, Mary Alice, Helen, and Natalie have worked for the Museum, an elite network of assassins, for forty years. Now their talents are considered old-school and no one appreciates what they have to offer in an age that relies more on technology than people skills.

When the foursome is sent on an all-expenses paid vacation to mark their retirement, they are targeted by one of their own. Only the Board, the top-level members of the Museum, can order the termination of field agents, and the women realize they've been marked for death.

Now to get out alive they have to turn against their own organization, relying on experience and each other to get the job done, knowing that working together is the secret to their survival. They're about to teach the Board what it really means to be a woman--and a killer--of a certain age. [Goodreads Summary]

Thank you for voting!

When my daughter bought the first volume of Magus of the Library, I knew I would not be able to resist reading it myself. This past month I read the first four volumes and hope to get to the next two this month. It is a sweet story about an orphan boy from the slums, raised by his sister, who sneaks into the town library to read. He loves books. The librarian there isn't too keen on people from the slums and chases him out. A boy with pointy ears who has never fit in, Theo, dreams of different life--one where he is more a hero than a bullied outcast. Fate steps in and he meets a traveling Kafna, one of the librarians from the great library  of Aftzaak, and it changes his life forever. He travels to Aftzaak to take the test to become a Kafna himself. Theo is a kind boy who sees the best in everyone and every situation. He never hesitates to step in when help is needed. 

Mitsu Izumi has created an intricate world full of colorful characters, tenuous alliances, and a hovering threat that may dismantle a fragile peace. The great library dedicates itself to protecting books and knowledge, but also serves a unifying purpose for the people. It is hard not to see real world parallels as often can be seen in fantasy novels. I enjoy the descriptions and artwork of care and mending of books and the magical beasts and spirits. 

Magus of the Library, Volumes 1-4 by Mitsu Izumi,

translated by Stephen Kohler, lettering by Evan Hayden

I fell into a reading slump this past month and found myself disinterested in reading just about everything. I finally decided to pick up one of my unread short story collections, Into the Woods: Tales from the Hollows and Beyond by Kim Harrison, something with familiar characters, set in a familiar world--and bite size reading so I wouldn't have to commit to something too long if I wasn't feeling in the mood. 

I am enjoying getting to know the characters better through these short stories. I admit I did not care for the first story "Be Spelled," about how Ceri became enslaved by Al. However, I have enjoyed the other stories I have read so far--seeing Jenks, the pixie, take on his own case with the help of his gargoyle friend Bis in "Ley Line Drifter" and reading the story about Ivy, a living vampire, early in her career in "Undead in the Garden of Good and Evil." One of my favorite stories was when Rachel first summons Pierce in "Two Ghosts for Sister Rachel." Although, now that I have said that, I may have liked "Dirty Magic" a story about Mia, the banshee, even more. It certainly was a sad one. And how I miss Kisten's character! He and Rachel make a good team in "The Bridges of Eden Park." I look forward to reading the remaining stories as the mood strikes.

Mouse has been making her way through her birthday books and is currently reading The Haunted Bookstore: Gateway to a Parallel Universe (Light Novel), Vol. 1 by Shinobumaru, illustrated by Munashichi. It is about a girl who lives in an otherworldly bookstore and rescues a mortal boy who is  an exorcist. His very presence is a threat to her world and she can only hope to convince him the spirits are not his enemies after all. Mouse is enjoying it--ghosts and books are a winning combination.

Mouse also recently read Victoria Schwab's This Savage Song (Monsters of Verity #1), which she liked quite a bit. It had been a birthday gift from a friend. She still prefers A Darker Shade of Magic to it, but is eager to read more in the series. We got the chance to meet Victoria Schwab at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books this past month, much to Mouse's (and mine) excitement and Mouse even got her book signed!

New to my shelves:

This Easter Bunny likes to make sure everyone's basket has a book or two in it. This year, my basket included:

The Poetry Remedy:  Prescriptions for the Heart, Mind, and Soul by William Sieghart

Lady Killer, Vol. 1 by Joëlle Jones and Jamie S. Rich

Word by Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries by Kory Stamper

The sun was shining over the Los Angeles Times Book Festival this year and my family and I enjoyed browsing the various booths, enjoying a little entertainment, and seeing which author's turned out. Of course, we couldn't walk away empty handed!

The Book of M by Peng Shepherd

Parable of the Talents by Octavia Butler

OBIT (Poems) by Victoria Chang

Kiss Her Once for Me by Alison Cochrun

A Thousand Mornings by Mary Oliver

Elemental (Shadows of Otherside #1) by Whitney Hill

A Fire Among Clouds (Codex Black #1) by Camilo Moncada Lozano, colorist: Angel DeSantiago

Nightmare in Savannah by Lela Gwenn, illustrated by Rowan MacColl

The Case of the Girl from Deja Vu (The Nightmare Brigade #1) by Frank Thillez, illustrated by Yomgui Dumont

Peasprout Chen, Future Legend of Skate and Sword  (#1) by Henry Lien

So This is Ever After by F.T. Lukens

Our local independent bookstore's lease was not renewed, and, for awhile there, I was not sure if they would find a new home. The good news is they have, and it's closer to where I live! Today was their last day at their current location before their big move. They hope to be opened the middle of June in their new place. Strictly to help them out so they don't have to move so many books (okay, so maybe that's not the real reason), Mouse and I picked up a few books today: 

The Atlas Six (#1) by Olivie Blake

Jameela Green Ruins Everything by Zarqa Nawaz

Once There Was by Kiyashi Monsef

Gallant by V.E. Schwabb

Welcome to Demon School! Iruma Kun, Vol. 1 by Osamu Nishi

Mapmakers and the Enchanted Mountain (Mapmakers #2) by Cameron Chittock and Amanda Castillo

What new books made it onto your shelf recently? 

My family and I have been enjoying the second season of Schmigadoon! otherwise known as Schmicago.  And my husband and I are loving the new season of Ted Lasso. I have also seen a few episodes of Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story and am hooked. All three of these shows take me to a happy place when I am watching them. 

We are all caught up with The Mandalorian, a favorite show of ours. That season finale was sure intense and very well done! My family and I decided to rewatch the first season of Shadow and Bone before venturing into the second, which we just started. 

This past month I watched The Winchesters, a prequel spinoff series to Supernatural. The show has a great cast of characters and I really enjoyed the 1970's setting. 

We ventured out to the movie theater last month to see the Super Mario Brothers movie. I admit I liked it more than I thought I would. Our family enjoys playing the Nintendo Mario Kart game together and it was fun to see some familiar sights. 

What have you watched recently?

I hope you have a great week! Let me know what you have been reading!

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© 2023, Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.