Book Review: Santa Muerte by Lucina Stone

So, last month I posted a Themed Thursday post about bad- ass women monster killers. Super fun post to write, by the way. Check it out... Anyway, in response to that I was offered a copy of Santa Muerte to read and review because it seemed up my ally. Free book? Have opinions? Yes, please!

So, the Goodreads summary is mad long, go find it [here.] Once you've read that you can come back here and I can give you the real story.

- Jeopardy Theme Song- 

Book Review: The Lost Gate by Orson Scott Card

So obviously, I'm late to the Orson Scott Card party. I didn't realize this was the Ender's Game guy when I picked this book up from the library based almost exclusively on the cover. Magical sparkles coming from a book? Yes, please.

Here's the Goodreads summary:
Danny North knew from early childhood that his family was different, and that he was different from them.  While his cousins were learning how to create the things that commoners called fairies, ghosts, golems, trolls, werewolves, and other such miracles that were the heritage of the North family, Danny worried that he would never show a talent, never form an outself.

He grew up in the rambling old house, filled with dozens of cousins, and aunts and uncles, all ruled by his father.  Their home was isolated in the mountains of western Virginia, far from town, far from schools, far from other people.

There are many secrets in the House, and many rules that Danny must follow.   There is a secret library with only a few dozen books, and none of them in English — but Danny and his cousins are expected to become fluent in the language of the books.  While Danny’s cousins are free to create magic whenever they like, they must never do it where outsiders might see.

Unfortunately, there are some secrets kept from Danny  as well.  And that will lead to disaster for the North family.

****

This is one of those books where I would have been sorely frustrated by the Goodreads summary had a actually read it ahead of time. Here's the real summary, a la Kenya The Boss Lady.

Words mean things: Rant about diagnostic words

This is a rare post for me: one where I talk mostly about the mental health world that occupies most of my time. I tend to prefer to leave my bookish side separate. But this post is a rant about words, that happens to overlap with the other stuff.

I know that it's totally in fashion with The Youth to use extreme language. Everything is "the worst" or "the best" and you "love" everyone and you'd "rather die." Blah blah.

The words that really irk me are those that people use because they think they know what they mean but it's my job to really understand what they actually mean. Then I have to talk to them about why what they are describing is NOT actually what they are calling it... and then convince them to take action to make some sort of change in their lives.Not surprising, then, most of these words are mental health related.

Words I wish would fall out of mainstream usage:

Book Review: A Paris Wife by Paula McLain

This was a book club pick. Though I owned this book I likely would never have read it had it not been picked to read for book club. In fact, I didn't read my copy but listened to it on audiobook. [Click here for the Goodreads page.]

Paula McLain tells the story of Elizabeth "Hadley" Richardson, Ernest Hemingway's first wife and, some would say, the love of his life. Ernest was a dynamic, moody writer who was young and on his way to being one of the most famous American writers in history. He was war- torn, young, impulsive, and a bit of a lady's man. Hadley was older and in some ways wiser, but also dreadfully sheltered and horribly naive; she's never had a real boyfriend and she's reaching old maid status at a ripe 29 years old. They each had strained and damaging relationships with their parents and families with suicide histories. When they meet, it is instant sparks. They get to know each other initially through their correspondence, which the author reviewed before writing this text.

Hadley is Ernest's FIRST wife, so we know right away that the marriage is not going to endure. We're given hints, too, that another woman will come between them. But it is not Pauline who is the downfall of Hadley's marriage. It is Hadley's realization that she deserves more from love than Ernest can give her. Her story is one of growth and strength. Luckily for Ernest, it was not one of experience with a fire arm because he was trying to get jacked up... but I digress...

Another Wednesday Top Ten Tuesday - Books on my Spring TBR

Welp. Once again, my Top Ten Tuesday is late. Which is totally fine because if I start doing things on time, then people will come to expect that level of togetherness... and then, where would we be?

This week's Broke and Bookish #TTT prompt is (WAS) Top Ten Books on my Spring TBR. This is hard for me mostly because I suck at planning my reading. I'm also not totally sure that I know when Spring is... but here's a go at it, anyway. Here are some upcoming reads that I'm excited about... or, at least, that I plan to read.

1. The Winner's Kiss by Marie Rutkoski is the final book in a trilogy that consistently floored me. See my babblings about book one [here]. They are changing the covers of the books and I am going to be so pissed if I can't get the cover that matches my other ones. It's due to be published at the end of this month... Add looky, looky. I just ran across a sweepstakes to win things! Entered!

What I've Been Reading (Outbox and BIP)

It feels like it's been forever since I did an Outbox post. But, it was only two weeks ago... click here if you want to see it. :)

Let's jump to it, shall we?

Comics I'm All About Right Now - March 2016 (Book Review)

So you know what a subscription service is, right? Also known as a sub service, pull list, etc. It's the list of books that your local shop keeper makes sure are set aside for you on a regular basis. My sub service is at Comics Etc on Main Street. They have one of the worst web sites in 2016 but keep an active Facebook Page and a Facebook group for those who are so inclined. The store itself is big and carries a wide selection of books, and geeky extras. They also keep a whole lot of trade paperbacks, which are my format of choice for most things. However, if you care about the condition of the books on the shelves, this is not the store for you. Everything is crammed together and needs to be culled like nobodies business. For straight readers though, not collectors, this means that lots of older books haven't been marked up as back issues.

Anyway,  I usually follow books in trade paper back (TPB) form, the collection of several single issue books, because I can't manage to stay on top of a story in 32 page bursts with 4 - 6 weeks in between. A down side of reading things in TPB, though, is that I have to wait an extended period of time for the collection to come out... and WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING IN SAGA RIGHT NOW!!?? I DON'T EVEN KNOW!!  ::breathe::

I have a few TPBs on my sub- service because I also can't manage to remember to keep track of when they are scheduled to come out... are there people who keep track of these things on their own? They are better geeks than I, letmejusttellya. I also recently added a butt- ton of titles to my sub- service to start following in single issue. There really is no rhyme nor reason. It's also interesting to me how I'm willing to pay for comics and trades but scoff at the retail price of "regular" books. I am an enigma. 

Three on a Theme: 3 Books about Kickass Female Monster Slayers

I was there when Buffy came out... not just Sarah Michelle's version, but also the little underrated movie gem that sparked the whole thing off in 1992. Seriously, if you haven't seen it, PeeWee Herman's (AKA Paul Ruebens) death rattle completely makes it worth the time. And has inspired many a spontaneous, over-dramatized death scene in my house. By Me. For no reason.

And don't get me started on Charmed. (Yes. That is Pru in the picture. Paige was meh.)

I don't mean to ignore the older kick ass women from my life or to pander to the 90's babies here. If I think real hard and use Dr. Google, I can find earlier Grrls that I thought kicked ass for various reasons (from books to movies):