Update: Life and Books (Feb 2019)

 
 

Let’s see, real life updates…

Nobody ask me about my dental situation. It’s still not any better, and I don’t want to talk about it. I also managed to bend back like a third of my big toe nail when I hit it with my other heel, so that was fun. I don’t know how I even do these things. But my parents’ shower still has a chunk of tile missing from where I once slipped and hit my heel against it and broke the tile (my heel was fine), so apparently I have indestructible heels, and my poor toe nail didn’t stand a chance.

Anyway, I mentioned last month that I have what I think is a cyst on my finger from doing art, and it’s still there, but I’ve been wrapping it up and continuing to do art anyway. This time I’ve made fan art! Including one smutty one 😉 You can check them out in my review for Infernal Providence. I also finished touching up my painting of Levine (it’s not drastically different from what I shared last time, but it’ll bother me if I don’t post the finished version), and I did some art of Matthew and Elliott dancing (also from my supernatural sims posts, my little dancin’ boys). I don’t love how that one came out, but I did something I’d never done before. I used a photo as reference for the pose but changed the bodies and clothes to look like them, plus I attempted to add some cool lighting, so that counts for something. *Update: There’s an redone version here.*

Levine Painting

Matthew and Elliott Dancing Painting


Blog/Bookish Updates:

I won some giveaways! So that’s a bit of good news, at least. I won Karen’s (For What It’s Worth) 2019 release giveaway and a gift card from Daniela (Bookiverse), but I have yet to decide what book(s) I’ll be getting. There are SO MANY amazing sounding books coming out this year, and I am an indecisive person, but I’m excited that I get to pick out a new book!

 

Books I Received for Review:

Sins of the Son by Christian BainesBirds of a Feather by S. MargravePulse by Danielle KosteThe Grand Dark by Richard KadreyTangled Web by Gail Z. MartinThe Fever King by Victoria Lee

The first three are from the authors. The Grand Dark is from Edelweiss. Tangled Web is from NetGalley. It’s a series I’ve really been wanting to read, but I don’t have the first two books :-/ Anyone have them on Kindle and want to lend them to me (if they’re lendable)? I would really appreciate it! The Fever King is also from NetGalley.

 

Books I Finished:

Treasures, Demons, and Other Black Magic by Meghan Ciana DoidgeShadows, Maps, and Other Ancient Magic by Meghan Ciana DoidgeWhat Dawn Demands by Clara CoulsonGospel of the Forgotten by J. ArmandThe Alabaster Concordat by J. ArmandInfernal Providence by J. Armand

I forgot to include Treasures, Demons, and Other Black Magic last month, so I’m including it here. I’ve been enjoying the audios for this urban fantasy series! What Dawn Demands was another good book in the Frost Arcana series. And I loved my reread of the Immortal Coil series, as well as the latest book!

 

What I’m Loving:

This month, what I’m loving is…

Alec Benjamin

 

I’ve been enjoying his songs and his sound lately, especially the one above.

Monster Prom DLC

The Second Term DLC has been a fun distraction from real life lately! Monster Prom is such a fun game. I absolutely recommend it. I don’t know if I’m gonna bother reviewing the DLC on the blog, but you can find my original review here.

 

In Case You Missed It:

Here are the highlights:

– I shared March/April SFF book releases to get excited about!
– I talked about how you can find out about upcoming releases.
– I shared pretty black, white, and teal book covers.
– I review Bang! Bang! BOOM! Vol. 1 by Melanie Schoen & Del Borovic, a fantastic LGBT+ historical fantasy comic with lovable characters.
– I reviewed Infernal Providence by J. Armand, an amazing addition to a gripping LGBT+ urban fantasy series, also with lovable characters.

 
 
 

Talk to me!

Have you found any good books or music lately?

 
 
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Your Thoughts

 

44 thoughts on “Update: Life and Books (Feb 2019)

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  1. Greg

    Well Levine is certainly looking gussied up, and I like the blue tint to the dancing boys. Nice. 🙂

    Congrats on th giveaways!I like the look of Tangled Webs, plus I’ve been eyeing Gail Z. Martin for a while, but still haven’t taken the plunge. Hopefully it’s good.

    Monster Prom :):)

    1. Kristen Burns

      Thanks! XD

      I actually have another Gail Z. Martin book I won in a giveaway some time ago that I still need to read 😬 But I really have been wanting to try this UF series!

  2. Tammy @ Books, Bones & Buffy

    I have Deadly Curiosities on my Kindle from NetGalley, but I’m not sure I can share it. Doesn’t it have to be from Amazon to do that? Anyway, I loved it! I also was just approved for The Grand Dark and I’m pretty excited😁

  3. Lola

    I feel so sad for you that your dental situation has still not improved :(. And that does sound like you have an indestructible heel. Sorry about your toe nail tough, I once broke part of my nail as a kid and I can still remember what a pain it was. I hope the cyst will go away eventually.

    I like that lighting on the dancing picture, that looks pretty neat! Congrats on winning those gift cards! I hope you can find a great book to buy with them. It’s always hard deciding what to buy with a gift card.

    I’ll have to check if that series you listened to is on the site I use to listen to audiobooks, it sounds like a fun series. I also re-read a book this month. I am glad to hear you enjoyed your re-read of the Immortal Coil series and that the newest book was great too. I hope March is a good month for you!

    1. Kristen Burns

      Thanks <3

      Glad you like it! It is so hard deciding on a book lol.

      Idk if fun is quite the word for it, but I am really liking it, and the audiobooks are pretty good! Glad you're enjoying some rereads too. Thanks 🙂

  4. Laura Thomas

    You art is stunning! I used to draw and do some water colors. Been a long time. I have done that before with my toenail. Tripped over my own foot. More than once. LOL It hurts like the dickens and my nail turned black underneath. Nice reading list. I spy a few I’ll be checking out.

    My Sunday Post

    1. Kristen Burns

      Thank you! That’s awesome 🙂 I never could stand watercolor lol. Yeah, I’m just kinda waiting to see what my toenail is gonna do since it was only part of it that bent back…

  5. Sam@wlabb

    Sorry about the toe, finger, and teeth. ((HUGS)) Your illustrations are beautiful. And, Yeah! for being such a big winner. Enjoy all your prizes.

  6. Tanya @ Girl Plus Books

    I cringed so hard reading about the toenail. Ouuuuch. Loving the artwork, Kristen. Glad the cyst isn’t keeping you from it. Congrats on the giveaways! I won one myself last Friday and it was definitely a fun way to kick off the weekend. I’ve never heard of Alec Benjamin but I enjoyed that song. Hope your week is off to a good start!

  7. Bookworm Brandee

    So i won’t ask, but I continue to hope your dental situation improves! And I also hope your toenail heals quickly. I’m happy your finger isn’t keeping you from your art. You’re very talented! 🙂 I see you finished some good books – at least I hope they were good since they’re from a few of your favorite authors. 😉 And your book haul looks pretty amazing too! Have a great week, Kristen!

    1. Kristen Burns

      Thank you <3 It was def a good reading month! Didn't read a lot, but the books I did read were great 🙂 And I'm excited about my book haul! Thanks, you too 🙂

  8. Becky @ A Fool's Ingenuity

    Ok, no asking on the dental situation, got you. And what on earth are your heels made of to break a tile? That is crazy! I love how you’re still working hard on your art and the work is paying off. The more you practice the more you improve so when you have an idea in your head it’s way easier to translate to page (that’s what I found when I could actually be bothered to putt he work in with art anyway). And I’ve never heard of Alec Benjamin but I always appreciate listening to something new.

    1. Kristen Burns

      I still have no idea how I broke tile with my heel lol. Thanks 🙂 It’s finally starting to happen, being able to take ideas and get them onto the page, so that’s exciting!

  9. ShootingStarsMag

    Love the art, but sorry you might have a cyst on your finger. I get one every now and then – not really sure why it comes, but it does go away. Ooh The Fever King! I really want to read that one; I hope it’s a good book for you. 🙂

    -Lauren

  10. Olivia Roach

    I am so sorry your health hasn’t been going well. It’s just no fun at all when that is a problem >.> I am glad you’ve still been able to enjoy your art though and it makes me happy because I enjoy looking at your art especially when I see it come through on Twitter. Oh, and I have been reading a lot of good books lately! They suddenly came out of hiding to come find me or something 😛

  11. Di @ Book Reviews by Di

    *waves* HI THERE! Remember me?! 🙂

    I keep dropping off the face of the Earth, but I’m still lurking for the most part!

    I had to search back a bit for an update but I just wanted to see how life in general was going for you! Hope you’ve had a fun March so far and congrats on the Giveaway wins! That’s awesome! 🙂

    Hopefully I’ll be around a bit more again now. Would be nice to catch up properly.

    1. Kristen Burns

      HI!!! Who are you again? ;-P

      You keep keep dropping off the face of the earth. I’ve missed you! Thanks 🙂 You should definitely DM me sometime so we can chat!