Well, September was a month. And it’s over now! I never know how to start these posts anymore. I call these “Life and Books,” but as it turns out, life is usually either too boring to be worth talking about or too complicated to want to talk about, and I pretty much just talk about books, games, music, podcasts, and movies/shows instead. Speaking of which…

I found this really cool cover of “Sugar We’re Going Down” that makes it creepy. I love covers or versions of songs that bring out a totally different vibe, maybe even make you pay more attention to the lyrics and look at them in a different light.

I’ve also just been really into this song. (It’s sort of a weird thumbnail, but it’s a good song.)

I’ve also still been obsessing over Project Zomboid! Playing. Watching other people play. It’s just so cool. I need to cut back though because my head nerve problem has been a lot worse lately, and I think it is in part from playing this game (not the game’s fault, just my body).

I also played Synthetic Lover, which took a bit to grow on me, but I absolutely adored it by the end! Every ending made me want to cry, some because they were sad, but most because they were so sweet and touching. I even skim replayed one when I finished them all and almost cried again at the same ending I’d already seen because I loved it so much lol.

And that’s all I’ve got for this month!

Blog/Bookish Updates:

Nothing.

Books I Received for Review:

Tales from Blackthorn Briar by Sebastian Nothwell, from the author. Fangs Vol. 2 by Billy Balibally, from the publisher. Dream On by E.M. Jeanmougin & Jay Wright. Three sequels I was very excited for!

Books I Finished:

If you’re considering buying one of the books below from Amazon, I’d really appreciate if you’d use my affiliate link!

Another great reading month! I’m on a roll lately with fantastic books. Finding so many 4.5-star or maybe 5-star books recently, and some great 4-star books too. Just so I don’t have to say it for every book, all of these are queer except Howl’s Moving Castle, and Prelude sorta (one POV character is gay, though the focus is more on other characters).

Prelude for Lost Souls by Helene Dunbar – I listened to this because I wanted to see if it would help me understand some things from The Promise of Lost Things more, and on that front, eh? I think I might’ve enjoyed it more though. Very atmospheric.

✨ Blackwater by Jeannette Arroyo & Ren Graham – I loved this! Werewolves, ghosts, a trans MC with chronic illness, a POC MC with asthma, father-son feels, and an adorable romance! (Also it’s a graphic novel, so artwork!)

✨ A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland – I loved this too! An adorable romance with fealty and declarations of devotion, plus complex characters I loved.

What Spring Does with the Cherry Trees by Alexandra Rowland – Technically not a book, not even meant to be taken as canon exactly, posted on Archive of Our Own. But it’s by the author! And it was really fun and cute as a little story that takes place after A Taste of Gold and Iron.

The Tutor by Bonnie Dee – This was an atmospheric ghosty story with a nice romance and touching ending.

✨ Tales from Blackthorn Briar by Sebastian Nothwell – This is a short story collection sequel to Oak King Holly King, one of my favorite books this year, and it was delightful! Also sexy. There was so much that made me happy in this.

Sorrow’s Forest by Kaitlin Corvus – I really liked this. It was sort of pretty, sort of gritty, with flawed queer characters and messy emotions and child-eating monsters in a magical forest.

Starbound by Tess Barnett – Books that have significant BDSM are pretty hit or miss for me, but I enjoyed this. The BDSM was safe and consensual and not too extreme, and there was a bit of outer space smuggling plot to balance it out.

Silver Under Nightfall by Rin Chupeco – I didn’t really feel the romance, but the overall story was cool.

Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones – I’ve never seen the movie, but now I’ve finally read the book! It was fun and cute.

✨ Dream On by E.M. Jeanmougin & Jay Wright – A great fourth book in this UF series with characters I love and feel for. The ending though… I need the next book already!

Fangs Vol. 2 by Billy Balibally – Also a great sequel, also with an ending that is making me want the next book right away!

Lost Touch by Eliot Grayson – Another enjoyable book in this steamy shifter series.

In the Shadow of the Throne by Kate Sheridan & Gaia Cardinali – A nice idea, but too rushed to build the relationships or character arc.

In Case You Missed It:

Books:
– I reviewed A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland, a swoon-worthy high fantasy m/m romance.
– I reviewed The Promise of Lost Things by Helene Dunbar, an atmospheric YA m/m romance about a town of mediums and ghosts.
– I reviewed Silver Under Nightfall by Rin Chupeco, a m/m/f high fantasy romance about vampires.
– I reviewed Tales from Blackthorn Briar by Sebastian Nothwell, a sweet, sexy, delightful collection of shorts about characters from Oak King, Holly King.
– I reviewed Reforged by Seth Haddon, a high fantasy m/m second chance romance with magic and action.
– I shared some songs that go really well with The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer.
– I joined in the cover reveal for World Running Down by Al Hess.

Games:
– I reviewed Genesis Noir by Feral Cat Den, a visually gorgeous interactive experience.
– I reviewed Project Zomboid by The Indie Stone, a super fun, in-depth post-apoc life sim / zombie-killing game.
– I talked about how games can be made more accessible, especially for disabled players.