llamareadsbooks – Page 17 – Cannonball Read 17

Wished I’d read this back when I first put it on my TBR!

Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce

October 30, 2021 by llamareadsbooks 1 Comment

CBR13Bingo: White Whale For CBR’s white whale challenge, I’m going way back in the time machine to a book that’s been on my TBR (eventually) list since I was in middle school. Tamora Pierce’s work, especially her Alanna books, were often recommended as a read-alike to Robin McKinley’s The Blue Sword, which was a hugely formative book for me a kid, mainly I guess because both were books by women starring heroines with swords. For whatever reason, my local library didn’t carry it so I gorged myself […]

“But life isn’t all misery, and finding a path through hard, hard lives to joy is tough, clever, meaningful work.”

Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade

October 30, 2021 by llamareadsbooks 1 Comment

CBR13Bingo: Cityscape First off, wow, that cover. A book featuring a clinch with a beautiful plus-sized heroine? Epically gorgeous. This is a masterwork of outgrowing toxic family, of being your true self, and a love letter to fandom. I absolutely adored it. April is simply one of my favorite heroines ever. One thing I love about Olivia Dade’s work is how well she writes fat characters. Sure, there is some fatphobia in the book from other characters, but April herself loves herself and her body, […]

“No one would mistake you for anything but a tool, Gen.”

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

October 28, 2021 by llamareadsbooks 2 Comments

CBR13Bingo: Old Series I started reading this book as a teen when I ducked into a Barnes & Noble during a rainy visit to New York City. I remember sitting spellbound in front of the shelf, highly amused at Gen’s antics, and spent much longer there than I’d intended. And of course I went home with that book! When someone on one of the discords I’m on mentioned reading it for the first time, I realized I still needed something for my pre-2011 series for […]

“As a heartless killing machine, I was a terrible failure.”

All Systems Red by Martha Wells

October 27, 2021 by llamareadsbooks Leave a Comment

CBR13Bingo: Book Club (local library genre book club) Look, I love Murderbot so deeply that it is very hard for me to explain why without just devolving into a squeeing mess. When my local library’s genre book club picked this as its monthly selection, I was overjoyed, but a bit wary of how the, uh, older and more critical members would take it. But I vastly underestimated Murderbot’s appeal! “As a heartless killing machine, I was a terrible failure.” It’s just another routine contract for Murderbot, until […]

“Baby, we’re the monsters that go bump in the night. You don’t have to be apologizing to us.”

Her Wolf in the Wild by Rien Gray

October 25, 2021 by llamareadsbooks Leave a Comment

I’m going to be honest: I’m not a big fan of motorcycle club romances. But when I saw this was sapphic werewolf fated-mates MC romance? Sold! When Christiana’s car breaks down on a long desert highway while running from her abusive cop boyfriend, Micah stops to pick her up, and then, inexplicably, offers to let her stay with her motorcycle club while she gets back on her feet. Despite all the reasons she shouldn’t stay with a stranger, Christiana feels drawn to Micah and can’t […]

“Just because you know you should, doesn’t mean that you can, stop.”

Nothing But Blackened Teeth by Cassandra Khaw

October 24, 2021 by llamareadsbooks Leave a Comment

That cover is beautiful but terrifying, which is also an apt description of this novella. It’s a haunted house story with a uniquely Japanese setting, but also an exploration of mental health. “One girl each year. Two hundred and six bones times a thousand years. More than enough calcium to keep this house standing until the stars ate themselves clean, picked the sinew from their own shining bones. All for one girl as she waited and waited. Alone in the dirt and the dark.” Five […]

Zirza on A Gothic Classic for a ReasonIt's one of those wish-you-could-read-it-again-for-the-first-time books. I loved it.
Emmalita on “It came to something when you found yourself hoping that the footsteps you heard were ghosts.”I loved the ending! I don’t think it’s been out long enough to talk about why though.
Dixie on Track Her Down by Melinda LeighI am just starting Track Her Down and I have read them all in order till now and thought I...
Roland of Gilead on How can you give us the gift of a crazy character named Rando Thoughtful and then just as suddenly take that gift away? We need to talk, Uncle Stevie.I came across this randomly years after it was written because I was searching "Random Thoughtful. But I have the...
Emmalita on “Only you, Em, would refer to heartbreak as a distraction. I think I would have a more sympathetic response if I asked to marry a bookcase.”Oh my goodness, Gallifrey was beautiful. I’m sure her mittens were gloriously murdery.

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