Girl with a Pen and a Dream

My Top 10 Books of 2025!!

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Leigh) — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 09:00:00 +0000

I know we are halfway through February, but I wanted to get this post up. It took me a while to decide. It is hard to pick your top ten books of the year. The first nine I've got down, but the last one was hard. Not because there weren't other books I enjoyed, it was just hard to choose between a few. Some of them are obvious, some of them not so much. But I have them here, with a little bit about why I loved each, as well as a link to find out more about them. As usual, I have some variety here. Is there an order? Maybe? I'm not sure. I think the first four are definitely the very top of the list, but beyond that? I don't know hahaha. And is there an order within the top four? I don't know that, either. I love them all for different reasons. To learn more about the book, simply click on the photo to be taken to the StoryGraph link. :)

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

I had such a hard time choosing between the first four books on this list for my top book of 2025. The way I decided was by which book had the most emotional impact on me; which got the most reactions out of me. And when I decided that, Sunrise on the Reaping HAD to be my number one. I started crying at page 35 and the hits just kept coming. Not only did I cry, I laughed, I yelled at the book, I fumed with anger, I squealed with delight. Therefore, it had to be this one.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab

Man, yet again, it was hard to pick this one. If I’m being honest, it is actually very close between this and my next pick. But the message of this book, of defiant joy, just spoke to me. The writing is also beautiful. I have tabs throughout this book (and I want to go add in more since I listened to part of this). It was the kind of writing that had me almost jealous; wishing I could write like that. I absolutely loved it and, of course, would highly recommend it.

House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland

This book? Ho-ly. Crap. It was so good. It definitely wrung multiple different emotions out of me. Fear, sadness, creeping dread, curiosity, disgust, anger… I found this book when I was searching for books like The Last Tale of the Flower Bride (one of my top books of last year) and Gallant (one of my top books of 2023). This book came up for both of them, so I knew I had to get it and give it a try. I was NOT disappointed. Would I recommend this book? To particular people…hahaha. You have to be okay with some horror elements, and then a good deal of them. I think this may even be classified in the folk horror genre (it may just sneak in there.) There is also a mystery to be solved. I adored it; I thought it was amazing. I loved the folklore elements in it. I also knew about several of the things discussed, which I think made it an even more interesting reading experience. The writing in this one, as well, was beautiful. There are indeed sticky tabs in this one, too.

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow

You know, there are two books about doors on this list. Magical, or supernatural, doors. Emotional reactions? Check. Beautiful writing? Check. Characters I was interested in and had an emotional reaction to? Check. I think you can start to tell which elements are most important to me in a story. This one is also fantasy (as are Addie LaRue and House of Hollow, technically, though the subgenres differ). This one is a historical fantasy; a fairly recent discovery of mine that I was elated about. Two of my favorite genres mashed together!! I love the concept of other worlds and places; of the possibility we don’t know everything there is in this world, or that there are other worlds. That is what this book explores; add in the emotional impact, beautiful writing, and great characters? Amazing.

Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes

Almost three years ago now, I released a novella about Medusa. A reimagining of Medusa. I have been interested in Greek Mythology for a long time (and now, all sorts of mythologies) but to write that, of course, I had to look more into the Medusa myth. Since then, I have been drawn to Medusa as a mythological figure, and very interested in retellings of Medusa (which there seem to be so many of now!). We read this for my book club and I LOVED it!! From the first page, I knew I would love it. Again, beautiful writing. It also calls into question what makes a monster? (Another thing I love.) There were many points of view in this book, from all sorts of gods, goddesses, and mythological figures. (Plus one chapter in a crow’s point of view; the audio for that was wonderful!) Incredible. I loved this book so much. I now have two more Natalie Haynes books waiting to be read. She may be a new found favorite.

Loki: Where Mischief Lies by Mackenzi Lee

Loki!! Is anyone surprised? I LOVE Loki!! Yes, this is about the MCU Loki (and he is the one I LOVE, though I also like Norse Mythology Loki.) This book was also set in 1890’s London; a setting I absolutely adore. It was interesting because this takes place before the first Thor movie and The Avengers and all of that, so you do know the general path Loki is headed down. Which didn’t make the ending any less…sad? Is that the right word? Anyway, this still shows so much dimension to Loki. His mischief, his snark, his wounds, his…compassion? He at least shows concern at several points; largely for Midgardians. But he is still Loki; he still has that wit and charm that we love. I don’t feel like I can say much else without giving a lot away. But if you love Loki, I think you should definitely read this book.

The Knight and the Butcherbird by Alix E. Harrow

Another Alix E. Harrow!! She made it on this list twice. I’ve read five or six things by her at this point (several short stories, including this one.) I remember this one being described as a “Dystopian Fairy-Tale” which immediately piqued my interest. I’d never heard that before. As I said, this was a short story, but it packed a lot in, and it did it very well. The world-building was done well, and in such a short amount of time. There was some religious commentary in there, which I wasn’t expecting, but I found interesting. It seems Alix E. Harrow is also becoming a favorite author.

The Path of Thorns by A. G. Slatter

“A gorgeous dark gothic fairy tale.” That got my attention!! All buzzwords for me. Gorgeous. Dark. Gothic. And fairy tale. Perfect. I do believe it lived up to that, too. This was one where I rated it one thing, but kept thinking about the book and realized it was actually one of my favorites of the year, and I wanted to read more from A. G. Slatter. It deserved a higher rating. There was a lot in this book. It mentions some things that aren’t explored in this particular novel, but I believe they are in the accompanying books in the Sourdough Universe. The characters were very interesting, as well. The main character was certainly not black and white; good or bad. Which is another one of my favorite things. It also had some of my other favorite things in it, but that may be giving too much away to mention them. If you want a beautifully written, slightly slower paced, character driven gothic fairy tale, then definitely put this one on your list!!

This is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone and Amal El-Mohtar

Okay, this caught my eye because of the “Time War” thing. I am a huge Doctor Who fan, and the Time War is a massive part of New Who. That’s what made me pick this book up at the bookstore, then find out it had nothing to do with Doctor Who. However, it still sounded interesting, and certainly had some Doctor-Who-like things going on. (Wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey, you know?) Plus, this quote on the back from V. E. Schwab? “Holy shit this was good.” That convinced me (after a few times of looking at it.) Again, this has beautiful writing; writing is mentioned in most of these explanations. The love story was so…angsty, and full of yearning, which I love in a love story. Oh, this is proving hard to sum up why I loved it. Beautiful writing, interesting characters, an intricate time travel plot, probably morally grey characters…there was a lot to like for me. I also feel my watching of Doctor Who helped me understand some time travel bits, and see a plot twist coming haha. I really enjoyed it.

Once Upon a Time: The Shadow of the Queen by Daniel T. Thompson

This is the one I went with for my number ten. Who knows? Maybe it will change, but I think I am going with this for this blog post. This is based on the show Once Upon a Time, which I absolutely love. I'm sure that has a massive influence on this book getting the number ten spot on my list. Once Upon a Time is based on fairy tale characters (mostly from Disney movies but with some others, and some of the original fairy tales taken into account). This graphic novel follows the Evil Queen, the Huntsman, Snow White and Little Red Riding Hood. I loved it. The art is fantastic. If you are at all a fan of the show, I do highly recommend it.

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Alright, there it is!! My Top Ten Books of 2025! Are any of these on your list of favorites from 2025? Share them with me below! Or tell me some of your favorites. I'm really looking forward to all the books I'll be reading in 2026!!

Spooky Stragglers: Television Shows I Forgot to Mention!!

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Leigh) — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 04:58:00 +0000

As usual, something got left out in my Spooky Season Blog Series. I did get most of the shows and movies in there, but I missed a few. :/ Oh, well. It does happen. But I thought I would come back to mention them here. I'm not going to go as in depth as I did for the last ones. Here they are:

Ghost Whisperer (2005 - 2010)

I really loved this show. Starring Jennifer Love Hewitt as Melinda Gordon; a woman who can talk to ghosts and help them cross over. I think I watched all of them when they were on. I recently started rewatching the series, actually. This show was basically the prefect combination of a good scare and then a good cry. They expanded on things as the show went on, too. The finale of season one is something I've thought about many times over the years.

Truth or Scare (2001 - 2003)

I'm not sure I saw all of these. I loved it, though. Michelle Trachtenberg was a great host. Rest in Peace. <3 It was sort of documentary style. There were interviews and film footage. Some of the ones I remember loving or really affecting me were: Castle Ghosts of Ireland, Castle Ghosts of England, Castle Ghosts of Scotland, Castle Ghosts of Wales. (Anything with castle ghosts, apparently.) The Curse of King Tutankhamen, UFOs Over Phoenix, America's Haunted Houses, Night Visitors, The True Story of Halloween, and Real Witches? I just looked at an episode list, and I think I did see all of them. I loved them all, but those stood out the most.

Mystery Hunters (2002 - 2009)

Apparently this show lasted longer than I thought. I am almost sure I did not watch all of these. I would watch Truth or Scare and this on the same night during the weekends before bed. lmao I know, sweet dreams. From what I remember, two kids (teenagers) would investigate unexplained things and see if they could debunk or explain them. Seventy-eight episodes is a lot ot look through. I do recall the one about MacBeth and the Salem Witches. I'm sure if I watched again I would remember some. There was also an adult on it; a scientist. Or at least he played one. This and Truth or Scare were both on Discovery Kids. I loved them, but I liked Truth or Scare more.

Did you watch any of these? I would love to know; tell me in the comments!!

My Favorite Are You Afraid of the Dark? Episodes!!

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Leigh) — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 09:00:00 +0000

We have come to my favorite of the shows I've been talking about!! The 1990s "Are You Afraid of the Dark?"!! The opening was amazing. That music, the swings moving with no one on them, the doll, the door, etc. To this day a swing moving with no one on it freaks me out. And freaks out many children of the 90s who watched this show. Just look it up if you don't know it. Anyway, amazing, and such a good show!! I am only going to be talking about the original run from 1992-1996. Below I am listing all of my favorite episodes and pointing out what my very top favorites are. Did you watch this show? What was your favorite episode? Let me know in the comments!!

S1.E6 ∙ The Tale of the Super Specs

Weeds, a prankster, buys his girlfriend Marybeth a pair of super spec glasses as part of his April's Fool Day collection. Once she puts on the glasses, strange figures appear and can't be explained.

This episode was fascinating to me. The idea of the glasses seeing another dimension…amazing, and terrifying. It also completely freaked me out. As often happens, though, it is also one of my absolute favorites. And that ending? Wow… One of my favorite episodes EVER.

S1.E8 ∙ The Tale of the Nightly Neighbors

Some new neighbors move into a neighborhood. They are originally from Eastern Europe, wear black, collect blood, and are only active at night.

I have loved vampires from an early age, and it likely started with Are You Afraid of the Dark? I’m not sure which of the two vampire episodes I saw first. This one did freak me out at the time; not as much now. Again, this had a surprising ending.

S1.E9 ∙ The Tale of the Sorcerer's Apprentice

Dean, a troubled student, awakens an ancient secret hidden in the school.

This is one I have found myself rewatching over the years. It has magic in it’ magical artifacts, etc. Something that is of interest to me. I like the mystery and history of it.

S1.E12 ∙ The Tale of the Prom Queen

Two boys befriend a young woman where they encourage her to join them in search of a legend that comes every year.

Very likely in my top five favorite episodes of Are You Afraid of the Dark? EVER. This one is less scary, in my opinion, but it is such a good story. Another great ending, too. And it did have some spooky bits.

S2.E2 ∙ The Tale of the Midnight Madness

Dr. Vink helps an old movie theater in danger of closing by showing a special version of the vampire classic Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (1922).

Another of my favorite EVER episodes. And another that terrified me. Oh, and another vampire one. So, there are three here. As I said, I love vampires. Still not sure which of these three I saw first. This really scared me, but I loved it. Notable for the first appearance of Dr. Vink, too.

S2.E10 ∙ The Tale of the Shiny Red Bicycle

Mike Buckley is haunted by the ghost of Ricky Hagerty, his friend who drowned, and his old bike.

Another classic ghost story; with scares AND emotions. Which is my favorite type of ghost story.

S2.E12 ∙ The Tale of the Hatching

A brother and sister enroll at a boarding school, but soon find out their headmasters are aliens plotting to take over Earth.

Definitely different from the previous episodes mentioned, this one is about aliens. It is unique and creepy and a little gross lol. At least I though so as a kid. I did really like it, though.

S3.E1 ∙ The Tale of the Midnight Ride

Ian Matthews arrives in the legendary town of Sleepy Hollow where he meets a new girlfriend, the tough guy and the notorious Headless horseman.

I am from New York state. I have literally visited Sleepy Hollow, and Washington Irving’s house. I went to college right next to Sleepy Hollow. So to have an Are You Afraid of the Dark? Episode set in Sleepy Hollow is amazing. I loved it as a little kid, and I still love it today. It is also the only story in the original run to take place in a real town. One of my favorites EVER.

S3.E3 ∙ The Tale of Watcher's Woods

Sarah and Kelly learned they should never enter the Watcher's woods, the scary section occupied by the ghosts of three old hags and the evil Watcher.

This one…it had some genuinely scary, and even mildly disturbing parts; for a kid’s show. I read somewhere Watcher’s Woods was an actual girl scout legend they tell when they go camping. Does anyone know about that?

S3.E13 ∙ The Tale of the Dangerous Soup

Dr. Vink's soup restaurant is the top of the town where a young man who applies at the job along with a waitress find out the secret recipe to the successful soup.

This one has a line my mom and I still quote today: “You want loud? I’ll show you loud!” The concept of this was very creative. Also, the second time Dr. Vink appears on this list.

S4.E1 ∙ The Tale of the Renegade Virus

A boy who enjoys playing pranks goes too far one day and is punished by being trapped in a virtual reality game.

Another one that freaked me out. The…personification of the virus, I found very creepy. There is also a shot that will randomly pop into my head sometimes. Something not organic sort of growing out of the main character’s hand.

S4.E3 ∙ The Tale of the Water Demons

Shawn McKenzie visits his relatives and works in a job for the summer where him and his cousin deliver groceries to an old man's house and see why he's very odd.

Definitely freaked me out. The fact that these water demons came while this man was asleep was a big reason. Made me afraid to sleep, for sure. It’s better now when I watch it lol. Meaning I can sleep. There were a few jump scares, too. Another favorite EVER, though.

S4.E6 ∙ The Tale of the Quiet Librarian

A library is haunted by the ghost of a former librarian who dislikes noisy children.

It is no secret that I love books; I also love the library. So the setting was appealing to me, but also creepy. Sometimes an absolutely silent library is creepy. And the setting of this also made it creepier for me, since I loved (and still love) libraries.

S4.E7 ∙ The Tale of the Silent Servant

Two kids bring a scarecrow to life to do their chores on a farm. It seems like a good idea, for a while...

I blame this episode for making me mildly freaked out by scarecrows…

S4.E9 ∙ The Tale of the Ghastly Grinner

A young comic book fan/artist unleashes a villain from a rare comic book, who turns people into laughing zombies!

I hate clowns. I am sorry, they scare me. I can hardly look at one. You will notice none of the actual clown episodes are on my list, and that is why. Now, the ghastly grinner…it teeters on the edge. He is more of a jester type of character. Which is still freaky. And while the idea of him turning people into laughing zombies may not sound that scary, it is creepy.

S4.E10 ∙ The Tale of the Fire Ghost

Two teens help the ghost of a fire-fighter.

The synopsis does not do this episode justice. This is another one of my absolute favorite episodes EVER. Two ghosts in this one. It also made me very wary of looking into a flame for too long; to this day.

S5.E1 ∙ The Tale of the Dead Man's Float

Zeke and Clorice find an abandoned swimming pool at their school where a secret is contained.

This is one a lot of lists of scariest episodes of Are You Afraid of the Dark? I don’t remember it scaring me THAT much, but it was good, and it did scare me a little. The design of the thing in the pool was really freaky for a 90s kid’s show.

S5.E3 ∙ The Tale of Station 109.1

A youth obsessed with death discovers a radio station which takes its listeners to the afterlife.

Now probably mostly known as the episode Ryan Gosling was in. In fact, it says that in parenthesis after the episode title; that it features Ryan Gosling. He is not the main character, though. The idea of a radio station being something more is interesting and creepy. Plus, taking the listener to the afterlife? Wow.

S5.E6 ∙ The Tale of C7

A family moves into a house on the lake where an ancient jukebox brings back to life the memory of a fallen soldier.

Another one of my favorite episodes EVER. Another mix of creepy and emotional. Even as a child, the sad story got to me. I love this episode so much.

S5.E7 ∙ The Tale of Badge

Gwen, a girl who doesn't believe in her talent of music, gets a chance to test her gift when an ancient spirit awakens.

Freaked me the hell out. But I still loved it. Haha!! “Badge, I am.” Ooohh, chills. When most people speak like that, they think of Yoda. I think of Badge… This also had music and some witchcraft, which I loved. Another favorite EVER episode.

S5.E11 ∙ The Tale of the Vacant Lot

A mysterious woman gives a shy young girl everything she needs to be popular, in exchange for her soul.

A classic tale with a twist. A deal in exchange for your soul. And for things that ultimately will not be important later. Definitely a lesson in this, but wrapped up in a good story.

S5.E12 ∙ The Tale of a Door Unlocked

Sardo sells a magic door to a teenage boy where once he opens the door, the future happens in front of him.

Magic doors? That is amazing. I love this concept so much. And look, there is Sardo! No Mister, accent on the do! This one was more suspenseful than scary, and didn't have ghosts or creatures; it was smore mystical. Something I love to this day. So this is definitely another favorite episode EVER.

S5.E13 ∙ The Tale of the Night Shift

Amanda works the night shift at a hospital where she sees that all the employees are acting strange and weak around her.

And we come to the episode that scares me the most, and still scares me to this day. There is a lot that goes into why this episode freaked me out so much. One: it takes place in a hospital. I have a serious, rare chronic illness and have spent a lot of time in hospitals. Two: the main character is also named Amanda. I mean, especially as a child, yeah, that added to the fear. Three: the vampire in this is not the sexy vampires we know today. Lmao. It shapeshifted into something that looked monstrous, and was monstrous. Four: the way people acted after they were bitten was very creepy. Five: Someone being hung over the roof of the hospital. Six: “I shall drop you and then lick up what’s left.” ….Yeah. In a kid’s show. Wow. Still, another one of my absolute favorite EVER, and the one that scared me the most. For good reason.

There you go! My favorite episodes of "Are You Afraid of the Dark?"! SUCH a good show!! I still love it to this day. And we have my top TEN favorites: The Tale of the Super Specs, The Tale of the Prom Queen, The Tale of the Midnight Madness, The Tale of the Midnight Ride, The Tale of the Water Demons, The Tale of the Fire Ghost, The Tale of C7, The Tale of Badge, The Tale of a Door Unlocked, and The Tale of the Night Shift. PLEASE let my know your favorites!! Or, if you've never seen this, which episodes you are going to check out first!! ;)

So Weird Episodes That I Loved

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Leigh) — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Who remembers the Disney show "So Weird"? It ran from 1999 to 2001. This follows Fi who is on the road with her musician mom and their family. Strange things seem to happen everywhere Fi goes and she posts them on her website "So Weird". I loved this show. When I was making this list, I was actually surprised at how many of these episodes made my list. I thought there was going to be a lot less. Did you watch this? Let me know below. Now, onto the episodes.

Season One

Family Reunion

A preteen supernatural seeker, Fiona, tries to help a ghostly boy reunite with his dead parents.

The very first episode. I loved this. It has some classic ghost story elements. Spooky and then sad/heartwarming (if I remember correctly - I think it's heartwarming.) Sort of like Ghost Whisperer. Damn, I forgot to put that show on this list. That one certainly influenced me, too.

Memory

Fi tries to solve a small-town mystery involving mysterious aliens who lost control of their ship.

The second staple in So Weird. Ghosts and aliens. This felt like a good introduction into the second part of So Weird's main elements. The element of memory was interesting and disorienting. I think it worked really well.

Escape

Fi's brother and friend fall in love with a girl who can leave her body at will to escape the pressures of school and her family.

Very possibly my first introduction to the concept of astralprojection. (I'm not sure if it was in this or Charmed.) It definitely played with the viewer a bit until they knew what was happening. It also brought up dangers this girl may have been putting herself in by astralprojecting.

Angel

Jack befriends a beautiful girl, Gabe, who is concealing her leukemia from everyone except her dad and a guardian angel.

This one at first scared the crap out of me. "You're the one." I'll just leave that there. It still sometimes sneaks into my mind to scare me in the middle of the night. It turned out to not be nefarious, but still.

Rebecca

Molly's childhood friend has met Fiona, however she is hiding the reason why she disappeared years ago - she is immortal and has to keep it a secret.

This is very possibly my favorite episode of So Weird. The concept of immortality is fascinating to me. Is it a gift or a curse? This episode goes into that a bit. Also, the song Molly sings, "Rebecca" is beautiful and I still sing it to this day.

Tulpa

Fi's brother Jack has a dispute with a boy named James, who has created a cunning imaginary friend that became a real soul.

This was always an interesting concept to me, as someone with a very vivid imagination; imaginary friends, for sure, but also loving fictional characters so much. The idea that a concept could become a real soul drew me in.

Lost

Fi tries to help a lost little girl on a chat room get home, and learns that the little girl is now a teen and comatose.

This one is emotional. I think I teared up at this one. It was also very engaging; definitely a glued to the screen type of episode for me.

Will 'O the Wisp

While viewing the ghost lights of Marfa, a mischievous will o' the wisp takes over Jack's body and freezes time leaving Fi to decipher the riddle of his name or the creature will inhabit Jack's body permanently.

Oh, boy. This episode. Are there things that should be ridiculous? One hundred percent. Was it somehow made freaky? Absolutely. Credit definitely needs to be given to the actor playing Jack (who is of course posessed by the will o' the wisp here) because he sold it. I also love the concept of guessing the name; it feels very Rumpelstiltskin to me. That is one of my favorite fairy tales. Also, "Quack quack, little duck." Oooo, shivers. Why is that so creepy?

Season Two

Medium

Fi lost her dad in a car crash as a young baby. Now she is about to meet an amazing man who can help her contact her lost parent.

The concept of mediums is another thing that is fascinating to me, so this one was always going to make the list.

Siren

At a concert Fi meets a girl forced into entertainment slavery, for a reason. She is a siren, but unlike the evil ones depicted in legends, she just wants to go home and avoid the world.

Sirens are definitely an interesting concept, but this one made the list more for the emotion and Molly's feeling of empathy and connection to this girl.

Nightmare

Jack admits his true fears in a strange nightmare where his sister and cousins are present, and learns why his cousin is so afraid of family life.

This one has the concept of a shared dream, which is another thing I find fascinating. It always make me think of folie a deux but with a dream instead.

Listen

In a small town a visit from aliens has made the wheat from their crop circles have telepathic properties. Anyone who eats it can read minds, which poses an issue greater than anyone could imagine.

Telepathy, but thanks to aliens!!

Werewolf

An adopted little girl has the power to change into a wolf at night, but is having a hard time controlling her powers.

This one was sad. There were some scary parts, for sure, but to me it focused on the hardship something like this would cause.

Banshee

Fi uses her Irish heritage to stop a banshee ghost from killing her grandfather in the night.

This one made it on the list because of the Irish lore. It's something I've found fascinating for years and this was probably one of my earliest introductions to the Banshee. I also have Irish heritage myself.

Strange Geometry

Fi, during a trip to London, learns some secrets about her father that change her life.

Okay, I'm going to be honest, I don't remember a lot about what this one was about, but there is an image from this that sticks in my head. Impressions of hands and heads pushing out through a wall. Creepy.

Fountain

During a Christmas shopping trip, Fiona goes back through time to view her life.

This one definitely is the concept of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. A familiar concept, but one that usually has an impact.

Fall

Fi's Uncle Ned has to deal with an accident where his best friend Pete was squished among the rocks during a tragic fall. Now Pete's ghost has come back.

I love the concept of a ghost coming back to let someone know their death wasn't their fault, and if I remember correctly that is how this one goes.

Destiny

A creature from Irish folklore possesses Fi's mom and makes her do weird things, such as using the back corner of a tour bus as a backscratcher and dancing for no apparent reason.

The creature from Will O' the Wisp is in this one, and anything with this creature from Irish (and Scottish) folklore is going to make the list.

Blues

Fi unravels a mystery of the past involving the murder of a great Blues musician, and learns his music was stolen by another man.

This one was a murder mystery with a paranormal twist. And I think the paranormal twist may not be what you'd expect, either. Add in the blues music and I loved this episode.

Roswell

Fi meets a man who she at first believes is mentally disabled, but he secretly lived on an army base as a little boy, and his sister has a story to tell of how he may have met an alien life form.

This may have been where I first introduced to Roswell and the idea that the government was hiding something about it and aliens in general. This one got emotional, too.

Encore

An interlude episode of the series which features reflections and best moments from different episodes.

This one was slower than others, but I think it worked really well. Another one that got emotional. There is also a specific reason I loved this one, but I don't want to say it to ruin the "surprise".

Transplant

A close friend of the Phillips family, John, underwent traumatic heart surgery due to his heavy smoking. Now he's having horrible flashbacks of the surgery and has a mental breakdown.

This dealt with some heavy stuff for a kid's show, but I feel like shows and movies from this time did that a lot. John (Papa Bear) is acting strange after having a heart transplant. There were more episodes of this show that got emotional than I realized.

Twin

During a trip to New York City, Fi discovers that her lawyer aunt might be the connection she needs that gives her the answers about her father.

Definitely finale material. Things come to a head from the last two seasons, and I think it all worked very well. This episode also dealt with the concept of automatic writing, which was an interesting twist.

Season Three

Lightning Rod

Fi runs into an old friend, Bricriu, while a friend of Molly's and her daughter Annie visit. After Fi says a spell out of her spell book everyone but herself and Annie turn into animals or plants. Fi makes a decision to protect her family. While Annie's mom asks a favor of Molly.

Well, I said anything with that creature from Irish/Scottish folklore would make my list, and here is again. Bricriu. This episode is also bittersweet because it is Fi's last episode. She is mentioned in season three, but I'm pretty sure she doesn't appear again. Instead, we have Annie as the main character now. For me, the show just wasn't the same after that. But some episodes still made my list. This being Fi's last episode is another reason this makes the list.

Talking Board

Molly decides to sell the old house and move closer to town. Jack, Annie, Carey and a couple of friends spend a night with a Ouija board. When the Ouija board starts to predict the future Annie tries to prevent a disaster.

Ouija boards. Oh, boy. I mean, I won't be messing with one anytime soon, but it is still fascinating to me, so this one had to make the list.

Rewind

Annie discovers a cryptic, incomprehensible message on her audio track when played backwards.

This one has a mother stealing the talents of those who come into her recording studio for her daughter to have instead. It was a good one, I enjoyed it. It was also definitely to showcase the voice of the girl who played Annie, but still.

Changeling

Annie and Jack babysit a baby that is kidnapped and replaced by changelings with their own horrific child. Annie and Jack must somehow make the creature laugh before the real baby's parents come home from the movies.

This one was definitely ridiculous and over the top, but it was likely my first introduction to the folklore of changelings, which is something I am kind of fascinated with now. For that reason, I felt this had to go on the list.

Still Life

One stormy night, Annie and the gang get trapped in a life-sized watercolor painting. Only Annie seems to remember the truth, and it's up to her to remind them how important the real world is.

Charmed had a similar episode where Prue got trapped in a painting. It took a different approach and I liked that better, but this one was still good.

Dead Ringer

A youthful transgression comes back to haunt Jack, after Annie buys a box of items from an estate sale from an old neighbor.

This one had Jack as the main one experiencing strange happenings and hauntings, which feels like a notable occurrence. So I felt it had to make the list for that reason.

Okay! That was my list of So Weird episodes I loved! There were way more than I thought there would be. What about you? Did you watch this show growing up? Do you still go back to old episodes sometimes? Let me know in the comments!!

Goosebumps Episodes That I Loved

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Leigh) — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 21:00:00 +0000

Goosebumps was a show based on the famous R. L. Stine books. I think a lot of people know about this show, but that might not be accurate anymore. 🤣 Goosebumps ran from 1995-1998 on Fox Kids. I looked up the episodes in two different places. One was IMDB. There may still be some episodes that I missed. Sometimes looking up older shows is strange; they don't list every episode or they list them out of order, but I tried. I was actually surprised because I didn't write down that many episodes. I tried to only list episodes that I really loved/made an impression on me. Before I get into this list, I think I'll make note of the episode "Night of the Living Dummy". I actually hated that episode, but it made me terrified of ventriloquist dummies, so I had to mention it here. But enough introduction, here is my list of favorite Goosebumps episodes!!

The Haunted Mask Parts 1 and 2

I feel like this one is a classic of Goosebumps. Carly Beth and that creepy mask! This one takes place on Halloween, so it's a great one to watch this month. Honestly, everything in this blog post series is, but since this takes place on Halloween, even better. It was scary, and had a nice message, too.

The Cuckoo Clock of Doom

In this one, Michael wants to get his prank loving little sister in trouble, so he turns the head on his father's cuckoo clock backwards and things do very wrong. Of course. I've always loved this episode. And the ending was very interesting; I liked it,

Welcome to Camp Nightmare Parts 1 and 2

I've seen several people say they didn't like this two-parter, but I loved it. It's about a camp with a creature that seems to be picking off the campers one by one but the counselors are flippant and uncaring. It seems like a standard creature episode, but it has a twist that I absolutely loved.

Phantom of the Auditorium

Of course, this is a take on The Phantom of the Opera, and was probably my first introduction to that story. Brooke gets cast as the lead in her school's production of The Phantom, but there are rumors of the play being cursed. Then Brooke starts having nightmares and getting strange warnings related to the production. This one was eerie and almost more of a mystery. I think there was a bit of a twist; though I wonder if as an adult I would see this twist coming.

Piano Lessons Can Be Murder

I almost didn't put this on the list, but realized I have watched several times since this show ended, so I thought it should be on the list. Jerry finds a long-abandoned piano in his family's new house, and he decides to take lessons. But there is a ghost who warns him about the music school he attends.

My Hairiest Adventure

I don't know how much to say about some of these because I don't want to give things way, especially since these are short. For some reason, I always liked this one and have watched it several times since the show ended. Direct from IMDB: "After Larry and his friends use the contents of an expired bottle of instant tan, strange things start to happen: Larry beings to grow hair on unusual parts of his body, and his friends start to disappear." Yes, that sounds very strange, but I would wonder if you would get the twist from that description.

Stay Out of the Basement Parts 1 and 2

This one doesn't scare me as much now, but it does still get me a bit. According to my mom, this one absolutely terrified me as a kid. Margaret and her brother are home alone with their dad for a while, but he is spending a lot of time in the basement and his behavior is changing. He also insists they stay out of the basement... Another interesting ending.

A Night in Terror Tower Parts 1 and 2

This one didn't really scare me, I just absolutely loved the story. Don't get me wrong, it is scary, but not in the same way as the others. Eddie and Sue are on a tour of Terror Tower and they get stuck in there. I'm only going into part one here, but part two really makes it, I think. It's a fantastic two-parter that I highly recommend.

The Werewolf of Fever Swamp Parts 1 and 2

Oh, the Goosebumps two-parter that scared me the most... I think you probably get the gist, right? Well, Grady and his family move to a remote area, Fever Swamp. A boy there tells Grady about a fever people in the swamp get, and the old man in the woods who is a werewolf. Yes, now, the costumes/effects would be mocked, but it was the 90s, okay? Despite that, there are some very scary parts in this one, and the ending...well, I think that was what set it over the edge for me. It still scares me today. Another instance of: I loved it, but it terrified me. I still only watch this one in the daytime.

Scarecrow Walks at Midnight

Thanks to this episode and an episode of another show, scarecrows scare the crap out of me. 😅 I don't even remember this one very well.

Most of these episodes were from season one. At least, that's what it said online, but four of these were two-parters which I remember being special presentations and when Goosebumps was on Netflix the two-parters were listed in their own season, so I'm not sure. Either way, it seems most of the episodes I liked most were earlier ones. Scarecrow Walks at Midnight is from season two; the only one not from the first season, if the internet was accurate. 😅

Next week I will go through my favorite So Weird episodes!! There were a lot more of these than I thought there would be, so I'm excited. It will be a long one.

Did you watch Goosebumps? Which episodes were your favorite? Which ones scared you the most? Were they one and the same? Let me know in the comments below!!

Happy October!! Stories That Influenced My Love of Spooky Things

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Leigh) — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 08:00:00 +0000

In honor of my favorite month, October, I thought I would do a series of blog posts about the creepy stuff that influenced me growing up!! This is a four part series on this blog, with one post a week. Today is a list of all the movies and television shows that influenced my taste in scary things. The next three will be specific episodes from each of the shows listed. I'm so excited!! And I would love to hear from YOU. If you like spooky things, what sorts of movies or TV shows influenced your taste? Or books? Please let me know in the comments!!

Are You Afraid of the Dark?

A kid's horror anthology show from the 90's. Kids sitting around a campfire telling scary stories at midnight. The Midnight Society. Anyone remember this? I LOVED this one!! And there were some genuinely scary stories told.

Goosebumps

This was more popular than "Are You Afraid of the Dark?". Based on R. L. Stine's children's book series. I liked this one, and some episodes scared the crap out of me and influenced what I like in spooky things, but I was more of an "Are You Afraid of the Dark?" girl.

So Weird

A Disney show from the very early 2000's. For a girl who loved weird things, this show was amazing. I still preferred Fi over Annie. Sorry.

Watcher in the Woods

This movie came out on the 80's. I adored it, and it also scared me. Many of my favorite things seem to do that. I was also recently made aware it could be considered Gothic Horror. Which I think is the genre I may enjoy most.

The Sixth Sense

The classic M. Night Shyamalan movie with the twist that shocked the world. Also from the 90's. 1999. One of my favorites. And it got pretty emotional, too. Psychological Horror is very much my thing. This one and The Others scared my cousins senseless. They were well versed in slasher movies by the time they watched these two with me at 13 years old, which is what led me to believe that Psychological Horror is scarier than Slasher movies.

The Others

I also just realized that this has many of the hallmarks of Gothic Horror. This one is from 2001. I adore this movie. It utterly scared the shit out of me when I first saw it. I wonder if I would see the twist coming now... But at 13, absolutely not.

War of the Worlds

I loved the 2005 War of the Worlds. It honestly terrified me. I was 14 when I saw it at the theatre. When I was waiting for someone to unlock our door, a car horn went off and scared the daylights out of me. If you've seen the film, you will understand why.

Signs

Another M. Night Shyamalan movie. I loved this movie. It had several scenes that freaked me out but it is one of my favorites. (That is a theme here: my favorites often scared the crap out of me.) I also really liked the philosophical and theological lean the movie had. There were a lot of emotional moments, too. Definitely a few jump scares in there, as well.

The Village

I think this movie was not marketed well at all. It was supposed to be the scariest movie of the year, and I did not think it was nearly as scary as it was made out to be; which is where I think a lot of the negative reviews came from. Personally, I love this movie. It was a unique plot, good atmosphere, great score, a sort of quiet dread, and it did have a couple of jump scares.

Let me know your favorite scary movies and shows!! Especially ones from when you were a kid and teenager; ones that really influenced what you love in a spooky story!!

Book Review: Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Leigh) — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 08:30:00 +0000

Title: Sunrise on the Reaping

Series: The Hunger Games #0.5

Author: Suzanne Collins

Release Date: 18 March 2025

Page Amount: 382 pages, Hardcover

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GoodReads Blurb:

Review:

Holy shit. I know I don't curse a lot in my blog posts, but this warrants it. I'll say it again. Holy shit. It was a brilliant, but brutal, book. As one would expect from a Hunger Games novel.

Going into this, we know the basics of Haymitch's story. Especially if you've read the other books first (please do, by the way). But even reading the little bit about his background that I did in Mockingjay...nothing could have prepared me. I honestly think this was the most brutal of the Hunger Games novels. I knew President Snow was damn evil, but in this book? Again, holy shit. The things he did in this book...When this movie comes out, I think it might be the most difficult of the films to watch. Which is saying quite a lot.

Something else Suzanne Collins does really well is calling out the behavior of the people in the Capitol while also acknowledging that some of them even try to, in their own way, be "good" to the tributes, and are even brainwashed, you could say. Like Effie Trinket, for example. And Suzanne Collins also calls attention to the people in the Capitol who want to revolt, but why they might not be doing so, or are being quiet about it. She shows the fear in even some of the Capitol citizens, not only the Districts, which I think is brilliant.

There were a lot of appearances of familiar characters, as well, which were great to see. And all of the connections to the original trilogy? I am saying it again...Holy shit!!

This is an easy five star book for me. Haymitch is also my favorite character (well, him and Cinna) so I knew this would be high up on my list of favorite books for this year (and in general) but also would emotionally drain me. Which it absolutely did. I have described it as "Soul shattering". That being said, if you are a Hunger Games fan, and you are prepared (as you can be) then yes, I highly recommend this.

5 quills

Book Review: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Leigh) — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 08:30:00 +0000

Title: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

Author: V.E. Schwab

Release Date: October 6, 2020

Page Amount: 448 pages, Hardcover, Barnes and Noble Exclusive Edition

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GoodReads Blurb:

A Life No One Will Remember. A Story You Will Never Forget.

France, 1714: in a moment of desperation, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain to live forever—and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets.

Thus begins the extraordinary life of Addie LaRue, and a dazzling adventure that will play out across centuries and continents, across history and art, as a young woman learns how far she will go to leave her mark on the world.

But everything changes when, after nearly 300 years, Addie stumbles across a young man in a hidden bookstore and he remembers her name.

Review:

Wow. This was amazing. The writing was lush, immersive, stunning. I am actually jealous of the beautiful writing in this book. V. E. Schwab is incredible. I need to go back and add so many more tabs to mark my favorite quotes.

I was not expecting twists in this, but there were some twists. A couple (after the first twist) I suspected, but wasn't sure. They were great.

There were amazing characters, too. I love Addie. Her defiant joy is beautiful and inspiring. That's how V. E. Schwab described Addie's character, "defiant joy", and it is perfect. Henry was also great. And the Darkness was also a fascinating character. Several of the lines I already have tabbed are either about him or were said by him. So stunning. The dynamic with Addie was interesting.

I just absolutely adore this book and would recommend it a thousand times over.

5 quills

Book Review: Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Leigh) — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 08:30:00 +0000

Title: Stone Blind

Author: Natalie Haynes

Release Date: September 15, 2022

Page Amount: 371 pages, Paperback

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GoodReads Blurb:

The national bestselling author of A Thousand Ships and Pandora's Jar returns with a fresh and stunningly perceptive take on the story of Medusa, the original monstered woman.

They will fear you and flee you and call you a monster.

The only mortal in a family of gods, Medusa is the youngest of the Gorgon sisters. Unlike her siblings, Medusa grows older, experiences change, feels weakness. Her mortal lifespan gives her an urgency that her family will never know.

When the sea god Poseidon assaults Medusa in Athene's temple, the goddess is enraged. Furious by the violation of her sacred space, Athene takes revenge--on the young woman. Punished for Poseidon's actions, Medusa is forever transformed. Writhing snakes replace her hair and her gaze will turn any living creature to stone. Cursed with the power to destroy all she loves with one look, Medusa condemns herself to a life of solitude.

Until Perseus embarks upon a fateful quest to fetch the head of a Gorgon . . .

In Stone Blind, classicist and comedian Natalie Haynes turns our understanding of this legendary myth on its head, bringing empathy and nuance to one of the earliest stories in which a woman--injured by a powerful man--is blamed, punished, and monstered for the assault. Delving into the origins of this mythic tale, Haynes revitalizes and reconstructs Medusa's story with her passion and fierce wit, offering a timely retelling of this classic myth that speaks to us today.

Review:

A fantastic retelling of Medusa. I loved all of the different perspectives we got. I also loved the questions this novel brought up about what a monster, who decides who is a monster, etc. That sort of theme has always deeply appealed to me. The second I read the first page of this, I knew I would love it. And I was absolutely right. The writing was wonderful, as was the characterization of everyone in the book. It was amazing, and I would highly recommend it. Especially if you are interested in Greek Mythology and retellings of Greek Mythology. I will certainly be reading more by Natalie Haynes in the future.

5 quills

Book Review: The Cabin by Natasha Preston

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Leigh) — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 08:30:00 +0000

Title: The Cabin

Author: Natasha Preston

Release Date: 01 September 2016

Page Amount: 336 pages, Paperback

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GoodReads Blurb:

There may only be one killer, but no one is innocent in this thriller from Natasha Preston, the New York Times bestselling author of The Cellar and The Cabin

A weekend partying at a remote cabin is just what Mackenzie needs. She can't wait to let loose with her friends. But a crazy night of fun leaves two of them dead--murdered.

With no signs of a forced entry or struggle, suspicion turns to the five survivors. Someone isn't telling the truth. And Mackenzie's first mistake? Assuming the killing is over...

Review:

This was a very quick read. I got through it fast. It was definitely a page turner. There were times it did read a little too young for me, but that didn't deter me. I suspected almost everyone at one point or another, but I had a top two. I don't want to say whether I was right or not. The ending of this did bring the rating down for me. If not for the last two chapters, it would have been a pretty solid popcorn thriller. Unfortunately, the ending ruined it for me.

3 quills

Book Review: If You Tell a Lie by Lucinda Berry

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Leigh) — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 08:30:00 +0000

Title: If You Tell a Lie

Author: Lucinda Berry

Release Date: 23 July 2024

Page Amount: 271 pages

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GoodReads Blurb:

Bestselling author Lucinda Berry serves up a haunting thriller about four friends sworn to secrecy over the events of one fateful summer--and the dark truths that threaten to erupt years later.

They never considered how his wife might react, or that by the end of the summer a man would be dead. But Blakely always got her way, and the others followed her lead--even when they knew it was dead wrong.

The girls had been friends from day one at Camp Pendleton, a haven for gifted children. But their senior summer was different. When Mr. Crosby, the handsome tennis coach, wound up murdered after a reckless lie, Blakely, Grace, Meg, and Thera swore themselves to secrecy. And never spoke to each other again.

Until now. Twenty years later a sinister note claiming to know what they did brings them back together. And once again Blakely is pulling the strings.

Unfolding in a dual timeline, If You Tell a Lie is a disturbing journey into the dangerous, sometimes deadly consequences of peer pressure--with a bone-chilling twist you'll never see coming.

Review:

This was my first Lucinda Berry book. It was a very good thriller. The writing was good and there was definitely depth to the story. It certainly had some very disturbing things happen. It's hard to review thrillers, because I don't want to say a lot.

There was a lot going on, but not in the action packed sort of way some thrillers are. There were things I did predict, but that didn't effect my enjoyment of the book at all. Overall, I thought it was a good thriller and I would recommend it. I would definitely read something by Lucinda Berry again.

4 quills

Book Review: The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Leigh) — Fri, 22 Aug 2025 08:30:00 +0000

Title: The Magic Fish

Author: Trung Le Nguyen

Release Date: 13 October 2020

Page Amount: 229 pages

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Blurb:

Tiến loves his family and his friends...but Tiến has a secret he's been keeping from them, and it might change everything. An amazing YA graphic novel that deals with the complexity of family and how stories can bring us together.

Real life isn't a fairytale.

But Tiến still enjoys reading his favorite stories with his parents from the books he borrows from the local library. It's hard enough trying to communicate with your parents as a kid, but for Tiến, he doesn't even have the right words because his parents are struggling with their English. Is there a Vietnamese word for what he's going through?

Is there a way to tell them he's gay?

A beautifully illustrated story by Trung Le Nguyen that follows a young boy as he tries to navigate life through fairytales, an instant classic that shows us how we are all connected. The Magic Fish tackles tough subjects in a way that accessible with readers of all ages, and teaches us that no matter what--we can all have our own happy endings.

Review:

I love a graphic novel. I also love fairy tales, and I thought the concept of this one sounded very interesting. There were parts of this that got a lot darker than I thought it would be; the fairy tale part, that is. Not at all a bad thing, just something to maybe keep in mind.

I liked the art and that it had a color language to it. Each of the storylines, so to speak, were in a mostly monochromatic tone, and I thought that was very cool. For example. the when Tiến is reading the fairy tales, they are in a purple color scheme.
I always think it's interesting to see different versions of fairy tales so I liked that aspect to this. I thought the ending was very good, as well, but don't want to say why as that would give it away. ;)

3.75 quills

Book Review: Once Upon a Time: The Shadow of the Queen

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Leigh) — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 22:46:00 +0000

Title: Once Upon A Time: Shadow Of The Queen

Series: Once Upon A Time #2

Author: Daniel T. Thompson, Corinna Bechko with Vasilis Lolos (Illustrator), Stephanie Hans (Illustrator), Mike Henderson (Illustrator), Mike Del Mundo (Illustrator)

Release Date: 03 September 2013

Page Amount: 112 pages

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Blurb:

The Evil Queen has, quite literally, captured the Huntsman's heart -- and now he's her slave. Based on the world of ABC's hit primetime series ONCE UPON A TIME, this is the never-before-told tale behind their twisted relationship -- and what happens when a good man is forced to do bad. When Regina cooks up yet another devious plan to capture Snow White -- this time by allying with a pack of power-hungry werewolves -- the Huntsman comes face-to-face with his past...and an independent spirit in Red Riding Hood that just may match his own. Can these two break free of the forces that bind them and save Snow White? When put to the test, where will the Huntsman's loyalties lie? Has the Evil Queen stolen his heart in more ways than one?

Review:

I love Once Upon a Time, I love graphic novels, and I love the Huntsman from Once Upon a Time, so I was very excited to get this in a collection of birthday gifts from one of my best friends and fellow author, Rebekah Palmer.

I was excited to see more of the Huntsman in this as I wish we had more of him in the show. It took one turn in particular that I was definitely not expecting. The art styles were different with each chapter (there was a different artist for each), which I really liked a lot.

A good story, with great art that I really enjoyed reading. I would definitely recommend this if you are a fan of the show Once Upon a Time.

I'm looking forward to reading the other that I got. <3

4 quills

Book Review: Loki: Where Mischief Lies by Mackenzi Lee with Stephanie Hans (Illustrator)

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Leigh) — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Title: Loki: Where Mischief Lies

Series: Marvel Universe

Author: Mackenzi Lee with Stephanie Hans (Illustrator)

Release Date: 03 September 2019

Page Amount: 416 pages

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Blurb:

An instant New York Times best seller

*"This deft, nuanced examination of identity, destiny, and agency is a surprisingly tender addition to the Marvel canon."-Kirkus Reviews, starred review

*"This mischievous origin story is sure to satisfy fans of this popular character."-Booklist, starred review

Selected for the ILA-CBC 2020 Young Adults' Choices reading list.

This is the first of three young adult novels from New York Times best-selling author Mackenzi Lee that explores the untapped potential and duality of heroism of popular characters in the Marvel Universe.

Before the days of going toe-to-toe with the Avengers, a younger Loki is desperate to prove himself heroic and capable, while it seems everyone around him suspects him of inevitable villainy and depravity . . . except for Amora. Asgard's resident sorceress-in-training feels like a kindred spirit-someone who values magic and knowledge, who might even see the best in him.

But when Loki and Amora cause the destruction of one of Asgard's most prized possessions, Amora is banished to Earth, where her powers will slowly and excruciatingly fade to nothing. Without the only person who ever looked at his magic as a gift instead of a threat, Loki slips further into anguish and the shadow of his universally adored brother, Thor.

When Asgardian magic is detected in relation to a string of mysterious murders on Earth, Odin sends Loki to investigate. As he descends upon nineteenth-century London, Loki embarks on a journey that leads him to more than just a murder suspect, putting him on a path to discover the source of his power-and who he's meant to be.

Review:

I think the thoughts in my reading journal mostly have spoilers, so I'm going to see what I can say here.

I really enjoyed this book. The thing is, if you have watched the MCU, you have a general idea of where things are going in regards to Loki's character, since it is set before the events of the MCU. Which for me made the whole read have a sad tone running through it because I love Loki and it is sad to see him on the arc to where he he will be in the beginning/the middle of the first three phases of the MCU.

That being said, it had a lot that I really liked. The tone and sarcasm of Loki was there, which I loved. Seeing the relationship between Thor and Loki was at times fun, and at times sad. I always loved Frigga and Loki. I actually think I would have liked a bit more of Frigga and Loki. Amora was interesting, to say the least. I loved that Loki ended up in 1800s London. And I enjoyed the characters Mrs. Sharpe and Theo. I especially loved the interactions between Theo and Loki.

I also have to say it: I feel like this book gave me something I felt I was missing in the Loki series, which would be showing a bit more of Loki's bisexuality. It wasn't at all the main point of the plot, which wasn't even what I wanted, but in the series there was one line that some people didn't even get. Here we explore it a bit more, but it wasn't the only thing going on or what entirely defined Loki as a person, so I appreciated both of those things.

Also, there were several MCU references throughout, which were a joy to read and pock up on.

Overall, I really enjoyed this and I would highly recommend it to any Loki or Marvel fan.

4.5 quills

Book Review: The Knight and the Butcherbird by Alix E. Harrow

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Leigh) — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Title: The Knight and the Butcherbird

Author: Alix E. Harrow

Release Date: 11 March 2025

Page Amount: 36 pages

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Blurb:

New York Times bestselling author Alix E. Harrow weaves a dystopian fairy tale that follows the town storyteller as she struggles to protect a local demon from the knight hired to kill it.

In this gritty, haunting tale about doing whatever it takes for love, a small-town storyteller resolves to keep the local monster—and her own secrets—safe from a legendary knight.

Nestled deep in the steep hills, valleys, and surrounding woodlands lies Iron Hollow, a rural community beset by demons. Such horrors are common in the outlands, where most folks die young, if they don’t turn into monsters first. But what’s causing these transformations?

No one has the answer, not even the town’s oral historian, seventeen-year-old Shrike. And when a legendary knight is summoned to hunt down the latest beast to haunt their woods, Shrike has more reason than most to be concerned. Because that demon was her wife. And while Shrike is certain that May still recognizes her—that May is still human, somewhere beneath it all—she can’t prove it.

Determined to keep May safe, Shrike stalks the knight and his demon-hunting hawk through the recesses of the forest. But as they creep through toxic creeks and overgrown kudzu, Shrike realizes the knight has a secret of his own. And he’ll do anything to protect it.

Review:

A dystopian fairy tale isn't something I had heard before, so I was intrigued. Plus, I love short stories. And I really liked this one. I'm finding that I quite like Alix E. Harrow. I'll have to read more of her work. This was definitely fairy tale like, but in a dark way, which I like. There was a lot of metaphor and social commentary in this. I'm sure some of it went right over my head. The religious commentary stood out to me. I feel like it was more about the institutionalization of religion, which is a topic I find interesting and have some thoughts on myself. But even if you go in just to enjoy the dystopian fairy tale side and not focus on the commentary as much, I think this is a great story. I would definitely recommend it,

4.25 quills

Book Review: Stealing Snow by Danielle Paige

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Leigh) — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Title: Stealing Snow

Author: Danielle Paige

Release Date: 20 September 2016

Page Amount: 375 pages

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Blurb:

From Danielle Paige, the New York Times bestselling author of Dorothy Must Die, comes a re-imagining of "The Snow Queen" fairy tale.

Seventeen-year-old Snow has spent the majority of her life within the walls of the Whittaker Institute, a high security mental hospital in upstate New York. Deep down, she knows she's not crazy and doesn't belong there. When she meets a mysterious, handsome new orderly and dreams about a strange twisted tree she realizes she must escape and figure out who she really is.

Using her trusting friend Bale as a distraction, Snow breaks free and races into the nearby woods. Suddenly, everything isn't what it seems, the line between reality and fantasy begins to blur, and she finds herself in icy Algid--her true home--with witches, thieves, and a strangely alluring boy named Kai, none of whom she's sure she can trust. As secret after secret is revealed, Snow discovers that she is on the run from a royal lineage she's destined to inherit, a father more powerful and ruthless than she could have imagined, and choices of the heart that could change the fate of everything . . . including Snow's return to the world she once knew.

This breathtaking first volume begins the story of how Snow becomes a villain, a queen, and ultimately a hero.

Review:

I really want to like every book I read, but that just doesn't happen. This was one of those books. I also really wanted to like it (or love it) because it says it is a retelling of "The Snow Queen", which is my favorite fairytale.

I think there were cliches of mental illness in here, for sure. I felt like Snow was too immature for me, and it read a bit too young for me, Snow seemed to get control of her powers far too quickly, and she did not seem to question much, either, And of course, there is the love quandrangle. Which was too much for me. I also did not recognize much of "The Snow Queen" in here. There was a little bit, maybe, but not much. And there was some parts that could have been interesting, but just did not get there for me. I did like Gird, though.

One thing that does frustrate me about some of the reviews I saw is that they saw it was not like "Snow White" or that they didn't realize it was based on "The Snow Queen". I may not have liked the book, but the blurb does clearly say it is a retelling of "The Snow Queen", even if I feel it barely is. (I checked the online blurb and it was right on the flap of the hardcover. I don't know about the paperback, or if there was a paperback edition. Maybe some did not say it? I don't know...)

Unfortunately, this was not for me at all.

2 quills

Book Review: The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Leigh) — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Title: The Ten Thousand Doors of January

Author: Alix E. Harrow

Release Date: 10 September 2019

Page Amount: 374 pages

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Blurb:

LOS ANGELES TIMES BESTSELLER Finalist for the 2020 Hugo, Nebula, Locus, and World Fantasy Awards.

In the early 1900s, a young woman embarks on a fantastical journey of self-discovery after finding a mysterious book in this captivating and lyrical debut.

In a sprawling mansion filled with peculiar treasures, January Scaller is a curiosity herself. As the ward of the wealthy Mr. Locke, she feels little different from the artifacts that decorate the halls: carefully maintained, largely ignored, and utterly out of place.

Then she finds a strange book. A book that carries the scent of other worlds, and tells a tale of secret doors, of love, adventure and danger. Each page turn reveals impossible truths about the world and January discovers a story increasingly entwined with her own.

Lush and richly imagined, a tale of impossible journeys, unforgettable love, and the enduring power of stories awaits in Alix E. Harrow's spellbinding debut--step inside and discover its magic.

Review:

This was so good. I am so glad that I read this. I think it was easily earn a place in my top ten books of the year. I love the concept of this. Some of it was hard to read (as in the content, not the quality of the writing.) But it was so worth it. There was some social commentary on history, as well. The Doors were so cool to read about it. I like January, Jane, and Samuel. I was surprised a few times, too. The writing was absolutely beautiful. I loved it. I would highly recommend it!!

5 quills

Book Review: Batman Year One by Frank Miller with David Mazzuchelli

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Leigh) — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Title: Batman: Year One

Author: Frank Miller with David Mazzucchelli (Illustrator), Richmond Lewis (Illustrator)

Release Date:

Series: Batman (1940) #404-407

Page Amount: 144 pages

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Blurb:

In 1986, Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli produced this groundbreaking reinterpretation of the origin of Batman--who he is, and how he came to be. Sometimes careless and naive, this Dark Knight is far from the flawless vigilante he is today.

In his first year on the job, Batman feels his way around a Gotham City far darker than the one he left. His solemn vow to extinguish the town's criminal element is only half the battle; along with Lieutenant James Gordon, the Dark Knight must also fight a police force more corrupt than the scum in the streets.

Batman: Year One stands next to Batman: The Dark Knight Returns on the mantle of greatest Batman graphic novels of all time. Timeless in its appeal, Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli's masterpiece would stand apart from the crowded comics field even today.

This edition includes the complete graphic novel, a new introduction by writer Frank Miller and a new illustrated afterword by artist David Mazzucchelli. Completing this collection are over 40 pages of never-before-seen developmental material such as character and layout sketches, sample script pages, sketches, and more that pro-vide a glimpse into the making of this contemporary classic.

This volume collects Batman #404-407.

Review:

I stumbled upon this at my library and knew it was a well known Batman story. I also know that Frank Miller is very well known in the comic book world. I decided to pick it up.

It was more internal monologue than I thought it would be. Also, I feel like it was more focused on James Gordon than Bruce Wayne/Batman. Which is fine, I like James Gordon, just not what I was expecting. And I found his story interesting to read about. It did indeed go through and chronicle the first year of Batman.

The art was great. There were some very cool behind-the-scenes bits in the back of the book with some good insight that I enjoyed seeing. There were also references to things I know from the Dark Knight trilogy (well, obviously that came after this...) which was cool to see. And a couple of references to another DC character which were exciting to me.

4 quills

Book Review: Blue Horses by Mary Oliver

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Leigh) — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Title: Blue Horses

Author: Mary Oliver

Release Date: October 14, 2014

Page Amount: 96 pages

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Blurb:

In this stunning collection of new poems, Mary Oliver returns to the imagery that has defined her life's work, describing with wonder both the everyday and the unaffected beauty of nature.

Herons, sparrows, owls, and kingfishers flit across the page in meditations on love, artistry, and impermanence. Whether considering a bird's nest, the seeming patience of oak trees, or the artworks of Franz Marc, Oliver reminds us of the transformative power of attention and how much can be contained within the smallest moments.

At its heart, Blue Horses asks what it means to truly belong to this world, to live in it attuned to all its changes. Humorous, gentle, and always honest, Oliver is a visionary of the natural world.

Review:

I picked this up because I knew I just had to read a Mary Oliver collection. She is such a celebrated modern poet and I adore poetry. There were two at my library and I picked this one up first.

I enjoyed this collection. I also listened to the audiobook for some of the poems and enjoyed the narration.

I wasn't expecting this collection to also be funny in some places, but I liked it. I particularly enjoyed all of the depictions of nature. The imagery was lovely, and you felt the tribute to the natural world throughout.

4 quills

Book Review: 2am Thoughts by Makenzie Cambell

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Leigh) — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Title: 2am Thoughts

Author: Makenzie Campbell

Release Date: 2019

Page Amount: 152 pages

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Blurb:

You are holding my heart in your hands. My emotions have bled out on each and every page with the ink of my pen. Your eyes will discover my soul. Your fingers casually flipping through my mind. I hope you find each delicate word as captivating as the stars. And I hope a piece of you feels the things I felt when creating this art. - 2:00 am This modern poetry book is an exploration of love, heartache, relationships, loss, finding one's self, and learning to love the life you've been given. 2am Thoughts is a poetry book similar to some titles such as milk and honey by Rupi Kaur and Buried Light by Beau Taplin.

Review:

I found this at a library book sale. There was a Bob Ross bookmark in it. I love Bob Ross, so I took it as a sign to pick this up.

I also tabbed a fair amount of poems in this collection. It seems very relatable for someone who has just gone through a break up, particularly younger audiences - in their late teens and twenties, for instance. I liked the poems (some stood out more than others, of course), and the way the book was split up into sections. It was also interesting how each poem had a time under it - it made it a bit like reading a diary, and it helped in seeing the progression of the poems and person writing them.

3.75 quills

Book Review: She Followed the Moon Back to Herself by Amanda Lovelace

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Leigh) — Tue, 03 Jun 2025 23:18:00 +0000

Title: She followed the moon back to herself

Author: Amanda Lovelace

Release Date: 29 October 2024

Page Amount: 208 pages

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Blurb:

the tenth poetry collection from amanda lovelace deviates from the well-worn path of fairy tales & myths, instead bringing readers face to face with the person behind the poems that have made her beloved.

from bestselling poetess amanda lovelace comes she followed the moon back to herself, an autobiographical standalone poetry collection that follows a woman who—through heartbreak, bottles of rosé, & the general messiness of life—felt like she completely lost who she was. each bitesize poem shines a light on where she’s been & how she’s managed to overcome it all, offering a dose of hope & moondust to all who join her on the journey back to herself.

Review:

As usual, I really enjoy Amanda Lovelace's poetry. I marked a lot of poems in this one (again, as usual.) One in particular stood out to me and definitely reminded me of myself. I found this collection inspiring, hopeful, reflective, and even a bit whimsical at times. I would definitely recommend it. A good start to getting into poetry, as well.

4.75 quills

Book Review: Torchwood Vol. 1: World Without End by Carol Barrowman and John Barrowman with Antonio Fuso (Illustrator)

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Leigh) — Mon, 12 May 2025 19:45:00 +0000

Title: Torchwood Vol. 1: World Without End

Series: Torchwood Comics #1

Author: Carol Barrowman and John Barrowman with Antonio Fuso (Illustrator)

Release Date: May 9th, 2017

Page Amount: 112 pages, paperback

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Blurb:

The members of the Torchwood Institute, a secret organization founded by the British Crown, fight to protect the Earth from extraterrestrial and supernatural threats.

Torchwood is a British science fiction television programme created by Russell T Davies. A spin-off from the 2005 revival of long-running science fiction programme Doctor Who, Torchwood aired four series between 2006 and 2011. In contrast to Doctor Who, whose target audience includes both adults and children, Torchwood is aimed at an older audience

Review:

I found this at a library book sale. I was actually kind of surprised there were Torchwoood comics (though I probably shouldn't have been.) This was a quick, fun read. The illustrations were very good. The ones of Jack in particular were great. He was instantly recognizable as Captain Jack Harkness. (I'm sure that his iconic coat helped.) Jack and Gwen have such a...strange relationship, but I love seeing them interact. The story was good. Very Torchwood. I like Torchwood at lot, particularly season three. Anyway, the Doctor Who references throughout were great!! And they happened to be referencing one of my favorite Doctor Who episodes. I think Torchwood fans would like this. I had a good time reading it.

3.5 quills

Book Review: To Drink Coffee with a Ghost by Amanda Lovelace

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Leigh) — Fri, 09 May 2025 18:32:00 +0000

Title: To Drink Coffee with a Ghost

Series: Things That H(a)unt #2

Author: Amanda Lovelace

Release Date: September 17th, 2019

Page Amount: 160 pages, Hardcover

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GoodReads Blurb:

"You cannot have a funeral for your mother without also having a funeral for yourself." This book poses the ever-lingering question: What happens when someone dies before they're able to redeem themselves?

From the bestselling & award-winning poetess, amanda lovelace, comes the finale of her illustrated duology, "things that h(a)unt." In the first installment, to make monsters out of girls, lovelace explored the memory of being in a toxic romantic relationship. In to drink coffee with a ghost, lovelace unravels the memory of the complicated relationship she had with her now-deceased mother.

Review:

I read this book for the first time in 2020/2021. I loved and gave it five stars then, and I gave it five stars this time. I saw it on my shelf and just had the urge to pick it up again, so I did. I had post-it tabs in it from the last time I read it, and I used a different color to mark poems in it this time. It was interesting to see which poems I marked this time; which ones were the same and which ones were different. I'm glad I re-read this and I will keep this one for a long time. I am a big fan of Amanda Lovelace. Her poetry is very simple but effective. I love all types of poetry, and I think Amanda Lovelace could be a good entry point if you are intimidated by poetry.

5 quills

Things I Want to do More of in 2025

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Leigh) — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 18:18:00 +0000

I already did a post on here about my Five Goals for 2025 (you can click that to read that post), but I have a list of things I want to do more of in 2025. Or things I want to do in 2025, even if it is just once or twice. Things that I have done before, but not in a while.

I'm not making these goals. I just didn't do these as much as I wanted to last year, so I wanted to take note of the things I want to do more of, just so I'm aware of them in somewhere other than just in my head. What about you? What do you want to more of in 2025?

Things I Want to do More of in 2025

Listen to music.

Paint, draw, make art.

Crafts.

Post book reviews (on review sites and my blog.)

Start my podcast back up and post podcast episodes.

Watch new movies (particularly Michael Fassbender ones.)

Share on social media about books, writing, my writing and publishing journey, etc.

Post stories to our Cat Chat Writers blog.

Make pasta from scratch.

Intentional physical movement.

Things for my spiritual life/journey.

More things in *Quill and Cup (including attending Prickles, watching coaching videos, watching educational webinars and maybe going to a few live.)

A couple of breathwork sessions.

Another event with Next Generation of Cystinosis. (Maybe this should be a goal?...)

* Quill and Cup is the online writing community that I'm in.

You Will Never Truly Leave - a poem for my dad

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Leigh) — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:04:00 +0000

As I've mentioned here, my dad passed away last year. On February 16th, it was exactly one year. I know these days, people put up posts on social media. et cetera, which is fine, but despite being a writer, I don't necessarily know what to say. And I don't really post about personal things on social media a lot. Just a quick sidenote here: It's okay if you don't. I know in this day and age it is just about expected. If you lost someone, every year put up a post, but just because you don't, it doesn't mean you don't care or don't miss them. If you don't want to do it, don't do it. Just because you don't post about something online doesn't mean it didn't happen, or it didn't effect you, et cetera.

Anyway, back to what I was saying. I may be a writer, but that doesn't mean I would even know what to say in a Facebook post on that day - one year since my dad died. It also feels like it's just trite sometimes. What does happen for me, though, is that my thoughts come out as poetry. And the day before my dad's funeral, I wrote a poem. I think it was actually at about 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning. One couplet popped into my head, I picked up a pen and paper (I don't even remember where I wrote it down) and wrote a poem. My aunt read it aloud beautifully at my dad's funeral. So, in memory of my father, I'm sharing this poem here. My mom actually typed it up and put a beautiful background to it. Blue flowers. My favorite color is blue, and so was my dad's.

And here are some pictures of me and my dad.

My first birthday.

Disney trip.

Daddy daughter dance.

First book signing.

College graduation party.