I finally have a quiet place to sit down and write this out before I have to move again. The beldam moves as if walls mean nothing. Meanwhile I’m toting around a bag full of art supplies and who knows what else. The key to unlocking these glass spheres, what the children’s ghosts call eyes, seems to be to read to them. Maybe that’s the key to getting out of here without having to give my eyes away. I’ve locked myself in the secret room that the jumping mice led me too. The door locks on both sides, which is suspicious, but I’m thankful for. So far, I’ve managed to hear from the tall girl…her name still escapes me….Beth maybe? It’s like all my memories of her before she disappeared when we were kids have vanished, like she was totally erased somehow.

When I read her favorite book to her, her voice rang out suddenly and the marble changed from a dull gray to a brilliant blue. Her favorite thing in the world was a sky blue jacket she wore everywhere. It came back to me suddenly as I read the last word.

“You did it! You’ve freed me.” The voice was sweet, but confident. “You have to keep facing your fears. She can’t get you if you’re not afraid of her. Keep reading.”

“I don’t have time! I have to get out of here.”

“Then you leave the other two behind and give in. It’s up to you. Just remember all actions have consequences.” She’s right of course. I could leave, but the truth is that I know I’m the only one who can stop this monster. I’m halfway through another book. I know the answer to defeating her forever is in one of these books I’ve found. Just have to get through them as quickly as I can.

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I hope y’all enjoyed the first character diary for my new TBR game, which you can view the video for down below. Let me summarize this week and we’ll go from there.

Since the first, I have finished two books and DNF’d one.

Coraline by Neil Gaiman satisfied one of the three Middle Grade Horror novels I had to read for the main challenge in my TBR game. This is a story about a girl named Coraline who discovers a new world behind the walls of her new apartment and the mysterious creature who controls it. Spooky, chilling, and one of my all time favorites. This was a joy to reread.

The Aeronaut’s Windlass by Jim Butcher is the first in the Cinder Spires series. I carried this book over from December. It tells the story of a group of people tasked with saving their home spire from invaders and beginning to unraveling the mysterious powers that underlie the conflict. The main characters in this book feature a wealthy aristocrat who is not what she seems, her mysterious Warrior Born cousin marked with superhuman strength and feline eyes, a disgraced air Captain and his crew, a normal girl who is a descendant, a girl who can only talk to crystals, and a cat who has very high opinions of himself. This was worth every second of the 22 hour audiobook. I cannot wait to continue this series.

DNF’d:

The Metal Skeleton by Tyler Col. This was a mystery adventure thriller concept where an anthropologist and a police detective investigating a group of missing villagers are led to a secret, man-made island. The concept was interesting, but the writing and plot points were inconsistent and simplistic. I DNF’d this half-way through its 103 pages.

In Progress:

The Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste. A middle-grade horror set in the Carribbean and based on Haitian fairy tales. This tells the story of a girl named Corrine who isn’t afraid of anything, especially Jumbies. That is until one starts enchanting her father with a beautiful disguise and sweet words. It is up to Corrine and her friends to stop the Jumbie before she takes over the island. About 2.5 hours in out of the 5 hour audio book.

Slavery by Another Name by Douglas Blackmon. A historic expose on how a loophole in the 13th amendment allowed Black Americans to be exploited for free labor.

Crown of Feathers by Nicki Pau Preto. A story of sisters torn apart by secrets, of Phoenix Riders, of warrior queens, and evil empires. I’m really enjoying this so far, but also have CONCERNS. 🙂

That wraps up this week’s reading wrap-up. Let me know how you’re reading is going this month. What are you reading and how are you enjoying it?

Hope you have a relaxing weekend filled with self-care after the horrific news week we’ve had. Remember to be a good global citizen!

All the best coffee, wine and books to you and yours!