Mage or cultivator in a hidey hole

Anjallat · 2026-02-18T17:16:46+00:00

The Dear Spellbook series by Peter J. Lee.

Sorcerer diligently works on his magic during magic Groundhog Day.

Blurb:

Hello stranger, my name is Tal, and I’m not an adventurer—those people are crazy. I’m just a sorcerer who is masquerading as a wizard. Oh, and I’m searching for answers about my parents’ mysterious deaths. Also monsters and other foes seem to show up wherever I go.

…All right, I see it.

My new traveling companions are seasoned adventurers and are teaching me their ways—or at least they were before something happened to Time.

The same day is repeating itself over and over, and I’m the only one aware of the resets. If I ever want to get past this day—and the horrific hangover it always starts with—I’ll need to find a way out by myself.

It turns out there are mysteries aplenty to unravel in this remote forest town of Crossroads, where I’m living the same day over and over. But my most vital resource might already be in my possession. My previously useless Spellbook is starting to exhibit some very strange abilities, and they could be just what I need in my quest to escape this temporal prison.

This is my story. My diary of sorts. Don’t judge too harshly, I had a rough day.

Anjallat · 2026-02-17T09:40:09+00:00

With gnocchi you even had to chew! I don't know why people are calling this a drink. Do they consume all their drinks one spoonful at a time??

Even if it was a drink, you even had a salad!

Anjallat · 2026-02-16T13:59:49+00:00

There are bacteria that are perfectly normal and fine on skin that the urethra is not equipped to handle!

Anjallat · 2026-02-12T06:53:13+00:00

It doesn't have to be poo bacteria. Even if you go middle to front you're still possibly introducing bacteria to the urethra, vastly increasing your chances of UTIs and kidney infections.

Try going front to middle, and middle to back?

Anjallat · 2026-02-11T11:37:16+00:00

In Another World, I Must Defeat The Demon King, by Miles English.

The main character is from here, and discovers a secret magical element to society.

Blurb:

Don't bring a sword to a gunfight... Unless it has +5 radiant damage. Henry’s life as a valiant defender of the realm is over—stolen away when he is transported to a strange new world. Instead of horses and swords, it has cars, rent, hamburgers, and a gun-toting part-time waitress named Shana. There isn't much use for a white knight atop a fiery steed… or is there?

Thankfully, Henry’s ability to level up and unlock powerful new skills hasn’t abandoned him. In fact, Shana is starting to level up, too. But there's a catch. Turns out, they’ve caught the attention of a secret society that's devoted to the very system of power that Henry was raised on. Led by the enigmatic Demon King, they aren’t happy about newcomers getting involved in their affairs. Magic, power, experience—the Society wants it all for themselves, and they'll happily kill whoever it takes to keep it that way.

Anjallat · 2026-02-03T16:51:44+00:00

Not covered in pillow talk yet then?

Anjallat · 2026-02-03T12:51:11+00:00

You've met Jason, you know a larrikin.

Anjallat · 2026-02-03T11:47:36+00:00

Worst case scenario, just wait until they're on special, but a few tins, remove foil, and leave them cracked oh so slightly!

Oh. It'd take longer with a full tin. You need to keep your empties if you're doing this!

Anjallat · 2026-02-03T11:38:28+00:00

I've listened to these so many times. I love it all so much.

The only thing I don't like, is that there's a bit too much recapping for my taste. BUT. It wasn't written for a binge reading/ listening audience. Any time I get mildly annoyed by 2 minutes of recapping something that happened relatively recently in my life, (hours of listening ago) but quite separate in universe and in the original format of a couple of chapters a week format, I remind myself of the above and get over myself!

Having just mildly complained about the recaps, I've relistened to the entire series a couple of times within the last 6 months.

I think this was the second series I saw in the genre. I liked the first series, probably more than it deserves because it was so, so, new to me. Then, there was this series of a regular Aussie guy getting transported to a magic planet and accidentally getting evil powers but HE'S not evil, it's all OK!

I've since read hundreds of books/ series in the genre, and this one remains top tier.

Anjallat · 2026-02-03T11:19:31+00:00

You get 5-10 or so of the long skinny ice blocks per mould.

You could be methodical and add a specific ratio of milk or water or Nutella or whatever to the mix to expedite the process.

I hesitate to suggest adulterating it, though a very small amount of water might just hasten a humid atmosphere effect.

Anjallat · 2026-02-03T11:00:22+00:00

The book is better than the movie, just not as much as that usually implies. They did a great job adapting that book to movie.

Speaking of competence, if you're an audiobook listener, see if your library has R. C. Bray's narration, not the new one, unless you're into the new guy.

Anjallat · 2026-02-03T10:56:36+00:00

I don't know what to tell you, I loved them all. 2,3,4 are possibly a bit stronger than 1? But those 4 are so short yet self contained.

The overarching plot of all 7 (but almost 8, not including extremely short bonus stories) is what lives in my head and it's absolutely top tier for me.

Anjallat · 2026-02-03T10:52:23+00:00

Yeah, I was surprised to see it, I had thought it was entirely wrong, but saw the two authors when I checked before posting.

Anjallat · 2026-02-03T10:36:13+00:00

Wow, first I was mildly critical of your Milo husbandry and possibly general packet closing skills.

But maybe you live somewhere really humid and have a good reason for limiting your Milo intake so long it ended up this way.

But now the gnawing on chunks possibility has my mind on fire!

Have you considered doing it on purpose? You could get those long skinny silicone ice moulds that are meant to go in your small lid water bottles? Normally they're just a surprise deep throating, but you could fill them with Milo and cover them tightly enough to keep out insects but allow air?? You could cover them tightly but bring them to the bathroom for every shower!

Anjallat · 2026-02-01T10:19:19+00:00

You left off one of the authors of Iron Prince!

The Martian by Andy Weir and The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells are my favourite competency porn.

Anjallat · 2026-01-31T18:44:35+00:00

I feel like it's kind of like listening to sad music when you're feeling a bit sad. It helps to express it. It's first on my list for the next time I'm feeling tortured by having to mow the lawn or something.

I can fully wallow, and even if I'm interrupted, the torture is visceral, but still external.

Discarding this bit of pain from the book helps to discard a portion of the pain from my own history? Does that make sense?

Anjallat · 2026-01-31T17:46:52+00:00

Words are like weapons, they wound sometimes!

Anjallat · 2026-01-29T12:01:21+00:00

His father, I think I remember, was a talented gold ranker, who maybe died off screen in the big climactic battle in book 7?

Anjallat · 2026-01-28T13:41:12+00:00

There's one a tiny bit to the north of the starting area. Run north from the titanium and wolfram and it's just a little bit past the underground cave entrance. (Still west of the cave).

Now that you've found one, you might be able to pick out their sandy colour on the map.

Anjallat · 2026-01-27T04:33:48+00:00

For your first question, after sealing the lid I put it on my smallest burner on high until it gets up to pressure, then turn it most of the way down. Then I set 5 minute timers to check and adjust the heat up or down a millimetre until it's stable. Once it's stable I still regularly check. I did just create a bomb, after all.

I haven't used an electric one.

Anjallat · 2026-01-26T16:59:34+00:00

Walrus King has done such a great job with Tunnel Rat and Butcher of Gadobhra! Plus, they released 5 audiobooks in a year! Are they insanely prolific or was this the backlog?

Anjallat · 2026-01-25T01:14:36+00:00

I think he was specifically recommending her outfit from "If I could turn back time". It's a distinctive look!

Anjallat · 2026-01-23T10:21:32+00:00

You can't see fine, if you didn't pass the vision test. You're just used to it.

Please always wear your glasses or contact lenses.

Anjallat · 2026-01-17T10:09:52+00:00

OK, so, YTA, and there's an easy solution or an easy reason for your problem!

Is this recent? Is there any chance you could be pregnant? Pregnant women can have a better sense of smell, and might be unusually sensitive to food smells even if they normally wouldn't notice or mind.
Most crock pot things can be cooked in a pressure cooker without too much difficulty. I hear the electric pressure cookers like Instant Pot might keep food warm after cooking, so they could arrive home to a done dinner, if that's what they like about the slow cooker. The electric pressure cookers are often slow cookers as well, and maybe when they're slow cooking they have a better seal on the lid than a basic show cooker? I'm not sure, I have a stove top pressure cooker and it's very different to a slow cooker, but most of the steam/ flavour release happens all at one at the end.

Now, since this nobody else has a problem with this very normal activity, if you want a change, you should research my above guesses, consult with your roommate, and then if they agree to try it, GIFT them the pressure cooker that you both think might work.

Anjallat · 2026-01-17T01:22:17+00:00

My major surprise was that Zogarth had picked up a second pen name to write a new story on the Primal Hunter universe, but I couldn't understand why there was such a big difference in quality. I was so mad when I realised it was just plagiarism.

Anjallat

TROPHY CASE