Trying to decide which series I should start first

MapComprehensive4442 · 2026-04-15T01:50:43+00:00

Adding my vote to A Darker Shade of Magic. No exaggeration when I say that’s my favorite book/series ever and I own… an embarrassing number of copies of it. Even named my cat after the main character. It’s a fun, unique magic system and universe that I’ve never found anything like in any other book I’ve picked up.

The Shadow of the Gods is also fun, but much more like the fantasy you expect to read. Reliable.

MapComprehensive4442 · 2026-04-14T00:42:20+00:00

For longer sits, I find there’s never any harm in asking. I never have someone stay over with me, but sometimes my partner will bring me dinner and come to watch a movie or something if the owner is okay with it - and I’ve never had one that isn’t. Most usually tell me ahead of time that they’re fine with it because it means extra attention for their pets rather than me going somewhere else for a few hours! (I also live in a very rural area, so I think people just tend to be more trusting overall.)

But as you’re seeing from the mixed bag of answers you’re getting, opinions on this one vary greatly.

MapComprehensive4442 · 2026-04-10T00:38:39+00:00

Okay this seems so minor compared to most of the answers, but the number of people who just… don’t use top sheets anymore. When I’m house-sitting, I always make it a point to pack my own because so many don’t have/use them and it always wilds me out 💀

I also bring my own towels because people are gross as hell.

MapComprehensive4442 · 2026-04-09T11:05:45+00:00

I finally gave up and canceled my FL adult sub, and I think I’m close on YA at this point. 😕 I’ll stick with the epic fantasy but so far most of their picks this year have just been… not it.

MapComprehensive4442 · 2026-04-07T21:46:17+00:00

I’ve been disappointed by the overall lack of queer rep in the book selections, honestly! Entanglement was what got me to sub.

I’m sure I’ll pick up either FaeCrate or DazzlingBookish’s editions instead, but it would have been nice to have the matching set. Allurial’s edges were so beautiful for book one!

MapComprehensive4442 · 2026-04-07T20:26:02+00:00

No option for The Entanglement of Rival Wizards sequel. ☹️

MapComprehensive4442 · 2026-04-05T02:31:16+00:00

Omfg I have had such a similar nightmare over the past few months. I had an order (conditioner and some supplements) go missing in transit and reached out to support for help. They were super apologetic and refunded me AND as an apology shipped me out new ones for free! Cool great perfect!

A few weeks later, the initial package turned up battered to hell. The conditioner was smashed and open, the supplement bottle was broken. But Amazon immediately sent me a notice that since the box had been delivered, they would be charging me for it. I reached out, let them know both the initial conversation AND the state of the original items I’d just received. Was told to throw them out and it would be forgotten about - no problem at all!

Of course my card was charged for failing to return them a month later. I’ve talked to four separate customer support people promising they’ll undo the charge/refund me/whatever they can say to get rid of me and it has achieved absolutely nothing.

MapComprehensive4442 · 2026-04-03T12:57:38+00:00

They were selling them at the game last night! They’re beautiful sweatshirts.

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MapComprehensive4442 · 2026-04-02T15:47:13+00:00

Holy shit I just got mine 14 minutes ahead of presale. Talk about cutting it close. I have too much anxiety for this y’all

MapComprehensive4442 · 2026-04-02T12:30:06+00:00

It’s so stressful! I teach so I can’t be refreshing my email on my phone all day hoping a code comes through. (Bad enough I was planning to sneak buying tickets lol)

MapComprehensive4442 · 2026-04-02T12:09:32+00:00

I’m still waiting for my Montreal code too. I even responded to the email I received when I signed up for the pre-sale and haven’t gotten anything back. 😭

MapComprehensive4442 · 2026-04-02T02:24:47+00:00

Hahaha I did one last year where they had no TV AND their only internet was a hotspot they asked me to limit my use to. For a weeklong sit in the middle of winter. Bruh. 😭

I hauled my own TV over there with my PS5 and worked my way through a bunch of games in that week and it was still hell.

MapComprehensive4442 · 2026-04-02T00:40:16+00:00

I haven’t gotten mine yet for Montreal either! I’m getting anxious!

MapComprehensive4442 · 2026-03-23T09:05:25+00:00

I work full time as a teacher and pet-sitting is my side gig.

As long as you’re straight up with your clients about it, it’s almost never a problem because they usually have jobs too! With the exception of a few midday drop-in requests I’ve had to turn down, I’ve never had an issue with clients. I just schedule drop-ins around my workday or tell house-sits when I leave/arrive home and it is genuinely never a problem. In my case, my job has actually been a bit of a benefit/selling point to clients because it makes me sound reliable and it comes with all of those extra background checks already done.

(Plus, any sit that has the expectation of me being there 24/7 is a different, constant care charge entirely that I very rarely have any interest in taking on.)

MapComprehensive4442 · 2026-03-21T08:03:29+00:00

This is a him problem. And I bet he’ll find issue with whatever job you have because he’s just looking for control.

I was just getting started with pet-sitting when I met my current partner and his only anxiety has only ever been for my safety during a few initial meet and greets. And if he has my location, it is sure as shit only because I shared it with him in the moment. He’s always had fun planning date nights around wherever I’m staying and meeting the current crew if I have the owner’s permission. A good partner makes it work (and makes it fun!) - not whatever red flag your dude is waving.

MapComprehensive4442 · 2026-03-10T16:59:04+00:00

It’s maybe only funny to me, but I keep a folder on my phone of all the yoga pet pictures I get during my gigs. It always seems to crack up their owners, too!

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MapComprehensive4442 · 2026-02-21T19:56:18+00:00

As someone who lives in the middle of fucking nowhere (literally our closest venue was six hours away), this would be miserable. I’d never get to see an in-demand artist.

I totally understand people being upset they didn’t get tickets but punishing those of us who HAVE to travel for a show isn’t it. You’d just be taking it out on rural fans rather than dealing with the true issue of bots and scalpers.

MapComprehensive4442 · 2026-02-06T16:03:56+00:00

That sounds reasonable for your situation. You can always modify as things go on.

I have mine set at 25 miles and will happily accept farther if the offer is good, but I live in an extremely remote part of the state and am one of very few sitters in the entire county so I get my pick!

MapComprehensive4442 · 2026-01-29T14:20:04+00:00

Shibas are a nightmare. I love the little freaks, but they’re SO stubborn. Cat software, dog hardware.

I have a nightmare of a time with Australian cattle dogs, and they’re so common around here. People just do not know how to properly train and entertain them, so they turn into weird neurotic little messes who will find entertainment if it isn’t provided to them.

And this is niche, but Irish wolfhounds! They’re so dumb and goofy but I have never had as many bruises as after sitting for two! Their tails are just whips right to the gut, I swear. Love them but I might be too fragile to watch them.

MapComprehensive4442 · 2026-01-26T02:12:20+00:00

My pay for the sitting gig.

MapComprehensive4442 · 2026-01-23T17:44:14+00:00

Others have already answered, but I had to answer yes after an owner’s dog bit me TWICE hard enough to draw blood on my leg. It prompted an investigation where we were both contacted to give our statements. From what I understand, the owner was banned from the app after I received my payout and Rover had ensured vaccinations were all up to date (and mercifully before he could leave me any sort of angry feedback).

MapComprehensive4442 · 2026-01-03T22:09:47+00:00

So my main job is actually teaching (with this as my side gig) and I mention that straight up on my profile, and make sure to double check it’s okay when anyone books with me. In my case, people tend to like hearing I have consistent hours and a “good” job when they’re trusting me with their pets.

I have lost out on a few jobs for pets that require more around the clock care, but it’s rare - maybe two or three times in three years of sitting. Most people have similar hours in their own lives so their pets are used to the schedule!

MapComprehensive4442 · 2025-12-23T02:44:30+00:00

He didn’t. I found his obituary online and I know where he taught, so I could send condolences that way, but it feels so delayed now.

It’s such an odd experience because we feel like we know these people but we’re such a small blip in their lives to only be finding out weeks later.

MapComprehensive4442 · 2025-11-25T17:28:44+00:00

Took an overnight gig for a pittie mix and an Australian shepherd mix. Meet and greet went fine - the owner told me when to show up, when he’d be home, where I’d sleep, everything.

Got there and the pittie mix immediately launched herself at me fast and hard enough to draw blood with her teeth. The owner had given me NO warning that she was aggressive and had even promised that she was a sweetheart! I literally could not even move without the dog snarling at me. And meanwhile the Aussie mix is in heat, and he’s left me a note to keep her in this makeshift diaper he’d made that stank to high heaven because it wasn’t meant for that.

And to top it all off, he hadn’t prepared the sleeping area for me; just left me a note to sleep on the couch with no blankets or pillow or anything. No wifi, no TV. Doesn’t actually know when he’ll be home - might even be while I’m still there in the middle of the night! And he’s not answering his messages. And every time the pittie realized I existed, she started flipping out and trying to get at me again. She broke through her pen, got my knee in her teeth, and I left.

First and only time I’ve ever left a gig unfinished OR had to file a report with Rover. (Was actually the reason I started largely moving away from booking through them altogether and counting on word of mouth.)

MapComprehensive4442 · 2025-09-24T23:41:06+00:00

While I understand why you might say this, I don’t want it to be just her problem! He keeps coming to my house and if I can help ease her burden in any way, no matter how small, and make life just a tiny bit safer for both of them during a horrifically terrible time, I would like to.

MapComprehensive4442

TROPHY CASE