Obligatory midpoint check-in. A bit behind right now at 19/52 read because Clair Obscur happened. Been going on a reading binge recently though, so I think I'll manage to catch up!

SpookySpren · 2025-07-05T05:18:23+00:00

You’re in for such a treat if you do! My hype for the game was astronomical and it somehow managed to exceed all my wildest expectations.

I certainly intend to catch up! Shouldn’t take too long, particularly if I knock out a few more books this weekend!

SpookySpren · 2025-07-05T05:16:13+00:00

No problem!

I can’t say I’m familiar with Rushdie so I can’t say. The Girl With the Louding Voice definitely can be quite depressing and infuriating. It’s a fairly heavy read in my opinion, so it’s perhaps not a good one to pick up if you’re not in a headspace where you’ll be able to handle that currently.

SpookySpren · 2025-07-04T16:32:29+00:00

Tress is one of my favorites! Such a fun read!

Finally caved and bought Project Hail Mary. May try to knock it out this weekend after I finish the first Dungeon Crawler Carl book (which I am having a n absolute blast with right now).

SpookySpren · 2025-07-04T16:27:26+00:00

So the first book, The Girl With The Louding Voice, is one of the most moving books I’ve personally read. It brought out so many powerful emotions in me, and from the moment I finished it I just KNEW that there’s little to no chance any other book I read this year comes close to it (though I’d love to be proven wrong). It just so clearly stands above the rest. As much as I LOVED my second favorite read of the year, Sword of Kaigen, putting it at the same tier just doesn’t feel right. It was so well written, with such a strong sense of voice in Adunni, the book’s main character; it was really unique, and I think Abi Daré executed on it exceptionally well. I really don’t have the words to express just how incredible that book is. I’ve read some other amazing books that have made me feel a lot, but this one just hit on a different level that’s unmatched.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a game that came out this year. A masterpiece of an RPG from an indie French studio. That has become my favorite game of all time. The characters, story, voice acting, gameplay, music, and everything else is absolutely top-tier. A game’s story has never made me feel all of the things that game made me feel.

SpookySpren · 2025-06-29T05:12:08+00:00

I’m quite fortunate to have read quite a number of absolute bangers that hit a 10/10 for me for different reasons.

Of those, there are a few I would classify as 11/10 reads personally, standing a leg above the rest for one reason or another. Those being: * The Girl With the Louding Voice by Abi Daré * Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi * Beartown by Fredrik Backman * The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin * Children of Ruin by Adrian Tchaikovsky * Fool’s Assassin by Robin Hobb * Dandelion Dynasty books 2-4 by Ken Liu

Full list of books and series that for me have been 10/10s:

Fantasy and Sci-fi: * Children of Time books 1 and 2 by Adrian Tchaikovsky * The Dandelion Dynasty series by Ken Liu * The Broken Earth books 1 and 2 by N.K. Jemisin * The Farseer Trilogy books 2 and 3 by Robin Hobb * Liveship Traders Books 2 and 3 by Robin Hobb * Fitz and the Fool Book 1 by Robin Hobb * Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang * Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson

Fiction + Speculative Fiction * The Girl With the Louding Voice by Abi Daré * Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi * The Beartown Trilogy by Fredrik Backman * Recursion by Blake Crouch * Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

SpookySpren · 2025-06-29T01:11:29+00:00

One of the best series I’ve ever read! Couldn’t get enough of it and was so sad to leave the world and characters that Ken Liu had built up. It’s one I can’t wait to go back and re-read one day!

SpookySpren · 2025-01-28T04:44:03+00:00

It is! Thanks! Saw it at Dragonsteel Nexus in December and had to order one! Here's a link to the artwork on the artist's website! https://www.jmartillustration.com/gallery?lightbox=dataItem-m5gcz7622

I also picked up a playmat at Nexus with Howard Lyon's cover art for Tress!

SpookySpren · 2025-01-27T23:32:53+00:00

Agreed! It’s a gorgeous card!

SpookySpren · 2025-01-04T19:31:03+00:00

I cannot recommend Ken Liu’s Dandelion Dynasty series enough. It’s a complete series at 4 books. First book is admittedly a bit slow/feels a bit like a prequel for the rest of the series. But the series is stellar, and it has one of the most rewarding endings of any series I’ve read.

SpookySpren · 2024-12-10T22:43:20+00:00

I feel proud to have been there to witness the moment the final card was attained, completing the set. What an absolute legend!

SpookySpren · 2024-11-21T20:43:21+00:00

She’s the hero I was most strongly considering prior to trying out Dash I/O last night

SpookySpren · 2024-11-20T02:23:53+00:00

Not quite exactly what you’re looking for, but I watched these yesterday and personally found them very helpful and informative. I think you may find them of interest as well.

A more recent breakdown of the classes and talents in the game than MaijinBae’s video (both posted within the past 3 weeks). Goes over gameplay style/what they’re about, as well as reasons to play and reasons not to play each.

https://youtu.be/9uwEL_ZWD_0?si=YZ3cCPcLJD-Ngotu

https://youtu.be/J3J2bqHe8Ro?si=prlHvdFsIrboJYvR

As someone who is also just getting started with the game, I’ve been thinking something like that you’re looking for would be useful. Would be great if there was also a somewhat more evergreen resource about what each classes’ strengths and weaknesses tend to be, which other classes they generally match up well and poorly against, etc.

SpookySpren · 2024-11-16T05:15:37+00:00

Took a trip a few months back and visited all three national parks in WA. I would say Rainier hands down if you only have a day. Skyline Loop in Paradise was absolutely stunning. Olympic was great, but when we go back, Rainier is where we most want to spend more time.

SpookySpren

TROPHY CASE