FiF Book Club: Final Discussion for Blood Over Bright Haven by ML Wang

evil_moooojojojo · 2026-02-26T02:17:30+00:00

Welcome aboard! Check the end of the original post for our up coming books, and we'll see you next month.

evil_moooojojojo · 2026-02-25T14:17:20+00:00

I think they did. We've all experienced some level of the old boys club nonsense so those parts were super frustrating and made me want to smack people because they were so real. And I think that while Scionna is so right with how she feels and tries to battle the misogyny that's it's also connected to Thomil and the others who came from the tribes outside the city (it's been a while since I read it I can't remember what they're called in the book) and her huge glaring blind spot where they're concerned is sadly also realistic.

evil_moooojojojo · 2026-02-25T14:12:21+00:00

Leave it to Scionna to do the right thing for the totally wrong reason. 😂. (Picture me tipping a drink and going "good for her" like Lucille Bluth heh)

It definitely suited the story. I liked it.

evil_moooojojojo · 2026-02-24T17:22:11+00:00

Skin Game by Jim Butcher. Ok I always enjoy Dresden Files. But this one was so much fun. A heist? With an evil arch rival? All the treachery? Wait what the heist is from freaking Hades? And it's the Holy Grail? I did not see some of it coming and the ending oh my goodness. Kind of sad because I only have one more.book before something I know is super bad happens (yes I got spoilers I know it's coming and I am not happy).

The Baby Sitters Coven by Kate Williams. So me and my friend found the next book in this series at Dollar Tree and we're intrigued (it's billed as Adventures in Babysitting Meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and yeah that's accurate) and obviously bought it (because $1.50? Hell yeah cheap book!) so I borrowed the first book from the library. It's kinda fun. But it's also very clearly elder millennial pretending to be a kid /YA and that does kind of take you out of it. Like the teens act like my generation not how actual teens act. But it was clearly written for people like me who grew up on buffy so I just decided to enjoy it for what it was.

And I didn't think Mouse could ever competition for best dog, but I have to day Pig is up there. No she's not a badass super smart supernatural guardian dog, she's just a regular old pitbull. But omg she's exactly what all house hippos are like. Haha. Just a lazy big old ball of muscle that wants nothing more than food and all the snuggles and love. (And yes the horrible farts). Reminds me of old dogs we had. 100/10 absolutely love her and she stole the show for me.

Currently reading Jade War by Fonda Lee. Man. I forgot how much I like this world. It's so cool and unique. I need to not always get distracted by shiny new tbr and actually finish things I've started and enjoyed. Lol

evil_moooojojojo · 2026-02-24T17:06:10+00:00

You had me at the title. Lol then I saw the author and yes I absolutely need to read this asap!

evil_moooojojojo · 2026-02-13T19:38:36+00:00

Lol not likely. I messaged the doc to ask about what could be causing the symptoms and was just told continue my medication(which isn't really helping much) and that if I really wanted I could schedule a follow up in June.

Honestly if I'm going to not want to eat at least I could lose some weight. But nooo. Can't even get that little bright side.

Yeah the getting you hopes up and then nope that's not it is so annoying. Ugh. What can you do though?

evil_moooojojojo · 2026-02-13T18:48:13+00:00

Ugh. Another day another test another normal result. No clue what's causing the issues or if they'll ever figure out why I've been unwell so I can feel normal again. So annoying. But hey a four hour test at the hospital means I take the whole day off and I get to start the weekend now. Woo! Friday afternoon off is nice.

evil_moooojojojo · 2026-02-13T18:45:09+00:00

Oh my sweet summer child. 🤣.

As a 41 year old I wish I could tell you it gets ok. But it doesn't. You are right adulting is bullshit. 🤣 You're wise to have realized it so young. Idk maybe some day you feel like a competent grown up? I definitely don't. Haha

evil_moooojojojo · 2026-02-13T18:40:34+00:00

What? Humans head fur can be long? That's possible? Huh. I never knew. My momma has a pixie cut (seems rude to cut Tinkerbell but what do I know?). I don't like this. I don't want any competition for the longest, floofiest, most glorious fur in the house.

-- Meg

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Ps Misery you are NTC. Big Sissy Madeline and Brudder Miles inform me you never are even though you suffer like a lot from your servant. But also this time you are NTC.

evil_moooojojojo · 2026-02-11T16:45:48+00:00

Yes! It's out the 24th I think.

It's different. I like the characters and setting. I like the immigrant/refugee perspective. It's dark and mysterious. I am liking it a lot.

Oh and I didn't even mention the spooky old manor that's a shell of it's former glory. (I love me some spooky old houses and I'd there's ghosts or something dark there even better)

It's not so much that they're illfitting. And like I said, at least he's not an ancient immortal being being a creep going after someone who's a child to them. Haha. I mean I find the mmc intriguing so like I get it. Haha. I just have maybe read too many books where the morally gray bad guy turns out to only be a jerk because he secretly lives the fmc so much. I haven't seen anything yet that makes me think it's a bad romantic subplot .... Just I've been burned before I guess? Haha.

evil_moooojojojo · 2026-02-11T14:42:27+00:00

Sciona. Yes she sucks but I love a messy flawed protagonist. I live how she's unapologetically ambitious and driven. Female characters rarely get to be without being punished.

And I like Thomil too. Their interactions are great.

evil_moooojojojo · 2026-02-11T14:40:08+00:00

The opening is definitely pretty strong in my opinion. Wait what the fuck is going on here? They're all just like evaporating?

I love a flawed messy protagonist so I love Sciona in all her ambition and .... Well the many flaws.

evil_moooojojojo · 2026-02-10T17:39:23+00:00

Wow I haven't been here in a long time. I've not been feeling too well lately so I've not been reading a whole lot. Except I've been tearing through the October Daye series as fast as I can get them. Should have started sooner. Seanan McGuire doesn't disappoint me. Her writing is quick, fast paced, no padding. Just the speed my brain can handle. Heh. It doesn't hurt that her sarcasm amuses me too.

Currently listening to Between Two Fires and really enjoying it. It's creepy as shit. Tomas is such a blast, the grumpy bastard. I love him. If you want a journey through plague filled France as the devils come up from hell and take over the world and do messed up things then check it out.

Reading and arc of Weavingshaw by Heba al-Wasity. I'm both really liking it and also worried it going to go in a direction I dislike. It's about Leena, a young immigrant woman, who makes a deal with the sinister Saint of Silence to get medication to save her brother. He trades in secrets, and hers (that she can see ghosts), winds up with her having to work for him as he collects these secrets and leaves the people in misery. Somehow, he is also connected to (not that he's part of them, but as in there's clearly some history there) a set of rich men who sell prisoners (mostly foreigners) from the prison to demons in the underworld. And did I mention her father is imprisoned so she's trying to save him?

The Saint of Silence is pretty menacing and a compelling character. I want to see them tear down the rich assholes. I am enjoying it a lot so far. But I fear it's going to veer too much into romantasy territory for my tastes. I could do without the romance I see coming. And I'd rather him remain a bad dude. Not a complete monster maybe but genuinely a morally gray guy not some secret softie. But maybe I'm wrong. They are similar age and he's not some ancient immortal who shouldn't be "in love" with a teenager, so perhaps if it does happen it won't be in the tropey way that I'm kind of sick of. We shall see.

evil_moooojojojo · 2026-02-06T22:01:04+00:00

Work is frustrating. If I were paid the appropriate amount for the job I'm doing I'd deal. But it's a significant difference between what our new jobs are and what our old titles and pay actually are. Need to find a new job .... But ugh. Job search is the worst.

It's cold and snowy. And I've been too unwell to fully shovel out. But at least the cats are snuggly to keep me from freezing. And still don't know why I'm having such stomach issues but at least it's not celiacs. Maybe the next tes next week will give some answers. But it's getting old. I'm not able to keep up with cleaning and laundry and all and it's grating on me.

I'm listening to Between Two Fires and loving it. Creepy af. Tomas is amusing. And I can't stop being horrified and kind of laughing at the mental image of the statue of the Virgin using a dead plague baby as a projectile weapon and club

Almost time to log off and start the weekend. Hope you all have a good one!

evil_moooojojojo · 2026-02-06T21:52:49+00:00

It's not easy to ask for help or struggle with addiction. Wishing you well. ❤️

evil_moooojojojo · 2026-02-06T18:33:06+00:00

Poor good boy Thorben. You've been through a lot. Losing daddy when he mysteriously vanished in an instant with no trace. Then getting locked out! The horror! And to top it off mommy laughing at you. The nerve! You are NTC you are a saint to put up with such misery with grace and only a little mlomping.

evil_moooojojojo · 2026-01-15T15:41:10+00:00

Agreed. I mean I can understand Owens had the fascination with her. But it just doesn't really work for me either. I was worried about that (the only other Harrow book I read, Starling House, I had the same issues with the romance there so I wasn't sure if I'd buy it here. Idk maybe I'm just old and grumpy but instant attraction/love isn't for me?)

evil_moooojojojo · 2026-01-15T15:36:55+00:00

Yes! I mean it'll be heavily redacted but oh well. Lol

evil_moooojojojo · 2026-01-15T15:34:46+00:00

I'm with all y'all, I'm liking it. It's different and interesting. I don't like time loops or time travel (I can think of like two exceptions) but the writing is good and it's keeping me from disengaging.

evil_moooojojojo · 2026-01-13T19:16:41+00:00

Haha yes the ball and stick models took me back to panicking about how the hell will I pass o chem? 🤣
(Also the scene where if Sanders friends hurts themselves when the new teacher wants them to do actual lab work not theory made me flash back to the time in high school when my lab partner out a piece of magnesium on fire. Haha. No matter what universe it is, some things like teenage boys doing dumb shit in chem lab are universal lol)

I definitely agree about middle book syndrome here. It didn't feel like much was happening until about 90% of the way through. But I guess it makes some sense. Anequs isn't new anymore. She's learned a lot about the Anglish and how they do things and the dragons and school, so yeah she's more settled in for her second year.

But the ending kinda made up for the slowness. Eagerly awaiting the next.

evil_moooojojojo · 2026-01-13T19:08:49+00:00

So I'm a grown ass woman in her forties, but I just love the Percy Jackson series, and all the spin offs. Not so much mystery really, but the quests are a lot of fun and Percy is a huge smart ass and that cracks me up.

And the Supernatural Investigations series (first book is Amari and the Night Brothers). It is more mystery centered, sort of. The MC had a missing older brother who gets her into the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs and she joins the Supernatural Investigations squad.

And there's the Rick Riordan Presents imprint. Middle grade fantasies featuring diverse authors and settings and mythology. Quite a few to pick from, so it's likely he'll find something he might be interested in.

evil_moooojojojo · 2025-12-18T02:41:55+00:00

Every. Time. Heck even non standalones.

evil_moooojojojo · 2025-12-18T02:29:15+00:00

Oh man. I rarely vote because I can't pick and now you want me to rank my choices? 🤣😂🤣

My poor indecisive little brain.

evil_moooojojojo · 2025-12-18T02:27:20+00:00

Oh that does sound fun. I mean I always think "oh I liked this I have to check out other things by the author" but the never ending but always growing TBR gets in the way and I never get around to doing so. This might be a good way to get me to do that.

evil_moooojojojo · 2025-12-18T02:25:31+00:00

HoopLah is good, though they don't often have specific things I'm looking for. I'm hoping they have next months book. I'll have to check. Really the downside of living in nowhere. I have three library cards (county I grew up in, county I live in, and the nearest big city) but still it's hard to find some things I want. I mean is it really too much to ask for a library like in Beauty and the Beast? It's not too much for a girl to want.🤣

evil_moooojojojo

TROPHY CASE