Despite all best efforts

I continue exist quietly, busy and kind of slightly but not completely burnt out. I have a major project at work that launches labor day weekend, and every day between now and then is full of things I likely will not finish in time. *shrugs* I've learned to just put it on a list rank by importance and do my best. When I'm not working, I've been spending a lot of time reading. Matt and I went to CONvergence in Minneapolis last weekend - a little be to at the con, and a little just to be away from home - and I read like three books while we were there between panels and movies and whatnot. I've finished two more in the week since we've been back. My goal on Goodreads was 40 books for this year and the next book I finish will get me there.

Books I've finished recently:
Go Hunt Me by Kelly deVos -  A group of high school seniors somehow raise enough movie and the help of a famous actress to travel to Transylvanian to shoot a movie ad Dracula's castle. This is written like a slasher almost, the premise of shooting a movie goes away almost immediately. The main character is weird and I really hated most everything about this book. Do not recommend. 1/5

Alien: Out of Shadow by Tim Lebbon (canonical post Alien book) - I did the audiobook for this one and it was great. Felt like an Alien story and the woman who read for Ripley sounded very much like Sigourney Weaver. Didn't really connect with all the new people we're introduced to (and you know, lose shortly after). 3.5/5

Beneath the Stairs by Jennifer Fawcett - idk what this book was trying to be but it wasn't very scary, and the story felt underbaked. 3/5

The Darkwater Bride by Marty Ross - this was an Audible original, and it was awful but short so I did finish it. It's an extremely misogynistic tale about a Scottish woman who travels to London to investigate her father's death and she finds out he was not a good person... and also there might be a ghost to blame? 2/5

Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo - a kind of haunting modern supernatural & also dark acadamia novel about a college student who inherits everything from his best friend/kind of foster sibling/maybe something more, after this friend dies. He gets embedded with his dead friend's friends, shenanigans and spooky things ensue as the main character tries to unravel what happened to his friend. I really like this one by the end, but the MC is not likeable for a good portion of the beginning. It's GAY. 4/5

Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé - a like new adult dark acadamia about two black students a prestigious private school. Someone starts spilling secrets about these two students who don't really know or interact at all until their lives begin to unravel as more secrets are outed. This is Very Gay and has a lot of classism & racism commentary baked in. Also very good, quick read. 4/5

A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin - a fantastical story about a woman who travels to the heart of the Empire to compete in a competition to become the tea magician (and advisor of sorts) to the Empress. But our MC wants to win to help save her sister who has been infected by something in a batch of poisoned tea. The magic system in this is very cool, the story obviously has a lot of Chinese & Japanese influences. There's also a bit of a love story and there are queer characters. Also the covers for this book and it's sequel are GORGEOUS. 4/5

All's Well by Mona Awad - I have no idea what to say about this book. It's written like a magical realism horror novel. The MC is the theater director in the college where she teaches, she's in debilitating chronic pain, and also her mind isn't ...all there. There's a Shakespearan backdrop as she prepares the school's production of All's Well, and also plenty of hints at MacBeth as well. It's a very strange story, with a very unreliable and unlikeable main character. I'm going to let this one ruminate a bit longer.

I think I'm going to try and participate in Jordaline's "Spooky Smart Bitch" read-a-thon in September, hopefully find some good horror to read before spook season really starts. 

I'm also currently trying to participate in the Story Collective's Fanfiction Challenge for August. It's a free to participate and the discord for all their lessons and events is always a good time. Have I written anything yet? Great question...no I have not. But I'm going to start something at the very least. 

Lastly - I know I've not been keeping up with New Music posts. But, listen... I just want to listen to "Engravings" by Ethan Bortnick on repeat right now. It's SO VERY GOOD. (OH OH! Did you know that Rhett from Good Mythical Morning's (Rhett & Link)? Rhett has put out a country EP under the name James and the Shame. If you like country, and religious deconstruction, the songs are a great listen. Like "Believe Me" is greal and he did "Where We're Going" with his wife and it's lovely. Consider those your unofficial belated music items (for now).

I hope you're all doing well, I'll be in the comments and trying to catch up on things here this week. If I've missed something exciting, please let me know!