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Kat D

@pocketsizedkatt

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📚Bookish Content | Storyteller
✨Whimsy Lifestyle | Fangirl
🍂 Autumn Obsessed
💌 [email protected]
🇨🇦 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻 🐈‍⬛ 🌻 📸 🌲☕️🎨

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Eden by @kylos.bookclub

❔What is an animal you wish was bigger?

Here we are with another author’s debut! I’ve really enjoyed reading indie authors this year. So how was this one?? Let’s discuss!

This book absolutely hits the ground running. From the first chapter, he had my eyes wide and my mouth agape. This is a very brave writer who is not afraid to blow things up to advance the plot.

It hits a lot of points that I really love. There is a Father fighting for his family. There are emotional beats that really hit. There’s great depiction of how trauma has impacted someone. And most of all: the action is FANTASTIC. I was so entertained through all the action parts.

I did want a bit more character development. Sometimes it seemed like characters attached too quickly to people they just met. But also, it’s the apocalypse. I can understand longing for connection.

Overall, fantastic read. It blows my mind that this is a debut.

Go read this book.

Rating: 🍄‍🟫🍄‍🟫🍄‍🟫🍄‍🟫.5/5

#bookstagram #eden #kylokirby #horror #debut

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Last, Now, Next!

❔What’s the last thing you finished and how was it? Did it leave you smiling and satisfied (yes I’ve been wanting to watch The Office again)

I’ve never done a last, now, next because I am a moody bitc- I mean I’m a mood reader and gamer. I’ll have like a pool of games/books I want to get to next and I’ll pick from them, I’ll rarely have ONE in mind that’s coming next. Unless there’s a buddy read coming up. Which is what’s happening here. So! Let’s do a lil summary of these:

Mouse: P. I. For Hire
I really loved this Mickey Mouse meets Doom shooter. Chaotic, fun, challenging in parts, I enjoyed my time with it

American Rapture
Oh my god. Review coming soon but yeah, I loved this. Stayed up til 2am on a school night finishing it

Unicorn Overlord
This game is scratching an itch that I didn’t know I had

Tender Is the Flesh
A grotesque examination of humanity and the meat consumption industry. Very interesting read so far

Dead Space
This game has been on my backlog for too long - I’m getting to it next. I loved the OG Dead Space back in the xbox360 days

King Sorrow
Incoming buddy read with the Creepy Quartet. That’s what I’m calling us now, okay @cardcatalogdreams @ashleyfinamorereads @readsbyrew

#lastnownext #kingsorrow #tenderistheflesh #unicornoverlord #deadspace

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Time Machine: 2020 books edition!

❔Is there a trilogy where the second one was the best?

Gosh, 2020. What else happened. Everything and nothing, really 😂 just surviving with a 2 year old and 3 year old while still working. Just living the dream 🫠

As for books from the pandemic year? I don’t have a ton but the ones I do are great!

Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman (5/5)
The first DCC book. It instantly grabbed me, I loved it so much.

If It Bleeds by Stephen King
A collection of novellas, I love his short stories so I’m so ready for this

The Trouble with Peace by Joe Abercrombie
I’m gonna be honest - this title itself makes me SO hyped for this. I just know it’ll be so twistedly dark

His & Hers by Alice Feeney (5/5)
An amazing thriller. This book freaking NAILED everything great about a thriller. THAT. ENDING.

#bookstagram #timemachine #stephenking #dungeoncrawlercarl #alicefeeney

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City of Warriors by Joey Stewart

❔What’s a debut that instantly got you hooked? Could be an author, band, game studio, etc

Huge shout out to @booksta.bro.joe for the ARC copy of this book. It seemed to be right up my alley and man, it did not disappoint.

This Roman-inspired story follows Adonis and crew through the Arete Trials to prove their worth. Huge book 1 of Red Rising vibes here, along with hints of Mistborn and Hercules.

The book comes out the gate swinging. The action in this book is superb, I was always here for any combat scene. The characters are complex, interesting, and very human - Adonis and Thaddeus constantly frustrated me in a way that made sense for their characters. Adonis is a 17 year old farmer who wants to prove himself to the higher society. Thaddeus is an 18 year old prince who grew up relatively sheltered. It made sense for their actions to frustrate me but that’s what made the book feel so real.

I really enjoyed this one. If you like action, Roman-inspired stories, people banding together to overcome impossible odds, and ancient powers awakening, this book is for you. Go get it on November 5th!

#bookstagram #cityofwarriors #legendsofthearakan #joeystewart #arc

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Animal Farm by George Orwell

❔What do you think is the smartest animal?

Continuing on with Sean Reads The Classics™️ we have Animal Farm. Now this is a nice short one, under 100 pages and I was able to read it in a day.

How was it, Sean? Great question. This book hits you over the head with its themes lol. There can be no ambiguity about what Orwell is trying to say here. That being said, it’s well done. I understand the message the book is telling. It speaks to how tyrants try to rewrite history to maintain power. It shows how they argue certain people are just “genetically superior” therefore they deserve more.

I enjoyed my time with the book. I found the characters interesting, the writing was thoughtful, and the ending was good. This book is worth your time.

Rating: 🐷🐷🐷🐷.25/5

#bookstagram #animalfarm #georgeorwell #classic #review

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The Legend of Uh by @aaronn.hall

❔What’s a food or show or book or game or drink or anything that’s just a comfort for you?

Huge shout out to the Uh crew for a great buddy read. I feel like we were all pretty darn close reading this? Like no one was way behind or way ahead @cardcatalogdreams @ashleyfinamorereads @readsbyrew @litwithgabs @shawnsbookcorner @booksnbells @hillaryanna_author
…except maybe someone but I won’t say any names (it’s @vampsreads 😬)

As for the book? I loved this book so much. It just felt like a warm hug. The found family is amazing. But not just the found family - the appreciation for the family they have.

This book is so self aware. You know exactly what you’re getting in the best way. There’s relatively low stakes, the plot goes at a great pace, and the connections that are made are just amazing. Don’t read this book when you’re hungry because my god the food here all sounds so delicious.

The action was great. The humor was top notch. The self awareness was refreshing. Just, I cannot give any more notes.

Go read this book. Five stars, easy.

Rating: (well I just said that but still)
🧇🧇🧇🧇🧇/5

#bookstagram #thelegendofuh #aaronhall #fantasy #review

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I haven’t shouted out some ladies recently so enjoy this edit and some creators/bookish women I love!!

Go give them a follow 👉🏼

#books #bookish #womensupportingwomen #edits #loveyou

I mean we all knew this was gonna happen lol 😂
But if you don’t follow her she has the best memes and funny content and she is my best friend… soooo

#besties

The two of us collided into each others lives like clouds. We were just moving past but then did one buddy read and are hooked! We also have very similar tastes in books but she is cooler than I am and way more articulate!

Gabs - my sweet angel! She is also becoming an author so just plugging that in here to for her. Go check her out and her pretty face and keep her book on your radar!

Kat is a cozy vibe- if you want to be scrolling and feel cozy go and follow her. She is the best!

Brandie is seriously the coolest and she speaks her mind but in like a nice way. lol one day I will figure that out - but if you want to see cool animals as well go follow her!

Nicky is a ray of sunshine- literally. I love when I open my messages from her and they are just the nicest things! She also loves the sun eater series and is into so many cool hobbies!

Syd is me if I was on speed! She is so happy all the time and when that woman wants something she will get it 😆 for a funny honest good time go follow her !

Lindsey is who I want to be when I hit my midlife crisis- she line dances and has the best fur jackets like I need them in my life! If you just want to get up and shake your butt go follow her!

Amanda is so cool- she has a great energy about her and I love that she is always on the move. I am living vicariously through her travels! Go like her !

Shayla is a wild animal in the best way! Her content is such a fun time and engaging! She is also aesthetically pleasing in her dress and her posts! Go check her out!

If you like this follow for more! Love you 🫶🏼

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Palaces of the Crow by Ray Nayler

❔What animal would you want to live with? Not like as a pet, like as a companion?

I had not heard anything about this book before. I haven’t seen it around my corner of bookstagram or anything. I just saw it in a bookstore, the cover looked cool, the description sounded good, it was signed, and it had a rating of over 4 stars on Goodreads.

We follow the story of four kids during WW2, caught between the Nazis and the Red Army. They only have each other, and a flock of crows that protects them. Theres a Jewish girl who has befriended the local crows and who wants to be a biologist, a Lithuanian who deserted the Red Army, a Roma girl who is separated from her family, and a boy who doesn’t speak.

I’m someone who loves a found family. And my god, this touched me so deeply. Everything felt so real. I felt like I was there with them, surviving, figuring things out. The plot twists and the anxiety and the heartbreak… I was there for it all. It’s hard for me to put into words how well written this book is.

I hope this book gains more traction on bookstagram. Go read this.

Rating: 🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛/5

#bookstagram #palacesofthecrow #raynayler #historicalfiction #ww2

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Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook by Matthew Dinniman

❔What makes something a four star read/game instead of five star?

Book number three of the Dungeon Crawler Carl universe is in the books! Big shout out to @bookaroundfindout and @trevlee for buddy reading with me… even though I was a horrible buddy reader because I just ran through it 😂

But on to the book itself! The only reason this wasn’t another five star is I felt like the floor was too confusing. I know that at the start Matt says that you don’t need to understand it. But as I’m visualizing it all, it got to be a bit much. And there was a lot of time dedicated to trying to explain it. Which, maybe I did understand it more after awhile. But it just got to be a bit much.

The good though? SO much good. It has this found family that is just SO good. The character work here is really coming to shine. And of course there is the typical comedy in a DCC book. I laughed. I teared up. I grooved to the song references.

This book is my least favorite so far of the series. And it’s still a great book. A four star read is still very much worth your time.

Rating: 🚂🚂🚂🚂/5

#bookstagram #dungeoncrawlercarl #mattdinniman #dungeonanarchistscookbook #litrpg

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Shoutout Sunday: WoW edition!

❔Shout out your best friend and only your best friend so everyone else who sees your comment can be offended that they weren’t picked by you as your best friend. Thats right let’s get messy.

So today is our anniversary (12 years!) and I just want to shout her out. She’s awesome. I love her. Folks, if you’re going to get married, marry your best friend.

So here’s some things that make me think of her:

Dashboard Confessional
We have seen them live more times than I can count. We even got to do a backstage meet and greet and Chris Carrabba was the nicest dude ever

J. Cole
She loves the random George W. Bush drop in No Role Modelz

Eminem
I think Without Me is one song we both have rapped flawlessly in the car

Taylor Swift
I mean. Duh. She is a Swiftie, through and through

The Last of Us
When we first got married I played through this one and she stopped what she was doing to watch. She said it was just like watching a movie

Call of Duty: Black Ops
Some of our earliest memories from dating are us playing Black Ops on Nuketown. She made sure to use a class with scavenger so she could just toss grenades all day

Kingdom of Claw
We both gave this book five stars. Go read The Ashen series

Kandi Steiner
Sports romance series that my wife really enjoyed. So I had fun reading them with her too 😂

Daughter of Smoke and Bone
I remember my wife bawling at the end of this one and saying I would love it. And she wasn’t wrong!

#shoutoutsunday #anniversary #dashboardconfessional #callofduty #daughterofsmokeandbone

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Maeve Fly by @ceejthemoment

❔What is a food you love and never want ruined for you?

Big shout out to @ashleyfinamorereads @cardcatalogdreams and @readsbyrew for doing the buddy read with me. This wouldn’t have been as good alone 😂

Maeve Fly is the second book I’ve read by Ms. Leede and uh. Wow. It’s memorable, that’s for sure.

The book follows the titular character, Maeve, as she lives in LA and works at the “happiest place on earth” as an ice princess. First off I found it very funny that certain characters were described and others just said “Cinderella.” I’m guessing that’s due to public domain laws and stuff, but it was interesting to me.

But ANYWAY, Maeve’s world changes when her best friend’s brother moves to town, awakening a side of her that she had felt she had to hide from the world.

This book is a Feminist slasher. It’s a Feminist American Psycho. It’s filled with Feminine rage. And I loved it. It worked so well, it was so interesting exploring the contradictions of society. It was so interesting seeing a woman who felt so alone truly be seen by someone.

I know people said they didn’t like the book because they didn’t like the main character. Wasn’t that the point? I didn’t like Patrick Bateman and I loved American Psycho. Maeve is unhinged, impulsive, and selfish. She is not someone to idolize. And I loved following her journey.

I will say, this book ruined quite a few things for me 😂 be sure to check the trigger warnings before reading.

Rating: 🥚🥚🥚🥚.25/5

#bookstagram #maevefly #cjleede #horror #slasher

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August Wrap Up!

❔What’s been a book or game or song that you cannot stop thinking about from the last month?

Welp, August has come and gone. Busy month over here in the Yawn household. Much like all the other months. What did that mean for Sean’s hobby time?

Reading wise: I read 2020 pages and finished four books! One absolutely amazing one, one that was not for me, and two that I really enjoyed.

As for gaming: I had 37:11 playtime and finally finished Metaphor: ReFantazio! I also got to start on Mouse: P. I. For Hire.

As always, if the ratings are too small to read, here they are:

Light Bringer: 5/5
Motheater: 2.25/5
Maeve Fly: 4.25/5
Sword of Destiny: 4.25/5
Metaphor: ReFantazio: 5/5

In Progress:
Well of Ascension
Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook
Mouse: P. I. For Hire

#august #augustwrapup #redrising #thewitcher #dungeoncrawlercarl

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