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Cass

@the_midwest_library

5.5K

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971

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🏡Ohio
part time menace, professionally tall 😏
📚fantasy | litfic | nonfiction📚
using my law degree to argue about books

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Well well well, what have we here? A master guide of only the best fantasy world of all time!!! Who created such a thing?? Well I did of course as my gift to you😉💅

I am seeing so many new friends dive into The Realm of the Elderlings and I know this giant 16 book world can feel daunting. There's even some crazy information out there about which order to start in (lol don't let's be silly there's only one way to read this series my friends!!)

So I have broken down this wonderful world for you in this handy guide. I hope that if you are on the fence about this series after looking through this spoiler free post you will take the leap. If you started your journey already I can't wait to hear about this beautifully tragic journey you have embarked on.

Those of you that know me know I won't shut the fuck up about my love of Robin Hobb who I think has created the most masterful fantasy world (and I'm brave enough to say this next part out loud) since Tolkien. YEAH I SAID IT!!! (I will die on this hill)

I know this world isn't for everyone, as a certified hater myself I support everyone's opinions even if they are wrong 😈😈😈 (jk I still love you all). But if this post can convince one person to start this journey, or guide one person who is already on their way, then the whole thing has been worth it. by @the_midwest_library

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a year ago

Happy Monday friends!

My weeks are getting crazier by the second given the time of year it is, but I always have time to stop and think about Robin Hobb.

What a fabulous way to jump start the week, reflecting on the best fantasy series of all time, according to me (someone with excellent taste 😏😜).

I have a very ambitious March TBR planned but lately I've been feeling the siren song of Realm of the Elderlings....should I do a full reread in 2026 and break my own heart over and over and over again?? by @the_midwest_library

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2 years ago

A Sander-Stack to cleanse your feed today friends.

"Life breaks us, Teft. Then we fill the cracks with something stronger.”

Try your best today friends 🫶

Drop your fav Stormlight quote below so we can feel a little hope today. by @the_midwest_library

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2 years ago

Happy Saturday friends!!!!

It was an insane week in my household. Gambit went to the vet on Monday for ripping out his neuter stitches, my work deadline hit this week, I somehow have totally forgotten how to read books, and I am addicted to stealing Halloween candy from the stockpile we have in the hall closet for the neighborhood children 😆😆😆

I'm looking forward to a mental reset this weekend. We have plans to go get boba, enjoy the fall leaves and soak up these moments.

🍁QOTD: What small thing made you happy this week?🍂 For me, it is the orange leaves in the trees and crisp morning air🌰 by @the_midwest_library

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3 days ago

🍁🎃ARC Review: The Anguished Earth🍂🌰

What a fantastic addition to one of my absolute favourite fantasy worlds, The Empire of the Wolf. In this next prequel novella we follow our beloved Justice Konrad Vonvalt on yet another case for the Empire; bring in a murderer who escaped confinement. The only problem, our beloved Empire is experiencing a pox outbreak.

Battling with small town politics, a literal witch hunt, dried up leads and a pox ridden town. I love these characters, I love any glimpses we get into this world but especially those that show us Vonvalt before the events of Empire of the Wolf.

You can absolutely read these Novellas before diving into Empire of the Wolf but I think they fit best after reading the original trilogy as a 💅treat✨. The first novella, The Scour was JUST AS GOOD!!!!! Truly Richard can't miss and I'm grateful he has more stories to tell in this world!

Absolutely a 5 out of 5 stars.

PLEASE READ THESE BOOKS I BEG OF THEE!!!!

Release date October 19th by @the_midwest_library

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5 days ago

🍂🌰What is a book that has been on your TBR for far too long?🍁🌾

Daughter of the Forest, and the entire series by Juliet Marillier has been on my TBR for ages. I truly have absolutely no excuse. This world has so much love and so many people have told me I need to stop delaying my reading.

I SWEAR guys I am going to read this book this fall!!! My October reading has not been great, but I believe in me. . . maybe 😆😆😆 by @the_midwest_library

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7 days ago

Hello friends! Remember when all my books were in piles on the floor and I was in the middle of moving into my first house?? 🫣🫣🫣

Throw back to the glorious book piles that consumed my life this time last year. We closed on our house at the end of September and spent all of October renovating and moving. Much of that move being my hundreds and hundreds of books.

October of this year brings different changes, we just welcomed a new puppy into the house, Gambit, who is our third dog and already fitting in so well. I still have book piles on the floor, but only my TBR's since my shelves got built. October has been a slow reading month for me, life is coming first. But hopefully I'll get to my piles soon and pick up a read.

QOTD: What are we reading this week??? Give me some recommendations, I'm in a slump and would love maybe an audiobook! 📚 by @the_midwest_library

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11 days ago

Happy Tuesday babes!!! I missed shelfie Sunday, so here is....idk totally cool shelf Tuesday 💀

Anyway I hope you are enjoying October, my reading has been suffering this month thanks to my Gwent addition that has ramped back up with the remastered release of Witcher 3.

If you need me, I'll be building my Nilfgaard deck one Innkeeper at a time. by @the_midwest_library

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14 days ago

🫒🫜Book Review: May We Feed The King🍅🍇

I finished this Booker Prize Shortlist novel over the weekend and wanted to put this interesting read on everyone's radar.

This book follows a historical curator who has taken a job to bring to life the castle of a long ago King. The story is told through duel perspectives, hers in the present and the Kings in the past.

The story provides a really interesting commentary on the rise to power, the all consuming "institution" that a monarchy is, and who really serves as the voice, hand, and might of a King. There's a really tragically beautiful story of a loneliness of circumstance within these pages reflected by the curator's obsession with ensuring each staged meal, room and moment holds purpose and weight.

Understanding what truths there are in historical accounts, and how we tend to make so many assumptions when in reality nothing is certain.

I quite liked this and gave it a really solid 4 stars! by @the_midwest_library

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16 days ago

👻Happy Friday Friends!!!!!🎃

I'm just thinking about the books that remind me of this time of year, and I'm also reminded that I am a total slacker and haven't finished my First law World read through. Would you believe me if I don't you I haven't read Age of Madness yet🫠😬🫡🤨

I don't know what's taking me so long, I love First Law, I loved the three "stand alone" books after. So why I'm dragging my feet I cannot say. Maybe I just don't want it to end.

QOTD: 📚 What book have you been dragging your feet to read for no apparent reason? by @the_midwest_library

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18 days ago

I often find that in the wake of public outcry such as this, there are a lot of conflicting emotions. Much of that conflict is centered around the battered and bruised history of abuse and assault against women that isn't just unnoticed but is willfully ignored by society. The weight of that contrasts against the idea that when we come together against such atrocities, hope can bloom and change can happen.

I find that the more informed I am, the more hope I have and the more power I have over identifying such abuses and biases both on the individual level and a systemic one. I know that reading nonfiction in this space can feel daunting, or even be triggering for many people, but for those of you able to pickup a book about feminist issues, intersectionality, and the history of the movements that have given women a voice, I hope you also find some hope and strength within these pages.

Drop some additional recommendations in the comments so we can all become more informed and better allies to all women, and persons seeking reproductive freedom. by @the_midwest_library

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21 days ago

Happy Sunday everyone!! I've been fairly offline this weekend, reading books, playing games, watching movies and enjoying the cooler weather.

I'm off to see Avengers Endgame Encore today, I'll let you know if the extra 8 minutes of footage is life changing 😆😆😆

Happy Sunday friends!!! by @the_midwest_library

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23 days ago