Instagram story viewer> @wanderingwess> Posts

wess 🌙

@wanderingwess

1.2K

followers

1232

following

🧪 just a mad scientist lady | booksta !
✨ 26 | infj
📚 CR: The Knave and The Moon 🌙
🎨 pfp by @con_ratticus

POSTS STORIES REELS

a collection of some recent reads + drinks, featuring my fave local coffee shop @stonecreekcoffee

- Slaying the Vampire Conquerer + pumpkin spice latte (no, it's not too early for it)
- And Now, Back To You + iced vanilla bean latte
- The Ending Writes Itself + matcha with strawberry basil cold foam
- The Mother of Death & Dawn + another matcha with strawberry basil cold foam (this drink had a chokehold on me)
- Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Fairies + peach lycee matcha lemonade
- Six Scorched Roses + iced chai latte
- A Question of Holmes + iced banana brulee latte
- The Jasad Crown + hot vanilla bean latte
- Two Twisted Crowns + iced matcha latte

(also featuring a song I can't stop listening to)

#booksta #book #bookstagram #coffee #localcafe by @wanderingwess

happy Wednesday, I'm baaaack
🤍⚡✨
hi everyoneee hope you've all been well!! sorry for my absence, I've missed you guys dearly! here are some of the books I've read since february (+ some of my beloved popmarts), will probably do some mini reviews on at least a few of these, lmk if there's any in particular you want my opinion on. would also love to know what you all have been reading :) I've def been a bit in my lover girl reading era 😌

👑 The Scorched Throne duology: 4/4⭐ (might be my series of the year, absolutely incredible)

🩶 The War of Lost Hearts trilogy: 3/4⭐ (gearing up for the new release in August!!!)

🥀 Six Scorched Roses: 2.75/4⭐

💀 Thursday Murder Club: 2.5/4⭐

🔥 A Shadow in the Ember + A Light in the Flame: 2/4⭐ + DNF (honestly so annoyed at myself for giving the second book a shot)

🪽 Encyclopedia of Fairies: 2.5/4 ⭐

📖 Funny Story: 2.75/4⭐

📚 Book Lovers: 2.8/4⭐

📞 First-Time Caller: 3/4⭐

🎤 And Now, Back To You: 2.5/4⭐

📝 The Ending Writes Itself: 2/4⭐

🎮 Two Can Play: 2.5/4⭐

I have a feeling I'm about to enter a reading slump, so pls lmk what I should read next!! I'll also do a life update post soon 🫶 by @wanderingwess

Witch King by Martha Wells: mini-review
👑🔮🖤⛰️
I'm a huge Murderbot fan so I was looking forward to reading one of Wells' fantasy adventures. Witch King reads very similarly to Murderbot, and maybe it's just because Kai gave Kell vibes, but it felt like the lovechild of Murderbot and A Darker Shade of Magic. (Ziede also gave Lila vibes, imo.) Witch King is very character-driven, and I will probably read Queen Demon just to get another moment with this cast (I specifically need more time with Sanja and Tenes).

That being said, Wells does not hold your hand as you figure out what the absolute fuck is happening. The story has a dual timeline and you get fed bits and pieces of the world through the past timeline as the story progresses. I think I fully understood the plot for maybe ~10% of the book, so perhaps a second read-through is in my future. Witch King is a fun book in the sense that the characters are fabulous and Kai is the most sincere demon I've ever met, but it's also a tremendously hard book to not give your full attention to.

Also, very grateful for Wells' gender-neutral writing. She refers to new characters as "they" when we first meet them (so there's no assuming what they identify as), and the cast is refreshingly diverse in every aspect. I also think Witch King still very much reads as sci-fi because of how creative/historical/complex the world is, but I didn't mind it.

3/4⭐

Have you read anything by Wells? Do you prefer fantasy or sci-fi? Also happy Monday! by @wanderingwess

Y'all are about to hear me... (*SPOILERS*)

Quicksilver & Brimstone by Callie Hart
❄️ ⚔️🩸🔥
These two books are an example, in my opinion, of a plot that had potential but was massively let down by the way it was carried out. Some of the writing was unbearably cringe and I personally found the plot very difficult to follow, especially towards the end of book one, and book two lost me entirely. I DNF'ed Brimstone about halfway through, and I simply cannot bring myself to finish it.

Here are some of my chief complaints/thoughts:
🔹vampires?? why vampires?? it just seems like a plot point that was made bc vampires are in rn, but otherwise it made no sense, it felt like overkill in fantasy tropes
🔹if I had to read one more line about how Saeris HAD to wear pants because she's ~not like other girls~, I was gonna lose it
🔹the spice scenes were so poorly written. one minute Fisher is barely touching her and the next minute Saeris is screaming. girl. be so fr.
🔹we were set up to see Saeris become queen of the vamps and whatnot but then she basically didn't deal with it at all and fled the scene
🔹where are we at with Everlayne?? "oh look, my sister is in a coma, let's mention it every time we need a critical piece of information revealed and then forget about it"
🔹listen, I love "my mate" as much as the next person, but there are other terms of endearment out there that we could've subbed in every now and then
🔹the fox was my favorite character (and yes, I know what happens to him at the end)

I'm so sorry to the people that this is going to piss off, but these two books are going to sit on my shelf and look pretty and I'm never opening them again. The only good thing about reading these was that I got to carry them around in my gorgeous book sleeve (which lowkey made it worth it). But, with that being said, if you enjoyed these books, please let me know why! I'm open to not being a hater!

Also, massive shout-out to @readwithambs for putting up with my complaining. I basically volun-told her to buddy read Brimstone with me, and I fear I would've lost my sanity without her 🤍

#bookreview #bookish #quicksilver #brimstone by @wanderingwess

I, Medusa by Ayana Gray: *minor spoilers*
🏺🗡️🌊🦉☀️
The writing made this book captivating and easy to read, and I found myself always staying up and reading one more chapter than I had intended to. I was not a huge fan of the ending, but that's mostly because we don't really get to see what happens with an important side character. I felt that Medusa learned a great deal about the world and about herself through this character, so I felt like they deserved a more complete ending. The ending was also very abrupt, though I think that's just meant to reflect on how real life can be (and how the myth is often written). I also enjoyed learning more about Medusa's sisters, as that's not something that's commonly brought up in the myths.

I was slightly stunned that there were no trigger warnings in this book, but I suppose if you're reading a book about Medusa, then you unfortunately know what you're getting into (🍇). Gray made it very clear that Medusa had an array of nonconsensual and racist experiences and each one is as heartbreaking as the last. Gray thankfully minces no words in making it crystal clear that there are few others to blame but gods and men.

It's both devastating and comforting that so many people, particularly women, find solace in Medusa's story, and it seems there's a new lesson to be learned even centuries later. One can hope that eventually people in power will stop taking advantage of youth and minorities, though that seems to be a recurring theme in history (even now). I've never been a fan of the idea of living purely out of spite and anger, but sometimes it feels like that's all that's left. With that being said, there are always bright spots and better choices. In a world of Poseidons and Kallistos, be an Apollonia, or a Theo. Despite how it may feel, standing up and saying something to even just one person can make a difference, and I think Medusa's story exemplifies that.

3.5/4 ⭐

Fun fact, that statue of the Parthenon is from Athens when a family member traveled there 🤍

#book #bookish #booksta #bookreview #imedusa by @wanderingwess

A little different from my normal content but I figured an end-of-year wrap-up wouldn't be complete without acknowledging my progress in solo adventures! As someone who loves being alone and exploring but is still very much a timid introvert, going places by myself was one of my goals for '25. Whether it's going to a cafe or traveling internationally, it's always important to spend time with yourself and refill your own cup 🤍 Hoping to continue these journeys in 2026!

What was your favorite adventure that you had this year? Or any tips for doing things alone?

#endofyear #2025wrapup #soloadventure #eldestdaughter by @wanderingwess

october recap + november hopefuls/rereads!
🎃🍂💀🫀🔮
Happy Sunday! Spooky month treated me surprisingly well, though I barely had any time to read bc of my new job, so hoping November will grant me more free time! I only read Not Quite Dead Yet, Mate, and Replaceable You but they were all great reads so that was something. I'm especially looking forward to reading Quicksilver, I've heard good things!

As the biggest scaredy-cat in the universe, I don't typically love October, but I did more festive things this year than usual:
- lectures on tap about why people love horror
- made pumpkin sheetcake & pumpkin chocolate chip cookies
- dressed up as cruella (yet again)
- festive light show
- reread Bride
- started learning Western blots (this is fr the scariest thing, iykyk)

How was y'all's spooky season? Any reads you're looking forward to?

#book #booksta #bookish #booklover #booktok #bookstagram #octoberrecap #fallreads #notquitedeadyet #matealihazelwood by @wanderingwess

some moments to send off summer
💐☀️🍎🧪❤️‍🔥⚡
Happy Monday everyone! I hope you've all been well and that September has been kind to you. Some gentle reminders on slide 6 🤍

What I've been reading/doing recently:

reading --
The Fallen and The Kiss of Dusk (2.5/4 ⭐)
The Knight and The Moth (3.25/4 ⭐)
The Poppy War (??/4 ⭐)
Not Quite Dead Yet (3.25/4 ⭐)
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue (reread)

doing --
🏈 start of NFL and fantasy (I'm already getting my ass whooped)
🧺 farmers' markets
🎮 valo/vct (rip my pick 'ems)
💥 marvel rivals with my incredibly toxic brothers
☠️ a sick, twisted obsession with dead by daylight
🎵 halsey/badlands revival

It's been a busy month for me as I've been preparing to move across the country and start a new job (among other big life shifts). It seems as if the changing of seasons always accompanies a season of change. I will probably be on here more sporadically for a bit while I move and whatnot. On the bright side, I'm super excited about this new job and I feel so grateful for the life I have !

I go through phases of being like, "I'm one person on a floating rock in space, how wonderful that nothing matters!" and other phases of "How can I enjoy life knowing no one will notice or remember?" I reread Addie LaRue every time I need a reminder that there are many ways to matter, many ways to leave a mark. I often think about Remy's remark that "small places make for small lives."

Anyways, sry for the sappiness of this post, fall seems to always have that effect on me 🤎 by @wanderingwess

a long weekend in the mountains + The Poppy War
⚔️🌲🧡
I'm notoriously not a big mountain-enjoyer but it was admittedly refreshing to spend a weekend in nature. I also finished The Poppy War and I'm decidedly *un*decided about how I feel about it... I have no idea if I'm gonna do an actual review on it. For all the talk about how this book is fantasy (which it technically is), I failed to understand exactly how much of it is rooted in truth. Some of the battle scenes are truly, sickeningly gruesome, and finding out that they're based on real events was horribly unsettling. I also don't know if I like any of the characters?? I feel like I couldn't get a solid grasp on any of them. Plus there was just SO MUCH info thrown at the reader, I don't know if I ever got a clear picture of the world either. Maybe it was the way it was written, or maybe it's just me having poor synthesizing skills lol. Anyways, tldr, weekend was nice but feelings about book are tbd.

Have you read The Poppy War? Or did you do anything nice for the weekend?

#book #booksta #bookish #booklover #thepoppywar by @wanderingwess

local summer-hater puts on real clothes just to go to the bookstore
☀️🌷💫🏵️
Happy Sunday! I am sooo ready for the fall and cool weather. The summer and I notoriously do not get along so when I do brave the heat, it's for a good reason! I picked up a few books I've been looking forward to reading. I'm already a bit through Poppy War and I've finished The Fallen & The Kiss of Dusk. Can't wait to start The Knight and The Moth too!

Have you read any of these books? Any fun plans this week?

#booksta #bookstagram #booktok #book #bookish #booklover #thepoppywar #thefallenandthekissofdusk #theknightandthemoth by @wanderingwess

turned one! 🎉🧁✨

It's a tad belated, but I've officially been on booksta for a year now. I started this account as a way to keep track of what I've read and to chat with all of you lovely humans about it! I'm so grateful for all the connections I've made here; talking to y'all truly makes my day. If you've been here since last summer, ty for sticking around (you know who you are)! I adore y'all and I'm so appreciative of your support, I'll always be here to cheer you on and yap about books 🫶🤍

Little wess would have never believed that reading The Lightning Thief at 8 years old would end up making her a reader for life :) Thank you for a wonderful year!! 🥂 <3 by @wanderingwess

The Shepherd King duology by Rachel Gillig: mini review *no spoilers*
🃏⚔️👑🪶🟡
"The girl, the King... and the monster they became."

I was pleasantly surprised by these two books! I picked them up because I'd heard they have a unique magic system (and yes, they really do) but I didn't anticipate liking the characters and writing so much as well. This duology also tried something that I think is really hard to do well, and that's having the books told from two different perspectives. The first book is almost entirely told from one perspective while the second book is told from a different point of view, and several different points of views at that. I enjoyed it!

I also liked that every character got their moment in the spotlight, even if they weren't a main character. I think Ravyn and Elm are my faves but love a well-rounded cast!

While the magic system is super neat in and of itself, I found myself really attached to the characters and their stories (even the Nightmare...). I can't lie, the ending had me tearing up. I guess I have to read The Knight and The Moth now!

Have you read this duology or anything else by Rachel Gillig? Which Providence Card would you use? 👀

Be wary. Be clever. Be good. 🖤

3.5/4⭐

(I used these very cool playing cards bc I sadly don't own a tarot deck, but just know I thought about it)

#book #booksta #bookish #bookreview #booklover #fantasybooks #onedarkwindow #twotwistedcrowns #shepherdkingduology #rachelgillig by @wanderingwess