Book 8 of 2021: Of Gryphons and Other Monsters | 5 DNF

[thistlechaser]

More than a month since my last book review post, ugh! I've been in New Mexico three weeks now, and been in the hospital three times. I do not like that ratio! Kidney stone is finally coming out on Wednesday, then hopefully life will settle down soon after.

But now, BOOKS!



Of Gryphons and Other Monsters by Shannon McGee.

Such a unicorn of a book! Self-published and her first novel, but it was so good! Set in a fantasy world, Taryn and her twin brother are shepherds for their family's small flock of sheep. She's happy with her life, but her brother wants more... and seeks it in the worst place possible.

While the world was really interesting (tending sheep is even more challenging in a world with gryphons!), it was the characters and the relationships that really won me over. In a world where same-sex relationships are accepted, Taryn's "wait, am I a lesbian?" was still really cute.

I liked this book enough that I bought the second one and started it already. It's going to be a four-book series, but only the second one is out so far. Boo!

Abandoned Books

All of these I tried to read over a month ago, so I'm fuzzy on why I gave up on them. Recording them here just for my recordkeeping.

Thimble Summer: I loved this as a kid, but as an adult it didn't hold up. Not so much one story so much as it was a collection of unrelated short tales. DNF 22%

Wolfen: DNF 3%
ExPacifist: DNF 2%
Citizenchip: DNF 23%
Sweet Home Alaska: DNF 7%

Partial book credits:
Point reached in DNF books: 22 + 3 + 2 + 23 = 50%
Previous abandoned book total: 68%
New total: 118% (one book)

Comments

[manue7a.livejournal.com]

In hospital three times? Are you doing alright again?

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

At the moment, okay! tl;dr: Painkillers for my kidney stone chewed a hole in my stomach and I lost half the blood in my body through it. That was the latest trip to the hospital, in there for three days getting transfusions.

Wednesday I go back to get the kidney stone FINALLAY out, but luckily that's an out patient thing, so I should be home that evening.

[manue7a.livejournal.com]

OMG!
Get well soon, then. Sounds like a piece of cake after the previous reason for a hospital visit..

[jeane nevarez (from livejournal.com)]

The gryphon one has a nice cover illustration, too- I'll look for that one. That sounds like a v scary reason to wind up in the hospital. Hope you're feeling better soon!!

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

I hope you enjoy it, too!

And thanks, it was, but hopefully it will all be behind me soon. :)

[loup_noir]

Catching up here. Three times in the hospital! Lost a ton of blood! You have my complete attention. How are you now? Why NM? Who's taking care of the kitty?

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Since I'm 100% work remote now, I was able to leave mega-expensive California. I love CA, but I was basically working poor there. I have an apartment four times as big for less than half the price here.

I made a list of cheap places to live, then crossed off places I didn't think I'd like. Eventually New Mexico was what was left. I hope it grows on me, but I've had a rough start so far (not NM's fault!).

I just got the kidney stone exploded a few hours ago, so I'm hurting kind of bad now, but hopefully I'll feel better soon.

Poor kitty was on her own for three days. I was so worried about her, but there wasn't anything I could do. I needed blood badly. I bugged all the doctors and nurses about getting discharged ASAP so I could get back and check on her. I had put a lot of food and water down, but still...

I'm really hoping life will settle down soon! In three weeks I started a new job, moved across states, and dealing with all this health stuff. I need a break!