#books2025 — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #books2025, aggregated by home.social.
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Good Morning Folks! Starting a bit of a 2025 in Review series on my blog, as this morning I talked about some of the important books that I read from last year.
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I wonder what my first finished book of 2026 will be?
I'm guessing it will either be more Witch Hat Atelier or another run through of Night at Vampire Castle
Whats you''re first finished book of 2026 likely to be?
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RE: https://dice.camp/@Faintdreams/115690154916638658
Book 12 - 16 of 2025:
Witch Hat Atelier: Komome Shirahama
Volumes 5 - 9 Translation: Stephen KohlerWe learn more of Qifrey's backstory, how the Magic system is maintained, and also that the 'Villains' see themselves as 'Revolutionaries' / 'Freedom Fighters' although they might all be too young to appreciate why the current magic rules were put in place in the first instance ..
Qifrey remains my sweet Human Cupcake. Coco is the bravest.
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Book 11 of 2025:
'Night At The Vampire Castle' by Hari Conner
Most excellent chose-your-own-path fiction book. My first read through I got a very deep, effecting love story. Very much appreciated how choices fully let me control romantic aspects of story so I could have what felt like a very asexual romance.
I might try more spicy paths next time!
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Yesterday, I also received "This Brutal Moon" by Bethany Jacobs, the third and final book in the KIndoms series. Cannot wait to read this this month.
I also have received "The Strength of the Few" by James Islington so this will be read during the Christmas break.
And a last one I would like to get to before 2026 is "Hollow" by Caroline Peckham and Suzanne Valenti. I got this on kindle as I was not able to get the beautiful hard copy with the sprayed edges.
Now, I have not read the "Zodiac Academy" series yet. I am hoping to get to that in mid 2026 possibly as it is a really big series and will be a committment to read.
#books #books2025 #christmasreading #reading -
Lovelace's struggles with embodiment (which are very similar to Breq's in Ann Leckie's Imperial Radch series) can be read as an exploration of trans experiences*: an "illegal" experience, pressure to conform to stereotypes, a profound difference between "oneself" and "one's body". I'm still not sure I like this metaphor, but it's well-excecuted, and the parallels to Pepper's own story are interesting too.
*https://rheinhessen.social/@quidcumque/115642918202467751
(3/n)
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This is illegal, and against its wishes. How Lovelace copes with this situation, how Pepper tries and fails to help, is the main story here. It's intertwined with Pepper's own, rather horrible, backstory.
to help, is the main story here. It's intertwined with Pepper's own, rather horrible, backstory.This was very different from what I expected. And even though there are things that bug me, it was also far *better* than what I expected.
(2/n)
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So, the second book in Becky Chambers' "Wayfarers" series, "A Closed and Common Orbit". Where the first book was a cozy space opera following a four family spaceship crew of wormhole borers, this one feels almost like a spin-off rather than a sequel. It's almost entirely set on planets, and centers on Pepper and the Lovelace reboot. The rebooted ship's AI is now embodied in a humanoid body.
(1/n)
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Pepper's story was the one that broke my heart (big warning if you're sensitive to violence against children here) and gripped me. What happened to her horrible; how she got out is brilliant. For me, these parts were the strongest parts of the book, both from a storytelling point of view and an atmospheric one.
So - I did like it! And it's still making me think.
(But I missed the wormholes! I like wormhole boring!)
(4/n n=4)
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So, the second book in Becky Chambers' "Wayfarers" series, "A Closed and Common Orbit". Where the first book was a cozy space opera following a four family spaceship crew of wormhole borers, this one feels almost like a spin-off rather than a sequel. It's almost entirely set on planets, and centers on Pepper and the Lovelace reboot. The rebooted ship's AI is now embodied in a humanoid body.
(1/n)
-
This is illegal, and against its wishes. How Lovelace copes with this situation, how Pepper tries and fails to help, is the main story here. It's intertwined with Pepper's own, rather horrible, backstory.
to help, is the main story here. It's intertwined with Pepper's own, rather horrible, backstory.This was very different from what I expected. And even though there are things that bug me, it was also far *better* than what I expected.
(2/n)
-
Lovelace's struggles with embodiment (which are very similar to Breq's in Ann Leckie's Imperial Radch series) can be read as an exploration of trans experiences*: an "illegal" experience, pressure to conform to stereotypes, a profound difference between "oneself" and "one's body". I'm still not sure I like this metaphor, but it's well-excecuted, and the parallels to Pepper's own story are interesting too.
*https://rheinhessen.social/@quidcumque/115642918202467751
(3/n)
-
Pepper's story was the one that broke my heart (big warning if you're sensitive to violence against children here) and gripped me. What happened to her horrible; how she got out is brilliant. For me, these parts were the strongest parts of the book, both from a storytelling point of view and an atmospheric one.
So - I did like it! And it's still making me think.
(But I missed the wormholes! I like wormhole boring!)
(4/n n=4)
-
So, the second book in Becky Chambers' "Wayfarers" series, "A Closed and Common Orbit". Where the first book was a cozy space opera following a four family spaceship crew of wormhole borers, this one feels almost like a spin-off rather than a sequel. It's almost entirely set on planets, and centers on Pepper and the Lovelace reboot. The rebooted ship's AI is now embodied in a humanoid body.
(1/n)
-
This is illegal, and against its wishes. How Lovelace copes with this situation, how Pepper tries and fails to help, is the main story here. It's intertwined with Pepper's own, rather horrible, backstory.
to help, is the main story here. It's intertwined with Pepper's own, rather horrible, backstory.This was very different from what I expected. And even though there are things that bug me, it was also far *better* than what I expected.
(2/n)
-
Pepper's story was the one that broke my heart (big warning if you're sensitive to violence against children here) and gripped me. What happened to her horrible; how she got out is brilliant. For me, these parts were the strongest parts of the book, both from a storytelling point of view and an atmospheric one.
So - I did like it! And it's still making me think.
(But I missed the wormholes! I like wormhole boring!)
(4/n n=4)
-
Lovelace's struggles with embodiment (which are very similar to Breq's in Ann Leckie's Imperial Radch series) can be read as an exploration of trans experiences*: an "illegal" experience, pressure to conform to stereotypes, a profound difference between "oneself" and "one's body". I'm still not sure I like this metaphor, but it's well-excecuted, and the parallels to Pepper's own story are interesting too.
*https://rheinhessen.social/@quidcumque/115642918202467751
(3/n)
-
So, the second book in Becky Chambers' "Wayfarers" series, "A Closed and Common Orbit". Where the first book was a cozy space opera following a four family spaceship crew of wormhole borers, this one feels almost like a spin-off rather than a sequel. It's almost entirely set on planets, and centers on Pepper and the Lovelace reboot. The rebooted ship's AI is now embodied in a humanoid body.
(1/n)
-
Lovelace's struggles with embodiment (which are very similar to Breq's in Ann Leckie's Imperial Radch series) can be read as an exploration of trans experiences*: an "illegal" experience, pressure to conform to stereotypes, a profound difference between "oneself" and "one's body". I'm still not sure I like this metaphor, but it's well-excecuted, and the parallels to Pepper's own story are interesting too.
*https://rheinhessen.social/@quidcumque/115642918202467751
(3/n)
-
Pepper's story was the one that broke my heart (big warning if you're sensitive to violence against children here) and gripped me. What happened to her horrible; how she got out is brilliant. For me, these parts were the strongest parts of the book, both from a storytelling point of view and an atmospheric one.
So - I did like it! And it's still making me think.
(But I missed the wormholes! I like wormhole boring!)
(4/n n=4)
-
This is illegal, and against its wishes. How Lovelace copes with this situation, how Pepper tries and fails to help, is the main story here. It's intertwined with Pepper's own, rather horrible, backstory.
to help, is the main story here. It's intertwined with Pepper's own, rather horrible, backstory.This was very different from what I expected. And even though there are things that bug me, it was also far *better* than what I expected.
(2/n)
-
Pepper's story was the one that broke my heart (big warning if you're sensitive to violence against children here) and gripped me. What happened to her horrible; how she got out is brilliant. For me, these parts were the strongest parts of the book, both from a storytelling point of view and an atmospheric one.
So - I did like it! And it's still making me think.
(But I missed the wormholes! I like wormhole boring!)
(4/n n=4)
-
Lovelace's struggles with embodiment (which are very similar to Breq's in Ann Leckie's Imperial Radch series) can be read as an exploration of trans experiences*: an "illegal" experience, pressure to conform to stereotypes, a profound difference between "oneself" and "one's body". I'm still not sure I like this metaphor, but it's well-excecuted, and the parallels to Pepper's own story are interesting too.
*https://rheinhessen.social/@quidcumque/115642918202467751
(3/n)
-
This is illegal, and against its wishes. How Lovelace copes with this situation, how Pepper tries and fails to help, is the main story here. It's intertwined with Pepper's own, rather horrible, backstory.
to help, is the main story here. It's intertwined with Pepper's own, rather horrible, backstory.This was very different from what I expected. And even though there are things that bug me, it was also far *better* than what I expected.
(2/n)
-
So, the second book in Becky Chambers' "Wayfarers" series, "A Closed and Common Orbit". Where the first book was a cozy space opera following a four family spaceship crew of wormhole borers, this one feels almost like a spin-off rather than a sequel. It's almost entirely set on planets, and centers on Pepper and the Lovelace reboot. The rebooted ship's AI is now embodied in a humanoid body.
(1/n)
-
- there's intense pressure to conform to stereotypes, lest they are found out. If found out, they face dire consequences.
- friendships without outing themself feel dishonest, but outing themself might end the friendship
- the "parent" figures are certain they did them a favor, they did it in loving memory of someone who died
What's eventually done is something kind of resonant to the *nonbinary* trans experience, I think:
(2/n)
-
A third solution, something different from both the way the AI was programmed to live and the embodied way the others imagined.
Everything sounds right, doesn't it? And yet I don't like something there and can't put my finger on what it is.
(3/n, n=3)
-
- there's intense pressure to conform to stereotypes, lest they are found out. If found out, they face dire consequences.
- friendships without outing themself feel dishonest, but outing themself might end the friendship
- the "parent" figures are certain they did them a favor, they did it in loving memory of someone who died
What's eventually done is something kind of resonant to the *nonbinary* trans experience, I think:
(2/n)
-
A third solution, something different from both the way the AI was programmed to live and the embodied way the others imagined.
Everything sounds right, doesn't it? And yet I don't like something there and can't put my finger on what it is.
(3/n, n=3)
-
- there's intense pressure to conform to stereotypes, lest they are found out. If found out, they face dire consequences.
- friendships without outing themself feel dishonest, but outing themself might end the friendship
- the "parent" figures are certain they did them a favor, they did it in loving memory of someone who died
What's eventually done is something kind of resonant to the *nonbinary* trans experience, I think:
(2/n)
-
A third solution, something different from both the way the AI was programmed to live and the embodied way the others imagined.
Everything sounds right, doesn't it? And yet I don't like something there and can't put my finger on what it is.
(3/n, n=3)
-
- there's intense pressure to conform to stereotypes, lest they are found out. If found out, they face dire consequences.
- friendships without outing themself feel dishonest, but outing themself might end the friendship
- the "parent" figures are certain they did them a favor, they did it in loving memory of someone who died
What's eventually done is something kind of resonant to the *nonbinary* trans experience, I think:
(2/n)
-
A third solution, something different from both the way the AI was programmed to live and the embodied way the others imagined.
Everything sounds right, doesn't it? And yet I don't like something there and can't put my finger on what it is.
(3/n, n=3)
-
A third solution, something different from both the way the AI was programmed to live and the embodied way the others imagined.
Everything sounds right, doesn't it? And yet I don't like something there and can't put my finger on what it is.
(3/n, n=3)
-
- there's intense pressure to conform to stereotypes, lest they are found out. If found out, they face dire consequences.
- friendships without outing themself feel dishonest, but outing themself might end the friendship
- the "parent" figures are certain they did them a favor, they did it in loving memory of someone who died
What's eventually done is something kind of resonant to the *nonbinary* trans experience, I think:
(2/n)
-
Hm. Still thinking about "A Closed and Common Orbit" and the embodiment of AI there. I *think* it's a trans metaphor of sorts, but something about it bugs me.
I am not sure *what* it is that bugs me, it feels accurate enough:
- a person is in a body they didn't choose. They don't like it and don't feel it's "them" in a meaningful way.
- their friends tell them they just need time and will adjust eventually
(1/n)
-
Hm. Still thinking about "A Closed and Common Orbit" and the embodiment of AI there. I *think* it's a trans metaphor of sorts, but something about it bugs me.
I am not sure *what* it is that bugs me, it feels accurate enough:
- a person is in a body they didn't choose. They don't like it and don't feel it's "them" in a meaningful way.
- their friends tell them they just need time and will adjust eventually
(1/n)
-
Hm. Still thinking about "A Closed and Common Orbit" and the embodiment of AI there. I *think* it's a trans metaphor of sorts, but something about it bugs me.
I am not sure *what* it is that bugs me, it feels accurate enough:
- a person is in a body they didn't choose. They don't like it and don't feel it's "them" in a meaningful way.
- their friends tell them they just need time and will adjust eventually
(1/n)
-
Hm. Still thinking about "A Closed and Common Orbit" and the embodiment of AI there. I *think* it's a trans metaphor of sorts, but something about it bugs me.
I am not sure *what* it is that bugs me, it feels accurate enough:
- a person is in a body they didn't choose. They don't like it and don't feel it's "them" in a meaningful way.
- their friends tell them they just need time and will adjust eventually
(1/n)
-
Hm. Still thinking about "A Closed and Common Orbit" and the embodiment of AI there. I *think* it's a trans metaphor of sorts, but something about it bugs me.
I am not sure *what* it is that bugs me, it feels accurate enough:
- a person is in a body they didn't choose. They don't like it and don't feel it's "them" in a meaningful way.
- their friends tell them they just need time and will adjust eventually
(1/n)
-
I came for cozy science fiction, and all I got was horrific child abuse and a trans metaphor, if it is indeed one, that hurts.
It's not bad, just really, really different from what I expected.
-
I came for cozy science fiction, and all I got was horrific child abuse and a trans metaphor, if it is indeed one, that hurts.
It's not bad, just really, really different from what I expected.
-
I came for cozy science fiction, and all I got was horrific child abuse and a trans metaphor, if it is indeed one, that hurts.
It's not bad, just really, really different from what I expected.
-
I came for cozy science fiction, and all I got was horrific child abuse and a trans metaphor, if it is indeed one, that hurts.
It's not bad, just really, really different from what I expected.
-
I came for cozy science fiction, and all I got was horrific child abuse and a trans metaphor, if it is indeed one, that hurts.
It's not bad, just really, really different from what I expected.
-
"And maybe this, um, maybe this isn’t you right now. Maybe the face you’re, um, the face you’re wearing just needs a little time before it f-fits you. Or you fit it. Either way."
Or maybe you could, you know, *change it* to make it fit you better? Try to become your own person instead of "fitting in"?
HOW does that not occur to these people?!
-
"And maybe this, um, maybe this isn’t you right now. Maybe the face you’re, um, the face you’re wearing just needs a little time before it f-fits you. Or you fit it. Either way."
Or maybe you could, you know, *change it* to make it fit you better? Try to become your own person instead of "fitting in"?
HOW does that not occur to these people?!
-
"And maybe this, um, maybe this isn’t you right now. Maybe the face you’re, um, the face you’re wearing just needs a little time before it f-fits you. Or you fit it. Either way."
Or maybe you could, you know, *change it* to make it fit you better? Try to become your own person instead of "fitting in"?
HOW does that not occur to these people?!
-
"And maybe this, um, maybe this isn’t you right now. Maybe the face you’re, um, the face you’re wearing just needs a little time before it f-fits you. Or you fit it. Either way."
Or maybe you could, you know, *change it* to make it fit you better? Try to become your own person instead of "fitting in"?
HOW does that not occur to these people?!
-
"And maybe this, um, maybe this isn’t you right now. Maybe the face you’re, um, the face you’re wearing just needs a little time before it f-fits you. Or you fit it. Either way."
Or maybe you could, you know, *change it* to make it fit you better? Try to become your own person instead of "fitting in"?
HOW does that not occur to these people?!