#books2025 — Public Fediverse posts

The murder mystery that starts the story, Selah's additional quest, and the life of members of a revolutionary cell also worked well for me.

The characters didn't quite, unfortunately. While it's nice that all the romances are queer and there's nonbinary representation, there were just *too many* relationships for me. These parts felt very Young Adult to me, and not in a good way.

(3/n)

#Sargassa #Books2025

They're Theo, nonbinary revolutionary; patrician Selah, just ascended to chief archivist and hunting for a strange device entrusted to her; Arran, her half-brother with ill-defined social status; Tair, Selah's former lover; and policeman Darius, patrician in disgrace.

Through their eyes, we get to see their society from different points of view, and these parts of the worldbuilding are gorgeous: a rich culture, plausibly descended from Rome but also its own thing.

(2/n)

#Sargassa #Books2025

So, Sophie Burnham's "Sargassa". Marketed as "A Rome that never fell", it's clear from the start that this isn't, strictly does it, true. Burnham's Roman society is there, yes, complete with consuls and a senate, slaves and patricians and plebeians, but it has gone through an undefined period of chaos and data loss and only recently bounced back. It has also conquered North America, and this province is where we get to meet our characters.

(1/n)

#Sargassa #Books2025

The novel shied away from this being a culture with slavery in my opinion, and didn't explore the differences to contemporary racism. That Selah, whose family owned Tair as a slave, and Tair are lovers wasn't dealt in a satisfactory way for me.

And there's a huge plot twist that I both suspected was coming and didn't find that interesting. So, a mixed bag and I'm not sure I'll read the sequel. But it is a nice read of you like ancient Rome!

(4/n, n=4)

#Sargassa #Books2025

Over the holidays I wrote and published a new blog post about the books that I've read during 2025 for enjoyment on my freshly restarted, ultra-sporadically updated, very meager, old-fashioned, hand-crafted artisan blog:

2025 Reading Recap: https://www.jeffpickell.com/blog/20251230

#books2025 #bookstodon #books #bookblogger #reading #novels #sff #scifi #sciencefiction #fantasy #cozyfantasy #dystopian #fiction

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.

https://aggronaut.com/2026/01/02/2025-in-review-the-books/

#Books #AmReading #Bookstadon #books2025 #2025books

#books2025 #bookstodon

Hoping I've done the wretched profile settings appropriately for the FB post to be visible...

A wonderful friend, Steve Davies, used to do a year-in-books list, which I took up as it looked like fun. He died in an accident that same year, so I never did get to share my reading with him. I still keep the list, and every year I still think of my cheese-eating wastrel friend and his exuberant reading tastes.

https://www.facebook.com/paul.cowdell.9/posts/pfbid02X51hYYdq8P6qcwceFspsdhKyrJARwnLUrxwmXvsM464JeMugz4gYPTeNP3jvBrnDl

yes, 25 in '25, should I go for 26 in '26? #bookstodon #books2025

Started 284 books, finished 279. Cover montage coming shortly (have to fix my code first!)

#Books #Books2025 #2025

wrapped de los libritos que me leí en 2025 📚🪴✨

(hagamos como si no se me olvidase subir esto ayer)

#booktodon #books #books2025

Eher enttäuschend fand ich:
Ed Conway - Material World
Ayn Rand - Atlas Shrugged
Andreas Speit - Autoritäre Rebellion

#Bücher #Bücher2025 #books2025 #books

Meine persönliche Top 3 (keine Reihenfolge):
Hein de Haase - How Migration Really Works
Percival Everett - James
Paul Auster - 4 3 2 1

(J.R.R. Tolkien #herrderringe2025 #lotr2025 und Douglas Adams #HG2TG #42 laufen dabei außer Konkurrenz ;o) )

#Bücher #Bücher2025 #books2025 #books

Mein 2025 in Büchern.
#Bücher #Bücher2025 #books2025 #books

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?

#Books2026FD
#Books2026
#Books2025FD
#Books2025

https://dice.camp/@Faintdreams/115803424806036882

RE: https://dice.camp/@Faintdreams/115690154916638658

Book 12 - 16 of 2025:

Witch Hat Atelier: Komome Shirahama
Volumes 5 - 9 Translation: Stephen Kohler

We 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.

https://dice.camp/@Faintdreams/114893313847614573

#Books2025FD #Books2025

Ah, the groundbreaking #revelation that paperbacks are cheaper than hardcovers—truly a shocking discovery in 2025! 📚➕🕺 And let's not forget the deep, intellectual connection between #TikTok and #publishing, because nothing says "calm, clarity, and creativity" quite like a 15-second lip-sync video. 🎵🤦‍♂️
https://calnewport.com/on-paperbacks-and-tiktok/ #paperbackvshardcover #books2025 #creativity #HackerNews #ngated

I am listening to the latest Philip Pullman's book, and reading these two.
#books2025
#books
#music (because of Macca)
Should be at 58/59 books read this year, I'll see where I am on Dec. 31st.

I also am not that much into the YA feel of it. The main characters are pretty young, and go about their day like teenagers. Even the Imperial Historian isn't bogged down by grown-up responsibilities, but runs about as she pleases.

It's somewhat difficult to relate to.

I'd also have liked a bona fide plebeian character. But no, slaves and ex-slaves and patricians.

#Sargassa #Books2025

I am not really into the choice of calling this universe's slaves (because *of course* does Rome still have slavery, which even works similar to the one from antiquity) "servae" instead of "slaves". For a book that's decidedly not *supportive* of slavery as a system, this feels oddly like sugar-coating the issue.

And yes, I am aware that "serva" means "female slave" in Latin. Not every reader is going to though.

#Sargassa #Books2025

This guy (grumpily standing watch at Mainz-Kastel station) feels like he could fit right into this book.

#Sargassa #Books2025

New book: "Sargassa" by Sophie Burnham. A Roman Empire that changed and expanded and fell, but never quite went away, and is very queer, apparently.

Let's see if I can suspend my disbelief regarding Romans crossing the Atlantic successfully enough to establish colonies - "nec defuit audentia [...], sed obstitit Oceanus", as Tacitus writes*, feels like an accurate view of Roman seamanship 😝

#Sargassa #Books2025

*"Didn't lack for bravery, but the ocean hindered [him]"

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!

https://dice.camp/@Faintdreams/114893313847614573

#Books2025FD
#Books2025

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

#Apple #books2025 "year in review":

"Here are some totally inaccurate and made up details about your year of reading. You may have read 50+ books in the year but I'm rounding that down to 14, and have completely forgotten every book you read since March."

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)

#Wayfarers #Books2025

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)

#Wayfarers #Books2025

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)

#Wayfarers #Books2025

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)

#Wayfarers #Books2025

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)

#Wayfarers #Books2025

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)

#Wayfarers #Books2025

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)

#Wayfarers #Books2025

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)

#Wayfarers #Books2025

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)

#Wayfarers #Books2025

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)

#Wayfarers #Books2025

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)

#Wayfarers #Books2025

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)

#Wayfarers #Books2025

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)

#Wayfarers #Books2025

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)

#Wayfarers #Books2025

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)

#Wayfarers #Books2025

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)

#Wayfarers #Books2025

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)

#Wayfarers #Books2025

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)

#Wayfarers #Books2025

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)

#Wayfarers #Books2025

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)

#Wayfarers #Books2025

- 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)

#Wayfarers #Books2025

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)

#Wayfarers #Books2025

- 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)

#Wayfarers #Books2025