2026

we are the ants

⭐⭐⭐

97k words

Dates read: 09/15/2026-09/20/2026

this was one of the most depressing books i've read, at least at first. the entire book revolves around the world ending and humanity dying out, and comports a bunch of short stories going through the start of the plague to years after it's cured and the aftermath of global warming and 20% of the population dying or whatever number it was. but, there is hope in the end. i love the last story, it was my favorite and reminds me of the famous egg short story. my only complaint is that every single story was about a married couple, very much from a worldview of husband and wife with kids for every single story. this doesn't make it objectively bad of course, but it's just kind of boring for me sometimes.

How High We Go in the Dark

⭐⭐⭐

95k words

Dates read: 08/15/2026-09/12/2026

this was one of the most depressing books i've read, at least at first. the entire book revolves around the world ending and humanity dying out, and comports a bunch of short stories going through the start of the plague to years after it's cured and the aftermath of global warming and 20% of the population dying or whatever number it was. but, there is hope in the end. i love the last story, it was my favorite and reminds me of the famous egg short story. my only complaint is that every single story was about a married couple, very much from a worldview of husband and wife with kids for every single story. this doesn't make it objectively bad of course, but it's just kind of boring for me sometimes.

Le livre d'or de la science-fiction: Asimov

93k words

Dates read: 05/17/2026-08/13/2026

honestly I didn't think I would finish this one! It's an anthology of short stories by Isaac Asmiov, a science fiction writer who focused on writing in a way that highlighted the actual science behind how these technologies could possibly work. he was a professor of biochemistry so it definitely checks out. my favorite was this one story about aliens making two humans have intercourse to observe how humans did it, and it really served to put things that we deem as normal in a subvertive light. there were sometimes a ton of words that i didn't know, but i was usually able to follow the stories just fine!! i will continue to read novels in french because I know it can only get easier from here.

The Probable Future

114k words

Dates read: 07/25/2026-08/05/2026

⭐⭐⭐

someone described this as a perfect vacation read which i think sums up my feelings. it’s incredibly enjoyable to read and almost magical, but upon reflection it has many issues (characters changing a bit too quickly, everyone is described as attractive, some plot points are kinda contrived). i really loved all of the vivid descriptions of nature, it harkened back to a time when humans were more in tune with their environment which i truly believe is something we take for granted nowadays. you can honestly ignore those issues though and rate this book five stars. it’s flawed but fun. like doo doo that smells like roses but tastes like doo doo. so don’t eat the doo doo, just smell it!

Great Expectations

183k words

Dates read: 07/06/2026-07/24/2026

⭐⭐⭐⭐

my favorite theme in this book was the exploration of social mobility and rising in the social hierarchy. pip being introduced to the idea that he and his family are "common" and Estella is "uncommon", and then him trying his best to become "uncommon" was such a good way of protraying this. specifically I liked how we saw Pip distance himself from his family and regard Joe's work as "common", shifting his perspective of Joe from someone to whom he should aspire, to someone of whom he should be ashamed. my favorite relationship in this book was actually Pip and Joe, they got each other through it all.

The Way of Kings (Stormlight Archive #2)

399k words

Dates read: 06/15/2026-06/26/2026

⭐⭐½

review pending...

The Way of Kings (Stormlight Archive #1)

393k words

Dates read: 05/01/2026-06/15/2026

⭐⭐⭐

review pending...

Mistborn: The Hero of Ages (#3)

235k words

Dates read: 04/13/2026-04/30/2026

⭐⭐⭐⭐

i never thought i would be so interested in the findings of sazed and everything surrounding him. honestly, the way everything just came together really worked for me. everything made sense, everything had an explanation, everything the emperor did made sense. i'm not religious, let alone mormon, but the final scene of the book had to be some sort of religious allegory. honestly, the ending wasn't as satisfying as i wanted, but it was still really amazing and far past anything i could've imagined. overall, incredibly solid and well thought-out ending to this amazing trilogy! stormlight archive next (slowly but surely)!

Mistborn: The Well of Ascension (#2)

245k words

Dates read: 01/29/2026-03/05/2026

⭐⭐⭐⭐½

this was genuinely such a good middle novel to the trilogy. sometimes i get the feel that 2nd novels in trilogies tend to drag building up to the third book, but this one actually expanded our view of the magic system and world dynamics while provided extremely interesting plot points/events. everyone says that fantasy as a genre focuses a lot on politics, and this novel did just that so well. there are also many philosophical ideas to do with the kandra and the keepers as far as contracts and religions, which I found very interesting to view through the lens of this fantasy world. tremendous!

Mistborn: The Final Empire (#1)

212k words

Dates read: 01/9/2026-01/28/2026

⭐⭐⭐⭐

it does read like more of a debut novel/less refined dialogue (even though i know this is far from his first) and sometimes less refined elements, but if it were a debut it would be one of the best debuts of all time. both the depth of the characters and the way they advance the story is masterfully done, and such a deep and genuinely interesting world was created with this book. it feels as if there is so much to discover about this made-up world which just makes one so excited to continue reading. can't wait to get to the next one!

Game Changer

101k words

Dates read: 01/01/2026-01/05/2026

½

the characters were genuinely so flat, their dialogue was so surface-level. i'm pretty sure the steddie fanfic i wrote when i was 15 was better than this lowkey.

Game of Thrones (ASOIAF #1)

292k words

Dates read: 12/6/2025-1/1/2026

⭐⭐⭐⭐½

i thoroughly enjoyed this. while i was expecting more fantasy elements, i can tell that this book is serving as an introduction to the political conflict and it'll be more fleshed out in later books. the best part really was the dialogue and how deep and interesting the characters were, that's what i'm here for. the ending was amazing, sure a little predictable, but who cares?? i loved the scene. my main complaint is the amount of sex that happens just to serve progressing a character arc, i think it's a cheap and overused thing that could be changed up from time to time.

The Summer Hikaru Died, Vol. 1

Dates read: 9/16/2026

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

this was just amazing. and artistically, one of the best uses of the black-and-white medium that i have ever seen. also the cicadas buzzing representing yoshiki's inner thoughts was clever, it really brings out the summer vibe.

Vampire Knight, Vol. 2

Dates read: 9/6/2026

i love shojo manga...

Jujutsu Kaisen, Vol. 2

Dates read: 7/27/2026

these stay checked out at my library 24/7 how tf am i gonna keep reading this...may have to sail the seven seas

Jujutsu Kaisen, Vol. 1

Dates read: 7/26/2026

15 y/o and 80kg of muscle is just disturbing

Vampire Knight, Vol. 1

Dates read: 7/15/2026-7/24/2026

this is so unserious but i'm so obsessed <333

The Promised Neverland (Vols. 1-20)

Dates read: 6/19/2026-7/5/2026

⭐⭐⭐⭐

this is the second manga that i have ever fully completed, and i am ravished to say that i was able to borrow the majority of them from my local libray. support your libraries!! the first arc was definitely the strongest, but i did enjoy it all the way through even though it kind of went all over the place at some point. if you ever think about picking this one up, it's 100% worth it. don't watch s2 of the anime though!

I Hear The Sunspot

Dates read: 1/5/2026-1/7/2026

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

you took my heart (i was sleeping)

52k words

Dates read: 03/10/2026-03/15/2026

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

ts is basically canon... click here for a link to the work

Always Meant to Be

57k words

Dates read: 03/07/2026-03/09/2026

⭐⭐⭐⭐

click here for a link to the work