Photo taken by author (May flowers)

Books, music, games, and more

May Review

This May…

I did this for March and April, and decided why not do it for May? Seems right. Jumping right in...

Random But Exciting

This is less random, but very exciting. This month past month was my dad’s, mom’s, and brother’s birthdays!!! That was fun!

By Author

I also painted this. Can you tell what it is? Please be honest. It is Ruler of Twilight standing on a snowy hill looking at the sunset. And that is a frozen river there too.

ECW

I was so blessed to take part in Crazy Editing Week!! It really had summer camp vibes to it. We were put in teams and the team with the most points wins at the end of the week!!

Crash

I had a bicycle crash this month. Worst crash in my life. I got a bad bruise on my thigh and a wound on my knee. I say wound, I am not kidding. It hurt like the dickens. (Anyone ever heard that phrase, or is it just me?)

Duo

From the Duolingo app

Duolingo app

THE THRIVE CONFERENCE!!!!!!!!

In case you couldn’t tell, this is the highlight of my year!! What is it? A homeschool conference! Like any conference, it has breakout sessions, but that’s not all. The teens had a dance on Thursday night and game night on Friday night. It is a lot of fun!!

Books I Read

I read a lot of Artemis Fowl this month. Huh. I mean, he has the most satisfying arc I have ever read. I now read a total of 3/4 of the series. Two books left!!

Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident by Eoin Colfer

Technically, this was in April, but we are counting it as May. It was a good read. In this one we meet a different Artemis Fowl. One less prepared, one less risk taking (at least in my opinion), one more human.

Image taken by author

Artemis gets an email about his father, who is thought dead. The now thirteen boy leaves his boarding school to chase down this lead. But there is trouble elsewhere. A human is aiding the goblins, and LEPrecon believes it is Artemis. When they learn they were incorrect, the strike a deal with the young genius. He helps them stop the human; they help him find his father.

Just as much foul language as last time. Haha. No pun intended. But it starts sooner. In book one, no one cussed until about half-way through. Now we start out with it. Again, D word, H word, and that not translated fairy swear word. I just hope it doesn’t get worse. This one was different from the first one in another way. In book one, Artemis, they the main character, was the bad guy, the villain. I mean, he is a criminal master mind. But in this one, he is the good guy. So, there was that. This book is either higher middle school or lower high school. If that made any sense.

Offline by Donna Cooner

This was a new style for me. Not that I hadn’t read fictional stories set on earth with no fantasy lands, but it has been multiple years. Honestly, I don’t remember the main character’s name. Who knew a book in first person could do that, huh? I think her name is Annie or Anna. or maybe it’s Anne. Let me check. It is Annie.

Image taken by author

Annie has the perfect boyfriend. But then he breaks up with her, online. The comments are cruel. Her best friends decide the best course of action is to get off of social media and get offline. But that is harder than it seems. Annie must know what her ex is posting, what people are saying, and what she is missing out on. Her and her best friends made a vow, but can she keep it? When news spreads of the challenge and the pressure to set a good example increases, can she stay offline?

Alright, not a bad book, all in all. There is LGBTQ+. I did not know about that going into it. And honestly, I can’t tell if it’s there just to be there or if it is meant to add to the reasons for mean comments. It is a boy and he is talking about, though he does play football, there is plenty of mean comments online because he is black and gay. So, not sure if it’s just supposed to add to that. Also, racism, as you can tell. And you never read any of those mean comments.

No Swearing, the book is clean in that regard. There is a little romance, but it is the teen drama. Annie gets kissed several times.

Treasure Island by Robert Stevenson

Does this need a review? We all know what Treasure Island is about right?

Wings of Dawn by Sigmund Brouwer

This book was really good!! It is a medieval fantasy. That is my favorite type of fantasy. Well, my favorite is medieval with magic and fairies. Anyway. This is LotR meets The Sword in the Stone. If you read it, I am sure you would agree.

found with bing search (My mom started rereading the book before I got a pic)

Goodreads hook:

In the year of our Lord 1312, in the remote North York Moors of England, Thomas pursues his destiny — the conquest of Magnus, an 800-year-old kingdom, an island castle that harbors secret dating back to the days of King Arthur and Merlin. Haunted by a beautiful woman he dare not trust, surrounded by enemies he cannot see, and with no army but a mysterious knight he has saved from the gallows, Thomas faces an insurmountable task. Yet armed with a powerful weapon he had concealed since his orphaned boyhood, there remains and glimmer of hope. To win Magnus, however, is the only the beginning of Thomas’s quest, one that will unearth ancient secrets, strengthen his fragile faith in God, and place him squarely against an evil conspiracy that has ruled the land for centuries — spreading wings of dawn over a land that has experienced a long, bleak night.

Alright. It is a Christian Fantasy. Thus, no foul language. I read it a couple weeks ago, but I don’t think there is kissing. As it says in the description, there is a little romance. It is a Young Adult. Published in 1999. I hate doing the something/10 or the something out of five stars, but honestly, 10/10. It was that good! This book is worth a read.

Artemis Fowl: Eternity Code by Eoin Colfer

Give me a second to break this one away from the others I read this month. Not my favorite of the series. Not my least favorite either. So,

Artemis’ best friend and bodyguard, Butler, is fatally wounded. It happened when Artemis’ meeting with a criminal goes sour. So sour that fairy kind is in danger. However, Butler’s injury is Artemis’ top priority. The only thing that can heal Butler is fairy magic. But the price is high; a mind wipe.

Taken by author

This one is fairly good. Less cussing then the last two books. A lot less. I don’t have much ot say because books three through six kind of merged together in my brain. I was so sad to find Artemis’ would have to forget the fairies. (Naturally, however, he has a plan.)

Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception by Eoin Colfer

This one is my least favorite so far. Although it has some very satisfying moments.

The evil pixie Opal Koboi has spent the last year in a self-induced coma, plotting her revenge on all those who foiled her attempt to destroy the LEPrecon fairy police. And Artemis Fowl is at the top of her list.

After his last run-in with the fairies, Artemis had his mind wiped of his memories of the world belowground. But they have not forgotten about him. Once again, he must stop the human and fairy worlds from colliding — only this time, Artemis faces an enemy who may have finally outsmarted him.

Taken by author

Few cuss words. At this point, the fairy cuss word is the most used one. Again, merge. The reason it is my least favorite is the dump is the worst in this. Eoin Colfer is awful for info dumping. And that peaks in this book. Er, from what I’ve seen. I still have two books left to read.

Artemis Fowl: The Lost Colony by Eoin Colfer

This one, is my favorite so far. I am not sure why.

Until recently, Artemis Fowl was the only human to have discovered that magical beings do indeed exist. But now a second juvenile genius wants to capture a demon for scientific study. Only an ancient time spell separates the demons from humankind — and Artemis must prevent it from unraveling. If he fails, the bloodthirsty tribe will relaunch their quest to wipe humans from the planet.

taken by author

So, yeah, demons. I know I know; that is the reason I can’t play Zelda. These “demons” aren’t really demons. This is just a fairy tribe. Anyway, once again, lower swearing. I remember one reason why I loved this book! I am usually too deep in a book to express physically or really feel anything for myself. However, this book had a “Noooo!!! No! No! That couldn’t have happened!!” Which is a big deal since I am never like that. Then we had mouth drop moment. And one other thing I forgot.

Artemis Fowl: The Time Paradox by Eoin Colfer

Taken by author

After disappearing for three years, Artemis Fowl has returned to a life different from the one he left. Now he’s a big brother, and spends his days teaching his twin siblings the important things in life, such as how to properly summon a waiter at a French restaurant.

But when Artemis Fowl’s mother contracts a life-threatening illness, his world is turned upside down. The only hope for a cure lies in the brain fluid of the silky sifaka lemur. Unfortunately, the animal is extinct due to a heartless bargain Artemis himself made as a younger boy.

Though the odds are stacked against him, Artemis is not willing to give up. With the help of his fairy friends, the young genius travels back in time to save the lemur and bring it back to the present. But to do so, Artemis will have to defeat a maniacal poacher, who has set his sights on new prey: Holly Short.

The rules of time travel are far from simple, but to save his mother, Artemis will have to break them all and outsmart his most cunning adversary yet: Artemis Fowl, age ten.

I loved the Artemis versus Artemis. And the 10-year-old kept beating the 15-year-old. 15-year-old Artemis noted that while they both were the same smart wise, the 10-year-old was far more ruthless. I also loved how 15 Artemis got to the point where he hated his younger self because he was such a pain in the rear. Loved that part.

I did want to strangle Artemis (15) near the beginning. He made me sooo mad!! That... I mean… Come on!! I thought you knew better!!

A little kissing in this one. I will leave you guessing about who. Swearing is still lower. It is there, but less than the second book. And guys! She is back!! Who is back? That doggone pixie!! Great, a good villain. But also, I am sick of her. It is young adult so, there is that.

I do believe I will take a break in June and read a little less. I read Artemis Fowl 3–6 in a week. Four books, seven days. My brain was about to explode. Artemis is also a lot to proccess.

My Favorite Songs

Immortals (Fall Out Boy)

Favorite Lines: “I’m bad behavior but I do it in the best way.” “Cuz we could be immortals.” “Just not for long, for long.” “Sometimes the only payoff for having any faith, is when it’s tested again and again every day.”

We’ll Rise up from the dust (TheFatRat)

Favorite Lines: “When you feel it’s hopeless. When you feel it’s lost. I will take your hand and we’ll rise up from the dust. Here we go go go, let us heal and grow.” “Here we come back to life, we’re still breathing.” “Oh all you need to know is that we’re holding on. Even if we fall we will rise up.” “we rise up from the dust and claim our throne.”

What’s Up Danger (From “Spider-Man Across The Spider-Verse”) (Epic Version) Epic Geek

Favorite Lines: “I’m insane but on my toes. I could keep the world balanced on my nose.” “200 miles per hour with a blind fold on.”

Boombayah (BlackPink)

Favorite lines: “Blackpink in your area.” “Let’s go!”

My Favorite Games (on RPG Playground)

Bunny Quest

I think one of this month’s favorites is ***Bunny Quest***. Again, older than a month old, but a really good one. It is very similar to the original Fire Emblem and Final Fantasy games. (Surprisingly, they were very close.) Anyway, it is by Kingdom Hearts Geek488 (@kingdomheartsgeek488 on RPG Playground). Hope you go check it out!

Screenshot by author

0.0.1

Another game I enjoyed was titled “***0.0.1***”. It is a very minimalist and simple game, but a very intense vibe. (And when you get to this level, go up and left.)

Screenshot by author

A Swordsman’s Revenge

The detail in “***A Swordsman’s Revenge***” is amazing! It was created by Neopentane Ice Cream (@ezradonteattheshampoo on RPG Playground). And it was finished this past month.

Neopentane Ice cream’s description is so perfect. I hope you check out her game!

“8 years ago, Elijah’s peaceful life with his parents and little brother was shattered when monsters found their home and left only Elijah alive. Furious with hate, Elijah escaped and was taken in by a retired swordsman and was trained in the arts of the sword. He swore he would be the one to defeat the evil villain that created the monsters that ruined his life. Now, at age 18, Elijah finally sets off on his journey to keep his promise. But will he really have what it takes? And will Elijah be able to find more than revenge in life?”

Screen shot by author

That’s All

That’s all for this month! Like April, I tag multiple people and ask questions. For fun (I love tagging, y’all know this) and to encourage/support other authors! (Y’all, know I love doing that too.) So, to Ally, Mahdia Noor, and Jassy Simone💗🌙, how was your May? Any highlights? What are your favorite books, movies, games, or songs? Did anything from the past month stick out (good or bad)? How had you grown this month?

Thanks for reading!! ❤ (If this is May, June is going to be heck!)