Ascendance of a Bookworm: Part 5 Volume 1 by Miya Kazuki with quof (Translator), You Shiina (Illustrator)

Royal Academy Third Year. Fun! These are some of the better parts of the stories after the commoner years in part 2. A lot happens at the Academy and it feels like things are opening wider politically.

March 31-April 1st, 2025 on Kobo Libra 2 and Kobo Clara BW.

Ascendance of a Bookworm: Part 5 Volume 2 by Miya Kazuki with quof (Translator), You Shiina (Illustrator)

The Royal Academy has that nice touch of dark academia with all the secret library stuff. Or is it light academia since it’s not that dark? This book was mostly about an intense ditter game and a religious ceremony. I warmed to Wilfred warmed a little in this part as he is realized again how inadequate he is. I hope he develops. Also he has a new potential romance. Him and Rozemyne are not end game so I am not worried but I wish the engagement would end soon though.

April 1st-April 2nd, 2025 on Kobo Libra 2 and Kobo Clara BW.

Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton with Louise Brealey (Narrator)

Beautiful memoir about a woman who rescued a hare during the pandemic. I’ve been waiting to read this ever since I saw the cover. It has gorgeous illustrations. I was fortunate enough to get the physical copy from the library and the audiobook at the same time. Grateful that I could be late a couple days since my library has no overdue fees. I learned a lot about hares who are mysterious animals that have never been domesticated. The writing is reflective, slow, and considerate about the human relationship with nature. I adored this book.

1.5x. March 31-April 2, 2025.

Mismatched: A Modern Graphic Retelling of Emma by Anne Camlin, Isadora Zeferino (artist)

This was a well illustrated graphic novel adaptation of Emma. It had its cute moments. It also felt like it was checking boxes since the character development had to be rushed for the format.

April 3, 2025

Ascendance of a Bookworm: Part 5 Volume 3 by Miya Kazuki with You Shiina (Illustrator), quof (Translator)

Well, I dislike Wilfred again after the retainers complained in the prologue of this chapter and his own story at the end of this novel. What an idiot. This was my least favourite volume in awhile. It was slow paced and covered about a week. Also I am not a shipper of the main couple so the constant hints and discussions about them from others was tiresome. I also wish Ferdinand would be nicer to Rozemyne since he’s a tsundere. I’m frustrated since it seems he’s everyone’s favourite male character. I much prefer the commoner people from Myne’s life like Lutz and her family. I need to take a break from these novels.

April 2-3 , 2025 on Kobo Libra 2.

Everything is Tuberculolsis by John Green (Narrator)

I adored John Green’s The Anthropocene Reviewed. It was one of the audiobooks I listened to when I was recovering from COVID which was apt considering Green has become a great health writer. This book is mostly a history about tuberculosis and about his friend Henry who is a TB survivor. This book hit so many points for me as someone who has an academic background in population health and social epidemiology. Green’s nonfiction writing is a great mix of research and reflective, insightful thoughts. He has a very humanistic and empathetic tone. He is a fantastic narrator too. I loved this book so much I looked for and bought a signed copy at my local indie.

1.5x. April 3-4, 2025.

Love & Saffron: A Novel of Friendship, Food, and Love by Kim Fay (Author/Narrator), Kimberly Farr (Narrator), Cassandra Campbell (Narrator), Mark Bramhall (Narrator), Maggi-Meg Reed (Narrator)

This was a sweet historical and epistolary novel between two women in the 1960s. It was short, had recipes, and a lovely wholesome vibe. Full cast narration on the audiobook too.

1.5x. April 5, 2025.