shelf talk 01: ya fantasy at its finest

From dystopian dramas to witchy disappointments, here's everything I consumed and my totally unbiased (read: very biased) thoughts.

Alright, let’s be real—if I’m not turning my latest read or watch into my entire personality or crying over fictional characters is it even a proper week? Between shows that make me question my life choices and books that have me screaming in public (yes, again), I’ve got plenty of hot takes to share. So buckle up, grab a snack, and let’s dive into all the things that kept me from being a productive adult this week.

what’s got my attention this week:

I’m no stranger to getting hooked on something from an Insta recommendation (we’ve all been there, right?). And when an indie author I follow dropped Weathering With You into my feed with a glowing reference to its sky-falling scene, I knew it was time to get my tissues ready. I mean, how do I write a moment as tear-jerkingly epic as that one? Goals, honestly.

the watch-read-listen recap:

A full breakdown of what had my eyes, ears, and brain working overtime this week.

• 🎞️Uglies: Dystopian beauty standards, mind control, and the dangers of tech? Sign me up! Wild how a book that came out two decades ago is still painfully relevant (thanks, internet). Netflix's take had me spiraling about our obsession with appearances—and, spoiler alert, I’m still wondering if 'pretty' is ever worth losing your mind over. Full essay coming, because we’ve got a lot to unpack.

• 🎞️Weathering with You: Climate crisis meets anime magic in this beautifully weird film. I sobbed, I gasped, and now I’m basically out here hunting sunshine (which isn’t really a problem in kansas). Visuals: 10/10. Feels: 100/10. Give this a watch if you like a Miyazaki movie.

• 🎞️Mayfair Witches: Still questioning my life choices after this one. The show was disjointed, the characters bland, and the finale? Let’s just say I don’t even care enough to finish. This show definitely lost the plot and me with it.

• ▶️Critical Role: Downfall: The campaign I didn’t know I needed. High stakes, emotional damage, and just the right amount of D&D chaos. It’s like watching a group therapy session but with more dice and fewer feelings. Oh, and a larger philisophical discussion. The stakes are high, the tears are real, and I’m emotionally compromised. All I need is a therapy session and a long rest. If you’ve never watched Critical Role (in which a bunch of nerdy voice actors play Dungeons and Dragons) Downfall (or the previous mini series Calamity) are great bite-sized, self contained places to start.

hot take of the week:

So, I haven’t watched a reality TV show since… 2020. But you bet your ass I couldn’t resist checking out the takes on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. One of the best takes worth every second of screen time? Alyssa Grenfell. She left the church at 25 and now helps others do the same. Watching her break it all down is like watching a live mic drop. Honestly, she’s giving more substance than the entire show.

on my radar:

• The Fourth Wing paperback is finally here! I feel like we have waited ages for this but it was so worth it. I can’t wait to dive into the bonus chapter from Xaden’s POV.

• Can we talk about the audacity of networks to cancel everything good? Seriously, I’m feeling personally attacked. RIP Dead Boy Detectives and My Lady Jane. We deserved better.

• The shortlist for the Booker Prize (aka the biggest accolade for a single work of fiction) was announced and I haven’t heard of a single one. My literature professors would be so disappointed. Thankfully, the website has these fantastic reading guides to give you the lowdown on each of the books. After looking at the synopsis for all of 6, I’m thinking of picking up James, a reimagining of Huckleberry Finn, and Orbital (though this one will probably lead to an existential crisis).

• This cozy fall reading list by Michelle Martin. Kansas insists on remaining 90+ degrees even though Sunday marks the offical start of the autumn season but I’m saving all of the book, recipe, and cozy vibe recommendations for when the weather finally turns.

A cozy fall reading list

📚 the deep dive: realm breaker by victoria aveyard

Misfit squads, world-saving drama, and plot twists that left me literally screaming at the page (seriously, people driving next to me probably think I’m unhinged)—Realm Breaker is epic fantasy at its finest.

Imagine this: a ragtag team of misfits, including an assassin with a questionable moral compass, a pirate queen with serious swagger, and a chosen-one-who-didn’t-ask-for-this. Their job? Saving the world, of course. Oh, and did I mention they’re up against a villain trying to open a realm of pure evil? Casual. It’s basically Lord of the Rings if Frodo had sass, and the fellowship was more... JV instead of Varsity.

At its core, Realm Breaker is more than just your typical save-the-world epic. It's about identity, self-discovery, and the messy business of figuring out who you are when the world expects you to be something else. It’s like the fantasy equivalent of going through an existential crisis in your twenties. We’ve got characters questioning their paths, rejecting societal labels, and battling some serious imposter syndrome—all while fighting off world-ending doom.

What’s really wild is that even the villains have their moments of moral ambiguity. I found myself begrudgingly rooting for them at times, because—let's be real—nothing is ever black and white in Aveyard’s world. These aren’t your one-dimensional "evil for the sake of evil" baddies. They’ve got complex motivations, messy backstories, and honestly, they make some valid points. It’s the kind of book where you might just find yourself sympathizing with the villain and the heros. And trust me, that inner conflict will leave you feeling some type of way.

The series expertly weaves in deeper themes of power—who holds it, who deserves it, and what happens when those in control start playing god. It’s not just about epic battles; it’s about the undercurrent of privilege and class warfare, where the so-called "heroes" aren’t always the ones who should be holding the title.

Ready to question who’s really worthy of the crown? Dive into Realm Breaker and decide for yourself!

currently in my queue

Next up: Suzume, from the director of Weathering With You—so, yeah, I’m bracing myself for tears. Also, the Sailor Moon movie just dropped on Netflix, and let’s be honest, I’m here for the nostalgia alone. Oh, and did you know the guy from My Lady Jane is in A Discovery of Witches? Talk about bittersweet—no I will not stop talking about My Lady Jane. Thanks for nothing, Amazon.

On the book front, I’ll be tackling Uglies (research, duh), plus trying to make a dent in my Kindle backlog.

• the backlog in question: Includes titles such as Lovely War, Girls and Their Horses, and The Will of the Many just to name a few. Not to mention all of my Kindle unlimited downloads. This should probably be its own post lol so let me know if you want to see it.

I should also dedicate sometime this weekend to reading the two books I currently have out from the library, The Invocations and Your Blood, My Bones since they’re both due back next week.

📚 final thoughts: “should you add this to your shelf?”

This week’s contender: To Shape a Dragon’s Breath. Let me start by saying I had high hopes. Indigenous dragons, steampunk, a unique magic system, and a school setting? Basically, everything I wanted. But the execution? A bit... meh. The representation was awesome, and the dragon lore chef's kiss—but the writing didn’t quite live up to the hype.

I’m always here for a book that makes me think critically about big themes, and this one certainly doesn’t hold back. It dives deep into racism, colonialism, and the complexities of coming of age across different cultures. And while it had its ups and downs, I have to say the dragon lore and vivid world-building were what really kept me hooked. Sure, it could’ve been sharper in places, but when a book gives me all the magical, fire-breathing vibes, I’m willing to overlook a few bumps in the dialogue (which was pages long and repetitive for no reason).

On the bright side, the Indigenous representation and fresh spin on dragon lore were absolute highlights. But the writing? Let’s just say it didn’t quite soar like the dragons. I read audiobooks at 2x speed, and even then, the pacing dragged in places—slooooow and a bit of a slog at times.

Final verdict? If you love dragons and don’t mind slow-burn pacing, add it to your shelf. Otherwise, no harm in skipping this one.

bonus: the random hyperfixation of the week

• fat sajak on YouTube. I love commentary channels and her commentary has me laughing out loud more often than not.

Now that you’ve seen what’s been on my radar, I’d love to hear from you! What’s got your attention lately? Whether it’s a show, book, or even a random internet deep dive, I’d love to hear your recommendations! Drop them in the comments, or if you're a paid subscriber, feel free to join the chat for some real-time convo.