A couple of months ago, Abbie wrote a blog post about her recent reads. When I saw that post, I decided I would steal that idea for a future post of my own, so here we are. I have been reading more since I learned about BookCrossing this summer and because I made a New Year’s resolution to read 30 books in 2025. So far, I’ve been reading an eclectic mix of graphic novels, sci-fi, fantasy, self-help, and even a little bit of theology. There should be something in this week’s post for almost everyone!

Bloodborne Vol. 1: The Death of Sleep by Aleš Kot

Bloodborne is one of my favorite videogames. Unfortunately, Sony doesn’t seem to be in any hurry to release even a remaster of the game, much less a sequel; unless you count The Duskbloods as a spiritual sequel. While Elden Ring has definitely been a delight, it didn’t quite scratch that Lovecraftian itch the way Bloodborne did. For that reason, I decided to give the comic a shot. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the comic was able to strike that same ethereal, dreamlike vibe that the game did. The plot follows a nameless Hunter who’s protecting a child that might have magical blood. There’s even a reference to the “You Died” screen that any Fromsoft fan will recognize. The only negative I have is that one of the characters from the game didn’t seem quite how I remembered them.

How to Keep House While Drowning by KC Davis, LPC

Cleaning is not the easiest of chores, especially if you’re neurodivergent. I had been looking for neurodivergent cleaning tips online and stumbled across this book. It’s not a long read, and the author has tips for people who have a hard time focusing on reading at the beginning of the book. You won’t get a step-by-step guide to cleaning your bathroom or how to min-max your laundry. It’s more a book that talks about not moralizing cleaning and instead viewing it as a process to keep your space functional for you to live.

The Atrocity Archives by Charles Stross

When you go to the catalog, you’ll see different cover art than is being used for this blog post. I used the art that my copy had, and I think it better reflects the humorous tone of the book. The Atrocity Archives follows Bob. Bob works for a clandestine UK government department called the Laundry. Math in this universe is capable of what has been historically called magic, and summoning circles use a bit more circuitry and electricity. The Laundry is responsible for preventing eldritch beings from invading reality, and unfortunately, Bob has just gotten promoted off the IT help desk.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Other American Stories by Hunter S. Thompson

I haven’t read Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas since college. I decided to reread this book because I’m planning to send it to a pen pal. This book is one of Hunter S. Thompson’s most famous works. Thompson originally intended this to be a piece of gonzo journalism, but it eventually warped into a roman à clef work. It follows Raoul Duke and his attorney, Doctor Gonzo, as they go to Las Vegas to report on the Mint 400 race. But what was supposed to just be a reporting gig descends into a cacophonous drug trip that rips through the city. When I previously read this novel, I didn’t think it had any of Thompson’s journalism included. The unexpected gem in this edition is Strange Rumblings in Aztlan, which was a piece he was working on that led to him going to Las Vegas in reality. Thompson was reporting on the murder of Ruben Salazar, an American journalist. It’s an engaging glimpse into the 70s in Los Angeles, and I enjoyed it even more than the novel itself!

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

I tend towards a lot of dystopia, post-apocalyptic, and horror media. So I thought it might make sense to try to add something a bit cozier and with lower stakes. Legends & Lattes was one of the first books I found when I looked for “cozy fantasy.” And it was a breath of fresh air for my to-be-read pile! It follows Viv, a former Orc adventurer, who is retiring from the rough-and-tumble life. She’s chasing after her dream of starting a cafe and introducing her new home to a new drink called “coffee.” Along the way of convincing people to drink “bean water with milk,” she makes a ton of new friends and starts a slow-burn romance. My only issue was that the worldbuilding doesn’t have a very robust magic system. A big part of the story hinges on a stone from a monster that Viv slew, but it’s not explained why these monsters grow magic rocks. But that worldbuilding deficiency didn’t completely spoil the book for me.

Bonus!

The Secret History of Hermes Trismegistus by Florian Ebeling

I must admit that I don’t know if this book will be for everyone, hence it being a “bonus” entry. It’s a dense book. You can tell it was intended more for academia instead of the lay reader. Hermeticism is one of those random topics I have wanted to learn more about because of a completely different interest of mine. Years ago, I was going through a Hellboy reading spree and was checking out the B.P.R.D. series. At some point in the B.P.R.D. series, they brought up Hermes Trismegistus because there’s a lot of occultism in both Hellboy and B.P.R.D. I wanted a more historical book on that topic, which eventually led me to this book. So, it finally got pulled out of my to-be-read pile.