Another week has rolled by, but I’m moving like a lump on a log. I’ve got some holiday traveling planned, a house to clean before I leave, and some cosplay sewing to get started on…and I have nooooo motivation. Honestly, during the week I always would rather Netflix and chill (not that kind of chill, kiddos) or curl up in a good book. Luckily this week we’ve got a slew of good books and streaming delights to dive into. Once again, it’s time for your favorite recap, The Weekly Roundup!
Monday
Our very own Kelly McCarty is these week’s special guest for My Favorite Things! What can you expect from our awesome reading addict? Books of course, of the delectable sort! We’re talking the transmission from life outside Earth through the power of music; a reimagined Greek myth of the daughter of Helios and Perse; a novel set in a haunted IKEA; and a gorgeous recipe book that serves as a love letter to all the cookies!! Mouth-watering, isn’t it? Get your snack on here!
Tuesday
Shara breaks down one of the major horror releases to come out this year — IT: Chapter Two. The children of the Losers Club are back as adults in Derry to once more battle Pennywise, the creature that shape-shifts into your personal nightmares. Revisit Shara’s thoughts on Chapter One, then see how Chapter Two holds up to her expectations. With a new(ish) take and a brand-new cast, does this sequel float? Find out here.
Wednesday
Erin treats us to her annual holiday special, The Twelve Days of Spec Fic. This year we’re in the third iteration, and we’re talking holiday anthology horror, Disney’s major moneymaker, creepy children and cornfields, future tales of an iconic character, and lots, lots more! 12 goodies are packaged up and delivered to you, so open your gifts here!
Thursday
Kendra reviews F.T. Lukens’ YA urban fantasy Monster of the Week, the second book in the series The Rules. After reviewing book one, Kendra’s back for more cryptids and kisses, this time with a monster-hunting docuseries threatening the world of mythical creatures. Does this sequel deliver? Dive in and see!
Friday
Kristina covers the last step in her Cosplay Resolution, debuting her Gankutsuou cosplay at Anime Japan in Tokyo. Aside from some last-minute sewing disasters and forgetful follies, how’d she do? What’s it like to cosplay in Japan versus America? The answers are here.
Book Club
Tally ho! 12 days until the Book Club Relaunch! It’s time to get ready for January’s selection, This is How You Lose the Time War, by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone. Amazon blurbs this novel as “two time-traveling agents from warring futures, working their way through the past, begin to exchange letters — and fall in love in this thrilling and romantic book.” Shara‘s leading the discussion for January, and we’re excited for the restart. We hope to see you there!
You know what else is exciting? The Rise of Skywalker released yesterday, and luckily it’s a worldwide release, which means I don’t have to wait months before I can see this film in Japan! I’m going to rewatch the first two sequels to prepare, and then tonight I’m running over to the theater to give the last sequel a go (the nice thing about Japan is that they will let you choose between subtitled and dubbed versions of the movie, so yay! I’ll be able to understand it). I have a lot of character favorites in this franchise offering, and I’ll be sad to say goodbye to them, but I’m hoping for a satisfying conclusion. I know the internet has exploded with false flag reviews, fan madness, and spoilers galore, so I’m sticking my fingers in my ears and going “LA LA LA!” I can’t wait to see what our fellow contributors think of it when they discuss it in a forthcoming Sound Off! In the meantime, see you next week!
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