But I Didn’t Trust Luck. Luck Wasn’t Reliable

Sufficiently Advanced Magic (Arcane Ascension #1)

It was still too early for me to interact with the living, and in spite of my general fondness for Sera, she still was another entity and thus a toll on my exhausted mind.

— Andrew Rowe, Sufficiently Advanced Magic (Arcane Ascension #1)

I really want to love this book, and in many ways I do. I love a good fantasy adventure, and this one qualifies. The descriptions of the world and the characters are vivid and draw you in. In many ways it is a classic light-hearted, twisting LitRPG tale that leads you through a world just similar enough to our own to be familiar, but just different enough to be intriguing – and of course that world has magic.

All in all the story earns a 3.75 of 5 stars from me. I thought the story was interesting, the characters were funny, and I was thoroughly entertained throughout. The only real problem I faced in the book was that it was WAY too dense and complicated. Unfortunately, this is a large enough problem that I couldn’t in good conscience rate it higher. There were so many story lines, so many loose threads, so much going on at times I couldn’t tell if I was coming or going. If this had been broken into two or three books, it would have been much more comprehensible, but as it is there were too many characters and story lines that seemed half finished or abrupt.

Does he always try to solve problems by making bigger ones? Orden nodded sagely, “That would sum up his problem solving methodology quite appropriately”
– Andrew Rowe, Sufficiently Advanced Magic

A brief synopsis – Corin Cadence lost his brother to the Judgment several years ago, and he is now facing his Judgment. Thanks to a complicated series of events, he finds himself involved in a lot of intrigue at the same time he’s just trying to figure out how to use his new magical abilities (attunement). His father is cold and abusive and his mother has abandoned them after his brother’s presumed death. At university, he picks up a motley group of friends and they try to figure out what is happening and fight the battle together.

The characters that were well-drawn were hilarious and I enjoyed them thoroughly. Professor Vellum was an enjoyable sarcastic sage, Sera was smart and funny and a nice foil to Corin, and Derek Hartigan was an interesting hero. Possibly the best character in the book is Vanniv, a summoned karvensi monster with a cutting wit. However, I wish there had been more time and involvement from Corin’s absent mother, Patrick Wayland, and Marissa Callahan. All of these characters had a great base, but needed more involvement.

All in all, it’s an easy LitRPG read, and if you like this type of books, you’ll very likely enjoy this one. I certainly will be reading the second in the series.

What did you think? Leave me a comment below!

Nuggets of gold from Sufficiently Advanced Magic by Andrew Rowe
1. It was the day of my Judgment, and I was prepared in a thousand ways that didn’t matter.

2. And so, with all the athleticism of a student who spends most of his time reading and enchanting, I tried to jump.

“You Think This is a Witch Hunt? Fine. You’ve Got One.”

The Witches Are Coming by Lindy West

Feminism is the collective manifestation of anger. They suppress our anger for a reason. Let’s prove them right.

— Lindy West, Brave Enough To Be Angry

This is a book that leaves me very torn about how I feel – and I’m pretty sure I’m supposed to. Lindy West is funny, direct, and makes some excellent points. There is much of this book that I agree with. However, I don’t agree with everything – sometimes strongly disagree in fact – and the book is written as though if you don’t agree with every word she says, you’re clearly an idiot. But again, it’s supposed to be inflammatory. Thus the mixed feelings.

It’s a very angry book. I get the anger; I share much of her anger. I get the desperation that comes with the idea that so much has changed, yet so much remains the same or perhaps is even getting worse. I understand the feeling that you’re alone, and/or that you’re impotent to fix the wrongs you see in the world. I also whole-heartedly agree that being passive and playing the game that has been set up for us by the rules that have been designed to make us fail, doesn’t work. It’s time to play by different rules.

So no, excuse me, we will not play likability anymore. it’s an endless runner – a game with no progress and no finish line – that women are expected to chase, that keeps us from doing the real work, accruing the real power.
-Lindy West, The Witches Are Coming

I will also say that often when reading an inflammatory comment that I didn’t agree with, my first reaction was to get viscerally angry. And then I did what this book challenged me to do – I took a step back and really looked at my logic and if I really felt that way or if I was just uncomfortable with what she was saying I think this is a credit to the book, because Lindy points out very clearly how little reason and how much reacting happens in the world. I still don’t agree with everything she wrote – but I do appreciate that she made me think and that she didn’t pull a single punch.

Overall, I’d give the book a 4 out of 5. The book makes you think, it makes you feel empowered to do something, and an urge to take that responsibility yourself – and that’s something we could use a lot more of in this world.

I’d love to hear what you thought! Leave me a comment and let me know

Nuggets of gold from The Witches Are Coming by Lindy West
1. Whatever your sphere is, however big or small, you get to make choices within it, and if you care about healing the wounds of the world I hope you become a real demon bitch about diversity and never let anyone sleep. Think radical thoughts and let yourself imagine they’re true. Then ask yourself why it’s considered radical to make art that accurately reflects reality, to build a society that takes care of its members, to demand a better world.

2. There is no value in willfully ignoring hatred, and the lie that neutrality in the face of oppression is not a political stance is part of how we got here.

“This Ain’t Your Mama’s Business Book”

Boss Up! by Lindsay Teague Moreno

The kick in the pants you need to build the business you want.

— Lindsay Teague Moreno.

I’ll just start by saying I really loved this book – a full 5 out of 5 stars for me.

I’m going to confess right up front that I have been thinking a lot lately about where I’m at in my life. I went through a period of time this summer through mid-October where I was in a deep state of ennui. I just couldn’t pull myself out of this funk! Before that, I’d been kicking butt with working out, meditating, reading, focusing in at work, getting enough water, and overall just feeling great about it. Then I let work come and kick my butt in the opposite direction – I was traveling like crazy and suffered a couple of frustrating, politically-related setbacks at work – and I quit doing just about everything that was keeping my life in balance.

Fast forward. I decided that I’d had enough wallowing, and it was time to start my journey back out of my self-imposed lock down. One of the biggest things on my mind was the question of how to better incorporate the things that I was realizing were my passions into my daily life and work more effectively. I was (and still am) considering opening my own business. Enter Boss Up! by Lindsay Teague Moreno.

Stop apologizing for success. Stop apologizing for taking up time. Stop apologizing for failure. Stop apologizing for owning a space in the world.
-Lindsay Teague Moreno

I began reading the book while I was still getting my head straight enough to push through the lethargy to get going. At one point, she describes her unique selling proposition as “The kick in the pants you need to build the business you want.” I think that pretty perfectly describes how I felt reading the book – energized, determined, and ready to do what needs to be done.

The book is a lovely blend between humor, blunt honesty, and good solid starting points for individuals looking to build a business. The book is aimed at “momtrepreneurs”, but I really think it reaches a much broader audience of women, despite the very relatable anecdotes that remind mothers they are still humans, still valuable, and that being imperfect is acceptable. More importantly, she reminds us that we are not alone.

I highly recommend this book to any woman who needs a reminder that she’s worth investing in, even if she’s not specifically looking to start her own business.

Nuggets of gold from Boss Up! by Lindsay Teague Moreno
1. She knows she’s a better mother to her kids when she gets a chance to use her gifts and talents in ways that don’t specifically relate to her home.
2. If I die at fifty-three, as she did, I want them to stand at my funeral and say, “She may have only lived fifty-three years, but she did a hundred years’ worth of living.
3. Be strong enough to like what you like. Be confident enough to say what you mean. Take up space. Be too loud. Be too much. Be you, and don’t apologize for it. You didn’t do someone wrong by being yourself. Stop believing you owe another human being an apology for existing.
4. I’ve decided that we should just make the assumption that everyone is doing the best they can in a given moment.
5. A great way to keep learning throughout life is to be coachable. Humble. Teachable. And that’s actually a remarkable accomplishment in a world where there’s pressure to have it all figured out. It takes admitting you’re wrong at times. It takes setting your ego aside. It takes realizing you don’t have an answer. It takes changing your mind sometimes.
6. Your ability to change your mind and make mistakes means you’ve learned to set aside your ego. That is the kind of person who attracts others.