Age of Calamities - Review

Author: Senna Ahmad

Genre: Short Stories

Format: Paperback

Pages: 240

This was actually more of a 3.5 stars. Like with any book of short stories, there were some I liked, and a couple that I didn't like so much. They were all well-written stories, ones that you always seem to want a little more of. The twenty-some pages never seem enough. Even though they really are complete stories in just a few pages. Senna Ahmad is an author I can't wait to see what they'll do next.

I will say I almost DNF'd this book with the first chapter, "Let's Play Dead." It's not that I'm not intrigued by Anne Boylen, or her husband, I am, but the weird mix of timelines had me confused for pretty much all of this story. I struggled to get through it, and found myself wondering if I even wanted to finish this story. Or, even go further into this book. So after I finished the story, I took a break from the book before jumping back in.

I'm glad I jumped back into this because there were a handful of these stories I really enjoyed. The Wolves is the story of werewolves in the era of Genghis Khan, loved this. One of my favorites was Our Lady of Resplendent Misfortune, which is a story of Joan of Arc possessing a girl years later. It's both creepy and heartbreaking. It's one of the stories I would have read a book on. 

Then some were just weird, like the ones with the Neoplanons that were just appearing out of nowhere. And maybe they had powers, or they were ending the world. We don't really know, or I didn't really know. It was a weird little story. Then the last one, Choose Your Own Apocalypse, was also really weird. I love the idea of an adult version of the Choose Your Own Adventure books, and this totally fit the bill and worked as one. I even like the choices where blacked out, like a file would be. So you had to be clever about your jumps. I also liked that it felt like we didn't get the story.

All the stories inside here were weird, which fits the bill of what I usually read. It was also a fun book, wacky in places, and extremely different from what I usually read. Still, I did enjoy this book, and it was totally worth the wait of getting it from my library. It was a fun way to look at history and weave it into the now, or a "what if" kind of scenario. And like I said, Senna Ahmad is an amazing author. It takes a lot of talent to tell a solid story in barely twenty pages. Something she did in every single story. Whether I liked them or not, it doesn't mean they weren't well written.

A solid debut by this author, and I can't wait to see what they'll do next.

HAPPY READING!!

Cover Runway Sunday

       

They say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but we all know we do it. Sometimes, the cover initially catches our eye, drawing us to give a book a closer look. It's the first thing we see, our first impression. Every Sunday, I'll post some of my favorite book covers. Coming soon!

THE HARROW HOME FOR WAYWARD GIRLS has long stood as a place of secrets. The estate has housed hundreds of young women hidden away during their pregnancies, their homesick cries echoing through the halls, providing a haunting score to Grace Harrow’s childhood.

Now, in the summer of 1947, the Home has been sold to a wealthy hotelier. Grace expects the new owner's daughters to be spoiled. Yet Rose, the eldest daughter―unaware of Mr. Harrow's abusive tendencies―is jealous of Grace's seemingly easy confidence. But as they’re drawn into each other's lives, an unlikely friendship begins to form. Fortunately so, because not all of the wayward girls made it out...

One still lingers. Lurking in the shadows. Looking for vengeance.

To expose the truth buried in the walls of the Harrow Home, Grace and Rose must unravel a legacy of silence and cruelty. But Grace’s father will stop at nothing to keep the past hidden, and if the truth comes to light, it could destroy both their families.

HAPPY READING!!

Mini Reviews

 

When I put this on hold at the library, I thought that it was a Frankenstein retelling. Yes, I do realize I should have read further down the synopsis. Still, I have no regrets. This was actually really good. I was drawn into the story very quickly and immediately started creating conspiratorial theories about the case. I still don't know exactly what's going on. Which is why I already have the second volume on hold at the library because I need to know what's going on with the twins. What is the good Doctor going to do? And why is this kid killing people? The latter is probably the biggest question because we got very little information on that. Is he crazy or has he been brainwashed? I'm seriously attached to this series after just one book.

This was my second time through this book, and I realized this is one of my least favorite book in the Riyria Chronicles. Now, don't get me wrong, this is a book. I like how it reveals what Royce and leans into the set-up of who he is. I even like that this is the book where Royce learns he loves Gwen. It even gets extra points for setting the First Empire series. The plot, however, though, is not my favorite of the other four books in the series (there are five now, yet, but I haven't read that last one). It's fine with some great characters, but it's just personally not my favorite. 

According to my records, I read this a couple of years ago, and while I definitely remember this cover, I remembered nothing about this book. So I jumped back into this one because apparently there's a sequel out. I can't believe I forgot this book! This was a lot of fun, and I thoroughly enjoyed all three of the main characters. The plot is absolutely wild and quite the ride. I could read a whole series with these characters and the shenanigans of Ford and Neuland. Tilda is a good balance of two of them, and the second book is probably also going to be a wild ride with Tilda in the mix full-time.

HAPPY READING!!

Night Worms Unboxing

May Theme: Grave Voices

I don't know whose been more excited about this package, me or my roommate. Because we've both been excited about Kylie Lee Baker's new book, and I'm a fan of Clay McLeod Chapman. She thought I was getting this early, so she could read Baker's book before she was gone for the summer. Alas, she might have to wait until she's home in the Fall. Unless, of course, she steals it to take with her, sometimes she's sneaky like that. But we've both been super excited for this month's Night Worms since they announced the books!

I love these stickers! Both of them are brilliant, and this time I actually might have a place for them. The tea is a mystery, but it smells really good. I also really love that label, gonna have to keep that! Now, I need to figure out what to do with all these bookmarks. Because they are really cool, but right now they're just chilling on my bookcard. I'd love to display them somehow. I'm just not sure how yet. So if you have thoughts or ideas, I'm all ears!

HAPPY READING!!

Reading Event

Are you looking for something to do this coming Tuesday, May 12th, at 6 pm? Do you need to work on your TBR? Want to check a family-friendly tap house? I can solve all those problems. Because I'll be hosting a Reading Event, a Reading Club if you want, at the Edway Tap House on that date! It's a low-stress event. Just bring yourself, maybe a friend, come get comfortable, and read your book. It doesn't matter what genre you're reading, or how you're reading it. All readers are welcome.

Edway has all sorts of drinks available, from beer, wine, and cider. They even house non-alcoholic options! Trio Truck will be there starting at 5 pm for anyone wanting dinner! We're going to kick of 6 pm and let everyone get settled, grab a drink, and mingle a bit. Then the reading will start from 6:30 to 7:30 pm! After that, for anyone interested, I'll take a book stack photo to show off what everyone was reading.

The tap house will close at 9 pm, so plenty of time to mingle afterward! I'll also have a book swap basket. So if you have any books you've been looking to get rid of, bring those along! Maybe take home a new book. Also, I'll have Bookish Whispers' Book BINGO if anyone wants to play. It's a super fun way to work through your TBR, or stretch out the types of books you read.

I really hope to see you there! I'm super excited that Edway reached out to me to host this event for them, and the owner, Blair, has been great about allowing me to fill every Tuesday night, with a few exceptions. 

HAPPY READING!!

Waiting on Wednesday

 

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we haven't yet read. Generally, they are books that have yet to be released, but don't have to be. It is based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous folks at Breaking the Spine.

When three friends lose their way in a serial killer's old hunting ground, they must fight to survive the threat in the woods—and each other—in this spiky, heart-pounding slasher.

Never turn your back on a friend.

Jade, Stef, and Zoe are hiking Washington's Bones Hollow Trail, braving cougars, black bears, and the storms that roll in without warning. The friends' paranoia isn't helped by listening to a true crime podcast about the serial killer who once roamed this same forest.

Then when Stef twists her ankle—badly—there's no one to hear them scream for help. The only sign of life for miles is a cabin that looks to be straight out of a horror movie, with a man who's all too eager to invite them in.

As things take a chilling turn, the friends must find a way to stay alive together. After all, who can you trust when your back's against the wall? But unfortunately for them, the only thing more twisted than this nightmare is their friendship . . .

HAPPY READING!!

New Release Tuesday

There are locations in this world where the light doesn’t seem to reach. Where, no matter how illuminated the place might be, shadows creep in too strongly to fight back.

A suspiciously empty gas station rest stop in the middle of the night, littered with googley eyes... A doctor’s office, where a bottle of booze and a tear-stained folder wait on the desk... A tech millionaire’s haunted kitchen... A Bible-quoting ventriloquist’s dingy apartment... A yoga retreat in the middle of the desert, silent except for the screaming...

These supernatural and sinister locations are your destination, and bestselling author Nat Cassidy will be your guide. Featuring the Bram Stoker Award–nominated, critically acclaimed novella Rest Stop (one of Esquire’s Best Horror Books of 2024), along with a number of other original short stories, some which have never been published before, I Know A Rest Stop and Other Dark Detours is a travelogue down twisting side streets and through alleyways where the darkness has eyes...and teeth.

Let’s hope you make it home in one piece—if the ghosts, gory visions, and splatterpunk nightmares don’t get you first.

HAPPY READING!!

April Book Haul

There is a reason why this haul is split into two parts. One haul picture, the one on the left (or top if your screen is small), is the books I bought myself this last month. The second picture is the books I got for free. Overall, it's quite the haul of books I wanted to collect off my TBR. A couple of the books I snagged from the Book Swap at Edmonds SBC. Two I snagged thanks to Indie Bookstore Day freebies. Honestly, I don't know how The Fourth Wife didn't get snagged before I got the chance to look at ARCs one of the local bookstores had for customers. When I say I snagged that so fast, like the freaking wind!

Honestly, I knew I wasn't going to make it all month without buying books because of Indie Bookstore Day. Then add on Book BINGO at Nook and Cranny in UDistrict. I had to support the bookstore, letting us have BINGO in their store. I also bought some books for a friend of mine who works for a summer camp, and they have a free little library for the campers. So while I was out at a second-hand shop, I found some gems for that! But those have already been moved to their new home!

Maybe I can go all of May without buying new books! I have zero plans that take me to a bookstore, but you never know. Though I really need to think about doing a month of reading only the books I own. Which means pausing all my library holds, and maybe using next month to keep working through that current stack. 

HAPPY READING!!

Cover Runway Sunday

       

They say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but we all know we do it. Sometimes, the cover initially catches our eye, drawing us to give a book a closer look. It's the first thing we see, our first impression. Every Sunday, I'll post some of my favorite book covers. Coming soon!

Every year, campground manager Kate sends out a pamphlet titled “How to Survive Your Camping Experience.” In it is a list of rules to help campers have an enjoyable experience and hopefully survive any encounters with the campground’s…other…inhabitants.

With the land turning ancient, it is no longer just the campers who are in danger. Kate is the key and every inhuman entity is out for her blood. All the lesser creatures are making attempts on her life, but Kate isn’t willing to let her land go without a fight. If these creatures are going to hunt her, then she’ll hunt them in turn and eradicate everything from her land that cannot coexist with humanity. With the help of both her inhuman and human allies, it looks like Kate might actually have a chance at controlling the campground. But ancient land attracts ancient things, and the town has a bad history with ancient creatures.

A new entity has come to the campground, bearing an old grudge against one of the inhabitants. Its malevolent designs will put the entire land at risk—unless Kate can stop it.

HAPPY READING!!

May Spotlight

 

Be careful what you wish for. It might come true....

In 1910, on a small, remote island that boasts more sheep than people, life does not hold a lot of promise for spirited Charlotte North. Her only escape from both this insular community and a family who does not understand her seems to be through marriage—an institution she is not at all eager to join, given the unhappiness of her parents' own union. Plus, eligible suitors are few and far between, which is why Charlotte has fallen hard for one the few outsiders to join their community in recent the handsome—and likewise unhappily married—new priest.

And then an ancient tower once rumored to have imprisoned a witch—or an unfaithful wife—crumbles, and releases . . . something. A restless spirit that knocks inside the walls and sends household objects flying. A spirit that seems to have an affinity for Charlotte herself. Though many on the island are terrified of this new interloper, Charlotte sees in it potential. Power. And perhaps even a way to get everything she has most wanted out of life.

HAPPY READING!!

April Wrap Up

Happy May! Finally, the days are getting longer. Finally got a taste of some warm weather, and so I'm excited for it. I have a plan to set up my patio to be a little summer reading nook. It doesn't get a lot of sunlight, so it's perfect for reading on when it gets really warm. I'm also excited to drag out my picnic blanket and go to the park and read. And other bookish stuff that comes with the summer. And the non-bookish stuff. I'm super excited about summer baseball and movies. But before all of that, we still have to get through May, one more month of Spring.

Still, before that, here's a look at the April stats:

Books Read: 8
BINGO Books: 2

Pages Read: 1628

Hours Listened: 19.5 hours

Two more BINGOs this month! I crossed off both Published in 2026 and Read Again. I've got one BINGO last month, and I'm so close to a second one. Which would cross off one of the 2026 goals! Something I'm up on across the board, even my page count, which is a goal I seem to chase every single year. 

HAPPY READING!!