Month: September 2025

Bookworm Buffet: A Feast for your Reading Senses

Bookworm Buffet: September 2025

Welcome to Bookworm Buffet! Get ready to feast on three literary delights, each served up in a different format: physical, digital ebook, and audiobook.

September’s Spread –

Physical: The Raven Boys: The Graphic Novel by Maggie Stiefvater & Illustrated by Sas Milledge

Genre: Graphic Novel, Fantasy, Young Adult

Summary:
Join Blue and her Raven Boys on their unforgettable quest to find a long-forgotten Welsh king rumored to be sleeping beneath the mountains of their quiet Virginia town.
This beloved first book of a young adult series is now reimagined as a stunning full-color graphic novel adapted by Stephanie Williams and illustrated by Sas Milledge. The Raven Boys unravels a thrilling plot around a cast of characters impossible to forget.
Publication: July 29, 2025

My Rating:

eBook: The Favorites by Layne Fargo

Genre: Contemporary, Sports Fiction, Literary Retelling

Summary:
A modern day loose reimagining of Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights, set in the world of competitive ice dancing.
Katarina “Kat” Shaw and Heath Rocha, both disadvantaged by broken homes and humble beginnings, form a fierce and magnetic partnership in the cutthroat world of ice dance. As they rise from underdog prospects to international stars, their bond is tested by ambition, betrayal, and the glare of media scrutiny, when a shocking incident at the Olympic Games forces their partnership to end.
Ten years later an unauthorized documentary threatens to rewrite their legacy. Kat, tired of rumors and distortions, finally steps forward to tell the real story—one woven from childhood loss, obsessive love, rivalries, and the cost of chasing perfection.
Publication: January 14, 2025

My Rating:

Audio: 14 Ways to Die by Vincent Ralph

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Young Adult
Narrated by: Tina Wolstencroft

Summary:
Jess Crane enters an online reality show to hunt down the person who murdered her mother years ago — a killer known only as the Magpie Man. Each week, Jess livestreams her life to thousands of viewers, using the platform to lure the killer out of hiding while simultaneously risking her own safety. As the show progresses, the boundaries between her public persona and private grief blur, and Jess becomes both the hunter and the hunted in a tense race to expose the truth before she becomes the Magpie Man’s next victim.
Publication: December 19, 2019

My Rating:

The Lineup: Shane

The lineup of what the DPL staff have been up to lately.

Shane’s Lineup

Books: H. P. Lovecraft’s Cthulhu Mythos

If you have seen and recognized my upper arm tattoos, you won’t be shocked to learn that I am a huge H. P. Lovecraft fan. I’ve been reading through his short stories when I can, starting with the Cthulhu Mythos. I really like how the Cthulhu Mythos stories are all individual stories, but relate to each other in some way.  I love the dark, gritty atmosphere and twist endings that really make you think. It’s also really fun to read the original stories that so many books, movies, and shows are inspired by even now.

Vacation: Redwoods, California

I recently returned from a family vacation to Northwest California. My older sister and I road tripped there and back, which was a fun bonding experience by itself. The trip was awesome, I saw (and touched) the ocean for the very first time, we did a lot of hiking, and saw so many big, beautiful, ancient trees. I was most excited by seeing the banana slugs though. We rented a remote house with a killer view of the ocean. We also spent half a day in Crescent City and ate a delicious meal at SeaQuake Brewing.

Hobby: Music & Concerts

I’ve been a rock music fan my whole life (thanks mom and dad) and love going to concerts to see a live performance when I can. Some favorites are Creeper, Twin Temple, Avatar, Hollywood Undead, Judas Priest, Plain White T’s, and Ghost (seeing them again soon!). Usually I go with my twin sister and her husband, but I’ve also gone with my parents to some. Seeing live music is always a special memory no matter how small or big the band is.

Games: Carcassone

I am a huge board game nerd and I own over 60 games. I love a game that is different every time you play, and Carcassone has that endless replayability to me. To me, it is simple to learn but still challenging and competitive (if you it to be). Thanks to my loved ones and their gifts, I own 9 out of 12 of the main expansion packs. This makes it even more customizable because we can pick and choose which packs to include when we play.

Hobby: Fiber Arts

I have always been someone who loved to “make things” but I never felt creative enough to do art. I taught myself knitting around 10 years ago and crochet about 2 years ago (still definitely learning that one). I love knitting and crochet because I enjoy following a pattern and watching it come together, it is very satisfying. It also totally opens up the real of gift-giving. If someone devotes the time to knit/crochet/sew you something, you should feel very special. I have made scarfs, hats, a bag, figures, and other small things. I am currently working on a duster robe for myself and have about half dozen other projects on my mind. The picture is of a spider scarf I made in 2022 while I was recovering from surgery. Very fun project!

What’s Ashley Reading?: What Fury Brings

What Fury Brings by Tricia Levenseller

First line: Given the extreme size of the king’s sword, Olerra felt certain the man was compensating for something.

Summary: In the kingdom of Amarra women rule the land and men are subservient. The potential future queen, Olerra, is trying to secure her ascension to the throne and the one way she believes will help is by stealing a husband from the neighboring kingdom of Brutus. This will show her strength and cunning to her people. Her intended target is the second son of the king of Brutus. He is known for his beauty and docile nature which will help with breaking him to her will.

Sanos, the crown prince of Brutus, has been raised for the throne but it hasn’t been easy. His father is abusive and controlling leading Sanos to do what he can to protect the rest of the family from his wrath. But one night in a drunken prank he takes the place of his brother and gets captured by an Amarran princess. Sanos is determined to escape and return to his kingdom but as he spends more time with the princess in her kingdom he finds the need for escape is slowly going away.

My Thoughts: I had no idea what I was getting into with this book. I have read most of Levenseller’s young adult works and really enjoyed them so I was definitely going to pick up her first adult book. While her YA books could be spicy this took it to a whole other level. She does preface the book with trigger warnings and reasoning behind the writing of this book which I found very insightful. So for this review I also want to let you know that the author’s note is a must read for anyone before starting What Fury Brings.

Now on to the actually review. I did enjoy this and how the world that is built here is something completely different. She turns most fantasy books on their head. This is a female led society and the women have an extra magical strength over men. But they are not the norm in the world they inhabit. It is only the kingdom of Amarra which has these rules. Everywhere else fits into the patriarchal mindset.

Olerra is a strong woman who is trying to do better for her people by winning the throne away from her greedy masochistic cousin. There were times I did not like her but as we learn more about her motives that lessens. The choices she makes are in the hopes of helping her people in the future but to get there she has to fit into some of her societies norms which are rather off putting.

The biggest issue was how quickly the relationship seems to change. I know that several weeks or months have gone by but to the reader it seems like less. When you consider what Olerra has done to Sanos I felt like things came to a conclusion rather fast. But with this being said I felt like the pacing was well done. It did not drag on and the conclusion was swift. This appears to be a standalone but I can see that the author does have a way that they could expand it beyond the first book if she so decides.

I will definitely continue to read Levenseller’s books but now I will be a little more prepared for what she will bring to her adult romantasy in the future.

FYI : Only available at the moment on Libby.

The Blog Wants to Know: Sept. 2025

The weather is getting chillier, the Halloween decorations are cropping up at stores, and the release of the pumpkin spice latte can only mean that fall is officially upon us so this month’s question is all about fall favorites!

What are some of your favorite books, movies, TV shows, video games, recipes, drinks, or outfits that get you into the autumn spirit? Is there anything you indulge in during the fall months? Is there anything you’d recommend to get others into the autumnal vibe? 

Shelia, Interlibrary Loan and Cataloguing: I love curling up with a cozy blanket to watch Hocus Pocus and sip on a cup of hot apple cider with a splash or two of caramel vodka. Chili simmering in the crock pot is one of my favorite autumn meals.

Tabbitha, Youth Services: As you know, I have been enjoying the change of weather and all the rain we are having. Here are some of my Autumn Favorites!

Maycie, Public Support Services: I love to do an autumnal simmer pot!  Lots of oranges, cinnamon, anise and other spice blends to really make our home smell like fall. 

Alyssa, Adult and Teen Services: I’m definitely a basic girl when it comes to the autumn season so I’m down for getting a hot pumpkin spice latte and putting on a cozy hoodie or flannel. I’ve been re-watching Over the Garden Wall this month which has such a delightful fall vibe, and I’ve had The Pumpkin Princess and the Forever Night by Steven Banbury and The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest by Aubrey Hartman on my TBR, waiting for autumn.

Dawn S., Youth Services Coordinator: This is my favorite time of the year.  I spend a lot of time at pumpkin patches and my boys and I love P&M in Moundridge. I consider this chili and soup weather although I eat those year-round. I also enjoy getting apple cider. Right now, I’m watching Gilmore Girls again. 

Shane, Public Support Services: Hot cider and flannel shirts are my go to for fall. We also do simmer pots with herbs and spices to make the house smell amazing and keep the humidity up inside. Highly recommend.

What’s Ashley Reading?: Given Our History

Given Our History by Kristyn J. Miller

First line: I might’ve been on time, were it not for the parking meters.

Summary: Clara Fernsby has achieved nearly everything she had hoped for. She is an assistant professor at a liberal arts college on track for tenure. That is until one day a visiting professor, Theodore Harrison, throws a wrench into her perfectly tailored life. As she has to share an office with him and work together on a special project she decides that she needs to deal with their shared past. But this seems to be easier said than done. With their close proximity the feelings and memories of their past friendship start to come back. Can they make it work this time around or is Clara destined for a broken heart?

My Thoughts: I love the fall vibes I got from the cover of this book. September felt like the perfect time to listen with school starting again and the cooler temperatures sneaking into the forecast. And this book did not disappoint. It was a cute little romance centered on two history professors which I was completely in for. I liked the relationship and flashbacks to their youth. As the story progressed we saw what led to the awkwardness between them. I loved that Clara was studying much of the same thing I did when I was earning my history degree. If you are looking for a fall romance then I would highly recommend this one.