goblinman

Fantasy and sci-fi enthusiast; dedicated fan of odd characters and queer romances.

130 points

0% overlap

Reading...

The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings, #1)

My Taste

The Tainted Cup (Shadow of the Leviathan, #1)

A Closed and Common Orbit (Wayfarers, #2)

Howl’s Moving Castle (Howl’s Moving Castle, #1)

goblinman wants to read...

Talkin' Up to the White Woman: Indigenous Women and Feminism

Aileen Moreton-Robinson

Revealing the invisible position of power and privilege in feminist practice, this accessible and provocative analysis elucidates the whiteness of Australian feminism. A pioneering work, it will overturn complacent notions of a mutual sisterhood and the common good.

goblinman wants to read...

Foundryside (The Founders Trilogy, #1)

Robert Jackson Bennett

In a city that runs on industrialized magic, a secret war will be fought to overwrite reality itself. Sancia Grado is a thief, and a damn good one. And her latest target, a heavily guarded warehouse on Tevanne's docks, is nothing her unique abilities can't handle. But unbeknownst to her, Sancia's been sent to steal an artifact of unimaginable power, an object that could revolutionize the magical technology known as scriving. The Merchant Houses who control this magic--the art of using coded commands to imbue everyday objects with sentience--have already used it to transform Tevanne into a vast, remorseless capitalist machine. But if they can unlock the artifact's secrets, they will rewrite the world itself to suit their aims. Now someone in those Houses wants Sancia dead, and the artifact for themselves. And in the city of Tevanne, there's nobody with the power to stop them. To have a chance at surviving--and at stopping the deadly transformation that's under way--Sancia will have to marshal unlikely allies, learn to harness the artifact's power for herself, and undergo her own transformation, one that will turn her into something she could never have imagined.

goblinman wants to read...

Metal from Heaven

August Clarke

For fans of The Princess Bride and Gideon the a bloody lesbian revenge tale and political fantasy set in a glittering world transformed by industrial change – and simmering class warfare. Ichorite is progress. More durable and malleable than steel, ichorite is the lifeblood of a dawning industrial revolution. Yann I. Chauncey owns the sole means of manufacturing this valuable metal, but his workers, who risk their health and safety daily, are on strike. They demand Chauncey research the hallucinatory illness befalling them, a condition they call “being lustertouched.” Marney Honeycutt, a lustertouched child worker, stands proud at the picket line with her best friend and family. That’s when Chauncey sends in the guns. Only Marney survives the massacre. She vows bloody vengeance. A decade later, Marney is the nation’s most notorious highwayman, and Chauncey’s daughter seeks an opportune marriage. Marney’s rage and the ghosts of her past will drive her to masquerade as an aristocrat, outmaneuver powerful suitors, and win the heart of his daughter, so Marney can finally corner Chauncey and satisfy her need for revenge. But war ferments in the north, and deeper grudges are surfacing. . . H. A. Clarke’s adult fantasy debut, writing as August Clarke, Metal from Heaven is a punk-rock murder ballad tackling labor issues and radical empowerment against the relentless grind of capitalism.

goblinman commented on a post from the Pagebound Club forum

seema

Long shot - books to prepare for cat ownership??

Basically my partner and I are considering adopting a cat or two (lil baby kittens from a friend) and I've never owned a cat (partner has) and would love to read up on it more before deciding!!! I've always wanted cats but I'm also an anxious girlie who wants to be as confident as possible that I am ready to give them a good home and life! I grew up with a dog and most folks I know have dogs, but obviously cats are different in many ways so my experience won't really translate. Basically I'm looking for resources that would give me a good sense of what to expect, how to prepare, and helpful training information? Huuuge bonus points if there's also something that speaks to cat ownership while having ADHD, because I'm definitely a little concerned about not being able to keep things super tidy or becoming overstimulated (not concerned at all about my ability to keep the cat fed or it's litterbox clean or remember to get it to appointments and stuff)

goblinman commented on a post from the Pagebound Club forum

seema

Long shot - books to prepare for cat ownership??

goblinman finished reading and wrote a review...

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi (Amina al-Sirafi, #1)

goblinman

May 07, 2025

5.0

Enjoyment: 5.0Quality: 5.0Characters: 5.0Plot: 5.0

I have read a lot of really great books this year, so it is saying something that this one is a standout entertainer! You can tell from page 1 that the author has done a TONNE of research, because the world you step into feels so authentic, interesting, and exciting. The characters are unique and complex, creating an ensemble of endearingly flawed and fascinating people. The pacing was excellent, the plot interesting, and the magic dazzling. I cannot WAIT for the next book in this world!

goblinman paused reading...

Botanical Curses and Poisons: The Shadow-Lives of Plants

Fez Inkwright

Discover the folklore and history of our most toxic plants through this beautifully produced, gorgeously illustrated compendium. “If you drink much from a bottle marked ‘poison,’ it is almost certain to disagree with you, sooner or later.” – Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland In both history and fiction, some of the most dramatic, notorious deaths have been through poisonings. Concealed and deliberate, it’s a crime that requires advance planning and that for many centuries could go virtually undetected. And yet there is a fine line between healing and killing: the difference lies only in the dosage! In Botanical Curses and Poisons, Fez Inkwright returns to folkloric and historical archives to reveal the fascinating, untold stories behind a variety of lethal plants, witching herbs, and funghi. Going from A to Z, she covers everything from apple (think of the poisoned fruit in “Snow White”) and the hallucinogenic angel’s trumpet to laurel, which emits toxic fumes, to oleander (a deadly ornamental shrub), with each plant beautifully illustrated by the author herself. This enthralling treasury is packed with insight, lore, and the revealed mysteries of everyday flora—including the prevalence of poisoning in ancient Rome, its use in religion and magic, and common antidotes—making this perfect for gardeners, writers, folklorists, witches, and scientists alike!

goblinman finished reading and wrote a review...

The Tomb of Dragons (The Cemeteries of Amalo, #3)

goblinman

Apr 11, 2025

5.0

Enjoyment: 5.0Quality: 5.0Characters: 5.0Plot: 5.0

This series is just a chain of perfection for me. I love the characters and world building so much, and the attention paid to linguistics and social complexities is incredible. Every time I read one of these books, my only disappointment is that I cannot leave my house to catch a tram to one of the teahouses or zhoäns of Amalo.

goblinman commented on a post from the Founder Announcements forum

jenniferPagebound

Product & Dev Update (4/10/25)

Hi everyone! We have a few product updates to share - 1. The button to edit read dates is now on the book page - instead of sifting through your library to edit dates, you can visit the book page directly. 2. You can now edit the title, progress %, and spoiler tag on your posts (in addition to the contents!) 3. Fixed various bugs related to adding books to the Pagebound catalog, Goodreads imports, and comments on activity updates. We've had some questions about non-English books and issues importing books in non-Roman lettered languages like Arabic and Greek. We do plan to address both of these issues, however it is a large project and due to the discussion and forum nature of the site, the solution isn't straightforward. For now, non-English books will remain separate from the English version to preserve single-language discussion in the forums, and you may encounter data issues importing books in non-Roman lettered languages. We ask you refrain from importing those books at this time to help keep the integrity of our database! Special shoutout to our lovely Devin for helping on the engineering side with these updates 🫶 Happy reading, Jennifer & Lucy 💜💙

goblinman wants to read...

The Phoenix Keeper

S.A. MacLean

A socially awkward but determined phoenix keeper must partner with her longtime rival to save her beloved exhibit from falling into obscurity in this charming, romantic fantasy debut. Aila is a little obsessed with phoenixes. As head phoenix keeper at a world-renowned zoo for magical creatures, her childhood dream of conserving critically endangered firebirds seems closer than ever. There’s just one glaring her zoo’s breeding program hasn’t functioned for a decade. When a tragic phoenix-nabbing cripples the flagship program at a neighbouring zoo, Aila must prove her derelict facilities are fit to take the reins. But saving a species takes more than stellar animal handling skills. Carnivorous water horses, tempestuous thunderhawks — Aila has no problem wrangling beasts. Inspiring zoo patrons? That’s another story. Finding the courage to ask for help from the hot dragon keeper at a neighbouring exhibit? Virtually impossible. And don’t get Aila started on her arch-rival from the glamorous leader of the zoo’s wildly popular griffin show, who’s convinced that Aila’s beloved phoenix would serve better as a performer than a conservation exhibit. Aided by both friends and enemies, Aila must conquer her social anxiety if she is to restore her breeding programme. With the world watching and the threat of poachers looming, Aila’s success isn’t only a matter of keeping her the future of a species depends on her.

goblinman wants to read...

The Last Sun (The Tarot Sequence, #1)

K.D. Edwards

Rune Saint John, last child of the fallen Sun Court, is hired to search for Lady Judgment's missing son, Addam, on New Atlantis, the island city where the Atlanteans moved after ordinary humans destroyed their original home. With his companion and bodyguard, Brand, he questions Addam's relatives and business contacts through the highest ranks of the nobles of New Atlantis. But as they investigate, they uncover more than a missing man: a legendary creature connected to the secret of the massacre of Rune's Court. In looking for Addam, can Rune find the truth behind his family's death and the torments of his past?

goblinman finished reading and left a rating...

goblinman

Apr 05, 2025

4.5

Enjoyment: 4.5Quality: 4.5Characters: 4.5Plot: 3.5

goblinman wants to read...

The Tomb of Dragons (The Cemeteries of Amalo, #3)

Katherine Addison

Thara Celehar has lost his ability to speak with the dead. When that title of Witness for the Dead is gone, what defines him? While his title may be gone, his duties are not. Celehar contends with a municipal cemetery with fifty years of secrets, the damage of a revethavar he’s terrified to remember, and a group of miners who are more than willing to trade Celehar’s life for a chance at what they feel they’re owed. Celehar does not have to face these impossible tasks alone. Joining him are his mentee Velhiro Tomasaran, still finding her footing with the investigative nature of their job; Iäna Pel-Thenhior, his beloved opera director friend and avid supporter; and the valiant guard captain Hanu Olgarezh. Amidst the backdrop of a murder and a brewing political uprising, Celehar must seek justice for those who cannot find it themselves under a tense political system. The repercussions of his quest are never as simple they seem, and Celehar’s own life and happiness hang in the balance.

goblinman finished reading and wrote a review...

A Psalm for the Wild-Built (Monk & Robot, #1)

goblinman

Mar 31, 2025

5.0

Enjoyment: 5.0Quality: 5.0Characters: 5.0Plot: 4.0

🐻

🤖

🫖

The strength of Psalm is in the deeply real characters and breathtaking worldbuilding. Chambers has such a talent for making me desperate to visit planets that do not exist. A cruisy, comforting read.

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Level 2

100 points

goblinman finished reading and left a rating...

10w

Terciel and Elinor (The Old Kingdom, #6)

goblinman

Mar 23, 2025

5.0

Enjoyment: 5.0Quality: 5.0Characters: 5.0Plot: 4.5

goblinman finished reading and wrote a review...

11w

The Galaxy, and the Ground Within (Wayfarers, #4)

goblinman

Mar 16, 2025

5.0

Enjoyment: 5.0Quality: 5.0Characters: 5.0Plot: 5.0

🥲

Another stunner from this author. Her characters and world building are exquisite. I never fail to be impressed by the complexity of the themes built into the background of what feels like a cosy slice of (scifi) life - there is always so much depth without it feeling overwhelming.

goblinman wants to read...

12w