October 2025 Round-Up or How I Learned to Play Again

The spookiest of months has come and gone, this side of the world has spun to darkness. The cold seeps in, which just means it is time for us to curl up with our books and mugs of tea and wait for the sun again. 

This October was busy with real life (boo, reality!), but I managed to read several books and make progress on a few video games. Not only that, but for the first time in a long time, I dawned my regalia and went out celebrate life with my friends. I even bought baby dragons for everyone to share.

The Crow King lives!

It’s always good to have a little fun in the midst of the chaos of the world and mundane responsibilities. 

October’s reading list included the following: 

1. A Game in Yellow by Hailey Piper - A delightfully queer and heartbreaking tale about addiction, obsession, and dealing with (or not, as the case may be) personal and relationship trauma, all with the backdrop of the cosmic horror that is “The King in Yellow”. 

2. Spread Me by Sarah Gailey - No kink shaming allowed, especially when your kink is an infectious disease. There were several moments where I cringed, but I couldn’t put the book down. 
 

3. Audition for the Fox by Martin Cahill - An acolyte who has failed every other deity’s trials approaches the trickster Fox and he drops her into a terrifying situation where she learns a valuable lesson about what it takes to create change in the world. This was a debut work and I look forward to seeing what Cahill has to offer. 

4. Saints of Storm and Sorrow by Gabriella Buba - The first book in an epic fantasy inspired by Filipino history and lore. It is the story of Maria Lunurin, who is leading a double life, attempting to hide her powers while serving as abbess for the conquering empire’s religious institution on her home island. This book blends the dangers of colonialism with the consequences of taking back what is your own. It was a beautiful read.

5. Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng by Kylie Lee Baker - A dark look at the pandemic through the eyes of an East Asian woman, a crime scene cleaner, who is struggling with wanting to be independent, but dealing with family who pulls her between her different identities. Cora reads as being on the spectrum who watched her sister be pushed in front of a subway train. She finds herself haunted by a hungry ghost - but will she be able to stop it before it takes her and her friends? Will she survive the many murders happening around her?

6. The Night That Finds Us All by John Hornor Jacob’s - Ships have been crossing oceans (not always successfully) for millennia. In this book, we get a haunted ship and some Lovecraftian dread while navigating addiction.

As far as video games go, I have been playing Hollow Knight: Silksong and The Seance at Blake Manor. Very different games, but I will give a review of the latter once I have beaten it. 

Finally, I have a performance coming up in a couple of weeks. This one is a little different for me - it’s an open stage with cast members from Dragula. Yes, you hear me right… I AM PERFORMING ON THE SAME STAGE WITH DRAG MONSTERS.

Here’s the poster: 

Tickets are available here or at the door. Come see me rock your socks off with these lovely ladies of the night!

And remember, when the night comes early and the winds blow cold, I shall be here with another suggestion, should you need it.