The June 2024 Quarterly Media Report
Happy Anniversary to this fun idea. I hope y'all have enjoyed seeing me write these round-ups and had at least as much fun as I have had, and my journey to actually chart stuff I did. My Hobonichi Cousin is becoming a better record of my life thanks to adding notes about media that eases making these.
Games
April
I continued playing Stardew Valley 1.6 though I took a break after April. I plan to get back to it, not sure when though.
I also played Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising with the goal to beat it before Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes came out. I did not but that's okay.
As always I did some relaxation with Moonstone Island. One day I will decide who to marry in that game. I like most of the cast far too much to choose. I need more people to play this game so they can peer pressure me into marrying someone.
May
I beat Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising this month (and started Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes.) and did a little of the post-game stuff. It sort of seems like it may go on forever?
I beat Umineko Chiru: Episode 6. Solid episode. Furudo Erika is simultaneously so awful and the best. I LOVE that twisted girl. Though honestly, I think you could count the number of non-twisted characters in this game on one hand.
Possibly most important of all—my dreams coming true. I bought Ciel noSurge for switch (no region locking) and my brother and I are playing through it (very slowly). This means so much to me. I'd listened to the music before, but chills ran down my spine when I heard To the Songless Hill in game.
There was one slight problem though: We elected to keep putting my switch to sleep instead of saving and quitting, so I literally could not play anything else on that console until my brother agreed to save and quit. Which happened about a week ago as of writing this.
June
I just unlocked Fast Travel / Teleport in Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, I have some issues with the balance of the game (magic seems to not be worth it, for healing or attacks. Items are better, but you can't carry very many items at least to start with) but I'm enjoying it.
I started Umineko Episode 7. I forgot how much I love this episode. And Lion. And Willard. After I clear Episode 7, it's all new material for me from there (I will likely play Saku and Tsubasa next year,). Time to finally beat this saga.
I played a little of an Itch game I got from the Racial Justice and Equality Bundle called Secret Little Haven.
It's very nice, I love it, though I haven't beaten it because I'm not currently in the headspace to deal with the emotional abuse and gaslighting that features prominently in the game.
I played a little Coral Island. It's nice though with so many characters I'm having trouble keeping them all straight.
I played the Fields of Mistria demo. It's great. I love it. I am absolutely playing this when it releases.
We played a bit of Ciel noSurge and we are still not done with Chapter 1 but I love it so. But we saved and quit and I am playing switch games again.
Since I have my switch available again, I've been playing a bit of Pokémon: Scarlet and XenoBlade Chronicles I. I missed both these games.
Things I'd Like to Work on (Game-wise)
I definitely want to actually beat something soon. Probably XenoBlade Chronicles. And Pokémon: Scarlet. I'd definitely like to do more Ciel noSurge,
Things I'm looking forward to (Game-wise)
Drăculești, a romantic horror VN has a demo that releases the 1st of July. I've decided I simultaneously love Dracula the novel (Though I've only read the Daily / Chronological version) and hate all adaptations (more for what they do to the characters and who they remove) aside from Re: Dracula, but I love this concept, especially since it seems to star Renfield, who I feel needs more fleshing out.
The game Vampire Therapist is supposed to release. This was not on my radar at all at first, and then I found out that Cyrus Nemati, voice actor of Theseus, Ares, and Dionysus in Hugo-award-winning game Hades by Supergiant Games. And even if I wasn't a fan of the guy from his voice-acting, I really like the concept of providing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to vampires, plus I've been a patient of that kind of therapy for years. Maybe I can prove I am as excellent at providing mental health help as I feel when applying it to my own life. That's Vampire Therapist, releasing on July 18th, please wish-list it
And Fields of Mistria releases in Early Access on August 5th. For some reason I thought it was July, but it is not. So I will play more Coral Island and Moonstone Island while I await the 90's anime-style Farming Sim
Books
April
I mostly read manga this month. I finished reading The Essence of Being A Muse. I quite liked it. Definitely belongs on people's shelves.
I started a reread of A Bride's Story. I got through eleven volumes.
I finished a Six of Crows reread, because someone on Mastodon was reading it for the first time and it reminded me how great that duology was. I have not started Crooked Kingdom yet though.
May
I caught up (in English published volumes) to A Bride's Story. I really want more.
I read and finished T. Kingfisher's Minor Mage. I must say, between this, Jackalope Wives and A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking, I am becoming a huge fan of T. Kingfisher / Ursula Vernon.
I read Death's Country, a queer polyam take on Orpheus and Eurydice. Quite enjoyed it.
I started my reread of Lore Olympus. I got through four volumes this month.
June
I am caught up on traditionally published Lore Olympus, and also caught up on the WebToon, as it ended recently. I will miss it, but I have faith I will see Rachel Smythe's work again eventually. And until then, there's more volumes of Lore Olympus coming out.
I got through the Welcome to Night Vale audio-book. It's not bad, but evidently audio-books take an eternity to listen to. I had to renew it two times before I was done. Don't ask me why a 20+ hour playlist of podcasts is different to me, it just is.
I started my reread of Children of Blood and Bone since thanks to both ECTs and the passage of time (with no critique intended of Tomi Adeyemi for taking her time) meant I don't remember much of what happened, so I want both this and Children of Virtue and Vengeance fresh in my mind before I read Children of Anguish and Anarchy.
Things I'd Like to Work on (Reading-Wise)
I should probably have less books that I'm in the middle of. Like finish more, or start less. I don't know. Maybe next therapy appointment (since this is supposedly an ADHD thing) I can ask my therapist how to actually FINISH things. Or I suppose I could ask the internet.
Things I'm looking forward to (Reading-Wise)
It would be a lie to say I'm not looking forward to any books but I am trying really hard to focus on things. Like finish The Legacy of Orïsha series before I start any more fantasy. (Time will tell if I'm successful).
Miscellaneous Media
April
Continued watching X-men and Dungeon Meshi / Delicious in Dungeon. Watched some Pokémon Horizons. All of these are great shows.
May
Dracula Daily Started up again. I am listening to Re: Dracula and just using the newsletter to reference when I should listen to an episode. It's a really good podcast, I recommend it.
I was really psyched about the second episode of The Amazing Digital Circus coming out. I watched it twice in May.
As may not surprise anyone, I watched more Pokémon Horizons. It's a good show, even if I mutter “go, go, Fue-co-co!” to myself at times now.
June
We took a break from X-men for May, but we started watching it again.
Yes I watched more Pokémon Horizons. Is Dot a non-binary icon? I will probably watch more if only to find this out.
During a break / lull in Dracula Daily entries, I listened to the podcast / audio drama Temujin. Very nice! I recommend it.
Things I'd Like to Work on (In General)
I promised my brother I'd find a new TV schedule for us (like which days we play something or which days we watch something). He jokingly commented he's mad that he's still on the first Kuro no Kiseki game when the English version Trails through Daybreak is either out or coming out very soon. It was a joke, I don't think he prided himself on this (and if he does the answer to me is “Focus on Ciel noSurge. That's never officially coming out in English!”) but maybe he has to be more careful of spoilers? I dunno.
I'd also like to listen to more Audio Dramas when Re: Dracula / Dracula Daily is on break. Looking ahead at my podcatcher, it looks like aside from a couple episodes with Seward and Renfield, there's a lot of nothing until Whitby / The Captain of the Demeter's log. Probably a great time to get something in.
Things I'm looking forward to (Miscellaneous)
It looks like as I skim a couple sites there is no announced date for more Pokémon Concierge, or Dungeon Meshi / Delicious in Dungeon season 2. So I assume they're not coming particularly soon (the latter especially so). So I will probably focus on Pokémon Horizons and X-Men and hopefully some other stuff. I can't think of anything I'm looking forward to with a release date honestly.
I don't think my brother would be interested in watching this, but I have some mild interest in getting into Bridgerton. And eventually I have to watch Riverdale all the way through.
That's all from me. Let me know if you're looking forward to anything in the July through September Window. I hope to bring you another Quarterly report in September that has some great news to share.
Feel free to at me on the Fediverse, please provide context though.