Happy November, everyone! ❄️☁️
Can you believe that there are only two months left of this year? The weather’s finally cooled down here, and to paint you an image of me—you’ll likely find me bundled up in a scarf, wearing my coziest sweater, and nursing a cup of tea in my hands, whenever I’m awake. Also, with my nose buried in books—yes, plural. And sadly, not strictly those I read for pleasure. Think osteology, organic chemistry, and hematology.
October’s been … a ride. What do you call a month that started out great, and then slowly slipped and slid its way towards horrible towards the end? (Lily’s October 2018.) I legit fell into my worst reading slump this past week, and am still “reading” the same book I started a week ago. :’)
But let’s not dwell on past grievances, because I’m determined for November to be amazing. And I actually had a pretty decent reading month, looking at my overall average rating?
Total score 📚: 19
ARCs 💌: 6
Re-reads 📖: 1
Graphic Novels 🖌: 2
Poetry 🎨: 1
Short Stories 📘: 4
Audiobooks 🎧: 1½
Buddy Reads 👭: 5
Five-⭐-a-thon 🌟: 4½/5
Avg. Rating ⭐: 3.56
Middle Grade: –
Young Adult: 14
Adult: 5
Non-Fiction: –
Final Draft by Riley Redgate 👭🌟 ¦ ⭐⭐⭐
This Winter by Alice Oseman 📘👭🌟 ¦ ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor 🌟 ¦ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Secret History by Donna Tartt 🎧 ¦ ⭐⭐⭐
Vengeful (The Villains #2) by V.E. Schwab 👭🌟(🎧) ¦ ⭐⭐⭐½
Anger is a Gift by Mark Oshiro 🌟 ¦ ⭐⭐½
Paper Girl by Cindy R. Wilson 💌 ¦ ⭐⭐⭐½
In an Absent Dream by Seanan McGuire 💌 ¦ ⭐⭐⭐½
Finding Baba Yaga by Jane Yolen 💌 ¦ ⭐⭐⭐
Empress of all Seasons by Emiko Jean 💌👭 ¦ ⭐⭐⭐
You Are the Everything by Karen Rivers 💌 ¦ ⭐⭐⭐½
Galatea by Madeline Miller ⭐⭐
Sea Prayer by Khaled Hosseini 🖌 ¦ ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Fence #10 (Fence, #10) by by C.S. Pacat & Johanna the Mad 🖌 ¦ ⭐⭐⭐½
Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan 💌 ¦ ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Life After Legend by Marie Lu 📘 ¦ ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
Life After Legend II by Marie Lu 📘 ¦ ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Gentleman’s Guide to Getting Lucky by Mackenzi Lee 📘 ¦ ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Summer Palace by C.S. Pacat 📘 ¦ ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I’ve finally had a bit more time to devote to Instagram, and actually managed to be more active, and post pictures regularly! I’m so happy I re-discovered my love of photography, thanks to it. My Instagram account is still strictly book-related, but I’ve started to take more pictures in day-to-day life again as well, and I’m thinking of maybe posting them, too—what do you think?
Here is a sneak peek of my feed:
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- Marie helps you figure out a very important question: Are you a blogging cliché? (This is all in good fun, and I’d love to know if you are!)
- CW launched her absolutely stunning, and magical blog, The Quiet Pond, and I’m already in love with it, and so incredibly excited for all the posts that are to come. Please give her a warm welcome back to the blogosphere. 💜
- Similarly, Bentley returned from his blogging hiatus in September, and is back to blessing us with his reviews again—please send some love his way!
- Emma celebrated her birthday last month, and compiled a list featuring her ten favorite books—unsurprisingly, it’s a gorgeous post in every way.
- Liz‘ Instagram account was hacked, so it’d be wonderful if you could give her a follow on her new one; you can find her @lizinthenews.
- Hannah wrote a lovely review for very highly anticipated book of mine, The Sisters of the Winter Wood. ✨
Five-Star Read-a-thon ¦ Top Ten Tuesday #1
How was your month? 💗
Which book(s) did you vote for in the Goodreads Choice Awards?
I’d love to hear all about what you’ve been up to in October!
Bloglovin’ – Goodreads – Instagram – Tumblr – Twitter
Your pictures are gorgeous! What a great reading month considering you got into a slump. I feel like I always end up in a slump after reading a particularly amazing book. Just keep going!
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Ahh thank you so much! That means a lot to me. 💗
For me, it’s actually the opposite, haha. After reading an amazing book, I’m always motivated to read more. ☺️
Thanks, I will! I hope you have a wonderful November! 🌟💫
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Such a great wrap-up, Lily! You had such a great reading month that I’m jealous honestly. Happy reading in November!
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Thank you, Taasia! 💜
Ahh I hope your October was lovely—there’s really no need to be jealous of mine. 🙈
Happy reading to you too! I hope you have a great month! ✨
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I can’t wait to read Girls of Paper and Fire, an Asian inspired fantasy with a f/f relationship? It sounds amazing! And I have been hearing so many great things that I’m even more excited. I’m really glad you enjoyed it! 😊
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Ahh I know, right?? The rep alone makes it a book sent from heaven, and it’s so gorgeously written, too.
Thank you so much, Sofia, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do! 💓
Happy reading & I hope your November is wonderful! ☺️⭐️
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i love you. and your pretty blog. and your good ass content
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LOVE YOU + same right back at you + I’m so excited for our buddy read. ❤️❤️
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Love this wrap up and loved teh post about your bookish struggles, I relate so much to that. I’ve never heard of This Winter by Alice Oseman and now I’m so happy because I love the author and can’t wait to read more of her books!
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Aw, thank you, Arvenig! 💗 I’m so sorry you relate to it, too, but I hope I could make you feel a bit less alone, at the very least. 😔🌷
It’s a Solitaire novella, so if you enjoyed that book & Heartstopper, I’m pretty sure you’ll love it! You meet all the familiar characters. 😍
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Lily I love your format for the monthly wrap up!! 😍
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Thank you so much, Meeghan! ☺️💚 I hope you have an amazing November ahead of you! ✨
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Well at least you have an amazong reading month; you’ve read some amazing books and enjoyed them 🙂 Hopefully November will be a better month and you’ll get out of your reading slump!
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Thank you, Tasya! That’s true, my average rating was pretty high (for me) this month. ☺️ I hope yours was wonderful, and you have an even brighter November. ❄️
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Lovely wrap up, doll! I’m glad to see that you enjoyed Paper Girl! And I hope you’re able to get out of your slump! Happy reading! ❤️
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Thank you, Kelly! ❤️
Paper Girl is such a touching and heartwarming book, have you read it? ☺️
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I haven’t read it yet, but I was approved for the ARC! I still need to read it soon! ❤️
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Ohh I hope you’ll enjoy it, then! Happy reading, Kelly! ☺️
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oh my gosh… there’s a life after legend?!?! where on earth did you find it AND how? I NEED IT JUNE AND DAY ARE MY PRECIOUS LITTLE CHILDREN I NEED THEM.
sorry – but i loved legend so so much! loved this post as always lily! rhi xxxo
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A friend of mine sent me pictures of it – it arrived with pre-orders of Wildcard!
And ahh same, I love the series so much, did you hear that there’s going to be a fourth book?? I DIED FOR A SECOND WHEN I HEARD.
Thank you, Rhi! I hope your month was lovely? 💜
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Oh! Lucky! I’m dying to find it!
WHAT THE SALTED CARAMEL ARE YOU SERIOUS!?!? HOW HAVEN’T I HEARD ABOUT THIS?! Ok, do you know when it’s coming out? I WILL BE GETTING A COPY IF IT’S THE LAST THING I DO. *officially goes into a fangirl induced coma*
No problem! I always love reading your posts, you are such a joy to have in the blogosphere! You too xx
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I hope you do!! If not, let me know, and I’ll see what I can do. 🙂
I THINK IN 2020, but I’m not sure right now. I feel like Legend fans are getting so many good news?? I just hope that the movie adaption doesn’t disappoint us in terms of casting,,, I’m praying for them to actually have POC actors in POC roles.
You are so sweet sdnfjdsdf thank you! 😭💘
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Lovely wrap-up, Lily, you had a great reading month and congratulations again on the ARCs, that’s amazing. Girls of Paper and Fire sounds really good and I will never get over how gorgeous the cover is. ❤
Thank you so much for sharing my post, that means a lot ❤ I hope November will treat you well! ❤
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Thank you, Marie! ❤
It's so beautiful, right?? And there's an edition where the cover shines in all the Pride colors, and it looks so stunning. 💓
My pleasure! I hope November treats you kindly, Marie, and makes up for all its meanness in October. ❤️❤️
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Gah! I so empathize with you on the slump. I’ve been reading the same two books for over a week now. 😭 And askls;lkf 19 is so good!! I’m super excited for Girls of Paper and Fire. I’m emotionally preparing myself for because I heard how dark it was. 😛
Hopefully your slump lifts soon, Lily! Here’s to an awesome November! ❤
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Nooo I’m so sorry, Kathy. 😭 Which book is it?
Girls of Paper and Fire is incredible, and warmed my smol Asian heart. :’) I’d almost forgotten how dark it is, I really need to finish writing my review for it, before I forget all the details, haha.
Thank you so much, Kathy, I hope yours does too! To an awesome November! ❤❤
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it was Someone Like Me by M.R. Carey! I ended up liking it for the most part, but I just couldn’t bring myself to read more than like, 50 pages at a time!
And AHH can’t wait for Girls of Paper and Fire!!! ❤❤
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I hope your motivation hits you again soon 😔❤️
Sndjsjdnf I hope so much that you love it!! If you want to know more about it, my review for it is now up on my blog. 🙈
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!!5 stars for muse!!!
im still in awe with how much you read and how youre able to balance it so well with school and blogging and all that ish. you really are a Queen
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You need to read it, May!! I hope it won’t disappoint, after I hyped it so much for you. 🙈
I really have no idea, either, I thank my relatively light coursework (so far). But I don’t have time to bullet journal, like you do, though!! And you really can’t complain with your … what was it … 600 books in how many years was it again?? 💜💜
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im currently reading it right now and IM SO EXCITED
well pshhh i ignore the rest of my responsibilities so that aint too healthy. LILY YOU READ OVER 200 BOOKS THIS YEAR YOU CANT TALK ❤ ❤ ❤
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AHHH I need updates, please 😭💜💜
✨💖🌟❄️🌷💫
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Your Instagram feed is BEAUTIFUL!
Regarding the Goodreads Choice awards, I thought it was a tough choice. In YA fiction I voted on Emergency Contact and in YA fantasy/sci-fi I voted on Children of Blood and Bone. But in the best of the best category, I was lost. I mean how can you choose just one book out of so many so great! I can’t even remember what I finally voted on hahah. What about you?
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Thank you so, so much, Nicoline! 💫💛
Ohh I’ve yet to read Children of Blood and Bone! I voted for Sadie, The Astonishing Color of After, Fence, and a few others I can’t think of right now, haha. 🙂
Yes, me too! The pressure was too high & I skipped that question (for now). 🙈
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💗
Those are some high rated books I still have left to read.
I think I will have to skip the next round in that category 🙈
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You had an awesome month Lily!
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Thank you, Kayla!! 😊 I hope you have a lovely November! 💫
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Same to you Lily! 🙂
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Thank you 💞
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What a wonderful post, Lily! 🌸 I‘m so sorry to hear that October ended in a reading slump for you, though, and I hope November will be better 😌 I haven’t read many books last month, but the ones I read were all amazing, so I’d still say that I had a great reading month!
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Thank you so much, Hannah! 💗
I’m so glad to hear that! I hope November is just as wonderful for you, and you manage to get a lot of writing done. 🌷✨
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How did you manage to read The Secret History so quickly?! I think you might have reading super powers…
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I listened to the audiobook for about 60% of it, and I always listen to them at at least 1.75x (usually 2.0x) speed! 🙂
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But usually, I read faster than it takes to listen to an audiobook at 2.00x, so if I’d had more time, I’d have read it. 😅
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Lily! I’m so sorry you’ve been slumping, but I hope things look up in November.💛I’ve loved seeing all your bookstagram pictures since I’ve joined, and YES, I’d love to see any from your daily life, too, if you decide to start posting them. 😉 Wishing you the best month ever!
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Thank you, Olivia! 💛💛
Ahh that’s so sweet of you, I’m so happy you enjoy my bookstagram pictures! Even though I’ve been thinking about changing my theme, haha. And I’ll definitely add more pictures from my daily life (someday). 😊
I hope your November is kind to you, sending you hugs! 🌻
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Wow! Hope you have a better reading month than October. But sure did read a lot of awesome books it looks like. I definitely have to get around to Muse of Nightmares. Isn’t traveling with your e-reader the best thing ever😃
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Thank you, RoseMarie! 😊
Muse of Nightmares is so beautiful, I hope you’ll love it! And YES, I always feel like something’s missing, if I don’t have my e-reader with me, haha.
I hope you have a great November, and happy reading! 💫
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Hope you have a great November as well😊
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Thank you ☺️🌷
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I am speechless as usual!
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🌟🌟🌟
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So glad to see that Muse of Nightmares got 5 stars. Looks like you have had a busy month!!
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Aw, thank you! It’s too beautiful not to. :’)
I hope you have a lovely November! 🌟☺️
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Thanks! You too!
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Ahh I’m so glad you had such a great reading month, Lily! 💞 I’ll forever be in awe of how quickly you can read books. (It’s incredible, honestly!)
It makes me so happy that you enjoyed Girls of Paper and Fire! It’s one of my most anticipated November releases, and I’m extremely excited to read it. I’m going to order it soon 😍 I’m glad you loved The Gentleman’s Guide to Getting Lucky, too! I want to read it so badly, but I know you could only have gotten it with the preorder of The Lady’s Guide.
Lovely post as always! I hope you’ll have a wonderful November, Lily ☺️
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Aww, you’re the sweetest, Dezzy, thank you so much! 💗💗
Girls of Paper and Fire is such an incredible book, I can’t wait for you to read it! And The Gentleman’s Guide to Getting Lucky is adorable, I hope you’ll find a way to get your hands on it. 😍
Thank you, I hope your November is absolutely amazing! ☺️💫
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Wonderful wrap-up, Lily! I’m always in awe of how many books you read in a month! It’s incredibly inspiring!! I hope November is a great reading month for you 💖
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Ahh thank you, Victoria! 💛
I’m so touched to hear that, and I hope your November is absolutely wonderful! Thank you for your sweet comment, it means a lot to me! 🌻
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Of course!! 💜
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5 stars for Muse omg!!! definitely need to read it now 😎 also 4 stars for gopaf god bless I’m so glad you loved it and I can’t wait for your review 💗💗💗💗💗💗
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Ahh I hope you adore Muse of Nightmares, and I didn’t overhype it for you! 💜 Also, I’m so, so glad and relieved that I loved Girls of Paper and Fire as well (& I can’t wait for my review, either, I’m struggling 😂).
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[+ thank you for knowing me so well, others would have asked “omg why did you give it four stars, what did you hate about it??” at this point. :’)]
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4 stars is…GOOD????? like for me too?? why are people like this
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YES, EXACTLY.
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This is such a great wrapup. I like your favorite post feature. Your blog is beatiful.
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Ahh thank you so much, Mandy, that is so kind of you! ☺️ I hope you have a wonderful month! 💫
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I hope you have a great November (and get out of that reading slump)! 💕 I’m currently living for the cold weather by getting all cozy with blankets, hot tea and books 🍂
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Thank you so much, Caro! 💗
That’s exactly what I love about the cooler weather, too. 😍 I hope your November is absolutely fantastic. 🌟
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You had such an amazing reading month!! Sorry to hear you’re in a slump though, they’re the worst 😩 I am SO jealous that you got to read In An Absent Dream, haha. The Wayward Children series is one of my all time favourites. I hope you have a wonderful November ♥
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Thank you, Lauren! 💗
Aw, I feel really lucky and grateful that I was sent an early copy – especially seeing as I’m an international blogger. Tor really is such a nice publisher, I’d totally recommend requesting a copy yourself. 🙂
Thank you so much for your sweet comment, I hope your November’s wonderful, too! 💗💗
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Ah, that’s so great!! It always makes me happy seeing INTL bloggers actually get ARCs. I sent a request on Netgalley— so we’ll see what happens ✌🏻😂
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Ahh I hope you get approved, Lauren! I’m crossing my fingers for you ✨🤞🏻✨
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I hope you ultimately shake off that reading slump. Glad to see you enjoyed Muse of Nightmares and Girls of Paper and Fire. I’m really looking forward to both of those. Hope November turns out amazing for you!
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Thank you, Alicia! 💜
I hope you love them, they’re both so beautifully written. :’)
Thanks so much for your sweet message, I hope November is kind to you! ❄️💞
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WOW! You had a great month love!
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Thank you, Jenna! ☺️💜 I hope you have a fantastic November! ❄️⭐️
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[…] | May | Jasmine | Lily | Malanie | Breanna | […]
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when you said your nose in buried in organic chemistry, i felt that. i’m in utter awe of the number of books you read, you are obviously a machine.
and, hey, i need to read muse! also, the summer palace was such a ‘wow i missed these two dorks can i get another trilogy on them thank” mood. ❤
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