What I Wore Lately: Back to School Edition

School is back in session, and I've got eight classroom-approved outfits for you. It's still unbearably hot where I am, and my classroom air conditioner is struggling, so you definitely will not see any fall-specific clothing pieces in this roundup.

These outfits technically go back to before I had to report for pre-planning, but they are all outfits I have worn and/or would wear to teach in.

Sizing info: I'm 5'2" and weigh about 140 lbs. I usually wear size 6 or s/m in clothes and size 7 in shoes.

T-shirt (similar) / Skirt / Sandals

I technically didn't wear this to school. However, I have worn pretty much this exact outfit, minus the sandals, to teach in before. This was the weekend before preplanning started. We went to a nice lunch and then did some final back-to-school shopping.

This skirt has made lots of appearances on the blog over the last year. It's one of those that can be easily styled for every season. It has an elastic waist and is lined. The only thing it doesn't have is pockets.

My t-shirt is just a basic t-shirt that I picked up at Walmart. This specific one is no longer available, but I'm linking to a similar one for you.

My sandals are still going strong. I like how they lightened up the dark pattern of the skirt here. It's a nice bit of juxtaposition. I sized up a half size because the straps were too tight/narrow, which is saying a lot since my feet are really, really narrow.

Blouse / Pants / Sandals

This is also an outfit that I didn't technically wear to teach in, but it's one that I will absolutely repeat at some point. I actually had to make a court appearance so I wanted to be dressed professionally. I was done much earlier than expected, so I ended up going and working in my classroom since I was in town.

These pants are really lightweight, but I did still get hot, which should be expected in 100-degree weather. The waist is a wider smocked band than I was expecting. They do have pleats at the hips/thighs, which make them feel fancier. They're wide legged and long enough that flat shoes will be a bit of an issue for me.

This blouse is so pretty an a perfect match for the green shade of the pants. The one thing about the blouse that drives me nuts though is the length of its v-neckline. It's about an inch too long for me, which makes it tricky to tuck into bottoms nicely. You'll notice that I've got it bloused out a lot in this outfit to compensate for it.

Dress (similar) / Sandals

I've had this Chaps dress since my days at the TV station. It's technically just a t-shirt dress, but it's such good quality. Unfortunately, it's been long sold out, but it's still a favorite of mine. I wore it on one of my preplanning days. This is one of those dresses that I reach for when I don't know what to wear, but it always looks very intentional.

My sandals are from a couple of years ago, but they're still available in this and other colors.

Dress / Sandals

This is one of my favorite dresses. I wore it for Alexis's open house, which was also a preplanning day. I love it so much that I own it in two other patterns. This is the size small, which fits but pulls a bit at the buttons on the bust. The other two I own are the medium and I like the way they fit at the bust much better. This dress has a smocked waist and functional buttons from bust to hem. It's almost fully lined -- the liner ends around my knees. The tie is just for decoration.

Blouse (similar) / Pants / Belt / Shoes (similar)

I wore this for my school's open house. These are the same pants I showed in my teacher try-on haul. As predicted, they stretched out the longer I wore them, so I say to definitely get your regular size.

I found my blouse on a clearance rack at Cato. I love all the details on it, from the pretty floral pattern to the square neckline and lace trim. It's a nice light linen material so I stayed fairly cool all day.

My heels are a few years old and not really "in style" anymore, but I love them so I keep wearing them. They're also fairly comfortable for being on your feet a long time.

Blouse (similar) / Skirt / Shoes (similar)

This was my first-day-of-school outfit. How cute is this skirt?! This is another Cato find. It has a matching top, but I don't really do matching sets and didn't like how boxy the blouse was. This skirt has such nice details. I love the little pom-poms on the hem and the lace trim on the bottom tier. It's hard to see here but there are lace-like cut-outs all throughout the skirt, which is fully lined so no worries about it being see-through. The only thing it doesn't have is pockets.

I decided to let the skirt be the star of this show, so I kept everything else simple. My blouse is a year or two old. It's got decorative buttons and a bit of lace detailing at the neck for interest, but otherwise it's just a basic black top.

My strappy sandals have about an inch block heel to give me a bit height. I actually had to size down in these to a 6.5 because the straps were way too loose. I'm pretty sure I got these on clearance, but the same brand has a pretty similar pair that I'm linking to. I've not tried them on, though, so I have no idea if the sizing is the same.

Jumpsuit / T-shirt (similar) / Shoes

This was what I wore on day two of teaching. I shared this jumpsuit earlier this summer, but it's definitely styled differently here. Last time I wore a sleeveless white tank top underneath it and sandals. This go 'round, I decided to be a bit more colorful with a basic yellow t-shirt to pull out the yellow in the pattern.

My feet were hella sore from standing all day the day before (I've gotta get used to that again), so I decided to go with my backless white sneakers. It's been awhile since I wore these, and unfortunately by the end of the day I had a huge blister on one of my pinky toes. I think it's probably because I haven't worn structured shoes in three months.

Blouse (similar) / Skirt / Belt / Shoes

Day three of teaching fell on our first Friday. We get to wear jeans on Fridays, but honestly, it's still too hot for me to even think about jeans, especially since my classroom's air conditioner is just not getting the job done, so it felt like the right time to break in this denim skirt (first featured in my teacher try-on haul a couple weeks ago).

Let me start by saying that I'm glad I sized up in this skirt as it did not stretch out much at all throughout the day. It's a very sturdy denim with relatively no stretch, which has more benefits than not losing its shape the more you move around. The lack of stretch also means that the functional buttons don't gape, which is always a concern with this style of skirt. I've seen loads of maxi denim skirts, sans buttons but with a large front slit, and I just feel like those aren't really practical for teaching. This button-front alternative feels like a nice nod to the trend, and it's honestly a style of skirt that I love and have loved for years. Oh, bonus -- it has back pockets to help give some definition.

My blouse is a few years old. It's hard to tell in this picture, but it's got a peter pan collar and an understated puff sleeve. My belt is also old, as are my flats, but both are still available.

Monday Motivation

It's been a long time since I wrote a Monday Motivation post, but I've been feeling a bit uninspired in the blog department lately. Probably because it's been too dang hot to do anything, and I've been stuck in hyper-focus on school the last week or so. It's really frustrating, too, since there's really no reason to plan so far out this early, especially since I know there will be benchmark testing that I'll have to rearrange my pacing guide for, but this is a habit I just can't seem to break from years of being the chief planner for the newsroom.

I always feel better having some sort of plan laid out, even when I know it's likely going to change. Having at least a framework in place makes it easier to shift and make adjustments. And with that being said, my first unit is basically mapped out and plans tentatively written. I'm a little worried with pacing this year since my classes will be significantly shorter and our grading periods will be one week shorter.

In addition to planning my first unit, I've worked in my classroom twice. The first time all I did was get all the stuff I took home this summer moved in and get my desks set up how I want them. The second time I did a bit more: unpacked my filing cabinet, got my bulletin board backgrounds hung up, and hung most of my wall decorations (hopefully my class calendar will stay on the wall since it had to move rooms). According to our pre-planning schedule, I should have a lot of time in my room to get things finished, so I'll try to remember to take some pictures to share with y'all.

Speaking of pre-planning, my first day back at work is this Wednesday. We have five days of pre-planning this year, which is more than we've had the last two years. Students start back next week.

I think that's got us caught up on what's been happening lately. I hope everyone has a great week!

What's New on My TBR

Reading books and discovering books are two very different hobbies. Because I talk so much about books, I am constantly being targeted by ads for books. Not to mention all the emails I receive about new releases and trending titles.

I have been making good progress in crossing titles off my TBR list lately, but I'm half convinced it's a  never-ending collection of titles that I cannot hope to ever be able to read all of. When it comes time to pick something new to read, I can get a little overwhelmed with all the titles staring back at me, and I inevitably end up in the Kindle store...and the list just gets even longer.

In June, I shared a summer reading list (I've read three of those so far), but the last time I did a TBR post was in February (I've read 5 books from that list), so I figure it's about time to update you on the titles that have caught my eye lately.

Perfect Pending (Witches of Gale Haven book 1)

Author: Lucia Ashta

As the only dud in a family of powerful mages,  Marla left home years ago, but now that her teenage children are showing emerging powers, Marla must return home where they can get the help they need. Her family welcomes her back with open arms and even her old boyfriend seems open to picking up where they left off. Everything seems great until the spell that's been protecting the town for years goes on the fritz.

Call the Canaries Home

Author: Laura Barrow

Twenty-eight years after her twin sister, Georgia, went missing, Savannah convinces her two older sisters, Rayanne and Sue Ellen, to return home to Louisiana to retrieve the time capsule they buried. Inside the capsule they find a photo that was taken on the day Georgia disappeared. In the background of the picture is a familiar woman. Rayanne and Sue Ellen just want to move on with their lives, but Savannah is determined to find the woman and maybe a clue to the past.

When We Let Go

Author: Rochelle B. Weinstein

Before Avery can commit to marrying Jude, she knows she has to reconcile the life she left behind in North Carolina, so she decides to go home. Surprisingly, she takes Jude's teen daughter, Elle, with her. Elle is grappling with the loss of her mother and the emotions of her first love. Avery and Elle form an unexpected alliance, giving each other the courage to move forward and Avery all she needs to confront the past.

Not What She Seems

Author: Yasmin Angoe

When she was 22, Jacinda "Jac" Brodie was blamed for the death of her father, the local chief of police. So, she left with no intentions of going back, but when her granddad winds up in the hospital, Jac rushes home. Her hometown is much changed thanks to a wealthy newcomer, Faye Arden, but Jac is convinced that it's all a little too-good-to-be-true and is determined to find the sinister truth.

The Lost Bookshop

Author: Evie Woods

Opaline, Martha, and Henry have been side characters in their own lives, but that all will change when they discover The Lost Bookshop in Dublin. The shop casts its spell, and these three strangers discover their own stories are just as extraordinary as the ones read in their favorite books.

This is supposed to be like a combination of The Echo of Old Books and The Lost Apothecary, two books that I enjoyed earlier this year.

The Aether (Sentinels of Magic book 1)

Author: T.M. Cromer

As the Aether, Damian Dethridge has been responsible for maintaining the balance in the witch community for centuries. Now, his daughter Sabina's extraordinary abilities have drawn the unwanted attention of Morcant Thywell, an Arcane Devourer. Morcant hopes that by devouring Sabina's power, he'll achieve immortality. Unable to defeat the Devourer on his own, Damian enlists a group of Sentinels for help.

I've been very excited for this series. I've already read all of The Thorne Witches books and all of the available The Unlucky Charms books. Damien and Sabina are two of my favorite characters that I'm glad are finally getting their own story.

Teacher Try-On Haul: How I'm Updating My Closet for the 2024-25 School Year

School starts back for me in less than 10 days. Obviously I've spent time drafting rough lesson plans and updating my materials so that they're fresh for a new year -- that's important considering I'll be teaching the same kids I had last year!

Equally as important, though, has been updating my closet. I spent a decent amount of time over the summer going through everything and donating things I no longer wear or throwing out things that aren't in good condition. That left several holes in my wardrobe that needed to be filled, so over the last several weeks, I've been doing just that.

My main goal was to update my bottoms, particularly my pants with more current styles. However, there are quite a few current styles that you will not be seeing in my closet anytime soon: overly baggy and/or wide-legged styles. That means you won't be seeing cargo pants or barrel jeans here. My body shape just does not work for those silhouettes.

I did add a few updated tops to my closet, though not many. I find myself gravitating to more structured pieces these days, especially short-sleeve sweaters. They work nicely all year long where I live because we don't get many really cold winter days.

One thing you will notice with these try-on photos is that I didn't bother putting on shoes. I apologize in advance for that.

Now, here are the 12 things I've bought to update my closet for the 2024-25 school year.

Sizing info: I'm 5'2" and weigh about 140 lbs. I typically wear size 6 or s/m in clothing.

Sweater / Pants

You may recognize this sweater from my Back-to-School Picks for Teachers post last month. This is actually the only exact item I purchased from that list (many of the other things sold out in my size). I absolutely love this crocheted sweater. It's a great thickness that won't require an extra layer when the weather turns cooler but also isn't see-through in any areas. The pattern is so lovely, and I adore the scalloped hem at the waist. It's square-necked, which is always classic. I'm wearing a small.

My pants are the high-waisted crop chinos from Old Navy. I keep seeing these everywhere in the green, but I'm not the biggest fan of that particular shade. I know it's hard to tell in the picture, but these are not super cropped on me. They hit right at the top of my ankle. I'm wearing them in a 6 regular (the inseam in the petite is too short).

Sweater / Pants

This sweater is so gorgeous in person! The embroidered flowers are beautiful, and I love the detail between each line. It's a nice weight, and I really like the sleeve length. It's a good length overall, and the banded bottom will help it to lay flat. I'm wearing the medium (6).

This pairing isn't a great match, but I do really like these high-rise cropped jeans. These are the birchwood color, which I think is a nice alternative to khaki, which I honestly refuse to wear. I ultimately decided against going with anything with a patch pocket, since I feel like they'll go out of style eventually. I'm wearing these in a 6, but I did try them in an 8 as well and didn't feel much of a difference.

Sweater / Pants

This pretty striped sweater makes me think of a grandma sweater if I'm being honest, but I know I will wear this a lot. The weave is pretty open, so I'll most likely layer a camisole underneath it. This fit is a bit looser, and it's a bit longer than the previous sweater, but as you can see in the picture it can be tucked if needed. I'm wearing a medium (6).

These are the same high-rise cropped jeans as the last picture but in the oil green color. I'm also wearing a 6 in these. I like this lighter green color compared to the darker one I showed in my back-to-school teacher picks.

Sweater / Skirt

This is the same embroidered sweater from two outfits ago. I actually like this color pairing a little bit better. I think the green in the skirt is a good match for the green in the embroidery. As you can see, the sweater can be tucked in and still look nice.

This utility skirt is a nice alternative to the cargo style that's so popular right now. It's got the same vibe to it without the bulky pockets adding weight to my hips. This is technically a mini skirt, so if you're on the taller side, it may not be appropriate for school. It's knee-length on me and falls past my fingertips. I'm wearing an 8 for more room in the hips. This skirt comes in two other colors: rust and berry.

Sweater / Skirt

This is the same striped sweater that I paired with the green cropped pants earlier in this post. I probably won't pair it with this skirt in real life because it's just a touch too thick for a comfortable tuck with this particular waist, but it definitely will work with jeans on casual days.

I had a similar style of skirt several years ago that I absolutely loved. When I got pregnant, my hips got wider, and I couldn't wear it anymore. When I saw this style in the store, I couldn't help myself. It's extremely high-waisted, which doesn't bother me in the slightest. I sized up to an 8 so that the buttons would lay flat.

T-shirt / Pants

As an English teacher and book lover, I could not pass up this Belle's Bookshop graphic tee. To be fair, I don't think it's a great match with these floral pants, but the colors were close-enough for the purposes of this post. This t-shirt is a nice soft material, and the design doesn't feel like that plasticky overlay crap that some t-shirts have. I'm wearing a medium so that it fits comfortably over my hips.

The pants are a step up from the linen pants style. They're still an elastic waistband, but it's ruffled so looks a bit fancier. They also have a matching sash tie-belt. The only downside is that they don't have pockets. I'm wearing the medium (6).

Sweater / Pants

This colorful, striped sweater makes me think of a Crayola crayon box. I know you can't really see just how bright it is in this picture, but trust me. You can't be in a bad mood wearing this one! It's ribbed knit and fitted. The material is nice and stretchy. I'm wearing the medium (6).

How amazing are these flower power pants? I have been going back and forth on ordering these for months now.  You can't tell from the picture, but they have a zipper and button. They're high-waisted and have pockets. The material is a little thin, so I'll definitely have to be cognizant of what I wear underneath them. I will admit that the quality isn't really all there. In fact, these are the poorest quality of everything in this post, but the price kind of offsets that. I'll have fun wearing them while they last at least!

9 Outfits for the End of Summer

Welcome to the first outfit roundup post of August! We've been stuck in a typical summer pattern for the last few weeks: near-unbearable temperatures and almost-daily afternoon thunderstorms. I've also had stuff to do during the week to prepare for the quickly encroaching school year, plus all the other regular things we've got going on on a weekly basis. I can't tell you how much I'm not looking forward to not being able to wear shorts once school starts back.

Because we've been busier this last week, I've actually put more thought into my outfits, and you're not going to believe this, but I actually took a picture of every single outfit I wore last week. I did not skip a single day! I've also got three outfits from the week before. Let's dive in!

Sizing info: I'm 5'2" and weigh about 140 lbs. I typically wear size 6 or s/m in clothes and size 7 in shoes.

Dress / Shoes (similar)

All I remember about this day is that Alexis had gymnastics and it was ridiculously hot. This dress has been in my closet for quite a few years, and it remains a favorite. The material is thick enough that it's not see-through without a liner. It also holds its shape really well throughout the day. The straps are adjustable, and it has pockets. It comes in a bunch of other colors and patterns. I'm wearing the medium.

You can't really see them because of the dress length, but I wore simple brown leather slide sandals. Mine are a few years old so no longer available, but I linked to a similar pair.

Dress / Sandals

This dress has quickly become a summer favorite. It's super flattering and very light and airy. The buttons up the bodice are just for decoration as is the tie (it doesn't control the looseness of the neckline). The skirt is tiered. The only downside is the lack of pockets. This is the Flower Green option, and I'm wearing a medium. I like the Blue Flower pattern a lot, too, and there are a bunch more to choose from.

These white sandals are a summer workhouse. I wear them multiple times a week, and so far they're holding up well. I honestly feel like I've gotten my money's worth out of them this summer. They do run a bit small. I sized up half a size.

T-shirt / Shorts / Sneakers

I don't remember what all we did this day. I took this photo while on a walk around our neighborhood. Everything in this outfit is old except for my sneakers.

My shirt is fairly good quality. I'm wearing a medium, and it's a bit looser than I like, but I feel like the small would be too fitted.

These shorts are kind of a grayish-black. You can kind of see the distressing and rolled cuffs in this picture. I'm wearing a medium but think the large would probably fit better. These shorts are super stretchy so the medium isn't uncomfortable, but I think I would like the extra leg room and a little more length.

My sneakers are really comfortable and sturdier alternative to my Converse, which I still wear and love. I got these because I wanted a thicker sole that wasn't a platform. These feel a little more in line with the skater shoes we all wore back in the late 90s and early 2000s. I'm wearing my normal size 7 in these.

Dress (similar) / Sandals

This dress is sadly no longer available. Old Navy does have two different dresses in the same pattern (long sleeve mini / smocked midi), but both are currently on clearance so not available in most sizes. I linked to a pretty orange floral dress on Amazon for you to check out.

I know I say this all the time, but I really love Old Navy's fit and flare cami dresses. They are my absolute favorite style of dress, and I always feel pretty when I wear one. I wore this on Monday. We didn't have any plans that day, but we did end up going to a local restaurant in our downtown area (the chef and owner won Top Chef a few years ago). This dress felt appropriate for the atmosphere without feeling over the top.

Top / Shorts / Belt / Sneakers

On Tuesday, I went to my new classroom for the first time since school ended. We loaded all the stuff up that I brought home and moved it all in and got my room mostly set up for the new year.

Originally, I was just going to wear shorts and a t-shirt because I knew the school was going to be hot, but then Alexis picked out a cute outfit and Chris put on khaki shorts and button-up shirt, so I decided that I needed to level up my shorts without sacrificing my body temperature. Enter this tank top blouse. I got it right at the start of summer but haven't worn it much. It's a tunic length on me, so it looks a bit awkward with shorts. I got around it this day by tucking it in fully and adding a belt. I finished the outfit with my black sneakers for comfort, even though they don't really feel right to me.

T-shirt / Shorts (similar) / Sneakers

On Wednesday, Alexis and I decided to head to Target to scope out what was left of their classroom supplies. I lucked out and they still had enough of the paper trays I wanted, plus I finally found a reasonably-priced electric pencil sharpener and got a good deal on my favorite colored pens. Afterward we got lunch at Panera.

This is actually my least-favorite outfit of the week. I'm not sure it fully works. My Valkyrie in Training t-shirt is kind of hard to style. I ordered it in a large based on the online size chart but really only needed the medium, so it fits really loosely and is really long. That makes it awkward to wear with most shorts and it doesn't tuck nicely. I still like the shirt, though, because it is so dang soft.

I decided to wear it with my green utility shorts. I thought the yellow in the shirt went with the green pretty well, but I'm not really feeling the gray-to-green match. My shorts are no longer available, but I found a similar pair of Levi's that I might actually like better than mine.

Tank / Shorts / Sandals (similar)

Thursday was mostly a stay-at-home day, so I kept things casual. We did venture out to Sonic for lunch, and once Chris got off work we went to Jack's for dinner.

I like these pull-on shorts more than I expected. However, I do wish I had ordered up a size because the denim in the legs has zero stretch. I can wear these, but the next size up would be a bit roomier, which y'all know is how I like my shorts to fit.

This Sunshine Vibes tank has been a favorite this summer, despite me never actually taking a picture while wearing it. It's nice and soft, and the arm holes aren't oversized. I'm wearing the medium and am happy with the fit. However, it did draw up just a tad on the first wash.

Dress (similar) / Sandals

On Friday, we went school supply shopping for Alexis then got ice cream with my in-laws.

My dress is from last year and no longer available, but I linked to a pretty floral option that's similar and that comes in several color options.

T-shirt / Dress (similar) / Sandals

On Saturday, we went out to lunch at a Mexican restaurant. Then we went to the bookstore and walked through every store in one of our shopping centers (Old Navy, Five Below, Cato, etc).

I wanted to wear this cowboy boot t-shirt with a skirt, but the one that was stuck in my head as matching it the best is long and does not breathe at all, and it was too dang hot to deal with that. Then I remembered that I had this dress and decided to layer the t-shirt over it and tie-and-tuck it in the back so that it looked like a t-shirt and skirt combo.

I've had this dress for several years, but this is a style that Old Navy pretty much always has in various patterns, so that's what I linked to for y'all.

What I Read July 2024

My summer is about to be over, y'all. My principal sent out our schedule for pre-planning earlier this week, and the superintendent sent her welcome back email today. I even went to my new classroom for the first time this week. I still have a week and a half before our school year officially starts, but the countdown is definitely on.

This past month has been a big one for reading. I finished 15 books, including two from my Summer Reading List. A majority of the books come from the two series I've been devouring. I'm actually in a bit of a post-book slump after finishing the last one. So let's get to the books!

Cocktails in Hell series (books 1-6)

Author: S.E. Babin

I love this series so much that it made it onto my Best Books of 2024 So Far list. It’s technically incomplete, and I can’t wait until book seven drops in later this month. Violet is a talented Brewer who's hiding her real identity. When a fallen archangel shows up to convince her to become the next Potions Master and Guardian of the New Orleans portal, she initially refuses, but one thing leads to another until she eventually has no choice but to accept the post, and the adventure begins.

The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies

Author: Alison Goodman

This book took me longer to read than expected, but that's not a reflection on the book itself. It's just been awhile since I've read a period book like this. This book was included in my Summer Reading List. Lady Augusta "Gus" Colebrook and her twin sister, Julia, are 42 years old and unmarried, but that hasn't kept them from society. When one of their oldest friends asks for their help in a delicate manner, they agree and soon begin taking on other cases. One of those cases leads to a run-in with a highwayman, the exiled Lord Evan Belford, and the sisters have no choice but to include him in their scheme, which leads Gus to believe that Lord Belford was wrongfully convicted. This book focuses on three cases the ladies take on and solve, all with Lord Belford's assistance, but they do not solve his, which means there will be another book.

Tulips and Lost Time

Author: Emilia Finn

I got an email about this book and clicked download so dang fast, y'all. Emilia Finn is one of my favorite authors, and I love this world she's created. There are six interconnected series in all, and I've loved every single one of them. Through it all there's been one couple just kind of lingering in the background. Luc and Kari have been involved in almost every story but until now haven't gotten their own book. If you've read all the other books, it makes a sort of sense to save them for so much later considering so much of their relationship was spent in secret. I especially liked that my favorite male character, Kane, was such a big part of this book, too. Fair warning: this book made me cry more than once.

The Song of Achilles

Author: Madeline Miller

My book club pick for July was not what I expected, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. It was not told from Achilles' point of view, which was surprising, but rather from Patroclus's view and focused on their relationship and all the obstacles it faced due to Achilles's foretold fate. Of course, a huge portion of the book took place during the years-long siege of Troy in which the Greeks banded together to retrieve Menelaus's wife, Helen, the most beautiful woman in the world, after she was stolen by Prince Paris. There are so many Greek legends that make an appearance in this book: Odysseus, Agamemnon, and Ajax just to name a few. 

A Tempest of Shadows series

Author: Jane Washington

I attempted to read this series a few years ago and for reasons I cannot remember stopped about halfway through the first book. Maybe because the series wasn't complete? It doesn't really matter. The series is now complete, and I enjoyed it immensely. Jane Washington is one of my favorite authors. Her world-building is so amazing as is her character development, and this series is no exception. When Lavenia "Ven" Lihl accidentally activates her fate, earning a mark from the infamous Weaver, her mother resorts to drastic measures to try to stop it. When the man she hires takes things too far, Ven's magic explodes out of her, killing both her mother and the man. At her trial, the Weaver and other four masters (King, Inquisitor, Warmaster, and Scholar) claim her sentence for themselves. As she carries out her punishment, Ven unlocks the pieces of her destiny.