The September 2026 Quarterly Media Report

My apologies for this being late. I've been having some medical and familial issues that delayed this. Q3 of 2026 was quite chaotic! That said, let's get on with it.

Games

July

I played a variety of games in July. I started a game called Little Witch in the Woods which I absolutely liked after I figured out how to play. I did stop playing it though because a while after I started they released an update that both overhauled the beginning and some other stuff, so I figured it'd be best to start again.

I did some more Fire Emblem Three Houses which I'm still not super far along in.

On a whim (and it was on sale, but I repeat myself) I got this game, Dungeon Antiqua which is basically about having a FF I-esque party (maybe closer to III which I haven't played?) and going through a dungeon. It's fun when you just want to veg.

There was of course Pokopia.

I also played a little Animal Crossing New Horizons but not to the "Stage an intervention" level.

For the first time, I beat Cute Bite a VN / Raising-Sim where you play as a vampire trying to get her powers back. I'll definitely play more of it.

And of course there's Fields of Mistria.

August

One night in August I tried out the demo for Magical Princess and determined that I absolutely wanted to play the full version.

More farming via Fields of Mistria.

I tried the demo for Message from Deep Space. I really like the concept, but I'm gonna be honest: about the only not Edu-tainment game that got me to do math for fun was 999 and while I like this concept it is clearly not for me.

Finally, praise the seagulls, I got in some Rokkenjima time! No I have still not beaten episode 8 of Umineko Chiru. I know I made it a goal to beat it this year and I still want to, but there's a lot of behind the scenes stuff interfering with our scheduling.

September

September because I was preparing for a medical thing and a lot of bureaucracy, was mostly a month of soothing things. Fields of Mistria, Pokopia, and Animal Crossing New Horizons.

Things I'd Like to Work on (Game-wise)

Personally if the weather actually cools down (The Super El Niño is causing me to doubt) I want to do more controller based stuff. So maybe get back to Atelier Marie and actually beat it, Start Atelier Ayesha, start the million other controller-based things I have on my PC.

Also! I got Vita emulation seemingly working so I can probably start Ciel noSurge. Though I'm going to do as the translation pdf advises and do the (translated) drama CDs first.

I promised my brother I'd get back to XenoBlade (He wanted to buy me the Switch 2 upgrade months ago) and I'm not saying I won't, I think it's just the behind the scenes stuff distracting him. So that might be a new year thing.

I really gotta play and beat Hades II. It's not that I don't want to, I just sort of feel like it's become a chore in my mind since I have to have an alert brain, that sort of thing. I need to find a way to not make it a chore in my mind first.

Things I'm looking forward to (Game-wise)

I'm sure there's something I'm not thinking of but right now game wise I'm not particularly looking-forward to anything. The Steam Winter Sale maybe? Maybe it's a sign I should focus on what games I already have that are begging to be completed.

Books

July

Because Shadow Hearts: Covenant (Shadow Hearts II) changed my Brain Chemistry I sort of "observe" the Romanov family execution every year. I am not a monarchist, I swear (though Royalty DOES fascinate me). No I actually did not get it from the Don Bluth movie though I should really see that one of these years. Anyway I was doing some reading.

Carolyn Meyer's Anastasia: The Last Grand Duchess, Russia, 1914 was the book I chose. She has another one Anastasia and Her Sisters which I also read but did not finish this quarter.

Ngozi Ukazu's serialization of John Rich & The Big Picture completed. It's been taken down by her since, I assume she wants to show traditional publishers. It's a cute romance novel.

August

I read Behind Five Willows by June Hur which is a Pride and Prejudice retelling but in Joseon Korea. I think it worked quite well capturing the spirit despite the different setting and conflicts.

I checked out this comic omnibus by Katherena Vermette: A Girl Called Echo. I think it probably makes excellent educational reading (and encouraging you to read more) but to be honest, I was rushing through it because I had to return it to the library in a hurry. I will give it a more respectful read at a later date.

I read Mari Costa's graphic novel Forgive-Me-Not. It's quite nice.

I sort of got in a Dystopian mood (I have a theory as to why) and reread The Hunger Games ( but the Deluxe Edition) by Suzanne Collins. Even if you aren't into Dystopia, if you can stomach the violence of the book I do recommend reading it if only for the fact Suzanne Collins is a really good and really efficient writer. You can see worldbuilding shown in multi-purpose sentences really well in this book. I know saying The Hunger Games is a good book is not even a tepid take, which is why I wanted to point it out from a craft perspective.

I reread Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia so I (felt) could read the recently released companion novel Evie and Her Nightmares. Evie is even heavier mental-health wise than Eliza, but it makes sense and it's a great novel I relate to a lot.

September

 So you may have heard, Veronica Roth was releasing an Official Divergent Alternate Universe story (speaking from the future I am currently reading it) called The Sixth Faction. I had actually never read the original Divergent series, and felt that I should read the original series first, as a comparison point, especially since I already knew a key point that happens in the 3rd book which in many peoples' opinions killed the fandom which is why you barely heard a thing about it after it came out. Anyway, even if you reading entirely based on vibes, I get why this original series was popular for a brief span of time.

I finally, finally finished Jill Tew's An Ocean Apart. It was an excellent read.

I reread the second book in The Hunger Games Series, Catching Fire.

Things I'd Like to Work on (Reading-Wise)

Among other things, stop leaving books half-finished for months. I sadly don't see this part of myself changing, but I think it is something I should work on.

Things I'm looking forward to (Reading-Wise)

Okay so a special edition of The Giver by Lois Lowry came out. I had to have it. I needed it. I loved this book as a child (though of the quartet I think Gathering Blue was and still is my favorite).  I am slowly making my way through this. I really want to rush but I know I should slow down and savor.

Miscellaneous

 July

So I listened to more of The Disappearances of Lydia Fountayne (S1:E02 - S1:E07). I loved it.

As usual, since it's Re: Dracula season, I listened to that.

I'm working on a Shelterwood Relisten (S1:E03 - 04)

More of The Twelvelms Conspiracy (S1: E12) came out, but for some reason my brain was having trouble with it, so I decided I'd relisten to the whole thing (of the first season) at once later in the year.

Finally I got to co-watch the finale of The Amazing Digital Circus with a friend. I get why the ending is considered polarizing at least from what I've noticed online.

My brother and I finished Season 2 of Castlevania.

We also finished Season 01 of The Apothecary Diaries.

Because I am predictable, I rewatched Labyrinth.

August

In August, there was a Monsterdon event featuring the movie Hawk The Slayer. It was a thoroughly enjoyable movie in my opinion, and I'm a little sad there wasn't a sequel since the movie clearly wanted one.

There was this episode of Cast of Wonders: Laser Eyes Ain't Everything (Author: Effie Seiberg & Narrator: Jairus Durnett) that I feel I have to recommend to everyone.

Another good one was episode 689 - All these Inscriptions are for me (Author: Carol Scheina & Narrator: Sandy Parsons ).

And Re: Dracula season continues.

I heard The Disappearances of Lydia Fountayne S1:E08 - S1:E11 Side A & Side B Season Finale and I desperately need more.

I finished another game of Tarot Telling For Two with a different person. Very fun game.

I am slowly rewatching Riverdale (S1:E06). I love this garbagé show.

I also watched some more Pokemon Horizons since it's soothing.

September

I listened to a bit of Welcome to Nightvale (Episodes 22 - 24).

More Re: Dracula.

Did more of my Relisten to Shelterwood (S1:E05-06)

If you want some grief or need a cry, listen to Cast of Wonders 693: Twenty-Four Hours ( Author: H. H. Pak & Narrator: Rebecca Ahn ).

My Oathsworn friend and I watched Frieren ep 1 at the same time. I don't recall if they've seen it, or if it was more that *I* hadn't seen it.

More Pokemon Horizons since it's soothing.

I finally watched the movie Gremlins.

 Things I'd Like to Work on (Miscellaneous)

As usual I'd like to make sure I watch more movies than I currently do. Maybe I can find a way schedule-wise to make it work.

Things I'm looking forward to (Miscellaneous)

I am waiting as patiently as I can for Re: Frankenstein. Also I'm hoping (it is really close as I type this) that the Kickstarter for Shelterwood: Season 02 reaches its goal. I need more, badly. If it failed what am I supposed to do? Write fanfiction about what happened after Season 1? In case you haven't heard Ao3 is SUPER down right now. It is No Fanfiction November! You could say Ao3 being back up is something I'm looking forward to.