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As usual, we come to my ranking for the past year, which has personally been a difficult year starting with back pain, then jaw pain, then fibromyalgia news, and ending with more pain despite alleviating earlier in summer…sigh… I’m hoping for less pain this year! For 2024 I read 33 books! Wow! 3 up from last year, and this also means this year is currently the highest number of books read and reviewed in a single year. I’ve also finally made a spreadsheet to keep track of all the books I’ve read and reviewed, because it was getting hard to remember which I’ve read, and since this all began in the summer of 2013, I’ve read and reviewed 304 books! Double wow! This number does not include books I’ve read and not reviewed (for example, Agatha Christie’s Poirot series because they are not fantasy and I think it’s a little tricky to review without spoiling!). Do I have a problem? My husband says yes but who cares (not him anyway)! As usual, all books were tallied in terms of overall score

The 4 teams progress to the paranormal hotspot where their second encounter with the villainous duo of Shanbahac and Thelma Tisgue occurs. The crew ventures the outskirts of the garden to discover Thelma Tisgue peering from the trees. Her ruby red eyes glare at the team's entrance. She vanishes from existence via her corpse flower, for the young ghostbusters have the feeling it becomes complex to Cyclops, whose past connects with her. In fact, this is where the activity begins to escalate. Cyclops, on the other hand, feel a psychic connection of his children in danger. More importantly, he knows there is a sincere reason why the tome's malefic caused her to feel different. As the teams converged on the paranormal hotspot, they sensed a dark energy building in intensity. Thelma Tisgue's sudden appearance and disappearance via her corpse flower only added to the growing unease. Despite the sense of Thelma's soul defiled by darkness, he must save his children before finding a way to purge her from the corruption of the tome. Cyclops, meanwhile, felt an unsettling psychic connection - a sense of his children, Cable, Prestige, and Macey, in grave danger. His paternal instincts kicked in, and he knew he had to act swiftly to save them. "Professor X, I'm sensing a distressing psychic connection to my children," Cyclops warned, his voice firm with concern. "We need to move quickly." Professor X nodded gravely. "Agreed, Scott. Let's proceed with caution. We don't know what kind of powers Thelma and Shanbahac have unleashed this time." As they ventured deeper into the garden, the air grew thick with an eerie, unnatural silence. The teams exchanged tense glances, their senses on high alert, ready to face any supernatural forces involved in the onslaught. Suddenly, a chilling scream pierced the air, followed by the sound of rustling leaves and snapping twigs. The teams froze as their hearts were pounding in unison. On the other hand, it didn't scare either Cyclops nor Dr. Spengler, for a moment, realizing what they are about to face would be a grim reminder from the two villains. "What was that?" Storm whispered, her eyes scanning the surroundings. Dr. Spengler's voice was grim. "I think we're about to find out." As the three Summers siblings struggle to break loose from the tendrils, Scylla Ebonythorn and Brandon Erredall, both cultists recruited by Shabahac, open the door to the other side. As the door creaked open, a dark, pulsating light spilled out, illuminating the twisted faces of Scylla and Brandon. They beckoned to the siblings, their eyes gleaming with an otherworldly intensity. "Come, Cable, Prestige, Macey," Scylla crooned, her voice dripping with malevolence. "Your destiny awaits beyond the threshold." Brandon's grin twisted his face. "Thelma and Shanbahac have prepared a special welcome for you. You'll soon join the ranks of the mind-controlled, forever bound to their will." The siblings strained against their restraints, but they seemed to grow stronger, as if infused with dark energy. Cable's eyes blazed with fury, Prestige's telepathic powers surged in defiance, and Macey's Ghost Phoenix energy flared, eager to break free from the vines wrapped around them. With a collective snarl, the siblings unleashed their mutant powers, determined to shatter their bonds and confront the cultists. The air erupted with psychic blasts, telekinetic forces, and spectral flames as they fought for their freedom. Suddenly, a blast of proton beams hits the door to close it. Scylla glowers at the sight of where the proton stream was blasted, for the young ghostbusters have arrived to battle the two cultists. "The young Ghostbusters!" Brandon Erredall exclaimed. "Guys!" Macey smiled in relief. "If you want the Summers siblings, you have to go through us!" Egon informed. "Humans?!" Scylla exclaimed. The young Ghostbusters, led by Egon Spengler III, charged into the room, proton packs blazing. "We're not going to let you harm our friends!" Egon declared, his voice firm and determined. Scylla snarled, summoning a dark energy shield to deflect the proton beams. Brandon sneered, conjuring a wave of twisted, thorny vines to ensnare the Ghostbusters. "What do we do?" Brandon asked Scylla. "Kill them, of course." Scylla answered. Macey's eyes lit up with gratitude. "Thanks for the rescue, guys! We've got to stop Thelma and Shanbahac's plans!" Cable, Prestige, and Macey joined forces with the young Ghostbusters, unleashing a combined assault of psychic powers, telekinetic forces, and proton beams against the two cultists, draining their energy. The battle raged on, with the fate of the paranormal hotspot hanging in the balance. The outcome was far from certain, as the forces of darkness clashed with the determined heroes. The young ghostbusters and the Summers' kids defeat the two cultists together. "Hey, Scylla! I bet you're not ahead of having your weeds trimmed." Peter taunted. Scylla's face twisted in rage as Peter's proton stream struck her thorny shield, weakening its hold. "You dare mock me, young Ghostbuster?" she snarled, summoning a vicious, snapping tendril to strike Peter. But before it could hit, Macey unleashed a blast of Ghost Phoenix energy, incinerating the tendril and sending Scylla stumbling back. Brandon summons a blood mushroom to attack the team, but Macey conducts a cosmic blue flame and engulfs the entity, causing it to collapse to its knees. Scylla casts her creeping vines spell to entangle the two siblings, but Macey lashes a cosmic flare at Scylla to repel the vines. She delivers a flurry of punches at the dark garden-themed witch. "Go, Macey!" Deborah cheered. Cable and Prestige followed up with a telekinetic blast, sending Brandon flying across the area and plunging him to a shrub. The young Ghostbusters pressed their advantage, pinning the cultists down with precise proton shots. Ray, ever the enthusiast, exclaimed, "Whoa, teamwork makes the dream work! We make an awesome squad!" "We sure have, Ray. Friends do help each other, especially in the darkest of times." Deborah agreed. Egon nodded, his eyes shining with approval. "Indeed, we do. Now, let's finish this and stop Thelma and Shanbahac's plans once and for all!" With a final, combined blast of energy and proton beams, the cultists were defeated, their dark magic dissipating. The paranormal hotspot began to stabilize, and the heroes shared a triumphant grin. Egon Sppengler III hears his Samsung Galaxy smartphone vibrating from his left breast pocket of his proton pack strap and answers the call from Cyclops this time, ensuring if his three kids are safe from harm. "Cyclops, we found Macey and the others." Egon called. "Good. Although I was about to find them myself, I can tell you five were closer to them." Cyclops responded with a sigh of relief. Egon smiled, relieved that Cyclops' concern had been alleviated. "We've got them now, Cyclops. They're safe. We're all together, and we're ready to take on Thelma and Shanbahac." Cyclops' voice was filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Egon. I owe you one. Keep them safe, and let's put an end to this." Egon nodded, even though Cyclops couldn't see him. "Will do, Cyclops. We're heading to the heart of the paranormal hotspot now. Wish us luck." Cyclops' response was firm. "You don't need luck. You've got the skills, the tech, and the teamwork. Go get them." With that, Egon ended the call, his focus turning to the task ahead. He turned to the others, his expression determined. "Alright, team. Let's gear up and finish this. We have a ritual to stop." "How is dad doing?" Rachel asked Egon. Egon's expression softened, and he smiled reassuringly at Rachel. "Cyclops is doing well, Rachel. He was worried about you, Cable, and Macey, but I just spoke with him, and he's relieved that we've found you all safe and sound." Rachel's eyes lit up with warmth, and she nodded, looking grateful. "Thanks, Egon. I'm glad he's okay." Cable, ever the protective brother, asked, "Did he say what he's planning to do?" Egon nodded. "He's getting ready to join us, but he's confident that we can handle Thelma and Shanbahac on our own. He's trusting us to get the job done." "Every household in America? Thousands of you eating... that's what you had in mind all along, isn't it?" Peter questioned. "No shit, Sherlock." Winston responded. "We're not talking about one hungry plant here. We're talking about world conquest." Ray quoted. "That's what Seymour spoke to Audrey II regarding humanity's sake." Peter replied. Macey smiled, a fierce glint in her eye. "Let's not disappoint him, then. Shall we go stop a ritual?" "Yes, we must. Follow us." Winston smiled. If the route is correct, we are almost halfway to the headquarters, according to the virtual map of Central Park displayed on my iPad. I feel this course of adventure is going to be big that even Slimer exploits it from the sequel. Ray pondered. "Sounds good to us." Deborah smiled. "Alright, guys, it's time to end Thelma and Shanbahac's ritual and save the park." Egon informed his fellow young ghostbusters. "I hate to break it to you, Egon, but we almost got our butts kicked by Thelma the last time, and I'm worried she's about to do it again." Peter responded. "Why? Were you stuck all of a sudden?" he queried. "No, I'm petrified by how botany shows its deepest and darkest looks in front of a person during dusk." Peter complained. "Don't worry, Venkman. With Deborah's compact anti-ghost luminous salt powder and Winston's ghost trimmer, Thelma and Shanbahac's combined dark magic won't stand a chance." Egon smiled, alleviating his skepticism. "You haven't packed your pesticide, did you?" Rachel asked. "Rachel, it only works on pests including insects, and pesticides also engender adverse health effects." Peter answered. "Imperative safety precaution and wise decision on not packing it. Thanks, Pete." Egon replied. Deborah chuckled, shaking her head. "Only you, Peter, would think of bringing pesticide to a paranormal battle." "And I thought those carnivorous plants will have me on their menu." Peter laughed nervously. Winston grinned, patting Peter on the back. "Don't worry, buddy, we've got this. We've got the right gear and the right team. We're gonna take down Thelma and Shanbahac without breaking a sweat." Egon nodded, his confidence restored. "Alright, let's move out! We've got a ritual to stop and a park to save!" The young Ghostbusters nodded, shouldering their proton packs and following Egon into the heart of the paranormal hotspot. As they strided to the location, the air grew thick with an eerie, unnatural silence, and the shadows seemed to twist and writhed around them. Shanbahac anathematized the living by summoning another vile horde of controlling plants and enslaved dozens of more victims. But they pressed on, undaunted, ready to face the possibility of the dangers lurking within the vegetation. Ray tosses his PKE boomerang in the air to commence his analysis of the situation happening in the area. The first horde of hidden spirits was revealed to be vine trappers, class 4 full-torso apparitions. The first active sample contains a book of ghostly plant life coated with green energy. The first paranormal anomaly reveals ectoplasm drenching the coniferous trees. The second paranormal anomaly reveals another tree that acts as a portal to the netherverse. The second round of hidden ghosts appear to be class 5 full-roaming mists with a malodorous stench sprawling the entire vegetation. The second active sample consists of a pouch of seedlings with the greenhouse logo emblazoned on it. The third active sample consists of a photograph of the Blue Area of the Moon. The fourth active sample is revealed to be colorful flowers from the moving island of Krakoa, most of which produce highly enriched volumes of pollen. The third paranormal anomaly consists of a distinct entrance to the treehouse, whereas it contains a password. The third horde of spirits consists of ghastly gardeners, while the final horde consists of victims already turned into slaves. After going through a complete analysis of the corrupted gardens of Central Park, Ray retrieves his PKE boomerang, expecting a kind of encounter that leads them to the two villains. "Alright, team, we've got a comprehensive reading on the paranormal activity in the area," Ray announced, catching his PKE boomerang. "We're dealing with multiple classes of spirits, including vine trappers, full-roaming mists, and ghastly gardeners. The active samples suggest a connection to the greenhouse, the Moon, and Krakoa." Egon's eyes widened. "Krakoa? That's a powerful mutant island. This just got a lot bigger." Deborah nodded. "And the password-protected treehouse entrance suggests Thelma and Shanbahac are hiding something. Or someone." "Someone who happens to be implementing pain to everyone?" Peter guessed. Winston grimaced. "And the slaves... we need to be prepared for a fight." Egon shouldered his proton pack. "Time to gear up, team. We've got a ritual to stop and some serious butt-kicking to do." As they steeled themselves for the battle ahead, the air seemed to grow even thicker with anticipation. The trees loomed above, their branches tangling together like skeletal fingers. The young Ghostbusters knew they were in for the fight of their lives. ---- Meanwhile, at the eastern portion of the twisted vegetation, Rogue, who sought Ray's PKE boomerang taking a complete scan of the area earlier, notices that she and the others discover the route. "Have you all witnessed what I witnessed?" Rogue asked them. "I think I saw what you did, Rogue," Gambit replied, his eyes narrowing. "A path, hidden behind the twisted vines. It looks like it leads straight to the heart of the paranormal hotspot." Wolverine's eyes gleamed with a fierce light. "I saw it too. And I can smell it. Whatever is causing this corruption, it's down that path." Storm's gaze was intense. "Then we have no choice. We must follow it and put an end to this darkness." Rogue nodded, her Southern drawl firm. "I'm with you all. Let's move out, team. We've got a ritual to stop and some villains to take down." Together, the X-Men moved stealthily down the hidden path, their senses on high alert, ready to face whatever lay ahead. The air grew thicker with anticipation, and the twisted vegetation seemed to writhe and twist around them, as if alive. The peeper flowers flourish to stalk the team, realizing their intentions. "Storm, how did you find us?" Rogue asked. Professor X, Dr. Spengler, Jason Briggs, Cyclops, and Slimer appear also in a nick of time. "Perhaps Slimer's instincts answer your question, Rogue." Dr. Spengler smiled. Slimer, the lovable, green ghost, chirped and nodded enthusiastically, his eyes shining with excitement. He had indeed played a crucial role in tracking down the X-Men and the Young Ghostbusters. Professor X smiled, his eyes warm with gratitude. "Slimer's unique abilities allowed him to sense the paranormal activity and lead us to your location." Cyclops nodded, his expression serious. "We've been tracking Thelma and Shanbahac's movements, trying to anticipate their next step." Jason Briggs, the seasoned Ghostbuster, added, "We've got a solid plan to take them down, but we need to work together." Dr. Spengler nodded, his eyes twinkling underneatg his round spectacles. "With our combined expertise and Slimer's... Slimer-ness, I think we've got a winning team." The unlikely allies shared a determined nod, ready to face the villains and put an end to the paranormal chaos in Central Park. Valeria Domingo nods in agreement, "Of course, Slimer helped me, Ray, and the ladies stop Thelma from seductively turning the boys to her slaves." "Yeah, I fight plant lady ghost. Help Ray and Debby, too." Slimer smiled. "I'm relieved that Thelma almost had us ensnared if it wasn't for Slimer and the others." Dr. Spengler replied. "I would have clawed my way out before Thelma Tisgue trapped me in her vines." Wolverine grunted. "And Thelma Tisgue did caught me in her grasp and took my visor, nearly making me her slave in front of Jean. For the most part, there is a sincere part in Thelma that needs help to break the spell. She can't resist its power. Shanbahac must have compelled her to implement mass hysteria. If we can free her from the spell, we must indicate one of her weaknesses." Cyclops responded to the others.  "Yes, it's hard to watch for Egon that I have to stand up to her. Now, i can tell her soul appears to be troubled." Jean agreed with his response. "Wait, you're telling us that Thelma is under the spell of the tome?" Dr. Spengler queried.  "It's a connection from the past that I had." Cyclops answered. "I understand what you mean, Scott. To break the spell, you must snap her out of it." Jean informed. "Of course, there's an unexpected twist to a fairy tale like this." Peter scoffed, but Egon smacks him upside the head, "What did I do?" "She was cursed by the tome's dark magic." Egon responded, his eyes narrowing at Peter, "Of course, Thelma was the victim of the tome's ominous power." "According to these ancient texts, one must value the tome's source of ancient power to beget Shanbahac's power in regards to unleashing the symbols connecting to the Shadow King's manuscript. There is word that someone used her to possess its power." Ray affirmed. "This starts to explain it." Deborah nodded. "Thelma was the victim of the tome's power, and it has consumed her mind from the inside out." Winston nodded. "Now we have figured out the first portion of it. This is where our plan comes to focus. As we decipher Thelma's state of depravity, which is caused by the tome's power, we should convince her to relinquish her bidding." Ray assumed. "So, you're saying that Shanbahac is plucking her strings?" Egon asked. "Seems to be a possible theory; however, there are rumors that another entity may be involved in this battle." Ray informed. "We should be curious about what comes to our view." Winston assumed. "Absolutely." Deborah agreed. "Just to break a certain spell on an enemy who happens to be a victim of another enemy." Peter pointed out. "Yeah, it's what Cyclops was trying to do personally. To break the spell within the tome's hypnotic magic that debauch Thelma Tisgue." Egon assumed. "What? A kiss on the lips? I'm telling you, her lips are rather the cause of death, and I ain't buying." Peter guessed. "No, reverse psychology." Egon responded. "Reverse psychology?" he queried. The group shared a moment of understanding, recalling their individual encounters with Thelma's mind control. Egon nodded, broadcasting from the other side of the dark gardens, his facial expression determined. "We can't let them get away with this. We need to stop the duo once and for all. Thelma Tisgue with reverse psychology and Shanbahac by draining his energy with our capture stream and trapping him. Once both tasks are completed, the park will be restored to the way it was before." Ray added through comms, "And we have the perfect team to do it. Ghostbusters and X-Men, united against paranormal threats!" Deborah smiled, her eyes shining with excitement as she approached Ray on screen, "Let's do our part to protect the world, one ghostbuster or mutant at a time. We've got the skills, the tech, and the teamwork to take them down." Wolverine cracked his knuckles, ready for action. "Time to get our hands dirty. Let's go kick some serious ghost butt!" Cyclops nodded, his visor gleaming with intensity. "Let's move out, team. We've got a ritual to stop and two villains to take down." "Shall we go?" Dr. Spengler asked the others with a determined grin on his face. Thelma, once our paths crossed, I'll make sure to expel the darkness that corrupted you and become the first girl I met at the orphanage again. Cyclops mused. With a united determination, the unlikely allies charged forward, ready to face whatever lay ahead in their battle against Thelma Tisgue and Shanbahac. Much to the surprise of the team, this activity is becoming more aggressive than it was before. With their strategy in place, both teams will risk saving the park from becoming a vast jungle.