{"id":402,"date":"2023-01-20T19:59:08","date_gmt":"2023-01-20T19:59:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thefoxae.com\/?p=402"},"modified":"2023-01-20T20:20:18","modified_gmt":"2023-01-20T20:20:18","slug":"my-reading-2022-in-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/thefoxae.com\/index.php\/2023\/01\/20\/my-reading-2022-in-review\/","title":{"rendered":"My Reading: 2022 in Review"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

According to Goodreads (and my own records), I read 44 books in 2022. In my defense, I was working a full time job, teaching a class, and taking two classes in Urban Planning. My Goodreads stats:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Average rating I gave:<\/strong> 3.22*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most shelved book I read:<\/strong> Leigh Bardugo’s Shadow and Bone (which wasn’t a surprise)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Least shelved book I read: <\/strong>Justine Manzano’s The Skeleton Key (which is too bad, since it was fun)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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*A 3.22 out of 5 might seem a bit low as an average rating, but here’s my rating structure:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • 1 – Terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad. Probably was physically and emotionally unable finish it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • 2 – Able to finish, but with some major problems. Maybe the writing was good, but the story was terrible. Maybe the story was good, but the writing was terrible.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • 3 – A good book.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • 4 – A REALLY good book! I’ll probably enthuse about this book to others.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • 5 – Holy shit, this book is amazing. It’s a top tier read. I’m going to keep my copy of it probably forever. I’m very stingy with my 5 star ratings.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Without further ado, here is a list of the books I read in 2022 in order of rating:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Black Cake – Charmaine Wilkerson<\/strong> \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Poignant but also very charming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Goodreads Choice 2022 Nominee for Best Historical Fiction AND Best Debut Novel<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    The Four Winds – Kristin Hannah \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I didn’t read this book. I experienced it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Book of the Month’s 2021 Book of the Year<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Goodreads Choice 2021 Nominee for Best Historical Fiction<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    The Cartographers – Peng Shepherd<\/strong> \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2606<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    A thriller with a mystery, fantasy elements, and plenty of quirk (but not in an annoying way).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    USA Today Bestseller, national Independent Bookstores bestseller, and a Pick of the Month from Amazon, Apple, Goodreads, and many more.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    The Verifiers – Jane Pek<\/strong> \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2606<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    A debut novel featuring online dating + detective story!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Mystery, thriller, LGBTQ+<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    The Great Alone – Kristin Hannah<\/strong> \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2606<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I picked this book up after reading The Four Winds, and this novel about PTSD’s effects on a family in the 1970s was really good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Goodreads Choice 2018 Winner for Best Historical Fiction<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Other Birds – Sarah Addison Allen<\/strong> \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2606<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This was delightful and charming, and the characters were lovely. A mix of paranormal, magical realism, and romance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Goodreads Choice 2022 Nominee for Best Fiction<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Children of Virtue and Vengeance – Tomi Adeyemi<\/strong> \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2606<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The second book in the Legacy of Or\u00efsha. Seldom do you see books set in a fantasy Africa. Excellent series.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Goodreads Choice 2020 Nominee for Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    House of Sky and Breath – Sarah J. Maas<\/strong> \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2606<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Book 2 of the Crescent City series. Very fun (and steamy). More of a New Adult series than Maas’ usual Young Adult style.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    New York Times bestseller, Goodreads Choice 2022 Winner for Best Fantasy<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    The Paris Apartment – Lucy Foley<\/strong> \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2606<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I love Lucy Foley’s mysteries – she turns the setting into its own character every time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Goodreads Choice 2022 Nominee for Best Mystery & Thriller<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    The Martian – Andy Weir \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2606<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I knew people loved this book, but I didn’t realize how funny it would be! Now I need to watch the movie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Goodreads Choice 2014 Winner for Best Science Fiction AND Nominee for Best Debut Goodreads Author<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Things We Lost to the Water – Eric Nguyen \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2606\u2606<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    A debut novel featuring a Vietnamese family learning to adjust in America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Literary historical fiction, LGBTQ+<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    A History of Wild Places – Shea Ernshaw<\/strong> \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2606\u2606<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Mysterious disappearances and reclusive mountain communities? Sure!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Mystery, thriller, magical realism, and a touch of horror<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Once There Were Wolves – Charlotte McConaghy \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2606\u2606<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Scottish highlands, wolves, and murder. Obviously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Goodreads Choice 2021 Nominee for Best Fiction<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Under Different Stars – Amy A. Bartol \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2606\u2606<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The first book in a series that was decent, but I wasn’t captured enough to continue in the series. It won four UtopYA Awards in 2014, though!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    YA fantasy, paranormal, science fiction<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    There There – Tommy Orange \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2606\u2606<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    An interesting look at indigenous identity, especially for the urban Indian, all centered around a powwow in Oakland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Goodreads Choice 2018 Nominee for Best Debut Author AND Nominee for Best Fiction<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    The Shadow and Bone Trilogy – Leigh Bardugo \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2606\u2606<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The entire trilogy is very fun, and the Netflix show season 1 is great (season 2 isn’t out as of this posting). Fantasy Eastern Europe!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Fantasy, thriller, mystery, and a beautifully designed setting.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    The Ex Hex – Erin Sterling \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2606\u2606<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This was pretty cute as romances go, and I enjoyed Vivienne’s character and the university as a setting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Goodreads Choice 2021 Nominee for Best Romance<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    The Last Thing He Told Me – Laura Dave \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2606\u2606<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The story was exceedingly average. Bailey was a turd, but I liked Hannah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Goodreads Choice 2021 Winner for Best Mystery & Thriller<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    The Keeper of Night – Kylie Lee Baker<\/strong> \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2606\u2606<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The social intricacies of soul collecting! This book is part of a series, but I loved the ending so much that I don’t want to take the chance of ruining it with more stories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    YA fantasy, paranormal, historical elements<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    The Nightmare-Verse #1 and #2 – L. L. McKinney<\/strong> \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2606\u2606<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    A modern take on Wonderland and its strange characters. Looking forward to book 3 coming out in 2023!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    YA fantasy, romance, and great dose of Black girl magic<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Reckless Girls – Rachel Hawkins<\/strong> \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2606\u2606<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Remote islands and secretive characters? This won’t be trouble at all!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Mystery, suspense, psychological thriller<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Sharp Teeth – Tony Barlow<\/strong> \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2606\u2606<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Set up like a poem, but I’m not sure why. Werewolves a-plenty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Fantasy, graphic horror<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Keys and Guardians Series #1 and #2 – Justine Manzano<\/strong> \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2606\u2606<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    These were fun reads that got much darker than expected – in a good way! I liked the character progressions, and I’m looking forward to book 3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    YA fantasy<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    A River Enchanted – Rebecca Ross<\/strong> \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2606\u2606<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The setting of Cadence is lovely, and there are some fun twists to this story. I love the magic system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Goodreads Choice 2022 Nominee for Best Fantasy<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    The Alchemist – Paulo Coelho (Alan R. Clarke translation) \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2606\u2606<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    A charming read – I can see why it’s beloved. The story makes some interesting points about life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Magical realism, fantasy, spirituality, philosophy<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Safe – Dawn Husted<\/strong> \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2606\u2606<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Full disclosure: this was written by a friend of a colleague. I enjoyed the concepts, but I think her beta readers did her dirty. With some polish, this would have easily been a 4 star book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    YA science fiction, dystopia<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    True Colors – Melissa Pearl<\/strong> \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2606\u2606<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This was a freebie on Amazon for Kindle, so I didn’t have high expectations. I enjoyed it way more than I expected, but not quite enough to continue the series.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    YA fantasy, mystery, romance<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    The Golden Couple – Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen<\/strong> \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2606\u2606<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    A couple that seems perfect, and a really weird therapist. I probably would have liked this more if I hadn’t read Gone Girl first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Goodreads Choice 2022 Nominee for Best Mystery & Thriller<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    The Hacienda – Isabel Ca\u00f1as<\/strong> \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2606\u2606<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    A lovely gothic horror story set in Mexico after the War of Independence. Very spooky!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Goodreads Choice 2022 Nominee for Best Debut Novel AND Nominee for Best Horror<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Breathless – Amy McCulloch<\/strong> \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2606\u2606<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This was a fun book but seemed a bit tooooo suspiciously neat in terms of connections. The mountain-climbing experience seems spot-on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Thriller, mystery, suspense, adventure<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    You’re Invited – Amanda Jayatissa<\/strong> \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2606\u2606<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Y’all need to stop trying to be civil to your horrible exes. Why would you go to their weddings?!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Thriller, mystery, suspense.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    The Perishing – Natashia De\u00f3n<\/strong> \u2605\u2605\u2606<\/strong>\u2606\u2606<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I wanted to like this so much because the premise is intriguing, but ultimately I found the storytelling unsatisfying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Historical fiction, science fiction, fantasy<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Where the Crawdads Sing – Delia Owens \u2605\u2605\u2606<\/strong>\u2606\u2606<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Yes, I know everyone seems to love it, but I just… it was a snooze fest, okay? Maybe the movie is better, but I don’t plan to see it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Goodreads Choice 2018 Nominee for Best Historical Fiction<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Frenzied – Brandon Massey<\/strong> \u2605\u2605\u2606\u2606\u2606<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    People in a nice town go all nuts and murder people, and the whole place gets quarantined. I barely remember it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Horror, thriller, mystery probably.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Run Rose Run – Dolly Parton and James Patterson \u2605\u2605\u2606\u2606\u2606<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I love Dolly Parton. I did not like this book. There’s an associated album, but I haven’t listened to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Mystery, thriller, romance<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Darling Girl: A Novel of Peter Pan – Liz Michalski \u2605\u2605\u2606\u2606\u2606<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Conceptually this was very interesting, but I was disappointed. The author could have done so much more with this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Fantasy, magical realism, romance, a touch of horror<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    FERTS – Grace Hudson<\/strong> \u2605\u2605\u2606\u2606\u2606<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Tries very hard to be The Handmaid’s Tale. Fails. Frontloaded with entirely too much exposition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Dystopian, science fiction.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Devil’s Divide – Jeffrey M. Anderson<\/strong> \u2605\u2605\u2606\u2606\u2606<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I don’t remember this book at all. The description on Goodreads says it’s witty, scary, and thought-provoking… but I guess I didn’t think so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Postapocalyptic??? Satire?? Probably???<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    City of Stairs – Robert Jackson Bennett<\/strong> \u2605\u2606\u2606\u2606\u2606<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I wanted to like this so much, and it has great reviews. But I despised the two main characters so much that I couldn’t finish because I gave absolutely no shits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Goodreads Choice 2014 Nominee for Best Fantasy (somehow)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Daisy Darker – Alice Feeney<\/strong> \u2605\u2606\u2606\u2606\u2606<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I don’t know why I did this to myself because I hated her last book so much, but I thought that, surely if everyone likes her writing so much, the last one was just a fluke? Nope.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    According to Goodreads (and my own records), I read 44 books in 2022. In my defense, I was working a full time job, teaching a class, and taking two classes in Urban Planning. My Goodreads stats: Average rating I gave: 3.22* Most shelved book I read: Leigh Bardugo’s Shadow and Bone (which wasn’t a surprise)…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-402","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/thefoxae.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/402","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/thefoxae.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/thefoxae.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thefoxae.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thefoxae.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=402"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"http:\/\/thefoxae.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/402\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":462,"href":"http:\/\/thefoxae.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/402\/revisions\/462"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/thefoxae.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=402"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thefoxae.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=402"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thefoxae.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=402"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}