#// She fumbled so many potential romances

[dragonballnewstar]

Mun versus Muse

Stolen from @dragvnsovl

// I am consistently a hot mess and out of all my ocs I had to make Io because she got me into the Tumblr rp scene years ago!

Something something you never forget your first

[iloveb1ur]

Colin didnt deserve Penelope

i didnt believe that colin deserved penelope or even properly liked her for who she is as a person but instead liked the valedation he got from her.

i know this is contreversial but hear me out ,

colin's whole character arc is based around the fact that he for one isnt taken seriously by his family and second that he doesnt know who he is. he's the third son in a rich family and doesnt really stand out in any way.

so penelope who always since their first meeting has looked at colin like he hung the moon and always cared for him greatly is always going to appeal to him because she makes him feel important and valued.

i also was not convinced that colin wasnt just sexually attracted to Pen, like the proposal in the carriage scene when he fingered her was not romantic at all.

listen, its probably different in the book but i felt that the showrunner and screenwriters didnt believe in polin's romance enough so filled the story with 94 other sideplots. this is a shame because there is so much potential with polin and they just fumbled the bag MASSIVELY.

childhood best friends to lovers is literally my favourite trope for so many reasons - i just fw the slowburn for like 16yrs lol. but WE DIDNT SEE THE RELATIONSHIP ENOUGH it was so rushed. WE DIDNT EVEN SEE THE FIRST TIME PEN AND COLIN MEET WHAT A FLOP, they had a scene where they talked about it WHAT HAPPENED TO SHOW NOT TELL GUYS.

and i get we need the whistledown reveal but i genuinely believe that people dont watch bridgerton for drama and suspense but for good romance, period drama vibes and hot men and women.

i just didnt believe in the romance guys im sorry and this obviously has nothing to do with luke and nicola i love them both dearly but both me and my friend rose were left feeling indifferent by season 3's main couple.

but i promise there was a lot i did love about bridgerton s3 like francesca and john, eloise and cressida and the bridgerton family together as a whole!

anyways, if you like me are a massive bridgerton fan you are definitely going to love the podcast episode me and my friend rose recorded talking all things bridgerton s3! we deepdive and expand on what ive talked about here in regards to pen and colin's romance, why we love francesca and john and talk on ALL the side plots. its basically an hour of us unpacking all things bridgerton s3 and theres certainly a lot to like!

the link is at the top of this post and the episode is also available on spotify, apple podcasts and amazon podcasts on the confession club podcast where we talk a lot about our fave romance media!!

i hope you enjoy and thanks for reading :)

[felondese]

here are my guesses for how they're doing this:

morrigan has been taken over by mythal to the point where her personal development and history pre-mythal don't matter all that much, so no references to her potential child or partner. we're going to see mythal in morrigan shape which I'm okay with for elgar'nan-whooping-purposes

we're just going to pretend that well of sorrows thing didn't happen shhh. i think they'd rather just sweep that one under the rug considering there wasn't even real solas reaction dialogue with him in your party (he mildly disagrees with you drinking but he also doesn't want morrigan to), just his seemingly random ass outrage back at skyhold after the fact. they really fumbled this one already, i think, so probably for the best to just ignore it, even if that's a shame because it's so chewy. plus the well is essentially morrigan's now anyway whether she drank or not

the inquisition is a handful of people at this point regardless of disbandment or not, and we won't really hear from anyone we know that's still working with them. they can't really reference any of the advisors or companions other than varric and harding. as little as our previous choices matter, i have a hard time imagining a significant difference in game states based on, for example, having forces and resources to contribute

the inquisitor is going to make an appearance but get kidnapped/hurt/go MIA for most of the game early on so their presence in the story is the only thing that's significant, not any personal details, anything that might showcase personality or reference their choices in inquisition. probably gonna die to tie up loose ends

solas will be a lil extra sad if lavellan romanced him but I'm not expecting much in terms of solavellan nods. i am betting the difference will be minimal, like friendly vs romanced in trespasser. best case scenario a kiss and he'll throw in a vhenan at the end maybe when he breaks her heart again. definitely not banking on murals or anything significant.

that said, i am thinking the only one of the three choices that will actually have much of an impact is if you romanced solas. i highly doubt any of the other dai romances will get mentioned since past char choices related to them aren't and there are too many variables

whether your inky wanted to redeem or stop solas won't really matter. we need his help either way and with the gods released the veil is probably coming down whether he does it or not

the rest of the world is on fucking fire early enough in the game that it doesn't matter who's on what thrones. it's all irrelevant when the evanuris bust out. no chantry, no kingdoms left standing, just chaos and death

the chars i was really looking forward to seeing again and kind of expected based on location/factions (dorian, isabela, zevran, sten, fenris) might get a passing reference in text but i hear it's a real pain in the ass to get the voice actors and art departments involved for cameos, plus all the possible contingencies, so I'm dropping those hopes. should count my blessings that they aren't horrifically killed on screen because that would be the only other option i guess

basically i'm going to bring my expectations back down to earth and then a little lower for safety. can't be disappointed if i don't expect much going in.

still looking forward to the game? absolutely.

[theside-b]

So that's a wrap on Wandee Goodday... honestly, a good show, with a good and solid pair of leads with chemistry in spades which proves to be the saving grace for another GMM show.

I actually thought the show had a great start (episode one excluded) with an engaging script, and all characters seemed interesting in their own right. But unfortunately something happened halfway-through that made many plot points become moot or simply cease to exist, for exemple Dee and Ter's rivalry was electric in the first couple of episodes, with that loaded baggage between them ー the moment where Dee finally steps up and Ter makes moves on him to sway his resolve was super interesting, because Dee notices and states how Ter could be manipulative, painting him as a very dangerous rival ー but that got dropped, and Ter became genuinely interest in Dee which led to the most uninteresting love rivalry between Ter and Yak.

In a way, one of theirs strongest assets didn't always play out in their favor: At one point it became simply too ridiculous to not have Dee and Yak as boyfriends, specially with the way Sarin and Sapol played them, there wasn't any room for question when it came down to their feelings ー the script needed to constantly remind us that they were not dating.

I do wonder how much of a studio interference that was, because GMM does have a tendency to pull on writers leashes when stories stray too far from their bread and butter.

There were other fumbles: Taem whole arc was weird, suddenly realizing she had feelings for Yak when not one episode prior she was supporting his relationship with Dee. They pretty much vanished with Drake's Kao , who started out with a very unique quest for love as an assexual person, only to be reduced to Yak and Dee's sexual counselor (he provided them with sexy costumes pretty much) and a speedrun romance at the very end.

One of the best parts of the show wasn't bulletproof either: Thor and Fluke's hot-n-sweet couple Yei and Cher could've easily got a 'epilogue' episode telling how they got together, there is a whole novel of them by the way, they briefly mention some of the events but it would be nice to see it and considering that were at least two fillers episodes it wouldn't be too hard to have at least one focused entirely on them. They also teased a potential Yei story around his debt and gambling addiction, only for it to be resolved in 5 minutes in a brief fist-cuff with Yak. All that said, it was truly impressive how Thor and Fluke have that thing where we get uncomfortable watching them together, like we are actually invading their privacy, which is great.

Also, they got the first on-screen gay marriage from Thailand, so I can't do anything but love them.

Yak and Dee as well seemed to be watered down compared to what they were initially presented. When they argue why they won't commit to each other we get brief glimpses of what was their initial pitches: Dee went through some bad experience that made him averse to relationships, whereas Yak fears that his sexuality will cause problems in the competitive fighting world. Two stories way more interesting than what we got, and worse is that both plots were simply brushed aside for the "fake-boyfriends" approach.

The one story that wasn't altered and remained solid from start to finish was the complicated relationship of the Phadetseuk family, hands down the most complex in the show and the fact that Yei and Yak's sexuality wasn't an issue, but his father still had issues with them was great.

I know they were on a brutal schedule, there are reports of filming happening for the same week's episode, which more often than not reduces quality and demands script adjustments. I might be coming off too critical, it just that there was so much potential left out.

But what we got was good, could've been great, but it was good.

[gerapitico]

So many people are talking about how disappointed they are in the season. I came out with the opposite feeling, and here's some reasons why: (cut because I wrote . . . 9 paragraphs on my phone about this . . . That's a lot huh)

Claire: So many people hate the presence of Claire this season and the lack of resolution. But I think it's no coincidence that the Faks spend the first half of the season establishing haunting and then make Carmy label Claire as his haunting (one of many). She haunts the story because everyone in the show expects something from her and Carmy, and they aren't getting it.

No forward progress: the first and second season deal with moving forward, at a break neck pace, regardless of the consequences. This season shows the consequences. No one grows, because The Bear, with Carmy's non-negotiables at the head, doesn't allow for growth. Everyone is stuck in the past, and some get to move through that, and others get even more stuck.

Vignettes and disconnect: the main through line is about pursuing excellence according to Carmy at The Bear. But there are a full 3 episodes fully out of step of that plot (potentially 5 if you include the last two episodes). 2 are out of time as well, with Tomorrow showing Carmy's education in kitchens, and Napkins showing how Tina ended up at The Beef. And Ice Chips is all about motherhood and breaking cycles of abuse. It's a season of disconnect, and you can take that many ways. A lot of people are talking it as bad writing, and as the showrunners fumbling the ball. I think managing a season with emotional beats and consistent themes in a non-linear narrative is so incredibly hard, and they hit so many amazing beats.

POC: I cannot speak to this, but the arguments I've seen are some of the only criticism I've agreed with in the season.

SydCarmy: yall, I've had my heart broken by ships far to many times to look at this reaction as anything more than pearl clutching. I saw how people reacted with Ted Lasso. I was here for the last season of Supernatural. So yes, I think their dynamic is cute. I also think they both have chemistry with other people, and that this season shows that they cannot work in the situation they are in now. People have complained about them losing their ASL sign, but neither of them are apologizing for anything to each other this season, so when would they even use it? Carmy used it a little at the end of last season, but Syd had totally stopped, and now so had he. Sydney is incapable of making a life changing decision (which oof, been there) and Carmy literally cannot think externally to himself. They are SO bad for each other even as friends right now, and they don't feel like end game. I know I do this too, but despite having platonic friends in my real life who I'm super close to, when I see it in fiction, I immediately see romance. And I'm working on that, because you know what I want here so so bad in season 4? Sydney and Carmen to have identities apart from each other, that can combine in a relationship (honestly I'd prefer platonic at this point) where they call each other out and support each other in healthy ways. Neither are there right now (though Sydney is WAY closer).

In all:

Some people are giving bad reviews, and I came away loving it. I hoped when I looked at the tags, I would find people excited, talking about the first episode and how it put them in a frantic trance, or how poignant it was seeing Donna sitting with the Faks while her grand daughter was born. Or maybe how with all the extreme close-ups this season, you still feel distant from the characters, because they refuse to communicate (a thing I also do and know a bunch of people that do!!!!)

A show is not a failure of storytelling if the characters don't change or develop. Sometimes the story is about being stuck, and not having a way out. Sometimes it's about the people in your life having huge, life changing events (death in the family, birth of a child, wedding of a co-parent) and being completely unable to be a part of it. And sometimes a story is messy and disconnected and cruel. Sometimes there aren't happy endings, and people do things you don't expect. That's life.

I haven't felt connect to a show in this kind of way in a long time. I got emotional from something that was said or done, or even a shot on screen, in every episode. And it was cathartic, watching a funeral where the kid didn't cry, seeing a panic attack at a party, and seeing a mother and daughter bond over something I will probably never bond with my mother over.

And there are other things I could mention, or talk about at length, but it won't change anything. It won't change people disliking the season, or dismissing it. It won't change the awe I had at chefs taking about their trade, or pea pods being cleaned, or the cinematography of the only title sequence they did all season. It won't change my want for the story to continue. But at least I got my thoughts out, so it's not stuck in me, like the apologies stuck in Carmen's throat, or the decision stuck in Sydney's head.

[buckgettingstruck]

https://www.tumblr.com/buckgettingstruck/755111868240150528/maaaybe-oliver-doesnt-post-about-bucktommy?source=share

I know we have mostly moved on, but I saw that nobody brought up the Arielle hate, so I will tell you the 911 on that. Arielle and the Lucy character was an unmitigated disaster of Kristen’s own making. When it was announced that Arielle was being brought on for 5B, a lot of fans were excited about finally getting another female firefighter. Kristen fumbled this so badly because she had too many things going on offset - Taylor’s arc was supposed to end in 5A, but then Michael’s actor wouldn't get the vaccine and was barred from set and availability of other mains - that she didn't realize how bad the introduction of the character was.

Everyone was so excited on 5B premiere day because the cast seemed to get along with Arielle and thought this meant big things for the FireFam and the new character. Expectations turned sour when the Buck/Lucy kiss was leaked hours before the premiere and people were pissed! Cheating is not liked in the fandom - as we saw that this past season with Eddie - but fans didn't believe that cheating was a Buck trait after how long he waited for Abby.

Kristen thought she had it made, she introduced a female firefighter and used the Eddie type of introduction to solidify the connection from the first rescue. We have to remember that this was also around the time that she shut down Buddie hard and Kristen was slowly realizing the Taylor coupling wasn't working with the audience (my conspiracy theory is that she believed Taylor was endgame), even after changing her personality and giving her a backstory that majorly backfired. She thought getting rid of Taylor would help warm people up to Lucy when all it did was get people mad and kind of feel sorry for Taylor (even the Buddie fans).

To be honest, Kristen was totally okay with pissing off the Buddie fans because she thought she had the general audience on her side. What she didn't realize is that while not a lot of people liked Taylor, BT still had their fans within the general audience and she basically killed the Lucy character with that kiss. Now you had even fewer people liking the new potential pairing compared to the older/not well-liked pairing of BT.

What made matters worse is that Kristen totally banked on people liking Lucy and a Lucy/Buck romance that PR already had a ton of interviews lined up for Arielle after the premiere and even a joint one with Kristen/Arielle/Oliver. In this interview, they all teased this potential romance between Buck and Lucy and that Buck was going to stay with Taylor, but be emotionally cheating with Lucy. The backlash was so loud that night and the weeks that followed that a lot of her scenes that were previewed in interviews by Arielle and Kristen had to be cut because of the audience’s loud dislike.

I put most of the blame on Kristen because a lot of the storytelling and actions made it seem like she promised Arielle a lead role for the next season and a romance with the main guy. The one part that I believe is Arielle’s PR team’s fault is that they shoved her spotlight because of this maybe promise from Kristen. She was doing so many interviews during 5B (almost every week and multiple) that fans were sick of her. A big joke that fans love bringing up is that Arielle had a constant line of “flirting and poking” that she would use in every interview. It took her team a long while to read the room about the response to her character. During these interviews, Arielle would also constantly drop spoilers that had to be cut because of the audience’s reaction to her. You can sometimes see the editing around her lines, especially in scenes in the truck and it is very awkward because people are either answering a question from her character or responding to something she said.

In conclusion, the Arielle hate was because of how badly Kristen fucked up. 5B is where a lot of criticisms came to light about Kristen’s timeline, writing choices, characters, storylines, etc. She can be a good writer when someone tells her what to write, but she can't handle show-running duties and determining story arcs and pacing for episodes and season-long storylines.

ahh good to know!!! i wasnt sure about the lucy/arielle aspect of it all so good to know. i dont want to hate on kristen like i feel a lot of the fandom does because i do believe she’s written good episodes etc but it seems like as showrunner a lot of things were mishandled. not that tim is any better rn but hopefully that improves

(also! if anyone else sends asks about this specific incident from yesterday i probably wont reply to it unless its something new because we’ve kinda beat a dead horse into the ground here)

[riplever]

Why S2 of Tale of the Nine Tailed is better than S1 [Review]

This review is NOT spoiler-free.

If you’re watching Season 2, you’re watching it for the brothers. 

Between sometimes shabby action sequences (see: multiple dangerous characters ganging up on the heroes while their burdens stand slightly towards the side, watching in horror, very much still within reach of danger, neither helping themselves nor helping the hero... What is this, an excuse for plot to happen?) and occasionally dropping the ball on characterisations (see: the strongest mountain god, well-lived and well-experienced, cunning and resourceful, shrieking helplessly for minutes of airtime in confused desperation as her lackey dances with death... What is this, filler content?) — the reason why you’re tuning into the show episode after episode is for the brothers, and how Lee Yeon’s second chance with Lee Rang explores surprising and touching sides of their persons and relationships. Is Lee Yeon anymore than a Lover/Loser Boy who’s stronger than any other creature on the planet? Yes, he is. Has Lee Rang always loved his brother through everything? Yes, he has. Their actors play off their genuine connection with one another and give this fantasy show powerful doses of real emotion when you least expect it. The show did itself a massive favor by removing their reliance on a-dime-a-dozen romance stereotypes and letting the sibling’s bond to take center-stage. Definitely an unexpected and surprising shift from Season 1′s priorities. 

Other kinds of love than romance

Romance is this writing team’s weak spot. Lee Rang’s mermaid love interest Yeo-hee had an interesting characterisation going for her — she acts soft-spoken and demure in order to be attractive, but has a much rougher and pettier actual personality that is genuinely appealing to Lee Rang — but then they fumble the bag in the final episodes and reduced her to a run of the mill damsel-in-distress (literally silenced, she shows up, gets hurt, and is saved). It was an unfortunate viewing experience to see the depth of the character flattened in this manner, though to be fair, this seems to be a fatal flaw that the writing team has also afflicted onto several other characters. 

It’s also strange in a meta sense, because where they miss the mark on romance the same team is somehow able to depict familial love, found family, loyalty, platonic love, unrequited love, love from a distance, ungrateful and painful love with nuances, all of which were further buoyed by the capabilities of the acting cast. Are there different writers for different characters, or...? 

They fleshed out a world of living gods and myths 

Without the anchor of a romantic love interest, mystery and intrigue is what drives season 2′s story. More airtime has been allocated to the lore of these god and their powers, as well as to the diverse lesser beings from the vast canon of Korea’s traditional myths. Instead of Lee Yeon winning every single fight because of his Main Character Armor, we now understand what being a mountain god entails, and how different styles of rule and abilities result in different advantages for the various top gods. Instead of, again, being the most powerful character Just Because he’s the protagonist, we also got to see him at his self-induced rock bottom. Lee Yeon gets humanized by his peers and flaws, and proves beyond a doubt that he’s what makes the show — and not his fatalistic pining for his one true love. 

Planting lots of seeds for season 3 

Many, many seeds were planted (runaway OG god, blinded Grandma, too much of the past with Lee Rang being changed for the future to remain the same?, heavily under-used Joseon-era genre/wardrobe/theme) for a potential third season, so to say the production team is hopeful for a new show is an understatement. The success of that definitely depends on whether the writers can remember to define their story to their strengths. 

[lafilleestmorte]

I was SO sure that ccir was going to join my kdrama favourites list but the last two episode were honestly such a fumble. I put it right next to extraordinary you because both shows really had the most nonsense endings possible, given the attention to detail and quality of writing in the episodes leading up.

I henceforth propose a list of things I would have liked to be different:

(spoilers under the cut)

1. WHY DID HAE-E'S BIOLOGICAL MOTHER COME BACK. I literally did not care about her, and we had already explored Hae-e's feelings about having been abandoned in the earlier episodes. This sideplot occupied so much of the last few episodes when that same time could have really been used to flesh out the development of the other side plots so it makes me frustrated. I did end up appreciating the mother's story but it was so last minute and took away from the other stories in a really big way

2. Sua's family. Their endings were so!!! underdeveloped I don't understand how they thought they could get away with that. I liked the scene where Sua tells her mom to get a divorce, because her mom starts to realise that she is mature and not some child to be protected and coddled. At the same time, we don't get to see Sua go to therapy and overcome her anxiety and actually mature emotionally. We don't see her mom face any consequences or revelation regarding all of the BULLSHIT she put so many people through. Including her husband, who she actually did neglect. I think Sua's father had an interesting potential in having been neglected and treated shittily by his wife and acting out in turn. He was quite a socially aware character from the start and I wish they made him out to be more complex than some rich dude throwing a hissy fit. I don't like that her mom got off scot-free and still boasts about Sua

3. Sun-jae's family. what in heck. I don't even understand what happened there. You can't expect anyone with braincells to accept that his mom just GAVE UP on pushing her sons' educations when that's literally been her personality for the entire show. Even if the court case made her realise her faults, it's not enough to warrant a complete 180 with no supporting development. I liked the idea of the parents connecting over the issue and becoming more supportive of each other, but that would only make sense if they spent!!! time!!! showing it to us!!! I would have liked for Sun-jae's mom to realise (like Sua's mom) that her son's actions were coming from a place of maturity and awareness, and for her to apologise. I think Hui-jae going to the military was a good choice, but the vacation was quite forced. I'd also have liked!!! for the mom to have a scene with Hae-e

4. NAM HAE-E (and friends). if the previous point with Sun-jae's mom making up with Hae-e and Sun-jae happened I might have appreciated them getting together a little more. But it feels like they were just shoved together because they didn't have time to give either of them a more fulfilling ending. Sun-jae is sO MUCH MORE than some idiot who is obsessed with Hae-e. Seeing his family issues be solved would have been more important (and satisfying) than seeing his love life solved. When it comes to Sua, I imagined her bursting into tears when Hae-e woke up (because she still doesn't know that it was Donghui that did it) and then trying to become friends with Hae-e. I really liked that it was Geonhu instead that reached out to her!!! He's the friendliest so it makes a lot of sense and I really like the sense of ease between the two of them. I don't know/care about the implied romance though. Finally this last bit. is a tad personal. but we were this || close to getting aroace!Hae-e who rejects everyone and does not date if they had left it at the dinner scene I would have been the happiest girl alive. maybe danji was my aroace queen all along

5. JI DONG HUI. genuinely what the hell. He was my FAVOURITE character for the first ten episodes, even after I started suspecting him of being the killer. My friends thought that it was a cop-out to have him commit suicide, but I disagree, because I genuinely cannot imagine him having to go against Chi-yeol so it was either that or him being dragged into prison screaming 'i did it to protect you!' while Chi-yeol watches in complete shock. But if they were going to go down the suicide route then WE NEED TO SEE CHI-YEOL GRIEVE. Dong-hui was genuinely a huge contribution in getting him this far in his career, and Chi-yeol must have really loved him. I mean, that was the only person he felt close to and had contact with for almost SIX YEARS. I was interested in seeing Chi-yeol process his grief and betrayal and regret in a more prolonged way, because they spent that long making the audience attached to and invested in Dong-hui's character. idk when I saw Hyowon driving the car something in me broke.

I have a singular positive, which is that this was the first show where I never got bored or annoyed with the leading romance. They were so cute and loveable until the end and I really enjoyed watching them

[bowokshop]

Legends and Lattes - Travis Baldree

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

After a lifetime of bounties and bloodshed, Viv is hanging up her sword for the last time. The battle-weary orc aims to start fresh, opening the first ever coffee shop in the city of Thune. But old and new rivals stand in the way of success — not to mention the fact that no one has the faintest idea what coffee actually is.

Imagine if the coffee shop au fan fiction of your favourite fantasy was a published book. That’s the best description of this book.

It was nice. The overwhelming emotion I got from this book was that of sitting next to the window in a cafe, sipping coffee and making intermittent conversation with a close friend.

The setting was your typical D&D fantasy setting. We get a nice image of different races such as humans, dwarves, hobbs and succubi intermingling, and a glimpse into the dynamics (and fantasy racism) between them. It would have been nice to get a little more insight into those dynamics, as they are often only mentioned once in the introduction of a character and never brought up again, as is the case for the hobb Calamity.

Viv is an interesting character. The idea of a muscly 8ft tall orc running a cozy cafe is a very fun image to picture, and it’s interesting reading how Viv, who is at first depicted as being quite organised and put-together, mis-steps and fumbles in an unfamiliar environment.

We are also treated to a wonderfully-sapphic romance, which is very cute and does leave you rooting for Viv to just confess already, goddammit! Although (and this might just be the aroace in me) it does feel a little like Viv just fell for the first attractive woman she saw, as she doesn’t seem to have much strong emotion for Tandri or even dwell on her in her thoughts much at all.

The book itself was a very easy read, and I finished it in a day. It held my interest the entire time, I didn’t find myself ever losing focus. The pacing was decent and the descriptions gave a complete image of the scene without being over-the-top.

My main criticisms are that the book felt a bit… nothing. I didn’t really get the sense that anything really happened or that there was much exploration of any ideas. The setting was not detailed enough nor was the concept of coffee in a fantasy world explored enough to make up for the lack of story. There were so many exciting possibilities for a fantasy take on a cafe, but nothing particularly novel was executed and I was left a little disappointed by the unfulfilled potential.

Whilst there was plot, there was very little tension and even the major complication was unable to perturb me with how quickly it becomes evident it will be resolved. There are so many more potentials for low-stakes conflict to arise in the opening of a cafe. Whilst I understand there is reason for this in-universe, everything seems to just fall in place for Viv, and any snags are easily brushed past.

I mentioned at the start it is like the coffee shop au fanfiction of your favourite fantasy. It does indeed feel a lot like a fanfiction which is lacking a source material. An interesting exploration into existing setting and characters, but there was not enough detail in the setting and characters for it to explore. The book did not leave me dwelling on it for any time after reading it, rather it had pretty much left my mind only 10 minutes later.

However, it was still a cozy feel-good book that made me feel comforted and fulfilled having read it. It inspired me to go make like 3 cups of coffee in a row after reading it. It was page-turning and I enjoyed the entire time I read it. Plus, the sapphic romance definitely inspires ideas for some very cute fanart.

There is a prequel, Bookshops & Bonedust which I am looking forward to reading for more coziness and hopefully a bit more detail in setting and characters.

I would recommend this book for someone looking for something comforting and lightweight to read, perhaps during a hard time or after having read something very heavy. If you are looking for something easy to read that will instantly lift your mood, read this.

I would also recommend it if you enjoy cozy fantasy, as it is THE cozy fantasy book. Between cafes, cute sapphic romances and the power of friendship, this is nothing short of cozy.

having written this, i'm off to go make my 3rd cup of coffee of the day after thinking about this book again...

[otome-mondays]

Lover Pretend Review 💖

Another game I was very excited for! I don’t believe there are many trigger warnings asides from technical incest, but please look up a list in case there are!

Lover Pretend is focused on Chiyuki Ueda, a college student going to school to be a screenwriter. She is an orphan and is trying to search for her dad, as he wasn’t in her life. She works under her professor and mentor on a new movie, makes some friends, and then the story depends on the plot. One thing the main four routes have in common is that there is always a fake dating plot. As always, review order is how I played through the game!

Spoilers Ahead

Sena Yukito 📸

Since there didn’t seem to be much important on whether I started with Yukito, Harumi, or Kazuma, I gladly started with Yukito. Yukito here is a model with a rough reputation. He’s trying to transition over to being an actor, but to get a gig in the movie Chiyuki’s helping with he has to avoid scandals. Unfortunately, another model is kinda obsessed with him and wants to date him. This is where Chiyuki steps in and they have a fake relationship. It’s a cute route and I enjoyed it a lot! 8.5/10.

Makino Harumi 🖥️

Besides Yukito, I was interested in Harumi’s route as well. Because of that, I decided to go with him next. Harumi is the son and assistant of the director Chiyuki is helping with. Harumi is a secret anime and manga lover, and his dad disapproves of this. He’s also worried about being bullied, so he hides this fact from most people. When people from his college start catching on, he blames it on his girlfriend liking that stuff. What girlfriend? Well that’s going to be Chiyuki. This is where the fake dating plot kicks in. This route was another cute one, 8.5/10!

Kamikubo Kazuma 💇‍♂️

Being the last of the recommended ones before Riku, I moved on to Kazuma’s route next. Kazuma is Chiyuki’s best friend and is currently trying to get into Hair and Makeup for movies and shows. He’s an assistant to the hair and makeup crew for the movie Chiyuki is working on. Kazuma’s fake dating comes from Chiyuki going exploring on a set when she shouldn’t and him saving her from getting in trouble. Kazuma’s route was going smoothly until chapter 6, then it was unfortunately ruined for me. Wasted potential, Kazuma deserved so much better. 6/10.

Nishijima Riku 🎟️

Honestly I wasn’t really excited for his route and stalled a bit. I also got fixated on other things and left this game alone for longer than intended. Riku’s an actor who is trying to quit the industry. His fake dating comes from him trying to convince Chiyuki to pretend to be his fiancée to convince his dad to let him quit. He opens up to Chiyuki as the route progresses, and it’s a nice route after the disappointment of Kazuma’s route. 7.5/10.

Asagi Eiichirou 🖊️

The not so secret “secret” route. Asagi’s route is less focused on romance and more so on solving who Chiyuki’s dad is. Spoilers, but unfortunately this route is technically an incest route with a questionable age gap. The one good thing is it’s extremely short. 0/10.

Final Thoughts 💖

This is genuinely a very cute and lighthearted otome! This one was a lot shorter of a game too. Usually I easily put over 50 hours into a title listening to all the voices lines, but I didn’t make it past 35 with this one. I did skip most of Asagi’s route lines, but even then it’s not enough to where it would have that much of an effect I think. I liked the pretend time feature, but it could get a bit stressful at times. As for a route order, I recommend Kazuma/Harumi/Yukito -> Riku -> Asagi. Start with whoever of the first three you like the most, then move on to the other two, then Riku, and finish with Asagi’s route. If they didn’t fumble Kazuma’s route or have Asagi’s route, I’d rank it higher. 7.5/10.

Route: Yukito > Harumi > Riku > Kazuma > Asagi

LI: Yukito > Harumi > Kazuma > Riku > Asagi

Resources 📝

I used Otome Kitten’s walkthroughs and looked at the reviews from Otome Kitten and Blerdy Otome.

[honorhearted]

While meant as an opportunity for allies to speak of financial affairs and tactical efforts concerning the war, this modest but lively party was also an excuse for comradery and the temporary distraction of potential romance – and perhaps for some lucky women, a chance to land a husband. The latter mattered little to Cecily, who preferred her freedom for however long it would last. 

The rules were rather simple, if not unconventional. Every woman present began the night with a red cravat in her possession, meant to be wrapped around the neck of the man of her choosing. The two would then serve as companions for the evening festivities. This included dancing, games, and a dinner. While it was not on par with what the pompous Tories were currently enjoying at their tables, the meal was far preferable to fire cakes and stews made up of whatever could be scrounged in the nearby woods. 

Normally, Cecily found fête engagements, with their customs and rituals, to be tedious and mundane, but tonight promised more opportunities for hijinks and spontaneity. All she needed to do was find herself the right partner. 

Ceremoniously, the men were instructed to stand at the opposite end of the room while music meant for idle chatter was played. Like beaming and giggling cats, the women crossed the space between as though they were cats that had caught sight of grounded birds. Some Women had their hearts set on specific choices, immediately placing the red cravats upon their suitor’s necks with glimmering eyes. Others took their time, sizing up the men carefully as they made their decisions. Then there were those who were already married, seeking out their husbands in the crowd with familiar fondness. 

Cecily, having no particular physical choice in mind, was determined to pin the most suitable type for her plans. That’s when she spotted him, the soldier with fine hair the color of cinnamon and crushed Autumn leaves and kind eyes. His expression was unassuming and perhaps even a little nervous. 

Perfect. 

With a fiendish little smile and a twinkle in her eyes, she approached him lithely and wrapped the red cravat around his neck, gently but firmly tugging him forward to meet her. 

“I think you should do rather nicely, sir,” she said through dimpled cheeks, “Tell me, might you enjoy causing trouble?” 

Tie a red ribbon around my muse’s neck to claim them as your V.alentine. @pagetreader

This wasn't what Benjamin should be doing. Yes, it was true that he'd been invited -- all o.fficers and s.oldiers alike had been encouraged to attend this celebratory gathering -- and yet that didn't change how guilty he felt for partaking in carousing, good cheer, and bountiful f.ood when so many were starving and unable to care for their families.

Shoulders hunkering, he remained perched along the outskirts, his back to the wall and his eyes darting in between each fawning, giggling woman milling amongst the menfolk. In many ways, it felt like a cruelty to flirt when there was no guarantee for tomorrow. A romance, though appealing, would serve for nothing other than heartache.

That was when she spotted him -- a young woman with bright, mischievous eyes, and hair that shone like burnished gold within the flickering candlelight. Akin to the dancing shadows on the wall, Benjamin's heart stammered and wavered inside his chest, his pulse leaping once he confirmed that yes, she was seeking him out amidst the melee. Despite his initial instinct to shrink away from her touch, he remained stock-still against the wall, his hands tensing once she rose to fasten the red cravat around his throat.

“I think you should do rather nicely, sir,” she purred. When she smiled at him, a pair of charming dimples emerged within her cheeks. “Tell me, might you enjoy causing trouble?” 

"I...suppose that depends upon your definition," he fumbled. "I've been c.ourt-martialed over the years, and yet I also prefer not to stay out past eleven."

Why had he said that? In his own backwards, clumsy manner, Benjamin supposed he'd been joking, and yet as he gaped back into the woman's bewitching stare, he found himself incapable of true wit.

"Um..." Mouth dry, he cleared his throat and offered her his hand. "Major B.enjamin T.allmadge, at your service, Miss. Or at least, to my understanding I'm now at liberty to escort you for the evening...should you not deem this the biggest mistake of your life, of course." He flashed a lopsided smile. "Or at least, the biggest mistake of the evening."

She was quite pretty, and yet the thought of becoming friendly left him ill at ease. Didn't having someone to fight for make b.attle all the more terrifying?

[neverending-shenanigans]

I have watched carnival row and here are my unsorted thoughts:

+ frankly amazing world building and atmosphere of the setting

+ character design of fae creatures and the make-up and vfx behind it blew my mind a couple of times and it is worth watching for that alone

+ the soundtrack is well made. Doesnt stand out but also never feels missplaced.

+ some plotlines were extremely compelling. And at least for season one, I was very intrigued by the "whodunnit" aspect of it all. Season 2 tried and failed miserably there.

+ many great characters. Not all, but many. And we get a very nice Mix of characters, too.

+ unexpectedly great cast. I was surprised by how much I great to like Cara Delevigne's performance and I have come to the conclusion she is underrated as an actress.

+ season 1 is far superior to season 2.

× unexpectedly, orlando bloom sometimes really disappointed me, performance wise. Did not see that coming. I am not sure why he was going for the "always surly" performance but it was not a joy to watch. However, they also mysteriously chose to undo any growth his character had had in season 1 in season 2 and then tried to give him the same story arc twice? Like, what? In season 1 he struggles with who he is, accepts it and makes a choice at the end of the season, and then... they ignore that and make him struggle, chose wrong, come to peace and chose again in season 2???

× they really effed up one character who would have made a great villain but they tried to make her sympathetic and I just...? Why??? And in turn they made someone a villain who made zero sense to me. The writers were cowards with her and a few other characters.

× they really fumbled the romances. Most of them dont have a lot of chemistry (if any) and 90% have communication issues which is the worst trait you can give a romance. And some romances really should have stayed in the past for the sake of character growth. The fact that I would have preferred most of them to not have happened, with the exception of maybe one romance, is very telling and troubling.

×mildly spoilers here but to the end, the whole portrayal of the topic of "revolution" made me groan. They it was handled made ZERO sense in the context of their story and its message in season 1. They wasted so much potential here it is painful.

There is more to say, but it would become too spoilery

Overall a good show, and it would have deserve more viewers and a third season. But it was not without flaws and if I were to rewatch it, I only would watch season 1.

[ignisgalaxia]

Star Trek Captain/First Officer Ships

In honor of Valentine’s Day, I wanna talk about the captain/first officer ships. I think that it’s perfectly normal to ship the captains and first officers to some degree. I mean after all, they’re ideally the relationship that gets the most focus in each show. That being said, I think each pair has their strengths and weaknesses so I will be ranking them accordingly in tiers, from not romantically compatible to practically married.

Low Level Ship Tier

As you can gather, this tier is mostly for the pairs that have the least amount of ship energy. Either they have the bare minimum or their dynamic is just not suited to romance imo.

Carol Freeman & Jack Ransom

I love Lower Decks for many reasons, but these two’s relationship leaves a lot to be desired. Honestly these two feel the most like coworkers. You know, the ones who only put up with each other because they’re on the same team. The biggest reason I feel nothing for them is that I just don’t like Ransom. At all. He’s like a caricature of Riker with all the male stereotypes and none of the charm. Plus Carol is already happily married (at least I assume happily; we should really see them together more), so I don’t really see any appeal to them.

Jean-Luc Picard & William Riker

I think for a while Will saw Jean-Luc as somewhat of a father figure. But based on the scenes they’ve had together in Picard, I think their dynamic has shifted to really close friends. Seeing them talk with each other so casually filled me with such joy. I love them as a team, but I don’t see any romantic potential, especially since they both have amazing women for significant others (and yes I do mean Deanna and Beverly). Also age differences make me uncomfortable sorry.

Michael Burnham & Saru

These two give off sibling energy more than anything. Their relationship has improved significantly over the past four seasons, but man season one was rough. I get why Saru was mad at her, he was grieving Phillipa and Michael did hold some responsibility for her death, but his attitude toward her got really infuriating at times. It was interesting seeing how they rebuilt their relationship into one based on trust and understanding though.

Benjamin Sisko & Kira Nerys

I don't really have much to say about these two since I haven't watched DS9 yet. But I also think they work best as friends. I mean I guess there could be something but I think the whole Bajoran prophet aspect makes things a little weird. Idk I really don't have any opinions on them because I lack knowledge.

Mid Level Ship Tier

This tier has the pairs that have a good amount of romantic potential, but something’s holding them back from being truly top tier. But overall I think they’re pretty good.

Jonathan Archer & T’Pol

I KNOW T’Pol ends up with Tucker (I don’t understand how or why), and her and Archer are very different but hear me out. You know the episode Twilight? Well that was originally written as a Voyager episode for the pair later in this list (and you know where they’re gonna be). So yeah, a romance episode for another pair was rewritten to fit these two. Kinda telling, don’t you think? Other than that not much to say since I haven’t seen Enterprise either.

Christopher Pike & Una Chin-Riley

I like this ship, I really do. But I just haven’t seen enough of them together to truly get on board. From what I have seen though, their dynamic is very cute. Like when he fumbled her name trying to introduce her. Frikkin adorable. And I love the idea of her just lifting him with zero effort since she’s apparently freakishly strong.

Dal R’El & Gwyndala

These two have come a long way in just the span of one season. Dal telling Gwyn to keep her eyes on him at the end of episode ten and his anguish when she accidentally saw Zero through his combadge’s reflection. AND THEN THE FINALE KISSES! Dal’s got some balls for planting one on her in part one, and then in part two their mutual kiss before Gwyn leaves. I LIVE FOR THIS SHIT. I hope these two go somewhere, but the fact that Gwyn isn’t gonna be with the crew next season is making me not get my hopes up too much.

I think it’s also important to note that this is the only pair to have ACTUALLY KISSED and is even remotely canon. And it’s two teenagers. The fuck’s up with that?! (That is also why they are not in the high ship tier because while they’re frikkin adorable and I’m happy they kissed, they’re still minors so I’m not investing every part of me into them if that makes sense)

High Level Ship Tier

This tier is reserved for the pairs that I legitimately think belong together. Like it’s borderline cruel that they’re not a couple. This tier is for two pairs in particular, but there’s always room for more if they prove worthy. I’d also call this the ‘Oh My God Just Kiss Already’ tier.

James T. Kirk & Spock

These two aren’t the fathers of slash fanfic for no reason. Again, still haven’t seen the original series, but having seen several clips, specifically from Amok Time, yeah they’re pretty gay. And considering there’s an entire movie dedicated to Kirk finding and bringing Spock back, it’s giving off soulmate energy.

Kathryn Janeway & Chakotay

And surprising absolutely no one is the couple I would literally sell my soul to see become canon. I mean, do I really need to explain myself? The only reason these two aren’t together is because the writers are cowards. For God’s sake he built her a bathtub! And she dropped everything to go searching for him when he went missing. He is her rock and she is his peace! THEY ARE SOULMATES DAMNIT!

So there’s my list. What about y’all? Do you agree with my ranking or would you put any pairs in a different tier? Let me know, and have a happy Valentine’s Day!

[phantomdialogue]

˗ˏˋ. ݁₊ ✶ ˖ 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐣𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐦𝐚𝐧 - 𝟎.𝟓/𝟓 ☆ . ݁ ˖ˎˊ˗

premise: willow is looking for a new familiar when she happens upon a black cat in the local shelter. however, she quickly learns that her cat isn't a cat at all. it's the bastard prince of the demon realm and he needs her help to break the curse keeping him in his current form.

couple: damien and willow

tropes: witch/demon, demon prince, slightly grumpy x sunshine, halloween theme

available on kindle unlimited

review below!

review:

this is the closest i've gotten to a DNF in a while. i got genuinely upset reading this book. the concept was there. the concept was great. the execution made me want to scoop my eyeballs out with spoons. it had so much potential. a shifting demon playing the part of a witch's familiar... like are you kidding me? how do you fumble the bag that hard?

there was so much that i didn't like about this. the instalove/fated mates made me genuinely upset because i think part of what would have made this concept work is them building a friendship with him as her familiar at first and seeing that translate to him as a demon when she broke the curse. then the love could have grown from there. i know the author wanted to do that soulmate thing but i feel like it just ruined the potential of the romance by trying to fastrack to the spice (that i don't have an opinion on honestly. i didn't hate it and i didn't like it at the same time. i was just indifferent) and having them already "so in love" with each other.

there was also so much room for world building that the author just straight up did not do. it's centered in this town exclusively full of witches with magic to keep humans from seeing that it's all witches and we didn't get any information other than those two facts. when was it formed? was it always just witches? did humans live in peace with witches there at any point? there was another concept there that could have been cool but it just was completely forgotten in favor of a, subpar at best, romance. i mean we didn't even get to learn the character's last names... like it was just severely underdeveloped, i think.

this book unlocked an anger in me that i didn't know i still possessed after reading so many good books in a row. i finished it out of pure spite (and desire to finish my goodreads reading challenge faster but mostly spite). this was the case of "was i going to finish this book for the completion status or throw my kindle across the room?" and thankfully for my kindle, i chose the first option. the only reason it's getting even 0.5 stars is because of the concept. nothing else.

q & a:

are they endgame? - i would say i sure hope not but the book literally did the "we're fated mates and you'll claim me and we'll live together forever" thing so unfortunately canonically yes? but in my head, if we took away the immortal claim thing, these guys wouldn't last a year. it's just not there. the lust would fade and then it would be over.

did i cringe? - i don't know if i could classify what i felt as cringe. it was just anger. a lot of upsetness. if i was cringing, i didn't realize because it was overshadowed by my overwhelming dismay with this book.

favorite part? - no.

least favorite part? - instead of not being able to choose a favorite part, i am not able to choose a least favorite part. i didn't like it. just straight up. it made me so frustrated. it was severely underdeveloped. the plot was paper thin if there. the romance was subpar at best and extremely rushed. it really just was one of those books that was made to be marketed on booktok. i felt like i was reading a fanfiction off of wattpad a majority of the time. if you told me damien was secretly harry styles, i wouldn't have been shocked.

favorite quote (there isn't really much to begin with but i liked this one i guess):

Sometimes it felt like he was trying to commit every inch of me to memory, like if he kissed me enough, I would never fade from his thoughts. 

[sigridhawke]

Nikolai: 2, 23, 12Natasha: 7, 5, 14Gwendolyn: 4, 15, 3Odin: 25, 13, 6

A variety for Crimson characters and the oc asks that reveal more than you think, lets gooo!!!!

The blorbos lemme show them to you.

Nikolai: 2, 23, 12 

2.Can they take care of a plant? What about a pet? What about a child?

Surprisingly yes, there is particular plants required for a magic ritual and its not easily cultivated so they have learnt to take care of plants to an extent. Pets 100%, while they are their own beings, they have two beloved nagas bound in serpent form they would go to the end of the world for. A child? Depends on when in the story you ask this lmao.

23.Stability or novelty?

Stability 100%. Outcasted for their decisions to protect themselves and their sanity, Nikolai has, for the past 200+ years, carved out a safety net for themselves of Frigid Mountain and spreads rumour to keep folk away to ensure their little place in the world is protected. They spend most of the story with the notion of returning to that stability in mind before experiencing the world begins to expand what they consider stability to be.

12.Do they like romance in the books they read (or in the book they’re in)?

Despite Crimson being high fantasy with a bit of romance, Nikolai is very oblivious (in part because they’ve lived an isolated life in a mountain for most of it) and so affections usually go over their head. They understand the dragon principle of you’d only ever share your treasure with someone you intend to stay with forever, but wyverns don't value treasure so highly so they get the joy of fumbling their way through feelings of affection, jealousy, envy, and love.

Natasha: 7, 5, 14 

7.Describe them in three words. Now let them describe themself in three words.

Intelligent, Diplomatic, Witty

Stubborn, Forgiving, Optimistic

5.Speech! Speech! Speech! Speech! Will they give one, and what about?

She has and will give many speeches to the different rulers urging them to join her cause, but perhaps the most important speech she will ever give is that one that urges her dear friends and companions to join her in making a deal with the devil to ensure their future.

14.Would they agree with the term ‘guilty pleasure’? Do they have any?

*looks at this one potential oneshot of Natasha wanting borrow fae glamour to turn Nikolai into a Jingou fox temporarily* yes.

Gwendolyn: 4, 15, 3 

4.Do they look good in red?

Gwendolyn suits shades of blue and silver, she it a dragon of shimmering starlight that gave her the title Morning Star. If she were to wear red, it would likely be deep shades of red, or red sky at night vibes.

15.What would they consider a waste of time– other than school or work?

While Gwendolyn typically has a lot of patience for many things, something she struggles with are those who waste her time. Be it people who come to her without a reason, or those that pointlessly argue with her; as queen Gwendolyn's time is precious and she does not care for those who waste it.

3.Ask them to describe their love interest.

“My first love was a man as old as the world itself. My dear Shaurya holds both the strength and kindness of a bear. Always at my side, always supportive even when we chose to part ways. I would never blame him for putting his people first, and he knows I choose to do the same.”

“My second love was a humble King. A man who did not shy away from those of different race to his own. One who dazzled me with his magic and asked my hand to lead our Kingdom into greatness as equals. He has the best of intentions, but fears Lunaria’s survival if we did not remain neutral in this time before war.”

“The children I bore from both are my most precious gifts to the world, and I hope one day they can be united and live in the same peace my dear Shaurya speaks of old.”

Odin: 25, 13, 6 

25.Safety or possibility?

In his earlier life possibility was his driver to explore and learn everything about the world, but after his curse 600 years ago, safety has become his priority. Never leaving the forest kingdom he calls home, devoting every moment of his time to protecting and nurturing the infant race of vampires, not yet old enough to be classified as their own race. And to Thane, who’s safety he has and will shamelessly protect above all other.

13.Name one thing their parents taught them.

“You will not die like the creatures that come after you.”

6.Who will they take advice from, no matter what it is? Who won’t they take advice from, no matter what it is?

Thane to an extent, but the person who’s advice he will take above all others is Jade. She knows of his past and she has seen glimpses of the future. She seldom talks but when she does her sign language is worth reading.

Who won’t they take advice from? A tougher one, generally he’ll listen just won’t act on it but given his predicament, he will never take any advice from one of his ‘brothers’ because it will only be the same thing, and he has no intention on dying.

[silkiemae]

Gleam by Raven Kennedy

My Rating: 5/5

THERE ARE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW. I'M SORRY, I CAN'T HELP MYSELF. I am genuinely shocked to say that I loved this book. Is it a perfect book? Not by any means but Auren holds a very special place in my heart and watching her journey in this book was great. This quickly became one of my favorite books because of her alone. I like Raven Kennedy's prose a lot, but sometimes it gets just a little bit too flowery, and there are still the occasional bizarre metaphors, but for the most part, I enjoy it a lot. This book is huge, but I finished it in a little under three days because it kept me so engaged. This book has so many things that I enjoy. Angry women who finally get their revenge. Abusive men who get their just desserts. Scary, intimidating dudes who are soft just for their lady loves. Badass powerful women. ~Drama~  I don't even really know how to write a review for this book to be honest. I've seen people complain that the last few books didn't really have much of a plot but I feel like this series is more character focused than plot-centric and I'm not really mad about it. I feel like it gained its footing here with a potential for a really cool political fantasy plot and while that could've been integrated into the first two books better I don't really think it harms the series as a whole. (I still think books 1&2 could have been combined, however.)  Watching Auren finally come to realize just how much of a monster Midas is was so wild, honestly. I got genuinely angry reading their fights on Auren's behalf because it is so real. When you have dated someone or know someone who has dated someone abusive like that I think reading something like this could be incredibly cathartic. I've been wanting Midas to die since book one and when Auren finally snaps it is wonderful That kiss? Those five taps? *chef's kiss* I wanted more Malina in this story and it's a bummer to see her fumble her kingdom so badly tbh. I wanted her to win over Midas and it's a bummer she can't really do that now but whatever, Auren deserved to be the one to take him down.  I loved Kaila, I think she is a fascinating character and her power is awesome. I can't wait to read more about her in the next book and honestly the idea of her as a villain is exciting but I also like her so much and don't want her to die lmao.  Slade...oh, Slade. Listen, his dirty talk makes me very uncomfortable but I love him. It has been such a long time that I have genuinely liked a male love interest in a fantasy series and it is such a breath of fresh air to finally be able to say that I found a dark fantasy romance that I actually like. I always said that I will never like a villain romance where the dude is abusive to the girl he claims to love. I am super into the scary, intimidating dude who is also hot but only if he is soft for the one he loves. Slade is so soft for Auren. I love how he wants her to fight for herself and doesn't want to take her choices for her. I loved him in the last book, and I love him even more in this book, and I am ready to learn more about him and his brother Ryatt.  This also proves to me that faeries can be written with those animalistic, "dominating" qualities and it can be done well! Like the fact that I don't hate Slade and actually really really like him is saying something.  Anyway, 5/5, I loved this. I love Auren, I love her so much. Also, if her ribbons don't grow back...I'm coming for you, Raven Kennedy.