#.chapter 554

[n3on-graveston3s-calling]

Sighs. Here we go.

Let's dive in.

HI MARCO SWEETIE. HI. OMG. HI.

He's such a little shit I love it.

This is... this is terrifying. Akainu is scary. ( I say, as if I didn't make a wife for him- ) but also, his ability is fucking wicked I cannot lie. Magma? That's insane.

OOOOH BURN.

[algumaideia]

Uh phoenix!!! I want to see him in colors

Oh Oz

[everydayspamton]

day 554 of drawing spamton every day until deltarune chapter 3

[mariacallous]

During the final six months of Donald Trump’s presidency, his administration carried out an unprecedented execution spree, killing 13 people on federal death row and ending a 17-year de facto federal execution moratorium.

Shortly after Joe Biden entered the White House, the Justice Department formally reinstated the federal execution moratorium and announced a sweeping policy review. But despite Biden’s campaign promise to work to end the federal death penalty, there has been little progress toward that goal.

Meanwhile, Trump, the GOP’s presumptive 2024 presidential nominee, has openly fantasized about executing drug dealers and human traffickers. He reportedly suggested that officials who leak information to the press should be executed, too. And behind the scenes, there’s a team of pro-Trump conservatives who are pushing for a second Trump term that involves even more state-sponsored killing than the first.

Last year, a coalition effort by conservative groups known as Project 2025 released an 887-page document that lays out policy goals and recommendations for each part of the federal government. Buried on page 554 is a directive to execute every remaining federal death row prisoner — and to persuade the Supreme Court to expand the types of crimes that can be punished with death sentences.

Gene Hamilton — a former Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security official under Trump, and the author of the transition playbook’s DOJ chapter — wrote that the next conservative administration should “do everything possible to obtain finality” for every prisoner on federal death row, which currently includes 40 people.

Read on for more about how the Project 2025 proposal envisions an extreme shift in how the death penalty is used in America.

[annabtg]

My @justleaveacommentfest recap, vol. I: G-M rated fics

Day 1: The comments you meant to leave all year

I am really good about leaving comments, actually, so I didn't have much to do for this one! I did, however, owe a more thorough re-read and comment of the second chapter of this one:

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone GEN Z EDITION by crystalpearll (on FF.net). 7.5k words, rated T.

First Harry potter book in Gen Z slang, or just general slang whatever you guys want to call it. rated T because not all slang is very appropriate. If you don't understand the slang I don't recommend reading this, because it will make 0 sense to you. Have fun and enjoy reading!

Day 2: New fics that need comments

For this one, I just filtered for Harry Potter fandom and English language and went back chronologically. I found lots of good stuff, most of which didn't have many or any comments at all!

Under the cut for length!

Boy Talk by @thelesseroftwoweevils. 632 words, rated T.

Ron appears at Harry's door one morning with something on his mind.

Missing Him by Burnt_Ashes. 741 words, rated T.

Ginny gets a little drunk at a celebratory Quidditch after-party and Hermione is the one who listens to her drunken ramblings about her boyfriend and everything she misses about him with her attending her final year at Hogwarts while he trains with the Auror program.

Old Habits Die Screaming by fictional_simp09. 980 words, rated G.

The best day of Peter Pettigrew’s life was the day he met James Potter. The worst day of his life was when he killed James. But given the choice to relive his life, Peter wouldn’t do a thing differently. If it’s a choice between his own life and his best friend’s, he would always prioritise himself.

Reminiscent by charlie_blue. 4.1k, rated T.

October 31, 1981 Time seemed to stretch and distort, each second dragging on as the unbearable sensation engulfed him. His mind grabbed at the edges of consciousness, desperate to hold onto something—anything. What went through James' mind as he left the world.

Sectumsempra by @ponnie1980. Art, rated G.

No Archive Warnings Apply, Draco Malfoy, Moaning Myrtle, Book 6: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Shall we dance? by @eastwindmlk. 4.7k, rated T.

Christmas Fluff, The Slug Club (Harry Potter), Horace Slughorn's Christmas Parties, Hogwarts Sixth Year, Pre-Relationship, Mistletoe, JilyChallenge December bingo

Smoke by @emmathecasualauthor. 601 words, rated T.

Ginny Weasley doesn’t smoke. Or at least, she didn’t used to. But when Seamus had offered her one back in September, a deadened expression on his face after an unsuccessful attempt to get Lavender to open up after her latest round of Carrow-induced terror, she had taken the cigarette from his hand.

soft landing by @gigglesandfreckles-hp. 1.3k, rated G.

Her laugh is thin, almost watery. “You love other people too, James.” “Yeah, but you’re on the top shelf, Lil.” He presses his lips to her hair and holds her tighter. “Have been for a while.”

"spider!" by lovelydaisys. 723 words, rated G.

Hermione comes to the rescue when there is a spider in Ron's bed

stars that never go out by deathtobread. 163 words, not rated.

From the moment they were born, stars glittered in their eyes. And they never left.

The Lake by paracosm_dreams. 333 words, rated T.

Regulus Black had never given much thought to inferi until they were dragging him to his death.

This is not proper prefect duty... by orical. 554 words, not rated.

Her loose curls, darkened by the dim light, never had the chance to fall back down as James made them run through a long empty corridor. His laughs reverberated off the old mahogany-and-stone walls, and her leather Mary Janes slipped every time she lifted her foot to keep the pace. Yet she didn’t want to slow down. Because how could you ever wish to slow down with James?

Thoughts of Home by @eastwindmlk. 800 words, rated G.

James Potter is excited to go to Hogwarts, to get away from his parents. Or is he?

Thoughts of the End by eastwindmlk. 947 words, rated M.

Sirius and James have a heart to heart.

To Guinevere by @tedwardremus. 2k, rated G.

The New Year's Eve party at Grimmauld Place was a complete bore. But then Ginny walked into the room with a basket of homemade cards.

[is-deltarune-chapter-3-out-yet]

Day 554

Deltarune Chapter 3 is not out yet

[ao3feed-jonmartin]

Cold Tea

read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/IaQy8Kk by Peist S4, Jon Sims is in the archive on his own, makes Martin a cup of tea, but Martin isn't around. kind of spoilers up to season 4?? Words: 554, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English Fandoms: The Magnus Archives (Podcast) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Characters: Jonathan "Jon" Sims | The Archivist, Martin Blackwood Relationships: Martin Blackwood/Jonathan "Jon" Sims | The Archivist Additional Tags: The Magnus Archives Season 4, Lonely Avatar Martin Blackwood, Jonathan "Jon" Sims | The Archivist Needs a Hug read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/IaQy8Kk

[arecaceae175]

Queer (any) Wind to oblivion please and thanku

I’m so on it

Summary: On Tetra’s ship, Wind celebrates a successful battle. Wild makes jokes. 554 words, fluff.

Pronouns: Wind no pronouns, Time xe/xem, Wild ae/aer, Four she/her

“Hah! That’ll show them. Sorry excuse for pirates,” Wind said. Wind was hanging onto a rope with one hand, leaned over the side of the ship waving the Phantom Sword at the retreating ‘pirates.’

“Aye!” Tetra’s crew cheered. The other Links cheerfully joined in the cheers. Wind beamed, smiling widely and chest bursting with pride. Wind straightened Wind’s back to stand as tall as possible and saluted the other heroes.

“I have to admit, that was pretty cool,” Time said.

“Pretty cool? That was the coolest thing I’ve ever seen!” Wild exclaimed. Ae leapt over a cannon and all but tackled Wind, throwing a gleeful arm around Wind’s shoulder. Wind laughed and adjusted Wind’s feet so Wild wouldn’t fall.

“Wind, you have to teach me that move you did with the swinging and the swoosh and the HYAH!!!” Wild jumped forward, mimicking Wind’s earlier movements with extremely entertaining sound effects.

“No, no, it was more like a HYAAA!” Four interjected. She did a slightly different slashing motion.

“You’re both wrong,” Time said. “Just get Wind to show you before you embarrass yourselves any more.”

Time glanced at Wind, and Wind saw xyr smirk and the little gremlin twinkle in xyr eye. Time wanted a demonstration just as much as the rest of them.

Wind smirked and barely contained happy wiggles. Wind had a reputation to uphold, after all. “Alright, landlubbers, watch closely. If you-”

“All clear!” Tetra yelled from the helm. She gestured for Niko to take over the wheel then slid down the ladder.

“Good work crew,” Tetra said. Then she turned to Link with a smile and wiggled her eyebrows. “Shall we?”

Wind glanced between Tetra and the other Links. “Sorry, the demonstration will have to wait.”

“Aw,” Wild mumbled as ae dropped the rope ae had picked up.

“Where are you going?” Time asked.

“Post-battle captain stuff,” Wind said.

“Oh yeah?” Wild asked. Ae waggled their eyebrows suggestively and smirked. “Alone?”

It took a moment, but then Wind realized what Wild was suggesting. Wind’s cheeks went bright read and Wind’s ears dropped and pinned against Wind’s head. Wild grinned widely and made pursed aer lips to make an incredibly exaggerated kissing noise.

“Eugh, no, Wild!” Wind shoved Wild’s face and ae let aerself fall backwards into Four. Wild and Four burst into laughter as Four caught aer weight. “Neither of us are into that. And we’re 14!!!! Ugh. You suck.”

Wind smiled to let them know it was a joking response— they both loved teasing Wind, and they knew Wind was a good sport about it— but still flipped them off as Wind followed Tetra below deck. Wind glanced back before the door closed and saw Time lightly smacking Wild and Four over the head for their jokes.

Four wasn’t quick enough to escape. Wild vaulted aerself onto the mast and attempted to climb out of Time’s reach, but Time was quicker. Time grabbed Wild around the waist and tossed aer onto a pile of soft sacks. Wild flopped onto the sacks, giggling loudly, and quickly turned over to sprint away from Time and Four. Time watched with a small smile and crossed arms.

Wind rolled Wind’s eyes and shut the door. Wind hoped the others would be able to keep their shenanigans from destroying the ship until Wind and Tetra were done with their battle strategy discussion.

[mochiwrites]

Canonically, how long has it been since Grian first met Mumbo till the current chapter of songbird? Like how many months? :0

Also is it okay to ask what age everyone roughly is? Both literally and physically. Since... Yknow- Supernaturals.

oh god okay uh, I used to actually keep track of what month it was when each fic took place but I stopped doing that DVDVFBTHG

if I had to give a super rough guess, I’d say maybe it’s been six or seven months??

and yes! I’ve done the math to the best of my ability LOL

grian - 28

mumbo - physically looks 26, literally? about ahhh 576?

scar - physically looks 24, literally? around 717

pearl - 28

grum - physically looks 13, literally? 554

jrum - physically looks 10, literally? 551

[dailycsmpanels]

Day 554

Chapter 5 - A Way to Touch Some Boobs

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Jessica Schulberg at HuffPost:

During the final six months of Donald Trump’s presidency, his administration carried out an unprecedented execution spree, killing 13 people on federal death row and ending a 17-year de facto federal execution moratorium. Shortly after Joe Biden entered the White House, the Justice Department formally reinstated the federal execution moratorium and announced a sweeping policy review. But despite Biden’s campaign promise to work to end the federal death penalty, there has been little progress toward that goal. Meanwhile, Trump, the GOP’s presumptive 2024 presidential nominee, has openly fantasized about executing drug dealers and human traffickers. He reportedly suggested that officials who leak information to the press should be executed, too. And behind the scenes, there’s a team of pro-Trump conservatives who are pushing for a second Trump term that involves even more state-sponsored killing than the first.

Last year, a coalition effort by conservative groups known as Project 2025 released an 887-page document that lays out policy goals and recommendations for each part of the federal government. Buried on page 554 is a directive to execute every remaining federal death row prisoner — and to persuade the Supreme Court to expand the types of crimes that can be punished with death sentences. Gene Hamilton, the author of the transition playbook’s Department of Justice chapter, wrote that the next conservative administration should “do everything possible to obtain finality” for every prisoner on federal death row, which currently includes 40 people. “It should also pursue the death penalty for applicable crimes—particularly heinous crimes involving violence and sexual abuse of children—until Congress says otherwise through legislation,” he wrote. In a footnote, Hamilton said that this could require the Supreme Court to overrule a previous case, “but the [Justice] department should place a priority on doing so.”

Hamilton, a former Trump DOJ and Department of Homeland Security official, played a leading role in ending Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals — the program that provided protections against deportation for immigrants who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children — and the “zero-tolerance” border policy that resulted in separating children from their families.

If Trump returns to office, the scope for the death penalty would be expanded, per Project 2025 documents.

[dailyanarchistposts]

Footnotes, part 6

[501] Lloyd, Henry Demarest, “Lords of Industry,” 1910, chapter 3.

[502] Lloyd, Henry Demarest, “Lords of Industry,” 1910, chapter 3.

[503] Lloyd, Henry Demarest, “Lords of Industry,” 1910, chapter 3.

[504] Lloyd, Henry Demarest, “Lords of Industry,” 1910, chapter 4.

[505] Lloyd, Henry Demarest, “Lords of Industry,” 1910, chapter 4.

[506] Lloyd, Henry Demarest, “Lords of Industry,” 1910, chapter 4.

[507] Lloyd, Henry Demarest, “Lords of Industry,” 1910, chapter 9.

[508] Watson, Elizabeth C., “Home Work in the Tenements,” 1911, February.

[509] Watson, Elizabeth C., “Home Work in the Tenements,” 1911, February.

[510] New Republic Editorial, “The Quinine Caper,” 1967.

[511] Global Unions (www.global-unions.org)

[512] Burma Forum Los Angeles (www.burmaforumla.org)

[513] Corp Watch (www.corpwatch.org/action/PAA.jsp?articleid=1958)

[514] National Labor Committee (www.nlcnet.org/)

[515] Corp Watch (www.corpwatch.org)

[516] Clean Clothes Campaign (www.cleanclothes.org/)

[517] TransFair USA (www.transfairusa.org/)

[518] UNITE (www.uniteunion.org/)

[519] National Organization for Women (www.now.org/)

[520] Multinational Monitor (multinationalmonitor.org/)

[521] National Organization for Women (www.now.org/)

[522] Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition (www.svtc.org/)

[523] National Labor Committee (www.nlcnet.org/)

[524] Campaign for Labor Rights (www.campaignforlaborrights.org/)

[525] Human Rights Watch (www.hrw.org/)

[526] National Labor Committee (www.nlcnet.org/)

[527] Gay Today (gaytoday.badpuppy.com/)

[528] Multinational Monitor (multinationalmonitor.org/)

[529] Human Rights Campaign (www.hrc.org/)

[530] Corp Watch (www.corpwatch.org)

[531] National Organization for Women (www.now.org/)

[532] Public Citizen (www.citizen.org/)

[533] Vault.com

[534] Solidarity (solidarity.igc.org/)

[535] Corp Watch (www.corpwatch.org)

[536] Corp Watch (www.corpwatch.org)

[537] Corp Watch (www.corpwatch.org)

[538] Global Exchange (www.globalexchange.org/)

[539] The New York Times, October 23, 1997

[540] The Associated Press, November 12, 1997

[541] Managing Risk, December 1997

[542] Global Exchange (www.globalexchange.org/)

[543] Clean Clothes Campaign (www.cleanclothes.org/)

[544] AFSCME (www.afscme.org/)

[545] Corp Watch (www.corpwatch.org)

[546] Human Rights Watch (www.hrw.org/)

[547] Dollars & Sense (www.dollarsandsense.org/)

[548] AAP Newsfeed, March 19, 1998

[549] Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (www.iccr.org/)

[550] The Kansas City Star, March 28, 1998

[551] Investor’s Business Daily, May 21, 1998

[552] Chemical Week, June 24, 1998

[553] The Patriot Ledger, August 4, 1998

[554] Texas Observer, September 11, 1998

[555] The AP State & Local Wire, October 28, 1998

[556] The AP State & Local Wire, October 26, 1998

[557] The National Law Journal, December 21, 1998

[558] Corp Watch (www.corpwatch.org)

[559] Corp Watch (www.corpwatch.org)

[560] Vault.com

[itskarlsefni]

My coloring for Marco the Phoenix and Kizaru [One Piece Manga, chapter 554]

[whateverithinkof]

AO3 Year-End Roundup, 2024

So I happened to see this post by @crackinglamb recently, and I thought that the whole idea of a year-end roundup was amazing. So I decided to do my own! :)

Total words posted (all-time): 148,154

Words written this year: ~136K

Total kudos (all-time): 1,675

Kudos this year: 1,621

Total hits (all-time): 51,209

Hits this year: 48,203

Total user subscriptions (all-time): 32

User subscriptions this year: 32

Total comments (all-time): 472

Comments this year: 470

Total bookmarks (all-time): 581

Bookmarks this year: 554

Total work subscriptions (all-time): 676

Work subscriptions this year: 647

Fandoms I've written for (5): Harry Potter, Yuri On Ice, Hamilton, MCU, Percy Jackson

Fandoms I've read from (36): Percy Jackson, MCU, Harry Potter, DC, Criminal Minds, Teen Wolf, Dear Evan Hansen, Red White & Royal Blue, The Greatest Showman, Sherlock, NCIS, The Mick, Newsies, Nimona, Twisted Wonderland, Twilight, Coco, The Outsiders, Yuri On Ice, Obey Me, Hannibal, Good Omens, Dracula, Mamma Mia, Boy Meets World, Girl Meets World, My Hero Academia, Attack on Titan, Avatar The Last Airbender, Black Butler, Descendants, Haikyuu, Supernatural, BTS, A Biltmore Christmas, Seventeen

Works: 18, 15 of them new

Highest kudos: lookin' up now ('cause i am royalty), at 624. Luke Castellan/Percy Jackson (PJO). Rated T, 16/? chapters, 64,387 words.

Highest hits: lookin' up now ('cause i am royalty), at 24,730. Luke Castellan/Percy Jackson (PJO). Rated T, 16/? chapters, 64,387 words.

Highest kudos one-shot: Miracle, at 181. Katsuki Yuuri/Victor Nikiforov (YOI). Rated T, 5,601 words.

Highest hit one-shot: Miracle, at 3,868. Katsuki Yuuri/Victor Nikiforov (YOI). Rated T, 5,601 words.

New things I tried: This is the first year I've really written a lot fanfic-wise, with 2023 being the first year I ever posted a fanfic, so the main new thing I tried this year was writing fanfiction. But other than that, some new things I tried this year were:

Grammarly: I'm not kidding, I got Grammarly like maybe a year ago? A year and a half ago? So while technically in 2023, I only started using it for fanfics in 2024. It feels crazy to think about, as I use Grammarly a lot now, but I'm glad I started using it then because it really does make a difference. (Not sponsored, lol)

My Hero Academia: I wasn't in the fandom before this year, but I've kinda become obsessed. I haven't written anything for it (yet), but the sheer number of like hundred thousand-word-long fics that there are is like heaven for me.

Yuri on Ice: I originally watched Yuri on Ice on YouTube in 2021, and I. Loved. It. I looked for a second season and was so excited to see that there was a movie planned, but, well... we all know how that went. I didn't really read many fanfics back then, but 2024 was the year for Yuri on Ice fanfics for me. (Notedly my YOI one-shot series Next Level, which currently has 6 fics and the 200+ YOI fics I've read over 2024)

Fic I spent the most time on: lookin' up now ('cause i am royalty), Luke Castellan/Percy Jackson (PJO). Rated T, 16/? chapters, 64,387. I know I keep mentioning it, but seriously this WIP is going to be long. I'm so excited to keep writing it, but the chapters take me forever and a day. 😭 I wish they didn't take me as long, but I think it's worth it for the longer chapters. This fic is what I always wanted to read myself, and I'm happy to be the one to give it to many readers who are also just as excited about it!

Fic I spent the least time on: Moonlight Sonata, Katsuki Yuuri/Victor Nikiforov (YOI). Rated G, 1,482. I was feeling really depressed at the time that I wrote this, and sometimes when I'm feeling really sad I listen to piano and instrumental music. So when this song came on, I got inspired to write. I wrote it in one night, editing, tagging, posting, and all.

Favorite thing I wrote: Moonlight Sonata is honestly my favorite thing I've ever written. It's the type of fic that I don't think many people read, but I loved writing it. It's just a simple story. (lookin' up now ('cause i am royalty) is also one of my favs, but I think that's pretty obvious at this point if you've read all of my previous answers)

Favorite thing I read: This is a tough one... I've read a lot of fics this year, but my top three (that I can think of right now) are:

We Forgot Peter by inkinmyheartandonthepage [Peter Parker & The Avengers (MCU), Rated G, 506,700]: This entire series is just ✨perfection✨. Sometimes angst is just the way to go, and seeing as I love the Avengers and Peter Parker, I just love this.

Leap of Faith by alighterwood and ErinWantsToWrite [Dick Grayson & Peter Parker (MCU & DC), Rated T, 460,010]/A Long Way From Home (And No Way Back) by Vivia_wants_boba [Batfamily Members & Peter Parker (MCU & DC), Rated T, 78,129]: More marvel Peter Parker fics, but this time these two are Peter Parker in Gotham fics. They’re pretty popular (for good reason!), and these two are the ones that I’ve been obsessed with.

The Collector by AwkwaAMO [Aizawa Shouta | Eraserhead & Midoriya Izuku (MHA), Not Rated, 136,945]: One of the best MHA fics I’ve read so far, it sort of covers a vigilante Izuku with a villain-ish quirk, which I love reading about. I do want to write an MHA fic at some point, maybe even in 2025.

Something I finished: 😬 Unfortunately I can’t really think of any fics or series I’ve finished this year (other than one-shots), but I think 2025’s the year for me. I might look at this at the end of next year and still be disappointed in myself that I didn’t finish anything, but I’m determined to at least try.

Miscellaneous highlights:

Posted my first Yuri on Ice fic called Unfaithful [Katsuki Yuuri & Yuri Plisetsky & Otabek Altin (YOI), Rated T, 2,375] in May

Started my first two-shot called Lay All Your Love On Me - Mamma Mia [Yuuri Katsuki/Victor Nikiforov (YOI), Rated T, 2,849] in June

I followed the (slightly old) trend of Yuuri doing the first quad axel in my fic aptly named Quad Axel [Katsuki Yuuri/Victor Nikiforov (YOI), Rated G, 1,416] in June as well

Writing goals for 2025: My main writing goal for 2025 is to finish writing some of my WIPs, but I think another important one is to keep on top of updates. I haven’t been the best with updating all my fics in the last half of 2024, so in 2025 I want to make sure I don’t just spend all my time on one fic. It wouldn’t be that big of a problem if I actually finished that fic, but… my first goal is pretty indicative of the problem with that, lol.

Final thoughts: Overall I think 2024 was the first year I really dove head-first into fanfic. It’s been amazing to be able to write down any kind of story I think of and know that I can just upload it so that people who also enjoy the idea can see it. It’s also crazy that I wrote 130,000+ words, like I hope to be able to write even more in 2025, but still. It’s a lot.

This year I also got 32 subscribers to my AO3 profile, which I thought was crazy. I know many people subscribe to stories to keep track of any updates, but wanting to keep track of what I write? It’s amazing to think about. 😅

Thank you to all my amazing readers! 💞 2024 has been crazy, and I hope 2025 brings us many good fics and lots of happiness ❤️

[i-did-not-mean-to]

20 questions for fic writers

Thank you so much @thenookienostradamus and @lordoftherazzles for the tag...

Let's see...

1. How many works do you have on Ao3? 554 (with two not revealed yet as we speak...). Many of those are collections, though.

2. What’s your total Ao3 word count? 1,986,915 (erm...yeah...well)

3. What fandoms do you write for? Tolkien (The Hobbit, LOTR, The Silm). (+ the odd AU or Richard Armitage movie)

4. What are your top five fics by kudos? Tumblr Imagines (Wild Mix of everything) , October 2022 Ficlet run (same), A key change (Remix Fic), Black (Thorin x OC), Silm imagines and ficlets (Wild Mix again)

5. Do you respond to comments? Yes, in due time. I struggle a lot with being overwhelmed at times (imposter syndrome, fear of not knowing what to say, comments heaping up), but I am so thankful for every comment that I do try to answer them all in a timely manner.

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending? I've written about 1k fics; I do not remember all of them :s I generally don't write angst, so I really couldn't say. Sorry :(

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending? Everything? I am a Happy Ending person, so most of my fics (eventually) get a happy ending :D

8. Do you get hate on fics? Not yet (crossed fingers). At times, I get comments I don't really understand (autism ahoi), but I hope that people didn't mean anything mean by it :)

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind? SMUT? ME? Noooo *cough*...Let's say it has happened! What kind? What kind do you want, baby? MF, FF, MM, trans characters, non-binary characters, threesomes, it has all happened. Sweet and tender? Check. Rough and dirty? Check. Dubconny and dark? Check. Just tell me what you want, and there is a good chance I've either done it or would do it :D

10. Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve written? I have written one crossover for an event (where characters go into a whole different franchise). Otherwise, I am an AU bitch. Disney movies, musicals, you name it.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen? Not that I know of.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated? Again, not that I know of.

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before? Once for an event. Otherwise, I think one could call what @cilil and @melkors-big-tits did for the calendar co-writing. In a way, many collabs with artists are co-written. Any event collab is co-writing (to me). Me stealing @cilil's ideas is co-writing. Me asking for ideas on the @fellowshipofthefics and @tolkienpinupcalendar servers is co-writing. So...yes...yes I have, and I've loved it.

14. What’s your all time favorite ship? Ori x OC, Maedhros x Fingon, Eönwë x Gothmog

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will? Black. It's one of my first fics, and there's only a chapter or so missing...but I don't know if I'll ever finish writing that last chapter. There are a few more where I've written 1-5 additional chapters and never uploaded them...for reasons (?). By now, I am too ashamed and lazy to get back to them.

16. What are your writing strengths? Versatility and speed. I am a mediocre writer in my 5th foreign language, and I make no bones about it. Nevertheless, I am willing to give anything and everything a try :D

17. What are your writing weaknesses? I am extremely wordy. It takes me too long to get to the smut. I refuse to describe settings and geography, so all my plots seem a bit floating and vague.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic? I avoid using languages I don't speak which includes Tolkien's languages. I am too afraid to make mistakes or to sound cringe to people who know better than me. As for RL languages...a word maybe, but a whole sentence (again) might feel contrived...IDK everyone does as they want, but I am not feeling it for myself.

19. First fandom you wrote for? Hamilton (and yes, those stories are orphaned and can never be traced back to me) Otherwise, the Hobbit LOL

20. Favourite fic you’ve written? Monkey-business, because I really liked writing that fic. It's a kitschy Hallmark Christmas story featuring Ori (not interesting, I know). But that's my personal fave lol...

Hmmm, let's tag @maglor-my-beloved, @lathalea, @scyllas-revenge, @laurfilijames, @middleearthpixie, @littlesweetdressmaker, @legolasbadass, @urwendii, @cilil, @the-red-butterfly, @fishing4stars, and @elentarial to get a good mix of people :D

[blueberryshelves]

__________________________________________

Book Review

Title:  A Duet with the Siren Duke Author: Elise Kova

Series: Married to Magic, book #4 - standalone

No. of Pages: 554

ISBN: 9781949694413 

Synopsis:

She sold her soul to a siren and now he’s come to collect.

Victoria risks everything to leave a dangerous marriage and gain a second chance at life. But when her escape goes awry, she finds herself caught in the strong embrace of a mysterious siren, forced to choose: temporary salvation or immediate death.

And so, a cursed deal is struck.

Five years later, Victoria is alive—and the world’s finest ship captain. But her debt to the siren looms while her conniving ex has demanded a king’s ransom as the final price of her freedom. Victoria refuses to cause her family to suffer any more on her behalf, and is determined to make things right before her time is up. But that time is cut short.

The siren comes for her. Six months early.

Taken to the magical and deadly Eversea, home of the sirens, Victoria discovers she’s the sacrifice upon which all sirens pin their hopes. If they want to appease an angry god and save a world on the brink of destruction, then they need her. Which gives her the perfect leverage.

Victoria strikes a new bargain: the Siren Duke will help save her family, and she’ll fulfill his demands. It’s a good bargain until a flicker of passion ignites in the scarred remnants of Victoria's heart, threatening all she's worked for. As the sacrifice for the God of Death, she’s meant to give up everything that draws her to the world of the living. But that’s impossible when all she can think about is how this handsome siren’s song, and his hands, make her feel very much alive.

In a realm of ancient magic, submerged secrets, and forgotten gods, can love find a place among shattered hearts as they race against time and the blossoming of forbidden desires? Or will the delicate songs of their hearts be silenced once and for all?

A Duet with the Siren Duke is a complete, *stand alone novel*. It’s for readers looking for a fantasy romance with deep lore, second-chance love, sacrifice, forbidden and slow-burn romance that sizzles on the page, and a happily ever after where love triumphs over all.

While it is set in the Married to Magic universe, readers can start with this book as all Married to Magic novels are stand alones.

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What did I think of the book?

A Duet with the Siren Duke by Elise Kova My rating: ⭐ 1.5 of 5 stars Disclaimer: SPOILERS It's not often I dnf a book, and I definitely wasn't expecting to do so with this one. First couple chapters start off pretty strong, promising a tension-packed story while following the growth of a young woman becoming her own self after escaping from abuse. For a while I actually enjoyed it, and I even liked a couple of the characters, especially Ilryth's child-like fascination with the human world and treasure collection (very much like Ariel from The Little Mermaid). But after the big spicy scene, I put the book down at chapter 36, and didn't touch it again for months. There was just no way I was getting through all 53 chapters of this story. It drags, and drags, and drags to the point where I wanted to strangle the book when I realized I still had 17 more chapters of this to go. The writing is unnecessarily melodramatic, and the story is choked with too many boring details and cringy dialogue. Most of the characters lack substance, and a lot of the tension and so-called "romance" feels forced and unnatural. The actual plot of the book doesn't get much better either after the first few chapters, it was like the story had a clear direction at first and then nose-dived into chaos and confusion with too many ideas fighting for dominance. Maybe it got better in the ending but from what others have commented, I don't have high hopes.

I personally think the plot in the beginning is solid and would have been a pretty great story if the book had stayed true to it, but there's just too much going on for the rest of the story after the siren takes Victoria (the FMC) away. The whole thing about "save the siren world by sacrificing the human girl" could have honestly been done away with entirely, because it's nothing more than a total distraction from the emotions surrounding family in the beginning of the book. If the plot had stayed focused on Victoria's fight to save her family from her scummy ex and the systems of her world, it could have been a really self-empowering story, and her romance with Ilryth would still have been possible, (and imo more enjoyable to read about as he helps her). But we just don't get to explore any of that in a meaningful way at all, and instead Victoria becomes a hollowed version of herself that is just so depressing to read about. That being said, I did enjoy getting into a new siren/merfolk story, because while so much was not great about this one, I loved the sirens and culture based around them in the book, and their underwater kingdom. It helped to rekindle my love of mermaids and the ocean, which is great because I really need to get back into swimming again. Favorite character/s: Ilryth, and partially Victoria - for the fact that I can relate in personal ways to both of their struggles (at least for some small parts of the book). What drew me to this book? I was in the mood for a water/merfolk themed book, and the gorgeous cover snatched my attention immediately. I'd give the book a place on my shelf just for the cover alone if the story wasn't so hard to get through. Stars: 1.5/5 stars. Certainly not the worst I've read. But while I enjoyed some things, there just wasn't anything gripping or exciting enough as the story went on that made it worth finishing. View all my reviews