#Amal is also there for emotional support

[the-eldritch-it-gay]

the ideal group of friends among my da ocs n canon characters in my mind is Fenris, Serafine, Abjid, Azahar, and Zevran. Because they’re 🤝🏽 on trauma and also These Elves Can Murder You So Hard.

Together it’s My OCs That I Project My Trauma On and Project My Horrific Experiences Working As And Or Being Treated As A Custodian/Maid, and The Canon Characters I Cling To For Comfort.

[datinglife]

Age Difference Stories

Age-gap relationships have always sparked intrigue, curiosity, and sometimes controversy. While the concept of love transcending age is hardly new, the increasing openness surrounding these relationships has brought many compelling stories to the forefront. Couples with significant age differences often face unique challenges and societal scrutiny, but many also share powerful, inspiring stories of deep connections.

1. The Nature of Age-Gap Relationships

Age-gap relationships generally refer to couples where there is a significant difference in their ages, typically ten years or more. These relationships can take many forms—sometimes it’s the man who is older, sometimes the woman. No matter the combination, they tend to garner extra attention due to the perceived gap in life experiences, maturity, and long-term compatibility.

However, for many couples, age is simply a number, and love, connection, and shared values take precedence over birth years. While cultural and generational differences may arise, couples who navigate these relationships often find ways to make them work through mutual understanding and communication.

2. Challenges Faced by Age-Difference Couples

Despite the happiness that many age-difference couples experience, they often encounter challenges that couples of the same age might not face as frequently. Some of the most common issues include:

Social Scrutiny: Age-gap couples may face judgment from society, friends, and family members, especially if the age gap is wide. People often question their motivations or assume ulterior motives, such as financial gain or the pursuit of youth.

Life Stage Differences: One partner might be in a completely different stage of life than the other. For example, the older partner might be considering retirement, while the younger partner may be just starting their career or thinking about having children.

Generational Differences: Differences in cultural references, tastes, and technology can sometimes create disconnects. Things like music, movies, or even social media habits may vary drastically.

3. Success Stories of Age-Gap Couples

While there are challenges, many couples with significant age differences have demonstrated that these relationships can be both successful and fulfilling. Some high-profile examples include:

George and Amal Clooney: With a 17-year age gap, this famous couple has become a model for successful age-gap relationships. Despite being at different points in their lives when they met, George and Amal have built a strong, supportive partnership and have since started a family together.

Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones: This Hollywood couple, with a 25-year age difference, has been together for over two decades. They have openly discussed the challenges and triumphs of their relationship, emphasizing that shared values and mutual respect are key factors in their success.

Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi: The couple, who has a 15-year age difference, has been together since 2004. They often praise each other in interviews, focusing on their shared love and support for one another.

These couples show that despite the obstacles, age-gap relationships can thrive just as well as any other.

4. Why Do Age-Gap Relationships Work?

What makes these relationships work, despite the potential hurdles? Several factors play a role in fostering lasting connections between partners with significant age differences:

Maturity and Life Experience: In many cases, the older partner brings emotional maturity and life experience that can complement the energy and fresh perspective of the younger partner. This balance can lead to a deeper understanding and respect for each other’s journeys.

Shared Values: A shared set of values and goals is crucial for any relationship, and this is no different in age-gap couples. Partners who focus on their similarities and shared aspirations rather than their differences tend to build stronger bonds.

Open Communication: Age-gap couples who are successful often emphasize the importance of open and honest communication. Discussing expectations, future goals, and potential challenges early on can help prevent misunderstandings.

5. Conclusion

Age-gap relationships, while often subject to scrutiny, offer a unique and valuable perspective on love and companionship. For those who find themselves in such relationships, the key to success lies in mutual respect, communication, and focusing on shared values rather than differences in age. Ultimately, stories of couples with significant age gaps remind us that love knows no boundaries, including age. Whether overcoming social judgment or generational differences, these couples prove that a strong connection can outlast even the most conventional barriers. Read More

[sluttypatrickstar]

clarkesworld #214 thoughts

it is the first of july and my second issue of clarkesworld magazine has dropped into my inbox, so let's go!

"every hopeless thing" by tia tashiro

3/5

our protagonist, elodie, is scavenging on an uninhabited and irradiated earth when she discovers that it IS inhabited after all -- people have been living underground this whole time. this one's pretty cute, it's about choosing to live on your own terms (and supporting others to do the same), and an extra cookie for a sassy AI. :)

"i will meet you when the artifacts end" by amal singh

4/5

initially seems to be about the romance between noori and jai on a dating app but goes a bit deeper as things go wrong on the ship (which is taking them to a new planet, sonagrah prime). very good at eliciting emotion and the feeling of uselessness you feel as an ordinary person when stuff is going on around you with the higher ups and it’s all just happening TO you and i enjoyed the indian perspective and worldbuilding (of the ship – shipbuilding???) – biomes in the ship have names like delhi and mumbai and the main character tries to replicate the temperature of a delhi winter with little success. i did find it a bit confusing to follow though and found myself a bit lost at times, though otherwise thought this was a very vivid piece.

"the best version of yourself" by grant collier

5/5

brb crying. need to walk around the block after this one. crying sobbing. not quite sure how to explain this one except that a company called eudaimon has invented this nanobot procedure that makes everybody into the ‘best’ version of themself and the person who they want to be and eventually go into a state of nirvana. the protagonist, maria, lives on a preserve, one of the few places in the world that hasn’t been taken over by the joyjelly. i don’t want to say too much tbh because i really think this deserves to be read, i found it dystopian and scary but also very deeply emotional and impactful and asks the question what does it really mean to be the best version of yourself and is that really what you want.

[caosdangsuy]

The Online Social Movement of #NeverAgain: the rise of students

After the shooting that resulted in the deaths of 17 students and staff in February 2018 in Parkland, a student council at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School (MSD) was formed to call for reforms in weapons control and prevent school shootings. The student council brings together many prominent names like David Hogg, Emma González, Cameron Kasky Jaclyn Corin, and many other students. It was forty days after the shootings at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland Florida that a group of students mobilized to conduct a national protest to support gun control in the United States(Burch& Mazze,2018)

Operating under the banner of March for Our Lives, the emerging movement utilizes the hashtag #NeverAgain as a calling card (Alperstein& Jones, 2020). Many protests took place across the United States, attracting millions of participants, including "March for Our Lives" on March 24, 2018, in Washington, DC. In June 2018, members of this student council decided to travel across the United States and organize protests that summer, while encouraging teenagers who would turn 18 to vote in the 2018 election. The protest was energized after receiving more than $500,000 in donations from George and Amal Clooney and many other celebrities. Michelle and Barack Obama also wrote a handwritten letter to Parkland students, expressing admiration for their advocacy against gun violence in March 2018.

During the difficult protest, the MSD student body used the hashtag #NeverAgain on social networking platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and X (Twitter) to raise awareness about the campaign. Emma González is one of the most typical and famous faces, having twice as many followers as the National Rifle Association (NRA) on X and she inspired others to join the movement, comforting the students who survived shootings around the world and criticizing politicians who she felt treated her and other student survivors of gun violence with little or no respect. Following that, a series of other members also shared their messages with #NeverAgain and #MarchforOurLives and called on other users to tweet. The hashtag #NeverAgain became a hot hashtag on search engines and created a large media wave on social networks.

Although passing new gun control laws still faces many political challenges, the movement has received many positive results. Specifically, the Florida legislature passed a bill titled the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act which raised the minimum age for purchasing firearms to 21, established waiting periods and testing background checks, providing arming programs for some teachers and hiring school police, banning the sale of guns, and banning potentially violent or mentally unhealthy people from being arrested under certain laws determined.

It can be seen that the success of #NeverAgain has become one of the typical examples of the spread of hashtags on social networking platforms.

Reference list

Alperstein, N & Jones, T 2020, ‘The Online Social Movement of #NeverAgain: How Social Networks Build a Sense of Membership, Influence, Support and Emotional Connection on Twitter’, The Journal of Social Media in Society, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 127–149, viewed 8 June 2024, <https://thejsms-org.translate.goog/index.php/JSMS/article/view/599?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=vi&_x_tr_hl=vi&_x_tr_pto=wapp>.

Appropriations Committee and Rules Committee 2018, ‘CS/SB 7026 — Public Safety’, Flsenate.gov, viewed <https://www.flsenate.gov/Committees/BillSummaries/2018/html/1886>.

Sippy, Z & Sheinerman, M-R 2024, ‘The #NeverAgain Movement Six Years Later’, www.thenation.com, viewed <https://www.thenation.com/article/activism/parkland-florida-never-again-march-for-our-lives-anniversary/>.

[yaraheemu]

Powerful Duas to Deepen Your Husband's Love

Maintaining love and harmony in a marriage is a desire shared by many. In the Islamic tradition, dua (supplication) is a powerful tool for seeking Allah's blessings and guidance in all aspects of life, including relationships. Here, we explore various dua for husband love for enhancing love and understanding between spouses.

Dua for My Husband to Love Me

One of the most heartfelt desires in a marriage is for mutual love and affection. If you seek to increase your husband's love for you, consider reciting this dua with sincerity and devotion:

Dua:

"Rabbana Hablana Min Azwajina Wa Dhurriyyatina Qurrata A'yunin Wa-J'alna Lil Muttaqeena Imama."

Translation: "Our Lord, grant us from our wives and our offspring comfort to our eyes and make us an example for the righteous."

This dua, from Surah Al-Furqan (25:74), is a beautiful supplication asking Allah to bless the relationship and make it a source of joy and comfort. When reciting this dua, it is essential to have complete faith in Allah’s wisdom and timing.

Dua to Get Husband’s Love

Sometimes, a wife might feel a need to rekindle the love in her marriage. In such situations, turning to specific duas can provide spiritual support. One such powerful dua is:

Dua:

"Allahumma inni as'aluka hubbaka wa hubba man yuhibbuka wal-'amal alladhi yuballighuni hubbaka. Allahumma jal hubbaka ahabba ilayya min nafsi wa ahli wa min al-ma'il-barridi."

Translation: "O Allah! I ask You for Your love and the love of those who love You, and for the deeds that will bring me closer to Your love. O Allah! Make Your love dearer to me than my own self, my family, and even cold water."

While this dua specifically asks for Allah’s love, it also implicitly seeks the love of those who love Allah, which includes a righteous husband. Reciting this dua can help create a spiritual atmosphere where love and affection flourish.

Making Duas a Transformative Part of Daily Life

Reciting duas is not just about the words; it's about the intention and faith behind them. Here are some practical tips on how to effectively incorporate these duas into your daily routine:

Consistency is Key: Make it a habit to recite these duas regularly. You can choose specific times, such as after Fajr or before going to bed, to ensure consistency.

Pray Together: If possible, pray together with your husband. Engaging in acts of worship together can strengthen your bond and create a peaceful home environment.

Reflect on the Meaning: Understand the meanings of the duas you are reciting. Reflecting on the words can deepen your connection with the supplication and make it more heartfelt.

Create a Spiritual Environment: Foster a spiritual atmosphere at home by encouraging acts of kindness, compassion, and mutual respect. This can help in creating a loving and harmonious relationship.

Additional Practices for Strengthening Love

Besides reciting duas for husband love, here are some additional practices that can help in enhancing the love and affection in your marriage:

Communication: Open and honest communication is fundamental. Make time to listen to each other and express your feelings.

Acts of Kindness: Small acts of kindness go a long way in showing love. Whether it's a thoughtful gesture or helping with daily tasks, these acts can strengthen your bond.

Quality Time: Spend quality time together, engage in shared activities, and make memories. This helps in building a strong emotional connection.

Appreciation and Gratitude: Regularly express appreciation and gratitude for each other. Recognizing and valuing each other's efforts can nurture a loving relationship.

Conclusion

Turning to dua for a husband’s love is a powerful way to seek divine assistance in nurturing a loving and affectionate relationship. By incorporating these supplications into your daily life and combining them with practical efforts to enhance your marriage, you can foster a deep and lasting bond with your spouse. Remember, the essence of any dua lies in the sincerity and faith with which it is recited. May Allah bless all marriages with love, compassion, and harmony. You can visit our website to take the advantages of our Various husband related duas.

[yadalamalofficial]

Navigating the New Normal: Mother and Baby Care in the Comfort of Home

In the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare, one aspect that has seen significant transformation is the way we approach mother and baby care at home, especially in the wake of recent global challenges. With the emergence of the "new normal," families are increasingly seeking solutions that prioritize safety, convenience, and personalized care. At Yad Al Amal Home Healthcare Center, we understand the unique needs of new mothers and their babies, and we are committed to providing comprehensive and compassionate care right in the comfort of your own home.

The Importance of Mother and Baby Care at Home

For centuries, the concept of home has been synonymous with security, warmth, and familiarity. It is within this nurturing environment that the bond between a mother and her newborn flourishes. However, in today's fast-paced world, many new mothers find themselves overwhelmed with the demands of modern life, making it challenging to fully immerse themselves in the joys of motherhood. This is where home-based healthcare services play a crucial role.

Personalized Care for Every Stage

At Yad Al Amal Home Healthcare Center, we recognize that every mother and baby duo is unique, each with their own set of needs and preferences. That's why we offer a range of specialized services tailored to support you through every stage of your journey, from pregnancy to postpartum and beyond.

Antenatal Care: Our team of experienced healthcare professionals provides comprehensive antenatal care, including regular check-ups, nutritional counseling, and prenatal education, all in the comfort of your home. We understand that pregnancy can be a time of excitement and uncertainty, and our aim is to ensure that you feel supported and informed every step of the way.

Newborn Care: Welcoming a newborn into the family is a momentous occasion, but it can also be a time of adjustment and learning. Our skilled nurses and lactation consultants are here to offer guidance and support on a range of topics, including breastfeeding, infant nutrition, and newborn hygiene. Whether you're a first-time parent or adding to your growing family, we are here to provide the assistance you need to navigate the early days of parenthood with confidence.

Postpartum Care: The postpartum period is a time of physical and emotional recovery for new mothers, and it's essential to prioritize self-care during this sensitive time. Our postpartum care services are designed to support you as you adjust to life with your new baby, offering assistance with breastfeeding, wound care, and emotional support. We understand that every mother's experience is unique, and we are here to provide the personalized care and attention you deserve.

Advantages of Home-Based Mother and Baby Care

Choosing home-based healthcare services offers a multitude of benefits for both mothers and babies. Here are just a few reasons why more families are opting for mother and baby care at home in Dubai:

1. Comfort and Convenience: There's no place like home, especially when it comes to caring for a newborn. By receiving care in familiar surroundings, mothers can relax and focus on bonding with their baby without the stress of travel or hospital visits.

2. Personalized Attention: Unlike traditional healthcare settings, where appointments are often rushed and impersonal, home-based care allows for one-on-one attention from dedicated healthcare professionals who take the time to address your individual needs and concerns.

3. Reduced Risk of Infection: Hospitals and medical facilities can be breeding grounds for germs and infections, which can pose a risk to vulnerable newborns. By opting for home-based care, you can minimize your baby's exposure to harmful pathogens and ensure a safe and hygienic environment.

4. Family-Centered Care: Home-based mother and baby care encourages family involvement and fosters a sense of togetherness during this special time. Siblings, grandparents, and other family members can participate in the care process, strengthening bonds and creating lasting memories.

5. Continuity of Care: By partnering with Yad Al Amal Home Healthcare Center, you can rest assured knowing that you will receive consistent, high-quality care throughout your pregnancy, delivery, and beyond. Our team works closely with you to develop a customized care plan that meets your evolving needs and preferences.

Conclusion

As we navigate the new normal together, Yad Al Amal Home Healthcare Center remains committed to providing exceptional mother and baby care at home in dubai that prioritize safety, comfort, and convenience. Whether you're expecting your first child or welcoming a new addition to your family, we are here to support you every step of the way. Contact us today to learn more about our home-based healthcare services and discover how we can help you create a nurturing environment for you and your baby right in the heart of Dubai.

[13uswntimagines]

Family’s Hard (Kristie Mewis x Reader)

Request: part 2 of the fic with Kristie that you post today! Maybe something with the r and Kristie both getting call for the national camp and we see a bit of what happen at camp with mal. pt 2. Maybe with both the reader and Kristine on the USENT roster and the fallout with Amal because of the reader being there. part 2 of the reader and mal meet up again joined by the team

Pt. One 

You had never been more unhappy while staring at a plate full of pancakes in your entire existence. You loved your typical practice meal (and your girlfriend of almost a year’s hand on your thigh while you ate it), but you weren’t enjoying the disapproving glare you were getting from across the table. She had been like this the moment you stepped off the plane, and you feared she wouldn’t stop until camp was over. 

It wasn’t like you decided to sit at this table to annoy Mal. Kristie wanted to sit with Sam, and you weren’t about to brave the dining room all by your little lonesome (plus you liked the team's Tower of Power and enjoyed watching the siblings banter).

You shifted uncomfortably in your seat, pushing your chocolate chip pancakes around the plate, and keeping your eyes trained on your fork. 

“You ok?” Your girlfriend asked, her lips caressing your ear. You didn’t miss the way your older sister's nose scrunched at the looseness between you and the older midfielder. 

“Just tired. The flight from Houston was super long,” You mumbled, shrugging lightly. 

“You sure?” Kristie nudged your cheek with her nose and squeezed your thigh. You had been jittery since you left your shared apartment in Houston to head for camp and no amount of reassuring from your girlfriend seemed to be helping. 

“Psh. The flight home from France was exhausting, and then we had to get ready for good morning America. That was crazy, right Sammy?” Mal said with a wicked smile, completely cutting you off. Your mouth clicked shut and Kristie squeezed your thigh again (her jaw working overtime to prevent the scathing comment from leaving the tip of her tongue). 

Mal had been impossible since you stepped foot into the hotel the USWNT had commandeered for camp. She had swung between outright bitchy and underhanded reminders of Jill's preference of her over you all day and Kristie was getting sick of it. Your shoulders slouched a little more with every remark, every jab clouding over a little bit more of your sunshine. 

“That was pretty crazy,” Sam nodded, watching you and her sister carefully. She was trying to run as much interference as she could, but it seemed your sister wanted to make you as uncomfortable as possible. Almost like she was trying to drive you off the team. 

“Definitely not as crazy as that party right after we won. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so much champagne in my entire life. Not even after we beat Texas,” Mal added, and you shivered at the memory, wilting under her glare. 

It was your freshman year (and coincidentally Mal’s senior year), and the first time the two of you had ever really played against each other. UCLA decimated your team and took over a frat house to celebrate. From what you heard, it was one of the biggest parties Texas A&M had ever seen. 

Kristie sighed, wrapping the arm that was on your leg around your back, rubbing soothing circles. You leaned into the touch, still playing with the food on your plate, trying to hold your tongue and not rise to Mal’s prodding. 

“From what I hear there was a lot of alcohol after Houston won the challenge cup,” Sam nodded, sharing a look with her sister and side-eyeing her friend. 

“That was just beer, Sammy. It wasn’t as classy because no one cares about an arbitrary chaos cup win, especially after we won the World Cup. It’s all about scale,” Mal continued, completely ignoring the glare Kristie had pointed at her, enjoying the way you were squirming in your chair. 

You shoved your plate away, giving up on eating. You didn’t want to be here. 

“I'm sure. I’m gonna go. The uniform staff wanted to see me anyway,” You mumbled, just loud enough for Kristie to hear you (or so you thought). 

Mal’s vicious smile grew. She just couldn’t seem to help herself when it came to you. You were always chasing after her, and this time she had done what you couldn’t. She wasn’t ready to give that up yet. 

“I’d tell you to switch names, but all I can suggest is to pick a number you can actually live up to,” She sneered. 

Your entire being froze and you blinked owlishly at your older sister (taking comfort in how Kristie's arm tightened around you). 13 had been your number since high school, but you knew that Alex was a vet and you weren’t stupid (or disrespectful) enough to even dream of trying to take it. You knew you would never be even close to the level of Alex Morgan. 

You had accepted that and Instead chosen a different number, one you were proud to wear. You had no control over the last name on your jersey (until Kristie and you decided you wanted to get married, if you wanted to get married, and that was still pretty far off). 

“Come on. They wanted to do a quick check-in with me too,” Kristie said, standing and dragging you with her out of the room, her eyes sending daggers towards your sister. She was done watching you collapse back into yourself. 

****

Sam stared at Mal’s Cheshire Cat grin, her mouth agape. She didn’t understand why your older sister was being like this, or how she could continue eating as though she didn’t just rip you apart. (And at this rate someone had to stop her before Kristie killed her). 

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Sam said, leaning forward and resting both elbows on the table. 

Mal shrugged, taking another sip of her orange juice. “What? I’m just being realistic,”

If you didn’t want to hear stories about their triumph at the World Cup, or how awesome the party was afterward, you could just find yourself a new seat (and take your girlfriend with you- you always did have to outdo her). 

“You were a little harsh babe,” Rose said softly, patting the forward's hand. 

Sam scoffed loudly, shaking her head. “She practically crumbled under that last comment,”

It was painful to watch your shy bean self withdraw back into the shell her sister worked so hard to crack. Even if you had Kristie here to support you, she wasn’t sure how long you would last without bursting into tears or getting into a screaming match with your sister. You were under enough pressure as it was. 

“She’s just overly sensitive. If she wants to play in the big leagues she’s going to have to learn to stand up for herself,” Mal rolled her eyes. 

It was a going joke in your family that Mal got the brains and beauty, while you just got the leftover emotions. Ever since you were kids, she had been the extroverted one saving you from bullies and being the “good example” that her parents wanted her to be. But this was her thing, and she didn’t want you horning in on it. (It was also a slight protective instinct too. She would rather be the one giving you shit than the media. They were ruthless and you would probably never forgive her. The road to hell was paved with good intentions after all.)

Sam sighed, taking in how Mal’s eyes tighten just a touch beneath her nonchalance. As much as she wanted to pretend she didn’t care about you, it was obvious that she did. The questions now were if she was willing to have a change of attitude and if she would even be able to repair the damage she had already done. 

“Just be careful with how far you push her, alright?” Sam said thoughtfully. 

Mal rolled her eyes again, any care she may have felt disappearing. “I know what I’m doing Sam,” 

“I really hope you do, because I remember what it was like to always be trying to live up to your older sister and how difficult that was. And Kristie knew when to cut me some slack,” Sam said, raising her eyebrow at the younger woman. 

She really hoped she could get through to her before Mal lost you, and Kristie kicked her head off. 

*****

You sighed into Kristie's lips, enjoying the way her hips pinned you to the wall and her tongue explored your mouth. You weren’t one for public displays of affection, but she had dragged you into an abandoned corner of the hotel after your sister's clear display of disdain. 

You guessed an upside to being at camp with Mal was your girlfriend's desire to cheer you up. You always responded better to physical contact (which was why Kristie used it to help you calm down all the time). 

You hummed as the hands under your shirt made their way up to cup your cheeks, her fingers tangling in the baby hairs at the back of your neck. She let the kiss continue for another minute, before pulling back, so her lips were just barely ghosting over your own and your foreheads were touching. 

You futilely tried to push off the wall and chase her lips, only for her to chuckle and pull back so you couldn’t reach, keeping you pinned with her hips. 

“Ah, no more kisses until you say it,” She mumbled, her breath fanning across your lips. 

You whined. You loved how supportive Kristie was, but you didn’t want to do this right now. You didn’t want to go through your normal reaffirmation routine. Not after the shots, Mal had taken at you. 

“But-“

Kristie chucked at the keening whine again, shaking her head (both at how adorable your pout was and because she was standing her ground). She learned a long time ago that the best way to stop your mental spiraling was for you to say how worth it you were. “No buts. To get what you want you gotta say it,” 

You huffed, I ally opening your eyes to look into Kristie’s determined blue. She raised her eyebrow at you. 

“I’m an amazing person, no matter what anyone says,” You mumbled, looking away from your girlfriend. She hummed, using her thumb to tilt your chin back up. 

“And?” She asked, a smile playing on her lips. Your pout deepened. You were set to start and Mal had made you feel bad about it. Now Kristie was trying to get you to admit that you deserved the opportunity. 

The two of you stared at each other for a long minute, and you debated in trying to get back to the kissing again, to not say the last part of your mantra. Kristie's thumb ran soothingly over your cheek as if she was reading your mind. “Come on babe,” she said softly. 

You bit your lip, finally giving in. “I shouldn’t feel guilty about opportunities I receive,”

“Good,” Kristie smiled, leaning back in to connect your lips. You smiled back into the kiss. Maybe things weren’t so bad if you got this treatment after your sister was mean to you, even if Kristie was trying to get you to finally confront her about her behavior. “And for the record, you can always say you’ll have a cooler last name later,” 

*****

This was getting out of hand. Very out of hand. You hit the ground again, your face scraping against the turf after another bad tackle. You groaned, pushing yourself up off the turf and brushing yourself off, ignoring the hand of the defender in front of you in favor of taking the hand your girlfriend offered. 

Kristie glared at the blond defender, very pissed off that she was pushing you so hard. “Fucking watch it Sonnett, another tackle like that and I’ll beat your ass myself,” Your girlfriend growled, brushing a stray piece of turf off your back. 

Emily shrugged, awkwardly scratching the back of her neck. “Just trying to test the Rookie. Need to make sure she can handle a little pressure,” 

She liked you, but with the pressure, Mal was putting n you, she thought that they were all going to go hard. To show you exactly how difficult this game could be and how much you needed to work to be on their level. 

“I think Mal is doing enough of that on her own,” Kristie raised her eyebrow at the woman, still rubbing the turf off your back and cringing at the new burn. If this hadn’t been a teammate’s doing, she probably would have killed them by now. Ripped them limb from limb for touching you, but you didn’t need that. You needed her support and not her overprotectiveness. 

“She actually needs to be able to play against Canada,” Sam said, patting her back. Emily shook her head. Mal was right. She would rather be the one to go hard on you and prepare you than some random defender who didn’t care at all. 

As far as she was concerned, Mal’s plan was still in effect and you were going to have to pull some trick to get past her again. 

****

Everything seemed to happen in slow motion. Kristie threaded a ball through the gap between Becky and Julie, straight to you. You turned, taking advantage of the gap in the backline, dribbling across to try and get a clear shot. 

You didn’t see that gap collapsing. You didn’t see Emily and Midge racing towards you until it was too late. There was a loud crunch as you were caught between the two defenders, and tumbled to the ground. 

The reaction from the rest of the team was instant. Kristie raced over, followed closely by Sam. Both women kneeling down next to you, trying to get you to roll over. It seemed that another blue blur was already laying into the two defenders. 

“Lay the fuck off my sister,” Mal yelled, shoving Sonnett back from where her shifting form was standing over you. 

Emily held her hands up in defense, stumbling away from you. “I’m just trying to keep the intensity up, exactly like you are,” 

Mal growled audibly, stepping up to the taller defender and wrapping her fist into her shirt. “It’s different. She’s my sister and I’m the only one who gets to fuck with her. Got it,” she said her voice deadly calm. 

Emily nodded rapidly, her eyes wide as Mal straightened her shirt, patting her shoulder. Emily backed away slowly, her hands still extended, terrified that Mal (and your girlfriend) would decide to actually kill her. 

Mal nodded once the offending defenders were far enough away from you, before turning in your direction. 

You were finally on your feet, shifting awkwardly and rubbing the back of your neck. 

“Thanks,” You mumbled as she approached. 

She smiled, pulling you into a very strange hug.“You got it, kid. I love you, even if you’re not as good as me yet,”

She let you go and winked. You smiled and trotted off back to your position, warmth filling you. Sure you weren’t on the best terms, but you were sisters and the act was like a white flag. A truce. 

Kristie caught Mal’s arms as she passed. “Learn to lay off a little bit. I don’t want to have to hurt you,”

Mal nodded. You were family mad the only one who got to mess with you was her. She would kill anyone else who tried and she was glad you had gained two protectors. 

[a-rivederlestelle]

my top ten books of 2020

so i read exactly 100 books in 2020 ~to cope~ and decided to share my top ten!!! (i'll add my descriptions/random thoughts under a readmore)

the priory of the orange tree by samantha shannon

gideon the ninth by tamsyn muir

this is how you lose the time war by amal el-mohtar and max gladstone

giovanni's room by james baldwin

a wizard of earthsea by ursula k. le guin

on a sunbeam by tillie walden

the sound of waves by yukio mishima

the bridge of san luis rey by thorton wilder

red, white, and royal blue by casey mcquiston

code name verity by elizabeth wein

A beautifully written feminist fantasy retelling of St. George and the Dragon. A diverse cast of characters, gorgeous and engaging worldbuilding, so many dragons, and maybe one of the most carefully, beautifully developed f/f relationships between main characters that I’ve ever read. I’ve reread it multiple times, including listening to the audio book just to feel more immersed. This is exactly what I mean when I say I love fantasy and want to find more fantasy books.

A lesbian necromancers space opera filled with honest-to-god in-text meme references crossed with a whodunnit murder mystery. The most unique narrative voice I’ve ever read with the most distinct character personalities. Balances horror and humor on a needle point with ease. I literally created a playlist for this that I then wrote a song-by-song explanation for, if that explains anything.

A delicately interwoven love story in gorgeous epistolary prose. Alternating points of view, constantly shifting settings, breathtaking metaphors and imagery. “I’ll be all the poets, I’ll kill them all and take each one’s place in turn, and every time love’s written in all the strands it will be to you.” is an actual quote that makes me lose my fucking mind. I can and will judge a book by its cover when it’s as beautiful inside and out as this novella.

Reading this book will now always be waking up early on a summer morning and sitting outside in the slowly warming sun, surrounded by green and birdsong and patio stones chilly under my feet. Reading the sentence “And here my baby came indeed, through all that sunlight, his face flushed and his hair flying, his eyes, unbelievably, like morning stars.” and sitting with it in all that sunlight, in all that early morning silence. It’s hard to put anything else about this novel into words.

The main conflict revolves not around a war, but a path to self-discovery. As Le Guin described it, “The discovery brings him victory, the kind of victory that isn't the end of a battle but the beginning of a life.” This was an important distinction for me: these worlds, these characters are not singularly contained within their pages. At the end of every story can be, should be, at its core, the beginning of a life.

Found family on a spaceship. Beautifully diverse female and nonbinary characters. What else could you want from a graphic novel? A love story, a coming of age story, a story about community and healing and support all shown through distinctly designed and colored panels. Beautiful. Just so beautiful and hopeful and loving.

A classic Japanese coming of age novel with prose as rolling, swelling, and captivating as the sea itself. Full of resonating emotion, a genuine young protagonist, delicate young love, and human connection. There’s this emotion I felt while reading it that I still can’t adequately explain, something fulfilling and melancholic all at once.

Thornton Wilder has the most distinct power of any writer I’ve read to show significance in the insignificant. There’s a beautiful simplicity in the way this book lays bare the humanity in all people. He narratively grapples with the question of fate versus will with a slow-building and detailed description of the lives lost when the titular bridge breaks, and his ability to consider existential meaning through the mundanity makes this a novel that sticks with me.

The modern enemies to lovers fairytale we always deserved. Alex’s struggle with his sexuality is deeply relatable and his relationship with Henry is developed so carefully and lovingly. It’s just such a fun, accessible, and comforting read, especially for a young adult queer reader.

I’ll randomly think of the line “Kiss me, Hardy, kiss me quick!” and cry. Intricately written and so deceiving in the best, most intentional ways, that I was actually breathless when I began to figure things out. Once again: I love epistolary novels. Also, Julie apparently being confirmed bisexual in the prequel is something that can actually be so personal.

[boxboysandotherwhump]

Paxton and Amal 13

CW: lack of sleep and emotional distress leading up to very bad decisions, non-con kissing, (but nothing beyond that)

direct continuation to chapter 11 and 12

(whole chapter under the cut read from right to left)

also as a thanks for all of your sweet support and patience I drew a special colored paged <3

Taglist: (please let me know if I forgot anyone) @haro-whumps  @albino-whumpee  @orchidscript  @morelikepainsley  @thingsthatgo-whump-inthenight       @cupcakes-and-pain @ashintheairlikesnow     @sky-or-something-idfk​

[chocororos]

17 or 40 for the reading asks :)

omg hello. love the new(-ish) (im very bad at noticing when things happen) url

questions from here!

17. Top five books of the year 40. Do you have any reading goals for next year?

top five books, in no particular order: a complicated love story set in space by shaun david hutchinson, this is how you lose the time war by amal el-mohtar and max gladstone, cemetery boys by aiden thomas, young justice book two: growing up by greg weisman and christopher jones (we're counting comics bc i said so and also young justice is my emotional support series), and nights at the circus by angela carter just because it was SO baffling it left a lasting impact on my psyche

reading goals: read more?? i made a goodreads account at jay pakshi's request so i can now set a Proper reading goal for 2022 and i love a good externally motivated deadline goal. aside from that i just want to catch up with all the books i Bought but haven't Read Yet (including but not limited to: girls of paper and fire, iron widow, one last stop, aurora's end, etc.)

[bustedbernie]

Over the past few years, anti-authoritarians on the left have been paying increasing attention to “tankies.”

A derogatory term, “tankies” was originally applied to members of the Communist Party of Great Britain who supported Moscow’s crushing of the 1956 Hungarian revolution, which was infamously carried out with the heavy deployment of Soviet tanks.

Today the word refers to leftists, primarily Western, who resort to all kinds of justifications for authoritarian regimes in the so-called “global south,” such as in Syria, Hong Kong, and Nicaragua, and/or in countries with an ambiguous status within “the West,” like Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia. These countries can be referred to collectively as countries of “the periphery,” to use Istanbul-based Mangal Media’s terminology, so as to emphasize the centrality of “the West” in tankie ideology.

On domestic issues such as the Black Lives Matter movement in the United States, tankies tend to take progressive positions. This makes their politics on peripheral countries all the more confusing, especially for those of us on the receiving end of our governments’ brutalities. Tankies would thus condemn American cops yet praise Hong Kong cops, or condemn the Israeli military while praising the Russian army.

This contradiction at the heart of tankie logic derives from a simplistic interpretation of imperialism, and with it, of anti-imperialism. This “alt-imperialist” logic divides the world into two camps : those who are “pro-West” and those who are “anti-west.” In the words of the late theorist Moishe Postone, this is essentially a manifestation of the “dualistic political imaginary of the Cold War.” The Syrian writer Leila Al-Shami, meanwhile, called it “the anti-imperialism of idiots.”

Activists who are otherwise progressive and even revolutionary can therefore end up, at best, reproducing the narratives propagated by authoritarian governments in peripheral countries; at worst, they could be actively supporting brutal repression.

The broad scope of this brand of “anti-imperialism” has also allowed right-wing types to make their way into various left-wing circles in the West, as part of a broader phenomenon in which fascist movements co-opt left-wing talking points in support of illiberal regimes or ideologies. This is amply illustrated by programs on the Russian state-affiliated outlet RT or Fox News’ “Tucker Carlson Tonight,” both of which regularly feature far-right and left-wing “anti-imperialist” personalities.

In these news and social media circles, “anti-imperialist” rhetoric is often accompanied by a disregard for facts that has been increasingly visible in the aftermaths of the Brexit campaign and Donald Trump’s U.S. presidential victory in 2016.

Yet this phenomenon was already apparent in the conversations on Syria and Ukraine years before, as Russian military interventions in both countries were coupled with substantial online dis/misinformation campaigns. Such tactics have become the calling cards of authoritarian leaders around the globe, including Trump, Russia’s Vladimir Putin, Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, China’s Xi Jinping, Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu, India’s Narendra Modi, and Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro.

Having followed these trends for years, I anticipated a similar reaction from tankies during and after Lebanon’s October 2019 uprising; the government we have been opposing and charging with corruption is dominated by the vocally “anti-imperialist” Hezbollah and its allies, Amal and the Free Patriotic Movement. This dynamic has been worsened by the fact that the traditional sectarian parties that consider themselves to be Lebanon’s “opposition” are pro-West and pro-Gulf Arab states, and thus according to alt-imperialist logic, are inherently “pro-imperialist.”

This talking point has been further buttressed by both the Israeli and U.S. governments’ singling out of Hezbollah as the sole source of Lebanon’s evils. According to tankie logic, Lebanese anti-government protesters are in fact on the side of U.S. imperialism, despite the protestors’ vocal opposition to all the major political parties. Many Lebanese activists have also been puzzled by the online reactions of various prominent figures on the left, particularly Americans, who repeatedly ignored the activists’ lived experiences in service of their own “alt-imperialism.”

This distorted anti-imperialism exposed Lebanon’s protest movement to the usual accusations that they were being paid by foreign governments and were part of a global conspiracy against Hezbollah and the “Resistance” against Israel. Lebanese Shi’a protesters were particularly targeted by Hezbollah supporters, who smeared them as “embassy” Shi’as (i.e. paid by foreign embassies). This has since taken on dangerous dimensions such as death threats and physical assaults, with some activists opting for online anonymity or withdrawing from public life; many others are planning to leave Lebanon entirely.  

[...]

Many left-wingers seem to be either unaware or in denial about the fact that fascist anti-imperialists exist as well. As a result, authoritarians are effectively given permission to accuse anti-authoritarians of being pro-West imperialists. Combined with the fact that activists in peripheral countries usually have more to risk and more to lose than Western tankies, this process ends up taking a heavy emotional and mental toll on the activists.The solution to this state of affairs is both straightforward and complex. 

It is straightforward because opposing Russian or Chinese imperialism can be done in the same vein as opposing U.S. imperialism. Yet pressing this argument also requires tankies to decenter “the West” — where they are overwhelmingly located — from their analysis, and in doing so also requires them to decenter themselves. Only then would these “anti-imperialists” truly oppose that which they claim to oppose: destruction and injustice, regardless of who is committing them. Abandoning such binary camps in favor of truly transnational and anti-authoritarian principles would benefit these activists and their causes.

[harvestdew]

What's kiki's relationship with Abigail and Shane like? You have them listed as her besties on her reference ( though it might be a smidge outdated, since you mentioned that her favorite gift is tulips and hated gift is jojo cola on the baker kiki npc post and it's different on tge ref?)

i was gonna draw smthing in response to this but i’m getting busier so i figured i’ll just write out a response if that’s okay w/ you! i’m probably gonna ramble too cause i really like shane and abigail (I’M SORRY i’ll definitely put it under a read more so my followers can ignore this

so it is a teensy bit outdated only bc way i was rushing on the loves vs. hate portion of her reference. honestly i just think tulips are cute and also i developed a backstory for her revolving around how much she hates joja AFTER i made her so i only realized she hates their products then. i still think her besties are the same would be the same except i’d add sam 

ANYWAY if it wasn’t obvious kiki is just drawn to people who are closed off like haley or sebastian. i like dynamics where introverts are bothered by extroverts and opposites attract i’m sorry again

kiki + shane friendship

kiki first noticed shane walking out of the jojamart she habitually avoids and deduced he worked there

having his 2 heart event confirmed that so they were able to bond over a mutual hatred joja - his situation reminds her a bit of her dad since he worked for joja before he... died (which i alluded to a few asks ago) 

i'm gonna try not to reveal much about her past since i wanna illustrate it but they bear a lot of similarities in terms of depression

like in the 2 heart event he talks about feeling like failing and not being strong enough, etc. and she gets it b/c that’s why she moved to pelican town too

it’s more like she understands he needs emotional support as opposed to ppl feeding into his insecurities and encouraging bad habits

it’s NOT a friendship where he is constantly leaning on her. i don’t want a codependent friendship to form

like her friendship with haley they’re supposed to be mutually emotionally supportive of each other and help each other grow

while she encourages shane to get help, he’s encouraging HER to also get help instead of layering all her problems under a happy-go-lucky persona

as close as she is to say haley (her #1 best friend imo), i still think shane was actually the one who saw through the whole purely ^_^ part of her for a lack of better words 

he could tell she was faking being happy (not that her personality is an entire farce, but all the time would be unrealistic)

he was probably rude enough to say it to her face. but you know when they became friends it became more of a “idc why you ran away but you’re my friend and this is a problem that will inevitably lead to a mental collapse, kiki” 

on a lighter note though he used visit the farm habitually because he didn’t trust her enough to take care of the chickens in her new coop for a while

now he just comes over b/c they’re friends and all and also he accidentally got too attached to her chickens since he watched them grow up

they might not have a ton in common but i think she tries really hard to watch stuff like gridball with him even though she fucking hates gridball

abigail + kiki friendship

i have NOT thought about this one a lot i am so sorry i’m a dumb lesbian when i first played sdv i wanted to marry abigail off the bat solely b/c she was a cute gamer who owned a sword. i have high standards for men so i have to make up all sorts of shit to find sebastian bearable but women can do anything and they’re perfect

whatever i still think they’re besties. if she’s dating sebastian, she probably hangs out with abigail and sam by extension. their friendship isn’t as heavy as her friendship with shane but it doesn’t make it less significant to her

also if you recall that one haley comic i did. i actually drew abigail at first but decided i wanted haley

even if kiki didn’t tell abigail about anything that happened to her in zuzu city she drops by pierre’s so much that she visits abigail a LOT. it’s even easier to visit abigail than haley sometimes

i stole this from my friend amal but i also like thinking abigail gives the friends that will let her platonic cheek kisses and kiki is one of them b/c she loves them so much abigail is so cute

and they do it in front of pierre LOL they clown him so much cause he’s such a conservative

kiki intentionally jokes about stealing abigail from him by marrying her (with abigail’s permission) which tbh is a homage to her being the first person i wanted to marry

like kiki still does it to pierre while dating sebastian because yeah pierre knows it couldn’t happen but she just likes making him mad. sebastian gives a fuck either because he hates pierre too

i hate pierre i’m sorry

when emily’s too busy abigail helps her redye her hair when her roots start to show. i know apparently abigail’s hair is naturally purple but abigail just thinks it’s fun

and of course she brings abigail to the easier levels in the mines. they practice sword skills together but abigail picks them up so quickly that kiki swears abigail will surpass her one day. it’s also nice to have abigail back her up when she needs to mine ore. she brings abigail more than sebastian because abigail can handle herself 

someone please ask me about one of these for haley too. i swear i have a lot more thoughts on her friendship w/ haley. but on that note thanks for sending me this ask! i needed to decompress with oc junk

[ladyherenya]

Books read in April

I probably spent more time reading but I also read a handful of novellas and a couple of children’s novels, which means I read more books than usual.

Many of these were, if not outright retellings, than heading close to that sort of territory: faeries and fairytales, Sherlock Holmes, Jane Austen, and Norse gods...

Favourite cover: Masque, maybe.

Reread: Nothing, too busy reading new things...

Still reading: Cinder by Marissa Meyer.

Next up: There’s a new Murderbot novel out in early May!!!

(Longer reviews and ratings are on LibraryThing and Dreamwidth.)

*

The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul by Douglas Adams (narrated by the author): Adams’ descriptions are clever and unexpected, and he strings together a series of events even more bizarre and unexpected than his descriptions. Sometimes I felt exhausted on behalf of his poor protagonists, bounced from one mishap to another, but I was impressed by Adams’ ability to turn this madness into such a coherent story.

Flamebringer by Elle Katharine White: A solid, tense conclusion to Heartstone and Dragonshadow. However, I suspect it would have made more of an impact had I read the first two books recently. It assumes that the reader remembers more worldbuilding details -- about history and family connections and magical folk -- than I did. And because I found such details confusing, I didn’t pay close attention to some of the history and politics revealed in this book, and those things turned out to be unexpectedly important. A trilogy in much need of a glossary.

Hamster Princess: Harriet the Invincible by Ursula Vernon (aka T. Kingfisher): A very amusing take on ‘Sleeping Beauty’. Upon learning of her curse, Harriet accurately concludes that she must be invincible until it strikes -- and when the time arrives, she’s determined to avoid falling into an enchanted sleep. This is heavily-illustrated. The pictures are great, but were often awkwardly displayed in the Libby e-book. 

The Art of Theft by Sherry Thomas: More of a heist story than a murder mystery, which may explain why I found it less compelling than The Hollow of Fear, although admittedly, it has its suspenseful sequences. Thomas does some interesting things in expanding her portrayal of the era as well as Mrs Watson’s story, taking Charlotte Holmes and her trusted associates to France on a mission along with someone from Mrs Watson’s past. I liked that Livia gets to play a more active role in those adventures. But I expected to like this more.

Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn: Meg is desperate for inspiration and company. She comes up with a project, looking for hand-lettered signs around New York, and invites along a former client -- who has turned up to question Meg about the hidden message in the wedding program she designed for him and his ex. A story about signs, secrets and the importance of having difficult conversations. I liked how those themes are explored in different areas of Meg’s life: making an effort to get to know Reid, setting boundaries with a new client, and trying to stop her best friend from drifting away.

Once Upon a Marigold by Jean Ferris (narrated by Carrington MacDuffie): Christian was brought up in a cave by Edric the troll, who discovered Chris hiding in the forest. Now Chris is in love with the princess Marigold, with whom he has exchanged letters carried by pigeon but has never met.  If I had discovered this in 2002 when it was first published, I suspect I’d have been delighted by its gentle, whimsical, almost-fairytale-ness. These days I tend to want more complexity and more emotion and, often, more critical engagement with the genre’s tropes. But this was still pleasant company while I did a few hours of housework.

The Shards of a Broken Sword novella trilogy by W.R. Gingell: 

Twelve Days of Faery: King Markon’s son appears to be afflicted by a strange curse, because accidents and misadventure befalls any girl the prince flirts with. When an enchantress offers to deal with the curse in exchange for the expected reward of the prince’s hand in marriage, Markon gets swept up in her investigation. This is so much fun. I liked the way it focuses on a middle-aged father, rather than any of the more usual candidates for this sort of story, like his son or any of the young women affected by the curse. And I enjoyed Althea’s confidence and practical competence.

Fire in the Blood: Another story interested in twisting fairytale tropes. A prince sets out to rescue a princess from a tower, but neither of them are the protagonist -- that’s Rafiq, the prince’s enslaved dragon, forced into human-form. Rafiq has been dragged along on this quest and quietly hopes that his vicious master will fail to unravel the tower keep’s protections. I enjoyed this. The tower keep, with its magical puzzles, was an intriguing setting, and it was rather satisfying to see Rafiq and the princess’s serving girl subtly undermine the prince’s efforts without drawing his ire.

The First Chill of Autumn: The first two standalone and take place over a few days. This does not. It begins with Princess Dion’s childhood. At seventeen, Dion is sent on a tour of her country and discovers the truth about the Fae’s influence. She ends up joining forces with characters from the previous books. I liked each of these sections. However, this could easily have been expanded into something novel-length and been stronger for it. If more time had been given to Dion’s relationships -- with her sister, Barric and Padraig, and maybe her parents -- the ending would have made more of an emotional impact.

“A Tale of Carmine and Fancy”: This short story takes place during The First Chill of Autumn. I didn’t care about Carmine one way or another when he turned up in the trilogy, so I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this.

A Posse of Princesses by Sherwood Smith (narrated by Emma Galvin): Sixteen year old Rhis is one of many princesses invited to attend festivities held in honour of a crown prince. My first impression -- a nice-but-unremarkable story with an irritating audiobook narrator -- quickly changed. I got used to the narrator’s voice. I really appreciate Smith’s portrayal of social interactions and of group dynamics from the perspective of someone who is trying to understand why others are competing for attention. And once the plot took off, I was hooked. I have mixed feelings about the very end but that didn’t change how much I liked the rest of the story.

The Two Monarchies sequence by W.R. Gingell:

Clockwork Magician: Several years after Blackfoot, Peter starts at university. Because Peter ends up messing around with time-travel, there are scenes from his future in the previous books. It’s interesting getting those moments from Peter’s perspective and fitting the puzzle pieces of his story together. I also felt invested in Peter’s journey even though he spends a lot of time being arrogant and oblivious, because I knew that there must be a significant change up ahead. The way his dawning realisation is handled was unexpectedly satisfying. I also enjoyed seeing more of Poly and Luck, and getting to know Glenna.

Masque: A murder mystery which turns into a Beauty and the Beast retelling. Lady Isabella Farrah is determined to investigate after a friend is killed at the Ambassador’s Grand Ball, even if doing so annoys the official investigator, the masked Lord Pecus. Isabella is excellent company. She’s quick-witted, resourceful and uncowed. I really enjoyed watching her banter and meddle. The Beauty and the Beast elements are cleverly woven into the story, and even without the murder investigation, there’s enough to make it a unique take on an old tale. A delightful standalone companion to this series.

Frankly in Love by David Yoon: Frank Li has watched his parents react to his older sister’s choices and he knows they will never accept him dating anyone who isn’t Korean. So he and a family friend, Joy Song, pretend to date. Fake-dating is one of my most favourite romance tropes but I’m not a fan when it’s a cover for actually dating someone else -- I don’t like others getting hurt by the deception. Despite that, I found this YA novel engaging and unexpectedly moving. And an absolutely fascinating look at being the child of immigrants.

The Night Country by Melissa Albert: The Hazel Wood was excellent, sharp and compelling, but I didn’t enjoy the sequel much at all. In the first book there’s a much stronger thread of hope running through the darkness.

This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone: The letters exchanged between Red and Blue, two agents on opposing sides of a time war, are vibrant and memorable, playful and poignant. I particularly enjoyed their different names for each other. (“Dearest Blue-da-ba-dee”, “My Dear Mood Indigo”, “Dearest 0000FF” -- that one made me laugh, “Dear Red Sky at Morning”...) The scenes in between leave many questions unanswered about the war being fought. I couldn’t shake the uncomfortable feeling that if I actually understood what was going on, I wouldn’t like the characters. Nevertheless the letters are brilliant, and I can deal with uncertainty for the space of a novella.

A Dead Djinn in Cairo by P. Djèlí Clark (narrated by Suehyla El-Attar): This novelette is too brief to involve what I enjoy most about murder mysteries, like carefully prying into people’s motives or characters forming supportive relationships in the face of an atmosphere of suspicion and unease. It is possible I’d like this worldbuilding in a different story, and that I would care more about Special Investigator Fatma el-Sha'arawi if I spent more time with her.

The Jane Austen Project by Kathleen A. Flynn: Rachel and Liam, a doctor and an actor-turned-academic, are sent back to 1815 to befriend Jane Austen and uncover an unpublished novel. Time travel allows for portraying Austen’s world with historical accuracy from the perspective of a woman with contemporary attitudes, and creates interesting challenges and anxieties. There’s a high degree of wish fulfilment in meeting Austen, but also realistic complications and consequences. This book impressed me even though -- or perhaps because -- it wasn’t always comfortable or to my taste. I’d have adored it, had things been slightly different, yet it’s nevertheless gripping and thought-provoking storytelling. I respect that.

[terramythos]

TerraMythos’ 2020 Reading Challenge In Review - 9/10s!

See Master Post

Here's the 9/10 books of this year -- books I really liked but not to the point of perfection. 

1. This Is How You Lose The Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone (Full Review Here)

This is a beautifully-written novella about two women from enemy time travel societies. They start as rivals who pass taunting letters to one another and gradually fall in love with each other through their writing. There’s some really beautiful and interesting locations, and I love the longing and emotion in the letter sequences. I think using a science fiction setting for a love story is super cool; especially with time travel, there’s a sense of predestination not found in other genres. I also like the idea of each author writing one of the two leads, so the style is slightly different between them. 

2. The City We Became (Great Cities #1) by N. K. Jemisin (Full Review Here)

Jemisin is a fantastic author and created my favorite series ever (The Broken Earth), so I was stoked to read book one of a new series by her. The concept here is that cities become sentient beings over time given enough people and cultural influence. New York City is about to be born into a human avatar, but something goes wrong. An eldritch foe known simply as The Enemy seeks to sabotage the nascent city and almost succeeds. Proto-avatars of the city’s boroughs have to find their inner power and band together to rescue him and save the city. 

I really dig the ensemble cast, especially Manny (Manhattan), Bronca (The Bronx), and New York City himself. The book is also a great middle finger to Lovecraft, as the cosmic horror element is steeped in structural racism and oppression, with the Eldritch Aesthetic being a creepy pale white. Super excited for the next book. 

3. Artificial Condition (The Murderbot Diaries #2) by Martha Wells (Full Review Here) 

I’ve already said plenty about the Murderbot books on my 10/10 list. I really like this one in particular because it introduces ART, one of the best supporting characters in the series. It’s super interesting to see how Murderbot interacts with a non-human person (or... spaceship. But ART is also a person for sure) similar to itself and I really like the banter and friendship between the two. Like the rest of the novellas, it’s short, but it packs in a lot of story and heart. 

4. Rogue Protocol (The Murderbot Diaries #3) by Martha Wells (Full Review Here) 

My other 9/10 selection for this series! There is a heavy focus on Murderbot’s past and how far it’s come ever since it freed itself from the company’s mental slavery. This probably has the strongest character development in the series outside of Network Effect, with a genuinely sad and sobering ending. 

5. Finch (Ambergris #3) by Jeff VanderMeer (Full Review Here) 

I think this book is where I really “got” the Ambergris series; it’s a pseudo-trilogy with a lot of postmodern elements, but this one is the most straightforward. Finch is a fascinating mix of noir, dystopia, and cosmic horror. I even called this “nontraditional cyberpunk”; there’s elements of a surveillance state, underground resistance/revolution, artificial implants/bodily enhancements-- but all related to fungi and eldritch horror. 

Anyway, this book stars Finch, a detective working in the city of Ambergris, who is tasked with solving an impossible double-murder case. In his investigations, he soon stumbles upon a web of conspiracy related to the downfall and takeover of the city by the gray caps, the humanoid mushrooms who enslave and oppress the human population. It’s just as weird as it sounds, but if you made it to book three, you'll be plenty familiar with how bizarre the series is. Technically, this book is a standalone, but I recommend reading the other two first as they are integral to understanding the plot. 

6. The Last Sun (The Tarot Sequence #1) by K. D. Edwards (Full Review Here)

This is a really impressive debut novel with an interesting world concept and great characters. The idea is that Atlantis was a real thing and got destroyed. The surviving inhabitants decided to build a new city by magically stealing a bunch of buildings throughout the world and transporting them to Nantucket. The result is a cool patchwork urban fantasy setting. There’s a huge tarot motif, hence the series name. It’s also gay! 

I fell in love with the excellent character banter, especially between Rune and his soul-bonded bodyguard Brand. While I had some criticisms on the plot structure and a reliance on same-y action scenes, everything else was so good I gave Edwards the benefit of the doubt. And it really paid off in the sequel, which improves on basically everything. 

7. The Princess Bride by William Goldman (Full Review Here) 

I mean, the movie’s a beloved classic. If you haven’t seen it... go do so? It’s a great adventure story with lots of memorable characters, lines, and moments. Honestly I’m more surprised I hadn’t read the book before, and I’m glad I did. It often felt like an extended cut of the movie, with a few key differences in the frame story and some locations. While I think I like the film just a little more, I appreciate the novel for giving me a broader perspective on the story and characters. 

8. A Choir of Lies (A Conspiracy of Truths #2) by Alexandra Rowland (Full Review Here) 

A Choir of Lies is a standalone sequel to the book A Conspiracy of Truths and can be read on its own if desired. It stars Ylfing, a fan-favorite character in the previous book. He’s processing grief and depression in the wake of his mentor (the last book’s protag) suddenly abandoning him. A (sort of--it’s complicated) professional storyteller called a Chant, Ylfing tries to make it in the Netherlands-inspired fantasy city Heyrland, and writes a diary about his experiences. However, another Chant has found his manuscript and writes scathing commentary on his decisions in the footnotes. 

I had a difficult time getting into this one, as Ylfing is both relatable and infuriating, and a depressed protagonist can be hard to get behind. However, it's well worth sticking through, as the sheer catharsis of Ylfing realizing his horrible mistakes and doing everything he can to fix them is... well, pretty inspiring. Multiple characters own up to their failures, often at great personal cost, for the wellbeing of others. I think it’s a great message, especially reading it in 2020 when the future feels hopeless. A Choir of Lies also has two of the things I liked most about A Conspiracy of Truths-- lots of meta commentary on storytelling, and surprisingly interesting economics. 

9. The Harbors of the Sun (The Books of the Raksura #5) by Martha Wells (Full Review Here)

I thought this was a nice finale to the series. It has some satisfying thematic bookends regarding the Fell and Moon’s character development. It’s also probably the most “epic” fantasy of the series, with super high stakes and a broad cast of perspective characters. I have to wonder if there are plans for further books or a different series in this universe, since the setting has a lot of depth and potential. Either way, I really enjoyed it! 

10. A Killing Frost (October Daye #14) by Seanan McGuire (Full Review Here)

Another year, another October Daye book! Obviously I like this series if I’m fourteen books in and still reading it. A Killing Frost has some slow-ish pacing, but ramps up a lot in the second half of the story. It’s the conclusion to my favorite storyline in the series -- the redemption arc of Simon Torquill. He’s a really interesting morally gray character, and I think serves as the poster child on how the series plays with the idea of heroes and villains. Also, this book casually drops probably one of the craziest twists in the series at the end, and I am super interested to see the fallout of that. 

11. The Edge of Worlds (The Books of the Raksura #4) by Martha Wells (Full Review Here)

This is basically part one of Harbors of the Sun and involves the main cast going on a long journey to an ancient ruin. The first half of the book is pretty slow and probably could have been pared down -- lots of travel sequences. However the second half is super tense and action packed. I found the ancient ruin itself really interesting and creepy, and the book sets up a lot of things that pay off in The Harbors of the Sun. 

[vandorens-archive]

(i don't know if you're doing this, so feel free to ignore) mutuals as your characters

oooh, fun! (i also feel kind of vain doing this dhsksb but let me know if you'd like to be assigned one!!)

@bahay-kubo — gaby you always remind me of amal from penny lane! both of you are so sweet and bubbly and smart :'))

@mshelleys — kai you give me major will from penny lane vibes. why? unexplainable. but you do.

@whorizcn —andi andi andi, i have to assign bea, one of the main characters in virus, to you, because she's lowkey inspired by you!! both of you are super sweet and lovely and just heaven-sent angels, ugh!

@evergrcen —elle you're definitely like cass from penny lane! cass is very blunt and honest about her feelings and also loves to profess her adoration for her friends, and you do too!! also the two of you channel your feelings into your art, which i love!!

@montevena — dasy your aesthetic and general energy are so isadora-like (trahison) in, like, the best way possible

@waterfallofinkandpages — astrid, i have to assign nathaniel to you, not just because you love him, but also because both of you are supportive, kind, and creative geniuses!!

@bitterbodies — red you have to be marin from trahison!! i don't know, there's just something about the two of you that makes me think you'll be close friends? i'll get back to you on that.

@goldbonne — mallila you definitely remind me of eloi, the protag of psychophantia!! i think both of you are very in tune with your emotions, plus your aesthetic is very eloi-esque!

@omgjuliettes (who it won't let me tag but oh well) — sera you and daphne (from penny lane) are practically twins!! both of you are just these rays of sunshine who just want to love their friends and make art :')))

[my-lady-knight]

Favorite Reads of 2019

As seems to be my usual, I’m posting this at what feels like the last second.

Writing this year’s post was hard. I’ve been complaining offline all year that it feels like I read far fewer books I really, truly enjoyed. Even the books I did enjoy, they didn’t stick around long in my head for me to remember details. On the other hand, this list ended up being thirteen items long, so it can’t have been that bad. And having to go back to the books in order to write this list did make me remember how and why I loved them, so there is that.

Presented in chronological order of when I read them:

The Lions of Al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay

The first book I read in 2019, and I knew would end up on this list as soon as I finished. It’s also the first book of Guy Gavriel Kay’s where I finally understood what the fuss was about - when he commits to writing three-dimensional characters with compelling interpersonal and socio-political relationships, he commits. The cultural/social details of this secondary-world version of medieval Spain set at the beginning of the end of the Caliphate and the rise of the Reconquista are evocative, and the scope deftly alternates between being vast without tripping over itself and touchingly personal. Most importantly, this book gave me an OT3 I wasn’t even expecting in the form of Amman ibn Khairan, famed soldier, poet, and advisor now outcast from the city-state of Cartada, Rodrigo Belmonte, beloved cavalry captain with a complicated loyalty to the rulers he serves, and Jehane bet Ishak, an esteemed physician whose path intersects with them both. Together they represent the connections and tensions between their respective, secondary-world Muslim, Christian, and Jewish communities, cities, and leaders in this secondary-world Spain and form a triangle of everything the country has, is, and can be. A year later I still love this book.

How to Write an Autobiographical Novel: Essays by Alexander Chee

This book is difficult to write about, because I remember loving it as I was reading it, but I can’t remember any of the essays very well several months after the fact (see above). What I do remember is that they were difficult, and complicated, and messy, and they did the thing I love when essays do where the fact that the things Alexander Chee was writing about are super-specific to him made them somehow feel all the more relatable. All the essays were nicely crafted stories and emotional journeys, withAlexander Chee tracing all the various aspects of his life through his writing, as an Asian man, a gay man, an aspiring writer, a professional writer, a resident of NYC, and a survivor of sexual assault, using prose that was both artistic and clear as water.

The Raven Tower by Ann Leckie

Amal El-Mohtar wrote in her NYT review that this book was akin to “Hamlet”, “if [the play] were told from the point of view of Elsinore Castle addressing itself to a Horatio who mostly couldn’t hear it,” to which my response was “huh?” Then I read the book and it a) made so much more sense and b) ended up being an astute, apropos explanation of the kind of book The Raven Tower is. It’s the story of a soldier and companion to the heir of a country investigating the disappearance of its ruler and the ascendency of another in his place. It’s also the story of a calm, patient god in the form of a stone who predates all of history and narrates the changing existence of gods, their power, and their relationship to humans and their civilizations. It’s an understated yet powerful book, full of Ann Leckie’s brilliant and clever writing, world-building, storytelling, and otherworldliness. It’s Ann Leckie. She knows what she’s doing. And it fucking works.

Sal & Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandez

This book - is bonkers. It is insane. It is one thousand percent over the top. I kept asking myself “why am I not irritated???” Instead I loved it. Sal is the new kid, a practicing magician with as showman’s flair for the dramatic and boundless energy, and he can open up portals into other universes. Gabi is the sharp-eyed, bossy class president and editor of the school newspaper who just knows something’s up with Sal and his shenanigans. Together, they become friends! And open up more portals into other universes. This book is warm and empathetic and funny and kind-hearted. It’s too-muchness quality somehow worked. The whole thing felt like the literary equivalent of a hug. 

The Parting Glass by Gina Marie Guadagnino

This wasn’t a Deep book, but I could not stop thinking about it, nor could I stop recommending it to people. It’s a zippy historical fiction novel set in 1830s NYC prior to the Potato Famine. Mary (or Maire) and her brother Seanin are Irish immigrants working in the same wealthy family’s house, she as lady’s maid to the marriageable daughter named Charlotte, he as a groomsman. Mary is half in love with her Charlotte; unfortunately so is Seanin, and the two of them are carrying on an affair, the aftermath of which leaves Mary in a bind about where her loyalties lie. I love that this book has a queer take on a love triangle that I’ve never seen before, and I loved Mary’s anger and resentment, her unashamed attitude towards her desire for Charlotte as well as other women, and her selfishness as well as her loyalty. I also loved the upstairs-downstairs nature of the book and the clash of Anglo-American and Irish immigrant ethnic and class mores and the larger social and political setting of the city and time period.

The Bird King by G. Willow Wilson

I don’t even know how to begin describing this book. It’s a story about maps and boundaries and borders. It’s an epic of daring escape and adventure about a mapmaker named Hassan with a magical gift and a concubine named Fatima, two friends fleeing the Inquisition after the surrender of Granada, in search of a mythical island ruled by the King of Birds. It’s a story of faith and trust and bonds forged from disparate people, and transformation, transformation of yourself and the world around you because you will it to be so. It’s a beautiful, beautifully written book.

(As a side note, I’m intrigued by the fact that two of my favorite books on here are set during the Reconquista.)

On the Come Up by Angie Thomas

In some ways I liked this even better than The Hate U Give. I loved the complexity that arose out of Bri rapping about the injustices she’s experienced, with people drawing completely different meanings out of her words, people wanting her to use her rapping and her voice for differing reasons, and Bri herself working to figure out the power she has with her rapping and how she wants to use her talents, when it comes to financially supporting her family, standing up for herself, and being herself when so many around her are creating all these false images of her based solely off her words. I loved Bri’s anger, the way she kept speaking before thinking, her loving, sometimes complicated relationships with her family and friends...Angie Thomas’s writing and storytelling is phenomenal.

Kindred by Octavia Butler

I’m not even sure what to say about this book that hasn’t been said but, um, yeah, it’s Octavia Butler, it’s a classic, and really my favorite aspect of the book is how it so effectively bridges the gap between history and present and demonstrates how the two aren’t so far apart, and effectively blends them such that for Dana, the present becomes the past and the past is her present and suddenly she isn’t visiting history at a somewhat removed vantage point, she is part of history, her own history, her ancestors’ history, in all its horror, caught in a catch-22 of needing to repeatedly save the life of her white, slave-owning ancestor who over time grows more and more violent towards her, in order to ensure the chronological security of her own life.

The Weight of Our Sky by Hanna Alkaf

This was a harrowing read. Set in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia during the 1969 Malay-Chinese race riots, sixteen-year-old Melati has OCD, or what she understands as a djinn living inside her that forces her to obsessively count in order to keep her mom alive, a secret she tries to hide so people don’t think she’s possessed. When the race riots break out across the city, Melati has to make her way through the violence in the streets in order to find her mom, all while battling the djinn as its power increases in the chaos. I repeat, this book was brutal. The descriptions of Melati’s OCD alone make it a tense, taxing read - combine it with the violence and unpredictability of the race riots and all the threats to Melati’s safety and her ever-growing fear for her mom and it’s a lot. Even so (perhaps because) I could not put this book down. The recreation of this part of history (which I had no clue of before and knew nothing about) was both immersive and informative, the story was deftly plotted, and I loved how Melati’s characterization and her relationship/the depiction of her OCD and how it specifically affects her in her particular circumstances. 

Jade War by Fonda Lee

CLEAN BLADE CLEAN BLADE CLEAN BLADE

*ahem*

The second book of the Green Bone Saga was even better than the first. It took the story of the Kaul family and the No Peak clan and the worldbuilding of Jade City and turned everything up to eleven, expanding the story beyond Kekon into the global theater, particularly Espenia, bringing into the picture Kekonse immigration, diaspora, assimilation, and cultural heritage - what it means to be Kekonese, to be a Green Bone and carry jade and follow aisho outside of Kekon. The gang warfare between the No Peak clan and the Mountain clan spills over the domestic sphere into the international. Espenia grows more aggressive in its moves to gain control over jade at Kekon’s expense. It’s family loyalties and betrayals, it’s gang politics and warfare, it’s community, municipal, national, and international politics and culture clashes, and the changing world of being a Green Bone and wearing jade in a post-colonial world. Anyone who’s followed me this year because of Peaky Blinders - READ JADE CITY AND JADE WAR. YOU WILL LIKE THESE BOOKS I PROMISE.

Hexarchate Stories by Yoon Ha Lee

With this short story collection, Yoon Ha Lee has not only successfully published fan fiction of his own work in the Hexarchate universe and is getting paid for it, he’s published good fanfiction. The cute Cheris and Jedao backstory pieces of flash fiction he first published on his website are drabbles. One of the original pieces in this collection is straight-up PWP. (How the hell Solaris agreed to it I have no idea, there is literally no plot.) The very last story (also original) is fix-it fic for Revenant Gun that left me kicking and screaming over the CLIFFHANGER that Yoon Ha Lee ended it on HOW DARE YOU I DEMAND TO KNOW WHAT CHERIS AND JEDAO ARE GOING TO DO NEXT YOU BETTER BE WRITING MORE STORIES SET IN THIS AU TIMELINE. In sum, Yoon Ha Lee is a delight, I love him, and I loved this collection.

The Deep by Rivers Solomon

A novella about the weight of history, especially painful, traumatic history, and the necessity and yearning for it when you don’t have it. To be forced to bear the burden of history alone is to be crushed and subsumed by it. To lose or become detached from it is to lose connection to the people you’re from. Either way, it is difficult to impossible to maintain a people’s history alone. Rivers Solomon is such a poetic writer with her prose, painting beautiful images with just the right collection and arrangement of words, all while packing an astutely aimed punch in 160 pages.

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

I had some issues with how convenient some of the magic/magical artifacts felt, and the various threads of the murder plot didn’t tie up as nicely as I wanted, but oh, Alex Stern is a marvel - a survivor in every sense of the word who embraces that part of herself over and over, even as what being a survivor means changes for Alex over the course of the book. A dark/contemporary urban fantasy set at Yale where the university’s elite student societies are also magical societies— Alex is a dropout who got into drugs as a teenager in order to shield herself from the ghosts she can’t stop seeing, recruited to act as overseer of the societies’ magical rituals, and who takes it upon herself to investigate the murder of a young woman not too different than herself. The centrality of power and its abuse in this book is delicious, the read is gripping, and Alex is worth the price of admission. Yes, I will be reading the second book when it comes out.

(Also, this is literally the second book I’ve ever read that makes any mention or inclusion of Ladino (both Alex and Leigh Bardugo are Sephardi.))

Honorable Mentions

Finding Baba Yaga by Jane Yolen

King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo

How Long ‘til Black Future Month? by N. K. Jemisin

Our Year of Maybe by Rachel Lynn Solomon

Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee

The Boneless Mercies by April Genevieve Tucholke

The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2018 edited by N. K. Jemisin and John Joseph Adams

The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal

Amnesty by Lara Elena Donnelly

Storm of Locusts by Rebecca Roanhorse

Let Me Hear a Rhyme by Tiffany D. Jackson

The Monster of Elendhaven by Jennifer Giesbrecht

Pet by Akwaeke Emezi

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

It’s also been my practice over the past few years when making these posts to crunch the numbers regarding the number of books I’ve read by PoC authors. This year I read a total of 30 books, which is the exact same number as last year, but since I read fewer books this year, they accounted for 47 percent of my reading, compared to last year’s 43 percent. My goal since I started has been to get to 50-50 parity between PoC and white authors, and this year’s the second-closest I got (I reached 48 percent in 2017.) The goal for next year is once again 50-50.