#Anna Valencia

[bruce-wyatt-burner]

👀👀

[normanblogs]

Binibining Pilipinas 2023: January 31 applicants

Here are the ladies who applied yesterday, January 31, for Binibining Pilipinas 2023. Do keep in mind that there are those who also applied online whose presence can only be seen when screening starts on February 6. Here are the members of Team Aces & Queens for Binibining Pilipinas 2023:(Left to right, first photo) #JessieSalvador, #PaolaAllisonArano, Anna Valencia Lakrini, Dr. #TrishaMartinez…

[truhanthings]

[batmanisagatewaydrug]

Happy (very late) birthday! Here goes my music rec list in spanish, as promised:

"Donde estan los ladrones" by Shakira (whole album, very different from her current material)

Miranda, Belanova, Julieta Venegas, Fey and Jessie & Joy for the girlypops

Mon Laferte and La Oreja de Van Gogh for the broken-hearted

Bacilos for a combo of dancy music and sad music

Chayanne, aka Latin America's dad

Negra Valencia and Young Miko, trap music for fuckboi lesbians

Villano Antivillano for the hip hop girlies (especially Bzrp Music Sessions with Bizarrap)

Rebeca Lane and Anna Tijoux for the revolutionaries

Lorena Blume and Nia Vanie for the folky type girlies

Hope you like them!

okay I'm taking notes ✍️✍️✍️

[richincolor]

Trans YA Books for Your 2023 TBR Pile

The last time there was a big B&N sale, I knew I had to stock up on some YA books -- and as I was sifting through my frankly absurdly long to-be-read list, I realized that there were more than a few YA books centering trans and BIPOC characters. I was so excited by this, and hope there are even more books centering BIPOC trans characters in 2024. For now, here are 5 trans YA books -- available now! -- that you should bump up to the very top of your TBR:

Venom & Vow by Anna-Marie McLemore and Elliott McLemore Keep your enemy closer. Cade McKenna is a transgender prince who’s doubling for his brother. Valencia Palafox is a young dama attending the future queen of Eliana. Gael Palma is the infamous boy assassin Cade has vowed to protect. Patrick McKenna is the reluctant heir to a kingdom, and the prince Gael has vowed to destroy.

Cade doesn’t know that Gael and Valencia are the same person. Valencia doesn’t know that every time she thinks she’s fighting Patrick, she’s fighting Cade. And when Cade and Valencia blame each other for a devastating enchantment that takes both their families, neither of them realizes that they have far more dangerous enemies.

Lark & Kasim Start a Revolution by Kacen Callender From National Book Award–winner Kacen Callender, a contemporary YA that follows Lark's journey to speak the truth and discover how their own self-love can be a revolution

Lark Winters wants to be a writer, and for now that means posting on their social media accounts––anything to build their platform. When former best friend Kasim accidentally posts a thread on Lark's Twitter declaring his love for a secret, unrequited crush, Lark's tweets are suddenly the talk of the school—and beyond. To protect Kasim, Lark decides to take the fall, pretending they accidentally posted the thread in reference to another classmate. It seems like a great idea: Lark gets closer to their crush, Kasim keeps his privacy, and Lark's social media stats explode. But living a lie takes a toll—as does the judgment of thousands of Internet strangers. Lark tries their best to be perfect at all costs, but nothing seems good enough for the anonymous hordes––or for Kasim, who is growing closer to Lark, just like it used to be between them . . . In the end, Lark must embrace their right to their messy emotions and learn how to be in love.

Self-Made Boys: A Great Gatsby Remix by Anna-Marie McLemore Stonewall Honor recipient and two-time National Book Award Longlist selectee Anna-Marie McLemore weaves an intoxicating tale of glamor and heartbreak in Self-Made Boys: A Great Gatsby Remix, part of the Remixed Classics series.

New York City, 1922. Nicolás Caraveo, a 17-year-old transgender boy from Minnesota, has no interest in the city’s glamor. Going to New York is all about establishing himself as a young professional, which could set up his future—and his life as a man—and benefit his family.

Nick rents a small house in West Egg from his 18-year-old cousin, Daisy Fabrega, who lives in fashionable East Egg near her wealthy fiancé, Tom—and Nick is shocked to find that his cousin now goes by Daisy Fay, has erased all signs of her Latina heritage, and now passes seamlessly as white. Nick’s neighbor in West Egg is a mysterious young man named Jay Gatsby, whose castle-like mansion is the stage for parties so extravagant that they both dazzle and terrify Nick. At one of these parties, Nick learns that the spectacle is all for the benefit of impressing a girl from Jay’s past—Daisy. And he learns something else: Jay is also transgender.

As Nick is pulled deeper into the glittery culture of decadence, he spends more time with Jay, aiming to help his new friend reconnect with his lost love. But Nick's feelings grow more complicated when he finds himself falling hard for Jay's openness, idealism, and unfounded faith in the American Dream.

The Wicked Bargain by Gabe Cole Novoa El Diablo is in the details in this Latinx pirate fantasy starring a transmasculine nonbinary teen with a mission of revenge, redemption, and revolution.

On Mar León-de la Rosa's 16th birthday, el Diablo comes calling. Mar is a transmasculine nonbinary teen pirate hiding a magical ability to manipulate fire and ice. But their magic isn't enough to reverse a wicked bargain made by their father and now el Diablo has come to collect his payment: the soul of Mar's father and the entire crew of their ship.

When Mar is miraculously rescued by the sole remaining pirate crew in the Caribbean, el Diablo returns to give them a choice: give up your soul to save your father by the Harvest Moon or never see him again. The task is impossible--Mar refuses to make a bargain and there's no way their magic is any match for el Diablo. Then, Mar finds the most unlikely allies: Bas, an infuriatingly arrogant and handsome pirate -- and the captain's son; and Dami, a genderfluid demonio whose motives are never quite clear. For the first time in their life, Mar may have the courage to use their magic. It could be their only redemption -- or it could mean certain death.

Transmogrify!: 14 Fantastical Tales of Trans Magic edited by g. haron davis Transness is as varied and colorful as magic can be. In Transmogrify!, you’ll embark on fourteen different adventures alongside unforgettable characters who embody many different genders and expressions and experiences—because magic is for everyone, and that is cause for celebration.

Featuring stories from: AR Capetta and Cory McCarthy g. haron davis Mason Deaver Jonathan Lenore Kastin Emery Lee Saundra Mitchell Cam Montgomery Ash Nouveau Sonora Reyes Renee Reynolds Dove Salvatierra Ayida Shonibar Francesca Tacchi Nik Traxler

[haveyoureadthistransbook]

Venom & Vow by Anna-Marie McLemore

goodreads

Cade McKenna is a transgender prince who’s doubling for his brother.

Valencia Palafox is a young dama attending the future queen of Eliana.

Gael Palma is the infamous boy assassin Cade has vowed to protect.

Patrick McKenna is the reluctant heir to a kingdom, and the prince Gael has vowed to destroy.

Cade doesn’t know that Gael and Valencia are the same person.

Valencia doesn’t know that every time she thinks she’s fighting Patrick, she’s fighting Cade.

And when Cade and Valencia blame each other for a devastating enchantment that takes both their families, neither of them realizes that they have far more dangerous enemies.

Mod opinion: I haven't read this book yet, but I liked other books by the author so I'm excited to check this one out.

[transbookoftheday]

Venom & Vow by Anna-Marie McLemore and Elliott McLemore

Two enemy kingdoms are forced to work together to break a curse in this lush YA fantasy, featuring a transgender prince and a bigender dama/assassin in the lead roles.

Keep your enemy closer.

Cade McKenna is a transgender prince who’s doubling for his brother. Valencia Palafox is a young dama attending the future queen of Eliana. Gael Palma is the infamous boy assassin Cade has vowed to protect. Patrick McKenna is the reluctant heir to a kingdom, and the prince Gael has vowed to destroy.

Cade doesn’t know that Gael and Valencia are the same person. Valencia doesn’t know that every time she thinks she’s fighting Patrick, she’s fighting Cade. And when Cade and Valencia blame each other for a devastating enchantment that takes both their families, neither of them realizes that they have far more dangerous enemies.

Cowritten by married writing team Anna-Marie and Elliott McLemore, Venom & Vow is a lush and powerful YA novel about owning your power and becoming who you really are - no matter the cost.

[rafaelmartinez67]

El 20 de agosto de 1847 fue un día terrible para la joven República mexicana: los veteranos del Ejército del Norte, héroes de La Angostura, se vieron totalmente superados y rebasados en las lomas de Padierna por los soldados invasores de los Estados Unidos. La soberbia y estulticia de su comandante, Gabriel Valencia, que había desobedecido al general en jefe, se tradujeron en la derrota total de ese Ejército. El general-presidente observó de lejos, con angustia y desesperación, el desastre y aunque la víspera había tenido vacilaciones y dudas que muchos calificaron a posteriori de inconsecuentes, reaccionó con rapidez ordenando un repliegue general del Ejército hasta la ciudad de México. Pero para salvarlo, tenía que sacrificar una fracción del mismo: dejó en el convento de Churubusco un contingente par que detuviera al invsor extranjero mientras el resto se salvaba… porque ahora no lo imaginamos pero el río de Churubusco era, máxime en tiempo de aguas, un poderoso obstáculo natural para el avance de un ejército. Hay que decir que en el bando enemigo las cosas tampoco eran tan claras ni la disciplina mucho mejor: el general Twiggs desobedeció a su jefe, el general Pillow, de una forma que debió llevarlo al consejo de guerra, pero su desobediencia se tradujo en la victoria de Padierna. Lo paradójico, lo jodido del caso es que la desobediencia de Valencia y la indecisión de Santa Anna provocaron la derrota en tanto que la desobediencia de Twiggs y la ambición de Pillow, provocaron la victoria. Pero no por su pericia o su inteligencia sino por puro azar… hasta en su parte oficial el comandante en jefe enemigo, Winfield Scott, se filtra que quedó sorprendido por los resultados. Santa Anna, pues, ordenó a una fracción de sus fuerzas que defendieran el convento y el puente de Churubusco 8sobre la calzada de Tlalpan), distantes entre sí 450 metros. Y les ordenó que resistieran hasta el fin: Era innecesario: clave en la defensa de ambas posiciones eran los artilleros e infantes del batallón de San Patricio: 200 desertores irlandeses (y alemanes y polacos en menor número) del Ejército estadunidense, que sabían que serían ahorcados si caían presos. El resto de la guarnición lo formaban entusiastas voluntarios de la Guardia Nacional de la ciudad de México. El primer ataque enemigo al convento de Churubusco se lanzó sin exploración previa y fue rechazado exitosamente. Scott concentró a miles de sus hombres , comprometiendo a todo su ejército en ataques simultáneos quedándose sin reservas y con pocas posibilidades de influir en la batalla o cambiar su curso. Un bombardeo al que siguió un ataque a la bayoneta, muy costoso en vidas humanas (que Scott no podía darse el lujo de despilfarrar) desalojó a la guarnición mexicana del puente. Entonces, todas las fuerzas pudieron concentrarse contare el convento. Dos horas y media duró el combate en el convento de Churubusco. Las versiones estadunidenses exaltan el asalto sobre los muros realizado tras el intensísimo combate y el violento bombardeo… olvidando que los invasores pudieron hacerlo porque los defensores, cumplidas sus órdenes y el propósito de permitir al Ejército replegarse a la ciudad, habían agotado el parque… como consta en la soberbia frase del general pedro Ma. Anaya. Los irlandeses no fueron ahorcados todos: nomás uno de cada diez, y el resto desorejados. El número de bajas mexicanas de los días 18, 19 y 20 es incalculable (en el sentido literal, de imposible de calcular). Scott reconoció haber perdido 1,053 hombres, un número excesivo para sus escasas fuerzas. Unos y otros tenían que concederse un respiro.

[bruce-wyatt-burner]

👀👀

[normanblogs]

Binibining Pilipinas 2023 Queens on CNN Philippines

[dxncingxnmyown]

@frvgcleternty | Valencia and Alistair, The Evening of The Kidnapping

Something is off in the all-too human noise the French soldiers make. It's an odd congregation; the military advisor to Russia, the Sultan and consort of Iran, and the English King's right hand man. But together, the pieces of uncertainty fit together. And in the wake of it? A cold chill settles in, as whispers and moves are determined. This needed to be handled with discretion. And fortunately Alistair, despite the heavy drink of the past few days, is a sharp thinker even with blurred edges. He makes the proper moves, duty bound by his friendship; he informs the King and secures the Windsor's in their chambers. He ensure Meredith and Robert are well in hand. He accounts for anyone caught in the main hall. And after duty is done, he is fast on his feet, storming into the Holland's Apartments. Whatever occured between him and Valencia clearly does not travel to her lady's, who allow him in. "Call your guards back to duty, and man them at the door." Alistair commands in the sitting room, before pushing through the all-too familiar doors he has many times before.

If there is a moment of missing, a moment of regret... It is awash in seeing Valencia, still standing strong. No harm has come to her, at least. For a moment, he is speechless, Adam's apple bobbing in his throat. It's the first time he looks at her since their last conversation, and his chest tightens with longing. And just as quickly, it comes undone, pragmatic in times of grave darkness. "There is danger." Alistair informs her, approaching closer as his eyes remain unmoved. "It's a conspiracy, and everyone at court is caught in it. The Palace is under siege. The Bourbon's royal guard has fallen to imposters. No one in, no one out." He places his hands on her shoulders before thinking, a somber look upon his face. "They are keeping a handful of royalty locked in the main hall... Including your sister, Anna." Alistair's eyes dart about her room, looking for her things. He drops her shoulders, a man of action rather than sentimentality when it comes down to the wire. "You need to get dressed. Now. Your cloak. Your riding boots." Alistair lists off, pulling them from her trunk of clothes on by one. "You must prepare to run if it comes to it."

[truhanthings]

[truehappinessissonear]

im so normal about cxg

ive done a few,,, ig ramblings about this silly show and now i have tumblr so people who get it can see it. also i got in the top 0.05% for cxg for spotify wrapped i think that means i get bitches (real). this was done at like 3am in an airport so. ignore. typos and stuff. ALSO i literally wrote this as it came to mind so. yeah.

so we have Where's the bathroom which is a song about wanting to please a mother that can't really be pleased. "Where's the bathroom" comes from Rachel Bloom cus she said "thsts normally what a mum says to you after you haven't talked in ages". I think it especially applies to Naomi who cares little about Rebecca's happiness instead her own needs or her needs to project the life she wanted onto her daughter. The song is fastpaced and the lyrics change topic constantly to show how exhausting it can be to deal with Naomi. It's like running a fast race. Interesting the one slow part of the song (other than the break where Rebecca physically and lyrically gets to breath) is when Rebecca finally snaps and shouts, this part is slower and goes on for longer as (as Rebecca says) Naomi does anything to rub stuff in her face

maybe I shouldn't do this at 3am I'll leave stuff out

the reprise of "Where's the bathroom" is "There's no bathroom" which is sang by Weird Al (it was kinda an excuse to just let him be in the show) and people say it's random but let me think abkut this. Greg is trying to impress Rebecca. Compared to Nathaniel and Josh he feels like he doesn't stand a chance, due to Natheniels riches and Rebecca's history with Josh. So he buys a hot air balloon, and wears a rainbow tie because he's desperate to impress her similar to how Rebecca was desperate to impress Naomi. This song focuses on the one fact that there's no bathroom on the balloon and thst he'll have to break it to her. I think it's Greg's nervous mind worried thst she's gonna hate it.

But other times a bathroom is important in cxg -Buzzing from the bathroom -Thanksgiving -The club incident -Last episode -Some extent the headphones bathroom incident

quick fire round

Buzzing from the bathroom is Jim finding out he's not been pleasing his wife even though "they use 2 different positions every other Sunday night" and thst he'd not been pleasing her for 15 (I think it's 15) years. it's a ballad as this is a shock to him. he thought thst he'd been pleasing (impressing) her but in fact she never finished once, having to go off to the bathroom to do it herself

Thanksgiving Rebecca did everything to impress Josh and his family. She leaned the language a bit and cooked the food and she was actually impressing them (as for some reason they care about smarts even tho josh has 1 brain cell) valencia had been failing to impress them the entire time and thst caused strain between val and josh which was a win for rebecca as she could impress more. However then she got sick due to the food and ran to the bathroom where she had to sit for ages watching Val and Josh do it. In the end they please and impress eachother so much that they move in together, and Rebecca saw all this from the bathroom, where she started associating toilets with heartbreak

ALSO I FORGOT

the portapotty

The club incident happens after Rebecca tries to impress the 2 people who she cares most about in her life. Paula and Josh. Paula was mad at her due to a whole pregnancy incident and the fact thst Rebecca doesn't really,,, listen to people and often talks over them with her problems. So Rebecca babysits Tommy to get back Paulas friendship. However she gets tangled up because Josh is sick and she's trying to impress him by buying him soup, who he thinks is from his girlfriend. So when Rebecca goes to the club to tell him, and brings Tommy eith her Tommy gets lost and she looks for him with Heather. The two get stuck in the bathroom and watch Josh and Anna special hug/ref. Which they do because Josh is so impressed by Anna and Anna assumes she's gonna be impressed with Josh because he builds up this thing. So once again like Thanksgiving despite Rebecca's countless attempts to impress people, she fails in both ways and instead watches someone get pleased by Josh because of her work.Last episode we see the return of the dream ghost. Rebecca fell asleep on the toilet after drinking Joshs weird juice and is now dreaming about what she's supposed to do with her life. She has to choose between the three men who have been trying to impress her and OK I REALISE I SHOULDVE DONE THIS ONE LAST but she isn't impressed with herself- which she sees in her dreams because no matter what she's unhappy and depressed about her lifeThe the headphone incident is (spoiler( after rebeccas sui attempt her three friends stayed eith her the entire time and even slept outside her room to make sure she was OK. then she goes into a bathroom eith headphones and they all assume in a panic thst she committed suicide with Vals nail clippers. I wanna do a character study on val and this episode is important for it. Basically when she comes out Heather and Paula are like "we were so worried" but Valencias full on sobbing. The whole episode Val had been seen as a sort of performative activist about the whole situation but (I ACTUALLY DID AN ANALYSIS ON THIS SONG LIKE AGES AGO) as seen in this is my movement she does think this is for the best. She just wanted Rebecca, her first female friend to be ok. Val cares for Rebecca so much , in the episode...prior??? 2 episodes before maybe she tries to act like she didn't care. When they were searching she says "she's lucky she's cray because my earrings would've been the first thing to come out" insinuating she was gonna hit her. But would she actually?'- OK gotta stop. myself I was gonna delve into Vals character whoops. Uhm point is they're hard to make Rebecca happy and safe thst they become iverbearing and wantto follow her into the bathroom now the portapotty incident. this is at the taco festival in season 1 episode 4 and its at Greg and Rebecca's date. So Rebecca is trying to convince herself to stay with Greg, to settle for him. (I should've done this before the others( and honestly he's not that impressive at the date (hence the settle for me thing( but he doesn't need to be. They get along well and it's going well and it goes bad for completely unrelated reasons. Rather than be in clean bathroom this time Rebecca's in a portapotty and sings into the mirror (they literally recorded this live in the portapotty as "You can't fake a portapotty noise"-Rachel Bloom)

walking through the airport rn but BASICALLY!! how could I gorget the song Paula's stuck in the bathroom. Context is that Rebecca started being friends with Heather and Val so Paula and Rebecca started drifting and in response Rebecca triest o force a friendship. Then everything crumbles down metaphorically and physically and then Paula is stuck in the bathroom. OK DONE WALKING. Once again Rebecca was desperate to impress someone and this time it harmed them, it causes a big fight.in conclusion in cxgtoilets are a metaphor for wanting to impress someone

[dichromaticdyke]

for the ask game: Anna from Fire Emblem

YAY <3 <3 <3

Sexuality Headcanon: pansexual Gender Headcanon: nonbinary but doesn't care if you call her a girl A ship I have with said character: mmm remember when she had her boyfriend jakey? i guess him lol A BROTP I have with said character: anna and robin! either boy or girl robin haha A NOTP I have with said character: honestly none i can think of rn A random headcanon: she's banned from valencia and that's why she wasn't in gaiden or echoes General Opinion over said character: i love her so goddamn much nintendo needs to let her be romanced more often i'm biting her

send me a character ♡

[wasntfaira]

WHAT CHARACTERS ARE YOU ?

so i wanted to do this personality test thing &* list characters i got that the test says i match up with % wise, but from fandoms i actually know / write from , especially since i don't know a lot of fandoms. they give you 2000 characters , but i went with people i matched up to 50% with &* pulled 85 of them. now i'm gonna go through &* mark em. bold means i write them already , italics mean i'd consider it , bold & italic together mean i used to write them , underline means it shocked me.

Kurt Hummel ( glee ) / 83%

Agent Pleakley ( lilo & stitch ) / 78%

Effie Trinket ( the hunger games ) / 77%

Tina Cohen-Chang ( glee ) / 77%

Mia Dolan ( la la land ) / 77%

Ryan Evans ( high school musical ) / 76%

Violet Parr ( the incredibles ) / 76%

Padme Amidala ( star wars ) / 75%

Rosalind Walker ( sabrina ) / 74%

Astrid Leong-Teo ( crazy rich asians ) / 73%

Alice Cullen ( twilight ) / 73%

Blaine Anderson ( glee ) / 73%

Allison Hargreeves ( the umbrella academy ) / 73%

Belle French ( once upon a time ) / 73%

Hazel Grace-Lancaster ( the fault in our stars ) / 73%

Gabriella Montez ( high school musical ) / 73%

Monica Geller ( friends ) / 72%

Esme Cullen ( twilight ) / 72%

Rachel Berry ( glee ) / 72%

Mercedes Jones ( glee ) / 72%

Elsa ( frozen ) / 72%

Mary Margaret Blanchard / Snow White ( once upon a time ) / 72%

Jasmine ( aladdin ) / 72%

Katara ( avatar ) / 71%

Princess Leia ( star wars ) / 71%

Emma Pillsbury ( glee ) / 71%

Allison Hamilton ( the notebook ) / 71%

Hermione Granger ( harry potter ) / 70%

Tahani Al-Jamil ( the good place ) / 70%

Janet ( the good place ) / 70%

Paula Proctor ( crazy ex girlfriend ) / 70%

Princess Fiona ( shrek ) / 70%

Damian Leigh ( mean girls ) / 68%

Artie Abrams ( glee ) / 68%

Anna ( frozen ) / 68%

Claire ( fleabag ) / 68%

Peggy Carter ( marvel ) / 67%

Dr. Strange ( marvel ) / 67%

Rachel Chu ( crazy rich asians ) / 67%

Nani Pelekai ( lilo & stitch ) / 66%

Henry Mills ( once upon a time ) / 66%

Belle ( beauty & the beast ) / 66%

'Needy' Lesnicki ( jennifer's body ) / 66%

Vision ( marvel ) / 66%

Emily Fields ( pretty little liars ) / 66%

Carlisle Cullen ( twilight ) / 65%

Rosalie Hale ( twilight ) / 65%

Jasper Hale ( twilight ) / 65%

Mike Chang ( glee ) / 65%

Daryl Whitefeather ( crazy ex girlfriend ) / 65%

Spencer Hastings ( pretty little liars ) / 65%

Valencia Perez ( crazy ex girlfriend ) 64%

Rapunzel ( tangled ) / 64%

Captain Marvel ( marvel ) / 63%

Edward Cullen ( twilight ) / 63%

Eleanor Sung-Young ( crazy rich asians ) / 63%

Sabrina Spellman ( chilling adventures of sabrina ) / 63%

Ben Hargreeves ( the umbrella academy ) / 63%

Ross Geller ( friends ) / 62%

Hilda Spellman ( chilling adventures of sabrina ) / 62%

Charlie Kelmeckis ( perks of being a wallflower ) / 62%

Sharpay Evans ( high school musical ) / 61%

Ambrose Spellman ( chilling adventures of sabrina ) / 60%

Love Quinn ( you ) / 60%

Guinevere Beck ( you ) / 60%

Peeta Mellark ( the hunger games ) / 59%

Rebecca Bunch ( crazy ex girlfriend ) / 59%

Regina Mills ( once upon a time ) / 59%

Tony Stark ( marvel ) / 58%

Gretchen Weiners ( mean girls ) / 58%

Viktor Hargreeves ( the umbrella academy ) / 57%

Will Schuester ( glee ) / 56%

Emma Swan ( once upon a time ) / 56%

Maurice ( beauty & the beast ) / 56%

Steve Rogers / Captain America ( marvel ) / 55%

Brittany Pierce ( glee ) / 53%

Chip Dove ( jennifer's body ) / 52%

Regina George ( mean girls ) / 51%

Augustus ' Gus ' Waters ( the fault in our stars ) / 51%

Chandler Bing ( friends ) / 50%

Coriolanus Snow ( the hunger games ) / 50%

Janis Ian ( mean girls ) / 50%

Santana Lopez ( glee ) / 50%

Klaus Hargreeves ( the umbrella academy ) / 50%

Summer Finn ( 500 days of summer ) / 50%

[ash-and-books]

Rating: 1/5

Book Blurb: Two enemy kingdoms are forced to work together to break a curse in this lush YA fantasy, featuring a transgender prince and a bigender dama/assassin in the lead roles. Keep your enemy closer. Cade McKenna is a transgender prince who’s doubling for his brother. Valencia Palafox is a young dama attending the future queen of Eliana. Gael Palma is the infamous boy assassin Cade has vowed to protect. Patrick McKenna is the reluctant heir to a kingdom, and the prince Gael has vowed to destroy. Cade doesn’t know that Gael and Valencia are the same person. Valencia doesn’t know that every time she thinks she’s fighting Patrick, she’s fighting Cade. And when Cade and Valencia blame each other for a devastating enchantment that takes both their families, neither of them realizes that they have far more dangerous enemies. Cowritten by married writing team Anna-Marie and Elliott McLemore, Venom & Vow is a lush and powerful YA novel about owning your power and becoming who you really are - no matter the cost.

Review:

When a curse falls upon two enemy kingdoms they will be forced to work together if they want to save their kingdoms. A transgender prince and a bigender dama/assassin must find a way to work together and not kill one another if they are to break the curse and possibly fall in love. Cade McKenna is a transgender prince who’s been doubling for his brother, Cade wants nothing to do with the throne and he just wants to stop killing people. Valencia Palafox is a young dama attending the future Queen of Eliana who is also Gael palma , an infamous boy assassin that Cade has vowed to protect. Cade doesn’t realize that Valencia and Gael are the same person and Val thinks that she’s fighting Patrick when in fact she’s fighting Cade. Cade and Val both think the other is to blame for starting the curse that befell their perspective kingdoms after running to each other on the night it occurred but something much more complex is going on and someone else is to blame. Now they’ll have to figure out who did it and what other dangerous enemies surround them. The story definitely had an interesting premise however it definitely fell short, the story was confusing, honestly the structure didn’t help either. The writing is okay but honestly the structure and way the story goes just made it so hard to follow along with a lot of the events and the flow of the story felt uneven. I honestly didn’t really see the romance between the two characters and just didn’t find myself caring all that much about the overall story. Unfortunately this was a miss for me, but i do always appreciate representation and that was a welcome treat in this book.

*Thanks Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*