#Author: Chelsea Cain

[bones-clouds]

books i read in 2024:

"they never learn"

layne fargo

rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️, 5

genre: thriller, mystery, wlw

synopsis:

From the author of the “raw, ingenious, and utterly fearless” (Wendy Walker, USA TODAY bestselling author) Temper comes a dynamic psychological thriller about two women who give bad men exactly what they deserve.

Scarlett Clark is an exceptional English professor. But she’s even better at getting away with murder.

Every year, she searches for the worst man at Gorman University and plots his well-deserved demise. Thanks to her meticulous planning, she’s avoided drawing attention to herself—but as she’s preparing for her biggest kill yet, the school starts probing into the growing body count on campus. Determined to keep her enemies close, Scarlett insinuates herself into the investigation and charms the woman in charge, Dr. Mina Pierce. Everything’s going according to her master plan…until she loses control with her latest victim, putting her secret life at risk of exposure.

Meanwhile, Gorman student Carly Schiller is just trying to survive her freshman year. Finally free of her emotionally abusive father, all Carly wants is to focus on her studies and fade into the background. Her new roommate has other ideas. Allison Hadley is cool and confident—everything Carly wishes she could be—and the two girls quickly form an intense friendship. So when Allison is sexually assaulted at a party, Carly becomes obsessed with making the attacker pay...and turning her fantasies about revenge into a reality.

Featuring Layne Fargo’s trademark “propulsive writing style” (Kirkus Reviews) and “sinister, of the moment” (Chicago Review of Books) suspense, They Never Learn is a feminist serial killer story perfect for fans of Killing Eve and Chelsea Cain.

[exilethegame]

Marcelle weirdly makes me feel sad. Not because she's my favorite chracter; its hard to feel forgiving with the little we know she's done so far. But its like watching someone preparing themselves to selfdestruct and knowing that you can't help them because they've already proven they are unwilling to change course and now you can only watch them continue to spiral downward, wondering if the end goal will be really worth all the sacrifices.

Listen: no one has as many complicated emotions for Marcelle as I do. She is honestly one of the most tragic characters I have ever written, and thinking about her generally makes me so, so sad. But all the hate people have for her? The burning anger? I understand it, too. Because Marcelle is really, really not a good person with what she's done, either.

I can't say much more about her-- it's imperative I keep any info about her as vague and limited a possible. But I can say this is a road she's been going down for such a long, long time. And, as the author, sometimes I look at Marcelle and then see the little girl she used to be 40 or 50 some years ago. Because yes, I'm writing the tragedy of the Commander, but at the same, in order to write this story, I've had to write the story of a little girl in Plaithus becoming heir and not understanding the monumentous weight that has been put on her shoulders.

Also, because I'm obsessed with Marcelle yet quite literally cannot share anything meaningful about her, take some songs I heavily associate with her! (*cough* it's a lot of Chelsea Wolfe *cough*) (*Cough* it's the lyrics *cough*)

Ptolemaea by Ethel Caine

The Warden by Chelsea Wolfe

Feral Love by Chelsea Wolfe

Sick by Chelsea Wolfe

Brigmore Lullaby from Dishonored 2

[orlissa]

I’ll be teaching a class on American comics (theory and history) this coming semester, and since we won’t be actually reading comics in class (except for one class), I thought part of my students’ grade could be them doing a presentation on exceptional/significant American comics, so I started putting together a list for them to choose from, and... got stuck :D Since my area of study is superheroes, and female representation beyond that, where I deal with a lot of themes, tropes, individual issues, super long storylines, I’ve found it really hard to come up with a list that is not exclusively superheroes and filled with compact stories.

So here is my question to you: do you have any comic book/graphic novel recommendations for me/my students? I only have two criteria: - It needs to be American (no manga, manhua, etc.) - It needs to be no longer than around 250-300 pages/12ish standard lenght issues (So stuff like Sandman or Saga are not exactly in the running)

Beyond that it can be any theme or rating, the more diverse the better. I’m expecting around 15-20 students, and these are the publications I have on my list so far (but some might get crossed out yet):

Art Spiegerlman: Maus (volume 1)

Frank Miller: The Dark Knight Returns

Alan Moore: Watchmen

Alison Bechdel: Fun Home

Chelsea Cain: Man-Eaters

Tom King: The Vision

Chelsea Cain: Mockingbird: I Can Explain (either this or Man-Eaters might get crossed out, so I don’t have two works from the same author, but Man-Eaters does some really inventive things with the format, and this one is pure brilliance when it comes to the timeline/reading order)

Jason Aaron: Thor - the “God Butcher” storyline

Matt Fraction: Hawkeye

George Takei: They Called Us Enemy

[readingforsanity]

Wonderland | Jennifer Hillier | Published 2015 | *SPOILERS*

Fans of Chelsea Cain and Lisa Gardner will devour this edgy thriller about the gruesome secrets hidden beneath a small-town amusement park. From the author of Creep, Freak, and The Butcher, Jennifer Hillier's "fine knack for creating hideous killers" is vividly on display.

Welcome to Wonderland. By day, it's a magical place boasting a certain retro charm. Excited children, hands sticky with cotton candy, run frenetically from the Giant Octopus ride to the Spinning Sombrero, while the tinkling carnival music of the giant Wonder Wheel - the oldest Ferris wheel in the Pacific Northwest - fills the air. But before daybreak, an eerie feeling descends. Maybe it's the Clown Museum, home to creepy wax replicas of movie stars and a massive collection of antique porcelain dolls. Or maybe its the terrifying real House of Horrors. Or...maybe it's the dead, decaying body left in the midway for all the Wonder Workers to see.

Vanessa Castro's first day as deputy police chief of Seaside, Washington, is off to a bang. The unidentifiable homeless man rotting inside the tiny town's main tourist attraction is strange enough, but now a teenage employee - whose defiant picture at the top of the Wonder Wheel went viral that same morning - is missing. As the clues in those seemingly disparate crimes lead her down a mysterious path of missing perons that goes back decades, she suspects the seedy rumors surrounding the amusement park's dark history might just be true. she moved to Seaside to escape her own scandalous past, but has she brought her family to the center of an insidious killer's twisted game? Acclaimed author Jennifer Hillier's bone-chilling thriller is masterful and fast-faced, hurtling toward a shcoking, bloody conclusion.

Vanessa Castro has uprooted her life after the untimely death of her husband, a former Army service member dealing with PTSD. After his death, she took a job as the deputy chief of police at Seaside PD. In Seaside, the one thing that kept the town going is the Pacific Northwest's largest amusement park, Wonderland. Owned by a man named Nick Bishop, and ran by his niece, Bianca, it brings joy and wonder to those of all ages.

In her attempt to put the past behind her, Vanessa and her two kids, Ava and John-John, move to Seaside to make a new start. But, unfortunately, Vanessa has a huge undertaking when the body of a young boy appears on the midway underneath the Wonder Wheel. Bianca, nervous about the publicity that this will bring, does anything she can in order to cooperate but is hiding major secrets of her own, including sleeping with various Wonder Workers of a certain age.

What ensues is finding out how corrupt and in disarray the town really is. Vanessa's daughter begins working at Wonderland, and is even transferred to Elm Street, the parks version of a haunted area. She begins working in the Clown Museum as a performer, and is taken with one of Bianca's latest lovers, Xander Cameron, though he doesn't share her feelings due to her young age.

Vanessa, along with the help of a young detective named Donnie, begin working the missing persons cases. On top of Blake Dozier, who is known as the Wonder Wheel Kid, having free-climbed the Wonder Wheel the morning that the John Doe's body turned up, but there is also those of a few other missing boys, all around the age of 18, who have gone missing over the years. When "Homeless Harry" as the internet has dubbed him is identified as Aiden Cole, a young boy who went missing 3 years prior, Vanessa realizes that something sinister is occurring inside the park.

In the end, Vanessa is able to pinpoint that the person kidnapping and murdering the young boys is Donnie, the very detective she took under her wing. After Ava is cornered and nearly raped by the janitor named Carlos Jones, Ava finds Blake Dozier in the tunnels underneath the Clown Museum. At first it was thought their existence was a myth, but the founder of the park had built the tunnels and cells underneath the museum in order to drug and rape his victims, including that of Vanessa's secret boyfriend, Oscar; the security guard Glenn Hovey and Nick Bishop, the current owner of the park.

Donnie confesses that he can't let Ava go, but that he actually liked her mother, but in the end, his life is ended when another police officer finds Donnie and Ava fighting over the gun. He pulled the trigger without hesitation.

It is determined that Bianca Bishop had slept with Donnie during his time as a Wonder Worker, promising to love him until she felt that she no longer wanted anything to do with him. Donnie set out on a mission in order to torment the other young lovers she had, by kidnapping and eventually murdering them.

Bianca will be arrested and charged with attempted murder of her uncle, Nick Bishop. 8 years prior, Nick had confessed to Bianca that he would like to move on; he made Wonderland what it is today, and Bianca, not knowing anything other than the park itself after her life turned upside down when she was a teenager, couldn't allow him to move on, beating him nearly to death, eventually hiding his body inside of the tunnels beneath the museum where he has been for the last 8 years. Bianca, however, believed that he has been dead all of this time, using Oscar in order to move the body and kept her secret all of that time.

In the end, Wonderland wasn't what it was. It was too tainted, and even though Vanessa had just moved her family there to start anew after her own secret (she is responsible for the death of her husband, as she ended up needing to defend herself from him during one of his depression episodes, shooting him; it was determined it was an accidental shooting, and this is something that both she and the mayor of Seaside know, as he and her husband had been friends and he is the reason she got the job in Seaside) but she is going to relocate them back to Seattle, as there is too much corruption in Seaside for her to justify staying.

[heat-sink]

10 mutuals I’d like to know better

tagged by @shepgarrus and frankly, when I saw I was tagged, I went:

thank u I'm honored

putting all under the cut because I have a heart

Last song I listened to: Anhedonia by Chelsea Wolfe featuring Emma Ruth Rundle WOW it had to be one of the most depressing songs I've got in my spotify playlist

Favourite content to watch: (hold on max I LOVE that you watch kpop stuff tell me your faves) I watch a lot of historical costuming (love 2 watch people make stays and corsets???) and I watch a decent amount of automotive journalism (growing up, I was a Top Gear fan, and yes, jeremy clarkson is a POS). I like some tarot stuff, too, dance/ballet, aaannndd I like to watch gaming play-throughs, especially of games I don't actually want to play but I'm nosy and want to know what happens/goes on.

Favourite games: other than ME, I don't really play games anymore. Older Tomb Raider is great (I think Legends is my favorite). It's absolutely military propaganda, but I enjoyed playing The Division and its sequel, and if I can mention board games, I'm a big fan of Dixit and any of those co-op detective games.

Favourite colour: hot red--red so warm some people might call it orange

Favourite animal: I can't choose one... Corvids (mainly crows and ravens, but I like jays too!), cats, snakes, and I could go on because of who I am as a person

Favourite food: Honestly, i could eat phở gà everyday. I'm also a huge fan of most dishes with rice or noodles of all cuisines.

Sweet, spicy or savoury: I need them all. Also TART.

Current obsessions: my current hyper fixations are inhaling romance novels, listening to ethel cain, and coming up with weird designs to paint my pottery pieces.

Last book I read: I finished the YA book by The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight (good god that title is longer than the novel) by Jennifer E Smith.. It was........ ok. I don't normally read YA but every time I do, I am reminded why: I'm too old for it. Anyway, all of you should go read Naomi Novik's Scholomance series, starting with A Deadly Education. Bro. That shit? Bro. It's so fucking good.

Last thing I Googled: the author for that YA novel

Relationship: single pringle (delusionally dating taz skylar in my fantasies)

Fun fact: OK MAX IF U READ THIS LET'S GO TO SOUTH KOREA (also much of the food is spicy, but I recommend bibimbap as a ~safe introduction~ or, of course, any kind of gogi--samgapsyul, galbi, bulgogi, dak bulgogi, etc. All excellent choices. Or if you want noodles, japchae!)

ok my ACTUAL fun fact: I've written a novel (romance, no smut) and I'm still working up the courage to even figure out how to write a query letter to send it out to a billion agents or publishing houses open for submissions :') the insecurity and fear of failure is REAL

uhhh honestly I don't have mutuals OTHER than shepgarrus/max because I am a tag crawler instead, I am Truly Unhinged.

[booksandtea]

I finished my Goodreads Goal in February...

I FINISHED MY GOODREADS GOAL IN FEBRUARY | keep reading to find out what I read #BooksandTeaBC @LovingBlogs @BBlogRT

I finished my Goodreads Goal in February

In 2018 I set my goal for 30 books, this is the first time I’ve set it low on purpose. I knew from previous years reading I would read more than this and in the back of my head I had my own alternate goal. However throughout my years blogging I’ve seen much discourse on Goodreads goal being a cause of stress and reading slumps should we ever get behind.

Se…

[read-the-clouds]

End of week two of my Women Authors Project!

Anyway, there’s a reason I do NOT have a bookstagram 😅 - I just can’t be bothered to set up nice shots with props and lighting. Last week was absolutely a fluke we got so many nice pictures. 

I’m on spring break now, but I also need to start getting prepped for Passover, so I expect this coming week may not be as reading-heavy as I’d hope. This week, however, while not as good as last was still quite successful! I read seven books with an average of 3.7 stars. Three were novellas, one was a manga, and one was a book of short stories. My thoughts on all of these under the cut! 

Book title: Fullmetal Alchemist, vol 19 Book author: Hiromu Arakawa Year Published: 2008 Genre: Fantasy/Manga New to me book? Yes New to me author? No Star Rating: Five stars Bechdel Test? No Main character: Male, Ed and Al Elric Owned/Library? Owned, keeping Overall thoughts: AAAHHHHHHH. Anyway, this series is amazing and I continue to highly recommend.

Book title: Magic for Beginners Book author: Kelly Link Year Published: 2005 Genre: Magical realism/horror/short stories New to me book? Yes New to me author? Yes Star Rating: 2.4 stars Owned/Library? Owned, not keeping Overall thoughts: Ugh what a disappointment! I’ve heard great things about Kelly Link stories, but I was not vibing these at all. They all felt way too long and there were a number of them that I know I didn’t “Get” but they just weren’t appealing enough for me to try really hard to understand.

Book title: HeartSick Book author: Chelsea Cain Year Published: 2007 Genre: Thriller New to me book? Yes New to me author? Yes Star Rating: 2.5 stars Bechdel Test? Yes Main character: Male Owned/Library? Library, physical Overall thoughts: A perfectly serviceable thriller. Lots of content warnings for this one and a transphobic slur completely unrelated to the plot. But I wanted an easy read and I got an easy read, so it did the job!

Book title: Ragnarök: the End of the Gods Book author: A S Byatt Year Published: 2011 Genre: Mythology New to me book? Yes New to me author? No Star Rating: 4 stars Bechdel Test? No Main character: Honestly, DID this story even have a main character? Owned/Library? Owned, keeping Over all thoughts: Hi, I love Loki SO much it’s ridiculous.

Book title: The Monster of Elendhaven Book author: Jennifer Giesbrecht Year Published: 2019 Genre: Horror New to me book? Yes New to me author? YesraStar Rating: 3.5 stars Bechdel Test? No Main character: Male Owned/Library? Library, physical Over all thoughts: I’m super interested in reading more of Giesbrecht’s work! I hope she publishes another novel or novella soon.

Book title: Ghost Wall Book author: Sarah Moss Year Published: 2018 Genre: Contemporary New to me book? Yes New to me author? Yes Star Rating: 3.5 stars Bechdel Test? Yes Main character: Female, Silvie Owned/Library? Library, physical Over all thoughts: Woah. This hits hard. While maybe not the main point, it definitely commentates on that point where love of history overlaps with racial/cultural bigotry. Definitely a lot to think about.

Book title: Rebecca Book author: Daphne du Maurier Year Published: 1938 Genre: Gothic/literary thriller/classic New to me book? Yes New to me author? No Star Rating: 5 stars Bechdel Test? Yes Main character: Female   Owned/Library? Owned, KEEPING. Definitely want to find an audiobook for my audiobook classics library. Over all thoughts: AAAHHHH. I love this. Not to take away from either novel, but Rebecca is a bit like if Daphne du Maurier took all the main components of Jane Eyre, put them in a little bag, shook it up, and then plucked out her favorite pieces and made an entirely new book.

[cupofteajones]

Best Books of 2022...So Far: Comics & Mangas

Best Books of 2022…So Far: Comics & Mangas

Welcome to another round of the Best Books of the Year so Far, where halfway through the year, I name the titles I read that I feel are the best of 2022. Just like last year, I will be listing the books by different genre and format. So stay tuned every Thursday throughout the rest of this month, catch my favorite reads of 2022 that you want to keep your eye on! (more…)

[cockslutpadalecki]

17 questions, 17 people

i was tagged forever ago by @princessmisery666 @daydream3r-xo @deansmyapplepie @superbadassnatural - thank you ladies 💕 i’m sorry it took me forever to complete it xx

Nicknames: lisey, lise, slut bunny, filth bunny (i see a theme here...)

Zodiac: pisces

Height: 5ft 5ish?

Last thing I googled: something about bella thorne/only fans

Song stuck in my head: thanks to my child, incy wincy spider 🙃

Number of followers: 8.7k

Amount of sleep: i gotta get at least eight or i am the crankiest bitch. why’d you think i disappear at like 10pm every night lmao

Lucky number: 4? idk

Favorite song: i have a lot but i always come back to... too close for comfort - mcfly

Favorite instrument: electric guitar

Dream job: forensic pathologist or something sciencey

Aesthetic: a sour sweet wrapped up in black candy but underneath there’s nothing but pink and glitter lmao

Favorite author: i have so many. chelsea cain, poppy z. brite, bret easton ellis, chris carter, lynda la plante, karin slaughter

Favorite animal noise: when a kitten miaows I get my wings

Random: both of my thumbs are double jointed?

tagging (sorry if you’ve already done this so please feel free to ignore!): @threeminutesoflife @imanuglywombat @crashdevlin @letsby @negans-lucille-tblr @mummybear @there-must-be-a-lock @jewelswrites-ish @daisysouthmoore @firefly-in-darkness @cheritzie @dawnie1988 @fandomfic-galore @becs-bunker @irrelevantwriter @likedovesinthewnd @jtargaryen18

[irrelevantwriter]

Tag Game

I was tagged by the awesome @flames-bring-a-ton-of-ash. Thank you for the tag friend!

Answer 17 questions and tag 17 people! (Please make sure to create a new post rather than reblogging!)

1) Name: Vanessa

2) Age: 32

3) Zodiac: Virgo

4) Height: 5′2″

5) Hogwarts’ house: I don't know. I never kept up with Harry Potter. 😬

6) Last thing i googled: A soda stream. I guzzle sparking water like you wouldn’t believe. 

7) Song stuck in my head: Odio by Romeo Santos ft Drake 

8) Number of followers: A good amount.

9) Amount of sleep: I like to get 7-8 hours but I often push it bc I’m a night owl.

10) Lucky number: 4

11) Wearing: A white and tan tank dress bc it hot and humid affff.

12) Favorite song: Waaaaaay too many to name. I will say some of my favorites are 70s, 80s, and 90s rock and R&B.

13) Favorite instruments: I played the trumpet for seven years in school. But my favorite instruments to listen to are the piano, guitar, and violin. 

14) Favorite author: I listen to a lot of audiobooks so there’s a list lol...Karin Slaughter, Tammi Hoag, Greg Iles, Nelson Demille, Dan Brown, Darynda Jones, Riley Sager, Chelsea Cain, Chevy Stevens, Lisa Unger, Gillian Flynn

15) Aesthetic: red or burgundy lipstick, velvet, gold hoops and necklaces, fall weather, oversized sweaters, coffee

16) Favorite animal sound: Horse neigh 

17) Random: I decided to get my first tattoo this year. It's going to be the outline of a great white shark on the back of my shoulder. Small and simple. It’s an homage to my obsession of sharks and a symbol of the amazing relationship I have with my brother and sister in law. We’re all three getting a variation of a shark.

Tagging:

Whoever wants to play! 💖

[bluejay-boy]

lgbtqia+ representation: books + authors edition

books by lgbtqia+ authors with lgbtqia+ themes and/or characters

You Could Be Mine, Sara Farizan (she/her)

About a Girl, Sarah McCarry (she/her)

All Out: The No-Longer-Secret Storied of Queer Teens Throughout the Ages, Saundra Mitchell (she/they)

Amateur, Thomas Page McBee (he/him)

Anger is a Gift, Mark Oshiro (they/them)

Annie on My Mind, Nancy Garden (she/her)

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, Benjamin Alire Sáenz (he/him)

Ash, Malinda Lo (she/her)

At Swim, Two Boys, Jamie O’Neill (he/him)

At the Edge of the Universe, Shaun David Hutchinson (he/him)

Blue is the Warmest Color, Julie Maroh (she/her)

The Brightsiders, Jen Wilde (she/her)

Caroline’s Heart, Austin Chant (he/him)

Changers, T Cooper (he/him) + Allison Glock-Cooper (she/her)

Chelsea Girls, Eileen Myles (they/them)

The Color Purple, Alice Walker (she/her)

Confessions of a Mask, Yukio Mishima (he/him)

Confessions of the Fox, Jordy Rosenberg (he/him)

The Danielle Cain Series, Margaret Killjoy (she/her)

Darius the Great Is Not Okay, Adib Khorram (he/him)

Dear Rachel Maddow, Adrienne Kisner (she/her)

The Difference Between You and Me, Madeleine George (she/her)

Drag Teen, Jeffery Self (he/him)

Eminent Outlaws, Christopher Bram (he/him)

Everything Leads to You, Nina LaCour (she/her)

Fat Angie, E.E. Charlton-Trujillo (she/her)

Fingersmith, Sarah Waters (she/her)

For Today I Am a Boy, Kim Fu (she/her)

Fun Home, Alison Bechdel (she/her)

Funeral Rites, Jean Genet (he/him)

Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit, Jaye Robin Brown (she/her)

Get it Together, Delilah, Erin Gough (she/her)

Girl in Need of a Tourniquet, Merri Lisa Johnson (she/her)

Girl Made of Stars, Ashley Herring Blake (she/her)

Girl Mans Up, M.E. Girard (she/her)

Gracefully Grayson, Ami Polonsky (she/her)

The Gravity Between Us, Kristen Zimmer (she/her)

The Great American Whatever, Tim Federle (he/him)

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, Carson McCullers (she/her)

Her Name in the Sky, Kelly Quindlen (she/her)

History is All You Left Me, Adam Silvera (he/him)

Hunter’s Way, Gerri Hill (she/her)

I Wish You All the Best, Mason Deaver (they/them)

If I Was Your Girl, Meredith Russo (she/her)

If You Could Be Mine, Sara Farizan (she/her)

Juliet Takes a Breath, Gabby Rivera (she/her)

Keeping You a Secret, Julie Anne Peters (she/her)

Leaving L.A., Kate Christie (she/her)

Let’s Talk About Love, Claire Kann (she/her)

Little Fish, Casey Plett (she/her)

Love Beyond Body, Space and Time (anthology)

Magic for Liars, Sarah Gailey (they/them)

Maiden, Mother, Crone: Fantastical Trans Femmes (anthology)

Me and You and Daisies, Lily R. Mason (she/her)

Meanwhile, Elsewhere: Science and Fiction from Transgender Writers (anthology)

The Mechanical Universe, E.E. Ottoman (they/he)

The Merry Spinster: Tales of Everyday Horror, Daniel M. Lavery (he/him)

The Miseducation of Cameron Post, Emily M. Danforth (she/her)

Money Boy, Paul Yee (he/him)

Moon at Nine, Deborah Ellis (she/her)

Nameless Woman (anthology)

Nimona, Noelle Stevenson (she/her)

Not Otherwise Specified, Hannah Moskowitz (she/her)

Of Fire and Stars, Audrey Coulthurst (she/they)

Once and Future, Cory McCarthy (they/them)

One Man Guy, Michael Barakiva (he/him)

Openly Straight, Bill Konigsberg (he/him)

Patience and Sarah, Isabel Miller (she/her)

People in Trouble, Sarah Schulman (she/her)

Pet, Akwaeke Emezi (they/them)

Peter Darling, Austin Chant (he/him)

The Porcupine of Truth, Bill Konigsberg (he/him)

The Price of Salt, Patricia Highsmith (she/her)

Puddin’, Julie Murphy (she/they)

The Queen of Cups, Ren Basel (they/them)

Ramona Blue, Julie Murphy (she/they)

Resilience (anthology)

The Rest of Us Just Live Here, Patrick Ness (he/him)

Ruby-Fruit Jungle, Rita Mae Brown (she/her)

The Shape of My Name, Nino Cipri (they/them)

She’s My Ride Home, Jackie Bushore (she/her)

Small Beauty, Jia Qing Wilson-Yang (she/her)

So Many Ways To Sleep Badly, Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore (she/her)

The Summer of Jordi Perez, Amy Spalding (she/her)

The Summer Prince, Alaya Dawn Johnson (she/her)

The Swimming Pool Library, Alan Hollinghurst (he/him)

Taking the Long Way, Lily R. Mason (she/her)

Tash Hearts Tolstoy, K. E. Ormsbee (she/her)

Tell Me How a Crush Should Feel, Sara Farizan (she/her)

The Tensorate Series, JY Yang (they/them)

They Both Die at the End, Adam Silvera (he/him)

This Book is Gay, Juno Dawson (she/her)

Tipping the Velvet, Sarah Waters (she/her)

Trans Power, Juno Roche (she/they)

True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys, Gerard Way (he/him)

Two Boys Kissing, David Levithan (he/him)

Two Serious Ladies, Jane Bowles (she/her)

Unburied Fables, several authors

An Unkindness of Ghosts, Rivers Solomon (they/them)

Valencia, Michelle Tea (she/her)

We the Animals, Justin Torres (he/him)

What If It’s Us, Becky Albertalli (she/her, cis straight) + Adam Silvera (he/him, gay)

Wildthorn, Jane Eagland (she/her)

Will Grayson Will Grayson, John Green (he/him, cis straight) + David Levithan (he/him, gay)

The World Unseen, Shamim Sarif (she/her)

The Year of Ice, Brian Malloy (he/him)

[lizabethstucker]

Hex Life edited by Christopher Golden & Rachel Autumn Deering

Eighteen tales of witches and magic all written by women.  A few are set in particular authors’ existing series.  The inclusiveness of black characters and authors elevates an already wonderful collection.  This is an ARC that was received late, contained in the box of books due to be published in January.  This actually was published in October and is available now.  I highly recommend this to pretty much anyone.  4.5 out of 5.

“An Invitation to a Burning” by Kat Howard

The town of Merrinvale refuses to admit that witches are needed to keep ordinary magics working.  Instead they burn them.  When villager Ronald angrily takes offense to a woman, she tends to disappear.  Now his sight is focused on Sage.  Very short, but chock full of emotion and sisterhood.  4.5 out of 5.

“Widows’ Walk” by Angela Slatter

The four widows living together on Carter Lane are suspected to be witches by many in the town of Mercy’s Brook, but are not harassed by locals.  When young Chelsea Margaret Bloom is caught stealing milk from their porch to dull her hunger, the women get involved.  Absolutely perfect from start to finish, with a neat twist at the end.  5 out of 5.

“Black Magic Momma: An Otherworld Story” by Kelley Armstrong

Eve Levine is a dark witch who is half-demon.  Her sole focus in life is keeping her daughter safe.  To do so, she works as a retrieval agent, obtaining items wanted by others.  Her latest job attracts dangerous attention.  I’ve not read any books in this series yet, although the first volume is in my ebook library.  I found this story moderately interesting, but not quite up to the previous two stories in this series.  Perhaps it in a matter of context.  3.5 out of 5.

“The Night Nurse” by Sarah Langan

Having a third child that she never wanted, Esme is approached by Wendy Broadchurch at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum.  Wendy is a night nurse, offering to help Esme once the new baby is born.  Already overwhelmed, Esme agrees.  At first she is happy, but soon doubts creep in.  Really creepy and, to be honest, a little more raw than I was comfortable with.  3 out of 5.

“The Memories of Trees” by Mary SanGiovanni

The Faithful plan to hang Martha Weede and her young ward, Ellena, threatened by their refusal to worship in the New Church and to accept the God of Technology.  Instead Martha and Ellena honor the Old Religion, the one older than the now fallen Christianity.  While graphic, it not only harks back to the witch hunts in New England, but warns how easy it is to fall back into that mindset of fear, prejudice, and craving for power.  Loved this story!  4.5 out of 5.

“Home:  A Morganville Vampire Story” by Rachel Caine

A witch has appeared in Morganville, one Oliver had killed centuries ago.  She’s a danger to both the vampire and human community.  She wants Oliver’s blood and will destroy everyone to get it.  Wow, how did I miss this series?  I’ve already got it downloaded from my library to read next.  A short story that makes you eager to know more about all the characters is a great story.  I almost got a Eureka vibe from this, only with vamps instead of mad scientists.  4.5 out of 5.

“The Deer Wife” by Jennifer McMahon

Julie has been meeting her lover in the woods for four years, a witch who comes to her in many forms.  She knows she shouldn’t, but is drawn back time after time.  Julie wants to join the witch forever, be able to transform as her lover does, but the witch resists.  Julie has a son, but Levi is now nineteen, with a girlfriend.  And filled with resentment for the death of his father.  McMahon doen’t give a lot of details, particularly in regards to the death of Julie’s husband and whether the witch was more directly responsible.  Or whether it is love or enchantment that keeps her returning.  An old myth tweaked into an interesting romantic tale.  3.5 out of 5.

“The Dancer” by Kristin Dearborn

Paul Baker is called to the Weavers’ farm to help with the reports by Ani, their daughter, of haunted activity.  They aren’t pleased with his solution.  He’s called back a second time to find the situation is more dire than he expected and takes action.  I don’t know about this one.  It almost reads like a rough outline or a missing scene from a longer story.  Disappointed as it had great potential as a novella or a book.  3 out of 5. 

“Bless Your Heart” by Hillary Monahan

It is never smart to go after a Southern mother’s baby boy, especially if she also has powers.  Pammy Washington and her bully of a son deserved everything they got for the years Colton had tormented Tucker.  Her late Mama warned Audrey to never cook when mad, but a woman can only stand so much.  I laughed at what happened to Pammy.  Not nice, I know, but I grew up in the South and I know women like her.  I’d bet good money that she was head cheerleader in high school, prom queen as well.  She really did get what she deserved, bless her heart.  For those who might not know, “bless your heart” is the genteel Southern way of saying “you’re a piece of shit”.  4 out of 5.

“The Debt” by Ania Ahlborn

After Karolin’s mother died, her father began to change, becoming less talkative, more distant.  He suddenly decides to take her to Poland, to visit his childhood home where his mother lives.  After arriving with no sign of his mother, Greg takes Karolin deep into the nearby woods to hunt for mushrooms.  When her back was turned, he disappears.  Shivers.  No happy or satisfying ending here.  Just the most horrific ending you could imagine.  3.5 out of 5.

“Toil & Trouble:  A Dark-Hunter Hellchaser Story” by Sherrilyn Kenyon & Madaug Kenyon

The witches of Carrion Hill are constantly visited by those seeking a glimpse of their future as well as a way to avoid the bad part.  As time goes on, there are less and less witches and more stupid humans who refuse to listen to the advice given.  Eeri, sold to the witches by her family, hates them, desires freedom and money.  A bit of Shakespeare is threaded throughout the story.  I love the Bard, but I don’t really think it adds to the story as much as the authors might believe it does.  Another series that I haven’t begun reading as yet.  3 out of the 5.

“Last Stop on Route Nine” by Tananarive Due

Charlotte and her 12-year-old cousin decide to drive together from their grandmother’s funeral in Tallahassee to a luncheon in Gracetown, a place both Charlotte’s mother and Kai’s father had fled as soon as they could and never returned to.  Somehow they are lost, caught in a smothering fog before coming through the other side to find a wicked old woman who curses them.  Here’s a sweet bit of horror with the mention of some real-life places peppered into the story.  4 out of 5.

“Where Relics Go to Dream and Die” by Rachel Autumn Deering

After years of conjuring the witch through the flame of an almost spent candle, the old man was dying.  One last conversation with the woman he loves leads to a dream or, rather, a memory that changes the past and the present.  A bit scrambled, but strangely compelling nonetheless.  So many questions.  3.5 out of 5.

“This Skin” by Amber Benson

Frances wanted to confess to homicide detective Harry Longfellow, waiting for just the right moment.  The reaction isn’t what she expected.  Frances comes across as a ten-year-old sociopath.  Unusual story.  I don’t know whether I like it or not.  It begs for more.  3 out of 5.

“Haint Me Too” by Chesya Burke

It’s been 40 years since slavery ended, but there are plenty who would like to just ignore the Emancipation Proclamation.  Shea and her family lived on the Myrtle House plantation, currently owned by the Petersons.  Myrtle House is haunted by the haint of a black woman who was murdered after poisoning her owners.  When local whites try to prevent black families and white sharecroppers from either leaving to go North or demanding better agreements, Shea can not only help her family, but the haint.  Enthralling tale of the South and how little it had changed after the War.  A little scary, but also empowering.  Could be considered a coming-of-age story for Shea.  4.5 out of 5.

“The Nekrolog” by Helen Marshall

I’m not sure how to describe this story.  It involves immigrants leaving Russia, death that isn’t, the State’s experiments in psychic abilities, and much more.  Enchanting and intriguing, a story I wish had been longer.  It really is almost as convoluted as an old Russian tale.  4.5 out of 5.

“Gold Among the Black” by Alma Katsu

Greta, an orphan, owns nothing.  Her only friend is Jesper, her dog.  She works hard at the castle in exchange for food during the day, refusing to sleep there at night because she can’t bring Jesper with her.  Instead they curl up together in the woods.  But Greta is getting old enough to have men watching.  Another worker at the castle has also told her that there are rumors that she is a witch and Jesper is her familiar.  What does she do now?  Nice, a bit of romance with the fantasy.  3.5 out of 5.

“How to Become a Witch-Queen” by Theodora Goss

The newly widowed queen is worried about her son, the soon-to-be king, marrying off his sister to some stranger.  She also needs to consider her own future now that she’s free.  A wild and interesting view of what life might’ve been like for Snow White after her Happily Ever After.  New choices, old friends, and a heroine who realizes it is time to take charge of her own life in order to ensure her daughter has choices.  Absolutely perfect!  5 out of 5.

[askauradonprep]

Wrestling Inspiration

As part of the wrestling AU, @scream-qween and I were talking about the different kids and wrestlers who could have served as inspiration for them. Let’s pretend for a second the WWE exists in this universe. Other wrestler suggestions are welcome, I’m just picking ones I’m familiar with (and I’m relatively new to wrestling - I’ve only watched for two years and only watched WWE).

Note: I am referring to the wrestlers as in their kayfabe personas. Any mention of them here should not be read as an endorsement of anything they may have said or done elsewhere. 

Mal = Paige, Sonya Deville, Mandy Rose, Undertaker, Kane, Ruby Riott, Sarah Logan, Liv Morgan, Jody Threat, Molly McCoy, Maria Manic, Tamina and Nia Jax (as a heel). 

Uma = Kairi Sane, Io Shirai, Becky Lynch, Roman Reigns, Drew McIntyre, Sasha Banks, Creatures of the Deep, Trish Stratus, Jordynne Grace, The Sea Stars, Chyna, Rhea Ripley, Shotzi Blackheart, Lita, Allie, Kofi Kingston, Nia Jax, Beth Phoenix, Randy Orton, Seth Rollins, Bianca Belair, and Ronda Rousey.

Freddie = Undertaker, Kane, Cameron, Carmella, Damian Priestly, Bray Wyatt, Ember Moon, AJ Lee, Paige, New Age Outlaws, Hawlee Cromwell, Elias, Sanity, Su Yung, Nikki Roxx, Aliyah, and Ruby Riott.

Celia = Undertaker, Bray Wyatt, New Age Outlaws, Ember Moon, Tamina, Aleister Black, Sting, Solo Darling, Nikki Roxx, Willow Nightingale, and Vivian St. John

Jay = Baron Corbin, Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Miz, Natalya, Seth Rollins, Becky Lynch, Dean Ambrose, Imperium, British Strong Style, Pete Dunne, Goldberg, Ember Moon, Big Show, Jericho, Bret Hart, Bullet Club, Kurt Angle, Rey Mysterio, Alex Zayne, Roman Reigns, Warhorse, The Rock, and the Undertaker

Evie = Nikki Bella, Brie Bella, Alexa Bliss, Sasha Banks, Cameron, Mandy Rose, Naomi (especially as a face), Scarlette Bordeaux, Velveteen Dream, Laynie Luck, Breezango, Kylie Rae, and Bayley (especially at the height of her ‘hugger’ days), Charlotte Flair and Ric Flair.

Carlos = Carmella, R-Truth, the Usos, New Day, Shield (as faces), Mark Henry, Big Show, Heath Slater, Undisputed Era, Jordynne Grace, Alex Ohlson, IFHY, Lana, Marko and Logan Stunt, No Way Jose, Lucha House Party, Xyberhawx 2000, and Naomi.

Harry = Nikki Cross, Drew McIntyre, Aleister Black, AJ Lee, Bray Wyatt, Kane, Kairi Sane, Shayna Baszler, Space Pirates, Becky Lynch, Jon Moxley, Jordynne Grace, The Sea Stars, Creatures of the Deep, Damian Priestly, Ember Moon, Randy Orton, Shawn Michaels, Mick Moretti, The Carnies, Undertaker, and Finn Balor (as the demon).

Gil = Brock Lesnar, Braun Strowman, Bobby Lashley, Randy Orton, Drew McIntyre, New Day, Heavy Machinery, Space Pirates, the Viking Raiders, Oleg the Usurper, Creatures of the Deep, Warhorse, Mark Henry, Kane, Big Show, and Kairi Sane.

Ben = John Cena, Kurt Angle, Bruno Sanmartino, Bret Hart, Finn Balor, Diamond Dallas Page, Bayley, Naomi, Natalya, Boomer Hatfield, Levi Everett, Dynamite Dino Dude, and Roman Reigns (especially after he came back from leukaemia).

Chad = Baron Corbin, Randy Orton, Carmella (as a heel), the Miz (as a heel), the Shield (as heels), Kane, Sasha Banks (as a heel), Shane McMahon, Stephanie McMahon, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Vince McMahon, Darin Corbin, GPA, Breezango, and the Usos. 

Lonnie = Asuka’s NXT heel run, Xia Li, Becky Lynch (especially as ‘the Man’), Sonya Deville, Gail Kim, Bianca Belair, Minerva, Velveteen Dream, Johnny Gargano, Jason Jordan, The Bar, Titus O’Neil Rhea Ripley, Shayna Baszler, Tamina, Lacey Lane, Mia Yim, and Natalya. 

Jane = Bayley, Asuka (as a face), Candice LeRae, Dakota Kai, Bobby Roode, Sara Del Ray, Summer Rae, Willow Nightingale, Solo Darling, Jordynne Grace, and Charlotte Flair

Audrey = SASHA BANKS, Charlotte Flair, Bianca Belair, the Rock, AJ Lee (as a heel), Alexa Bliss, Nikki Bella, Brie Bella, Mercedes Martinez, Velveteen Dream, Renee Michelle, Roman Reigns, Princess Kimberlee, Mickie James, Lacey Evans and Tamina.

Jordan = Sasha Banks, Carmella, R-Truth, Cameron, Miz, Maryse, Nikki Bella, Nia Jax, Becky Lynch, Natalya, CM Punk, Roddy Piper, Tegan Nox, Santana Garrett, Kacy Catanzaro, D-Generation-X, Molly Holly, LuFisto, Lacey Lane, Ronda Rousey.

Ally = Harley Wonderland, Nikki Cross, Allison Wonderland, Alexa Bliss, Maria Kanellis, Rhea Ripley, Lita, Elias, Heavy Machinery, EFFY, AJ Lee, Bayley, and Lacey Evans, Nina Samuels, Jinny.

CJ = Kairi Sane and Io Shirai are all she cares about.

Aziz = Ricochet, Ali, AJ Styles (as a face), B-Team, Bayley, Dolph Ziggler, Jinder Mahal, Finn Balor, Kurt Angle, Dana Brooke, the New Day, Jordan Devlin, Sonny Daze, Goldust.

Herkie = Shinsuke Nakamura, Rusev, Kevin Owens, Brock Lesnar, Mark Henry, Samoa Joe, Bobby Lashley, Becky Lynch, Titus O’Neil, Shelton Benjamin, Kurt Angle, Mandy Rose, and Punishment Martinez.

Maddy = AJ Lee, Aksana, Ember Moon, CM Punk, Paige, Emma, Lita, Charlotte Flair, Rosa Mendes, Victoria, The Beautiful People, Ric Flair, The Ascension, Laycool, and Alexa Bliss, Jinny, Reina Gonzalez.

Ginny = Alexa Bliss, Alicia Fox, Candice LeRae, Mandy Rose, Charlotte Flair, Maryse, Zelina Vega, Lana, Randy Savage, Maria Kanellis, Dolph Ziggler, Laycool, The Iiconics, Candy Floss, Carmella.

Harriet = Kairi Sane, Io Shirai, Mia Yim, Shane Saber, Shelly Martinez, Shayna Baszler, Paul and Katie Lea Burchill, Rhea Ripley, Batista, Kay Lee Ray, Jazzy Gabert, Natalya, Becky Lynch, and Toni Storm.

Ruby = Bayley, Bobby Roode, Dolph Ziggler, Naomi, New Day, Candice LeRae, Dakota Kai, Lucha House Party, Rey Mysterio, Bianca Belair, Jericho, No Way Jose, Dana Brooke, Xia Brookside, Carmella and R-Truth, Humberto Carrillo, Jurassic Express, Cain Velasquez, Andrade, Sin Cara, Zelina Vega, Sarah Stock, Catalina Garcia.

Anxelin = Baron Corbin, Alexa Bliss, Carmella, Charlotte Flair, Ember Moon, Sasha Banks, Paige, Eddie Guerrero, Apollo Crews, Cedric Alexander, Dana Brooke, Titus O’Neil, Shelton Benjamin.

Yi-Min = She’s mostly seen Chinese wrestling promotions, so Black Mamba, Ho Ho Lun, King of Man, Ash Silva, Slam, Hangwan, Voodoo, Candy Brother, Dalton Bragg, and Jason New are her inspirations from those promotions. She’s got a few wrestlers whose careers she follows in English though - Xia Li, Karen Q, Lin Byron, Kenny Li, Rocky, and Big Boa.

Arabella = Daniel Bryan, Rowan, Brie Bella, Asuka, Rusev, Lana, Natalya, Alexa Bliss, Braun Strowman, Becky Lynch, Sami Zayn, Sasha Banks, Finn Balor, Apollo Crews, The Miz, Mandy Rose, Goldust, Elias, Bayley, Bobby Roode, Charlotte Flair, Jimmy Uso, Naomi, Shinsuke Nakamura, Big E, Carmella, Ember Moon, Mickie James, Bobby Lashley, Jinder Mahal, Alicia Fox, Kevin Owens, AJ Styles, Jeff Hardy, R-Truth, and Nia Jax.

Jade = Aliyah, Jayme Hachey, Bianca Belair, Vanessa Borne, Abbey Laith, Ayesha Raymond, Candice LeRae, Dakota Kai, Jazzy Gabert, Kairi Sane, Kavita Devi, Kay Lee Ray, Lacey Evans, Marti Belle, Mercedes Martinez, Mia Yim, Miranda Salinas, Nicole Savoy, Piper Niven, Princesa Sugehit, Rachel Evers, Reina Gonzalez, Renee Michelle, Rhea Ripley, Sage Beckett, Santana Garrett, Sarah Logan, Serena Deeb, Shayna Baszler, Taynara Conti, Tessa Blanchard, Toni Storm, Xia Li, Zeda, Tegan Nox, Barbi Hayden, Deonna Purrazzo, Jessica James, Lei’D Tapa, Nicole Matthews, Alundra Blayze, Lita, Triple H, Corey Graves, Aerial Monroe, Allysin Kay, Ashley Rayne, Hiroyo Matsumoto, Io Shirai, Isla Dawn, Jessica Elaban, Jinny, Kacy Catanzaro, Kaitlyn, Karen Q, Killer Kelly, Lacey Lane, Meiko Satomura, MJ Jenkins, Priscilla Kelly, Vanessa Kraven, Xia Brookside, Zatara, Zeuxis, Beth Pheonix

Zevon = Steve Austin, Triple H, Brock Lesnar, Batista, Rey Mysterio, Undertaker, John Cena, Randy Orton, Edge, Sheamus, Roman Reigns, Shinsuke Nakamura, Asuka, Becky Lynch, Seth Rollins, Drew McIntyre, Charlotte Flair,  Booker T, William Regal, Bad News Barrett, Baron Corbin, Christian, The Miz, Daniel Bryan, CM Punk, MVP

Anthony = Steve Austin, Triple H, Kurt Angle, Rob Van Dam, Brock Lesnar, Batista, John Cena, Randy Orton, AJ Styles, The Miz, CM Punk, Daniel Bryan, Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns, Kazuchika Okada, Kenny Omega, Ted DiBiase, Ric Flair, The Rock, William Regal, Prince Devitt, Charlotte Flair, Sasha Banks, Mustafa Ali, Prince Nana, Prince Puma, Awesome Kong, Mickie James, Michelle McCool, Madison Eagles, Gail Kim, Cheerleader Melissa, Paige, Nikki Bella, Asuka, Ronda Rousey, Becky Lynch, Natalya, Jimmy Jacobs, Aliyah, Alexa Bliss, The Authority, Kairi Sane, Carmella, Toni Storm, Chrissy Rivera, Chelsea Green

Claudine = Michelle McCool, Kurt Angle, Roman Reigns, Rey Mysterio, AJ Styles, Quinn Ojinnaka, Eddie Guerrero, Pat Patterson, Shawn Michaels, Naomi, Nor Diana, Goldberg, Mustafa Ali, Kacy Catanzaro, Ricochet, Candice LeRae, Mandy Rose, Lacey Evans (as a face), Bayley (as a face), Becky Lynch (as The Lasskicker), Dana Brooke, Sami Zayn (as a face).

Diego = Elias, Street Profits, R-Truth, Carmella, Sasha Banks, Bayley, Shawn Michaels, Jericho, Cameron, Naomi, Marty Jannetty, Shayna Baszler, Drake Maverick, The Rockstar, John Cena, Lita, Mickie James, Jeff Jarrett, Jeff Hardy, Matt Hardy, Samoa Joe, Lio Rush, Braun Strowman, Rusev, The Rock, Aiden English, Bobby Roode, Hulk Hogan, Lana

Opal = Ricochet, Kota Ibushi, Rey Mysterio, Io Shirai, AJ Styles, Jeff Hardy, Evan Bourne, Owen Hart, Jushin Thunder Liger, Kane, Randy Savage, Scott Steiner, Lita, Christian, Jamie Noble, Matt Hardy, Gail Kim, Daniel Bryan, Xavier Woods, Kofi Kingston, Tajiri, Zelina Vega, Ayako Hamada, Aliyah, Naomi, Mio Shirai

Ariana = Lady Apache, La Amapola, Marcela, Lioness Asuka, Dynamite Kansai, Chigusa Nagayo, Dump Matsumoto, Mae Young, Luna Vachon, Leilani Kai, Sarah Stock, Natalya, Cheerleader Melissa, Ayako Hamada, Beth Phoenix, Mariko Yoshida, Gail Kim, Mickie James, Sara Del Rey, Akira Hokuto, Alundra Blayze, Judy Grable, Wendi Richter, Bull Nakano, June Byers, Jaguar Yokota, Chyna, Sherri Martel, Awesome Kong, Lita, Mildred Burke, Aja Kong, Trish Stratus, Manami Toyota, Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, Paige, AJ Lee, Marie LaVerne, Joyce Grable, Ann Casey, Sue Green, Rachel Dubois, Debra, Stephanie McMahon, Victoria, Candice Michelle, MsChif, Sasha Banks, Asuka, Michelle McCool, Madison Eagles, Jazz, Jacqueline, Nikki Bella, Alicia Fox, Ivory, Roman Reigns, and Seth Rollins

Lil’ Shang = Edge, Christian, Rey Mysterio, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Brett Hart, Jim Neidhart, Undertaker, Kane, Finn Balor, Ho Ho Lun, Big Boa, Rocky, The Rock, Rikishi, Mick Foley, Kurt Angle, Chris Jericho, Daniel Bryan, Jinder Mahal, Booker T, Fit Finlay, R-Truth, Trish Stratus, Lita, Victoria, Jazz, Molly Holly, Beth Phoenix, LuFisto, Lance Storm, Road Dogg, Umaga, The New Day, Bianca Belair, Street Profits

Artie = Tyler Bate, Trent Seven, Pete Dunne, Jordan Devlin, Kenny Williams, Ligero, Nick Aldis, Drew McIntyre, Finn Balor, Sheamus, Becky Lynch, Nikki Cross, Paige, James Drake, Bea Priestley, Ayesha Raymond, Zoe Lucas, Tegan Nox, Layla, Lana Austin, Bad News Barrett, Drake Maverick, Isla Dawn, Priscilla Kelly, Joe and Mark Coffey, Finlay, Nadia Sapphire, Eddie Dennis, Mark Andrews, Morgan Webster

Carina = Andre the Giant, Tamina, Lana, Maryse, Taynara Conti, Gisele Shaw, Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, Sasha Banks, Trish Stratus, Rhea Ripley, Indi Hartwell, Alexa Bliss, Bayley, Liv Morgan, Natalya, Toni Storm, Kay Lee Ray, Nia Jax, Mortar, Tegan Nox, Chyna, Lita, Asuka, Kairi Sane, Io Shirai, Kagetsu, Melanie Cruise, Shotzi Blackheart, Dakota Kai, Mia Yim, Candice LeRae, Riho, Sarah Logan, Hikaru Shida, Aja Kong, Bull Nakano

Doug is a manager. As a manager, his inspirations are Paul Heyman, Zelina Vega, Lana, and Bobby Heenan. Smee kids and Elle are commentators. The boys tend to like Michael Cole, Beth Phoenix and Byron Saxton. Elle tends towards JR, Corey Graves and Renee Young. Dizzy is a reporter back stage, but her favourite wrestlers to watch are Bayley, Kylie Rae, Breezango, and Princess Kimberly as a face. She gets her professional inspiration from Renee Young, Gene Okerlund, Charly Caruso and Cathy Kelley.

[thebibliomancer]

50 More Days of Comics! 50/50: Fight Club 2 #7 (2015)

Soooo.... the fiftieth comic in the mystery box is.... a comic book sequel to Fight Club. Specifically the book, not the movie.

Apparently original author Chuck Palahniuk was convinced to do a sequel by Chelsea Cain, Brian Michael Bendis, Matt Fraction, and Kelly Sue DeConnick. You monsters.

Its been a while since I’ve seen the Fight Club movie (or maybe I never saw it and just absorbed enough from pop culture osmosis that I think I remember watching it?) and I’ve never read the original book

buuuuut

This is some high grade nonsense. I have no idea what’s going on in this issue.

I looked up INFORMATION ON WIKIPEDIIIIIIA and apparently the comic sequel kicks off ten years after the novel where Narrator (apparently Sebastian) and Marla are married with a son living a suburban life. Except Marla gets bored of suburban life and replaces Sebastian’s medicine with placebos to resurrect Tyler Durden so she can have an affair with her husband’s split personality.

Instead, Tyler burns down Sebastian and Marla’s home and fakes their sons death.

GOOD JOB, MARLA.

And then a bunch of other stuff happens. Like a bunch of other stuff. The wikipedia page has full on synopses for each issue, which I don’t see often for comic books.

But the point being that this comic actually has a recap page, designed by Chelsea Cain and Matt Fraction to look like an airplane ‘in case of emergency landing’ instructions. With a joke “Please limit prayer to hushed tones so as not to offend other passengers during Emergency Landing” which I don’t really know how to feel about.

1) To survive, Sebastian must pretend to be Tyler.

2.) If he can bluff his way into Tyler’s hideout after being coached by Dr. Wrong, he can rescue his son.

3.) While doing so, he gets word that his wife is dead. He is bereft.

4.) We, however, see that Marla is alive. She and an old, old friend are celebrating the discovery of their mutual past.

5.) Tyler, ever the troublemaker, insists that Dr. Wrong is the real mastermind and has plans to seize control of the world.

6.) ... thus leaving Sebastian with no one he can trust.

So the... story? starts with a truck delivering crates to a decrepit looking mansion. The people who ordered the delivery declare they’ll call the forklift and start shout chanting “HIS NAME IS ROBERT PAULSON” which prompts.... a guy sleeping underground in the garden to wake up, walk through the house, unload a crated nuclear bomb, and throw it on the person who decided to wake him up which crushes the guy to death.

Hey, I’ve heard mornings where I’ve felt like that too.

And then Robert Paulson, I guess, walks off down the road.

What an inexplicable series of events.

Sebastian in a car with Dr. Wrong holds him at gunpoint and insists that he toss his weapon out the window. So Dr. Wrong.... throws a pocket watch out??

And then starts telling a story about some book “The Sorrows of Young Werther” which apparently caused a spate of suicides that was nicknamed “Werther Fever.”

Dr. Wrong: “My point is that fictional characters can survive their readers.”

He also says that Tyler can’t harm them, unless they fall asleep.

Immediately, Young Sebastian and Young Tyler are walking in a graveyard.

Young Sebastian: “So I fell asleep in the car.”

Young Tyler: “‘Fraid so.”

Young Tyler (Fight Club Babies, making their dreams come truuuuue) exposits to Sebastian about how he exists because Tyler needs him because his parents fought all the time, even after divorce, so Tyler stepped in as a peacemaker.

Read: Burned their houses down.

Young Tyler: “Now we’ll bring peace to the entire world.”

Read: Destroy human civilization to bring about some dumb survivalist fantasy. He shows Young Sebastian an abandoned city being reclaimed by nature.

Young Tyler: “We’ll save the world... or be condemned as the most evil force since the Nazis. All those people who claim power by trumpeting their victimhood... let them be our victims.”

Sebastian’s Son appears, looking like Damien Wayne, training in martial arts, like a Damian Wayne, and gets a call from Tyler Durden who informs the suddenly excited youth that his father is coming to visit.

Son, who doesn’t get mentioned by name in this issue or on wikipedia, is also confused why his dad is pretending to be Tyler. And gets a call from his mom, Marla, who apparently tells him to denounce Sebastian.

ALSO: I glanced ahead, because I’m never, ever going to read this series in full. And hahahah god damn. This is a trip. A very short bit of spoilers under a read more because.

The comic apparently ends when fans of Fight Club who have seen the movie but not the book and identify with Tyler rewrite the plot.

Then author Palahniuk goes for a walk on the beach with Tyler Durden and laments the integrity of stories and art. AND THEN Tyler shoots Palahniuk in the head when the author describes his thoughts for Fight Club 3.

What a bafflement.

[rapeculturerealities]

It’s not breaking news that Chelsea Cain, author of Marvel’s Mockingbird, has seen her share of criticism lately for her new comic, Man-Eaters, published by Image Comics. Hailed by some as feminist critique, numerous aspects of Man-Eaters have also been slammed by critics for being insensitive to various groups of people. Cain has acknowledged these critics in the past, going so far as to publicly pledge to do better.

The very premise of the book — a mutation causes menstruating women to turn into dangerous were-felines — has been criticized for being gender essentialist and ignoring the existence of trans people, despite Cain’s claims otherwise. (It also features a plot point where estrogen is added to the water, which is uncomfortably reminiscent of real life fear-mongering about the trans community.) Additionally, more recent issues of the comic have featured (white) women in concentration camps and being forced to drink out of different water fountains than men, garnering criticism that she’s being hypothetically alarmist about things that have actually happened (and are, in fact, stillhappening) to people of color.

It’s worth noting that while Cain has responded to some of these criticisms, it doesn’t appear that she fully understands them. “I’m devastated that our comic has been attacked for excluding trans women bc our plot involves periods,” she said in a tweet, going into the fact that she, having gone through menopause, doesn’t menstruate and isn’t any less of a woman. Unfortunately, this ignores the fact that much of the criticism focuses around AFAB trans folks — people who do have periods but aren’t women. (It wasn’t until issue 6 that Man-Eaters even acknowledged the existence of trans men in passing. There has been no discussion of non-binary people.)

Insisting that her book is not trying to imply that all women menstruate is one thing, but the implication that all people who menstruate are women is something else entirely — and plays into a societal habit to assume all trans issues are trans women issues. Compounding that issue is Mags Visaggio, a prominent trans woman in comics who came to Cain’s defense on twitter, insisting the book wasn’t offensive and that Cain should be able to write about “her experience as a cis woman” — again, missing the point that transmasculine people were primarily the ones being harmed.

Specifically, Cain has been back under scrutiny this week after the release of issue #9 of Man-Eaters on June 5th. The controversy? Imagery of propaganda posters in concentration camps featuring the text from fan tweets that had been critical of Cain’s work on the book.

read more

[popculty]

With Mockingbird, I was accused of having a feminist agenda... Yeah! Of course I have a feminist agenda. I'll see your outrage and raise you a Tampon Woman. What do you got, internet?

Chelsea Cain, author of Man-Eaters