#I'm still on my first run romancing freya

[protosaru]

So like. I hate horror games but I'm here for the dating sim. I love them all...

[ninja-muse]

My last wrap-up of the year! Featuring one stack of "didn't know what to read, hey, this is on my shelf, also it's short and reading goals", and one stack of Christmas gifts. I'm very pleased about both. The Laurie Lee was as good as expected and the mafia romance was a gift last Christmas so it's nice to have that finished before the year was up. And I'm two books closer to having my Pratchett collection complete! I'm missing one major Discworld tie-in book now, and a handful of the maps that came out over the years.

In other news, whew, another year is over! It feels like it's taken ages, which I'm going to blame on a bunch of long books and general slumpiness rather than the global political climate. After all, this month has felt long due to both factors. A History of Ancient Egypt, Vol. 3 did take me twice as long as a normal book, and I had two DNFs.

As you can probably tell from the list below, apart from the history book, in December I prioritized fun. (It's about all I wanted to pick up after my workdays.) I was also trying to finish one of my Storygraph reading challenges, which I've managed—75 books from a list I set, mostly, at the start of the year. I recommend everything I finished, though Among the Gnomes is not a masterwork of Victorian fiction by any means. It was, however, readily available as an ebook when I needed something goofy.

In non-book news, I got home for Christmas? Barely a visit, but it worked out and I got to see my grandpa, who is getting very old. I'm sure one of the family cats is beside himself now, though, since I am his official lap provider and rarely around to offer that service. And I went on a walking tour near the start of the month, and ate far too many chocolates and baked goods.

I'll save discussion about reading goals and 2025 resolutions and what-not for my end-of-year wrap-up, which is coming soon, and in the meantime turn you over to my list of everything I read this month, in the rough order of how glad I was to have read them.

A History of Ancient Egypt, Volume 3 - John Romer

A history of the last major cultural periods of ancient Egypt, centering archaeology and primary sources and deconstructing traditional Western scholarship and all its baggage.

8/10

warning: discusses racists and colonial attitudes

library book

Swordcrossed - Freya Marske

When Mattinesh Jay hires a swordsman for his wedding, he gets Luca Piere, annoying, attractive, and much more than he bargained for. And that’s before Luca discovers a conspiracy against Matti’s House…

8/10

🏳️‍🌈 main characters (gay), 🏳️‍🌈 secondary characters (sapphic, trans man, nonbinary), brown-skinned main character, brown-skinned secondary characters, 🏳️‍🌈 author

library ebook

As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning - Laurie Lee

At 19, in the 1930s, Laurie leaves his childhood home to walk to London, Europe, and the future.

7.5/10

warning: mildly racist towards Black people and Roma, period-typical misogyny, sexualization of child, sex trafficking of children

off my TBR

Greymist Fair - Francesca Zappia

Empty clothes in the middle of the only road to town. A tailor’s daughter and a witch’s cottage. A wandering prince. A lonely, beautiful girl. Magic, wargs, and Death in the forest.

8/10

major genderless character, 🏳️‍🌈 incidental characters (sapphic, achillean)

reading copy

Saga, Vol. 10 - Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples (illustrator)

Hazel and her family are picking up the pieces and getting by, but that doesn’t mean they’re out of danger. The Will is still out there, and so is Landfall.

8/10

🇨🇦

off my TBR

The Forbidden Book - Sacha Lamb

Fleeing a marriage to the rebbe’s son, Sorel adopts the identity of Isser Jacobs, not knowing that there’s a real Isser who’s just stolen a very important, very illegal book.

7/10

🏳️‍🌈 protagonist (genderqueer, lesbian), Jewish cast, Jewish author, 🏳️‍🌈 author

library ebook

Chaos at the Lazy Bones Bookshop - Emmeline Duncan

Bookshop owner Bailey is running the first literary festival in her Halloween-themed town when she stumbles over a murder victim.

7/10

Indigenous secondary characters

library book

The Rivals - Jane Pek

Claudia and Veracity are still tracking synth-bot accounts on dating sites when a prospective client dies after reporting a copycat profile. Was it someone from the app's developer, or truly an accident?

7/10

Taiwanese-American protagonist, Taiwanese-American secondary characters, Indian and Mexican secondary characters, 🏳️‍🌈 protagonist (lesbian), 🏳️‍🌈 secondary characters (gay, achillean, lesbian), Singaporean-American author

warning: suicide

reading copy

Broken Whispers - Neva Altaj

To calm a war between the Italian mafia and the Bratva, a ballerina is pushed into marriage with an enforcer. Beauty and the Beast vibes.

6.5/10

main character with damaged vocal chords, main character with monocular vision

warning: mafia-typical violence and torture

off my TBR

Under the Smokestrewn Sky - A. Deborah Baker

Avery, Zib, and their companions have reached the Kingdom of Fire, one “step” away from the Impossible City on the Improbable Road. But that doesn’t mean they’re home free yet.

6.5/10

off my TBR

Among the Gnomes - Franz Hartmann

A scientist travels to the Unterberg to disprove the existence of gnomes, only to find himself living among them. An anti-science satire.

6/10

warning: anti-Irish xenophobia

ebook/off my TBR

DNF

The Stardust Grail - Yume Kitasei

Maya’s put her thieving past aside to pursue academia, but when a chance to find the legendary stardust grail (and save her friend’s species) falls into her lap, she can’t help but be tempted—even if Earth wants to use it to save itself.

protagonist with Japanese heritage, 🏳️‍🌈 secondary characters (achillean, nonbinary, alternate gender system)

library book

Big Gay Wedding - Byron Lane

Barnett returns to his mom’s farm in Louisiana to confront her unspoken disapproval and introduce his fiancé. And possibly get married there, if certain parties in town don’t stop them.

🏳️‍🌈 POV characters (gay)

warning: homophobia

library ebook

Currently reading

In Veritas - C.J. Lavigne

Drawn by her synesthesia and a dog-that-is-snake-is-shadow, Verity encounters a hidden world in an Ottawa theatre. A world threatened by technology and in need of saving.

🇨🇦

The Penguin Complete Sherlock Holmes - Arthur Conan Doyle Victorian detective stories

disabled POV character (limb injury), occasional Indian secondary characters

warning: racism, colonialism

Monthly total: 11 Yearly total: 127 Queer books: 3 Authors of colour: 2 Books by women: 6 Authors outside the binary: 1 Canadian authors: 1 Classics: 2 Off the TBR shelves: 5 Books hauled: 4 ARCs acquired: 1 ARCs unhauled: 2 DNFs: 2

January February March April May June July August September October November

[aroaceoutinspace]

What I Read in July!

For so long now I have been in the worst reading slump, getting through a book a month at most, but I got so much read in July and I'm so proud of it. I finally feel a bit more like myself 🥰

1. Babel by RF Kuang

I was dying to read this book for so. long. and it didn't disappoint! This was a fantasy story set in 1800s Oxford in a fictional Translation Institute, Babel. The storyline and imagery was just incredible, and everything felt so accurate to that timeline. The way it explored linguistics and meanings that got lost in translation fascinated me, the characters broke my heart, and the way RF Kuang handles racism in the story was just as educational, accurate and raw as always. Anybody who read this and said 'oh it made me feel guilty for being white!'.... you're the problem.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

2. Gallant by VE Schwab

This was a really satisfying fast read in my opinion, or maybe after the monster that is Babel anything would seem fast 😂. Since many pages are taken up by illustrations and journal pages with little writing, the story itself is fast but still really good. It explores a girl in an orphanage who has always been able to see ghosts, and the only possession she has is her mother's journal who tells her she will be safe as long as she stays away from Gallant. I am a sucker for dark fantasy and the concept of entities entering from other worlds, and really loved this story. I did feel slightly underwhelmed at the ending, but the story and atmosphere was enjoyable nonetheless.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

3. Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

Trust me when I tell you that this is what Shadow and Bone wishes it could be. Murder, secret societies, college campus, magic and a girl who can see ghosts. What's not to love?! I adored Alex's sarcastic character, and her back story was so raw and unjust. If you like dark academia vibes and fantasy, just read it. One of my top books without a doubt.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

4. Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo

If course I immediately devoured the sequel and was not left disappointed. Finding out more about a certain ability interested me so much, and so many elements came full circle! Fair warning however, this is not the end, and now I must endure the wait for book 3 🥲. Story of my life.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

5. A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske

Honestly I tend to stay away from romance books for the most part because of amatonormative themes that often crop up, but in my experience gay romance is more modern in that sense, and this plot was far to amazing sounding for me to skip. Yet another historical setting, a misunderstanding that plunges somebody not magical into the magical world, curses, and forbidden gay love. What's not to love! That twist at the end of something unrectified was brilliant and I will have to read the second book very soon!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨️/5

Other

Now this isn't technically a book.... but I mean audiobooks count as reading so audiodramas do too? Right? 😂

I am currently in the depths of a Magnus Archives obsession, and finished season 2 in July. I am now halfway through season 3 and so much is happening I am enraptured. I need to know everything-

The Magnus Archives is a horror audiodrama (but more the slightly gorey than jumpscare type. As someone who reads dark fantasy and not horror I still enjoy it). The Magnus Institue deals with researching paranormal cases and investigating their credibility, but everything mentioned becomes important at some point. That is how beautifully crafted it is. Names and themes crop up over and over and you find yourself trying to make so many connections. Its just amazing

If you do plan on listening to it, don't worry if you don't notice connections at first. It's at MAG 16-20 you should start noticing the similarities. Season 2 (MAG 40-80) was a bit of a drag, but trust me when I say it crawled so Season 3 could run like a maniac. New obsession here I come.

3.5-4 stars for Season 2 but 5 stars for season 3 so far!

Thank you for reading, I hope you'll give one of these a try!

[miyakuli]

Seers Isle

Created by a small Bordeaux company called Nova Box, this visual novel in the form of an interactive comic immerses us in a universe full of magic and mystery where our choices will have a weight concerning the fate of each of the protagonists. The game was able to get me directly into its story as the work of atmosphere is mastered. However, some details could, in my opinion, have been improved for even more satisfaction.

❤ A well-constructed and almost captivating story in its way of telling and unveiling the mysteries around the characters. Also, where in many visual novels our action of making dialogue choices leaves us a spectator, here it plays a part in the story itself. I found it very relevant and it reinforces the immersive side of the game. ❤ Talking about immersion, it's done through absolutely magnificent illustrations!!!! Some might regret a lack of animation but I think the rendering is really dynamic and the imagination helps to do the rest easily. ⬇ My fav one <3

❤ I have to mention the sound and musical atmosphere too! The sound effects immerse us in the landscapes and the music is splendid and contributes to the mystical atmosphere of the game. ❤ The characters are endearing and each have their own personality and without easy clichés.

+/- The game has good replayability given the different routes to unlock (4 characters have 2 routes each) but they are very similar in the end and therefore rather repetitive. +/- Automatic saving is a good idea in itself, it prevents you from wanting to go back and erase a choice...but if you want to unlock the 8 routes, it's especially the end choices that are important. As a result, playing the same story 8 times becomes annoying (especially as said earlier, the routes are not that different).

✖ I regret that there is no indication of the text already read (like a text in color or a skip option just for unlocked dialogues). I found by chance that holding down the spacebar made the text go through much faster, but that's not very convenient either. ✖ The route system is not very clear; the game gives us 4 symbols (eye, hand, man, deer) and according to our choices, some symbols light up. The problem is the lack of clarity on which dialogues will influence which symbols, but also which symbols for which characters. For the first run, it doesn't bother too much but when you want to unlock other paths, it's not always obvious. ✖ I think the game deserved a kind of "true end" because after having finished all the routes, there are still a lot of questions around the character of Rowan and I feel a sense of lack. (✖ No romance possible with Freya, I'm extremely frustrated xD)

If Seers Isle is in part a tragedy, I nevertheless come out of it with a smile of having been able to fully experience its story thanks to quality work on its audiovisual atmosphere. I'll be curious to discover other creations of this studio in the future <3

➡ My personal VN ranking (in french) ➡ My Steam page

[arwainian]

Reading This Week 2024 #32

this is a day late because yesterday I was too dedicated to the grind of trying to finish reading Stone Butch Blues before my library hold on it forces me to stop (it's due tomorrow...)

I've read a bit less this week because instead I have been Gaming, but I have some more research stuff to pick up at the library today

Finished:

Prince Freya, Vol. 1 by Keiko Ishihara, translated by Emi Louie-Nishikawa I picked up this shojo manga because the central conceit is a village girl cross dressing to take on the identity of the deceased prince of her nation (at his request!) but the romances for the love triangle kept clashing with the girl's empowerment narrative AND there wasn't that much room for the war story that this also supposedly was. a shame, because at one point one of the knights got chained up by a gay-coded creep villain and that was fun for my gay-baited heart

Barbaric: Born In Blood Issue #1 written by Michael Mored, art by Nathen Gooden picked this up back during Free Comicbook Day, but unfortunately it's style of writing violence is too... masculine? okay I think I also have a gripe with the fact that the men in this art style get to has grizzled grimaces that are kinda ugly and interesting to look at, and the women have to have pretty and smooth faces

Foucault, Feminism, and Sex Crimes: An Anti-Carceral Analysis by Chloë Taylor really excellent critique and synthesis of foucaldian theories and feminist theories of violence that's addressing the clash between foucault's difficulties addressing sexual violence and the fact that addressing that seems the obvious direction to take his interests

The Bell in the Fog by Lev A.C. Rosen, audiobook read by Vikas Adam listened to this in an evening and a then the following morning. its the second book in a historical mystery series following a PI who was very violently kicked off the police force for being gay, and now works pretty much exclusively for other queer folks in 50s San Francisco, the first book being Lavender House which I liked pretty well. deals pretty heavily with the distrust Andy (rightly) runs into in the community for being an ex-cop. this isn't a feel-good depiction of historical queerness, but it is one that feels pretty honest to it

Started/Ongoing:

Stone Butch Blues by Leslie Feinberg reads surprising quickly. The early chapters are sucker punch after sucker punch. The later chapters give a bit more breathing room to Jess doing alright, and don't get me wrong the sucker punches are still coming but its more like every two chapters.

The Empire of Gold by S.A. Chakraborty, audiobook read by Soneela Nankani finally reading the conclusion to the trilogy, to my dad's delight (i think the series is pretty okay, he LOVES it)

Blue Box, Vol. 1 by Kouji Miura, translated by Christine Dahsiell i'm only like a chapter in. i think this is a romance between a basketball girl and a badminton boy?

little warrior by kathkin on ao3 continuation of a series Shazam in the Justice League fics based off of the author's funny tumblr posts

[defiledheartsblog]

Hello, a while back you asked us for RO songs. I know it's been a while since then so I hope it's ok that I'm sending these now. I have many songs in mind for pretty much all the ROs but the lack of Camilla simps in this blog is atrocious! So I want to rectify that by sending in Camilla songs.

First song that always comes to mind when thinking about our ice queen is Freya Ridings - You Mean The World To Me the entire song is pretty spot on for her icy demeanor and all the attraction and love she hides behind that icy mask.

Seafret - Oceans to be honest this one could match Marcus too but I feel like it fits Camilla pretty well "we hide our emotions under the surface and try to pretend" love the angst there.

Daughter - Still it's a bit early into the relationship but with verses like "hate is spitting out each others mouths, but we're still sleeping like we're lovers" I just can't help but feel like this is pretty fitting for Camilla's route.

Daughter - Landfill "cause I want you so much, but I hate your guts" is all I'm going to say about this song... (This could also be a Marcus route song.)

Amber Run - I Found "I'll use you as a warning sign that if you talk enough sense, then you'll lose your mind" the chorus is pretty spot on for her romance route too but the entire song is pretty fitting to her entire character and personality. The way she's just put up this facade in order to survive in that climate that she has now "lost her mind/self" to it.

Honestly, I could go on forever not just for Camilla but all your ROs! They're all just *chef's kiss*. Oh, and I have an MC focused song too Passenger - Home though I feel like the Acoustic Cover of the song hits differently.

I. Love. These. I'm always down for some Camilla simping. These really fit her and her route.

Marcus and Camilla do share some songs in my playlist, too. They are really similar in many ways. That's why they loathe each other lol.

If you want to "go on forever" for the other ROs, too, I'm all ears! I really loved these! ❤ Thank you!

[we-pay-for-everything]

thoughts on will, freya, tyr seward, daegal, gilli, mithian and elena??

theyre my favourite extras i love them andnjdjsjdj

Hi!!! Thank you so much for heeding my call, haha. I'm afraid I was too arrogant though. I haven't even finished watching the show for the first time. I decided to pause it mid-season 5 for... reasons - aka, I'm too scared to continue.

I'll have to google some of those names, because I'm not good with them.

Mithian - I don't know if she appears in another season 5 episode, but she is very lovely. She's someone who would make a good Queen, but not as much as Gwen. She was similar to Gwen in many ways, and that was done on purpose; it would've been easier for Arthur to reject someone with a terrible personality or a bad attitude, like Lady Vivian, but not someone as perfect as Mithian. She was beautiful, smart, observant, kind - she noticed Merlin's influence over Arthur, spoke to him like an equal, and defended him from Arthur's "pranks". She was like Gwen in that regard. However, compared to Gwen, she wasn't as bold, outspoken, or brave - she wouldn't have made a better Queen than Gwen. But I liked Mithian! She had a sense of humor and was easy-going too!

Freya - She's a weird one. Is she Merlin's great love? He never showed interest in anyone else, he was even willing to run away with her. They were a bit like Lancelot and Gwen - first loves, a whirlwind romance. Neither couple is convincing to me. It felt too much like destiny, in the way of love at first sight. Freya was pretty lovely though, and it was sad seeing her die in Merlin's arms, especially since she knew who he was and accepted him completely. She had such a tragic life... Finding peace in death is very depressing. It was nice what he did for her, and what she did for him later. I liked her and them, but I don't have any strong feelings for either.

Elena - Elena is my favorite of all these characters! I liked how awkward, clumsy and unlady like she was, though she became a proper princess once she was no longer a changeling. She too was a good match for Arthur - but only as a princess. She didn't appear to be very wise, ambitious, or Queen material - but, who knows? Uther was never interested in a Queen who'd help Arthur lead Camelot, but that is what Arthur wanted, and only Gwen fit the part. Sorry if I'm comparing them to Gwen, but that was kind of their purpose in the story. To me, Gwen is just as important as Arthur, because if he is the Once and Future King, Gwen is the Once and Future Queen who ruled over Camelot when Arthur died and continued his legacy (and much more). Anyway, Elena was lovely. She was pretty and sweet and cute. I loved how she replied to Arthur when he opposed their marriage - her voice was so soft and shy, but she was so eloquent. She was quite like Arthur - no mom, wanting to please her dad, kind of awkward and lonely. However, unlike Arthur, her father loved her and was good to her, and that made all the difference. She didn't have his responsibilities either...

Now, I'll google the rest lmao.

Will - I'll be honest, I didn't pay much attention to the first season. I was still trying to get into the show, and my attention span sucks. I remember him very vaguely. I need to rewatch the show from the beginning and this time pay attention to everything. I remember he didn't like Arthur and had a quarrel with Merlin? I'm sure he was brave and wonderful though.

Gilli - I know who he is now that I've seen his face! He was an interesting one. I could understand why he refused to leave Camelot and why he considered Merlin a traitor of his kind. Although I feel for Merlin, it is true that Merlin stood by Uther and Arthur against his "people". He believed the only way to restore magic to the Kingdom was through non-magic users which is kind of problematic, and so he put up with Uther. I honestly thought it was a bit lame that Gilli backed down and agreed with Merlin in the end. His fury was righteous and bowing down to his oppressors, because Merlin always knows better is bullshit. I actually disliked that episode. Merlin's argument that magic must only be used for good is utter nonsense. It's like Merlin has been brainwashed into only using magic in favor of those who disprove of it. Gilli was wrong to kill a man and enter a stupid tournament, and also to endanger himself just to prove a point, but magic isn't meant to be used for good. That's like saying people are born only to do good - we are allowed to do things for our own sake. I don't have to become a doctor because I must only do good, and doctors aren't necessarily doing it to save lives - although most jobs are necessary, I can also choose to do something with little value for society. Merlin was kind of gatekeeping magic. I think he was scared of it. But, although magic can be used for evil, fearing it and walking away from it doesn't help anyone. I disliked how cowardly the show is. It's endgame is to make Camelot safe for magic users, yet only Merlin is allowed to use magic - everyone else is a villain or morally ambiguous.

Anyway, Gilli was fine. I didn't care for him, but I felt for him.

Daegal - Sorry, I haven't watched the episode he's in yet! Once I do, I'll edit this post!

Tyr Seward - Same as above!!! I'm really scared of the evil Gwen arc! Gwen's my favorite character and Arwen is my only OTP on the show.

Thank you so much for the ask! I don't know the show that well, so I think I got ahead of myself requesting asks. When you get an ask, it's usually because people consider you an expert on the subject. Since I'm no expert, I feel like anything I say will be inadequate! But thanks so much! Why do you love these characters?

[guessillcallitart]

Riding the train to a university in Dublin every morning with iced coffee and a book, for a girl who romantisizes every aspect of her life, is very lovely but for me what makes it utterly fascinating, is the fact that I can see people's wings. Everyone has them. I look at the Asian girl next sitting next to me. Her wings are angelic and startlingly golden. Her eyes are almond shaped and kind, the colour of warm, rich chocolate brown. Her hair the colour of ebony cascades down her shoulders in a lustrous, shiny mane. Tiny rainbows are being cast on the wall by a slender, fair girl's wings clear as glass. Her eyes are a piercing sky blue. A boy with tousled, purple hair walks past me. His wings are a lovely shade of orange like Autumn leaves. The door at the end of the compartment slides open and a petite girl walks in. Her hair is messy, cut really short and dyed bright blue. She has sharp, light grey eyes and a lot of freckles. And her wings... They startle me. Two charred stubs protrude from her back like she's been to hell and back. She's Freya, I realize. Her sister, Ashley was brutally murdered a few weeks ago. Why haven't I noticed her wings before? Have they always looked like this? Wouldn't have I noticed? She slides on an isle seat and I notice I'm still staring at her. Quickly, I avert my gaze. I lean back in my seat listening to the loud roar of the train. Everything outside the window blurs together as the train speeds up. My thoughts blur together as well. I shut my eyes involuntarily. Chestnut coloured hair falls on her shoulders in soft curls. Sunlight lits up the coppery and turquoise highlights in them. There are clusters of dark brown freckles on her bare arms and face. She leans to look out of the window. the wind embracing her. The boy next to her runs his fingers through his shaggy, coppery hair. He looks at the girl with hungry, dark grey eyes. Just when the girl glances at him, the look is gone. "If you don't mind me asking," he says politely in an even voice. "What's your name?"

"If we're to have a lovely romance on the train, we musn't know anything about each other. Not even our names." This is what the girl likes to do. She is fickle. Not getting to know people means she won't get attached. It is different with friends. By now she hasn't had romantic feelings for them. The boy brushes his fingers against the girl's cheek gently. "Well, then, let's make it a good one." He leans in to kiss her softly, then slowly, lazily, staying close, he murmurs in her ear, "You have a very short memory, Ashley." In a shock, Ashley's eyes widen. Her lips part as the boy pulls back gripping her hands hard. Ashley struggles but the boy is surprisingly strong. Just as he shoves her out of the window, the girl sputters only one word. "Lucas." I throw my eyes open with my heart pounding in my chest. The train has stopped and the compartment is completely empty. With my head spinning I shove my book and the half drunk coffee container in my bag. I leap to my feet. Before my eyes I see Ashley's widened blue eyes. My own eyes brim with tears as a knot forms in my stomach. With a few strides I'm out of the compartment and the train. The world outside is foggy and a surreal feeling fills me. I feel like I'm in a dream. I stroll through the station glancing up at the grey sky above me. Every small voice around me makes me flinch and glance around me in alarm. I cut across a cemetary and for the first time I wish the route to school wasn't shorter that way. Fog gathers all around me and shivers climb up my spine. I'm like the main character in a horror movie, I realize. Main characters never get killed, right? I swallow the bitter bile rising in my mouth. I take a deep breathe and clutch my bag against my body. Grace. A slender, transluscent girl with chestnut coloured hair hovers in between two graves. "Ashley." A whisper escapes my lips.

A part of a chapter I wrote at some point✨ OC introductions coming at some point✨