#Lake Union Books

[bargainsleuthbooks]

📚Their Shadows Deep by Peter Golden #BookReview #LakeUnion #ARCReview #HistoricalFiction #JFK #AmazonFirstReads #JohnFKennedy

Author Peter Golden takes a dark look at power gone too far, imagining the connection between JFK’s presidential campaign and an ex-cop’s investigation into her husband’s murder. #Bookthreads #Booksky #BookBlogger #ARCReview #TheirShadowsDeep #NetGalley #JFK #HistoricalFiction #BookReview #Books

The author of Nothing Is Forgotten takes a dark look at power gone too far, imagining the connection between JFK’s presidential campaign and an ex-cop’s investigation into her husband’s murder. Most books mentioned in my reviews can be found at the affiliate links below. (Bookshop.org) (Biblio.com) (Better World Books-US) (Better World Books-UK) (Amazon US) (Kindle Unlimited) (Amazon…

[sarahbethdurst]

Announcing THE WILLOW AND THE WARBLER!!!

Very excited to announce that I sold a new book! It's called THE WILLOW AND THE WARBLER, upmarket book club fiction about a woman who can't stay, who comes to a town she cannot leave. Coming in 2025 from Lake Union. Yay!!!

[doodlesink]

Come Fly with Me by Camille Di Maio -- A Book Review

Happy Tuesday!  Come Fly with Me by Camille Di Maio is out today.  Drop by to see what I thought about the book that features Pan Am stewardess in their heyday.  Happy Reading!

https://bibliophileandavidreader.blogspot.com/2025/02/come-fly-with-me-by-camille-di-maio.html

[whats-in-a-sentence]

Thus, as well as an ocean of storms and a sea of tranquility, there is a bay of dew (Sinus Roris) and a bay of rainbows (Sinus Iridum), a marsh of decay (Palus Putredinus) and a lake of dreams (Lacus Somniorum).*

* The International Astronomical Union, which takes care of such things, codified the remit of sea naming to characteristics of water and states of mind. When the Soviet Union was adamant that one of the seas its Luna 3 probe discovered on the far side was to be called Mare Moscoviense, diplomatic ingenuity allowed is on the basis that "Moscow is a state of mind".

"The Moon: A History for the Future" - Oliver Morton

[novelswithariana]

books I’ve read in 2023 📖 no. 02

Call The Canaries Home by Laura Barrow

“How was it that each of her children knew precisely which buttons to push and how much pressure to apply to shatter her? Then again, maybe it was because they’d spent all those months inside her own body, nestled against her heart, that they knew exactly how to break it.”

[bookdivareads]

Book Showcase: FORTUNE by Ellen Won Steil

Today's book showcase features an #excerpt from FORTUNE by #EllenWonSteil, published by #LakeUnionPublishing. #fiction #mystery #thriller #comingsoon #BlankenshipPR

Fortune by Ellen Won SteilISBN: 9781662512100 (Paperback)ISBN: 9781662512117 (eBook)ISBN: 9798400138027 (Audiobook – MP3 CD)ASIN: B0BP98627V (Kindle edition)ASIN: B0BXM4TM1J (Audible Audiobook)Page Count: 347Publication Date: October 1, 2023Publisher: Lake Union PublishingGenre: Fiction | Mystery | Thriller In this explosive novel about a decades-old mystery, shocking revelations of the past and…

[thrumbolt]

It's has taken SJM so long to release the next Acotar book, the women in Koschei's lake have unionized and killed him all on their own by now.

[astrocafecoffee]

Astro observation ( part 1)

🔹For entertainment purposes only, enjoy🔹

♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️

✨ Uranus in the first house individuals may reject authority or traditions that feels restrictive to them.others may seem them as trendsetters or avant -garde in their approach to life.

✨ Venus in the 10th house of natal chart peoples are so workaholic that they prioritise their career, success over personal relationships or self care.

✨ your spouse's name asteroid could fall in your natal 7th house. ( Not necessarily, but it can be).

✨ mercury in the 5th house can indicate a communicative and involved parenting style. This individuals may encourage their children's intellectual development, creativity, and curiosity, fostering a supportive environment that values self expression and learning.

✨ Scorpio mars individuals have a strong sense of loyalty and protectiveness towards their loved ones. They can be fiercely protective of those they care about and may go to great lengths to defend and support them.

✨ regulus in 7th house of Composite chart - your relationship with your person may bring some fame/ recognition.

✨ Astrocartography mc lines - indicates which place may have a significant impact on your career or public life.

✨ Astrocartography Dc lines - you may meet your spouse/ long term partner there.

✨ Saturn in the 4th house individuals are very traditional 🙂

✨ solar return Jupiter/ mercury in 3rd house/ 10th house may indicate favorable year for cracking competitive exams.

✨ Earth dominate individuals may admire partners who take their commitments seriously whether it's in personal relationships ,career or other areas of life.

✨ juno in 1st house of groom persona chart means your spouse may influence how you present yourself to others or how you are perceived in social settings. they could bring out certain qualities in you or play a significant role in shaping your public image.

✨ South node lines in your Astrocartography chart indicates where you lived in your past lives.

✨ Briede conjunct Devine asteroid in synastry - divine/ fated relationship.

✨ Union asteroid in your groom / briede pc can indicate where you will meet your potential life partner/ spouse :

♾️ Union in Aries - dynamic / stimulating environments suggest adventurous activities, sports events, or places that involved risk taking and exploration. Gyms, fitness classes, martial art studios, organizing events , can meet through social gatherings / casual meet ups where people gather for fun or socializing. , Business conferences/ academic competitions.

♾️ Union in Taurus -

Fine dining restaurants , art galleries/ elegant social events. Settings related to finance, banking, investments , or business networking events., Exhibitions , concerts, musical performance, through mutual friends, wellness workshops.

♾️ Union in gemini -

Intellectual or educational events, workshops, seminars, book clubs , social gatherings , parties , online platforms, social media, dating apps, local festivals , neighborhood gatherings , during travel, airport, train station, writing workshop, media production, related to communication and journalism.

♾️ Union in cancer -

Family gatherings , reunions, hospitals , caregiving facilities, charity events , volunteering activities, through mutual friends, at historical sites, museums, art galleries, cultural events, small town festivals, near Lake, river, beaches, cafe , restaurant.

♾️ Union in leo -

Theatres , music venues, art galleries, or during performances and artistic events, parties , weddings, festivals , or grand gathering, acting class, outdoor festival, sports event , amusement park, related to child's education, youth organization, casinos, comedy clubs , gaming centre etc.

♾️ Union in Virgo -

Office , workplaces, professional conferences, networking events, volunteer activities, community service projects, charitable organisations, gyms, fitness classes health food store, wellness center, university, school , educational seminars, pet adoption events, parks , botanical garden.

♾️ Union in Libra -

Social getherings, parties, networking events, through mutual friends, concerts, cultural events, museums, theatre performance, settings related to law, mediation or during discussions that involve finding mutual agreements or resolutions., Teamwork, collaboration, relationship focused workshop,fashion shows, design exhibition, cocktail party, formal gatherings, courtroom, law office.

♾️ Union in scorpio -

Psychotherapy session, support groups, detective work, reasearch fields or in setting that require deep analysis and understanding., Spiritual retreats, metaphysical shops, astrology or tarot classes, tantra workshop, relationship councilling, setting related to investment, joint ventures, estate planning, holistic health centres , transformational workshop, place focused on healing practices.

♾️ Union in Sagittarius -

Travel, airport, train station, in foreign countries, or while participating in adventures such as hiking, backpacking, or exploring new cultures, University, libraries, seminars, religious gatherings, philosophy group, outdoor activities, sports events, camping trips, cultural festival, international events, language exchange program, law, publishing house, that promotes justice.

♾️ Union in Capricorn -

Office, corporate events, buisness conference, while pursuing ambitious projects, leadership roles, ceremony, cultural events, context related to banking, investments, Financial setting, teaching activities , prestigious club , organization, or during events where recognition and achievements are celebrated., Formal dinner etc.

♾️ Union in Aquarius -

Activism, volunteer work, community organization, seminars, conferences, discussion groups, online platforms, social media, tech startups, through mutual friends, social circles, online communities, music festival, Charity work.

♾️ Union in Pisces -

May meet in spiritual retreats, meditation centre, yoga studio, art galleries, theatre, music concert, poetry reading,film screening , volunteer work, charitable organisations, near Lake , beaches , hospital, clinic, wellness center, music festival, dance class, spiritual chants or ceremonies, book clubs focused on fiction on fantasy genres.

✨ Saturn in 1st house people often have RBF / Serious demeanor 👺

✨ Moon opposite/ square Saturn in solar return chart indicates emotional heaviness, feeling of loneliness or responsibilities weighing heavily on the emotions 😭.

✨ Jupiter/ Venus in 2nd house of Groom/ Briede pc indicates rich spouse.

✨ South node conjunct karma in synastry might suggest past life conflicts, power struggles or intense experiences that need healing or resolution in the current lifetime.

My other posts :

🔮 your future spouse's career.

🔮 your past life.

🔮 marriage placement in synastry and composite.

And many more on my page-

See you soon ~

- Piko ✨

[pearlprincess02]

dating & dates (pisces version)

pisces: (pisces venus/mars/5th house/7th house)

dating someone with pisces venus, mars, 5th house, and 7th house placements means being with a deeply romantic, emotionally intuitive, and dreamlike partner. they crave a love that feels almost otherworldly—something that transcends logic and exists in a realm of pure feeling and connection. they are highly sensitive to their partner’s needs and emotions, often putting their loved one’s happiness above their own. however, they can be prone to escapism, idealizing relationships to the point where reality may feel like a disappointment. they need a partner who nurtures their dreamy nature but also helps ground them when needed. pisces venus loves unconditionally and seeks a soulful, almost fated connection. they fall deeply and can be hopeless romantics, sometimes blurring the line between fantasy and reality in relationships. pisces mars approaches attraction with a soft, fluid intensity. they prefer intimacy that feels poetic and emotionally charged, often surrendering completely to the experience. pisces 5th house finds joy in creativity, imagination, and deep emotional bonding. they are drawn to artistic or spiritually meaningful experiences in love. pisces 7th house seeks a partnership that feels like a deep, spiritual union. they may attract partners who are dreamy, sensitive, or even a bit mysterious, but they must ensure they aren’t drawn to relationships that lack stability.

date night ideas

visiting an aquarium & watching the underwater world together, a spa day with massages, aromatherapy, & relaxation, a sleepover-style date with soft blankets, fairy lights, & deep conversations (pisces venus, pisces mars) a beach date at sunset, walking barefoot in the sand, attending a poetry reading/spoken word event, visiting a botanical garden filled with exotic, dreamy flowers, watching classic romance movies/dreamy, fantasy films together, writing love letters/poetry to each other & reading them aloud, a rooftop date watching the stars in a quiet, intimate setting, a dream journaling date, sharing each other's subconscious thoughts & fantasies (pisces venus, pisces 5th house) a mystical/tarot card reading date, exploring a dreamy, candlelit bookstore & picking out books for each other, going on a foggy, mystical forest walk together, visiting a dreamy, historical castle/museum with a fairytale-like atmosphere, volunteering together for an emotional, heartwarming cause (pisces venus, pisces 7th house) painting/creating art together in a cozy setting, attending a live music event with soft, emotional melodies, dancing in the rain with no worries about getting wet (pisces mars, pisces 5th house) going to a planetarium to gaze at the stars & dream together, taking a boat ride on a lake/river, just drifting together (pisces 5th house, pisces 7th house)

over 18+ spicy bonus 🔞

pisces: (pisces mars/cupido/eros/lust/amor)

someone with pisces mars, cupido, eros, lust, and amor brings a deeply emotional, sensual, and almost ethereal energy to the bedroom. they view intimacy as a transcendental experience, something that dissolves boundaries between souls. they are highly intuitive lovers, often knowing exactly what their partner wants before they even say it. fantasy, surrender, and deep emotional connection are key to their pleasure, and they thrive in settings where they can let go and be completely immersed in the experience. their energy is fluid and adaptable—they can be soft and submissive one moment, then unexpectedly intense and consuming the next. they crave intimacy that feels like an escape from reality, where love and lust blend seamlessly into something almost spiritual. pisces mars is deeply passionate yet elusive, preferring a dreamy, slow-burning seduction that builds to overwhelming intensity. they enjoy emotional depth and the feeling of complete surrender in the moment. pisces cupido is flirtatious and intoxicating, using mystery and subtle teasing to draw partners in. they love seduction that feels poetic and enchanting, often letting attraction simmer before fully indulging. pisces eros experiences arousal as something almost supernatural, drawn to deeply emotional and surreal sexual encounters. they need intimacy that feels magical, where physical pleasure merges with spiritual connection. pisces lust thrives on fantasy and escapism, often desiring experiences that feel otherworldly. they can be both gentle and overwhelming, seeking to dissolve into their partner completely. pisces amor treats intimacy as an act of unconditional love. they are selfless lovers who seek deep, soul-connecting experiences rather than purely physical encounters.

kinks you might have

dream-like, surreal settings that make intimacy feel otherworldly (pisces venus, pisces eros, pisces lust) deep eye contact & slow, intimate touch as a form of seduction, emotional vulnerability as an aphrodisiac (turning deep conversations into foreplay), romantic, candlelit, ambient lighting settings (pisces venus, pisces eros, pisces amor) soft, teasing touches that gradually build to overwhelming pleasure, lucid dreaming/shared fantasies discussed before acting them out (pisces mars, pisces cupido, pisces lust) prolonged foreplay that blends emotional intensity with physical stimulation (pisces mars, pisces cupido, pisces amor) blindfolds & sensory deprivation to heighten pleasure, fantasy-driven roleplay (mythical, fairytale, supernatural themes), water play (showers, baths, poolside intimacy), music driven encounters, where rhythm & sound guide the experience (pisces mars, pisces eros, pisces lust)being worshipped/adoring a partner’s body with slow, devoted attention (pisces mars, pisces eros, pisces amor) emotional domination & submission (trust-driven power exchange), surrender & trust-based intimacy (being completely at the mercy of a partner/vice versa), completely giving up control & being taken care of intimately, a mix of tenderness & unexpected, uncontrollable passion (pisces mars, pisces lust, pisces amor) soft restraints (silk ties, ribbons, hand-holding control), being seduced in an almost trance-like state (whispered words, soft touches, drawn-out teasing) (pisces cupido, pisces eros, pisces lust) heightening the emotional experience with whispered confessions and deep affirmations (pisces cupido, pisces eros, pisces amor) erotic hypnosis/trance-like seduction techniques (pisces eros, pisces lust, pisces amor)

all observations are done by me !!! @pearlprincess02

main masterlist

[hanzajesthanza]

@horsegirlcahir i ended up making a diagram, lol. i hope to god i don't have to put the var anahid and dyffryn line on here at a later date

at its simplest form, and what i meant by the original post was that:

milva was dating baron amadis de trastamara, who also has two daughters that cahir was dating: the baroness nique and baroness queline... err, okay, milva and cahir probably not even being more than five to ten years apart, peers, and yet dating a father and his daughters... well... alright, chalk it up to the books' setting, whatever... but just fyi... if milva had accepted the baron's marriage proposal, and if somehow then cahir was married to one of the baroness, then milva would be cahir's step-mother in-law. 😐

even more, after the company's departure for castle stygga, dandelion does the most dandelion thing, and cheats on anna henrietta... with baroness nique... one of the daughters cahir was dating... well, at least you can say dandelion's relieved of whatever came over him in beauclair and is back to his normal self now

oh, but it doesn't stop there, of course. the company was also entirely entangled with the ducal line, too. most obvious example being dandelion who was consort to anna henrietta. but regis also was sat next to anna henrietta's aunt, countess notturna, during the banquet, in which he charmed the entire table of higher aristocracy. geralt, of course, was also engaged with fringilla vigo, who is a relative of anna henrietta (i believe her second cousin, but i'd have to check the original text and not the translation). and anna henrietta is also cousin to emhyr var emreis, and was also friends with pavetta before her death. these two who are of course, ciri's biological father and ciri's biological mother. and geralt is of course ciri's adoptive father. oh yeah, and cahir is also in love with ciri.

and i didn't put it on here, but crach an craite was one of the suitors for pavetta's hand and adoptive child of eist tuirseach, who became ciri's step-grandfather. ciri then had a childhood crush on crach's son hjalmar... and crach also at some point had a relationship with yennefer, who is of course geralt's lover and ciri's mother, so just add that on mentally, if you please

the only one not participating in this god-awful family-fuck is who else but angouleme no-last-name, which i am... utterly beside myself with gratitude for that!

just remember the absolutely cursed family tree-fuck that was the series of affairs between geralt’s hanza and the trastamara line in beauclair

[bargainsleuthbooks]

Hill of Secrets by Galina Vromen #BookReview #LakeUnionPublishing #ARCReview #HistoricalFiction #LosAlamos #WWII #Oppenheimer

I recently finished an historical fiction book centered around the loved ones of those working at Los Alamos on the Manhattan Project. If you love a good soap opera, Hill of Secrets is for you. #BookReview #LakeUnionPublishing #HillofSecrets #ARCReview

It’s time for another book review from my never-ending TBR list. Most books mentioned in my reviews can be found at the affiliate links below or try your local library! (Amazon US) (Kindle Unlimited) (Amazon CA) (Amazon UK)  (AbeBooks) (Barnes & Noble) (Booksamillion)  (Audible.com) (Audiobooks.com) In a desert outpost, nuclear scientists and their families face the toll of the secrets they…

[sarahbethdurst]

THE WARBLER comes out today!!!

Today is the book birthday for my newest book, THE WARBLER! It's book club fiction, out today from Lake Union, about three generations of women and how one person's choice can become another's curse. It is also about a woman who may or may not turn into a tree.

Writing this book was such an extraordinary experience! Right from the beginning, it surprised me. Almost all of my stories are born at my desk, while my fingers tap at my keyboard, but this one… It came out of nowhere. One afternoon, I was taking a walk by my house, and as I reached the stump of the late great tree that splits my street, words popped into my head:

"My mother is a willow. She stands by a stream that burbles like a toddler's kisses, and her leaves dip into the water whenever the wind blows, to be nibbled by fish who don't know any better… Perhaps I will be a pear tree."

I kept repeating the words over and over as I hurried home to type them up before I forgot them. But there was no way I was going to forget them -- I couldn't stop thinking about my tree woman, wondering who she was, worrying about her. She became Elisa, a woman who has never stayed anywhere for longer than ten months. She's constantly propelled by her fear that if she puts down roots, a family curse will turn her into a tree. But she's grown tired of flitting from town to town and in and out of relationships. When she discovers a small town in Massachusetts with residents who claim they can never leave, she hopes she can change her fate.

THE WARBLER is about mothers and daughters, choices and consequences, and the real meaning of home when every place feels like a cage.

If you'd like to learn more about this book or read the first chapter, please visit my website: http://www.sarahbethdurst.com/Warbler.htm

Also, if you like to listen to audiobooks, the audiobook edition of The Warbler has three amazing narrators -- Caitlin Davies, Sara Sheckells, and Marni Penning -- and they're spectacular!

Thanks so much to everyone at Lake Union for bringing this book to life! I'm so excited it's out in the world!

Happy reading!!!

[uwmspeccoll]

Indigenous People's Day

DR. HENRIETTA MANN Cheyenne

On this Indigenous Peoples' Day, we are featuring Matika Wilbur’s recent publication Project 562: Changing the Way We See Native America, published by Ten Speed Press in 2023. Wilbur (b. 1984) is a visual storyteller and member of the Swinomish and Tulalip peoples of coastal Washington. She holds a degree from the Brooks Institute of Photography alongside a teaching certificate that has shaped her style of educating through narrative portraits.  

Project 562: Changing the Way We See Native America, a book born from a documentary project of the same name, resolves to share contemporary Native issues and culture. In 2012 Wilbur set out from Seattle to visit and photograph all 562 plus Native American sovereign territories in the United States.

Wilbur’s engagement with the communities she visited resulted in the creation of hundreds of dynamic portraits and documentation of conversations about “tribal sovereignty, self-determination, wellness, recovery from historical trauma, decolonization of the mind, and revitalization of culture.” She refers to her portraiture approach as “an indigenous photography method” that includes several hours and sometimes days of interaction with the participants, an exchange of energy and gifts, and asking sitters to choose their portrait location. The outcome is a stunning collection of Native narratives and portraits.  

GREG BISKAKONE JOHNSON Lac Du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians

HOLLY MITITQUQ NORDLUM  Iñupiaq

J. MIKO THOMAS Chickasaw Nation

MOIRA REDCORN Osage, Caddo

HELENA and PRESTON ARROW-WEED Taos Pueblo/Kwaatsaan, Kamia

STEPHEN YELLOWTAIL Apsáalooke (Crow Nation)

LEI'OHU and LA'AKEA CHUN Kānaka Maoli

ORLANDO BEGAY Diné

KALE NISSEN Colville Tribes

GRACE ROMERO PACHECO Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians

ISABELLA and ALYSSA KLAIN Diné

NANCY WILBUR Swinomish

DR. JEREMIAH "JERRY" WOLFE Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians

RUTH DEMMERT Tlingit

MARVA SII~XUUTESNA JONES Tolowa Dee-Ni' Nation, Yurok, Karuk, Wintu

Matika Wilbur will be speaking on UW-Milwaukee's campus Thursday, November 16 from 6-7p.m. in conjunction with her exhibition Seeds of Culture: The Portraits and Voices of Native American Women on view at the Union Art Gallery November 16 through December 15, 2023. 

-Jenna, Special Collections Graduate Intern 

We acknowledge that in Milwaukee we live and work on traditional Potawatomi, Ho-Chunk, and Menominee homelands along the southwest shores of Michigami, part of North America’s largest system of freshwater lakes, where the Milwaukee, Menominee, and Kinnickinnic rivers meet and the people of Wisconsin’s sovereign Anishinaabe, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Oneida, and Mohican nations remain present.

[itsabouttimex2]

Can I request a platonic yandere sun wukong and macaque realizing that the teen mystic monkey they've been raising is planning to leave ffm?

O Child of Unity

(I’m assuming you want Shadowpeach, then? I’m still not the best with it, but I’ll try! Also, a new bot is up!🧡💜 Also again, this fic is compliant with Deepest Hues- which I’ll expand on soon!)

There are four base colors in our world: black, white, yellow, and red. Together, these four hues represent the base components of alchemy- nigredo, albedo, citrinitas, and rubedo.

In times ancient and forgotten, a massive reservoir of these four colors existed in each corner of the earth. Like pools of chaos they surged, brimming with power and life. From each of these brightly-hued depths did an egg arise, containing a Mystic Monkey of incredible potential.

One of light. One of shadow. One of snow. One of fire.

And recently, a brand new simian, born of a union from nigredo and citrinitas, pitch black and bright yellow fusing their mystical lineage into a mottled green.

Their union blessed the world with a little virescent monkey, big eyes and soft fur-

You.

The world is such a wonderful place, you’ve learned. Geysers of boiling water and hunched spikes of snow. Sand white as bone and lakes stained pink by algae. Forests comprised of just one tree and diminutive flowers with digestive maws.

From book to book you’ve torn, indulging your curious brain in every last little wonder of the world- from glacial peaks to crystal caverns.

How many pages have you worn away by now, dreaming of wonders far beyond your reach? How many dreams has your mind spun, longing for something new? How many times have you lost the world to a lovely little daydream that took hours to shake?

A less generous eye would view this behavior as unhealthy. They might even refer to it as a ‘coping mechanism’, spending half the day locked into a foggy haze, pretending that life was more exiting, more fulfilling.

Even you had come to realize the inherent instability of your constant stupor, eventually.

All you have to do to fix this problem, then… is make those dreams a reality!

…right?

Right! No time to waste worrying!

Packing is easy! It used to be a time-killer of yours as a child, pretending to go on adventures across the world with only your trusty well-stocked backpack. All these little games were played out under the watchful eyes of your fathers, ensuring your fun never turned dangerous or led you somewhere that was off-limits.

You’d pick a locale and prepare for an ‘expedition’ with snacks and clothes, always running and asking Bába to open the pantry for you.

“A winter adventure,” Sun Wukong would lovingly coo, pressing a kiss to your forehead. “Sounds like fun, bud! Don’t forget to pack your warm socks, kay?”

He’d laugh and play along, pushing sandwiches and chocolate protein bars into your hands, always with a pouch of juice to pair. Sometimes he’d go the extra mile of bagging them up, giving you a paper sack that wouldn’t be out of place on a field trip.

(How often you begged to be enrolled in school, physical or at least online. And your fathers would ‘tsk’ and shake their heads, but quickly promise you ice cream as a bandage balm for your youthful sorrow.)

And then he’d watch your little journeys with a quirked eyebrow, smiling as you pulled your plushes (given that you had no playmates outside of base simians and your often busy fathers) along and narrated your games.

You’d fill out a page in your bulky journal detailing the ‘journey’, consigning your little hours of make-believe to white pages.

And as you had grown, that many-paged journal stayed tucked under your arm, all your thoughts and hopes written away into it.

Even now, as you stare out at the endless horizon so plainly in front of you- the book is held to your chest, warmed by the excited beat of your heart.

It holds all those dreams you’ve dreamt for a full decade now, each one precious and utterly perfect to your nostalgic mind.

The grass is long and bright, glistening with morning dew. It sparkles under the rising rays of the sun, a picturesque landscape laying in front of you. Flower Fruit Mountain (Mount Huaguo, as your fathers sometimes called it) was beautiful. Is beautiful. But pretty can only satiate the mind for so long, and certainly couldn’t fulfill your wanderlust any longer.

You had explored every cave, climbed every tree, mucked every puddle, cuddled every monkey.

It had been nice. And you’d miss it, but-

The world was waiting!

And you could wait no longer.

Stuffing the oversized book into your backpack, you do the one thing you’ve wanted to do for years- and take off running.

Lush grass rips under your feet, laying in scattered half-length piles as your boots tear across the wet ground. Muddy footprints squash down flowers and weeds alike, nothing stopping your gleeful dash.

Over puddles and through tree crooks, beneath towering canopies and across deep ponds- you run. All that hampers you is the heavy bags strapped to your back and waist, full of the supplies you once only dreamed of handling during a journey.

A real, actual journey! How long had you waited?! Years and years! And it was finally coming true!

But you turn the corner of a rock too quickly, and smack head-on into something solid and warm, the figure grasping you tightly.

And all too suddenly, one of your fathers- Macaque- stares down at you, clearly displeased.

“Explain,” he sharply says, holding out the note you had left on the dining table, unfolded and excitedly penned. It had been written in such a rush of gleeful adrenaline that some parts are nigh-unintelligible.

But; even with wild pen scrawl and joyful errors, it was clearly an intended farewell.

The claw marks shredding through half of the paper is proof that he hadn’t exactly taken the notion well.

“Y/N. What the hell is this? You’re running away?”

“N-no! I’m just-“

“Do you think this is how it all works? You throw a note on the table and head out into a world you know nothing about?”

“I do know about the world! I’ve been researching it for years!”

“Your ‘research’ doesn’t mean a thing! You have no skills, no experience, nothing!”

“Because you won’t let me do anything!”

The accusation causes him to bristle in anger, lips pulled back as he snarls. His fangs, glistening and sharp, draw your attention.

(Sometimes you forget what Macaque has done. How scary he can be. Sometimes you forget that he’s never regretted his crimes. Moments like this are happy to remind you.)

Your bravado and boldness vanish startlingly quickly, shrinking under the furious gaze of the simian.

The Six-Eared simian snags your wrist, stomping over to a cavernous rift of shadows. With your arm held tight, he jumps in and drags you along.

You fall from a ceiling and into the waiting arms of your other father, Wukong. He grins and nuzzles the fur of his cheek to your own, relishing in the warmth of familial closeness. A golden brazier burns next to him, recently lit and brightly chugging the wooden fuel within.

“Someone was up to a little bit of mischief, huh?”

His reaction is the polar opposite to Macaque- where his husband blows up and seethes, the Great Sage lies to himself and pretends that everything is okay. It’s easier to think of his child as a little imp than an outright runaway.

As Wukong dotes, Macaque rips away the thick jacket and boots that you were wearing, throwing them into the nearest closet.

You didn’t need them, after all. You weren’t going anywhere.

Though a part of you is disgruntled to have some of your clothing torn away so suddenly, it’s only when he snatches the backpack that you scrabble from the Great Sage’s arms.

“Don’t mess with that!” You call, trying to wrangle the bag from his grip- but he’s got your journal before you manage to pry it free.

He holds the gargantuan journal, full of all the dreams you had through your life- to see snow penitentes, to view miscolored lakes, to visit ancient forests, to explore the world that had been kept from you for so long.

“This is what gave you those ideas? Your little baby book, kiddo?”

“It’s not-“

“Shut it! You tried to run away. You don’t get to speak right now.”

He takes a moment to breath, glaring at the offending journal. To him, the answer is clear- get rid of the book, and he’ll get rid of your silly ideations of “freedom”. If it comes undone to the very binds, then maybe you’ll give up on leaving and return to the cozy schedule your fathers adhere you to. Forehead kisses and morning cuddles, shared meals and long naps through the cold of winter.

Without it, his life will go back to being perfect, and to an obsessive villain like Macaque?

A little bit of your sorrow is worth the happiness that keeping you close brings.

“Enough of these pointless dreams.”

The Six-Eared Macaque stands to his full height, the multicolored glow on his ears fading to black as his eyes burned red. With one angry sling, he throws your book into the deepest ashes of the gilded brazier.

It catches quick, melting and warping for just a brief few milliseconds before incinerating.

You stand there for a moment in sheer disbelief, watching as a decade of heartfelt writing crumbles away in seconds.

The raw, unspeakable hurt it produces leaves you breathless and mute, incapable of summoning even a single sorrowful word.

Macaque staggers back as tears bubble up in your eyes- even the villain himself has realized that this was a step much too far. His intention; as often to the innocent and undeserving, was to inflict suffering.

Even his own family wasn’t off the table.

His sable hands are much too slow in retrieving the book from uncaring flames, snagging only an empty cover now bereft of inner pages.

Ruined. Utterly ruined and destroyed.

The slow realization that you’ll never have back your childhood journal, never read again your years of games and research, never write another word in the precious book, never finish it- never, never, never, never, all in a devastating row.

The realization sinks in slow, but clicks into place all the same.

A low whimper builds in your throat, slowly pitching up as wetness spill down your cheeks. So many tears fall that they blind your vision, pairing well with the sobs that escape you.

Wukong glares at his partner with boiling eyes, a look of outright hatred in them. “Macaque. What. The. Hell.”

“…they h-had to learn a lesson,” he weakly justifies, his cowardice bubbling up in full force.

Run from Five Phases Mountain. Run from the Brotherhood. Run from Wukong. Run from the Lady Bone Demon. Run from the Samadhi Fire. Run from consequences and run from heroes, and pray that everyone forgets how badly he deserves to be punished for his cruelty and arrogance and sins.

Still a little rat, slinking in the shadows.

“Get out,” the Great Sage snarls, fangs dripping with immeasurable hatred, and, as ever, as always-

Macaque runs.

Wukong turns to you as his pitch husband bolts, throwing off his chest-plate and wrapping his unfathomably powerful arms around your quivering form.

He’s warm, much like a spring of volcanic water, or sun-kissed wood.

Or a raging, burning fire.

You don’t really want to be warm right now.

But the ferocity with which you pound his chest and gut leave the simian utterly unfazed, shushing and hushing you all the same.

“Shh, pumpkin, shh. You know your Bába hates to see you cry. C’mon, let’s dry those tears. Y’know what? How about we get you some ice cream, bud? Something sweet and cold to make you feel better.”

Wukong doesn’t wait for a response. He rarely does. The immortal boosts you up into his arms, heading to the kitchen. He kisses your cheeks and forehead and the bridge of your nose, trying to placate your tears with an overdose of physical affection.

This was your life. Your world.

And you were starting to doubt that you’d ever leave it.

[novelswithariana]

🌸 ARIANA'S BOOK REVIEW 🌸

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Women's Fiction

📚 Synopsis: Three estranged sisters reconnect in their Louisiana hometown to face an unresolved past in a heartfelt novel about family, grief, secrets, and forgiveness.

Savannah was four years old when her twin sister, Georgia, went missing from their small Louisiana town, fracturing their family. Twenty-eight years later, Savannah convinces her estranged older sisters, Rayanne and Sue Ellen, to honor the pact they made as children and retrieve the time capsule they buried in their old backyard. But coming home means confronting old ghosts…and their stubborn grandmother, Meemaw.

Sifting through the artifacts, they come across a photograph taken on the day Georgia disappeared and spot a familiar woman lingering in the background. While Sue Ellen and Rayanne want to move on with their lives, Savannah is determined to find the woman—and perhaps a clue to the past.

When old tensions, rivalries, and memories resurface, the sisters must reconsider what they thought they knew about that fateful day, about each other, and about themselves. On their search to uncover what happened to Georgia, each of them will discover what Meemaw has known all along: family is everything.

📝 Review: ‘Call The Canaries Home’ by Laura Barrow is a dual timeline, multiple point of views debut novel about love, redemption and loss. 3 estranged sisters Savannah, Sue-Ellen and Rayanne return to their small Louisiana town to open a time capsule they buried 25 years ago. Savannah still yearns for closure regarding the disappearance of her twin sister Georgia when they were just 4 years old. The other two are reluctant to explore the past and more keen to move forward in their lives.

I related with Rayanne the most even though my favorite character was Meemaw. Meemaw touched my heart with her unwavering love and the scars she carried from the past. The amount of loss Meemaw suffered was heart-breaking. But it also helped form her character as a person who loves too hard. At the heart of this story, I found the exploration of family dynamics, especially the nuances of sisterhood, to be captivating. I loved seeing the grief, heartache, loss and their way of dealing them from different perspectives. Each of the sisters handled the trauma and tragedy from their childhood differently putting a strain on their relationship. Their character development is the real closure of the story. While the initial pace was a bit slow, I found that the story gained momentum as secrets were unveiled and the mystery of Georgia’s disappearance unfolded. However, I would have loved to delve deeper into the details surrounding Georgia’s vanishing act. Despite this, the overall narrative remained engaging, keeping me invested until the very end.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Call The Canaries Home’. This heartfelt tale of love, redemption, and loss resonated with me on so many levels. As I delved into the lives of the three sisters and their journey of opening a time capsule, I couldn’t help but feel deeply connected to their experiences. The author’s skillful writing allowed me to immerse myself in the small town setting and the intricate dynamics of sisterhood. With each turn of the page, I found myself drawn further into their world, captivated by the complexities and vulnerabilities of the characters.

🔍 Rec: If you like small town, heart-warming, bittersweet family fiction with a hint of mystery or stories of growth and acceptance, this book is for you. People who have read ‘Where The Crawdads Sing’ (Delia Owens), ‘The Road Towards Home’ (Corinne Demas) and ‘What Never Happened’ (Rachel Howzell Hall) may like this book.

In conclusion, I would highly recommend ‘Call The Canaries Home’ to anyone who enjoys stories that delve into the complexities of family relationships, wrapped in a captivating mystery. Laura Barrow has crafted a poignant tale that lingers in the heart long after the final page. Thank you Laura Barrow, Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for this delightful read. All opinions expressed here are purely my own.

🦋 Have you read this book? Tell me your favourite family centric book.

[esotericpluto]

messages from your future spouse

from left to right; intuitively choose the pile you feel more connected to. To make it easier, you can take a deep breathe, close your eyes and ask for guidance to your deities or guides. These are all general messages, so just take what resonates and leave what doesn't. This reading is timeless. If it resonates, feedback is always appreciated and motivates to keep doing pick a card readings.

these are intuitively channeled messages. I also channeled a book and looked at the quotes until I found the one that I intuitively matches your story better.

pile 1

sunshines, rainbows, picnics, lakes, swans, ducks and bunnies is the energy this pile is giving me. It feels like your future spouse is looking forward to taking you to such dates and it seems like they cannot wait until this becomes a reality as you will be their sunshine.

"It is you and me against the world. You are everything for me, my flower, my castle, my sun, my moon, my world. Never leave me and I'll make you the happiest person in the world. We are in this together and I'll never abandon you. I'll be your lighthouse and guide you and you will be my candle in every unknown path of life. We are one and I can't wait until we marry and have children. I am sure they will have your beautiful eyes. We will me meeting soon, just trust your heart and let go of fear"

"She began now to comprehend that he was exactly the man who, in disposition and talents, would most suit her. His understanding and temper, though unlike her own, would have answered all her wishes. It was an union that must have been to the advantage of both: by her ease and liveliness, his mind might have been softened, his manners improved; and from his judgement, information, and knowledge of the world, she must have received benefit of greater importance.” – Pride & Prejudice

pile 2

I feel like your future husband has tendency to act rough and strong, even in moments where they just want to break down and hold onto softness. Strength and resillience become weary and too much of a weight to endure and carry after so long, especially after years of going through so many hardships, difficulties and even traumas. Your future spouse struggles with opening up, with letting someone in, with showing vulnerabity or even some form of weakness.

However, they are telling me, and this is the message for you, that you make them feel like they are safe and taken care of. You are the warmth in their coldest days, you make them feel secure and like they can finally lean on someone, like they don't have to go through everything alone. With you they will learn how to trust, how to break down their barriers, their fears, their deepest worries. They want to give you the world and will defend you and protect you from everything they want. They are definitely the type to be very bold and strong towards other, but a full sweetheart towards you and this is something that will greatly enrich your heart.

I feel like they are telling me that you will also be scared at first as you will feel as if they are going to break your heart. They can assure you they would not, they would rather the whole world ending than your love going away and they will stick to their words and promises. Trust your intuition always.

"The first symptom of true love in a man is timidity, in a young woman, boldness" – Les Miserables

pile 3

"If we have had many ups and downs, many struggles, many back and forths. I thought I would lose you for real, that I had truly messed up, yet we are here again. You are in front of me, in this altar, in this sanctuary of love, exchanging vows. You made me the happiest person in the world and I can only thank you for that. I am sorry for failing you like I did, I am sorry you had to see the worst parts of myself the way you did and if I could give you the universe to compensate you, I would.

I am glad we could meet again, be together again. I knew our hearts would always find our way back to each other. I saw you in my dreams, I remember you from past lives. Our love was destined and nothing that could have happened could have separated us or changed that. You are my angel, my salvation, my inspiration to become better everyday. You have a shine in your eyes that lights up my smile. Thank you for giving me another chance".

I do not think this is an ex (although, for a minority of you, it is possible). It feels more like someone who you will still meet, have a separation with and find your way back to each other eventually. They seem to have really learnt from their mistakes and will do everything in their power to show that to you.

"Good-bye, till we meet then—I embrace you warmly, warmly, with many kisses. Yours till death." – Crime and Punishment