#My Beloved World Audiobook

[constantvariations]

Started listening to A Court of Thorns and Roses out of morbid curiosity. Currently just under 4 hours in, and I have some Thoughts

Knowing that this is something of a Beauty and the Beast retelling, I find Feyre's family dynamics odd. Returning to them is her entire goal in Prythian, yet she doesn't even like any of them, which is why Maas had to shoehorn in that dumb vow Feyre made to her dying mother - whom she also didn't like all that much - at the age of eight. Her goal rings so hollow that I roll my eyes every time I hear about it or that stupid promise

This goal has another annoying layer to it. Escape takes up pretty much all of Feyre's inner monologue, yet the audience knows the story won't let it happen. Can't have a BatB if the Belle manages to flee before the romance has had time to grow. This makes the story drag something awful. There were times I stopped the audio because her plans left me groaning in frustration. If I never hear the word "treaty" ever again, it'll be too soon

And the way she avoids Tamlin at every opportunity is just wild. Even if he's the embodiment of everything gone wrong in her life, why would Feyre pass up a tour of the estate? Why not take the opportunity to study "the enemy" up close? Why go patrolling with the guy who blantantly and repeatedly states how much he wants her dead for what she did instead of the guy who is preventing everyone from doing that? Some of this can be chalked up to her being young, insecure, and untrained in social skills like her sisters, but it's so contrived at times

Considering how Feyre literally skinned his best friend, thus preventing any sort of dignified funeral service, Tamlin's incredibly tame, especially in comparison to the og Disney!Beast. He doesn't yell at her, doesn't threaten, doesn't make demands outside of, "please stop doing things that will get you killed." First impressions aside, Tamlin reads as more socially awkward and irritable than a beast with a dangerous temperment. I find his lameness quite charming, even if Feyre doesn't

It's odd that I'm so far in the book yet the only real interaction between our supposed love interests is the night that Tamlin fought the bog(?). I think this changed something for Tamlin, but Feyre remains unchanged towards him. She's incredibly stubborn, a trait I both have and admire, but her unwillingness to look beyond Tamlin's claws despite how courteous he is to his friend's killer is becoming ridiculous and dragging the plot. Just let him teach you to read already!

Another thing that's ridiculous is Feyre and her bad habit of knowing something is off yet doing a dumb thing anyway. With the wolf, she explicitly says that a creature of that size must be a fairy and kills it because of that only to backtrack and say it's not a fairy. This could be excused for adrenalin/first time killing a sentient being panic brain, but it happens again when her "father" comes to fairy town to rescue her. Feyre inwardly questions how he got to Prythian on a busted knee and some other logistical discrepancies but is willing to follow him into the woods despite these thoughts. She has absolutely zero survival instincts in fairy land. It's like she's trying to die in the dumbest way possible

I can already tell this is going to worm into my brain like RWBY and the MCU. I have a fondness for stories of great potential and even greater squandering. The characters are fun if ill used, and I'm curious about the world along with all the things I've been spoiled about

[beamorgan]

Favourite Reads of the Year

I will not be ranking these, because that would hurt my heart. Buckle up folks, there are a lot of amazing books out there

The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells

I know, I KNOW, I'm late to the party but omg this whole series is just as good as people say!!! I know I said I wouldn't be ranking, but if I was these would be fighting for the top spot. I have already relistened to all the audiobooks. I anticipate rereading them literally every year from now on. I would die for Murderbot, which it would think is a stupid thing for a human to do when there is a SecUnit right there. [adult, scifi]

Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett

Sequel to last year's fav Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries, this follows a bullheaded academic trying find the magical door that will let her faerie boyfriend back into his faerie kingdom. Chaos ensues in the Alps. It's fabulous, and the author's approach to using folklore is very similar to my own writing, which I love and also get imposter syndrome about. 10/10 recommend [adult, historical fantasy]

Model Home by Solomon Rivers

Would you like to be repeatedly punched in the gut? Look no further than this story of racism and child abuse in a Texas McMansion, with gorgeous prose and a genderqueer protagonist and the laundry list of content warnings you can expect with the genre. It hurt so good. [adult, contemporary gothic horror]

You Should Be So Lucky by Cat Sebastian

This love affair between a baseball play and a sports reporter was recced to me by the lovely @colubrina and boy was it worth the two-day binge it inspired! Romance can be very hit-or-miss for me, but this knocked it out of the park (please enjoy my pun). I didn't even have to know anything about baseball to love it! [adult, historical (1960s) romance]

The Locked Tomb Series by Tamsyn Muir

Another tumblr fav, FOR A REASON. Gideon is hilarious. Harrow is an absolute mess. Nona is BABY, my beloved. (Camilla and Palamedes have my whole entire heart). Also, the audiobook narrator is fantastic. In the words of the author, the buns are also fried chicken. [adult, sci fantasy]

Master and Commander by Patrick O'Brian

This one is @elodieunderglass's fault. Historical buffoonery on boats. The main characters are ridiculous. The sailing jargon is incomprehensible. It's great. [adult, historical fiction]

All You Can Ever Know by Nicole Chung

This is a gorgeous memoir of an interracial adoptee trying to make contact with her birth family while pregnant with her own child. It grapples thoughtfully with reconnecting to a lost culture, the complexities of family history, and the social and legal barriers adoptees face to learning about themselves. [adult, memoir]

Death in the Spires by KJ Charles

I devour everything Charles writes, so I was EXCITED for this mystery. She made it very clear on social media "It's not a kissing book!!" (it's kinda still a kissing book). She wrote a stonking book, as usual, with an underdog protagonist revisiting the murder that happened during his toxic time at Oxford university. [adult, historical mystery]

Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar

My favourite literary fiction read of the year, this meditation on Iranian diaspora identity is written by a poet and you can tell. I would suck the prose up through a straw if I could. The protagonist is an addict and also quite suicidal. It was fun :) [adult, literary fiction]

She Who Became the Sun by Shelly Parker-Chan

and the sequel, He Who Drowned the World. I don't even know how to sell this, all I want to do is flail incoherently about how amazing it is. IT'S AMAZING. JUST READ IT. (wait I know: this satisfied the part of me that was obsessed with Mulan as a kid) [adult, historical fantasy]

A Little Trickery by Roseanna Pike

The voicey-est book I've ever read. I screenshot like every other page. It follows an orphaned girl trying to survive in Tudor England through various means, such as faking a miracle in the church where her gay best friend is priest. [adult, historical fiction]

At the End of the River Styx by Michelle Kulwiki

My friend wrote a book! It made me cry!!! They were delighted with this!!! Please give this to any teenager in your life who needs to see thoughtful representation of grief and depression and boys in love. [YA, contemporary fantasy]

[fictionadventurer]

Top ten fairytale retelling novels/novellas you've read.

I've already answered my top 10, so here's my shot at listing 11-20.

11. A Long, Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan: Would probably be higher on the list if I'd remembered it in time. Sci-fi story that's a very loose retelling of "Sleeping Beauty", but so rich and emotionally devastating.

12. Maid and Minstrel and The Beggar Prince by Kate Stradling: Putting both of her short "King Thrushbeard" retellings in one entry. The first is more of a "Beauty and the Beast" tale that makes both leads decent people caught up in a misunderstanding, but I appreciated how it (probably accidentally) made me see the Christ-imagery inherent in the original. The second gives King Thrushbeard some character flaws and a good arc, and has an excellent explanation for why the princess didn't want to marry any of her suitors.

13. Fairest by Gail Carson Levine: Snow White retelling set in the world of Ella Enchanted, and retains that book's creativity in adapting the fairy tale elements. Has an excellent full-cast audiobook.

14. The Stepsister and the Slipper by Nina Clare: Georgette-Heyer-esque Cinderella retelling. Very rushed ending, and not the kind of romance I'd advise anyone to pursue in real life, but very fun.

15. Soot and Slipper by Kate Stradling: Cinderella retelling with an excellent twist, adorable characters, and a convoluted ending.

16. Before Midnight by Cameron Dokey: Short and basic Cinderella retelling that gets on the list because I have extremely fond autumnal associations with this book.

17. Unseen Beauty by Amity Thompson: A "Beauty and the Beast" retelling from the point-of-view of one of the invisible servants. Since I'd had that idea for years before finding this, I was thrilled to find that this story does a pretty good job with it.

18. Exile by Loren G. Warnemuende: The first book in a trilogy that retells "Maid Maleen". I haven't finished the series yet, so maybe it's unfair to put it on here, but I loved the section of the story that takes place in the tower, so I couldn't leave it off the list.

19. The Seventh Raven by David Elliot: A retelling of "The Seven Ravens" that does a decent job of retelling the fairy tale, but I mostly love it as a very well-structured novel-in-verse that structures each POV character's poems with their own poetic form.

20. The Tales of Ambia by Allison Tebo: Fun, slightly Wodehouse-ish retellings that are a breath of fresh air in the romantasy-dominated world of indie retellings

Honorable Mentions:

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer: Objectively as stories, these should be pretty high up on the list. It had great characters and adapted the fairy tale elements in some amazing ways. But I'm not a fan of a lot of the worldbuilding elements here, so I couldn't bring myself to rank it above some of my beloved, but more-flawed indie retellings.

With Blossoms Gold by Hayden Wand and Sweet Remembrance by Emily Ann Putzke: Both contained in Once: Six Historical Fairy Tale Retellings. The first is "Rapunzel" set in Renaissance Italy with an agoraphobic Rapunzel, and the second is a beautifully devastating retelling of "The Little Match Girl" set during WWII. I haven't read these in a long time, but I remember them both being very good.

Masque by W.R. Gingell: An excellent "Beauty and the Beast" retelling with a very lively Beauty, a Beast who works as a police detective instead of brooding in a castle, and some clever adaptations of the fairy tale elements. Unfortunately, I've decided a couple elements of the magic go beyond what I'm comfortable with, so I couldn't put it on the list, but I had to give it credit.

[notebookqueenofnarnia]

Okay Demigods

now that Season 2 has been confirmed (!!!!!!!!!!) I am here to make my official appeal that you ALL read the books. and yes...i mean ALL the books. Because here is what you are missing if you don't:

(mostly spoiler free. mostly vibes and chaotic no context)

OG PERCY JACKSON

Percy's INCREDIBLE sarcasm

Lots of chaotic Mr. D moments

Percy's unending absolute obliviousness when it comes to: his own abilities/powers, his own feelings towards a certain daughter of Athena, and EVERYONE'S feelings towards him

the full list of Percy's felonies (it's longer than you think!)

how much Percy thinks about Annabeth, especially in the third book

The Hunters of Artemis (everyone's like 'which godly parent would you have?' but im like ??? who cares??? I'm running off with the girls to immortal to hunt men i mean monsters)

soooooooooo much Sally Jackson is the Best Mom (to everyone who walks through her door) content

BLACKJACK. TRANS ICON BLACKJACK THE PEGASUS.

Rachel. Elizabeth. Dare. (this is how the audiobook says her name every single time)

Paul Blofis

Sally Jackson, author

Poseidon: Blowfish?

HEROES OF OLYMPUS

If you don't read these books you are missing out on some of the coolest female characters Rick has created: PIPER (an iconic), HAZEL (unintentionally hilarious), REYNA (beautiful character arc), and ANNABETH's point of view will have you loving her on a whole other level, trust me

Also: COACH HEDGE

Leo

All The Ladies Love Leo

the audiobooks are INSANE. It felt like a full cast read the book, but no. it was just one insanely talented narrator.

FESTUSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS (im a dragon girlie)

Personally, I spent a lot of time reading the OG 5 wondering about how Roman mythology plays into Percy's world. Uncle Rick answered my questions and answered them SO WELL

Hazel the horse girl

Frank the horsebirddolphinman

Frank, gentle himbo, my beloved son

MY FAVORITE SCENE WHICH INVOLVES PERCY NOT KNOWING HOW TO DRIVE, A HARPY, FRANK, AND HAZEL AND THEYRE ALL SCREAMING AND IM PRETTY SURE STUFF IS ON FIRE

Forced Proximity for 7 teenagers and one chaotically violent satyr (that's Coach Hedge)

Eros/Cupid being one the most genius things Rick's ever written

Percy's hate of Ares transcending god magic

(also his love of Annabeth, but that's like obvious)

PercabethPercabethPercabethPercabethPercabethPercabethPercabethPercabethPercabethPercabethPercabethPercabethPercabethPercabethPercabethPercabethPercabethPercabethPercabethPercabethPercabethPercabethPercabethPercabethPercabethPercabe

weird barely gnome things

this one giant whose name is definitely not pronounced like female anatomy

everyone thinking Percy and Annabeth are constantly getting up to the hanky panky

a statue made me cry

Gay Grumpy/Sunshine (or should that be Death/Sunshine) origins!!

TRIALS OF APOLLO

Apollo, vain himbo of godly proportions is forced to live as Lester Papadopoulos

Percy: why

a very chaotic twelve year old daughter of Demeter

she commands Apollo around

plant magic

terrible great haikus at the start of every chapter

Sally Jackson being the best mom to everyone who comes to her door

magic shoes

a sassy magic prophetic arrow that talks in Shakespearean English

so much gay grumpydeath/sunshine content

also yes sunshine's dad is Apollo

Apollo sings

Grover! Piper! Reyna! Hazel! All the friends! Everyone

Jason! (also im sorry)

what if there were some trees who were an elite squad of warriors who also answer to the chaotic twelve year old

gay moms of the midwest

unicorns

in the last book, chiron takes the campers on a 'field trip' to help take down the big baddie and he shows up dressed as a warrior soccer mom with granola bars, water bottles, and extra swords attached to his fanny pack

a different chaotic twelve year old while fighting to the death in a building that's on fire: "CAN WE GO ON FIELD TRIPS EVERY WEEK?"

chiron: "ROSE DEAR RAISE YOUR SWORD A LITTLE HIGHER!"

okay im not going to spoil it but in the last book there is also this extremely horrifyingly violent moment that Uncle Rick somehow turns into one of the most hilarious things i've ever read

Piper in the epilogue

CHALICE OF THE GODS

more insanely funny percy first person narration

Grover, Percy, Annabeth reunite ("the gang is back together!" "The three musketeers!" "Shrek, Fiona, and Donkey!" "Excuse me?")

have you met the god of himbos? (Percy has)

SO

MANY

EASTER

EGGS

for Season one. you can totally see how Uncle Rick worked on the script and chalice together

if you liked Annabeth shoving Percy into the water....this one is for you

Percy, supreme god of snakes

the cutest cutest cutest cutest Percabeth content you will ever read

hippie gods (yes more than one)

Percy is literally obsessed with Annabeth

Annabeth already being the Jackson daughter in law

Sally Jackson and Paul and

For the record: You CAN read Chalice of the Gods without reading the other series, but please please please read all these books. The audiobooks are phenomenal.

[deniigi]

Audiobooks

Ever since I learned that 54% of Americans have literacy below a 6th grade level (for the non-USA folks, that's like age 12ish), I've thought of pretty much nothing else.

I don't know how to fix it besides advocating for equitable education and more funding for education and reading and art programs.

But I got to wondering (and worrying), what is MY level of literacy?

The good news is that OxfordOnlineEnglish has a way for you to find out here.

And for those of us worried if we are forgetting our vocabulary, there's Freerice.com here which is run by the World Food Program.

For every question you get right, they donate rice to children in need (I believe the funding for that comes from the ad revenue of you being on the page.)

But mostly, I've just been thinking about how my life is bettered by reading. Books, I mean. Not just fanfic (though obviously I'm reading fanfic, who do you think I am???)

Anyways, I wanted to give folks some links to some audiobooks I've listened to lately, since I have a hard time finding time to sit and read and I imagine that a lot of you do too.

Here are some of my favorites. They're making me a better writer, I think, and I also think they're making me a better person in the aggregate.

Here is a link to sign up with Libby if you haven't. You'll need a library card to do so. It's totally free to sign up and listen/read once you've done that.

Moby Dick (audiobook on Youtube) - is it nearly 24 hours? Yes. Do I regret reading about these irate Quakers? Never, Mr. Stubbs. Never.

Howl's Moving Castle (audiobook on Youtube in parts) - Howl with a Welsh Accent? Sign me up.

Their Eyes Were Watching God (audiobook on Youtube in parts, also on Libby) - This fucked me up so bad. The reader does the accents perfectly, and it's so immersive I nearly cried at a red light.

Pride & Prejudice (audiobook on Youtube, also available on Libby) - there is nothing like 19th century English to grab you by the lapels and shake you.

Beloved (excerpt on Youtube, full book available on Libby) - This book changed everything I know about literature. If you go through Libby, Toni Morrison herself reads you the story and it is haunting.

Where the Crawdads Sing (available on Libby) - I love literature written about the south, and this one is a murder mystery for a self-made scientist. Don't bother with the movie.

Pachinko (available on Libby) - The atmosphere of this book digs itself into your guts like a knife. There are a lot of feelings about generational trauma and being forced into a role vs. taking on the role yourself.

Fat Talk (excerpt on Youtube, available on Libby) - The author reads her own book and really talks about how we approach body-talk with children.

Heartberries (excerpt on Youtube, available on Libby) - I very rarely do not like the narrator of the story in some capacity, but in this one, I didn't like them and I think that was important to me to experience as a writer and a person.

What are y'all reading these days?

If you reblog this, please include a link to the audiobook or tell us where to find it.

[ofmdrecaps]

11/23-24/2024 Daily OFMD Recap

TLDR; Republic Of Pirates: Airport Con! - Rhys, Con, Nathan, Vico, and Kristian; Photo Dumps on Tumblr; Positive Comments from the Con; ROP: Fan Spotlight!; More Cast & Crew Sightings: Rhys Darby; Taika Waititi; Zayre Ferrer; Voting Reminders; Love Notes!

Hey all! Sorry after tumblr killed my drafts I lost all motivation because I was very grumpy so this is much later than intended-- but it did let me get a hold of a few more lovely folks so it worked out!!

= Rhys, Con, Nathan, Vico, and Kristian =

So many of you got to make it to the Republic of Pirates Con this past weekend with Starfury Conventions! It sounded like a completely bonkers, amazing con! So many cool pictures from cast and crew, and fans alike!

Sources: Con's Instagram, Starfury IG/Twitter / 2

Some shots of Kristian's awesome concert with the cast!

Source: Vico's IG Stories

And that video of Rhys and Con from Rhys---Thank you @sherlockig for bringing it over to tumblr!

Source: @sherlockig's Tumblr

== ROP Photo Dumps on Tumblr ==

There were some awesome folks who attended the convention that posted more photos if you wanna check them out!

= Crimson & Clover =

Super huge thanks to the extremely kind @crimson-and-clover-1717 for sharing these uplifting pics!!

Rhysie Pics

Message and Pic From the Crew

Source: @crimson-and-clover-1717

= London Spirit =

Also major thanks to the darling @londonspirit who was kind enough to let me share her photo dumps and this cast photo! She's going to be doing a write up and another dump soon (but needs a much deserved break!) so keep an eye on her blog for more fun stuff in the future!

Photo Dump 1

Photo Dump 2

Source: @londonspirit's Tumblr

== Some Uplifting Convention Comments ==

Source: TrixnTreats Bsky

(Also by Rhys!)

Source: Comedy Nerd Bsky

== Republic of Pirates Fan Spotlight! ==

= Unicorn Death Race =

One of our incredibly talented crewmates @unicorndeathrace cosplayed as the absolutely devastated (and devastatingly gorgeous) Widow Olivia! The cast gave a standing ovation and everything! So well done hon!

Source: @unicorndeathrace's Tumblr

PS: Does anyone know who else placed in the competition? I'd love to reach out to them!

== Cast & Crew Sightings ==

= Rhys Darby =

Are you going to be in LA on the 6th of December? Well Rhys will be there at his RD Saying Funny Things Society! You can get tickets here: Tickets to the show on December 6, 2024 in Largo Los Angeles (Note: I could have sworn he was going to Galaxy Con Columbus that weekend but it sounds like he's not (either anymore or ever?), sorry if I gave the wrong info previously!)

Source: Rhys' Bsky

Rhys got a new phone pen and the Darby Daily Doodles are back!

Source: Rhys' Substack

= Taika Waititi =

More pictures from kokocamden from a couple weeks back!

Source: Julien MaxP Instagram

= Zayre Ferrer =

One of our Fab writers, Zayre Ferrer has been doing an "Imaginary Spin Off Series" set of posts where they are coming up with amazing spin off ideas for shows that have ended/been cancelled. Their latest is Nana-- but if you arent already following along, there are some pretty bad ass ones in there!

Source: Zayre Ferrer's Bsky

== Voting Reminder! ==

Voyage of the Damned by Frances White, and audiobook narrated by our beloved Lucius, Nathan Foad has made it to the final rounds of the 2024 Goodreads Choice Awards. If you enjoyed it and want to support it, can you please give it a vote when you have a moment? Thanks!

== Love Notes ==

Hey there lovelies! I hope those of you who got to go to the convention this past weekend had such an amazing time! Those of us on the opposite side of the world, or who couldn't make it really appreciate all the love and sharing you did! It sounds like you had such a blast! One thing I want to send is many many hugs because I know there's always the post-con funk that can happen, and I know coming down from that high can be a bit rough! Just remember to be kind with yourself and give yourself some extra grace if you're having some big feelings this week okay? Prioritize you! Things will look up again, and I hope you have those beautiful memories keeping you warm while they do <3

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Katie Abey 🌈 (@katieabey)

Source: KatieAbey's Instagram

[ofliterarynature]

TBR TAKEDOWN: GOODREADS, WEEK 6b

Emily of New Moon (Emily #1) by L.M. Montgomery

I'm trying to trim down my tbr list(s) and I'm asking for your help! Descriptions and more info under the cut. Please reblog and add your thoughts!

* * * * *

Emily Starr never knew what it was to be lonely -- until her beloved father died. Now Emily's an orphan, and her mother's snobbish relatives are taking her to live with them at New Moon Farm. She's sure she won't be happy.

Emily deals with stiff, stern Aunt Elizabeth and her malicious classmates by holding her head high and using her quick wit. Things begin to change when she makes friends: with Teddy, who does marvelous drawings; with Perry, who's sailed all over the world with his father yet has never been to school; and above all, with Ilse, a tomboy with a blazing temper. Amazingly, Emily finds New Moon beautiful and fascinating. With new friends and adventures, Emily might someday think of herself as Emily of New Moon.

Date Added: 2017

Goodreads: 4.12

Storygraph: 4.09

PRO:

I own the series! lol oops

Read and liked Anne of Green Gables at some point in the distant past

Do tend to like/prefer classics by female authors

Entire series is available from the library in my preferred format (audiobook)

CON:

• it's not Anne and it's been so long since I read that anyway asdfghjk. idk how I'd like it

[oklotea]

EAH notebook sketches :]

In order i've got my beloved chase redford design and a headshot of him, humphrey, low effort raven queen, and LIZZIEEEE!!!!!! I drew her while listening to an audiobook of wonderlandiful world

[tulinokkaelain]

9 BOOKS I PLAN TO READ IN 2025

Thank you for @rebel-revenant tagging me! <3

Will 2025 be the year that I manage to continue reading some unfinished book series? Please…I need to finish something. 😂 (Also planning to read Anne Rice, but I took this also as a challenge to list other things.)

1) The Lies of Locke Lamora - Scott Lynch

I started this book last year, but got distracted. But what I read was very good! Crime, plots, lies & Venice vibes!

2) Pääskytorni / The Tower of the Swallow (The Witcher) - Andrzej Sapkowski

I love the previous book (Baptism of Fire) in this series so much that I’ve listened to the audiobook three times instead of continuing the series. Help. I must do something about it. Reading in Finnish, since everybody I’ve ever talked to says the translation is better. And yes, it is very good!

3) System Collapse (The Murderbot Diaries) - Martha Wells

Murderbot my beloved. Haven't read the newest book yet.

4) Shadows Return (Nightrunner) - Lynn Flewelling

I’ve read the first three books in this series multiple times…they’re kinda my comfort books, I guess. I’ve had the entire series on my shelf for so so so long, yet I keep reading only the first three. Unhinged. This stops now.

5) Pienen hauen pyydystys / Fishing for the Little Pike - Juhani Karila

I’ve read this book before, but I need it in my life again. I can’t stop thinking about it. Weird small town vibes mixed with Finnish folklore. I’ve got a weakness for magical realism.

6) He Who Drowned the World (The Radiant Emperor) - Shelley Parker-Chan

Excited to read this second book, the first one was amazing!

7) Dune - Frank Herbert

“I’ll read the book before the second movie comes out.” - Me, 2021

Did I? No…

8) Fool's Fate (The Tawny Man) - Robin Hobb

Realm of the Elderlings books are all amazing. I love the characters and worldbuilding so much! I must finish it! This has been on hold for…three years. Truly, oops…..

9) Elolliset / Beasts of the Sea - Iida Turpeinen

I read very little historical fiction, but this debut novel comes highly recommended. “Approaching the subject of biodiversity through individual destinies, Beasts of the Sea is a story of grand human ambitions and the urge to resurrect what humankind, in its ignorance, has destroyed.” So, I’m ready to cry about sea cows, or something. (Looks like it will be published in English this year.)

---

Tagging: Oh lord, I have a terrible social anxiety that tells me I’ll die from tagging people, but I’m being brave and tagging some people from my recent notes. So, don’t feel pressured, since I don’t know if you have any interest or have already been tagged. Aaaa!🙈🙈🙈 @herbeloved82 @berrybeeli @monstersinthecosmos @ladyvampir3 @joinmeindeathh and hey @vanitasmagoria

[seiya-starsniper]

✨💖Positivity chain! List 5 to 10 things that make you smile and explain why! Then send this to others to let them know they make you smile✨💖

Oooooooo this sounds so delightful Cecil, thank you for the ask! 💖

Baths - I love taking baths when I've either had a long day at work or right after a really intense workout. It really just drains all the stress away, and I make sure to sit with no phone, only thoughts! It empties the head out great. I have just come from a bath can you tell LOL

Audiobooks - I spent a very long time thinking audiobooks and podcasts were silly, but then when I bought my house I suddenly had a real commute to work (previously I lived less than 15 mins away, now I am 45 mins away boo). So podcasts and audiobooks have become the little treat I get to enjoy on my way to/from work. Audiobooks in particular got me back into reading books, and it has been wonderful.

Coffee - This is pretty self explanatory. Coffee, my beloved hot drink that gets me through the day when my meds aren't quite enough. I also just like the taste of coffee and having coffee dates with friends!

Tea - I know, I know, another beverage, but my love for tea and coffee are different things! Tea is how I inspire myself to write, how I relax before bed, and how I give myself a gentle wake up on a lazy Sunday when there's nothing to do. Also, my beloved @lyriclorelei sends me a tea advent calendar every year and I ADORE it. Such a fun way to try new teas that the bestie loves! <3

Soup - I have now made my love of liquids terribly clear at this point LMAO. But soup is my go to meal, it is filling, you can add as much or as little as you want to soup, and best of all, soup is just comforting. There are always 5 different kinds of soups in my house at any given time.

The Pokemon Trading Card Mobile Game - I am a simple person with simple needs, and the brain is heavily stimulated by opening booster packs with fun little cards inside them. Getting that little ping every 12 hours or so where I can open up a new pack of cards absolutely delights me.

Peppermint Flavor - I do not know how prevalent this is outside the U.S, but now that it is Christmas Season, candy cane and peppermint flavored chocolates are EVERYWHERE. I am in my happy place. I love peppermint yogurt covered pretzels, peppermint hot cocoa, peppermint flavored coffee, give me ALL OF IT.

My wood fire stove - it is COLD over in my part of the world currently, and I love being able to burn a fire every night if I so desire. I am probably going to start a fire right after I finish posting this

Nail polish - I love having my nails different colors! @bruce-wayne-simp also got me into the very addictive habit of painting my own press on nails, so now we are constantly sharing new colors of our nailsets with each other.

My cats - my silly little babies never fail to make me smile daily, whether they are being cute, or doing absolutely silly little guy things!

[myloveforhergoeson]

ash's september 2024 reading round up

find all the books and fics i read (or didn't read...) this month under the cut with a link to the synopsis and my reviews/ratings attached :)

this is just for fun! i'm not a professional, i just like to read <3

booklist:

Summer Reading by Jenn McKinlay(18+!)

• review: this was a solid read. nothing incredible, but definitely better than some of the other crap i've read this year lol. i enjoyed the dynamic between the fmc - a dyslexic chef named sam - and the mmc - a librarian named ben - and the interesting relationship between someone who hates to read and someone who's life revolves around books. honestly i was really interested to see how this played out between the two of them, but like one week into them fooling around he begins to read a book aloud to her and the conflict is magically solved. sam just loves audiobooks now and i wish the author had done more with that. both sam and ben have goals they're striving to reach and i love that ben is able to see his through to the end, but the reader is kind of left wondering about sam's and i would have loved for that threat to have been tied up, but overall this was a cute read. my only real issue with this story was the quality of writing. there were some parts that were super cringe and were clearly written by a millennial emulating the 'how do you do fellow kids' meme that i could've gone without... anyway. i really enjoyed the relationship exploration between sam and her budding teenager brother. after not being in each others lives for a bit, i thought their bonding over the summer was adorable :) would've loved to read a book just about them tbh. neither of the main characters were the kinds of characters to write home about, but overall i did enjoy the progression of their relationship. just kind of a middle-ground novel.

• rating: 3/5 seasons of the bear that taught me all i know about cooking

fic list:

assorted works of @ceruleanmusings <3

look around your world, pretty baby

Blood Diamond; Year Four

i could always write literal essays on your work i swear to god but these two works this month really got to me as per usual. the first mickames one shot for james canon bday was so freaking adorable. i had literal butterflies in my stomach like i was there on the date with them... despite the urgency of the time crunch, which you did exellent in making it seem like it was somehow slow and fast at the same time, god i read this like three times over. mickey and james are just my favorite ;-;!! and blood diamond always hitting in the feels of course... this one in particular really got to me though. the combination of brooke's annoyance with james the last few chapters really came to a head here at the hair salon. he's just a kiddo!! let him play in peace!! and then her figuring out a way to potentially exploit his singing talent... i'll wring her neck i swear. as always tysm for sharing and tagging me in your works 😭 i could read them forever and ever and ever <3

2. assorted works of @partiallypearl/ @praetoravila <3

it's nowhere close to closing time

all over again

be my weekend lover (but don't be my friend)

can i have this dance?

lolive kissssss

you got me paralyzed

you know all my deep dish

this is such a STACKED LINE UP AUGH!! from the beginning with it's nowhere close to closing time... kogan... save me.... i love the first chapter introduction to both the characters and the setting. it's been so exciting theorizing how the story will play out from here and i can't wait to read more!! and of course... all over again with olive my beloved... i just can't get enough of logan and olive and their fucked up little relationship. jo's party chapter literally had me shitting my pants ngl and you already know im thinking of lolive on a daily basis. they're my roman empire i stg... the other three lolive on shots had me by the neck too - from the conversation with kendall 👀 to the quinceañera chapter to their KISS augh im too obsessed for my own good... and saylors introduction one shot!!! ahh!!!! you always have such interesting and well-rounded ocs i'm so jealous!!! i can't wait to learn more about saylor and their relationship with both kendall and lucy :)) macie's story too... she and katie are so adorable. i love the dynamic you've set up between the two of them as they both navigate hollywood!! obsessed as always. im up in your dms literally every single day gushing and i wouldn't have it any other way!!!!!!! <3

3. assorted works of @selangkir <3

mrs. knight one shot

girl time rush (anniversary reread🙏)

iconic work as ALWAYS!!!!!! i truly think your character interptetations of btr/side characters/ocs are so unique and bring such a fresh perspective to the story! the mrs. knight one shot, on top of being hilarious, began to expand on her pretty one dimensional characterization in such a short story and it blew me away. unmatched creativity!! lord knows she needed the j anyway if im being COMPLETELY honest. and i cannot believe gtr turned one year old this month what the fuck!! what the actual fuck!! i swear i've read all three chapters about a bazillion times. ty for being so accepting of roxy and using her as a vessel to tell your story too <3 i'd be lying if i said i wasn't so inspired by sabrina carpenter rn i already have another chapter draft of my own cooking in the google docs..... <33

4. assorted works of @inkameswetrust <3

the windowsill pt. 4

the windowsill pt. 5

oh LORD such incredible updates to this sweet story. these chapters always pack such a punch! i expect nothing less from kames fan #1... im obsessed with the continued relationship between katie and kendall in pt 4. btrtv lacks so heavy on their sibling-ness so i always love seeing it expanded on in fic! and JAMES AND KENDALL GOING OFFICIAL AOAJFOBOBGA i had knots in my stomach! you've also so clearly set up stakes and kendall's future fears it's so genuine and just real it hits so hard. pt 5 with brooke had me almost throwing my phone at the wall if im being honest. the way she spoke to kendall was bonechilling and i'm nervous yet excited for their future together <3 never stop kamesing the world needs it so so sos sooo bad !!!

5. assorted works of @naquey / @ithinkyouhealedmyheart

ghostwriter chapter 1

ghostwriter chapter 2

hi <3 welcome to the reading round up! i love your story sm i'm so grateful to be here for the very beginning of kenonnie and their sweet relationship. ronnie is such a cool character! there is so much depth and dimension to them and i love that every single chapter we learn something new about her!! from her relationship with addy and callie (who i also ADORE and can't wait to learn more about) to his struggles with his father's health... god... the amount of thought you put in is clear and i'm just astounded! the second chapter was also super cool too; i love how you took existing characters and tweaked their relationship so we could learn more about how you view the two of them. i'd never thought to write something with just kelly and rebecca - it's so inventive, just like the (spoliers lol) other chapters you've published since <3 tysm for sharing your writing with us, i'm so excited to see ronnie's journey progress!!!

[pegasusdrawnchariots]

2024 reads! 📖

*walks in 2 weeks late with a chai latte* I was tagged by @oatflatwhite to share my fave reads of 2024! mate, thank u for the tag & thank u for yr patience O7

Apparently I only finished 3 books last year 💀 Here they are!

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern 🎪

Is there anything new left to be said in praise of The Night Circus? I had read it once before in high school & it hit just about all of my buttons then. Rereading it flung me right back to who I was at that time & was a gorgeous magical adventure to boot. I actually read it as an audiobook on youtube & loved every moment — the male narrator did a great job making every voice distinct & intriguing, for the female characters too without getting silly. The writing is rich with sensory detail, from the quality of the wind to the scent of sugary popcorn to the colour of a magical fire. It is rich with style, atmosphere, & above all dramatic tension my beloved <3 Never have I wanted more for a fictional place to be real!

Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett 🧹

Yet another book filled with rich magical sensory detail, as well as humour, this time in a completely fictional world. This is the 3rd instalment in the Discworld series, which I'm slowly making my way through & thoroughly enjoying. It's about the appearance of the first ever female wizard on the Disc & her struggle for acceptance among the very boys' club culture at the wizards' Unseen University, & also features the first appearance of the famous Granny Weatherwax! Lots of capable girls & women stomping around getting into pickles & getting things done while the blokes hem & haw about whether or not that is against the lore (lol)... Can't wait to pick up Mort next!

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas & Auguste Maquet 🩸

Another brilliant audiobook courtesy of Librivox! <3 A new addition to my tightly curated inner circle of favourite books. Rich in plot, character, drama, comedy, with stakes that both sweep across nations & huddle up in a single empty room. It's got everything. Fake identities. Daring escapes. Ecomonical machinations. Lesbians. Himbos. Resurrections. Court drama. Glorification of drugs AND violence. Loaded conversations with old friends & old flames. A documentary on telegraph mechanics. Timelines not to be studied too closely. History not to be studied too closely. & one insanely powerful, insanely intelligent, & perhaps even simply insane man at the centre of it all seeking vengeance for a betrayal in his past. It is THE revenge plot of all time & delicious every step of the way. I cannot get enough. The authors knew this & generously gave me 640,000 words of it!! What more could anyone want out of a book?

Tagging @ninadove @justbecringe & @swamp--girl bc I wanna hear what you've been reading too 📚

[eatmangoesnekkid]

My new work-- print books, audiobooks, kindle, online school/temple and future blog will not be for any woman or female-bodied person living in active-trauma. I have been there before, I know that sometimes in life, your nervous system and other systems can't handle the challenge. Some addictions have to cleared. Some relationships have to be resolved. And to know your capacity is incredibly power. In this work of love, you must be able to hold and tend to yourself as you read and be activated and expanded in your cells and tissues as a result, I promise. In my online school/temple, I will be your openhearted guide and able to witness you deeper, but you also have to be ready to open up and meet the trapped stories living in specific parts of your body in order for your energy to start to flow again optimally. Freedom of Heart, Freedom of Regeneration, Freedom of Time, Freedom of Diagnoses, Freedom of Nervous System, Freedom of Desire, Freedom of Energy, Freedom of Biology, and Freedom of Living Adventure Real life is what we are up to but a lot of unlearning is on the menu. We have to unlearn ourselves (our cells) and unlearn the behaviors and conditioned responses taught to us by the world. We have to rebuild our foundations from the ground floor as well. While I'm a deeply loving "Lila" woman to my core (meaning -a divinely playful woman as referred to in Hinduism), I also traverse blindfolded into murky rivers--often doing things in life that feel uncomfortable which is the key to being masterful and unstoppable. The average person does not play this game to win. They stay comfortable in their little boxes, traumas, and socializations that keep them in perceptions of safety. While my work is full of undeniable love and expansion, all that juicy gooey intimacy, softness and sweetness, it also carries a charge of shameless blood splatter that runs cervically deep. You must to want to play this game properly, if not, you tend to repeat old never-ending cycles. I'm tired of seeing women in the same cycles as our Beloved foremothers year after year, lifetime after lifetime, story after story, diagnosis after diagnosis. As Audre Lorde brilliantly channeled "I'm not free while any woman is unfree even if her shackles are different than my own." For many of us, it is time for some real truthful cycle-breaking and pattern-disrupting which means that sometimes you will be triggered. The world makes us so timid and weak (of course, not written to shame illness) with all of its coddling and fears while we low-key pretend and tell lies to ourselves about how powerful we are when we actually don't believe it. "Being triggered" and meeting your patterns with delight are mature essences of one who wants to create new narratives. And what's also true is that you don't have to ready for any of it yet or ever and if so, my work, Beloved, is not for you. This melody of love work is ultimately an intimate love story about the potency of female body from the lens of a Lover-Warrior. Polarity is how the human soul masterfully creates. Never forget that, loved ones. If you remember nothing else from me, never forget that. As I will say many times throughout the series"bring love but also bring a machete." One Loveliness... --India Ame'ye, Author

[ckerouac]

January was a month of starting like 10 different books and realizing ‘no’ just a few pages in. I couldn’t seem to find a vibe I enjoyed for weeks. At least we found a few? And long historical audiobook, my beloved.

Annie Bot - a girlfriend/sex robot gains sentience and takes her freedom. An easy, quick read, but if you’re like me and you kept wanting her to just give her boyfriend/owner what he deserved, that’s basically the movie ‘Companion’ (recommend).

SPQR - I love a historical audiobook. Let me learn about Rome. Mary Beard is very good at what she does.

The House of My Mother - aka family vlogging should be illegal. I think I finished this in two days and every other page is an exercise in ‘oh no, oh no’. We’re going to get more and more of these horror stories coming out as the first wave of kids who grew up under mommy bloggers/vloggers reach 18 and tell their stories.

The Lions of Al-Rassan - a fictionalized history based on Moorish Spain and fuck it was good. @kanadabiscuits suggested this to me, and the whole vibe stuck for me and popped me out of my reading slump. And discovering this author has a 30 year back catalog that plays within this fictionalized world means I know what I’m working through this year.

[jack-doohan]

If I may yap about Nascar, I really like a lot of voices these guys have. Carson with the world's softest voice and has the second cutest voice (first goes to my blorbo Cbell), Chase's Georgian accent ily so much, Me and Joey having similar accents due to being from Northeastern states, Bubba sounding like my step grandma etc. And there's also the comms!!!! The Southern accents of the Nascar comms my beloved <3333. Anyway yeah so many of these guys have such nice voices and they should record an audiobook or something because I can listen to them forever

HONESTLY PAIGE YOU ARE SO RIGHT ABOUT THIS….the driver’s accents and voices are honestly appealing. Like maybe it’s because i have no real accent and it’s interesting to hear various accents from the drivers since they’re all from different places, but I honestly find it so intriguing!!! And YES I am in love with Carson’s voice….him and Cbell def have the most adorable voices…like you mean this guy who is almost 30 but doesn’t look it and this tall ass 21 year old both have soft voices? Yes, yes they do!!!!

[ofliterarynature]

TBR TAKEDOWN: GOODREADS, WEEK 9b

Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow (Nevermoor #1) by Jessica Townsend

I'm trying to trim down my tbr list(s) and I'm asking for your help! Descriptions and more info under the cut. Please reblog and add your thoughts!

* * * * *

A cursed girl escapes death and finds herself in a magical world - but is then tested beyond her wildest imagination.

Morrigan Crow is cursed. Having been born on Eventide, the unluckiest day for any child to be born, she's blamed for all local misfortunes, from hailstorms to heart attacks - and, worst of all, the curse means that Morrigan is doomed to die at midnight on her eleventh birthday.

But as Morrigan awaits her fate, a strange and remarkable man named Jupiter North appears. Chased by black-smoke hounds and shadowy hunters on horseback, he whisks her away into the safety of a secret, magical city called Nevermoor.

It's then that Morrigan discovers Jupiter has chosen her to contend for a place in the city's most prestigious organization: the Wundrous Society. In order to join, she must compete in four difficult and dangerous trials against hundreds of other children, each boasting an extraordinary talent that sets them apart - an extraordinary talent that Morrigan insists she does not have. To stay in the safety of Nevermoor for good, Morrigan will need to find a way to pass the tests - or she'll have to leave the city to confront her deadly fate.

Date added: 2017

Goodreads: 4.32

Storygraph: 4.34

PRO:

Seems to be much beloved even by older readers

I enjoy the middle grade vibe. Sometimes.

(Recent favorites: Francis Hardinge, Diana Wynne Jones)

Entire (current) series is available from the library in my preferred format (audiobook)

CON:

Have also disliked some aspects of middle grade.

(Recent dislikes: Amari and the Night Brothers, Pip Bartlett)