#Neve Wilder

[i-dont-read]

my March & April 2023 book ratings

# of books read: 4

Igni Ferroque (Tennebrose #2) by Ashlyn Drewek ★★★★★

False Start (Playing for Keeps #2) by Riley Hart & Neve Wilder ★★★★☆

Defying Logic (Valor and Doyle Mysteries #5) by Nicky James ★★★★☆

Bewitched (Bewitched #1) by Laura Thalassa ★★★★☆

[bookloveravenue]

Playing for Keeps (book 2): False Start by Riley Hart & Neve Wilder

If only my feelings were as fake as this "relationship" with my former teammate.

CULLEN: I’ve been the NFL’s “problem child” since my rookie year. If there’s trouble, I’ll find it.

But my biggest weakness has always been Houston McRae. We were secretly together in college before it blew up in our faces.

So, when I see him again years later, you’d think I’d know better than to end up in an airport bathroom stall tearing his clothes off.

To make matters worse, because of mistakes I’ve made, I find out afterward I’m being traded… to Denver.

Where Houston lives. Because of course.

I’m not taking responsibility for the two of us ending up in a fake relationship. That’s all on him, but I can’t pretend I won’t enjoy it. As long as I don’t let myself fall for him again, I’ll be fine, right?

HOUSTON: I lived, breathed, and slept football until an injury sidelined me for life. Now I’m solely focused on finding my place again… until Cullen Atwood walks back into my life and tempts me into an airport bathroom stall, where every ounce of passion for him I thought I’d buried returns with a vengeance.

Now he’s playing for the Rush…

And staying in my apartment.

And did I mention he’s also my fake boyfriend who makes it clear he still wants me every chance he gets?

I’ve got my future to think about, though, and we’re one wrong move from becoming a tabloid headline. I can’t afford to think of Cullen as anything more than a casual hook-up.

So why do I keep wishing this relationship was real?

False Start is a low angst, high-heat sports romance in the Playing for Keeps series.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/124926416-false-start

********

April 14, 2023

My Review: 5/5 Stars

When Cullen and Houston first got together, they were young and in college working toward their dreams to play in the NFL. But at that time, coming out and playing professionally wasn't exactly easy or the thing to do. Instead of trying to make a go for it, they break one another hearts. Years have passed, and neither have truly gotten over the other. Not that either would admit it. And Cullen is becoming the problem child of the NFL. And his latest stunt changes everything. After running into Houston for the first time in a long time, it leads to a hook up and so many thoughts later. Head not in the game, Cullen makes a bad decision that leads to him being outed. Then traded. But perhaps it was a blessing in disguise, because he ends up in Denver. Right where Houston is. Houston is no longer playing in the NFL after an injury but he has stuck around near his team, his family, and his baby brother who is playing on his old team. When Cullen appears back in his life, he tries everything to stay away. But when the two of them are caught in a compromising position, and Cullen is getting hit with the blame, Houston blurts out they are in a relationship. Now they'll have to navigate a "fake" relationship that feels more and more real every day. This was definitely a fun fake relationship trope story! Cullen and Houston have great chemistry and banter. They were great together and you just want to shake them for being so silly and not realizing that the other was still in love with them and that they were meant to be and figure out a way to make it work. Even when their careers were leading in different directions. This has been a fun series so far and I'm hoping for more!

[booksandwords]

Light Touch by Neve Wilder

Series: Rhythm of Love, #0.5 Read time: 1 Day Rating: 4/5 Stars

The Quote: I wanted to drink him in, spend hours exploring the variant shades of his body. — Quinn Marx

Warnings: None of note.

Light Touch is the story of severely light sensitivity artist Quinn Marx and musician Rufus 'Ru' Merrill. It is told mainly from Ru's perspective, through him we get to know the world and meet Quinn even without knowing his name or story. The story of their meeting is one of my faves. What I do like is the slight flip on the expected dynamic. I didn’t usually bother with musicians. I’d learned my lesson long ago. They were moody egoists, and in my world, there was only room for one moody egoist. Which might have also been the reason I’d been single for months. (Quinn) It isn't the musician with an ego the size of a small planet in this story, it's the artist. No strangers to egos themselves but usually not as frequently in fiction as musos. Quinn is a realist he is the dominating ego and will take no contest, it suits his whole deal really. Ru while having the ego keeps himself grounded, by working a bar and not signing with a label (aka doing it the hard way). This has a really simple flirtation and getting-together plot. It is more of an introduction to the world and some of the characters in it. I do wonder if Neve also wanted to challenge herself by writing a disability with respect.

Some comments and quotes

There are the beginnings of a discussion on bondage. That isn't the direction that Ru and Quinn's sexual relationship goes but I live for discussion of healthy boundaries and knowing your full compatibility. In a way, I think it totally suits Quinn's want or maybe just enjoyment to control.

There were dozens of other attractive people to look at— Nashville was full of them— but like that game I’d played on road trips as a kid where I searched for cars of a certain color, now he was all I could see. Except if he was a car, with that bone structure and sleek build, he’d have been a vintage Oldsmobile F-88, rare and expensive. — Oh... what a pretty analogy. Neve has a way with words. This description in particular just suits Nashville. (Rufus)

For those interested. Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd and Classical Gas by Mason Williams. I'd heard Classical Gas but I didn't know what it was called.

“Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man,” he crooned as I approached. His voice wasn’t half-bad. Deep and throaty. No Bob Dylan, but on key and as sexy as the rest of him. — This is the first time Quinn speaks and I think it charmed me more than more first lines. He and Ru have been flirting in their own way for a week by this point (Rufus, spoken words Quinn)

The scene in the Haunted House is fantastic to me. Weakness in a strong man is something that needs to be shown more. Ru and Quinn have cute costumes. I laughed too hard at Quinn's 🤣 (no spoilers). Ru's of course plays on a nickname 🧛🏼‍♂️.

Ru started laughing, and when I looked down at him, he laughed harder, saying, “This is never gonna happen, is it?” Marco blinked, taking a step backward. “I… should probably just go.” “You’re fine.” Ru and I said it in unison, which had us cracking up all over again. “God, that was creepy. Please don’t ever do that again. So…” Marco cleared his throat, and recentered his attention on me. “I’m just going to ignore Rufus Merrill’s dick— which, I must admit looks quite impressive even in its semisoft state— and ask you: Tequila, yes or no?” — I told you I adore Marco. This is just one reason why. He walks in on his best friend and a semi-naked guy Quinn really likes and just rolls with it. Marco has an ability to put people at ease I'm totally jealous of. (Rufus, Marco and Quinn)

Marco is a brilliant best friend. The moment in the living room while Ru and Marco are cleaning up makes me so happy. He is perfectly loyal and does his best to communicate the wish to protect Quinn while supporting his relationship.

“Beautiful,” he murmured. “Like smoke curling up from a fire.” And inconvenient. And endlessly annoying. But beautiful worked if it meant he kept touching me. My heart swelled and galloped in my chest, and I gave in and closed my eyes. “Photophobia—” — Not the first but the best time we see Quinn with his glasses off. I adore these mixed interpretations of it. Quinn's Photophobia is what gives him his severe light sensitivity. It's not one I'd read before, the closest being probably prosopagnosia in Holding Up the Universe (also a severe case). (Rufus and Quinn)

As promised by Neve we do meet characters from future Rhythm of Love books. We know of Les Graves from Dedicated, Quinn's ex, the one that made him swear off musicians. He is matched with his Porter & Graves bandmate Evan. Resonance. I adore Owen okay. We have only a couple of interactions with him. But he's just a ball of light and energy, fuelled almost entirely by sugar. He's the series twink, according to Quinn at least. He is matched with his boss at Grim's Record Repository, Dan Grim. I like the last lines of the blurb. "It’s a steamy slow burn bisexual age-gap, boss/employee romance with lots of banter and two obstinate heroes who really, really don’t want to want the very thing they both need."

I got this one free in one of the many book giveaways I got books from recently. But unlike some of the novellas, I downloaded this is one I would have been happy to pay for. Ru and Quinn have this brilliant game going on. Their game of cat and mouse that I haven't seen in a while. It uses disability well though I would suspect that Quinn has a severe case of it. As with so many of the novellas I'm ready recently 4⭐ because I wish it was just a little longer. I wanted to spend more time with these two and their chemistry.

[cattatonically]

Heart2Heart: A Charity Anthology - Vol. 5 - Edited by Leslie Copeland

My Thoughts

I've seen a few of these floating around my suggestions on Kindle, and have been intrigued for a while. As such, you would think I would start with the first volume. But of course I didn't - I had to be contrary! So here we are, beginning this short story anthology adventure with volume 5!

With short story anthologies, there's always a risk of disliking some stories over the others. With this one, I can honestly say this was not the case for me! I really did enjoy them all! These stories ran me through every emotion - it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows, though the happy endings were very heavily implied, and appreciated.

It was lovely to see glimpses into various stories, characters, and places. Each story took the Never Have I Ever challenge and spun it into its own beautiful little world. Honestly, I wanted more! I wanted to see these stories for farther, see where they could go beyond the constraints of the anthology. A few of the stories had very open-ended endings which could lend to this, but I am also perfectly happy imaging them all on my own!

Overall, I am truly pleased I picked up this anthology. I got so many wonderful stories, and now have a whole list of authors to check out for further reading! I will absolutely be checking out the other Heart2Heart anthologies, as well! How can I not?

[nickjgoodsell]

Goodys.Blog's Top 10 Books of 2022!

Goodys.Blog’s Top 10 Books of 2022!

Hey readers! Once again another year draws to a close and that means it’s also time to come out with the annual list of the top books that have been read over here on this blog too! 2022 has been a strange year to say the least when it comes to books, and part of it feel like it’s because towards the end here I’m feeling kind of burnt out with Fantasy-genre titles…but the thing is I don’t WANT…

[felassan]

Some notes from today's new BioWare Blog post, which contained some new character insights and also gave some information on what is coming next and when:

Creative Performance Director Ashley Barlow helped to cast and direct over a thousand conversations in the game

Lucanis is bloodthirsty, calculated, and a workaholic. He was raised with high expectations and fears disappointing those he loves. To him, being an assassin is his only job and identity to be excellent at. He's constantly attuning himself to the kind of shifting terrain of every mission. There's a lot of love between him and Illario

As Zach is a comedian, he would easily find the humor in anything Lucanis was saying

Neve is a Shadow Dragons rebel who cares deeply about helping people and never leaves work half-done. Epler: " [she is] the working class hero trying to make her hometown better"

Emmrich is sincere, friendly, scholarly, sophisticated, eager to teach and learn, a well-meaning but oblivious academic, with a "hot nerdiness". He assumes everyone has an academic's curiosity so can be pedantic on select topics

The Mourn Watch are revered in Nevarra but odd at best and evil at worst outside of it

Nick: "I love the fact that the writers took Emmerich and explored the whole idea of death and the whole idea of necromancing by bringing kindness into it. I really responded to that and got into that and I know it sounds crazy, but it’s to not have this idea that death is vulgar or something to be terrified about, but something to actually engage with on so many levels. I just love the fact that the writers had the courage to do that in a game like this."

"Often Nick is just playing off of someone making a sound, and he takes it and internalizes it and gives it meaning and care, which is amazing to watch."

The world has changed a lot since DA:I

Harding has been leading teams through the wilderness while covering friends in battle

Harding loves her mom. She loves to write letters home and is always talking about her mother. She likes plants and raising plants. She has grown and is a veteran now, a trusted voice at the table

Footage of the full DA:TV @ SDCC companions panel should be available in a couple of weeks

Next month there will be a new roadmap, more looks at the game, and the reveal of the release date

[emphasis mine]

And this paragraph:

"Dragon Age: The Veilguard sees players embark on a perilous quest to face powerful Elven gods and stop the apocalyptic destruction they’re unleashing. You’ll step into the role of Rook, battling on the front lines alongside a deep and compelling cast of companions who together comprise The Veilguard, a group of heroes who have come together to stop the veil from breaking and bringing about the end of the world. Rook must become the unexpected leader who can rally and unite the group. Throughout the game, you can explore the detailed storylines of each companion, navigating love, loss, and complex choices that influence your relationships."

[source]

[orionangeline]

Sasuke really was like I am NOT fucking around wit a phone charger and y'know what? He's right

One of my absolute favorite canon facts is that the naruto universe has cellphones and computers, but sasuke refuses to communicate any other way except by bird. He sent letters to naruto via his fucking hawk and meanwhile naruto is in a teams meeting

This fucking dramatic homosexual..........

[lynnerdo]

* Deadly Encounter *

Lucanis Dellamorte x BloodMage!Reader

Slow burn, angst, aggression, enemies to lovers, death threats, OOC!Lucanis, blood and injury, slow romance, threats of violence.

Current chapter - Wilderness First chapter - Arlathan On A03

***

The days stretched longer than any of them had anticipated. What should have been a straightforward quest had quickly unraveled into complications that left Rook visibly frustrated. The dense forests, the icy rivers they waded across, the sleepless nights under the stars—it all weighed heavily on the group. Even for you, who was used to roughing it in the wilds, could feel the strain. 

You had been through it all at this point. A simple quest that was only going to take you 4 days, was taking 12 already. You had fallen into the river more times than you could count, and you still hadn't found the elven artifact you were searching for. Maybe the lead had been dead all along, but Rook wanted to see it through.

But more than the physical hardship, it was the tension between the three of you that pressed on Lucanis, tightening like a noose. You were quieter now, more withdrawn than when you first joined them. Every time your eyes met his, there was something in your gaze that twisted inside him—an ache he couldn’t ignore. Guilt gnawed at him, but he didn’t know how to reach out, didn’t know if he could.

That night, the fire crackled softly, casting long, flickering shadows over their tired faces. Rook sat off to the side, sharpening his blade, his curses barely audible as he worked. He was clearly frustrated, muttering to himself about the way the mission had derailed. His shoulders were tense, his jaw set. He missed the warm embrace of Neve as well, their romance newly found and bright. Having been stuck in the wilderness with you and Lucanis, having to carry most of the conversation, Rook was also slightly done with all this.

Across the fire, you sat quietly, your hands wrapped around a bowl of stew that you had insisted on making. Every night, you cooked for them, even though exhaustion etched dark circles beneath your eyes. Lucanis watched you from the corner of his eye. You took small, deliberate bites, moving like someone trying to conserve their last vestiges of energy. It was nice enough, but your mana was wearing you thin, you had trouble sleeping, you didn't feel safe enough. Every night you feared Lucanis would possibly assassinate you, you feared getting overtaken by a demon, or even worse, losing yourself to mental madness.

There was a quiet strength in how you kept going however, but also a sadness that weighed on you. The toll of your magic was evident in your pale complexion, the faint tremor in your hands, and the hollow look in your eyes. Lucanis had spent days trying to ignore it, telling himself it wasn’t his concern, that you could handle yourself. He was scared most of all, of possible possession, but also about how he would have to kill you if anything did happen.

Tonight, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he had been wrong about you. Every small act of kindness—giving them the larger portions of food, offering them potions when you needed them just as badly, pushing through your own exhaustion to make sure they were cared for—made the knot of guilt in his chest tighten. You were trying, despite everything, despite him.

Sleep didn’t come easily that night. The air was cool, the sounds of the forest creating a symphony of crickets and rustling leaves. Lucanis lay in his bedroll, staring up at the stars, unable to shake the image of your worn face. His mind raced, circling back to the moments when he had lashed out, mistrusted you, let his own fears cloud his judgment. Maybe he should just apologize, but his pride and spite stood in the way of that.

The next morning, as the three of you prepared to continue on your journey, Lucanis couldn’t help but notice the fatigue etched into your features. You packed your things quietly, your movements slow, and the usual strength in your posture seemed drained. He wanted to say something, anything, but the words stayed trapped in his throat. You desperately needed to be taken care of by another healer, warm stew and a bed roll were not enough.

The day wore on, and the tension between you only grew. Rook marched ahead, focused on the mission, his frustration simmering just beneath the surface. But Lucanis’s thoughts were elsewhere. He watched you, keeping pace beside you, noting the way you stumbled slightly over the uneven terrain, the way you never complained or asked for help. You had fallen a few times to your knees, blaming your own clumsiness or the surface, but in reality you felt yourself feel faint most of the day.

By the time they made camp that night, the weariness in your eyes had deepened. After the meal, Rook retired early to his tent, pissed off at all the events, leaving you and Lucanis alone by the fire. The silence between you felt heavier than usual, the air thick with unspoken words.

The fire crackled softly between the two of you, its orange glow casting long shadows across the clearing. Lucanis sat across from you, his sharp gaze fixed on your every movement, watching like a predator eyeing prey. You could feel his stare, even as you kept your eyes on the flickering flames, trying to pretend you didn’t notice. But the tension between you was impossible to ignore. Something inside him snapped.

“You’re not eating enough,” Lucanis said, his voice gruff, cutting through the quiet. There was no softness in his tone, no concern—just an edge, like he was pointing out a flaw.

You glanced up at him, caught off guard. “I’m fine,” you replied, though your voice betrayed a hint of exhaustion. He didn't need to worry about you, why did he care even?

He leaned forward, eyes narrowing. “No, you’re not. You’ve been pushing yourself too hard, and it’s starting to show. Or are you just trying to make sure you’re the first one to collapse?”

The accusation, thinly veiled, stung.

“Why do you do that?” he asked suddenly.

“Do what?” Your voice was soft, confused.

“Take care of everyone else but yourself,” he said, frowning. “You give us the bigger portions, you offer us potions when you need them just as much. Why?”

You stared into the fire, your gaze distant. “I don’t know,” you admitted after a moment. “Maybe because it’s easier to focus on others than myself.”

The simplicity of your answer struck him, but there was something deeper there, something you weren’t saying. He wanted to ask more, to pry into the secrets you kept hidden behind your quiet demeanor, but he stopped himself. Pushing you wouldn’t help.

He simply looked at you, the frown growing on his face. "Ok, don't tell me then." he mocked.

You stiffened, setting your bowl aside. “I can handle myself. Don't worry about me.”

Lucanis scoffed, leaning back as he crossed his arms. “Can you? Because from where I’m sitting, it looks like you’re about one bad spell away from getting all of us killed. Or worse.”

Your breath caught in your throat, a mix of frustration and hurt tightening your chest. You knew he didn’t trust you—he’d made that clear from the start—but his words still cut deeper than they should have. You looked away, focusing on the fire, trying to control the flood of emotions that threatened to spill over.

“I’m doing what I can,” you said quietly, your voice barely above a whisper.

Lucanis let out a short, bitter laugh. “Doing what you can? By draining yourself to the point where you’re useless to us and a danger to yourself? That’s great. Really helpful.”

You flinched at his tone, your fingers curling into the dirt beside you. He wasn’t even trying to hide his disdain anymore. It had been there from the beginning, simmering under the surface, but now it was out in the open, sharp and cutting. And you were too tired to keep pretending it didn’t affect you.

“As long as you are healed,” you muttered, barely able to look at him. “then I'm not useless to you.”

He shifted, a dark scowl crossing his features. “Maybe not, but you are putting yourself in danger. What if a demon tries to overtake you right now, you're too weak to fight back.”

You finally met his eyes, the anger rising in you despite your exhaustion. “Then you kill me. Simple as that." You stared at him, almost defying his implications that he cared in a way.

"I’m trying to help. I’ve been trying to prove I’m not like the others, that I’m not a danger to any of you. But no matter what I do, it’s never enough for you, is it? You just want me dead.”

Lucanis’ expression didn’t soften. If anything, his gaze hardened further, jaw clenched as he leaned forward again, his voice low and cold. “You think it’s about proving something to me? This isn’t a game. You’re a walking threat, whether you mean to be or not. One mistake—one slip—and we’re all dead. You want me to trust you? Stop pretending that you’re not what you are.”

You sat there, stunned into silence. The words were harsher than anything he had said before, each one hitting like a physical blow. For a moment, you couldn’t speak, couldn’t even breathe. Your hands trembled slightly in your lap, and you quickly hid them beneath your cloak.

“You want me to be an evil blood mage so bad, so you finally have good reason to murder me in cold blood,” you finally whispered, your voice barely audible over the crackling fire.

Lucanis’ eyes flashed, but he didn’t say anything, didn’t move. He just sat there, watching you like a hawk, as if waiting for something, waiting for you to break. But you wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.

“I'll make it easy for you,” you continued, your voice steadier now, though there was a tremor beneath it. “Have at it, I'll leave. I'll make it safe for you again. And you can explain to Rook what happened.”

The silence that followed was suffocating. The fire popped and crackled, but it felt distant, like the world around you had faded into the background. Lucanis said nothing, his gaze still fixed on you, but there was something different in his expression now—something like hesitation, or maybe regret, but it was gone as quickly as it had appeared.

You stood, the exhaustion weighing on your limbs like lead. Without another word, you turned and walked away from the fire, retreating into the darkness of the woods, desperate for space, for air. You needed to get away from him, from his sharp words and colder eyes. The hurt was too raw, too fresh.

As you disappeared into the shadows, Lucanis watched you go, his jaw still tight. He didn’t say anything, didn’t stop you, but something twisted deep inside him. He hadn’t meant to go that far, hadn’t meant to push you like that. But the anger, the mistrust—it was hard to let go. You were dangerous. You could be a threat. But now, watching you vanish into the darkness, he couldn’t help but wonder if he had just made a bigger mistake than he realized.

Lucanis leaned back against the log, staring into the fire, his mind swirling with conflicting thoughts. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. You weren’t supposed to get under his skin like this.

And yet, you did. 

[dirtyhecker]

i'm sure this has been done already in the hours since these images came out, but i think i've got these companion bedrooms sorted

this one is definitely Bellara. everything we've seen of her so far, with the gyroscopey magical stuff, and that one concept art of her with that exact statue head, makes it seem obvious that this is her room. it also looks like she's into art, given all the paintings, and area rugs? what's with all the rolled up rugs, Bellara. i like her little daybed, and i wonder if her vallaslin are supposed to be for Ghilan'nain, given the halla decoration on the wall.

this one has to be Neve. she's got a whole detective conspiracy wall back there, sans the red yarn. there's some real organized chaos going on with the stacks of books, and the scrolls all over the place. i'm pretty sure there's a pot of tea on her desk, and i see several half-burned candles, despite the several magical lamps and pendant lights, not to mention the enormous windows and ambient Fade-light. i wonder if it gets dark out where they are? also her chair looks very fancy, but i don't see a bed anywhere.

this is Taash's room. they've said she's a gym bro, and there is a weight lifting thingy to the right, in front of that pillar. it's weighed down with sacks of flour, it looks like lol. i wonder if its functional, or just static decoration. i also see crates of weapons, and maybe some kind of forge in the bottom right? and right behind that is a pretty barebones bed. maybe she gets cold, because her bed is surrounded by fire. idk what's up with that table on the left, but everything else looks pretty sparse.

this one i think is Harding's room, but only by process of elimination. the metal bars in the window give dwarven vibes for some reason, but i also see a couple elfroot plants. there's a ton of plants, actually, all over the place, but i don't recognize the others. and there's that sad bedroll on the floor, though the rest of the room looks like my kind of place tbh. maybe it's from years spent as a scout, camping in the wilderness. i suppose this could be Bellara's room instead, but i doubt it.

i thought this was Lucanis' room, even before someone pointed out that it was a larder. i know the devs have said he's a good cook, but i didn't think he'd literally want to sleep in a pantry 😭 this makes me think he's just trying to be as unobtrusive as possible or something. there's also zero personal touches, like i zoomed in and that plywood cot is just surrounded by candles. are you okay buddy??

this one seems like Davrin's to me. he's said to be a monster hunter, and there's like a chandelier made of dragon horns or something up there? and a huge spine? plus multiple skulls of large beasts. i don't see a bed but i think it might be in that far corner next to the hearth. also there's a ton of wood carvings. so many. mostly bears and what look to be bobble-headed nugs, and at least one dragon. if Griffon Dad gives me a nug carving i will cry.

lastly, this has to be Emmrich's room. if the giant skeleton statue on the left wasn't enough of a clue, then idk what to tell you. there are basically the exact same ones in the necropolis, but much bigger. this does look like a laboratory, and an extremely well-organized one at that. i imagine Emmrich's bed is up that spiral staircase somewhere. i keep mentioning the beds because i need to know that these people are actually sleeping between quests, ok.

anyway, that's my professional analysis. i love you, goodbye.

[fatehbaz]

The Amazon Rainforest is often considered the ultimate wilderness. Here, nature rules ruthlessly in all its grandeur. [...] For many people across the globe, this would be their idea of the Amazon. However, recent archaeological research turns that image on its head. Human presence in the world’s largest tropical rainforest is not only much older than previously thought, but also much more significant and varied than long presumed. Until the turn of the 21t century, the ruling paradigm was that the soil in the Amazon was too poor to support agriculture. And, without enough food, it’s not suited for humankind. Today, there’s little doubt [...] that the Amazon was, in fact, a hotspot for plant cultivation. Eduardo Neves is well-versed in this paradigm shift in Amazonian archaeology and its consequences on our view of the past, present and future of the rainforest. A professor [...] at the University of São Paulo, Brazil, he’s worked for more than 30 years in the central and southwest Amazon. He recently published his latest book, Sob os tempos do equinócio: Oito mil anos de história na Amazônia central (“Under the times of the equinox: 8,000 years of history in central Amazon,” not yet translated into English.) [...]

---

By that time [the late nineteenth century], naturalists and anthropologists had been working in the Amazon for about a century and had encountered very few people. They assumed what they saw was a reflection of the situation in the Amazon before the European conquest, not the result of colonialism. [...] Another reason is that they compared the Amazon to other places in South America, such as the Inca civilization in the Andes [...]. There they saw monumental remains, while in the Amazon lowlands they saw nothing of the sort. The easiest way to explain this was to look at the environment: the rainforest, with its poor soil, did not allow for agriculture [...].

Because the structures he found were so massive, he introduced the term “garden cities.” [...] [T]here was a great diversity in the history of the people living there. [...] In general, there still is a very generic view of people living in the Amazon. One tends to forget the Amazon is larger than continental Europe. People in Sicily are not like people in Scandinavia. Likewise, there is a lot of cultural diversity in the Amazon. And there always has been.

The oldest human presence we found dates back 8,500 years. But in other places in the Amazon the first signs of human occupation are even older. [...] In Brazil, we have the rock paintings of Monte Alegre, which date back almost 12,000 years. People have been living in the Amazon as early as anywhere else in the Americas. Yet, until the 1990s the dominant view was that people could not live in the tropical rainforest, as it does not allow for agriculture. [...]

---

We now know that the Amazon was one of the main cradles of plant cultivation in the world. There is no longer any doubt about that. Numerous very important plants were first cultivated in the Amazon, including manioc, cacao, papaya, peanuts and tobacco. It is a long list. And we now have the archaeological evidence to prove it. The Amazon was a center for agrobiological diversity.

But that is not all.

What is the idea behind domestication? You take a wild plant and then select and manipulate its features in such a way that a new species comes into existence, which is dependent on human intervention for reproduction. In other words, genetic modification is essential for domestication [...].

However, in the Amazon we also see many species that were never domesticated, such as the açaí tree, the Brazilian nut tree and the rubber tree.

Not domesticated, yet very important, as they have been [cultivated] as part of the rainforest for thousands of years.

The conceptual shift [...] is that the Indigenous people who [...] live in the Amazon did practice agriculture, yet they did so in a different way. [...] Which leads us to perhaps the most important paradigm shift of all: the Amazon Rainforest is not so much, or not only a natural heritage, but a biocultural heritage. [...]

---

The idea that the Amazon must be conquered, colonized, transformed and domesticized - it simply does not work. Look at what is happening today. We cut the forest, bring soy, corn, cows and grasslands. Over the last 50 years we’ve destroyed some 20% of the rainforest [...].

Two things: First, the idea of a protected rainforest without people does not make sense. The past teaches us there were once many people spread out over a large territory. And there still are many traditional inhabitants, not only Indigenous people, but also ribeirinhos [riverside dwellers] and quilombolas [Afro-Brazilian communities]. And these are the people that help protect the rainforest.

Second, intensive agriculture is a concept that urgently needs reconsidering. The idea is to produce as much as possible of a certain crop in one area for as long as possible. But take the Brazilian nut tree that grows and flourishes as part of the forest for 300 or 400 years.

---

Text above are the words of Eduardo Neves. As interviewed and transcribed by Peter Speetjens. “’Many features of the Amazon are man-made’: Q&A with archaeologist Eduardo Neves.” Mongabay. 3 May 2023. [The italicized first paragraph in this post was published by Speetjens/Mongabay as a sort of introduction, published alongside the responses of Neves. Bold emphasis and paragraph breaks/contractions added by me.]

[i-dont-read]

my May 2024 book ratings

# of books read: 2

Teach Me (Extracurricular Activities #4) by Neve Wilder ★★★★☆

Chaos at Westbrook High (Kingston Brothers #3) by Bethany Winters ★★★★☆

[bookloveravenue]

Franklin U (book 4): Bet You by Neve Wilder

Spencer Whose brilliant idea was it to build university housing next to one of Franklin U’s most notorious party frats?

I’m a real student—the kind who actually came to college to learn, not some dumb frat bro who sees Franklin U as a four-year challenge to consume the most booze and throw out the best pick-up line. Their all-hours lifestyle is driving me crazy. Not to mention, the jerks keep taking my assigned parking spot.

But the worst offender might be Cory Ingram. Sure, he has a smile that could melt a polar ice cap, but no way will I ever be one of his minions. I’m pretty sure I made that clear when I blew my top at him. So I have no idea why he’s suddenly everywhere around me, turning on the charm like I might actually fall for it.

Nope. Not gonna happen.

Cory From the first day I set foot on Franklin U’s campus, everything has been golden. I have a ton of friends, endless parties to be the life of, and whoever I want in my bed on any given night. Sure, I’m a shameless party boy, but I’m not a jerk. Ask anyone. Seriously.

Even the crotchety old groundskeeper waves and smiles at me when I pass.

Then there’s Spencer Crow. I’ve never seen a guy’s face get so red over a parking spot. Even when I try to make it right, he proceeds to give me the tongue-lashing of a lifetime—which is about the moment I notice that, in addition to being irrationally irate, he’s also crazy hot.

My friends think I’ve finally met the one person I can’t seduce…

Bet you I can.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61426727-bet-you

********

January 23, 2023

My Review: 4/5 Stars

Spencer is regretting setting up a university housing right next to Franklin U's notorious frat house. It's loud all the time and someone is always parking their car in his parking spot. And after a long day of classes and rushing to get to work, he has had enough. And Cory, who is currently parked in Spencer's spot, is about to get an earful. While Spencer is giving Cory an earful, Cory can't help but be distracted by Spencer as a whole.  He tries to be charming and flirty and make it up to Spencer but Spencer turns him down cold. Not something Cory is used to. And Cory is up for the challenge. Which leads to the bet. Yep. Nothing ever comes out well when there is a bet involved. But the bet is the last thing on Cory's mind when it comes to getting to know Spencer. He loves their banter and pushing Spencer's buttons. And soon he finds himself wanting more. And when it comes to relationships, Cory usually steer clears. As for Spencer, he is finding it hard to stay away from Cory. He tells himself not to fall for his charm and gorgeous face, but it's hard to do when Cory appears everywhere. And when they have actually meaningful conversations? Looks like Spencer isn't the only one falling. But nothing is ever that easy! These two were a lot of fun. Spencer determined not to be swayed and Cory doing whatever he can to be near Spencer because he genuinely likes him. Lot of fun and sweet moments in this story!

[fortheloveofskz]

24 Reads in 24

Thanks @missgeevious for tagging me.

24 books I want to read in 2024:

This Sweet Magic by Kit Olmstead aka @mostlyinthemorning, who is publishing her first book!

Lyri by Lily Mayne (if this doesn't come out this year I may die)

Free From Falling by E.L. Massey (probably the only person who can make me go back to MF)

Justice by Lark Taylor

Impromptu Match by Lily Mayne

Rogue by Onley James

To Catch a Firefly by Emmy Sanders

Sons of Fallen series by Jaclyn Osborn (yes I am cheating)

All for the Game series by Nora Sakavic

Every Breath After by Jessie Walker

Teach Me by Neve Wilder

Dead Serious 5: Madame Vivienne by Vawn Cassidy

Eternally Blessed by Garrett Leigh

My Skin Belongs to You by Leta Blake

We Burn Beautiful by Lance Lansdale

The Only Light Left Burning by Erik Brown

Vitale Brothers series by Brea Alepou & Skyler Snow

The Bastard and the Heir by Eden Finley & Saxon James

Bad Wrong Things by C.P. Harris

Promises of Forever by Nicky James

Heartstopper Volume 5 by Alice Oseman

Danger Zone series by Ella Frank & Brooke Blaine

Alabaster Penitentiary series by Nyla K.

Eight Seconds to Ride by Ashley James

Tagging all the readers out there!😘

[gemstone-gynoid]

never read Alice's bond events yet in Nikke, and curently there is a mini event to actually complete them. in the main game and in side events, Alice is a dutiful young looking Nikke who actually believes she's like alice in wonderland, her role is being in the snowy outpost with ludmilla and neve making sure anyone who comes into this snowy wilderness is safe. she calls nikkes on life support sleeping princesses, and the rapture queen is the red queen. calls commander rabbity.

her events is wondering what the ark is like, thinking it might be elysium, wonderland. so commander brings her to the ark to experience a cafe and a library. but then while on the street, the commander helps the police catch some thief, and a weird guy offers alice candy down an alley. guy also attracted some human girls too. the other girls pass out from the candy, but alice as a nikke stays up. guy starts clubbing her head, reminding her of how before she was a nikke she was sickly in bed wishing to see outside the hospital thinking it must be an elysium.

commander and cops catch weird guy. alice is brought to nikke hospital to make sure she is fine. elysium isnt a location, but a feeling of safety when she's with commander.

[mythtakxn]

MAY 2024 ✶ READING LOG

i often read things without reading the summary. it's a problem. i'm a big mood reader. i usually like fantasy/lgbtq books. - idk why i read so many hockey romances but -shrug- i can't remember if i read any fanfics but i don't think so. feel free to send me book recs (or fic recs)

✶ book goal: 36/30 ✶ ✶ good reads ✶ all links ✶

for the fans - nyla k | 4☆ fake dates & mooncakes - sherri lee | 3.75☆ top secret - sarina bowen/elle kennedy | 3.25☆ ennead vol 2 | 3.5☆ us - sarina bowen/elle kennedy | 3.75☆ in these words vol 1 | 3.5☆ in these words vol 2 |3.5☆ epic - sarina bowen/elle kennedy |3.25☆ let's do this - loren leigh | 3.2☆ hidden scars - andi jaxon | 4☆ egotistical puckboys - eden finley/saxon james | 3.25☆ iced out - ce ricci |3.75☆ want me - neve wilder | 3☆

[felassan]

Dragon Age: The Veilguard Steam "About This Game" section -

"Enter the world of Thedas, a vibrant land of rugged wilderness, treacherous labyrinths, and glittering cities – steeped in conflict and secret magics. Now, a pair of corrupt ancient gods have broken free from centuries of darkness and are hellbent on destroying the world. Thedas needs someone they can count on. Rise as Rook, Dragon Age’s newest hero. Be who you want to be and play how you want to play as you fight to stop the gods from blighting the world. But you can’t do this alone – the odds are stacked against you. Lead a team of seven companions, each with their own rich story to discover and shape, and together you will become The Veilguard. Rally the Veilguard and defy the gods in Dragon Age™: The Veilguard, an immersive single-player RPG where you become the leader others believe in."

"UNITE A BATTERED WORLD Enter Thedas, a vibrant world of rugged wilderness, treacherous labyrinths, and glittering cities. The world is teetering on a knife’s edge while corrupt gods unleash havoc across the continent. Nations war, and factions splinter. Who will you trust? From the Arlathan Forest to the back alleys of Minrathous, this is a broken world. Your actions will affect the fate of Thedas forever. - Dramatic Single-Player Campaign — When corrupt Elven Gods threaten Thedas, lead the charge to save it. Rook isn’t afraid of a fight, no matter the odds. No matter the cost. - Vibrant & Diverse Environments — Enter a vivid fantasy world, and experience imaginative new locations as well as some you’ve heard of but never seen. - Larger-than-life Foes — Battle darkspawn, demons from beyond the Veil, dragons that rule the skies, and unique enemies as you advance your quest and fight for Thedas’s future."

"RALLY THE VEILGUARD Rally a team of 7 companions, each with rich lives and deep backstories. These are characters to befriend and even fall in love with. Among them, an assassin, a necromancer, a detective, each and all bringing their own expertise and unique abilities to the fight. You are never alone — decide who to take into battle, and together face down demons, dragons, and corrupt gods. - Recruit Distinct Companions — Your team is full of individuals with grim and wondrous histories, their own personal struggles and motivations, and rare skills that’ll help you survive. You’ll fight alongside Harding: The Scout, Neve: The Detective, Emmrich: The Necromancer, Taash: The Dragon Hunter, Davrin: The Warden, Bellara: The Veil Jumper, and Lucanis: The Mage Killer. - Rich Companion Stories — Deepen relationships with each companion and learn more about them on your adventures in Thedas. Your choices in these stories will impact how they develop, and completing them might unlock powerful abilities. Create memories with your team that will deepen your experiences in Thedas and give you more to fight for."

"BECOME THE LEADER OTHERS BELIEVE IN Select from different races and combat classes, customize your appearance, choose your character’s backstory, and begin your journey as Rook, Dragon Age’s newest hero. The choice is yours. On your adventures, you’ll gain new abilities and discover unique, powerful artifacts to enhance your own combat style. Brace yourself: there are tough decisions to be made, allies to inspire, and a fight that needs every sword, staff, and bow you can muster. - Be Who You Want To Be — Craft your personalized Rook with a robust character creator. Choose from a diverse set of appearance options for Human, Qunari, Dwarf, and Elf lineages. - Choose Your Way To Play — Select from 3 classes (Warrior, Mage, and Rogue), each with 2 distinct weapon types and unique abilities you can select between mid-combat. Experience new strategic depth as you combine fast-paced attacks, parries, and dodges with the companion ability wheel to exploit enemy weaknesses and seize victory with devastating combat combos. Customize a combat style that works for you. - Deep RPG Progression — Level up your Rook and companions with their own skill trees. Choose perks and combat abilities as you climb towards more powerful specializations. WARNING: See important flashing images and other health and safety information at www.ea.com/legal." [link]

[source: Steam]