#The Brambled Ruins

[torpublishinggroup]

SHE LIVES BY HER INTUITION. 

HE FEEDS ON HER PLEASURE.

WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Fall of Ruin and Wrath by #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout is a new fantasy romance for adult readers.

Long ago, the world was destroyed by gods. Only nine cities were spared. Separated by vast wilderness teeming with monsters and unimaginable dangers, each city is now ruled by a guardian—royalty who feed on mortal pleasure.

Born with an intuition that never fails, Calista knows her talents are of great value to the power-hungry of the world, so she lives hidden as a courtesan of the Baron of Archwood. In exchange for his protection, she grants him information.

When her intuition leads her to save a traveling prince in dire trouble, the voice inside her blazes with warning—and promise. Today he’ll bring her joy. One day he’ll be her doom.

When the Baron takes an interest in the traveling prince and the prince takes an interest in Calista, she becomes the prince’s temporary companion. But the city simmers with rebellion, and with knights and monsters at her city gates and a hungry prince in her bed, intuition may not be enough to keep her safe.

Calista must choose: follow her intuition to safety or follow her heart to her downfall.

[satoshi-mochida]

Some indie game recommendations from ones I’ve played or know enough about them to suggest them to others(mostly in no particular order), Part 8.

Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9

LiEat

Rise of the Third Power

Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin

Indivisible

Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass

Eastern Exorcist

Everhood

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: The 7th Stand User(JJBA fan game)

Gravity Circuit

Rusted Moss

Laika: Aged Through Blood

Bramble: The Mountain King

Refind Self: The Personality Test Game

nameless(fan game for Hololive Vtuber Nanashi Mumei)

M.A.S.S. Builder

NAIRI: Tower Of Shirin and it's sequel NAIRI: Rising Tide.

Fatal Twelve

Fading Afternoon

The Friends of Ringo Ishikawa

Killer Frequency

Oh…Sir!! The Insult Simulator

Full Void

ENIGMA:

Seven Days

Siren's Call

Koumajou Remilia: Scarlet Symphony

Little Goody Two Shoes

Pocket Mirror ~ GoldenerTraum

Battle Princess Madelyn

When the Past Was Around

[vantabrooke]

I Hate You (An Original Poem)

No words could describe how much I hate you,

No poem, essay, speech, book, or song.

Most eldritch being to ever exist,

Your tenure in Hell forever long.

I wish your lungs were coated in mildew,

So that your cries for help were just gasps.

I wish the back of your brain grew a cyst,

And painfully decayed in its grasp.

I wish your stomach acids popped and flew,

So that you dissolved from inside out.

I wish that each of your tendons would twist,

All you could do was flounder about.

I wish you would vanish without a clue,

They'd find you dismembered weeks after.

I wish you were slowly eaten by pests,

Like your life, your death a disaster.

No words could describe how much I hate you,

No sentence, essay, speech, book, or song.

Most eldritch being to ever exist,

In the White House you'll never belong.

[yuridovewing]

moonlight she/it user queen

[gatsby-system-folks]

In other news we're sad because two of our favorite webcomics are ending soon (cursed princess club and vibe check!) But I'm not here to complain. Because actually both of them are absolutely masterful and I can't fault their natural and well-planned conclusion. This post is actually just to kind of remind us that they do indeed exist because Crappy Memory. So go read both of them because they fuck

[foundorfollowed]

bramble doesn't mind the vet at all really but being in the car is still makes him shake like an infuriated chihuahua

[hostess-of-horror]

I know we were talking about the whole Phantom dream thing being like an eldritch god, but did anyone ever bring up: "In sleep he sang to me, In dreams he came"? I guess you could say he was there... inside our minds!

I HAD THE SAME EXACT THOUGHT!

Our big boi is truly becoming the OG Phantom of the Opera, and he's got the whole fandom enchanted!

[aliosne]

Man you know how someone made a version of the tarantula episode of the mbmbam show where all the spiders were censored I wish someone would do that for mha with mineta

[sparklecur]

yknow when you find a song thats SO GOOD and you want it to fit a character you like SO BADLY but you cant think of any ideas so you gott push and shove it a little to make it work

[betterbooksandthings]

Fall of Ruin and Wrath by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Fall of Ruin and Wrath by Jennifer L. Armentrout is a fated mates fantasy romance book full of half-seen political, magical, and militaristic complications. The orphan seer Calistia has used her supernatural intuition and ability to read other’s thoughts through touch to keep her and her best friend Grady safe ever since they were children. For the last six years, her abilities have granted them a position in Claude’s home. She acts as the Baron of Archwood sometimes paramour to give him access to the true thoughts of the people in his meetings. It is a safe enough life until she overhears that an inhumanly powerful Hyhborn is being tortured and she is the only one who can help him. Now Calistia is left longing for someone she shouldn’t and, even though it will make her life far more complicated, she can’t quite say no to Prince Thorne, the new Hyhborn in her life who will do anything to keep her safe and at his side.

In this world, Hyhborn lords or Deminyen just come into existence as full-formed adults with the ability to use a wide range of supernatural powers including enhanced strength, nearly impenetrable skin, some telekinetic abilities, and the ability to heal or even regrow lost limbs. Deminyen also feed off pleasure. They can have children but only on purpose and those children are Caelestias with slightly longer lifespans and varying levels of supernatural ability. Deminyen govern everyone and Caelestias are underneath them, serving as lords in some places. Everyone else is lowborn or mortal low-level workers. The larger political and social upheaval going on due to these strict biological socio-economic classes serves as the background setting for the romance at the center of the book.

If you are an Armentrout girlie you know where this book is going from the first chapter, but boy is it a fun ride. The minute Calistia refers to her Hyhbron lord you will know there is something greater at work that will result in them ending up together. Calistia has a classic character arc growing from a brave girl who will do anything to survive into a woman who runs into danger even with the knowledge that she might die if her intuition says she should. Her supernatural abilities remain underutilized throughout the first book as she begins to discover the extent of her powers and their larger implications, however, I imagine this is a setup for future character growth. Thorne is a powerful seemingly ageless supernatural prince who doesn’t care about anyone who isn’t Calistia. Being drawn to her is one of his main personality traits and sometimes that’s just what you want from the first book in a fantasy romance series. As a single POV book, we are given more of Calistia’s relatively small world than anyone else.

This is a fantasy romance book full of some major tropes from the genre including: Touch them and die, fated mates, the Katee Robert “if you sexy run I will sexy chase you,” orphan chosen one, supernatural age gap, living aphrodisiac, and really royalty. I also think it’s important to point out everyone living in Claude’s home who is given a detailed background is some combination of non-monogamous, polyamorous, and/or bisexual.

Thank you, Tor Publishing Group, for providing me with an arc for an honest review. I am interested to see where the rest of the series will take us because, like any good Armentrout book, this does end on a cliffhanger. So, to feel the fullest extent of the pain of waiting for the next book along with me get ready to read Fall of Ruin and Wrath by Jennifer L. Armentrout set to release September 12, 2023.

[senshibignaturalz]

coming of my previous meds has changed my life, i can wake up in the day and actually DO THINGS now it makes me really sad tbh i wasted a whole year of my life but i cant change that

[torpublishinggroup]

We’re advertising a book for readers of adult romance and fantasy: Fall of Ruin and Wrath by the #1 New York Times bestselling author of From Blood and Ash, Jennifer L. Armentrout.

WHAT IT’S ABOUT

Long ago, the world was destroyed by gods. Only nine cities were spared. Separated by vast wilderness teeming with monsters and unimaginable dangers, each city is now ruled by a guardian—royalty who feed on mortal pleasure.

Born with an intuition that never fails, Calista knows her talents are of great value to the power-hungry of the world, so she lives hidden as a courtesan of the Baron of Archwood. In exchange for his protection, she grants him information.

When her intuition leads her to save a traveling prince in dire trouble, the voice inside her blazes with warning—and promise. Today he’ll bring her joy. One day he’ll be her doom.

When the Baron takes an interest in the traveling prince and the prince takes an interest in Calista, she becomes the prince’s temporary companion. But the city simmers with rebellion, and with knights and monsters at her city gates and a hungry prince in her bed, intuition may not be enough to keep her safe.

Calista must choose: follow her intuition to safety or follow her heart to her downfall.

[cosmic--marmalade]

Ran out of fire wood. Got what was thought to be a good cord of wood, passed all my tests. Got home, made a fire last night with the new wood and it wouldn't stay lit.

Spent 3 hours, ish, today splitting most of the wood. About 45 minutes in I start to notice a lot of the wood smells, feels, and looks wet when split, which is fine as long as it's only a little wet at the core! Nothing splitting and sitting for a few weeks won't fix! I then split 4 separate logs....which all had water in the middle. Not just wet and sappy. Literally like the water which came from christ's wound before the blood, like a fucking coconut. I didn't even know pine could do that. Meaning that the majority of the cord isn't just a little under seasoned, under dry.

The entire thing is just not seasoned period. No more fires for the rest of the year, and we're about to hit a huge cold spot for the next month or so...

[honeybeezgobzzzzz]

𓅨 Sleepy Bitch Syndrome: Chapter One

Sleepy Bitch Syndrome: You've got narcolepsy and have been visiting the Dreaming daily for years. Then its Lord and King finally return and he doesn't know quite what to think of you.

Warnings: None.

To Note: Morpheus/Dream x Narcoleptic!Reader, for you dear @aralezinspace.

Word Count: ~2.6k

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You awaken to the familiar yet deteriorating landscape of the Dreaming. For years, your narcolepsy has transported you daily into this realm—a realm that, despite its barrenness and brokenness, has become your sanctuary. The muted grays and browns are beautiful to you, in a special way, but you know that the true majesty of the realm cannot emerge without its master, Dream. A being you've never met and only heard stories of. Yet, despite its decay, you have forged friendships here, finding solace among its inhabitants.

You walk through the desolate meadow, the grass crunching underfoot like dried paper. The sky is a dull, oppressive gray, reflecting the sea of sand and rock that neighbors the palace ruins. Your destination is the Library, a place that has barely managed to retain some semblance of order thanks to Lucienne’s tireless efforts. As you approach the grand, time-worn doors of the library, you feel a pang of sorrow for the state of this once magnificent realm.

“Lucienne?” you call out, your voice echoing through the cavernous hall as you step inside.

From behind a towering stack of books, Lucienne appears, her face lighting up with a weary smile when she sees you. “Ah, there you are. I was wondering when you would pop up. How are you today?”

You sigh, running a hand through your hair. “It’s hard to see the Dreaming like this. It feels like a part of me is withering along with it and it was already withering to begin with.”

Lucienne nods, her expression somber. “We all feel it. The absence of Lord Morpheus has taken a toll on this realm. But we must hold on to hope. Things may yet change.”

"It's been over a century, Luce," You point out, "I've been visiting for at least a decade and we've never seen hide nor hair of him. What— what if he's not coming back?"

Lucienne sighs softly, closing the book and replacing it on the shelf. "Maybe not," she admits. "But we can't give up...we must continue searching."

All of the residents that remain, a precious few, were adamant that Dream would return. You believed them, you truly did, but what being abandoned their people like this?? Something terrible must have happened, it was the only explanation you can think of. You were staying strong and hopeful for them, after all, the Dreaming was there home. It was only a temporary place for you to wander until you rouse from your episode. As you ponder what you would do next in this dream, the palace creaks and shakes, the sounds of more stone breaking off and falling to the ground greets your ears.

"Perhaps it would be best if you get out of the palace and visit the brothers? Maybe play with Gregory?" Lucienne offers to you, hoping to get you out of the crumbling palace before you decided to were going to spend your time assisting Mervyn.

"But what if Mervyn—" The librarian cuts you off with a stern look over her spectacles. You glance at Lucienne, her stern expression brooking no argument. With a resigned sigh, you turn and head out of the library, feeling the cool air of the Dreaming settle against your skin. The path to Cain and Abel’s house winds through the remnants of what once was a lush garden, now overrun with thorny vines and twisted trees. At least that's what Mervyn had told you.

As you approach the brothers’ abode, you hear a faint rustling sound followed by a series of thuds. Rounding the corner, you find Gregory tangled up in a net of brambles, his wings flapping uselessly as he tries to free himself.

“Gregory!” you exclaim, rushing to his side. His large, expressive eyes brighten when he sees you. Like a giant puppy, he chirps at you and wiggles his body. You chuckle softly as you begin to untangle the brambles from around his wings. “What happened this time?”

Gregory chirps again, his eyes wide with a mix of relief and sheepishness. You carefully work your way through the tangle of brambles, pulling each thorny vine away from his stone skin. The gargoyle’s weight shifts as he tries to help by flapping his wings, but it only makes the process more cumbersome.

“Hold still, Gregory. You’re not making this any easier,” you mutter with a half-smile.

He lets out a low rumble, a sound that almost seems like an apology. Finally, after what feels like an eternity, you manage to free him. Gregory stretches his wings wide and gives a joyful hop, sending a cloud of dust into the air.

“Feeling better?” you ask, brushing off your hands.

Gregory nods vigorously, then nuzzles your shoulder with his large head. His granite skin is always surprisingly warm against your own.

You laugh softly and give him a pat. “Come on, let’s find Cain and Abel.”

The two of you make your way toward the brothers’ house, Gregory trailing close behind like an oversized shadow. As you approach, you hear the unmistakable sound of an argument brewing inside. The voices grow louder until you can make out individual words.

“It was mine! You had no right to take it!” Abel’s voice trembles with indignation.

Cain’s reply is sharp and dismissive. “You never appreciate what you have! Someone needs to teach you a lesson!”

You exchange a knowing glance with Gregory and push open the door. Inside, Cain stands over Abel, who is clutching something close to his chest—a small, tattered book by the looks of it. Both brothers freeze when they see you.

“Is everything alright here?” you ask, trying to keep your tone neutral.

Cain straightens up and crosses his arms over his chest. “Just a little brotherly disagreement,” he says coolly.

Abel’s eyes dart between Cain and you before he speaks up in a softer voice. “He took my journal. I was writing in it, and he just—”

“It’s just a book,” Cain interrupts with a wave of his hand. “No need to get all worked up about it.”

You step closer to Abel and gently place a hand on his shoulder. “Abel, would you like to show me what you’ve been writing?”

He hesitates for a moment but then nods slowly, opening the journal to reveal pages filled with neat handwriting and detailed sketches—mostly of Gregory in various playful poses.

“These are wonderful,” you say genuinely, flipping through the pages. “You have real talent and Gregory is a stellar model!”

Abel blushes slightly under the praise while Cain rolls his eyes but doesn't comment further on the topic. Cain then suggests you stay for tea, his tone surprisingly warm. "Why don't you join us for some tea? Abel's been perfecting his recipe."

You nod, sensing the tension ebbing away. "I'd love to."

Abel beams and scurries off to prepare the tea. Gregory settles down near the hearth, his tail curling around his feet like a giant cat. You take a seat at the table, watching as Cain busies himself with setting out cups and saucers.

"So," Cain begins, filling the kettle with water. "What brings you here today?"

"Lucienne thought I needed a break," you say, leaning back in your chair. "She suggested visiting you and Abel."

Cain chuckles. "Smart woman. This place can be a bit... intense."

Abel returns with a tray of biscuits just as Cain sets the kettle on the stove. He places the tray in the center of the table and sits down across from you, his expression shy but hopeful.

"I hope you like them," Abel says quietly. "They're Gregory's new favorite."

You smile and reach for a biscuit, breaking it in half and offering a piece to Gregory. The gargoyle's eyes light up as he delicately takes the treat from your hand, chewing with surprising grace.

"These are delicious, Abel," you say after taking a bite of your own half. The biscuit is buttery and sweet, with just the right amount of crunch.

Abel's face lights up with pride. "Thank you! I've been experimenting with different ingredients."

The kettle whistles, and Cain pours steaming tea into each cup before passing them around. You take a sip, savoring the warm, fragrant brew.

"So," Cain says after a moment of silence, "how have things been with managing your narcolepsy Have your doctors come up with any new treatments?"

You take another sip of tea, letting the warmth spread through you. "It's been challenging," you admit. "They've tried a few new medications, but nothing seems to make a significant difference. I'm still visiting the Dreaming just as often."

Cain nods, his expression thoughtful. "It must be difficult, living between two worlds like that."

"It is," you agree, "but the Dreaming feels like a second home now. Even with its current state, there's something comforting about it."

Abel looks up from his tea, curiosity in his eyes. "Do you ever meet anyone else in your dreams? Other than us, I mean."

You think back to the fleeting faces and shadowy figures you've encountered over the years. "Occasionally. Most of them are just passing through, I think. But there are a few regulars."

Cain raises an eyebrow. "Regulars?"

You nod. "People who seem to visit the Dreaming as often as I do. We don't always interact, but there's a sense of familiarity. Like we’re all taking the same bus to work.”

Gregory nuzzles your arm again, reminding you of his presence. You smile and give him another biscuit piece.

"Maybe they’re like us," Abel muses, stirring his tea absently.

"Maybe," you say, watching Gregory's eyes follow the crumbs that fall from your hand.

Cain leans back in his chair, stretching his arms above his head. "Well, if you ever need a break from your other world, you're always welcome here."

"Thank you," you say sincerely.

The room falls into a comfortable silence as you all enjoy your tea and biscuits. The tension that had filled the air earlier has dissipated, replaced by a sense of camaraderie.

After a while, Abel stands up and starts clearing the table. Gregory helps by nudging dishes towards him with his nose.

"You know," Cain says thoughtfully, "I've been working on something in the garden. Would you like to see it?"

Your curiosity piqued, you nod eagerly. "I'd love to."

He leads you outside to a small patch of land behind their house where he’s cultivated a modest garden despite the Dreaming’s decay. It's filled with strange and beautiful plants that seem to shimmer in the dim light.

"It's not much," Cain says modestly, "but it's something to focus on."

"It's wonderful," you say sincerely, admiring the vibrant colors and unusual shapes.

Gregory chirps happily beside you while Abel joins Cain's side with a proud smile on his face.

You find yourself at the crumbling gate, alongside Lucienne, helping her clear away some of the rubble that has fallen from the deteriorating structure. The two of you work in  silence, the only sounds being the crunch of debris underfoot and the occasional groan of the ancient walls. Where was Mervyn? He usually helped out with clean up since he was the custodian and grounds keeper.

As you lift a particularly large piece of stone, a sudden gust of wind blows its way past where you stand, carrying with it an eerie, almost tangible sense of presence. You glance at Lucienne, who has frozen in place, her eyes wide with a mixture of shock and hope.

“Lucienne?” you begin to ask, but she’s already moving, dropping the rubble she was holding and rushing towards the source of the disturbance. You follow her gaze and see him—Morpheus, the Lord of Dreams—lying amidst a swirl of sand. His dark form contrasts starkly against the desolation around him. Lucienne reaches him first, her voice trembling with a blend of reverence and concern.

“Lord Morpheus!” she exclaims, kneeling beside him. “Sir! Sir!”

You make it to where Lucienne crouches and Morpheus lays. His form is gaunt, his skin pale as moonlight, but his presence is undeniable. Lucienne's hands hover over him, uncertain whether to touch him or not.

“Is he...?” you start to ask, but Lucienne shakes her head.

“He’s alive,” she says, her voice trembling with a mix of relief and disbelief. “He’s come back.”

You watch as Morpheus’s chest rises and falls with shallow breaths. His eyes remain closed, and his expression is one of exhaustion. You kneel beside Lucienne, feeling the weight of the moment pressing down on you.

“What do we do?” you ask, your voice barely above a whisper. But before Lucienne replies, Morpheus stirs slightly, his eyes fluttering open.

Lucienne gasps softly and leans closer. “Lord Morpheus? Sir?” His eyes focus on her slowly as if waking from a deep sleep. When he finally speaks, his voice is weak but unmistakably his own.

“Lucienne,” he whispers. Tears fill her eyes as she takes his hand gently in hers.

“Welcome back,” she says softly.

Morpheus’s gaze shifts to you briefly, a darkness flickering within his eyes before it disappears. You rise to your feet and step a few steps back, unsure of what to do or say. Morpheus slowly rises to his feet, his eyes scanning his surroundings with a distant look. He finally focuses on Lucienne, then shifts his gaze to you. His expression is unreadable, a mix of curiosity and confusion.

“Who is this?” he asks, his voice carrying an otherworldly echo.

Lucienne glances back at you before answering. “This is one of our regular visitors. They’ve been coming here for the past decade.”

Morpheus studies you intently, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Why do you visit so often?”

You swallow hard, feeling the weight of his scrutiny. “I think we have more pressing concerns at the moment, Lord Morpheus. The Dreaming, she's suffering." Morpheus's eyes bore into you, searching for something unspoken. You hold his gaze, standing your ground even as the weight of his presence presses against you.

"You're right," Morpheus finally concedes, his voice a shadow of its former strength. He had more pressing matters to attend to. He turns to Lucienne. "What has happened here?"

Lucienne hesitates, glancing at you before she begins. "After your disappearance, the Dreaming started to decay. Parts of it have crumbled away entirely."

You nod in agreement, stepping forward. "We’ve been doing our best to maintain it, but without your presence, it’s been difficult."

Morpheus looks around, his expression hardening as he takes in the desolation. He reaches out a hand and brushes his fingers against a nearby fragment of stone, and you see a flicker of energy pulse through him. The stone vibrates slightly, as if responding to his touch.

"It will require time to mend," he mutters, mostly to himself. Then he faces you and Lucienne. "But we will reconstruct." Although he directs his words to Lucienne, his eyes focus on you, filled with hostility. You feel unwelcome.

Date Published: 7/10/24

Last Edit: 7/10/24

Masterlist | Next

[yuridovewing]

not to be full of it but i think making my own version of ivypool has endeared me to her a lot more. i feel like im 12 again. i needed to give that girl mommy issues and i needed to make her SPIRAL

[elainweekofficial]

( D A Y F O U R )

S E E N a n d U N S E E N

“No one ever does. No one ever looked—not really.” A bramble of words. Her voice strained to a whisper. “He did. He saw me. He will not now.”

— A COURT OF WINGS AND RUIN

Sight and Seeing both mean very different things for Elain Archeron. Between being a Seer, and also feeling the frustrations of being unseen, vision is a critical part of her character. In particular, we see more of her assertion coming to life in A Court of Silver Flames when telling Nesta that her own trauma is seen as something that happened to other people, Elain not included. With Elain shedding some of those fawning or people pleasing tendencies already, her self-perception as well as how other people view her is bound to change.

With what we’ve gotten glimpses of so far in the series. are you more excited to see more of Elain’s visions, or more of Elain being seen? And what does Elain being “seen” mean to you? Who can/will see Elain? Who is Elain Archeron when no one is around to see her, and what does that internalization appear as? How does it affect her? Do you think we will get more of Elain’s visions? And what do you believe those will look like? For Day Four, show us how you interpret Elain’s relation to her visions, to being “seen”, or both!

ART CREDIT — artonia.hoefs

ANNOUNCEMENT POST | DAY ONE | DAY TWO | DAY THREE

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