#anastasia lark

[thewiddershinsme]

Finished Anastasia by Sophie Lark! Random thoughts with full spoilers below:

-you can definitely tell the author likes the 1997 animated Anastasia movie, there are some elements that feel inspired by/paying homage to that film (Damien/Dimitri similar sounding names, him calling Anastasia “Anya”, the music box, Rasputin’s greenish hue at times, and my favorite the white bat called Bat (Bartok!)). Even the illustrations bring that movie to mind.

-this is not a historical retelling by absolutely any means whatsoever (it is about as accurate as My Lady Jane - which is actually a good comparison cause that show also creates a magic filled alternate reality and the main premise is a doomed historical figure survives), but there are obviously real places and people mentioned which sent me down the Wikipedia and YouTube documentaries rabbit hole. So despite this being a complete fantasy novel, I actually learned a bit by looking up the real world history on my own! I’m embarrassed at how long it took me to realize that Felix was a real person (and it was his Wikipedia entry that made me suspicious about the novel’s ending)

-I never was crazy about Damien himself (though his death touch was nice and angsty and added a whole new layer of obstacle to their romance) but I liked him and Anastasia’s relationship (even more post Revolution) I just wish had a few more moments and interactions when they were growing up together in a show don’t tell way. But I was so so looking forward to the complete grief stricken angst and breakdown as regret when he found out about Anastasia’s “death”; and it happens in the time skip! I love that trope, and was so annoyed it happened off screen.

-Anastasia’s relationship and interactions with her family was well-done. It really showed that even though her family was extremely flawed and in the wrong, they all desperately loved and protected each other (which I think is part of the tragedy of the last Romanovs, that they were well known to be a close and loving family but absolutely terrible autocratic rulers. They would’ve been happier not being the imperial family).

-the big spoiler: time travel solves (mostly) all. I suspected this was gonna happen when historical figures that are known to survive the Revolution were all killed off in the first timeline. In all honesty, I didn’t mind it. This was a fantasy story, the time manipulation element has been part of the plot from the beginning so didn’t come out of left field, and the foreword directly stated Anastasia was going to have her happily ever after. And as mentioned above, the more I read the more I realized in order for her to have a happily ever after, she needed both Damien and her family. I actually had more trouble accepting that Anastasia became Tsarina. I mean, it was a big thing that the girls could not inherit the throne, that was why Alexei having hemophilia and being sickly and likely to die was SO MAJOR politically, cause her dad just couldn’t “decide” to give the throne instead to one of the daughters….except that is exactly what happened. And not even Olga, the eldest child, but the youngest daughter! That part (weirdly enough out of all lol) broke my suspension of disbelief for a bit, but after some time I realized that it was the best ending for the AU to give the throne to the person that had lived the terrible alternate future and could lead Rusya to peace and prosperity for all (since no Revolution happened in the new timeline). I just had to headcanon it that it got passed through the Duma due to Anastasia’s time walking capabilities (which the heir was always supposed to have but she was the only one of her siblings to inherit). And I did like the symmetry of Damien (who was supposed to Attaman) leaving to become the Rusyan consort, while Alexei (who was supposed to be Tsar) instead becoming a Cossack. And you know what, it is still bittersweet that Anastasia lost the version of Damien that she first married, and all the moments and understanding and memories they had built together.

-so, this book felt like a fanfic, and I mean that in the best possible way. There were illustrations (which were gorgeous) and a soundtrack (with tracks interspersed throughout the novel so you know what part each song corresponds with). It does not replace the Anastasia 1997 movie in my heart of hearts (which will probably always be my favorite Anastasia retelling) and did not ignite a new obsession (which was kinda hoping it would). But this was very obviously a passion project, and I enjoyed reading it, and have already lent my copy out to someone else. In a couple years will definitely re-read it again.

Edited to add: I forgot to mention that Rasputin being a vampire was a twist that completely took me by surprise but I thought was a very clever fantastical take on Alexei’s dependence on his “healing” powers

[impossibellebookrecs]

Rereading Anastasia by Sophie Lark it is my new comfort read, I love it so much Anastasia and Damien are beautiful together 💖

(Love listening to the audiobook and loved looking at the art in the physical book, playing the songs from the playlist when suggested but the moment I realised the black and white artwork from the paperback was in colour in the kindle I was done)

This book will always be ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ if I could give it more I would!

[myhikari21things]

Read of Anastasia by Sophie Lark (2022) (656pgs)

[wayhavnsfinest]

Y’all I finished Anastasia by Sophie Lark. If you like historical fiction and fantasy I HIGHLY RECOMMEND. I stayed up way too late and I finished that 800+ behemoth in TWO DAYS. It’s so good. The character growth, the plot, it’s all so good.

[pollyssecretlibrary]

“Anastasia”, by Sophie Lark

STANDALONE

Historical fantasy

5 Stars

“Nobody wanted us to dance together. Nobody but me”

If you are looking for a biography of Anastasia or a recount of the last years of the Romanovs in a photographic kind of way, this is not the book for you. Anastasia and the last Romanov Tsar’s family, as well as some other historical figures like the courtiers and, most especially, Rasputin, are the characters in an alternative coming of age fantasy story where some people develop magic powers. Anastasia inherited her powers from the Tsar, she can slow time for everyone except for herself. That is a very powerful magic talent and it was expected that the tsarevitch, prince Alexei would inherit that, but he didn’t.

History is what it is,There’s only so much Sophie Lark can change to keep the story still recognizable, and she does a perfect job of it. In the same manner of other favorite writers of mine who also do fairy stories, folklore and history retellings like Juliet Marillier or Katherine Arden, she doesn’t recreate history but the legend of Anastasia, which says that she was the only one of the Romanovs who survived the Russian Revolution. Being second to last amongst the Tsar’s children is hard, seeking for her parents’ attention and approval Anastasia isn’t the demure ladylike princess that the photos seem to portray. She loves being outdoors, wearing men’s clothes, flying her gyrfalcon with which she can communicate and she’s in love with a Cossack prince named Damien who is her uncle’s ward.

We also have Damian’s side of the story to complete the full picture of what is to come and why. Damien is the son of the king of the Cossacks, his father was at war with Rusya (alternate name for Russia) and then signed a peace treaty with the Tsar. One of the conditions of the treaty was that Damien became a ward under the Tsar’s cousin’s supervision but no matter how long Damien spends being educated and having a military career amongst the Rusyans, he will always be considered a filthy barbarian. Except by Anastasia, of course. So we get to know his thoughts and his feelings about himself, his life and the people around him.

Anastasia and Damien speak for themselves. Sophie Lark writes in the first person for both characters therefore she gives different approaches to the same story given that Anastasia is a Rusyan princess and Damien a captive, with privileges but a captive all the same. And then there’s this dark mysterious figure that is Rasputin. Rasputin introduces himself as a monk and a humble servant. He is a fortune teller of sorts but he also has some talent for curing people of their ailments and that is the key to his closeness to the Tsar and the empress; Alexei ails from t hemophilia. He has very painful episodes of bleeding or swelling in different limbs, and Rasputin somehow makes the illness retreat from his young patient. But to Anastasia something doesn’t add up in the man and she doesn’t trust him.

I’m pleasantly surprised by Sophie Lark’s fantasy writing because it is so unique to her, usually her books tend to be more plot driven but in this case the book is more character driven. Also despite the liberties she has taken, it is palpable that the research of the History, folklore and customs of Russia and of Europe during the first half of the 20th century has been exhaustive and probably exhausting too. The writing style is very lyrical in a way, it helped that the two narrators speak of their hopes, dreams, memories and ambitions. Of the five books I’ve read this is her only fantasy-retelling and her most recent work, the others were dark mafia romances that I liked a lot, even though the subgenre isn’t exactly my favorite. Fantasy however is my first love in literature. I’m impressed to say the least, that she wrote a book like this, and I’m sure she’s capable of writing whatever she wants and succeed.

What I loved the most is the complexity of her characters, They’re not just black or white, but multicolored, an aspect that makes them more real and believable, and that is quite an achievement especially in a fantasy novel. The plot and subplots are subtle but as complex as the characters, political struggles, intrigue at court, treason, uprising, war, revolution and the change of the times, which is the hardest of subplots humans have to face in order to grow. But the most important aspect to differentiate the genres is that Romance, especially mafia/contemporary doesn’t need a lot of world building since it’s based in reality while fantasy whenever involves magic, folklore and magical creature, needs to have a well crafted scenery to wrap and surround the characters and it needs a credible magic system. And boy does Sophie Lark’s writing achieve that and more. Her imagination and fearlessness is what sustains this book.

[bookishbethanyerin]

• Review: Anastasia •

If you’ve always craved a version of the animated Anastasia film that brings in the darker shades of the real story of the fall of the Romanovs, then Sophie Lark’s “Anastasia” is for you.

An ambitious project, this (long!) book merges the rosy vibes of the animated film with some historical fact while rooting the story in a world with magic and supernatural creatures. (Making this…historical fantasy?)

Which is to say: if you’re a Russian history buff or want a more historically accurate Anastasia story, then you should probably give this a pass. But if you want a tough princess, grim worldbuilding, and some swooning, then go right ahead.

Though I did find the book to be a bit too long and the pacing of the front half is a bit too slow, once the plot really kicks in (it picked up at about the 60% point for me), it’ll leave you a bit breathless. In fact, there’s a twist in the last 10% that I did *not* see coming – which I think is always a good thing.

I also genuinely enjoyed what Sophie Lark does with Rasputin throughout this Romanov reimagining, and was head over heels for the romance between Anastasia and Damian. It’s a slow burn, but it pays off.

3.75🌟

1.5🌶️

[noh07]

list of mixed name ideas (october 29, 2024)

i sorted them into three categories: androgynous, feminine and masculine.

in this list, there's any type of names (mostly for english-speaking people though): typical first names, noun names, mythology names, etc.

if you have more ideas of names for trans folks, writers, etc, just lemme know! (Can also be not-so-cool names for the writers, we need them for the asshole side characters :3)

i will update the list every time I have a lot of new name suggestions. this is not the newest version, but you can find it under the tag #updated name list on my profile.

(alphabetical list with 553 mixed names under the cut)

--- androgynous ---

Addie/Eddie

Aki

Alex

Alexis

Alli/Allie/Ally

Ares

Ari

Artemis

Aster

Azure

Bennie/Benny

Beverly

Billie

Blair

Charlie

Chrissy

Crimson

Edie

Eli

Ellori/Ellory

Emerson

Emi/Emmie/Emmy

Evie

Finn

Forest/Forrest

Frances/Francis

Gray/Grey

Hayden

Hunter

Jackie/Jacky

Jamie

Jess

Jessie

Jupiter

Lark

Lenny

Lori/Lorie/Lory

Lou

Louie

Mag

Maggot

Mars

Max

Mercury

Mika

Miko

Mizu

Neptune

Noah

Paris

Ollie

Quinn

Rafa

Reg

Robin

Ronni/Ronnie/Ronny

Saturn

Shilo/Shiloh

Skye

Val

Venus

Vin

Vinny/Vinnie

Wilson

--- feminine ---

Abby

Abigail

Adelaide

Adeline

Aileen/Eileen

Aimee/Amy

Alana

Alena

Alessia

Alexa

Alexia

Alexandra

Alice

Alissa

Alli/Allie/Ally

Alura

Amalia

Amber

Amelia

Amelie

Amity

Angie

Anna

Ann/Anne

Annie

Anastasia

Andrea/Andreea

Antheia

Arabella

Astra

Atlanta

Audrey

Aurora

Azura

Bailey

Becky

Bella

Belle

Bettie/Betty

Beverly

Billie

Brenda

Brie

Candace/Candice

Carla/Karla

Carolina

Caroline

Catherine

Celina/Selena/Selina

Celine/Selene

Charlotte

Christina/Kristina

Christine/Kristine

Claire

Clara/Klara

Chloe/Cloe

Cora/Corah

Daniela/Daniella

Danielle

Dalia/Daliah

Debbie

Debora/Deborah

Delilah

Diana

Dianne

Dora/Dorah

Eburia

Eda

Elena

Eleanor/Elenor

Elisa/Eliza

Elizabeth

Ella

Ember

Emerson

Emery

Emi/Emmie/Emmy

Emilia

Emilie/Emily

Emma

Euphemia

Euphoria

Esme

Esmeralda

Eva

Evie

Evelyn

Felicia

Fenya

Finya

Fia

Fiona

Francisca/Franziska

Freya

Gaia

Georgia

Gina

Ginny/Jeanie

Hanna/Hannah

Harmony

Heather

Hecate

Hera

Hestia

Hope

Iana

Irena

Irene

Iris

Isa

Isabel/Isabelle

Isabela/Isabella

Ivonne/Yvonne

Ivory

Ivy

Izzy

Janice

Jasmin/Jasmine

Jenna

Jenny

Jolene

Julia

Julianne

Julie

Juliet/Juliette

Katarina/Katharina

Kathy/Katy

Lana

Lara/Larah

Laura

Lauren

Laurel

Lena

Leia/Leya

Levina

Levinia

Lia

Liara

Lili/Lilli/Lilly/Lily

Lilian/Lilien

Lilith

Lisa

Livia

Liz

Lizzie/Lizzy

Loanne

Lola

Lorelei

Lori/Lorie/Lory

Louisa/Luisa

Louise/Luise

Luce/Luz

Lucy

Luna

Maggie/Meggie

Meg

Madeline

Maira/Myra

Margaret

Marge

Marla

Marlene

Maria/Mariah

Marie/Mary

Melanie

Melissa

Mellie/Melly

Mia

Michelle

Milly

Mina

Minerva

Minnie

Miriam

Mona

Naira/Nyra

Natalia

Natalie

Natasha

Nellie/Nelly

Nessie

Nina

Nora/Norah

Nori

Oliv/Olive

Olivia

Ollie

Paris

Pascale

Patricia

Paula

Peggy

Penelope/Pinelopy

Penny

Petunia

Philippa

Pia

Polly

Poppy

Ramona

Rebecka

Regina

Robin

Rose

Roxanne

Sara/Sarah

Sofia/Sophia

Sofie/Sophie

Stella

Stephanie/Stephany

Tara/Tarah

Tatiana/Tatyana

Tess

Tessa

Tia

Tiana

Tina

Valerie/Valery

Vanessa

Venus

Veronica

Victoria

Vivian

Viviana

Willow

Yana

Yasmin/Yasmine

Zoe/Zoé/Zoey

--- masculine ---

Aion

Alex

Alexander

Amon

Anthony

Anton

Arcturus

Ares

Ben

Benjamin

Bennie/Benny

Benson

Bill

Billie/Billy

Bob

Bobby

Brendan/Brendon

Brian

Bruno

Calvin

Carl/Karl

Chad

Chase

Chris

Chrissy

Christopher

Conan

Damian

Dan

Daniel

Dave

David

Davon/Devon

Dionysos

Don

Donald

Dorian

Dylan

Elia/Elijah

Elio

Eliot/Elliot/Elliott

Emerson

Emilio

Erion

Evan

Felix

Fred

Freddie/Freddy

George

Gian/Jan

Hannibal

Harald/Harold/Herald/Herold

Ian

Icarus

Jack

Jackie/Jacky

James

Jamie

Jimmy

John

Johnny

Jona/Jonah

Jonas

Jones

Julian/Julien

Julius

Jupiter

Justin

Kevin

Larry

Laurence/Lawrence

Lenny

Leo

Linus

Lori/Lorie/Lory

Louis/Luis

Louie

Lucc/Luke

Lucas/Lukas

Luigi

Marc

Marco

Mario

Mars

Max

Mercury

Michael

Mickey

Mike

Milo

Nathan

Neptune

Nick

Nico/Niko/Nikko

Noah

Oliver

Ollie

Orion

Paris

Pascal

Patrick

Paul

Pete

Peter

Philip/Philipp/Phillip

Raymond

Reg

Reginald

Regulus

Remus

Rob

Robbie/Robby

Robin

Ron

Ronald

Ronni/Ronnie/Ronny

Saturn

Sean/Shawn/Shaun

Sebastian

Sirius

Steve

Steven

Theodore

Tim

Toby

Tom

Tommy

Tony

Valentine

Victor

Wilson

Yan

Zach/Zack

Zeus

If you want me to add meanings, origins, etc., just tell me! ^^

[inky-duchess]

Good morning, Your Grace. A silly question to break up the flow of your ask box:

Between the animated Anastasia (1997) movie and the Broadway play, which do you prefer?

This is a toughie. Anastasia (1997) is my favourite film of all time and it got me into this entire royal knowledge lark and it's a personally import film. The Broadway play however is excellent because there's an element of the historical and much of the soundtrack gives me TLP vibes. I choose neither because I love them both.

[best-nun-tournament]

Round 1

Skystar and Graywing (Warrior Cats) vs Sasuke and Itachi Uchiha (Naruto)

Scar and Mufasa (The Lion King) vs Jude and Taryn Duarte (The Folk of the Air)

Krauss, Eva, Rudolf and Rosa Ushiromiya (Umineko) vs The Princes of Stormhold (Stardust)

Blitzø and Barbie Wire (Helluva Boss) vs Bardas and Gorgas Lordan (The Fencer Trilogy)

Vinsmoke Ichiji, Niji, and Yonji (One Piece) vs Nikolai and Vasily Lantsov (Grishaverse/Shadow and Bone)

The Batsiblings (Batman) vs Rattlesnake and Sirocco (Wings of Fire)

Dee and Dennis Reynolds (It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia) vs Folgers Coffee Siblings (Folgers Coffee commercial)

Ianthe and Coronabeth Tridentarius (The Locked Tomb) vs Therese and Jeanette Voerman (Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines)

Junko Enoshima and Mukuro Ikusaba (Danganronpa) vs Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary (English history)

Ruby and Aquamarine Hoshino (Oshi no Ko) vs Richard and Helen Gansey (The Raven Cycle)

The Endless (Sandman) vs Lark and Sparrow Oak-Garcia (Dungeons and Daddies)

The Bridgerton siblings (Bridgerton) vs Clary Fairchild and Sebastian Morgenstern (The Shadowhunter Chronicles)

The Sanderson Sisters (Hocus Pocus) vs Velvet and Veneer (Trolls 3)

The Seven Sisters Colleges (Real Life) vs Zeus and Hera (Greek mythology)

Akio Ootori and Anthy Himemiya (Revolutionary Girl Utena) vs Tom and Jake Berenson (Animorphs)

The Hargreeves siblings (Umbrella Academy) vs Ledroptha Curtain (The Mysterious Benedict Society)

Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian (MDZS/The Untamed) vs Rei Asaka and Fukiko Ichinomiya (Oniisama E)

Adam and Eve (NieR: Automata) vs Dys and Tangent (I Was A Teenage Exocolonist)

Percy Jackson and Polyphemus (Percy Jackson) vs Mercer and Gage (The Silt Verses)

King Richard and Prince John (Robin Hood/English history) vs Cleopatra VII and Ptolemy XIII (Egyptian history)

Uru Somezuki and Saito Sejima (AI: The Somnium Files) vs Illumi, Killua and Alluka Zoldyck (Hunter x Hunter)

Andrew and Ashley Graves (The Coffin of Andy and Leyley) vs Belzedar (The Belgariad)

Cersei, Jaime, and Tyrion Lannister (A Song of Ice and Fire) vs Torak (The Belgariad)

Phillip and Caleb Wittebane (Owl House) vs Ogata Hyakunosuke and Hanazawa Yuusaku (Golden Kamuy)

Ruffnut and Tuffnut Thorston (How To Train Your Dragon) vs Andrew and Aaron Minyard (All for the Game)

Goneril and Regan (King Lear) vs Ruby Rocks and Saccharina Frostwhip (Dimension 20: A Crown of Candy)

The Beagle Boys (Donald Duck universe) vs Catherine and Hindley Earnshaw (Limbus Company)

Sam and Dean Winchester (Supernatural) vs John Wilkes and Edwin Booth (US history)

Anne and Mary Boleyn (English history) vs Rodrick, Greg, and Manny Heffly (Diary of a Wimpy Kid)

Anastasia, Drizella, and Cinderella (Cinderella) vs Wolf 40f and Wolf 42f "Cinderella" (Real Life, Druid Peak wolf pack)

Byes: Azula and Zuko (Avatar: The Last Airbender), Cain and Abel (The Bible)

[mad-rdr]

August Reads

6 books this month!

The Kingdom of Copper by S. A. Chakraborty (★ ★ ★ ★/5): If I could summarize this book in one sentence it would be: a war where neither side is right and everyone dies. If you can’t tell, this book was INSANE. There was so much happening the entire time and everytime I thought my opinions on a character were certain, they did something that completely changed my mind again. There were so many loyalty changes and assassination attempts and self-righteous speeches. My only complaint is that I feel because there are so many characters to keep track of and develop, there’s not really any huge character arcs that should have happened.

The Duchess War by Courtney Milan (★ ★ ★/5): cute and basic regency-era romance. Gotta love a revolutionary duke who realizes he's unmatched when it comes to the woman he loves

Leather & Lark by Brynne Weaver (★ ★ ★/5): Butcher & Blackbird works because it's one of a kind and this sequel is obviously trying to capitalize on that success. Not to say this book wasn't enjoyable, it just wasn't as fun as the first one. The whole fake marriage thing barely makes sense, I really don't get why Lark would bother to try and save Lochlan's life. But anyways, cheers to enemies to lovers ig

Icebreaker by Hannah Grace (★ ★/5): While not a good book (which I knew going in), I was finding it relatively entertaining until the last 20% of the book. Anastasia is honestly so annoying and Nathan gets gross and controlling towards the end. The conflict with Aaron was incredibly drawn out and super repetitive and don’t even get me started on her being pregnant in the epilogue. Anyways- it was fun till it kinda wasn’t but eh, I wasn’t expecting quality.

Raven Rock by Nichole Louise (★ ★ ★ ★/5): A historical fiction book placed right in the heart of the American Revolution, it explains the origins of the legend of the Headless Horseman. And let me just say, wow. It started off a little slow, but by halfway through I was fully engaged in the story. Wolfram was such a compelling character, with his internal conflict regarding his uncle, a man who had been like a father to him, and his ruthlessness during the war. He defies him and ends up saving a child from a burning building, becoming a traitor in the process. His time in Sleepy Hollow with Hulda (resident healer that is seen as a witch and therefore outcasted) was so fun to read about and makes the tragedy of it all that more devastating. I am glad that Wolfram got his revenge against his uncle for not only killing his father but also killing him. I like to think Hulda and Wolfram are haunting Raven Rock together and have found each other in their afterlives. This truly was such a great read and I’m glad I pick led it up. Shoutout to Herkules, the best horse companion a man could have.

The Empire of Gold by S. A. Chakraborty (★ ★ ★ ★ ★/5): I take back everything I said in the last book about there being too many characters to give them proper arcs. This series finale proved me wrong and I am so, so glad. This series has only gotten better with each book and this was definitely the best one. Nahri and Ali cross the world, find allies in ancient beings, come into new powers, discover family secrets, overthrow a mass murderer, and are rebuilding Daevabad from the ground up. They are such a fun pair and I’m truly glad they’ve found their way back to each other. For Dara, I just feel an immense sadness for him. His story is a tragedy and so nuanced and complex- the author did a really good job of handling it and giving him a fitting ending. There’s so much more I could talk about but just know that this was such a good ending and, in one way or another, everyone is working towards their own peace.

[thewiddershinsme]

Story time:

-so I very very rarely will buy a book. I am an avid user of my local libraries, but I think the last book I purchased just to read (and not school or gift related) was about a decade ago (and it was in a little market cause I was about to get on a plane and had read everything I had brought with me as this was way prior to my current e-reader phase). And yet, I have purchased a physical, paperback novel. Which book, you may ask, has broken this decade long drought?

-some background: my favorite animated movie is Anastasia. I was that little girl obsessed with the Russian Revolution. When I grew up I wanted to be the person that solved the mystery of what had happened to her (aka I wanted to discover she had found a Dimitri and they had many descendants hanging around I could interview). I was sad for a week when the news came out that she did not survive.

-I don’t think Anastasia is the best animated film ever, but to this day it is still my favorite animated film (I think it’s important that people are able to differentiate between favorite vs best. There is a lot of media out there I acknowledge is fantastic, but just not my cup of tea. And vice versa). Anya/Dimitri have always been one of my top tier couples. Soundtrack is great. I was fortunate enough to cross off seeing the stage version on my bucket list a few years back. I think I have read the majority of Anastasia fan fiction (Anastasia Retold by J Fontaine being one of my fave fics ever).

-and then I just happened to see this book called Anastasia by Sophie Lark. And the blurb says it’s not based on any previous Anastasia story, but there are illustrations and it is giving off MAJOR 1997 Anastasia vibes. I mean…there’s the music box and she looks extremely similar to the animated version and her love interest is named Damien (and why does this ward plot sound so familiar, I kinda think I may have read a blurb like this on fanfiction.net years ago…) And then I read a bit more and realize oh ho this is complete AU alt history just like My Lady Jane (which I have very recently started) with magic powers and I am now intrigued (cause honestly, if you’re gonna do a myth version where she survives, I think going all in on a completely different universe is the way to go, cause you can never please everyone trying to be historically accurate while changing a crucial historical detail).

-I know nothing about this author (her other books aren’t really my genre so am nervous what that means for this one) but it is bought and ordered and I want to like it SO BAD

[ya-world-challenge]

YA World Challenge - New Releases December 2022

Here’s my attempt to put together a release list for December! Comment if you have any to add.  💙

If you are buying books this month and want to support diverse content, please use my affiliate links at Bookshop.org or Amazon and throw some spare change my way!

While the list focuses on YA, some adult titles are marked with (A).

🌍  Multiple Nationalities

A Million to One - Adiba Jaigirdar

🌏 Asia

Buddhist Stories for Kids: Jataka Tales of Kindness, Friendship, and Forgiveness by Laura Burges

🇦🇹 🇬🇧Austria - England

The Secret Society of Salzburg by Renee Ryan

🇨🇳  China

Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation #4 by M�� Xiāng Tóng Xiù Heaven’s Official Blessing #5 by Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù

🇬🇧 England

Enola Holmes: The Graphic Novels #2 by Serena Blasco

🌍 🇦🇺 Fictional European Nation + Australian author

Never Ever Getting Back Together by Sophie Gonzales

🇮🇸  Iceland

Animal Life by  Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir (A)

🇮🇳 🇵🇰   India - Pakistan

The Book of Everlasting Things by Aanchal Malhotra (A)

🇮🇹 Italy

The Lipstick Bureau by Michelle Gable

🇯🇵 Japan

The Tatami Galaxy by Tomihiko Morimi

🇵🇰 🇺🇸 Pakistani-American

Roses, in the Mouth of a Lion by Bushra Rehman (A)

🇵🇭  Philippines

 The Girl by Victory Witherkeigh         

🇺🇸 Romani people

Romani Redd: Stripped by Cindy Summer

🇷🇺  Russia

Back in the USSR by Patrick D Joyce This Cursed Crown by Alexandra Overy Anastasia by Sophie Lark (A)

🇺🇸 🇪🇺 United States - Europe

If This Gets Out by Sophie Gonzales & Cale Dietrich

🇬🇧  Wales

The Excalibur Curse by Kiersten White

🌍 West Africa

A Psalm of Storms and Silence by Roseanne A. Brown

[libraryinthecountry]

★ Happy #ShelfieSunday, bookworms! What are your last, current, and next reads? My last reads were Ivy by Devney Perry / Willa Nash (instant five star read, omg I want to live in this book) and The Kraken’s Sacrifice by Katee Robert! My current reads are the audiobook of Dawnshard by Brandon Sanderson and the ebook of Anastasia by Sophie Lark. I love Brandon and Sophie’s books, and am throughly enjoying myself with both of my current reads. My next read will probably by Rhythm of War, To Snap a Silver Stem, or Bow Before the Elf Queen! Hope you’re all having a great Sunday. ♥️ ★ HASHTAGS // #bookstagram #shelfie #spicybooks #bookdragon #bookhoarder #ReadRomance #fantasybooks #totalbooknerd #bookshelfie #bücherbücherbücher https://www.instagram.com/p/CmCnu76SBEi/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[shantheobsessedgirl]

I’ve been reading Anastasia and there are multiple hot bricks for people’s feet so I can guess where Sophie Lark stands on St. Vincent vs. Derek Craven.

[gingysbookcollection]

Fate grants her a single chance to set it right…

but saving what she lost may cost everything she loves.

Anastasia, an all-new spellbinding, enemies-to-lovers, dark fantasy standalone romance from bestselling author Sophie Lark is live now!

Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited→ http://mybook.to/AnastasiaSL

#availablenow #anastasia #enemiestolovers #darkfantasy #standalone #newrelease #romancestagram #romancereader #readromance #romancereadersofig #mustread #bibliophile #Romancestagrammer #romancereadersofbookstagram #romancereads #readromance #romancebooklover #romancebookaddict #romancebooksofig #romancebooksofinstagram #romancebookworm #bookstagram @literallyyourspr

[bigsimmer69]

Here's my Boba Tea Tales Legacy Challenge sim!!! Her name is Anastasia Lark (she/her). Her traits are Glutton, Animal Enthusiast and Cheerful!! She owns a 4 star bistro in Del Sol Valley, but she hasn't made a single simoleon back from her investment.