#and Lu is fun. her last lines here are my faves

[befuddled-calico-whump]

The Revenge Stream: Part Five

contains: torture, violence, implied death wish, implied noncon, gore + censored nudity in image

previous // next

•

It's nearly a week before the link to the next stream appears in your inbox, enough time passing that you have to wonder if the star of the stream is still alive. But it comes through eventually, and when you click it, you see that he very much is.

For now, at least. 

Shepard is in pretty rough shape. His restraints have changed, ankles now bound tightly on either end of a barbell, wounded hands pinned behind his back. His hair is matted with blood, and it looks like he's dropped a lot of weight.

It looks like he's unconscious.

It's Lu, not Gabriel, who steps onto the screen as the stream begins. You're hardly surprised. If he really is her son, you can't imagine she'd want Shepard catching on to that, even if he's powerless to do anything about it. Gabriel seemed… less than enthusiastic about Lu’s ideas anyway. This is her game, not his.

Lu moves to the table, now partially in view of the camera, and brushes a gloved hand over the array of tools. Her fingers linger on a staple gun, but before she can select it, a noise steals both your attention.

It's Shepard. He's trying to talk through the gag, trying to get Lu’s attention. Whether it's out of boredom or curiosity that she decides to humor him, you don't know, but in a moment she's knelt beside him, jerking the fabric out of his mouth.

“Just kill me.”

Lu scoffs. “Is that all? You're wasting your breath.”

“W-was this your plan?” Shepard’s jaw twitches as he speaks, his words coming out slurred. “Keep me alive as suh-some basement plaything?”

“You hate it, hm?” Lu is far from sympathetic. In fact, she sounds pleased. “That's all I could ask.”

Her fingers curl around the gag, moving to pull it back up, but then—

“I remember you.”

Lu freezes. “You don't.”

“I do. Th… secretary.”

Lu doesn't respond, but she doesn't gag him either. Shepard seems to take this as an invitation to continue. He exhales through clenched teeth, seeming to gather what energy he has to speak.

“Y'know I chose you at random,” he says. “Plenty of… hf… other employees at the firm. I don't regret it though. We… we had some good times, mm?” 

“And we're having better ones now,” Lu replies, her expression stiff. What is Shepard doing? It doesn't seem like he's trying to humanize himself to her, or even beg for his freedom. It’s almost like he's trying to make it worse. To make her mad.

“Haven't seen the boy around,” Shepard continues in the same, pain-slurred voice. “Y’keeping him away?”

Lu doesn't answer, but that doesn't stop him.

“He's yours, isn't he? Th-thought I imagined hearing it, but it makes sense. How old 's he? Suh… sounds young. Not even old enough to drink and you already have him spilling blood—”

Lu lashes out, the hard material of her prosthetic hand cracking across Shepard's face. The man lets out a choked cry at the contact, eyes squeezing shut, but the blow doesn't seem to deter him.

If anything, it's like its stoked the fire. The hint of a smirk pulls at his mouth.

“When was it we met last?” he murmurs, and the words sound sharper. “Twenty years ago? Nineteen? Odd… odd coincidence, don't you think?”

“Shut up if you want to keep your tongue,” Lu snarls.

“Does he look like me?” Shepard continues. “H-he ever scare you when he moves a certain way? Hell, he's the same age I was when I started this bloodshed business. Apple doesn't fall far from—”

Again, Lu’s fist comes down to silence him. “Shut up, shut up!” This time, she doesn't stop after just one hit, raining down blow after blow on his face and chest until she's panting. A sneer on her face, she gets to her feet.

“Hf… suh… so that means it's true, hm?” Shepard wheezes from the floor, his taunt punctuated by a cry as Lu stomps on his ribcage.

“Y… y’know what? Th-think I'll go after him when I get out. Don't g-give a shit if he's blood. Y’wanna hear our boy scream?”

Lu drives her heel into Shepard's knee, and he howls. When she speaks, her voice is cold.

“You aren't getting out.”

She doesn't give him time to dredge up another taunt, kneeling beside them and retying the gag, tight enough that it's biting into the corners of his mouth.

“I thought the broken legs would be enough to snuff out your illusion of escape, but I see I must have been wrong,” Lu says, and her tone is surprisingly light, almost teasing. She disappears, and you hear the door closing in her wake.

For a moment, there's nothing onscreen but the shivering captive, his ragged breathing filling the silence. Lu returns with a heavy sounding box some time later, dropping it beside Shepard. He flinches as it hits the ground, but despite everything, seems to make an effort to compose himself.

You can't understand what he's playing at. He has to know there's nothing he can do here, and Lu has made it clear she has no intention of killing him, so what's the point of trying to pretend he still has any control? Can't he see he's making this worse for himself?

Lu reaches into the box. “I'll need some help with the welding, but I can get the project started,” she says, pulling out a metal screw. It looks like the kind that are used in concrete, nearly a foot long and an inch thick. Fuck. What's she about to do with that? A part of you isn't sure you can watch this, but at the same time, you can't look away.

Lu collects a few more tools—the knife, the torch, and a taser—and crouches beside Shepard's body. She rolls him onto his side, seizing his right arm—still bound tight to his left—and forcibly flattening it on the ground in a way that must wrench his shoulder painfully. She kneels on his wrist to keep him steady, positions the knife in the center of his forearm, and begins to bury the blade inside.

As weakened as Shepard is, his thrashing does seem to hinder Lu. She's only about halfway through when she becomes fed up with his screams and struggles and pulls back, reaching for the taser. She jams it into Shepard's ribs, holding it steady as he cries out, body convulsing. She doesn't let it drop until he goes silent, eyes drifting shut, the only movement the occasional twitch of his muscles.

Without missing a beat, Lu gets back to work, first working the blade through his right arm, then his left. Shepard’s body spasms as she cuts through the flesh and muscle, a droning whine spilling out from behind his gag. Her first task done, Lu reaches for the bolts, easing one through each of Shepard's arms. She loops a bit of cord around each’s end—a temporary way to keep them in place—then lets the man go. There's a smile on her face.

“Mm. I will get the others. He'll be strung up next time you see him, rest assured.” Wiping bloody hands on her pants, she grabs the blowtorch, turns it on, and holds the flame to Shepard's newest wounds, one hole at a time.

The man screams again as the fire touches him, but the sound is weak. You're not sure how much longer he'll hold out like this.

Lu stands, tossing the torch aside. “When I get out,” she says in a mocking tone. “On your own time then, Victor.”

•

[vintageumbroshirt]

creator tag game

Thank you so much @leedsau @sunflowrsix @wallsbylouis (and @quelsentiment and @deludedandlostcause last month, if I’m not mistaken?) for tagging me to do this <3

RULES: it’s time to love yourselves! choose your 5 (ish) favorite works you created in the past year (fics, art, edits, etc.) and link them below to reflect on the amazing things you brought into the world in 2020. tag as many writers/artists/etc. as you want (fan or original) so we can spread the love and link each other to awesome work.

Well, I only write fic and make occasional shit posts, so:

1: pull me back together again (the way you cut me in half) — this one is my little pride because it was my first time writing something longer, it was a topic I really wanted to explore (even if it’s not popular in the fandom at all) and I was really pleased when I handed it in for the @1dbreakupfest

2: don’t call me baby — I love this one because Lu gave me the plot so it unified me writing something for her birthday and for TBSL (which was my fave song when Fine Line first came out). I love talking about Harry’s pettiness and jealousy and it was fun to be able to bring that to life in a fic

3: The cat is out of the bag — the Halloween piece I wrote for the Challenge we made in the larrie writers gc I’m part of. I genuinely had to googled things cats do (I am very allergic to cats so I’m not really familiar with their behavior) and I had a lot of fun brainstorming with Lu (once again)

4: Mother I’d Like to * & It’s none of your business — the two works I wrote for the @momrryfest2020! I’m really proud of the first one because I think I managed to get the humor I went for across nicely. The second one has a special place in my heart because it was the first fanfiction I ever wrote and it was super self-indulgent and, even though I look back at it and see many faults, I’m happy that I wrote it and had the courage to post it.

5: Your flowers just died — I wrote this as a thank you for Evelin and I had to do research about Greek Mythology from scratch and I had so much fun doing it! It was also my first time trying more poetic language and longer paragraphs (I love experimenting!), and I’m happy with the outcome.

6: Nice To Meet You — special shoutout to this piece because I genuinely thought it was just average but it’s the fic I have most feedback on in the sense of people wanting a sequel and asking about it... so thank you to everyone who read it and commented <3

Also, I want to thank every single person who supported me as I started to write. Karlee @heathenharry for being here with me from my first time, every single person who has beta’ed for me and given me advice and my friends who are my own personal cheerleaders. I love you guys. 

If I don’t tag you below and you want to do this, go ahead (and tag me so I can see it!) 

@whatevertearsyou @siredcrab @aichathebrave @sashinalash @uhohmorshedios @chrysopon @evilovesyou @thethieves @so-why-let-your-voice-be-tamed @senshine @slytherinzouis @bravestylesao3 @mercurial-madhouse

[fictionalrambles]

Shadowhunters Fandom Story - Part Twelve

Submitted by notquiteascrazy

Five Favourite Stories

 The Stars Aligned series by @lecrit​

WHY I LOVE THIS FIC:  The only thing I knew for certain coming into this “picking faves process” was that there had to be something by Lecrit on this list. The way Lu writes Magnus & Alec enraptures me every single damn time and to narrow it down to just one was so hard. So I cheated & picked a series ;) It was one of the first Malec fics I read and just the whole AU is perfect.

I re-read it when Oscar Nominations are announced and on the day of the ceremony (I don’t even care about the Oscars). And probably 5 or 6 times throughout the year on top of that. The mutual pining is so strong to begin with, there’s some very light angst with some classic “bad guy” action by Camille and when they finally get their shit together, well, it’s just beautiful. Jace being an idiot, Izzy being the most supportive ever, nerd Simon… It’s got the works. If you haven’t already read it, why the hell not? Go. Now.

FAVORITE QUOTE: “I know we usually don’t thank our agents in these things,” he says, still scanning the room, “but my agent is also my PA and one of my best friends, and I just won an Oscar so I think I can do whatever I want tonight and he won’t hold it against me.” The audience laughs, as much in amusement as it is in surprise but Magnus doesn’t really notice, finally giving up. “Okay,” he exclaims in the mic, “I can’t find him. Has anyone seen Alec? Tall, dark, handsome and probably glued to his phone right now?” [Trying to cut this entire speech down into the best bit? Impossible but I decided to go with the start]

*

 2C by Oumy

WHY I LOVE THIS FIC:  I love the antagonism between Alec & Magnus to begin with and while the source of this is revealed in an additional fic later on, while reading 2C you can entirely predict what started it all. And within the main work itself, it doesn’t need saying because the way the characters are written subtly folds in all these personality traits that we know & love. Even before they finally get it together, they’re pushing each other & challenging each other to be the best versions of themselves. The way it builds from rivalry to romance is just *chefs kiss*

Plus, the mental image of Alec & Magnus as incredibly skilled musicians is Hot. We’ll ignore the slight “Magnus can’t play the charango and it’s awful every time he tries going near an instrument” thing… In this universe, they’re musical maestros!

FAVORITE QUOTE: Alec moved from the door, his long legs already eating up the distance to the entrance, and the competitive side of Magnus, the one that reluctantly thrived on their rivalry, refused to let him have the last word, so he blurted out at the retreating figure “Bite me, Lightwood” Alec turned around, walking backwards and spread his free hand, that perpetual half smile still etched on his face “Only if you ask nicely”

*

 Between the Lines by @msalexiscriss​

WHY I LOVE THIS FIC:  The plot is fantastic. The entire concept that Magnus is a criminal didn’t necessarily sit well with me at first but then as the story progresses and you realise why, it all starts to come together. And so much of their characteristics & traits are woven into it in a really fun way, e.g. Magnus’ love of glitter. From the very beginning the chemistry between them is so well written considering they’ve barely interacted in person. The way Magnus taunts Alec, the way they play this cat & mouse game. About halfway through I had this sudden fear that I would not enjoy the ending. I just couldn’t see a satisfying conclusion where no-one’s morals were compromised and they still got their happy ending but it really came together and did all the characters justice!

FAVORITE SCENE: The entire “first date” on the rooftop. The way Alec ends up there, the way Magnus has it all planned out. The conversation & the teasing from Magnus. The prying for information from Alec. The way they both dance around each other while enjoying the company & getting to know one another. 

  *

 Deeper Than the Truth by insieme

WHY I LOVE THIS FIC:  Can you really compile a list of favourite fics without including at least one coffee shop AU?! And this one is so much more than just a coffee shop AU. I love how Magnus’ unbridled passion & enthusiasm jumpstarts Alec. I love the slow burn that builds up between them & how their relationship develops. I love the quiet moments of their relationship that are interwoven with the bigger moments. I love the balance between Alec hating the lies he’s telling and knowing that he could hurt Magnus and the inner turmoil he goes through. I love that the reveal is realistically handled and not just swept under a rug but they actually talk about the communication issues. I just love it all.

FAVORITE QUOTE: “Well Alexander, I would love to continue this conversation at the present except I have a whole room of ladies with sharp sewing needles who are not going to be too pleased with me if I keep them waiting any longer. Perhaps if you’re here tomorrow, around the same time, we could bump into each other again, and you could tell me your ridiculous dislike for Mr. Archer over a cup of coffee?” Magnus looked at Alec confidently, like he had no reservations whatsoever that Alec wouldn’t accept his offer. He was right. “Tomorrow. Yeah, okay. I’ll be here.” Alec said, unable to stop the smile that crept onto his face. Magnus was already on his way out the store when Alec realized what Magnus had said. He called out after him, “My name is Alec!” Magnus just waved over his shoulder, calling out “See you tomorrow, Alexander!” He was so screwed. [What I have learnt about myself going through this exercise is the early moment of relationships in fics are my favourites. They set the tone of what’s to come & build the chemistry from there!]

  *

 Choose your weapon by @steakandvodka​

WHY I LOVE THIS FIC:  Clalec BROTP ftw. Honestly, this is just cute and shows such lovely character growth & their relationship develops so beautifully. Alec is shown as supportive & a good leader and very typically Alec in response to Clary. But it also shows a softer side & how him & Fray become friends.

Meanwhile, we see a struggle from Clary that isn’t shown in the show about how not being brought up in the shadow world means working harder to get up to scratch & her insecurities around it.

FAVORITE QUOTE: “Look, I know better than anyone how much pressure it can be to be perfect all the time. Especially when you have people doubting you — the drive to prove them wrong can overshadow every other responsibility in your life. But hard work isn’t always a good thing, not if you don’t go about it in a healthy way. It can set you back, and more importantly, you can get hurt” [Alec Lightwood finally embracing healthy work-life balance <3]

*

 Author Story

At first I felt a little bit like a fraud trying to write this. I’d hardly consider myself an author - I’ve barely really written anything (politely ignoring my terrible contributions to the HP fandom well over a decade ago)

I’d never really considered myself particularly creative, much happier to just absorb the fruits of other people’s creativity and be glad that there are so many talented people in the world writing stories and making art. Shadowhunters changed that for me. The characters have resonated with me and I found myself inspired on a couple of occasions to actually put pen to paper (Well, fingers to keyboard)

I still consider myself very creatively challenged but I’m enjoying exploring the little bursts of inspiration, even if I find myself wishing I’d paid more attention in English class! Reading has always been my escape from reality, writing is now giving me that opportunity to create my own escapes. So if there’s anyone else who’s new to this and nervous about trying to write/sharing their writing, I feel you! But if you have a story you want to tell - go for it! You might surprise yourself :)

[vermiculated]

books 2017 finale

this is almost brief. 

december: The Lying Game - Ruth Ware Every Heart A Doorway - Seanan McGuire Saving Morgan - MB Panichi Call Me By Your Name - Andre Aciman City of Fallen Angels - Cassandra Clare City of Lost Souls - Cassandra Clare (see below) Barry Lyndon - William Thackeray Into Thin Air - John Krakauer

that was the brief part, this is the ‘almost’ part. 279 for the year, up from 188 last year. 

Why Did I Ever - Mary Robison fiction, re-read, it is a delight always. 

Binti - Nnedi Okorafor fiction, I read a couple of other interesting explorations of "what does it mean when I am more like the monster than the hero?" which is pretty astoundingly generative as a genre, this was my fave. Binti herself explores two alien cultures, and reacts in practical ways to the unexpected, which is always a delight in a heroine. Space is strange; let us not dwell on realism, it's a different real. This willingness to abandon what does not work is characteristic of young women. Young women are great sff protagonists, and young women of historically-disadvantaged backgrounds who are incontestably heroic are the greatest sff protagonists of all. 

The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage - Sydney Padua art, complex and excitingly rich alternative history, which not only explains computing history but also, at the last page, yanks at the heart of anyone who has ever yearned. The art is propulsive and antic, and the visual puns are very good. (not to be missed: the encounter with Queen Victoria!) Even I, a person who is bad at reading graphic novels, loitered over the drawings to understand them rather than reading the words and flipping the page. 

IQ - Joe Ide fiction, what Sherlock Holmes would actually be like in a modern novel. A loner in a big important city who feels that he has much to make up for, check the convincing depiction of depression, and the real nightmares who actually do fall short in the world's estimation, except that the world is too busy to notice them at all. The main thread is a fun romp, and the minor characters are so exquisite that it is almost a picaresque. I was talking about this loudly on a train, and when I and it stopped, a man came up to me and asked if I could give him the title again as he wanted to buy it. TRUE. 

Hild - Nicola Griffith fiction, on the recommendation of @inclineto This is what historical fiction should be like: it's not that this was somehow better than everything else, it was merely relevatory. Historical fiction can be about religion, power, families, war and how to card wool. (You don't have to pick if you are an inside or outside person! Girls, you can be both Thayet and Buri!) The protagonist can be cheerfully bisexual, too. It's as though all of the novels we have determinedly pretended were about gals being in love with other gals came true, and also the heroine gutted bad guys and was eventually canonized. 

Everything is Teeth - Evie Wyld and Joe Sumner art, teeth were a big theme this year (as ever) and this is the one where a) no one talks about the shameful inequalities in provision of dental care to children in the United States and b) no one fucks a fish. just letting the distinguished reader know that I have a selection process for what I read, I can see how that might not be clear. I would be delighted to talk about a) and b) mentioned here, or anything else I read this year. 

Water Dogs - Lewis Robinson fiction, re-read, always always. the person who loves novels about well-off and unusual families falling apart in opulent squalor either literal or metaphoric and maybe murder? that person is tuv. Inexplicably, no part of this was ever published in The New Yorker. 

Margaret the First - Danielle Dutton fiction, on the recommendation of @elanormcinerney  The subgenre of “garrulous historical person in his or her own words" is becoming something of a crowded field (Ruth Scurr's book on/with John Aubrey is the other best entrant, there are others) and the artistry involved in this example is particularly fulfilling. This is smart and I remembered all the stuff about science and poetry that Arts & Letters Daily is always trying to teach me. That's why to read women, among other reasons. The smarts. 

Blood in the Water - Heather Ann Thompson non-fiction, persistent mismanagement, gross racism, and inadequate communication turn out not to be the way to run an organization. This is really a masterpiece of microhistory, about the Attica Prison Uprising, and the ways in which people in power blind themselves to consequences of their actions, while the people who suffer the consequences of those actions suffer and continue to suffer.  

See Under: Love - David Grossman trans Betsy Rosenberg fiction, goes well with the Quay Brothers' "Street of Crocodiles," while we are talking about Bruno Schulz. I read parts of it in my head to the neighbors' dog. the dog understood. my voice would have shredded with sadness if I had spoken. thanks, Astro, for being there. 

Sarong Party Girls - Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan fiction, this is the novel that Kevin Kwan isn't tough enough to have written. It's about how grown-ups deal with the consequences of their actions, and also about drinking with pals. A person can be both of those things, and Jazzy is that, and more. 

Emotionally Weird - Kate Atkinson fiction, a strong taste for the picaresque, and a crystalline capture of youthful aimlessness and disorder even as it is being shaped by larger forces. Effie wanders through words and life, and I had a wonderful time with this one summer afternoon. No one else appears to have much liked this book, other people are wrong, it's funny. It is profoundly show-offy and unrelateable to play parlor games in the car, say book reviewers with terrible personalities -- sounds like someone lost a game of fives recently. (I’m very good at the game of fives, and I did not quite feel personally criticized when this book was unpopular, if only because I have my expertise at ‘name five mountaineers who did not climb Mount Everest’ to console me.)

A Line Made By Walking - Sara Baume fiction, I just really love books about depressed women acting as they see fit. 

Chemistry - Weike Wang fiction, I just really love books about depressed women acting as they see fit. 

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue - Mackenzi Lee fiction, recommended by @mysharkwillgoon see "Hild" above, books are just better when the main character solves problems and kisses everyone. This is how historical romances should be, this is what we have all received for those years of crossing our fingers under the cover of a Heyer and hoping 'maybe he'll love his best friend! maybe she'll tell her cousin what she really thinks!" and they DO. and then they escape from pirates, “The Monk,” and robbers.  

Raven Rock - Garrett Graff non-fiction, read this first and then think about how we all got from there to a study of underground bunkers and the places where some of us were going to go when the rest of us died. Offutt AFB is along the way, which only served to remind me that I have family in Nebraska and I live in fear of the day when one of them does some casual genealogy and we have to talk; "so. your state. big in the planning for our forthcoming and yet reucrring nuclear crisis, howdoes that feel? feels powerful and also sickening, yeah? anyway, your great-aunt's ashes aren't scattered in the Lincoln Tunnel, but we thought about it."  

The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye - Sonny Liew art, here is what we are up against. The theme this year appears to have been "weeping at what could have been." This is a first rate textbook, and a cunning subversion of the whole notion of textbooks. I learned a great deal from this; had I learned nothing, my eye would still have wandered along, marvelling at the layout. There are several overlapping stories about narrative, success, and Singaporean history, yet the metatextuality (horrible word, apologies) is never confrontational. Which is truly a pleasure. 

The Story of a Brief Marriage - Anuk Arudpragasam fiction, this is the book I've been telling everyone about as my fave book on the year. Only the most literary of adjectives will suffice: brutal, lyrical, lambent, noctilucent, I'm just typing words. 

The Unwomanly Face of War - Sveltana Alexievich trans Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky non-fiction, more incisive than more recent collections, and in a shimmering translation. Pevear and Volokhonsky have tossed words out like diamonds on black velvet. The rare wartime history that is more appealing without a map. 

City of Lost Souls - Cassandra Clare oh give me a fucking break, Jonathan nee Sebastian brainwashed Jace nee whatever while they were in the magical flying Gormenghast pied a terre, they absolutely schtupped. 

[princessnowvie14]

My Top Romance Anime

I made a new set of list of my fave romance anime series since I guess i deleted my post accidentally w/c i always update ( i dont wanna talk about it i'm still in shock lol) so here it is i made it as simple as possible, no long description. Just my collection of anime that caught my heart while watching it. 

1. InuYasha

InuYasha follows Kagome Higurashi, a fifteen-year-old girl whose normal life ends when a demon drags her into a cursed well on the grounds of her family's Shinto shrine. Instead of hitting the bottom of the well, Kagome ends up 500 years in the past during Japan's violent Sengoku period with the demon's true target, a wish-granting jewel called the Shikon Jewel, reborn inside of her.

Inuyasha has always been my fave since childhood. I love the love and hate relationship they have. Inuyasha being stubborn but ever since he met Kagome he learned a lot of being a good person. I just hate their love triangle with kikyo nevertheless I love how it ends. It's really worth it after so many years of watching and waiting for it.

2. Kamisama Kiss

 Nanami immerses herself in her divine duties. But if she must keep things running smoothly, she will need the help of a certain hot-headed fox. In her fumbling attempt to seek out Tomoe, she lands in trouble and ends up sealing a contract with him. 

I’ve never been so satisfied in my life until after watching all the episodes of this anime, the twist is amazing . It ends well. My heart was happy.

3. Wolf Girl and Black Prince

 Erika Shinohara has taken to lying about her romantic exploits to earn the respect of her new friends. So when they ask for a picture of her "boyfriend," she hastily snaps a photo of a handsome stranger, whom her friends recognize as the popular and kind-hearted Kyouya Sata.

This is the first time i tried to watch anime series continously, i mean i never wanted to stand up while watching it haha it was good . I love how Kyouya manage to be so mean while everybody thinks he's a perfect prince, but i fell in love with this couple, theyre so perfect. 

4. Noragami

Just as things seem to be looking grim for the god, his fortune changes when a middle school girl, Hiyori Iki, supposedly saves Yato from a car accident, taking the hit for him. Remarkably, she survives, but the event has caused her soul to become loose and hence able to leave her body. Hiyori demands that Yato return her to normal, but upon learning that he needs a new partner to do so, reluctantly agrees to help him find one.

aahh yatori makes my heart crave for more haha i mean dont expect a lot of romance on this, it highlights friendship . Yato being so childish and Hiyori is such a good girl, i cry whenever she loses her memory. The story is fun and I hope for the next season they will give exposure for my fave couple.

5. Inu X Boku SS

But Ririchiyo's troubles have only just begun. As a requirement of staying in her new home, she must be accompanied by a Secret Service agent. Ririchiyo's new partner, Soushi Miketsukami, is handsome, quiet... but ridiculously clingy and creepily submissive.

I love the twist, i dont mind watching this all over again. Their personalities is quite interesting, the story is cute with mix of mystery.

6. My little Monster

Shizuku Mizutani is apathetic towards her classmates, only caring about her grades. However, her cold view of life begins to change when she meets Haru Yoshida, a violent troublemaker who stopped attending class after getting into a fight early in the school year. He is not much different from her, though—he too understands little about human nature and does not have any friends.

oposite attracts haha Haru is so adorable. And their relationship is quite bumpy and unsure. But i think their feelings for each other are genuine.

7. Hatsukoi Monster

After meeting her rescuer yet again and discovering that his name is Kanade Takahashi, she confesses her love to him. Kanade says he would like for them to be a couple, but that Kaho may not want to date him after she finds out his secret. To her shock, Kaho discovers the startling truth: Kanade is a fifth grader!

 Hatsukoi Monster follows Kaho's first steps into love with Kanade, her immature, yet kind, fifth grade boyfriend.

Age doesn't really matter lol. Its kinda weird as it may seems but who cares as long as you love each other then jump and take a risk. You can wait for the right time anyway haha. This anime is funny and i love how their friendship show. Accepting the situation and learn how to deal with differences is the lesson.

8. Guomin Laogong Dai Huijia

Lu Jin Nian and Qiao An Hao were not married by choice. On the first day of their wedding night, Qiao An Hao made three rules regarding their marriage. One, you are not allowed to touch me. Two, you are not allowed to announce publicly that I'm your wife. Three, you are not allowed to say that we are living together.

I've watch only the first two seasons. and i loved it. Its like a prequel to the story but i dont know why im satisfied with it haha, the truth is i dont have the strength to watch the season 3 and i dont even wanna know how it ends. haha while watching i was desperate and frustrated them to be together, i want a happy ending. But all I can see was barriers and situation wont let them be happy together. I hope they will make a movie based on this. All i know is it was too depressing but definitely has a good story line.

9. Red Data Girl

Izumiko begins by cutting her bangs, which shocks both her classmates and protectors. And that's only the start! Her guardian, Yukimasa Sagara, forces his son, Miyuki, to come to the mountain shrine and become Izumiko's lifelong servant and protector. Too bad Izumiko and Miyuki cannot stand each other. They have known each other since they were children, and Miyuki bullied her terribly.  Will Izumiko and Miyuki work past their differences? Is she actually a literal goddess? Find out in RDG: Red Data Girl!

This anime left me hanging and didn’t give me the ending i crave for, i hope they gonna make a next season. but i enjoyed it so much, i love the main characters and the vibe it gives me. It's a serious mystery and a little bit of romance but not much. anyway i love this, never regret watching it.

10.  Shuumatsu Nani Shitemasu ka? Isogashii desu ka? Sukutte Moratte Ii desu ka?

Willem takes refuge on the floating islands in the sky, living in fear of the Beasts below. One day, he is tasked with being a weapon storehouse caretaker. Thinking nothing of it, Willem accepts, but he soon realizes that these weapons are actually a group of young Leprechauns. Though they bear every resemblance to humans, they have no regard for their own lives, identifying themselves as mere weapons of war. Among them is Chtholly Nota Seniorious, who is more than willing to sacrifice herself if it means defeating the Beasts and ensuring peace. 

Not every story has good ending but im glad i watched this. The couple reminds me of kaname and sagara of full metal panic but in different way. Their personalities are so perfect for each other. I wasnt really into anime girls with different hair colors but Ctholly change my point of view, she's exactly one of my fave girls now, her being childish, jealous and innocent around Willem caught me. Funny moments will be present too and their feelings for each other blooms slowly every episodes that you just wanna watch more. I wish the last episode ended the way I wanted, anyway, I still dont get why Willem is involved into two different girls in the past, i guess it wasnt explained that much, i just hate the flashback how he remember the girl while he's with Ctholly,. Well all in all, i enjoy much I just hope they add new season, but i dont know how it will start haha. Im just happy to meet and add this perfect couple in my list.

 So that’s it, i’m still in search of finding good anime romance. I hope i wont let my foolish hand delete this post again lol. Im definitely gonna edit this and add more . Hope you enjoy reading. :)

[cassiejade]

I read 21 books this month.

That’s right 21.

I am so impressed with myself, this has been the best reading month ever. Ever. Thank god for audiobooks I listened to 11 audiobooks this month, and if it wasn’t for audiobooks I wouldn’t have gotten through some of these books.

I just cannot believe I read 20 books; I’m just in a huge reading mood and just want to read all the books. I can’t get enough and I hope this feeling never goes away. I haven’t felt even close to burning out yet.

Help me when I do lol that slump is probably going to be brutal!

Lets get into my wrap up lol

The Long Way to A Small Angry Planet  by Becky Chambers 4 out of 5 stars

If you are ever looking for an audiobook recommendation, get this one, its such a fun sci-fi read.

Love, Life, and the List by Kasie West 3 out of 5 stars

I don’t know what to say about this one, I didn’t love it but I also didn’t hate it. Kasie’s books have either been a hit or miss with me, and I think it’s because her storytelling doesn’t feel consistent to me.

The Thief  by Megan Whalen Turner 3 out of 5 stars

I was honestly expecting a bit more from this, I’ve heard so many people raving about it, Regan at PeruseProjects has been fangirling over this series so hard that I had to read it, and I was really bored for most of the story.

The Theif’s Daughter  by Jeffery Wheeler 5 out of 5 stars

I read the Queens Poisoner last year which is the first book of the Kingfountain series, and I loved it. I also highly recommend these audiobooks, the narrator is just wonderful. This is a King Arther retelling but its done in the way that its like a prequel to King Arther, its a two-generation series with the first three books dedicated to the events leading up to King Arther and the last three books are the next generation, I haven’t read those yet but I am really looking forward to them.

The King’s Traitor  by Jeffery Wheeler 5 out of 5 stars

I’m not gonna say much about it except this was a great ending to a trilogy.

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden 5 out of 5 stars

I don’t know where to begin, the first thing I’ll say, It was everything I wanted from the synopsis. I have a guilty pleasure for a Russian setting, dark fairytales come to life, and the writing was just gorgeous. If you’re a fan of Laini Taylor’s writing I say pick this up. It has such a lush and rich setting, you feel like you are in the world.

Magic Study by Maria V Snyder 4 out of 5 stars

I read Poison Study last year and was a bit enchanted with the world and these characters, I was so frustrated with them at first but the things that infuriated me in the book weren’t an issue continuing on. I loved the school setting so much

Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel 5 out of 5 stars

I didn’t know much about this before getting into it. I had a general idea that a girl had fallen down a hole and landed in the middle of a giant metal hand. SOLD! GIVE ME. This was told through dossier reports and interviews and it was amazing. Loved and can’t wait for the next book.

The Mark of Athena  by Rick Riordan 5 out of 5 stars

This is the one that turned me onto Riordan’s writing, I was a bit bored while reading the Percy Jackson series, struggled through the Lost Hero, and was hesitant about Son of Neptune, but I loved this one. Everyone coming together from the Greek and Roman camps, Annabeth is a total BAMF, Percy and Jason’s testosterone-fueled competitions. There was just so much that I loved.

btw I’m totally convinced this is what Annabeth was thinking when Percy and Jason met 

Wonder Woman: Warbringer  by Leigh Bardugo 4 out of 5 stars

I was surprised to enjoy this as Wonder Woman is not my all-time favorite DC character, I am a huge fan of the movie and I’m slowly coming around to her. I am familiar with Wonder Woman’s canon story but was really open to a new perspective, a new story from a different point of view, and Bardugo definitely delivered. The action was great and Diana was delightful.

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black 4.5 out of 5 stars

Alright, this book definitely delivered on the hype. I was a bit skeptical going in, everyone left and right was loving this, yet the beginning was so slow. But the storytelling was a bit hypnotic and I slowly and surely just fell in love.

Beneath the Sugar Sky by Seanan McGuire 4.5 out of 5 stars

I adore this series and I hope it continues, every book just leaves me wanting more.

Paperweight by Meg Haston 3 out of out of 5 stars

This is a hard one to sum up, its such an important topic, dealing with all sorts of mental illnesses. But I didn’t care for much of the story, it was angsty, emotional, and just all around a bit overwhelming at points.

The Time Machine by HG Wells 2 out of 5 stars

I was actually really bored reading this, it was a long story being told to a group of friends, the story-telling was rushed and there were points where what the time traveler was saying just didn’t make sense. I listened to this on audiobook and I think that was the only thing that kept me going with the story.

The Picture of Dorian Gray  by Oscar Wilde 1 out of 5 stars

So I guess this is somewhat of an unpopular opinion but I don’t care, come at me, this book is trash! Just straight up garbage. First of all, I don’t like being told how the world works from the eyes of pretentious upper-class fuckboys who have never done a single day of actual work. I understand that these characters weren’t meant to be relatable and to actually be disliked but that doesn’t mean I have to enjoy these long-winded pretentious and boring monologues

Second of all this book romanticizes suicide because all these characters are garbage people; a young girl kills herself over heartbreak and one of the garbage people said that he wishes some of his mistresses had loved him enough to do the same and how lucky the heartbreaker was to be rid of such a love-struck inconvenience. Umm, all y’all can just go choke.

Third, fuck this book.

Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Hammer of Thor  by Rick Riordan 4 out of 5 stars

I am really enjoying the Magnus Chase trilogy. Its so much fun, I love the references the bits of pop culture. The diversity is also amazing, and the Norse gods are just so much fun. I cant get enough to be honest.

Batman: Nightwalker by Marie Lu 4 out of 5 stars

Maybe I’m in the minority here but I really enjoyed this, I was hooked from the getgo and couldn’t read the story fast enough, I needed to know everything that was happening next and I needed to know it now. A really gripping story with a new take on Bruce Wayne.

Scythe by Neal Schusterman 5 out of 5 stars

OMG! Why did I wait so long to read this?!?! This was phenomenal! I loved the story, the world, how dark it was, the characters. I cant think of a negative thing to say. I was hooked to the pages from start to finish, there was no point where I felt bored while reading this.

Yes Please  by Amy Schumer 3 out of 5 stars

There were quite a few points where I was laughing so hard. I listened to this on audiobook too and it was amazing with a cast recording, Seth Meyers came in and read a chapter, Carol Burnett popped in to say that Amy was her best friend, her parents came in and did some readings, and then Patrick Stewart came and read some poems. It was just great. Have I sold you on it yet?

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley 2.5 out of 5 stars

This was an interesting story, but the worldbuilding could have been better, the beginning was super slow! I wasn’t even fully interested until I was almost halfway through…thank god for audiobooks lol.

Artemis by Andy Weir 3 out of 5 stars

I would have liked this a lot more if there wasn’t so much description, so much detail of A going to B and then B going to C, and then why were doing all of this, why the thing is doing the thing! So too much detail, too much spoonfeeding explaining.

On the bright side; I liked the humor in the book, some of it was forced but some lines were great! The story wasn’t that bad. At the end of the day, I did enjoy it.

What was your favorite book you read this month? Mine was probably The Bear and the Nightingale and my least fave was the Picture of Dorian Gray.

  January 2018 Wrap Up: aka my best reading month ever I read 21 books this month. That's right 21. I am so impressed with myself, this has been the best reading month ever.