#and the romance centric thing

[nullians]

About that misogyny in fandom post. I think it’s like… a complicated enough net of “what people want to see in fan creations”, “what people can relate to in fan creations”, “what kind of people make up for most of the creative side of fandom” (remember that “all men do in fandom is make power level tiers and theories” post? It’s bad but like. Shows the general sentiment), “what will give an author interactions”, and “how do people approach each other about their favourite things”. Like there are many factors, and I think sexualisation and fanservice should be counted in too, and the diversity offered to male vs female characters. I’ve said it once before but it’s generally much harder to find a female character who has the same freedom of expression as a male character. And a lot of them are not made with the same enthusiasm as the male ones. Like yeah, that is misogyny but I think it’s not like. A fandom-root problem but a source material problem too? And imo the audience will subconsciously or not react to that.

Plus, maybe this wouldn’t be so visible if fandom wasn’t mostly ship-centric… Because as it stands, even if there is a voice to explore non-romantic and sexual relationships oftentimes it just ends up being a very sad/isolating experience still. Hmm

[marinsawakening]

LOZ Fic Recs

Deciding to use my hobby of autistically crawling through AO3 tags for good. I'm prioritizing fics with less than 50 kudos. None of these are ship fics, most don't have any romance. All of these are completed one shots, most under 10k words.

Skies, Surfaces, and the Hero Chef That Can't Actually Cook by greatduwangs

Summary: Link's cooking sidequest in Skyward Sword, which goes about as well as you'd expect. Or, the missing ingredient was a home all along, or whatever.

Why I recommend it: 4.5k of Link eating things he shouldn't. Very funny and very cute!

Big Dark by phlyarologist

Summary: Character study of Mido as the events of Ocarina of Time change him, worldbuilding the Kokiri and examining what it means to grow up.

Why I recommend it: Contender for the best LOZ fic I've ever read. Brilliant worldbuilding and characterization, and a fantastic understanding of childhood and its nuances that you rarely see outside of fiction aimed at children.

loop - synonyms: coil, noose, ring, circle by MidnightBunnyy

Summary: Fi gets stuck in a timeloop and is very... well, Fi about it.

Why I recommend it: Excellent Fi characterization that leads to a very funny take on a time loop scenario while still being a serious story.

Notes: Restricted work, only available to AO3 users.

A Legacy Cast in Stone by sagittamoth

Summary: Pre-Skyward Sword Sheikah worldbuilding following an OC who works with the robots and timeshift stones in the last days before the war.

Why I recommend it: Does a great job with worldbuilding, creating a vibrant world that slots neatly into the greater Skyward Sword canon.

missing by fandomsandshit

Summary: Drabble exploring Zelda's time in the dungeon.

Why I recommend it: Does a brilliant job painting fear and an oppressive atmosphere, with stellar Zelda characterization.

Growth by herohelio

Summary: Two connected snippets of Malon in the adult timeline, meeting Link again.

Why I recommend it: Adorable Link and Malon friendship and great Malon characterization, with very effective hints at what living under Ingo had been like.

Because each time we live by grainjew

Summary: Follows Link through ALTTP, written through the lens of the reincarnation theory with a focus on connection to the wider LOZ series.

Why I recommend it: Author described it as a 'mood piece', which it absolutely is and is very good at. I like the surreal and blurry way reincarnation is portrayed in this fic, and it has a great take on the maidens.

Blind and the Bunny by justAPassingThought

Summary: A character study of Blind the Thief through his defeat in the Thieves’ Hideout Dungeon.

Why I recommend it: Excellent exploration of the Dark World and the way its transformations work, and I really like Blind's view on Link's Dark World form.

Litany of Betrayal by RawLiverAndCigarettes

Summary: A foreign warlord swears fielty to the king of Hyrule. Impa knows what the stranger truly wants. She has seen it before. She can still taste the ash.

Why I recommend it: Fantastic character study of Ganondorf and Impa in Ocarina of Time. Everyone is horrible and I'm thriving. Incorporates Hylia into the OOT canon in a way I find actually interesting. Fascinating worldbuilding in general.

Notes: Prequel to a novel-length fic I have not read (I'm terrible at reading long fics rip).

that gentle hubris by cassiopeian

Summary: Zelda bares her soul at the Spring of Wisdom, but the answers she seeks do not come from a goddess.

Why I recommend it: Mipha and Zelda friendship, a fun take on Zora mythology and I always love mortals forging their own paths in worlds where gods are objectively real.

Hunger by Anonymous

Summary: Sequel to Grace, where Zelda struggles to reckon with perceptions out of her control. Link is there to help point out what she's missed. Can be read as standalone.

Why I recommend it: Autistic Zelda, queerplatonic zelink, and a great portrayal of the hunger that comes with trauma.

Notes: Sequel to a fic that is also very good.

As Above, So Below by Mothlight_Witch

Summary: An exploration of the Depths and Hyrule's cosmology.

Why I recommend it: The other contender for 'best LOZ fic I've read'. Astounding atmosphere and worldbuilding, incredibly unique and all-around breathtaking. Lives in my head rent free.

What is your wish? by AdeptArcanist

Summary: Character study of Vaati connecting him to Link's Awakening and Majora's Mask.

Why I recommend it: Very weird and unique take on LOZ lore and I'm so incredibly here for that.

Linner (Link Dinner) by waterglider

Summary: An adaptation of one of Zelda's diary entries set after the "Blades of the Yiga" memory. After a very irritating person saves her life, Zelda has developed a theory-- one she plans to test.

Why I recommend it: Zelda is kinda mean and Link is a monarchist bootlicker. I adore this take on pre-Calamity Link, he's genuinely insufferable and I love that. If I ever end up writing pre-Calamity Link I'm so stealing this characterization.

Notes: Sequel to another stellar fic, prequel to an in progress novel-length fanfic that I have not read (again, terrible at reading longer fic).

[bumblingbabooshka]

From my fic: The Flower of Iraks'gol [Patreon | Commissions]

[codicies]

(From today's Venom Unleashed)

Man, nothing really makes you nervous like the possibility of your blorbo getting a love interest.

I mean, I'm not against it in theory, but I don't want romance to swallow all of Dylan's character development thus far. I think it would be cute if he started feeling attracted to others his age, but an actual relationship? I'd want them to do something new and different with it.

I think it would be both interesting and hilarious if his symbiote half was a big influence over what traits he finds attractive. Like, not just physical traits or personality, but he keeps being drawn to peers who would make good symbiote hosts. Something in his system can smell the phenethylamine in their brain and is just like "good match!! good match!!!"

His romantic fantasies all involve host-bonding to them, which is weird and frustrating for him because that's not something he's physically able to do.

I dunno, the kid is half-alien, get WEIRD with it!!

[daisybell-on-a-carousel]

A common problem I have with superhero media is not having enough focus on their civilian stories and identities.

I LOVE when they interact with others as a civilian, with their friends, other heros, their villains. I'll be all OVER an episode exploring these different and new dynamics, how they may act like a hero without their mask too. Will they manage to save the day? Form new friendships? Will a fierce rival take a liking to this person they think they don't know? Just some slice of life?

I just.. awah I adore it SO MUCH i adore civilian centric stories and I love how they have a life and relationships and all the potentials it can explore. I'm especially fond of a hero as a civilian facing a villain and getting along even. And these stories can be SUCH a breath of fresh air between fights and adventures, they always tend to be favorites of mine

[thatgirlwithasquid]

every time i have to reorganise my bookshelves i forget just how long it takes cause i organise and reorganise every shelf at least twice before im satisfied to get that perfect balance between it looking pretty and the book grouping making sense

[lenievi]

finished the Covenant of the Crown. a little bit of good mckirk at the beginning and some good spones in the second half.

[gifti3]

Hmm dont get mad but

Not really into this whole everyone spilling their guts to me under the mistletoe thing

[noblehcart]

not me catching up on nursetok and wanting to add a nurse muse lmao

[eatyoursparkout]

The Hero and the Crown by Robin Mckinley or any of the books from Tales of Inthya by Effie Calvin :3c

added to TBR | on my TBR | couldn’t finish it | did not enjoy | it was OK | liked it | loved it | favorite | not interested

ooh, interesting! neither of these were on my radar before. I’m picky about what I read in terms of YA fantasy these days but I’m tentatively putting them on my TBR for now for when I’m in the mood…

[edraculation]

bitches after becoming fans of The Romance Media: but why does there have to be romance tho :/

[hoedameron]

my sister told me that she doesn't want me to play any gay movie whenever we hang out and i'm like damnnnnnnnnnn i'm running out of cishet films i can show her..........

[aroaessidhe]

2023 reads / storygraph

Bad At Love

short YA romance

a boy who’s recently moved to the US when he joined a popular band through a reality show, and has a bad-boy reputation that he wants to get rid of

and an aspiring journalist who wants to dig up dirt on him to get a scholarship

after a chance encounter, they start dating over the summer for their own goals

demisexual Brazilian and pan Brazilian-American MCs

[catboymoments]

To those wanting more (indie) series with good mlm centric romance: hey. (Hands you this blonde guy and his alien boyfriend) do you like scifi and found family and horrific mecha narratives. I’m making a thing

Interstellar queer love conquers all evils…………….

[moonreader1010]

𝓟𝓘𝓒𝓚 𝓐 𝓟𝓘𝓛𝓔

♥ 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙬𝙚𝙙𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙛𝙪𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙚 ♥

︵‿︵‿୨♡ Ｒｅａｄｉｎｇ ｂｙ － ＭＡＥ ♡୧‿︵‿︵

(PLEASE DO CHECK OUT THE NOTE AT THE END OF THE READING)

PILE 1

Cards: The Lovers, Four of Wands, Knight of Cups, and Ace of Pentacles.

Your wedding day is like a walk-in romance dream. The Lovers expresses a profound soul bond between you and your spouse to be, where both of you love each other entirely and unconditionally. This isn’t just a wedding; this is the celebration of two hearts beating as one.

The Four of Wands might represent that the venue radiates joy and togetherness. Imagine a magical venue – an outdoor ceremony, a charming vineyard, or a beautiful family garden.People you love stand beside you in smiling applause, and unity and warmth fills the air.

Nothing says more like the Knight of Cups and that all important love language. Your future spouse holds out symbolic promises of love and gentle gestures that will make you feel cherished in a way that cannot be put into words. They may surprise you with a poetic speech or an important gift that represents your journey together.

And finally, the Ace of Pentacles tells of a grounded life together in abundance, a life just beginning. This is a day not only of celebration, but the establishment of a prosperous future.

Vibe of the Wedding Day: A dreamy, heartfelt celebration filled with romance, beauty, and promises of a flourishing life ahead.

PILE 2

Cards: The Emperor, Queen of Pentacles, Ten of Pentacles, and The Star.

There is elegance, sophistication, and timeless charm to your wedding day. The Emperor leaves nothing to chance—his schedule, decorations, and ceremony run like clockwork. Your future spouse has a strong protective energy around them to make sure the day goes perfectly how you envisioned!

The Queen of Pentacles shines a light on the glam and abundance involved here. Just imagine a lavish ballroom, flowers so gorgeous they take your breath away, and a menu that dazzles the guests. Some genuine royalty with grace radiating from you, confidence captivating all around.

With the Ten of Pentacles, this is a day of not only a union of two people, but a union of families and traditions. All of the elders are present, blessings and love pass through generations. There’s a feeling of legacy in the making — your marriage feels like it will last.

The Star assures that this day fulfills your deepest dreams and hopes. There’s a magical, almost otherworldly aspect to the evening, whether it’s soft lighting, live music or a toast that no one will ever forget, a toast that ultimately inspires everyone.

Vibe of the Wedding Day: A grand, regal celebration filled with tradition, luxury, and the glow of dreams coming true.

PILE 3

Cards: The Fool, Two of Cups, Six of Swords, and The Sun.

Your wedding day is unique, a bit daring, and entirely intimate. The Fool represents a new beginning, and your wedding embodies your eccentricities and need to do things your own way. It could also be a destination wedding, a beachside elopement, or a quirky ceremony in a place that’s significant to you both.

The Two of Cups embodies love and partnership. You and your soon-to-be spouse are totally in sync, generating an uber-intimate, heart-centric vibe. Every detail — from your vows to the guest list — reflects your shared values and deep connection.

Six of Swords suggests a transition—perhaps you’ve traveled far, emotionally or physically, to arrive at this moment. The wedding might include elements of healing and closure, making it a cathartic and transformative experience for you both.

Finally, The Sun guarantees joy, warmth, and radiance. Your wedding day is filled with laughter, fun, and moments that light up your heart. Children, pets, or playful elements might be involved, making the celebration feel carefree and joyful.

Vibe of the Wedding Day: An intimate, unique, and joyful celebration that reflects your adventurous spirits and love for authenticity.

Ⓝⓞⓣⓔⓢ

This is a general reading take what resonates and leave the rest.

Check out our latest service VISION BOARD READING PACK

All credit of the pictures goes to thier rightfull owners.

Sending lots of love to whoever is reading this, take care.

[thebibliosphere]

One of the really fun and interesting things about writing a polyamorous romance as someone who is ambiamorous/polyamorous is finding new ways to make sure the narrative hits the expected genre beats without just sort of... mushing it into a pre-existing monogamous romance mold, which is what I'm afraid happens a lot of the time.

Trust me, it was my job in the publishing house to make them fit that mold. I hated it.

Reading other poly-centric romances, I can always somewhat tell when someone is writing polyamory from a sexual fantasy aspect (zero shade; I'm here for all the group sex) without actually considering how it functions as a relationship dynamic, which can often come off as... well.

It's lacking for me as a romance.

Erotica-wise, it's fine. But it misses the romantic beats for me that I want as a polyamorous-leaning person.

There's so much emphasis on the polycule and never the individual dyads within the larger relationship.

For example, in a triad, there are actually four relationships to handle.

The dyad between A + B. The dyad between A + C. The dyad between B + C. And the overarching relationship between A + B + C.

With monogamous-leaning authors or authors that've been pressed into conforming to the pre-existing genre beats, there's a tendency to treat the relationship as a homogenous mass where everything is fair and equal, and you treat all your partners the exact same way.

And I get it. It's easier to write everything as peachy-keen and to have external conflict be resolved with either acceptance or a brave confrontation.

But it doesn't always land for me as someone who wants to see my style of love represented in the genre.

In healthy polyamory, either closed or open, each relationship is unique in its own way. Taking the example of a triad again, the way A acts with C likely differs from how A acts with B.

And that's a good thing!

Because C might not want the same things as B, so trying to treat them both the exact same is a surefire way to make sure someone isn't getting their needs met, and that will lead to conflict.

Polyamory isn't striving for equality between partners but rather equity.

What are your individual needs, and how do I meet them, as well as meet the needs of my other partner(s)? What do you want from the larger relationship as a whole? How do we accommodate everyone without making someone feel neglected or uncomfortable? How do we show this in the narrative? How do we make sure character A isn't just treating B the same as C in every interaction? Do they ever fall into that pitfall? How do they remedy it?

It seems like common sense when you write it out like that, but it's a major pitfall I see time and time again. The characters never alternate their approach between partners, if there's any focus on the individuals at all.

The other major telltale thing I've noticed is that taking time to be with one partner is seen as a step down from the "goal" of the greater polycule.

The narrative is framed in such a way that they might start out with individual dates, but the end goal of the romance is to eventually be together 100% of the time all the time, and wanting individual time alone with any one partner is somehow "lesser."

Which is the goal of romance in monogamy, but it's not the goal of romance in polyamory.

Granted, you do need to end on a Happy Ever After or Happy For Now for it to fit the genre requirement. And a nice way of tying that up is to have everyone together at the end as a happy polycule all together all at once. I'm not disputing that as a narrative tool. I'm just pointing out that there's a tendency to present those moments as the sum total of the relationship when in actuality, there are multiple relationships that need to end happily ever after.

The joy of polyamorous love is the joy of multitudes. It's the joy of experiencing new things, both as individuals and as a polycule. If you're not taking care of the individual dyads, however, your polycule is going to crash and burn. You cannot avoid that. So why, then, is there such avoidance of it in stories meant to appeal to us?

Is it simply inexperience on behalf of the author? Or is it that they're not actually being written for us? Is it continued pressure to meet certain genre beats in a largely monogamous-centric genre? All of the above?

Either way, I'm having fun playing around with it and doing all the things we were warned against in the publishing house.

I'm having fun with Nathan and Vlad enjoying their own private dynamic that is theirs and theirs alone. I'm having fun with Ursula and Nathan being so careful and vulnerable around each other. I'm absolutely 100% here for the chaos of Vlad and Ursula without a chaperone. And I'm here for the chaos of Vlad and Ursula together and Nathan's fond, loving eye roll as he trails after them, too enamored to tell either of them no because where would the fun in that be...

Anyway. Don't mind me. Just getting my thoughts out while everyone else is in bed.