#arden tanith

[unboundprompts]

Dark academia names for women?

Dark Academia Character Name Ideas

-> feel free to comment suggestions, I'll do my best to add them to the list.

Male:

Crimson

Kane

Ambrose

Romero

Stoker

Tristan

Ashford

Felix

Atreus

Orion

Blake

Killian

Malachi

Edgar

Claude

Hyde

Dorian

Damon

Damian

Bram

Victor

Arthur

Caspian

Durant

Holmes

Julius

Phineas

Julian

Zoltan

Atlas

Alastair

James

Griffin

Charles

Grey

Female:

Lilith

Ebony

Eris

Victoria

Annabel

Naomi

Emberly

Narissa

Lorelei

Rowena

Elenor

Genevieve

Ivy

Trista

Ambrosia

Odessa

Wynona

Annalise

Meredith

Bronwyn

Enid

Amorette

Charlotte

Adeline

Daphne

Lenore

Blythe

Anya

Blair

Artemis

Juno

Ophelia

Rosalind

Elvira

Gender-Neutral:

Maude

Hecate

Circe

Salem

Hester

Demeter

Nimue

Wilhelmine

Xanthe

Tanith

Isolde

Fantine

Nicodem

Arden

Theodore "Theo"

Quinn

Raven

[pupsmailbox]

ACADEMIC ID PACK

NAMES ⌇ adeline. agatha. alastair. alex. alexander. alexandria. alisa. amber. ambrose. ambrosia. amorette. andrew. annabel. annabeth. annalise. anya. arden. artemis. arthur. ash. ashford. aspen. athena. atlas. atreus. augustus. avery. beatrix. blair. blake. blythe. bram. bronwyn. caspian. charles. charlotte. christopher. circe. claude. coraline. crimson. damian. damien. damon. daphne. darcy. demeter. diana. dorian. durant. ebony. eden. edgar. eleanor. elenor. elizabeth. elvira. emberl. enid. eris. everett. fantine. felix. fern. genevieve. george. grey. griffin. haven. hazel. hecate. henry. hester. holmes. hyde. inkesse. inkette. inkie. inky. isolde. ivie. ivy. james. jane. journalle. julian. julius. juno. kane. killian. lenore. lilith. lorelei. luna. magnus. malachi. mallory. maude. meredith. naomi. narissa. nicodem. nightesse. nightwing. nimue. noire. noiresse. noirette. odessa. odette. oliver. ophelia. orion. percy. persephone. peyton. phineas. phoebe. quill. quille. quinn. raven. ravenesse. ravenette. ravenne. remus. romero. rory. rosalind. rose. rowan. rowena. rufus. salem. scriptesse. sebastian. stoker. sylvain. tanith. theo. theodore. theodosia. trista. tristan. victor. victoria. vincent. virgil. wilhelmine. willow. wynona. xanthe. zoltan.

PRONOUNS ⌇ acade/academia. amber/amber. an/antique. arch/architectself. arch/archive. art/art. art/artist. arti/article. arti/fact. artifact/artifact. baro/baroque. bea/beauty. bis/bisque. book/book. bookworm/bookworm. calligraphy/calligraphy. can/vas. candle/candle. cer/ceramic. char/charcoal. chess/chess. clas/classic. clay/clay. clock/clock. co/collect. coco/coco. cocoa/cocoa. cof/coffee. coffee/coffee. col/color. coll/collection. collage/collage. con/cept. crea/cream. crow/crow. cur/curate. dra/drama. dust/dust. essay/essay. fea/feather. feather/feather. fig/figure. fil/film. flicker/flicker. gal/gallery. glaze/glaze. globe/globe. gold/gold. hazel/hazel. his/history. history/history. hon/honey. hue/hue. hypo/hypothesis. illus/illustrate. ink/ink. journal/journal. ki/kiln. knowledge/knowledge. le/letter. learn/learn. letter/letter. li/library. lig/ligature. lit/literature. mar/marble. mur/mural. murder/murder. muse/muse. muse/museum. night/night. no/note. novel/novel. page/page. paint/brush. paint/paint. paint/painting. paper/paper. para/dox. pen/pen. pho/photo. pi/pigment. piano/piano. poe/poet. poem/poem. por/trait. porcel/porcelain. print/print. qui/quill. quill/quill. raven/raven. rea/read. read/read. ren/renaissance. rev/revolution. scrapbook/scrapbook. script/scripts. scroll/scroll. sculp/sculptor. sculp/sculpture. sketch/sketch. speci/specimen. spine/spine. sta/stamp. stai/stain. stamp/stamp. statue/statue. story/story. stu/dy. study/studie. study/study. surreal/surrealism. tea/tea. theo/theory. theory/theory. thes/thesis. time/time. tweed/tweed. violin/violin. wheel/wheel. ⌛/⌛. ⌛︎/⌛︎. ☕/☕. ✒︎/✒︎. ✒️/✒️. 🏛️/🏛️. 🏺/🏺. 📜/📜. 🕯️/🕯️. 🖼️/🖼️.

[wardencommanderrodimiss]

Well, I just spent a few hours on this. Thanks, ADHD Hyperfixations. Anyways, here’s the general ages I came up with for the Three Frats AU relative to the 3H cast’s ages in the academy phase. Some are canon, others are modified canon, and others are straight up vibe guesses. I didn’t include any of the shapeshifters on here since they’re up in the air.

31+ - Vaida, Renault, Saber, Valbar, Gregor, Basilio, Flavia, Volke, Reina, Yukimura, Shura, Gilliam, basically anyone old enough to have their own kids or just obviously older than 30 something 30 - Arvis, Uther, Oswin, Hawkeye, Deen, Miriel, Libra, Shinon, Azama, Arthur (Fates) 29 - Aida, Pent, Louise, Dorcas, Isadora, Harken, Karla, Zeke, Stefan, Izana, Emmeryn, Gerik, Tethys 28 - Claud, Bartre, Natalie, Mathilda, Kamui, Fredrick, Virion, Sigrun, Gatrie, Xander, Saizo 27 - Beowulf, Lucius, Canas, Farina, Legault, Clive, Robin, Say'ri, Bastian, Heather, Tanith, Ryoma, Kagero, Scarlet, Glen (FE8) 26 - Balthus, Arden, Hector, Rath, Leila, Geitz, Karel, Lloyd, Linus, Sully, Cordelia, Kellam, Lon'qu, Calil, Rhys, Camilla, Orochi, Setsuna, Niles, Nyx, Benny 25 - Sigurd, Eldigan, Quan, Naoise, Ayra, Lewyn, Chulainn, Eliwood, Kent, Raven, Matthew, Dart, Fiora, Python, Forsyth, Sonia, Chrom, Vaike, Stahl, Cherche, Zihark, Lucia, Hinoka, Beruka, Peri, Joshua, Saleh, Cormag 24 - Edain, Brigid, Alec, Jamke, Lex, Sain, Lowen, Lukas, Leon, Jesse, Sumia, Gaius, Tharja, Geoffrey, Oscar, Jakob, Effie, Charlotte, Seth 23 - Deirdre, Tailitu, Azelle, Midir, Erinys, Wil, Heath, Ursula, Palla, Maribelle, Olivia, Henry, Kieran, Makalov, Kaze, Azura, Natasha, Glenn (3H), Rennac 22 - Mercedes, Lachesis, Lyn, Florina, Luthier, Lissa, Aran, Nephenee, Felicia, Flora, Rinkah, Silas, Syrene 21 - Jeritza, Byleth, Sylvia, Serra, Erk, Priscilla, Tatiana, Conrad, Ricken, Elincia, Marcia, Astrid, Boyd, Leo, Takumi, Oboro, Hinata, Artur, L'Arachel 20 - Hubert, Hapi, Catria, Atlas, Ike, Fiona, Jill, Mia, Lute, Innes, Knoll 19 - Sylvain, Yuri, Leonie, Finn, Dew, Guy, Rebecca, Silque, Berkut, Rinea, Fernand, Donnel, Pelleas, Ilyana, Tormod, Hana, Subaki, Mozu, Erika, Ephraim, Colm, Niemi, Forde, Kyle, Lyon 18 - Dorothea, Dedue, Raphael, Lorenz, Hilda, Constance, Monica, Jaffar, Gray, Faye, Clair, Mist, Soren, Hayato, Vanessa, Tana 17 - Edie, Dimi, Claude, Bernie, Ferdie, Felix, Ingrid, Marianne, Ignatz, Alm, Tobin, Celica, Mae, Sothe, Laura, Sakura, Elise 16 - Caspar, Linhardt, Ashe, Annette, Nino, Est, Boey, Genny, Leonardo, Meg, Ross 15 - Lysithea, Petra, Kliff, Edward, Franz 14 - Cyril, Oifey, Amelia, Ewan 13 - Delthea, Sanaki, Shannan

--

You entering a trace and emerging with an age list of (I presume) every FE that you’ve ever played. It happens. I get it. (I do have to point out that Saizo and Kaze are twins, so maybe we split the difference on their estimates? 25? 26?)

Mostly however I am going to be thinking about the 13-year-olds tier. There is such powerful energy there. I don’t know what’s going to happen if you put the three of them in the same room, but I know it will be happening, and there is no force on all the continents that could stop them if they put their mind to something.

[finalgirlfall]

zeta @watermotif tagged me to post 9 books i want to read in 2023!

a little devil in america: notes in praise of black performance by hanif abdurraqib

middlemarch by george eliot, ed. rosemary ashton

lote by shola von reinhold

villette by charlotte brontë

lucan's pharsalia, translated and with an introduction by jane wilson joyce

vivia by tanith lee

ada, or ardor by vladimir nabokov

carmilla by joseph sheridan le fanu, ed. carmen maria machado

the haunting of hill house by shirley jackson, with an introduction by laura miller

i'm tagging: @chthonic-cassandra @cor-ardens @mosschapel @mossyshadows @kirstensleepey :-) :-) <3!!!!!

[thegothicalice]

What are some of your favorite dark fairy tales or fairy tale retelling that you've read?

Retellings that come to mind include;

Vassa in the Night by Sarah Porter (a wild modern version of Vasilisa the Beautiful), Deathless by Catherynne M. Valente (mostly Marya Morevna but other Russian fairytales too, also recommend her Orphan’s Tales books), The Winternight Triology by Katherine Arden (based on medieval Russia with reference to several fairytales), Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik (loosely inspired by Rumpelstiltskin but features Eastern European folklore and Judaism), Cruel Beauty and Crimson Bound by Rosamund Hodge (Beauty and the Beast and Red Riding Hood respectively, liked the latter better but both have interesting ideas), House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig (Twelve Dancing Princesses with death, madness and gods mixed in), Hunted by Meagan Spooner (Beauty and the Beast with Russian fairytales mixed in), Beauty and Rose Daughter and Spindle’s End by Robin McKinley (two Beauty and the Beast and a Sleeping Beauty adaptations, all three are interesting but not all that dark), Spindle Fire and Winter Glass by Lexa Hillyer (Sleeping Beauty, good agency for two heroines), White as Snow by Tanith Lee (only Nobel of hers I’ve read but all of her stuff is dark and lots of fairytale retellings), The Waking Forest by Alyssa Wees (not really a specific retelling but very fairytale influenced with horror sprinkled throughout). There’s a whole adult fairytale retelling series edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling that includes Pamela Dean’s Tam Lin and Gregory Frost’s Fitcher’s Brides; I have six short story collections from that series (Snow White, Blood Red; Black Thorn, White Rose; Ruby Slippers, Golden Tears; Black Swan, White Raven; Silver Birch, Blood Moon; Black Heart, Ivory Bones). Otherwise this is my main fairytale bookcase (sorry if the titles aren’t that visible):

[fuukonomiko]

Do you have a 40k oc list for someone a little out of the loop? 😊

Hello anon! Well I have some of them but I don’t have all. Some folks also have multiple muses. I’m going to put the ones on here who I know and who were in my RP tag list. Please feel free to add, folks! Also please free to correct Fuuko-mun too! (This took me forever, sorry about that)

@aeonsancient (multiple OCs, Amenhotekh is main)

@aforgottenraven (Khakir, Raven Guard OC)

@an-imperial-dog (Lore’Lei)

@anotherbotchedjump (Sgt. Evan and his crew)

@arch-magister-khnemu (TS Khnemu)

@archon-khromys (Canon, actually)

@ask-archon-skourna (Archon OC)

@ask-astorath (canon)

@ask-40k-morathi (Drukhari)

@askakhenatenimhotep (Akhen, TS OC)

@ask-artemis-prima (Primarch OC)

@ask-a-tempestus-scion (Tempestor Prime Sharaf and Co)

@askbranwen (Shadow Captain Branwen of the Raven Guard)

@ask-cannoness-gwyne  (Cannoness Gwyne of the Order of the Bloody Rose)

@ask-colonel-straken (Canon)

@ask-commandar-farsight (Canon)

@ask-ephraelrhiannon (Psyker and Inquisitor Ephrael Rhiannon)

@ask-jack-hammer (Jack Hammer, he’s anabhuman)

@askjenetiakrole  (Canon)

@asklordcaptaincastronova (Rogue Trader Castranova)

@ask-lord-commander-dante  (Canon)

@askmalal  (Canon)

@askmalcador  (Canon)

@ask-night-haunter  (Canon)

@ask-rune-priest-ulfric (Space Wolf and Rune Priest Ulfric)

@ask-the-crimson-king  (Canon)

@askthepurgedprimarch (OC Primarch Ahaseurus )

@ask-the-sensual-primarch  (Canon)

@ask-trajann-valoris  (Canon)

@ask-tribune-ra  (Canon)

@askvicothefallenbloodangel (Chaos Blood Angel and Fuuko’s champion, Vico di Viari) 

@ask-vox-hailer-boy (Boy from TTS)

@betteroffdred

@bloodiedtanithghost (Keelan MkByrne, A Tanith Ghost)

@bouddicathesavage (Primarch OC Bouddica)

@brother-captain-aodhan (OC Captain Aodhan)

@cadian-remnant (OC Sgt. Veronika Reeve)

@calibansfallenangels  (Canon) and OC Sivier

@catachan-jungle-fighter (John Geist and the Mad Wolves of Catachan)

@commorritestreettrash (Drukhari OC Taphamela)

@corsair-princess-nenime (Aeldari OC Nenime)

@empress-of-xerxes (Seras Kyne OC)

@exhausted-drone

@fandomlessmultimuse (Sombra et al)

@feraseos (Drukhari Wych Feraseos)

@ii-and-the-sun (Primarch Gavmieltus Gariq)

@inquisitortyrosaldwin (Inquisitor Tyros Aldwin OC)

@just-another-guardsman (OC Guardsman Tobias Lorik and company)

@kainzalin

@kalle-and-lita (NL Kalle and Lita of Nostramo)

@lord-kallig (Kallig and his merry crew of heretics)

@lost-little-lamb (Egun Ko the astropath and crew)

@magsnagadaunkyllyble (Magsnaga the gentleman ork)

@marcusmettalus (multiple muses)

@mortars-and-martyrs (aka Mun with a million OC, LOL)

@navigator-bethany (Astropath Bethany)

@ophidian-mystic

@overlord-velathain (Necron Overlord Velathain OC)

@particularcustodian (Arden, Custodian OC)

@primarch-legio-xi (Asomodus the Stag Lord, Primarch OC)

@primaris-angel (Bellophoron of the Dark Angels OC)

@primaris-templar (Gareth Arden OC)

@psykerscum (Scum aka Quincy OC)

@rains-of-hell (many OCs)

@randomnightlord (Claw Commander Absinthe OC)

@raptor-prince-zydan (NL Zydan, Prince of Raptors OC)

@second-company-captain-therak (Captain Therak, OC)

@sightless-steersman (Astropath Draco, formerly of the Night Lords)

@slaanesh-is-my-boy

@smolcatachan (Vin Stav, Catachan OC)

@space-meow-wolf (Space Wolf Lee OC)

@stresseddemon

@tavernofthescattered (Kana Morta, Necromunda OC)

@the-commissar-and-the-beast (Commissar Novikov OC)

@the-jay-of-paradise (Jackie, abhuman)

@thelostflyboy (Imperial Guard OC)

@the-obsidian-mystic (Suleiman, TS OC)

@the-officers-club (Aaron Carter of the Imperial Guard, OC)

@the-ossium-court (multiiple OCs)

@thesilentinquisitor (Inquisitor Evren and co)

@the-wandering-lady (Psyker Anastasia M’rez OC)

@those–of–the–unlight–of–the–unlight (multiple OCs)

@tired-space-politician  (Canon)

@traveling-freebootah (Ork Captain Zagbad)

@tzeentchs-secretary (Secretary of Tzeentch, Kyete)

@valossian-sythrac  (Canon)

@warpfire-art

@warp-fuckery-trio (multiple OCs)

@waywardinquisition (Inquistor Eirasa OC)

@wearetheblacklegion (Icarus and Drogon of Fuuko’s legion of Eternal Keepers, former Blood Raven and Black Dragon)

@your-commissar (Commissar Atticus OC)

@zakthefiend (multiple muses including a TS Josirus, aeldari farseer Ysedra, SoB Teresa, Canonness Elizabeth)

[mryddinwilt]

OUAT Book Club

 I am a big reader but don’t have a lot of opportunities to talk books with people and it’s something I want to do with my Tumblr friends. So I thought how about a Once Upon A Time Book Club where we read various fairytale/myth retellings and stories where modern humans interact with magic and then talk about them? 

I don’t want anything super formal. So here is a list of books I have read or I am planning to read. If you have read one and want to talk about it then post and tag me or tag it “ouat book club”. Remember to throw major spoilers under a cut! Whenever I start a new one I will just post here and tag it “ouat book club” for anyone who might be interested in reading it with me. Also feel free to rec or come and scream in my ask box. 

I think this could be fun so reblog to spread the word!

Once Upon A Time Book Club List

Wild Seed by Octavia E. Butler

White as Snow by Tanith Lee

The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett

The War of the Flowers by Tad Williams

War for the Oaks by Emma Bull

Thomas the Rhymer by Ellen Kushner

Tam Lin by Pamela Dean

Spindles End by Robin McKinley

Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George

The Nightingale by Kara Dalkey

Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama

Kissing the Witch: Old Tales in New Skins by Emma Donoghue

Jack the Giant Killer by Charles De Lint

The Hunters Moon by O.R. Melling

The Frog Princess by E.D. Baker

Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

Atlantia by Allie Condie

Some Kind of Fairytale by Graham Joyce

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

Ironskin by Tina Connolly

The Hum and the Shiver by Alex Bledsoe

The Brides of Rollrock Island by Margo Lanagan

Briar Rose by Jane Yolen

The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories by Angela Carter

Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen

The Crimson Thread By Suzanne Weyn

Spinners by Donna Joe Napoli

Towering by Alex Flinn

Zel by Donna Joe Napoli

Silver Phoenix by Cindy Son

The Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer

Valkyrie Rising by Ingrid Paulson

Psyche In A Dress by Francesca Lia Block

The Fire Rose by Mercedes Lackey

The Child Thief by Brom

Books I Have Already Read

Deathless by Catherynne M. Valente

Beauty by Robin McKinley

The Moorchild by Eloise Jarvis McGraw

A Thousand Nights by E.K Johnston

Spindle by E.K. Johnston

The Swan Maiden by Heather Tomlinson

Uprooted by Naomi Novak

Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis

Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

The Goos Girl by Shannon Hale 

The Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury

Fire and Hemlock by Diana Wynn Jones

East by Edith Pattou

[ercdouken]

Did the FE sorter thingy again. Link: http://fesorter.tumblr.com/

Full List:

1 Catria 2 Cherche 3 Silque 4 Mia 5 Oboro 6 Marcia 7 Setsuna 8 Volke 9 Lucina 10 Jill 11 Nephenee 12 Rebecca 13 Tate 14 Miledy 15 Palla 16 Erinys 17 Ayra 18 Tailtiu 19 Minerva 20 Linde 21 Saber 22 Mae 23 Haar 24 Ogma 25 Marth 26 Flora 27 Felicia 28 Kaze 29 Clair 30 Stefan 31 Beruka 32 Noire 33 Cordelia 34 Lute 35 Ishtar 36 Caeda 37 Tibarn 38 Farina 39 Nino 40 Lyn 41 Titania 42 Barst 43 Camus 44 Cain 45 Tana 46 Gerik 47 Brigid 48 Joshua 49 Karin 50 Lon'qu 51 Sonya 52 Fir 53 Dieck 54 Lewyn 55 Finn 56 Sigurd 57 Kamui 58 Elincia 59 Sumia 60 Anna 61 Miriel 62 Cynthia 63 Fee 64 Larcei 65 Altena 66 Orsin 67 Merric 68 Tiki 69 Owain 70 Celica 71 Mathilda 72 Ilyana 73 Sain 74 Nanna 75 Athena 76 Nolan 77 Fiora 78 Priscilla 79 Canas 80 Oswin 81 Gray 82 Cecille 83 Hardin 84 Zihark 85 Ced 86 Leila 87 Laura 88 Ethlyn 89 Legion 90 Lena 91 Julian 92 Azura 93 Lissa 94 Robin 95 Marisa 96 Pent 97 Vanessa 98 Ninian 99 Florina 100 Calill 101 Astrid 102 Gatrie 103 Kieran 104 Marisha 105 Shanna 106 Navarre 107 Frey 108 Phina 109 Norne 110 Delthea 111 Lukas 112 Keaton 113 Lucia 114 Kagero 115 Tanith 116 Gregor 117 Heather 118 Tatiana 119 Genny 120 Lilina 121 Sue 122 Echidna 123 Lex 124 Luthier 125 Jeorge 126 Sheena 127 Julia 128 Shanan 129 Tinny 130 Arthur 131 Naesala 132 Perceval 133 Hector 134 Matthew 135 L'Arachel 136 Shinon 137 Oscar 138 Micaiah 139 Katarina 140 Hinoka 141 Takumi 142 Saizo 143 Scarlet 144 Leo 145 Ryoma 146 Ike 147 Boyd 148 Mist 149 Reyson 150 Clarine 151 Abel 152 Est 153 Klein 154 Geese 155 Ellen 156 Rutger 157 Allen 158 Lance 159 Ares 160 Seliph 161 Alvis 162 Mordecai 163 Zelgius 164 Eliwood 165 Kaden 166 Wendell 167 Xane 168 Rinea 169 Clarisse 170 Quan 171 Olwen 172 Mareeta 173 Sara 174 Bastian 175 Chrom 176 Isadora 177 Louise 178 Natasha 179 Cecilia 180 Leif 181 Eldigan 182 Tanya 183 Safy 184 Lara 185 Machyua 186 Linoan 187 Shiva 188 Lachesis 189 Corrin 190 Tharja 191 Olivia 192 Frederick 193 Edain 194 Deirdre 195 Chulainn 196 Valbar 197 Jagen 198 Alm 199 Mycen 200 Geoffrey 201 Kent 202 Draug 203 Guy 204 Mozu 205 Sedgar 206 Wolf 207 Forsyth 208 Boey 209 Conrad 210 Ophelia 211 Midori 212 Velouria 213 Sakura 214 Arthur 215 Effie 216 Benny 217 Lloyd 218 Stahl 219 Maribelle 220 Myrrh 221 Cormag 222 Henry 223 Muarim 224 Aran 225 Volug 226 Seth 227 Neimi 228 Eirika 229 Amelia 230 Charlotte 231 Astram 232 Samson 233 Colm 234 Moulder 235 Tormod 236 Lyon 237 Saleh 238 Roshea 239 Sylvia 240 Jamke 241 Leon 242 Kliff 243 Castor 244 Sophie 245 Gunter 246 Reina 247 Brom 248 Nailah 249 Ephraim 250 Duessel 251 Innes 252 Laurent 253 Hana 254 Camilla 255 Elise 256 Xander 257 Forde 258 Ursula 259 Carrion 260 Tina 261 Halvan 262 Bartre 263 Raigh 264 Fae 265 Karel 266 Oifey 267 Igrene 268 Patty 269 Reinhardt 270 Marcus 271 Orochi 272 Caineghis 273 Say'ri 274 Lucius 275 Basilio 276 Ulki 277 Janaff 278 Greil 279 Largo 280 Vaike 281 Virion 282 Nasir 283 Brady 284 Lugh 285 Roy 286 Ulster 287 Lana 288 Asbel 289 Fergus 290 Lifis 291 Brunya 292 Sigrun 293 Leanne 294 Serra 295 Idoun 296 Syrene 297 Morgan 298 Zephiel 299 Valter 300 Inigo 301 Selena 302 Brighton 303 Lalum 304 Elphin 305 Wrys 306 Malice 307 Nagi 308 Jake 309 Lorenz 310 Ranulf 311 Tauroneo 312 Kyle 313 Karla 314 Chad 315 Noah 316 Gonzales 317 Severa 318 Izana 319 Shura 320 Rinkah 321 Raven 322 Harken 323 Jaffar 324 Legault 325 Hinata 326 Jakob 327 Dorcas 328 Rath 329 Erk 330 Pelleas 331 Libra 332 Gaius 333 Danved 334 Gilliam 335 Geitz 336 Heath 337 Walhart 338 Aversa 339 Ashnard 340 Sanaki 341 Skrimir 342 Rhys 343 Lethe 344 Rennac 345 Garcia 346 Hawkeye 347 Dart 348 Dozla 349 Tethys 350 Gangrel 351 Silas 352 Flavia 353 Panne 354 Giffca 355 Renning 356 Dheginsea 357 Sephiran 358 Kurthnaga 359 Ena 360 Petrine 361 Kellam 362 Sully 363 Ismaire 364 Wil 365 Lowen 366 Knoll 367 Hayato 368 Subaki 369 Selkie 370 Caeldori 371 Soleil 372 Nina 373 Nah 374 Shiro 375 Siegbert 376 Forrest 377 Fuga 378 Niles 379 Nyx 380 Perne 381 Diarmuid 382 Michalis 383 Roger 384 Arlen 385 Gotoh 386 Febail 387 Lester 388 Faye 389 Etzel 390 Horace 391 Shin 392 Galzus 393 Miranda 394 Shigure 395 Misha 396 Homer 397 Eda 398 Dean 399 Selfina 400 Dagdar 401 Darros 402 Beck 403 Ymir 404 Midayle 405 Azel 406 Deen 407 Julius 408 Areone 409 Guinevere 410 Hugh 411 Dayan 412 Python 413 Tobin 414 Mila 415 Juno 416 Atlas 417 Jesse 418 Berkut 419 Midia 420 Radd 421 Caesar 422 Gordin 423 Luke 424 Roderick 425 Lene 426 Vika 427 Ross 428 Athos 429 Franz 430 Nils 431 Gwendolyn 432 Ogier 433 Cath 434 Sophia 435 Hicks 436 Dalsin 437 Beowolf 438 Dew 439 Rudolf 440 Wallace 441 Artur 442 Linus 443 Fargus 444 Renault 445 Nergal 446 Limstella 447 Sonia 448 Nowi 449 Priam 450 Gareth 451 Percy 452 Dwyer 453 Kana 454 Ignatius 455 Dice 456 Frost 457 Dolph 458 Bantu 459 Warren 460 Cord 461 Samto 462 Niime 463 Douglas 464 Zeiss 465 Gale 466 Narcian 467 Eyrios 468 Salem 469 Bors 470 Astore 471 Saul 472 Hannibal 473 Merlinus 474 Travant 475 Asugi 476 Mitama 477 Rhajat 478 Sothe 479 Edward 480 Leonardo 481 Bord 482 Nomah 483 Yodel 484 Saias 485 Amalda 486 Xavier 487 Alec 488 Noish 489 Gharnef 490 Medeus 491 Maria 492 Nyna 493 Ryan 494 Arran 495 Shanam 496 Wolt 497 Murdock 498 Vaida 499 Jahn 500 Lyre 501 Rafiel 502 Nealuchi 503 Zelot 504 Wade 505 Lott 506 Garret 507 Manfroy 508 Johan 509 Johalva 510 Clive 511 Elice 512 Ralph 513 Arden 514 Rolf 515 Fiona 516 Almedha 517 Claud 518 Fred 519 Robert 520 Kein 521 Alva 522 Treck 523 Kris 524 Yumina 525 Reiden 526 Belf 527 Roberto 528 Macellan 529 Vyland 530 Tomas 531 Jedah 532 Barthe 533 Marty 534 Ronan 535 Sleuf 536 Glade 537 Dorothy 538 Coirpre 539 Soren 540 Ricken 541 Donnel 542 Emmeryn 543 Gerome 544 Kjelle 545 Glen 546 Caellach 547 Hisame 548 Kiragi 549 Yarne 550 Kyza 551 Ashera 552 Yen'fay 553 Validar 554 Peri 555 Riev 556 Ewan 557 Raydrik 558 Blume 559 Troude 560 Meg 561 Rickard 562 Oliver 563 Yubello 564 Boah 565 Makalov 566 Matthis 567 Azama 568 Garon 569 Mikoto 570 Yukimura 571 Orson 572 Conomore 573 Dorias 574 August 575 Veld 576 Brendan 577 Hilda 578 Izuka

[maddie-grove]

Bi-Monthly Reading Round-Up: March/April

Playlist

“The Ballad of Ira Hayes” by Johnny Cash (Sunrise Song)

“Little Miss Queen of Darkness” by the Kinks (The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake)

“The Ghost Who Walks” by Karen Elson (The Dark Garden)

“Harper Valley PTA” by Jeannie C. Reilly (The Witches)

“Bloodletting” by Concrete Blonde (The Casquette Girls)

“I Don’t Wanna Be Funny Anymore” by Lucy Dacus (My Friend Dahmer)

“The Road and the Miles to Dundee” by the Corries (Exit Betty)

“Ladies’ Choice” from Hairspray (In for a Penny)

“Turn Off the Light” by Nelly Furtado (Red as Blood)*

“I’ll Take Care of You” by the Dixie Chicks (Exit, Pursued by a Bear)

“You Don’t Know Me” by Cindy Walker (It Takes Two to Tangle)

“Learn to Do It” from Anastasia (Once Upon a Maiden Lane)

“Green Finch and Linnet Bird” from Sweeney Todd (What Happened at Midnight)

*Since fifth grade, I have firmly believed this song to be about werewolves. You cannot change my mind.

Best of the Bi-Month

In for a Penny by Rose Lerner (2010): Part lovely romance, part fascinating historical novel about economic conditions in Regency England, with a nice folk-horror feel.

Worst of the Bi-Month

The Casquette Girls by Alys Arden (2013): Overstuffed, confusing paranormal romance. When people make fun of YA, this is what they’re thinking of.

Rest of the Bi-Month

Red as Blood by Tanith Lee (1983): Deliciously lurid, remarkably consistent collection of fairy tale retellings. A bit dated, but charmingly so.

What Happened at Midnight by Courtney Milan (2013): An intense, substantial romance novella, great for fans of Victorian literature.

My Friend Dahmer by Derf Backderf (2012): a graphic memoir by a dude who sometimes hung out with Jeffrey Dahmer in high school. Not very bloody; more upsetting for its exploration of suburban loneliness and callousness.

Sunrise Song by Kathleen Eagle (1996): Sweet twentieth-century historical romance, stronger on the history than the romance.

The Dark Garden by Margaret Buffie (1995): Fun, spooky YA ghost story with some interesting family dynamics.

Exit Betty by Grace Livingston Hill (1920): Enjoyable, accidentally gay melodrama from the mother of Christian romance.

Exit, Pursued by a Bear by E.K. Johnston (2016): Endearing if somewhat simplistic YA issue novel. Not a great retelling of The Winter’s Tale.

It Takes Two to Tangle by Theresa Romain (2013): Well-written Regency romance with a frustrating plot.

Once Upon a Maiden Lane by Elizabeth Hoyt (2017): Cute romance novella that could’ve been a lot more impactful.

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender (2010): Good writing but the concept went nowhere.

The Witches by Stacy Schiff (2015): Rather commonplace history of the Salem Witch Trials.

[swipestream]

Legends

A year and a half ago, I wrote a post about David Gemmell and how in my opinion he saved sword and sorcery fiction in the 1990s.  I think it was after that that I found out the Legends anthologies. The books are subtitled “Stories in Honour of David Gemmell.”

I was not familiar with most of the authors and was gun shy considering the quality of supposed original sword and sorcery anthologies of the past nine or so years. I knew nothing about the publisher Newcon Press. Also the books retails at $20.86, which is not cheap for a trade paperback.

I took the plunge ordering Legends hoping to cleanse the palate after reading The Book of Swords late last year.

The book has a nice cover featuring Druss’ axe. Publication date was November 2013. Contents include thirteen stories. Most stories are 20-25 pages long. Ian Whates edited the book. Stan Nicholls’ introduction is about how the Gemmell Awards came to be including some of the more mundane nuts and bolts of producing such an award. The devil is always in the details.

I had a few days off after Christmas with a trip to Canada to go dog sledding (getting in touch with my inner Jack London). I read this book on the trip up (the wife drove), at the hotel, and the trip back home. I wrapped up the last story or two at New Years.

“Or So Legend Has It” by James Barclay is a mixed bag. He has some good battle scenes and action including innovative use of sorcery and battle wizards. The downside is more dialogue or rather banter between some characters who end up as a group for hire at the end of the story. I have read worse and the pluses outweighed the minuses.

Gaie Sebold’s “A Blade to the Heart” has a non-human, but something like a troll or ogre who is a war-leader infected with sorcery that will turn him into a wraith. A mysterious stranger arrives at the keep offering help. This a quieter story but it works and did keep my attention.

One of my favorite stories in this anthology is Ian Whates’ “Return to Arden Falls.” A dandy hires a veteran of an epic battle that defeated a would be dark lord. What happens when the dark lord attempts to return from an apparent death?

Storm Constantine’s “The Drake Lords of Kyla” is less blood and thunder but interesting anyway. An historian travels to explore the ruins of a passed race of sentient reptiles hoping to discover something of importance.

I was never in doubt with Tanith Lee’s story. Her “Tower of Arkrondurl” did not fail in my expectations. She might not have been blood and thunder but she was a fine practitioner of the Clark Ashton Smith side of sword and sorcery.

I have never heard of Jonathan Green before. His “Who Walks with Death” is one of the best traditional sword and sorcery stories I have read in years. A fine mix of the supernatural with action. This is how to write a barbarian setting for jaded tastes.

I read Joe Abercrombie’s “Skipping Town” when his Sharp Ends collection came out in 2016. I did not bother rereading the story and frankly don’t remember anything about it two years later.

Juliet McKenna’s “Land of the Eagle” almost reads like a young adult story and I mean that in a good way. The importance of a symbol for the sense of identity of a conquered people.

“Hail to the Oak” by Anne Nicholls has a pseudo-Roman background with a northern princess taken as hostage to the capital city of the stand-in Roman Empire. She becomes though a sequence of events involved in plotting that brings down the emperor.

Adrian Tchaikovsky has a series of books where the peoples have insect totems. “Sword and Circle” is well done with the exception of one thing. He has an aging swordswomen. I have a response to the idea of an aging swordswoman- post-menopausal osteoporosis. Our sword wielding femizon is going to break a bone pretty quick in her mid to late 40s. The action is well done though.

“Fairyland” by Jan Siegel is another quieter story but has a very nice turn of events.

Sandra Unerman’s “Mountain Tea” is a sort of story that is generally not my cup of tea (forgive the pun). It was written well enough to keep things interesting.

I have seen Stan Nicholls’ Orcs in the bookstore but never paid any attention to him. “The League of Resolve” is full blown balls to the walls sword and sorcery. Two estranged brothers who belong to a people whose nation was destroyed come together to save someone they both love. Great, great story.

Reading this anthology was a 180 degrees different experience from reading The Book of the Sword. I had never read 11 out of 13 authors. I will be checking out more by Green, Nichols, Tchaikovsky, and Whates especially. I don’t feel I was robbed of time by any of the stories. It gives me hope that good sword and sorcery fiction can still be written with the right attitude.

A sobering thought is Robert E. Howard and Clark Ashton Smith created sword and sorcery fiction. As far as I can tell, all the writers for Legends are from the United Kingdome of Great Britain. I desperately want Americans to produce something like this.

In a better world, Legends would be a mass market paperback with distribution to the book chains in the U.S. The book is 259 pages with a fairly large type. Probably would not be much over 300 pages as a mass market. There is a Legends II which I will be writing about.

  Legends published first on https://medium.com/@ReloadedPCGames

[ardentanith-blog]

Terrified, Blind | Arden, Thomas

Sometimes when she would dream, Arden would see people she knew. Other times she would see faces she didn't recognize, hear voices she didn't know or couldn't place. She would try to place them, figure out where or when she met them, but it wouldn't come to her and she was left gripping at loose strands of memory. That was probably the worst thing about her life- that she couldn't remember who she was before waking up in Avalon.

As of late, her dreams wandered int he direction of Thomas. His face, all deep scars and gruff expressions, would haunt the back of her eyelids. The darkness would encompass them, hold them tight in a terrifyingly comfortable embrace until she opened her eyes, screaming and flailing until she realized she was awake. She hadn't slept well in almost a month, and it was driving her borderline insane.

Arden really wanted to talk with Ana about it, but she'd slipped away from the small social circle she had built for herself in the first week or so in Avalon. She'd been frightened by the horribly lucid dreams, without knowing how to bring them up to her friends. So, in typical Arden style, she played the tortoise and slipped back into her safe, solid shell.

It ended today.

As she showered that morning, Arden promised herself that she would venture outside of the walls she had shoved herself into. She would speak to Thomas and tell him of her dreams. She would ask his opinion and see if he'd experienced anything of the same nature. Perhaps it was a symptom everyone in Avalon suffered from.

She dressed casually, jeans and a black tee with tennis shoes, to make the trek to his abode easier on her tired body. It didn't matter how long she slept, she never managed to rest.

It was an overcast day, and Arden noted that as she walled, she passed Nikolai. He had flowers and a pep in his step, so he was probably heading to see Ana. Maybe they could patch up whatever Ana had mentioned was keeping them apart.

In a way, she envied Ana and the companionship she had with Nikolai. Arden longed for that.

When she met Thomas' door, she knocked ever so lightly. She desperately hoped he was here- she had so much to say to him.

Arden just didn't know how to phrase it.

[thomasglenn-blog]

Meetings of Solitude: Thomas, Arden

Sometimes, Thomas wanted nothing more than to escape to the forest just outside of Avalon.  He couldn't get very far as the mysterious barrier prevented that, but he could get far enough away to be able to hear himself think.  

He'd been in Avalon for over a hundred years, but there were still times when it felt as if he didn't know anybody in the town.  This was partially by  his own choice as many of the "younger" citizens of the town had chosen to become well known by committing crimes like his late father would have but he didn't think he wanted to be known in that way so he usually found himself embracing the solitude.

Once or twice a week he'd pack a lunch and a small flask and go and sit by the creek that ran just outside of town.  Sometimes he'd fish, other times like today he'd just sit and think.

He was startled out of his thoughts by the sound of footsteps approaching.  When he looked up he caught a young woman walking down the path, apparently so lost in her thoughts that she probably hadn't even noticed him yet.

He was sure that he'd never even so much as glimpsed her around town before and this surprised him.

[ardentanith-blog]

I'm Waking Up | Ana, Arden

Leaves.

Her hands grasped at leaves. She shuddered on the ground, remembering the brightness of the lights and the rush of the impact. She curled up tight, trying to hide from the still-aching pain that ran through her body. Where was she? Surely there was no way she survived that crash. There was no way. She’d felt herself break between the steering wheel and the seat...

Okay, sit up. You can do this.

Slowly, ever so slowly, Arden forced herself into an upright position. The light stung at her eyes, and her head spun around itself. This was insane.

Finally, she opened her eyes to adjust to the bright sun streaming down through the trees. Lush greenery surrounded her, and the earth was warm under her hands. She looked over her body, and found herself lacking cuts and bruises.

What the fuck?

This wasn’t right. Everything was wrong. She was dead. She had to be. There was no other explanation for it. But she was still breathing, and her heart was still beating, and she felt very much alive. It made no sense.

Deciding to put the strange unreality of this aside, she drug herself to her knees and then stood. Wobbly and in pain, Arden slowly started making her way to the town in the distance. She could just barely see it through the trees. Maybe there she would find someone, anyone who could explain what the hell was happening and where the hell she was. That would be nice. She didn’t do well without answers.

As she walked, she had to admit to herself how beautiful this strange place was. Everything was so green and alive. She felt a strange sense of calm, even though she was about to panic because of the situation. Arden needed answers or she was going to go crazy.

Not too long passed and she broke the clearing, stepping out onto a clear cobbled street. The town looked empty, everything shit down despite it being the middle of the day. But she wasn’t going to give up. There had to be someone else here, someone who could explain what was happening.

Arden walked, wondering what her family was doing, if her roommate had noticed her absence, if she was really dead or not. So many questions buzzed about in her head, and yet she still couldn’t answer any of them.

There... is that a person?

She peered ahead, looking at the slim figure in the distance. It looked like a person, and in a brief flash of hope, Arden took off running. Her body screamed at her, she was still in so much pain, but she ran because she needed to know what was happening to her. She needed to know where she was.

“Hey!!!” She waved her arms frantically, catching up with what she could now see as another woman. “Wait!!”

When she met the woman, she doubled over, heaving breaths and grabbing at her midsection. Fuck, she really did hurt all over. She gathered herself slowly, and rose back up into a standing position.

“Sorry to bother you—“ She inhaled again. “But... can you tell me... where I am?”

She looked expectantly at the young woman for an answer.

[ardentanith-blog]

Name: Arden Tanith

Age: 21

Gender: Female

Time Period: 21 Century, died in 2012

Race: Human

Abilities: Hemokinesis, telepathy

Sexual Orientation: Straight

Biography: It was storming the night Arden was born. Lightning cracked the sky and thunder shook the earth. Rain drenched the land, and when she came screaming into the world, everything silenced and stood still.

...At least that’s how her parent’s liked to tell the story. Born to an author father and an interior designer mother, Arden lived a quiet life full of wonder, color, and imagination. Her days were as vibrant as the walls of her childhood home, and her nights were filled with stories of far-off lands and peril. She excelled in all she did—sports, school, ballet. She enjoyed reading with a passion, and above all, photography was her hearts desire.

Upon graduating high school, Arden began her studies at an off-shot Art School in northern Washington, where she met close friends and made many wonderful memories. She was always careful, though, and stayed away from the wild party-driven side of college life.

It wasn’t until she was leaving a concert event one evening that everything went to hell in a hand basket. She was driving back to her dormitory, abiding the speed limit, when she was hit head-on by a drunk driver. The crash killed her, or so she thought.

That was when she woke up in Avalon.

Personality: Arden is quiet, reserved, and rather brooding, yet easy to talk to. She is knowledgeable about many things, and likes to make her point in an argument. While she is slow to trust, once one gets inside her heart, they have a true friend who would do anything for them.

This, though, can often get Arden in trouble. She’s friendly and caring to a fault, and most take advantage of her kindness. Her biggest flaw would have to be her temper, for when she loses it, she really loses it.

Face Claim: Meghan Ory