#ashton and leanne

[anewnewcrest]

"Ashton, are you sure it's a good idea to meet alone?"

"Don't be like that, Leanne! Of course it is!"

"But my daddy says I'm not allowed to be alone with any boys! We need a chaperone!"

"We're at church, aren't we? The Watcher sees everything, so He can be our chaperone! And I'm a good guy, I promise I won't try anything with you."

"Well... if you say so."

"You're the most beautiful girl I've ever seen, you know. I just have to get to know you better."

"There's not all that much to know about me, I'm a stay-at-home daughter and I take care of my little siblings along with Ashley. What... what are you doing!"

"Just tickling you!"

"But you said you weren't going to try anything!"

"Chill out, it's just tickling, it's not like I kissed you or something!"

[imstuckin1999]

21 hottest under 21 from Teen People magazine June/July 1999

[goklerdeyasayandeli]

My screenshots of: A Good Girl's Guide to Murder (2024) on Netflix

[pippfitzamobi]

updated cast list

Pippa Fitz-Amobi - Emma Myers

Ravi Singh - Zain Iqbal

Cara Ward - Asha Banks

Zach Chen - Raiko Gohara

Lauren Gibson - Yali Topol Margalith

Leanne Fitz-Amobi (pips mum) - Anna Maxwell Martin

Victor (pips dad) - Gary Beadle

Elliot Ward - Matthew Baynton

Naomi Ward - Yasmin Al-Khudhairi

Sal Singh - Rahul Pattni

Andie Bell - India Lillie Davies

Becca Bell - Carla Woodcock

Nat Da Silva - Jessica Webber

max hastings - Henry Ashton

Daniel Da Silva - Jackson Bews

Emma Hutton (Andie’s friend) - Georgia Aaron

Jake Lawrence (Sal’s friend) - Ephraim O.P. Sampson

Toby Hastings - Adam Astill

Rosie Hastings - Annabel Mullion

Stella Chapman - Mitu Panicucci

Ruby Foxcroft - Orla Hill

Dylan - Matthew Khan

Jesse Walker - Oliver Wickham

- im not 100% sure who jason bell is but i remember the photo of him and emma so vividly

[aurumacadicus]

My friends 🙄I only set the last poll for one day when I meant one week. Well, to err is human, and we can say I'm very, very human I guess. I'll keep the other one up as a monument to my shame but this one is the real one.

--

Here it is: Our poll for our January book! It is our first themed month, and we'll be debuting the year with Author Debuts! Some of the choices are very new and we'll need time to source them for when we start, January 8th!

Book summaries are under the cut! Each new title is in bold for clarity. If you’d like to join the book club, now or for the next book, feel free to send me an ask and I’ll give you the link to our Discord!

Leigh Howard and the Ghosts of Simmons-Pierce Manor by Shawn M. Warner

Orphaned, she goes to live with incredibly wealthy relatives she never knew she had. Struggling to fit into her new world, she can’t let go of her grief. When the police tell her the investigation into her parents’ murder has hit a brick wall, she knows the only way she will ever know peace is to solve the mystery herself. With new family and friends, which includes a ghost with multiple personality issues, Leigh risks everything to find her answers.

Join Leigh on her adventure through the brutal world of organized crime and betrayal.

A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons by Kate Khavri

Saffron Everleigh is in a race against time to free her wrongly accused professor before he goes behind bars forever. Perfect for fans of Deanna Raybourn and Anna Lee Huber, Kate Khavari’s debut historical mystery is a fast-paced, fearless adventure.

London, 1923. Newly minted research assistant Saffron Everleigh attends a dinner party for the University College of London. While she expects to engage in conversations about the university’s large expedition to the Amazon, she doesn’t expect Mrs. Henry, one of the professors’ wives, to drop to the floor, poisoned by an unknown toxin.

Dr. Maxwell, Saffron’s mentor, is the main suspect, having had an explosive argument with Dr. Henry a few days prior. As evidence mounts against Dr. Maxwell and the expedition’s departure draws nearer, Saffron realizes if she wants her mentor’s name cleared, she’ll have to do it herself.

Joined by enigmatic Alexander Ashton, a fellow researcher, Saffron uses her knowledge of botany as she explores steamy greenhouses, dark gardens, and deadly poisons. Will she be able to uncover the truth or will her investigation land her on the murderer’s list?

The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler

Humankind discovers intelligent life in an octopus species with its own language and culture, and sets off a high-stakes global competition to dominate the future.

Rumors begin to spread of a species of hyperintelligent, dangerous octopus that may have developed its own language and culture. Marine biologist Dr. Ha Nguyen, who has spent her life researching cephalopod intelligence, will do anything for the chance to study them.

The transnational tech corporation DIANIMA has sealed the remote Con Dao Archipelago, where the octopuses were discovered, off from the world. Dr. Nguyen joins DIANIMA’s team on the islands: a battle-scarred security agent and the world’s first android.

The octopuses hold the key to unprecedented breakthroughs in extrahuman intelligence. The stakes are high: there are vast fortunes to be made by whoever can take advantage of the octopuses’ advancements, and as Dr. Nguyen struggles to communicate with the newly discovered species, forces larger than DIANIMA close in to seize the octopuses for themselves.

But no one has yet asked the octopuses what they think. And what they might do about it.

A near-future thriller about the nature of consciousness, Ray Nayler’s The Mountain in the Sea is a dazzling literary debut and a mind-blowing dive into the treasure and wreckage of humankind’s legacy.

A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin

For Ning, the only thing worse than losing her mother is knowing that it’s her own fault. She was the one who unknowingly brewed the poison tea that killed her—the poison tea that now threatens to also take her sister, Shu.

When Ning hears of a competition to find the kingdom’s greatest shennong-shi—masters of the ancient and magical art of tea-making—she travels to the imperial city to compete. The winner will receive a favor from the princess, which may be Ning’s only chance to save her sister’s life.

But between the backstabbing competitors, bloody court politics, and a mysterious (and handsome) boy with a shocking secret, Ning might actually be the one in more danger.

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

After her mother dies in an accident, sixteen-year-old Bree Mathews wants nothing to do with her family memories or childhood home. A residential program for bright high schoolers at UNC-Chapel Hill seems like the perfect escape—Until Bree witnesses a magical attack her very first night on campus.

A flying demon feeding on human energies.

A secret society of so called “Legendborn” students that hunt the creatures down.

And a mysterious teenage mage who calls himself a “Merlin” who attempts—and fails—to wipe Bree’s memory of everything she saw.

The mage’s failure unlocks Bree’s own unique magic a buried memory with a hidden connection: the night er mother ded, another Merlin was at the hospital. Now that Bree knows there’s more to her mother’s death than what’s on the police report, she’ll do whatever it takes to find out the truth, even if that means infiltrating the Legendborn as one of their initiates.

She recruits Nick, a self-exiled Legendborn with is own grudge against the group, and their reluctant partnership pulls them deeper into the society’s secrets—and closer to each other. But when the Legendborn reveal themselves as the descendants of King Arthur’s knights and explain that a magical war is coming, Bree has to decide how far she’ll go for the truth and whether she should use her magic to take the society down—or join the fight.

A Prayer for Vengeance by Leanne Schwartz

An orphan out to find the truth within a warped religion turns his poetry into prayer—a prayer that awakens a cursed girl hungry for revenge.

Centuries after a miracle vanquished Tresttato’s monsters and turned the soldiers fighting them to stone, Milo lovingly tends to the statues of those who protected the city. Raised with devout templars and scholars, autistic temple ward Milo wants nothing more than to be accepted into their ranks. When his prayers admiring her heroic sacrifice accidentally free Gia from stone, she wakes with a fury to kil the man Milo owes his life to, Primo Sanct Ennio.

Gia claims that the immortal holy leader Milo lives to serve is the same man who betrayed her and transformed her into a statue—and what Milo always believed was a miracle was actually a curse that Gia will stop at nothing to break. Even if she has to kill his followers to do it. Even if she must kill the boy who woke her.

Queerly Beloved by Susie Dumond

A people-pleasing baker tries to find her place as a bridesmaid-for-hire. Will she finally find her happily ever after—and her own voice?

Amy, a semicloseted queer baker and bartender in mid-2010s Oklahoma, has spent a lifetime putting other people’s needs before her own. Until, that is, she’s fired from her job at a Christian bakery and turns her one-off gig subbing in for a bridesmaid into a full-time business—thanks to her baking talents, crafting skills, and years of watching rom-coms and Say Yes to the Dress. Between her new gig and meeting Charley, the attractive engineer who’s just moved to Tulsa, suddenly Amy’s found something—and someone—she actually wants. Her tight-knit group of chosen family is thrilled that Amy is becoming her authentic self. But when her deep desire to please kicks into overdrive, Amy’s precarious balancing act strains her relationships to the breaking point, and she must decide what it looks like to be true to herself—and if she has the courage to try.

[random-introverted-blog]

Read your answer the second you posted it basically! I meant to answer but mulled over nicknames. Used a thing to make your account name  Anagrams. It’s in the end.  This has been living in my head rent free. 

Shadowheart def deserved more cute assist lines. Yeah, they all deserve causal flirting. Wyll and Karlach are the cutest! 

Post game definitely works for them. Slowwwwburrrrrrrrn. A lot of stuff goes ‘lemme go back to a previous save real quick, bae.’ XD

Bending things for canon is really so entertaining. 

AA would really be an ass bout it but would take you back. He does say he misses Tav in epilogue. He is still pretty obsessed. Also there was another thing that says he thinks about Tav a lot but is too prideful to seek them out: 

Asty and SH having Tav as a shared ex would be so crazy. Them being like ‘We’re so happy without Tav’ (at first. Pettiness) . Then them being ‘surprise pikachu face’ when they actually do get over Tav and fall for each other.

I have so many work in progress fics. SH deserves more fics l! 

I just adore chatting with you! You’re so fun and sweet. Might actually just dm you one day but let’s see!

Get you a couple that can do all three! I love the random funny bits that can ensue. They think they’re all that but would do cringey and funny stuff too.

The ‘I mentally plotted and planned a lot but didn’t see this coming at all’ is so funny to think about. 

Asty would be like why did this happen again (his track record of accidentally falling for Tav before). He’d be extremely possessive and extra. Definitely would be like ‘You won’t be getting rid of me ever, Jen.’.

Both are will try and avoid making the same mistakes.

Batstarion shenanigans and him just being even more chaotic and silly and just trying to accompany her ‘undercover’ though it’s like it’s a dead giveaway and everyone’s ‘that’s your vampire boo isn’t it?’. 

Also the trying to be suave and being silly and caught off. 

Astarion would have a rivalry with Shar in a way ngl. He’s like that’s my girl just so we’re clear. Vampire Bride! Dark Justiciar! SH would be soooo extra. SH would find a way to keep power over him too somehow. A and SH would have a super back and forth, push and pull dynamic. They’d really have a long game. Super powerful both of them. Accidental equals and evil power couple.

The possibilities are truly endless. It’s great to speculate and indulge in what ifs! You’re very inspiring.

A song that suits both of em is ‘Can’t fight the moonlight’ by LeAnn Rimes. 

‘Can’t remember to forget you’ by Shakira suits em too (plus the players who can’t get over em. It’s like let’s do a new route! Gravitates towards Asty and SH still. Shame you can’t poly with them together. But I get it would be a lot of work and that’s why). 

That’s so nice of you. To be like ‘the stories I want aren’t out there’s gotta make them and cater to other fans too’. Your ideas are so fun and smart. Your writing style is so engaging. The angst and  potential and exploring stuff is everything.

Congrats on the followers and you deserve even more! It’s so cool to think bout! 30 people is a lot! 

For the nickname, I settled on Wenona!

I hope you don’t mind it? Hawthorne, Arya, Honey, Heather, Wendy, Dorothy, Howard, Shanon, Anthony, Reyna, Thea, Ashton, Rosanna, Rowena, Sandra, Sherwood were the other options. All of them are so posh! 

- bloodmoon anon

Always a pleasure to hear from you, bloodmoon!

I'm flattered you put so much effort into coming up with a name! I'm used to the only flattery coming from my partner, but they're biased. I could write the equivalent of Mirkons story when you save him and they'd still say "that's beautiful, my love" yes I'm calling you out, babe, I know you're reading this.

THAT SAID.

The lack of cute/sassy assist lines is part of why I wrote Deny Me Not Your Heart. The other part is I see all this hurt/comfort/injury stuff and no one is writing these for Shadowheart SHES THE HEALER GUYS, THINK ABOUT IT.

I think a post-game slow burn is the only solid way for an Ast and SH fic, at least for me. I'm sure you or others are more creative in that regard than me.

You don't want to know how many saves I have stacked up on my PS5 only to do it all over again to my Xbox now lmao.

Bending canon is what makes us fanfiction writers, and never let anyone tell you otherwise. It's an art of balancing canon and the characters to what your vision is. A well done fanfiction is one that is almost indistinguishable from the actual story. That blurs the lines between canon and fan content. I wrote a whole speech that I had to cut to keep this from getting too long but short version, yes it is very fun bending canon!

I heard about the too prideful thing but I believe that was a cut epilogue card so whether it's canon is up for debate. But yes, he is pretty obsessed and I'm here for it.

A story with Tav as a shared ex would be very interesting! That's sort of the concept behind my longfic but instead of falling in love with each other, Ascended and Dark Justiciar end up having a Yandere 1v1 over their ex. But for the sake of discussion, let's say Astarion and Shadowheart end up fake dating to spite Tav but end up falling in love together instead. Sounds like an interesting prompt!

I'm more of a Tav shipper myself, if my content is anything to go by. But I agree, Shadowheart deserves more content!

Aw, I enjoy chatting with you too! My DM's are open if you or anyone feels like hitting me up and discussing fanfic, if you'd rather not send it as an ask that gets posted to over 30 followers. I'm getting busier lately, so my responses may be slower but I'm always trying to respond to things asap! So if you or anyone else wants a more private conversation to discuss bg3 ideas or some such, don't hesitate! I'll bounce ideas back as best I can. I will say my ideas/concepts are primarily Astarion and Shadowheart though.

Ascended and Dark Justiciar accidentally falling in love due to not planning for the outcome is hilarious and, for Astarion, very much in character! It's established several times that intelligent as he is, he's not the greatest at planning ahead so him catching feelings for Sharran Shadowheart after manipulating her into a tactical alliance (spongebob fish anchor voice: when will he learn?) rings of...

And after losing Tav, he definitely would be way worse in the possessive department of Shadowheart.

"Is that your vampire fiancee, Mother Superior? He's quite adorable!"

Angry chirping translation: ADORABLE? NO, I AM VENGENCE! I AM DOMINATION INCARNATE! I COMMAND THE NIGHT!

Shadowheart: he is, isn't he? And he's all mine.

More angry chirping: YOURE MINE! MINE, I SAID! MINE!

So with Shadowheart having access to memory magic, she would need to subdue him, tie him up and laser guide amnesia his ass. You can even manipulate or modify his existing memories, if you go by Shadowheart initially believing the Sharrans saved her from that wolf and didn't abduct her from her loving parents.

Aww, I'm so glad I'm inspiring you guys! This is the reason I started this little blog and to see it helping people in any way is what keeps me going! Thank you so much for your support, I really am beyond words for how grateful I am for you and the others!

I discovered many years ago that if there's a story you want to see, sometimes you have to create it yourself! And if you want it, other people do too! So you sort of bring together your own little club of likeminded people! Case and point, us and this blog! It's always reassuring to hear my writing is engaging, I'm one of countless writers who always feels inadequate and insufficient, especially after I read other people's work.

You can call me whatever you want within reason, of course. So long as it's nothing malicious, harassing or bullying. My partner may have some choice words about people calling me honey though 🤔 Wenona and Hawthorne are nice too! But really, it's whatever you want. My blog is to serve. Not the other way around.

And if I take a little while replying to your asks please don't think I'm ignoring you. I try to set aside enough time to fully read and respond whatever I see posted/replied somewhere when it feels appropriate!

Think I replied to everything in your ask... Sorry if I missed something!

-newly named Wenona/Hawthorne/Whatever else you wanna call me! ❤️

[daebreaker1]

Leanne Vargas: Early Childhood

Leanne was a product of a one night stand and is… definitely not the most wanted child. Don’t get me wrong, Ashton does care about her but he was in his playboy era and being tied down by a little thing waving her tiny arms at him. So her early life is spent mostly with her mom, and though she was mostly left all by her lonesome, she liked it. She found comfort in a lot of the outside, searching for frogs, and bugs, and tromping through the mud to poke at whatever she found. When she’s seven, her mom pretty much gives up and pushes her back to Ashton. It goes… honestly better than anyone expected. He’s not worlds greatest dad by any means, but Leanne is so much like her father they get along like a match on fire.

TLDR: Leanne’s early life was complex, with being both the happiest and loneliest time in her life. She’s doing much better now with her dad though.

[abcnewspr]

HIGHLIGHTS FOR ABC NEWS’ ‘GMA3: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW,’ OCT. 23-27

The following report highlights the programming of ABC’s “GMA3: What You Need to Know” during the week of Oct. 23-27. “GMA3: What You Need to Know” is a one-hour program co-anchored by Eva Pilgrim and DeMarco Morgan, with Dr. Jennifer Ashton as chief health and medical correspondent. The news program airs weekdays at 1:00 p.m. EDT | 12:00 p.m. CDT on ABC, and 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. EDT on ABC News Live.

Highlights of the week include the following:

Monday, Oct. 23 — ABC News national correspondent Mireya Villarreal visits master distiller Melly Barajas Cárdenas in Mexico; eyebrow expert Adrianna Holness; a chat and performance by actors Constance Wu and Corbin Bleu (“Little Shop of Horrors”)

Tuesday, Oct. 24 — Chef, restaurateur and World Central Kitchen founder José Andrés; musician Joey Bada$$

Wednesday, Oct. 25 — Legal 101 with attorney Sara Azari; Deals and Steals with ABC e-commerce editor Tory Johnson

Thursday, Oct. 26 — Helping Paws executive director Alyssa Golob and dog handler Keli Trautman; Agostino Fresh Mozz Co. co-owners Anthony Agostino and Giacomo Cunsolo; R.A.K.E founder Ricky Smith on random acts of kindness

Friday, Oct. 27 — Peloton instructor Leanne Hainsby on breast cancer awareness; educator and YouTube star Ms. Rachel; Faith Friday with pastor and author David Platt (“Don’t Hold Back”); a chat and performance by Broadway performers Alyssa Fox and McKenzie Kurtz (“Wicked”)

ABC Media Relations Brooks Lancaster Brooks.Lancaster@abc.com

Jordan Littlejohn Jordan.Littlejohn@abc.com

-- ABC --

[pcrfectstorms]

@moleculare gets random love!

steve was good with moms, they loved him, except from his own mother of course. but with past girlfriends? he had always been a hit with the moms, and he chalks it up to all the forced dinner parties and social events the harrington's would drag him along to as a child. steve knew how to make nice or face the wrath of his father come the end of the night, so steve learned how to charm, and he did it well. so why was he so damn nervous about meeting ashton's mom, his boyfriend promises she'll love you, but he still changes his polo shirt no less than four times before driving over to the fowlers, fresh flowers in hand for leanne, and by the time he's at the front door he's overthinking how he should have picked up flowers for ashton too. with girls he would, but dating a boy was a whole different ball park and steve was still figuring out the rules of the game.

he is so thankful when its ashton that answers, a nervous smile plastered across his face, "hey! uh i got flowers! for your mom -- shit uh, should i have got you flowers too? do you like flowers? --" he should know that, right? he should know if his boyfriend likes flowers, hell he should know his favourite damn flower. nervous laughter follows and he shrugs, head shaking as ashton beckons him inside, he's been here before, but while leanne was at work, he can smell whatever's cooking and it smells good, and reminds him he hasn't ate today - he was far too nervous to even remember to eat. not that he'll admit that to ashton, of course, leaning in close he keeps his voice low, "can i kiss you? is that - i mean, your mom knows right? that i'm... that we're together."

[livrhodes]

Olivia,

I am so proud of the strength you’ve shown in the last year. Between the divorce and your surgery you’ve never stopped pushing to the best mom in the world to those boys. You are their hero and they are so lucky to have you. I knew you’d be a wonderful mom the day you told me about Jake, but watching you with this continually melts my heart. I hope you enjoy the photo collage I put together of you and the kids, and a blanket made of all their old clothes for you to snuggle up with while you recover, and this cute little apron we made. It reminded me of the one you kids made me years ago.

P.s. Don’t hate me for stealing some of the boys clothes you put in for donation to make this blanket. You’ll thank me for it later.

Happy Mother’s Day, with all our love love Jake, Finn, Lucas, and Gigi ❤️

[anewnewcrest]

"Ashton, are you sure it's a good idea to go upstairs?"

"Leanne, we've been over this! Don't you trust me?"

"I... I don't know..."

"Leanne, don't be like that! You've been leading me on all these months, you've got to deliver the goods you've been promising!"

"But, Ashton..."

"Or I'll tell your dad that you've been meeting up with me, all alone."

"Ashton!"

"Stop worrying, it'll be great!"

"Now, Leanne, don't get any ideas into your head about telling your daddy. This is all your fault, because you're a temptress, and you've led me into sin. If you tell anyone, they'll know that you're a stumbling block to your fellow followers of the Watcher."

"But... Ashton..."

"But if you're not going to tell, then I'm not going to, either."

"I... okay."

[rhodestoashton]

Merry Christmas, you little shit! Yes.. I got you some extra goodies.. did you expect any less??? Boy am I grateful your dad still had so swimmers strong enough to make it to my ancient eggs back in 1996. Thank you for all you do for me and being my best friend, ashie. I thought you’d enjoy having my face on a guitar pick when you go on the road next year to keep you humble, remind you that I’m your biggest fan and love you, and keep your crazy ass in check. Always remember I love you, I’ll always be on your team!! I couldn’t be more proud of you. Love, mama ❤️🤶🏻🎁⛄️

[valentineadam]

hilltop cafe ; @jack--valentine​ ; closed

Everyone knew that there was one person in the Valentine family who had no idea what the definition of secret keeping meant and it was the youngest, perkiest, and blondest one in the family. Adam invited Jack out to coffee as a way to thank him for all the babysitting he had been doing since Lily was diagnosed, but he had an ulterior motive. Adam was there first, but waited for his younger brother so they could order together before he took him to the table he reserved by a window. “How are you doing? Did you enjoy the weekend in Williamsburg?” Their mom was livid that Sunday brunch and almost dragged the entire family to the city just to eat with Jack. “I think mom’s going to have a talk with Leanne to make sure you and Ashton don’t disappear like that again.��� He chuckled. 

[aurumacadicus]

Here it is: Our poll for our January book! It is our first themed month, and we'll be debuting the year with Author Debuts! Some of the choices are very new and we'll need time to source them for when we start, January 8th!

Book summaries are under the cut! Each new title is in bold for clarity. If you’d like to join the book club, now or for the next book, feel free to send me an ask and I’ll give you the link to our Discord!

Leigh Howard and the Ghosts of Simmons-Pierce Manor by Shawn M. Warner

Orphaned, she goes to live with incredibly wealthy relatives she never knew she had. Struggling to fit into her new world, she can’t let go of her grief. When the police tell her the investigation into her parents’ murder has hit a brick wall, she knows the only way she will ever know peace is to solve the mystery herself. With new family and friends, which includes a ghost with multiple personality issues, Leigh risks everything to find her answers.

Join Leigh on her adventure through the brutal world of organized crime and betrayal.

A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons by Kate Khavri

Saffron Everleigh is in a race against time to free her wrongly accused professor before he goes behind bars forever. Perfect for fans of Deanna Raybourn and Anna Lee Huber, Kate Khavari’s debut historical mystery is a fast-paced, fearless adventure.

London, 1923. Newly minted research assistant Saffron Everleigh attends a dinner party for the University College of London. While she expects to engage in conversations about the university’s large expedition to the Amazon, she doesn’t expect Mrs. Henry, one of the professors’ wives, to drop to the floor, poisoned by an unknown toxin.

Dr. Maxwell, Saffron’s mentor, is the main suspect, having had an explosive argument with Dr. Henry a few days prior. As evidence mounts against Dr. Maxwell and the expedition’s departure draws nearer, Saffron realizes if she wants her mentor’s name cleared, she’ll have to do it herself.

Joined by enigmatic Alexander Ashton, a fellow researcher, Saffron uses her knowledge of botany as she explores steamy greenhouses, dark gardens, and deadly poisons. Will she be able to uncover the truth or will her investigation land her on the murderer’s list?

The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler

Humankind discovers intelligent life in an octopus species with its own language and culture, and sets off a high-stakes global competition to dominate the future.

Rumors begin to spread of a species of hyperintelligent, dangerous octopus that may have developed its own language and culture. Marine biologist Dr. Ha Nguyen, who has spent her life researching cephalopod intelligence, will do anything for the chance to study them.

The transnational tech corporation DIANIMA has sealed the remote Con Dao Archipelago, where the octopuses were discovered, off from the world. Dr. Nguyen joins DIANIMA’s team on the islands: a battle-scarred security agent and the world’s first android.

The octopuses hold the key to unprecedented breakthroughs in extrahuman intelligence. The stakes are high: there are vast fortunes to be made by whoever can take advantage of the octopuses’ advancements, and as Dr. Nguyen struggles to communicate with the newly discovered species, forces larger than DIANIMA close in to seize the octopuses for themselves.

But no one has yet asked the octopuses what they think. And what they might do about it.

A near-future thriller about the nature of consciousness, Ray Nayler’s The Mountain in the Sea is a dazzling literary debut and a mind-blowing dive into the treasure and wreckage of humankind’s legacy.

A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin

For Ning, the only thing worse than losing her mother is knowing that it’s her own fault. She was the one who unknowingly brewed the poison tea that killed her—the poison tea that now threatens to also take her sister, Shu.

When Ning hears of a competition to find the kingdom’s greatest shennong-shi—masters of the ancient and magical art of tea-making—she travels to the imperial city to compete. The winner will receive a favor from the princess, which may be Ning’s only chance to save her sister’s life.

But between the backstabbing competitors, bloody court politics, and a mysterious (and handsome) boy with a shocking secret, Ning might actually be the one in more danger.

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

After her mother dies in an accident, sixteen-year-old Bree Mathews wants nothing to do with her family memories or childhood home. A residential program for bright high schoolers at UNC-Chapel Hill seems like the perfect escape—Until Bree witnesses a magical attack her very first night on campus.

A flying demon feeding on human energies.

A secret society of so called “Legendborn” students that hunt the creatures down.

And a mysterious teenage mage who calls himself a “Merlin” who attempts—and fails—to wipe Bree’s memory of everything she saw.

The mage’s failure unlocks Bree’s own unique magic a buried memory with a hidden connection: the night er mother ded, another Merlin was at the hospital. Now that Bree knows there’s more to her mother’s death than what’s on the police report, she’ll do whatever it takes to find out the truth, even if that means infiltrating the Legendborn as one of their initiates.

She recruits Nick, a self-exiled Legendborn with is own grudge against the group, and their reluctant partnership pulls them deeper into the society’s secrets—and closer to each other. But when the Legendborn reveal themselves as the descendants of King Arthur’s knights and explain that a magical war is coming, Bree has to decide how far she’ll go for the truth and whether she should use her magic to take the society down—or join the fight.

A Prayer for Vengeance by Leanne Schwartz

An orphan out to find the truth within a warped religion turns his poetry into prayer—a prayer that awakens a cursed girl hungry for revenge.

Centuries after a miracle vanquished Tresttato’s monsters and turned the soldiers fighting them to stone, Milo lovingly tends to the statues of those who protected the city. Raised with devout templars and scholars, autistic temple ward Milo wants nothing more than to be accepted into their ranks. When his prayers admiring her heroic sacrifice accidentally free Gia from stone, she wakes with a fury to kil the man Milo owes his life to, Primo Sanct Ennio.

Gia claims that the immortal holy leader Milo lives to serve is the same man who betrayed her and transformed her into a statue—and what Milo always believed was a miracle was actually a curse that Gia will stop at nothing to break. Even if she has to kill his followers to do it. Even if she must kill the boy who woke her.

Queerly Beloved by Susie Dumond

A people-pleasing baker tries to find her place as a bridesmaid-for-hire. Will she finally find her happily ever after—and her own voice?

Amy, a semicloseted queer baker and bartender in mid-2010s Oklahoma, has spent a lifetime putting other people’s needs before her own. Until, that is, she’s fired from her job at a Christian bakery and turns her one-off gig subbing in for a bridesmaid into a full-time business—thanks to her baking talents, crafting skills, and years of watching rom-coms and Say Yes to the Dress. Between her new gig and meeting Charley, the attractive engineer who’s just moved to Tulsa, suddenly Amy’s found something—and someone—she actually wants. Her tight-knit group of chosen family is thrilled that Amy is becoming her authentic self. But when her deep desire to please kicks into overdrive, Amy’s precarious balancing act strains her relationships to the breaking point, and she must decide what it looks like to be true to herself—and if she has the courage to try.

[bang-mingyu]

who: @leannerhodes​ where: The Rhodes’ House

Mingyu had run into Ashton Rhodes and after a little bit of talking, he’d discovered that his new friend was Leanne’s son. Ashton had recognized him as the one who had done the drawing that his mother had loved so much. It had gotten lost in the storm a few months back and Ashton decided to ask Mingyu to do another, but of the family this time. Mingyu agreed and Ashton paid him some money to do it. After finding a good frame, Mingyu finally got the drawing done, then decided to turn it into a painting instead, a bigger one. Finally, the last step was to bring it to her. As soon as he was able to coordinate with Ash, Mingyu now found himself standing at the door. Ashton let him in, “Go ahead and wait in the living room.” He told Mingyu who nodded and held the painting close to himself, keeping it faced toward his body so that Leanne wouldn’t see it immediately upon stepping in. Ash led his mother in and left quietly. Mingyu waved, “Um... h- hello.” He said to her, “I came... with a surprise for you.” He said and turned the painting around. It was of the entire family, including Julia and the twins with Olivia and Ashton with their parents. “Ashton told me you lost your drawing I did of you in the hurricane.. so I made you one of your entire family.... I am... I hope you like it.”

[juliarrp]

The Rhodes Family

Malcom Rhodes - 60 Leanne Rhodes - 59 ( @leannerhodes ) Julia Rhodes - 36 ( @juliarrp ) Casey Rhodes - 34 Grace Rhodes - 34 Olivia Rhodes - 32 ( @livrhodes ) Ashton Rhodes - 22 ( @rhodestoashton )