#defy expectations! Break stereotypes! be who you are even if it means burning the whole system to the ground!

[anxiousapplepie]

The Blue Rose fortold by prophecy, here to absolutely bumble her way to dismantling your expectation laiden society because of what it does to the people who don't fit.

Couldn't have said it better myself, mate! Lapis is here to take down the system and she's gonna have fun (and be super confused) while doing it!

[anachronisticcrab]

Demigods Defying Stereotypes

This is a repost of something I made a long time ago and can’t find now sadly. But this is a whole bunch of HC’s about different abilities of demigods (I’ve added a few since the last time I posted this)

* An Apollo kid who can cause people to get colds and the flu or worse when they’re pissed off. Apollo isn’t just the god of healing: he’s the god of diseases

* An Aphrodite camper who fights tooth and nail for their loved ones, who doesn’t care what they look like. After all, love consumes all and takes everything out of you, why wouldn’t they fight for who they love?

* A child of Persephone who has powers over shadows and zombies like Nico, who calls themselves the princette of the Underworld. After all, Persephone is the Queen of the Afterlife

* A child of Zeus who doesn’t want to rule, and instead tells everyone that they are all equal and should be valued as such. A child of Zeus who is ready to avenge anyone who’s been wronged by any means necessary. After all, they’re dad is the patron of hospitality

* Also, a Zeus kid who has a love of farming and rules over crops and that. After all, in Athens, Zeus was seen as the god of crops and harvest

* A psychopomp child of Hermes, who feels so different from their siblings, who doesn’t know where they fit in, who feels more comfortable with the underworld children

* A child of Dionysus who can cause people to go insane with a point of their finger, or who is generally insane. Mr D is associated with insanity, after all

*A child of Dionysus with powers of rebirth, who can reform themself and others with a wave of their hand. Dionysus was originally a terrifying god of madness and rebirth

* A Hades child who can turn invisible, instead of just hiding in the shadows. After all, Hades is also known as Aïdes (the Unseen)

* A Poseidon kid with no influence over the sea, who could easily drown, who can barely tread water, but who causes earthquakes and is better with horses than Butch. Who shakes the earth with every step they take as they ride horses, causing chaos and destruction everywhere they go

* A child of Hephaestus who’s a pyrotechnic like Leo, but who has no mechanical skills whatsoever, who is unable to forge anything, but can ravage the lands with forest fires and tends to Hestia’s hearth, the first one to voluntarily speak to her since Nico

* A child of Ares who hates fighting, who is a pacifist, but is amazing at battle strategy and embodies the spirit of battle better than Ares himself most days. Who wins battles without violence, but with words and with wit

* A child of Athena who isn’t book smart, but is cunning. Who uses their intelligence to make fun of people and commit crimes, not to study great subjects like science or architecture. Who hates reading and schoolwork, but is genuinely witty and creative in coming up with ways to break rules and commit serious crimes

* A child of Athena whose only connection to her mother is weaving, her only godly skill. They could rival Arachne in their skill

* A child of Hypnos with insomnia, who can never manage to sleep, and can curse others to have the same issue. A child of the god of sleep who can’t sleep

* A child of Demeter who kills every plant they touch, who can’t grow anything, who can’t control plants. However, they can tell where the best dirt for growing plants is, can tell the best spots for a plant to grow, but can’t keep plants alive

* A child of Demeter who can’t keep anything alive, but finds out they are an amazing housewife and know all the tricks to keeping people fertile, who can bless a couple to have a child, to become compatible for a child, regardless of sex other or biological factors

*A child of Nyx who’s scared of the dark and can’t control it, but can create light in every room to emulate stars and galaxies, who can create nebula in thin air with a snap of their fingers. Night is more than just an endless blanket of dark, after all

*A child of Thetis who has no connection to the sea, who can’t stand the water, who hates marine life, but has her power of prophecy stronger than any Apollo child ever had

* A Hades kid who has no powers over the dead or gems or shadows or dreams, but is a talented gardener, and always knows where the best soil is. After all, Hades has been associated with fertile soil and nourishing seeds

* A Hecate child who is truly garbage with magic, and can’t conjure or transfigure to save their life. They hate the mist and can’t work with it. But they’re good with the moon. They thrive at night. They thrive in the dark in the moonlight, and are able to grow all kinds of beautiful plants and speak with all kinds of animals, and can even control the tides. But by day they are absolute rubbish

* A child of Iris who can’t create rainbows and has no sense of colour coordination. But they’re amazing at getting messages to and fro, and are the head of their own postal office. No, they’re not good with rainbows, but they are an amazing mailman

* A child of Nike who doesn’t win everything and doesn’t like competition. They don’t care to compete and would rather everyone just get along. They’re one of the fastest people in the world, but they never join races because they don’t like it. They can run as fast as their mom, but that doesn’t mean that they want to

* An aro/ace Eros kid. They hate romance and sex with a burning passion as everyone expects them to like it, but they don’t. They refuse to make people fall in love and despises it when they’re siblings do. But they have powers over chaos and darkness, like they’re aunts and uncles and grandparents

If you liked these, check out my other demigod power headcanons! Thanks for reading!!

[megumis-lashes]

Love Bites

Vampire! Han Jisung x Reader Part 1

**Contains**: mentions of blood/blood drinking, parental abuse, bullying, fighting, slight swearing, emotional abuse, friends to lovers, werewolf Hyunjin, western high school standards, female reader

Flashback =

> Hello

Narrators POV

In today’s society, supernatural beings like vampires and werewolves are believed to be mythical creatures. Few people believe in their existence and have many false stereotypes surround these creatures’ existence. In reality they do exist. Supernaturals or whatever you like to call them, live a life hidden from society. They play the role of innocent humans is a world where they aren’t accepted.

Name’s POV

After a long, stressful week of school I was finally home to relax, or at least that’s what I wish I was doing right now. Throughout my whole life, I always had an immense amount of pressure put on me by my parents. They wanted a perfect daughter. Not perfect in the sense of a loving child, oh no they had their own definition for the word. To be a perfect child by their standards was practically impossible. I would need to have prefect grades, perfect manners, a perfect record, but despite having all those things I was still a disappointment. I wasn’t ever allowed to have friends, they would simply distract me from school. Defying this logic I was required to participate in at least one sport for college credit. I chose volleyball on a whim. I was practically exhausted every day. I had school each day, followed by practice and then hours of homework. Despite the amount of stress I am constantly facing, my parents only ever cared about results, positive results that is.

You see I’m currently in a very dangerous situation. This week I had been so overwhelmed by homework that I fell asleep before I finished studying for an exam. It was understandable. I hadn’t gotten proper sleep in days and staying up till 3am every night doing homework was clearly taking a toll on my health. My parents could care less though. I had scored a 73 on the exam which was just barely passing in my school’s standards. My parents were furious, and I was scared of their reaction to say the least. I had an idea of what was coming.

I got kicked out?

“No fucking way.” I breathed out as I stood with my hands full in front of my house. This is probably the last thing I would’ve expected but they sure did it. Typically their punishments weren’t this bad. They would just yell at me for a while, threaten to take things from me, maybe hit me if they were really mad, and then tell me how much of a disappoint I was. This wasn’t anything I wasn’t used to so I barely had a reaction to it anymore. This lack of reaction seemed to trigger something new in them. If I wasn’t affected by their typical punishments they would have to step up. So they kicked their barely 17 year old daughter out of their house on a bone-chilling Friday in October.

It was nearing 6:00 PM and I had no idea what to do. They had given me barely five minutes to grab whatever items I would need to survive for however long I would be homeless. I had managed to scrap together the bare necessities. I was still dressed in my school uniform but luckily brought a change of clothes. The first thing I did was change. I couldn’t be a bad representation of my school could I? I didn’t have much. I had just enough time to stuff my school bag with clothes, my wallet, laptop, phone, chargers and snacks but I was still frozen to the bone.

My first thought was to check into a small hotel, but I quickly dismissed the idea when I saw the price. I walked around the city area, contemplating who I could ask to stay with but oh, I don’t have any friends. After wandering around for a while I had subconsciously returned home. Maybe they would let me in? Nope. All the doors and windows were locked and a small note was taped to the door.

‘Left on vacation. Be back soon. Name, if you break in we’ll disown you.’ I sighed. Of course they left. I’m even more desperate for somewhere to stay now.

As time passed and I continued to walk around, the night grew darker and darker. I had walked in what seemed like circles for hours and I was even more exhausted than usual. As I was walking in the city, I heard soft growls behind me. Now that I thought about it there were barely any people here. As I glanced back behind me, my blood ran cold. What is that thing?

From the shadows I could barely make out what I assumed to be its face. Despite this a few startling details stood out to me the most. It had beady red eyes that seemingly glowed under the moonlight. It looked to be an animal, having a pure black fur coat that seemingly stood up on edge. The last thing I saw were its insanely sharp teeth that dripped with saliva as it growled. Despite this sudden shock, it didn’t take long for me to realize I was in danger and book it in the opposite direction. I heard louder growls behind me and I could almost feel its hot breath on my legs. It was right at my heels biting at my ankles in hopes to slow me down. With my low energy I knew I wouldn’t last long at this speed. I had to do something to help me escape. Out of pure adrenaline rush, I made a quick turn and with a sharp motion I slammed my bag across its face. As it whimpered in pain I quickly tore open my pack and grabbed out the heaviest school book I had and threw it as hard as I possibly could at its face. This seemed to shock the animal at it rolled over on the ground in pain. I took this as an opportunity to escape and bolted away as fast as I could.

I had been running for what seemed like forever and finally, my body gave out. Once I figured I was far enough away from it I stopped pushing myself and collapsed on my knees in a fit of coughs and strangled breathing. I escaped at least. My only price to pay was the harsh burning sensation that was bubbling up in my lungs and some slight scratches. I was alive at least. The only downside to my escape is that I had No. Idea. Where. I. Was. As I ran, my surroundings seemed to have blended together. The city streets were long forgotten and I was surrounded by lush forest. A forest I had never seen in my life.

Despite my current distress, I knew I still had to find somewhere to sleep. It was pitch black out now. I assumed it was nearing midnight but I wasn’t sure as my phone had died a couple hours before. I was as lost as lost could be and instead of wandering around aimlessly for the rest of the night, I figured I’d just sleep near a sheltered tree. I sure as hell needed plenty of sleep. I laid there on the cold, wet ground for what I could only assume was a couple hours. I was still terrified. I was extremely shaken by my experience from earlier. I was also freezing. The little warmth my clothes had given me was quickly lost due to the freezing water that had seeped into them upon contact with the ground. At some point I must’ve passed out as that is the remainder of the memories I have from that night.

“Hello? Hello? Excuse me miss are you alright? Are you alive? Wow Jisung that’s a smart questions to ask.” I heard distant talking from what seemed to be above me.

I rubbed my eyes in confusion, slowly blinking them open. As my vision cleared I saw a boy. The boy had slightly grown out dirty blonde hair, golden eyes, a relatively short stature and was dressed in sweats. The most shocking detail of all was how familiar he looked, almost too familiar.

The boy blinked in surprise. “Oh! I see you’ve awoken... finally.” He slightly mumbled. “Sorry to wake you its just I don’t see people casually sleeping in the forest everyday you know.” He shuffled and rubbed his neck as he spoke.

I clambered around and began to sit upright as I continued to stare at him. I definitely knew him from somewhere. He seemed to somewhat recognize me as well.

“Ah that sweater! You must be from Maple High as well then, that’s why you seem so familiar!” He explained “Wait what’s your name... ah wait don’t tell me I know it...... is it Name by any chance?” He questioned. Now I knew exactly who he was.

“You’re correct. And you’re Han Jisung right? We’ve been in chemistry, music, and language arts classes together for the past two years. Now I’m embarrassed I didn’t recognize you sooner.” I mumbled out of embarrassment.

“No no its fine! Plus it took me a while to remember your name.” He chided as he rubbed his neck once again. “Do you mind letting me know why you’re stranded out here in the forest? If you’re camping or something then that’s understandable but this area is known for being very unsafe, plus you look dangerously unprepared.” He questioned.

“Ah about that... you see I got lost last night. I was in the city and some animal chased me and I wound up here somehow.” I awkwardly chuckled. I mean I wasn’t being completely honest but only certain people would fully understand my situation.

“You wouldn’t happen to know the way out of this hell hole would you?” I pleaded.

“Now I see what happened!” He chuckled as he seemingly put the pieces together. “I can show you the way out! This forest is practically my second home haha.” he laughed

Jisung had helped me grabbed my things and started to lead me out of the forest.

“Hey Jisung?”

“Yeah?”

“How come you know this forest so well? And how did you even find me? I mean its a pretty random location?” I questioned.

“Oh, I come here to hunt.” He blurted out.

“Hunt? Like animals? Isn’t that like really outdated?” I questioned.

“Oh..uh..yeah I hunt like deer...and stuff. I guess my family is just kinda outdated. Hunting is a... hobby of mine I guess....” He trailed off. I found his answer rather odd... I mean he seemed nervous? No unsure? Whatever it was probably nothing.

As he led me out of the forest I managed to slip up and mention that I had to figure out a place to stay. Out of what I could only assume was a mixture of kindness and pity, he offered to let me stay at his house. At first I immediately declined. It was such a huge offer to just give to someone you barely know. Plus I would feel guilty as I had little to offer him in thanks. Eventually he persuaded me to stay with him. My payment could be in the form of chores as he was home alone, his parents away on business. He lent me clothes and let me stay in one of his many guest rooms. I took a shower and once again took a nap.

[english201newsfeed-blog]

A Male’s Review of Modern Media

Editor’ Note: We decided to use this format for many reasons. By doing a Buzzfeed like format we felt like we were able to be freer with our writing. We felt like being a little more informal with our writing could be interesting, especially since all of the papers that we decided to review were about shows on Netflix or movies that were very popular. By using shows and movies that people have easy access to, it made it easier for us to write about it because we know that people could read our review and go check out the show or movie without any problems. Also, being a little more informal with our writing made it easy on us because we had less restrictions on what we couldn’t write compared to a different magazine like The New York Times. When we decided to target the teenage to mid-twenties audience, we did so for many reasons. First, we felt like with the reviews that we chose to do, those shows and movies were primarily watched by that age group. Also, most kids that age have Netflix and the shows that we reviewed are on Netflix. Lastly, this is the age group that we are in so we felt like we could relate more easily to that age group. “A Male’s Review of Modern Media”, which is our magazine, covers many different shows and movies and should be relatable for everyone

Mad Max Fury Road

The Overview

Mad Max Fury Road is certainly not for the faint of heart. The scenes are graphic and take a serious turn to action movie expectations. The world of savages hunting each other while racing to the capital is certainly different from your average pistol shooting, buildings being blown to pieces action movie. There are characters that bring the fight no matter what gender they are. From Max to the Brides, from inner personal struggles to physical fighting everyone will fight the biggest fight since the apocalypse that had hit Mankind.

The Review

After watching a post-apocalyptic world being taken over by a leader who kind of reminds this world of Kim Jong-un, I am absolutely amazed of how George Miller directed this masterpiece. The film was different from the action we as an audience is used to. Yes the usual blowing things up and blood and gore is what is aimed at when making such a film but Mad Max Fury Road has a different twist to it. Furiosa who is the main role in the film is a women. Now even though the film has the name of Mad Max the women are the ones who take the charge as the leaders of the group to take over the capital. It is not every day when there is a level of insanity in a world of chaos much less seeing a group of nobodies trying to save a world lead by a woman and her sidekicks who are also strong independent women.

The Final Decision

Even though the Film Mad Max Fury Road has a few graphic qualities that may make an audience feel uncomfortable such as scenes of women breast feeding or just the usual blood and gore, the fellowship of men, women, and radioactive mutants all race to maintain what they think is right. There were no parts in the film where it was boring but just right. The director slowed down the tempo just right when it needed to be slowed or speed it up when necessary. I as an audience member recommend this film to mature audiences as an action-packed film with a twist in character roles in a multi genre film to excite everyone until the last second.

Reviewed by Bryar Stemrich

The Ranch

The Overview

The Ranch has an origin or a small town in Colorado. Now when thinking of a small town they are mostly thought of as one or two gas stations, a few small stores, and maybe a singular grocery store, other than that there is nothing but farm fields and a small community. The Netflix original stars Colt Bennet played by Ashton Kutcher who was a prosperous football in that small town in Colorado. Colt has returned to Garrison Colorado because of a tryout from a local semi pro football team. Colts father who is Beau Bennet played by Sam Elliot is not Happy That Colt is home because of Colt abandoning his father ranch for something better. Colt turns down the offer to play for the semi pro team and continues to work on the ranch with his father and brother while experiencing romantic relationships with wild twists along the way.

The Review

The small town of Garrison Colorado has a western vibe that has a lot of grit with no back talk. The show The Ranch tends to break gender roles by showing that the woman grew up on the hard farm life just like the men have. The women drive pickup trucks and drink hard liquor. While doing these things the women all have the same attitude, that attitude is not caring one bit about what other people think of them. The men take a silly twist when referring to certain things like the continuation of the obsession with Ugg boots and how the men mostly Beau and Colt love these styles of boots. All in all, the show The Ranch exemplifies the true and maybe not so true nature of the wild west with a funny sitcom.

The Final Decision

Netflix has many shows that are cherished in the hearts of other but The Ranch makes for a great show that I as well as many other would recommend for mature audiences. There are a few moments in the series that would not make sense or take a very awkward turn in the plot but other than those minor instances the funny romantic journey of the Bennett’s continues to impress all around. Two thumbs up!

Reviewed by Bryar Stemrich

Family Guy

The Overview 

Family Guy is without a doubt one of the most popular adult cartoons on television. It is quite funny at times and will make you laugh at stupid humor. Peter Griffin and Lois Griffin have three kids and a dog. They have a daughter Meg, a son Chris, and another son Stewie, who is a baby, and a talking dog Brian. The show revolves around Peter getting himself into very odd and humorous situations that often cause his family a great amount of stress.

The Review

The show has its high points, but it also has its flaws. Family Guy is quite possibly one of the most sexist shows on television. Peter is constantly making sexist remarks and doing very sexist things. The show has multiple female characters who are all stay at home moms. Also, the show follows the blueprint of many other adult cartoons where there is a dumb, fat, drunk dad with an attractive wife and three kids. This blueprint has become the backbone for most of the shows that are similar to Family Guy. The amount of sexist things that happen in this show are astonishing. There is a sexist remark in basically every single episode. The show fails multiple times to break typical gender stereotypes but fails every time. It has the chance to leave gender stereotypes and sexism behind it but it continues to use it as a form of comedy. With that being said, Family Guy has failed to catch up and join us in the twenty-first century and leave those stereotypes in the past and give some of their female characters a role other than stay at home mom. The sooner that they catch up, the sooner they may gain even more of an audience than they already have now. With the removal of stereotypes Family Guy could gain more women who watch the show or gain more people who just do not agree with the things that they say on their show.

The Final Decision

While the show is funny, it can be highly offensive at times. I would not recommend it to viewers who do not want to watch animated sexism. If you want a quick laugh, the show does have some funny moments that are not sexist. If you can fight through the sexist jokes then you might actually enjoy the stupid humor in Family Guy.

Reviewed by Nick Marvin

Burn Notice

The Overview:

Michael Weston, a spy, got fired, or well as they say in the spy world, he got burned. The CIA dumped him in Miami, Florida, his hometown, with no cash, no credit, and no job history. He becomes a private eye with the skills he picked up as a CIA Operative. With the help of his old friend Sam Axe, and his “trigger-happy” ex-girlfriend Fiona, he makes people’s problems go away. But when he’s done, Michael’s biggest problem becomes finding out who burned him and trying to get back into the game.

The Review:

Fiona Glenanne, Michael’s ex-girlfriend turned girlfriend, portrays a character that defies the gender stereotypes shown on most television shows. According to her character bio on USA Networks website, she is called “a shoot first and ask questions later kind of gal with a fearless nature that’s both enticing and dangerous.” She worked for the IRA (Irish Republican Army) for many year and has great “explosives, lock picking, tracking, weapons, and hand-to-hand combat to make a living” skills.

Glenanne’s character is one who defies the stereotypes many female characters show on televisions. Most of the time you see her on screen, she is either handling weapons or talking about them. She is a very strong women character, who can live without a man, shown in the third and the fourth seasons. In the very first episode, she said, “Should we shoot them?” which became her catchphrase throughout the whole series. Contrary to gender stereotypes in television shows, Burn Notice’s Fiona Glenanne defies those by the words she uses, the actions she takes, and the utter fact that she knows how to use all types of weapons.

The Final Decision:

Burn Notice is a great show that shows women can be the powerful ones in society at certain points. For the seven seasons, 111 episodes, and one made-for-television movie, Burn Notice showed what is it like to have everything, then have nothing and try to find out who and why you no longer live the life you once lived. The show is one that had a great audience and got to go out on their own terms, meaning that after the seventh season they decided to end it themselves, not the network cancelling it. Overall, I would recommend Burn Notice as it is a great show to that shows the many sides of the life working for the government and then trying to build life back up.

Reviewed by Spencer DuPuis

Steven Universe

The Overview:

The show Steven Universe is about how the Crystal Gems protect the world from evil. They have powers that come from their gemstones, which are magical gems that are implanted into the character’s body. There are four in the Crystal Gem family: Amethyst, Garnet, pearl, and Steven, along the way Peridot joined them. Steven is interesting as he is half-Gem, half-human who got his gemstone from his mother, Rose Quartz, she gave up being able to be a gemstone to make Steven. The shows follows Steven trying to find out what his gem does while helping the other Crystal Gems.

The Review:

It is important for young boys to see male characters show emotion because it lets them know it is actually okay. Most shows only have women showing emotion and makes showing emotion seem as a “girly” thing to do. As well as show a different side to a male character that could actually make it relatable to society as it is today.

It is also important for young girls to see complex, strong female characters because some shows just portray them as the gender stereotype for women, but now a days, women are shown that they have more ability to things males would usually do.

The Final Decision:

This is a very interesting show, as it is animated show on Cartoon Network, it has some parts in it that are not necessarily for kids, as it seems as if the show is very obsessed with the LGBT+ community, which is a lot for a little kid to understand. But with that said, I would recommend this show as it portrays gender roles very well, especially since its target audience is children.

Reviewed by Spencer Dupuis

Supernatural

The Overview

Supernatural is a show about two brothers who hunt monsters, while tracking down their father, and trying to save innocent people caught in the crossfire.

The Review

While the plot of Supernatural is very entertaining and keeps the attention of the viewers, it does have flaws. The one major flaw of the show that almost all critics of the show will point out is the lack of female characters. While there are some female characters on the show, they almost always end up dead. Their deaths aren’t easy either. Most of the time they are killed in a very gruesome way. With the exception of a few recurring female characters, most of the cast is made up of males. The two stars of the show, Sam and Dean Winchester, are two very masculine characters. They are masculine in their own ways but they are both very rugged, tough, handsome men. Supernatural falls short in the category of gender, not having many female characters and having cookie cutter, typical male characters.

The Final Decision

Supernatural is a great show like I previously stated. The plot is good, the actors are great, and the show is good visually. It is just lacking some gender diversity. It would be nice to see more females and to see some not so masculine male characters. So, if you are looking for a good show to watch and don’t mind the gender issues then Supernatural is the show for you. But, if you do not want to watch a male dominated show filled with toxic masculinity, Supernatural may not be your cup of tea.  

Reviewed by Nick Marvin

Jessica Jones

The Overview

Jessica Jones is a dark and gritty superhero show that features a leading women of which the show is named for. Jessica is a private detective with superhuman strength among other abilities that has a very troubled past. These events that only get pieced together as you watch the show and give an insight to her behaviors.

The Review

This show is as much of a drama as it is an action show and this is something that allows it to appeal to a wide range of audiences. This past is a big motivator of her actions and a source of growth and development for her as she continues to take jobs as a private eye. The overarching story is good and everyone is interesting setting a common theme of complex and convincing characters.

The Final Decision

Jessica Jones is not only an entertaining show that anyone can enjoy, but one with a purpose and message. A strong female is center stage and she is not only showing that she is tough, but also capable of overcoming anything. So regardless of what you are looking for out of a television show, Jessica Jones is unlikely to disappoint.

Reviewed by Shawn Ross

New Girl

The Overview

New Girl is a comedic sitcom documenting the lives of Jess, Nick, Winston, and Schmidt roommates in an apartment that often find themselves in romantic situations. Jess is a school teacher that discovered her boyfriend cheating on her forcing the change in her living situation. The guys were reluctant to have a woman move in, however Schmidt, the lady’s man was quick to welcome Jess after hearing about her model friend Cece setting up all the events to come.

The Review

This show is based on a familiar premise that many sitcoms have used, however New Girl has a talent for creating multidimensional characters that break the normal molds so many are used to. It is also excellent at creating relationships between these characters that the audience can care about and be excited at the development of.

The Final Decision

You will find a refreshing look on the portrayal of male characters in sitcoms and be entertained the whole time by spectacular comedy making this a show I wholeheartedly recommend.

Reviewed by Shawn Ross

[sweetangela79]

Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Forced Together

Cameron and David walked into the coroner’s office after stopping for coffee.  

“What do we have, Ben?” Cameron asked the coroner.

“I found the cause of death.  She has massive bruises and cuts all over her body but they weren’t what killed her.  She died from a massive overdose of heroin.  Everything else that happened to her happened after her death.” The coroner, Ben replied.

“Did you identify her?” Cameron asked.

“I found her using her fingerprints.  She wasn’t in the system for any bad reasons.  Her father is a cop, and he had her fingerprinted years ago when that was a popular thing to do in case of an abduction.  Her name was Tiffany Rose Owens.  She wasn’t from around here.  She grew up two towns over.  I’m not sure how she wound up here but I can tell you a bit about her.  She was 15 years old and her father reported her missing two days ago. A good student with no disciplinary problems to speak of.  It’s uncertain if she ran away or if there was an abduction.” Ben explained.

“Did you find out if she had any friends that we might talk to so we can get to learn more about her personality?” Cameron uttered out loud.

“I’m willing to bet her guidance counsellor or homeroom teacher might have something that can help.” Ben added.

“Let’s head to Tiffany’s school to talk to her guidance counsellor and find a friend willing to tell us what she was like.” Cameron said towards David as she left the room.

“Let’s go together.  We can talk about the case on the way. How does that sound to you?” David said as he caught up with Cameron.  

“We can go together but don’t make it a habit.  I enjoy working alone.” Cameron stated.

Cameron and David drove the hourlong trip, making small talk instead of discussing the case at hand.  Once they arrived, they headed straight to the guidance office to speak to Tiffany’s guidance counsellor, Mr. Harold Bright.  Cameron knocked on the open door, exchanging awkward glances with David before the man inside shouted for them to come in.

“Come in.” Mr. Harold Bright shouted.

“Thank you, Mr. Bright.” Cameron replied.

“What can I do to help the police today?” Mr. Bright asked.

“We came here to find out what you know about a girl that attended school here named Tiffany Rose Owens.” Cameron questioned.

“Tiffany was a bright student that went missing about two days ago.  She wasn’t too popular, so she only had one friend that I know of.  Tiffany had an active imagination on her though.  It made her an excellent writer.  She wanted to be an author.” Mr. Bright explained.

“What do you mean when you say that she had an active imagination?” Cameron asked.

“Her dad was and still is a respected member of the police force.  She claimed he was doing unseemly things to her but I know him.  He’s a charitable man.  If it’s not money, he’s donating his time to several causes dear to his heart.” Mr. Bright clarified.

“You mentioned a friend.  Can we talk to her?” Cameron questioned.

“You can.  I figured you would want to talk to her so I had her brought from her classes.  She should be right outside in the hallway.” Mr. Bright stated. “Do you need anything else from me?  I have an appointment that I need to get ready for.”

“No. We can manage one teenage girl.” David replied before they moved into the hallway to question Tiffany’s friend.

“Are you Tiffany's friend?” Cameron asked.

“I was.” The girl responded. “I mean I tried to be.”

“What’s your name, sweetheart?” David cooed.

“My name is Emily.” She responded.

“What can you tell us about Tiffany?” David questioned.

“Tiffany was a shy girl.  She spent more time in her head than in the outside world.  She was kind to people even if they didn’t deserve it.  Her dad didn’t deserve her kindness.  He got off scot-free for the accusations she made against him because he has the town so fooled into assuming he’s such a pious and charitable man that they didn’t trust her.  She told all the right people what happened behind closed doors in her home but no one did a thing to help her.  I saw something weird one night.” Emily recounted.

“What did you see?” David questioned.

“He didn’t shut the blinds the whole way, and he kissed her but not fatherly if you get what I mean. He started taking her clothes off and then took her to his bed.  I didn’t see what happened next but I can’t imagine it being good or moral.” Emily remarked with a sigh.

“Do you have any reason to suspect she ran away?” David said.

“Tiffany met an older guy who said he would take her away from her father and make her happy.  He bought her expensive clothes and jewelry.  I told her not to trust him but she didn’t listen to me.  Her life was so miserable she needed out.” Emily said with tears flowing from her eyes. Cameron handed her a tissue before trying to comfort her.

“I’m sure you did all that you could.” Cameron said while hugging a very upset Emily.

“She just had an appointment at the doctor’s last week and found out she’s pregnant, or was pregnant.” Emily confided.

“Let’s go, Cameron.  I’m sure the girl will be fine.” David said with an unwarranted coldness.

“I have to go, but this is my card with my personal number on it if you need to talk to anyone about what you’re going through.” Cameron offered before letting her go before walking away.  The girl's cries broke her heart, but she needed to go if she wanted to find the killer.

“Thanks.” Emily shouted towards the pair walking away.

Cameron and David drove the hour back to the precinct in complete silence so that Cameron could get rid of him.  David’s attitude was driving her crazy.  He was so charming when he wanted to be but cold and calculating the very next minute.  She pulled up to the precinct waiting for David to get out before locking the doors and speeding off.  It upset her to realize that Tiffany had lived and died without knowing the kindness that every child deserves.  She was sure that Tiffany’s after had been abusing her and nobody would listen to her so she most likely felt scared and alone.  Cameron knew that her life resembled hell. Cameron had excess angry energy she needed to burn off, so she left for the gym to burn it off.  She parked secured her firearm in her trunk and headed inside after collecting her gym clothes.

Cameron changed before heading to the treadmill. She put in her headphones and turned on her favorite indy rock band and started at a slow pace before speeding up to a full run.  She ran until she needed to breathe so she slowed down to cool off before stopping altogether.  Cameron headed to the locker room getting into the shower to clean up before going back to the precinct.  She stood under the water thinking about Tiffany and the girls liker her who were killed the previous summer.  She hadn’t caught the killer before her injury but she could make things right by catching him this time.

Cameron had been working non-stop for three weeks when the killer shot her while trying to apprehend him.  It was touch and go for a while, but Cameron recovered.  The murders stopped after her injury and started up only a few weeks after her return.  Her recovery took longer than expected because she had gotten addicted to pain killers while she was recovering. A good friend of hers confronted her when he realized what was going on.  He was a doctor and helped her through the withdrawal process and started her down the road to recovery from addiction.  He made it a point to check in on her as often as possible, especially with Cameron returning to work. Cameron was using the pain medication to hide how she was suffering, but when her friend questioned her progress, she broke down.  He was a true friend.  A true friend is there through your best times but sticks close during your rough patches and Daniel did that.

The water washed over Cameron, removing the sweat that accumulated during her run.  She stood in the shower, letting the water mix with the tears now running down her cheeks.  It took a good twenty minutes before Cameron was over crying so she could get out.  She didn’t want to worry about breaking down in front of anyone.  Cameron got dressed and headed to her car.  Just as she was pulling her car keys out of her pocket, her phone rang.  It was Chief Fergusson.

“Walsh.” Cameron snapped.

“Where are you?” Chief Fergusson snapped back.

“I had an errand to run.”

“What is so important you had to ditch your partner?”

“I’m not at liberty to discuss it.  I’ll be back at the precinct in ten minutes.”

“That’s not good enough.  I need you here now.” Chief Fergusson said slamming the phone on his desk.

Chief Fergusson hung up on Cameron without saying goodbye.  It was a common thing for him to avoid pleasantries if like conversational gestures when entering or exiting a room. Cameron got to the precinct and braced for her entrance.  She sat in her car for a few minutes getting her game face ready before entering the double doors leading to the precinct.  Cameron worried about her reputation.  Being a female detective was all about balance.  She needed to stay true to her caring nature but also needed to be strong.  They always made female detectives feel inferior because they are more emotional.  She needed to defy those stereotypes.  With her game face put on, Cameron headed into the precinct heading straight to her office where David and Chief Fergusson were already waiting for her.

“Are you any closer to finding the killer?” Chief Fergusson barked toward Cameron.

“Not exactly.” Cameron replied.

“That’s not true.” David interjected.

“How so?” Chief Fergusson asked with skepticism.

“Every time this guy kills, we learn more about him.  It's a matter of time before Cameron figures out who this killer is.” David clarified.

“You may be right David but that means more dead bodies, and the public is already in a panic..” Chief Fergusson responded.

“I’m going over the evidence collected from last summer’s murders and looking at them again with fresh eyes.  I might see something now there has been time away from it all.” Cameron stated.

“I can look at the evidence with Cameron and offer some insights so we can build a psychological profile on the killer.” David interjected.

“Check in with me as soon as you have something.” Chief Fergusson mumbled while walking out.

“You didn’t need to help me.” Cameron remarked. “But I appreciate the gesture.”

“I understand how hard it is to please guys like him.” David stated.

“Let’s pull the evidence together on the boards.  I don’t think getting together a psychological profile can hurt the case.  I realize I’m not on board with working with you but I’m stumped.  If you can help me catch this guy, then I guess I can put aside my ego and let you help. I would hate or more girls to die because of my foolish pride.” Cameron sighed.

“It seems as if you have a good head on your shoulders, Cameron.  I think you are closer to finding the killer than you think.” David remarked with an odd smile unbefitting of the setting.

[thebookrat]

I heard you guys: I don't highlight contemporary books enough. I tried to give you PLENTY of them this go 'round (and of course, some v. excellent fantasy), but there were so many book deals available, I might have to do a part 2 update mid-week! Check out all of the many, many excellent books to load up your ereaders with, all for super cheap, I don't think anything went over 2 bucks this time! -- and many are FREE FREE FREE!) So when you're done drinking your Cinco de Mayo margarita's and ready to do some drunken online self-indulgence, why not save a few $$ and load up on some deals instead? ;)

ALL BOOK COVERS ARE CLICKABLE AND TAKE YOU DIRECTLY TO THE DEAL!

I mean, COME ON.

Feyre survived Amarantha's clutches to return to the Spring Court--but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can't forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people. Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms--and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future--and the future of a world cleaved in two. With more than a million copies sold of her beloved Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas's masterful storytelling brings this second book in her seductive and action-packed series to new heights.

Sixteen-year-old Beckan and her friends are the only fairies brave enough to stay in Ferrum when war breaks out. Now there is tension between the immortal fairies, the subterranean gnomes, and the mysterious tightropers who arrived to liberate the fairies. But when Beckan's clan is forced to venture into the gnome underworld to survive, they find themselves tentatively forming unlikely friendships and making sacrifices they couldn't have imagined. As danger mounts, Beckan finds herself caught between her loyalty to her friends, her desire for peace, and a love she never expected. This stunning, lyrical fantasy is a powerful exploration of what makes a family, what justifies a war, and what it means to truly love.

An epic fantasy filled with adventure, intrigue, and romance from Incarnate series author Jodi Meadows. This duology is perfect for fans of Graceling by Kristin Cashore, The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson, and Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo. When Princess Wilhelmina was a child, the Indigo Kingdom invaded her homeland. Ten years later, Wil and the other noble children who escaped are ready to fight back and reclaim Wil’s throne. To do so, Wil and her best friend, Melanie, infiltrate the Indigo Kingdom palace with hopes of gathering information that will help them succeed. But Wil has a secret—one that could change everything. Although magic has been illegal for a century, she knows her ability could help her save her kingdom. But magic creates wraith, and the deadly stuff is moving closer and destroying the land. And if the vigilante Black Knife catches her using magic, she may disappear like all the others. . . .

In Ink and Bone, bestselling author Rachel Caine introduced a world where knowledge is power, and power corrupts absolutely. Now she continues the story of those who dare to defy the Great Library—and rewrite history... Jess Brightwell has survived his introduction to the sinister, seductive world of the Library, but serving in its army is nothing like he envisioned. His life and the lives of those he cares for have been altered forever. Embarking on a mission to save one of their own, Jess and his band of allies make one wrong move and suddenly find themselves hunted by the Library’s deadly automata and forced to flee Alexandria, all the way to London. But Jess’s home isn’t safe anymore. The Welsh army is coming, London is burning, and soon Jess must choose between his friends, his family, and the Library, which is willing to sacrifice anything and anyone in the search for ultimate control...

Get it. Get this whole damn series. Trust me.

Held captive in the barbarian kingdom of Venda, Lia and Rafe have little chance of escape . . . and even less of being together. Desperate to save her life, Lia's erstwhile assassin, Kaden, has told the Vendan Komisar that she has a magical gift, and the Komisar's interest in Lia is greater than either Kaden or Lia foresaw. Meanwhile, the foundations of Lia's deeply-held beliefs are crumbling beneath her. Nothing is straightforward: there's Rafe, who lied to her, but has sacrificed his freedom to protect her; Kaden, who meant to assassinate her but has now saved her life; and the Vendans, whom she always believed to be barbarians but whom she now realizes are people who have been terribly brutalized by the kingdoms of Dalbreck and Morrighan. Wrestling with her upbringing, her gift, and her very sense of self, Lia will have to make powerful choices that affect her country, her people . . . and her own destiny.

Lia has survived Venda—but so has a great evil bent on the destruction of Morrighan. And only Lia can stop it. With war on the horizon, Lia has no choice but to assume her role as First Daughter, as soldier—as leader. While she struggles to reach Morrighan and warn them, she finds herself at cross-purposes with Rafe and suspicious of Kaden, who has hunted her down. In this heart-stopping conclusion to the Remnant Chronicles trilogy that started with The Kiss of Deception and The Heart of Betrayal, traitors must be rooted out, sacrifices must be made, and impossible odds must be overcome as the future of every kingdom hangs in the balance. New York Times-bestselling author Mary E. Pearson's combination of intrigue, suspense, romance, and action makes this a riveting YA page-turner for teens.

This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do. This afternoon, her planet was invaded. The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than a speck at the edge of the universe. Now with enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to evacuate with a hostile warship in hot pursuit. But their problems are just getting started. A plague has broken out and is mutating with terrifying results; the fleet’s AI may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a web of data to find the truth, it’s clear the only person who can help her is the ex-boyfriend she swore she’d never speak to again. Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents—including emails, maps, files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more—Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes.

Evaline Stoker and Mina Holmes never meant to get into the family business. But when you're the sister of Bram and the niece of Sherlock, vampire hunting and mystery solving are in your blood. And when two society girls go missing, there's no one more qualified to investigate. Now fierce Evaline and logical Mina must resolve their rivalry, navigate the advances of not just one but three mysterious gentlemen, and solve murder with only one clue: a strange Egyptian scarab. The stakes are high. If Stoker and Holmes don't unravel why the belles of London society are in such danger, they'll become the next victims.

For the free, my darlings. For the FREE.

WINNER of the NATIONAL READERS CHOICE AWARD for best YA of 2015 Alexis Wyndham is the other type of Queen B—the Queen B*tch. After years of being the subject of ridicule, she revels in her ability to make the in-crowd cower via the exposés on her blog, The Eastline Spy. Now that she's carved out her place in the high school hierarchy, she uses her position to help the unpopular kids walking the hallways. Saving a freshman from bullies? Check. Swapping insults with the head cheerleader? Check. Falling for the star quarterback? So not a part of her plan. But when Brett offers to help her solve the mystery of who’s posting X-rated videos from the girls’ locker room, she’ll have to swallow her pride and learn to see past the high school stereotypes she’s never questioned—until now.

Rachel can't believe she has to give up her Saturdays to scrubbing other people's toilets. So. Gross. But she kinda, sorta stole $287.22 from her college fund that she's got to pay back ASAP or her mom will ground her for life. Which is even worse than working for her mother's new cleaning business. Maybe. After all, becoming a maid is definitely not going to help her already loserish reputation. But Rachel picks up more than smelly socks on the job. As maid to some of the most popular kids in school, Rachel suddenly has all the dirt on the 8th grade in-crowd. Her formerly boring diary is now filled with juicy secrets. And when her crush offers to pay her to spy on his girlfriend, Rachel has to decide if she's willing to get her hands dirty...

Did you snag the deal for book 2 a couple weeks back? Now you can grab book 1 for FREE!

In A THRONE FOR SISTERS (Book one), Sophia, 17, and her younger sister Kate, 15, are desperate to leave their horrific orphanage. Orphans, unwanted and unloved, they nonetheless dream of coming of age elsewhere, of finding a better life, even if that means living on the streets of the brutal city of Ashton. Sophia and Kate, also best friends, have each other’s backs—and yet they want different things from life. Sophia, a romantic, more elegant, dreams of entering court and finding a noble to fall in love with. Kate, a fighter, dreams of mastering the sword, of battling dragons, and becoming a warrior. They are both united, though, by their secret, paranormal power to read other’s minds, their only saving grace in a world that seems bent to destroy them. As they each embark on a quest and adventure their own ways, they struggle to survive. Faced with choices neither can imagine, their choices may propel them to the highest power—or plunge them to the lowest depths. A THRONE FOR SISTERS is the first book in a dazzling new fantasy series rife with love, heartbreak, tragedy, action, magic, sorcery, fate and heart-pounding suspense. A page turner, it is filled with characters that will make you fall in love, and a world you will never forget.

Also gloriously FREE!

Zachary Degaud was twenty three when he died. The problem was, he didn't stay that way. Present day, he's just another vampire with another unremarkable story. That is, until he manages to provoke a two thousand year old witch named Katrin, who wants to make him pay in the most horrible way imagined. Along with his brother Sam, newly made vampire Liz and their only witch ally, Gabby, his only chance for survival is to summon the ancient and unpredictable vampire known as the Witch Hunter. Zac is just looking for a way out of his psychopathic witch problems, but instead will find himself falling head first into a blood feud that has stretched thousands of years. Aya has been asleep for the past 150 years, until she was awoken by a haunting call. The witch she has been hunting for thousands of years, Katrin, has resurfaced and marked a young, annoyingly arrogant vampire by the name of Zachary Degaud. Unless she does something, he will die a slow and painful death. He has given her an opportunity to end the witch, but does she want to help him or leave him to his fate? Zac will get under her skin like no one else has and she just might find herself making the ultimate sacrifice before he is gone forever. They will both have to choose sides and look deep within themselves before the end. But, what Zac learns about himself, will surprise him most of all.

This synopsis needs to be cut down, my god, but again: IT. FREE.

I was born to die... But to defy fate is to control your own destiny. Little did I know that I was entering a world of ritual and magic and that my blood needed to be spilled so the witches’ legacy could be complete. Vampires. Witches. Werewolves. Supernatural Creatures. Dramatic Revelations. A Ritual Sacrifice. Ancient Artifacts. A Cold-hearted Serial Killer. Spilled Blood. Secrets. A Hidden Heritage. A Love So Deep. Supernatural Bloodlust. A Dangerous Curse. An Uneasy Alliance With A Dangerous Vampire. Legends of vampires and shape-shifters have been around for centuries, so Taylor Sparks isn’t too worried when the rumors start to fly. When Taylor learns secrets that are beyond terrifying, they threaten to destroy her entire world. She is born to die... But to defy fate is to control your own destiny. She warns her crush to leave. But how do you forget someone who is aligned with your soul? They fight against the witches, the vampires, and the werewolves. They know the consequences. They know the risk. But they don't care. Nothing will get in the way of these two star-crossed lovers. Taylor finds out she’s a KEY player in a dangerous game created 1,000 years ago that will give the witches and werewolves the upper hand against the vampires. Blood will be spilled and secrets will be revealed in this action-packed thrill ride and paranormal romance. Will Taylor dive into a paranormal world she knows nothing about to be with the one her heart can’t live without? Or will her life spiral out of control when she learns her blood is needed, just the serum necessary to lift an ancient curse from a group of supernatural beings and give the witches back their magic? Werewolves will serve as her guardians and protect her until the first full moon of the new year, the night of her sacrifice… Will she accept her destiny? Or will she refuse to let evil swallow her up?

For fans of Hex Hall, The Magicians, Practical Magic, and Food Wars! Anise Wise loves three things: baking, potion making, and reading her spellbooks in blissful silence. She might not be the most powerful witch, but enchantment is a rare skill, and her ability to bake with magic is even rarer. Too bad no one wants witchcraft on their campus. Anise’s dream of attending pastry school crumbles with rejection letter after rejection letter. Desperate to escape her dead-end future, Anise contacts the long-lost relative she’s not supposed to know about. Great Aunt Agatha owns the only magic bakery in the US, and she suddenly needs a new apprentice. Anise is so excited she books it to New Mexico without thinking to ask what happened to the last girl. The Spellwork Syndicate rules the local witches in Taos, but as “accidents” turn into full-out attacks on Anise’s life, their promises to keep her safe are less and less reassuring. Her cranky bodyguard is doing his best, but it’s hard to fight back when she has no idea who’s the enemy. Or why she became their target. If Anise can’t find and stop whoever wants her dead, she’ll be more toasted than a crème brûlée. Who knew baking cakes could be so life or death?

This one's kicking around on my shelves! I did a First Impressions of it awhile back and really liked it, and have been meaning to go back ever since.

Thoughtfully imaginative and action-packed, Steeplejack is New York Times bestselling A. J. Hartley's YA debut set in a 19th-century South African fantasy world “A richly realized world, an intensely likable character, and a mystery to die for." — Cory Doctorow, New York Times-bestselling author Seventeen-year-old Anglet Sutonga lives and works as a steeplejack in Bar-Selehm, a sprawling city known for its great towers, spires, and smokestacks – and even greater social disparities across race and class. Ang’s world is turned upside-down when her new apprentice Berrit is murdered the same night that the city’s landmark jewel is stolen. Her search for answers behind his death exposes unrest in the streets and powerful enemies. But she also finds help from unexpected friends: a kindhearted savannah herder, a politician’s haughty sister, and a savvy newspaper girl. As troubles mount in Bar-Selehm, Ang must discover the truth behind both murder and theft soon – or else watch the city descend into chaos. YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults Selection Kirkus Reviews Best Teen Book Booklist Top Ten YA in Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Also kicking around on my shelves somewhere!

Just about everyone knows a family like the Radleys. Many of us grew up next door to one. They are a modern family, averagely content, averagely dysfunctional, living in a staid and quiet suburban English town. Peter is an overworked doctor whose wife, Helen, has become increasingly remote and uncommunicative. Rowan, their teenage son, is being bullied at school, and their anemic daughter, Clara, has recently become a vegan. They are typical, that is, save for one devastating exception: Peter and Helen are vampires and have—for seventeen years—been abstaining by choice from a life of chasing blood in the hope that their children could live normal lives. One night, Clara finds herself driven to commit a shocking—and disturbingly satisfying—act of violence, and her parents are forced to explain their history of shadows and lies. A police investigation is launched that uncovers a richness of vampire history heretofore unknown to the general public. And when the malevolent and alluring Uncle Will, a practicing vampire, arrives to throw the police off Clara’s trail, he winds up throwing the whole house into temptation and turmoil and unleashing a host of dark secrets that threaten the Radleys’ marriage. The Radleys is a moving, thrilling, and radiant domestic novel that explores with daring the lengths a parent will go to protect a child, what it costs you to deny your identity, the undeniable appeal of sin, and the everlasting, iridescent bonds of family love. Read it and ask what we grow into when we grow up, and what we gain—and lose—when we deny our appetites.

Fairy tales are life.

From wicked queens, beautiful princesses, elves, monsters, and goblins to giants, glass slippers, poisoned apples, magic keys, and mirrors, the characters and images of fairy tales have cast a spell over readers and audiences, both adults and children, for centuries. These fantastic stories have travelled across cultural borders, and been passed on from generation to generation, ever-changing, renewed with each re-telling. Few forms of literature have greater power to enchant us and rekindle our imagination than a fairy tale. But what is a fairy tale? Where do they come from and what do they mean? What do they try and communicate to us about morality, sexuality, and society? The range of fairy tales stretches across great distances and time; their history is entangled with folklore and myth, and their inspiration draws on ideas about nature and the supernatural, imagination and fantasy, psychoanalysis, and feminism. Marina Warner has loved fairy tales over a long writing life, and she explores here a multitude of tales through the ages, their different manifestations on the page, the stage, and the screen. From the phenomenal rise of Victorian and Edwardian literature to contemporary children's stories, Warner unfolds a glittering array of examples, from classics such as Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, and The Sleeping Beauty, the Grimm Brothers' Hansel and Gretel, and Hans Andersen's The Little Mermaid, to modern-day realizations including Walt Disney's Snow White and gothic interpretations such as Pan's Labyrinth. In ten succinct chapters, Marina Warner digs into a rich hoard of fairy tales in their brilliant and fantastical variations, in order to define a genre and evaluate a literary form that keeps shifting through time and history. Her book makes a persuasive case for fairy tale as a crucial repository of human understanding and culture.

A classic.

This Newbery Honor-winning, hilarious Floridian adventure involves new kids, bullies, alligators, eco-warriors, pancakes, pint-sized owls, and more. A New York Times bestseller! Everybody loves Mother Paula’s pancakes. Everybody, that is, except the colony of cute but endangered owls that live on the building site of the new restaurant. Can the awkward new kid and his feral friend prank the pancake people out of town? Or is the owls’ fate cemented in pancake batter?

Three months after returning Magician Emery Thane’s heart to his body, Ceony Twill is well on her way to becoming a Folder. Unfortunately, not all of Ceony’s thoughts have been focused on paper magic. Though she was promised romance by a fortuity box, Ceony still hasn’t broken the teacher-student barrier with Emery, despite their growing closeness. When a magician with a penchant for revenge believes that Ceony possesses a secret, he vows to discover it…even if it tears apart the very fabric of their magical world. After a series of attacks target Ceony and catch those she holds most dear in the crossfire, Ceony knows she must find the true limits of her powers…and keep her knowledge from falling into wayward hands. The delightful sequel to Charlie N. Holmberg’s The Paper Magician, The Glass Magician will charm readers young and old alike.

In the explosive third volume of The Hundredth Queen Series, the queen of fire faces off against a demon of ice. Despite the odds, Kalinda has survived it all: Marriage to a tyrant. Tournaments to the death. The forbidden power to rule fire. The icy touch of a demon. That same demon now disguises itself as Rajah Tarek, Kalinda’s late husband and a man who has never stopped haunting her. Upon taking control of the palace and the army, the demon brands Kalinda and her companions as traitors to the empire. They flee across the sea, seeking haven in the Southern Isles. In Lestari, Kalinda’s powers are not condemned, as they are in her land. Now free to use them to protect those she loves, Kalinda soon realizes that the demon has tainted her with a cold poison, rendering her fire uncontrollable. But the lack of control may be just what she needs to send the demon back to the darkest depths of the Void. To take back the empire, Kalinda will ally with those she distrusts—and risk losing those most loyal to her—to defeat the demon and bring peace to a divided nation.

From the bestselling author of Catching Jordan comes a new teen romance sure to appeal to fans of Sarah Dessen. SOME RULES WERE MEANT TO BE BROKEN. Kate has always been the good girl. Too good, according to some people at school—although they have no idea the guilty secret she carries. But this summer, everything is different... This summer she's a counselor at Cumberland Creek summer camp, and she wants to put the past behind her. This summer Matt is back as a counselor too. He's the first guy she ever kissed, and he's gone from geeky songwriter who loved The Hardy Boys to a buff lifeguard who loves to flirt...with her. Kate used to think the world was black and white, right and wrong. Turns out, life isn't that easy...

For twelve-year-old Emily, the best thing about moving to San Francisco is that it's the home city of her literary idol: Garrison Griswold, book publisher and creator of the online sensation Book Scavenger (a game where books are hidden in cities all over the country and clues to find them are revealed through puzzles). Upon her arrival, however, Emily learns that Griswold has been attacked and is now in a coma, and no one knows anything about the epic new game he had been poised to launch. Then Emily and her new friend James discover an odd book, which they come to believe is from Griswold himself, and might contain the only copy of his mysterious new game. Racing against time, Emily and James rush from clue to clue, desperate to figure out the secret at the heart of Griswold's new game—before those who attacked Griswold come after them too.

Sang Sorenson’s father abandoned her and her sister, leaving them to fend for themselves for months. He’s returned, and finds Sang is missing. He demands she return. Right now. Will he call the police if she doesn’t? Her Academy team doesn’t want to risk losing her ghost status and she doesn’t want to put them in danger, so she reluctantly returns home, but is comforted that she will still be monitored by them. But the second she opens the door, she discovers her father has made changes that will affect her entire future. His decisions will make them a normal family. Normal is no longer what Sang wants. It would kill her Academy career before it ever started. Not to mention it would end the special, new, and still-fragile relationships with the guys. Sang struggles with her family, her identity, and where she truly belongs. Now that the entire team knows about their romantic relationships with her, tensions are mounting, tearing the team apart from the inside. Only, Dr. Green isn't going to lie down and roll over by playing by the rules. Not anymore. Not while Sang is at risk. His heart can’t take leaving her in that house one more minute. He needs her. They all do.

Twins Crystal and Amber have the same goal: to be the first in their family to graduate high school and make something of their lives. When one gets pregnant during their junior year, they promise to raise the baby together. It’s not easy, but between their after-school jobs, they’re scraping by. Crystal’s grades catch the attention of the new guidance counselor, who tells her about a college that offers a degree in automotive restoration, perfect for the car buff she is. When she secretly applies—and gets in—new opportunities threaten their once-certain plans, and Crystal must make a choice: follow her dreams or stay behind and honor the promise she made to her sister.

From the New York Times bestselling author of Reconstructing Amelia comes a fast-paced teen series where one girl learns that in a world of intrigue, betrayal, and deeply buried secrets, it is vital to trust your instincts. It all starts with a text: Please, Wylie, I need your help. Wylie hasn’t heard from Cassie in over a week, not since their last fight. But that doesn’t matter. Cassie’s in trouble, so Wylie decides to do what she has done so many times before: save her best friend from herself. This time it’s different, though. Instead of telling Wylie where she is, Cassie sends cryptic clues. And instead of having Wylie come by herself, Jasper shows up saying Cassie sent him to help. Trusting the guy who sent Cassie off the rails doesn’t feel right, but Wylie has no choice but to ignore her gut instinct and go with him. But figuring out where Cassie is goes from difficult to dangerous, fast. As Wylie and Jasper head farther and farther north into the dense woods of Maine, Wylie struggles to control her growing sense that something is really wrong. What isn’t Cassie telling them? And could finding her be only the beginning? In this breakneck tale, New York Times bestselling author Kimberly McCreight brilliantly chronicles a fateful journey that begins with a single decision—and ends up changing everything.

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