#fantasy rebellion stories

[joncronshawauthor]

Best Fantasy Books with Intrigue, Rebellion, and Conflict

There’s something undeniably compelling about fantasy that delves into the darker side of human nature. In gritty political and military fantasy, the stakes are high, the conflicts are complex, and the characters often walk a razor’s edge between right and wrong. These stories invite readers into worlds where power is rarely pure, and survival often demands impossible choices. Whether it’s the…

[barananduen-blog]

FAVORITE CDRAMAS - 2024

This year, I finished 33 dramas (including minis, movies, one variety show, and some left over from previous years). Among those, these were my favorites, including a short "about" summary or an "explain this poorly."

NOTES

All of these are ancient costume dramas, unless noted specifically.

I don't care if a drama has a happy or a sad ending, as long as it's well written.

THE STARS: These are the ones that I not only super enjoyed, but also score great on all critical aspects: plot, writing, character depth, visual appeal, and the ability to capture and hold the viewer's attention. ✅Recommend! THE CHECKMARKS: They're great and I really, really enjoyed them, and they made me squee too🥰 but they're not as technically perfect as the ones above. Still awesome dramas, and I recommend them! ✅Recommend! OTHERS I WANT TO TALK ABOUT: They're not a third tier, or an honorable mention. Generally, they're not that great technically, or missed the list by a botched ending, or something in the technical aspects was missing, but I enjoyed them nevertheless and want to talk about them for some reason. Other than that, they're just listed in the order in which I watched them.

SUBTITLES: Please help stop the prejudice against Mango subtitles. Everything I've watched from them this year has had excellent subs.

ON ROMANCE: Though I appreciate it, I'm not really all that much into the romance aspect of dramas. I say this because I know many people watch them specifically for the romance, and I've seen comments asking how soon the couples kiss. At the end of a drama, I tend to not even remember if they kissed or not (unless it was memorable - either because it was a very good kiss or a very bad one😂). So, with that disclaimer said...

THE STARS

"A JOURNEY TO LOVE" Liu Shishi, Liu Yuning, Alen Fang, He Landou, Chen Youwei, Wang Yizhe

I watched half of this in January and it was broadcast after I posted my faves from last year, so it goes in this year's list.

Premise: Emperor is kidnapped. No one really wants to rescue him. Ning Yuanzhou (Liu Yuning) puts together a team of Ocean's Eleven Ning's Six to bring him back, including an assassin, a crossdressing princess, an angry doctor, a womanizing archer, an engineer puppy, and an animal-loving defense specialist.

"LOVE YOU SEVEN TIMES" Ding Yuxi, Yang Chaoyue

Left over from 2023.

Premise: Seven shorter stories strung together by the overarching plot of trying to recover the God of War's powers and figuring out what happened with a powerful evil fairy.

"BELL RINGING" Li Daikun, Song Fangyuan

Mixture of modern and ancient, but modern is main. Twelve 20-ish minute episodes.

Explain it Badly: The tragic story of what happens when you don't read the fine print when signing a (magical) contract. [I reviewed it properly here.]

"THE LEGEND OF SHEN LI" Zhao Liying, Lin Gengxin

Explain it Badly: The goddess of war has become a chicken. An unfeeling immortal feels. This is catastrophic. But first, he buys the chicken.

"IN BLOSSOM" Ju Jingyi, Liu Xueyi

Premise: Coroner gets kidnapped and subjected to a forced face transplant by jealous socialite who wants her boyfriend. Socialite marries coroner's BF but is killed at the wedding. Coroner, who now looks like the socialite, teams up with former boyfriend (who doesn't know about the face swap) to solve cases.

"UNCHAINED LOVE" Dylan Wang, Chen Yuqi

Left over from 2022, actually.

Explain it Badly: The empire's Most Eligible Eunuch, who everyone wants to bed, and the concubine who really Does Not Want to die with the dead emperor. [I wrote about it more properly here.]

"CALL ME BY FIRE - SEASON 4" Singing variety show

Not a drama, but I'd really be remiss if I didn't include it here. The grip this show had one me! I'll just copy what I wrote before:

Explain it Badly: Call Me by Fire is going to ruin me for normal concerts. What do you mean your show doesn't have singing, dancing, playing instruments, Peking Opera, acting a whole cinematographic mini movie with costumes, flying and dancing on wires, fighting live without doubles, the multilevel moving stage burning, explosions, drowning, trees falling, *WHEEEZE!* and fake rain all at once?! ...That explains it pretty well, actually.

I started watching this for Miyavi and then I was HOOKED.

THE CHECKMARKS

"WHITE CAT LEGEND" Ding Yuxi, Zhou Qi, Ding Jiawen, Zhang Yicong, Feng Man, Anwaer Kuddusjan

Explain it Badly: Catboy detective (Ding Yuxi, of course; he has the white cat role pegged) adopts a golden retriever puppy and four other fools to solve cases and get a government job. And then there's the orange cat.

"DRAMATIC SELF-HELP STRATEGY" Jin Zixua, Hao Fushen

Mini-drama from 2023. 25eps x 10min

Premise: Actress transmigrates into a drama she's acting in ... as a character who's about to be killed because her husband has just died! She must save him, solve the mystery of his murder to save herself, break a time loop, and return to the real world.

A hidden gem. The mystery is pretty well done in this drama, which is super rare, especially in minis.

"NANCHENG BANQUET" Wang Youshuo, Zhao Zhaoyi, Xia Ningjun

Explain it Badly: Assassin loses her memory, becomes a cartoon bunny sunny fake eunuch, the emperor's bad-influence bestie, and her grumpy former target's employee. Everyone's lovely. [I explained it properly here.]

"LOVE IN THE DESERT" Alen Fang, Hankiz Omar

A Secret Third Option (Why I liked it): I really enjoyed watching this; it was very different from other costume dramas. From the setting (desert tribes instead of high-society cities) to the soundtrack, to the "This is allowed now?" moments, this was different in a good way. The costumes were so many (about 1 every 2 eps for FL, and a whole bunch for 2FL, + other characters) and every single one of them was top notch; the best I've seen in a cdrama so far.

"LOVE GAME IN EASTERN FANTASY" Esther Yu, Ding Yuxi

Almost a Star: This was a super fun drama. :D It's lighthearted, and the first five episodes are laugh-out-loud funny. Everyone's really nice, even most of the villains - you end up feeling for them as well, and most of them redeem themselves. And all characters are fully fleshed-out, even the mini-villains the party encounters along the way. Esther's costumes are SO pretty, too. [I did a proper review of it here.]

"BLOSSOM" Meng Ziyi, Li Yunrui

Almost a Star: This drama surprised me by doing time travel AND "going against fate" differently. I also liked how, despite looking like it would go in that direction, it wasn't a revenge drama, but the protagonist really tried to make life better for everyone. Good plot, good writing all throughout, good characterization, keeps your interest. The first full-length drama I watch from a director whose minis I enjoy. Definitely recommend!

OTHERS I WANT TO TALK ABOUT

"SECRETS OF THE SHADOW SECT" Hu Yiyao, Lin Zehui

Mini drama. 24 eps x 12 min

Almost a Checkmark. Honestly, I don't remember why this wasn't a checkmark. But I also honestly cannot remember the ending. So maybe that had something to do with it. However, before that, the cinematography and sets were beautiful and the plot was interesting and well-written. The characters were engaging, as well.

"HEART OF ICE AND FLAME" Huang Tingting, Li Daikun

Mini drama. 24 eps x 10 min. Cliffhanger ending.

Ep 24 is a cliffhanger and a hook for a new plot. You can take ep23 as an ending, if you want, I guess. The production value was low, but the plot was good, and the main characters were such endearing dumbasses. The two leads play 3 characters/personas each, and each has their own distinct personality and has iconic moments. ML's main persona (dumb prince) unknowingly marries all 3 of FL's, each for different reasons, and she (in reality a former general) plays along because she wants his heart (literally). Then there's the wizard who's stuck in a snow avalanche but can still send and receive messages. And Chen Zihan, who played Tragicomic Ghost in Word of Honor, plays the mother of scorpions here. TW: If you have a phobia of bugs, probably skip this one.

"BUTTERFLIED LOVER" Rain Lu, Zhao Yiqin

Mini drama from 2023. 22 eps x 20 min

I pretty much try anything from this director because he's honestly top notch. Absolutely stunning works, visually!

Ancient vampires, pretty much. The only reason it didn't rank higher for me was personal - as I mentioned at the beginning of the post, I'm not really into plots that focus only on the romance. But if you enjoy romance plots, I definitely recommend you check this out!

"THE DOUBLE" Wu Jinyan, Wang Xingyue

Almost a Checkmark. Revenge plot and fake identities. For most of the drama, I thought this was amazing, and then I wasn't too thrilled about the ending arc. But the drama was really well done. Visually beautiful, with fun and interesting characters, and multiple, parallel plots, which is something I like. Amidst all the tragedy, it also had two comic relief characters that I enjoyed a lot (the turtle cousin and the attendant who apparently didn't know how to use stairs).

"LOVE'S REBELLION" Zhang Linghe, Jing Tian

Reason to Watch It: Appreciate Zhang Linghe looking 🔥 sometimes evil and sometimes not, and a pretty whale town that reminded me of Kilika from Final Fantasy X (mostly X-2 because of the pastel colors). The characters and their interactions were fun. The villains did a good job being hateable. Pity the frustrating omission of a key fight - what was so problematic about ML's brain-fight with the demon that they had to cut it?? We were left wondering what happened in there.

🔇NSFW Audio! Use headphones while playing video🔇 "MISTAKEN LOVE" Shao Yuqi, Li Daikun

Mini drama. 24 eps x 10 min

A drama that you "watch for the plot" The "plot" = *points at video above* If you watch dramas for the kissing scenes and you don't mind every character being toxic, this is a drama for you.

Really good artistic direction (sets and costumes, camerawork, colors, lighting, music timing, etc.), and honestly the best kissing scenes I've seen in a cdrama (note I did say Chinese drama, and I've only been watching since 2021). And extra kudos to Duan Yixuan for her brave dubbing of FL (note: same voice actress who dubbed Bai Lu in "Till the End of the Moon"). Why "brave?" *points at the video again*😳

"THE STORY OF PEARL GIRL" Zhao Lusi, Liu Yuning

Almost a Checkmark. Would have been a solid Checkmark if not for the last episode. I have nothing against what the last ep told us, but rather against how they told it. It could have been 15-20min long and it would have been stronger for it. I do understand that the dragging was meant as a narrative parallel to how the characters wanted to extend the time they spent together as much as possible (as shown by the very slow soup-drinking and dregs-scraping), but, personally, I lost my patience with the method. Then, on the second half of that ep, it would have been nice if, instead of just showing the meeting from a neutral POV, they'd done it from the protag's POV, letting the viewer experience her emotional turmoil and distraught-ness, much like they did when she was diving for pearls at the beginning. Finally, the very last scene, with the camels, told a story but felt detached; they could have shown an aged version of the character leading into that narration.

I'm currently watching other December releases, but if they make the list, I'll include them in next year's.

[scribeofmorpheus]

"Those stone walls, Celene thought, likely dated back to when the elves first built Halamshiral. She wondered if they ever imagined that one day, those walls would protect human nobility from the elves who burned on the other side."

Masked Empire, Trick Weekes, p.132

[sadlynotthevoid]

Okay but, enstars fic where Alkaloid's Vermillion is agreed to be used in a historical fantasy movie (maybe one with a war or something), which somehow leads to Hiiro getting selected to play a role, completely not intentional by his part.

[fluffalpenguin]

rest in peace cross duel, here are my fanmade cross duel gijinkas i did donkey months ago (these two are based off kraken and penguin, my favourite fluffal and frightfur!)

the dimensional dragons are all girls because i wanted them to match odd-eyes and i even cooked up a fantasy plot for them to be actors in (more in tags)

i had a vision of green hair girl to be a harem queen a la gudako so bad

[hivemind-fantasy]

So, this would be my first time posting an actual fanfic here, it's on ao3 also. I made this with one hand only because I just underwent surgery but nothing can stop me to write nevertheless!

Enjoy!

----------

Fading Wings

Summary: An amnesiac fallen archangel holds the key to balancing the celestial and demonic realms through a divine artifact concealed within. Betrayed by a former ally but protected by a demon devoted to her. Angel/Demon Fantasy AU. A Sabo x Reader x Coby work, multiple chapters.

-

Chapter 1: Shattered Wings

The cold air bites at her skin as she stumbles through the dense fog, her bare feet scraping against the jagged stones of an unfamiliar forest. The world around her is a blur of muted colors, as if everything exists behind a veil. The sky is an endless expanse of gray, swallowing any light that tries to break through.

‘Where am I? ‘

The question echoes in her mind, but the answer slips away like water through her fingers. She tries to remember—anything—but all that greets her is a hollow void where memories should be. The only sensation is a dull ache in her chest, as if something vital has been ripped from her, leaving her empty and exposed.

‘Who... am I?’

She presses her hands to her temples, hoping to force some recollection, but it's as if her past has been erased, leaving her with nothing but fragments of sensations—a fleeting warmth, the sound of distant laughter, a faint scent of rain-soaked earth. None of it makes sense. The harder she tries to grasp these wisps of memories, the faster they dissolve.

Her knees buckle beneath her, and she collapses to the damp ground, gasping for breath. She feels the sting of tears but doesn't know why she's crying. It’s not just the confusion, the loss of direction—there’s something deeper, a sorrow that claws at her heart. It’s as if she’s grieving for something she’s forgotten, a pain she cannot name.

‘What happened to me?’

Her fingers brush against her back, where she feels jagged remnants of what once might have been wings. The skin is raw, the wounds too fresh. There’s a strange sense of absence, a sensation that something sacred has been ripped away.

‘Wings... I had wings?’

The thought comes unbidden, startling her. She winces as if struck, her body instinctively curling in on itself. But she can’t remember the feel of them, can’t recall what it was like to soar through open skies. Only the ghost of that feeling remains, a faint echo that taunts her with what she has lost.

As she sits there, shivering in the shadows of the forest, she becomes aware of whispers in the distance. Voices, sharp and cold, seem to slice through the fog like blades. She doesn’t know nor recognize the owner of the voices.

“They say she fell from the heavens,” one voice hisses, carried by the wind.

“An angel cast down,” murmurs another, closer now. “But why? What did she do to deserve it?”

Fear claws at her throat. Fell from the heavens? The words strike her like a bolt of lightning, filling her with an inexplicable dread. If she truly was an angel, why can she not remember? What crime did she commit to be cast out? And why does the very thought of angels—her own kind—fill her with a sense of betrayal and terror?

‘I need to hide... ‘

The instinct to flee is overwhelming. She stumbles back to her feet, driven by a primal urge to survive, though she doesn’t understand why. She only knows that she can trust nothing and no one—not even herself.

(y/n)’s breath comes in ragged gasps as she forces herself to move through the dense underbrush. Every muscle in her body aches as if she’s been running for days, yet she knows she cannot stop. The whispers she heard earlier have grown louder, accompanied now by the faint, rhythmic sound of wings cutting through the air. Not the gentle flutter of bird wings, but something heavier, something more menacing—predatory.

She stumbles over a gnarled root, her fingers clutching desperately at the damp earth to keep herself upright. Every nerve in her body screams that she is being hunted, though she doesn’t know why. She is terrified, confused, and utterly alone.

Ahead, the forest grows denser, the twisted branches weaving together like skeletal fingers, blotting out what little light filters through the clouded sky. The air here feels colder, heavy with the scent of decay. In her mind, fragments of emotions surface—desperation, regret, fear—but they have no context, no meaning. It’s as if they belong to someone else, yet they weigh on her heart as if they are her own.

Suddenly, the ground trembles beneath her feet, and she hears the unmistakable sound of a blade being drawn from its sheath.

“Spread out! She cannot have gone far.”

The voice is deep, authoritative, and carries an edge of impatience. (y/n)’s pulse quickens. Without thinking, she presses herself against the trunk of a thick, ancient tree, trying to disappear into the shadows. She doesn't know who is after her, but the instinct to hide is all-consuming.

Peering cautiously around the trunk, she sees them: figures clad in silver armor that gleams even in the dim light, their eyes glowing with an otherworldly radiance. Angels—Luminara Knights. Their armor bears the golden sigil of Luminara, the celestial realm, though (y/n) does not recognize it consciously. All she knows is that the sight of them fills her with a deep, instinctive terror.

At the head of the group is a figure with blazing fern green wings, his expression stern and unyielding. This is Coby, one of the Virtue Lieutenants of the Luminara’s army, who once stood by her side, though (y/n) no longer recognizes the rosy haired man. His eyes sweep the area with ruthless efficiency, his grip on the hilt of his sword tightening. There’s a fire in his gaze, a desperation driven by duty. He does not want to do this, but he believes he must.

Coby pauses, a flicker of hesitation breaking through his disciplined composure. This is not how he imagined seeing her again. (y/n), the archangel he once admired—no, loved—is now nothing more than a shadow of her former self. She looks wild, broken, her once-brilliant amber golden wings reduced to ragged stumps. A pang of guilt twists in his chest, but he steels himself. The Seraphic Council has decreed that she must be brought back to Luminara, and Coby has never disobeyed an order in his life.

“Find her,” he commands, his voice unwavering. “She’s close.”

But in his heart, he wonders if capturing her is truly the right thing to do. If only he could reach her, make her understand. But that is a dangerous thought—one that could cost him everything.

(y/n)’s heart races as she hears their approach, their voices getting closer with each passing moment. She doesn’t understand why, but the sight of those angelic figures fills her with dread. A faint, broken whisper in her mind tells her that she cannot let them find her. There is something important she must protect, something she cannot allow them to take. But what is it?

As she tries to slink deeper into the forest, her foot snaps a branch beneath her. The sound echoes through the silence, drawing the attention of the Luminara Knights.

“There!” one of them shouts.

Before she can react, a flash of white light surges toward her, and she is blinded. She raises her hands instinctively to shield herself, but she’s too slow. The impact of divine energy slams into her, knocking her off her feet. Her back hits the ground hard, knocking the wind from her lungs.

Coby is the first to reach her. His eyes widen at the sight of her up close—this broken creature, covered in dirt and blood, is hardly the radiant being he once knew. But there’s no time for pity. He steps forward, extending his hand toward her, his voice strained with urgency.

“(y/n)... come back with us. I promise we can help you.”

But (y/n) does not hear the words; she only sees the glowing sigil on his chest and the glint of his drawn sword. Her instincts scream that she is in danger. Without thinking, she lashes out. A burst of raw energy, wild and uncontrolled, erupts from her hand, sending Coby staggering back. The force of it shocks them both—(y/n) because she did not know she was capable of such power, and Coby because the energy that struck him feels familiar, almost divine, yet tainted with something darker.

The other Luminara Knights spring into action, surrounding her in a tight circle. They move as one, blades raised, wings flared. (y/n)’s vision swims as panic consumes her. She has no control over her powers, but her fear acts as a catalyst. With a scream, she releases another wave of energy, scattering the knights like leaves caught in a storm.

Just as the knights begin to recover, a swirl of black smoke erupts between them and (y/n), and a figure steps through the shadowy portal. His eyes gleam like molten gold, his presence a stark contrast to the radiant knights.

It’s Sabo.

“Stay back,” he growls, his voice carrying a dark authority. His wings, now blackened and tattered, azure colored, flare wide as he stands protectively in front of (y/n). The sight of him draws gasps from the knights, who recognize him as the fallen angel turned demon general.

(y/n) stares at him, confused. She doesn’t know who this man is, but something in his eyes feels achingly familiar, like the whisper of a forgotten dream.

“(y/n), we need to leave,” Sabo says softly, not taking his gaze off the advancing knights. There’s a desperate plea in his voice, but also a fierce determination. “I promise, I’m here to help you.”

But (y/n)’s mind is a tangled mess of fear and distrust. She doesn’t know who to trust, who to believe. She hesitates, and that moment of indecision is all the Luminara Knights need to renew their attack.

Sabo grits his teeth and, with a flick of his hand, conjures a barrier of shadow to shield them. He turns to (y/n), his eyes burning with urgency. “Please, (y/n). Trust me.”

For reasons she cannot comprehend, something in her heart tells her to follow him. She nods shakily, and together they step into the swirling darkness, vanishing before the knights can strike.

As the shadows swallow them, (y/n) can’t shake the feeling that she’s made a choice that will change the fate of all three realms.

The shadows fold around (y/n) and Sabo like a shroud, whisking them away from the reach of the Luminara Knights. When they reappear, they’re in a secluded glade deep within the heart of the forest. The air is cooler here, the trees towering protectively above them, their branches swaying gently as if to offer solace. (y/n) collapses to her knees, exhausted, her breaths coming in short, sharp gasps.

Sabo watches her cautiously, his heart aching at the sight of her confusion and fear. She’s a far cry from the powerful, confident archangel he once knew. But he quickly masks his emotions, knowing he cannot reveal too much. Not yet. She is fragile now, like a bird with broken wings, and if he wants to protect her, he needs her to trust him.

“Easy,” Sabo says softly, crouching down beside her. His once-golden wings are now darkened azure, but he keeps them hidden beneath his cloak. He knows that if she sees him for what he truly is now—a demon—she would likely flee, perhaps even turn against him. “You’re safe now... for the moment.”

As the swirling darkness clears, the chill of the forest night greets (y/n) once more, but this time, she is no longer alone. Sabo’s presence beside her feels both foreign and oddly comforting. He gently releases his grip on her arm, stepping back to give her space. They’ve teleported to a secluded grove, hidden deep within the heart of the forest. The air is thick with the scent of pine and damp earth, and the only sound is (y/n)’s labored breathing as she struggles to regain her composure.

(y/n)’s mind is still reeling. One moment, she had been surrounded by armored angels, their eyes cold and judgmental, and now, she is with a stranger who had saved her with powers that felt… different. There was something both celestial and infernal about the energy he wielded, though she lacks the knowledge to identify it.

“Who... who are you?” she manages to ask, her voice weak but laced with suspicion.

Sabo’s expression softens as he looks at her, his golden eyes flickering with something like pain. He had prepared himself for this moment, but nothing could dull the ache of seeing the confusion in her eyes. The way she looks at him—like he is nothing more than a stranger—cuts deeper than any blade.

“I’m... a friend,” he says softly, choosing his words carefully.

“I was once your ally, your protector.”

He hesitates, taking in the sight of her, the once-brilliant archangel now reduced to a shadow of her former self. “We fought side by side, (y/n). Before... before you lost your memories.”

(y/n)’s brows furrow as she tries to process his words. “I... I don’t remember you,” she whispers, the admission like a weight pressing on her chest.

“I don’t remember anything.” Her voice cracks, and she quickly looks away, as if ashamed of her own confusion.

The pain in Sabo’s eyes deepens, but he forces a reassuring smile. “That’s okay. I understand,” he says gently, though his heart feels like it’s being torn apart. The memories they once shared—of laughter, battles, trust—are now gone, scattered like ashes on the wind. But he can’t let her see his pain. Not now. Not when she’s so fragile, so lost.

“Listen,” he continues, trying to sound calm and reassuring, “I don’t expect you to remember me. But you need to trust me. Those angels... they won’t stop hunting you. They believe you’re dangerous. I don’t know why, but I promise you, I’m here to protect you.”

(y/n) studies him, her (e/c) eyes narrowing. She can’t sense any deception, but her heart is still guarded. She’s been betrayed once, of that she is sure, even if the memory itself remains elusive. For now, she nods, exhaustion and fear winning out over her doubts. “Okay,” she says softly.

“I’ll trust you… for now.”

Sabo nods, relief flooding through him. He doesn’t dare reveal that he is no longer an angel, but rather, a demon—an enemy by the standards of both their realms. It’s a truth that would shatter any fragile trust he’s managed to build. For now, he is simply a rogue warrior, a lone protector trying to keep her safe. That is the only way to keep her by his side long enough to ensure her safety—and perhaps, to help her remember the bond they once shared.

Far above in the celestial spires of Luminara, the Seraphic Council convenes under the shimmering arches of their grand hall. The air hums with divine power as the High Seraphs (the Arc-Seraph Akainu and his three Seraph Knights) stand in a circle, their forms glowing with ethereal light. Coby kneels before them, his head bowed, his heart heavy. He can still see the terror in (y/n)’s eyes as she unleashed that wild burst of energy. It had taken every ounce of his will to convince himself that she needed to be captured.

“Virtue Lieutenant Coby,” intones Arch-Seraph Akainu, voice as cold and precise as the edge of a blade. “You were tasked with retrieving the fallen Archangel (y/n), and yet, she eludes you, her memories were stripped down already.”

Coby raises his head, meeting the council’s gaze with a mix of determination and reluctance. “She is confused and disoriented, my Lords,” he explains.

A murmur ripples through the council as the High Seraphs exchange glances. One, with dark sunglasses, Seraph Knight Ryokugyo, steps forward. “The Soulstone of Eternity has bonded with her soul,” he says, his voice low and ominous. “If it remains within her, it could tip the balance of our realms into chaos. You must retrieve her, Virtue Lieutenant Coby, by any means necessary.”

Coby’s heart clenches at the command. He clenches his fists at his sides, fighting to keep his voice steady. “She... she is not the enemy. She is simply lost. If I can reach her, I can bring her back willingly.”

The Arch-Seraph shakes his head, his expression unyielding. “We cannot afford to take that risk. If she refuses to return, you are authorized to use force.” His eyes narrow. “And if she resists beyond reason, you are to eliminate her and extract the Soulstone.”

The words hit Coby like a physical blow. Eliminate her? How could they ask him to kill the Archangel, the one chosen by God to protect the balance between the realms, and also woman he once loved, the one who had been his closest friend? But he swallows his objections. To defy the council is to risk his own wings, his very existence. He convinces himself that he is doing this for the greater good, that capturing (y/n) is the only way to protect the celestial realm from the encroaching darkness of Abyssus.

But as he turns to leave, doubt gnaws at his resolve.

‘Am I truly doing this for the heavens, or is it because I can’t bear the thought of letting her go?’

[wavebiders]

Modern WoW is so funny. The franchise has been around for decades and is built on so many classic fantasy tropes half of which are problematic af, and they don't just wanna throw out the whole setting but the devs still try to be woke so now you get these really typical fantasy storylines but they now include the kind of subplots where you have to like. Negotiate with the queen of dragons over the rights of her servant race

[astrababyy]

Tamlin and Nesta for the character bingo!

tamlin and nesta in order :DDD

[solarpunkani]

Out of queue and definitely rambly but MAN

Ok last reblog (I’m on mobile so too lazy to add links) mentioned Solarpunk being more about settling down in a location whereas Lunarpunk is more nomadic and traveling on the water and such and

I

Got

A

Image in my head

Of a romance story. Or coming of age. Or both?

Of someone living in a solarpunk community along the shore, and someone living in a lunarpunk ocean nomadic community that stops by that shore and stays for a few days/weeks every time they come around. There’s always gardens and extra seats kept in storage for when they come around, warm beds to stay in, etc.

And these two people over time become close friends and maybe even fall for each other? But on top of the song and dance of ‘do I tell them, how to tell them, etc’ they have to also grapple with the fact that one of them stays put and the other is nomadic and their group only swings by once or twice a year on average (for a few weeks each but still)

And they gotta decide (once they finally confess to each other) what they’re gonna do. One person would miss home if they left with the nomads and their family and friends, and one person would miss traveling the seas and THEIR friends and family if they stayed put.

Idk if the solution would be to stay some years and travel others or what but thats ‘not 3am Ani’ to consider

Idk if this makes sense idk if this’ll seem like a good story idea and I SUCK ASS At writing romances (or having them hahaha *crying sounds*) but like

Yeah thats my braincell rn

[theprofessionalpromptmaker]

Person A is a demon summoned and contracted to be an executioner for the current ruler. Person B is a witch who works with the rebel group fighting against the ruler’s tyrannical reign, and who gets sent to poison the executioner, but upon seeing that Person A is a demon, they instead steal the artifact the contract is linked too, forcing Person A under their control. Person A doesn’t care who they work for as long as their deal is upheld by whoever holds their artifact - their payment for their services. But Person A’s payment isn’t what Person B expected, since it’s letting Person A adopt/collect all the cute and fluffy animals they want.

[mongen]

Chapter Header Illustrations for the Book I’m Working On

Chapter 1: Blue Skin

Revek is a lil guy living his best life. He works the night shift as a delivery driver, avoids the big city, and spends his free time with his friends. In this chapter, he has an unfortunate run-in with the law. One of his sandals breaks, so he leaves them with his friend Jules so he can get them fixed the following day.

[probablyaseamonster]

In today’s episode of “I just discovered a song and am now mentally animating characters to it”:

My thrill-seeking pop-punk trans girl and my feral fire scarecrow pan boy are storming the evil queen’s hive to Start a Riot by BEGINNERS and Night Panda

[avenger09]

Destinies Ties (Original Fantasy Story)

In a land gripped by civil war, a team of is gathered to locate the missing crown prince and deliver the kingdom from thr grip of a tyrant, but not everything is so simple. Those rallying the charge against the usurper King are landed men, most of whom stood idle for two decades until their privileges were under threat while the braver risked all for ideals. The usuper? A forward-looking man, who seeks to dispel ignorance and forge peace with age old rivals, and whose treated the only remaining member of the prior monarchy, the captive Queen Aretha, with respect and dignity, as are the legendary rpyal knights Sir Ford and Sir Rutger, who protect her. Will the fate of the kingdom truly be better off in old hands? And will our heroes have the will to bare the unexpected ties of destiny that await them at their journeys end?

----

I've had this story idea sketched down for a while and only recently fully drawn it.

The overall themes being about living up to responsibility expected or otherwise, staying grounded, (the heroes) and not allowing fear of uncertainty to drive your actions even of their well intentioned. (the villain)

[lightbulb2006]

Lumeria

Hi I'm a young author that enjoys writing, please refer to me as Lightbulb! If you'd like to read my new book called "Lumeria" feel free to search for it by visiting websites like Wattpad or Web novel.

TTFN!!

[thecrystalcrux]

New Announcement About An Old Title

Pero stood on the ledge of an exceedingly high mountain outside the cave he had woken in. He was alone and his clothing was gone. He wore nothing but a black bear cape…Excerpt from The Crystal Crux : Cold Knight February 9, 2024, the 2nd edition of the 3rd book in the epic fantasy series The Crystal Crux will be available in Kindle, Paperback and Hardcover. I’m trying to get all 5 books in the…

[greenwitch0325]

When you need a break from the story you’re working on so you just start randomly typing and end up with four pages of an outline for a random book idea written at midnight. please tell me i’m not alone in this😂