#fun fact about the author: she actually doesn't like that book v. much

[rom-e-o]

So, if she's got a sweet relationship with Manfred, I suppose I have to bring in Neve.😅

Give me her deets!

Ohhh, I'd be delighted! So Neve (and Emmrich) were actually both introduced in a book first, not a game. It's called "Tevinter Nights." Lucanis was also introduced, as were Teia, Viago, Antoine, Evka, Strife, Manfred ... lots of people in Veilguard got their start in a little book from 2020, haha.

When the first Veilguard trailer dropped, I went, "...WAIT A SEC, I KNOW THOSE NAMES" and DUG this book out from my shelf, haha. Emmrich's last name was 'Volkahrin' in the book, to give you an idea.

So, Neve. Neve Gallus is a private detective in Dock Town, which is basically a 'slum' in Minrathous (Tevinter's capital). She's like a people's detective - when the authorities won't help (or you can't pay them to) she'll take on your case. Minrathous is also a mage-centric society. If you're not a mage, or a wealthy one? People don't care. For those people in need, Neve is like Sherlock meets Batman. She's also a member of the Shadow Dragons, who hunt Venatori agents to stop their abuse and attempts to resurrect their false gods/prophets to make Tevinter the ultimate paradise and destroy/enslave everyone else. (One of those gods was Corypheus, who was once a human Tevinter Magister by the name of Sethius Amladaris. He is defeated in Inquisition, and Elgar'nan takes his place in Veilguard and begins to recruit Venatori cultists for his cause.)

We learn from "Tevinter Nights" that Neve is a detective tracking down members of the Venatori (particularly a Venatori agent named Aelia) with Rana, Jahvis, and Brom. All three are Templars she tipped off and recruited to help. A mission goes wrong, and Brom dies.

In Veilguard, she is in your party from the start. Rook, Varric and Harding get Neve's help because she knows inside info about Solas from her investigations in the city.

Later in the game, Rook can choose to 'harden' Neve by saving Treviso over Minrathous, and even encourage her to become a member of the Threads (an underground crime syndicate) OR to work with Rana as a team to continue solving cases in Dock Town. Emmrich approves of staying with Rana, and disapproves of her allying herself with the Threads.

So, why does Manfred like her so much?

Neve's office is FILLED with wisps. Wisps are curious entities, and she's a detective. She asks questions. She notes details. They're drawn to her energy. Manfred, a spirit of Curiosity, also senses it. He frequently goes to her room to look for and play with wisps. He also does tasks for her like helping mend her clothes. She also nicknames him 'Fred.' Manfed has never liked nicknames (Nadia, in a the V&V podcast, gets hissed at for the nickname, and Emmrich says he doesn't take well to them). But Auntie Neve is special, haha.

If you romance Emmrich, Manfred even brings Neve the dinner menu from the romantic dinner he takes you on, haha.

At first, she's wary of Emmrich and Manfred. She warms up to Manfred and Emmrich both, even recruiting Emm to help her solve a murder case. BUT if Emmrich becomes a lich, she openly disapproves, and routinely comments on missing Manfred.

Other fun facts: She also LOVES fried fish. It's all she eats. And she makes TERRIBLE coffee. Neve can also date Lucanis if you encourage them. Some don't like them together, but think they're a cute couple! If you ask Neve to do the wards at the end of the game, Lucanis is SO PISSED and worried for her. And Spite misses her too.

And you can get approval points with her by petting cats.

I adore her, haha.

[mermaidsirennikita]

Hi! Do you have any recs for rly good mafia romance? I'm trying to get into it but my friend recommends the TikTok popular ones that are just....not well written

Yes, but there aren't main. Like. Three authors. Two of which I already liked for other things. (I do REALLY want to read Annika Martin's dark books, which I think are Russian mafia or Russian mafia adjacent?)

I am very picky with mafia romances because a) I was a little ethically eh on reading them for a long time because b) based on where I've lived and what I've studied, I know a bit more about the mafia than your average romance reader I think, that's not a brag it's a nerdery c) a lot of them are based in America, modern, and I've gotta say, that's corny as hell because while there are absolutely VERY powerful criminal organizations mafia-related today, they! Are! Not! V powerful! In! America! The Italian-American mafia took a huge hit in the 1980s that hasn't really let up, and while they exist and they're bad... Tony Soprano ain't doing it like like the Camorra is doing it in Italy, today, y'know? The power isn't there, and when you see, like, the billionaire Italian-American mafia guys in romance today it's too much for me. I get why it's not too much for other people. I suspend my disbelief on MANY CRAZIER THINGS. I just can't with this lol.

(Also, I have a personal issue with Italian-American romance heroes who are like "I'm Italian". Lol no you aren't. You're Italian-American. You're usually Sicilian-American. You are EYETALIAN.)

Anyway, after that preamble of why my recs are limited:

Mila Finelli's Kings of Italy series. Literally some of my favorite books I've read in forever. Set in Italy, though the heroines are from Italian-Canadian extensions (which, like, Canada for sure has a more powerful presence than America, so I'm guessing that was smart research from Mila). I also love Mila's books because while they are crazy, they're not INSANELY dark, and tend to be more on the fun side. They're super, super hot. There are usually good grovels. The heroines are actually pretty bold and, aside from the last one, not virginal (which is an issue in many mafia books tbh). They break down to:

Mafia Mistress--Frankie is traded by her father to a powerful capo, Fausto, ostensibly to marry his son Giulio. However, two issues: a) Giulio is in fact gay b) Fausto ends up wanting Frankie for himself after she puts up a fight. But he doesn't want her as his wife--he wants her as his mistress. His MAFIA MISTRESS.

Mafia Darling--Direct sequel to MM, wherein Frankie and Fausto deal with their various issues, both mafia-related and like, relationship related. I also really love Fausto and Giulio's relationship, it's so sweet and takes time to work on, and it has a culmination here that made me tear up. Heads up: Frankie is 18 and Fausto is 38. I didn't care about this. Do with it what you will lmao.

Mafia Madman--My favorite, best read after the first two but can go solo. Enzo D'Agostino (king of my heart/body and soul as TSwift would say) was one of the villains of the previous books. He kidnapped Frankie, Fausto like cut off his finger and tortured him for a month, and he escaped to hide out on a yacht for four years like a Bond villain. Enzo is... incredible. He is the richest hero in this series because of his "computer business" (????) which @triviareads and I have concluded means he's running Nigerian prince scams and holding the economies of small nations for ransom. He and Fausto have a relationship that I can only describe as "Alexis (Fausto) and Dominique (Enzo) if they were mafia dons". The champagne is BURNT!!!!

Anyway, he randomly sees Gia, Frankie's wild, bratty little sister, and is all "a-HA, a foolproof plan I have just concocted within five minutes to get revenge and free myself from the prison of living on a fabulous yacht IS HERE" so he naturally invites her out for a drink, blows up the bar, fakes her death, and puts her in a cage on the yacht. Sadly for him, the only person who can match Enzo's crazy is Gia, and she starts doing naked yoga (queen of my spirit) and they promptly enter into an intense enemies to lovers back and forth in which ONLY ONE CAN WIN (her).

If you want an OBSESSED alpha... this is it.

Mafia Target--Giulio is back! He's on the run because he's Fausto's son and the mafia is hella homophobic (true). Unfortunately, the world's DEADLIEST SNIPER, disaster bisexual Alessio Ricci, has been deployed to kill him. Unfortunately for Alessio, Giulio is DUMB HOT and so naturally Alessio blows him in a club before Giulio realizes he's out to kill him, and they end up on a tiny Scottish island, trying to kill each other while also being like "let's take a month off of trying to kill each other... to.... do things...."

This is arguably the most outright SWOONY ROMANTIC of the books, I love it with all my heart. Giulio and Alessio have one of those relationships wherein it's kinda love at first sight, tempered by the whole assassin thing, and it totally works.

Mafia Virgin--Emma, the other Mancini sister, wants to be a doctor and is super sweet. She's forced to marry new don Giacomo, who doesn't want to be with her either. And, oh yeah, they have to conceive a baby in six months or less!

This is probably the softest book in the series. Giacomo is not quite as hard as Fausto, Enzo, Giulio, or Alessio. He's like, the thinking man's mafia don (but everyone thinks he's stupid because he's big and fights!!!). And as it turns out, he and Emma are very, very into the whole making a baby thing.

Mafia Brute--This is an m/m Russian mafia novella, about Theo, Giulio's designer friend, who's fallen into a fling with the very dangerous Nikolai. A lot of hooking up on a yacht (again). A lot of very romantic sweetness fringed with violence. A lot of heat. Great!

Ummm I also love Kresley Cole's Gamemaker series! These are Russian mafia books.

The Professional--The heroine is adopted, and finds out the big scary guy who's been watching her is her biological father's enforcer/surrogate son... when he kidnaps her to take her back to said father. They immediately have an attraction, but he refuses to give in because if they get together (she's a virgin) he'll be like, obligated to marry her. While she's not so hot on the marriage thing, she WANTS him. She's a total brat, it's all very teasing and great.

The Master--This one has a billionaire mafia dude order the heroine, an escort on the run from her past. They have this insane hookup, major connection, it's amazing, but then he finds out she was trying to pull one over on him (or was she???) and he takes her captive. Also, there is a chastity belt. This one is amazing and has a fabulous grovel.

The Player--This hero is really more mafia-adjacent because the other two heroes are his older brothers, but he's definitely into some shady shit, and he is OBSESSED. He fixates on the heroine and is another SUPER possessive guy with a dark past. Has one of my favorite sex scenes ever (he fingers her to orgasm in front of a table of other people who are also getting off on it).

Run, Posy Run by Cate C. Wells--In this one, the heroine is the (American but it works here) mafia hero's longterm girlfriend, and she's basically always been around the life and accepts a subpar relationship because he keeps her comfortable and she thinks he loves her. Then, he's sent this video that makes it look like she cheated on him; and she realizes he's like, a sociopath and goes on the run. However... he then realizes that he can't actually live without her, and begins stalking/chasing after her lol. It's actually a good "fix the relationship" book, with an edge of kidnapping and a feeling-less hero learning how to have a feeling. I also really loved the heroine's development.

[inkstainedfanfics]

Sunday Brunch

Request: For sequel to The Alleyway Rescue. They’re related.  In this, Credence visits Reader for their weekly Sunday brunch and after the food, finds a way to fully relax via a story.

Word Count: 1,747

Pairing: Credence x Reader

Requested by Anonymous but also tagging @gdmora

Requests are currently open! Feel free to send one in

The pan clatters onto the oven’s metal rack. Closing the heavy door, you crank the timer and set it aside. Turning away, you flick your wand, sending a pair of dinner dishes dancing onto your small dining table. The bowl of eggs lands in the center of it, right next to a plate of sausage and two cartons of jam.

Keeping one ear toward the door, you pull open the fridge as the timer ticks away. The turnovers’ warm strawberry smell wafts through your apartment, sending you stomach into a growling mess. Better a growling mess than the light, nervous mess it had been before.

The timer dings just as you hear what you’ve been waiting for: four light taps on the door. “Just a minute.” You shout, sliding on an oven mitt and pulling the pan of pastries from their spot on the rack. It crashes on top of the stove where you throw it, shaking the oven mitt from your hand and rushing toward the door.

Feeling silly, you pat your hair down before you click the locks open and pull the door open. “Credence!”

His smile is small, as always, but genuine. “I’m sorry.” He stops, as though he needs to recharge to finish his sentence. “For being late.”

You smile back at him. “It’s okay. You have perfect timing, actually! The turnovers just finished!”

Credence steps in and you shut the door behind him.

“Strawberry?” He questions, glancing around your apartment.

“Of course.” They’re his favorites, as you’d found out five weeks ago at your second weekly Sunday brunch. “You can sit. I’m just going to throw the turnovers on a plate.”

You could use magic, but it always makes Credence uncomfortable, so you hiss in pain as you flip each pastry from the pan to the plate you set out next to you.

Thankfully, Credence doesn’t notice, too busy adjusting the silverware by his plate to hear you. You’re grateful. If it had been just a few weeks earlier, his focus wouldn’t have drifted from you. Weeks ago, he’d barely allowed himself to look away from you, watching your every move, flinching if you moved too quickly. Now he’s willing to be more honest and relaxed around you, step away from his ghost persona and be present.

The thought makes your chest swell with joy. The first time Credence had shown up unannounced, you’d whipped together a quick lunch. The day had been awkward, though. Neither of you had known what to say, so the only sounds in the small dining room had been clinks of forks on the plates and gulps of water.

You weren’t even sure Credence would ever return. All for the best, you’d figured, not wanting to terrorize the shy boy with forced company. The next Sunday, though, he’d knocked on the door again. Since then, late Sunday brunches had become an unspoken agreement between the two of you.

Setting the plate on the table, you sit in the chair across from Credence’s. “Here, fresh from the oven!”

He leans over, taking two. You serve yourself a plate and watch Credence gobble down first one full plate of food, then another. Your stomach turns whenever his sleeves slide up to reveal dark blotches of black and yellow, but you say nothing, another unspoken agreement. Your apartment is safe for him, and if that means not discussing what happens at his dilapidated mansion, that means not discussing it until he’s ready. You quite enjoy his presence, the soft glow he has when you smile at him, the hesitant laugh that always seems to surprise him when it breaks out, the way he seems to lighten up some when he steps into your apartment. You don’t want to scare him away by making him in any way uncomfortable.

“How are your sisters?” The one personal question you know is safe to ask.

“Surviving.”

“Did they like the cookies you took home last week?” You try to speak around a clump of a roll in your mouth.

Credence nods, giving you an odd look. “Loved them.”

“Good. I baked some mini pies for you to take to them this week.”

“Why?”

You tilt your head. “You like to bring them sweets.”

“That’s all?”

“That’s all.” You confirm, taking another bite of your roll.

The room is silent for a brief second.

Credence interrupts it. “Thank you.”

The words are a shadow of themselves, spoken the way Credence talks when he’s drawing in on himself.

“It’s not a problem.” You scramble to figure out something to say as Credence’s shoulders begin to creep in toward his chest. “I bought a new book!”

He blinks at your shout.

Blushing, you dip your head. “Sorry. I got it yesterday.”

Credence tips his head, not breaking your gaze. “What’s it about?”

“I’m not sure yet.” You confess. “I haven’t begun it. I adored the author’s last book, though.”

Credence wipes his mouth with his napkin. “Are you excited?”

“To read it?”

He nods, pushing his plate away from him.

You stand, taking your dishes to the sink. “Very. It hasn’t received great reviews, but I think it’ll be fantastic.”

Credence is silent as you wash the dishes and return to the table to put the jams in the fridge. You’re about to ask him if he’d like to play cards like last week when he speaks.

“Would you read it to me?”

Your back is to him, cold air washing over your bare feet, hiding the look of shock you’re sure is on your face. He’s never expressed much interest in novels or stories of any sort. He usually comes over, eats, then plays cards or listens to music with you. It’s not that you thought that he doesn’t have any interests, it’s just that he’s always been so quiet, opting to listen to you ramble rather than discuss anything about himself. Still, you don’t want to risk making him think that you don’t like the idea, so you turn, wiping the shock from your place and replacing it with a smile.

“If you’d like.”

Credence stares at his hands folded in his lap. “I would.”

“Okay. It’s in my bag over there if you’d grab it. I’m just going to finish clearing the table.”

Credence nods, crossing the room without a sound and pulling your bag open.

Meanwhile, you take the final empty bowl of eggs and last two glasses and place them in the sink, leaving them unwashed. Your stomach feels light again as you walk to the beaten down couch, the way it did when you were waiting for Credence to visit. He waits with the small book in his hands, turning it over to read the back.

He looks up as you sit next to him, the cushion dipping under your weight and shifting him the slightest bit closer. He gives you the book, hands only slightly trembling, quite different from the first time he had come over.

Ignoring the fact that Credence’s arm is brushing yours, you open the book. It smells musty and timeworn already, despite just being printed, and you find yourself relaxing as its smell sweeps over you. Credence next to you remains curled up, legs pressed together, hands joined on his legs, shoulders hunched. He doesn’t scoot away from you, though, and you try not to beam.

“‘In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I’ve been turning over in my mind ever since.’” You begin, clearing your throat before moving onto the next sentence.

The first chapter takes longer than you expected to get through, but you fall into a rhythm, losing yourself in the story, picturing it as you read, but allowing yourself small glances at Credence whenever you reach the end of a long paragraph.

When you first glance up after four pages, his shoulders have fallen against the back of the couch, no longer pressing against his neck. The second time is another five pages later, and his legs have opened some so they aren’t pushed together. You smile as you start reading again after your third glance. He’s shut his eyes, letting his head drift onto the couch’s back, but you know he’s still awake by the way his hands toy with a tiny thread on his jacket.

It’s the first time you’ve seen every single bit of worry fade from his face. A comfortable serenity crosses his features, smoothing the lines in his forehead and allowing his jaw to come unclenched. He’s so peaceful, you wish you didn’t have to stop reading soon.

The sun balances on the tops of the buildings outside after two chapters, though, so you set the book down on your lap, saying nothing until Credence opens his eyes and sits up.

“It’s lovely.” That’s all he says, but it’s enough.

“It is.”

He fiddles with the thread again before dropping it and meeting your eyes. “Tom. What do you think of him?”

You take a breath, considering your thoughts. “I think he seems a bit selfish.”

Credence nods. “Gatsby?”

The two of you spend an hour discussing the story’s first two chapters, and you can’t help your smile as Credence lights up in front of you, finally opening up completely, not nervous at all, just content.

The buildings nearby hide half of the sun when Credence looks outside, ending your discussion. “I should go.”

You ache at the thought and at the sight of that invisible weight settling back on his shoulders. “You’ll come back next week, right? We can read the next two chapters.”

“You’ll wait for me?”

“Of course.” You reach out to take his hand but stop yourself, unsure of how he’ll react.

He stares at your dropped hand, then raises his eyes to yours, smiling his small smile. “Thank you.”

You walk him to the door, saying goodbye, waiting for him to be out of sight before you close it and return to the book. You place a bookmark in its pages and close it, anxious for the week to pass. Not because you want to know what happens next—even though you desperately do—but because you want to see Credence relax again, letting the weight of his life off his shoulders for even just a few hours.

You picture Credence’s smile again as you walk toward your bag and grin at the cover of what is bound to be your new favorite book.

[youarestellarverse]

@starlightshadowsworld tagged me in a thing about sexuality headcanons!

For the actual canon, my general feel is that it started at a period of time when having a main queer character in a series for young people that wasn't specifically a Queer Series was unacceptable. This has fortunately started to change in recent years (partly because of Nico— I cannot overstate the impact it had that a hugely popular author who could afford to take that risk insisted on taking that risk; the difference in post-HOH mainstream queer youth characters is so massive it makes my fourteen year old self weep as she keyword searches "gay and lesbian" on her library network because David Levithan and Annie On My Mind were her only options). The books seem to be adapting from "everyone is straight because Hyperion Publishing is owned by Disney" to "young teenagers are still figuring things out". I like that method, personally!

So that's why I'm answering this over here on my ficblog instead of my main @stillneedsmorekissing. I present the sexualities I am using in my fic (plus a few kink roles for the ones I've actually considered):

Percy is a sub who uses both "bisexual" and "pansexual":

"You know I think you're breathtaking."

"Against all odds, yes, I do."

"How do you feel?"

Percy blinks, like he hadn't been expecting it.

"I feel...pretty," he says, after a long minute of quiet. Then he smirks, and Jason gets where he's going with it a second before he makes the West Side Story reference. "And witty. I have too much baggage from the 'that's so gay' craze to use it as an umbrella term for myself, but 'bi' rhymes with 'guy', so it almost works if you swap it in and moosh two stanzas together."

"Are you still using pansexual too?" Jason takes another photo, watching as Percy relaxes into the pillow again, his eyes closing.

"Yeah. They both fit, they're both comfy, so why not?" He half-shrugs. "Pan is probably closer if we're going purely by definition, but they're similar enough that I don't care about making a firm distinction for myself. Plus I got most of my pride stuff secondhand from Paul, and he got most of it, like, a decade before pansexuality was coined. He even gave me a couple vintage bi-angle pins."

Jason immediately pictures a set of two tri-tone portraits, one for each flag. That's a project he'll definitely have to use Rachel's studio for; he'll need oil paint and a large canvas to do it justice.

"I wonder how he'd feel about you calling them vintage."

(From Here in Our Bed, chapter 12)

Jason is a bisexual dom.

Nico is a gay switch.

The rest are under a cut because they spoil some plans.

Reyna is biromantic and asexual/sex-neutral (she's not bothered by doing it, but she wouldn't seek it out for fun). She is, however, very much a domme...which can be a tiny bit of a problem, because:

Piper is a lesbian, and also a domme-leaning switch.

This is set up for the bisexual Annabeth to figure out she thought she was a domme, but she's actually a sub-leaning switch— she was misinterpreting her bratty streak. She and Piper are both allosexual and she doesn't mind getting ganged up on and losing fights, which balances out the relationship and gets it running smoothly again!

Hazel is straight.

Frank is straight with one (1) exception.

Leo is the exception, and isn't actually sure how he identifies, because it doesn't occur to him until many years down the line when they enter a V with Hazel and he eventually has to come to terms with the fact that at some point he acquired a boyfriend and made the V a triangle when he wasn't looking. Tentatively, he ends up landing simply on "queer", because nothing else seems to fit exactly right and that's what it's there for!

I'm still considering gender, because I'm undecided on whether my current Brand New Genderfluid Awakening Process is something I want to work through fictionally yet, but I suspect Percy will ultimately decide he's a guy with an asterisk.

(Also, the mental image of Jason using drag as a vehicle for self-expression after a lifetime of being molded into the Paragon of Masculine Ideals will not leave me alone, so there's that.)

That's about all I got so far!

[punkscowardschampions]

Ali & Tommy

Ali: [Let us assume he has gone back to school now and this was a weekend affair] Ali: You forgot your 🕯 Ali: expect it in the post, minus the disappointed note from Ro I've taken out Ali: ✈️ trips not guilt trips, welcome Tommy: leave it in, LOVE to hear what she's gotta say about why I'M the one being a holy show Ali: You aren't respecting the sanctity of her offering, is very much the point and gist Ali: she put more letters to it, as standard Tommy: 'course she did Ali: It does mean a lot to her Ali: but yeah, nice to have my 📅 to myself again, can't lie Tommy: meant so much she fucked off soon as the 🎂 candles were out Ali: You know she isn't the party 'til dawn sort Ali: anyway, they'd be coming in for morning service 😅 Tommy: I know it's her party & she can 😭 if she wants to Ali: If I'd known that was the theme, could've made party bags with 🧅 & 🧻 Ali: well, at least you were in your element 🕺 and you kept Meena and Carly entertained Ali: the hostess not being overly concerned herself, like Tommy: this family's hostess with the mostest has & always will be me, honey Tommy: what else do they teach me at this school, like? Ali: I had no idea you were at finishing school, my apologies Ali: how's things with keeping a man then, Holly Housewife? Tommy: Why stop at strutting with 📚 on our heads when we could do it in 🩰 perfectly en pointe, carrying a sulky ballerina all the while? Basically a Latin motto Tommy: & yet I still can't keep a man, cheers for the reminder Ali: Maybe now you're of age they introduce the final string to your bow Ali: quadruple threat = 🎤🕺🎭🍆 Tommy: 😂🤞🙏 Tommy: stole your girl regardless, tell her to call me when she's slept off the festivities Ali: No doubt she will when she's between the next couple of parties 😜 Ali: your girl is here actually, helping Ro 'organise' her presents Ali: dunno where she parked her 🎃 Tommy: I'll join Fraze in the red corner 😍💋💔🤬🎯👿🥤🤡🥵🛑💘 Tommy: those dolls do go walk abouts if you don't keep a 👀 but obviously she was 🤞🙏 I was still there Ali: He might misconstrue that and come to fight for her honour Ali: 🤞🙏 she's in LDN too, naturally Ali: lots of them are haunted, but that last part of your sentence there is the MOST 😱 ever Ali: it's weird when you approach anything fuck boy like Tommy: miscommunication is his thing™ no hard feels or feelings full stop, 'course 💪🚫😭🚫😍 Tommy: what can I say? being back DOES things to me Tommy: it's all the positive masculine role models this family has Ali: Guess it beats a total lack of @Joseph Ali: though he sent her some book about musical theory so he still manages to be the favourite somehow 🤷 Ali: and hey, dad is the best Tommy: v catty & then cuddly of you, Kit Tommy: he doesn't respond to MY efforts at being a daddy's girl exactly the same way somehow 🤷 Ali: we're both living up to what's expected then 😼 Ali: could just be I'm better at it than you though Ali: if your ego will allow it Tommy: can't let our sister fly that flag alone, like Tommy: as for who's better at kissing the arse of authority figures, don't need to dignify that with an answer 'cause my school report will Tommy: you ain't never been a pleasure to have in class Ali: I might genuinely have to shoot myself if anyone ever said anything so asinine about me so you're right Ali: that would be such a waste of potential, not until I've lead a more scandal-filled existence Tommy: you could respect the hustle Tommy: it's getting me 🩰 perks Tommy: disciplined is the head that wears the 👑 hoe Ali: I know all about discipline, trust me Tommy: we've all read 50 shades, you can't take it as gospel Tommy: Ro could write a better bdsm bibe when she's done at church Tommy: bible* Ali: It's all fun and games 'til I walk in on her flagellating herself Ali: how are we explaining that to the shrinks Tommy: that she misunderstood a more sexy f word? Ali: we don't want to look like we're trying to lock her up for that Ali: way too retro, bro Tommy: She wants to be catholic Tommy: I didn't make the rules Ali: No, then da really would hate you Ali: she's got worse Tommy: Yeah Tommy: I know, no amount of drama from the golden couple could detract Ali: not that I haven't heard enough about that though Ali: guess there's too much to put in a passive-aggressive note Tommy: 🙄🥱😴 Tommy: She wasn't even THAT late & tbh I wouldn't have blamed her for doing a Joe no show Ali: I would've understood if she was upset when she wasn't coming Ali: I am when Joe doesn't, whatever Ali: but I think she was actually MORE upset that she did come in the end, and not just because she was messy, but because Ro thought she wouldn't Ali: I don't get it, they're complicated, always have been but ??? Tommy: she can't hold being a good sister over her, like you can't me being the most fabulous brother in existence 🏆 Tommy: the fuck ups are more fun to bring to a 🥊 Ali: I guess that's more likely than them being all 💕💞 Ali: but fucking hell, does it hurt to hope Tommy: it's hurting you 😿 Tommy: she'll be too hangry to hope Ali: I have no hope or agenda for your 🏆 or 👑 dear brother Ali: but seriously Ali: what does she want Tommy: like you said ???? Tommy: there's every chance I'm bringing too much McKenna magic to the motives & she don't wanna bear a grudge til the end of her days Ali: because it doesn't sound like her at all Ali: if you can't be honest in the DMs where can you, eh, to quote that romcom Ali: fucked if I know what to do about it right now though Ali: maybe I need to sleep off the festivities, or get something to eat Tommy: long as you're not so hysterical you run into the path of an oncoming car, to recall another faithful role of hers Ali: have you adapted that for the stage? Ali: get 5 of you to be the 🚗 Tommy: dibs 'cause I can't do the accent Tommy: not that loads of 'em posh kids can either Ali: they'll have spent enough time gentrifying the east end to have it down, offensively so but all adds to the hysterics Tommy: I'll pitch it then 💡 Tommy: go down better than her 🎤🎵 Ali: better than her when she got hit by the car, like Ali: give me credit or I'll turn up and make a SCENE Tommy: like I wouldn't be LIVING for that Tommy: if we are being honest in the DMS Ali: I'll work on my RICKKAAAAAAAAAAAY Ali: maybe can convince Ro to be Sharon Tommy: hang around your ma in law & you'll ace it in no time Ali: Ha Ali: she'd accept Peggy, not Pat Tommy: fair, Laoise's ma's the one more likely to express herself with big earrings & animal prints Tommy: but I don't know if Sam Mitchell is a favourable role for Carls, what did she ever even do? Ali: Are you trying to tell me it's NOT a look? 🤔 Ali: or that you rate Laoise's mum? Ali: The character, nothing, the OG actress lost her nose so we're all agreed that's a no Tommy: I'd rate seeing her da on the doorstep in nothing but a bow tie for how mortified she'd be when I uploaded it Tommy: Grant's also no, he knocked Martine on her arse way before that car Tommy: but if she's Phil, you're Sharon so that's a yeah from me, like Ali: Don't, her dad always gave me those vibes Ali: and you ain't actually on the street still to have to witness that 🤮 Ali: I don't know how she'll feel about going bald, I'll float it gently before getting out the clippers Tommy: Do Rock's while you're there, he looks feral Tommy: even that nonce wouldn't have him Ali: You know his ears would get chapped Ali: hair is essential or he'll fly away on the breeze Ali: and we'd all be devastated, obvs Tommy: don't start me thinking about that scene in Dumbo, cheers very much Tommy: 😭😭😭😭😭😭 Ali: Such a depressing film Ali: disney gives me bad vibes Tommy: the park is creepy & you won't catch me there Tommy: whether or not Walt was a Nazi it's still a nah from me Ali: Wee bit concerning that emotional manipulation and forced fun trumps facism/literal Nazis for you but we'll 🤐 Ali: ma is in enough of a mood and she'll only direct it at me so nah Tommy: well his racism is disputed depending whether you're in camp 😇 saint him 🙏 or camp cast him into the hellfire 👿 Tommy: the forced fun & emotional manipulation is just facts Ali: 👿 advocate Tommy: I'm gonna go to hell 🤞 he's an ally Ali: 😬 Ali: it's a punishment, not a holiday Tommy: it'll be a grand hol for my pores Tommy: love a sauna sesh Ali: that London smog is not it Ali: how black is your snot? Tommy: as Ro's soul 💀 Ali: Thomas Tommy: Alison Ali: 🛑 it Tommy: she'd 🖤 to hear it but FINE Ali: you're an enabler, it is known Ali: not the kind of encouragement I'm after tah Tommy: enabling you & your lady love to have a good time, yeah 🕺💃 Tommy: & I fully expected her to turn up with a pet raven is all I'm saying Ali: the best was made of it by all, despite it all Ali: even her, in her way Tommy: despite Kayne appearing 🤵🥀 & all in her case Ali: yeah Ali: ugh Ali: he's harmless enough, bless him Tommy: she'd beg to differ right now Tommy: you're gonna wanna hide the 🍄🍄💀 til she calms down Ali: You don't need to tell me Ali: I think he's just really oblivious Ali: like all lads Ali: it wasn't you know...assaulty Tommy: It's not his fault she's team true love's kiss & he AIN'T it Tommy: who could EVER measure up to the 💭💞 Ali: standards, cool Ali: unrealistic expectations, less so Ali: but I can't really advocate for reality at this point in the game Tommy: You don't need to tell me, sis Ali: you're team turn-a-stage-kiss-real, yeah Ali: it's more realistic than fairytales, anyway, look at strictly Tommy: I'm team when's my life been a shitty made for netflix flick never mind a 🐸🤴📖 Tommy: crushing realism ftw Ali: 💔 Ali: If you didn't have a tragic love-life to complain about, you'd be too insufferable 🤴💩 Tommy: comforting Tommy: I'd HATE to morph into Fraze of a few years back Ali: I'll let you know if you start getting freckles Tommy: I'd know if I woke up with those brows Tommy: nowhere to hide, like Ali: 👺 Tommy: 😂 Ali: What are you getting ma for her bday/have you got already (suckup) Tommy: I left it there if you wanna find & shake the 🎁 Ali: Wow, you really didn't wanna pay postage that bad huh Ali: I'll see if I can 🔮 Tommy: with what? I'm skint after buying hers & Ro's Tommy: & it'll be 🎅🎄🎁 before too long Ali: that's what people really mean when they say dance don't pay Ali: gifting an interpretive dance is nothing but pretentious and unwelcome Ali: I can bodge together however many crafts I need and save my dolla Tommy: been there, tried that one Tommy: so much for your so called genius Tommy: ain't even thought of earning any by busting out the 🎅🎄🎵 classics for a busking sesh, works with 🩰 too I'll have you know Ali: 'til you knock over an old lady and have to leg it, like Ali: and if you hadn't noticed, I've been a little busy making a replica Ro, tah Ali: my creative juices are juiced right now Tommy: I'll make it look like part of the show & have the punters eating out of my palm when I catch & twirl any 👵 before they touch ground Tommy: yeah well you've got time from now, fair game on all things yule from Nov 1st Ali: 👌👌 clearly the LDN ones are more receptive because they're vicious 'round here with their 👜s and I'm only trying to give them the tea they ordered Ali: if ANYONE should advocate for Christmas not dragging, like Tommy: it's Irish dancing or fuck all back there, 365 🌧 or ⛅ Tommy: little girls scam every bit of that trade Ali: ironic when it's catch these hands in every other aspect Ali: so you'll fit right in, eh Ali: feel traumatised yet? Tommy: I'll do my best, as ever Ali: 🤴 Ali: meanwhile ma will have to make do with whatever IOU present I can knock up Ali: maybe I'll babysit, that's never not gonna work Tommy: she was on about going out 🍽 wasn't she? Tommy: Carls will never not be down either Ali: get him to make her a cake Ali: sorted Ali: providing he washes his hands...a full hose down may be necessary actually Tommy: she's survived the 🧁 he brings back from school & we've all seen the state of him at day's end Ali: yeah, cheers for the immunity boost little 🦠 Ali: fair, I'm pretty sure we put some weird and wonderful things into our bakes at his age and no one died Ali: Laoise nearly but you know Tommy: close but no 🚬 Tommy: typical of that bitch Ali: sure a 🙏 was said to finish the job at mass Tommy: if you see her ma mascara running in an lbd, I demand to be the first to know Ali: I'll pap her in her time of distress, it's fine Ali: I can hide up trees for HOURS if needs must Tommy: I'm not above piggybacking on the 'tragedy' to get better grades or a hol Tommy: do your part, like Ali: she won't fall for 🍄 again Ali: her brother might if Ro puts 'em in her gob Tommy: 💞 Ali: more of a mood than without Ali: add a little danger Tommy: she'd appreciate the drama more than anything he could ever do Ali: 💔 Tommy: nah, we're not shipping that Tommy: not today Ali: You gotta make some bad decisions before you make the right ones Tommy: a bad decision was the colour of her 👗 Tommy: the last thing that girl needs is a boy right now Ali: Okay you can't come for anyone vis a vis colour, boy Ali: even if I still see it when I close my eyes after however many weeks sewing Ali: but you may have a point re. a boy Ali: just, some socialisation wouldn't hurt Ali: and as far as they go, he's harmless Tommy: 'Course I do, she can barely exist in front of us Tommy: if they went on a date, what's she gonna do, order a glass of water? Ali: like you haven't seen her fake eat a plate of food Ali: it's only noticeable to all us that she's not actually putting any in her mouth Tommy: 🔮✨ Tommy: if he's TRULY harmless he don't deserve to be harmed by her attitude Tommy: which anyone else not bound by family love & loyalty would call something loads harsher Ali: Don't Ali: I feel bad enough for Meena sometimes Tommy: @ Carly too & we all know it Ali: Yeah, Carly can handle it though, she's mostly unphased even if it is a total thing 🙄 Tommy: She's a 👸😇 I doubt Kayne is that pure of ❤️ or intentions tbh Tommy: & Meena can handle anything so Ali: he's deffo a virgin though Ali: which yes, makes for more desperation, but he can't be that forceful if he dunno what he wants, you know Ali: yeah but God knows why she wants to come 'round here and get more of it at times Tommy: No shit, Kit but everyone's seen a porno, it's not the 70s Tommy: dress for it all you like Tommy: maybe she wants to get out of her own 🏡 Ali: everyone also knows it's bullshit Ali: whatever else she's got that much about her Tommy: does he though? Tommy: all I'm saying Ali: either way, it isn't like she's going to have a miraculous change of heart Ali: we all saw how well it went Tommy: Yeah but what if it makes her heart set on finding someone else to play 🤴 Tommy: you'd know better than me what goes on in her head Ali: She's 15, I don't see how any of us can say or do anything to stop her if that's what she does want Tommy: 15 technically Tommy: 🤷 Ali: If we can't make her eat, you know Ali: what hope do we have for anything beyond that Tommy: 0 Tommy: & it's fucked Ali: Yep Ali: but it's not as if that bombshell has only just been dropped, I guess Ali: we'll carry on doing what we can Tommy: 🔮✨ Ali: ✌💚

[dachi-chan25]

January 2020 Wrap Up

I got back on track this month. Sadly this was not a good reading month, I didn't like or was pretty meh about a lot of this books so I did a massive unhaul this month to ensure I'll read books I am intrested in and want to read.

1.- Shadow Scale (Seraphina #2) - Rachel Hartman

🌟🌟🌟

I was so disappointed! I loved the 1st book so much, it had an amazing intresting world and politics but that got thrown out of the window in this one, the characters seem to even forget their relationships with each other and the villian is just badly constructed, the ending feels rushed and unsatisfactory, I just gave it 3 stars cuz i couldn't bear to give less stars to a world and characters I actually like.

2.- Heroes -Stephen Fry

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I always love to re-read greek myths, and Stephen Fry makes really funny commentary and narrative decisions when it comes to his adaptations. It was a very enjoyable read.

3.- Love from A to Z - S.K Ali

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I don't read much romance cuz a LOT of romance authors construct relationships I am not intrested in, but THIS. It was amazing, the way both characters saw the world was beautiful, all that pride for Muslim culture and the fight against islamophobia felt actual and relevant, I really liked both characters, and the way their relationship develops felt fitting to their personalities and ages and that is something that is so rare to find. I really recc this one.

4.- Once Upon a Burning Throne - Ashok K. Banker

🌟🌟🌟

So I really liked the beginning of the book, it had a super intresting premise and intresting characters along with high political stakes, but the conflict you get presented at the beginning never get a pay off, and it goes around many characters and plots that made me a bit confused so idk the ending was strong and I know it's a series but I don't think I am intrested in reading the rest cuz this one was pretty confusing for me.

5.- All the Crooked Saints - Maggie Stiefvater

🌟🌟

Sadly I think Maggie Stiefvater is not the author for me, I tried to get into Raven Boys but didn't liked it. I find her writing and characters to be a bit superficial, very aesthetic and quirky but ultimately completley one dimensional, the metaphors she uses make no sense, I do like when an author spices things up with the flow of their sentences and the words the use but Maggie Stiefvater's prose it's just too much for me.

6.- The Girl who Played with Fire (Millenium #2) - Stieg Larsson

🌟🌟🌟🌟

This is my first re-read of this book. I really liked this series when I 1st read them, but I found some stupid stuff that made me roll my eyes so hard cuz male authors writing woman sometimes lead to cringey stuff. Lisbeth Salander has always been one of my favorite characters, but she is very different in this book, I love the fact we get to see more of her past, that she has vulnerability but also she is so heavily coded as masculine that it exasperates me also LOL about every woman wanting to fuck Mikael, I have some amazing memories of this series (the 1st one is superior in every aspect imho) and I still love them but yeah I was a much different person and I like to critizise even the things that I like.

7.- North and South - Elizabeth Gaskell

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I just love this book so much, the intricacies of industry and of the fair treatment of the workers, the differences of a life in a City vs life on the countryside in the middle of the Industrial Revolution. This book is so intelligent and layered. The characters are well defined and they develop so well. The romance!!! I just love it.

8.- Paper Tigers - Damien Angelica Walters

🌟🌟🌟

I was loving this book at the beginning, such an intresting concept, to have a possesed photo álbum, and to have a disabled protagonist dealing with her appereance and going out again it was hard hitting, I know this is horror but the ending broke my heart, it made me feel hopless and sad especially when the protagonist had already developed SO much it didn't felt like a victory even when the book tries to present it in that way.

9.- Morning Star (Red Rising #3) - Pierce Brown

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Favorite read of the month!!! This book was a rollercoaster, it had me at the edge of my seat all the time, I love the Red Rising series and this book its a perfect conclusion for this amazing story (I know there are still 2 books but idk if Darrow is the main character on those cuz his story and arc could very well end in this book) it was so satisfying and hopeful. This is what an ending should be.

10.- Black House (The Talisman #2) -Stephen King/ Peter Straub

🌟🌟🌟

I was so excited about reading this one because I loved the Talisman so much, but this book was HARD to get through. It needed some serious editing. Like it didn't feel like a sequel for the first 100 pages or so cuz we don't get to see Jake up until that point, and there is waaaaay to much unnecesary exposition that took away from the suspenseful stuff, also it was kinda repetitive and that annoyed me. Gosh I know lots of people say this particular era on SK writing career was bad, and they not lying, I just can't connect like I did before (though I know it gets better cuz his recent books are good)

11.- China's Rich Girlfriend (Crazy Rich Asians #2) - Kevin Kwan

🌟🌟🌟

I mean it was ok, like some things get resolved, so plot wise we do get a development and I dare say some characters do develop. Tbh I don't take these too seriously they are just outrageous and dramatic, I have fun reading them and I am wondering how some of the plots will translate into the movie .

12.- The Revisioners - Margaret Wilkerson Sexton

🌟🌟🌟🌟

Magical Realism is my jam, I really enjoyed this one, though the ending was kinda meh and I feel the magical aspect could have been given more significance. The story was beautiful and impactful.

13.- Scarlett (Lunar Chronicles #2) Marissa Meyer

🌟🌟

I did find this book more enjoyable than Cinder, and the concept of fairytales in space seems wonderful to me, but I just think they are too juvenile for me, like i know if I had read them when I was younger I would have loved them but now I just go my my through the book hoping for more complexity and so I decided not to read them anymore cuz it's not fair for me to judge books that are definitely not directed towards me.

14.- Dark Reunion (Vampire Diaries #4) - L.J Smith

🌟🌟🌟

I am reading these cuz I wanted to know just how different they were from the TV series (the answer is VERY) and they are really enjoyable, they have this dark atmospheric tone but are still super campy and cliché but not so much that it's unbearable, idk I just really like to read them and they are so short it's super motivating knowing I can just relax reading one of these.

15- Vengeful (Villians #2) - V. E Schwab

🌟🌟🌟🌟

I just love the characters and the world so much!!!!! I need more books of this universe cuz it really gives for so much more.

16.- Puddin' (Dumplin' #2) - Julie Murphy

🌟🌟🌟 🌟

These books are so cute. Honestly no shade to Willowdean but I liked this book much more than the 1st and I loved that we had Millie and Callie as protagonists, their friendship was great and I just really liked this book so much I hope it gets a movie too.

17.- Suspicious Minds - Gwenda Bond

🌟🌟

I liked some stuff but honestly I couldn't help but think of a book that have a similar concept but it's way better (Firestarter) and I guess that's what happens when you rely on a concept that has already been succesful. Like it's pretty clear this was written to get money out of Stranger Things fans and that doesn't sit to well with me,

[mermaidsirennikita]

In what way are Julia's books significant?

I think that Julia has nailed a certain type of ballroom historical--very romcom-esque (in fact, I think you can draw parallels between Julia's books and 90s-early 2000s romcoms, which is a lot of fun), very approachable for people who previously haven't read historical fiction of any kind (you don't need to know much about the Regency to Get her books, and she doesn't info dump), very light and witty while at the same time, at their best (When He Was Wicked, for me) hitting an emotional well, and drawing a family that feels like a family. Me? I don't super care about family romances. Sometimes they work for me, sometimes they don't. I haven't had time to go back to the Cynsters yet, but I mean, I loved the family drama drawn up in Devil's Bride. But if you like romances that draw from a family, I think that Julia nailed that, and I think that she (along with Mary Balogh and again Stephanie Laurens) is influential in the current depiction of "family dynasty" romances today. They're a bit more modern than what Jude Deveraux's Montgomerys were doing, for example. A bit more relatable and touchable.

I also think that you can draw a line from Julia to authors publishing today who are more recent, but have, I would imagine, been influenced by her romcom-first style of writing. Tessa Dare is the most obvious one, though Tessa arguably made her books even funnier, a bit less obsessed with the upper classes (though still revolving around them often), and much sexier. Elisa Braden is another, though she's probably more of a "grandchild", as I think Elisa has Tessa's influence all over her books. Nonetheless, to me, Elisa actually reads as more similar to JQ than Tessa is to JQ, because Tessa isn't quite as fixated on the virgin heroine, and Elisa is more into the upper classes.

But to me, you can circle back Tessa (who again, has become v. influential in her own right) and authors like Tessa to JQ, whereas authors like Sarah MacLean and to a lesser extent Joanna Shupe (who was like I'm gonna fuck off and do my own damn thing with the Gilded Age, but I still see some parallels between Kleypas's self made heroes and hers), imo, circle back more to Kleypas.

And then there are... the book sales, obviously.