#i genuinely do feel like i've written a fun story and i'm so glad other people are enjoying it

[echoes-lighthouse]

This is your sign to publish your self-insert fanfiction as a reader-insert story on AO3 because people will compliment your reader character and they will indirectly be complimenting you and you will feel very devious and flustered and also they will cheer on your relationship with the characters and it will make you feel so very loved and fulfilled (>w<)

[enlitment]

Top 5 underappreciated historical figures!

Thanks for the ask! This one was super fun, but also super difficult to answer. I've purposefully avoided mentioning the ladies of the French Revolution, since I have another question specifically about them lined up.

With that being said, in no particular order:

Fulvia

Anyone in the classics circle likely knows much more about her than I do, but I'm so glad I've discovered her through Tumblr! All of the things I've learned about her so far have been so interesting. It's incredible to see how much political (and military) power a Roman woman was able to yield despite living in a deeply patriarchal society.

(also, the part of me that loves drama really appreciates the story about her stabbing Cicero's tongue with hairpins after the proscriptions and Octavian's atrocious poem about her)

2. Émilie du Châtelet

Also hardly a surprise for anyone who's been following me for a while. Again, the fact that I've only relatively recently found out that there was a female mathematician and physicist in the fist half of the 18th century with such significant contributions to the field makes me almost feel as if I've been lied to.

She is special to me both because she was incredibly smart (she was able to understand Newton like few other people in her time and she spoke so many languages!) but there's also something about her writing that makes her feel deeply human and relatable. I've read some of her texts, and not only are they written in a beautiful prose but they're also incredibly moving. Her view on how to achieve happiness in life is one of the best I've ever came across, and her arguments for the education of women always make me feel so emotional...

...when she says that it was only after she realised that the circle of (male) French intellectuals accepted her among themselves and treated her as equal that she realised she too "might be a thinking creature"... I don't know, there's something about it that always gets to me.

Okay, time to introduce some male historical figures as well! This one is a residue from the time when I was really into the American Revolution.

3. Peter Stephen Du Ponceau

He was probably the only one in Baron von Steuben's original group that was able to speak decent English when they first arrived in the US to join the revolutionary war, which a) makes him quite important b) is kind of funny to think about.

But what I especially like about him is that he was a talented linguist who seemed to have genuine respect for other cultures, which let's face it, was quite rare in his times. While taking part in the American Revolutionary War, he recorded and studied the languages of Native American People. How cool is that?

(He was also potentially queer and I do have a soft spot for queer history)

Okay, guess should bring up someone interesting from Czech history as well. I fully confess that my own country's history is not necessarily my favourite area of study, but for her, I'll always make an exception:

4. Milena Jesenská

Probably most well known as Kafka's (kind of?) girlfriend/pen pal, but there is so much more to her story!

She was a writer and a journalist during the first half of the 20th century. She was really talented and soon made a reputation for herself, which let's face it, wasn't an easy thing to do for women in her time.

After Czechia became occupied by Nazi Germany, she joined the resistance movement and helped Jewish families to escape. She was later transported to a concentration camp, where she worked as a nurse and was said to have been "a moral support for other prisoners". She unfortunately died there when she was only 47. Still, what a life!

5. John Polidori

He's not necessarily my number one favourite person but I'd argue he is one of the most unappreciated figures. Vampires in fiction are massively popular but he rarely gets credited as one of its first authors. (Also the theory that Lord Ruthven, the charismatic, immoral aristocrat featured in The Vampyre is heavily based off on Lord Byron is not only entirely plausible but also quite funny).

Whenever I read something about the Geneva Squad, I always end up feeling kind of bad for him. As a foreigner, someone who was of a lower social status and - since he technically came along as Byron's personal physician - a paid employee, it just seems to me like he was never actually fully part of the group. Maybe I'm wrong, but to me, he felt kind of like a perpetual outsider. Lord Byron also got the credit for writing The Vampyre that should have gone to Polidori.

He was of course far from a perfect saint, with his drug and gambling addiction, but I still can't help but feel that he deserved better.

[anucalor]

Mutuals (Onyankopon x Black! Reader)

hiii so this is a small snippet of part two. i'm so sorry it's taking so long. your girl is an athlete and her season just ended. so i finally have time to actually get back to writing! thank you guys so much for the love with this piece. i haven't written in a while, but i'm excited to get back into it. without further ado, here's your snippet ~

---

It’s been three months since Ony and I have been dating, and it’s been amazing. He’s been amazing. He continues to show me just how caring and protective he is - genuine and fun. The way he never fails to make me smile (whether it be after a tough day at work, or I’m just feeling a little down) is something I didn’t realize I needed. 

‘I’m so glad I listened to Mika,’ is something I constantly think to myself. 

She was right when she told me that he would show me the type of person he is. 

And I couldn’t be happier. 

Ony and I are a little more comfortable with visiting each other's houses, opting to just stay in and relax most of the time. Each time we do, we learn so much about one another. From likes to dislikes to family and more. The more we spend time together, the more I can’t help but think about what it would be like to actually be in a committed relationship with him.  

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t try to shoo the thought away, but it’s so hard when Ony is... himself. Going above and beyond is not foreign to him. His emotional intelligence is evident through his desire for clear communication and his (surprising) amount of empathy.  

Gosh, he’s so wonderful. 

My thoughts are cut short by a soft *ping!*  I glance at my phone to see Ony’s name pop up. I bite back a smile before opening his message.

Yanni <3 : Be ready by 8. I got a surprise for you 

~~~

@kxllanxtdoor

@prettypink-princesss

@sevikasblackgf

again, i hope you guys enjoy. the actual story will be published asap along with some other stories i've been cooking up. also, don't hesitate to request some stories too! i try to stick to fluff, maybe some angst because... i just wanna see more of that lol.

i love you, but God loves you more <3

(part 1) ⬇️

[the-100-days-of-junkan]

Hey, I love your Junkan art! Just was wondering, you recommended VanadisValentine 's work, which I agree with as I love all their Junkan stuff... but I was wondering, do you have any other Junkan recommendations? Would love to hear them if you do! (Ps. I haven't finished your blood bag work but what I have read of it so far I'm loving!)

Why thankyou for this question! First off glad you like all of the Junkan stuff so far, it's been a labor of love (and obsession) that took 9 months but seeing all the positive reactions has made it all worth it! As for recommendations, I am happy to oblige. I'll admit I haven't read every single Junkan Fic there is, I have made it a habit to go on a crazy binge of as much Junkan as I can, I go through every single page on AO3 and read anything tagged as soft (along with anything that looks like it was worth the risk.)

Hell when it comes to Junkan fics I literally have the Junko/Mikan tag for AO3 bookmarked and right at the top of my screen so I can click anytime, and I'm sure I still have plenty of fics left to read whether it's on this site or somewhere else hidden deep within google search. So if anyone wants to go in the comments/reblogs and give recommendations or even shill their own stuff go right ahead!~

Be sure to remember these, they'll be on the test later (this is foreshadowing) So do allow me to give you the long list of fics to read when you're feeling the vibe

I've already recommended VanadisValentine's works in previous posts, however for the sake of a complete list I'll still put em here.

The Marvelous Makeover of Mikan Tsumiki - VanadisValentine (Absolute Classic, also just really fun to say)

Everything You've Ever Dreamed - VanadisValentine (Quite possibly one of my favorite Fanfics just in general)

Turn Out the Lights - VanadisValentine (More focused on the characters separated along with their thoughts on the relationship but it's a great fic for when you're in the mood)

When Am I Gonna Lose You? - VanadisValentine (An 18+ Fic just as a warning, but if you're old enough and looking for something in that field this is an amazing piece, even with all my skill in the field of drawing funny pictures I don't think I could depict anything near as beautiful as the descriptions featured here. Does that sound pretentious? Yes! But I know what I am lol.) Year of Love and Despair - VanadisValentine (Last one from her on this list, also ongoing! If you want a variety of stories of these two ranging from fluffy to dramatic to sometimes even saucy then this fic is the place for you. Genuine highlight of my year and has helped me get through the tougher days very often. You can also look and see my really excessively long comments on most of the chapters!~)

Living in a Crazy Parallel World - Yurikah (Fair warning, this one is very long, isn't 100% Junkan Focused, and is also unfinished with it's last update being awhile ago. That said I think if you can make peace with that going into it you'll be in for a very well written treat!~)

Soft (But Only for Her) - Kayleen756894 (When I first got into Junkan I had only read a small handful of fics from AO3, this was one of them and I went through it in a single night. Extremely fun experience that covers a wide variety of ideas for Junkan. Fluffy, Tragic, it's the whole nine yards. There's gotta be at least one story in this collection that will appeal to someone if they like this ship)

Smile - Kayleen756894 (Truly amazing, one of the all time Junkan Fics out there. It can be a very stressful read but oh so very worth it in my opinion. And for those who want a fic closer to canon in terms of character depictions while still being on the softer side I think this will satisfy heavily)

Hurt, Hold, Heal - Kayleen756894 (Do you like Junko helping Mikan through a Panic Attack? Do you like Junko trying to be a better person? Do you like Mikan helping Junko just as much as Junko helps her? Oh look it's the fic for you. The ending is really sweet too)

Tomorrow is Lonely - Kayleen756894 (Also 18+, arguably even more than the previous one on the list. Check the tags before you read and if that sounds like something you're into go for it. Me personally I gotta be in a very specific headspace first but when I do read it I enjoy myself, it's real cute and has a lot of great little character moments)

Protectors in Red - Kayleen756894 (Extremely good! Also features Mukuro! So if that's a selling point then I'm sure it'll vibe)

Forgive Me, My Beloved - Gloomy_snake (Significantly out of my normal comfort zone and definitely not what one would expect compared to the other fics here, but an enjoyable read. And if you like Doomed Yuri, it's got plenty packed in.)

Drowning - aparticularbandit (Extremely inspiring piece of writing featuring Alter Ego Junko instead of Original Recipe Junko!)

A Night for Two - TheGreatWave74 (Cute fic with the girlies at the pool)

what's better than this, girls havin fun - oxidize (A Chatfic! It might not give the same lasting impact as other fics on the list, however this was the fic that introduced me to the very idea of Soft Junkan, so I will always cherish it, and make sure to re-read it every now and again for the sentimental value)

Burning Lungs - oxidize (Another unfinished fic, I remember that put me off from reading it for awhile. However when I finally did I got pretty invested, which left the cliffhanger on the last chapter all the more stinging. Hope the author is doin' well! Anyway, great fic, might go a bit overboard on the darker aspects of Mikan and Junko's backstories so be warned, but even with that in mind I enjoyed myself and find myself imagining the potential turns it could have taken. And watching Junko's feelings slow burn into existence was really pleasant, especially as her dynamic with Mikan continues)

School Life of Mutual Loving - MarySutcliff (A Compilation of various fics from various ships, 3 of which are Soft Junkan. I've only read the first two, but if you enjoy them I imagine the third will do something for you, the first chapter also, as far as my research can tell, is the first instance of Soft Junkan.) First Chapter Second Chapter Third Chapter

Queen of the Convenience Store - Orphan_Account (The one where Junko and Mikan do weed. I actually quit weed and went cold turkey about a week or two ago, but I do still enjoy seeing girls kissing while being high. even if i can't remember if they kiss in this oops)

A DR Oneshot from an Orphan_Account (It features a Hot Topic, my inner 2000s kid has to recc it)

The Threshold - character_studious (A Bit Dark, but a pleasant read!)

The Whirlwind Fashionista - Kaz3313 (Cute lil Non-Despair AU fic featuring a very cool mall! The ending also gets a chuckle out of me)

No Regrets - wait i made that one (I wasn't going to put this here initially however as a small spoiler, Day 50 of this project is directly based on this fic. I'm super mixed on how it turned out but hey maybe someone'll like it)

And that's it for now! I may or may not be forgetting a decent amount of fics even among the ones I've read before. And there's plenty I haven't even seen yet, and plenty more to be made overtime I imagine.

Your mileage may vary with a lot of these fics, but hopefully you'll find one that itches your brain good like they itch mine. And if not then I recommend just hitting the Junkan Tag running and see what you can find! Take a few risks and maybe you'll find something surprising.

Have a wonderful day and remember to stay hydrated!~

[deathstrokewilson]

OOC: Hi all, Roleplayer behind JJ and Slade here. (mentally insert Zuko meme if you so choose)

I'm feeling a bit calmer now. I was quite hurt by that anon from last night.

To explain my reaction, for anyone who is confused, I am a person. I'm sitting here on my computer or phone to have fun and write stories with others, the same as everyone else here. This is my first time trying to RP on Tumblr, and for some of you it may be your first time trying to RP at all. To which I say, I'm so glad you are! Genuinely, roleplay is a great way to make friends and to explore all sorts of stories and themes safely and supportively.

Additionally, this is my first time writing Slade. I never expected so many people to enjoy my writing, and listen, I love that he's so generally terrible, and that I seem to write him well enough that you want to rally against him, that you love to hate him, that you send love to the Dick who's agreed to be Slade's Renegade. It's sweet. It's intense. But it's supposed to be fun.

Whoever did send that anon may have just been caught up in the intensity of having Slade seem like such a big threat, and wanted to try and ding his ego, or something to that effect. I don't know their intent. But as a person writing for both my enjoyment and yours, it was like a punch to the face. It was incredibly hurtful, since firstly, I don't think I've written him that way, and secondly, that just… isn't something you send. It's a serious thing to say or imply, it can be easily twisted out of context, and shouldn't be slung around. I would also like to state that I have checked in several times with people who are either directly part of the story or were emotionally affected by it to make sure they were all right to continue. I know it's an intense character, an intense storyline. I genuinely don't want people feeling uncomfortable or scared. I want people to enjoy what I make, like any creative, in a safe and healthy way. And I also want to be happy and comfortable.

So there's that.

As such, I want to offer something to you all- a poll. I am asking you all to consider the options carefully and genuinely, and vote honestly. Please, please be honest. Because I won't be dealing with that sort of thing again. A large part of roleplay is considering both the characters and the people behind them, and how your writing can affect them. I never expected Slade to be more than a brief thing, and thanks to everyone's interactions that grew and changed. I did appreciate it, and at least up until that anon, it was fun. I would like it to be fun again. This is also to either subdue or confirm my anxiety, so I'm sorry if this seems dramatic, but it will help me. So, let's vote.

1. I continue to roleplay as Slade, the storyline that has been started continues. I request if you are not comfortable with him and this choice wins, you unfollow for your own comfort.

2. I set Slade on the high shelf for an undetermined amount of time. The storyline is cut off, blogs that were more personally involved return to more normal posting if they so choose. Until more people can learn to separate the fiction from the person behind, no more big bad villain to hate. I will only RP JJ, or other non-villainous characters.

3. I stop roleplaying here on Tumblr entirely. If for whatever reason you think I shouldn't be roleplaying here at all, and this vote wins, I'll stop. No more Slade, no more JJ, no more of my ideas. I'll also request that if you don't want me around you at all, you DM @littlefaefeather with the blogs you want me to block or unfollow.

I do intend to take this day as an RP-lite day for my own sake, but if there's anything you really want to RP or include Slade or JJ or my Robin blog in, you can still @ them for it, I'll be checking in every so often. Thanks for reading all this. 🧡💛💚💙💜

[lunarleonardo]

I'll be honest, I am VERY behind on love letter 😅 I've been meaning to catch up for a couple months now, but Pressure has a grasp on me that will not release

Dude, I think you have your own sub fandom that chews up your AUs like they're their own original stories lmao/lh

PRESSURE REFERENCE!!!!!!!! PRESSURE ROBLOX!! PRESSURE PRUESSURE !!!!!!!!! pandemonium my #1 fav PRESSUREROBLOX PRESSURE

So hey fun fact I've been having a Pressure brainrot maybe hyperfixation idk for like a few weeks now and! After Love Letter is finished, I plan on writing a oneshot of Shuichi, Kaede and Kokichi doing a Pressure round. It'd be the first crossover fic I'd be posting publically but by posting things publically it gives me an obligation to finish it which I find extremely joyful so I reeeally really reaaally wanna write this (⁠≧⁠▽⁠≦⁠) it'd also be my first oneshot so. :P i mean come on I have the power as an author to make Kaede fist fight a wall dweller and I will be DAMNED if I don't take that chance /j

Also... Yeah. I've picked up on that (⁠个⁠_⁠个⁠) I'm not quite sure how it happened, but I'm glad it did. I've got to meet a lot of really cool people, and I've made a really really good friend from it too (⁠ ⁠╹⁠▽⁠╹⁠ ⁠) I've never been active in a fandom like this before, so this is really good experience for me in gaining more confidence in myself and getting used to talking to people. AND It's been letting me improve on my self-discipline and responsibility, which is something I'd struggle with a lot ^^"

Seeing everyone create things based on what I have done-- sharing memes and art, assigning music to my stories-- has been an experience like no other. As a bonus, it's all with my favorite characters from a game that I absolutely adore (even with it's fuckin christmas list of issues lmao)!! I'm so grateful for everyone who has given me support or put their own time into things I've made. It has genuinely made such a huge difference in my life and I cannot describe how thankful I am for that (⁠ ⁠◜⁠‿⁠◝⁠ ⁠)⁠♡

I have no plans to stop writing. I have a lot of plans for future fics (that I have to grit my teeth and write one at a time or else none of them will ever be finished ಥ⁠╭⁠╮⁠ಥ) and I'm excited to share them, even if they are extremely different from what I've previously written. So far I've been sticking to the Ultimate Academy, but I want to try to spread out a bit ^^ We'll see what happens I suppose

Again to my "subfandom" if thats what we're calling it, thank you so much for all the love and support!! Those words have probably been said a million times by anyone with an audience ever but I really do mean it. All I ask is that you're responsible with what you share from my fics (⁠•⁠ ⁠▽⁠ ⁠•⁠;⁠) I am aware of how dark they are and that the content within it can be disturbing to people so please just be careful. Thank you ^^!! 💕

Also!! I do have my own original storiess and OCs and stuff. Just a handful of them, but they're there :P one's an Undertale OC, I have two danganronpa ocs (they're in love), I have my stupid wolf guys and also that One Guy who isn't necessarily a DR OC but is involved in DR because they kind of blew up a DR universe and adopted/kidnapped Shuichi...yeah uh we can save that one for another time (⁠＠⁠_⁠＠⁠;⁠) and by another time i mean Never (unless someone asks about it for whatever reason bcus that is the rule i have set for myself. That rule exists because i was petrified of "letting the attention get to my head" but nowadays it just feels like a pillow i can fall back on to avoid feeling stressed about interacting with people xD)

ohhh that is a. Long post Sorry for the long ramble!! /gen I took adderall and I'm feeling very rambly and happy. It's a very falling feeling it's very strange (⁠⊙⁠_⁠◎⁠)

[bookaddict24-7]

REVIEWS OF THE WEEK!

Every week I will post various reviews I've written so far in 2024. You can check out my Goodreads for more up-to-date reviews HERE.

Have you read any of these? What were your thoughts?

___

267. Body Check by Elle Kennedy--⭐️⭐️.5

You know it's bad when I can't even remember what this book was about LOL. Thank goodness for review notes.

Something about BODY CHECK just didn't immediately grab me like this author's other books. The mood just felt...off?

I've been spoiled by the newer Elle Kennedy books because this one barely had any prep time before the two MCs meant and went to bone town. Usually, Kennedy's characters have some alone time so we can get attached to them. I know this is her first book, so it definitely had some things that could have been done better. And then I start thinking about how this is a re-edited edition and I'm just kind of mind-blown.

Anyway, other than the fact that this very much felt like a Harlequin novel (not that this is a bad thing, it's just the kind of romance that happens very quickly and with some over-the-top situations), this was one of those quick books that entertains you in the moment and then immediately leaves your mind. I very much wish we'd gotten a bit more about these two before they got together. What we DID get was interesting.

The FMC had a Rachel & Ross situation going on at the beginning of the book and the poor guy was a goner that moment she had some good-good from the hockey player. The best part of this book was the scandal that was haunting the hockey players and the MC's dad. Even though I guessed the twist, it was still fun and entertaining.

If you want spicy spice, this will feed you. You will need milk. But if you want Kennedy's signature (sometimes slow burn) romance with characters who have to work to fall for each other, this one might not be for you. BUT if you're new to Kennedy, this might be a good place to start (only up from here).

I think this is one of those instances where this could have still as a backlist title, especially since most of Kennedy's more recent romance titles are a lot better. I'm not going to talk about her summer series because please.

___

268. Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What a unique take on Cinderella!

ELLA ENCHANTED was both enjoyable and heartbreaking, all because of poor Ella's curse (excuse me, fairy "gift"). It did make for interesting moments where she learned how to maneuver her curse, and moments where I wanted to protect her from the evil people in her life trying to control her.

What I liked about this one too is that the prince knew who she was before her life completely fell apart. I liked that they had a childhood together where they fell for each other genuinely, and not because Ella looked pretty at a ball.

There was so much adventure, fun, misery, and anger felt in these pages. I also really liked that there were magical limitations and consequences for magical troublemaking. It helped the story feel a bit more genuine and like Ella would have to fight more for her freedom (which made for an even better story).

The ending had me smiling like a sap. Man, I'm glad I've finally read some of these classic stories, but I do wish I'd read them when I was younger. I just know my imagination would have been going wild back then.

___

269. Alive & Wells by Bailey Hannah--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Still hung up on that awesome dedication: "For the city girls in their cowboy romance era. And for the country girls who know a fictional cowboy is always better than the real thing." LOL.

I bought this on a whim during one afternoon trip to a bookstore. I know ranchers and cowboys have been getting really popular in romance novels and I've been curious. I remember my co-worker mentioned that she's met cowboys up in Alberta and they aren't as charming as the ones in the books (which is another reason why I love that dedication so much). But you know, I'm the type of woman who lives vicariously through fiction and that's okay.

Western suspenseful romance is a genre I never thought I'd be into, but after Devney Perry I've been unconsciously looking for more books like INDIGO RIDGE and this was a close comparison. We immediately get that threat of a douche husband and the MC's escape sets off a chain of events. She grows a lot as a character as she takes back her identity and strength that she lost during her marriage.

I LOVED the tension between her and the MMC because he has a genuine reason for being so wary of her. I will always love the idea of one MC having the prove themself to the other. Assuming is the killer of so many first impressions and I love that journey to healing that immediate rift. It usually turns into some nice spicy moments and deep connections between the characters--the perfect pay-off.

I liked that Hannah doesn't shy away from showing the painful aftermath of living in an abusive relationship and how one heals from it both with the help of others, but also with their own self-strength.

Also, can't NOT include the amazing cast of side characters who offered such an incredible level of support and entertainment! I can't wait to read their stories if they're written.

I devoured this book in the only way in can be devoured piece by piece every night for a week. Such a great western romance. Highly recommend. Intense TW for DV, potential gun violence, PTSD, and verbal abuse.

___

270. Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood--⭐️⭐️⭐️

I went into this completely blind and a part of me is happy about it and another part is curious as to whether I would have picked this up after reading the synopsis. Sometimes I avoid books like this, either because the concept of it gives me anxiety or because I just side-eye it until it leaves my sight.

THE LOVE OF MY AFTERLIFE was an alright read that honestly made me curious about whether I should DNF it or not. I found myself wanting to do anything but listen to an audiobook and that's usually a telling sign. I will admit though that when I forced myself to press play, I DID enjoy what I was reading. Of course, there were some moments where I rolled my eyes, but there were other moments where I genuinely laughed and rooted for the MC.

Her teen life was awful and I felt so bad for her. It's true that that shit stays with you into adulthood (she says, as she thinks of how her experiences as a bullied kid still haunts her to this day) and can even alter the way you view life and the people you let in. What I wasn't a big fan of was how the MC let out her meanness on her neighbour and the people around her. She lived in that lonely bubble for most of her life and kicked people back before they could enter that bubble. In a way, this was a cautionary tale that the prison others make for you becomes so comfortable that it's really hard to break out of it.

The love interest (we all know it's not that Ken doll she meets briefly. This can't be a spoiler because it's always the one who makes the MC the angriest in the most sexually-tense way) was one of the best parts of this book. I loved that we got to know him alongside the MC and that maybe, he wasn't the jerk she thought he was. Their romance was adorable and saved a chunk of the book.

My major issues were her attitude, her obsession with that dude (to the point where it was just creepy), and some reviewers pointed out some inconsistencies that an editor would have caught.

Do I think this could easily be someone's favourite book? Hell yeah, I do. Look at that overall rating! I'm glad others liked it way more than I did. If you like romances with deadlines, a bit of paranormal action, and a grumpy neighbour who is secretly a cinnamon roll, then you might like this one!

___

271. The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Unpopular opinion, but save for the conflict resolution in this one, I think I liked the first book more. BUT this was still really cute!!!

I think the problem with me and this book was that everyone hyped it up for me. I had already loved Joyce's previous book, so I was doubly excited for THE EX VOWS. AND don't get me wrong, this one was super enjoyable. I had fun and I loved the characters and how they found themselves back in each others' orbits. I love a solid redemption arc.

But.

Something about this one didn't immediately grab me like the other book. I think it was the main trope. I'm not as big of a fan of second chance romances and I think that's honestly a very me problem. The other was an enemies to lovers romance and that is my bread and butter, second chance takes a while to capture me. I do love when a romance is rekindled and it's proven that the MC and her love interest have shared a love all along, but there's no tension like that of enemies LOL.

Anyway, THE EX VOWS was cute! I liked that we get thrown immediately into this uncomfortable situation where the MC is forced to face the one who got away (let their love sizzle down?). As the story progresses, we learn that both characters dropped the ball either from anxiety and a fear of failure, and a lack of self-love and self-importance. In other words, neither communicated (which I will ALWAYS say is a relationship killer). And now, they have a second chance.

I think what makes this story so successful with so many readers is how palpable the connection is between these two characters, and how much they love their friends. But also, the representation of what getting help and putting yourself first looks like. Also, the friendships are so sweet and portray what sometimes happens in life as we grow and change and adapt to what life throws at us.

Also, that conflict resolution. Because please, that was some A+ level writing and I wish more romance novels employed that level of communication and understand during the climax of a story.

Read this book. It's popular for a reason--it's very well written and I am SO excited to see what else Jessica Joyce writes!

___

272. Stay Dead by April Henry--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

STAY DEAD was not at all what I was anticipating. For some reason, that cover made me think that this was going to be a zombie apocalypse book (the truth behind entering a book without reading the synopsis). Thankfully, I'm still a sucker for these kinds of books. Survival and running away from someone hunting the MC down? Sign me up!

While I do wish there was more of a survival aspect after the plane crash, I was completely pulled in by the MC's intelligent approach to surviving the people who wanted her dead. There were some moments where I thought it would all end, but she somehow would get out safe. Also, as I've mentioned many times in past reviews, I love when a villain underestimates the MC because it makes the story more exciting.

I also liked that this was a realistic situation because of the reason behind WHY the MC and the previous people involved were hurt or hunted. I won't say it here, but I thought it was very timely. It was also well supported by that surprising third perspective that gives us more of an explanation of what was happening, why it was happening, and the real-life consequences.

And while I did like the hint of a romance there with the childhood best friend, I do appreciate that Henry stayed true to the story and focused more on the MC's journey than the potential romance. It was also left open-ended enough that there is either a what-if aspect to it, or a sequel cooking somewhere.

Overall, this was fun and was non-stop action. Really ended up enjoying this one, even if it wasn't about zombies.

___

273. The Switch by Lynsay Sands--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Loved the bi-panic in this LOL gave me a great laugh. But impressed that it was happening in a book published when it was (late 90s).

I'll be honest, I'm always wary whenever I start a historical romance. I don't know if it'll be a story that immediately hooks me, or if it'll be one that has so much exposition that I'll be dragging my eyelids open. Thankfully, THE SWITCH was fun from the very beginning.

These twin sisters were smart and hilarious as they fell into their new roles, even if one twin was slightly more selfish than the other. And to be fair, that was part of the character growth--the one MC learning to stand up for herself and that being a little selfish sometimes is healthy.

I thought that the star of the book was the MMC and his constant confusion. It brought back memories of MULAN and how Li Shang must have felt when he found himself attracted to Mulan when she was dressed as a man. Watching this man trying to figure out his confusing feelings was pure entertainment--especially when this story is set in a world where queerness wasn't something done out in the open. Of course, there were moments that were indicative of the time this book was written (like trying to force someone to sleep with a woman at a brothel to make him "manlier"), but I'll be honest and say I was incredibly surprised with how progressive this novel felt.

THE SWITCH was just pure fun and I enjoyed every moment of it, even if these sisters have a really bad habit of jumping into danger feet first and without looking.

___

274. The Hookup Mix-Up by Riley Hart--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

These marshmallow characters were the sweetest LOL. Loved this, but I know I read this series out of order. Oops.

THE HOOKUP MIX-UP was such a fun and adorable time. I love that this couple started with a friendship because the one MC's self-esteem needed to be brought up before he could feel loved and love in return. The way they meet was adorable and the mix-up had me cackling. I just kept thinking "So adorably dumb."

This was definitely one of those books that is meant to be devoured in the summer. The spicy elements were great and their chemistry was jumping off the page. I loved their dynamic and how each offered the other something that they were both missing.

The side characters were hilarious and added so much personality to the book. I do wish I had read their book first. I liked that they side-eyed the MCs whenever they tried to play down what they were doing together.

I DO wish we had gotten more of a conclusion regarding the one MC's ex. I would have loved to see her be more aware of what she lost because she was BRUTAL. This book could have definitely been a little bit longer.

But this was still a fun time and like the past books I've read by Riley Hart, I really enjoyed this one!

___

Happy reading!

[squarebracketsmileyface]

Hi we are a little drunk right now and we want to be annoying. Sorry in advance.

We wonder if Alex and Jay would have ended up together or even like…. less toxic in S,IL if Jay hadn’t coerced Alex that one time on the couch. Like we find ourself blaming Alex a lot until we remember Oh yeah! Jay did That. And it’s kind of sad you know? But also interesting because we see a lot of media where in BDSM dynamics it’s assumed the Dom is the abuser. So it’s nice to see it from every angle. But also Jay why did you do that???? Like he said he didn’t want to and now you’re miserable forever because you guys can’t talk about your feelings. I am beating them both up. I love your work. Does this make sense? I am intoxicated. Yeah. 👍

Hi to you too :]

Honestly, I've thought about this so much since I started writing If It Ain't Broken because their fucked up relationship and dynamic are so interesting to think about. Honestly, I don't think that if you took away that one time on the couch it would change things, because unfortunately, it's not the only time it's happened, it's just the only time I've actually written. Jay genuinely thinks he's in the right/that he's helping Alex there, like, he thinks that Alex will feel better if he's just a bit rough with him to get his frustrations out, so even if he didn't do it that one time in chapter 2 of If It Aint Broken, hed have done it another time.

He really thinks he's doing the right thing, fully, wholeheartedly, genuinely believes it. If you could get him to understand that what he'd done had hurt Alex (which, I admit, would be hard because he doesn't like hurting Alex, he can accept that he does it when he's angry and loses control, but the idea that he could hurt Alex even when trying to help him would be awful) he'd be horrified.

Anyway, their relationship, even just as a friendship was always rocky. Like, honestly they probably shouldn't even be friends in S,IL, they fight and hurt each other and say nasty things and Jay manipulates Alex even when they're just friends. So even without the FWB stuff, their relationship would still probably be pretty toxic, just in different ways. I don't think it'd go as far in its toxicity as it actually ends up going (with Alex saying you know what fuck you and moving away, which I'm making the main catalyst for being Alex needing to get away from the toxic relationship, and the secondary reason be the whole Operator thing)

So without that one time on the couch? No, they'd still be that toxic, Jay would still out Alex to their friends, the manipulation and coercion would still happen other times, they'd still fight and scream at each other and say nasty things.

God I love thinking about this lol. Just, angst is so fun to write. So are unreliable narrators, I'm so glad you find yourself blaming Alex, honestly, because that's how I wrote it to be, you're meant to blame Alex, even if you now have a lot more of the information and know that actually he and Jay were in the wrong and doing unpleasant shit to each other. Hell, Jay's probably kinda worse than this point. But like, yeah, especially if you're reading the fics in the order they come out in, your first impression of Jay is him in S,IL itself, and it's hearing about his and Alex's relationship from his POV, and he doesn't think he's in the wrong for the actual things he's in the wrong for.

Like, your first impression of these characters is massively biased towards Alex being to blame for everything.

Honestly I kinda wonder how different the opinions/conclusions people would form if the first time they read S,IL they read it in chronological order, so with If It Ain't Broken first. Like, would that give them an entirely different perspective of the story, if they didn't first get introduced to Jay and Alex's messed up relationship through the incredibly warped lens that is Jay?

Some government should give me science funding to stick a bunch of people who've never even heard of S,IL before in two rooms and force them to read it either in the chronological order or in the upload order, so that I can ask them about the story and find out how different or similar their conclusions about the characters and their relationships are.

[candywraptor]

Hello! I just found your "gentlemen prefer blondes (but I'm not classically trained)" fic and I love it so much. I'm sorry if you've already answered this but how do you guys work on it together? My friend and I tried to write a fic together once a long time ago and it got really messy and we stopped because it was too hard to make it fit together. How do you and @frostbite-fable (sorry I just picked you to send the ask to but it's to both of you) write so your story and characters stay so consistent?

Hello! :DD

Thank you for the ask and it's a very fun question!

First of all, I'm very glad you're enjoying blondes! ^__^ I hope you like the things we have planned for future chapters! I think I've said this every time but I am so excited for the things that are coming.

As for your question. . .I think Frost and I's situation is a little unique in that we were previously married (genuinely) and therefore we are used to working together very closely. I'm not sure I could do a project like this with absolutely anyone else (and with a lot of this content, I'm not sure I'd want to!). That also means I have pretty easy access to her if I have a question or need clarification regarding what to do with Lucifer - which brings me to a point that I think may be one of the biggest reasons we can keep the characters in line:

We have complete and total control of the character we write. I'll use myself as the example. If I am starting a chapter and I need to refer to Lucifer, I ask Frost what he's doing in that moment or has been doing since the events of the previous chapter. If Lucifer is actually present in a scene, then me and Frost are actually in the document working together and writing in real time. Anything Lucifer says or does is Frost, not me - any dialogue is written by the one who writes the character and actions are dictated by them (but not written out - that's the job of the chapter author). If we need them to go in a different direction than where we're headed naturally, we can reconfigure some dialogue or how they approach each other and we figure it out together.

This is possibly the most fun thing on the planet and I live for these sessions.

It is also really challenging. I have to read my previous chapter and remember the headspace Alastor should be in before jumping in to work with Frost in hers. Not writing out how Alastor feels (he's very introspective) before responding means that I'm working a little more blindly than I prefer. When I write Alastor, sometimes his response is different than what I expected so not being able to work through that means I need to be very careful with him in Lucifer chapters. It also means I can't explain why he did or didn't do something that may seem out of place.

And Lucifer is terrible at paying attention. A lot of what you can get out of Alastor in Frost's chapters are subtle but the sad, wet, pathetic man-child doesn't notice shit. And he sure as hell doesn't think about anything, either. It is no mystery why he's a disaster, truly.

Switching perspectives can also be jarring so I tend to start my chapters right after Frost is done with hers so I can transition as smoothly as I possibly can but no matter what there is a gap of time. I think I find that to be the most difficult part - Alastor goes through growth that I didn't get to explore as fully as I wanted since I didn't write it.

So the short answer is that we're very comfortable with one another and we're very involved in each other's chapters. We also worry only about the character we write so it isn't on us to determine what the opposite one might do or think - someone else keeps track of them.

Frost is going to hop in with her own take on everything but I wanted to thank you again for this fun ask! :D

And thank you for reading blondes, too, I'm very happy that you like it! <3

P.S - Fun fact. You would think we favor the character we write but that isn't the case. Lucifer is my favorite of the two and while I absolutely like Alastor, knowing so much about him (this version) and hanging out in his head make him less appealing than Lucifer who I know much, much less about. I shit talk Luci because that is my job but I adore him - to the point of infatuation, really, so take from that what you will.

[beardedjoel]

same anon that dropped the painful periods idea. no like smother *is* wholesome lol whenever i read it i feel abstractly ~in love~ perhaps just with the idea of love itself the way i experience it normally. it strikes a chord. you do a fantastic job taking what would be seen as an unlikely couple and effortlessly creating their own norm for them by delving deep into their feelings and emotions instead of mindlessly trying to fit the characters into more common roles of normalcy for the sake of minimizing the oddity of the dynamic. their intense and genuine feelings are what beautifies the dynamic so much that it doesn't require being conventional to stay enjoyable throughout its entirety. post apocalyptic setting you chose is an excellent complimentary background because it echoes the natural development of dubious morals amongst humanity (joel) and feeling lost and disoriented (blossom) in such a setting. every aspect of the relationship they have further accentuates their polarity, which is essentially what makes romance interesting. it's not just a kinky love story, calling it that would be cheapening the dynamic itself and the effort you put into writing. the kink may be what attracts people to the fic and while it's well-written and honestly chief's kiss, it doesn't feel like it's all the story has to offer. and i haven't even mentioned the quality of your writing yet. i can't recall what chapter it was but i clearly remember thinking you could easily be a published author. you also inspired me to try my hand at writing joel 😭

okay i've been trying to think of how to respond to this all day and wow! putting the rest under the cut for the sake of this post being hella fucking long:

you literally said let me send an entire literary analysis of your fic and i'm so touched you took the time to do that, really! i've always had a lot of deeper feelings towards the story, especially as it's developed while i wrote it. what started as a dark theme and me exploring writing something more ddlg turned into something really deep and meaningful for me. exploring religious trauma, chastity culture that affected me negatively for a long time, exploring kinks and becoming more comfortable with them. and then the themes of the story go so deep i think! i'm glad that it touched even one person in the same way.

i loved what you said about it echoing the facets of the apocalypse because you definitely put it into words better than i have been able to! they really are such opposites, but in a way that they help each other and also hinder each other in a lot of ways. it's not healthy in many ways, but they sure make an interesting pair! i love exploring how blossom has learned more about herself, even if it's kind of who joel told her to be? i just think it gets very complex when you start to think on it more. i think i'm just rambling now but! yeah! i love them so much and could go on about them for AGES.

i'm also so honored to know i inspired you to try writing for joel! he's really the only character i can write for bc i know him very well and it just works for me, but he's an awful lot of fun to write for in any case 😂 hope you've been having fun trying that out!

[kyouka-supremacy]

Fukuchi for the ask game please!

Fukuchi, sure!

Favorite thing about them: Causing Akutagawa to die for Atsushi I think he's a very well written villain!! He's sympathetic and likeable and his motivations are sincerely noble and understandable. His plan fell a little short, but that's just bsd for you ahah. I like how he poses real and relevant political questions, I dig any sort of political discussion. Overall, he's just a character I have lots of fun to reflect over and talk about, but that's primarly due to being a politics nerd pffttt.

Least favorite thing about them: I find some of the gags he gets into quite unpleasant, it's not for my taste personally.

Favorite line:

Self-explainatory. But like, something that actually has to do with Fukuchi...

It's just, I get the sentiment? Like, I get the feeling of being willing to do anything if it's to save even one single person.

brOTP: Sorry for being predictable, but highkey Fukuchi and sskk lol. Because Fukuchi seems to care about them /so much/. I find it a truly moving part of chapters 84-88, how Fukuchi doesn't want to fight even more than sskk themselves. He's genuinely sorry for them. He offers them heartfelt advices. He waits for them, he gives them time to regrup. He offers to spare one of them. Fukuchi has been a kinder mentor figure to Akutagawa in twenty minutes than Dazai has been in six years. He compliments Akutagawa and acknoweladges his value and spares him words of respect even after his death. I just,,, in a perfect world he would have loved them dearly, and be the first supporter of their union.

OTP: I REALLY like Fukuchi and Fukuzawa. Tragic yaoi FOR REAL. Very characters who aren't canonically gay but whose behavior just makes so much sense if you read them as gay. Also my other personal shipped them before they got popular. They just care about each other SO MUCH they didn't ever denied it and yet are forced to be on opposite sides... Ultimate star crossed lovers fr.

nOTP: Nothing. I need to delete this section.

Random headcanon: I can't think of anything of a proper headcanon, but I feel like he's looked to Fukuzawa and Ranpo many times and intimately wished they could have created a family together. I feel like the chapter 83.3 cover (the one a little further below) is exactly what Fukuchi would have dreamed his life to be if the world was different.

Unpopular opinion: I'm glad he killed Akutagawa. Duh. I've said this so many times but the “I wish Akutagawa didn't die” is a sentiment I really can't share.

Song i associate with them: I can't believe I could actually think of something, but Knife by rerulili is perfect as the love triangle / katanas / dying in your gay lover's arms story.

Favorite picture of them:

Favourite panel from the manga:

Favourite illustration:

Favourite illustration in the anime art style:

Send me a character?

[honeyhotteoks]

Now where do I find the words to describe chapter 14. I don’t think such words exist as nothing can encapsulate the way this wrecked me- but in the best way possible.

The way you didn't just revolve it around y/ns trauma but the reaction and emotions of the other characters makes it so much more realistic and enticing as a reader. I’m so glad they’re finally communicating, while I definitely prefer angst, breaking it up with such sweet and fluffy scenes allows the angst to be of much greater calibre as we have grown to love the characters and relationships as well as empathise with them which makes it all the more painful. Y/N having ‘relapses’ per say, of the attack is so reminiscent of what too many of us go through in real life, and im glad to see that portrayed in a fictional sense rather than her simply moving on with ease and it was genuinely written so well.

And thank you so much for touching on the taboo of therapy. My parents never allowed me to have it even when I very clearly needed it and now I feel ashamed of wanting to reach out as a result of that, so its comforting to see my favourite fictional characters be able to discuss that so nonchalantly.

I never in my life believed id be able to read over 14k words in one sitting but here we are thanks to your beautiful mind. As always I’m left so hungry for more and can’t wait to see the next portion of the story unravel.

- 👻 anon

oh 👻 thank you so much this was too kind of you to say.

while we are moving on to a much happier part of this fic (and quite honestly getting close to the end....) she still has things to work through and that's going to come up again. her working through the idea of a claim, her neck being touched, and also just the idea of sharing herself so fully with the boys and giving them control (even when she knows they're safe) is all going to be dealt with between the fun smut and happy times.

the other thing that's also coming is some more miscommunication because yes, they're working at it, but it's not like two conversations magically cures them all of their personalities or human nature lol

that being said, we're definitely on the path to a HEA ending for everyone, and i'm excited to show that unfolding over the next two to three chapters while it wraps up.

also, just as a therapy aside, i'm sorry that your parents made that difficult. i had a similar experience, my mom very much ties the idea of therapy to "being crazy" which is such an old school and unhelpful mentality. now as an adult i've been able to get so much more out of mental health services, and i really recommend embracing them when it's safe to do so 💗

[miabebe]

Hi!

Um, idk how to start but oh well, hello, I don't remember when exactly I started following you, but I think it was when you started writing the where you're convenient series. I do remember that the story that made me follow you was the legend of the sea. Okay that aside, I just wanted to say that I really really appreciate your works. It usually takes me a while to send an ask to someone and I always feel bad because I really went to tell people how much I love their writings but it takes a lot of courage for me to actually send an ask. Oh god, I'm rambling, it's just, I've been wanting to tell you how much I love your works and I think the accidentally kidnapping a mafia boss oneshot just gave me that courage to do this. I'll start off with the fact that the legend of the sea was my first read from your works and it was idk, so comforting? I just loved cheol's character and I felt so good reading it, well, that has a lot to do with the fact that I am a huge angst enthusiast but yeah, it was such a good read, I absolutely loved it. Next well, I had first read Joshua's where you're convenient story and when I tell you I cried, not because of how painful it was, but because of the fact that it's hard to find good shua angst and this one was just so good, I love love loved it. Moving on to the too many beds oneshot, I want you to know that I had seen you post the teaser for it and was so eagerly waiting for it and when you posted the full fic, I had just written my dance exam and it didn't go nearly as well as my previous ones and I guess, reading it was like treating myself to something good to make myself feel better. I am such a sucker for e2l and the way those two were so genuine with each other was delightful to read. Them being so accepting of their feelings, not needing to confront them with a heavy heart but understanding them so well and, listen it was just perfection. I've already read it a few times and I'm going to read it again in the future. Now, if we talk about the the jeonghan's mafia oneshot, it was so different from what I was expecting, like idk, it was so unexpected, but in a good way. I love when plotlines are completely unexpected, they're always so fun to read. The two of them living together and growing on each other, falling in love, oh god, it was so good, their dynamics, their complicated feelings, it was mindblowing. Oh, and bss, I absolutely loved their characters, they were such a fun addition to the plot, they made it lighter. The angst was chef's kiss 💋. Okay, last but definitely not the least, I am so excited for the camp seventeen series, I read the prologue and well, if you think you are unhinged to write it, I can tell you, I am just as unhinged or maybe more for how much I'm anticipating it and how much I'm gonna love it. I squealed when I read the prologue and their descriptions, it is so exciting. There's still other works of yours that I haven't talked about but I've already said so much, I'll cover the other ones next time. Please, take your time writing and thank you for putting the effort to write such masterpieces. I heard you're not feeling well, please take care of yourself, hope you feel better soon. Thank you again, and I'm sorry, I blabbered too much.

In all the time I've been on this app, this might be one of the most heartwarming things I've ever received 😭🫂 I'm particularly shy too so I know how hard it must've been for you to send this and I'm so so so grateful to hear from you, thank you so much ❤️

The Legend of the Sea was a particularly difficult write - I knew the writing style wouldn't be everyone's type but I wanted to challenge myself so I wrote it and I'm so happy you liked it too!

Where you're convenient is also one of my favourites, I loveeee the marriage of convenience trope so much, it has sooo much scope? But aaahhh you cried? I'm touched you thought it was worthy of those happy tears 🥲

I'm so sorry to hear about your exam but I'm glad something I've written gave you a little solace! I don't think there's a bigger honour than being able to make someone happy with a few words, I'm glad I could do that for you, it makes all of this worth it!

I really was banking on the bringing a unique plot line for all my reverse trope one shots, I feel so accomplished knowing the Jeonghan one was unexpected 🤭 thank you so much for loving that piece!

Ahhh Camp Seventeen is coming next and I have sooo much planned for it, I'm so excited to share with you - I hope it'll be just as good or even better than everything so far, I'd love to hear your thoughts about it when the chapters start dropping!

Again thank you so so so much for sending this to me, I couldn't have been happier reading this 🫂 I hope you'll ramble often in my inbox or even in my DMs if that's more convenient for you, I'd love to talk more ❤️

[byebyelemonpie]

byebyelemonpie's may 2023 recommendations

My may top 5 movies:

Kung Fu Panda trilogy (2008, dir: Mark Osborne, John Stevenson; 2011, dir: Jennifer Yuh Nelson; 2016, dir: Jennifer Yuh Nelson, Alessandro Carloni) [Rewatched the first two after a decade and watched the third for the first time] Listen, I don't know what happened to me or to the world that made me uninterested in these movies somewhere between the second and the third one, but I'm glad that went away because these are actually really good. Like, the animation, the aesthetic, the story: they're all great and enjoyable, and a lot of fun! -

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018, dir: Ol Parker) [Rewatch after five years] The songs are still bangers and a lot of fun, even though this is way more sad than the first one. Wacthing it with friends is even better! -

13 Going on 30 (2004, dir: Gary Winick) [Rewacth after seven years] Still a cute and fun rom-com. The time-travel and the moral consequences of a 13 year-old in her own older body are never even thought about, but that's probably for the best, because I genuinely enjoyed it as a kid, even though I didn't want to grow up. -

Sky High (2005, dir: Mike Mitchell) [Rewatch after more than a decade] Just okay, I remember liking this a lot as a teen, but never seeing it again. Loved the whole character of Warren Peace, his name and his backstory and to be honest I wish the whole thing would have been about him. But still not that bad! -

So I Married an Anti-Fan (2016, dir: Kim Je-young) [First time watch] No idea how I found this, but it was pretty fun. I haven't really written anything on my notebook about it other than "not that bad", and all the letterboxd reviews are about this k-pop idol whom I don't know, I'm so sorry.

Favourite series in may:

Spy x Family (Japan, 2022) [First time watch; anime] A spy needs to infiltrate the family of an important political figure to stop the war between the two prominent regions of his nation, but to do so, he needs to have a wife and a daughter. He finds them in a secret assassin and a mind reader respectively. This anime is so much fun!! It's hilarious and even heartwarming at times. I decided to read the manga as well because I fell in love with the characters so fast. -

Ted Lasso - season 3 (USA, 2023) [First time watch] This series has been a very nice comfort show since I started season 1 last year. I loved how everyone had a character development and I very much enjoyed the positivity and feeling of hope throughout the series and especially in the end. -

Schmigadoon! - Schmicago (USA, 2023) [First time watch] This musical series is still one of the most innovative around and I LOVE the songs and the references to the musicals it parodies. I think I might have enjoyed this second season more than the first because I like more musicals from this era than the ones referenced in season 1. I still wish they will eventually make a thrid season, because if they manage to make parodies of all musical eras, they will have my whole heart, although this had a perfect ending, so I am conflicted on this. -

Dark Blue Kiss (Thailand, 2019) [Rewatch after a year] This was the first Thai series I've ever watched, but I had overrated it, so I decided to revisit it with a better knowledge and some more place for comparison. It turns out that it's still pretty good! Pete and Kao's story and its stupid jealousy, their cute bickering, and Kao's will to come out to him mum but fear of rejection is still very well done. Their breakup phase is still so sad! New's little pouty face should be enough to make people forgive him, especially when Kao didn't do anything outwardly terrible. The communication problem in this couple is still annoying, but the last scene makes up for everything and they have my heart. I'm not the greatest fan of the second couple - when a lot of fans would say the opposite - but I still love fellow Pokémon Go fan Mork and I still think he deserves better, I'm not sorry. -

Quacks (UK, 2017) [First time watch] As usual, six-episodes-long British sitcoms that are about specific time periods were cancelled after one season, and so was this gem. This series was about several doctors working at a Victorian hospital and trying new ways to cure patients. It was very interesting other than pretty funny.

[byebyelemonpie's 2023 recs]

[cosmogyral-cat]

I may be a bit late to the party but I finally started playing Life Is Strange: True Colors. I finished the first chapter yesterday so I'll give a quick rundown on things and characters I liked as well as my thoughts on the story's setup.

!!!My knowledge about the game is limited to chapter 1-3, but I will compare some of it to the other games of the series, so there will be very minor spoilers for Life Is Strange 1, Life Is Strange: Before The Storm, and Life Is Strange 2!!!

So here's a list of things I really liked about the first chapter!

Consistent setting (which is something I didn't like about LiS 2. The Life Is Strange series' biggest strong suit is, in my opinion, its characters and the consistent change of setting and characters made it incredibly difficult for many people to really get attached to the characters)

Great introduction to Alex through interview with Dr. Lynn (teaser for her powers without revealing too much)

Well-written dialogue, the characters feel very distinct and natural

Gabe. Best big brother out there fr

The graphics and animation are amazing! In the other games, facial expressions could often seem stiff and at times even unexpressive, but True Colors captured emotions incredibly well and the art style in itself is a big improvement, the environment looks absolutely astounding

The water is so beautiful

Alex' journal is very distinct from the ones we've seen in other LiS games since instead of doodles, she has a very unique way of expressing herself through quotes and songs

The memory collection feature is a great way for collectors to learn a lot more about Haven Springs and its characters

While I felt like Sean was very stiff and more of a self-insert for the player, Alex had very unique struggles with her past and how introverted she is

The love interests are amazing. While Warren was incredibly questionable in many ways and while Rachel wasn't the best either given that she's cheated on Chloe multiple times, Ryan and Steph are nothing but delightful from what I've seen

Speaking of which: Steph is really cool, I like how flirty and outgoing she is, she just seems like someone who's fun to be around

Also speaking of which: I love Ryan so much. He's a bit nerdy, I love his sense of humor, he's attractive, he's calm and attentive, he's got a beautiful voice, he's a bit of a smartass, it makes me happy every time he's on-screen

I love the way Ryan handled the situation when he noticed that Alex was getting nervous because of Steph's anger. He saw what was happening, quickly found a solution and made sure that Alex was okay. This is something I wish more people would do when they see someone get anxious instead of questioning their anxiety or getting upset because of it

Unlike Daniel who was at times extremely annoying (at least in my opinion, I understand that children are just like that sometimes and that's okay), I grew incredibly attached to Ethan right away

I love the side characters!! They feel so authentic and it's nice to be around them, listen to them, help them with their individual struggles

The Thaynor puzzle was very fun to solve (but I think most True Colors puzzles are fun, for example the jukebox puzzle)

I like that the story is heading into the direction of "I have a power with many downsides but I can also use it to help people around me"

On that note, Alex' power is very cool and I like that it's something she's had trouble with way before the plot started

I was genuinely sad when Gabe died, it hit me like a truck because I really liked him despite the short time Alex spent with him

True Colors doesn't try to tackle a million societal issues at once and instead focuses on a few to make the plot feel consistent and realistic

The arcade games are so much fun, I'm so glad that they put little mini games like these into the game

Those are my thoughts on chapter 1 for now, I think I'll add more about the other chapters some other time!!

[bonesandthebees]

ok holy shit i stayed up till like, 3am, to finish reading tommy's clinic for supervillains, and it was AMAZING. i really like your writing style, what other fics of yours do you recommend i should read? :o

(mostly as in what are your fav fics youve written)

oh i'm so so glad you enjoyed!! yes of course I can give you some recs for my other fics :)

I wouldn't say this fic is one of my favorites I've written, but if you enjoyed clinic you'll almost certainly enjoy the world forgetting by the world forgot. it's another tommy-centric and crimeboys-centric superhero au I wrote immediately after finishing clinic, and it has a slightly darker and more serious tone to it than clinic did. if you liked the more humorous aspects of clinic, this one isn't for you, but if you like angst and hurt/comfort this is definitely your vibe. also, it has a more bittersweet ending than clinic does, so be warned.

currently, my pride and joy, my magnum opus, light of my life and the moon in my sky is my ongoing fic the stars and their children. it's both a space au and a royalty au with high stakes political games and lots of complicated relationships. this one is in wilbur's pov and wilbur-centric, and while it's also crimeboys-centric it also has a very heavy focus on sand duo! it's also extremely long and I'm not even done with it yet (although I'm close!). if you want really messy relationships, grey characters, and royal politics this is your jam (I also think it's genuinely the best thing I've ever written)

if you want something a bit less intense and shorter than any of those, you might like my fic honey and tangerines. it's a cozy slice of life fic in a modern setting where tommy and wilbur used to be stepbrothers, but their parents split when they were still kids. now, tommy's moving in with wilbur after not seeing him for 8 years. it's a warm fic about love and healing and it has some darker themes, but nothing too intense. tommy-centric and crimeboys-centric with a side focus on angel duo! also there's more humor in this one!

and lastly, do you like cosmic horror? the feeling of being watched by something more ominous and all knowing than you could ever hope to understand? midwest gothic? do you like vague religious themes? check out my cosmic horror story starman waiting in the sky. it's wilbur pov that's crimeboys-centric and things get fun and weird :)

hope you enjoy whichever one of these you decide to go with!!