#inspired by the gravedigger on bones

[uniquecellest]

Chapters: 1/2 Fandom: X-Men (Alternate Timeline Movies), X-Men (Movieverse), X-Men: First Class (2011) - Fandom Rating: Not Rated Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Erik Lehnsherr/Charles Xavier Characters: Charles Xavier, Erik Lehnsherr, Moira MacTaggert, Raven | Mystique, Hank McCoy, Alex Summers, Sean Cassidy Additional Tags: Charles Xavier is an idiot, Erik Lehnsherr is an Idiot, Protective Raven | Mystique, Protective Erik Lehnsherr, Hurt Charles Xavier, Hurt Hank McCoy, Injured Hank McCoy, Injured Charles Xavier Summary:

Erik is in Charles' study awaiting the telepath to come back home. Charles has been acting weird as of late and the magnetic mutant has to wonder why. No not why. He wonders if it's him. Charles has been aware of what Erik plans to do once they locate Shaw and face him, Erik has to wonder if maybe Charles is regretting his words. You're a good man, Erik. There's so much more to you than you know.

...

Raven stares at him for a moment. Erik expects her to argue, to fight him in the literal sense and storm out into the night using her own methods to find the two. It wouldn't surprise him, stubbornness is natural in humans, however the Xavier siblings seem to have a stubbornness level that exceeds that of the average person, even Erik's which is saying something. Raven storms back to the study. ...

Raven forces Charles and Hank out of the Westchester mansion and they come across a serial killer from Alex's home in Alaska. The group is in race to get Charles and Hank back alive.

[psychhound]

[ID: a banner for a game. the banner has a speckled purple background with the top of a building rising on one side. light text reads "the graveyard game" with the word "game" having three ghosts rising out of it. there is a block of yellowish-green at the bottom with the words "a for truth's sake ethnography writing game". end ID]

Cecilia the groundskeeper said the ghosts have been extra cranky ever since that tour of schoolchildren came to visit last week. Parsimony Smit (1667 – 1721) disagrees, stating merely that the coming supermoon is what has all the spirits in a tizzy. Not that he would ever stoop to such behavior himself.

Parsimony Smit (“Death is a debt to nature due that I have paid and so must you”) is one of the more respectable members of the deceased community here, according to himself, unlike Archie Jack (1854 – 1881 “Now between / these carved stones / rich treasure lies / dear Jack his bones”) who never got over his childish love of pulling pranks. Cecilia said you should be fine, as long as you don’t bring anything into the graveyard you don’t mind mysteriously winding up in a nearby tree. You’re not sure exactly what you’ve gotten yourself into here.

The Graveyard Game is a solo-journaling game where you travel to a magical haunted graveyard in order to learn more about the community and write an ethnography on them. 

Pull cards to ask questions of the residents, roll dice to see how well interactions go, and get to know a host of colorful characters from prankster ghosts, to the cemetery gravedigger, to a local vampire, and a mysterious stranger. Unlock 12 different locations and gain levels in friendship and familiarity with the community as you document more and more in your field notes.

You'll need: A d20, d12, and d8, and a deck of playing cards 

The Graveyard Game is a hack of For Truth's Sake by @hmooncreates. It was inspired by The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Includes a formatted pdf, a plaintext document, and a dyslexia friendly document!!

check it out on itch!!

[mairaiscarrierofthepaperclips]

Fic Writing Review 2023

Tagged by the glorious @thewolvesof1998.

Words and Fics

117,284 words published to AO3 (so many words still in docs as WIPs)

2 fandoms (9-1-1 and The Rookie)

Most recent drop: i opened my eyes (and all i saw was you)

Longest Fic: hard kick, slow burn (M, 11,382 words)

Top Fics by Kudos (all Buddie)

and i always will (M, 2,365 words)

you're where i stand, hearing the sea (T, 2,972 words)

i am never without it (T, 3,404 words)

a madman and a minstrel (T, 2,575 words)

to the depth and breadth and height (M, 6,231 words)

My fandom fic events in 2023

Flufftober 2023! And it was a banger.

My Buddie collection for Flufftober can be found here.

Upcoming Events and Projects for 2024

Fics I'm going to try and get out in the upcoming year:

Almost complete:

lazarus rising - Buck needs space after the lightning strike. Eddie doesn't understand, not really, but he lets him go. But when Buck comes home, he finds out that something has gone terribly, terribly wrong.

Already started:

magical realism fic (Buck thinks he's allergic to Eddie. Spoiler warning: he's not).

vesper - inspired by the poker episode, Athena asks the boys to go undercover in a poker ring. Think Casino Royale.

Gravedigger fic - fans of Bones will immediately know what I'm talking about here, amirite?

not like this (title TBC) - based on the New Girl kiss (IYKYK)

snow shovel fic - AU where Buck and Eddie are neighbours. it's a whole thing.

you're in my arms (and all the world is calm) sequel - Chenford fic, sequel is from Lucy's POV (and answers the cliffhanger from YIMA)

a Davrick (Schitt's Creek) piece inspired by the 9-1-1: Lone Star episode 'Saving Grace'.

Ideas/planned fics (basically the Notes app on my phone):

No Nut November fic - my actual November turned hectic, but if all goes well I'll still write this one because the plot makes me giggle.

Multi-chapter AU featuring past lives, reincarnation, and soul mates.

night strewn salt across the sky sequel - featuring Barista!Buck and Nurse!Eddie's First Date!

when words and deeds are in accord (my whole world is transformed) sequel - featuring established Buddie fluffiness. With singing!

apocalypse fic - snow. so much snow.

I have had so much fun writing in the 9-1-1 fandom this year - I switched from the HP fandom due to Reasons, and the welcome and love I've been shown has been truly lovely.

Thank you so much to everyone who has read/left kudos/commented/mentioned me in a post or sent me an ask - y'all are amazing.

[steadfastmockingbird]

Saw your reblog about still water runs deep from the writing share post!! I’m really interested, could you tell me more about the gods? 👀 I love created pantheons

Oh you had to ask XD Alrighty, this will get long! A lot of these have their roots in the old Slavic gods, but since that's a culture I'm only nominally attached to (I can't read old Polish, so have had my wife doing the reading and translation), rather than use them outright I've taken inspiration from them and created my own deities. They're all centered around one mountain and the hot springs there, which can heal injury and illness with the right invocation and ritual. There are six key gods that I've taken the time to solidify.

The first god we meet is the Forest. At initial glance he appears to be just a man carrying green branches and wearing bearskin clothing, with the skull of a stag perched on his head. Then, on second glance, those green branches are growing out of his skin, and under the bearskin wrap his chest is hollow, and home to an owl. That owl is his eyes, because the eyes on his head are... creepy. In winter, when first met, he has no eyes, only hollow black pits; in the spring, tiny saplings will appear in those pits, growing to miniature blossoming rowan trees in the summer, and then shedding their leaves in autumn. The stag skull on his head also gives the eerie sensation that it's somewhat alive, but I've not ever really quantified this. He doesn't talk much, and when he does it's the fewest words possible, and usually vague and ominous, while his voice puts the listener in mind of ice breaking beneath someone's feet, or branches snapping nearby. His territory is the wild parts of the mountain - he is the patron of hermits, foragers, foresters, criminals on the run, and lost souls. His symbol is an evergreen branch; poorer folk simply pluck a fresh sprig to pin to their clothing, whereas those with more wealth will cast a branch in whatever metal they can afford.

Then we meet the Weaver. When manifesting she's about eight feet tall and quite fat; broad shoulders, generous hips and thighs, thick arms, expansive bosom, and has golden hair in a jeweled braided crown that depending on the season is covered in spring flowers, ears of wheat, harvest fruits, or in winter when we meet her, dried herbs and braided bark. She has an infant that she wears in a sling across her back, and a white cat that is either good luck, or bad luck, depending on the context in which you see it. Her clothes are white and heavily embroidered in red and gold - geometric patterns, flowers, birds, fish - but every person sees a different pattern in the threads. Her voice is soft, but carries a long way, and she is known to generally be a benevolent and comforting presence. However, she also decides the fate of murderers and anyone else who would violate the bonds of community, because what has been woven can always be unpicked, and in those moments she is cold and unrelenting. She is the patron of crafters, midwives, innkeepers, new parents, infants, and gravediggers. Her symbol is a weaving shuttle; her followers wear miniature wooden replicas around their necks, and bone imitation weaving combs in their hair, to show their devotion.

Next met is the Mountain. He appears as a tall, lean man made of shifting rock formations, always freezing cold to the touch and naked except for moss and strategically placed snow. He carries a worn, ancient shepherds crook, and in his voice is the distant rumble of an avalanche but also the pipes of the goat herding girls and the trickle of snowmelt. His eyes are also empty pits, except that out of them bubbles boiling volcanic spring water, which flows down his face and forms the snow settled about his body. In winter it's barely a trickle, but in the warmer seasons it can be a torrent that human observers find quite distracting. He is wise and learned, and talks slowly and at great length over a great many subjects; people invoke him when needing to resolve philosophical or moral arguments, although he rarely takes a specific side and is more of a mediator than anything. His demeanor is fatherly and compassionate, and more than the other gods he seems inclined toward progress and change; where they resist the technological developments of the era and risk stagnation he understands that mountains are harder to destroy. He is the patron of herders, climbers, quarry folk, prospectors, some miners, and just before the story is set becomes the patron of the cable car engineers too. His symbol is not fixed; there is much debate among his followers as to whether a crystal of salt, an ordinary stone with one polished face, or a miniature carved goat horn are better symbols with which to invoke his protection.

Mentioned but not properly met is the Smith. They are fluid as molten metal, presenting as male, female, and many other things, though always broad shouldered and covered in soot. They oversee blacksmithing in whatever form it takes, and welcome apprentices of any gender as long as they can wield a hammer. They are a protector of homes and hearths too, and are often invoked to keep fires burning throughout the long winter nights. When visiting the healing pools, if a pilgrim wishes to change their gender it is the Smith they pray to, requesting that they re-forge them into a new shape. Known to have a love of bad jokes, a common pun when an outsider demands 'but what is the Smith's gender?' is for their followers to reply 'forgery!' because that's the pinnacle of humor as far as they're concerned. Their symbol is, perhaps predictably, a hammer, although their followers have also been known to wear polished coals or tiny horseshoes too. They are the patron of blacksmiths, some miners, artists, watchmakers, farriers, and distillers - that last one because the Smith is known to enjoy a drink or two. Or three.

The Scribe is also mentioned but not met. They are the patron of intellectuals and thinkers, including scribes, poets, writers, printers, librarians, teachers and students. Their symbol is a quill, either a real one worn like jewelry or a bronze cast of one folded into a bracelet. Preferring to eschew physicality, the Scribe manifests as a vague sensation and a voice that might be masculine or feminine depending on the bias of the listener. They're known for trying to see all sides of an argument, and encourage empathy and understanding, which works well when trying to settle a dispute between neighbors about land, and not always as well when the problem is an outside force. The Scribe is very resistant to change, but does at least demand absolute accuracy in recording.

The Huntress is usually gendered as female, although there are those that swear they've seen her in masculine forms too. She's mentioned several times, but not met. She is the patron of hunters, but also slaughterers and butchers, the fishermen that work the mountain lakes and rivers, and traders and merchants who 'hunt' for coin in the markets and their businesses. It's speculated that she's also the patron of thieves and pickpockets for this reason, but she hasn't confirmed this. She's tall and slender, and wears a bow and quiver of arrows at all times. Her hair is cropped short and her feet are always bare, although depending on the season the rest of her is clad in traditional hunters clothing - loose linens or doeskin, all the way up to a bearskin greatcoat.

There are more. There are so many more. Most of the townsfolk though, they only see their patron once or twice in their lifetime, and to see any god other than their patron is a Very Big Deal. Invoking the gods usually brings about signs - a whisper in the ear, an arrow appearing in freshly swept dirt, a quick vision in a mirror or puddle that definitely wasn't someone's own reflection - rather than direct contact.

[definesanity]

This is a long one so read it when you have time.

The three acts of Inscryption function differently to each other. Act 1 (and the unlocked mode Kaycee's Mod after you beat the game) is a 3d rogue-like with a branching map where you get new cards in specified events. Act 2 takes a turn, being the "original" SNES inspired world with different areas. In Act 2, you get new cards by opening Card Packs, with eachof the four areas having a matching pack. When you beat two area bosses, you unlock (a) NPC(s) who you will recognize from Act 1, who functions in a somewhat different manner than before.

In Act 1 and Kaycee's Mod they will take any two duplicates and merge their Power and Health stats, with you also being able to add a third if you can find one. In Act 2, they will request you bring them four matching pairs of cards in a specific order with the first pair being two Gravediggers, allowing you to get Sporedigger. In Act 2, instead of increasing the stats, they make the Sigils (special effects cards have) happen twice. Gravedigger cards generate 1 bone per turn, Sporedigger makes 2.

If you get the two different Broken Obol cards and have them in play together in the right position (left half on the left, right half on the right) they perform a special animation and give you the Ancient Obol item without losing the two cards. If you take that to a special area in the Temple of the Dead, you can get access to a card and item important for the combos.

The first combo is only good for one match and takes a large amount of setup, making it only useful for farming foil(a currency gotten by over damaging the opponent, replacing the Teeth from Act 1 and Kaycee's Mod): Bone Lord's Horn + Bone Heap + Optional Sporedigger + Any other 17 cards (Have Bone Lord's Femur, gives three bones at start of combat)

Fight the Training Dummy.

Play the horn(3 bone cost) in front of the Force Mage so it can't attack, use it's ability to turn energy into bones. (Remember to end your turn to get new cards and refresh energy) Optional: Play Sporedigger(1 bone cost) for even more bones.

Get as many bones as you want.

Play Bone Heap in the third or fourth slot, use it's ability to pay two bones to increase it's stats.

Have it deal greater than 7 damage to get foils.

The second technique uses Ouroboros' special synergy with it's sigil that returns it to hand on death. All Ouroboros (and Ourobot) deaths outside Kaycee's Mod increase it's health and damage by 1 permanently.

Combo: Ouroboros + Necromancer(makes your creatures die twice on their death) + Pharaoh's Pets (worth three creatures in sacrifice, cannit be removed from board by sacrifices) + Optional Sporedigger + Optional Bone Lord's Horn + any 15 other cards

Fight the Training Dummy. (do NOT end turn until step 7)

Get nine bones and the first three cards. (two optional cards to get enough bones for Necromancer and Pharaoh's Pets)

Put Necromancer(3 bone cost) in front of the Force Mage and the Pharaoh's Pets(6 bone cost, cannot be destroyed by sacrifice) in any other slot.

Play Ouroboros by sacrificing Pharaoh's Pets

Use Hammer on Ouroboros to kill it (this activates Necromancer's sigil, cloning it temporarily and increasing its damage permanently)

Repeat step 4 and 5 as many times as you wish. (Must be greater than 7)

End your turn while Ouroboros is in the third or fourth slot.

You now have something that can oneshot any card or mini boss, and two-phase the area bosses.

This is but an ice cube in comparison to the greater whole of Inscryption. Note you can only do these in Act 2.

Oh wow, that is... woah xd

[coulson-is-an-avenger]

Top five TMA episodes? (I've been trying to do mine and it's So hard lol)

OUGH THANK YOU OMG BUT YEAH THIS IS HARD AF omg okokok I’m going to cheat and split this into favorite statements and then favorite plot/otherwise character driven episodes

Top 5 Statements

MAG 22 Hive (absolutely awakens every primal evil bone in my body. i LOVE how this ep portrays being an avatar)

MAG 152 A Gravedigger’s Envy (likewise makes me feral for avatars. a really excellent mix of desire that twists dark at the end. slurping this up like soup)

MAG 42 Grifter’s Bone (forever obsessed with the concept of music so achingly good you have to kill people about it. Jonny was so inspired for this)

MAG 172 Strung Out (scared me deeper and more personally than any other episode, I think. I love how much it fucks with me lmao, I did a whole cosplay for this ep)

MAG 15 Lost John’s Cave (just so rawly fucked up. that found audio???? what the FUCK was happening in s1. unparalleled fear)

Top 5 Episodes for other reasons!

MAG 81 A Guest for Mr. Spider (just the tastiest jon lore reveal episode ever. it’s so good i am kissing him for real)

MAG 187 Checking Out (WELCOME TO THE HOTEL CALIFORNIA MOTHERFUCKER— no fr this was such a delightful catharsis to Helen’s antics and Jon was SO sexy in it. my god. this is so close for the top spot)

MAG 79 Hide and Seek (the first ep that really made me like category 10 Unwell about this podcast. the buildup of the not!sasha and everything finally culminating in a high stakes chase??? MWAH)

MAG 111 Family Business (GERRY AND JON!!!! also just an excellent rundown of all the lore; super cathartic)

165 Revolutions (THE HOT JON MOMENT OF ALL HOT JON MOMENTS 👁👄👁 plus an absolutely awesome poem statement, just a super fun and creative ep all around)

Honorary mention from both categories:

MAG 168 Roots (Oliver Banks being the love of my fucking life for 24 minutes straight. he wrote a report. i love him)

[neurodiversebones]

do you have any bones fic recs? 👉👈 I've read all of urs already (love them to death) and I am insatiable

!!!! thank you !!!! i will link a bunch of fics that i like :-) i'll organize them by short (under 2k), medium (2k-9k), and long (10k+) fics bc i LOve organization :-) this ended up being WAY MORE fics than i meant for it to be but . i love fanfic yall

short fics (<2k words):

blood sugar by illbehere on ao3 (aubrey backstory fic / tw- somewhat disordered eating) [1.7k]

good to me by sarahxxxlovely on ao3 (this one is pure b&b fluff) [1.9k]

forgotten paperwork and cardigans by thatgayasianbookworm on ao3 (brengela fluff !!) [359 words]

the boy to warm your mother's heart by charliebradburys on ao3 (cam angst + hurt/comfort / tw for parent death) [140 words]

house rules by serendipityxxi on ao3 (b&b fluffy hurt/comfort - this is one of my all time favs, i return to it whenever im sad) [1.8k]

what words cannot say by hypercharles on ao3 (kinda hurt/comfort brennan, brengela centric) [1.6k]

the family in the fantasy game by grasslandgirl on ao3 (jeffersonian found family playing dnd together !!! this one always makes me smile) [1.9k]

you only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves by nosaladallowed on ao3 (camgela getting together !! i recommend this whole series it's great) [252 words]

medium fics (2k-9k):

the cycle in the trauma by kit_amongst_the_pigeons on ao3 (hodgins-centric, post gravedigger / tw for desciptions of ptsd)

and sometimes when it's too hard to get on, it just might be you that i'll call upon by oneworldaway on ao3 (fluffy cute brengela sleepover !! my fav happy fic) [2.2 k]

the psychologist in the scientists house by igrockspock on ao3 (sweets and b&b family life with food as a love language- this is my comfort fic of ALL TIME . tw for past child abuse) [4.4k]

emotion coach by sarahxxxlovely on ao3 (b&b fluff and hurt/comfort) [2.1k]

a light on a hill by ingi on ao3 (hodgins and brennan post-gravedigger) [2.3k]

long fics (10k+)

you look like yourself, but you're somebody else by cortexx on ao3 (post 6x09- warning for angst, some smut, cheating, and a whole OCEAN of emotions) [90k, 21 chapters]

the 8 types of love by babyduckandbugboy22 on ao3 (queer hodgins/sweets ! so much good trans stuff and qp relationships <3 tw for homophobia/transphobia and depression) [14.7k, 11 chapters]

in the trenches by amilyn on ao3 (brennan's childhood from foster care-university / tw for child abuse and sa, all chapters are well labelled) [63.2k, 7 chapters] (this is actually one of the fics that inspired me to start writing bones fic !!!)

the reunion in the afterlife by annoying-antisocial on ff.net (this all takes place in the afterlife as each of the characters come in so . obvious tw for death ! also tw for suicide mention though it is not graphic) [22k, 1 chapter]

all this time by inspiredbyfiction on ff.net (camastoo vignettes !! mostly fluffy <3) [66.4k]

[celiabowens]

underrated SFF books (YA and Adult)

So uhm, since I keep seeing the same books on my dash all the time (and I like them too, just...there’s more! to read!) here’s a list of less popular SFF books, divided into YA and Adult. I’ve tried to mention when there is lgbt rep and the trigger warnings. Also, books written by poc will be in bold. Please point out any typo or mistake or if I’ve forgotten specific rep/tw mentions.

All of these are books that I’ve read and enjoyed (by enjoyed I mean anything from 3 stars and above), but if anyone wants to add titles please feel free to do so!!

YA:

The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi: beautifully written, fairytale-like story rich in mythology (inspired by several Hindu myths. There’s a full list on goodreads indicated by the author herself). Roshani’s prose is gorgeous.

A Crown of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi: it’s a companion novel to The Star-Touched Queen, but both can be read as a standalone. I liked this one more than its companion and I particularly loved how the romance was written (slow burn, but specifically, the author really highlights the mutual respect between the characters, we love to see it).

The Young Elites by Marie Lu: fantasy trilogy set in a world inspired by Renaissance Italy, in which children who survived a mysterious and deadly illness ended up with strange and dangerous powers. Secret societies and a female villain!

The Kingdom of Back by Marie Lu: historical fantasy following Mozart’s sister, Nannerl, a girl as talented as her brother, but afraid of being forgotten because of the lack of opportunities she has to be seen and heard. Nuanced sibling relationship, no romance.  

The Midnight Lie by Marie Rutkoski: fantasy f/f romance! Both a coming of age story set in a society with a rigid class system and a slow burn f/f romance with a lot of banter. TW: abuse.

The Weight of Feathers by Anna-Marie McLemore: magical realism. The book follows two families of traveling performers that have been locked in a feud for over a generation. This was the author’s debut and I remember getting an arc of it and being impressed by both the prose and how the forbidden love trope was handled.

When the Moon was Ours by Anna-Marie McLemore: another magical realism novel. One of the main characters is a trans boy and the book focuses on issues of racism and gender. One of my favorite YA!

Strange Grace by Tessa Gratton: fantasy romance set in a village that periodically sacrifices a young man in order to keep a deal with the devil that ensures their prosperity. Also, polyamorous and non-binary rep.

The Rise of Kyoshi by F.C. Yee: first book in a duology following avatar Kyoshi’s life. It explores the political and cultural aspect of the Earth Kingdom and Kyoshi’s past. Bisexual rep.

Descendant of the Crane by Joan He: sort of a murder mystery fantasy, as the main character finds herself suddenly thrust into power once her father has been murdered. The story has a slow build up to a last part full of twists and machinations and it features lots of court intrigue. Warning: the ending is quite open and afaik there isn’t a sequel planned as of now.

The Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd-Jones: a quite unique take on zombies influenced by Welsh mythology (it’s super cool). The novel follows Ryn and their siblings, as they try to get by after their parents’ death by working as gravediggers. Only well, the dead don’t always stay dead. The characters read a bit younger than they are imo. There is chronic pain rep.

The Magnolia Sword by Sherry Thomas: retelling of the original ballad of Mulan. The book follows Mulan, who’s trained her whole life to win a duel for a priceless heirloom, as she joins the army. There’s a lot of political and historical details, which I really appreciated. Do not go into it expecting a fun adventure though. The descriptions of war aren’t extremely graphic, but be aware of the fact that most of the book is set during a conflict.

The Candle and The Flame by Nafiza Azad: standalone fantasy set in a city on the Silk Road! It’s a quite slow-paced tale about love, family and politics. It has lush descriptions of landscapes and cultures (and FOOD, there are some really great descriptions of food). It’s a very atmospheric book and while I struggled a bit with the pace I’d still recommend it.

Forest of a Thousand Lanters by Julie C. Dao: sort of an East Asian inspired retelling of Snow White, but following the Evil Queen before she became Snow White’s stepmother. I honestly haven’t read its sequel (which should focus on Snow White herself), but I do think this can be read and enjoyed as a standalone too.

The Queen’s Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner: it’s hard to point out exactly what this series is about because it has evolved so much with time. It starts out as classic quest/adventure series with The Thief (which may seem a classic and simple book, but is actually full of foreshadowing and has a really clever set up), but develops into a complex and intriguing political fantasy in The Queen of Attolia and The King of Attolia (and then goes back to the quest theme in book 5, Thick as Thieves).

Adult:

A Fist of Permutations in Lightning and Wildflowers by Alyssa Wong: I’m cheating with this one because it’s technically a short story but I love Alyssa Wong’s stories so I’m putting it here anyway. It can be read for free and you should just...read it.

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang: grimdark fantasy (TW: abuse, self harm, rape, drug abuse), inspired by Chinese history. It’s adult, but follows younger MCs and the unique blend of different historical periods/inspirations makes it extremely interesting. The characters are extremely fucked up in the best possible way, plus the use of shamanism is awesome. Please make sure you check all the TW before reading.

The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang: a Japanese-inspired militaristic fantasy, with elemental magic, a badass housewife dealing with her past and hiding a sword in her kitchen’s floor. It has interesting and nuanced family dynamics and a great reflection on propaganda and the use of narratives.

Empire of Sand by Tasha Suri: first book in an epic fantasy duology inspired by Mughal India (TW: abuse, slavery). I really liked both Empire of Sand and its companion and I find them pretty underrated. Both books have great slow burn romance (with a focus on mutual trust and respect) and focus on culture, religion, self acceptance and politics.

Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia: a fantasy bildungsroman set in Mexico during the Jazz age. It’s a great approach to adult SFF as it follows a young girl on a life changing adventure. It features Mayan mythology and a god slowly becoming human (this trope is everything!).

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden: a coming of age story inspired by Russian folklore. The trilogy as a whole has one of the best arcs I’ve ever seen: each book is perfectly self-contained and has its own arc, but also fits perfectly in the bigger picture of the trilogy. The atmosphere is amazing, the cast of characters is extremely well developed. Also frost demons are better than men.

The Binding by Bridget Collins: historical fantasy, but with very minimal fantasy elements. It’s set in a world vaguely reminiscent of 19th century England. I’d say this book is about humans and self discovery. It’s about cowardice and the lies we tell ourselves and those we wish we could tell ourselves. Gay rep. (TW: abuse, sexual assault, pretty graphic suicide scene).

The Divine Cities trilogy by Robert Jackson Bennett: starting with City of Stairs, it follows a female diplomat and spymaster(!!). The whole trilogy features an interesting discussion about godhood, religion, fanatism, politics, without ever being boring or preachy. It has complex and rich world building and a pretty compelling mystery.

Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett: heist fantasy following a thief as she’s hired to steal a powerful artifact that may change magical technology as she knows it. Set in a Venice-like merchant city. Also, slow burn f/f romance.

Jade City by Fonda Lee: sort of a gangster urban fantasy, heavily inspired by wuxia and set in an Asian-inspired metropolis. It follows a pretty big cast of characters, each with their own journey and development. It features nuanced family dynamics and a lot of political and economical subplots. Not extremely prominent, but book 2 features m/m side rep.

Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse: inspired by Native American culture and specifically by the idea of subsequent worlds. It has a kickass MC and a good mix of original elements and typical UF tropes. TW: the book isn’t extremely violent but there is death and some gore.

A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine: space opera inspired by the Mexica and middle period Byzantium. It focuses on topics like colonialism and the power of narratives and language. It has one of the best descriptions of what it’s like to live in between spaces I’ve ever read. Also very interesting political intrigue and has a slow burn f/f romance (and a poly relationship recalled through flashbacks). I ranted a lot about it already.

Ninefox Gambit by Yoon Ha Lee: a Korean-inspired space opera with a magic system based on math. It’s honestly quite convoluted and difficult to follow, but it also features some of the best political intrigue I’ve ever read. Plenty of lying, backstabbing and mind games. It also features lesbian and bisexual rep and an aroace side character (TW: mass shooting, sexual assault, abuse). I also really recommend Yoon Ha Lee’s short-story collection Conservation of Shadows.

The long way to a small angry planet by Becky Chambers: character driven space opera featuring a found family journeying through space. A fun read, that also deals with topics such as sexuality and race. Quite easy to go through, as the world building and plot aren’t particularly complex themselves. f/f romance.  

The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo: an Asian-inspired fantasy novella that gives a voice to people usually silenced by history. It follows a cleric (non binary rep) as they chronicle the story of the late empress, retold through objects that she used in her life. It focuses on bonds between women and the power that lies in being unnoticed. f/f side rep.

The Black God’s Drums by P. Djèlí Clark: an urban fantasy novella, based on Orisha mythology and set in an alternate, sort of steampunk, New Orleans. I really like how creative Clark’s worlds are and how good he is at writing female characters (which rarely happens with male authors).

The haunting of tram car 015 by P. Djèlí Clark: novella set in an alternate steampunk Cairo populated by supernatural entities. It’s set in the same world of a Dead Djinn in Cairo, which is a short story you can read for free.

This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone: epistolary novella set during a time-travel war. It has gorgeous writing and an amazing f/f romance. As a novella, it’s quite short but it’s beautifully crafted and so complex for such a short book!

The Citadel of Weeping Pearls by Aliette de Bodard: a novella set in the Xuya universe (a series of novellas/short stories set in a timeline where Asia became dominant, and where the space age has empires of Vietnamese and Chinese inspiration), but can be read as a standalone. It’s a space opera featuring a disappeared citadel and the complex relationship between the empress and her daughter as war threatens her empire.

One for My Enemy by Olivie Blake: self-published urban fantasy following two rival families in New York. Sort of a Romeo and Juliette retelling but with gangster families and magic. Honestly recommend all of her books, I love how Olivie writes and especially how she writes female characters.

[six-improbable-things]

Morrigan Reads - The Bone Houses

Book: The Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd-Jones Rating: 5/5 ⭐ Genre: Fantasy, Horror (does Horror-Fairytale count as a genre??) Trigger Warnings: Death, undeath, gore(?), animal death, parental death, violence.

Blurb (that really doesn't do this book justice): A mapmaker and a gravedigger (and a very loyal goat) venture into the mysterious and magical mountains to end an enchantment that has been causing the dead to rise for the past 15 years.

Spoiler-Free Review: This was my second time reading The Bone Houses, and I loved it just as much as the first. It feels exactly like a fairytale, both in writing style and in content. But it's also a horror story, and a beautiful one. The horror in this book doesn't revolve around shock value, but is actually deep and meaningful, while also creepy and scary. The characters are amazing and well-written, and there is a perfect balance between light-hearted and more solemn scenes. The story is also fascinating, and well planned out. In fact, this was a book where I wasn't mad in the slightest about guessing the "twist". Not just because it's a good one, but because it's not really a twist. It's a perfect pay off of things that have been hinted at throughout the entire book. And it's perfect. Not to mention the amazing use of Welsh folklore as inspiration and source material. It's wonderful.

So, please, if you love horror, or fairy tales, or goats, please read this book.

Spoilers Under The Cut:

This book... I don't even know where to start. I mean, I love Ryn, I love Ellis, I love the Goat. I love everything about it. But let's break down the best parts:

Goat being lovely. She's amazing, and I love that she didn't become aggressive after being turned. She was still stubborn and loyal, but she was lovely.

The settlement at the base of the mine. I- wow. This is one of the most interesting parts of the book to me. That some bone houses stayed true to their human selves, and that some people would want to live with their loved ones even after death. (Not to mention the subtle foreshadowing involved with everyone assuming that Ellis is dying.)

Ryn's Dad / the helpful bone house. God, that part gets me every time. When he reaches up and touches her cheek, and she doesn't pull away, even though she hasn't figure out who he is yet. And the fact that he made sure that she didn't find out who he was until he was gone, so that she could let him go, really let him go. The way that the love spoon being reunited is Ryn both finding and losing her dad all at once. How even though he knew what would happen if Ryn found the cauldron, he still showed her the way there.

The Lake. "Keep going, keep going, keep going." "What. Do you. Think. I. Am. Doing?!!?" makes me laugh every time.

Ellis's Heritage. I had actually figured this out way, way earlier, or at least had a very strong hunch. But like I mentioned before, I wasn't even mad in the slightest. In fact, I was satisfied. All the foreshadowing was perfect without being too heavyhanded, but enough to pick up on. And Ellis meeting his mother for the first time when she dies (again)...

The Aftermath. Ryn burying every single bone house because they were people and they deserve that respect, and because that's what she does. Also, the "I'd like to bury her." "That I think I can help with." exchange was so sweet. Also, Goat being found curled up in a tree.

The Lake, again. The Afnac returning Ryn's axe (complete with teethmarks) made me laugh. Plus the way that it was returned. It just came hurtling out of the lake, adjaksjd. I wonder if the Afnac understood what it was giving back, and to who. If it was saying thank you, or go away and never come back. Or if it just wanted to be rid of the axe.

[theyovngveins]

a book that i always recommend to everyone is the bone houses by emily lloyd-jones!! it Is a fantasy, but definitely more character driven and also a quick standalone! it's about a gravedigger and a mapmaker looking for a way to save the gravedigger's town from zombies, very inspired by welsh folklore and mythology! im 100% not a fan of zombie stuff but this was SO good and if i don't convince you to read it maybe i can convince someone else

GIRL WHO CARES ABOUT BOOKS SKEPHALO IS REAL😭😭😭😭😭😭

[theunvanquishedzims]

Disney, a Little to the Left pt.1

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

The Archdeacon thought he had inspired a true come-to-God moment in the Judge, but the man’s fear lasted only long enough to hear the consequences of his actions. “Saddled with this misshapen creature” was a telling enough reaction. Immediately abandoning the child to the church’s custody could be the act of a busy old man with no childcare experience, but demanding the infant be locked away where no one else could see it was not the action of a man truly intending to raise a child. The way he called it a foul creature and said it may someday be of use to him was the final nail in the coffin of the Archdeacon’s trust.

The cruel name he tried to give the boy rang in the Archdeacon’s ears as he carried the infant inside, louder than any bell. He snorted to himself. “The bell tower indeed,” he muttered. A good place to drown out the cries of an unwanted child, not a soothing place to help a newborn sleep. The boy would be deaf in a month if he lived there.

“I tried,” he sighed as he lit a candle for the soul of the mother, her body still cooling on the front steps. He would need to rouse the gravedigger. “Jesus, Mary and all the saints as my witnesses, I tried to help him atone.” So saying, he prayed a quiet curse upon the Judge, and a plea for forgiveness for his own actions that night. Following the gravedigger to the cemetery, he prayed as many blessings as he could think of over the child. The church at least would guarantee him a pious life full of light and music, scriptures and psalms surrounding him every day of his life...but not safety. The Judge was a murderer, and appealing to his piety had failed. It was naive of him to try, but one must be a little naive to have faith, the Archdeacon mused as he left the gravedigger to his work. He would return to preside over her rites, but for now...

“At least you will have some miracles in your life, little one,” he whispered as he pressed in a stone on the mausoleum and descended the stairs into the crypts. It wasn’t long before he was accosted by the gypsies, but his garb afforded him certain protections. “One of yours,” he said, holding out the quietly snuffling bundle. “The mother is upstairs, soon to be downstairs.” He tried to smile as he tacked on “And soon after, hopefully, further upstairs.”

The masked man chuckled, causing the others surrounding the pair to laugh as well. A little gallows humor was always well received in the catacombs, and in such grim times even a priest’s poor attempt at a joke was cause for mirth. He prayed another silent prayer of forgiveness for the mother’s soul, as though he could deliver her to the gates of Heaven by will alone. Dying to protect her child was surely enough blood to cover even the most egregious of sins. The Virgin Mother would understand, he believed. A strange gulping noise drew him back to the moment.

The jester’s face below the mask was stretched out in a rictus of a grin, frozen for just a moment as he gazed into the bundle. The Archdeacon stopped himself from snatching the child away from the uncertain reception, and for the second time that night, trusted.

“Ah yes, I recognize him immediately!” the jester burst out, and the Archdeacon relaxed. There was some good in humanity after all. “Why this is my nephew...!” The Archdeacon shrugged at the split-second glance. He would not repeat the insult the Judge tried to saddle the boy with. “...Ruskin! Who could forget him, with such lovely red hair!”

“He doesn’t look like any of your nephews,” said a skinny boy with straight black hair, clad in an outfit to match the jester’s, peering around his father’s side to frown at the infant.

“Fool!” shrieked a puppet that manifested above his head, bringing down a small wooden mallet upon said head. “He is obviously the son of our great-aunt’s father’s third cousin’s best friend’s brother’s niece-in-law!” “Be nice to your cousin,” added the jester in his normal voice as the boy whimpered and rubbed his head, handing the bundle down and shooing the children away into the darkness.

The Archdeacon could pass no further than this, he knew. The tentative peace between the gypsies and the church only stretched so far. Still, he watched until the child’s shadow melted away in the flickering light of the torches, knowing this could well be the last time he saw the boy. The jester coughed and raised an eyebrow at him, and the Archdeacon flushed. So many sins to atone for tonight, he thought guiltily as he pulled a candelabra from under his cloak. There were muted exclamations from the men around him as the gold glinted in the firelight. The jester’s eyes sharpened, gaze going calculating and wary, but face still smiling.

“To cover the cost of his upbringing,” the archdeacon said, heading off any questions and doing his best to anticipate potential arguments. This was the most dangerous thing he had ever done, and he felt it in his bones. One wrong step and his skeleton would join the piles around them. “The donor recently passed away, it will not be missed,” he said carefully, feeling for the right words and trying to instill them with authority. “I give it freely, under my authority as archdeacon, to match your generosity in caring for the poor orphan left on our doorstep.”

“Whyever would I need such a gift, for caring for my dear darling nephew, my own flesh and blood?” the jester chirped back at him. The archdeacon steadied his breath and willed his outstretched hand equally steady, feeling the strain, both the weight of the candle holder and the gazes of the thieves surrounding him. He had not been cut down yet, he reminded himself, and that was as good as invitation. He chose his words with even greater care.

“Flesh and blood needs food and drink to sustain it, and the boy may not be able to earn his keep.” The outside as twisted as it is, there is no telling what ailments lay inside. “And being born in such a cold season, it may prove...unhealthy for the child to be upstairs.” It’s not safe for him in Paris proper. “Such a pale child needs sunlight to blossom, though. You may find, when he gets older, that he requires a warmer climate to survive.” Living in the catacombs forever is not an option for a growing boy, but better to pack him into a southbound caravan than risk sending him out to be discovered by the Judge.

The jester pinned him with another long stare, but then the weight in his hand was gone and the candelabra was a glinting, golden spiral as the jester twirled it, cackling madly. The tension in the air was also gone in a rush, laughter and whoops filling the silence. At least two sharp points were suddenly absent from his back, the Archdeacon realized belatedly. He hadn’t even noticed they were there. Hopefully he would not have spots of blood on his clothes to account for later.

“Such a generous gift, but alas, we have no use for candleholders, being torch people ourselves,” the jester said with a grand wave of his arm and a wink. You’ll never see this again, it will be broken and melted by the end of the night. The Archdeacon could read between the lines too. He nodded his head, relief almost turning the dip into a half-bow, and tried not to gasp as the torches all went out at once.

Not even the sound of splashed could be heard and the gypsies abandoned him in the dark, and he was left to grope his way back to the stairs by touch alone. Unpleasant enough in a stone church, but surrounded by the dead, with not even a whisper of moonlight to guide him, it was the stuff of nightmares. He mentally subtracted ten Hail Marys from his running total for the night. Twelve, he thought with a shudder as his fingers caught in an eye socket, feet stumbling upon the stone steps that lead him back up to the safety of the graveyard.

How could anyone call it dark or frightening, he wondered as he climbed out of the grave and scurried a little faster than dignified back to where he left the gravedigger. It was positively bright with silver moonlight and friendly with familiar headstones, the layer of snow casting a heavenly white blanket over the scene. He reached the side of the gravedigger, who quirked a look at him but otherwise kept his mouth shut. An admirable trait in any man, the Archdeacon thought gratefully as he launched into the most heartfelt rites he’d given that year, prayers and blessings pouring over the woman’s shroud as they lowered her to her final rest, the Archdeacon a bit more carefully than the gravedigger.

“-forever and ever, amen. I’ll have a warm meal for you when you’re finished,” he promised the gravedigger. The man merely grunted and picked up his shovel, cold soil cascading back into the hole as he returned to work. The Archdeacon returned to his own work, numb feet carrying him back to the church. First wash the blood from the steps, lest it offend the eyes of the Holy. Then the meal, and perhaps a hot drink for both of them. And then...penance. For this night, and the day that would surely come, when the Judge returned to see his creature. Alas, the poor blighted thing did not survive, its ailments too great, only the love of its mother sustaining it outside the womb for so long. The lie was already fixed firmly in the Archdeacon’s mind, and though he hoped it would bring the Judge even a shred of guilt, he knew in his heart that it would not.

The Archdeacon would waste no more prayers on the man after this night. Judge Claude Frollo was bound for Hell.

[seastormstars]

Thank you for tagging me @wherestoriescomefrom ♥️

Three Ships-

I’ve been watching a lot of Korean TV shows recently, so here we go:

1. Se-Ri and Jeong Hyeok from Crashing Landing on You. I watched this entire show in three days and have no regrets. These two are so soft that it physically hurts me. I can’t think about Switzerland without crying. And bonus points for the found family vibes.

2. Deok-mi and Ryan from Her Private Life. This was one of the healthiest, most supportive relationships that I’ve ever seen in fiction. The casual affection between them just kills me. Also, the way this show frames art as ultimately another way to say ‘I love you’ makes me go !!!

3. Lizzy and Darcy from Pride and Prejudice (2005). What can I say? I rewatched last week and I have ~feelings~. I just love this version of the story.  Keira Knightley owns my entire heart. Talk about formative stories.

Last Song-

“Pluto” by Sleeping at Last. I’ve had their album Atlas on repeat for months now.

Last Movie-

I am currently doing an MCU rewatch with my family. We watched Captain America: The First Avenger last weekend, and it was super nostalgic.

Currently Craving-

Chocolate. My household is super healthy, so unless I buy the chocolate, it’s not going to be here. And it’s currently not here.

Currently Reading-

I read multiple books at once so bear with me:

World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishments by Aimee Nezhukumatathil. It’s a collection of essays about nature but also about humans and I love it. I was already crying within the first 30 pages, so there’s that.

The Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd-Jones. A Welsh/Celtic folklore inspired fantasy story about a gravedigger and a mapmaker doing their best. Currently rereading for a buddy read.

Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Perez. This is nonfiction about how male bias is unconsciously built into what we consider to be “objective” data.

Favorite Folktales From Around the World ed. Jane Yolen. A collection of folktales arranged by theme, rather than by region or culture.

Devotions by Mary Oliver. I am never not reading Mary Oliver poetry at any given time, so.

---

Thank you for tagging me, Tanvi! I’ll tag @politropos, @cailindonn, and @historicalromance ✨

[b-b-b-b-bones]

Today on UnderBones

I finally write the scene that inspired UnderBones in the first place.

Yes, the thing that first made me consider connecting Bones characters with Undertale characters was the realization that Muffet the spider and the Gravedigger have the same MO. They both trap little children and won’t let them go unless you throw a bunch of money at them. Add in the fact that their names sound kind of similar and bam: UnderBones was born.

[mairaiscarrierofthepaperclips]

My (Maira's) fics!

A handy list of my fics, for anyone who is interested.

If you'd like to be notified when I post tidbits, snippets, or full fics, interact with this post! 😊

9-1-1 (Buddie)

Current WIPs:

The Mummy AU - pretty much what it says on the tin, with some fun change ups just because I can - (currently 42k words, and we're maybe halfway done? 🙃) - HOPING TO PUBLISH IN TIME FOR Christmas 2024!

The One Where Buck Finds Out - based on a s2 episode of Friends (IYKYK)

Star Trek quote + indulging my hatred of the Elder Buckleys

Gravedigger AU - fans of Bones will know all about this one.

Accidental three words - Eddie says something out loud instead of in his head.

Completed:

for I cannot, cannot go - Eddie's world is (briefly, horrifically) ripped apart.

each note a chapter - Buck is having trouble finding the perfect scent. So, he tries to think of his favourite scent, instead. It goes about as well as expected. (Written for Flufftober 2024)

no others, before thee - Eddie is kidnapped. It does not end well for the idiots who thought he was the most powerful one. (Written for @summerofbuddie 2024)

let the bough break, let it come down crashing - Buck breaks up with his soulmate on a Tuesday. (Written for @summerofbuddie 2024)

the clarification of equilibrium - or, the one where Eddie gets jealous about a conversation, and attempts to explain how body positioning works. (Written for @summerofbuddie 2024)

leave it out there, no regrets - Or, the one where Buck is completely oblivious to Eddie declaring his love, and Eddie (briefly) contemplates leaving the country forever because of it.

when deeds and words are in accord (my whole world is transformed) - Or, the one where Eddie sings his feelings, and Buck loses his mind.

hard kick, slow burn - Or, the one in the bar with the dancing.

Buddie Flufftober 2023 Collection - accidental kiss, answering the wrong phone, proposals, idiots in love... We have it all, folks

i opened my eyes (and all i saw was you) - the Meddie friendship fic inspired by a Tumblr post.

paradise under a pine tree - speed run friends-to-fiancés Valentine's Day 2024 fic - why, yes, I based this one-shot around a pun, thank you for asking.

take my hand (take my whole life too) - magical realism fic. Contrary to what he believes, Buck is not actually allergic to Eddie.

take this life and make it yours (take this heart and let it love again) - . . . or, the one where Buck finally figures out he's in love with Eddie, only for things to not go as planned. (inspired by A Scene from s4 of Supernatural (IYKYK)).

wild again, beguiled again - or, the one after the (7.04) Buck/Tommy kiss. Nothin' but fluff. 💖💜💙

TBD WIPs:

take this life sequel - Eddie's POV. A truly ridiculous level of angst.

Past Lives Soulmates AU - my muse is not letting this go, but it won't be up before the new season. RIP.

locked room fic - inspired by That Kiss from New Girl. Partially drafted.

apocalypse fic - snow. so much snow.

deeds and words sequel - partially drafted, established relationship cuteness

And so many more

Schitt's Creek (Davrick)

WIPs

saving patrick - inspired by the Saving Grace episode from 9-1-1: Lone Star. Almost complete.

The Rookie (Chenford)

Complete:

you're in my arms (and all the world is calm) - inspired by the dance scene from Enchanted, with a Lucifer Morningstar and Chloe Decker cameo. POV Tim. 9k.

WIPs:

you're in my arms sequel - POV Lucy. Almost complete.

lullaby - Tim realises some stuff. Partially drafted.

mystery spot - a.k.a Tim's very bad, no good day. Partially drafted.

[gideonaceleigh]

Book Roundup 2019!

I’ve read a lot of really amazing books this year so I thought I’d give a brief ‘review’ of them and my recommendations!! I know it looks like I’m a light reviewer, but I’ve decided to not waste my time on books that are lackluster to me so I’m more than willing to give up on a book halfway through lol

5 Stars

1. Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim YA Fantasy

ahhh!! I’m so obsessed with the book. The cover art alone is insane!! Basically a mix of Mulan and the fairytale about spinning straw into gold. Has sorcery, magic, and shapeshifting!! A proper OTP <3 

2. The Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden Fantasy

A spectacular end to a spectacular series. Russian fairytale retelling. Another amazing OTP. Magic!! 

3. The Tiger’s Daughter by K. Arsenault Rivera Fantasy

Lesbians on horses with swords! What more could you ask for! Demon slayers and Gods!

4. The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi Fantasy, maybe YA?

oof. Got this in one of my OwlCrates and did not expect it to hit as hard as it did. Based in Paris. A beautiful burlesque dancer who can ‘read’ an objects history. A character who’s been robbed of his proper inheritance. A flower artisan. A rebel. A arguably autistic coded Russian girl who’s a little to into making things explode. And an ‘antagonist’ who isn’t really an antagonist and who I may be a little in love with. Super beautifully done! Excited for the sequel!

5. Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan  YA Fantasy

Heart wrenching. Powerful. Painful. There are three castes: Moon caste are demons who each take on animalistic features. Steele caste are half human and half demon with a few animalistic features. Paper caste are pure humans. Every year the Bull Moon caste king brings in about a dozen Paper Girls from the different regions. This is the year one of girls brings in a rebellion. Primary characters are lesbians and I love them <3 tw: for sexual assault. there are warning at the beginning and resources given at the end

6. We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal YA Fantasy

oof. My boy Altair isn’t a ‘main’ character but not a ‘main main’ character but I love him and his flirty, flirty ways!!

opening line is: “People died because he lived.” second chapter opens with: “People lived because she killed.” and the dichotomy between the two characters is amazing!! beautifully well done!! Arabic inspired! 

7. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake YA Horror

a wonderfully intense and engaging horror!! the characters are amazing and very well developed. Kendare is one of my favorite authors <3

8. Shatter City by Scott Westerfeld YA Scifi? Dystopian?

A continuation of his “Uglies” series and just as engaging and powerful as the others! A long time favorite series and author!

9. The Kingdom by Jess Rothenberg 5 stars  YA Fantasy

Holy shit. This book absolutely knocked me out. The style is unique and fresh. The story is told through a series of court transcripts, police interviews, surveillance cameras, and the POV of Ana. Ana is a ‘Fantasist’ in the Kingdom basically Disney World. The Fantasists are incredibly lifelike androids meant to make your wishes come true! But then she gets accused of murder and is put on trial. Absolutely amazing!

10. Five Dark Fates by Kendare Blake YA Fantasy

A solid ending to a spectacular series!! Spent a little too much time on a lackluster romance but overall a favorite <3

11. Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson Horror

Horror from the 50s!! Pretty much nothing like the netflix series but still a wonderful read!!

12. Girls of Storm and Shadow by Natasha Ngan  YA Fantasy

Sequel to Girls of Paper and Fire. Not quite as enthralling as the first, but that’s not out of the ordinary. Moral of the story: everyone’s gay! Has the same TW as the first, along with recovery, self-harm, addiction

13. Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake YA Horror

Sequel to Ana Dressed in Blood. A great follow up! I was worried about how it was going to end but I was pleasantly surprised! 

14. Crown of Feathers by Nicki PauPreto YA Fantasy

Phoenix riders!! Warrior Queens! Quite a few great plot twists. Two sisters ended up in a civil war against each other for the throne, animage queen vs magicless queen. Afterwards animages were hunted down and forced into servitude. But there’s a small underground rebellion forming of new Phoenix riders!! I’ve already preordered the sequel for feb!!

15. The Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd-Jones YA Fantasy

A nice little standalone. I believe it was Welsh based? Ryn is a gravedigger near a forest rumored to house magic. Magic that brings the dead to life, but very few people believe this. When the dead start to rise in greater numbers and attacking the nearest villages Ryn and a map maker out to make his name set off to find the source and return the area to normalcy. Well done and cute <3

16. Grace and Fury by Tracy Banghart  YA Fantasy

Similar to Girls of Paper and Fire in that every year the king brings 6ish (?) girls to court to be his consorts. But it’s for life instead of just one year. One of the girls gets convicted of reading and sent off to the female prison island just off the mainland where the women there get split into different ‘tribes’ and are expected to fight for resources in a gladiator type ring. She manages to convince most of the others to band together against the island guards and is determined to find a way back to her sister on the mainland.

4 Stars

17. Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan  YA Fantasy

A religious country with a paladin vs a magic country with blood mages. The paladin is forced to align herself with a blood mage in order to save her country. She struggles with her faith throughout the novel while trying to find a way to align what she beliefs with what she’ll have to do to save her people. Some of the blood mages go super far to the point they’re no longer human and become howl-esque bird monsters w/steel teeth, fingernails and wings.

18. Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson YA Fantasy

Another cute standalone!! Sorcerers and magic books! Elisabeth wants nothing more than to be a warden in one of the great libraries, taking care of the grimoires. When the head of the library she’s studying at is killed but a rampaging grimoire she is the prime suspect and is forced to travel with one of the ‘evil’ sorcerers. In her quest to prove her innocence she is forced to question her beliefs and the morality of the sorcerers. 

19. Queen of Ruin by Tracy Banghart YA Fantasy

Sequel to Grace and Fury. Very cute. A little lackluster. The endings a little cheesy but heartwarming. 

[ao3feed-veronicamars]

Gravedigger

by For_the_love_of_fiction

An unexpected occurrence has Veronica reaching out for help.

A NotCrossover with Bones. Don't really need to know Bones, but will recognize elements of the story if you've seen season 1 of Bones.

Words: 1396, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Veronica Mars (TV)

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: F/M

Characters: Logan Echolls, Veronica Mars, Cindy "Mac" Mackenzie

Relationships: Logan Echolls/Veronica Mars

Additional Tags: Not Beta Read, Actually on purpose this time, sorta crossover, Not Crossover, Bones inspired, Can't sleep must type, save me from myself

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2mBmTPT