#kingdom keepers review

[thenefilim]

Review - The Keepers of the 5 Kingdoms (2024)

The owner of a Chinese curio shop, his granddaughter and two of her friends are drawn into another world and have to find their way home before an evil sorceress can get her hands on them.

https://www.voicesfromthebalcony.com/2024/06/18/the-keepers-of-the-5-kingdoms-2024-review/

[catsbookreviews]

Disney After Dark - Ridley Pearson

Yet another book that's probably written for people younger than me.

Story: This group of kids is hired by Disney to be scanned and used as holographic guides around their parks. But it turns out they had ulterior motives. Apparently magic is real and the Disney villains are taking over the park. So these kids have to stop them.

Review: I didn't love this book as much as I expected, the concept sounded pretty cool. I was disappointed. I don't entirely understand why some of the characters were even there. Most of the girls were basically entirely forgotten about and were very flat. Even the characters who weren't were still somewhat flat. Maybe I just need to do more research into the age recommendations for books.

Overall: 2.5/5 ⭐️

[nobodywritingao3]

unnamed monster & caretaker au

Tasked with feeding and caring for the king's resident monster, Tommy is constantly overworked and fully expects to die before he's twenty. He has an odd relationship with the beast and makes it a point to keep details about himself private, but it's difficult when the creature is the closest thing in the world he has to a friend.

wordcount: 2.3k 🕸 read it on AO3

CW: - hard vore mention - soft vore mention - mentioned abuse and dehumanization

‼️‼️‼️ Unfinished, unedited one shot. Proceed with caution

@gracideaviolet sent me a writing prompt and this is what i originally wrote for it. i like the concept but i wrote this at a not-good time and when i reread it, i didnt like the quality enough to fix it. if you like this story, let me know cuz that might give me motivation to properly finish this thing. feel free to take the idea but please credit and send it to me cuz i like this story and wanna see what someone else does with it

Tommy finished loading the cart and took a second to breathe.

He heard the beast shifting around in the dark. "Are you doing okay out there, Sunshine?"

Despite his tiredness, the sweet nickname made him smile.

"You know you eat a lot? It's a pain in the ass to load myself."

He meant it as a joke but silence hung in the air a second longer than it should have.

He cleared his throat. "I don't mind it. I'm compensated."

The beast snorted. "Not enough."

Tommy laughed awkwardly and didn't say anything.

He walked over to the control panel and started up the track.

The cart was big enough to fit a barn, and filled to the brim with various livestock, prisoners of war, and whoever else might have found themselves on the king's hit-list. Nothing sent to the monster was alive. It was a point the monster whined about a lot, but Tommy much preferred it that way. It was already disgusting having to spend hours upon hours piling the cart with bloody meat (sometimes human!) by himself, and the day he was handed a living person would be the day he faked his death and fled the kingdom.

He pressed a few buttons, tried not to cut himself on several rusty levers, and the rail obediently started itself up with a few revs and puffs.

The beast hummed contentedly at the noise.

The cart began to run along the track, disappearing from his view and descending into the inky black cave. He heard the gate creak open and he heard it creak close. And then he heard the beast begin to eat.

They weren't nice sounds by any stretch of the imagination - ugly rips and wet squelches of flesh - but Tommy had been at the job for a while and was long used to it. He settled in and waited for the creature to finish its meal.

"So how was your day, Keeper?"

Tommy hummed. "About the same as it always is. My master told me that the king will be coming in soon for a performance review, but I've no idea when that might be."

The beast paused its munching before hesitantly starting again a moment later. "I - why?"

He shrugged, assuming the monster could see him from the dark. "Something about me holding down this job the longest out of anyone before."

"Hm."

"I don't understand why that would intrigue the king. And no offense to you personally - "

"Uh huh," the monster sarcastically interjected -

" - but this isn't exactly the career path I'd have chosen. If I knew how to transfer I probably would have. Honestly - I have no idea how the others could have quit this job. I was under the impression that this is the sort of thing you do until you die."

It laughed at that.

Tommy sighed.

He was quiet for a few moments, a question sitting heavy on his tongue.

He shouldn't ask. It's impolite.

The monster shifted around. "Spit it out."

He gave the darkness an accusatory look. "I don't know what you're talking about."

There was a huff of laughter. "You know exactly what I'm talking about. You're doing that thing where you want to say something but are worried about what I'll think. It would be adorable if I wasn't desperate for decent conversation."

"Fuck you." He said it with a smile.

"Well? Are you going to say or not?"

He scrubbed at his face. Fuck it. "What were your other keepers like?"

The beast went silent for several long moments.

Shit. "You don't have to answer if you - "

"I didn't much care for them."

Tommy didn't say a word.

"The feeling was mutual." It sighed heavily. "You're a much better replacement, Sunshine."

"I'm sorry for asking."

The beast purred. "Don't be, dear. I pressed you. And I don't mind answering." It jostled the cart. "And I'm done eating."

Tommy nodded and powered up the control panel again. The cart began to recede. 

It appeared from the darkness, picked completely clean and shiny as if it never been covered in blood at all.

It scared him a little, how quickly the monster could eat such a large amount, but he dismissed those thoughts as easily as they came. When would that ever affect him?

He checked the clock. He still had a few hours before he had to report back. "Do you mind if I stay with you longer?"

The monster laughed conspiratorially. "Oh, but that's against the rules," it said in a high mockery of his voice.

He flushed.

He had been terrified of the monster when they first met. He gave any excuse to leave the beast as soon as he could, including that the rules specified that spending unnecessary time with it was prohibited. That was true, but no one would have known if he chose to linger. In hindsight, it had been terribly obvious how afraid he was and he's only embarrassed that the monster pretended to believe him.

"You're the worst."

"And you still want to spend time with me?"

Tommy blew a raspberry at the darkness, earning a few laughs.

It was comfortably quiet for a few seconds before the monster spoke again. "Why are you curious about my old keepers?"

He tugged at his fingers. "Do you know how I ended up here?"

"You never talk about it."

He frowned. "And I never will," he responded coldly. It never gave up asking. "But do you know, generally, how someone ends up working this kind of job?"

The monster was quiet. "Yes."

Tommy didn't say anything for a minute. "The king is very angry with me. I don't want to see him again. However the other keepers escaped..." He shook his head. "I don't know. I don't know what I'm saying. If the king requests an audience with me, it isn't for any good reason."

~

When the king acquired his monster, he hired out help to feed the thing and keep it under control. He made sure the beast ate lavishly, but now matter what they fed it, it never seemed like to satiate the creature. But it hadn't died of starvation and that was good enough. When its caretakers started to disappear, it wasn't difficult to guess what happened.

But acknowledging the problem would mean addressing it too, and the king simply didn't care. In the end, he realized he had the perfect way to quietly do away with those he needed gone. He sourced this job, with its one hundred percent rate of 'job abandonment' to political adversaries or people growing affluent enough to take his throne.

Which takes him to the present day, and a rather interesting problem.

When some servant boy had spilled a bottle of red wine down his front during a gala several years prior, the king had been so angry that he threw the child in a dungeon and left him there. When the monster's then-keeper inevitably disappeared, the king came to the boy and grimly informed him of his punishment.

He hadn't expected the child to last more than a couple of days. He'd even picked out his replacements.

But lo and behold, the boy remained present at his job post for a week. And then that week became several, and those several became months, and those months became a year and a half.

The king couldn't understand why it hadn't eaten him yet. He was fifteen at this point, certainly the youngest to feed the monster. Was it waiting for him to grow up? Did it want to watch him sprout up before it made its attack? It was perfectly sentient, and the king knew this even though he denied it upfront. Shouldn't the monster trust that the sooner it finished its current keeper, the sooner he would be replaced by another?

Had there been someone who had managed to bring this creature to subservience? If so, then the king took special interest.

And if not, then it was long overdue that the servant boy be put to death.

~

Being a human's lapdog wasn't a dignified experience, but it was a fed one. Driders were megafauna, making it hard to get enough food. It certainly didn't help that the human kingdom believed everything was its rightful property and saw driders as a threat to them owning more than they could eat.

Wilbur certainly didn't enjoy his life, and he was almost always hungry anyway, but at least he was alive.

He lived in a dungeon below the castle, but he wasn't sure what a castle was and he barely understood the concept of a dungeon. He hadn't seen the sunshine in years, and his keeper was his only company.

He liked his keeper. The boy was kind. He didn't threaten to pee in Wilbur's food or throw rocks at him. He asked him how his day was, and even made it a point to handle the meat carefully as he transported it into the cart. He seemed lonely, and made up excuses to stay. He was a cute little thing, and Wilbur wanted to stick him into his brooding pouch and keep him there.

~

The cart rolled into Wilbur's enclosure, and he greedily snatched it up and began to eat.

His keeper sat at a table in the light.

Wilbur finished his food in a few seconds and toyed with the cart. He always made it seem as if it took him longer to eat than it did.

"Do you have a family?"

The boy froze at the question. "Why do you ask?"

Wilbur pouted even though he knew he couldn't be seen. "We've known each for so long. I don't even know what your name is. Can't I know just a little?"

His keeper awkwardly laughed, fidgeting with his fingers. "Oh... I guess you're right."

Wilbur's heart leapt.

"I don't have a family."

"Oh." Shit.

"Yeah."

What was he supposed to say?

"I don't have a family either."

His keeper peered into the darkness. "What are you?"

Wilbur smiled. He skittered to the bars of his cage and leaned against them, towering over the boy, though he had no idea. "Would you like to play twenty questions?"

"You're so lame, seriously, what are you? I don't even know what you look like."

I could show you, he wanted to say.

Coming out of his cage was easy. The king assumed it could hold him but no one actually checked. And aside from his keeper, no one had been in his dungeon for years. In reality, the bars had long been bent open and Wilbur could get out whenever he pleased.

It wouldn't be difficult to come through the bars and present himself to his keeper. Pick the little figure up in his hands and take him into his cage with him.

When he'd eaten his previous keepers, they'd always been replaced. If he captured his current keeper and stored him away in his brooding pouch, then he'd never be lonely again.

It was tempting.

"That's probably for the best," he said. He stepped away from the bars of his cage and curled up on the floor.

He liked his keeper. He wanted him to be happy. Just because Wilbur was stuck in a cage didn't mean he had to be as well.

"Do you think I'd be scared of you?"

Wilbur looked down at himself, at his large stature and eight legs. His fangs came down to his mid chin. "I think you'd be terrified, dear."

His keeper smiled. "I don't think so. I have a suspicion that you're just harmless."

His heart melted. Oh stars, he wanted to eat this kid.

He massaged his aching brood pouch. "You're sweet, Sunshine."

~

The cart was left in his cage while he was sleeping. He woke up confused, spying it in the corner of his enclosure and wondered why he'd been fed overnight. Where was his keeper? His mind jumped to the worst conclusions.

He found him inside the cart. Bound and gagged and looking terrified beyond all reason.

"Oh, Sunshine," he murmured.

His words had the opposite intended effect, his keeper starting to panic and writhe at the sound of his voice.

"Hey, hey... Calm down, okay? I'll get you out of there." He reached into the cart and picked him up in his hand.

Despite the circumstance, his heart soared. This was the closest they'd ever been.

The figure was tiny in his palm, and still struggling.

Wilbur quickly undid his bounds, being mindful of his sharp claws against the human's body. As soon as his hands were free, he was clawing at the gag around his mouth.

"Don't eat me! Please, do not eat me..."

Wilbur's stomach dropped.

"What? Sunshine, why would I eat you?"

The boy continued to sob.

Wilbur cupped him to his chest and headed towards the bars of his enclosure. He expertly clambered through and came out the other side, his skin exposed to the light for the first time in more than a year.

"Dear? Can you talk to me?" He stroked his head with his thumb and brought him eye level. "Why were you in my feeding cart?"

His keeper stared at him in shock, and it was then that he remembered his keeper had never truly seen him before.

A hot wave of embarassment and self consciousness overtook him.

He awkwardly set his little human on his table and receded back into his enclosure.

"Sunshine?" He prompted once back in his cage. "Are you..."

"Could - could you get out the whole time?"

Wilbur's mouth went dry. "I - well, yes, I could but - "

His keeper stumbled off the table and hit the ground with a nasty sounding crack.

Wilbur sprang to his claws and scrambled forward. He popped his head out between the bars and stared down at his little keeper. "Are you okay?"

The human stared up at him with terror on his face and scrambled backwards, running for the door.

"Shit, shit, wait, I'm sorry! Please stay, please, Sunshine - "

The door slammed behind him with a resounding crack and Wilbur flinched backwards.

~ ~ ~ 🕸

i used to love drider aus back in 2020 🕷️🕷️🕷️

just a freaky little guy whose half dude and half Fear. potential off the charts.

my tag list got lost when my computer was annihilated (</3) but let me know in replies if you want to get @'d and i'll make a new one

oh yeah link to the writing prompt and story i did fill out

[dandelionsresilience]

Dandelion News - August 22-28

Like these weekly compilations? Tip me at $kaybarr1735 or check out my new(ly repurposed) Patreon!

1. Safari park welcomes flamingo chicks

“An animal park has said it is experiencing a "baby boom", including new flamingo chicks that have hatched. Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire has also recently welcomed rare Amur tiger cubs and an endangered cotton top tamarin monkey baby. [… Flamingos] live 15-20 years in the wild, however in captivity and safe from predators, they can reach ages of 70 years.”

2. Golf clubs fight biodiversity loss

“The project aims to help green-keepers create havens for wildlife, particularly bees and butterflies, as well as introduce mowing methods to protect rare chalk grassland and encourage wildflowers. […] “Clubs doing this are seeing significant increases in pollinators, such as butterflies, without impeding the game."”

3. ‘We’ve got baby owls again’: how farming policy is helping English wildlife

“[In Abby Allen’s] lush Devon fields native cattle graze alongside 400-year-old hedgerows, with birds and butterflies enjoying the species-rich pasture. [… The Environmental Land Management Scheme] pays farmers for things such as planting hedges, sowing wildflowers for birds to feed on and leaving corners of their land wild for nature.”

4. $440 Million to Support Pregnant and New Moms, Infants, and Children through Voluntary Home Visiting Programs

“Through this program […] trained health workers […] provide support on breastfeeding, safe sleep for babies, learning and communications practices that promote early language development, developmental screening, getting children ready to succeed in school, and connecting with key services and resources in the community – like affordable childcare or job and educational opportunities. […] In addition, the [CDC] announced a new investment of $118.5 million, over five years, to 46 states [and] six territories […] to continue building the public health infrastructure to better identify and prevent pregnancy-related deaths.”

5. Endangered leopard frogs released into the wild

“More than a hundred leopard frogs have been released into the wild at Columbia National Wildlife Refuge in Washington state. Leopard frogs are endemic to North America but have been classed as endangered since 1999.”

6. Heat-based batteries are a surprisingly versatile tool

“[T]hermal energy storage [… is] expected to be more cost-effective than conventional lithium-ion batteries for storing cheap clean electricity over longer durations[….] Thermal storage systems take up less space per unit of energy stored than lithium-ion batteries do, [… and] can also deliver their stored energy without the efficiency losses that occur in converting electricity from [AC to DC and back].”

7. Dolly Parton is sending free books to children across 21 states — and around the world

“[In 21 states,] all children under the age of 5 can enroll to have books mailed to their homes monthly. […] Since the program started, books have been sent to more than 240 million to [sic] kids in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Australia.”

8. Biden-Harris Administration Awards $100 Million to Navigators Who Will Help Millions of Americans - Especially in Underserved Communities - Sign Up for Health Coverage

“The grants are part of a commitment of up to $500 million over five years - the longest grant period and financial commitment to date, and a critical boost for recruiting trusted local organizations to better connect with those who often face barriers to obtaining health care coverage. […] Navigators offer free assistance to people exploring health coverage options through HealthCare.gov, from reviewing available plans to assisting with eligibility and enrollment forms, and post-enrollment services such as using their coverage to get care.”

9. ‘Ultra-Accommodating’ Hotel Concept Goes Beyond ADA Accessible

“The property […] will feature wider hallways, larger guest rooms, easy access to elevators and other modifications that exceed the standards required under the [ADA]. Staff will be trained in disability etiquette, how to assist with mobility devices and provide various accommodations ranging from hearing aid loops to sensory-sensitive lighting. […] The location in San Antonio is expected to be the first — not the only one — developed under this concept.”

10. Melbourne zoo welcomes rare southern white rhino calf to the world

“Kipenzi and the new calf have been closely monitored this week, with mother and baby being kept in a secluded area accessible only to keepers while they get to know each other and bond. […] The calf has already been showing a forthright personality, snorting and stomping around his enclosure[….]”

August 15-21 news here | (all credit for images and written material can be found at the source linked; I don’t claim credit for anything but curating.)

[ettawritesnstudies]

Do you know any good fantasy (with maybe a hint of romance?) That are clean and not necessarily Christian but at least aren't full of anti Christian values? I am trying to find books to get my 12 year old sister to read, but I just don't read a lot of fantasy that isn't super complicated. I got her to read Caraval and she's loving that.

And you seem to know about a lot of books!

Absolutely!

The Rangers Apprentice series is a lot of fun as a character study. The worldbuiling falls apart after book 2 in the fantasy department but it's still a good story. It follows an orphan named Will as he learns how to be a ranger and protect the kingdom so there's a lot of themes about duty and devotion and friendship that make it really wholesome. There are depictions of battles and fight scenes where enemies die and characters get hurt but it's mostly PG. Book 3 does deal with some addiction and drug use but it's painted in a negative context. Extremely slow burn romance friends to lovers stretching over several books. There are references to Norse adjacent gods in the fictional swears but the religion aspect is pretty much irrelevant to the story. My 9 year old sister and 13 year old brother have read these and love them and they were my favorite when I was that age.

The Chronicles of Prydain is very similar to LOTR in theme and setting but it's geared towards kids so it's VERY fast paced by comparison. Absolutely one of my favorite series of all time, it follows Taran Assistant Pig Keeper as becomes a warrior and a man and learns that being a warrior is less important than being a good man. The one female character Eilonwy is great, she gets kind of sidelined by the author but the fandom (esp. @highqueenofprydain ) have fics to fix that. Also slow burn romance that doesn't get resolved until literally the last page of the series.

The Wingfeather Saga is my newest all time favorite. It's by a Christian author and has a lot of biblical references in it and the storytelling is incredible. It has the most realistic depiction of siblings in fiction I think I've ever read and the worldbuiling is genius. Implied romance in the form of childhood crush but it's very cute and feels like it'll build to more after the book is closed.

Some of my old favorites are also A Wrinkle in Time and The Little Prince. I recently read Coraline which is kind of scary but also really great. Amazing short stand alones with messages of courage and love triumphing over all.

Daughter of the Sun (the mothmar trilogy) by Amanda Auler is a new Christian fantasy that's a little more heavy/dark in theme so I would maybe hold off on recommending it to your sister until she's more in YA territory but it's EXCELLENT. I reviewed the first book here and I should have a ARC going up for the second book in the next week or so. Slow burn romance, brilliant worldbuiling, deep themes.

Heart of the Sea is another book I just read recently which is clean but also YA and more towards the romance side. It's a pirate adventure and it's just a lot of fun so for a standalone I think she'd enjoy it.

I remember when I was in high school I really liked the Lunar Chronicles series which is sci-fi fairy tale adaptations. Because it's classic princess stories there is romance and it's YA clean, and the sci-fi adventure part is exciting and very fun.

A lot of classic children's books are very good too, I would have to find a list but I grew up on the likes of Treasure Island and Anne of Green Gables. Not fantasy but it's always cool to read stuff that was written in a different time period.

I hope this helps! I'll add to it if I can come up with more.

[alwaysakeeper17]

Disney After Dark Review

I finally finished my reread of the first Kingdom Keepers book, Disney After Dark! I thought I'd share my updated thoughts and opinions on this book below

Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Out of 5⭐)

Likes:

unique storyline

memorable characters

funny dialogue

engaging plot

action packed scenes

vivid imagery and settings

Dislikes:

lack of depth/use of the female characters

inconsistencies/plot holes

ambiguous mentor

Final Take: I think this book is a great introduction to the series as a whole. Ridley vividly depicts a magical world that is easy for readers to feel drawn to and imagine. While not perfect, it definitely is an enjoyable read and is such a unique idea for a series. This book is a great starting block for where the story eventually goes. Ridley definitely improves upon the books as the story progresses and as he truly shapes and forms his world/characters. I would definitely recommend this book to young readers, people who like the Disney Parks, and any fans of the Percy Jackson series.

[book--brackets]

So How Does It Work?

Since this competition started, I’ve seen a lot of stuff about the different match-ups. Some are all in good fun, but some do seem genuinely frustrated, so here’s a more in-depth look at how I created the bracket.

First, I looked up the number of reviews on Storygraph for each book or the first book in each series. Granted, this was a while ago, so some of the numbers may have changed over time. The only exception to this was Pixie Hollow since there are a lot of starting points for the series (I pulled the first Levine book and then added the most popular of the Tales series to it). Then, I ordered them all from highest to lowest.

Then, just like how it works in sports, the series with the highest number of reviews was matched against the one with the lowest number of reviews. This method may seem unfair to the less popular books, but it’s to ensure we don’t have a matchup between two books early on that could’ve potentially made it all the way if they were on opposite sides. For example, right now Percy Jackson is a favorite to win, and I’d say probably Howl or MBS. If they got pitted against each other too early, it wouldn’t be very interesting. Still, there have been some significant upsets so far, even if we are only a day or so in. If you’re interested in the details, the numbers are below the read more.

Thanks for all the support so far with this competition! It blew up way more than I ever expected and has been supremely entertaining!

1. Harry Potter (266,149)

2. Percy Jackson (125,793)

3. Narnia (82,652)

4. A Wrinkle in Time (48,609)

5. Matilda (39,384)

6. Howl’s Moving Castle (32,597)

7. Artemis Fowl (25,265)

8. Ella Enchanted (22,108)

9. Oz (20,967)

10. City of Ember (14,671)

11. Mysterious Benedict Society (11,333)

12. The School for Good and Evil (9,589)

13. Land of Stories (6,928)

14. Ranger’s Apprentice (6,200)

15. Redwall (6,074)

16. Enchanted Forest Chronicles (6,006)

17. Gregor the Overlander (5,410)

18. Warriors (5,115)

19. Keeper of the Lost Cities (4,975)

20. 39 Clues (4,353)

21. Sisters Grimm (3,473)

22. Charlie Bone (2,904)

23. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon (2,846)

24. Keys to the Kingdom (2,645)

25. Young Wizards (2,429)

26. Wings of Fire (2,124)

27. Tales of the Frog Princess (2,019)

28. The Unwanteds (1,989)

29. Dragon Slippers (1,645)

30. Disney Fairies (1,577)

31. The Guardians of Ga’Hoole (1,328)

32. Pegasus (715)

[thegirlandthewardrobe]

STUFF YOUR KINDLE DAY IS FRIDAY JUNE 30TH!!! (HUNDREDS OF FREE BOOKS)

There's going to be TONS of free romance books available on Amazon for download! The books can be also be downloaded/sent to Non-Kindle devices as well. The list of available books was released early and can be found here. I also took the time to scroll through some of the categories and compile a brief list of some of the books that I'm looking forward to downloading, in case anyone needs help choosing books😊 I also linked the Goodreads description for each and every book for those of you who want more info or reviews!

P.S. These are all spicy reads (with probably the exception of the YA ones), IYKYK😏

Happy Reading❤️

**=Reverse Harem/Why Choose

Young Adult Romance

Midnight Prince by Aisha Urooj

White by Angelina J. Steffort

Gravebriar by Casey L. Bond

Kingdom of Embers by Trina Copeland

Teaching the Teachers Pet by Sarah Sutton

Crimson Born by Amy Patrick

Her Dark Love by Isra Sravenheart

In the Dust by K.A. Gandy

Fire and Ice by Michelle Barrow-Belisle

Keeper of Dragons: The Prince Returns by J.A. Culican

Fantasy Romance

The Prince of Dragons by Tameri Etherton

Veiled by Michelle Areaux

Dragon Soul by L.J. Swallow

Empath's Lure by Jen Lynning

Wolf Shunned by Laurel Night

To Catch A Fae by Mila Young

Taming the Vines by Anita Primrose

The Gilded Survivor by Daniela A. Mera

Empath: The Tale of Flora and Cale by Meghan Shaltes

The Queen's Wings by Jamie K. Schmidt

Captured by the Fae by Vera Rivers

The Coven of Ruin by T.K. Tucker

The Lost Siren by Raven Storm

Death Wish by Harper A. Brooks

Maiden Flight by Bianca D'Arc

The Borderlands Princess by Ophelia Wells Langley

Blade and Rose by Miranda Honfleur

Princess of Thorns by Amberlyn Holland

The Captive and the Cursed by Alexa Saint

Lord of the Hollow Court by C.K. Beggan

**Queen of the Stars by Catherine Banks

**Captive Beauty by Cassia Briar

Queen of Roses by Brior Boleyn

**Psychotic by Elle Lincoln

Night Elves of Ardani by Nina K. Westra

The Gardener and the Water-horse by Mallory Dunlin

**Our Fae Queen by Traci Lovelot

Sun Serpent by Geneva Monroe

**Torn Apart by D.E. Chapman

Paranormal Romance

Never Say Never by Sarah Spade

**Daughter of the Sun by Laura Greenwood

**The Stalking Dead by Eva Chase

Forbidden Wolf by CR Robertson

**Splintered: Brookview Academy by A.J. Moran

**A Monstrous Claim: Part 1 by R.K. Pierce

Breaking the Lovers' Curse by Lore Nicole

The Dragon's Reluctant Sacrifice by Ines Johnson

**Monsters by Katie May

Night Revelations by Godiva Gleen

**Scarred Wolf by Elizabeth Blackthorne

**Vampire's Kiss by Atlas Rose

**Red by Tracey H. Kitts

**Dark Spirits by N.A. Jameson

Feral by Trish Heinrick

Her Primal Love by Rianne Burnett

**Magic Claimed by Charmaine Ross

**Life's a Witch by Skyler Andra

**Vampires Don't Give Hickeys by Holly Ryan

[spacehippieface]

I made a bunch of predictions from the announcement and up to the release of The Super Mario Bros Movie, some joking, some half-serious, some for real, and now that the movie’s out, I figured it was time to fully revisit them and see how I fared. SPOILERS AHEAD. I might get review-y.

The Toads will act like Minions and dominate all marketing and merchandise. JOSSED. The Toads are just people. Just mushroom people living their lives in Toad Town.

Bowser will be voiced by an unfitting former A-lister trying to reinvent himself. JOSSED. I’M SO SORRY, I WAS SO BITTER AND WRONG.

He will make jokes and references which will leave the movie dated upon arrival. JOSSED. He is both menacing AND a dork, and it works! His love ballad in the top 100 on iTunes is proof enough there.

The trailers and TV spots will feature copious usage of Van Halen’s Jump. However, this will not be in the movie or its soundtrack album, instead replaced with a vague cover version by Pharrell Williams. JOSSED. The trailers mostly used Black Hydra’s Super Mushroom. The actual licensed pop songs used in the movie were....well, interesting. Choices were certainly made.

The film will perform moderately well at the box office in Europe and America, but will be banned in China and Russia due to a 30 second sequence involving Birdo in a fashion show set to Born This Way. YES AND NO. Birdo is nowhere to be seen, but so far the film is doing VERY well. Russia haven't got it at all, but they're not getting anything new or nice until they stop being dicks in Ukraine.

Despite lacklustre reviews, it will eventually attain a cult following akin to Shrek and include a subculture of people who unironically really want to fuck Kamek. YES AND NO. Critics are slamming it, but fans are having a fine time! However it’s not necessarily Kamek people are eyeing up, but Bowser, when they’re not shipping him with Luigi. Or possibly even when they are.

Before going to the Mushroom Kingdom, Mario and Luigi are going to have some sort of big argument or estrangement, leading them to be separated for the bulk of the movie, only to realise they needed each other and reunite for the final battle with Bowser. YES AND NO. They are separated, yes, and do reunite in the third act, but there's no estrangement. Far from it. Their brotherly bond is just so important to them, and saving Luigi is Mario’s sole motivation on his adventure. They're lost without each other and that's just so sweet. “Nothing can hurt us as long as we’re together”, indeed. 

Bowser will kidnap Peach as a last ditch power grab when whatever’s happening with the Stars goes sour. KIND OF? Bowser only wanted the Super Star in the first place so Peach would be impressed enough to marry him, and when just having the Star doesn’t work out, he manipulates her into marriage by threatening Toad, and by extension all the other Toads. A kidnapping by coercion if you will.

There’ll be a market chase sequence, where Mario will pass Waluigi who’ll let out a long Charles Martinet voiced “waaaaah” and look knowingly at the camera for an uncomfortable few seconds. JOSSED. This is a Waluigi-free zone.

Alternatively, there’ll be a post-credit scene back in Brooklyn where we see Wario, voiced by Charles Martinet, picking his nose and declaring it to be a keeper while Waluigi cleans the toilet in a maid costume and discovers a pipe to the Mushroom Kingdom. JOSSED. That is NOT what we get in the stinger. I still kind of want to see it though, I think it’s a damn funny image.

That classic Super Mario Bros overworld theme is going to be used a lot. Like, we’ll all be sick of it by the end of the movie. YES AND NO. It IS used a lot, but not overbearingly so. There are a lot of other musical nods and motifs from the games, from SMB 1 to Odyssey and then some. The GameCube noise was very nice to hear too. Brian Tyler did a fantastic job on the score.

There’ll be a Minion on the Illumination title card who eats a mushroom and grows too big for the screen. Alternatively, it’ll be a small group of Minions doing an acapella version of the end of level theme. YES AND NO. We do see a Minion, but he’s in a kart ready for a race. I wasn’t expecting that one.

[munchiezxx]

I posted 666 times in 2022

335 posts created (50%)

331 posts reblogged (50%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

munchiezxx

elliesgaymachete

cl0udbursting

pasitheapowder

reyroseweek

I tagged 550 of my posts in 2022

Only 17% of my posts had no tags

#aya rambles - 127 posts

#my art - 62 posts

#wolf 359 - 39 posts

#the pasithea powder - 34 posts

#the locked tomb - 29 posts

#wdw - 23 posts

#starship iris - 18 posts

#star wars - 17 posts

#alana maxwell - 14 posts

#kingdom keepers - 12 posts

Longest Tag: 132 characters

#oh and when you look a show up and there are women in like main or supporting roles and people just don’t talk about them at all? 🙃

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

TODAY ON TOP 10 WEIRDEST THINGS THAT HAVE EVER HAPPENED TO ME: YOU’RE NEVER GONNA BELIEVE THIS ONE. FOUND IN A TINY ASS USED BOOKSTORE IN SARASOTA

AN ARC OF THE LONG, LONG TIME UNRELEASED KINGDOM KEEPERS INHERITANCE BOOK ONE FOR 5 DOLLARS.

DON’T KNOW WHAT KIND OF COSMIC ALIGNMENT BROUGHT THIS TO ME BUT I GUESS EXPECT A FULL REVIEW ….. WHENEVER I HAVE THE TIME TO READ IT!!!!

136 notes - Posted August 12, 2022

#4

gideon the ninth cover for my digital illustration class except my professor wouldn’t let me make them anime girls 😕

160 notes - Posted April 18, 2022

#3

did anyone really expect that i WOULDN’T eventually draw a vikady wedding after that one tweet.

anyways, i can’t imagine they wouldn’t have an outdoor wedding + i imagine it’d be pretty casual so i put violet in more of a sundress instead of a traditional wedding dress. (id under cut)

ID: a digital painting of arkady holding violet in a bridal carry. arkady is wearing an olive suit and violet is wearing a white sundress, and they have flowers in their hair. they’re surrounded by plants and flowers on top of a green background.

227 notes - Posted June 9, 2022

#2

space age maxwell ⚛️

(gravity works how i want it to work)

468 notes - Posted May 12, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

more passionate than hope, far deeper than despair

1,256 notes - Posted July 13, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[thehyperrequiem]

I posted 235 times in 2022

That's 235 more posts than 2021!

109 posts created (46%)

126 posts reblogged (54%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@sundove88

@thehypercutstudios

@kittieshauntedourfantasy

@jjdogasaur

@ham-sandwich-lol

I tagged 231 of my posts in 2022

Only 2% of my posts had no tags

#reblog - 94 posts

#poptropica - 44 posts

#batim - 32 posts

#important reblog - 25 posts

#jjba - 23 posts

#joe puddy - 21 posts

#zomberry island - 20 posts

#moved reblog - 19 posts

#batim fanart - 18 posts

#jojo’s bizarre adventures - 17 posts

Longest Tag: 69 characters

#like he would tell them his backstory on why he is always pessimistic

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

1010 Gummies? 1010 Gummies. Now in different flavors!

14 notes - Posted December 4, 2022

#4

Diego and the Scary Monstrous Revival (Bendy and the Dark Revival parody) cast

"Return to the cartoon studio from Diego and the Dino Machine™. See the ink-soaked kingdom of Diego Brando™ like never before through the eyes of Edge/Jolyne, an animator with mysterious abilities. Deeper, darker, and with more horror-stoked action, the Scary Monstrous Revival will keep you on the edge."

Edge (Mario + Rabbids) as Audrey Drew (Real World)

Jolyne Cujoh (JJBA Stone Ocean) as Audrey Drew (Cycle)

Starscream (Transformers Prime) as Wilson Arch

DIO Brando (JJBA Stardust Crusaders) as Shipahoy Wilson

Mikitaka Hazekura (JJBA Diamond is Unbreakable) as Porter

Mariah (JJBA Stardust Crusaders) as Betty

Wambus Troubleham (Bugsnax) as Steve McGregor

Carne (JJBA Vento Aureo) as Big Steve

Gwess (JJBA Stone Ocean) as Carley

Dr. Ferdinand (JJBA Steel Ball Run) as Slicer

Foo Fighters (JJBA Stone Ocean) as Heidi

Bakugou (My Hero Academia) as Bill Danton

Ghiaccio (JJBA Vento Aureo) as Mad Artist

Changelings (My little Pony) as Widows

Queen Chrysalis (My little Pony) as Widow King

Ringo Roadagain (JJBA Steel Ball Run) as Lord Amok

DIO Brando (JJBA Phantom Blood) as Shipahoy Dudley

Decepticons and Vehicons (Transformers Prime) as Keepers

Glamrock Animatronics (FNAF SB) as The Ink Jets

Limp Bizkit Zombies (JJBA Stone Ocean) as Iridescent Lost ones

Weather Report (JJBA Stone Ocean) as Henry Stein

Cromdo Face (Bugsnax) as Joey Drew

Scary Monsters Diego Brando (JJBA Steel Ball Run) as Bendy/Baby Benders

Partial Utahraptor! Diego Brando (JJBA Steel Ball Run) as Ink Bendy

Utahraptor! Diego (JJBA Steel Ball Run) as Beast Bendy

Hot Pants (JJBA Steel Ball Run) as Alice Angel

Partial Utahraptor! Hot Pants (JJBA Steel Ball Run) as Susie-Alice

Yukako (JJBA Diamond is Unbreakable) as Allison Angel

See the full post

16 notes - Posted December 3, 2022

#3

“First law of the Creme Republic: Never place your rear end on a elder’s face!”

-Captain Caviar Cookie

16 notes - Posted September 30, 2022

#2

Mixmaster: Scrapper! Snap out of it! What did you see?

Scrapper: I...I saw...what can only be described as a gateway to some wondrous parallel dimension.

Mixmaster: Great! But did you see any Oil in there? Look way in the back.

24 notes - Posted August 31, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

Batta-bing! Batta-Boom!

I just turned @doberart's Henry into a wibbly wobbly artstyle like mine!

Here's a comparison of him and my Henry.

Alt (With my Henry from my BatimGI AU, no worries, my au is wacky in a good way)

See the full post

30 notes - Posted November 3, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[moviereviews101web]

For Prophet (2024) Movie Review

For Prophet – Movie Review Director: Mark Stewart Iverson Writer: Mark Stewart Iverson (Screenplay) Cast Ben Marten (Candyman) Valentina Garcia Enrico Natale (The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain) T’Keyah Crystal Keymah (The Keepers of the 5 Kingdoms) Bert Belasco (Let’s Stay Together) Plot: A struggling entrepreneur encounters the Archangel Raphael, who reveals that he is chosen by ‘The…

[cathygeha]

REVIEW

Taken by the Gargoyle King by Robin O’Connor

Abducted by the Ruthless Royal Series

Another fated-mate, instant attraction, fun, steamy story that sees a Gargoyle King wanting and a human find their happily ever after.

What I liked:

* Kalzudaud: Acting king of Daudiras while his heart-daughter is ill, strong, lethal, has wings, resembles a gargoyle, kidnaps a healer and soon realizes she’s not only the best hope of saving Sera but also his mate

* Caitlyn: human, healer, working on a cure, kidnapped from earth, taken in by the Aderians, educated in healing, a scientist, caring, kind, scientist, wants to save Sera, knows rather quickly that Kas is a keeper

* Iru: didn’t see much of him but he is Kal’s best friend and Sera’s protector

* The flying done by Kal with Caitlyn in his arms

* That Caitlyn was strong and intelligent enough to be a worthy mate for Kal

* That the traitor in the kingdom is found and will be dealt with

* Knowing going in that it would be an easy relaxing read and sweep me into an alien-human romance that would put a smile on my face

What I didn’t like: * Who and what I was meant not to like

*  Wishing that it was a bit longer – wonder if there will be a follow-up

Did I enjoy this book? Yes

Would I read more by this author? Yes

Thank you to the author for the ARC – This is my honest review

4-5 Stars

BLURB

My lab and research are my life until a ruthless royal swoops in to steal me for his own purposes. Caitlyn I was one of the lucky ones. That’s what I always thought. Abducted but embraced by the Aderians that fanned the flames of my passion as a scientist and a healer. I had a lab Earth-me couldn’t even dream of, and if it was a little lonely? What did it matter when I had my research. Then he happens. Kal. A body like a rock, literally. Wings like a bat, horns, and a lion’s tail. He sweeps into my life in the dark of night and steals me like he has every right. His horns are like a crown on his proud head, proclaiming him a king. His passion stirs my own, but I intend to fight him tooth and nail, and get out of this with my heart in one piece. Kalzudaud My heart daughter lies dying after the latest assassination attempt, I refuse to let them steal my throne or the one bright light in my life. Kidnapping the right healer is my only choice. I can be ruthless when I have to be. Heads will roll for this. Once I have the healer in my control, I quickly discover that I need the tiny, feisty human for far more reasons than I ever imagined. She is my mate, the answer to all my prayers. Another attempt on my life sends us both into mortal danger, but a Tarkan with a mate to protect is a force to be reckoned with. A King with a mate, a child, and a throne to save? Unstoppable. This spicy sci-fi romance is part of the Abducted by the Ruthless Royal series and can be read as a standalone. It features one ruthless gargoyle king, a feisty human doctor, and a child waiting for her miracle cure. Guaranteed HEA!

[musicgoon]

Book Review: Culture Making, by Andy Crouch

What can Christians do about our culture? In Culture Making, Andy Crouch helps us recover our creative calling. Crouch defines culture as what we make of the world. Culture is what we were made to do. Culture is inescapable — and that’s a good thing. 

I was most challenged to see how thinking of culture only in terms of worldview falls short of the ability to reshape the world. Culture is not changed simply by thinking. Instead, the only way to change culture is to create more of it. What I most appreciated was how Crouch sees us as culture keepers and culture makers. In particular, Christians are called to be both cultivators and creators. This is how we can steward culture.

God's Coming Kingdom

Chapter 5 takes on a brief interaction of Christianity and culture, like the days of the Renaissance period as well as Contemporary Christian Music. The middle of the book looks at the Bible and culture. Jesus is the culture maker. We see the dramatic cultural effects of his birth, life, death, and resurrection. And while God is the one who changed the world, he uses people to do it. 

The book ends by looking at the reality of power in changing culture. Power is a call to service and stewardship. Finding our calling will help us see where God wants us to be, and there is grace in our failed attempts at redeeming the culture. This book will help you better understand the world, and give you a glimpse of God's coming kingdom.

I received a media copy of Culture Making and this is my honest review. Find more of my book reviews and follow Dive In, Dig Deep on Instagram - my account dedicated to Bibles and books to see the beauty of the Bible and the role of reading in the Christian life. To read all of my book reviews and to receive all of the free eBooks I find on the web, subscribe to my free newsletter.

[tonic31]

Digs is a Roguelike tower defense style game on Steam that challenges you to dig, build, and defend against monsters. It launches on July 31, 2023. Does it Slap or Nah? Check out my first impression review and see for yourself! Disclosure: I received a free review copy of this product from https://keymailer.co Game Page: https://ift.tt/TCyfOeN Teaser Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_6-n1s2S8I About Digs: Warf has a serious case of the "Digs" and it's causing him some major problems in his diamond collecting ventures. Join Warf as he enters the dangerous mines, each time regenerated and filled with precious diamonds. But watch out for those pesky "digs" who will stop at nothing to attack Warf's treasure. Luckily, Warf can use the towers and traps he finds in the mine to fend them off. Help Warf navigate the mine and create the perfect path for collecting all the diamonds, while also trying to avoid any disasters that may come his way. It's a digging adventure like no other! "Digs" is an exciting and challenging roguelike tower defense game that offers endless possibilities and a new experience every time you play. As the defender, your task is to protect a valuable chest from waves of enemies on a randomly generated map. Using strategy and quick thinking, you must dig in the mine and place towers, traps, and obstacles to defend the chest. Each stone block holds various rewards, such as towers, power-ups, and more. Use cards earned at the beginning of each wave to customize and upgrade your towers, giving you the edge you need to defeat the enemies and progress to the next level. The final release will include dozens of different towers, each with unique abilities for crushing more enemies. It will also feature 20+ levels with different components, including 4 different mine types, each with unique challenges. The game will also include dozens of unique enemies and bosses, each with different sizes and behaviors, strengths, and weaknesses. The procedural maps will ensure that every time you start a new level, the level map will be unique. There will also be many permanent upgrades to help you in the later stages. More Details About Digs: Price: ~$15 Type: Premium game ~$15 Similar Games: Dungeon Keeper, Rogue Tower, Isle of Arrows, Ratrapolis, ORX, Orcs Must Die, Plants vs Zombies, Bloons, Kingdom Rush # players: Singleplayer Music: Soundtrack cleared for live streaming Why is it good to feature on your channel? A fantastic roguelike strategy game with new unique mechanics could definitely be to your audience's liking Difficulty: All Levels Languages: English and translated by AI to other languages #digsgame #keymailer #steam #firstimpressions #gametrailer by Bang Bang Potato

[carchecks]

A Crucial Information About Car Owner Check Free

How to find out how many owners a car has for free?

Whether you are buying or selling, a car owner history check can provide vital information that may not be seen with the naked eye.

To find out how many owners a car has had for free, Caranalytics is one of the most popular and reliable sources to turn to.

Caranalytics offers car owner history checks for free and provides detailed reports on any car’s number of owners and accidents. With this information, car buyers and sellers can make more informed decisions about the vehicle they are dealing with.

Doing a car owner history check is quick, easy, and free – so why not make sure you look into the car’s past before making your move.

Is there any information about previous owners in the V5 Logbook?

When buying a car, it’s important to do a car owner history check. The previous owner information in the V5 Logbook is incredibly helpful.

It allows buyers to contact past owners and ask questions about how well they look after a car, how much they drove it, and any mechanical issues.

Fortunately, car owners are legally required to report changes of ownership and details such as car registration numbers to the Government Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), which will provide proof that an owner has officially changed when the V5 Logbook is updated.

This means that whoever is selling the car should always provide an up-to-date logbook – perfect for conducting car owner history checks.

Who has a DVLA-registered car?

Many car owners are familiar with the process of a car owner history check required for car purchases and other car transactions. Every car registered with the DVLA in the United Kingdom has to go through a car owner history check.

The process involves reviewing information on the car’s past owners, mileage records, service history, collisions, check number of owners of a car.

By running a car owner history check, potential car buyers know what they are getting into when purchasing.

Additionally, dealerships use car owner history checks to ensure they sell only legitimate cars without any issues related to their past owners or major damage.

Ultimately, car owner history checks provide much-needed transparency for car buyers and sellers alike.

What should the owner check before buying a used car?

Buying a car can be exciting, but when purchasing a used vehicle, it is critical to conduct thorough research. Before spending any money, car owners should conduct a car owner history check. Caranalytics will guide you with the total number of keepers.

This will provide valuable insight into the car’s history and allow owners to understand if there have been previous repair or maintenance visits and whether the car has been in any type of collision or flood.

A car owner history check is also essential for determining what kind of mileage the car has and understanding how long it has been since its last service work.

Additionally, car owners should visually inspect the engine, brakes, steering components, etc., to identify if any obvious mechanical problems could cost them additional money on repairs later on.