#like i have review-related notes but overall i liked it

[3gremlins]

no, you watched all of hazbin hotel season 1 in one sitting!!

...okay it was me. it was so good?!? def check out if you like cool animation, interesting designs, queer characters and musicals!

[fangdokja]

Which other yan blogs do you like the most? Got any recs? ❤️

From Smut to Storytelling: A Comprehensive Guide to Tumblr’s Yandere Content Creators

♡ Book 5. Ink & Insight (I&I): From Dead Dove to Daydreams.

Since I focus on high-quality, impactful works, I will not be including every blog I’ve ever read but rather those that have stood out over time. My goal is to provide a strategic breakdown of each blog’s strengths and key appeal points for different reader preferences.

Before proceeding, it’s important to note:

These recommendations are specific to Tumblr. If you are looking for erotic horror or truly intense horror narratives with a realistic risk of death or severe, permanent consequences for the protagonist, I recommend exploring AO3 instead. Even then, such content remains scarce, which is why I primarily create my own.

I do not engage in networking. My interactions with content creators and readers are purely based on personal enjoyment, and I do not expect or seek anything in return. My reviews are not influenced by personal relationships or mutual support. These are purely objective evaluations of writing and engagement styles.

Every blog has its strengths and weaknesses. While I focus on strengths here, I am aware of areas where improvement is possible. However, I refrain from sharing critiques unless requested, as my primary intent is to highlight what each blog excels at.

Best Blogs for Socialization, Networking, and Friendliness

For those looking to engage with friendly, social, and network-oriented yandere content creators, two blogs stand out:

@yandere-romanticaa

@suiana

These two blogs offer distinctly different yet complementary approaches to social interaction, content creation, and audience engagement. Below is a comprehensive breakdown of their strengths, characteristics, and what to expect from them.

1. @yandere-romanticaa – The Genuine, Passionate Creator

Social and Networking Strengths

Most Genuine Approach to Networking: Unlike many content creators who network primarily for exposure, @/yandere-romanticaa engages with others purely for enjoyment and natural connection. There is no sense of transactional networking or expectation of mutual benefit. Her interactions with both authors and readers appear completely sincere.

Balanced Communication: She interacts regularly with her audience without overwhelming them. The communication is neither excessive nor lacking, making her blog an ideal space for both active and passive engagement.

Warm but Not Overbearing: While welcoming and social, she does not force interactions. Her friendliness feels natural rather than performative.

Content and Writing Approach

Fandom-Centric Yandere Writing: Unlike many yandere-focused blogs that primarily produce original content, she focuses on fandom-based yandere writing, including characters who are not commonly explored.

Writes for Herself, Not for Trends: She does not chase popularity or tailor content for mass appeal. Instead, she creates what she enjoys, which results in more genuine, passion-driven content.

Diverse Character Selection: Some of her chosen characters are lesser-known or underrepresented in yandere content, offering a fresh perspective for readers seeking variety.

Overall Blog Atmosphere

Welcoming and Comfortable: The atmosphere is inviting to both new and returning readers. While she does not engage in forced networking, she remains open to discussions and interactions.

Relatable and Transparent: Many readers, even those with serious personalities, may find aspects of her self-expressive content relatable.

Consistent but Not Overly Structured: While her blog has a general sense of organization, it does not follow an overly rigid structure. This flexibility allows for a more relaxed experience.

Who Should Follow?

Those looking for a genuine and friendly content creator who interacts naturally.

Readers who enjoy fandom-based yandere content, whether mainstream or lesser-known characters.

Those who appreciate creators who write for themselves rather than for engagement metrics.

2. @suiana – The Chaotic, Lighthearted Entertainer

Social and Networking Strengths

High Engagement and Accessibility: @/suiana actively interacts with her audience in a way that feels casual and approachable. Her blog has a similar social dynamic to @/tonycries, making it ideal for those who enjoy an open and relaxed community.

Effortlessly Humorous and Entertaining: Her approach to audience interaction is playful and unpredictable. She does not follow a traditional structure when engaging with readers, which results in a unique and entertaining social experience.

A "Laughter to the Soul" Experience: Unlike many yandere content creators who focus on darker themes, her presence is lighthearted, often comedic, and unpredictable in a way that feels refreshing rather than forced.

Content and Writing Approach

Chaos-Driven, Unstructured Content: While some authors adhere to strict formatting and structured writing, @/suiana embraces spontaneity. The lack of rigid consistency in her writing reflects her personality—free-spirited, lively, and unfiltered.

Meme Culture Integration: A significant portion of her content is influenced by meme culture, making it more digestible and engaging for casual readers.

Light and Easy-to-Consume Yandere Content: Rather than producing heavy, deep psychological yandere narratives, her content leans toward entertainment and humor, making it ideal for those who want something less intense.

Overall Blog Atmosphere

Informal and Fun: The atmosphere is chaotic yet welcoming, making it suitable for readers who enjoy casual interactions without pressure.

Highly Interactive: She frequently engages with her audience, creating a dynamic space where interactions feel personal rather than distant.

Unstructured but Authentic: The unpredictable nature of her content means that followers never know what to expect, adding to the blog’s charm.

Who Should Follow?

Readers who enjoy humor, chaos, and lighthearted yandere content.

Those who prefer highly interactive blogs that engage directly with the audience.

People who don’t mind lack of structure and enjoy spontaneous, unpredictable content.

Conclusion

Both @/yandere-romanticaa and @/suiana offer unique and engaging experiences, but their styles cater to different audiences.

If you prefer a genuine, naturally social creator who focuses on fandom-based yandere content, @/yandere-romanticaa is the ideal choice. She does not network for clout but engages sincerely with others, making her blog a strong recommendation for those seeking real interactions.

If you enjoy chaotic, lighthearted, meme-filled, and interactive content, @/suiana provides an experience similar to @/tonycries but with her own quirky twist. Her blog thrives on humor, making it an entertaining space for casual engagement.

Ultimately, both blogs offer friendly and welcoming environments, making them excellent recommendations for those looking to connect with others in the yandere community. The best choice depends on whether you prefer structured fandom yandere writing with organic socialization or spontaneous, humorous, and highly interactive content.

Best Blogs for Long-Form Content and Committed Readers

For those who appreciate long-form storytelling, detailed character studies, and in-depth analysis, two standout blogs in the yandere community are:

@darkbluekies

@cinnamonest

These blogs offer rich, immersive content that rewards committed readers willing to invest in well-developed narratives and detailed exploration of character psychology. Below is a comprehensive breakdown of their strengths, writing approaches, and the overall experience they provide.

1. @darkbluekies – The Classic Long-Form Storyteller

Core Strengths:

Long-Form Narrative Structure: Unlike many yandere blogs that focus on short drabbles or rapid content bursts, @/darkbluekies prioritizes fully developed storylines. This allows for deeper immersion and a stronger emotional impact, making her work well-suited for those who prefer slow-burn narratives rather than quick gratification.

Character-Driven Stories: A major highlight is the focus on characterization. The characters feel like actual people rather than plot devices, which is a testament to strong writing. Silas, in particular, is a great example of a well-developed yandere whose actions are dictated by internal logic rather than mere trope execution.

Commitment to Depth: Her approach allows the plot to "simmer," which is a major strength for those who enjoy binge-reading after the buildup. The detailed nature of the writing ensures that when events unfold, they feel meaningful rather than rushed.

Consistency in Writing Quality: The prose is polished and demonstrates a commitment to careful execution rather than surface-level writing. There is no reliance on shock value or overused tropes without justification; instead, every element is deliberately placed for effect.

Ideal Audience:

Readers who prefer slow-burn yandere fiction with fully realized characters rather than instant gratification.

Those who enjoy structured, thought-out narratives over quick headcanons or one-off scenarios.

Readers who prefer to binge-read rather than consume sporadic short content.

Why It Stands Out:

Many yandere blogs prioritize high-volume output, focusing on quick drabbles or low-investment posts. @/darkbluekies, in contrast, values long-term engagement and immersion, making her blog ideal for those looking for deeper storytelling rather than surface-level content.

2. @cinnamonest – The Analytical Dark Smut Specialist

Core Strengths:

In-Depth Character Analysis: This is arguably the most valuable feature of the blog. @/cinnamonest takes a methodical, research-based approach to yandere characterization, deconstructing characters from multiple angles while ensuring their portrayals remain as accurate as possible to their original source material.

Comprehensive Character Profiles: Unlike general fandom posts, which often apply a one-size-fits-all approach to yandere characterization, her work focuses on precise and well-reasoned breakdowns. These analyses are particularly useful for understanding how different characters would realistically behave as yanderes without distorting their personalities.

Dark Smut & Psychological Depth: While she does write fanfiction—including dark smut—it maintains the same level of intellectual engagement and structural integrity as her analysis work. The psychological depth in these works makes them feel purposeful rather than just shock-driven or formulaic.

Commitment to Accuracy: Many blogs impose personal interpretations on characters that contradict their canon traits. @/cinnamonest instead grounds her assessments in the actual source material, making her blog one of the most objectively reliable when it comes to character-based discussions.

Ideal Audience:

Readers who enjoy analysis and intellectual breakdowns of yandere characters rather than just surface-level tropes.

Writers who want to study character profiles and deepen their understanding of yandere psychology.

Readers who appreciate accurate, well-thought-out interpretations of characters as yanderes rather than generic fanon distortions.

Why It Stands Out:

There are very few yandere blogs that take an analytical approach rather than an emotional or trope-based one. @/cinnamonest bridges critical analysis and fan engagement, offering content that is both intellectually satisfying and narratively compelling.

Conclusion: Two Different Strengths, One Common Thread

Both @/darkbluekies and @/cinnamonest excel in long-form, immersive, and substantial content, but they serve different purposes:

@/darkbluekies is the go-to for structured narrative-driven yandere fiction, where storylines and characters are developed over time.

@/cinnamonest provides analytical depth, offering breakdowns of yandere characters with objective accuracy and structured thought.

For readers who value long-form engagement, well-constructed narratives, or intellectual analysis, these two blogs are among the best options.

Blogs with the Best Overall Writing Quality (Plot, Style, Pacing, and Timing)

⭐Fang Dokja's Personally Fav Fanfic Blogs: @/yanderenightmare & @/yanderedrabbles

In assessing the best overall writing in terms of plot structure, writing style, pacing, and timing, two Tumblr blogs stand out:

@yanderenightmare

@yanderedrabbles

Both of these blogs consistently deliver short, impactful, and highly engaging content that makes them ideal for readers who prefer bite-sized, yet immersive yandere fanfiction.

While long-form writing is a different experience, short-form content requires a precise balance of storytelling, character impact, and pacing efficiency. These two blogs excel in this area, maintaining quality while keeping stories digestible.

These blogs excel in concise, well-crafted stories with strong pacing, making them ideal for readers who prefer high-impact short-form content.

1. @yanderenightmare: The Gold Standard of Organization & Precision

1. Blog Organization & Readability

Among all the Tumblr fanfiction blogs, @/yanderenightmare has the cleanest and most structured format. This is a highly underrated strength, as blog clutter can significantly affect readability, ease of access, and long-term engagement.

Separation of reblogs from main content: Unlike many fanfiction writers who mix reblogs, asks, and external discussions into their main page, @/yanderenightmare keeps everything separate. Readers searching for purely original content will not have to filter through unrelated posts, ensuring a smooth reading experience.

Minimal wasted space: Every post has a clear function—whether it's a story update, an announcement, or a clarification ask. There is no unnecessary filler or excessive personal discourse that disrupts the content flow.

Content-focused approach: This kind of tight content curation is rare, making her blog the most efficient for readers who want to consume content without distractions.

2. Strength in Timing, Pacing, and Narrative Flow

A major factor that makes @/yanderenightmare’s writing stand out is her precision in story delivery. She has an innate sense of pacing and timing, knowing exactly when to introduce tension, escalate conflict, and deliver resolution—all within a short-form format.

No wasted words: Every line contributes to either character development or plot advancement, making her writing compact yet immersive.

Worldbuilding without unnecessary exposition: She manages to incorporate background details and setting depth without long-winded explanations, making the stories more engaging.

Impactful endings: Short-form writing requires a strong conclusion, and she consistently delivers memorable final lines that leave a lasting impression.

3. Classic Yandere Characters & Entertaining Worldbuilding

Beyond pacing and organization, her characters have a classic appeal that resonates with hard dom, non-con yandere fans. While shorter stories often limit depth, her characters remain vivid and recognizable through subtle but effective characterization.

Classic yandere themes executed well (possession, control, obsession).

Balanced mix of worldbuilding and action, ensuring that even shorter works feel immersive.

Distinctive writing voice that sets her apart in the genre.

For readers who prioritize clean blog organization, strong pacing, and an engaging, distraction-free experience, @/yanderenightmare is the best choice.

2. @yanderedrabbles – The Titan of Short-Form Yandere Fiction

Strengths in Writing and Story Execution

Pioneer in Short-Form Yandere Fiction: @/yanderedrabbles is widely recognized as one of the most well-known and respected short-form yandere fanfiction blogs.

Perfectly Executed Bite-Sized Content: Each piece is designed to be short yet immersive, making her works ideal for on-the-go reading without sacrificing quality.

Strong Narrative Cohesion in Limited Word Count: Despite the brevity, her stories manage to maintain solid plot structures, clear character motivations, and immersive tension, which is difficult to achieve in short-form writing.

Content and Writing Approach

Easily Digestible Stories Without Excessive Complexity: Unlike long-form writers who focus on drawn-out plot development, @/yanderedrabbles excels at delivering immediate impact, ensuring that each short story leaves a lasting impression.

Consistent Theme and Style: Her writing style remains reliable and easy to recognize, making her works ideal for binge-reading.

Classic Non-Con Dom Yandere Characters: Her portrayals of yandere characters align with the dominant, possessive, and obsessive archetypes, making them a go-to for fans of intense yandere dynamics.

Overall Blog Atmosphere

Quick and Readable Content Structure: Her blog is designed for readers who prefer fast but engaging stories, making it one of the best choices for those who don’t have time for long-form narratives.

Perfect for Re-Reading: Due to the short nature of her works, they are highly re-readable, making it easy for readers to return to their favorite pieces without needing to commit to an extended story arc.

Classic Yet Evergreen Writing Style: Even though her works have been around for a while, they remain just as relevant and enjoyable as when they were first posted.

Who Should Follow?

Readers who prefer short, easy-to-consume stories with satisfying plots.

Those who enjoy classic dominant yandere characters without unnecessary narrative complexity.

Fans of fast-paced but well-written yandere fiction that can be read in one sitting.

Conclusion

Both @/yanderenightmare and @/yanderedrabbles provide top-tier short-form yandere content, but they excel in different areas:

@/yanderenightmare is the best choice for readers who value structure, pacing, and a clutter-free reading experience. Her blog’s organization and efficiency make her stories easy to consume, while her pacing and timing create a strong narrative impact.

@/yanderedrabbles is ideal for those who want quick, re-readable, high-quality yandere fiction without unnecessary complexity. Her stories are designed for immediate enjoyment, making them perfect for on-the-go reading.

For readers who appreciate structured storytelling and a well-organized blog, @/yanderenightmare is the best fit. For those who prefer classic yandere short-form content that is fast and impactful, @/yanderedrabbles is unmatched.

Both blogs cater to short-form yandere fiction readers while maintaining a high standard of writing, pacing, and readability, making them essential follows for fans of the genre.

Other Notable Mentions

Anime Short-Form / Easy-to-Consume Content

1. @animeyanderelover

Overview:

One of the most beginner-friendly yandere blogs, specializing in short-form, anime-themed content. This blog serves as a foundational entry point for those new to yandere works, offering easily digestible content that does not require deep emotional or psychological investment.

Strengths:

Wide Variety: Covers a broad range of anime characters, including both mainstream and lesser-known figures, ensuring continuous content expansion.

Accessible Writing Style: The writing is light and easy to follow, making it suitable for readers who prefer casual consumption rather than long-form, intricate plots.

Frequent Updates: Due to the short-form nature of the content, posts are frequent, offering a steady flow of material for casual binge-reading.

Ideal For:

Readers who are new to the yandere genre and want introductory content.

Those who enjoy anime-based yandere scenarios with a mix of mainstream and niche characters.

Readers who prefer quick, on-the-go consumption rather than long narratives.

────────────

2. Niche Manhwa / Long-Form Yandere Content

@cassanderasblog

Overview:

A blog dedicated to niche manhwa-inspired yandere content, typically centered on dominant love interests who regret their past actions and attempt to reconcile with the reader. The storytelling aligns with the classic "angsty ex-lover redemption" trope, making it appealing to those who enjoy emotionally charged narratives.

Strengths:

Manhwa-Inspired Writing: Content structure resembles plotlines commonly found in manhwa, making it a strong fit for readers familiar with the genre.

Regret & Redemption Tropes: Appeals to readers who enjoy dominant characters with a softer side, seeking atonement.

Longer Narratives: While some readers might find longer posts less digestible, those who enjoy immersive storytelling will appreciate the depth.

Ideal For:

Readers who prefer manhwa tropes and structured narratives.

Fans of regretful dominant yanderes seeking reconciliation.

Those who enjoy character-driven emotional development.

@forbidden-sunlight

Overview:

A blog known for its manhwa and isekai-inspired yandere works, offering a balance between soft yandere romance and meaningful, long-form storytelling. Compared to others, this blog’s tone is less intense, making it a good choice for readers who enjoy subtle, nuanced character interactions.

Strengths:

Soft Yandere Dynamics: Unlike more extreme depictions, this blog’s approach is gentle yet persistent.

Long-Form but Easygoing: The writing is lengthy but maintains a light, introspective tone, making it ideal for relaxed reading sessions.

Manhwa & Isekai Tropes: Content often integrates classic tropes from these genres, such as reincarnation, fate, and noble settings.

Ideal For:

Readers who prefer soft yet devoted yanderes.

Those who enjoy long-form narratives with a more poetic, slice-of-life feel.

Readers looking for meaningful but not overwhelmingly intense yandere content.

────────────

3. Smut-Centric Yandere Blogs

@yandere-daydreams

Overview:

One of the most well-known blogs for yandere smut content. It has built a reputation for its expansive collection of erotic yandere scenarios, covering a wide range of settings and character dynamics.

Strengths:

Extensive Archive: A large body of work spanning multiple years, making it ideal for binge-reading.

Diverse Smut Scenarios: Offers various approaches to yandere relationships, from slow burns to more intense dynamics.

Consistently High-Quality Writing: Each piece maintains a strong level of execution, ensuring reliability in content quality.

Ideal For:

Readers seeking an extensive archive of yandere smut.

Those who enjoy a mix of character-driven narratives and explicit content.

Fans of darker romance with strong erotic tension.

@youryanderedaddy

Overview:

A blog that focuses on short, easily digestible yandere smut with an emphasis on dominant, bullying love interests. The writing often includes scumbag male leads, which aligns well with more aggressive and sadistic yandere portrayals.

Strengths:

Short and Concise: Ideal for quick consumption without long plot build-ups.

Dominant & Bullying Yanderes: The characters often embody possessive, aggressive traits, appealing to those who enjoy such dynamics.

Unique Settings & Plots: While the core themes remain consistent, the scenarios are varied enough to remain engaging.

Ideal For:

Readers looking for quick, intense yandere smut.

Fans of dominant, borderline cruel yanderes.

Those who prefer shorter narratives over drawn-out emotional arcs.

────────────

4. Yandere Art & Storyline-Driven Illustrations

@lan90

Overview:

An artist-blog that pairs concise yandere narratives with illustrations. The balance between visual and textual storytelling makes it an engaging experience.

Strengths:

Art & Story Integration: Unlike purely text-based blogs, this one enhances the reading experience with visuals.

Short, Plot-Driven Works: The narratives are brief yet well-structured, making them easy to follow.

Dopamine-Boosting Content: Due to the fast-paced storytelling and art, it provides quick enjoyment.

Ideal For:

Readers who enjoy art-based storytelling.

Those looking for short, engaging yandere content.

Fans of aesthetic, well-drawn yandere character depictions.

@danijaci

Overview:

Primarily focused on Genshin and Honkai: Star Rail content, this blog blends lighthearted yandere scenarios with comedic elements, making it a refreshing departure from purely dark content.

Strengths:

Fandom-Specific Content: Appeals to Genshin & HSR fans.

Comedic & Lighthearted: The inclusion of humor makes the scenarios more approachable.

Strong Art Quality: Even for non-yandere content, the artwork is consistently well-executed.

Ideal For:

Fans of Genshin Impact & Honkai: Star Rail.

Readers who enjoy a mix of yandere and comedic elements.

Those who appreciate both text and art content.

────────────

5. Yandere Recommendations for Manga, Manhwa & Games

@ystrike1

Overview:

This blog serves as an information hub for yandere content across different media, including manga, manhwa, and video games. It functions similarly to the Male Yandere Reddit community, providing updates and recommendations on yandere-related works outside of fanfiction.

Strengths:

Highly Updated Recommendations: Ensures followers stay informed on new yandere-related media.

Covers Multiple Mediums: Unlike blogs that focus solely on fanfiction, this one extends to games and original works.

Curated for Yandere Enthusiasts: The content is tailored specifically for those interested in discovering new yandere characters and series.

Ideal For:

Readers looking for yandere content beyond fanfiction.

Those interested in manga, manhwa, and games featuring yanderes.

Fans of structured, update-based content rather than narrative-driven works.

Final Thoughts

This list is structured to help readers find content that aligns with their specific preferences. Whether you enjoy social engagement, in-depth storytelling, short but impactful narratives, or smut-heavy content, each of these blogs brings something unique to the table.

Again, these reviews are purely objective. While I have my personal preferences, this breakdown is based on the strengths each blog demonstrates within their respective categories. If you are new to yandere content on Tumblr or looking for specific types of stories, this should serve as a comprehensive guide.

♡ A/N. This took so long to do ughhhhh. Hope it helps though.

❤︎ Fang Dokja's Books.

♡ For Reader-Inserts. I only write Male Yandere x Female (Fem.) Reader (heterosexual couple). No LGBTQ+:

♡ Book 1. A Heart Devoured (AHD): A Dark Yandere Anthology

♡ Book 2. Forbidden Fruits (FF): Intimate Obsessions, Unhinged Desires.

♡ Book 3. World Ablaze (WA) : For You, I'd Burn the World.

♡ Book 4. Whispers in the Dark (WITD): Subtle Devotion, Lingering Shadows.

♡ Book 5 [you are here]. Ink & Insight (I&I): From Dead Dove to Daydreams.

♡ Library MASTERPOST 1. The Librarian’s Ledger: A Map to The Library of Forbidden Texts.

♡ Notice #1. Not all stories are included in the masterpost due to Tumblr’s link limitations. However, most long-form stories can be found here. If you're searching for a specific yandere or theme, this guide will help you navigate The Library of Forbidden Texts. Proceed with caution

♡ Book 6. The Red Ledger (TRL): Stained in Lust, Written in Blood.

♡ Notice #2. This masterlist is strictly for non-con smut and serves as an exercise in refining erotic horror writing. Comments that reduce my work to mere sexual gratification, thirst, or casual simping will not be tolerated. If your response is primarily thirst-driven, keep it to yourself—repeated violations may result in blocking. Read the RULES before engaging. The tag list is rese

[daisys-reality]

♡ꜞ˖ ᴘɪᴄᴋ-ᴀ-ᴄᴀʀᴅ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ

What do you fear as a shifter? How should you deal with it? 🍞

⌇ reality shifting themed tarot reading | masterlist | voting

pile one

Overall, you seem to struggle with taking ownership of the decisions you make. And you’re quick to overthink things and together this causes a lot of inner conflict. It seems that one major thing here in regards to your shifting journey is that you fear is being stuck in limbo, you might be anxious over how long it takes and how you might possibly miss opportunities because of this ‘delay’. As others (seem to) move forward, you fear being left behind by the world. This makes you ponder a lot about what direction your life (/shifting journey) is going in… over and over again… and it makes you feel confused, unsure and hesitant. You need to remember that you are the master of your own destiny. Don’t try to blame ‘the universe’ if your situation is a result of choices that you’ve made. 

Sometimes it might feel intimidating to take the first step toward resolving the inner conflict and its roots but that doesn’t mean progress isn’t possible. You can break this frustrating ‘feeling of stagnation’ with some creativity, courage, and clarity! Just do whatever you can to make YOURSELF feel like you’re (more) ready to face whatever is coming towards you - whether you review past DR ideas and scripts or indulge more into DR related topics etc. The point is that you should counterattack your overthinking nature - if you feel that you start spiraling again, do something to assure yourself and to get on track again! Your mind will often have conflicting thoughts but don’t let it ruin your decision making skills.

On a side note, you might also fear getting hurt in your DR - whether mentally, emotionally or physically. There is some kind of imbalance or gap between mind and heart or just misaligned values. If you feel like you’re forcing yourself to experience things that you actually don’t want to experience (or that make you lowkey uncomfortable), try to think about where this stems from. I feel like you might not even be aware of the fact that you’re doing this… Re-evaluate your choices and address these misalignments (inner conflicts) to regain your balance back and to clear up the mental fog. Trying to develop a deeper understanding of your DR self,  their values and beliefs might also help you in understanding what you actually want to experience there. Good luck!

pile two

This is a bit tricky but i think you might fear becoming or being emotionally immature, not wanting to come to terms with your feelings, being defensive about it and lying to yourself or trying to deceive yourself that you’re okay/strong/healthy etc. through senseless meaningless pursuits/things (ex. casual flings, shopping, eating - leading to dependencies/addictions). Frightened and threatened by your own sensitivity, fearing losing control over your emotions, you might try to conceal your insecurities by presenting a distant and uncaring (or overly strong, pretty, overpowered = flawless=unreachable) facade to the outer world. In fact, you might fear being controlled by emotions (through yourself or others) or becoming someone who misuses their emotional intelligence. This might stem from past trauma where you experienced emotional dynamics that were used to manipulate or to exert control. Overall, there is a need for setting boundaries, learning how to be more resilient against emotional manipulations, and becoming more emotionally stable and confident/free/autonome through healthy self expression and management of emotions.

You might also fear not achieving the desired level of success, stability or happiness. You yourself might even worry about becoming too materialistic, too arrogant or losing touch with other values the more time you spend as a (limitless) shifter. While you understand how lucky you are to get to know about shifting in this life, how many opportunities this brings and how it can provide security and comfort, it might not necessarily be solely ‘enough’ to lead to a fulfilling life. You’re concerned about how to balance all these things to not turn into extremes. Deep down, it’s very important to you that you maintain your integrity but you’re afraid of not being strong or capable enough to do so in the face of these limitless opportunities and freedom that shifting entails. Trying to focus more on quality than quantity while choosing your path (your journeys, DRs, your background, your life etc.) will bring you closer to a fulfilling life. 

pile three

You seem to fear discontentment and dissatisfaction at a personal level. You fear that all these experiences will just lead to apathy, disinterest and overall detachment from life or from being alive! You worry that life will just feel boring in the end and you’re scared of what that means. This might be triggering for some but some of you might ultimately fear coming to a point where you’d rather want to d*e then stay alive. 

I can see that deep down you take this very seriously and you have respect for the freedom and limitlessness that shifting offers you but you know how we humans are and how fragile our mind can become just because we’re not ‘prepared’ or ready yet for what we have to face in our lives. 

If you had the choice, you would like to always have a direction or an end destination in mind, you might hate living an aimless life. You don’t want to stagnate; you want to always progress. And while you hate feeling like you’re trapped in your circumstances, you oftentimes stay unwilling to make sacrifices for change because you fear wasting these sacrifices or missing opportunities later on because of these sacrifices. There might be an overall resistance to letting go or a reluctance to see things from a new perspective. I feel like you're someone that would hate being a people pleaser and not having any independent thoughts - becoming narrow minded like others (in your opinion). You don’t want to bend down or surrender. And coming back to the beginning, you fear reaching a point in your life as a shifter where you feel like you have no further direction, where you feel pushed into a corner, forced to start living like the others and adapting their mindset because your way of doing things led you to a stalemate. 

You need to remember that this perception you have is influenced by your attitude and opinions and is not completely free of prejudice or illusions. While some of these imaginings might be a possibility, it is important not to lose yourself in those or rather to not restrict yourself by those imposed limits. Why think about the end when you haven’t even fully started your journey? Stay open-minded. Seek stability in this overwhelming chaos of opportunities. Release outdated attachments, learn as you go and do so with flow -  learn about what makes you happy and what fulfills you. There is no need to think about the afterwards when you haven’t even come close to the end. Just think about the next step while taking care of yourself, your health and happiness. You won’t be hanging aimlessly in the air, you’re more than capable to assert control and structure in your life, at any time. But try to do so with integrity, flexibility and empathy to ensure that your ‘order’ does not become oppression (of yourself).

[askagamedev]

Is there a "wrong/right" way to boycott a game (besides obivious attacks and death threats?

I can't find the tweet nor recall the specifics, but it was about an not related developer talking about how the fanbase should be better in how to boycott or else it would damage the franchise long-term wise in ways nobody wins. Even if what the fanbase was angry about is valid.

The answer to your question entirely depends on what your goal actually is. A boycott isn't a goal by itself, it is a means to an end - usually the players are mad about something and the boycott (or whatever else - review bomb, harassment, doxxing, death threats, etc.) is an attempt at applying pressure to make the developer do something else (among other things like venting a bunch of hurt feelings).

If an angry player wants to vent hurt feelings, then the usual anonymous retaliation methods - review bombing, harassment, threats to quit, petitions, calls for boycott, etc. - are what they usually settle on. These forms of feedback have the lowest overall chances of actually enacting any change and they are the most adversarial of the options, but they are also the way that feels the strongest, like the fan is "fighting back".

If the angry player actually wants to provide feedback, they can do so in a reasonable manner on any officially monitored channel - usually reddit, twitter, official forums, etc. Being honest about what you dislike and why you dislike it is usually enough. If there's enough feedback from enough people, the devs will actually take it into consideration and do it. It's worth noting that this is also the method that takes a really long time to show results. Devs usually don't post responses immediately, and we're [usually working two patches in the future].

Often, the best thing a player can actually do is to find a different game to play. We live in a time where there are so many good games being released that finding a new and interesting game to play should not be difficult. There is often little more than mindset tying a player to a particular game or franchise. Emotional engagement with the players is good for us because it keeps players interested, but the players don't really get that much out of it. I don't think it's super healthy to make a game or franchise a significant part of my identity, so I think it's best to put a little emotional distance between myself and any given franchise. I can enjoy them when they're good, but I can go do something else when things take a turn for the worse. I think more people would do better to take a similar approach.

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[curio-queries]

Are You Sure?!

Episodes 5 & 6 Notes

It was very fortuitous that I've been so busy over the last couple of weeks as I really needed both of these episodes together to make sense of my thoughts. This post is definitely far more conceptual than my last ones so if you're up for it, click on though the cut!

AYS's Main Character?

I would like to propose that AYS has a main character OTHER than the individual humans we're following along on screen. (I warned you, this post was going to be conceptual.) And the main character is the relationship itself, how each of the members relate to one another.

Here's Google's AI overview on what this concept means:

A story can center on the relationship between characters as the primary protagonist, with the dynamic and evolution of that connection acting as the main driving force of the narrative, rather than the individual characters themselves.

Key points to consider:

Relationship-centric stories: Many genres, particularly romance, often focus heavily on the relationship between the main characters, exploring its complexities, challenges, and growth throughout the story.

No single protagonist: In such cases, the "character" is the bond between the individuals, not just one person's perspective or journey.

Exploring the dynamic: The narrative would then focus on how the relationship changes, adapts, and reacts to external situations or internal conflicts.

Examples:

"Before Sunrise": The entire plot revolves around the single night encounter between two strangers, with the developing connection being the central focus.

"Brokeback Mountain": The story primarily explores the forbidden love between two cowboys, highlighting the complexities of their relationship in a restrictive environment.

"Steel Magnolias ": A group of girls in a small town in Louisiana experience grief together, including weddings, fatal illnesses, and the loss of loved ones.

Now before anyone comes for me saying I'm just pitching an argument for xyz fanwar, please note that I included the above just to illustrate the concept of a non-person main character rather than stating any of the above are comparisons to the individual member's relationships. We're talking about a show that was produced and distributed for entertainment, nothing further.

Episode 5

My main feeling after finally being able to watch episode 5 was overall unsettled. There was something sticking with me about that episode and I could NOT figure out what it was.

I knew I was feeling like the entire episode was stretched well beyond what the footage wanted for a complete episode. I'm all for getting to spend more time with our fellas but the Jeju trip would have benefited from being cut down to 2 episodes rather than 3, in my opinion.

There was just a whole lotta nothing happening. The guys eat, travel around a little bit, and eat some more. I had some vague thoughts about how I could quantify some data for y'all to explain this point but then it was time for the next episode...

vs. Episode 6

And what an absolutely lovely breath of fresh air this episode was. I know there have been some Run eps that I review with a smile on my face throughout the whole episode but AYS6?? That was 73 minutes of pure bliss.

So I started thinking about what must be different between the two eps. The guys eat, travel around a little bit, and eat some more...wait, that's exactly what I said about ep 5! Lol

But I think the main difference between the two is episode 6's plot points continually focus on the relationships between the members, while 5 falls a little stagnant.

Some examples:

JM/cat & JK/dog. I'm ALWAYS down for more footage of BTS with pets but this is frankly too much time spent on these scenes. It's honestly footage I would have expected in the bonus content instead of the main product. It's not just an establishing beat or a setup for a callback, this is supposed to be a scene but since it doesn't contribute to the journey of the main character aka the relationships. It could maaaybe work if they'd cut it to highlight the juxtaposition of how JM is calm with the cat vs JKs energy with the dog but that would have shortened the time it occupied and they were clearly trying to keep absolutely everything in that would lengthen the episode.

JKs stew. The ONLY thing that ties this plot point into the narrative of this show (other than it happening while he's in Jeju and Jimin is nearby) is the offhand comment he made that Jimin would like it while he was in NY. I'm going to talk more about this footage below but this was absolutely crucial for this whole beat making it into the episode. This is also why the footage of JM eating it and randomly taking off his shirt was kept in. The cut they chose is actually pretty bad story-wise but they used it anyway. We hear JM saying how much he loves it and how glad he is that JK is a good cook. It ties all of this time we spent watching JK do something alone back into the real main character of the show (the members' relationships between eachother in different circumstances).

Anyway, I won't belabour the point any further. With Tae constantly disappearing from scenes and the slightly diminished lack of focus on the member's relationships, episode 5 left me on an odd note.

A Little Production Note

I was completely thrown by the footage of JK in NY that we got this episode. But not for the reasons you may be thinking. (I do wonder if the anon that was sending in asks about the financing behind the documentaries is still around because we're getting into some of tidbits finally.)

So, all along we've been trying to sus out as much as we can, just a few details about how AYS came to be. We've had some hints but the inclusion of this footage may be another indicator.

The facts as we know them:

AYS is distributed by Disney.

Jungkook's documentary is being distributed by Trafalgar Releasing NOT Disney (at least not now, maybe it'll make it onto streaming after cinematic release but who knows?)

Questions due to the footage of JK in NY:

Was this footage captured as part of JKs documentary?

If so, when was it pulled to be utilized for AYS? Did the editors find it or were the writers involved?

We know that HYBE gathers behind-the-scene content without always having a full plan of how it will be used. But there are times where it did seem intentional for a specific purpose. Where did JKs Golden footage fall in?

Once upon a time, production houses would make deals with distributors about quantities of projects that would be delivered. Was that the case with the Disney deal or has every single project been negotiated separately and we only heard about it once there was a confirmed quantity. Somewhere in the middle perhaps?

And that's all I've got to say for now. I do have some more thoughts about things I've gleaned during these last couple of episodes but it'll likely keep until the end.

Anyway, this footage bumped me because it broke the rules of cross-project production. They got away with it for JKs SEVEN footage in ep 1 because they likely were using the same production crew since it was literally the same day so it doesnt feel like they're'breaking the wall'. But the NY-Jeju crews could have been completely different.

Editing to add further clarification to this point in this ask.

On a sidenote, do y'all remember the last time we got footage of jikook in a hotspring?? I'll jog your memory if not, it was in BV:4 and they 'washed each other's faces'. I can't even imagine what we're about to see in episode 7.

Link to my AYS MasterList

[weirdly-specific-but-ok]

WebMD Page for Aziraphale

As promised to you all, inspired by that video of Aziraphale as an antidepressant. The WebMD drug format, from your clearly deranged mascot, Asmi. This took way too much effort. For legal purposes, even though this blog is a lawless hellscape, this is a spoof. If you did like it, reblog it, maggoty loves of mine, because likes don't help visibility on tumblr, and I want everyone to be traumatised with my own specific brand of unhinged. No pressure though, be rebels muaha. That being said:

MENU > DRUGS & MEDICATIONS > AZIRAPHALE

COMMON BRAND(S): Guardian of the East Gate, Angel GENERIC NAME(S): Aziraphale

USES This medication is used to treat mood-related disorders ranging from depression to chronic loneliness and anxiety. It has also been proven effective in treatment of Compulsive Demonic Behavioural Disorder (CDBD) and Post Fall Stress Disorder (PFSD). The medication results in an overall improvement in mood (see Side Effects), morals, and lifestyle choices. This medication is sometimes described as a 'miracle-worker'. It is advisable to ensure that the correct dosage is taken at regular intervals. The doctor/God/Forces That Be may prescribe a lower dose at the start, gradually increasing frequency and amount over the course of millennia.

SIDE EFFECTS Documented side-effects include pining behaviour, severe withdrawal symptoms in case of suddenly stopping the medication, heart palpitations, stuttering or stammering, mood swings including irrational lashing out or defensive behaviour when faced with highly emotional situations, break-ups, misunderstands, obliviousness, amongst others. Despite the studies being limited to a single subject (see Crowley et. al. updated 2023) these effects are typically harmless in the long term. Life-altering effects may also be noted, including irretrievably falling in love, marriage, a positive character arc, tendencies to put oneself at risk to ensure continuation of medication, lifelong friendship, fate-defying romance and severe allergy to the idea of discontinuation of medication.

WARNINGS Casual or reckless consumption can be too fast for the medication, which will lessen its effects, leading to withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms range from repeated indulging in CDBD and PFSD induced behaviours to alcoholism, depressive episodes, recklessness, listlessness, and prolonged car rides with no purpose. While the medication should not be consumed too fast, regularity is also advised. This is a long-term medication and not a short-term fix. Rare, short-term exposures will only worsen the side effects, withdrawal symptoms and may even reverse the drug effects.

PRECAUTIONS Ensure immortality so that the medication may be able to work its effect through the full course. Pre-existing trauma and heart conditions may require regular consultations with a therapist.

INTERACTIONS Drug interactions may change how the medication works or increase severity of side effects. This document does not include a comprehensive list of all drug interactions, please do adequate research and check instructions on the medication before proceeding with additional drugs. Aziraphale is known to have highly negative interactions with the toxin hellfire as well as the drugs Gabriel (only when sold as Supreme Archangel), Satan and Metatron (known toxin). Negative interference may occur due to most drugs from the class Heaven and Hell. Vague interference may occur with the drug class Homo sapiens.

OVERDOSE While less dangerous than withdrawal symptoms, overdose may lead to lack of personal space, miscommunication, and decrease in mood stability. Increased irritability is also common. Use with caution.

IMAGE

REVIEWS (1) Effectiveness: 5 stars Ease of use: 4 stars Satisfaction: 100000000000000000000e stars

It must be noted that in the country where I live (India), advertisements for pharmaceutical drugs are legally prohibited on television and other media. Which is why I was very bewildered at the initial video. But WebMD is a universal phenomenon so this shall by my contribution to the fandom. Thank you @neil-gaiman, Good Omens has given me a lot of opportunities to exercise my brain in all the weirdest ways.

[omorimodreverie]

Reverie Devlog - 2025 January

Intro

New Year has just passed and now we are in 2025, which also means a new Dev log!

This log is a relatively shorter one in terms of progress made, as the majority of work  happened in November, as December was busy for almost everyone. Instead, part of the focus in this devlog will concern management during times of low activity.

Progress

Main writing properly reviewed

Aside from major cutscenes and dialogue-heavy writing, work was also finalized on any transition scenes that will lead to the next chapter.

Gameplay progress testing started

A lot of things are still missing, but the chapter is playable for the main progression.

Testing was done to ensure that the chapter can be accessed through previous chapter (Ch. 3) save files.

Miscellaneous RPGMV work

Various minor bug fixes, as well as cutscene tweaks.

While no major implementation was done, it still added up to quite a lot of work.

Enemy AI brainstormed and drafted

These are just drafts for now, however, and proper testing with stats will take place later on

What’s Next

As of now, a decent chunk of people in the team are still on a well-deserved break - January will likely not see any major spike in activity. At this point, identifying specific tasks needed to be completed is sometimes tricky, even when a lot of things are obviously missing.

The probable first thing on our task list is simply playing through what we have so far, and looking for anything missing: ranging from technical bugs, to gameplay aspects (communicating where to go next or balancing in battles).

For those interested, at the moment the majority of RPGMV related tasks are hooked on the Github Project of the REVERIE project repository. Even though I was out for over a month, I did manage to list a bunch of tasks requiring completion while playing through in advance. It is likely that something similar will be done for this month as well.

As for a specific list of those tasks (that I can publicly talk about):

Extra optional areas - these are after the main chapter bosses and optional challenges. They tend to be large and have more winding paths, but are only 1-3 maps.

Extra optional fights, similar to above, but specific battles. Chapter 4 will come with a dedicated optional area, unlike the chapters that came before.

Creating and implementing the ending cutscene, though this is pretty much the final thing on the to-do list.

Playtesting and balancing various combat side gameplay.

Making skill animations, if time and resources permit

Final Notes

Overall, the past 2 months have been more lackluster in terms of progress, but that is usual and to be expected during Winter break / New Year (as most people get busy). I myself have been almost completely offline for over a month, so even I need to catch up on the work done so far: that's the reason why this dev log is a bit delayed.

Anyways, as a thanks for reading this far, here's a teaser for a battle theme for The Dungeon area and a preview of a battle gimmick there!

(It might seem a bit strange to separate battle themes for a minor areas; it's a remnant from trying to manage music in advance way back since Chapter 2)

[carriehobbs]

The Wayhaven Chronicles (Not-Quite-Official) Timeline [Part 1]

I often struggle to keep track of the timeline of the Wayhaven books. While it is known that the story is set in the “[m]odern, present day”[1] and that the series as a whole (Book 1 through to Book 7) will likely take place over a few years[2, 3, 4] (specifically, the series is projected to be set over approximately 2-3 years[5]), the books themselves do not always explicitly state when each book is set or each book’s duration. Supposedly, the series should have "[n]o set timings"[6]. Instead, the books tend to be set in general seasons[6], as this “frees things up for the narrative”[7]. This is not to say, however, that a more concrete timeline cannot be constructed. Several asks that have been published on the official Wayhaven blog, as well as the books themselves, seem to indicate an intended timeline (even if this timeline may never be formally canonized).

So, I set out with the intention of constructing Wayhaven’s intended timeline. However, I quickly found that Tumblr’s search function made it incredibly difficult to find the necessary information at will (that is to say, the search function does not always retrieve information thoroughly or reliably). As such, I decided that the only solution was to review every page on the official Wayhaven blog and identify any posts that relate to the books’ intended timeline. I followed this search by replaying the released Wayhaven books (as of the "last updated" date, these are Books 1, 2, and 3, as well as the demo for Book 4) to substantiate the findings from the asks with evidence attested in the books. I have compiled the results of my review here.

The goal of this post is not to insist that the timeline presented here is the only possible timeline for the Wayhaven books, nor is it to refute alternative interpretations of the timeline. My aim is merely to create a repository of information (from both official asks and from the books) about the timeline of the series so that anyone may access and refer to sourced reference material, should they wish to do so. While I do, at times, offer my own interpretation of the timeline, I do not mean to imply that my view is the only (or necessarily the correct) way to interpret the information that has been collected here.

This post is organized by book. Each section first addresses the overall season or time period in which a book is set, referring to evidence from both the published asks and books. Next, the duration of the book is discussed (when possible). Finally, the length of time between the current and following book is identified (e.g., the length of time between Books One and Two). Key passages from the books have been selected to be included in this post to provide evidence for the timeline. It should be noted that not every passage that explicitly states or alludes to the season is identified in this post, though I tried to include passages that I felt made a strong argument for the season. The proposed timeline and the list of linked sources are included under the cut for length. As further books are released, a Part 2 of the timeline will be created and linked at the bottom of this post.

While I've done my best to include every ask (that has been published as of the "last updated" date) and several key passages from the books that address the timeline, it may be possible that I've missed something. If you know of an ask or a passage that contradicts (or elaborates on) the information I've collected here, please let me know and I'd be happy to include it :)

Last Updated: 09/06/2024

Book One:

Book One is set at the end of winter, near the beginning of spring[7, 8]. On multiple occasions, Book One indicates that the story is set in late winter. This is often done by contrasting the current season with the impending arrival of spring, even if the winter season is not explicitly named:

"Buds may be clinging to the few stark trees lining the alleyway, but it is far from spring yet." (Chapter 1, emphasis added)

“I really hope spring arrives soon.” (Chapter 6)

Despite the acknowledgement that Book One is set in winter, there is one passage in Book One that claims that the story is set in spring instead:

"What should have been a lovely early spring morning is dampened by a grey sky flecked with dark storm clouds; a mist of rain hangs in the air." (Chapter 4, emphasis added)

One of the asks answered on the official Wayhaven blog, however, addresses this passage, stating that, in this passage, the "MC was probably being optimistic" and that it was "more like February [than spring proper] in Book One"[9]. Additionally, in one ask, it is claimed that "Book One is set in very early spring. Possibly around about early March kind of time"[10], though this statement could contradict the other asks published about the Wayhaven timeline as well as the textual evidence for the timeline in the books themselves. I believe that setting early or mid-Book One in early March would conflict with the rest of the timeline as it has been established. However, setting the end of Book One in early March would be consistent with the timeline presented in official asks and with the timeline established by future books.

In addition to specifying that it is not yet spring in the story, Book One repeatedly refers to the weather and the temperature as a means of indirectly communicating the season. Book One frequently emphasizes the cold temperature of the air:

“The chill air bites at my skin as soon as I step out of the warm comfort of the car. I shove my hands into the pockets of my coat, shivering at the relief it provides from the sharp cold.” (Chapter 1, emphasis added)

“It smells cold, the chill hitting my nose and coating my throat. I cough as the cold reaches my chest, bundling my coat up a little tighter.” (Chapter 6, emphasis added)

“The cold seeps through the pockets of my coat, biting at my fingers and settling with an ache on my shoulders. My walk has turned into a stomp just to try and keep the feeling in my toes.” (Chapter 6, emphasis added)

These descriptions of weather and (more frequently) temperature clearly suggest that Book One is set in winter. It should be noted that, though the author states they “very specifically didn't have a set place in mind for Wayhaven”[19], it is evident from the way that the seasons in the Wayhaven games are described that Wayhaven is nonetheless implied to be set in the Northern hemisphere. While the rest of this post will discuss the seasons as if they are universally experienced in the same way, it is acknowledged here that different regions may experience seasons differently and that those experiences may not align with what is discussed in this post or from what is depicted in the Wayhaven books.

The duration of Book One was "probably around 10 weeks"[11], or approximately 3 months[12, 13], from the beginning to the end of the book. About 2-3 weeks were spent recovering from the altercation with Murphy at the end of Book One[14], though it is not clear if this time is a part of the 3 months of Book One (as the detective is in recovery in the final scene of the book) or from the time between Books One and Two. Later chapters of Book One begin to describe new plant growth, thus indicating that the season has begun to change and emphasizing the multiple months that have passed during the book:

“It's [the hospital] spread like a flat cream monstrosity amongst a few trees that are attempting to bloom” (Chapter 12, emphasis added)

Between Book One and Book Two: About 2 months have passed between Books One and Two[12, 13, 15, 16]. This timeline is confirmed in Book Two, Chapter 1 and Chapter 2.

Book Two:

Book Two is approximately set in May[9]. Book Two demonstrates the shift between winter (the season in Book One) and spring (the season in Book Two) multiple times, typically by overtly naming the seasons:

“At least the light spring mornings are better to get ready in than the gloom of winter. A change of season has been much welcomed in Wayhaven after all the heavy events that happened.” (Chapter 1, emphasis added)

"Spring really has finally arrived, and with it, the sun and warmer weather.” (Chapter 1)

“The spring warmth wraps the area in its embrace, and I even have to unbutton my coat.” (Chapter 19, emphasis added)

Some passages suggest that Book Two is set in early spring by mentioning the lingering winter weather:

“Whereas the day started out warm and bright, the night brings with it the remnants of still-clinging winter. A chill whips along on the breeze, gnawing on my fingers even through my pockets.” (Chapter 4, N’s route, emphasis added)

Later chapters in Book Two seem to indicate that spring has fully arrived (or, at least, is in the process of fully arriving). These passages suggest that the later chapters may be set closer to mid-spring (or even potentially late spring):

"Spring is eventually finding its stride through the final clutches of winter. (Chapter 18, emphasis added)

As Book One did, Book Two depicts the changing of the seasons by describing changes to the environment. Whereas Book One emphasizes the cold air, Book Two generally emphasizes new plant growth in order indicate the season:

"They [citizens of Wayhaven] opt to take the paths off the streets that lead through the trees, enjoying the nature which is once again blooming in shades of emerald and bottle greens throughout the town—something I'll have to remember to do too once I get the chance.” (Chapter 1, emphasis added)

"As a breeze blows past me, I can smell the earthy scent of spring hanging in the air from the forest that surrounds the town. Life must be blossoming in nature at this time of year. (Chapter 4, N’s route, emphasis added)

“Sunlight struggles to push through the thick canopy of fresh spring growth on the trees, but a warmth still saturates the area. [...] Small white flowers blossom on the bushes I am passing, my motion disturbing their rest and drawing out a waft of sweet fragrance that trails behind me as I go." (Chapter 18, emphasis added)

In addition, there are some references to birdsong throughout Book Two. The presence of birdsong suggests that birds are returning to Wayhaven after migrating for the winter:

“Birds chirp happily in the trees as I pass beneath them, blossoms dancing down around me and brightening the dull grey concrete with freckles of white and pink as they land on the ground.” (Chapter 1, emphasis added)

With regards to its duration, Book Two takes about "a month and a half or just over"[12]. It has been "at least half a year" between the beginning of Book One and the end of Book Two[12].

I would speculate that, given the time between the beginning of Book One and the end of Book Two, Book One would have had to start in January at the latest: as it has been established, Book One took three months (approximately January-March), then there was a two-month gap between Books One and Two (approximately April-May), and then Book Two took one/one-and-a-half months (approximately May-June). Thus, in order for there to have been six months (or more) between the start of Book One and the end of Book Two while being consistent with the rest of the established timeline, Book One would have needed to start around January and Book Two would have needed to end around June, perhaps even July.

Between Book Two and Book Three: One month has passed between Books Two and Three[17]. This one-month gap is confirmed in Book 3, Chapter 1 (N's route).

Book Three:

Please note that (as of the “last updated” date) my method of citing passages in Book Three is different than the citation method used for Books One, Two, and Four. While I did my best to cite as accurately as possible, if you notice errors in any citations (and specifically in the chapter numbers), please let me know.

Book Three is set during the summer[18]. The season is explicitly confirmed multiple times throughout Book Three:

“There aren't many moments that beat dusk in summer.” (Chapter 1)

“The oncoming summer day is already adding a warmth to the open-plan station." (Chapter 2)

"The summer sun is already bright, but the trees help disperse the heat into a comforting warmth against [their] skin.” (Chapter 2)

Like in Book Two, Book Three tends to describe plant life in order to indirectly indicate the season. While Book Two emphasizes new growth, Book Three instead emphasizes lush plant life:

“The leafy branches of the hazel tree sway overhead, offering a good amount of dappled shade, and the grass is surprisingly squelchy beneath my shoes considering the heat of the day.” (Chapter 5, emphasis added)

“It's a surprisingly large clearing considering the thickness of the trees surrounding it. A sea of green carpets the area, with tangles of dark bushes creating a barricade around the outside. [...] Our steps are slowed by the lush, overgrown grass, but each step which breaks the blades sends a waft of summery goodness to help ease my nerves.” (Chapter 5, emphasis added)

Whereas the plants in Book Two are just budding (as plants would be in spring), the plants in Book Three are consistently depicted as being fully-grown and thriving, as they would be in summer.

Information about the duration of Book Three has not yet been made publicly available.

Between Book Three and Book Four: No information has yet been publicly shared about the length of time between Books Three and Four.

Book Four:

As with the other books, there are several passages in the Book Four demo that confirm that Book Four starts in summer by explicitly naming the season:

"It is hard to deny summer is still clinging with its last desperate grip over Wayhaven." (Chapter 1)

"Summer will be over soon". (Chapter 1, A's route)

"Summer's sunrise is always a sight to behold" (Chapter 1, M's route)

One passage in Book Four specifically suggests that the book is set in late summer. This passage indicates that summer is at an end and that autumn is approaching:

"Summer heat grasps to the trees, crisping the leaves at the edges, and adding a warmth to the air where the autumnal chill is so desperate to claim victory." (Chapter 1, emphasis added)

Part 2

Linked Sources:

[1] https://seraphinitegames.tumblr.com/post/186631276448/hi-sorry-if-youve-answered-this-before-but (posted 29/07/2019, last accessed 30/05/2024)

[2] https://seraphinitegames.tumblr.com/post/611495184637755392/whats-the-timeline-on-twc-timewise-the-first (posted 02/03/2020, last accessed 30/05/2024)

[3] https://seraphinitegames.tumblr.com/post/742950852102373376/how-much-in-game-time-will-pass-between-book-1-and (posted 21/02/2024, last accessed 30/05/2024)

[4] https://seraphinitegames.tumblr.com/post/171049914994/how-much-time-passes-from-the-day-the-mc-met-the (posted 19/02/2018, last accessed 30/05/2024)

[5] https://seraphinitegames.tumblr.com/post/613035165044850688/how-long-does-the-wayhaven-books-span-over-is-it (posted 19/03/2020, last accessed 30/05/2024)

[6] https://seraphinitegames.tumblr.com/post/626892386980823040/are-there-any-set-timings-for-when-the-series (posted 19/08/2020, last accessed 30/05/2024)

[7] https://seraphinitegames.tumblr.com/post/635865379357523968/hey-im-not-sure-if-this-question-has-been-asked (posted 26/11/2020, last accessed 30/05/2024)

[8] https://seraphinitegames.tumblr.com/post/171376966644/hello-sera-i-was-wondering-in-what-season-is-book (28/02/2018, last accessed 30/05/2024)

[9] https://seraphinitegames.tumblr.com/post/175570383062/so-you-said-the-timeline-for-book-one-is-three (posted 05/07/2018, last accessed 07/06/2024)

[10] https://seraphinitegames.tumblr.com/post/169539410844/hiii-jest-wanted-to-let-you-know-that-youre (posted 10/01/2018, last accessed 07/06/2024)

[11] https://seraphinitegames.tumblr.com/post/174718760931/whats-the-timeline-like-how-long-was-the-events (posted 09/06/2018, last accessed 30/05/2024)

[12] https://seraphinitegames.tumblr.com/post/618738714375553024/im-sorry-if-this-is-a-dumb-question-agsh-but-how (posted 21/05/2020, last accessed 30/05/2024)

[13] https://seraphinitegames.tumblr.com/post/186400748088/im-new-to-wayhaven-and-i-was-wondering-if-there (posted 19/07/2019, last accessed 30/05/2024)

[14] https://seraphinitegames.tumblr.com/post/178410044026/question-how-long-was-the-mc-in-recovery-after (posted 24/09/2018, last accessed 30/05/2024)

[15] https://seraphinitegames.tumblr.com/post/173026735924/out-of-curiosity-how-big-will-the-timeskip-be (posted 17/04/2018, last accessed 30/05/2024)

[16] https://seraphinitegames.tumblr.com/post/168535656799/hey-sera-i-dont-know-if-someone-already-asked (posted 14/12/2017, last accessed 30/05/2024)

[17] https://seraphinitegames.tumblr.com/post/630878648635899905/how-long-has-passed-in-between-end-of-book-2-and (posted 02/10/2020, last accessed 30/05/2024)

[18] https://seraphinitegames.tumblr.com/post/625443080774057984/if-book-two-is-in-spring-what-season-will-we-be-in (posted 03/08/2020, last accessed 30/05/2024)

[19] https://seraphinitegames.tumblr.com/post/689585471509151744/hi-first-ask-ive-ever-done-but-i-am-obsessed (posted 12/07/2022, last accessed 09/06/2024)

Special Thanks:

Special thanks to @/wayhavenguide (for their unofficial guides to Book 1 and Book 2, which I used to cite my quotes from Books 1 and 2 throughout this post) and to @/agentnatesewell (who taught me a trick to view the code of the Book 3 demo, which I used to cite quotes in Book 3 up to Chapter 6).

[hongyueg]

'The Reckoning of Roku' Review

The Reckoning of Roku

By Randy Ribay

Genre: young adult, fantasy

Content Warnings: death, grief, colonization

Description: “A young Avatar Roku has only just commenced his training at the Southern Air Temple when his erstwhile friend, Prince Sozin, requests his aid in preventing the Earth Kingdom from claiming a remote Fire Nation island. Despite his inexperience, Avatar Roku slips away with the help of an irritating young Airbender named Gyatso. As the reluctant companions delve deeper into their wayward mission, they begin to realize that even greater threats lie ahead. Plagued by self-doubt but eager to prove himself, Roku fights for his life and the lives of others while ensuring that the hidden secret of the island doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.”

After reading the previous Chronicles of the Avatar books, and liking them a lot, particularly the Yangchen duology, I was very excited to read The Reckoning of Roku and see another author tackle the Avatar-world in novel format. Overall, I liked The Reckoning of Roku. The characters were very entertaining, the plot was intriguing, and the book does a nice job setting up the themes and events we know Roku will face later on in his life. I have some complicated feelings toward how one of the antagonists was handled and a death that occurs later in the novel, but in general, I find this book enjoyable.

What I enjoyed:

-Just like the original show and the Kyoshi and Yangchen duologies, this book creates heartwarming and heartwrenching character dynamics and relationships. Ribay especially does a good job providing more depth to both Roku and Sozin’s and Roku and Gyatso’s friendships. As someone who recently went through a life transition that meant moving away from some of my closest friends, I could really relate to Roku as he navigated leaving his childhood best friend behind. Additionally, I am impressed by how the novel humanizes Sozin while making you hate him more. Sozin’s storyline reminded me a lot of Snow’s in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and I would be interested in seeing where it continues in the sequel. Gyatso was wonderful in this book and I appreciated learning more about his past and seeing him interact with Roku and a new character named Malaya. I especially loved how Gyatso got to be his own person in this novel and not just Roku’s Airbender friend. Also, Ta Min completely stole the show in every chapter she was in. I hope we get to see more of her in the sequel!

-Speaking of Malaya, I wanted to acknowledge how her character helped challenge some problematic tropes in adventure and travel stories. In this book, Malaya, at first glance, stands in for the stereotypical and often racist caricature of the “friendly Indigenous guide.” Yet, almost every scene where she interacts with outsiders is written from her perspective, forcing non-Indigenous readers to challenge their own biases and assumptions within this story as well as in similar narratives. Additionally, since so much of the novel is from Malaya’s perspective, we can really see her own agency in her decision-making and see her growth as a character going from beginning to question her own leader to fighting to protect her clan while choosing to explore beyond her home.

-In terms of themes, I appreciated what this novel had to say about grief both in terms of grieving the death of a person and also about grieving changing relationships with one’s friends and allegiances. Detachment is a word that pops up a lot in this novel and the book does a great job of challenging what it means to detach and exploring how we can have healthy attachments to the people and places that are no longer in our lives.

-The worldbuilding additions in this book were fascinating! I enjoyed learning more about Air Nomad and Fire Island cultures and it was neat seeing how the author weaved his own Filipino culture into the story.

What I thought could be better:

First, as a note, it’s very hard to talk about my critiques of the book while avoiding spoilers, so please take this as your spoiler warning.

-[Spoiler Alert] I have complicated feelings about how Ulo was handled in the novel. On one hand, I appreciated how Ulo’s storyline showcases the importance of holding all leaders accountable. Just because a leader is from a marginalized identity and claims to be making decisions to protect their communities does not mean they are exempt from being corrupt or abusing their own people consciously or unconsciously. On the other hand, since we are mainly seeing Ulo through the eyes of Roku and Malaya, the novel seems intent on making readers distrust Ulo’s position toward outsiders without delving into the complexity of his order to kill all outsiders. Ulo is also the primary character in the story who outright discusses a fear of colonization, a fear that is proven true by the end of the book. It seems like the book is trying to both give complexity to Ulo while still retaining him as an antagonist without truly delving into his motivations and the source of his fears. Maybe if Ulo had just been given a couple of chapters from his perspective, his storyline would have felt more like a complex examination of leaders living under the threat of colonization rather than a muddled commentary.

-I also have complicated feelings regarding Malaya’s death. On one hand, I appreciated that the scene is written from her perspective, allowing readers to recognize her agency in her decision to try to assassinate Sozin. Her decision also reflects her growth in her ability to stand up to corrupt leaders. On the other hand, her death appears to be used to emphasize Sozin’s paranoia and cruelty, characteristics readers already know he possesses. While her death does add to the grief plotline of the book, it still feels somewhat unnecessary since we already see Gyatso and Roku grow in terms of their understandings of grief even before she dies. This leads to her death feeling like the book is killing off its only Indigenous, female point-of-view character to showcase the male characters’ cruelty and growth. [End Spoiler Alert]

Despite my complicated feelings regarding some of the book’s plotlines, I enjoyed The Reckoning of Roku overall. I loved seeing Roku, Gyatso, Ta Min, and even Sozin receive more characterization and it was a lot of fun meeting new characters like Malaya and Sister Disha. What this book had to say about grief was powerful and I can’t wait to see where these characters and themes go in the sequel! I recommend the book to any Avatar fan looking for an exciting adventure.

[vivziepopwhatthehell]

Ep 4 Review

There are mentions of SA in this document. Reader discretion is advised.

Introduction

There’s so many things that I want to say about Hazbin Hotel but for now, I’m only going to keep my thoughts relevant to episode four. It’s the episode that everyone is talking about, after all. I’d love to hear everyone else’s thoughts too. 

The Positives

- I was expecting Blake Roman's voice acting to be subpar, and initially, it fell short of my expectations. The first episode featured what I believe is his weakest voice direction among all the released episodes. However, my initial concerns were proven wrong as the series progressed. In this episode, Blake's performance truly stood out and showcased his considerable talent. He skillfully conveyed emotions that he wasn't given an opportunity to show in the earlier episodes. Despite this improvement, he still faces the challenges with maintaining the Angel Dust accent. Blake Roman would definitely shine if he was given a role that wasn't previously defined by another talented voice actor like Michael Kovach. That being said, I'm really excited to see more from Blake Roman in future episodes.

- Valentino's character is now effectively portrayed with the menacing demeanor befitting his role, a notable departure from his initial appearance in episode two. The shift in his portrayal makes it more evident why Angel Dust fears him. To enhance the impact of Valentino's introduction in this episode, a strategic adjustment in episode two's writing could have been beneficial. Specifically, focusing more on Vox and Alastor, and introducing Valentino through Angel Dust's voicemail instead. This approach would have spared Valentino from the perception of being pathetic and whiny in previous showcases, ensuring a more powerful debut. However, it's worth noting that episode four rectifies this mistake to a significant extent, making the suggestion to rewrite episode two more of a reflection on what could have been done differently rather than a critique of the current narrative.

- The animation is a lot smoother in this episode compared to two and three. The characters are also a lot more expressive and the art is overall pretty to look at. That's my overall opinion on the art direction. The storyboard is great in several areas, too. I loved the visuals when Husk talks about how he signed his contract with Alastor. 

- The beginning of the episode actually had a few jokes that made me laugh.

The Negatives

- Hazbin Hotel has huge pacing problems present in all of the episodes. Because the show only has 23 minutes and 10 episodes to tell its story, a bunch of minor inconveniences need to be escalated unrealistically either to change a scene or develop character relationships (this one is mainly in relation to Charlie and Vaggie). In this episode, Charlie's tiny stumble over a plug must hastily snowball into a fire to justify the subsequent escalation of tension with Valentino. But how does that even start a fire? Charlie could instead accidentally knock over a lit candle on the bedside table in the set. Following this mishap, the employees, who are off exploring Charlie's hotel idea after their conversation during the shoot, are absent when the fire starts, causing it to spread. This change is still stupid, but it maintains the same elements while offering a more believable catalyst for the escalating tension. Another area that could have been improved was the ending, because I feel like Angel Dust forgave Charlie way too easily.

- Hazbin Hotel often relies heavily on exposition dumps and tends to tell rather than show. Husker's dialogue in the beginning of the episode serves as a means to spoon-feed the audience information about each character's struggle, which is a really boring way to storytell. Husker also seems to have such an intimate understanding of every character that he should be the one to run the hotel at this point. I am hoping that we get a Husker and Charlie episode, where Husker tells her to listen to her friends more. Maybe then she’d have a better understanding on how to help them out with their problems.

- Valentino's powers are confusing me. In "Addict," the red smoke from Valentino and Angel Dust's cigarettes, initially symbolic, seems to become literal in episode four. For instance, Valentino uses the smoke to create chains around Angel Dust's throat and pulls him upwards to focus on the contract he signed. The smoke should not have been made a physical entity that can control the characters this way, because now it completely devalues its presence in the music video (even if the music video is no longer canon). 

- Regrettably, the episode has become difficult for me to view objectively due to some storyboard artists openly sharing their personal bedroom preferences. I'm making a concerted effort to distinguish the artists from their work, but it is hard to not view this as just another fuel for fetish. To illustrate, consider the smoke chain scene preceding "Poison," where Valentino employs a chain around Angel's neck to compel him to review the contract. It's notable that Valentino could have achieved the same effect by grabbing Angel's hair, but the inclusion of the chain appears to be a direct reference to the storyboard artist's leash kink.

- There’s too many songs. When the song title leaks came out for Hazbin Hotel, I thought that most of them were just the names of the instrumentals. They are all actually two-four minute length songs. When these songs do come onto the screen, none of them have build-up. The song just randomly starts, and many times, the song replaces moments that are crucial to have dialogue in. Just because you have Broadway stars doesn’t mean that you need to have three songs per episode. Cap it to one to leave a good impression on your audience, because most of these songs left me REALLY bored not even halfway through them. The lyrics and how they are sung are also offensive at times, specifically in “Loser Baby”. 

- Charlie's fixation on the hotel has reached an alarming level of insensitivity in this episode. While the hotel's success remains crucial, her approach comes off as callous and indifferent to the people around her. The episode kicks off with what seems like a thoughtful gesture toward Angel Dust, trying to help him get a day off work. But her motivation is solely to ensure he can continue his daily redeemer exercises at the hotel. Then, when Angel Dust begs her to leave (while sounding completely terrified in the process), Charlie overstays her welcome and actively disrupts the employees during the shoot to advertise her hotel. There’s a time and place, Charlie! In my ideal version of the episode, Charlie remains determined to secure a day off for Angel Dust (just to spend time with him). Charlie doesn’t get to speak to Angel Dust before she proposes the idea to Valentino. Valentino responds nicely to her, but we see a bunch of subtle cues to his anger about Angel Dust trying to “escape” before he glares at Angel Dust and brings him into the other room.

-  Keith David is talented, but his voice for Husker just isn’t doing it for me. Sorry, Keith. It isn’t as rough and gravelly as it should be, but you were obviously just miscast. The same applies to Stephanie Beatriz as Vaggie. 

- A trigger warning is absent from the episode. The warning wouldn't have benefited the narrative in any way, but it would have definitely aided the members of the audience that it is meant to represent.

Conclusion

In my opinion, the episode is overall “okay”. It still suffers a lot of the same problems as the other episodes. Though, episode four does have its own improvements as well. I am hoping that the show continues to get better from here.

Edit: accidentally deleted one of my points before publishing + added a tag.

[zariahthechocolatecookie]

Thoughts On TDP 6x05 - "Moonless Night"

trying a new format for this post. I'm officially over halfway through the episodes now, so it seemed fitting. (not that a lot of people read this or anything). my other posts have also been more paragraph-y and less bullet-point-y, so just writing full-on paragraphs seemed more fitting.

Like always, I'm going to start with the Callum & Rayla section. There's always a good chunk of stuff to talk about with them, I feel like, so they always feel like a good starting point for me. Also Rayla's my favorite character... so that probably has something to do with it too :P

Aaaaanyway - to start with, my previous prediction was right! They didn't have to kill the beast (esmeray, right?) in order to end the storms! Glad I managed to make a correct prediction - hopefully others I make will come true as well. More thoughts below the cut.

Not killing esmeray fits with the overall theme of the show, I feel, since so much has focused on choosing paths other than violence to resolve problems. So it was a nice touch - and if you wanted to strech it, I feel like you could sort of use it as a... metaphor? symbolism? sorta thing for the show's whole 'choose love over violence' message / theme. That whole part of the episode was very well done!

It was absolutely ADORABLE when Rayla figured out what the reward for fulfilling the prophecy was & that Callum knew about it. They're just too cute together... I'd put a screenshot but my dad is holding the Netflix login hostage 😔

Moving on to the more plot-significant moments, Kosmo became timeblind!! Good for him. I'm quite curious to see what being timeblind actually entails. We only don't see a lot of it from Kosmo, and I feel like there's more to it. Especially since nothing he's done so far is specifically related to time.

Just a few more thoughts on this - I wonder if kosmo being timeblind will spark some sort of jealousy/misunderstanding between him and Astrid? That would be kind of interesting to see, if that was the case. Lastly, lots of what Kosmo said during his little "episode" of timeblind-ness sounded vaguely familiar. Anyone know / remember what character has said something similar previously? I want to say Aaravos but I don't know if that's accurate.

Speaking of Aaravos... This is kind of out of sequence, but the cut from the pearl in the blanket to the pearl back in Katolis has me worried. Especially since we hear Aaravos talking as it happens. What could it mean???

(Also, side note, that moment draws an interesting parallel between Callum and Viren that might be worth talking about more in-depth...)

Turning to the Soren side of things... Can I take a moment to say that I really fucking hate Viren? He is a terrible father (and he's done all kinds of shitty things, but that's not the focus right now). I get that he is trying to do better, but he is just Not Helping. At all. Poor Soren is so distraught over everything! All because of Viren. Viren just needs to leave Soren alone and rot peacefully in his cell. Sorry that sounds aggressive. Did I mention I hate Viren?

Alright! I think that's everything for this episode! Into the next one! Things are picking up speed and getting more interesting, so hopefully my reviews should be coming faster.

[sheepfics]

The Warden (Daniel M. Ford) The sword-and-sorcery romp that probably wasn’t supposed to be a comedy.

3.75 ⭐

Ok. So. This was sold to me by some shlub at [INSERT GIANT LOCAL BOOKSTORE] with the promise it has lesbianism and is Like The Locked Tomb. The book claims its Like Twin Peaks But With Wizards. This raises the important questions: Is This Like The Locked Tomb? Is this Twin Peaks But With Wizards? 

No. 

This is Northern Exposure if you replaced Dr. Fleischman with Aelis, a bisexual 22 year old workaholic Wizard. This has “pros”, and this has “cons”. Here’s the non-spoiler list that could help you decide if you might like this book.

“PROS”.

Cozy Sword-and-Sorcery adventure, heavy ttrpg pulls, but not serial-numbers-filled-off levels of referencing. Hearkens back to an older era of ‘cheap’ fantasy novels.

This 22 year old workaholic study-hard-party-harder Wizard girl sucks just the right amount.

Enough foreshadowing to indicate something is important, novel enough connections to spark interest in how things are important.

Great setup for interesting future adventures/world.

Solid and descriptive fight scenes.

“CONS”.

Necromancy in this book is not raising the dead, it just helps you be really good at practicing medicine. (see Northern Exposure Comparison)

Ignore the redhead elf on the new-edition cover, this is a book is only about the other girl. 

This is a Fantasy with hints of Romance, not a romance-fantasy or a romantasy.

Not as Meta/Intellectually Meaty as TLT.

Not as Ethereal/Supernatural as Twin Peaks.

Overall Non-spoiler Review: The Warden is a lighter-fare adventure fantasy read. Even if you only dabble in fantasy, you will find this to be a tasty little snack of a read. Chapters are short, pace is a bit odd at times but not overwhelmingly so. I finished this in about three days. 

Despite the book covering both a lot and very little time, The adventure pacing is acceptable. The time it takes for each fraction of the mystery to unfold makes reasonable sense. I find Aelis to be appropriately bitchy and hardworking, and I do really like that about her. I enjoy main characters that have strong enough personalities that they can definitively suck. I can see why people might not like Aelis, but I think her personality makes perfect sense with her origin and how she is told to relate and understand her job. She considers the feelings of others, but certainly doesn't need good bedside manner when her job is to exist outside, but in reach of, a specific community. Her affair with Maurenia is also appropriate in its intensity (or one’s perceived lack thereof). It feels like a very early-twenties-I'm-here-on-a-temp-gig affair. Tun is really fun and I like the mutual respect him and Aelis have for each other and how that is forged throughout the work.

If you can’t tolerate Aelis within about 5 chapters, I don’t think you’re going to like this book. This book might have two gals on the cover (depending on your edition) but its not about both of them. Its about Aelis. And if you aren’t even kinda rockin with her by the halfway point, its probably worth a DNF. It took finishing the book for me to go from “yeah she’s fine” to “ok yeah I wanna read more about her”. 

I am interested in seeing how the next book progresses. The mysteries of this book were enjoyable and (enjoyably!!!) predictable at parts. There was a good set-up of people/places/things where you could attach things that could be connected, and then be rewarded with how they were connected. 

If you want to read this book, I think you loose about 20-30% of the value of reading it if you get spoiled with the following review, so proceed below with that knowledge.

WITH SPOILERS/The Long Form Below.

I'm not covering main plotpoints here, I don't want this to devolve into a summary, because this is my first attempt at a book review and I know I am prone to such things. My notes on the overall plot are that: 1. This Is Very Much The First Book In A Series, 2. The Stakes Are Reasonable, At This Time, and 3. We're keeping MacGuffins to a minimum.

Ok, now the real review.

It took me until the end of this book to be fully convinced on Aelis, but now that I’ve put the book down (and waiting on my hold of the second book to come in) I can say more confidently that I like her. I don’t think I would be bothering to think particularly hard about her if I didn’t have that second book on route. The Warden is a book about Aelis. This series is a series about Aelis. Everyone and everything is tangential to her. I think that the OG cover (left) and the new cover (right) portray this book as two different books. 

I read the one on the left, and when I got it off the hold shelf I checked my phone make sure it was the correct book. That alternative cover really indicates that this will be a different kinda book. The Aelis & Maurenia cover indicates that Maurenia is going to be Cool and Fight in this book- and she doesn’t. She shows up, brings in a plot device, sleeps with Aelis, and then dips for a while before U-hauling back up. This isn’t a book about the two of them. This is a book that focuses largely on Aelis and then has a lot of screentime for Tun, who’s in the background of the OG cover. I think the first cover is far more accurate to the vibe of this novel than the newer one, and would argue that the newer one is almost false-advertising.

So Where’s the Dykes? An Addressing of the Queer/Romantic Elements this book is sold on.

Aelis is Bisexual, if her pre-Lone Pine Wardendom casual polyamory is to be read face-value. I found it very funny that 1. She allegedly boned a dude named Humphrey on the reg and 2. She liked Miralla more than him and her boning Humphrey was potentially her trying to best Miralla. Great stuff. This does bring me to her Tension with Maurenia. As stated earlier, we don’t know shit about Maurenia, even at the end of the book. Aelis notes this, but is reasonably apprehensive about pursuing romance, although she does think about it. I hope there is drama about this in the next book, because Maurenia seems wayyyy more into this than Aelis is. This makes their relationship very interesting, in a way some other reviewer called ‘very masculine’ while claiming both characters had a lot of ‘masculine energy’ and thats not important here its just really fucking funny to me. I had to get that into this review. Holy shit it made me crack up laughing. I just think Aelis is, like me, too focused on the grind to be thinking toooo much about emotional satisfaction. I would make a “while you were having sex I was studying the blade” joke, but she was doing both, so. Even after the semi-tasteful fade-to-black sex scenes that happen (Good call, Mr. Ford.), Aelis is debating wether to take this seriously. She didn’t seem to be taking the previous ones seriously, or at least, not as serious romantic relationships. She’s not dating the people she’s fucking, she doesn’t have any previous heartbreaks that we know of. I think her focus on (previously, her education), and now, her job, makes all that stuff a little difficult. 

Her job, at present, focuses heavily on this pioneering town that’s mostly sheep, where everyone there is afraid of her because she was mainly educated as a necromancer. I don’t think we’ll be seeing much of the townspeople after this, for adventure calls!I wish I could expect more from/with them, but I don’t think I’m going to get that. Mostly because I can sense our inevitable adventuring party, which brings me to my footnote paragraph about Tun. 

Tun is a half-orc druid/woodsman/bear man. He’s really fun and I like him. He reveals just enough to be interesting, keeps enough secrets to keep me hooked, highlights when Aelis is being a bitch, and spurs her to make some tweaks. Coworkers-growing-to-respect-each-other sort of vibe. I liked it a lot. I like him being a werebear, the hints as to his well-educated past and orc-connected present, his I think his main thread being solved with very little intricate explanation from Aelis was a bit of a letdown, but I’m hopeful for book two. 

Maurenia must, certainly, be important for book two, because Necrobane only ever has had one cover design and its got her and Aelis on it. Aelis doesn’t know much about her, she says as much, I have no complex thoughts about her other than what I’ve already mentioned. Mostly that this book ain’t about Maurenia, its about The Warden.

The Warden, which is Aelis. She’s been shoved to Lone Pine in Bumfuck Nowhere to go serve as a government-sanctioned Wizard detective/helper/advisor. The motivations or details behind this system are hardly explored, and only expanded in the limits of the position. How Aelis can act in regards to financial issues, law enforcement, and other such things. Being a Warden is a 2-year tenure, and it is still unclear to me why exactly she wanted to be a Warden, other than proving that women can do it. That’s a fine motivation, but I wanted more substance on why she gives a shit about the things she does. She’s primarily a necromancer, but theres little time spent on why she wants to be a top necromancer or Wizard or Warden, other than just to flex. Towards the end of the book, she herself states that she doesn’t think like a Necromancer, she thinks like an Abjurer with the talents of a Necromancer. I am hoping she’s forced to explore necromancy more intensely as the series progress. I would like less school flashbacks and more details on how she’s tweaking her abilities and spells to suit her. The descriptions of her surgeries were very interesting though and followed solid logic and fantasy-adjusted practice. The way fight scenes flow with her were also very good! There are many good things about her. There are many bad things about her. The biggest thing about this book is that it’s all about her.

If you can’t get with Aelis, you will not like this book. There’s not much more I can expand this. I’m repeating myself from the non-spoiler section. If you ain’t rockin with her, you’re not gonna like this One Bit. I can live with that, because I think she’s super funny to read about. She’s an enjoyable type of mildly-pretentious intellectual. Other reviewers I have read have found her to be horribly insufferable for not Grasping The Call Of Adventure and being Mildly Rude To Peasants. I don’t care about that. I like that she’s very willing to do her job, but is understanding that a lot of it might be suckage. She wants to prove a point. She’s ambitious, and that's what makes you a good Wizard. At least, that’s what she tells us makes a good wizard. 

That brings me to my final note on the book’s content. I found Aelis’s isolation to be absolutely fascinating. She’s so goddamn lonely. Sure, there may be people around her, but as a Warden, she’s to serve as a Lighthouse, not a Tavern. She is not to become one of them. She’s there to be the voice of the Lyceum and the Crown upon a town that asked for her. Her choosing to ask for help from Tun is a big step for her, but also, Tun and Maurenia’s refusal to even offer company or further assistance to her when she goes off on her own, in winter, on undisclosed business? That solidified that this was an Aelis book. I expect the other books will also very much be Aelis books, but to a lesser degree. 

As mentioned earlier, I wouldn’t be thinking nearly the same amount of this book if I caught it when it had just come out. I think I would have read it, went “huh, neat”, and moved on. I think I may be giving this book more grace than I ought to, but that’s alright. I think if I could get into Aelis earlier, and I wasn’t sold a GTN-like with a Twin Peaks Twist, this would be a ⭐⭐⭐⭐ read.

I do think that grey goat that breaks into her tower is going to be the BBG though. (That’s only partially a joke.)

[uloelu]

🖼️ Jordyn Padgett 🖼️

Aspiration: Renaissance Sim

Ethnicity: Irish and Black British (Simlish)

Traits: Snob, Sporty, Art Lover (custom traits)

Age: 24 (young adult)

Current world: San Myshuno

Likes: Writing, wellness, mixology, media production, fitness, skiing, dancing, painting, photography, red, black, white, yellow, brown, classical music, new age music, hip hop, preppy and polished fashion, discussing interests, deep thoughts, stories, idealist Sims,

Dislikes: Handiness, gardening, cross-stitch, cottage-core and pop music, nature enthusiasts, basics and country fashion, gossip, small talk

Potential Profile

Jordyn Padgett (she/her) spent 18 long Sim years in her sleepy farming hometown of Henford-on-Bagley. As soon as she was able, she fled to the bustling city of San Myshuno, rooming with 3 other Sims in the Fashion District. One of those Sims was a woman by the name of Penelope Puri (Penny Pizzazz by default), a Simfluencer who skyrocketed to stardom through her videos reviewing celeb style fails and budding fashion trends. Penelope taught Jordyn the tricks of her trade, and now Jordyn has a following of her own--though she only makes content related to movies, TV, and the art world. Her ultimate goal is to become a world-renowned art critic, attending shows/ galleries around the world and leaving her mark on the industry. She knows she'll have to compete with the juggernaut that is Diego Lobo, but she greatly admires him and hopes they can collaborate one day.

She likes to go out and have fun, but Jordyn isn't a huge party animal. She's just as likely to prefer a night in with Netflix to a night out at a bustling bar. She's got a tight-knit group of friends with eclectic interests, and she prefers it that way. Jordyn has been on her fair share of dates with guys, but it's only recently that she realized her lack of attraction to them. Though she's not out to anyone, she's excited to explore her newfound identity as a lesbian.

Jordyn cares greatly about her health and personal style. She's seen enough denim and overalls to last her a lifetime--it's high quality clothing only from here on out. When she's not working or hanging out with her friends, you can find her shopping online, at a yoga studio, or a gym. Jordyn wishes she could eat healthier, but her notorious sweet tooth prevents her from cutting sugar out of her life altogether. She doesn't do dieting, either--she believes it can lead to unhealthy relationships with food.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I hope you enjoyed this off-the-cuff profile! I'm thinking of creating roommates for her. Let me know if you'd like me to post them as well!

(Note: I don't currently own the Cottage Living EP [that or Cats and Dogs, Horse Ranch, and For Rent]. I'm trying to see if I can find a coupon/cheaper way to purchase it, but if not, I'll have to wait until the next sale. I'm not paying EA 40 whole United States Dollars for just one pack lmao. So if I make Jordyn available for upload before then, just be aware that she'll be missing those official aspects of her backstory. Sorry about that!)

[animesavior]

“Usagi, I need you to listen to me. Strange things are happening in the city. Even the Police can't handle what's going on. A dangerous enemy has appeared. You're the only one who can defeat this enemy. You're the guardian that's been chosen for this mission. But there's more than just that. you also have to find the other Guardians and our Princess.” -          Luna, Sailor Moon (Ep. 01)

The Toonami Trending Rundown for May 31 and June 1-2, 2024. For the first time since April 15, 2004, Toonami would return to airing on a weekday timeslot on Fridays with Toonami Rewind as part of Adult Swim’s expansion to 5pm to showcase classic Cartoon Network programming. The inaugural lineup featured the return of Sailor Moon to Toonami for the first time in 23 years alongside an hour of DBZ Kai and OG Naruto. 

And fans on social media responded very positively to Toonami Rerun’s debut. On Twitter, #ToonamiRewind trended in the USA alongside Sailor Moon and DBZ Kai.

Meanwhile on the regular Toonami late night lineup, Zom 100 returned from its three-week hiatus, and Demon Slayer begun its rerun of the Entertainment District arc in the meantime. In terms of trends, #Toonami trended in the USA on Twitter alongside My Adventures with Superman and Zom 100. #Toonami also trended on Tumblr.

This week’s feature was a game review of Dave the Diver, developed by Mintrocket studios. It received an 8.5 out of 10 score.

Despite the present upheaval at Warner Bros Discovery, the current success of Toonami was paramount to Cartoon Network and Adult Swim creating Toonami Rewind. According to Jason DeMarco on Blue Sky, “It was the network’s idea to try a second Toonami block since they are very happy with the performance of the Saturday night version. They wondered if a throwback Toonami would be interesting. We liked the idea!” And assuming things go well, Jason says he has “all kinds of cool plans to bring more shows in” including shows Toonami has aired in the past, Adult Swim action shows, western animated action classics and more.

Of course, that all depends on if people continue to watch Toonami Rewind every Friday as with regular Toonami every Saturday. So be sure to keep watching (or at least set your DVRs) and help contribute to the social media buzz if you’re into it. And as with any potential Toonami show, if you do wish to see a show air on Toonami or Toonami Rewind, feel free to let Toonami know on their Facebook page as well as letting Jason DeMarco know on his Bluesky @clarknova.bsky.social. It also doesn’t hurt to let your favorite show’s respective licensor(s) know (whether it’s Crunchyroll, Toei, Viz Media, and the like) on their respective social media outlets as well. On a related note, Jason DeMarco no longer posts on Twitter outside of “promotional information related to my work,” and has privatized his account (after previously deleting it) for archival purposes, so we’re not sure if he’ll still read any show requests and feedback that is sent to @clarknova1.

Finally, this past week was the birthday of yours truly, so I’d like to give a huge thank you to Jason, Steve, Dana, and everyone at Cartoon Network who are doing their part to rebuild the better cartoon show. as well as those that watch, record, and live tweet and blog this great block. No doubt that Toonami is the gift that keeps on giving and showing that hope springs eternal for the mainstream success of anime and action cartoons overall.

Legend: The shows listed are ordered based on their appearance on the schedule. Show trends are listed in bold. The number next to the listed trend represents the highest it trended on the list (not counting the promoted trend), judging only by the images placed in the rundown. For the Twitter tweet counts, the listed number of tweets are also sorely based on the highest number shown based on the images on the rundown.

Toonami Rewind May 31 Trends

United States Trends:

#ToonamiRewind [#3]

#SailorMoon [#9]

#DBZKai [Trended with #ToonamiRewind]

Tweet Counts:

#SailorMoon [5,245 tweets]

Toonami June 1-2, 2024 Trends

United States Trends:

#Toonami [Trended with #Toonami]

#MyAdventuresWithSuperman [#18]

#Zom100 [#8]

Tweet Counts:

#MyAdventuresWithSuperman [2,266 tweets]

#Zom100 [2,098 tweets]

Tumblr Trends:

#toonami [#7]

If you wish to send me a tip for the work on the trending rundown, donations can be sent to PayPal.Me/DanielLimjoco.

Bon Appetit. Only Toonami on [adult swim] on Cartoon Network.

[aliensupersyn]

An Ajin Manga Review: Discussing the Art

Part 1: Art Style in Relation to Storytelling

I entered this manga not knowing the first thing about it. I was scrolling through Manga4life after catching up on Hunter x Hunter and came across Ajin on the highest rated filter. I read through the comments and saw the praises for the story. I was collecting a number of different titles to read through and chose Ajin to begin my series of readings.

Why did I choose Ajin as a starter? What stood out to me about Ajin was its art. For many mangaka, the art begins somewhat immature and the artist hones their skills throughout the serialization. For example, there's a noticeable change in Tokyo Ghoul, Bleach, Naruto, HxH, etc. Ajin began with a recognizably polished art style thanks to Gamon Sakurai. The lines were confident and the scenes were already challenging in a way a veteran artist might be expected to execute. I was grabbed immediately!

These two pages are both from the first chapter. Note the details on the folds of clothes, the sneakers, the officer's ear, and his uniform even. I have not come across many manga who's art begins with dramatic detail in the most mundane things such as clothing, at least not in such a way. I'm reminded of how in sports manga, the mangakas take a lot of time to detail a player's shoes, because those have importance to the sport itself.

To clarify, Ajin still went through a maturity in its art. Obviously, there was a change when the original writer Tsuina Miura left. With Sakurai having more control over the story, it's clear his change in story affected the characters and art style as well. For example, Kei Nagai goes from a rounder more doe-like appearance to sharper and straighter lines. His original design fit alongside his character portrayal as an innocent kid unfit for the severity of the story's premise; Kei was perhaps meant to be pitied in the original story.

After Sakurai became the writer, Kei changed into an untrustworthy character who could shift personalities, utilizing both the younger look of the first volume, and the more confident and mature appearance Sakurai had created. Sakurai says that after volume 1, he "tried to move the art gradually closer to [his] own style" (ch.83, pg. 82). I recognize Kei's purposeful tonal changes as a creative method to transition the manga into Sakurai's own style and design changes that he had decided for the story.

Below, this series of pages illustrate first the differences between Kei in volume one and two. Then, the ways Sakurai uses both the softer and sharper designs to convey a transition of his character.

Finally, in chapter seventeen, page seven, Sakurai commits to the shift and reveals this new design and characterization to be the "real" Kei all along. Nakano comes to the same realization as the reader.

Sakurai used Kei's earlier more pitiful appearance to show Kei's softer mask that he wore to hide his true, more cold and calculative nature. After the moment between Nakano and Kei, the later design remains more consistent and total. Personally, I enjoy the later design more than the first and what it implied for the story. Along with a change in Kei's character was a change to the story's tone as well. Sato became more devious, and so did Kei. These character changes, in a way, foreshadowed the extremes in which the plot would take as well.

Though, still I would have enjoyed the closer relationship that was foreshadowed for Kei and Kai. I mean, look at these pages and tell me you don't see a budding homoerotic romance on the rise!

To round out my thoughts, I enjoyed the first premise, but overall enjoyed the second premise even more. In the next review, I'll dissect Sato's character and how he was handled from an authorial point of view. I just needed to discuss the art style change and what it implied for the story, especially Kei, as he plays an important role for the overall tone of the story.

[andbrokenmemories]

full murderbot thoughts post

Alright! Finished with Book 7 of Murderbot, System Collapse, and collected my thoughts on the series.

Maybe one day I'll do one last round-up to read novellas and maybe write a Properly Structured Review Innit, so for now this is gonna be the messy notes version of this. Let me give a paragraph or two of review-y thoughts, here, though. Set the stage and all.

So: I liked them a lot! I wouldn't ever say I struggle with sci-fi, but I think in practice I struggle with sci-fi. For other genrefic novels, tropes i Enjoy the Consumption of can usually keep my interest alive long enough; like, Black Sun and Fevered Star didn't light me on fire, but there was a lot of dynamics and play within the space that I could consistently enjoy and keep. Chewing down the line on. real strawberry lace fiction. real gummy worm fiction

Sci-Fi usually struggles more with that, I guess. Or, rather, I don't enjoy genrefic sci-fi for sci-fi's sake? There is, i think, a needle to thread of Good Spec-fic, of "oooh literature on a Weird Way of Existing". that style can keep me hooked, and Murderbot Diaries manages that with all the intricacies of the SecUnit experience. and also you can just have a lot to say! and murderbot has a lot to say! overall 8.5 out of 10. book 1 is a 9 out of 10 (yippeee strained relations distrust etc); book 2 is an 8.5 out of 10 (ART good); book 3 is a 7 out of 10 (i dont really remember those people); book 4 is an 8 out of 10, book 5 is an 8.5 out of 10 but i think it'd be a bunch higher if i didnt find the middle a bit bloated; book 6 is a 7.5/10, book 7 is an 8/10. loose thoughts from my journal from here on. spoilers for the whole series begin in earnest.

I like murderbot diaries the most when its reasonably omniscient, dynamic feeling, with a bunch of pieces moving around; and when those pieces are the psychology of murderbot as it navigates shit. i popped the fuck off when at the start of the long one [that's Network Effect] we got an interlude of murderbot interacting with mensa and her family and Caring and augh. ouagh.

WE HJAVE TO PUT ON THE BEST DAMN TALENT SHOW THI S COLONY HAS EVER SEEN!!!! [this was right when i got to the documentary part of the last book lol]

what if the other sec units went stereotypical serial killer robot and murdered all their handlers. like yes i get an argument against that that goes down the line of “and then we wont be able to extract from the situation and everyone gets killed in retribution” but, also, i feel like early in this series there was a lot of text talking about how sec units don't actually. think like that. in real life. I dont know, maybe i havent adjusted to a Thematic Choice where actually that was unreliable narration, but i find my brain getting caught up on that every time. like comparing how murderbot talks about how sec units think early in the series to later on. bwah.

anyway [in regards to the end of Exit Strategy] something very unique but kind of hash tag relatable about an extended sequence of a character reconstructing their memories from base principles, all sortakinda drunk. seeing all those cute and Telling and I See How It Is moments, which i derived a lot of value from, really fun capper to a book. good times. and then they hit 100% and the microwave goes Ding and they sit right up in bed and go Damn. That was stupid. I'm leaving.

when the panopticon surrounds you on every level and you have a lot of time to think on your self and your connection to your self and gain access to every system that makes you up and makes you you and all you can manage to acheive with it is the recreation of the panopticon within the self. and being without the panopticon is uncomfortable and foreign and strange. when the character does not allow the narrative to woobify them. 😍

ships you can talk to (who talk back only in concepts) are a gender by the way. that first scene [at the end of All Systems Red] of Murderbot working out its take on the all of it to a ship who can't really talk back, and was more or less the default “easily Manipulated bot pilot” that we just kind of sidestep each time going forwards, but like. was also the Same Thing as Mbot in not having anyone to really talk this out with. we are both on the same level. we, two, have not been taught to sell our class, our people out to the humans; we can be Niceys to one another. you can seek that out and find it. there are glimmers and moments like that throughout the whole series going forwards. which kind of makes hanging out with the humies boring unless they're one of the like 3-4 that i feel have an Interesting Social Dynamic with murderbot

following on from that, i immediately started visualising ARTs feed-self as a Kirby Endboss mass of glowing, dazzling, flowing dials/lenses/clocks towering over everyone else. with speech bubbles violently louder than everyone elses. Like that was how my brain went “how would the graphic novel get this Concept of ‘I could squish you like a bug with one instant of thought you are nothing to me you little it/its freak’ across". and its good. its good

[in regards to Network Effect, and trying to sum up my whole feelings on 2.0]: Whoops! Your clone headmate you made underbaked on purpose came out with ADHD and joié de vivre and is kicking its feet up and down in its partition watching comfort media while you go through the shit that made the Expanse expand. that made the signal is. that made the Space [face/off-style pause] Dead

So, what're my big takeaways with the whole series? Everyone trying to Do Therapyspeak on Murderbot and it usually Not Working is nice. There is something wrong with you, and that's not like a puzzle to be unraveled, but the perspective the text then takes on everything else. this world isn't, like, Fascinating and realized with any special flair, but you get to have moments where Murderbot exposits how fucked shit is to other people, or judges a situation it's bitter about as people around it get Fucked Over, and it's just like. It's a fun level of fucked up, in a way, sure, but it's also those moments of like. Ah. Murderbot does not set out to be protagonist-ly about this world, to be deeply critical, to wikia-mode about it all. Only to be constantly drawn to such anyway, to being Bitter and having to exposit to make certain points land because it needs certain points to land because. shrugs, gestures. The World. All of it. but then we go back to like “Hey do you think you have trauma maybe?” “FUCK you” and it's consistent and that's all chewy in a way I find nice. It's nice. We're having a niceys time. smile emoji