#mar's book rambles

[wingsofhcpe]

HOLD UP OMG

in Second Self... is Raffi seeing the future visions of Seven, Rios and Elnor? On Ordeve? So many years before she met any of them?!

I am. So mindblown right now.

[asmolbirb]

I don’t CARE that every Natasha Pulley book has basically the same narrative skeleton and a society that does atrocities!! If I ever have to live in a world where I can’t read about another Big Strong Himbo and another Gentle Fragile Nerd falling in love despite the odds, I’ll fling myself bodily into the Hudson River

[ufofrommarss]

His hair gets longer every time I draw him…..

[dyrewrites]

I love the writing memes of;

"yay ideas!"

"oh, no, I have to write them."

But I don't...feel that. Ideas are fun and all but I like the making them into something bit more.

I love putting the ideas into practice and seeing where they lead me, I love researching things to ground what the idiots in my head want to do in some form of reality.

All the little details I had to work out for my own invented world were candy to me. Learning about ecosystems to create my own was a downright delight. I've only had to make one map so far but it was so much fun I can't wait to do another for the next book.

Covers even, while they frustrate because I don't trust my art skill, they are fun to figure out. To try and find something that works and says enough without saying too much.

Most of the parts I love doing, in fact!

I even enjoy revision. Not a huge fan of editing, but that's mostly my brain insisting extra letters are needed because I grew up reading a lot of classic European literature and apparently 'u' is not as prominent anymore in the spelling of some words. I also use words too old for spellcheck on occasion, which is amusing.

Marketing, however, and anything related...I hate. I think I genuinely hate it. I've put all my love into this thing but my brain still insists it isn't good enough to hold up and ask you to buy. So it's hard.

Point is I could write all day every day. Sadly, I need to keep this meat breathing and the house from falling apart around me, and also I don't really make much doing it. So I can't just write constantly (I've done it anyway and my family checks on me if I've been quiet too long because of it).

That was a whole lot to ask if anyone else actually enjoys the writing part over the ideas part.

I might be a tad excitable today.

[niseag-reads]

Ouch my brain /pos - a ramble

Right. I want to say something sensible about this book, but I have been reading it since January, and I would be damned if I remembered what happened in the first half of it in any detail. This is a ramble/review for "Forges of Mars." the full trilogy. by Graham McNeill

Taking so long to read it was not the books fault. Indeed, that was me running into burnout and being preoccupied with university stuff. But being somewhat less than fully emerged in this book probably didn't help the book at all.

There are so many characters, holy shit. And some of their names are so similar! Hawke and Hawkins come to mind. Additionally, characters will be named by their first name, last name, or nicknames and keeping apart who is who is no joke. The dramatis personae provided is somewhat useful, but annoying when you have to refer to it too often. this does come with the caviat that I do, as a rule, not really remember names (I think it's the autism) making this all the more difficult to me. Where characters are diverse enough in their thinking and acting i will be able to tell them apart by that, but for side and background characters that really doesnt work.

With this, there are also multiple storylines, and my issue with that in many books is that there is always some I prefer over the others and then I get annoyed when they switch to the ones I do not care for as much. Also because I often didn't immediately know where we were jumping to. it really grated my gears that when a POV switch happened it wasn't always immediately clear whose POV the book had switched to, causing moments of confusion. Perhaps if i remembered which names belonged to what people it would be easier, but sadly it was not. for fairness, I was reading the ebook. Maybe this is clearer in the paper version.

In this trilogy, I found myself intrigued by the characterisation of the mechanicus characters whom I wanted to stick with, only to be forced to read about these other groups as well... if I wanted to read space marines, I'd have picked up one of their books, you know? Regardless, the arcs of kotov, linya, and tychon were all very interesting to me, and eventually, around the second book, I started to appreciate locke as well. The way the warhounds were written actively annoyed me, but I am someone who has read a lot of books involving (were)wolves, and my expectations from that may have influenced how I looked upon these chapters. the many POVs in this book felt somewhat unnessecary, too, like, I am unsure what the marines or the warhound POVs truly added to the storytelling. I get why there was both mechanicus and bondsman perspective though, that was a very interesting and clever choice in worldbuilding that allowed the reader to see the two ends of the coin when it comes to the runnings of a mechanicus expedition. the eldar perspective was not one I cared for much, but I do not fault the book for including it because it did definitely add a completely different angle to everything going on in this book.

The last book in the series is significantly more intense and action-packed than the other two, which I had not expected. It solidifies the feeling of a finale, I suppose, especially since the other two books lacked proper ending points. I thus believe that this was written as one very long book that was chopped into threes for marketability. That's not a negative, just an observation. the final confrontation is a-tier. very good, very satisfying. Galatea deserved worse. All in all, this was a decent enough experience and I can see why some people go wild for the characters in this book, they're very good. I left this review sitting in my drafts for so long I forgot where I was going with it. anyways. 3.5 stars. do recommend, but is very long and requires brain.

[starry-eyed-extraterrestrial]

I'm curious how many of y'all have read the Motley books or have consumed supplementary video media, like the movie and stuff. Reblog this and tell me what you've read and watched.

- the dirt movie and book

-tommyland

-first 21

-resurrection of mötley crüe

-TONS of interviews

-killer planetiod (does this count?)

[schrodingerspsycho]

I’m finally going to start watching A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder (thankfully I’ve been able to avoid spoilers/reviews) but before I do I wanted to make a post about the book series. It is absolutely phenomenal! I read the first book in three days, something I haven’t done in years. It made me feel like a kid again! And the two sequels are just as good; they make a perfect trilogy. Holly Jackson’s writing style is fun and innovative, and will definitely be inspiring my own writing from here on out. Aside from being certain that Emma Myers is the perfect person to play Pip I have no idea what to expect from this show. I’ll be very disappointed if it isn’t a faithful adaptation, but if it is then it’s gonna be my new hyperfixation, I can feel it. If a young adult murder mystery novel sounds at all appealing to you, then I highly recommend you read A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

[stardusteyes]

“While the influence of the fantasies of Lord Dunsany on Lovecraft's Dream Cycle is often mentioned, Robert M. Price argues that a more direct model for The Dream-Quest is provided by the six Mars ("Barsoom") novels of Edgar Rice Burroughs that had been published by 1927. It's been noted, however, that there is little in common between John Carter, a classic action hero, outstanding warrior and rescuer of princesses, and Randolph Carter, a melancholy figure, quiet and contemplative, who never actually fights any of his enemies, is captured several times, and needs his friends to rescue him again and again. Elsewhere, Price maintains that L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900) was also a significant influence on The Dream-Quest, pointing out that in both books the main character chooses in the end to return "home" as the best place to be.”

After randomly going through the Wikipedia page for Dream Quest, this paragraph in the Inspirations section stuck out to me for two reasons.

1. Damn, Wikipedia, chill. Yes, we know Randy’s kind of a wimp but that feels a little harsh.

2. ..Is it weird that I suddenly want to see a middle aged man and a ~10 year old girl wax philosophical together about what home means to them?

[beetleohbeetle]

Watching a few people give stupid criticism over Gen Loss that makes 0 sense, from being annoyed that not everyone’s a perfect actor to being annoyed that it isn’t Hollywood level stuff.

I also saw someone say “ I can’t suspend my belief because that’s not how online media works” no my dude that’s how fictional media works

when you watch a movie or show you suspend your belief for the sake of enjoying it

It’s the same for watching online horror content, like locks 58 or Walten Files or Mandela Catalogue. A lot of those have elements that wouldn’t make sense in the real world but it’s not the real world, it a fictional one with horror and paranormal elements, you have to suspend your belief to enjoy it

If you wanted high budget stuff, then don’t want indie content online, and certainly do not complain about it that’s so stupid

I’m not saying it’s perfect but like if your complaint that Ranboo ( who funded his passion project on it own like any other artist typically does) doesn’t have the large budget to create something you’d find in the movies, I have to wonder if you respect indie creators at all

I also wonder if we watched the same thing and I midly get concerned with the way we consume media online a little

[agentnatesewell]

N Sewell Theory: Tier X

There has been much speculation and even more discussion of what N’s yet-to-be-revealed second and more powerful Tier X power is. Special thank you to my friends that I’ve had so many talks with about this!

My prediction is that their Tier X power is some sort of emotional transference. Whether that be that N’s emotions sort of mixing in or that something happens to heighten the emotions or the raw, deep emotions are bared and come to light. How it would work I’m not sure but something in these realms.

Some of it may be mediated by touch. A reason N is careful with their hands, shoving them into their pocket when feeling some big emotion (good or bad). You can pick it out when they’re around A and for them, I think there’s some back and forth.

The best example comes from book one - Kate Hayes. While the vampires do use their pheromones, with N, she doesn’t have this momentary respite from grieving, she tells them to find the person who killed her son. A tumblr ask does mention that N’s emotions can sometimes mix in, as it did with Kate (and maybe even N’s own grief over what happened go Garret). You don’t see it in b3 with Addie’s parents likely because the sun weakening the vampires’ abilities - but you do see N outwardly mournful of what happened to Addie, unable to interview her parents.

Book two, the mirror scene. Which I always thought was an example of their newly-turned and tier X powers sort of at a peak. Heightened emotions, anger, ire, a vicious cycle. Plus, whoever turned them was likely on the ship causing mass chaos and disaster.

There is an interesting N / Rebecca POV unseen scene on the Patreon that shows another example.

May be why they purposely take in half a ration of blood rather than the full that they need.

Now all of that said, I do believe they do not use this power to the best of their abilities. Certainly not on the detective (the detective is immune to it, anyway). A tumblr ask did say that N prefers not to use their pheromones, and that they’d rather use their charm and suaveness in lieu of. Experts in reading people, body language.

Plus, I know there’s been a lot of thought that their tier x power could be mind control or something - tumblr ask ruled out any sort of psychic power.

Now, I could absolutely be wrong in this! This is just speculation. We won’t know until we read it in the books. I anticipate that we’ll find out in book 3.

If you’ve made it this far. Thank you, I love you. Please be gentle.

[wingsofhcpe]

Oh tell me about the fifth season I’m intrigued 👀👀

RIGHT OKAY SO real quick rundown from what I remember, after I'm done studying I'll shoot you a DM if you wanna hear more!

The Fifth Season is the first book in the Broken Earth trilogy by NK Jemisin. The main premise is that people live in a continent that's very geologically active (volcanoes, earthquakes, etc etc) and because of that they're just... used to it. Any day they expect a catastrophic geological event that will lead to a post-apocalyptic series of years that will realistically claim thousands of lives every time. These events are called Seasons, and there's already been a bunch of them (records of each at the back of the book!). So people just kinda live with that knowledge and organise their society around it.

Now, the big deal is that some people are born with Earth magic, the ability to control, predict and prevent such disasters. They're called Orogenes, and you'd think they'd be revered... but they're not. They're seen as monsters, exactly because they can also cause those disasters. There's a special school of them and all but it's mostly like a holding pen for them, they're also assigned special human handlers who are equipped to kill them should they go rogue. So it's also very much a social commentary.

The real geological horror element, though, comes from two things: first, the Obelisks, mysterious massice stone structures that just... low-key float around in the sky and are generally horribly ominous, often associated with Seasons. Second, the stone people (who iirc have a name, I just can't recall it rn). Human-like beings that are ...basically stone/gem, though, not organic. They feed exclusively on rock and are actually fuckihg terrifying exactly because not much is known about them. I can't really describe either of these more without massive spoilers though, so I'll avoid it in case you wanna read it.

There's also an ot3 queer storyline somewhere in there but it's not the focus. Pretty cool though!

As for triggers, please be warned for violence, genocide, bigotry, extreme death mostly through natural disasters, possible genocide, and child abuse. Off the top of my head.

....this was supposed to be a quick rundown but I ended up writing down pretty much all I can remember about the books huh! Anyway, I still haven't read the 3rd book but the first two were GREAT and I can't wait to get the final one and see where this story goes. I think I'd put the first book especially among my Top 10 Fave Reads in general. Hope I sold it to you too! :D

[ufofrommarss]

Glowup of the century tbh

[yume-fanfare]

yume in yztr room could be fun because. in such a domestic environment with a troublesome kid, i wonder if tori would end up acting like an older sibling to fuyume..... it would be nice

[lemoncholy-stars]

going to the book store give me horror / fantasy recs pls

[dyrewrites]

My brain wants to write more Bloodhound.

It wrote a whole book, and then another bigger one to tie into it and explain why the detective is so very fucked up. Those were not enough. It demands more sad slutty vampire detective and his absolutely more levelheaded werewolf daughter.

"Lucient is back at the end of the second book, syrupy sweet to his husband and ready to murder everyone else. You've already outlined it, just write it...and then keep going with them as a happy family solving mysteries and running into men Deluca absolutely saw naked that his husband wants dead. Do it. Do it now."

Do you see what I'm up against? I will write this thing forever if no one stops me.

But I have to edit Weald and Wen and write three more books in that series or Mitra will pluck out my eyeballs.

There's also revising and editing Pale Blood and the other two books to go in that series.

These two have set limits. I've got em all roughly outlined even. Ready to be written.

Brain wants to do the endless detective series instead.

Why, brain...why...

[starry-eyed-extraterrestrial]

WHY OH WHY DOES MICK NOT HAVE AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY YET!!!!

Like all the other guys have one, but the one that I really want isn't written yet like???? Hello!! Mick get to writing that shit, please I'm dying here, I physically need this book to function as a human being!!!!

I know he said he'd write one when he's on his deathbed but I wanna read it now!!!!!