#mo montgomery

[weirdenbyferret]

@missterious-figure

I FINISHED CHAPTER FOUR OF SCARY SWAMP THINGSSSS

Once again, no sun and moon for you <3

[hezigler]

Watch "Wes Montgomery - Caravan" on YouTube

[libraryofva]

Recent Acquisition - Ephemera Collection

1941 Camera Catalog, Montgomery Ward. Montgomery Ward, Kansas City, MO.

[blueshistorysims]

Late July 1925, London, England

“I’d like to go back to Scotland,” Montgomery mused, combing his fingers through Samira’s hair as she laid her head on his bare chest. “Fuckin’ tired of England. I’m ready to go home.”

Samira nodded. “Always wanted to go to Scotland. See the Highlands. That’s where you’re from, right?”

“Aye. North Perthshire, was born near the clan seat before me family moved to Edinburgh when I was ten.” He swallowed. “Would ya like to come with me?”

Samira was quiet. “Leave London society and be a housewife?”

He frowned, sitting as she slipped behind him. “I’d never force ya to do anything ya dinna want to.”

“I know that. …I don’t mind being your mistress—oh, don’t make that face. It’s what I am. Your mistress.”

“Mistress to who?”

“You’re still in love with Edeline.” It wasn’t an accusation. It was a fact. “And I know you’re in love with Byron—even if he doesn’t realize it… or return it. I know you’re not ready to be married again, but I know you love me as well. And I’m content to be your mistress in the meanwhile.”

Montgomery sighed, closing his eyes. “Sometimes I think I’m the most selfish man in the world. I dinna deserve any of this.”

Samira hugged his body tighter. “You’re speaking nonsense. I don’t fuck selfish people. They always focus on themselves and not their lover. You certainly do not.”

He snorted at her bluntness. “...I feel guilty so often. What’d Edeline think of me?”

“Well, would you have acted on your attraction to Byron if she lived?”

“I wasn’t aware I was attracted to him until we met again. Perhaps I’d ‘ve found him attractive but never acted on it. I dinna ken.”

“Then why should you feel guilty?”

“He’s still me brother-in-law.”

“Men marry their dead brother’s wives all the time.”

“That’s different.”

“Is it?”

“I miss her so much,” he whispered. That wasn’t a confession you were supposed to tell your lover. “I was… lost when she died. I dinda know what to do, what the point of livin’ was. …On the first anniversary of her death, I was in Greece, had spent the day in the ruins of the Temple of Poseidon in Sounion. Standin’ on the cliffs, overlooking the ocean… considered jumpin’ off. To be with her. End me misery. In the end, I was uh too much of fuckin’ coward to do it, so I walked back to me hotel room and drank ‘til I passed out. It wasn’t the first time I’d considered suicide. Or the last.” He sighed, sniffling. “I’ve never told anyone that. I’m just… so afraid of bein’ alone.”

Samira rubbed his back gently as he bowed his head, near tears. “You’re not alone. You have your family, friends who care about you, patients who rely on you. And of course, you have me. I have you in my claws, you’re not getting away from me anytime soon,” she added, chuckling. 

Montgomery pulled her into his lap and buried his face in her neck. “I love ya,” he whispered. 

She nodded. “...I’m going to India after Byron and Eleora’s wedding. I think my parents would actually like you considering you hate England, hate the empire, and support the independence of your own nation. You’re everything they would want in a husband for me, except that you’re white and Christian.”

He chuckled.

“I want to show you the real India—you haven’t lived until you’ve tried my Ājī’s Basundi.”

“If ya’ll have me, mo ghràdh.”

[revasserium]

the unofficial ultimate bungo stray dogs reading list

this is mainly for myself bc i rly do want to read most if not all of these and i'm sure it's already been done by someone somewhere. but, i thought why not post it lmao; most if not all of these can be found on anna's archive, z-library, or project gutenberg! (also, consider buying from your local bookstore!) for those that are a bit harder to find, i've included links, though some are from j-stor and would require login to access.

detective agency:

osamu dazai:

no longer human (novel)

the setting sun (novel)

nakajima atsushi:

the moon over the mountain: stories (short story collection)

light, wind and dreams (short story)

fukuzawa yukichi:

an encouragement of learning (17 volume collections of writings)

all the countries of the world, for children written in verse (textbook)

yosano akiko:

kimi shinitamou koto nakare (poem)

midaregami (poetry collection)

edogawa ranpo:

the boy detectives club (book series)

japanese tales of mystery and imagination (short story collection)

the early cases of akechi kogoro (novel)

kunikida doppo:

river mist and other stories (short story collection)

izumi kyouka:

demon lake (play)

spirits of another sort: the plays of izumi kyoka (play collection)

tanizaki junichirou:

the makioka sisters (novel)

the red roof and other stories (short story collection)

miyazawa kenji:

ame ni mo makezu; be not defeated by the rain (poem)

night on the galactic railroad (novel)

strong in the rain (poetry collection)

port mafia:

mori ougai:

vita sexualis (novel)

the dancing girl (novel)

nakahara chuuya:

poems of nakahara chuya (poetry collection)

akutagawa ryuunosuke:

rashoumon (short story)

the spider's thread (short story)

rashoumon and other stories (short story collection)

ozaki kyouyou:

the gold demon (novel)

higuchi ichiyou:

in the shade of spring leaves (biography and short stories)

hirotsu ryuurou:

falling camellia (novel)

tachihara michizou:

in mourning for the summer (poem)

midwinter momento (poem)

from the country of eight islands: an anthology of japanese poetry (poetry collection)

kajii motojirou:

lemon (short story)

yumeno kyuusaku:

dogra magra (novel)

oda sakunosuke:

flawless/immaculate (short story)

sakaguchi ango:

darakuron (essay)

the guild:

f. scott fitzgerald:

the great gatsby (novel)

the beautiful and the damned (novel)

edgar allen poe:

the raven (poem)

the black cat (short story)

the murders in the rue morgue (short story)

herman melville:

moby dick (novel)

h.p. lovecraft:

the call of cthulhu (short story)

the shadow out of time (novella)

john steinbeck:

the grapes of wrath (novel)

of mice and men (novel)

lucy maud montgomery:

anne of green gables (novel)

the blue castle (novel)

chronicles of avonlea (short story collection)

louisa may alcott:

little women (novel)

the brownie and the princess (short story collection)

margaret mitchell:

gone with the wind (novel)

mark twain:

the adventures of tom sawyer (novel)

adventures of huckleberry finn (novel)

nathaniel hawthorn:

the scarlet letter (novel)

rats in the house of the dead:

fyodor dostoevsky:

crime and punishment (novel)

the brothers karamozov (novel)

notes from the underground (short story collection)

alexander pushkin:

eugene onegin (novel)

a feast in time of plague (play)

ivan goncharov:

the precipice (novel)

oguri mushitarou:

the perfect crime (novel)

decay of the angel:

fukuchi ouchi:

the mirror lion, a spring diversion (kabuki play)

bram stoker:

dracula (novel)

dracula's guest and other weird stories (short story collection)

nikolai gogol:

the overcoat (short story)

dead souls (novel)

hunting dogs: (i must caveat here that the hunting dogs are named after much more comparatively obscure jpn writers/playwrights so i was unable to find a lot of the specific pieces actually mentioned; but i still wanted to include them on the list because well -- it wouldn't be a bsd list without them)

okura teruko:

gasp of the soul (short story; i wasn't able to find an english translation)

devil woman (short story)

jouno saigiku:

priceless tears (kabuki play; no translation but at least we have a summary)

suehiro tetchou:

setchuubai/a political novel: plum blossoms in snow (novel)

division for unusual powers:

taneda santouka:

the santoka: versions by scott watson (poetry collection)

tsujimura mizuki:

lonely castle in the mirror (novel)

yesterday's shadow tag (short story collection; i was unable to find a translation)

order of the clock tower:

agatha christie:

and then there were none (novel)

murder on the orient express (novel)

she is the best selling fiction writer of all time there's too much to list here

mimic:

andre gide:

strait is the gate (novel)

trascendents:

arthur rimbaud:

illuminations (poetry collection)

the drunken boat (poem)

a season in hell (prose poem)

johann von goethe:

faust

the sorrows of young werther

paul verlaine:

clair de lune (poem, yes it did inspire the debussy piece, yes)

poems under saturn (poetry collection)

victor hugo:

the hunchback of notre-dame (novel)

les miserables (novel)

william shakespeare:

romeo and juliet (play)

a midsummer nights' dream (play)

sonnets (poetry collection)

the seven traitors:

jules verne:

around the world in 80 days (novel)

journey to the center of the earth (novel)

twenty thousand leagues under the seas (novel)

other:

natsume souseki:

i am a cat (novel)

kokoro (novel)

botchan (novel)

h.g. wells:

the time machine (novella)

the invisible man (novel)

the war of the worlds (novel)

shibusawa tatsuhiko:

the travels of prince takaoka (novel; unable to find translation)

dr. mary wollstonecraft godwin shelley

frankenstein (novel)

[ausetkmt]

February is Black History Month, a time dedicated to honoring and celebrating the essential contributions of Black people in the story of America. National and local events and online celebrations will take place throughout the month to focus attention on Black people's achievements and history. 

Since 1976, the US has marked the contributions of Black people and celebrated the history and culture of the Black experience in America every February. Read on to learn more about Black History Month and the ways in which you can participate.

The story of Black History Month

Born as a sharecropper in 1875, Carter G. Woodson went on to become a teacher and the second African American to earn a doctorate from Harvard. He founded the Association for the Study of African American Life and History in 1915 and eventually became known as the "father of Black history."

On Feb. 7, 1926, Woodson announced the creation of "Negro History Week" to encourage and expand the teaching of Black history in schools. He selected February because the month marks the birthday of the two most famous abolitionists of the time -- Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. Feb. 1 is also National Freedom Day, a celebration of the ratification of the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery in the US.

By the 1940s, schools in Woodson's home state of West Virginia had begun expanding the celebration to a month, and by the 1960s, demands for proper Black history education spread across the country. Kent State's Black United Students proposed the idea of a Black History month in 1969 and celebrated the first event in February 1970. President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month in 1976 during the US bicentennial. 

The excellent history site BlackPast has a full biography of Carter Woodson and the origins of Black History Month. 

Visit a Black or African American history museum

Almost every state in the US has a Black history museum or African American heritage site. The country's first and oldest is the Hampton University Museum in Hampton, Virginia. Like many other museums, it offers a virtual tour and online exhibits.

One of the most famous of these museums is the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. The museum, which is located steps away from where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, allows you to sit with Rosa Parks on the bus that inspired the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955, among many other powerful exhibits.

African-American heritage sites include historic parks and other significant locations and monuments in Black history. Some of the most popular include Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas, the epicenter of US school desegregation. You could also consider visiting the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park in Atlanta.

If there's no museum or heritage site near you, keep an eye out for the Black History Mobile Museum, which traverses the country all month and through the summer. Throughout February you can find the mobile museum in several states, starting in New Jersey on Feb. 1 and making its way through 12 other states. See the full list of 2023 tour dates here. 

Learn about Black music history by listening online

Marley Marl and Mr. Magic were superstar rap DJs for WBLS FM in the 1980s. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

From spirituals and blues to the rise of jazz, R&B and hip hop, Black music has been entwined with American culture for centuries. 

There are lots of ways to learn about and experience the power of Black American music online. One of the most extensive and free resources is the Black Music History Library, created by Jenzia Burgos. The compendium includes an array of Black music sources, with links to music samples, full recordings and interviews, as well as books and articles.

Another remarkable Black music website is the #312 Soul project. Originally launched as a month-long series on Chicago's Black music from 1955 to 1990, the site publishes original stories from Chicago residents about their personal experiences creating and enjoying Black music.

For snapshots of Black music between 1982 and 1999, check out the Hip Hop Radio Archive, a collection of radio show recordings from commercial, college and independent hip-hop stations. Of particular note are classic radio shows from New York City's WBLS, featuring Rap Attack with Marley Marl and Mr. Magic.

Online streaming music services also curate collections for Black History Month -- Spotify has an extensive collection of Black music in its Black History is Now collection. Tidal and Amazon Music also include special Black music collections on their services.

Support Black-owned businesses and restaurants

Becoming a customer of local Black businesses helps protect livelihoods and supports Black entrepreneurs.

If you aren't sure which businesses in your area are owned and operated by your Black neighbors, several resources can help. Start off by learning how to find Black-owned restaurants where you live. 

Several directories have now been created to highlight and promote Black businesses. Official Black Wall Street is one of the original services that list businesses owned by members of the Black community.

Support Black Owned uses a simple search tool to help you find Black businesses, Shop Black Owned is an open-source tool operating in eight US cities, and EatOkra specifically helps people find Black-owned restaurants. Also, We Buy Black offers an online marketplace for Black businesses.

The online boutique Etsy highlights Black-owned vendors on its website -- many of these shop owners are women selling jewelry and unique art pieces. And if you're searching for make-up or hair products, check CNET's own list of Black-owned beauty brands.

Donate to Black organizations and charities

Donating money to a charity is an important way to support a movement or group, and your monetary contribution can help fund programs and pay for legal costs and salaries that keep an organization afloat. Your employer may agree to match employee donations, which would double the size of your contribution -- ask your HR department.

Nonprofit organizations require reliable, year-round funding to do their work. Rather than a lump sum, consider a monthly donation. Even if the amount seems small, your donation combined with others can help provide a steady stream of funds that allows programs to operate.

Here are some non-profit organizations advancing Black rights and equal justice and supporting Black youth:

Black Lives Matter 

NAACP 

Thurgood Marshall College Fund 

Color of Change 

Black Girls Code 

The Black Youth Project

Attend local Black History Month events

Many cities, schools, and local organizations will host events celebrating Black History Month in February 2022. Check your local newspaper or city website to see what events are happening in your area -- for example, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Baltimore and Louisville, Kentucky, have extensive events planned this month.

If you can't find anything in your area or don't want to attend events in person, the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, is offering a handful of online Black History Month events throughout February.

Watch Black history documentaries and movies

Black is King is an elaborately staged musical directed, written and produced by Beyoncé. Disney

You can find movies and documentaries exploring the Black experience right now on Netflix, Disney Plus and other streaming services. 

The CNET staff has compiled a selection of feature films and documentaries for Black History Month 2023, including the wonderful Summer of Soul and Black is King. Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Hulu all have special collections of streaming movies and shows for Black History Month.

PBS also offers several free video documentary collections, which include smaller chunks of Black history for all ages. The collections include subjects like the Freedom Riders, the 1963 March on Washington and the Rise and Fall of Jim Crow.

Find Black authors and stories for yourself and your children

There are so many great books written by Black authors you should read -- not only during Black History Month but all year round. So, where do we start? Try your local library. Many will have Black History Month collections for both adults and kids.

Libraries will also often have Black History Month book recommendations by age. The San Diego Public Library, the Detroit Public Library and DC Public Library, for example, have programs and collections to browse for adults and children.

Next, try Black booksellers. The Noname Book Club, dedicated to amplifying diverse voices, has compiled a list of Black-owned bookshops across the US. The club also highlights two books a month by writers of color.

Dive deeper into Black history with online resources

The National Archives includes many primary resources from Black history in America. Rowland Sherman/National Archives

You can find remarkable Black history collections on government, educational and media sites. One of the best is the aforementioned BlackPast, which hosts a large collection of primary documents from African American history, dating back to 1724.

The National Archives also hosts a large collection of records, photos, news articles and videos documenting Black heritage in America. The expansive National Museum of African American History & Culture's Black History Month collection is likewise full of unique articles, videos and learning materials.

The New York Times' 1619 Project tracks the history of Black Americans from the first arrival of enslaved people in Virginia. The Pulitzer Center hosts the full issue of The 1619 Project as a PDF file on its 1619 Education site, which also offers reading guides, activity lessons and reporting related to the project.

You can buy The 1619 Project and the children's picture book version -- The 1619 Project: Born on the Water -- as printed books.

[destinymanticor]

Mermaid May - day 7 Smth like AU Montgomery She went to shout at the storm He swam out to see who was throwing things

Well, the history of the FSM is not like in the canon Garm and Wu can change size Most mermaids can transform into people, but with remnants of traits

Introduces close friends Borg's parents and young Julien [Attempt to connect the acquaintance of Mo and Echo]

There are sheddings - I’m trying to justify external changes with age Lloyd is born a mermaid - leaves with his father [Why Misa won’t be able to see Lo and why Garm is evil] - I don’t know yet

Compatible with my Morro and Echo mermaid designs

[coreofgold]

Late to the party but Baldur's Gate 3 owned me and the lack of motivation hit hard. However, finally getting toward doing the starter call! There's no cap so like and comment for as many starters as you like. It might help break me out of the slump.

Agastuma Zenitsu-blind date with Jake Wheeler (0-??)

Aloth Corfiser-going with Kieran Hunter (0-??)

Anya Forger-going with Diana Holland (0-??)

Astarion Ancunin-Blind date with Freya Beauchamp (0-Freya vcndetta)

Ban Yue-going with Sylvie Slytherin (0-??)

Beelzebub- going with Gu Soo Oh (0-??)

Ding Tao- blind date with Alex Mercer (0-Xiao Chiye mvsicinthedvrk, Shen Zechuan masqce, Qi Zhuyin masqce)

Dizzy Tremaine- going with Sam Maek Jong (0-Jester circleofstarrs)

Gil Legume- going solo (0-??)

Hua Cheng- going with their husband Xie Lian (0-Xie Lian mvsicinthedvrk)

Ignis Scientia- blind date with Nico D'Angelo (0-Nico irresistiibles)

Jeremy Smith/Bonnie- blind date with Daniela Dimitrescu (0-??)

Julian Alfred "Jaskier" Pankratz- going solo (0-Yennefer mischiefxmuses)

Kaoru Sakurayashiki- going solo (0-??)

Kili Oakenshield- blind date with Lorelai Gilmore (0-Lorelai spellbcok)

Lan Jingyi- going with Belphegor (0;-Wei Wuxian mvsicthedvrk, Anya spellbcok)

Lan Xichen- going with Nie Mingue (1;-Jin Guangyao masqce, Nie Huaisang irresistiibles, Nie Mingjue)

Lang Ying- blind date with Beth Corcoran (0-??)

Legolas Thranduilison- going with Bloo Kazoo (0-??)

Lu Ten- going with Jae Yoo (0-??)

Luis Serra Navarro- blind date with Derek Hale (0-??)

Luo Binghe- going with Shen Qingqiu (1-Shang Qinghua irresistiibles, Ning Yingying irresistiibles, Shen Qingqiu)

Markl- blind date with King Clawthorne (0-??)

Michael Afton- going solo (0-Charolette mischiefxmuses)

Montgomery Gator- blind date with Tylor Tuskman (0-??)

Shen Wei- blind date with Arnold Novak (0-??)

Shi Mei- blind date with Fabian Prewett (0-Mo Ran tragcdysewn)

Taka- going with Apollo (0-??)

Vax'ildan Vessar- going with Lee Yeon (0-Percy mischiefxmuses, Ellie circleofstarrs)

Wen Ning- going with Danny Phantom (0-??)

Wu Xi- going with Jing Qi (0-??)

Xiao Xingchen- going with Xue Yang and Song Lan (0-??)

Zhang Chengling- going with Louis Duck (0-??)

[jojo-0-o]

The wooden floorboards creek and croak under the clickety clack of your newly acquired gilded leather boots as you make your way up to the deck, over vast hordes of fortune, past engorged piles of gold and spice, doubloons and silks, navigating mazes of stacked chests brimming with books and boundless scrolls. You tip- toe around your comatose crewmates, satiated by plunder and ransacked stores of rum, to the mast of your ship, and look out onto the horizon.

Heliotrope hues of dusk creep up behind the melting sunset, calming the raging gusts of the sea to caresses of the breeze. Wisps of ghostly silver swirl hazily amongst sporadic speckles of spangling starlight like a stewing soup in the sky, its delicate marbling mirrored on waves that twinkle under the moonlight. Skull and crossbones whip in the wind and the ship rocks lazily as if lulled to sleep by the cradle of the sloping sea. You sigh, contented, and pray to avoid a watery grave for many moons to come.

or, Books Master list:

A Series of Unfortunate events by Lemony Snicket, 1 through 13(Epubs)

Tales of Dunk and Egg by George R. R. Martin 01-03, 1, 2 & 4(Epubs)

A song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin, 1 through 5, including 4.5, A World of Ice and Fire, and Fire and Blood(no.1 is a PDF, the rest Epubs)

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, 1 through 4(Epubs)

All For The Game by Nora Sakavic, 1, 2, &3(Epubs)

Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery, 1 through 8(Epubs)

The Fowl Twins by Eoin Colfer, 1&2(Epubs)

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer, 1 through 8(PDFs)

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell, 1, 2, &3(no.3 is a PDF, the rest Epubs)

Chaos Walking by Patrick Ness, 1,2 &3, including 2.5 and snowscape(snowscape is a PDF, the rest Epubs)

Chronicles of Alice by Christina Henry, 1&2(Epubs)

City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab, 1,2 &3(no.1 is a PDF, the rest Epubs)

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi, 1&2(Epubs)

Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu(Epub)

Heaven's Official Blessing by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu(PDF)

The Scum Villain's Self Saving System by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu(Epub)

Discworld by Terry Pratchett, 1 through 41(Epubs)

Divergent by Veronica Roth, 1,2 &3, including 0.5(Epubs)

Earthsea by Ursula k. Le guin, 1 through 6(Epubs)

The Farseer Trilogy by Robbin Hobb, 1,2 &3(PDFs)

Fence by Sarah Rees Brennan, 1&2(Epubs)

Folk of the air series by Holly Black, 1,2 &3(Epubs)

Harry Potter by J K. Rowling, 1 through 7(Epubs)

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, 1, 2&3(Epubs)

In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan(Epub)

Tears waiting to be Diamonds by Sarah Rees Brennan Parts 1&2(PDFs)

Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini, 1 through 4(Epubs)

The History of the Middle Earth by J R. R. Tolkien, 1 through 12(Epubs)

The J R. R. Tolkien collection: Bilbo's Last Song, Tales from the Perilous Realm, The Children of Hurin, The Fellowship of the Ring, The Hobbit, the Hobbit(enhanced edition), The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun, The Letters of J R. R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings (collection) Illustrated by J R. R. Tolkien; Alan Lee, The Lord of the Rings (collection), The Return of the King, The Silmarillion, The Silmarillion(illustrated) by J R. R. Tolkien; Ted Nasmith, The Two Towers, Unfinished Tales(Epubs)

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer, 1 through 5, Including 3.1(4&5 are PDFs, the rest Epubs)

Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard by Rick Riordan, 1, 2&3, including From the Nine Worlds and Hotel Valhalla Guide to the Norse Worlds(Epubs)

Once Upon a Broken Heart by Garber Stephanie, 1&2(Epubs)

Percy Jackson by Rick Riordon, 1 through 5, including 4.5, Camp Half Blood confidential, Demigods and Monsters, Percy Jackson and the Singer of Apollo, Percy Jackson's Greek Gods, and Percy Jackson's Greek Heroes(Percy Jackson and the Singer of Apollo is a PDF, the rest Epubs)

The Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan, 1 through 5, including The Demigod Diaries(Epubs)

The Trials of Apollo by Rick Riordan, 1 through 5, including Camp Jupiter Classified(Epubs)

The Demigods of Olympus - An Interactive Adventure by Rick Riordan(Epub)

Shades of Magic by V. E. Schwab, 1,2&3(PDFs)

The Dark Artifices by Cassandra Clare, 1,2 &3(Epubs)

The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare, 1,2&3(Epubs)

The Last Hours by Cassandra Clare, 1&2(Epubs)

The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare, 1 through 6(Epubs)

The Eldest Curses by Cassandra Clare 1(Epub)

Shadowhunter Chronicles extras by Cassandra Clare, including An Illustrated History of Noble Shadowhunters and Denizens of Downworld, Ghosts of the Shadow Market, The Bane Chronicles, and the Shadowhunter Codex(Epubs)

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo, 1&2(Epubs)

The Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo, 1,2&3, including 1.5 and the Darkling Prequel - Demon in the Woods(Epub)

Skullduggery Pleasant by Derrick Landy, 1 through 14, including 1.5, 2.5, 6.5, 7.5, 8.5, &13.5(Epubs)

The Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan, 1,2&3, including The Kane Chronicles survival guide, and Demigods and Magicians(Epubs)

The Locked Tomb by Tamsyn Muir, 1,2 &3, including 0.5 and 2.5(Epubs)

The Magesterium series by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare, 1 through 5(Epubs)

The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater, 1 through 4, including 4.5(Epubs)

The Dreamer Trilogy by Maggie Stiedvater, 1&2(Epubs)

The Witcher by Andrzej Sapkowski, 1 through 6, including 0.5 & 0.75(Epubs)

The Wolves of Mercy Falls by Maggie Stiefvater, 1,2&3(Epubs)

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas, 1 though 7, including 0.5(Epubs)

The Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins, 1 through 5(Epubs)

Unwind Dystology by Neal Shusterman, 1 through 4, including 1.5 and 4.5(Epubs)

The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice, 1 through 12(Epubs)

The Warrior cats series by Erin Hunter :The Prophecies Begin 1 through 6(PDFs), The New Prophecy 1 through 6(Epubs), Power of Three 1 through 6(PDFs), Omen of Stars 1 through 6(PDFs), Dawn of the Clans 1 through 6(PDFs), Vision of Shadows 1&2(PDFs)

A discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness(Epub)

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz(Epub)

Blindsight by Peter Watts(Epub)

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Patterson(Epub)

Dune by Frank Herbert(Epub)

Elantris by Brandon Sanderson(Epub)

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell(Epub)

Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton(Epub)

How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe by Charles Yu(PDF)

I Am Still Alive by Kate Alice Marshall(Epub)

I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver(Epub)

Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami(Epub)

More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera(Epub)

One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzhenitsyn(Epub)

More Than This by Patrick Ness(PDF)

The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness(Epub)

Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey Mcquiston(Epub)

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepytis(Epub)

The Adventures of Charles, the Veretian Cloth Merchant, Captive Prince Short Stories Book 3 by C. S. Pacat(Epub)

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak(Epub)

City of Brass by S. A. Chakraborty(Epub)

The Martian by Andy Wier(Epub)

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern(Epub)

They Both Die at the End - Adam Silvera(Epub)

The Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo(Epub)

The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang(Epub)

The Song of Achilles by Madison Miller(Epub)

The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern(Epub)

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zerin(Epub)

Torture Mom by Ryan Green(Epub)

Where I End and You Begin by Preston Norton(Epub)

Radio Silence by Alice Oseman(Epub)

Message me, or make a request in the notes, and I’ll send you a copy(via email)

[lucidloving]

George Moore, "The Wedding Feast" // Francesco Hayez, The Kiss // Karuho Shiina, Kimi Ni Todoke // Mo Xiang Tong Xiu, 《天管赐福》 // Loverman — Ricky Montgomery // Suzuki Tsuta, Muddy Pool

[hummingbird-of-light]

In Our Favor

Part 271

McCoy

“I asked Jaylah about her and Aporal,” McCoy told Scotty as they snuggled together under the covers.

They had parted from the family at the hotel and Andre had walked back with them. They’d meet for breakfast and a bit more time together before Francine and Granddad went back to Scotland. Leah and Robbie would go with them and then fly to Georgiares.

“Ye did?” Scotty said in surprise. “What did she say?”

McCoy sighed. “The nurse interrupted and said we could go see Aporal. She didn’t answer.”

“Oh.”

“I think…” McCoy began slowly and trailed off.

“What mo ghràdh?” Scotty asked when McCoy remained quiet. “Ye think what?”

“I think they can be whatever they want for each other. Jaylah told me once she thought what we had was nice. I think she wants that connection with someone.”

“She and Chekov kind of have that.”

“They do,” McCoy agreed. “But she and Chekov argue more like a brother and sister. They fit together so well because they’ve known each other so long.”

Scotty made a noise of agreement.

“With Aporal it’s different. He had to work to gain her trust. So if they’re what they each need, I don’t think the rest of us should bother them about it.”

“Ye mean Jim.” McCoy could hear the eye roll in his husband’s voice. He chuckled.

“Yes. If they want to be there for each other, or hold hands or whatever, then they should, without having to worry about what we all think.”

“I’m glad for them either way,” Scotty said. “If they are a pair or just good friends. Aporal needs more good friends. He needs to learn to trust again. And Jaylah deserves someone to treat her like a queen.”

“That she does,” McCoy smiled. He pressed closer for a kiss. “Love you.”

“Love ye too.”

The chirp from a comm woke McCoy. He blinked open his eyes and felt the bed move as Scotty woke up beside him.

“Is that mine or yours?” McCoy asked blearily as he wiped sleep from his face.

“Mine,” Scotty said as he stretched out a hand for the device. “It’s Jaylah. Aporal’s being released in an hour.”

McCoy rested his head back on the pillow and closed his eyes. He heard the comm be set back down but Scotty sat up instead of snuggling in again. McCoy opened his eyes and looked at him.

“What is it?”

“I was thinking we should go.”

“What about breakfast?” McCoy asked.

“We could invite them along. Show Mum that he’s really alright.”

McCoy groaned into the pillow. “Why are you so good?”

“Make it up to ye tonight,” Scotty said, leaning over to breathe the words in McCoy’s ear. A shiver went down his spine.

“Fine. Alright,” McCoy said reluctantly. He threw back the covers and made a show of getting up. Scotty laughed behind him.

Forty minutes later found them showered and dressed and waiting in the hospital lobby.

Part 272

Scotty

It didn't take too long for Aporal and Jaylah to show up. The Andorian looked much better than the night before. His face had returned to its normal blue color and it was no longer so swollen.

When Aporal saw Scotty and Leonard, he raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"Oh, um... hey. What are you two doing here?"

"Good morning Montgomery Scotty, Just Leonard. I texted them that you are being released," Jaylah greeted their friends, before she turned to Aporal to explain. Scotty immediately noticed how close she was walking to Aporal's side and he smiled gently.

"Good morning," he and Leonard replied as if from the same mouth.

"We thought we'd pick ye up and ye'd join us for breakfast. Well... only if ye want to, of course. I'm sure my mother would be pleased to see that ye're doing well, Aporal."

"Didn't Prince tell her that I don't hold it against her?" Aporal cast a reproachful glance in Leonard's direction and the prince immediately raised his hands in defense.

"Of course I told her, but Francine isn't so easily convinced of something like that," he replied.

"Well, I would really like to have breakfast with you," Jaylah said and gave Aporal a hopeful look. The Andorian seemed to blush slightly when Jaylah grabbed his arm and held onto it.

"Why not? I suppose it won't hurt. As long as I can choose my food myself this time."

A grin flitted across Scotty's face. The more Aporal got involved in spending time with others, the better he would feel.

"Let's get going then!"

"Madainn mhath, lads," Francine greeted her boys as they entered the café where they had agreed to meet. She blinked in surprise when she saw the two other guests. "Oh, I didn't know ye were bringing anyone else. Good morning, ye two. How are ye?" Her gaze lingered on Aporal, who nodded politely.

"Morning, ma'am. Everything's fine, ma'am. I survived," he said and Francine scrutinized him critically, as if to check whether he was really telling the truth.

"He's really doing well, Francine," Jaylah said with a smile. She could see that Scotty's mother still seemed quite skeptical.

"Well... If ye say so. Come with me. I'm sure we can find two more seats."

After the rest of the family had greeted each other, they all found a place at the table.

Scotty noticed that both his brother and Leah kept glancing at Aporal, who was quietly listening to the others' conversations. Something seemed to have changed since the previous evening. He just couldn't tell what it was.

After breakfast, before they set off on a walk along the beach, Scotty pulled Robbie aside briefly.

"What's the matter, a bhràthair?" he asked quietly and Robbie blinked in confusion.

"What do ye mean?"

Scotty just rolled his eyes. Was his brother trying to play him for a fool? Inconspicuously, the older Scott brother nodded towards Aporal and Robbie blushed. He scratched the back of his head, embarrassed.

"Oh... Uhm... Maybe I used my tech skills a wee bit to find out some things about him?"

Scotty couldn't believe it. He narrowed his eyes.

"What?"

"Leah and I were curious, okay? We just wanted to know who he is. And... they weren't very nice search results."

"Why didn't ye just trust Len's and my testimony that he's a good friend? I cannae believe ye guys did that!"

Robbie was about to protest, but the voice of Granddad calling after them interrupted him.

With a final glare, Scotty turned around and joined the others. He desperately needed some fresh air.

[jiminy-crickets]

faceoff episode one thoughts and opinions <3333

YESSSS right off the bat willy is walking around Toronto with his dogs, fuck YES!!

YES PUT THE TORONTO MEDIA CIRCUS ON BLAST!!!!!!

also fucking hell, when dear god WHEN will we as a society escape biz nasty. grow up!!!!!! YOUR NAME IS PAUL!!!!!

"This place is the only place that has been home for me. Like, ive never spent so much time in one place in my life"........... william........ i am holding you gently in my hands baby.

Willy absolutely stunting on those kids, also... It is almost pathetic just how romance-horny i get seeing people being nice to kids. like, i love kids, i hope to have a bunch one day, and it makes me so frustrated to see how angry so many young people get when children dare to exist in public (like, i get being annoyed at a crying baby on a plane, but when you are giving dirty looks at a parent and a kid who are just existing in public fuck off, fuck right off with that)

also i love the shot of the puppies looking at willy and the kids in the doorway onto the ice.

like once again, seeing pasta call his kid "boss" and taking her out to the aquarium... man i love that, like pasta if you want a second 'wife' lmk!!

augh!!!!! the shots of baby pasta and baby willy!!!! TINY BABIES!!!! widde iddy bitty boys!!!

oh fuck dead dad talk.... oh, i don't. i really hope this episode isnt sad for very long because uh.... i fucking buried my grandmother on Wednesday, i can't deal with sad shit rn.

oh okay, dead dad talk is over now, yippee. but also, yikes.

the dinner together is really sweet, it does you know... feel very performative since there are cameras, but its still nice.

okay the cut from willy being like all like 'i hate playing you because we loose' to boston winning 4-1, is MUAH chefs kiss

okay, time skip to the playoffs, i knew it had to happen, but wow. bit of a jolt to the system.

i am not a leafs FAN, i am a leafs appreciator, and so... i welcome any and all footage of them looking sad.

the montage of angry tweet and voice clips of people asking when willy was is very much giving the ready for it into from the reputation stadium tour.

i wouldn't wish a migraine on my worst enemy (my worst enemy being mycobacterium tuberculosis) and fuck i forgot how fucking idiotic people were yelling about how willy wasn't playing because of a 'headache' like, no. that IS NOT what a migraine is, fuck right off.

okay i get why they are showing the game highlights along with willy cheering them on, but it FEELS like im watching a fucking react video.

omg hiiiiii PK <3333333333 ive seen you before now, but you look so cute and you are so right they aren't playing hurt they are playing injured, and its fucked up.

<3 stop fucking crying bro <3

WAIT THE SHOT OF WILLY ON THE SUBWAY IN THE TRAILER WAS HIM ON HIS WAY TO GAME SIX????? fucking iconic, also FUCK THE TTC. i hate it more than OC Transpo, which is saying something because i live in Ottawa.

the shot of him walking up the steps in the station and smiling at the bruins fan in front of him... your honour i love him!!

okay i am ALL FOR the dramatic slow mo shots of them set to dramatic music, but have them be doing something cool, not just a lame celly.

...WHO'S CAR IS HE DRIVING HOME???? SIR YOU TOOK THE TRAIN!!!

the episode is called "the best of rivals" but it should be called the william nylander show, WHERE IS PASTA!!!

OMG HIIII PASTAAAAAAA <3333 also i fucking forgot that montgomery called pasta out, fucking hell. the shit you forget in a few months.

fucking hell, now dead son talk. i can't deal with this. i fucking can't. jesus christ. at least now im crying for a real reason, not liek when i watched the new sims trailer (its death themed) two days ago and had to pause it part way through and close the tab because i was crying looking at the sims coffin.

please can the leafs get eliminated now i need to cheer up.

wait omg i forgot it was pasta who got the ot win!!!! ough the nhl scriptwriter knocked that out of the park

its realllllly hard for me to be sad for willy wen he looks like THAT, like sir, if you want me to be sad for you you're gonna need to not be flushed and covered in sweat with your hairy tits out. like. you looks like sex on legs good sir.

awwwwww nice end.

i like seeing sad willy.

and happy pasta

this is FUN, i like this!!!! although, i am fond of a good docuseries, so... i was never NOT going to like this. its fun! its dramaaaaa, and they are swearing which i miss when i watch the other BTS series that teams put out.

[charmanderpoke]

Series, games and movies I want to make fanart of.

Maybe some of them will change and maybe the order will change.

Do any of you guys have any requests or ideas you want me to try?

The only rules are no real human or too realistic

And it has to be character from an animation

The amazing digital circus - jax ✔️- pomni ✔️- Ragatha ✔️ - Gangle ✔️ - Kinger ✔️ - Zooble ✔️- caine ✔️ - bubble ✔️ - kaufmo ✔️

Lego monkie kid - MK ✔️- Mei ✔️- red son✔️ - macaque ✔️- monkey King ✔️ - nezha request✔️ - lady bone demon✔️ - ao Lie ✔️- mo ✔️- demon Bull King ✔️ - princess iron fan - peng - pigsy - tang - Sandy - Jin - Yin - azure lion

Tales of Arcadia - jim - claire - toby - Douxie - aja - krel ✔️ - varvatos vex ✔️- angor rot - archie - aarrrgghh!!! - Blinky✔️ - nari - Nomura - Draal - notenrique - Deya ✔️- Walter -

Jack skellington ✔️

Mystery skulls - arthur - lewis request - vivi - mystery - shiromori - ???

Undertale - frisk - Flowey ✔️ - Toriel - sans - papyrus - undyne - alphys - mettaton - Asgore - asriel - chara - monster kid ✔️- napstablook - muffet

Junkrat - Roadhog (I think)

Sundrop request ✔️- Moondrop ✔️ - glamrock freddy - glamrock chica - roxanne Wolf - Montgomery Gator - vanny - dj Music man

Hilda - Hilda ✔️- twig ✔️- David - Frida - alfur - tontu Alpha - tontu beta - jellybean

legend of vox machina - percy

Bendy - Bendy ✔️ - Boris - Alice Angel - Sammy -

Helluva boss - blitz - loona- moxxie - Mille - Sallie May ✔️ - stolas request ✔️ - Octavia - stella - Striker - asmodeus - Fizzarolli✔️ - beelzebub - mammon - chazwick - cletus - collin - Keenie - Deerie - robo Fizz - glitz - glam ✔️ - verosika mayday - vortex - Wally Wackford

Hazbin hotel - Charlie work in progress - vaggie - Angel dust request ✔️- fat nuggets - husk - Alastor - rosie - niffy - vox - lilith - lucifer - Adam - Lute - mimzy - Molly - Baxter - egg boiz - Cherri bomb - crymini - Sir pentious -Katie killjoy - kee kee

The vampair Series - missi ✔️

Youtuber - let me explain studios - mogswamp

Sly Cooper - sly Cooper - Bentley - Murray - carmelita montoya fox

ROTTMNT - raph - Leo - Mikey - donnie

Smallfoot - migo

kipo and the age of wonderbeasts - Kipo

[anne-bsd-bibliophile]

hiiiiiiiiii! whats ur favs books? tyty!

I have a lot of favorite books, and what I like best depends on my mood or what my current obsession is. I'll just look through my shelves and list whatever titles stand out:

No Longer Human by Dazai Osamu

Otogizoshi by Dazai Osamu

The Setting Sun by Dazai Osamu

Japanese Tales of Mystery and Imagination by Edogawa Ranpo

The Key by Tanizaki Junichiro

The Autobiography of Fukuzawa Yukichi

Rashomon and Seventeen Other Stories by Akutagawa Ryunosuke

Kappa by Akutagawa Ryunosuke

The Decagon House Murders by Ayatsuji Yukito

The Mill House Murders by Ayatsuji Yukito

The Summer of the Ubume by Kyogoku Natsuhiko

Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki by Haruki Murakami

Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami

The Lake by Banana Yoshimoto

The Factory by Hiroko Oyamada

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

The Accusation: Forbidden Stories from Inside North Korea by Bandi

The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff

Tao Te Ching by Lao Tsu, translated by Gai-fu Feng and Jane English

The Wisdom of Insecurity by Alan Watts

Henry V by William Shakespeare

Hamlet by William Shakespeare

Macbeth by William Shakespeare

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] by The Reduced Shakespeare Company (Adam Long, Daniel Singer, Jess Winfield)

Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery

The Blue Castle by Lucy Maud Montgomery

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde

The Suicide Shop by Jean Teule

The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu (MXTX)

Heaven Official's Blessing by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu (MXTX)

Scum Villain Self Saving System by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu (MXTX)

The Husky and His White Cat Shizun by Rou Bao Bu Chi Rou (Meatbun)

Mardock Scramble by Ubukata Tow

Fafner: Dead Aggressor by Ubukata Tow

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The Three Body Problem by Cixin Liu

A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket

Capt. Hook: Adventures of a Notorious Youth by J.V. Hart

This list doesn't include the manga series, just because it's gotten long enough and I don't know how many BL manga I'd want to include either.

[theveriest]

A couple of weeks ago I asked about people’s favorite book or books they read this year. Between Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and discord, I have a list of 123 books in no particular order that my friends and family loved this year. If it was a series then I listed the first book. Each star is an additional recommendation. I haven’t read all of these, they may or may not reflect my personal opinions, though my favorite books are on the list too. The most recommended books were How Far The Light Reaches by Sabrina Imbler, one or all of the Murderbot books by Martha Wells, and Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki, because if there’s one thing my friends have in common across platforms, it’s that you’re all nerds (affectionate). Enjoy, and I hope you find your new favorite book!

Reformatory by Tananarive Due

Not My Father’s Son by Alan Cumming

Jesus and John Wayne by Kristen Kobes de Mez

The Soul Of An Octopus by Sy Montgomery

Rough Sleepers by Tracy Kidder

The Going To Bed Book by Sandra Boynton

My Hijacking by Martha Hodes

Longhand by Andy Hamilton

Babel by RF Kuang*

The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff*

Lies We Sing To The Sea by Sarah Underwood

The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart

Dress Coded by Carrie Firestone

I Lost My Tooth! by Mo Willems

The Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Spirits Abroad by Zen Cho

How Far The Light Reaches by Sabrina Imbler**

Radiant Fugitives by Nawaaz Ahmed

Solito: A Memoir by Javier Zamora

The Making of Another Motion Picture Masterpiece by Tom Hanks

These Precious Days by Ann Patchett*

I’m Stuck by Julia Mills

Entangled Life by Martin Sheldrake

Iris by Eden Finley

Hot Vampire Next Door by Nikki St. Crowe

Devil of Dublin by BB Easton

Tied by Carian Cole

Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld*

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

From Blood And Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Where I End by Sophie White

Wool by Hugh Howey

The Six Deaths of the Saint by Alix E. Harrow

Yellowface by RF Kuang

Idlewild by James Frankie Thomas

North Woods by Daniel Mason

After Sappho by Selby Wynn Schwartz

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin*

The Fragile Threads of Power by VE Schwab

My Heart is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones

Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari

The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander

The Book of the Unnamed Midwife by Meg Elison

Call Your Daughter Home by Deb Spera

The English Understand Wool by Helen Dewitt

Preserving Food Without Freezing or Canning by The Gardeners & Farmers of Terre Vivante

How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water by Angie Cruz

Blood Like Magic by Liselle Sambury

Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley

Love In The Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson

Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli

The Wicked Bargain by Gabe Cole Novoa*

Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle

Welcome to Night Vale by Jeffrey Cranor and Joseph Fink

The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas

The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat

Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman

Gideon The Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

Prophet by Sin Blache and Helen MacDonald*

Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki**

System Collapse by Martha Wells***

The Brutish Museums by Dan Hicks

A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine*

A Desolation Called Peace by Arkady Martine

A Psalm For The Wild Built by Becky Chambers*

Several People Are Typing by Calvin Kasulke

The Lazarus Heist by Geoff White

The September House by Carissa Orlando*

I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White

Mistletoe and Mishigas by MA Wardell

A Restless Truth by Freya Marske

The Last Smile In Sunder City by Luke Arnold

The Hidden Case of Ewan Forbes by Zoe Playden

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

Manywhere by Morgan Thomas

Shit Cassandra Saw by Gwen E. Kirby

Loot by Tania James

The Art Thief by Michael Finkel

Grave Expectations by Alice Bell

Astrid Parker Doesn’t Fail by Ashley Herring Blake

A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske

Kiss Her Once For Me by Alison Cochrun

The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison

All Systems Read by Martha Wells

The Once and Future Sex by Eleanor Janega

Mort by Terry Pratchett

Into The Drowning Deep by Mira Grant

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner*

The Door by Magda Szabo

Fluids by May Leitz

The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald

Nona the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

Lieut. John Irving, R.N. of H.M.S. "Terror" in Sir John Franklin's last expedition to the Arctic regions a memorial sketch with letters

In Five Years by Rebecca Serle

Raven the Pirate Princess by Jeremy Whitley

Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune

The Fiancée Farce by Alexandria Bellefleur

Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb

Slewfoot by Brom

The Secret Life of Groceries by Benjamin Lorr

500 Miles From You by Jenny Colgan

O Caledonia by Elspeth Barker

The Hand That First Held Mine by Maggie O’Farrell

The Secret Lives of Country Gentleman by KJ Charles

A Line In The World by Dorthe Nors

The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

Glitter and Concrete by Elyssa Maxx Goodman

The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez

Tender Is The Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica

The Tragic Menagerie by Lydia Zinovieva-Annibal (translated by Jane Costlow)

The 100 Years Of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin

Beartown by Fredrik Backman

I Have Some Questions For You by Rebecca Makkai

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

Starling House by Alix E. Harrow

Twisted Love by Ana Huang

Precise Oaths by Paige E. Ewing

Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots

A Dead Djinn In Cairo by P. Djeli Clark

[smolandweirdwriter]

Serafina and The Black Cloak Reread Thoughts: Chapter Three

Babe wake up new slang just dropped: “gnawin’ on leather” 

Her pa doesn’t like mr poe gives “my dad won’t let us watch horror movies so you have to sneak them over in a different dvd cover if we’re gonna watch a horror movie when you sleep over later tonight” omg rowena & serafina girltime au?? (Lol sorry)

Oooooh the dynamo’s busted I wonder what thaaat meeeaannnssss (hehehe)

Biltmore being one of the few homes to have electricity is a nice reminder of the time period

“she’d been trying to follow [her pa’s] rules at least some of the time” lol

“Spotting an upholstered chair she felt an overwhelming desire to run her fingernails over the plush fabric” REAL

Her being shocked at flower vases & the idea of flowers INSIDE the house is so funny

Awwww poor sera, looking for her momma and siblings everywhere…

Serafina is super smart. just putting that out there. She’s brilliant and I love her

Oop the first description of Edith Vanderbilt kinda gives chatgpt-generated ngl (obviously it wasn’t bc it predates chatgpt & shitty ai writing generators, & this book is SO MUCH BETTER than anything an AI could generate regardless) 

“A refined and attractive woman, Mrs. Vanderbilt had a pale complexion and a full head of dark hair, and she seemed at ease in her role of hostess as she moved through the room.” Idk what about this makes me think “AI generated” but it just DOES

“Serafina loved to climb the tapestries at night and run her fingernails down through the soft fabric” AGAIN SHES SO REAL FOR THIS

OHOHOHO MR THORNE NAMEDROP:

“I’m sure that most of you already know Mr. Montgomery Thorne,”… Mrs. Vanderbilt said with a gentle sweep of her arm toward a gentleman. “He has graciously offered to play [the violin] for us today.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Vanderbilt,” Mr. Thorne said with a smile as he stepped forward. ... To Serafina, who’d been listening to Biltmore’s visitors her entire life, he didn’t sound like he came from the mountains of North Carolina, or from New York like the Vanderbilts. He spoke with the accent of a southern gentleman, maybe from Georgia or South Carolina.”

Serafina having an eye for fashion was NOT what I was expecting from this reread lol (she describes mr t’s outfit then says “all of which she thought went nicely with his silvery-black hair and perfectly trimmed sideburns”)

Hmmm interesting she actually sympathizes with/likes mr Thorne at first?? I did nOT recall that

Lol serafina liking to watch mr Thorne’s fingers move as he plays and wanting to pounce on them is so Cat of her

OMG BRAEDEN BRAEDEN BRAEDEN BRAEDEN

Apparently he looks “sickly, a little frail even” which I do not recall, but hes also got “watchful, sensitive brown eyes” and “a rather fetching tussle of wavy brown hair”

“Are you lost?” WE GOT IT WE GOT THE LINE but more importantly we got the NEXT LINE which is “May I help you find your way?” And hes described as not timid or shy but also not overly confident which I LOVE (fun fact this line is very similar to one of the characters of my other favorite kid’s book series, Keefe Sencen’s “you must be lost” line)

Lol Braeden always sharing his food with Gideon annoys the chefs i LOVE him

OMG HE BOWS TO HER WHEN SHE GIVES HIM HIS NAME LIKE SHE’S A PROPER LADY!!!!! MEN!!!! TAKE NOTES!!!!!! THIS IS HOW IT’S DONE!!!

Name drop at last, missing girl’s name is Clara Brahms. Honestly I’m a little sad Clara isnt a recurring character later on. Braeden, Serafina, and Clara could’ve been a good trio 

OOOOHH “She had heard the servants in the kitchen joke that their master must have secretly found the Fountain of Youth” what a NICE SET UP for how the black cloak keeps people young & serafina’s suspicion of mr Vanderbilt

Mr Vanderbilt: *wears dress shoes to go riding*

serafina: criminal activity right there. Lock him up

This was my favorite chapter so far, probably because it introduces us to so many different characters and moving parts. I like Mr. Vanderbilt a lot more than I remember (as a historical figure now that I know more about him & also as a character) and Braeden is, of course, perfect in every way.