#rick riordan occasionally included

[autistic-katara]

reading fanfic was way more fun when i had no standards for stuff being in-character or well-written

[spacelazarwolf]

apparently a bunch of ppl on social media are trying to call for a boycott of rick riordan because of this statement in a blog post:

Becky and I are just back from a busy weekend with events at the Boston Book Festival and New York Comic-Con.

Before I get into that, however, some words to acknowledge the ongoing horrors in Israel and Gaza. As many of you may know, I am no longer on social media. My accounts post only updates on my books and related projects. I do not read posts, reply to posts, or share my thoughts about world events on those forums. That doesn’t mean I don’t have strong feelings and reactions. It means I am offline as completely as possible, except for the occasional blog post like this one.

I will say this: Over the last eighteen years, I have received many fan letters from young readers, both Israeli and Palestinian, who often told me that my books helped them escape the fear, grief and anxiety they were dealing with at the time. Some had lost family members to violence. Some were writing while in the distance they could hear explosions, gunfire, and the launching of rockets. They used my books as a way to escape into another world, where the monsters were fictional, and where demigods usually saved the day. While I am always glad that my books can help young readers find joy during difficult times, my heart breaks every time I hear about the things they have to deal with. I am grief-stricken by the horrific events now unfolding, especially because I know that they are part of a long historic pattern that has been robbing too many children of their childhood and perpetuating hatred for far too long.

I am also quite aware that when anyone, myself included, tries to speak about this issue, the reader is waiting to pounce, thinking, “Yes, but whose side are you on?” That is exactly the wrong question. If there are two sides to this issue, those sides are not Palestinian/Israeli or Muslim/Jewish. The two sides are humanitarian and dehumanizing. Dehumanizing has a long evil history. It is appealing and easy to buy into, because humans are tribal animals. We are hardwired to think in terms of ‘us’ versus ‘them.’ We are the real humans, the good guys, the ones with God on our side. Those other people are evil monsters who don’t deserve empathy. Hate mongers have thrived on dehumanizing for as long as there have been humans. It provides them with a purpose, a way to rally support, power, and scapegoats. It is easy to point to atrocities committed by our enemies, while justifying or minimizing the atrocities committed by ourselves or our allies.

Humanitarianism is a much harder sell. It requires us to empathize, to see other groups of people as equally deserving of dignity and quality of life. It requires not always putting ourselves and our needs first. But in the long run, humanitarianism is our only hope. If violence could end violence, if we could put an end to “those other people” once and for all, human history would read very differently than it does.

So yes, I am appalled by the Hamas attacks on Israeli civilians. I am appalled by the suffering of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. Both things can be true. Both things must be true. My thoughts are with all the people who have died, who have lost loved ones, who have had their worlds and their lives shattered, especially the children. More death and violence will not break this cycle, which has been going on for generations. There is no military solution. Even since I first wrote the post, only twenty-four hours ago, the Israeli government’s brutal retaliation against the entire population of Gaza has reached genocidal proportions. This is not only an atrocity. It is folly. Answering misery with misery only creates more fertile ground for extremism, dehumanizing the “other side,” letting hate mongers thrive, stay in power, and reduce us all to our most monstrous impulses. The only real solution is treating each other like equally worthy human beings, and negotiating a peace that allows all parties a chance to live in security and dignity, with hopes for a future that does not include bombs and rockets and gunfire. This means security and support for Israel, yes. It also means a secure Palestine which is allowed to get the international aid and recognition it needs to build a viable state.

Do I think that will happen? Unfortunately, no. Humans are simply too selfish, too ready to blame “the other” for all their problems, too ready to dehumanize, though I also believe, perhaps paradoxically, that most people just want to live their lives in peace and have a chance for their children to have a brighter future. The problem is when we don’t allow other people to have those same hopes and dreams — when it becomes a false choice of us versus them.

What can I do? I will continue to write books that I hope will give young readers some joy. I will resist the urge to demonize entire groups of people. I will call for less violence, not more violence. And when asked whose side I am on, I will tell you I am on the side of humanitarianism.

So with that said, I return to the world of books . . .

honestly, if you have a problem with this statement, it’s probably because he’s talking about you. this is exactly what legitimate activists (as in not just random westerners who share social media posts but on-the-ground activists who are doing real work) have been saying for decades. and i think all this really speaks to just how disconnected a lot of westerners who claim to be pro palestinian are from those activists.

if you can’t read a statement that says “i am on the side of humanitarianism and less violence” without immediately jumping to cancel them, you are the problem being discussed in the above statement.

[captainremmington-13]

𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖉𝖆𝖚𝖌𝖍𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝖔𝖋 𝖉𝖊𝖆𝖙𝖍

𝖈𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝖔𝖓𝖊

show!Luke Castellan x daughter of thanatos!reader

DISCLAIMER: I don’t own the image above or any of Rick Riordan’s characters/world-building.

⚠️Warnings⚠️: mentions of death, sadness, and lonliness

A/N: the next part is gonna include capture the flag ;))

As soon as you heard the yelling, you were certain that someone had died. 

The sensation that washed over your body confirmed your suspicions. Your powers always told you when a being was truly dead and beyond saving. However, this time, it felt slightly different. The being’s life had been halted, but not ended. They were no longer aging, but their soul remained in their body. 

Putting down the blanket you were folding, you slipped on a pair of worn-down sneakers and left Cabin 11. Walking down the stairs, you internally hoped the scene wasn’t too gory. Even if you were the child of death itself, you weren’t a fan of seeing people mutilated.

Just by listening for a moment, you could tell that the chaos was occurring at the border of the camp. Putting two and two together, you realized a new camper must have arrived. You’d seen several demigods try to get inside the safety of the camp border’s, and lose their lives in the process.  

But as you approached the hill where several other demigods were crowded together, you saw two kids who were very much alive. The more baffling sight, however, was the large pine tree at the highest point of the hill that definitely hadn’t been there before. 

You tapped Will Solace on the arm, making him jump slightly. Ignoring his reaction, you asked, “What in Hades is going on? Where did that tree come from?”

“Uh…” Will said, scratching the back of his neck. “Three demigods and a satyr were being chased by monsters as they approached the camp border. One of the demigods, a daughter of Zeus, sacrificed herself to let the others get to safety. It seems that instead of letting her die or saving her, Zeus turned her into…” He gestured at the tree. “That.”

Typical god behavior. When they try to help their offspring, they only make their lives worse.

“That’s unfortunate,” you said to Will. “I don’t think there’s much we can do.”

“Yeah,” Will replied awkwardly. “Try not to worry about it. We’ll get the two new campers settled into Cabin 11 as soon as we can. You can meet them then.” 

Understanding that he wanted to end the conversation, you simply nodded and walked away. You had learned to recognize the signs that signaled when people no longer wanted to be in your presence, and Will was exhibiting several of them.

But that was alright. You didn’t really feel like sticking around anyways. You were your own best companion. 

________________________________________________

“Hey, uh, is the top bunk taken?“ 

You looked up from painting your nails to see a boy standing in front of you. He had curly brown hair, a lean figure, and brown eyes that had a mischievous glint in them. He was holding a small backpack, which likely contained all of his personal possessions. 

“That’s Kalia’s bunk. You can take that spot over there.” You pointed to a twin-sized mattress squished in between two bunk beds. 

“Oh…okay.” The boy set his backpack down on the mattress and sat down next to it. “So, are you…you know, a Hermes kid too?”

You laughed without humor. “Do I look like one of Hermes’s spawn?” 

The boy flinched. “No.” 

“You have your answer then.”

He sighed. “I suppose it’s for the better that he’s not your father. He’s completely neglected me all my life.”

“All of the gods do that to their demigod offspring,” you said. “Except for a rare few. And even then, the most their children get are occasional visits and favors. Some of the gods choose favorites, which causes chaos here at camp.” 

The boy nodded in acknowledgement. “That seems frustrating.”

“It is.”

“So…if you’re not one of Hermes’s children, are you unclaimed?”

You shook your head. “No. My father just doesn’t have a cabin, so I’m stuck here.”

“And who exactly is your father?”

You bit the inside of your cheek, knowing that your answer will probably scare the boy off. But you decided to be honest. If he can’t handle the truth, that’s his problem. 

“Thanatos, god of death.” 

Instead of going pale and quickly looking away, the boy gave you a small smile. “Cool.” He stood up again, walking over to your bunk once more. He extended his hand.

“I’m Luke. Luke Castellan.”

As you shook his hand firmly and told him your name, a genuine feeling of warmth grew in your chest. 

Maybe, just maybe, you’d found someone who didn’t treat you like a walking time bomb.

________________________________________________

You took it upon yourself to show Luke around camp the next day. This shocked everyone, as you usually didn’t converse with anyone for more than a few minutes at a time. You and him spent the entire day together, and even ate dinner side-by-side at the Hermes table. It was the most time you’d spent with just one person in ages.

You explained to him the unspoken rules of the camp. In order to prevent being messed with, you had to prove that you were worthy. Glory was extremely important, and could be earned by winning Capture the Flag or going on quests. And protecting your cabin’s honor was of top priority. If another cabin somehow slandered yours, you had the right to retaliate (even though Chiron and Mr. D didn’t approve).

The more you interacted with Luke, the more you liked him. 

Luke adapted to his new environment extremely well. He quickly established a reputation as an excellent strategist and seasoned fighter.  Apparently, he had been on the run since he was nine, and picked up a myriad of skills along the way. He was particularly good at picking locks, which wasn’t surprising. 

He also made friends quickly. His charming personality drew in every person he interacted with. He was witty, ambitious, and made good conversation. Plus, his impressive abilities made him a useful ally. 

After he settled in, you expected him to forget about you. He had more popular, less terrifying companions. 

But he didn’t. In fact, he became your closest friend. 

Despite being different in a variety of ways, your personalities blended like a dream. He appreciated your dry, subtle sense of humor, and encouraged you to always keep improving. And you admired his mischievous nature. He’d even gotten you to lighten up a bit, and become less adverse to participating in group activities.

You slowly learned more about him, and he learned about you. You both assumed it would scare the other person off, but that knowledge only brought you closer together. 

But most importantly, you both quickly learned that together, you were essentially unstoppable. 

taglist: @orionspaperwork

Thank you for reading! Pls let me know what you think in the comments!!! I have some rly fun ideas for upcoming chapters, so stay tuned!😊

Let me know in the comments if you want to be added to the taglist!

[airprime7]

Ok, new pinned post time. There are things here.

Long story short: we’re plural. If you don’t know what that mean, or need help understanding, this is a neat site with some good info. If you have any questions don’t be afraid to send me an ask, although there’s no guarantee we’ll respond.

There's about 30 of us now? I think

Old pinned post with very not up-to-date list.

New Post with a bunch of info that I will maybe update. Probably.

Also: I write things. Some of it's on AO3, some is on MSPFA. I have more monstrous WIP's than I can count, including a Homestuck fan adventure called Roguebent, a series of 8 mini-stories about certain classpects, Jojo's MS Paint Adventures, and many many more. List of my completed and current stuff here.

Things I like:

Homestuck

Jojo's Bizarre Adventure

Star Wars

Marvel (MCU and others)

Super Smash Bros.

Dungeons and Dragons

Undertale

Mario

Legend of Zelda

Erfworld

Yu-Gi-Oh!

Pokémon

Order of the Stick

El Goonish Shive

Christopher Nolan movies

Edgar Wright movies

Rick Riordan Books

Uhhhhhhh... like 10 billion other things

I'm not tagging all that.

Tags are occasional, some are further described in the system list.

[syaraan]

ah yes, the pinned post. How to start this...

Hi, i'm Sy Siaraan (She/they), a typical tumblr triple A battery (AroAce Autistic). I'm the poet/writer in the family, (go see @zy-7-12-ninetwo for random art) so expect unexpected midnight-written poems to occasionally appear here. (I do do silk art stuff though (see profile image) so Zy doesn't have all the claim on arty stuff. )

Fandoms

Read Bold for fandom list

This is not a one fandom blog, I will often switch blog focus from one fandom/book/series to another. Traffic smp / Hermitcraft / Empires smp don't ever seem to remain out of focus for long though. Other fandoms/books/series that will keep popping up on this blog include:

- Nevermoor (by Jessica Townsend, Book series) - Ranger's Apprentice (by John Flanagan, Book series) - Rick Riordan verse (Anything in the world the Percy Jackson books are set in) - Star Trek - Tolkien (works and related fandoms (as Ao3 puts it), Lotr, Silmarillion etc.)

Fandoms/books/series that may appear every-so-often include:

- Narnia - random science and maths stuff - Doctor Who - DSMP / SBI - Sherlock Homes - Good Omens - Harry Potter

Tags

Tag for original posts --> #Syaraan

tag for original fandom related posts --> #Sy speaks

tag for @zy-7-12-ninetwo related stuff --> #nonexistent sibling rivalry

tag for fanfic posts --> #Sy writes

Tag for original poems (including fandom related and reblogs) --> #Sy saga

Tag for long midnight-writen reblogs --> #Sy un-proofread

Idea specific tags

life series / traffic smp gods & deities au --> #traffic god au

Icarus poem -> #oh Icarus wake up

[checkoutmybookshelf]

Sometimes We Get Together With Friends and Play Catch-Up

Ok, so I didn't actually go through the all-too-common Greek and Roman mythology phase that lots of pre-teen kids and a startling number of future history majors do. I got caught in fairy tales and dragons, so I absolutely missed the Percy Jackson books as they were coming out. I just wasn't interested. Then I had a classmate in Continental Literature in undergrad and every sentence out of her mouth for that entire 16-week semester was "Well AHKSHUALLY, in Percy Jackson..." and at that point I you couldn't have gotten me to read those books at gunpoint.

A dear friend of mine also missed the Percy Jackson books, so we decided to read it together. Y'all...I have THOUGHTS. Let's talk Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief.

SPOILER WARNING. I will spoil this book, so if you haven't finished this almost 15-year-old children's book and care about spoilers, catch us on the flip side.

Ok, so first and foremost: I can absolutely see why these books are beloved. If you were a Greek mythology enthusiast between ages 9 and 13, I can absolutely see why you'd inhale this book. It's also quite well-written, even at the sentence level, which is not always the case with middle grade books, where plot can occasionally overtake writing style.

The characters and plot were also on point, with a lovely balance of plot action to development. Grover and Annabeth had great development and the tension to friendship balance with Percy was excellent.

I also absolutely love Sally going "yes, let's turn my dickhead, abusive husband into stone and then make fucking BANK selling him as a statue to the 'super-ugly neorealism' enthusiasts." That was just GOOD.

I would also like to give this book major kudos for pulling off "everyman: for kids!" really well, in contrast to lots of chosen one and super special genius/jock/[insert category that only a limited number of kids can relate to here]. I think this would have spoken to so many more kids than other titles that were floating around in the early 2000s, and that is so, so important for kids' self-esteem and self-worth. I am never not grateful for books that made kids in a really challenging point in their lives feel seen and understood and perhaps even brave or strong or full of potential that they had the power to tap into.

So all that said, I think overall The Lightning Thief is a net positive for the world, and Rick Riordan has been a hella net positive for publishing and children's literature.

I do also have a pretty key issue with this book, and the issue is also just baffling to me. Rick Riordan rather famously said that

Percy was his way of telling his son, "Learning differences don't mean there's anything wrong with you. In fact, it is a mark of being very special indeed.” It was a message he says Haley “had no problem believing.” Seeing himself in fiction “empowered him,” Riordan adds. Since The Lightning Thief debuted in 2005, the story’s reach has moved well beyond Riordan’s child, the author’s work now sold in 37 countries. No matter where they live, Riordan notes, “It can be really empowering for kids to know that they are seen and understood. They may behave or process information differently in a classroom setting, but that doesn't mean they are flawed.”

Which is awesome and kids with neurodivergence and "learning differences" should feel seen and supported. This is great, I have no beef with this.

What I DO take issue with in this book is the truly baffling prejudice against physical disability and the reiteration of some genuinely harmful disability tropes, including a variation on disability drag.

Even in 2005, using "crippled" to describe people with physical disabilities was absolutely uncool, yet "crippled" is the terminology that is used throughout the book. Robert McRuer wouldn't publish his seminal Crip Theory: Cultural Signs of Queerness and Disability until 2006, so it wouldn't be realistic to expect Riordan to use "cripped" instead, but literally ANYTHING ELSE than crippled would be nice, because that word sets my teeth on edge. In this vein, we also get Annabeth leaning into the pervasive idea that disability and beauty cannot exist together, and the book does not check her or correct her, suggesting a tacit agreement. Here's Annabeth's contribution to disparaging physical disability:

There was literally no reason to connect what is implied to be an orthopedic disability with handsomeness or a lack thereof. The two have basically nothing to do with each other unless we're leaning into the moralizing about how disability is a visible sign of moral ugliness. That is an old, OLD disability trope, and we hate to see it because it moralizes bullshit beauty aesthetics and suggests that if you are physically disabled, you cannot be beautiful. Like, I cannot imagine being a physically disabled kid and reading this in a book and not being just absolutely crushed. Like...a pretty girl in a book has just said that she (and in a kid's mind, the leap to "and any other pretty girl" is less a leap and more the logical next step) will never find you handsome. That would be devastating.

Ok, so strictly speaking, "disability drag" is a term that describes the Hollywood predilection for casting abled actors to play disabled characters. That's not strictly what is happening in this book, but it's an easier shorthand than "character is faking a disability for [reasons]." The fact that Grover and Chiron are faking physical disabilities to "pass" for mortals is genuinely harmful.

PEOPLE IN THE REAL WORLD RIGHT NOW THINK THIS IS WHAT DISABLED PEOPLE IN THE REAL WORLD DO. AND THOSE ASSHOLES MAKES LAWS AND POLICIES THAT MAKE IT HARDER FOR DISABLED PEOPLE TO ACCESS EVERYTHING FROM EDUCATION TO MEDICAL CARE. Perpetuating the idea that disabled people are actually faking their disabilities to deceive others or game social systems does real harm. It also can lead physically disabled kids to wonder if they might actually be faking (and holy tits, do not make kids self-gaslight, that is so damaging) and/or push past their physical limits and HARM THEMSELVES to prove something to abled adults or peers, and disabled kids do not owe ANYONE proof.

Honestly, the way that Grover and Chiron were faking physical disabilities ruined the reading experience for me. Especially since Percy himself is over here at the beginning of the book calling Grover out for faking a disability because he walks awkwardly but can run faster than most kids. Like...this is just bullshit and harmful. Even though it is "explained" by the fact that Grover is a satyr, the fact that the book doesn't call Percy out for making the worst possible assumptions about a classmate's body isn't something you want kids thinking is acceptable. And I don't think that going "oh, he's a satyr" does anything to show that assuming that your classmates are lying about their physical disabilities or differences is KIND OF SHITTY.

It genuinely baffles me that Riordan has completely split the mind from the body in this book and made having ADHD and dyslexia a sign that you're a hero while simultaneously shaming physical disability. I literally cannot comprehend how this split makes logical sense. I am CONFUSED.

The friend I read this book with and I will be watching the new Percy Jackson series, so I'm curious to see how Disney is going to address this absolute contradiction that is inherently baked into the book.

[puttingwingsonwords]

November Reading Wrap Up

This month I finished more books than ever before; granted, several were started earlier, so page-wise the difference is smaller, but still there. I think this is mostly because I didn't spend a lot of time gaming.

Shit I just noticed one of the books in the graphic isn't aligned but I'm not going back to change that.

Stats

total books read: 17

2023 reading challenge progress: 96 out of 100 (somewhat ahead)

formats: 3 digital, 4 audio, 9 physical

Books

I finished several 5 star reads this month. My absolute favourite was, no surprise, @re-dracula (yes I'm counting it as a book. in the end I did read Dracula after all).

• Re: Dracula by BloodyFM, Bram Stoker (audio, podcast)

rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This chronological audio adaptation of Dracula is the best Dracula adaptation out there with an incredible cast, fantastic sound design and awesome bonus songs. I cannot recommend it enough. Together with the Dracula Daily tumblr community it re-enlightened my special interest in vampires and Dracula to the point that I'm still thinking about it every day.

• Juniper & Thorn by Ava Reid (audio)

rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Dark fairy tale meets gothic horror in this retelling of The Juniper Tree. Absolutely loved it!

• Stemmen uit de bodemloze diepte by Anne Resseler (audio)

rating: 5 out of 5 stars

A Dutch YA horror novella that makes you feel the primal fear of the depths of the ocean in an atmospheric, even comforting way.

• The Seep by Chana Porter (digital)

rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This sci-fi novella with a unique take on alien invasion is wonderfully strange and existential. The short story included in this edition is also great.

• Chameleon Moon by RoAnna Sylver (audio, ARC)

rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I had read and loved Chameleon Moon once before, but the audio version made me love it even more! It's intense, emotional, and has amazing effects for ghostly and computerised voices as well as two original songs.

• Activestills: Photography as Protest in Palestine/Israel (physical)

rating: 5 out of 5 stars

A big book full of photos from Palestinian and Israeli activist photography collective Activestills, accompanied by essays and interviews. I greatly admire Activestills' work.

• Stories from Palestine: Narratives of Resilience by Marda Dunsky (digital)

rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Interviews with people of varying occupations from all around Palestine, combined with data and historical and political context, paint a picture of every day life in Jerusalem, Gaza and the West Bank.

• A Map of Absence: An Anthology of Palestinian Writing on the Nakba (digital)

rating: 4 out of 5 stars

A great introduction to Palestinian writing, containing poetry, short fiction and excerpts from novels and essays.

• The Queer Girl Is Going to Be Okay by Dale Walls (audio, ARC)

rating: 4 out of 5 stars

A great YA contemporary following three queer high school friends, examining the nature of queer love.

• The Chalice of the Gods by Rick Riordan (physical)

rating: 4 out of 5 stars

A fun book in the Percy Jackson saga, with lower stakes than usual which makes it a lighthearted adventure that still packs the occasional punch.

• Daughter of the Deep by Rick Riordan (physical)

rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Highly enjoyable modern take on Jules Verne feat. deep sea adventures, alt-tech, and an exploration of the weight of legacy.

• Spy x Family Vol. 1-6 by Tatsuya Endo (physical, borrowed)

rating: 4 out of 5

Action comedy that's just a lot of fun and unexpectedly touching.

Currently reading and TBR

I've just started, or am about to start (I've only read the introduction) Freedom Is a Constant Struggle by Angela Davis. I'm also reading the poetry collection Things You May Find Hidden in My Ear by Mosab Abu Toha, which is currently available for free among many other books for Read Palestine Week (link below).

I have a few more indie books on my TBR for Monster Manor Indie Autumn (extended through December), and A Thousand Steps into Night is my last 12 books for 12 friends read this year. (Send me a message/ask or fill in the question box on my instagram story if you have a rec for next year!)

[thewriting-corner]

Meet The Writer

Helloooo to everyone! It’s been a year and a half since I last did a Meet The Writer post and there are SO many more people here now than there were in October 2021. Plus, lots of new projects have started since then so without further a do, I present to you the most chaotic and emotionally unstable member of the writing community!

(jk)

First of all, my name is Lu and I am soon-to-be 20 years old (so old). I was born and raised in a small country in Central America (whoever guesses the flag in my bio right wins a high five. unless you know me, in which case stop cheating), but now live in Germany because of university. (And if anyone is wondering how much this has changed my personality, I would like it to be known that I become annoyed and confused at people who are visibly happy on the street, and occasionally go on rants about the high price of döner.)

I’m Catholic, and while I’m not super open about my faith, I do generally like talking about it when prompted. I’m a sucker for history and unnecessarily analyzing media, and you can tell I’m on an emotional high point when I start ranting about shows, books and movies on my stories. If I can go through any type of media without commentary it means I’m either sad or it sucks lol. I LOVE reading and writing contemporary romance, though my true love will forever be science fiction🫶🏼 something that I 100% blame on my dad for showing me Jurassic Park when I was only 4 years old. And if we go even deeper into blame, my love for writing sci-fi romance is a product of my dad’s favorite movie genre being sci-fi/action, and my mom’s being sappy romances about self discovery.

My favorite music genres include Taylor Swift (she’s a genre okay), The Score (also a genre) and country music. Books that changed my life or inspired me in any way: The Yellow Note by MJ Padgett, A Cuban Girl’s Guide To Tea And Tomorrow by Laura Taylor Namey, Once Upon A Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber, Of Liars And Thieves by Gabriela Lavarello, Better Than The Movies by Lynn Painter and Cinder by Marissa Meyer. However, the book that got me into writing for the very first time was The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. My favorite movie of all time is Tangled, because.. idk just because. I like Disney princess movies.

Aside from being a writer, I’m also the proud owner of four dogs and two cats, all of which you will eventually see on my stories because I miss them so much. And as of very recently, I’m also the Panels & Workshops Manager at The Authors of Tomorrow :) Also, someone asked me what my dream job is, but honestly it’s to be a hot trophy wife/stay at home mom/author (because I don’t want my writing to ever feel like it’s either sell a book or starve). But seeing as how I do not know how to talk to real guys, my second dream is working in Marketing at a publishing house. I suck at promoting my own books, but, not to brag, but I got around 10 people to read Marissa Meyer’s Renegades series just by talking it up 6 years after it published hehe.

And if I have not yet bored you, it’s time for my WIPs: yay! I’m currently querying a superhero sci-fi novel called The Wrath of Chaos and it’s going even worse than my apartment hunt. Then there’s my contemporary novel The Sun Leads Back To You, which I am self publishing on April 14 (you can preorder the ebook on the link in my bio if you want). After the buzz of TSLBTY is over, I plan to start on a brand new time travel novel about a girl destined to destroy time trying to travel back to 1920s London :) gosh I love writing

[tullipstudio-blog]

DON'T KNOW HOW TO DETERMINE THE RANGE OF AGE IN MAKING CHILDREN'S BOOK? CLICK HERE..

Understanding how to identify the appropriate age range for children's books requires a deep dive into various elements that influence a child's reading experience. Here, we'll explore each factor in greater detail to provide a comprehensive understanding.

A. Content Complexity and Themes

Infants and Toddlers (0-3 years):**

Complexity: The content is extremely simple, focusing on one concept per page.

Themes: Basic and familiar, such as everyday objects, animals, and simple actions (e.g., eating, playing).

Examples: "Goodnight Moon" by Margaret Wise Brown, "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carle.

2. Preschool (3-5 years):

Complexity: Simple narratives with a clear beginning, middle, and end.

Themes: Relatable topics like family, friendships, and emotions. Educational themes like numbers, letters, and basic science.

Examples: "Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak, "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle.

3. Early Elementary (5-7 years):

Complexity: Slightly more complex narratives that still rely heavily on illustrations.

Themes: Simple problem-solving, school experiences, and moral lessons.

Examples: "Frog and Toad Are Friends" by Arnold Lobel, "Amelia Bedelia" by Peggy Parish.

4. Middle Elementary (7-9 years):

Complexity* Longer, more involved stories with multiple chapters.

Themes: Adventures, friendships, family dynamics, and school life.

Examples: "Charlotte's Web" by E. B. White, "Magic Tree House" series by Mary Pope Osborne.

5. Upper Elementary (9-12 years):

Complexity: Intricate plots with deeper character development and subplots.

Themes: Personal growth, social issues, fantasy, and historical fiction.

Examples: "Harry Potter" series by J. K. Rowling, "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" by Rick Riordan.

B. Language and Vocabulary

Infants and Toddlers

Language: Very simple, often just single words or short, repetitive phrases.

Vocabulary: Basic nouns and verbs. Emphasis on phonetic simplicity.

Purpose: To introduce sounds, rhythms, and basic language patterns.

2. Preschool

Language: Slightly more complex sentences, but still simple and repetitive.

Vocabulary: Common everyday words with some new words introduced through context.

Purpose: To expand vocabulary and comprehension through repetition and context.

3. Early Elementary

Language: Simple sentences with basic grammar structures. Introduction of sight words.

Vocabulary: Common words with a few challenging ones supported by illustrations and context.

Purpose: To build reading confidence and introduce independent reading.

4. Middle Elementary

Language: More complex sentences and descriptive language.

Vocabulary: A broader range of words, including some abstract concepts.

Purpose: To enhance reading fluency and comprehension, encourage critical thinking.

5. Upper Elementary

Language: Advanced sentence structures, including dialogues and varied narrative styles.

Vocabulary: Rich and diverse, often requiring inference from context.

Purpose: To challenge readers intellectually and emotionally, fostering a deeper engagement with texts.

C. illustrations and Visual Elements

Infants and Toddlers

Style: Bright, high-contrast images, simple and engaging.

Function: To capture attention and help associate words with images.

2. Preschool

Style: Detailed illustrations that complement and enhance the text.

Function: To aid in storytelling and maintain interest, often with interactive elements.

3. Early Elementary

Style: Illustrations on most pages to support text comprehension.

Function: To provide visual cues that assist with word recognition and narrative understanding.

4. Middle Elementary

Style: Fewer illustrations, primarily at the beginning of chapters or to highlight key scenes.

Function: To enhance the story and provide visual breaks.

5. Upper Elementary

Style: Minimal illustrations, mostly found in graphic novels or as occasional chapter headers.

Function: To support the text when necessary, but with the primary focus on the narrative.

D. Book Length and Format

Infants and Toddlers

Length: Very short, 10-20 pages.

Format: Durable board books, often interactive.

Purpose: To withstand rough handling and encourage sensory exploration.

2. Preschool

Length: 20-40 pages

Format: Picture books, often with more text than toddler books.

Purpose: To balance visual and textual storytelling, preparing for longer narratives.

3. Early Elementary

Length: 30-50 pages, with short chapters.

Format: Early readers and easy-to-read chapter books.

Purpose: To build reading stamina and introduce chapter structures.

5. Middle Elementary

Length: 50-150 pages, often part of a series.

Format: Chapter books with occasional illustrations.

Purpose: To encourage independent reading and engagement with longer stories.

6. Upper Elementary

Length: 150-300 pages or more.

Format: Novels, graphic novels, and detailed chapter books.

Purpose: To offer substantial reading material that challenges and engages.

E. Readability and Interest Level

Infants and Toddlers

Readability: Books are read aloud by adults.

Interest Level: High sensory engagement through interactive features.

Examples: Touch-and-feel books, lift-the-flap books.

2. Preschool

Readability: Read aloud with participation from children.

Interest Level: High due to engaging illustrations and simple, relatable stories.

Examples: Rhyming stories, interactive picture books.

3. Early Elementary

Readability: Children begin reading independently with some adult assistance.

Interest Level: High, as books relate closely to their daily experiences and developmental milestones.

Examples: Beginner readers, simple chapter books.

4. Middle Elementary

Readability: Independent reading.

Interest Level: High, with more complex stories that encourage critical thinking.

Examples: Longer chapter books, early novels.

5. Upper Elementary:

Readability: Fully independent reading.

Interest Level: Diverse, catering to varied interests and encouraging deeper engagement.

Examples: Novels, series books, and graphic novels.

Conclusion

Identifying the age range for children's books involves a nuanced understanding of developmental stages, cognitive abilities, and interests. By considering factors such as content complexity, language, illustrations, book length, and readability, one can effectively match books to the appropriate age group, fostering a lifelong love for reading and learning.

[dandelionwitcher]

It's good to be back

It has been a long time since I've used tumblr, so much so that I made a new account. I have decided that I will use this account to post fandom things, writing stuff and the occasional life update. I doubt I will be posting fanfiction, I unfortunately am still very burnt out from fanfiction but I am starting to get back into the swing of writing and may post the occasional original oneshot.

If you've read for this long I may as well tell you some things about me, starting with what fandoms I am in. At the mo I am enjoying hermitcraft, empires smp and SBI content. I am also an anime fan and some of my all time favourites include hunterxhunter, mob psycho 100 and Toilet Bound Hanako Kun (I enjoy many more but that list would just be too long so we'll keep it at three for now) I used to be a supernatural fan and while I look back at the show with fondness, the last couple of seasons just left a bad taste in my mouth and I fell out of love with the show. I do however enjoy other shows like House of the Dragon. I am also a big lover of cartoons like the Owl House, Star and the forces of Evil, She-ra and Gravity Falls.

I'm surprised you've made it this far if I'm being honest, but if you have let me tell you a little bit about what I'm like as a writer. I mostly write fantasy, but as long as I have a good prompt, I should be able to write just about anything. Big fan of Percy Jackson and Rick Riordan and my writing reflects that through my heavy use of the first person.

I hope I will be able to post here regularly in the future but we shall take it slow for now.

Thanks for making it this far in my post :)

[braghis]

Rick Riordan criticism

Despite how much i love the riordanverse and its series, Rick Riordan is NOT the "King of Diversity" many people make him to be.

When you write characters from minorities, you should be respectful towards those minorities. You are supposed to break stereotypes, not to enforcing them. You should treat your queer or poc characters like you treat your white and straight ones.

MeanWhile Rick Riordan:

• Made his only arab and muslim girl, Samirah, being in a marriage arranged by her parents with an older dude, since she was a kid;

• Made his hispanic character (Leo) being a literal genius, smart as (if not more) the white and popular daughter of Athena (Annabeth) BUT didn't let him having an arc where the others (including his closest friends) actually got to know him better and recognize his intelligence, and just made them keep seeing him as this "weird, flirty, funny clown". Made him the only one "kind of ugly" out of the main group, and made him having all of his struggles magically healed once he was in a romantic relationships;

• Made his only "fat" character (Frank) being self-loathing because of it and learning to accept and like himself more once he magically got the conventionally-attractive body he wanted ('cause real heroes are always the coolest and pretties ones, you know?);

• All of his poc characters came from abusive houses;

• Hazel is a black girl from 1940s but Rick Riordan instead chose to write about how the blonde, popular white girl has to "work harder" to avoid prejudices;

• Made his ace, female character (Reyna) being rejected from two white, popular, conventionally-attractive guys (Percy and Jason), made her constantly being compared in negative with the conventionally-attractive and popular girlfriends of the two white guys (Annabeth and Piper), and then made her ace to "avoid stereotypes against lesbian women" as if the same ones aren't applied towards ace women*;

• Made his popular, conventionally-attractive and (most of them) white characters having special and rare physical traits (light eyes or hair), despite two of them (Piper and Hazel) came from ethnic groups of colors where literally no one has light eyes, while he made his "kind of ugly", outcasts and occasionally mean characters having common traits (dark eyes or hair);

• Made his only gay male character (Nico) being treated as an outcast even in the second series for no good reasons (just for saying at the end that it all was only in his head), made him "kind of ugly" and the only one with PTSD, confirmed (the interview can be found on ReadRiordan) that his sexuality was a last minute decision that he made right in the year LGBT allies and groups started to rise up, made him being the only one who isn't a confirmed HeroOfOlympus and isn't officially recognized as a hero no matter how much he does, made him being violently outed by a queer god in front of the popular, white and (problably) straight character (Jason), made him having a crush on the other white, popular, "tragically straight", conventionally-attractive guy (that's only because RR needed a way to say that Nico's gay without actually saying it) and implied in the same scene that all of the cool and heroic stuffs he did in the series (join in the final battle, saving other lives...) were actually to "conquer/impress" this "tragically straight" guy and not because Nico is genuinely a hero, paired him right after the confirmation of his sexuality just to "prove" it, in a couple that didn't get the development the straight ones got, but just some fanservice, fanfiction-like scenes*;

• Made one of his fandom-unpopular characters (Piper) queer just after she became a side character and paired her with a barely existent girl just to "confirm" her sexuality;

• Potrayed femininity as a sing of weakness and masculinity a a sign of force;

* I am not saying that Reyna can't be ace or Nico can't be gay, i'm just saying that it was poorly written.

[someonelookingpraediti]

Currently Reading...

Percy Jackson and the Titan's Curse - Rick Riordan

Ok, I'm super into these books now.

Side note: I watched the first movie last night - I definitely had seen it before but I didn't remember most of it. It did, however, make me very, very angry. So much was needlessly changed, including some pretty important plot points. And everyone was very out of character. But hey, it made me appreciate the books more!

The writing style continues to improve, I genuinely can't fault it in this book. And I'm really invested in these characters now.

I absolutely love new kid little baby Nico, but fully admit that if I were at camp with him, I'd murder him within the first thirty minutes. I guessed about his parentage immediately, but I didn't understand the relevance of him being stuck in the Lotus Casino until it was literally spelled out for me.

There actually isn't any character that I don't really like reading, they're all really well written. I like the main three, and even the minor characters are interesting to read about.

And I really loved that we're finally getting some proper interaction with the Gods, not just the occasional glimpse. I hope that keeps up.

I'm going straight on to book four, I need to find out what happens next!

[starfallen-sloth]

Hey all! Tempo here! I'm not anybody new to the ye old tungle, but I just wanted to remake my account since my interests have changed a lot from how they used to be. (Aaand also 'cause a few toxic older followers of mine wouldn't leave me alone lol.) I'm not really good with this whole self intro thing haha...

My interests include(but are not limited to):

Video games(Genshin, Ace Attorney, Persona, etc etc) (I tend to prefer RPGs but I have dabbled in the occasional otome game)

Erin Hunter/Erin Hunter-esque series

Same as above but for Rick Riordan books

Astronomy(with a touch of astrology)

Mythology as a whole

Sleeping

Collecting and hoarding objects of interest

DNI if one or more of the following applies to you:

Phobic towards any part of the LGBTQ+

Support pedos, zoos, or anything similarly harmful

Racist/Xenophobic

Rude to Neurodivergent people like myself (aka dont show up in my dms and call me an r slur, this is a message to a very specific person)

Encourage abusive/toxic behavior towards yourself and/or others

Wanna see my writing blog? Go follow @alleycat-arcade ! I like to write in my free time between college and work, so I write a lotta fics for Obey me!, Genshin, and ToT.

[reading-riordan]

PJO: “The Lightning Thief,” Chapter Five

“I Play Pinochle With a Horse”

or, “The Confusing Info-Dump Chapter”

Percy spends the next few days in and out of consciousness, which is weird, because at this point I’m pretty sure that his wounds are all psychological. Occasionally he’s fed “something that tasted like buttered popcorn, only it was pudding” by the girl from the end of the last chapter.

When she saw my eyes open, she asked, "What will happen at the summer solstice?" I managed to croak, "What?" She looked around, as if afraid someone would overhear. "What's going on? What was stolen? We've only got a few weeks!"

Unfortunately for The Girl, a guy covered in eyeballs comes in to tell her that it’s still too early for this much foreshadowing.

Eventually Percy wakes up sitting on the porch of that farmhouse, feeling weak. Grover is there, wearing a “CAMP DEMIGOD HALF-BLOOD” T-shirt but otherwise looking normal. Then he hands Percy a broken Minotaur horn and confirms that yeah, his mom ostensibly exploded last night and he’s still got hairy goat legs under his jeans.

Percy is just “FML,” which, y’know, fair.

I was alone. An orphan. I would have to live with...Smelly Gabe? No. That would never happen. I would live on the streets first.

"I'll put a pin in that idea.” —Rick Riordan

Grover, who is honestly weepier about this than Percy, advises him to drink something which looks like apple juice but tastes like “my mom's homemade blue chocolate-chip cookies, buttery and hot, with the chips still melting.” It makes him feel a lot better, though Grover implies that the stuff would kill him and possibly Percy if either of them drank too much. 

Grover then leads Percy to the back of the house, and we get our first real glimpse of Camp Half-Blood:

Between here and there, I simply couldn't process everything I was seeing. The landscape was dotted with buildings that looked like ancient Greek architecture—an open-air pavilion, an amphitheater, a circular arena—except that they all looked brand new, their white marble columns sparkling in the sun. In a nearby sandpit, a dozen high school-age kids and satyrs played volleyball. Canoes glided across a small lake. Kids in bright orange T-shirts like Grover's were chasing each other around a cluster of cabins nestled in the woods. Some shot targets at an archery range. Others rode horses down a wooded trail, and, unless I was hallucinating, some of their horses had wings.

At the end of the porch, Percy sees The Girl and a man who “looked like a cherub who'd turned middle-aged in a trailer park.” (I must admit, I do like that description.) They are apparently Annabeth and Mr. D.

Percy is surprised to also see Mr. Brunner, who it turns out is actually named “Chiron.”

“Scale? Never heard of it.” —Some ancient Greek artist

"Ah, good, Percy," he said. "Now we have four for pinochle."

He offered me a chair to the right of Mr. D, who looked at me with bloodshot eyes and heaved a great sigh. "Oh, I suppose I must say it. Welcome to Camp Half-Blood. There. Now, don't expect me to be glad to see you."

[...]

She glanced at the minotaur horn in my hands, then back at me. I imagined she was going to say, You killed a minotaur! or Wow, you're so awesome! or something like that. Instead she said, "You drool when you sleep." Then she sprinted off down the lawn, her blond hair flying behind her.

You know, Hogwarts has a much nicer welcoming ceremony. There’s a feast and everything. 

(Also, it should be “blonde,” with an “e.” Just saying.)

Mr. Brunner says that he’s glad that Percy didn’t get horribly killed, as that would have made his tenure at Yancy Academy “a waste of time.” (See, he clearly had no interest in the other students.) Apparently Grover was planted at the school to look out for future protagonists, and when Chiron heard about Percy he murdered the previous Latin teacher and took a job at the school in order to watch him. 

Percy finally cuts to the chase and asks what the heck is going on, and Chiron reveals that the Greek gods are real.

Oh, and Mr. D is one. Specifically Dionysus, god of wine, though he doesn’t like going by that because “names are powerful things” and I still don’t understand why we’re doing this bit. As far as I know, the ancient Greeks weren’t scared of using Dionysus’ name, and it apparently doesn’t hurt him or anything, so...? The point is, Zeus is mad at him, so now he has to spend the next century running a summer camp and getting no rum for his rum and Coke. 

So, let’s talk about Dionysus for a minute. 

“No, I’ve never actually seen a leopard. Why?” —Some ancient Greek artist

He’s actually a pretty complex character. If you don’t want to watch this very interesting 17-minute video, we can summarize by saying that he originally seems to have been a scary god of madness, but over time he developed into a younger, friendlier god with some scary stories still attached to him. The thing is, Mr. D doesn’t fit either of those portrayals very well. I think Riordan was going for the creepy original version (there’s a whole paragraph describing some of his scary stories), but he comes off more grumpy than terrifying. I guess the lack of booze is making him irritable. 

He fits the role of grouchy camp counselor pretty well, though I’m not sure why he hates Percy so much in particular. Unless Riordan just needed a Snape for his Harry Potter bingo card.

"If you were a god, how would you like being called a myth, an old story to explain lightning? What if I told you, Perseus Jackson, that someday people would call you a myth, just created to explain how little boys can get over losing their mothers?"

No, Chiron, he was created to encourage little boys with learning disabilities. Get your facts straight. 

First off: kudos on Percy’s first name, I like that detail. Secondly, I have to question: why don’t people believe in the Greek gods anymore? Mr. D says that Percy will be incinerated if he refuses to, but by that logic, why isn’t Zeus hurling lightning at people until they burn up some BBQ for him? How’d y’all let Christianity take over your cosmic empire?

"Well, now," Chiron said. "God—capital G, God. That's a different matter altogether. We shan't deal with the metaphysical."

Hmm. 

He kicked your ass, didn’t He?

Nah. He sent His kid to do it. 

The adults are still being vague, expecting Sally to have explained things a bit more. Eventually Mr. D leaves with Grover, saying that they need to discuss “[his] less-than-perfect performance on this assignment." Percy asks Chiron a few more questions, and learns that the “Greek” gods have apparently moved Mount Olympus to America.

“What you call 'Western civilization.' Do you think it's just an abstract concept? No, it's a living force. A collective consciousness that has burned bright for thousands of years. The gods are part of it. You might even say they are the source of it, or at least, they are tied so tightly to it that they couldn't possibly fade, not unless all of Western civilization were obliterated. [...] America is now the heart of the flame. It is the great power of the West. And so Olympus is here. And we are here."

*rubs temple* Do I want to try and unpack this? ‘Cause there’s so much to go over. 

Like: what counts as "Western civilization," at a time when globalization is spreading it to non-Western countries? Or conversely, when the West takes on non-Western traits? Are the gods only tied to Greek influences, or influences from the new countries that they come to? If they’re the embodiments of Western civilization, what does it mean that said civilization has been primarily defined by Christianity for so long, and follow up, does that mean Christianity dying in Western countries, ironically, hurts them? 

Don’t get me wrong, having characters as the personifications of cultural traits is an interesting concept. I just don’t think that Riordan plans to go into that as much as he should.

And heck, I can imagine them moving without making it all philosophical. Look at Greece’s economy. The Olympians wouldn’t be the only ones emigrating.

So Percy is kind of freaked out about being included in this “physical embodiment of Western civilization” thing, and finally asks “Who...who am I?" Chiron admits that he doesn’t know, but that in the meantime, he'll help him get settled into camp and also reveal that he’s a centaur.

I mean, the next chapter confirms that Percy knows the myths about Chiron, so he shouldn’t really be surprised.

Anyway! The characters are okay-ish, but the plot is overly complicated even though it’s barely begun. Come back next time when Percy finds out more of it and also blows up some toilets. 

[ultrafangirlishness]

For anyone who may be new here (welcome!), the current fandoms I primarily post about in no particular order include:

Thomas Sanders/Sanders Sides/Cartoon Therapy

Steven Universe/Movie/Future

Among Us

Avatar: the Last Airbender

Undertale

Minecraft

Fullmetal Alchemist/Brotherhood

Gravity Falls

Infinity Train

Miraculous (in progress, no spoilers!)

All Rick Riordan series (except Trials of Apollo - I just haven't gotten to it yet)

Various musicals

Markipler, Jacksepticeye, CrankGamePlays, & Unus Annus

My Hero Academia

Erased (new)

Of course there are others, but these are some of the main ones. Feel free to send in asks or drawing requests relating to any of these fandoms!

Series I'm planning on checking out sometime in the near future:

She-Ra

Villainous

This is also my personal blog, so there will be a lot of art-related stuff, things I find funny or interesting, and the occasional post about my personal life. Feel free to ask about those things too. :)

[the-ghost-king]

Rick Riordan Speaks out on Samirah Al Abbas's characterization:

^From Twitter^

"To me, this is Samirah educating Magnus, and through him the readers, about what this phrase actually means and the religious significance it carries. I think the expression is beautiful and profound. However, like a lot of Americans, Magnus has grown up only hearing about it in a negative context from the news. For him to think: “I had never heard that phrase, and it carried absolutely no negative connotations!” would be silly and unrealistic. This is a teachable moment between two characters, two friends who respect each other despite how different they are. Magnus learns something beautiful and true about Samirah’s religion, and hopefully so do the readers. If that strikes you as Islamophobic in its full context, or if Samirah seems like a hurtful stereotype . . . ". - RickRiordan.com (referencing pages 337-338)

The main idea of Riordan's apology summer up in a few paragraphs:

"If you are of a marginalized group I have written about, and you have read the books in question, and you feel hurt by the depictions, I absolutely apologize. My only request would be that you judge what I have written by actually reading what I wrote, in context, and not by what you’ve heard secondhand on social media. Like I’ve said on Twitter, nobody is unproblematic because no one is perfect. That most definitely includes me. I have tried my best to listen and to learn, but “my best” will not be good enough for everyone. I also have limits to my patience, and many more people want my personal attention than I can give or want to give. What you do with that information is up to you!"

"I plan to take a break from social media, though. I may post the occasional promotional update when my publisher asks, and I will certainly keep posting notices about the wonderful #ownvoices authors of our imprint Rick Riordan Presents, but I will not be checking mentions or reading/responding to questions for the foreseeable future. I’ll see you all on the other side, or not! Take care of yourselves and I hope you find many wonderful books that make you feel represented and seen! Whoever those authors are, support them and promote them!"