#still doing these funky little test.. things. idk what these r

[ceeejus]

PERCEIVE

[tenacious-scripturient]

a run-down of / my thoughts on the novel ‘trade secrets’

so! i’ve recently finished this beautifully written novel by @bettsican​, and am anxiously anticipating for the second book in the trilogy! (seriously, give it a read. it’s a great lgbtq+ thriller and mystery story, i promise you’ll love it!! you can find trade secrets in many places, including amazon, where it’s only $6)

as i was reading it, i noted down all the thoughts i had. it was fun, interesting, and kept me on the edge of my seat!

oh, and spoiler warning, of course.

Chapter One

okay. this is interesting. why are they in paris? or rather, why are they NOT in paris?

2080. damn.

who is cooper hall and why is he important i want to knowwwwwwww

Chapter Two

HOLY FUCK

CHAPTER ONE WAS A PROLOGUE

OKAY IF I DIDNT NEED TO BEFORE I HAVE TO READ IT NOW

-ahem- anyway

nate literally everything you think of has to relate to smoking, doesnt it?

clyde you absolutely bitch raccoon

im sort of piecing together what’s happening here? either way this is a SUPER interesting concept.

i love the idea of every word being important

nate look at you being a nice guy. testing the CAPS before giving them to ur clients

or maybe it’s just good business

but whatever

okay, so credits are money in this world. but how do people get them? obviously there’s what nate’s doing but what’s the legal way to get them? ill probably find out soon

if it wasnt explicitly said by betty that nate ends up with another guy (i forget his name. cooper?) i would have thought audry was the romantic interest

audry you loving caring hypocrite

i feel like she’s gonna be one of my favourite characters

who is this young man that dares disturb nate’s slumber

cooper? cooper.

Chapter Three

nate get up

u turtle get up and hurry down the stairs

or—okay you can fall into that drywall that works too

ohhhhh so nate is a detective. that’s interesting

i also love this idea of keeping secrets (haha trade secrets)

dude are you sure that your embarrassing entrance wasn’t the ONLY reason you blushed? ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

HEIGHT DIFFERENCE HEIGHT DIFFERENCE HEIGHT DIFFERENCE HEIGHT DIFFERENCE HEIGHT DIFFERENCE HEIGHT DIFFERENCE HEIGHT DIFFERENCE HEIG—

nate ur spending an awful lot of time looking at his features you funky little bisexual

oh damn ur smarter than u seem, just watching him take a single breath and you’re already making connections. i guess that’s why he’s a detective

im gonna assume this is cooper, even tho it never explicitly says so

i feel like we aren’t gonna get his name for a while, bc clients and whatnot and not getting attached

Chapter Four

NATE WEARS GLASSES???????

that’s kind of cute

im lowkey gay rn

anyway

NATE CALLED HIM SWEET-FACED AND PRETTY-FACED O K A Y

oh he has curly brown hair

and oh the glasses aren’t real glasses. oh. the use is actually pretty cool!

so from what im gathering civilians are people who don’t live in sanctuaries, and lemnis are people who do?

cooper sweetie why do u need so much money what have u done

nate’s pretty clever

HAH I WAS RIGHT WE AREN’T GONNA GET HIS NAME FOR A WHILE

well that’s that i guess

Chapter Five

he’s so timid awh

hehe he’s on nate’s bed

sorry

goddammit man calm down or else you’re gonna get everyone in a 5-mile radius around you arrested

wait…. zero-credit balance?? didn’t he just have a few hundred thousand credits???

OH THIS IS A FAKE PROFILE HE MADE

so cooper isn’t his real name either

oh

Chapter Six

oh we’re back to 2080

oh they’re back in the apartment??

it was obvious before but at this point it’s confirmed that they’re going to be doing some travelling together or something

Chapter Seven

this is getting really interesting i dont wanna stop reading and type everything that comes to mind

these are gonna be shorter now hehe

“i’d been a petri dish of mixed emotions and wild chemical changes for half the day” I LOVE THAT METAPHOR LMFAO

what happened with nate’s mom

i want to know

my prediction: she wanted him to either change up or completely remove the chip bc she did something horrible? or maybe she just wanted to leave idk im bad at predictions

either way it said she was crazy

o h

that’s why he’s terrified of cutting the chip

poor nate

Chapter Eight

oh this is strangely intimate

very intimate

i feel that, because cooper has such high pain tolerance (or doesn’t show pain), he has some backstory for it

Chapter Nine

lmao nate just went off didnt he

THEIR FLIRTING IS CUTE FHJKJDLSKAJDKLSJAK

also is being lgbtq+ widely accepted as the norm in this setting? bc nate considered cooper to be flirting with him

ughhhh it’s so good so far, from the character interactions to the suspense, especially in this chapter

Chapter Ten

rude cooper is rude, rude nate is even more rude

F E D O R A

“coop”

Chapter Eleven

aw i love jimmy already—

WHAT THE FUCK COOPER

EXCUSE ME

JIMMY

WHAT

HOW COULD YOU

goddammit

what the fuck is cooper hiding

cooper oh my god

you

you’re playing a dangerous game, mate

are you really that heartless

“deceptively innocent eyes” you got that right

this chapter hurted

thanks a lot jess

Chapter Twelve

“like a weeping wound on the canvas of my home” this has got to be one of my favourite similes ever omg

the way nate’s describing cooper makes my heart hurt awh

i feel like butterflies have some sort of symbolism

maybe being ugly on the outside and beautiful on the inside, or vice versa? the vice versa was basically cooper lol

aye we finally get to meet audry!!

PEANUT BUTTER AND TRICYCLE I WANNA HEAR ABOUT THAT

i love audry omg

IT’S NATE’S BIRTHDAY?? HAPPY BIRTHDAY YA SMOKEY CONMAN

“bright eyes” is the cutest nickname ever

Chapter Thirteen

oh we’re back to 2080

wait what they’re trapped together

is this story gonna have a sad ending

please no

Chapter Fourteen

OH IT’S THE LINE ON THE COVER

i like that

nate’s back to where he left cooper

also if it wasn’t obvious before, it’s definitely obvious now that nate and cooper or gonna find each other again. hm. not sure how i feel about that

kind of pissed at cooper but also we need him for the story to progress

O H

COOPER IM ONLY KIND OF PISSED AT YOU NOW

IT MAKES SO MUCH SENSE

NATE IVE SAID IT BEFORE BUT YOU’RE PRETTY CLEVER

also who is ‘her’?

COOPER WANTS TO BECOME A?? LEMNIS?? GODDAMMIT MAN

I CAN FEEL THE PRESSURE RISING

nate’s in danger

wow this chapter is

a lot

i need a break

-cue a break-

Chapter Fifteen

i’m back

eisley is a cool last name

oh wait so even people outside of sanctuaries can become a lemniscate

i’m still not 100% sure what a lemniscate is

it’s so ironic elijah’s last name is king, but i assume you did that on purpose. i also like the slight nod to royalty by his first name

OH

COOPER’S BACK

why hello there

Chapter Sixteen

they’re

competing

to become a lemniscate

and one of them dies

do they fight back?? is that why they end up in prison??? so many thoughts are going through my head right now

nate, your fantasy about becoming a lemniscate is surprisingly dark. i’m totally down for it

Chapter Seventeen

oh wait so joshua is cooper’s blackmailer?? Interesting that it’s a lemniscate

i keep forgetting nate is wearing glasses

cooper, my dude, calm the fuck down. you’re gonna get yourself and nate killed

it’s the return of soft™ nate

Chapter Eighteen

oh there’s another one

oh this is very ominous i don’t like

Chapter Nineteen – Twenty-One

okay i was eating while i read so i couldn’t type here but just know that these chapters were really really good

Chapter Twenty-Two

wait fuck what’s happening this is all happening so fast

cooper brought out his gun,,,, it’s aimed at ivonne,,,,,,, they’re walking,,,

OH IT WAS A FAKE KIDNAPPING

nice

i like ivonne a lot

Chapter Twenty-Three

the entire story just changed course

this isn’t just about cooper and nate anymore, it’s about a corrupt government

NATE AND COOPER ARE HOLDING HANDS AS THEY RUN THROUGH THE BARRIER THAT’S SO ROMANTIC

also the line “only the dead are ever truly free” is beautiful

THAT’S WHERE PARIS COMES IN

THEY ALL GO TO FRANCE DON’T THEY

I’m so curious to find out where this story is going

Chapter Twenty-Four

this is doin me a confusion

but tbh these hints/ visions of the future, if you could call them that, are giving just enough information to keep me super interested. props to you

Chapter Twenty-Five

AUDRY STOP TEASING NATE

just joking keep doing it, this might actually get their relationship somewhere

ivonne is definitely my favourite character so far. she reminds a little of melia from xenoblade chronicles, in that they’re both ‘royalty’ that rebel. also they’re badass and smart

oh fuck the brother is here

okay thank god he’s not an asshole

oh god things are happening again

Chapter Twenty-Six

nate stop ogling at cooper when you’re in a life-or-death situation

holy shit the lemniscate are messed up

this crew is pretty great, it sucks that it’s almost the end of the book

WAIT I FORGOT THERE’S A SECOND COMING SOON HECK YEAH

anyway

YES COOPER PULL THROUGH

awwww yiss

Chapter Twenty-Seven

oh

oh

O H

oh my god i ship them so hard

THEY KISSED

THIS IS SO STEAMY

this chapter was art thank you so much for this

Chapter Twenty-Eight

AHAHAH AUDRY

once again, i’d like to state how much i love her

oh the tension just grew twentyfold

this is… great

oh god nate what are you planning, you just got together with cooper and now you want to leave him?

Chapter Twenty-Nine

what’s with all the dancing?

Chapter Thirty

oh god the description

so he’s going around and giving people credits, all the while confessing things that would help the lemniscate track him down. i assume this means he’s going to die, but why?

just what are you planning?

oh we’re back to clyde, the guy who started it all. it feels full circle

Chapter Thirty-One

OH

HE’S MAKING HIS CHIP SHOW THAT HE’S DEAD

that’s much smarter

FUCK

NATE YOU IDIOT—COOPER’S REAL NAME

SHIT NOW KING IS HERE

everything’s going downhill now isn’t it

Chapter Thirty-Two

wait that took an even darker turn

there’s so much happening right now i can’thandlethis

cooper and nate are couple goals

Chapter Thirty-Three

king isn’t as horrible as i thought

still horrible, but not a monster

NEVER MIND YOU’RE A FUCKING MONSTER WHAT IS THIS BS

cooper

actually

shot

nate

Chapter Thirty-Four

OH MY GOD

WHAT

THIS IS HOW YOU END IT

I CAN’T

HOW DARE YOU

NO

NO

NO

NO

i need the next book

like right now

what the hell

Final Thoughts

okay so this book was SO good, and so well written. like damn

aside from that horrible ending how could you do this to me

i’m joking, it was an incredible and emotional ending, i loved it and hated it at the same time

it very rarely felt static, and especially in the first half, there was a good mix of action and backstory/description. it was never boring

the story is just,,, so unique. i seriously haven’t read anything like it, EVER

the world-building?? Is?? so vast?? and insane??

the increasing tension and speed as the story progressed is perfect, i felt my heart beating faster the more i read

anyway that’s all from me

this book was amazing i cannot wait for the next

[notconsolation]

i hope u remember u reblogged an ask meme

all of them

very well darling, anything for you :*

Like my hair, this is getting unmanageably long and tangled, so I’m gonna put a readmore and hope it works

cherry turnover: who do you live with?

done

bananas foster: do you believe in soulmates?

uh this is tough because um. im a bit unsure on the concept? cause, like, I don’t believe in souls? or divine predetermination? or actually the concept that your relationship to one person will always be the same or that there is ‘someone out there’ that’s like a perfect match for you or something. I do, however, think that sometimes you meet people that you mesh with exceptionally well and that you would do well to spend time with and around. idk if that’s even related to soulmates, though. 

As a baseline I’m just a little bit in love with most people i spend time with and on and around, but i guess i’m quite picky with who i spend my time on and I keep my circle quite small. So. wow I don’t think that’s even related at all. No. no to soulmates, but yes to that feeling of relief and release when the puzzle piece of your personality slots beautifully into someone else’s.

glazed donut: would you rather visit a zoo or an aquarium?

hmmm……. I think zoo? but uh, not a big fan of them ethically. I love going to them and seeing animals, but I can never do it with a clear conscience. I do love them, though.

pumpkin pie: what were your interests as a child?

previously answered!

lemon tart: how many languages can you speak?

2 fluently (English and German), 1 Very mediocrely (Spanish), 1 currently learning (Russian - got an exam on that tomorrow actually whoop whoop), and I don’t think I can even call my Italian a language skill cause I don’t want to insult a beautiful and complex language, and I only have very passive and very rudimentary knowledge of the language

chocolate mousse: how is your relationship with your parents?

Good right now! strained, at times, but on the whole very good. Especially with my mother. She is one of my biggest everythings, and i would crumble without all the support she’s given me over the years. Doesn’t mean our relationship is un-complicated though. hooo boy. My father and I are somewhat cordial, but good on the whole as long as I don’t tell him too much about my problems or discuss social issues with him. He’s….. a bit like Lord Grantham from downtown abbey, but less…… aristocratic?

creme brûlée: describe your style

previously answered!

cheesecake: have you ever visited a sex shop?

………. you know what…… I don’t think I have? which is honestly shocking to me… I…… I don’t know how i’ve managed that? damn.

raspberry sorbet: favorite clothing stores?

uhhh. there’s a charity shop on the corner of my street that I love and it has cool little nick-nacks in the window that i keep meaning to buy and send you

green tea ice cream: who was your first crush?

Hmmmmmmmmm. This is surprisingly difficult. Mainly because I wouldn’t have characterised them as crushes at the time, because I didn’t realise that it counted if it was a girl. You know, those feelings of ‘ohmygodijustwannabearoundthem’ and all that. I mean i think various characters in various forms of media, probably, but in real life……. there was a girl called Esme in 2nd grade that I 100% had a crush on looking back. She had lots of freckles and a funky haircut that looked a bit like she had decided to do it herself, and these really beautiful green eyes. Yeah, damn, I had a massive crush on her. Also this boy called Aidan. Also in 2nd grade. I handled them both very differently. I was incredibly shy around Esme and barely ever spoke to her. Aidan I had this continuous arguing thing with and we had a lot of fun hating each other for a while before that burned out.

chocolate chip cookie: how has your life changed over the past year?

oh jeez. for better in the experiences I’ve had and the people I’ve met and some of the realisations I’ve had about myself. for worse in some mental health ways. on the whole I feel older, even more like wood that burns a little too well for comfort.

berry trifle: first & last concert you went to?

previously answered!

tapioca pudding: favorite animated characters?

Scar (the better ruler, especially when you para-analyze with Hamlet, fight me), Idefix (classic good boy), Mulan, and Genie

fudge brownie: do you like your name?

eh. I’m not wild on it. Idk, I’ve always felt like it’s a bit straight-laced? but it’s not the worst i guess. there’s just a lot of straight lines.

strawberry shortcake: are you good at keeping secrets?

I promised I wouldn’t tell.

tiramisu: are you daring when it comes to makeup & clothing or do you like to play it safe?

bit of  both. safe for everday, daring for night and for random days sprinkled in. still not that daring, though

oreo milkshake: do you sleep a lot?

yes and no? yes some nights, no most

apple crisp: how do you relax?

who’s she?

carrot cake: who is your celeb look alike?

you tell me. I’m genuinely interested, I have no idea. People used to say audrey hepburn, but that was a while ago do i’m not sure anymore. for real what do you think?

macaron: what is your ethnicity?

White. I’d love to do a DNA test to see exactly where from, but I can conclusively say white/caucasian

cinnamon bun: favorite salty snack?

previously answered!

red velvet cupcake: ask any question of your own

How do you feel about red velvet cake? Would it be better in blue? Actually how do you feel about blueberry cake? Baked berries in general?