#tea burn real review

[slitherinky]

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A Shadow Between the Shelves

Setting: soft!Mattheo Riddle x fem!Reader

Warnings: 18+ smut, MDNI, fingering, oral sex (fem receiving), semi-public sex, unprotected sex, creampie, pet names

Summary: Your library session takes an unexpected turn when the boy who’s been stealing your glances since day one catches your eye again. Curiosity leads you to him in a shadowy corner where he reveals a truth you never dared to imagine—he’s wanted you just as much. And how much he wanted you...

2598 Words

Please be aware of the warnings before proceeding. If you are underage, sensitive to depictions of violence, or intense explicit content, it is do not to read further. This story is purely fictional and does not reflect or endorse such behavior in real life. Any attempt to replicate the actions described in this story in real life is strongly discouraged. Harry Potter and the Wizarding World is a trademark of J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros.

It was a chilly Friday evening at Hogwarts, the autumn air had an earthy scent of falling leaves. The Great Hall buzzed with the usual chatter of students enjoying dinner, their laughter and conversation mingling with the occasional hoot of an owl delivering mail. You sat at your houses table, your hands wrapped around a steaming cup of tea, trying to summon the energy to face another evening learning for your O.W.L.s. Your friends chattered beside you, their voices a comforting hum in the background.

You looked around. Across the room sat Mattheo Riddle surrounded by his usual group of girls admiring him. He was the center of attention. As always. But you couldn't blame them, he looked perfect. His dark hair fell in unruly waves across his forehead, his sharp jawline accentuated by a smirk that seemed permanently etched onto his face. You had never spoken to him directly, but imagined him with you a million times. His perfect, soft lips against yours and-

“Y/N, are you even listening?” your friend nudged you playfully, breaking your trance.

“Huh? Sorry, what?” you asked, snapping your attention back to the present.

“I said we’re heading to the library. Are you coming?”

“Yeah, sure,” you replied absentmindedly, your eyes drifting once more to him. Mattheo caught your gaze this time, his smirk deepening as he raised an eyebrow. Your cheeks burned, and you quickly looked away, hoping he hadn��t noticed.

But he had.

The walk to the library was brisk, the castle corridors echoing with the soft murmur of passing students and the occasional distant clatter of Peeves causing trouble. The flickering torchlight danced along the cold stone walls, casting long shadows as you and your friends made your way toward the towering double doors of the library.

Pushing them open, you were met with the familiar scent of parchment and the faint musk of aged wood. The library was quieter than usual, most students still lingering in the Great Hall or in their common rooms for the evening.

Your friends quickly claimed a table near the back, setting down their books and chattering softly about the topics they planned to review. You followed, dropping your bag onto the worn wooden surface and sinking into one of the chairs. The weight of your textbooks almost crushed you today and you sighed, resigning yourself to another evening of diagrams, definitions, and endless notes.

Yet, as you pulled out your wand to light the tip for better reading, you couldn’t shake the lingering sensation of being watched. A subtle, prickling awareness danced along the back of your neck. You tried to ignore it, brushing it off as exhaustion or the aftereffects of your earlier encounter in the Great Hall.

But as your fingers absently flipped through the pages of your Potions textbook, your eyes flickered upward, scanning the quiet aisles of bookshelves. There, leaning casually against one of the towering shelves near the Restricted Section, was Mattheo Riddle. His dark eyes gleamed with a knowing glint, and the shadow of that infamous smirk curved his lips.

You froze for a heartbeat, wondering if he’d followed you here—or if it was just an weird coincidence. Before you could decide, Mattheo tilted his head slightly, as if inviting you to figure it out for yourself. Then, with a slow, deliberate motion, he turned and disappeared between the rows of books, leaving you to wonder whether you should stay in your seat or follow where curiosity might lead.

Well, what could go wrong?

You decided to take a chance, and followed.

With a careful glance to be sure your friends were preoccupied, you set down your wand and quietly slipped from the table, following the path where Mattheo had vanished.

The soft glow of the library's enchanted lamps barely lit the shadowy aisles as you ventured deeper into the maze of bookshelves. The faint sound of Mattheo's steps against the floor guided you, steady and deliberate, until it stopped altogether. Your heartbeat quickened, a mix of apprehension and curiosity flooding your senses.

"Looking for something?" Mattheo’s voice drawled, low and smooth, cutting through the stillness like a blade. You turned sharply, your breath hitching as you found him leaning against one of the shelves, arms crossed over his chest. The dim light softened the sharp angles of his face, but the intensity in his dark eyes was anything but gentle.

“I, uh…” you stammered, trying to piece together an excuse, but words failed you. His smirk widened, and he straightened, closing the distance between you with a few casual steps.

"You’ve been watching me," he said, his voice teasing but laced with something darker, something that made your stomach flutter and knot at the same time. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed.”

Your cheeks burned, and you dropped your gaze to the floor. "I wasn’t—"

“Oh, you were," he interrupted, his tone light but his presence overpowering. He tilted your chin up with a single finger, forcing you to look him in the eyes. "And it’s cute."

His words sent a spark through you, a strange mix of embarrassment and thrill. “What do you want, Mattheo?”

He chuckled softly, the sound rich and full of something you couldn’t quite place. “What do I want?” he repeated, as if tasting the words. "You.”

The confession hung heavy in the air, stealing the breath from your lungs. Before you could process it, he added, his voice softer now, “I’ve always thought you were cute, you know. The way you try so hard to keep to yourself, like you’re invisible. But you’re not. At least, not to me.”

His words were unexpectedly tender, his gaze softening for a moment as he studied your face. A warmth spread through you, melting away some of the tension in your chest.

“You know, I really don't care about the other girls. They're too easy to get. You, on the other hand," he paused, his eyes drifting down, studying the curve of your neck and the dip of your collarbone. “You look at me like you want to be devoured by me. And that makes you very intriguing, Y/n."

The sound of your name in his mouth was a revelation. It rolled off his lips, smooth and velvety, the vowels deepening into a growl at the end.

"Why are you telling me this now?” you whispered.

Mattheo stepped closer, his scent—woodsy and faintly spiced—enveloping you. “Because I wanted to,” he said simply, his voice steady. “Because I think you needed to hear it.”

Your pulse thundered in your ears as his hand moved to brush a stray strand of hair from your face. The gesture was almost gentle, but his eyes darkened as they lingered on yours.

The softness in his expression hardened into something sharper, hungrier. His hand slid from your face to your back, pulling you against him in one swift motion. The sudden closeness left you breathless, and before you could protest or even think, his lips crashed onto yours.

It wasn’t gentle. It wasn’t sweet. It was demanding, possessive, and sending shockwaves through your body. His hands gripped you firmly, one on your waist, the other threading through your hair as he deepened the kiss, leaving no room for hesitation.

Your mind spun, torn between shock and the undeniable heat of his touch. This is what you've been dreaming of. His lips moved against yours with an intensity that left you breathless, his presence overwhelming every sense. It was as if he wanted to consume you, to claim you entirely in that moment.

When he finally pulled back, his breathing was ragged, his dark eyes blazing as they locked onto yours. “You don’t know what you do to me, do you baby?” he murmured, his voice rough and tinged with something dangerous. His thumb brushed your swollen lower lip, his gaze following the movement with an almost predatory focus.

"Look at you—your cheeks flushed, your lips swollen, and fuck, I just know that you want me, don't you?”

He didn’t wait for a response. Instead, his hand tightened in your hair, yanking your head back as his mouth descended on your neck. A gasp tore from your throat, and before you knew it, you found yourself sitting on a small table pushed against one of the bookshelves. The wood dug into your thighs, but you barely registered the discomfort. You were too caught up in the sensations flooding your mind and body.

Mattheo’s teeth grazed your neck, sending a shiver down your spine. His lips and tongue danced along your skin, leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake. You clutched at his shirt, your nails digging into the fabric as his lips traveled down to the juncture of your neck and shoulder.

“Oh god Mattheo,” you gasped, unable to hold back the moan that threatened to escape.

"Shhhhh quiet darling, or the others will hear you," Mattheo whispered against your skin. He smiled against your neck, and a shiver ran down your spine.

"And I know you’re just dying for my cock, aren't you, princess?”

“M-Mattheo, w-we shouldn’t,” you tried to protest, your voice breathless. But Mattheo didn’t let you finish. He pulled up your skirt, pushing it to your waist in one swift motion.

His free hand found the front of your underwear and, with a wicked smirk, he rubbed over your pussy. "Oh, my little angel, you're so wet for me," he purred, his eyes burning with lust as he looked into yours. "Fuck, I've wanted you since the day I saw you."

His hand pulled back, and he slipped his fingers into the top of your panties. You watched in disbelief as he licked his fingers clean, the sound making you even wetter for him. Then, before you knew it, his fingers were back against you, rubbing your clit in soft circles.

"Fuck, Mattheo," you moaned again, unable to help it this time.

He knelt down on one knee, his head now perfectly aligned with the height of the table. His other leg remained on the floor and his free arm held you tightly against him.

"Say it louder," he growled, his fingers moving faster, rubbing harder.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck—oh god!"

With a dark smirk, he pulled his fingers away. You yelped in surprise. He grinned at the expression, and then his head dipped below your waist.

"Oh fuck," you gasped as his tongue found your clit.

The pleasure was unlike anything you've ever felt. You gasped again as his tongue flicked over you again, your hands threading through his hair. You couldn't help it as you tugged on his hair, pressing his tongue against your clit as hard as you could.

But Mattheo was one step ahead of you. He pulled away, leaving you panting. "My little princess wants more, huh?"

"Oh fuck—please, please, Mattheo." Your voice cracked as you begged him for more.

Mattheo grinned up at you, his tongue licking his lips. "Say please again."

"Please," you gasped. And before you could say another word, his mouth was back on your clit, sucking and licking. His fingers found your entrance, and he shoved two inside of you.

“Oh god, oh god—oh fuck!" Your voice rose in pitch, and you clutched his hair again, pressing his mouth against you as hard as you could.

But before you could come, he pulled away again. He stood up and grinned at the look on your face. You looked down at him and noticed a large bulge had formed in his pants.

"Fuck, you look hot like that," he murmured, looking you up and down. "but you need to wait until I let you come."

Mattheo undid his belt and pulled at the button of his pants, undoing them with one quick move. His cock was hard and bigger than you expected, the tip already dripping with precum.

"I want to hear you say it," he said while he pulled his cock out, stroking it slowly. "Beg me to fuck you, princess."

"I—oh god—Mattheo—please fuck me—" you gasped out in a string of words, desperate to have him inside of you.

He smiled as he came closer to you, pushing your legs apart and placing himself between them. You held onto his shoulders as he shoved your underwear aside with the other arm. He teased the entrance of your pussy with his cock, making you squirm in his arms. He pressed a kiss to your ear, his hot breath making goosebumps rise up on your arms.

"You want my cock, don't you baby?" he asked under his heavy breath, and you nodded. "Then say it."

"Yes-" you gasped.

"Not like that, princess," he murmured. "I want to hear you beg me."

"Please—" you said again, the word slipping out in frustration. "Fuck me Mattheo—please, fuck me."

"That's my good girl." He growled as he shoved his cock into you, filling you completely. You cried out in surprise at the sudden stretch, and Mattheo paused for a second, giving you time to adjust. Then, he pulled out of you, and pushed back in with more force than before. His movements started slow, but soon became harder and faster.

He kissed your lips, and then your neck again, his teeth nipping at you every so often. The sensation of him inside you, his mouth on you, his hands on your skin, was almost too much to bear.

"Mmmm, god you're tight," He moaned, pushing his cock even further inside you. "You feel so fucking good, you know that princess?"

"Fuck Mattheo—" you cried out again, the orgasm starting to build. You tugged on his hair again, and he moaned against you.

"You're mine now," He whispers in your ear, as he started to increase the pace. "You're mine, and no one else’s—"

You felt his body tense against you, and his thrusts became faster and harder. His mouth pulled away from your neck and pressed against your ear again.

"God, you take my cock so well, do you?" he groaned out. "Yes, you’re a good girl—fuck—"

He trailed off, his thrusts becoming more and more erratic.

"Come for me, princess—" Mattheo growled, one of his hands reaching down to rub your clit. "Show me what you always wanted."

Your orgasm crashed through your body, almost as if it was waiting for him to say something to make it happen. You screamed out in pleasure as your body tightened and shuddered around his cock, the sensation of it throbbing inside of you too much to bear.

"Fuckkk—" he hissed as he pushed his cock as far into you as possible. You felt him shoot inside you, his hot cum filling your insides.

He stayed like that for a minute, his cock pulsating inside of you, as if savoring the moment. Finally, he pulled out, leaving you feeling empty and exposed.

"You’re fucking amazing. You know that, right?" he said as he fixed his clothes. You watched in awe as he buttoned up his pants and pulled his belt around him. You had never seen anything so sexy in your life.

You said nothing, unsure how to answer. He smirked and then pressed a soft kiss to your forehead, helping you dress yourself back up.

“Do you think sombody heard us?" You asked, suddenly worried.

"Maybe." He paused and then cupped your face, his smile softening into something softer. "But maybe I surrounded us with a quietness spell."

© SlitherInky 2024 Do not copy, repost or translate.

You want more? My Masterlist

[kittenintheden]

BG3 Fics & Drabbles Masterlist

thought I should probably start a masterlist. it's mostly being horny on main for Astarion lbr.

~clicky for art thou nasty etc.~

One-Shots

Where were you, when I was new? - 18+, Pre-Canon, Virgin Astarion, Law Student Astarion (plus bonus gift art by tavplum!!)

No Thoughts, Just Vibes - 18+, Post-Canon, Spawn!Starion, sex toys, holiday fluff

Closer to God - 18+, breeding kink, sex pollen-ish (everyone aware/consenting, just big horny), heat/mating, rough sex, but also tender sex

Professionals - 18+, roleplay, sex work, biting, blood drinking, oral sex, PIV sex

You Can Read Me Anything Part 1 | Part 2 - 18+, innocent Tav, illiterate Tav, secondhand smut via fake bodice ripper, first time oral, retell of the forest clearing scene, Astarion playing himself

Ethics Review - 18+, magistrate roleplay, post-canon, light BDSM, spanking, orgasm denial, dirty talk, light edgeplay, oral sex, PIV sex

How could I say no? - 18+, dirty talk, established relationship, AFAB F!Tav (3rd person), sexy kisses, teasing, orgasm delay, analingus

Poker Face Real Version | April Fool's Version - 18+, gender neutral Tav, quickie, semi-public sex, sex in a closet (sort of), wall sex, blowjob, penetration

Right Side of My Neck - 18+, female OC, oral sex, PIV sex, mirror sex, stoned sex, Ori and Astarion get high and Astarion gets the weed hornies

how to train your brat - 18+, future NYS sneak peek, Ori bratting, Astarion brat-taming, light BDSM elements, soft dom Astarion, dirty talk, light spanking, blowjob, PIV sex, the dorks being complete menaces

how to lose your mind - 18+, future NYS content, Astarion gets lovingly pegged until he's nonverbal, strap-on, anal, p-spot orgasm, multiple orgasms (male), established relationship, handjob, facesitting, oral sex, get loved losers etc.

hit the bricks - 18+, Oristarion, semi-public sex, wall sex, quickie, established relationship, tiny bit of Ori being a power bottom

I Slit the Throat of Your Confidence - 18+, Lae'zel/Astarion, hatesex-ish, fighting kink, blood kink, blood drinking, rough sex, rough oral, fingerfucking, PIV sex, orgasm denial, impact play, feral cats matching energy

When I Think About You - 18+, Astarion/Reader (You), masturbation, mutual masturbation (sort of), voyeurism, pillow humping, Astarion playing himself once again because I have a type and that type is simp in denial

-

Drabbles (under 1k)

Sip the Tea - 18+, temperature play, blowjob

Devil Inside - 18+, Haarlep being an asshole, Astarion making it better

music to my ears - 18+, eargasm, ASMR, touchless orgasm, creaming pants

Mirror Image - 18+, oral sex, 69 position

Let Go - 18+, fluffy, gentle sex, disgustingly in love about it

Before Morning's Light - 18+, fluff, comfort after nightmare of the needy nighttime quickie persuasion

we're going down - 18+, Astarion/reader, cunnilingus

Here for Wyllstravaganza? Find all the Wyll Ravengard goodness here!

People send me Ask Box prompts sometimes - you can find all those here!

-

Long Fic

Not Your Sweetheart (AO3) - 18CHA bard Orianna vs 10CHA dumbass rogue vampire, slow burn, fluff, smut, angst, absurd amount of zingers & hijinks

It's Always Sunny in Nine Hills (AO3) - it's the crew we all know and love but they're modern-day dirtbag losers who live and work at a beach with big SoCal vibes

NYS Spotify Playlist - The playlist that accompanies Not Your Sweetheart, updated every chapter <3

Masterpost of Ori Art - The non-spoilery art I have of Ori (and Astarion, occasionally), with all artists linked

Header art of Ori by Freya

Icon art by @hamrikaa

[coire-non]

madatobi wip

i call this scene "madara and tobirama having the most hideous morning after vibes they can possibly create" -

If Hashirama knew where Tobirama was at this very moment, whose bed he sleeps in, he’d have to consider taking a long trip outside the village.

Hashirama would… It hits him, unnervingly, that he’s not sure what Hashirama would do.

He’s always been Izuna’s nii-san. Half-raised him, carried him on his shoulders, cut his hair and taught him kenjutsu until the day Izuna outstripped him with the sword. He’s never heard Tobirama call Hashirama anything other than anija. Vaguely, he knows that the Senju heir and spare were kept apart as children to prevent an easier and more devastating assassination. That Tobirama cared for their younger siblings, and somewhere after their deaths a bridge between brothers was lost. There’s love there, but not much understanding. 

Would Hashirama understand this?  Uncomfortably, he admits that if he knew a man had put Izuna to his knees and done half of the things he himself has done to Tobirama, he’d kill him. Burn his cock off and crush his throat with his hands and kick the remains off Hokage Mountain to splatter in the street. 

“Forgive my intrusion.”

He blinks, and lowers the pipe.

“Morning.” Tobirama stands in the doorway between corridor and kitchen, green yukata belted tight and haori drawn up around his shoulders. His hair has been reasonably tamed by his fingers - but the bruise under his jaw betrays his composure and how he’s spent his night. In Madara’s imagination, he runs his finger along the flat collar of Tobirama’s clothes, dips down under it to the heat of his skin along his jugular.

It would be a more seductive picture if he didn’t look so severe. He left soft, warm Tobirama in his bed and found this stiff, formal shinobi in his kitchen before he could even finish his pipe. This is always the part he’s bad at. Where he’s too sober to move on simple, stupid instinct, and too protective of his own private space to play host. It’s not that he doesn’t want to share this morning with the man whose legs he spread open last night - but that nothing about it comes easy. Tobirama doesn’t help, either. Standing there, waiting and cold in a way that sets Madara’s teeth on edge. He makes a strong attempt. “There’s tea on the irori. You could have a cup with me.” People raised the way Tobirama was don’t fidget. The way he plucks at his own sleeve must be a thoughtless habit born of a perfectionist nature. Yes. That sounds more right.  “I…ought to attend to the hospital recruitment meeting. The proposed heads of department have to be reviewed.” “You’re hardly fit for that.” Tobirama stops picking. His voice is very level. “There is nobody else to take this task on.”

He gets the sense that he’s quite seriously insulted Tobirama. Replaying his words, he sees it, winces, and tries to think of how he can explain himself. That he meant Tobirama must have a splitting headache after last night and needs rest, not that he’s - not that he isn’t good enough, damn it. That he’s not capable, after doing all the real labour of building Hashirama’s fantasy village.

“I must decline your offer,” Tobirama says stiffly. “Thank you, Uchiha-san.”

Shame catches his gut like a fishhook. “Senju -”

The door slides shut hard enough to shake dust from the rafters.

He takes a long breath, and blows out the smoke forcefully.

[mywitchyblog]

Should I go to Etsy ?

Alright, here’s the real tea. Should I go full Etsy witch and set up shop for my tarot readings? Or am I better off keeping things as they are—intimate, personal, and powered by vibes (and, let’s be real, y’all’s support)? I need your opinions, because this decision is giving “Mercury retrograde indecisiveness.”

So here’s the situation. I’ve been offering tarot readings for a while now. If you’ve booked with me, you know the deal: my spreads are designed for shifters, seekers, and anyone trying to untangle their life (or their journey to a Desired Reality). My readings aren’t fluff—they’re honest, intuitive, and grounded in connection. Right now, you choose a spread, donate through my Ko-Fi, and I channel your energy into a reading that actually resonates.

It’s a system that works. But... would it work better on Etsy? That’s the question.

The Etsy Allure

I mean, let’s be real. Etsy is the place people go when they’re looking for metaphysical services. It’s already packed with folks shopping for tarot readings, shifting tools, and everything spiritual. Having a shop there could bring me more visibility—no more relying on reblogs, word of mouth, or people randomly stumbling onto my Tumblr posts. Instead, I’d be right there in the marketplace, where people are already in the mindset to buy what I’m offering.

And then there’s the professionalism factor. Etsy has a certain polish to it. A storefront there might make my readings feel more “official,” like I’m running a legit business instead of just vibing in my little internet corner. That could attract new clients who might not have trusted a DM-based operation. Plus, Etsy’s tools—automated receipts, order tracking, reviews—are kind of appealing. They’d streamline things and save me some mental bandwidth.

But here’s the thing: it costs $14 to even open an Etsy shop. Fourteen bucks. That might not sound like a lot, but for me, a broke college student whose financial situation is as real as Bigfoot sightings, it’s a hurdle. I literally don’t have that right now. If I want to make this leap, I’d need to sell a reading just to afford the entry fee. Like... anyone want to sponsor my little tarot empire? Buy a reading and help me get this shop off the ground?

The Not-So-Glamorous Side of Etsy

Of course, it’s not all sunshine and crystals. Etsy takes a lot of fees. There’s a listing fee for every service you post, transaction fees for every sale, and advertising fees if you want to promote your shop. Those costs add up, and they could eat into the already small profits I’m making.

And then there’s the energy of it all. I love that my current system feels personal. When you book a reading, it’s a one-on-one connection. I get to learn about your journey, your struggles, and your hopes. It’s intimate. Would Etsy keep that vibe intact, or would it make things feel... transactional? Like, would it still feel magical, or would it start feeling like I’m just running another side hustle in the gig economy?

Also, let’s not ignore the fact that Etsy has a lot of gimmicky energy in its metaphysical section. For every genuine reader, there’s someone selling $5 “instant soulmate spells” or “manifest money overnight” nonsense. Do I really want to throw myself into a pool with that energy? Would it cheapen my work to be associated with that kind of marketplace?

Practical Concerns

The other big question is: would I even want the potential flood of clients Etsy could bring? Tarot readings take time, focus, and energy. They’re not something I can rush. If the Etsy algorithm decides to favor me (unlikely, but let’s dream big), would I get overwhelmed? Would I burn out trying to keep up with demand? I’m already balancing college, life, and this side hustle. Would scaling up make me miserable? Because if there’s one thing I know, it’s that I’m not willing to compromise the quality of my readings just to churn out more orders.

Where Do You Come In?

This is where I need you—my community, my people. You’ve supported me so far, trusted me with your energy, and helped me grow into the reader I am today. So I’m asking: what do you think? Is Etsy the right move? Would it help me reach more people who need my work, or would it just complicate things? Have you ever bought a tarot reading on Etsy? Did it feel magical, or did it feel like you were just adding something to your cart?

And if you’re a reader yourself, spill the tea. Do you have an Etsy shop? Is it worth it, or do you regret it? What’s the reality of running a spiritual business on that platform?

Oh, and one last thing: if you do think I should open an Etsy shop but feel like I’m being held back by that $14 fee (spoiler: I am), here’s your chance to make it happen. If even one of you books a reading with me, I could use that money to finally set up my shop. So, if you’ve been on the fence about getting a reading, now’s the perfect time. Not only will you get some cosmic guidance, but you’ll also be helping me take this next big step. Win-win, right?

Anyway, let me know your thoughts. I’m all ears, and I really do value your input. Should I take the Etsy leap, or am I better off keeping things right here, cozy and low-key? Let’s chat.

[supermarketcaferankings]

Morrison's Café, Morley, UK

Let us introduce ourselves. We are Frances and Sharon, two friends with one burning question: why are there so many reviews of fancy, expensive restaurants and nothing for the supermarket café, adored by, and accessible to, the common man? We have made it our mission in life to visit as many supermarket cafés as the bus services will allow, because what is more important than being the change you wish to see in the world?

Today we have come to the Morrison's café in Morley, with our friend, [REDACTED].

What Frances had: Hot chocolate and biscoff cheesecake (£4)

What Sharon had: Pot of tea and Victoria sponge cake (£4)

What [REDACTED] had: Oasis (£2) and sausage, egg, chips and beans (£6.50)

Vibes: 4/5 ⭐

The café is hidden away from the rest of the supermarket which leaves an atmosphere distinctly different from that of most supermarket cafés. We sat in a comfortable booth. It was lively yet pleasant, with a wide range of ages visiting today (very family friendly). The wall decor had a pleasant variety of ambiguous text, but sadly no photos of food, and very nice lighting fixtures. There was also poor phone signal, for which a star is lost. The booth did have the store manager's email address asking for feedback which was unique but not unwelcome.

Service: 2/5 ⭐

It's hard to give a ranking for service at a café which is mostly self service, although there is hot food brought to your table if you order it. Ordering is done via a self service machine, and cold food, snacks and drinks can then be taken from a counter. Frances and I did wonder if this system is open to abuse, but perhaps Morley is above such things. There are two self service hot drinks machines, one of which was out of hot chocolate. The hot food took around 20 minutes to arrive, but staff were friendly, and generous with ketchup sachets. The café gains extra points because when we asked to confirm if we could just take what we'd ordered from the counter, we were happily informed that drinks had free refills. A cheap day out!

Quality: 3/5 ⭐

The cakes were nice, although we suspect not made on site. Sharon would have preferred an option for real sugar as well as just sweeteners, and the tea was Tetley's and not the far superior Yorkshire Tea. Frances agreed that the hot chocolate was fine. For the hot food, the eggs, chips and beans were decent, but the sausages were the highlight, with [REDACTED] commenting that they reminded him of his childhood.

Price: 3/5 ⭐

[REDACTED] believes that £2 for an Oasis was "egregious", however unlimited hot drinks and a cake for £4 is very reasonable indeed. Perhaps [REDACTED] should have got a hot drink too.

Finally, we come to our last, yet most important, criteria: would we propose to the love of our life in this café?

We think no. As a busier café, your words of tender love may get lost in the background hum. Also, we suspect that if you proposed in this particular supermarket café, the locals would just stare, and that's just not the reaction you want to start the rest of your life with.

Overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Average rating for Morrison's cafés: ⭐⭐⭐

[babywchronicles]

Review: The Witch-Crafting Handbook

To be honest, I feel like I don't have a lot to say (though it won’t seem like it) about The Witch-Crafting Handbook by Helena Garcia. It was a little underwhelming, not at all what I expected, and feels like it doesn't quite belong in the 133.4 Dewey Decimal call number on the spine (forgive me, I work in a library).

This book is fun in a DIY sense, but didn't have much else going for it otherwise, even if it wanted to appear like it did in places. More under the cut.

So, when I picked up all my books for this batch of reviews, I wanted to get things that were really appropriate for what I wanted: more information about being a witch, witchcraft in general, and how best to proceed with my witch journey. In short, this is not one of the books that will help me with that. Perhaps it was the fact I assumed it would be going into this project that it left me disappointed.

I thought that it would have practical things, or more than it does, maybe involving charms, or tools, or something like that. And, while the first “craft” in the book is a besom (albeit more a “high-end fashion besom” to make a useful tool less boring), and Altars are touched upon (in a decorative way, though she briefly mentions what an altar is), a good portion feels like it is all aesthetic. This book is all Looks with no Magic, even if it pretends to be at times. A lot of the Real With Stuff™ feels like it came from a quick online search.

The book starts out with some anecdote with her grandmother with some her recipes for this like burns, removing stains from tea cups, and putting candles in the freezer so they last longer when burning (I’m skeptical), along with a section of “Interesting Facts” about the history of witch craft that make it feel like this is more of a Halloween Party Decoration manual that it is. Honestly, if I had read the introduction first (a bad habit of mine is to skip it to dive into the actual meat), I may have been a bit forewarned. Note to Self: read the introduction from now on.

The book is then broken up into three sections: The Witch’s Wardrobe (spooky clothes), Home Accessories (self-explanatory), The Witch’s Apothecary (hair and skincare products mostly), The Witches Cauldron (baked things that look spooky), and The Tipsy Witch (alcohol). At this point, even without having read the introduction, the table of contents was giving me a little bit of an off-putting feeling. But, I was writing a review, so I pressed on.

I should say here I made none of these things, so I don’t know if they’re even well done recipes or craft instructions. I read it, and am giving my opinion based on that alone, because I am uninterested in everything in this book. It is also worth mentioning that throughout the book, the projects either have perfectly staged, full page photographs, odd doodles representing the item, and sometimes no picture at all. It makes it feel like some of this was really just filler.

The Wardrobe section is… not my thing. It’s clearly a “let’s look Halloween” section, and some of the items in it are, honestly, ugly to me. Some of them honestly strike me as something you’d wear to a costume party and never again. But, maybe it’s just me. Some of it is admittedly cute, like the mushroom hat for a child, but it’s not something I would seek out. A lot of the items also have an expansive list of craft stuff you need to make them, which I have, but nothing I would sacrifice for this.

The décor is also disappointing. It all feels like Halloween decorations to me. Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against Halloween decorations: Some may have seen my plastic skeleton in my witch corner in previous posts. I lived for visiting Spirit Halloween every October as a kid. It’s just not what I wanted from this book.

It is in the Home Accessory section that we find the short entry about altars. I had small hope going in, but while it touches on what Altars are for, it really does feel like a how-to on adding a little more witch onto that corner dresser you have room on. It is also somehow made less impressive because on the next page, on the other side of a glorious photo, is a craft item called “Vintage Halloween Hangers” that are just decorated clothes hangers with a doodle of hangers with a cat and a clown(?) themed witch on them. I wasn’t going to show pictures from inside the book, but this…

Anyway. The Apothecary section I skimmed, honestly. At this point I wasn’t interested, and I’m not a skin care kind of girl anyway. I did notice something for beards, so good on her for being gender inclusive and body-hair positive. For cooking, I looked at the pictures and felt disappointed at the Halloween party or making your kids happy vibe. I feel like at this point, the book had kind of given up any pretense of being more than what it is. I didn’t even look at the alcohol, completely bored and beyond ready to close it. Maybe it never did take itself seriously, but I really expected more Magic from a book in the Magic section of the library.

I’m beginning to feel like whoever put the call number to this book lied to me… But then, books are published constantly, and I don’t think this one was looks at very closely. Maybe the publisher billed it as a witch craft book and not something that belongs slotted next to the Christmas Crafts books. Maybe the title was confusing. Has the Dewey Decimal system failed me for the first time? No, wait, the call number for “Halloween – Handicrafts” is 745.594. This is just misplaced. Whatever.

Overall, it’s a cute enough book (even if I don’t personally find much of it aesthetically pleasing, with a wasted pair of socks thrown in for good measure), and perhaps perfect for someone looking for a witchy look, a Halloween look, but not seeking something witchcraft-related. You’re not going to get any spells or charms between the covers of this one, but I suppose if you need the vibe to get in the head space for your craft, it might work for you. It’s not for me, but some DIY-er might like it much better. Look at other reviews or check out our from your library if given a chance, though. It’s not one I would immediately buy.

My fancy new rating image is below. I hope you’re all having a good one, and will see prosperity in the future. It’s a rough time in the world right now. I know I’m struggling a bit, which is why this took so long. My other books are going to be so overdo, haha. Thank goodness for a library that doesn’t charge late fees. I count myself lucky there.

[booreadsbooks]

The Wicked King (The Folk of the Air #2); Holly Black, Review

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (one more than last time oooo)

"There is only now. There is only tomorrow and tonight and now and soon and never."

Thank you to my friend who convinced me to keep reading the series, and lent me the book so that I actually did. A slay for real.

The shortest possible review I could say is this: The Wicked King had a lot more of the things I liked from the first book (excellent world building, tense political intrigue and scheming spy antics, some pretty good humor) and a lot less of the things I didn't like (Taryn, general high-school bullying antics). Overall the stakes felt a lot higher, and I really loved the constant push-and-pull power struggles that Jude was facing on every side. Some of the characters I still hate (and what are you gonna do, they're teens) but I'm glad I got to see more of the spies. Cardan, shockingly, got to be much more tolerable in this book (and he was the source of a lot of the humor).

4 stars and not 5 cos... IDK. This needed something to push it to 5. Don't ask me what though, I don't know. Maybe a Taryn death.

Go below the cut for specific thoughts, as always:

There are spoilers here, by the way, massive ones so... you've been warned.

Jude corruption arc continues with this absolute banger of a scene: Taryn, the annoying sister who won't go away (she haunts me every moment) brings Jude her stuffed animals from home, and this happens:

"Once she's gone, I take my stuffed animals and seat them next to me on the rug. Once, they were a reminder that there was a time before Faerieland, when things were normal. Once, they were a comfort to me. I take a long last look, and then, one by one, I feed them to the fire. I'm no longer a child, and I don't need comfort."

God she's so young. I just love that this whole scene illustrates exactly how young she is. Like, she's playing big scary adult, she feels like she is but... a scary adult would not feel the need to "prove" her maturity like that. The Wicked King is basically Jude constantly trying to prove that she's as tough as everyone around her, falling apart, and not actually recovering and resting until she's absolutely forced to do so. And I love that arc for her, and can't wait to see her do more murder once she realizes the MASSIVE HINT in Cardan's banishment (until the crown allows you to return... girl. Be so fucking for real. You literally called yourself the queen... I was so mad like how can she be so smart and so stupid at the same time).

As for Cardan, I'll be honest, taking a break between book 1 and 2 was probably for the best, because it made Cardan much more likeable when I could only distantly remember how evil he is. He's still dumb, and a cruel prince king, but he's also much funnier when I'm not thinking about high school bullies. Favorite Cardan moment:

"So what?" I ask. "Our choice is to endure her games, no matter how deadly, or engage in a war we cannot win?" "Cardan shakes his head and drinks another cup of tea. "We show her that I am no feckless High King." "And how do we do that?" I ask. "With great difficulty," he says, "Since I fear she is right."

Also, Cardan has a hate/murder kink. Not copying down all the reasons I know, this, but if you read the book it is very obvious.

Anyway, one other thing I wanted to mention was that I really enjoyed the part where Jude was captured by the undersea. Not that I liked to see her suffer like that, but also kinda... I did. BECAUSE it was cool to go back to her roots as "spy" Jude, instead of Seneschel Jude. And her tricking them and being sneaky was fun. Also, because I feel that we were always going to lead to a weakened state Jude, she was burning herself out way too fast. This was the opportunity we needed to actually achieve Recovery Jude!! Who will come back to Fairieland as soon as she stops being dense better and more badass than ever.

And Madoc... Madoc when I catch you! When I catch you Madoc...

EDIT: “Kiss and Tell” by I Don’t Know How But They Found Me is unapologetically Jude and Cardan coded, sorry I don’t make the rules

[forthegothicheroine]

Best Fragrantica reviews of (some of) my favorite perfumes, Part II

First installment here

Maison Martin Margiela By the Fireplace

Careful not to be worn by this perfume instead of being you the wearer. Not that it is oh so powerful, but it may be too bold of a statement piece for, ahem, some. Wearing BTF when you don't look the part and don't give it sense will have you smelling borderline unhealthy. Like your organs inside have worn off and darkened (and burned out, I guess). Truly as weird as it sounds. The raw thing smells very exciting. I love it ashy. I don't see myself daring any soon, however. And I don't find that it worked for the men I know either, as they have (and I cringe to say) whiter auras and don't fit the "handling cognac by the fire" thing. So I've yet to see it really work, which I'm sure will be great. It's a lovely perfume.

Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab Bewitched

This is the smell of a witch's brew. She made a special tea for you to drink. You pass out. When you awaken you find yourself in her garden full of poisonous berries, patchouli, weeds, clary sage, and flowers whose petals have been plucked. This is an herbal scent, like walking inside a shop selling only herbs. It's medicinal and like a tea. Not always easy to take in...The smell of sage and musk give it a unisex/masculine quality. I would say that it's more of a guy's type of cologne than a woman's. I would wear it for Halloween with a witch costume or as Morticia Addams. It's really a very engaging scent but it's linear and simple. It's a little green tea and berry. It's got a bite but it's witchy and dark, but not a strong cologne either. For a niche indie frag, not bad.

TokyoMilk Gin & Rosewater

I was in a boutique that carries the Tokyo Milk Curiosite & Bon Bon lines, and I was entranced by this. Florals are not usually my thing, by the way, because I get monster headaches from most of them. Suddenly the salesgirl is RIGHT NEXT TO ME leaning in conspiratorially and says in an awed tone that 'Blake Lively LOVES this one'. OMFG, Blake Lively, you say??!? Like for serious, the real Blake Lively?? OMFG, do you have like, more in the back?!? I'm totally going to buy every bottle you can shove in my basket because BLAKE LIVELY would hang out with me if we ran into each other and then my life could end. Um, not. I almost DIDN'T buy it because of the salesgirls then going into a tizzy about how amazing Blake is. I could not care less, although I'm sure Lively is nice enough. But it did smell cool, so home with me it came, along with the matching lotion.

Serge Lutens La Fille de Berlin

It’s an overwhelming fragrance that smells like the bottom of my grandma’s small square leather purse when we went to mass (her old dried up lipstick💄 the powder compact, the newspaper, the pack of strawberry-ish scented kleenex, the peppermints). It’s vintage, it’s a bit suffocating and I have it printed in my memory 4 ever.

Juliette Has a Gun Magnolia Bliss

Anastasia Steele, no longer a virgin. In her Audi A3, the smell of her new car, first edition books and a new life... That's what comes into mind with this perfume. The night Christian took her for the first time on his helicopter. I can imagine this is exactly what she smelled like that night. With Ellie Goulding's Love me like you do playing in the background. 

Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540

I’m too embarrassed and ashamed to wear this in public just in case a fragrantica influencer comes out of a bush and starts pointing & laughing at me in front of everyone

Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille

what all the hot daddies in every lana del rey song smell like

Jo Malone Velvet Rose & Oud

If your family was religious, traditionally Asian, or both, you'll know this scent. This is the scent of a temple. This is the scent of an altar. Personally I can never wear this because smelling this brings back so many memories of burning incenses, visiting funerals, and saying prayers and wishes. My bottle is literally sitting on an altar.

Perfumer's Workshop Tea Rose

Speaking of the devil. This scent is the one with the Prada's shoes.

4160 Tuesdays Doe in the Snow

This is borne on a Christmas Eve, under the moonlight, a baby fawn just out of it's mother's womb. The moon is full light casting blue shadows snow lightly falling delicate flakes each one unique on the nose of the new born... Pure fresh Christmas morning air stillness not a sound blanketed with drifts of snow that is Doe In The Snow... pure white innocence...velvet petals so delicate under the driven snow...I have seen this in a dream... Another love... I get it...

[8bitsupervillain]

Higurashi When They Cry Hou Ch. 2 Watanagashi pt. Final

Guess this is all tied up in a neat little package.

Ah man, so much for everything being tied up nice and neat.

I miss the simple days of when murder victims, and the dead killers stayed dead. It's like a bad horror series where they have to contrive reasons for why and how Michael Myers survived being locked in a burning building with no avenue for escape. "He survived because he hid where the guns are hidden." Bullshit, I don't think hiding in an impromptu oven will stop you from being cooked to death. Maybe the dead Mion and dead Takano are also friends with the writer and convinced him to spare their lives for a smidge.

There's a quote from an old crime writer named Mickey Spillane. "Nobody reads a mystery to get to the middle. They read it to get to the end. If it's a letdown, they won't buy any more. The first page sells that book. The last page sells your next book." You might think this is a jab at Ryukishi07, but I like to think that he's heard this quote and has ingrained it in his soul. Come to think of it I'm pretty sure a lot of writers use this trick, even if they don't like to admit it. The mystery of how people who were apparently dead days before their corpses were found is an intriguing mystery. Now, of course this isn't the end of the chapter, but it's close enough.

It is a pretty good joke, shame Mion didn't see the comedy in it. Also it's tragic that the two were attacked and lost their faces. So how much of this was actually real do you think? I'm going to guess everything after the stabbing is all in Keiichi's mind and he did die of his stab wound. You don't twist the knife if you don't mean to make sure your victim is absolutely dead. I'm not a huge fan of the "everything was just the main character's dying dream" trope because I generally feel that's just people interacting with the book/game/VN/whatever at the absolute laziest possible level.

But this can't be real, up until this point ghosts haven't existed in the narrative at all. Not even as a one-off casual mention. I suppose you could argue that spirits exist because of the notion the god Oyashiro exists, and demons, but that could just as easily be counter-argued with the explanation these are just fairy tales.

I have a backup theory. My main bet is everything post stabbing is entirely in Keiichi's head, and he died from the wound. But the alternate theory I have is that everything up until Ooishi left happened, and that's when Keiichi died. His wounded body couldn't handle the mental strain of being told Mion, Shion, and everyone else had died, and as such it simply gave up. Which is extremely bad luck for Ooishi, that the last witness of the entire Sonozaki/Watanagashi Incident died shortly after he saw him. Which I guess would kind of make Ooishi the grim reaper.

I enjoyed it a lot better than Onikakushi. It was much more intriguing of a read.

Rika, just vibrating with fury.

Sorry Satoko, I'm pretty sure everyone's gonna be put through the wringer before all's said and done.

Ah, they have fun.

No.

Anyway, I do have a question, please feel free to answer it, but be mindful not to spoil please. Should I bother reading these All Cast Review Sessions? Do they actually contribute to the overall narrative? Or is it just a decompressing lighthearted discussion about the chapter? Would I lose anything if I just jumped directly from the end of say Chapter 3: Tatarigoroshi and went in immediately to Chapter 4: Himatsubushi? Basically, I'm wondering if these Review Sessions are like the Tea Party segments from Umineko, and will add large amounts of plot details to the overall narrative.

I ask this like it'll make a difference, I know myself well enough that I'm just going to read them regardless. Still, I'm curious.

[dayntee]

[Fic] That Year at Arlathan University - Chapter 5: Extracurriculars

Full chapter available on AO3 here and below the cut.

Summary: In which many activities take place outside of class.

Still rolling with slow burn, so don’t take the title too dirty just yet y’all. 🤣

******

After buying back some grace, figuratively and literally, with his office mate, life got a little smoother for Solas. Slowly, they began to develop rituals as both colleagues and friends.

On Mondays, he'd arrive early with a tea for her and a flavored latte for himself.

"I don't know how you can drink that sugary garbage," she'd remarked with a grimace on her face.

"And I do not know how you can stomach hot leaf water, but I suppose I will not judge you for that, at least," he had retorted. She glared back at him for but a moment? Which he held, before both burst into laughter.

Tuesdays and Thursdays were busier, the two often hustling from back to back classes. However, they quickly discovered their first session after lunch were in adjacent lecture halls, and began to take meals and walk together.

He'd quiz her on the latest bit of Elvhen he'd taught her, usually aligning the lessons with whatever his students were currently reviewing, and she'd fumble through pronunciations and grammar until she got it right. He'd laugh and she would pout—but ultimately, he exhibited patience through gentle corrections.

Meanwhile, she’d find relatable anecdotes of Dalish experiences to the phrases he’d teach. How they might use them now, or how the context had come to be misinterpreted. Never did she presume the knowledge she offered was correct—instead, she’d begin to dissect the differences in real time, postulating on the hows and whys that it came to be.

He found himself particularly enamored with these discussions.

Wednesdays he would see her very little, and came to learn it was because Harding had roped her into acting assistant coach of AU's archery team. She apologized in advance for the sports bag and bow quiver taking up additional space in the office on these days, but he brushed her concerns aside.

"At present, it is our shared space, and you are entitled to it." For that, she seemed grateful.

Fridays were the only day they seemed to have trouble encountering one another. He'd enter the office as she was leaving for class, or she'd arrive as he was hurrying to a staff meeting. It was always something different; lunches planned were always cancelled for last minute requests, or booked solid due to other events. Eventually, in the back of his mind, he wrote it off as a day to go about his normal business.

After a few weeks of this dance, he’d come in one morning to a small package wrapped in foil on his desk. A folded note accompanied the gift, and he realized this was the first time he’d seen her surprisingly elegant script.

Consider this fair trade for the tea. You seem to like sweet things. I hope the Dalish origin of these isn’t too offensive.

He could hear the teasing tone of her voice as he read. There was no signature, but a little flourished smiley face beneath the message that tugged from him a not dissimilar expression.

Housed within was half a dozen baked treats, dough flaked on the outside, but soft and buttery within, housing a tart jelly made from mixed berries. Their irregular size and shape suggested they were handmade.

He had no idea what they were called, but they might have been even more delicious than his normally preferred Orlesian frilly cakes, and paired even better with coffee.

It was all becoming predictable and oddly… comfortable. He had begun to realize the more time passed, he was beginning to seek if not prefer her company to his usual solitude. Even more interesting was that this disruption in his routine was not unwelcome.

Classes, on the other hand, were another matter entirely. Plenty of students were learning and growing, to his approval.

Others were proving a proper pain in the ass.

Unfortunately, there was only so much adjustment he could make. The politics in play around this year's students were a minefield to navigate and Solas was finding himself spending more time in the administrative offices appealing to Leliana's best nature—as well as reporting his own findings on the evolving situation.

"Exactly how long do I need to tolerate this year's Antivan subterfuge, headmistress?"

"Dean is fine, thank you," Leliana shot him a placid look; they played this game of titles every year. "And you know the answer as well as I—for as long as they are properly funding their students' tuitions."

"There are a lot more of them this year," he noted, standing with his arms crossed behind his back in her office to discuss the matter with her and two others—one Varric Tethras and a tall, stern-faced woman with shortly cropped dark hair.

"You've noticed too, Chuckles?" the dwarf sighed. "They're not the only group making plays either. I've seen more Wardens, more transfer students from Tevinter and Nevarra… Hell, even Isabella is looking to install the Lords of Fortune in our halls."

Solas raised an eyebrow at that. "Are they looking to stir trouble with the Veil Jumpers specifically? They have competing interests, do they not?"

Varric's shoulders went up in a shrug. "Damned if I know, but you gotta admit it's strange these groups are rolling into our halls all at once. Things only get busy when trouble's brewing,"

"Loathe I am to admit, I agree with Varric," the other woman in the room crossed her arms pointedly. "We have seen supporting evidence in admissions. They have increased this year by nearly forty percent, and more than half of the students have received support from one scholarship or another. The Chantry is struggling to maintain comparable funding from Orlais and Fereldan."

"Thank you, Cassandra," Leliana tented her hands in front of her. "I have also begun to hear whispers among my contacts that additional financiers have begun looking into investments in and around Arlathan, particularly within the city center. New businesses springing up rapidly and bids for available land are rising to unusual levels," her brow furrowed. "The source of these efforts is muddied; they don't all appear to be related, but I do not suspect it is a coincidence. It may not be within the University's power to intervene, but I would advise we keep our collective ears to the ground, yes?"

The others in the room nodded their agreement before turning to leave.

"Solas, if you've a moment,"

Solas halted his exit, allowing the others to leave and gently closing the door behind him.

"Speak plainly now; what have your people reported?"

Solas took a slow, measured breath; there was but one individual who was currently aware of at least part of his secret, purely out of necessity. He required the dean's assistance to keep his storied history and suspiciously long lifespan under wraps, especially amongst the longer tenured faculty. Thankfully, Leliana was a trustworthy woman once her loyalty was earned, and that had been a foundation he had been careful to lay the grounds for over a decade in advance. She knew little more than that he was of ancient times and that their goals were, more or less, aligned.

"How much do you know of the Evanuris?"

"I believe I have heard you use the term before. Is that not the name of the Elven pantheon?"

"In a manner of speaking," he stepped forward and took a seat; this was going to take some explanation. "The Evanuris fancy themselves gods, but in truth, they are no more powerful today than a duke or empress might be,"

"That is still quite powerful,"

"Yes and no," he frowned. "Their names may carry power, most certainly amongst the Dalish, but the world at large currently views them as religious myths of legend rather than the truth of them. Powerful aristocrats who happened to be in the right place at the right time. I have heard-" he paused, trying to word his next statement both carefully and clearly. "I have heard they desire to re-emerge. To public view."

Leliana leaned in, concern shadowing her eyes. "You are certain? The Chantry would be put in an… awkward position at the appearance of Elven gods made flesh,"

"Yes, I imagine it would," there was an underlying wryness to Solas' agreement, but they both knew his current arrangement bringing the Chantry and Veil Jumpers together in the foundation of Arlathan University was the lesser of two evils. "The work we have all been doing here explicitly discredits their divinity. It is my intention to ensure the world will know who they really are, and why they should remain irrelevant in today's society. We can, and should, continue our progress in unearthing the truths of Elvhenan and giving a deserving history back to the People, but…"

"But?"

"If the Evanuris wish to regain their power and influence, they will intervene, and it will not be for anyone's benefit but their own. What I do not know is the manner in which they will attempt this,"

"Then we will remain vigilant," she leaned back slightly, letting out a breath she hadn't known she was holding. "Are you prepared to stand against your own gods, Professor?"

Solas barked a laugh he couldn't hold back, and she eyed him closely. She was not one to appreciate being left out of a hidden meaning.

"Forgive me, Leliana. But it won't have been the first time, and just as unlikely to be the last," he responded after calming his amusement. He removed his glasses and cleaned them with the edge of his sweater. "Even if we are successful in our efforts, they won't go quietly back into the shadows without a fight."

Leliana smiled, a fire in her eyes as bright as the color of her locks.

"Then we shall give them one,"

Notes:

Ahahaha, I bet you didn't expect PLOT.

Funny how this started as a vehicle for crack and smut and has somehow turned into modern day financial intrigue. *throws up hands* I've got no excuses, let's see where it goes.

[battyaboutbooksreviews]

Insta | Storygraph | Literal | Goodreads

🦇 This Is How You Lose the Time War Book Review

❓ #QOTD If you could travel to any time or place, where would you go? ❓ 🦇 Among the ashes of a dying world, an agent of the Commandant finds a letter. It reads: Burn before reading. Thus begins an unlikely correspondence between two rival agents hellbent on securing the best possible future for their warring factions. Red belongs to the Agency, a post-singularity technotopia. Blue belongs to Garden, a single vast consciousness embedded in all organic matter. They have nothing in common, save that they're both the best, and they're alone.

🦇 What began as a taunt, a battlefield boast, grows into something more. Something epic. Something romantic. Something that could change the past and the future. Except the discovery of their bond would mean death for each of them. There's still a war going on, after all. And someone has to win that war.

💜 This novella burrowed soft seedlings deep within my bloodstream, sprouted saplings that tangled my mind in a war waged on time, and left me blossoming, tears brimming in my eyes. Red and Blue's slow burn, sapphic romance is compelling, imaginative, dizzying, and disastrous; a beautiful collaboration I hope will breed many more. Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone ensnare you from the first page; their prose takes root DEEP and stays. I'll be nursing this book hangover for a while yet. Once Red and Blue are mentally (and in some ways, physically) intertwined, they bloom purple, their dueling prose uniting into a timeless, ethereal poetry. No real world could contain this story, but the pages of this book did well to contain their love. It's difficult to say more without spoiling the story's potency. No review I could write, even given a thousand threads or lives, would do it justice.

💙 I've made a mess of highlighting this one, each line lending to the next. However, I will say there are some references that left me unable to fully appreciate a well-written line (my own problem, really). I would have appreciated more information about the time war, the Agency, and the Garden, but it's not really necessary when the story's true focus is the blossoming rivals-to-lovers slow burn romance between our protagonists.

🦇 Recommended for fans of Killing Eve (imagine them as time-traveling pen pals and you have Red and Blue's story).

✨ The Vibes ✨ ❤️ Time Travel 💙 Sapphic Romance ❤️ Steven Universe Vibes 💙 Sci-Fi ❤️ Rivals to Lovers 💙 Slow Burn ❤️ Poetic Prose

💬 Quotes ❝ There’s a kind of time travel in letters, isn’t there? ❞ ❝ I want to be a body for you. I want to chase you, find you, I want to be eluded and teased and adored; I want to be defeated and victorious—I want you to cut me, sharpen me. I want to drink tea beside you in ten years or a thousand. ❞ ❝ Listen to me—I am your echo. I would rather break the world than lose you. ❞ ❝ I have built a you within me, or you have. I wonder what of me there is in you. ❞ ❝ I love you. If you’ve come this far, that’s all I can say. I love you and Iove you and I love you, on battlefields, in shadows, in fading ink, on cold ice splashed with the blood of seals. In the rings of trees. In the wreckage of a planet crumbling to space. In bubbling water. In bee stings and dragonfly wings, in stars. In the depths of lonely woods where I wandered in my youth, staring up—and even then you watched me. You slid back through my life, and I have known you since before I knew you. ❞ ❝ Dearest, deepest Blue— At the end as at the start, and through all the in-betweens, I love you. ❞ ❝ “Some things matter more than winning.” ❞

[tips-from-john]

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🎥 Discover Ikaria Lean Belly Juice: Comprehensive Review and Insights!

Are you striving to eliminate stubborn fat and achieve your fitness goals? In this authoritative video, we present a comprehensive review of Ikaria Lean Belly Juice Reviews, a top-tier weight loss supplement designed to support effective weight loss and enhance your overall well-being. This review will cover:

What Is Ikaria Lean Belly Juice?

How Does Ikaria Lean Belly Juice Work?

Benefits of Using Ikaria Lean Belly Juice

Key Ingredients in Ikaria Lean Belly Juice

How to Use Ikaria Lean Belly Juice

Customer Reviews and Testimonials

Where to Buy Ikaria Lean Belly Juice Safely

Money-Back Guarantee

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

🔍 What Is Ikaria Lean Belly Juice?

Ikaria Lean Belly Juice Reviews is a cutting-edge health supplement formulated to support weight loss and enhance overall wellness. Inspired by the healthy lifestyles of Ikaria's residents—a Greek island renowned for its longevity—the juice blends natural ingredients designed to boost metabolism, reduce inflammation, and increase energy levels effectively. Manufactured in an FDA-registered and GMP-certified facility, Ikaria Lean Belly Juice ensures quality and safety for effective weight management.

✅ How Does Ikaria Lean Belly Juice Work?

Ikaria Lean Belly Juice Reviews operates through multiple mechanisms to facilitate comprehensive weight loss support:

Boosted Metabolism

Enhanced Fat-Burning

Increased Energy Levels

Supports Digestion

Reduces Inflammation

📋 Key Ingredients in Ikaria Lean Belly Juice

The success of Ikaria Lean Belly Juice lies in its carefully selected natural ingredients. Each component is chosen for its unique health benefits, creating a balanced and potent formula:

Green Tea Extract

Garcinia Cambogia

Turmeric

Ginger Root

Lemon Juice

Maquiberry

Rhodiola

Haematococcus

Schisandra

Theobroma Cacao

Amla

These ingredients work synergistically to address multiple aspects of weight management and overall health, ensuring effective and sustainable weight loss.

🛒 Where to Buy Ikaria Lean Belly Juice?

Ikaria Lean Belly Juice Reviews is exclusively available through the official website to ensure you receive genuine products, secure transactions, and reliable customer support. Here’s where you can purchase it:

✅ Benefits of Using Ikaria Lean Belly Juice

Enhances Weight Loss

Increases Energy Levels

Supports Digestion

Reduces Inflammation

Boosts Immune Function

⭐ Ikaria Lean Belly Juice User Experience

Results:

Users report noticeable fat loss, reduced appetite, and increased energy levels within weeks of consistent use.

Usage:

Take two capsules daily, preferably before meals, to maximize the supplement's benefits.

Side Effects:

Generally well-tolerated, with rare cases of mild digestive discomfort reported. As with any supplement, consult a healthcare professional before starting.

💵 Ikaria Lean Belly Juice Guarantee

Ikaria Lean Belly Juice Reviews offers a 60-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to try the product risk-free. If you're not satisfied with the results, you can request a full refund within this period, providing peace of mind with your purchase.

🏁 Final Thoughts: A Trusted Weight Loss Supplement

In summary, Ikaria Lean Belly Juice Reviews is an excellent choice for those seeking a safe and natural method to lose weight. Its clinically-proven ingredients deliver real results by boosting fat burning, controlling appetite, and increasing energy levels. If you're ready to embark on a healthier lifestyle, Ikaria Lean Belly Juice Reviews is definitely worth trying.

🎥 Share This Video: https://youtu.be/LqTZZhmoLEY

🕒 Key Sections:

00:01 – Ikaria Lean Belly Juice Review Introduction

00:28 – What is Ikaria Lean Belly Juice?

00:34 – Ikaria Lean Belly Juice Official Website

00:58 – Ikaria Lean Belly Juice Ingredients

01:35 – Ikaria Lean Belly Juice Benefits

02:03 – How Does Ikaria Lean Belly Juice Work?

02:19 – Does Ikaria Lean Belly Juice Work?

02:55 – Ikaria Lean Belly Juice Reviews – Conclusion

03:12 – Ikaria Lean Belly Juice 60-Day Money-Back Guarantee

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The post Ikaria Lean Belly Juice Reviews was first published on Wrestling Best Channel.

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ESTADOS UNIDOS✅Official WebSite: https://bit.ly/Lipozem-Supplement ✅Official WebSite: https://bit.ly/Lipozem-Supplement LIPOZEM (🚨REAL CUSTOMER!!🚨) LIPOZEM REVIEW - LIPOZEM REVIEWS - LIPOZENE RESULTS - Lipozem Pills ✅What is Lipozene? Lipozem is a dietary supplement formulated to support weight loss. It is designed for individuals looking to lose weight without the need for extreme diets or intense exercise regimens. The supplement claims to help users burn fat, suppress appetite, and boost metabolism, ultimately leading to weight loss. Lipozem is often marketed as a natural and effective solution for those struggling with weight management. ✅Does Lipozene Work? Lipozene works by targeting several key areas of weight loss: Fat Burning: Lipozem contains ingredients that are believed to enhance the body's ability to burn stored fat for energy. This process, known as thermogenesis, increases the body's metabolic rate, leading to more calories being burned throughout the day. Appetite Suppression: One of the biggest challenges in weight loss is controlling cravings and overeating. Lipozem includes ingredients that help suppress appetite, making it easier for users to stick to a calorie-controlled diet. Metabolism Boost: A slow metabolism can hinder weight loss efforts. Lipozem claims to boost the metabolism, helping the body burn more calories even at rest. Energy Enhancement: Weight loss can often lead to fatigue, especially when calories are restricted. Lipozem is designed to provide an energy boost, helping users stay active and motivated throughout the day. ✅Key Ingredients in Lipozem: The effectiveness of any dietary supplement largely depends on its ingredients. Lipozem contains a blend of natural ingredients that are commonly used in weight loss supplements: Green Tea Extract: Known for its antioxidant properties, green tea extract is a popular ingredient in weight loss supplements. It is believed to boost metabolism and increase fat oxidation. Garcinia Cambogia: This tropical fruit extract is often used for its appetite-suppressing properties. It contains hydroxycitric acid (HCA), which is believed to inhibit an enzyme that helps the body store fat. Caffeine: A well-known stimulant, caffeine can boost energy levels, enhance focus, and increase metabolism. It also helps in mobilizing fat from the fat tissues for use as energy. Glucomannan: A natural fiber derived from the root of the konjac plant, glucomannan expands in the stomach, promoting a feeling of fullness and reducing overall food intake. Raspberry Ketones: These compounds are believed to increase the breakdown of fat and boost levels of adiponectin, a hormone that regulates metabolism. L-Carnitine: An amino acid that plays a crucial role in the transportation of fatty acids into the mitochondria, where they are burned for energy. L-Carnitine is often used to enhance fat burning during exercise. ✅Benefits of Lipozene: Lipozem is marketed with several potential benefits, including: Weight Loss Support: By combining fat burning, appetite suppression, and metabolism boosting, Lipozem aims to support users in achieving their weight loss goals. Increased Energy Levels: The supplement's stimulant ingredients, like caffeine, help users stay energized throughout the day, making it easier to maintain an active lifestyle. Improved Metabolism: A faster metabolism means more calories burned, even at rest, which can contribute to more effective weight loss. Enhanced Focus and Mental Clarity: Some of the ingredients in Lipozene, such as caffeine, may also improve cognitive function, helping users stay focused and alert. ✅Official WebSite: https://bit.ly/Lipozem-Supplement ✅Official WebSite: https://bit.ly/Lipozem-Supplement

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Java Burn: Sip Your Way to a Healthier, Slimmer You

Meta Description: Discover how Java Burn, the revolutionary coffee additive, can help you lose weight naturally. Learn the science, benefits, and tips to maximize your results. Java Burn comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee. Get Java Burn now at Java Burn Official!

Introduction Struggling to shed those extra pounds? You’re not alone. Millions of people face challenges with weight management and seek effective solutions. Enter Java Burn, a top-rated weight loss coffee additive that’s gaining attention for its powerful results. In this blog, we’ll break down the science behind Java Burn, highlight its incredible benefits, share real success stories, compare it to other weight loss products, and offer tips on how to get the best results. Ready to start your transformation? Let’s dive in!

The Science Behind Java Burn Java Burn isn’t your average weight loss supplement. Its all-natural formula is backed by extensive research, focusing on boosting metabolism and fat oxidation. By incorporating green tea extract, L-Carnitine, and Chromium, Java Burn helps your body burn calories more efficiently. These ingredients also support the breakdown of stored fat for energy, making weight loss more manageable. Scientific studies validate that Java Burn can help users achieve significant weight loss results when used correctly.

Benefits of Java Burn What sets Java Burn apart is its wide range of benefits. Not only does it promote weight loss, but it also helps:

Boost energy levels: Feel more active and focused throughout the day.

Suppress appetite: Reduce cravings and control portions effortlessly.

Enhance metabolism: Increase fat burning, even at rest.

Support overall wellness: Improve mental clarity and energy balance.

Java Burn is ideal for anyone looking for an easy way to enhance both their weight loss and overall health.

Success Stories and Reviews The real magic of Java Burn lies in the results shared by satisfied customers. People have experienced remarkable transformations, with many losing significant amounts of weight in just a few months. Hearing real success stories can be motivating, showing that you too can reach your fitness goals. Positive reviews praise Java Burn for its simplicity, taste, and quick impact on energy and weight loss.

Java Burn vs. Other Weight Loss Products In a market crowded with weight loss supplements, Java Burn stands out thanks to its natural ingredients and scientifically-backed formula. Unlike fad diets or extreme supplements, Java Burn offers a sustainable and effective approach. While others may rely on chemicals or drastic calorie restrictions, Java Burn works with your body’s metabolism, making it a healthier alternative to traditional weight loss methods.

Safety and Side Effects Safety is a priority when using any supplement. Fortunately, Java Burn is made from all-natural, clinically-tested ingredients, making it safe for most individuals. While side effects are rare, some people may experience mild symptoms like nausea or upset stomach. It’s always recommended to consult a healthcare professional before starting any weight loss regimen, especially if you have pre-existing conditions or take medication.

How to Use Java Burn for Best Results To get the most out of Java Burn, consistency is key. Add one packet of Java Burn to your daily coffee, preferably in the morning. Be sure to follow the recommended dosage for optimal results. Pairing Java Burn with a balanced diet and regular exercise will accelerate your progress and help you reach your goals faster.

Pro tip: Stay hydrated, eat lean protein, and engage in light physical activities to further enhance the fat-burning effects.

60-Day Money-Back Guarantee Java Burn is backed by a 100% money-back guarantee for 60 days from your original purchase. If you're not completely satisfied with the product, your results, or your experience within the first 60 days, simply contact us by calling our toll-free number or sending an email, and we’ll issue a full refund within 48 hours of receiving the returned product. That’s right—even if you’ve used all the product and are returning empty pouches, we’ll give you a no-questions-asked refund (less shipping and handling). This guarantee ensures that you can try Java Burn risk-free!

Conclusion Java Burn offers a simple yet powerful solution for weight loss and overall wellness. Backed by science and supported by real customer success stories, it’s a must-try for anyone seeking an easy way to shed pounds and feel more energetic. Whether you’re just starting your weight loss journey or looking to break a plateau, Java Burn can help. Ready to get started? Sip away the extra pounds today and unlock a healthier you!

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