#the age of darkness series

[theinquisitxor]

June 2023 Reading Wrap Up

June was the best reading month I've had in a little while, especially after a couple of 'slumpy' feeling months. I read 9 books this month, as well as started and finished two trilogies. I read mostly fantasy, with 1 literary fiction and 1 nonfiction.

1-3.The Age of Darkness Trilogy by Katy Rose Pool (There Will Come a Darkness, As the Shadow Rises, Into the Dying Light). ~4-5/5 stars per book. This is a series that skyrocketed into a new favorite YA series. These books follow a cast of 5 characters as they try to stop the end of the world. Set in a mediterranean inspired land with gods, paladins, Heirophants, and prophets. This series was so much fun and I really enjoyed my time reading it. YA fantasy, lgbt main romance.

4.The Blood of Olympus (The Heroes of Olympus 5) by Rick Riordian. 3.5/5 stars. This concluded by reread of the HoO series, and while this particular book isn't by favorite of the series, it was still enjoyable. The Nico and Reyna chapters carried this book tbh. YA/middle grade

5. The Glass Hotel by Emily St John Mandel 5/5 stars. I wasn't sure if I was going to like this novel, but I ended up hooked and completely loving it. Emily Mandel has one of my favorite writing styles, and her ability to craft and weave a story is so talented. Mandel's books are not really happy, not really sad, not really like what I normally read, but are continuously favorites. Literary Fiction.

6.The End of Everything (Astrophysically Speaking) by Katie Mack. This was my nonfiction for the month, and I enjoyed this book about all the ways the universe could potentially end (in the far, far future). It is science-y and technical, but I thought Mack explained things very well. Nonfiction.

7-9. The Poppy War Trilogy by RF Kuang (The Poppy War, The Dragon Republic, The Burning God) ~4/5 stars. I've been meaning to read this series for years now, but never quite thought I was in the right headspace to try and tackle this series. I overall enjoyed it, but maybe not quite as much as I was hoping. I liked the parallels to modern history and the critique of colonialism. This series has lots of action and was very readable, which I think helped me overlook some other issues I think the books/writing has. I also discovered that grim-dark is not really my cup of tea, and I probably won't read any more. Adult grim-dark military fantasy.

My average rating was 4 stars for the books I read this month. It felt good to be able to binge some series and some overall poor weather kept me inside, so I had more time to read in general (plus less busy with work + grad school). I'm hoping July is just as productive and enjoyable of a reading month!

[septemberkisses]

the fact that i'm no longer the same age as the protagonists of novels and films i once connected to is so heartbreaking. there was a time when I looked forward to turning their age. i did. and i also outgrew them. i continue to age, but they don't; never will. the immortality of fiction is beautiful, but cruel.

[goryhorroor]

horror sub-genres/techniques: anime horror

[mrs-gauche]

The Dread Wolf Take You (Part 1)

~~Link to the complete 31 page comic here~~

"Imagine that, overlooking the god in your mids!"

May I present, my attempt at illustrating the last four pages of Tevinter Nights. 😁 (Also, the first time I'm posting art on here!)

As the whole thing was quite literally too long to post on tumblr, I uploaded the full version on a customized site made for reading webcomics (via ComicFury). Feel free to check out the link above if you like to read the rest! Also, if you're on mobile, there's a "Scroll View" option for easier navigation. :)

And, obviously, HUGE spoilers for those who haven't read Tevinter Nights!!

On a personal note though, I can't believe I actually finished it... As it had been a *very* long time since I drew (and finished) anything, let alone a 31 page comic and reading Tevinter Nights again finally sparked my motivation (and the courage to post it lol). So I want to thank Patrick Weekes for helping me overcome this massive art block and over two decades of Case Closed mangas for inspiring me how to draw an overly dramatic "exposing the imposter" moment. 😂 I tried my best to be as faithful to the book as possible and it took me forever, so... hope you like it! :D

[galedekarios]

i need those thinkpieces of how you can't actually be evil in datv to stop.

it's not the point of the game to be evil and they never claimed you could be evil. it's three different flavours of hero, the same it has been in all bioware games.

bg3 did claim you could be evil and it had to add those evil storylines in about a year later bc it was literally devoid of consequences other than npc = dead.

no one complains that you can't join the wild hunt in tw3, no one complains you can't bash in atreus's skull in gow, no one complains that you can't join the reapers in me.

i am so tired of this double standard with datv by people determined to bash it for clout and who haven't engaged with it genuinely on the basis of what it is: a bioware game in a long line of bioware games.

there are legitimate faults with the game that we can talk about all day (lore inconsistencies, retcons, writing quality of dialogue i.e. my personal pet peeve of using the word 'okay' in fantasy settings and far more egregious examples, the secret ending, etc), but bashing it for something it never claimed to be is utterly idiotic.

[machte]

omg he stole everything from me...

[kavinskhhy]

Darrow and Lysander by iparwing

[jeanivere]

for my thief fans still out there

[deadshowsagency]

The Fandom Phoenix Project

Team up with other fandoms of cancelled shows and bring down Netflix! Comment your beloved cancelled tv show!

[lichdandy]

SkekSo the Emperor

[horrorshow]

i love when people point out the 'family is hell' theme in spn and then go like 'do not romanticise this!!! this post is not for you' as if spn itself didn’t end up with the family is hell brothers being soulmates happily meeting up in heaven after 15 seasons of dark romance tropes thrown upon them.

no one romanticizes 'family is hell' more than supernatural itself.

[rocinanterising]

Cassius Au Bellona

My interpretation of Cassius Bellona (spoilers under break)

aimlessly drifting through space with Lysander.

[sad-endings-suck]

Darrow in Lysander’s chapters:

Darrow in his own chapters:

[msunitedstatesjames]

Lysander au Lune, every time he sets foot in a room with a man of honor:

You better watch your back, Diomedes. Because this bitch is shooting everybody out here.

[galedekarios]

emmrich + cosplay guide [click on pictures to enlarge]

[nick-nellson]