#the fairy bargains of prospect hill

[bethly126]

What I'm Reading Now: The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill by Rowenna Miller

Fairies. Sisters. This is right up my alley

[scifi4wifi]

Book Review | 'The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill' by Rowenna Miller

The ability to make bargains with the supernatural is a compelling notion. Whether the bargain is made with a jar of graveyard dirt, cat bones, a photograph, and yarrow buried at a crossroads, or the rubbing of a lamp to ask three wishes of a genie, or trading scraps of everyday objects lying around the house with fairies… they seem to ask so little of us in exchange for changing our lives. What…

[wordsthatmattered]

11.11.2023

Collected some more words!

I was in a magical mood while book shopping, I guess.

[bluesey-182]

i entered a barnes and noble for one (1) specific book. left with three though

[beauzos]

i know it probably ain’t impressive but it feels GOOD to start reading regularly again. i only read 4 books last year and i am still proud of myself for that, but i’m reading regularly now. i am up to 6 books this year, counting the one i am on now. it rules

[sea-owl]

So I got a new book and from the summary alone I got an new au idea. I have not read one page of this book yet.

The book is called The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill.

Here's the summary:

There is no magic on Prospect Hill—or anywhere else, for that matter. But just on the other side of the veil is the world of the Fae. Generations ago, the first farmers on Prospect Hill learned to bargain small trades to make their lives a little easier—a bit of glass to find something lost, a cup of milk for better layers in the chicken coop.

Much of that old wisdom was lost as the riverboats gave way to the rail lines and the farmers took work at mills and factories. Alaine Fairborn’s family, however, was always superstitious, and she still hums the rhymes to find a lost shoe and to ensure dry weather on her sister’s wedding day.

When Delphine confides her new husband is not the man she thought he was, Alaine will stop at nothing to help her sister escape him. Small bargains buy them time, but a major one is needed. Yet, the price for true freedom may be more than they’re willing to pay.

So here's the au idea.

The aristocratic families held onto a secret only their families know. Many of their ancestral seats hide the gateways between the human world and the world of the fae. Deals can be made with the fae but everything has a price. Can you pay it?

Kathony

Mary was not surprised when she got a letter saying her parents back in England pissed off the fae, and that's how they were killed. What did surprise her was the deal they made that ultimately led to their deaths. They promised Mary's child to the king of the fae?! Knowing Edwina's dream of a love match, Kate looks for a loophole. Well, Mary did always say Kate came into her life as a daughter. So she should count, right? Anthony raised an eyebrow when Kate presented herself as the bride. Oh, he's gonna have fun with her.

Benophie

In exchange for keeping privileges from the new Earl of Penwood, Araminta sold Posy off as his bride. Or rather his broodmare. Sophie refused to see the closest person she had to a sister be miserable for the rest of her life. It's what pushes her through Penwood to make a deal for Posy's freedom. Now how is she convincing this fae man to make a deal that DOESN'T include her becoming his mistress?

Polin

The Featheringtons are probably one of the more superstitious families. Portia, who was from an area way more familiar with the fae, made sure her daughters knew the tricks of dealing with the fae. So knowing all these tricks and with a mother who had no fear of the fae, is it any wonder that Penelope regularly made deals with them? Nothing ever major, small things that cost a piece of glass or a poem. Of course, whispers of a human who isn't afraid to trade with the fae will travel. Such whispers reach the most chaotic fae prince who wonders how far this little human will trade. Colin siezes his chance for a trade when Penelope comes to make a deal that will allow her favorite sister Felicity freedom from their father's debts.

[star-sheeps]

TAG 9 PPL YOUD LIKE TO GET TO KNOW BETTER

thanks for tagging me! @sojutsu @nonbinarycringe404

Last song(s): domino - stray kids

Currently watching: more than friends (drama about two high school “sweethearts” and the man goes to America for college, the girl stays behind in sk. When he comes back they end up meeting again and start working together. They eventually start dating again

Currently reading: the fairy bargains of prospect hill - Rowena miller

Current obsession: Redacted(obvs), Magnus archives, lore olympus

I’m tagging:

@sealriously-sealrious @romeo-the-homeo @darlin-collins @ezshifts @ajfromthestars @ejunkiet @frenchiefitzhere @konnorhasapen @starlitangels

[micamicster]

catch up tag

tagged by : @anderwater and @greenlikethesea

last song: Fast Train by Solomon Burke (I'm kinda in a groove of listening to this one every grey fall morning when I'm driving to work which now that I say it sounds depressing but i swear it's not I find the song very peaceful)

last film: The Raid 2 (needed to enjoy my roommates huge tv)

currently reading: um. the more school stress i have the more books of varying quality I read (im trying to maintain good sleep hygiene by reading before bed instead of being on that phone okay?) so in the last two weeks I have read Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill by Rowenna Miller, The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin, Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Willson, Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros, The Honjin Murders by Seishi Yokomizo, and The Man in the Brown Suit by Agatha Christie. Still working on The Powerbroker by Robert Caro. My favorites of this list have been Alif the Unseen and The Honjin Murders! Unrelated I need to get more normaler.

currently watching: Mysterious Lotus Casebook (and i WILL be posting about it brace yourselves lol)

current obsession: I think I'm between obsessions tbh so I'm gonna use this spot to promote the mysterious fic I've been grinding away at for the last six months--we are so close to posting!

tagging : @eatandsleepwell @homosexawol @hidekomoon and @anyone else who wants to share!

[ideas-4-stories]

Lullabies for a Baby Blue Bug

Chapter 3: Changeling Child | I have had this fic up for some time on Ao3, I hope you like it all, I have five chapters out right now. Part 1 on Tumblr ____________________________________________________ “Who is interested in a new lullaby?” Both blue and red heads tilt upwards, with a sense of confusion. At the door of their room, the purple-haired woman was standing proudly, making it known that she means business and there was no room for arguments. That’s funny, they usually go to bed whenever they want… just like the Captain does. That just signifies that the crew was trying to do something they didn't want to do while Shanks and Buggy were awake. In most cases, this would prompt the devious children to deny the poor adults their desired outcome. Something that the gremlin children do with pride. But alas, the prospect of a new lullaby inspires curiosity in both children, which overshadows that feeling. And the fact that Rendell was so proud of finding a new lullaby to sing didn't help. So, the game, which they had been playing before the woman made her presence known. Was abandoned by the two, earning a soft stern look from the woman. Silently meaning that they need to clean up their toys before anything happens. So, they did just that, with the bluenette proceeds without complaining, on the other hand, it could not be said about the redhead, who was sighing as if he was undergoing a dreadful action. Whereby earns glares from the purple-haired woman within the room, though it didn’t stop him from sticking out his tongue. Which came after was deserved, the red-haired kid rubbing his forehead, where the woman flicks him sending him dramatically on the floor in defeat. “Shanks knock it off, stop being dramatic like Captain.” Rendell says with a disappointed sigh. Shaking her head at the drama queen on the floor, feigning a shocked and betrayed look towards the unamused woman. It went on a couple of seconds before the children giggled without control, one that couldn’t keep a straight face from what was happening and the other who was unable to continue acting. The bluenette helped the redhead from the floor to finish picking up their toys. ⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜ With all the toys cleaned up, the children start their different routines to get ready for bed. It takes Buggy a lot more time to prepare for bed than Shanks, who was already in bed for a while when Buggy finally came to snuggle close to hear the new lullaby with the other. No matter how much they fight and argue, it would take something horrible to make them walk paths without each other. But the woman knew that Captain would never let something that awful happen. “Alright shitlings, you guys are ready now?” The purple haired woman chuckled at the redhead and bluenette, who are enthusiastically nods their heads Yes. Snuggling closer than they were before and Rendell smooths out their blankets, as she starts the lullaby with a soft hum. The wind blows low and mournful through the Strath of Dalnacreich~~~ Where once there lived a woman who would a mother be~~~ For twelve long years a good man's wife but ne'er the cradle filled~~~ Mother of a changeling child from 'neath the fairy hill~~~

As the woman sings, she gently strokes the bluenette’s hair and rubbing the redhead’s nose in rhythmic manner. Though her voice can be raspy at times, the way Rendell’s sings is comforting and just right. He couldn’t help, but to fall asleep. So that’s what the redhead did. Snuggling closer to Buggy as much as he could. Luckily for him, the bluenette lets it happen. So, Shanks falls asleep content and with a smile. While Buggy blinks away the sleep in his eyes to listen to Rendell’s lullaby until the end. She traveled to the standing stones and crossed into the green~~~ Where all the host of elven folk were dancing there unseen~~~ Through the night she bargained with the Queen and fairies all~~~ Who sent her home at dawning with a babe beneath her shawl~~~ Rendell paid no mind to the door creaking open as she sang the lullaby more. Settling her attention to the bluenette who's still awake. Focusing on putting him to sleep, her voice companying by the continuation patting his hair. How their home was joyful with a son to call their own~~~ But soon they saw the years that passed would never make him grow~~~ The fairies would not answer her, the stones were dark and slept~~~ A babe was all she'd asked for, and their promises they'd kept~~~ It doesn't matter how much his eyes droop. Buggy will stay awake until he hears the rest of the song. Afterall Rendell doesn’t do this often and remembering things isn’t her strong suit. It must have taken her a long time to memorize. He needs to hear the ending… Wind blows low and mournful through the Strath of Dalnacreich~~~ Where once there lived a woman who would a mother be~~~ For fifty years she rocked that babe --- it's said she rocks him still~~~ A chuckle slightly disturbs the lullaby, when Buggy is finally lulled to sleep. Moving his hand towards Shanks, smacking him a bit. But never waking the redhead, no matter how many times it happens. The purple-haired woman smiles fondly at them both. They may be a handful, but it’s something that isn't unwelcome to her.  Their shenanigans always brighten the life that the Roger Pirates lead, giving them surprises in every twist and turn. It was always welcome within Rendell’s book of life. The woman always craved adventure from where she came from. She never expected to come with children that came up with the craziest things to do next to the Captain. But here she was, and she couldn’t have it any other way. A mother of a changeling child from 'neath the fairy hill~~~ A mother of a changeling child from 'neath the fairy hill~~~ Ending it with a whisper, as the woman leans over to kiss their foreheads. She can’t help but to chuckle at Shanks and Buggy, for them sleeping so close to each other. So close that their cheeks are squished together as they both snore away happily. Rendell still pays little attention when she hears footsteps coming closer towards her. Arms wrapped around her, swaying slowly to the beat of the song that she finished. The raven-haired man with the funny mustache she liked, quietly chuckles at the children in the bed. Shanks is already snoring loudly, already moving around in his sleep. Buggy who's drooling, holding tightly to Shanks’s shirt and moving along with him. “Goodnight my little gems” gentler than somebody would think of Gol D. Roger, one of the most powerful pirates in the world. As he softly pats their head, without waking them up, smiling down at Shanks and Buggy with soft eyes and a warm smile placed upon his face. She sighs happily, thinking ‘Yeah, it would take something horrify wrong to get them to separate... Roger would never have that happen as long as he lived.’

[jackietaylorsversion]

hi virginia <3 numbers 7, 9, and 52 for the ask game

Heyyyyy Alexis <3

7. What was your favorite thing as a kid?

Shit I can barely remember being a kid. I loved stuffed animals. Webkinz? Loved those guys. And I had a stuffed bear that I cuddled with (his name, coincidentally, was Cuddles) I guess I also just really liked Winnie the Pooh? Like Pooh Bear was my guy. Still is. Have you seen him? Adorable.

9. What’s your favorite love language?

I had to remind myself what these were. I guess I gotta go with quality time. I like physical touch more now that I did as a kid, but too much makes my skin hot, and I get so awkward about it that it makes me nervous. But quality time is nice. I like just sitting with people. We don’t have to do a thing, just hang.

52. What’s your favorite book? God, just kill me. It’d be kinder than this question. I don’t know if I have a favorite. I love so many. Emma by Jane Austen is a classic for a reason. I love My Best Friend’s Exorcism by Grady Hendrix. Anything by Leigh Bardugo is amazing, but I adore the Alex Stern series specifically. I recently read The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill by Rowena Miller, and I really enjoyed it. And, like, Carmilla. Novella of all time, to me. I can’t even think of all the books I love, much less my favorite. This was hard :P

[ctraceywrites]

I've been meaning to start The Fairy Bargains Of Prospect Hill by Rowenna Miller for a week now and I'm finally cracking that spine open. I'll probably only get a few pages read before I have to get ready for bed, but a few pages are better than none.

[secret-third-thing]

it seems like im just gonna be laying in bed for the rest of the evening

[allbookedupblogstuff]

The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill by Rowena Miller

Source: Netgalley – Many thanks!TL;DR: A slow, somewhat predictable story about two sisters making bad decisions. Somewhat disappointing for me. Plot: I was not super impressed with this. Based entirely on the story and the major events this felt incredibly slow – and perhaps like it needed a bit more editing.Characters: Both sisters felt somewhat expected as well. The sister that wanted to stay…

[eternalstrigoii]

tagged by @raointean​  (ily bb you’ve always stood by me while I go through long silences)

last song: well it’s about to be Santeria by Sublime bc I need to go wash dishes and be okay with having to get up and do dishes.

currently watching: Murder Comes Home. Like I’ve been watching it tonight instead of doing anything I need to do.

currently reading: uhhh The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill (oh my god it’s starting so slow I want something to happen and not just us talking about it some more). About to start What An Owl Knows for book club. I have a small stack of Indigenous History books on the desk here for writing references, the Canine Good Citizen manual bc my pittie keeps eating cat poop out the litter box, andd three books on canning/jam bc I got ambitious and then lost ambition and we’re gonna see what I can do with myself this season.

latest obsession: ngl getting money, getting mom’s cat well. Got one of those not-really-sympathetic lectures from the vet about “you really need to get him in” like yeah, I’m glad we’re on the same page. However, you seem to think I can shit money, and if you won’t defer payment, we’re at an impasse. (Also kind of makes me want to pursue opening up a literally nonprofit vet clinic. Just pay what you can, if you can.)

NINE-ISH PEOPLE YOU WANT TO GET TO KNOW BETTER!

tagged by @solarluvs @midniteluv

last song: before you - benson boone

currently watching: how i met your father & (rewatching) bridgerton

currently reading: love and other words <3

latest obsession: reading, watching lots of youtube ...

tagging: @runnning-outof-time @zablife @mangchai @thyme-in-a-bubble @vhagarlovebot @fxllfaiiry and anybody else who wants to answer this. <3

[beauzos]

one good thing about working at a bookstore is it incentivizes me to read books more so i don’t feel like a fucking fraud working there

[elsewhereuniversity]

FAQ and Tags Masterpost

What is Elsewhere University?

Elsewhere University is a university on a fairy hill, as first depicted in this comic I drew a year ago! People began asking questions about the world, and then writing stories and drawing art set within it, and then building on each other’s stories and on my answers about the world, and it’s become a big lovely sandbox (the second comic‘s entire purpose is to celebrate some of my favorite things that have grown exclusively out of the fandom). The various submitted stories aren’t necessarily compatible with each other, because there are currently well over 2k stories and asks building this world and expecting anyone to know all of that is absolutely mad. But they’re all built on the same base mythology of folklore+college weirdness outlined in the first comic.

Where can I find the original comic?

As part of my Tapastic series, or on my main blog. 

My ask/fortune/submission hasn’t shown up yet.

At the time of this writing, my inbox is around 2500, and roughly 3/4 of those are student asks. There’s going to be a bit of a wait before anything you submit sees the light of day (although stories will show up before fortunes do). I know it’s not ideal, but I will reach it eventually, I promise!

That said (given that this is tumblr) message me privately, off anon, if you’d like to make sure it hasn’t been eaten by the website. If you can give me a username or an exact phrase to ctrl+f, I’d be happy to check that it made it safely to my inbox! But if you send a find-it ask on anon, I won’t answer it - I get enough of those that it would clutter up the blog pretty badly.

Are there any guidelines for Elsewhere U fanworks?

The bare minimum - it should be readable with regards to grammar/spelling, it should be related to Elsewhere University, and, you know, don’t be an asshole. Don’t worry too much about continuity! Due to the sandbox nature of the project, that’s all a bit fuzzy anyway.

Fortunes should be about the size of a single ask.

Nothing made or sold for profit.

How should I get my submission to you?

One option is to submit a story through tumblr

Another is to publish it on your own blog, or on AO3 (there’s an official tag!) or somewhere else

If you opt for something other than submitting it through this blog, send me a link through messaging or an ask if you’d like to see it shared here!

You can try @’ing me but I’m not great at checking that. 

And lastly if you do post it somewhere else, please credit this blog or the original comic specifically. Thank you!

Types of posts

Stories - written prose submissions

Art - comics and illustrations of the world

Students and Charms - fortunes and futures

Vignettes - very short stories

Podcast - episodes of Elsewhere University Student News, a fan podcast

Tv Tropes Page

Poetry

Recs - Reader-submitted books/games/etc in the vein of this blog

Love letters to majors - submissions specifically regarding the ups and downs of a major

Newsletter - Elsewhere U newsletters and notices

Prophecies - vague, ominous, regarding the future

Advice - do

Warnings - do not

Original - my contributions to Elsewhere

GENERAL TAGS

Changelings - what the Fair Folk leave when they steal your roommate

The Forbidden Major - the (banned) study of the Fair Folk

Knights - students keeping the campus safe. Crusaders, mercenaries, and idealists.

Stolen Away - so you’ve gotten yourself kidnapped into a weird magical summer world

Deals - striking bargains

Debts - Owing

The Aftermath - Graduation and afterwards

Courtesies - the politics of please and thank you

Legacies - people who fit in better than they expected

The Treaty - Posts touching on the delicate agreement between the university and the Elsewhere

Belief - reality gets malleable here

Names - Names and their power. Full FAQ below.

PLACES

Location - where the fuck is this school, anyway (and a masterpost of the borders)

The Pool

The Library

The Theatre (and The Play)

The Dorms (dorm list/summary here)

The Forest

The Train Tracks

The River

The Wishing Well

The Greenhouse

The Unsea

Walmart

Denny’s

LIFE ON CAMPUS

Student Life - anything to do with day to day Elsewhere U existence

Majors - a full alphabetized list of majors and their standing with the Gentry at the end of this page

Prospective Students - why people come to EU

International Students - how they deal with this bullshit

Sports - what sports, where, and why they’re Off

Parties - hella revels

Food - “We must not look at goblin men, we must not buy their fruits: Who knows upon what soil they fed their hungry thirsty roots?”

Electronics - how that works out (or rather, doesn’t)

School Spirit, and on a related note the Mascot and the school Motto (full list of mottoes below)

Graduation

Greek Life

Holidays

Games

Sign Language

Marching Band

Clubs and Secret Societies

Student Witches

STAFF

Professors - who in their right minds would work here (list and summary of notable professors here)

RAs - Resident Advisors and their responsibilities

The Librarians

Administration

Groundskeepers - nonacademic staff. A statistically unlikely number own swords.

NOTABLE INDIVIDUALS AND PHENOMENA

The Foxy Lady

Jimothy

The Wyrm -the dragon sleeping under the condemned building in the western corner of the campus

Anna Monday

The Wild Hunt

The Washer at the Ford - she will tell you the time of your death, but only if you’re into that

Courts - here the year turns on Spring and Autumn

The Tall One - warning

Royalty - don’t speak of them

Cat-Eyes - purveyor of Seeing glasses

The Rose Prince

FOLKLORE

Protection - including iron, salt, and running water

The Sight - including modified glasses, silver, and mirrors

VARIOUS

Ghosts

Werewolves

Banshees

Brownies

Sirens

Selkies

Gremlins

Mermaids

Kelpies

ANIMALS

The Crows - Do Not Wrong The Crows

Pets - Fish, Cats, Dogs

Wildlife - Birds, Insects

Horses

School Mottos thus far (translations may be incorrect - I haven’t personaly checked them)

Cauti, Cordati, Auspicati - Wary, Wise, and Lucky

Cum Gladio Et Sale - With Sword and Salt

Fainiciúil, Ciallmhar, Ámhar - Wary, Wise, and Lucky

yn dilyn y seren - Following The Star

Beware the Lights

Swallow the Hidden Names

BLOOD AND BONES BLOOD AND BONES BLOOD AND BONES

Tine Agus Airgead - Fire and Silver          

כבדו את העורבים - Respect The Crows

Tha Iad Ag Innse Gun Bhreaug - They Tell No Lies

Carpe Nihil - Seize Nothing   

Iron and Salt - a warning 

Aspectum, Dolorem, Sacrificium - Sight, Sorrow, Sacrifice

Scientia Defendit Fideles - Knowledge protects the faithful

What Doesn’t Bend Will Break

Names FAQ

What’s a true name? The name that you consider to be truly yours; it’s highly personal and subjective.

Does the legal status of the name matter? No.

Can nicknames be true names? Yes.

Can you have more than one true name? How would that work? Yes. Depending on what each name meant to you, each true name might have power over you in its entirety, or each be part of a larger whole.

If I pronounce or spell my name differently/use a derivative or variation of my true name as a safe name, would that be safe? No. It wouldn’t have power over you, but it wouldn’t be hard to discover your true name.

What happens if someone speaks my true name? If you are given a command with your true name, you are compelled to obey it. This is only true in the Elsewhere and areas affected by it.

Can safe names influence a person over time? It’s unusual, but it’s happened.

Can a safe name become your true name? Yes; if you feel yourself becoming too attached to a safe name, it’s time to change it (not an uncommon event).

How does the school deal with safe names? Student IDs and role call lists for professors include the student number and the preferred name of a student. There’s a hard ban on obscenity, at least as far as the safe names in the school system go, but even so, they range from mundane to pop culture to total nonsense.

Would a name with negative associations be a good safe name? Yes, in the sense you’d never have to worry about growing too attached too it.

Is it possible to be nameless? Yes, which renders you invulnerable to this particular hazard. There are still plenty of other pitfalls, so overall the nameless don’t attract too much malice from the Gentry.

Is my last name part of my true name? It depends on the importance it holds for you. But even if it doesn’t signify anything, it’s recommended you keep all parts of your legal name secret in order to make it more difficult for anyone to find personal information on you.

How does the school protect true names? The administration offices are heavily guarded against both human and Elsewhere intruders, including but not limited to 24/7 guards, iron in all the walls, heavily password-protected computers, and formidable custom iron filing cabinets that hold all the paperwork they couldn’t avoid printing out.

Does everyone on campus go by a safe name? Almost everyone. There’s always a few skeptic freshman who don’t buy into what is presented as Elsewhere university’s ‘unique traditions’. The lucky ones are given nicknames by other students who persist until the skeptic has stopped protesting. The unlucky ones find out the hard way why you don’t want anyone to know your true name.

Majors

accounting majors

animal husbandry majors

anthropology majors

architecture majors

art majors 

art history majors

astrophysics majors

bio majors

biochem majors

biomech majors

business majors

chem majors

classics majors

comp sci majors

culinary arts majors

dance majors

econ majors

education majors

engineering students

english majors

environmental studies majors

film majors

forestry and wildlife majors

geology majors

history majors

humanities majors

journalism majors

language majors

law majors

math majors

midwives

military

mortuary science majors

music majors

philosophy majors

physics majors

poli-sci majors

pre-med majors - any medicine-related fields

pre-vet majors

psyche majors

smiths - the tag for shop class and metalworking

sociology majors

stats majors

textile majors

theatre majors

theology majors

Elsewhere University © 2017 Samantha Dow