#the paper magician trilogy

[iavulture]

(Long post with some spoilers) Something fascinating about a sidequest in CoV

I know that I haven't been posting screenshots of Demon Haunt convos as frequently lately, but that's because I've been pushing through the game quite a lot to the end. Don't worry, though, for those who like them, they're still coming around as I make progress.

Anyway, I've been fascinated by this subquest, and it's not only because of the worldbuilding bits in regards to the demon summoning program as it's portrayed in SMTVV. As seen above, the game does acknowledge the use of technology in relation to the demons, and that the humans essentially have to do some things the old-fashioned way i.e. not going digital and using paper for security measures.

But what this researcher/sidequest giver says next is even more interesting, as seen in the next screenshots.

Some spoilers ahead for the novel series Digital Devil Story, which the MegaTen games are originally based off of! Read on if you don't mind and want to know my thoughts.

So you've decided to read on. Here are my thoughts on this:

Believe it or not, I love how this (possibly) relates to the very beginning of the SMT franchise, specifically Digital Devil Story. For those who don't know, Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei is the first novel of a trilogy by Aya Nishitani. Want a summary? It's about a genius highschooler named Akemi Nakajima, who develops the Demon Summoning Program to get back at his bullies (it's... complicated). And as future MegaTen installments are wont to do, things go horribly wrong as the program summons Loki and the Norse god wreaks havoc and kills people (and also... forces himself onto one of Nakajima's teachers and attempts to do the same to new transfer student/love interest Yumiko Shirasagi). In fact, Nakajima's actions end up causing the events of the rest of the trilogy, along with the events in the New Digital Devil Story hexalogy, which is a sequel series to the trilogy.

2. Continuing from #1, there's the name mentioned by the researcher: Atziluth. This is the name of the place where demons live and was first mentioned in Digital Devil Story (and in Strange Journey compendium entries); the games call it by other names such as Makai/the Expanse and the Netherworld/Da'at.

3. "Essentially, we perform pseudo-summons through computers to transmigrate demons into this world." This is pretty much what Nakajima does with the Demon Summoning Program, in that he used a computer with the program to summon Loki. For additional context, one should know that besides being a programmer, Nakajima is also an amateur magician, and previously came to a revelation that magic and programming are similar in that they had exact steps/algorithms that needed to be followed to produce a desired result.

I can only speculate as to how people in V's world came to have such tech, but my guess is that Bethel researchers at the very least had a hand in it, as Bethel is the one distributing phones with the DSP to people like Ichiro Dazai and Yuzuru Atsuta. If people can use phones to summon demons, why not through computers as well, just like how Nakajima did it with Loki?

To end this post, I just want to say that I like this worldbuilding in Vengeance. From what I understand, Atziluth sort of reminds me of the Digital World in Digimon, in that it's a place where monsters reside and can be taken into the human world through the use of technology. In fact, I'm reminded of what happens in Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth/Cyber Sleuth - Hacker's Memory (which, btw, are great games and aren't exactly for kids, unlike much of the rest of the Digimon franchise).

Here's a link to an hourlong video by Marsh explaining the novel series: Demystifying Digital Devil Story - YouTube

Anyway, long post over! I certainly wanted to write something after a long battle against a certain fly and needed a deserved break. I hope you enjoyed it and learned a few things.

[excelynch]

are you the king, mirror, ghost, magician or dreamer?

(write the letter of the answer you chose on a paper, at the end you will have the result of each letter)

1 - are you a poet, king or soldier?

a) poet

b) soldier

c) king

2 - choose a part of the song meet me in the woods by lord huron.

a) "I took a little journey to the unknown and I've come back changed I can feel it in my bones"

b) "I have seen what the darkness does. say goodbye to who I was"

c) "meet me in the woods tonight"

d) "I fucked with forces that our eyes can't see, now the darkness got a hold on me"

e) "show me yours and I'll show you mine"

3 - choose one of my opinions about trc that MAYBE you don't agree.

a) the dreamer trilogy has a slightly more interesting story.

b) the raven king ending sucks. like what is that DEMON?

c) adam and ronan were a little quick (but they're perfect anyway, maybe because it was so sudden, i wasn't expecting ronan lynch's secret)

d) declan was right most of the time, he just wanted to take care of what was left of the family.

e) noah deserved at least a decent goodbye.

4 - pick a random thing that was mentioned in the books

a) the pig

b) squash 1, squash 2, squash 3...

c) adam parrish's worn clothes.

d) lampshade dress (or ronan's lack of interest.

e) blue's pink pocket knife.

5 - you woke up at 03:49 am and you feel happy but you don't remember what you dreamed about. later, as the day goes by, you reflect. what did you dream about?

a) I don't remember exactly, just one person in front of me, they says my name and then they hugs me and I feel loved and then aliens take us to a distant planet and I turn out to be that person is a little girl who stole a lego of mine when i was a kid and we started battling for the hand of the cockroach queen.

b) I woke up happy that I finally got some sleep, but dreaming? it's something I'm still trying to remember how to do.

c) I can't remember what I dreamed about.

d) me in front of a mirror and in that mirror I saw myself as a kid. they told me in a calm voice "you can grow up now"

e) a house with all the ghosts that haunt me, they say they can move on now. I'm alone in the house, there's nothing left, but that emptiness doesn't bother me. I like the silence after so much noise.

6 - choose a quote from the books

a) "he threw me out the window"

b) "excelsior"

c) "maybe i dreamt you"

d) "safe as life"

e) "i am being perfectly fucking civil"

7 - ok, without judging the inside of the books, just choose by the cover.

a) the dream thieves

b) the raven king

c) the raven boys

d) blue lily, lily blue

e) call down the hawk / mister impossible /greywaren

8 - which of Ronan's dreams do you most identify with?

a) adam's perfect teeth (i know, i know)

b) matthew, the golden boy who just wants to be a normal boy

c) the other ronan who was born to die

d) forests and more forests

e) a hoverboard that will save everyone in the end

9 - if gansey is the king, blue is the mirror, ronan is the dreamer, noah is the ghost and adam is the magician so henry is...?

a) the one that's left (maybe you didn't care enough to give him a meaning)

b) madonna's number one fan

c) the bee

d) the son

e) the master

10 - if someone came and told you that you were going to die in a year, how would you react?

a) "no shit, sherlock! now say something new"

b) I would accept my fate and live normally. "After all, we're all going to die, I'm just going to die sooner"

c) I would do what I was always afraid to do.

d) "I've been dead for seven years"

e) I would do anything to change my destiny.

...

if you chose king add a point for ronan. if you chose poet add a point for noah and gansey. and if you chose soldier add a point for adam and blue.

now just add which letter you got the most and tell me in the comments the result :)

a = ronan

b = noah

c = gansey

d = adam

e = blue

I hope that you enjoyed and sorry for any mistakes, I'm learning english :)

I was thinking of doing a "which brother lynch are you" and one about the marauders, what do you think?

[darthmaclunkey]

I was looking for something on my archive external HD and found this scan of the first page of a short story I wrote when I was 11 (so 2005?)

part of me finds it embarrassing but another part is weirdly proud of how good it is for an 11 year old and how neat my handwriting was. it’s written in the blue fountain pen I used for schoolwork - I had to get a ‘pen certificate’ from my teacher to be allowed to use it! I think this was around the time I read trudi canavan’s black magician trilogy, and I vaguely remember also writing my first ever fanfiction for garth nix’s abhorsen trilogy at the same time. I also love that I clearly went back to edit later and replaced one instance of ‘woman’ with ‘female elf’ as well as appending ‘a forest’ to the opening sentence.

no idea where this story was going, I only seemed to scan the first page. hopefully I can find it in the giant box of papers on top of my wardrobe.

[thestinkyman]

favorite paper magician trilogy stuff now pls (characters, scenes, little details, etc) also I adore fennel he is forever the best good boi

Omgg, sorry I didn't answer sooner, ima do a list :)

•Literally everything regarding Fennel

•The paper flowers are literally so cute

•Jonto is my blorbo

•The uniforms. I want one

•Ceony is such a reader like meeee!!

•My widdle babies whose names are on the tip of my tongue rn (Ceonies siblings remind me of my own)

[straydog733]

Ok so I was reminded of a book that I read in 2016 and it still fills me with rage thinking of it. 'The Paper Magician' is utter trash, both in writing and in plot.

First of all: the pacing is so off. The main character is annoyed, goes to bed, then wakes up in love! That's day one! MC will tease at having a trauma (ooo mysterious) only to reveal why two paragraphs later. Then MC spends 90 pages/30% of the novella in essentially a movie of the ML's life - which is where I dropped it, but apparently it also included a real stellar moment where he sees young teen MC from afar and decides she'd make a perfect wife - real classy my guy.

The author fills the page with clumsy purple prose that will repeat often. She (honestly a surprise, I was convinced this was a guy) is obviously American but decided on a London period setting without doing any research at all. You can tell when characters start going to Mass... one review I read accuses the author of being a fundie, and I can see it. When the villain turns up, she's wearing (gasp) make-up and trousers!!! Showing her chest!!! Don't worry, our independent MC wears dresses and skirts while she does all the housework.

Oops I started on the story - haha well! MC is 19 years old, gets trapped into a magical contract with paper instead of metal that only her 30+ mentor ML is good at. You know, the one who was creeping on her 14 year old self? Then she falls in love with him - literally, like a switch - then does his cooking and cleaning instead of learning anything? But then his ex-wife shows up to rip his heart out (based) so MC jumps into action, somehow pulls off some cool shit with zero training or talent, and rides a paper airplane into ML's heart.

Then the 'fight' happens. She somehow bests this evil adult then spends time going room to room in ML's heart staring at things as his life story plays out??

Infuriating, boring, POS. Makes me mad remembering it's a trilogy with a positive reception.

Oh man, I haven't heard of this series, but that sounds dire >__<

[wordsandrobots]

AO3 First Lines Tag Game

Tagged by @caparrucia​ and @thedancingwalrus-blog​.

Rules: Share the first lines of ten of your most recent fanfics and tag ten people. If you have written fewer than ten, don’t be shy and share anyway.

And I’m going to have to apologise in advance because the only other person I can think of tagging in this is @phynali​, who @thedancingwalrus-blog​ also already tagged so . . . yeah. Anyone who sees this and is a writer -- consider this a free tag and go for it!

1. Strategy (My Next Life as a Villainess)

Prince Geordo is, on paper, a master strategist, an expert planner and meticulous in the way only someone who has dedicated their life to statecraft can be.

These are the qualities he brings to bear on proving the depths of his desire for his intended. He takes care to learn her routine and contrive reasons to align it with his own. He engineers romantic occasions where the two of them may be alone together. And, when that is not enough, he is unflinching in steamrollering the opposition with the full majesty of his status.

2. Sufficiently Advanced Magic (Doctor Who)

The minute Gissel laid eyes on the Dark Tower, she almost turned back, and to hell with three days of hard trek through the forest.

When people talked of the house of the great magician, they always used words like dreaded, forbidding, intimidating. She had imagined a wicked titan of a building, lording over the landscape and making all who entered its shadow tremble. She had thought she would feel a bolt of fear run up her spine at the very sight of its terrible spires. She had, at the very least, expected the place to be in decent repair.

3. And we shall sow a garden upon the graves (Captain Harlock [CGI movie version])

“So let me get this straight,” said Júlio, in the tone of someone about to attempt a herculean task for which ey anticipated minimal praise.

The others around the table lowered their tankards and looked at em expectantly. Franz bit through the peanut he'd just flipped into his mouth and swallowed. “Yeah?”

“The captain spent a hundred years planting giant bombs across the universe because he said they'd make the Genesis Clock thingumy turn time back to before Earth was completely wasted. Only what they'd really have done is blow everything up and maybe even start it over again.”

“What's even the difference?” Owls wondered, staring into his drink, “Either way, we'd not be here to see what happened next.”

4. Untitled Alternative Episode Nine (Star Wars Sequel Trilogy)

The bowl of rock hangs in light-specked darkness, twisting slowly amid a cloud of rolling stones. Once upon a time, it was one miniature planet among hundreds. Now it is a husk, surrounded by what pebbles remain of its brothers and sisters, waiting in silence for the day when it too will be broken into rubble.

That day dawns in a rain of green fire pouring out of the black sky. From afar, it is beautiful. Up close, it is the end of the world. The ground cracks and cascades into the air. Vaporised permacrete balloons from craters that used to be buildings, roadways, people. Gantries scream like wounded animals as storage tanks shed choking blue smoke. Everything burns.

And through it all, the stormtroopers run.

5. A Handful of Rusted Petals (Mobile Suit Gundum: Iron-Blooded Orphans)

Everyone who made it out of Tekkadan alive kept something, though they all knew they shouldn't. This was supposed to be a clean break, their old lives discarded for the new. Taking things with them would only invite discovery and make the change harder.

Yet they each did anyway.

6. The Grandmaster (Mobile Suit Gundum: Iron-Blooded Orphans)

Rustal Elion detests chess. Always has. As a game it is tedious and as a metaphor? Useless. The world is not a board. People do not move in absolute, predictable patterns. And the starting conditions are never, ever equal.

One may dream of changing this. One may fervently wish to impose artificial order upon a cosmos that teems with chaotic interactions. But in the end, only material power matters. Not rules. Not cleverness. Not fanciful schemes resting upon the puppeteering of a legion of disparate individuals. Simply the ability to decide what one wants and to impose it with all the means at one's disposal.

7. Between Family (Mobile Suit Gundum: Iron-Blooded Orphans)

“I still can't believe we're doing this,” Shino blurts as they turn on to the street leading to Eugene's apartment building.

He's been alternating between nervous excitement and heated anticipation all day. Not just thanks to imagining what they're about to do, though that is a pretty huge part of it. It's also because Yamagi has been doing all these preparations: taking the afternoon off work, picking out clothes, making Shino shower – generally planning in a way that's weirdly arousing.

“Why not?” Yamagi asks. He's carrying a satchel, the battered old thing he normally uses for grocery shopping. “We're all getting something out of it.”

8. Of Obsessions and Erotemes (Mobile Suit Gundum: Iron-Blooded Orphans)

“What the heck is a 'Gundam'?”

Briar's habit of reading over other people's shoulders never fails to get on Almandi's nerves. He is obnoxious about using his height to this end and constantly assumes being in someone's presence entitles him to a conversation.

Unfortunately, humouring him is usually the quickest way to get rid of him.

They look down at the text on their pad. “No one's sure where the name came from. There are theories it's an acronym or a portmanteau, or even mythological in origin. It seems to be older than the modern usage, though records are contradictory.”

Briar kicks out the next chair over and sits down. “None of which is actually an answer to my question.”

9. Hope Against Hope (Mobile Suit Gundum: Iron-Blooded Orphans)

Kudelia's life has become a parade of voices without faces, the bland promise of a secure connection offering no clue as to whether she is judging each speaker's disposition correctly.

For Rachida Phiri, of the African Union's ruling council, she pictures disappointment, softened but not hidden by the rules of social etiquette. “It pains me to say this but Mars' actions raise serious questions about future cooperation between our two Unions. We must consider the cost of doing business with a state that would take such a reckless decision.”

Good luck, Kudelia thinks, given the price of Martian half-metal compared to the alternatives.

10. Fata Morgana (Mobile Suit Gundum: Iron-Blooded Orphans)

Argi Mirage is a simple man.

Some people will tell you that means he's dumb as a rock and, true, he's never going to be the sharpest knife in the drawer. But he's smart enough to have made it this far through his life. He settled his past, paid off his debts to the dead, and now he's free to live as uncomplicatedly as he likes. These days, with Argi, what you see is what you get.

He's beginning to suspect the same can't be said for Norba Shino and Yamagi Bright.

[a-cup-of-earl-grey-please]

Hi!! If you haven’t already done this, consider yourself tagged! I can’t wait to read your answers!💗

Share ten different favorite characters from ten different pieces of media in no particular order. Then send this to 10 people. ☺ 📺

aww! thank you for sending me this!!

Harry Potter: Luna Lovegood

The Paper Magician Trilogy: Emery Thane

Little Women: Amy March

ACD Sherlock Holmes: Sherlock Holmes

BBC Sherlock Holmes: Mycroft Holmes

Granada Holmes: John Watson

i'm sorry that i used 3 sherlock holmes adaptations/canon. hehe

Wednesday: Enid

Marvel Cinematic Universe: Loki

The Office: Pam

Designated Survivor: Hannah Wells

sorry i suddenly can't remember all my fav media/characters :[

[ursbearhug]

Imagine being 40 something and needing someone to explain to you how certain experiences are self contained.

Because being serial complainer and professional hater is my favourite past time, I'll do the thing: to comment on something I saw that upset me, whilst never name dropping, just before I go to sleep.

Games can be self contained experiences. I remember similar 'scandal' happening when Elden Ring was just released and people were appalled that after a month or two the interest/buy/play rates have dropped. Of course they did. Players who considered getting the game resolved their interest, players who played the game did everything they wanted and there was nothing else for them to buy. Now, I haven't played Elden Ring myself, but, going off my impeccable gamer's instinct, and common sense, I glean that as with other souls games; you're with nothing else to do after your 3rd play through. I remember my fascination with Nioh; my first play through cheesing all of the bosses (exept Hino Emna and Giant Toad. Fuck these hoes), second when I tonfa my way through and third where I wanted to be a great magician. But what else am I supposed to do after all of that? I've tested all of the weapons, I tackled almost all of the content, I know the game in and out. That's 200something hours and finite things to do. It's impossible to came up with a game with infinite stuff to do. Even games like Minecraft or Terraria, Sims, or whatever have you, where you make your own fun with given tools, are finite. There is only so much to do. And that's fine.

Games are about fun and interactive experience. After the fun ends, it's time for some other media or a break.

So it makes it hard for me to put myself in a mindset of somebody almost 20 years older than me, incapable of grasping such simple concept. Do you grab a book and get upset after you finish it that the story reached it's conclusion? There is only so much paper for one book, there is only so much words somebody could put on a word document. Things start and things end, that's only natural.

As with the release of pokemon S/S, I was of the impression the game was rushed. Which was all but confirmed when it launched with bug list and 'features' list so long, it got it's own post on reddit. Pokemon SwSh, scarlet and violet and probably Arceus could use some extra time in development oven. A lot of games could. Sometimes they release games and the problems become more apparent because of foresight. These days they still have it better because they can fix it with simple patch notes. But sometimes, some problems, are not as readily visable and obvious.

I am a long fan of Tomb Raider series. But even I eventually out grew my fascination period and realised that last releases have close to nothing to do with tomb raiding and that's disappointing. Tomb Raider 2013, while not perfect, made a perfect set up for future games. And they did not deliver. From puzzle solving, platforming exercise, with tomb raiding and big tiddy lidy vignette to a pseudo survival game question mark. Tomb Raider 2013 (survival in Japan). Rise of the Tomb Raider; still not tomb raiding, survival but this time in Sybir. Shadow of the Tomb Raider, still no tomb raiding, survival but in America, ohh uuu so exotic. Might as well rename the trilogy to 'Daddy Issues' Raider: Survival in (throws the dart at the board) random place on the earth.

But these are not thoughts or feelings I had immediately after playing the game. This comes from some amount of time to mull over how I really feel about these. These are also not thoughts of a hater. Beside atrocious optimisation of Rise of the Tomb Raider, I really liked the games. I enjoyed playing them at the face value. But again, with experience or time, come new perspectives. And games, movies, books and all sorts of media deserve a little grace period. I'm sure even medias that do deserve critism (like Antisemitism The Game: Transphobia Crowdfunded or whatever Colleen Hover did), have gotten their somehow graced period only to inevitably flop.

So maybe don't pretend that drop of interest within 2 months of existance of a game is some loud statement. Not everyone has the pleasure of playing games 12 hours daily. Some players have to speed run the content to get the most of it in their busy days. Some will do the stark opposite. Some played and had to drop it. Some play little by little. Some got bored. Some got disappointed. Everyone is quick to judge too. 2 months is not that long. Think of it this way; Aristophanes had more than 2000 years to get better and have nicely established career as a funny man and his comedies are still dog shit.

Anyway, garlic bread and gay sex. Tell your friends you love them and drink your water.

[mysticscorpia]

🔍 What's been your biggest challenge in writing so far?

🖊 What do you write with? (Computer, paper, etc.)

📚 What are some books that have influenced your style?

🔍 What's been your biggest challenge in writing so far?

Wow, that's an interesting one. I think, is coming from a background of little faith, that the most of my life I've been able to live off cynicism. But with writing, I've had to have faith. That when I'm lost, I will find my way again through writing. That when I'm stressed, I'll find passion with it once more.

It's the realisation, that I feel half real without it, and that is one scary thing to deal with. How can one say, "they don't feel whole without writing"? You find that in books and media, where faith like that has foundation. But real life? That's where it gets difficult to justify.

So finding my faith in myself and keeping my faith in my passion for writing through hard times, is the thing I've struggled with the most!

🖊️ What do you write with?

Oooo, well, I mostly write with my computer now, as Google docs kept crashing on my phone, and I knew I actually needed to practice proper keyboard techniques on a computer!

On the odd occasion I'll jot stuff down on paper (such as when I go to my writing club,!) because I still want to be used to writing down things. You feel less comfortable otherwise!

(plus, it's more fun when you're feverishly writing with a fountain pen pretending you're a certain OG) 😂

📚 What are some books that have inspired your writing?

Wow, that's another unexpected question!

I think there's a lot, but I aim to make a shortlist: Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy (a skeleton detective series), is actually something that made me fall in love with urban fantasy. I think Marissa Meyer's Lunar Chronicles series (which is making untraditional takes with traditional fairy tales), made me fall in love with powerful heroines, who can still fall in love, and have agency (oh, and probably one of the first monster boyfriends I fell in love with too).

I think poetry has also influenced the more poetic side to my prose (but I don't know how it came to be!).

I also have The Magician's Guild (The Black Magician Trilogy), by Trudi Canavan, for my deep abiding love for tragic characters and the first character who struck me so hard I cried at the end (which definitely made me fall in love with anti-heroes forevermore!).

So, for literal inspiration for writing, I would say the book A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, as both the quotes "to decrease the surplus population" and "dead as a doornail" can pop up in my writing!

Other than that, I'm not sure! I think it's easier to note books which have affected me, rather than my writing. Hence the examples above! Which, is a mix of two.

I loved your ask! Thank you!, 😋🙏💕

[itsyourdistraction]

I asked ChatGPT 4 to recommend books and graphic novels to someone who is a fan of Twin Peaks and Cloverfield. This is what it came up with.

Books:

House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski - A complex and labyrinthine novel that plays with structure, featuring multiple narrators and a house that is bigger on the inside than it appears on the outside.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern - A dark, enchanting, and mysterious tale about two young magicians who are bound together by a powerful and dangerous competition.

Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer - The first book in the Southern Reach Trilogy, this science fiction novel follows a group of women as they explore a mysterious, uninhabited area called Area X.

The Secret History by Donna Tartt - A gripping tale of a group of college students who become entwined in a series of dark and tragic events, with elements of psychological suspense and intrigue.

Graphic Novels:

Black Hole by Charles Burns - A dark and surreal story about a group of teenagers in the 1970s who are affected by a strange plague that causes physical mutations.

Paper Girls by Brian K. Vaughan and Cliff Chiang - A science fiction adventure series that follows four young newspaper delivery girls as they encounter strange phenomena and unravel a larger mystery.

Locke & Key by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodríguez - A thrilling horror-fantasy series about a family that moves into a mysterious house filled with magical keys that unlock supernatural powers and dark secrets.

Mind MGMT by Matt Kindt - A psychological thriller about a journalist who investigates a mysterious organization of superpowered individuals who manipulate reality and memories.

These books and graphic novels should appeal to fans of Twin Peaks and Cloverfield, as they share similar themes of mystery, suspense, and the supernatural. Enjoy exploring these fascinating stories!

What do you think?

[olives-and-sunshine]

Some Information About Me

Navigation

Basic Info

Hi! My name is Elliot, but you can call me El if you'd prefer! I'm 17, and my pronouns are they/them. Just your local silly metalhead.

I'm neurodivergent and have chronic pain/fibromyalgia, so I will often write about that because there is not a lot of content for these things in x reader stuff.

Interests

Music

I consume a copious amount of music, to the point that it may be concerning, so my favorite artists change a lot. However, some of the artists I enjoy are The Amazing Devil, Starbenders, Maya Hawke, Ghost, and Iron Maiden

Books

My favorite author is Rainbow Rowell, my favorite book is Fangirl, and my favorite book series is the Simon Snow Trilogy (both are by Rowell). Two of my favorite books (other than all of Rowell's books) are "Carrie" by Stephen King and "The Grace Year" by Kim Liggett.

I also am in the middle of reading the "I Hunt Killers" Trilogy by Barry Lyga and am loving it.

I just read the Marvel's Runaways comics and I'm sad it's over so I'm reading the new She-Hulk comics.

Games

My favorite game is "The Witcher 3", but I also love "Control", "Beyond Two Souls", "Titanfall 2", and the "The Last of Us".

I am currently playing "Stray", "The Last of Us 2", and "Pokemon Shield". I'm planning on starting "Alan Wake" when I get a chance.

Shows and movies

My favorite shows are Prodigal Son, Miraculous Ladybug, The Magicians, The Witcher Cinematic Universe, Sense8, Stranger Things, and Doctor Who.

My favorite movies are Stardust, Carol, Hellboy and Hellboy: Golden Army, The Princess Bride, Robin Hood: Men in Tights, Deadpool, The Hogfather movies, and Fantastic Fungi.

I also really like Star Trek and the DC universe (not the new live-action DC movies).

Hobbies and Other

I like writing, most forms of art (especially drawing and oil painting), reading, gaming, and animal keeping (I live on an urban farm).

I also like several forms of science including mycology, psychology, and sociology. I enjoy analyzing things, especially literary analysis, and writing analysis papers.

Boundaries, personal healing, and therapy are very important to me.

In summary, I'm a massive nerd.

Feel free to send me a DM or an ask if you want to talk or be friends! I'm always open to talking to new people!

(More info on my Blog Rules post)

Ivy Divider Credit to @firefly-graphics

[cattatonically]

The Master Magician - Charlie N. Holmberg

My Thoughts

Time and again, Coeny has proven herself to be headstrong and resourceful throughout this trilogy. And this is never more true than in its conclusion here.

Quite a bit of time has passed between the events of The Glass Magician and The Master Magician, and now we see Ceony who is preparing for her testing in order to become a fully licensed Magician, while she navigates her new romance with Emery.

I was rather hoping for a bit more buildup to the romance, but jumping right in also makes sense, considering how much time has passed. (And honestly, if after 2 years they still hadn’t gotten their shit together, I likely would have been hugely annoyed.) They’re very subtle in their affection for each other, which tracks for their situation.

The whole teacher/apprentice thing isn’t necessarily my favourite, but I can recognize how it works in this setup. I also recognize that Emery did try valiantly to keep things strictly platonic until a time when Ceony was no longer his student. (Though he didn’t really dissuade her affection in any way.)

The romance aspect aside, things were on track to be a pretty low-stakes, happy conclusion. Until a danger from their past came back to haunt them both. And of course, both Ceony and Emery had to go stumbling along, full-throttle, with their sole focus on protecting the other.

While the action was short-lived, it did create a tension that made the book very difficult to put down. Overall, I enjoyed how fast-paced this trilogy was, and how fully enraptured I was in the world, and the characters. It was a very fun adventure, and I look forward to the next one to come!

[void-in-the-middle-of-nowhere]

hmmm cold winter day? Time to return to one of my comfort series, the paper magician trilogy!!! it’s so nostalgic for me for some reason, and I think it’s especially fitting to read it around Valentine’s Day ;))

if anyone has book suggestions that are similar to that style of writing please send them my way!!

[whimsicaldragonette]

The Paper Magician one-shots

So I just read The Paper Magician trilogy and fell in love with Ceony and Emery and was horrified to discover there’s like, no fanfiction about them? How? Anyway, this is my attempt at remedying that. Currently just a one-shot, but will probably become a series of one-shots.

links: AO3, ff.net, wattpad

full text under the read more

“Emery?”

“Hmmm?”

“Where are we going?”

He turned to look at me, a slight frown wrinkling his forehead. “The annual Magician’s Ball. You know that.”

“Yes I know, but…” My words died as we walked through the doors to the banquet hall — or what I was used to thinking of as the banquet hall. The room had been transformed into a nighttime wonderland. I gasped in delight as a lacy paper butterfly fluttered down to investigate my hair, then winged away into the air trailing a shower of glitter behind it.

I turned to Emery, accusation in my tone. “That’s what you’ve been up to late at night these past weeks.”

He shrugged, eyes smiling at me. “Yes.” He stuck his hands into his pockets, ducking slightly as he jerked his chin toward the far wall, where Mg. Aviosky stood with a few other magicians. “I’ll be over there with the other aged.”

I frowned, reaching for his arm, but I let my hand drop. We were in public, after all — we couldn’t be too familiar. We still hadn’t talked about what had happened in the weeks leading up to the events of the past months — that kiss! — And I knew this wasn’t the time or place.

“What am I supposed to do?” I asked crossly.

His eyes crinkled around the edges. “Have fun. Dance. Do whatever young people do.”

I snorted. “You’re hardly old enough to call me a young person.”

“Hmm,” he said, noncommital. His eyes shuttered, leaving me no hints as to what he was thinking. “I’ll see you later, Ceony.”

Then he strode off, and I was left alone. What did young people do at parties? I hadn’t been to many at Tagis Praff — too busy finishing my coursework in a year — and after Delilah… Well, I didn’t really have anyone that I would call a friend.

I glanced around, looking for someone I recognized. Presumably my former classmates were here too, some of them. After a few moments, I thought I recognized a few of them in the opposite corner. Giving my shoulders a shake and plastering a smile on my lips, I headed toward them.

“Ceony Twill!” Someone exclaimed. I turned to face him, searching my memory.

“Brett,” I recalled after a few seconds. “I’m afraid I don’t recall your last name.”

He scratched the back of his neck and grinned at me. “That’s all right. You got my first name, at any rate. So how are…” He waved his hand in the air. “You know. Magic things.”

I grinned back. “Magic things? Really? I’m a Folder, how about you?”

“Smelter,” he said promptly, then his face fell. “You wanted to be one too didn’t you. Sorry you got stuck with Folding.”

I bristled at the contempt in his tone. “Folding is actually better than I expected. I like it very much.”

He peered doubtfully at me. “You’re sure you’re Ceony?”

I punched him on the arm. “So what have you been up to? How’s Smelting?”

His eyes lit up. “Oh, it’s brilliant. Better even than I expected. And Mg. Coulter is awesome.” He stopped, looking slightly embarassed. “Sorry. I tend to go on about smelting when asked. Have you tried the cake?”

“There’s cake?” I grinned. “Why didn’t you say so?”

Laughing, he took my elbow and steered me toward the tables set up at the opposite end of the room, near where Emery stood. Brett’s hand was warm, but he held my elbow too tightly for it to be comfortable. I glanced over at Emery, who was looking pointedly at where Brett’s hand rested on my elbow. His expression was pinched. As soon as we reached the table, I reached for the cake, forcing Brett to remove his hand.

As I reached for the pitcher of punch, I felt the familiar press of a warm hand on my upper back. I leaned into it, reveling in its steady warmth as Emery bent close to me.

“I wouldn’t,” he murmured, breath tickling my ear. “Someone spiked it earlier.”

I raised an eyebrow, turning so I could see his face. “And you didn’t say anything?”

He shrugged. “Patrice may have badgered me into being a chaperone, but I’m not going to ruin everyone’s fun. Except yours,” he added, eyes crinkling in amusement.

I smacked him on the arm. “Fine. Has anyone tampered with the water?”

He shrugged. “Not that I’ve noticed. I think you’re safe there.”

I nodded and poured myself a glass, then turned back to Brett, who was staring at us, eyebrows drawn down in suspicion. I realized suddenly how close Emery was standing, and cleared my throat, stepping away from him, already missing the warmth of his hand.

“Thanks for the warning, Mg. Thane,” I said, then turned and headed toward the doors that led into the courtyard.

Brett followed me out, still frowning to himself.

“So,” I said, as we settled against a wall to the left of the doors, “tell me about Smelting.”

His eyes lit up again and the suspicion faded from his face. I sighed with relief, and settled in to listen. I really was interested in what he’d been learning, even though I wasn’t upset at being forced to study folding anymore, and Brett had plenty to talk about.

Once I finished my cake — which was excellent — I turned to set the plate on the low wall behind us. When I turned back, Brett was right in front of me. I jumped.

“Oh,” I said, staring wide-eyed up at him, “what—“

Instead of answering, Brett pressed me against the wall and kissed me.

I froze in shock, then started writhing. “Get off me!” I hissed.

“You seemed to like it when Mg. Thane got close to you,” Brett said, an edge to his voice. “I just want the same thing you give him.”

I struggled, trying to get a solid kick in, but his grip was like iron. “I don’t know what you mean,” I gasped out.

He laughed harshly. “You’re obviously easy. So stop protesting and let me show you a good time.”

I thrashed harder, but he shoved his knee between my legs and moved one hand roughly to my breast and one to cover my mouth.

I bit his hand, and he swore, shoving me back against the wall so hard my vision greyed around the edges.

Suddenly, a fist came flying out of nowhere and collided with the side of Brett’s head with a solid thunk. His eyes rolled up in his head, and he slumped to the ground.

Emery shook out his hand, wincing, then turned to gather me into his arms. “Ceony,” he said softly, “are you all right? Did he hurt you?”

I shook my head, then struggled to gather my thoughts enough to speak. “He said…” I stopped to gulp in a breath of air, trying to clear the spots from my vision. “He said I was obviously easy — that he just wanted what I give you.” I was still struggling to wrap my mind around it all.

Emery swore, pulling me roughly against him. “Oh, Ceony,” he murmured. “I’m so sorry.”

“I turned to face him, incredulous. “Emery… This wasn’t your fault.”

“It was,” he said. His eyes were shuttered again, impossible for me to read. “If I’d been able to keep my distance from you, at least in public, then—“

“Shhh.” I put my finger over his lips, feeling tingles rush through me at their softness. “It wasn’t your fault. He’s just a brute.”

Emery kissed the tip of my finger, then pulled me close to him. The music filtered through the open doorway, and a warm breeze caressed my cheeks, cooling the flush that was there.

“Emery…” I began.

“Hmmm?” he said, as he started to sway from side to side.

He opened his eyes, vivid green pools that drew me in. “Dance with me, Ceony,” he breathed.

He stepped over Brett’s prone form, pulling me deeper into the shadows in the courtyard. Then he wrapped his arms around me again and pulled me into a slow waltz.

I let him guide me, laying my head on his shoulder and feeling the solid warmth of him, the reassuring beat of his heart. We stayed like that for several minutes.

“Ceony,” he said, lips warm on my neck, we should probably go back in.”

“Probably,” I agreed. I glanced over at where Brett still lay unconscious. “I suppose we’d best tell someone about…” I trailed off. What could we tell them?

He nodded. “I’ll tell Patrice he attacked you. There’s no need to repeat what he said.” He sighed softly. “Then maybe we can go home?”

His voice was hopeful, and it brought a light chuckle to my lips. “Yes, Emery. We can go home. I think I enjoy balls about as much as you do — which is to say, not very much.”

“Hmmm,” he agreed, pressing a light kiss to my neck and then reluctantly pulling away to a respectable distance. He didn’t let go of my hand until we reached the door of the ballroom.

Mg. Aviosky frowned at us as we made our way over to her, and her frown deepened with each of Emery’s words.

“Very well,” she finally said. “I’ll deal with Mr. Faris. You may take Miss Twill back to her room to recover.”

As the carriage rumbled toward the cottage, Emery put his arm around my shoulders and pulled me against him. “Oh, Ceony,” he said softly, burying his face in my hair, “whatever will I do with you?”

“Do I have to go to bed, then?” I asked once we were inside the cottage, looking reluctantly toward my bedroom. I just knew I was going to have nightmares.

“Of course not,” Emery said softly. He steered me gently toward the couch. “Why don’t you sit down and I’ll fetch you something to drink.”

He came back after a few minutes with a steaming cup of chocolate and a book. “Here,” He said settling beside me and wrapping his arm around me again, “how about I read to you.”

I groaned. “Is this going to be some boring Folding treatise?”

He chuckled. “No. I thought Miss Austen might be more agreeable.” He cleared his throat and began. “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”

I smiled, letting the familiar words wash over me as I sipped my chocolate and let myself melt against Emery’s side. Neither of us had enjoyed the ball very much, but a quiet night at the cottage was the perfect way to push Brett’s attack out of my mind.

Emery plucked the cup from my hand as it started to droop, pulling me against his chest. I let the familiar sound of his heartbeat sooth me as I felt myself drifting toward sleep.

Just before I tipped over the edge, I felt his lips in my hair as he whispered, "goodnight, love."

I fell asleep with a smile on my face and for once, no fear of nightmares.

[fishfingersandscarves]

i wrote a paper about the magicians trilogy for my final in gender communication entitled How Gender Affects Character Relationships in The Magicians Trilogy by Lev Grossman: A Look at Quentin Coldwater’s Numerous Intimate Relationships Within the Text

[l004p]

Read the first book of the magicians trilogy yesterday so I sketched some Quentins and Alices (plus a white haired sad Quentin after the Fillory catastrophe)