#there was only one bed trope is my heroin

[flightfoot]

Best Lovesquare-centric Fics And Series That Completed In 2023

So the majority of fics I read include the Lovesquare in some capacity, but I figured people might appreciate a list of great fics that really center around them, particularly romantically.

As with the other lists like this, these fics all come from my previous reclists for ML fics I really liked that finished during 2023. So if you like these, you might want to look through the collection I set up for all these fics.

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home is where the fight is by @rosie-b

Nadja Chamack’s voice greeted Adrien as he sat up straight, wiping his clammy hands on his pants and ignoring the black kwami floating by his shoulder. “—shocked to see our heroine fall in battle today, taking a direct hit from the akuma just as she detransformed. Parisians are torn between blaming Hawk Moth and Cat Walker for their roles in this tragedy, which ultimately revealed the civilian identity of Ladybug, Marinette Dupain-Cheng.” Adrien turned off the TV and lowered his head as his vision blurred. Written for Ladrien June Day 7: Injured

I adore this fic! Which shouldn’t be a a surprise, it’s no secret that I love Sentiadrien Enemies AU. Adrien’s so worried about Marinette getting hurt, and wishes that he could help keep her safer, could tell her what’s really going on or get rid of the ring or something, but he can’t. Still, he IS able to find clever ways around some of his father’s more problematic orders. Loopholes for the win!

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Patrolling with a friend for Christmas by @seasofsilver

Adrien just wanted to gift his Lady some time off and hang out more with Marinette during the festive season - it didn’t exactly go to plan, but somehow ended up… better?

This was adorable! Chat Noir tries to give Ladybug a break by recruiting Multimouse to replace her on patrols for a bit, and Ladybug returns the favor by recruiting Aspik to replace Chat. Yep, it’s Snekmouse!

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Under the Umbrella by @fruitdragon1a

Almost everyone has a soulmate. What are Adrien and Marinette supposed to do when they meet theirs? ML Secret Santa gift for Mei! Merry Christmas! Thank you to Now Loading and Rewan Demontay for beta reading this fic!

So this is a version of soulmarks I haven’t seen before. Around age six, soulmates get a soulmark that shows what their soulmate is thinking when they first meet them. Though I guess it doesn’t register while transformed, since it only counts for this one when Adrien and Marinette meet as civilians, and not when they first meet as superheroes.

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you don’t even know me at all (but I was made for loving you) by @ladyofthenoodle

They didn’t remember each other. The hospital told them there’d been an accident—brain damage—but Alya had told them the truth, later. Who’d they’d been to each other. What they’d given up, and why. But even with their memories of each other gone, Adrien and Marinette are still inextricably tied together—by law, by their social circles, and by their hearts. And in the apartment they share, there’s only one bed.

Yep, it’s the “there was only one bed” trope XD! I especially love how it was used here, how Adrien and Marinette are strangers now but they had a whole life together, and they pine for each other even without remembering, and how Marinette just can’t believe how in love with her Adrien is even though he doesn’t remember her. I loved the emotional turmoil the two of them went through together in the fic, and the resolution, it’s great!

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Until I Found You by @linnieluna

Working their way up to a settled adulthood, Marinette and Adrien, now 23, gain a reason to believe that they are expecting—way earlier than they ever planned. Still unwed, it evokes a revelation on Adrien’s behalf. Was it time to take the next step forward?

I loved the emotions here, how Adrien and Marinette reacted to the results of the pregnancy test, how complicated their feelings about it were - and how it prompted Adrien to take action. It’s a really sweet fic!

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From school bells to wedding bells by @linnieluna

When the superhero duo takes on another exhausting fight against an akuma, Chat Noir does what he never hesitates to do and takes a hit for his partner. The problem being: neither of them knew what power the akuma possessed. That is… until he is transported into the future. More specifically, to his friend Marinette’s wedding.

Ah I love time travel fics! Older!Marinette’s surprised, Younger!Adrien’s bewildered, and Older!Adrien is off knowing exactly what happened and giving his younger self some subtle heads-up. 

It gives Adrien something to look forward to, to cling onto, through bad days in the future at least!

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u + me = love by @xiueryn

Marinette has a massive crush on Adrien. He has a crush on the superhero, Ladybug. When he says the only person he’ll invite as his plus one to an event is Ladybug, Marinette takes her chance to romance him for the night. AU. (a fanboy and fangirl start to date.)

This is just a fun Ladrien story. Ladybug is happy to oblige in Adrien’s fantasies, and no one else believes that he’s actually dating Ladybug.

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Miracoffee by @pauliestorylover

Ever since the last Mr Pigeon attack over nine months ago, Hawkmoth has fallen off the face of the earth, seemingly for good. There’s never been a better chance for an identity reveal—but after keeping her identity a secret for so many years, Marinette feels incredibly nervous about one. When Chat Noir accidentally finds Ladybug working at a café, Alya comes up with a brilliant idea. If Ladybug and Chat Noir interact regularly in a civilian setting, surely they’ll move towards an identity reveal without outside interference?

Adrien Never Goes To Public School Coffee Shop AU here! It’s funny how he clocks Marinette as being Ladybug IMMEDIATELY. And then after discussing it for awhile, decide to make a bit of a game of the identity reveal, having Chat come in on pre-determined days and seeing whether Ladybug can figure out who she is, all while they get to know each other, even if in passing. 

Love the other Miraculous heroes making cameos as well, Marinette seems annoyed that Nino cosplaying as Carapace actually doesn’t tip anyone off XD.

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For the Sake of a Ring by @rosie-b

An akuma that transfers people’s consciousnesses into other universes hits Ladybug, sending her into a world where everything is the same… but instead of earrings, she’s wearing a ring on one hand! She’s only just arrived in this universe, but already Plagg seems to have gone missing. It’s up to Marinette to figure out what happened before she’s sent back home! This fic takes place in the future, after Season 5, but it does not contain any leaks or major spoilers. Please keep the comment section spoiler-free, too!

This is really cute, Marinette gets transported into a world where she’s married to Adrien and is really confused as to why and how they got married at sixteen. Adrien’s just an adorable puppy who thinks his wife is the most amazing person in the world! 

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His Princess and Her Knight by @seas-of-silver

Adrien, Marinette, Nino and Alya have a group assignment about how the past has shaped them into the people they are today, but they’ll make a discovery that’ll send them searching for answers.

This fic is adorable, Adrien, Marinette, and Nino uncover that they all went to the same preschool together, with Adrien and Marinette immediately latching onto each other, Adrien being the knight to Marinette’s princess, and also making friends with Nino. Sadly he was pulled after two weeks, but it made quite an impression on him.

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A Friendship Not Abandoned (Just Delayed) by @nomolosk

Marinette Dupain-Cheng and Adrien Agreste first met as tiny little kids, but then Adrien had to move away. When they finally meet again, will they even remember each other, much less become friends again?

Poor Adrien keeps on saying or doing just the wrong thing to give Marinette the impression that he’s a bully like Chloe when he’s not, and he keeps desperately trying to fix it. So a bit of an enemies au in that way, since Marinette doesn’t like him much. He does gradually manage to convince her that he’s a good person though.

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The Mer-Human Race by @rosie-b

Bringing her hand closer to his lips, Adrien tried to plant a kiss on it, but Marinette pulled away before his lips could touch her. “Save it for your girlfriend,” she said teasingly. “Or do you still not have one yet?” Adrien smirked and crossed his arms. “It’s a girl,” he said. “And I know her in real life. That’s all you get. Now, let’s get back to planning, shall we? We have a mermaid to beat.”

Lovely world-building here! Merfolk and humans have had a treaty for a long time, so there’s a tradition where merfolk can challenge humans to a race, and whoever wins gets to ask for a reasonable sort of reward (in Marinette’s case, she wants to be allowed to captain a ship at a younger age than is usually allowed). Alya, Nino, and Adrien are naturally very encouraging towards Marinette, and luckily for her, a nice merman going by the name of Chat Noir shows up and challenges her to a race…

Yeah you can see where this is going XD. It’s fun, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

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A Mousey guest by charliepoet13

Adrien Agreste has finally managed to break away from his father and make his way out into the world. One faithful night, after settling down in his new home, he spots a strange guest.

Adrien X Multimouse fic here! So this is inspired by the Borrowers, with little people the size of mice living amongst ordinary-sized humans, and Marinette got a little careless here XD. But soon finds that Adrien’s friendly and not a threat. It’s adorable and reminds me of the The Littles book series that I read when I was a kid!

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Caught In A Multimouse Trap by @a-flaming-idiot

Adrien was having a rather slow morning. That was until he discovered a tiny superhero trapped in his home and decides to be a bit of a hero even out of his suit.

This was adorable! Adrien does his best to care for the little miniature superhero caught in a mousetrap, bandaging her up as best as he can (thankfully only her tail got caught so it’s more of a phantom pain than an actual injury) and just… it’s really cute.

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do you think I have forgotten about you? by @roseinaugust

Based on the song ‘About You’ by The 1975. Memory Loss. Told in alternating time lines, one leading up to and one dealing with the aftermath of Marinette relinquishing the Miracle Box and the guardianship. Marinette struggles with her life after losing her memory, though there is a persistent voice that calls to her that always seems just out of reach in her memory.

Beautiful memory loss fic here, with seeing Ladybug’s and Chat Noir’s relationship before she gave up the Miracle box, juxtaposed with the present day, when Adrien is only a stranger to her. I could really feel how Marinette was struggling with navigating these new circumstances, with her friends seeming to expect her to remember, to be who she was to them, to Adrien especially, before, and her just… not knowing whether she can do that. It’s got a happy ending though, for those who are concerned about that.

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How Marinette Learned to Stop Worrying And Love The Ball by @rosie-b

Hidden from the crowds thronging around the busy fairy portal in Paris’s town square, a fae gate sits at the edge of the forest, locked, rusty, and full of ancient magic. Marinette thinks that this abandoned gate must not work anymore… but one day, a fairy disguised as a black cat steps through it.

Ah, Fantasy Soulmate AUs, my beloved XD. This ain’t the only one of this fic type I’m gonna be recommending. This is just a cute fluff fic without much strife. I love Marinette and Chat Noir being able to be childhood friends via his visits, even if he has to pretend to be her cat whenever he comes over, and I ESPECIALLY adore Alya being his chaperone and quickly becoming friends with Marinette in her own right. It ain’t a complicated plot, but it is a nice and warm fic.

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Stay Weird, Ladybug by @diadraws

Ladybug receives an invitation at the end of a patrol! Contains some of my own headcanons, most notably: MIRACULOUS HOLDERS ARE CREATURES!!! They get actual animal traits when transformed instead of just a costume. My tumblr is diadraws where I elaborate some more on my headcanons which may add some additional context to this fic if you are interested! CONTENT WARNINGS: *major* depictions of panic attacks, discussion of child neglect/abuse, and a minor emetophobia (vomiting) warning towards the end.

I’ve loved the comics and fanart I’ve seen dia create for this AU, with Ladybug’s and Chat Noir’s more animalistic designs, so reading a fic set in that AU was a real treat! It’s mostly just a Ladrien sleepover at Adrien’s house, but it’s very nice and cozy, with some good character development of Adrien helping Ladybug with panic attacks she keeps having.

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Our Tales Are Endless (That’s Why I Tell Them) by @joonapeach

Marinette lives a simple life - one surrounded by pretty dresses, fresh macaroons, and the calming view of Paris. It’s a life she thinks she has always fit in. And yet sometimes, when a certain boy comes by her shop with a flower and a new adventurous story, she can’t help but wonder if there’s something else she’s missing.

This was a truly gorgeous story. It’s the classic “Marinette gives up the Miracle Box and loses her memories” storyline, exploring her life two years later. Even though she’s had time to heal and recover, she still feels like she’s missing something, something big. At least Adrien’s stopping by regularly to tell her stories about Ladybug and Chat Noir, even if she doesn’t understand why they resonate with her so well.

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a winter so warm by @rosekasa

winters were hard for even the best of vampires, but at least adrien had marinette to keep him warm with her cuddles. december was going to suck without her. so it was only to be expected to get extra cuddles in before she left, right? (well, not really, considering those heating supplements he was taking, but she didn’t need to know about that).

This one’s mostly just cute cuddly adorableness! It’s basically like all those “Marinette gets the Ladybug trait of needing to cuddle up to someone for warmth”, but with Adrien instead. And of course featuring Marinette being a very talented witch who just wants to help Adrien stay warm when she isn’t there XD.

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The Power of Love by @nedjsmlfavs

In which Ladybug announces that she’s pregnant via her long term boyfriend and Chat Noir is a supportive partner. After all, he can hardly be upset when he’s been dating his Princess for years!

A different take on the show’s tagline (“The Power of Love Always so Strong”) written for Valentine’s day 2023.

This is just a sweet, fluffy fic about Ladybug and Chat Noir finding out they’re having a baby, revealing to each other, getting married, and becoming parents. Gabriel actually tries to do better here, as he does actually care about getting to know his grandchild, and realizes that he can’t undo this timeline without undoing his granddaughter’s existence as well. 

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Villainous Matchmaking by @nedjsmlfavs

When Chat Noir is tragically unable to attend an event with Ladybug, the mayor calls in a favor from a designer ‘friend’. Now she’s attending in style, on the arm of the hottest male model in Paris. Which would be fine if it weren’t for one, tiny issue: Paris’ favorite domestic terrorist now knows how Ladybug feels about his son. This leads him to his greatest plan yet, using Ladybug’s extremely obvious crush on Adrien Agreste to akumatize Chat Noir.

A Ladrien/“platonic” Ladynoir fic

This is adorable and hilarious. Gabriel keeps on “accidentally” releasing things which makes it looks like Adrien and Ladybug are a couple in an effort to make Chat Noir jealous, while Adrien and Ladybug ae just over-the-moon about getting to spend time together and finding out that the other person loves them XD.

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Fate, Destiny... A Hamster by @mostmagical

After finally moving into his very first apartment per Ladybug’s suggestion, Adrien discovers something no movie or TV show could have ever prepared him for: someone else's hamster.

Marinette was so excited to have her first pet. If only it would stop escaping!

At least now there’s an excuse to talk to the new neighbor.

(Adrienette Never Met AU)

Funnily enough, this is based on a true story. Specifically, the author’s own experience of having her hamster run out and be found by a neighbor.

Anyway, this is adorable! Marinette and Adrien become smitten with each other extremely quickly, with Marinette’s hamster keeping giving them reasons to talk. Very effective wing-hamster, that one XD. 

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Through the Looking Glass by @jheqiawrites

Adrien is a lonely child, cut off from the outside world by his parent's strict rules. But when he discovers a window in his closet and sees a young girl looking back at him like his reflection, maybe he has hope for friendship after all.

Poor Adrien here, he makes a long-time friend (who everyone thinks is an imaginary friend), and has several great years interacting with her as his parents grow more concerned with him not growing out of it... and then Emilie dies, Gabriel orders the window destroyed, Adrien’s put on medication to suppress his “hallucinations” (which also makes him forget Marinette) and he’s just kind of left like that for the next several years, until he’s an adult.

Luckily, while Adrien forgot Marinette, Marinette never forgot him, and he’s not too difficult to track down...

This is some really cute Adrienette, if you want a “forgotten childhood friends-to lovers” Adrienette story, you should check this out!

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Miraculous Conception series by @ladynoirfanao3

Summary of the first story, The Power Of Creation:

Everyone knows that Ladybug's cure fixes everything after the destruction wrought by Shadow Moth's akumatized villains. After an akuma with an unfortunate power leaves Ladybug and Adrien in an awkward position, Marinette has never been happier to simply forget. However, she soon discovers that her miraculous ladybugs have a limitation on their curing ability, a limitation that puts her in a situation she never expected to be in.

So basically, Ladybug and Adrien run into each other just as an akuma makes everyone in the vicinity extremely horny, and when they both start remembering things again, they’re in a pretty... compromising position. But it’s just an akuma so they put it out of their heads, until Marinette discovers she’s pregnant and has to decide what to do about it, whether to keep the pregnancy, tell Adrien she’s Ladybug and is having his baby, what to do with the earrings when she’s too pregnant to be Ladybug, etc.

I really enjoyed it! Just watching Ladybug and Adrien try and navigate the situation, especially with secret identities thrown into the mix.

The main fics in the series are basically the same story, it’s just that the first one is from Marinette’s perspective, while the second one is from Adrien’s. The Power of Creation is rated M while the Power of Destruction is rated E, but for both fics it’s just rated that for a single sex scene that occurs in the fic (with it being the same sex scene in both fics, just told from two different perspectives).

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you made me a hero - reverse crush short stories series by @non-fantasy

This series is just plain fun! Like the title says, it’s a reverse crush AU, so Adrien’s head-over-heels for Marinette, while Ladybug’s smitten with Chat Noir. Which means that Adrien’s constantly trying to woo Marinette while Ladybug’s attempting to have normal conversations with Chat Noir (and failing), and both of them are oblivious to each other’s feelings. 

I love the way non-fantasy executes it, with Alya literally carrying around a spray bottle because of how eager Adrien is, and Ladybug being VERY SCARY if you ever lay a finger on Chat Noir (seriously akumas will literally beg for their akumatized object to be broken just to escape her wrath). 

Oh, also, Ladybug regularly stops by Adrien’s room so they can both lament how difficult of a time they’re having wooing their crushes, and just have fun together.

There’s a lot of entries in this series - 29 of them in fact - but most of them are pretty short, making it great if you want to devour some quick, cute, hilarious romcom action! 

Some stuff does actually change over the course of the series, it’s not just slice-of-life. Like identity reveals, dating, and even Hawkmoth’s defeat, so there’s clear progression and changes in circumstances as well.

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Dreams of You by @chocoluckchipz

Dreams had long been his only escape. Dreams of Ladybug, the girl who had always been there for him.

If only in his dreams. And only while she was also sleeping.

Because with the first rays of sunshine gliding over her skin, with the first fluttering of her eyelashes, from the moment she opened her eyes in the morning, memories of Adrien would vanish from her mind.

She would go on living her life.

He would always be the only one who remembered.

At least until they meet in the real world and fall in love all over again, something that would’ve been easier to do if Adrien wasn't a prisoner in his own home.

Chocoluckchipz has some of the most beautifully executed lovesquare fics I’ve read, and this is no exception. Most of the fic is dedicated to Adrien wooing Marinette, spending time with her, with her own dream self acting as his wingman, giving her tips on how to get her to fall for him, all the while frustrated that she can’t share memories with her waking self, and that she and Adrien can’t share as much information as they’d like while asleep, due to limitations of the “curse” that allows Adrien to share dreams with his soulmate. 

It’s not all cute Adrienette fluff though. There’s a threat in the background waiting to erupt, as the weirdness of Gabriel’s ultimatum to Adrien about finding Ladybug or else being forced to marry Lila keeps on gnawing at him - and with good reason. This is a world with magic and kwamis still, and that fact makes itself very relevant in the last third of the story. 

It’s a well-written tale and very much worth a read!

[stromuprisahat]

Second Army disorganization

Siege and Storm- Chapter 14

One of the most frustrating and famously nonsensical passages of Grisha trilogy, easily explained through doylist approach- the author's inability to write strategy or politics and demands of the genre, requiring a weak, unfit heroine to defeat immensely powerful opponent way out of her league:

Alina: Oh no, they dare to oppose me again! :(

Isn't that why would you want to establish a council in the first place? So you get constructive criticism and suggestions to do things better?!

My objections to the notion Alina came up with representation of Grisha can't be more obvious:

Army is a structured organization. There are ranks and councils by default. No amount of ignorant teens will persuade me calling it "Second" makes it otherwise.

Any big organization has a structure. Even if Second Army were only about education, there would be councils and posts on different levels. Hell, school system works that way.

Alina: I'm gonna have the useless ones represented, because we're not doing things like the Darkling, but that doesn't mean I'll respect them myself or abandon my prejudices. Fucking nerds. Weidos...

Another YA nonsense- you cannot put people into categories based on their physical predispositions, and expect the mental ones to fit accordingly. You can have a huge, muscled guy, skilled in delicate handiwork. You can have a tiny wisp of a girl beating the living shit out of you (popular trope by itself).

Now why should sensitivity to metals get you a spot in labs, if you're a strategic genius? Or incredibly skilled, witty rhetorician? Isn't it more likely you'd be required to complete basic training to stay healthy and prevent accidentally endangering others, while being assigned to whatever you're most useful at?

And what about those weak or less intelligent ones? Are they bringing coffee and arranging entertainment?!

It also fits this fan interpretation, that Materialki are often neuro-divegent, so they are tend to be kept away from battle for their own sake.

Alina wasn't involved in practical running of Second Army before. Just because she doesn't know about something, it's not a totally fresh idea.

I'd be afraid of a girl, who almost murdered a bunch of people for asking questions, too.

At this point, I'm gonna run with the idea that all the older Grisha are torn between face-palming and silently laughing their assess off (so Alina doesn't overhear and her clique doesn't resort to violence).

“But what do they do in there?” I asked, not entirely sure I wanted to hear the answer. “Only the Corporalki know. But there are rumors that they’ve been working with the Fabrikators on new … experiments.”

Shadow and Bone- Chapter 8

... and that says nothing about the field, or the little groups in noble houses. People tend to stick together with their own, when in strange enviroment. I'm sure such bonds dissolve immediately after their return "home".

I've also delved a little into the sitting order here.

A few lines earlier, Alina noted Materialki didn't show up to complain. Who is so horrified then?! Not them, for sure.

Ironically, this fits into Fabricator-brain theory linked above AND the most logical explanation- Materialki have basic self-defense training, but only those, who are able to, continue. Alina isn't particularly friendly with any of them, so how would she know no one had EVER bothered to teach them? Alright, there are none in her class, but as far as we know, it consists of a Squaller, an Inferni and a Heartrender. Not the most saying sample.

Having a third of all Grisha helpless doesn't fit into the picture of Aleksander's leadership:

“That’s what Botkin always says. ‘Not showy, just to make pain,’” I said, imitating the mercenary’s heavy accent. “Smart guy.” “The Darkling doesn’t think Grisha should rely on their powers for defense.”

Shadow and Bone- Chapter 17

You don't have to become another Bruce Lee, you only need a chance, when they drag you out of bed in the middle of the night.

What tradition?

This is rather well-written group of angry, disorganized people. It might start with a reasonable goal, but soon everyone talks about something else than others, and the message gets lost in the noise.

Tradition doesn't equal "the way things are done". Neither of them is the same as "the need for structure and people knowing their places". The third one is a legitimate concern, although one could argue it's exactly what Alina's attempting.

This whole scene very much reads like:

The author is desperate to prove the Heroine isn't quite useless- she has good ideas! Look! *whacks a hundreds of years old stategist and survivor par excellence with stupid stick*

[theanimeview]

[Theory] Villains Are Destined to Die: I Think It’s a Coma (Spoilers)

Source: https://www.amazon.com/Villains-Are-Destined-Die-Vol/dp/B0B5JTTG2N?

By: Peggy Sue Wood | @pswediting

I tend to dislike “it’s a coma” theories when I read them because the idea of everything being a dream or part of a coma is overused and clichéd. However, I can’t say that these types of theories don’t have merit. I mean, a cliché becomes one for a reason, right? And, for the first time (I think) in my reading of a work, I have a coma theory.

For some context, a coma theory is a common fan theory in which the main character of a story is theorized to be in a coma. The events of the story are imagined or dreamed up by the character while they are unconscious, suggesting that the character’s subconscious is creating an alternate reality to cope with the trauma of their injury or illness. The coma theory has been applied to a wide range of fictional works and is sometimes made canonical in the work itself. For example, Bones had an episode in which the main character Booth was in a medically induced coma for a short period, and he dreamed of an alternate life. There are movies too the most prevalent example being Disney’s The Wizard of Oz (1939) adaptation wherein Dorothy wakes up from a dream at the end and exclaims that everyone around her was also in her dream of an alternate world. However, despite being a trope in fan theory communities, these kinds of theories are often dismissed, usually because of canonical reasoning.

While a coma theory is often easily dismissed, I don’t think that will be the case for Villains Are Destined to Die. Rather, I believe that the creators of the series, SUOL and Gwon Gyeoeul, intend for this story to be about a coma victim rather than a girl who has simply transmigrated into an otome-game. Moreover, I don’t think that they plan to have her wake up at the end. Let’s get into it:

For those not yet familiar with this story or those needing a refresher, Villains Are Destined to Die follows the story of a college student who is excited to start school and pursue her interest in, assumably, archeology. This college girl has a tragic backstory. Following the death of her mother, she was taken in by her biological father who was also parenting her two older half-brothers. Her relatives were not friendly or welcoming, and she seemed to suffer from neglect and bullying at home–regularly finding herself starved for attention and food. She has found some success in school and living in an apartment away from home.

While she does not have much in terms of a disposable income, she does have a single vice for the mobile otome-game “Daughter of the Duke, Love Project” that is popular at her school. She has played the game multiple times at varying levels of difficulty as the heroine, but in the final and hardest mode, she’s set to play as the hated villainess Penelope Eckhart. In this version, she’ll be given a head start prior to the heroine, and since the game is set to the most difficult setting, one wrong move could lead to death. Upon pressing start, she is able to play in hard mode a few times before going to bed. However, after falling asleep, she wakes up not in her bedroom but in the body of Penelope Eckhart. To make matters worse, there’s no reset button in sight, with options that are limited and painfully difficult to comply with, “Penelope”–the main character–has an end goal of gaining the full affection of at least one of the male leads to clear the game in a single play through if she hopes to be released from her death flag filled fate, and all five romantic interests are going to be extremely hard to charm for various reasons given her role as the villainess. Moreover, she really only has a chance up until the game’s normal/easy-mode heroine makes an entrance since the heroine has a much easier time romancing the male leads.

Source: Villains Are Destined to Die, Chapter 44

Changing The Story & Overlapping Visions

While in this other world, Penelope regularly gets a window and otome-interface, and while the choices on the interface make a difference, the otome’s story progression is not optional for Penelope, so the story will progress through the game regardless of Penelope’s agreement or disagreement. What I have noticed though is that her words have a significant amount of influence over current events and the story than the choices she makes that are provided through the otome-interface. This is the first plot inclusion that makes me think Penelope is in a coma, and not just a character that has been transmigrated into the otome game.

For example, in Chapter 44, Penelope gives game-Penelope a tragic backstory that overlaps with her own past from the real-world. This includes the events of being taken in by her biological father, the tragedy of starving and the bullying at home, as well as the dashed hopes of living a happier life with her father and half-siblings in said home. We know that Penelope is drawing on the experiences of her past because she tells us so. We also know that this Penelope is unaware of whether these events are true to game-Penelope’s past.

After Penelope overlaps her personal story with game-Penelope’s situation, this becomes the new reality of the chacater’s past as shown in a later chapter when Duke Eckhart confirms in a later chapter the tragic beginnings that current-Penelope created in Chapter 44, which included not just her real-life experiences but also a bit of potential fiction–like being in the presence of her mother’s deceased body for a period of time and eating of rotten food from the trash to survive prior to being taken in by her father.

Source: Villains Are Destined to Die, Chapter 17

Beyond the overlap of visual imagery, I believe that there is a potential argument for the overlap of the sensory experiences too. This is certainly more speculative, but not without some merit. Many coma patients, particularly those who have undergone a medically induced coma for treatment have described sensory overlap between what was happening to their bodies and what was going on in their dreams.

For example, ice packs being laid upon the body to help lower a fever being perceived in a dream as having visited a cold place or overheard conversations being perceived as a personal interaction. Claire Lucia Wineland’s, an American activist who spoke on health issues and illnesses among other things, video on this subject provides a great example:

Title: Claire Wineland Talks About Being In a Coma | Source: https://youtu.be/DRQoayUBcBE

In the literary depiction of a dreamworld or coma story, rather than multiple dreams the patient tends to have one long and continued narrative. As such, Penelope’s story of transmigrating to a game-world and staying in the dream consistently as the story progresses makes sense.

Penelope seems to get injured around her neck and other places pretty consistently and I believe that these could be examples of further sensory overlap. For example, in Chapter 2, she wakes up from a pin prick by her maid, which could be her body experiencing the real-life introduction of an IV. There is also the cut to her neck in Season 1, and an additional neck injury near the end of Season 2 that I suspect could also be related to patient care as long-term coma patients often require additional supportive care like breathing assistance and the administration of medicines through multiple veins. Perhaps, going a step further, what she experiences as arguments or unexpected visits from her game-family are actually her experiencing her real family visiting her in the hospital. This would match well with the overlapping images we see in the arguments with her second brother, and also account for some of the responses she’s getting.

Perhaps as the affection levels of the leads go up, what she’s really seeing is a softer or more affectionate side to her neglectful family. Assumably, then, the other male leads and characters could have another real-world equivalent too. Perhaps doctors or nurses, which would explain why she has a much easier time raising the affection levels of those outside the family and those in the duchy.

In The Wizard of Oz movie adaptation, there was also a high level of overlap between the real-world family and friends of Dorothy and the characters from her dream, as revealed at the end of the movie. Dorothy also had a level of impact in the world and story progression, as she made the choice to help others and often decided what the group would do (and why they would do it). This also seems to be a trope of many other examples of coma-storylines when seeing the story from the dreaming character’s perspective.

Source: Villains Are Destined to Die, Chapter 2, 8

A Chance To Change & Waking Up

The idea behind coma plotlines is typically that, in this dream, there is a chance for self-reflection and a change of perspective. If Penelope is in a coma state, then the trope would be that she needs or is reflecting on her biological family’s treatment of her and letting go of that pain. If my theory is correct regarding the affection levels, then she may unconsciously be repairing her relationships (literally) as the family comes to visit. However, Penelope is pretty clear that it doesn’t matter whether the relationships repair or not. Frankly, I don’t blame her since these characters are not really making a redeeming effort as time goes on outside of, maybe, Penelope’s personal maid.

All that matters is Penelope surviving and gaining the freedom she’s always longed for since coming into her father’s house. A freedom where she can explore her passion for archeology, enjoy a life away from her cruel family, and perhaps find the same kind of love the heroine from her favorite game experiences. This is why I think the creators don’t plan to have Penelope wake up at the end.

If Dorothy’s freedom was longing for home and the motto “There’s no place like home,” Penelope’s would be the complete opposite. With the choice to stay in a dream that ends happily as romances do, or the choice to return home–I think Penelope would choose the former because of how awful her family has been and how difficult the real-world is compared to the wonderful dream that’s getting better all the time.

That’s my theory. What do you all think?

As a side note: To be honest, I’m thinking about picking up the novel to find out. I know that adaptations to a different form often take on different story aspects or even different plots entirely, but I want to know if the same thing that has happened in the comic has occurred in the original novel text too. Out of all the transmigrated to a game-world as the villainess stories I’ve read, this one really does feel like it is trying to do the “it’s a coma” trope rather than an actual tale of transmigration and I kind of want to read about it to see if the feeling sticks. If, and this a big if, she is in a coma story, do you think she’ll wake up? That is the most typical answer, but I’m leaning heavily towards a “no,” and I’d be interested to hear if others agree or disagree with me. Well, thanks for reading!

[smolvenger]

I Say Nothing That Frightens Me Part Three

Paring: Loki x fem! Reader

Series Summary: As a young Asgardian, you have grown to be friends and secretly pine for the younger Prince Loki. After his fury has sent him off, his mother sends you on a quest to find him and bring him home. Your quest makes you cross paths with a mysterious group that calls themselves the TVA. There, Loki can be found...but he loves someone named Sylvie, not you.

Chapter Word Count: 2K

Part One//Part Two (This will be in Four Parts)

A03//My Ko-Fi//My Etsy Shop//Masterlist//Wattpad

Taglist: @evelyn-kingsley @jennyggggrrr @five-miles-over (shout out for the idea when I was stuck!) @fictive-sl0th @ladycamillewrites @villainousshakespeare @holdmytesseract @eleniblue @twhxhck @lokisgoodgirl @lovelysizzlingbluebird @raqnarokr @holymultiplefandomsbatman @michelleleewise @lovelysizzlingbluebird @wolfsmom1

Warnings: Mostly some cursing. I use an oldie-but-goodie Fanfic Trope. Lack of detailed editing and multiple drafts because I just want to get this done-fuck it, we ball I say as I type this. But lots of fluffy moments and only tiny bits of angst and lots of references to canon

“What do you mean my brother’s not back?” Loki cried.

You sat in your chair, leaning back on it. Folding your arms. You couldn’t help but huff through your nose. You were looking forward to the grand victory banquet that would be at home. Frigga declaring you Asgard’s heroine. Seeing a family reunited. Wine and platters overfilling with joyful music. Even a parade and ball thrown in your honor as a medal shone on your armor for good measure. That kind of stuff.

“Thor. Is not. Back.” Steve repeated.

Guess that would have to wait.

“How come?” you questioned.

“Because they need help specifically with him. It involves thunder. That’s what Beefcake’s out there doing,” Tony continued.

Loki put a hand to his forehead and sighed.

“Do you know when he’ll be back? Even for a break?” you asked.

Steve shrugged as he sat. He squinted his blue eyes to think and then looked at you. His eyes softened and he spoke in a reassuring tone.

“Don’t worry, Y/N. Shouldn’t take him too long. You know he’s incredible. He could be back by tomorrow…”

“Or dead,” Tony quipped.

Loki’s black head whipped around; you could see the veins on his neck tighten.

“Do you honestly think this is the time for your little jokes?” Loki replied, face becoming red.

Natasha cut in from where she was leaning against the wall. Up to then, she’d just stood there, arms folded and observant.

“If I had to guess, he should be back in headquarters by a week. We’ll ask Shield to get in touch with him.”

“Alright…thank you. It’s important…” you replied.

“How come?” she asked, taking a few steps forward.

“The Queen asked me to return him,” you explained.

“No problem…if you need anything, you can always ask,” Natasha offered.

You felt her eyes over your Asgardian armor and clothes. But the slight smile showed your approval. It made you smile back.

“Of course.”

“There’s food in the fridge too- help yourself while you’re here!” Natasha offered.

“You both can both even stay here as long as you like…as long as Loki doesn’t get inspiration again,” Steve offered.

Loki shot him a look, crossing his arms like a dour child.

“Thank you! I’d rather we stay here in case Thor reappears. You’re very kind…”

“No, he’s not! Are you out of your mind, Steve?” Tony interrupted.

Your head turned and tilted at them.

“I beg your pardon?” Loki asked.

“Why? We’re obligated to show some basic human decency to them!” Steve argued.

“Why? I’ll tell you why-why don’t you waltz on over to the Guest room and see!” Tony offered.

As you and Loki walked there, you both understood his point. Honestly, you should have taken the hint from the last sentence. It was a singular word. Room. There was only one bed in that room.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

That night both of you lay in the bed together, curled away from each other. Both of you were in pajamas. You selected some silk red pajamas. Loki picked some in his favorite green. Both funded by Stark, of course. Neither of you offered to sleep on the floor of the couch. Neither of you wanted to sleep on the floor of the couch. You could hear his soft breathing and though you stared out into the night sky and outline of the city, you found despite the long, arduous day…your mind kept you up.

You thought you heard him shuffle next to you.

“Anything you want to say?” you asked.

“None…really…only this…don’t think I’m not grateful, Y/N.”

You turned over, blankets rustling in your movement.

“How come?”

“You risked all that and went through that…because you worried about me. I never thought people worried about me.”

“Your mother worries about you. Thor worries about you…and I worry about you…” you replied.

He turned over to meet you.

“Y/N…thank you…”

“Thank you? I never heard you uttered those words before…and I thought you were the polite brother…” you commented.

“Now you have.”

He broke into a smile.

You looked down and saw his arm.

“How’s your cut doing?”

“Much better- not stinging anymore…”

“From the pain or the alcohol on it?”

“Both…”

You then turned back to the outline.

“I’ve only been to this city once. Traveled all the way up there from the countryside of this place…I was in such a rush to find you, get there I never…never noticed how pretty it is…” you mused.

“We should explore it.”

“What, really?”

“Yes, really. Should be more amusing than sitting around the tower all day waiting for Thor.”

“Aren’t you tired?”

“I’m tired of being on the run. Or fighting. Or struggling…I just want to..enjoy something. And preferably not alone.”

“You’re not alone, Loki. You never were…”

“Neither were you…”

There was a brief pause.

“Do you have your magic back?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t do this usually but…Can you conjure something to help me sleep? Wine or tea or something?” you asked.

Loki flicked his wrist and conjured the drink. He handed it over.

“You need only ask.”

You stood up to drink the cup as he settled himself back in. Soon you both fell asleep peacefully.

The next day, Tony practically tossed a credit card on you as if it was mere confetti.

“Go ahead- Max it out. Have fun, kids…just don’t do any invasions, okay? Okay!” he said.

Both of you wandered out to the city. As you walked on, it was nearly overwhelming. The skyscrapers were as tall as the statues of the warriors through the Asgardian cloudy streets. Fried foods overcame your nose and made you salivate.

“I never tried one of there!” you said, pointing to a food stand selling hot dogs.

As you both brought it to your mouth and smelled it, then you ate.

“Norns! This is delicious!” you said. You experimentally took the packet of red sauce called “KETCHUP” and slathered it on there.

“I am not sure what it’s made of…but I don’t care,” Loki said as he took another careful bite.

“Don’t you think…don’t you think we should ask the kitchen to replicate it! Shouldn’t be too hard- some meat and bread!”

“I can conjure that easily! You only have to cut it like so …

Loki conjured a slab of ham. Too many people walking by talking on phones or listening with ear buds barely noticed him. He had the ham cut into a hot dog shape.

“And then fix the bread like this.”

Bread in the shape of a long oval cut open floated in air. The sausage fit into the roll.

“- and there you have it!”

Both of you took a walk out in the park.

“So you invaded New York to rule, right?” you asked as you walked.

“I must tell you…I think…something influenced me?”

“Your addiction to self-destruction?” you asked.

“The Mind Stone.”

“What?”

“And Thanos.”

“What…what are you talking about?”

Hands in pockets, you both walked. He kept talking. Too many people were on their phones, listening to music, or looking after children or dogs.

“Well then…that…that makes sense…”

“Why else would I get those headaches?” he asked.

Both of you kept walking. The trees shook with the breeze, and you heard a bee buzz by you. But you could see a tiredness, a sadness in Loki’s eyes.

“What do you think now, Y/N? Of me? I became the very enemy you’ve been trained since a child to fight,” he said.

“I…I don’t that…I think you’re good. You were only hurt. And you made some bad choices. I don’t consider any of that unforgivable…especially since it probably wasn’t your fault to begin with.”

There was silence. You wrapped him into a hug. He was always warm, despite the summer heat. Always enveloping. You could smell the sandalwood of the shampoo he used in headquarters.

“Why should we stay in the past, anyway?” you then questioned with a smile.

“I just worry…who knows what he’s capable of…” he fretted.

Both of you noticed a puddle on the ground. You walked around it, your reflections from below passing by like the clouds.

“Loki…you need to tell your brother. And the Avengers. Let them know. Let them know it wasn’t entirely your fault- only partly. And they will want to know about Thanos,” you told him.

He smiled a little.

“Well, then, if you ask it, I shall…” he replied.

You walked and walked about all day. By the time you both sat on a bench in the park, the soreness of your feet struck you. You were so lost in each other’s company you lost track of the time.

The next day, other than some walking, you insisted you both go shopping. There were too many shops here to resist. Especially those with multiple stories. And Midgaurdian fashion fascinated you. The shops back home had only one floor. Some in New York had twenty.

“Is there a store that strikes your fancy?” you asked Loki, passing by.

He pointed to one window that showed a variety of suits.

“I think…I’d like to try one…”

“Then lets!” you offered, pulling his hand inside.

You go to a classy store. The employees wore dresses and suits. It played jazz and people walked around with drinks of coffee or champagne. So much finery. He then settled on a few as an employee guided him around.

You sat down, waiting for him to emerge and then he did. The employee dropped their jaw and grinned.

Loki was in an all black- black shirt and black suit. It made his skin and beautiful hands stick out even more. It was crisp and clean and fit him like a glove.

“I…I look…” he began to mutter.

‘I’ll say it, you look handsome!” you cheered. You took him to a mirror so he could admire himself.

That evening, you decided to end it by going to a wine bar. It was lovely and wooden. There were even giant lamps that looked like flowers. You ahd ordered two glasses for each of you and enough food to feed a giant. Which, in fact, you were in the company of one.

“Hmmm, nice and dry. Some fruity overtones. Quite good.”

“I don’t mind. Wine is wine. And it’s good.”

“Well, you haven’t drank enough wine then, Y/N!”

“I only would drink it at banquets!”

You then held the rim of your glass.

You then held the rim of your glass.

“Loki…be honest with me…am I a good warrior?”

“Of course, you are.”

“I…I just would always use to lose fights. And you know when I’d run away as a child…”

“I do not see you running away very often, darling.”

“There is training, but this is reality…”

“What did mother ask you to do? To face every danger to find me? And you did.”

You blinked at him.

“I think you are a good warrior. No matter what you might think of yourself.”

“I…uh…thank you…”

He raised the glass.

“Cheers?”

“Cheers,” you replied.

You tapped the glass and then drank it.

“I think I know what you’re talking about…I do taste the overtones a bit,” you commented.

“I think you should become a connoisseur in no time, Y/N,” he said.

It was the next day he announced something almost ludicrous.

“Y/N, we should see a play or these ‘musicals’ New York is known for!” Loki suggested that next afternoon.

“Who said we had to spend money?” he asked with a wink.

You looked through the calendar of shows. First for musicals, since they were less common back home. And the more melodramatic, Loki said, the better. One was selected.

Both of you located the theatre and got there at an earlier time, right when the crew and cast would walk in before the show. Using the billboards, he transformed himself and you into two ensemble members.

Once you walked in, already there was one crew member.

“Oh, hello! How are you? Traffic, okay? Break legs tonight- remember- check the notes! Phil fixed your tights too so thank her!” they chatted.

Both of you walked out. Your heart beat fast seeing these people miff about. Knowing you were doing something forbidden.

“Please- Y/N! Don’t get lost backstage!” he whispered to you.

“But Loki- look at this set piece!! And the costumes here- so beautiful!”

“Don’t wander off-here!”

He clasped your hand, entwining fingers with yours.

“Besides, we have to get our seats,” he said.

As the actors in street clothes, you both walked over to the front of the theatre and then to the lobby bathrooms. Empty, thank the Allfather. With a flick of his wrist, green light emerged over you. He reappeared in a fine tuxedo and his hair back. But when you looked, you blinked and saw you had a red dress on. It was very flattering on your body. Straps went over your shoulders and the shade looked perfect for your skin.

Both of you walked out. The crowd was already walking in, holding playbills in hand. Yet you couldn’t help but keep staring at yourself in the mirror. There was a large, stupid smile on your face.

“I have to admit, you have good taste. This is beautiful!” you gasped, turning at angles to admire yourself.

“You are beautiful!” Loki replied.

You both froze and looked.

“I mean! I mean…you always were beautiful!” he added on. Though his face did turn pink. The God of mischief and mayhem and here he was-embarrassed.

“Uh…thank you!” you responded.

Both of you walked forward to find the odd empty seats. Then enjoyed the show.

You did the same each night.  You saw the most melodramatic musicals. It was hard to believe amidst all the wine drinking, walks, store visits, and shows, that four days passed by.

Both of you were walking in late on the fourth day after seeing your latest show. Both of you smiling from how his magic worked wonders and from everything you saw and experienced.

“Y/N, can I tell you something?” he asked.

Both of you entered your room.

“Sure, tell me…”

“Sylvie betrayed me. I did everything for her and still…I can’t tell you what a pathetic sad sack I became. But…Y/N, this week…I…I had fun…”

“I did too…”

His own magic made you both clean. No need for waiting for a shower. You both were tired-as well as changed into pajamas.

“You’re pretty damn efficient, Loki. Thanks for that.”

“I’m not waiting until midnight to bathe…” he quipped.

“Sleep well, Y/N…”

“You too…”

There was no turning around. This time, you curled towards each other. His smiling face was the last thing you saw before sleeping.

Then there was a noise and the sound of boots. You barely blinked awake. The grogginess of your deep sleep letting you go of its peaceful embrace. And it was still dark in the room, your eyes adjusted.

There were people- agents all in armor and helmets.

“Y/N! Y/N! What are you doing? Disrupting the sacred timeline!”

“What! What timeline?”

He jolted out of bed.

“You will NOT have her! You won’t!”

But it was too late. One agent took their long stick with blue at the end and stuck it on you. An electric fizz washed down your body, head to toe. You heard Loki cry out your name as everything turned to black.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

When you came to, you were not in New York. In New York the buildings were lovely, tall, and completely built. Here, everything was ruined and desolate. And it was an overcast day. Your heart beat fast and you could taste dirt. It stuck you that you were laying on the ground. You could taste dirt.

“Ah, are you a Loki too?” was the voice you heard.

“Wait…no she isn’t,” said another.

“No…it’s…it’s a Y/N…” another muttered.

They all lowered their jaws. A tall, muscular man covered in furs. An old man in a silly costume. A dark-haired boy in green. And oddest of all, a tiny alligator all staring at you. And though you didn't know them, they knew you.

“A Y/N! The President’s gonna find out…they all are soon…”

[simpfiles]

Sweet Paprika

a sexually repressed workaholic business woman enlists the services of the office’s fuqboi to help her be comfortable/confident enough sexually to seduce the man of her dreams. despite being only 12 issues the plot is jam packed with all the typical hallmark tropes but with a pg-13 rating (for the american release) and characters that hold more depth than expected.

the series is shockingly vanilla for a comic about devils and angels, which serves more for aesthetics and puns than lore or plot purposes. but there are two possible trigger warnings to be cautious about and that’s the initial slut shaming that’s prevalent through the first six issues and an emotionally manipulative ex.

the art is beautiful and stylized in a colorful cartoonish way that doesn’t take itself too seriously. it’s a shame that half of pages are over saturated by text that go to great lengths of spoon feeding the reader exposition. while the ending does resolve itself rather quickly, the journey was a fun ride. if you’re looking for a feel good comic with a happy ending then look no further. i laughed, i cried, i gave it a 4 out of 5 stars and put the spoilers part of my review below a read more.

i will come right out and admit my bias for this comic is deeply rooted in the fact that found myself projecting on to so many elements of this story it was insane. paprika’s relationship with sex, dill’s relationship with his father, anisette desire for recognition, even paprika’s trash ex, burnet, it was like mirka cherry picked aspects of my life and rewrote it into a romcom.

but aside from that, i really enjoyed how all the characters in the series whether protag or antag were given a chance to be more than just their archetype. no one is inherently all “good” or “bad” or too far beyond redemption (even brunet >:I) and speaking of characters i just want to gush over a few of the main players.

paprika. sweet sweet paprika. i love her so much. as far as romcom heroines go, she’s not as intolerantly volatile as some of the hallmark ones. i appreciate that she tries clear up misconceptions through actually talking to the other person and actually admits when she’s in the wrong (something that seems to be an impossible task for most  hallmark heroines). her need to always clarify “petting included” is also a lil fun gag.

dill. need me a dill pickle sandwich amirite?? [[BRICKED]] i shouldn’t like this man as much as i do. he has all the makings of a typical fuqboi manchild and yet his desire to be “good” and pathetic allure has me captivated. also his communicate skills are next level. he stands talls where all other romcom heroes fail and i respect him so much for that + cute doggie uwu

za’atar. look, i don’t love him but i get it. he has a nasty temper, and a perfect mixture of possessive but still respectful. i like the contrast between his romantic life vs work vs the version that paprika has made up in her head of him.it’s very multifaceted. and i LOVE how nervous in bed he is. it’s not that he’s inexperienced but gosh, what a loser. i am once again captivated.

burnet. hate him. wish he had a worst fate.

anisette. bby girl bby girl. ty mirka so much for making more complex than the Bitch(TM). she’s still an archetype but a good one. i wish her nothing but love and happiness. i enjoy that she brings out a different side of za’atar and was able to be with him without being the “second” choice.

like i said, the ending was way too rushed bu this is one series where i’m glad everyone gets a happy ending (expect for burnet. die) and that’s a testament to just how great the characters are.

[ariannafraserwrites]

From the genius brain of @dangertoozmanykids101 - the stories behind the Holiday Rom-Com Title Generator.

I posted the Holiday Rom-Com Generator to celebrate the release of Taming the Beast - A Romantic Christmas Disaster and my fam, @dangertoozmanykids101 took it a step further. SO MANY steps further. This woman is genius. Her brain goes where no other brain dares to go. Have a look and if you're lucky, she'll write your story too!

From the comments on the post...

@dangertoozmanykids101 A Season of Joy

dangertoozmanykids101

Hey @spectre-posts Now I would bet that some Don Juan might argue that our dearest friend Joy is always in season. She may be flattered by such a grand compliment. Or she may find it a bit aggressive and presumptuous.

dangertoozmanykids101

OR @spectre-posts in an ABO universe our sweet Joy may be truly elated with anticipation as she is finally presented to the world. Long long past puberty and now fully matured into adulthood, her current state finds her in the beginning stages- the blossoming of her true nature. Whatever that might be, this is truly The Season of Joy.

dangertoozmanykids101

@iamthejeanette OHHHH!!! The Spirit of Mistletoe!!! Wouldn't this be an amazing paranormal xmas story??? Every time our heroine happens to step through a doorway or passage, archway, Mistletoe is hanging above, and yet curiously no one ever remembers hanging it there. It must be a prank of some sort, right? But an entire garland pf mistletoe has found a way to frame the entrance the Lee Way Tunnel in the Bicentennial Park downtown - a walking tunnel that connects...

dangertoozmanykids101

.... that connects the north end of the park with the South side so that walkers and joggers and bike riders, roller bladers, stroller runners can all avoid the throughway and its rush hour business traffic that dissects the park in two. Mistletoe appearing there seems to like a paranoid delusional coincidence to possibly consider that it has anything to do with our heroine, until the exact same man very politely with irresistible charms stops her mid step under the...

dangertoozmanykids101

... Under the presumptuously suggestive vine that seems to be growing more similar to a weed than a cherished holiday novelty decoration. But this same man appears out of the blue, repeatedly stops her directly under a simple mistletoe bouquet, politely requests her permission to kiss her, as is the holiday tradition. And traditions as enjoyable and harmless as a simple kiss must never be ignored. Quite right.

dangertoozmanykids101

Ohhh @tilltheendwilliwrite Yes! Yes! I bet you could work with that!! Oooo, imagine a Comedy of errors!! Everywhere they go, somehow the entire area loses power. Cursed to forever be a clutz or or just an electrical jinx. Ooo, like the witch finder general's great great great great great grandson in Good Omens! Remember how he destroyed every computer he touched? Lol Or an 8 day hike cross country skiing through the wilderness!!! Oooo! Doesn't that sound romantic???

dangertoozmanykids101

Oooo, or my favorite trope of all - stranded together during a blizzard WITH ONLY ONE BED!! With no light pollution, and only the starlight reflected off the bright white snow. How long will they possibly be stuck there? Eight nights possibly??? LOL

dangertoozmanykids101

Ohhhh @sultry-rachael snow globes send my brain into overdrive!!! Can you imagjne the 8 nights - kinda like an escape room, each Snow globe is a puzzle from one Holiday wonderland to the next. Ohhhh, imagine the comedy having to fend off elves and reindeer even shepherds in a surreal nativity scene themed snow globe. And they're all trying to prevent you from progressing to the next globe. A bottomless pit of snow - do you escape a sink hole of snow the same way ....

dangertoozmanykids101

.... the same way one escapes quicksand??? A maze of evergreen trees. Animatronic hugging snowmen? Jack Frost nipping at your nose (and anything else that pervert can get his mouth on. )

dangertoozmanykids101

And the eighth globe finally brings you to Santa's lap!! Horray!! Now have you been naughty or nice, he'll ask.

dangertoozmanykids101

@americasass81 wait... What was yours???

dangertoozmanykids101

SQUEAL!!! @notpedeka !!! A Fete of Banter!! Ohhhh, imagine the quintessential enemies to lovers!!! Guess who insists upon escorting you through the entire Winter Festival in Town Square this year. None other than your political rival on the city council. His endless chatter leaves you exhausted, enraged, and an acute case of TMJ inflammation, aka LOCKJAW!

dangertoozmanykids101

The past two months, every minor decision has become a huge micromanaged issue requiring heated debate. And the councilman inciting the ceaseless drivel is the same antagonist who you are now somehow obligated to spend the entire festival night with as though it were some sort of date. The entire night, you're clenching your jaw and grinding your teeth, yet completely failing to hold your tongue - WHICH , though you regret to admit, as aggravated your jaw....

dangertoozmanykids101

....aggravated your jaw to the point that you can barely open it large enough to slide a straw between your teeth. I'm picturing every carnival activity creating a whole new stupid spat between the two. Doesn't that sound like fun???

dangertoozmanykids101

Ohhhh @nildespirandum Only one night of snow globes??? Thank god!!! Because one night is all your heroine can handle! This is a big big deal - a huge honor - or so the big boss told you. Why you were singled out for this task, you have no clue. Honestly you would rather not dwell too much on that question. But tonight was the big night and you assure the big guy that you will NOT let him down. YOU had been chosen to watch his snow globe collection tonight.

dangertoozmanykids101

That's right. YOU - you are very talented and highly educated, some even say gifted, and of course your mother always knew you were special. And now YOU have the highly coveted position to babysit a room full of snow globes. Yep. A grid of pedestals each topped with a glass sphere filled with glitter or white confetti, and cozy little houses covered in snow or tiny itty bitty dolls doing all types of mundane tasks - a man surprising a woman at the door w/ a Xmas tree

dangertoozmanykids101

Kids building a snowman. An old man shoveling the driveway while a family's car is stuck in a snow bank down the Street. You see the kids running down the street straight to Grandpa's house. A couple cats sitting in a window watching the birds at the bird feeder, kicking seed all over the fresh white snow. Wait.... How many cats are in that window??? Your Job tonight is to watch over the globes. Like a security guard locked inside the vault with the money....

dangertoozmanykids101

Except you're also expected to clean each one - no dust, no finger prints. This is ridiculous! How the hell are you supposed to even maneuver through this room? Did I mention the pedestals were set up like a grid? Trying to navigate through a minefield would be easier than walking through this room to merely access the coffee pot in the back corner of the room. Mew. Mew And NOW you're fucking hearing things!!!

dangertoozmanykids101

How many cats were in that first snow globe? You could swear that a third cat had been in the window just a moment ago. And now that you look more closely, there are kitty footprints leading out from the front door with its little pet door flap. WTF? Those footprints weren't there last time you looked.

dangertoozmanykids101

Mew. There it was again. Your ears had to be tricking you. Mew. And up jumps a cat onto the folding table in the back of the room. Knocking over an empty mug and scattering sugar packets all over the table and gloor.

dangertoozmanykids101

Floor.

dangertoozmanykids101

On your way to collect the strange cat on the coffee table, another cat rubs up against your leg. Startled - you flinch and bump a snow globe to your left. Oh shit! You catch it and steady it back onto its pedestal. But just for a moment everything was still, until it all began to thrum

dangertoozmanykids101

And snow starts to fall INSIDE the room.

dangertoozmanykids101

Oh @ariannafraserwrites @caffiend-queen . Such a hardworking talented writer, burning the candle at both ends this holiday. You've even been falling asleep at your type writer most nights recently. But after a particularly late night wracking your brain to get past a writers block, you had almost fallen out of your chair even - finally deciding to drag your sorry ass off to bed in defeat. Lo' and behold, the next morning a Short Little Story had been typed up.

dangertoozmanykids101

And a brand new little pair of shoes. On the table next to it. LOL. Maybe the cobbler hadn't thanked his little elves sincerely enough.

americasass81

@dangertoozmanykids101 Mine is Eight Nights of Cocoa

dangertoozmanykids101

Oooo! @americasass81 I've got it!!! On this fancy dancy 10 day cruise ... with destination desserts, a ChocoCruise or travel the world of chocolates!

dangertoozmanykids101

dangertoozmanykids101

Of course a world famous Chocolatier will be serving many of his signature dishes that you had only heard of on the food channel and in foodie magazines. Would he truly be just as charming in person as he appears to be in the public eye? WELL OF COURSE HE WAS!! He easily charmed the pants right off of you. And then made a chocolate mold of YOUR ASS!!! Now was that before or after he gave it a good HARD bite??? As well as a firm spanking. You might even need to cancel...

dangertoozmanykids101

... cancel our slot in the shuffle board tournament. You won't be sitting for a few days, let alone moving anywhere more graceful than waddle. Toward the end of the cruise, heading back to the port you boarded on, your beloved Chocolatier unveils his newest masterpiece, siting a few specific artists who had inspired him, as well as several beautiful Passengers who agreed to participate and model for him. And wouldn't you know; there in the middle of this chocolate

dangertoozmanykids101

In the middle of this large chocolate sculpture, sat a perfect replicata of your butt. From the curve where your glutes meet your thighs all the way up to the dimples above your tailbone. The added tiara resting on one cheek seems a bit overkill, but you are still oddly honored and flattered.. until you register that there are other chocolate body parts obviously molded from a real woman. From a real body. Her LIVE body. But he's sooo charming-how could you blame anyone

dangertoozmanykids101

You found him irresistible. You let him pour hot molten chocolate over your bare ass while you lay in a marble table lined with wax paper. Looks like someone had Choco poured over their legs and feet. Several chocolate hands and feet gracefully peppered the statue of holding strawberries, oranges, slices of pineapple. Of course someone modeled their bare breasts - definitely much larger breasts than yours. Another modeled her neck and chin. You could just imagine...

dangertoozmanykids101

.... you could just imagine the purr of his voice as he guided her to Lean back, stretch her neck farther, farther, lift your chin a bit more. Very good. Just as smoothly as he convinced you to arch your back more, my dear. A little bit more. Spread your knees a bit wider. Yes, do you feel it now, hot and so smooth dripping down your most intimidate place. How does that feel, darling?

dangertoozmanykids101

Broken from your thoughts after tuning out all the flashes and shouting journalists and fans, the glamorous chocolatier announces, "Before we take anymore questions, please let us introduce the beautiful goddesses who gifted me with their presence and let me borrow their bodies to create this piece of work. Please please, ladies,

dangertoozmanykids101

Please please ladies, come on up here to me. You know who you are. If you don't come up, then we'll have to come to you.

[mermaidsirennikita]

Weekly Book Recs: 9/22-9/29

Duke of Depravity by Scarlett Scott

A very classic historical--pair a drunken, PTSD-ridden war veteran duke with a takes-no-shit governess who's actually spying on him because he's suspected of treason? It's delicious. This is the first time I've read Scarlett Scott, and I love the heat to her books, the wit and sense of humor matched with melodramatic emotion. The air is a bit... Tessa Dare meets Elizabeth Hoyt. Which is a really good combo, I've gotta say. Will definitely read more from her soon.

The Billionaire's Fake Fiancee by Annika Martin

Annika Martin's Billionaires of Manhattan series always evokes the sense of a truly great cinematic romcom. A lot of "romcom" novels are not actually funny, and she has such an upbeat sense of humor in her writing, along with some serious sex appeal. I didn't love the third installment after super enjoying the first two, but this one was a return to form--it may be my favorite yet. You pair a hairdresser obsessed with daytime soaps and Hello Kitty on a yacht with her stern client who hates everything she represents (... or rather, he's obsessed with everything she represents) and force them into a fake relationship... You have magic. Actually, fake dating is so ubiquitous in contemporary at the moment that it often doesn't work--but here, it so does. A fabulous "grumpy hero has a love realization" moment included.

The Princess Trap by Talia Hibbert

Kind of wild that I've been bitching about being bored with fake dating lately, only to recommend two fake dating books back to back. But in my defense a) they're both really good and b) they both came out a few years ago, back before the trope was quite so exhausted. Anyway! This is great. I'm a sucker for a good royal romance, and this hits. Ruben's a very "nice guy in the streets, fuck you and leave (consensual) bruises in the sheets" type of hero, which is difficult to resist. And he's a Danish-ish prince! But where Talia Hibbert really excels is in writing great heroines, and Cherry is no exception. No nonsense yet bratty (in other words, the ideal match for Ruben) with a tough veneer that masks a very sweet, very kind heart. It's super hot--there's a moment where he tells her he likes to take control in bed, and has an "oral fetish", as if these are potential problems--but it has a soft center. TW: domestic violence (not between the couple). #23for23

Her Errant Earl by Scarlett Scott

A classic "marriage in trouble by way of his dipshittery" book, short and sweet--or not so sweet. I personally enjoy a cheating book. In this case, Will and Victoria never really had a relationship before he began cheating; he marries her to appease his father, sleeps with her once, and is off on his way for six months. But it doesn't hurt her any less, and so you have a lot of groveling, some secret keeping, and plenty of righteous anger on her part. It's not complicated, and it could stand to be a bit longer. But if you want a good long grovel with actual misdeeds to make up for? This is it.

Her Lovestruck Lord by Scarlett Scott

Another "low-down cheating dog" book, as the second installment of Scott's Wicked Husbands series (a series with a premise for me if there ever was one). In this case, however, Maggie's husband Simon never bothered to consummate the marriage before ditching her--because he was already in love with a married woman, who subsequently dumped his ass, leading him to accidentally deflower his wife at a masked sex party, during which she was planning on cucking him in revenge. Whew. And I kind of fucking loved this one. Whereas Will of Errant is a rake through and through, Simon is stern. And possessive as fuck. And so confused, because he does not love wife!!! But why is wife all he can think about??? Why wife so pretty??? This one is for the "alpha male is downed by love" crowd, with a charming heroine and a third act twist that I didn't love, but--I did love the subsequent angst. Definitely scratched an itch.

[510amy5]

So this year my bestie @marauderjojo and I have been running a little two person book club. This has been great fun but we decided to take things a little further with the book we are starting today and try to find a quote we enjoy from each chapter to share. Depending on the chapter and how I'm feeling I may share a few quotes and/or some thoughts on the chapter as well.

We will be reading Just Stab Me Now by Jill Bearup. It is a meta fiction romance and is based off the YouTube shorts Fantasy Heroine series.

It follows the author Caroline Lindley's attempt to write an original fantasy romance and her book character Rosamund Hawkhurst who rarely cooperates with the Plot. There will be spoilers here but i will keep them under the cut. I've been excited to read this for awhile so let's dive right in.

Chapter one

but the author’s word was law. At least . . . most of the time.

I feel like that quote sums up the concept for this story beautifully. Sometimes the characters just do unexpected things and that's that.

Chapter one establishes the main characters both in the book world (Rosamund the leading Lady, Robin the Hot Childhood Best Friend, the mysterious and only partially named Captain Collins the Hot Enemy and a few political leaders) and the real world (Caroline the author and Henry the editor). We learn about the tense political situation in the book and Rosamund's mission to help bring about peace talks. In the real world we learn that Caroline is a writer known for turning her fanfictions into publishable coffee shop romances but is now determined to write something original.

I love how even from the start this book is funny. Already Rosamund is getting ideas that Caroline finds difficult to manage and the dynamic between the two has a combo long suffering and indulgent vibe. I like how their interactions are portrayed with the book world freezing, Caroline appearing and then afterwards Rosamund seeming to only remember the result rather than the interaction itself. I can't wait to keep reading.

Bonus two quotes that show the dynamic between author and character nicely:

She and Rosamund were otherwise almost identical. And as the second woman appeared, the truth of the matter dropped into Rosamund's brain like a stone into a pond: I am the main character in this woman's story. And her author looked peeved.

‘Yes, it’ll be lovely to see Cat again,’ said Rosamund, ignoring the “Your Majesty” part, ‘but the queen has decided to send me to Abrenia with a Declaration of Truce and one guard. Not even an attendant! Is she trying to enrage King Roland by putting me in mortal peril? Is Eudosia running mad? Is this a trap? Does she secretly hate me?’ (...) ‘Of course not!’ Caroline plopped down next to Rosamund on the bed. ‘But you have to understand, I — she — couldn’t send you with a maidservant and an entire contingent of guards; that’s not how the trope works at all!’ She slanted a sly smile at her heroine. ‘This is an enemies-to-lovers story! You and your Hot Enemy have to be alone together, in close quarters, dependent on each other, building trust and covertly eyeing each other and trading heated barbs and . . .’ She flapped her hands, causing several stray scraps of paper to fall out of the notebook. ‘It’s just how these things work!’

Caroline either didn’t notice the threat or ignored it, instead scribbling something on another page of her book. Indeed, Rosamund’s author seemed to have a talent for ignoring things that didn’t fit in with her bizarre and often clichéd plans. Take this “Hot Enemy” business, for example: Caroline seemed to be under the impression that the fantasy story she had placed Rosamund in was some kind of . . . romance.

[theheelerbooklifereads]

Book Tour: The Blood That Binds Us by Erin Mainord Review

🙋‍♀️ 𝘘𝘖𝘛𝘋: 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘳 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥?

✨𝓢𝓱𝓮 𝓲𝓼 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓲𝓮𝓵𝓭𝓮𝓻 𝓸𝓯 𝓫𝓵𝓸𝓸𝓭 𝓶𝓪𝓰𝓲𝓬, 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓼𝓱𝓮 𝓶𝓪𝔂 𝓮𝓷𝓭 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓶 𝓪𝓵𝓵.✨

I know I am making a later than normal post and that is because I was trying to get further into The Blood That Binds Us by Erin Mainord so I can share my thoughts with you all.

I am around 40ish percent in the book and was hoping to be further in it now that it is almost 9:30 pm my time. I got allergy shots today (I skipped two weeks due to being sick and having an asthma flare up) and then I only got 4 hours of sleep so that combination made me come home and crash. Then, the reason on me slacking on reading has been because I have been on and off sick and me just struggling with focus from my lovely ADHD.

Anyway, I am really enjoying The Blood That Binds Us. Wren is a fun, sassy heroine of the story who lets Sin know how it is. The banter is really fun. It did take me a tad bit to get into since it was a lot of world building going on in the first few chapters but once I got past that small portion of the book, it became very fast paced and engaging. I am looking forward to seeing how everything plays out.

The Blood That Binds Us is noted to be comparable to The Plated Prisoner Series by Raven Kennedy, From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout, and The Crowns of Nyaxia by Carissa Broadbent. I can definitely say I totally get The Plated Prisoner vives when reading this book so it is a definite yes to if you like The Plated Prisoner series then you will most likely enjoy this book.

I’m really loving the enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, and the one bed trope in this book since they are some of my favorite tropes.

You can find the link to order The Blood That Binds Us by @erinmainordauthor in my LinkTree that is located in my bio. Also, I want to thank Erin and @BookOfMatchesMedia for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Blurb

“Monster…”

Wren has never stolen a life, but that doesn’t stop her from believing her darkness makes her a walking nightmare. Harboring a power so lethal, unpredictable, and entirely forbidden by kingdom law, Wren’s spent her whole life hiding what she is—who she is. A bloodwitch.

Meanwhile, a war is looming, and Wren’s feral magic may be the only thing that can stop the uprising from destroying the kingdom, her home, and everyone that stands in their way. After her sister is captured by the rebellion, Wren must seek help from the kingdom’s ruler who would sooner imprison her than offer aid. Except… Singard needs her, and when she volunteers the use of her power in exchange for his help finding her sister, an unlikely alliance is born.

Forced into a reluctant compromise with the “white-haired witch,” Sin finds himself protecting Wren for his kingdom’s survival, but their star-crossed relationship quickly spirals into one straddling the precipice of hate and passion. As secrets are unveiled and loyalties are tested, neither are sure who they can trust.

When hostilities deepen and war draws near, Wren is determined to rein in her wild magic and bind it to her will. With the lives of everyone she loves at stake, Wren must look within and decide if she is the monster she fears, or if there is light to be found in the darkest parts of herself.

Head over to my post on Instagram/Follow me on IG: @theheelerbooklife

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cx6_2_7LMVc/?igshid=MWZjMTM2ODFkZg==

[bridgertonbabe]

Ranking the Rokesby Series

So after recently reading all 4 Rokesby books, here’s my ranking of them;

1. The Girl With The Make-Believe Husband

Cecilia and Edward’s love story has to be my favourite from the sheer drama of it all. This book has everything; the hero suffering from amnesia, the heroine pretending to be his wife, a brother MIA, falling in love over correspondence, a strawberry-induced allergic reaction, and the ever beloved “there’s only one bed” trope. I also think Cecilia and Edward’s book is my favourite of the Rokesby series because while reading it I felt as though it was a bit Benophie-coded, due in part to the heroine having to go by an alternate identity of sorts and the hero not being any the wiser right up until the last few chapters (though to be fair Edward is suffering from memory loss - Benedict is just an idiot lmao). 

2. The Other Miss Bridgerton

Andrew and Poppy are next and while I initially thought Billie was as chaotic a Bridgerton as her nieces and nephews, it turns out drama and scandal is simply a Bridgerton family trait, as proven by Poppy when she manages to get kidnapped by privateers. Andrew makes for the perfect charmingly cheeky hero and he definitely reminded me a lot of Colin especially with his inability to stay in one place for too long yet coming to a point where he desired more from life. I enjoyed the witty back and forth between the pair but also how closely they bonded through their deeper conversations and how their attraction became more and more palpable as the story progressed. I genuinely didn’t expect the drama that would ensue upon their arrival in Portugal but it made for a pleasant surprise and appropriately raised the stakes for them to realise just how much they meant to each other. 

3. Because Of Miss Bridgerton

Now while I did thoroughly love George and Billie’s love story they’ve ended up ranking third only because there was so much drama in the above books in stark contrast. Again, I can’t help but compare the Rokesby series with the Bridgerton series and in doing so it’s so abundantly clear that this story is Kanthony-coded; from the enemies-to-lovers trope between two respective eldest siblings, the alleged supposition among the other characters that Billie is destined to end up with one of George’s brothers (even though it’s quite obvious that the supporting players are all lowkey side-eyeing the pair throughout), and even a game of Pall Mall featuring the mallet of death. While it could be viewed as an italicized version of Kanthony; TVWLM is one of Julia Quinn’s best stories for a reason so fuck it, why shouldn’t it be echoed? 

4. First Comes Scandal

And just because Georgie and Nicholas’s story is ranked fourth doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy it; again, purely based off of drama, this book simply wasn’t as wildly dramatic as it’s three predecessors. I loved the Muppet baby cameos of young ABC but if anything I loved it too much because I wanted more of them, plus I was a little disappointed that we never saw Edmund’s reaction to his best friend becoming engaged to his younger sister; did he get mad, was he shooketh, or did he find it a bit funny? For me the journey to Scotland dragged on a little more than I would have liked though I did enjoy reading how Georgie and Nicholas slowly fell for each other and transitioned from being friends to lovers (plus it was a nice touch having their first time being both of their first times; it gave their love scene a fresh dynamic from the rest of Regency couples’ first times).  

[pollyssecretlibrary]

“When the Duke Loved Me”, by Lydia Lloyd

This is the first book of The Rake Chronicles by Lydia Lloyd

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’ve been following Lydia Lloyd’s instagram for quite a while and I loved her sharing her knowledge of the romance genre and specifically the historical subgenre, which is my favorite by far. So when she announced that she was to publish this book I had to preorder it. Without knowing anything about it, and what’s more, I didn’t want to know about the book, only the beautiful cover. And what a ride this book was, in the good sense. It’s so complex and so much fun that I cannot but recommend it highly. It has literally everything you might want in a historical romance, save for the surprise pregnancy. All of the other tropes are here. Enemies to lovers? Check, forced proximity? Check, there was only one bed? Check, an obscure past that keeps them apart? Check, a bluestocking heroine? Check… as I said it has every trope, but Lydia did not throw all those clichés randomly, on the contrary, every one of these elements are well thought and incredibly well written, the writing is so smooth that despite it being so long, it flows. The book has so many turns and surprises that it should have taken me longer to read it, but no, it kind of flew in my hands. Lydia Lloyd knows how to play with her readers because she is an avid reader herself and she has learnt from other writers’ mistakes and also their hits, and it shows.

The characters are not one dimensional, they can be contrary, adorable, vulnerable both of them, insecure and imperfect. I loved their internal dialogues and how these thoughts and their dialogues make them grow and evolve. Especially John, who was the one with the biggest trauma, despite Catherine being the most affected by what happened in the past.

I enjoyed reading this boom immensely. I didn’t want it to end. It was fun (sorry for insisting), moving, heartbreaking at times, ridiculously entertaining, lovely and so so steamy in a natural way, not forced or cringey, not out of place or unreasonable, just pure lust and angst and longing… John and Catherine met at a party that they both attended under false identities. They felt instant attraction and when they were about to have a tryst in the gardens they were caught by a friend of hers and a friend of his. And the both of them tell them who they really are. In the past, at a party in their estate, John caught his father having an affair with Catherine’s aunt and the scandal made his mother avenge herself by running away with a baron. Six months later she dies giving birth to a girl, Henrietta, who was recognized by John’s father as his own. Seventeen years later and a month after the duke’s death, they read the will and it says that there will be no dowry for Henrietta unless John finds Catherine’s aunt and gives her an annuity. Here starts an adventure that will take Catherine and John traveling in their search of the woman, but what they’re surely going to find is a happily ever after, together.

[itsavgbltpta]

Should you watch Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion?

(Japanese title: Kanojo ga Koushaku-tei ni Itta Riyuu)

A Brief Summary

In what appears to be our modern world, Rinko finds herself pushed off the roof of a building by a mysterious figure.  Expecting death, instead she wakes up as a bit-part character in a novel she has read in the past.  Unfortunately, the character she wakes up as - Raeliana McMillan - is fated to die in the novel to trigger the plot forward.

Rinka/Raeliana doesn’t want to die twice, so she needs to figure out how to prevent her canon death using her knowledge of the novel’s plot.  This gets her connected with a particular Duke (Noah Wynknight) who she blackmails into helping her avoid being murdered by her current fiancé.  By saving herself, Raeliana is changing how the plot is supposed to go - and also changing who the hero of the novel - Noah - might fall in love with.

So, should you watch the anime?

Maybe.  This is one for fans of shoujo/otome style romance anime - plus it’s an isekai on top of that.  Definitely not for everyone, though if you are looking for an anime with a smart and sassy female lead, this may scratch that itch.

This type of anime would normally be right up my alley, but something about Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion prevented me from enjoying it like I thought I would.  I’m not sure if it was the characters, the pacing, or the plot, but something about the show was just off enough that it didn’t strike my fancy like a similar anime, My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to DOOM, did previously.  Both shows have female protagonists thrown into a situation where they need to save themselves from a canon death in a world different from their own with a lot of sexy dudes around them.  But only one made me go out and read the source material and preorder the upcoming Nintendo Switch game — and it wasn’t Raeliana’s story.

Some of this might be due to the usual suspect of adapting a light novel (or in this case, a series posted on a digital fiction platform).  Later novels may end up expanding on characters and plot points more, but that wasn’t reflected in the 12 episodes that aired.  Things happen fast and there are sometimes scene shifts that had me baffled.  Very minor spoilers, but there’s a sequence of events where our romantic duo is talking, then they’re on a boat at night for a fireworks display, then Raeliana falls asleep on the boat (maybe?  it’s not really explained) and wakes up in bed hours later.  These events could have been conveyed a lot smoother, but they weren’t.

Speaking of pacing and weird story shifts, there are brief mentions of the actual heroine of the novel in the world Raeliana finds herself.  She’s supposed to be Raeliana’s very close friend, and seems to show up mysteriously at the end of an earlier episode, but then never gets mentioned again until way later in the show.  It’s supposed to be a mystery, but either I missed something, or the writers missed something on that early appearance that lead up to jack squat.

Let’s talk about the animation briefly.  This show has some good looking character designs, and if you pause the anime at certain scenes, it’s very pretty.  However, in motion, this show is a mess.  I’m not usually picky about animation, and it was still watchable, but I was distracted by the poor animation often enough that I wanted to bring it up.

Raeliana as a character is pretty okay.  She is more proactive than a lot of typical otome-style heroines, but even with that she still makes dumb decisions and gets kidnapped a lot.  Her being snarky to a romantic rival was fairly entertaining, I will admit.  I had no issues with Raeliana, but she wasn’t a selling point for me either.  Who I did like was Noah Wynknight - the main romantic interest.  His character development was what made me keep watching the show.  I am a sucker for the trope where a cold-hearted asshole type starts to care about something/someone. 

But of course there are more romantic possibilities and rival characters in the novel world that Raeliana interacts with, such as:

A silent but mighty warrior from a race of people that are discriminated against who has a weakness for sweet things (Adam Taylor).

A female knight who tries to be cool and professional to serve her lord well, but also starts to like Raeliana after guarding her (Ansley).

A “fashion wizard” that is a tall and muscular man with amazing aesthetic taste and the ability to give people glow-ups (Nick Maddocks).

A sassy, sexy redhead who used to be the fairest of them all until Raeliana showed up and stole the man she wanted - and now she wants revenge (Vivian Shamall).

A shota looking high priest who is actually an older man stuck in a young body who is obsessed with having Raeliana call her grandpa and work for him (Heika Demint).

A mysterious blonde girl who should have been the main character, so it’s unclear what fate has in store for her after things get changed up (Beatrice Trancet).

Plus more potential love interests and villains to get in the way of Raeliana changing the plot of her new life!

Where does it rate on my personal scale?

S: I will buy it at full price (unless it’s released by Aniplex USA, because fuck their pricing).

A: I will buy it on sale sometime down the line.

B: I had fun watching it, but don’t need to own it.

->C: It’s not my cup of tea, but wasn’t awful.

D: Dropped it.

X: Finished it out of spite, but did not enjoy it.

Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion sits at a C for me.  It wasn’t pretty to watch, the pacing was a bit wonky, and I never got invested in the characters.  Your mileage may vary depending on how you like your romance plots.  There is a novel and manhwa series, but I’m not interested enough to dive in to see how things pan out for Raeliana.

[manuscripts-dontburn]

The Heroines

Author: Laura Shepperson

First published: 2023

Rating: ★☆☆☆☆

Somebody else said this felt more like a fanfiction rather than a serious literary retelling and I have to agree, while I also add this particular fanfiction was super sub-par and messy. There is a plethora of characters who all sound exactly the same. ALL the men are awful. ALL the women are abused EVERY night by ALL these men. And ALL the characters are absolutely unbelievable within the context of the myth. These are yet again, 20th-century people. Furthermore, I was bothered by the usage of expressions like "madam", "land ahoy" and "ex-husband" in what is supposed to be an ancient Greek myth. And the Viking culture, from one of the minor characters, is supposed to come..... did not exist at the same time as the Ancient Athens. So bad.

The Pearl: A True Tale of Forbidden Love in Catherine the Great's Russia

Author: Douglas Smith

First published: 2008

Rating: ★★★★☆

There are very few books in English that focus on Russian nobility (while there are plenty on the tsars). Douglas Smith wrote Former People: The Final Days of the Russian Aristocracy in which he showed how that nobility was systematically wiped out after 1917, however in The Pearl he plunges right into what was probably the most spectacular time for that same privileged class. The unusual story of a nobleman and a serf getting married serves the narrative as a sort of Ariadne´s yarn, as the book provides quite a detailed and fascinating description of the phenomenon that was the serf-theater. The author does not paint the affair as a romantic fairytale, acknowledging facts like Praskovia being figuratively her lover´s property, the age difference (which, back then, was not really seen as an issue), and the power dynamics. I found the subject very interesting and the writing clear and infused with enough poetry of language not to be dry and academic.

Matilda

Author: Mary Shelley

First published: 1959

Rating: ★★★★★

In spite of the lack of action and being very, very wordy indeed, this book held me completely captive thanks to the beautiful language and especially the psychological depth. This ladies and gentlemen, would be a stunning candidate for a re-telling in a proper novel form.

The Fair Botanists

Author: Sara Sheridan

First published: 2021

Rating: ★★★☆☆

The greatest enjoyment I had from this book was walking the Edinburgh streets in my mind because I had visited the city last year and fell in love with it. However, even though the writing is very good, the storyline failed to capture my attention and seemed, indeed, rather boring.

The Tres Riches Heures of Jean, Duke of Berry

Author: Jean Longnon, Raymond Cazelles

First published: 1440

Rating: ★★★★★

Stunning presentation of a remarkable book. Besides beautifully drawn biblical stories some of the plates show life in medieval times, almost like a time capsule.

House of the Spirits

Author: Isabel Allende

First published: 1982

Rating: ★★★★☆

If I should compare this book to something, it would be to a lovechild of Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman and books by Vaddey Rattner (though the pain in the latter´s books is inflicted by the exact opposite side than the one in this). While Isabel Allende´s style is not exactly to my taste, the family saga she wove in this book is fantastic from beginning to end, with its weird, unique, and, yes, even downright awful people. However, the sexual musings of the men were uncomfortable and unnecessary.

The Agency for Scandal

Author: Laura Wood

First published: 2023

Rating: ★★★☆☆

This is a great book when you just want something sweet and to relax. Full of tropes (including there was only one bed), and a little basic when it comes to the plot (the idea of a Victorian secret society of undercover lady agents made me want much more than what was delivered), but charming in the way it is uncomplicated.

Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar

Author: Simon Sebag Montefiore

First published: 2003

Rating: ★★★★☆

Very impressive biography of a terrible person. I have not read much on Stalin (though I have researched the lives of ordinary people of Russia under his regime) so I have little to compare this to in terms of accuracy. However, the author, as always, never fails to present everything as the golden truth - including the mental aerobics of maniacs. Perhaps some skepticism and doubt would suit his over-confident narrative.

A Gathering of Shadows

Author: V.E. Schwab

First published: 2016

Rating: ★★☆☆☆

This felt as long as a 30-year war. The first 300 pages are a painfully slow set-up, that is actually so elaborate (and full of passages that just did not need to exist, because they were extremely repetitive) that when something actually does happen near the very end, there is no surprise or twist at all. I mightily disliked most of the main characters (Lila is insufferable) and the villains had the actual best motivation out of everybody. Also, I felt that considering that the whole book kept talking about the Elemental Games, the games themselves had very little to do with the actual plot and left no impact whatsoever. I need to think on whether I even want to read the third book - but knowing myself I probably will, because I am a completionist.

Divine Rivals

Author: Rebecca Ross

First published: 2023

Rating: ★★★★☆

If you loved Lovely War, you will love this one. The romance is impossibly sweet and well-paced, and by the end of the book, you feel that the happiness or tragedy of your two protagonists is really your personal business. I loved the medium of letters and found the atmosphere of war slowly but surely marching on to you believable and realistic. I really, really liked this - and was bummed out to realize this is not a stand-alone! I want the second book now, please!

[sittingupwiththedead]

OKay so sometimes I am looking for new books and there is this trope I am noticing more and more especially in romance novels where you the an inciting incident, the then things happening around the inciting incident in a different book. So like a Heroine A is kidnapped by a villian with a heart of gold who's heart she heals with her body and while this is happening Heroine A's Brother and best female friend find out she's been kidnapped and go rescue her and fall in love themselves due to tropes like "snowed in" and "only one bed".

And you guys.

The inciting incident needs to be book one. Because if book one is Best female friend and kidnapped heroine's brother running around after kidnapped heroine I am going to feel let down when they complete their "mission" and kidnapped heroine is like "no its fine also here's my hot new husband"

[kelyon]

Name one plot element, trope or other literary or stylistic device that you don't think you could ever bring yourself to use or to write?

My drive to write comes out of curiosity, so it's hard to put up a limit. As soon as I say I'm not interested in something, there's a part of my brain that goes "but what if we were interested in this?" I've been coming up with answers for a week and I keep coming up with rebuttals.

In general, I would say anything that bores me, or is so far out of my experience that I can't latch onto it. My first thought was "hard sci-fi" because I don't have much interest in the realities of space travel or alien biology. Like, as much as I liked watching Arrival or The Martian, I could never write that material--at least not without spending a lot of time expanding my knowledge base.

I also have a bias against kidfic or YA stuff. This is a thing I'm struggling to rationalize my dislike for because it feels really invalid. From my personal experience being a child, I know that children and teenagers have real struggles, both internal and external. To this day some of the books I most highly recommend are from that perspective. The fic I am writing right now has a 15 year old as one of the main POV characters.

But if I open a fic and see that it's a high school AU, I click away. I can't handle it. There's an overwhelming feeling of "you don't have real problems, you're just 14." (Even while I'm aware that being 14 is a very real problem in and of itself.)

My biggest example of this is the teen drama in Stranger Things. No Nancy, you don't have to choose between these two boys, you need to get out of your podunk town and meet more people. No Will, the world isn't over because your straight best friend doesn't realize that you have a crush on him, you need to meet other gay people and also wear a condom because it's 1986. Yes Eleven, you have real problems and it sucks that you have to go to high school in addition to all of that, and that bitch is lucky you only broke her nose.

Anyway.

I guess it's just so hard to write young people right, so I'm repelled from consuming that material and intimidated to write it. Also with the fics I write, the risk of coming under fire for writing teenage sex scenes isn't worth the scant interest I have in exploring teenage sexuality. Like, people don't know what they're doing when they're adults either! I would rather the story of a 25 year old virgin (or a 45 year old mother of two feeling alive in bed for the first time in her life) than an 18 year old fumbling on a twin bed with another teenager.

This is getting long, but I do want to state my dislike of characters being mean for no reason, especially women being jealous or distrustful of other women. I read a fic (not Rumbelle ) where the heroine checks into a hotel for a tryst with the hero and her whole inner monologue was dedicated to assuming that the female check-in clerk was judging her and the heroine being bitchy in response. And this wasn't part of the heroine's growth or anything. It was a motivationless character detail that made me dislike the author more than any of the characters.

So just, why? Who does this help? What purpose does this serve in the narrative? Especially when I'm writing Belle, I really like to have her be someone who sees the good in people, or at least doesn't judge based on first impressions. (That's kind of her thing!) I just think the narrative is improved by having people work together instead of bickering. And I think you can judge a main character based on how polite they are to minor characters.

Thanks for asking!

[mermaidsirennikita]

Do you have any recs for paranormal romances? 🤔 No worries if not 😘

I have recs, but they're limited. I actually read a good bit of PNR as an impressionable youth, but because I don't remember their quality or even whether I'd consider them romance these days..... I'll hold off until I revisit.

There is, obviously, Immortals After Dark, my favorite romance series... possibly of all time. To paraphrase Edward Cullen, IAD is like a drug to me. It's hot, it's demented, and part of why I haven't gotten into other PNR series since I blazed through it is because I want to make sure I'm not doing a comparison.

Some people say these books can be read as standalones... I think some can, some can't, and there tends to be books that for sure read better with some context. I.... haven't rated an IAD book below a 4/5, so I tend to recommend them generally, with warnings.

My obligatory cheat sheet with tropes, hooks, and triggers is here. Many species are covered in this series. My top 5 IAD books would, as of now, of now, be:

Lothaire (which I literally consider a romance classic, it's bold as hell). Insane vampire villain paired with tough as nails defiant heroine who tries to outplay him with her mind AND her pussy.

Pleasure of a Dark Prince. Earthy sexual guy paired with valkyrie who's made a deal with a goddess to stay chaste in exchange for supernaturally accurate archery skills. Chastity becomes a lot harder when they must team up to take down a cannibalistic god. An EXTREMELY horny book.

Dark Needs at Night's Edge. Bloodlust-maddened virgin vampire is taken to a New Orleans mansion to detox by his brothers, thinks he's hallucinating a hot dancer that nobody else can see, but in fact, she's a HOT GHOST. Has one of my all time, world star heroines, and God I love him too--also has a scene where she's like stripping for him while he pretends to be unable to see her. Neomi is my FOREVER GIRL. This pairing is the "HE SAID NO PICKLES" pairing of IAD, and I stand by that.

Dark Needs at Night's Edge. Demon king/sorceress. She kidnaps him and chains him to a bed in order to conceive a child, but he has to verbally vow that she's his wife in order for the kid to be legitimate (which is important for her brother's evil plot). Sooooo a fuckton of edging commences. It's very dubcon, very dom/sub, has an evil heroine who slowly becomes... less evil, sort of, paired with a very upstanding demon dude who gradually releases that he actually enjoys dominating his partners.

MacRieve. Extremely emotionally damaged werewolf paired with an "unbeknownst to her" succubus in what is THE MOST EMOTIONALLY SCARRING BOOK I'VE EVER READ LOL. But I do love it. It's very challenging. There's a lot of trauma. I wouldn't recommend reading this solo, but it is one of my favorites, so.

... Anyway, I would also recommend Kathryn Ann Kingsley's Tenebris trilogy, which cannot be read as standalones and must be read in order. It's a horror/monster/occult paranormal romance set in like, a pseudo-1920s type world. The heroine goes on a crusade to find her missing twin brother, runs into his old professor who turns out to be not only a stern brunch daddy, but a high-ranking cultist who merged his body with an internal demonic creature that manifests in murderous shadow tentacles. Naturally, there's tentacle sex. And stuffing.

TW: secondary romance involves a supporting character who is a trans woman (transition was magically ensured) and a cis monster hunter guy. It's a wonderful romance. However, the trans character is briefly kidnapped by a villainous figure who attempts to forcibly de-transition her. This is portrayed as bad, is largely offscreen and brief, doesn't work, and the main lead rescues her and is totally supportive of the trans character, as is everyone else who is sane in that moment.

Mating the Huntress by Talia Hibbert is a light, fluffy, HOT Halloween-set werewolf novella. The heroine comes from a long line of werewolf hunters, which is PROBLEMATIC when the werewolf she's trying to hunt recognizes her as his mate. I love it when werewolves do that. Very soft, and the hero is a *virgin*.

Run, Run Rabbit by C.M. Nascosta. My personal favorite of Nascosta's works because while I appreciate her soft content, I prefer toxicity. The world has monsters and humans out in the open. The hero and heroine are both werewolves and work in a law firm together. They are hyper competitive, he's her boss, and she..... smells like prey. They enter into a years-long situationship where they meet and fuck (sometimes in shifted form) which culminates in this Lupercalia celebration where they've kinda gotta nut up or shut up about what they are to each other. DOES include a scene where he comes inside her and makes the other werewolves clean her up. Also includes a scene where she helps him get off by making out with him while two human women blow him. It's not for everyone. It is for me.

Laura Thalassa's Four Horsemen quarter is a post-apocalyptic PNR-type series. The setup is basically "woman meets horseman of the apocalypse; sex and love ensues". Best if read in order. Very dramatic. Lots of violence and gore. Pestilence and Death are virgins (the heroine of Death's book basically gets down there and is like "welp, I'm taking one for the team", which is a NICHE trope I love--"someone must give this monster an orgasm to save the world, and it might as well be me").

I've heard good things about Nalini Singh and Gena Showalter, buuuut I'm holding off on them until I'm in *the mood*.