zarlina

[zarlina]

Painted Paradise: Tiger Mask by Jamal Khan

⭐⭐⭐

I couldn't completely keep up with all the turns this story took, it felt like the characters were all over the place and sometimes I felt like I must have missed a step, but overall the story was still entertaining enough and I didn't hate it despite being a bit confused at times.

I'm not completely sure what I thought of the main duo, the investigator was a bit ridiculous with her dangerous (and stupid) choices, but once again, I didn't hate her. Not every story have to be realistic to be entertaining and even though I think some parts could do with a bit of work, I still enjoyed it.

A solid three stars. Not the best story out there, but definitely not the worst either. It's a quick and easy read, perfect to read to catch up on your goodreads goal, and the writing was good enough that I think this author can do some great work in the future.

[zarlina]

A secluded cabin in the woods provides a perfect escape for two young men—in perfectly different ways.

Cal needs somewhere to lie low after a job well done and finds himself a ride. Jasper just wants peace and quiet; instead he finds himself as the getaway driver. Neither of them was looking for a roommate, but as they get to know each other, they realize how well their plans fit together…

...or do they?

🌲🏳️‍🌈🌲🏳️‍🌈🌲🏳️‍🌈🌲🏳️‍🌈🌲🏳️‍🌈🌲🏳️‍🌈🌲🏳️‍🌈🌲🏳️‍🌈

The Cabin was inspired by Hell as Well by We Three. It's a short but important story about meeting someone unexpected, who might just turn out to be exactly the person you needed to meet in that exact moment.

[zarlina]

Or the reporter who magically finds the clue every single detective missed

every murder mystery ever: “the killer left no clues!” except for the insanely obvious ones the detective magically notices after 300 pages.

[zarlina]

All the Broken Places by John Boyne

So good. Maybe even better than the first one. The realism of being German after the war was stunning and the jumps between the timelines were done perfectly.

Can be read as a standalone and HIGHLY recommended.

[zarlina]

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

This is such a heavy, but also important, read. I think most people have already either read this one, or watched the movie, but it's important nevertheless, and one of those books I think you should re-read as an adult. It's interesting to see some of the war from the view of a German child, someone who didn't really know what was going on, and at the same time, get to see some of the horrible things that happened during the war.

The last words are even more important right now, with what's going on in the world. We think this could never happen again, but it is happening, and we pretend we don't know about it. Just like so many did back in ww2. We say "never again", while we let it happen. Just because it's not on our doorstep this time, we think we're not part of it. But we are. And we need to make better choices.

[zarlina]

Middle of The Night by Riley Sager

It's been a minute since a book had me this hooked, and now I'm sad it's already over. The story telling in this was exactly the kind I like, jumping between timelines and different narratives, without giving too much information at once, but also not so little that I lost interest. I liked the main character (which is rare) and I felt my heart breaking for him over and over. Though none of the twists really surprised me, and the final revelation was a bit underwhelming for my taste, I still enjoyed the book enough to recommend it to my friends. Solid 4 stars.

[zarlina]

A surprisingly wholesome read perfect for younger readers.

[zarlina]

Entertaining enough, but the main characters were pretty annoying and the ending was confusing. Still, a quick read and I didn't hate it so three stars it is.

[zarlina]

Thank you so much for the nominations for the Indie Ink awards, the next stage is voting ! So if you'd like you can vote for Synthetic Sea in these categories and maybe it'll make the finals !!

Get your votes in by the end of December! 💙🌌🌈📚💜

[zarlina]

This was nothing but torture porn with some dull plot in-between. The beginning started off interesting enough, but then it just went on and on and on and it just never ended. There were no real twists and the one thing that SHOULD have been one was... well, not really a twist that either. It was all just a real fucking stupid main character doing one idiotic thing after the other, and no matter how close you thought you were to the book finally ending you were sill barely halfway through. I really need to learnt to DNF books because this was not worth it.

[zarlina]

Pieties by Marc Ruvolo

This was a really good read, but I wish it would have been focused more on the horror and less on Andrew working and going to parties that didn't really feel like it added much to the story. I would have wanted some more hints, more creepiness and a slightly less rushed ending, but overall it was a good story and I think this author can write brilliant things in the future.

[zarlina]

The Box by Matt Micheli

This was short and fun. The story pulled me in from the first paragraph and even though it was a super quick read I enjoyed every minute of it. I wouldn't have minded a bit more depth but that's just my detail loving self speaking. The story gives you exactly what it promises, a fast paced horror, perfect to read between heavier books, or to catch up on your goodreads goal.

[zarlina]

— Traci Brimhall, Dear Eros

[zarlina]

All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham

I really enjoyed this one. It had small little mysteries, all with their own clues, and with twists I didn't always see coming but made perfect sense when I thought back to what I'd just read. One of the better thrillers I've read this year.

[zarlina]

A secluded cabin in the woods provides a perfect escape for two young men—in perfectly different ways.

Cal needs somewhere to lie low after a job well done and finds himself a ride. Jasper just wants peace and quiet; instead he finds himself as the getaway driver. Neither of them was looking for a roommate, but as they get to know each other, they realize how well their plans fit together…

...or do they?

🌲🏳️‍🌈🌲🏳️‍🌈🌲🏳️‍🌈🌲🏳️‍🌈🌲🏳️‍🌈🌲🏳️‍🌈🌲🏳️‍🌈🌲🏳️‍🌈

The Cabin was inspired by Hell as Well by We Three. It's a short but important story about meeting someone unexpected, who might just turn out to be exactly the person you needed to meet in that exact moment.

[zarlina]

[zarlina]

Can you post something about different kinds of soulmates? The name on the wrist or red strings are nice but a little overused, maybe. Idk. Do you have anything different?

50 Types of Soulmates in Literature

The soulmate trope might feel pretty cliche to most but I love exploring them (great short story material, esp if you want to twist it into horror/thriller/non romance). Thanks for the ask! I hope this list is what you were looking for: 

Fate-Driven Soulmates

1. Shared Dreams – They meet in their dreams every night/[idea] after they turn [age].

2. Reincarnation– They reincarnate in every era and are destined to meet each time.

3. Aura Bonds – Their auras [change] when they’re near each other.

4. Mirror Messages – They see the other’s face in the mirror when they turn [age].

5. Starbound – Their soulmate’s birth constellation forms on them after their first meeting.

6. Heartbeat Match – Their pulses sync when they meet and get more uneven when they’re apart after that.

7. Shared Memories – They have flashbacks of past lives together.

8. The First Words – Their first spoken words to each other are tattooed on their skin.

9. Fragrance – They recognise each other by a unique scent only one’s soulmate carries (i.e. in the world you can only smell roses on your soulmate).

10. Scars – They have matching scars in the same place since their birth.

11. Colour - They only start seeing colour after meeting their soulmate. Can be changed to sound, touch, smell, etc.

Cultural Soulmates

12. Mehndi Marks - In Indian/Middle Eastern cultures, your soulmate’s name appears in your mehndi/henna.

13. Karmic Threads - In Buddhist traditions, invisible karmic bonds pull them toward one another.

14. Feng Shui Alignment – Their energies perfectly balance according to the Feng Shui elements.

15. Ancestor's Blessing – Their names are revealed through a ritual that summons past ancestors.

16. Name in Flames – In some folk traditions, a fire ceremony reveals their soulmate’s initials in the embers.

17. Feather Match – They exchange feathers that later glow when their soulmate is near.

18. Shared Songlines – In Aboriginal traditions, their paths align on the same Songline.

19. Palm Reading Prophecy – Their soulmate’s features or initials are foretold in their palm lines.

20. Dance of Fate – In certain cultures, a soulmate is revealed during a traditional dance when they naturally pair up.

21. Persian Tea Leaves – Their names appear during tea-reading rituals.

Object-Based Soulmates

22. Lock and Key – Everyone is born with a keyhole shape. When you turn [age] you’re blessed with a key that only fits into your soulmate.

23. Shared Journal – They write in the same journal without knowing how.

24. Twin Trinkets – When born, each person receives a magical [trinket]. Your soulmate has its twin. 

25. Compass of Love – A compass always points them toward their soulmate.

26. Two Halves – They carry two halves of the same [object].

27. Enchanted Maps – A map updates itself with their location when they’re near.

28. Eternal Rings – Rings burn hot or glow when their soulmate is close.

29. Song – When they turn [age] they hear a song sung in their soulmate’s voice. (Interesting: in this world, MC hears nothing. They think they don’t have one, rly their soulmate is just mute). 

Connection Through Nature

30. Tree of Life – Their world has a special garden you go to when you’re [age]. In the garden, a tree starts to grow when two soulmates are near. Note: if they ‘break up’ or one dies, the tree wilts and dies too.  

31. Blooming Flowers – When your soulmate is born, you get a flower bud [different for each]. When you meet the first time, this bud goes into full bloom. If you pass without meeting, it dies. This continues till you actually meet, and the flowers finally [fall off?]

32. Animal Guides – At birth you’re assigned a spirit animal who leads you to your soulmate when the time is right. (Ooh maybe your spirit animals are soulmates too OR hmo: they’re enemies! You haven’t met your soulmate yet because your spirit animals are doing everything to keep you [and themselves] apart). 

33. Shifting Shadows – Their shadows always reach toward the other. When you sleep, your shadows break away and meet each other. 

34. Bound by Seasons – They only meet during a specific season each year. Kind of like a Divergent ‘born into a season’ thing. (But what if a Summer and Winter end up being fated? But they can’t survive in each other’s seasons. [omg Tinkerbell] lol). 

35. Ocean Whispers – It’s said if you go to the ocean’s shore and say something there your soulmate will hear it when they go to the shore. (MC’s soulmate hates the ocean. They’ve never been. One day they finally go, and sit for hours as they listen to messages from their soulmate, who apparently lives by the ocean and has been calling to them every night). 

36. Star-Written Names – When you turn [age] only you see a name written in the stars. That’s your soulmate’s name.

Unconventional Soulmate Tropes

37. Memory Keepers – One soulmate is bound to forget each other in each new life, and the other is fated to remember and find them. The other only remembers if and when they meet. 

38. Parallel Lives – They exist in parallel universes but see glimpses of each other via [plot].

39. Shared Illness – They feel each other’s pain, sickness, and recovery.

40. Shared Mortality – They can only die when they’re together.

41. The Final Wish – When you turn [age] you get to make a wish and your soulmate has to fulfil it in order for you to meet.

42. The Sacrificial Lamb – One is destined to save the other through ultimate sacrifice.

43. The Time Loop – They’re stuck in a loop, meeting repeatedly until they get it right.

44. Dual Souls – They share one soul in two bodies, feeling incomplete without the other.

45. The Undying and the Mortal – One reincarnates endlessly, always finding their soulmate, if they fail to find them, their soulmate will not reincarnate and die forever. Except, you don’t know who’s the immortal one. 

46. Time Stopper: Time stops when you’re with your soulmate. It starts again when you’re apart. 

Sense-Based Soulmates

47. Sight: When you close your eyes you can see what they’re seeing. 

48. Warmth: You feel physically cold everytime you’re without your soulmate. Your heart turns colder every year, till when you’re [age] you both die if you haven’t met.  

49. Colour: You can’t see your soulmate’s eye/hair colour till your first meeting. The issue: they don’t know the colour, so often overlook this change. (Many resort to checking a colour chart every day till they see a new colour). 

50. Touch: You can’t feel anything till your soulmate touches you for the first time. Everything simply feels like its weight, not texture. 

Looking For More Writing Tips And Tricks? 

Check out the rest of Quillology with Haya; a blog dedicated to writing and publishing tips for authors!

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