#kerry and the knight of the forest

[vortexpunk]

Big piece with a whole bunch of comic's I read this year that I particularly liked. Looking forward to the New Year.

[ghastlypunkdraws]

me: hey, have you read ever 'kerry and the knight of the forest' *cricket chirping .sfx* me: oh uh ok dood thats cool *uncontrollable sobbing*

[elodieunderglass]

And one amang, an Iyrysch man,

Uppone his hoby swyftly ran…

WAIT HANG ON - slamming the brakes on drawing this stupid picture - do you nerds even KNOW the etymology of the word “hobby”? The thing you do for pleasure? The thing you have too many of? The thing you spend too much money on and share with your friends? The thing tumblr probably is to you? Those hobbies?

It comes from a now-kind-of-extinct breed of Irish pony-horse. It was called the Irish Hobby. Supposedly the hobby got its name from the Gaelic word obann, or swift. They definitely were. They’d obann your pants clean off.

Fast tough little bastards, built for rough terrain and renowned for their speed and stamina, hobby horses belonged to the Celts, and their highly annoying style of mounted warfare. but their conquerors liked hobby horses a lot, kept them, used them for themselves, and found them useful enough, despite the fact that they also had famously useful things like mounted knights or horse archers. A lightweight Irish warrior, mounted on a hobby horse, was called a hobelar.

Reportedly and in depictions, hobelars rode without stirrups. Or saddles. Or bridles. Or - well - this is all sounding very improbable, because the hobelars COULDNT have just been charging around basically bare-assed on naked ponies, screaming, and somehow in the process undoing the composure of actual mounted armoured knights. Knights who, I remind you, had stirrups. Stirrups are useful! It’s quite likely the hobelars had some gear. And clothes. and weapons. And the ponies probably had some tack - I am picturing a bellyband that you could at least hang a saddlebag on, and a neck rope for catching the bloody thing, even if not a saddle. But the overall impression, somehow created by people on darling little ponies, was apparently quite striking and fearful.

I mean. God Forbid People Have Hobbies.

Anyway after a while, whatever people became the British had eventually conquered all of the rough terrain that hobbies were best at, and horse archers just got sexier, and mounted knights became aristos, and all the bog and forest people had been subdued, so it was time to sunset the hobelars. but WAIT! Hobby horses are still tremendously fun and appealing! They’re so fast! and you can ride them without a saddle! Sure, they’re not up to the weight of a mounted knight, or indeed a lot of guys… but surely we can still find a use for a hobby or two? In the back garden? Somewhere?

At which point an English king decided to keep hobby horses just for fun. No military application. No further development of the technology. Not for fun. Just as expensive, pleasurable, pets. Just for the joy of the thing.

And that is how hobby (activity done purely for pleasure) comes from hobby horse (small horse) possibly from obann (swift.) they’re very interesting and you should look all this up for yourself! because it sure sounds like Elodie doing a bit, doesn’t it?

Today, Irish Hobbies are functionally nonexistent. References for drawing include the Kerry Bog Pony, the Connemara, and (I personally think) Dartmoors and Exmoors. They’re said to have lent their speed to the Irish Hunter/Sport Horse and from there to the Thoroughbred, but every damn horse in the world claims relation to the Thoroughbred, and they can’t be THAT thoroughly bred.

At any rate - you can never have enough hobbies. Just be glad that yours aren’t expensive beasts with minds of their own, eating their heads off in the pasture! …Unless they are. In which case, you’re part of a proud tradition.

[eulaliamourn]

Dude!! like 2 posts and Im already kinda invested... can I know a bit more about it plot wise ?

(no spoilers obvi, I can wait for publishing🤭)

OMG YES OKAY!!! MY GIRLS!!!

To Be Devoured Gently is for the girlies who want haunted forests and haunted hearts.

Evie Monroe is running as far as she can from home town, Kenmare—from the silence her mother left hanging in their home, from the fear that grief might one day take her too. A struggling writer with a sharp tongue and too much heart, she follows a myth into the woods and finds a crumbling manor that pulses with wrongness—and two women who make her feel like she’s breathing for the first time. But loving something ancient and broken comes with teeth.

Orlaith, the Grove’s disgraced guardian Thorn-Knight, once slaughtered her family for a prophecy that never wanted her. Old as moonlight and just as lonely, she clings to honor like a blade. When a human girl stumbles into their exile and a Court stirs on the horizon, Orlaith must choose between the legacy that ruined her and the future she might still deserve.

Nyssha was born to serve—crafted by eldritch hands, crowned in rot and shadow, and used by the Beckoning Lord until they forgot her name and had to craft a new one. But gods don’t stay chained forever. Now she’s free, uncertain, and terrifyingly adored. She doesn't know how to want for herself. When the Mirror King begins to stir and the Beckoning Court whispers her name like a promise, Nyssha must face the one thing their was never allowed: choice.

It’s horror. It’s romance. It’s the slow unraveling of what it means to be touched—by magic, by memory, by each other.

If you like:

poly sapphic disasters,

glamoured monsters with too many eyes,

a human girl that sounds ripped straight out of Kerry County, and decided fucking monsters if better than meeting her deadline,

a beautifully hideous god that acts like she has it all under control, but whimpers under pressure,

a heavily tattooed, stone top whose idea of a "light work out" is launching scots pines across an acre,

“I would burn the world for you” energy but whispered,

trauma unpacked slowly and with great tenderness,

and kissing in cursed places,

then this book is licking its teeth just for you.

if i ever get it finished and out there

Ⓒ eulaliamourn 2025 | do not copy, plagiarize, or steal.

Horror Elements | Trigger Warnings↴↴↴↴

Sexual violence & non-consent (including coercion, manipulation, and power-imbalanced encounters)

Body horror, including decay, transformation, and grotesque physical alterations

Forced body modification, often ritualistic or punitive in nature

Female genital mutilation (referenced or depicted as part of court practices)

Implied childhood sexual abuse (CSA) involving power structures and ritual servitude

Transphobia & misgendering, especially within oppressive court systems

Forced masculinity and the erasure of gender identity

“Corrective” sexual violence, aimed at punishing or erasing lesbian identity

Suicide, including discovery of a suicide and impact on loved ones

Graphic suicidal ideation & suicide attempt, shown through flashbacks

[a-kitsune-in-camelot]

Prompt: Someone is giving a speech, but it gets interrupted

The designated meeting room was quiet when the last of the arrivals entered, but it wasn’t empty.

Scattered around the table were four other individuals, who all looked up.

Hiroshi recognized Kerry, who sat off to the right. The deer faeman nodded to him.

The kitsune took that as an invitation to sit next to him, with Bari seating herself on Hiroshi’s other side.

Looking around at all the unfamiliar faces, Hiroshi could identify them as the local leadership among the non-human races.

Across from him sat someone he thought he recognized.

Then it hit him.

‘Isn’t that Kara’s father? What was his name? Rudy?’

Their eyes met briefly, nodding to each other.

Further down was a woman whose hair seemed to be made from leaves, and her skin was bark-like in appearance. She reflected the changing seasons from summer to autumn with her hair mostly red and orange with speckles of green.

‘She must be a dryad’

At the head of the table was the host of this little meeting, the King of the local elves.

Once he determined that all were present and accounted for, the King rose from his seat.

“Welcome, Leaders of the Great Forest. I have called this meeting to discuss recent events. Specifically…”

The King locked eyes with the dark haired fox.

“concerning the inheritance of Green Chapel, though most of you would know it as Colchester Castle.”

Hiroshi was puzzled.

‘What inheritance?’

The castle was his, he’d already made it his own.

He was even considering changing its name to something more flattering.

It seemed those in attendance he was familiar with were of similar opinion.

“What are you talking about? The Lord Hiroshi won the castle from the Elder Wood Dragon. It’s his by right!”

Rudin said, slamming his fist against the table in indignation.

“There’s no need for such behavior, Chief Grishson. He may have slain the dragon, but the castle was never the dragon’s to claim in the first place.”

The Elf King retorted.

“Are you referring to the Necromancer King?”

Hiroshi asked.

“Rather rude to talk about me as if I’m not here, by the way.”

The Dryad seemed stunned by the haughty remark, while the King seemed to stare at him with an almost imperceptible twitch in his eye.

Kerry and Bari struggled to hide their amused smiles.

“… apologies. To answer your question, I was not referring to him. I refer to the descendants of Lord Berdlagh, of which he was but one.”

Rudin, Bari and Kerry all looked at each other confused. Hiroshi thought he recognized that name from somewhere.

“I’m sorry, who is Ber… Berd-lag?”

He hoped he pronounced that correctly.

“He was the original Lord of Green Chapel in the time of the Hero King Arthur. One of his knights, Gawain I believe, married Berdlagh’s daughter and inherited the land.”

“I was but a sapling when the changes started.”

The Dryad said.

“It was peaceful for a long time, then the family started to neglect my sisters and I. When the decay began, we were forced to move to another part of the Great Wood.”

“That’s… not great, and I’m sorry that happened. But what does all this have to do with me? I’m not a descendant of Berdlagh, so what?”

“Let me get to the point.”

The Elf King said, rising to his full height and leering down at the seated kitsune.

“That territory rightfully belongs to the Elves. Berdlagh was one of us, and it was foolish of him to trust humans with his blessed abode.”

“Maybe so, in the end. But I assure you, so long as I live, I won’t let it fall to darkness again.”

“You speak as if you own Green Chapel, youngling.”

“I do own it. It’s mine now, I’ve already marked it as such. If you go there right now, you’ll see that the castle itself was in such a state of ruin that I had to cast a Fortress spell to bring the structure back to its former glory, at least in shape. It is perfectly suitable for my purposes, as well as that of the people who live there with me.”

“No one person can own the land.”

The Dryad said.

“What you speak is blasphemy.”

“To you, maybe. I’ll gave you know, as a Kami I am intrinsically linked to the natural area around my territory. If it is damaged, or grows, I feel it. I am Lord of the Forest, after all. At least my section of it.”

“… Kami? I am not familiar with that term. Nevertheless, if you wish to keep your claim upon Green Chapel, then you will need to prove to myself and the others in this council your worthiness.”

Since @murukuruandfriends missed the last session, this is what I got to read aloud. I have since written more of the chapter

[kattra]

What I’m Reading

BOOKS OF AUGUST  People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry  We Had No Rules by Corinne Manning (SS)  Gathering Moss: A Natural and Cultural History of Mosses by Robin Wall Kimmerer (NF)  Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng  Trickster’s Queen by Tamora Pierce

Graphic Novels: 5 Seconds Before a Witch Falls in Love by Zeniko Sumiya Sorry For My Familiar Vol.1-3 by Tekka Yagaraba  Classmates Vol.1-3 by Asumiko Nakamura  Talk to My Back by Yamada Murasaki  Hello, Melancholic! Vol.1-3 by Yayoi Osawa  Akira Vol.3 by Katsuhiro Otomo Kerry and the Knight of the Forest by Andi Watson **

(110 books read / 125 books goal)

currently reading:  The Dark Queens: The Bloody Rivalry That Forged the Medieval World by Shelley Puhak  Shenanigans: All-New Tales of Valdemar edited by Mercedes Lackey (SS) I Never Met a Rattlesnake I Didn’t Like by David Carpenter (NF) Best of Friends by Kamila Shamsie  A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik 

* - re-read // ** - 4+ star-rating (recommended) GN - graphic novel // NF - non-fiction // P - poetry SS - short story collection // AB - audiobook 

TBR: The Last Graduate + The Golden Enclaves by Naomi Novik  One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston  The Madonna of Excelsior by Zakes Mda  Be A Good Ancestor written by Leona Prince & Gabrielle Prince, illustrated by Carla Joseph Berry Song written & illustrated by Michaela Goade 

WHAT ARE YOU READING? :D

Find me on: GOODREADS | THE STORYGRAPH

[kingsbridgelibraryteens]

Middle School Monday: Kerry and the Knight of the Forest by Andi Watson 

Kerry left his home on an errand that literally meant life or death. When it was time for him to return home, he had to decide whether to go through or around the forest. He decided to go through it because he thought he would get home sooner, but this decision started him on a journey that he never expected. Much of the story takes place while Kerry is lost in the forest, on an adventure that is sometimes amazing and sometimes dangerous. Along the way he meets many unusual creatures in all shapes and sizes, from ghostly children to spiky seedlings to a knight who is different than any knight that Kerry ever imagined. 

Will Kerry be able to complete his journey in safety, or will he stay lost in the forest forever? 

Give this graphic novel to older kids and younger teens who love fantastic adventures and weird creatures!

[jess-smart-smiley]

Kerry and the Night of the Forest (Book Review)

Kerry and the Night of the Forest (Book Review)

Kerry and the Knight of the Forest Written & Illustrated by Andi Watson Wow! I’ve had my eye on Kerry and the Knight of the Forest for a while and I’m glad I finally got the chance to read this with my daughter. Kerry and the Knight of the Forest is a fantastic adventure for middle-grade readers, packed with memorable characters, dynamic illustrations, and spectacular adventures. It was the…

[pussreboots]

[lilianade-comics]

Graphic Novel Recommendations: Over the Garden Wall 🍂 Edition

It’s spooky month, so here’s some graphic novel/comic recommendations that have similar energy to that quintessential autumn cartoon, Over the Garden Wall.

The Secret of the Stone Frog by David Nytra: A pair of siblings wake up in a mysterious, whimsical, and dangerous woodland world and encounter many strange creatures and places on their journey back home. Sound familiar?? This is extremely similar to OTGW in the best of ways, and the spooky, dreamlike atmosphere is a real treat. The artwork is gorgeous, extremely detailed ink drawings. What’s not to love?? Highly recommend if you love OTGW.

Kerry and the Knight of the Forest by Andi Watson: A boy finds himself navigating a malevolent forest with the aid of a mysterious guide. Contains ghostly children, an evil forest spirit, and a recommendation from Patrick McHale himself. The art is simple but has a similar patterned charm. Some panels reminded me of Cartoon Saloon’s Secret of Kells. Definitely worth getting lost in!

Twistwood Tales by Twistwood (AC MacDonald): This is a webcomic, not a graphic novel. (However, you can preorder a physical book, to be released in 2023!) A bright and colorful cast of whimsical characters populates an autumn wood. Very charming and funny, and the character design is top notch! 

[clemsfilmdiary]

The Best of June 2021

Best Discovery: Advise & Consent

           Runners Up: The Asphalt Jungle, The Big Heat, The Boys Next Door, Broken Blossoms, Coup de Torchon, Dark Blue, Downloading Nancy, Grand Hotel, The Nun's Story, Out of the Past, Sunrise, The Unknown, The Wind

Best Rewatch: Body Heat

           Runners Up: The Blue Angel, Days of Heaven, Floating Weeds, Sicario, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me

Most Enjoyable Fluff: Chocolat

           Runners Up: Garage Sale Murder: The Novel Murders, Last Scene Alive: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery, Love Under the Stars, Ms. Matched, Ninotchka, Redneck, Stop the Wedding, Summer Villa, You Had Me at Aloha

Oddity of the Month: Viva

Best Male Performance: William Hurt in Body Heat

           Runners Up: Maxwell Caulfield and Charlie Sheen in The Boys Next Door, Lon Chaney in The Unknown, Melvyn Douglas in Ninotchka, Glenn Ford in The Big Heat, Emil Jannings in The Blue Angel, Philippe Noiret in Coup de Torchon, Jason Patric in Downloading Nancy, Kurt Russell in Dark Blue

Best Female Performance: Sheryl Lee in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me

           Runners Up: Maria Bello in Downloading Nancy, Emily Blunt in Sicario, Marlene Dietrich in Blonde Venus, Greta Garbo in Ninotchka, Audrey Hepburn in The Nun's Story, Kathleen Turner in Body Heat

Best Supporting Performance: Ray Wise in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me

           Runners Up: Stephane Audran and Isabelle Huppert in Coup de Torchon, Lionel Barrymore and Joan Crawford in Grand Hotel, Gloria Grahame in The Big Heat, Jean Hagen in The Asphalt Jungle, Machiko Kyō in Floating Weeds, Don Murray in Advise & Consent

Most Enjoyable Ham: Kavan Smith in You Had Me at Aloha

           Runners Up: Joan Crawford in Humoresque and Untamed, Bo Derek in Ghosts Can't Do It, David Keith and Tim Thomerson in Take This Job and Shove It, Peter Lorre in The Maltese Falcon, Tony Musante in The Detective, Shawn Roberts in Ms. Matched

Best Screen Couple: David Keith and Tim Thomerson in Take This Job and Shove It

           Runners Up: Maxwell Caulfield and Charlie Sheen in The Boys Next Door, Melvyn Douglas and Greta Garbo in Ninotchka

Best Mise-en-scène: Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me

           Runners Up: The Blue Angel, Body Heat, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, Days of Heaven, Floating Weeds, The Letter, Out of the Past, Sicario, Sunrise, Viva

Best Locations: Days of Heaven (rolling wheat fields of Southern Alberta)

           Runners Up: Floating Weeds (exteriors of cozy Wakayama seaside town), Iguana (rocky volcanic island locations), The Journey of August King, (dark forested roads and open hills of rural North Carolina) Sicario (bleak Sonoran desert, sprawling urban hellscape of Juarez), Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (eerie suburban dream-houses, abandoned railway carriage and lush, foggy rainforest)

Best Score: Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (Angelo Badalamenti)

           Runners Up: Body Heat (John Barry), Broken Blossoms (Joseph Turrin), The Letter (Max Steiner), Sicario (Jóhann Jóhannsson)

Best Cartoon: Minnie the Moocher

           Close Second: Lullaby Land

           Runners Up: Dizzy Dishes, Oh What a Knight, Three Little Pigs

Best Leading Hunk: William Hurt in Body Heat

          Runners Up: Maxwell Caulfield in The Boys Next Door, Robert LaBrosse and Jason Saucier in Three for One, Niall Matter in Stop the Wedding, Franco Nero in Redneck, Jason Patric in Incognito and The Journey of August King, Shawn Roberts in Ms. Matched

Best Supporting Hunk: Don Murray in Advise & Consent

           Runners Up: John Finn in Geronimo: An American Legend, David Keith and Tim Thomerson in Take This Job and Shove It, Norman Kerry in The Unknown, Dash Mihok and Scott Speedman in Dark Blue, Jason Patric in Becoming

           Honorable Mention: Craig Stevens in Humoresque

Assorted Pleasures:

- Phantasmagoric shape-shifting tanuki parade in Pom Poko

- Uncanny walrus rotoscoping of Cab Calloway's dance routine in Minnie the Moocher

- Striking blend of color and black and white in Pleasantville

- Rare early glimpses of seedy gay underworlds in Advise & Consent and The Detective

- Tantalizingly juicy Pansy-Craze nightclub scene in Call Her Savage

[dcbicki]

Here’s to Peter Dinklage, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Lena Headey, Emilia Clarke, Kit Harington, Sophie Turner, Maisie Williams, Isaac Hempstead Wright, John Bradley, Liam Cunningham, Alfie Allen, Gwendoline Christie, Jacob Anderson, Nathalie Emmanuel, Ian Glen, Conleth Hill, Hannah Murray, Joe Dempsie, Carice van Houten, Rory McCann, Kristofer Hivju, Jerome Flynn, Pilou Asbæk, Richard Dormer, Gemma Whelan, Daniel Portman, Ben Crompton, Bella Ramsey, Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, and Vladimir Furdik, Sean Bean, Michelle Fairley, Mark Addy, Richard Madden, Art Parkinson, Charles Dance, Natalie Dormer, Finn Jones, Diana Rigg, Aidan Gillen, Rose Leslie, Jason Momoa, Michiel Huisman, Jack Gleeson, Harry Lloyd, Peter Vaughan, Kristian Nairn, Natalia Tena, Joseph Mawle, Aisling Franciosi, Dean-Charles Chapman, Stephen Dillane, Kerry Ingram, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Ellie Kendrick, Paul Kaye, Kate Dickie, Tobias Menzies, Clive Russell, Ian McShane, Donald Sumpter, Tom Wlachicha, Oona Chaplin, Ron Donachie, Esmé Bianco, David Bradley, Iwan Rheon, Michael McElhatton, Miltos Yerolemou, Julian Glover, Ian McElhinney, Tara Fitzgerald, Lino Facioli, Gethin Anthony, Wilko Johnson, Eugene Simon, Ben Hawkey, Jim Broadbent, Jonathan Pryce, Hannah Waddingham, Amrita Acharia, Noah Taylor, Anton Lesser, Rupert Vansittart, Josef Altin, Mark Stanley, Owen Teale, Pedro Pascal, Indira Varma, Richard Rycroft, Staz Nair, Ciarán Hinds, James Cosmo, Patrick Malahide, Will Tudor, Mackenzie Crook, Marc Rissman, Megan Parkinson, James Faulkner, Tom Hopper, Jessica Henwick, Keisha Castle-Hughes, Rosabell Laurenti Sellers, Nell Tiger Free, Max von Sydow, Brenock O’Connor, Philip McGinley, Harry Grasby, Elyes Gabel, Richard Brake, Tom Brooke, Tim Plester, Joel Fry, Sibel Kekilli, Ian Beattie, Susan Brown, Mark Gatiss, Faye Marsay, Marc Rissman, Hannah John-Kamen, Ed Skrein, Margaret John, Ross Mullan, Ian Whyte, Ralph Ineson, Charlotte Hope, Elizabeth Webster, Nonso Anozie, Ian Hanmore, Steven Cole, Roger Ashton-Griffiths, Eros Vlahos, DeObia Oparei, Ian Gelder, Essie Davis, Bart the Bear II, Lucian Msamati, Birgitte Hjort Sørensen, Brian Fortune, Michael Condron, Robert Aramayo, Alexander Siddig, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Enzo Cilenti, Toby Sebastian, Luke Roberts, Richard E. Grant, Eline Powell, Kevin Eldon, Dean Jagger, Tim McInnerny, Sean Blowers, David Rintoul, Kae Alexander, and more. Here’s to the actors who gave their all.

Here’s to David Nutter, Michael Slovis, Mark Mylod, Alex Graves, Alan Taylor, Jeremy Podeswa, Alik Sakharov, Neil Marshall, Matt Shakman, Brian Kirk, Michelle MacLaren, Daniel Minahan, Timothy Van Patten, David Petrarca, Jack Bender, Daniel Sackheim, and Miguel Sapochnik. Here’s to Dave Hill, Ethan J. Antonucci, Jane Espenson, Gursimran Sandhu, Vanessa Taylor, and Bryan Cogman. Here’s to Ramin Djawadi. Here’s to the visionaries and the storytellers.

Here’s to HBO. Here’s to David Benioff and D.B. Weiss. Here’s to the producers and the casting department. Here’s to the second unit directors and the whole production crew. Here’s to the stunt guys, body doubles, and the choreographers. Here’s to the location scouts and the transportation department. Here’s to the sound editors, and the visual effects team. Here’s to the camera crew. Here’s to the cinematographers and editors. Here’s to the production and art departments. Here’s to the set designers, costume designers, and the makeup department. Here’s to those who made a whole world come to life.

Here’s to the Starks, the Lannisters, the Targaryens, the Baratheons, the Greyjoys, the Tullys, the Arryns, the Martells, the Mormonts, the Tyrells. Here’s to all the other houses. Here’s to the bastards: the Snows and the Sands and the Waters. Here’s to the direwolves: Grey Wind, Lady, Nymeria, Summer, Shaggydog, and Ghost. Here’s to the dragons: Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion. Here’s to the Seven, the Drowned Gods, the Old Gods and the New. Here’s to the Red Priestesses. Here’s to the Brotherhood Without Banners. Here’s to the Faceless Men. Here’s to the Maesters. Here’s to the Knight’s Watch. Here’s to the Free Folk. Here’s to those who became wights. Here’s to the wargs and the Children of the Forest. Here’s to the giants. Here’s to the Bravosi, the Dothraki, and Unsullied. Here’s to the Knights of the Vale. Here’s to all the soldiers. Here’s to the fighters. Here’s to those we loved, and those we lost along the way.

Here’s to George R.R. Martin. Here’s to A Song of Ice and Fire. Here’s to Game of Thrones. Here’s to the fandom and the friends we made along the way. Here’s to you.

[librarycomic]

Kerry and the Knight of the Forest by Andi Watson. Random House Graphic, 2020. 9781984893291. 288pp. http://www.powells.com/book/-9781984893291?partnerid=34778&p_bt

Kerry is rushing home to Meadowsweet when he's tricked into taking a path through a cursed forest and gets lost. He saves a snail's life, but then has to convince it to help him find his way home. It tells Kerry to find the Old Knight of the Road. But the knight isn't the hero in armor Kerry was hoping for -- it's a waystone, whose duty is to guide travelers. And Kerry is going to need help as to get past the will-o-wisps, the seedlings, and the other agents of the malevolent spirit that has taken over the forest. Kerry's chief attribute is his kindness. The knight thinks this is going to cause Kerry nothing but trouble. (Of course he's wrong).

After the story, there are D&D-ish character sheets for everyone and everything in the story that include scores for Empathy and Moxie, plus instructions for readers to create their own characters. There are also a few pages from an early draft of the story plus thumbnails, including 43 simple sketches that show how Watson (with help from the book's designer) figured out the cover design. It should all be inspiring to young comic creators.

I'm a huge fan of Andi Watson's comics. His most famous graphic novels for kids are Glister and Princess Decomposia and Count Spatula, but if you live in the UK (or just shop there online occasionally), try to pick up his Gum Girl books if you can find them -- they're great, too.

[talesfromthecrypts]

30 questions ask game!

TAGGED BY: @genekellys

TAGGING: brain broke tag yourself

Rules: Answer 30 questions and tag 20 blogs you are contractually obligated to know better.

Name/Nickname: Brittany/Britt

Gender: she/her

Star sign: Pisces

Height:  5′4″

Time: 12:24pm

Birthday: March 2nd

Favorite Bands: AC/DC, MS MR, Green Day, Linkin Park, My Chemical Romance, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Beastie Boys, Nine Inch Nails, Florence + The Machine, White Zombie

Favorite Solo artists: Alice Cooper, Britney Spears, Prince, Elton John, P!nk, Madonna

Song stuck in my head: Don’t Lose Your Head from Six

Last movie: Jingle Jangle (Forest Whiticker nation)

Last Show: The Tudors

When did I create this blog: February 2013? I think

Last thing googled: Evil Dead the Game

Other blogs: @horroredits, @dailycursedgifs, @darkcrystalsource (haven’t updated in 13 months yikes)

Do I get asks: intermediately 

Why I chose my url: Demon Knight and Cryptkeeper stans first people second

Following: 193

Followers: for my anxiety a lot

Average hours of sleep: 7 hours

Lucky number: 4

Instruments: violins

What am I wearing: flannel and jeans cause its casual day at work

Dream job: if I had freedom of free time to make things it would be cinematographer

Dream trip: New Zealand lets go

Favorite food: right now loaded fries

Nationality: American

Favorite song: Illusion by VNV Nation

Top three fictional universes I’d like to live in: Vampire Chronicles vampire times, knights of the old republic star wars, being a Yautja from Predator would be kind of sick

What do I post? : I mean y’all are here y’all see it. horror/villain content

Last book read: Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco

[lgbtqiahistoricalromance]

LGBTQIA+ Historical Romance Novels...International Locations

Historical romance novels tend to center on a few locations, despite the large mass that is our globe. Here’s a list of romances that don’t take place in England or New England.

Beautiful One: An LGBT Historical Romance by Kerry Adrienne - Ancient Greece

In Athens, the Great Dionysia festival rouses citizens with wine, song, theater, and debauchery. Politics and scandal paint deep shadows across the portrait of the city, and wolves in sheep’s clothing roam the streets and the stage.   Shy Kallistos faces Sophocles in the theater competition, play for play against the celebrated master. Success beckons like a siren’s song, but the dark allure and smoldering desire for a new acquaintance rouse feelings Kallistos never imagined he’d feel. Alexios spent many cold nights singing to the sheep and stars before traveling to Athens to help Sophocles. He longs to feel the breath of audience applause on his face and will do anything to become a famous actor. Now, losing his heart to the competition forces him to make difficult choices that may jeopardize his lifelong dreams. Of Minotaur masks and men…where is life truly lived? On the stage or in the heart? This book was first published in 2013. It has been significantly revised to release here.

Rebellion by Naomi Aoki - China

1899, political tensions are rising with the emergence of the Boxer Movement in Northern China, straining ties between the Chinese Imperial Government and the Eight Nations with stakes in the country. As a Captain in the Royal Marines, Alfred Cartwright is deployed to Shanghai, where he discovers more than he’d dared to dream of – Love. Not even the struggles with language or the fear of reprisals if their relationship is found out, can stop Alfred from falling for the Chinese man he encounters. But as the ant-foreigner sentiment of the Boxer Movement grows in strength, their relationship will be put to the test.Where do Alfred’s loyalties lie? With the man he loves or his country, as they stand opposite each other on a battlefield neither can escape.

Shadowrunners by Alex Assan - Fantasy Chicago-style

“A thread all about my queer noir webcomic Shadowrunners.com ; historical fantasy comic where the alcohol prohibition in the 1920s is instead a prohibition of COLOUR! 🎷🍸💚 via @alexassanart on Twitter”

A thousand years ago, the last colour in the world faded to grey. Now, after the great archaeological discovery of Queen Sorizahana’s shade-stocked tomb, it stands ready to enter the world again. Ironwell City will become the birthplace of the burgeoning colour industry, where colour is pumped out of factories, poured into perfumed bottles and sold at exorbitant prices to those wealthy enough to afford the luxury.

At least, that’s the plan according to the Five Financiers of the Sorizahana excavation.

One part Prohibition fantasy, one part Robin Hood, and a whole lot of epic heist, Shaderunners follows a group of ragtag bootleggers and bohemians who band together in an effort to steal colour from the wealthy echelons of Ironwell’s high society. Among them: a philosopher, a puppeteer, a gutter rat, an opera singer, a naval officer and a hopeless romantic. Together, they run The Glass Dial, former watch shop and future night club, where all the house drinks run red.

Speak easy, pal, ‘cause the road to ruin is paved with good intentions.

Labyrinth by Alex Beecroft - Ancient Knossos (Beautiful origin story of a myth, with a nonbinary MC.)

- Kikeru, the child of a priestess at the sacred temple of Knossos in ancient Crete, believes that the goddesses are laughing at him. They expect him to choose whether he is a man or a woman, when he’s both. They expect him to choose whether to be a husband to a wife, or a celibate priestess in the temple, when all he wants to do is invent things and be with the person he loves. Unfortunately, that person is Rusa, the handsome ship owner who is most decidedly a man and therefore off-limits no matter what he chooses. And did he mention that the goddesses also expect him to avert war with the Greeks? The Greeks have an army. Kikeru has his mother, Maja, who is pressuring him to give her grandchildren; Jadikira, Rusa’s pregnant daughter; and superstitious Rusa, who is terrified of what the goddesses will think of him being in love with one of their chosen ones. It’s a tall order to save Crete from conquest, win his love, and keep both halves of himself. Luckily, at least the daemons are on his side. 

The Crimson Outlaw by Alex Beecroft - 18th century Transylvania (High adventure, with not a single vampire.)

- Love is the greatest outlaw of all. Vali Florescu, heir to a powerful local boyar, flees his father’s cruelty to seek his fortune in the untamed Carpathian forests. There he expects to fight ferocious bandits and woo fair maidens to prove himself worthy of returning to depose his tyrannical father. But when he is ambushed by Mihai Roscat, the fearsome Crimson Outlaw, he discovers that he’s surprisingly happy to be captured and debauched instead. Mihai, once an honoured knight, has long sought revenge against Vali’s father, Wadim, who killed his lord and forced him into a life of banditry. Expecting his hostage to be a resentful, spoiled brat, Mihai is unprepared for the boy to switch loyalties, saving the lives of villagers and of Mihai himself during one of Wadim’s raids. Mihai is equally unprepared for the attraction between them to deepen into love. Vali soon learns that life outside the castle is not the fairy tale he thought, and happy endings must be earned. To free themselves and their people from Wadim’s oppression, Vali and Mihai must forge their love into the spear-point of a revolution and fight for a better world for all.

Side Note...Alex Beecroft also has a collection of novels that take place in the Caribbean.

The Celestial by Barry Brennessel - 19th century California

- Love was the last thing Todd Webster Morgan expected to find while searching for gold in 1870s California. But that was before he met Lao Jian. Hardened beyond his nineteen years, Todd Webster Morgan is determined to find gold high in the Sierra Nevadas. But his dream is violently upended. Complicating matters even more, he meets a young Chinese immigrant named Lao Jian, whose own dreams of finding gold have been quashed by violence. But life back in Sacramento isn't any easier. Todd's mother struggles to make ends meet. His invalid uncle becomes increasing angry and violent. Todd seeks employment with little success. Meanwhile his friendship with Lao Jian turns to love. But their relationship is strained as anti-Chinese sentiment grows. Todd vows not to lose Lao Jian. The couple must risk everything to make a life for themselves. A life that requires facing fear and prejudice head on.

Provoked by Joanna Chambers (Enlightened Book One) and Beguiled (Book Two) - Scotland

- Tormented by his forbidden desires for other men and the painful memories of the childhood friend he once loved, lawyer David Lauriston tries to maintain a celibate existence while he forges his reputation in Edinburgh’s privileged legal world. But then, into his repressed and orderly life, bursts Lord Murdo Balfour. Cynical, hedonistic and utterly unapologetic, Murdo could not be less like David. And as appalled as David is by Murdo’s unrepentant self-interest, he cannot resist the man’s sway. Murdo tempts and provokes David in equal measure, forcing him to acknowledge his physical desires. But Murdo is not the only man distracting David from his work. Euan MacLennan, the brother of a convicted radical David once represented, approaches David to beg him for help. Euan is searching for the government agent who sent his brother to Australia on a convict ship, and other radicals to the gallows. Despite knowing it may damage his career, David cannot turn Euan away. As their search progresses, it begins to look as though the trail may lead to none other than Lord Murdo Balfour, and David has to wonder whether it’s possible Murdo could be more than he seems. Is he really just a bored aristocrat, amusing himself at David’s expense, or could he be the agent provocateur responsible for the fate of Peter MacLennan and the other radicals?

Peony Lanterns by Patricia Correll - Japan

Mitsu has been Shiro’s personal servant and best friend since they were both six years old, and he’s been in love with him for nearly that long. While Shiro takes lovers of both sexes, the gulf between their social classes is so vast that Mitsu has never spoken his feelings aloud. When Shiro meets the beautiful Lady Keiko, he’s instantly infatuated. His affection soon turns to obsession, and Mitsu resigns himself to a life of unrequited love. But as Mitsu looks deeper into Keiko and her motives, he realizes that Shiro is in grave danger. He will need all his courage-- and some help from a master of the occult-- to save the life of the man he loves.

Miranda in Milan by Katharine Duckett (f/f!!!) - Milan

With Miranda in Milan, debut author Katharine Duckett reimagines the consequences of Shakespeare’s The Tempest, casting Miranda into a Milanese pit of vipers and building a queer love story that lifts off the page in whirlwinds of feeling.

After the tempest, after the reunion, after her father drowned his books, Miranda was meant to enter a brave new world. Naples awaited her, and Ferdinand, and a throne. Instead she finds herself in Milan, in her father’s castle, surrounded by hostile servants who treat her like a ghost. Whispers cling to her like spiderwebs, whispers that carry her dead mother’s name. And though he promised to give away his power, Milan is once again contorting around Prospero’s dark arts.

With only Dorothea, her sole companion and confidant to aid her, Miranda must cut through the mystery and find the truth about her father, her mother, and herself.

Muffled Drum by Erastes

Bohemia, 1866 They met in a port-side tavern, their lust-filled moments stolen from days of marching and madness. After eighteen months, Captain Rudolph von Ratzlaff and First Lieutenant Mathias Hofmann have decided to run away from everything they hold dear. Resigning their commissions is social suicide, but there's no other choice. Someone will eventually see Rudolph's partiality toward Mathias. Now their plans have gone horribly awry... When Mathias goes to Rudolph's tent after their last battle, his lover looks at him without a hint of recognition. Mathias can hardly believe the man he knew is gone. He wants to fill in so many of Rudolph's missing memories, but the doctor says a shock could result in permanent damage. The pain of seeing Rudolph on a daily basis, when Rudolph doesn't remember their love, is excruciating. Now Mathias must decide whether he wants to fight for the man he loves or forget him completely...

Brought Forth by Josie Finch - Virginia

Henry Merrill escaped the abusive family from his childhood and has built a life as the kindhearted handyman for the small town of Ashford in the 1880’s. Henry has every intention of living his life alone, serving the town he considers home. But an angel named Cory-Elle has other plans for Henry. With a soul that needs to be brought to earth, Cory-Elle gives Henry the opportunity to raise the family he never imagined he would have. Dr. Lawrence Turner has a bad reputation in Ashford for attending to poor patients who cannot pay him and for being the only physician the town has ever seen make house calls to the local brothel. So when a young man claiming an angel has made him pregnant arrives in his office, Dr. Turner is not surprised. Despite his disbelief, Lawrence has few things to lose in tending to Henry—though Lawrence never counted on his heart being one of those things. With the help of the doctor’s assistant Ben Lockhart and a saloon woman named Lily Mae Pepperidge, Henry and Lawrence must challenge everything they thought they knew about faith and family. Together they encounter pain, joy, sorrow, and pleasure. But among it all, they discover love. Standalone. HEA. Mpreg (Male Pregnancy) is a primary theme. Print version is coming soon.

The Last Concubine by Catt Ford - Japan

When Princess Lan’xiu’s brother delivers her under duress into General Hüi Wei’s harem as a political offering, her only question is how soon her secret will be discovered. She is under no illusions: when the general discovers she is actually a he, death is his only future—though he doesn’t plan to make it easy. Lan’xiu has dressed as a woman all his life, but he is no damsel in distress. He can swing a sword with the best of them.

General Hüi Wei has everything a man could want: power, wealth, success on the battlefield, and a harem of concubines. At first, he regards Lan’xiu with suspicion, but he finds himself strangely drawn to her. When he discovers the beautiful young woman is actually a man, his first reaction is to draw his sword. Rather than waste such beauty, he decides to enjoy the spirited Lan’xiu’s submission—and ignites a passion and desire deeper than anything he’s felt with other wives. But court intrigue, political ambitions, and the general's doubts may be too much for their love to overcome.

A Timeless Dreams title: While reaction to same-sex relationships throughout time and across cultures has not always been positive, these stories celebrate M/M love in a manner that may address, minimize, or ignore historical stigma.

Flying Fish by Sedonia Guillone - 18th century Japan (Book One of the Sword and Silk trilogy)

- In eighteenth century Japan, during the golden age of samurai and of the Kabuki theater, young actors known as “flying fish” traveled the countryside, performing for audiences by day and giving their bodies to their samurai patrons at night. Genji Sakura is one such flying fish, yet he dreams of finding the man he can give his heart to and leave the loneliness of his itinerant life behind. Though he loves theater, he doesn’t love every part of his profession, especially some of the patrons. So when a handsome ronin comes upon him stealing some solitude for a bath in a hot spring and their encounter turns passionate, Genji’s surprised and delighted. Daisuke Minamoto’s past fills his life with a bitterness that grips his soul and makes him dangerous. Yet passion takes him when he spies on a graceful young man bathing naked in a hot spring. He has always loved women, but he can’t deny the call of his heart. After an afternoon of sexual bliss, his heart and soul are tormented and torn. Keeping this miraculous lover will require giving up the one thing that has kept him alive for years: his hatred for the lord who murdered his wife. If he loves another, how will he go on and who will he become?

Well Met in Molos by J Hepburn (trans MC!) - Fantasy Middle East

Zerris is a man of many talents: thieving, procuring, and more, peddling his trades in a city at the edge of the empire and between two cultures. He has a built a life and sterling reputation through guile, cunning, and constant vigilance in hiding what and who he is. Then a cocky stranger barrels through all his careful planning, and a contract goes horribly wrong. As he struggles to recover his plans and save his name, Zerris instead finds his world collapsing, until all that’s left is the first true friend he’d ever had.

Novae Comic by Kaiju - 17th century France http://www.novaecomic.com/

Novae chronicles the adventures of Sulvain, a sweet tempered necromancer and Raziol, a passionate 17th century astronomer. While studying the stars together, a connection forms between them and their relationship blooms. However, when the body of a fellow astronomer is found on the steps of the Academy of Sciences, their lives are entangled in ways they could never foresee.

Japanese Love by Rei Kimura - Edo period Japan through 21st century

- Can a Japanese samurai of impeccable lineage in Edo period Japan get away with being gay? Can he break all the rules of society and get away with it? It all started when an aging samurai took an eccentric interest in a teenage peasant boy who had the unusual gift of writing and one day he brought his son, Lord Okimoto to the peasant’s house. The eyes of the samurai’s son and the teenage peasant met and spawned a forbidden love affair which broke all the rules of Japan’s Edo period society and a feudal class so sharply defined that it could cut like a knife. Four centuries later, an ancestor of Lord Okimoto finds a diary written by his peasant lover unfolding the anguished tale of a forbidden life went wrong, leaving behind a trail of destroyed lives, broken dreams and a few deaths. The spirit of the gay samurai who put duty and obligations above his poignant love travels one whole circle to arrive to the 21st century in a final twist to this intriguing story of how two young men dared to break all the rules in conservative unforgiving 18th century Japan.

Nomad’s Dreams by August Li - Fantasy Middle East

Two men, each with a hidden destiny. Can they defeat a web of deceit and dark magic to ensure their fates intertwine?

Bedouin Isra al-Grayjaab’s dreams lead him to Janan, an amnesiac beggar on the street of Qena—one who steals his heart and starts him on a seemingly hopeless quest. With only their wits, Isra’s knowledge of the desert’s secrets, and the aid of a mercurial djinn, they must recover Janan’s past. But neither can predict his true identity or the lengths others will go to see that his mind remains broken and his true power out of his reach.

In a sweeping romantic adventure that takes them across the Eastern Desert to the modern streets of Cairo and on to the luxurious Red Sea Coast, Janan and Isra seek a truth that will either bring them into each other’s arms or tear them apart forever.

The Farmer’s Daughter by by Robbi McCoy - Hollywood

A butch hobo meets a beautiful girl on a farm while roadtripping in the 1940's. Years later they find each other again in glamorous 1950's Hollywood, but now the farm girl is an aspiring actress. This story has every bit of a happy ending as the couple end up together for something like the next fifty years, but I can't stress enough that this one has trigger warnings (pasted from my Goodreads review: If you are triggered by family abuse/"corrective rape" of a lesbian or of bad guys dying in various realistically violent ways, check out my other book reviews for alternate recommendations instead.)

By The Currawong’s Call by Welton B. Marsland - Australia

- A small town, a new arrival, and a love that is as undeniable as it is unlawful…

Victoria, Australia, 1891 Anglican priest Matthew Ottenshaw receives his first posting in tiny Dinbratten, two days’ ride from his Melbourne home. Determined to honour his calling as best he can, he throws himself into the footy mad, two–pub town, navigating the dusty streets, learning the gossip, and striking up a friendship with Jonah Parks, the resident police sergeant and local bona fide hero.

A police officer and a priest often find themselves needed at the same place, and Jonah and Matthew’s friendship deepens quickly, as they set about their business of protecting the bodies and souls of Dinbratten’s residents. When a bushfire threatens the town, and Matthew’s inexperience with fire endangers the church buildings, Jonah comes to the rescue, and a reckless kiss in the midst of the chaos takes their friendship to forbidden.

Neither Matthew nor Jonah can go back to the way things were before, but continuing their relationship puts everything at risk: their jobs, their friends, even their lives. In the outback town of Dinbratten where everyone knows everything about everyone else, how can they ever expect to keep a secret this explosive?

The Liberators of Willow Run by Marianne K Martin (f/f WWII)

It’s 1943 and the world is at war.

Hope for victory rests on the wings of America’s Liberator, the B-24 bomber. And, with more than nine million Americans on the front lines, there is only one way for the assembly plants to produce enough planes to meet the demand—and that is to recruit women by the thousands into the work force.

Audrey Draper is committed to the war effort, and beyond that, to finding her own personal and financial independence. And she is not alone. Ruth Evans also chooses to seek employment. As a waitress living on her own, she not only searches for freedom, but also a way to fulfill an important promise. And then there’s young Amelia, a fifteen-year-old rape victim who is being forced to return to a dark and dangerous home. Audrey, Ruth, and a handful of these newly independent women must risk everything they have fought so hard to achieve to give one of their own a fighting chance to survive. Set against the backdrop of a rapidly changing world, these women capture the spirit of the times through their determination, ingenuity, and enduring courage.

Interested in more f/f WWII novels? Try these…

Tournament of Shadows by SA Meade - Bukhara (Uzbekistan- being fought over by the British and Russian Empire during 19th century)

In 1842, Captain Gabriel O'Riordan of the 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars is sent on a mission to Bukhara. His task—to try to free two of his compatriots from the clutches of a mentally unstable Emir. On his way, he encounters Valentin Yakolev, an officer in the Russian Army, who is also on a mission—to persuade the Emir that an alliance with Russia would be in his best interests. Gabriel, disguised as a holy man, is not happy to be the object of Yakolev's intense scrutiny. After all, he's working for the opposing team in the Great Game being played between their two nations. When Gabriel realises that his mission is little more than a forlorn hope, a game he has no chance of winning, he's desperate enough to turn to Valentin to help and offer him anything in return. What he doesn't expect is to have his plans to return to Calcutta scuppered by events. Instead, he and Valentin flee north, fighting off bandits, their desire for each other and the hardship of desert travel. Their travails bring them closer together until a secret from Valentin's past tears them apart. Can they set the past behind them and move on together?

Battle Scars series by Charlene Newcomb - Jersulem

March 1190. Brimming with the spirit of youth, the idealistic Henry de Grey joins King Richard’s army ready to fight for God’s glory on the battlefield. But after he bloodies his sword and witnesses the slaughter of innocents, he struggles to justify the violent acts he’s committed. Through months of brutal marches and political bickering, Henry finds comfort in the fearless resolve of a brash veteran. But when his feelings of friendship grow into something more, he must put his old convictions through the gauntlet. Stephan I’Aigle would follow the king anywhere, even into the heart of enemy territory. He takes Henry under his wing, but fears his growing attachment and burning passion could make him lose his fighting edge. Will opening up his heart destroy the knights’ friendship, or leave them both completely defenseless in the heat of battle? Men of the Cross is medieval historical fiction with elements of an m/m romance. If you like journeys of self-discovery, vivid historical details, and slow-burn chemistry, then you’ll love this tale of the knights who served the Lionheart.

Song of the Spring Moon Waning by EE Ottoman - China

Upon waking up one morning, Wen Yu is surprised to find a note asking him to return the song thrush given into his care while the owner was sick. The only problem is that Wen Yu was never given a song thrush. Though he has no time for distractions from his studies for the palace examination, Wen Yu goes in search of the unknown Liu Yi who left him the note. What he finds is a beautiful imperial eunuch, a talking tortoise, and a collection of mysterious moon poems that force Wen Yu to question what path in life he is truly meant to be walking …

Alaskan Bride by Jordan Redhawk - 19th century Alaska (f/f)

- Finding a husband after the American Civil War isn’t easy. When twenty-two-year-old Bostonian Clara Stapleton discovers the address of a likely bachelor in the wilds of the Alaskan bush, she throws caution to the wind and sends him a letter. Soon she’s on the adventure of her life, leaving the comfort and stability of a well-to-do family for a man she’s never met and a life of uncertainty. Callie Glass isn’t happy with her brother Jasper’s proposal to a mail-order bride, though she knows it’s not her call. And when a tragic accident takes Jasper Glass’s life, Callie doesn’t hesitate to call off the wedding in a letter to Clara. Callie is soon surprised to find a strange woman settling into her cabin, a stranger who had never received news of Jasper’s demise. While Callie insists that the other woman should return home, Clara digs in her heels. If Callie can live without a man in this isolated land, why can’t she? Both headstrong women struggle in the ashes of their dashed hopes and dreams, slowly coming together to forge an alliance for which neither is prepared.

Nova Praetorian by NR Walker - Ancient Rome

Quintus Furius Varus is one of the best lanistas in Rome. Tall and strong in build, fearsome in manner, and sharp of wit, he trains the best gladiators bound for the arenas of Rome. When Senator Servius Augendus seeks personal guards, he attends the Ludus Varus for purchase of the very best. He puts to Quintus an offer he cannot refuse, and Quintus finds himself in Neapolis, contracted as a trainer of guards instead of gladiators.

Kaeso Agorix was taken from his homelands of Iberia and delivered to Rome as a slave. Bought by a senator to be trained as a guard, his fate is handed to the man who would train him. Absent free will, Kaeso knows his life is no longer his own, though he soon realises the gods have favoured him when he learns his new master has a kind heart.

Quintus and Kaeso forge a bond that far exceeds the collar at Kaeso’s neck, and together they discover the senator’s move for promotion has an ulterior motive. Thrown into a world of politics and conspiracy, of keeping enemies close, they move against time to save Rome before traitors and the gods themselves see to their end.

And in doing so, see the dawn of the nova praetorian—the new guard—rise.

A Land So Wild by Alyssa Warkentin - 19th century Arctic (This one is a can be a difficult read, but so worth it. The amount of research put into it, boggles the mind--I know, because I majored in some of this in uni.)

- In 1845, the HMS Vanguard, under the command of Captain William Caulderson, departed England on a voyage of discovery to find a Northwest Passage through the perilous arctic waters separating the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. It was never heard from again. Five years later, Captain David Maxwell of the Serapis sets sail to attempt to recover the Vanguard and determine the fate of his former commander. Naturalist Embleton Hall is running from demons of his own. He doesn’t expect to find himself drawn to Captain Maxwell--but the two men form a bond that will become essential to their survival. Together, they'll brave the elements on a long and harrowing voyage to discover the fate of the lost ship Vanguard. But they'll also learn that some secrets are best left frozen in ice.

A Little Sin by Sionnach Wintergreen - East Texas

Sheriff Avery O’Rourke has tried to obey his strict Christian faith and lead a “normal” life. In 1923 in a rural East Texas town, “normal” means heterosexual. A cholera outbreak has made Avery a young widower, so he is married to his job. When a murder investigation forces him to confront his truth, will he finally be able to accept being gay?

Veterinarian Garland Sands has returned from Europe to take over his father’s practice. Struggling with shellshock (PTSD) and heartbroken by the suicide of his French lover, he resigns himself to a quiet, solitary life as a country vet. But the murder of the town doctor brings the sheriff to Garland’s doorstep looking for help with the investigation. Seeing Avery awakens dormant feelings. Can he love a man who hates what he is?

This isn’t the lavish 1920s of The Great Gatsby. This is the flip side of that coin—rural East Texas. No electricity. No indoor plumbing. No flappers. In 1923, the timber barons have left and racism, homophobia, and sexism thrive.

A Little Sin is a realistic mystery with unlikely heroes and a timeless romance between lovers caught in a world where their love is forbidden. This book contains steamy sex scenes and is intended for adults only.

The Winter Triangle by Nikki Woolfolk - 19th century Virginia

- In the town of Stubborn, West Virginia, 1880, happily single Cassandra Holloway has decided to come out to her father, Walter, on the eve of Valentine’s Day. Before she can reveal being a woman of “two spirits,” her well-intentioned but offspring-obsessed father has set her up on another blind date with someone named Morgan. When Cassandra attempts to cancel the date, she is faced with a first. She must choose between a beautiful, deaf astronomy professor at the local university or the professor’s handsome sign-language interpreter—both named Morgan. With a comedy-filled evening that Cassandra’s cupid-playing father could not have planned, she must make a choice as the sun rises on Valentine’s Day. Which Morgan will be her Valentine?

*LGBTQIA+ Historical Romance Novels w/Cowboys, Ranchers, and People of the Frontier and Old West (Includes Fantasy, Steampunk, and Horror offerings this time.)

LGBTQIA Historical Romances with Pirates, Sailors, Highwayman, Smugglers, and Thieves

[kattra]

What I’m Reading

BOOKS OF JULY The Solitude of Prime Numbers by Paolo Giordano The Witching Hour by Anne Rice  Girlhood by Melissa Febos (NF) Shut Up You’re Pretty by Téa Mutonji (SS)  So Close the Hand of Death by J.T. Ellison  Where All the Dead Lie by J.T. Ellison Bad Gays: A Homosexual History by Ben Miller & Huw Lemmey (NF)  In the Lives of Puppets by T.J. Klune **  Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein (P)  The Midnight Library by Matt Haig **  The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran (P) 

Graphic Novels: Romantic Killer Vol.1 by Wataru Momose  Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beaton  D.N.Angel Vol.11-13 by Yukiru Sugisaki* **

(99 books read / 125 books goal)

currently reading:  Trickster’s Queen by Tamora Pierce Gathering Moss: A Natural and Cultural History of Mosses by Robin Wall Kimmerer (NF)  We Had No Rules by Corinne Manning (SS)  People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry  Shenanigans: All-New Tales of Valdemar edited by Mercedes Lackey (SS) I Never Met a Rattlesnake I Didn’t Like by David Carpenter (NF)

* - re-read // ** - 4+ star-rating (recommended) GN - graphic novel // NF - non-fiction // P - poetry SS - short story collection // AB - audiobook 

TBR: Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng Hello, Melancholic! Vol.1-3 by Yayoi Osawa (GN) D.N.Angel Vol.14-20 by Yukiru Sugisaki (GN) Talk to My Back by Yamada Murasaki (GN) Kerry and the Knight of the Forest by Andi Watson (GN)

WHAT ARE YOU READING? :D

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