#with the addition of character development and forced proximity

[casinoquartet]

i am SO TRIED of writing essays why can't they just let me write about block people

[pagesandpothos]

Hidden Gems of 2024

I read a lot of new releases in 2024 and many of those are really great books that have been getting a lot of well-deserved attention. There are a few however that I think deserve some more hype.

Here are a few underrated gems that I think deserve even more readers and much more praise. All of these are LGBTQIA+ and most are romantasy since that is what I enjoyed the most this year.

Sorcery and Small Magics by Maiga Doocy: As I've said many times, this is my favorite book of the year. If you love fantasy, queer slow burns, spells gone wrong, or the forced proximity trope then this is a must-read. There's no release date yet for book #2 but I'm hopeful we'll get a date soon! I can't wait to continue Leo and Grimm's story!

Running Close to the Wind by Alexandra Rowland: Alexandra Rowland is an author that most fans of queer books love, so this might be less of a "hidden gem" than some of the others on this list, but I'm still including it because I think it deserves even more attention. This is truly the funniest book I have ever read. I don't think I have ever had so much fun reading a book!

Shoestring Theory by Mariana Costa: This was one of the biggest surprises of the year for me. This is an excellent queer romantasy that has complex characters and relationships with an exciting time-travel plot. If you love complicated enemies-to-lovers stories, you should check this one out.

This Will Be Fun by E.B. Asher: is a sweet and funny cozy romantasy about a group of heroes who once saved their realm. Now, they're on a second mission after a decade of estrangement. This is a silly and fun time with two second-chance romances (one is sapphic). There's a great friendship storyline as well.

All The Hidden Paths by Foz Meadows: is a followup to the popular queer romantasy, A Strange and Stubborn Endurance. This is just as good as the first book with an exciting political plot, great development for Vel/Cae, and good new characters.

Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell: A delightful and dark fairytale that somehow manages to be both gruesome and feel like a cozy fantasy at the same time. There's a sapphic monster romance with an asexual human woman that is incredibly sweet.

The Crack at the Heart of Everything by Fiona Fenn: Is a terrific redemption story about two men who fought for the villain's side in a devastating war. Orpheus and Fenrir have an amazing rivals-to-lovers story that starts as a little comic relief and grows into something truly heartfelt. The world-building feels like a cool blend of high-fantasy, post-apocalyptic, Dystopia, and even horror. This is a unique and adventurous addition to the queer romantasy genre.

Spitting Gold by Carmella Lowkis: A historical mystery that focuses on two sisters with references to Charles Perrault's The Fairies. It's about the two siblings' complicated dynamic and how every story has two sides. There's also a Sapphic love story involving one of the sisters.

The Sins on Their Bones by Laura R. Samotin: A dark and queer fantasy based on Jewish mythology. The last half of this book is so riveting and shocking. I truly had no idea what would be happening next.

Key Lime Sky by Al Hess: is a sci-fi romance about a non-binary character who witnesses an alien invasion. The main character is memorable and the plot is delightfully weird and fun. The romance is fantastic, with a seriously charming and funny meet-cute.

[cmrosens]

There are a lot of nuances to the asexual spectrum and aromantic spectrum -- they can overlap in a myriad of ways, and sometimes be informed by neurodivergence and/or trauma, all of which is valid.

For writers wanting to add ace and/or aro rep into your books, it's worth talking to ace and aro people, and those whose orientations sit on both spectrums, as having this perspective can really help.

Honestly, I think it's just way more interesting to have this kind of rep, too, because we aces and aros can flip and subvert story expectations and narratives, no matter what genre this rep is in.

What happens if you take sex (but not necessarily romance) totally off the table as a motivator for a male character who is very "macho" or perceived as that? How does that change/subvert expectations? What vulnerabilities does this add, and how might it complicate his storyline?

What happens to the dynamics of a situation when one person is very comfortable having sex with all genders but only romantically attracted to certain ones, or vice versa, so they could fall in love with someone they aren't sexually attracted to, or be sexually attracted to someone they won't fall in love with?

What happens if you're writing spice and a character is fine with sex but just never falls in love; what would changing a subplot or main plot into a Strangers-to-BFFs-With-Benefits do, if you wanted to look at ways to open things up and explore queered relationship structures?

How does jealousy manifest in these relationships, if it does, and how do you navigate that?

In an SFF situation - how would any of the above impact the dynamics of a group of characters, with forced proximity of a quest or castle or space station or something they can't leave so they're all stuck with each other? It doesn't have to make something "boring" if spice isn't added... It can create opportunities for growth, new situations, conflict, and resolution to issues.

In horror, sex averse MMCs basically take SA off the table totally as a means to shock or disturb the audience, and mean the writer has to actually work with that and create more interesting antagonist characters with deeper motivations. It also changes the dynamic when someone is literally only interested in your body from an anatomical point of view, and if you start coming onto them, they freak out and have no idea how to handle that situation, which can even flip the power dynamics. (See also: my touch-starved cannibal in The Crows).

You can also use it for deepening emotional bonds in romances of all types, as demisexuals and demiromantics are perfect for the slowburn trope. Explicitly exploring demi orientations gives additional things to develop and talk about, too; what will help them create the emotional bond the demi character requires in order to feel sexual and/or romantic attraction to the other person?

Note: if the person is demi and the emotional bond isn't formed, the only-one-bed trope won't work. BUT you can use that to create more angst for Character B if Character A is demi, and then reprise it later once the demi character is fully into them...

Anyway - almost everything I write has ace, aro, or both spectrums rep in it, not necessarily both, and I would love more people to know that!

Ace and Aro rep can be found in:

The Crows Thirteenth The Day We Ate Grandad The Sussex Fretsaw Massacre (& Other Stories) (all of these have unlabelled but very obvious and on-page ace/aro spec rep) The Reluctant Husband (aesthetic attraction is present, but the MMC is lowkey aro and grey-ace, unlabelled as it is set in 1938)

Birds of a Feather (contemporary romcom with aro-spectrum and sex averse ace MMC, he doesn't label himself but microlabels are speculated) Yelen & Yelena - aro only, Queer Dark Gothic Fantasy

My stuff for those interested:

[ao3feed-curlya]

Insomniacs

read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/gCq7ITV by Cherry Hana (geekyhipsters) Anya tells Curly she feels unsafe after Jimmy wanders into her room at night. To ensure her safety he instructs her to sleep in the medbay with the door locked. But it’s not enough unless someone is with her — Curly volunteers. After a few nights together Anya starts developing a crush on the blonde captain. Could their quiet moments together lead to a deeper connection? Words: 13900, Chapters: 2/2, Language: English Fandoms: Mouthwashing (Video Game) Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Categories: F/M Characters: Anya (Mouthwashing), Curly (Mouthwashing), Daisuke (Mouthwashing), Swansea (Mouthwashing) Relationships: Anya/Curly (Mouthwashing) Additional Tags: There Was Only One Bed, Alternate Universe - The Tulpar Does Not Crash (Mouthwashing), Smut, AU, Forced Proximity, Fluff, No Pregnancy, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Attempted Sexual Assault, Friends to Lovers, Fix-It, Anya Deserves Better (Mouthwashing), Happy Ending, dual perspective, slightly OOC, no beta we die like men read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/gCq7ITV

[dumpingscreenshotshere]

Summary of screenwriter Faye G's answers, from her Tumblr:

• Faye started playing Romance Club in 2021. Her first book was Chasing You (1). Among the older stories, she also likes Wave Patrol and Queen in 30 Days.

• Faye reads (which is why she’s here) and writes fanfics.

• Of all the female love interests, Faye likes Kayla from Wave Patrol the most.

• Faye’s favorite incomplete love interest branches: John (Shadows of Saintfour), Shelley (Wave Patrol), and Marshall (Rage of The Titans).

• Anders is not a full-fledged love interest; he’s a fling. • Among the routes Faye considers as a red flag (🚩), she includes Dragan (And the Haze Will Take Us), Connor (Hell and High Water), and Boris (Heaven’s Secret: Requiem).

She considers the green flag (💚) routes to be Chand (Hell and High Water), Deshawn and Bradley (The One, Vol. 1 & Vol. 2).

• Faye’s favorite tropes: • Cold, cunning man secretly in love with the MC. • Forced proximity. • Friends to lovers. • • One of Faye’s underrated love interests is Trexio (Soulless).

• All episode titles in The OneVol. 2 are song titles.

• Most of Season 1 of The Missing takes place over 8–9 days in October.

• Faye loves chocolate ice cream.

• Currently, the LIs in The Missing are not meant to have friendship route development.

• Faye enjoys writing all the romantic routes, but according to her, Mads suits her best (for personal interaction).

• Her favorite part of the recent update was writing the bar scene with friends and the accidental run-in with a naked Mads.

• Lastly, Faye shared a short emoji summary for each season: Season 1: 🍂🧌 Season 2: ❄️👻 Season 3: 🌞🐦⬛

• In The Missing, players won’t be able to pair characters with each other.

• Makeup won’t be available for the main character, Ghita, because of the addition of glasses.

Compiled by: rc_the_one

[corbits-comet]

writing tools tips and tricks I personally use

I write historical fiction and am very detail oriented and also highly forgetful so this is the stuff I use to plan my story and so I don’t forget stuff

STUFF U NEED

-notebook or google doc (I use a combination of both) 

-internet access or a public library and the ability to read 

-your big beutiful brain you’ve got swirling around up there 

You really don’t need any fancy shit

  PRECURSORS. 

You’ll need to come up with a concept or a character dynamic you like. For me it came with: two detectives who have a bitter rivalry, and then the setting, extra characters and plot line fell into place. 

Day dreaming— this is a vital step, as soon as you get a concept, or even just a character dynamic in your head, put on some of your favorite music that you feel like might match the vibe and get imagining, just play around see what happens

Write that shit down. It seems stupid but trust me write down ever little idea you have, nothing has to go in order, you can write the ending and then the beginning and then the middle for all anyone cares. If you get ideas for scenes or side characters halfway through developing your main characters WRITE IT DOWN. Even if it’s shit and dosnt get used. 

Start stitching stuff together, start weaving in your favorite troupes, plot lines and ideas, for me it went from the rivalry to then the idea of a stalker, then the additional idea of adding political rivalry, murder, aristocracy and eventually a fully fleshed out story. Just keep adding stuff until it feels round, you can always add and subtract 

Now character work. For me at least I don’t need to know everything about the story before I start writing but I do need to know everything about the characters. I start with just doing a big infodump on each characters personality traits and their function in the story. And that’s it for now, that’s the first step. The second one is I go through the dynamics between the main characters, for example I have two main characters so I write about how they feel about eachother respectively, and then how each of them feel about the villan, the stalker, and a few other main characters etc. this will help you with scenes and character development. The third and final one I like to do is actually a character work excercises off tumblr (I found it on Pinterest here’s the link, https://www.pinterest.com/pin/1038501995319442405/ no clue who wrote it so if anyone knows I’ll gladly credit them <3) and after that I usually have a pretty good grasp on what my main characters think and feel about most things in the story. You can go farther by I typically don’t

Alright by now you probably have at least an idea of what kind of setting you want to have your story in so now it’s time to start worldbuilding. Like I said I mostly write historical fiction so this step will look a little different if you’re making your own world and stuff but the basics are pretty much the same. RESEARCH. Find and read anything you can on anything relevant to your story, for me that’s geographical locations, town layouts, early zoning, social hiarchies, medicine, law and religion, as well as the functions of certian poisons used for the murders in my story. But this can look like anything. Writing FNAF fanfiction? Get prints on the layout, and if you’re making your own look up layouts of old 80’s pizzareas and accounts from people that worked there. Get the links and keep them all on a document, for later…

Lists. While all this is happening I have two lists going, one of things that I know I want to happen in the story. You don’t have to have a coherent plot line, just a general idea and then as you start working on it you’ll accrew some ideas, write these down. Even if they’re shit. You want forced proximity with the main rivals? Do it. You want a certian character to get hurt? Do it. They don’t have to have a sensical order, this is so you don’t lose track of all the cool stuff you think of. The second list is one of side characters. They don’t have to have names yet, a few of mine are ‘old richy rich mcmoneybags’ and ‘crazy old bag McGee’ and then a brief character description about what they do in the story. These characters can be even more important than the main ones, and ones your readers will remeber forever.  

And the last is one of the best writing advice I’ve ever gotten. Write your first draft like total shit. It’s a map for your story, for you to go back in and fill in later, if you think of something for the future midway, put it in and fix it later. And most importantly; you don’t have to write in order. Write what you know, what you’re excited for. Just tiny scene by tiny scene. And then start stringing them together and fill in the gaps

Now go my minions. Write your story’s. also! Tumblr writing advice can be worth its weight in gold.

[blurredcolour]

The Night Moves | Part Four

The Night Moves Masterlist

Alternate Universe

Vampire Hunterl!Bradley Bradshaw x Female Reader; Vampire!Jacob Seresin x Female Reader

Summary: An internship with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History should have been the highlight of your academic career. The perfect addition to your resume while you worked on your doctoral thesis. An interdepartmental assignment, however, sees your reality ripped apart by incomprehensible forces. Five tumultuous days will leave you forever changed and inextricably linked to two men born centuries apart.

Warnings: Angst, Language, Violence, Blood, Major Character Death, Serious Reader Injury, Supernatural Themes, Historical Inaccuracies, Institutional Inaccuracies, Mature/Explicit Themes - 18+ Only

Author's Note: My Halloween party got crashed by COVID so surprise! Here is the second-last installment a few days early. Please be advised that two men go into this chapter and only one makes it out. You Have Been Warned!!

Word Count: 3933

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

-Friday-

Waking the next morning to news of more murders in the neighborhood, it was no surprise that Bradley had insisted on driving you into work. It had not made the drive any less awkward, however. Loaded silence pervaded the apartment while you ate a quick breakfast and followed you into the Bronco until he had eventually surrendered to turning on the radio. You had parted with a barely audible ‘thanks’ at the curb before hurrying into work, not wanting to spend another moment in forced to be in his proximity. Tears had already broken through your resolve after you shut the bedroom door last night and you would have been loathe to give him the satisfaction of seeing fresh ones today.

Despite your intentions when declining Amira’s invite the night before, you had not taken that bath nor gone to bed early. Nor had your sleep been of any quality. Thankfully she arrived armed with an extensive make-up kit, nearly double the size of the one you had thrown into your bag that morning, and dedicated nearly all of the thirty minutes you had to get ready on making you look quite presentable. The bandage on your wrist was explained away easily as a cooking accident, though as Bradley predicted, it itched terribly. Utilizing the single-stalled washroom across the hall, you slid into the floor-length gown she had lent you, smoothing it over your curves.

You took a moment to appreciate the way the colour of it brought out your eyes. To marvel at the skill of Amira’s make-up. You looked good – vampire hunters plagued by latent professionalism be damned. Taking a deep breath and setting your chin at a confident angle you stepped out of the washroom to allow Amira a chance to change as well before the pair of you hurried to Flag Hall. Waiting there for you was the box of five hundred pouches, ready to be set out at each of the place settings on the banquet tables. Under the watchful eye of Caroline from Resource Development, one pouch was set at the top of each place, resting against the menu card, until three hundred and fifty were put out. The remainder would be given as gifts to the staff volunteering their time and a few select guests attending the cocktail hour but not staying for the seated dinner.

With that duty discharged, you were then seated at the registration table, assigned to different portions of the alphabet. You were responsible for checking in guests with last names from S to Z. The next forty-five minutes passed in a blur of greetings and checking off names before the four lists were consolidated down to one. You and Amira were released from your obligations to go enjoy the remainder of the cocktail party and she quickly disappeared into the crowd.

Snagging a glass of one from one of the circling trays, you took a fortifying sip of wine before seeking out someone you knew, grateful when one of the department heads pulled you into a conversation already in progress with a few generous donors. Disappointingly, you found your tolerance for answering the same questions, discussing the same topics, having the same conversation repeatedly as you circulated the room wore thin with shocking speed. Instead, a scream began to build in the back of your throat, begging to be unleashed, and you set your second empty wine glass down on a nearby table with a touch more force than intended before quickly making your way from the hall.

Because whatever was about to fly out of your mouth – the truth that Bradley had revealed to you last night, or perhaps your sheer frustration with him for his lack of transparency whilst toying with your affections, or better yet how frivolous this gala felt in the face of the dead bodies that seemed to be falling in your wake…well more accurately Jacob’s wake as he followed you – it most certainly did not need an audience.

Making your way through the locked doors with your swipe card back to the sanctity of your workspace, you felt the urge to wail lessen the further you got away from the crowd. The frantic pace of your steps eased. Perhaps it was just time to go home. Sighing the last of the tension from your body, you opened the door to the intern office and nearly tripped over your dress as the long-legged lieutenant sat, swivelling idly in your computer chair.

“Ah.” He grinned broadly and stood smoothly, obviously having been waiting for you. His eyes raked over your form as he drank in your appearance. “You look truly divine this evening, pet.”

Stumbling backward, you winced as the harsh edges of the door frame jabbed into your shoulder blade. “What are you doing in here…how did you…” Your pulse rabbited in your throat as it felt terribly difficult to take a deep breath. His clothing had changed – a dress shirt that fit him perfectly, hinting at the musculature that lay beneath, and a pair of black slacks with a charcoal grey pea coat hanging open over top. No doubt stolen from one of the many corpses he had been leaving in your neighborhood, your mind supplied, causing your palms to grown damp with fear.

“Easy, pet, I missed you. There is no need to be quite so afraid.” Jacob soothed, stepping closer.

You shook your head violently. “I know what you are.” You hissed and pressed tighter to the door frame, away from him, legs wobbling slightly beneath your dress. You glanced behind him to your desk where your phone was locked away in a drawer…Bradley might as well have been on the moon for how easily you could reach him now. Yet thinking of your usual savior also brought with it a new bitterness that had you furrowing your brows.

“Then you know what I want.” Jacob murmured, stalking closer to trail a frigid forefinger down your cheek.

Your eyes flicked to his face, focusing on his unnaturally luminous green eyes as you swallowed nervously. “Were,” you began, hesitated, but set your jaw in determination and continued, “were you really there?”

He arched an eyebrow, silently prompting you to expound on your question.

“During the War of Independence?” You clarified, sinking your teeth into your lower lip anxiously as he was awfully close and more than a little lethal.

His eyes glinted ominously as he seized upon something you desired. “I most certainly was. Born in 1760, came of age in the thick of it. Why do you ask?” He tilted his head in feigned innocence.

You exhaled shakily, trying desperately to smother your excitement at the idea of a firsthand source for a long passed historical era. Yet as you attempted to focus on Bradley’s warning that the man who had lived through that time period had been murdered to give birth to the creature before you, all you felt was the sting of his rejection. The questions you longed to pose to the lieutenant were endless. Right before you was a once in a lifetime opportunity to learn from someone who had been there.

“You are fairly teeming with questions, are you not, pet?” There was a derogatory edge to his tone. A smugness at having sniffed out something you desired. “The information only I could provide would certainly be quite the feather in your cap. Surely would secure your place within this palace of stolen things.” He smirked, drawing your gaze to his striking white teeth.

Reluctantly, you nodded, lips pressed together tightly in a thin line. “Yes.” You admitted in a hushed whisper after a moment.

“It seems to me, darling, that we have an opportunity before us. There is something that I greatly desire from you…” He paused, eyes taking a moment to drink in the column of your throat. “…and you in kind from myself. Shall we not make a deal?” He raised an eyebrow.

Alarm bells rung distantly in your consciousness as your hands fisted into the fabric of your dress, awareness of his true nature warring with the desire to learn all that you could from him. A war taking place on an internal battlefield muddled by whatever mental impairment his very presence seemed to inflict upon you. The sound of a door opening down the hall jarred both of you and he looked to you sharply.

“Might we take this somewhere more private?” He asked hurriedly.

“Not my house.” You replied reflexively, able to keep some sense of clarity and recall Bradley’s insistence from the night before. “A hotel.” You nodded to yourself before pushing off the doorframe, past the lieutenant, and toward your desk.

Grabbing a fresh notebook, your phone, extra charger, and shoving it all into your bag, you threw on your jacket before leading him out the delivery entrance. Purposefully avoiding any and all prying eyes – particularly Bradley’s. As you walked, you retrieved your phone to pull up a hotel booking site, snagging a last-minute deal on a room a few blocks away. It was by no means glamorous – a dated, two-star hotel, but all you needed was a place to make a deal with a murderous creature. You did not need to also break the bank to do it.

Fog swirled around the hem of your dress with each step you took as you glanced around nervously, for once hoping not to see any trace of Bradley Bradshaw. The humidity had combined with the frigid air to create an unsettling ambience and the fact that a murderer was following hot on your heels did nothing to ease your tension. You were surprised the grip you held on the pen whilst signing in at the hotel did not cause the writing implement to snap in half. The front desk clerk, mercifully, made no comment on the absence of any and all luggage, handing over the room key with no more than directions to the elevators.

The key chain bearing the room number jangled in your hand as you struggled to align it with the lock, eventually sliding it home and opening the door to a cramped, musty room with a queen size bed and small desk. Jacob slid out of his jacket, finding a hanger in the tiny closet to place it on before reaching a hand out in silent offer to do the same with yours.

You shook your head quickly in refusal and stepped over to the desk, pulling out the chair and perching on the edge of it apprehensively. Jacob chuckled easily and sat on the edge of the bed across from you. The polyester coverlet printed with a patchwork design popular from several decades previous made an aggravating swish sound against his trousers.

“Your terms?” He smirked, clearly at ease as he planted his hands behind his hips, leaning back with casual arrogance.

“Answer my questions. Truthfully.” Came your immediate reply. “As many as I can think of….”

“Within a three-hour time limit.” He countered, eyes narrowing playfully, clearly enjoying himself.

You chewed your lip, briefly concerned it would not be enough time, but the volume of questions that had been welling up inside you would ensure it would be used wisely.

You nodded before asking, “and yours?” loathing the tremble in your voice, even though you were pretty certain what he wanted.

“Let me drink my fill of you…” His voice was thick, roughened by desire, his gaze intense as he spoke.

Your throat constricted nervously, and you swallowed to clear it. “You cannot kill me…” You protested.

“No of course not.” His face took on a mask of tenderness. “What a terrible waste that would be pet…just enough to satisfy.” He assured you.

You sat on the poorly cushioned chair eyeing him warily, heart still beating at quite a steady clip as the potential terms of your agreement hung in the air, awaiting your assent. The factors at play paraded through your hindered consciousness – the danger of him, the opportunity of him, the mix of pain and pleasure offered in his bite. Your hand strayed to your inner wrist absently, scratching futilely through the bandage there. His eyes flickered down to follow the movement, lips stretching wider into a knowing grin.

Blinking in confusion you glanced down to where his gaze was aimed and huffed in frustration at yourself before thrusting your hand out to him to shake. “Deal.”

With a bemused grin he took your hand in his, grip as cold as marble as he shook in agreement.

“I would also hazard a guess that you need some food before we begin, pet? Need you to keep up your strength.” He grinned as he settled back against the headboard, legs stretched out before him.

You frowned slightly as you realized he was right – two glasses of wine and a few canapes were not going to sustain you. Rifling around on the desk you found a room service menu and called down to order the most appetizing thing they had on offer. Plugging your phone into charge, you opened the fresh notebook and started an audio recording in an app. Your last step was to set a timer for one hundred and eighty minutes before looking to the lieutenant.

“Ready?”

“Whenever you are, pet.” He nodded.

Pressing start on your timer, you asked your first question. The question that had been burning in your mind since you had first examined the artifacts three days ago. “Why did you have a coat from both sides?”

“Made my life easier. I could go wherever I wanted, do what I needed to, wearing the colours of convenience.” He answered with open honesty as you began scrawling into your notebook.

You were relieved that he was upholding his side of the bargain and yet felt an increased nervousness at the idea of having made a deal with a man without loyalties.

“What did you do during the war?”

“Joined up, of course. A group of us enlisted in the South Carolina Continental Army shortly after Independence was declared. My father was proud, my mother was less than pleased given than I was only sixteen, but we were caught up in the political fervor, desperate to join the fight that had been brewing for years. I could already shoot better than most of the recruits, and I was good with horses. It was easy to get a promotion to lieutenant. Especially when our soldiers were dropping like flies.” His tone took on an edge of bitterness that had you glancing up from your notes, but he was gazing off toward some unseen memory at the end of the bed.

“It was becoming increasingly apparent that were severely disadvantaged, particularly when it came to our leadership. The great Washington did not make his way south of Virginia, you see, we were left to fend for ourselves in an increasingly desperate fight against a superior enemy. By 1780 Charlestown had fallen to the British and I had no more interest in dying for a lost cause. I fled my post, made my way into the city to make a living off of my connections and the occupying troops desperate for the finer things that were hard to come by.”

A memory of the ledger found inside the sarcophagus, filled with its neat rows of items and prices, flitted through your mind and you swallowed. “A smuggler.”

“Some called me that, yes.” Jacob chuckled, looking to you with a shrug. “I was no longer killing people, my life was more comfortable, how could it not be considered an improvement for everyone involved?”

A knock on the door, signalling the arrival of your food, startled you into scratching a jagged line of ink along the margin of your notebook. Exhaling shakily, you stood to go retrieve the tray, finding some loose bills in your bag to tip the porter, before carrying the food in and setting it on the desk. Finding the small room overly warm, you shrugged out of your coat at last, not missing the way Jacob’s eyes traced every inch of skin revealed to him by the action.

“Where did you grow up?” You asked your next question, hoping to divert his attention and not waste any more time than you already had.

Alternating between taking notes and eating bites of your rapidly cooling food, you covered all manner of topics from his upbringing to the ins-and-outs of eighteenth-century smuggling. Your notebook grew increasingly full, the pages curling slightly from your frantic shorthand highlighting thoughts and ideas born from his answers, not wanting to miss any details even though you knew it was also being recorded.

“How did you become a vampire?” You asked just as your alarm chimed and you frowned in dismay. How could three hours have passed already…

“I will give you that one, pet, because I am a man of honor.” He swung his legs over the side of the bed, sitting up to face you properly. “My trade had me working with all manner of people, procuring all sorts of items. That is where I first encountered the children of the night. I provided them with what I thought was traditional evening entertainment, but they were soon having me disposing of the leftover pale corpses with ravaged throats. After much persuasion they promised me eternal life…” He laughed bitterly.

“I had barely paid the price of high-value Continental Army information – no sooner had I been turned when the ancestors of your handsome Bradley,” you breath hitched in your throat and his eyes flashed with irritation “showed up for all of us. They promised me a way out, passage back to England. They locked me in that box with my consent. With the understanding that I would be freed as soon as I was aboard a ship out of this place. But instead, I lay there forgotten, my veins running dry, rasping against my skin until I could no longer keep my eyes open. Until a few days ago when your sweet blood fell upon my lips, bringing me back. Now,” his eyes darkened as he stood, looming over you, “you have had your fun. It is my turn.”

He leaned forward, lips parted, baring elongated fangs as he prepared to bite your neck, but you planted a firm hand against his chest, pen still threaded through your fingers. “Wait…s…somewhere it can’t be seen….” You pleaded shakily.

He pulled back with a growing smirk before sinking to his knees before you, fingers seeking the skin of your ankles beneath your dress. He chuckled as you jumped slightly at his cool touch, watching with bated breath as his hands rose up your legs, the hem of your dress gathering at his wrists. Your hands fell to clutch at the arm rests of the chair as he eased your knees apart, inhaling your scent greedily. You could feel each rapid beat of your heart lodged in your throat, shifting slightly at the feel of warmth gathering at the apex of your thighs, certain Jacob was more than aware of the effect his proximity was having on your traitorous body as he grew ever closer to that warmth.

With one final glance up at you he at last turned his head to sink his fangs into the supple flesh of your inner thigh. Your head fell back between your shoulders with a ragged moan, one which he echoed against your skin, your body trembling in response. A mixture of pain and pleasure rocketed through your body as he began to feed, drawing your blood from the bite wound, making you writhe beneath him. A dark chuckle rumbled through his chest as his hands moved to pin your hips, holding you in place as he swallowed greedily.

Gradually your grip on the arms of the chair weakened, the beat of your heart dropped to a normal tempo before becoming sluggish beneath your rib caged. Rolling your head forward, you feebly tried to push his mouth away, afraid he was drinking too much. The lieutenant did not budge, eyes closed in ecstasy, fingers digging into your hips almost painfully, as he continued to drink.

“Jacob…” You whimpered weakly. “We…had a deal…” You panted in an odd cocktail of frantic languidness.

A terrific thud suddenly collided with the door, but you barely had the wherewithal to flinch in reaction. It was followed by several more before the door frame gave away with the horrific screech of protesting metal and wood.  Through heavy eyelids you watched a slightly winded Bradley Bradshaw hurtle into the room, his eyes quickly taking in the scene – Jacob’s position between your legs, your inability to lift your own head. In a swift movement blurred by your weakened state, he was suddenly grasping a stake in his fist, his knuckles gone white from the force with which he held the weapon. Jacob, meanwhile, remained suctioned to your flesh like an overgrown leech, oblivious to all around him.

Bradley wasted no time, drawing his arm back to gain momentum before powerfully driving the stake into Jacob’s back between his ribs. His head snapped up from your thigh with a roar, mouth and neck painted with your blood as he stumbled to his feet, reaching back for the intruding object. With one final blow of his palm to the hilt of the stake, Bradley drove the point of the wood straight through Jacob’s heart. The dying vampire gave a pathetic gasp before his entire being suddenly disintegrated before your very eyes.

Leaving you staring in lethargic shock, Bradley stepped into the tiny washroom that could barely contain his frame and gathered a towel and robe from, returning to press the rough fibres of the towel against the tender flesh. You yelped pathetically, pushing at him weakly as tears pricked your eyes. You did not have the energy to determine if they were tears of shame or tears of sadness for the pile of dust now on the carpet that had very recently been the lieutenant.

“You killed him.” You breathed faintly.

“He was killing you.” Bradley replied sharply, punctuating his statement by pulling the towel tightly around your thigh with the belt of the robe, tying a secure knot in the terrycloth.

You flinched in pain before gulping as he pulled the hem of your dress down over your legs to preserve your modesty. You vision was beginning to narrow as he leaned down to retrieve his stake, tucking it into the inside pocket of his jacket before moving to lift you into his arms, all brisk efficiency. His ability to find you in a hotel with over two hundreds of rooms, in a city full of dozens of hotels, was a puzzle you might not ever be able to solve. Least of all now with your rapidly dimming consciousness.

“Wait!” You channeled the last of bit of effort within your body towards catching his attention. “My stuff…” You gestured listlessly at your phone and notebook, wanting at the very least for this to have not been all for naught.

“You historians are really something else.” He replied gruffly before sweeping your things into your bag, hanging it from his shoulder before scooping you up, his supernatural strength making it a thing of ease as he hurried for the elevator.

“Where we goin’….” Your head lolled forward against his chest, shivering against the radiant heat of his body, barely able to form the words.

“Hospital.” He grunted before everything faded to black.

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

Read Part Five

The Night Moves Masterlist

Tag list: @moonyinthestars, @roger-that-cap, @gaminffnerd, @blckgrl-sunflower

[ao3feed-zukka]

Buried Beneath

Read now on Ao3 at https://ift.tt/PosDAiv by Emachinescat Caught in a cave-in shortly after Zuko joins the Gaang, Sokka and Zuko have all the time in the world to sort out their differences. Unfortunately, what they don't have is the oxygen. Words: 2787, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English Fandoms: Avatar: The Last Airbender Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Categories: Gen, M/M Characters: Sokka (Avatar), Zuko (Avatar) Relationships: Sokka/Zuko (Avatar) Additional Tags: Pre-Zukka, slash or het, Whump, Zuko Whump (Avatar), Sokka Whump (Avatar), Cave-In, Lack of Oxygen, Friendship, Developing Relationship, Season 3, Hurt/Comfort, Cuddling, Forced Proximity, Bonding Read it on Ao3 at https://ift.tt/PosDAiv

[zyafics]

Thanks for answering my question really enjoy hearing your opinions on the show!! 💖 also would love to know where you personally would’ve loved to see the character in season three n four like what is the storyline you would like to have seen? N I totally agree with you. I really wish we saw him crash out more. Lol 😂 unpopular opinion, but I think Rafe would’ve been a better antagonist than any other villain that we’ve had. Recently.!! But I think the creators are too scared!! I think taking the fan favorite  and making them the absolute worst character u had ever seen is so fun and writers should do that more!! not sure if you ever seen teen Wolf, but in season three they did something similar to this and it was genius!!! one of the best story lines of the show!! 

omg, i feel like @whytheylosttheirminds would have better opinions on this because her mind is gorgeous when it comes to analyzing the show, but honestly? i don't know.

a big thing about me is that i would gladly sacrifice a character for a show given that it's the right reason. like i would kill my favorite characters if that's what satisfies the arc of the book/movie/etc. so, i would've loved to make rafe descend further into his madness, but i would've carefully constructed who he was early in s1.

rafe would've been a great villain, but i also think it would've been beautiful for him to have a strong relationship with sarah before the murder of peterkin. that despite sarah being the golden child—rafe still cared about his sister. i would've developed that dynamic a lot earlier in s1.

and then when rafe spirals on the other end, while sarah's with the pogues? that would've crushed him. in addition, it would've made the impact of him wanting to kill sarah at the end of s2 so much more stronger. especially because at his core, he loves his family more than anything EVEN if they oppose him.

i think the reason why the creators didn't make rafe descend further down into madness in s3 because they needed him to be an agitator for the pogues, and they couldn't do that with him going on his own self-destruction path. this is the problem with the pacing/plotting of modern shows rn. they needed friction and conflict, and they made him more driven to make choices because ward could no longer be the primary conflict of the season. i would've probably made him descend further down into the pit of madness regarding the gold; why he felt so much ownership of it? what does it mean to have it if he doesn't have his family? how wealth can be isolating and driven him mad. i would've probably also made him explore why he wanted it in the first place—was it his own greed or because of his father's hand? did he do it to prove to the man that he could do something for himself? honestly? i would've wanted a conflict between him and sarah to go up to the point that he almost killed her (again) but HE snapped out of it. he made the willing choice to stop (not topper, not his father) and give this sort-of cain-abel dynamic. and i would then i would want him to hit rock bottom. to fail. to actually lose all of it without any safety net.

s4 i probably want him to do a lot of self-evaluation. and him making the conscious choice to help sarah because he realized that it's his sister at the end of the day. i would've actually made SARAH the primary figure the season, where she's trying to figure out her own shit and she's struggling and she had no one to turn to. this force proximity and rafe's need to bring his family together would allow them to understand and rebuild the damaged trust.

s5 i would probably want him to figure himself out. to know what he wants rather than what he was told what he wants. build up. i wouldn't want him to die—that's too easy of a redemption arc. i want him to... try? his relationship with sarah (and wheezie) would be his primary motivators for his wellbeing and i want him to make intentional efforts to protect and take care of his sister. that's how i would wrap up the series.

my mind's scrambled with this because it isn't my show, and if it was, i would do a lot more deconstruction, but that's overall the current gist i have about it!

and i have watched teen wolf, but i'm not sure what you're talking about? was this with stiles and the spirit inside him? i can't remember.

[avilionea]

A CRASH COURSE FOR INDEG

Indeg has an exclusive verse with @arturiusrex that follows Emily's canon and will be tagged with v: arturiusrex.

Indeg is an ongoing development and for the purpose of writing on this blog will be my one Arthurian characters to have more influence from a historical perspective ( drawing largely from Irish written law and Roman Briton) , Culhwch and Olwen, The Dream of Rhonabwy, and will continue to evolve as I further research the time period and write her.

Indeg was born on the west coast of Briton in a small town that was subjected to Irish raids. She was taken captive as a spoil of war along with other women, children , and livestock from her village and sold on the western coast of Ireland to another cheiftan in exchange for a sow.

As she grew she became part of the labor force, starting off as a milk maid and churning butter. As she got older she was made to assist in washing wool for spinning before being put in charge of herding pigs ( as pigs were kept close to the house and enslaved women were not permitted to herd cows or sheep as they would require use of the fields.)

She was sold during a harsh winter and moved to the eastern side of the Isle before being sent off to Briton as part of an exchange for further goods and services. In this Lord's castle she was placed once again in charge of herding pigs before shifting back to washing wool. She was taught during this to spin and began weaving before she bore the Lord of the castle a daughter, who was soon traded for her weight in grain to replace the child who had passed in another home.

Her fertility boosted her worth and made her a valuable part in paying off taxes to the crown. She was sent off to King Urien of Gorre's court with two cows and fifty yards of woolen fabric. The environment of the castle made poor use of her previous skill sets, and she soon became pregnant with the King's eldest son Galeguinant, who was declared free by the king and taken into his household as a Bastard. Indeg did not have access to her son. She was given training to be a ladies maid to the Seneschal's wife as the presence of Indeg and her birthing a son, who became to an extent claimed and a free man. This caused conflict with his Queen. She was placed with the Seneschal as her own reward for giving him a son.

The fact that she was given a position that should have gone to a free woman of rank caused further conflict in the Seneschal's home.

While in the service of the Seneschal's wife Indeg learned sewing, clothing care, shoe care, hair care, room cleanliness( not including ash work or chamber care as that was work for a scullery maid) and was permitted to run small errands around the castle. As the Seneschal's wife had four children of her own, Indeg was in close proximity to their governess as well as the children when visiting their mother. Because of this, at the request of the children Indeg began to tell stories.

It began as fairy tales and folktales for the children, but the talent for the craft soin caught the attention of both the Seneschal and his wife, who also sought the entertainment her stories brought. This became a nightly occurance. When it was made plain her lack of education inhibited more detailed and complex plots she was bade to spend a hour daily with the court scribe to learn the history of the Isle( but was barred from learning any writing or mathematic skills). Her stories improved to the point rumors of her talent began to spread throughout the court. She began to tell stories to both the King and his court in the main hall. It was in this time that Indeg was assaulted by the court scribe.

He was brought before the court and made to pay the property damage fine of six shillings and the robbery of personal affects fine of sixty shillings. The Seneschal was also made to pay an additional fine of property damage to the King as Indeg was only on loan.

She was removed from the Seneschal's care shortly after this , but continued telling stories ( now to the King ). Back in the King's household she soon became pregnant again to another boy, Ywaine the bastard, who was named thus as the King legitimate newborn, Ywaine was sickly and feared a failure to thrive. Should this son die, Indeg's child was to be given to the Queen. Both boys lived. Ywaine the bastard is Indeg's only child to reach the status of a Lord.

Her talents were put to the test when a traveling bard proclaimed he was the best storyteller in Briton and requested a position in court stating he could outnarrate Indeg, whose talents were now bleeding out of Gorre's court. He parlayed for a contest and bet his right hand he could best her. Should he win he wanted her tongue and a position in the King's court. He had the education and the skill where she did not.

The judge was the King of Orkney who had come south and was resting at Gorre prior to both Kings preparation for diplomatic proceedings and potential conflict with a new upstart King in the south of Briton.

The Bard began and told his story with flare. It was as grand as he promised. Indeg's story lasted the whole night, captivating both Kings and keeping them and their court both occupied and entertained. She won and was offered the Bard's hand as her prize. She declined and let him keep his hand.

Indeg had a short period of peace while Urien was southward in the country, but was sent for along with fifty yards of golden brocade. She arrived at a camp which held a mass of other Kings who were bending the knee to whom had been formerly proclaimed the upstart King. Items of value were being given as tribute to this King who was now calling himself a High King.

This King's advisor, Merlin, rebuffed the fabric and Indeg, stating that one woman was of poor worth for Urien's proof of loyalty. She should have come with livestock, gold, or other women. She and the golden brocade were deemed insulting and would not be presented to the King.

Indeg was made by Urien to tell the King a story oncenhe was able to fight to present her. This was predated at the King's request with her personal story(she omitted her own assault) So she stood there, holding the fabric and told him a story that had him enchanted.

They talked at length about her stories, both true and fiction, to which he found her suitable.

Sir Cai joked he found her more than suitable. If the King did not want her, then he would. Further discussion as to what should be done with her was had and boiled down to whether she should stay in the King's household, be given to Sir Cai, or made a gift for his best knight Sir Lancelot for all his services to tbe crown. Indeg was present for all of this discussion before being sent to the King's, Arthur's, personal tent.

In Camelot, Indeg's personal duties are the upkeep of Arthur's apartments which include linen and furniture care, scrubbing floors, and care of hygiene tools. For Arthur( up until he had his second wife) she performs clothing maintenance and care, personal care, and hair care.

She gives him one son, Amr, whose life is up for plotting, but is buried on the battle field at Archfield, with a grave marked with his crimes.

More TBA or changed as needed as she develops.

[ao3feed-narlie]

A Many Splendored Thing

read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/ReQTLua by rarehornedblueberry Professor Charlie Spring is desperately trying to avoid another blind date set up by his overbearing mother, socialite Jane Spring, so he finds someone she’ll hate. Enter Nick Nelson: Hollywood’s golden boy and his mother’s top nemesis. As longtime gym buddies, Nick is happy to enter a fake relationship with Charlie, especially because his feelings for him go way beyond friendship. It’s not long until Charlie finds himself hijacked with surprise dates set up by his mother, paparazzi, a fan club rebellion, and even Nick’s ex. Meanwhile, Nick is facing pressure from his agent as she tries to reinvent his image in Hollywood. As they tackle fame and family together, Nick and Charlie find that they are undeniably drawn to each other. But at the end of their fake relationship, will there be enough left for something real? * Or Charlie pretends to date his friend Nick but things get complicated when their relationship develops from fake to physical. Words: 2044, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English Fandoms: Heartstopper (Webcomic), Heartstopper (TV) Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Categories: M/M Characters: Charles "Charlie" Spring (Heartstopper), Nicholas "Nick" Nelson, Jane Spring, Victoria "Tori" Spring, Imogen Heaney Relationships: Nicholas "Nick" Nelson/Charles "Charlie" Spring Additional Tags: Alternate Universe, Fake/Pretend Relationship, Billionaire!Charlie, actor!nick, Fame, Forced Proximity, Sexy, Steamy, Hollywood, Friends to Lovers, Other Additional Tags to Be Added read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/ReQTLua

[ao3feed-johnnylawrence]

Cobra and the Crane

by ohcaptianmycaptian Johnny Lawrence and Daniel LaRusso's rivalry at West Valley High is well-known, but when circumstances force them to spend more time together, the dynamics between them start to change. As they navigate their complicated relationship, underlying tensions give way to moments of unexpected connection Words: 793, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English Fandoms: Karate Kid (Movies), Cobra Kai (TV) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Categories: M/M Characters: Daniel LaRusso, Johnny Lawrence, Bobby Brown (Karate Kid), Ali Mills (Karate Kid), Tommy (Karate Kid), Jimmy (Karate Kid), Dutch (Karate Kid) Relationships: Daniel LaRusso/Johnny Lawrence Additional Tags: Enemies to Lovers, Slow Burn, Mutual Pining, Alternate Universe - High School, Fluff and Angst, Romance, Character Development, Smut, Unresolved Sexual Tension, Jealousy, Hidden Feelings, Forced Proximity, Closeted Character, Bisexual Daniel LaRusso, Johnny Lawrence is Bad at Feelings, Johnny Lawrence lowkey needs therapy yipEE, Movie: The Karate Kid (1984), why did i set myself up for this, kms hate myself, SHOULD I HAVE SONG REFERENCES GASP, OH MY GOSH I WILL via https://ift.tt/vd0GgFa

[pagesandpothos]

Once Upon You and Me by Timothy Janovsky

Official Summary:

Charming fairy tale meets spicy bedtime story in this deliciously enchanting age-gap LGBTQIA+ romance. When Taylor Frost’s boss, Amy, flies him across the country to prep for her daughter’s sweet sixteen at the Storybook Endings Resort in the Catskills, the solo mission is well within his wheelhouse. Taylor is excellent at his job—except, he’s probably not supposed to flirt with the resort’s mountain man of a manager, Ethan Golding. Because the rugged older man is also the birthday girl’s father, aka Amy’s ex-husband. Oops. For Ethan, his divorce seemed like the bad ending to his romantic story. And now, making his daughter’s sweet sixteen dreams come true is the closest he’ll get to the kind of magic happiness in fairy tales. Until adorable Taylor has him wondering if maybe this is just the beginning of a more erotic kind of bedtime story… The only problem is Amy. And how very not okay she’d be with the chemistry between her assistant and her ex. If only forbidden flings ever led to happily-ever-afters…

My Thoughts:

I'm not a fan of the age-gap trope, so I went into this book a little hesitant. This sounded fun, though, and I was excited to read my first Timothy Janovsky book since I have a few of his novels on my TBR.

This story follows Ethan, a bisexual 40-year-old resort owner. His ex-wife's assistant, Taylor, who is 27, is sent to assist in planning a party, and romantic sparks start flying.

Taylor was immediately likable. He's an older sibling who helped raise his younger brothers and sisters. This helped him grow into a thoughtful and nurturing adult. One of my favorite things about Ethan is that he's been recently diagnosed with ADHD. One of Taylor's siblings also has ADHD, so he understands some of what Ethan struggles with.

There are lots of great supporting characters in this. Ethan's best friend, Gabriel, is a fun addition to the book. Samara, Ethan's and Amy's daughter, is also an enjoyable character. While the summary above may make it sound like Amy is a villain, she's actually a well-rounded but flawed character. There's a lot of wonderful character development in this, too!

The romance between Ethan and Taylor is steamy. They are each other's types, so the attraction is immediate. The "forced proximity" trope pushes the two closer, and their relationship takes off quickly. It's not just a physical relationship; these two build a solid relationship that I was really rooting for by the end.

This was such a fun, spicy, and romantic book. This was exactly what I needed to cheer me up from a stressful week. I recommend it to anyone looking for a quick, feel-good queer romance. I'm really glad I finally read one of Timothy Janovsky's books, and I'm looking forward to reading more!

My Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑 (4/5 stars).

Pages: 288 (Kindle Edition)

Tropes/Tags:  Romance, Queer, Achillean, Age Gap, Contemporary Romance, Forced Proximity, Bisexual Main Character, ADHD Representation, Has A Dog!

Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5. This is spicy! There are multiple open-door and descriptive sex scenes!

Content Warnings: From the author: "This book contains discussions and depictions of divorce, biphobia, and a parent living with MS. Please take special care while reading."

Links: Storygraph | GoodReads | TimothyJanovsky.com

Once Upon You and Me will be released on April 29, 2025, and is available for pre-order!

I received an advanced copy of this book for free, thanks to NetGalley, Afterglow, and Harlequin Books. The above are my honest feelings about the book provided. I don’t have any affiliate links in this post, and I do not make any money from my reviews. I review books simply because I love to read.

[ See Everything I’ve Read in 2025 ]

[bug-decal-kissing]

Hey friends!

Lights! Camera! Action! by SL_22, was updated today, with 9/? Chapters released! It is Not Rated and Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings, with additional tags "Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Deviates From Canon, Homophobia, Falling In Love, Hurt/Comfort, Flashbacks, I Wrote This Instead of Sleeping, Idiots in Love, Humor, all people, overtime, Office, Friends to Enemies, Enemies to Lovers"

You can read it here:

ELLIS IS MY FAVOURITE CHARACTER NOW, SORRY GUYS I'M IN LOVE WITH HER/p/j And now that Scarab's ire was released on her, he can talk to Prismo <3 And someone please let this bug man go home and sleep he's ill :[

NSFW works are below the cut :].

Breaking Routine, by ineedlemonade, was updated today, with 2/6 Chapters released! It has a rating of Mature and Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings, with additional tags "Existential Angst, Suicidal Thoughts, Angst, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Attempt at Humor, Not Beta Read, Sequel, Mental Health Issues, Violent Thoughts, Developing Relationship, Complicated Relationships, Exactly What It Says on the Tin, Introspection, Forced Proximity, Unreliable Narrator, Slow Burn, 100 Years Off Screen + Additional Simmering, Trans Male Character"

You can read it here:

Prismo knows exactly what he's doing with the character creation programme, and it's making me go teehee >:] They're both so dumb in their own ways <3/silly Scarab's only reprieve is taking care of Old Man Prismo and even then it's short-lived </3 sorry bug boy, better get used to it/j

[ao3feed-everlark]

Wild Wednesdays

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/4uoW3EA

by Mollywog

At five years old, Peeta had wholeheartedly believed that he would marry Katniss Everdeen with a conviction only born out of youth and naïveté. He had put her on a pedestal and then subsequently developed a fear of heights. Every day, week, and year that he couldn’t find an excuse or the courage to speak to her, his resolve dwindled, until they had graduated high school and not even the excuse of forced proximity remained. They went their separate ways, but he still held onto a sliver of hope that he might woo her yet: he’d imagine her pulling into the pump next to him at the gas station, or bumping into her as he ambled the grocery store. But over time, even those fancies had faded.

Words: 1873, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Hunger Games Trilogy - Suzanne Collins, Hunger Games Series - All Media Types

Rating: Not Rated

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: F/M

Characters: Katniss Everdeen, Peeta Mellark

Relationships: Katniss Everdeen/Peeta Mellark

Additional Tags: Modern AU

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/4uoW3EA

[battyaboutbooksreviews]

🦇 Not Your Crush's Cauldron Book Review 🦇

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

[ Find my review below or on Goodreads | Storygraph | Literal ]

❓ #QOTD What's one thing outside of your comfort zone you want to do this year? ❓ 🦇 Olive Maxwell is all too happy to leave the magical shenanigans to her sisters while she focuses on teaching. Currently, getting a grant for SupeEx has her full attention; a student exchange program that could help magical beings better understand one another's perspectives. In preparation for her grant presentation, Olive has assigned her college students a project that will nudge them beyond their comfort zones. Realizing she's never stepped out of her own, Olive decides to participate by creating her own Dare I Docket list, featuring activities she never would have considered in the past. Meanwhile, her new roommate Bax Donovan is struggling to keep his Guardian Angel wings. Assigned as Olive's Guardian, Bax helps Olive cross items off her list while secretly protecting her. Will they take the biggest risk of all: falling in love?

💜 Blessed Be, Bwitches! For those of you who have been with me from the beginning, the second book of April Asher's Supernatural Singles series was one of my first ARC reviews on this blog. I'm so grateful that I got the chance to read the third, featuring the somewhat shy, beyond witty and witchy Olive. April Asher EXCELS at using spunky prose, nerd-tastic references, and dizzying dialogue to drag readers into the Maxwell found family. The moment I picked up this book, it felt like talking to an old friend for the first time in too long. The prose is active, engaging, and unique, breathing life to a sassy, badass cast of characters. I also adored the story's underlying message. The risks you take in life, the decisions you make to move that life forward, mean little without the right people beside you.

💜 Fingers crossed we're not done with the Supernatural Singles series yet. April Asher, please tell me Harper gets some love in the *fingers crossed* next installment?

🦇 What upset me most about this book was finishing it. Olive and Bax are adorable together while still bringing plenty of Thai-level-five spice. Anything more would have dragged the story on too long, but I'm definitely going to be sporting a book hangover this week, craving more of that wicked prose!

🦇 In all seriousness, I do wish sex hadn't entered the plot so soon, giving Olive and Bax more time to develop their friendship instead. Bax's father feels a bit one-dimensional as a villain (I expected more layers behind his motivations, which mainly boils down to reputation). Of the three books in this series, there's the least amount of magic in this one, which was a bit of a disappointment. The premise of Olive being "at risk" because of the Dare I Docket feels a bit weak, too. I expected one of Vi's bounties to potentially put Olive's life at risk, or someone using magic to steal the grant from her--some additional source of conflict to drive the story forward. As much as I loved the sweet fluff, this story needed more tension.

🦇 Recommended to fans of witty, witchy prose, the best romance tropes, and charming characters. Add a little magic to your life with the Supernatural Singles series!

✨ The Vibes ✨ 🔮 Witch/Guardian Angel 🪽 Found Family 🔮 Friends to Lovers 🪽 Forced Proximity / Roommates 🔮 Forbidden Paranormal Romance 🪽 Third in the Series 🔮 Plenty of Spice

🦇 Major thanks to the author and publisher for providing an ARC of this book via Netgalley. 🥰 This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Quotes

❝ It wasn’t what you did that moved you forward the most, but the people who stood by your side when you did it. It was your family—your found family. The ones you chose to surround yourself with because them not being part of your life wasn’t a possibility you wanted to think about. ❞

❝ Everyone has a spark of Magic, and when you follow it, there really is no possibility of straying from your true path. ❞