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Balloon Fit Cardigan is released publicly!

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Police Station

Updated: 21/12/17

I built the police station modern and fully functional. There are (of course) prison cells, offices, open-plan offices, three interrogation rooms, a break room, a canteen, two conference rooms, an aservat chamber, an archive, an armoury and a shooting range, as well as a large area for training and changing rooms.

Thanks to all creators who made this house possible with their CC, like, animefemme, leo-sims, k-hippie-k, Sjamboksim, xldkx, meinKatz, Akuiyumi, dk-sims, lines Siminterior7 and many many more.

Requiered CC: Alfi-si X, AggressiveKitty: X, X, X, X, X, anbs: X, brazenlotus: X, Cherry-sims: X, X, ddaengsims: X, X, X, X, descargassims: X, felixandre: X, X, X, X, X foreverdesigns: X, X, KKB X, X, X, X, X, X, X, X, X, Onyxium: X, X, X, ANBS: X, Little Dica: X, X, Softpine: X, NeutralProps: X, X, Nickname: X, Noir and Dark Sims4: X, Novvvas: X, X, X, Paco-sims: X, X, X, PTS: X, RVSN: X, Viviansims: X,  YourDorkBrains: X, X, Wondymoon X, X, X, X, X, Download CC

Download on my Patreon

[skyoflife]

The Men Of Letters, Supernatural Bunker

It’s finally here! You have no idea how exited I am for this to be out! In honour of the best show ever, aka Supernatural, I give you The Men Of Letters Bunker in The Sims 4. I’ve worked probably 36 hours on it or more I have no idea, with research and all of it. This build made me pull my hair out a few times, not gonna lie. With my undying love for Supernatural it was obvious that I had to create The Bunker. It’s ICONIC. I loved recreating those rooms, trying to figure out a layout of things, it was absolutely amazing and I had so much fun. Hope all of you will enjoy it as much as I do. Please send me screenshots with your gameplay or tag me, I’d love to see your take on it! I might cry rn bc I love this build so much lol don’t judge me.

With this build, I’M LAUNCHING MY PATREON! My stuff is always free, I just wanted to have a space for anyone who would like to support me and my work. 

» 40x30 » no cc » place with bb.moveobjects on » § 361 556 » more photos on Patreon

DOWNLOAD (Patreon, always free)

or find on gallery, origin ID xoGerardine

[skyoflife]

I love sci-fi. I love classic sci-fi! But those books are dense as fuck and not very accessible, so here is my chart of sci-fi recs for people who are just getting started in the genre! The books get longer as you go down the chart. [insert obligatory disclaimer about how these are just books I enjoyed, you may not like them, it’s all down to personal preference, etc.] More detail/explanation below the cut:

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[skyoflife]

Mangas/Webtoons to read as you wait for Brutal: Confessions of a Homicide Detective to update

⭐= Highly recommend

⚠️ = Warning for uncomfortable content

❤️ = Romance

❤️Garden of the Dead Flowers❤️

Synopsis:

Mila has always been very close to her grandfather, a sweet and caring man who sees the best in everyone. One night after following a cat, Mila gets sent back to the past when the Dutch colonized Taiwan. Confused and scared, her entire world is turned upside down when she witnesses her once lovable grandfather, now sixteen, brutally murder a young woman. Stuck in the past with no way back, she must navigate a 1940s nightmare and dig up some family secrets, like weeds in the garden. (Romance not between Grandfather and granddaughter)

Why you should read this: Great twists and the MC is very likable. The story is also enjoyable. The grandad is unhinged which is also great to read. Although there are "I can change him" vibes, this might not be for you if you really can't stand that.

⚠️Prison Lab⚠️

Synopsis:

Eyama Aito, a high school student, is the victim of daily bullying. At his wit's end, he is introduced to the "captivity game," where he must choose a single person to hold for a month for a chance to win a large sum of money. Giving him a valid reason for revenge, he chooses Ya Kirishima, the ringleader of his bullies. The only rule? Do not kill her.

Why you should read this: Revenge fantasy. If you are into " I don't care if two wrongs don't makes a right, I just want to see blood," this is for you. No one is the good guy, and everyone sucks. This story is very dark and psychological. Like, really, REALLY dark. Probably the darkest on the list. This is the only story I would put trigger warnings around.

⭐Shen Ze⭐

Synopsis:

Xu Shenze is your normal everyday teenager. Well, almost normal. Ever since he was a child, he has had the same strange dream of a shadow, a dead town, and an impending message of death. As the shadow slowly took over his life, his parents meet a gruesome end, turning his world upside down. Now, all Xu has left is to find that town in his dreams, a place they claim God once lived, and discover the truth. Will you also join him in this nightmare?

Why you should read this: This has the best art and incredible visuals. The story is very Silent Hill, and I suspect the franchise greatly inspired it. The MC is competent, intelligent, and easy to like. He's antisocial and a little awkward as well. This story has ghosts and many gripping mysteries. I would recommend this webtoon the most out of everything on the list. Very Junji Ito.

⭐Cesare⭐

Synopsis:

Angelo da Canossa is an angelic young student during the height of Renaissance Italy. Befriending Cesare Borgia, the future inspiration for Machiavelli's 'The Prince,' the question becomes whether Canossa can remain innocent or will be drawn into the politically evil world of Florance? The main message? If you do fall, at the very least, one must be well-dressed. Even Satan can make an entrance.

Why you should read this: The fashion and the political intrigue should be enough to draw anyone in. If you are a fan of brutal history, you will enjoy this manga. The storyline can keep your attention, along with well-rounded characters. Out of all the stories, this one has the best writing.

⚠️Funouhan⚠️

Synopsis:

In a park, surrounded by cats, sits a strange man with red eyes. He's eccentric, handsome, and the type that makes a shiver go down your spine. You can request that he kill anyone you want, and he can never be prosecuted because he never does anything "illegal." Equipped with a strange power, those he helps will always come to regret it.

Why you should read this: Attractive apathetic male lead with a melodramatic and dark plot. There is clear thought put into each plot, and the story is more serialized than the others on this list. Definitely, a manga that makes you roll your eyes at humanity. There is body horror, so leave this one on the shelf if you really can't handle that.

⚠️From the Red Fog⚠️

Synopsis:

This work is a story about a boy, Rwanda, whose mother is a vicious murderer, set in England at the end of the 19th century. Rwanda, who has long been confined in the basement, grew up and left the house after a specific incident. Eventually, he arrived in the town and was picked up by a nursing home staff member and decided to live in the facility. But peaceful everyday life is only dull for Rwanda... (description taken from Mangago)

Why you should read this: FANTASTIC storyline. Although it's a bit on the edgelord side. Beautiful art. Mommy issues. Also, it's in Victorian England. This work is closest to Brutal in terms of content.

⭐Versailles of the Dead⭐

Synopsis:

Marie Anotine's twin brother, Albert, is the only survivor after the carriage travelling to France for his sister's wedding is attacked by zombies. Taking on her identity to keep the alliance alive, Albert marries Louis XV and navigates the court while hiding a dark secret underneath.

Why you should read this: I absolutely adore this manga. I would also highly recommend this on the list. The art is beautiful, and the storyline is very engaging. Albert is a delight (and closest to Hiroki Dan in personality), and who doesn't love a little of Rococo France. Plus zombies. French zombies. There is gore, so a tiny bit of a warning there.

[skyoflife]

WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH/READ BLEACH !

a tiny little semi infographic on the best shounen animanga.

WHAT IS BLEACH?

BLEACH is an animanga released by TITE KUBO in the early 2000s which tells the story of 15 year old ichigo kurosaki, who is both blessed and cursed with the ability to see ghosts. when his family is attacked by a hollow (the very scary manifestation of a lost soul) he becomes a soul reaper, dedicating his life to protecting others and helping these lost souls find peace. the story details his adventures within the world of the living and his transcendence to the spirit world.

ACTION FICTION / 16 SEASONS W 366 EPS / 687 CHAPS.

available on hulu, funimation, and most anime streaming sites.

SO WHY SHOULD YOU BEGIN BLEACH?

01. TYBW RELEASE IN OCTOBER

the THOUSAND YEAR BLOOD WAR ARC, seemingly the final arc in the bleach manga is scheduled to begin airing in october of 2022, there's no better time to play catch-up on the anime or manga than right now!

you can view the trailer for TYBW → HERE !

02. GREAT CHARACTER DESIGN

if a great story wasn't enough, BLEACH also has impressive character design, as seen through both the characters appearances themselves and the clothes they choose to wear. even within the mandatory uniform soul reapers donn, you can see individual personalities and style reflected through their wear. this also applies to espada, fullbringer, quincy, etc.

03. CHARACTER DEPTH AND DEVELOPMENT

BLEACH isn't one to have characters at a stand still, throughout the progression of the story the viewer/reader gets a really good look at a character's transformation not only through development of skill but also as individuals. as seen in the fullbring arc where ichigo (debatably) undergoes some of his greatest developments as a character so far.

BLEACH IS ALSO NOT SHY OF STRONG FEMALE CHARACTERS !!!! women in this story are not afraid to fight men and aren't depicted in a way where their character is put second to their femininity. we can see great examples of this through characters like unohana, yoruichi, soifon, etc.

04. BEST OST / EDS

BLEACH brings the VIBE when it comes to it's anime openings and endings, it's soundtrack ranges from bubbly upbeat pop to mellow rock and a whole number of genres in-between. you can find a playlist of some OST/ED → HERE!

05. MISC

ACTION PACKED, FULL OF GREAT COMEDIC FUN, SUPER ENTERTAINING. BLEACH will make you laugh, cry, and is guaranteed have you at the edge of your seat for sure. it's easy to follow/understand and if there ever is a moment you're confused the FANDOM WIKI is loaded with information to keep you up to speed.

SOME QUALMS TO BLEACH :

THE BOUNT ARC / FILLER — where people tend to lose a lot of interest in the series because of its slow pacing, the bount arc isn't imperative to watch however we do get to see the bonds of characters and their individual abilities shine through in this arc! watch/read if you want and skip if you dont, you will still be able to understand the rest of the series if you chose not to.

SOME FAN SERVICE + CLIQUE — remember that this is an early 2000 shounen animanga, everyone's tolerance to animanga bullshit is on a spectrum so this is really up to your personal preference, however bleach does feature some amounts of fan service and clique within its tale. i personally didn't find it to be to a point where it ruined the story or got in the way of important moments. once again based on preference so i'll include this bit for your decision!

THE RUNDOWN:

overall, bleach is truly a classic and has set the stage for tons of your favorite new-gen shounen animanga. tite kubo's influence is easily found in so many of today's animedia and bleach will definitely be remembered as one of the greatest stories of all time. WATCH/READ BLEACH !!!

[skyoflife]

Do you have any links on demons and demonic possessions? Demon abilities? Making a demon pact? Anything demon relates actually.

I don’t have a lot, but hopefully this will be enough to get you started.

Heads up: I’ve never read The Lesser Key of Solomon or the Satanic Bible so I can’t provide any trigger warnings or promise that each will hold the kind of information you’re after. They do seem like good points of research however, given you want to know all about demons/evil spirits and the like (I do know of Solomon, and so presume The Lesser Key of Solomon is related to the tale of King Solomon’s summoning and subsequent contracts with the 72 demons/pillars of Hell). Also bear in mind that the Satanic Bible is a manifesto, and not a ‘demons fact sheet’ or anything simple like that. I believe you can download it for free as an eBook from the site I have provided.

As for demonic possessions, you can literally google ‘demonic possession stories’ and you will get a whole load of articles. Since I do want to sleep tonight and in the near future, I’m not going to read individual ones and link you to them. You can do that research for yourself, if you don’t mind… I found one via Tumblr and…

Guides:

Supernatural Guides Vol.2, Part 1: Demons

Fuck Yeah Nightmares: Demonology (trigger warning: disturbing images)

Resources:

Sigils of Summoning

The Lesser Key of Solomon

Classification of Demons

List of Theological Demons

Demonology

Demonology: An E-List of Demon Names, Devils & Evil Spirits

Demonology: Revealing the World of Demons (trigger warning: disturbing images)

Strange Accounts: The Demonic Possessions of Anneliese Michel (trigger warning: disturbing images/photographs).

Books:

The Lesser Key of Solomon, Goetia (PDF)

The Satanic Bible

Goodreads: Books with Angels, Gods or Demons

Goodreads: Angels & Demons

Anathema Books: Satanism/Demonology Books

Book Depository: All Satanism & Demonology Books

Answered Asks:

Previous FYCD answer, ‘writing likeable demons’.

The Writing Cafe: Demons/Demonic Possessions

The Writing Cafe: Angels and Devils

I hope this helps…! Best of luck.

- enlee

[skyoflife]

[skyoflife]

Susan Sontag, As Consciousness is Harnessed to Flesh

[skyoflife]

“Urbanity and automobiles are antithetical in many ways, for a city of drivers is only a dysfunctional suburb of people shuttling from private interior to private interior. Cars have encouraged the diffusion and privatization of space, as shopping malls replace shopping streets, public buildings become islands in a sea of asphalt, civic design lapses into traffic engineering, and people mingle far less freely and frequently. The street is public space in which First Amendment rights of speech and assembly apply, while the mall is not. The democratic and liberatory possibilities of people gathered together in public don’t exist in places where they don’t have space in which to gather.”

— Rebecca Solnit, Wanderlust: A History of Walking (2001)

[skyoflife]

Duke, could you recommend some books that are just... odd? I know that I'm not specific whatsoever. :(

Some extremely odd suggestions off the top of my head: 

Octavia Butler, Dawn (this book is insane, lots of alien sex, good luck)

Arthur C. Clarke, Childhood’s End (will fuck you up for a while)

Susanna Clarke, Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell (a historical fiction/fantasy cinderblock well worth getting immersed in)

Glenn Duncan, I, Lucifer (blasphemous, filthy, and funny as hell)

Jennifer Egan, The Keep (one part family drama, one part fantasy, one part who the hell knows what)

Mark Andrew Ferguson, The Lost Boys Symphony (music and time travel)

Hermann Hesse, Steppenwolf (inexplicable magical-philosophical something)

Jack Kerouac, Big Sur (dude decamps to isolated cabin to struggle through DT, gets interrupted by Neal Cassady)

Jonathan Lethem, Chronic City (stoner art heists, escaped tigers, astronaut ghostwriters, and more)

Jack London, The Sea Wolf (one part high-seas adventure, one part queer romance in deep Victorian denial)

Walter Tevis, The Man Who Fell to Earth (bleak but one of my favorite underrated sci fi novels, also a traumatizing movie by Nicholas Roeg)

Iris Murdoch, Under the Net (a madcap romp through London/Paris featuring a kidnapped movie-star dog)

Ignazio Silone, Bread & Wine (half adventure novel, half political treatise, only 200 pages)

Laura Van Den Berg, The Third Hotel (a short, strange book that asks more questions than it answers)

Kurt Vonnegut, Breakfast of Champions (a hilarious burlesque of American culture)

Daniel Wallace, Extraordinary Adventures (one part rom-com, one part whodunit, one part wtf)

David Wong, John Dies at the End (campy comic horror)

Hope something here catches your eye!

[skyoflife]

2021 YA Reads By Authors of Color 

A Chorus Rises (A Song Below Water #2) by Bethany C. Morrow: Teen influencer Naema Bradshaw is an Eloko, a person who’s gifted with a song that woos anyone who hears it. Everyone loves her — well, until she’s cast as the awful person who exposed Tavia’s secret siren powers. When a new, flourishing segment of Naema’s online supporters start targeting black girls, however, Naema must discover the true purpose of her magical voice.

A Taste For Love by Jennifer Yen: In this Pride and Prejudice-inspired rom-com, both high school senior Liza Yang and her mother share a love and talent for baking but disagree on the subject of dating, especially when Mrs. Yang turns her annual baking contest into a matchmaking scheme, when Liza learns that all of the contestants are young Asian American men handpicked for her to date. 

Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé: Pitched as Gossip Girl meets Get Out, in which a mysterious source spreads rumors about a prestigious private school’s only two Black students, Chiamaka and Devon, who must fight for their reputations—and for their lives. 

All Kinds of Other by James Sie: In this tender, nuanced coming-of-age love story, two boys—one who is cis and one who is trans—have been guarding their hearts to protect themselves, until their feelings for each other give them a reason to stand up to their fears.

All These Bodies by Kendare Blake: A 15-year-old girl becomes the surviving victim-turned-suspect of a Midwestern murder spree. 

American Betiya by Anuradha D. Rajurkar: 18-year-old Rani, a budding photographer, grapples with first love, family boundaries, and the complications of a cross-cultural relationship.

An Emotion of Great Delight by Tahereh Mafi: A searing look into the world of a single Muslim family in the wake of 9/11, about a child of immigrants forging a blurry identity, falling in love, and finding hope—in the midst of a modern war. 

Angel of Greenwood by Randi Pink: Set in the Tulsa neighborhood of Greenwood, once known as “Black Wall Street,” two teenagers, surrounded by idyllic beauty, passionate intellectualism, and black excellence, fall in love for the first time; amidst of one of the worst atrocities in U.S. history. 

Anna K Away (Anna K #2) by Jenny Lee: Anna K: Told from multiple viewpoints, Anna K spends a summer with her father and his family in South Korea, while in the United States, Lolly and Steven, Kimmie and Dustin, and Bea all face relationship issues.

Aristotle and Dante Dive in the Waters of the World (Aristotle and Dante #2) by Benjamin Alire Sáenz: After falling in love, Ari and Dante must discover what it means to stay in love and build a relationship in a world that seems to challenge their very existence.

Bad Witch Burning by Jessica Lewis: For fans of Us and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina comes a witchy story full of black girl magic as one girl’s dark ability to summon the dead offers her a chance at a new life, while revealing to her an even darker future.

Beasts of Prey by Ayana Gray: Two Black teenagers, talented Beastkeeper Koffi and warrior-in-training Ekon, must trek into a magical jungle to take down an ancient creature menacing the city of Lkossa, before they become the hunted. 

The Beautiful Struggle (Young Reader’s Edition) by Ta-Nehisi Coates: Adapted from the adult memoir, this father-son story explores how boys become men. 

Blackout by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon: A collection of six interlinked stories of Black love, set on a single day during a summer heatwave and power outage in New York City. 

Blood Like Magic by Liselle Sambury: Set in near-future Toronto in which, after failing to come into her powers, 16-year-old Black witch Voya Thomas must choose between losing her family’s magic forever or murdering her first love. 

The Bones of Ruin by Sarah Raughley: Set in Victorian England, African tightrope walker Iris cannot die; but soon gets drafted in the fight-to-the-death tournament of freaks where she learns the terrible truth of who and what she really is. 

Briar Girls by Rebecca Kim Wells: Cursed to kill all those she touches, Lena endures an isolated life on the run. But when an enigmatic stranger offers to help her break the curse in exchange for her aid in waking a princess hidden in an enchanted forest, Lena embarks on a quest to win her freedom. 

Broken Web (Shamanborn #2) by Lori M. Lee: With Queen Meilyr bent on destroying the magical kingdoms, Sirscha becomes caught between a war in the east and the Soulless in the west.

The Chariot at Dusk (Tiger at Midnight #3) by Swati Teerdhala: In the final book of this epic fantasy trilogy, the lands’ fate, their people’s livelihoods, and the bond that sustains their world all depend on what Kunal and Esha can offer—to the gods and to each other.

Chlorine Sky by Mahogany L. Browne: Picked on at home, criticized for talking trash while beating boys at basketball, and always seen as less, a girl struggles to step out of the shadows of her best friend. 

A Clash of Steel (A Treasure Island Remix) by C.B. Lee: Set in 1820s China, Xiah joins Anh and her motley crew in pursuit of the hidden treasure of the legendary Dragon Fleet. F/F main romance. 

Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas: Set 17 years before the events in The Hate U Give, and set in Garden Heights, a searing and poignant exploration of Black boyhood and manhood featuring Maverick Carter, Starr’s father. 

The Cost of Knowing by Brittney Morris: A gripping, evocative novel about Black teen Alex Rufus, who has the power to see into the future, and whose life turns upside down when he foresees his younger brother’s imminent death. 

Counting Down with You by Tashie Bhuiyan: Bangladeshi-Muslim teen Karina Ahmed navigates the difficulties of independence, family, and first love after being roped into a fake dating facade by her infamously aloof classmate, Ace Clyde. 

A Crown So Cursed (Nightmare Verse #3) by L.L. McKinney: Alice is ready to jump into battle when she learns that someone is building an army of Nightmares to attack the mortal world, before she learns of a personal connection to Wonderland.

Darling by K. Ancrum: A post-modern retelling of Peter Pan in modern-day Chicago, in which Wendy Darling follows Peter and his Lost Boys through the city’s nightlife and underbelly, only to discover that Peter isn’t what he seems and the Lost Boys are in trouble. 

The Endless Skies by Shannon Price: 17-year-old Rowan is about to become one of the famed Leonodai Warriors—the elite magical fighters who protect the floating city Heliana, until disaster strikes the city’s children. With time running out and humans on their tail, Rowan must risk everything to save her beloved city.

Every Body Shines (16 Stories About Living Fabulously Fat) edited by Cassandra Newbould: An intersectional, feminist YA anthology from some of today’s most exciting voices across a span of genres, all celebrating body diversity and fat acceptance through short stories.

Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry by Joya Goffney: The story of an overly enthusiastic list maker and Black teen Quinn, who is blackmailed into completing a to-do list of all her worst fears. 

Fat Chance, Charlie Vega by Crystal Maldonado: Teenage girl Charlie Vega follows her writing dreams, resists her mom’s weight-loss schemes, and even falls for the cute boy from art class—until she realizes that he may be after her bestie. 

Feather and Flame (The Queen’s Council #2) by Livia Blackburne: When one of Mulan’s own militia members comes under suspicion as a traitor, she has no idea whom she can trust. But the Queen’s Council helps Mulan uncover her true destiny. With renewed strength and the wisdom of those that came before her, Mulan will own her power, save her country, and prove once again that, crown or helmet, she was always meant to lead. 

Fifteen Hundred Miles From the Sun by Jonny Garza Villa: Texas high school senior Julián Luna accidentally comes out to the world on social media and must now juggle the joy of first love and the fear of his socially conservative father finding out before he’s ready. 

Fire with Fire by Destiny Soria: A contemporary fantasy about two sisters, Dani and Eden Rivera, who were raised to be fierce dragon slayers but end up on opposite sides of the impending war when one sister forms an unlikely, magical bond with a dragon. 

Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley: Daunis Fontaine, who is part Ojibwe, defers attending the University of Michigan to care for her mother, but after witnessing a shocking murder, becomes reluctantly becomes involved in the investigation of a series of drug-related deaths in her community. 

For All Time by Shanna Miles: Tamar and Fayard, two Black teens, are fated to repeat their love story across hundreds of lifetimes, from 14th-century Mali to the future, as they struggle to break the cycle.

The Forest of Stolen Girls by June Hur: a historical mystery set in 1400s Joseon Korea, focused on a pair of estranged sisters who reluctantly reunite after their detective father vanishes.

From Little Tokyo, with Love by Sarah Kuhn: An intensely personal yet hilarious novel of Rika Rakuyama, a biracial Japanese American girl, whose search for a storybook ending takes her to unexpected places in her beloved LA neighborhood and own guarded heart.

Gearbreakers by Zoe Hana Mikuta: Eris Shindanai and Sona Steelcrest, two girls on opposite sides of a war fought with Windups, giant mechanizes weapons, discover they’re fighting for a common purpose–and falling for each other. 

The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna: Inspired by the culture of West Africa, a feminist fantasy debut traces the experiences of 16-year-old Deka, who is invited to leave her discriminatory village to join the emperor’s army of near-immortal women warriors. 

Girls of Fate and Fury (Girls of Paper and Fire #3) by Natasha Ngan: The last Lei saw of the girl she loved, Wren, was fighting an army of soldiers in a furious battle to the death. With the two girls torn apart and each in terrorizing peril, will they find each other again or have their destinies diverged forever. 

The Great Destroyers by Caroline Tung Richmond: set in alt-history, 1960s America where WWI & WII were fought with giant mechs, biracial Chinese American teen Jo Linden is Team USA’s most unlikely pick in the annual Pax Games, an Olympic-style competition that pits mecha pilots against each other.

Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar: Ishu agrees to fake-date Hani, only if Hani will help her become more popular so that she can be elected head girl. Despite their mutually beneficial pact, they start developing real feelings for each other. 

Happily Ever Afters by Elise Bryant: Creative writing student and Black teen Tessa Johnson runs up against a bad case of writer’s block, and decides to find a real-life romance to inspire her fiction.

Home Is Not a Country by Safia Elhillo: A mesmerizing novel in verse about family, identity, and finding yourself in unexpected places. 

How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland: Mexican American teen, Moon Fuentez discovers love and profound truths about the universe when she spends her summer on a road trip across the country. 

How We Fall Apart by Katie Zhao: Nancy Luo, Krystal Choi, Akil Patel, and Alexander Lin, juniors at Manhattan’s elite Sinclair Prep, are forced to confront their secrets after Jamie Ruan, once their closest friend, is found dead, and they become the prime suspects of her death, thanks to “The Proctor,” someone anonymously incriminating them via the school’s social media app.

Hurricane Summer by Asha Bromfield: While visiting her father who lives in Jamaica, 18-year-old Tilla faces a storm of dark secrets that threaten to unravel her own life, while an actual storm, Hurricane Gustav, threatens the lives of those she loves.

Idol Gossip by Alexandra Leigh Young: Alice Choy, the daughter of an American diplomat is recruited into a K-pop group after her family moves to Seoul, only to find her path to stardom threatened by an influential gossip blogger. 

If I Tell You the Truth by Jasmine Kaur: Told in prose, poetry, and illustration, this heartrending story weaves Kiran’s and Sahaara’s timelines together, showing a teenage Kiran and, later, her high school–aged daughter, Sahaara.

If This Gets Out by Sophie Gonzales & Cale Dietrich: Ruben Montez and Zach Knight, both in America’s biggest boy band, fall for each other while on their first sold-out European tour, and are forced to keep their relationship a secret by their record label, but slowly realize those in charge have no intention of letting them announce their relationship to the world—ever. 

Illusionary (Hollow Crown #2) by Zoraida Córdova: Reeling from betrayal, Renata Convida is a girl on the run. With few options and fewer allies, she reluctantly joins forces with none other than Prince Castian, her most infuriating and intriguing enemy.

Indivisible by Daniel Aleman: New York City high school student Mateo Garcia dreams of becoming a Broadway star, but his life is transformed after his parents are deported to Mexico, and now must care for himself and his younger sister Sophie.

The Infinity Courts by Akemi Dawn Bowman: Japanese American teen Nami Miyamoto finds herself in a limitless world where the human consciousness goes after death, where she battles an AI entity posing as a queen that has hacked its way into the afterlife.

Infinity Reaper (Infinity Cycle #2) by Adam Silvera: Emil and Brighton Rey defied the odds. When Brighton drank the Reaper’s Blood, he believed it would make him invincible, but instead the potion is killing him. In Emil’s race to find an antidote that will not only save his brother but also rid him of his own unwanted phoenix powers, he will have to dig deep into his past lives. 

Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon: Evie Thomas doesn’t believe in love anymore. That’s before she finds herself at La Brea Dance studio, learning to waltz, fox-trot, and tango with a boy named X, who is everything that she isn’t. 

The Iron Raven by Julie Kagawa: With Iron Queen Meghan Chase and her prince consort Ash, plus allies old and new by his side, Puck begins a fantastical adventure not to be missed or forgotten.

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao: Blending Chinese history and mecha science, Wu Zetian offers herself up as a concubine-pilot to assassinate the ace male pilot responsible for her sister’s death. Features a poly F/M/M main romance. 

It All Comes Back to You by Farah Naz Rishi: Before Amira and Faisal met–Kiran and Deen dated. But Deen ghosted Kiran with no explanation. Kiran will stop at nothing to find out what happened, and Deen will do anything, even if it means sabotaging his brother’s relationship, to keep her from reaching the truth. 

Jade Fire Gold by June C.L. Tan: A debut fantasy inspired by Chinese mythology, in which peasant girl Anh, cursed with the power to steal souls enters a tenuous alliance with exiled prince Altan, bent on taking back the dragon throne, and save the empire from a cult of dangerous priests. 

The Jasmine Project by Meredith Ireland: Korean American adoptee Jasmine Yap unwittingly finds herself at the center of a competition for her heart, orchestrated by her overbearing but loving family.

Journey to the Heart of the Abyss (Light in the Abyss #2) by London Shah: Leyla McQueen has finally reunited with her father after breaking him out of Broadmoor, the illegal government prison—but his freedom comes at a terrible cost. As Leyla celebrates his return, she must grapple with the pain of losing Ari. Now labeled the nation’s number one enemy, Leyla must risk illegal travel through unchartered waters for the truth behind her father’s arrest.

The Keeper of the Night by Kylie Lee Baker: set in 1890s Japan, half-British reaper, half-Japanese Shinigami Ren Scarborough flees London and enters the Japanese underworld under the service of Izanami, the goddess of death.

Kneel by Candice Buford: 

The Knockout by S.A. Patel: Kareena Thakar lands an invitation to the US Muay Thai Open, which could lead to a spot on the first-ever Olympic team. But Kareena has never felt quite Indian enough, and her training is only making it worse. Which is inconvenient, since she’s starting to fall for Amit Patel, who just might be the world’s most perfect Indian. 

Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo:  Set in San Francisco’s Chinatown during the Red Scare, when Chinese American Lily Hu realizes she has feelings for a girl, Kath, in her math class, it threatens Lily’s oldest friendships and even her father’s citizenship status and eventually, Lily must decide if owning her truth is worth everything she has ever known.

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[skyoflife]

*Curtsies* Any Halloween book recommendations, duke?

*Curtsies* Oh hell yes, this is my kind of ask. 

Classics: Dracula by Bram Stoker and The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Modern classics: The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

Literary: The Keep by Jennifer Egan

Fantasy: The Rook by Daniel O’Malley

Horror: This Book is Full of Spiders by David Wong

Short stories: “The Body Snatchers” by Robert Louis Stevenson and “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe

Poetry: The Flowers of Evil by Baudelaire, A Season in Hell by Rimbaud, and “Phantasmagoria” by Lewis Carroll

Drama: Macbeth by William Shakespeare and Wait Until Dark by Frederick Knott

Nonfiction: Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi or Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt

Essays: On Murder Considered as One of the Fine Arts by Thomas de Quincey

Uh, let me know if this isn’t enough or there’s a genre missing you’d like to see.

[skyoflife]

2019 YA Reads by Authors of Color

96 Words for Love by Rachel Roy - While exploring her grandmother’s past at an ashram in India with her cousin Anandi, Raya finds herself and, perhaps, true love in this modern retelling of the legend of Dushyanta and Shakuntala.

After the Fall by E.C. Myers - A year after the destruction of Beacon Academy, Team CFVY answers a distress call and are forced to relive their former battles, from both the fall of Beacon and from everything that came before.

All-American Muslim Girl by Nadine Jolie Courtney - Allie Abraham has it all going for her—she’s a straight-A student, with good friends and a close-knit family, and she’s dating cute, popular, and sweet Wells Henderson. Only one problem: Wells’s father is Jack Henderson, America’s most famous conservative shock jock…and Allie hasn’t told Wells that her family is Muslim. 

All the Things We Never Said by Yasmin Rahman - 16-year-old Mehreen Miah’s anxiety and depression has taken over her life. So, she joins MementoMori, a website that matches people and allocates them a date and method of death. When Mehreen and her new friends change their minds, the website won’t let them stop, and an increasingly sinister game begins. 

The Athene Protocol by Shamim Sarif - Jessie Archer is a member of the Athena Protocol, an elite organization of female spies who enact vigilante justice around the world. But after Jessie goes her rogue, her former teammates have been ordered to bring her down. Jessie must face danger from all sides if she’s to complete her mission—and survive.

Barely Missing Anything by Matt Mendez - Three Mexican-Americans–Juan, JD, and Fabi–each try to overcome their individual struggles as they all grapple with how to make a better life for themselves when it seems like brown lives don’t matter. 

The Beast Player by Nahoko Uehashi - An epic YA fantasy about a girl with a special power to communicate with magical beasts and the warring kingdom only she can save.

The Beautiful by Renee Ahdieh - In 19th century New Orleans where vampires hide in plain sight and a serial killer is on the loose, half-Asian Celine Rosseau, a dressmaker from Paris, becomes embroiled in a murder mystery, connected to the glamorous supernatural cohort, known as the Court of Lions, and catching the eye of their mysterious, charismatic leader, Sèbastien Saint Germain. 

The Beauty of the Moment by Tanaz Bhathena - Saudi-Canadian Susan is the new girl. Malcolm is the bad boy. Susan’s parents are on the verge of divorce. Malcolm’s dad is a known adulterer. Susan hasn’t told anyone, but she wants to be an artist. Malcolm doesn’t know what he wants—until he meets her. Love is messy and families are messier, but in spite of their burdens, Susan and Malcolm fall for each other.

The Best Lies by Sarah Lyu - Remy Tsai was happy once. Remy had her boyfriend Jack, and Elise, her best friend—her soulmate. But now Jack is dead, and it was Elise who pulled the trigger. Was it self-defense? Or something deeper, darker than anything Remy could have imagined? 

Black Enough: Stories of Being Young & Black in America edit. by Ibi Zoboi - A short story anthology about what it is like to be young and black, centering on the experiences of black teens and emphasizing that one person’s experiences, reality, and personal identity are different than someone else.

The Boxer by Nikesh Shukla - When racial tensions are rising in the city, and when a Far Right march through Bristol turns violent, 17-year-old amateur boxer Sunny faces losing his new best friend Keir to radicalization.

Brief Chronicle of Another Stupid Heartbreak by Adi Alsaid - Teen relationship columnist Lu Charles navigates life in the wake of a devastating breakup, and her decision to chronicle the planned breakup of another couple, Cal and Iris, in the summer after they graduate from high school. 

The Candle and the Flame by Nafiza Azad - Set in the city of Noor, along the Silk Road which has become a refuge for those of all faiths, Fatima becomes embroiled in a war between two clans of powerful djinn who threaten to destroy her peace in different ways, forcing her to make unlikely alliances to survive. 

Caster by Elsie Chapman - In this Chinese-inspired, magical Fight Club, Earth is already at the brink of environmental disaster due to the magic overuse. And 16-year-old spell caster Aza Wu must navigate through an illegal, underground battle magic tournament, while evading local gangs and police scouts to save her family from ruin. 

Keep reading

[skyoflife]

7 Book Recommendations Based on Your Favorite Harry Potter Book :

Philosopher’s Stone ↳ Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor A poor orphan boy whose magical destiny is more than he could have ever imagined.. ♡ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Chamber of Secrets ↳ And Then There Were None - Agatha Christie If the ominous threat that had the students dropping like flies excited your mystery-loving heart, then you’d enjoy this whodunit thriller that’ll have your paranoia rising with each page! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Prisoner of Azkaban ↳ If We Were Villains by @m-l-rio Marauders fans will appreciate another tight knit group of friends with a dark past that gets revealed as you read. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Goblet of Fire ↳ A Gathering of Shadows by @victoriaveschwab

This sequel in the Shades of Magic series has a magical competition that rivals the Triwizard Tournament for drama & excitement! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Order of the Phoenix ↳ Six of Crows by @lbardugo Both Kaz and Harry deal with PTSD triggered by trauma and grief + The Dregs and Dumbledore’s Army both have great group dynamics. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Half-Blood Prince ↳ Vita Nostra by Marina & Sergey Dyachenko There are psychological suspense elements in both + mysterious magical concepts taught in cruel ways. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Deathly Hallows ↳ American Gods by @neil-gaiman Profound journeys + the MC always playing catch up to discover the truth that’s been kept from them from their mentors + dark magic & deadly consequences.

[skyoflife]

Writing pirates: Pirates vs Privateers (part one)

Before we dive into the glamour and destruction of a pirate’s life, it’s important to establish and difference between the crews who operated the seven seas in the 1700s. 

PIRATES

A group of men who robbed and plundered the sea, but also committed felonies, robberies and murders in any haven, river or creek where the Lord High Admiral had jurisdiction. 

The Lord High of Admiral = The ceremonial head of the Royal Navy (also known as someone who appears to be in charge, but holds very little influence, like most monarchs today) 

Jurisdiction: The official power to make legal decisions and judgements

BUCCANEER

Pirates who preyed on Spanish ships and ports in the Caribbean Sea. To Spain, they were nothing more than ordinary pirates, but for their nations, they were much more than that. 

Spain strived to keep all their possessions from the rest of the world, and the rise of buccaneers came apparent when the English occupied Jamaica, which provided them with a base to attack Spanish settlements. 

CORSAIRS

Pirates (and privateers) who operated in North Africa. Their base primarily in the ports of Salé, Rabat, Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli.

(also referred to as: barbary pirates, barbary corsairs or ottoman corsairs)

PRIVATEER

An armed vessel, consisting of a commander and his crew, who was licensed to attack, seize and loot ships of hostile nations. 

The license was issued in form of a document, which was called the Letter of Marque (and Reprisal, LOMAR for short). The letter was written in ponderous legal phrases, and decorated with an elaborate pen and ink flourishes. 

The Captain, or commander, of the ship, was expected to keep a journal, as well as hand over ships to the Admiralty court to be assessed and valued. A proportion of the ship’s value went to the sovereign, while the rest was divided between the owners of the ship, the captain, and his crew.

Admiralty court: jurisdiction over maritime law, including cases regarding shipping, ocean, and sea laws

Sovereign: king, queen, or other royal ruler of a country

An authorized privateer, and get this, was recognized by law, and could not be prosecuted for piracy, which in turn caused the system to be wide open for abuse, and most privateers were nothing more than licensed pirates.

Privateers, in simpler words, were basically pirates with papers. They were hired to carry out military activities, and in many ways, their actions mirrored a pirate’s, only difference being, they couldn’t be prosecuted for the crimes they committed. 

Also, fun fact! In the 1700s, also known as the golden era of piracy, 98% of the men operating as pirates in the Caribbean and western Atlantic, had formerly either been seamen in the merchant service, the Royal Navy, or even served as privateers. 

Not every man suffered the same fate, however. Captain Woodes Rogers, a former privateer, became the first Royal Governor over the Bahamas, and was tasked with the dangerous mission of establishing a well-organized government, that would force every last pirate in the Nassau to surrender. [x]

Today, both privateer and buccaneer are being used as a synonym for pirates, but it’s important to know that in the golden era, they were not the same.