#She is absolutely devouring a new book (sherlock holmes)

[warty-hog-legacy]

SKETCHES 

of Clara’s clothing. Will do school uniforms eventually

headcanon under the cut

Also, after the whole fighting-Ranrok thing (gotta happen in March, right? still snowy out), Clara is wounded via knife slash to her ankle, also twisted same ankle, got walloped by a troll, scratched up her legs something awful sliding on rocks, and then watched her favorite professor die. She’s in hysterics when Sharp and Prof. Onai are trying to corral her up to the hospital wing. She keeps trying to escape and go find the entrance to the mined tunnel.

Pls keep in mind, she’s 15, been awake for like 36 hours straight, and just lost someone important to her (again, so like, old memories of her sister dying are resurfacing). Obviously, she is a pillar of calm and collected sanity.

Additional Information: When the tremors with the Ancient Magic started, the Profs who did not go to help fight were herding students into the Great Hall, like when Sirius scratched up the Pink Lady’s portrait. So a not insignificant number the student body heard Clara’s screeches, snuck to the door and saw the floating cot with a body under a sheet, the haunted looks on the professors as they return.

Rumors circulate. As they do.

So two mornings later, when Sebastian has worked up the nerve to actually talk to Clara (he heard her parents were summoned in the middle of the night, also heard she lost her mind, that a dragon lived under the castle, castle was almost blown up, etc... who knows what’s true). So. He’s going to talk to her. Which he’s talked to loads of girls, and talked to Clara loads of times. Except that she’s refused to talk to him since the Uncle Solomon incident, and that’s why he’s nervous and trying to talk himself into seeing her.

Instead he Lurks (defintely lurking) outside the hospital wing, unsure if he wants to talk to her or not. He sticks his head into the door, half hoping she’s still sleeping and half-hoping she’ll see him and all that awkward guilt will vanish.

Sebastian is treated to a view of privacy curtains halfway down the wing. And through a little gap, he gets a glimpse of her lacing up her corset. Just for like, 1 total second.

5 minutes later, a bunch of second-years watch him sprint out of the castle and dive headfirst into the lake.

[goldencherriess]

I posted 522 times in 2022

That's 522 more posts than 2021!

177 posts created (34%)

345 posts reblogged (66%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@brunchable

@gaitwae

@mochie85

@french-vanilla-in-the-clouds

@lucywrites02

I tagged 435 of my posts in 2022

Only 17% of my posts had no tags

#laura talks - 94 posts

#fic rec - 68 posts

#mutuals my beloved - 65 posts

#laura answers - 53 posts

#loki x reader - 44 posts

#fanfic writing - 41 posts

#writing - 39 posts

#mail 💌 - 39 posts

#alex turner - 39 posts

#arctic monkeys - 39 posts

Longest Tag: 111 characters

#and do not get me started on how absolutely awesome it is to learn new vocabulary and string sentences together

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

And they were roommates ™ || Student! Sherlock Holmes x Fem! Reader

Word count: 931

Pairing: Student! Sherlock Holmes x Fem! Reader

Summary: Y/N quickly discovers that being roommates with Sherlock Holmes has its own benefits.

Warnings: absolutely none, other than Sherlock being a big ol’ softie :)

Masterlist

Life as a student wasn’t all that bad. It was fun most of the time, if Y/N excluded the stress of the approaching exams. And it wasn’t dull either. Not when you had a chemistry student as a roommate who just couldn’t stop making experiments everytime he had the opportunity. Which was everyday.

Not dull, definitely not dull.

And she wouldn’t have complained if he just stayed to his side of the room. The man didn’t know what were boundaries and personal space, leaving his ustensils and the experimental subjects all over her desk and books. It was getting on her nerves.

At first she ignored it all, didn’t question the creepy eyes in the jar or the fingers in his tea. And when she tried to question him, he only replied shortly, in a curt manner:

“Project.”

She didn’t press on after that. It was obvious he had no interest in speaking with her. And she was absolutely fine with that. Just fine.

But this time though, she had enough. She couldn’t stand by and see her side of the room being devoured by his stuff. It was chaotic. And Y/N was no chaotic person, she’d rather much preferred order and neatness.

So, when he stormed in their shared flat, she deeply breathed in and stood up from her bed, leaving behind her course notes on Shakespearean literature. She could hear him rummaging through the fridge and cursing under his breath.

“Sherlock? What are you doing?”

He didn’t respond and Y/N was just timidly entering the kitchen when he slammed the fridge door.

“Ah, hello, Y/N! How is Shakespeare coming along?”

She paused.

“How did you…?”

He waved his hand, stuffing the other in the pocket of his coat. From behind, she could hear the smirk in his voice.

“Wouldn’t you like to know? The bags under your eyes and the Shakespeare books scattered on your bed gave it away. And also, your messy hair. You have been running your fingers through your hair out of stress for some time now. Plus, it’s exams season.”

Y/N stopped following him through the flat, gaping at his back.

“You guessed I was studying Shakespeare by all that?”

He snorted, turning to look at her.

“I didn’t guess, I simply observed. It’s elementary, dear Y/N.”

She blinked, shaking her head.

“Right, of course.”

Sherlock just stood there, staring at her, with his hands clasped behind his back, and smirking. She felt flustered under his gaze, small even. Y/N shifted from a foot to another, pushing her glasses further up her nose. But then she remembered why she approached him in the first place. She raised her head and met his eyes.

“You have to start cleaning around here.”

He frowned.

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286 notes - Posted June 13, 2022

#4

Bookstores and dates || Stephen Strange x Fem! Reader

Pairing: Stephen Strange x Fem! Reader

Word count: 759

Summary: Stephen Strange have never felt lonelier than now. The Sanctum Sanctorum echoed with silence. Wong's occasional visits kept him somewhat grounded, but they never filled the void. That all changed when he met her.

Warnings: none, just pure fluff :)

Masterlist

Stephen was no stranger to loneliness. He felt it before and he felt it now. It ripped his heart apart, shards of it falling to the ground like broken mirrors. It consumed him.

The first time he felt loneliness was when he gave up Christine. He truly loved her and letting her go hurt. He had Wong by his side, but most of the time, it was just him and the Cloak drinking tea in the morning and protecting the multiverse together.

But then she came. With sparkling eyes and a bright smile, she collided into him and tore his walls down brick by brick. She worked at a bookstore near the Sanctum Sanctorum. He stumbled upon the bookstore one day he took it all for himself, and started going there ever since just to see her, to relish in the peace she gave him by just being in his presence.

Today was no different. The bell above the door chimed when he entered. Smells of chocolate, books and dust drifted in the air and filled his lungs. The bookstore was cramped with books from top to bottom, unevenly placed. The Rolling Stones were quietly filling the silence. Light was streaming in from the small windows near the front desk and the door. It gave off cosy vibes, something he didn't find at the Sanctum. The place reminded him of her, in that way. Warm. Nice. Homey.

''One sec!'' said a voice from the back.

He could recognize that voice anywhere. It was hers.

He approached the front desk. An open book laid faced down on it, a bookmark with sunflowers drawn on it sticking out.''Wuthering heights'' by Emily Brontë.

''Sorry for the delay, I was just putting some things in the back!''

Her voice sounded so much closer now, a vanilla scent wrapping him in a warm embrace.

''Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.''

She was now next to him, going around behind the desk. Her eyes met his, a glint in them. He wondered if she saw the emotion swirling in his own eyes, if she could read him like an open book.

''You read Wuthering heights?''

''It's a classic.''

''Should I take that as a yes?''

She was smirking now. Stephen felt his own lips curling up.

''It depends. Do you like it so far?''

Her smirk turned into a blinding smile, her eyes crickling.

''I do.''

''Then, yes, I did read it.''

She shook her head, picking up her book, a smile still edged on her face.

"Can I do something for you, Stephen? Do you want some books? Maybe serve you some tea while I'm at it?"

She knew his name. Somehow, he thought she saw him as an old client, an avid reader who came by almost every week.

"You know my name?"

She sat up straighter and looked him in the eyes with a soft smile.

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350 notes - Posted June 1, 2022

#3

Just the way you are.

Pairing: Young! Remus Lupin x Fem! Reader

Word count: 2.7k

Request? Yes! And you can find it right here.

Summary: His secret might be just the one thing to drive them apart.

Warnings: self-hatred, angst, fluff. Could the werewolf transformation be a warning here, does it apply or not??

Masterlist

There were a few more days until the full moon. And Remus was growing restless. The only thing that kept his mind off of it was Y/N, who filled his evenings with warm cuddles on the couch, near the fireplace in the Gryffindor Common Room. Her perfumed always enveloped him in sweet comfort and he always basked in her halo.

She was slowly falling asleep in his arms, her chest rising and falling soundlessly when James jumped on the couch with a laugh. ''That Evans bird is such a fox. She's playing hard to get.''

''I think she just straight up hates you, mate.'' said Sirius, sitting on an an armchair. Peter lightly laughed, almost snorting as he did and lowering himself on the carpet in front of the fireplace.

''No, I'm telling you! This weekend I'm actually asking her out.''

''You mean again?''

Remus inhaled a breath through his nose. ''She's asleep! Be quiet, will you?'' he whisper shouted, while pointing with a sharp stab of a finger at Y/N's small figure in his arms.

But she wasn't asleep. She was very much awake, still drifting between the groggy realm of daydreams and the colorful, alive, almost pulsating world around her. She kept her eyes closed, but her attention wide open.

''When are you going to tell her?'' voiced Sirius.

Remus shook his head, his hand lightly on top of hers, just a touch of velvet. ''I'm not.''

''You should, Moony.'' added James, looking him in the eyes. ''She has the right to know.''

Peter just nodded his head, agreeing with his bestfriend.

''Right! You've been dating her for, what, a year now?'' said Sirius.

''Five months, Padfoot.'' sighed Remus.

''Same thing! You two have been doing the sweet, heart-shaped eyes at each other far longer than that. You were technically already dating!''

''Doesn't matter. I'm not telling her, it's too dangerous.'' He looked downwards at her, soft eyes and eyebrows crinkling. ''I want her to be safe.'' he added in a croaky whisper.

''She'll find out sooner or later, Moony. The girl is bloody Sherlock Holmes!''

''She won't.'' Remus replied, hugging her closer, oblivious to her heightened hearing.

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

Y/N sipped on her pumpkin juice as her eyes fleeted throughout the whole Great Hall. Students were milling around, some eating, others reading and catching up on school work (professor Slughorn always did raise expectations up).

''Are you going to Hogsmeade this weekend?'' a voice said near her.

Y/N turned her head next to her, a mop of red hair greeting her. ''Hm? What? No, I don't think so.''

Lily frowned, as her hands reached for some toast. ''Why not? Have a butter beer while you're at it. Snog Remus on a secluded street.'' she smirked.

''Lily!'' exclaimed Y/N, smacking her friend on the arm.

See the full post

559 notes - Posted August 26, 2022

#2

Sentiment.

Pairing: Sherlock Holmes x Fem! Reader

Word count: 3.3k

Requested? Yes! And it was by @gaitwae (i hope you like it <;3)

Summary: Sherlock finds himself entranced by Lestrade's best friend and co-worker.

Warnings: kinda office romance, fluff

Masterlist

Sherlock Holmes was a man of pragmatism and cold truth. He could answer to any question, he could find a resolve in everything (science always played a part in this sense), but when his dear roommate and companion, John Watson, suggested that maybe the suspect was in love with the victim's wife, he felt repulsed by the idea.

"Absolutely not, John! Have you paid attention to the details, to the facts?"

John's eyebrows shot to the top of his head. "Have you?"

Scoffing, Sherlock put his hands in the coat's pockets. "Sentiment is a chemical defect found in the losing side. No, we're dealing with a cold murderer this time, not some love sick puppy. If he were in love, his eyes pupils would have dilated when we asked about her, but they did not. And I-'' he trailed off when he saw a familiar mop of hair appearing behind John and talking to Lestrade, a notebook in her arms.

John turned around, eyebrows still raised and he crossed his arms, a smirk finding its way on his lips. His eyes met Sherlock's again. "You were saying?"

Sherlock licked his suddenly dry lips and blinked. "I, uh-"

"Cat got your tongue, Sherlock?"

It was as if Sherlock's brain short circuited, cutting all the ties to reality. He blinked and gulped thickly. ''When in love and looking at the object of all your desires and affection, your pupils get dilated. The pulse gets increased and you feel your breath leaving you. But that's not true, that's just an illusion, it's your body reacting to hormones. It's just pure science, really.'' he said, whispering the last part and never taking his eyes off of Y/N.

She was laughing now, touching Lestrade's arm and shaking her head in amusement. And Sherlock felt his stomach twisting into something he couldn't name. He tilted his head. ''I'm right, aren't I, John?''

''I don't know, Sherlock, but it doesn't seem so to me.''

Sherlock's gaze slowly left Y/N's figure and met John's eyes. His eyebrows pinched together. ''Why do you say that?''

John's smirk never left his lips. ''Your pupils dilated.''

Sherlock nodded, a realization dawning on him. And his eyes were again on her, just drinking her in. ''They did, didn't they?''

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

Y/N L/N was a woman of soft love and indulging daydreams. A pure romantic at heart, she could find meaning in every glance and smile (she did learn best from Jane Austen). But when her best friend and co-worker, Greg Lestrade, inquired about her new crush, she mumbled an excuse, blushing furiously and averting his gaze.

"Oh come on! I know you, Y/N! Been knowing you for years now. So, who is it?"

Shaking her head, Y/N replied. "No one."

Lestrade furrowed. "Then why are you blushing?"

''Why are we talking about this now? We're at a crime scene.'' she almost snapped.

Lestrade pursed lips, nodding and putting his hands in his pockets, his gaze looking in the distance at nothing particularly. And for awhile, neither of them said anything, the bustling of the forensic pathologists filling the air. Y/N fumbled with the notebook in her arms, her gaze sliding towards a certain curly haired man. They rarely talked about anything other than work, but she always found herself enticed by what he was saying. His mind worked in mysterious and interesting ways and she only wished to understand it more, to be the one overtaking his thoughts. Just like he did hers.

He met her eyes across the room and she felt her face flush. He acknowledged her with a nod of his head and she smiled his way.

''It's Sherlock, isn't it?'' voiced Lestrade besides her.

She snapped her head towards him, almost getting a whiplash. ''What?''

See the full post

603 notes - Posted September 7, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

The art of eye contact || Young! Remus Lupin x Fem! Hufflepuff! Reader

Pairing: Young! Remus Lupin x Fem! Hufflepuff! Reader

Word count: 1.6k

Summary: The three times they made eye contact and the one time he did something about it.

Warnings: none, just pure fluff. Idiots in love

Masterlist

Honey.

That's what she saw when she met his eyes across Slughorn's class. They were sparkling and melting honey combs. Warm. Kind. Sweet. She only wished she could drown herself in them.

Slughorn's voice echoed in the background along with the bumbling of the cauldron in front of her. White noise. She paid no attention to them.

An elbow dug into her ribs brought her back to the present. Frowning, she turned to her friend, who just pointed her head subtly to the professor.

''Miss L/N, can you tell us what you smell from this cauldron?''

She gulped down the lump that was settling in her throat and took a few steps to the front of the class. Y/N could still feel his eyes on her, burning holes into her back. She took a whiff of the potion in front of her. Aromas embraced her and she suddenly felt lightheaded. She took a step back, clutching her robes in fists. ''I smell parchment, chocolate and... honey.''

Slughorn clapped, smiling. ''And can you tell me which potion it is?''

She opened her mouth to reply, but she quickly closed it, shaking her head.

''Yes, mister Lupin?''

She turned her head to where the honey eyed boy was sitting and felt her insides warm up. He was slowly lowering his hand, clearing his throat. ''It's Amortentia. Although, it's a love potion, it can't induce true love, just infatuation. Its smell is different to everyone, according to what attracts them.''

Slughorn's face lit up, once again. ''Very good, mister Lupin! Ten points to Gryffindor!''

Remus' eyes panned to hers, once again, and she felt her face burn.

''Please, miss L/N, you can go back to your seat.''

And she did, feeling his lingering gaze on her all the way to the desk and throughout the whole class.

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

The Great Hall was bustling with chatter and laughter. The light came through the tall windows, painting the room in a low glow. There were owls delivering mail, dropping them from the air. The Daily Prophet plunged straight in Remus' mashed potatoes with a splash, small droplets sticking to his face and hands. ''Great.'' he muttered. After wiping away the food from his skin, he picked up the newspaper and started flipping through it. Something about dark forces rising were written in ink. Feeling a pair of eyes on him, Remus looked up from the pages.

There, across the room at the Hufflepuff table, sat the Potions girl. Her eyes met his and Remus felt his chest clenching and burning up. She softly smiled and he felt his own lips curling up. The hands on the newspaper loosened, letting The Daily Prophet fall right back into the mashed potatoes.

''Heaven help a fool who falls in love'' said Sirius from besides him, snickering.

Remus turned his head so fast that he was sure he would have gotten whiplash. ''What's that supposed to mean?''

''You're smitten'' smirked Sirius while he bit into the glistening and fat chicken leg.

Remus shook his head, sandy hair falling into his eyes. ''That's not true. We barely even talked!''

''Doesn't matter, mate, it's written all over your face.''

Remus threw Sirius a look. ''What's written over my face is annoyance.''

''Hmm, I beg to differ'' replied Sirius with a mouth full of food. He gulped down the meat, the rich aroma caressing his throat like a velvet to the touch. ''There's no time better than the present! You should ask her out. Someone will snatch her up.''

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668 notes - Posted July 25, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[goldenavenger02]

Susz's Halloween Recommendations Part 2: Books and Fics.

Books

Pet Sematary by Stephan King

Dr. Louis Creed and his wife, Rachel, moved to Ludlow, Maine with their two young kids, Ellie and Gage, and their cat, Church. In the woods, near their home is a pet cemetery with a sign that was spelled sematary.

Notes: this book made me scared of my own cats for about two weeks. I really enjoyed it but that scene with the cat was very excessive.

Sadie by Courtney Summers

The book chronicles teenager Sadie Hunter’s quest to find the man who killed her sister. In alternating chapters, Sadie’s subsequent disappearance becomes the topic of West McCray’s podcast The Girls.

Notes: this audio book is so fantastic, especially the podcast elements! Trigger warnings for Sexual Assault and Child Abuse.

The Project by Courtney Summers

But dealing with her ex is the least of Hannah's concerns when a terrifying blood ritual interrupts the end-of-school-year bonfire.

Lo Denham is used to being on her own. After her parents died, Lo's sister, Bea, joined The Unity Project, leaving Lo in the care of their great aunt. Thanks to its extensive charitable work and community outreach, The Unity Project has won the hearts and minds of most in the Upstate New York region, but Lo knows there's more to the group than meets the eye.

Notes: a book about a journalist trying to learn more about the cult who took her sister from her. If you have siblings, this one hurts even more than if you don't. This has a frick ton of triggers, so please look into that before picking this up.

These Witches Don't Burn by Isabel Sterling

Hannah spends most of her time avoiding her ex-girlfriend (and fellow Elemental Witch) Veronica, hanging out with her best friend, and working at the Fly By Night Cauldron selling candles and crystals to tourists, goths, and local Wiccans. 

Hannah spends most of her time avoiding her ex-girlfriend (and fellow Elemental Witch) Veronica, hanging out with her best friend, and working at the Fly By Night Cauldron selling candles and crystals to tourists, goths, and local Wiccans. 

But dealing with her ex is the least of Hannah's concerns when a terrifying blood ritual interrupts the end-of-school-year bonfire.

Notes: a queer witch book with plenty of action and magic throughout! This book is so important to me and I'm currently reading the second and final book!

The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King

Long retired, Sherlock Holmes quietly pursues his study of honeybee behavior on the Sussex Downs. He never imagines he would encounter anyone whose intellect matched his own, much less an audacious teenage girl with a penchant for detection.

Notes: one of my mom's favorites and this is one of the best mysteries I've ever read!

The Devouring Gray by Christine Lynn Herman

On the edge of town a beast haunts the woods, trapped in the Gray, its bonds loosening…

Notes: this author has been involved in some not great things involving being anti semetic (I hope I spelled that right), so if you still want to read this, please don't do it in a way that financially supports her. That being said, I read it before that stuff came out, and I liken it to a queer Teen Wolf season 3 type story.

The Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas

First there was the car accident—two girls gone after hitting a tree on a rainy night. Not long after, the murders happened. Those two girls were killed by the man next door. The police shot him, so no one will ever know why he did it. Monica’s sister was the last cheerleader to die. After her suicide, Sunnybrook High disbanded the cheer squad. No one wanted to be reminded of the girls they lost. ...

Notes: an amazing murder mystery and one that I highly recommend! A bit slow at times, but the fast scenes make up for it.

The Assassin Game by Kristy McKay

At Cate's isolated boarding school Killer is more than a game-it's an elite secret society. Members must avoid being "killed" during a series of thrilling pranks-and only the Game Master knows who the "killer" is. When Cate's finally invited to join The Guild of Assassins, she knows it's her ticket to finally feeling like she belongs.

Notes: this takes place on an small island near Wales and it's one of the most atmospheric books I've ever read! The first chapter is really nasty, but after that, it's so good!

Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen. M McMannis

Echo Ridge is small-town America. Ellery's never been there, but she's heard all about it. Her aunt went missing there at age seventeen. And only five years ago, a homecoming queen put the town on the map when she was killed. Now Ellery has to move there to live with a grandmother she barely knows.

Notes: this was like reading a CW show. That's all I can say about it.

The Spiderwick Chronicles by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi

Jared, Simon and Mallory, who finds a mysterious Field Guide hidden in the attic, written by their great-great-uncle Arthur Spiderwick, who studied Faeries — magical beings who hide themselves from Humans using a type of magic called glamour.

Notes: I can't say much about this because I barely remember it. But I remember it freaking the crap out of me.

Fics (all of these are MCU)

Pumpkins and Stitches and Monster Mash by @marvelous-writer

Notes: I told myself to pick one fic from one writer, but with Marvelous-Writer, I just couldn't do it. I'm not gonna give synopsis' for the fics, because you really just need to take my word for it and read them.

too sick for clowns by @hailing-stars

Notes: short and sweet. Hailing-Stars is an icon and everyone needs to follow her.

Vein Drain by @ciaconna on Ao3

Notes: absolutely fantastic and humorous.

Trick Or Treat (Or Traumatize) by @awesomesockes and @whumphoarder

Notes: I just freaking love this writing duo.

No doubts about it by @angels-creative

Notes: my queen, my bestie, and the fic she had to send me the link to cause I couldn't find it XD

And I think that's all for this year! Have a safe and happy Halloween everyone!

[i-am-just-a-kiddo]

favourite male fictional characters

Thank you @vishcount​ for tagging me, this was a lot of fun! 💞 I originally planned to follow your example and put ten characters here but suddenly it became a lot more oops. also i hope you forgive me for following your format, it’s neat 

I am tagging @isabellaofparma​ , @the-cloud-whisperer​ and @sassyassassy​!

I chose the characters that impacted me deeply on a personal level throughout my life (often shown by how long my love lasts over the years and if i was inspired to write for them). 

In no specific order under the cut: 

Legolas

The Lord of The Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien. 

I think it’s only fitting I start off with this magnificent guy. Maybe I gotta admit, i’ve just had a crush on him ever since I was like, nine years old? He’s the character I will fight tooth and claw for (though I guess he doesn’t need me to do that). I love Orlando Bloom’s portrayal of him, eventhough he is vastly different from the books. Book Legolas is such a delight as well, he feels so whimsical and playful and his banter with Gimli is just gold. I was sad when The Hobbit trilogy came out and I was so disappointed by how they butchered his character, it just did not feel authentic anymore (maybe I am also just bitter about the forced hetero storyline for him. makes no cents, this elf is GayTM your honour. and he will meet his soulmate Gimli in a few decades).  Either way, Legolas is the love of my life, thanks for coming to my tedtalk,

Peter Pan 

Peter Pan, J. M. Barrie

Another childhood crush of mine. The gif I chose if from the 2005 movie because we always used to watch it and it is to this day one of my favourite movies. It’s so dreamy, so magical, yet also incredibly sad and sweet.  I have this very strange fascination with Peter Pan. There is something incredibly unsettling about him, especially in the book. He represents something every child wants - who doesn’t want to escape their bedroom and fly away to experience magical adventured far from the adult world? And yet he also represents the impossibility of it, the curse he carries around with himself because he will forever stay alone, no matter how many lost boys he gathers around himself. And Wendy - it’s a love that was never meant to grow and mature, it’s a fleeting dream for the both of them.  I have seen many different adaptations of Peter Pan and I have my favourites, though I want to give a special mention to the book Peter Darling by Austin Chant. It’s a retelling of the story how we know it, in which Peter returns to Neverland after having finally grown up BUT the main points I want to highlight is trans Peter? Heck yes. Gripping and compelling gay love story with our favourite original lost boy Captain Hook? YES. 

Snufkin

Moomins, Tove Jansson.

I have discovered Snufkin for myself only last year, and yet I know he will stay with me forever. In short - I vibe with him, he vibes with me. His anxieties about being with people and longing for solitude? His fear of being loved and being important to someone to a point he doesn’t know what to do with himself? This man just wants to roam freely with his own mind and yet he always returns for something that captures him. Mum, I love him because I have rarely felt this seen before. Also, Snufkin said ACAB. 

Prince Jing - Xiao Jingyan

Nirvana in Fire (2015)

This too is a darling I have only discovered recently. I watched Nirvana in Fire this year and let me tell you, it’s the best show I have seen in a long while. It’s absolutely amazing and it also ripped my heart out. All the characters are absolutely amazing and I am still not over it.

To be honest, I contemplated between Xiao JIngyan and Mei Changsu, because character-wise I think the latter is a lot more interesting and compelling. He makes for a fantastic heartbreaking and flawed protagonist.

However I have to admit - it was love at first sight with Prince Jing for me and I’m still lowkey mad abt it rip. Seems like I am not immune to Pretty Prince Propaganda. But apart from that, I adore him for his genuine

goodness,

his almost naive drive to be better and seek justice. He lost everything, and for the longest time did not have anything to fight for. So alone and lost and bitter, it makes me sad how much it hardened him. He is heartbreak and clumsy kindness hidden under a skin of scars that was inflicted by his father and many others. I see his sad cat-eyes and I cry, that’s just how it is.

Edmund Pevensie

The Chronicles of Narnia, C. S. Lewis

I grew up with these books and movies - they have always been part of my life and it will probably always stay that way (only last night I rewatched the first movie and sobbed).  Imagine my surprised when I finally watched the last movie about five years ago and was incredibly impressed by how they adapted the book; also imagine my brain suddenly going CASMUND in bold letters at Skandar Keynes’ and Ben Barnes’  performance in that movie.  From there, I rediscovered this story completely anew for myself. My favourite Pevensie sibling has always been Lucy (and still is, because I identify with her so much and she feels like home to me); however this new discovery of Edmund’s character was overwhelming. It’s interesting to see characters you’ve grown up with from a more grown up point of view. I don’t want to lay out all my thoughts here, just know I am so heartbroken for him, and so so proud as well. His character arc is amazing and maybe that’s how the last movie makes me even more emotional. Seeing Edmund and Lucy still holding on to Narnia but knowing that that door was closing for them? Not to mention what happens in the later books (we don’t talk about that).  Also did I mention Casmund. Here, have my incredibly emo and depressing take on Edmund’s character that I started writing four years ago and which will forever stay a WIP. 

Nie Huaisang

The Untamed (2019)

My son. My soul. My bane of existence. The tragic thing about him is, that he does not really exist in canon as I have created him for myself. He’s a secondary character in the show, always so relatable yet still brings the ultimate twist of the story, yet he still remains this incomplete shadow. The movie

Fatal Journey

gave him a lot more and I cried tears of joy and devastation. I don’t know why I latched on to him so much, but apparently he is the one that I project on, the one that feels like he sits somewhere inside my chest. I don’t know what else to say - this year he has been everything to me. I spend a lot of time in his head while writing, and maybe that’s how he’s there forever now. Nie Huaisang saw my brain and went it’s free real estate. All my love for you, you dramatic art hoe.

Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Ah, another lifelong companion. There are many adapations that I adore - starting from the origin of it all, the books and stories which I have all devoured; the 80s adaptation with Jeremy Brett which was incredibly wonderful; to BBC Sherlock which shaped and traumatised me (I still like the first three seaons but I am too hurt to think about it); to the numerous movies -  but by far my most favourite performance is Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes. Somehow he manages to capture the Holmes I see in my head when I read the books, the sharp yet polite eccentric detective, who loves his companion so much and who has desire to help others.  Sherlock Holmes will always stay special to me, in so many different ways. He shaped my youth and I know he will stay with me. (also what would you say when I told you he helped me discover that I can, in fact, be queer AND ace at the same time? thanks pal).  What else is there to say? Sherlock Holmes is a universe that you can dive into and find many amazing treasures. 

Isak Valtersen 

SKAM (2015)

There he is, the boy that changed my life. SKAM changed my life. All of the characters did. However, Isak is special for many, as I imagine. I remember winter 2016, when tumblr was flooded by these norwegian white boys kissing in a pool and cuddling and I was like ‘nah’, this doesn’t look convincing.  I don’t know what changed my mind but I remember sitting down at last and watching all that was released of season three and it was only downhill from there. I remember starting to follow the real life updates religiously while watching the other previous seasons in between. The one clip that completely wrecked me was when Isak went to the school nurse about his struggles with sleep - it felt like for the first time I saw someone on screen that could understand me on so many different levels. The entierty of seaons three is so personal, I would tell you to go watch it if you don’t know what I mean. The entire show in fact. It’s a masterpiece and it feels so real. This show impacted my life in a way that no show has managed to do before. I miss it so much. I miss Isak too sigh. 

Shang Xirui

Winter Begonia (2020)

Technically, for me personally, Shang Xirui is the nonbinary, gay and ace representation I need in my life (or at least that’s my own personal take on him), but since that is not official, he’s still here on this list. Of course he is because wow, it’s been a long while since I’ve seen such a compelling character on screen. I went from disliking him to being absolutely heartbroken over him. I don’t think any other character in this show captured me as much as he did. There are so many layers to him and discovering all of his sides is a wonderful, heartbreaking, painful and also beautiful journey. I’m not sure I understand all of him yet, but I am willing to try and dig and just ponder his existence. This too, is a perfect example for a flawed yet authentic protagonist. Also he is the most beautiful thing on this planet, or at least that’s how I have been feeling ever since I watched this. I wish to write more of him in the future. 

Aang

Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005)

I grew up watching ATLA and my favourite characters have always been Toph, Zuko and Uncle Iroh. In recent years however, I completely fell in love with Aang all anew. 

I think especially in the past, I had these prejudices against main characters and found them all the most boring personalities ever. In recent years this changed a lot and especially Aang is a prime example for that. Watching him from the perspective of older me, I find so much wisdom in this young boy. Somehow he represents all I wish to be in my life but at the same time he shows his flaws, he carries this sadness with him that will accompany him all his life. This inner battle and chaos that he has to face day to day and in the end - he is just a young boy. So much has been taken from him and yet he learns how to not let it overtake him, that anger and hurt. He tries his hardest to be better than the day before, even if sometimes the world crashes down on him and he gets overwhelmed. He is a child recruited by adults to manage their mistakes and play into the hands of predestined fate and in this essay I will -

Harry Potter 

Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling

I am surprised myself. I thought I would put Fred and George here, or Remus and Sirius, however I realised that none of them quite capture this feeling of lifelong change, of personal, deep impact that Harry had on me. 

As with Aang above, I used to think Harry was the most boring protagonist, yet my opinion took a 180° turn in the past years. Many of the things I wrote for Aang apply to him too - the fact that he was a child, that lost so much, and was always faced with challenges that a child should never have needed to face. Something I want to address is how my favourite book, The Order of the Phoenix, lays all of this out. Harry is just as flawed, just as vulnerable and angry as anyone else. I know some people did not like his ‘emo behaviour’ in the fifth book but for me it just showed how human he is, how he was just a teen like myself at that time. As for many, this boy shaped my entire life, shaped a generation, and I will forever be grateful. I’m sad and angry at how J*R behaves, and how she puts us in the position of doubting our love for these stories. I know I will always love them, but I will not turn a blind eye on all the problematic shit is carries with itself and what the author piles upon us. 

Lan Wangji & Wei Wuxian 

The Untamed (2019)

I will try and keep this short, because if you want to read my thoughts about Wangxian just go to my ao3 and find the  over 70k i wrote for them.  I decided to put them here together because I can’t seperate them and I can’t choose between them. Each of them carries something I recognise in myself, and each of them is the opposite of me. They each own my heart and soul and I know there will never be a fictional couple like this for me ever again. They’ve snuck their way into my heart and have never left. They deserve to be here, together, because my love for them is indescribable. Bless them.  + Bonus:

The Doctor

Doctor Who (1963/2005)

Technically, the Doctor doesn’t count as a “male” character, but since he has been presenting as male up until recently, I needed to include him. I chose the Tenth Doctor because he is the one that broke my heart the most. I adored Nine but he was there too short, and I do love Eleven and Twelve a lot, and Thirteen absolutely owns my heart, Ten has just always been the one that made me cry the most. I loved this era of Doctor Who, I loved how sad and hopeful he was, how heartbroken and yet determined to help wherever it was needed. Doctor Who is always that show, when I return to it, I am reminded that maybe, humanity and the universe isn’t all that bad. 

phew, this took ages damn. but i had so much fun! i decided to leave out honorable mentiones because we would be sitting here until tomorrow lol. 

[libertyreads]

September TBR-

Category: The Daily Dose of Tea needed to get through my September TBR. Even though this is a small stack of paperback books I also have another five books that I’m wanting to read this month. It’s like I have some sort of book death wish. I decided to go ahead and participate in Becca’s Bookoplathon which I sorted out a few days ago and there’s a post about that on my blog. As well, there are books I need to read for myself as well.

1. City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab- I’ve seen a few booktubers discuss how much they enjoyed this one so I decided to grab it for October, but then the “Middle Grade” prompt came up during my rolls on Becca’s Bookoplathon so it got pushed up to this month. I don’t know a ton about it except for ghosts and ghost hunting happen.

2. Starstruck by Brenda Hiatt (free bookclub book)- This is the first book in a SFF series from early 2010s so I’m a little wary of reading it, but kind of excited. A nobody girl meets a guy while living in the middle of nowhere and then Sci-Fi things happen. It met the prompt for “Fire on the Cover” on the bookoplathon board.

3. A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavalarro- This is a gender bent Sherlock Holmes story and that’s really all I needed to hear. It’s also been popular in the book community and it seems like a good time to read it. This meets the “First in a Series” prompt.

4. The Magicians by Lev Grossman- I had heard this was adult Harry Potter, but since I’ve gotten the book I’ve heard some not great things about it. We’ll see. It’s basically magical college. This met the “Nature on the Cover” prompt.

5. The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes- This book is a new release that I couldn’t wait to get my hands on. It reminded me a little of “The Westing Game” which was a book I obsessively read over and over as a child. In this book, the main character inherits a man’s money and home the only problem is that she’s never met him. It’s full of secret hallways and doors. I’m so excited for this creepy vibe. This worked for the “Dark Cover” prompt.

6. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix- I’m continuing my Harry Potter reread while my husband reads through the series for the first time. I am also using it to meet the “Disability Rep” prompt. I would argue that Harry suffers from untreated PTSD despite the fact that it’s never explicitly stated in the text. It might be seen as cheating. I don’t think it is.

7. An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir- I’m so excited to finally start my reread of the “An Ember in the Ashes” series before the final book comes out in December. I read this series last year and just devoured it. I’m excited to take my time to read one a month until I read the new one so I might actually be able to remember what happens in each book.

8. A Golden Fury by Samantha Cohoe (NetGalley)- This was an unrequested NetGalley ARC I received from the publishers. I was so excited when I read the premise though. This book is about a girl and her mother working to create the Philosopher’s Stone, but when her mother goes insane the girl discovers some horrible truths about alchemy. And the synopsis says more but I was hooked already.

9. Christmas Wishes by Sue Moorcroft (NetGalley)- Another NetGalley ARC. I was so excited to see more Christmas themed books come up for request recently. I know that I’m reading a lot of spooky books this month, but my favorite time of the year is the holidays. This is a romance set during Christmas time and I can’t wait to read it. Maybe it’ll be a good break from all the spooky things and all the heavy SFF.

10. In the Hall with the Knife by Diana Peterfreund-- If anyone knows me for more than two seconds, they know that I love and am absolutely obsessed with the 1985 Tim Curry movie Clue. So when I heard about this series I just had to jump on it. I want this to be my last or next to last book of the month for all those spooky feels.

[josie-wales]

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, Top Ten Tuesday invites bookish bloggers to share lists based on a given topic. This week is all about ten new-to-me-authors, to whom I was introduced in 2017!

The List

I fell in love FAST with Kasie West’s books! I first read The Fill-In Boyfriend and absolutely adored it. Next came On the Fence and P.S. I Like You, both of which are full of fluffy freshness, as is The Fill-In Boyfriend.

I was totally under the impression that fluff and romance would gross me out – I’m so thrilled I stepped out of my comfort zone and discovered a new favorite author!

[Reviews: The Fill-In Boyfriend,  P.S. I Like You]

Stephen King is a writer I’ve been really curious about for a long time, but most of his books are intimidating. I’ve been obsessed with The Stand, which I started in June – and have yet to finish – forever. For the record, I LOVE King’s storytelling skills and I’m so looking forward to devouring the rest of his tomes!

I am obsessed with the Saga series by Brian K. Vaughan. I am just blown away by how amazingly entertaining, well-written, and beautifully illustrated graphic novels are. Thus far, I’ve read volumes one through five and I’m excited to blow through the remaining two prior to the release of Volume 8 in January!

[Review: Saga, Vol. 1]

In addition, I love Vaughan’s Paper Girls series – it is such a time-twisting, mind-boggling, yet not confusing collection. Volume four will be released in spring 2018 and I’m super excited!

[Review: Paper Girls, Vol. 1]

Tamora Pierce is a new-to-me author whom I cannot believe I’d never heard of prior to this year! While I’ve only read the debut in The Song of the Lioness quartet, Alanna: The First Adventure, I’m totally sucked in by Pierce’s descriptive writing style and world-building.

[Review: Alanna: The First Adventure]

Sarah J. Maas is another overdue-to-be-read-by-me author whose work I FINALLY laid my eyes upon in 2017. I first read A Court of Thorns and Roses in February and Throne of Glass this past summer. I rated both books either four or five stars! I adore Maas’ world-building more than anything.

[Review: Throne of Glass]

I absolutely adore Raina Telgemeier and totally look forward to perusing more, if not the rest of, her work this year. Ghosts was both heartwarming and heartbreaking, while Kristy’s Great Idea, co-authored by original Babysitter’s Club creator Ann M. Martin, is a throwback to a beloved series.

[Review: Ghosts]

G. Willow Wilson is another graphic novelist with whose work I have also fallen in love. The Ms. Marvel series is beyond brilliant!

I’ve read volumes one through three thus far and can’t wait to get caught up, as I’ve splurged and gotten the remainder of the series.

As I’ve said many times, I gave up on watching The Walking Dead TV show a few seasons back, but I’m loving Robert Kirkman’s series of graphic novels more than ever! Having read the first eight volumes, I cannot wait to suck up the rest of the series!

Judging from how amazing the story is told through the books, I’m curious about whether I should return to watching the show…

[Reviews: Vol. 1, Vol. 2, Vol. 3, Vol. 4]

Vicky Delany is an author who has gotten me even more hooked on the cozy mystery! I had the best time reading and reviewing my first book of hers, Elementary, She Read. Right now,

I’m working on the second of her Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series, Body on Baker Street, and I’m loving it too!

[Review: Elementary, She Read]

Author of the gorgeously written The Night Circus, Erin Morgenstern is one of those writers whose style beguiles both my eyes and my mind. I am still in awe of how the words flow together in The Night Circus, my first, and only, thus far, Morgenstern novel.

Love, Maggie

Authors I [Met] in 2017 Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, Top Ten Tuesday invites bookish bloggers to share lists based on a given topic.

[jaimiesam]

2016 Reading Wrap-Up

Better late than never with this post I suppose :D

This past year, I read quite a few books. It felt like a slow year, and I jumped around a lot, from genre to genre and series to series. I don’t think I finished any series. Although I actually did get through many books, it didn’t feel like a lot at the time. I really delved into some long books this year, which was both frustrating and rewarding. Those books that took me the longest to read were also some of the ones I enjoyed the most :)

Without further ado, here is the list of books I read this year! I hope you can get some ideas if you didn’t know what to read next! After the list I’ll also go into specifics about some of my favourites, and some of the ones I really didn’t get along with… (Also, just a side note, they’re not organized in anyway other than the order that I read them in!)

The Cuckoo’s Calling - Robert Galbraith

Truthwitch - Susan Dennard

Nimona - Noelle Stevenson

Fangirl - Rainbow Rowell

11/22/63 - Stephen King

A Study in Charlotte - Brittany Cavallero

Dream On - Kerstin Gier

Ms. Marvel: No Normal - Wilson & Alphona

Young Avengers: Style > Substance - Kieron Gillen, Jamie McKelvie, Mike Norton

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone - J. K. Rowling

Saga Vol 5 - Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples

The Crown - Kiera Cass

The Hidden Oracle - Rick Riordan

Kindred Spirits- Rainbow Rowell

Dragonfly in Amber - Diana Gabaldon

Out of Sight, Out of Time - Ally Carter

The Fangirl’s Guide to the Galaxy - Sam Maggs

The Blackthorn Key - Kevin Sands

Lola and the Boy Next Door - Stephanie Perkins

Saga Vol 6 - Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples

A Game of Thrones - George R. R. Martin

Everything, Everything - Nicola Yoon

Isla and the Happily Ever After - Stephanie Perkins

Jessica Jones: Alias Vol 1 - Brian Michael Bendis & Michael Gaydos

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - J. K. Rowling, Jack Thorne, John Tiffany

Jessica Jones: Alias - Rebecca Come Home Vol 2 - Brian Michael Bendis & Michael Gaydos

Anna and the French Kiss - Stephanie Perkins

Ant-Man Vol. 1, Second Chance Man - Nick Spencer, Ramon Rosanos

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1, Cosmic Avengers - Brian Michael Bendis, Steve McNiven

A Clash of Kings - George R. R. Martin

A Court of Mist and Fury - Sarah J. Maas

White Noise - Don DeLillo

Beloved - Toni Morrison

Angels in America - Tony Kushner

Happily Ever After - Kiera Cass

Magnus Chase: The Hammer of Thor - Rick Riordan

Interpreter of Maladies - Jhumpa Lahiri

The Sleeper and the Spindle - Neil Gaiman & Chris Riddell

Voyager - Diana Gabaldon

Romeo and What’s Her Name - Shani Petroff

My Favourites

Dragonfly in Amber

Voyager

A Game of Thrones

A Clash of Kings

A Court of Mist and Fury

I continued the Outlander series this year with books 2 and 3, and they blew me away. Sequels are so hard to get right, but Dragonfly in Amber was a breathtaking story, followed by the thrilling journey of Voyager (read my last post for my full thoughts on Voyager!).

And I started the A Song of Ice and Fire series! I’m really really loving it, and I’ve just started the third book. I must say, I did fly through A Clash of Kings much faster than A Game of Thrones, devouring the majority of it in about a week.

And finally, ACOMAF. I love the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas, but her A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) series cannot be beat. While I really enjoyed the ACOTAR, ACOMAF was just amazing. I loved where she took the series and the characters (both new and old), and genuinely missed my bus home one day because I was so immersed in reading it.

Honourable Mentions

Nimona

11/22/63

A Study in Charlotte

Jessica Jones Graphic Novels

Stephanie Perkins Novels

White Noise

Now these are books that I greatly enjoyed, but wouldn’t hold to the same level as those on my favourites list. For graphic novels, Nimona was a whimsical, hilarious story that was just extremely enjoyable, and the Jessica Jones: Alias series I found just dark enough, with a more likeable, human Jessica than the TV Show.

I read my first Steven King novel this year! And 11/22/63 was the perfect place to start for me, as I’m not a fan of horror, so I was immediately drawn in by this historical fiction time-travel story, about the assassination of JFK and one man’s attempt to stop it.

As for my favourite contemporary books of the year, I’d immediately go for Stephanie Perkins’ novels. I read Anna back in 2015, so this year got around to reading the last 2 in the trilogy. They were just so easy to read, and such a nice, light break from some of the much heavier books I was reading. I don’t think I spent more than two days reading any of the books, they were just lovely to read.

A Study in Charlotte was a YA Sherlock Holmes inspired novel, where Charlotte Holmes was the inquisitive, intelligent, and quick-witted descendent of Holmes himself, who befriends Jamie Watson (similarly related to John Watson). Although not the most shocking or revolutionary of mysteries, I really enjoyed the dialogue between Holmes’ and Watson, and some of the more serious issues discussed in the text and how they were handled.

And finally, White Noise, a book I read for my English course. This book was one I enjoyed simply because it was the one that frustrated me the most. I absolutely loved how much frustration this book evoked from me. The main character proves to be extremely arrogant, self-centred and misguided as the book progresses, and yet the book makes such intelligent observations of everyday life, it’s really quite interesting to read.

Books I Didn’t Enjoy

Dream On

Everything, Everything

Romeo and What’s Her Name

Harry Potter and The Cursed Child

*sigh* and now for the books that disappointed me… Kerstin Gier penned the Ruby Red Trilogy, another time-travel series that I enjoyed a fair bit, and after reading Dream a Little Dream, I was really anticipating the release of the sequel, Dream On. Unfortunately, it just felt like a filler book, and a lot of it felt unnecessary. I got quite bored with it, and it just didn’t do it for me.

Everything, Everything. Now this book frustrates me. And not in a good way, as with White Noise. It frustrates me in a “why did you go in this direction? It feels like such a lazy ending” sort of way. I was skeptical going into this book, as it deals with a girl who is allergic to everything, and as I have multiple allergies, I am quite picky about how it’s represented in books. I didn’t like the main character, I thought she was rash and made some stupid, reckless, unjustified decisions. And I was extremely annoyed at the ending, it just felt like such an easy out for the author, as she didn’t have to spend the time allowing this character to grow and learn, but rather erase her issues entirely. Overall, I just didn’t get along with this book very well, and yet I do know a lot of people did enjoy it. *shrug* at least the design and format was enjoyable.

Now, this next book comes out Feb. 7, 2017 (I received an arc for review), but unfortunately it wasn’t my favourite. In Romeo and What’s Her Name, the story felt rushed, and the protagonist felt quite childish and cringey at times. I mean, it was cute enough, but there wasn’t enough going on to properly capture my attention.

And finally, dare I say it, Harry Potter and The Cursed Child. I can’t in my right mind categorize it as a legitimate Harry Potter novel. It wasn’t written by J. K. Rowling. That’s enough for me. It was so lacking in her signature style and voice, and there was an absence of magic in it, that was so necessary to the story and the continuation of these beloved characters. I am such a huge fan of Harry Potter, so I really don’t say this lightly, but I just didn’t enjoy it. I found the plot contradictory to the rules set out in the original HP novels (*cough cough* Prisoner of Azkaban), and there were many things that certain characters did that I did not think would ever be in their nature to do. Specifically a certain line said by Harry. I just did not see it as something he would ever say to his son. I’m sure the stage production was an entirely different experience, and I’d actually be extremely curious to see it, as I have heard amazing things about it. But just from reading it, I didn’t like the story. And the biggest issue for me, once again, was that it just did not feel like a Harry Potter story.

Well, if you’ve made it to the end of this very long post, I applaud you. I do hope you enjoyed it, and got some good book recommendations. I’d love to know your thoughts on any of these books, did you like them? Hate them? Or if you have any book recommendations of your own, I’d love to hear them :D Thanks for reading!