#W.R. Gingell

[onaslansside]

W.R. Gingell really be out here telling the most love story of all time, like:

He never saw it coming. He's spent his whole life trying to live within the rules, always keeping his debts paid and never allowing trust lest it be an opening for pain. 

And then.

He's loved her from the first time he saw her, from the day they met, she turns his world upside down, every time he turns around she's revealing new depths he didn't think were possible, and he can't keep himself from causing her pain upon pain by his very presence, he's ruined her life, he could never hope to pay his debt to this person he would gladly spend his life service and blood for, because the debt is too great. There is no way he can fix this, all options lead to death for himself, her, and their relationship.

Except.

She loves him, too. She felt the connection too, the first time she laid eyes on him, and it's informed all her life choices ever since. He opens her eyes to new worlds, sends her places she'd never think to go on her own, teaches her how to survive the worst the world can throw at her, is always there at her back. She loves him even as he kills her.

And that love. Brings hope, because when he falls into despair that their story must end in tragedy and death because all of his love cannot atone for his sins, her love means she sets out to make a way, where he could not, to bring life and love and peace and reconciliation. He never saw it coming.

[cultivating-wildflowers]

Books of 2025 - January

New year, new goals (not just with reading), same massive TBR pile that will haunt me to my grave. I started out with a plan to tackle one giant book, something smaller, and a couple of rereads. I ended up mostly rereading. Granted, my chief goal with reading right now is to enjoy myself, but it's hard to shake the habit of needing to read more.

Total books: 8  |  New reads: 1   |  2024 TBR completed: 0 (0 DNF) / 0/18 total   |   Total books read this year: 8

December 2024 | February

#1 - Stand Still, Stay Silent: Book 2 by Minna Sundberg - 5/5 stars (reread)

Onni 🫶🏻

And the rest of the gang, of course. Not a dull one in the bunch. (But, with love, most of them are dumb in their own special ways.)

On a side note: Apparently I did read further than Book 2 when reading the in-progress webcomic, because there's a major event I remember that hasn't happened yet.... Did I get closer to the ending than I realized?

#2 - The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway - 3/5 stars (audio)

Huh. Well, they weren't lying; it's a story about an old man fighting to catch a fish. Possibly there are Themes involved, and maybe even a Moral or two. Beats me. The reviews are funny to read, though.

#3 - Westmark by Lloyd Alexander - 4/5 stars (reread)

Continuing the theme I started last year of revisiting books I've read once, and many years ago, we have the Westmark trilogy! I remember very little from this series:

a vague impression of the setting

facts about two or three characters

a tragic death I'm still not over

the fact that I loved the series immensely

On a revisit, it is definitely as quick of a read as I remember (though it took me ages because I kept getting distracted). Alexander's writing is sparse, but surprisingly gripping all the same. I was a little baffled on how this trilogy goes from this ending to all-out war in Book Two.... I don't remember the details on that one. Evidently I tore through this in a haze the first time, which is par for the course

#4-8 - Between Jobs, Between Shifts, Between Floors, Between Frames, and Between Homes by W.R. Gingell - 4.5 star average (reread, audio)

It's time. And it seems January really is the best time to read this series, because my brain never wants anything too difficult this time of year.

And I have to say, this reread really has me politely confused over the final book, because in all of these, Gingell nails the final confrontation and the denouement. Those scenes right between the fight and the dramatic ending? Always perfect. So what on earth happened with Book 10??? (I still love this series but I may always be frustrated by the ending.)

(original reviews for most of the series here)

Other Reading:

I started Shakespeare's Sonnets on the 1st and am intentionally lingering over them. (Read: I got distracted in the first section, where dear old Will obsesses over his gorgeous friend refusing to get married and produce children as gorgeous as himself.)

DNF:

Joust by Mercedes Lackey - The pace absolutely plodded along. I couldn't even make it through the first chapter (which was about 45 minutes long.) The narrator was also horrible, but I could have put up with him if the story had any spark. Not even dragons could save this one.

Battleship Leviathan by Craig Martell - It's a hard military story, only set in space, and not in a Heinlein way. I have zero interest following around a pack of crude space marines whose idea of a good time is making use of the nearest prostitute. (Reviews also mention the concept of a pacifist AI piloting a battle cruiser is...not done well.)

Currently Reading:

Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset, tr. Tiina Nunnally (2025 TBR) - This is going very slowly. Winter may have been a bad time to start reading this. Ah well. What I have read so far I have definitely enjoyed. Undset's descriptions are gorgeous.

The Kestrel by Lloyd Alexander (reread) - I read like half a chapter in the middle of January and then I got distracted. It's still waiting for me.

[onaslansside]

And then there's

YeoWoo: I think you're a terrible person and I want you dead.

Athelas, immediately charmed: Oh! We have so much in common already!

YeoWoo, several weeks later: Wait, did he mean thinks I'M terrible and he wants ME dead ... or did he agree that HE'S terrible and would like to be dead.

Athelas: I just want someone to take me out. Camellia: Like on a date, or with poison? Athelas, immediately charmed: Surprise me.

[sisterdragonwithfeathers]

'Bout 37 audiobook hours into this series

it has consumed me

I'm only on book 6 out of 10

send help

[as-dreamers-do]

you know what I'm suddenly craving post-wheel of time reread? starting my Stormlight Archive reread that I need to have done by December 5

but. I have a bunch of library books I also need to read, and if I start Stormlight now I'll finish it at the latest by I'd guess September's end which is two months too early--even throwing in Elantris/Warbreaker/Arcanum Unbounded won't stretch it till December. so I shouldn't start quite yet. but. i NEED more familiar epic fantasy I haven't read in a long time. urgghghhghgh

[fictionadventurer]

Top ten fairytale retelling novels/novellas you've read.

I've already answered my top 10, so here's my shot at listing 11-20.

11. A Long, Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan: Would probably be higher on the list if I'd remembered it in time. Sci-fi story that's a very loose retelling of "Sleeping Beauty", but so rich and emotionally devastating.

12. Maid and Minstrel and The Beggar Prince by Kate Stradling: Putting both of her short "King Thrushbeard" retellings in one entry. The first is more of a "Beauty and the Beast" tale that makes both leads decent people caught up in a misunderstanding, but I appreciated how it (probably accidentally) made me see the Christ-imagery inherent in the original. The second gives King Thrushbeard some character flaws and a good arc, and has an excellent explanation for why the princess didn't want to marry any of her suitors.

13. Fairest by Gail Carson Levine: Snow White retelling set in the world of Ella Enchanted, and retains that book's creativity in adapting the fairy tale elements. Has an excellent full-cast audiobook.

14. The Stepsister and the Slipper by Nina Clare: Georgette-Heyer-esque Cinderella retelling. Very rushed ending, and not the kind of romance I'd advise anyone to pursue in real life, but very fun.

15. Soot and Slipper by Kate Stradling: Cinderella retelling with an excellent twist, adorable characters, and a convoluted ending.

16. Before Midnight by Cameron Dokey: Short and basic Cinderella retelling that gets on the list because I have extremely fond autumnal associations with this book.

17. Unseen Beauty by Amity Thompson: A "Beauty and the Beast" retelling from the point-of-view of one of the invisible servants. Since I'd had that idea for years before finding this, I was thrilled to find that this story does a pretty good job with it.

18. Exile by Loren G. Warnemuende: The first book in a trilogy that retells "Maid Maleen". I haven't finished the series yet, so maybe it's unfair to put it on here, but I loved the section of the story that takes place in the tower, so I couldn't leave it off the list.

19. The Seventh Raven by David Elliot: A retelling of "The Seven Ravens" that does a decent job of retelling the fairy tale, but I mostly love it as a very well-structured novel-in-verse that structures each POV character's poems with their own poetic form.

20. The Tales of Ambia by Allison Tebo: Fun, slightly Wodehouse-ish retellings that are a breath of fresh air in the romantasy-dominated world of indie retellings

Honorable Mentions:

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer: Objectively as stories, these should be pretty high up on the list. It had great characters and adapted the fairy tale elements in some amazing ways. But I'm not a fan of a lot of the worldbuilding elements here, so I couldn't bring myself to rank it above some of my beloved, but more-flawed indie retellings.

With Blossoms Gold by Hayden Wand and Sweet Remembrance by Emily Ann Putzke: Both contained in Once: Six Historical Fairy Tale Retellings. The first is "Rapunzel" set in Renaissance Italy with an agoraphobic Rapunzel, and the second is a beautifully devastating retelling of "The Little Match Girl" set during WWII. I haven't read these in a long time, but I remember them both being very good.

Masque by W.R. Gingell: An excellent "Beauty and the Beast" retelling with a very lively Beauty, a Beast who works as a police detective instead of brooding in a castle, and some clever adaptations of the fairy tale elements. Unfortunately, I've decided a couple elements of the magic go beyond what I'm comfortable with, so I couldn't put it on the list, but I had to give it credit.

[valiantarcher]

Fortnight of Books: 2024

Day 3:

Book you recommended most to others in 2024? Ironically, I think this would be the City Between series by W.R. Gingell.

Book you most anticipated this year? It took me the majority of the year to actually get my hands on The Killing Thought by Anne Marie Wells.

[theriu]

How To Ride A Chollima

Chollima: I am here to register for the race. Not that it will be much of a contest.

Me: Great! Species?

Chollima: Chollima. Obviously. (mutters) Ignorant Americans.

Me: (flips through rulebook) Okaaay here we go. Eastern winged horse—dang, a thousand Chinese miles in a day? That does sound impressive!

Chollima: Yes, I’d suggest simply crowning me now if not for the fuss from the other contestants.

Me: And “too swift and elegant to be mounted by any mortal man.” Well, good on you for having the humility to join us today!

Chollima: . . . I beg your pardon?

Me: You must have a rider if you’re entering this race, right?

Chollima: Of course not! I would never disgrace myself or my species by letting one of you unworthy creatures ride me like a common horse. I shall be racing alone.

Me: Ah . . . well, that’s awkward. Since it’s sort of a requirement. (points at rulebook) Every racing mythic has to have a passenger. How they support each other is between the two of them, but it IS required.

Chollima: What?! Why would they make such a ridiculous, demeaning rule?! And why would any intelligent equine allow it?!

Me: Look, we can have a long argument about teamwork and fairness of loadbearing requirements, but the simple fact is you can’t race without a humanoid partner.

Chollima: (terribly conflicted) But . . . but I MUST have that stunning handwoven horsecloak that goes to the winner… and yet I can’t go against the chollima code . . .

Me: . . . So you need a rider . . . but not someone who’ll actually “ride” you . . .

Chollima: . . . Yes . . . ?

Me: (scribbles something on registry) I have a solution! Furgus, cover for me.

Furgus: (rolls his eyes)

——

(Chollima hovers a bit behind the starting line. Human hangs from fabric sling strapping her to chollima’s neck. A significant number of racers are snickering)

Me: (gleefully) This is gonna be SO GREAT.

Chollima: This is utterly undignified.

Me: Hey, you’re racing, right? And carrying isn’t technically the same as riding! Yay loopholes!

Chollima: You’re lucky I now have to win without dropping you just to silence these jeering buffoons.

Me: That’s the spirit!

————

(A/N: Shoutout to author W.R. Gingell’s books for introducing me to the chollima and thus inspiring a new way to annoy horse mythics :D If you like urban fantasy, go read her City Between series, it’s great!)

If you enjoyed this, there’s a bunch more in my How To Guides for Mythical Creatures masterlist!

[e-louise-bates]

9 people tag game

Thanks @rowenabean for the tag!

last song: The High Kings' Irish Pub Song came up while coming home from work this morning, and both Joy and I sang along at the top of our lungs. I keep teasing her that she should use that as her audition song for the high school musical this fall. She said her chorus teacher would probably enjoy it as a change from all the pop music everyone else does.

last movie: I had to really stretch my memory for this, but I think it was How to Steal a Million about a month or so ago. So much fun! Leverage ought to have done a take-off episode of that.

currently watching: Clone Wars! The only fiction tv show that Grace has ever liked! She actually ASKS to watch it, as opposed to her usual m.o, which is moaning about having to watch something whenever we have a family tv/movie night. So far (we just started Season 3) both girls like Anakin more than any other character (but Mace Windu is definitely the coolest Jedi), and they're both pretty certain Chancellor Palpatine is Darth Sidious but they don't want us to tell them for sure one way or the other (the Zillo beast episodes cemented their suspicions), and they think Ahsoka is ok but they're not quite sure why she's Carl's favorite Star Wars character of all time (just wait until you've watched the entire series, we keep telling them).

currently reading: Boundaries, by Henry Cloud and John Townsend; Prayer in the Night, by Tish Warren Harrison; a re-read of Between Cases, by W.R. Gingell. And the textbook for my computer class, which is horribly boring and I can't be bothered looking up the title (and no, I don't remember the title off the top of my head despite having been reading it all summer--it's just that boring).

last thing researched for writing purposes: For writing purposes, common woodland birds that might be seen in September in Britain (I went with a kestrel, in case you're curious). (I've also been doing a lot of research into election laws in Oregon, but that's for my editing client, not for my own writing.)

tagging @rockinlibrarian even though she's most likely already done this, and anyone who hasn't done this yet and has been wistfully wishing someone would tag them. You're it.

[onaslansside]

Worlds Behind: a summary

[cultivating-wildflowers]

🔥

I would much rather read books from an author who struggles with endings than an author who struggles with beginnings

[onaslansside]

Personally, I stared at Athelas the entire series through rose colored glasses that showed him desperately trying to explain himself and also VERY ready to die at the hands of his family, so I don't think he'd keep everything hidden. Maybe for a little bit while things settled into place, but I don't think he'd feel he had enough of a deserved place in this new kingdom to justify keeping the truth from his people now that he was able to tell them without wrecking everything. He expected to burn down with the rest of the rotten system, not just as a sacrifice but as PART of what needed to die! The plan's not finished until he's gone.

(I hope it's okay to keep spamming you with asks about City between because I have THOUGHTS)

I keep thinking about the chain of events in the last few books and how easily things could have gone just *slightly* differently.

For example - If events had turned out differently, Zero might have been king.

If they'd run into a few more obstacles/distractions, Ruth might not have figured out who the killer was when she did.

In a world where *both* those things were true - where we run through the events of books nine and ten but with Athelas a full part of the team and this somehow ends with Zero on the throne - what do you think Athelas would have done?

His goals are accomplished: the king and Lord Sero are dead.

And yet he is also not dead . . . and no one knows what's done. Yet.

Zero is definitely still invested in the identity of the murderer! But he's also probably going to be way too busy to be personally investigating right at the moment.

I can't stop picturing a scenario where he just. Delegates the investigation to Athelas.

If that happened, do you think Athelas would confess? (Probably not, seems too direct for him. But he WAS laying that trail of evidence. So maybe . . . sideways confess? Get Zero to assign him some help and make sure the other investigators figured it out?) Or would he take the opportunity to thoroughly cover it up - "Good news, my lord, the murderer was sworn to one of your political enemies! :) I killed him when he attempted to evade arrest! :) Sorry if there were any further questions you wanted to ask! :) No, I do *not* want any tea right now, Pet, and also here is a random nice thing I did for you, do not ask me why."

(It is ABSOLUTELY okay, I love City Between Thoughts and I very much understand the feeling!)

I. OUCH??? This is a HORRIBLE concept. I love it. Had to take longer to answer this because it made me a little insane.

AU where Athelas gets everything he's ever wanted EXCEPT all the most important parts are still under false pretenses. MAN.

Zero could ABSOLUTELY delegate it to him. He's the other expert! He's the only one who knows the case as well as Zero! And I... I don't know how he'd handle that.

My impression is that in book 7, or certainly by book 8, he's resigned himself to the reveal as being inevitable. Planting the trail of evidence was way back in book 4, though, so it may have been his plan all along... Either way, though, planning for that and then getting an unexpected reprieve? Somehow coming out of everything with Zero on the throne and their trust in him intact?

He could decide "it's still inevitable, I should take control of the circumstances" and steer them that way... but he can't label himself The Enemy the way he could in canon, because he already helped them take down Sero and the King! So would he still go for some kind of self-destructive reveal? Or would he let them find the answers and then just disappear into the night?

I don't see him hoping for forgiveness, so any kind of reveal would be burning his bridges. The question is whether he'd plan to survive that or not.

And MAN the route where he covers it up... AUGH. Yeah, I can see him looking at this unexpected chance and not being able to throw it away - even if part of his brain is still insisting it's going to end badly, why pull things down on top of himself? Why rush into something that will, in fact, just hurt everyone?

...I don't know if it's worse to imagine him getting caught, or worse to imagine he doesn't. Maybe new dangers of exposure keep coming up from unexpected directions, and he has to keep crossing more lines he promised himself he was done with, to stay safe. Or maybe there are no dangers, and everything is perfectly fine! No one will ever know his true crimes... except him. But that's fine. :)

TERRIBLE. Thank you so much for sharing. I'm going to be haunted by this now.

[take-me-in-your-army]

CR recs:

1. "The Secret" by Max Monroe : very cat and mouse kind of interaction, they each try to one-up each other lol. It's fun. (Prof-PostGrad , but no age gap)

2. "The Favor" by Suzanne Robinson : (Boss-Secretary) marriage of convenience (moc), grumpy-sunshine. Loved the book.

3. "Brutal Prince" by Sophie Lark : an enemies to lovers masterpiece. Truly they seemed like enemies. Also moc. Soft-mafia (I say this cause they don't do mafia stuff at all, otherwise I won't have read it (: )

4. "Kulti" by Marianna Zapata : (coach - sportswoman - football, slow-burn, soft enemies2lovers) There is an age gap, but I kind of turned a blind eye to it lol. A great great book, and the age gap isn't even relevant, so I hope you not reject this one cause of that.🥹

5. Susan Elizabeth Philips' books : I loved "Kiss an Angel", but there's a tw. I loved the heroine!, and the grovel by hero is top-notch.

6. "Royally Rearranged" by Emma St. Claire : (closed-door) This one is a light read and truly great. I very much enjoy St.Claire's books!

7. "You Deserve Each Other" by Sarah Hogle : hilarious, so many laugh out loud moments, second chance romance, enemies to lovers, they are always pranking each other.

Fantasies:

1. "Howl's Moving Castle" by Dianna Wynne Jones : I don't think this one needs an intro. Howl is certainly a character xD.

2. "Brine and Bone" by Kate Stradling : I love Stradling's books. This one is a retelling of "The Little Mermaid" but with a twist. I recommend reading at least the summary of the original Little Mermaid story by Hans Christian Andersen so you get a better understanding.

3. "The Heir and the Spare" by Kate Stradling : Again, Stradling. This book is about quiet strength and resilience. It's truly awesome and emotional and made me want to cry for the heroine.

4. "Spindle" by W.R. Gingell : I was looking for characters like Howl (enigmatic, wizard like) and came across this book. It's not the same as Howl's Moving Castle at all, but this is a very nice, cozy-fantasy, hilarious at times. And with lots of wonderful magic.

5. "The Wrath and the Dawn" (Duology) by Renée Ahdieh : 1001 nights retelling. I love 1001 nights and love ALL of its retellings. Forever searching for more of them lol.

6. "The Cruel Prince" (series) by Holly Black : Love Cardan and love Jude! Definitely give this a try. It's proper enemies2lovers, quite political with fantasy world politics. Also, you may hate Cardan at first (cause you are supposed to, since it's from Jude's pov and he's her enemy) but plss read on, and you'll love him.

and again thank you anon 😭 you have done so much for me. ill always remember this

[as-dreamers-do]

okay i am actually going to scream

all y'all w.r. gingell fans: she has done it again

if you didn't back the kickstarter i jolly well hope you have plans to lay hands on Splintered Mind as soon as you are (financially responsibly) able to come October because BOY HOWDY are you in for a treat

(and if you did back the kickstarter and have read it, feel free to scream in my inbox)

[fictionadventurer]

Hi! I’d love some recs from your favorite obscure books! Do you have any you think would suit me? 😊

Sticking with the Gaskell vibe, here are some books within that genre of domestic classics.

-A Bachelor's Comedy by J.E. Buckrose is an episodic comedy involving lots of silly little events and characters in an English country village, a bit like Cranford without the deaths (and from the point-of-view of a newly-ordained clergyman on his first assignment).

-If I can get one other person to read Una Silberrad, I will die happy. Like Gaskell, she excels with layered characters, and includes some deeper themes beneath her romance plots. Desire has a recently-released ebook edition on hoopla, and has her deepest themes and characters (including my favorite love interest, an introverted and kind novelist turned pottery-business-owner who has some Roger Hamley vibes). The Good Comrade is her best-known work (the only one on Gutenberg), about a penniless upper-class girl who goes to work in the Netherlands and gets up to money-making shenanigans--a lighter and brighter story. Curayl is only available as a Google Books pdf, and there's a lot that I don't like about it, but the stuff I do like I love, so I need someone else to read this book.

-Helen by Maria Edgeworth was a direct inspiration for Wives and Daughters. Edgeworth is much more upper-class and conservative than Gaskell, and much less adept at weaving in messages naturally, but the characters are fun, and it's fascinating to see a different take on this plotline.

-Beau Brown by Nina Clare is a Regency romance, but it's more concerned about historical accuracy than most books in this genre are. The way the servants are treated as actual people feels very Gaskell.

I'll throw in an extra book with a kdrama vibe.

-I don't remember much about Lady of Dreams by W.R. Gingell, but it was meant to be a fantasy take on kdrama tropes, so it might be worth checking out.

[tsfennec]

Recent: Behind the Curtain by W.R. Gingell

Current: Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson

Future: ... so many. More of the Vorkosigan series by Lois McMaster Bujold would probably be high on the priority list, though.

Tagging: @scarvenartist, @audreycritter, @hobbitsetal, @freenarnian, @lady-merian if any of you care to

tagged by @simplyshelbs16xoxo to post my recent, current, and future reads!

recent: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan (reread), The Scarlet Pimpernel by Emuska Orczy, Mr. Flood’s Last Resort by Jess Kidd, and Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders by Vincent Bugliosi

current: Bioshock: Rapture by John Shirley

future: The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan (reread), Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman, and A Clutch of Vampires by Raymond T. McNally

I tag @televinita and @loubuttons !