#aetherbound

[ekjohnston]

Sometimes you write four books with demisexual protagonists before you realize that's a thing. Then it becomes your thing.

[queereads-bracket]

Queer Fiction Free-for-All Book Bracket Tournament: Round 1A

Book summaries and submitted endorsements below:

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (Wayfarers series) by Becky Chambers

Endorsement from submitter: "The modern space opera, includes gays in space, found family, and delightful discussions in the social customs of different species"

Rosemary Harper doesn’t expect much when she joins the crew of the aging Wayfarer. While the patched-up ship has seen better days, it offers her a bed, a chance to explore the far-off corners of the galaxy, and most importantly, some distance from her past. An introspective young woman who learned early to keep to herself, she’s never met anyone remotely like the ship’s diverse crew, including Sissix, the exotic reptilian pilot, chatty engineers Kizzy and Jenks who keep the ship running, and Ashby, their noble captain.

Life aboard the Wayfarer is chaotic and crazy—exactly what Rosemary wants. It’s also about to get extremely dangerous when the crew is offered the job of a lifetime. Tunneling wormholes through space to a distant planet is definitely lucrative and will keep them comfortable for years. But risking her life wasn’t part of the plan. In the far reaches of deep space, the tiny Wayfarer crew will confront a host of unexpected mishaps and thrilling adventures that force them to depend on each other. To survive, Rosemary’s got to learn how to rely on this assortment of oddballs—an experience that teaches her about love and trust, and that having a family isn’t necessarily the worst thing in the universe.

Science fiction, adventure, space, series, adult

Aetherbound by E.K. Johnston

Set on a family-run interstellar freighter called the Harland and a mysterious remote space station, E. K. Johnston's latest is story of survival and self-determination.

Pendt Harland's family sees her as a waste of food on their long-haul space cruiser when her genes reveal an undesirable mutation. But if she plays her cards right she might have a chance to do much more than survive. During a space-station layover, Pendt escapes and forms a lucky bond with the Brannick twins, the teenage heirs of the powerful family that owns the station. Against all odds, the trio hatches a long-shot scheme to take over the station and thwart the destinies they never wished for.

Science fiction, fantasy, science fantasy, space, young adult

[verridith]

I have SO MANY adopts open, all on ko-fi! These range from around $10 to $70, and while most are dragons, I also have wolves and horses in the mix. Please give it a look:

[book-challenger]

Cool Cover Monday

Title & Author: Aetherbound bu E.K. Johnston

Summary: Pendt Harland's family sees her as a waste of food on their long-haul space cruiser when her genes reveal an undesirable mutation. But if she plays her cards right she might have a chance to do much more than survive.

During a space-station layover, Pendt escapes and forms a lucky bond with the Brannick twins, the teenage heirs of the powerful family that owns the station. Against all odds, the trio hatches a long-shot scheme to take over the station and thwart the destinies they never wished for.

Link: https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/4a4e892b-bcc0-4152-9ec6-d647e23bf7e8

[bookcoversonly]

Title: Aetherbound | Author: E.K. Johnston | Publisher: Dutton Books (2021)

[labyrinths-library]

Book 86 of 2024

Aetherbound by EK Johnson

★★★

Find the author @ekjohnston. Find the book here.

Pages: 244

Genre: YA SciFi

Review:

This was a super interesting space book. I usually read things affiliated with Star Wars (which is how I originally found EKJ because of her Padmé books during 2020). But this was very cool to see her play in her own sandbox. The ships take a very clinical approach to passengers where you have to basically prove that you're useful enough to justify being fed properly for your best function. When Pendt- who has always been treated poorly by her family when they realized she wasn't useful in a way that benefited them- decides to disembark her family ship, she befriends two brothers who run the space station and agrees to help them in exchange for food and shelter. What ensues is your YA love triangle sorta. I have questions about the epilogue, and whether Fisher is trans. However, still enjoyed reading it.

[378clover]

Aetherbound dreamtale au

The realm of the tree of feeling

Beyond the boundaries of time and space, where the threads of emotions weave the destinies of countless worlds, lies the realm of the tree of feeling . A sacred plane untouched by the chaos of mortal existence, it exist in a dimension entirely separate from all other universe, a place of ethereal beauty and unfathomable power.

At its heart stand the tree of feeling , an awe inspiring colossus that soars into the sky, its trunk vast enough to hold entire civilization, its bark glows faintly, pulsing with golden and shadowy veins -two forces intertwined yet distinct, its leaves shimmer with the emotion of countless beings, absorbing and releasing waves of energy that influence the balance of all realm.

Beneath its boundless branches, the realm expands into a mesmerizing land of endless twilight . The sky its neither day nor night but an eternal dance of dusk and dawn, where celestial rivers flow with liquid stardust , and the ground glow softly with the life force of the universe itself. The land is vast, stretching into silver forest, floating island and crystalline lakes that mirror the emotion of those who gaze into them .

Two great forces government this realm . Sigvard , the guardian of light and day , and Valdrik , the guardian of darkness and night. Created by the slumbering primordial goddes Nim , they are bound by duty to protect the tree of feeling, ensuring that emotions flow naturally and do not spiral into imbalance .

However, should the tree of feeling be harmed , the consequences ripple across existence - world could become to suffocatingly bright , where's positivity blinds and consume all , or they could descend into eternal darkness, where hope is forever lost . Maintaining harmony is a sacred duty , and to fail would mean catastrophe beyond comprehension .

Thought Sigvard and Valdrik cannot directly interfere , they guide chosen individual - champion of their ideals - to act in their stead . Sigvard, ever hopeful and compassionate , seeks to nurture those with kind heart , while Valdrik, pragmatic and reserved , only bestow his influence upon those who prove their strength. Their rivalry shapes the destiny of many , yet their love as brother remain Unbroken , even as their ideals clash .

And so, the realm of the tree of feeling remain hidden beyond mortal perception , influencing countless worlds without their knowledge. A realm of eternal balance , watched over by two ancient souls, forever bound to its fate.

[ekjohnston]

I am not done announcing books for 2025, so...

WE'RE GOING BAAAAAAAAACK.

Preorders available wherever books are sold.

I am so excited.

[crescent-ffxiv]

The Annual All Saints' Wake Pubcrawl: Wonderland

Who: Us. The Drunken Moogle. The Aetherbound Institute. The Red Lantern Society. The Still & Strings. Cross Realm Wrestling. Cirque Entertainment. NightRaid Network. The Wayfarer's Horn. You! When: October 19th, 2024 starting at 7pm eastern. Where: Starting at Crystal, Balmung, Limsa Lominsa, The Astalicia. Wear: Your maddest wonderland fit! Why: Alcohol and whimsy are just a match made in heaven. What: Every year Crescent Entertainment conjures up the spirit to go on a length crawl across some part of the star, to get those good times flowing, and this year is no different! Join us and our friends through a series of games, stories, music, contests, and, most importantly, so much walking!

🐇 MASTERLINK 🌹 (coming soon)

((Crescent club nights are meant to be a joyous occasion, and we understand if everything gets to be a bit much. Slipping out to somewhere quiet and returning is absolutely fine! Given the current atmosphere surrounding ‘clubs’, we’d also like to specify that while we do have a DJ providing optional music, our events are RP events, not twitch-streamed influencer parties.))

★ We’d adore your help in spreading the word, thank you! ★

[midnightsummer-glow]

Aetherbound Hearts

Thancred Waters

It was nearly two years later, after countless adventures and just as many near-death experiences, that everything came to a head.

The two of you had been tasked with investigating strange aetheric disturbances near Ishgard. The bitter cold of Coerthas was a stark contrast to the deserts of Thanalan where you’d first met, but Thancred was just as vibrant as ever, cracking jokes even as the snow threatened to bury you both.

“Remind me again why we couldn’t have left this to someone who doesn’t mind freezing their arse off?” he muttered, pulling his scarf tighter.

“Because we’re the best,” you replied with a smirk, earning a laugh from him.

The mission proved more dangerous than anticipated. A rogue voidsent ambushed you in a frozen cavern, its dark energy nearly overwhelming. But you and Thancred fought side by side, just as you always had, and managed to vanquish the creature.

When the battle was over, you collapsed against the cavern wall, catching your breath. Thancred sank to the ground beside you, his usual composure frayed at the edges.

“I thought I was going to lose you,” he said suddenly, his voice hoarse.

You turned to him, startled by the raw emotion in his eyes. “Thancred, I—”

“No,” he interrupted, shaking his head. “Let me say this. I’ve spent years telling myself it was enough to have you by my side, as a friend, a comrade. But today… seeing you in danger, I realized how much more you mean to me.”

Your breath hitched as his words sank in. Thancred, who always seemed so untouchable, was baring his heart to you.

“I love you, Y/N,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “And I’ve been a fool not to tell you sooner.”

The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the sound of your heartbeat pounding in your ears.

“I… I love you too,” you finally managed, your voice trembling.

Thancred’s eyes widened, and for a moment, he looked as though he couldn’t believe what he’d heard. Then, his grin returned, softer this time but no less genuine.

“Well,” he said, leaning closer, “it seems I’m not the only fool here.”

You laughed, the tension breaking as you leaned into him. The cold of Coerthas seemed to fade, replaced by a warmth that had nothing to do with the fire crackling in the distance.

From that day forward, your relationship with Thancred shifted in ways that were both subtle and profound. He was still the same charming rogue you’d met outside Ul’dah, but now there was a depth to his affection, a tenderness that made your bond even stronger.

“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” he teased one evening as the two of you sat by a campfire, much like you had so many years ago.

“For what?” you asked, raising an eyebrow.

“To deal with me in all my infuriating glory,” he replied with a wink.

You rolled your eyes but couldn’t suppress a smile. “I think I’ll manage.”

Thancred laughed, pulling you closer. “Well then, my love, I suppose there’s nothing left to do but continue our grand adventure. Together.”

And together you were, through every challenge and triumph, proving that even in a world as tumultuous as Eorzea, love could flourish.

[edgeworth-s]

musical chairs game!!

thank you @aetherbound for tagging me

RULES: spell out your URL using song titles, then tag as many people as there are letters in your URL

eat raw meat = blood drool - editors

dark, twisted and cruel - alan wake

ghosts - ladytron

eyes on fire - blue foundation

what went down - foals

out of my league - fitz and the tantrums

remember when - wallows

the sense of me - mudflow

hatef–k - the bravery

so good - warpaint

i even put them all in a nice little spotify playlist

tagging @clairles @nanieczka123 @thegrumpyjournalist @stick2sherlock @radmutantninjatriangle @matsuorka @alenkoplenko @afusiek @ispeakintypos @klkirbles

have fun guys

[fulcrumstardust]

books wrap up 2024 📚

here's my bodycount, let me know if you've read some of these (and what you thought!!)

Ball Lightning - Cixin Liu

A Far Wilder Magic - Allison Saft

Light Bringer (Red Rising Saga, #6) - Pierce Brown

The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes (London Highwaymen, #2) - Cat Sebastian

Certain Dark Things - Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Gideon the Ninth (The Locked Tomb, #1) - Tamsyn Muir

Harrow the Ninth (The Locked Tomb, #2) - Tamsyn Muir

Nona the Ninth (The Locked Tomb, #3) - Tamsyn Muir

The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1) - Suzanne Collins

Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, #2) - Suzanne Collins

Mockingjay (The Hunger Games, #3) - Suzanne Collins

On Basilisk Station (Honor Harrington #1) - David Weber

She Who Became the Sun (The Radiant Emperor, #1) - Shelley Parker-Chan

He Who Drowned the World (The Radiant Emperor, #2) - Shelley Parker-Chan

The Hollow Places - T. kingfisher

Analee, In Real Life - Janelle Milanes

Jade City (The Green Bone Saga, #1) - Fonda Lee

Jade War (The Green Bone Saga, #2) - Fonda Lee

Jade Legacy (The Green Bone Saga, #3) - Fonda Lee

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries (Emily Wilde, #1) - Heather Fawcett

Snowglobe - Soyoung Park

Bride - Ali Hazelwood

Nettle & Bone - T. Kingfisher

These Burning Stars (The Kindom Trilogy, #1) - Bethany Jacobs

Some Desperate Glory - Emily Tesh

The Familiar Dark - Amy Engel

The Ministry for the Future - Kim Stanley Robinson

Butcher & Blackbird (The Ruinous Love Trilogy, #1) - Brynne Weaver

The Hurricane Wars (The Hurricane Wars, #1) - Thea Guanzon

🌟 Starling House - Alix E. Harrow 🌟 (this was my favorite!!)

The Bound Worlds (The Devoured Worlds, #3) - Megan E. O'Keefe

Wildfire (Maple Hills, #2) - Hannah Grace

We'll Prescribe You a Cat - Syou Ishida

the did-not-finish (RIP):

Wild Love (Rose Hill, #1) - Elsie Silver

Beacon 23 - Hugh Howey

We Set the Dark on Fire (We Set the Dark on Fire, #1) - Tehlor Kay Mejia

Aetherbound - E.K. Johnston

Bonesmith (House of the Dead, #1) - Nicki Pau Preto

Bright Young Women - Jessica Knoll

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride - Roshani Chokshi

The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy (Hart and Mercy, #1) - Megan Bannen

The Familiar - Leigh Bardugo

Payback's a Witch (The Witches of Thistle Grove, #1) - Lana Harper

Babel - R.F. Kuang

The Wings Upon Her Back - Samantha Mills

Not in Love - Ali Hazelwood

[doom-nerdo-666]

"Lost between dimensions, you know not where you are nor where you've been. Time has passed. Death has passed. Hell has passed. Your form has passed and been reforged again and again and again. You don't know where, when or who you are, but one thing is for certain: When you make every hell personal you will eventually find yours.

Featuring:

-3 massive maps!

-revamped combat, movement and GIBS

-over 100 player skins!

-New AI!

-Weather effects!

-Updated weapon animation and sound effects

-And much more!

Get it here: https://www.moddb.com/mods/doom-64-aetherbound-episode-1

Thanks to everyone who helped playtest and thank you for playing! I hope you enjoy!

-Reddest Rosie"

[crimsonscloud]

@aetherbound

[sleepyowlwrites]

recent book acquisitions haha

Which means! I need to clear out my room so we can redo the floors and put in a new bookshelf. Can I do that in the next two weeks? We'll see!

Further information below the cut if you're a book nerd

Lady Midnight no.2 but with sprayed blue edges (free)

Poetry collection because my sister didn't want it (free)

Princess Academy in the old cover for nostalgia (free)

I, Corriander my sister didn't want, but I remember reading and liking it YEARS ago (free)

The River of No Return 'cause it has sprayed edges (free)

Graveyard Book 'cause I need to build of my Neil gaiman collection ($14ish)

Babel 'cause Cari can read said she liked it ($18)

Ingo from high school (free)

Been trying to get my hands on this for ages ($6)

The Starless Sea because it was (free)

Collecting this series from my childhood ($4ish)

Ember in the Ashes been meaning to get, so I did, for ($6)

Aetherbound because it was (free, and signed)

The Wrath and the Dawn that I'm giving another shot ($6, also signed)

15th anniversary editions of City of Glass and City of Bones (this is the series I will just keep collecting, I have resigned myself to it)

I also got the fifth season of downton abbey and two books on Roxelana, the concubine turned wife of Suleyman, who magnificent century is about

[378clover]

The Cake Incident

The palace beneath the tree of feeling was quiet that day—serene, golden beams of filtered light stretching across the hallways. Somewhere, a harp played softly from a distant room.

In the kitchen, Sigvard's placed the finishing touch on his masterpiece.

A simple, elegant cake: vanilla sponge, whipped cream layered gently between, topped with fresh strawberries, figs, and thin slices of golden pear. No magic. No symbolism.

Just…a good cake.

Sigvard's smiled to himself, hands on his hips. "Perfection."

He set it on the cooling rack. He didn't need to announce it. He would return shortly, maybe with tea or coffee, and savor it properly.

Except when he returned—

It was gone.

[ At the palace library ]

Valdrik's sat in his usual chair by the tall windows, a book resting open in one hand. A small plate sat beside him—spotless, except for a stray pear slice.

Sigvard's stood at the doorway. And walked in slowly, folding his arms.

"Did you eat it?"

Valdrik's turned a page, unbothered. "Eat what?"

"The cake. The one i left cooling on the marble". "Ah," Valdrik said, closing the book neatly. "Yes. That was yours?"

"You knew it was mine."

Valdrik's didn't argue. Instead, he looked up, meeting his brother gaze with calm honesty. "It had fruit on it"

"That doesn't explain anything" "It does to me."

"You don't even like cake."

Valdrik's tilted his head slightly. "I don't like overly sweet things. That one wasn't. The fruit helped."

"So you ate the whole thing."

"I considered saving you a slice." Valdrik's admitted, "but I wasn't sure if you'd want one after it had been touched."

"You cut it, not clawed it from the edges like a wild animal."

Valdrik's nodded. "Yes. I used a knife. It was clean. You would've approved."

Sigvard's sighed. "You're impossible."

Valdrik's offered no defense. He simply leaned back in the chair, one hand resting against his temple. His expression was unreadable, but faintly amused.

"if it helps," he added, "It was very good."

"It doesn't."

[ Later that evening, at the palace kitchen ]

Sigvard's mixed batter with more force than necessary.

"Next time," he said without looking up, "you ask."

"I assumed you wouldn't mind."

"You assumed incorrectly."

Valdrik's stood at the counter beside him, slicing fresh strawberries with practiced hands.

"I'll ask next time," he said mildly. "Or I'll leave a note."

"With what? A sketch of the cake you're about to steal?"

Valdrik's smirked. "Would that soften the blow?"

Sigvard's gave him a look. "Not unless you draw it in apology icing."

They worked in silence a while longer. The new cake came together — slightly different, a little more fruit, a little less sugar.

Valdrik's plated a slice and handed it to Sigvard's without a word.

Sigvard's took it, still frowning — but the corners of his mouth softened as he took a bite.

"���Still not forgiven."

Valdrik's nodded. "I'll steal something small next time."

"I'll lock the kitchen."

"I know five ways around your locks."

Sigvard's gave him a slow, narrow look. "You're lucky I love you"

Valdrik's raised a brow, turning away as he sipped his tea.

"I know."