#baby fool has my heart forever I loved him and fitz in the first two books lol

[prophet-and-catalyst]

old fool wip I found from when I was reading royal assassin

[multiversemuses]

Happy Holidays, @houseofhaseul! As part of my Secret Santa gift for you (the other half can be found below), I wanted to put together a little aesthetic imagining for the softer version of our Coven universe. Here, days are golden and full of what’ll be cherished remembrances, and nobody dies. Romantic connections and friendships are formed but, best of all, a found family. 

Thank you so much for all the characters and ’verses we’ve created together (asdfghjkl; I can’t believe it’s going on six years since you applied to NYBN), and thank you from the bottom of my heart for your years of friendship! <3 I’ve loved every idea and creative avenue we’ve already explored, and I’m so excited for our adventures yet to come!!

(Secret Santa Part 2/2)

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4DYWTSIMC3kvKf1B6YUGS6

~ A playlist of songs either directly from my muses’ music collection or whose sound + lyrics resonated with how I think they’d feel about their respective love interests in this softer world ~

Baby I'm A Fool - Melody Gardot - from Mina

I’ve always imagined her music tastes leaning toward this jazzy, sultry sound. I’m not sure how Alex comes into the picture in an alternate universe where she wasn’t sent with a purpose, but I like to think the push-and-pull between these two still exists. If I could overlay the time period when Mina is starting to lower her walls - though still not fully trusting Alex’s intentions just yet - with a little non-diegetic music, this is the type of mood I’d like to set on a night when they’re sharing drinks in Mina’s office after everyone else has gone to their rooms upstairs. 

That's All - Mel Tormé version - from Tarik

Tarik’s tunes consist of modern songs he can vibe to and music that was before his time but sounds great on vinyl. The main requirement I knew he’d have for a track representing his relationship with Archie is that it be something they could slow dance to in the greenhouse/their rooms together. The fact that this song in particular makes repeated references to “forever” and being resilient against the passage of time felt especially fitting considering Archie’s long life. I also like the pictures it paints, with years of hand holding and walks through nature. It suits them and warms my heart. 

I Love You - Sarah McLachlan - from Léonie

Given that Dominic doesn’t come to the academy for detective work in this universe, it felt reasonable to assume there’d be more of a longing-in-local-proximity feel to their dynamic here. They’d be aware of each other because Léonie picked up students from the station, but they might not often have an occasion to talk otherwise. Thus, they’d pine while passing each other on the streets in town until they finally grew weary of excuses not to take a chance and try.

Dream A Little Dream - Kina Grannis version - from Kayara

Being the old soul that she is, I thought a classic song covered by a modern artist would fit Kayara pretty well. Since a common quality time activity between them involves gazing at the night sky and making up their own constellations, I couldn’t help seeking out a song that centers around nighttime and speaks frequently of the stars. This song also has that sense of aching for each other while having to be apart, which was an element I wanted to include for our dear ones who must bide their time and keep their connection a secret.

It's You - Michelle Branch - from Sofia

This song comes up on shuffle on her phone when they’re studying together one night. While Alesha’s still looking down at her book, Sofia’s just openly gazing at her in profile with a soft smile. Is this likely their First Kiss song in the softer universe? *nods* Oh yeah. 100% a First Kiss song. If anything, the lyrics just gave it a blatant push of encouragement. Thank you, Michelle Branch.

Ordinary Day - Vanessa Carlton - from Nola

Phew, I was really going back to my middle school roots in this section of the playlist, wasn’t I? I have zero regrets because applying the song to their relationship was too cute to resist. I immediately became that little pleading face emoji imaging the gentler timeline for them. Danny and Nola get to make their sparkling connection and nothing tragic interferes with actually exploring that. Someone in the comments on YouTube remarked that this song has a Peter/Wendy feel to it. Setting aside how actual Peter Pan can be kind of terrifying, I am quite taken with the Disney parallel of a redheaded boy sweeping a girl with sandy brown hair away to a magical world that is technically accessible from her own, but only if she’s let in by someone from there who decides to trust her.

I've Just Seen A Face - The Beatles - from Rhett

Initially, I assumed Rhett’s track would be something he first heard in the garage with his dad, but it turned out to be a song played in the house by his mother instead. Persuading him to let me set any of his feelings to music in public posed a bit of a challenge in and of itself. However, I think he at least approves of the fact that this one’s not overwrought. It has a fun energy for our playful pranksters, the sort of thing I could imagine over a montage of their shenanigans, with their friends laughing and exchanging knowing looks in the background. 

Youth - Troye Sivan - from Mariette

I trusted my sister’s musical tastes for Ri’s selection, because they’d be such kindred spirits if Mariette existed in our world. I wanted something that captured the joy of a young love, a song that felt like a celebratory swan dive into deep feelings despite already suffering her first heartbreak. It’s the sort of thing she could use as a background track on social media with photos and/or video clips of her time spent making memories with Garrett.

Complicated - Fitz and The Tantrums - from Neve

A song with chaotic energy for our reckless-hookup-turned-relationship. This is absolutely in Neve’s iTunes library somewhere. It’s felt like Their Song to me ever since I heard it for the first time, and I could imagine her identifying with it during the early days of their relationship. The “I love to hate it” line is like, but do you really, though? Or is it the other way around? They’ll work it out and get to softer sentiments eventually. ;)

The Other Side - Betty Who - from Vanessa

I knew, for dearest Nessa’s track, I was looking for something that felt like it could fit in on a playlist with Dancing On My Own by Robyn, our cosigned Marty song from the Unconfessed Feelings Time. Betty Who’s style absolutely fits that bill. I was delighted that there was a reference to bike riding right out the gate, and I liked that this song managed to be full of wishful sentiments but not too angsty. It simply yet perfectly describes the way conversation flows between them, and how often they can stay up late into the night in their dorm room just chatting. The line about saying “I love you” when it’s likely to go unheard, at a time when she knows Marty’s still exploring with other people, adds that dash of temporarily unrequited that gives my heart pangs but doesn’t feel like it will last indefinitely. Someday Marty loving her right back will shift from the platonic variety to something romantic. Vanessa’s heart will be just as full of devotion when it does.

[thefitzs-blog]

Hello I recently began reading historical fiction (both mystery and romance) and I remember you commenting some time ago that you like to read historical romance. Do you have any recommendations? I’m still new to the genre and am finding what I like and don’t like. Thank you. Ps I like your header , Julia Quinn is grate

Hi Anon,

I’m quite fussy myself when it comes to historical romance, but hopefully I can be of some help - I’m really not into ham joints for hands, musclar men and a lot of authors across romance genre tend to base their hero’s around this image. It’s always important to read reviews especially when you’re testing the waters, they sometimes give more detailed descriptions or offer trigger warnings or just warnings of distress (which are much needed, my heart has been broken many a time and a spoiler would have been appreciated). However, don’t base all your judgment on others views, if you think it sounds good but top reviews don’t, just go for it - but if it’s got mostly 2 star reviews then maybe not.

Amanda Quick might be your cup of tea as she combines mystery and romance in a 19th century setting. If you’re just into period mystery then Agatha Christie is always a reccomendation. She’s actually how I got into hr, well Christie and a really good fic writer who wrote an amazing historic au years ago.

A few of my favourites:

Fool for love by Eloisa James. Some heartbreaking moments in this book, for context the heroine has had an injured hip since birth, “They said you would never marry, Henrietta. You are married. They said you would never dance. We are dancing. And they said you would never give birth. But I know you. I know you want this baby. We’ll go to every doctor in England if we have to. We can find someone who will save the baby. And you.”

A week to be wicked by tessa dare - this book is wild - fake betrothals, sharing a bed, science fairs, scientific dirty talk, impromptu weddings, sword swallowing, pretending to have an affair to hide in plain sight, misunderstandings, highwaymen chasing them and lets not forget being robbed at gun point with our hero left for dead before our heroine knocks the lights out of the unsuspecting bandit. This book seems like fanfiction, more specifically fitzsimmons fanfiction. Once I read it I was tempted to write it but I’m a bad writer. Worth noting this book is one of the few books I enjoy both by the author and in the ‘spindle cove’ series, the book prior to this is a good read, the rest are mixed.)

Seven Years to Sin by Sylvia Day is great, I like-love it but I don’t love-love it. The hero coveted heroine for several years however she married during this time, she becomes widowed and the two meet by chance and explore the sparks that have been between them since the moment they laid eyes on one another.

Scandal of the Year by Laura Lee Ghurke - fyi only a pretence of adultery none actually committed- Hero and heroine are discovered in bed together by heroines husband which results in divorce, yes the scandal! Hero has no idea how he ended up in bed with the heroine, he remembers nothing other than her kiss before all fades to black. One later, they meet again, we learn their lives have intersected since they were 16, each coveting the other at one point or another yet too afraid to say something. Basically, Hero wants a future with heroine, heroine is scared and wants to enjoy her freedom after her horrid first marriage.

Her Ladyships Companion by Evangeline Collins - fyi, adultery is committed but your heart aches for the heroine, she was so young when she married and he is so horrid you just want her to be happy ahh spoilers anyway - Hero is a male prostitute (I blame fanfic for my love of this rare trope), he is hired by our heroines close friend who believes heroine deserves some attention in her life. She has every intention of sending him away until she meets him and everything changes. Their relationship is great until Hero realises he wants more than she can give him. He leaves and asks she not to contact for him again, yet he is summoned once more. Does he go back? Will they ever be able to have a real relationship? 🤷🏻‍♀️

When beauty tamed the beast by Eloisa James - the Hero honestly reminds me of Fitz from aos, he’s such a grump. Our hero is a doctor - an upfront and emotionless one at that. He was injured as a child resulting in a permanent limp and the use of a cane. Our heroine is beautiful, the talk of the town and allegedly pregnant having been spotted kissing a prince then throwing up after eating less than fresh prawns at a season event. The hero’s father thinks that his son will never marry or beget an heir (he believes his son impotent) and so arranges a marriage between he and the hero, believing that she is already pregnant which would provide him his heir. The hero is no fool, as a doctor he knows a stuffed pillow when he sees one. This book is packed with affairs by the beach, a spreading disease, a race against time and thunder storms. This book also includes the heroine coming to terms with what she perceives as her loss of looks, as someone who prided herself on looks alone it is such an amazing journey to see her inner thoughts. This book is great, and I really recommend it.

The Earl takes All by Lorraine Heath - I cannot put this book into words. It’s heartbreaking but it’s worth the pain.

Less angsty books include the Westcott series by Mary Balogh (all save the last, Someone to Care, I didn’t care much for the protagonists as I had grew to dislike the heroine in prior books). I’m currently re-reading this series.

Someone to Love - Anna Snow has lived at the orphanage for as long as she can remember, whilst others left once of age, she stayed on to become a teacher (alongside her best friend Joel). One day she receives a letter from a solicitor to meet him in London. She discovers she is the only legitimate heir to an aristocrat after it is revealed he committed bigotry. She is thrust into a life she could never have imagined, with the help of Avery, a handsome lord, to guide her.

Someone to Hold - Camille Westcott begins teaching in the very orphanage Anna grew up in so she can find herself - if her half sibling can live so lowly, so can she. She meets Joel, an artist who teaches art once a week - they immediately dislike each other, due to his loyalty to Anna who is his best friend and the woman he once proposed to. He admires the way she engages the children and sees something in her that Camille doesn’t see herself. There’s sparks, heartbreak and a new discovery that could change Joel’s world forever.

Someone to wed - upon inheriting the Westcott title as the closest male relative to the late Earl of Riverdale, Alexander, the penniless Earl also inherits a mansion which is in desperate need of repairing. Thankfully for him, Wren, his neighbour, has just the solution to his financial problems. Marriage. Having only met Wren, a woman who hides herself behind a dark vail, ten minutes prior, Alex is taken aback by her offer. It’s the perfect solution but why would she marry a total stranger? And what is she hiding behind the vail?

I would also recommend Anna Bradley, her writings are quite light hearted and The Firstborn by Quenby Olson (latter is a clean romance).

I hope you enjoy these recommendations anon, I have tons more if not. I must warn a majority of these are angsty and so Julia Quinn may be a good read in between books. I hope you’re able to find the trope that you like 💕🦔