#bertram boyce north

[dcvina-claires]

i love when a character is a ghost but in a tragic way instead of a scary way. i love when a character has been dead from the beginning but is still holding on to stay in the narrative. i love when a character could choose to resent the living but ends up loving them instead. i love when a character drives the story but isn’t quite there enough to be at the center of it. i love when the ghosts are the protectors instead of the ones causing the harm. i love when a character is at the heart of the story because depending on where you began it, no matter how you told it, the story is about the ghost who struggled to keep their humanity

[wingedshadowfan]

ninth house spoilers!!

here's the quote at the very end of the chapter with the moth scene, before darlington figures out that alex killed everyone at ground zero with the help of hellie's ghost

Months later, he would remember the weight of the moths’ bodies in his palm. He would think of that moment and how foolish he had been to think he knew her at all.

it feels like a nod at what north says towards the end of the book, when he finds out daisy has been eating girls' souls to sustain herself for years

“I didn’t know she was capable of such things,” he said over the clamor of the crowd. “I never knew she had such a heart.” “You never knew her at all.”

i don't know if it was intentional but it's such a beautiful parallel between the wheelwalker/murderer/survivor girl and some ordinary guy in love with her, groveling and being unable to grasp what she is and what she can do

[illustratingwithwords]

I hope 'The Bridegroom' found some semblance of peace after the events of 'Ninth House' because nobody else did.

[lucifers-favorite-child]

What if I was a gentlemanly 150 years dead ghost who everyone thought killed his fiance and himself, and you were a traumatized rough around the edges young woman who can see ghosts, and I saved your life when a demon was sent to attack you, and you possessed my undead soul. And we kissed

[home-is-where-the-books-are]

“What did you see when you were in my head, Miss Stern? You were distressed when you cast me out.”

Ninth House, Chapter 23

What could Alex see in North's head that he was worried about this?

[pammydawes]

Ok im a little ways into hell bent (im listening to the audiobook, Lauren fortgang can choke me) and I’m having a rip roaring time of it so far

🛑!!Spoilers below!!🛑

I am so thrilled that Abel Turner is back on the scene I’m only mad it took this long. I love how salty stern is abt getting ghosted. If darlington wasn’t there I would be all in for stern/turner (sterner?)

There are a LOT of balls in the air with the whole hell heist, new Lethe manager guy (can’t remember the title), eitan (I think that’s how u spell it??), whatever the fuck was going on in the first chapter, a MURDER (gasp) I’m truthfully struggling to keep everything straight but I think that’s pretty standard for where I’m at in the story

I was kinda unenthused when eitan sprang up again but after reading the scene where he’s actually on the page talking I’m intrigued

Miss bardugo literally cannot allow demon darlington on the page without mentioning his erect glowing demonic cock im WHEEZING

That whole scene when Alex sleep walked to black elm…👀 I mean “I have appetites” 👀👀👀 damn bro I’m hungry too

Pammie….bless her. I love that woman. Excited to maybe see her tarot knowledge come into play!! Also mercy and lauren are excellent. Kinda hope mercy and pammie get some bonding time eventually and that we can get to know more abt lauren. Like we know that Alex likes her but we don’t rly know why?? I’m curious

I rly liked that one grey that accidentally stole Alex’s meat suit at the beginning, I thought maybe he was gonna be the new GBF (grey best friend, see Bertram Boyce north) but idk it’s not looking likely at this point

Wondering if tripp helmuth is gonna reappear, I feel like there was maybe the tiniest suggestion in the first book that he might gain some relevance but it truly was tiny

Glad Mercy’s recovery is getting addressed rather than being left as a book 1 plot point, but I should have expected nothing less from Leigh 😤

Michelle alameddine was a little meh to me, but I found anselm intriguing (is that the temp Lethe supervisor’s name idk)

Wow I just checked and I still have 12.5 HOURS to go!! Maybe there’s hope for my little grey dude yet

That’s all for now folks, if I remember I’ll check in after another 4 hours

[ladykatakuri]

Stardust Reblog Challenge part 3

This will also be linked on my Master List since there will be more stories in the coming months.

October

20th:

The Things We Fight For Ch.1 - Hunter x F!Reader by: @arctrooper69 SFW Ch.2 here

A Dazzling Appearance - TBB x F!Reader ( prematurely silver hair ) by: @zoeykallus SFW

26th:

TBB x F!Reader - Spicy HC`s, Caught in the Act 2 by: @zoeykallus NSFW

TBB x Reader HC`s - Emergency Room by: @zoeykallus SFW

Late Night Feelings 2 - Late Night Talking, Crosshair x F!Reader by: @kaminocasey NSFW

TBB x GN!Reader - Dancing Shoes by: @nahoney22 SFW

Sun and Rain 54 - A Rare Kind, Hunter x F!O.C by: @photogirl894 SFW

Clone Effect: Rebels - Repetitive Motions, Rex x F!Shepard by: @clone-effect-nexus SFW

Good Souls Need Help Too - TBB x Reader HC`s by: @zoeykallus SFW

Grasping for Hope - A letter from Hunter to his Jedi Lover by: @arctrooper69 SFW

Kinktober 2022 - TBB Echo x Tali'Zorah vas Normandy by: @twistedstitcher27 NSFW

House of Sins & Pleasures - Galen Erso x F!Reader by: @princessxkenobi NSFW

The Light Between Oceans Ch.4 - F!Raeder x Rex, Fives x O.C Male, Fives x O.C Female by: @rowansparrow SFW

Loving the Alien - Lex Woods x Scar by: @interstellarwraith SFW

TBB x Artistic Reader HC`s by @zoeykallus SFW

Gar Cyare Ch.5 - Alpha17 x F!Reader by: @wanderinginksplot SFW

Bad Habits - TBB x Reader HC`s by: @zoeykallus SFW

Rescue Mission - TBB & Omega x Reader by: @nahoney22 SFW

The Hands of Father Time - Post Stasis Kix by: @arctrooper69 SFW

Ghost on the Dancefloor - Alex Stern x Bertram Boyce North by: @interstellarwraith SFW

Sassenach and the Spaniard Ch.5 Pero Tovar x F!Reader by: @wardenparker & @absurdthirst NSFW

27th:

Do You Hear The People Sing? - Fox x F!Reader by: @kaminocasey NSFW

A Relaxing Bath - Crosshair x F!Reader by: @zoeykallus NSFW

Dancing in the Dark - Jack Russel x Vampire!F!Reader by: @interstellarwraith SFW

One Step at a Time - OC`s in Star Wars ! by: @wild-karrde SFW

After Hours - Fives x F!Reader by: @nahoney22 SFW

Kinktober 2022 prompt: Voice Kink - Din Djarin x Reader by: @twistedstitcher27 SFW(ish)

A Red Light in the Dark - TBB x F!Former Jedi Reader by: @zoeykallus SFW

Walk Me Home Ch.5 - Wolffe x F!O.C Cherise by: @cyarbika SFW

Until the Stars Burn Out - Fives x O.C Quill x F!Reader by: @rowansparrow NSFW

Freakshow - Crosshair x F!Reader by: @nahoney22 SFW

To Belong - OC. Dune, OC Wraith and more by: @ladysongmaster SFW

Happy Birthday - TBB x Reader HC`s by: @zoeykallus SFW

Rex Thots - Rex x F!Reader by: @wild-karrde NSFW

Crosshair x F!Reader thots by: @wild-karrde NSFW

Fives x F!Reader by: @wild-karrde NSFW

Tech Thots - Tech x F!Reader by: @wild-karrde NSFW

One Moment in Time - 99 x F!Jedi Reader by: @zoeykallus SFW

No Need to be Afraid - TBB x M!Reader by: @zoeykallus SFW

Taglist:

@imabeautifulbutterfly@chaoticvampirejedi@hellothere-generalangsty@cyroku@reluctant-mandalore@uponrightful@zinzinina@saradika@galacticgraffiti@ashotofspotchka@dindjarindiaries@dinbeskarbaby@djarrex@djarinsbeskar@rowansparrow@photogirl894@rigelmoonshine@rigel-the-moonstrider@nahoney22@loth-wolffe@neon-junkie@bobafetts-princess@cyarbika@charnelhouse@zoeykallus@kin-rokku@jgvfhl@honestly-shite@here-comes-the-moose@dindjarindiaries@firstofficerwiggles@fictional-men-ruin-lives @ladysongmaster @lozalot @moonstrider9904@lorjukka@m-o-o-n-s-g-o-o-n-s @rain-on-kamino @monako-jinn-stories @middimidoris @wild-karrde @cross-my-heartt

[sicklyspook]

The Bridegroom from Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

Very 'Morrissey' I believe. Love of my life🖤

[ignify-caligo]

Turner is basically the “visible confusion” meme, poor man got himself into chaos cause of mama - good for him I guess?

Also this snippet here:

“What did you see in my mind?”

“I’m sorry! Something’s breaking the signal!” Alex takes out the stopper in the sink”

- Bertram Boyce North & Alex Stern p.362

Hanging up in the middle of a ghost talk? That’s just cold of you to do Alex lmao!

[drklyritu]

what do think the cover for ninth house sequel will look like ??

devil horns this time ?

[ohcaptain]

Finally read Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo. I’ll admit it took me longer than expected to finish it and it took me a while to get really into it, but overall I really enjoyed the journey. It has themes of dark academia with its detailed descriptions of New Haven, Yale , and the societies that reside there. At the same time it’s mixed with magic and the supernatural, and led by a woman which I thought was great. I have a taste for small cliffhangers so though I’d be fine with the story ending where it did, I am curious about a sequel.

[yourneighborhoodbibliophile]

October Monthly Reading Wrap-Up

I read seven books this month. ✨

1. If We Were Villains, M.L. Rio — ★ 4.5/5 stars ★

2. Ninth House, Leigh Bardugo — ★ 3/5 stars ★

3. Vicious, V.E. Schwab — ★ 4/5 stars ★

4. Vengeful, V.E. Schwab — ★ 4.5/5 stars ★

5. A Darker Shade of Magic, V.E. Schwab — ★ 4.5/5 stars ★

6. A Gathering of Shadows, V.E. Schwab — ★ 4/5 stars ★

7. A Conjuring of Light, V.E. Schwab — ★ 5/5 stars ★

Keep reading for my unsolicited opinion on what I read this month.

1. If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio

If We Were Villains features a highly secretive group of friends: James Farrow, the hero, Alexander Vass, the villain, Richard Stirling, the tyrant, Meredith Dardenne, the femme fatale, Wren Stirling, the ingénue, Filippa Kosta, the chameleon, and Oliver Marks, the sidekick. It is set at Dellecher Classical Conservatory, a secluded Performing Arts College in Illinois, where they are the fourth (and final) year of students in the highly selective Shakespearean theater program led by Gwendolyn and Frederick. In the introduction, Oliver, the narrator, is released from prison after 10 years for a murder he may or may not have committed. Oliver narrates the sequence of events that led up to his imprisonment in an informal interview with former Chief of Police Joseph Colborne who led the investigation ten years prior. The characters are fully developed, as are their respective friendships, relationships, and group relationships. Their motivations are also fully developed; these motivations are reflected throughout the development of the story. As a result, If We Were Villains is a highly emotional mystery.

2. Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

Ninth House follows Galaxy “Alex” Stern, the sole survivor of a multiple homicide. She is offered a scholarship to Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut where she becomes a member of the House of Lethe or the “Ninth House”. She serves as a “Dante” to “Virgil” Daniel “Darlington” Arlington. Together, they monitor the magical, paranormal, and supernatural activities of the Houses of the Veil, the eight elite, secret societies of Yale University. But soon, the Houses of the Veil start experimenting with forces beyond the Veil — and beyond their understanding.

Ninth House is well-written with multiple mysteries that feature magical, paranormal, and supernatural elements. However, I didn’t feel invested in Alex, Darlington, or any of the other characters. It was as if they lacked whatever it is that brings a character to life. The only character I felt invested in was Bertram Boyce North — and they were dead.

One of the difficulties I had with Ninth House was Alex’s character. I felt that Leigh Bardugo substituted their personality for their trauma. Trauma can shape someone’s personality, but it didn’t shape Alex’s personality; instead, it reduced it and even replaced it.

Another of the difficulties I had with Ninth House was its failure to deliver. Through Alex’s trauma, it dealt with themes of assault, abuse, and trauma as well as wealth, privilege, and power. It had the potential to deliver a powerful message on these themes, but I never felt like it truly delivered it. As a result, the graphic scenes of Alex’s trauma felt gratuitous, as if they were only there for shock value or as a substitute for Alex’s personality (or lack thereof).

I hope that the sequel further develops the characters that Ninth House introduced. I also hope that the sequel truly delivers the powerful message that Ninth House failed to.

3-4. Villains duology (Vicious and Vengeful) by V.E. Schwab

Vicious features former students and roommates at Lockland University, Victor Vale and Eliot “Eli” Cardale. Victor and Eli study the causes and effects of adrenaline, near death experiences, and superhuman abilities. Ten years later, Victor breaks out of prison. Together with Mitch Turner, a fellow inmate, and Sydney, a young girl with superhuman abilities, Victor is determined to exact their revenge on Eli. In the meantime, together with Serena, a young woman with superhuman abilities, Eli is determined to eradicate everyone with superhuman abilities — and Victor.

Both Vicious and Vengeful follow Victor and Eli. Vicious delves into Victor’s past while Vengeful delves into Eli’s past. Vengeful also follows Marcella Riggins, a woman who is determined to have revenge on her husband — and on the city of Merit. Together with June, a young woman with superhuman abilities, she sets out to become the most powerful woman — and the most powerful person — in the city of Merit.

In Vicious, men are the main characters and women are the side characters, but in Vengeful, women become the main characters. Vicious features rivalries between men while Vengeful features bonds between women. Vicious is a narrative of toxic masculinity while Vengeful in a narrative of feminism. I adored the themes of desire and determination, rage and revenge, and anger and ambition in Vengeful. To quote V.E. Schwab, “Vengeful is a 2018 reaction to a 2013 novel.”

[hellhoundstooth]

my boyfriend bertram boyce north.....

[ignify-caligo]

Can I just say how I love North’s character so far? I too hate everything dentist related, and that scene in Tara’s apartment was peak comedy lmao