#don't be afraid of books

[not-poignant]

Potentially an odd question, but is there a specific site or method you use for research for your writings? Researching medical/legal/similar procedures is the bane of my existence because I can never seem to find an explanation I understand well enough to then write about.

I recently caught up to Stain, and while reading it struck me how you put a lot of detail into a wide variety of topics (the medical part of Alex’s injury at the start, therapy, Alex’s eye examination, Sebastian talking about his boss trying to underpay him, among other topics) (HUGE kudos about that by the way, it adds another layer of realism) and it feels like there’s no way one person can have firsthand experience/knowledge in ALL these things unless you’ve lived an extremely varied life.

I was just hoping you might have some pointers about how to go about researching basically anything because I feel like I’ve GOT to be missing something.

No worries if you can’t/don’t want to/don’t have an answer, I just thought shooting an ask your way is worth a shot haha.

Hi anon,

Researching is its own skillset, like writing or editing, there's no one specific site to go to, to make it easier, it's more like...taking the time to learn the constellation of ever-changing sites, books, and more in order to best learn how to learn. Because that's really what it is about: Learning how to learn.

On learning how to learn (I should say, I'm not very good at teaching, so some of this stuff might not be helpful to you, please ignore it if it isn't!):

But I do have some things that I do which might help. And some that might not.

The first thing that won't really help is I have led a varied life in a way that is convenient for the content I write, lol. The medical part of Alex's injury - I've been badly injured. The eye examination - I have astigmatism and was diagnosed late and blamed for my own eyesight issues which I didn't realise were eyesight issues. I've seen over 19 therapists in over 25 years. I've talked to bosses about pay and I've had lots of friends that have too.

Tbh the things I've had to research the most in Stardew Valley have been:

The intersection of astigmatism/myopia/dyslexia treatment and the best order in which these things should happen.

Stardew Valley - literally the calendar, the schedule, liked gifts, disliked gifts, favourite meals etc. Some I know off by heart, others I don't really remember at all.

The best way to clean a house (though my mother was a professional cleaner for most of my childhood, I just wanted to revise and see if anything had changed since then)

Cleaning standards for home laboratories

The colours that sweetpea flowers come in etc.

It's always random stuff. And to be honest, a lot of this doesn't happen in much detail in the story. The colour of sweetpea flowers was for the bouquet, and I think it was one line. The best way to clean a house has accounted for very little actual writing.

Now for actual helpful stuff:

Wikipedia is your friend. My browser search bar goes straight to Wikipedia, not google. It's amazing how much Wikipedia will explain a ton of different things these days. It's true some concepts might be hard to understand, you might need to spend more time Wiki-ing / googling / using a dictionary to start understanding those concepts.

When it comes to writing trauma, for example, I've read upwards of 20+ academic books (i.e. the kind psychologists study at university or after university in postgrad) about trauma. I wouldn't expect other people to go that deep, but other folks aren't writing trauma like I am in every single story, and it's a special interest of mine. But it kind oh illustrates that I'm not going to a single site about something.

But you could get a deeper understanding by just looking at the PTSD and C-PTSD and trauma articles on Wikipedia, and slowly reading them.

The second is that medical sites can also be your friend.

The third is that Reddit is amazing for lived experiences, with a grain of salt that some people are lying for clout. But 'what treatments helped best with your dyslexia reddit' as a search phrase is going to be way more helpful than whatever AI bullshit the google search line will give you otherwise. Deep diving into reddit threads can be super helpful for stuff that I used to find out previously on personal blogs (it's amazing how much 'what's life on an oil rig like blog' used to turn up a ton of lived experiences from firsthand encounters for example). I don't use my Reddit account for anything other than research, lmao. It's a hidden gem for lived experience and human interpretation of complex issues. It can be especially helpful for legal / economic matters, but honestly, I mostly just handwave legal stuff with caveats/disclaimers. You can do an undergraduate degree in law, and a lawyer is still going to painstakingly point out all the ways you're wrong about something. It's just better to tell the lawyers in advance that you know you can't compete with their knowledge base lmao.

(Though it can be worth looking up regional differences, because if I see another Australian writing Australian legal procedures into US law (or vice versa) I will scream - like no, Aussies, we do not have BOLOs here, we have KL04, LOTBKF and BOLF depending on your state).

A good way to start learning how to learn is to actually start outside of your stories and start with things you already love. Plug your favourite movie into Wikipedia and learn about how it was made, or what the production was like. And when you find something mildly interesting, say, about film lighting, open up those Wiki articles or plug 'film lighting process for (insert movie here)' on google, and have a look at some of the results. Learn how to learn, how to go deeper, what seems to be helpful, and what isn't. Consider making a list of articles you really enjoy - I love a website that aggregates all the different odours and flavours in the world and their chemical compounds which has been incredibly helpful for Palmarosa. The website is a bit hard to navigate, but if you plug something like 'spearmint' into the search, it'll help.

If you don't already have it, put Wikipedia on your phone. It's free / ad-free. I have my own personal server on Discord that I use to house a lot of resources (for everything, from my business, to health records, to writing resources). If you use Discord already, I highly recommend the 'private server' as a great way to aggregate everything together.

If the article formatting of online articles doesn't feel good, you can do text-to-speech, or use the little 'reader' symbol to make it more reader-friendly.

Books are also not to be underestimated for how helpful they can be (I find too many people are website focused these days, but actually, not everything can be found on websites, a lot of the best niche knowledge is still in books when it's not in lived experience tellings). Find out about your local and online libraries. A lot of people (especially younger folks) don't realise just how much information they can get access to, for free. Librarians themselves are gifts from god, who will literally help you find the books you need for whatever subject you want to learn more about, and if they don't know, they will often personally take it upon themselves to look further for you. 'I want to learn more about German composers' is - for many librarians - a very exciting question that they will want to help you with.

Outside of that, niche websites (like the odours one I mentioned), sometimes just finding sites where asking research questions gets answered. For example the free blogging site (with no ads), Dreamwidth, has a community called little_details where you can ask your niche question and people will answer and say what their expertise is in that subject. It's incredible and active enough to be super helpful. In some cases it's completely changed the course of a story.

Over time you'll also learn what's less helpful. Some articles are clearly ChatGPT written or written for ads and not accurate - so if you can get the same information corroborated at multiple sources, that will help.

And don't forget the value of just listening to people online and irl regarding their experiences. As a writer, I feel like an 'experience collector.' I like asking friends, strangers, family, etc. all kinds of questions because I think a part of my brain is always aware that something they're sharing could be a vitally grounding element in a story and it's also just interesting and people like sharing about their lives. Whether I'm asking my roommate about the process of getting a government evaluation approved, my architect friend about drug use in Australian architecture, or a friend from Bali what sort of foods he grew up with and what his comfort meal was when he felt sick, etc. Writers collect experiences, not just their own, but those of others. The greatest tools a writer can have in their toolbelt are knowing how to listen, learning how to learn (and how to love learning), and knowing what the right questions are.

None of those things can be gained with one or two websites. But they can be gained with time and curiosity, and well, that helps with your whole entire life, and not just writing. :D

[emeraldmew]

She slipped her hand into my hand. I could feel it. So could the Yeerk. But he did not reject this small bit of comfort, even though it was intended for me and not him.

I think this set Animorphs apart for me as a child.

Here, and in the subsequent chapter, Jake ends up, to some degree, mourning the Yeerk. The same Yeerk who made his own brother give up hope for anything but death. The one who promised Jake and his friends the same fate.

Because he witnesses Temrash's agonizing death and the memories of his life. He admits he's sad seeing this arrogant would-be destroyer of Earth die powerless and afraid.

There's no sparing Temrash in a way that doesn't end in Earth losing. He's gotta die. He can't be reformed to see the people he wants to conquer as people. He never feels any remorse. But still, cruel and horrible as he is, he's a person. Later books will "humanize" the Yeerks further but Temrash's death is the first peak into that.

And the book doesn't treat this as a pure triumph. We linger on Temrash's failing hope and his fear and his pain. It's written slowly. Jake describes it as "the saddest" thing he's experienced since becoming an Animorph. He doesn't stomp on Temrash like in the TV adaptation. Rather we get this:

I rose slowly to my feet. I moved my own legs. I was in control of myself again. I looked down at the wooden floor of the shack. A gray slug, not six inches long, lay there . . . still. As we watched, it withered and shriveled and became nothing.

I don't think I got quite the same chills reading this as a kid as I do now, but I know it wasn't what I'd been expecting. And that's a good thing.

[opera-ghost]

it's immensely funny to me how andrew lloyd webber read this passage from the book and was like yeah the journey down to the phantom's lair is this really breathtaking magical gondola ride where christine is just captivated by the strange and fantastical beauty of it all (see below)

when in the novel they're both like in a rowboat in the dark with christine scared out of her mind and confused as hell while erik is paddling like he's out for an extreme day of fishing and just staring christine down for the entire duration of the journey without blinking once . like mind you his eyes quite literally GLOW in the DARK and he's just fucking staring into her soul and silently rowing and probably not even breathing like

[ooliecat]

[coquelicoq]

it's about...longevity? stability? it's about natsume believing he'll be somewhere long enough to plant flowers and see them bloom. it's about him taking touko seriously when she asks him to tell her what flowers he wants to plant. it's about making something with his own hands, building a future with the fujiwaras. it's about him repairing a rundown home for someone else, restoring it because it's beloved to them, because it's the home of someone they love. it's about him seeing touko's joy and thinking about the youkai saying we'd like to look upon her happy face forever. it's about the box garden making him think of the fujiwaras' garden and his parents' garden, about the flowers being both the memory of flowers that bloomed there before, and the flowers that he and the youkai planted earlier that day. it's about him waking up in both worlds with sensei. it's about touko finding the petal in his hair. it's about him feeling how he falls short and the youkai saying, but you have such gentle hands...

[zipadeea]

Still not over book!Anthony Bridgerton because my boy literally came home early one afternoon, whilst in the middle of his angsty "i don't love my wife but also she's beautiful and she's literally my favorite person to spend time with hmm what does that mean" phase, and listened to Kate play the flute, very badly, during her lesson, for like a whole hour. My boy didn't come in and just listen to her play a song, he literally sat with her for the whole lesson, just because he wanted to. And then, in the epilogue, Anthony Bridgerton spends his 39th birthday forcing his extended family to listen to him and his wife performing a concert, again badly, because my dude literally learned how to play the trumpet so he could accompany his wife and they could learn new things together.

[ducktracy]

i hate how my particular investment in LT/these characters/history in general will have me sounding like some sort of "retvrn" bozo. or, maybe i just hate that saying "i wish things were more sincere again and that sometimes things that were older were in fact better" has been................... idek how to finish this thought Guys i'm getting overly emotional about LT kiddie records from the '50s. i'm getting emotional about how merchandising for these characters has sucked for the last 45+ years. i do not mean to sound like some sort of obnoxious "old stuff had SOUL to it new stuff is BAD we must RETURN" bozo. but guys. look at this

the appeal.. the whimsy

WHERE DID WE GO WRONG!!!!!!!!!

i legitimately get upset if i think about this for too long. what are we doing man

[pairingbrainrot]

!!!!!

(Clip starts at 3:10)

[terrorgirls]

"I don't know if it's not braver to die, but I recognize the habit; the addiction to being alive. So we live past hope. If I can find hope anywhere, that's it, that's the best I can do"

ANGELS IN AMERICA, Tony Kushner

INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE | 2.05

[bikananjarrus]

Do you want to start reading The High Republic books, but aren't sure where to start? This reading guide has you covered!

The High Republic era has given us so much material to explore and enjoy, but that also makes it a bit daunting knowing where to start and what order to follow.

This will serve as your, maybe not quite one-stop, but hopefully very comprehensive guide to getting into all things High Republic!

[Note: I say this isn't quite a "one-stop" reading guide, as I am certainly not the first person to have made such a list. The official Star Wars site has a reading guide (though it is out of order; so if you use it, pay close attention to the publication dates. Helpful, though, for seeing the covers of everything, if you're a more visual person). I personally have found the Wikipedia guide to be incredibly helpful. And (especially for the comics), please feel free to do some of your own research into other reading guides; I did my best to list everything, but there are more detailed comics reading guides out there.]

TL;DR: If you want the shortest answer possible of where to start, Light of the Jedi by Charles Soule. It was the very first book published in this project, and is the perfect entry point into The High Republic era.

For more details and the full reading guides, keep reading below the cut.

Let's get into it!

First things first, What is The High Republic?

The High Republic is a multimedia project, which includes books, comics, manga, and audiodramas (audiobooks but they have a full cast of voice actors + sound effects and music.) This era takes place hundreds of years before the prequel trilogy, during the golden age of the Jedi.

The High Republic has been published in three phases:

PHASE 1 (Light of the Jedi) takes place about 200 years before The Phantom Menace. [COMPLETE]

PHASE 2 (Quest of the Jedi) takes place roughly 150 years before that, so ~350 years before TPM. [COMPLETE]

PHASE 3 (Trials of the Jedi) goes back to the Phase 1 timeline, so ~200 years before TPM. [INCOMPLETE at time of posting. The final three novels and remaining comics are set to be published this year in 2025]

Do I need to read ALL the books, including YA and middle-grade?

Short answer: it depends! If 24 books is really daunting, or you just aren’t sure you’re going to have the time to dedicate to all of that, i would say no, you don’t have to read everything. You could read just the adult novels (which is the main-main storyline for everything), and be just fine!

However, if you are looking for a more well-rounded, full picture of this story, more characters to enjoy, or just want to read as much of this era as possible, than yes, i definitely recommend reading everything! the YA and middle-grade books have been just as well-written, and while you don’t need to read them to understand the main storyline, they fill some gaps in, introduce a lot of really fantastic characters, and make the story as a whole more full and fulfilling.

Now, where do I start?

I definitely recommend starting with Phase 1, Book 1: Light of the Jedi by Charles Soule.

This was the first book to be published, and is 1) a fantastic book, and 2) a great introduction to the galaxy at this time.

From there, I recommend going in order of the Phases, which would essentially be publishing order.

HOWEVER: this is not the only way to read the books; this is just my recommendation. I started with Light of the Jedi and it pulled me right into this era. But I know others have gone in timeline order (ie reading Phase 2 first, then Phase 1, then Phase 3) and really enjoyed that reading order as well.

(for more insight about starting with Phase 2, see this post.)

READING ORDERS

NOVELS ONLY READING ORDER

[*Though I did not include the dates, the following list has the books in publication order, and is the suggested reading order.]

 READING OPTIONS

You for sure will want to read at least all the adult novels. At the very minimum you could read just the adult novels for Phase 1 & 3, and get a full story. I do really recommend reading the Phase 2 prequel novels, but reading is individual, so go with whatever reading amount and order will bring you the most enjoyment!

If you know you want to dedicate to more than just the adult books, you can add YA and Middle-Grade books into your reading order as it works best for you.

Level 0.5 - Phase 1 & 3 Adult Novels Only (TOTAL = 6 Books)

Level 1 – Adult Novels Only (TOTAL = 8 Books)

Level 2 – Adult Novels + YA Novels (TOTAL = 16 Books)

Level 3 – Adult Novels + YA Novels + Middle-Grade Novels (TOTAL = 24 Books)

PHASE 1

Light of the Jedi by Charles Soule (adult)

A Test of Courage by Justina Ireland (middle-grade)

Into the Dark by Claudia Gray (YA)

The Rising Storm by Cavan Scott (adult)

Race to Crashpoint Tower by Daniel José Older (MG)

Out of the Shadows by Justina Ireland (YA)

Mission to Disaster by Justina Ireland (MG)

The Fallen Star by Claudia Gray (adult)

Midnight Horizon by Daniel José Older (YA)

Phase 2

Path of Deceit by Justina Ireland & Tessa Gratton (YA)

Quest for the Hidden City by George Mann (MG)

Convergence by Zoraida Córdova (adult)

Quest for Planet X by Tessa Gratton (MG)

Cataclysm by Lydia Kang (adult)

Path of Vengeance by Cavan Scott (YA)

Phase 3 

The Eye of Darkness by George Mann (adult)

Escape from Valo by Daniel José Older & Alyssa Wong (MG)

Defy the Storm by Justina Ireland & Tessa Gratton (YA)

Temptation of the Force by Tessa Gratton (adult)

Beware the Nameless by Zoraida Córdova (MG)

Tears of the Nameless by George Mann (YA)

Into the Light by Claudia Gray (YA) [Publishing April 1, 2025]

A Valiant Vow by Justina Ireland (MG) [Publishing May 6, 2025]

Trials of the Jedi by Charles Soule (adult) [Publishing June 17, 2025]

NOVELS + EVERYTHING ELSE READING ORDER

This list includes all novels, a short story volume, audiodramas, manga volumes, and comics.

If you have the time to dedicate to reading everything, the audiodramas are really well produced and the comics + mangas have been incredible. All these other publications typically follow characters that aren't in, or are featured very little, in the novels, so the stories remain fresh and new and aren't rehashing what's in the novels.

I know all of this additional material (especially the comics) can be a bit overwhelming. Here is a continuation of the reading levels above, based on what I will be easiest to add into your novels reading order:

Level 4 – Adult / YA / MG Novels + Audiodramas (TOTAL = Audio x3)

Level 5 – Adult / YA / MG Novels + Audiodramas + Manga (TOTAL = audio x3 + manga x6)

Level 6 – Adult / YA / MG Novels + Audiodramas + Manga + Comics (TOTAL = audio x3 + manga x6 + comic TPBs x27(ish))

[Note: for the comics, I divided them up based on trade paperback (TPB) volume, instead of individual issues, to keep things simpler. For the separate volumes, I placed them after the "wave" of books they coincide with. There are a few one-shot comics I didn't include, because most of the one-shots are included in the TPB volumes. So whether you buy the TPB or check it out from the library, those one-shots will likely be included and make it so you don't have to track it down separately. (and if you've got a library card, the Libby app has all the High Republic comics!)]

[Note #2: Star Wars: The High Republic and Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures are the main storyline comics that have run through every phase. To distinguish which Phase they are part of, the year of the first comic in that Phase's run has been included (Phase 1 = 2021 / Phase 2 = 2022 / Phase 3 = 2023). This does not mean all comics in that run have been published in that years, just the first one.]

Phase 1

Light of the Jedi

A Test of Courage

Into the Dark

Star Wars: The High Republic (2021), Volume 1 (issues #1-5) (comics)

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures (2021), Volume 1 (issues #1-5) (comics)

The Rising Storm

Race to Crashpoint Tower

Out of the Shadows

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures – The Monster of Temple Peak (comics; mini-series)

Tempest Runner by Cavan Scott (audiodrama)

Star Wars: The High Republic (2021), Volume 2 (#6-10) (comics)

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures (2021), Volume 2 (#6-10) (comics)

The Edge of Balance Volume 1 by Shima Shinya and Justina Ireland (manga)

Mission to Disaster

The Fallen Star

Midnight Horizon

The Edge of Balance Volume 2 by Shima Shinya and Daniel José Older (manga)

Star Wars: The High Republic – Trail of Shadows (comics; mini-series)

Star Wars: The High Republic (2021), Volume 3 (#11-15) (comics)

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures (2021), Volume 3 (#11-15) (comics)

Star Wars: The High Republic – The Eye of the Storm (comics; mini-series) [included in TPB of THR Vol. 3]

Phase 2

Path of Deceit 

Quest for the Hidden City 

Convergence

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures (2022), Volume 1 (#1-5) (comics)

Star Wars: The High Republic (2022), Volume 1 (#1-5) (comics)

Star Wars: The High Republic – The Blade (comics; mini-series)

The Battle of Jedha by George Mann (audiodrama)

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures (2022), Volume 2 (#6-1 0) (comics)

Star Wars: The High Republic (2022), Volume 2 (#6-10) (comics)

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures – Quest of the Jedi (comics; one-shot issue)

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures – The Nameless Terror (comics; mini-series)

Quest for Planet X

Cataclysm 

Path of Vengeance 

The Edge of Balance: Precedent by Daniel Jośe Older (manga)

Tales of Light and Life by Various Authors (short story collection; not technically part of Phase 2. Has spoilers for Phase 2, so recommended reading spot is between Phase 2 & 3)

Phase 3 

Star Wars: The High Republic – Shadows of Starlight (comics; mini-series)

The Eye of Darkness

Escape from Valo 

Defy the Storm 

Star Wars: The High Republic (2023), Volume 1 (#1-5) (comics)

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures (2023), Volume 1 (#1-5) (comics)

Temptation of the Force 

Edge of Balance Volume 3 by Shima Shinya and Daniel José Older (manga)

Beware the Nameless 

Tears of the Nameless 

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures – Saber for Hire (comics; mini-series)

Star Wars: The High Republic (2023), Volume 2 (#6-10) (comics; TPB also includes Star Wars: The Acolyte – Kelnacca one-shot comic issue)

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures (2023), Volume 2 (#6-10) (comics)

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures – The Wedding Spectacular (comics; one-shot)

Tempest Breaker by Cavan Scott (audiodrama)

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures – Dispatches from the Occlusion Zone (comics; mini-series) [TPB not publishing until July 1, 2025]

Star Wars: The High Republic – Fear of the Jedi (issue #1) (comics; mini-series. issue #1 publishing February 19, 2025. Release date of final issue #5 TBD. Release date of TPB is TBD)

Into the Light [Publishing April 1, 2025]

Edge of Balance: Premonition by Daniel José Older (manga) [Publishing April 8, 2025]

Edge of Balance Volume 4 by Shima Shinya and Daniel José Older (manga) [Publishing April 22, 2025]

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures – Echoes of Fear (comics; mini-series) [TPB Publishing April 22, 2025]

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures – Crash Zone (comics; collecting Crash Landing one-shot, Crash and Burn one-shot, and THR: Adventures Phase III Annual one-shot) [TPB Publishing April 29, 2025]

A Valiant Vow [Publishing May 6, 2025]

Trials of the Jedi[Publishing June 17, 2025]

And that's all! I hope this helps you get started on your High Republic reading journey!

I know there's a lot here and it can get a bit confusing, so if there's anything you have questions or need clarification on, or if you simply want to share about your reading journey with these books, feel free to send me a message or an ask! :)

[derangedrhythms]

Anna Akhmatova, The Complete Poems of Anna Akhmatova: Seventh Book; from ‘Don't be afraid⁠—I can still portray...' tr. Judith Hemschemeyer

[unclevladscorner]

I released a book with a trans main character this past October, and here's how its going so far-

As many of you know, I released Sword of the Voivode this past October 19th, 2024. While this is a big personal achievement, its also ba BIG leap of faith. This book is more of a sword & sorcery adventure fantasy, which isn't a segment of the genre known for its diversity.

So far, I've sold 20 copies. This may not seem like a big number, but this is something I've largely done by digital and analogue word of mouth. I consider it a triumph not because of the low-to-no cost marketing, but specifically because this is not a book I consider typical for its genre placement.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sword-of-the-voivode-t-g-joye/1146371364?ean=9798330439218

Older people; both cis straight and queer, are the group most interested in the book. Not something I expected, but knowing that helps me market. I wish younger people would read my book, but with so many more queer and trans YA books to choose from, why would they?

The biggest thing I want to point out is that this is a book I wanted to write, and I wasn't going to let roadblocks set up by traditional publishing, or perceptions about what's currently 'popular' stop me. I see very few books about trans people over 25, and nothing resembling medical transition in Fantasy.

Am I ever going to be some major powerhouse of genre fiction? Probably not. Am I pushing boundaries of what trans led fiction can look like? I hope so.

I also want to encourage people like me to write stories they really wan to tell. Don't comprimise because someone told you it was too niche or wouldn't be a blockbuster success.

[and-his-hands-were-24-crows]

This is a book that I bought in 2002, when it was newly published. I misplaced it for a couple of decades and then found it in a box in my parents' house last year.

It is... incredible, to start rereading this book that was so influential for me and is somehow more than 20 years old. To read introductions from people who experienced the gender politics of the 50s and 60s and learned and grew and saw so much evolution in their lifetimes.

It feels sad, too, to read about the same LGBTQIA+ infighting that we still see. It feels melancholy to read about times when maybe there was less of that. I love seeing the hope for better things, and I worry that perhaps we have not done well enough in these last two decades.

In her introduction, Joan Nestle says, "Think of the richness of the conversation 50 years from now, if we survive the present world."

2002.

If we survive the present world.

[pillowfriends]

I was feeling bad feelings and I think some part of my brain was trying to help by offering up blorbo thoughts to soothe me, but instead now I've just been spiraling about post series Moiraine on top of everything else I was already spiraling about. rip

[lovl3igh]

rhaena: do you take constructive criticism?

luke, already crying: yes.

[darkcrowprincess]

Nico the ghost king, pissed off and sitting on the back of Mrs O'leary the hellhound(who has gotten bigger over the last few years) looking super terrifying and like his father.

Percy Jackson's reaction:

Everyone is terrified of Nico but all Percy sees is the hot guy he fell in love with.