#hansel and gretel epic tales

[adarkrainbow]

I just found out the cutest little animated fairytale storybook, and of course my Ipad is dead, and I don't have an iPhone, and the app is iOs exclusive... Damn it. Well time to call for help/share some stuff :p

The app in question is part of a line called "Epic Tales". Or rather it was supposed to be the first of a line but apparently there is only this game? It was a Dutch creation that had a lot of positive reviews, and even won an award back upon its release (2013). It is called "Hansel and Gretel - Epic Tales" (Hans en Grieje in Dutch).

It is pretty much your usual "interactive storybook" experience on children's app, as the story is divided in a set of interactive tableaux retelling in a fun and whimsical way the story of Hansel and Gretel. BUT and here is where things get interesting: each tableau is intercut with hand-drawn animated cutscenes. These animations, done in the same style as the drawings, was done by the Anikey Studios (which are still present online, such as here their Vimeo channel, unlike the Epic Tales website which seems defunct - but the Epic Tales Facebook is still up).

You can find the trailer online on both Vimeo and Youtube - but unfortunately it is pretty much all you can find... There's screenshots over at the many review websites that covered this app, but not much. If I had access to the App-Store of Apple I would have bought it immediately but of course all my App Store access are dead... So I'll have to wait until I buy a new iPad X)

Unless someone ever can share info, screenshots or video of the app of course - I honestly take everything I can get, and I already thank deeply anyone able to help this improbable quest! Also, if you ever know (or see on the App) that there are other games in this line I am deeply interested - because animated storybook apps rarely have this much effort put into their animation. Heck when you put this app's images inside Google Images it confuses it with a Disney production - that tells the quality.

In fact, you can clearly see the effort put in the animation through this website which shares the cool concept art for the character design.

[girlfromthecrypt]

Forgive me if you’ve ever answered these before and I just didn’t see them,

We could go with the classic “ROs’ reaction to the mc saying “I can hold my entire world in my hands, wanna see?” and then gently cradling the RO’s face?”

Or a more deep one like “what would be a legend/fable/tale/myth that would really speak to them or that they would particularly enjoy?”

Or something simple and silly like “Whats their favorite Pokémon?”

I’d love an answer to any of these cuz I’m a dork. Please nerd out about your creations I love reading it.

We're all dorks let's gooooo

The fable one first bc believe it or not, fairy tales/folklore is actually important in this IF

Anita: Rapunzel. Something about being overly sheltered/trapped in a tower and wanting out...

Flo: the changeling-myth appeals to him. The reasons for this can be inferred, but I don't wanna go too deep right now. Also, he likes anything with huge beasts/dragons

Reem: Hansel and Gretel bc it reminds her of her bond with Flo. On a more personal level, she likes mermaids. As a singer, the thought of luring a seafarer into a watery grave with her voice is deeply appealing to her

Basil: HE LOVES ALL OF THEM. He views folklore differently anyhow due to his pagan beliefs. That aside, he likes the Arthurian mythos. He would also like to pull an epic sword from a stone.

The "entire world while holding face"-thing:

Basil: insert joke about him being really good at giving head here. I mean, you are holding his face and yeah he's an idiot what do you expect. He's secretly touched tho

Anita:

Reem: "Aww honey, me too." *tries to cup MC's cheeks but now you get your arms all tangled up because two people holding each other's faces is difficult*

Flo: *needs a moment to process information and decipher subtext, then just holds the MC too. carefully*

Not doing the pokemon one bc I actually have never watched a single episode of it, sorry.

I loved this ask! Thank you so much!

[afatlotofchance]

Fishing for lost media! There used to be an animated storybook app on Apple. It was called "Epic Tales: Hansel and Gretel". It was originally a Dutch-American project so you might find it as "Epic Tales: Hans en Grietje" in its Dutch format. It was, as you can guess, an interactive storybook adaptation of the fairytale "Hansel and Gretel" and it was VERY cool because it was an actual animation effort. You had animated interactive screens intercut with full animation sequences in between, and it had this old timey Disney and vintage cartoon design and it was really great.

I do remember this fondly because they actually had a full scene of Hansel gaining weight, and growing fat. (He also gained a pig snout if I recall, because the witch also made him grow some porcine features?). Anyway there was this very precise interactive scene where Hansel had a cake as huge as him, just in front of his face, you had to tap on the cake and with each bite he grew a bit fatter, until the cake was gone and Hansel was chunky.

Unfortunately the application was REMOVED from all of the Apple stores, and nobody seems to have kept it anywhere so... Please if you have anything preserved of this app, be it video or screenshot or even just testimonies, please share! Because we had a nice case of little cute weight gain animation and it is just... gone forever without anybody noticing or preserving it.

Mind you there are still trailers, reviews and concept art of the app around - and in fact I will ask you to be quite careful about this because other people are currently searching for this lost app (it was how I came to know about it, on the non-kink side of things...). But the whole weight gain part is currently only preserved in memories and handful of Internet reviews apparently... So if anybody has anything to share, please do!

[jasminewalkerauthor]

Deep dives into folklore: German folklore

Embedded within the cultural fabric of Germany lies a trove of enchanting narratives, a testament to the nation's rich heritage and historical tapestry. German folklore, a captivating blend of ancient pagan beliefs, medieval epics, and timeless fairy tales, unveils a world steeped in myth and tradition. This essay embarks on a comprehensive exploration of German folklore, tracing its origins, introducing mythical figures, unraveling folk traditions, and assessing its profound influence on literature and popular culture. Within this intricate tapestry, the diverse tales of Germanic lore reveal not only the evolution of storytelling but also the enduring spirit that continues to captivate audiences across time and borders.

I. Ancient Roots and Pagan Influences:

Germanic folklore has its origins in the pre-Christian beliefs of the Germanic tribes. The pantheon of gods and goddesses, such as Woden (Odin), Thor, and Freyja, held sway over the imaginations of early Germanic people. The Eddas, epic poems preserved in Iceland, provide glimpses into the cosmology and mythology of the Germanic peoples, offering tales of creation, heroic exploits, and the prophesied end of the world, Ragnarök.

II. Germanic Mythical Figures:

The Nibelungenlied: The Nibelungenlied, a medieval German epic, tells the tragic tale of Siegfried, the dragon-slayer, and the curse surrounding the Nibelung treasure. This epic, with its themes of heroism, betrayal, and revenge, has left an indelible mark on German folklore and is a precursor to later literary works, including Wagner's operatic adaptation, "Der Ring des Nibelungen."

Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales: Perhaps the most famous collectors of German folklore, the Brothers Grimm, Jacob and Wilhelm, compiled a vast collection of fairy tales that have become timeless classics. Stories like "Cinderella," "Snow White," and "Hansel and Gretel" are embedded in global consciousness, showcasing the enduring appeal of German folk narratives.

III. Folk Traditions and Creatures:

German folklore is teeming with a diverse array of folk traditions and mythical creatures, each with its own regional variations. From benevolent spirits to malevolent beings, these entities populate the cultural landscape of Germany.

Kobolds and Elves: German folklore features kobolds, mischievous household spirits, and elves that are often associated with forests and natural landscapes. These beings, sometimes helpful, sometimes capricious, embody the close connection between the Germanic people and their natural surroundings.

The Lorelei: Along the Rhine River, the Lorelei is a legendary siren or mermaid who lures sailors to their doom with her enchanting song. This myth has inspired numerous poems and songs, becoming a symbol of the dangers and allure of the river.

IV. Impact on Literature and Popular Culture:

German folklore has left an indelible mark on literature and popular culture, both within Germany and globally. Beyond the Brothers Grimm's fairy tales, Germanic mythology has influenced literary giants like J.R.R. Tolkien, whose Middle-earth draws inspiration from Norse and Germanic mythologies.

Wagner's Operas: Richard Wagner's operatic masterpieces, including "Der Ring des Nibelungen" and "Tristan und Isolde," draw heavily from Germanic mythology. Wagner's reinterpretation of these myths has become iconic in the world of classical music and opera.

Contemporary Fantasy: German folklore continues to influence contemporary fantasy literature and film. Authors and filmmakers often draw on Teutonic themes to create worlds filled with magical creatures, quests, and epic struggles between good and evil.

German folklore stands as a testament to the enduring power of storytelling in shaping cultural identity. From ancient pagan beliefs to the enchanting tales of the Brothers Grimm, the narratives of German folklore have transcended time, leaving an indelible mark on literature, art, and popular culture. As these tales persist and evolve, they provide a window into the collective imagination of the Germanic people and invite ongoing exploration and reinterpretation in the ever-changing landscape of global storytelling.

Taglist (reply or reblog to be added): @axl-ul @crow-flower @thoughts-fromthevoid @alderwoodbooks @harleyacoincidence @tuberosumtater @sonic-spade @theonlygardenia @holymzogynybatman @nulliel-tres @w0rkah0licz @sylvanthorn @tigertaurus22 @profiterole-reads @mathias-musings @1899adgg1997tbmd @grimmparanormalinvestigations

[atomictravelerrebel]

Revealing Layers of Dream in Understanding What Is Vore

What is Vore?

Vore, brief for vorarephilia, is a niche fetish that involves the dream of being consumed or consuming an additional being. The principle can be damaged down into two key classifications: dental vore, where one character swallows another whole, and unbirthing, where a personality is absorbed into an additional's body with alternate methods. The fascination with this style often stems from a deep-rooted mental wish for intimacy and power dynamics in relationships.

At initially glance, it may appear unusual to numerous that don't share this specific inclination. Yet dig much deeper right into the psychology behind it, and you'll find that vore take advantage of universal motifs of susceptability, protection, and makeover. In dream contexts-- especially within art and storytelling-- these aspects can end up being catalysts for exploring human emotions in ways that are generally not easily accessible in day-to-day life.

The Charm of Vore

Why do individuals discover vore appealing? One major factor depends on its capability to evoke feelings of safety while all at once presenting an element of threat. It's a paradox; the act of being 'fed on' stands for submission yet likewise invokes a calming sense of being totally covered by another person. Therefore, participants often discover comfort in the idea that they might be entirely approved by an additional individual or entity.

Moreover, within creative depictions-- such as illustrations or animations-- the fantastical components come alive. Individuals can explore their fantasies without real-world consequences. This mix between destination and fear produces a special experience that tempts many.

Cultural Representations on Vore

Vore isn't simply restricted to exclusive fantasies; it has permeated different elements of pop culture. Literature and media often explore themes pertaining to usage and desire. For instance:

Literature: Classic fairytale regularly feature personalities that consume others (assume "Hansel and Gretel"). These narratives reflect social fears bordering consumption. Film & Computer animation: Functions such as "Alice in Wonderland" showcase wayward yet upsetting encounters with epic creatures. Online Areas: Various forums exist where enthusiasts gather to share art work, tales, and discussions connected to vore.

This social background enhances the understanding of what vore symbolizes both directly and collectively.

What is a Giantess Fetish?

A giantess fetish especially revolves around the appeal connected with females that possess overstated dimensions-- typically towering over their male counterparts. This phenomenon generally pairs with vore due to the integral power characteristics included when one individual appears literally dominant over another.

The Psychology Behind Giantess Attraction

What drives individuals towards giantess dreams? At its core, this fetish commonly showcases motifs of empowerment versus helplessness. Right here are some psychological measurements involved:

Power Dynamics: The dimension distinction naturally develops an inequality of power where the smaller sized personality submits to the bigger figure. Safety vs.

[diana--williams]

English movies 2015-2005

The Age of Adeline

Fifty shades of grey

Tomorrowland

Crimson Peak

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2

The Martian

The Intern

Brooklyn

Goosebumps

Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials

Insurgent (The Divergent series)

Jupiter Ascending

Cinderella

Tangerine

Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation

The Boy Next Door

Minions

Inside Out

Fantastic Four

Ant Man

Avengers: Age of Ultron

Jurassic World

Pan

The DUFF

The Good Dinosaur

Home

Hotel Transylvania 2

Paddington

Love, Rosie

Seventh Son

Kingsman: The Secret Service

Victor Frankenstein

UnIndian

The Man who knew Infinity

X Men: Days of the Future Past

The Fault in Our Stars

Vampire Academy

Maleficent

Divergent

The Maze Runner

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Dracula Untold

Lucy

I, Frankenstein

Mr. Peabody and Sherman

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1

300: Rise of an Empire

Interstellar

Kingsman: The Secret Service

The Amazing Spiderman 2

Rio 2

The Theory of Everything

Guardians of the Galaxy

Godzilla

That Awkward Moment

Transformers: Age of Extinction

Big Hero 6

How to Train your Dragon 2

Step up: All in

Annabelle

Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb

Seventh Son

The Mortal Instruments: The City of Bones

The Conjuring

Oblivion

Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Man of Steel

Oz, The Great and Powerful

Gravity

Frozen

Wild

Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters

G. I. Joe: Retaliation

Jack the Giant Slayer

Iron Man 3

Star Trek Into the Darkness

The Croods

The Wolverine

Thor: The Dark World

Epic

Now You See Me

Monster's University

The Smurfs 2

Despicable Me 2

Safe Haven

Romeo and Juliet

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island

Snow White and the Huntsman

Pitch Perfect

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

The Amazing Spider-man

Mirror Mirror

Step Up: Revolution

The Hunger Games

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

Life of Pi

The Avengers

Brave

Rise of the Guardians

Hotel Transylvania

Underworld: Awakening

Dr. Seuss' The Lorax

Taken 2

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted

Ice Age: Continental Drift

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance

John Carter

Titanic 3D

Monsters Inc.

Finding Nemo

The Twilight Saga: The Breaking Dawn Part 1

Crazy, Stupid, Love

I am Number Four

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Beastly

Sucker Punch

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

The Art of Getting By

Rio

Hugo

Real Steel

Green Lantern

Thor

Captain America: The First Avenger

X-Men: First Class

The Smurfs

Kung Fu Panda 2

Transformers: Dark of the Moon

The Adventures of Tintin

No Strings Attached

Jane Eyre

Mars Needs Moms

Prom

Hanna

Monte Carlo

Colombiana

Puss In Boots

Happy Feet 2

Two Brothers

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

The Twilight Saga: New Moon

Twilight

Remember Me

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

Alice in Wonderland

Black Swan

Salt

Barbie in a Mermaid Tale

How to Train Your Dragon

Love and Other Drugs

Despicable Me

The Last Airbender

Tangled

Clash of the Titans

The Losers

Piranha 3D

Iron Man 2

Tron: Legacy

Shrek Forever After

Megamind

Toy Story 3

The Spy Next Door

Legion

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

The Karate Kid

Knight and Day

The Sorcerer's Apprentice

Flipped

Step Up 3D

Eat Pray Love

Nanny McPhee and the big bang

Avatar

Barbie: A Fashion Fairytale

Resident Evil: After Life

Its Kind of a Funny Story

Easy A

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

The Tourist

Gulliver's Travels

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

Orphan

Sherlock Holmes

Angels and Demons

The Da Vinci Code

The Proposal

17 Again

Confessions of a Shopaholic

Up

Land of the Lost

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans

Star Trek

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

G. I. Joe : The Rise of the Cobra

Bride Wars

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li

Inkheart

Taken

Astro Boy

2012

The Princess and the Frog

The Young Victoria

Dorian Gray

What Happens in Vegas

Step Up 2: The Streets

Journey to the Center of the Earth

10,000 BC

Wanted

Wall-E

Ironman

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Kung Fu Panda

The Incredible Hulk

The Day the Earth Stood Still

The Eye

Babylon A.D.

Hellboy II: The Golden Army

Scorpion King 3

The Scorpion King 2: Rise of a Warrior

Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who!

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

The Forbidden Kingdom

Hancock

Slumdog Millionaire

Bolt

The Golden Compass

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

Ghost Rider

Evan Almighty

Music and Lyrics

National Treasure: Book of Secrets

Enchanted

Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer

Shrek the third

Spider-man 3

Ratatouille

Alvin and the Chipmunks

Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked

Transformers

300

Resident Evil: Extinction

Step Up

The Devil wears Prada

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

Night at the Museum

Monster House

Mission Impossible III

Ultraviolet

Ice Age: The Meltdown

Just My Luck

X-Men: The Last Stand

The Ant Bully

Underworld: Evolution

Eragon

Happy Feet

The Pursuit of Happyness

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

Constantine

Pride and Prejudice

King Kong

Mr. and Mrs. Smith

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Aeon Flux

Sky High

Madagascar

Fantastic Four

The Son of the Mask

Tom and Jerry: Blast off to Mars

The Ring Two

She's the Man

[themousefromfantasyland]

Fairy Tale Laws: How Fairy Tales and their Worldbuilding work

Who follows me knows I'm mega into mythology and folklore. One of my favorite pieces of folklore and fantasy literature is the Fairy Tale. Since I was a child I was always draw to the magical world of Disney films and their darker literary counterparts.

I love fairy tales, yet in my opinion they continue to be one of the more misunderstood and neglected genres out there.

So, as a Disney fan and avid fairy tale reader, in this essay I show how the genre itself generally works and which principles rule their whimsical world

Fairy Tales, Myths and Fables

The thing that fairy tales, myths and fables have in common is that they all find their origins in the oral tradition.

They were fantastical tales, not told specifically for children but deeply enjoyed by them, that were transmitted through generations.

Both fairy tales and myths don't follow real world logic, instead following their own dream-like logic, in a sequence of weird and fantastical events, that are magical and intriguing to the listener, but essentially normal to the in-universe characters.

Often than not there aren't any explanations of why these events happen and their impact of those in-universe societies, they just happen. Animals talk, mythical creatures live along with human societies just fine, inanimated objects come to life, people seem to turn into animals all the time, etc, and nothing of that seem to ever change the status quo.

The thing that differentiate the fairy tale from the myth, is that the myth is supposed to have happened in our world, but in a far off past. They are supposed to explain how our world came to be, and they have a very strong religious importance. The fairy tale on the other hand is not supposed to be took seriously. It's a fun story that the older generation tell to the younger generation. It can pass deeply important life or religious values, but that's not their main point. They are fairy tales, not fables.

The point of the fable is to transmit a moral. The point of a fairy tale is to transport the listener into a fantastical journey.

Fairy Tales vs. Oral Stories

Although many folk stories became immortal fairy tales, not all fairy tales came from oral tradition. Actually, some can be traced back to specific authors.

The Little Mermaid, the Ugly Duckling and the Steadfast Tin Soldier are all considered immortal fairy tales, yet they were all created by famous danish writer Hans Christian Andersen. A lot of his stories are authoral, and all are considered true fairy tales.

The term "Fairy Tales" actually comes from the french "conte de fées" and was coined in the 17th century by Marie-Catherine Le Jumel de Barneville, Baroness d'Aulnoy, the Madame d'Aulnoy, a french writer who wrote about a world where love and happiness came to heroines after overcoming great obstacles.

These stories arise from the Préciosité, a French literary style in the 17th century, from "les précieuses", intellectual, witty and educated women who frequented the salon of Catherine de Vivonne, marquise de Rambouillet. Themes presented in these stories are the ideals of feminine elegance, etiquette and courtly Platonic love, all hugely popular with female audiences, but scorned by men.

Telling fairy tales was a popular préciosité parlor game, and they should be told as if spontaneously, even though they all were carefully prepared. This style served as influence for Charles Perrault and Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve.

Villeneuve herself was the original author of Beauty and the Beast, and although the story is heavily inspired by older legends like Cupid and Psyche, it still is an authoral story.

Even the Brothers Grimm and Charles Perrault, who were famous for being collectors of tales from oral tradition, gave their own twists and embellishments to their tales. For example, in many Cinderella tellings it's her mother's ghost who helps her. The Fairy Godmother is Perrault's invention.

So more than been just stories from the oral tradition, fairy tales as a literary genre are the reinvention of the old tropes found in the folk stories under a more sophisticated polish, for a new public.

Fairy Tale as a literary genre

In a way I consider the Fairy Tale a sibling genre to Magical Realism. As TV Tropes puts:

"In Magic Realism, events just happen, as in dreams. [...] Magical realism is a story that takes place in a realistic setting that is recognizable as the historical past or present. It overlaps with Mundane Fantastic. It has a connection to surrealism, dream logic, and poetry."

Both use a surreal, almost poetic internal logic with little to no explanation. Magical Realism is the occurrence of a fantastical event in a realistic setting, in a fusion between the mundane and the magical world.

Fairy Tales are similar because they often deal with very domestic topics and subjects. The protagonists often are normal people with very mundane goals. They don't want to save the world, they want to save themselves and their loved ones.

Cinderella and Snow White for example, are more concerned with escaping from their abusive families than being cultural or legendary heroes like in the myths. Hansel and Gretel are trying not to die from starvation, and Red Riding Hood is trying to visit her sick grandmother. Regardless of class status, these are people with their own problems that find in the fantastical events a escape from them, or a even worse danger.

This is not a universal rule, as some characters are more heroic and there's more in stake, but generally the heroes are domestic heroes and it's only their lives that are in stake.

The difference between the Magic Realism and the Fairy Tale, is that while in the Magic Realism you can easily point where the realistic setting ends and the magical one begins, the fairy tale goes even further, and the lines between the worlds are way more muddled.

Worldbuilding in Fairy Tales

Now, that's the most important part. Fairy Tales are a sub-genre to Fantasy, but while in the other genres the magic world is described in the minimal details, often with rich details about the in-universe cultures and their rules, the Fairy Tale maintain the magic world as vague as possible. That's because it uses what I call "soft-worldbuilding".

Part of the appeal of the fairy tale is to transport the reader in a fantastical journey, but in order to do that they use as little details possible, allowing the reader to try to fill in the gaps. That's in order to avoid the magic world of feeling too real or too close to reality. The reader needs to have a sense of wonder and intrigue, and if you started to describe your world in all its details, it will become too grounded, and the wonder and the intrigue will be lost.

Said that, you need some basic rules, otherwise everything will be incredibly incoherent. You reader needs to understand how the magic world works and their rules, but they also need to be slightly lost, discovering all the details along the way and be amazed by them, lost in a mystery that they will never find all the answers.

To illustrate this, look at the differences between the Middle-earth and Narnia. One is a standard fantasy world, the other is a fairy tale world. J.R.R. Tolkien drew inspiration from the epics, C.S. Lewis drew inspiration from fairy tales and childhood stories.

The Middle-earth is grounded on its own rules, with their own races, cultures, languages and myths. Narnia is a playground were everything magical is allowed. Greek mythology creatures? Okay. Roman gods? Okay. Father Christmas? Okay. Jesus? Of course!

One is worried about all the small details, the other wants everything as vague and simple as possible, as to ensure the wonder and the intrigue will never be lost the reader.

When you're dealing with a fairy tale world you have way more freedom than the standard fantasy world. You don't need to think too deeply in the details. You can use the Rule of Funny and the Rule of Cool as much as you want, as long as it's minimal consistent and coherent

Fairy Tale Laws

This are some basic rules and principles that I believe rule over the fairy tale genre

Establish rules of how the world works. Keep it consistent and coherent. That's your base

Not every fantastical event needs a deep explanation, and magic is not allowed as an universal explanation

Keep it simple. Don't worry too much about the small details.

You don't want your world to be too grounded in reality. A little escapism is key

Poetic logic and surrealism reigns

Have fun with all the weird and magical things that crowded your world. "Rule of Cool" and "Rule of Funny" reign

Never reveal too much to your reader. They need to constantly feel as if there is something more happening off the limits of your story

Domestic heroes (As Narnia and the old dragon slayer stories show, this is not an universal rule)

The overall tone can be darker and edgier, softer and lighter, or somewhere in the middle

[pricechecktranslations]

Evillious Masterlist

A copy of my release order Evillious index for people on mobile who can’t see the page.

Note: This list now includes installments from mothy’s E.A.T. series, and is not exclusively about Evillious content.

2008

Ten Minute Love

Wordplay—-Addendum

Clockwork Lullaby

The Daughter of Evil—-Addendum

The Servant of Evil—-Addendum

Regret Message

The Girl of the Miniature Garden—-Addendum

A Tale of Abandonment on a Moonlit Night

Re_Birthday

2009

Evil Food Eater Conchita—-Addendum

Evils Theater

Moonlit Bear

Heartbeat Clocktower—-Addendum

The Tailor of Enbizaka—-Addendum

2010

The Daughter of White

Twiright Prank

Prelude to Forest

The Frog’s and My Love Romance

Full Moon Laboratory

The Last Revolver

Evils Forest

Master of the Graveyard—-Addendum

The Lunacy of Duke Venomania—-Addendum

The Daughter of Evil: Clôture of Yellow

Madam Merry-Go-Round

Evils Kingdom

The Song that Resounds With Lu Li La, Lu Li La

Chrono Story

Judgment of Corruption—-Addendum

Red Shoe Parade

2011

Judgment of Corruption, ~A Court of Greed~

Recollective Music Box

The Daughter of Evil: Wiegenlied of Green (VG)

Gift From the Princess Who Brought Sleep—-Addendum

Fifth Pierrot—-Addendum

Evils Court

Master of the Court

The Maiden of the Tree ~Millenium Wiegenlied~

Capriccio Farce—-Addendum

Entr'acte of Evil: The Daughter of Evil Worldguide

The Daughter of Evil: Praeludium of Red

2012

Flower of the Plateau

Handbeat Clocktower

The Daughter of Evil: Praefacio of Blue

Escape of Salmhofer the Witch

Original Sin Story -Act 1-

Project ‘Ma’

Epic of Evil: The Daughter of Evil Fanbook

Blood-Stained Switch—-Addendum

The Deadly Sins of Evil: The Lunacy of Duke Venomania

2013

Original Sin Story -Act 2-

Ma Survival—-Addendum

Whereabouts of the Miracle -Catastrophe-

Clockworker -Recollective Music Box-

The Deadly Sins of Evil: Evil Food Eater Conchita

Waltz of Evil: The Deadly Sins of Evil Guidebook

2014

The Muzzle of Nemesis—-Addendum

The Muzzle of Nemesis

Master of the Hellish Yard

And Then the Girl Went Mad -The Ending Moonlit Tale-

The Journey of Two Mages ~The Great Wall and the Watchman~

Blink

The Deadly Sins of Evil: Gift From the Princess Who Brought Sleep

2015

The Portrait Glassred Drew

Seven Crimes and Punishments

Seven Crimes and Punishments

Drug of Gold

The Weathered Head at Onigashima

The Boy of the Ending, Hansel

The Deadly Sins of Evil: Fifth, Pierrot

Original Sin Story -Complete Edition-

Queen of the Glass

Barisol’s Child is an Only Child

The Song I Heard Somewhere

The Deadly Sins of Evil: The Tailor of Enbizaka

2016

Lucifenia Trinity

A Hero’s Armor is Always Crimson—-Addendum

Neomaria of the Inverted Gravestone

Swear an Oath on that Bridge

The Deadly Sins of Evil: Judgment of Corruption

That King Was Born From Mud—-Addendum

2017

The Deadly Sins of Evil: The Muzzle of Nemesis

Master of the Heavenly Yard (album)

Master of the Heavenly Yard—-Addendum

The Deadly Sins of Evil: master of the heavenly yard

2018

Clockwork Lullaby -Key of Word-

Banica Concerto!!

The Karma of Evil Will Not End

Song of the Third Period

Clockwork Lullaby

2019

Outlaw & Lychgate

Evils Extra

Creation Girl, Gretel

Reach for the Stars ~The Letter She Kept Waiting For~

The Frog’s and My Love Romance Sped Up

The Song that Resounds with Lu Li La, Lu Li La (Parade)

The Original Sin Story: Crime

2020

Great Journey

The Blind Girl and the Angel

Song of the Cowardly Black Bird----Addendum

E.A.T. Prologue—-Scene 1—-Scene 2—-Scene 3—-Scene 4—-Scene 5—-Scene 6—-Scene 7

2021

OSS -To-

2022

Waltz of the Deceased—-Addendum

The Original Sin Story: Punishment

“Horse of Evil”—-Scene 1—-Scene 2—-Scene 3—-Scene 4—-Scene 5—-Scene 6—-Scene 7—-Scene 8

History of Daughter of Evil

2023

Waltz of the Deceased: The Deadly Sins of Evil, Project SEKAI Edition

The Steel Lady, Rilia-Renée

Outlaw and Marionette

Twin Rabbits Come and Play Their Flute

Atelier Horloge—-Addendum

Sister Clarith’s Curious Night

At the End of a Millennium Vow

The Contradictory Grim the End

2024

Storyteller Y

The Witch and the Flower of Happiness

Ristorante Cimitero

The Restaurant of Many Ingredients

696

[michaeldavanzo]

I know a lot of people know Cloris Leachman from a variety of shows and movies, but I was first introduced to her when I was a kid back in the 90′s and watched this little known 1987 movie of Hansel and Gretel.

Produced by Golan-Globus Productions, based on the opera by Engelbert Humperdinck which in turn was based on the story by the Brothers Grimm, it was released with a string of other fairy tale movies. And they all came out in the same year. 

Cloris Leachman played Griselda the witch and her performance was truly masterful. I instantly became a huge fan. And the more I watched of Cloris the more I adored her and I’m so thankful to have had such an epically talented character actress to inspire me all my life.

Rest in peace, Cloris. Lots of people may remember you as Frau Blücher, but I’ll always remember you as Griselda 💜

[giant-dekubowl-ship]

Hooky is a DAMM GOOD webtoon and you should all read it.

Every want to read a long-running epic? Do you like magic and witchcraft in your stories? Is the thought of a colorful cast (literally and figuratively) enough to catch your attention? Do you like stories that are all about love - familial,  romantic and platonic? Want all of what was mentioned above to be renditioned in beautifully drawn and flowing tapestries? 

If so then Hooky - a webtoon by Miriam Bonastre Tur is just for you.

Its a story deserving of a seat next to the ‘greats’ people quote when talking about storytelling on the level of Avatar: The Last Airbender and the like. This is not being said lightly. The pitfalls of any kind of story that goes on for longer than a few episodes or chapters or storytelling arcs is that they may lose their way. Lose track of what the initial chapters were trying to tell or lose focus and bloat up into messy storytelling. This can happen in any medium and webtoon is certainly not immune. 

There are many great stories in webtoon - but many, just like a certain shonen jump manga which continued and stretched until the publisher itself decided to give it the infamous ax - continue their stories until they are unrecognizable. Sometimes, ending the story at just the right time makes a story that much more precious to its readers.

On webtoon, there are certainly quite a few great stories both ongoing and complete that have this ephemeral air of just right. Those kinds of stories that read confidently with the attitude of an individual who has a goal and will and does complete it. 

I personally have many series I hold dear to my heart which are themselves webtoons. Today though I’m here to talk about Hooky. 

The Story 

Hooky, a series so good, that if it were a manga I’d want it turned into an anime and if it were a comic I’d want it turned into a cartoon. And even as a webtoon, I just want someone to bring this to the big screens. 

Its a story about many things. At its heart, it's about love and the lack thereof it (as cheesy as this sounds). Divides from distrust, lashings from hatred, misunderstandings from miscommunication all looked at different levels. From the interpersonal to the societal. Miriam weives a careful and interesting narrative on what can quickly become a complicated and controversial topic. 

Its a series that starts off quaint and oh so very sweet. Akin to Disney's retelling of all the classic fairy tales. 

Two twins, Dani and Dorian dash through a pastel rendition of a Spanish village, dressed in matching black robes as they run late for their school bus. Upon missing their only ticket to the hidden rendition of Hogwarts this world has they have a brilliant idea to hide this from their parents. And instead, find a mentor in magic as an alternative. 

From then on its a swirling adventure as these children navigate a world they’ve obviously never interacted with. It's a fairy tale - but not from Disney - that takes some interesting inspiration from the famous stories fables. Hansel and Gretel being an example which comes to mind. 

Going back to comparing Hooky with Avatar - it’s a story with its high and low moments for the characters. Just like Aang, the main duo of this story, don’t always get to play around with their equivalent of Elephant koi. It’s at times grim but not overly gritty. It doesn't revel in life’s tragedies any more than it indulges in fantasy’s escapism.  

Our main characters find themselves in a world they quickly realize they know very little about and it is quickly made obvious to both us the viewer and the twins, that not everything is exactly as simple as it seems to the inexperienced eyes of the child twins. 

In a way, they are almost perfect reflections to us readers. Ignorant and oblivious to the reality of this open and unexplored world. Almost except for the fact that unlike them, we have some grounding story elements of the initial fables interwoven into the narrative. 

Taking inspiration from a story does not mean copying it however and this is certainly true of Hooky, which is it's own grounded and fleshed out tale.

The world-building starts off in the form of little one-off lines and details which quickly snowball into a predominant feature of the story. Something that demands the attention of both you and the characters. The story and its contents evolve and mature just like the characters as they grow up both figuratively and literally. 

Scenes and events happening as early as chapter one will come back later. Twists, turns, self-fulfilling prophecies - all of which given this series a wonderful re-read value (in addition to the first read-through ride). 

There’s so much I could say about Hooky and it’s story and storytelling. However, much of it is walled off behind intricate layers of world-building and scenes - all of which are too spoil-ery for me to justify, well, spoiling it. 

Instead, I’ll move forward to another greatly quality of this story: Its characters. 

The Characters 

This story’s characters are much of its charm. If you can’t find yourself enjoying Dani and Dorian’s antics along with their friends - then much of this story will fall flat. 

They should not though, because, every character it a well and finely crafted piece of art. 

First, we have the main duo: the aforementioned twins. Both are polar opposites in character, as many twins tend to be written - but both come off as very genuine and their sibling love for each other comes across even more so. 

It’s the little things that make them work. The sibling bickering, the disagreements that put them at odds but eventually bring them back together. The fierce care and protectiveness they have despite this and hostility that will sprout against anyone that attacks one or the other. They won’t be finishing each other’s sentences but no one else in the world would understand their unsaid words better than they do with each other. 

Dorian, the brother is the ‘book smart’, the skill. He likes to think of himself as a well-read gentleman but isn't all that prideful over it (for the most part). He doesn’t handle the more rambunctious boys his age well despite his admiration of them and needs to socialize. 

If there is one thing he’s proud and or defensive over it’s his magic. His wizard heritage and family name - no matter what the outside world’s opinion of it is hell stubbornly hold on to it. A flip side to his genuine and endearing clumsiness when friends are in the picture is the fact that he is perhaps more cynical or anxious than his sister. He’s far from perfect, but again this is due to his youth and inexperience rather than any lingering personality flaw. Throughout the story, he does many things, both good and bad - but everything he does is consistent and grounded as the individual he’s been built up to be. 

Dani is the more outgoing of the two twins, she’s more so the ‘raw power’ of the duo. Despite being just as sheltered as her brother, she’s a step ahead of her brother when facing the uncertain, confident, adventurous but rash - despite how this gets her into trouble. 

She is, however just as sensitive as her brother. In fact, all the while being more outgoing it can seem like she is more easily pressured by the views of others on her than her bother at times, the more easily influenced by the world around her. 

There is also a vast supporting cast of characters in addition to our interesting twin due. Some of which I doubt hesitate to even call just “side” characters with the role they continuously play. 

There’s Nico, a rambunctious village boy - who just wants to properly get the chance to grow up as a wizard’s apprentice despite his ‘lack’ of ability with magic. He’s first introduced as one of those ‘rough around the edges’ individuals with a somewhat un-empathetic temperament. 

As the story’s scope grows and as our characters mature with their experiences, however, Nico is quickly one of the characters who take the lead in his development. Considering where he started, he ends up one of the most grounded and wise characters.

Our next character is Princess Monica. As per her moniker - she certainly starts off impersonating her title. Stuffy, self-aggrandising, very obtuse regarding the lives of everyday people - the list goes one. Her introduction is set with her decision to embark on a quest to find her prince charming. 

Just like our main character duo, she is very sheltered, however. And quickly she’ll discover that her wants and beliefs may clash with reality. This pompous air (which may annoy some readers) thankfully, does not last long. Monica quickly blooms to be one of the most empathetic and hardworking characters within the story. Her blooming relationship with Dorian is as agonisingly anxiety inducing as it is heartwarming to see. 

I could talk at length about the other characters, but if I did this post would go on and on. But certainly, Mark, Alex, Damien, Will, Master Pendragon, the King, the Wytte family - all are intriguing and compelling characters which will keep you around if you’re not hooked already. 

The Art 

The final thing to this post is me just briefly discussing the art. If you haven't noted already from the screenshots - it’s gorgeous and unique. Here the author/artist takes full advantage of the medium provided to her. Scenes will flow down for pages, something only possible in the webtoon. Characters will talk in coloured speech bubbles, something only possible in coloured and static media such as comics. 

The art in this series is nothing close to static, however. It's dynamic and inventive in its paneling in a way that brings so much charm to the series. 

Emotional moments are that much more impactful as you, the readers, are swept through both dream-like and nightmarish scenes alike. Scenes will flow just as much as they will pause between panels, letting words and emotions soak in. They build up awe as well as they do tension and dread. The artistry of the author develops along with the story is nothing short of beautiful especially as we reach the current ending arc’s climax and denouement. 

To Summarise 

Hooky is a well-crafted piece of writing that I hope more people learn about and get to read. It's currently going into its final arc (as of writing this post) and I can attest that it certainly is worth the read. While as a story it enjoyed taking after the grim origins of our favourite fairy tales, it never forgets what it once was - a story about two twins just missing their school bus - and it makes sure to show the readers it hasn’t forgotten with a fairy tale ending fit for a child’s bedtime story its so sweet. 

[lizzybeth1986]

Quick Thoughts on TRH Book 1, Chapter 3

• I'm hoping that if I have this chapter out early enough (doubtful, because compiling and organizing my screenshots takes time, and my drafts often don't save which means there are times I will have to replicate whole paragraphs from scratch. But fingers crossed!), I might try and do revisits of the first book. I did four of those chapters last year, and I think now - when we're looking at some of the stories told to us in Book 1 from a new lens - is a good time to explore that first book again.

• I hope the read more issue is resolved by now. It made posting quite hard the last time. In the meantime these are the tags you can block: #long post, #trh quick thoughts, #trh qts, #trh qt reblogs.

• Thanks a lot to @pixieferry for her Hana playthrough, @thefirstcourtesan for her Drake playthrough screenshots and the Abhirio YouTube channel for the Maxwell playthrough screenshots. Not much of those are up, because of lack of space to put up the pictures and the fact that this particular chapter wasn't specifically LI centric.

• Title: Your Kingdom Awaits.

Alternative Title: Tell Me What's Gestating in My Womb Today, Cordonia! A Cordonian Ruby? An Autumn Glory? A Granny Smith?

• Three chapters in and I'm getting more and more baffled by this story by the day. There's stuff I like. Some of the characters I still love. I have fun looking at the little hints, the bits of symbolism, the callbacks. I love theorizing what we'll be doing next! But all of this needs to be glued together by a coherent storyline and this just isn't it.

• Even if we push aside the gross inequalities in balance (re: character development), there's still so much that just doesn't make sense. Why is there so much rush. Why is everyone in this country (and outside) so invasive and entitled over this one noble's child? Why are we doing such insane scales of prep over a process that is in itself is so unpredictable? Why am I learning about Cordonia's allies/potential enemies in such a vague and shoddy fashion? And most of all what kind of bullshit Royal Council is this???

• But I'll elaborate on all those questions later. For now let's move on to the chapter!

• If you didn't buy the corgi in Book 2, they ask you if you'd like to buy it now at the beginning of the chapter. Possibly that may affect the entry of the second corgi in some way? Idk. 

• Esther, the Queen of Cordonia is also still the queen of winging it. You'd think they'd have planned a look for her (esp given the amount of time they could spend on the train) and gotten her ready by the time they reached there, not scrambled around for an outfit the minute they reached Valtoria.

• The LI tells the MC that they're fixed an appointment with the best obstetrician they could find, and we will be going there to ask our preliminary questions plus get a check up. I was wondering if in Hana's case they would be going to a fertility specialist instead.

• In any case, Bertrand volunteers to help us with an outfit for the last time in a short while, because he's traveling to Texas to prepare for their wedding. (we're going there too, but later. I'm not looking forward to another round of Savannah-worship - possibly with an added side of Bianca-worship - no thank you).

• Bianca's ranch is called the Walker Ranch, after Jackson's last name. Why Jackson's?

• Our OOTD!

Electric blue with a gold belt and a black and white border on the neckline, accessorized with a necklace (I think it's pearls set in gold?) and a brooch pin in the shape of a crown.

I kinda like this one and knowing the way this team operates when it comes to outfits most of the time, I'm pretty sure the colour scheme was chosen on purpose. With this outfit, the MC is presenting herself in the national colours, with a tiny signifier of what her future role might be. Either as Queen or as mother of the future heir to the Crown. This is an outfit that would send a message during Liam's announcement, whether she is (symbolically) wearing that crown or not.

• I'm obviously not very comfortable with the implications that would go with that outfit (esp if she is not the Queen), but I can't deny it does its job.

• The MC can opt to go for either being poised, acting like a diva or being very casual in her approach. Whatever she does the crowd pretty much worships her.

•

So everyone except Liam has someone (media, a fan, common people) approaching them as a way of showing how famous and revered the entire group has become in Cordonia. Liam doesn't need one coz he's anyway getting his moment with his big speech in front of the Valtoria manor.

Drake - Donnie Brine from the CBC speaks to Drake, positioning him as a man of the masses, the person that the Cordonian people see as their representative. Drake is woefully unprepared and freezes, blurting out that "things are great" which probably might end up becoming a meme on Cordonian internet later. Random Cordonian Woman from Applewood saves him by confirming this statement even though her trees have yet to grow and the tax problems are pretty much making her life "not great".

Maxwell - Where are Jiro and Camellia from Applewood? I like little Marco and Valerie but I hope they're not the only kids PB is going to be showing every time they need to show children. Marco approaches Maxwell and the MC both to sign his copy of Maxwell's book, and Maxwell takes care to do a dramatic signature that will not "obscure the picture of his face". I'm giggling at that image.

Hana - Valerie approaches Hana with a handmade flower necklace, presumably with a pattern made from "the Lee family crest". Now either Lorelai's family in Cordonia have the same surname as Xinghai, or Xinghai got himself a house crest for some reason. Either way, to toss out a detail like that so casually (a family crest is something that passes down through generations, esp in noble families) without even thinking of the logistics of it...(when an entire book of yours has been dedicated to sigils and crests) is pretty lazy.

BUT. In good news this means that my longtime speculation that Hana's mother's house had flowers as part of their court of arms is correct! (I was also right about a couple other things, like Maxwell's ancestors and Liam's mother being alive when Olivia was brought to the palace. YAY! 😁)

• We now move on to Liam's public announcement. Which sounds kinda weird whichever way you look at it. A married Liam announces that he and his wife are on a mission to enjoy babymaking and a single Liam announces this:

(Screenshots from a Hana playthrough by @pixieferry)

I will translate what both Liams are saying into Cordonian:

Married Liam: We don't have an apple cinnamon bun in the oven yet, but we're definitely having fun kneading that dough nudge nudge wink wink.

Single Liam: I'm neither making apple buns nor kneading dough. I'll leave that to my friends the bun-making experts here. I'm just gonna park my butt outside the oven door along with the rest of Cordonia.

Sounds weird? You're welcome. It was meant to sound weird.

• Esther finally reunites with her corgi Joy! I wonder if at some point she'll meet up with her horse Celestia and red pandas Hansel and Gretel too xD

• Mara tells me safety checks have been done, but...it's Mara saying that, so I'm not sure I'm quite convinced. The alternative is Bastien, so...we're kinda screwed I guess.

• The group then discusses the future foetus, and Liam takes this opportunity to hint at their childhood history. You know what that means? DIAMOND SCENE!!

•

(Screenshots for Asian Liam from my playthrough, Black Liam from @pixieferry and White Liam from @thefirstcourtesan)

LOOK AT THE WEE LITTLE KIDDIES AND LIAM'S MOM OMG AAAAAA.

As far as I can tell, among the kids the sprites for all three Liams and Drake are very much new, and the rest come from variations and changes to different faces. Maxwell's face is a copy of Simon from THoBM (only the mouth is slightly different), Hana's has a lot of similarities to young Kenna in TCaTF, but with pigtails instead of tiny buns. Olivia's is a little harder to place but I think there are plenty similarities between hers and RoE Camellia's face. For Queen Eleanor they used Young Mary's (MC's mother) sprite from D&D in accordance to whichever Liam you chose. Perhaps the only Mary sprite not used here would be the brown/Indian one, because Liam's ethnicities mainly feature White, Black and Asian. She even wears Mary's opera outfit (that incidentally Mary also ended up wearing to her wedding lol).

• Somehow they forgot that Maxwell was supposed to be a cute chubby little hippo who was loved by his mother.

• I'd like for Black Liam to grow more hair on his head because the curls on his younger self are lovely 😍

• Since most of the childhood tales revolve around the experience of growing up in the palace, this build up to the diamond scene begins with the MC asking questions about each of the boys (Liam, Drake, Maxwell).

- Little Liam and His Crown: Liam claims he only wore those during state occasions, but Maxwell (who admittedly didn't see Liam as much as Drake did but saw him often nonetheless) saw him practically sleep in the thing, and Drake has pictures to prove it lol.

- Grumpy Drake: Maxwell and Liam agree on Drake becoming grumpier as he grew older, but disagree on what metaphors to use to describe it. Maxwell favours "scratchy bark on a secretly loveable tree", and Liam claims he is "whiskey maturing in its barrell". ("oh", I want to ask Drake, "so that's what they call 'old grain mash' these days?" 🤣 This is my revenge for him referring to wine as old grape juice back in Book 2). No prizes for guessing which metaphor Drake liked better.

- Banning Maxwell from Palace Rooms: Maxwell's lucky he has a king for a friend because apparently before Liam jokingly and unwisely decided to give the man a royal pardon Maxwell was banned from all the good rooms 😅

• Hana clearly hasn't lost her touch when it comes to epic savagery. "I imagined you guys like the Three Musketeers, only...less French". 😅😅

• This diamond scene is split into three parts. You have the fun 'adventures' of the little boys (and later Olivia) at the palace, split in between by a slightly more sombre tale of little Hana's loneliness. The narrative voice in all three is very much that of a child, and focuses on Liam's and Hana's imaginations, so as to make their childhood stories more real to us while still providing us background information about the country's recent history (the "recent history" bit doesn't apply to Hana, though, since she is in China at the time).

- Pirate Adventures at The Palace Courtyard: Liam, Drake and Maxwell pretend to be pirate kings, battling rivals on the palace courtyard. After rescuing Maxwell from being stuck on the branches of a tree, the trio decide to continue their adventures on the gardens that are his mother's brainchild, but are stopped by a palace guard. Liam is briefly saddened by this, but is comforted by Drake and Maxwell. The boys then decide to continue playing in the palace kitchens. This scene begins by focusing on the antics of the little ones, but is really about the changed atmosphere in the palace that the boys themselves were too young to notice at the time.

(We also find out which place in TCaTF the Beaumonts originated from, since young Maxwell refers to himself as a pirate from Panrion in both scenes that he is in *cue Lizzy looking very very smug because I've been saying the Beaumonts were from Panrion/someplace in Ebrimel since way back in Book 2*)

The MC has options to respond to this tale (either about whether they were always this naughty, or about the increased security in the palace). In response to her question about the three of them, the boys tell us that Liam was known for being a free spirit and would skip many diplomacy meetings before he even met the other two (again, Constantine, Liam was A CHILD). If you ask the question they want you to be asking, however, about the increased security in the palace, Drake and Maxwell will tell you the security wasn't as strict earlier, and Liam will explain that the royal family had recently received threats at the time, and his parents were a lot more tense and on-edge than usual. Either way, you either get to know a bit about the political atmosphere at the time, or realize that little Liam wasn't the heavily burdened one we met on that first night in New York.

- Pretend-Teatime with a Young Hana: Hana continues on this thread of conversation by focusing on the bond between the boys, commenting on how she never grew up with that kind of experience. To which Drake and Maxwell have these reactions:

@Drake, pls fall on a cactus.

@Maxwell. Honey. She said this to you yesterday. She's probably said this more than once. You've seen her parents!! Wtf kind of friend are you if you can't even take what she said seriously the first time?

@Hana pls get yourself better friends 😭

Like @callmetippytumbles said in her response to this scene, I have no patience for this kind of selective stupidity.

So Hana's scene is technically a call-back to something she once told the MC back in Book 1 Chapter 6, when they were on their way to the post-Derby tea party with Queen Regina. At the time, Hana spoke of her parents not allowing her toys because they thought them frivolous, and how she had to make do with whatever was lying around instead. We actually see this happen in reality here. We see her PoV of what her inanimate objects do, we see her practicing court etiquette on these objects with her tea set, and we see her leave space for her asshole mother even though Lorelai doesn't deserve that much respect or consideration. There is a lot to unpack in this scene and I want to do that in my General Thoughts section later on...but for now I'll just say that it broke my heart, and not just in an "oh poor Hana" way.

- The Attack from Lythikos: I love this sequence too, not only because it shows us Olivia, a younger Constantine and Liam's mother Eleanor, but because the narrative framing in itself alludes to what happened between Lythikos and the Capitol earlier through the pirate story. Liam and Olivia still speak in the language of their story, but the sequence actually plays out what happens in their real lives. Olivia attacks the pirates, but is left desolate, sword broken, at the end of it (just like her parents tried to, and died in the process - leaving an innocent Olivia alone without support). Liam offers her terms that would give her safety and protection, and in return, she asks to be Pirate Queen and for Drake's sword - which he reluctantly gives.

Constantine mistrusts Olivia and attempts to limit her natural abilities and instincts, but it is Liam's empathy, support and validation of her pain, that eventually makes her the steadfast ally that she becomes as an adult - not Constantine's paranoia. Had Liam followed Constantine's lead, the chances of Olivia falling into the trap of subscribing to her aunt's beliefs would have been much much higher, and Constantine would have found himself at the receiving end of a self-fulfilling prophecy. The narrative may also be implying how deep Eleanor's own impact on her son must be, long after her death, since the narrative frames him as adopting her way of dealing with situations often.

In any case the narrative allows us to see the children as they were before their individual tragedies changed them (except in Olivia's and Hana's cases - where they were still struggling to survive the situations they were in), and allows us to see what shaped them into the adults they are today.

The MC then gets to ask one of two questions: either why Constantine treated Olivia so badly, or about the arguments his parents were having. We learn from these that this incident was shortly after Liam became friends with her and his parents brought her to the palace (this references both Liam's conversation about Olivia to the MC in Book 1 Chapter 7, and Lucretia's complaints about Constantine "keeping Olivia hostage" in her diamond scene in Book 3).

• Possibly this may not be the only scene of its kind we will see. Possibly the next few may be Drake-centric, since we may actually meet Bianca in a few chapters. But these scenes may definitely have an impact on dialogue later, just like how learning of the assassination attempt in Drake's Italian Restaurant Scene and Eleanor's death in Liam's Fydelia Balcony Scene in Book 2 are referred to later (if bought) in the hospital scene with Constantine.

• In any case, we leave the past in the past (for now), and move towards Valtoria's throne room. Where we meet Penelope, just back from her first canine fashion show, Kiara who tells us she has everything kept under control (you always do boo 😍) and Madeleine who is all up our uterus.

• She mentions King Bradshaw from Auvernal and his "impossible to control" wife, then mentions a Queen Amalas immediately after without bothering to tell us where this person is from. WTF? At least tell me the name of her goddamn country if she's another person!! You'd just have to say Queen Amalas of ChickenFeetonia and I would understand.

• ...you're telling me the Queen of this country (in my playthrough) has barely looked at a map of the place she's ruling or checked out who rules what?? You're telling me that the Royal Communications Director is STILL going to give her a gazillion flash cards to read something that she could sum up in five minutes, at the very last minute? Bitch what have you been doing this entire time? Touching up your manicure??

•

@Penelope: No you're not.

@Kiara: STOP ENABLING HER, KIKI, AND GET YOURSELF BETTER FRIENDS.

@Madeleine: Pls fall on a cactus.

• Madeleine hasn't been here for even five minutes and already I've had enough of her entitled ass. "Little apple gestating in your womb"...just...I can't. Ugh. Get your nosy nose out of my oven!!

• Remember how I told you guys about how apple analogies may be used to denote fertility? (mostly because RoE spoke of this apple cutting ceremony and it was a very obvious indicator towards apple metaphors being used to describe pregnancy and childbirth).

• I facepalmed when Kiara agreed with her but she's also probably thinking "well see this is why they call me the smart courtier. I don't have to deal with this shit anymore and now you do" (she isn't wrong).

• WELL HELLO OLIVIA.

• She informs us that we're expected at the solarium. I have a solarium?

• Apparently it was Mara's honeymoon gift to us. More like her "sorry Bastien and I screwed up last book" gift, I'd say.

• So wait where was this roster Liam was speaking about in the last book's epilogue? I see one Cordonian noble and one Englishman who until my wedding wanted to have nothing to do with Cordonia, and who's now bleating "our country, our kingdom, we're under attack" like a panicking patriotic nanny goat.

• Why can I not see Emmeline here, who is clearly the expert on her duchy? (I mean like. Landon is nice, but I'd really like to see more women in this Council too). Also does Kiara's inclusion into the Council cancel out the presence of her father Hakim, who is a seasoned diplomat and might possibly have some really good suggestions for dealing with these foreign powers (and seriously he'd be a better option than Godfrey anyway).

• Now Esther has a suggestion! Let's see what it is...

• A royal ball, apparently. Which...given the company, I'm sure it probably would be appropriate but I'm pretty sure we'll need to have more than that in place. I'm pretty sure the people in this council should either be finding out whether the person making these suggestions knows anything about these issues or whether she is simply talking out of her ass. This was a problem last book as well. The MC rarely feels the need on her own to explore these situations more, is okay with just learning things last minute and rolling with it and has the same solution to everything. It's either tours or balls but very little actual exploration of the situation. (I mean there is even a point where she barely shows any empathy at Portavira - even though they're still reeling from a bunch of natural calamities - and thinks it's appropriate to tell them to come for her wedding anyway. No wonder Liam panicked and started giving her diplomacy lessons, stat!) I'd actually take the MC seriously if she were doing her research and her suggestions weren't so shallow and one-note.

• Hana is grinning and giving justifications like this suggestion makes sense. STOP. ENABLING. HER. HANA.

• I especially want to know what Liam's experiences with these dignitaries have been. Both last chapter and this one, I'm seeing him in a position where he is defiant and digging his heels into whatever ideas he is having, but I don't know the context yet and would like to make sense of that. From whatever I've read so far...Liam took the year following Leo's abdication to familiarize himself with taking the front seat in negotiations, and probably may have been familiar with this kind of situation and the kind of people involved even before he became Crown Prince. It makes me wonder how difficult negotiating with them has been, and I want to see why Liam is so done with these people, so fed up. We're missing some context here and I think learning at least a little more than these scraps would have been better for everyone.

• I like that they remember Kiara as the only one outside of the charmed six to get a seat in this council (Kiki deserves the best). I also liked how succintly she summed up Drake and Hana's points about what the heightened taxes are doing to the people as "a reminder that we're not just here for ourselves".

• I find the entire idea of Drake Walker being the sole commoner representative in the Council laughable, especially in a narrative where every other commoner barely has a face, hardly has a name, and almost never has a voice. A man who has spent a huge chunk of his life in a palace, and who I've hardly seen even interacting with a commoner in the story...I'm expected to believe he will have great insights on commoner issues?? Even in this meeting, it's Hana who does a better job explaining this situation (she's the one highlighting the tax issues) than he does. Then again this Council also somehow gave a seat to Duke Karlington - a man who literally never had Cordonia's best interests in mind last book, and who only ended up attending our wedding because we had to be brought in as family counselors to settle HIS family disputes (I mean lol Godfrey how can you call this wedding a disaster when it caused you to magically become so "patriotic"!)

For God's sake, I want to see other commoners on this council. I want people who are actually living these experiences highlighting their issues. This is an issue I have with the MC too. She started out a commoner herself a waitress who wouldn't even flinch at the sight of rats in a dumpster. For someone of that background and who has possibly lived under the worse circumstances than some Cordinians themselves, you'd think that she'd have questions and show interest in how the people who aren't owning lands and are regular individuals on the street live their lives, and whether things are okay for them. But she's so immersed in the world of nobility that she rarely ever even tries to come out.

• Before Liam takes into account everyone's points and comes to a conclusion, the MC has the opportunity to give them her opinion. She can either say that we can't trust anyone, which Godfrey agrees with, or that an alliance would be good for Cordonia, which Godfrey views as naive, OR (and I didn't expect to like this response but I actually do) that she's a waitress from the States, and wouldn't know all that much about this situation. To which there isn't much of a reaction as such, but that's kind of what seems different about this book compared to the others.

• Once the meeting is wrapped up, our LI and Maxwell/Hana whisper in a corner about a surprise they have in store, and take us upstairs to show us what it is. If you're marrying any of the other three, Maxwell is the one who has arranged and picked out themes and colour schemes for the nursery. If you're married to Maxwell, Hana takes over this role.

• Ooooh. New (I think!) baby music! Nice. Very lullaby-like.

• Every design has these basic components:

a crib with a pillow (which I think will be updated later)

a couch nearby, likely for comfort when the mother wants to breastfeed (the updated versions seem to have a footrest)

a table with a lamp

three empty frames (also to be updated. I'm guessing for one of those "my first hand/foot impression" kind of thing and maybe even photoshoots etc)

a ceiling lamp/chandelier

a hook, also on the ceiling.

The two updated versions have footrests, updated lamps and ceiling decorations, additional carpet and customized designs (except for the crib and the pictures and the hook, which I think will be updated later). The Royal Glam theme is all reds and golds, very luxurious and very Valtoria. The Fairytale Forest theme has more whimsy, with bears, foxes, leaves, flowers and apples on the wallpaper, wood paneling, a beautiful golden lamp. Very pretty. Both seem to reference the MC's journey in TRR: her being either a Royal and the closest thing to one, and her journey being very fairytale-like (remember, the same logic was used for Hana's "something blue" gift for the MC's - where she views her as Cinderella).

• Only problem is...who exactly buys a nursery before they have a baby! Especially considering how unpredictable pregnancy and childbirth can be.

• We now meet Dr Ramirez for an appointment. I'm not sure about her suggestion that prenatal vitamins etc they will deal with after she has conceived. I know a number of people who did pre-pregnancy appointments and vitamins and folic acid were on the top of the list of things they'd start a routine with.

• As expected, all the appointments go roughly the same, with the usual answers to the usual questions (one about sushi, another about morning sickness and a last one about potential complications). The MC and LI are in the clear, and can start preparing - but apparently shouldn't stress. LMAO. Thank you doctor, I'm sure that will be easy to do in this country 😂

• Hana's goes differently, and it's clear this doctor's visit was primarily written to address her situation with the MC. The tests go differently, the suggestions given to them are different, the questions the MC asks (one about choosing donors, when they should start, and who should carry the child). The bombshell that immediately follows this is:

Wow. Seriously. Wow. You couldn't find a more temporary reason for why the MC has to be the one conceiving? It has to be something that would make her overall ability to conceive almost impossible?? (and this we find after one test? No follow ups?) I recall someone putting up/reblogging these screenshots with a caption about how the narrative pretty much took Hana's entire ability to conceive from her, and it's so true - and so disturbing when you place it in the context of how they've dealt with her issues so far (more on this later).

• In Hana's playthrough, she struggles with implications of this news, but constantly tries to veer the focus back to "well at least one of us can is able to have this baby". Twice, she is shown moving away from her pain to ask about the other possibilities for the MC.

• Anyway...we now move to the next morning, when the couple wake up to bad news - and it's concerning the pictures taken during their honeymoon. Given that Maxwell/Hana is holding a magazine when they tell the MC they found out who was responsible...I wonder if it's one of our news outlets. Or whether it's a foreign media rep.

• So I guess this complicates things at our Ball, since we're already on thin ice and this news would have spread to those other dignitaries as well. So we're going to have to deal with whatever implications come with those pictures (perhaps a spin on the royal gang having fun while Cordonia is in a national crisis? Who knows. It would be hypocritical of Cordonians and people from other neighbouring countries to judge the couple over the babymaking that they themselves were enforcing on these two!)

• In any case...royal ball this week. And in the universe of PB's stories that usually means some shit will go down.

General Thoughts and Observations:

• The funny thing about the MC's responses now is that her heightened position now seems to allow her to get away with a lot more than she used to. Now if she gives a joke response, the media and people laugh with her rather than at her. If she is a diva, the crowd will lap it up. I'm guessing what the book is trying to imply is that these are the people she has won over and doesn't exactly need to worry about, and now the ones she will have to convince are from other, more powerful countries - ready to back Cordonia into a corner anytime.

• As you can tell by now, I absolutely loved the childhood sequences. They sounded like children, most of the narrative lines up with what was already said in the previous series, and there were some interesting narrative devices used here.

• I think the third sequence especially drives home the point about what Liam did right, even as a young boy, and what Constantine refusing to look past Olivia's lineage to see her as an individual could have cost him. Constantine's ruthlessness and lack of genuine care for his bonds/friendships (eg. Hakim) had him in a position where he was unable to relate to anyone beyond his own tiny bubble (even his own wife Regina was taking countermeasures to make the best of his horrid plan), and had him make decisions that did more harm than good. For instance, take what he did to the MC, for no fault of her own other than that he didn't think she'd be a good Queen. Not only was what he did utterly disgusting, but it also would have made his own family a subject of shame in the country (which is why Constantine practically begs her never to expose him, because then Liam would be paying the price). Imagine what would have happened if Constantine didn't agree with Liam and perhaps Eleanor, never brought Olivia to the palace, and Liam had never shown her his constant support. Liam's genuine empathy in this case pretty much ensured the safety of his own line.

• I also love the implications of that sequence. Constantine is so wrapped up in his fear that he tries to break what Olivia considers most precious (Zenobia the sword in this case, but this could allude to her parents' deaths and later, her possible marriage to Liam at his Coronation). Liam attempts to fill that gap by taking her in, caring for her, and giving her the tools to continue being the Lythikos fighter she has always been.

• There are a few TCaTF references in the palace scenes: Maxwell mentions Panrion twice, and Olivia calls her sword "Zenobia" in honour of her historical hero (she still speaks of Zenobia with something akin to worship during the Winter Festival in Lythikos).

• Olivia's dress is also modelled on Zenobia's, with the same colour and bodice embroidery. In fact most of the clothes are very similar to their adult garments: Drake still wears denim, Maxwell favours dark colours (still should have been chubby though), Liam's clothes are similar to his casual wear minus the ascot, and Hana wears pink, with flower designs on the skirt.

• What I like most are the narrative voices for both Liam and Hana, who are the ones narrating these stories, and how rooted in their imaginations the scenes themselves sound. But there are significant, heartbreaking differences in how we see their imaginations play out:

Here are a few samples of narration I've managed to save from Liam's PoV. Notice how Liam and his friends are so into their little game that they find adventure in everything? Notice the language they use to describe themselves and what they are doing? Once-defiant topiaries shaking in fear at their antics. "Liberating" chocolate tarts. "Conquering" the upper floors. These boys are playing out their dreams and showing us the kind of men they would want to be. The heroes. The victors. The ones everyone looks at with awe and reverence.

This is also not a story Liam is creating alone. Drake and Maxwell happily join in, sink into their characters and display their heroics alongside him. Olivia also joins in and holds her own, and when Liam's father tries to break her spirit, Olivia shows Liam her trust and faith in him by using the language of the game.

On the other hand, here is what the narration technique in Hana's tea scene looks like:

There is a lot to unpack here. A lot. There is perhaps more in this one scene of Hana's than there is in all of Book 3, where she was pretty much pushed to the sidelines.

We were told in Book 1 that Hana had to get creative because she wasn't allowed toys. This was told to us in a rather matter-of-fact way, by a person who was normalized in this way of life and who hadn't yet realized just wrong her upbringing was or how damaged her self of self was. It's perhaps easy to forget this bit of dialogue if you were reading it for the first time because at the end of the day it's spoken of without much gravity.

It's when you see it play out in front of you, in little Hana's voice, from an adult Hana who will now view this entire sequence very, very differently, that the tragedy of it all really hits you. At such a young age she is forced to make do with the little she has: the little she has in terms of things to play with, the little she has in terms of relationships. What the MC says after that sequence is half-right, it's sweet how Hana used her imagination in spite of her parents' rules and strict lifestyle. But what that misses is the burden experiences like that would place on a child in her earliest, more formative years. What stand out to me the most in this sequence are these:

- The most obvious: the use of a 'tea party' to teach herself etiquette and diplomacy. In the present, Hana tells the group that "a lot of what I learned about courtly negotiations, I learned from the tea table". This is the level Hana chooses to focus on after telling her tale, to soften the blow of the story itself.

- The fact that despite her mother's treatment of her, Hana still leaves space for Lorelai. Still wants to believe the best of her, still wants her involved in her life. Lorelai denies her her support and comfort, which is the initial layer to her injustices against Hana. In a lot of ways, even now - Hana is still leaving space for Lorelai, giving her chances to improve, trying to educate her on respecting her boundaries better. It's a long, exhausting process, and Lorelai doesn't deserve the many chances Hana keeps giving her, but Hana is also a person who struggles to completely cut off from the people in her life, controlling and emotionally abusive though they may be.

- At the end of the day, the objects she is giving a life and a personality to, are inanimate objects used for other purposes. Not toys, not real friends. Every last one of them. Miss Doily is kind and caring, Princess Sinckerdoodle is jealous and gives a damn about etiquette (I like how you can see allusions there to Olivia and the MC in the Bakery Ball dialogue!). But they're essentially all objects that cannot move the way her narration describes them as moving. Even dolls and toys, inanimate though they are, are made for the express purpose of allowing a child to participate in pretend play. They can be given a voice, their limbs can be moved, the child can easily turn such a space into an active space with the use of her toys. The doily, the napkin, the sock...these are things Hana will have very little actual control over. They will not be able to move the way she wants them to, do the things she wants them to. Everything has to be happening in her head and there is very little outlet for her other than the few things she has at hand (a similar example of of Hana using scraps we will also find in Book 2, where she draws whiskers on a rock to replicate a toy mouse).

Look again, at the differences in the way Liam narrates his tale and how Hana narrates hers. Liam's is also a fantasy, also uses inanimate objects. But supporting him in building this imaginary universe are his friends, and the parents who both don't stop him from immersing himself in this imaginary world, and have a safe normal (for now) life to return to when those "adventures" are over. On the other hand, Hana has to do the heavy work...in every way. She has to imagine not only the background of what is happening, but also what the objects in front of her are like, what they will do, how they will interact with her, how they will interact with each other.

If I had to replicate such a scene into film, the loneliness of this sequence would perhaps hit harder. A large, empty room. A tiny girl. A tea set and several strange items - and none of them actually move. She is sitting alone, in the dim light, in the silence, talking to these objects that will never respond so she pretends they do, just to chase away that yawning, aching feeling of not having a single friend. All she gets in return is silence. All she finds in front of her is space, and more space. The kind of space that could swallow a child in its emptiness.

And in the center, is a seat left empty. For a mother who doesn't believe her daughter is worth the time.

I think there will be very few who will appreciate the strength it takes to survive a lifetime of that, and that's sad.

• The little Hana sequence reminds me of the animated film Cinderella, particularly in how the main character uses dreams and imagination as an escape from her life of drudgery and the abuse she faces daily. Particularly the song "Sing Sweet Nightingale", where Cinderella's dull world bursts into vivid colour through the soap bubbles that emerge from the washing bucket.

It's a beautiful, soft, almost surreal little sequence...but when you strip it all down to its basics, what you're essentially seeing is a woman so abused by her family and so trapped in this life she does not deserve, that she has to grasp at straws to find joy. Or in this case, soap bubbles.

What Hana faces in her home is perhaps a little more similar to Rapunzel's situation in Tangled than Cinderella's, but there are definite similarities in the way both characters use their imaginations to soothe and comfort themselves. She is forced into a situation where her imagination - and these things that can't respond to her - are all she has, and the only ways she can keep herself safe and happy. That's way too big a burden for a child so young to bear.

• I wonder if there will be more than the memories. Perhaps documents, news clippings, research material that the MC can use to dig further into what's going on in this country. It's possible, but it's also possible that memories will entirely be how we unravel this mess. I was speaking to @thefirstcourtesan the other day and she mentioned that Bianca and Bastien would both be pretty good sources for finding out more - Bastien, after all, had a lot of respect for the second queen and was close to Jackson, and Bianca would have heard certain things from her husband or witnessed something at the very least (and if they were friends, that angle too). I probably would add Lucretia and maybe Anton (if we see them and if they cooperate), Bertrand or someone new who knew Bartamely (if we can find out more about the Beaumont house that would be lovely!), the Lees, and...Francesco? (I still haven't forgotten that Bertrand mentioned him as being a friend of Liam's mother). I also want to see what new information Olivia got from the last time she did her research on any hidden deals or laws that could endanger the kingdom. There are quite a few possibilities in terms of what we could find and how it can be presented, so I'm looking forward to that. This scene was a good start.

• Having said that, this was something they should have been addressing the previous book. If they hadn't spent so much of their focus on all the wrong things, we wouldn't have as much ground to cover as we do now. And I'm not sure they've learned their lesson enough that we will not see the same mistakes repeated this time.

• Why is the system in place to inform and update the MC on what's happening so poor this time. At least earlier, we'd have a fairly good idea of what would be happening next, even if some important stuff was done last minute. Now the explanations themselves are poorly formed and done without proper thought on whether the MC/readers might understand what's going on or not. It doesn't look good on the story, nor does it look good on those characters esp the MC. This is stuff she could have maybe gotten away with as a suitor. But now she is Duchess/Queen, and an influential figure. What looked good in her days as a suitor won't look so good on her now.

• The Royal Council could be a way forward - for the nobility and royalty-heavy narrative to something that shows us more perspectives from the people who really form the backbone of this country - the commoners who actually populate Cordonia's lands and duchies, whose hard work likely keeps the economy running. Just one Drake isn't adequate for that kind of representation - not when he very rarely addresses their issues in the first place. Please tell me there will be more in that Council because the Council as it stands is in no way an improvement on the status quo.

• I've said more than enough about how bizarre and downright OOC Liam sounds, but I do think we should not ignore the context - the fact that every single individual involved is making these demands of the MC and expecting her to save their country through her child without really checking if she has basic knowledge or other resources in place (such as information about the rulers she is meeting). That includes the LIs. It's very easy to make just a character or two a convenient scapegoat, but let's not forget that there isn't a single person in this entire narrative that is bothering to examine the implications. Not a single.

• What really got me angry...was the Hana doctor sequence. Maybe two books ago it would have just hurt - but more on the level of "it hurts to see Hana like this but I have hope for her". Hope that she would have the space to grieve something she had lost before she could ever even have it, hope that the narrative would validate her pain and encourage her healing. But I can't even hope for that anymore.

This is a very very painful, complicated situation to put a person in. And yes, sometimes those are things you want to talk about and finding out you can't have children when you've always wanted to have them is a very real, very difficult situation - and there is a lot you can explore in terms of how a person with these conditions would feel. But the thing is...Hana has already been on the receiving end of multiple tragic storylines. I have already seen enough and more of her in pain. What I'm not seeing is a good - or even adequate - payoff that validates her painful journey and allows for a release of those emotions. I'm constantly seeing more tragedy, less triumph. I'm not seeing enough satisfactory resolution to those many many issues, and I've spent three books just watching her hurt be brushed aside both by the people who bully her AND the people who are supposed to be her friends (let's be real, they're doing it even now). And now is supposed to be a good time to pile up another difficult situation on her???

• Whenever Hana has been forced into situations that hurt her, her emotions and thoughts have always been pushed to the sidelines - unless and until it was to elevate the MC to a pedestal in Hana's eyes. Hana has rarely - if ever - been given the space to speak out against injustices done to her, has rarely been allowed to have an opinion on people who have harmed her.

When the narrative should have been validating what Madeleine put Hana through, they opted to create sympathy for Madeleine instead...and had her completely minimize what she did to Hana ("I'm sure Hana will be willing to let bygones be bygones").

When the narrative should have been allowing her to discover what her sexuality was, they opted not to talk about it at all. They opted to make her MC-sexual instead. Even with the "alternative LI" they planned for her (*pukes*), they focused more on Madeleine's feelings than Hana's.

When the narrative should have allowed her the space to explore what her parents did wrong and arm her against their faulty arguments about her being the "delicate flower" who cannot survive without them, the writers opted to push her into a 'solution' that was still centered around her usefulness, not her emotional state. Her 'happy ending' with her parents involves constantly educating them on how to treat her with respect, a suffocating, draining process for a child with her background.

When the narrative should have - at least - given her a good wedding, after showing us what dreams she had for it, a wedding where she was treated like a bride, not a bridesmaid, her writers did exactly the opposite. She is more skilled than the MC yet it is the MC that gets the duchy. She is the creative one who comes up with the polo moves yet it is the MC that gets the credit. She is the one that didn't have a chance to fully plan her own wedding the way she wanted earlier, yet the same MC still treats her like her wedding planner rather than a bride. In not one of these situations is she ever allowed to vent about or even speak of what this is doing to her.

Maybe they will give her a chance to explore this difficult journey, maybe they won't. But how dare they push another tragic, difficult (to her) truth such as this, when they have barely allowed her to voice discontent or pain on a host of other issues!

Piling more pain on top of the pain a character already has, isn't going to make your character better developed. Allowing them the space to feel and show those feelings to others will. Thinking of worthy resolutions to those issues, will. If you want to be fair to Hana, center her in her story. Expand on her origins. Focus on story not skills. And validate her pain goddammit!!

• Sigh. Until next time, folks.

[adarkrainbow]

Lost media quest: H&G Epic Tales (part 3)

Last time I ended my post while exploring the defunct epictales.com website. There was one page of this website (preserved in the Wayback Machine) that I did not add in this post: the About page.

The About page not only describes the Epic Tales line, but also lists the full staff that worked on this project. Here is what the website contains:

EPIC TALES™ is a developer and publisher of interactive storybooks for the iOS platform. EPIC TALES presents its own unique interactive adaptation of the imaginative and magical stories found in fairytales, folklore and world mythology.

All of our tales are narrated by our central storyteller, a most likeable dwarf named Silvertongue who used his magic to let our books and stories come to life. Each storybook offers stunning hand-drawn animations, a revamped storyline, original music scores, and spellbinding interactive environments that are sure to draw readers deep into the story.

EPIC TALES allows you to not only enjoy magical worlds and enchanting tales, but to experience them more closely than ever before.

We, the people at EPIC TALES, are always inspired by stories that fuel our ideas and imagination. We are storytellers, animators, and composers that gladly indulge ourselves in folklore, mythology, and the many tales and stories that have captured our imagination for generations. The result is a talented team of people driven to create original storybooks that are filled with whimsical characters, spellbinding environments, and interactive surprises. By combining creativity with technology, and talent with expertise, we hope to constantly produce exciting tales that bring every page to life. EPIC TALES is a joint venture between Cloud Castle Interactive and Anikey studios.

EPIC TALES Paul Hanraets, Founder of EPIC TALES and producer

Albert ‘t Hooft, Partner and creative director

Paco Vink, Partner and lead artist, animator

TEAM MEMBERS Lou Attia, Narrator and voice actor

Martin van Spanje, Software engineer

Joost van den Broek, Music composer

Arjen Schut, Sound designer

Sjan Weijers, Background clean-up artist

David Muchtar, Animator

Jelle Brunt, Animator

Ruben Zaalberg, Animator

The website also briefly offers descriptions/curriculum of the staff members:

Paul Hanraets Paul Hanraets has been a creative entrepreneur since 2002 when he co-founded Red Road Media, a media agency specialized in video games. Successful projects undertaken by Red Road include: Benelux largest annual game event Gamexpo, the tv show GAME FACTS broadcasted by TMF/MTV and the freely distributed game magazine Games Guide. In 2008 Paul founded Cloud Castle Interactive and was involved in the development of smaller game projects which further awakened his passion for the creative industry. As an immediate result Paul founded EPIC TALES, a developer of interactive storybooks for IOS and GAMBITIOUS an equity based crowdfunding platform dedicated to the games industry.

Albert ‘t Hooft & Paco Vink Albert 't Hooft and Paco Vink both studied traditional animation at the Willem de Kooning Art Academy in Rotterdam before they founded Anikey Studios in 2007. Anikey is an award winning animation studio which specialises in hand drawn 2D digital animation. Anikey creates independent and commissioned animations for television, films and games which have an emphasis on story, characters and fun. Anikey's first two independent films 'Paul & the Dragon' and 'Little Quentin' won several awards at international film festivals. In addition on working on the new EPIC TALES titles, Anikey is developing the first hand drawn animated feature film in the Netherlands since 30 years.

Lou Attia Working with the likes of Disney and Sesame Street, Lou Attia has been a professional voice-over artist for over 15 years. After studying professional vocals in London, England, Lou landed a radio host position at 104.2 Nile FM in Cairo, Egypt where he became Creative Director and then Program Director of the station. Throughout his seven years on the air, during which his morning show went on to be the No.1 listened to radio show in a city of 16 million, Lou continued to do voice-overs for numerous commercials, shows and features. In 2010 Lou moved to Toronto, Canada where he is currently a full time voice-over artist, writer and TV show host.

Martin van Spanje Currently co-owner of LayerGloss Digital Publishing, Martin used to program and design on 8-bit Sinclair machines in the eighties. Then came Macs, digital audio, ten years of IT-projects and finally, iOS. Nowadays he lives his life surrounded by Objective-C code, and he sometimes thinks cornflakes look a bit like people. Oh, and he doesn't do Twitter.

Joost van den Broek Joost van den Broek is a producer, composer, arranger and keyboardplayer based in Tilburg, The Netherlands. Starting out as a keyboardplayer for several metalbands like After Forever touring all over the world, he finished his conservatory with honour in musicproduction, keyboards and classical arrangement. Since then he been working as a freelancer in his own studio on several productions, compositions and arrangements, for acts/events like: Ellen ten Damme, Symphonica in Rosso, Wende Snijders, Games in Concert, Ben Saunders, Qlimax. Epic moviescores and/or/in combination with (pop/alternative)rock is what defines his style the most.

Arjen Schut Arjen Schut is a sound designer based in Hilversum, The Netherlands. As a freelancer Arjen has worked on numerous projects, both on location and in his own studio. Arjen is involved in sound effect creation for all sorts of media, but has a strong focus on interactive and animation projects. International blockbuster Killzone 3 being one of the larger projects.

I have taken upon myself to contact some of these artists, just in case they were open about talking or sharing information about the animation they worked onto. Is it a bad idea, or a good one? I don't know but that's the most straightforward direction one can take. I will warn you if I ever receive any response, positive or negative.

I forgot to link before the official page, on the Anikey Animation website, for their work on Hansel and Gretel - Epic Tales. Not only does it contain large, high-quality screenshots of the artwork, but their "Production" page also has one concept art for the storybook. They also list the credits of the app as such:

Title: Epic Tales - Hansel & Gretel

Release: 2012

Directed by: Albert 't Hooft & Paco Vink

Animation by: Jelle Brunt, David Muchtar & Ruben Zaalberg

Backgrounds by: Paco Vink & Sjan Weijers

Music by: Joost van den Broek

Sounddesign by: Arjen van der Schut

Producer(s): Paul Hanraets for Cloud Castle Interactive

AppAdvice still has a page dedicated to the application. There is also a review by the MacTrast website that is quite interesting because, while today the pictures contained within it are "dead files", in the Wayback Machine you can fetch them back, and they are pretty rare screenshots of the game! Here's an additional Dutch article I forgot to add earlier. Again, not much to add since they all basically just announce the game's release and rephrase the storybook's commercial description.

I also don't think I have added this to my previous posts, but Cartoon Brew also had a page for the app's launching, which contained this text:

The Hague, the Netherlands — April 24, 2012 — Hansel and Gretel – Epic Tales animated storybook is the first in a series of tales as told by Silvertongue, the likeable dwarf and storyteller, and is now available on the Appstore for IPad and IPhone.

Hansel and Gretel – Epic Tales animated storybook offers a world filled with whimsical characters ranging from pesky gnomes to witty dwarfs; from brave children to wicked stepmothers and cunning witches.

“But we are not just another fairytale App,” says Paul Hanraets, founder and producer. “What sets Epic Tales apart from other storybooks are the incredible production values. Each of Epic Tales storybooks are digitally hand-drawn by our award winning animators, and offer stunning 2d animations, professional voice acting, original music scores and ambient sounds by game industry veterans. These elements combined offer spellbinding interactive environments that are sure to draw readers even deeper into the story.”

“Of course, our alternating witty and wacky humour and the high quality of our animations are amongst the things that separates Hansel and Gretel from other storybooks,” says creative director Albert ‘t Hooft.”However, what ultimately distinguishes Epic Tales is the implementation of our central storyteller, Silvertongue the dwarf.” Using the magic of pesky gnomes, Silvertongue brings the stories to life and narrates them.”Silvertongue used to be quite the adventurer, travelling the world in search of the most intriguing tales and stories, and now looks after your storybook collection in his humble bookstore. He is a truly gifted storyteller who can take an audience from a gasp of fright to a roar of laughter in just the twist of a phrase.”

Epic Tales is a series of high quality, interactive fairytales that allows you to not only enjoy enchanting tales, but to experience their magical worlds more closely than ever before. Children will love the sense of wonder and discovery,while adults will certainly appreciate the clever and wacky humor.

A final piece to add to the dossier so far is Muchtar Productions' page for Hansel and Gretel - Epic Tales. Muchtar Production is the WordPress website of David Muchtar, a 2D animator and illustrator who worked on the Epic Tales animation as a (I quote) "Rough and Clean-up animator". He notably put within his portfolio an important number of concept art for the game's character designs. But, as with last time, I will keep it for the NEXT post!

Or... an almost final piece. I wanted to keep this for a much later post, but I ultimately decided to share it here. I vaguely described before one unofficial source for content about "Hansel and Gretel - Epic Tales". And that is an online review, a Youtube video, by a Youtuber named "Crazy Mike" specializing in app reviews. Here is the video, and the reason why this video is important (beyond it being the last remaining video review - unless I manage to get back the one from the defunct website) is because so far it is the only visual recording we have of the app outside of the trailers. Not only that, but at one point Crazy Mike opens the list of chapters within the app - which gives us a full glimpse of the story's main episodes, with thumbnails of each "tableau". Mind you, it is tiny details at the bottom of the screen so we can't get much of it... But with all the additional material I gathered, it will be a key element in my reconstruction of what the storybook looked like and was about.

[radishearts]

Confession week: ladynoir july

Ao3

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9,  Chapter 10,  Chapter 11, Chapter 12, Chapter 13,Chapter 14, Chapter 15

day 4 part 15- Akuma:

“Al- bunnix!!” ladybug and chat noir shouted in unison as they parted the hold from dancing as they rushed over to her aid.

“Ladybug, chat noir, what? Where am i?” the pink headed heroine asked weakly

“We don’t know ourselves, are you alright? How did you get your miraculous?”

“Long story involving an old man, rings, and time travel.”

Ladybug offered her a hand as she stood up, the rest of the heroes (with the exception of viperon and the dragoness who they hadn’t seen since the afternoon) crowded around.

“Who is this? Some sort of super hero we don’t know about?” roi singe asked, really confused about everything.

“This is bunnix, she helped us save time tagger, well her future self at least!”

“Nice to meet you monkey guy.”

“It’s roi singe, but what's it to you, mary poppins.”

“Whatever,” she glanced back at ladybug and chat noir “we need to find that akuma, and escape, paris is worried, she’s threatening to take everyone here if you don’t hand over your miraculous by midnight, and a giant light bubble is hovering over the city, all of it’s superheroes are gone, I was the last resort, remember?”

“But aren’t there more miraculouses?” chat noir asked

“ iOf course, i said the same thing but master fu said that 10 was enough, we need to find it, i held her off for a while back in Paris, and her powers seem to be interdimensional travel between here and well back home and from what I can tell she’s writing a book, and we’re the characters in it!”

“So we’re in a book?” carapace asked.

“It seems so, I mean, everything that has come to pass only seems like it would take place in a-”

“Fanfiction, of course, this entire time, we’ve been stuck in an akumas world because she had a bad case of writer's block?”

“She was willing to get akumatized, because she couldn’t write?” roi singe laughed “if that happened at our- i mean my school, i’m pretty sure hawkmoth wouldn’t have enough akumas for that!”

“Although his calculations were an estimate, it’s a pretty good one, but I don't think it’s necessary to run the numbers in this situation.”

“The only book I ever want to be in is a biography.” Queen bee scoffed

As everyone ignored her. Ladybug spoke up.

“Ok, we need to split up and find the akuma, rena and carapace, roi singe and bunnix, pegasus and queen bee, me and chat!”

“This is ridiculous, utterly ridiculous!” Queen bee muttered.

“Stay safe, find the akuma and don’t get caught, don’t engage, just alert us of your location, and then we’ll come and get you.”

“Just a friendly reminder: make the plan, execute the plan, expect the plan to go off the rails, throw away the plan.”

“It`’s true, superheroing is hard work, and nothing ever goes right.” ladybug added

Like many times before the conversation was cut short, the 8 miraculous holders crowding into a circle.

“Ladybug chat noir and you other insoldent minor heroes, give me your miraculous now, and we won’t have any problems.”

“We haven’t done it before. What makes you so different.”

“Fine be like that!”

She trusted her book open, shooting a light beam into the air.

“Finish the fairy tale!” she cackled. -

“What the hell is that?” the dragoness asked, to nobody in particular.

“I don’t kno-” his words cut short by the world rearranging.

The dragoness found herself in an epically disgusting dress which was a putrid shade of pink.

Disgusting.

“Well, well, well.” viperon teased

“Shut up.” she met his eyes, he himself had changed, sporting a sea foam green waistcoat, with darker tones emphasising the fact that they both look like they were present in a baby shower. Although she had to admit, he looked like a prince.

She analysed her surroundings   - The beam of light, had disorientated chat noir, he looked down at his clothes, which had changed again, seriously he felt like lady gaga at the met gala.

All these outfit changes.

Chatnoir let out a silent scream when he saw ladybug slowly making her way up the stairs to style queen, holding a rose for her.

“That's right my pretty, just touch the rose, and everything will be fine.”

Chat tried to run to her aid, but it was too late.

She had pricked her finger, and almost instantaneously, she had collapsed into slumber.

The deathly type.

The type that lasts for a 100 years.

- “What the actual-” bunnix began

“Father God, what have we done to deserve this!” roi singe interrupted, lifting his hands up in a prayer position.

“Didn’t know you were christian.”

“Whoever is playing this prank, they are at god level.”

“I don’t think it’s a prank.”

She looked down at her own clothes, the signature baby blue color seemed to be a consistent, all though she was wearing a dress?

Did fairy tales have any practically at all?

Roi singe dusted himself off.

He was wearing his colours too, but yet it was different. He was wearing a cloak.

“ I think he went this way, robin hood, is nothing but trouble!”

“steal from the rich give to the poor, what nonsense! Lady Mariam is a fool for falling in love with him!”

She pointed at his bow and quiver of arrows and he signaled for them to climb into the treetops.

- “Ughm this is ridiculous! Utterly ridiculous!” Queen bee scoffed, dusting herself off and standing up to get a better view of the place, only to find the smart mouth partner standing behind her.

“Yeah, thought you’d say that!”

“If you’d be quite for a little bit, I could figure out where on earth we are, and what were doing.”

“Oh, I already figured that out, where in the Hansel and Gretel story tale, and considering she said to finish the fairytale, i’m pretty sure we have to add our own twist, any ideas partner?”

She held her silence, maybe he was useful after all. -

“Where the hell am i?” rena asked, when she received no reply she shot up.

“Carapace, carapace!!!!!!”

She looked down finding a turtle.

“What did that akuma do to you? Wait, no, am i supposed to kiss you and you’ll turn into a prince? Wait should i?”

The turtle stared at her with it’s eyes.

(well with what else )

That's right it was a turtle.

Which meant she couldn’t just ask it questions and expect answers.

She would have to figure this one out by herself.

Which was ethically harder than it looked.

Who even wants to kiss a reptile?

@ladynoirjuly2019 

[alexsfictionaddiction]

‘Life itself is the most wonderful fairytale of all.’

If you missed my announcement post last week, you may not know that I am a co-host of a wonderful readathon that will be taking place from 11th-18th August. My co-hosts are BookTubers Sam, Becky, Erica and Jordan and I would love if you could subscribe to all four of their channels. They are all fantastic creators and their videos deserve a LOT of love!

Today’s post aims to give you some inspiration for your FairytaleAThon TBR. The challenges for this round are in the above image and I’ve selected a few books that fit each one, which you’ll hopefully be interested in. FairytaleAThon encompasses original fairytales, myths, folktales and retellings of them so the possibilties are almost endless! Here are my very best recommendations:

1. THUMBELINA: Read a fairytale or retelling under 250 pages.

ELLA ENCHANTED BY GAIL CARSON LEVINE: 240 pages.

This very funny and sweet retelling of Cinderella is perhaps better known as a cute Anne Hathaway film but the source material is definitely worth the read. It follows Ella, who was given the curse of obedience by a fairy, when she was a baby. This means that she has to do anything that anyone tells her -fight monsters, let down her friends and even deny that she’s in love with the prince. However, there is a beautiful feminist resolution that is sure to delight modern fairytale lovers!

THE SNOW QUEEN BY HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN: 96 pages.

The story that inspired Frozen is over 200 years old but this beautiful new edition from independent publishing house Pushkin is worth picking up for the coverlust alone! The original tale is quite different to Disney’s version but it is still an epic story of love and loyalty in the harsh landscape of the snowy North. When a magic mirror breaks and curses Kay to be blind to all of the good in the world, he is taken by the Snow Queen and locked in her ice palace. It’s up to his friend Gerda to trek across the icy plains and rescue him and his frozen heart.

THE BROKEN SWORD BY POUL ANDERSON: 237 pages.

Inspired by Norse mythology, The Broken Sword is a dark high fantasy that has somehow been packed into just over 200 pages. Skafloc is a human boy who has been raised by elves amidst their war with the trolls. The elves require the use of the sword Tyrfing, which the mighty Thor broke in order to stop it destroying Yggdrasil -the tree that brings the earth, heavens and underworld together. Only the giant Bolverk can fix it and it’s Skafloc’s job to persuade him. As well as this huge undertaking, Skafloc also needs to face his dark changeling self! This is ideal for Tolkien fans who need a quick whimsical adventure in a strange land.

THE WILD SWANS BY HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN: 64 pages.

I’m aware that this is the second Christian Andersen Pushkin edition in this post but LOOK AT THEM! The Wild Swans is a little-known story about a princess whose 11 brothers are turned into swans by their evil stepmother. Despite being determined to break the curse, the stakes are high and huge sacrifices will need to be made to reunite the siblings. It’s a heartbreaking story about familial love and loyalty.

2. GENTLE GIANTS: Read a fairytale or retelling over 500 pages.

CRESS BY MARISSA MEYER: 560 pages.

This sci-fi retelling of Rapunzel is actually the third book in the Lunar Chronicles series. Although each book is a retelling of a different fairytale, the characters do overlap and therefore it is best to read them in order. The good news is that you have plenty of time before the readathon to read both preceding books -Cinder and Scarlet. The series is incredibly unique, quirky and funny with some truly shipworthy romances and madcap adventure.

COMPLETE FAIRY TALES BY BROTHERS GRIMM: 1019 pages.

Ok, so this may be cheating a little BUT what would FairytaleAThon be, if you didn’t dip into some classic original stories at some point? This Penguin Vintage Classics edition of the tales collected by the Brothers Grimm is a simple yet beautiful chunk of a book that I believe should be a staple in any fairytale lover’s library. Featuring the original gruesome versions of classics such as Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood, Twelve Dancing Princesses and so many more, there is bound to be more than a few of these 279 twisted, disturbing stories that you love!

CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE BY TOMI ADEYEMI: 544 pages.

It was one of the biggest books of last year and its sequel is on its way next year. Children of Blood and Bone is inspired by the Orisha (deities) of West African mythology. It follows Zelie, a young girl with magical powers in a world where magic has been taken away and people like her are hunted by a tyrannical king. However now she is on a quest to avenge her dead mother and restore magic to her homeland. Followed by her brother Tzain, a rogue princess Amari and enemy prince Inan, this is a truly unique YA fantasy that I found completely unputdownable.

WICKED BY GREGORY MAGUIRE: 512 pages.

This prequel to The Wizard of Oz is best known as a hit West End and Broadway musical but the source material is also a fantastic read. Elphaba has been an outcast and persecuted all her life because of her green skin and this doesn’t change when she starts at Shiz University, where she meets the beautiful, queen bee Galinda. After a reluctant start, they soon form a friendship and band together with Munchkin boy Boq and quiet Vinkus prince Fiyero to put the injustices of their world to rights. Spanning over years of Elphaba’s life, Wicked features forbidden love, high-stake drama and challenges your idea of what evil really is.

3. IF THE SHOE FITS: Read any fairytale or retelling on your TBR.

Of course you should use your own TBR for this challenge but I’ve chosen some popular releases over the last couple of years that just might be on your TBR anyway.

CIRCE BY MADELINE MILLER

Not only is it a beautiful book but the story inside is truly captivating, bewitching and heartbreaking. This is a feminist retelling of the Greek myth of Circe, the sorceress living alone on the island of Aiaia with a talent for potion-making and a penchant for turning sailors into animals. In this version, Circe is banished to Aiaia by Zeus when he feels threatened by her unique brand of magic. There she develops her craft, tames the animals, grows herbs and even encounters travellers such as Daedelus, Icarus and Odysseus. After angering both mortals and gods, she needs to decide where she truly belongs to protect the thing she loves most. Madeline Miller is a gorgeous writer and Circe is a masterpiece.

THE HAZEL WOOD BY MELISSA ALBERT

Although not a fairytale or a retelling, The Hazel Wood has many fairytale elements and therefore, I feel it more than qualifies for FairytaleAThon. It follows 17-year-old Alice who has spent most of her life moving around with her mother because bad luck and disaster seems to follow them around. Alice’s grandmother is the author of a book of dark fairytales set in mysterious Hinterland. When her grandmother dies and her mother goes missing, Alice has almost nothing to go on. She teams up with classmate Ellery Finch, who also happens to be a superfan of her grandmother’s stories, to find her mother and discover the secrets of her grandmother’s creation. It’s the perfect remedy if you’re craving some fast-paced, whimsical action. THE SILENCE OF THE GIRLS BY PAT BARKER

Ok so it’s ANOTHER Greek myth retelling but this is another book that should really be on your radar.  The Silence of the Girls tells the story of the women affected by the Trojan war, who have been largely ignored by the original myth. It focuses primarily on Briseis, a Trojan queen who became a concubine to Achilles after he murdered her husband and brothers. Her life in the Greek camp is a world away from the one she led in Troy and she is now a slave to the army. When commander Agamemnon wishes to claim Briseis as his own prize, she finds her fate entirely at the mercy of the two most powerful men of Greece as the war wages on. It’s an engaging accessible version of the story with some lovely female friendships, intricate and illicit romances and an ending that will definitely touch your heart.

GEEKERELLA BY ASHLEY POSTON

This quirky, nerdy YA romance is enormous fun to read! Vegan food-truck worker Elle is a superfan of hit sci-fi series Starfield, a love she shared with her late father. When a cosplay competition is announced to celebrate the upcoming movie reboot, Elle has to enter. The prize is a ticket to the Cosplay Ball at the fandom’s convention ExcelsionCon and a meet and greet with the new Prince Carmindor. However, when it’s announced that the role will be played by teen idol Darien Freeman (who her stepsisters are obsessed with) Elle isn’t hopeful he’ll do the part justice because surely a pretty boy actor doesn’t know the first thing about Starfield, right? Told through the viewpoints of both Elle and Darien via alternating chapters, it’s full of dramatic irony and the subtle similarities to the story of Cinderella are so fun to pick out. Our group book for this round is its recently released companion The Princess and the Fangirl, so what better reason to pick up Geekerella if you haven’t already?

4. CREATURES OF THE DEEP: Read a book with mermaids, sirens or sea monsters.

As this is a summer round of FairytaleAThon, my co-hosts and I decided that we wanted to dedicate a challenge to stories that feature cool blue waters. We agreed that this book doesn’t have to be a fairytale, folktale or retelling; it just has to feature a mythical aquatic creature.

TO KILL A KINGDOM BY ALEXANDRA CHRISTO

This dark retelling of The Little Mermaid sees Princess Lira as a ruthless collector of princes’ hearts. However, when she kills a fellow siren, the Sea Queen punishes her by turning her into a human and taking away her singing voice. She needs to bring back the heart of Prince Elian in order to return to the sea. Prince Elian is himself a siren-hunter and when he rescues a drowning Lira, she promises to help him destroy all sirens but of course, she has her own motives for getting close to him. Although I’ve seen mixed reviews for this book, I really enjoyed it for the concept. Lira is a much more powerful, more formidable figure than Ariel and the story is much more brutal. I’d definitely recommend it for anyone who feels like Ariel deserved more.

THE PISCES BY MELISSA BRODER

The Pisces is an incredibly strange novel about Lucy who has recently split from her long-term partner and is lacking inspiration for her thesis. In the hopes that it will help her forget her problems, she agrees to spend the summer in LA, looking after her sister’s house and foxhound. While there, she goes on a string of grisly Tinder dates, attends a therapy group for love addiction and falls in love with a mysterious but gorgeous surfer dude… who appears to have scales over the entirety of his lower body… It’s funny, it’s weird, it’s sad in parts but it’s also somehow bloody brilliant. Be warned that there are some pretty graphic sex scenes, so perhaps avoid it if you’re sensitive to that!

THE GLOAMING BY KIRSTY LOGAN

This is a wonderfully charming magical realism book following Mara and her family, whose island is surrounded with magic and stories. When tragedy strikes her family, Mara finds solace in enigmatic Pearl who introduces her to a new way of life and possibilities she never dreamed of. Torn between the traditions of her island and the ever-changing course of the sea while still haunted by the past, Mara needs to decide which is the best path for her to take. Kirsty Logan is a lyrical genius so if you like beautiful imagery and strange diverse storylines, The Gloaming is a great choice for you.

THE MERMAID AND MRS HANCOCK BY IMOGEN HERMES GOWAR

Set in the 18th century, The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock is a beautifully written and surreal read that will appeal if you’re looking for a more literary, social history-led mermaid book. Merchant Jonah Hancock learns that one of his captains has sold his ship for what is apparently a mermaid. Naturally this piques the curiosity of the area and he is soon thrown into upper class circles, where he meets the beautiful, accomplished Angelica Neal. Soon enough, both of their lives take a new course at a high price. It’s a pretty big book so I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it if you’re not already a historical fiction reader but it’s definitely a unique story of obsession and intrigue with bags of wit.

5. TRY THE GREY STUFF: Read with a yummy treat.

Naturally, your choice of reading snack is ENTIRELY your choice but these are four of my favourites to get your tummy rumbling!

ICE CREAM

The perfect treat for a hot day. Just don’t let it drip onto the pages!

COOKIES

Is there anything more tasty than a plate of warm, gooey, freshly baked cookies? Pretty sure there isn’t!

POPCORN

If your book is painting beautiful cinematic images in your mind or the drama is getting a little tense, you might want to grab some popcorn to add to the experience. MOZZARELLA STICKS

Possibly my favourite savoury snack ever. A few mozzarella sticks dipped in sweet chilli sauce is simply delicious!

6. A WHOLE NEW WORLD: Read a fairytale or retelling with a diverse character.

ASH BY MALINDA LO

This bisexual retelling of Cinderella is one of my favourites ever. Ash dreams of being taken away from her miserable life with her stepmother by fairies so when she meets handsome but dark fairy Sidhean, she thinks her life is about to change. Then she meets beautiful huntress Kasia and begins feeling things she hasn’t felt in a long time. But how can she choose between true love and her fairytale escape? It’s sexy, enchanting, incredibly intense and I absolutely devoured it.

A CURSE SO DARK AND LONELY BY BRIGID KEMMERER

This was our group book for the last round of FairytaleAThon, so if you joined us then, there is a good chance you’ll have already read A Curse So Dark And Lonely. It’s a recently released Beauty and the Beast retelling which has been getting a lot of hype in the book community. It follows Harper, a teenage girl living in Washington DC with her ailing mother and dismissive older brother. When she intervenes in a street incident, she finds herself being pulled into Emberfall, a broken kingdom ruled by Prince Rhen, who has been cursed to relive his 18th year until a girl falls for the vicious beast he has become. With evil forces at work, Harper and Rhen need to defeat more than a curse to save the people of Emberfall. Harper has cerebral palsy and as a result, she has developed a strength and feistiness that I don’t think I’ve ever seen in YA fantasy. It’s a must read for anyone who loves cursed hearts, easy-to-root-for characters and page-turning tension.

EVERY HEART A DOORWAY BY SEANAN MAGUIRE

The first in the Wayward Children series of novellas, Every Heart A Doorway is the perfect twisted fairytale. The premise explores what happens to the children who have been to magical lands on their return to the real world. Ever-changed by their experiences, they are often take to Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children, where everyone is seeking a door to the fantasy world they’ve left. When Nancy arrives, darkness and tragedy are just around the corner. There are asexual and transgender characters, multiple ethnicities represented as well as plenty of dark whimsical adventure. It’s certainly a strange little series but once you start it, you’ll be hooked.

THE WRATH AND THE DAWN BY RENEE AHDIEH

A retelling of an Arabian Nights story, The Wrath and the Dawn tells the story of the young king Khalid who murders a new wife every night. When her best friend becomes one of the slain, Shahrzad volunteers to be his next bride with every intention of not being the one who ends up dead. Through the power of storytelling, she survives night after night and inexplicably finds herself falling in love with Khalid, who appears to be nothing more than a tortured soul -much like the rest of his palace which seems to have more than a few secrets. It’s a novel full of tradition, elegance and fantastic world-building. You’ll definitely get swept up in this one!

7. RAGS TO RICHES: Read the group book.

THE PRINCESS AND THE FANGIRL BY ASHLEY POSTON

Our group book this round is The Princess and the Fangirl and I can’t wait to dive into it! It’s set in the same fandom as Geekerella but is not a direct sequel, so you can technically read it if you haven’t read the previous book. It follows fangirl Imogen who is on a mission to save her favourite Starfield characters Princess Amara from being killed off. However Jessica, the actress who plays her, is desperate to shake off the pressure and intensity from the fandom and would actually quite like to bow out of the series. I don’t want to know too much more about it but I know it involves an F/F romance and I’m guessing there’s a case of switching places or mistaken identities at some point, given that it has been touted as a retelling of The Prince and the Pauper. I am INCREDIBLY excited for this one and I hope you’ll be picking it up too!

Hopefully I’ve given you some ideas for your own TBR. I’ll be posting my own next week, so look out for that. This round looks like a good one!

[thegmdfangirl14]

Magic?

Okay! Here’s all that I can think of off the top of my head:

The Harry Potter series(J.K Rowling): I know this is a pretty obvious choice, but come on! Great storyline, lots of great stuff about lasting friendships, and of course who didn't want to go to Hogwarts instead of middle school when they were eleven?

The Belles by Dohnielle Clayton: Features a strong POC female protagonist who had the power to literally shape other people's looks. The world building in this is fabulous(I mean, everything described about Orleans, the world where the story takes place, sounds amazing: from the arcana the Belles possess to the miniature dragons), there's a ton of royal intreuge, and the incredibly relevant overall message of it all: Who really decides what is beautiful? 

Nimona by Noelle Stevens(graphic novel): A brilliantly amazing and subversive graphic novel about the adventures of Ballister Blackhart( a villain), and Nimona( a female shapeshifting sidekick). But just to warn you, nothing is ever as it first appears to be.....

The language of thorns: Midnight tales and Dangerous magic(short story collection): Written by the author of the Grishaverse series(I don't really care for the series, but I love this book), this collection features new spins on old tales, such as a much better ending to Hansel and Gretel(The witch of Durva), a story about a Nutcracker Prince who must decide for himself what he truly wants(The Soldier Prince), and the story of a girl who is tasked with bringing back the heart of a beast(Amaya and the thorn wood, my personal favorite).  These stories feature love, betrayal, and best of all.... magic.

Seconds by Brian Lee O'Malley(Graphic novel): After a horrible day, a young woman is given a way to have a second chance by a house spirit. After she realizes that she can fix everything for everyone in her life, she's drawn further into the supernatural forces at play. But when she uses up more of these chances to try and fix her own exceedingly complicated life, she begins to wonder: How is she going to live her own life if she's writing it by day and erasing it by night?

The Chronicles of Narnia series: The granddaddy of all those "travelling to other worlds" books. Very epic, great characters, and loads of fantastical settings, even if it has a few overly Christian undertones to it in the last book.....

Undead Girl Gang by Lilly Anderson: Budding witch Mia tries to bring back her dead friends so she can have help solving their murders. It works out less than spectacularly, with the girls nearly zombified versions of themselves who can't remember their deaths. Now there's a mystery on their hands and Mia has to keep her zombified friends a secret...…

The thief of always by Clive Barker: a very good, slightly disturbing book of a fantastical house that gives you whatever you want, anything you could dream of... for a price.

When the moon was ours by Anna-Marie McLemore: a beautiful little story about a girl who grows roses from her wrists, a boy with secrets who paints moons, and four sisters with magic that could ruin the both of them.....

That's all I can think of at the moment, hope you like!

And let me know if you want me to do any others..... 

[thelorecompany-blog]

  Stuttgart is the capital of the Baden-Wurttemberg region of Germany. The city is located in Southwest, between the Black Forest and the Swabian Alps with a history dating back to prehistorical times. Most of the city center was destroyed during World War 2. However, the city was rebuilt with a perfect mix of historical and modern architecture. Nowadays, Stuttgart is a leading business and tourist destination. Travelers are drawn year round because of the large spring, summer, and winter festivals. While many people know the city for being the home of Mercedes and Porshe, it is also well known for its nature, art, and architectural beauty. Here are tips to make the best of your trip to Germany’s most underrated city.

    Photo by @frankfox13

    WHERE TO STAY

  Hotel Traube

48.7017° N, 9.2137° E

Photo by @frau_haug

  This is the place to stay if you are looking for a classic German experience. This historical hotel consists of 5 buildings, some of which date back to the 16th century. The best part of staying here is having a nightcap at their old school wood-paneled bar.

  Photo by Booking.com

  Avg cost per night – $70-120 Brabandtgasse 2, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany +49711458920 https://hotel-traube-stuttgart.de

  WHERE TO EAT

  Weinstube Klösterle

48° 46′ 56.35″ N,  9°10′ 37.27″ E

  Photo by @the_colours_and_the_shapes

  What better place to have a traditional German meal than in the city’s oldest building? The restaurant, Weinstube Klosterle, is located in a monastery built in 1463 as a home for the religious nuns. Weinstube Klösterle is situated in the Bad Cannstatt neighborhood, the largest and oldest neighborhood in Stuggart (dating back to A.D. 98). Make sure to order traditional Swabian dishes like the Maultaschen dumplings or the duck breast with egg noodles.

  Marktstraße 71, 70372

Stuttgart, Germany

+49 711 205291252

Open Monday – Saturday 5pm to Midnight

Sunday from 11:30am to Midnight

  WHERE TO TAKE A STROLL

  Wilhelma Zoological-Botanical Garden

48.8045° N, 9.2062° E

  Photo by @girlborntodiscover

  This is the only zoo and botanical garden combination in Europe. A popular tourist destination that brings in over 2 million visitors a year. With 30 acres stunning gardens, 19th century architecture, and animal kingdom that won’t disappoint.

    Photo by @domagojkaracic

Photo by @zoeymaxime

Photo by @wilhelma.stuttgart

  WHERE TO SNAP A GREAT PHOTO

  Stadtbibliothek (Stuttgart Public Libary)

48.7902° N, 9.1832° E

  Photo by @kun.tee.jaahtyi.kuppiin

  For people who appreciate minimalism, architecture, and books, the Stuttgart Public library is an oasis. Make sure to go to the 8th floor of this building to get the epic picture that makes this place so famous.

    WHEN TO GO

April-May for the Spring Festival

Stuttgarter Frühlingsfest

48° 79.220′ N 9° 22.455′ W

        After a long winter, Germans want to welcome the new spring season by throwing a huge party full of amusements rides, traditional costumes, food, and tons of beer. Every year the Stuttgarter Frühlingsfest attracts more than 1.5 million visitors making it Europe’s biggest carnival. This is the second biggest festival in Germany, right after Oktoberfest in Munich.

  Photo by @sequinsophia

  For more inspiration #canstatterwasen #frühlingsfest

    WHERE TO SHOP

  Stuttgarter Weihnachtsmarkt

48.7787° N, 9.1793° E

  The Stuttgart Christmas Market is the biggest and oldest Christmas market in Europe. It is said The Stuttgarter Weihnachtsmarkt was first started in 1692. It attracts over 3 million visitors during its 25-day celebration. Even if you don’t celebrate Christmas, the market it something you can’t miss. The endless Stalls are decorated with the most traditional winter decorations and lights. Even if you don’t celebrate Christmas, this is still a great place to shop for gifts. As you sip glühwein and walk the stalls, you can find great gifts like nostalgic retro toys, German chocolates, alcohol-related gifts, and many different handmade crafts.

Gift Ideas: Christmas tree decorations, winter clothing, honey products, household wares, toys, candles, sweet delights, German alcohol, winter market mugs.

Tip: BRING CASH $$$

Dates:  28 Nov to 23 Dec 2018 Monday – Thursday:  10am – 9pm Friday – Saturday:      10am – 10pm Sunday:                        11am – 9pm

      WHERE TO TAKE A DAY TRIP TO

  The Black Forest

48.2775° N, 8.1860° E

  Photo by @manueldietrichphotography

  What makes Stuttgart an appealing destination for travelers is its proximity to attractions that will take your breath away. Day trips to fairytale castles in the hills, picturesque small German towns, and the enchanting Black Forest is a must if you are staying in Stuttgart. For many visiting southwest Germany, seeing the Black Forest is on top of the list. The spectacular mountain range and thick pine forest make this place seems like something out of a kids bedtime story. It is home to the largest cuckoo clock, world-renowned spas, and timbered villages. The Black Forest was the inspiration for the Brothers Grim fairy tales like Hansel and Gretel, Rapunzel and Sleeping Beauty, and many more.

  Other day trips to take from Stuttgart: #LichtensteinCastle #HohenzollernCastle #NeuschwansteinCastle #Tubingen #Dinkelsbühl #Heidelberg #Triberg

  Photo by @krislivid

    Germany’s Most Underrated City Stuttgart is the capital of the Baden-Wurttemberg region of Germany. The city is located in Southwest, between the Black Forest and the Swabian Alps with a history dating back to prehistorical times.