#i love it so much and Kj's arc is my favorite with how it was done

[whimsicaldragonette]

ARC Review: Death in the Spires by KJ Charles

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Publication Date: April 11, 2024

Synopsis

The newspapers called us the Seven Wonders. We were a group of friends, that’s all, and then Toby died. Was killed. Murdered. 1905. A decade after the grisly murder of Oxford student Toby Feynsham, the case remains hauntingly unsolved. For Jeremy Kite, the crime not only stole his best friend, it destroyed his whole life. When an anonymous letter lands on his desk, accusing him of having killed Toby, Jem becomes obsessed with finally uncovering the truth. Jem begins to track down the people who were there the night Toby died – a close circle of friends once known as the ‘Seven Wonders’ for their charm and talent – only to find them as tormented and broken as himself. All of them knew and loved Toby at Oxford. Could one of them really be his killer? As Jem grows closer to uncovering what happened that night, his pursuer grows bolder, making increasingly terrifying attempts to silence him for good. Will exposing Toby's killer put to rest the shadows that have darkened Jem’s life for so long? Or will the gruesome truth only put him in more danger? Some secrets are better left buried… From the bestselling, acclaimed author of The Magpie Lord and The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen comes a chilling historical mystery with a sting in the tail. You won’t be able to put this gripping story down!

My Rating: ★★★★★

*My Review and Favorite Quotes Below the cut.

My Review

This was incredible. I have long loved KJ Charles' books and this one, while a mystery rather than a romance, is no different. I love it just as much. Her romances have long contained mysteries, so this wasn't *that* much of a departure from her usual fare. I found the story, told alternately between past and present, to be completely gripping in both timelines for the entirety of the book. I had no idea who murdered Toby, and like Jem I vacillated between which of the former friends I most suspected up until the end. I like that it didn't end there. I liked that it was a complex issue. I really liked all the themes explored. The friend group was charming and wonderful and terrible and I slowly fell in love with each of them over the course of the novel. I love the way everything wrapped up, and I loved the healing and growth that happened at the end. It was everything I wanted. The setting of Oxford was so tangible and concrete. Despite never having been myself, I felt Jem's ambivalence for the place, the way he loved and hated it, and the way it had such a hold on him. It felt real. For that matter, each of the characters felt real and three-dimensional and present. The writing was stellar as always and it was a joy and a pleasure to read. I will absolutely be reading any and all future mysteries KJ Charles chooses to write, in addition to her romances. *Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for providing an early copy for review.

Favorite Quotes

He wondered as he walked if he would stand at the pillar box hesitating, if he'd walk up and down, plagued by doubt and fear and second thoughts, but in the end, it was too damned cold, so he just dropped the letters in.

---

Ignore any knocking; it will be students, thus unimportant.

---

Jem didn't know anyone else who'd use semicolons in a brief scrawl, and he hadn't realized how much he'd missed that sort of thing.

---

He could put on his coat and shoes over his night things to go and ask; he'd look highly eccentric, but this was Oxford.

[triviareads]

This month was a bit of a hit-or-miss in terms of books I read. I took the opportunity to revisit an old favorite Tiffany Reisz and reread her entire Original Sinners series plus a good chunk of her novellas. I also knocked out a few ARCs (I'm very excited about KJ Charles's upcoming book in particular). I'm hoping July will be a better month, but here are the books I enjoyed the most this June:

Minx by Sophie Lark Holy shit. I don't think I've read a sexier book in a long time and I JUST finished it at 1 am today. Blake is a high-class escort, and Ramses is a billionaire investor who not only wants her, but also wants to be her exclusive client and is willing to go to great lengths to make that happen.

I'm restraining myself from listing every sex act but here are the most pertinent ones: pet play is a big part of this story (if the title is any indication...), there's some really hot exhibitionism, role-playing, the rare period sex (like he fully goes down on her and everything and afterwards, they're shrugging like "we're all animals aren't we?"), and I'm actually surprised to see this again so soon after finishing the Kingmaker series— butt stuff during a blowjob.

The romance was also stellar— I appreciate how unique Ramses and Blake's brand of emotional intimacy is: Intimacy for them is him opening up his trading books to her and her accepting investing advice from him. It's her getting the information he needs to financially fuck over his terrible stepfather. It's when his estranged mom is being The Worst in public so she flashes her pussy at him to buck him up just before he has to deliver an important speech. For two characters who tend to play a lot of power games, this is very gratifying to read. They're wholly unrelatable in the best way— too hot, too rich, too smart— and we're just here along for the ride.

An Island Princess Starts a Scandal by Adriana Herrera Stunning. Gorgeous. Here are my thoughts as I was reading it. Manuela is a Venezuelan heiress who is set to marry as soon as she returns from Paris. So she understandably wants to make the best of her time in Paris. And because of her immediate on Cora, she makes a deal with her: in exchange for a parcel of land Cora needs for the railway project she is heading, she will show Manuela around all the lesbian haunts in the city.

Manuela is such a bright, effervescent heroine. And dare I say a bit of a brat? There was this scene where she purposefully told Cora she'd be at a more *risqué* party and swanned around until Cora stormed in and was like "fetch her and have her brought into my carriage At Once". Cora is a classic older heroine: worldly, confident, a silver fox(!!), and she's guarding herself from loving again. But when these two collide.... fireworks. No other way to put it. I said this when I just finished reading it, but I truly hope this will be a classic historical romance in another decade or two because it has all the beats while providing much needed queer and POC rep within the genre.

Heartless by Elsie Silver Small town romances are very hit-or-miss with me so I don't recommend them lightly lolol. But Heartless was a standout for me among the few Elsie Silver books I tried. Will is a fun, bratty heroine (wow there's a pattern here) who is panties-optional (which is a bigger plot point than you think, and the culmination is very fitting in a very hot way— at least I thought). Cade is a gruff silver fox rancher. Really, what more do you need?

Sidenote: Since a lot of the plot is about Willa nannying Cade's son, I will say, I'm fine with kids in romances as long as they're not weirdly precocious or actively trying to shove the love interests together. Which didn't happen here.

The Chateau by Tiffany Reisz One of the only Original Sinner novellas I hadn't read: What held me back was that the cult in this story is based on the Story of O so... I wasn't too enthusiastic about reading a cult centered around that book. But when I started it, I was surprised to see it really isn't like the Story of O? Apart from the setting and a few other references. Certainly not sadomasochistic to that degree, and it's about male, rather than female submission. It's a fun read. Young Kingsley being unrepentantly horny and having zero limits really comes in handy now that he's a spy (assassin?) assigned to infiltrate this sex cult and get his boss's nephew out. You also see his desire for a family manifesting, but his ultimate (and at this point kinda tragic) devotion is to Søren. Would recommend for anyone who wants to read about male subs.

The Return by Tiffany Reisz Søren and Kingsley return to the sex cult chateau. I'd say The Return is entertaining in a different way from The Chateau; Now that Søren and Kingsley's relationship is more secure (aka Kingsley isn't trying to torture himself about how Soren doesn't love him lol), you really get to see their fun side. And by fun, I mean, Søren being hella bitchy to the women that fucked Kingsley over like 2 decades ago ("only I get to hurt him") and then proceeding to make good on that promise. Anyway, would not recommend having a pissed off sadist and a perpetually down-and-ready Frenchman has houseguests. There will probably be come stains on the rug.

[palettehao]

Byler Paper Girls AU

Where Will has his realization the same way KJ does, except he sees him and Mike. So he has to deal with coming to terms with that part of himself (he was probably already questioning a little bit) while also having to maintain a normal, totally not awkward platonic relationship between him and his best friend with this knowledge as they time travel and try to find their way back home

(bonus if Will does slowly come to terms with being gay and having feelings for Mike, but despite him seeing them together in the future he doubts and refuses to believe it's true because of his own insecurities, and because of how he is seeing first hand how the future can change with the slightest change/choice)

[monomatica]

Review : A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars

Oh, my Heart. I am completely undone. This book made me laugh, cry, worry, swoon, curse, giggle, swoon some more and now I am left in awe over the beauty of this story. It's described as a lush, sweeping queer historical romance and it is that, but it's also so much more. This is a Love Story. So full of CARE and HEART and TRUST and TENDERNESS that it’s like no other historical romance I have read. And I adored it.

Viola & Gracewood were childhood friends who fought at Waterloo together and when Viola is presumed dead she takes the opportunity to live her true self as a trans woman. But the war leaves Gracewood grief-stricken, injured and lost in PTSD and addiction. When they meet again years later their connection is still there and Viola brings Gracewood back to himself, as Gracewood falls for who she is now. There is so much angst and pining as their souls ache for each other, and they are drawn to each other like magnets. Viola is beautiful and witty and caring and Gracewood is vulnerable and kind and accepting, and together they are unstoppable. I just love them so much. My favorite part of the story is that at its core it’s about gender roles in society. None of our modern day identity labels existed in 1818 so the words trans and queer are never used, and although there is a lot of queer representation in this book, it allows for everyone to just be themselves and exist as PEOPLE. Everyone accepts Viola as a woman. Side characters are accepted as queer. The conflict for the characters is more about navigating the expectations of your gender in this era. What does it mean to be a man? Where Gracewood's role as a man and a Duke is to provide an heir and make decisions for his sister. What does it mean to be a woman? Where Viola clearly longs to be a mother but can't bear children. Where Miranda, Gracewood’s sister, is expected to marry a man of similar rank. It is a beautiful take on these ideas and a joy to read how they grow and make their own world with their own rules. Can we talk about the writing? The writing is absolutely gorgeous. Hall is one of my favorite writers and the prose is as elegant as Viola and her embroidered gloves, and as perfectly put together as she likes to be. The language is of the time and felt similar to KJ Charles or Bridgerton, but there are a few modern morsels included that almost feel like a wink to us the reader. There is sex and cursing and sass and lasciviousness and I found it to be a perfect blend of styles. And the introduction of the Duke of Amberglass, the villain/hero of the next book, has me intrigued. I love a Libertine and a scoundrel! Also, the Epilogue is *chef’s kiss* Thank you to NetGalley & Forever for the ARC. I was really dying to read this one! Please everyone read this book. Available May 24, 2022

[thatiranianphantom]

Riverdale, Buffy, and the Musical Episode, an analysis.

Hey all! I have spent far too long writing out my thoughts on Riverdale vs. Buffy’s musical episode, from the perspective of a theatre nerd. Thoughts are welcomed!

To those who aren’t aware, I, your humble author, am a massive musical nerd. I have ALL the musical memorabilia, Broadway and the West End are places I’ve visited many times, my favorite genre of music by far is musical theatre, and I am just a musical nerd in all senses of the word. 

Which leads to a...perhaps more sharp criticism when a medium like TV attempts to dive into the world of musical theatre.

(Also, full disclosure, while I enjoy the music of Carrie, Heathers, and certainly Buffy’s musical episode, the music of Hedwig just...don’t work for me. It’s not bad music, it’s not a bad show, it’s just not my thing.) 

In this short analysis, I’m going to attempt to explain why Riverdale’s musical episodes fail, and why it IS possible to successfully mount a great musical episode on TV, by way of example, Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s episode “Once More, With Feeling”. 

First, a short recap of both shows’ musical episodes. 

Currently, Riverdale has three musical episodes. These are all jukebox shows (performing pre-written and pre-performed songs), based on three popular musicals. They first did Carrie the Musical, then Heathers, then Hedwig and the Angry Inch. As to this point, all of them have occurred in a diegetic setting - that is, the characters were aware that the songs were being performed. Carrie and Heathers were explained as being the school musical of the year, and Hedwig was ostensibly performed to prove a point, and to support a student struggling with his own identity. 

Buffy’s one musical episode was in season six, arguably one of the darkest seasons Buffy ever had. It is also a diegetic musical, but not a jukebox musical. It features original songs, written by show creator Joss Whedon. The songs are given explanations and each one is written specifically to fit a character.

To sum it very basically, Buffy’s musical episode is much, much better. It is the first episode I would recommend if you were ever in the market for a musical episode, and it takes itself very seriously, while occurring in a very unrealistic setting. 

At the point Carrie occurs in Riverdale, the characters are dealing with a serial killer known as the Black Hood, who ends up murdering their friend and cast member by the end of the musical, on stage. Of the three musical episodes, you could make a pretty strong argument that the first two musicals tie themselves into the plot best. The role of Carrie’s mother is given to Alice Cooper, because she is also struggling with family issues. Purportedly, the song “Unsuspecting Hearts” is used to make up between two characters, as is “You Shine”. 

Buffy’s musical episode occurs at a time where the characters are all struggling with big secrets that they don’t feel able to tell. It’s driving a wedge between all of them, and there’s a large undercurrent of tension. Buffy can’t tell her friends about the depression she’s struggling with, Willow is becoming dangerously addicted to magic, which has caused her to cast two spells, erasing a memory of a fight from her girlfriend Tara’s mind. Spike is in love with Buffy, but is very much wrestling with what that means. Giles has made plans to leave, because he feels like he is hindering Buffy’s growth. Anya and Xander are having serious doubts about their upcoming marriage. The tension created by all these boils under the surface, but nobody plans to say anything. 

The catalyst for this episode occurs in the form of an unnamed demon, who is accidentally summoned and whose primary power is to make people sing and dance - until they can’t stop, and they burn up. It adds a note of risk to the episode. They are being forced into this, and the stakes are high if they don’t comply. 

And so, one by one, all the characters are forced to express their deepest secrets through song, and the demon leaves them to deal with the fallout. It did what Riverdale, fundamentally, has never managed to do: the songs force the plotline foreward. 

That would have been impossible without the songs. The characters are unwilling to open up to each other, and they feel unable to express themselves, until the demon literally musically forces them to do so. At the end of the episode, their biggest secret, the secret that will inform the rest of the season, is revealed: Buffy’s friends didn’t pull her out of Hell, they pulled her out of heaven, where she was at peace, and now the world around her is bright and violent and she is miserable. That revelation will literally carry us to the season finale. 

Riverdale’s musical episodes are, in a way, explained as above. High schools do musicals. It happens. But all of our main cast, and all in the lead roles? Not likely. And that explanation is made even thinner in the latest musical episode, where characters burst into song at random, like Betty and Jughead’s fight in the bunker, or Kevin and the girls breaking into “Wig in a Box” during a sleepover. 

The issue becomes very contrasting between the two musicals: Buffy builds their world around the songs. The songs are crucial to the plot. The episode wouldn’t work if these specific songs were not given to these specific characters. 

Riverdale, however, bases the songs around the plot, and the result is a very odd episode with songs shoehorned in. They aren’t necessary, they’re just...there. Buffy crafts a plot around the songs. Tara finds the flower Willow used in a previous episode to wipe her mind of a fight, and we can see the song naturally build off that. Tara sings Under Your Spell, which is meaningful because she is quite literally under Willow’s spell. Toni is shoehorned into the Heathers musical to be a choreographer, despite there being no previous indication of any experience with choreography, because they need to get her into the room to sing Candy Store, because Heathers features this song, which means they have to. 

The Riverdale musicals take none of the plot of their source materials, which strips the very songs they struggle to add in of all their context and meaning. For example, Hedwig is a show which features a domestic violence plotline as one of its main arcs. Hedwig herself is a pretty terrible person. You would never know that from watching the episode. Heathers’ entire premise talks about how it’s very easy to influence someone into cruelty to the very people who were kind to them, and how quickly a lie can spiral out of control. None of that features in the Heathers Riverdale episode. These songs are powerful because of the context that surrounds them, and that is just...gone. Hedwig’s final song (Midnight Radio) exists in universe as a song where Hedwig finds emotional catharsis and hands her stage off to someone else. It’s exceptionally meaningful, because the whole musical has been a journey to this point. None of that poignancy is able to be translated to Riverdale. 

In contrast, Buffy’s final song (Where Do We Go From Here) feels very earned because it feels like the end of a journey for the characters. All their secrets are exposed, and you can feel the ramifications that will last for a long time after this. And that’s not even mentioning Buffy’s solo Something To Sing About, where she is literally begging for something to make her feel more alive. This only works if Buffy is singing it. The song is designed around her, and it is where she admits her biggest secret. The song is necessary, it is crucial. NONE of the songs in the Riverdale musical episodes have this same power. 

(ALSO, RE: RIVERDALE HEATHERS,  J.D. IS ONE OF HEATHERS MAIN CHARACTERS, I WAS SO EXCITED TO HAVE SWEET PEA PLAYING HIM, AND NONE OF J.D.’S SONGS WERE GIVEN TO SWEET PEA. INJUSTICE. ALSO ALSO, THIS LINE:

Reggie: Just two single straight dudes doing some theatre.

OH SWEET REGGIE. NOBODY HAS TOLD YOU ABOUT KURT AND RAM HAVE THEY DARLING?) 

It should be noted that Riverdale’s songs in all three musicals are heavily reworked to fit the characters, and the TV network rating, better. 

Music has meaning. The songs should be there to do something, not just have extra content to churn out and look good doing it. As stated, Riverdale’s musical episodes aren’t necessary. There are no stakes to their expression through song. 

Fundamentally, Buffy understands what a musical episode is. They do only one, and that was a fight to get on the network as it was.

Think of it this way: did the songs affect the characters and plotline enough that it would still have ramifications a few episodes later? 

Buffy’s certainly did. 

One could theoretically say Midge’s death affected Riverdale, which did occur during the episode. One could also say that Betty and Jughead burning the trailer affected Riverdale. But those didn’t need the songs to exist. Again, they were just….there. 

And then there’s the issue of vocal performance. 

Look, musicals are a lot of work, and it’s hard on the voice. 

Buffy’s cast does feature several singers. Notably, Anthony Stewart Head, Amber Benson and James Marsters have had separate success in music outside of Buffy. 

Riverdale’s cast features a grand total of one person with professional musical experience (that would be Casey Cott, who makes that fact entirely obvious). I suppose KJ Apa counts too, so let’s say two to be generous. 

But again, Buffy wins this round. Make no mistake, their songs are autotuned. Just about every piece of music you’ve heard since the 80s has had some amount of autotune applied to it. Sarah Michelle Gellar would probably be the first to admit, she is not a singer. Actually, up until she received the music, she was fully planning on being dubbed, and is openly says she is not comfortable singing. And you can tell. In the musical, she sounds fine. She’s not amazing. That’s actually the point. She sings well enough to fully communicate the emotions she’s feeling, but it feels genuine. You can believe Buffy is actually singing, not in that full voiced, broadway quality voice that so many Riverdale episodes feature, but in a normal-person singing voice, the voice we all use when we sing in the shower. Willow is not a great singer, and Alyson Hannigan is clearly not comfortable singing either. Accordingly, she’s given the fairly meta line “I think this line’s mostly filler”, and it doesn’t sound heavily autotuned. It’s a normal person voice. 

In contrast, Riverdale’s voices are mostly a machine. I’d kill to listen to the raw tracks, but they are practically waterboarded with autotune. One can scarcely distinguish a real voice in there. They don’t sound like real people, they sound like professionally polished singers. And how many high schools have full choruses of broadway quality singers? It takes you out of the show. I actually would have liked Riverdale’s musical episodes far better, had they let them use their more natural voices. It would have sounded less polished, sure, but it also would have sounded more real. Lili Reinhart has a pretty voice naturally. I would have loved to see that being allowed to exist in these episodes. 

(On a slightly separate note, Casey Cott is very clearly a singer. His voice is full, trained and controlled. It stands out above everyone’s in every musical episode).

In summation, musical episodes are becoming more and more common, but that doesn’t mean they’re easy to do well. However, if you understand the meaning you have to imbue music with on a medium like TV, and craft your context around the singing, it can work. 

And if you’re looking for a musical episode, for god sakes, watch Once More With Feeling. 

[thesuitelifeofjughead]

Riverdale Rewatch Review - Season One

Hey guys! So, as everyone knows, there’s like, this big thing happening in the world right now causing everyone to have to stay inside and a lot of people have way more free time on their hands than they know what to do with. I am one of those people. After I finish my schoolwork I find that barely even half a day has passed. What do I fill that time with? Animal Crossing. But also, watching Netflix. 

I’ve wanted to rewatch Riverdale for the longest time, and I figure that now is the best time to do it. 

So, the way this will work, I’ll give my overall thoughts and review of the season, my favorite episodes, and then I’m going to give you a play-by-play of my thoughts while rewatching each episode under the break. So, without further ado:

Overall Review

Looking at the bigger picture of everything I know Riverdale has come to be, I think the statement stands true that Season One is one of their strongest season, if not their actual strongest (Season Four has been climbing up there for me in fav seasons). 

Watching it all together, the drama seemed evenly paced, and everyone seemed to get the same amount of screen time, including characters we barely see anymore like Kevin and Reggie. There are some interesting shots, and I found myself jammin to some of the songs they had the characters sing as well as the background music. 

It was clear that they had a plan, and they knew where they were going. Hints of relationships happened WAY before they became official, and it seemed like everyone was on the same page, which is difficult to say for later seasons (which I will also be making reviews on shortly). 

For only having 13 episodes, Riverdale did an excellent job in it’s first season hooking everyone in to the drama and the mystery, including me. I believe it was after the second or third episode when this blog was created, and I’ve been here ever since. This season is responsible for why a lot of fans stuck around, and for why a lot of fans left. 

Overall, I would say it had amazing storytelling, character development, cinematic techniques, and everything else you could think of. My final rating would be a 10/10. Even if you don’t like later seasons, you can’t deny this one was really good, and had a lot of classic Riverdale moments -insert gif of Jughead saying “I’m a weirdo” here bc I tried to find it but couldn’t-. 

My personal favorite episodes: Episode 6, Episode 10, Episode 13

Rewatch Thoughts

Episode 1: 

It’s so clear right from the start that Veronica likes Archie oh my god

I love Betty Cooper dance parties and I want more of them

Wow I hate Alice from the very beginning

Fred Andrews was the best parent on Riverdale from the very beginning. Period.

Maybe the show is more consistent than I thought. Archie was dumb since season one episode one for lying to his dad. 

Veronica was so supportive of Betty and Archie we stan a supportive friend

Oh my god did we all collectively forget that Archie dated a freaking TEACHER?!

JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS MY HEART I love and miss them 

Jughead was such a broody lil boy wasn’t he oh my gosh Betty really did change him for the better didn’t she

“Whatever happened with Betty, just talk to her. It’ll go a long way” We stan a king who wants open communication from the beginning yas Jughead

Episode Rating: 8/10

Episode 2: 

God, the teacher is so manipulative

Oh god i’m gonna have to relive the dark Betty arc aren’t I

This rewatch is just gonna further my love for Jughead. He was the smartest one since day one

WAIT i completely forgot they changed Reggie’s actor oh my goodness

Episode Rating: 5/10

Episode 3: 

there was a mention of Greendale in the VERY FIRST SEASON 

The only good thing Penelope Blossom ever did was punch Alice Cooper and that’s that on that

I love the early journalism relationship between Betty and Jughead

Episode Rating: 7/10

Episode 4:

Ya’ll I miss jughead narrating at the beginning and end of every episode

THE TWILIGHT DRIVE IN. I MADE SO MANY FANFICTIONS SET THERE AWH

Jug was so upset over the drive in my HEART. Jughead had a JOB. Am I the only one who forgot that? 

He called her Betts and she called him Juggy their already in a relationship let’s face it. 

“It’s like my home” AWH JUG IT WAS HIS HOME MY HEART

Ya’ll remember how INSANE the reveal of Jughead’s dad was?

Episode Rating: 10/10

Episode 5:

Why would he have to run away from mommy and daddy? BECAUSE DADDY DID IT JUG YOURE SO SMART

Everyone was so SHADY in season one 

THE FREAKING SNAKE IN THE BOX

This was the episode with Jughead’s stupid cute smile in his stupid cute hat and stupid cute tux my heart

Remember when Fred and Hermione had that thing? Yeah me neither I hate it

Episode Rating: 8/10

Episode 6:

Wow makes sense that Polly joined a cult, she’s so fragile from everything that’s happened to her 

I love the early music in this show

Betty straight up asks Hal if he killed Jason Blossom. OMG Alice goes “You think he has the stomach or that?” UHM hate to break it to ya but your dad is,,, oof

ITS THE HEY JULIET EPISODE AWH

WAIT THAT MEANS

The little “also” and his voice cracks I’m

FIRST BUGHEAD KISS FIRST BUGHEAD KISS

“In the middle of our moment” ICONIC

Episode Rating: 10/10

Episode 7:

the episode in which we find out Jughead is living in the school

“Don’t tell Betty” they’re already so in love I swear

Jughead walking Betty home is literally the softest thing

The farm was a part of the plot from SEASON ONE oh my god

Episode Rating: 7/10

Episode 8:

I’m p sure this is just a filler episode

Oh wait it’s the reveal to Archie and Fred that FP is a serpent

WAIT ITS THE BABY SHOWER SCENE

“It’s totally on my bucket list” we don’t deserve Jughead

the LOOKS Archie got when he walked into that baby shower

Can you believe how normal it became to be a part of the serpents? And in the beginning it was such a big deal? Like Arch, hate to break it to you, you become an honorary serpent one day

Episode Rating: 7/10

Episode 9:

Riverdale season one really be hitting different. It’s so,, innocent lol, and that’s sayin something 

The Blossoms are a cult all their own I’m just sayin

“That was a joke, you hobo” ICONIC

Otherwise known as the episode where Alice throws a rock at a window

The parents really do be acting like teenagers tho

ALSO known as the episode where Veronica rips of her pearls

YOOO remember when Cheryl kissed Archie? That was a moment

Episode Rating: 9/10

Episode 10:

oh my god this is the birthday episode isn’t it

OH NO

lmao Ronnie was Tik Tok dancing before it was cool huh

The movie part of the party was so pure awh

oh god the creepy birthday song

i hate it

I HATE ITTTT

Cheryl arrives to mess shit UP

We love that Bughead took this as a learning experience and Jughead has never had a birthday party since

“In CaSe YoU HaVeN’t NoTiCEd, I’m WeiRd. I’m A weiRDo. I DoN’t FiT iN aNd I DoN’t WaNnA FiT in. HAvE YoU eVeR SeeN mE WiThOuT ThiS HaT oN? THAT’S WEIRD.”

Jughead was so opposed to letting her in my heart

Just let her love you Jug

Dilton’s actor also changed and we just,, let it slide? oof my guys

THE PUNCH. he DEFENDS his WOMAN

the first sign of FP bein a good dad, telling Jughead not to run away from Betty. We stan a father who’s basically responsible for Bughead.

The reveal that Alice lived on the south side was also in this episode. 

THE FIRST TIME JUG TOOK OFF HIS BEANIE

their first heart to heart ya’ll I love them

This is the softest scene point blank period

When I said I hated it before? Yeah I lied I love this episode

The episode where Archie and Ronnie also officially got togther kinda?? Wow so much happened this episode

Episode Rating: 10/10

Episode 11:

Hail our fair RIVERDALLEEEE

YOOO you remember when FP literally was an accomplice to MURDER and then they let him become sheriff? Man, what a time

Ya’ll why did they hurt Jughead so much in the first season my heart

Yo THIS is why they have such good communication in later seasons

he’s being FRAMED

Episode Rating: 7/10

Episode 12:

oh my goodness the tollbooth scene 

OW

The second time his beanie is off

he looks so SAD ouch

He just stood there and TOOK Cheryl’s punches someone save my poor boy

THE REVEAL THAT THE BLOSSOMS AND COOPERS ARE RELATED AH

They watched the videooooo

Episode Rating: 9/10

Episode 13:

The camera work around this table is really interesting. It’s literally circling them at the lunch table. SPEAKING OF LUNCH TABLES, why haven’t we seen them eating lunch at school for like two seasons lol 

“I’m with Jughead now”

God Penelope Blossom is so melodramatic

Can i just say thank GOD Fred never sold Andrew’s Construction

Oh my god the locker scene. The way he cups her cheek and takes her away

Jughead going to South Side High without telling anyone I’m

Cheryl on the ice

Remember when KJ literally broke his arm bc of the dedication to this scene

BURN THE HOUSE TO THE GROUND

the I love you scene my hEART

His beanie is off and the way he says I love you I”M CRYING

Oh god this song

I made so many fanfictions about this freaking scene with the jacket I’m

We all thought it was so BAD to be a serpent and yet they all literally become one over the next two seasons I’m. the fandom had NO IDEA

“Juggy”

The looks they give each other I’m laughing

Cheryl starring into the FLAMES

OH MY GOD WAIT THIS CLIFFHANGER IS SO MUCH MORE SAD NOW NOOOOO. This didn’t age well I’m.

HE SHOOK HIS HEAD HE WAS PROTECTING ARCHIE

But also,, Black Hood Intro? Oof.

Episode Rating: 10/10

-

If you got this far, thank you for reading my rambles! Season Two rewatch is up next!

[cnrothtrek]

2019 fanfiction retrospective, part 2

For a list of my fave fics this year, see the previous post. Thanks to @mia-cooper for these questions!

Best fic I published all year:

I’m gonna go with two fics because one is the sequel of the other, and they are “When we all fall asleep, where do we go?” and “The world we made.”

Why? I’d had the idea for a femme fatale, space pirate mirror!Janeway in my head for a while, and @angrywarrior69’s @voyagermirrormarch event was the push I needed to finally make it happen. With some inspiration from Billie Eilish, I was able to really nail down KJ’s character and the theme that would come out of the story. I had no idea it would become what it did, but I’m really pleased with how it turned out. I was able to apply a lot of I’ve been learning about story structure. It made the plot and the pacing so much better than other fics I’d written before, and helped me realize how much my skills have improved since I started writing fanfic back in 2016.

I also think these stories added something fresh to the fandom. Mirror universe stories for Voyager are out there, and there are some deliciously evil ones. But for this I wanted to write sympathetic, morally gray, dystopian versions of the prime characters we know. Despite being mirrors, they are just as human as their utopian counterparts—just as capable of love and just as vulnerable to heartbreak—only they have been shaped by a much less kind universe. And given the wonderful response I got from readers, it seems I was able to pull it off.

Favorite opening line:

Nothing fired Kathryn up like getting a little blood on her hands. (from “When we all fall asleep, where do we go?”)

Why? First sentences aren’t something I worry about perfecting, so I don’t have many great ones that can stand apart from the first couple paragraphs of a story. This one, however, just sort of came out. It felt like a good way to immediately pull readers into the mirror universe and make mirror!Janeway distinct from prime!Janeway.

Favorite closing line:

“And if she does give you any problems—“ He smiles. “She’ll have to come through me.” (from “Air”)

Why? I love it when fics flesh out characters who don’t get explored a lot in canon. @jhelenoftrek and @klugtiger did such a good job of that for Joe Carey in their B’Elanna/Joe AU. Those stories made me really like Joe a lot, and so it just felt very right to include him in this fic to support Marla. He really shines throughout the story, and this final line just tops off all that we’ve seen from him—his compassion for Marla when everyone else probably hates her, using things he learned as a parent of a son with panic disorder, and just being an overall gem of a person. But here we see that not only is he willing to defend a pariah, he is one of a few people who can stand up to B’Elanna without breaking a sweat. And I love that.

Favorite overall line (bonus question):

Kathryn scowled at her console, the faint, distorted reflection of her face like a wraith mirroring her expression. (from “When we all fall asleep, where do we go?”)

Why? This is the point in the story where mirror!KJ’s arc really takes off. One of her monikers was “the intendant’s monster,” which is a thematic thread woven throughout this story and the sequel. Is she merely perceived as a monster, or is she truly one? What is it that makes someone a monster? At this low point, she sees a macabre version of herself reflected back at her—a wraith, a ghost-like creature that appears just before death. It’s a telling image.

Fic that was best received & my favorite comment on it:

There are a lot of ways to define which fic was best received. “A Very Bad Doctor, Indeed” (Garashir) has the most kudos. “Game On” (K/7) has the most comments relative to length of the fic. “Aye, Captain” got several non-J/7 shippers to enjoy a J/7 fic. (All of these are Bad Ensign Stories and wouldn’t exist without @curator-on-ao3’s brilliance.)

But I want to give the nod to “When we all fall asleep.” I’m not sure I could pick one favorite comment, but the most meaningful comments were some variation of “I don’t normally like mirror fics, but yours are great.” Honestly, I’m not sure I could get a higher compliment than that.

Fic you wish had gotten more love:

“I’ve got a bullet for a tooth.” This is a short fic between the first and second main parts of the MU series, and it focuses on Ezri. I’m sad that people didn’t seem interested in this one, cuz I actually really like it. Mirror!Ezri is fucking awesome, and her dynamics with Harry and KJ are fun.

Fandoms I wrote for:

Voyager primarily, with some DS9 (one exclusively DS9 and a few crossovers in the mirror universe series)

Favorite pairings to write for:

Obviously, my main ship has always been J/C. But lately I’ve been straying some from them, though I haven’t settled on any one pairing to write copious amounts on. I just write what I feel like writing—whatever I feel the need to explore. I like changing it up, playing with different characters and ideas in ways I haven’t seen others do.

What you’re writing now/next:

Right now, I’m trying to pull the rest of my counselor AU (“Far From Their Bones”) out of my brain and onto the page. I’m slowly making progress—one chapter is completely done, three chapters are partially done, and my outline is getting more fine-tuned all the time.

Next on my list is a fic that explores Tom Paris’ backstory through a lense of bipolar disorder which, after being diagnosed myself a year ago, I have learned a great deal about. And of course there’s always more on my running list of ideas, including that K7 “Someone to Watch Over Me” AU that I keep saying I’m going to write but never do lol. So we’ll see what happens.

Writing goals for 2020:

FINISH FAR FROM THEIR BONES. I’ve never wanted anything more lol.

[sophygurl]

WisCon 42 panel Female Friendship

Female Friendships in Our Stories panel description: 

Women are often portrayed as competitive and territorial in media. In science fiction, this can be even stronger as the Smurfette principle often rules, and many of the women characters fill the "not like other girls" trope. It's rare to see genuine female friendships flourish in our stories. For many of us, the "mean girl" trope does not reflect the reality that we live in, and we're hungry for better depictions of our lived experiences. More stories are digging deeper into what female friendships can and do look like, however. Shows like Big Little Lies, Grace and Frankie, and Insecure; as well as female-led movies such as the new Ghostbusters and the Pitch Perfect series are some examples. Few of these are SFF-related though - we need more!

Moderator was Naomi Kritzer, with panelists Karin Gastreich, Crystal Huff, Lauren Jankowski, KJ, and Clarissa C. S. Ryan

Reminder that these panel notes are only my own recollections and the things I managed to write down - my notes are incomplete and likely faulty in places. Corrections and additions are always welcome. Especially please do correct me if I get names or pronouns wrong!

Also I name panelists as that’s publicly available information but not audience members unless requested by that person to have their named added.

[For context - I’ve been proposing a panel like this for years (due in large part to conversations with @prozacpark who sadly was not at-con this year) and was so excited to finally see it happen! It did not disappoint. It gave me ALLLLLL of the feelings and I plan to make some additional posts on the subject once I finish my panel write-ups. This will mostly just be about the panel itself, although knowing me I’ll add in the occasional aside. Also I’m really glad I got to this panel early enough to get a good seat up front because it filled up quickly and became standing room only with people sitting on the floor all over the place. Obviously a topic we WisCon-goers find close to our hearts.]

I neglected to get info down about the panelists introductions - sorry! I did jot down that Clarissa said she occasionally remembers to write male characters because it made me laugh. All of the panelists, I believe, are writers, so do look up their work if you want to find more female friendship rep in your reading!

Naomi started things off asking about the panelists’s fictional favorite female friendships and why they found them interesting. Her example was Anne of Green Gables - Anne and Diana. She liked that Anne comes into the friendship so needy and that Diana just accepts her as-is. 

Lauren said Lost Girl’s Bo and Kenzi (YES) and that even tho Bo is attracted to women, she never sexualized Kenzi. (I especially love this in the context that Bo is a succubus and many of her relationships have a sexual component but she never turns that on Kenzi because Kenzi isn’t into that and it’s just inherently accepted between them that they are strictly platonic but deeply entwined friends - haaa see, I told you I’d have asides)

Crystal talked about Cold Magic by Kate Elliot. Crystal said she is unsure if the characters would choose their friendship over their new spouses in the end and has questions about the heteronormativity of that but overall loved the female friendships in the series.

Clarissa is a big fan of the Ghostbusters reboot. She doesn’t ship any of the women together, and finds that puts her on the outside of a lot of the fandom.

KJ reiterated Cold Magic and said that it is about cousins who are raised as sisters but who choose to be friends and the powerfulness of that choice. She also likes Kira and Dax from DS9. 

Karin said she had a hard time finding examples from within SFF. She really likes the sister friendship in the Little House books, as well as Simple Magic, the Witches of Eastwick book (not the movie), and The Other Boleyn Girl (book).

Crystal talked about Alyc Holmes’s Dragons of Heaven and the transgressive ways it shows female friendship. 

Naomi brought up the issues of shippiness and the line between friendship and romantic relationships and pushback within fandom. 

Lauren talked about a personal story she had of a messy end of a friendship because she was told that adoption is pseudo-family as a defense of shipping adopted siblings. As an adoptee, this was very hurtful. She talked about her frustration with shippers who ship romantically and refuse to acknowledge the importance of friendship. The valuing of romance over friendship and friendship not being valid in and of itself. “Friendship is enough.” [I was kind of obnoxiously cheering this on because this is a huge issue for me. This might be the point at which I made some comment about there not being any way to dissuade shippers once they settle on a ship. For the record - I’m a huge shipper myself, I just happen to ALSO ship platonic and familial relationships and get super frustrated at fandom’s seeming inability to look at relationships in any other way than romantic.]

Crystal also talked about the extent that people will go to in order to ship something. She added “I know that my life isn’t mostly centered on getting people into bed.” 

Clarissa added - why not both? She does want more queer female romances and finds herself sometimes going “oh they glanced at one another ... oooooh”. But friendship is so devalued and friendship breakups hurt!

Karin asked if making the friends sisters made the pressure to ship less - I mostly cackled from the audience, because no.

Naomi steered the conversation toward the topic of sisterhood - both literal and figurative. Also about friendship breakups. There is the classic romance plot of the couple breaking up and coming back together - do we find that in friendship narratives?

Clarissa said that Ghostbusters had an example of that at the start.

KJ said Buffy and Willow do this a couple of times.

Naomi said she often finds this in middle grade YA because this reflects reality at that age. Then asked about friendship tropes - for example she really loved the idea of blood sisterhood. She grew up in the 80′s when the idea of sharing blood = death and how doing that showed such a deep level of trust.

Crystal said it’s hard to come up with female friendship tropes because of how rare examples of female friendship are. Tropes are the things we see so much of they become ingrained. 

Naomi asked - then what should be the tropes?

Karin said it’s hard to find books populated with female characters enough for there to be lots of female friendships in them. She doesn’t like the trope of the friend who only shows up when the main character is having romantic drama in their lives. 

KJ she wants more examples of groups of female friends because that’s closer to real life. [YES] If these do exist in fiction, they are more in the background. 

Clarissa wants more ride or die friendships. She gives Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Ghostbusters as examples of this. 

Naomi wants more moments like the one in Ghosbusters where the one character was talking about her story of being haunted and being made of fun for it as a kid. The other character simply says - I believe you. This is a metaphor for sexual abuse. The validation that women give to one another around this. [Cue me sobbing tbh about being on both sides of this phenomenon]

Crystal wants more female friends who are not Mean Girls to one another. Example: Dreadnaught which is about a trans girl superhero. 

Lauren talked about female friendships where the women are being supportive of one another. And women rescuing one another. Some personal stories about women rescuing one another were shared among the panelists.

KJ mentioned the graphic novel series Rat Queens.

Naomi brought up  Sarah Dressen’s YA books. The example of a friend rescuing another friend from being left alone with a creepy “family friend”. The protectiveness of female friendships. [Me: crying again.]

Karin said she is all into rescuing between female friendships because we all need rescuing sometimes and thank goodness for the friends who rescue us. It’s a different dynamic than when men rescue women.

Clarissa said her “dirty fandom secret” is that she really loves hurt/comfort stories - they don’t have to be romantic in nature. An example is when she took care of a friend who had recently had surgery. She was like “wow this is so intimate - I’ve never seen your bodily fluids before.” [So much crying/laughing, thinking about taking care of my bestie after her double mastectomy last year.]

Crystal mentioned Foz Meadows - An Accident of Stars.

Lauren said that when she’s down, a friend will share pictures she’s taken of her books in bookstores to cheer her up. She also talked about wanting both more big adventure stories about female friendship, and more small snapshots of life.

Crystal said there is some of that in the Nancy Drew series, but looking back on those today - she is really turned off by the racism.

Naomi asked what is a story arc for friendship?

Crystal said that’s as varied as the individuals, and again there just isn’t enough of it in fiction to map out.

Karin talked about that initial connection or bond upon meeting someone that you know is going to become a friend. But then there is a process of trust building. The climactic moment is when that trust is solidified.

KJ said it’s more of an ebb and flow. She wants more honoring of the variety of friendships that exist as being equally valid. 

Clarissa brought up a book - Stiletto? (I didn’t catch full name or author’s name) which includes the enemies to friends narrative.

Naomi said she loves enemies to friends even though she hates enemies to lovers stories. 

Crystal said fiction needs to make more narrative sense than real life does, which causes us to simplify how relationships work.

Lauren wants more friendships that start with meet-cutes.

Naomi posited the question of what is a happily ever after for a friendship arc.

Crystal answered - the book isn’t over.

KJ said different friendships would have different happily ever afters.

Clarissa noted that different cultures have different types of friendships. She was talking about how our culture sees romance as the primary relationship in someone’s life and friendship is secondary or even tertiary. 

KJ said she’s married to a man who is less social than she is, so she wouldn’t be able to meet all her social needs with him anyway. It’s very important to her to keep her friendships. 

Crystal said friendships are often about surviving a thing together. But there is also the idea of creating something together. Naomi said fandom is often built on friendships like that.

Crystal also talked about the idea of rituals in friendships. As society has become less formal, we’ve lost some of those rituals. In fiction, we can create these.

An audience member asked about long distance friendship in fiction. Crystal said - all of my friendships are on the internet! She went on to talk about the tradition of epistolary friendships. 

Naomi said the ritual of friendship these days is allowing someone to call us on the phone [HA]. 

Crystal brought up a book The Belles.

An audience member asked about unique sources of conflict in female friendships. Another audience member shouted out the video game Life is Strange in response.

Crystal said - let’s talk about the elephant in the room: no more conflict about boys. There can be disagreements between friends about politics or moral choices.

Naomi talked about the idea of losing a friend to a boy or the friend who only shows up when they are between relationships. Resolution to a conflict like that is the friend discovering the importance of their friendship.

KJ said another conflict involves distance - either physically moving away or becoming more emotionally distant, even a life change such as one friend having kids and the other one not. 

Clarissa talked about trying to hold on to friendships through time and space as something SFF especially could explore.

Crystal added - or something like magical abilities manifesting in one friend but not the other.

Naomi mentioned fanfic about Hermione pre-Hogwarts and losing her friendships from that era.

An audience member added that part of the conflict in those types of situations would be that one friend couldn’t tell the other what was happening in their life.

Naomi loves it when the friend tells anyway because isn’t that what best friends do? They tell each other everything no matter what. The panelists all agree they hate secret keeping as plot device.

An audience member brought up a series - Heroine Complex about superheroes with secrets.

One audience member brought up Supergirl as an example and I continued while trying not to spoil current storylines for one of the panelists. I think I said it was doing interesting things in regards to how secret keeping was affecting a female friendship and also how the show in general does good at the valuing of friendship for it’s own sake.

Clarissa mentioned Cardcaptor Sakura, a manga/anime.

Crystal mentioned Gwenda Bond’s Lois Lane books. 

An audience member brought up My Little Pony, someone else said Sailor Moon. Clarissa said anime/manga in general does a lot of this but we’re not on recs yet. Naomi said - oh, we’re on recs now. (lol)

Recs:

Clarissa - Princess Jellyfish. KJ - Agents of Shield for the mentor/friendships. Audience - Parasol Protectorate. Audience - Michael/Tily from ST:Disco, Call the Midwife. Audience - Hullmetal Girls, Spinning Silver. Audience - Tamora Pierce’s Magic Circle. Audience - Steerswoman. Audience - Jessica Jones. 

Naomi asked - what do we want to see more of?

Karin said - just more female friendships.

Lauren said acceptance from friends for just who someone is.

Crystal said she is drawn to friendship arcs but also wants wants them normalized.

Naomi talked about found family.

KJ said more women interacting with one another in general.

Karin wants more of the female mentorship role.

Crystal suggested Meg Elison’s post-apocalyptic stuff for how female friendships function in that kind of environment. 

aaaaaand phew! This was one feelsey-ride! I loved it so much and hope we get more panels like it in the future. 

[attilarrific]

2017 in Books

So this is something I meant to do...uh, right after the new year, honestly, but whatever, I FORGOT, I had other things to do (I didn’t), things got away from me, none of you were under the impression I wasn’t a mess.

This is a post of what basically amounts to just book recommendations--everything on this list is something I read for the first time last year. This does not mean they were all published in 2017, just that, for whatever reason, last year was the first time I read them. (A lot of books I read last year that I love are not on this list, because they were rereads.)

They’re separated into four categories: all time favorites, queer themes, amazing ladies, and straight-up fantasy. A book being listed in one category does not preclude it possibly belonging in some of the others as well, though! This is just how things shook up.

Anyway, someone come talk to me about books, this is clearly a cry for help.

ALL-TIME FAVORITES

The Epic Crush of Genie Lo by F.C. Yee Look, this is a book I couldn't put down, couldn't stop recommending, couldn't stop grinning about. I loved (love it) madly. This is a book that is firmly rooted both in traditional Chinese culture (Sun Wukong/Journey to the West) and Chinese-American culture (overachieving), and it pulled it off unbelievably well. Not to mention that Genie is one of my all-time favorite YA heroines, and the romance was shockingly good. Please read, please love.

The Secret History by Donna Tartt A book I honestly expected to be too literary for me, but it pulled me in beautifully (though you probably do have to subscribe to a certain level of pretentious academia, or at least know people who do). The writing is gorgeous, but really, the most impressive thing is how swept up in it you get. The first half of the book leads up to a murder you already know the main characters will commit (that's not a spoiler; it's in the first paragraph), and I absolutely fell in with the main characters and their choices--I both liked the friend they were going to kill and supported his eventual murder. It was amazing.

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel I don't know if "soft apocalypse" is a real genre, but god, I hope so. This weaves different storylines--post-apocalyptic, pre-apocalyptic, in media res apocalyptic--together beautifully, the characters are real without being terrible people (a frequent problem), and I love that when there's hope in this novel, it's not just about survival. People are alive, but they're also making art, doing Shakespeare, curating museums. The end of the world doesn't mean the end of beautiful things and happiness.

Noteworthy by Riley Redgate Let's leave off wonderful literature again and go back to Perfect YA. This was billed to me as Ouran High School Host Club, but it's a capella and the main character is actually bi. And yes, pretty much exactly that. A girl cross-dresses to join her school's all male a capella group, friendships are formed, people fall in love, and there are searingly intelligent discussions of privilege--racial, economic, gender and sexuality. It's also hysterically funny.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas Everyone's heard about this one by now, right? I don't really have to sell it, do I? Honestly, I don't have anything to say other than that it's incredibly timely, and that while it is, of course, deeply political, it in no way shortchanges the personal relationships and character arcs and smaller moments of living a life in order to to serve the point it's making.

QUEER THEMES

The Raven and the Reindeer by T. Kingfisher Guys. Guys. This is an amazingly written lesbian retelling of the Snow Queen where Gerda actually gets with the Robber Girl. I don't know why you haven't already bought a copy.

Spectred Isle by K.J. Charles This is really serving as a recommendation for KJ Charles's entire body of work, but I read this one this year and loved it to death, so. But KJ Charles writes the best romance novels I've ever read. I cannot get over how good they are. Love yourself and try her stuff.

Peter Darling by Austin Chant Peter Pan is a trans boy who his parents named Wendy Darling. Also, he dates Captain Hook. Even aside from the brilliant idea, this is probably the best Peter Pan adaptation I've ever read, with brilliant ideas about what Neverland really is and a wonderful way of capturing some of the odd viciousness of the original story.

Call Me By Your Name by Andre Aciman Another book I thought was going to be too literary for me, but this one turned out to be basically the most perfect image of my own head at seventeen that I've ever seen. The movie is also gorgeous, but the language of the book and the desperation there is really hard to capture in anything but text.

Daughter of Mystery by Heather Rose Jones Ultimately, I am always on the lookout for lesbian fantasy, because it is so rare, and so frequently what I find is...okay. This was great, and it's also pseudo-historical fantasy with duelists and weird-ass magic and wonderful characters and a lovely romance.

 AMAZING LADIES

A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan A pseudo-Victorian old lady writes her memoirs of how she became the foremost dragon biologist of her time. She is wonderful, her narration is delightful, and the books themselves are a whole lot of fun.

The Masked City by Genevieve Cogman This is sort of cheating, because I'm using this to recommend a series, but this isn't the first book (I read that in 2016). The first one is called The Invisible Library, and the entire series is about dimension-hopping librarians who Really Just Love Books. And also saving the world, sometimes. Plus, Irene, the main character, is both extremely competent and CANONICALLY BI.

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman Another one of those books that got recommended to me a million years ago but I only just got around to reading. Good, smart, well-written YA, with fascinating character dynamics and original world-building.

The Summoned Mage by Melissa McShane The first of a recently published and tragically unloved trilogy (all three books are out). Sesskia is clever and impulsive enough that her choices get her into trouble and drive the plot, without her ever falling into too-stupid-to-live territory. More incredibly original fantasy.

War for the Oaks by Emma Bull Another old classic that's new to me. I've been informed that this is one of the creators of the urban fantasy genre, but it doesn't feel dated at all. It's fun and great, and I love all the main characters.

 JUST SOME STRAIGHT-UP FANTASY

The Secret Country by Pamela Dean Another recommendation for a trilogy, this being the first one. I absolutely adore portal fantasy, and this is some of the best in that genre I have ever read. The third book, in particular, is going to be forever remembered as one of my all-time favorite books.

The Hanging Tree by Ben Aaronovitch Once again, cheating and using a late entry into a series as a recommendation for the whole thing. Suffice to say that when I try to describe what I really want in a book, I often find myself inadvertently describing the Rivers of London series. Diverse, clever fantasy with incredibly tight pacing and well thought-out plots. Completely unpretentious; just trying to be fun, funny, exciting novels. High stakes and high tension, but without making you worry that your favorite character is going to die. Seriously, I love these books.

The Rook by Daniel O'Malley Sort of X-Men grows up and relocates to England, in that this is basically about the mutant secret service, with bonus amnesia and secret societies of mad scientists. Myfanwy Thomas is an incredibly brilliant main character, and the novel is fast-paced, funny, and often hilarious.

The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty So much epic/historical fantasy is so medieval Europe that it's always a relief to find something that isn't. All about djinn and (djinn) politics and magic, this was incredibly exciting and thrilling to read. Also, Nahri, the badass female main character, owns my heart.

The Book of Dust by Phillip Pullman Since this is a prequel to one of the greatest children's series ever written, His Dark Materials, I was worried that it wouldn't live up to my memories of those books. It did. It was perfect, it was what I was looking for, and, as with everything by Pullman, it was fantastically written.

[whimsicaldragonette]

ARC & Audio Arc Review: A Nobleman's Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel

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Publication Date: September 19, 2023

Synopsis:

Major Rufus d'Aumesty has unexpectedly become the Earl of Oxney, master of a remote Norman manor on the edge of the infamous Romney Marsh. There he's beset on all sides, his position contested both by his greedy uncle and by Luke Doomsday, son of a notorious smuggling clan. The earl and the smuggler should be natural enemies, but cocksure, enragingly competent Luke is a trained secretary and expert schemer—exactly the sort of man Rufus needs by his side. Before long, Luke becomes an unexpected ally...and the lover Rufus had never hoped to find. But Luke came to Stone Manor with an ulterior motive, one he's desperate to keep hidden even from the lord he can't resist. As the lies accumulate and family secrets threaten to destroy everything they hold dear, master and man find themselves forced to decide whose side they're really on...and what they're willing to do for love.

My Rating: ★★★★★

*My Review and Favorite Quotes below the cut

My Review:

As should surprise absolutely no one, I adored every minute of this book. KJ Charles has such a way with words, and is so deft at creating characters who are either utter scoundrels (with good hearts) or thoroughly honest and good, and then bringing them together to complete each other.

I was expecting a continuation of Gareth's and Joss' story, though I was puzzled as to how she was going to manage that, and was surprised to find a time jump and Luke as one half of the featured couple. I quickly came to love that choice. Rather than putting more obstacles in the way of Gareth's and Joss' happiness, we get snapshots of their continued contentment as Luke and Rufus find theirs.

The mystery of the ten thousand guineas does get wrapped up, but otherwise it's a totally new story, and a very satisfactory one. I love the found family Luke and Rufus are beginning to build with his cousins.

I loved every minute of it and have preordered the audio so I can listen to it again once it comes out. (And probably fairly frequently after that, given my track record with KJ Charles' books.)

I loved how Luke and Rufus together managed to slowly bring Berengaria and Odo and Fulk around to their side and recognize their value as the story progressed. I think they'll all be quite happy together.

Absolutely recommend to anyone who falls for lovable rogues and brutally honest characters with good hearts falling in love despite themselves. It was utterly delightful. I loved it.

The characters are wonderful and complex and the way Luke and Rufus come together and complement each other perfectly while still having plenty of arguments and disagreements feels very real. KJ Charles is a master at characters who are perfect for one another despite appearances. Of course it always takes them a while to come around to the fact.

The audiobook performance was once again excellent. The narrator does a fabulous job bringing the characters and events to life and each character has a distinct and recognizable voice.

This, along with the previous book, are going onto my 'absolute favorite comfort reads' shelf. I know I will listen to them again and again - which, to be fair, is what happens with all of KJ Charles' books.

*Thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and Dreamscape Media for providing an early copy for review.

Favorite Quotes:

He’d wanted Rufus so much, and when the temptation had been there in front of him, along with the perfect excuse to give in to it, he hadn’t resisted. If you could describe grabbing what he wanted with both hands as “not resisting.”

[danafraedrich]

Writer's Life - Raven's Cry ARC Squad Spotlight!

*Squeals and runs around in the background, flailing* It's release week for Raven's Cry!!! Man, what a rollercoaster of emotions. As my fellow writers are painfully aware, any book release is accompanied by a sweet and sharp cocktail of excitement, terror, relief, and sleeplessness. You know what makes it better, though?

Your squad.

These are all the angels who support you in various ways throughout the writing and publication process. Today, however, I want to highlight my ARC squad.

ARC = Advance Reader/Review Copy

An ARC reader has several jobs. Firstly, they read the book. Pretty self explanatory, but ARC readers are also your hype men and women. They talk up the book before the release and provide reviews for it, which is a frickin' treasure. So I'm gonna go ahead and feature all these awesome peeps right now.

Alex of The Paperback Piano - Alex is an absolute dear and one of the readiest readers I've ever met. Ohmigoodness, can she tear through a book! And she takes such gorgeous pictures! 😍 Go read her book reviews! They're delightful and insightful! Site and Instagram

Author KJ Chapman - I did an interview with KJ and an ARC read/review of her book, Zombie Playlist, a while back. That was the one I had to make popcorn for because it was so much like watching an action movie! KJ writes fun, awesome books, and she's such a devoted mama and all around fantastic person. Oh! And she writes in a bunch of different genres, so you're bound to find something you'll enjoy in her catalogue. Site and Instagram

Author Faith Rivens - Faith is legit one of the kindest, most encouraging people I've ever met. You may remember my review of her book, Eléonore, and the kick-awesome-est opening line ever!

"There were demons to kill, but first I needed a cup of coffee."

Giiiiiiiiirl. Love that line! 😆  Faith has an editing service, Inky Squid, too, in case you're in the market for that sort of thing. Site and Instagram

Chandra of Where the Reader Grows - Like Alex, Chandra can chomp through a book like nobody's business! She runs one of my favorite book blogs, and I'm not even that into her primary genres: thrillers, suspense, and horror. I just love the way she talks and thinks about books, and she provides brilliant recommendations. This year for Christmas, I got everyone in my family books. My big sis likes thrillers, so I went straight to Chandra for ideas, and boy did she deliver! Site and Instagram

Author DJ Gray - I was fortunate enough to meet and then subsequently be kidnapped by DJ Gray in the autumn of last year. Across state lines even! Serious stuff. 😏 She is a wonderful, kind human being, super fun person, and excellent writer. I've only gotten to read her short stories so far, but you know I'mma get my hands on her first book toot sweet! Site and Instagram

Author James Fahy - You may have heard me gush about James' books here, or perhaps here... and here too. I'm not ashamed to admit it, okay? I'm a massive Helsing/Erlkinger (aka fangirl of James Fahy's books). He does a paranormal series (Phoebe Harkness) and a YA/MG fantasy series (The Changeling series), and I love them both! James also has a talent for awesome book videos. See below for the awesome thing he made for my book baby, Raven's Cry! Site and Instagram

Now would also probably be a good time to mention how bloody terrifying it is recruiting potential ARC readers. James was one of the last folks I reached out to because I had a mini heart attack each time I contacted one of the folks mentioned here, and I needed a break between cardiac events. Imagine me on the phone with my big sis, preparing myself for rejection by saying, "You know what. I bet none of them will say yes. They're busy. They have lives. It's fine. It's fine!" Why did I freak out? It had nothing to do with any of them (you may have noticed they're all lovely, wonderful, sweet people) and everything to do with me and my insecurities. It was because I have oodles of respect for every single one of these people as both readers and authors. They all write insightful reviews and think critically about the craft of writing, they're accomplished and talented in their own areas, and I value them all as both peers and friends. It's an enormous gift for anyone to read your books, let alone agree to take on ARC responsibilities*.

Author Beverley Lee - Beverley is another author I get quite fangirly/gushy over. Her writing is perfect! I mean that in every way. If you know me at all, you know I don't say lightly. I'm fairly certain she's the only person for whom I've ever rated all their books at 5 stars. See my reviews of her first (The Making of Gabriel Davenport) and second (A Shining in the Shadows) books to see what I mean. Beverley smashes genre-walls like she was born to do it, and I am so happy I ventured outside of my usual categories to read her books because I've never looked back. I would also be remiss if I didn't mention what a wonderful human being Beverley Lee is because I have consistently spelled her name wrong for over a year, and she has been nothing but a sweetheart about it. Site and Instagram

Author Sarina Langer - Can you guys keep a secret? I think Sarina might have a couple of clones walking around. She is hands-down the most productive person I know. Sincerely, I think Sarina does the work of five people in a single day. She writes books, works full time, runs an editing business, and she just released a guide for self-publishing your books. You can find that on her website when you sign up for her newsletter. She's also running a serial fiction story called All That I Can Be on her website too, which I have been super enjoying, so I recommend checking out that too. And she wrote a great piece for this blog too: 10 Things You Need to Know Before Hiring an Editor. See what I mean? Little Miss Productivity! Site and Instagram

Catheryn of The Book Lioness - Catheryn was another person I have been fortunate enough to meet IRL. I met her at The Southern Festival of Books last year, and we discussed her doing some reviews for me... and then I promptly forgot after the festival ended. Professional and awesome person that she is, though, Catheryn contacted me to follow up, and I am so grateful she did because you know my scattered brain might never have gotten its stuff together. Site and Instagram

I LOVE YOU ALL, MY AWESOME ARC SQUAD!!! 😄  🙌  💗

*Curious how to find great ARC readers? Well, you could just sling your hook to every Tom, Dick, and Jane. That is, ask everyone and anyone, but personally I don't think this is the best method. For one thing, some people just want free books with no intention of reviewing them. For another, no offense, but nothing turns me off of someone faster than getting a message from them asking for a book review when we have little to no relationship. I know some of y'all aren't gonna like this, but I 100% believe you have to work for it and develop relationships. I'm not saying you need to become besties, but at least offer something in return - a review of one of their books in exchange, promotion, something. You know the old adages "you scratch my back; I'll scratch yours" and "treat others the way you want to be treated"? Yeah, that's what community is about. Supporting one another and being kind, so invest in other people, and they'll likely return the favor.

As an extra treat, here are some pretty character aesthetics I made for some of my Raven's Cry crew. Enjoy!

And don't forget, you can get a taste of the Broken Gears world by becoming a VIP Newsletter subscriber. Subscribing gets you access to all my VIP short stories, including Figs and Fae, which I wrote especially for the release of Raven's Cry.

Thanks for reading!

[whimsicaldragonette]

ARC & Audio ARC Review: The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen by K.J. Charles

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Publication Date: March 7, 2023

Synopsis:

Bridgerton meets Poldark in this sweeping LGBTQIA+ Regency romance from award-winning author KJ Charles Abandoned by his father as a small child, Sir Gareth Inglis has grown up prickly, cold, and well-used to disappointment. Even so, he longs for a connection, falling headfirst into a passionate anonymous affair that's over almost as quickly as it began. Bitter at the sudden rejection, Gareth has little time to lick his wounds: his father has died, leaving him the family title, a rambling manor on the remote Romney Marsh...and the den of cutthroats and thieves that make its intricate waterways their home. Joss Doomsday has run the Doomsday smuggling clan since he was a boy. His family is his life...which is why when the all-too-familiar new baronet testifies against Joss's sister for a hanging offense, Joss acts fast, blackmailing Gareth with the secret of their relationship to force him to recant. Their reunion is anything but happy and the path forward everything but smooth, yet after the dust settles, neither can stay away. It's a long road from there—full of danger and mysteries to be solved—yet somehow, along the way, this well-mannered gentleman may at last find true love with the least likely of scoundrels.

My Rating: ★★★★★

*My Review and Favorite Quotes after the cut

My Review:

Once again, KJ Charles has written my favorite kind of romance. I love how her books are instant comfort reads at this point, while at the same time remaining fresh and new no matter how many I've read. You'd think she'd run out of unique and loveable characters (most of them gold-hearted rogues who aren't particularly morally bothered) with chemistry of the sort that means warmth and comfort and companionship and someone always on your side, in addition to the usual definition. And yet.

I love her wit and sly humor. I don't tend to like must "humorous" books because they tend to rely on steortypes, punching down, bawdy humor, etc. Not so KJ Charles. Her humor is of the witty, sardonic, dry variety and it's just wonderful. Here, I'll give you an example:

"I would like to talk about this again, more civilly, to understand your point of view. I don’t know if I’ll agree but I’d rather disagree with more nuance.” Joss hoped nuance didn’t mean shouting.

A lot of the humor in this book comes, as in the example above, from the language barrier of Marshman smuggler vs. educated Londoner. So I guess you have to like clever humor about words. Luckily, I do.

Joss and Gareth are wonderful characters. Really, every character in this book is a wonderful character. They all have such distinct personalities and feel so very real. Their romance feels very natural too, as they work together and learn to trust one another.

I absolutely LOVED everything about this and I had the biggest smile on my face while reading it. I knew I would love it - It's KJ Charles, that's a foregone conclusion - but it always surprises me how much I love it in the end.

The plot was great. Twisty and full of danger and trouble, but also full of quiet moments of companionship and connection. I loved how it ended, too. It was perfect. I will absolutely read the next one as soon as it comes out (and her next book, and the next...) because she's one of my favorite authors at this point. I've preordered the audiobook as I know I will want to revisit this and that's one of my favorite ways to do so.

Thoughts on the audiobook:

This audiobook and I did not particularly get along. LOVE LOVE LOVE the book, but the audio...

The narrator speaks very slowly which is fine, I can just bump up the speed (which I did, to 2x). But he adds. Random. Pauses. in the middle of sentences, then jumps back to speaking at a steady pace and. Then. Adds. More. Pauses. and it's driving me nuts because I *can't* increase the speed any more because then the rest is too fast.

I eventually got used to his particular style of narration, but it's still not my favorite. Worth it, to experience the book again, but another narrator would have improved it.

I also found Joss' grandfather to have a really strange accent in the audio. We know from the story that he was from a plantation in Georgia and thus speaks with a slow drawl. The audiobook narrator interprets this as. Speaking. Very. Very. Slowly. With. Long. Pauses. Between. Words. It has an almost staccato effect which is very much not how a southern drawl works.

5+ enthusiastic stars for the book, 3.5 unenthusiastic stars for the narration.

*Thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and Dreamscape Media for providing an early copy and early audio copy for review.

Favorite Quotes:

Nobody liked paying taxes, granted, but governments levied them all the same, and one had to put up with it since there didn’t seem to be any way of stopping them.

---

Gareth had spent most of the last two days outside in self-defense, despite the persistent light mist and drizzle. He was beginning to feel that country life was bad for the nerves.

---

There was a remarkably pervasive quality to the rain on Romney Marsh, as if the sky had chosen its side in the precarious balance between land and sea. Everything felt damp, even indoors.

---

“He didn’t dine, Cecy,” Catherine said. “He just ate.”

---

“That’s entirely specious.” “Talk English,” Joss suggested sardonically. Gareth discovered he couldn’t instantly define specious.

---

Gareth had no idea what to say. He wasn’t a political philosopher. He had a vague sort of idea that country, king, and law were the foundations on which the nation was built, while nevertheless acknowledging that he had no intention of taking up arms for the country, the king was a mad German, and he’d spent much of his adult life happily breaking the law. Still, they were principles, even if they weren’t his principles. He’d thought this would be an easy fight to pick. He’d met plenty of radicals in London—men who wanted wealth redistributed, laws changed, the government made representative. Joss Doomsday, fervent patriot of a hundred square miles of marshland, was perhaps the most radical man he’d ever met.

---

“Starting fights instead of facing problems isn’t courage.”

---

“But I’ve a fair bit to lose if they hang me for smuggling too. You can’t just not do things acause of the consequences.” “Consequences are literally the reason not to do things. That’s what they’re for.”

---

“If you want something, you ask for it. You told me so, before. Is that always how you get what you want?” Joss shrugged. “You don’t get what you want by not asking for it.” Gareth contemplated the obvious truth of that statement. “I may have to change my approach to life.”

---

“I would,” Joss said. He didn’t know what Gareth was up to; he’d back him to the hilt anyway. “Right obstinate fellow, the new squire.”

[whimsicaldragonette]

ARC Review: Of Charms, Ghosts, and Grievances by Aliette de Bodard

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Publication Date: June 28, 2022

Synopsis:

From the author of the critically acclaimed Dominion of the Fallen trilogy comes a sparkling new romantic adventure full of kissing, sarcasm and stabbing. It was supposed to be a holiday, with nothing more challenging than babysitting, navigating familial politics and arguing about the proper way to brew tea. But when dragon prince Thuan and his ruthless husband Asmodeus find a corpse in a ruined shrine and a hungry ghost who is the only witness to the crime, their holiday goes from restful to high-pressure. Someone is trying to silence the ghost and everyone involved. Asmodeus wants revenge for the murder; Thuan would like everyone, including Asmodeus, to stay alive. Chased by bloodthirsty paper charms and struggling to protect their family, Thuan and Asmodeus are going to need all the allies they can—and, as the cracks in their relationship widen, they'll have to face the scariest challenge of all: how to bring together their two vastly different ideas of their future... A heartwarming standalone book set in a world of dark intrigue. A Note on Chronology Spinning off from the Dominion of the Fallen series, which features political intrigue in Gothic devastated Paris, this book stands alone, but chronologically follows Of Dragons, Feasts and Murders. It’s High Gothic meets C-drama in a Vietnamese inspired world—perfect for fans of Mo Xiang Tong Xiu's Heaven Official's Blessing, KJ Charles, and Roshani Chokshi’s The Gilded Wolves.

My Rating: ★★★★★

***My review and favorite quotes below the cut.

My Review:

I loved the previous novella about Thuan and Asmodeus, so when I got the chance to read an early copy of this I jumped at it. This met and exceeded all my expectations. I absolutely ADORED it.

I haven't gotten a chance to read the initial trilogy about Thuan and Asmodeus, though I immediately bought them after reading the first novella. I must remedy that soon. I can't wait to explore the beginning of their relationship because everything about their dynamic here is brilliant.

We have Asmodeus, a very stabby fallen angel with a protective streak a mile wide and at least as much sarcasm and hidden knives. Then we have Thuan, a Vietnamese water dragon who loves books and believes in talking before stabbing (in most instances) but has a tendency to be attracted to stabby people.

Whilst visiting Thuan's family and babysitting a horde of children, they uncover a murder and things get... interesting.

The pacing was excellent (and fast), the writing was gorgeous, the plot kept me guessing, and the emotional struggle between Asmodeus and Thuan was one I might have expected in a longer book. The story and emotional struggle was satisfactorily resolved within the novella but leaves enough that there could be future novellas. And I desperately hope there will be because I am not ready to leave these fascinating characters.

*Thanks to NetGalley, Aliette de Bodard, and JABberwocky Literary Agency, Inc. for providing an e-arc for review.

Favorite Quotes:

They fell asleep by each other’s side in their common bed, with the silence between them like a drawn sword.

---

They’d been on the ground for five whole minutes and nothing had attacked them yet, which was a great improvement on previous minutes.

----

“We are going to strip naked, and I imagine most of your spirits don’t approve of random exhibitionism.”

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Thuan contemplated lying to her. It was really, really tempting, but nothing good ever came of lying to children.

----

Adult fun—in this specific case, figuring out what was wrong with a ghost—was really overrated.

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And if there was anything Asmodeus was good at besides stabbing, it was stepping up when no one did, or when he thought no one did.

----

Words came welling out of Thuan like blood from a wound.

---

Thuan’s grandmother was a force of nature, an utterly scary old woman and a big proponent of killing everyone who stood in her way. She and Asmodeus had hit it off almost immediately.

----

Anything written was like catnip to Thuan, but at the moment even the thought of curling up with very large piles of written materials didn’t spark much joy.

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Asmodeus put on his gloves slowly and deliberately, a gesture that looked much like a preliminary to drawing multiple knives.

----

“You mean Thuan has a type?” “Thuan absolutely has a type,” Diem Chau said. “I’m right here,” Thuan said. Being teased simultaneously by his husband and his ex had definitely not been on the to-do list for today.

---

Thuan was impressed by her capacity to get tea made in any circumstances.